Times of Tunbridge Wells 3rd July 2019

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Dine out in style this summer

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ALFRESCO ALLURE

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We meet this inspiring entrepreneur

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Business takes foodbank shopping following a summer holiday appeal

By Richard Williams

FRAN BOORMAN

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JuLY 2019

READ ALL ABOUT THE DUO BEHIND THE COMMON ROOMS AND SO MUCH MORE . . .

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Inspiring female entrepreneurs reveal their secrets of success

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Pub in the Park

on why Chef Tom Kerridge be returning he’s so excited to to Dunorlan Park

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CELEBRITY

By royal appointment

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Local councils make millions from motorists

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Wednesday July 3 | 2019

NOURISH Foodbank, which supports people in Tunbridge Wells and Tonbridge during times of financial hardship, has been given a helping hand by prominent local business, Childrensalon, following an online appeal for donations.

The foodbank, which has seen a 60 per cent increase in the people relying on its service over the last two years, says the summer holidays are a particularly difficult time for families struggling with money, and this time of year often results in the charity’s stocks running low.

“Parents have extra costs in the summer,” explained Dawn Stanford, operations manager at Nourish Community Foodbank, speaking to the Times.

“Childcare costs in particluar, which for parents in Tunbridge Wells, could be more than £40 a day. So it only takes one

unexpected bill and people suddenly find themselves in difficulty.”

She said currently they are helping up to 80 families each week by handing out around a ton of food and essential household items.

This has meant supplies have been

‘They are so generous, as are all the people of Tunbridge Wells who have offered their support’ Dawn Stanford, Nourish running desperately low leading up to the summer holidays, particularly of certain key items, such as tinned food, pasta, cereal and toiletries.

To improve the situation, Dawn took to

TUNBRIDGE WELLS and Tonbridge & Malling borough councils are making more than £5million from parking charges each year, new figures have revealed.

The RAC Foundation found that revenues after expenses from car parking charges and fines has soared over the last five years.

Council across England are collectively making nearly £1billion from parking charges, with Tunbridge Wells Borough Council [TWBC] set to earn more than £3.5million from them next year.

In 2013/14, councils made £658million from parking fines and charges but this is set to increase to £913million this year, with some suggesting the final surplus could be more than £1billion.

Windfall

social media last week, and wrote: “We need your help please! Some of our shelves are looking worryingly empty & only 4 weeks to school summer hols; when we see an increase in need for food bags. Pls can you help us re-stock from the attached list?”

Childrensalon, the leading Tunbridge Wells-based children’s fashion retailer, came to the rescue and called the foodbank.

“They are so good to us,” said Dawn.

“They called me on Monday morning and said ‘we will meet you at Sainsbury’s’ and they just took us shopping.

“They bought us very nearly a week’s worth of food. They are so generous, as are all the people of Tunbridge Wells who have offered their support since we put out the appeal,” added Dawn.

The RAC say the numbers are calculated by taking all parking income, including pay and display charges, residents’ permits and penalties, and then subtracting the day-to-day running costs of providing parking.

TWBC is ranked 67th out of 343 English authorities for money made from parking charges with motorists paying more than £5,500,000 per annum to park in the council’s car parks.

Last year the borough made £3.9million, after running costs, from its parking, although takings having taken a dip since then, with next year’s revenue from the council’s car park estimated to be around 3.4million for 2019/20.

In neighbouring Tonbridge & Malling, the council makes just shy of £1.5million, which ranked it 133rd

Continued on page 2

More on page 2

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this week…

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Wednesday July 3 | 2019

FOODBANK BENEFACTORS: Continued from page 1

TOWN’S LACK OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS CAUSING HUNGER

POTENTIAL MONEY-SPINNER: Revival of science and business park idea near A21 could provide as many as 4,500 jobs. page 8 SPILL THE BEANS: New festival, Out of the Box, centres on coffee and is to be held at Tonbridge Castle this July. page 12

GOOD SAMARITANS Childrensalon CEO Michele Harriman-Smith and her husband George Denise Hamilton, from the leadership team at Childrensalon said they are only too happy to support such a ‘vital and life changing’ service.

She said: “Working with vulnerable members of our commu-

nity, many who are not mobile either through illness, age or other heart-breaking circumstances, Nourish provides a lifeline delivering vital food supplies to the client’s door with a smile thanks to Nourish’s caring team.”

An eight-strong team from the Guinea Smokehouse and Taproom in Tunbridge Wells has just raised more than £850 for Nourish by climbing the Three Peaks.

Full story see page 11.

COUNCIL PARKING CHARGES: Continued from page 1

STRIVING FOR PEACE: Students and Amnesty Youth Members visited the Houses of Parliament to put forward their concerns. page 16

PASSION FOR PAINTING: Former St Gregory’s pupil Michael Shepherd speaks of being picked for Portrait Artist of the Year 2019. page 46 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

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in the RAC figures.

Steve Gooding, director of the RAC Foundation, said of the figures: “It would be no surprise at all if English councils soon breached the one billion-pound mark for the amount they make annually from parking, which is quite a windfall from a service that is intended to be all about managing traffic.

“Not every authority makes big money, some even run at loss, but where authorities are making money drivers might reasonably hope that some finds its way specifically into tackling road repairs not just on transport more generally.”

Rival motoring group, the AA, said councils are now dependent on the money made from parking to pay for local services following central

government cuts, but it has a direct effect on retail.

Luke Bosdet, spokesman for the AA, warned: “It compounds the misery of the high street.

“Both of the Tory leadership contenders are saying they want to revive the high street – but good luck with that if councils are hell-bent on making as much money as they can from visitors driving into the town centre.”

Indeed, over the border in East Sussex, the county council is holding public consultation on parking charges, as it wants to double prices in places such as Lewes, Eastbourne and Hastings, but critics warn that this could be damaging for the high street.

“Hiking up parking charges may

A BOROUGH councillor who has spent years working to support Dawn and her team at Nourish, says one of the main reasons people in Tunbridge Wells and Tonbridge suffer food poverty is due to the high cost of housing.

Labour Southborough & High Brooms councillor, Dianne Hill, said: “The lack of social housing is forcing people in the borough into private accommodation where rent costs are so high.

“If you are on a low income and you are paying £12,000 a year I rent, there is very little going to be left.

She added that thankfully, things are beginning to change and social housing is coming more to the fore in planning decisions.

“The borough is starting to realise that ‘affordable housing’ is not affordable in the area,” said Cllr Hill.

She added that recent mergers between housing associations means that the borough could soon be on the receiving end of 300 social houses each year.

bring in extra revenue in the short-term but it will be a nail in the coffin of the High Street. It could go into cardiac arrest,” said Alex Schlagman, of campaign group SaveTheHighStreet.org.

‘Councils are hell-bent on making as much money as they can from visitors’ For Tunbridge Wells, parking is among the highest income streams for the council and is used to pay for the services provided by the borough.

Parking in the town centre does remain competitive with other Kent towns. Two hours parking at Royal Victoria Place costs £2.80 at the pay & display machine compared to

£2.30 at Tonbridge’s Angel car park, and £2.70 at Maidstone’s Fremlin Walk.

And town centre manager from Royal Tunbridge Wells Together, Karen Pengelly, believes the council are getting the balance just right.

She said: “Parking is a contentious issue in every town. There has to be a balance and there has to be restrictions, but obviously we want these restrictions to be as light as possible. We still have free on street parking in the town centre, which is rare these days.”

She added that RTW Together has run analysis on parking charges across the South East.

“We looked at like for like town centres, so similar towns to ours, and when you look at the figures, Tunbridge Wells did come out as very cost effective,” she concluded.

Licensing warning after Uber is spotted in Tunbridge Wells

By Holly Stafford and Felix van Oordt THE council has warned members of the public not to get into unlicensed taxis after Ubers were reported to be operating in Tunbridge Wells.

Uber, the app-based taxi operator that lets you book taxis on your mobile phone, is not licensed to operate in the town, Tunbridge Wells Borough Council [TWBC] has warned.

The council say they have received reports of Ubers operating illegally in the area, and want to make clear the taxi-app company is not licensed to operate in the town.

Boundaries Councillor Bob Backhouse, chair of the licensing committee added: “Uber is not licensed in the borough and has not made an application to the council’s licensing service.

“There is a clear safety message here and that is that taxi and private hire users should make sure they only use licensed vehicles.”

Uber was founded in 2009 and arrived in the UK in 2012 but not without controversy.

The company has fought off allegations of sexual harassment which led to the ride-hailing app being stripped of its operating licence in London in 2017. This ban was, however, overturned last year.

It currently operates in around 40 towns and cities across the UK, but Tunbridge Wells is not

one of them.

Licensed taxi drivers in Tunbridge Wells said if Uber were allowed to operate in the borough, it could lead to a number of licensed taxi drivers going out of business.

Chairman of Tunbridge Wells Hackney Carriages, Shujaullah Baraki said: “Nobody should get in a taxi that is unlicensed, and if Uber were allowed to operate here they would not be good for the taxi business.

“I am against Uber coming to Tunbridge Wells, as are a lot of taxi drivers as it will lose us our jobs.”

He said taxi operators in the borough have to pay around £360 a year for a taxi licence and £370 for a badge, along with other required

payments such as DVLA and criminal record checks, a MOT every six months, and medical examinations.

Uber said they have recently taken measures that should prevent drivers from operating across boundaries.

A spokesperson for the Sanf Francisco app company said: “We recognise there have been concerns about private hire journeys crossing jurisdictional boundaries.

“Last year we introduced changes that means drivers are only able to use our app within the region where they are licensed as a private hire driver.

“We continue to work closely with local councils on this issue.”

Wednesday July 3 | 2019

NEWS IN BRIEF

PC who let off drink driver is dismissed A POLICE officer who failed to arrest a drink driver because he wanted to finish his shift on time, has been sacked by the force.

A misconduct hearing was told last week that PC Paul Tincello had attended a Tunbridge Wells crash in July last year, but failed to arrest the driver despite the motorist being nearly twice the legal limit.

Finding Tincello guilty of ‘gross misconduct’, Claire Harrington, chair of the hearing, said: “A member of the public would not expect an officer to fail to arrest an individual, having found them to be driving over the legal alcohol limit.”

Kent Police say the officer has now been dismissed without notice.

Man dies of injuries A MAN in his 70s died in Tonbridge after being found injured in his home.

Police and ambulance services were called to his address in Trench Road at 7.50am on Sunday [June 30] but the pensioner died at the scene.

Enquiries are ongoing to establish the circumstances of the death, which is being treated as non-suspicious.

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Edinburgh-inspired fringe festival to launch this summer

By Richard Williams TUNBRIDGE WELLS is to get its very own version of the annual Edinburgh Fringe Festival that brings in close to 100,000 visitors to the city each year.

The inaugural Artsbox Festival 2019 will feature art, comedy, music, and theatre and is the brainchild of Jocelyn Cheek in association with the Trinity Theatre.

Jocelyn said she was inspired to bring a fringe festival to the town after visiting the Scottish capital’s world famous annual comedy and arts festival, which has been running since 1947.

Artists “I have spent many summers at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, caught up in the infectious

Consultant apologises A CONSULTANT at the NHS Trust that looks after Tunbridge Wells hospital was forced to apologise after telling a patient they needed weight reduction surgery.

After the patient complained to the Trust, the specialist was forced to apologise.

He had told the patient: “The only surgery I would book for you is bariatric surgery or you’ll end up housebound and lifted out the window at the end.”

Crash post-mortem FORMER Cranbrook schoolboy, Freddie McLennan, killed on a gap year in Bolivia died due to injuries consistent with a car crash, a post-mortem has revealed.

Freddie McLennan and George Atkins, both 19, died after the car they were travelling in crashed on salt flats in the South American country last month.

Coroner Roger Hatch said McLennan had died following ‘severe, traumatic brain injuries’.

The inquest into Joe Atkins’ death will be heard by a court in Richmond at a later date.

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energy of a city transformed by arts events happening on every corner,” explained Jocelyn.

She continued: “Tunbridge Wells has such a wealth of local talent and ArtsBox is a great opportunity to give these artists a stage.

“There will be something for everyone, and many free events running across the week, from bug hunts to improv comedy.

“I have laughed, cried, and seen things I never thought I would see at fringe festivals – I would like the Tunbridge Wells community to have the same opportunity.”

The seven-day event, which launches on Saturday August 10, will feature local and national artists, including live music hosted by Sean Fennessey, featuring local favourite Cyrano, as well as an introductory watercolour painting dropin with local artist and tutor Julie King.

For younger festivalgoers there’s a Churchyard Safari led by Dr Ian Beavis, a unique opportunity to explore Trinity churchyard, and discover the smaller wildlife that live there.

For adventure on much a larger scale, BBC Radio 4’s John Pilkington, one of Britain’s most experienced

explorers, will recount his travels through the Balkans, and along the Silk Road.

Trinity’s signature Comedy Café also returns, with national acts keen to get on stage in Tunbridge Wells ahead of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.

Alongside these events, Fresh Paint, a visual arts competition for 5-18 year olds, sponsored by Giggling Squid, aims to celebrate the creativity of local young people.

Jocelyn Cheek continued: “I am hopeful that the success of the inaugural year of ArtsBox will demonstrate that Tunbridge Wells is a significant artistic hub in Kent, and that in the future ArtsBox will take over other venues and spaces.

“I’ve got ideas for shows on buses, in pubs, car parks and more.”

For more festival news see page 12.

Marksmen spotted outside shopping centre PEST controllers caused alarm this week when two men were spotted in the centre of town during the middle of the night shooting pigeons.

The marksmen were seen brandishing a rifle and firing at the birds in the early hours of Monday morning just outside Royal Victoria Place.

An eyewitness said that two men wearing high visibility jackets were seen just before 1am using a rifle to kill pigeons roosting outside the delivery entrance to the shopping centre.

He said: “This was in the goods entrance late on a Sunday night, all the flood-lights were on.”

The man posted a video of the gunmen on Twitter.

Cull It turned out the marksmen were licensed pest controllers hired by the shopping centre to conduct a pigeon cull.

A spokesman for the shopping centre

confirmed that the men were contracted by them as part of normal procedures to keep pigeon numbers under control.

The pest controllers had informed the police of their activities.

A spokesman for Kent Police told the Times: “We were told at 11.55pm on Sunday July 30 that a pest control company would be operating in the area.

“We received another call at 2am to confirm they had finished.”

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Wednesday July 3 | 2019

PCC given fund to fight county lines

By Holly Stafford KENT Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) Matthew Scott has been given a total of £1.7 million from the Home Office to help in the fight against county lines crime.

The Home Office’s Serious Violence Fund has allocated Kent £1,160,000 and also £527,573 from the Early Intervention Youth Fund, both of which aim to enforce more prevention against violent crime involving young people.

County lines is a term used when drug gangs from big cities expand their operations to smaller towns, often using violence to drive out local dealers and exploiting children into selling drugs.

Mr Scott said: “While Kent has not experienced the same levels of serious violence as inner cities have in recent months, we have our own unique challenges linked to county lines activity operating out of London and other areas.

“This money has the potential to do so much good work in addressing some of the underlying issues in our communities which can later lead to violence.

Strategy “It allows us to look at diverting more young people at risk of exploitation from county lines’ gangs away from criminality and abuse, and better supporting young people who come into contact with the police to try and prevent future offending.

“There is also scope to improve our links with local schools to deliver more effective crime prevention messages.”

Mr Scott added that he will also soon be announcing the recipients of his own Violence Reduction Fund which is worth another £1million over three years.

Home Secretary Sajid Javid said: “In order to put an end to this senseless violence we must have a long-term plan that stops young people from turning to a life of crime in the first place.

“That’s why our Serious Violence Strategy combines both early intervention with tough law enforcement.

“This money will play a vital role in providing vulnerable young people in Kent with support and opportunities that will steer them away from a life of crime.”

The government’s Serious Violence Strategy was set up in 2018 with the aim of tackling county lines crime and the misuse of drugs.

As reported in the Times last month, an Albanian criminal gang in Tunbridge Wells operating a county lines style drug ring, was jailed after selling around £4.2million worth of cocaine in the town over six months.

UP IN ARMS Members of the Save Capel campaign group

Campaigners descend on Westminster over council’s plans for garden village

By Richard Williams VILLAGERS upset that the council’s Local Plan will see their sleepy hamlet turned into a garden village have taken their campaign to parliament.

Farah Brooks-Johnson said the plan to build around 2,600 homes in Tudeley, plus a further 4,000 in Paddock Wood, many of which will be built in the parish of Capel, was ‘madness’ and ‘vandalism’.

As reported in the Times in May, Tunbridge Wells Borough Council has been told by central government to more than double current house building efforts, which has led the council to earmark Capel and nearby Paddock Wood, for nearly 7,000 new homes.

Part of the plans will see the small settlement of Tudeley turned into a garden village, akin to Kings Hill in Tonbridge & Malling, which will increase the number of homes in the Parish of Capel from 900 to more than 5,000.

Mrs Brooks-Johnson has lived in a property overlooking the proposed garden village site in

Tudeley for nearly 20 years.

After hearing of the council’s plans, the 46-year-old mother of two set up a campaign group, Save Capel, in an attempt to fight ‘to the bitter end’.

“When we first heard of the plans we were shocked. It is madness, pure and simple, and vandalism. The village is such a beautiful place,

‘A lot of the support is coming from neighbouring Tonbridge and other places in Tunbridge Wells’ to turn it into another Kings Hill is just so wrong,” she said.

Vowing to fight the proposals and persuade the council to change its mind, Mrs Brooks-Johnson has set up a website, www.savecapel.com as well as a Facebook page, and has garnered more than 2,000 signatures on a petition.

“There’s only 900 houses in the parish, so a lot of the support is coming from neighbouring Tonbridge and other places in Tunbridge Wells.

Everybody is up in arms about it.”

The campaigner and nine other members of the Save Capel team even hopped on a train to Westminster last Wednesday joining The Time Is Now demonstration, organised by The Climate Coalition and Greener UK, and the group hoped to meet the local MPs to explain their dismay at the building development.

But local MPs Greg Clark and Tom Tugendhat were unavailable to meet the group.

“I just want our MPs to know just how wrong this is. There’s more than a 100 brownfield sites the council could build 50 houses here, or a 100 houses there. There’s no need to destroy our village. They are taking the easy option and dumping them all here.”

Tunbridge Wells MP, Greg Clark, who was overseas last week, has promised to arrange a meeting with the campaigners in the near future.

Wednesday July 3 | 2019

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Community centre ‘nearly there’ after deal struck with supermarket

By Richard Williams A PROPOSED community centre and a mixeduse development in the village of Cranbrook could soon be built after years of delays thanks to a deal struck with a local supermarket who had been blocking the plans.

A community centre was first proposed on Wilkes Field, a patch of waste ground just off the High Street, more than 15 years ago, but the project has been beset with delays.

The community centre is part of joint project with a proposed mixed-use development on the site of the derelict Cranbrook Engineering in Stone Street.

come back to us once you have planning permission.”

Following planning approval in 2016, negotiations with lawyers of the various parties involved have been ongoing.

Now, according to TWBC, confirmation has been given by the Co-op ‘that they are happy with the proposals and these are now being worked up for final agreement and sign off by all parties’.

“There are a couple of legal queries still to solve, but we are very, very nearly there,” added Cllr Veitch. “But with all the new houses planned for the borough we need this hall.”

The access rights issue with the Co-op are not the only delays to beset the joint £20m town

Agreement Both pieces of land are owned by local businessman, Guy Johnson, who donated the field to the Parish Council so they could build the £4million community centre, while he was hoping to build a development featuring flats and shops on the engineering works.

The two projects share planning permission, and both came to a grinding halt several years ago because of access rights to the car park in front of the Co-op.

The car park belongs to Tunbridge Wells Borough Council.

Explaining the issue, Chair of Cranbrook and Sissinghurst Parish Council [CSPC], Cllr Bridgette Veitch, said: “Around 13 or 14 years ago an agreement was reached between the supermarket and the borough council who agreed not to give any access rights to the car park without consent from the Co-op.

“There have been ongoing discussions with them for many years, and originally they said

CO-OPERATION The Co-op supermaket in Cranbrook is no longer blocking the development

centre regeneration project.

Previously, TWBC had blocked an attempt to demolish buildings on Stone Street citing potential historical significance, but this ban was lifted once planning permission was approved.

Now that the final hurdle is over, the Parish Council have the task of raising the funds for the community centre, and have struck on an innovative idea.

Cllr Veitch said: “It is just a concept, but the community centre will be on two floors because it will be built on a slope, so we thought about the local GPs having the bottom floor as a medical centre, which would be bring significant contributions from the NHS—but it is just an idea.”

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Advice for elderly to stay hydrated in summer sun

By Lucy Linton A CARE home has issued advice to elderly people about the importance of staying hydrated following the recent heatwave that has seen temperatures reach 30C. Bluebird Care Tunbridge Wells and Tonbridge has launched ‘Summer Hydration’ a campaign that aims to educate the elderly about the dangers of heat and sun exposure.

“High temperatures and hot weather can be incredibly dangerous, particularly for elderly people,” said Clare Mortlock, Operations Manager at Bluebird Care.

She added: “During the summer heatwave last year, Office of National Statistics figures show that there were nearly 995 more deaths than the average for the same months during the 20122017 period.”

She warned: “Dehydration reduces the body’s ability to sweat and maintain a normal temperature, so we are encouraging people across Tonbridge and Tunbridge Wells to consider their hydration this summer and to take steps to increase their fluid intake during hot weather.

“High temperatures and sun exposure are extremely serious and life threatening.”

Bluebird has issued a raft of advice on keeping cool this summer, from wearing loose fitting clothes to allow adequate body cooling, ensuring sunscreen is at least SPF factor 15, and most importantly drinking plenty of fluids.

Ruth May, Chief Nursing Officer for NHS England, said: “It’s really important to take precautions like drinking plenty of water, using high-factor sunscreen and remembering to take allergy medication if you need it – as is making sure to check in on neighbours and loved ones who can suffer the most from heat and pollen.”

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New senior associate at Thomas Mansfield LAW firm Thomas Mansfield has added to their legal expertise by appointing a new senior associate in family law to their Tunbridge Wells office.

The solicitors, who also have offices in Tonbridge and across the South East, and which specialise in family and employment law as well as inheritance planning, have appointed Abigail Eriksson-Lee as a Senior Associate solicitor.

Partner Neill Thomas said: “We are thrilled Abigail has joined Thomas Mansfield. She has a great reputation throughout Kent as a formidable family lawyer having previously practised in London and at a well-known local firm and will add considerable experience to the team.”

The recruitment of Abigail Eriksson-Lee brings the total number of lawyers specialising in family law at the firm to seven.

Mr Thomas added; “We have invested in the recruitment of lawyers with first-class academic qualifications, wide experience in their field and the ability to empathise with clients.

“This has resulted in a solid legal team providing great client service as evidenced by positive feedback.

“We keep our charges reasonable, hence the considerable expansion of the department in such a short timescale.

“We have also recently updated all our IT systems to keep our lawyers ahead of the everchanging legal landscape.”

FAMILY MATTERS New associate Abigail Eriksson-Lee

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Bathstore under threat after retailer collapses

By Richard Williams SPECIALIST bathroom retailer Bathstore has fallen into administration, putting at risk more than 500 jobs across Britain, including those at its Tunbridge Wells branch.

Joint administrators Ryan Grant and Antony David Nygate were appointed last Wednesday [June 26] after several months of difficult trading.

Struggled The Goods Station Road store in Tunbridge Wells will remain open while administrators seek a buyer for the retailer’s 135 outlets.

Ryan Grant said: “Despite significant invest-

PULLING THE PLUG? Bathstore in Tunbridge Wells could close

ment into the business over the past five years, Bathstore has struggled to overcome the welldocumented challenges facing the UK retail sector.

“The appointment was made after several months of difficult trading and the failure of ongoing talks to find a buyer for the business.

“Bathstore is continuing to trade in administration while the administrators seek a buyer.”

The chain, which has stores across Kent, specialises in selling baths, showers, toilets, washhand basins and related accessories.

A spokesman for the Tunbridge Wells branch confirmed to the Times last week that they were remaining open and will continue to trade as normal for the ‘foreseeable future’.

Wednesday July 3 | 2019

Premier Inn on track for winter opening BUILDING SITE Work continues on the new Premier Inn

TUNBRIDGE WELLS’ newest hotel should be open

by Christmas, according to Premier Inn. The budget chain has been trying to open a 115-bedroom hotel in the town since 2016 when they first submitted plans to the borough council to convert the old court house on London Road.

The development has faced stiff opposition— campaigners against the £7million hotel even attempted unsuccessful legal action against Tunbridge Wells Borough Council for what they claimed was an ‘unlawful’ sale of Merevale House, the former family and county court.

Builders on the London Road site are also having to work around the concrete frame of the previous building rather than demolish it.

The hotel is being designed to reflect Tweedale Terrace, an Edwardian building that stood on the site before Merevale House, which was built in the 70s.

Despite the setbacks, Premier Inn say the new hotel, which will feature an in-house Thyme restaurant, is on schedule to open later this year.

A spokesperson confirmed to the Times that progress on the site is continuing, and that ‘the team are targeting a late 2019 opening’ for the new hotel.

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NEWS IN BRIEF

New corporate tax partner joins RSM AUDIT, tax and consulting firm RSM has announced the appointment of a new partner at its Tunbridge Wells office.

Al Dixon, a leading corporation tax professional with over 13 years’ experience in senior roles within Big Four and specialist firms, is being hired to develop the firm’s corporate tax team and grow the local corporate tax business.

Al, who has advised businesses and their owners on a wide range of matters throughout the business lifecycle, including reorganisations, acquisitions and disposals, said of his appointment: “This is a very exciting time to be joining RSM’s practice in Tunbridge Wells. Kent and the wider South East is rich with entrepreneurs and businesses and I look forward to working with many of them alongside the breadth and depth of talent in RSM.” Neil Thomas, RSM’s office managing partner for Kent, added: “I’m delighted to welcome Al to RSM’s Kent team. He brings with him a wealth of experience which will add strength and depth to our highly skilled team of partners and staff.”

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Business park idea ‘not pie in the sky’

By Richard Williams A PROPOSED science and business park development that was first mooted six years ago is being looked at again, and the people behind the project say the investment is in place.

Developers U+I say they want the £167million development at Colebrook Park, beside the industrial estate, to be a mix of office space and light industrial units for multiple companies, with office buildings and 1,600 car parking spaces.

The scheme, if it goes ahead, could support up to 4,500 jobs at the business park, which sits on part of the land between the existing Kingstanding Way Industrial Area, which is part of the North Farm estate, and the new A21 bypass.

Consultation The business park idea is not new and was first put forward by the landowner of Colebrook Park, former Southborough town councillor Sheridan Bowie, in 2013, but that idea was scratched after previous investors pulled out.

Mr Bowie told the Times: “It is not just pie in the sky. We have been developing this idea in the background ever since we came up with it.”

He added that all the investments were in place to begin building next year.

David Enticknap, who is working with Mr Bowie and U&I in bringing the project to fruition, added: “It is a development of the same scheme that was mooted a few years back,

which is now back on the cards.”

The developers say they intend to submit plans to Tunbridge Wells Borough Council in the summer, following a period of consultation.

A spokesperson for U&I explained: “Crucial to our plan is creating a site which allows businesses in Tunbridge Wells to continue to grow without being forced to relocate to another area, helping to keep employment in the town and to continue benefitting the local economy.”

She continued: “Respecting the local environment is important to us, so our proposals include a great deal of green space and preservation of key areas of historic woodland.”

The idea has been cautiously welcomed by local Sherwood councillor Hugo Pound [Labour], who said: “The Colebrook Park site will be available for consultation later in the year, if it is included in the still-developing Local Plan.

“The borough does need to attract businesses to all its principal towns and this development, if supported by other elements of the Local Plan like infrastructure, housing, access and environmental considerations could do that.”

But he warned: “Labour councillors now sit on both the Planning Policy Working Group and the Planning Committee, and we will be raising our view that the principal issues to be addressed in every development across the borough are genuinely affordable and include social housing and a safe, healthy environment.

“If those priorities are being met in any development, we will support them.”

RECRUITED Al Dixon

Rural data speed alert WITH the fifth generation mobile phone data network being rolled out across UK cities, rural areas –many of which don’t even have 4G yet – are at risk of being ‘side-lined’ the Country Landowners Association [CLA] has warned.

Vodafone and EE are switching on 5G signals in a number of UK towns. While urban areas will benefit from higher data speeds, many rural areas are still awaiting fast and reliable 4G coverage.

CLA South East Director Robin Edwards said: “The future of the rural economy depends on fast, affordable and reliable connectivity. Many rural areas fall short of a 4G service due to the inability of mobile network operators to resolve poor signal and mobile hot-spots.

Wednesday July 3 | 2019

MODEL FOR SUCCESS? How the new area might look

TO INFINITY: Group CEO Rob Young (left) with business partner Phil Jones (right)

Infinity is now ranked among world’s elite INFINITY GROUP, based in Tunbridge Wells and London, has been named as one of the world’s premier managed service providers in the 12th annual prestigious Channel Futures Managed Service Provider 501 rankings.

The IT support provider, headquartered in Camden Road, which is currently expanding and recruiting for a number of roles at both their Kent and London offices, was ranked fifth in the global rankings of the top 501 managed service providers.

Innovative “This is a huge achievement for Infinity Group and rewards our investment in an ever-changing landscape and consistent year-on year growth.

“We look forward to attending the MSP 501 Awards Gala in Washington, DC, this September,” said CEO Rob Young.

Kris Blackmon, Content Director of Channel Partners and Channel Futures and lead of the MSP 501 programme, explained the background to the initiative.

She said: “The 2019 MSP 501 winners are the most elite, innovative and strategic IT service providers on the planet, and they stand as a model of excellence in the industry.

“As the MSP 501 community grows, leagues of managed service providers learn from the successes of these winning companies, gaining insight into the best practices, strategies and technologies that elevate an MSP to the level of the 501 winners.

“Our heartfelt congratulations to the 2019 winners and gratitude to the thousands of MSPs that have contributed to the continuing growth and success of both the 501 and the thriving managed services sector.”

As part of the expansion of their business, Infinity Group have taken the proactive step of building their own additional office space in the grounds of their Camden Road headquarters to house their burgeoning local workforce.

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GROUNDS FOR APPEAL Hadlow Manor’s tranquil surroundings

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Lions Club’s disability activity proves to be another knockout

By Andy Tong

Hadlow Manor backs Tree of Hope with family fun day out HADLOW MANOR will be hosting a charity family fun day on Sunday [July 7] to raise funds for Tonbridge children’s charity Tree of Hope.

The crowdfunding organisation helps children and young people with a disability or illness by supporting their families to raise the money they need to pay for specialist care that is not freely available through the UK healthcare system.

There will be a bouncy castle, ice cream van, Punch and Judy show, vintage photo shoots, a treasure hunt and sports day races. Entry costs £2, and it’s free for children.

Giles Thomas, Operations Director for the Manor Collection hotel group, said: “As a group we are always keen to support local charities.

“We have previously held many successful quiz nights for The Cystic Fibrosis Trust.

“We love offering something different to the locals,” he added. “Our fireworks nights are always very well attended and it seems a shame to not use our glorious grounds during the summer months as well.”

The event takes place between 12-4pm and tickets can be purchased in advance or on the door. Visit hadlowmanor.co.uk

Wednesday July 3 | 2019

THE Tonbridge Lions Club held another successful ‘It’s A Knockout’ activity day for local groups with learning and physical difficulties at the Angel Centre.

Ten teams attended the event this year, with around 100 participants and their carers taking part in a variety of games.

The various activities tested the participants and the carers’ running speed, ability to

following instructions and manual dexterity.

The winning team was Aspens All Stars (formerly known as Pepenbury), with The Crazy Gang from Horizon as runners-up. All those taking part received medals.

The teams also designed Joker cards which were judged by the Deputy Mayor, Jill Anderson, and Peggy Hill, wife of Lion President Gordon Hill. The prize for the best creation went to the Cranbrook Crew.

The annual fun day was started in the early

1990s by Lions member Michael Adams, who made all the items for the games which are still in use today.

Dominic Keast, chairman of the organising committee, said: “We are extremely pleased with the way the day went and an enjoyable time was had by all.

“We would like to thank all those who took part and made it such a fun day and also the Angel Centre staff for their assistance in setting up the event.”

GOOD SPORTS Cranbrook Crew with their Joker

Wednesday July 3 | 2019

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NATURAL ABILITY: Mark Welland with his work Distraction and (right) Antonia Enthoven at her Hunter Penrose press

London shows for ArtSpring talent as gallery celebrates third birthday THE ArtSpring Gallery is inviting the town to come and celebrate its third birthday on Saturday [July 6].

The artist collective will unveil its ‘Summer Exhibition’ of painting, print, photography, ceramic, glass and jewellery at 167 High Street, along with cake and sparkling wine.

Visitors will be able to choose their favourite artwork, 3-D installation and jewellery piece to be entered into the ArtSpring ‘People’s Choice’ award.

Voting is open until July 13 and the winner will go on display in the window and be available at a 10 per cent discount until the end of the month.

The gallery’s printmaker Antonia Enthoven has recently seen her work selected for two major exhibitions in London: The Royal Society of British Artists annual exhibition at Mall Galleries until July 14; and the Royal Academy summer show until August 12.

Collective Mark Welland also received an Exhibition Excellence Award for his drawings selected for Plantae: The Society of Botanical Artists exhibition at the Mall Galleries last month.

Hildegard Pax, chair of the gallery,

has achieved international recognition and her latest creation in glass has been on show at an art fair in The Hamptons on Long Island, USA. Artspring was one of five finalists in the recent Muddy Stiletto Awards for Best Art Gallery in Kent, and co-founder Jill Goldsworthy said: “This is great for an art collective and not-for-profit gallery to find itself amongst the county-wide finalists.”

ArtSpring is open from Tuesday to Saturday from 10.30am to 5pm, but viewings can be arranged at other times; contact the gallery on 01732 365924 or visit artspringgallery.co.uk

Guinea trekkers scale Three Peaks to help ‘community cornerstone’ Nourish HIGH ACHIEVERS (L-R) Jamie Owens, Will Mulvey, Jamie Taylor, Rhys Hall, Will Denbigh, Ben Mills, Toby Gilbert and James Warner on Ben Nevis

AN EIGHT-strong team from The Guinea Smokehouse and Taproom in Tunbridge Wells have completed the Three Peaks Challenge to raise more than £850 for local charity Nourish Community Foodbank.

The group, who all work at the Calverley Road pub, finished the arduous trek in 23 hours and 15 minutes – well ahead of the 24-hour limit.

They had to battle high winds, torrential rain and disorientating fog in scaling Ben Nevis in Scotland, Scafell

Pike in the Lake District and Snowdon in North Wales.

The combined distance of 24.5 miles included climbing more than 10,000 feet, as well as driving around 460 miles between destinations.

The Guinea’s general manager, Jamie Owens, said: “I couldn’t be prouder of my team – we all worked incredibly hard to walk the three peaks in challenging conditions and everyone gave it their all.

It was a fantastic feeling – if a little daunting at night.

“There were some pretty tired legs and a lot of rest needed the next day, but it was absolutely worth it to raise money for such a worthy cause.”

Jamie added: “We see Nourish as a cornerstone of the Tunbridge Wells community and we are proud to support them. Thank you to everyone who has donated so far.”

To make a donation visit virginmoneygiving.com/Guinea3Peaks For more information about Nourish visit nourishcommunityfoodbank.org.uk

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Wednesday July 3 | 2019

An epic bike ride in the name of charity

Mela makes a return

THE popular Tunbridge Wells Mela Festival makes its return on Sunday for a day of dancing, music and food for all the family.

Organised in partnership by Cohesion Plus and the Kent Equality Cohesion Council with the support of Arts Council of England, it will take place in Calverley Grounds between 12.30pm and 6.30pm.

Last year more than 2,000 people attended the free event, and organisers hope for a similar turnout this year.

This year, the stage is set to welcome artists from a range of cultures including Dance Asia, Sahrudaya West Kent Keralites who will perform music and dance from Kerala, the Sussex Syrian Trio, as well as DDFK Brass Fusion.

Programme RE-CYCLING Team members from The Chapel Hairdressing Salon on the 2016 cycle ride

By Felix van Oordt A TUNBRIDGE WELLS hairdressing salon owner is about to take part in an epic cycle ride to raise money for charity.

Toby Dicker, who runs The Chapel Hairdressing Salon is set to embark on a second charity bike ride in three years, which will see him cover a distance of 800 miles in just nine days travelling from Tunbridge Wells to Barcelona.

The salon owner will be joined by eight other cyclists, including several members of The Chapel Hairdressing, who will be leaving Tunbridge Wells on September 13 for their journey.

They are aiming to raise as much

money for charity as possible, with good causes earmarked for donations including the Pickering Cancer Dropin Centre, CALM, which works to reduce male suicide, and the Hairdressers’ Charity, which is dedicated to helping hairdressing professionals and ex-hairdressers with their mental health. The ride is also being supported by Wildside Cycles.

Fundraising Toby, who participated in a similar 2016 bike ride to Switzerland, said he was inspired to organise the event by his late uncle, who succumbed to pancreatic cancer aged just 60.

“We used to talk about going on

epic bike rides together all the time,” recalled Toby, who added that his uncle left his bike to him on his death.

“I thought it only fitting that I should take that bike on a charity ride in support of others suffering from the same disease,” he continued.

The event raised around £63,000 three years ago, and Toby hopes to raise even more this time, and is appealing for sponsors for the bike ride, having secured support from a number of local businesses, including the Times of Tunbridge Wells and Markerstudy.

At the end of the ride, the group hopes to team up with the Hairdressers’ Charity Ride for three days, which is organising its annual fundraising

event in Girona, near to Barcelona, which could take the total distance travelled by Toby and his team to over 1,000 miles.

He added: “We are cycling for four days straight of over 100 miles and so fatigue is a factor that needs to be considered.

“Nutrition is also very important, and we need to make sure we are drinking enough water.

“Male bravado and pushing ourselves too far could be an issue.”

He added that each volunteer cyclist is ‘self-funded’ and will they pay for their own hotels and transport.

“All of the money goes straight to a good cause which is very important for me,” said Toby.

Wake up and smell the finest coffee as new festival comes to Tonbridge

By Andy Tong andy@timesoftonbridge.co.uk A NEW free festival is coming to Tonbridge this month, based around coffee but including live music, workshops, street food and drinks stalls.

Out Of The Box will be held at Tonbridge Castle on Saturday July 13 from 10am to 7pm.

It is organised by La Marzocco, manufacturers of deluxe espresso machines and grinders in Florence.

The first Out Of The Box was held in 2009 and was aimed at the coffee community but this year it is branching out to widen its appeal with all age groups.

The event will feature 20 of the UK’s finest speciality coffee roasters, barista workshops and ‘sensory coffee experiences’ with

Falcon Coffees.

There will be live bands, local food and drink producers, cooking demonstrations and pop-up shops and cocktail masterclasses with Grey Goose Vodka.

An immersive virtual reality simulator will be installed by Roborace, designers of driverless electric racing cars.

There will be competitions including La Marzocco’s own ‘Crush the Rush’, panel discussions, face painting and other family activities.

After the day’s activities, the nearby Tonbridge Old Fire Station will host an after-party in the evening.

La Marzocco have been handcrafting espresso machines in Italy since 1927. Community events are key to the company’s success and ‘act as a physical embodiment of the Italian hospitality that runs

through its veins’.

Paul Kelly, General Manager of La Marzocco UK & Ireland, said: “Living in Kent myself, I am always inspired and impressed on the array of choices when it comes to summer festivals and unique food and drink experiences.

Hosting the event outside of London shows continued support to the speciality food and coffee communities outside of the capital city.

“It represents our commitment to the larger food and drink scene in the UK, and

Local favourites Fireflies, Just Dance and the Paul Dunton Orchestra will also be performing, as will headliners, the Dancing Maharajas who will be performing classic reggae hits.

Gurvinder Sandher, Mela festival director, said: “I have been involved with the Mela Festival from the start and am very proud of how it brings the local community together of all ages and backgrounds.

“We have a really good programme this year.”

For off-stage entertainment, Airheadz will be providing aerial workshops for young people and LV21 are offering free arts workshops.

A food zone will be open for guests to enjoy with the music and arts with dishes deriving from Thailand, India, Greece, China and Britain.

Drinks have not been forgotten either, as the Tunbridge Wells Forum Bar will be serving craft alcohol.

Sandher added: “We work very hard to raise the funds to put the Mela Festival on and look forward to welcoming the community on July 7.”

will bring together more like-minded brands and companies than ever before.”

He added: “We’ve wanted to host a summer edition of Out Of The Box since our first London edition in 2014 and we knew that

Tonbridge Castle was the perfect setting.

“We can’t wait to meet and connect with the local community, and to invite our existing network to this inspired setting.”

Entry is free but visitors are required to register online at ootb19.eventbrite.co.uk Updates are available on Instagram @ lamarzoccouk

Wednesday July 3 | 2019

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Man jailed for shooting his great-grandson, six

No deal Brexit means no money for next PM

A GREAT-grandfather who shot his six-year-old great-grandson dead as he checked his unlicensed air rifle has been sent to prison for three years for manslaughter.

Albert Grannon, 78, discharged the .22 calibre weapon into Stanley Metcalf’s stomach during a family gathering at his home in Sproatley, East Yorkshire, in July last year.

Sheffield Crown Court heard that the boy said ‘you shot me, Granddad’.

The family had gathered at Grannon’s home for an annual event to mark the death of one of his sons, Andrew, 15 years earlier.

Stanley (pictured below) had asked his greatgrandfather if he could see the gun, which the defendant kept in a cupboard with a curtain over it; the court was told it was normally left loaded.

THE Chancellor of the Exchequer, Philip Hammond, has claimed a no-deal Brexit could cause a £90billion ‘hit’ on the Treasury’s budget and suggested there will be ‘no money available’ for Theresa May’s successor.

Mr Hammond derided the pledges of Tory leadership hopefuls Jeremy Hunt and Boris Johnson, telling MPs he is not in favour of ‘ad hoc’ spending or tax cut commitments.

He added that all of the £26-27billion ‘fiscal headroom’ built up, and more, would be needed to respond to the immediate impact of the UK leaving the EU without a deal.

In a further reference to the promises made by Mr Hunt and Mr Johnson, the Chancellor said this meant there would be no cash available for long-term tax cuts or spending increases.

He also said it would be ‘wrong’ for the Government to pursue no-deal, adding that it will be up to the House of Commons to ensure it does not happen.

Dangerous Grannon told police that the gun went off as he was checking whether it was loaded and the pellet must have ricocheted off the floor.

The pellet from the .22 rifle had gone all the way through the boy, severing an artery. His condition deteriorated in the ambulance and he died within two hours, the court heard.

Jailing Grannon for three years, the judge, Mr Justice Lavender, told him: “You ended a young life and you brought lifelong grief and misery to his parents and to the whole of his family.

“What you did was obviously a very dangerous thing to do,” he added. “Why on earth did you do it?”

Stanley’s mother, Jenny Dees, said of her grandfather: “Not once did he say sorry.”

STATE OF THE UNION Boris Johnson with DUP leader Arlene Foster

Johnson says EU’s backstop for Irish border is ‘moral blackmail’ BORIS JOHNSON has accused the European Union of ‘moral blackmail’ over the Northern Ireland backstop.

In the latest Tory leadership hustings held in Belfast, both Mr Johnson and his rival Jeremy Hunt insisted the backstop had to go if there was to be a Brexit deal with Brussels.

The backstop would keep an open trading border between the north and the Republic if the UK leaves without securing a deal.

It would mean the UK retains a close customs relationship with the EU for an indefinite period.

Mr Johnson, who also held talks with DUP leader Arlene Foster, told party members he had felt so strongly over the issue he had resigned from Theresa May’s Cabinet over the Chequers plan which included the backstop.

“Under no circumstances, whatever happens, will I allow the EU or anyone else to create any

kind of division down the Irish Sea or attenuate our Union,” he said.

“That is why I resigned over Chequers. It is a terrible moral blackmail it puts on the UK Government. We can’t have that.

“The way to protect the Union is to come out of the EU whole and entire.”

Mr Hunt, the Foreign Secretary, said that he also had opposed the backstop in Cabinet but had not made his misgivings public.

“I was one of the people who argued against accepting the backstop in the Cabinet,” he said.

“But I think it is important the Prime Minister has a loyal Foreign Secretary so I kept those discussions private. But that has to change and we have to find a different solution.”

Mr Hunt said he believed the issue of the border could be resolved through the use of technology to avoid the need for physical checks.

Heatwaves are five to ten times more likely A GROUP of international experts tasked with assessing climate change has warned that Europe faces the prospect of more frequent and more intense heatwaves.

In a report that involved an assessment of temperatures in the French city of Toulouse between June 26 and 28, World Weather Attribution said every heatwave occurring in Europe today ‘is made more likely and more intense by human-induced climate change’.

They found the extreme conditions measured during that three-day period are five to ten times more likely now than they were in 1900, before greenhouse gas emissions from industry had a major effect on the atmosphere.

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Lawrence detective not corrupt says watchdog A FORMER policeman accused of corruption in the original Stephen Lawrence murder investigation will face no further action.

The Independent Police Complaints Commission confirmed its investigators had found ‘no indication of corruption’ by ex-detective sergeant John Davidson.

It was alleged that Mr Davidson was in the pay of Clifford Norris, the drugsmuggling father of David Norris who was convicted in 2012 of Stephen’s murder.

Sheikh’s wife in hiding ONE of the wives of the ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Mohammed Al Maktoum, is said to be hiding in London fearing for her life.

Princess Haya Bint al-Hussein is the sixth and ‘junior’ wife of the racehorse owner, 69.

He has posted a furious poem on Instagram accusing an unidentified woman of ‘treachery and betrayal’.

Princess Haya, 45, fled to Germany to seek asylum earlier this year. She is now said to be preparing for a High Court battle.

£735k for chess piece A MEDIEVAL chess piece missing for almost 200 years has sold for £735,000 at auction.

The 8.8cm warder made of walrus ivory was bought for £5 in 1964 by an antiques dealer and passed down though his family.

It is a record for a medieval chess piece at auction, Sotheby’s in London has said.

Alexander Kader, Sotheby’s co-worldwide head of European sculpture and works of art, said: “This is one of the most exciting and personal rediscoveries to have been made during my career.”

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No 10 queries over-75s move as BBC pay for top stars rises “Four out of five people tell us they want the THE Prime Minister’s office has said the BBC biggest and best names on the BBC.” must explain why staffing costs are increasing The BBC was criticised over a gender pay gap despite the corporation saying it cannot afford to when it was ordered to reveal its pay packages fund TV licences for the over-75s. by the Government in 2016.

The broadcaster has revealed the pay of its Radio 2 presenter Jeremy Vine has seen his pay highest-paid stars, with some of its leading male fall by £150,000 to £290,000 while Radio 4 presenters taking large cuts.

Today host John Humphrys has seen his salary Downing Street’s official spokesman said: “As decrease by £110,000 to £290,000. a public service broadcaster funded by the But Radio 2 DJ Jo Whiley’s salary has gone up licence fee, the BBC has a responsibility to lead by £100,000 on to £270,000, and 6 Music host the way in promoting workplace equality.

Lauren Laverne – now presenting Desert Island “We welcome the progress made but the BBC Discs – has enjoyed a rise of £75,000. themselves admit there is much more to do.

“At the same time the BBC needs to explain Zoe Ball, Vanessa Feltz and Claudia Winkleman why they increased the on-air pay and total appear in the list of the top ten earners – the first staffing costs while saying they can’t fund free women to do so.

TV licences for over-75s.

The average pay of the biggest stars has fallen, “As the PM has made clear, taxpayers expect down 6 per cent from £300,000 to £282,000. the BBC to use its substantial licence fee income in an appropriate way to make sure it delivers for UK audiences, which includes showing restraint on salaries for senior staff.”

In response, the BBC said: “The average pay of those on the talent list is actually falling, and the cost of our top 10 highest earners is down by nearly 10 per cent since last year.

“Above all, it’s well known that the BBC pays less than people can earn at commercial UPS AND DOWNS: Jo Whiley gained £100k but Jeremy Vine took a £150k cut broadcasters.

Wednesday July 3 | 2019

Antibiotics can make flu worse – and more likely ANTIBIOTICS can increase vulnerability to flu and worsen symptoms, a study has found.

Flu defences in the lung were weakened in mice with healthy gut bacteria who were given antibiotics before being infected, according to research from the Francis Crick Institute.

Researchers found that signals from gut bacteria keep antiviral genes in the lung lining active, helping maintain a first line of defence against flu.

A third of the mice survived when given antibiotics before becoming infected, compared to 80 per cent who survived without the drugs.

Two days after infection, mice which received antibiotics had five times more virus in their lungs, the study published in Cell Reports found.

As a result the immune response was stronger and more damaging, leading to more severe symptoms.

US may target cheese and coffee in trade war THE United States is considering tariffs on an additional $4billion [£3.1 billion] of goods from the European Union over what it considers to be illegal aircraft subsidies.

Whether it does so depends on the results of a World Trade Organisation assessment of EU subsidies on large civil aircraft, specifically to Airbus.

The US Trade Representative’s Office disclosed on Monday [July 1] that it could target a further 89 sub-categories following an earlier list in April. The new items include cheeses, olives and coffee.

A US tariff wish-list released in April reflected the Trump administration’s calculation of the harm the subsidies inflicted on the US - and specifically to Boeing.

Wednesday July 3 | 2019

Young’s bought by Karro to create new food giant YOUNG’S SEAFOOD is being bought by pork processor Karro to create a firm with around £1.2billion in sales and more than 5,000 staff.

Karro’s private equity owner CapVest Partners said Grimsby-based Young’s will be combined with Karro to form a ‘multi-protein’ food giant.

The firms will operate as separate businesses within the combined group, which will be headed

by Karro’s executive chair Di Walker.

Ms Walker said: “We are very excited about the opportunity to create an ambitious multi-protein food business of considerable scale.

“Young’s and Karro are highly complementary businesses and the combined platform will have strong market positions in two important protein categories that are experiencing consistent long-term growth.”

The deal for an undisclosed sum unites Karro’s 3,000 UK staff with Young’s 2,000 employees.

Sports Direct stalwart leaves after 28 years ONE of Mike Ashley’s most influential executives has left Sports Direct after 28 years.

Karen Byers, who was described by insiders as the ‘glue that holds it all together’, announced she was leaving with immediate effect.

Mr Ashley said: “Karen has been a very supportive member of the team for over 28 years and we wish her well for the future.

“The focus of the business as we move forward remains our programme of brand elevation, one that we are totally committed to.

“The door will always be open to Karen if she wishes to come back to the business as a consultant.”

Mr Ashley hired Ms Byers following a takeover nearly three decades ago, not long after she was said to have sold him a pair of jeans.

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Housing market ‘subdued’ as construction falls to 2009 low

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AB InBev plans huge float for Hong Kong THE brewing giant AB InBev has said it plans to raise up to $9.8billion [£7.8billion] from the listing of its Asian business, in what will be the biggest stock market float of the year so far.

The Budweiser owner’s Asian-Pacific arm will float on the Hong Kong stock exchange in a move that could value the business at almost $64billion [£50.7billion].

The spun-off arm will be called Budweiser Brewing Company APAC and it will price more than 1.6billion shares.

BIG DEAL Brexit is weighing heavily HOUSE prices edged up 0.1 per cent between May and June but Brexit uncertainty is set to weigh on growth over the coming months, according to a new survey.

Property prices increased month on month in June to an average of £216,515 after adjustment for seasonal factors, according to the Nationwide house price index.

This marks an improvement on the 0.2 per cent monthly fall recorded in May. But the building society said annual house price growth slipped to 0.5 per cent, down from 0.6 per cent in May, as buyer confidence and demand remained ‘subdued’.

And it warned that, while low mortgage rates and a healthy jobs market will help support the property market, wider uncertainty in the economy will take its toll.

Nationwide chief economist Robert Gardner said: “Survey data suggests that new buyer inquiries and consumer confidence have remained subdued in recent months.

“Housing market trends are likely to continue

to mirror developments in the broader economy.

“While healthy labour market conditions and low borrowing costs will provide underlying support, uncertainty is likely to continue to act as a drag on sentiment and activity, with price growth and transaction levels remaining close to current levels over the coming months.”

Overall output Meanwhile the UK’s construction output has plummeted at its steepest rate since 2009, as Brexit uncertainty and weaker demand hit all three major areas of the industry: commercial work, civil engineering and house-building.

The Markit/CIPS UK Construction purchasing managers’ index recorded a reading of 43.1 for June, down from 48.6 in May. Economists were expecting a figure of 49.2 (reading above 50 indicates growth).

It is the steepest reduction in overall output since April 2009 and marks the fourth time the sector has contracted in the past five months.

Yo! will be biggest fish YO! SUSHI is to form the world’s largest sushi company outside of Japan as it merges with US operator SnowFox, the company said.

In a deal which will create a sushi giant with sales of $425million [£336.4million], Yo! will add SnowFox to a group which already includes Canada’s Bento Sushi and supermarket supplier Taiko.

SnowFox manages more than 700 sushi kiosks across 25 US states, primarily in supermarkets.

Office worry over debt THE owner of footwear chain Office has confirmed it is in talks with lenders over its debt, after it was hit by the tough conditions on the UK high street.

Truworths, a South African retail company which is listed on the Johannesburg stock exchange, said in a statement that it is looking at options for restructuring £45million of debt that had been accrued by the shoe shop.

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Education

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EDUCATION Times

Wednesday July 3 | 2019

Rose Hill students’ artwork to be displayed at the Royal Academy Summer Show The first Young Artists’ Summer Show hosted by the Royal Academy (RA) takes place this year and promises to be an inspiring event filled with artworks by talented young artists aged 7-19 from the UK and beyond.

Over six thousand pieces of artwork were submitted and subsequently judged by panels of art experts including Royal Academicians, RA curators and RA Schools students. The exhibition is curated by Royal Academician Bob and Roberta Smith.

One local school, Rose Hill, had nine entries shortlisted and impressively four of those pupils will now have their artwork displayed in the online

gallery while two pupils, Claudia and Fraser in Year 4, have their artwork on display at the Royal Academy in London.

Uschi Moore, Head of Art at Rose Hill School said: “All of the pupils shortlisted for this summer show should be extremely proud of themselves, the standard of work is phenomenal. I am particularly proud of Fraser and Claudia and look forward to visiting their work at the Royal Academy this summer”.

The Young Artists’ Summer Show will be online until December 31, and a selection of these artworks will be on display at the RA from July 13 – August 4 2019 youngartists. royalacademy.org.uk

DEFENDING THE DEFENDERS Members of Hillview School’s Amnesty youth club meet with MPs

Peacemakers in the making Young Amnesty activists pay an informative trip to the Houses of Parliament

By Felix van Oordt Students from Hillview school in Tonbridge as well as other Amnesty Youth Members were invited to meet with the UK’s permanent representative to the UN, Dame Karen Pierce, last month in the Houses of Parliament.

It was due to the girls’ involvement in their school’s Amnesty International Youth Club that they were able to be a part of this rare opportunity, which the school were very appreciative of with English teacher, Catherine Bishop saying: “The Hillview Amnesty group are incredibly active and determined to raise awareness of human rights defenders around the world.” Pupils from Years 8, 10 and 12 went on the trip to Parliament.

Ms Pierce was asked a range of questions

by Jazmin Bartram, Maddy Checkley and Heather Maxwell in year 12, including one regarding the support of human rights defenders, to which she replied: “The Foreign Office need to be more co-ordinated and organised [when meeting with human rights defenders],” and that they need “more support and funding for protection.”

The Senior Civil Servant also commented on what it takes for young people aspiring to work for the government or the United

Nations (UN), stating that anyone wanting to pursue a career in these areas will firstly need a degree as well as ‘experience in the field showing that you understand international relations and relationships.’

During their visit the Hillview students also engaged in informative debates with various Amnesty members and MPs During their visit the Hillview students also engaged in informative debates with various Amnesty Members and MPs such as Labour’s Ann Clwyd. One of the areas they touched on was the issue of human rights and how it is a cause for concern in many countries who treat it as an internal matter instead of being held accountable if human rights are compromised.

Afterwards, all the girls met with Rani Ali, a legal Syrian refugee who now lives and works as a journalist in Austria. They were told about how the funding in the department she works in is being cut due to money restrictions.

Rani then talked to the year 10 Hillview pupils individually about her friends in

Syria who couldn’t leave the country and those who had died there and about how the guards at the border would often shoot without warning. The girls reportedly thought her story was ‘very emotional.’

This experience helped create the basis for some of the students’ main requests of the UK government, which is that they develop a strategy for human rights campaigners across all political parties that is gender sensitive with funding as soon as possible. After their visit, the girls want to work with the UN to demand that Saudi Arabia release women who defended the right to independence but are still in prison for driving alone.

“It’s fantastic to see that our students have such a strong social conscience and awareness of global issues,” Catherine told the Times post trip.

During the event, Ann Clwyd (Chairwoman of the Parliamentary Human Rights Group) gave speeches about the work that the Defenders do with Kate Allen (Director, Amnesty International UK) providing extra information about the Amnesty International BRAVE campaign, that encourages people to stand up for human rights defenders around the world, and the students also got the chance to visit a viewing area and sit in on a debate between the politicians on Brexit.

NEWS IN BRIEF

Pupils take part in Japan Day Last week pupils at St Augustine’s primary school in Tunbridge Wells celebrated the ‘vibrant and fascinating’ culture of Japan during a specially themed event.

Japan Day saw the children dressing up in traditional Japanese attire in order to enhance their cultural learning experience which was brought to them by The Japan Society. Throughout the day pupils within the school were taught about the Japanese alphabet, how to count to twenty and participated in food tastings

and origami workshops. A spokesperson for the school said: “A huge and special thank you to our teachers and the Japanese Society for all their time and wonderful resources.”

Science lessons Hayesbrook School invited two year 4 classes from The Slade primary to participate in a joint science lesson last week. The venture’s key aim was to introduce the younger children to learning about the subjects of chemistry, biology and physics. The lesson was also shared virtually on Twitter via both schools’ social media accounts.

Wednesday July 3 | 2019

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Letters

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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 Weekday festival just wasn’t cricket – organisers should do their homework I was disappointed by Tunbridge Wells Cricket Week [Kent v Nottinghamshire at the Nevill Ground, June 17-20].

The grounds were under 25 per cent full on the two afternoons I attended.

Most of the audience appeared to be over pension age and predominantly male. There were very few children. The number of marquees was reduced.

Junior cricket at the Nevill is thriving with excellent coaching and there is a long waiting list. Junior members had the opportunity of a

complementary ticket but very few attended.

It is really unfortunate that the match was on Monday to Thursday, when most people go to work and children have to be at school and do homework after school.

If only the matches started on a Friday I am sure the attendance on the Saturday and Sunday would have been huge.

Such a shame and such a waste of a beautiful ground and superb facilities.

Max Lewis Tunbridge Wells

SILLY MID-OFF Few schoolchildren were able to attend the midweek match

Decision to delay was undemocratic Your report on the Extraordinary Council meeting [June 19] described the proposal by Alan McDermott, the Leader of Tunbridge Wells Borough Council, to delay the decision to terminate the ill-conceived Calverley Square project as a bold one.

Given recent local election results, most of those attending the meeting viewed it as cynical and undemocratic.

You also report that a number of local businesses are keen to see the civic complex go ahead. Why wouldn’t they be? The council is looking to spend £90million of local residents’ money (against their will, if the outcome of the May elections is to be believed) to pay a handful of builders, lawyers, consultants and advertising managers to take forward a project of dubious merit.

This is a classic example of crony capitalism.

Why Gavin Tyler thinks it is incumbent on those against Calverley Square to come up with alternatives is difficult to understand. In a democratic society, it is up to the council to convince those whose money it plans to spend that the expenditure is justified.

So, instead of ignoring those they purport to represent, the council should face reality, terminate the project now and start looking for alternative solutions that can secure popular approval.

Politics is, after all, the art of the possible.

James Tansley Tunbridge Wells

Now’s the time to make a difference I agree with Mr Tyler that the opponents of Calverley Square must put forward some constructive ideas [May 19].

The signs so far are not encouraging. The recent council meeting held to discuss the matter was full of the usual group of opponents, heckling those who don’t agree with their entrenched views.

The speakers against Calverley Square sneered about ‘so-called experts’, and made some of the

same points that were comprehensively rejected at the recent public inquiry.

During the debate, two Labour councillors put up their hands to say it is not the job of the opposition to come up with ideas. They seem to be following the Jeremy Corbyn model, ignoring the chaos this has caused, not to mention the resulting slump in support for their own party.

I’m a Conservative councillor but I am not saying the above to score political points. I believe all elected representatives should try to make a positive difference, regardless of the political party they represent.

So it’s time for the opposition to stop their relentlessly negative campaigns and play their part in moving our town forward.

Matthew Bailey Conservative councillor for Paddock Wood (West)

We are already offering an alternative I really would appreciate the opportunity to reply to criticisms of the Tunbridge Wells Alliance [May 19].

Firstly, I disagree with Gavin Tyler of Cripps when he says it is ‘incumbent’ (long word) on those against Calverley Square to come up with alternatives. That is not a reasonable requirement for an opposition that has had little real access to the necessary information and resources that would be needed.

However, the Tunbridge Wells Alliance [TWA] did, in fact, propose a motion on Monday June 17 which recommended a process for identifying such alternatives. This was voted down by the Conservative majority.

Secondly, love or hate the Lib Dems, it is completely unfair of them to claim the result as their victory. It was not ‘their’ motion that was carried, as your paper stated, but the TWA motion (albeit amended) that received the ‘yes’ vote. The second (Lib Dem) motion was withdrawn.

Thirdly, yes Cllr Pope and another of our founder members could be described as NIMBYs

(aren’t we all when it comes to it, Calverley – even you?) However, please remember that five of our six councillors are not, and the same applies to the rest of our committee, the vast majority of our 200 or so registered party members, and our many other listed supporters.

That council meeting showed one important thing not yet mentioned. For the first time since this debacle began, Conservative councillors have publicly acknowledged that the public at large are against this vainglorious project.

Voting does make a difference!

Bob Atwood Former Chair, Tunbridge Wells Alliance

So, now with the new contract, we will have to find storage for: A black bin, if opting in; a green bin for general waste; a brown bin for plastics and bottles; a green container for paper and cardboard; and, finally, a caddy and a lockable bin for food waste.

It would be much simpler if everything went into one bin except paper and card, then KCC [Kent County Council] commissions a waste separation plant at the front end of a waste-toenergy incinerator, and remove five containers from each property and a huge saving on collection costs.

Roy Bullock Lamberhurst

No more homeless in empty shopfronts

No time to waste for this Tory council

Isn’t it about time that Tunbridge Wells Borough Council compelled owners/landlords of vacant retail premises to board up the front of such empty buildings, to avoid them being taken up as a place of residence by the homeless?

The former Maplin shop in Grosvenor Road, for example, has been vacant for many months and there is little prospect of an immediate resumption of use, but it seems the council continues to be content with allowing this once beautiful town to exhibit its failings, whilst pretending to seek its brighter future!

Unclean streets and cars allowed to park on pavements, through lack of proper parking facilities, are not conducive to encouraging the return to a town that we could all value.

Martin Dawes Via email

Could someone at your paper perhaps investigate why garden waste collections cost £40 per annum in Tonbridge and £52 in Tunbridge Wells when they’re all under the same contract?

Further profiteering by those Tory councillors again?

Mike Palastanga Langton Green

Wine bars are not new development It is disappointing, to say the least, to read that Meryl Flashman, Chair of Paddock Wood Town Council, appears to have already waved the white flag of surrender when she says ‘we have to accept the development is coming’ [June 12].

Quite why she thinks having a wine bar and restaurant is dependent on building on a vast area of the green belt is a mystery. One would have thought Paddock Wood’s existing population of almost 10,000 would be more than enough to support good bars, pubs and restaurants; they exist in other towns of a similar size, after all.

Perhaps a little more effort on the part of the council that Mrs Flashman chairs could have encouraged the sort of businesses she wants to patronise?

Don Foreman Capel

Refusing to see this simple solution Bright sparks at the Town Hall love change.

Additional income to fund the Calverley project was required, so garden waste carries a charge.

That required a different coloured bin.

Then another spark: Doorstep collection of glass, all colours to be mixed together. Useless for glass recycling so to road-fill it will go.

Then: Let the council produce methane from food waste, so more separation and more bins!

Where does that leave us, the poor residents?

1) Those who opt into the green waste collection at an initial cost will be provided with an additional black bin.

2) The redundant brown bin will be used for collection of glass bottles and plastic, no doubt to be then separated at some material separation plant.

3) All residences will be provided with an additional food caddy for the kitchen and a lockable bin for the food waste to be deposited in.

Bin and gone, leaving a mess behind I am worried about the new waste collections.

Cheapness is far from best.

For the first couple of weeks they missed us – half of Pembury one week, then the second week running they missed us at the Gill and Herons Way. Also, the bins were left in a mess on both occasions.

Now the council says contractors will carry out further training, but surely these people should have had proper training first, not after the event? We await the unbelievable excuses.

AW Russell Pembury

Toilet closures would be inconvenient The euphoria of victories for Greens, Liberal Democrats and Independents in May’s borough council elections should not lead us to forget that we still have a Tory council in Tonbridge.

Expect more building on the Green Belt, more destruction of local land sites and continued cuts to local services.

More generally, the council seems to have a consistent policy of depriving us of local amenities. Recently, it was proposed that the toilets near the Castle and some of those in the Angel Centre should be closed.

Neil Kinnock once warned us not to get ill under a Tory government. To this might now be added: don’t have weak bladder under a Tory borough council.

Robert Oliver Via email

Should you show Calverley the door?

I wonder if you might have a word with that Calverley fellow?

In the Times [June 19] he wrote that the cups that he wanted in Waitrose had all gone and ‘So was Calverley, out the door’. This might have been a misguided attempt to be trendy, or perhaps he knows no better, but the fact is that he left via the door. Out the door indeed!

I think it will be sufficient to speak to him very severely about his appalling misuse of the English language, but other readers might consider that too lenient.

If they do, I shall be interested to read their comments and, of course, your own.

Roger Sayers Tunbridge Wells

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Nus Ghani

Conservative MP for Wealden

Wednesday July 3 | 2019

Nus Ghani was elected MP for Wealden in May 2015 and represents Crowborough, Eridge and Uckfield, among other towns and villages. She also currently serves as Parliamentary UnderSecretary of State at the Department for Transport and is Assistant Government Whip. In 2018, Ms Ghani became the first Muslim woman to speak from the House of Commons Despatch Box. The Times also publishes comment from the Labour, Liberal Democrat and Green parties.

For older people loneliness can be a sad reality of life On National Care Home Day, I visited Woodlands Care Home in Crowborough. What I found, much to my surprise, were toddlers and the seaside!

Woodlands residents have been working together with local toddler groups, school children and other community groups over past weeks to design a seaside themed corridor at Woodlands care home.

It’s a brilliant example of intergenerational care: one of the most important tools we can use to bring our communities together and fight the modern day scourge of loneliness in our society.

With young people learning from their elders, they are given a tangible link to the past, a new way of seeing the world, and a better understanding of their heritage.

Older people are given an amazing opportunity to engage with young people, to be creative, and, most importantly of all, to revel in the laughter of young people.

Then everyone eats cake. It sounds like a pretty good deal to me for all concerned!

But, it isn’t just National Care Home Day that’s got me thinking about how young and old come together in Wealden though.

Another event I recently attended, in Crowborough as well, struck me for a different reason.

With the 75th anniversary of D-Day passing this year, so close to Armed Forces Day, it would be hard not to be struck by the heritage and history all around us.

One of the most poignant parts of the ceremony I was part of, was watching young Air Cadets

standing shoulder-to-shoulder with members of the Royal British Legion, carrying Union Flags and Regimental Colours.

There too, I saw the same opportunity for people to learn from each other, old and young.

Through parades, through ceremonial music, and through young people performing 1940s dances, I saw our history come alive, and young and old alike brought together in that moment, a single, vibrant community that I am incredibly proud to represent in Parliament.

But, from studies that we see in the paper every day, I know this isn’t the reality for everyone.

What is clear though is that for too many people, loneliness is the sad reality of modern life.

like in Woodlands, and in that moving parade and ceremony.

In my own role I’ve been working to see how bus interiors can be designed to help with social interaction or considering how to roll out ‘chatty buses’: where ambassadors are on-board bus services to talk to anyone who wants a chat.

We’ve got a long way to go, but the impact of events like that at Woodlands, and Armed Forces Day, shows, that when we come together as a community, there is something incredibly power-

ful at work.

There is so much that can be gained from all of us reaching out, whether that’s through volunteering, or just having a cuppa with our neighbours more often than we do.

It’s about linking us together, binding us into that rich tapestry of our communities, our history, our heritage.

It’s vital we bring together our community at a time where we feel more divided, and right here in Wealden, we are doing just that.

Ambassadors That’s something that I’ve campaigned to end, both in Wealden, as a Minister for Loneliness in the Department for Transport.

The work done across government seems to be really helping: It marks a shift in the way we see and act on loneliness, both within government and across society.

It builds on years of work by many individuals and organisations, and highlights the importance of the national conversation on loneliness and the importance of social connections.

The government has increased the amount of funding available for groups who want to use community spaces to bring people together: just

James Rand

Liberal Democrat councillor for Culverden

OLD AND YOUNG: Residents of Woodlands Care Home in Crowborough with the local toddler group

James Rands was born in Pembury and educated at the Skinners’ School prior to reading for a first degree at King’s and joining the Army. He moved back to Tunbridge Wells in 2018 and won Culverden ward for the Liberal Democrats in May of this year.

Real co-operation, or smoke and mirrors?

Conservative councillors in Tunbridge Wells need to stop talking vaguely about co-operation and give us some evidence they actually want to work with other parties.

Just over two weeks ago, an extraordinary Full Council meeting was called by the Lib Dems, in order to debate the Conservatives’ £94m town hall and theatre plans on Calverley Grounds.

A number of Conservative councillors voted in favour of an amended motion to stop any additional spend on the project until we see design documents from the current stage (which have already been paid for).

Council vote on whether or not to proceed to build, rather than leaving Cabinet (yes those 6 Conservative councillors) to decide behind closed doors - a sensible and democratic way to proceed. However every Cabinet member voted

against this motion.

We hear the new leadership want a more collaborative style of government and that all sounds great, but where’s the evidence? I was certainly one of those who was optimistic about the new

Collaborative This is good news. But we’re still in the position that Cabinet (6 Conservative councillors) could ignore Full Council and decide to push this hugely unpopular project through.

They can do this despite there being no majority in the town or council for the plan as it stands. So if they want to salvage something from this the Conservatives will have to engage positively with the other parties.

At the meeting a larger number of Conservative councillors supported our motion for a Full

CALVERLEY SQUARE: Liberal Democrats have called on the Cabinet to give Full Council the final say on whether the project continues

regime; I fear I was wrong.

The Lib Dems have three simple demands prior to co-operating, which give us assurance that the project will not just plough on regardless. Why can’t we get an unequivocal answer on those?

Perhaps this was just a cack-handed attempt at unity. We heard Tory councillors vote to pause the scheme both because this was vital to save the project, and because it was a first step to ending the project. Well they can’t have it both ways.

But perhaps this is something more sinister than an attempt to hold together a collapsing party.

The Cabinet have suggested a period of crossparty consultation.

There is every indication that this period will be too short to generate a meaningful response that they will insist that if another plan is not produced to their satisfaction their plan is accepted by default, and that they will impose arbitrary standards which ensure no alternative is acceptable (standards which, truthfully, their own scheme also falls short of).

So what is it? Are we actually on the verge of a new era of co-operation or are we witnessing ‘House of Cards’ as played by the cast of ‘Carry On’? We need deeds not words.

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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…

The INDOOR POOL …

Wednesday July 3 | 2019

Berenden Park

Ashford Road, High Halden GUIDE PRICE

£2,950,000 CONTACT • Savills, Cranbrook • 01580 720161 • savills.co.uk You really can get away from it all in this amazing country estate. The focus is firmly on luxury leisure, including a fabulous indoor pool, plus equestrian facilities and 55 acres to play in.

MAIN POINTS OF INTEREST Period-style Main House

n Reception hall n Drawing/dining room n Study with French doors to courtyard n Kitchen/breakfast/family room n Principal bedroom suite with dressing room n 4 further bedrooms (3 en-suite) n Courtyard linking house to lodge Lodge & indoor Pool

n Sitting room with wood-burning stove n Kitchen/dining room n Study and Conservatory n Bedroom suite n Superb indoor pool complex n 32ft games room Grounds and equestrian facilities

n Landscaped gardens with ponds n Extensive garaging and office outbuilding n 3 stables, hay store, tack room and allweather manege

n Long driveway with electric gates n In total about 55 acres

Wednesday July 3 | 2019

The PATIO…

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The PRICE…

Frant Road Tunbridge Wells GUIDE PRICE

£295,750 (Share of freehold)

CONTACT • Bracketts, Tunbridge Wells • 01892 533733 • bracketts.co.uk

A real buy – a ground floor 2-bedroom apartment with its own entrance and lawned garden, plus a garage.

MAIN POINTS OF INTEREST n Reception/dining room with real wood parquet flooring and fireplace n Conservatory n Kitchen/breakfast room with larder n 2 bedrooms and a family bathroom n Good sized private garden n Garage en bloc

Hastings Road Pembury

£725,000 CONTACT • Barnes Kingsnorth, Pembury • 01892 822880 • bkestateagents.com A handsome family home combining period features with thoroughly modern living, featuring exposed brickwork, sash windows and a stunning patio in the feature garden.

MAIN POINTS OF INTEREST n Sitting room with bay window and shutters, plus living-flame style gas fire

n Second reception room (currently used as a

Owls Nest Dower House Crescent Tunbridge Wells GUIDE PRICE

£1,100,000 CONTACT • Jackson-Stops, Tunbridge Wells • 01892 521700 • jackson-stops.co.uk

games room) with fireplace

n Kitchen with breakfast bar and gas Rayburn oven open to wide dining area with bi-fold doors to garden

n Utility room n Ground floor wet room n Master bedroom with en-suite shower room

An attractive, extended family home on the Bidborough/Southborough borders.

MAIN POINTS OF INTEREST n Wide drawing room with doors to terrace n Family room with curved bay window

and far-reaching views

n Good-sized study

n 4 further bedrooms

n Kitchen/breakfast room and utility room

n Family bathroom

n Master bedroom suite with lovely views

n Garden with sheltered patio, a large level lawn

n 3 further bedrooms and a family bathroom

and 2 large timber stores

n Garden with terrace, shed and greenhouse

n Driveway parking for 4 cars

n In all about 0.25 of an acre

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AT A GLANCE STEPHENS ROAD TUNBRIDGE WELLS n An immaculate three-storey home with fumed oak engineered wood flooring throughout the ground floor n Through living/dining reception room with original timber sash windows and New England-style shutters.

Plus painted fireplaces with cast iron inserts. Open to: n Kitchen/breakfast room with central island, breakfast bar, underfloor heating and full-width bi-fold doors to patio and garden n Cloakroom n First floor reception room/bedroom 2 with Victorian fireplace n 2 further first floor bedrooms n Family bathroom with double-ended feature bath n Top floor master bedroom with ensuite shower and Velux skylights n Brick-paved patio leading to lawned garden

GUIDE PRICE

£700,000

CONTACT • Bracketts, Tunbridge Wells • 01892 533733 • bracketts.co.uk

A refurbished family home in the heart of the Tunbridge Wells schools district

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Connells invites buyers for first look at

The Nightingales in Crowborough Stunning show home complex open days on July 6 and 7, 10am - 5pm Connells invites you to The Nightingales where we will be showcasing three stunning Show Homes which include The Aspen - 2 bedroom house, The River Birch - 3 bedroom house and The Noble Fir - 4 bedroom house.

Carefully designed by longstanding and award-winning developer Riverdale Developments and positioned within green open spaces to complement its countryside surroundings, the development includes a wide variety of differently designed homes with unrivalled high quality specification interiors, with something to suit everyone.

Crowborough is very commutable whilst still enjoying a peaceful setting “The Nightingales is the first significant new build site in Crowborough for a long time, expanding housing options for local property hunters, and giving them the opportunity to enjoy all the benefits a brand new home brings,” says Stephen Lightfoot, New Homes Sales Manager at Connells Tunbridge Wells. “We are extremely excited to invite customers to our launch weekend, where we will be opening three stunning show homes at once, giving the choice to view one of our two bedroom, three bedroom and four bedroom properties.

“Crowborough is very commutable whilst still enjoying a peaceful setting in one of the country’s prettiest areas, and this will be a big draw for many. We fully expect these homes to attract a lot of attention and look forward to showcasing them over our event,” concludes Stephen.

Situated in the picturesque market town of Crowborough in the High Weald Area of Outstanding National Beauty, The Nightingales is ideally located. The town’s thriving high street is just a short walk away and provides all the essential amenities, as well as a variety of traditional pubs and restaurants, good schools, leisure and shopping facilities and a monthly farmers market.

For outdoor pursuits, Crowborough has many parks, open spaces and nature reserves including Crowborough Country Park, Goldsmiths Recreation Ground and the world-famous forest of Ashdown (home of Winnie the Pooh).

Stephen Lightfoot added, “Having worked with Riverdale Developments on another of their projects recently, I can honestly say how impressed I am with the quality and attention to detail of their homes. This was clear from the numerous positive comments we had from buyers and visitors alike. It made our job of selling their beautiful homes that much easier.”

Prices at The Nightingales start from £325,000 and buyers can utilise the Government-backed Help to Buy scheme*, which provides greater assistance for first-time buyers and existing homeowners to get onto or move up the property ladder.

For further information and to register your interest in attending the show home launch weekend on 6th and 7th July, between 10am – 5pm, please contact Connells Tunbridge Wells on 01892 547966 or email: tunbridgewells@connells.co.uk

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Property Focus

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NEW HOMES

Put the wind in your sails with a great buy MAIN DEVELOPMENT

Windmill Place Dads Hill Cross in Hand PRICES FROM

£375,000 CONTACT • Wood & Pilcher, Heathfield • 01435 667520 • woodandpilcher.co.uk There are just six new homes remaining at Windmill Place in Cross in Hand, a village development just 1.5 miles from the popular market town of Heathfield.

The development is also superbly placed for access to Tunbridge Wells, Lewes, Brighton and Eastbourne – so this rural collection from Whitehall Homes really does place you in the heart of the area and all of its attractions, including leafy country lanes, gastro pubs and fresh-from-the-oven bread from an artisanal bakery!

MAIN POINTS OF INTEREST (Sample list. Specifications and features may vary from home to home)

n Tiled floors and carpets included throughout n Coving to reception rooms and hallway

Windmill Place takes its name from an iconic local Grade II-listed post mill, built in 1806, described as being ‘the most important unrestored windmill in the country’ n Wood burner n Stylish kitchens manufactured in the UK using German engineered mechanical parts with Silestone and granite worktops and stainless steel appliances n Laundry room n Polished ironmongery n Oak balustrade and handrail

n His & Hers built-in wardrobes with full height mirrored doors n Sottini designer bathrooms n Brushed stainless steel sockets with USB compatibility n Garages and driveways n 5.3 miles from Buxted Station; 1.5 miles from Heathfield; 13.5 miles from Tunbridge Wells

AFFORDABLE HOUSING

WEEKLY CHARGE FOR RENTED PROPERTIES

Windmill Place also includes a good selection of affordable homes for local people, bought by Wealden District Council as part of a £1.9million investment.

Cllr Graham Wells, Cabinet Member for Housing, explains: “As part of the council’s planning policies, 35% of new developments of a certain size should be affordable.

“By buying these newly built homes we are able to offer affordable rental options to local people through Sussex Homemove.

“Local people are finding it increasingly difficult to find affordable rental accommodation in the villages where they may have lived and worked all their lives.”

1 BED 3 BED

£125.34 £154.90

CONTACT • Wealden District Council Housing & Property Services • 01323 443380 • wealden.gov.uk • To apply for waiting list, visit sussexhomemove.org.uk

MAIN POINTS OF INTEREST n 7 homes for affordable rent comprising 4 x one-bedroom flats; 2 x two-bedroom houses; 1 x three-bedroom house n 2 homes for shared equity provided by Landspeed n Section 106 quota site n General Needs

Wednesday July 3 | 2019

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Wednesday July 3 | 2019

Portrait of the artist as a young man

Former St Gregory’s pupil Michael Shepherd is a professional artist who was picked as a contestant for Sky Arts’ Portrait Artist of the Year 2019. He is also currently exhibiting his show Senses Sea Sail Sights, inspired by city and landscapes, at Trinity Theatre. Here he tells Eileen Leahy all about his passion for illustration So Michael, can you tell us a bit about yourself?

I graduated from the University of Northampton in 2017 with a BA degree in Fine Art Painting and Drawing and I’m just about to complete the final year of my Masters in Fine Art at Nottingham Trent University.

How would you sum up your work?

My practice is all about comparing the environments of cityscapes and landscapes, inspired by my travels as my alter ego MJ the Art Traveller. My aim is to illustrate how different, unknown places can be perceived or expressed through visual studies of them.

Working with self-portraiture helps create a personal perspective too which is why I have created an alter ego MJ the Art Traveller. That way I can demonstrate how he is thinking about how he sees the world.

I came across the Sky Arts Portrait Artist of the Year competition in 2013 when it was first launched. For me it was interesting to watch artists paint celebrities and experience art other than creating work myself or visiting exhibitions When did you become interested in art?

I enjoyed drawing from a young age, mainly sketching cartoon characters out of books. I

studied at St. Gregory’s Catholic Comprehensive School from 2007 until 2014 and during this time I became very passionate about art. My teachers Mrs Cooke, Mr Teckham and Mr Matthews really supported and encouraged me.

How did you come to be picked for the prestigious Sky Arts competition?

I came across the Sky Arts Portrait Artist of the Year competition in 2013 when it was first launched. For me it was interesting to watch artists paint celebrities and experience art other than creating work myself or visiting exhibitions. Before I graduated in 2017 a support mentor at university advised me to apply for Sky Arts’ other painting show Landscape Artist of the Year 2017. I got a wildcard entry and then at the start of 2018 applied to take part on Portrait of the Artist 2019. A few weeks later, I got a call from them saying I had been shortlisted to take part in the competition at the Wallace Collection in London.

Without giving away how you got on, can you tell us about your personal experience of it?

It was great to be part of. In four hours, I was proud I could accomplish a celebrity portrait, in my case one of the actor James Purefoy. His comment on my painting was: “That is a fantastic version of me. I like how you have made me look all twisted up and in pain!”

What did you gain from doing it?

A lot of confidence and popularity! After sharing my story about the competition with

both the University of Northampton and Nottingham Trent University, I appeared on various local radio and TV stations and had a few online articles written including one by Left Lion Magazine.

Hopefully visitors can discover a new exploration of how a sense of place can be reproduced or defined from a disorientated perspective. The message of my work is always unpredictable.

You are currently showing your Senses Sea Sail Sights exhibition at Trinity Theatre what’s it about?

It focuses on capturing landscapes, coastlines, seascapes and skyscrapers in an abstract way.

When it comes to exhibiting I always like my artwork to do the talking but MJ The Art Traveller will also be making an appearance!

The Senses Sea Sail Sights exhibition is currently on at Trinity Theatre every day until Saturday July 6. Sky Arts’ Portrait of the Artist is being shown again on Channel 4 every Saturday at 5pm and you can catch Michael’s episode this Saturday, July 6.

COMPETITION TIME Michael with Sky’s Portrait Artist judge Stephen Mangan

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Arts & Culture

Murder they wrote

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JOINT VENTURE Robert Rees and Deborah Lawrenson

Penshurst-based writers Robert Rees and Deborah Lawrenson have had two books published under their joint pen name Serena Kent as part of a new series of books set in the south of France. The first one, Death in Provence, came out last summer and the follow-up, Death in Avignon was published at the end of last month.

The books are what the couple describe as ‘cosy mysteries’ with a ‘vivid setting’ in the South of France.

“They combine armchair travel with a detective puzzle and humour with an optimistic look at a woman starting a new life at fifty,” explains Deborah.

So far, so normal but then a real life dramatic twist earlier this year saw a slight spanner in the works being thrown into finalisation of the second instalment.

“Rob broke his

leg skiing in Switzerland in March which rather complicated our work on the final edits and proofreading on Death in Avignon,” continues Deborah who is a successful author in her own right having published a number of books including The Lantern, The Art of Falling and 300 Days of Sun to much critical acclaim.

“He had to be helicoptered off the top of the Lauberhorn mountain in Wengen. He spent a week in hospital in Interlaken after an operation to pin his thigh bone was carried out.”

Robert picks up the story: “Seven days looking at the wall of a Swiss hospital ward (which I shared with an unusually loquacious psychiatrist from Bern) gave me plenty of time to think of the next plot for our fictitious heroine Penelope Kite. Back home, I have threatened my physiotherapist with being included in the next novel as a villain unless she stops causing me such

PHOTO: Craig Matthews

Husband and wife Robert Rees and Deborah Lawrenson write jointly as Serena Kent for their series of ‘cosy mystery’ stories set in the south of France. So what’s their story?

agony in the hydrotherapy pool. So every cloud has a few silver linings!”

Robert, who turned to writing after a career in the city, returned home walking ‘very slowly and painfully’ on crutches but has made good progress, and is now getting about with just a walking stick.

“Somehow, between assuming the role of cottage hospital matron, chauffeur, chief administrator, cook and waitress, I managed to do the final edits and capitalised on Rob’s immobility by making him do the proofreading. No excuses!” laughs Deborah.

But the couple who will have been married for 30 years later this year, after meeting as undergraduates at Trinity College, Cambridge, know that this minor blip won’t jeopardise their working relationship.

‘Some of our arguments over plot - and occasionally single words - have been worse than any domestics’

“It would be a dreadful shame to fall out now…mind you, it is harder than I thought it would be to write a book with someone else. Some of our arguments over plot and occasionally single words - have been worse than any domestics,” chides Deborah.

“We’ve been asked to do various talks about the trials and tribulations of writing together,” says Robert. “How to write a murder mystery together without actually committing murder” was the obvious tag-line!’

Robert and Deborah will be doing a number of talks as Serena Kent, one of which will be held locally at The Bookshop in East Grinstead on July 11. Details on eastgrinsteadbookshop.co.uk For more information on Serena Kent visit serena-kent.com

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Going Out

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goingout 7 days of activities

WEDNESDAY MJ The Art Traveller’s exhibition Senses Sea Sail Sights is now open at Trinity Theatre. His stated mission is to find clarity between the ‘corrupted cityscapes and sea sail shores’ by recording environments and abstract representations

Wednesday July 3| 2019

By Jerome Bowman

between different places. You can see his signature charcoal works for free from 10am every day until Saturday. For more information, go to trinitytheatre.net THURSDAY Providing that you are not in a rush, eating something you have grown yourself is immensely satisfying, which is why Pashley Manor Gardens are holding a Kitchen Garden Week.

Their current kitchen garden was designed in 1990 as recreation for a Victorian potager, and its produce is used in the café on site today. There will be chances to talk to the gardeners and seek advice on your own projects, as well as to find out how produce is used in the café. Entry costs £11. For more information and to book, visit pashleymanorgardens.com FRIDAY Classical saxophonist Amy Dickson is playing at St Mary’s Church in Lamberhurst tonight from 7.30pm. The prolific musician has been nominated twice for a Grammy Award and was FEELING BLUE: Handle Egyptian artefacts at Chiddingstone

AN ENGLISH PROM See the Tonbridge Philharmonic at St Stephen’s Church recently voted as being among the six best classical saxophonists in BBC Music Magazine. Amy will be playing both traditional pieces by Ravel, Chopin and Rachmaninov and more contemporary music from film scores by composers such as Philip Glass. To book tickets, which cost £20, go to lamberhurstmusic.co.uk The Close-Up Show is back at The Stag Theatre in Sevenoaks. It’s an intimate magic show held in the bar, where you will get to see incredible sleights of hand. Watch coins, cards and your own belongings disappear before your eyes (don’t worry, the magicians have promised to return them!) Featuring Danny Grew, Mike Vincent and Chris Wood, the show starts at 7.30pm. Tickets cost £19.50 and can be booked at stagsevenoaks.co.uk

SATURDAY Pop down to the Langton Green Fete between 12noon and 5pm. Held on the village green, the event will have a raffle, a toy stall, beer and Pimm’s, a barbecue, live music and a Tug of War among other things. There will also be a Fun Dog Show and a Fortune Teller to map out your future – if you are brave enough to hear it! The Royal National Lifeboat Institution will be among those with stalls, in their case selling souvenirs, gifts and preserves. For more information, visit langtongreen.org.uk The Tonbridge Philharmonic Society are holding their last concert of the summer season at St Stephen’s Church in Tonbridge, at 8pm.

An English Prom will feature pieces by some of Britain’s most prestigious composers, including

Wednesday July 3| 2019

FOR EVEN MORE NEWS VISIT: timeslocalnews.co.uk session, letting you handle the ancient artefacts without invoking a plague of locusts. This a drop-in session and entrance is included in the standard price of entry to the castle. If you are a member of the Young Archaeologists’ Club, you can enter for free. For more information, visit chiddingstonecastle.org.uk The Picture House Uckfield is celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Moon landings by screening the experimental epic The Right Stuff at 7pm. Directed by Philip Kaufman, the historical drama follows the stories of the test

PICK OF THE WEEK: CLASSICAL SAX Amy Dickson is playing at St Mary’s Church in Lamberhurst Elgar, Holst, and Walton. The concert will be conducted by new Music Director Mark Biggins.

Tickets cost £16 for adults. To see concession prices and book, go online to tonphil.org.uk For the last two decades of the 19th century, Ellen Terry was Britain’s leading Shakespearean actress, and Smallhythe Place near Tenterden, where she lived for almost 30 years, is offering the opportunity to see some of her and her fellow actors’ costumes. The Costume Tours will give the story behind every carefully preserved garment and are a must for theatrical history fans. This is the first of four dates you can view them this year, and tickets cost £5 in addition to the normal admission charge. To book, call 01580 762334.

SUNDAY To celebrate the Council for British Archaeology’s forthcoming nationwide Festival of Archaeology, Chiddingstone Castle are holding an Ancient Egyptian Object Handling session between 11.30am and 3.30pm. Castle Curator Naomi Collick and consultant curator Tom Hardwick will be on hand to guide you through the

RTWAS Summer Exhibition Sussex House, 61 Lower Pantiles Open until July 14, 10am-4pm

Going Out

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pilots involved in aeronautical research prior to and including Project Mercury, which sent the first Americans into space. Tickets, which cost £9.50, can be booked at picturehouseuckfield.com MONDAY The Fairfax Gallery’s Summer Exhibition is still open in The Pantiles, featuring new work from gallery favourites as well as new artists. The gallery is open seven days a week and is free to enter. For more information, visit fairfaxgallery.com

To celebrate its 85th birthday, The Royal Tunbridge Wells Art Society, the oldest art society in the South East, have curated a wide range of works, including traditional paintings and more modern eclectic pieces and sculptures.

The exhibition features established artists as well as upand-coming ones. Entrance to the gallery is free, and if you are interested in becoming a member, or finding out more about the talks and workshops also available, visit rtwas.org

TRAVEL ALONG To the Langton Green fete TUESDAY Join Secret Art Parties at The Black Pig in Grove Hill Road from 7pm. Learn how to recreate Winifred Nicholson’s vivid use of colour and impressionistic style in her painting The Isle of Man from St Bees. Tickets cost £40 per head and include a drink and nibbles. For more information and bookings, visit secretartparties.co.uk

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Going Out

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THE SUSSEX ARMS BASEMENT Sussex Mews Show details and tickets from twforum.co.uk Saturday Band Minha, The Pillows

SEVENOAKS SUMMER FESTIVAL Venues vary See sevenoaksfestival.org.uk Wednesday (8.30pm The Anchor Inn) Bagge & Armer Sunday (3pm Vine Bandstand) Ian Fox Monday (3pm The Anchor Inn) Ty and Ayesha and friends

live music With Paul Dunton

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ONIGHT (Wednesday), local singer-songwriter Gronk is at The Grey Lady Music Lounge.

Thursday sees Jivin’ Miss Daisy at Jazz on The Pantiles, and Folking in the Strawberries at Stonepitts Farm near Sevenoaks.

Friday night includes a two-act bonanza at The Halfway House, Brenchley, with Stuart Evans and The Violet Jive. The Danny Lee Band return to The Bedford, Pete & Del are at The Royal Oak , The Bob Bernard Quartet are at The Grey Lady, and popular rockers The Gallerys headline The Forum with support from Spinner, Mike Wilton and Stone Tooth.

The Tonbridge Music Weekend at Tonbridge Castle offers amazing acts over three days, with Sarah Jayne as Dolly Parton and The Hayley Sisters

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

on Friday, followed by The Rocket Man (Elton John Tribute) and Stayin’ Alive (Bee Gees Tribute) on Saturday.

Bringing things to a climatic close on Sunday is the Musical Theatre Leading Ladies with West End Star Kerry Ellis.

Saturday night also brings The Acoustic Varlies at The Beau Nash, Uplift at The Royal Oak, Duran (Duran Duran Tribute) at The Forum, and Band Minha and The Pillows at The Sussex Arms Basement. For a fantastic summer English prom concert, I highly recommend the Tonbridge Philharmonic Orchestra at St Stephen’s Church, Tonbridge, with the choir and orchestra conducted together by Michael Waldron.

And my top pick at The Sevenoaks Summer Festival is Ian Fox on the Vine Bandstand on Sunday afternoon.

THE GREY LADY MUSIC LOUNGE The Pantiles Doors 7.15pm, entry £6/£7 Websites pdag.co.uk & thegreylady.co.uk Wednesday Gronk Friday The Bob Bernard Quartet, Project 5 Sunday The Ackerleys, The Good Ship Band, Teddy Trenowden JAZZ ON THE PANTILES The Bandstand Music from 7.30pm (donations welcome) Thursday Jivin’ Miss Daisy FOLKING IN THE STRAWBERRIES Stonepitts Farm, Seal Music from 6pm-9.30pm. Price is per car Thursday Nu Mumma Choir, Sean Manuel, Isabella Coulstock, Dan Clews, The Ackerleys, Mike Wilton THE BLACK HORSE Camden Road Free entry, music from 8pm Thursday Open Jam Session MUSICSTATION Bank Street, Tonbridge Booking essential. Call 01732 350629 Thursday & Friday 8pm-9.30pm Adult Band Workshop, all levels welcome.

THE HALFWAY HOUSE Brenchley Free entry, music from 5pm-9pm Friday (5pm) Stuart Evans Duo, (7pm) The Violet Jive

Wednesday July 3 | 2019

ST STEPHEN’S CHURCH Tonbridge All event information and tickets at tonphil.org.uk Saturday Tonbridge Philharmonic Presents: An English Prom summer concert, with the choir and orchestra conducted together by Michael Waldron TONBRIDGE MUSIC WEEKEND Tonbridge Castle All event information at tonbridgemusicweekend.com Friday Sarah Jayne as Dolly Parton & The Country Super Stars, The Hayley Sisters Saturday The Rocket Man (Elton John Tribute), Stayin’ Alive (Bee Gees Tribute) Sunday Princess Picnic, plus Musical Theatre Leading Ladies featuring West End Star Kerry Ellis THE TUNBRIDGE WELLS FORUM The Common Event information and tickets at twforum.co.uk Friday The Gallerys, Spinner, Mike Wilton, Stone Tooth Saturday Duran (Duran Duran Tribute) THE ROYAL OAK Prospect Road Friday Pete & Del Saturday Uplift THE BEAU NASH TAVERN Mount Ephraim Saturday The Acoustic Varlies Sunday Open Mic Night

JUBILEE THEATRE Holmewood House School All event information and tickets at rtwso.org/chamber-recitals Sunday John Williams: Theme from Schindler’s List arranged for piano trio and Brahms: Trio in E Flat for Violin, Viola and Piano THE PUNCH & JUDY St Stephens Road, Tonbridge Free entry, music from 8pm Tuesday William Harper The Ackerleys

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Wednesday July 3 | 2019

An Italian love affair with simple fare MasterChef star Gregg Wallace met his Italian wife, Anna Sterpini, in 2013 and married her three years later at Hever Castle. Since then, he’s fallen in love with Anna’s native cooking, and the pair have just published a family cookbook together. Here’s a delicious taste of it…

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ANY people will know Gregg Wallace as the co-presenter of the BBC’s MasterChef, alongside chef John Torode, as a man who really, MARKET FORCES Anna and Gregg

really loves a pudding. Not many people think he can cook, though.

“They don’t realise!” says Wallace.

“Unfortunately, on MasterChef they don’t let me cook – I love to cook, but they don’t want me to, they want John to be the cook. You can’t work with food for 25-odd years and not be interested in cooking.”

Wallace does admit his cooking skills have evolved, however, particularly since he met his fourth wife, Anna, who is Italian.

“I do a lot more cooking than I ever did and it’s because of Anna and her family [they’re from the Lazio region, near Rome]. Oh my God, I’ve learned so much from her!”

Beauty So much so that the couple have now written a cookbook together, Gregg’s Italian Family Cookbook.

Overall it’s a collection of easy-tomake Italian classics.

“I don’t want to innovate, most are incredibly simple, and that’s the point,” says Wallace.

As well as dishes such as pizza bianca, grilled sardines and salsa di pomodoro, there are also a few you might never have tried, like gnocchi alla romana, made from semolina instead of potato, or ribollita (Tuscan

bread soup), and some that require a bit more time and effort, like Anna’s nonna Rina’s porchetta (Roman roast pork belly).

In Italian homes, it’s as much about the act of preparing a meal as it is eating it.

“Her family have taught me to just slow down,” says Wallace.

And what about puddings then?

Well, that’s one thing Wallace still thinks the British do better – although, he adds: “Anna’s coffee panna cotta is a thing of absolute beauty.”

Garlic gambas This gamberi recipe was passed down from Anna’s father, who was famous in their family for his barbecue cookery.

(Serves 4-6) Ingredients  3tbsp olive oil  3 garlic cloves, chopped  1tsp chilli flakes  28 raw large king prawns with shells on  300ml dry white wine  3tbsp finely chopped flat leaf parsley  Crusty bread to serve (optional) Method 1. Put the oil in a frying pan, add the garlic and chilli flakes and fry over a medium heat for two to three minutes.

2. Add the prawns and cook, stirring, for two to

three minutes until they turn pink.

3. Increase the heat, pour in the wine and allow to bubble for one minute so that the alcohol evaporates.

4. Sprinkle the prawns with the chopped parsley, then tumble them into a large serving dish.

5. Serve with crusty bread to mop up all the lovely juice.

Wednesday July 3 | 2019

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47

Aussie wine rules…

Times wine expert James Viner finds cause to celebrate with wines of distinction from Down Under. With twice the market share of its nearest rivals – Italy and France – Australia is the top country of origin in the off-trade and Australia’s largest export market in volume terms. Here are four brilliant bottles to try

Pesche alla griglia con panna montata (Serves 4) Ingredients  200g mascarpone cream cheese  2tsp vanilla paste  4 large ripe but firm peaches, halved with stones removed  2tbsp melted butter  8 amaretti biscuits, crushed

Method 1. Put the mascarpone and vanilla paste into a bowl and mix until smooth. Place in the refrigerator.

2. Place a griddle pan over a high heat. Meanwhile, brush the cut side of the peaches with the melted butter.

3. When the pan is hot, place the peaches on it, cut-side down, and griddle for three minutes. They are ready when the flesh is golden brown and chargrilled lines have formed.

4. Transfer the peaches to a serving plate. Place a spoonful of the chilled cream in the middle of each half.

5. Sprinkle with the amaretti and serve straight away.

Gregg’s Italian Family Cookbook by Gregg & Anna Wallace is published by Mitchell Beazley, priced £20.

Available now octopusbooks.co.uk

1) PRETTY PINK TO PAIR WITH ANY PLATE 2018 Turkey Flat Barossa Valley Grenache Rosé (£14.50, Oz Wines, Salut Wines, The Drink Shop) Nothing gives you a summer boost like a glass of rosé, and here’s an irresistible cracker from the Barossa Valley, an hour or so’s drive north of Adelaide in South Australia and home to some of the planet’s oldest vines. You could serve this by the glass in a Michelin-starred restaurant and get away with it. It trips about with strawberry, peach, raspberry, rose petal and subtle anise, delighting as it goes. Enchanting, delicious and dry. Alc 13% 2) RECHERCHÉ COOLCLIMATE CHARDONNAY WITH THE X-FACTOR 2017 Penfolds Max’s Chardonnay, Adelaide Hills (£19.99, Waitrose) Penfolds Max’s range is the winery’s tribute to former chief winemaker Max Schubert.

Celebrated for having built Grange and the Bin series, Max was hired for the role when he was aged 33 and went on to hold this position for the

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Follow James on Twitter @QuixoticWine next 27 years. This medium-bodied racy gem was matured in French oak (20% new, 80% seasoned) and is fleshy with flavour and sizzling with acidity.

Its white stone fruit, pistachio, citrus, nutmeg and creamy fig palate puts on a seductive show. The carry of flavour through to the finish goes into the realms of the magnificent. Top-notch stuff in all respects, incumbent BritishAustralian winemaker Peter Gago!

Alc 12.5%

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3) WORLD-CLASS AGED ‘TASSIE’ FIZZ FOR FANS OF KRUG & BOLLINGER RD 2007 Grand Vintage Brut, House of Arras, Tasmania (£35-£40, JustinCases, Grand Cru Co, Harrods, Liberty Wines, Dunells, Oldbridge Wine, Wine Sellers Direct) Cool Tasmania is renowned for the quality of its outstanding sparkling wines, and this one’s delectable – easily one of the most memorable half-dozen sparkling wines I have come across in Australia.

It was crafted by Oz’s most awarded sparkling winemaker, Ed Carr, and was lavished with over eight years’ ageing on its yeast lees. I seldom swallow when I’m tasting, but did so here. Shortly put, it’s a ripper and a bargain that effortlessly takes hold of every aspect of the palate, with layered toast, cocoa powder, almond, brioche, hazelnut, lemon meringue and white peach flavours. 78% chardonnay and 22% pinot noir. Five-star value. Alc 12.5% 4) VINER’S RED CELLARING CHOICE (for 2035-2040) 2014 Elderton Command Barossa Valley Shiraz (£64.50, Berry Bros & Rudd) The Ashmead family’s Elderton Command Shiraz has established a privileged standing since its maiden 1984 vintage. Patience is required as this is a wine defined by the thrust of Barossan density and the steadfast vinosity of older (120-year+!) vines. Its future is gold-plated and will handsomely repay cellaring. Hedonistic. Alc 14.5%

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Travel

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Eastern Slovenia is a wellness wonder

every spa lover should visit Healing waters, energy points and natural thermal spas – Liz Connor finds an overlooked Euro region with rest and relaxation on the menu

VER since Lonely Planet touted postcard-perfect Slovenia as one of its best value travel destinations of last year, the country has been creeping up the ranks with adventure tourists who’ve already ticked off the adrenaline-soaked treasures of the neighbouring Dalmatian Coast.

As the only country that combines four of Europe’s distinct geographical features – the Alps, the Mediterranean, the Pannonian Plain (a lowland basin) and the Karst (a rocky limestone region) – Slovenia boasts landscapes so perfect they practically ache to be hiked, canoed or traversed in whichever way you see fit.

And traverse you should – but don’t make the mistake of giving all your attention to the country’s dramatic western region (the one that’s famous for Lake Bled, the Julian Alps and Postojna Cave).

To the east lies a path less trodden by tourists, and while it might not boast the snow-capped ranges or Instagram-worthy waterfalls that form as you edge towards the Italian border, it’s just as gorgeous in its own right.

With grassy vistas, flat, rolling vineyards and neat little chocolate box villages that could be mistaken for Switzerland, here you can tap into another of the country’s well-kept natural secrets – natural Magnesium-rich springs, bubbling

services to pamper, soothe and pummel away pain. Many treatments are inspired by the ancient wisdom of Ayurveda, using holistic therapies and bespoke massage techniques, although you can’t go wrong with the classic full body massage (E39/£34.89 for 45 minutes), administered with a good slathering of fragrant Prekmurje herbs.

Doubles from E149.40/£133 with breakfast.

Visit sava-hotels-resorts.com

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BEST FOR HEALING FROM THE INSIDE OUT Rogaska Medical Centre, Rogaska Slatina Legend has it that Apollo ordered his winged horse Pegasus to strike his hoof to the earth at Rogaska, open up the Roitschocrene spring and drink from the powerful source.

These days, Rogaska is a buzzing medical centre where people trek from far and wide to drink from the famous Donat Mg water springs, a bitter mineral water with a unique magnesium content of 1000mg per litre. Three euros (or E45 for 14 days) gets you a refillable glass in the centre’s light and airy atrium, where you can guzzle all the Donat you can drink – although it’s recommended to sip small amounts slowly, as the water can have a rather unfortunate laxative effect.

The spa say that drinking small amounts of the water on a daily basis can help to lower cholesterol, speed up metabolism and boost immunity.

The centre also has a clinical laboratory and over 40 specialists on hand, with a medical focus on gastroenterological and endocrine diseases, and post-surgery conditions.

Full details and prices at rogaska-medical.com There are ten hotels around the medical centre, each with its own doctor, but our recommended stay is Grand Hotel Sava, a health-focused property with over 250 rooms, a very good spa, daily wellness activities such as healing sound

MIRROR OF CALM Planoarsko Lake

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thermal waters and destination spas. This pretty part of Slovenia is poised as the perfect wellness break for a spot of much-needed self-care. And at only three hours by plane from the UK, it’s doable in a long weekend.

Here are five local wellness destinations to have on your radar when you go…

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BEST FOR SPORTS RECOVERY Terme 3000, Moravske Toplice Slovenia isn’t as famous as Iceland when it comes to natural hot springs, but the Pannonian sea that occupied the heart of the Prekmurje region millions of years ago has left traces of them across the country.

This family-friendly spa, water park and resort is famous for its black mineral water baths; large, inky-coloured pools that spring from hundreds of metres underground. Locals say that submerging yourself in the water can help to treat all kinds of skin and inflammatory conditions, from chronic rheumatism and psoriasis to neurodermatitis.

Surrounding the two black water baths is an enormous water park – the biggest in Slovenia – with 28 indoor and outdoor pools and plenty of water attractions to keep little ones amused. At its heart is the Thermalium Wellness Centre, an indoor spa with

PADDLING PARADISE The pool at Thermana Lasko

WOODLAND WONDER Get away from it all at Vila Planinka

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Wednesday July 3 | 2019

baths, and several different types of sauna.

Doubles from E75/£67.10 with breakfast.

Visit rogaska.si

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BEST FOR SWEATING IT OUT IN A SAUNA Terme Olimia, Podcetrtek Slovenians take their saunas very seriously, and you’ll see why here. Half hidden in the surrounding landscape, this sprawling spa village is one of Kozjansko’s best assets – three hotels and a cluster of chic apartments surrounding the famous Wellness Orhidelia, a destination spa that’s reachable underground from all the hotels and accommodations. The idea is that you can cleverly pad from bed to spa in your robe without getting soaked in the rain.

The design is modern and sleek and draws a much younger crowd than other spas in Slovenia, and the complex earned a nod of approval from the architecture world when it was nominated for a Mies van der Rohe award in 2007.

There’s a whole ‘world’ of saunas to meander between – from classic Finnish and steam varieties to high-tech infrared technology. Slovenians

LIE BACK AND RELAX Just pick your spot in this special area at the Grand Hotel Sava

sauna naked (mixed gender), so you’ll need to be comfortable with ditching the swimming costume if you want the full experience – but people are generally unfazed by the spectacle, and there’s no need to feel self-conscious. Parts of the spa are nudist-friendly, and there’s even a Friday naked swim if you’re really looking to feel uber-liberated.

Mon-Thur E27.50/£25 for an adult day pass to Wellness Orhidelia; E39/£35 Fri-Sun. The Wellness Hotel Sotelia is offering stays from E104.50/£93.50 per person on a half-board basis (two sharing), including access to the sauna world and pools. Valid until July 21.

Visit terme-olimia.com

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BEST FOR WELLNESS WITH THE KIDS Thermana Lasko, Lasko Lasko thermal springs have a rich history dating back to Roman times, when they’re said to have been frequented by legionaries. Today, Thermano Lasko is a medical centre and childfriendly hotel with 188 rooms, a big indoor-outdoor pool area and hiking and biking trails in the hills.

The health centre has a Certificate of Eden

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(excellence for disabled tourism) and specialises in anti lower-back pain programmes, post-stroke and post-lower extremity injury programmes, and there’s round-the-clock medical care for guests.

If you’re just looking to relax, though, there’s a dreamy list of over 200 wellness treatments to choose from, plus a standalone Ayurveda and Thai massage centre.

The little town of Lasko takes pride in its selftitled local beers, its most famous being Lasko Zlatorog (4.9% ABV), a light and tasty blond lager.

At Thermano Lasko, I tried a rather unusual but excellent beer massage that’s unique to the area, using a vitamin A-enriched butter made with local hops (whole body, 60 mins, E59/£53; partial body, 20 mins, E28/£25). It’s fragrant, relaxing and leaves the skin feeling surprisingly silky soft.

Doubles from E60/£53 per person per night with breakfast. Visit thermana.si

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BEST FOR GETTING A GREEN BOOST Vila Planinka, Zgornje Jezersko If a cabin in the woods is your idea of ultimate wellness, this bolthole is making a play for tourists who like their hotels to come with all the hipster trappings – locally-sourced produce, roaring log fires and Wi-Fi-free rooms for an imposed digital detox.

With impressive eco-credentials and a design that brings the outdoors in, Vila Planinka might not have the medical mod-cons of other spas, but it can soothe stress with something stronger – a dose of good old-fashioned mother nature.

The hotel has Jezersko on its doorstep, a pristine mountain range with snow-capped peaks. Slovenia is the third most forested country in Europe and the natural wealth is preserved with love. There are lots of different trails to take, but a 30-minute trek through flora and fauna (the hotel reception can give you a map) takes you to Plansarsko lake, a heart-shaped lagoon surrounded by fir trees, and a pier that looks out on to a perfect view.

On the way, you can stop at one of the country’s many ‘energy points’ – areas of natural beauty believed to spiritually rejuvenate the visitor.

Warm up afterwards by hunkering down in the

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IN THE SWIM One of the pools at Terme 3000 hotel’s Swedish sauna, or head straight to the bar for a lesson in local Slovenian wines. The country has three very good vino-making regions – Primorska, Posavje and Podravje – which have received awards in excellence to boast about.

Slovenians are particularly famous for their orange wines, which are made by applying the same methods as red wine making to white grapes – i.e. the skins are left on, producing tannins. Knowledgeable hotel staff can pour you a glass or two and tell you about the process.

There’s no Slovenian healing elixir to avoid feeling fuzzy the morning after, but it’s well worth the sore head. Wellness is all about balance, after all.

Doubles from E193/£172 with breakfast.

Visit vilaplaninka.com HOW TO GET THERE Wizz Air operates up to four weekly flights to Ljubljana on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays from London Luton. Fares start from £24.99 one-way. wizzair.com For more information on Slovenia and its wellness tourism offering, visit slovenia.info

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Motoring

FOR EVEN MORE NEWS VISIT: timeslocalnews.co.uk

Motoring News

Many London roads to close for Car Free Day

Audi’s flagship SQ8 SUV boasts V8 diesel engine

PASSENGERFRIENDLY The sporty new Gran Coupé

BMW 8 Series Gran Coupé brings four doors to sleek luxury model BMW’s 8 Series Gran Coupé, which offers four-door practicality, made its public debut at the firm’s recent NextGen event in Munich.

The car completes the series lineup alongside the coupé and convertible models, and BMW says the Gran Coupé is aimed at being an enticing compromise between long-distance comfort and sporty performance.

The wheelbase is 201mm longer than the coupé, which adds stability and it also benefits from even weight distribution and a body made from aluminium, magnesium and carbonfibre-reinforced plastic.

There will be four versions available at launch. The 840i, which uses a 335bhp straight-six-cylinder petrol engine, is available in rear or four-wheel-

This week…  New BMW 4-door  SQ8 diesel boost  Go car-free for day

Wednesday July 3 | 2019

drive, while the high-performance V8 in the M850i makes 523bhp. A diesel option, badged 840d, is also available with 316bhp. Each gets BMW’s eight-speed automatic transmission.

The equipment list is also suitably high-end, with sports seats, the instrument panel and door cards all trimmed in leather, a panoramic glass roof exclusive to this model, and individual rear seats to give passengers a more comfortable journey.

BMW says there’s more rear legroom than before in one car, while a third passenger could sit in the middle rear seat for shorter journeys.

The four-door is based on the same platform as the two-door models and gets adaptive M sports suspension as standard.

AUDI has revealed the SQ8 SUV, saying has ‘the most powerful diesel engine in the European market’.

The 4.0-litre V8 unit has two turbochargers and makes 429bhp and 900Nm of torque. With all-wheel-drive that contributes to an impressive 0-60mph time of just 4.6 seconds.

To improve response, only one turbo spins up at lower engine revs, assisted by an electronic compressor, with the second turbo joining above 2,200rpm. A valve in the exhaust system allows the driver to choose between a more aggressive or more subdued exhaust note. It uses a 48volt mild hybrid system, which can take over ancillary functions and turn off the engine when the driver is slowing to a stop or freewheeling, which improves economy.

UK models are available in two trims, called SQ8 and SQ8 Vorsprung. The latter will have the sport differential fitted as standard, which controls the split of power between the front and rear axles, with up

to 60 per cent of power transmitted to the rear. Mid-corner, it can also focus power to the outside wheels to minimise understeer.

Other features include adaptive air suspension, all-wheel steering and active roll stabilisation. The latter uses an electric motor between the anti-roll bars that can decouple when driving straight to reduce roll on uneven roads, and recouple to stiffen the body in corners.

Inside, there’s a mix of leather and Alcantara upholstery, as well as a twin touchscreen set-up.

Pricing has notbeen confirmed but expect the SQ8 to command a decent premium over the current top-spec model, which starts at £80,815.

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, who helped launch the vehicle as he announced improvements to the capital’s EV charging infrastructure, said: “Developing clean, sustainable, electric vehicles is essential in order to tackle our air quality emergency and the climate change crisis.”

LONDON will see more than 12 miles of major roads close for Car Free Day 2019, to be held on September 22, to encourage the use of alternative methods of transport.

Some roads will stay open for buses, with others shut off entirely. Key closures will include Tower Bridge and London Bridge.

A number of events will also take place across 18 London boroughs, including walking routes, pop-up playgrounds, street performances and ‘health and wellbeing’ activities. They will be collectively called ‘Reimagine’ in an effort to get Londoners to imagine the city without cars.

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said: “London is leading the way in innovative measures to improve air pollution, and I want this year’s Car Free Day events to be the best of any world city. This will be a great opportunity for us all to leave our cars behind and explore our streets by foot or by bike.

“I encourage as many Londoners as possible to join in the fun and see the city from a different perspective.

“I will continue to work with those boroughs who are forward-looking and want to think differently about how to use road space.

“Hopefully this will shame into life those boroughs with outdated views who are dragging their feet.”

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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.

4

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7 3

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9 8

7 3 6 9 4

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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11 11

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© 2016 Syndicated Puzzles, Inc.

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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

Life&Times

Puzzles

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

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

Puzzle solutions will be published in a forthcoming issue

S H A B B Y A L U G A L O R E E O I L OW F A T Y S L OM P A E N OM MA S S I F U C P S H A R P E E P E D R E A D S

B I N A F L Q U A X T A D R O R J E E E N

A S E S P C R E S H A E O R UM S E S G C K E R I I A N N E N V Z Y M E

Sudoku:

7 4 5 9 8 1 2 6 3

1 2 8 3 6 4 9 5 7

3 9 6 7 2 5 4 1 8

9 7 1 8 5 6 3 4 2

4 5 3 2 1 7 6 8 9

6 8 2 4 3 9 1 7 5

2 3 4 1 7 8 5 9 6

8 6 9 5 4 2 7 3 1

5 1 7 6 9 3 8 2 4

1 4 8 3 7 5 2 6 9

2 6 9 4 1 8 3 7 5

6 1 2 9 5 3 7 8 4

3 5 7 2 8 6 4 9 1

9 8 4 7 3 1 5 2 6

Jigsaw Sudoku:

8 7 1 6 4 2 9 5 3

4 2 3 5 9 7 6 1 8

5 9 6 8 2 4 1 3 7

7 3 5 1 6 9 8 4 2

© 2016 Syndicated Puzzles

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

Fill your vacancy now in print or online

From just £99 For more information contact our commercial team on 01892 779650

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CRICKET: A CELEBRITY Twenty20 cricket match at Tonbridge School has raised more than £35,000 to support the charity Rwanda Aid. Stars including legendary allrounder Sir Ian Botham, former England rugby player Rob Andrew, and ex-Test players Gladstone Small, Rob Key, Paul Parker and Andy Whittall, who is also director of the school’s Tonbridge Society.

Three alumni of the school also took part, English cricket’s national selector Ed Smith, pop singer Tom Chaplin of the group Keane, and TV presenter and Strictly Come Dancing winner Chris Hollins.

On the 20th anniversary of the genocide in Rwanda, the funds will go towards one of the charity’s latest projects, the Alivera Centre.

Named after a young girl who lost her life to epilepsy and neglect, the new facility will help young people with disabilities to access education and training.

David Chaplin OBE, chief executive of Rwanda Aid and father of Tom, said: “Thanks to the wonderful generosity of everyone who came to

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Wednesday July 3 | 2019

BATTING FOR AFRICA A star-studded line-up on the Head at Tonbridge School

Tonbridge School match raises £35k for Rwanda charity our cricketing fundraiser at Tonbridge, work on our Alivera Centre can now begin.

“We work closely with the local

community, identifying the most pressing problems, and this new development is a major step forward.

“Helping the disadvantaged and

disabled is central to the charity’s work.”

The fundraising was boosted by a lunch, raffle and auction, which

included prizes such as a flight in a Tiger Moth, platinum tickets for a Keane concert and a round of golf at Sunningdale with Sir Ian.

Smiles breaks Cowdrey hearts in thriller Karvelas is Cowdrey 136-9 lost to T0nbridge 138-9 by 1 wkt

BOLLYWOOD COMES TO THE WELLS A Bollywood movie is being shot at the Nevill.

Called ’83, it tells the story of India’s winning campaign at the Cricket World Cup in 1983, during which they faced Zimbabwe in Tunbridge Wells. Reduced to 17 for 5, the Indians recovered thanks to a remarkable innings of 175 by all-rounder Kapil Dev. They went on to win the trophy for the first time, beating West Indies in the final. Kapil is being played by a superstar of Indian cinema, Ranveer Singh (pictured left, with Kapil, on his Instagram account).

By Stuart Clarke CRICKET: HAVING already lost a match this season by one run, Cowdrey suffered more heartbreak as they lost to local rivals Tonbridge in the Kent League Division Three derby by one wicket in a low-scoring nail-biter at Popular Meadow.

Visiting captain Ryan Addison won the toss and chose to bat first on what turned out to be a slow wicket showing signs of uneven bounce.

Tonbridge’s opening bowlers Khurram Shehzad and skipper Matt Smiles (3 for 22) bowled extremely well and reduced Cowdrey to 12 for 3 from the first ten overs.

They were dealt a further blow when their overseas star Minhaj Jalill was the next to fall to first-change bowler Nadeem Shehzad (2 for 16 off ten overs) to make it 21 for 4.

Cowdrey’s elder statesman Glen Warner (28) looked to rebuild the innings alongside Jason Carver (20).

After facing 62 balls Warner finally fell to Dilshan Fernando (2 for 22) and when Carver’s 73-ball resistance was also terminated, a score of less than three figures looked highly likely. But Ralph Yeats-Brown had other ideas.

Playing an excellent innings at No 9, he remained unbeaten on 33 off 47 balls and received good support from fellow tailenders Thom Brown and Nick Farr to take Cowdrey up to 136 for 9 off their full quota of 50 overs.

It looked like a handy score to have posted on a tricky wicket.

It was crucial that Cowdrey took early wickets but Julius Marshall (52)

made sure the home side made a good start and they progressed to 80 for 1.

At that point the spinners Jalill and Yeats-Brown turned the tables. The Sri Lankan proved almost unplayable with figures of 3 for 7 from his ten overs, while Yeats-Brown picked up 2 for 30 as Tonbridge slipped to 92 for 6.

With the spinners bowled out, the pacemen Farr and Brown came on

and futher reduced Tonbridge to 121 for 9 – with 16 runs still needed.

The match appeared to be back in Cowdrey’s hands but with only the part-time bowlers left Smiles and Nadeem Shehzad saw Tonbridge home by the narrowest of margins on 138 for 9 off 44.3 overs.

Cowdrey now host Nonington at Swanmead on Saturday (July 6).

Hard work pays off for Amy at European Duathlon

By Adam Dennis TRIATHLON: TUNBRIDGE WELLS Triathlon Club’s Amy Pay was representing Great Britain in the Duathlon European Championships in Romania in the 30-34 age group.

The European Triathlon Union race in Targu Mures consisted of a 5km run, 20km bike ride and a further 2.5km run.

The course was flat and fast, resulting in some fast racing.

Pay went out hard and achieved a personal best in the first run.

The straight bike route with a slight incline suited her, and she came fifth in her category in a time of 1hr 12min.

It was an excellent achievement for her international debut.

Seven clubmates were taking part in the Leeds Castle triathlon, with George Woodhouse (Male 40-44), Graham Hubbard (M50-54) and Mark Poulton (M55-59) racing in the Sprint distance (750m swim, 26km cycle, 5km run).

The scenic swim section took place in the moat around the castle with competitors going under the ancient arches.

The bike course, which was described as fast, took in sections of the A20, while the run offered spectacular views of the venue on a challenging cross-country route.

Poulton put his training to good use and finished second in his age category in a time of 1hr 36min 53 sec, while Hubbard was sixth in his group in 1:35.03 and Woodhouse ninth in 1:33.21.

In the standard distance (1500m swim, 40km bike, 10km run), Clare Roche (F60-64) finished ninth in her category in 3:18.16 and described the swim as ‘like a warm bath’.

Jenny Rhodes (F30-34) finished 15th in her age group in 3:11.58, Thomas Readman (M30-34) completed the course in 2:43.33, 20th in his category, and Alex Yeo (M40-44) placed 62nd in 3:38.06

FLAG BEARER: Amy Pay with her coach, the club president Eric Perrier

at his fiery best in heat Bickley Park 71 lost to Tunbridge Wells 74-1 by 9 wkts

By Alan Cutts

CRICKET: VISITORS Bickley Park were made to feel the heat on a scorching day at the Nevill as they were bundled out and the home side reached the target after only 62 balls of their reply.

After the disappointing defeat to bottom-of-the-table HSBC, this represented a spirited revival by Chris Williams’ side, who are now fourth in the Kent League Premier Division.

With temperatures in the high 30s, it seemed appropriate that a Bollywood film crew should have taken up residence in the marquees that were left over from Kent’s Festival week.

No respite Bickley Park won the toss and elected to bat on a track that looked made for runs, with the outfield fast and flat.

But they were soon in trouble as Ari Karvelas put in a typically fiery spell, grabbing two early wickets and ending up with 3 for 12 in his ten overs.

Opener Will Holcombe tried to steady the ship but the cause was not helped when he was run out by Williams.

The first change of Ian McLean (2 for 17) gave no respite, and this was followed by the incisive spin of Marcus O’Riordan (2 for 18), who also pulled off a fine slip-catch.

After lusty hitting from the tail, the innings folded for just 71 off 33.1 overs.

The Wells reply began just as badly as James Madgwick was dismissed first ball. But skipper Williams saw his side home without further alarm.

He remained unbeaten on 35 with six fours, while Sam Stickler was also undefeated on 26 as they overtook the victory target from just 10.1 overs.

Tunbridge Wells now pay a visit to Canterbury on Saturday (July 6).

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Sport

Rigby and Skinner take over at top as Wells look to keep up winning ways

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TOP TEN Lewis Church

By Graham Withers RUGBY: IT’S all change at the top for Tunbridge Wells RFC as the club’s chairman John Crees and president Roger Clarke are taking a step back after many years of loyal service.

The past two seasons have seen Wells compete at their highest level in rugby’s pyramid structure and their role in this was heartily acknowledged at the annual general meeting.

Following an internal review to find candidates to stand for the vacant positions, Mike Rigby has been appointed chairman and long-serving club stalwart Alan Skinner becomes president.

Rigby is born and bred in Tunbridge Wells and is a former player at the club and Mini Rugby coach. He has served on the club Board and was the incumbent youth chairman. He is married to Kate and has two children, Ollie and Eva.

Progress As head of Business Services at Barclays Bank, he is hoping to bring his financial and commercial experience to the club as he looks to prepare the way for the next period of progress.

Rigby said: “It is an honour to be elected chairman of TWRFC, a club that plays such an important role in our community.

“I aim to bring the financial and operational performance up to the same outstanding level we see on the pitches week in, week out”.

Rigby has already appointed Steve Wickenden and Stuart Montgomery as co-chairs of playing with Jim Scully coming in as director of rugby.

They will work with first-team coaches Simon Whatling and Aston Croall.

Scully said: “We have an excellent collection of players here at TWRFC and best-in-class

Decathlete Church ready to make full debut for Team GB

GOING FORWARDS: Alan Skinner (left), pictured receiving last year’s Kent RFU President’s Award from Roger Clarke to mark 50 years playing and volunteering at the club; and (right) chairman Mike Rigby coaches. This is a great club to be around right now and I extend a warm welcome to any new players who wish to join something special.”

In another significant move, day-to-day responsibility for the flourishing youth section will be split between Alex Nicholson as Mini Rugby Chair and Laurence Taylor, who assumes responsibility for the Junior section.

Also joining the board are Simon Parsons (Ladies), Martin Croker (operations), Simon Hughes (commercial) and Nick van Overstraeten (house and grounds) - he replaces Andy Child, who will remain on the board to provide continuity and stability.

Rigby thanked those who were standing down,

Junior Masters are crowned

GOLF: THE Junior Masters titles for boys and girls were decided when the prestigious Sir Henry Cooper tournament came to Nizels Golf and Country Club in Hildenborough.

The competition, which is a World Amateur Golf ranking tournament, is used for Great Britain and Ireland team selection.

There were 126 boys and 27 girls from across the United Kingdom, Ireland, France and Germany competing for the under-18 title.

The boys’ winner was one of the rising stars of the sport, the favourite Ben Schmidt of Rotherham Golf Club in Yorkshire, making his debut appearance at the Junior Masters.

He has also become the youngest winner of the Brabazon Trophy, which is awarded to the English Men’s Open amateur strokeplay champion.

Amazing Ben said: “It’s amazing to win such a great tournament. The course was in great condition and was really looked after by all the people involved.

“I’m moving on to pre-qualification for The Open, and long term I want to make it on to the professional circuit.”

Jacob Kelso of Kings Hill Golf Club led the way for local competitors as he came joint third with a score of -3 including two rounds under par.

The winner of the girls’ tournament was Welsh golfer Ffion Tynan, and Nizels’ Ladies captain Pat Morecroft presented her with her prizes.

Ffion said: “This tournament is one my favourite events in the golfing calendar, it’s such a great experience and friendly, positive atmosphere.

“Next, I’ll be representing Great Britain and Ireland in the Vagliano Trophy, which is a women’s amateur international match between Great Britain and Ireland and the Continent of Europe. My long-term ambition is to play college golf in America in 2021.”

Ellena Slater of Tudor Park Golf Club in Bearsted

BLAZERS OF GLORY: Ben Schmidt and Ffion Tynan with their trophies and jackets represented Kent in the girls’ competition, finishing in 23rd place with a score of +27.

Competitors also contested the Nations Trophy, with three players representing each country and the top two scores counting towards the result.

The winners were England, consisting of Ben Schmidt, Max Hopkins from Bishops Stortford Golf Club and Thalia Kirby from Stoke Park.

Tito Triana, PGA professional and golf director at Nizels, said: “The course was in fantastic condition and the greens were running very fast.

“We are so grateful to the 70-plus volunteers from Nizels and the local area that came to support the tournament by ball spotting, scoring, marshalling and ensuring that the tournament was ready each day.

“Our volunteers are all keen golfers from Kent and come to support potential future champions.”

adding: “The team that has stepped up to take TWRFC forward is very experienced and capable.

“I have no doubt that together the club will move on as one team, one community, one TWRFC.”

PRE-SEASON KICKS OFF Pre-season training starts at St Mark’s on Saturday (July 6) from 9.30am, and then takes place every Tuesday and Thursday from 7.30pm and on Saturdays from 9.30am.

Players of all abilities are welcome. Contact Jim Scully on 07973 412153 or visit twrfc.com

ATHLETICS: LEWIS CHURCH of Tonbridge Athletic Club has been chosen to represent Team GB as part of an eight-strong team for the European Combined Events Team Championships.

The 22-year-old will take part in the decathlon at the Super League meeting in Lutsk, Ukraine this weekend [July 6-7].

Coached by David Hull, the former Hayesbrook School pupil is making his senior debut as one of only two newcomers in the squad.

There are four male competitors for the ten events, and Lewis finished third behind national indoor and outdoor champion John Lane and Welsh record-holder Ben Gregory at the England Athletics Senior Combined Events Championships in Bedford last month.

He represented Team GB in the heptathlon at an Indoor Combined Events International against four other countries in Madrid last year.

Mark Hookway of Tonbridge AC said: “This is great news for Lewis. Despite struggling with a calf injury in early season, he was able to manage that and continue training well, showing that dedication and consistency in training can pay off.

“He is certainly one of the hardest workers at the club, so he deserves every success.”