Times of Tunbridge Wells 4th July 2018

Wednesday July 4 | 2018

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Ex-Tory councillor to fight ‘unlawful’ Calverley Square

IN HIS OWN WORDS

MP Greg Clark speaks to us exclusively on Brexit Pages 4-5

By William Mata A FORMER Conservative councillor is driving the legal challenge, reported in the Times last week, against the £90million Calverley Square civic complex.

Brian Ransley is seeking a judicial review to halt Tunbridge Wells Borough Council’s attempt to build a theatre and council offices on land next to Calverley Grounds.

A judicial review is one of the last remaining options for opponents of Calverley Square, which is set to open in 2022 now planning permission has been passed and a contractor has been named.

Challenge It is a complex and often expensive legal process where a claimant seeks to prove the process behind making a planning decision was unlawful, rather than the decision itself.

Mr Ransley is a member of Tunbridge Wells Alliance, the political party formed primarily to oppose the development.

He served as a borough councillor for Capel from 2008 to 2012, when he lost his seat.

This week he told the Times he had launched the challenge with the High Court ‘in his own name’ and could not comment further.

All 48 borough councillors have been named as defendants in the case.

HM Courts and Tribunal Service has said no hearing date is currently listed.

Continued on Page 2

HUB GETS FUNDING Council give new cultural centre the go ahead Page 6

CULTURAL CELEBRATION: Members of South Indian group Sahrudaya West Kent Keralites perform at Mela Festival in Calverley Grounds, Tunbridge Wells on Sunday [July 1]. Around 5,000 attended the free festival, which is now into its 13th year. Full coverage pages 14 and 15.

Food festival set to draw record crowd as heatwave continues…

By Jonathan Banks SOME 21,000 people are expected to come to Dunorlan Park this weekend for what promises to be the town’s biggest outdoor event; the Pub in the Park ‘festival for foodies’.

Organisers have been working with County Hall on traffic management plans to ensure there are no snarl ups with people being urged to use buses and taxis to reach the site.

Temperatures of 26°c (78f) are forecast for this weekend as the hot weather runs into next week.

Pub in the Park is the brainchild of Michelin star chef Tom Kerridge with the idea being to celebrate the best of British cuisine, combined with live music, top quality shopping and other festival fun.

Bands and musicians on the line-up

include: Razorlight, Sophie Ellis-Bextor and Billy Ocean.

Meanwhile celebrity chefs such as Paul Ainsworth, Angela Hartnett and Tom Kerridge himself will be showing off their culi-

‘Hall’s Hole Road is a nightmare. It is sensible to have a one way system’ Cllr Frank Williams nary skills, in addition to pop-up pubs representing a variety of local venues.

Such is the popularity of the weekend that organisers, Brand Events, split each day into two sessions to avoid overcrowding. There will be a total of five sessions over the course of the event, starting on Friday evening.

Kent County Council, which has authority over highways, will be placing cones along Pembury Road, which borders Dunorlan, stating ‘no parking’.

There are no parking spaces at Dunorlan Park itself although organisers state parking will be available within a ‘12 minute walk’.

The Chair of Hawkenbury Village Association Dean Kenward has praised some of the measures taken to mitigate local congestion including plans to temporarily convert the narrow Hall’s Hole Road into a one way road.

The provision of a bus service between the park and mainline station alongside the creation of a new taxi rank were also a ‘good ideas’ he said.

Continued on Page 2

THE HISTORY GUY

Presenter Dan Snow brings his new talk to town Page 50

A TASTE OF MEXICO

We sample the menu at The Mexican Kitchen Pages 56-57

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Review is a ‘complex process’

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Safe travel promised into and out of major food festival

Continued from Page 1

Continued from Page 1

At a previous public meeting, Mr Ransley said: “The [civic complex] proposal locks council tax payers into certain additional payments and obligations. The amount is wholly speculative.

“There has been no work done to give an upper limit on exposure or whether it can be capped.

“A proper exposition of obligations and lock-ins is the fundamental of the proposal.

“Under the Equalities Act 2010 each council tax payer must be consulted and fully informed.

“There is no Equalities Act 2010 or Human Rights compatibility matrix with the draft proposal.

“Each council tax payer must be informed as to what he is being locked in to. This is unlawful.”

A spokesman from the borough council said: “The council will not comment while there are court proceedings pending.”

“One would hope that the number of cars being driven to Pub in the Park would be a minimum, as you would expect people to be drinking at such an event,” said Mr Kenward.

THE LEGAL VIEW LAW firm Cripps deals with a variety of civil cases, including judicial reviews.

To find out more about this process, we spoke to Jason Towell, Head of the Tunbridge Wells company’s Planning Team.

He spoke about the issue as a whole and his comments should not be taken as reference to any individual case.

“Judicial reviews can be used to overturn the grant of planning permission by an authority,” said Mr Towell.

“The decision can be overturned only where the planning authority has acted irrationally or not followed the correct legal procedure.”

For a judicial review to happen, the claimant needs permission to proceed from a court and to be able to prove an arguable case.

It can take between nine and 12 months from the challenge being lodged to a result.

Mr Towell said: “It can be quite an expensive thing to do and it is not easy to win unless the council has not followed a correct legal procedure, acted totally irrationally or in a wholly unreasonable way.

“The costs can go into the tens of thousands of pounds. We have had cases where it has succeeded and forced a council to go back and reconsider – but it does not necessarily mean a development will ultimately be stopped.”

After a verdict, the losing side might be left to pick up at least part of the legal bill.

CONTACTS EDITORIAL DIRECTOR RICHARD MOORE richard@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk | 01892 779615 DEPUTY EDITOR EILEEN LEAHY eileen@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk | 01892 576037 CHIEF REPORTER WILLIAM MATA will@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk | 01892 240626 DESIGN/PRODUCTION LEE SMITH lsmith8@markerstudy.com

Sherwood Cllr Frank Williams said: “Hall’s Hole Road is a nightmare. It is sensible to have a one way system. It will increase town congestion, but it will make it easier to drive away.”

ORGANISERS REASSURE RESIDENTS The following statement has been released by Brand Events: Pub in the Park is run in sessions to greatly reduce the impact to the area and the road network. As a result, there will be no more than 3,500 people per session on site.

Pub in the Park are working closely with Kent County Council highways department and analysing all of the ticketing data in order to manage traffic around site.

Our data has indicated that over half of our customers are coming from Tunbridge Wells and will be walking to the festival and a large

majority of other customers have indicated that they will be using public transport. For all of those who have indicated that they will drive, there is no parking available at Dunorlan Park therefore we have advised that there will be two large carparks available with the closest being just a twelve minute walk from site. We will also have a traffic management team that will monitor the surrounding area during the event.

In addition, details of public car parking and transport options have been sent to all customers ahead of the festival.

Tip in Wadhurst set to close after Cabinet approve cost cutting

16 Lonsdale Gardens, Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN1 1NU

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

If you would like to make a comment on any aspect of the newspaper, please write to the editor at 16 Lonsdale Gardens, Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN1 1NU, or email newsdesk@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk Markerstudy Leisure is a trading name of One Media and Creative UK Limited registered in England and Wales under company number 5398960 with registered office at 45 Westerham Road, Sevenoaks, Kent TN13 2QB.

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EXCEPTIONAL EVENT Tom Kerridge is the chef behind the festival

More development on Calverley?

By Matthew Nolan THE Household Waste Recycling Site in Wadhurst is set to close due to a County Hall’s budget cuts.

Wealden MP Nus Ghani is urging East Sussex County Council to reconsider their decision to close both this tip and the centre in Forest Row, near East Grinstead.

Both tips, which are currently open three days a week, will close permanently from October 1.

Opening hours for Lewes and Mountfield sites also will be reduced from 8am to 5pm daily to 9am to 4pm.

The decision, made at the County Hall’s Cabinet last week, is expected to help save £720,000 from the waste budget this year. This is part of the council’s £17million annual savings target.

But residents are unhappy at the decision, as some will now have to take their waste to tips at Crowborough or North Farm in Tunbridge Wells.

In a consultation held by the Conservative-led East Sussex County Council, the cost-cutting measures were given the thumbs down by nearly half [45 per cent] of respondents.

Conservative MP Ms Ghani said: “The proposal was both disappointing and surprising. The closure would lead to increased fly-tipping as well as further pollution.”

East Sussex County Council said ‘significant savings’ had to be made.

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Wednesday July 4 | 2018

DESIGN FOR LIFE An artist’s impression of the block’s side

By William Mata FOURTEEN more flats could be built on the 5 Calverley Park Gardens block in Tunbridge Wells if plans are passed.

A developer has applied to Tunbridge Wells Borough Council for permission to extend the building.

A statement reads: “This represents a significant enhancement for residential development at the site.

“The proposal secures a number of benefits; including the enhancements to the existing property, wider landscaping improvements at the site and an additional 14 residential units.

“This is particularly significant in light of a borough council who cannot demonstrate a ‘five year housing’ land supply.”

This week neighbours have been busy commenting on the application, which is still being processed by the council.

The majority of these comments are negative, with residents feeling the added apartments will create an appearance too large to be in keeping with the area.

Christian Nouyou, of Calverley Park Gardens, told the Times: “The proposed development at 5 Calverley Park, which is still under planning review, is quite simply a monster.

“This is not a simple extension, this is something more akin to a hotel development near an industrial park.

“It is an ongoing subject very close to the town’s residents and yet these continued developments seem out of control and beyond any residents concerns.”

The council is currently reviewing the plans.

To see the application, search 18/01663/FULL on the borough council’s online planning portal, accessible at www.tunbridgewells.gov.uk

HANDS OFF OUR MAN AT WESTMINSTER… POLITICS can be a cruel trade and certainly not one for the faint hearted.

Take the case of Greg Clark our MP who also happens to be the Business Secretary. Some, the cruel ones, say it is a post he holds by default after Theresa May’s Cabinet reshuffle went wrong. Not true.

That scene setter aside, Mr Clark has encountered some stinging criticism of late because he appears to be leading the charge for the softest possible Brexit.

He is said to have been encouraging big business, such as Airbus, to come out about the dangers of a hard Brexit. He is also charged with heading ‘Project Fear - Mark 2’, something he refutes [see story Pages 4-5].

Now, as a member of Cabinet he is a fair target when it comes to his policies and those of the

Government he represents.

Most people accept that the higher you climb that greasy pole the more you become the focus of attention from the media plus those outside and inside your own party.

Such is the nature of the Brexit debate, though, the attacks on Mr Clark have become increasingly personal.

For instance, in a profile ‘on the oddly zestless Mr Clark’ that appeared in the Daily Mail the writer suggests the MP is ‘not one of life’s leaders or visionaries’ and adds: “You could never mistake him for one of life’s thigh-slappers. He is not a feel-good, can-do, cheer-’em up salesman like Boris Johnson or Nigel Farage.”

Well, thank goodness for that!

Mr Clark is the Member of Parliament for Royal

Tunbridge Wells and, while some locals will disagree with much of his politics, he is OUR elected voice at Westminster.

He is a family man who can often be seen on a parkrun or sitting enjoying a coffee/ pint on The Pantiles. He works hard to stay in touch with his community and its grass roots and nothing is too much for him. He even ‘opened’ a zebra crossing.

Mr Clark has never been in trouble over any ill-judged comments or issues with his personal life, unlike Messrs Johnson and Farage. He is always affable, approachable and polite; so when did that become a crime?

Oh yes, and lest others forget the constituency that elected him also voted Remain.

Editorial Director, Richard Moore

Wednesday July 4 | 2018

NEWS IN BRIEF

Car park expansion is agreed by councillors THE car park in Crescent Road is to be expanded by 96 spaces to accommodate 1,165 vehicles.

Tunbridge Wells Borough Council’s planning committee agreed the scheme in a meeting last week with all members voting in favour, apart from Cllr David Neve who abstained.

The expanded car park will help facilitate the planned £90million Calverley Square theatre and office plan, which is set for completion in 2022.

There is also an expansion of cycle parks and the possibility of electric charging points for bicycles in the future.

Cllr Bob Backhouse, who voted in favour, said: “This will help the town centre’s economy as parking places are premium.”

No Aldi opening date BUDGET supermarket Aldi’s long-awaited arrival on Eridge Road in Tunbridge Wells is set to happen before the end of 2019.

Managers of the chain, which is due to open a branch in Tonbridge, told the Times no date has been confirmed.

Aldi still need planning consent.

RAF branch’s birthday THE Tunbridge Wells branch of the Royal Air Force is commemorating the RAF’s 100th anniversary.

A memorial will be unveiled on Saturday, July 14, at Tunbridge Wells Cemetery Chapel from 1.30pm.

The Tunbridge Wells branch, which formed in 1946, is inviting anyone interested to attend the event.

Paddington 2 in Capel THE Capel Fete and Fete-ival will be held on this weekend [July 6-7] at the Recreation Ground on Falmouth Place in Five Oak Green.

The weekend starts at 5.30pm on Friday with a showing of Paddington 2. The fete will start with the traditional procession departing from Tatlingbury Farm at 12.30pm on Saturday.

Kits Coty Morris Dancers, life-saving Newfoundland dogs and Tigers Gymnastics will be performing alongside model tanks, chainsaw carving, sports day races run by Capel School and traditional stalls.

Parking will be provided next to the United Church on Badsell Road.

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Penshurst holds ‘world’s most colourful run’

By Matthew Nolan MORE than 4,000 people brought some colour to Penshurst Place for the annual fundraising event Run or Dye on Sunday [July 1].

The ‘world’s most colourful fun run series’ sees participants of all ages and abilities walk, run or jog around 5km or 3.5km tracks while being pelted with multi-coloured dye.

The 4,500 entrants were covered with the environmentally-friendly, plant-based ‘rainbow’ powder every 1km as they raised money for the Kiss it Better initiative from Great Ormond Street Hospital, which funds research into childhood cancer.

This year saw the introduction of a new ‘waterfall of foam and bubbles’ feature as well as a 1k, loop for runners aged six and under.

It had previously raised £50,000 as part of the initiative and this year donations could top £75,000 once they have been counted up.

Run Or Dye was first set up by Carmel Allen after her daughter, Josephine was treated by Great Ormond Street for neuroblastoma, a type of cancer.

The 16-year-old said: “My mum set up Kiss it

PINK LADIES Youngsters enjoy Run or Dye in Penshurst

Better when I was a very poorly child.

“Now, 15 years later I do all I can to help other children who have cancer so they can grow up healthy like me.”

Fire warning as heatwave scorches Common grass

By Duncan Audsley newsdesk@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk CONSECUTIVE days of hot weather has scorched the grassland on Tunbridge Wells Common and created a fire risk.

Ian Beavis, a Committee Member of Friends of Tunbridge Wells and Rusthall Commons, said days of temperatures in the mid-20s has affected the grassland as much as any dry spell since the infamous drought of 1976.

The heatwave has taken its toll on the ancient

landscape, with grass at Wellington Rocks turning from a healthy green to a desert-like brown.

Mr Beavis said: “In the 1976 drought the Common was in a similar condition.

“The Common is taking on its desert look as the heatwave progresses. It is a robust landscape and wildlife there is able to cope.

“The flowers there are doing fine. The Common has been there for thousands of years so it will be able to bounce back.”

The South East has had its driest June since records began with only 3.2mm of rain.

And warm weather is set to continue this week, SCORCHED EARTH POLICY Tunbridge Wells Common visitors should not have barbecues

Run Or Dye returns to Penshurst Place on June 30, 2019. For more information, visit www.runordye.co.uk with the Met Office predicting highs of around 25°C today [Wednesday].

Mr Beavis, who is also Curator at Tunbridge Wells Museum, encouraged Common visitors to take car while enjoying the sunshine.

“Fire is a concern as it has happened in recent years,” he said. “But because of the natural banking it is easy for the fire service to access.

“Residents should be careful and not have barbecues.”

ENJOY THE SUN, BUT STAY SAFE AN appeal has been made by Kent Fire and Rescue Service for people to take extra care not to start fires in grassland.

Rob Groombridge, of the force, said that cigarettes and other potentially hazardous rubbish needs to be disposed of in a responsible manner.

“Outdoor fires can spread quickly, especially in the current prolonged warm and dry conditions,” he said.

“This puts enormous demands on our resources as well as posing a serious threat to lives, property and the natural wildlife habitat.

“Parents can help us by reminding their children about the potentially serious consequences that could result from starting a fire deliberately. By following our simple safety tips you can help to protect greenspaces, and help to prevent fires starting in the first place.”

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Population explosion leaves county facing a £4billion shortfall

By William Mata A NEW financial report shows County Hall needs to find nearly £4billion extra to meet existing plans for building roads and infrastructure by 2031.

Kent County Council leaders have warned that existing infrastructure will not cope with an anticipated population rise of 396,300 and have called for more investment. Around 1.6million now live in Kent.

Challenges Last week the Kent and Medway Growth and Infrastructure Framework [GIF] published a report into the challenges and opportunities likely to face the region in years ahead.

This showed: n Kent and Medway will see 396,000 new residents, 178,500 homes built and 170,300 more jobs by 2031. n With a 14.3 per cent increase in the number of cars in the past ten years, roads will come under further pressure. n This will bring a total infrastructure cost of £16billion. n Of this 76 per cent has been secured already or is expected. This leaves Kent and Medway with a £3.96billion funding gap.

Cllr Mike Whiting, a county council Cabinet member, said: “We recognise the benefits business and housing growth brings.

“However, the GIF makes it clear that the current mechanisms are not sufficient.

“New approaches are required to secure the additional public and private investment needed and the GIF includes a forward-thinking action plan to begin to close the gap.”

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Wednesday July 4 | 2018

MP denies he’s leading ‘Project Fear – Mark 2’

By Jonathan Banks AS the Brexit debate gets even hotter, Tunbridge Wells MP Greg Clark finds himself in the firing line, in his position as Business Secretary, as he appears to lead the call for the softest of possible exits.

Sections of the mainstream media have accused him of mounting ‘Project Fear – Mark 2’ after businesses such as Airbus warned of the dire consequences of the delay in reaching decisions on trade with the EU. And during a TV interview this week Mr Clark hinted the Brexit transition could be extended in a decision that could leave the UK tied to the EU for years.

He insisted that whether transition ends on schedule at the end of 2020 it should be ‘guided by the facts and evidence’.

Mr Clark warned that ports such as Dover had to be ready before Britain fully moves into the post-Brexit future to avoid chaos on the borders.

Port operators have said they can build new customs systems in time - but only if a trade deal defining the rules is in place by Brexit day in March 2019.

This newspaper asked Mr Clark what he made of suggestions, reported in the Daily Telegraph, that he has in fact been participating in ‘Project Fear – Mark 2’?

Quite the opposite. To get the best deal possible we need to be advised by the people with the best experience of trading with the EU. So it makes complete sense to make sure that we

DOWNING TABLE Greg Clark MP arrives at Number 10

have taken into account the practical requirements of businesses who employ millions of people in our country.

You are quoted in the Times national newspaper as saying: “The future of every country depends on successful business.

We must take action on the advice from business and in my view the business voice puts evidence first before ideology.”

Are your views being taken seriously by the Government?

Yes. For example, businesses big and small were clear to me that we need a transitional period rather than a sudden ‘cliff edge’ next March. I argued for that in Cabinet. It was listened to, became part of government policy and was subsequently agreed with the EU.

These views don’t appear in-line with Boris Johnson’s who is reported to have said ‘fxxx business’. Have you spoken to him about his comment?

I strongly disagree with what Boris Johnson said.

It is not the view of the Government and have said so both publicly and privately.

Is the Cabinet divided over this issue?

Everyone knows that there is a range of views in the Cabinet on what would be the best deal for Britain - just as there is in all parties and in the country. That’s why you have Cabinet meetings and debates in Parliament - to work through the alternatives and come to an agreement.

Wednesday July 4 | 2018

FOR EVEN MORE NEWS VISIT thekn w.guide took place. But that uncertainty is temporary and the things that make us a great place to set up and do business in are still here.

Have Tunbridge Wells firms approached you with Brexit concerns? Could we see any companies leaving town?

ON THE SPOT Greg Clark takes questions from Sophy Ridge

You have called on Theresa May to go further than a final Brexit deal that replicated the single market – and to also include services in future arrangements. How likely is this?

Many jobs depend on the ability to supply services to clients across Europe. For example when Rolls Royce sells an aeroplane engine, it makes most of its money not from manufacturing the engine itself but from servicing it during its lifetime operation.

So of course we need to make sure that Rolls Royce engineers can TOP TORIES continue to Theresa May visit other and Boris countries to Johnson carry out this service

work. I’m convinced that it will be possible to agree this.

What message do you have for Tunbridge Wells businesses who may have concerns with Brexit?

I am doing everything I can to ensure that we reach a good deal that will allow Tunbridge Wells businesses to succeed. It was always inevitable that following the referendum there would be a period of uncertainty about the outcome of the negotiations while they

Tunbridge Wells businesses, like Tunbridge Wells people, are not shy about what’s on their minds! We talk at my regular surgeries, at visits I make to businesses, at local business get togethers and when I meet people in the street.

Their advice as to what they need to help them continue to prosper is invaluable to me both in representing their interests and informing my role as Business Secretary.

You spoke this week at a national business conference. Could we see you addressing local firms in a similar way?

I often speak at conferences of local businesses, such as the West Kent Chamber of Commerce a few weeks ago and at other local business events. It’s an important part of my work as a constituency MP and, since I have been Business Secretary, helps inform my national role.

EYE ON THE SKY GREG CLARK made national headlines at the weekend after his appearance on Sky News programme Sophy Ridge on Sunday.

The Business Secretary was asked by the presenter if the transition period for leaving the European Union could be extended.

Mr Clark said: “Article 50 has been triggered, and we leave the European Union next year, and that is, that is absolutely clear.

“When it comes to putting in place the arrangements for our final, our permanent relationship, we have to be guided by the evidence.”

Local News

NEWS

Curtain goes up on new late-night bus for local film fans NEXT week sees the start of a new late-night bus service from Tunbridge Wells Odeon cinema to the town centre railway station.

Arriva service is to extend the timetable for the 277 route which connects North Farm and Knights Park estate with the town.

From Sunday [July 8] it will give cinema-goers the chance to get the bus to town at 10.45pm, more than two hours later than the current final service, which leaves at 8.10pm.

The last bus from Tunbridge Wells railway station will leave for Knights Park at 11.15pm.

Hollywood Bowl, Nuffield Health, Frankie & Benny’s and the Hop House pub are also based at the estate.

Feedback Some bus services will also extend to the new Knights Wood housing development.

Lauren Edmonds, Marketing Manager for Arriva Kent and Surrey, said: “After reviewing feedback from our customers in Tunbridge Wells, we wanted to extend our 277 service to run later.

“It will give passengers more freedom to catch the latest blockbuster or dine out with friends, whilst letting Arriva be the driver.

“We’re always keen to hear what our customers have to say about our services, as it’s the feedback we get from passengers that allows us to make these kinds of changes.

“We hope the developments will serve to benefit our passengers.”

Arriva is also to make slight changes to its 402 service from Monday to Friday.

For a full list of changes, visit: www.arrivabus.co.uk and search for ‘Kent’

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Fans of Waitrose will have to wait a little longer for opening

By Duncan Audsley WORK continues on Shell’s St John’s Road garage, three weeks after it was said to be reopening and selling Waitrose products.

When the petrol station closed in January for a full-scale demolition and refurbishment, it was suggested the facility would reopen on June 15.

But Shell told the Times this week they would open ‘this summer’ and were unable to give a precise date or even the month this would be.

The chain also offered ‘no comment’ on why the work had exceeded June 15.

Popular Waitrose will be supplying 600 food and drink products in a dedicated section.

Around two-thirds of these will be own-label and others will be the ‘most popular’ brands they sell.

While the petrol station shop will be operated

by Shell, it is the first time the long soughtafter chain has had this kind of presence in Tunbridge Wells.

Nigel Roberts, B2B Business Lead for Waitrose, said: “There is growing demand for food to be increasingly accessible to meet customers’ busy lifestyles without compromising on quality.

“This will further reinforce consumer confidence in the quality and choice available at the store as well as providing a more convenient way for our local customers to access our products.”

Shell has applied to Tunbridge Wells Borough Council for a 24-hour off-licence, a move which is consistent with other petrol stations.

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Wednesday July 4 | 2018

Time and effort pays off as the Culture Hub is set to go ahead

By Matthew Nolan WORK is set to begin next year on the Tunbridge Wells Culture Hub after councillors gave the project the final green light.

The Cabinet of Tunbridge Wells Borough Council has accepted a combined funding sum worth more than £5million from Arts Council England and Heritage Lottery Fund.

This will go towards the £13million needed to renovate the current library and museum to create a more effective use of space.

An art gallery and the town’s Adult Education Centre will also be contained within the space in Civic Way when it opens in 2021, as will the Tourist Information Centre.

Unanimously The Culture Hub has been through various stages of planning at Town Hall over the past two years and this landmark approval was heard at the Cabinet meeting on Thursday, June 21.

Cllr Tracy Moore, Cabinet Member for Civic Development, said: “This is such a good news story.

“It has taken a lot of time and effort to get here.

We are delivering on the projects of our five year plan and getting stuff done.

“We are getting even more funding than we bid for and I am looking forward to seeing work begin.”

The progression is good news for fans of the museum as the enlargement will allow more of their 77,000 items to be on display.

The new grants will see Arts Council England give £886,250 and Heritage Lottery Fund will

provide £4,294,900.

The amounts are understood to be more than the local authority bid for, which pleased members of the Cabinet.

A council spokesperson added: “This is an exciting time for Tunbridge Wells and Kent and sets us clearly on the path to the delivery of this landmark project over the next three years.

“The team will now begin the task of planning the next phase of the project including decant of the buildings and interim service delivery.”

Tendering for a building contract will take

place later this year with a developer set to be on the site by early 2019. Construction is expected to take two years.

The development of the Culture Hub will see Tunbridge Wells Museum displays incorporated into a new framework. Anne Nielsen, Documentation Assistant, expressed her enthusiasm about the future of the Museum’s costume display, which features a range of men’s Georgian and Regency waistcoats.

“The display aims to give visitors a flavour of what to expect in the new galleries,” she said.

FUTURE How the Culture Hub in Tunbridge Wells will look

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Wednesday July 4 | 2018

Jam, Jerusalem and plenty of joy This year the West Kent Federation of Women’s Institutes celebrates its 100th birthday, with many events taking place across the county – including a special arts and crafts event next Wednesday, July 11. Eileen Leahy talks to its chair, Annette Smith, about the organisation’s enduring appeal THE Women’s Institute has been a staple of British society ever since its first branch opened in Llanfairpwllgwyngyll, Wales in 1915.

Its initial aim was to encourage women to get involved in producing and harvesting food during the First World War while the men were away, and to unite disparate rural communities.

Since then the WI, as it’s more commonly known, has given women of all ages the chance to expand their educational opportunities, learn new skills and campaign on issues that matter to them and their community. Or, put more succinctly: ‘Education, Fellowship and Fun’.

Over 100 years later, the WI is now the UK’s largest voluntary women’s organisation, with 6,300 institutes boasting almost 220,000 members, including Her Majesty The Queen – with new groups starting up all the time.

In Tunbridge Wells there is now also the Wells Angels and St John’s groups in addition to Nevill and Hawkenbury, while in Tonbridge there are groups in both the south and north of the town.

The West Kent Federation started in April 1918 with nine institutes opening around the county in that same year. Now in 2018 there are 176 institutes under the West Kent umbrella – stretching from Edenbridge in the West to Faversham in the

East, Woolwich in the north and Hawkhurst in the south – with nearly 8,000 members.

Its HQ is based just outside Pembury, and it has been very busy over the past few months planning numerous celebratory occasions all over West Kent until December to mark its centenary.

Next week sees one of the biggest events – the Arts and Crafts Extravaganza – taking place on Wednesday, July 11 at the Friars Priory in Aylesford. Open to the general public as well as WI members, it will include craft demonstrations, flower displays and plenty of stalls to browse and activities to participate in.

‘It always makes me very conscious that there is no such person as a typical WI member’ There will also be archivists giving talks on the history of the WI and Morris dancers.

The West Kent area’s centenary celebrations started with a month-long exhibition at the Maidstone Museum showcasing a display of archive materials from the first 100 years.

There has also been a talent show at Rose Bru-

CELEBRATING THE ANNIVERSARY: (L-R) Annette Smith, Lynne Stubbings and Mayor Len Horwood ford College, and a garden party at Marlborough House School, Hawkhurst, organised by Caroline Davis from the WI’s Horsmonden group, which was attended by the WI National Chairman Lynne Stubbings and the Mayor of Tunbridge Wells, Cllr Len Horwood.

The centenary celebrations finish with carols at All Saints Church, Maidstone in December – which is fitting as this is where the original West Kent Federation headquarters was.

The Annual Council Meeting, held at the Assembly Hall in March, welcomed Baroness Floella Benjamin, OBE, as a guest speaker.She

gave such an emotional speech she received a standing ovation from the gathered audience.

Annette Smith, Chairman of the West Kent Federation of WIs for the third consecutive year, and who has been in charge of all these events, puts the group’s longevity down to the fact that there is so much diversity to be found within each institute. And that it’s not all about knitting and jam-making.

“The best part of my job is meeting my fellow members,” she says. “It always makes me very conscious that there is no such person as a ‘typical WI member’. Every institute is different.”

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FOR EVEN MORE NEWS VISIT thekn w.guide est possible range of members’.

“We seek to widen our appeal to attract new members,” she says. “Plus we liaise with other WIs, oversee the running of our office at Pembury, and represent the federation at national and local events.

“We sent out a survey last year asking members various questions, including what is the most important part of being a WI member? The number one response was ‘friendship’.”

And what does Anne think the reason behind the amount of new WI groups cropping up is?

“Well, television programmes on topics such as baking and sewing have definitely led to a resurgence of interest, but for today’s young women loneliness can be just as much an issue as for everyone else,” she says.

“Starting work in a new area away from home,

TEA AND CAKE ALL ROUND At the 100th anniversary garden Party Paula Bates is a member of Nevill WI in Tunbridge Wells, which meets one evening a month in St Mark’s Church Hall. And she agrees you cannot pigeonhole members and that the social side is a big draw: “Getting to know and make friends with local ladies has been great.

“We have had many happy and fun times and my WI friends have also been a great help and support to me through difficult times.”

Going back to Annette, we wondered what had been her personal highlight so far this year?

“Looking at the archive material displayed at the museum and seeing how far the Federation has come from the early days when we had just nine WIs in 1918, and now 180 today.

“Also, what struck me was what an incredible range of activities and campaigns the WI has been involved with over the years.”

Anne’s role involves helping to develop a programme of events aimed at ‘appealing to the wid-

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or being at home with a young family without the stimulation of a workplace – the WI is a great way to make new friends and get to know neighbours.

“Today’s world can be such a lonely place, but join the WI and that can all change.” www.thewi.org.uk

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Massage company will invest up to £500k in town and create jobs

By William Mata will@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk A DEDICATED massage centre is to open in Tunbridge Wells this year with a £500,000 investment.

The Massage Company said their new facility in Monson Road will have 14 treatment rooms, offering customers Swedish, deep tissue, sports and maternity options.

Town Mayor Len Horwood is set to open the franchise’s second centre in September, with works currently underway.

Taran Bassi is taking charge of the Tunbridge Wells venture after the company’s centre in the Surrey town of Camberley proved to be popular.

He said: “Rather than seeing massage as an occasional treat or

luxury, we are changing this idea and making massage a very real solution as part of a healthier lifestyle and greater all-round wellness.”

Recruitment The centre will open seven days a week – for 12 hours Mondays to Saturdays and from 10am to 6pm on Sundays.

There will also be a duo treatment room for friends and couples, which could be appealing for birthdays or special occasions.

The business will employ 20 to 30 staff, with recruitment currently underway.

The centre will be created on the 200-year-old brewery site in Monson Road which traded as baby shop Duncan’s until 2008.

The launch of the service follows a high street trend of new businesses opening that offer customers an experience rather than just traditional items to buy, as the trend in online shopping continues to rise.

Mr Bassi continued: “The massage tables have been especially designed to allow the therapists to deliver treatments that are 50 per cent more effective than others currently available.

“The treatments have been priced to afford the customer real value, and we believe in making therapists available at a time to suit clients.”

The deal to buy the town centre property was brought together by Paul Nicholson from Savills’ London office and Darrell Barber from Bracketts.

LEGAL EAGLES GET BIRD’S EYE VIEW: The Cripps team at the top of Snowdon

RELAXATION A service to ease life’s everyday stresses

THIRTEEN people from law firm Cripps have scaled the three tallest peaks in England, Scotland and Wales to raise money for the business’s charity of the year.

The expedition, called the Three Peak Challenge, saw the group trek 23 miles, ascend 10,052ft up Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike and Snowdon, and drive more than 460 miles in total. It was organised by senior associate Helen Fisher and trainee

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Sequel to housing estate near cinema DANDARA has unveiled phase two of their Knights Wood development off North Farm estate in Tunbridge Wells.

The developer launched the extension last week, which features two blocks of 12 two-bedroom apartments. Prices are set to start from £375,000. The Odeon cinema and Hollywood Bowl can be found nearby.

Phase one, which was completed this year, contains 156 homes. Of those, five are unsold and they will move into the sales efforts for phase two.

See www.knightswood.co.uk

Crossrail for Kent?

Law firm conquers Three Peaks Matthew Nolan

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solicitor Tom Bushell in aid of Rethink Mental Illness, which supports people through crises and helps independent living.

“We are all extremely proud of our achievement,” said Mr Bushell.

“Despite a few setbacks en route, we managed to complete the challenge in just over 36 hours.”

Miss Fisher added: “The challenge was tough but we are thrilled to have conquered it.”

To donate, visit www.justgiving. com/fundraising/crippsthreepeaks

PROPOSALS have been made by the government to extend London’s new Crossrail line to Kent station Ebbsfleet International, it was revealed this week.

Under the name the ‘Elizabeth Line’, Crossrail is set to run from December 2019, but under current plans it will not go any further south than Abbey Wood.

However, the government said they are considering extending it to Ebbsfleet International, near to where one million homes and 1.3million jobs could be created by 2050. An announcement is likely to be made in the next six months.

Students’ networking WEST KENT businesses networked with students at Wrotham School, near Sevenoaks, in a workshop organised by the Federation of Small Businesses [FSB].

The Skills 30:30 session on Friday [June 29] saw firms pass on tips to youngsters in a bid to equip them for the future.

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IT firm: ‘Apprentices are key in bridging technology skills gap’

YOU’RE HIRED Infinity apprentices [L-R]: Jared Harrison, Matt Baker and Ross Harrison

By Duncan Audsley newsdesk@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk APPRENTICESHIPS are key to helping meet a technology skills gap and keeping talented young people working locally, an IT firm believe.

Infinity Group, who offer computer and telecom support from their base in Spencer Mews, Tunbridge Wells, are now offering an earn-while-you-learn contract that is supported by Microsoft.

Rob Young, the business’s Joint Managing Director, has backed the government’s levy, which was introduced last year with the aim of creating three million new apprentices by 2020.

“Apprenticeships used to be about plumbing and mechanics,” he told the Times. “But that has changed now. It can be for anyone at any age. It is a helpful way of training them.”

Infinity is one of around 100 firms to ‘partner’ with Microsoft on the apprenticeship scheme, which sees trainee staff study for various exams, learn from pro-

fessionals and begin to work themselves, all while earning a decent wage.

The scheme lasts for around 18 months with a full-time job often waiting at the end of the process. This is what happened to Infinity’s first apprentice, Matt Baker, and his success story has inspired the company to hire three more.

‘There is a perception of IT being geeky and people working in dark rooms’ Mr Young continued: “We have found the government apprenticeship scheme very successful.

Matt was shortlisted for the Apprentice of the Year in the Kent Excellence in Business Awards. He did his over 18 months. They can be two years.

“Within a couple of months they are not just shadowing people, they are working. They can then progress through the company.

“We are a customer-facing company,

APPRENTICESHIPS ‘MORE TEMPTING’ THAN UNIVERSITY OR LONDON MOVE YOUNG people have a history of leaving Tunbridge Wells at 18.

But this might be set to change with latest data showing the number of youngsters considering apprenticeships had risen by nine per cent.

Research by The Sutton Trust, an educational charity, also showed 64 per cent of teachers said they would ‘not advise kids to do vocational studies’.

Rob Young, Joint Managing Director of Tunbridge Wells IT firm Infinity, said it has become an attractive alternative to more traditional post-school progression: “Tunbridge Wells is

on the doorstep of London so there is opportunity up there.

“This means we can find it hard to recruit, and often younger recruits come through word of mouth. It is hard to find good, engaged people.

“But Tunbridge Wells is a great place to get a job for young people as you become aware of the cost of things. Even the jobs in London are not paying as much as Tunbridge Wells.

“We have spoken to a few companies who have apprentices. The general feeling is that it is a great way for people to get into their career.”

so it is as much about learning social skills and customer service.”

Microsoft is keen for the scheme to be a success, and the firm has hosted their own apprenticeship fairs.

“Microsoft has acknowledged there is a skills gap of 40,000, so they are pushing apprenticeships,” said Mr Young.

“There are different options. For example, we can offer courses with the Open University where you get a degree at the end of it. We are aiming to have 100 staff in the next couple of years, and we currently have 60. We see apprenticeships as part of that.”

Mr Young also believes that hiring more apprentices can help diversify the industry: “Of the 7,000 who studied computer science at A level last year, only ten per cent were girls, and that has got to change.”

“There is a perception of IT being geeky and people working in dark rooms. It is more about people being able to solve problems.”

Infinity were one of this year’s winners in the Times Business Awards.

BUT NUMBER OF UK APPRENTICES FALLS THE government hoped their apprenticeship levy would entice three million to start a scheme by 2020.

But their ambition has not completely gone to plan, according to latest figures.

Reports in the national press this week suggest that there has been a fall in the number of people starting in-work training.

From 2015 to 2016 the government saw 117,800 start an apprenticeship. But from 2016 to 2017 only 48,000 people signed up.

Wednesday July 4 | 2018

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Housebuilder given stop notice on plan THE developer set to build the 375-home Mascalls Court Farm estate in Paddock Wood has been issued with a stop notice.

Tunbridge Wells Borough Council granted planning permission to Persimmon subject to the housebuilder fulfilling ‘a number of conditions’ before work could begin.

Cllr Alan McDermott said: “The conditions related to very detailed aspects of the planning application, such as drainage.

“However, Persimmon began work while some conditions remain outstanding.”

The stop notice, issued last week, prevents any work taking place until outstanding planning conditions are finalised.

Busy weekend at Bewl

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Mela Festival brings together diverse range of acts in the sun

By Duncan Audsley THE diversity of Tunbridge Wells was celebrated in the sunshine inside Calverley Grounds on Sunday [July 1] for Mela Festival.

Around 5,000 attended the 13th edition of the free event which features live music, food and dance. Mela was organised by Kent Equality Cohesion Council with the support of Arts Council England.

Gurvinder Sandher, festival director, said: “I am humbled by the positive support provided by those who attended.

“A lot of time and effort goes into putting on the event, so it is very rewarding to see so many people come out and support it and enjoy themselves.”

Temperatures peaked at a balmy 25°C but crowds were still happy to wear fancy dress, with a Chinese dragon and giant policeman spotted around Calverley Grounds.

Bhangra The Mela Festival was headlined by bhangra star PBN who had the crowd up and dancing before tribute act Mars Live performed the hits of Bruno Mars.

The stage also played host to a diverse range of acts including South Indian dance outfit Sahrudaya, ukulele band Uklear Fall Out and Tunbridge Wells’ very own Paul Dunton Orchestra and local reggae artist Jack Curtis.

Other acts included Syrian musicians Jamal & Alaa and The Folkin Fusion Collective.

Off stage, the Chinese Lions entertained the audiences as did the Chappal, an interactive show which was produced by Nutkhut and the Bureau of Silly Ideas.

Alongside the entertainment there was an array of food to savour including Indian, British, Thai, Chinese, Spanish, as well as doughnuts and fudge.

There were also free artistic workshops for children to enjoy.

Mr Sandher added: “I believe passionately that the Tunbridge Wells Mela Festival is an excellent example of the positive difference the arts can make in bringing communities together and celebrating our shared values.”

Coffee shop opens STARBUCKS is now serving in Tunbridge Wells after reopening yesterday [Tuesday].

The coffee shop chain is now based in the former Knight Frank estate agent on Mount Pleasant, having been previously based on Calverley Road.

PHOTOS: Georgina Edwards

CAR enthusiasts and runners were out in force for two events last weekend at Bewl Water. The first event at the reservoir saw more than 2,000 attend the VVS Supercar Saturday where Lamborghini, McLaren and Koenigsegg models were among the 150 vehicles on display on Saturday [June 30].

On Sunday [July 1] 743 runners braved 25°C heat to finish the Bewl 15 Mile run, which was organised by local club Wadhurst Runners.

Brighton Phoenix runner Max Dumbrell crossed the line first 1hr 31.15.

Wednesday July 4 | 2018

ALL THE FUN OF THE FESTIVAL The free Mela festival took place on Sunday

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Horder reaches out to help patients recover before returning home LEADING orthopaedic hospital The Horder Centre in Crowborough has launched a specialist rehabilitation service for patients recovering from surgery or an accident, such as a fall.

The service is designed for patients who would like additional rehabilitation before going home from hospital, and provides physiotherapy sessions as well as access to an on-site gym.

Rachel Pepe, Enhanced Recovery and Inpatient Therapy Manager at the centre, said: “We set the service up in response to requests from patients who wanted to extend their stay with us after their operation.

“Although they are medically fit, sometimes they feel a bit anxious about going home – especially if they don’t have someone to support them.

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Tree of Hope celebrates 25 years with midsummer party at Tonbridge castle Every Moment Special campaign.

Among the activities laid on for the event were croquet, quoits, a tombola and cake sales.

Tree of Hope is M&S Tunbridge Wells’ community charity once again this year, and the retailer managed to raise £15,000 in 2017.

BRIGHT SPARKS M&S staff volunteers helped to run the party

Nostalgic Music at the party was provided by The Dad Pack, a local swing band who entertained guests with a selection of nostalgic hits.

On the food and drink side, woodfired pizzas were served by Fire N Crust and cocktails were mixed by Chin Chin events – including a special Tree of Hope concoction.

The crowdfunding charity helps children and young people with a

Extended “Spending a few days with us can give them confidence, and as a result they usually make much better progress when they do go home.”

Patients who have had orthopaedic surgery at other hospitals can also book into The Horder Centre’s service, providing they are medically fit.

Ms Pepe explained: “We have now extended the service to patients who have been treated elsewhere. We can also accept patients who haven’t had surgery but may have had a fall, for example. They can benefit from a rehabilitation programme that will get them back on their feet and make them feel more able to live independently.”

A recent patient, Julie Sparshatt, said: “The whole experience of the rehabilitation service took away the anxiety of returning home on my own and wondering how I would cope.

“My experience was absolutely excellent, and I would recommend it to anyone in my situation.

“I think the kindness and compassion received from everyone during my extended stay played a large part in my recovery.”

The Horder Centre, which carries out more than 2,000 joint replacements every year, is part of Horder Healthcare, a charity that puts all of its profit back into healthcare.

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THE Tonbridge children’s charity Tree of Hope welcomed 100 guests to Tonbridge Castle on June 21 to celebrate their 25th anniversary with a summer party.

As well as marking such a major milestone, Tree of Hope also wanted to thank the volunteers and supporters who enable the charity to support families of disabled and seriously ill children.

The Mayor of Tonbridge & Malling, Cllr Pam Bates, was one of the spe-

cial guests attending the event on a glorious midsummer evening that coincided with the summer solstice.

She was joined by representatives of Tree of Hope’s many corporate supporters, including those from MCM Net, Thomson Snell & Passmore and Heartwood.

Marks & Spencer’s stores in Tunbridge Wells and Tonbridge provided volunteers to decorate the setting and help run the event as part of the company’s nationwide Make

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 NHS. Gill Gibb, Chief Executive of Tree of Hope, said: “We were delighted to have seen so many people at our 25th anniversary party, and would like to thank everyone who attended.

“Without your help we wouldn’t be able to do the work we do helping sick and disabled children get the medical treatment they so desperately need.

“We really appreciate all the support we receive, and look forward to the next 25 years.”

For more information, visit www.treeofhope.org.uk

BIRTHDAY WISHES: (L-R) Tree of Hope trustee Charlotte Eberlein with Tonbridge & Malling Mayor Pam Bates and charity Chief Executive Gill Gibb

Bags of Help paved the way for play area path HAYSDEN COUNTRY PARK in Tonbridge now has a new footpath around the children’s play area thanks to Tesco’s Bags of Help in-store community donation scheme.

Shoppers voted in their hundreds for the park plan, which received the second prize cash award of £2,000.

Tesco works with Groundwork on its Bags of Help funding, which sees grants raised from carrier bag sales in Tesco stores being awarded to local community projects.

Cllr Maria Heslop, Tonbridge & Malling Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Community Services, said: “Thank you to everyone that voted for Haysden Country Park.

“We’re delighted to have received this grant, which has allowed work to go ahead to improve access around the play area, and has helped us to continue to make the country park an even better place for visitors to enjoy.

“I’m sure there will be many parents who will appreciate not having to traipse their shoes or

pushchairs across the grassed areas on soggy days – me included – and children will now have better access to the play equipment.”

Alec Brown, Head of Community at Tesco, said: “We are absolutely delighted to be able to fund some fantastic projects, and it’s great to see these come to life in communities.”

WHEELY GOOD Parents will no longer struggle with pushchairs

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Rees-Mogg denies candidacy claims JACOB REES-MOGG has said he is as likely to become the next Pope as the next Prime Minister.

The arch-Eurosceptic insisted he was not ‘personally ambitious’ and said he was not aware of a £750,000 war chest reportedly raised by supporters for an eventual leadership bid.

Speaking in a podcast for ConservativeHome, Mr Rees-Mogg said he was ‘not convinced I should be in the list at all’, adding: “I am technically eligible to become Pope, which is open to all Catholic males, but the College of Cardinals has not elected a non-cardinal since, I think, Urban IV. “I’m very unlikely to be the next Pope and I’m very unlikely to be the next Prime Minister, for exactly the same reason. Though technically eligible, it is not the way history will go.”

He joked: “The papacy would be fantastic. I would be infallible, which is better than is given to most politicians.”

Charges for ‘Nick’, paedophile accuser A MAN known as Nick, whose claims sparked a police investigation into an alleged Westminster paedophile ring, is to be charged with 12 counts of perverting the course of justice and one count of fraud, the Crown Prosecution Service has said.

The accuser, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, made allegations when he claimed that he had been abused for nine years by a VIP gang.

The resulting £2.5million Metropolitan Police investigation, dubbed Operation Midland, saw officers raiding the homes of prominent figures including Lord Bramall, the late former Home ­Secretary Lord Brittan and and ex-Tory MP Harvey Proctor – but closed without a single arrest.

It is also alleged he falsely claimed £22,000 from the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority.

Wednesday July 4 | 2018

Healthcare worker arrested on Manchester thief’s suspicion of murdering babies mother sentenced A FEMALE healthcare worker has been arrested on suspicion of the murder of eight babies and the attempted murder of another six after an investigation of the neonatal unit at the Countess of Chester Hospital.

The arrest comes after detectives launched an investigation in May last year, initially looking at the deaths of 15 babies between June 2015 and June 2016.

Detectives said the scope of the probe has widened and they are looking into the deaths of 17 babies and 15 non-fatal collapses between March 2015 and July 2016.

Detective Inspector Paul Hughes, in charge of the investigation for Cheshire Police, said: “As a result of our ongoing inquiries we have today arrested a healthcare professional in connection with the investigation.

“Whilst this is a significant step forward in our inquiries it is important to remember that the investigation is very much active and ongoing at this stage.”

He added: “Parents of all the babies are continuing to be kept fully updated and are being supported throughout the process by specially trained officers.”

The hospital carried out a number of independent expert medical reviews into the deaths

SIGNIFICANT STEP The Countess of Chester Hospital

THE mother of a homeless man who stole from stricken victims of the Manchester Arena bombing has been given an eight-month suspended jail sentence for taking almost £4,000 from a lifeboat charity.

Jessica Parker, 58, stole the money from Sea Palling Voluntary Rescue Service in Norfolk when she worked as its secretary.

She had pleaded guilty to 10 counts of fraud by abuse of position and was sentenced at Norwich Crown Court to eight months in prison suspended for two years. She was also ordered to repay the £3,847 she took within 28 days.

Her son, Christopher Parker, had been jailed for four years and three months at Manchester Crown Court in January after he admitted theft and fraud.

Council chiefs warn of services collapse before calling in police. Its Medical Director Ian Harvey said: “Asking the police to look into this was not something we did lightly, but we need to do everything we can to understand what has happened here and get the answers we and the families so desperately want.”

A report published in July 2016 by the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health found significant gaps in medical and nursing rotas and insufficient staffing for the provision of longer term high

dependency and some intensive care.

The report said paediatric consultants had been concerned since June 2015 about a higher than usual number of deaths on the ward, several of which were ‘unexplained’ or ‘unexpected’.

A neighbour said a woman who lived at the address where the arrest was made had moved in around 2015 but she did not know her name. She added: “She’s a bit of an enigma, noone seems to know her.”

LOCAL services are ‘on the brink of collapse’ and will be damaged beyond recognition if the Government fails to plug an £8billion funding gap, council leaders have warned.

Chancellor Philip Hammond’s next spending review will be ‘make or break’ for authorities that are already under huge funding pressures, the Local Government Association said.

Councils will have faced a reduction in core funding from the Government of nearly £16billion in the decade up to 2020, according to the organisation.

Authorities face a funding gap of £7.8billion by 2025, according to its analysis.

Plugging the hole would only keep services standing still rather than allow for any improvements, the Association said.

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Newcastle’s coach is guilty of abuse A PREDATORY paedophile who helped in ­Newcastle United’s youth set-up has been convicted of sexually abusing young players spanning almost 25 years.

In the 1970 and 1980s, George Ormond coached at a prominent junior club in the city before assisting at the Premier League side in the 1990s.

He used his power over his victims’ football futures to prevent them from speaking out.

He was convicted at Newcastle Crown Court of 35 charges of indecent assault and one of indecency.

He was cleared of one charge relating to an older Newcastle United player.

The trial saw 19 complainants give evidence.

Ormond, 62, had already been jailed for six years in 2002 for 12 indecent assaults on young players.

2,500 complaints about Love Island THE broadcasting watchdog has received more than 2,500 complaints about the episode of Love Island on Sunday [July 1] which saw Dani Dyer left devastated after a watching a clip of boyfriend Jack Fincham in another villa with an ex-partner.

Ofcom had originally received 650 complaints over the moment the daughter of EastEnders star Danny Dyer burst into tears.

The complaints related to ‘distress’ caused to Dani because of the video clip, Ofcom said.

There have since been an additional 1,875 complaints, bringing the total to 2,525.

The episode on Monday smashed its own record to become the most-watched programme on ITV2.

The reality dating show scored an average of 3.4million viewers and an audience share of 17.4 per cent, and peaked at 4million.

The episode on June 28 had broken the previous record with 3.2million viewers.

LIGHTING UP 7.4million Britons smoke, or 15.1 per cent of the population

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GREEN ARTIST Nathan Wyburn

Young adults leading the way as smoking falls ‘significantly’ YOUNG adults are spurning cigarettes, according to data from the Office for National Statistics [ONS] which shows that the largest reduction in smoking since 2011 has been noted among 18 to 24-year-olds.

Last year 17.8 per cent of people in this age bracket said they were smokers, the ONS said.

This is compared to 2011 when more than a quarter of young adults (25.7 per cent) classed themselves as smokers.

Across all age groups the number of British smokers has ‘significantly’ fallen since 2016.

Overall 15.1 per cent of Britons, or around 7.4million people, were smokers in 2017.

The new ONS report on adult smoking habits in the UK states: “The latest figure represents a significant reduction in

the proportion of current smokers since 2016, when 15.8 per cent smoked.”

Public Health England [PHE] said the figures show that the nation is ‘winning the war on tobacco’.

Slight dip Around 5.5 per cent of people use electronic cigarettes, a significant rise from 2014 when 3.7 per cent were ‘vaping’ but also a slight dip from 2016 when the figure stood at 5.6 per cent.

More men than women are smokers – in 2017, 17 per cent of men smoked compared with 13.3 per cent of women.

Smoking rates were highest among people aged 25 to 34 with almost one in five (19.7 per cent) of people in this age group

calling themselves smokers.

Around a quarter of people in routine and manual occupations smoked, compared with one in 10 people in managerial and professional occupations.

Duncan Selbie, Chief Executive of PHE, said: “Smoking rates have dropped by almost a quarter in five years, a triumphant step in eliminating the nation’s biggest killer.

“The data shows we are winning the war on tobacco and that we are tantalisingly close to creating the first-ever smokefree generation in England.

“But that war will only be won if we make more progress in helping people from deprived areas and people suffering from poor mental health, where we know smoking rates remain stubbornly high.”

Tribute to NHS founder adorns Welsh mountain BRITAIN’S Got Talent finalist Nathan Wyburn has unveiled a portrait of NHS founder Aneurin Bevan on a Welsh mountainside to celebrate 70 years since the health service was born. The 33ft by 46ft artwork is sited on Trefil moorland three miles north of Bevan’s home town of Tredegar.

Siri speaks in Commons DEFENCE Secretary Gavin Williamson was left red-faced after his iPhone ‘heckled’ him at the House of Commons despatch box.

Mr Williamson was giving MPs an update on IS when his iPhone’s Siri interrupted.

The Cabinet minister fumbled to find his phone while Siri said: “I found something on the web for Syrian democratic forces supported by.”

Phones sending photos SAMSUNG is investigating after some users claimed their phones sendt photos to contacts without their permission.

According to user posts on Reddit and the Korean firm’s own customer forums, the messages are being sent from the default Samsung Messages app but it does not show the files have been sent.

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‘Brakes are off’ as construction hits seven-month high BRITAIN’S builders enjoyed a surge in work last month as growth rebounded to a seven-month high, according to new figures.

The Markit/CIPS UK construction purchasing managers’ index [PMI] showed a reading of 53.1 in June, up from 52.5 in May and the highest since November. New orders also rose at the fastest pace since May 2017, the survey said.

Housebuilding remained the best performer in the sector, although commercial building work helped drive the pick-up in activity.

Committed It marks the third month in a row of sustained recovery since the Beast from the East disruption in March, which hit building sites hard.

Duncan Brock, Group Director at the Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply, commented: “With the fastest rise in new orders since May 2017, it appears the brakes are off for the construction sector.

“Despite being hampered by economic uncertainty, firms reported an improved pipeline of work as clients committed to projects and hesitancy was swept away.”

But he said the sector was ‘not out of the woods yet’ as the report also showed that confidence among building firms remained lower than average in June, while price inflation also hit a nine-month high.

“A cloud of uncertainty remains, given the sector’s hit-and-miss performance so far this year and lower-than-average business confidence in June,” said Mr Brock.

KPMG is investigated over Conviviality audit THE accounting watchdog is investigating KPMG over its last audit of collapsed Bargain Booze owner Conviviality.

The Financial Reporting Council [FRC] said the probe related to its work on Conviviality’s final set of full-year results before the firm fell into administration.

It is also carrying out an inquiry under the Accountancy Scheme over the preparation and approval of Conviviality’s financial statements and other financial information by a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales.

A KPMG spokesman defended the firm’s work, saying: “We believe we conducted our audit appropriately and will co-operate fully with the investigation.

FLIGHT OR FIGHT Ryanair has called for action

Ryanair cancelling thousand flights a month due to strikes BUDGET airline Ryanair has revealed another month of travel misery as it said air traffic control [ATC] strikes left more than 210,000 passengers facing flight cancellations in June.

The Dublin-based carrier said more than 1,100 flights were cancelled for the second month running due to air traffic control strikes over four weekends in June, as well as staff shortages in the UK, Germany and France. This compared with 41 in June last year.

The company repeated its call for action from Europe to help tackle disruption from the strikes.

Chief Marketing Officer Kenny Jacobs said: “Ryanair calls for urgent action by the EU Commission and European governments to ameliorate the effect of ATC strikes and staff shortages in the UK, Germany and France from disrupting the travel plans of millions of Europe’s consumers this summer.”

Fellow airline easyJet has also revealed the impact of the strike woes in recent weeks, cancelling nearly 1,000 flights in May, as widespread thunderstorms also took their toll.

ATC strikes are hugely disruptive in France as many UK flights need to use the country’s air space or fly longer routes to avoid it.

Complaint Ryanair said it still flew 7 per cent more passengers last month, at 12.6million.

Its load factor, a measure of how well airlines fill their planes, was unchanged at 96 per cent.

Ryanair and British Airways owner International Airlines Group (IAG) recently joined forces to prepare a legal complaint to the European Commission over the crippling ATC strikes, arguing that EU law is being infringed.

Professional services warn May about danger of bad Brexit deal THE professional services sector, which employs 4.6million people in the UK, has warned Theresa May that a bad Brexit deal would severely damage firms’ ability to work across the EU. Bosses involved in law, accountancy, consulting and other professional services said it was essential to secure mutual recognition on qualifications, regulations and legal judgments between the

UK and EU after Brexit.

In an open letter to the Prime Minister, the Professional and Business Services Council [PBSC] warned that failure to secure such a deal would put some of the UK’s most important sectors ‘at a distinct competitive disadvantage’.

The demands also include maintaining rules that allow experts to ‘fly in, fly out’ to advice firms across the EU, continued co-operation on

data-sharing and the ability to recruit talent from overseas ‘whether from the EU or beyond’.

They warned: “Failing to negotiate these elements would impair our ability to provide our services with the same range, depth and speed our clients around the world experience today, damaging their businesses and putting our sectors at a distinct competitive disadvantage.”

Wednesday July 4 | 2018

NEWS IN BRIEF

National Grid consultation on voluntary redundancy NATIONAL GRID has started consulting with employees on ‘organisational changes’ which may lead to job losses.

The electricity and gas transmission firm said workers would be able to apply for voluntary redundancy.

It said: “We have begun a consultation with our employees on organisational changes that will help us become an even more costefficient and agile business.

“No decisions have yet been made but this may result in redundancies, and employees interested in voluntary redundancy will be able to apply.”

China’s economy is strong THE head of China’s central bank has said he is closely watching the slide in the value of the yuan against the US dollar but the country’s economic fundamentals are strong.

Yi Gang was quoted as saying the yuan’s depreciation reflects the strengthening of the dollar and ‘the effect of external uncertainties’.

The yuan has declined 3 per cent against the dollar over the past two weeks, reflecting fears over a possible trade war between the world’s two biggest economies.

S tariffs on some Chinese imports are due to take effect on Friday [July 6].

Jobs saved at Havelock MORE than 300 jobs have been saved at a Fife shopfitting and manufacturing firm after it was bought out of administration.

PwC administrators struck a deal with private investment firm Rcapital, which set up a new company, Havelock International.

The management team at Havelock, headquartered in Kirkcaldy where the majority of the 320 staff are based, will now work with Rcapital to restructure and seek investment in the business.

Two new plants for Ineos ENERGY giant Ineos is to build two new chemical plants in northern Europe under a £2.3billion project, its biggest ever investment.

The firm said one of the plants will be the first new so-called ‘cracker’ to be built in Europe for two decades.

Ineos said it will be one of the most efficient and environmentally friendly plants of its type.

Chairman Jim Ratcliffe said: “This is the largest investment to be made in the European chemical sector for a generation.”

World News

Wednesday July 4 | 2018

SPORT IN BRIEF

Deflected goal sends Sweden into last eight EMIL FORSBERG’S deflected strike saw Sweden snatch a place in the World Cup quarter-finals with a narrow 1-0 win over Switzerland. They will play either England or Colombia in the last eight.

Forsberg struck after 66 minutes in St Petersburg when his shot from the edge of the area was diverted in by Manuel Akanji.

Michael Lang was sent off towards the end for pulling down Martin Olsson as he raced through on goal.

Sweden were initially awarded a penalty but it was changed to a free-kick on the edge of the box after a review by VAR.

Konta’s tough progress JOHANNA KONTA needed six match points to beat world No 88 Natalia Vikhlyantseva in the first round at Wimbledon.

After the British No 1 won 7-5 7-6 (9-7) she said: “It was a tough match. She made me work for it very hard. It was a great match for me to have. It was a great match for me to battle through and fight through until literally the very last point. I think I have control over how I’m able to compete.”

Iniesta’s adios to Spain ANDRES INIESTA has confirmed his international retirement by saying ‘now is the time to step aside’ after Spain were knocked out of the World Cup. The 34-year-old, who will now play for Vissel Kobe in Japan, wrote an open letter stating: “Now is the time to step aside. It’s not an easy decision, on the contrary, I’ve been thinking about it a lot during the past months.”

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Putin and Trump set to meet in private

GREENPEACE activists crashed a drone into a French nuclear plant to highlight the lack of security.

The drone, which was decked out to resemble Superman, crashed into the tower in Bugey, about 20 miles from Lyon

Boys in cave may have to learn to dive as heavy rain threatens BRITISH divers who discovered 12 trapped boys and their football coach in flooded caves in Thailand face the daunting prospect of helping them to safety with heavy rainfall forecast this week.

Rick Stanton and John Volanthen were the first rescuers to reach the group, aged between 11 and 16, and their coach, 25, who disappeared in the Luang Nang Non Cave on June 23.

There were scenes of elation as relatives gathered at the cave site learned the group had been found in a stable medical condition and given high-protein liquid food.

But rescuers must now try to extract the group through nearly a mile of tunnels, large portions of which are underwater.

Heavy rain could flood the cave further and the boys may need to swim out using diving equipment before then, the Thai Interior Minister said.

Anupong Paojinda said they could use the same narrow passages out that their rescuers used to get in and would need to be guided by experts, an

BUSINESS

extremely dangerous task for a novice.

“Diving is not easy. For people who have never done it, it will be difficult, unlike diving in a swimming pool, because the cave’s features have small channels,” he said, adding: “If something happens midway, it could be life-threatening.”

Rescuers have also searched for other potential entrances to drill into the chamber and airlift the group out. It is estimated that the boys are around half a mile below the surface.

BCRC Vice-Chairman Bill Whitehouse said all focus was on extracting the group safely, adding: “It was euphoria for a moment and then you draw back and think ‘what do we do’. It’s not going to be easy to get 13 people out of a flooded cave.

“There’s space to make your way through, but it is 50/50 underwater over 1.5km. That’s still a lot of diving and it’s possible it will need a lot of equipment.

“The question is how much time until the water goes up again.”

RUSSIA’S President Vladimir Putin and US president Donald Trump may meet in private during their upcoming summit in Helsinki, a Kremlin spokesman has said.

Dmitry Peskov said that, if both sides agree, the leaders could meet without their aides before the start of the official meeting on July 16.

Mr Peskov said: “President Putin feels absolutely comfortable in all formats that are comfortable for his interlocutors” and the Kremlin “does not rule out” such a meeting.

A US congressional delegation was in Moscow on Tuesday meeting with Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov and Russian parliamentarians.

Relations have deteriorated between the two amid US sanctions over alleged meddling in the US election and Russia’s actions in Ukraine.

Poisoned spy’s niece is running for office THE niece of a former Russian spy who was poisoned in Britain is running for a seat in a regional legislature in Russia as a candidate for a Kremlin-controlled party.

Viktoria Skripal is running for office in the Yaroslavl region north of Moscow for the A Just Russia party, according to party spokeswoman Anastasia Pivovarova.

Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia survived a poison attack in Salisbury in March. Britain says Russia was behind the attack, which it denies.

In appearances on Russian state-controlled television Viktoria Skripal has said she does not trust Britain to handle the investigation.

Ms Pivovarova said Viktoria Skripal has the support of the party because of her ‘active civic position’.

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NEWS

Local News

FOR EVEN MORE NEWS VISIT thekn w.guide

Wednesday July 4 | 2018

And another thing…

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

WINDOW OF OPPORTUNITY Groombridge Place Estates was reborn debt-free

Small businesses cannot ‘phoenix’ – it’s time to close these loopholes Adam Hignett’s article on Groombridge Place [June 20] was very informative.

I wonder how much of the debt is owed to small businesses, none of whom would be in a position to ‘phoenix’! One hopes that none of them have to close as a result.

Why is this government so reluctant to close

these loopholes, especially when HMRC loses so much? Did Menzies claim their fees from Groombridge Place Estates Ltd or will they be paid by GPE Management Ltd? I hope that I will not be the only individual who boycotts this venue from now on.

P E Ronan, via email

Prevailing tiredness in sleepy town

Traditional parties help the Tories

Three months ago I moved into Tunbridge Wells having lived and worked in London all my life. I already knew the town and moved in to enjoy a ‘quieter’ life.

Since I’ve been here, reality has hit. There are no local cinemas or swimming pool. The shops seem to be struggling, and there is a prevailing tiredness about the place. Also, driving around Tunbridge Wells is a minefield of potholes.

I join those who condemn the building of the new theatre project. It will never bring in the foot traffic for the shops and businesses needed in the area. I have yet to come across a council that makes any sort of profit on whatever it does.

We all know civil servants, in whatever form that takes, are wholly unaccountable.

I do love the people in the town. They are friendly and courteous. I intend to stay here, but would implore the council to abandon the vanity project (I know they won’t) and cherish the unique town and the people they represent.

Jean Rennie Via email

Bjorn Simpole [June 13] uses the deceitful logic of Cllrs Jukes and Moore, who insisted throughout last year that the silent Tunbridge Wells majority supported the proposed Civic Complex and the handful of vocal protesters were not representative. The May election forced them to abandon that unfounded assumption.

Tunbridge Wells Borough Council has also been silent about being forced to abandon its claim that the theatre would expand the local economy by £14million a year, a figure recently revised down to £3million by their own consultants – and this excludes the costs associated with an additional 250,000 visitors to the town.

But who cares? Now we live in a post-truth world in which politicians promote their lies to truth by constantly repeating them and are silent when the lies are called out.

Mr Simpole now uses similar factoids to argue that had there been no Tunbridge Wells Alliance candidates in Culverden and Sherwood, the Tories would not have won.

This statement, entirely unsupported by any evidence, does not become true merely by it being constantly repeated.

Mr Simpole is right that if there were fewer opposition candidates it would be easier to oust the many Tories who win with a minority of votes; indeed, Labour and the Lib Dems have been helping Tory candidates win like this for years.

These two parties owe it to the taxpayers and residents of Tunbridge Wells not to block the path of Tunbridge Wells Alliance, which has shown that it has the policies and the appeal to refresh local politics.

Robert Chris Tunbridge Wells Alliance

Potholes? More like no road at all When I moved into my house, the adjoining road was unmade. Now, 43 years later, it’s almost unmade again! We don’t have potholes, rather there are extensive areas where the top couple of surface layers have totally worn away.

Why Tunbridge Wells Borough Council is wasting money on signage for 20mph speed limits in areas around Brook Road is beyond me.

Given the unrestricted commuter parking in the neighbourhood, all the roads are reduced to a single track and 10mph is pushing your luck.

Dorothy Groves Via email

Calverley is wrong in his assumption that the Lycra-clad cyclist he mentioned does not contribute towards the funding of our roads [June 20].

We all pay for them, whether a driver or not; from the schoolchild spending their saved pocket money on a toy with added VAT, to the business owner via PAYE, National Insurance and corporation tax.

Winston Churchill argued against the hypothecation of Road Tax in 1926, as it was realised that drivers were trying to take ownership of the roads. Dare your esteemed columnist disagree with him?

We have few rights in this country, but one of them is to walk, ride or cycle on our highways, something to be cherished I think.

Mark Blackman Tonbridge

Searching for friend met in America In the early 1960s, one Gemma Mayhew (maiden name) was a classmate of ours in Kenilworth, Illinois, in a grammar school. Her father was a diplomat of some kind in Chicago, and we knew she came from Tunbridge Wells.

Below is a picture of our Girl Scouts camp in 1963, she is circled in white, the only picture I have of her. We are having a grammar school reunion this September and would love to find her. Thank you very much.

Susanne Houfek Oakland, California WHERE IS GEMMA? Hunt for old schoolfriend

Calverley

Observations on life and more important things

TURF WARS: This Twitter thing could really catch on, you know, as witnessed last week. Someone called StayGoMag posted this picture of turf that had been laid at Calverley Grounds during the heatwave. This prompted the new TW Alliance councillor, Nick Pope, to comment about the ‘very sad situation’ and name Hort Services as the contractor responsible. Within nanoseconds Hort announced: “We will speak to the local team and resolve.” And all this in about as much time as it would have taken to phone the Town Hall, complain about the turf and keep fingers crossed something might happen.

(As it would have done.)

OFF to Ascot like every respectable columnist. (Oh yes he is.) Standing in line for entry, Himself noticed police sniffer dogs and handlers ‘vetting’ the queue. The young lady in front with the most colourful of fascinators became quite agitated when one of the drug dogs sniffed around her and started wagging its tail vigorously – a sure sign something was amiss. Red-faced, she relaxed when one of the officers told her: “Don’t worry, madam, today we are just looking for explosives.”

EMAILS galore this week after suggestions

Thank you for flying the RNLI flag The RNLI Royal Tunbridge Wells Branch says a huge thank you to everyone who supported two recent fundraising drives.

The annual Flag Day in Tunbridge Wells town centre on June 9 raised a superb £1,704.92, while the collections at Tunbridge Wells, Tonbridge and Wadhurst railways stations which were held on June 28 between 6-9am brought in £834.93.

Thank you also to all our dedicated collectors, without whom our collections would not be possible.

The RNLI receives no government help, and £177million is needed annually to keep the lifeboats afloat.

Without the wonderful generosity of the public, especially in and around Tunbridge Wells, we would not be able to help the RNLI as much as we do.

Joan Hamilton-Smith RNLI Royal Tunbridge Wells Branch

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

by Calverley that cyclists should pay road tax.

Typical of them was this from Jane Heydecker: “Imposing some form of road tax would be very difficult to collect & enforce and would most likely cost more than it raised. In any case, cyclists do not use motorways, partly funded by car tax.

“Local roads and paths are a charge on councils, and most households already pay council tax.”

Himself is obliged to Ms Jane, as well as others [see Letters, left], for highlighting the error (apparently) of his logic. No pushover, these cyclists.

HITCHING a lift home with a colleague, Calverley was somewhat disturbed when she suddenly turned towards the back seat trying to shoo away a ‘ginger cat’ that had got into the car. Only problem was the fact that it was a plastic shopping bag from Sainsbury’s.

Guess who then caught the bus? And gave her a Specsavers voucher.

Chin Chin, readers

Education

FOR EVEN MORE NEWS VISIT thekn w.guide

Wednesday July 4 | 2018

EDUCATION Times WITH THE

Local drama writer goes national Skinners’ pupil Dara Hughes celebrates after his play is selected by the National Theatre A PLAY by Dara Hughes, a 17-year-old student from The Skinners’ School in Tunbridge Wells, has been shortlisted for New Views, the National Theatre’s annual playwriting competition.

The contest, which is open to all 14-19 year olds, selected ten plays from over 300 entries this year, and Dara’s dramatic work, entitled ‘See You, Space Cowboy’, made the shortlist. As a result, it will be read as part of the theatre’s annual festival this month.

See You, Space Cowboy was judged a worthy finalist by a prestigious panel of judges, who included National Theatre Senior Dramaturg Nina Steiger, playwright James Graham (This House, Quiz), actor Michael Balogun, who is currently performing in Rufus Norris’s production of Macbeth at the National Theatre, and National Theatre Connections Dramaturg Ola Animashawun.

Students who take part in the New Views competition have the opportunity to learn about playwriting from some of the most talented writers in the industry, and are encouraged to write 30-minute plays about issues they feel passionate about.

Dara According to a New Hughes

Views spokesperson, this year’s shortlisted plays ‘sensitively explore a broad range of contemporary issues, including immigration, sexuality, gender and mental health. Ranging from monologues to multimedia-infused ensemble pieces, each play introduces a fresh, new and exciting voice’.

And Dara’s dramatic offering was no different. He says: “I like to think of myself as a creative person, I have always expressed myself through art and music, and as of the last three or so years, I have decided that drama,

‘I was excited about the opportunity to further my writing skills with the help of a professional playwright’ theatre and film are the medium I find most joy in developing.

“When New Views came around, I was excited about the opportunity to further my writing skills with the help of a professional playwright.”

The winning play in this year’s New Views competition is by Alice Schofield from CAPA College in Wakefield. Her play will be given a full production at the National Theatre alongside rehearsed readings of nine other shortlisted plays, all of which will be performed by professional actors.

James Graham, playwright and judge on this year’s panel, comments: “There are so many challenges facing young people’s access to the arts right now, so thank God something like National Theatre’s New Views exists.

“Its encouragement and mentoring of school-age students to have the confidence to write a play is so important. I was taken aback by the talent and imagination, it was such a privilege to read a selection of them.”

Those successfully selected for the New Views shortlist follow an online course written by a respected playwright, and also participate in school workshops with professional writers.

They also have the opportunity to see NT Live broadcasts and productions at the NT, and to receive continuing professional development.

In addition, they also receive guidance and support from the theatre’s learning department.

This year, the National Theatre has worked with over 65 schools nationwide as well as in a London Hub and a Partner Theatre programme at the West Yorkshire Playhouse.

A rehearsed reading of See You, Space Cowboy will take place alongside other shortlisted finalists’ work on Friday, July 13 at the National Theatre’s Dorfman Theatre.

For further information visit www.nationaltheatre.org.uk

Staying silent to make some noise for Amnesty HILLVIEW School for Girls in Tonbridge has a long association with fundraising for the charity Amnesty International, and now boasts a special ‘Amnesty Youth Club’.

In order to help raise further funds and awareness for the organisation, which campaigns for human rights for all, the group arranged a sponsored silence last month.

Over 200 students signed up to spend the entire school day in silence, and collectively raised an

impressive £2,000 for the charity, with students Lois Dann and Katy Rennie both raising over £100 each.

Last month, Amnesty International representative Richard Glynn visited the school, where he was presented with the cheque for £2,000.

He thanked and congratulated the girls on their success and spoke to them about Amnesty International’s efforts. In particular, he spoke of the plight of Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, a British-Iranian dual citizen who has

been detained in Iran since April 2016.

Catherine Bishop, Amnesty Youth Group Leader at Hillview, said: “I am very proud of how well the girls have done. I initially started the Amnesty Group as a place to discuss and highlight human rights issues around the world, but the interest in the group surpassed all of my expectations.

“In December, we were even invited to attend a reception held at the Speaker’s House alongside MPs and peers in aid of generating awareness

for Human Rights Day, which our students found extremely eyeopening. They feel very passionate about Amnesty’s causes, and since meeting with Richard on Tuesday, have even planned to set up a sub-group to specifically support the LGBTQ community.

“I couldn’t be prouder of their efforts in this fundraiser, and I’m sure Amnesty International will be hearing a lot more from us over the next few years.”

Get on your bike for a healthier lifestyle WITH the recent focus on following a more nutritious diet following National Healthy Eating Week, Tunbridge Wells Grammar School for Boys decided to put thoughts and words into action.

The students were inspired by Lisa Smith, the school’s Food and Nutrition teacher, to make and sell healthier meals and break-time treats instead of the usual choice of sandwiches and sugary items.

Challenges On the menu was everything from fresh fruit kebabs to smoothies, which were made using a ‘smoothie bike’. In order to create their puréed fruit drink of choice, students had to hop on the special bike and use all their pedal power to blend up the fresh fruit in order to achieve one of their five a day. Tesco Metro in St John’s Road,

Tunbridge Wells provided the school with £70 worth of fresh fruit for the week-long project.

In addition to rolling up their sleeves and making their own natural-based foods, boys at the school – also located in St John’s Road – were set five key challenges to stick to.

These were to eat a healthy breakfast all week; ensure they consume their five-a-day fruit and veg on a daily basis; do 60 minutes of exercise each day; drink six to eight glasses of water every day; and make one healthy change to achieve a more beneficial diet and exercise routine.

“We have tried to encourage all departments to participate,” Ms Smith told the Times.

“Even the Maths Department have been designing questionnaires in lessons to investigate the hypothesis that they have a healthy class.”

SMOOTH OPERATORS The boys used pedal power to purée fruit

NEWS

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NEWS

Weekly Comment

FOR EVEN MORE NEWS VISIT thekn w.guide

Peter Lidstone

Tunbridge Wells councillor

Wednesday July 4 | 2018

Liberal Democrat Peter Lidstone became the youngest member of Tunbridge Wells Borough Council when he was elected in 2016 aged 32. He represents St John’s ward on the authority, and was the only candidate to dislodge a Conservative opponent at that year’s count.

Having previously worked for the charity Build Africa, he now works in London as Information and Reporting Manager at Save the Children. His interest in politics came after attending a Christian Aid conference on the subject.

Challenging the government on their Brexit strategy MOST people will agree that Brexit is not going to plan. Two years have passed since the vote to leave the European Union, yet we are almost none the wiser about Britain’s future trading relationships with the EU and wider world.

It is inexcusable for the government not to have been prepared as they held the EU Referendum.

I believe it’s fair to say that if the Conservatives were once seen as the party of business, this is no longer the case.

We spoke to a number of voters during the May elections who had switched from the Conservatives to supporting the Lib Dems over this precise issue.

While significant negotiations are underway, the Conservative party are engaged in a civil war.

Businesses such as Airbus, who employ 14,000 people in the UK, and BMW with 8,000 UK staff, have threatened to leave the UK unless they are provided with certainty about Britain’s future trading arrangements.

Yet the Health Secretary states that it is ‘inappropriate’ for a business to comment on government trade policy, and the Foreign Secretary simply says ‘f*** business’.

Of course, businesses aren’t perfect corporate citizens, but this sort of petulant response from Cabinet Ministers is deeply troubling.

What’s more, our MP, Greg Clark, is the current Secretary of State for Business. He should be a voice of common sense and pragmatism in a sea of hyperbole and grandstanding.

Mr Clark needs to come out and explain why the single market is so important for British success and prosperity. In total, 44 per cent of our exports currently go to the EU, and we will need to find a way to trade with our nearest neighbours.

A JOURNEY WITH EU Airbus has threatened to leave UK

‘I believe it’s fair to say that if the Conservatives were once seen as the party of business, this is no longer the case’ Drawing ideological lines rather than getting around the negotiating table will not help us.

Mr Clark needs to put his constituents above his career and support calls for a meaningful vote on the final terms of Brexit (including the right to remain in the EU); by Parliament, or ideally by the British people.

But the most important thing Mr Clark and the Conservatives need to do – at national and local level – is listen.

For Jeremy Hunt to claim that Airbus, a European company, should ‘get behind Theresa May’ in the Brexit negotiations shows a worrying lack of understanding about business.

They owe us no allegiance, and will stay in the UK only as long as we are an attractive place to be. Perhaps that’s where we should be focusing our energies…

Wednesday July 4 | 2018

yourh me INSPIRATION FOR MOVING

AND IMPROVING

It’s great outdoors Get to know your garden Page 45

AVAILABLE EVER Y WEDNESDAY – A MUST-READ

ULTIMATE GUIDE TO PROPERTY, IN TERIORS, TOP TRENDS AN D GARDENING

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A HANDSOME FAMILY HOME

35

DISCOVER THIS CONVERTED SCHOOL

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A CLEAR VIEW ON SLIDING DOORS

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yourh me

To suit your budget

Wednesday July 4 | 2018

Your at-a-glance guide to

UNDER £350,000

n Bathroom

UNDER £400,000

n Kitchen

VERMONT ROAD RUSTHALL

n Loft space with Velux-style window and spotlights

MONTACTUTE GARDENS TUNBRIDGE WELLS

n Master bedroom with feature marble fireplace n Second bedroom

£300,000

n Front garden with white picket fence n Rear garden with patio area

£329,950

n Modern bathroom suite

n End-of-terrace house n Living room

n Allocated parking space

(LEASEHOLD)

n Road parking

n Wood-style flooring n Kitchen with access to garden n Breakfast bar n 2 double bedrooms

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

GUIDE PRICE

n First-floor Victorian apartment n Communal front entrance n L-shaped entrance hall n Reception room

n Communal garden

CONTACT Bracketts Tunbridge Wells 01892 533733 www.bracketts.co.uk

To suit your budget

Wednesday July 4 | 2018

thekn w

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great properties by price range…

UNDER £450,000 HAWKENBURY CLOSE TUNBRIDGE WELLS

WOODLAND COTTAGE BLACKHAM

GUIDE PRICE

£369,000 n End-of-terrace property n Spacious entrance hall

GUIDE PRICE

n Reception room

£800,000

n Dining room n Kitchen n Galleried landing n Double bedroom with garden view n 2 further bedrooms n Modern bathroom suite n Front and rear gardens CONTACT Bracketts Tunbridge Wells 01892 533733 www.bracketts.co.uk

UNDER £500,000 ASHLEY PARK, RUSTHALL

£450,000 n Semi-detached house n Entrance hall n Dining room n Lounge n Kitchen n 2 double bedrooms n Family bathroom n Front and rear garden n Garden shed and greenhouse n Planting and mature shrubs n Gate access to side garden CONTACT KMJ Property Rusthall 01892 515188 www.kmjproperty.co.uk

UNDER £1MILLION

UNDER £800,000

WOODLAND COTTAGE BLACKHAM

HARDINGE AVENUE, BIDBOROUGH

£700,000

GUIDE PRICE

GUIDE PRICE

£800,000 n Country home in need of refurbishment n Entrance hall n Sitting room n Dining room n Family room n Kitchen/breakfast room

n Master bedroom

n Detached house

n 3 further double bedrooms (1 with en suite)

n Spacious living room

CONTACT

n Conservatory

Wood & Pilcher Tunbridge Wells 01892 511211 www.woodandpilcher.co.uk

n 3 double bedrooms

n Kitchen/dining room

n Modern family bathroom n Front and rear gardens n Garage and off-road parking CONTACT Flying Fish Properties Southborough 01892 514189 www.flyingfishproperties.co.uk

Wednesday July 4 | 2018

The Old School

thekn w

35

AT A GLANCE THE OLD SCHOOL FRANT n School conversion n Central village location n Grade II listed n Converted to residential use in 2014 n Galleried entrance hall n Restored floorboards throughout n 2 reception rooms n Drawing room n Vaulted ceiling and feature fireplace n Modern kitchen n Bifold doors to terrace area n Galleried playroom n Cinema room with fitted projector n Terraced garden n Electric heaters and lighting

GUIDE PRICE

ÂŁ1,250,000 Available for sale through Savills Tunbridge Wells 01892 507000 www.savills.co.uk

Former village school is now a character home boasting bespoke design features

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yourh me

Architectural Advice

Wednesday July 4 | 2018

John Bullock

Architectural services

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

Sliding doors – the choice is yours

The open and shut cases for a clear solution This month John shares his advice on creating the type of glass and light-filled addition to the home that was once only entertained by the very rich – you just have to choose between bifold and sliding doors

W

ITH the high costs involved in moving and strong house price growth, many property owners are improving or extending their homes rather than selling.

We find there are many reasons why clients want to extend or reconfigure their homes.

Perhaps the need to accommodate a growing family, empty nesters who can utilise their space differently, or simply a wish for larger entertaining space. Whichever it is, there are many design ideas to suit all.

This month we’re showcasing a modern approach with a stunning ‘glass box’ kitchen extension, creating a great solution for modern family living.

We’ve removed the wall between the existing kitchen and dining room and extended out with full height glass panels.

These flood the space with natural light and create a unique indoor/outdoor feel which is so on-trend at the moment.

As the garden is private, the large glazed area to the rear continues to wrap around the side return. This glazing can be achieved by using either sliding or bifold doors, and the past year has seen a revival in larger sliding glass panels and a move away from bifolds.

The beauty of the latter is that you can open up the whole area of the rear of your house in the summer, but when closed they are visually impactful with more frame to interrupt the view.

With a sliding door you get the benefit of larger expanses of glass, and the view isn’t impaired by as many frame lines when the door is shut.

Sliding doors are also a popular option when space is limited because they don’t require room to manoeuvre inside or out.

Choosing the right bifold or sliding doors for your house is important, both practically and stylistically, and they can become the wowfactor feature that you have been looking for.

GARDEN ROOM Large expanses of glass are proving popular

WHAT ARE BIFOLD DOORS? n Bifold doors – which are also known as folding sliding doors – slide open panels that concertina neatly together. n They can also include a standard-style door at one end which you can use to go in and out without having to fold the panels. n Bifolding units can open inwards or outwards, and most people choose the latter option to

maximise space inside. With examples that open outwards, you don’t need to worry about the furniture inside the room getting in the way of the folded leaves when the door is open. n With a bifold door you can open up a whole wall giving a connection to the exterior space.

WHAT ARE SLIDING DOORS?

n Sliding doors open by moving to the side,

will extend the living space further.

One point to consider with an area of extensive glazing is that if the windows are not dressed with curtains or blinds at night they become large black reflective surfaces.

To negate this impact, simply introducing some form of subtle lighting in the garden beyond will visually increase the feeling of space and add nocturnal drama.

with the panes fitting behind one another.

BRINGING THE OUTSIDE IN A new take on open-plan living

n You won’t be able to fully open the room in which they’re fitted to the outside. n Hidden pocket versions are possible, allowing the sliding doors to be inserted into the wall to create a complete open wall. n With a sliding door you get the benefit of larger expanses of glass, and the view isn’t impaired by as many frame lines when the door is shut. n Sliding doors are a popular option when space is limited because they don’t require room to manoeuvre inside or out.

Our kitchen extension features a two-panel sliding system which allows you to open up 50 per cent of the rear elevation.

This achieves a ‘vanishing corner’ where the structure is cantilevered, so when the doors are open there is no structure on the corner to obstruct the view.

When creating the ‘indoor/outdoor’ solution, the garden is as important to consider as the extension, and it’s worth spending time to carefully design and plan this space.

The all-important terrace and seating area go hand in hand with this type of extension and

HOW MUCH WILL THIS TYPE OF GLAZING COST? You’ll need to budget from £480 per square metre for bifold doors with an aluminium frame, and £600 per square metre for sliding doors.

Bear in mind that for both sliding and bifold doors, the frame material and its dimensions will influence the cost.

As a rule, uPVC offers the least expensive option and aluminium the most. Panel sizes also affect the final cost of your selection. You might want to factor in whether the doors have integrated blinds for use in the evening.

Finally, don’t forget that both off-the-shelf and bespoke glazed doors are available, but you’ll pay accordingly.

John Bullock Design is a multi-award-winning, Tunbridge Wells-based, architectural design consultants, and proud winner of the Times of Tunbridge Wells 2018 Best Business 1-25 Employees Award For further advice, please contact us on 01892 525732

Wednesday July 4 | 2018

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Gardening

Wednesday July 4 | 2018

9 ways to get your kids into the garden

this summer...

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As the school holidays beckon, designer Ann-Marie Powell shares her top tips with Hannah Stephen for getting your youngsters outdoors Go on family walks

I have two children, Archie, 14, and Gilbert, nine, and like all children these days, they are addicted to the internet.

So every Sunday we go for a family walk, which we’ve done for years, and look at the landscape.

It’s fantastic family time and it means they’re experiencing a little bit of the great outdoors.

They almost always moan about it, but as soon as we get out there they are changed children.

And we talk!

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Visit nature reserves

Since the boys were little, we have been to nature reserves. Straight away their shoes were off, they were walking through the streams, swinging in the trees – they always have great fun.

Create a wildlife haven

We have lots of plants for pollinators in our garden, and you’ll find a massive list on the RHS website (www.rhs.org.uk) from echinaceas to roses. They attract insects, which create interest for children in the garden.

THE thoughts of school holidays fill some parents with dread – but if you can get your kids engaged in gardening, or at least off their screens and into the fresh air, the weeks will fly by.

Award-winning garden designer and mother-oftwo Ann-Marie Powell – who is designing the BBC Countryfile’s programme’s 30th anniversary garden at this year’s RHS Hampton Court Palace Flower Show – says wildlife and growing-yourown could be just the magnet you need to lure youngsters outside.

Here, she shares 9 ways to get your kids into the garden this summer...

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Create a veg patch near play equipment

We have a little veg plot at the end of our garden where all the herbs are, and I always grow food particularly for them to scrump. The plot is close to their trampoline, so they go down there and I’ll say: “Boys, while you’re down there can you get me some basil?” or “Pick me some peas”, or whatever is in season.

Now they know all of the herbs and veg and they notice wildlife such as ladybirds.

We encourage as much wildlife as possible in the garden. It doesn’t have to be hard-to-grow

stuff. I grow peas and beans, we have an apple tree and a herb bed. I just plant what I’ve got time to do, but it’s worth the effort.

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Keep binoculars handy

Give them space for a den

Kids love to be able to call a space their own, where they can use their imagination. Dens are brilliant and they can make a right mess out of old bamboo sticks or cut-off branches.

You could even plant bamboo plants and bend over the stems. They’ll make it into an absolute horror – my two used old Christmas decorations and rubbish from their bedrooms – but it’s theirs, they need to own it.

Put the idea in their head by, say, reading them a book at bedtime about dens and suggest they could do that in the garden.

The RHS Hampton Court Palace Flower Show takes place at the palace in East Molesey, Surrey, from July 2-8. For details, visit www.rhs.org.uk

We have some binoculars in our living room as, luckily, we are surrounded by trees. They love looking through the binoculars to see what they can see.

Amuse them with apps

If they really can’t be separated from their phones, load some apps to your advantage. The boys have this app where you record the birdsong and it will identify the bird (www.warblr.co.uk and www.chirpomatic. com are popular choices).

When we get back, we can then look the birds up in a book. If you talk to them about wildlife, they’ll want to know all about it.

If they’re really keen to know the name of a plant or flower, there are plant identification apps that will do the job, including FlowerChecker (www.flowerchecker.com) and PlantSnap (www. plantsnap.com), where you take a photo of the plant and the app will endeavour to identify it.

seeing what comes out, whether it’s centipedes or millipedes or other bugs.

My mother-in-law used to hang lots of birdfeeders in the area – we still do it. Hang birdfeeders where the kids hang out.

And we hang water-filled coconuts from the trees. You must have water. Without water, you won’t get wildlife.

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Encourage them to grow things

Try sowing seeds. My kids like sowing big seeds, slightly weird-looking, and they want to know what the plants are going to be like and what they will produce.

Peas and beans are so easy and they grow really quickly, and sunflowers are brilliant – the bigger, the better.

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Encourage insects into the garden

We often see staghorn beetles on our walks, and the bigger the better. Kids are interested in bugs, but we are seeing less of them, which is why we need to plant pollinating plants.

When I’ve cut back long grasses, they’ve made hollow stems – so we’ve put the stems together, bunched them up and put them in trees to make bug houses.

When you do an autumn tidy-up, just bunch together some of the debris. It can make a great haven for solitary bees.

We have an old bench which we pile logs under, and Gilbert loves getting his stick in there and

Wednesday July 4 | 2018

thekn w.guide IN PRINT AND ONLINE SEVEN DAYS A WEEK

ARTS & CULTURE | LIFE & STYLE |

Hot shot

FOOD & DRINK | MOTORING

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We review The Mexican Kitchen Page 56

Top tech

Discover what’s new

DAN SNOW ON HISTORY

Page 67

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ALL FEMALE LINE-UP

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PERUSING A TRIP TO PERU

62

Howzat for laughs?

See Outside Edge at Trinity Page 51

FALL FOR THIS NEW COLLECTION

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arts

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Arts & Culture

Wednesday July 4 | 2018

Make a date with history On Monday, popular TV presenter Dan Snow brings his new show The History Guy to the Assembly Hall.

The Times finds out what made him decide to do his first live tour, and why history isn’t just all about ‘dead kings, old libraries and dust’…

Can you please talk us through the motivation behind The History Guy? When you’re making television and podcasts, it’s very lonely. You sit by yourself and think: “Is anyone watching?” That’s why TV presenters take to Facebook Live. That gives you the number of viewers at the bottom of the screen. It might be only five people, but at least you know someone is there!

Can you tell us more about the show?

Doing live events at book festivals and book launches is a huge treat because you get to meet people. It’s an enormous boost to the confidence to know there are people out there following what you do! The tour is the first time I’ve done this in an organised way where we’ve been able to build a proper show. It’s a great chance to meet people and say thank you to those on whom my career depends. I’m really looking forward to it.

What will you be talking about in the show?

A large chunk of it will be about local history. It will have direct relevance to the place we’re in.

That’s not difficult to write. As well as Tunbridge Wells, I’m going to St Albans: That was an incredible Roman settlement that was destroyed

by Boudicca. I’m also visiting Shrewsbury: That was the site of the Battle of Shrewsbury, where Henry IV defeated a rebel army led by Henry ‘Harry Hotspur’ Percy. I’m going to Newark, too, which has really unusual fortifications.

Do members of the public help you with your research?

HEADING FOR TUNBRIDGE WELLS… Dan Snow

Yes they do. I get lots of messages on my Facebook page. There is so much history out there it’s ridiculous, and I find the stories that people send me fascinating. Also, it’s easier to

become knowledgeable in an aspect of history.

It’s not like physics where you need a $300billion particle accelerator in the house to become an expert. I am really looking forward to interaction with the audiences at my shows.

Do people want to recount their personal histories, too?

Yes they often want to tell me all about their family history or the part their family played in history, like a soldier in the First World War. A huge number of people tell me stories about their ancestors. They will say something like: “My father was the first black RAF pilot.” Listening to them, you realise how many firsts there are.

Is your hope that you can captivate audiences with your infectious enthusiasm for your subject?

Yes! History is not all about dead kings, old libraries and dust. It’s everything. It’s your parents’ eyes meeting across a crowded room, and why we are who we are, and why we are speaking English, and why it’s acceptable for women and men to mingle together.

I hope people walk out of the theatre saying that they had a really good time. I also hope they leave having thought deeply about the past of their town, their country and their world.

History’s become fashionable again, hasn’t it?

Yes. In the 1990s history was very unfashionable.

People thought that history was ‘finished’. But 9/11 changed all that.

It was a huge wake-up call. It reminded everyone that many people around the world felt that history was not finished. They felt enormous resentment about the fact that some people thought that the hands of history had stopped.

Arts & Culture

Wednesday July 4 | 2018

Can you explain your passion for the past?

I love history. It’s everywhere. It’s everything that ever happened to anyone who has ever lived on this planet. It also means that I’m never bored on a train journey. As you travel, you see names that echo from the past. Every place has a history.

Wherever you go in Britain there are so many stories.

Make sure you catch this batty cricket comedy…

Next week, Trinity Theatre Club puts on Outside Edge, an hilarious play about winning a game of cricket – and the affections of the opposite sex. Its director, Jean Erxleben, explains why it’s been a case of game, set and match rehearsing this comedy classic

Does studying history also help us to understand more about the present day?

Definitely. It explains so much about today. Why can’t you book a boozy holiday in Somalia? That is down to history. The country’s instability is the result of colonial interference, food scarcity and the interference of America. In the same way, why can’t you go to a pub in Armagh and sing ‘God Save the Queen’ without being glassed, while 20 miles away it would be fine. That’s all about history.

If you’re curious about the world today, history can help you understand it. It will also make you realise that we are so lucky to be alive today. It gives things a real sense of perspective.

Is it important that children learn history at school?

Yes. History is a fantastic thing to teach kids. It teaches young people about the things they say and hear, and it teaches them to be profoundly distrustful of politicians – and also not to invade Russia!

Literacy about history is vital. People are mad to believe politicians without checking the evidence first. Young people need to learn about the reliability of sources and sifting through people’s motivations and understanding why they are saying something to you. There is nothing more important than questioning those in authority.

Dan Snow: An Evening with ‘The History Guy’ is on Monday, July 9 at 7.30pm. Tickets start from £25 and can be booked via www.assemblyhalltheatre.co.uk For more on Dan Snow, visit his online TV channel, History Hit TV www.tv.historyhit.com

I

ALWAYS believe that when deciding on a production it has to be one that you have a vision about. When I read plays and can almost instantly see the characters, ideas and action happening before me, then I already know I have the desire to take this further.

With Outside Edge this is very much the case.

I already had a certain amount of knowledge about cricket, and have witnessed the ups and downs of bowlers and batsmen as they pursue the sport they really enjoy.

The play is very amusing, but if you’re not familiar with it then let me explain what it’s all about.

Outside Edge takes place on a summer’s afternoon and tells the story of a cricket team’s attempts to win their game while dealing with a mountain of issues.

A drastically undermanned cricket team gathers for the game of the season. Team captain Roger’s seemingly ideal marriage to Miriam is gradually exposed as a sham.

Bob still seems attached to his ex-wife, much to the displeasure of

his current wife, Ginnie, who has quite a bit to say most of the time.

Maggie, the DIY enthusiast and Kevin, the off-spinner, have an affectionate and what appears to be tempestuous relationship.

Dennis is suave and exhibits a nudge, nudge, wink wink attitude.

Alex, the snobbish solicitor, shows off about his cricket and has total disinterest in his timid girlfriend, Sharon, who is socially out of her depth and totally out of place.

The details of these characters and their coming together just seemed to work for me.

Vision When it comes to directing something, I believe in creating just what I think was the playwright’s intention. I don’t look to replicate another production, but to create a great piece of theatre that has evolved during rehearsals.

And when I cast actors I want to see who can impress, who is hungry for it and who might be challenged in taking on a certain part. This was

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very much the case here.

All the actors earned their parts and I am loving working with them all and seeing them develop.

Seeing a vision and bringing it to life on the stage brings about a sense of achievement and reward.

There’s something satisfying about the whole process: A small beginning that is nurtured and then grows into a fully-fledged entertaining production such as this one.

I think audiences will enjoy seeing Outside Edge because there’s something for everyone. Some will KNOCKED FOR SIX You will be!

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enjoy it for the sport and some for recognising certain types of people and their relationships.

Audiences like to be entertained. If an audience can go away from this show having had a great night, then it’s a great achievement. Job done!

The next Trinity Theatre Club production will be Three Sisters, directed by Karrie Wratten, on from Tuesday, October 16 to Saturday, October 20, 2018.

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Going Out

Wednesday July 4 | 2018

going ut Seven days of activities at a glance

By Eileen Leahy GLITTERING PRIZES See the all-female Ocean’s 8 at The Hop Farm

Entrance is £10. www.pashleymanorgardens.com Trinity Theatre screens a live performance of the much-acclaimed stage musical Everybody’s Talking About Jamie tonight from 7.20pm. Jamie New, 16, is from a Sheffield council estate and doesn’t fit in. As a result, he’s worried about what life holds ahead for him. Will he rise above the bullying and berating and really shine in the spotlight? Go along to find out. Tickets cost £19.

The Odeon will also be screening the show. See www.trinitytheatre.net and www.odeon.co.uk Jazz on The Pantiles is still in full swing on Thursday evenings. To make it a really special event, why not avail yourself of One Warwick Park Hotel’s Bubbles and Burger deal, which costs just £10 per person? See www.onewarwickpark.co.uk

FRIDAY

WEDNESDAY To mark the 100th anniversary of the end of the First World War, the Assembly Hall is staging Birdsong all this week. Based on the book by Sebastian Faulks, it tells the tale of a young soldier, Stephen Wraysford (played by Tom Kay), who embarks upon a passionate yet dangerous affair with young French woman Isabelle Adaire (Madeleine Knight.) It is a moving and poignant stage production that has now been seen by over 200,000 people.

Every Wednesday from 7pm until 9pm, the Angel Indoor Bowls Centre in Tonbridge welcomes

beginners to their ‘Have a go at bowling’ evening.

There’s even a free drink on offer afterwards! For more information, visit www.angelibc.co.uk BoostFit classes are now being held on Wednesday evenings at 7pm at St Gregory’s Catholic School. The classes cost £5 for a one-hour session. See www.boostfit.com

THURSDAY

Kitchen Garden Week continues at the delightful Pashley Manor in Ticehurst. Running from 10am to 5pm, it’s a great way to see what the gardeners suggest is best to grow where and when.

Also on at Trinity Theatre is a new exhibition entitled Keratin, and its aesthetic focus is on the natural beauty of birds’ feathers. Assembled by multimedia artist Eddie Vanderwerif, it’s a stunning collection of watercolour, pencil and ink drawings that will draw in the eye of the viewer to the intricate and individual detailing found on a variety of different birds. Open daily, 10am-10pm.

Tom Kerridge’s Pub in the Park kicks off today at Dunorlan Park. Over the next three days, foodies and music fans can enjoy a feast of live demos from some of the country’s top chefs, indulge their tastebuds in the numerous artisan stalls selling produce and kick back and relax to live sets from the likes of Tom Odell, Sophie Ellis Bextor, Mel C and Razorlight.

For ticket information and timings, see www. pubinthepark.com Tonight, there will be

a live performance in the great outdoors of The Railway Children at the National Trust’s beautiful Scotney Castle. You can enjoy seeing this charming adaptation by Heartbreak Productions from as little as £13, or spoil yourself by opting for the exclusive VIP guest option which includes dinner. For details, see www.nationaltrust.org The SIBA South East Beer Festival returns to Tonbridge today and tomorrow, with a magnificent haul of 186 different beers to be sampled. Hosted by Tonbridge Juddians’ Rugby Club, the event takes place on the club’s pitches in The Slade. This is a relaxed and family-friendly event with plenty of different drinks to sample, good food and live music to enjoy. Entry is free and all beers cost £3.40 per pint. Full details can be found at www.tj-beerfest.com

SATURDAY King Charles the Martyr is holding its Summer Fete today from 12noon to 3pm in the church hall.

New this year is the inaugural KCM Village Show, an event to celebrate a range of talents and a chance to have a bit of fun, including awards for the best jar of jam or marmalade, inventive flower arrangements and photography. The church will be open for everyone to admire the entries. Stalls PARLEZ-VOUS? At Les Puces French speaking classes

Going Out

Wednesday July 4 | 2018

GARDEN INSPIRATION At Pashley Manor

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PICK OF THE WEEK: Music for a Summer’s Evening Sunday July 8 7pm, St Mary’s Church, Leigh

The Nettle family invite you along to a special concert in aid of the Hospice in the Weald.

Mother Jo is a flautist with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, while her husband Terry is a viola player with English National Opera. Their son Thomas, 16, is a cellist with National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain, and their daughter Isabelle, 14, is a violinist with the National Children’s Orchestra of Great Britain.

This family affair concert will include plenty of classical favourites, including Pachebel’s Canon to Vivaldi’s Four Seasons as well as some contemporary music from films and shows.

Tickets cost £10 per adult and £5 for children aged under 14 and can be purchased on the door will offer cakes, tombolas, plants, games, crafts and refreshments. Profits will be shared between the church and projects in Ghana, Estonia and Malawi.

Artspring Gallery will be celebrating its second birthday in Tonbridge High Street. Join the Tonbridge Art Collective for a glass of Prosecco, a piece of magnificent birthday cake, live music, an artwork for children and a competition to win a £50 voucher to spend in the gallery.

Taking part in the area’s weekly parkruns is a great way to either start a running routine or keep it topped up. Dunorlan Park, Bedgebury and the Castle Street Park in Tonbridge are just a few of the places that host them every Saturday morning at 9am. For further details, visit www.parkrun. org.uk The next instalment in the heist movie series, Ocean’s 8, is being screened all weekend at The Hop Farm’s Moonlight Drive-In Cinema. The all-female film, which stars Sandra Bullock, Helena Bonham Carter and Cate Blanchett,

EVERYBODY’S TALKING ABOUT JAMIE At Trinity Theatre and the Odeon

focuses on a group of criminal women aiming to rob a multi-million dollar diamond from New York’s infamous Met Ball. Will they pull it off under the gaze of its organiser, legendary US Vogue editor Anna Wintour (played by herself)?

Tickets cost 25 per vehicle if you want to find out… Book at www.moonlightcinema.com If you fancy a bit of a boogie, then venture into the Enchanted Woods at Groombridge Place for a party like no other in a spectacular forest setting.

Dress up as a fairy, elf or magical woodland creature for Big Fish Little Fish’s Midsummer Dream Family Rave, with crowd-pleasing BFLF resident DJ Will Nicol (Northern Soul Rave Patrol).

See www.groombridgeplace.com NOT JUST FOR THE BIRDS… The Keratin exhibition at Trinity Gallery

SUNDAY

Go Ape at Bedgebury is perfect for thrill seekers.

Children must be aged at least ten years old and be a minimum of 1.4m tall in order to participate in this tree-top adventure. Visit www.goape.co.uk Over at Hever Castle there’s the 8th Festival of Endurance Run taking place. Organised by Castle Triathlon Series, it combines the Bastion full-iron distance triathlon, the Gauntlet half-iron distance triathlon, and a variety of other swimming and running events. See www.hevercastle.co.uk

MONDAY

An Audience with the History Guy at the Assembly Hall will feature well-known historian, broadcaster and BBC TV presenter Dan Snow recounting anecdotes of memorable experiences from his successful career. See more on page 50.

The Tunbridge Wells Museum & Art Gallery’s latest exhibition, Staffages: 2018, is a new collection of photographic works illuminating the connections between museum object, site and viewer. The work is by artist Steffi Klenz and the exhibition runs until September 8.

TUESDAY Every Tuesday at Christ Church in Tonbridge High Street, Les Puces French speaking classes take place. Aimed at pre-schoolers and primary pupils, the lessons are an hour long and are held at 9.30am and 4pm. Fees for half a term cost £60 per child. For details, visit www.lespuces.co.uk Trinity Theatre Club start their production of the classic play Outside Edge. Written by Richard Harris in 1979, it’s the comic tale of a cricket team trying to win a game while sorting out various marital problems. Famously adapted for a TV series which ran from 1994-1996, you can now see it in its original stage version all week. See page 51 to read our chat with the show’s director.

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Going Out

Wednesday July 4 | 2018

THE GREY LADY MUSIC LOUNGE

Razorlight

The Pantiles Doors 7.15pm, entry £6/£7 Websites www.pdag.co.uk & www.thegreylady.co.uk Wednesday The Tringham Sisters Friday Jazz Club with Bob Bernard & Friends, special guest Steve Gable Saturday Studio 54 Sunday Anna Howie, The Rooster Boys, Planet 3

THE SUSSEX ARMS (BASEMENT)

live music With Paul Dunton

T

ONIGHT [Wednesday], the superb Back Garden Light will be at The Sussex Arms supported by Reckless Intentions, while the Tringham Sisters are at The Grey Lady.

The fantastic Violet Jive will be headlining the Jazz on The Pantiles this Thursday, and talented singersongwriter Hattie Briggs will be at The Sussex Arms.

Many excellent local bands are in action on Friday night, including The 38s, The Pillows and John Whithorn, who are all performing at The Forum to raise money for The Hospice in the Weald and The Pickering Cancer Drop-In Centre.

On Saturday, my top picks include

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

The Jemima Price Band at The Royal Oak and The Varlies at The Beau Nash. Tonbridge Weekend at Tonbridge Castle will be headlined by the excellent Soul Legends with support from The Skatonics. And Mainly Madness are at The Forum with support from Millie Manders and The Shutup.

I highly recommend The Pub In The Park Festival as the music line-up is incredible, with Tom Odell, Billy Ocean, Razorlight, Mel C, Gabriella Aplin, Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Toploader, Scouting For Girls, The Christians and Sound of The Sirens, with support from home town bands Cryano, The Paul Dunton Orchestra and Steffan James.

The Sussex Mews Music from 8.30pm all event details and tickets at www.twforum.co.uk Wednesday Back Garden Light, Reckless Intentions Thursday Hattie Briggs, James Lloyd Smith Saturday Paperfriend, Phill Vidler & The Farseers, Frass

JAZZ ON THE PANTILES The Bandstand Music from 8pm-10pm (donations welcomed) Thursday The Violet Jive

THE TUNBRIDGE WELLS FORUM

TONBRIDGE MUSIC WEEKEND

Event information at www.twforum.co.uk Friday Gazastock Nights: The 38s, The Pillows, John Whitehorn in aid of two local charities Saturday Mainly Madness, Millie Manders and The Shutup Sunday Sunday Sessions (1pm start) Tuesday ROAM, Milestones, Wolf Culture

Tonbridge Castle All details plus ticket information at www.tonbridgemusicweekend.com Friday Hill View Primary Arts Festival, Castle Anthems Saturday Soul Legends, The Skatonics

PUB IN THE PARK

Tom Odell

Dunorlan Park All event details and tickets at www.pubintheparkuk.com/ tunbridge-wells Friday Tom Odell, Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Nick Galpin Saturday (afternoon) Toploader, Gabriella Aplin, The Paul Dunton Orchestra Saturday (evening) Razorlight, Mel C, Cyrano Sunday (afternoon) The Christians, Sound of Sirens, Steffan James Sunday (evening) Billy Ocean, Scouting For Girls, The Rifles

THE BEAU NASH TAVERN Mount Ephraim Open all day, free entry Music from 8.30pm till late Saturday The Varlies

THE ROYAL OAK PUB Prospect Road Open all day, free entry Music from 8.30pm till late Saturday The Jemima Price Band

THE PUNCH & JUDY 11 St Stephen’s Street, Tonbridge Open all day, free entry Music from 8pm Tuesday Snakes & Ladders

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food

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STAY CONNECTED 7 DAYS A WEEK…

Food & Drink

Wednesday July 4 | 2018

Heading down Mexico way There’s a new Mexican restaurant in town, so Charlie Bond grabs her sombrero…

I

LOVE Mexican food. There’s rarely a week that goes by when I don’t indulge in some kind of fajita/burrito/taco goodness – but since Zapata’s closed there was nowhere in Tunbridge Wells to enjoy such delights, so I had to make do with my homemade efforts.

But, fajita fans, The Mexican Kitchen is here – and it’s absolutely amazing.

It was formerly known as The Hideout, and the owners decided to spice things up in May by reinventing their eatery and creating a fun, informal space where friends and family can get together and enjoy a taco or two.

While we perused the menu, my guest and I each had a glass of wine (the Borsao Granacha red for my guest, £4.95 for 175ml and a crisp, dry rosé for me – the Chantebelle, also £4.95 for 175ml).

To get our taste buds going, we ordered guacamole (£6.95) which came served with crispy tortilla chips from the ‘nibbles’ menu, which was deliciously fresh and definitely enough to share between two.

Then, to start, we ordered the Costillas de Cerdo (£7.95) – two perfectly cooked pork ribs in a smoky sauce, where the meat quite literally fell off the bone.

We also plumped for the Cocktail de

Cameron – spicy king prawns served in a martini glass and topped with salad and more avocado.

Side note: If you’re an avocado fan then you’ll love this menu – practically every dish comes with a sizeable portion of the stuff, and it’s beyond delicious.

Once we’d finished our glasses of wine, we started to get frozen margarita envy – practically every other diner in the place had one in hand, so we ordered one to share (we were visiting on a school night, after all). Well, it was incredible – on a summer’s day, what could be nicer than a grown-up Slush Puppy with a

healthy dose of tequila inside?

But, back to the food, because even though we were pretty full by this point, we still had our main courses to savour.

Despite numerous options – chilli, burritos, tacos and steak – we both opted for fajitas; chicken for my guest (£14.95) and king prawn for me (£17.95).

Both came served in a sizzling skillet, packed with juicy peppers and onions, and with guacamole, salsa, sour cream, wraps and cheese.

This was a seriously tasty dish and there was no scrimping on the shrimps – it was absolutely full of them.

Food & Drink

Wednesday July 4 | 2018

Speaking of being full, by this point both of us had reached our limit, but the Mexican Kitchen’s lovely co-owner, Fiona, allowed us to box up the rest of our meal to take away.

And, I can confirm it was just as moreish on day two for lunch – and it evoked many envious stares as I happily munched away.

The Mexican Kitchen was for a while the missing jigsaw piece in the Tunbridge Wells foodie scene – now we have excellent service, delicious dishes and of course, tequila… what’s not to love? www.themexicankitchentw.com

The Mexican Kitchen 26 London Road Tunbridge Wells TN1 1DA 01892 315297 www.themexicankitchentw.com

ONE FROM SEVENTEEN Brought to you by Seventeen, One Warwick Park Hotel

This week in SEVENTEEN, our talented team in the kitchen bring you a fresh summer recipe to try and enjoy al fresco Cornfed chicken breast, spinach, parmesan polenta, thyme jus Ingredients: (serves 2) 2 chicken breasts 100g fine polenta 40g grated parmesan 2 garlic cloves 5 springs of thyme 200ml of water 50g butter

Method: Pan fry the chicken in a little oil skin side down for about 3 minutes until crispy, turn over and seal the underside, turn back to the skin, add half of the butter, 2 cloves of garlic along with a sprig of thyme and put in the oven for about 10-15 minutes until cooked.

For the parmesan polenta, place the polenta in a pan and add 200ml of water and slowly

boil, adding salt, pepper and the grated parmesan. Stir until you have a smooth a creamy consistency. For a richer flavour you can replace the water with milk.

Heat the remaining butter in a shallow pan and slowly wilt the spinach adding a splash of water and salt and pepper to season.

Place all components on a dish and serve with a sprig of thyme and a glass of wine!

SEVENTEEN, One Warwick Park, are always looking for fresh talent to join their creative team in the kitchen, for more information or to apply for a career in this exciting industry, please email leisuremarketing@markerstudy.com.

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Advertorial

Wednesday July 4 | 2018

A breath of new life for village It was love at first sight when Amy Glenie first set eyes on The Blue Anchor in Crowborough earlier this year. In need of some tender loving care, she rolled up her sleeves and took over the local pub to help it reach its full potential. Now, two months in, she tells Hannah Patterson the story so far…

A

my Glenie is full of energy. She bounces up to me when I arrive at The Blue Anchor one Wednesday lunchtime with an infectious smile and a boundless optimism. It’s a breath of fresh air for a pub that, some would say, was in desperate need of it.

The young entrepreneur – only 34 years of age – took over the establishment in May of this year. It was an unusual move for someone who says she hadn’t always wanted to work in the hospitality industry: “My mum was a chef, so I grew up knowing the demands of the industry.

When I was young, I made a decision to not follow in her footsteps.”

Instead, she became the Catering Manager at Eltham College in London, but it didn’t take long for her to be drawn back.

“I missed the spark that hospitality offers,” Amy tells me. “I got pulled back by the energy of it all, in spite of working against it. I love that every day is so different and I’m constantly meeting new people. When you run a local pub, you almost become part of the family for customers. You become a mother, a daughter

and a granddaughter. Building a local family has been a real highlight for me.”

This love and enjoyment she exuberates appears to be paying off. The industry is an increasingly challenging and competitive one, and when I ask what challenges she faced getting The Blue Anchor on its feet, her response was that she had underestimated the business.

“I was shocked at how busy it was at the beginning,” she laughs. “I was sure that I had pre-ordered enough stock and hired enough staff, but I was proved wrong very quickly.”

Too much business is a nice problem to have, so now the focus for Amy is building a strong team around her that share the same values.

Luckily for her, good hospitality is in the blood, and not just thanks to her mother.

The Blue Anchor is the definition of a family business. While Amy is at the helm, she also has relations who share the same love of food and drink.

Her partner, Jordan Foster, is the new landlord of The Huntsman in Eridge and she learnt a lot from watching the takeover. She has also enjoyed the knowledge of both their mothers, both of whom

A WARM WELCOME Amy, pictured in green, with partner Jordan and staff at The Blue Anchor

Advertorial

Wednesday July 4 | 2018

bring a wealth of experience to the table.

Thefamilycontributionsdon’tstopthere,however.

Amy’s grandparents own Chittenden Farm in Staplehurst and have been providing an array of fresh produce to be utilised: “It’s so wonderful having three generations involved in the business.”

Although primarily an apple farm, there is a farm shop on the grounds of Chittenden where Amy sources a number of seasonal ingredients including strawberries, asparagus and broad beans. An additional nice touch is an ever-present apple dessert on the menu – a sweet nod to the family.

But what exactly does Amy hope to achieve at The Blue Anchor now that her team is starting to take shape?

“We want to offer traditional pub food, but done exceptionally well,” Amy answers. “For example, you’ll see the classic ham, egg and chips on the menu. The difference being that it’s all made with fresh ingredients and prepared to a very high

standard. The quality will be evident from the moment you see it, let alone taste it.”

As a Shepherd Neame pub – the UK’s oldest brewery – visitors to the Blue Anchor can sample all the popular tipples such as the easy-drinking Spitefire lager and ale, Amstill, Birramoretti and Whitstable pale ale.

She may be young, but Amy has enough experience under her belt to lead a pub this size – they can serve around 80 covers at any one time – into a prosperous future.

Local After completing both a degree and masters in hospitality and marketing, she managed a popular gastro pub in Mark Cross and, having grown up nearby in Wadhurst and Ticehurst, she understands the value of a quality local pub that’s welcoming to all.

“I want families to come here after enjoying a day exploring the countryside and know that they are going to be treated well,” she remarks.

“I want to be the owner of the community’s second home and there is so much history here.

It should be at the centre of the town.”

The Blue Anchor has many a story to tell and hearing them all can take a lot of credit for Amy falling in love with the place. She regales me with stories of passages that used to lead from the cellar below into the Warren Estate nearby and her face lights up when my colleague talks about celebrating his 18th birthday here long before she had taken over. Her passion and enthusiasm for every aspect of the building and the business is evident – and not just for the past, but for the future.

The large garden is something that will be used to its full potential in the months and years going forward. It’s one of the only pubs in the area to boast such a large and enclosed space where children and dogs are free to run around without risk of the busy main road outside. Amy talks of barbecues, stone-baked pizzas and live music, keen to create a lively, family-orientated environment in order to draw the crowds. Although it has been a challenge to prepare everything so quickly for the summer, Amy is determined to create a go-to destination

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for the season.

TripAdvisor is certainly in support of Amy’s regime, with reviews of the new management being overwhelmingly positive. If the enthusiasm and hard work continues, I am sure that Amy and her team can look forward to a bright future at their new home.

The Blue Anchor Beacon Road, Crowborough TN6 1BB 01892 319299 E: info@theblueanchorcrowborough.co.uk

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travel

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O

Travel

Wednesday July 4 | 2018

Weaving through clever community life in Peru Capitalising on growing tourist numbers to Machu Picchu, the local people are preserving traditional cultures. Sarah Marshall finds out how

FFERING bouquets of flowers and outstretched arms, the women from Ccaccaccollo village form the warmest welcoming committee. Even the cool elevation of Peru’s heady Sacred Valley does little to dampen the atmosphere.

Wrapped in a woollen shawl, and wearing a felt hat with a down-turned brim to signify her married status, 63-year-old Mercedes proudly leads the procession of greeters eager to introduce our tour group to their traditional way of life.

But one man in particular has caught her attention. “Papa Bruce,” she squeals, with almost religious veneration, tears welling gently in the corners of her eyes.

Dressed in jeans and trainers, Bruce Poon Tip isn’t your typical deity, and to be honest, he looks quite uncomfortable with all the attention. But for the 60 women employed in the Ccaccaccollo Women’s Weaving Co-operative, G Adventures’ entrepreneurial, mould-breaking founder truly is a god.

As one of the biggest operators on the Inca Trail, G Adventures brings thousands of tourists to the Sacred Valley every

year. But the escorted tour company’s impact doesn’t end there; they’ve also been responsible for funding some of the most successful social enterprises in the region, and Bruce is paying a rare visit to the people whose lives he has changed.

As we walk through the village, harsh sunlight streams through a high ceiling of clouds and flickers from the leaves of eucalyptus trees.

Inside a dimly-lit workshop, looms click and clack like donkey carts. A mother and her young daughter are washing bundles of soft alpaca wool in terracotta bowls and preparing dyes with odd-shaped vegetables and cochineal insects; around them, coils of pumkin and limegreen wool hang like garlands and children with ruddy cheeks scamper at their feet.

“It’s important we don’t lose this weaving tradition,” explains Mercedes, speaking in Quechua, her native tongue.

“Now our lives are improved and we have money to send our children to school.”

In 2005, G Adventure’s non-profit arm, Planeterra, helped set up the co-operative, and now many tour

‘The innovative addition of a quail’s egg to the dish spawned a whole enterprise of quail egg farming’ groups visit as part of their itinerary, spending money on bright scarves and blankets intricately woven with traditional designs.

Bruce sees the project as a fine example of tourism working as a force for good, a value

central to his company’s operations.

“Tourism has the potential to change the world, “ says the 51 year old, who started his company in 1990 by maxing out two credit cards.

“What we do is involved; this is about creating projects that intercept with passengers and have a ripple effect in the community.”

A case in point is the Parwa restaurant in the Lamay district, a 20-minute drive north of the Pisac archaeological site. It’s one of the 50 worldwide projects founded by Planeterra.

An inferno of ruby and gold quinoa flowers blazes through fields surrounding the valley entrance, where an old woman is pulling at a spool of wool, rumpled mountains climbing all around her.

Travel

Wednesday July 4 | 2018

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DREAM DESTINATIONS…

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Whether you go global or stay local, there are some amazing travel deals to be had this week

Island life

Citalia the leading Italian specialist, is offering a seven-night holiday to Ischia, on a Half Board basis, from £1,170 per person – saving up to £361 per couple. Staying at the four star plus Grand Hotel Punta Molino, just a stroll away from bustling Ischia Town with a private beach, the offer includes private resort transfers and return flights from London Gatwick with Norwegian Airlines. Based on departures July 13, 2018. Book via 01293 831 970 or www.citalia.com

West is best

The wooden and glass restaurant provides work for 60 families who grow vegetables for the menu, and serves typical Andean dishes such as causa, a mashed yellow potato terrine enjoyed by the Incas.

The innovative addition of a quail’s egg to the dish spawned a whole enterprise of quail egg farming in the community – an example of the ripple effect Bruce is keen to encourage.

Food is one of the big draws for visitors to Peru, and being the country’s bread basket, the Andes presents multiple opportunities for agricultural businesses.

Part farm and part tourist attraction, Parque de la Papa is a 9,000 hectare site, 3,600-4,500 metres above sea level, dedicated to the cultivation and preservation of potato seeds.

Founded by the Andes NGO, it’s received support from G in terms of both finance and footfall.

Of the 3,000 potato varieties found in Peru, 1,367 are grown here, all different in sizse, appearance and often taste. Some are shaped like a puma paw or alpaca’s nose; others bare bright purple hearts and a kaleidoscope of patterns. A collection is showcased in a small museum, where local guides explain the planting and harvest process – an activity still preceded by a ritual offering of cocoa leaves to Pachamama (Mother Earth).

Along with the 4,000 travellers who pass through here every year, the Parque also makes money by selling produce to restaurants, including Nuna Raymi in Cusco, an enterprise set up by former G Adventures guide Rocio Zuniga Moreno. Although originally from Lima, the spirited, smiley foodie is fascinated by Andean culture and eager to revive ancestral foods and techniques.

“You need a respect and passion for food,” she explains. “Eating should be a religious ritual.”

Entering her restaurant through a corridor trailing with plants and herbs, I sit at one of the simple wooden tables to sample a meal of indiginous recipes brought up to date with a modern spark.

“This is cushuro,” explains Rocio, pointing to a pool of bloated, gelatinous balls floating in a corn and potato soup. At best it resembles giant caviar; at worst turgid frog spawn. But Rocio insists the algae collected from lakes and used by the Incas is bursting with nutritional value.

And it’s already garnered the attention of celebrity chefs such as Virgilio Martinez, who recently opened the MIL restaurant overlooking the Moray archaeological site, a 90-minute drive from Cusco.

His choice of location was a clever move.

Admittedly, the bulk of visitors to the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu will always be drawn by archaeological sites, but communities capitalising on opportunities have found a way to keep old traditions alive in a modern world.

It’s proof, as Bruce says, tourism can be postive force, and if the only footprint we leave is an economic one, that’s really no bad thing.

How to get there For more information on Peru, visit Peru.Travel.

Adventures (gadventures.co.uk; 0344 272 2060) offers various tours to the Sacred Valley, including visits to many of the Planeterra projects. An eight-day Inca Discovery tour costs from £854, excluding flights.

If you fancy a night away from it all why not head to the The Mount Somerset Hotel in Somerset? As well as being a beautiful place to stay in order to explore the picturesque surrounding countryside it is also offering a complimentary Veuve Spritz Royale Cocktail when you stay overnight there this summer.

Rooms start from £159 or £80 pp (two sharing) and the price also includes a full English breakfast. This special Summer with Eden deal is available at all nine Eden Hotel Collection properties until September 17. To find out more, call 01823 442 500 or visit www.themountsomersethotelandspa.com

Majestic Maldives

Hayes & Jarvis is offering a nine-night holiday to Dubai and the Maldives from £2,789 per person – saving up to £521 per person.

Available on bookings made by August 30, 2018, the offer includes a free two-night stopover at the five star Hyatt Regency Dubai, on a room only basis, followed by seven nights at the five star LUX South Ari Atoll, on a B&B basis. The offer also includes Dubai Park tickets, a 25% early booking discount in the Maldives and return international flights from London Heathrow with Emirates. Based on departures August 14, 2018. To book, call 01293 762 456 or visit www.hayesandjarvis.co.uk

thekn w.guide

Look Good, Feel Good

Wednesday July 4 | 2018

All things bright and so beautiful If you love gorgeous gems, then you’ll want to know all about local designer Catherine De Crèvecoeur’s incredible new collection of earrings. Eileen Leahy talks to her and discovers why her jewellery is so much more than just another accessory…

PRETTY PERFECT ‘Amy’ design (left) and ‘Olya’ (right)

L

et’s face it, when most of us daydream about what we really want to do in life few of us actually achieve it, do we?

But Catherine De Crèvecoeur is someone who has seen her long-held desire to create something really unique and special now become a firm reality.

The Anglo-French former stylist and mother of two, who lives in Tunbridge Wells, has just launched her debut collection of beautifully bold statement earrings.

And if you haven’t seen a pair of her delicate, light-as-a-feather suede and leather designs – available in a fanciful array of high octane shades and glimmering metallics – on the lobes of stylish ladies of the town, then it won’t be too long before you do, as her Les Midinettes collection (more on that name later) has gone down a storm since it launched in May. “It’s been absolutely unbelievable,” says Catherine as we sit down to chat. “Everyone has been so supportive and positive.”

She cites sheer hard work, social media buzz and word of mouth have all played a key part in her success – with bijou boutiques snapping up orders, and even an interviewee on ITV news sporting a pair recently. It’s a pretty impressive success story, given that a lot has happened in a relatively short space of time for Catherine.

Just one year ago she was still running a personal styling business, advising some of the country’s top female CEOs on how to dress for success. And now she is providing women of all ages and incomes with something to wear, too.

“It didn’t start out like I wanted to change careers,” says Catherine, who has also worked

YOU DONT NEED TO SPEND A FORTUNE ON MARKETING & PR TO GUARANTEE THE BEST RESULTS… BUT YOU DO NEED A TEAM AS PASSIONATE AS YOU ARE ABOUT YOUR BUSINESS.

BRINGING YOU THE VERY BEST EVENTS TO TUNBRIDGE WELLS

INCLUDING CRAZY JEANS 2018

hello@chattyhatter.com

03330 143 726

www.chattyhatter.com

IMAGE ABOVE: Marcus Sweeney

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as an advertising account director.

“Making my own jewellery developed naturally and simply.

“Part of my job when dressing women was to finish off their outfits with accessories, and I wanted to make something that would be very special for them.

“I often attended trade shows, and last year I discovered an amazing leather company and something just clicked. I thought ‘I could work with this’.

“I visited their warehouse in London and it was like entering Aladdin’s cave…”

That was spring 2017, and after selecting piles of ethically-sourced leather and suede swatches in myriad colourways and textures, Catherine then cleverly mastered the tricky art of cutting fabrics, courtesy of online tutorials, and set about making her first pieces.

“I tried out arm cuffs as I wanted to do something that felt soft to wear but also looked like a strong statement, but I wasn’t happy with the finish, so I parked those and switched to making earrings.

“I thought to myself, ‘Well, I wear them a lot, so why not?’”

Soon she was spending every spare moment honing her artisan craft up in her sons’ old nursery, which she transformed into a workshop.

“There was no such thing as sitting down in front of the TV after dinner,” Catherine admits.

“It was hard work, but so enjoyable putting together different shapes and colours. I gradually started to see all the possibilities with different styles and I couldn’t stop myself designing.

“It’s become my happy place – although one day I did have to check myself when I walked into the workshop and said

Look Good, Feel Good

Wednesday July 4 | 2018

‘Good morning girls’ to all the designs!”

And the result of all that graft is a stunning 30-plus earring collection in hues of hot pink, bright orange, vibrant turquoise and shimmering metallics in all shapes and sizes.

“After working with women and brands as an image consultant, I know what colours suit certain complexions, so there is something for everyone to enjoy wearing.”

Rather charmingly, each pair is named after one of Catherine’s friends or a woman who has inspired her in life. And that’s where the thinking behind the launch collection name ‘Les Midinettes’ comes from, too.

“It was the name given to the seamstresses at the couture fashion houses in Paris in the 1900s,” she explains. “They were working ten-hour days in the ateliers and at midday – ‘midi’ – they would briefly pause and eat their plates of food

IN THE PINK ‘Kiku’ design (left) and ‘Delphine’ (right)

‘dinettes’. They also worked in terrible conditions and were not paid well so they decided to protest. They were the first women in France to take to the streets and stand up for themselves, and they won. I thought it was an appropriate name, especially as we have just celebrated 100 years of female empowerment.”

And despite all of her own hard work to get to where she is now, Catherine – who will launch more designs this autumn – is clearly loving it.

“It’s so enjoyable because I’ve had my dream realised and been able to make something beautiful for all the women who have inspired me over the years. People have really shown their support for my small start-up business, and that has been the biggest joy.

“I have to pinch myself because I didn’t expect it to be so well received, and I am so grateful.” www.catherinedecrevecoeur.com

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Motoring

Wednesday July 4 | 2018

Motoring News

A look at what’s happening in and around the world of motoring

One in five motorists take penalty points for others

Car superpowers explore alliance to research and develop new vehicles TWO global car manufacturing superpowers, Ford and the Volkswagen Group [VW], are exploring the possibility of collaborating on joint projects.

However, unlike partnerships such as the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi alliance, any arrangement would be restricted to research and development.

Jim Farley, Ford’s President of Global Markets, said: “This potential alliance with the Volkswagen Group is another example of how we can become more fit as a business, while creating a winning global product portfolio and extending our capabilities.”

The potential partnership will only

involve commercial vehicles for now. Ford’s CVs, including the iconic Transit van and F-series of trucks, are some of the world’s most popular.

Volkswagen’s own commercial vehicles, the Caddy, Transporter, Crafter and Amarok, are more Europe-biased, but the group also owns the Scania and Man lorry brands.

Volkswagen’s Head of Group Strategy, Thomas Sedran, echoed Ford’s comments, saying: “Markets and consumer demand are changing at an incredible speed… The potential industrial co-operation with Ford is seen as an opportunity to improve competitiveness of both companies globally.”

AROUND a fifth (19%) of motorists have taken penalty points for another driver, a new survey suggests.

More than one in four men (28%) have accepted points for another motorist, compared with just one in ten women. And almost half of people (49%) who have illegally taken points have done so for their partner, according to the poll commissioned

by Co-op Insurance, which quizzed around 2,000 UK adults.

The most common reason for taking points for someone else is a belief that their car insurance is so cheap there would be no financial impact.

This is followed by helping the other person avoid a driving ban

(23%), and financial gain (18%), with average payments worth £220.

Anyone caught can be prosecuted for perverting the course of justice, which carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.

In 2013, former cabinet minister Chris Huhne and his ex-wife Vicky Pryce were jailed for eight months after she agreed to take his speeding points. Drivers can be disqualified if they get 12 points within a threeyear period.

The Co-op’s Nick Ansley called the news ‘quite concerning’, while Steve Gooding, of the RAC Foundation, said: “As money-making schemes go, this is one of the most flawed.”

Volvo launches new S60 alongside first US manufacturing plant VOLVO has taken the wraps off its smart new S60 saloon – a sporty new offering and ‘one of the most exciting Volvo cars we’ve made’, according to the Swedish manufacturer’s CEO, Hakan Samuelsson.

“It’s a true driver’s car that gives us a strong position in the US and China sedan markets, creating more growth opportunities,” he continued.

The S60 shares most of its components with the V60 estate already available.

However, it won’t be offered with a diesel engine, instead being available with two pure petrol and two petrol hybrid options.

The two hybrids are badged T6 and T8 Twin Engine. Both offer all-wheel drive through a combination of a 2.0-litre turbo- and supercharged petrol engine, and an electric motor.

The lesser T6 Twin Engine offers a total of 335bhp, while the T8 delivers 395bhp. They are offered alongside two petrol engines – the T5, with 247bhp, and the 306bhp T6.

The S60 sits on the same SPA platform as the V60, which means it has access to Volvo’s full suite of safety technology – including the semi-autonomous Pilot Assist system and autonomous emergency braking that can recognise cars, pedestrians, cyclists and even large animals.

Styling-wise, the new S60 is a booted V60 with a sculpted rear panel and distinctive LED taillights. Happily, it is distinct from the S90 without the ‘cookie cutter’ effect of some premium brands.

The car will be produced at Volvo’s first US manufacturing facility in Charleston, South Carolina, will also be offered on the subscription-style ‘Care by Volvo’ scheme.

thekn w.guide

Powered by

Wednesday July 4 | 2018

BOOM THE ROOM

Just launched on July 3, SafeDate addresses concerns with the online dating scene.

Simple to use, the app follows a two-step process: Quick creation of a date, including detail on where and when you’ll be, and who’ll you be with, followed by a chosen time to notify pre-selected ‘safemates’. Free to download from the usual playstores.

For more information, visit www.killingkittens.com

tech

SNAP HAPPY

The new R1850DB speaker from Edifier has been designed with every aspect in mind. The base has been angled at ten degrees to accurately direct sound to you, and the wooden housing reduces distortion and minimises acoustic resonance. There’s Bluetooth 4.0, which allows for wireless playback from multiple devices, and also various inputs for PCs, turntables and more. £159.99. Available from Amazon.

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The EZVIZ Mini O is an indoor 720p Wi-Fi camera that makes it easy to keep an eye on what’s happening in any room with a very simple set up. Using a smartphone app featuring real-time viewing and two way audio, the Mini O is effective at all times of day or night. £39.99, available from Very. www.very.co.uk

Must-have gadgets

State of the art technology Theknow brings you the latest tech and clever time-saving gadgets and widgets to make your life easier and more enjoyable. Eileen Leahy picks her top tech essentials

LIGHTBULB MOMENT

ROUTE TO WI-FI SUCCESS

TP-Link’s LB130 Smart Bulb creates ambient lighting with colour changing hues and adjustable brightness and light appearance from soft white (2500k) to daylight (9000k).

No hub is required, the bulb connects directly to Wi-Fi and is compatible with Amazon Alexa and Google Home for smart voice control. RRP £44.99 from Amazon.

The AC1750 wi-fi range extender allows you to bring the internet connection from your home to the great outdoors. You just need to plug the range extender in close to the garden, and as long as it is within range of the router it will provide secure wireless coverage to your external space. £212.49 from Amazon

POWERED BY

LISTENING PLEASURE Audeara are the world’s first full fidelity headphones.

Their USP is very clever as they boast an in-built hearing test. This not only protects users’ ears, it also delivers a supreme and catered sound like no other headphone. £299.99, www.audeara.com

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Recruitment

Wednesday July 4 | 2018

WITH THE

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

OF TUNBRIDGE WELLS AND TONBRIDGE

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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.

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CLASSIFIEDS

Codeword:

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

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© 2016 Syndicated Puzzles, Inc.

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DIFFICULTY RATING:★★II

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© 2016 Syndicated Puzzles

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LAST WEEK’S SOLUTIONS

SUDOKU & JIGSAW SUDOKU

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

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

Puzzle solutions will be published in a forthcoming issue

GO N R E Y R E A F R WA M M A Z V E

L F C L U B J A A F O R M S R B R A E D I L N Y I N G S N C R M U P R A S K I N T R A B E L E T S M I S

L A Q U N A D R A Y T H R E I T R

E GO A I R E D D E R I N O E X I CO U U S

G T N T

Sudoku:

4 8 2 7 1 6 5 9 3

9 3 1 5 2 8 7 4 6

7 6 5 9 3 4 8 2 1

5 9 4 3 6 1 2 8 7

8 2 3 4 5 7 1 6 9

1 7 6 8 9 2 4 3 5

3 1 9 2 8 5 6 7 4

5 4 8 7 1 3 9 2 6

2 8 7 4 5 6 1 3 9

8 5 1 9 2 4 7 6 3

2 5 7 6 4 9 3 1 8

6 4 8 1 7 3 9 5 2

Jigsaw Sudoku:

4 2 9 6 3 7 8 5 1

6 1 5 8 7 9 3 4 2

1 9 2 3 4 8 6 7 5

3 7 6 2 9 1 5 8 4

9 6 3 5 8 2 4 1 7

7 3 4 1 6 5 2 9 8

© 2016 Syndicated Puzzles

CODEWORD 1

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Puzzles

Wednesday July 4 | 2018

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Sport

Wednesday July 4 | 2018

Please send sports stories to: newsdesk@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk or newsdesk@timesoftonbridge.co.uk

Anna leads the charge for female cricket and inspires borough’s first girls’ festival SPARKLING PERFORMANCE Winners of the Champagne Moments with Deputy Mayor Jill Anderson and Helen Fagg of Kent Cricket

By Andy Tong andy@timesoftonbridge.co.uk CRICKET: SIX primary schools took part in the first ever Tonbridge & Malling Girls Cricket Festival at Kings Hill Cricket Club on June 22.

They were mostly in Year Six but the youngest was Alex in Year Two, who took several wickets.

Wateringbury Primary School were the overall winners after beating West Malling in the final.

Valley Invicta in Kings Hill won the Yorker Plate and Leybourne were triumphant in the Googly Plate. Two pupils from the Discovery School in Kings Hill were among the winners of the Champagne Moment awards.

It was a highly successful launch, with the games played in an impressive sporting manner for such young players.

The winners of the prize for the most sporting team were St George’s Wrotham.

Cllr Jill Anderson, Deputy Mayor for Tonbridge

& Malling, presented the prizes and said: “It’s absolutely brilliant seeing the girls taking up sport and enjoying it. I’m looking forward to seeing more teams taking part next year.”

The event was organised by the hosts and Town Malling Cricket Club’s two ladies teams, the Swans and Pens, under the guidance of their founder and mentor, Anna Tunnicliff.

Helen Fagg, Kent Cricket’s Women’s and Girl’s Community Officer, said: “We’re really grateful to Anna and all the other volunteers throughout the county for arranging these tournaments, which give opportunities to plenty of girls.”

Anna had been involved with Town Malling for many years but when her daughter wanted to get involved, she noticed there were was only one junior girl playing and no female representation among the seniors.

So she trained to be a coach support worker and began coaching the club’s Under-9s and the local primaries’ After School Cricket Club.

At the start of last season, Anna rose through

the ranks to qualify as a Level 2 coach. Since then she has inspired and developed a squad of 16 women and formed the two ladies’ teams.

She said: “The aim of the women’s team is to encourage women to participate in sport and to be role models to girls in sport.

“All have found new confidence, new skills, fantastic fun and amazing team spirit.”

The first ever Ladies Only match was held last August, adding a new chapter to more than 300 years of Town Malling’s cricketing history.

The club then fielded its first ever all-girls’ team, the Cygnets, when it hosted the Kent Girls cricket festival in May. Her passion and drive were recognised when she was named Kent Coach of the Year by the England & Wales Cricket Board.

She was presented with her award by the former England batsman Graham Thorpe, who is now the national side’s batting coach, at the Oval on June 10 during the one-day international against Australia.

If you would like to take part in Town Malling’s inaugural softball festival on July 21 or find out more about the ladies’ section at the club, email townmallingcc@gmail.com. For more information about local clubs with girls’ teams visit www. kentcommunitycricket.co.uk/clubs/womens-girls GAME CHANGER Anna Tunnicliff receives her award from Graham Thorpe at The Oval

Borella hurries to century as Cowdrey pull away at the top Rainham 190 lost to Cowdrey 194-4 by 6 wkts

By Stuart Clarke

TON MACHINE Ashley Borella scored his second hundred

CRICKET: TOP-of-the-table Cowdrey cruised to victory at fourth-placed Rainham, extending their lead in Kent League Division Four thanks to a century from Australian Ashley Borella.

The visitors lost the toss at Berengrove Park but Cowdrey’s opening attack of Chris Fenwick and Thom Brown bowled with discipline.

The introduction of spinner Ralph Yeats-Brown, fresh from Swansea University, brought about the downfall of Australian import Matt Bench for 44.

The runs dried up and wickets fell at regular

intervals, with Borella taking 2 for 22 while Neil McCue (51) played the anchor role.

Fenwick (3 for 33) returned to blow away the tail as Rainham were dismissed for 190, Jack Mutch picking up five catches behind the stumps.

Harvey Crump and Oliver Lea extracted bounce from the quick track and Cowdrey were soon tottering on 42 for 3.

Borella was dropped at cover on 25 and after the let-off he set about the change bowling, registering his second league hundred.

He finished unbeaten on 115 with 20 fours and three sixes as Cowdrey reached 194 for 4 with more than 17 overs remaining.

Cowdrey now look to extend their lead further at home to Hythe on Saturday [July 7].

Topham fights lone battle after Walmer’s tail wags Walmer 219 beat Tonbridge 129 by 90 runs

By Stephen Hall CRICKET: Tonbridge remained in second place in Kent League Division Four despite slumping to a disappointing defeat at Walmer’s Hull Park.

Home skipper Tom Burnap won the toss and chose to bat first but the rapid Martin Batley (3 for 32) snared both openers in his first two overs with some well-directed short balls.

Burnap was joined by Martyn North, and the pair rebuilt the innings before two leg-before

verdicts in favour of Nadeem Shehzad (3 for 30) restored Tonbridge’s advantage at 90 for 4.

Khurrum Shehzad (2-40) and Steve Hall (2-51), kept up the good work. But Burnap produced a captain’s innings of 51 and was well supported by the tailenders to reach a total of 219.

Tonbridge were soon reduced to 9 for 2 after the excellent Paul Holiday (4 for 20) forced both openers Paul Smiles and Chirag Patel to play on.

Mike Topham (71) and Ben Salt were once more left with a rebuilding job, and had recovered the

innings to 61 for 2 before a further double strike

by Holiday left Tonbridge in deep trouble.

Topham played an excellent innings but was fast running out of partners as the wiley spin of Burnap (3 for 27) and Graeme North (2 for 29) proved too tricky as the run-rate climbed.

Eventually the visitors were dismissed for 129 with more than 10 overs remaining.

The only solace for Tonbridge was that promotion rivals Catford Wanderers also lost.

At the halfway point of the season, Tonbridge will look to get back to winning ways when they entertain High Halstow on Saturday [July 7].

RIGHT ON TRACK Chris Olley pushes for the front in Birmingham

Olley signs off with a flourish at British trials

By Mark Hookway ATHLETICS: TONBRIDGE Athletic Club sent a record number of qualifiers to the British Championships in Birmingham, a BBC televised event that acts as trials for the European Championships in Berlin next month.

Chris Olley took part in the 5,000m final in what will be his last race in the UK before heading to the University of San Francisco for a year’s postgraduate study.

The pace picked up considerably over the final mile as the leaders stretched out. Olley covered the last four laps in 4min 18sec to finish in fifth place in a time of 13:55.70.

This superb run was a personal best by eight seconds for Olley, who was one of just two athletes who set their best marks on the day.

In the 3,000m steeplechase Ryan Driscoll also placed fifth in 8:45.62 to improve on his own Tonbridge record by four seconds. Fellow Tonbridge athlete Alex Howard finished 10th.

Bravery Nicole Taylor showed great bravery as she led the women’s 5,000m final for several laps.

She managed to slip away from the main field and at one stage had a lead of eight seconds, but she was caught by the pack with 800 metres remaining and finished 12th in 16:33.85.

Lucy Reid also had an impressive run to finish 11th in 16:29.90, and Ashley Gibson completed an unprecedented trio of Tonbridge athletes in the final, coming 16th in 16:57.45.

Tonbridge had two other finalists, both in the men’s 1500 metres. James West ran 3:44.49 in his heat and finished seventh in the final in 3:48.48 after a slow, tactical race.

Dominic Brown had the unusual experience of being allowed to compete in the final, despite having fallen over in his heat, because an advertising stand had blown into his path. He finished 10th in 3:49.93.

The other Tonbridge athletes competing included Jack Lennard (100m), Lewis Collins (400m), Sean Molloy (800m), George Duggan (1500m) and Kieran Reilly (1500m), as well as the walkers Tom Bosworth and Guy Thomas.

Max Nicholls was on international duty for Team GB at the European Mountain Running Championships in Macedonia, finishing 12th of 78 starters. He was the third scorer for the team as they took silver among 18 competing nations.

The club’s Under-17 and U20 squads performed well to come second out of the six clubs in their UK Youth Development League match at Croydon.

Sport

Wednesday July 4 | 2018

FA grant allows Invicta to launch four girls’ teams...

“Playing in an all-female team from a young age was key to my development, so I am delighted that there will be more opportunities for women and girls in the local area and wish Tonbridge Invicta good luck during their debut season.”

Mike Parker, head coach at the club, said: “We are delighted to receive the funding from the Football Foundation, which gives us this fantastic opportunity to grow girls football at Tonbridge Invicta. We’re looking forward to our first season.”

For more information about girls’ football at the club, visit www.tonbridgeinvictafootball.org or contact Emma Stillwell on 07891 626537 and info@tonbridgeinvictafootball.org

ON YOUR MARKS: Tonbridge Invicta’s girls look forward to their debut season with head coach Mike Parker and assistant Emma Stillwell (far right)

Wells’ juniors follow in the footsteps of England heroes RUGBY: TUNBRIDGE WELLS Rugby Club’s juniors were among the 14 schools and clubs who had the chance to play at Twickenham in the Quilter Kids First training day last month.

More than 200 young players took part and were coached by former England internationals Jason Robinson, Danielle Waterman, David Flatman and Ugo Monye.

They were also taken through the match-day routine of the England players – and even sung

the national anthem standing on the pitch.

Laurence Taylor, Tunbridge Wells’ Youth Chairman, said: “This was a fantastic experience for the children to follow in the footsteps of their England Rugby idols and play on the turf at Twickenham.

“They got to tour the changing rooms, having arrived on the team bus, run on to the pitch and sing the anthem followed by a training session and press conference. I am sure it is a day they will remember for a long time.”

HELLO HALLOWED TURF: (L-R) Sophie Raine (Tunbridge Wells Under-7s), Hamish Towers (U12s), Ralph Kench (U8s), Tom Daly (U11s), Laura McGee (U13s), Josh Greeves (U10s), Iona Woodhouse (U12s), Jonathan Seymour (U9s), Belle Raine (U13s), Ollie Taylor (U11s), George Steadman (U9s), Oliver Rigby (U10s), Oscar Hughes (U8) and Zara Greeves (U7s) soak up the Twickenham atmosphere

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FUN OF THE FAIRWAY The disabled golfers at Poult Wood

Crocker is crowned champion of Southern Disability Open again

PHOTO: Robert Wye

FOOTBALL: TONBRIDGE INVICTA have received a £6,000 grant from The Football Association to launch four girls’ teams over the next two years.

England and Arsenal striker Danielle Carter praised Grow the Game, a Football Foundation programme which provides the funds for grassroots football, especially amongst under-represented groups.

The teams will span multiple age groups and the grant will enable more coaches to be trained to FA standard to work with the girls.

Danielle said: “I would like to congratulate Tonbridge Invicta on working with the Football Foundation and Kent FA to secure a Grow the Game grant.

thekn w.guide

GOLF: THIRTEEN golfers with varying degrees of disability took part in the second Southern Disability Open at Poult Wood Golf Course near Tonbridge last month.

The competition was broken down into three categories, with Steve Crocker crowned overall champion for the second year running.

Crocker, from Horn Park Golf Club, won the Men’s Handicap, Scratch to 24 with 38 Stableford points.

Stan Bembenek was the winner of the Men’s Handicap, Scratch 25 and above with 35 Stableford points.

Hannie Harris from the Shire Golf Club triumphed in the Ladies’ All Handicaps with 36 Stableford points.

David Copsey, Head Professional at Poult Wood, said: “It was a truly wonderful day. The golf course was in fantastic condition and it was so inspiring to see the level of golf played by all the competitors.”

The competition was hosted by Tonbridge & Malling Borough Council’s leisure arm, tmactive.

Martin Guyton, Chief Executive of Tonbridge & Malling Leisure Trust, said: “We are extremely pleased to host the Southern Disability Open and to work with Kent Golf, England Golf and the Disabled Golf Association to offer this event. It has been a great success and we look forward to hosting it again in 2019.”

GREEN KING: Steve Crocker (centre) with Martin Guyton (left) and Poult Wood’s pro David Copsey