Times of Tunbridge Wells 15th September 2021

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Wednesday September 15 | 2021

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Travel company breaks silence to announce its multi-million pound sale

By Robert Forrester

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MONTHS of rumours and speculation finally ended yesterday lunchtime [Tuesday] when a multi-million pound takeover of Baldwins Travel was announced.

The travel agents, which was founded in Tunbridge Wells 120 years ago, has been bought by business group Inc & Co for an undisclosed sum, securing the business’ high street presence across Sussex and Kent.

The new owners have said all holiday bookings and payment will be honoured.

Baldwins currently employs more than 50 staff across eight branches, including one in Grosvenor Road in the town centre, which will be protected under the move to the new owner.

ENJOYING TODAY EDUCATING FOR TOMORROW

STAYING Nick [left] and Chris Marks from Baldwins

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01892 267200 hello@hostmyoffice.co.uk www.hostmyoffice.co.uk David Salomons Estate, Broomhill Road, Tunbridge Wells, TN3 0TG

NHS waiting list hits record level for fifth month in a row

By Richard Williams THE number of people waiting for treatment at the Trust that runs Tunbridge Wells Hospital has increased to yet another record high.

Latest data shows around a thousand people a month are now being added to the backlog, as staff at Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust [MTW] attempt to catch up following the Covid crisis.

At the end of July, there were 37,060 patients waiting for treatment at the Pembury based hospital or its sister site in Maidstone, according to latest NHS figures.

This is an increase of more than a thousand on last month when there were 35,995 people waiting for treatments.

It is the fifth month in a row that the figures have broken records for the number of people on waiting lists at MTW.

‘This is an increase of more than a thousand people comapred to last month’ March saw the highest levels since records began in August 2007, when 32,918 people were registered to start hospital treatment. And the figures have increased each month since.

People are also being asked to wait longer.

Last month, 74 per cent of patients were being seen within 18 weeks. This has now fallen to 73 per cent. The

operational standard is 92 per cent.

But just 50 people have been waiting over a year for surgery at MTW, which is a dramatic fall considering 1,000 people had been on the waiting list for more than 52 weeks back in April.

Chief Operating Officer at MTW, Sean Briggs, said: “Throughout the pandemic we have continued to provide urgent and cancer treatment for our patients and we are making great progress with our elective recovery.

“Thanks to the incredible work of our staff, we now have less than 50 patients waiting more than 52 weeks for surgery, compared to over 1,000 patients in April, meaning we are now working at prepandemic levels which is good news for

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this week…

AWARD WINNING BUSINESS: Sharp Thinking Marketing wins a coveted PR gong for its work with local clients such as Simmonds and Birchwood House. P8

TO PROTECT AND SERVE: Crowborough’s long-awaited new police station has been officially opened by Sussex Police & Crime Commissioner Katy Bourne. P11 ALL CHANGE AT AUCTIONEERS: Tunbridge Wells auction house Gorringe’s passes on the gavel from Leslie Gillham and Jane Anderson to Joseph Trinder.

P29 CALLING ALL BOOK LOVERS: Cranbrook is the place to be this weekend thanks to its biennial literary festival.

It’ll welcome a host of top writers including Deborah Moggach. P30 CONTACTS EDITORIAL DIRECTOR RICHARD MOORE richard.moore@onemediauk.co.uk | 01892 779615 DEPUTY EDITOR EILEEN LEAHY eileen.leahy@onemediauk.co.uk.co.uk | 01892 576037 CHIEF REPORTER RICHARD WILLIAMS richard.williams@onemediauk.co.uk |01892 240626 DESIGN/PRODUCTION LEE SMITH lee.smith@onemediauk.co.uk ADVERTISING 01892 779580 advertising@onemediauk.co.uk FIND US ONLINE facebook.com/timeslocalnews www.timeslocalnews.co.uk twitter.com/timeslocalnews

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

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

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

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Wednesday September 15 | 2021

Covid-19 hospital admissions rising but rates of virus fall THE number of people that have been admitted to hospital with Covid-19 is on the rise.

Across Kent, figures show admissions have increased by more than 50 per cent over the last seven days.

On September 1 there were 167 patients in the county with the virus – up from 111 during the previous week, and the highest number since March this year.

At the Trust that runs Tunbridge Wells Hospital, there are 32 patients suffering from Covid-19 either in Maidstone or Pembury.

Four of these patients are on a mechanical ventilator.

While the total is increasing, it remains well below the peak of the pandemic in January when MTW had more than 100 patients in its hospital wards with the virus and around 20 people on ventilators.

Meanwhile, rates of the virus are on the wane.

There were 328 positive cases of the virus recorded in Tunbridge Wells in the seven days to September 9 - the week children went back to school, which gives the borough a rate per 100,000 people of 275.8.

This is down from 397 cases the week before.

In Wealden, there have been 439 cases recorded in the same week down from 477 the week before, giving the district a rate per 100,000 of 269.8. The Uk average is 385.9.

CASES The number of people hospitalised by Covid has increased in the county

PRIMARY SCHOOL HAS ONE IN FOUR WITH THE VIRUS A PRIMARY school in Tunbridge Wells currently has around a quarter of its pupils off with Covid.

St Mary’s School in Lamberhurst says one in four of its pupils have either tested positive or are showing

symptoms, forcing the school back into a bubble system.

Headteacher, Caroline Bromley, told reporters: “We’ve got a significant escalating situation at the school.

Positive PCR and lateral flow

tests and symptoms is approaching 23 per cent of the population of the school.

“We have just under 200 children here and we have more than 46 [positive cases] and we are taking phone calls all the time.”

Travel agents Baldwins has been sold Continued from front page The acquisition of the travel group, which was established in 1895, follows a challenging year for travel, but its new owners say the investment will allow it to navigate its way out of the difficulties presented to the sector during the pandemic.

Originally a bookbinder and stationer that started selling rail tickets, Baldwins grew to become one of the largest travel operators across the South Coast; now commanding a high street presence across Tunbridge Wells, Cranbrook, Lewes, Maidstone, Sevenoaks, Tenterden, Tonbridge and Uckfield.

Jack Mason, Group CEO of Inc & Co, said: “We’re really excited to announce Inc & Co’s acquisition of Baldwins Travel, and we’ll be warmly welcoming the brand into our growing portfolio of businesses.

Sector “Although it’s been a difficult year for the wider sector, we’re delighted to be in a position to secure the futures of Baldwins’ employees and branches across Kent and Sussex.

“Since our founding in 2019, we’ve grown the number of businesses we oversee and our employee headcount, from just 5 to 750 across 15 brands. We’re really excited to bring Baldwins’ established brand heritage and the expertise of its long-serving staff into the Inc & Co family.”

He continued: “Baldwins is a great business with excellent management teams already in place, which is why it will very much remain a

SOLD Baldwins in Grosvenor Road family-run operation. Our plans looking forward to 2022 will see us invest in its tech infrastructure to ensure its online presence is on par with its in-store experience.”

Through the deal, Inc & Co will take on any existing payments due, tour operators will receive all monies owing and all customers will be refunded any outstanding payments.

Chris and Nick Marks – former Baldwins owners – will continue to remain within the business.

They said: “Being a family-owned and run business, we’ve had many very happy years at the helm of Baldwins. We have benefitted from fabulous long-lasting relationships with our customers, our team members and our trade suppliers.

“Going into the pandemic, we were a strong and successful business, but many industries and businesses have been upturned by Covid, and none more so than the travel industry. We were the first to be impacted and look to be the last to

NHS backlog increases for record fifth month Continued from front page our patients who are awaiting treatment.”

Across the UK, a total of 5.6 million people were waiting to start treatment at the end of July.

This is the highest number since records began in August 2007.

The longest waits are for trauma and orthopaedic treatment such as hip and knee replacements, followed by general surgery such

as gallbladder removals and hernia operations.

At MTW, there are currently 3,613 people waiting for orthopaedic or trauma surgery, with just 64 per cent of patients seen within 18 weeks – the government target is 92 per cent.

Resources Waiting lists for non-urgent treatments have been on the rise since the pandemic began and hospitals across the UK had to funnel resources

be able to recover.

“We have sought to ensure the excellent name of Baldwins Travel can flourish once again, which is why we are really pleased to be joining the Inc & Co team; who not only have a huge passion for travel but also have ambitions to invest in and develop the team, the brand and also the digital potential of the business.

“Throughout the past months we have temporarily closed shops – making use of the furlough scheme – and as such, have been unable to respond to correspondence. We apologise for any concern that this has caused and thank customers for their patience.

“We are really pleased to be moving over to Inc & Co to help guide the business forward to new greater heights with the wider expertise from its portfolio of businesses and we would like to thank all our clients over the years for their custom.” into combatting the virus.

Social distancing and other Covid precautions have also impacted on capacity numbers, resulting in MTW having to partner with private healthcare companies such as at Nuffield Health to get through the backlog of appointments.

The figures come after the government announced last week a 1.25 percentage point rise in National Insurance [NI] contributions – equating to a ten percent increase in NI payments from people’s wage packets – to help pay for the NHS backlog and the current social care crisis.

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Wednesday September 15 | 2021

NEWS IN BRIEF

Arrests follow climate protest on the M25 KENT Police arrested twelve people when they blocked a junction on the UK’s busiest motorway during rush hour on Monday morning. Some motorists were gridlocked for up to four hours.

The group Insulate Britain – an offshoot of Extinction Rebellion – staged sit down protests at Junction 3 of the M25 for Swanley in Kent. Other protests were held at Junction 6, Junction 14 and Junction 31.

Asked by the Times why it took so long to remove the protestors, a spokesman for Kent Police said: “Attending patrols put in place a diversion which allowed traffic to flow.

“Officers also followed national guidance to ensure the most proportionate course of action was taken and this included engaging with the individuals involved and encouraging them to leave the area before moving onto enforcement action.

“Twelve people were subsequently arrested on suspicion of obstructing a highway and they have since been released from custody, while an appropriate course of action is determined.”

Biker dies in Cranbrook A MOTORCYCLIST in his 60s has been killed following an accident on the Goudhurst Road near to Cranbrook.

The incident happened on the A262 at around 4.35pm on Sunday [September 12] when a red Yamaha motorcycle left the road at a location close to Chalk Lane.

No other vehicles were involved. Police attended along with ambulance and fire crews, and a man from Sussex, aged in his 60s, was declared deceased at the scene.

His next of kin have been notified. Police are appealing for wtinesses.

Pantiles stars in TV ad TUNBRIDGE Wells’ most iconic town centre area is to appear in a television commercial for an online department store.

Residents in The Pantiles area have said they have been written to by retailer Very to say they will be shooting in the historic promenade at the weekend for their Christmas advertising campaign.

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Oh deer, oh deer, oh deer…

“I rushed over to her and managed to squeeze her free again but she was even more distressed this time so she broke free from my grasp and darted off to another corner of the garden only to get stuck again. I couldn’t believe it.

By Robert Forrester A CUROUS deer had to be rescued last week after getting its head stuck in a set of railings in Tunbridge Wells.

Rescuers had to free the panicked animal three times after it kept returning to the railings.

RSPCA Inspector Grace Harris-Bridge says she was called to a family home in Vauxhall Lane, Tunbridge Wells, on Thursday (September 9) after a local resident spotted the roe deer in the railings.

Released

Exhausted She said: “The little deer was stuck between the metal railings of a perimeter fence but, thankfully, she was only little so I managed to carefully push her backwards through the gap.

“She was exhausted and unable to stand so I left her to rest for a few minutes. I covered her head with a blanket - which is a popular technique for calming deer down - but then, before I knew it, she leapt up and dashed off straight into another section of the fence, only to get stuck again.

STUCK IN A RUT The roe deer caught in the fence in Vauxhall Lane

“She was really panicked by now and I didn’t want to take any further chances so I enlisted the help of a neighbour who very kindly kept hold of her head and neck while I freed her.

With two pairs of hands we were able to keep hold of her to check her over for any injuries.”

The roe deer wasn’t injured so she was released into a neighbouring field.

“I didn’t want to risk her getting tangled in any other fencing or getting hurt so I scooped her up and carried her to a lovely field nearby,” Grace added. “Although she was only a little thing she weighed a tonne so I was exhausted when we got her to the long grass and set her down!

“It was really lovely to see her get onto her feet and prance off into the undergrowth there.

Third time lucky!”

Call to renovate historic spring after fundraising bid dries up

By Richard Williams THE spring that led to the creation of Royal Tunbridge Wells is ‘not fit for purpose’ and should be renovated, according to a preservation society.

Water in the Wells, which is part of the Town Forum, made their plea to ‘exploit’ the town’s historic connection with the spring, after an attempt to rejuvenate the well in The Pantiles appears to have dried up.

The Chalybeate Spring was first discovered in 1606 and became a tourist attraction, resulting in the town forming around the site of its discovery.

The only presence of the spring remaining is in a corner of The Pantiles where there is a plaque and a well leading to the water. The site is surrounded by railings.

HISTORIC The well to the Chalybeate Spring in The Pantiles

Irresponsible During the summer the Council employs ‘dippers’ to offer the water to visitors, but this is not enough, say Water in the Wells.

“I think it is really irresponsible of the Council that they won’t exploit the spring to its maximum potential,” said Water on the Wells Chairman, Michael Holman.

“I would so love to see it made the most out of. It is the reason the town is here and needs to be renovated and tidied up. Currently the area around the Spring is not fit for purpose.”

In May last year, Tunbridge Wells businessman, Samuel Danby made waves by placing an A-board next to the spring announcing that he intended to ‘create a mini tourism hub-a visitor centre open 7 days a week’.

His proposal would serve ‘the famous spring water all year round with monthly walking guides’.

Mr Danby , whoruns events company Bertie & Boo that puts on children’s parties, launched a Just Giving campaign aiming to raise £125,000 for the revamp of the Chalybeate Spring, quoting support from members of Water on the Wells.

“The first I heard of it was when I saw the A-board,” said Mr Holman. “Despite the fact I was quoted on it, I knew nothing about his plans.

“He was incredibly hard to get hold of, but eventually I did sit down with him and heard his ideas, but afterwards I told him that these had all been tried before and were unworkable.

Mr Danby’s attempts to fund a project to restore the spring appear to have failed.

The online fundraiser he set up received just £1,895 of the £125,000 requested in donations and has been closed.

It is not known what has happened to the money that has already been donated.

When approached by the Times, Mr Danby would only say the project was still ‘at the planning stages at present’.

“It would be great if a business could come along and restore the Spring,” said Mr Holman from Water of the Wells. “The situation at the moment is that owners of The Pantiles, Targetfollow, lease it to the Council who I’m sure would love a business with a workable plan to take it off their hands. but I don’t think it will be Mr Danby. I would, however, love to see it exploited and made the most of.”

Cleaned A spokesperson for Tunbridge Wells Borough Council said: “We look after the enclosed area around the spring and we ensure this is cleaned regularly.

“Even before Covid restrictions were introduced it was proving very difficult to find the right people to take on the temporary role of dipper, however, we are hoping to have a dipper in costume at the spring during September.

“We are aware that Targetfollow has been approached about the future use of the spring and we are in discussions with them about this.”

WATERS THAT PUT A SPRING IN A NOBLEMAN’S STEP The Chalybeate Spring was discovered by young nobleman, Dudley Lord North – 3rd Baron North – in 1606.

Lord North had spent several days at the nearby Abergavenny Estate and was feeling the worse for wear from heavy drinking. He took a sip of the water he saw foaming on the ground in an area on the estate between Eridge and the nearby town of Tonbridge.

After feeling rejuvenated, he declared it to be health-giving and told all his friends and acquaintances.

The spring soon began attracting visitors, and the town of Tunbridge Wells began to form around the site.

For more than 400 years visitors came to the town to ‘take the waters’.

The small town of Tunbridge Wells (eventually becoming Royal Tunbridge Wells) surrounding the waters soon grew to rival the size of the already established Tunbridge (after renamed by the GPO as Tonbridge).

In 2015, the waters stopped flowing altogether for the first time in 400 years when the spring temporarily ran dry.

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Wednesday September 15 | 2021

Food festival was just for starters…

By Richard Williams THOUSANDS flocked to The Pantiles at the weekend for the annual Harvest Food Festival and that was just the starter for a round of fun events in the coming months.

They kick off this weekend with a mammoth picnic to thank all the volunteers who have helped us through the pandemic. It takes place at Calverley Grounds and everyone is invited [Full details page 10].

Following closely behind is the Puppetry Festival, which is back for its fourth run, fireworks night in Dunorlan Park, which sadly had to be cancelled last year, the ice rink in Calverley Grounds, not to mention the traditional panto, which this year features a Strictly star.

Spirits All designed to lift our spirits as we work together to come through the Covid challenges.

At the weekend, The Pantiles played host to its annual Harvest Food Festival that showed off some of the best local food Kent has to offer at this time of year.

Organiser, Julian Leefe-Griffiths who also runs the Tunbridge Wells Hotel, said: “It was another really wonderful food festival.

“The weather was really nice to us and there was some great cooking demos with autumn scallops and a partridge cooked by Steve Fuller from Fullers the butchers, so very seasonal for what is the best time of

the year for food.”

But Mr Leefe-Griffiths added that stallholder numbers were lower than previous festivals.

He said: “They were down a little this year due to staff shortages, but it still was really successful and part of what give The Pantiles its life blood.”

Next month, Tunbridge Wells Puppetry Festival is also back after a year off.

The biennial celebration of all-things puppetry will take place across the town from October 13-17.

Centrepiece of the 2021 Festival will be Museum of the Moon, a touring artwork by UK artist Luke Jerram featuring lunar imagery that will sit elevated in Calverley Grounds on Friday and Saturday October 15-16.

Joint Festival Directors Alison Bundy and Ailsa Molyneaux said: “We’re especially proud that Museum of The Moon will bring an extra outdoor element of awe and wonder to this year’s Festival.

“It’s a complete joy to be able to present live work once again.”

Also set to return this year after a year’s hiatus is the annual fireworks celebration.

Organised by the Tunbridge Wells Round Table, it promises to once again light up the skies above Dunorlan Park while raising thousands for local charity.

Around 12,000 usually attend the annual display that had to be cancelled because of the pandemic last year.

Chairman of the Fireworks Committee at the Round Table,

NO STRINGS A performer at the 2019 Puppetry Festival

HARVEST FESTIVAL One of hte stallholders at The Pantiles at the weekend

Simon Addis, said: “We are delighted that the fireworks are back.

“This is one of the flagship events held in the town every year and we know it was sorely missed last year.

“The last 18 months have been tough for everyone, and it is great to be able to get back to some form of normality and light up the skies over Tunbridge Wells. We want everyone to have a great time whilst raising

was plunged into Tier 4 Covid restrictions.

The rink is to return on Friday, November 19 through to January 3.

This year there will be two rinks, with the a smaller one dedicated to parents and toddlers during the day, and to Bavarian curling in the evenings with drinks and refreshments also on offer.

‘The last 18 months have been tough for everyone, and it’s great to get back to some form of normality’

Cllr Jane March, the Council’s head of culture, said: “I’m sure everyone will agree that it’s wonderful to welcome the ice rink back to Calverley Grounds.

“A trip to the rink is such a lovely Christmassy thing to do, and after the challenges we’ve all faced over the past 18 months well deserved.

“This year there are two rinks; by day the smaller rink will be for parents and toddlers and by night it will transform into the Bavarian Curling Rink – definitely worth visiting! So book early and have some festive fun to look forward to.”

Discounted tickets are on sale from skatetw.co.uk

valuable funds for local causes.

The event is expected to take place on November 6 with ticket available from the beginning of October.

Also set to return, after being cancelled last year is the town’s ice rink.

Skate Tunbridge Wells was only open for ten days last year when the rink was forced to close as the area

Curling

AND THE PANTO IS BACK WITH A STRICTLY STAR THE Assembly Hall Theatre has confirmed its panto for this year will be Snow White and the Seven Dwarves, and will feature Strictly Star Shirley Ballas.

Shirley will play the Wicked Queen and will be coming to Tunbridge Wells hot on the tail of this year’s Strictly.

The dancing legend has also appeared on Dancing With The Stars, Loose Women and even won the show Taskmaster after her appearance on it this year.

AHT Director JJ Almond said: “We are hugely excited to have Shirley with us for this year’s panto, the work she’s done in the dance world is unparalleled so to have her on the AHT stage is a total honour.

“Strictly has a special and dedicated fanbase in Tunbridge Wells too so to have her with us while the glamour and excitement of this year’s series is still with us is going to be something truly special.”

The panto will run from Friday, December 17 to Monday, January 3.

Tickets are available from: assemblyhalltheatre. co.uk/whats-on/ snow-white-and-theseven-dwarfs WICKED QUEEN Shirley Ballas

COLD COMFORT The Ice Rink in Tunbridge Wells is to return

PHOTO: BBC

Wednesday September 15 | 2021

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Campaigner petitions for end to the ‘lottery’ of visits to care homes BRIEF Tamsin with mother Jill at one of their 30 minute ‘designated room’ visit in the garden

By Richard Williams THE daughter of an Alzheimer’s sufferer who can only see her mother for 30 minutes in the garden each week, is handing in a petition to Downing Street tomorrow [Thursday] urging the Government to change the law.

Tamasin Absolon is a former wealth manager from Tunbridge Wells who has featured in this newspaper several times on the issue. She says despite the lifting of restrictions, the private care home looking after her mother, Jill Walker, still heavily restricts her visits.

Access Ms Absolon joined campaign group Rights for Residents after an ‘horrendous’ 18 months when her mother, who has Alzheimer’s entered a local Kent home, which she does not wish to name, just before lockdown.

At the beginning of the Covid crisis, she says her mother was isolated for weeks on end, and even now she still only gets to see her mother for 30 minutes each week while other homes allow family members far more access.

“It is a lottery,” she told the Times. “My dad is in a small, independent home and I can see him whenever I want but when I go to see my mum, I am still restricted to booking a 30-minute, at most-weekly

Local News garden or designated room visit.

“Sometimes it can take more than the allotted time before mum can process who I am.

Short visits are very distressing and are of no value to her or me.”

Jill’s husband of 25 years is also restricted to the same 30-minute weekly garden meetings at the £1,400 a week care home.

The government laid down ‘guidance’ earlier this year to allow Essential Care Givers [ECGs] – a nominated close family or friend – unrestricted

‘Why bother vaccinating vulnerable people if they are not going to allow them to live?’ visits, regardless of any future lockdowns, but it is not being adhered to, Ms Absolon claims.

“It is only guidance at the moment, not law, so homes do not have to follow it,” she said.

“At my mum’s home they say she doesn’t need an ECG as the staff are more qualified to provide all the emotional support my mum needs. That’s not right. I am her daughter.

Nobody knows her better than I do and what she needs.

“My mum had to sell her house so we could pay for her care, although this is not about the money. It is about her well-being.

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“I don’t think it is even about Covid anymore or that these care homes are just being over cautious. I just think family visitors are seen as an inconvenience.”

She is now calling for the government to enshrine its guidance into legislation in what Rights For Residents are calling Gloria’s Law. It is named after the late mother of I’m a Celebrity star and actress Ruthie Henshall who died aged 87 in May after being isolated from her family for most of lockdown.

If passed, each of the 400,000 care home residents in the UK will have the right to nominate a family visitor in all circumstances, regardless of Covid outbreaks, restrictions, lockdowns or variants.

Enforced Ms Absolon, along with other members of the group is handing a petition into Downing Street tomorrow calling for the law change, which has so far gathered more than 250,000 signatures.

“The enforced and prolonged separation my Mum has endured during the pandemic is unacceptable and the denial of her right to a family life should never be repeated,” she said.

“The Government needs to explain why it has bothered to vaccinate vulnerable people if they are not going to allow them to live?”

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Wednesday September 15 | 2021

County Hall reopens the door to child migrants

By Richard Williams KENT County Council [KCC] has said it will once again admit unaccompanied asylumseeking children (UASC) into its reception centres.

The authority has warned, however, that the current level of arrivals across the Channel makes it unlikely it will be able to safely accommodate all UASC arrivals on Kent’s shores.

In June, KCC Leader Roger Gough stopped accepting any new child migrants that landed on Kent’s beaches due to its children’s services reaching ‘breaking point’.

It was the second time this year that KCC had to close the door to UASC arrivals.

Mr Gough, who is a Sevenoaks councillor, also

threatened to bring a judicial review at the courts to ask Home Secretary Priti Patel to use existing powers to direct local authorities other than Kent to receive their fair share of UASCs. But last Friday, in a statement Cllr Gough, said: “We are in very advanced discussions with the Home Office to develop a safe and sustainable solution for Kent to support those who arrive in the county.

Capacity “This reflects the realities of the government strategy for the distribution of UASC around all local authorities in the UK through the National Transfer Scheme, without our services being overwhelmed by the

numbers of new arrivals.

“In June this year we informed the Home Office that we no longer had the capacity to safely look after newly arrived UASC from the port of Dover because of the strain on our Children’s Services, given the number of arrivals. Similar action was taken in August 2020 for the same reason.

“We remain of the view that the only long-term solution to caring for and distributing UASC fairly and safely is for the Home Secretary to use her power under the 2016 Immigration Act to make participation in the National Transfer Scheme mandatory for all local authorities and will keep all legal options open to pursue that if necessary.”

INBOUND Migrants being brought in to Dover by a Border Force patrol boat on Monday [September 13]

RECORD NUMBER OF MIGRANTS ARRIVE ON KENT’S SHORES NEARLY 2,000 migrants arrived in the UK in the last week, setting a new record for the year so far. A total of 1,959 people crossed the Channel from France in the week to September 10 – the highest total for any seven-day period in 2021.

The vast majority of arrivals were in Kent.

At least 14,400 people have crossed to the UK

on board small boats this year.

Figures for the most recent seven-day period, covering the week to September 12, show that 1,876 people arrived.

The total for 2021 so far is already just over 6,000 higher than the number of people who made the crossing in 2020.

Line to close as more trains announced

By Robert Forrester THE rail line between Tunbridge Wells and Hastings is to close in October for maintenance to prevent landslides.

Network Rail said the route needs to be shut so a section of track known to be prone to landslips can be strengthened.

The line will be closed during the school half term break between Saturday, October 23 and Friday, October 29.

Buses will replace trains between Tunbridge Wells and Battle and between Battle and Hastings during the seven-day closure.

Bob Coulson, Network Rail infrastructure director for Kent route, said: “The steep cutting at Wadhurst was dug more than 170 years ago and has suffered from a number of landslips in recent years, causing significant disruption to passengers on this key route

between the coast and central London.

“These stabilisation works are vital for us and Southeastern to provide more reliable train services and by doing this work in one block, we will avoid having to close the line countless weekends in future.”

Scott Brightwell, train services director at Southeastern, added: “This essential work will help reduce the number of delays in the long term and therefore improve passenger journeys.

Routes “We’d ask that our passengers wishing to travel on these dates allow considerably more time for their journeys which will involve accessible rail replacement buses and coaches.”

Meanwhile, outheastern has launched a new timetable,

increasing the number of trains on some routes as people return to the railway.

Train services director for Southeastern Scott Brightwell said: “We’ve seen an increase in demand, and so we’ve added a number of additional and longer trains to our service.

“We’ll continue to review our passenger numbers and we’ll adjust train lengths and times where necessary.

“As government restrictions ease, we’re looking forward to welcoming more passengers back to travelling with us.”

The changes were launched last week by the train operator, include reinstating the 09:21, 09:51 and 10:21 Tunbridge Wells to London Charing Cross, the 09:00, 09:30 and 10:00 London Charing Cross to Tunbridge Wells, and the 15:00 London Charing Cross-Tunbridge Wells.

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LCF minibond investigation to hit £7million as investors drop appeal

By Richard Williams COSTS connected to finding out what happened to the £237million from a Tunbridge Wells minibond firm that went bust has exceeded £6.2million and are expected to reach £7.7million by the end of January.

According to their latest progress report, filed with Companies House, joint administrators Smith and Williamson and FRP Advisory who are handling the administration of Eridge based London Capital & Finance [LCF] racked up £587,943 in costs for the six months to July 29.

The report estimates fees will exceed £7.7million by the end of January 2022.

Collapse Around 11,500 investors lost their life savings when LCF fell into administration after the city watchdog froze its banks accounts in 2019 over its marketing practices.

At the time of the collapse, it owed more than £237million to investors who had paid into its minibond schemes.

The firm was originally set up by Tunbridge Wells businessman and former local Conservative Party chair, Simon Hume-Kendall.

The Serious Fraud Office [SFO] is currently investigating the collapse and five men have been arrested and others quizzed over ‘money laundering’ offences, but no charges have been brought.

8,800 people in total.

Last month, a group of LCF bondholders were forced to withdraw a judicial review appeal against the FSCS, because they could not afford to pay the £600,000 legal fees if they lost.

They had hoped to convince the court they were entitled to full pay-outs in respect of all investments in LCF made on or after January

3, 2018 not just 80 per cent.

During the original hearing, the claimants’ argument had been that, as a matter of law, bonds are transferrable securities and that LCF had engaged in a regulated activity by agreeing to deal them.

In his ruling, Justice Bourne pointed to brochures of the mini-bonds which clearly stated these were non-transferable securities.

The judge was sympathetic with the claimants’ situation but nevertheless found in the FSCS’s favour.

Award for marketing firm at the sharp end A FLEDGLING marketing and PR firm in just its third year has picked up a national award.

The company scooped an award for marketing and PR at this year’s Local Business Awards.

Delighted

‘They had argued that they were entitled to full pay-outs in respect of all investments in LCF made on or after January 3, 2018 not just 80 per cent’ In April this year, the government took the unusual step of announcing that it would establish a scheme to compensate bondholders even though the minibonds were unregulated and didn’t fall within the Financial Services Compensation Scheme [FSCS].

The new scheme will pay out 80 per cent of LCF bondholders’ initial investment up to a maximum of £68,000 and expects to pay out around £120million compensation to around

Wednesday September 15 | 2021

FOUNDER Simon Hume-Kendall set up Tunbridge Wells investment firm LCF under the name Sales Aid Finance

One of 28 winners across the country, founder of Sharp Thinking Marketing, Nat Sharp, said: “I was over the moon to win this award. I felt the Local Business Awards had a good fit with my business and was delighted to hear I had picked up the award under the marketing and PR category after working hard to establish my business over the last three years.”

The Local Business Awards celebrates the best local, ethical and sustainable businesses in the UK. An independent organisation, the team believes that celebrating local businesses on a national level can inspire a local business revolution, encouraging people to support local. They strive to give people the confidence

to follow their dreams and start a local business.

James Murphy, the founder of the Local Business Awards, added: “Kent-based Sharp Thinking Marketing is exactly the type of business we had in mind when creating the Local Business Awards.

“A great local business that works with other great local businesses. Nat Sharp delivers life-changing projects and still finds time to give back to her local community.”

Over the last three years, 15 clients have entrusted Sharp Thinking to be their business and marketing partner, many of which are local family firms, including Actionpoint, Birchwood House and 200-year-old uniform supplier, Simmonds.

AWARD Natalie Sharp

Forest Fun Day Saturday 25th September 9.30am - 12pm A morning of fun outdoor activities at KC Nursery and Prep School Book online www.kent-college.co.uk

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Have your say on the pros and cons of the airport expansion Robert Forrester GATWICK has opened its consultation on plans to bring a second runway into use, which campaigners say will see flights increase from 280,000 to 390,000 flights over the next 15 years.

As revealed in the Times last month, the UK’s second largest airport wants to press ahead with plans to bring into operation its emergency runway for departing aircraft.

Last Thursday [September 9] it launched a public consultation to hear residents’ views on its plans. If successful, the northern runway could be operational by 2029.

Gatwick say the £500million project will be privately financed, generating approximately 18,400 additional jobs by 2038 and bring an additional £1.5billion to the region.

and seek to bring significant benefits for our region.

“I am confident in our future and very pleased to present these proposals for public consultation. We would like to hear views from local residents, and anyone interested in our proposals. I encourage everyone to take time to review our plans and respond by December 1, 2021.”

‘More flights will mean more noise and sleep deprivation for people’ However, anti-aircraft noise campaigners say if Gatwick gets it way it will grow from 45 million passengers

and 280,000 flights annually in 2018, to over 75 million passengers and 390,000 flights by 2038, nearly the size of Heathrow.

Charles Lloyd from Penshurst in Kent, who is part the Gatwick Area Conservation Campaign (GACC) said: “More flights will mean more noise and sleep deprivation for people living under flightpaths. Noise has a huge effect on our health and quality of life.”

The 12-week public consultation will run to December 1.

Those interesting in responding do so by completing the online consultation questionnaire at gatwickairport.com/ futureplans or email comments to feedback@gatwickfutureplans.com.

Pret says it is close to pre-Covid levels POPULAR lunchtime sandwich shop, Pret a Manger, has said sales at their stores outside London have returned to 80 per cent of prepandemic levels.

Pret a Manger boss Pano Christou says in regional and suburban towns such as Tunbridge Wells where it trades from 121 Mount Pleasant Road things were ‘pretty much back to normal’.

He said the first full week after the school holidays had been the ‘acid test’ to gauge the scale of workers returning to areas such as the City of London after a switch to remote working over the pandemic.

Trade

Storm

Chief executive officer Stewart Wingate said the proposals will help boost their economy, maintain competition within the London market, open up new connections and support a Global Britain.

“They will also open up exciting new employment opportunities, create additional jobs and further enable travel to visit family and friends, take a leisure break or foster trade and business links,” he said.

“Our proposals are forward looking

The sandwich chain was heavily hit by the ‘work from home’ diktat from government during the pandemic, as its main business is in the lunch time trade for office workers.

Christou warned last year that Pret was ‘in the eye of the storm’ during the pandemic, as it had built its business capturing city centre trade using the mantra ‘follow the skyscraper’.

Last summer, Pret, owned by the

German fund JAB Holdings, cut 3,700 jobs and closed 39 sandwich shops after sales fell by up to 80 per cent in some of its worst affected locations.

Christou said sales at his sandwich shops in city centres had now returned to about 80 per cent of pre-pandemic levels.

He added: “Things have really continued to build since Freedom Day in July. We are optimistic and confident this demand will continue to build throughout the rest of the year.

“Suburban locations have continued to stay very strong. Where we are in regional towns, things are pretty much back to normal.”

Despite its enduring successes and its resilience during the past 18 months compared with many businesses, Pret became a poster boy for the economic damage wrought by the pandemic after commuters failed to return in significant numbers last autumn.

He now plans to expand Pret by opening about 100 new outlets over the next two years, from 404 currently, and is in talks with franchise partners. Most of its future growth will be in the regions.

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Wednesday September 15 | 2021

Community volunteers to be treated to a big thank you picnic in the park

By Richard Williams A CELEBRATORY picnic is to be held in Calverley Grounds this Saturday [September 18] to thank hundreds of local volunteers for their hard work in the community over what has been a very difficult year and a half since the pandemic hit, and the public are welcome to attend.

More than 35 charities and voluntary organisations will come together from 11am to 3pm in the central Tunbridge Wells park to reward those who have helped them through these challenging times.

The picnic is being arranged by Tunbridge Wells Borough Council [TWBC] with funding from Kent County Council’s Reconnect Communities Fund, and is being supported by the Royal Tunbridge Wells Together Business Improvement District [BID].

In holding the event, the Council wants acknowledge and celebrate the tireless work of the volunteers supporting the many charities and organisations who have made a such a positive difference to people living in the borough, particularly over the past 18 months.

Collectively Members of the public are welcome to attend with their own picnic and join in on what promises to be a relaxed and fun event.

At the picnic there will be performances from local young people including Trinity Youth Theatre, the inclusive dance company This Is Us and the Paddock Wood Community Choir.

Members of the Royal Tunbridge Wells Symphony Orchestra (RTWSO) will also be taking part.

The Mayor of Tunbridge Wells, Councillor Chris

Woodward, will be attending with the Mayoress.

Nicky Carter at TWBC, said: “Collectively the voluntary sector has excelled in every possible way, quietly getting on with things in the most challenging of circumstances and always going that extra mile. We cannot thank them enough.”

Liz de Villiers, Chief Executive of Citizens Advice Tunbridge Wells & District, who accepted the invitation to attend, added: “I’m so pleased to have this opportunity to celebrate our volunteers – the wonderful people who give their time for free to help local people find a way through their problems.

“Over the past 18 months they’ve risen to the challenge of working alone, from their kitchen tables, some of them increasing the hours that they give each week to help us meet demand.”

Dawn Stanford, BEM, Operations Director for Nourish Community Foodbank, said the charity was ‘thrilled’ to be included.

She said: “Our volunteers are the backbone of our operation and we are delighted to have this way to say a huge thank you to them for all their support, not just during the pandemic but over the eight years we have been supporting people in food poverty within the borough.”

Henu Cummins, CEO of Domestic Abuse Volunteer Support Service [DAVSS], which is based in the town, also welcomed the chance to thank their volunteers, saying: “Our professionally trained domestic abuse volunteers commit a minimum of five hours per week to supporting the DAVSS Helpline or ten hours a week supporting clients.”

Around the World

Youngsters set to Squirrel their way into Scouts THE Scouts have launched a new national programme named ‘Squirrels’ which is tailormade for four-to-five year-olds to boost their confidence and reduce anxiety resulting from the pandemic.

The programme is the first expansion for 35 years for the Scouts, whose founder Lord Baden-Powell spent part of his childhood in Tunbridge Wells.

Scouts CEO Matt Hyde points out that ‘if you’re four, you’ve spent a third of your life in lockdowns’.

Squirrels, which is supported by famous Chief Scout Bear Grylls, will encourage young members to be active, explore nature and have fun learning outdoors with friends, like all other Scouts.

So far, Squirrel ‘Dreys’ have been set up Gravesend, Dartford, Gillingham, Sevenoaks, Folkstone and Deal, but not yet in Tunbridge Wells.

But County Media Development Manager for Kent Scouts, Dave Norris, told the Times: “The option to open Dreys is there for all groups, however it is down to the individual groups to decide if they want to open one at current as it is not compulsory.

“However, over the next 3 years more and more dreys will gradually open county and country wide.”

BOARDING: 19:00 till 23:00 DESTINATION: High Rocks Lane, Tunbridge Wells, TN3 9JJ TICKETS: £40pp. Drinks reception with canapes on arrival, three course dinner, wine and coffee plus entertainment.

with Hospice of Hope

Join us for our travel-themed dinner with first class entertainment at High Rocks, Tunbridge Wells

To book tickets: Book through our website www.hospicesofhope.co.uk, email events@hospicesofhope.co.uk, or phone 01959 525110

@hospicesofhope

Hospices of Hope 11 High Street, Otford, Kent TN14 5PG

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11

New town centre police station opens after residents call for a more accessible facility they cannot wait to get started.”

While the new building is primarily a new Wealden Neighbourhood Police station, other teams such as Response, the Roads Policing Unit, the Rural Crime Team and others will be regular visitors.

The station was officially opened last Wednesday [September 8], with PCC Katy Bourne, Temporary Assistant Chief Constable Jayne Dando, Wealden town and parish councillors and Sussex Police staff and officers attending.

Committed

thin blue line Katy Bourne [middle] opening the police station with members of Sussex Police last week

By Sarah Bond CROWBOROUGH’s long-awaited new police station, converted from the old Town Hall on The Broadway during the pandemic, was unveiled last week in the presence of Sussex Police & Crime Commissioner Katy Bourne and other notable figures.

Wealden MP Nusrat Ghani was also due to attend but was called away to Parliament for urgent proceedings. Wealden District and East Sussex County Councillor for Crowborough Philip Lunn delivered Ms Ghani’s words of thanks in her place, saying the new police station was ‘fantastic news for Crowborough’.

The new £660,000-plus town centre facility has been described as ‘an exciting project’ and came in response to call from local people for a more accessible police station.

As the culmination of work with partner agencies to respond to the needs of the community in the north Wealden area, it will have a front office counter to serve the public and will also provide more modern working facilities for police teams.

In autumn 2019, the Sussex Police & Crime Commissioner [PCC] purchased the former Crowborough Town Council building on The Broadway for £315,000 plus fees to convert it to a new police station.

This now replaces the former police station on Crowborough Hill in Jarvis Brook.

Following the challenges of 2020, renovation

started last autumn to provide a fit-for-purpose, modern base at what is said to be a further cost of £345,000.

Members of the Wealden Neighbourhood Policing Team [NPT] will now be based in the new town centre facility and the front office counter will be more easily accessible to the public.

Consultation These were important factors for the communities of Crowborough, as mentioned in a consultation run by Sussex PCC Katy Bourne in March 2020.

Mrs Bourne said she had responded to ‘exactly’ what local people told her they wanted.

She commented: “I am delighted that Crowborough will have a new police station to give residents a real sense of community policing.

“From my consultation in the town last year, I know that this has been missed in recent times and will be warmly welcomed by local people.

“I’m looking forward to seeing the new police station acting as a real hub of the community, providing reassurance and protection to Crowborough as well as to the neighbouring rural areas.

“The more central location of the new station will house members of the neighbourhood policing team, making them a genuine part of the town and more visible to residents. This is exactly what local people told me they wanted.”

With its central location, officers will be able to spend more time proactively policing the community and tackling local issues, with less time travelling between hubs.

It will enable officers and staff to focus on proactive problem-solving initiatives, addressing local concerns and the policing priorities for the area.

The NPT will be working with the community and partner agencies to manage and resolve long-term issues and will provide consistency of contact.

Wealden NPT Inspector Kendal Wells said: “This has been an exciting project to be involved in and the opening of the new station will be really positive news for the communities of North Wealden.

“Officers and staff see this as an excellent opportunity to work from a new base and I know

The Divisional Commander for East Sussex, Chief Superintendent Tanya Jones, added: “Ultimately the move to this central location provides a more accessible and visible presence to help with community policing and working together as one to address issues.

“Visiting a police station is one of the ways the public can report crime or contact a member of Sussex Police. We are committed to providing services that meet customer needs and understand the value placed upon being able to visit a police station face-to-face, alongside providing a wide range of contact options over the phone and online.”

Cllr Philip Lunn, a member of the Police & Crime Panel, relayed a message from local MP Nus Ghani in her absence.

She said: “The new police station is fantastic news for Crowborough. It is a great asset and I’m pleased that the neighbourhood policing team and the rural crime team can continue to grow from strength to strength and support our communities.

“This new location provides a more accessible and visible police presence to help keep communities in Crowborough and north Wealden safe and deliver a better service.

“Many thanks to the Sussex Police & Crime Commissioner Katy Bourne, Chief Inspector Alasdair Henry and Inspector Kendal Wells of the Wealden Policing team, and David Lewis and Siobhan Wiltshire of Sussex Police Estates department, who helped to manage the project. I look forward to working very closely with the expanded team based in Crowborough.”

The front office at the new police station opened at 12.30pm last Thursday [September 9], and regular opening times are Monday to Friday from 10am to 2pm.

The old police station is being sold for a guide price of £1,250,000, with funds raised to be put towards policing.

Drumming up new funds DRUMS are a vital part of the Tunbridge Wells Sea Cadets’ marching band, and the youth organisation is having a fundraising day to raise money for new ones needed.

The fundraiser is being held on Sunday September 26 at the Black Horse, Camden Road, Tunbridge Wells from 2pm to 6pm to raise money for the replacement percussion instruments for the cadets at TS Brilliant.

Albion Road, aim to give young people an experience to help them to grow into the people they want to be, in a safe and friendly environment.

They offer a range of activities from powerboating, sailing and windsurfing to camping, rock

Sponsor Music will be performed by various artists on the day, and there will also be a barbecue.

You can sponsor a drum and/or take part in the auction and raffle.

The Sea Cadets, based in

banging the drum Tunbridge Wells Sea Cadets

climbing and music.

You can book your tickets now at the Black Horse or call 01892 523910 for more details.

To find out more about the Tunbridge Wells Sea Cadets, visit: sea-cadets.org/ tunbridgewells

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Millions will get booster shots but masks to return if infections rise BOOSTER Covid vaccines will be offered to millions of people from next week, the PM has confirmed, ending weeks of speculation about plans to keep the virus under control in the winter.

Boris Johnson, whose mother died on Monday aged 79, thanked people for their condolences before confirming the government’s winter strategy during a Downing Street press conference yesterday [Tuesday] afternoon.

He said: “I want you to cast your mind back exactly a year and think where we were last September as schools went back and the colder months approached.

PLAN The PM yesterday confirming his Covid strategy for winter

Eligible “Because in one way our position today is actually more challenging – we have higher levels of daily cases, thousands more, but in many other crucial respects the British people, all of us collectively and individually, are incomparably better-placed to fight the disease.”

He cited high levels of people being vaccinated as bringing greater protection but warned those who are not vaccinated are up to nine times more likely to die, depending on their age, than if they have had both jabs.

Under the government’s plans, booster shots will be given alongside annual flu jabs.

Those eligible for boosters include anyone aged 50 and over, people living and working in elderly care homes, and frontline health and social care workers – around 30 million people in the UK. All those who are clinically extremely vulnerable and anyone aged 16 to 65 in an at-risk group for Covid (who were included in priority groups one to nine during the initial vaccine rollout) will also be eligible for a jab.

As reported in the Times last month, around 37,000 adults in Tunbridge Wells will be offered the backup injection – around one in three of the Borough’s population.

The Health Secretary had earlier warned that measures such as masks and Covid passports could also be reintroduced as part of the government’s ‘Plan B’.

Sajid Javid told the Commons the contingency will be activated if there is ‘unsustainable’ pressure on the NHS in England.

He said it is ‘highly likely’ that frontline NHS staff and those in wider social care settings will need to have Covid-19 and flu vaccinations in order to be deployed, measures which are currently subject to consultation.

People will also be encouraged to meet outdoors or open windows if indoors, wear a face covering in crowded and enclosed settings, wash their hands frequently, and use the NHS Covid-19 app.

Businesses are urged to consider using the Covid pass to check the vaccination or test status of customers.

Mr Javid said: “The plan shows how we’ll give this nation the best possible chance of living with Covid without the need for stringent social and economic restrictions.”

But he added: “We have seen how quickly this virus can adapt and change so we have prepared a Plan B of contingency measures that we can call upon only if they are needed and supported by the data to prevent unsustainable pressure on the NHS.” Other ‘Plan B’ measures could include communicating clearly and urgently to the public that the level of risk has increased, and with it the need to behave more cautiously.

Mandatory vaccine-only Covid-passes could also be introduced in settings such as nightclubs, The government may also reintroduce the legal requirement to wear face coverings in some settings and advise people to work from home.

Downpours cause flash floods in London marking the end of summer TORRENTIAL rain has caused flooding at Tower Bridge and the North Circular Road in London yesterday [Tuesday].

Cars were captured ploughing through floodwater on Tower Bridge in central London beneath a blanket of clouds on Tuesday morning.

The Met Office issued a yellow warning for rain which they said may cause flooding in central and eastern areas of England last night.

The capital is predicted to be one of the worst-hit areas in terms of rainfall by this the morning, with up to 25mm of water predicted to lash London.

Thunderstorms

FLOODS London yesterday after the downpour

It is a stark difference to the sweltering sunshine experienced this time last month across the UK, including Wales which experienced its warmest September night on record, while temperatures in Scotland reached the highest since 1906.

But grey skies and temperatures in the late teens hailed the end of summery weather towards the middle of the month.

Met Office meteorologist Annie Shuttleworth said that as the rain

moves north-eastwards throughout Tuesday, areas of the Midlands and north-east could see 40mm of rain.

She added that the rain is set to ease in the south on Tuesday afternoon, with a ‘low risk’ of thunderstorms to follow.

Ms Shuttleworth said: “We have seen the main body of rain move further north throughout the morning, and the rain will persist for the longest in north-eastern parts of England.”

She added that Wednesday will bring drier weather across the UK, which is set to stay fairly settled with patchy sunshine predicted throughout the coming days.

Tuesday temperatures of around 18C (64.4F) in London and 15C (59F) in Edinburgh will climb to around 21C (69.8F) and 18C (64.4F) respectively on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.

Meanwhile, temperatures in Cardiff and Belfast are predicted to remain constant at around 18C (64.4F) throughout the working week.

Ms Shuttleworth said that the long-range forecast for September is uncertain, but forecasters expect temperatures across the UK to be slightly higher than average for the time of year.

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HERO Calli the German Shepherd and PC Megan West

Police honour brave dogs and handlers POLICE dogs have been given bravery awards for efforts including saving a man from suicide and overcoming a machete-wielding attacker.

Five service dogs and six handlers are being honoured at the inaugural Thin Blue Paw Awards at Knebworth House in Hertfordshire.

Some 140 people and nine dogs were invited to the event, which is hosted by BBC News presenter Rich Preston in the stately Tudor house near Stevenage.

German shepherd Calli and PC Megan West won the Lifesaver award for preventing a man’s suicide attempt with moments to spare in June 2021.

After receiving a call from a man in crisis saying he was going to take his own life, the Kent Police pair tracked him down in just 10 minutes after Calli picked up a scent.

The man was trying to hang himself from a tree, but PC West cut him free and administered first aid moments later and he made a full recovery.

West Midlands Police dog Stark and PC Paul Hopley received the Outstanding Bravery award for overcoming a machete-wielding attacker following reports of attempted break-ins at a Staffordshire allotment.

They responded to calls in the early hours of December 14 last year, when the suspect struck Stark at least 20 times with a machete – leaving him with deep lacerations on his head and covered

in blood.

The four-year-old black German shepherdBelgian malinois cross still managed to drag the attacker away as PC Hopley subdued him with an aerosol similar to pepper spray.

Stark needed emergency treatment and stitches before he bravely returned to his duties four weeks later.

Dutch shepherd Bart and PC Kelly Walker were recognised as the Crime Fighting Duo after supporting all units of Cheshire Police and North Wales Police to track down high-risk missing people and with firearms support.

Risk PC Walker also helped design a body armour for the dogs, with Bart trialling the equipment.

Two-year-old Labrador Elvis, and his handler PC Colin Nash, were given the Rising Star award for sniffing out knives from the streets of London and identifying county lines victims.

From finding two suspects hiding under a caravan after being struck in the face with a crowbar in 2016, to catching a fleeing suspect as he tried to choke her this year, police dog Nala has become renowned for tackling burglars in Northamptonshire.

The German shepherd of seven years’ service was

given the Lifetime Achievement with her handler PC Sean Foster.

Leicestershire Police officer of 22 years Darren Sewell received the Special Recognition award after caring for police dogs Jura and Gilly while helping train puppies for neighbouring forces.

The dog handler and firearms support handler of 16 years was diagnosed with stage four lymphoma in 2020, and has been undergoing chemotherapy while continuing to care for his pack.

National dog welfare charity the Thin Blue Paw Foundation organised the event with sponsorship from Animal Friends Insurance.

The charity’s co-founder, Kieran Stanbridge, said: “There are approximately 1,500 serving police dogs working across the UK and, every day, they put their lives on the line alongside their handlers to help fight crime, save lives and keep the public safe.

“As a charity, we want to support these dogs to live long and happy lives when they retire, but we also want to acknowledge, recognise and celebrate the dogs, police dog handlers, and duos who have made a real difference in their communities.”

Dogs and handlers from Surrey and Sussex Police, Derbyshire Police and Nottinghamshire Police are also highly commended in the categories.

NEWS IN BRIEF

F1 fan arrested after being Taliban pledge to keep mistaken for mob boss terrorists out of country

Man stabbed stranger with bayonet 30 times

A BRITISH F1 fan was pounced on by armed police while eating lunch and then hooded, handcuffed and bundled away after being mistaken for a Mafia crime boss in the Netherlands a, it has emerged.

The man, identified only as Mark L, 54, from Liverpool, was with his son when he was taken to a maximum security jail in The Hague last Wednesday, his lawyer said.

The arrested man, who was eventually released, had been in the country watching the Dutch Grand Prix.

The arrest came after Italy asked Dutch authorities to execute an international arrest warrant for Sicilian crime boss Matteo Messina Denaro, who has been in hiding since 1993.

Denaro, nicknamed ‘Diabolik’, is wanted for 50 murders and is the ‘capo di tutti capi’ – the boss of all bosses – of the Sicilian Mafia.

A MAN has admitted killing a stranger in a cemetery by stabbing him more than 30 times with a bayonet.

Cornelius Tully, 50, attacked Michael MorrisOwens, 62, as he sat on a bench outside St Mary’s chapel in Kensal Green, north-west London, on November 22 last year.

CCTV captured the shadow of a figure holding a long thin blade on the chapel wall before Tully carried out the random stabbing.

Tully, from Ealing, west London, appeared at the Old Bailey on Tuesday by video link from Three Bridges secure hospital. He denied murder but pleaded guilty to manslaughter on the basis of diminished responsibility and the plea was accepted by prosecutors because of his unspecified psychiatric condition.

Judge Anthony Leonard adjourned sentencing to October 29.

THE foreign minister in Afghanistan’s new Taliban-run cabinet has said the government is committed to its promise not to allow militants to use its territory to attack others.

In his first press conference since the Taliban formed an interim government a week ago, Molavi Amir Khan Muttaqi would not give a timeframe for how long the government would be in place, or whether it would eventually be opened up to other factions.

When asked about the possibility of elections, Mr Muttaqi said other countries should not interfere in Afghanistan’s internal issues.

Under a deal reached last year with the United States, the Taliban promised to break ties with al Qaida and other militant groups and ensure they do not threaten other countries from its territory.

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Education

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EDUCATION Times

“Children learn not just by what they are told about something but also how they feel about it…”

A new book argues how mainstream education needs a new paradigm to replace the traditional emphasis of cognition and logic.

Here Eileen Leahy chats to its author Leonora Langley about why focusing on the enrichment of children’s souls rather than grades is crucial for their overall development and longterm happiness….

LEONORA Buirski, who writes under the pen plea for greater awareness in nurturing the name Leonora Langley, is a woman of many emotional wellbeing of our children. talents. She is a qualified counsellor, “As society moves towards a a former international journalist heightened consciousness of – Leonora was editor of the mental health issues, such as Hollywood Reporter Magazine anxiety, depression and stress, and West Coast edition I offer a persuasive critique of Elle USA – and she’s of the present focus on also been a teacher: her intellectual most recent position was achievement over principal piano tutor at sensitivity, to the needs Bennett Memorial School of children as whole here in Tunbridge Wells. integrated beings embracing Now mainly concentrating the physical, spiritual, on writing books, the emotional and intellectual.”

Tonbridge based author has In her book Leonora argues Leonora Buirski recently published a fascinating that mainstream education tome entitled Let The Souls of Our desperately needs a new paradigm to Children Sing (Giving Voice to Their Feelings replace the emphasis of cognition and logic. and Emotions). In it she says she makes an impassioned plea to parents, educators and “This is a persuasive critique of carers of the young for greater awareness the present focus on intellectual in nurturing the emotional wellbeing of our children. achievement over sensitivity” Following what has been a hugely uncertain eighteen months in their lives, Leonora offers parents and educators new ways of looking at “This you see can be counted and measured how best we can help children to move on from over the enrichment of children’s souls which I lockdowns, homeschooling and not having believe is beyond measure.” had the usual freedom they would have had as In the synopsis of the book, Leonora asks children had the pandemic not happened. the question, ‘Are we failing our children by not being receptive and responsive enough to their feelings and emotions? Encompassing “I wanted to give a voice to the the obligations of parents as well as the

young when they sometimes don’t have one”

“In the book I explain how I would like to have been given something similar to accompany the birth of my son,” Leonora says.

Support “Determined to make what I personally needed available to parents, educators and carers of the young, I decided to write something myself.

“As a teacher, counsellor and former international journalist, where I interviewed a vast array of celebrities and executives in the entertainment industry, I feel I’ve had a lifelong interest in the human condition. From the first time I stepped into a classroom of six and seven year olds when I was on my first teaching practice in my twenties, I wanted to give a voice to the young when they sometimes don’t have one.”

In her new book, which Leonora says took a lifetime to write, she makes an impassioned

best be achieved. She believes the main goal of education is self-awareness and thus awareness of others, and the arts - which engage the body, the emotions and the spirit as well as the mind are the most holistic way of achieving it.

“At a time when arts education is seen as an increasingly marginal activity in mainstream schooling, I argue that it is only by putting children’s innate creativity and curiosity at the heart of our education mission, that we can hope to re-engage the vast number of children switched off from the current system and avoid the poverty of imagination and the absence of hope which are the root causes of so many contemporary ills.”

Leonora finishes by saying she views the principal message of her book - which was recently described by a book reviewer of a leading natural health provider as, ‘a sane and wonderful tour de force in the field of children’s education and wellbeing’ - as absolutely fundamental to the wellbeing of our present society as well as future generations. If you’ve read it we’d love to know what you think . . .

challenges of teaching, she marshals her long years of experience as a teacher in a wide range of settings to argue that the competitive, mechanical and sedentary nature of most mainstream schooling - based on a nineteenth century model - is of limited use to the majority of young people today.

“I believe that what education needs is a complete transformation in emphasis and that we need to move away from the notion that education and teaching are industrial processes that have to be imposed on pupils and realise that children learn not just by what they are told about something but also how they feel about it.”

Imagination Leonora says that what needs to be integral to all learning is the development of internal resources that children can draw upon in times of inevitable adversity and challenge.

“It is only by nurturing radical self-compassion and love in the young that they will grow in the knowledge that self-belief and self-respect are not dependent on external validation, often gained from their present addiction to social media, which is fleeting, but on developing inner validation, where they accept and value their own internal experience, thoughts and feelings which can, hopefully, sustain them over a lifetime.”

Leonora’s solution is based on wisdom dating back to Ancient Greece about what children need from their education and how that can

Let The Souls of Our Children Sing (Giving Voice to Their Feelings and Emotions) is available as a paperback book at £8.99 from Amazon, Waterstones and Austin Macauley and also e-book at £3.50. www.austinmacauley.com

Wednesday September 15 | 2021

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Local News

NEWS

ADVERTISING FEATURE

Adaptability is key to the life we are experiencing today KEYS are important objects for all of us.

They are functional in keeping us secure, they unlock barriers and give us access and the route map to where we want to go; they are instrumental in our success as individuals and as members of our communities. At Rose Hill School we use our five keys throughout our pupils’ educational journey: resilience, perseverance, confidence, organisation and getting along.

Resilience is the ability to cope with life’s challenges and to recover from or adapt to adversity. Things that we focus on to improve our pupils’ resilience include learning coping skills, doing things that promote our wellbeing, and building connections. Resilience can be eroded or worn down by difficult circumstances.

What I see within our school community, is a strong sense of determination to move on from the difficulties caused by the pandemic. Our perseverance has helped us to grow in many ways and will help us to shape what life might be in the future.

Getting along is vital. Never has it been so important for us to show compassion, tolerance, and friendliness after such a long period of separation and isolation. Getting along can lead to understanding happiness enabling us to feel good and function well. We want our pupils to be happy and confident at school. Confidence is a very important outcome of their learning and is encompassed in positive memories, current successes and strong aspirations.

Our pupils have continued to develop their organisation skills; and never has this been more important. This means that they have been ready to learn, listen to their teachers, setting goals and keeping on track. In spite

of the difficulties of the past 18 months, pupils and staff at Rose Hill School have remained positive, engaged and determined to create the best learning opportunities possible. The happiness of our community in our learning has been heartening to see; the way that staff and pupils have responded to different methods of teaching and learning has been nothing short of remarkable, and I congratulate and applaud them on all that they have achieved.

So, not a lost generation but a resilient, amazing generation of young people who are our future and of whom I am so very proud.

If you would like to see for yourselves what Rose Hill School can offer your child please contact our Admissions Secretary admissions@rosehillschool.co.uk or call 01892 525591 to register for our Open Day or to arrange a personal tour.

KEY TO SUCCESS: Rose Hill School’s Head Teacher Emma Neville

15

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Weekly Comment

Anne Sullivan Liberal Democrats

Wednesday September 15 | 2021

Anne Sullivan is the Tunbridge Wells Liberal Democrat Diversity Officer.

Ms Sullivan stood as a Borough candidate in Park ward and for Tunbridge Wells South at Kent County Council during the last local elections.

Women do not feel safe even in Tunbridge Wells HAVING lived in a number of places both here and abroad, I can honestly say Tunbridge Wells is a wonderful place to live and raise a family.

I intentionally chose to live here for this reason, but like many towns and cities it still can be unnerving if you are a female walking or using our parks and open spaces due to leering and creepy behaviour.

Recently, I was sitting in a park and was asked by a very persistent man why I would not allow him to sit with me and talk to me. It was not a criminal act, but it ruined my deliberate act of seeking out solitude under a tree on a lovely day.

an invitation to engage much less harass.

Unfortunately, when you reach my age, you have experienced this for at least twenty years and instinctively cross the road, avert your gaze and work out a safe route home, but what I find very hard to take is watching girls as young as 12 often in school uniform being leered at and in some cases jeered at as they make their way home from school.

Blunt

Experiences There was an insistence that I explain ‘why’ he could not sit with me, what was wrong with me and him and a refusal to take no for an answer.

Other times it is cat calling at the traffic lights while I wait to cross the road or inebriated people shouting at me as I make my way home late at night.

Tunbridge Wells is not a bad place by any stretch of the imagination and many I have spoken to about these experiences are horrified.

Many are concerned for female relatives and

friends who may also be encountering such behaviour. Caroline Auckland, President of Tunbridge Wells Soroptimists has collated the experiences of local women and it mirrors my own; women having to plan safe routes home and opting out of walking or taking public

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transport, young girls being harassed, women feeling unsafe in car parks and open spaces.

Some feel they are missing out on fully enjoying our green spaces because to do so they would need to be with someone to feel safe. A woman sitting in a remote part of a park is not

I am a parent to a 12-year-old and they are still children and need to be protected. We’ve seen changes in the law such as the banning of ‘upskirting’ but even so. the perpetrators are usually skirting the edge of what is legal.

Those on the receiving end of unwanted attention often feel unsafe being assertive especially young girls, and that’s where residents need to step in if it is safe to do so. Be bold and be blunt.

Boldly step up and say something and be blunt about it. This behaviour doesn’t just exist in shadowy stairwells of poorly lit multi storey car parks, it is everywhere, and we need people to step up and stamp it out.

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Wednesday September 15 | 2021

Letters

NEWS

17

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 you can write to the Editor, Times Local News, Salomons Estate, Tunbridge Wells TN3 0TG there is no reasonable course of appeal.

The proposed changes will significantly enhance the Council’s ability to brush aside legitimate public objections to their conduct.

If the opposition parties are unable to prevail in defeating these proposals the matter will be left in the hands of the public next May. The TW Conservatives seem untouched by considerations of fairness, transparency, and accountability - a local manifestation of a ‘vacuum of integrity’.

Robert Chris Tunbridge Wells Editor’s note: Robert Chris is a former chair of the Alliance party and has hmself lodged a number of complaints with the Borough council in recent years.

We need foster parents

WHEN is the council going to do something about the side road weeds growing along edges and gutters causing long term damage to both by root activity?

If they are unwilling to do anything financially then empower the residents to do it by scraping the weeds off and leave them at the end of the road for council collection, or have the community service persons to work on the

pavements as they do in some of our local parks and do the follow on weed treatments.

After all they have been treating benches as well as fences and painting railings plus weeding and doing a good job.

At present I doubt in many areas weed killer would be strong enough to solve the problem as in the past because of the growth. But what is interesting that the

Cinema site should be solved If the best Councillor Scott can come up with (Times, August 18) in defence of his party’s management of the cinema site fiasco is ‘We have no powers, we have no plans, just be patient for a bit longer’, one is left wondering why he thinks he is in politics in the first place.

Why be an elected representative, unless you use the powers you already have, advocate passionately for those you need, and simply – get things done?

If, instead of burning £11million on the fantasy theatre project of which Cllr Scott was such a vocal advocate, the Council had compulsorily purchased the cinema site (roughly its price when it last changed hands), and committed rather less than the proposed £108million construction cost to a much needed housing project, we could now be looking at a Council with a safe investment, carrying a steady income stream, which met local needs.

Unfortunately, this Council isn’t capable of managing that – although, surprisingly, they did believe they could manage the vastly more expensive and speculative theatre scheme! And the Conservative Party nationally is so sympathetic to the interests of the major property developers, that nothing which loosens their stranglehold (including tinkering with their

pavements, gutters along areas such as Mount Pleasant and the town centre are weed-free, so they look after their own image as the bin men seem to be contracted to weed as well as undertake street bin collections. Just because this is a widespread problem, does not mean Tunbridge Wells has to be in the same situation.

Peter Vincent Tunbridge Wells

‘cost of carry’) is going to happen on its watch.

But take note, Cllrs Scott, Dawlings et al: twenty years of patience is enough. The other parties are not going away. Get the cinema site done or face the consequences at the ballot box.

Mrs Dariel Francis (Labour) Town Cllr Southborough & High Brooms

PEPPY SAYS...

growth Weeds growing along a Tunbridge Wells street

Barnardo’s is urgently calling for more people to consider becoming a foster carer after the numbers of children referred to the charity’s fostering services across the UK shot up. The number of children needing care has increased by 36% over 12 months.

Barnardo’s is looking for more foster carers to ensure that when a child needs a loving, stable and safe family, there are local carers available.

In particular, they are looking for people who would consider caring for siblings as they can offer each other support and it can help reduce feelings of isolation. The number of sibling groups referred to its services in the UK over the same period rose by 31%.

A new YouGov survey for Barnardo’s encouragingly shows that 14% of adults in Great Britain would consider fostering a child aged 18 or under in the next five years. However, that figure drops to just 6% when asked the same question about fostering siblings.

Council wants to quash questions Tomorrow (16 Sep) the Tunbridge Wells Borough Council [TWBC] Audit and Governance Committee will consider a package of changes to the Council’s constitution.

The great majority of the proposed revisions either concentrate more power in the hands of the Officers, or reduce the scope for the public to complain against them and to ask questions at Council meetings.

These anti-democratic and authoritarian measures are to be expected from a Council controlled by members elected by only a third of the borough’s voters and desperate to avoid light being shone into murky corners they’d prefer remained behind a veil of secrecy.

Those with experience of complaining against Council Officers and members will be well aware that they are routinely treated with contempt in a far from transparent process against which

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The survey shows how vital it is for siblings to remain together with 70% of adults saying it was important that they and their sibling were together when they grew up and 60% of respondents who had a sibling saying it would have had a negative impact on them if they had been separated while growing up.

Barnardo’s hopes to hear from people from all backgrounds from around the UK. It welcomes passionate individuals from all walks of life. If you are over 21, have a spare room, are a UK resident and have the time and commitment to support a child - you could be the special person they need.

Barnardo’s has 100 years of experience in fostering. Experts provide all the training needed and provide support 24/7. Foster carers will also get financial support, including a carer’s allowance to help make a positive difference to a child’s life.

For further information visit barnardos.org.uk/ foster Emma Bowman Barnardo’s South East Regional Director

Half a million may need heart help The Covid-19 pandemic has caused huge disruption to life saving heart care, causing untold heartbreak for so many.

Latest figures show that around 41,592 people in the South East were waiting for heart tests and treatment, including heart surgery, at the end of June.

Despite the unwavering efforts of everyone across the health and care system, the situation could get even worse. New analysis by the British Heart Foundation (BHF) predicts that the number of people anxiously waiting for heart care and diagnosis in England could peak at over half a million in January 2024.

That’s why the Government must act now. We need a clear cardiovascular strategy for England to support recovery from the pandemic, alongside substantial long-term investment in the health and care system, with targeted funding to tackle the backlog of heart care.

To help us, we’re calling on readers to email their MP, urging them to show their commitment to addressing this vast backlog and help end the untold heartbreak. You can do that by visiting bhf. org.uk/askyourmp Without this urgent action from the Government, we’re deeply concerned that many heart patients might not get the life saving care they need before it’s too late.

Dr Charmaine Griffiths British Heart Foundation CARTOON BY PEPPY: (Follow her on Twitter @Peppyscott)

Our pavements are in need of weeding

PHONE: 01892 640 641 EMAIL: info@twapexcars.co.uk WEB: www.twapexcars.co.uk

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Local News

Wednesday September 15 | 2021

RECRUITMENT

BENNETT MEMORIAL DIOCESAN SCHOOL HR OFFICER – PAYROLL & PENSIONS

Starting salary KR6 FTE £20,585 Reporting to School Business Manager Term time plus 2 weeks (40 weeks) to process payroll in holidays if required Key Responsibilities: n Payroll & Pensions n Annual Audits & Workforce Census n Training & Development n Performance Management Person Specification n Experience in finance and/or payroll processing n Strong administrative, IT and communication skills n Detail oriented and able to take ownership of tasks with minimal supervision n Flexible, highly organised and able to multi-task and prioritise to meet deadlines n Understanding of the importance of confidentiality and discretion n Helpful and positive nature and ability to stay calm and diplomatic under pressure n Strong empathy with the school’s ethos and values

SITE TEAM MEMBER

Starting salary KR6 £20,585 Reporting to Site Team Manager This role is full time, 37 hours a week, 5 days per week, 52 weeks per year.

Expected to be 8.30am until 4.30pm (one day until 4pm) to include one hour for lunch unpaid. 25 days holiday.

The successful candidate is likely to have previous experience of building maintenance. The role includes, as part of a team, responsibility for site security and safety, cleanliness and general maintenance of the site as well as record keeping, and statutory testing and recording.

Physical effort is necessary with working at heights, use of equipment (bending, moving, handling, lifting) subject to appropriate working from heights and manual handling requirements.

Lone working may be necessary.

Possible exposure to waste and dust as per normal within a school environment.

Variety of internal and external work throughout the year.

We are seeking applicants that can act on their own initiative, deal with any unexpected problems that may arise, and willing to learn on the job.

Some flexibility is needed to meet demands of the site.

CATERING ASSISTANT

MIDDAY SUPERVISOR

Key responsibilities Assist in the hygienic preparation, delivery and/or serving of meals and ensuring the kitchen and equipment is cleaned to a high standard.

Key Responsibilities n To supervise students on the school site during the lunch break under the direction of a senior member of staff n To intervene to ensure high standards of behaviour where necessary n To refer students or report incidents where necessary to senior members of staff n To apply school code of conduct as required, and remind students of appropriate conduct

Kitchen experience essential KR4 £18,129 full time equivalent Hours 7.00am to 2.30pm (30 mins for lunch break). 35 hours per week Working Pattern Monday to Friday. Term time plus one week. Free school meal.

Daily cleaning of kitchen n Preparation, delivery and/or serving of food n Monitor fridge stock rotation n Cook meals on time n Assist with receipt and storage of groceries n Comply with health & safety, fire regulations and other county policies n Attend training courses n

KR3 Salary £3,025 per annum (£18,039 FTE) £9.35 per hour Monday to Friday 12.15-1.45pm daily, term time only. 7.5 hours a week. Free school meal.

Potential to work additional ad-hoc hours to be agreed in advance with line manager.

Skills and qualities required n A friendly but firm approach n Confidence in speaking with teenagers n A sense of humour n A positive view of young people n An empathy with the aims and ethos of the school

For application form and further details for any of these roles, please visit our website: www.bennettmemorial.co.uk Should you wish to discuss any aspect of the post before applying, please do not hesitate to email us at recruitment@bennett.kent.sch.uk Applications should be submitted on the correct Application Form. CVs will not be accepted.

Completed Application Forms should be sent via email recruitment@bennett.kent.sch.uk or posted to HR Department, Bennett Memorial Diocesan School, Culverden Down, Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN4 9SH. CLOSING DATES FOR APPLICATIONS: 9am on Monday 27th September 2021 *We reserve the right to close this advertisement early if we receive a high volume of suitable applications* The Tenax Schools Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. All posts are subject to vetting checks and a satisfactory enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check.

Wednesday September 15 | 2021

Life&Times

HOMES • INTERIORS FOOD • DRINK • HEALTH WELLBEING • ARTS CULTURE • TRAVEL • BOOKS MOTORS and MORE...

On the menu

We discover the gastro goodies on offer at new food emporium Macknade

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Property News

Wednesday September 15 | 2021

Property Focus

New build market share at its lowest in more than a decade NEW figures show that the percentage of new builds that come to market are lower than they have been in more than ten years, The figures show that back in 2010, new-build homes accounted for 9.6% of all sales.

New-build market share has increased steadily and consistently ever since to a high of 13% in 2019.

However, in 2020 the sector’s market share dropped to just 8.8% of all sales. Not only is this -4.1% annual decline the biggest drop in ten years, but it also sunk the new-build sector’s market share to the lowest point of the decade.

With the exception of Northern Ireland, all regions of the UK have seen the proportion of property transactions attributed to the new-build sector fall in 2020, with the North East

(-6.3%), East of England (-5.2%) and North West (-5%) seeing the largest year on year decline.

The figures compiled by Warwick Estates, show that the pandemic has hampered construction efforts and forced developers and investors to hesitate just enough to delay projects that were scheduled to complete during the pandemic year.

Inspectors Warwick Estates also point out that the government’s introduction of the Cladding External Wall System (EWS) certificate in 2019, was handled clumsily and developers and buyers have been left waiting for months, if not longer, to have their properties inspected and certified by a very small number of qualified inspectors.

Without the certification, homes cannot be purchased and many buyers who had agreed mortgages in principle have been unable to complete on their purchase until certification was granted. As a result, while the appetite for new-build homes remains high, the number of transactions has declined considerably.

Chief Operating Officer at Warwick Estates, Bethan Griffiths, said: “A huge level of buyer demand spurred by the stamp duty holiday has helped revive buyer demand but such unprecedented levels of market activity have seen resources stretched and, while homes are going under offer at an alarming rate, there have been substantial delays during the back end of the transaction process.

“For the new-build sector, the

FIRST HOME New build sales have declined

situation has been exacerbated by the requirement of an EWS form and the ability to obtain these has become extremely difficult, with delays of six months or more in the worst cases.

“Despite attempts to remedy the

situation by removing the requirement on buildings of 18 metres or less, we’re yet to see any real headway being made and the issue continues to prove problematic for those operating within the industry.”

The top locations to find a cash buyer revealed AREAS with the highest levels of cash buyers in the housing market have been revealed, with Norfolk leading the way.

A cash buyer is somebody that does not need a mortgage for a property and can often see many sellers reduce their asking price expectations as they often bring a far smoother, and quicker, transaction process.

But finding a cash buyer is not always easy and new research from Barrows and Forrester reveals that the chances of doing so depends very much on location.

Barrows and Forrester analysed transaction data to find what percentage of homes have sold to cash buyers since the start of 2021.

Across Great Britain, just 27% of homes sold so far this year went to cash buyers.

Scotland and England’s South West offer the best chance of finding a cash buyer. In both regions, 33% of homes were sold to cash buyers. At the other end of the table is London, where just 15% of homes have been bought by cash.

7.5%. In Slough, cash buyers account for 8.2% of all sales, in Lewisham it’s 8.4%, Waltham Forest 8.5%, and Greenwich 9.6%. The remaining 15 districts with the lowest percentage of cash sales are also all found in London or its immediate surrounding area.

Smoother

At local district level, the research shows that, with 55.9% of homes being sold to cash buyers, North Norfolk offers the very best chance of finding a cash buyer in Britain.

East Lindsey, Lincolnshire, is close behind with cash buyers accounting for 55.3% of all sales.

In Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland, 52.9% of sales were completed in cash, in Torridge, Devon, cash buyers account for

50.4% of sales, and in Ceredigion, Wales, the figure is 50.2%.

Tunbridge Wells did not make the list.

At the other end of the spectrum, the list of districts where cash buyers account for the lowest percentage of purchases is dominated by London and its immediate surrounding area.

Barking and Dagenham has the lowest number of cash buyers at just

Managing Director of Barrows and Forrester, James Forrester, said: “Opting for a cash buyer will often mean a far smoother property transaction and so many sellers are happy to marginally adjust their asking price expectations for those buying without the help of a mortgage. This puts cash buyers in a very strong position not only in terms of the price they will pay, but also where their chances of securing their dream home are concerned.

“In a market where demand is extremely high and there are a huge number of buyers fighting it out for a limited amount of stock, the ability to flash the cash has never been more appealing to UK homesellers.”

THE LOCATIONS WITH THE HIGHEST PROPORTION OF CASH SALES: North Norfolk 55.9% East Lindsey 55.3% Dumfries and Galloway 52.9% Torridge 50.4% Ceredigion 50.2% Argyll and Bute 49.7% Scarborough 49.0% Eden 48.5% Rother 48.1% Inverclyde 47.6% West Devon 46.7% South Ayrshire 46.2% East Devon 46.2% Pembrokeshire 45.3% North Devon 45.0% Conwy 44.6% Scottish Borders 44.5%

Scotland overtakes London in the millionaire market SCOTLAND has overtaken London as the fastest-moving market for million-pound properties as ‘millionaire movers’ swap their city commutes for more rural retreats, according to Rightmove.

Top-end homes in Scotland are finding a buyer in 61 days on average – 25 days faster than before the coronavirus pandemic when it took 86 days, the website said.

The analysis compared the year before the pandemic with the year since the housing market re-opened.

John Boyle, director at Rettie & Co in Scotland said: “The Scottish £1 million market has proven to be resilient in the face of the pandemic.

“Just like the wider housing market here, demand has been moving well ahead of supply, leading to price rises and fast-moving sales.

“The market is particularly strong in the east of the country, with Edinburgh alone accounting for well over half of all Scottish £1 million sales.

“However, other areas are seeing rising £1 million sales, particularly in outlying areas of the wider Lothians market, with sales outside Edinburgh notably higher in the east compared with recent years.”

London’s overall influence on the prime property market appears to have weakened slightly, with some people now able to work from home looking to move to spacious properties located away from the city.

With more workers having some flexibility to move out of London, the South East of England recorded the biggest increase in the share of million pound homes across Britain, rising from 26% to 29%.

James Wyatt, director at Barton Wyatt in Virginia Water, Surrey, said: “During 2020 we saw many UK buyers and tenants moving out of London, keeping us busy. In 2021 we have seen no let up, but now also have seen the return of international buyers.”

Surrey Stockbridge in Hampshire was identified as having the biggest rise in the proportion of homes that are selling for a million pounds or over. The percentage of all sales in the area worth one million pounds or more has jumped from 11% to 26% now.

The fastest-moving area outside London is Thames Ditton in Surrey, where million pound homes are finding a buyer in just 26 days typically.

With good travel links to London, Hertfordshire is also home to many fast-moving hotspots, with leafy Berkhamsted, St Albans and Hitchin also on the list.

Over the past year, million-pound homes in London have taken an average of 67 days to find a buyer compared with an average of 85 days before the pandemic.

Tim Bannister, Rightmove’s director of property data, said: “Whilst London is still home to a significant portion of the prime market, some millionaire movers have turned their city commute into a rural route.

“These dynamics have helped push swathes of the UK’s property stock into the higher price brackets, and have led to a broader geographical spread of million-pound properties.”

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2021 Christmas at Salomons Estate Tunbridge Wells OnE nighT in VEgaS

a VEry BuBlÉ ChriSTmaS

This December Salomons Estate is staging a number of Las Vegas themed party nights so you can celebrate in style with friends, family and colleagues.

make it a Holly Jolly Christmas with the show that has Everything in it and will definitely leave you Feeling Good.

‘One Night in Vegas’ Party Nights include: Glass of prosecco on arrival.

3 course choice festive menu.

Casino tables.

Disco and dancing until 1am.

Dress to impress / Vegas Vibes.

£45

One night only Thursday 9th December 2020

Available Thursday, Fridays and Saturdays throughout December

Glass of prosecco on arrival.

2 course choice festive menu (main and dessert).

Live singing from the ‘Bublé Experience’ tribute act.

Disco and dancing until 1am Dress to impress.

TimiNGS Arrival from 7pm, 1am finish.

Dinner service time will be confirmed nearer the time.

£49.50

per person Available for groups of 8 people or more.

TimiNGS Arrival from 7pm, dinner served 7.30pm, live entertainment 9.30pm-11pm disco and dancing until 1am finish.

per person

FESTiVE aFTErnOOn TEaS Afternoon Tea is a special treat, and what better time to treat yourself and your family and friends during the Christmas season.

Available 20th November-23rd December Traditional

£21.50 per person

Prosecco

£26.50 per person

Children’s

£11.50

(smaller portion, available for children aged 12 and under only)

24hr advance booking required, bookings cancelled on the day will be asked to pay 50%.

FESTiVE lunChES

DinE WiTh SanTa

Gather your friends, family, neighbours or colleagues and enjoy a festive lunch within our stunning country house, set within 36 acres of picturesque landscape, the perfect way to get into the festive spirit.

Sunday 12th December Enjoy a three course Sunday roast suitable for the whole family as Santa makes his way round to hear all your stories and Christmas wish lists.

Available 20th November-24th December Enjoy a two course or three course lunch from our festive lunch menu.

2 courses

£24.50 per person

3 courses

£29.50 per person

minimum numbers and venue hire charges apply for private dining.

Drawing room (minimum 45 people) Theatre (minimum 70 people) Conservatory (minimum 20 people) Gold and Leighton (minimum 20 people)

COUNTRY HOUSE

Adults

£29.50 per person

Children

£16.00 per person

includes a gift from Santa for every child.

Tables available between 12pm-4pm

To book please email reservations@salomons-estate.com or call 01892 515152

24

Homes & Interiors

Wednesday September 15 | 2021

11 stylish indigo home buys to soothe your body and mind Sam Wylie-Harris hunts down homewares in the calming colour of blue

1 MOODY BLUES Indigo is a key statement shade for autumn 2021

Homes & Interiors

Wednesday September 15 | 2021

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NSPIRED by ocean blues, Mediterranean backdrops and azure skies, indigo is one of the easiest shades to colour your world.

Like pulling on your favourite pair of jeans, there’s durability with denim, sun-bleached blues and classic navy.

Whether you’re in a faraway frame of mind or in need of a quickie makeover, blue is where it’s at…

1. MIRAGE ABSTRACT BLUE RUG (80 x 150cm), from £43.99 (was £54.99), Mirage Watercolour Floral Blue Rug (80 x 150cm), from 54.99, Carpetright; other items part of room set Much like wanting an ocean view when you step out of your hotel room, having a blue rug in the frame immediately sets a tranquil scene. Think abstract prints in a blue wash or blue and grey hues in a floral print, styled with an accent chair in sea blue.

2. HUDSON STOOL – Sundance Collection, Rhodes Fabric, £570, Mind The Gap An object of desire and prized for its versatility – an ottoman can double up as a stool, padded bench or coffee table – this cushioned seat is upholstered in blue palm trees with pops of yellow, and you can almost feel the Mediterranean breeze and soothing sounds of the waves.

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3. DARTINGTON WELLNESS CALM COLLECTION IN BLUE: Tall Vase, £37, Calm Orb Vase, £32, Calm Small Vase, £32, Calm Candleholder, £28, Dartington Dartington Crystal’s new Wellness Collection in blue is designed to channel a ‘relaxing element to any space’ and certainly brings to mind serene surroundings.

4. ENA BLUE FABRIC WALL HANGING, £59.50, Oliver Bonas If you’re dreaming of a hammock strung up on the beach, or the next time you can wear your faded denim cut-offs, this textured wall hanging with fringe and tassels has enough flair to fill that void.

5. STONEWARE PLATE MEDINA BLUE TILE, £8.95, Rex London Think breakfast outside, fresh bread rolls

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warmed by the sun and this Moroccan-inspired stoneware plate is just the ticket.

6. ANYDAY JOHN LEWIS & PARTNERS SPINDLE DINING CHAIR, Set of 2, Blue, FSC Certified (Beech), £179, John Lewis Whether you’re a farmhouse country kitchen or city dweller, a classic spindle chair is trusty and timeless.

Easy to stack (how much have we appreciated adaptable furniture in the past year or so?) and style up or down depending on your décor and tablescaping, a blue painted finish is bang up to date.

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7. DARK BLUE RECYCLED GLASS DESK & TABLE LAMP, £45 (bulb not included), Oliver Bonas This trendy table lamp will steal the spotlight once you’ve tracked down a Tala Gaia bulb (Heal’s stock them) to light up the indigo tones and gleaming pattern.

8. TO THE MOON LED NEON SIGN, 9 £240, Yellowpop We’ve taken a shine to this LED neon sign which will brighten up a home bar space, cosy corner or if you’re really star-struck, a TV room.

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9. MAGAZINE FILE IN WAVE INDIGO, £32, Cambridge Imprint Whether you’re upgrading a home office or having a post-summer sort out, a stylish magazine holder is invaluable for those travel mags and to-do lists.

10. JOHN LEWIS WOODLAND FABLE DUVET COVER SET, from £55 to £85, John Lewis & Partners Upholstered Bed Frame, Double, Saga Mustard, £549, other items from a selection, John Lewis With a dark blue background and charming folk inspired print, this cotton satin duvet can be styled with indigo wool throws, Mongolian cushions in teal or French blue and an eye-catching bed frame in mustard yellow, to spice up the bedroom.

11. BUNDLE OF SIX NAVY BLUE CANDLES, £6, Heavenly Homes and Gardens A rustic navy blue candle imbibes thoughts of Provençal blue room settings, painted blue shutters and lavender fields.

The next best thing? Style them in a country basket next to your bedside table with bunches of dried lavender.

Food & Drink

drinks

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Wednesday September 15 | 2021

Intriguing cocktails stirring up a storm

The directors of an award-winning absinthe bar share their passion for magical cocktails in a new book. Sam Wylie-Harris takes a peek inside...

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f you’ve got a taste for the darker side of life, new book Spirits Of The Otherworld: A Grimoire Of Occult Cocktails & Drinking Rituals, is all about the spiritual arts poured into a glass.

As Allison Crawbuck and Rhys Everett, co-authors, historians, absintheurs and founders of The

‘A fascination with discovering the finest and most wondrous natural ingredients is a common interest’ Last Tuesday Society’s Cocktail Bar write: “A fascination with discovering the finest and most wondrous natural ingredients is a common interest that connects the cocktail enthusiast and the

practitioner of magic.

“A well-stocked cupboard of herbs and spices will be an invaluable asset to both. For this reason, the powers of magical botany appear throughout our collection of liquid offerings.”

With 50 enchanting recipes celebrating mixology and magic, we’ve spirited three away for you to try at home…

1. MAJOR ARCANA Grand Etteilla: Tarot and Cartomancy The all-knowing tarot is one of humanity’s greatest tools of divination. Cards were popular in northern Italy during the 15th century, and Italian elites often commissioned well-known Renaissance artists to create lavish bespoke decks of their own. By 1470 the northern Italian deck had settled on 22 illustrated trionfi (trump cards) – and today, the tarot deck still includes 22 ‘trump’ cards collectively known as

the Major Arcana.

Still considered a game for many years, tarot decks would soon catch the eye of an important 18th century occultist and forever change the art of divination. Jean-Baptiste Alliette, known as Etteilla (his surname backwards), wrote about the amusements and fortunes that could be procured from a deck of cards. While learning the art of cartomancy (fortune-telling), he first used normal playing cards with the addition of one blank ‘Etteilla’ card to tell fortunes.

Meanwhile, back in northern Italy, the region revered for its colourful tarot history gifted the world with another ritual – the aperitivo. An early predecessor to happy hour, aperitivo is said to awaken the taste buds and excite the appetite. Imbibe this liquid tribute to the tarot’s early northern Italian roots and discover what your future holds.

Ingredients: 30ml sweet vermouth: Carpano Antica Formula, 15ml Italicus Bergamot, 15ml Campari, 45ml prosecco, lemon twist to garnish.

Method: Stir all ingredients – except prosecco – with cubed ice in a mixing tin for 15 seconds.

Julep-strain into a flute glass, top with prosecco and garnish.

Major Arcana Cocktail

2. HUNTING THE LYON GREENE George Ripley and the Elixir of Life Some have said the philosophers’ stone may not be made of stone at all: various references from the Middle Ages allude to a tincture instead, or perhaps even an ordinary substance with extraordinary hidden powers. Alchemical recipes were often written as obscure puzzles filled with riddles to be deciphered.

In addition to precious silver and gold, the philosophers’ stone was also said to grant an alchemist access to the highly desired Elixir of Life. George Ripley, an Augustinian canon and alchemist from Yorkshire in England, dedicated much of his life’s work to this

Food & Drink

Wednesday September 15 | 2021

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Ness absinthe invigorates this cocktail with a dash of Scottish wormwood.

potion of eternal health.

To make this cocktail, in tribute to Ripley, start with a Yorkshire dry gin, which reveals hints of fennel. A mighty herb of Mercury, fennel is highlighted again in a dash of absinthe. Next, the powers of gentian are added, another herb of Mercury. Finally, Chartreuse Elixir Vegetal assures the mixture’s rejuvenating capabilities: developed based on the instructions of a secret manuscript from 1605, this ‘elixir for long life’ calls upon the hidden properties of an additional 130 natural botanicals for good measure. The resulting drink will not grant you eternal life, but it is sure to refresh the senses.

Ingredients: 45ml Highland single malt Scotch whisky: Glengoyne 12-Year-Old, 15ml sweet vermouth: Antica Formula Carpano, 15ml wild elderberry liqueur: Aelder Elixir, 2 dashes absinthe: Loch Ness Spirits, 1 maraschino cherry to garnish.

Method: Stir all ingredients with cubed ice in a mixing tin for 60 seconds. Julep-strain into a coupe glass and garnish.

Ingredients: 45ml dry gin: Masons of

The Last Druid Cocktail Yorkshire, 15ml gentian liqueur: Chartreuse La Gentiane Apéritif Des Pères Chartreux, 5 dashes Chartreuse Elixir Vegetal, 2 dashes absinthe: Devil’s Botany, 20ml lime juice.

Method: Shake all ingredients with cubed ice.

Double-strain into a coupe glass.

Hunting The Lyon Greene Cocktail

3. THE LAST DRUID Merlin: The Highland Seer of Scotland Merlin was a renowned master of sorcery, fortune-teller and companion to King Arthur.

Accounts of his powers of prophecy reveal remnants of the arcane knowledge once guarded by the ancient Druids. During the time of Roman Britain, many of the wise forestdwellers fled north and west to continue their magical practice.

It is said the inspiration for Merlin was a ‘wild man’ who lived in the forests of Scotland during

the sixth century – the last Druid of the Old North – and had great powers of divination.

Could the majestic forests of the Scottish Highlands be the backdrop to Arthurian legend? Whatever the true source for Geoffrey of Monmouth’s Merlin, legends of this Druidlike soothsayer would become the archetype for all future wizards from the Middle Ages to today.

By the late Middle Ages, malted barley was being distilled by monks into an early form of whisky. Thus, for the great Highland Seer, a true Highland Scotch whisky is recommended.

Wild elderberries have long been connected to magical lore and foraged for their healing properties – and when mixed with a lightly peated whisky, the sweet fruit’s hidden powers become all the more delightful. Named for another great legend of the Highlands, Loch

Extracted from Spirits Of The Otherworld: A Grimoire Of Occult Cocktails & Drinking Rituals by Allison Crawbuck and Rhys Everett, published by Prestel, priced £14.99.

Photography by Allison Crawbuck and Rhys Everett. Available now

Arts & Antiques

arts

28

Wednesday September 15 | 2021

Antique spotlight – around the world with Louis Vuitton

Owner of Pushkin Antiques, Alexander Pushkin explains the intriguing story behind one of the unique items for sale in his new High Street shop

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his beautiful early apprentice to a layetier, a 20th Century Louis craftsman employed by wealthy Vuitton trunk is people to pack their objects and covered clothes for travelling. He in the became very famous world famous LV and stayed in the monogrammed business for canvas, with its seventeen years. lozine borders and In 1854 he brass fittings. This opened his own trunk would have shop as a trunk Alexander Pushkin been the top of the maker in Paris, rue line even at the time Neuve-des-Capucines, of purchase over 100 and in a couple of years years ago. he had already revolutionised A fantastic conversation piece, the traditional trunk design. a great size for a coffee table or just as a standalone item Stacking suitable for any interior, both modern or traditional.

His trunks were in fact light The story behind the Louis and for the first time they had a Vuitton brand is just as flat top to facilitate stacking. fascinating, as the biography of Brackets, wedges, handles and its founder. Born in Anchay, sockets became essential parts eastern France, in a family of of the Louis Vuitton functional farmers, the young Louis design. His products decided, when he was only immediately became very thirteen, to travel to Paris on popular and often copied. That foot. In 1836 he found a job in is why the firm kept changing the French capital as an its logo until, towards the end

of the century, the well-known ‘LV’ monogram and the four lobed flower were created.

In 1858 Louis Vuitton became official trunks supplier for the Empress Eugénie, wife of Napoleon III. When Louis died in 1892, it was his son George who took over the company. He participated to several international fairs, expanding the brand’s fame abroad. In 1896, as a tribute to his father, George designed a canvas alternating the firm’s monogram, the four-pointed stars and the flowers that became so familiar until now.

At the beginning of the 20th Century the company opened a new flagship store on ChampsElysées in Paris: it was the biggest travel-goods and bags store worldwide. By 1920 shops opened in Buenos Aires, New York, Washington, London, Alexandria and Bombay. One of the most iconic bags produced

by Louis Vuitton, the Keepall

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Bag, was introduced in 1930, together with its smaller version, the Speedy Bag. After the Second World War Louis Vuitton was already a must-have among celebrities and royalties.

The Duke and Duchess of Windsor, the Rothschild family, Coco Chanel, Audrey Hepbourn and

Anna Magnani were photographed with their Vuitton bags and travel luggage. The firm stayed within the Vuitton family until 1987 but its success hasn’t faded. It’s still a synonym of luxury and elegance.

This Louis Vuitton trunk is valued at £16,495 and can be purchased from Pushkins at 69 the High Street.

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M J Webber, P G Bowring & S Joubert is an appointed representative of The National Farmers Union Mutual Insurance Society Limited (No. 111982). And an introducer to NFU Mutual Select Investments Limited, a member of the NFU Mutual group of companies.

Arts & Antiques

Wednesday September 15 | 2021

29

Exploring the treasures of The Grand Tour…

Changing of the guard at Gorringe’s AFTER 23 years of operating in Royal Tunbridge Wells, auctioneers Leslie Gillham and Jane Joseph Anderson have Trinder stepped down into retirement and handed the gavel on to Gorringe’s auctioneer and valuer Joseph Trinder.

Their tenure in the town saw exciting discoveries and record prices, to include £240,000 realised for a Vigo five-guinea piece and a Nicolas de Stael abstract work which sold for £250,000 – just two highlights from a catalogue of excellent results.

Leslie Gilham said: “Jane and I have hugely enjoyed our time in Royal Tunbridge Wells and are delighted to pass the reins to Joseph Trinder, confident that our clients are left in the best of hands for the future.”

Joseph added: “I am delighted to be working in the beautiful and energetic town of Royal Tunbridge Wells, a place I have utterly fallen in love with and immediately felt at home in.

“I’m privileged to be taking on the helm from Leslie and Jane. I am very much looking forward to bringing my ideas and plans to fruition on such well laid foundations.”

Auctioneer Joseph Trinder explains the Victorian fascination with souvenirs picked up from their exotic travels overseas …

WHEN I say The Grand Tour, I’m not talking about the spinoff of everyone’s favourite British motoring television series, but the onceessential cultural rite of passage adhered to by young British men of the privileged classes.

From the mid 17th century up until the advent and wide-scale implementation of railway travel in the early 1840s, young gentlemen were all but expected to undertake a ‘Grand Tour’, a journey throughout continental Europe, marking their coming of age.

Lasting anything from a few months to several years, these trips sought to immerse the voyager in the continent’s artistic, historic, and wider cultural wealth and legacy which awaited his discovery and contemplation, so that he might be changed and made better by the experience.

A cornerstone to this immersion was exposure to the art of Europe, such as masterpieces of sculpture and architecture in Rome and Athens, with places such as Pompeii, Florence and Venice also ranking highly on the must-see itinerary.

Survivor An invaluable opportunity to broaden one’s mind through an often liberal European education in art (as well as Religion, theology and other worldly pursuits) a Grand Tour was viewed as an accomplishment which often saw the voyager return home with not only memories of sights and experiences unavailable in Britain, but also souvenirs of these travels which were proudly displayed as symbolic of one’s dedication to knowledge, culture and discovery –

PUBLIC NOTICE

Town and Country Planning (Development Management Procedure) (England) Order 2015 NOTICE UNDER ARTICLE 13 OF APPLICATION FOR PLANNING PERMISSION Notice 2

For proposed development at Little Wold, Groombridge, Tunbridge Wells TN3 9NE and land to the south

By Earlswood Homes For planning permission to erect 21no. residential dwellings, creation of new access road, internal roads, car parking, landscaping, drainage, public open space, junior football pitch, ancillary structures, and associated works Within the boundaries of Wealden District Council (Wealden District Council, Council Offices, Vicarage Lane, Hailsham, BN27 2AX) Any owner of the land or tenant who wishes to make representations about this application, should write to the council within 21 days of the date of this notice.

Signed:

DHA Planning 14 September 2021 Statement of owners’ rights: The grant of planning permission does not affect owners’ rights to retain or dispose of their property, unless there is some provision to the contrary in an agreement or lease.

Statement of agricultural tenants’ rights: The grant of planning permission for non-agricultural development may affect agricultural tenants’ security of tenure. This notice is for publication in a local newspaper.

‘Owner’ means a person having a freehold interest or a leasehold interest the unexpired term of which is not less than seven years. ‘Tenant’ means a tenant of an agricultural holding any part of which is comprised in the land.

among tenants held most important to society at the time.

Pieces brought back ranged from books, maps and manuscripts, antiques - and even plants and flowers were painstakingly retrieved.

Once such survivor from the days of the Grand Tour can be found in our upcoming September 28 Autumn fine sale at Gorringe’s.

Lot 11 is an early 19th century sienna marble urn, of oval form, carved with ram’s head mounts and raised on a green marble plinth and

‘In a world of massmade everything, very little is special’ black marble base.

This example perfectly illustrates an adherence to classical style and proportions coupled with te natural qualities of the materials brought to their fullest by quality craftmanship which so often characterises grand tour souvenirs.

Once displayed in pride of place in a fine home following this epic

journey through Italy’s artistic past, at 27.5cm high, it is a masterpiece of very workable proportions.

Some 200 years or so after this piece was made, the world has changed beyond recognition. The treasures of our shared artistic and cultural heritage are now quite rightly no longer reserved to males of a certain class, but anyone with appreciation and curiosity.

Yet I argue that this piece has lost little of its potency over the years, but perhaps is worthy of greater appreciation as it has survived the passing centuries unscathed.

In a world of mass-made everything, very little is special. This however was special then and still is now. Lovingly packaged and transported over the hills of Italy, France and across the Channel, back to Blighty, it has quietly witnessed many lifetimes come and go, waiting patiently now in the sale room for a new owner to find and appreciate it.

Lot 11 An early 19th century Grand Tour Souvenir Marble Urn. The Autumn Fine Sale is on September 28 £1,000–£2,000.

Food & Culture

arts

30

Wednesday September 15 | 2021

Brought to books After being cancelled last year due to the coronavirus crisis the biennial Cranbrook Literature Festival is back this weekend. Eileen Leahy finds out who’s on the bill this year by chatting to its founder Christine Newman and discovers what makes it such a popular event with literature lovers ...

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Cranbrook’s literary heritage and to s we all know the Covid promote the joy of the written word to curveball has thrown so children and adults in and around the much of what we love to do Cranbrook area,” explains organiser into chaos over the past 18 Christine Newman. months, but happily more “It is a not-for-profit and more events are now organisation, run totally able to take place due to by volunteers, all people being jabbed as passionate about well as a redoubling reading, writing of efforts to keep and all things everyone safe. booky!”

One popular – Taking part and free local this year event which are author is returning Deborah after being Moggach, cancelled horticulturist last year is Tom Hart-Dyke, the Cranbrook screenwriter Literary Festival. and novelist Taking place on William Nicholson, Friday September Christine Newman and broadcaster 17 and Saturday 18, Iain Dale who will be in it promises to bring conversation with Tunbridge entertainment for all ages Wells MP Greg Clark. thanks to its children and adult author They will appear alongside other talks, creative writing workshops speakers including The Noir Collective and general discussions on all things writing group, children’s picture book literature and beyond... supremo Sophy Henn, journalist Hilary “The Cranbrook Literature Festival is a two-day, biennial event held to celebrate Wilce and local poets Hubert Moore,

John Rice and Bowie Adams.

Cranbrook Literary Festival was established in 2016 by Christine who describes herself as a ‘book geek’.

“As a librarian, creative writer, book geek and a life-long lover of attending literature festivals - Cheltenham.

Charleston, Hay - I decided Cranbrook was the ideal place to hold our very own festival,” she explains.

Eclectic “I gathered a few like-minded friends together to see if the idea had legs ...and it turns out it did! We very much wanted to focus on it being a not-forprofit community event, accessible to all and to include events for children at the local schools which would be free of charge. It was, and still is very much about promoting the joys of reading and writing to the community. We look to cover our costs but not to make a profit

and all involved are volunteers.”

Christine goes on to say there is plenty to excite her and fellow book lovers about the local literary landscape.

“There is a vibrant arts scene generally in the Weald area: there are lots of artists, writers, photographers and theatre people and so promoting the literary aspect of the arts fits very well with the area.

“The authors attending this year were chosen to suit a wide range of tastes so we have fiction writers and poets as well as non-fiction authors of political books, gardening and food. You could say it’s an eclectic mix!”

Vibrant And despite being knocked off the calendar due to Covid last year the event is very much back for this year. So what does Christine hope the future holds for the Cranbrook Literary Festival?

“Currently it happens every other year which suits the fact that the organising team all have jobs and the festival is organised in their free time. We are hoping this can continue in this way but we are keen to do one-off author events too in the year between festivals. We are, of course, always looking for more sponsors, and without the generous support of our local sponsors the festival would not be possible.”

Christine says there are many highlights to be enjoyed for all ages at this year’s festival.

“Deborah Moggach is certainly one. Her last book The Carer was a masterful piece of fiction and she has a new book out now, Black Dress, which has had terrific reviews in the national press. I’m also keen to hear from The

“My hope is that the now the festival is established it will continue to bring writers into Cranbrook for the whole community to enjoy”

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Food & Culture

Wednesday September 15 | 2021

Noir Collective - a group of local writers who specialise in writing dark, mysterious and suspense tales. And of course I’m looking forward to the poetry recitals from Hubert Moore and John Rice who both used to live in Cranbrook.

“But, I am super excited about the whole programme having spent time putting together a range of writers to suit all tastes. Tom Hart-Dyke, creator of the World Garden will

“This not for profit event is very much about promoting the joys of reading and writing to the community”

Deborah Moggach

William Nicholson

Tom Hart Dyke

Iain Dale

be fantastic to listen to as will Pen Volger, fantastic foodie and author of the best selling Scoff.

“My hope is that the now the festival is established it will continue to bring writers into Cranbrook for the whole community to enjoy.”

Full details of the programme and booking details are available from www. cranbrookliteraturefestival.com

WHO’S APPEARING AT THE CRANBROOK LITERARY FESTIVAL: The events offer an eclectic mix of speakers: • Deborah Moggach will be talking about her new novel Black Dress as well as her best selling Best Exotic Marigold Hotel • William Nicholson will speak about his many novels and work on film scripts for Hope Gap and Gladiator • Pen Vogler will enlighten us on her new book Scoff – A History of Food and Class in Britain • LBC broadcaster, political commentator and journalist Iain Dale will speak about his books and will be in discussion with local MP Greg Clark • Tom Hart Dyke, a botanist/traveller/ adventurer/TV personality/writer and creator of The World Garden will entertain with tales of his many adventures • The Noir Collective will present psychological, mystery and suspenseful writing advice For more information on who is talking when visit www. cranbrookliteraturefestival.com

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Friends reunited through the pure power of poetry The Friends of Tunbridge Wells Museum, Library and Art Gallery have just launched a Friendship Poetry Competition borne out of the pandemic. The Times finds out more about it...

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ones, new ones, yesteryear uring the first few ones, yesterday ones: months of lockdown all vital to our care and we couldn’t see our wellbeing which is why we friends and family chose this as the subject of unless we were in a the poetry competition,” support bubble with them. This led she explains. to a large tranche of us using Zoom “Celebrating friendship and other digital communication seems very appropriate in platforms in order to keep in touch. these bewildering times. It During that period of having to ‘stay might have been a phone home’ it became clear to most that call out of the blue or maintaining contact with our fellow an encounter on Zoom. human beings was a treasured Whatever your inspiration thing, and that connectivity your contributions will be and friendship were immensely most appreciated. You don’t important and valuable.

Amelia Scott have to be a wordsmith or One group of friends who had an expert, it just has to be an to switch from meeting in person original unpublished piece.” to communicating online was The judging panel will be made up of local pubthe Friends of Tunbridge Wells Museum, Library lished poet and children’s author Mara Bergman, and Art Gallery (FTWMLAG). If you’re not already Emily Bennett who is a creative writing tutor at familiar with them then in brief they were Tunbridge Wells Adult Learning Centre and Eileen established 15 years ago to provide a connection between the staff of the aforementioned cultural departments of the council and members of the general community.

Since 2006 they have organised walks, talks, quizzes, garden parties, visits and many other activities. Through these events FTWMLAG has raised funds for numerous projects, enabling the museum and library to purchase or restore various Leahy, Deputy Editor of the Times of Tunbridge items. This includes £10,000 for the conservation Wells. of a Georgian gown which will be on display next The contest, which launched last week, is open year in the new Amelia Scott Cutural Centre. to all ages from adults to adolescents and those The group also helped Tunbridge Wells Borough under 12, and encourages people to pen a poem council’s 2015s successful Heritage Lottery bid that reflects what friendship means to them. which in turn enabled The Amelia Scott Project to The deadline for entries is October 13 and entry go ahead. for adults is £5 and free for children. The adult “Our existence was important in obtaining prize is £100 and £75 for one runner up which Lottery funding for the Amelia Scott as it was will go towards an adult education course. The necessary to show that the project had the winner of the Young Adults’ category (aged involvement and support of the general public,” 12-18) will receive a £20 and the winner of the explains FTWMLAG committee member Anne under 12s group will receive a £10 book token.

Forster.

Cheques should be made payable to The Friends of It’s therefore fair to say it’s a pretty formidable Tunbridge Wells Museum Library and Art Gallery organisation full of passionate people who want and all proceeds will go towards the Amelia Scott to see the cultural tapestry of the town thrive and Collection. To submit your poem and gain further survive for future generations. information please email annestobo@yahoo.co.uk During the lockdowns they were able to still The Friendship Competition is supported by the ‘meet up’ courtesy of Zoom. This ensured members Times of Tunbridge Wells and Adult Education could still discuss future fundraising projects and Tunbridge Wells. chat about the aforementioned Amelia development which is due to open spring 2022. But essentially it also provided them with that all-important

“The new poetry competition is open to all ages and celebrates the importance of friendship”

“Friends of Tunbridge Wells helped the council secure funding for the new Amelia Scott cultural space and have raised money for conservation work too ” contact that had been taken away from so many during that difficult period.

For those who couldn’t communicate digitally one of FTWMLAG’s Chair Anne Stobo kept in touch by writing pieces, one of which was a magazine article about the conservation work done on the Georgian gown (pictured right).

“I wrote a piece for The Tunbridge Wells Community Ad Magazine and as a result I received a very generous offer from a supporter. He said he would donate £100 as prize money for a Poetry Competition. You can imagine my delight! In these very difficult unprecedented pandemic times friends and friendship are indeed critical. Old

Food & Culture

food

32

Wednesday September 15 | 2021

It’s time to savour a shopping experience with a difference

Yesterday, September 14, Macknade opened its doors on the top floor of luxury department store Hoopers. Eileen Leahy gets a taste of what this family-run epicurean emporium has in store for customers - and the town….

W

ith two very popular outlets in Faversham and Ashford, Macknade – purveyor of fine food and drinks – is bringing its quality offerings to West Kent with a new shop and café situated in Hoopers.

The family-run business, which next year celebrates its 175th anniversary, announced at the beginning of the summer that it would be taking over the top floor of Hoopers on Mount Pleasant in order to offer discerning diners an all-day menu and plenty of gastro goodies.

So whether you fancy a coffee and a fresh croissant, a grazing platter of Mediterranean inspired mezze or a

“By partnering with Hoopers, we aim to create a favourite place in the town for everyone to enjoy”

HAPPY CUSTOMERS: Shane Goodwin Macknade’s MD (L) with party guests special three-course meal Macknade – best described as an independent grocer, deli and dining destination – can certainly deliver.

At the launch last week, Hooper’s Managing Director Debra Angus said: “Living in East Kent I have long been a loyal customer of Macknade and have admired its ethos, passion and commitment in providing a fantastic food-based experience.

“The resonance of two family businesses joining in partnership with our customers at the centre is a very exciting prospect.”

The new Macknade eaterie will deliver a much needed in-store dining experience to the store which has been in Tunbridge Wells since 1990 - thanks to its array of delicious dishes and drinks.

It also boasts a wealth of luxury local goods you can buy while there

Zorba Meze Grill FANTASTIC OFFER! 20% OFF YOUR TOTAL BILL MONDAY TO THURSDAY ONLY OFFER ENDS 30TH SEPTEMBER 2021.

We also cater for outdoor events or private occasions . If you’re planning an outdoor event and need catering it needs a little thought.

Take note of our top tips for using an outside catering service to feed hungry guests and pull off your event without a hitch.

YOUR LOCAL RESTAURANT 4 Upper Grosvenor Road, Tunbridge Wells TN1 2EN 01892 530051 | www.zorbamezegrill.com

Food & Culture

Wednesday September 15 | 2021

33

TASTY TREATS Macknade will take you on a culinary trip of the globe and then enjoy at home. They include Goupie chocolate treats, Kentish rapeseed oil and Squerryes wines. There are plenty of other foodie treats from further afield too including Italian handmade pasta, Torres truffle crisps from Spain and American BBQ sauces.

Encompassing retail, hospitality, events, food service and farming, the Macknade brand has been synonymous with quality and community since 1847.

And it boasts strong roots in both the Garden of England as well as the island of Ischia in Italy. In short Macknade is on a

mission to bring producers, suppliers and consumers closer together in true community spirit.

Its CEO Stefano Cuomo commented: “By partnering with Hoopers, we aim to create a favourite place in the town for everyone to enjoy. Tunbridge Wells residents have long taken

Time to talk?

At The Counselling Centre you can talk in confidence about the challenges you’re facing in your life right now.

support we offer can be highly focused or more open-ended.

As a registered charity, we can provide assistance with fees.

Whether in person, online or over the phone, our expert counsellors help you address personal difficulties, build resilience and bring about long-lasting, positive change.

Depending on your need, the

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www.thecounselling centre.org.uk

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Affordable, Professional Counselling BACP Accredited The Counselling Centre, Richmond Terrace, 49 London Road, Tunbridge Wells, TN1 1DT

pride in supporting local, independent businesses and the surrounding area of the Weald is full of producers that we already admire, and whose stories we can’t wait to share.

Quality “Macknade is all about creating favourite spaces and working with Hoopers has given us the chance to take some of our favourite dishes, continue to grow long established partnerships and create new relationships with local producers, all to create food that makes people smile.

“Everything on our menus has a story and through our dishes, diners will discover the

artisans behind the incredible ingredients and products we use.”

This latest opening highlights a key stage in Macknade’s mission to create spaces for

“Everything on our menus has a story and through our dishes, diners will discover the artisans behind the incredible ingredients and products we use”

communities to come together over a shared love of food and drink - on this occasion, collaborating with an iconic, independent department store to reinvigorate its food and beverage model.

The 4000 square foot Macknade space at Hoopers includes an informal restaurant space and retail area selling quality produce – some of which is used on the new restaurant’s menu.

Shane Godwin, Managing Director at Macknade added: ‘We can’t wait to bring the Macknade experience to Tunbridge Wells, showcasing some of the fantastic suppliers, growers and produce from Kent and further afield. The team are already working on future plans to bring pop ups, supper clubs, tastings and other foodie related events to the town.”

He went on to add that prior to officially opening the Macknade team offered weekly tastings at Hoopers during the summer to showcase their delicious offerings.

“We hope the restaurant will become the ideal place for all manner of get togethers from business breakfasts, to relaxed brunches and suppers with friends and family.”

To find out more about Macknade, please visit www.macknade.com

Food & Culture

health & wellbeing

34

Wednesday September 15 | 2021

Ask an expert: Will my unborn baby get the nutrition it needs from my vegan diet?

A dietitian explains a well-planned vegan diet provides all the nutrition needed for unborn babies, and veganism is fine for weaning too

I

protective. ’m vegan and I’ve just found “As with any diet, it’s important out I’m pregnant. Will me it’s balanced and contains a eating only vegan food give wide-range of plant foods. my unborn child enough Pregnant and breastfeeding nutrition, and is it safe to only women can meet all their nutrient feed my baby vegan food when it’s needs on a vegan diet. weaned?

There are some Dietitian Sandra nutrients that need Hood, author of particular Feeding Your attention as Vegan Child, they aren’t says: “A found in wellplant foods, planned i.e. vitamin vegan diet B12 and can vitamin D, provide so need to all the be provided nutrition by needed for supplements every life or [veganstage, and friendly] this includes fortified foods from pregnancy Sandra Hood [such as cereals and through to raising a plant milks]. vegan child. Indeed, “Vitamin B12 is made by bacteria such a diet rich in fruits and and omnivores obtain it by eating vegetables, wholegrains, nuts and animal products. For vegans, it seeds, has been shown to be

Tunbridge Wells OFFICE HIRE Available Located just two miles from Tunbridge Wells town centre, Salomons Estate now offers fully furnished office suites to let from just £299 per month. Set within the Victorian country manor house, over-looking 36 acres of stunning grounds. Individual offices for 2 to 12 people are available now. Office hire includes: • Free parking on site • Free gym membership • Support from our friendly and professional reception team • Use of video conferencing facilities • 24/7 access and security • Short or long term lets available

Enquire today on 01892 515152 leisuresales@salomons-estate.com

www.salomons-estate.com

CONFERENCE AND EVENTS VENUE

can be provided by fortified foods or supplements. Vitamin D is only found in animal products or fortified foods but is

usually obtained from sun exposure. However during different life stages, whether an omnivore, vegetarian or vegan, a supplement

Food & Culture

Wednesday September 15 | 2021

35

is recommended, for example during pregnancy and lactation and for children from six months to five years of age.

“Breastfeeding or formula feed should be the main food for the first six months. When weaning begins, breastfeeding should continue for as long as desired. Up to one year of age, infants grow and develop very quickly so the focus should be on high energy foods. Monitoring growth is the best way to ensure energy requirements are being met.

Infants should be offered a wide variety of foods and suitable high energy foods include nut butters, avocado and tahini which can be added to dishes or spread on vegetables and breads.

‘Plant foods provide many protective nutrients which may reduce many diseases, lower the risk of cancer and heart disease, and they are low in fat’ “All the essential fats and proteins come from plant foods, and these requirements can be easily met on a vegan diet. Good protein sources include beans, grains, nuts, seeds and green leafy vegetables. High fat sources include nut and seed butters, avocados, tofu and soya foods. Iron requirements are high during this time and breast milk continues to be

Feeding Your Vegan Child by Sandra Hood Is published by Hammersmith Health Books, priced £14.99.

Available now. a good source, along with fortified cereals, mashed beans and lentils.

“The Department of Health recommends a daily supplement containing vitamins A, C and D for all children from six months until five years of age. In addition vegan children should take a vitamin B12 supplement of at least 1mcg per day starting at six months of age.

“Plant foods provide many protective nutrients including phytochemicals which may reduce many diseases, fibre associated with lower risk of cancer and heart disease, and they are low in saturated fat. Finally, choosing a vegan diet is compassionate, healthy and a sustainable way to live.”

WE’RE RECRUITING!

Elite Leisure Collection, formally Markerstudy Leisure, is one of the region’s fastest growing group of companies consisting of five independently owned, award winning, ambitious brands employing over 80 staff. Due to continued growth and exciting new plans we are now recruiting for new superstars to join our teams based in Tunbridge Wells: RECEPTIONIST

Playing a vital role in the everyday operation of our Reception, you will be responsible for creating the first impression for all guests, by greeting them and making them feel welcome. This high profile role requires an excellent customer facing approach with exceptional levels of customer service.Your main focus will be to ensure customer satisfaction, directing guests to their conference or event, checking guests in and out of our accommodation and also managing a high level of email and telephone enquiries. Strong communication and organisation skills are essential.

PART-TIME SALES SUPPORT ASSISTANT (20HRS PER WEEK)

As part of media sales team, this is a results driven and varied sales support role that incorporates sales support and development, relationship management and sales administration. Working in both B2B and B2C sectors, you will support our existing successful sales team to manage/monitor new enquiries, process new contracts, liaise with existing clients whilst providing administrative support to our small but ambitious sales team. To be successful in this role you will need good verbal and written communication, computer literacy with strong administration skills and great attention to detail

CHEF DE PARTIE

An opportunity has arisen for a full-time experienced Chef de Partie to assist in the day to day running of our busy kitchens. The main responsibilities are to manage a section within the kitchen whilst ensuring cleanliness, stock control, organisation and high standards of the section.

You will ensure that all dishes are prepared and cooked according to the specific restaurant standards alongside keeping to the required cleaning schedule and that the cleaning tasks are delegated as appropriate. Previous experience of working in a similar venue/restaurant is required along with a creative passion for food and quality.

HOUSEKEEPER

Under the direction of the Housekeeping Manager and Supervisor, a Housekeeper aims to provide a high quality and efficient service in line with agreed standards of the venue operation, to be responsible for cleaning and tidying the bedrooms and public areas of the venue. The ideal candidate will have previous experience of housekeeping in a busy venue, the ability to work under pressure and a flexible attitude to accommodate customer needs through morning, evening and weekend work, according to venue occupancy.

To apply for any of the above roles please send a covering letter and CV to Lisa McVickers lisa.mcvickers@salomons-estate.com

36

Travel

Wednesday September 15 | 2021

Why Alberta is the ultimate winter Canada has reopened its borders to all fully vaccinated travellers – just in time for the best season, says Liz Connor

A

travel

lberta is famous for its pristine wilderness and postcard-perfect scenes of the snow-capped Rocky Mountains towering over glassy

lakes.

It’s famously a summer destination for tourists and landscape photographers alike, but what Instagram doesn’t really tell you is that it can be difficult to get around in peak season, with some of the most iconic viewpoints – like Lake Louise – causing lengthy traffic jams and a fight for parking spaces.

That’s why winter is quietly becoming the best time to travel to the province. The region becomes an empty playground for adventure lovers when the temperature drops, offering adrenaline-thrilled winter sports and the spectacular frozen views.

(Just be sure to pack your thermals and be prepared for a few blizzards.) Here’s how to spend a week exploring Alberta this winter.

Touch down in Edmonton The capital of Alberta, and its secondlargest city, is more than just an overnight stopover en route to wilder, more remote parts of the region. I spend three days in this vibrant urban city, easing myself into the adventure lifestyle and discovering a smart holiday destination in its own right.

Less than an hour’s drive from the city you’ll find Elk Island, a National Park where you’re guaranteed to spot majestic bison, elk, moose and whitetailed deer free roaming in its lands (admission costs £4.33 for adults and can be purchased at the entrance kiosk). The park has higher densities of hoofed mammals per square kilometre than any other area in the world, and it’s an important part of Canada’s bison conservation story.

Edmonton itself is a young and creative city that’s sure to delight any urbanite, with great coffee, hyper-local foodie spots and Instagrammable street art. Food-wise you’re spoilt for choice, and it’s easy to spend your days eating and drinking your way from breakfast through to dinner and

WINTER FUN: The Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise cocktails. Highlights include craft beer taproom Situation Brewing (situationbeer. com), hipster gin distillery Strathcona Spirits (strathconaspirits.ca), brunch haven Little Brick (littlebrick.ca) and boozy eatery Baijiu (baijiuyeg.com) which serves Asian-inspired small plates and very good cocktails.

Mountain Hole up in the JW Marriot in Edmonton’s hottest new downtown area, ICE District, for the entirety of your stay in the city.

With design-conscious interiors, impeccable service and a destination cocktail bar, it’s the place to enjoy some luxury R’n’R before launching yourself into the Canadian wilderness.

Make Jasper your adventure base It’s a scenic, four-hour drive from Edmonton to Jasper, the largest National Park in the Canadian Rockies with 11,000 square kilometres of untouched wilderness and one of the world’s largest accessible dark sky preserves. Here, you can appreciate twinkling constellations and, if you’re very lucky, the aurora borealis. If you’re keen to snap some of the night-time delights, I recommend taking a Night Photography Tour with Jasper Photo Tours (£86.53 for two hours; jasperphototours. com).

You’ll also need to hire a car to get around during your week in Alberta. Opt for a four by four with snow tyres, and you’ll need to be an experienced driver, as the roads can get rather hairy if the

WILDLIFE: Bison on Elk island

Travel

Wednesday September 15 | 2021

37

holiday for off-the-beaten-track adventure

CRYSTAL CLEAR: Bow lake in Banff

weather takes a turn.

Ice climbing is one of the more unusual winter thrills you can try in Alberta. Rockaboo Mountain Adventures offer day-trips (£129.75 per person for six hours; rockaboo.ca) that involve a hike through Jasper National Park to a hidden frozen waterfall, where you can safely have a go at heaving yourself up the rugged sheet of ice

Jasper itself is a sweet little Alpine town with lots of cute shops and cafes to dip in and out of, and there’s even a wellness centre (jasperwellness.ca) with yoga and meditation classes. When it’s time to bed down, head to the Mount Robson Inn, a sweet little motel with outdoor hot tubs and views of the spectacular mountain ranges surrounding the town.

CITYSCAPE: Downtown Edmonton

‘With incredible views of the Rocky mountains and crisp blue skies, the resort is a memorable place to ski’ using crampons and ice axes. Exhilarating and terrifying all at once, it’s one of those incredible travel memories that, if you’re anything like me, you’ll be talking about for years to come.

I spend another memorable day trip on an Ice Bubbles Tour with Pursuit Adventures (£72.11 per person; pursuitadventures.ca), hiking my way to the ice bubbles of Abraham Lake and the narrow canyon of the Cline River. In the winter, methane ice bubbles become trapped underneath the frozen lake, and it’s an incredible natural phenomenon to witness against the dramatic backdrop of Abraham mountain.

Ski and snowshoe in Banff and Lake Louise I continue my journey south towards Banff and Lake Louise, a haven for anyone looking for a true Canadian adventure. Known for having some of the finest ski powder in the world, Banff is Canada’s first national park (named in 1885) and today is part of a Unesco World Heritage Site. The three-hour drive itself is regarded as one of the most scenic in the world, and it takes on a different kind of beauty in the winter, when everything is covered in a fresh sheet of snow.

The iconic Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise hotel is the place to stay in the area. The hotel is a luxury mountain resort that famously overlooks the frozen lake and its surrounding soaring mountain peaks.

Skiing With an average annual snowfall of 13 feet, the snowy trails around Banff National Park are just the place to try snowshoeing, a giggle-inducing activity that involves wearing footwear that

looks and feels like strapping on two mini skis (the hotel can arrange this for you at an extra cost; £37 for three hours). The idea is that the weight-distributing shoes stop you from sinking into the snow, but there are inevitably slips, skids and hilarious wipe-outs as you attempt to tramp your way through the harsh winter conditions.

I also try skiing at Lake Louise ski resort. With 4,200 skiable acres, Lake Louise is one of the largest ski areas in North America, with gentle slopes for beginners, right up to chutes, glades and gullies for experts. I rent my gear from the SkiBig3 Adventure Hub in the town, and while in store, you can book ski school lessons and purchase lift tickets (a single day lift ticket is £69).

With incredible views of the Rocky mountains and crisp blue skies overhead, the resort – which enjoys endless powder – is a memorable place to find your ski legs. Within a morning of tuition, I’m already navigating the bunny slopes with ease and itching to take on steeper challenges.

Elsewhere, Banff has its own sky gondola (£30 for a return journey) that takes you to the summit of Sulphur Mountain, which offers panoramic views of the Rockies. If you can stomach the vertigo, make a booking at the Sky Bistro (banffjaspercollection.com) – a dining sanctuary in the sky with locally-sourced meats and produce, and an extensive wine list (mains from £18).

Before making the final drive to Calgary airport, a one-and-a-half hour car journey from Lake Louise, there’s one last winter challenge to take on – snow tubing. The adrenaline-fuelled sport involves sandwiching yourself into an inflatable rubber ring with up to three other people and holding on for dear life as you’re launched down a snowy hill.

Expect a fair amount of screaming and swearing, but plenty of laughs along the way if you choose to round off your trip with a visit to Mount Norquay (£22.50 per person for a two-and-a-half-hour session; banffnorquay. com).

Summer might be the most popular time to photograph Alberta, but winter really is the best way to experience it. Whether you sled, snowboard, snowshoe or tube your way around the landscape, it’s an exhilarating breath of fresh air that you’re sure to want to revisit for many more winters to come.

HOW TO PLAN YOUR TRIP Bon Voyage (bon-voyage.co.uk; 0800 316 3012) offers an 11-night fly-drive holiday to the Canadian Rockies from £2,395 per person, based on two adults travelling. Valid for travel in February 2022, the package includes room-only accommodation, return economy flights from London to Calgary, some activities and 4×4 car hire rental.

RURAL: The Cline River Canyon

38

Motoring News

Wednesday September 15 | 2021

Motoring News

This week… n

BMW’s CO2 targets

n

Police Mustang

n Hydrogen Vision

BMW sets bold emissions targets and focus on recycled materials BMW Group has set itself more stringent CO2 emissions reduction targets and confirmed a new focus on the use of recycled materials.

The German car group, which represents BMW, Mini and Rolls-Royce, has revealed plans for a 50% reduction in the CO2 emitted by its vehicles by 2030.

Furthermore, it wants to see a reduction in emissions over the full life cycle of its vehicles – including production, supply chain and on the road use – of over 40%.

BMW chairman Oliver Zipse said: “How companies are dealing with CO2 emissions has become a major factor when it comes to judging corporate action.

“The decisive factor in the fight against global warming is how strongly we can improve the carbon footprint of vehicles over their entire life span

Economy “This is why we are setting ourselves transparent and ambitious goals for the substantial reduction of CO2 emissions.”

Key to this progress will be the ‘Neue Klasse’ (new class) of electric vehicles, with the firm hoping to put around 10 million on the road in the next 10 years. By 2030, it hopes for half of BMW Group sales to be electric, with this date coinciding with Mini becoming

an all-electric brand.

On top of this, BMW says it is focusing on the ‘circular economy principle’, which involves ensuring that the materials used in the construction of a car come from recycled sources, while also making the vehicle fully recyclable at the end of its life.

To demonstrate this, it has revealed the BMW i Vision Circular, which is made from recycled materials and can be fully recycled, including the solid-state battery.

Alongside the concept car, BMW also revealed some electric two-wheeled options. These vary in size and shape but cater to those looking for a scooter alternative as well as mountain bikers.

Hyundai’s Vision FK concept brings hydrogen power and 671bhp

HYUNDAI has released a new concept – the Vision FK – which forms a part of the firm’s efforts to ‘popularise hydrogen’ by 2040.

Following on from its pledge to go allelectric in Europe by 2035, the South Korean manufacturer has issued plans to increase its use of hydrogen fuel cell technology in its cars. It has also said that it is attempting to create a fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV) that will cost the same as a battery-electric vehicle (BEV) by 2030.

Sustainable Euisun Chung, chairman of the Hyundai Group, said: “Hyundai Motor Group’s vision is to apply hydrogen energy in all areas of life and industry such as our homes, work-places and factories. The goal is to make hydrogen readily used for everyone, everything, and everywhere.

“We want to offer practical solutions for the sustainable development of humanity and with these breakthroughs, we aim to help foster a worldwide Hydrogen Society by 2040.”

The Vision FK concept is part of this new commitment to hydrogen and provides an initial look at a new sports car set to hit the market. Hyundai claims that its hydrogen powertrain develops 671bhp, enabling a 0-60mph time of under four seconds yet with a range of 373 miles.

It combines fuel cell technology with a plug-in, battery-electric powertrain with power being sent to the rear wheels.

Hyundai has also announced that it will integrate hydrogen fuel cell powertrains to its entire commercial vehicle line-up by 2028, making it one of the very first carmakers to do so.

Ford’s Mustang Mach-e police car concept is an electric blue light option FORD’S Mustang Mach-e electric SUV has been given the blue light treatment in a new conversion.

It comes following considerable interest from UK police forces, with seven having already either tested the vehicle or requested a full evaluation of the concept car.

The Metropolitan Police Force has already requested a test, as well as Sussex, South Wales, Dyfed Powys, Devon & Cornwall, and Police Scotland forces.

Auxillary This initial concept is based on the Mustang Mach-e Standard Range with all-wheel-drive, though Ford is planning to offer Extended Range versions of both its rear-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive models to police forces too.

In addition, all of the car’s auxiliary functions operated from a 12-volt battery rather than the car’s drive battery, so the use of blue lights, sirens and other equipment won’t sap the Mustang’s electric range.

“The vehicle range is uncompromised as the blue light equipment is being drawn from the vehicle’s 12V battery and not the drive battery,” said Terry Adams, Blue Light Direct Sales Manager, Ford of Britain and Ireland.

“In future developments we will look to increase this battery capacity to allow for additional equipment to be fitted.”

The conversion was carried out by Safeguard SVP in Essex, who fitted bespoke mounting pods and brackets throughout the car, while the additional lighting uses LEDs to ensure minimal draw from the car’s 12-volt power system.

The emergency livery also uses a special material capable of maximising day and night visibility requirements.

The concept utilises the standard Mustang Mach-e platform, which has already won a Guinness World Record for having achieved the lowest energy consumption on an electric car journey. In total, it can achieve up to 379 miles between charges when fitted with the Extended Range battery.

Books

Wednesday September 15 | 2021

Times book reviewer

HANNAH KIRSOP

Hannah Kirsop grew up in Kent and now lives in Horsmonden with her family. She loves to read and share recommendations and runs Bainden Book Club for a group of local women to discuss interesting fiction and non-fiction in a range of genres. You can find www.baindenbookshelf.com online or on Instagram: @baindenbookshelf

BUILDING RESILIENCE

ONE YOU MAY HAVE MISSED

Ready for Anything: How to Build Resilience and Cope with Daily Stress by Dr Samantha Boardman

(published by Penguin Life, priced £14.99) This simple, readable yet insightful book by psychiatrist Samantha Boardman is a wonderful introduction into how we can ‘cultivate vitality’ and have better, more constructive days. With real life examples, Boardman describes three core elements needed to achieve vitality connecting with other people, challenging yourself and giving something back to others.

As you read, much of her advice seems so ‘obvious’ and yet there are often instances where it is difficult to put the advice into practice due to other factors. ‘What is urgent often eclipses what is important.’ ‘It isn’t the huge challenges that floor us but the minor issues we encounter daily.’ ‘Letting go of the established stories we tell about ourselves allows us to decide who we want to be.’ These are just some of the concepts articulated, explored and rationalised as she sets out achievable ways for us to be more fulfilled. A fascinating book.

9/10

The bookcase…

We hope you also enjoy these other books we’ve picked for you to read this week…

Freckles by Cecilia Ahern

8/10

Published in hardback

by HarperCollins, priced £16.99 (ebook £10.99).

Available now Cecilia Ahern – best known for her debut novel PS, I Love You – is back with her latest offering, Freckles.

Misfit country girl Allegra ‘Freckles’ Bird moves to Dublin to achieve her dreams, but as reality sets in, she realises she isn’t exactly who she hoped she would become. A tense encounter with a stranger sets her on a journey to uncover the five people who have made her who she is, and in pursuit, she begins to uncover what truly defines her. This flavourful novel is fresh and timely, picking apart Allegra’s character thoughtfully without cliche or judgement. Asking boldly what and who make us who we are, Freckles manages to team wit and wisdom harmoniously – wrapped in a slightly-saccharine bow, as Ahern does so well.

(Review by Holly Cowell)

39

The Shadow of the Wind

by Carlos Ruiz Zafon

9/10 CINEMATIC TEENAGE THRILLS

Below Zero by Dan Smith (published by Chicken House, priced £6.99) The ‘spider drones’ designed to enable the Exodus Mars mission have malfunctioned at Outpost Zero. Twelve-year-old Zac, whose parents designed them, has to end his St Lucian holiday and travel with his family to the remote outpost in Antarctica - this feels about as bad as life can get.

If only it was.

As their plane begins its descent, a storm forces a crash into the ice. They all survive but their problems are only just beginning – Outpost Zero is in darkness, everyone has disappeared and there is no way to contact the outside world. When Zac starts experiencing strange visions, he feels like someone is trying to communicate with him from under the ice….

At times typically farfetched but with a clever twist, this is a rollercoaster of a thriller for children aged 10-13ish.

(published by W&N, priced £9.99) Set in 1945 Barcelona, Daniel is taken by his father to the ‘Cemetery of Forgotten Books’, a labyrinthine library of out-of-print and long forgotten texts. Whilst there he chooses one book to keep – The Shadow of the Wind by Julian Carax. Intrigued by the author and eager to find out more about him, Daniel attempts to track down copies of his other works but someone is one step ahead of him, burning every copy. As unnerving parallels begin to emerge between Daniel and Julian’s life, will Daniel also end up as a tragic hero?

A thrilling piece of atmospheric, gothic literature, this ‘story within a story’ has a brilliantly exciting literary plot with tragedy, love, obsession for the truth and a touch of madness thrown in.

8/10

The Transgender Issue: An Argument For Justice by Shon Faye

Published in hardback by Allen Lane, priced £20 (ebook £9.99).

Available now Few books are as urgent as trans activist and journalist Shon Faye’s debut. She covers the dire situation facing the trans community today – whose existence, for some reason, has become the centre of constant cultural debate.

The analysis is thorough and heartbreaking, from how trans people are treated in the press, by doctors, in prisons and taking into account the intersections of race and class.

Don’t expect too many gory details from Faye’s life and personal experiences – instead, it’s a highly fact-based book backed up with statistics and case studies, but she manages to write it in a hugely

emotive and powerful way.

Some readers might find the ideas feel quite radical – particularly discussion of abolishing prisons and capitalism – but Faye shows her workings in a clear and persuasive way. The main worry is only people who broadly agree with Faye’s point of view will read this book – when in reality, everyone should. It’s ultimately quite a shocking a depressing read, but Faye has hope for the future – and maybe so should we. All we have to do is take action, now – because when trans people are accepted, we will all prosper.(Review by Prudence Wade)

9/10

Snow Country by Sebastian Faulks

Published in hardback by Hutchinson, priced £20 (ebook £9.99). Available now somewhere, or someone, to Snow Country returns to call home. Through all the the Schloss Seeblick political turbulence, love sanatorium in Austria, and loss, Schloss Seeblick loosely following Faulks’ is a place of calm – both 2005 novel Human Traces. for the characters that end The clinic is as much a up there, and for us, personality as the two through Faulks’ flawless main characters, Anton prose. Snow Country’s and Lena – he a journalist, fortunate enough to travel pensive wandering expresses mental resilience before being plunged and wistful yearning in a into the German love story that struggles to trenches of the bloom in the lugubrious Western Front, and period between two world she an impoverished, wars. uneducated child of a (Review by Rebecca Wilcock) prostitute looking for

8/10