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£5million fund launched to boost local businesses PAGE 16 IT’S another new day but one with a difference because today sees the publication of a new local paper with the announcement that it’s launching a £5million investment fund to help local businesses. The Times of Tunbridge Wells, working with high net worth individuals, has developed an initiative to support entrepreneurs across the county. It will be open to a range of businesses from start-ups requiring seed capital to existing businesses looking for money to expand. Applicants must be 18+ and operating a limited company within the boundaries of the county of Kent.

Alongside financial help, successful applicants will receive advice and support, by way of legal, accounting and business strategy, from a network of advisers. The idea is to bring more innovation and opportunity to Kent, with an initial key focus on Tunbridge Wells and the surrounding area, by helping companies grow at an early stage of their development – creating employment and revenue. Applications for funding will be considered by a panel of principal investors or their representatives. MP Greg Clark said: “For our area to continue to be prosperous requires our businesses to be successful – new start-ups to be created and established business to grow. An investment fund

that provides extra support is to be warmly welcomed and I look forward to seeing the benefits in action.” Cllr Jane March, cabinet member for tourism, leisure and economic development said: “The fund is a great idea - we know from independent work commissioned by the West Kent Partnership that Tunbridge Wells is an extremely innovative, creative place with more business start-ups and better survival rates than anywhere else in the country. “We look forward to seeing which initiatives and companies emerge from Tunbridge Wells, where this sort of investment and expertise will enable our businesses to thrive.” Turn to pages 6 and 7

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Parents in court over baby death Burger bar burns down following an electrical fire

burger A POPULAR Tunbridge Wells a fire restaurant has closed followingweek. last that engulfed the building Marlowe’s Firefighters were called to 8pm on in Calverley Road at around Friday [February 28] evening. were Surrounding buildings tackled evacuated as firefighters to have the blaze, which is thought fire in electrical an by been caused the basement.

Evacuated the Nobody was injured in people were incident, although two inhalation treated for minor smoke

at the scene. and A spokesman for Kent Fire Rescue said: “Six fire engines fire engines attended, including two Rescue from East Sussex Fire and Service. “Crews wearing breathing jets, apparatus used hose reel smoke compressed air foam, to curtains and a fog spike stop the extinguish the blaze and flames from spreading. “Immediate neighbouring as a properties were evacuated

Continued on page 4

THE parents of an eightweek-old baby girl from trial Crowborough went on yesterday [Tuesday] accused death. of shaking the child to Lewes Crown Court heard that paramedics treated baby Holly Roe at the family home in Alderbrook Close, Crowborough, on September her 10, 2018, before taking to Tunbridge Wells Hospital was in Pembury, where she dead. pronounced A post-mortem found the infant had bleeding and bruising around her brain, bleeding in both her eyes and 12 rib fractures.

Both the baby’s father, Michael Roe, 32, and her mother, 21-year-old Tiffany Tate, deny murder and causing or allowing the death of a child. Before the trial got underway yesterday [Tuesday], Judge Mrs Justice jurors Clare Moulder warned and the case was both ‘tragic shocking’. She said: “It is the of prosecution case that one her her parents murdered it to and the other allowed happen.”

AZ MA IN RC E H – F ’S RE SO E IN SID

End of the line for station stairs causing disabled major problems By Richard Williams

is to be CLOSE to a million pounds better spent giving disabled people station. access to High Brooms For decades disabled passengers or exit have been unable to enter which is platform two at the station, people a used by about 1.2 million no lift or ramp year, because there is to the southbound platform. and Those travelling from London stairs either unable to manage the Tunbridge have to continue on to taxi, or return Wells and get a bus or at on the other line to disembark platform one. of Now, thanks to a Department plus a Transport award of £785,000 Full story page 16 council, the top up from the borough are to be long awaited improvements made. work will It is not yet known when might have on start or what impact it passengers. from the The news follows lobbying Rail, the borough council, Network District Rail Travellers Association, Council, Kent as Southborough Town Smith & Williamson removed Council, and Southeastern commercial to have Oil & Gas, County Greg Clark. the company for no apparent administrators to London LCF did. and Tunbridge Wells MP purpose’. collapsed shortly after By Robert Forrester Council Leader Alan McDermott of a number of which Mr Barker’s of the good Mr Barker was a director “It is to be inferred that the a company that is to informed councillors that received money from ONE of the directors of in pursuing the application at last week’s Full Council the Tunbridge companies London Oil purpose and/or to deplete news borrowed money from bond-firm, including He said: “This is very good that collapsed failed of loans vex the administrators the court Meeting. of High Wells mini-bond firm Gas – the principal borrower the administration estate,” news for disabled users more than 11,500 & owing £237million to supplied by LCF. claimed. Station. filing Brooms fellow London station is investors is being sued. Barker says he and his “Improving access at the Down, East which includes local Elten Barker of Hadlow is Oil & Gas directors, in loans something we and other ‘Mr Barker’s purpose Sussex, received £1.5million Capital & Tunbridge Wells Conservative stakeholders have been pushing for London – who tors former from the collapse of party chair, Simon Hume-Kendall time. to vex the administra according to a failed company – some Finance [LCF] last year, last was chairman of the “And it’s not just disabled and deplete the estate’ to put the firm into – it is filing from the firm’s administrators were wrongly advised passengers who will benefit but the High Court ruled buggies, week. parents struggling with who are tasked interest’ in two administration, Smith & Williamson, It is also said he had ‘an that went are against him in January. with tracing tens of millions of LCF, other companies the administrators Group collapse Continued on page 4 missing after the over the LCF affair, London to the High suing Continued on page 4 Enterprises. confirmed in their filing LPE and for attempted sue Mr Barker Court they intend to Earlier this year, Mr Barker he received from the £1.5million ‘which

will Director linked to LCF rs be sued by administrato

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Parents in court over baby death Burger bar burns down following an electrical fire A POPULAR Tunbridge Wells burger restaurant has closed following a fire that engulfed the building last week. Firefighters were called to Marlowe’s in Calverley Road at around 8pm on Friday [February 28] evening. Surrounding buildings were evacuated as firefighters tackled the blaze, which is thought to have been caused by an electrical fire in the basement.

Evacuated Nobody was injured in the incident, although two people were treated for minor smoke inhalation at the scene. A spokesman for Kent Fire and Rescue said: “Six fire engines attended, including two fire engines from East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service. “Crews wearing breathing apparatus used hose reel jets, compressed air foam, smoke curtains and a fog spike to extinguish the blaze and stop the flames from spreading. “Immediate neighbouring properties were evacuated as a

Continued on page 4

THE parents of an eightweek-old baby girl from Crowborough went on trial yesterday [Tuesday] accused of shaking the child to death. Lewes Crown Court heard that paramedics treated baby Holly Roe at the family home in Alderbrook Close, Crowborough, on September 10, 2018, before taking her to Tunbridge Wells Hospital in Pembury, where she was pronounced dead. A post-mortem found the infant had bleeding and bruising around her brain, bleeding in both her eyes and 12 rib fractures.

‘Mr Barker’s purpose is to vex the administrators and deplete the estate’ It is also said he had ‘an interest’ in two other companies the administrators are suing over the LCF affair, London Group and LPE Enterprises. Earlier this year, Mr Barker attempted

A MA ZI R N C E H – ’S FR S EE O IN SI

to have Smith & Williamson removed as administrators to London Oil & Gas, which collapsed shortly after LCF did. “It is to be inferred that Mr Barker’s purpose in pursuing the application is to vex the administrators and/or to deplete the administration estate,” the court filing claimed. Barker says he and his fellow London Oil & Gas directors, which includes former Tunbridge Wells Conservative party chair, Simon Hume-Kendall – who was chairman of the failed company – were wrongly advised to put the firm into administration, but the High Court ruled against him in January.

CLOSE to a million pounds is to be spent giving disabled people better access to High Brooms station. For decades disabled passengers have been unable to enter or exit platform two at the station, which is used by about 1.2 million people a year, because there is no lift or ramp to the southbound platform. Those travelling from London and unable to manage the stairs either have to continue on to Tunbridge Wells and get a bus or taxi, or return on the other line to disembark at platform one. Now, thanks to a Department of Transport award of £785,000 plus a top up from the borough council, the long awaited improvements are to be made. It is not yet known when work will start or what impact it might have on passengers. The news follows lobbying from the borough council, Network Rail, the District Rail Travellers Association, Southborough Town Council, Kent County Council, and Southeastern and Tunbridge Wells MP Greg Clark. Council Leader Alan McDermott informed councillors of the good news at last week’s Full Council Meeting. He said: “This is very good news for disabled users of High Brooms Station. “Improving access at the station is something we and other local stakeholders have been pushing for some time. “And it’s not just disabled passengers who will benefit – it is parents struggling with buggies,

Continued on page 4

Director linked to LCF will be sued by administrators ONE of the directors of a company that borrowed money from the Tunbridge Wells mini-bond firm that collapsed owing £237million to more than 11,500 investors is being sued. Elten Barker of Hadlow Down, East Sussex, received £1.5million in loans from the collapse of London Capital & Finance [LCF] last year, according to a filing from the firm’s administrators last week. Smith & Williamson, who are tasked with tracing tens of millions that went missing after the collapse of LCF, confirmed in their filing to the High Court they intend to sue Mr Barker for the £1.5million ‘which he received from

By Richard Williams

Full story page 16

the company for no apparent commercial purpose’. Mr Barker was a director of a number of companies that received money from the failed bond-firm, including London Oil & Gas – the principal borrower of loans supplied by LCF.

End of the line for station stairs causing disabled major problems

Both the baby’s father, Michael Roe, 32, and her mother, 21-year-old Tiffany Tate, deny murder and causing or allowing the death of a child. Before the trial got underway yesterday [Tuesday], Judge Mrs Justice Clare Moulder warned jurors the case was both ‘tragic and shocking’. She said: “It is the prosecution case that one of her parents murdered her and the other allowed it to happen.”

By Robert Forrester

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Closure fears for town’s Frankie and Benny’s A POPULAR family restaurant in Tunbridge Wells could be set to close after the owners outlined plans to shut up to 90 restaurants by the end of next year. Frankie and Benny’s in Knight’s Park, in Longfield Road, North Farm could be among the branches earmarked for closure by The Restaurant Group [TRG], which is said to be focusing on closing sites in out of town leisure and retail parks. TRG, which is also planning to close Mexican-inspired Chiquito restaurants, says some sites may be turned into the more profitable Wagamama brand.

Pembury internet boost A VILLAGE in Tunbridge Wells is being linked to a new ultrafast broadband service that is up to ten times faster than regular internet speeds. Kings Hill-based fibre network provider Trooli is rolling its broadband infrastructure out to Pembury. The company is aiming to connect 500,000 Kent homes and businesses to its full fibre network in the next five years.

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Director to be sued Continued from front page Separately, LCF’s administrators have issued a report to investors that have lost money to say that loans to the four main groups LCF claimed to have lent money to do not tally with funds going into the debtor’s bank accounts. “Clearly, we are investigating the very substantial discrepancies which this analysis has highlighted,” the report states. It adds that it has ‘concerns’ that one of the debtors, an equestrian business where Barker’s friend Spencer Golding was patron, has sold horses without handing over the proceeds to the administrators. The boss of FS Equestrian Services, Sean Cubitt, has failed to deliver information requested on the business, the report states. Last year, five people were arrested after the Serious Fraud Office opened an investigation into the collapse of LCF. Nobody has yet been charged but SFO say the investigation is ongoing.

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A POPULAR and talented Tunbridge Wells photographer and music fan ended her own life, a coroner has ruled. An inquest last Thursday [February 27] heard that Sabrina Goacher’s body was discovered by her mother in August last year, 14 hours after the 30-year-old had been reported missing by worried friends and family. A note and some prescription pills were found with the body. Miss Goacher, who lived in Tunbridge Wells, was a popular figure in the local music scene and worked with a number of bands.

‘She was quite possibly one of the loveliest people you would ever meet. She would do anything for anyone’

Marlowe’s blaze

High Brooms is awarded a disability grant

Continued from front page

precaution. “Two casualties were treated by firefighters for minor smoke inhalation.” Because the fire was believed to have been started by an electrical fault, firefighters say had to use specialist foam to douse the flames. The restaurant is among the most popular burger chains in the town, with cheeseburgers from the Calverley Road branch recently topping a survey by Deliveroo, as the most popular food items ordered through the delivery company in Tunbridge Wells.

passengers with suitcases, passengers who find the existing steps very difficult to negotiate as well as those wishing to take their bike on the train.” He added that confirmation of funding means that a plan and timescales can be developed, but

Police Taser funding

EDITORIAL DIRECTOR RICHARD MOORE richard@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk | 01892 779615

By Richard Williams

SUED: Elten Barker was a director of London Oil & Gas which borrowed millions in loans from LCF

A GLOBAL initiative that encourages communities to repair and recycle rather than throw things away is launching at Trinity Theatre at the weekend. Tunbridge Wells’ first Repair Café takes place on Saturday [March 7] from 10am1pm, where people will be able to get all manner of items fixed. The café, which is volunteer led, has 16 ‘repair stations’ including electrical and mechanical items, clothes, textiles as well as furniture, bikes, toys and jewellery.

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Mother finds body of photographer daughter who took drugs overdose

She had previously worked at Cassidy’s Sports Bar in Castle Street and was front of house supervisor at West Kent College at the time before her death. Colleagues there had described her as being ‘well-liked and a valued member of the team’. In a tribute, read at the inquest, a friend said: “She was a cool, hippy bohemian chick. “She was quite possibly one of the loveliest people you would ever meet. She would do everything for anyone.” An earlier post-mortem had revealed she had died from an overdose of propranolol – a prescription beta-blocker, which she took for migraines. Traces of codeine, cocaine and Paracetamol were also found in her system. Coroner Christopher Sutton-Mattocks was told that in March last year, Miss Goacher had also been prescribed anti-depressants. She had told her GP she had been suffering suicidal thoughts after two of her friends had also taken their own lives. GP Martin Jones, told the inquest: “My impression was that the crisis has passed.” But Miss Goacher went missing on August 18

Inaugural Repair Café

HOME Secretary Priti Patel has awarded Kent Police £123,750 to purchase more Tasers for officers. Matthew Scott, Kent’s Police and Crime Commissioner said the fund will enable the purchase of 150 of the non-lethal weapons.

Wednesday March 4 | 2020

INQUEST Sabrina Goacher died in August after taking an overdose after failing to return to the home she shared with her boyfriend in Tunbridge Wells. She had spent the previous night at a friend’s flat following an evening at the pub. CCTV examined by Kent Police had showed her walking in the St John’s area in the early morning. The young woman’s body was found on the evening of the next day by her mother, Sharon Goacher, who had gone out to look for her. She discovered the body of her missing daughter in a secluded wooded area off Church Road, between Mount Ephraim and London Road. A 30-year-old man had been arrested following the disappearance of Sabrina Goacher but he was subsequently released without charge. The coroner ruled the young woman had taken her own life.

did not say when works will begin. The central government grant, which will not be enough to pay for all the works to the station to make it disabled friendly. It is just one out of four stations in South East to get approval – 126 out of the area’s 240 stations were deemed eligible for the Department of Transport’s Access for All Mid-Tier Funding programme, but 122 applications were denied.

Damage It is not clear when the restaurant will reopen. In a statement on their Instagram page, the burger chain said: “It is with a very heavy heart that we notify everybody that a major electric fire broke out at Marlowe’s yesterday evening around 20.00. “The fire spread through the fabric of the building causing extensive damage. “Everyone from the restaurant and surrounding buildings was evacuated safely and no one was injured. “A huge thank you to Kent Fire & Rescue who carried out a fantastic job in containing and extinguishing the fire.” They added that Marlowe’s burgers will still be available at the restaurant’s pop-up outlet in Central Market, Royal Victoria Place.

INACCESSIBLE: Stairs mean disabled travellers or those with buggies cannot use platform two

Wednesday March 4 | 2020

First case of Covid-19 is confirmed in Kent THE first cases of the deadly strain of coronavirus has been reported in Kent. A member of staff at Vinters Business Park in Maidstone was confirmed to have tested positive on Monday for the Covid-19 virus, which originated in Wuhan, China. The man is understood to have worked in an NHS office in the building, which is also where ITV Meridian record their programmes. Last night [Tuesday] the building underwent a ‘deep clean’ in order to stem possible infections. Chief medical officer Professor Chris Whitty said that the patient was one of four new cases discovered in England on Monday. But yesterday [Tuesday], another 12 UK cases were confirmed, with the number of cases of coronavirus in the UK having now risen to 51.

Infection The Department of Health did release a statement that suggested a second Kent resident had been struck down with the virus, but later admitted the person had in fact tested negative. Locally, there have been reports of shops in both Tunbridge Wells and Tonbridge selling out of hand sanitiser. At Tunbridge Wells Hospital, temporary isolation buildings have been erected outside for patients who attend hospital showing symptoms. Schools in the area have been holding special assemblies with heads reiterating the importance of hand washing to pupils. Kent County Council [KCC] say there are likely to be further coronavirus cases in the county, but the authority is well-prepared to deal with them. KCC’s director of public health, Andrew ScottClark said: “I’d like to reassure people that the risk to the general public remains low and we are working with health colleagues to do everything we can to stop the virus spreading.”

For more on coronavirus see page 17

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Shopmobility trustee says charity has been used as ‘political football’ By Richard Williams A CAMPAIGNER has confirmed he is closing his struggling charity that supplies scooters and wheelchairs for disabled visitors in the town’s shopping centre, after being branded ‘a liar’ and being used as ‘a political football’. Chris Jeffery, who is disabled himself and suffers from PTSD [Post Traumatic Stress Disorder], says his treatment by the management of the Royal Victoria Place [RVP] and some borough councillors has made him ill and he feels he has no choice but to shut Shopmobility. Mr Jeffery, a trustee of the charity as well as chairman of Mending the Gap – which campaigns for respite help for carers – revealed in the Times last week how, after losing £9,000 in government funding, he appealed to RVP for help, but was told ‘he did not bring enough visitors to the shopping centre’ to warrant help. RVP, which has just spent £11million on a facelift at the shopping centre, had denied he had made any such request. Mr Jeffery, took to social media and said: “Me and the other trustees of Shopmobility including a longstanding Conservative councillor, wish to thank the Times for stating the truth no matter what other people have claimed.” He later said: “Nicky Blanchard [Manager of RVP] says we never asked her for financial help, but we did, and it was at a meeting on January 10, at 10.30am with the other trustees, including Cllr Mrs Barbara Cobbold of Tunbridge Wells Borough Council. “She is calling me and Cllr Cobbold liars.” Nicky Blanchard is also Chair of the group created to promote the town Royal Tunbridge Wells Together and of BID [Business

DISABLED Shopmobility looks set to close Improvement District], which invests money paid by local firms that go on initiatives to improve the area for business.

Bandwagon Mr Jeffrey added: “And all the opposition councillors are now jumping on the bandwagon – where were they last year when we had cuts to our funding? None of them wanted to know.” He says one particular Liberal Democrat Cllr bombarded him with more than 30 phone calls and messages last week, trying to get him to protest outside the town hall. He went on: “I’ve been branded a liar and used as a political football, and it is making me ill. I suffer from PTSD and have had enough. “I can’t see anybody coming forward with help

now. There’s no extra money coming from the Council and the councillors just care about scoring points at the Town Hall. “We are going to have to close as we have tried everything to get funding – despite what RVP says. It is a shame, as a lot of disabled people won’t be able to come to Tunbridge Wells now.” The charity is set to close at the end of March. However, yesterday [Tuesday], a spokesperson for RVP said they were holding talks with the charity. She said: “A member of our team has reached out to Shopmobility as we are keen to open discussions and understand their current situation in more detail.” She continued: “We are committed to continuing to provide services that make Royal Victoria Place accessible to all of our shoppers.”

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Celebrating five years and four timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk @timesoftw

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The Times of Tunbridge Wells has reached a major milestone – its fifth birthday – and we mark the occasion by highlighting just some of the stories that made the headlines over the years

Wednesday, March 4, 2015

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OF TUNBRIDGE WELLS

Five years ago this week [on March 4, 2015] the Times of Tunbridge Wells newspaper first appeared on the streets. The country was coming out of a recession, the buzz word was austerity, and households and businesses were tightening financial belts. All of which made the launch of a free newspaper reliant purely on advertising revenue something of a gamble. Following the first edition, the Financial Times commented: “Interesting to see during a time when many predict the death of print media, a new local newspaper emerges in Kent.”

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WHAT’S MISSING ON THE FOOD FRONT?

Dealer errors at bank revealed Pg 14

er 25 | 2017

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SCHOOLS DRIVE LOCAL HOUSING MARKET

Medical means he misses Australian Grand Prix Pg 12

Pg 54

Pg 20

GOOD MORNING TUNBRIDGE WELLS All the news that matters

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Southborough man helps create amazing new ears

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Happily, the gamble to create a new paper paid dividends, and although the Times is today far from being a cash machine, it is holding its own financially. In our opening editorial we stated that our aim was to publish ‘an alternative voice, a quality newspaper that comes free with relevant local news and features – one that is different’. Feedback suggests that most readers believe we have delivered on that promise, and that today this paper reflects the views and values of the community it serves.

Just who is to blame for Pembury Road nightmare?

h Since the launc more five years ago on copies than four milli PAGE 3 per have pa ws of the ne BUSINESS ed threaten nd Staff shortages ha d been printed an company expansions e out – all for fre

MARCH 2015: Our launch front page headline which started it all

£5million fund launched to boost local businesses PAGE 16

Historic moment as cinema INSIDE Alongside financial help, successful applicants will receive advice and support, by way of legal, accounting and business strategy, from a network of advisers. The idea is to bring more innovation and opportunity to Kent, with an initial key focus on Tunbridge Wells and the surrounding area, by helping companies grow at an early stage of their development – creating employment and revenue. Applications for funding will be considered by a panel of principal investors or their representatives. MP Greg Clark said: “For our area to continue to be prosperous All the news that matters requires our businesses to be successful – new start-ups to be created and established business to grow. An investment fund

that provides extra support is to be warmly welcomed and COMPETITION I look forward to seeing the benefits in action.” Win a £1,000 romantic Cllr Jane March, cabinet member for tourism, leisure and break at a five-star hotel economic development said: “The fund is a great idea - we know from independent work commissioned by the West Kent Partnership that Tunbridge Wells is an extremely innovative, creative place with more business start-ups and better survival Lamberhurst mother dies in rates than anywhere else in the country. “We look forward to seeing which initiatives and companies Avignon accident Page 3 emerge from Tunbridge Wells, where this sort of investment and Local, National and International expertise will enable our businesses to thrive.” PAGE 8 Turn to pages 6 and 7

site finally gets the green light timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk @timesoftw

RIVERBOAT TRAGEDY

Developer pays £600,000 to community and avoids the need for affordable homes

mary Shrager w her ery school ’ and came before she adlow Group nd.

about the as really just n by myself. I pporting me und a long ng people financially at disaster.” k of ess acumen ngs that led es. Lumsdonadlow Group n’t carry on n everything my sleep. and I felt ting the

TOWN FOCUS

NEW DISCOVERY SPORT BOOK YOUR TEST DRIVE TODAY CALL HARWOODS TONBRIDGE ON 0844 2479036 WASTELAND The former cinema site

The proposed OF TUNBRIDGE WELLS new development

BEWARE THE BEAR

Charity warns of bogus ‘Pudsey’ collecting in local park Page 5

PICK YOUR NETWORKING STYLE

EASTER FEAST, CHOCOLATIER SHARES HIS STORY

Page 51

MADONNA BACKS NEW SERVICE Page 13

Page 54

OCTOBER 2017: The old ABC cinema site has blighted town centre for 20 years

At long last!

ON THE SPOT FINES

Council considers issuing penalty notices to beggars Page 11

Times

Wednesday July 11 | 2018

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by the wayside and the land becoming known as the town’s biggest eyesore. Bulldozers and diggers are on standby to move onto the town centre site and start the E R E WH SEVENTEEN years of disappointment, frus-TCH £45million project. It will be known as The O WAto D Tcame tration and at times anger last night LAN IA an end for the residents of Tunbridge Wells ENG OAT ‘Unfortunately the scheme when the go ahead was given forvasstart CRon E cannot support any the redevelopment of the old cinema S site. EE PAG 67 affordable housing’ Members of the Borough Council’s Planning Committee voted 8-3 in favour of a planning application submitted by the de- Belvedere will include a three-screen cineveloper Altitude. ma, five restaurants and nine shops alongSince the Odeon cinema closed and fell side at least 99 homes. into disrepair there have been numerous As well as car parking spaces, there false dawns with plans for the plot falling would also be space for either another

By William Mata will@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk

Local, National and International

nine properties or a medical centre on the site on the Mount Pleasant / Church Road corner. The Belvedere is expected to be complete within the next two and a half to three years and the construction is expected to create around 290 jobs. None of the one, two and three bed properties on offer would classify as ‘affordable housing’. Don Sloan, committee member and councillor for the relevant Culverden ward, said: “I’m really positive about it, we have gone to a lot of trouble to develop these plans.

After a decade of campaigning, a public inquiry and countless OF TUNBRIDGE WELLSfalse starts, the dualling of the A21 finally starts

and 63

ALL MAPPED OUT?

Proposed boundary changes for MP’s constituency? Page 14

■ Created the popular Times Business Awards that have attracted around 1,000 entries and boosted the profile of all manner of businesses, from start-ups to long-established companies.

■ Incorporated the award-winning monthly glossy SO Magazine into the paper each month.

■ And launched the Times of Tonbridge newspaper – another winner. None of it would have been possible, though, without the support of you, our readers and advertisers, and that’s something we never forget. Thank you. Richard Moore, Editorial Director

Wednesday, April 1, 2015

AND HERE’S WHAT OTHER PEOPLE HAVE TO SAY… YOUR FROM its first edition, the Times has been vigorously FREE pro-Tunbridge Wells. While covering PAPER – in quality and in depth – the breaking news of each week, the paper has kept up a steady drumbeat of commitment and enthusiasm GOOD-LOOKING for own town. AND SMOOTH THE MAZDA The Times shines a spotlight on the CX-5 people Page 62 who go out of their way to make a difference, the events that bring the community together, and the colourful life of a vibrant community. The paper has done a particular service in championing REMEMBRANCE the businesses of Tunbridge Plaque unveiled to war hero Wells, whose vital presence marks us out from towns that are just dormitories for London. PAGE 2 Greg Clark, MP (right)

INSIDE

GATWICK

We have worked with the Times for several years and find the publication

Thousands of people respond to MP’s aircraft noise survey

invaluable in promoting our events. Following an interview with photographer Steve Hedges, who was running a course at Hever Castle, we more than doubled our bookings. A great result. Happy anniversary – here’s to another five years. Sarah Cole, Hever Castle & Gardens The Times has been instrumental in helping Trinity Theatre to reach out to our community during the past five years. We saw a significant impact in how audiences viewed us and the support coverage we have received for our outreach work into schools and the senior population has been a significant factor in the development of these community activities.” Alex Green, Trinity Theatre

Continued on page 2

PAGE 3

PEOPLE

APRIL 2015: Motorists cheered with news of A21 being made into a dual carriageway

Hospitals battle to balance the y Julie Rae • Bbooks in bid for THEa bulldozers are closing in on the A21 as £12m bonus

work on a project aimed at ending years of By Duncan motoring miseryAudsley finally begins. Next Tuesday, work is to start on the THE hard pressed NHS Trust dualling of the road between Pembury which manages Tunbridge Wells and Tonbridge, a £70m project which has Hospital is in line for a come to fruition yearsifafter was originally £12million bonus it canitbring proposed as a means its finances out of of theeasing red. congestion. GregData Clark, pictured, who has campaigned released recently shows for improvements theTunbridge A21 since he was that Maidstoneto and elected MP forTrust Tunbridge said: “I Wells NHS [MTW]Wells, recorded wouldn’t give up until bulldozers moved an in-year deficit ofthe £10.9million in. I’m delighted work is 12 finally starting. at the end of the last month financial period. This was despite the fact that the Trust’s management was expecting to see a £6.7million surplus.

Bonus Balancing the books represents another challenge for managers of the hospital in Pembury, which was most recently rated as ‘requires improvement,’ by the Care and Quality Commission. MTW, which also manages Maidstone Hospital, has confirmed no staff cuts or reduction in patient treatment will happen as a result of the deficit. The figures were released by the NHS shortly after the Government announced a funding boost of £20.5billion a year for the health service. Miles Scott, Chief Executive of

Widow’s battle with energy giant over account name

INSIDE

“For decades, the road from Pembury to Tonbridge has been one of the town’s biggest problems. It’s like a country lane but it’s the main road from the M25 to the south coast. Everyone who lives in, works in or visits Tunbridge Wells will benefit from this dual carriageway.” Although the building of the road has not yet started, experts have been working for months on ‘translocating’ the ancient woodlands through which the dual carriageway will run, and protecting the wildlife which lived there. The project is due to be finished by spring 2017. See pages 6&7 for full details

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

EXTRA POWERS?

New pilot rate scheme to be trialled PAGE 5 in county Page 10

PARKING

Innovative town centre parking trial extended

GEORGE COHEN MBE Tunbridge Wells’ most PAGE 8 famous footballer Page 3

DEEP END: Frant Road was one of several areas flooded in Tunbridge Wells on Thursday [July 5]. A video showing a lorry driving through deep water was watched more than 440,000 times on the Times of Tunbridge Wells Facebook page. Watch the video at theknow.guide

Flash floods cause more grief to stricken businesses in town

CARTOON: Peppy Scott

ol comes hing as ef finds t water

IT’S another new day but one with a difference because today sees the publication of a new local paper with the announcement that it’s launching a £5million investment fund to help local businesses. The Times of Tunbridge Wells, working with high net worth individuals, has developed an initiative to support entrepreneurs across the county. It will be open to a range of businesses from start-ups requiring seed capital to existing businesses looking for money to expand. Applicants must be 18+ and operating a limited company within the boundaries of the county of Kent.

We do know, for a fact, that the Times is TODAY the biggest paper in town, and that every one of the thousands of copies that we print each week is snapped up. We also know that the Times is an effective media platform for advertisers, who frequently tell us about the enquiries they get from readers. Aside from breaking major news stories impacting Tunbridge Wells and the surrounding areas over the last five years, we have also:

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By William Mata will@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk

fourth time we have flooded in four years, but this time we have to replace more than ever.” Louise Clark, Managing Director of One Warwick Park Hotel, said: “Despite our

Castle Street said £5,000 worth of stock had been lost. Flooding in The Pantiles area has been long associated with The Pantiles area, with seven incidents having been recorded in county council logs since 2000. Incidents in 2015 and again in 2017 prompted Kent County Council to produce two reports to investigate. The latter states: “Tunbridge Wells Borough Council has a general responsi-

BUSINESSES sustained thousands of JULY 2018: Torrential rain led to shops and homes being flooding in The Pantiles pounds worth of damage last week as Tunbridge Wells drainage again failed to cope with a downpour. Rain equating to three buckets of water per square-metre fell in one hour on Thursday afternoon [July 5] causing

‘The flash flood was a bitter blow… The street turned into a river’

COOKING UP A FEAST Local chefs toast festival’s huge success Pages 4-5

MARCH 2020: Another local paper first – we now have our very own cartoonist WHAT A NOVEL IDEA Writer’s book reveals her

r pe

Times

Wednesday, May 25, 2016

All the news that matters

Local News

FOR EVEN MORE NEWS VISIT: timeslocalnews.co.uk FREE

Wednesday March 4 | 2020

Local, National and International

OF TUNBRIDGE WELLS

COFFEE

FA SH IO N

pa S ge ee 7f or

EV EN TS

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million copies of your paper… with this paper

PING YOU IN THE KNOW WITH WHAT’S HAPPENING IN YOUR TOWN SEVEN DAYS A WEEK

ew digital rm for wspaper

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THE QUEEN’S GIFT

Royal approval for replica to go on display at arts festival

From multimillion-pound companies to outstanding individuals

WAS a night to remember at the Royal Tunbridge QuakerIT Hall launches Wells Business Awards flats 2016 last week – the culmination of a six-month for the for homeless youthssearch Page 9 best companies and

pli

bra

ite d.

GARDENS

Flower power

How to get the Chelsea look in your garden

‘I have so much admiration for those gathered here tonight’ Winners ranged from the Childrensalon, which trades around the world and took the title of Outstanding Business of the Year, to Paul Chapman of the printers

DETAILS DISHES UP THE THE TOP ON 20 YEARS AT

s and olice are paid positions, er. ere is a higher officers than ame way men [support]

PHOTO: Craig Matthews

The Times is th KENT BOWLED OVER e Donald announced as only localWednesday JanuaryAllan 29 | 2020 All the news that matters Local, National and International newspape r cricket club’s coach Page 70 in England that carries nationa l and OF TUNBRIDGE WELLS international ne See our ws LOCAL alongside RESTAURANT ROUND-UP local news on pages 51-57

Times

Borough Council paid £17,500 for the piece which includes two more rocks, with funding from developer contributions. Full story, page 3

Mother tells of ‘devastating’ impact Civic Complex caused by collapseisofbattleground an Eridge firm

as parties reveal election teams

GREECE IS THE WORD

PAGE 3

MUSICAL WEEKEND

Bank Holiday Unfest still going strong after two decades

IN CONGRATULATIONS Edwina Currie (far right) with award winners

PAGES 98-99

Alliance implodes after in-fighting sees three key members walk out

“I was due an interest payment, but instead I

Times

Cover Feature

ith internet shopping de rigueur for most and the added headache of escalating business rates and large chains slowly taking over the branding of our retail districts, this has meant we’ve seen a number of our favourite shops, independent cafés and bars either suffer a huge downturn in customer footfall or worse still, have to shut down completely. But unlike most people who have just sat back and watched the demise of our high streets one woman, Jessica Gibson, a mother of four, has decided to do something about it. So passionate does she feel about ensuring residents in both Tunbridge Wells and Tonbridge do not lose out on a local shopping, dining or family experience she has recently launched the loyalty scheme ‘Thetncard’. In brief, it’s a new customer rewards initiative that aims to encourage more of us off our screens or delivery apps and back out into our towns – hence the TN reference – to support shops, eateries and leisure services by offering a variety of enticing discounts, unmissable special offers and unique money-off promotions. The idea for the card, says Jessica, who has a background in marketing and corporate events, is simple: “I love where we live, and wouldn’t want to be anywhere else so I want to see our two towns continue to thrive.” Jessica and her husband moved back to the area in 2010 after a spell living in South Africa. “Since then we’ve lived in both Tunbridge Wells and Tonbridge and have brought up our boys here. They are aged nine, seven, five and three. We’re now based in Leigh and my youngest is at preschool four mornings a week so I’m squeezing the work into those hours – and catching up during the evenings!” Jessica also runs a popular local parenting blog About These Boys, which boasts over 1500 followers on Twitter. Through it she also curates a regular series of parenting talks at EM Forster Theatre – last month saw Noël Janis-Norton, author of Calmer, Easier, Happier Parenting, coming to speak about her parenting strategies. Courtesy of this social platform Jessica has managed to create an impressive contacts book in order to set up Thetncard – which boasts an annual membership of £20, £2 of which goes to the West Kent Mind charity.

‘I’m thrilled to be able to make a difference to West Kent Mind and to give local people welcome discounts at a variety of brilliant businesses right on our doorstep’

Local, National and

There is no cost to join the directory but businesses need to provide a generous reward for our members – and choose an offer to suit them. In return, I will endeavour to introduce them to new customers as well as providing existing customers an extra incentive to return. Businesses who sign up feature on Thetncard’s website directory, on our social media platforms and in monthly member newsletters n Newsletters will keep participating businesses informed on what’s planned for the scheme and how they can get involved and showcase their product, and there will be networking events twice a year

YOUR

FREE PAPER

From conception to launch was three months, and since then new businesses have been joining every day

n Membership, which costs £20 a year, with £2 going to West Kent Mind, unlocks rewards at independent and community focused businesses in and around Tunbridge Wells and Tonbridge – there are 125 businesses in the directory and counting n In addition to purchasing membership via the website (www.thetncard.com), people can now sign up to the scheme at Biggie Best, Geography bar and Whirligig in Tunbridge Wells, and Flowers by Enchantment, Gorgeous George and Tonbridge Old Fire Station (TOFS) in Tonbridge n Offers include two-for-one tickets at the Assembly Hall Theatre, complimentary drinks at Havet and Carluccio’s, discounts at Delaney’s and Fuggles, money off your shopping at Stampede and Bird & Blend Tea Co., reduced price entry to Crazy Jeans Soapbox Race in June and Kids go Free at Spa Valley Railway n From the summer we will run exclusive member events such as wine tastings, private shopping events and pampering evenings with our business partners in aid of West Kent Mind n Thetncard is the first scheme to span both Tunbridge Wells and Tonbridge, and independents in the villages between the towns n In addition to selling individual cards, we are also giving local businesses the opportunity to purchase cards for their employees at a reduced rate. For business orders, we donate 20 per cent of the sale price to West Kent Mind n It was important that our membership cards are environmentally friendly, so we are using cards made from Teslin, a fully degradable plastic alternative that starts to wear down naturally in nine months to five years

LIFESTYLE

OUT & ABOUT

Don’t miss our delicious new Good Grub Guide for 2020

We discover the best local walks that are perfect for families

a full-time carer for my son, Jack. He has

FREE

umP T O Se m 75 e % e CHAIRMAN RESIGNS LEADER QUITS COUNCILLOR DEFECTS pa r ge S OF Dr Robert Chris Becki Bruneau Christan Atwood s2 A F -3 LE Tensions had arisen over a decision father had been forced to resign as how the Alliance: By Richard Williams Chairman, the opportunity by Chris just before Christmas  Totallystopped lost interest in the politicstheatre as soon made JANUARY 2020: The Alliance party complex being built – only toseizing fall apart itselfto

Administrators & Williamson International and Smith Local, National

were called in after it was discovered was money to help Jack, who will need care Council tax rises the investment firm had been misby £5 a year but leading investors with its marketing for the rest of his life.” borough is still poorest in Kent material. She explained the reason for her LCF were selling unregulated investment in the company. mini-bonds, offering investors an “I had put the money into an ISA, but eight per cent return for money that at the time the interest rates were very was purportedly being lent to a low so I looked on a comparison range of businesses. website and found LCF. The eight n In reality, the administrators per cent interest was aSma great ll businesses are hit agai aled reve s discovered most of the attraction. as West Kent’s debt £237million went to a con“It was so easy. I had voluted web of business very little contact with GIRL interests, stretching from them and just did it all TO PAID THOUSANDS SIGN UP ABOUT TRIBUTES Cornish holiday cotonline.” ‘OUTSTANDING’ PETITION PUPILS’ TO TOWN tages and land on a The first time she HARD LIFE MP FORMER JESS GIBSON ON HER PLANS TO FOR LOWERING MAKE TUNBRIDGE WELLS A GREAT realised something was Amanda SHOPPING DESTINATION AGAIN WHO HAS DIED AGE wrong was in January. VOTING Cunningham Continued on Page 4 8 Page Page 5 decided to THE borough council has a year after increase council tax by £5 2020-21. approving its budget for voted A meeting of the full council which will for the 2.4 per cent rise, such as see the bill for services waste collection, parks, planning environmental health and band D reach £214.50 for a typical home from April. of the This represents 11 per cent with the overall council tax bill, follows: Kent precepts aportioned as cent per (4 £1,351.26 County Council (5.2 increase); Kent Police £203.15 and Rescue per cent rise); Kent Fire and Parish £79.29 (up 2 per cent); a year Councils, which average 5.9 per cent). £60.94 (an increase of

OF TUNBRIDGE WELLS

they are about to see the experiment Colley. Pg 2 Girls’ Grammar School pupils Lai, Sarah Prescott and Abigail School and Tunbridge Wells Stack, Edward Barry, Godwyn STAR STUDENTS: Tonbridge Space Station; (l-r) Thomas designed sent to International

Jessica Gibson in Jigsaw, who are Thetncard partners

to more than 300 organisaits state- £40million bearAccountants BDO released again with small businesses week which tions ment of proposals last brunt. owes £13.2mil- ing the that WKAC By Andy Tong showed that WKAC also The report also shows £1.1million to worth £86milandy@timesoftonbridge.co.uk lion to Barclays Bank and received capital grants Education and Skills Borough Council. claims lion from the has accumulated Ashford is also WEST KENT COLLEGE The £4.9million in unsecuredFinance, Funding Agency (ESFA), which to 64 individual education £437,500 to Salix debts of £5million owed owed £1million of standard which are small includes organisations, most of provides interest-free government funding. £13.2million to which to K College, businesses. It also owes The grants were given in collapsed it bank. the which ran WKAC before provider in Hadlow College owed Group rescued The further education 2014 - when the Hadlow West Kent and provided to help Brook Street is part of £40million to more than both colleges. It was second | Marchthe | 13 colSO Magazine 2020 College (WKAC), of campuses in Ashford with the construction 300 organisations administration in lege to enter education both towns. after Hadlow over the this country last August, The capital grant is a liability has 2,736 stuand for improving College. West Kent itself life of the property, loans to the public sector to BAM economic of staff. dents and 343 members efficiency, and £230,563 Hadlow Group, energy Limited. All three are run by the of selling all Construction College in Continued on page 2 which is in the process BDO’s report for Hadlow sustaining huge run up debts of three institutions after November showed it had financial difficulties.

Forecast

D That means overall a band a year, resident will pay £1,909.14 in Tunbridge compared to £1,875.70 Wells. Borough Tonbridge and Malling council tax for Council’s income from forecast to the next financial year is be £11million. government It is also set to receive to support core funding and a grant £5.7million. totalling growth housing core The council has seen its 65 per funding decrease by around than all cent since 2011 and is lower in Kent. other borough councils person in Government funding per at £17.64 the borough will stand Tunbridge - compared to £20.12 in Wells. is The next lowest in the county capita, Sevenoaks at £19.16 per (£36.33). Thanet is highest the while

Continued on page 2

MArch 2020

Page 21 SO Mazazine and the Times of Tonbridge

TUNBRIDGE WELLS

CALVERLEY SQUARE Alliance officials are said to have lost interest in politics after blocking theatre complex

to make Cllr Bruneau party leader. It’s do so at the same time.” THE Tunbridge Wells Alliance party as the Calverley Square vote was won. Cllr Atwood has left to join the Conthat successfully campaigned to block  Had no ‘forward plan and no policies’ claimed the decision was taken without any consultation with other members servatives who accepted his memberthe Calverley Square theatre project is in place. ship to the group yesterday [Tuesday], itself this week battling for survival fol-  The then leader Cllr Nick Pope of the group. Cllr Atwood, who is the son of former while Cllr Bruneau has said she will lowing the surprise departure of three announced he was quitting to take a six Alliance chairman and previous Con- now sit on the Council as an independweek holiday. of its leading voices. HEDecember 14, 2016 Wednesday, All the news that mattersservative Leader at Tunbridge Local, National and and International AT FOURTEEN ent councillor insists she ‘will conWells Party members have been left stunned AN AWARD STARTED after Borough Council, Robert Atwood, is tinue working for my lovely residents two councillors quit following a ‘This was not a political INTERNET WINNINGleadership also said to have felt mounting public and retailers. Something I have done row that forced their controparty but a group of people BUSINESS resentment to the party after his father since day one’. versial chairman to step down. 12-13 Ward councillors Christian Pages Park with one aim – stopping The rift in the Alliance comes three was ousted from his position last year. In a statement, the Alliance said: “The months after the Council voted to drop Atwood and Becki Bruneau, who was Calverley Square’. appointment of the Group Leader was the £108million Calverley Square prothe party’s leader, walked out of the CLLR Christian Atwood organised by the Chairman, and both ject in October, which took more than Alliance last week. The new theatre was four to plan with aincidents. cost to taxpaythe process andare thealmost pre-determination to be built in Park Ward. to beyears involved in such bridge Wells and certainly driver she could pay for part of the WITH Christmas parties now in full of nearly £11million. of the in new Group Leader not go ers The breakup of the Alliance is underTheir decision to quit came just a The problem for the police and the repeated towns across the did country. journey by having sex with him. swing, the Times this week publishes Support for the Tunbridge Wells Alliweek after the chairman of the party, Dr stood to have been the consequence of down well with most of the councillors.” borough council’s Hackney Carriage However, the purposes of this Two young women were forced to run an investigation that should act as a The statement continued “Feeling ance, who now only have four councilRobert Chris, also stepped down from a meeting earlier this month, when sevinvestigation is to send a clear message Office that licenses drivers, is that most awayeral from an angry driver after he warning torole. all women travelling home members of the party demanded that she was not achieving what she lors on the 40-seat Council, has waned his DAZE WEDDING drivers decided tempted to of those who suffer abuse of one kind triedChris’s to lockresignation them by special taxi, Yesterday particularly after nights outinterview in with tips from Bruneau by threatening to intended, Becki to [Tuesday], in an Eight page another page do not2 register a complaint. to take in the vehicle and Tunbridge Wells. Continued 79-86 Pages happy couples. quit, with Christian, whoadvantage believed his or form a breakaway group. with the Times, Cllr Atwood explained LOCAL NEWSPAPERS

Investigation uncovers disturbing trend in women being ‘abused’ by taxi drivers YOUR

OF TUNBRIDGE WELLS

VictimsFREE urged to report incidents to police and hackney carriage office

0s1 ge pa

SISTER ACTS… with his wife, Helen

BUSINESS

We meet the founder of eco fabric company Haines Collection

Local, National and International

e Se

LONDON MAYOR SAYS THERE SHOULD HIGH LIFE BE NO SECOND Simon Hume-Kendall REFERENDUM

12 | March 2020 | SO Magazine

International

OF TONBRIDGE

that matters All the news autism. This money was my life savings. It

Wednesday, June 29, 2016

THE LIFEBLOOD OF OUR COMMUNITY “Through my blog About These Boys I have worked with many local businesses, from reviewing family products and activities in the area to running competitions with our local shops. A loyalty card for Tunbridge Wells and Tonbridge felt like a natural extension of this and a more tangible way of supporting our local independents – the lifeblood of our community. At the same time, I’m thrilled to be able to make a difference to West Kent Mind and to give local people welcome discounts at a variety of brilliant businesses right on our doorstep.” The scheme started last month after two separate launch parties at Hotel du Vin and The Old Fire Station. Both venues kindly provided free room hire but Jessica has funded everything else herself and although it’s only a matter of weeks old Thetncard now has over 125 business signed up.

Tonbridge Town Team to ensure the two schemes They range from Cycling Made Easy and the Shuffle House in complement each other and many of our partner businesses St John’s to Carluccio’s, Closs & Hamblin, The Wine Rooms participate in the TLC. If our members are collecting stamps and Whirligig toy shop in Tunbridge Wells to Nancy’s Tea they will receive two instead of one at TLC businesses.” Rooms, Havet and Gorgeous George giftshop in Tonbridge. In terms of how Jessica has promoted her new venture she So with a decent number of both independents and chains says that word of mouth has been the best publicity. “It has signed up, have there been any actual challenges so far? really picked up as people get out and about using their “I enjoy working for myself but the biggest challenge is membership cards.” She acknowledges that social media is a definitely time, particularly as the scheme has grown ‘fast, easy way’ of engaging with members and promoting the organically very quickly,” responds Jessica. “From conception that matters scheme but ultimately Thetncard is ‘all news about community’. to launch it was three months, and since then new businesses All the | 2020 February 26 Wednesday “We have an enthusiastic and highly engaged online have been joining every day. The scheme appears to have community on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter and therefore struck a chord with companies keen to be involved in a community initiative such as this, and residents who love being use these platforms to announce new business partnerships, promotions and events as well as last minute offers.” rewarded for supporting local. “Our priority is supporting local independents. However, 28 pages 2020 VISION FOR THETNCARD we have welcomed a handful of national chains known for N’S TOW Jessica says that 2020 is all about ‘spreading the word’ and their community focus, such as COOK, Jigsaw and JoJo EST ‘establishing ourselves in the community as a recognisable, Maman Bébé.” BIGG Y honest brand’. trustworthy PERTand PRO “I will listen closely to our partnering businesses and LOCAL HEROES E GUIDand gather feedback to find out their priorities for members Jessica says that the rate at which the business is growing is the scheme and adapt as necessary. I want to upgrade the ‘fantastic’, but means she now needs to gather a team website and introduce an app so that members can access together so she is able to maintain Thetncard’s momentum. their membership details and offers on the go more easily. She is also keen to explain that although Tonbridge already And I’ll be working alongside West Kent Mind and local has its own loyalty card scheme via the Tonbridge Town businesses to launch our member and business events. Team, she is keen to collaborate with them as opposed to “The scheme is all about community, about people. I love create competition. being out and about in our town centres speaking to our “Tonbridge Town Team’s Tonbridge Loyalty Card (TLC) business owners, and hearing from our members on the deals gives shoppers the chance to win vouchers in a monthly prize that they’ve enjoyed. I’m also delighted to be able to support draw. Shoppers can get their card stamped when they spend West Kent Mind, raising awareness about the charity and money with a TLC member business, and once their card is mental health issues as well as raising funds to support their full they can submit their card for draw entry. incredible work.” “Thetncard differs in providing instant offers for members who show their membership card. I have worked with For more details visit: www.tncard.co.uk

Times

Jessica Gibson has just launched Thetncard, a customer loyalty scheme that will cover shops, businesses and attractions in Tunbridge Wells and Tonbridge. Here she tells Eileen Leahy why she believes this reward card will benefit not just the local economy but the community too

PAPER

INSIDE

ILLUSTRATION: Chris Burke

VOTE MAKES THE TOWN STAND OUT FROM THE REST… TODAY this newspaper breaks with tradition and publishes on the front page a cartoon that illustrates the stand-alone position that Tunbridge Wells took in last week’s EU Referendum. The borough was the only one in Kent to come out in favour of Remaining in Europe and was one of only a handful in the south east, outside of the capital, to take that route. Countywide the vote was 59 per cent Leave with 41 per cent Remain. In Tunbridge Wells it was very different with Remain on 55 and Leave on 45. Yet again Tunbridge Wells demonstrated that on certain levels it has little in common with its neighbours and reinforces its Wikipedia entry ‘as being the archetypal conservative Middle England town’.

They are reluctant to make a fuss. Until they do, these drivers will think they can get away with it. We know it can be difficult, but we would urge people to report these incidents and help make travelling home safer for all women.

Out of the mouths of babes comes the spirit of Christmas Full story pages 12-13

INSID

ALTERNATIV

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

Trinity offers differ on Cinderella. Page

A GLASS ACT

COMMENT

JUNE 2016: We were the only town in Kent to vote Remain in the EU referendum

Times

of vulnerable charge them more young women: money than agreed People are aware of for the fare. your actions and And one woman, EDITORIAL COMMENT they will not be perhaps summing tolerated. it all up, told the The vast majority of the 300 cab Times that because of her experiences drivers in Tunbridge Wells borough she had ‘not felt safe in taxis in the can be viewed as being safe and town for three or four years.’ Such incidents are not limited to Tun- reliable. It is a minority who appear

DECEMBER 2018: Case studies showed a pattern of abuse by taxi drivers towards women

BLOOMING GARDENS

OF TUNBRIDGE WELLS

Residents know it as an affluent place more readily identified today with London, where there was also an overwhelming vote to Remain, than with its Kent neighbours. The tag ‘Little London’ might now be more appropriate for the town. Twitter lit up when the results were announced. Andrew Steadman declared: “It’s so Tunbridge Wells to be different from the rest of Kent.” Patrick Thompson said: “We’re building a wall. Becoming an independent state, introducing a new currency and waiting for all this to blow over.” Bobby Bewl wrote: “There’s something about Tunbridge Wells that makes it different to its neighbours.” There certainly is something different about our town. But whichever way any of us voted, let’s remember one thing: To survive we have to live in harmony with our neighbours. It’s good to vote but not to gloat.

This newspaper has uncovered several incidents involving altercations between cab drivers and women. And we believe it to be the tip of an iceberg. In one case a 23 year old was left lying shocked and bruised in the road, her mobile phone smashed, after allegedly being attacked. On another occasion a teenager was ‘petrified’ after it was suggested by the PHOTO: Kirsty Brookbanks

Kitch’s Newman

Future of landmark building now hangs in the balance

MAY 2016: More than 500 businesses have entered our annual awards since this first one

By William Mata

HOW DOES Thetncard WORK?

QUEEN

CHURCH AUCTION

Life savings that have been lost were to help care for her autistic son

Cover Feature

he Chelsea r garden

Council is poised to invest £7million in shopping centre

What’s on the menu at town’s Greek restaurant Page 58

MAY 2019

TRIBUTE

Continued on pages 12 and 27 onwards

PAGE 3

NEW RVP CINEMA

PAGES 6-7

By Richard Williams thean48 seats. Former protest group Tunbridge Wells ofgot email from LCF to say the FCA [Financial Conduct frozen their THE mother sons, one whom is autistic, But theAuthority] vote is had a chance toassets.” see some Alliance, set-upof two initially toofoppose the She continued: “It has been devastating. It has has told of the impact on their lives brought will@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk with the Conservadevelopment, is standing seven candi- significant changes, about by the collapse of an investment firm left me in a very difficult position. tive,“I’m Labour and Liberal datesbased in a newly formed political in exceptional hardship.Democrat That money parwas just outside Tunbridge Wells. party. all each I had.”fighting all 16 seats. The company, London Capital & Finance [LCF], ties WITH less than one month to go until Amanda Cunningham had candidates this message forand was founded by Simon Hume-Kendall. UKIP is fielding two the polls open for the council elections it Parking, business, and£22,500 in Hume-Kendall and his associates: “They are Mr no 50, invested Amanda Cunningham, Green one.They are preying on the has emerged that party political camGET INTO GARDENING better thanParty scammers. LCF, which former Tunbridge Wells Conservative the traffic also high on agenda have chosen paigns will focus on the controversial Your top five jobs to do in the vulnerable. Theytactically are the scourge of thewhere earth. to Party Chairman Hume-Kendall retained links Parties Wednesday December 5 | 2018 the48news “I lie awake at night worrying about how Jack is with until its collapse earlier this year. stand candidates with the best chance of Civic Complex. coming weeksAll Pages & 49 that matters going to cope in the future. We will probably have and there are several seats It is also the first local election that will winning It will be a key debating topic heading ABOUT to claim benefits to support his social care, and TY CHEFofficerMAYinto ‘I don’t know how on like election police see a candidate from company the Simon Women’s the vote on Thursday, May 3, which all thewatching while people Simon night. Hume-Kendall 2018: Businessman Simon Hume-Kendal founded that worth went bust owing £237million ANNER are living in the lap luxury. and Sherwood sleeps at night, For example, StofJohn’s and Party. will decide 16 of the authority’s 48 seats. EqualityHume-Kendall The OF CH MORE: bet he has never had to endure financial he should paythe everything back’ are “Itraditional battlegrounds, which have unted for by Parking, business, environment This £90million proposal for a new BIGGEST hardship like this. I don’t know how Simon local paper hands overat the years. Both conperson has highCunningham on the political changed theatre and Town Hall continues to and traffic are also Amanda Hume-Kendall sleeps night.” and it’s still Material gains Glorious food Let’s go outside SheY seats continued: “I want him to pay everything are Tory. opinion. The controlling “Idivide Sc o INS LOVE WHERE I LIVEConserv- agenda.Around 11,500 people are set to lose a total of tested ho ur ID back. 8 E of it. I think he is ruthless.” ol All The Conservatives will retain overall ativewant group favour of thrive” the develops f pa : and to is seeinour towns ea ge Ms Cunningham is one of three investors that £237million following the demise of the comtu re with only one atthird the seats See ment. All six other parties area against control thispages newspaper Together they are set pany, which is based Eridgeof Park. 2 4-5has fortraced. full election preview being contested. They the scheme. to lose more than £350,000. week:43 “I am Ms Cunningham told currently the Times thishold S U JAMES TANNER

Signal UK, who won Business Hero of the Year for his support of Pickering Cancer Drop-In Centre. Outpourings on social media declared it a ‘fun night’ that was ‘great for local businesses’. Guest of honour Edwina Currie told the audience: “If you do your best, be optimistic, take a chance and make the effort almost anything is possible. That is why I have so much admiration for those gathered here tonight.”

FACT

APRIL 2018: Artist Borough spending onhis rock boulders raised a few eyebrows SCULPTURE: Richardcouncil Perry (centre right) presents workart Zephyr in Grosvenor and Hilbert Park in Tunbridge Wells last week. The

LIFE & STYLE

Hours were spent scoring the entries and whittling them down to shortlists and then the eventual winners. And what an impressive line-up it turned out to be.

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Local, National and International

individuals in and around the borough. It all started with the decision by the Times to recognise and honour the local business community and its contribution to the ongoing success of our town. Within days the entries had started to arrive, and by the time the panel of judges was appointed the figure had soared to almost 200 entries across 11 categories.

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Times

All the news that matters

Kent Police ge 27.5 per according ‘Iftoyou don’t vote

She’s in fashion

Pages 96-97

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Pages 50-51

NEW BEGINNINGS

ay 1 | 2019

Meet the women responsible for making so stylish Tunbridge Wells

FACE THE MUSIC AT TRINITY

INSIDE The best in the business INSIDE

Council’s £17,500 ‘rock’ sparks controversy

ridgewells.co.uk

rejected ult should SS YOUR challenging h the data UE OF SOwas l overleaf]. ZINE nt Police’s Services, mpanies with re legally THE KENTISH etails of their HARE’S

ACADEMY GIVES PUPILS LONGER SCHOOL HOLIDAYS

VICTORIA TRUMAN’S VIEW OF CHELSEA FLOWER SHOW

Pages 82-83

See page 19

THE FESTIVE

The finest homes on the market are featured across 44 pages

How to take advant local food markets.

FACT

at Audits show th CHRISTMAS: The2016: time of yearEach when parents, relatives and friends the children in nativity plays at schools and We cannotup publish the wonderful scenes that DECEMBER Christmas we watch feature local youngsters inchurches. the lead toallthe big day e most emerge, but believe this one really captures the moment. It’s of the two to four year olds at St Luke’s Nursery School in Tunbridge Wells taking part in the nativity play at the church the Times is th . wn to in r read newspape s Undetected accounting INTRODUCING… THE FINANCIAL TIMES After five year READER OFFER discounts at the s Enjoy 50%mistake across a decade STATION RANK of success, it ha one60’s July Meat Fest. Page 12 The vast majority of cab costs £10million goes into year six, we l feature local financial AND as police this newspaper bucked nationa drivers are safe and reliable ‘We will be monsteredOur fornew thissection by ourwill friends in the media’ advisers and other experts to help guide you are pleased to announce the introduction next trends By Adam Hignett

Council rejects its own pay cut MEMBERS of the borough council –

However, in the final Full Council meeting of the year on December 7, the councillors, who are not obliged to accept the recommendation, voted in favour of keeping the current allowance structure.

councillors repeating a warning by Cllr

bers’ allowances for Tunbridge Wells Borough Council, plus Sevenoaks and Tonbridge & Malling councils. If the cuts to the basic allowance were implemented, along with other changes in supplementary allowances, it would have shaved £20,000 from the current

vote, 26 opted for the status quo, 12 abstained and 7 voted in favour of a cut. The debate proved divisive among the majority Conservative Party, while members of both the Liberal Democrats and Labour sought to reduce the allowance. Concern over reputational damage to

the current allowance said it helped to attract a more diverse talent pool, ensures the council is not dominated by a self-funding elite, and accurately reflects the true working hours of Members.

adam@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk make savings month of a new section to which helpis under you,pressure the toreader, after budgets were slashed – last week make thehasmost of the your andplans investments. KENT POLICE had to repay Homesavings voted against to reduce their perOffice almost £10million after an error in sonal allowance. With record low interest harder the annual accounts went unnoticed by the rates, The Jointit’s Independent Remuneration force for nearly ten years. Panel [JIRP] had suggested cutting the today than before ndallowance ways from to make The news comesever at a time when the to fi basic £5,500 per annum force, like many others, is battling to The body was established in your money work for you. to2001£5,000. overcome budget cuts. Police finances, to make recommendations on Memthough, remain in a ’strong’ position. Because of a coding mistake, the police have been overclaiming from the government’s pension top-up grant each year since 2006.

CHARITY DIN

The Lord’s Taverne £58,000 donation.

through the choices – particularly Bob Backhouse thatpost-budget, the council risked being ‘monstored by the media’ if it which takes place on Wednesday March 11. rejected the recommendation. Others arguing for a cut said it would It’s all part of our ongoing drivewith to council make the show ‘solidarity’ staff, who Lib Dems and Labour voted are facing a £292,000 reduction to their a reducing uniqueallowance local newspaper inbudget, what offers PANTILES LO payroll in the next and it would be inTimes favour of Promenade pipped more in keeping with ‘austerity’. readers – something quite unrivalled. in high street award Out of the 45 councillors eligible to Those voting in favour of maintaining

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Wednesday March 4 | 2020

Lawyer fights for £400million in backdated pay for carers By Richard Williams A LOCAL lawyer has taken an appeal all the way to the Supreme Court in a landmark case that could mean thousands of carers being entitled to back pay worth a total of nearly half a billion pounds. Neill Thomas, from Mount Pleasant-based Thomas Mansfield in Tunbridge Wells, is representing the case of John Shannon, a care worker trying to recoup backdated pay for ‘on call’ work. Mr Shannon claims that he has been underpaid by almost £240,000 for being an on-call night care assistant, arguing he was only paid for work that he did, and not for when he was asleep, despite being on call.

TAKING IT TO THE TOP Neill Thomas is on the case when it comes to whether on-call care workers should be paid during time asleep

‘I’m keeping my fingers crossed for Mr Shannon, although I do not envy the task of the Justices who have to make a decision’ The case came about when Mr Shannon won a case of unfair dismissal against the Clifton House Residential Home in Coulsdon, Surrey, but his claim for back pay was thrown out by the employment tribunal, which argued that Mr Shannon should only have been paid for work he did, and not for when he was asleep and on call. Neill Thomas, a specialist employment solicitor at Thomas Mansfield, took on Mr Shannon’s case and took it to the Court of Appeal, which again dismissed the case, stating that oncall sleep-in workers came within an exception

NEWS IN BRIEF

Childrensalon makes Sunday Times top 100 ONE of Tunbridge Wells’ largest employers has been ranked in this year’s Sunday Times top 100 Best Companies to Work for the third year running. Childrensalon was ranked Number 61 on the list, which recognises the best in workplace engagement in the UK. The Sunday Times Best Companies 2020 were announced at Battersea Evolution on February 20. Denise Hamilton, Childrensalon’s People Team Director, said: “We are honoured to be a part of the prestigious Sunday Times Best Companies list for the third year in a row, and are committed to continuing to work hard to make Childrensalon the best workplace it can be.” Childrensalon is holding a jobs fair at their headquarters in Decimus Park, Kingstanding Way, Tunbridge Wells on Saturday, March 21, from 11am-2pm.

Metro Bank scales back on expansions BELEAGUERED Metro Bank is to scale back its expansion plans after posting a bruising pre-tax loss of £130.8million for 2019 – down from a profit of £40.6million the previous year. The bank, which has a branch in Fiveways, Tunbridge Wells, miscalculated the assets needed for security on its loans last year and has struggled to refinance ever since. It had previously planned 71 new high street branches over the next three years, but has now slashed that figure to just 24.

in the National Minimum Wage legislation. Undeterred, Mr Mansfield then took the case to the Supreme Court – the UK’s highest court – and it was heard last month, on February 12 and 13. Mr Mansfield argued that the National Minimum Wage Act had been wrongly interpreted by the courts. He told the Times: “It will be many months before we receive an outcome from the Supreme Court. If the appeal is successful, it will have a profound effect on the care industry. “They will on the one hand have certainty at last about the position of paying sleep-in care

workers but may face backdated pay claims.” He said the landmark court case could pave the way for thousands of other claims for backdated pay from care workers, totalling more than £400million. Mr Thomas added: “I’m keeping my fingers crossed for Mr Shannon, although I do not envy the task of the Justices who have to make a decision in this case. “Whatever the outcome, Mr Shannon will be pleased he had raised the issue and has no regrets about taking his case to be decided in the highest court in the land.”

Shop front grant scheme expands SHOPS in rural and suburban areas of Tonbridge and Malling are being offered grants to give their stores a facelift. The scheme is an expansion of a similar project that took place in Tonbridge town centre and some larger villages last year, when 21 businesses received a facelift to improve the aesthetics of the area. The borough council-run scheme provides up to £3,500, or 50 per cent of the total project cost (whichever is greater), to spruce up storefronts and support local businesses with improvements to signage, entrances and shop windows. It also offers help to improve insulation and energy efficiency.

The Local Centre and Parades Grant Scheme is open to independent food and retail businesses. Local charity Action with Communities in Rural Kent is working closely with the council to offer businesses help with the application process, and give practical advice on design and layout. Tonbridge & Malling Borough Council Leader Nicolas Heslop said: “Last year’s scheme saw some impressive enhancements to shopfronts in our town and district centres, and given the level of interest it makes sense to extend a similar scheme to smaller communities. “In line with the Council’s commitment to climate change, I’m delighted we are including measures to improve energy efficiency within this new grant scheme. AFTER “I urge shop owners to make the most of this opportunity to enhance their businesses and apply for a grant today.” ADDING COLOUR & CHARACTER How Hattusa in Tonbridge High Street was transformed BEFORE

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Wednesday March 4 | 2020

Shopping centre Business networking event of the CEO to step down year has something for everyone THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE of the property company that owns Royal Victoria Place [RVP] is stepping down after more than ten years at the helm. Under Chris Grigg, who joined British Land in 2009 and also sits on the board of defence contractor BAE Systems, the UK’s second largest property developer has started to reorient its portfolio away from shopping destinations such as RVP. Due to a downturn in retail, British Land’s total property asset base had declined in value by nearly five per cent – to £11.7billion – in the halfyear results to September 30 reported last year.

Shelved The company, which bought the Tunbridge Wells Shopping Centre in 2018 for £96million, and shelved an £80million redevelopment once it took over RVP, is now focused on ‘mixed-use developments’. Retail property comprises around 41 per cent of the company’s portfolio, but British Land has said it plans for this to reduce to just 30-35 per cent in the coming years. Mr Grigg’s departure date is understood to be determined on whoever his successor will be. The company declined to comment.

Chris Grigg

WITH less than two months before entries close for this year’s Times Business Awards, local firms have been lining up to get involved. More than 500 business have entered the awards since they began in 2016, and the fifth year is expected to be the biggest event yet. Forty local businesses have so far won one of the prestigious accolades over the last half decade, ranging from internationally-renowned companies employing hundreds of people to small independent firms with just one or two staff members. There really is an award for every conceivable business in Tunbridge Wells, Tonbridge and the wider West Kent area. Best of all, to enter the Business Awards is absolutely FREE. The previous gala nights all proved to be among the most popular social events of the calendar, with tickets selling out fast. The awards are a unique opportunity to showcase yourself and your company

alongside some of the most outstanding businesses and business people in the area. Now, in 2020, you can be part of a vibrant annual awards ceremony that recognises, celebrates and promotes local business excellence.

Meet Winning a valued business award will add credibility to your company, raise your profile through valuable media coverage, generate new business, inspire your staff, and provide an exclusive networking opportunity for you at the awards ceremony on Friday June 5 2020. And for those attending the gala black-tie evening, you will get a chance to meet and mingle with none other than the ‘King of Breakfast’ himself, Eamonn Holmes.

Business Award categories There are ten categories for 2020, and businesses can enter up to three of them Start-Up Business of the Year Award – For new start-ups under two years old at the closing date for entries of April 22, 2020. Creative Business of the Year – Any company over two years old in any sector that can demonstrate creativity as well as adding value to the success of their business. Entrepreneur of the Year – This award is open to dynamic individuals who run their own business and demonstrate significant success and drive in growing their company. Young Business Person of the Year – Entrants for this award must be aged 30 or under by the closing date of April 22, 2020, and need to show they have a clear vision/strategy for their business and are committed to growing it. Service Excellence Award – The winner of this category will be giving outstanding assistance and advice to those who buy or use their business or organisation’s products or services. Best in Food and Drink Award – For local businesses that provide truly remarkable food and/or drink in our area. Best Family Business of the Year Award – For those businesses that are run as a family concern.

2020

Best National Business Serving the Local Community – New for 2020, this category recognises national companies that go the extra mile to serve the local community. Best Business 1-25 employees – Here we recognise owner-managers and small businesses employing up to 25 people.

Eamonn Holmes

Outstanding Business of the Year – The ultimate award of all the categories will go to the business that can show outstanding initiative, boldness and imagination in their enterprise, as well as sound management practices.

The Tunbridge Wells Hotel

MOTHER’S DAY Sunday Lunch • March 22 nd 2020

BOOK NOW TO RESERVE A TABLE Starters Carrot & Coriander Soup with Heritage Carrot Crisps Roasted Baby Beets with Hazelnuts, Mustard & Goats Curds Dressing and Dark Rye Croutons Charred Asparagus, Poached Duck Egg, Hollandaise and Spring Pea Crumb Grilled South Coast Mackerel Fillet with Rhubarb & Baby Fennel Salad Guinea Fowl Ballotine, Cep Puree, Charred Baby Corn & Pickled Vegetables

Mains Truffle Gnocchi, Mushroom & Cauliflower Puree and Purple Sprouting Broccoli Brown Butter Baked Haddock, Lambs Leaves, Pea and Herb Parmentier Potatoes Roasted Free Range Chicken Breast, Sweetcorn & Thyme Muffin Roast Rump of Sussex Lamb, Salsa Verde Roast Striploin of Hereford Beef, Yorkshire Pudding (All Roasts are served with Roast Potatoes & Seasonal Vegetables)

Desserts

Amaretto Panna Cotta, Pecan Shortbread & Chocolate Meringue Baked Cheesecake with Madagascan Vanilla and Strawberry Curd Gluten Free Cherry & Pistachio Crumble & Cream Anglaise Dark Chocolate Mousse, Salt Caramel & Poached Clementine Selection of English Cheeses with Indian Military Chutney and Biscuits

Adult £32.50

Call 01892 530 501 to make a reservation www.thetunbridgewellshotel.com

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Wednesday March 4 | 2020

TJs All-Stars charity match to raise funds for children’s hospital units By Andy Tong andy@timesoftonbridge.co.uk A CHARITY rugby match is being held at the Slade, home of Tonbridge Juddians, to raise money for the Neonatal Unit at Tunbridge Wells Hospital and Great Ormond Street Hospital. The TJs All-Stars will take on a team from Weavering Warriors Rugby Club in Maidstone on Saturday March 14 at 12.45pm. William O’Shea and his partner Vicky Gee have organised the match in memory of their son Thomas, who died at seven weeks last August. He was born by emergency caesarean with a genetic condition known as congenital hyperinsulinism [CHI], where newborns create high levels of insulin; it affects around one in 40,000 babies. Thomas spent 13 days in hospital at the Pembury hospital before being transferred to Great Ormond Street, where he spent five weeks. William and Vicky are looking to raise £10,000 to be split equally between the two; £4,500 will go towards the purchase of a breathing machine that helps babies’ respiration at Tunbridge Wells Hospital. They will also donate £5,000 to the Brighter Future Fund at the London children’s hospital to help provide parents’ accommodation. “The neonatal unit and the whole of Great

AMAZING CARE: Baby Thomas at Great Ormond Street Hospital

Ormond Street were amazing, they did everything they could for Thomas,” said William. “He wouldn’t have lasted two days if they hadn’t done what they did. “The Brighter Future Fund allows you to ask for the money to go to a specific area and we want it to go towards the flats they provide. Vicky was sleeping on sofas and chairs, but when it became clear that he was struggling they put us up for free.” William, 36, lives in Burwash but attended St Gregory’s Catholic School in Tunbridge Wells and lived in the town, Bidborough and Tonbridge. He played for Tonbridge Juddians from the age of 17 until he retired three years ago. “TJs was my second home,” he said. “For the past few years I hadn’t been around the club and one wonders if those bonds you make are still there? I need not have worried! As soon as I said a charity game would be an idea, I had an old teammate and coach, Darren Reeves, ring me up, and say: ‘No need to talk about it, Will, whatever you want to do, we as your club will sort it.’” Family and friends donated £6,000 after Thomas’s funeral and William ran the Tunbridge Wells Half Marathon last month to raise a further £1,200. Tickets for the match cost £6. Search for Tonbridge Juddians at eventbrite.co.uk To make a donation, visit uk.virginmoneygiving. com/Team/TeamThomasOShea1

TEAM SPIRIT: Tonbridge Juddians in William’s playing days

Therapeutic light brings cheer to young patients AN ELECTRICAL company in Tunbridge Wells has donated a light display to the Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust to help brighten up the day of young patients. Yesss Electrical on Lamberts Road gave the Riverbank children’s ward at Maidstone Hospital the therapeutic installation, which is worth more than £3,000. Children undergoing treatment or waiting to go for day surgery can now look up at sunshine, blue skies and white clouds.

Generous Branch Manager Elliot Swann and Sales Manager Matthew Bromley came up with the idea when their showroom was being refurbished. Matthew said: “There was still plenty of life in the Visualite sensory and wellbeing lighting solution, so we didn’t want to simply discard it. “The Visualites are specifically designed to provide a calming and therapeutic effect in any healthcare space. They not only help patients to relax during procedures, but also provide a pleasing environment for staff and visitors.” “We realised it would probably be a welcome addition for staff, children, family and visitors on Riverbank, so were only too happy to pass it on.” Jackie Tyler, Lead Matron for Paediatrics, said: “We’re very grateful to Yesss Electrical for their generous donation. “Visiting a hospital ward can be scary and quite daunting for children and their families. “But I have seen first-hand how the new lighting installation is helping to put a smile on the faces of everyone who visits the ward, which is just lovely.”

LOOKING UP: (L-R) Health Play Specialist for Gastroenterology Vicki Belton, Yesss Electrical Sales Manager Matthew Bromley, Nurse Lisa Pudan, and Nursery Nurse Lisa Burton-Duff

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Wednesday March 4 | 2020

Community News

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TAKE A PEW Left: The churchgoers in 1910, and (below) today with Cliff Allen (fourth from the left)

Church of Christ seeks old flock to celebrate 150th anniversary By Andy Tong CHURCH OF CHRIST in Tunbridge Wells is celebrating its 150th anniversary this year and wants to make contact with local people who have formed part of its long story. The Commercial Road church would like to hear from anyone who has attended its youth and children’s clubs, Sunday School, holiday and summer camps and morning worship services. Congregations first began meeting in 1870. It was started by Henry Collyer, a coal merchant who preached on The Common in Tunbridge Wells before setting up the church in his home with his wife Harriet at 8 Frant Road.

It later moved to Belgrave School before the Christians’ Meeting House was built in 1877, where services have been held ever since. The church grew rapidly and had an attendance of around 150 before World War One. Open-air meetings were held on The Common and there were debates in the Assembly Hall. Two daughter churches were then launched, in Southborough in 1899, and in Mount Ephraim Road in 1911. Both were closed in 1917 and merged back with the Commercial Road congregation. Cliff Allen, Minister at the Church of Christ, said: “We are a Christian church believing we are not the only Christians, but choose to be Christians

only – hence the simplicity of our name. We affirm the Evangelical Alliance’s statement of faith.”

Camp The church adopts an informal style of worship, as the Pastor explains: “Instead of pews or benches, we put out coffee tables with chairs around them, which enables us to include small group discussions during our worship times. “We also have a coffee and tea station so people can get up and get drinks during the service, should they wish.” For almost half a century, the Church of Christ has had a weekend camp for

children and young people, now held at Carroty Wood, Tonbridge, in summer. Around 30 children aged seven to 17 attend the camp, which includes Bible lessons, crafts, singing, games, swimming and woodland walks. Cliff has been the Minister for more than 30 years, having moved to Tunbridge Wells with his wife Lynn in 1989. Previously they had lived in south London, where he served for three years with a West Indian congregation in Clapham. “When we first arrived, the church was smaller, with 15 to 20 people coming along,” he said. “They were generally more elderly and it was also quite formal. The congregation wanted to grow, and over the time we have added more members of varying age groups, so now 40 to 50 people come to our services.” He added: “We have good working relationships with other churches in

town and play an active part within the Churches for Tunbridge Wells charity. “We are committed to sharing and showing the love of Jesus in practical ways, and actively work with other churches wherever possible.” This includes the provision of street pastors, hosting a Soup Bowl two days a week and helping with the Tunbridge Wells Churches Winter Shelter. Church of Christ plans to host a variety of events to celebrate its anniversary, including an Easter Labyrinth, in which people can go on a journey of reflection and engagement at a variety of stations that tell the Easter story. There will also be a community tea in May and a barbecue in August, along with historical displays and events during the Heritage days in September. To find out more, call 07980 389525 or email: cllyallen@aol.com

Mother’s Day pampering to help parents

SUPPORT NETWORK: Mothers learn how to use baby slings

A VOLUNTEER group supporting mums in Tonbridge is holding a Mother’s Day pamper event to raise funds in order to keep its free clinic going. The town’s Breastfeeding and Sling Group holds drop-in sessions at Tonbridge Baptist Church in Darenth Avenue every Tuesday from 9.30-11.30am. It was started in 2018 by lactation consultant Karen McCully and three breastfeeding counsellors under a non-profit organisation called PSBreastfeeding. A team of volunteer peer supporters hold breastfeeding groups at various locations in the area and also help parents with information on using slings

and eco-friendly reusable cloth nappies. Karen said: “In the UK, three per cent of all household waste is disposable nappies, and anything we can do to help lower that would be amazing.” She added: “Many families we see may just be lacking confidence, not be too sure about what they are doing, or perhaps just need to see a friendly face and have a chat.” The pamper event will feature treatments from local massage and beauty therapists and a family photographer, along with stalls, refreshments and a raffle. It will be held at the Baptist Church on Tuesday March 17 from 10am

to 12.30pm. There will be a similar event in Sevenoaks at Hope Church, Mill Lane, on Friday March 20 at the same time. Breastfeeding peer supporter Nicky Winter said: “We all are working really hard to keep this free and much needed service for parents going. We also hope our services have the added value of helping mums feed their babies perhaps for longer than they would have. “So previous parents, grandparents, potential parents, in fact all of Tonbridge is urged to support us.” The group is funded by donations but is struggling to meet demand, and provides free services to low-income families.

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Wednesday March 4 | 2020

Soapbox Derby will pull into Tunbridge Wells this summer The much-loved annual Crazy Jean’s Kart Race will be returning to Tunbridge Wells this summer, on June 27, in Dunorlan Park. A ‘flash ticket sale’ has started and will run until March 15, with huge discounts on all tickets… THIS year’s Crazy Jean’s Kart Race soapbox derbystyle competition will feature 42 unique karts designed by different teams from the local community in a wacky races-style time-trial full of odd obstacles, tricky turns and giant jumps. The organisers expect to sell 6,000 tickets to the big summer event in Dunorlan Park.

‘This will be the best year yet, we’ve got so many more teams and a whole bunch of amazing entertainment for the day’ Eight local schools will also be participating in the race. The West Kent Independent State School Partnership [WKISSP] have made building and racing a kart part of their Year 9 curriculum for 2020. Beechwood Sacred Heart School, The Judd School, Kent College Pembury, The Malling School, Mascalls Academy, Oakley School, The Skinners’ Kent Academy and The Skinners’ School will all be making and racing their own karts. “I’m so thrilled to be bringing back this event for the third year running,” said Nicole Piesse

Turner, Managing Director of Crazy Jean’s. “This will be the best year yet, we’ve got so many more teams, a whole bunch of amazing entertainment for the day, and of course plenty of faces old and new getting involved.” Nicole added: “The soapbox derby is for the community, for the charities we support, and for our town. We want as many people as possible to come down and enjoy the day. “We are offering even more things to see and do around the race. We’ll have a graffiti workshop, arts and crafts for the kids, and some fantastic car displays thanks to Bentley and Lamborghini.” Tom Swift, of Wicked Productions, will be returning as commentator, along with TV chef Rosemary Shrager, who will be getting a personal ride around the track courtesy of the race ambassador for 2020, Max Chilton. The former Formula One racer and IndyCar competitor will launch the event. “Having Max involved this year is awesome,” said Nicole. “To have someone with a storied racing career getting into the race is going to make it even more fun, and it’s great to have Tom and Rosemary in the commentators’ box again.” In previous years the event has been held in support of local charities, and this year will be no different. Hospice in the Weald, who provide

CRAZY JEAN’S DREAM TEAM : (L-R) Tom Swift (commentator), Garry Jeffery, Anna Robertshaw, Tanya Sena, Nicole Piesse Turner (Managing Director) and Suzanne Howard free palliative care to patients with a terminal illness and support to their families and carers, will receive fundraising from each team taking part in the event. Community foodbank Nourish will also be supported: “We plan to have food bins at the entrances and exits on the day,” Nicole explained. “Nourish do so much for those who need it most, and we will do anything we can to help them with their stocks for the summer.” This is especially important for those families who need help feeding their children over the long school summer holidays. Individual teams can also choose to raise

money for a cause of their choice. Nicole said: “In 2019 we successfully helped to raise the profile of Taylor Made Dreams, and this year we want to give every team the chance to fundraise and promote the causes that they think deserve attention.” Flash Sale Tickets cost £8.50 per adult, £3.50 for children, or £22.50 for a family ticket from crazyjeansevents.com @cjsoapboxrace Crazy Jeans Soap Box Race

Wednesday March 4 | 2020

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Controversial community centre gets the greenlight By Richard Williams A COMMUNITY Centre has finally been given the go ahead despite residents voting against the idea and the threat of funding being withdrawn by Tunbridge Wells Borough Council [TWBC]. In a disruptive meeting last week, which had to be suspended due to rowdy behaviour from some disgruntled residents, Paddock Wood Town Council [PWTC] agreed to progress the £3.2million community centre earmarked for Memorial Field to the design stage of development, known as RIBA IV. The location of the community hub, which will

HUBBUB How the community centre will look, and [above] protestors at the site last year

be able to accommodate 300 people, has proved controversial, with protest group The Friends of Memorial Field set up to oppose the plans. The group managed to secure a non-binding Parish Poll last year, where 62 per cent of residents [409 to 357] voted against the building the hub on the field. The group, which also attempted to get the area designated a ‘village green’ to prevent any building on the site but had their application rejected by KCC, say they are unhappy with the chosen location because of concerns about noise, lack of car parking spaces and a general lack of consultation. The £3.2million cost of the development is meant to be funded by money from the Public Works

Loan Board, the Town Council’s own funds, and a £400,000 grant from TWBC, which is dependent on the community centre retaining the lease for a Day Centre. But the unpopularity of the location for the community hub has concerned councillors at TWBC, who earlier this month at a Communities and Economic Development Cabinet Advisory Board, rejected a recommendation to provide the grant.

Consultation Cllr Jane March, the chair of the board, which is advisory only, cited ‘inadequate consultation’ as a reason to reject the funding, after the board heard of the parish poll results last year and concerns over the popularity of the planned location for the centre. Cllr Meryl Flashman, Leader of PWTC, told the Times: “I was delighted that the Town Council voted to progress to RIBA stage IV and sign off on RIBA stage III. “But we were disappointed at the result of the CAB decision and we will be disputing the claim there was a lack of consultation.” She continued that should the money from TWBC not be forthcoming, PWTC would find other means to pay for it. “If we cannot get the £400,000 from the borough council we will be getting extra income into Paddock Wood as the town is expanding, so if we have to get a loan it will be affordable,” added Cllr Flashman. The Friends of Memorial Field say they were ‘disappointed’ by the decision to progress to the design stage of the project. Chairman Jeremy Thompson said: “At least our concerns have been raised at a borough level and we know a number of borough councillors are unhappy with the planned location.” He continued that the group ‘will not give up

the fight’ and said they were planning legal action. “We are speaking with a barrister about a possible judicial review. One thing we will not be doing is giving up,” Mr Thompson insisted. But Matt Bailey, Conservative borough councillor for Paddock Wood West, said the centre was needed as ‘a matter of urgency’. He added: “There’s an urgent need for more community facilities in Paddock Wood. The available space is already overstretched, and new residential developments in and around the town will create more demand. “So we need to invest now so the town can offer the appropriate top-quality facilities to existing and future residents.”

Flood victims to be compensated TUNBRIDGE Wells Borough Council has activated a scheme to provide immediate financial help to victims of the recent floods in Capel and Paddock Wood caused by Storm Brendan, Ciara and Dennis. The scheme will see that immediate cash payments of £500 are available for each household affected, £2,500 for businesses, 100 per cent reduction in council tax and 100 per cent business rates relief. Tunbridge Wells MP, Greg Clark, has welcomed the move after lobbying the Council to activate the scheme. Mr Clark told the Times: “Nothing can compensate for the devastating effect on residents and businesses of having their properties flooded, but I think it was important these immediate payments are available to residents and businesses.”

NEWS

National News

NEWS IN BRIEF

William and Kate’s first Ireland visit THE Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have arrived in Dublin for the start of a three-day visit to Ireland – their first to the Emerald Isle. William and Kate flew to Dublin Airport on a commercial Aer Lingus flight with the duchess looking stylish in an emerald green Catherine Walker coat and an Alessandra Rich dress. Waiting to greet them at the bottom of the plane’s steps was a small group of dignitaries led by Britain’s Ambassador to Ireland Robin Barnett. The Duke and Duchess received a raucous round of applause as they entered the Garden of Remembrance in Dublin with members of the crowd cheering ‘welcome to Ireland’ as the pair waved back at them.

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Crowborough couple on trial for shaking eight-week baby to death

Waller-Bridge bags award nominations CHERNOBYL, Fleabag and Derry Girls are among the TV programmes to be nominated for Royal Television Society (RTS) awards. BBC Three, Channel 5 and Sky Atlantic are in the running for the channel of the year gong. Historical drama Chernobyl is up for a mini-series award. Phoebe Waller-Bridge, who wrote and starred in Fleabag, is also up for a comedy writer award, while the series will compete against Derry Girls in the scripted comedy and female comedy performance categories. The live production of Fleabag was also yesterday [Tuesday] nominated for the best entertainment or comedy play prize at the Olivier Awards.

Wednesday March 4 | 2020

FAMILY Tiffany Tate and Michael Roe with baby Holly ONE of the parents of an eight-week-old baby girl who died from bleeding on the brain, shook the child to death, while the other allowed it to happen, a jury has heard. Tiffany Tate and Michael Roe deny murdering Holly Roe and causing or allowing her death at their Alderbrook Close home in Crowborough in 2018.

Bleeding Lewes Crown Court heard that the infant had been rushed to Tunbridge Wells Hospital on September 10 of that year, where she was pronounced dead from bleeding and bruising

around her brain. A post-mortem also found the infant had bleeding in both her eyes and 12 rib fractures. Prosecutor Sally Howes QC said the injuries were non-accidental. “The opinion of the many pathologists involved in the investigation into the death of this baby is that the combination and extent of the injuries found indicates... some form of shaking,” she told the jury. The court was told the couple began their relationship towards the end of September 2017 and Ms Tate had moved into Mr Roe’s home before falling pregnant. Holly was born on July 14, 2018, two months

premature, and shortly after the birth Ms Tate told a health visitor she was having ‘difficulty bonding’ with her daughter. A few days before Holly died Mr Roe told a health visitor he had taken over night-feeds as Ms Tate ‘had no patience feeding Holly at night’. On September 10, the jury heard how Ms Tate was upstairs in bed when Mr Roe giving Holly her midnight feed. He told police the infant was ‘absolutely fine’ before he put the infant to bed before he fell asleep. He said later something ‘startled’ him and when he felt Holly’s head it was cold while her chest was warm. Jurors were told Mr Roe woke Ms Tate before attempting to resuscitate Holly with two rescue breaths but she did not respond. The court heard how an ambulance was then called to the family home in Alderbrook Close, Crowborough, to reports a baby was in cardiac arrest. Paramedics found the infant cold, not breathing and with no heart activity. She was later declared dead at hospital. The trial continues. TIFFANY TATE At Lewes Crown Court yesterday

Wednesday March 4 | 2020

Democrats battle it out on Super Tuesday YESTERDAY [Tuesday] was the biggest day of the US primary calendar. Last night, 14 states from the Atlantic to the Pacific were voting for their Democratic presidential nominee to take on Donald Trump in what has traditionally been dubbed in US political circles as ‘Super Tuesday’. States voting last night included the nation’s two most populous, California and Texas. Nearly one third of all the delegates at July’s Democratic National Convention are up for grabs.

Surge Vermont senator Bernie Sanders has promised that he could substantially expand the electorate beyond traditional Democratic voters, but that has not happened in the first four contests. Super Tuesday represents his biggest chance to prove his case. After yesterday, the Democratic Party awards delegates proportionately, once someone racks up an advantage in the delegate count, making it difficult for rivals to catch them. The terrain will now shift to states that are not as favourable to Mr Sanders. Joe Biden was also looking to last night capitalize on a surge of momentum and major endorsements since Saturday’s South Carolina primary. The polls closed last night in Vermont and Virginia at 7 pm [midnight GMT], and 11pm [7am GMT this morning] in California . Candidates will have to wait at least a week or more for a final tally of the votes out west due to California’s methodical tabulation of absentee ballots.

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National News

NEWS

PM unveils ‘battle plan’ as government prepares for the impact of coronavirus THE coronavirus outbreak could lead to a fifth of workers being off sick, cause the police to drop low-priority cases and force the NHS to delay non-urgent care, according to the Government’s battle plan. The 27-page document sets out the UK-wide response to Covid-19 amid widespread concerns about the impact the virus will have on people’s wellbeing, the economy and public services. Measures aimed at delaying the spread of the virus could include school closures, ‘reducing the number of large-scale gatherings’ and encouraging greater home working. The Government’s response is in four stages: containing the outbreak, delaying its spread and mitigating the impact of the disease once it becomes established, and alongside that, a research programme is aimed at improving diagnostics and treatment for the disease. The Government’s response is currently in the containment phase, along with research being carried out and planning for the delay and mitigation work.

FEARS FOR LONDON MARATHON AND LOCAL LARGE GATHERINGS

Priority Officials hope to delay the peak of the virus until the warmer spring and summer months when health services are less busy. Once the disease is established, mitigation measures could include: - Police concentrating on serious crimes and maintaining public order if faced with a significant loss of officers and staff - The NHS delaying non-urgent care, with retired staff called back to duty - Working with local authorities to deal with the challenge of what could ‘well be an increase in deaths’, particularly among vulnerable and elderly patients

OUTBREAK Boris Johnson outlining his ‘battle plan’ yesterday - A ‘distribution strategy’ for the UK’s stockpiles of key medicines and equipment such as protective clothing, which will cover the NHS, and could extend to social care. Launching the Government’s plan in Downing Street, Boris Johnson said yesterday [Tuesday]: “I fully understand public concern about the global spread of the virus and it is highly likely we will see a growing number of UK cases. Keeping the UK safe is the government’s

Organisers of the London Marathon say with just eight weeks before the race is set to take part they are ‘monitoring closely’ coronavirus developments. The marathon is one of a number of events that is threatened with cancellation because of the current Covid-19 epidemic. Locally, large gatherings in Tunbridge Wells ranging from Pub in the Park to the Black Deer music festival could be in doubt this year if the crisis continues to escalate. But Health Secretary Matt Hancock said it was ‘far too early’ to think about cancelling these types of events. He said: “What we can say for sure is that right now, we do not recommend the cancelling of mass events, and schools as well should not be closing unless there is both a positive case and the school has had the advice to close from Public Health England. “Right now, that is what people should be doing and otherwise going about their normal daily life because we want to minimise the level of disruption, subject to doing the things we need to do to keep people safe.” overriding priority. “We will make sure the NHS gets all the support it needs. “Our country remains extremely well prepared as it has been since the outbreak began several months ago.” He added: “We must not forget what we can do to prevent this virus, wash your hands with soap and hot water for the length of time it takes to sing happy birthday twice.”

BUSINESS

National News

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Storms blow Greggs off course after bumper year BAKERY chain Greggs says the business slowed in February due to the stormy weather but revealed a bumper 2019 in both profit and sales. The company, which launched its new vegan sausage roll in January last year, said 2019 had brought a 31 per cent increase in pre-tax profit to £108.3million, on revenue of almost £1.2billion, up 13.5 per cent. But chief executive Roger Whiteside warned that storms battered the food-togo giant last month. “We made a very strong start to 2020 in January, but in February saw a significant slowdown in sales growth as a result of the storms that have affected the UK,” he said. ON A ROLL Greggs sales slowed in February after bumper year

Uncertainty Nevertheless, despite these headwinds, like-for-like sales in Greggs shops managed by the company rose by 7.5 per cent in the nine weeks to the end of February. Mr Whiteside also warned that the business could face trouble from the coronavirus outbreak, which is causing ‘some uncertainty’. 2019 was a record year for Greggs, as it opened 97 more bakeries than it closed, taking its total number of shops to 2,050. Mr Whiteside said: “2019 was an

exceptional year of progress for Greggs, during which we experienced a sustained increase in customer visits as increased awareness and appreciation of our brand gathered momentum. “We expect to make year-on-year progress and will do so from a strong financial position, supporting our investment for further growth whilst also delivering good returns for all stakeholders.” The chief executive said the new vegan

range, which now includes the stake bake ‘has been our most successful product initiative in recent years’. He added that there were more opportunities to sell meat and dairy-free versions of its best-selling lines. Mr Whiteside said the business had considered opening a national chain of stores offering only health products, but discovered there was not enough demand to justify such a launch.

Direct Line counts the cost of floods and travel claims INSURER Direct Line Group has said the UK’s recent winter storms are set to cost it at least around £35million, while it revealed a £1million bill so far for coronavirus travel claims. The Churchill and Green Flag owner said the outbreak of the virus – also known as Covid-19 – has the potential to impact its travel business results this year, while the disruption in equity markets could knock its investments and affect the speed of claims payouts. Direct Line said: “Like all businesses, we are subject to the consequences of disruption to financial markets and global supply chains which, over time, could impact the performance of our investments and the cost and speed of fulfilling customers’ claims.” Most coronavirus claims so far cover cases where customers were due to travel to countries where the Foreign

& Commonwealth Office has advised against all but essential travel. On the winter weather impact, the group said the claims estimate so far covers storms Ciara and Dennis, but added it was “too early” to assess claims from the most recent storm Jorge.

Competitive Details of the claims hit came as it reported a 12.2 per cent drop in pre-tax profits to £509.7million for 2019. Its annual figures also follow the group’s announcement last week that it is axing around 800 jobs and closing one of its sites in the UK, as part of a drive to cut costs by £50million. The job cuts will affect almost 7 per cent of its 11,000 workforce and are set to take place largely between 2021 and 2022.

It said it was looking to target savings through greater use of self-service and ‘digitalisation’. The results show it saw falling policies and premiums – down 2 per cent at 14,789 and 0.3 per cent to £3.2billion respectively – after the planned exit of home insurance partnership contracts for Nationwide and Sainsbury’s, while it also suffered in a competitive motor insurance market. Penny James, chief executive of Direct Line Group, said: “We have delivered a good set of results, and continued to improve the quality, while navigating a difficult motor market and delivering significant change in the business.”

NEWS IN BRIEF

Supermarket hand sanitiser sales soar

Twitter tells staff they can work from home

Green shoots for construction sector

SUPERMARKET sales of hand sanitiser soared by 255 per cent in February amid mounting worries over the coronavirus outbreak, according to a report by Kantar Worldpanel. Kantar said sales of other kinds of liquid soap jumped 7 per cent last month, while household cleaners increased 10 per cent as consumers looked to protect themselves from the spread of the virus. The latest figures show sales at Britain’s supermarkets have risen 0.7 per cent in the last three months.

SOCIAL media giant Twitter is encouraging all staff around the world to work from home where possible as the tech company looks to prevent the spread of coronavirus. Chief executive Jack Dorsey said the decision had been taken out of an ‘abundance of caution and care’. The decision will also apply to Square, the digital payments business also run by Mr Dorsey. Twitter has already suspended all nonessential business travel and events, and is restricting visitors.

THE UK’s construction sector returned to growth in February, with Purchasing Managers’ Index [PMI] data registering the first rise in activity since April last year. A reading of 52.6 (where a score of 50 or more indicates growth) was a up on expectations of 49. IHS Markit say the February data pointed to a strong recovery in new order intakes across the construction sector, and they point to the end of the Brexit deadlock and hopes for HS2 for giving the sector a boost.

Wednesday March 4 | 2020

NEWS

Letters

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Wednesday March 4 | 2020

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

PHOTO: Craig Matthews

DIFFERENT VIEWPOINTS The development at Tudeley is highly controversial

Help us design Capel’s garden village

Not enough notice has been given

Our land at Tudeley has been included in Tunbridge Wells’ Draft Local Plan as a potential site for a new village. We feel that it is now an appropriate time to further develop the vision for the site in consultation with both the local community and stakeholders in the area. For generations, the Hadlow Estate has provided housing and jobs, as well as land for schools and hospitals, and has managed the landscape through farming and conservation. Whilst the scale of the challenge has increased, we are prepared to play our part in creating a community which will make a positive economic and social contribution to the area, and which all of us will be proud to call our home. We do not want to create a ‘monoculture’ housing estate lacking facilities and a sense of community. Instead, we support the principle of creating new sustainable communities with their own infrastructure, rather than overextending existing communities. We will be holding a planning workshop, known as a charrette, bringing together design experts and consultants with local residents, businesses, societies and other community organisations, to create a masterplan. There will be a series of discussions across a broad range of issues, including highways and transport, heritage, landscape, open space, education and health. The charrette will be taking place at One Warwick Park Hotel and The Spa Hotel in Tunbridge Wells from March 14-21. For more information, go online to tudeleyvillage.co.uk Harry Teacher Hadlow Estate

The charrette being run by Hadlow Estate and its planning consultant, Turnberry, about the proposed garden village at Capel and Tudeley raises several concerns. As a planning tool, a charrette is an intensive design process which should incorporate a range of inputs from experts and stakeholders. One important point to note is that anything which comes out of the process would not be able to overrule decisions made as a result of the Regulation 18 process of the Local Plan. Our most significant concerns are the relatively short notice (less than three weeks), the times of the events which make up the process, and the restricted nature of some of the sessions. The locations chosen left us somewhat surprised, when more local options, easier for the community to get to, had been overlooked. The short notice makes it difficult for the community representatives to coordinate the members who are most appropriate to engage with the invite-only sessions. The timings of the workshop sessions, with the opportunities to input into the design considerations, are impractically scheduled during regular working hours. One representative of Capel Parish Council and one from Save Capel are invited to each workshop session – as part of an overall team of around 25. With several sessions planned to have a broad remit, it will be impossible for us to identify one person with detailed knowledge of all topics. We remain concerned about the overall charrette process, how it is being organised, and how the results will be presented. Dave Lovell Interim Chair, Save Capel

No one wants to see council webcasts Russell Dean of the Tonbridge & Malling Green Party must have been told what to write, or the article was written for him [Times February 26]. Yes, Cllr April Clark of the Green Party has asked for meetings to be undertaken via Skype, so she does not have to drive to Kings Hill and attend in person. However, Schedule 12 of the Local Government Act 1972 requires members at

a council meeting to be physically in the same room as each other, so using Skype is out the question. Mr Dean claims that TMBC have the equipment in place – not sure what he means by that. Yes we have microphones. But we would also require about five or six ceiling-mounted cameras, a mixing desk and all the other paraphernalia, and, most importantly, a separate room to put it all in, which I guess might require a window

between it and the council chamber, as there is at Kent County Council. Not sure where that is going, as it will have to be built. Oh, and we will require staff to operate it, probably independently. So, Mr Dean, there is a cost to this. The only thing he states that has any sense is the fact that viewing a council webcast certainly will not have ‘viewing appeal’. Lastly, if we need to trust CCTV to show how well we serve our residents, then there is not a lot of hope left; after all, not all work is undertaken in the council chamber, so how is that monitored? Cllr Mark Rhodes Conservative member for Hildenborough

Villages bear brunt of A21 closure So Tonbridge, it seems, got away quite lightly from the closure of the A21 when everyone had predicted chaos with traffic in both directions being diverted through the town. Well, it may have been spared, but that’s only because a lot of the drivers decided to bypass the town and go through the country lanes instead. So it was, in fact, villages such as Leigh and Penshurst that bore the brunt, with road infrastructure that was never designed to cope with such volumes of traffic. And what a brunt. Not only was there acrimony as continuous streams of cars in both directions battled to get through single-file stretches in Leigh and the bridges at Penshurst, merrily dodging potholes and swerving into the oncoming traffic as they went, but there were lorries thundering down the narrow roads, too – and some of them were very big. Many didn’t seem to want to bother with the Industrial Estate diversion, obviously designed for them. Then came the floods. Now Tonbridge is protected from widespread flooding by – you guessed it – the Leigh Flood Storage Area. So where better for a speedy rat run than through the very areas which are worst affected in order to protect Tonbridge? If you wanted chaos, you should have seen the bridge at Rogues Hill. One last thing – and it has certainly made a lasting impression: All the litter that these interlopers chucked out of their windows as they went on their merry way. Who picks that up? Simon Appleby Penshurst

Barnier is now annoying both sides Regarding Edward Baker’s letter [February 19], Michel Barnier’s negotiating style is not only at odds with, what I perceive to be, the UK’s wellintended negotiating style, he’s also beginning to irritate those EU members he’s meant to represent. He is over-mighty and arrogant – a typical product of the French civil service education system. He may yet find himself turfed out on his ear for his uncompromising style. German businessmen especially are increasingly frustrated but, being French, he has the Germans over a barrel. They have only so much patience, though, with the two emperors: Le grand et le petit. Ralph Steerpike Tunbridge Wells

Calverley

Observations on life and more important things

CALVERLEY? He wished

LESSON LEARNED. To the coast to walk the doggie along the beach. As ever lately, there was a blustery, cold wind, and Calverley made sure he had the hip flask in case an emergency nip was needed. Image conscious, he also decided to don his fedora. Big mistake. Within minutes a gust had whipped it off the head and sent it rolling along the pebbles. Abandoning the dog (ok, not good), Calverley tried to chase down the hat, only to see it blown out to sea. Oh, how the other dog walkers smirked. So much for image. And, yes, the dog was recovered safe and sound – and actually appeared to be grinning. COUNCIL TAX. This is much in the news as authorities trot out their budgets, so here’s a question: Who pays the least, the people of Hartlepool or those in Westminster? Answer: Those living alongside all the MPs working in the Palace of Westminster. The band D rate up north is £2,013, while in central London it’s £754. Some 23 per cent of homes sold in Westminster in the last year were more than £2million. None went at that price in County Durham. Calverley is sure there is a logical explanation, but it just doesn’t smell right!

COLOURFUL CHARACTERS. One such is on the checkout of a local supermarket and is well known for her bright red hairstyle. Last week she was sporting the grey look, and was heard to tell a shopper: “I’ve stopped dyeing my hair. I have always wanted to be grey-haired and now I can be all my own natural colour. I just love being grey.” Any hairdresser listening to that chat would have fainted. Management (Mrs C) pays more than £100 to have her locks coloured, and it’s well worth every penny.

ENDING TROLLING. Some social media sites continue to get a bad press, and rightly so. Contributors can make nasty, hurtful comments and all the while hide their true identity behind false names. Most people condemn them as cowardly keyboard activists. So why do those who operate the platforms not remove the ability for trolls to hide, and insist all those making comments must be accountable and traceable? They wouldn’t be so bold then! Chin Chin, dear reader

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Wednesday March 4 | 2020

EDUCATION Times

Top marks for school’s newly trained teachers Bennett Memorial School has just received a special award from Ofsted

OUTSTANDING Bennett Memorial STAFF and trainees have been celebrating at Bennett Memorial Diocesan School in Tunbridge Wells as Ofsted inspectors deemed the quality of ‘on the job’ teacher training there to be ‘Outstanding’. The school, in Culverden Down, leads a partnership of local schools who train primary and secondary teachers. Teach Kent and Sussex, as the partnership is called, started training graduates for the classroom three years ago and is now successfully training over 40 teachers a year, most of whom get jobs in local schools. The Ofsted inspection, which ran on various dates during 2019, checked on all aspects of the training, including how many of the trainees passed. The report found that Leaders’ distinctive vision is ‘founded on deeply held values about the importance of subject knowledge, the nature of effective teaching,

and the role of research. All partners share and promote these values consistently’, and that ‘Outcomes for trainees, including rates of employment, compare very favourably with sector averages’.

Effective Director of Teaching Richard Tyson said: “We are delighted that the quality of what we and our partner primary and secondary schools do has been recognised in this way. “Our mission is to ensure at this time of teacher shortage that all our local schools are able to recruit well-trained home-grown teachers who know the area and are committed to working here, and that is exactly what Ofsted agreed we were doing.” Clem O’Collins, who recently trained with the partnership and is now a full-time

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chemistry teacher at Bennett, said: “I found school-based training to be the most enjoyable and effective way to become a full-time successful teacher, and although it is hard work I loved every minute of it.” Mr Tyson went on to explain that he goes to great lengths to spread the word about the benefits of teaching. “Right through the school year we run Get into Teaching events to give us a chance to meet people who are thinking about becoming teachers, either as a job switch or straight from university. The chance to train locally, or to follow a part-time route, which we also offer, makes it possible, for example, for people with busy home lives and other commitments to follow their dream, become teachers, and make a positive difference to the lives of young people.” For more information, visit teachkentandsussex.org.uk

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Kent College’s Preparatory School to welcome boys into its nursery Kent College Preparatory School in Pembury, which currently caters for girls aged from three to 11 years old, is to accept boys into its Nursery from September this year. The move is part of a gradual transition for the school so it can become fully co-educational by September Nik Pears 2027. In September, boys will be able to join the Nursery in the term they turn three. The following year, the boys will be able to move into Reception and, subject to places being available, the Prep School will accept applications from new boys into Reception, as well as Nursery. There will be no boys in any other year groups. In September 2022, as boys transition from Reception to Year 1, subject to places being

‘We are excited about the future of the school and look forward to the next chapter’ available, the school will accept applications from new boys into Year 1 as well as Reception and Nursery. This will continue year by year until the school is a fully co-educational prep school in September 2027. Kent College Senior School (for girls aged 1118) will remain an all-girls school. Mr Nik Pears, Head of Prep School, said: “Many parents have told us that one school for all the family would make life easier. The benefits of one commute, one calendar and one community are self-evident. We are excited about the future for Kent College Prep School and look forward to the next chapter in the life of the school as we welcome boys into the Nursery in September.”

Education

NEWS

Weekly Comment

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James Rands

Wednesday March 4 | 2020

James Rands is a former Army ofﬁcer and Liberal Democrat councillor for Culverden ward at Tunbridge Wells Borough Council. He is also Chairman of Tunbridge Wells Liberal Democrats.

Liberal Democrat Councillor for Culverden

Conservative council sabotages issues of genuine concern ON WEDNESDAY, February 26, Tunbridge Wells Full Council met and debated the budget and a number of motions. The pattern of the evening was Conservative councillors professing to believe passionately in addressing issues which concern us all and then voting to avoid tackling them. Three key motions came before the council: 1. To work up options for a near-miss register. This is a tool used in aviation and construction and elsewhere to track the accidents that didn’t quite happen so that we understand patterns before people are killed or seriously injured. This could help improve safety on our roads and streets. 2. To conduct a needs analysis and public consultation to better understand the issues around poverty across Tunbridge Wells. 3. To commit to ambitious targets for provision of electric vehicle charging points within the borough and to work up options as to how this could be achieved. These don’t feel like they ought to be particularly controversial. Each of them seeks to better understand how to address issues of genuine concern. Agreeing to them is agreeing to a first step only.

In every case we would need to vote again on subsequent steps once we understood the options better. None of them represent a blank cheque. And yet the reaction of our Conservative councillors was to sabotage them all. Two were shunted off to committees (committees have varying powers, but this is at best a delaying tactic; at worst it sends the idea into purgatory indefinitely) and the final motion was amended to be a vague statement to think about doing something.

Speakers There may be valid objections to both ideas, but I didn’t hear any. In fact, the Conservatives sought to use a device in the council’s constitution to halt any debate on motions one and two. This meant motion one was not debated at all before being moved to a committee with no decision-making powers. For motion two, we heard repeatedly from Conservatives that this was a very important issue, and therefore we shouldn’t address it in Full Council. It was perhaps the treatment of the final motion which was the most egregious.

Nus Ghani

Conservative MP for Wealden

We heard TOWN HALL from several Where motions speakers that this were voted down was incredibly at Full Council important and therefore it must be done ‘properly’ and we ought to think ‘strategically’. This was used to defend an amendment which removed objectives, timescales and targets. That is not strategic and it is certainly not ‘doing things properly’. If we subject each motion to the strongest possible scrutiny then we are doing the job the public pay us to do. One could respect a councillor who strongly disagreed with one’s own position based upon different priorities or values. Instead, Conservative councillors claim to share our concerns and then vote to kill off or delay

measures which might help address them. In May, you’ll be offered a choice between a Conservative candidate who talks sanctimoniously about the issues that matter or a Lib Dem candidate who wants to actually do something. Please choose wisely.

Nus Ghani was first elected MP for Wealden in May 2015 and represents Crowborough, Eridge and Uckfield, among other towns and villages. She has previously served as Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Department for Transport among other roles. In 2018, Ms Ghani became the first Muslim woman to speak from the House of Commons Despatch Box.

A future where a cleaner environment is centre stage THIS new decade will give the United Kingdom endless opportunities to achieve its ambitions and tackle long-standing issues thoroughly. Leaving the European Union gives us the much-needed autonomy we need to legislate based on our own needs and aspirations. The UK has a strong track record on environmental issues. It was a Conservative British Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher, who first sounded the alarm on climate change at the international level, back in the 1980s. More recently, our country became the first advanced economy to make legally binding commitments to become carbon neutral by 2050. Back in 2019, as Maritime Minister, I unveiled the world’s foremost Clean Maritime Plan, which ensures that we offset our shipping emissions effectively. The landmark Environment Bill, which received its second reading in the House of Commons on February 26, tackles the biggest environmental priorities of our time. The basis for this groundbreaking piece of legislation is a comprehensive and worldleading vision to allow future generations to prosper, whilst our unique environment regenerates and flourishes. The Bill will enshrine environmental

improvement targets in law and set up an independent Office for Environmental Protection to scrutinise and enforce legislation and standards. This means that the environment will be at the heart of government policy. Any new law will have an ecological impact survey attached to it, presented by a Minister.

Changes Residents will see positive changes in their areas, thanks to the Environment Bill. Use of electric cars will be encouraged, and more money will go into infrastructure to support the growth in the numbers of such non-polluting vehicles. This will make the air we breathe in cleaner. The new comprehensive waste management provisions, with particular focus on recycling, will ensure more effective rubbish collection services. Thus, our towns will be cleaner and more sustainable. The new Bill will also transform the way in which plastics and other substances are used and disposed of, most notably by bringing the ‘take, make, use, throw’ life cycle of material goods to an end. A new, circular economic model will discourage the dumping of singleuse plastics and new minimum eco-design

DEBATE Nus Ghani in the House of Commons requirements will drastically lower the environmental impact of discarded items. I am confident in our country’s environmental

ambitions and in the fact that Wealden will see its unique rural landscape flourish alongside cleaner, well-managed towns and villages.

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Single-storey village home overlooking open countryside Page 24

Making an entrance

Super-stylish with holiday let cottages Page 31

SUPERB 14TH-CENTURY HALL HOUSE

REFURBISHED FOR OPEN-PLAN LIVING

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

Wednesday March 4 | 2020

The Pines

Withyham Road, Groombridge GUIDE PRICE

£895,000 CONTACT • Bracketts, Tunbridge Wells • 01892 533733 • bracketts.co.uk A large single-storey home on the fringe of the village set in grounds which screen it from the road. The property offers amazing views over the wild countryside beyond. MAIN POINTS OF INTEREST

n Arched storm porch with panelled front door opening to spacious hallway n Living room with central stone focal fireplace and living flame gas fire, plus rural views across the garden n Conservatory n Dining room with fitted shelving and twin cupboard, plus serving hatch to kitchen n Kitchen/breakfast room with breakfast bar and door to: n Rear lobby, laundry/utility room and door to garage n Principal bedroom suite with extensive range of fitted furniture and en-suite bathroom n 2 further bedrooms n Bathroom with corner bath

The CONSERVATORY…

n Idyllic south-facing garden with paving, seating, large level lawn, a portion left as a nature meadow with paths cut through, and fantastic vistas n Sweeping drive providing parking n Garage with light and power n Approximately 1 acre in total

Wednesday March 4 | 2020

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The PRICE…

The SITTING ROOM…

Brickyard Cottage

Shipbourne Road, Tonbridge OFFERS IN THE REGION OF

£315,000

CONTACT` • Barnes Kingsnorth, Tonbridge • 01732 771616 • bkestateagents.com Now reduced, this charming period cottage was refurbished approximately three years ago. ■ 21ft sitting/dining room with fireplaces ■ Kitchen ■ 2 bedrooms, one with fireplace ■ Spacious contemporary bathroom ■ Garden with workshop/shed ■ Parking for one car

NEW SHOW HOME

Cherry Cottage

Hoath Corner Chiddingstone Hoath GUIDE PRICE

£850,000 CONTACT • Savills, Sevenoaks • 01732 789700 • savills.co.uk A beautiful, meticulously refurbished and extended Grade II-listed, semi-detached, 14th-century Hall House with superb gardens. MAIN POINTS OF INTEREST

■ Arranged over three floors with retained period features including exposed brick walls, wall and ceiling timbers, fireplaces and thumb latch doors ■ Reception hall ■ Spacious sitting room with striking inglenook fireplace ■ Dining room with access to terrace ■ Bespoke kitchen with electric Aga ■ 2 cloakrooms ■ Master bedroom ■ 4 further bedrooms ■ Stylish shower room, plus a modern family bathroom ■ Established garden with generous terrace, lawn, summerhouse and shed ■ Detached garage with room above offering potential subject to the necessary consents

Hollyfields

Hawkenbury Road Tunbridge Wells PRICES FROM

£550,000 CONTACT • Hollyfields Marketing Suite • 01892 888650 • hollyfields-hawkenbury.co.uk Berkeley Homes have launched the latest show home at their Hollyfields development – a four-bedroom house that has generous landscaping in front of the property, where the Hollyfields time capsule was recently buried. The new show home has a modern country aesthetic, and the generous kitchen and dining room boasts porcelain floor tiling, Siemens appliances and French doors to the garden. The master bedroom has its own suite on the top floor, and there are three further bedrooms on the floor below, served by a family bath and shower room with a luxury enamelled bath and Villeroy & Boch fittings. Hollyfields offers a range of three, four and five-bedroom houses with private gardens or patio areas and has been designed to be as environmentally friendly as possible. Assisted Move is available on a selection of homes, as well as Help to Buy on a number of three-bedroom houses.

HOMES FOR SALE IN KENT AND EAST SUSSEX

HERONS GHYLL, EAST SUSSEX

HEATHFIELD, EAST SUSSEX

A stunning duplex apartment of approximately 4,174 sq ft within an impressive Grade II listed building, surrounded by 15 acres of communal gardens.

A handsome late Victorian country house with a wealth of period features, set within beautiful gardens and grounds.

4 BEDROOMS | 4 BATHROOMS | 3 RECEPTION ROOMS

8 BEDROOMS | 3 BATHROOMS | 4 RECEPTION ROOMS | IN ALL ABOUT 28.5 ACRES | EPC D

Guide price £1,450,000

Guide price £2,500,000

holly.sibley@knightfrank.com

simon.biddulph@knightfrank.com

MAYFIELD, EAST SUSSEX

A substantial Edwardian family house with beautifully presented gardens and grounds, less than half a mile from Mayfield High Street.

A stunning second floor apartment with lift access in the ever popular Grade II listed Mayfield Grange, with communal grounds of about 20 acres.

7 BEDROOMS | 4-5 BATHROOMS | 4-6 RECEPTION ROOMS | EPC D

2 BEDROOMS | 2 BATHROOMS | 3 RECEPTIONS ROOMS | PARKING

Guide price £2,250,000

Guide price £500,000

simon.biddulph@knightfrank.com

holly.sibley@knightfrank.com

Knight Frank Tunbridge Wells 47 High Street, Tunbridge Wells, TN1 1XL 01892 310997

knightfrank.co.uk

The best properties on your doorstep

Open House

Wadhurst, East Sussex TN5

By Appointment: 14 March 10.00-4.00, a wonderful opportunity for updating n this popular area, well placed for schools, including grammars, town centre under a mile, about 0.29 acres, 1,693 sq ft, EPC=E

Charming 4 bedroom character home, convenient village location, well placed for schools, southwest facing garden, Wadhurst station about a mile, 1,672 sq ft, EPC=D

Freehold

New Instruction

Guide £750,000

Upper Nellington, Langton Green TN3

Frant, East Sussex TN3

By Appointment 14 March 10.00-4.00, 4 bedrooms, tucked away position, scope for improvement, convenient for the village and schools, about 2.2 miles Tunbridge Wells, 1,470 sq ft, EPC=C

Generously proportioned 3 bed Grade II listed apartment with superb views, 8 acres communal grounds, garage and parking, Tunbridge Wells under 3 miles, about 1.7 miles Frant MLS, 1,902 sq ft

Freehold

Share of Freehold

Guide £695,000

New Price

01892 507 000

Connaught Way, Tunbridge Wells TN4

Guide £895,000

Open House

Savills Tunbridge Wells

New Instruction

Guide £650,000

High Street, Tunbridge Wells TN1

Pembury Place, Tunbridge Wells TN2

Central High Street location, Penthouse apartment with roof terrace, two double bedrooms, direct lift access, allocated parking space, 1,063 sq ft, EPC=C

Stylish 2 bed ground floor apartment, conveniently located for the town centre, adjacent to Dunorlan Park, ideal lock-up and leave or investment opportunity, 2 parking spaces, 1,024 sq ft, EPC=C

Share of Freehold

Leasehold

Guide £475,000

New Instruction

Guide £450,000

Talk to us today Becky Card Negotiator 01892 507000 bcard@savills.com

Natasha Selbie Associate Director 01892 507000 nselbie@savills.com

savills.co.uk | savills.co.uk Follow us on what can we do for you?

NORTH TONBRIDGE £520,000 PERFECT FOR THE GROWING FAMILY this extended semi-detached home, conveniently located for schools and local amenities, provides spacious, recently updated accommodation offering four bedrooms, one with en-suite shower room, family bathroom and three reception rooms plus conservatory, stunning fitted kitchen and useful downstairs cloakroom. Fully enclosed rear garden and ample driveway parking to the front of the property. EPC: D Apply Tonbridge

HILDENBOROUGH £475,000 SUPER SIZE GARDENS at this lovely three bedroom semi-detached family home, now in need of updating, with plenty of scope to extend. Offering good size family accommodation with three bedrooms and family bathroom to first floor and two reception rooms plus kitchen to ground floor. Ample driveway parking to the front of the property and delightful, secluded and generous rear gardens. Could this be your forever home? No Onward Chain. EPC: D Apply Tonbridge

PEMBURY OIEO £455,000 CLOSE TO THE PRIMARY SCHOOL. This super family home has been recently updated so you can just move in and unpack. Set in a popular cul-de-sac with driveway parking and wider than average garage. Beautifully presented throughout with wide hallway, sitting room opening to the stylish kitchen/dining room, 3 good bedrooms and a modern family bathroom. There is also a large garden studio providing additional living space. No Chain. EPC: D Apply Pembury

Residential Pembury: 01892 822880 Tonbridge: 01732 771616 Sales & Lettings e: pembury@bkea.co.uk e: tonbridge@bkea.co.uk

Lettings: 01732 771616 e: lettings@bkea.co.uk

www.bkestateagents.com

bracketts est. 1828

When experience counts...

OPEN HOUSE – SAT 7/3 11am-1pm – BY APPT

Tonbridge £365,000 Well maintained Semi-Detached House in a cul-de-sac, at the south end of the town about 1.25 miles of the Station. This end of the town, is well served by schools. 3 Bedrooms, lounge, kitchen-diner, cloakroom, garage with useful hobbies room, enclosed garden. EPC C

Speldhurst £1,250,000 A characterful detached home, approx. 2,500 sq.ft. of accommodation, situated in enviable rural position. 3 receptions, ofﬁce, kit/brkfst room, 5 dble beds, 2 baths. Parking, garage, workshop, greenhouse, tennis court, parklike grounds of just under 1 acre. EPC: D CHAIN FREE

Tonbridge Guide Price: £450,000 - £475,000 Good size Semi-Detached ‘Chalet Style Bungalow’ offering well-arranged accommodation, convenient for a local shopping parade, bus services etc., 2/3 Bedrooms (master suite), 1/2 reception rooms, cloakroom, ﬁtted kitchen, Garage, enclosed garden. EPC D

Tunbridge Wells Fixed Price: £299,950 Tonbridge £800,000 - £850,000 A beautifullyDetached presented raised ground apartment elevated views &of an Substantial 5 bedroom familyﬂoor house, retainingenjoying the charm and features occupying ahome. convenient position on south side of town. room, Own entrance, hall, openstore plan Edwardian 3 reception rooms, kitchen-breakfast utility, cloakroom, reception/kit, roofplot. terrace, rooms, garage,large corner EPC E2 beds, 2 bath/shower rooms. 2 secure parking spaces. EPC: B

Tonbridge Guide Price: £700,000 - £725,000 Spacious 4 Bedroom Double Fronted Attached House in sought after residential area, local general store/post ofﬁce nearby. 27ft L shaped lounge, 17ft kitchen-breakfast room, dining room/study, ground ﬂoor shower/cloakroom, garage/workshop. EPC D

Tunbridge Wells £1,850pcm An attractive stone house with exceptional space located near to Tunbridge Wels off Forest Road. The accommodation has 3/4 reception rooms, 4/5 double bedrooms and a secluded garden. EPC E

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

Tonbridge 01732 350503 | tonbridge@bracketts.co.uk

Wednesday March 4 | 2020

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AT A GLANCE WOODLANDS LUGHORSE LANE, YALDING Main House ■ Elevated setting close to village centre ■ Originally a coach house thought to date from 1920s. Converted to family home in the 1950s, and now updated ■ Could provide for multi-generational living if required ■ Stunning reception hall ■ Drawing room with brick fireplace and double doors to terrace ■ Dining room with bow window, window seat and marble fireplace ■ Kitchen/breakfast room with LPG gas Aga, pantry and access to terrace ■ Impressive conservatory/games room ■ Triple-aspect study

UNDER OFFER

■ Utility room and 2 cloakrooms ■ 2 staircases ■ Master bedroom with spacious en-suite bathroom ■ Guest bedroom with en suite, dressing area and balcony

A stylishly updated former coach house that includes two five-star, high yield holiday let cottages and a tennis court

■ 4 further double bedrooms, all with en-suite shower or bathrooms Lavender Cottage & Rosemary Cottage ■ 2 self-contained holiday let attached cottages, each comprising: ■ Sitting/dining area ■ Kitchen ■ 3 bedrooms with stylish en suites ■ Charming south-facing private terrace Outside ■ Landscaped grounds with split-level terrace, timber summerhouse with loggia, WC and garden store, further brick building, woodland and pasture ■ All-weather tennis court ■ 2 driveways, one leading to garage ■ In total approximately 2.6 acres

GUIDE PRICE

£1,450,000 CONTACT • Savills, Sevenoaks • 01732 789700 • savills.co.uk

What’s next for Spring & Summer 2020? Chris Doe, Regional Manager for Fine & Country Kent & Sussex, gives his take on the current housing market and shares his thoughts as we move into Spring & early Summer.

FRANT

DUDDLESWELL

A four bedroom attached rural family cottage with 2.5 acre plot of gardens and paddocks. EPC D(63)

A detached four bedroom home within the Ashdown Forest with an acre, outbuildings and stunning views. EPC E(48)

£725,000

Tunbridge Wells 01892 701900

Uckfield 01825 767575

£900,000

It’s now been over a month since the UK formally cancelled its membership of the European Union and despite many predictions of a catastrophe – it’s so far so good.

TUNBRIDGE WELLS

Very little changed economically – weprestigious still have This superbly positioned five bedroom exclusive homehas is found within one of the town's most locations, close to the Nevill Cricket Ground & theextremely Tunbridge Wells Tennis Club - allexceptionally within a short walk of the High of Street, lowLawn interest rates, high rates the Pantiles & the main line rail station. EPC D(61)

employment, a steady government and wage growth that is outpacing inflation. Tunbridge Wells 01892 701900 £1,750,000 OIRO So why are we not all singing from the rooftops? The answer is – we’re British and very few things get us excited! We are often as a nation naturally more pessimistic than optimistic. I think that’s a shame. As an estate agent of 25 years I am an habitual optimist. It’s my job to encourage people to buy and sell property. I have to do this with vigour and enthusiasm in the toughest of times – but right now I have a genuine smile on my face because I can absolutely and without hesitation tell buyers and sellers that they can engage in buying and selling in a time when there are fewer risks and several benefits.

MOUNTFIELD

TONBRIDGE

A pretty grade II listed 5/6 bedroom detached farmhouse set in around 1.5 acres of landscaped gardens. EPC exempt

A four bedroom semi-detached period home close to both station and town centre EPC E (45)

£920,000 OIEO

Cranbrook 01580 715000

Tunbridge Wells 01892 701900

£750,000 OIEO

Of course, there is an elephant in the room. The looming issue of Covid-19, that may cause a small number of buyers and sellers to pause for thought before committing to a move. It would be naïve to ignore this, but as a progressive nation we are better prepared than most and although there may be economic effects, we will not be alone in this and may actually distance ourselves from our competitors who may not cope as well. So, what has happened in the housing market since January 31st? Well it’s a little too early WADHURST to publish results, but in our Tunbridge Wells business there are some very important trends Beautiful detached, 4 bedroom grade II listed twin oast house set in a plot of around 0.75 of an acre with easy access to that mainline I am pleased to report. Buyer numbers are up by almost 60% against the same point station. The house is located on a rural private road with a lovely courtyard setting to the front with the last year and up bystable 30%. is impressive growth – soEPC why are we not yet singing potential to viewings convert the former andThis cart lodge. Vaulted ceilings and views. Exempt from the rooftops? It’s because we (and our competitors) simply need more houses to sell. The buyers are here715000 already and are fighting over the relatively low numbers of homes that Cranbrook 01580 £925,000 OIEO are available for them to purchase. This imbalance may mean short term price increases in some areas of the market – but this will steady off as it is likely that more homes become available in the Spring and early Summer.

Dear Chris & the team at Fine & Country, BELLS YEW GREEN

We wanted to thank you both so much for all your help in getting

This quite beautiful six bedrooms and three reception rooms period cottage is superbly positioned to the east of Tunbridge us Wells, the sought after villages of Frant & Bells Yew Green. Thereally property appreciated retains exceptional features tobetween a position where we’ve exchanged. We the such as exposed beams and inglenook fireplaces. The cottage benefits conservatory that overlooking beautiful gardens. way that you took on board our queries and smoothed the process EPC D (65)

through in such a professional and helpful way in what wasn’t the £1,250,000 OIRO most straight forward purchase!

Tunbridge Wells 01892 701900

We’ve wouldn’t have any hesitation in recommending you to others and look forward to picking up the keys in a few weeks!

LANGTON GREEN

Property

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Professional Exclusive

Luxury

Modern

Service

If you would like any advice on buying or selling a property in the months to come, please do call me or my colleagues.

The quite stunning six bedroom contemporary home is set within a large plot of around 7.5 acres on the edge of this popular village and within very easy reach of nearby Tunbridge Wells. This property is considered amongst the finest of its type in the region with uncompromised styling and quality that is rarely surpassed. EPC C (74)

Quality

Tunbridge Wells 01892 701900

Prestige

£2,500,000 - £2,750,000

* Source: data taken from SurveyMonkey results, 2018 and 2019. Head Office

119-1221 Park Lane, London W1 +44 (0)20 7079 1515 admin@fineandcountry.com

Fine & Country, HeadTunbridge Office Wells 119-121 Park Lane, London W11DG 7 London Road, Tunbridge Wells TN1 +44 (0)20701900 7079 1515 01892 admin@fineandcountry.com tunbridgewells@fi neandcountry.com

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Nationally

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225 offices across Great Britain

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Regional Offices Brighton Canterbury Cranbrook

Regional Offices

Hartley Tenterden Uckfield West Malling

Hartley Brighton Tenterden Canterbury Uckfield Cranbrook West Malling Tunbridge Wells Sevenoaks

99.48%

HEATHFIELD

of people who used us to sell their home would recommend us to family and friends*

Stunning Edwardian family home, recently extended with nearly 4500sq ft of high standard accommodation, 1.5 acres of gardens/grounds, with large country kitchen, 6 bedrooms, home office & guest suite, double oak framed car port , & Country, large double garage, useful garden house, with complete privacy andFine seclusion. EPC E(54) Tunbridge Wells Uckfield 01825 767575

7 London Road, Tunbridge Wells TN1 1DG Contact us on: Fine & Country [xxx] £1,400,000 01892 701900 [address] | [phone number] tunbridgewells@fi neandcountry.com [email address]www.fi | fineandcountry.com neandcountry.com

FRANT

DUDDLESWELL

A four bedroom attached rural family cottage with 2.5 acre plot of gardens and paddocks. EPC D(63)

A detached four bedroom home within the Ashdown Forest with an acre, outbuildings and stunning views. EPC E(48)

Tunbridge Wells 01892 701900

£725,000

Uckfield 01825 767575

£900,000

TUNBRIDGE WELLS This superbly positioned five bedroom exclusive home is found within one of the town's most prestigious locations, close to the Nevill Cricket Ground & the Tunbridge Wells Lawn Tennis Club - all within a short walk of the High Street, the Pantiles & the main line rail station. EPC D(61)

MOUNTFIELD

TONBRIDGE

A pretty grade II listed 5/6 bedroom detached farmhouse set in around 1.5 acres of landscaped gardens. EPC exempt

A four bedroom semi-detached period home close to both station and town centre EPC E (45)

Tunbridge Wells 01892 701900

Cranbrook 01580 715000

£1,750,000 OIRO

WARWICK PARK, TUNBRIDGE WELLS

£920,000 OIEO

Tunbridge Wells 01892 701900

£750,000 OIEO

£1,350,000

If you are considering purchasing a remarkable home that oozes character and has a secret feature that no other homes can offer then look no further. This property offers just about everything that a stylish family could want. There are three reception rooms, four great bedrooms, and three bathrooms. One of the bedrooms is arranged in a manner that it can be utilised as an internal annexe - great for guests, dependent relatives, an older child or au pair. There is stylish hardwood double glazing, including the eye catching dressing room that affords access to a balcony that serves the master bedroom suite. The kitchen is very fashionable in style and the decorations throughout are in exemplary fresh order. There are attractive gardens to the front with the main garden used for leisure and entertainment cleverly arranged on the southern side - perfectly positioned to collect the sunshine. To the rear is a further garden arranged primarily with paving. From the rear is a pathway leading to a pedestrian access onto Frant Road. The hidden feature... it’s called the ‘ice house’ which is a subterranean bunker believed to have been used to store ice for the historic establishments in and around the Pantiles. The bunker was also used as an air raid shelter in WWII. The bunker is domed and is around 16ft in diameter. The Ice House is accessed via low doors found at the rear of the property. Just 0.4 miles to Tunbridge Wells Mainline Station, under 0.2 miles to the HIgh Street and 0.1 miels to The Pantiles.

WADHURST

BELLS YEW GREEN

Beautiful detached, 4 bedroom grade II listed twin oast house set in a plot of around 0.75 of an acre with easy access to mainline station. The house is located on a rural private road with a lovely courtyard setting to the front with the potential to convert the former stable and cart lodge. Vaulted ceilings and views. EPC Exempt

This quite beautiful six bedrooms and three reception rooms period cottage is superbly positioned to the east of Tunbridge Wells, between the sought after villages of Frant & Bells Yew Green. The property retains exceptional features such as exposed beams and inglenook fireplaces. The cottage benefits conservatory that overlooking beautiful gardens. EPC D (65)

Cranbrook 01580 715000

Tunbridge Wells 01892 701900

£925,000 OIEO

LANGTON GREEN

£1,250,000 OIRO

HEATHFIELD

The quite stunning six bedroom contemporary home is set within a large plot of around 7.5 acres on the edge of this popular village and within very easy reach of nearby Tunbridge Wells. This property is considered amongst the finest of COLEMANS HATCH, ASHDOWN FOREST its type in the region with uncompromised styling and quality that is rarely surpassed. EPC C (74)

Stunning Edwardian family home, recently extended with nearly 4500sq ft of high standard accommodation, 1.5 acres of gardens/grounds, with large country kitchen, 6 bedrooms, home office & guest suite, double oak framed car port , large double garage, useful garden house, with complete privacy and seclusion. EPC E(54) £2,000,000 - £2,500,000

This quite wonderful and impressive country residence is located within the sought after Ashdown Forest area of East Sussex, with the picturesque villages of Colemans Hatch, Hartfield and Forest row just short drives away. Beyond are the popular towns of Tunbridge Wells and East Grinstead; both offer a wide range of amenities with extensive retail, leisure and schooling facilities that make this region one of the UK’s premier residential locations.The Tunbridge Wells 01892 701900 - £2,750,000 Uckfield 01825 767575 property itself was designed and constructed in the late 1930s to a ‘modernist’ design that £2,500,000 remains highly desirable. The accommodation is stylish and bright with the theme of high ceilings and large windows being £1,400,000 consistently applied throughout. Currently the property benefits from five bedrooms served by four bath/shower rooms plus four primary reception rooms that include a magnificent 34 ft first floor lounge with a full width balcony that offers wonderful views to the rear. Additionally, there is a ground floor office (formerly a staff room), a useful basement, which lends itself to use as a wine cellar, and two toilets. The property has two staircases, with the secondary south eastern staircase designed to allow staff to service the residents as unobtrusively as possible. The home sits within an overall plot of around 4.5 acres with the majority laid to parkland style lawns with fine specimen trees and tall Head Office Nationally Internationally Regional Offices hedging and mature shrubbery ensuring the plot retains enormous privacy. At the rear is a largeHartley paved entertainment terrace accessed via either the kitchen or family room. Beyond the terrace is the original in-ground swimming 119-1221 Park Lane, London W1 225 offices Plus Brighton Tenterden pool that does require some attention. Within the grounds is an enclosed tennis court with a durable tarmacadam playing surface. Elsewhere there is an enclosed kitchen garden and a small orchard. +44 (0)20 7079 1515 admin@fineandcountry.com

across Great Britain

75 offices globally

Nationally

Internationally

225 offices across Great Britain

Plus 75 offices globally

Canterbury Cranbrook

Regional Offices

Uckfield West Malling

Hartley Brighton Tenterden Canterbury Uckfield Cranbrook West Malling Tunbridge Wells Sevenoaks

Wednesday March 4 | 2020

FOR EVEN MORE NEWS VISIT: timeslocalnews.co.ukShirley

Gardens

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AT A GLANCE

SHIRLEY GARDENS RUSTHALL, TUNBRIDGE WELLS n Entrance hall n Reception room with exposed brickwork and window overlooking front garden. Open-plan to: n Dining room with large double doors to rear garden. Open-plan to: n Fabulous L-shaped kitchen/breakfast room with breakfast bar and door to covered side area with pedestrian door to garage n Downstairs cloakroom n Master bedroom with built-in full height wardrobe n 2 further bedrooms, one with built-in full height wardrobe n Shower room n Garden with patio and level lawn n Brick pavioured driveway providing parking for several cars n Garage with pedestrian door to garden

PRICE RANGE

Tastefully refurbished house boasting a striking kitchen and reception area

£420,000-£450,000 CONTACT • Bracketts, Tunbridge Wells • 01892 533733 • bracketts.co.uk

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Young couple open new kitchen makeover showroom in Tunbridge Wells How James Legon and Carly Glover aim to help reinvigorate the high street as they open a kitchen showroom in the town BOROUGH Mayor Cllr James Scholes joined dozens of well-wishers as he cut the ribbon to open the new kitchen showroom Dream Doors Tunbridge Wells in Grosvenor Road. Showroom owners James Legon and Carly Glover said they are very much looking forward to helping their customers create their ideal kitchens. Carly said: “We offer a high-quality product and service that only takes a few days to complete in most cases, with hardly any interruption to your routine. “We hope we will be bringing good business to the town’s high street.” Former construction project manager James added: “People are welcome to pop into the store anytime to pay us a visit, stop for a coffee, and let us help them find their ideal kitchen.” You can find Dream Doors Tunbridge Wells at 40 Grosvenor Road, Tunbridge Wells TN1 2AS Call the showroom on 01892 458039 Email: tunbridgewells@dreamdoors.co.uk or visit dreamdoors.co.uk

Wednesday March 4 | 2020

TUNBRIDGE WELLS

GROOMBRIDGE

A deceptively spacious 3 bedroom duplex apartment in a tucked away but very convenient location for the town centre and local amenities.

A beautiful 3 bedroom garden apartment tucked away in a very private and highly sought after location close to the Common and the town centre.

A charming Grade II* listed 3 bedroom character cottage presented in immaculate order throughout with a large garden and delightful views over the Green.

GUIDE PRICE £425,000

GUIDE PRICE £550,000

GUIDE PRICE £635,000

Further Properties Required

TUNBRIDGE WELLS

SOUTHBOROUGH

FAIRWARP

An elegant and extremely spacious 3 bedroom town house (2,427 sq ft) set right in the heart of the town and within easy walking distance of the mainline station, High Street and the famous Pantiles.

An elegant 4 bedroom Victorian family home renovated with meticulous attention to detail and with the benefit of PP to further extend if required within close distance of excellent local amenities including grammar schools for boys and girls.

A beautifully presented, much improved and extended 4 bedroom former Forester’s cottage set in a secluded position in the heart of the village backing onto the Ashdown Forest.

GUIDE PRICE £797,500

GUIDE PRICE £850,000

GUIDE PRICE £915,000

TUNBRIDGE WELLS 01892 521700

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Wednesday March 4 | 2020

Life&Times

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xxx What the xx Dickens!

Page xx

See Dev Patel in The xxx Personal History of xx David Copperfield Page xx

SHOW YOUR SUPPORT ON MARCH 8

Page 46

NEW POLESTAR IS POLES APART

SWEET SUCCESS AT THE BULL PUB

CELESTIAL INTERVENTION

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arts

Arts & CultureFOR EVEN MORE NEWS VISIT: timeslocalnews.co.uk

Prepare for an explosive night of comedy Comedian and TV’s Mock the Week regular Gary Delaney is widely known as the king of the one-liner. Ahead of his show at Trinity Theatre next Friday (March 13) he explains how he acquired such a reputation, and tells the Times more about the tricks of his trade…

HERE are so many kings of the oneliner nowadays that it’s all got a bit ’Game of Thrones’. If you do gags, you live and die by the quality, so you have to make them good. I keep about one in 20 of the jokes I write, so I have to write and test over 4,000 jokes to make a new tour show. I called my new tour Gagster’s Paradise because I wanted a title that let people

‘I just listen to people talking and how they use language. Most one-liners start with something you hear’

GUNNING FOR LAUGHS Gary Delaney (right) is a real blast on stage

Wednesday March 4 | 2020

know it had loads of jokes in it. There’s no story, no sad bits, you’re definitely not going to learn anything, but if you like lots of jokes then it’s for you. I thought it was quite a clever title, but a few times I’ve turned up at venues and seen that my posters have been have graffitied to say ‘Ginster’s Paradise’ instead! In terms of how I craft my jokes, I just listen to people talking, and how they use language. Most one-liners are reverse engineered and start with something you hear. I hear an everyday phrase and think ‘I could muck about with that’.

I’ll give you an example. We’ve just got a little dog. It was my turn to walk him. As I was leaving the house my wife reminded me ‘Don’t forget poobags’. Talking casually gives you more leeway for jokes. If this was Radio 4, she should have said ‘Don’t forget the poobags’. She didn’t say the ‘the’ because in real life we don’t talk proper, but that changes the meaning. The poobags is a noun. Poobags is a proper noun, with a capital P. So now it sounds like someone’s name. Or nickname. Hence it became this joke: I went round granddad’s to walk his dog. As I was leaving he said ‘Don’t forget poobags!’ I was like ‘All right, GRAN!! You can come as well’. In terms of the stand-ups I admire the most, they’re all gag men, people

who could write a really good short funny joke. Emo Philips, Steven Wright, Milton Jones, Mitch Hedberg, Max Miller, Ken Dodd, Henny Youngman, Bob Monkhouse and

Rodney Dangerfield. The best joke writer in the world now is Anthony Jeselnik in the US. As for the advice I would give to younger comedians starting out, it would be to say that talent is abundant, the willingness to work hard is rare. Write every day. Gig every night. You’ll progress. Don’t speak too fast, stick to your time, do a little pause before the funny bit, don’t waffle, fake confidence, hold the mike near your mouth, be polite, and stay in the light. Don’t get drunk, stoned or put stuff up your nose. Put the funny bit at the end of your jokes and minimise the gaps between funny bits. Don’t apologise, ever. Review your material constantly. Edit, improve, tweak, experiment, keep what works. Replace your

weakest material with better new stuff, it’s an ongoing process. Tape every gig and listen back to it, watch as many good comics as you can. Really watch

comics who’ve just done better than you to the same audience. Experiment in good rooms, edit in hard rooms. Always listen to the audience, they ultimately decide what is funny and they will tell you who you are, and what you should be saying. There’s nothing better than performing a show full of one-liners to people who’ve all come because they really like one-liners (and don’t mind some being in rather dubious taste). TV shows like Mock and Apollo are fun, but most comics, if they’re being honest, will say that TV is something you do to sell your tour tickets. Also, live is more fun as it’s in the moment, there’s just you and an audience and no editor to cut out the bits that don’t work. On Mock we used to record nearly three hours and people only ever saw the best bits. Live, there’s no safety net. This tour is much bigger than my first two, and most dates sell out, some places I’m now going to back to for the third time as the shows keep selling out too fast. Frankly, I love it. It takes me a loooong time to write a show with that many jokes in. I always want as many people to see it as possible. Pressure is good. Without pressure I’d still be a conference organiser. Gary Delaney is at Trinity Theatre on March 13 at 8pm. For details, visit trinitytheatre.net

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Arts & Culture

been going for over a hundred years,” explains Carol Wilson from the TWLWF. “Some countries even have March 8 as a bank holiday. Fundamentally, its message belongs to all groups who care about human rights, and its aims are to celebrate the social economic, cultural and political achievements of women and to continue the call to action for accelerating gender parity, the latter seeming sometimes to be a pretty thankless task around here.”

GIRL POWER Carol Wilson (far right) with Cllr Dianne Hill (second right) flagging up International Women’s Day at The Forum

Different

Coming together for a more equal world for all women everywhere… Ahead of International Women’s Day on Sunday March 8, Carol Wilson, of the Tunbridge Wells Labour Women’s Forum, tells Eileen Leahy all about the special day of events she and her team are organising at The Forum International Women’s Day [IWD] occurs every year on March 8 and is a global day in which women come together to raise awareness about ongoing issues such as pay inequality, but to also celebrate landmark events such as the centenary of the Suffragette movement. Two years ago, in 2018, women

from all walks of life, of all ages and political beliefs, joined forces for a day of celebrations in order to mark that special and most historic anniversary here in Tunbridge Wells. So popular was the day, which included a big march through the town as well as speeches and poetry readings, one

of the key organisers – the Tunbridge Wells Labour Women’s Forum [TWLWF] – have galvanised upon the interest in celebrating IWD and this year are organising a big event at The Forum on March 8, where the theme will be centred around equality. “International Women’s Day has

The TWLWF’s first IWD event was five years ago, which saw a small number of committed women gather together to mark the day. Carol says that since then it has increased year on year with more and more women and teenage girls in the town coming together. “In 2018, we linked up with some of our local political parties and with many of our great women’s organisations and combined IWD activities. The focus was on celebrating the centenary of partial suffrage through a hugely successful women’s march through the town, as well as other multiple events. “Last year was almost a reunion of the 2018 women’s groups, with readings and poetry taking place, and this year – thanks to the fantastic response we have had from so many talented women – we have gone for a very different day of togetherness and hope to be welcoming up to a hundred women to our special #EachForEqual event at The Forum, which hopes to achieve a more equal gender world.” This year Carol says there is a full and varied programme with ‘lots of talented local women performing, talking and raising awareness of our achievements, challenging stereotypes, and calling

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for action to come together and help promote change’. She goes on to say that the day’s performers will show what an ‘incredible range of talented women we have in Tunbridge Wells’. “We will have readings of the works of famous women, including by local author Anne Carwardine, taekwondo demonstrations, poetry with an edge, Bollywood fitness dancing, and later on there will be Irish dancers as well as performances by young female musicians, including Biddle and Kay. “In honour of the day, there will also be a discussion panel with speakers describing additional challenges where disability, identity, faith or colour separates, and added stereotyping and bias comes into play.” Visitors to the female event will also have the chance to browse a number of stalls, including an Oxfam Books one featuring only women authors, plus craftwork and jewellery displays, reflexology and women’s health information with advice. There will also be stalls by local notable organisations, such as Friends of the Earth, Zero Waste and Nourish. Carol is very encouraged by the number of girls showing an interest in the event and in politics in general. “The increase in young women getting involved this year has been so rewarding, and I am convinced it has helped expand our programme range and also bring in new thinking.” The #EachForEqual event takes place at The Forum on Tunbridge Wells Common on Sunday March 8 from 2-7pm. Entrance is free, and there will be a raffle in aid of charity. For more information, visit twforum.co.uk

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Going Out

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goingout 7 days of activities

By Jerome Bowman

WHY MOTE? Ightham Mote and many other National Trust properties make for a great spring walk WEDNESDAY Make it up as you go along with A Pair of Four at The Sussex Arms. Chris, Jocelyn, John and Scott have no idea what they will be performing at the start of the show, but it will be funny. The improvs start at 8pm. Tickets are £8 in advance and £9 on the door. To book, go online to twforum.co.uk THURSDAY He may be a master of the sword and the mightier pen, but Cyrano de Bergerac is held back romantically by one rather large problem, he has a substantially large nose. James McAvoy

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including produce, artisanal crafts and designer clothes, from 10am to 4pm this weekend. Guest traders, seasonal themes and a changing range of goods make sure you’ll always find something new. If you are interested in pitching your own stall at the market, or for any other enquiries, you can email: markets@thepantilesevents.com The weekly Park Run is back on at the lovely hour of 9am. This is a 5km run around Dunorlan FRIDAY Park which is perfect for both casual and more Tuck in with Chef Proprietor Daniel Hatton experienced runners. There is no entry fee but and Head Chef Harvey at the Northern Italy Supperclub at Hattons. With dishes inspired there is an option for a vest and timing if by Northern Italian cuisine, including you are interested. All are welcome and Buridda, a kind of tomato and fish there are no pace requirements. For stew, and Ossobuco alla Milanese, a more information on the route and how saffron-flavoured risotto, on the menu, to register, visit parkrun.co.uk you can enjoy travelling via your plate Rusthall Cinema Club’s next film is the to a place with long history of period drama Colette. Gabrielle Colette, fantastic food. The club starts played by Keira Knightly, marries a at 7pm and tickets, which cost Parisian man of letters known as £40, can be booked online at Willy, and soon after moving to hattonsrtwstore.co.uk Paris starts to ghost write a series Tonight at 7.30pm in the of highly successful books for Mercure Tunbridge Wells him. Determined to break social Hotel you can help solve convention, Gabrielle fights for another Murder Mystery creative ownership of her works, Experience – this time How her sexuality, and her relationships To Murder A Millionaire. It is in this critically-lauded gem. Tickets 1956, and Millicent Montague cost £8 but are free for members. No is throwing a special party to advanced booking is required. For more celebrate her new film How to information, go to rusthallcinema.club Murder a Millionaire. Hoping Bostonian-Jewish sweetheart and to put her dark past behind comedian Alex Edelman’s third show is her, Millicent hopes that this film coming to Trinity Theatre. Alex Edelman: will squash all the rumours of her Just for Us has already picked up Mafia connections and affairs. several awards and nominations, and But given all the grudges involved, tackles gorillas that do sign language will the film prove to be a killer hit? and tribalism. Alex has been tipped as Tickets to the evening cost £49 and the voice of generation Y, at least when include a three-course meal. For it comes to plug sockets in airports, so more information and to book, visit come see him at 7.30pm. Tickets cost £19. murder57.com To book, go online to trinitytheatre.net KEY SPEAKER Join Graziano Di Prima and his fiancée See Alex Edelman Giada Lini for an evening of passionate SATURDAY at Trinity Theatre Latin dancing at The Assembly Hall The Pantiles Market will be offering wares from across the locale, Theatre. Havana Nights will feature the stars in Martin Crimp’s National Theatre stage adaptation, the original live screening of which will be shown at the Odeon this evening at 7pm. This tale of love and the power of language in overcoming vanity and big noses is directed by Jamie Lloyd. To book tickets, which cost £23.25 (concessions also available), go to odeon.co.uk

Wednesday March 4 | 2020

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Going Out

MONDAY Join the TWUNTS once again in The George pub for their relaxed Ukulele Jam at 8pm. All levels of experience, including those who once inspired fear and hatred in their music teachers at school, are welcome. Grab a drink at the bar and join in with the group on a huge variety of songs. Attendance is free. For more information, visit twukulele.com

LOFTY ASPIRATIONS See The Personal History of David Copperfield at Trinity Theatre

PICK OF THE WEEK

SPA VALLEY RAILWAY Tunbridge Wells West Station Saturday and Sunday March 7-8

One of the last remaining engines of its kind, BR Standard 4MT No 80078, is

NIGHT OF PASSION Havana Nights dances into the Assembly Hall Theatre

couple in joint, group and solo performances of Latin dance and promises to be fast-paced and sizzling with energy. Graziano is best known for his appearances on Strictly Come Dancing as DJ Vick Hope’s partner, as well as for performing with Johannes Radebe. The show starts at 7.30pm. Tickets cost £30.75 and can be booked online at assemblyhalltheatre.co.uk SUNDAY Head to Trinity Theatre to see master satirist Armando Ianucci move from TV into film with his latest screenplay, The Personal History of David Copperfield. As David sets out to be a writer, his quest for family, friendship, romance and status is made all the more seductive by the story itself. With a star-studded cast, including Dev Patel, Hugh Laurie and Tilda Swinton, This retelling of the classic Dickens story has been praised for its joyful and invigorating style and colourful characters. Tickets cost £11 at trinitytheatre.net

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TUESDAY This is a great time of year to enjoy bracing Spring Walks out in the countryside. There are plenty of enjoyable free roaming routes to choose from in our area. But if you want something more organised, then have a look at the variety on offer at National Trust properties such as Scotney and Bodiam Castles, Sissinghurst and Ightham Mote. For more information, visit nationaltrust.org.uk steaming into Tunbridge Wells for a special visit and will be here until April. You can visit Tunbridge Wells West, High Rocks and Groombridge Stations, all of which have pubs and plenty to see and do. Steam and heritage diesel locomotives will be on the line. A ticket gets you unlimited rides for the day and can be purchased in advance at spavalleyrailway.co.uk

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Going Out

FOR EVEN MORE NEWS VISIT: timeslocalnews.co.uk THE GREY LADY MUSIC LOUNGE The Pantiles Doors 7.15pm, entry £6/£7 Websites pdag.co.uk & thegreylady.co.uk Wednesday Red, Green & Blue, James Medhurst, Peter Taylor Friday Jazz Club with Bob Bernard and Guests: John Harriman (piano), James Sunney (bass), Neil Bernard (drums) and Harry Whitty (trombone) Saturday Disco Odyssey Sunday Lucy Jarrett, Giorgia-May, Scarlett Surgeoner

live music With Paul Dunton

ONIGHT (Wednesday), blues fans can enjoy the divine Fran McGillivray, Mike Burke and Roger Nunn at The Anchor Inn, Sevenoaks, and local duo Red, Green & Blue are at The Grey Lady with James Medhurst and Peter Taylor. Friday is busy across the local scene, including Steve Knightly at The Stag, Sevenoaks, and The Selector at The Forum. Meanwhile, Tina Turner fans can catch the new and acclaimed tribute show ‘What’s Love Got To Do With It?’ at The Assembly Hall. And if you fancy some excellent jazz ’n’ blues and more besides, I recommend Bob Dwyer’s Bix & Pieces at The Masonic Hall, renowned local pianist Grant Sav at The Hotel du Vin, and The Grey Lady Jazz Club night hosted by Bob Bernard & Guests. Or if you enjoy folk and roots music, Ray Cooper is at the St Edith Folk Club in Kemsing.

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

Saturday night is also jam-packed, with Common Buzzards at The Bedford, Tailspin at The Beau Nash Tavern, Kharma & The Devil at The Royal Oak, and Disco Odyssey returning to The Grey Lady. For a truly rockin’ party, The Pillows ten-year anniversary show at The Forum promises to be great fun. The Pillows are without doubt one of the best covers bands around and always put on a superb show. On Sunday, The Forum celebrate International Women’s Day with lots of music entertainment from 2pm onwards, and local singersongwriters Lucy Jarrett, GiorgiaMay and Scarlett Surgeoner are at The Grey Lady. On Monday night The George hosts the TWUNT jam session, and on Tuesday local soloist Matt Brooks makes his debut at The Punch & Judy in Tonbridge.

THE ANCHOR INN London Road, Sevenoaks Free entry, music from 8pm till late Wednesday Fran McGillivray, Mike Burke, Roger Nunn MUSICSTATION Bank Street, Tonbridge Book on 01732 350629 Thursday & Friday 8pm-9.30pm Adult band workshop, all levels welcome THE TUNBRIDGE WELLS FORUM The Common, London Road Information and tickets at twforum.co.uk Friday The Selecter Saturday The Pillows Ten- Year Anniversary Show Sunday from 2pm International Women’s Day musical celebration Monday The Stable: GGP, Harvey Marwood, Scruz, Two Sides 8 TUNBRIDGE WELLS JAZZ CLUB AT THE MASONIC HALL St John’s Road Information at twjazzclub.co.uk Friday Bob Dwyer’s Bix & Pieces THE ASSEMBLY HALL THEATRE Crescent Road Information at assemblyhalltheatre.co.uk

Wednesday March 4 | 2020

Bob Dwyer’s Bix & Pieces

Friday What’s Love Got To Do With It? New Tina Turner tribute show THE HOTEL DU VIN Crescent Road Free entry, music from 7pm till 9pm Friday Live Jazz Piano with Grant Sav THE STAG THEATRE London Road, Sevenoaks Information at stagsevenoaks.co.uk Friday Steve Knightly ST EDITH FOLK CLUB St Edith Hall, Kemsing Information at stedithfolk.co.uk Friday Ray Cooper THE BEDFORD PUB 2 High Street Free entry, music from 8pm till late Grant Sav

Saturday Common Buzzards THE BEAU NASH TAVERN Mount Ephraim Free entry, music from 8pm till late Saturday Tailspin THE ROYAL OAK PUB Prospect Road Free entry, music from 8pm till late Saturday Kharma & The Devil THE GEORGE PUB Mount Ephraim Free entry, music from 8pm Monday TWUNT: Ukulele jam session THE PUNCH & JUDY PUB St Stephens Road, Tonbridge Free entry, music from 8pm Tuesday Matt Brooks

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food

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

Wednesday March 4 | 2020

Savour a taste of true originality The Bull in Frant Road was taken over last year by Adam Lengyel and Zordan Boni, who are determined to put this popular pub on the foodie map, too, as Richard Williams found out

OWARDS the top of Frant Road in Tunbridge Wells, The Bull will be a familiar sight to those who live and work in the area. With its rustic charm, open fire, and ageing newspapers adorning the walls, this Shepherd Neame pub has always been a popular drinking spot with the locals. Now relatively new owners Adam Lengyel and Zordan Boni are quickly gaining a great reputation when it comes to serving good quality food. The Bull is a very traditional and inviting pub, but unlike many breweries, Shepherd Neame has given Hungarian chef Zordan a free rein when it comes to the menu. Despite his Budapest training, it is not Magyar-themed. Instead, traditional British pub favourites are cooked exceptionally well. At weekends, The Bull serves breakfasts from 9am, which include a Full English [£8.95] as well as more sophisticated favourites such as Eggs Benedict [£8.50] or Pancakes, Fruit and Yoghurt [£5.95]. To appeal to office workers, a separate lunch menu includes some very reasonably

Garlic [£7]. This starter was fabulously fresh, perfectly flavoured and as good a bowl of mussels as you’ll find anywhere in the town – but the array of colours of the Chorizo, Chickpea and Crispy Squid Salad [£6] that my guest ordered did cause a touch of menu envy. It was beautifully presented – and by all accounts as every bit as delicious as it looked. The dinner menu contains some great twists on usual pub fare, such as The

But we were there for dinner, and after ordering a pint of one of the many local ales, as well as a glass of house rosé for my guest, we dived straight into our starters.

Envy My eye was initially caught by the Slow Roast Pork and Celeriac Purée [£6.50], but I decided to opt for one of my personal favourites – Mussels in White Wine and

.U O L .C AI RK EM PA R O ICK ON 92 W TI 25 R VA 55 A R 2 EW SE 89 N RE 01 O A LL S@ KE CA ION MA AT TO RV

TREAT YOUR MUM TO A TRADITIONAL AFTERNOON TEA WITH A TWIST THIS MOTHER’S DAY AT ONE WARWICK PARK HOTEL.

priced Fish and Chips [£8.50], Bangers and Mash [£8] and Home-made Beef Burgers and Chips [£9]. They even do Sunday lunch with a range of meats and vegetarian alternatives [£12-16].

SE RE

Mother’s Day

TEAMWORK Adam and Zordan (pictured middle) with two co-workers at The Bull

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IRRESISTIBLE A super-cool chocolate treat Bull’s aforementioned home-made burger, served with salad, chips and coleslaw [£12.95], Corn-Fed Chicken Supreme [£15] and Red Thai Curry [£15]. But both my guest and I decided to sample something from the specials board – and we were so glad we did. The Venison Wellington [£16] boasted a perfectly golden short crust pastry underneath what was a generous portion of rich meat. It came served with vegetables and an incredible gravy – which, to do it proper justice, definitely requires a basket of the home-made bread [£3.95] to mop it up.

‘The Beef Stroganoﬀ was just the ticket for a damp Wednesday evening, and the gherkins provided a kick to the taste buds’ My guest’s Beef Stroganoff [£12.95] was both superbly presented and just the ticket for a damp Wednesday evening. The meat was tender and succulent and the piquant gherkins served with it provided a much appreciated kick to the taste buds. Although The Bull may be part of a pub chain, it still retains a great sense of individuality, which is primarily due to the great food being served up by Adam and his team. THE BULL A landmark on the corner of Frant Road and Birling Road

Whether you want a hearty breakfast, a quick bite at lunchtime, or to linger longer over a traditional Sunday roast or midweek meal, then this well-rounded Bull won’t disappoint. The Bull 79 Frant Road Tunbridge Wells TN2 5LH Tel: 01892 546089 Web: bulltunbridgewells.co.uk

Food & Drink

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Books

FOR EVEN MORE NEWS VISIT: timeslocalnews.co.uk

The bookcase… This week’s bookcase includes reviews of Going Dark by Julia Ebner, and Actress by Anne Enright

BOOK OF THE WEEK

Actress by Anne Enright

Published in hardback by Jonathan Cape, priced £16.99 (ebook £11.89)

9/10

Actress is yet another typically luminous story from Irish author Anne Enright. Katherine O’Dell can hold a room emphatically, and is beloved by Ireland, Hollywood and, most of all, her daughter Norah. But fame can slip, loyalties shift, and guns go off, tipping everything off-kilter, as they do. This is written like a letter from a mother to a daughter, and a wife almost absent-mindedly to a husband, but stretches also read like biography, and inevitably, obituary. You are pulled along by the truths that underscore the glamour of fame, but it’s done gently, soothingly, only for Enright to occasionally slam with you a moment, detail or feeling that shocks and hurts – even though often our narrator appears almost numb to things. She excavates her mother’s life (from appearing on stage, to IRA links and alcoholism), and her own in the process, producing a raw, tender portrayal of a woman undone by her work, and the men who control it. Seamlessly wrought, it is quite bewitching. (Review by Ella Walker)

Amnesty by Aravind Adiga

Published in hardback by Picador, priced £16.99 (ebook £8.99) Danny has a secret – he’s illegal. He overstayed his student visa and now lives in Sydney with no medical cover, unfair wages, and the fear he’ll be sent to a brutal detention camp and back to Sri Lanka. This is the premise of Aravind Adiga’s latest book, Amnesty. There’s no doubt Adiga writes beautifully – he won

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the Man Booker Prize in 2008 for his debut novel The White Tiger. Danny’s character is spot-on, capturing his stifling terror and astute observations on race in Australia. The novel is hooked on whether he tells the police about a murderer, risking deportation in doing so. It’s gripping and heartbreaking, showing just how broken attitudes towards immigration and foreigners can really be. (Review by Prudence Wade)

9/10

The Girl With The Louding Voice by Abi Dare Published in hardback by Sceptre, priced £12.99 (ebook £8.99). Available March 5

This is a powerful debut novel about a young Nigerian woman trapped in a life of poverty and abuse, but determined to get an education so she can escape and find her ‘louding voice’. After being forcibly married off as the third wife of a much older man, a devastating tragedy means Adunni must go on the run and leave her village. She is forced into domestic servitude for Big Daddy and Big Madam, where she is beaten and assaulted regularly. However, despite the heartbreaking subject matter, this is a story of hope. A compelling novel in which readers will fall in love with Adunni, who dreams of becoming a teacher and giving back to her village. Although it can take a while to get used to the brokenEnglish style, the writing is addictive and deeply evocative. A beautiful debut from a talented author. (Review by Megan Baynes)

7/10

FOR EVEN MORE NEWS VISIT: timeslocalnews.co.uk NON-FICTION

Going Dark by Julia Ebner

9/10

Published in hardback by Bloomsbury, priced £16.99 (ebook £10.31) Julia Ebner advises governments and organisations on online extremism and hate speech. To complete this investigation of online fanatics, she assumes a variety of identities and goes undercover in a dozen techsavvy extremist groups. She lurks among alt.right tradwives and jihadi brides, attends a Nazi rock concert, and is inadvertently party to some of the planning that would culminate in Charlottesville. This absorbing and intelligent account reveals a great deal of commonality among these CHILDREN’S BOOK OF THE WEEK

And The Stars Were Burning Brightly by Danielle Jawando

Published in paperback by Simon & Schuster, priced £7.99 (ebook £5.99). Available March 5 As a teenager, author Danielle Jawando was herself so intensely bullied by schoolmates that she attempted suicide. This novel, which draws on those experiences, brings hope, humour and courage to a very difficult subject. The story centres on two characters, both of whom are struggling to find their way in the aftermath of the suicide of geeky Al – his 15-year-old younger brother Nathan and Al’s close friend Megan. Nathan’s world falls apart, and he rages and seeks revenge. Megan, meanwhile, turns to art to find a way to remember Al, and creates a visual memorial to him. The story pulls us through the emotional journey of these two characters, as well as the drama of discovering

Books

groups in terms of recruitment, networking, mobilisation and radicalisation. Everywhere she finds “Identitarian conspiracy theories fuelling hatred and violence against ethnic and cultural minorities. Livestream functions on social media serving as a means for making terror go viral. Gamification and internet culture coupled with ‘do-it-yourself’ terrorism. And politicians mainstreaming the ideas to drive terrorists.” Ebner takes real risks to witness them up close. The result is a work that is terrifying because it is real. (Review by Dan Brotzel) who did the bullying, and the possibility of confrontation with Al’s tormentors. Funny, raw and honest, with an unexpected element of romance, this is a brave and absorbing book for 12+ readers. (Review by Isla Brotzel, aged 12)

8/10

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BOOK CHARTS HARDBACKS 1. The Boy, The Mole, The Fox and The Horse by Charlie Mackesy 2. The Beast of Buckingham Palace by David Walliams 3. False Value by Ben Aaronovitch 4. Pinch of Nom Everyday Light by Kay Featherstone and Kate Allinson 5. Letters On Motherhood by Giovanna Fletcher 6. The Guestlist by Lucy Foley 7. Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Wrecking Ball by Jeff Kinney 8. Grown Ups by Marian Keyes 9. The Book You Wish Your Parents Had Read by Philippa Perry 10. Dog Man: Fetch-22 by Dav Pilkey PAPERBACKS 1. Big Sky by Kate Atkinson 2. The Five:The Untold Lives of the Women Killed by Jack the Ripper by Hallie Rubenhold 3. The Highland Falcon Thief: Adventures on Trains by MG Leonard and Sam Sedgman 4. Queenie by Candice Carty-Williams 5. Tidelands by Philippa Gregory 6. The Long Call by Ann Cleeves 7. This Is Going To Hurt by Adam Kay 8. The Volunteer by Jack Fairweather 9. One Of Us Is Next by Karen McManus 10. Surrounded By Idiots by Thomas Erikson AUDIOBOOKS (FICTION AND NON FICTION) 1. False Value by Ben Aaronovitch 2. Grown Ups by Marian Keyes 3. The Gene by Siddhartha Mukherjee 4. The Patient Man by Joy Ellis 5. Mythos by Stephen Fry 6. Kensuke’s Kingdom by Michael Morpurgo 7. War Horse by Michael Morpurgo 8. Don’t You Forget About Me by Mhairi McFarlane 9. Sherlock Holmes: The Definitive Collection by Arthur Conan Doyle 10. Becoming by Michelle Obama

(Compiled by Waterstones and Audible)

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Motors

FOR EVEN MORE NEWS VISIT: timeslocalnews.co.uk

Motoring News

Wednesday March 4 | 2020

This week… n New eco car idea n Aston opens up n A personal Porsche

Striking concept of Precept car showcases sustainable future POLESTAR’S sharply styled Precept concept car is designed to show off the Swedish firm’s future design direction, as well as its commitment to using more sustainable materials. The plant-based composites used for interior panels and the seat backs save up to 50% in weight and produce 80% less plastic waste than conventional materials.

Recycled Seat surfaces are 3D-knitted from recycled plastic bottles, the seat bolsters and headrests are made from recycled cork vinyl, and carpets come from reclaimed fishing nets. The car also features Polestar’s next-generation infotainment system, powered by Android. The ‘humanPOLES APART Polestar’s Precept

machine interface’ (HMI) system is operated through a central touch screen and 12.5-inch driver display – with the latter housing eye-tracking software that can optimise screen displays on the move. The exterior’s sharp creases and minimalist design put a focus on aerodynamic efficiency – important to get the most range out of the allelectric powertrain. Maximilian Missoni, Polestar’s Head of Design, said: “We see technology as a tool to solve our society’s problems and we translated this attitude into a new set of design principles. “The combination of sustainable materials and high-tech smart systems opens an entirely new chapter of avant-garde luxury design.”

DARE TO DREAM The DBX x Q model

Aston Martin offers bespoke ‘Q’ services for its DBX SUV ASTON MARTIN has showcased the level of customisation available for its DBX SUV with an exclusive ‘DBX x Q’ model. Built to offer inspiration to prospective customers of its bespoke ‘Q by Aston Martin’ service, the SUV also demonstrates the three levels of customisation on offer – Commission, Collection and Accessories. The possibilities go well beyond the standard manufacturer option list, with this example’s 22-inch gloss black-painted wheels complementing the satin grey paint job. The really interesting upgrades are inside, though, such as the diamondpatterned aluminium jewellery pack that sits alongside Obsidian Black leather upholstery, solid carbon-fibre inserts for the doors and centre console, and a single-piece herringbone carbon-fibre floor for the storage area.

While those extra special parts come from the Commission catalogue, the options from the Collection offerings include a carbon-fibre lower exterior pack and black anodised tread and sill plaques.

Uninhibited Marek Reichman, Aston Martin Executive Vice President and Chief Creative Officer, said: “Q by Aston Martin offers the tools to those who have an uninhibited desire to push the boundaries of what is achievable.” He added: “Of course, the example shown today is just one sphere of inspiration that can be explored, but with DBX providing the ultimate canvas to bring a vision to life, I fully expect to see a wide and broad variety of creations over the coming months.”

Your fingerprint on a Porsche bonnet PORSCHE has taken new personalisation options to the next level by allowing customers to have a massive recreation of their fingerprint on their car bonnet. A method called ‘direct printing’ allows for more complex designs than conventional painting, while providing a superior look and feel. And although the first stage is to offer a graphic of a customer’s fingerprint on the bonnet, the service will be expanded to offer more designs at a later date.

Control Interested customers can contact their local Porsche Centre. They will liaise with specialists who will remove the bonnet of the car after it’s been built so a robot can paint the fingerprint on to the bodywork. Porsche says the customer’s biometric data is processed to make sure it can’t be used for unauthorised purposes, and the entire process takes place in direct communication with the customer, who has complete control of how their personal information is used. The German firm’s Alexander Fabig said: “Individuality is very important for Porsche customers. And no design can be more personal than your own fingerprint. Porsche is a pioneer in personalisation… and we’re especially proud of having developed a completely new product offering based on new technologies.” The service will be available from this month and will cost E7,500 (circa £6,300) in Germany.

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Recruitment

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WITH THE

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

OF TUNBRIDGE WELLS AND TONBRIDGE

Fill your vacancy now in print or online

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

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CODEWORD 3

A B C D E F GH I J K L MNO P QR S T U VWX Y Z 24 16

18 21

2 24

11 24

5 6 3 9 1 4 8 7

7 2 8 4 6 3 9 4

4 3

2 9

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

Codeword:

9 6

12 8

11 12

24 9

4 10

7 11

11 8

8 10

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.

5 8 2 4 5 3 7 1 1 7 2 4 3 8 6 4 9 4 7 5

1 2

DIFFICULTY RATING:★✩✩✩

LAST WEEK’S SOLUTIONS

SUDOKU & JIGSAW SUDOKU

DIFFICULTY RATING: ★★★✩

CLASSIFIEDS

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Puzzles

In this Sudoku, the normal 3x3 boxes are now strangely odd shapes – but all the rules and logic of normal Sudoku apply. Fill the board by entering numbers 1 to 9 so that each row, column and box contains every number uniquely.

Puzzle solutions will be published in a forthcoming issue

D S A T MA B F A S T E A Q U R A D

W L E F A R I L A I O I R T I N E Z E E A I R E S T P R S A S E P E R C B Q U A L A U G R A I V E L S R A S E E

N K U R I E C E L E V I E I X I E S J U R Y O A H T E R N L N C I D Y S

Sudoku:

4 9 3 2 8 1 5 7 6

2 7 1 5 4 6 8 3 9

6 8 5 9 7 3 2 4 1

5 1 8 3 2 9 4 6 7

3 6 2 7 5 4 1 9 8

7 4 9 6 1 8 3 5 2

9 5 6 1 3 2 7 8 4

1 5 3 2 8 6 9 4 7

7 3 4 8 5 2 6 1 9

3 7 9 1 4 8 5 6 2

8 2 7 4 9 5 6 1 3

1 3 4 8 6 7 9 2 5

Jigsaw Sudoku:

2 6 5 7 3 9 1 8 4

8 2 6 4 9 3 7 5 1

9 4 2 6 7 1 8 3 5

4 8 1 5 6 7 2 9 3

6 9 7 3 1 5 4 2 8

5 1 8 9 2 4 3 7 6

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Sport

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Angels seek £500k for all-weather pitch to save club By Andy Tong andy@timesoftonbridge.co.uk FOOTBALL: TONBRIDGE ANGELS are consider whether to spend half a million pounds on installing an artificial pitch after the club admitted it was ‘running out of money’. The Angels have found itself in dire financial straits a succession of home matches have had to be called off since Christmas. It wants to find a way to ensure it can play at Longmead, and is seeking funding to carry out a major refurbishment of the drainage system under the pitch - or lay an all-weather surface down instead. The Angels’ Longmead Stadium has become waterlogged because of persistent heavy rainfall over the last 10 weeks. The club has only managed to play there once since January 4 and now faces the prospect of having to play at other grounds. Although it would keep the gate receipts, it would have to pay a fee to the host club for use of the pitch - and they would also miss out on valuable bar and catering earnings. The postponements already mean that matches will now be played midweek in the evening, when

attendances are lower than on the traditional Saturday matchday, meaning drastically reduced revenue. The club is battling for survival after being promoted to the National League South, its highest every league placing, last year. The financial problems mean that it may have to cut its playing budget, which would mean relegation would become a likelihood. But the Angels’ chairman, Dave Netherstreet, wrote an open letter to the supporters warning that the situation was so dire, the club might ‘go under’.

Serious Tonbridge Angels FC is owned by its supporters, who pay an annual fee in return for having a say in the running of the club. Mr Netherstreet told them: “I’ll come straight to the point. The club is in a serious financial position that at least rivals the three or four other crises the club has experienced during its 72-year history. “Basically we are running out of money and as it stands we don’t have a home pitch for our fixtures.” He added: “Pete Elves, Head Groundsman and Director, naturally enough is trying to be optimistic that things can be resolved at least in

SINKING FEELING: Dave Netherstreet warned of the club ‘going under’ the short term but there is no guarantee of that and there is a real probability that we will have to complete all of our home fixtures at other grounds.” The club says it needs a minimum of £7,600 per week for the next eight weeks to keep going until the end of the season.

The club has received loans from benefactors that will be paid off with income from end-of season events in May. Mr Netherstreet said: “These incredible acts of generosity are drying up and we really need owners to step up to the plate if they can. He added: “Four years ago you voted to become a supporter-owned club to avoid the risk of cash greedy directors walking in and taking over. Now, it is your opportunity collectively to come forward and save the club from going under.” One longer-term solution to the flooding issues is to carry out major repairs to the pitch including new drainage during the summer, which would cost up to £150,000. Another option is to spend £15,000 on temporary drainage works for next season and then install an all-weather pitch for the season after that, which would set them back an estimated £500,000 including new floodlights. Either move could benefit from a grant. An emergency Owners Meeting has been called at 8pm tomorrow [March 5] in Longmead’s Executive Lounge to debate those choices. Mr Netherstreet concluded: “My final message is that the club will survive with all your help and support, but please do not underestimate the seriousness of the situation.”

Turner’s stunner brings more glory on the road Dulwich Hamlet 0 Tonbridge Angels 1

PHOTO: David Couldridge

By Jim Rowe

SWEET SHOT Joe Turner unleashes his winning strike

Large adds finishing touches as Rusthall chase promotion By Rich Smith FOOTBALL: DESPITE not having played for three weeks the Rustics comfortably kept their promotion push on track with a clinical demolition of bottom-of-the-table Kent Football United on a very wet Jockey Farm pitch. The Rustics were in control from the start and opened the scoring after 11 minutes when Charlie Clover finished well following good build-up play. Despite being camped in the KFU half the Rustics were caught on the break in the 40th minute and it took a fine save from keeper Billy Johnson to prevent an equaliser. But Rusthall responded a minute later when a flowing passing move was finished off by leading

LATE SHOW Bradley Large celebrates his second goal

scorer Luke Adams for his 19th goal of a superb season. On 52 minutes Rusthall went 3-0 up with a stunning strike from James Miles, who beat three defenders before drilling a right-foot shot into the bottom left-hand corner from 20 yards.

Responded The home side lost their thread thereafter until substitute full-back Bradley Large finished well from inside the box in the 89th and 92nd minutes to add gloss to the scoreline. With nine games to go Rusthall are second in the Southern Counties East League Division One, two points behind leaders Kennington with a game in hand. The two sides now meet at Ashford for a crucial game on Sathurday (March 7, kick-off 3pm).

PHOTO: DBrendan Kemp

Rusthall 5 Kent Football United 0

FOOTBALL: TONBRIDGE ANGELS boosted their hopes of staying up in National League South by winning away for the second match in a row. Before that sequence they had only won once on the road all season. It was Joe Turner’s late but stunning strike in the 86th minute which secured the valuable points. They are now in 16th place in the league table - but still only one point ahead of the club second from bottom in 21st place. At the end of the season, the bottom two go down. The Angels made a strong start at Champion Hil with Ben Greenhalgh forcing a fine save from Charlie Grainger in the second minute. But with the help of Storm Jorge’s high winds the home side got a grip on the match and had the better chances in the first half. In the fourth minute Angels keeper Jonny Henly was forced to make a sharp save, improvising with his legs, and then Shamier Mullings threatened with a 30-yard shot. Mullings was a creative spark for Hamlet but his colleagues were unable to capitalise on the opportunities his skills were providing. With the wind in their favour after the break,

Tonbridge came much more into the game with long periods of possession. Tommy Wood, who scored twice on his debut last week, went close with a header in the 57th minute. Eight minutes later, Turner shot across goal and it went just wide of the far post. There was a huge scramble in front of the Hamlet goal in the 81st minute and only an outstretched defender’s boot prevented Angels from taking the lead.

Genuine Two minutes later a mis-hit cross from the Dulwich left flank drifted inches wide of Henly’s far post. Then came Turner’s superb intervention. The ball came to him quickly and he struck a sweet first-time shot along the ground that flew into the net just inside the right-hand post. Manager Steve McKimm said: “I thought on genuine chances created we deserved the win, and it was the kind of match that one moment of magic was going to win it. “Joe provided that moment but let’s be clear, this was in every sense a team effort with the starting 11 plus subs all playing their part.” Tonbridge now face Eastbourne Borough at home on Saturday (March 7, kick-off 3pm).

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Ponsford strikes twice to send Wells into semis

Watson’s double puts TJs on top

RUGBY: TUNBRIDGE WELLS Academy booked a place in the semi-finals of the Kent Cup with a shutout of Gravesend at The Skinners’ School. In the first knockout match the north Kent side were a much more experienced team than Wells had faced in the pool stage. The home side made the perfect start with a break in the first minute seeing Will Hawksfield go over for an unconverted try. Wells soon started to click with attacking drives from the forwards that eventually paid dividends with Cam Keys scoring, though the conversion was missed again in the high winds. Keeping the pressure up, the forward and backs linked to make space for Toby Ponsford to go in for a third try.

RUGBY: TONBRIDGE JUDDIANS returned to the top of the table in National Two South as they edged past Westcliff. With six games remaining they are two points ahead of Taunton Titans - who have a game in hand - and three in front of Henley Hawks, who lost to Clifton. Last year TJs missed out on promotion to National League One after finishing third, one point behind Canterbury City who look likely to come straight back down. Westcliff scored first after five minutes when a deft kick through was gathered superbly by their left wing Myles Bean, who crossed for a converted try. The home side were defending well but after 15 minutes Hugo Watson’s clever kick found space in the backfield and he won the race easily to score, Will Robinson converting. But TJs were unable take advantage of the high wind in their favour until Matt Walsh cut an acute line to get on the outside of a tiring defence and made it 12-7 at half-time with an unconverted try.

Advantage Like TJs Westcliff could not manufacture many chances in open play with the wind at their backs, and the visiting defence stood strong. On 50 minutes TJs caused a fumble and from the scrum Will Colderick went on the blind side and made 20 metres before finding Watson on the left. He out-manoeuvred his opposite number and accelerated over the line, and Rob White added the extras to stretch their lead. TJs went in search of a fourth try and the bonus point and the pace of the game went up a notch

STREETS AHEAD Dillon Hobbs leads the field

Young Hobbs wins Harriers’ road race By Andrew Deighton ATHLETICS: DILLON HOBBS, the youngest member of the club, narrowly won the Tunbridge Wells Harriers’ road race championship. The distance was five and a half miles with the road heading south out of Tunbridge Wells to Bells Yew Green. The 16-year-old emerged victorious with a time of 32min 15sec, but just eight seconds ahead of M40 Tom Woolley (32.23) with club chairman Andy Howey third (and first M50). Harriet Woolley won the women’s race - and was in seventh place overall- finishing in 35.28 ahead

TOUCHING DOWN Hugo Watson scores

By Adam Hookway

Amelie Karlsson (36.37) with Ana Maria Green third (and first F45). In total 34 Harriers took part, with the range of membership illustrated by a 64-year difference between Dillon and Bryon Taylor, who won the M80 category. A number of Harriers continued their build-up to spring marathons by competing in The Big Half in London: Mike Cardall (1hr 24min), Gemma Stilliard (1:39), Steve Wellstead (1:41), Paul Hollis (1:46), Jonathan Southworth (1:47) and Peter Lyus (1:50). At a windy Eastbourne Half Marathon, there were fine runs by Patrick Bareham, who finished sixth in 1:21 and Mike Rimmer (tenth in 1:25).

PHOTO: Adam Hookway

Strength Ed Shepherdson managing to secure the extras this time and the Academy went in at half-time with a 17-0 lead. After the break Gravesend came out fighting, showing the strength in attack and around the breakdown that they are well known for. The second half became a war of attrition with huge pressure being applied by both sides. A key challenge for Wells was to avoid infringements at the breakdown which had cost them in earlier games. The ferocity of the second period began to tell with several Wells players being forced to go off injured. But strength in depth of the Wells bench allowed Ponsford go over for his second try in the 77th minute, giving Wells a comprehensive 22-0 victory. For more information on TWRFC Academy go to twrfc.com/team/academy

Westcliff 12 Tonbridge Juddians 19

as they looked to break down a solid defence. Tonbridge managed to create good field positions but could not find the cutting edge to make them count and chances went begging. Westcliff had their opportunities too, and it was only a desperate last-ditch tackle that prevented their outside centre from scoring as he cut through. In the final quarter the home side did find space on the right for wing Greg Bannister to

cross for a second try but they could not convert. At 12-19 the game was in the balance and it ebbed and flowed in the middle of the pitch for long periods with neither side creating much. In the end TJs were happy to just get the win and Westcliff settled for a losing bonus point which took them clear of the relegation zone. TJs now return to The Slade to play Clifton, who beat them earlier in the season, on Saturday (March 7, kick-off 3pm).