Local, National and International
OF TUNBRIDGE WELLS
WWW.THOMBY-COMPUTERS.CO.UK
YOUR LOCAL ONLINE RETAILER, BRINGING THE LATEST TECHNOLOGY TO YOUR DOORSTEP
By Richard Williams TUNBRIDGE Wells will mark the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee this week with a street party for every year Her Majesty has been on the throne. According to Kent County Council, which has issued licences for residents to hold parties in roads, streets and cul-de-sacs in the county, there have been exactly 70 applications from people in Royal Tunbridge Wells and the surrounding borough. Queen Elizabeth II was crowned in 1952, 70 years ago from tomorrow (Thursday, June 2). Across the county of Kent, 550 community celebrations will be taking part from Thursday, when the country is given an extra bank holiday to mark the anniversary of the Queen’s coronation.
Full story pages 6-7
10% OFF* WITH CODE TTW10
Council announces its new Leader by Richard Williams and Victoria Roberts
SHOP NOW
*Orders over £40. All orders over £20 qualify for free shipping. Offer ends 10th June
FLAG BEARERS: Young supporters at the Pickering Cancer Drop in Centre In Monson Rd prepare to party
COUNCILLORS at Tunbridge Wells Borough Council (TWBC) have voted in the head of the Liberal Democrats group as the authority’s new Council Leader, ending two decades of Conservative rule. At Wednesday’s Full Council meeting (May 25), the first since the May 5 elections - which saw the Lib Dem group overtake the Tories as the largest party at TWBC - Cllr Ben Chapelard was voted in as the new Leader of the Council. Cllr Chapelard, who works as a language teacher at a secondary school in Kent, was backed by all 13 members of his own party as well as those from the Tunbridge Wells Alliance (TWA), which
has nine councillors, and the Labour group, which has seven. The three parties have agreed a coalition deal to control the authority. It will see members of the Council’s cabinet – the decision-making committee at the authority – shared among the three parties.
Control Under Cllr Chapelard there will be three other Lib Dem members of the cabinet along with two members of the TWA and two members of the Labour Group. Lib Dem Andy Hickey made the nomination, addressing thanks to former leader Tom Dawlings. Seconding the nomination was Cllr
Nancy Warne (TWA), who is also deputy leader. She said that despite leaving the Lib Dem party, she had ‘watched Ben’s persistence and tenacity in his representation of his residence on this council, and building support for his party to the current success they have today. “And we find that our paths come together again where they have now brought together councillors to form a new administration. Councillors who are willing to bridge across difference and, where necessary, make compromises, in order to focus on the job in hand, to try to deliver the best outcomes for our communities across the whole borough,
See more on page 2
L
Thomby Computers
Royal town gets set to celebrate Queen’s historic Platinum Jubilee
E IA LE EC BI SP
Times
All the news that matters
JU IEW EV PR
Wednesday June 1 | 2022
2
NEWS
Local News
FOR EVEN MORE NEWS VISIT: timeslocalnews.co.uk
Wednesday June 1 | 2022
this week… Town Hall starts work under new management OH, CRUMBS Businesses compete to be crowned Jubilee Cake-Off winners P8
Continued from front page
both urban and rural. “A vote for Ben is a vote to endorse and embrace this positive new way of working, and I ask members to support this motion.” Following Cllr Chapelard’s nomination as leader, former leader Cllr Tom Dawlings told the chamber: “I have addressed the role of leader as a full-time job, with morning, afternoon and evening commitments.”
Full-time MUD, GLORIOUS MUD Dogs and their owners made a splash raising funds for Battersea at Eridge Park P11
GREEN PARTY Beacon Academy pupils plant trees in honour of The Queen P17
Commenting on the relationships he had built, he added: “Ben, I wish you well in your role as leader, but would ask that you don’t consider it too much a part-time job.” However, in an interview following the full council, Cllr Chapelard confirmed he was ‘in talks’ with his school to reduce his hours, to dedicate time to the job. The coalition, to be called the Borough Partnership, will focus on five priorities, with the Cabinet portfolios reorganised around them. A new mayor was also voted in at the authority. Conservative Hawkhurst & Sandhurst councillor, Godfrey Bland, the current deputy mayor, has replaced outgoing mayor Chris Woodward. Liberal Democrat Cllr Hugh Patterson, who represents Capel, was elected as Deputy Mayor.
THE EIGHT MEMBERS OF COALITION CABINET: Cllr Ben Chapelard (LD), leader Cllr Wendy Fitzsimmons (LD), Leisure, wellbeing and culture
Cllr Luke Everitt (Labour), Environment, sustainability and carbon reduction
Cllr Andy Hickey (LD), Finance and performance
Additionally, four ‘champions’ will supplement the work of councillors:
Cllr Justine Rutland (LD), Tunbridge Wells town and local areas
Cllr Peter Lidstone (LD), Walking and cycling champion
Cllr David Hayward (TWA), Governance and transparency
Cllr Mark Ellis (LD), Town market champion
Cllr Nancy Warne (TWA), Rural communities and deputy leader Cllr Hugo Pound (Labour), Housing and planning
Cllr Matthew Sankey (TWA), Local business champion Cllr Alex Britcher-Allan (Labour), Charities and voluntary sector champion
DAVID FULLER
Leader lays out Cabinet priorities BARDS ASSEMBLE The Tunbridge Wells Poetry Festival has something for everyone - including talent spotting for the future! P22
FOLLOWING his maiden speech, stressing the coalition’s priority was Council finances, Cllr Chapelard said each portfolio holder would be briefed by Council officers after the Full Council, to find out what commitments were possible. “Our agreement is for a year. The clock is ticking. I’m going to be working really hard to show that in the next 12 months the Borough Partnership administration can deliver.”
Deficit
CONTACTS EDITOR RICHARD WILLIAMS richard.williams@onemediauk.co.uk | 01892 240626 DEPUTY EDITOR EILEEN LEAHY eileen.leahy@onemediauk.co.uk | 01892 576037 CHIEF REPORTER VICTORIA ROBERTS newsdesk@onemediauk.co.uk | 01892 779615 DESIGN/PRODUCTION JASON STUBBS jason.stubbs@onemediauk.co.uk ADVERTISING 07757 847841 robin.singer@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. 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.
PRINTED BY MORTONS PRINT LTD Media Centre, Morton Way, Horncastle, Lincolnshire LN9 6JR
“The deficit last year was £944,000, which has been plugged by reserves, so in the old administration’s view, that would have been balanced. (But) over the next five years, if we don’t do something about it, we’re going to have a £20million hole in the Council finances. “First of all, national government has destroyed local government in terms of cuts to its budget, so the council now receives no Revenue Support Grant - money for local government to help run local services. “That is now zero, since I’ve been on the council. “And obviously, the income that we’re getting post Covid hasn’t gone back to pre-Covid levels. If it doesn’t, we’re going to have an even bigger problem to deal with.” Giving some detail on how the coalition’s five priorities would work in practice, Cllr Chapelard pointed to the new portfolio held by deputy leader Cllr Nancy Warne (TWA), saying: “I feel there’s a whole area of the borough
CLLR BEN CHAPELARD
that’s been neglected because it’s not Tunbridge Wells-centric and therefore we’ve created a portfolio called rural communities deliberately to push that part of the borough.”
Agenda “Justine’s portfolio (Cllr Rutland) is about Tunbridge Wells town, and the local areas, because you walk up to the top of town, and it looks more and more deserted. So we want someone whose whole focus is driving that agenda forward. “She’s going to be supported by Matthew
Sankey (local business champion) and Pete Lidstone (walking and cycling champion), because the problem with Tunbridge Wells is it looks a car park most of the time, and we’ve got to get people out of cars, walking and cycling. “And we also want to make sure we have a farmer’s market at the top of town, to try and rejuvenate that part of town.” Governance and transparency priorities would also support rural communities, he revealed. “We are taking Cabinet on a tour to meet residents and be accountable to them. I think that it’s important that we show our face and that we are listening to all parts of the borough.”
NEW MAYOR CHOOSES HOSPICE CHARITY AFTER BEING WIDOWED THE new mayor of Tunbridge Wells has chosen Hospice in the Weald as his charity which looked after his late wife Olga before she died in 2019. Olga died just a short time after the couple’s 50th wedding anniversary in 2019, and so Cllr Bland chose his daughter Caroline Sampson to accompany him as Mayoress during his year of office. “I chose to support the Hospice in the Weald because they looked after my wife, Olga. We were very moved by the kindness and compassion they showed,” he told the Council’s annual meeting. Outside of charity, Cllr Bland said his mayoral
focus would be on small businesses in the borough, stressing: “They create enormous wealth and good inside the borough and I think we should do all we can to support them. “They are in aggregate major employers,” he added. Cllr Bland will have a very busy start to his mayoral year as he is planning to attend many of the events taking place across the borough to mark the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. Cllr Bland takes over as Mayor from Cllr Chris Woodward, who presented a cheque for £5,195.64 to his chosen charity, Mental Health Resource.
FOR EVEN MORE NEWS VISIT: timeslocalnews.co.uk
NEWS IN BRIEF
MP reveals news on station access update PLANNING for bridge and lift access to High Brooms station is to be submitted for approval this summer, the MP for Tunbridge Wells has confirmed. “If given the go-ahead by the planning committee (it will) form the basis of the next bidding round for Access for All funding,” said Greg Clark, in correspondence with Cllr Alan Bullion. “Network Rail is confident that the scheme will be granted approval, given DfT (Department for Transport) has already allowed money from the ramp project to be used to draw it up,” he added. High Brooms station only has step-free access to platform 1 for services towards London via the side entrance. There is no step free access to and from platform 2 – away from London.
SO June edition The June edition of SO Tunbridge Wells, the sister magazine of the Times, is out today (Wednesday), packed full of local lifestyle news and features. You can pick up your copy at any of the Times usual distribution points. FACE CALENDAR
A date for your diary
We get revved up for the return of the Soapbox Stars Kart Race
CULTURE
Just for laughs
Discover why comedian Paul Merton is so happy to return to Tunbridge Wells
FOOD & DRINK
A vine old time
Experience a taste of the delicious delights to sip and savour at Balfour
VALUE
AESTHETICIAN MARYNA COLE AND SURGEON DARRYL COOMBES TELL US ABOUT THEIR EXCITING NEW BUSINESS VENTURE June 2022
RNLI nets nearly £1,200 in Tonbridge
Our Funeral Directors are here to Our Funeral Directors support and guide you.are Wehere offerto a support and guide you. We offer a friendly and professional friendly and service toprofessional families. service to families.
T W Boorman Funeral Services T W Boorman Funeral Services www.tw-boorman.co.uk www.tw-boorman.co.uk
Tunbridge Wells Tunbridge Wells
01892 884 01892 884 195 195 31 Mount Ephraim TN4 8AA 31 Mount Ephraim TN4 8AA
W F Groombridge Funeral Directors W F Groombridge Funeral Directors www.wfgroombridge.co.uk www.wfgroombridge.co.uk
Tunbridge Wells Tunbridge Wells
01892 884 01892 884 224 224 49 St John’s Road TN4 9TP 49 St John’s Road TN4 9TP
Call us for immediate support, advice or Call us for immediate support, or to arrange a home visit. We areadvice here to to arrangehelp a home visit. We are here to 24 hours a day. help 24 hours a day.
NEWS
3
Gin festival is just the tonic Five thousand people descended onto The Pantiles last weekend to enjoy the annual Gin and Jazz Festival. Julian Leefe-Griffiths, who co-organised the event with Linton Neil, told the Times it had been a triumph thanks to the perfect cocktail of sunshine, quality gin tastings, live music and delicious food on offer.
Commitment Even Sunday’s showers weren’t enough to put people off sampling local artisan producers such as Mayfield Gin, Maidstone Gin and Cantium, as well as those from further afield including Scotland and Ireland. “What an incredible weekend,” said Julian, who also owns the Tunbride Wells Hotel. “The gin producers did great business as I’m sure did all the restaurants and hotels. “Putting large-scale festivals on is always difficult, as they take a lot of organisation, planning and commitment but when you see five thousand happy people of Tunbridge Wells come out and play you know that all the hard work has been worth it.”
Macknade off the menu at Hoopers GASTRO business Macknade has announced it has closed its Tunbridge Wells restaurant and fine food shop located in Hoopers department store on Mount Pleasant. The news comes just nine months after the 175-year-old company opened its first West Kent store last September. Macknade began as a farm in Faversham in 1847, but the business, which also has roots in Italy, exited farming completely in 2001, in order to focus on retail, and in 2011 opened the first
Macknade café. It has flagship stores in both Faversham and Ashford. However a Macknade spokesperson told the Times yesterday (May 31) that it will not be abandoning Tunbridge Wells or the West Kent region completely. The company’s Managing Director Shane Godwin told the Times: “We have certainly not departed the West Kent area for good. We are looking at plenty of options in both the East and West of Kent where we can trade from our
A ROYAL National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) collection in Tonbridge raised £1,178.10 over four hours on Saturday, May 21. Funded entirely by charitable fundraising and legacies, the organisation funds and operates volunteer lifeboats seasonal beach lifeguards and responds in flooding emergencies. “We are extremely grateful for the generosity and supportive good wishes expressed by members of the public in Tonbridge, especially at a time of strain on personal and family budgets,” said Peter Chartres, honorary chairman of the charity’s Pembury, Paddock Wood and Tonbridge branch.
Your Local Funeral Services Your Local Funeral Services
Local News
Picture © Key & Quill
Wednesday June 1 | 2022
own space. “Our experience at Hoopers demonstrates how the people of Tunbridge Wells appreciate quality food and drink and share Macknade’s community values.” In an official Instagram post, ‘Macknade @ Hoopers’ said: “Re-energising and re-invigorating the restaurant space at Hoopers has been a fantastic experience for us.
Changeover “Creating quality food and drink experiences remains our focus and we hope you will continue to follow us @macknade, as well as shop online at macknade.com or visit our shops and restaurants in Faversham & Ashford.” At Hoopers, a spokesperson in the marketing department confirmed the changeover, saying: “We had a collaboration with Macknade, but it has come to an end.” The department store’s restaurant will now revert to the in-house Hoopers Zest restaurant brand, which has a presence in all other Hoopers stores which are located in Harrogate, Torquay and Wilmslow. The change is expected to take effect by the middle of next week and the department store confirmed it would be ‘maintaining staff’ who had worked for the Macknade brand until last week.
LEAVING: Macknade MD Shane Godwin (left) at the Hoopers opening in September
Victims of unsolved murders are not forgotten 40 years on By Richard Williams POLICE say they are still hunting the killer of a woman who was beaten to death near a Tunbridge Wells beauty spot 40 years ago. On June 11, 1982, the body of Mrs Jean Vera Brook was found in Bedgebury Forest in Goudhurst, near to the National Pinetum. Mrs Brook, who was from Hastings and worked as a delivery driver, is thought to have been murdered as she ate her lunch in the forest.
Appeals The badly beaten body of the 46-year-old mother of three was discovered around 50 yards from her van, which was parked alongside the A229 at the junction of Park Lane which is one of the entry points into the Bedgebury estate. A post-mortem revealed she had been hit by a heavy blunt instrument, although there were no signs of a sexual assault.
Despite appeals in the national press, her killer was never found. Mrs Brook was the second murder victim found in the area in the space of just three years. The body of another woman had been found about a mile away in 1979. She had been discovered by a horse rider on October 23 that year. A post-mortem had revealed the woman had suffered a number of severe head injuries as a result of a beating. She was so badly beaten she could not be identified, and 43 years on, and despite numerous appeals to find out who she was, her identity remains a mystery. The unidentified woman was laid to rest in an unmarked grave in Tunbridge Wells cemetery. Harry Pennells, a 75-year-old retired lorry driver from Ticehurst, had stood trial for that killing, but
he was found not guilty. Four decades on and both crimes remain unsolved, but Kent Police say the murders have not been forgotten. Detective Chief Inspector Neil Kimber, of the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate, said: “The tragic deaths in Bedgebury near Tunbridge Wells, of an unidentified woman in October 1979 and Jean Vera Brook in 1982, remain unsolved. “The cold case team carries out periodic reviews of unsolved murders, rapes and other serious offences and it is important to remember that no case is ever truly closed. Anyone who can help the police identify new lines of enquiry in either case can call 01622 654863. The independent charity Crimestoppers is at 0800 555111 or there is an online form at www.crimestoppers-uk.org.”
4
NEWS
Local News
FOR EVEN MORE NEWS VISIT: timeslocalnews.co.uk
Wednesday June 1 | 2022
MP unavailable for comment on ‘Partygate’ as long-awaited Sue Gray report is published
Recyclable and all garden waste collection still on hold as Wealden strike continues
By Richard Williams GREG CLARK was unavailable this week to comment on the ‘Partygate’ gatherings in Downing Street, following the publication of an official report. The Tunbridge Wells MP had previously declined to comment on the scandal when it broke earlier this year, telling the Times that while he understood ‘the anger that people feel about the revelations concerning what happened in Downing Street in 2020’ he wanted to wait until ‘all the information is known’ before commenting.
RECYCLING and garden waste collections remain suspended in towns and villages including Crowborough, Wadhurst and Frant as some of Wealden District Council’s (WDC) waste contractors continue industrial action. The GMB union, representing some employees of WDC’s waste contractor Biffa, have issued a notification of their intention to extend the strike to June 25, but Unison-affiliated employees of Biffa accepted a pay deal on April 25.
Report Mr Clark said he would wait for the publication of the full Sue Gray report into parties at Downing Street. The report was published last week. The official inquiry into the Partygate scandal has said the ‘senior leadership’ in Boris Johnson’s Government must ‘bear responsibility’ for the culture which led to coronavirus lockdown rules being broken. The report by Sue Gray said the public would be ‘dismayed’ by a series of breaches of coronavirus rules in No 10 and Westminster. “The events that I investigated were attended by leaders in government. Many of these events should not have been allowed to happen,” she said. The Metropolitan Police has issued 126 fines for rule breaches in No 10 and Whitehall, with the Prime Minister receiving a single fixedpenalty notice for his birthday party. But senior civil servant Ms Gray condemned the wider culture that had been allowed to develop under Mr Johnson’s leadership.
Volume
MP GREG CLARK She said some of the more junior officials who attended parties “believed that their involvement in some of these events was permitted given the attendance of senior leaders”.
Critical The report issued by Ms Gray includes a series of photos, with Mr Johnson pictured at the surprise birthday party in the Cabinet Room on June 19, 2020, for which he received a fine. Following the publication of the report, Mr Clark’s office told the Times the MP was unavailable to comment this week, but would
make a statement after the Jubilee bank holiday weekend. However a number of other Kent MPs have been more critical of the PM over the scandal. Tonbridge & Malling MP Tom Tugendhat said last week the ‘Partygate’ affair showed the British government lacked ‘seriousness’. Mr Tugendhat, who earlier this year confessed to wanting the PM role himself, said he was ‘talking to colleagues’ about whether they should dump Boris Johnson as Conservative leader as MPs ‘need to focus on who is going to lead us into the future’. Meanwhile Thanet MP Roger Gale called for Mr Johnson to resign last week.
The industrial action has affected the southern part of Wealden much more than the northern areas near Tunbridge Wells. “Except for some isolated locations, refuse collections in the north of Wealden have been continuing largely unaffected, although again we regret there have been no recycling or garden waste collections,” said a spokesperson for WDC. But one Crowborough resident told the Times: “Recycling is the biggest volume of rubbish going out of the house and we’ve now run out of places to store the excess volume that’s mounted up.” However disposing of recycling in normal refuse bins is not something WDC will tolerate, they said: “Rubbish bins are only for non-recyclable household waste. If they contain recycling or garden waste, they will not be emptied.”
AN AMAZING WEEKEND OF MUSIC IS COMING TO HOP FARM, KENT
FRIDAY 1ST JULY
SATURDAY 2ND JULY
With special guest
And
TICKETS ON SALE NOW TICKETMASTER.CO.UK - TICKETEK.CO.UK - LHGTICKETS.COM
Supports
JAZZ les
i t n a P ON THE
in association with
Participating restaurants
Entrance £5pp . . .
The T. Wells Hotel The Kirthon Indian The Casa Vecchia
Limited Numbers
2nd June 9th June 16th June 23th June 30th June
01892 530501 07592 271151 01892 544700
It’s a bargain, so come in for a drink or dinner.
s t r a t S 7pm
Sue Rivers Quartet Simon Spillett Quartet Liane Carrol Trio Dino and Darby Dave O’Higgins Quartet
6
NEWS
Jubilee Preview
FOR EVEN MORE NEWS VISIT: timeslocalnews.co.uk
Wednesday June 1 | 2022
Tunbridge Wells plans 70 parties Continued from front page
The bunting’s up and the cakes are baked and now it’s time choose a place to celebrate the Platinum Jubilee. The Times tells you what’s on where this week...
accompanied by music from the bandstand. [see feature in Business, p 8] A stone’s throw from The Pantiles, at KING CHARLES THE MARTYR, WARWICK PARK, there will be a festival dedicated to the Queen’s life in floral displays, throughout the weekend (11am-4pm, except Thursday 11am-2pm). SOUTHBOROUGH AND HIGH BROOMS hold their own Jubilee celebrations on Saturday at 11am-4pm, at Southborough Civic Centre and Town Square. There will be live music, food, drink and visitors are encouraged to come along in appropriate fancy dress. Elsewhere in the area, historical photos of High Brooms station will be on display in the station’s ticket office over the weekend. There will also be a Great British Jubilee Picnic taking place at SALOMONS in Broomhill Road, offering picnicking and games throughout the 36 acres of the estate’s gardens and woodland. Adult tickets cost £19.50 and children’s are priced at £10.50. This includes a picnic basket, table tennis, scavenger hunt, table football,
PARTY TIME: Pupils at Marlborough House School celebrate in style
In Tunbridge Wells, street parties are mostly being held on Friday, Saturday and Sunday but the celebrations don’t stop there. At 1pm tomorrow (Thursday), a military parade will take part at Tunbridge Wells War Memorial, attended by the new Mayor Godfrey Bland and Vice Lord Lieutenant of Kent Brigadier Trevor Minter. Following the salute, the crowd will set off for DUNORLAN PARK at 1:30pm, winding through Monson Road, Calverley Road and Bayhall Road. A Big Jubilee Lunch will take place in the park itself at 2pm, where lovers of music and dance will be entertained by a diverse selection of artists representing musical styles from across the Commonwealth and beyond, along with a host of other attractions and events. The event will end in a Proms-style tribute. Elsewhere in town, The Forum’s ‘Unfest’ brings music, spoken word and food to venues across the town on all four days. Listings are on Paul Dunton’s special Jubilee gig guide (p29). RTW Together’s Business Improvement District’s Cake-Off event rises to perfection in time for you to taste the competing cakes on THE PANTILES from 11am to 3pm on Saturday,
SALOMONS ESTATE
CELEBRATE
THE QUEEN’S PLATINUM JUBILEE WITH US
Help us celebrate the historic moment with Her Majesty, The Queen. Enjoy a choice of loose leaf tea or coffee served with sultana home-baked scones, clotted cream, strawberry preserve, a selection of freshly cut finger sandwiches and assorted homemade seasonal sweet treats. From just £25 per person
To book, please contact: 01892 520 587 or reception@onewarwickpark.co.uk www.onewarwickpark.co.uk
Jubilee Preview
FOR EVEN MORE NEWS VISIT: timeslocalnews.co.uk
Wednesday June 1 | 2022
NEWS
7
for Her Majesty’s 70 year reign... lawn games and more. (Salomons is owned by the Elite Leisure Collection, publisher of the Times.) BIDBOROUGH VILLAGE is celebrating on Thursday, kicking off on its recreation ground at 12:15pm. It continues throughout the day with a fete and culminates in the lighting of a beacon at 9:45pm by the Village Hall. Tickets are £5 in aid of the children’s playground, though under 18s go free. PEMBURY Parish Council’s Jubilee Picnic takes place in the Park at Lower Green Recreation Ground, off Lower Green Road, Pembury, at 2-8pm on Sunday. Live music will include Sonny and the Harp, The Patinas and Squeeze a Crowd. Stalls and activities include a coconut shy, fire engine (3pm), circus skills workshop (3:15pm), ice cream van, pizza van, tea and cake (all organized by HOPE Churches together). Under 16s must be accompanied by an adult. Meanwhile, in PADDOCK WOOD, the Community Picnic, hosted by Paddock Wood
DUNORLAN PARK
Youth Council, features a bar, bouncy castle, pop-up skate park and music. It takes place on Sunday at Putlands field, Paddock Wood, from 1-7pm. Still planting trees for the Jubilee, CAPEL Parish Council unveils five newly-planted oak trees on the recreation ground at 1pm, as part of the Jubilee picnic (12-4pm on Saturday). The Cricket Club bar will be open. CROWBOROUGH’S official events book-end the long weekend, between the beacon lighting on Thursday evening, and the ‘Big Jubilee Lunch’ on Chapel Green on Sunday from 11am-3pm. Picnickers can bring their own food or browse the food vans, while enjoying live entertainment and free children’s activities. Also in Crowborough, The Blue Anchor on Beacon Road is holding a barbecue and live
TWODS Shrek Times of TW Ad 264x160mm + 3mm bleed.indd 1
music at 12-8pm on Saturday. HAWKHURST’S Platinum Jubilee Celebrations start at noon on Saturday. The annual fête, with free entry, includes classic cars, dog show, children’s entertainer and more, on the King George V Field. A big screen will broadcast celebrations in London, plus the Derby, and the Party at the Palace from 8pm. In GROOMBRIDGE, the jubilee picnic celebration is taking place on the recreation ground from 11am on Saturday. GOUDHURST has a busy weekend planned too, starting on the Thursday with a 50s family film at
the Church Rooms, followed by the beacon lighting and fireworks. The flower show is on all weekend at Christ Church, Kildown. Friday and Saturday are fully programmed, with daytime events on the Village Green, and evening events at the Parish Hall. Kilndown Cricket Club hosts a ‘Seven Decades’ car rally on Saturday. The Goudhurst Club expects to do a roaring trade throughout the weekend, serving and serenading members and passing trade alike. On Sunday, head to the club wearing anything from 1950s-1990s, for an inflation-busting offer – first drink at 1950s prices! LAMBERHURST is another jubilant village over the bank holiday weekend, lighting a beacon on Thursday night, while on Friday there is a tea dance at the Village Hall at 4-6pm. An un-ticketed concert at Chequers Field at 8-10pm, featuring local band Shot to Bits at 8-10pm. Chequers Field is also the venue of Lamberhurst’s Big Jubilee Lunch, at 1-4pm on Sunday, followed by entertainment from the Pantomime Society at 4-5pm. Further afield, HEVER CASTLE is holding an ‘English royal’ prom on Saturday night, featuring Elgar, Walton (film music from ‘Henry V’), Holst’s St Paul’s suite, and even Greensleeves by Henry VIII. Played by the Guildhall Strings at 8pm in the Two Sisters’ Theatre. CRANBROOK’S celebrations are on Sunday at 11am-5pm, with a party in Cranbrook High Street and a band at The White Horse. BEACONS will be lit in Bidborough, Capel, Crowborough, Goudhurst, Lamberhurst and Rusthall on Thursday evening joining over 1,500 across the UK and Commonwealth.
08/05/2022 04:50
8
BUSINESS
Local News
FOR EVEN MORE NEWS VISIT: timeslocalnews.co.uk
Wednesday June 1 | 2022
Local hospitality businesses seeking glory for their commemorative cakes TOWN centre businesses are rising to the occasion of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee with a Royal Tunbridge Wells Cake-Off, organised by the RTW Together Business Improvement District (BID). Restaurants, cafés, local media, entertainers and other local promoters have thrown their chef’s hats into the ring to be part of the royal-themed cake event. With a number of competitors already confirmed, BID is filming a documentary of the contestants preparing to demonstrate their flour power.
THE CAKE SHED
CUSTOMER relationships which go beyond law into performance coaching and ‘happiness’ research have given a tech sector-focused law firm insight into maximising staff happiness. Tunbridge Wells-based Law365 specialises in corporate and employment law for Microsoft Partners – companies providing services using Microsoft products. Services range from company intranets and cloud storage to cyber security, explained Law365 founder Kim Simmonds. “Every business needs Outlook – or (cyber) security. “One in 20 VAT-registered businesses in the UK is a Microsoft Partner, so it’s significant.”
Reactive
Giveaways Taste Wells, Kumquat Café, the Cake Shed, the Tunbridge Wells Hotel, Zero Waste Company, the Plant Base and Il Vesuvio, have already confirmed their participation, said BID. On Friday, June 3, ‘Cake-Off’ promotional groups will be giving away goody bags and sweet treats at Royal Victoria Place from 11am to 3pm. Then, on Saturday, from 11am all competitors will line up on The Pantiles, ready for members of the public to inspect the honour guard of royal-themed cakes and vote for their favourite. The ceremonial band for the occasion is vintage jazz band Miss Kiddy and the Cads, while KMFM radio compères the event. Other attractions include free children’s face-painting, and goodie bag giveaways. The winner will be crowned on the bandstand of The Pantiles at 3pm. The Cake-Off trophy is another local confection, commissioned for the event by BID, from Glass by Claudia on Monson Road. The winning business will also receive an
Client relationships give law firm an insight into recruitment and retention
THE PANTILES CAFE overnight stay for two in the honeymoon suite of the Tunbridge Wells Hotel. Lifestyle magazine SO Tunbridge Wells – sister publication of the Times – will also feature the winner on the cover of the July issue. BID director Sarah-Jane Adams said: “Giving a foodie twist to the Jubilee celebrations, familiar town centre businesses will be going spoon to spoon as they whip up a royal-themed dessert. “We hope that members of the public will
come along to support them, enjoy the free live music and family-friendly activities, and of course – eat free cake!” The RTW Together BID is a not-for-profit organisation funded by town centre traders, representing town centre traders, to promote business opportunities and improve the economic environment in the area. To enter the competition or collaborate on the event, contact biddirector@rtwtogether.com.
The law firm now offers coaching, staff benefit schemes and other management consultancy-like services, not just employment law. Too often, companies wait until problems arise to involve a solicitor. “Employment law can be a very reactive service,” continued Ms Simmonds. And with skills shortages, companies need a rewarding culture to retain as well as recruit. Serving the tech sector gives Law 365 a glimpse of the future for everyone, said Ms Simmonds. “We see a war for talent. There is a shortage of skills in IT, and if there is a shortage of tech expertise, what is going to happen to business? “Tech companies are always ahead of the curve. They were doing hybrid working for years before Covid.” Law365’s new service is called HAPPY365, for the acronym Health, Autonomy, Purpose, Progression, Your connections. LAW365’s own ‘purpose’ of charitable activity sees staff doing regular litterpicks. They were also organisers and top fund-raisers in the recent Legal Walk in aid of Citizens’ Advice raising £4,046.25 out of the total of around £11,000.
MANAGEMENT ACCOUNTANT – FULL TIME – HYBRID WORKING AVAILABLE Balfour Winery, Staplehurst, Kent About Us:
Balfour Winery is one of England’s leading wine producers and creates award winning wines, beers and ciders in Staplehurst, Kent. The beautiful 400-acre Estate is home to our vineyards, apple orchards and state-of-the-art winery and visitor centre. In addition to the winery and Estate, Balfour Hospitality is an exciting part of the company. A unique independently owned pub company, Balfour Hospitality currently have a portfolio of fantastic food and drink led sites across London, the South East and the Cotswolds. The position is permanent and will provide an opportunity for the right candidate to progress within a fast-growing entrepreneurial company. We also have excellent company benefits including a generous staff discount and company events.
• Monthly accommodation costs including rent, rates and other associated costs Weekly KPI / Sales Reporting to be completed each week showing: • Revenue comparisons, revenue against Budget, salary costs against Budget and Revenue percentage, food gross margin, hotel occupancy key ratios Intercompany recharges and loans management Bank Facilities and Joint Venture • Administration with changes to the organisation’s banking arrangements • Regular liaison with Joint Venture’s Financial Reporting Accountant VAT and Statutory Returns • Quarterly VAT returns
The Job:
An opportunity has arisen for a full time Management Accountant to provide support to the accounts department. The position can be hybrid working with some days based at Balfour Winery in Staplehurst, Kent. Essential Duties and Responsibilities Monthly Management Accounts: • Preparation of the monthly Management Accounts • Producing monthly report packs for all stakeholders • Reviewing with the Financial Controller draft profit and loss account
• Annual, quarterly and monthly Office of National Statistics Forms Supporting the Financial Controller and Stakeholders as and when required including bespoke projects
About you:
• Must be able to work under pressure and meet deadlines, while maintaining a positive attitude • Constantly look for a better and more efficient way to complete your tasks • Ability to work independently and to carry out assignments to completion
• Explaining variances and key ratios
• System/Software skills preferred: Sage 200 (or Sage 50); Intermediate/Advanced Excel, Microsoft Word, PowerPoint
• Balance Sheet review each month
• Part-qualified, CCAB is an advantage
Month end accounting adjustments and trial balance reconciliation:
Salary dependent on experience
• Stock, accruals, prepayments, payroll controls and fixed assets accounting
To apply, please send a covering letter and CV to sarah@balfourwinery.com
SATURDAY 4 JUNE, 11 T HE PANT ILES TH
e e l i uJ b vent E
AM
–3
PM
FREE EVENT
ENJOY FREE c ake & VOT E FOR YOUR favou rite !
Enjoy FREE cake, live music and family activities - and see who will be crowned the Cake Off champion! Brought to you by the Royal Tunbridge Wells Together Business Improvement District HOSTED BY ROYAL TUNBRIDGE WELLS TOGETHER www.rtwtogether.com @rtwtogether | |
SUPPORTED BY
10
NEWS
Community News
FOR EVEN MORE NEWS VISIT: timeslocalnews.co.uk
Wednesday June 1 | 2022
Slimmers donate clothes that no longer fit to cancer charity
Drivers’ appeal to keep aid flowing
By Victoria Roberts SUCCESSFUL weight-loss members from slimming groups in Tunbridge Wells and Crowborough have donated hundreds of bags of their old clothes – worth around £8,700 – to Cancer Research UK. Slimmers donated 348 bags worth of clothes they may never need again following their weight loss success - as well as accessories, netting around £25 per bag for the charity. The Big Slimming World Clothes Throw is intended to raise awareness of how reaching and keeping to a healthy weight can reduce the risk of developing some types of cancer, said Slimming World.
THE Ukraine Relief Group (URG) that helps both arrivals from the war torn country but also transports relief from Tunbridge Wells to the Polish border has revealed it is low on funds. This means future trips are in jeopardy, said two of the drivers delivering medical supplies. The cost of fuel, the Eurotunnel and cheap accommodation can cost up to £1,200 per trip, said Aston Wood, driver for the URG. “Fuel is expensive in Germany, so we try to fill up on the Dutch-German border and eco-drive to Poland, where it’s seven zloty – about £1.30 a litre.”
Improved health The weight-loss organisation is also sponsoring a draw for five luxury shopping experiences in London, with an overnight hotel stay, £500 in shopping vouchers and a personal shopper. Ten runners-up will win £100 shopping vouchers to help replace their slimmed-down wardrobes. Slimming World has supported Cancer Research UK since 2013, helping to raise more than £17 million for the charity’s work finding cancer research, informing the public, and developing evidence-based policy to help inform Government cancer and research strategies. Jesse Fuller, who runs a Slimming World group in Tunbridge Wells, based at St Barnabas Primary School, said: “I didn’t expect such an incredible level of effort – wow. “So many people don’t know how much of a
Missions LEAN TIMES: Slimmers hold up bags of their former clothes outside Tunbridge Wells Town Hall difference losing weight can make to health – including reducing the risk of developing a range of problems including some types of cancer. Hopefully this campaign and our efforts for charity will help inspire more people in Tunbridge Wells and beyond to improve their health and change their lives by losing weight too.
“I’m so proud of our members and their efforts. They really do put their heart into everything they do. Whether it’s their weight loss, supporting each other each week or raising money for charity... they continually blow us away.” Slimming World groups across the Borough and beyond can be found at www.SlimmingWorld. co.uk
And fellow driver Dominic Tabony warned: “We don’t know whether we’ll be able to go again after our next trip this June. We’ve got all this aid but can’t get it out there.” The two men were involved in one of the first UK missions to Ukraine after the Russian invasion on February 24. They connected with Rich Akehurst of the URG in Tunbridge Wells, and resumed their driving missions for the URG, this time in a ‘complete chain’ delivering supplies from their van directly into the back of a Ukrainian van, Dominic explained. JustGiving.com/crowdfunding/dominic-tabony Or UkraineReliefGroup on Facebook
Come to the George and Dragon for the afternoon and get into the Jubilee spirit. Let’s put the last couple of years behind us with a bit of jolly.
Jubilee Garden Party Saturday 4th June 2022 From 2pm – 7pm It’s Her Majesty’s Platinum year so bring the whole family, drag along your neighbours, and re-live your memories of great British get-togethers. We’re taking care of the live music, the BBQ, the tea and cakes and the jugs of cold beer. Funny hats and social distancing are at your discretion. We look forward to seeing you all there! We will be taking bookings but feel free to bring deckchairs, like a Street Party without the hassle. The more the merrier.
Wednesday June 1 | 2022
FOR EVEN MORE NEWS VISIT: timeslocalnews.co.uk
Community News
NEWS
Hundreds trudge through the mud for dog fundraiser
NEW CONSULTANT
By Sarah Carter A ‘MUDDY Dog’ event at Eridge Park raised over £80,000 for the animal charity Battersea, as dogs and their people slogged through an obstacle course of mud, sweat and tears – but came out smiling. The event at Eridge Park, on May 21, attracted 770 participants, who tackled obstacles with their dogs, weaving in and out of the Mutt Maze, wriggling through the mud at the Canine Crawl, leaping over the Hurdling Hounds and splashing through the Doggy Ball Pit.
Applause At the finishing line, the humans who stayed the distance were greeted with applause from their friends and supporters, and awarded a
Muddy Dog Challenge medal, while the canine finishers earned a rosette each. The event raised £81,222 toward the care of the thousands of dogs and cats everywhere that the charity helps every year. This was Battersea’s fifth Muddy Dog Challenge in the district. Battersea’s Senior Challenge Events Officer, Jasmine Monk, said: “Once again, our event here has seen our participants raise a fantastic amount for Battersea and all the money raised will allow our dedicated staff to care for the thousands of dogs and cats that need our help everywhere. “I want to say thank you to all those who participated, volunteered, and cheered on their loved ones. Everyone here has helped make this a really special day and without everyone’s support, we simply wouldn’t be able to do it”.
Southborough and High Brooms district welcomes French twin
SOUTHBOROUGH and High Brooms District Overseas Friendship Association (SHDOFA) has welcomed the president of their French twin town as they plan this year’s activities. Jean-Michel Pannecouke, the president of the French twinning association, representing the French town of Lambersart, attended the SHDOFA AGM, for discussions on celebrating the partnership’s 30th anniversary this October.
Trips A suburb of Lille, Lambersart is located in northern France, an area which saw heavy fighting in World War I. Following the success of the association’s trip
to the Somme in March of this year, plans are being put in place to visit Lille in December to take in the city’s culture and enjoy its Christmas markets. SHDOFA also hopes to organise another trip to France in the summer. As well as the traditional barbecue in August, there will be at least one quiz and possibly also a film evening. The meeting was chaired by SHDOFA president Cllr Dianne Hill, the current Mayor of Southborough. Potential new members can contact Chairman Alain Lewis at amblewis@hotmail.com or 07736529170
NEW GROUP TIME
Sherwood - Tunbridge Wells Southborough NEW GROUP TIME NEW CONSULTANT St Philip’s Church Wells St Dunstans Church Hall Sherwood - Tunbridge Southborough NEW GROUP TIME NEW CONSULTANT Birken Road, TN2 3TE 34A London Road, TN4 0AQ St Philip’s Church St Dunstans Church Hall Sherwood - Tunbridge Southborough Friday 9.30am Wells Thursday 5.30pm Birken Road, TN2 3TE 34A London Road, TN4 0AQ Call Jesse 07710549334 Call Lucy 07949134967 StFriday Philip’s9.30am Church St Dunstans Thursday Church 5.30pmHall Birken Road, TN2 3TE 34A London Road, TN4 0AQ Call Jesse 07710549334 Call Lucy 07949134967 Friday 9.30am Thursday 5.30pm WEDNESDAY TUESDAY Call Jesse 07710549334 Call Lucy 07949134967 High Brooms Tunbridge Wells WEDNESDAY TUESDAY St Lukes Hall StTunbridge Peters Church Hall High Church Brooms Wells WEDNESDAY TUESDAY Tunbridge Wells, TN4 9JH Bayhall Road, TN2 4UX St Lukes Church & Hall StTunbridge Peters Church Hall High Brooms Wells Wednesday 5.30pm 7pm Tuesday 9.30am Tunbridge Wells, TN4 9JH Bayhall Road, TN2 4UX Call Lucy 07949134967 Call Susie 07717177892 St Lukes Church Hall St Peters Church Hall Wednesday 5.30pm & 7pm Tuesday 9.30am Tunbridge Wells, TN4 9JH Bayhall Road, TN2 4UX Call Lucy 07949134967 Call Susie 07717177892 Ramslye Cranbrook Wednesday 5.30pm & 7pm Tuesday 9.30am (South Tunbridge Wells) Cranbrook Rugby Cricket Club Call Lucy 07949134967 Call Susie 07717177892 Ramslye Cranbrook St Marks C of E Primary School Angley Road slimmingworld.co.uk (South Tunbridge Wells) Cranbrook Rugby Cricket Ramslye Cranbrook Ramslye Road, TN4 8LN Cranbrook, TN17 2PNClub St Marks C of E Primary School Angley Road slimmingworld.co.uk (South Tunbridge Wells) Wednesday 7pm TuesdayRugby 9.15am & 11am Cranbrook Cricket Club Ramslye Road, TN4 8LN Cranbrook, TN17 2PN Call Susie 07717177892 Call Debbie 07789776887 St Marks C of E Primary School Angley Road slimmingworld.co.uk Wednesday 7pm8LN Tuesday 9.15am & 11am Ramslye Road, TN4 Cranbrook, TN17 2PN THURSDAY Rusthall Call Susie 07717177892 Call Debbie 07789776887 Wednesday 7pm Tuesday 9.15am & 11am St Pauls Primary School Call Crowborough Susie 07717177892 Call Debbie 07789776887 THURSDAY Rusthall Entrace Via Gladstone Road, All Saints Church Hall Crowborough St PaulsRusthall Primary THURSDAY TN4 8RZ School Church Road, TN6 1ED Entrace Via Primary Gladstone Road, Tuesday 5.30pm School & 7pm Crowborough St Pauls All Saints Church11am, Hall Thursday 9.30am, TN4 8RZ Call Steph 07921438177 Entrace Via Gladstone Road, Church Road, TN6 1ED 5.30pm & 7pmHall All Saints Church TuesdayTN4 5.30pm 8RZ & 7pm Thursday 9.30am, 11am, Call Mary 07738014528 Church Road, TN6 1ED Crowborough Call Steph 07921438177 Tuesday 5.30pm & 7pm 5.30pm & 7pm Thursday 9.30am, 11am, FRIDAY Crowborough Centre Call StephCommunity 07921438177 Call 5.30pm Mary 07738014528 & 7pm Crowborough Pine Grove, TN6 1FE Call Crowborough Mary 07738014528 Crowborough Tuesday 5.30pm & 7.30pm FRIDAY Crowborough Community Centre All Saints Church Hall Call Beckie 07948352691 Pine Grove, TN6 1FE FRIDAY Crowborough Community Centre Crowborough Church Road, TN6 1ED Tuesday 5.30pmTN6 & 7.30pm Pine Grove, 1FE Friday 9.30am & 11am All Crowborough Saints Church Hall Sissinghurst Call Beckie 07948352691 Tuesday 5.30pm & 7.30pm Call MaryRoad, 07738014528 Church TN6 1ED All Saints Church Hall George Institue CallSt Beckie 07948352691 Friday 9.30am & 11am Church Road, TN6 1ED Sissinghurst (Next to Jubliee Field) SATURDAY Call Mary 07738014528 Friday 9.30am & 11am The Street St Sissinghurst George Institue Tunbridge Wells Call Mary 07738014528 Sissinghurst, TN17 2JQ (Next to Jubliee Field) St George Institue SATURDAY St Barnabas Primary School Tuesday & 7pm Street Field) (NextThe to 5.30pm Jubliee SATURDAY Tunbridge Wells Quarry Road, TN1 2EY Call Debbie 07789776887 Sissinghurst, TN17 2JQ The Street Tunbridge Wells Saturday 8am & 9.30am St Barnabas Primary School Sissinghurst, TN17 2JQ Tuesday 5.30pm & 7pm Jesse 07710549334 StCall Barnabas Primary Quarry Road, TN1School 2EY Tuesday 5.30pm & 7pm Call Debbie 07789776887 Quarry Road, 2EY Saturday 8am TN1 & 9.30am Call Debbie 07789776887 Saturday & 9.30am Call Jesse8am 07710549334 Call Jesse 07710549334
slimmingworld.co.uk
slimmingworld.co.uk slimmingworld.co.uk
11
6 BUSINESS Local News 12 NEWS National
timeslocalnews.co.uk FOR EVEN MORE NEWS VISIT: timeslocalnews.co.uk
Wednesday December 2021 Wednesday June15 1 | 2022
More new hires for Thomas expanding law firm Mansfield Only one UK police force is meeting 999 response targets
Expert commercial dispute resolution lawyers
By Jonathan Banks
A SPECIALIST law firm in Tunbridge Wells has welcomed two new lawyers to its rapidly expanding team. Thomas Mansfield Solicitors has made a number of new hires over the last two years and has welcomed Vicky Mansell who joins the private client team as a senior associate, and Joanne Leach joins the employment team as a solicitor, having qualified with multinational law firm Lawrence Graham.
Education
Our lawyers are experts in every aspect of commercial dispute resolution law, including litigation, arbitration and mediation. Whether you need help with debt recovery, breach of contract or a director, shareholder or supplier disputes, we want to understand your problems and disagreements and work with you to deliver prompt and pragmatic solutions.
Call us today on
01892 337541
For more information visit our website:
www.thomasmansfield.com TUNBRIDGE WELLS
LONDON SEVENOAKS TONBRIDGE MAIDSTONE
Befofre starting her legal career Ms Mansell worked as a qualified special needs teacher, accruing a wealth of experience in protecting the rights and promoting independence for vulnerable people, including children, the elderly and those with mental and physical disabilities. ASSISTANT CHIEF She is also aALAN specialist CONSTABLE TODDin wills, probate, special educational needs and disability law and a passionate advocate for those with learning, mental andpolice physical issues from brain ONLY one force in theresulting UK is meeting a injury, including brain She is an target to answer 90 per tumours. cent of 999 calls in under accredited bytothe College Mediators 10 seconds,mediator according new HomeofOffice data. inAvon Civil and and Somerset Commercial Mediation a Police was theand onlyisforce to registered SEND Mediator. meet the standard, according to national Joanne Leach ranfor herthe own successful tuition statistics released first time by the Home and education consultancy business, preparing Office. children for demanding school entrance Kent Police answered calls in an average 16.9 seconds, answering 67 per cent of calls in under 10 seconds and 26 per cent of calls between 10 and 60 seconds. Overall, 71 per cent of 999 calls were answered within 10 seconds.
JOANNE LEACH
VICKY MANSELL
examinations and guiding families through the lengthy process of state and independent school applications. She brings over four years of experience in conducting tribunal litigation, advising on workplace issues and on employment aspects of commercial and corporate transactions. She is a member of the Employment Lawyers’ Association. Neill Thomas, Managing Partner at Thomas Mansfield Solicitors said: “I am pleased to welcome two new solicitors to our fast-growing team. It is important oura firm toconnecting recruit Constable Alan Todd,for said lag in lawyers a diverse of backgrounds. calls canwith contribute to range waits but that ‘this isn’t “The addition Vickytoand Joanne, with their for a member of of public resolve’. education sector will further “This is the firstexpertise, time police forces andenhance the the wealth experience andthe specialist public haveofbeen able to see time it takes to knowledge canthe usecall to provide all our answer 999that callswe from being made by the clients contacts with the verypolice best advice public,and it being connected to the by BT and service.” local providers, to it being answered by police call handlers,” he said.
Brother and sister celebrate 25 years in the mobile world Protect
perForrester cent of calls to Kent Police were BySeven Robert
answered after 60 seconds. TWO Tunbridge Wellsfailed siblings havethe reached a Forty-three forces to meet standard milestone formonths their business after celebrating 25 over the six from November 2021 to April years 2022. at the forefront of the mobile phone industry. Home Secretary Priti Patel said ‘the public RichardtoGroves Wimble-Groves started deserve know and that Jo their local police force will Active Digital 1990s, justtoas theinto mobile be at the end in of the mid phone, ready leap phone began. action boom at seconds’ notice to protect them from Mr Groves told the Times: “It was a great time to harm’. get into mobile. It was the first time businesses “Fundamentally, publishing this data is about were starting to give their employees driving up standards in our incrediblea mobile phone. emergency services even further, so that the “We felt there was an opportunity an public canthat have every confidence in thefor police’s independent, B2B mobile telecoms ability to saveimpartial, lives and keep our streets safe,” company, she added.with a primary focus on delivering a great “Wecustomer can now experience. see where forces are excelling and where vital improvements need to be made and I thank the police for their commitment to Fleets ensuring we maintain the best emergency He saidin they services theprovide world.”a wide range of flexible tariffs includingPolice unlimited plans as well being The National Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) able helpful advice on giving devices to lead to forgive contact management, Assistant Chief younger children. As new technologies have emerged over the two and a half decades the duo have been operating, the pair have been on their own digital transformation journey, and now provide technology and support for businesses going through theirs. “We have a broad range of clients, ranging from localHome Kent businesses through to large THE Office has begun issuing formal corporations running fleets of more than 2,000 removal directions to migrants due to be sent to iPhone and iPad added Jo. Rwanda, with thedevices,” first deportation flight due to “But we offer the same customer depart in two weeks on June 14. focused, concierge approach to each. We The Government described the partner move asvery the closely with fantasticstep’ brands such as O2, Apple, ‘final administrative in its partnership with Samsung, and Microsoft. the east African nation, whereby people who are “We aretovery to be the best deemed haveproud entered theone UKof illegally will be performing partners O2 across the UK and encouraged to rebuildfor their lives thousands of Ireland and we were named Director’s Choice, miles away. Partner of the YearPriti in 2020.” Home Secretary Patel said: “Our worldShe said the firm’swith customers leading partnership Rwandainclude is a keybig part of
Longer
The Association for Police and Crime Commissioners local policing leads Alison Hernandez and Jeff Cuthbert said the data shows ‘the demand for policing and the volume of national brands as Caterham Cars, Saracens calls’ across thesuch country. Rugby Club, League, are Onwatch “Police andSanofi, Crime Premier Commissioners Plc, Baxall Construction Crew Clothing to committed to supportingand excellence in policing name justuse a few. and will this data to continually drive Richardimprovements added that theand pandemic has provided forward hold the police to the business with further opportunities: “Despite account on behalf of the public,” they added. the really challenging times that we’ve had overof It comes after the BBC reported that freedom the last year and a half, we can’tfrom help22 but be information requests obtained police excited this isand an amazing time to beofficers in forces inthat England Wales suggested technology, supporting businesses their are now 28 per cent slower to attendwith Grade 1 digital transformation. emergencies. “When you have thousands people working This equates to taking threeofminutes longer from home, to it’sarrive time to onincidents. the speed and on average at focus serious reliability their home broadband, the security The BBCof said responses from 19 forces in of their devices, andsuggested their ability to communicate England and Wales they were 44 per and with colleagues and clients. centcollaborate slower to arrive at serious incidents than in “Exciting as the technology itself is, what really 2013. motivates us is to find some The broadcaster alsosolutions reportedtothat theof the personal, challenges that come number ofhuman recorded crimes leading to with a charge digital transformation.” or court summons for a perpetrator fell for the last seven consecutive years, up to March 2021. Between 2015 and 2021 it fell by 40 per cent.
Home Office beginning Rwanda migrant removal flights on June 14 our strategy to overhaul the broken asylum system and break the evil people-smugglers’ business model.
Delivering “Today’s announcement is another critical step towards delivering that partnership and, while we know attempts will now be made to frustrate the process and delay removals, I will not be deterred IT’S remain GOOD TO TALK: and fully committed to delivering what the Jo Wimble-Groves and brother Richard British public expect.”
Wednesday June 1 | 2022
National News
FOR EVEN MORE NEWS VISIT: timeslocalnews.co.uk
NEWS
13
‘Getaway’ chaos for Jubilee and half-term holidays... MOBILITY SCOOTERS
Portable
Pride Apex Lite MONTHS of disruption to air travel have intensified amid half term and Platinum Jubilee bank holiday demand, resulting in flight cancellations, ‘gigantic’ queues – and blame. The aviation industry is suffering from staff shortages after letting thousands of people go during the pandemic. Airlines and airports repeatedly called for more financial support during the Covid-19 crisis as Government travel restrictions suppressed demand. They are now struggling to recruit new workers and have their security checks processed. Aviation data firm Cirium said 291 departures from major UK airports have been cancelled between May 25 and Tuesday. EasyJet cancelled at least 31 flights at Gatwick on Tuesday, while British Airways is continuing to cancel dozens of flights each day, although the airline said passengers are being told several days in advance. Long delays are reported at several airports. One passenger described Heathrow Terminal 5 as an ‘utter shambles’, with a ‘gigantic queue for security’. A passenger booked on a Vueling flight from Gatwick queued for four-and-a-half hours to check in before the departure was cancelled. It was ‘the worst airport experience ever’, he
£729*
wrote. Ministers have been accused of failing to ‘step up’ as holidaymakers using UK airports continue to suffer major disruption.
Basics Shadow transport secretary Louise Haigh accused the Government of being “missing in action”. “Tory ministers can’t even get the basics right,” she said. “They should show some responsibility, do their job, and take concrete steps to tackle the chaos growing on their watch.” Shadow financial secretary to the Treasury James Murray argued that the ‘Government didn’t step up and now people are seeing the impact of that as people’s holidays are impacted’. He added: “It felt fairly obvious what was happening during the pandemic in that people were not travelling, were not flying throughout the pandemic, but then, once the pandemic starts to recede, air travel would start to pick up again and the Government simply didn’t do what was necessary during the pandemic to get ready for what’s happening now, and now we’re seeing the impact of it.
8mph
Admiral
Folding
K-Lite Folding
£1,949*
£1,799*
RISER RECLINERS Alderton £729*
Westbury
Legoland commemorates Platinum Jubilee
£1,159*
Keswick
£1,189*
A MINIATURE display of the royal family – including a Lego replica of the Queen which took 15 hours to build – has been unveiled at Legoland Windsor to mark the Platinum Jubilee. The Prince of Wales, the Duchess of Cornwall, and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge with their three children also feature in the exhibit, as well as a Red Arrows flyover and a street party in front of Windsor Castle. The display took Legoland Windsor’s model makers around 282 hours to build, using more than 18,000 individual bricks. Chief model maker Paula Laughton said the team had “pulled out all the stops” to mark the Jubilee. The display is made up of several scenes and
has been set up in the theme park’s Miniland, including a miniature version of the famous Buckingham Palace balcony complete with the Queen and members of her family waving to the crowds below. A second model of the Queen, which took 15 hours to build and is made up of 1,350 bricks, depicts the monarch in a bright yellow dress and hat in a motorised car heading up The Mall, which is decked out in flags. The Red Arrows have also been created in Lego, with nine planes, which were built by one model maker over 33 hours, flying down The Mall towards Buckingham Palace. Each plane, made up of 206 bricks, has an 8.5in (21.5cm) wingspan and even has a smoke effect.
Tunbridge Wells Showroom 26 Grosvenor Road Tunbridge Wells TN1 2AP (Opposite Tesco Metro)
01892 544 933 am
pm
Mon-Sat 9 -5
*Prices quoted exclude VAT and are available to customers with a long term medical condition.
TOTW
Your Trusted, Local, Independent Letting Agents Why use TN Lettings? Bespoke service and pricing Excellent service with low fees Excellent market and legislation knowledge Family run independent local company
Services include Tenant finding | Fully managed Rent collection | Short term lets
01892 249070 info@tnlettings.co.uk
Wednesday June 1 | 2022
FOR EVEN MORE NEWS VISIT: timeslocalnews.co.uk
Household borrowing grows fastest since 2005 - just as a string of price rises starts to hit... HOUSEHOLDS’ credit card borrowing grew at the fastest annual rate since 2005 in April, according to Bank of England figures – just as a string of price rises started to hit. The annual growth rate for all consumer credit, which includes borrowing on credit cards, overdrafts, personal loans and car finance, increased to 5.7 per cent in April, from 5.2 per cent in March. This was the highest rate since February 2020. Within the total, the annual growth rate of credit card borrowing was 11.6 per cent – marking the highest rate since November 2005 – the Money and Credit report said. A rise in the energy price cap, council tax increases and a 1.25 percentage point rise in National Insurance (NI) to pay for health and social care were among the higher costs in April. Last week, Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced a package of support to help people with living costs, including support targeted at those who are particularly vulnerable. Thomas Pugh, economist at RSM UK, said: “The latest Money and Credit figures suggest that consumers are increasingly borrowing more to protect their lifestyles from the surge in inflation.”
Perspective Alice Haine, personal finance analyst at investment platform Bestinvest, said: “The fear is that with inflation at 9 per cent – a 40-year-high – and soaring energy and fuel costs, the situation will only worsen as the cost-of-living crisis escalates.” She added: “The risk is that those that take on debt now may be creating a whole host of problems for themselves further down the line when costs rise even further.” Ms Haine continued: “To put the situation into perspective, however, it’s important to note that card borrowing is rising from a real low and this is more of a gentle upward trend than a sudden spike. “Plus, many households are still hanging on to excess savings built up during the pandemic, so the situation is not at full crisis point yet.” People borrowed an additional £1.4 billion in consumer credit in April, following £1.3 billion of borrowing in March. It marks the third month in a row where borrowing has been higher than the average in the 12 months leading up to February 2020, of £1.0 billion, the Bank said. Gabriella Dickens, senior UK economist at Pantheon
Pomp They will spend their first night camping on Tuesday and stay in position until after Trooping the Colour on Thursday. Speaking after a downpour, Mrs Hart said: “We had some lovely British hail, and wind and rain but it’s worth it. By the end of it it’s always worth it and I think the harder it is maybe the more rewarding it is.” Laughing, she added: “I’ll keep telling myself that anyway.” Explaining why she wanted to travel to the UK and camp out to see the royals, she said: “I love the rich history. My grandmother was British and she taught me about England and Britain and the royal family. “I have real respect and love for the Queen who has worked
BUSINESS
15
PROMOTIONAL FEATURE Each month Thomson Snell & Passmore will be answering frequently asked questions from across the practice. If you have a legal question you would like featured in this monthly Q&A please submit it to info@ts-p.co.uk.
Emma Craigie, family lawyer at Thomson Snell & Passmore answers questions about prenuptial and postnuptial agreements. What are prenuptial and postnuptial agreements? A prenuptial agreement is made in anticipation of marriage and a postnuptial agreement is made during the marriage. They are often referred to as “nuptial agreements”. Are nuptial agreements binding? Nuptial agreements are not contractually binding and they will not automatically be upheld by the court. Macroeconomics, said: “Real spending should rise slowly in the second half of the year as real incomes start to recover – thanks partly due to Mr Sunak’s interventions last week.” The number of mortgage approvals made to home-buyers meanwhile fell to 66,000 in April, from 69,500 in March. This was slightly below the 12-month pre-pandemic average up to February 2020 of 66,700. Approvals for re-mortgaging, which only capture home loans with a different lender, also decreased, to 47,800 in April. This was also below the 12-month pre-pandemic average up to February 2020 of 49,500. Mr Haji added: “In the case of consumer and mortgage lending, banks are tracking the data even more closely than usual for the early signs of distress, to protect both themselves and households.” Housing market reports have pointed to property values hitting a string of record highs in recent months, despite the pressure on households’ finances. A lack of available properties and continued low mortgage rates by long-term standards are said to have helped to push prices upwards – although there have also been signs the market could be softening, with more sellers offering discounts.
Braving downpours will be worth it say royal superfans camping out FANS of the royal family who have camped out days ahead of the Platinum Jubilee laughed off torrential downpours which they said were ‘worth it’ to be part of the celebrations. Rain failed to dampen the spirits of those for whom a handful of tents along the side of The Mall in central London will be home this week. The royalists secured their spots early near Buckingham Palace in the hope they will get the best view of the Queen and her family. Pat Hart, 46, and his wife Angie, 51, travelled to the capital on Saturday with their two daughters, from near Toronto in Canada. Mrs Hart is on her third trip for a big royal event, having camped out for the weddings of the Cambridges and the Sussexes. She described camping out as ‘lots of fun’, adding: “Brits know how to do pomp.”
National News
However, a well drafted agreement, properly informed by full financial disclosure and ‘fair’ in its terms, will be given considerable weight by the court and may be upheld it in its entirety. Critically, a nuptial agreement must be fair. What constitutes fairness is an elastic concept which is susceptible to change over time. Keeping the nuptial agreement under regular review, and making changes to it when family circumstances change, will minimise the risks of it not being upheld or given any weight at all. What should be included in a nuptial agreement? Nuptial agreements clearly set out the assets of each party, including future assets and inheritance, and how those assets will be dealt with both during the marriage and on any subsequent separation or divorce. It will define “matrimonial” (joint) property and “non-matrimonial” (separate) property. Joint property will usually include all assets in joint names and separate property will be those assets which a party owned before the marriage, or acquired during the marriage in their sole name. Nuptial agreements can also deal with income and how earnings and future earnings, and any trust interests, should be dealt with during and after the marriage. A review clause can be included to deal with significant changes in the circumstances (i.e. birth of any children). Why should you consider a nuptial agreement? Nuptial agreements allow those entering a marriage, or in a marriage, to clarify with one another how they intend to deal with their finances. In the event of divorce or separation, the courts are increasingly giving more weight to nuptial agreements when deciding how to deal with the parties’ financial arrangements, partly because the courts have recognised that individuals’ choice to enter into an agreement should be respected. Therefore, having a nuptial agreement is arguably an essential part of one’s financial planning for the future, in the same way as a will. When might it be particularly beneficial to have a nuptial agreement?
so tirelessly hard her whole life. And it’s the jubilee year and, honestly, the British know how to do ceremonial, the pomp and the pageantry, like nobody else. It’s pretty special.” She described seeing the Queen as ‘the bucket list’, adding: “That’s why we’re camping out.” Mrs Hart said they are ‘hoping and praying she’s up to it physically’. The Queen has limited the Platinum Jubilee Trooping the Colour balcony appearance to working members of her family who carry out official public duties. Eighteen royals will appear on Thursday including the monarch, if mobility problems allow, the Prince of Wales, the Duchess of Cornwall and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. Musical rehearsals could be heard on Tuesday afternoon in front of Buckingham Palace with lights and a screen visible behind barriers set up at the top of The Mall (pictured above).
Where one party is bringing more assets to the marriage than the other. This could be business assets, properties, inherited assets or trusts. Also where one party was married before and has children from that marriage, or a previous relationship. The nuptial agreement can be used to ring-fence certain assets for the benefit of those children. If you have any questions about nuptial agreements or divorce and financial settlements in general, please get in touch at info@ts-p.co.uk.
E EV S CI U RE ON ! TO E B ERS 22 IV RK 20 NT O IN CE W S W U INNE 0 IN 0 R JO £2 FO A
CARE WORKERS FULL TIME AND PART TIME SUPPORT WORKERS REQUIRED IN TENTERDEN, CRANBROOK, STAPLEHURST AND MOST OF THE SURROUNDING VILLAGES Could be your main income, or just a few hours to help with your expenses We have Mornings, Lunchtimes, Teatimes, Evenings and Weekend calls available. Also some Domestic Calls and Sleep-Ins to cover. Any experience is beneficial such as raising children, looking after elderly parents / grandchildren, but FULL TRAINING will be provided to all applicants
NVQ TRAINED WORKER Travel Time - Now paid at £9.50 per hour Mileage - 20p per mile Hourly Rate - £10.60 p.h Mon - Fri and £11.60 p.h at W/E Holiday Pay - 5.6 weeks paid seperately NON NVQ Travel Time - £9.50 per hour Mileage - 20p per mile Hourly Rate - £10.10 p.h Mon - Fri and £11.10 p.h at W/E Holiday Pay - 5.6 weeks paid seperately
Call Natalie or Chloe 01580 762244
These positions are exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act.
Wednesday June 1 | 2022
FOR EVEN MORE NEWS VISIT: timeslocalnews.co.uk
Education
EDUCATION Times
NEWS
Students ensure a greener future for all by planting trees for the Jubilee... Beacon Academy are marking the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee by planting hundreds of trees thanks to a special project led by The Woodland Trust. The Times finds out more BEACON Academy is taking part in the Queen’s Green Canopy tree planting initiative, created by The Woodland Trust to mark Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee later this week. A spokesperson for the co-ed secondary school in Crowborough told the Times that students had been very busy over recent weeks. “Each morning this term before lessons begin, Year 7 students have been planting a combination of rowan, hazel and oak saplings. “They were delivered to the school following a successful application from Assistant Site Manager and founder of Beacon Academy Horticulture Club, Mr Finnis.” The trees are being planted in front of the school’s perimeter fence.
“We are delighted to be involved in this national project to mark The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee and to create a green legacy for our school community”
DIGGING FOR VICTORY: Year 7 Beacon Academy students along with Headteacher, Anna Robinson and Senior Deputy Headteacher (far right) have all taken part in helping plant the special Jubilee trees Beacon Academy’s Headteacher, Anna Robinson, said: “We are delighted to be involved in this national project to mark The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee and in addition with helping to create a green legacy for our school community. The students are thoroughly enjoying taking
part in this activity. “The trees will bring benefits for our local wildlife and environment for many years to come. I would like to thank Mr Finnis for his ongoing work to develop this important area of our enrichment programme for our students.”
Unlock your potential Have you always wanted to learn how to paint or try making your own jewellery? Would you like to get active or learn to speak Italian? Our range of courses give you the ‘keys’ to put your ideas onto canvas, create a bespoke jewellery piece, reach your fitness goals, or explore another culture. Try everything from Drawing, Floristry and French to Silversmithing, Yoga, English and Maths. Learn in centre or online in real time. Unlock your potential and book your course today.
kentadulteducation.co.uk 03000 41 22 22 Bringing learning to life
Kent Adult Education is part of Community Learning and Skills
17
18
NEWS
Weekly Comment
FOR EVEN MORE NEWS VISIT: timeslocalnews.co.uk
Matthew Scott Police and Crime Commissioner for Kent
Wednesday June 1 | 2022
Matthew Scott was first elected the Conservative Police and Crime Commissioner for Kent in 2016 and re-elected in 2021. He sets policing priorities, commissions services to support victims, sets the council tax precept, manages the force’s budget, and holds the Chief Constable to account. He serves as the national PCC lead for Mental Health, and is chair of the board for the BlueLight Commercial organisation.
Victims of abuse must receive best service possible AS YOU know, tackling violence against women and girls is one of the priorities in my new Police and Crime Plan and domestic abuse is a key part of that. Last year the Kent force control room received more than 40,000 calls relating to it. We often think of the victims being women, but of course domestic abuse can affect men, women, mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, friends and children.
orders. As the Police and Crime Commissioner, it is my responsibility to commission a full range of victim support services and Independent Domestic Violence Advisers. Here in Kent we fund services which include counselling, tailor-made support for children and young people, therapeutic services for families who’ve been impacted by domestic abuse and a bespoke service for male victims. This provision is essential. To give you an idea of how important these services are, we initially thought we would have about 250 referrals a month, in fact we average about 575 victim referrals a week.
Specialist Here in Kent both my office and Kent Police are constantly seeking new ways to ensure domestic abuse victims receive the best service possible and we’ve recently updated and reformed how we deal with these cases. It’s a work in progress, but over the course of the year we aim to transform the service, to make sure we’re providing the best service we can for victims. The Force has set up new specialist Domestic Abuse teams who will focus on those offenders, who pose the greatest harm. Here in Kent, we are lucky to have a bespoke perpetrator programme, designed to prevent persistent offenders from committing violence in the future.
Priorities DAVSS HELPLINE STAFF This innovative approach is funded by my own office. Known offenders undertake a 10-12 week rehabilitation course either in the form of one-to-one sessions, or in a controlled group environment. Established less than a year ago,
John Hurst Green Party
we’re currently working with 40 referrals. Kent Police has also set up a new Domestic Abuse Hub which is operating 7 days a week 8am – 10pm, the peak times for domestic abuse calls. It will help co-ordinate referrals, investigations, and things like child protection
I would like to assure everyone that tackling Domestic Abuse and supporting victims of it, really is one of our priorities in Kent. We have learned from past mistakes and are putting measures in place to address any areas of concern. I’m confident we’re on the right track, but I will be monitoring our progress at the regular Performance and Delivery Boards I hold with the Chief Constable. Victims remain at the heart of everything we do in Kent.
John Hurst is a retired engineering manager living in the Pantiles & St Mark’s ward. He is Campaign Coordinator of the Tunbridge Wells Green Party.
‘We were the only party to increase our vote share in key ward’ WOW, what an election that was! As the count progressed, seat after seat was taken from the ruling Conservatives, and by end the era of stagnation and climate change inaction was over, and a sea-change in leadership had taken place. The second preference votes of Independent and Green voters had given Labour a majority, and Australia can now look forward to progress on the big issues, with most voters supporting a Government that they had voted for under the Proportional Representation system they have there.
achieve net zero by 2030, as per the July 2019 Climate Emergency declaration, and we wish Councillor Luke Everitt, the environmental portfolio-holder, all the best with that.
Scrutiny
Reflect Contrast that with the last British General Election, where First-Past-the-Post (FPTP) gave Boris Johnson an 80-seat majority based on 42 per cent of the vote, and over half the electorate saw their votes go down the pan. The only other European country using FPTP for national elections is Belarus (currently helping Vladimir Putin invade Ukraine), and in a nod towards Aleksandr Lukashenko's authoritarianism, Boris Johnson has just re-written his own rules to make himself unsackable if he lies to Parliament again. The system needs to change. Here in the Tunbridge Wells Borough elections
the public leveraged the FPTP system to reflect the “anyone but the Tories” words we heard on countless doorsteps, perhaps lending their vote to a Party they would not normally support, and we congratulate the public for that. Even though Green candidate Adrian Thorne didn't take our target seat of Broadwater, he came a good second, and we were the only Party to increase its vote share from last year.
We welcome the new coalition agreement, particularly the restructuring of the Cabinet to include three Parties, reducing the risk of it becoming an impenetrable cabal. The election of Conservative Councillor Godfrey Bland as Mayor sent an important message to Conservative voters that they have not been forgotten. But the time has come for action on, and scrutiny of, the plans for Tunbridge Wells to
The Green Party aims to continue its existing cross-Party cooperation on electric vehicle charger points, and will play its part in any initiative that promotes a fairer and more sustainable future. Last week we were the only Party that contributed to the Hearings at the formal Inspection of the Local Plan at the Town Hall, making the point that when it was seen in 2018 that the proposed concept involved about 50% of new dwellings going into the Green Belt, there should have been a rethink, or a reduction of the number of houses, rather than hoping the concept could be polished enough to clear subsequent hurdles. Echoes of the Calverley Square project approach, perhaps? Only time, and the Inspector's report, will tell! It would be better to have an early Inspection of the proposed concept for a Local Plan, rather than risk years of time, and millions of pounds, getting to a last-minute Inspection like the one taking place now.
Wednesday June 1 | 2022
Letters
FOR EVEN MORE NEWS VISIT: timeslocalnews.co.uk
NEWS
19
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 of Tunbridge Wells, Salomons Estate, Tunbridge Wells TN3 0TG
True support for the Friends of the Amelia Scott
Awaiting MP response to ‘Partygate’ following report Although I never received a response to my letter, or noted a response from Mr Clark to my letter as published in your newspaper (Times online May 27, 2020), I am hoping that now Sue Gray’s report has been published that we will finally be able to hear from Mr Clark as to how the confirmed law-breaking by the Prime Minister and others should be responded to. Although I appreciate St. Thomas Moore’s take on silence, I fear that a Member of Parliament’s silence may be seen as simply condoning such law breaking. Graeme Etheridge FCPFA FCIPD MIoD Tunbridge Wells Few people in the theatres? On Thursday evening, I saw an NT Live performance of ‘Straight Line Crazy’ at the Odeon. This is a superb play by David Hare with an amazing performance from Ralph Fiennes. There were less than 20 people in the audience. Perhaps it’s a good thing that Tunbridge Wells didn’t get its 1,200-seater theatre in Calverley Grounds! I could have seen this NT Live performance at Trinity but, when we went there to see a film on Tuesday (attended by about 30 people), the sound-track was so bad that we walked out. Good to know that the arts are alive and well-supported in Tunbridge Wells. Peter Russell Tunbridge Wells St John’s reaches 100-year milestone 2022 is a very significant year in the long life-saving history of St John. Not only are we preparing in communities across the country to support the celebrations of the Platinum Jubilee of Her Majesty the Queen, the Sovereign Head of the Order of St John since her accession to the throne, we are also celebrating a remarkable milestone for our young volunteers with the Centenary of our Cadets. Since 1922, young people have, through St John, learned and applied their first aid skills to save lives and support their communities. We regularly hear of volunteers under the age of 18 who have successfully used their first aid
Helen is looking forward to a return visit to Tunbridge Wells in the near future. Anne Stobo Friends of the Amelia Scott chair Tunbridge Wells
knowledge in often difficult situations and their dedication and compassion is a daily inspiration. I would like to pass on my sincere personal thanks through your paper to all of our volunteers and staff, and especially our young volunteers, the next generation of first aiders, wishing them a very successful Centenary year. The actions of all will be celebrated during National Volunteers’ Week (1-7 June) and Thank You Day on 5 June, as well as at our annual St John’s Day celebrations on 25 June. I hope that our work highlighting the skills, dedication and compassion of our volunteers around the country through our Ask Me campaign (sja.org.uk) will keep St John in the forefront of your readers’ minds and encourage
Praising Stroke Association volunteers on Thank You Day I am delighted to be able to say a huge thankyou to the hundreds of wonderful Stroke Association volunteers this Thank You Day 2022. The annual Thank You Day, which takes place on Sunday 5 June, is extra special this year, as it coincides with the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee weekend. To all our volunteers, you make a huge difference to thousands of stroke survivors and their families by sharing your stories, providing information and support through services and stroke groups, promoting stroke in local communities, fundraising, and campaigning for change. I’m also delighted to pass on the best wishes of The Duke of Kent, who is also President of the Stroke Association. He said: “This special weekend, as we celebrate the Platinum Jubilee, it is fitting to also take time to recognise the service of the amazing volunteers who are supporting stroke survivors and their families every day as they rebuild their lives after stroke. “We are inspired by your dedication, commitment and care towards others, particularly those volunteers who have been so badly affected by stroke themselves. “My best wishes and thanks to you all.” So it’s a huge thank you from me and everyone at the Stroke Association. Thank you for giving hope to thousands of stroke survivors and their carers and supporting them with their recoveries - you’re amazing! Juliet Bouverie, OBE Chief Executive of the Stroke Association Inferior church ‘music’ turns off worshippers
PEPPY SAYS...
Calverley
Observations on life and more important things
WOKERY 0 CALVERLEY 1 High fives after Calverley won a dispute over using the word ‘idiots’. Trustpilot ruled the word was ‘offensive and harmful’ in an online product review by this columnist. They deleted the post. Calverley countered by asking who decided the word was wrong and on what grounds. Trustpilot took another look and admitted the word ‘idiot’ ‘was ‘used in a non-offensive way and in a way that is in context’. Their robot had objected to the review that suggested an ‘idiot’s guide’ was needed for assembling the product. Small win for common sense but one that again highlights the need to challenge the wokery when it is clearly wrong. AND STILL on the subject of woke, be careful if you’ve booked a ski trip. Don’t mention it at work or you might be in trouble, according to accountancy giant KPMG. This month their staff will be told not to mention skiing holidays as it could make colleagues feel isolated and work against the firm’s inclusivity programme. Oh, and forget talking about gap years or private schools as well. Best take camping holidays for now.
AXA. Calverley has been known to be critical of the health insurer but today sings its praises. (He’s easily bought.) It follows a letter from the Tunbridge Wells outfit stating they would put almost £300 into his bank account. Earlier AXA had pledged to refund members if ‘claims costs for 2020 and 2021 were lower than 2019, due to the coronavirus crisis’. In other words, the firm made more money because they weren’t paying out for so many medical treatments. What a lovely gesture! Maybe others who reaped unexpected profits from Covid could follow their example? Hold your breath, not… ONE TIME footballer David Beckham is not
CARTOON BY PEPPY: (Follow her on Twitter @Peppyscott)
Thank you so very much for the quite delightful article in today’s Times! (May 18) You are just wonderful and a true supporter of The Friends. I shall mail a copy off to Helen Boyce – she has actually become a Friend. I am sure she will delighted with your article.
more to get involved with St John, by volunteering, by taking a first aid course or by supporting our activities with a donation. Michael Messinger Chancellor of the Priory of England and the Islands of the Order of St John
middle aged – at least he doesn’t think so. Seems the former Man United man was taken aback when invited on Gabby Logan’s Spotify podcast about mid-life issues. Very few people refuse. According to Gabby, Team Beckham were ‘mildly disgusted’ by the idea the boss would fit the podcast’s demographic. Dave and Vic probably consider themselves to be ageless. He is in fact 47. Grow up, people.
FINAL THOUGHT. Prank of the Week Award goes to Max Fosh who erected giant white letters in a field near the runway at Gatwick Airport that read – Welcome to Luton. What a hoot! Cabin crew had to reassure passengers they were landing in the right place. Chin, chin dear reader…
We do our best to publish letters in full. However, the Editor reserves the right to edit any letter. Please ensure that letters do not exceed 250 words
Wednesday June 1 | 2022
Life&Times
ARTS • BOOKS • GOING OUT • FOOD • EVENTS • ANTIQUES • TRAVEL • PROPERTY • LIVE MUSIC and MORE...
Going out - P27
Interiors - P32
Antiques - P36
More than words...
Get involved in the Tunbridge Wells Poetry Festival Arts P22
22
Arts
Wednesday June 1 | 2022
arts
“The Tunbridge Wells Poetry Festival is something all the community can enjoy”
This coming Sunday (June 5) sees the return of the Tunbridge Wells Poetry Festival. Running until June 26 it will feature numerous poets – both famous and not so famous – performing their work in various venues in town plus some collaborative workshops. Here co-organiser Peppy Scott – who is the Times of Tunbridge Wells cartoonist and a poet – tells Eileen Leahy more about the event, now in its second year, and reveals more details about who is on the bill
L
AST YEAR saw the first Tunbridge Wells Poetry Festival take place and because it was such a success its organisers have decided to put it on again this year – even extending its run by a whole week in order to include all the keen poets and performers who want to be part of this inspiring local literary event. Headline shows include Radio 4 stalwart Henry Normal performing his touring show ‘The Escape Plan’ at Trinity Theatre and an evening with Costa Book Award-winner Hannah Lowe at Waterstones, with her guest, local poetic rising star Jess Mookherjee. There will also be music and poetry from internationally acclaimed performers Chris Tutton (poet) and Anne Denholm (harpist) at the Church of St John the Baptist, Penshurst. During the festival’s run (June 5-26) there will also be an evening of eco poetry, open mic sessions and readings with piano
music at King Charles the Martyr Church. “In addition to all this there will be numerous workshops on offer in order to inspire everyone from novices to
“Headline shows for this year’s Poetry Festival include Radio 4 stalwart Henry Normal at Trinity Theatre and an evening with Costa Book Award-winner Hannah Lowe at Waterstones” established poets,” explains the festival’s co-organiser Peppy Scott, who also just happens to be this newspaper’s resident cartoonist. “The workshops are mostly in person but
some are online and one takes place al fresco on the beautiful Ashdown Forest. The workshops cover a diverse range of angles – inspiration, art, mythology, nature, religion, performance, poetic form – and are led by some of the area’s most successful established poets.” Peppy explains that the Tunbridge Wells Poetry Festival – which is an independent, not-for-profit, grassroots organisation – is run entirely by volunteers, who are all poets themselves, many of whom are part of the Kent & Sussex Poetry Society. “As the Chair of the committee, Charlie Bell, has previously said, ‘Poetry is the new rock and roll, with the same elements of commitment, energy and excitement. It appeals to a wide and general audience’. And this is certainly reflected in our line-up this year. “The festival’s strap line is ‘Poetry for All, Big or Small’ and we are motivated by the pleasure of sharing poetry of all genres
HENRY NORMAL
Arts
Wednesday June 1 | 2022
23
community. Poetry can be moving or calming, thought-provoking and intriguing, challenging or soothing, and sometimes laugh-out-loud funny. While the more cerebral readings will appeal to confirmed lovers of poetry, much of
with people of all ages, who may or may not already know they like poetry. To be able to invite poets of national standing like Henry Normal and Hannah Lowe into the town is a thrill, but we are equally excited by the platform we offer to undiscovered local talent. Members of the committee work entirely voluntarily and each one is also a poet.” And why does Peppy think people should support these events? “This is something that is for all the local
“Poetry is the new rock and roll, with the same elements of commitment, energy and excitement” the programme is designed to appeal to a general audience. This includes a whole range of writing workshops and open mics. “Whether someone is an absolute beginner who has never attempted to write a poem before, or an established poet who is regularly published, the festival offers opportunities to stretch one’s skills regardless of experience. We also have a
POETRY BATHING AT ASHDOWN FOREST
policy of affordable pricing and there are many free events on the programme. Accessibility is central to our ethos.” The festival finale is the Wordplay Fun Day, a free family-friendly day at The Forum. This incorporates children’s workshops and activities, relaxed discussions and open mics, and delightful surprise performances by community groups. The evening show, Verse-aTility, is a light-hearted celebration of poetry in popular culture hosted by ‘Flitt & Folio’, and sure to leave smiles on faces as the festival comes to an end. Peppy says another aim of the Tunbridge Wells Poetry Festival is to further help put the town on the cultural map. “Without a college or a university, this falls to the authorities and local groups. The recent Literary Festival was a welcome and successful event. However, we feel that culture lies beyond headline events, and that local creativity should be nurtured and championed to feed the longer term cultural life of the town. Who knows? Perhaps a future poet laureate already lives in Tunbridge Wells!” Full details can be found at www. twpoetryfestival.com Twitter: @TWPoetryFest Facebook: @TunbridgeWellsPoetryFestival Instagram: @twpoetryfestival
LASER CHALLENGE @ BEWL
WATER Visit www.bewlwater.co.uk/activities for more information Info@bewlwater.co.uk
WHERE TO SEE PEPPY AT THE TUNBRIDGE WELLS POETRY FESTIVAL…
- June 9: 'Waxing Lyrical' Voices open mic at Even Flow cafe, hosted by Flitt & Folio - June 18: Pop-up Poets at Trinity Theatre, (MC, with a poem in the mix) - June 26: Wordplay Fun Day, at The Forum (afternoon), followed by Verse-a-Tility, a celebration of poetry in popular culture (evening).
24
Books
Wednesday June 1 | 2022
Times book reviewer
HANNAH KIRSOP
TROUBLED LOVE IN BELFAST
PROMOTING EMOTIONAL WELLBEING
Trespasses by Louise Kennedy
Nutley: An Acorn’s Adventure by Deborah Smith
(published by Bloomsbury Circus, priced £14.99) Set in 1970s Belfast, every event in this debut novel is imbued, overshadowed and inhibited by the brutal history of that period. The heroine, Cushla Lavery, is a 20-something Catholic schoolteacher who splits her time between educating seven-year-olds – whose ‘news summaries’ at the start of the school day cruelly expose the juxtaposition of the ordinary and the dangerous daily events in their lives – and helping her brother Eamonn run the family pub that is frequented by Protestant locals. There she meets older, married, Protestant lawyer Michael Agnew and begins their illicit love affair, altering the path of both of their lives. Albeit with a wonderful, true, flawed, courageous and warm lead in Cushla whose love affair lightens the mood and brings moments of happiness with its message about the simple joys of love, this book is dark, raw and heart-breaking as the horrors of those times and their impact on the characters are brought to life in an understated yet evocative narrative that is unyielding in its tension as violence, neglect, abuse, alcoholism and aggression abound. Brilliant but not for the faint-hearted.
9/10
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
(published by Austin Macauley Publishers, priced £8.99) Long-term Tunbridge Wells resident Deborah Smith has recently published her debut children’s novel for ages 2-4 which promotes emotional wellbeing as it coaxes the young reader through the fear of the unknown by means of the delightful story of Nutley the acorn. Hanging on his oak tree, Nutley doesn’t understand why his hold on the tree is weakening until a new avian friend explains his exciting destiny. With lovely illustrations to entertain little minds as they listen to the story, this is a perfect any-time story book to explain how worries only occur when there is a lack of understanding. Great to promote discussion with children and to remind parents how little things can seem big and frightening without explanation.
8/10
LOCAL WRITER Tunbridge Wells children’s author Deborah Smith
Friday 1st July 2022 7pm – 11pm
The Amelia, Royal Tunbridge Wells, TN1 1JN
Tickets £45 When the lights go out, let the games begin. It’s time to eat, drink and try your hand at a casino-less-ordinary in the
Night Museum
spectacular surroundings of The Amelia in support of Porridge & Pens Ghana.
at the
DRINKS RECEPTION WITH CANAPÉS LIVE AUCTION AND RAFFLE CHARITY POP UP SHOP CASINO TABLES MUSIC
Ticket sales on:
eventbrite.co.uk/e/night-at-the-museum-tickets-344045147297
SCAN FOR TICKETS
Books
Wednesday June 1 | 2022
25
You Made A Fool Of Death With Your Beauty by Akwaeke Emezi
The bookcase… Here are some more reads to inspire you this week …
Published in hardback by Michael Joseph, priced £14.99 (ebook £7.99)
Managing Expectations by Minnie Driver Published in hardback by Manilla Press, priced £20 (ebook £9.99). Celebrity autobiographies are always a very mixed bag, but this one from the actress who made her name in Circle Of Friends and Good Will Hunting is a shining star among them. It’s a collection of essays of key moments in Minnie Driver’s life, written with razor-sharp wit and tear-jerking pathos, from her parents’ break-up to her wayward hair and her experiences in acting, as she dived from one successful movie, which she thought would secure her career, to faking orgasms for a chocolate ad to keep the wolf from the door. Her Oscar nomination for Good Will Hunting was robbed of its joy because of her ex Matt Damon, who arrived at the event with his new girlfriend. But self-pity never washed with her mother, a stoic, funny, positive figure who wouldn’t tolerate complaints about life being unfair, which makes the final chapter so heart-wrenching, as news of her diagnosis of terminal cancer leaves Driver literally on her knees in front of her shopping trolley in Waitrose. You’ll want to read this book twice, laughing at the acutely sharp observations and holding back tears as the final chapter comes to its close. We hope this actress writes more. Review by Hannah Stephenson
10/10
6/10
Anyone who’s read Akwaeke Emezi’s previous books – the beautiful and heartrending Freshwater and The Death Of Vivek Oji – will be in for a surprise with their latest offering. While You Made A Fool Of Death… covers some similar themes as the other books – including violent loss and love – at its core, it’s much more of a popcorn romance novel. Feyi is a young artist with a sad past, meaning new romance is hard for her – she tries to turn over a new leaf by going with a potential suitor to his island home, staying in his wealthy father’s house. Things
become complicated when she finds herself falling for the wrong man – quite a classic romance trope, meaning the book feels quite predictable. While Emezi’s signature arresting style is there, the content isn’t – they spend a bit too much time discussing how beautiful the main characters are, which can get a bit dull. It’s no doubt readable and you do connect with the characters, but Emezi possibly suffers by comparison to their previous books – and You Made A Fool Of Death… likely won’t stay with you quite as long. Review by Prudence Wade
Fight Night by Miriam Toews Published in hardback by Faber & Faber, priced £14.99 (ebook £8.99). Fight Night is absurd, overwhelming, traumatic, touching – and totally delightful. It’s a love letter to the women in one family, with nine-yearold narrator Swiv recounting life with her heavily pregnant actor mother Mooshie and elderly grandmother Elvira. Now she’s at home, suspended from school. Mom is pregnant and preoccupied - and so Swiv is in the older woman’s charge, receiving a very different form of education from a teacher with a style all her own. It moves at a fast pace – which might initially make your head
spin, as Swiv jumps from topic to topic, going on mini adventures with her extremely fun grandmother (who is a brilliantly written character and a total badass). While it doesn’t always have a clear cut plot, it deals with some big issues – such as suicide, alcoholism and depression – with realism, dark humour and a lightness of touch. It’s a joy to read, and the colourful and beautifully drawn characters will stay with you long after you’ve finished. Review by Prudence Wade
9/10
With a packed trade area, autojumble, live action arena including The Tigers Motorcycle Display Team, the smallest car in the world and much more, together with a funfair, inflatables, come along and join us for a brilliant day jam-packed full of fun for all the family. Free public parking inc. disabled parking
Dogs on leads welcome
www.bromleypageant.co.uk
Advanced tickets: Adult £12, Child (aged 5-15) £5, Under 5’s free, Family (2 adults and 2 children aged 5-15) £28 (booking fee applies) On the gate tickets: Adult £17, Child (aged 5-15) £5, Under 5’s free, Family (2 adults and 2 children aged 5-15) £39 Attractions subject to change
Scan me for tickets
come and CHEER ON over 40 LOCAL businesses & 8 schools
racing For charity!
EVENT PARTNERS
SATURDAY 25TH JUNE DUNORLAN PARK, TUNBRIDGE WELLS ALL THE EVENT UPDATES ON SOCIAL @TWSOAPBOXRACE
MBASSADOR, wift! A E C A R X O B WITH SOAP e host, Tom s c a r d n a R E HRAG ROSEMARY S
LIVE MUSIC
FOOD & DRINK
GET YOUR tICKETS!
CHARITY PARTNERS
FUN FOR ALL THE FAMILY! TWSoapboxRace.com
ADVANCE PURCHASE ONLY: ADULTS £12.50, CONCESSION £10.00, CHILD £7.50, FAMILY £34.50 + BOOKING FEES. TICKETS WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE ON THE GATE!
Going out
Wednesday June 1 | 2022
27
Celebrations marking the Platinum Jubilee result in busy week of entertainment Victoria Roberts looks at some of the local events and activities set to entertain you over the special Bank Holiday celebrating The Queen… who will perform some of The Queen’s favourite classical tunes, and the Queen’s regular visits to India will be acknowledged with an amazing Kings of Bhangra dance display as seen at the Tunbridge Wells Mela. And of course, there will be street parties a-plenty over the weekend as the Royal Town celebrates 70 years of Queen Elizabeth II. While the Jubilee may dominate the activities on offer this week, but there is still plenty going on, whether you are a half-term holidayer or even – a Republican! The long holiday weekend coincides with the Unfest programme, bringing spoken word, poetry and food together, as well as the music we expect from the creative partnerships at The Forum.
COMEDIAN Shaparak Khorsandi tries to remember ‘the decade of binge drinking and walks of shame’ – the 90s, of course. Trinity Theatre this Saturday [June 4], at 8pm. ‘Waiting for Godot’ is on at 7pm this Sunday [June 5] at Trinity Theatre. Ironic that the production, by Theatre Nation (Hastings), itself should have been delayed – after originally being due to premiere in 2020 just before lockdown. The Hever Festival continues, with Gilbert & Sullivan’s ‘Patience’ by Charles Court Opera. Sunday [June 5] at 8pm, Two Sisters’ Theatre (Hever Castle). Rusthall Community Cinema presents Swedish comedy drama ‘A Man Called Ove’ this Saturday [June 4]. Doors at 7pm. [See the Times feature on RCC’s filmmaking workshops and film festival in October, page __] If your patriotism is of the American sort and all of this Jubilee bunting is the wrong kind of red, white and blue for you, get your red blood pumping with Top Gun: Maverick (12A) at the Odeon (multiple daily showings). The children’s film ‘Good Guys’ (U) is also still on – can a bad Mr Wolf go good?
THE HEVER FESTIVAL
FAIRPORT CONVENTION
JOOLS Holland and his Rhythm & Blues Orchestra has a two-night run at The Assembly Hall, starting tonight [June 8-9] at 7:30pm. Fairport Convention are on at St Dunstan’s Church (Cranbrook) Friday 3rd June, 2022 Door time: 7:00pm Tickets from WeGotTickets.com https://www.wegottickets.com/event/506475 (Saturday, May 28, at 8pm). Age 18 and older. The Lyle has a busy weekend, featuring DJ Tim Cullen of the Ministry of Sound on Thursday [June 2] at 6:30pm-12:30am. Then, on Friday night comedian Reginald D Hunter is on from 8pm before the DJ takes over at 10pm. Tickets £20 from TheLyle.co.uk
IMAGE © TW BOROUGH COUNCIL
M
ILITARY Parade at the Tunbridge Wells War Memorial, attended by the Mayor and Vice Lord Lieutenant of Kent. This is followed by a fun procession to Dunorlan Park Events Field through Monson Road, Calverley Road and Bayhall Road, and then a Big Jubilee Lunch at Dunorlan Park Events Field. These celebrations, arranged by Tunbridge Wells Borough Councul will please lovers of music and dance as a diverse selection of artists representing musical styles from across the Commonwealth and beyond will be performing in the park. Performers include Bloco Fogo band and dancers, The Tunbridge Wells Orpheus Choir
THE GODFATHER of the Horrible Histories juggernaut, Terry Deary baptises a next generation with the comedy ‘Twisted Tales’. Victorian schoolteacher Mr Pimm asks: “Can the past really tell the future?’ The Assembly Hall on Tuesday, [June 7] at 7pm. Cycling Shakespearean actors the HandleBards put on ‘Twelfth Night’ at the Library Gardens (outdoor performance) of the E.M. Forster Theatre (Tonbridge), this Friday [June 3]. Doors open 6pm, show starts 7pm.
THE AMELIA Rhyme Time is on, free, at The Amelia for pre-schoolers, Tuesdays at 10 and 11am, and Fridays at 10am. Find the event in the Children’s Library, under the night-sky projection. The Amelia also has a free Story Time on Mondays at 11am, or you can ask the librarians about Kent Libraries’ audiobook collection.
HANDLEBARDS
JOOLS HOLLAND
ESTABLISHED
Celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee at Salomons Estate
Book your family picnic in our 36 acres of beautiful gardens and woodlands. Saturday 4th June 2022, 12pm until 6pm
Indulge in a quintessentially British picnic lovingly prepared by our chefs ready for you to collect on arrival, along with our fully stocked Terrace Bar serving your favourite tipples. With plenty to keep the kids entertained including table tennis, scavenger hunt, table football, face painting, lawn games and other fun activities.
Adult Picnics £19.50 per person Children's Picnic £10.50 per child We have a limited number of picnic benches available,please bring your own picnic blanket to sit on the lawns. Entry is only permitted with purchase of a picnic for each guest attending. Confirmation of booking will need to be shown upon arrival. You are not permitted to bring your own food or drink on site.
01892 51 51 52
www.salomons-estate.com/whats-on
Wednesday June 1 | 2022
On song for Her Majesty
T
HIS week I wanted to let Times readers know about all the incredible festivals and gigs happening across the borough of Tunbridge Wells which are happening over the weekend of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. From the return of The Forum’s Unfest to a free picnic in Dunorlan Park to celebrate Her Majesty’s 70 years on the throne, there’s plenty to enjoy over the next few days of celebration says Paul Dunton…
DUNORLAN PARK EVENTS FIELD QUEEN’S PLATINUM JUBILEE CELEBRATION (FREE ENTRY) Full event information at www.tunbridgewells.gov.uk/ community-and-leisure/queensplatinum-jubilee Friday 03/06 1pm - Military Parade at the Tunbridge Wells War Memorial, attended by the Mayor and Vice Lord Lieutenant of Kent. 1.30pm - Fun procession to Dunorlan Park Events Field through Monson Road, Calverley Road and Bayhall Road. 2pm - Big Jubilee Lunch at Dunorlan Park Events Field. 2.30pm to close: Bloco Fogo band and dancers. The Tunbridge Wells Orpheus Choir + The Royal Scottish Dancing Society. The American Songbook Jazz Quartet. Local and Live artist – Paul Crisp. Kings of Bhangra. Beyond the Barricade + Orpheus Choir. UNFEST 2022 - THE TUNBRIDGE WELLS FORUM Event information and tickets at www. twforum.co.uk For latest updates on Unfest visit www. facebook.com/unfesttwfringe Thursday 2/06 Jubilee Weekend Party: Fat Freddie & The Queens Friday 03/06 Unfest at The Forum (free entry) Main Stage : 1.30pm - Thomas Jay 2.30pm - Kay Hazelden 3.30pm - Bjika 4.30pm - Dale Frost 5.30pm - Zombie Met Girl 6.30pm - All the Above 7.30pm – Code: Marla 8.30pm - Dwella 9.30pm - Kung Fu Slipper 10.30pm - Bombay Monkey Garden Stage: 3.00pm - Tunbridge Wells Pride presents Kings and Queens 5.00pm - Joe Walker 6.00pm – Biddle Veranda Stage: 2.00pm - Applause Rural Touring
gigguide
Gig guide
29
June 1 to June 5 Jubilee Special
Company presents: The Bell Orchestra Saturday 04/06 Unfest at the Forum (free entry) Main stage: 1.30pm - Gianni 2.30pm - Perry Ripley 3.30pm - Heidi 4.30pm - Jon Bontempi’s Catastrophic Organ Failure 5.30pm - Night Without Sleep 6.30pm - Tor 7.30pm - Red Coast 8.30pm - HERAHERA 9.30pm - T.B.C. 10.30pm - Zap Euphoria Garden Stage: 1.00pm - TW Poetry Festival Presents 2.30pm - Word Up! (spoken word) Veranda Stage: 2.00pm - Applause Rural Touring Company presents: Strong Enough 3.00PM – Paul Cheese Sunday 05/06 Unfest at The Forum (free entry) Main stage: 1.00pm - Under 18s takeover 5.30pm - Bangers & Trash (DJ) Garden Stage: 1:00pm - TW Poetry Festival Presents: Under 18s Open Mic 2.30pm - Under 18s acoustic sessions PAUL CRISP
UNFEST 2022 - LOCAL & LIVE OUTDOOR STAGE AT THE SUSSEX MEWS, NEXT TO THE SUSSEX ARMS. FREE ENTRY – FAMILY FRIENDLY Thursday 02/06 1.15pm Young Singer-songwriter Guest artist 1.30pm – Young Singer-songwriter Guest artist 1.45pm – Young Singer-songwriter Guest artist 2pm - Gronk 3pm - Soda Prism 4pm - Abi Orfila 5pm - Jennifer Lee Ridley 6pm - The Good Ship Band 7pm - Blue Violet 8pm - The Breretons (headline) Friday 03/06 2pm Ryan Weeks 2.50pm Léanie Kaleido 3.40pm Jez Harley 4.35pm Paul Gunn Collective 5.30pm Summit of The Big Low 6.20pm Steve Hewitt 7.10pm Rob Picazo Band 8pm Harry Whitty Band (headline) Saturday 04/06 2pm Ukelear Fallout 3pm Cally Collective 4pm Paul Dunton Orchestra 5pm Mick Crowther 6pm The Ackerleys 7pm Steffan James 8pm Two Weeks In Nashville (headline) Sunday 05/06 1.30pm The Tilston Sisters 2.10pm Alana Hazzard 3pm David Mumford 3.50pm Kylie 4.30pm Joe Ackerley 5.15pm Coney Island maybe 6pm Mystery Guest Act! 7pm The River Flows (headline)
CODE MARLA
THE BRERETONS
STEVE HEWITT www.thelyle.co.uk Thursday 02/06 Jubilee Party 6.30pm till late - Tim Cullen DJ set
TRINITY THEATRE, CHURCH ROAD All event information and tickets available at www.trinitytheatre.net Friday 03/06 Lets Zep (tribute) JAZZ ON THE PANTILES, THE PANTILES BANDSTAND 7.30pm – 10pm reservation required (entrance £5pp). Participating restaurants : The Tunbridge Wells Hotel, The Kirthon, La Casa Vecchia Thursday 02/06 Sue Rivers Quartet
THE ROYAL OAK PUB, PROSPECT ROAD Open all day, free entry, Unfest Fringe Festival Thursday 02/06 Squeeze a Crowd + The Airstreams Friday 03/06 Supajam Funfraiser (2pm start) live music from Supajam Students, Silversouls, Kharma & The Devils. Saturday 04/06 Live music from 7.30pm – Shep & Co, Coney Island Maybe, DJ and The Revelators Sunday 05/06 Live music from 2pm (The Garden Stage) TN1 BAR & KITCHEN, MONSON ROAD Open all day, free entry, booking advised www.tn1barkitchen.co.uk Thursday 02/06 7pm – Ben Hills Friday 03/06 8pm – The Masqueraders Duo Saturday 04/06 8.30pm – Cal White Sunday 05/06 4pm – Stuart Bligh THE GEORGE PUB, MT EPHRAIM Open all day, free entry. Saturday 04/06 Unfest 12.30pm – Cyrano 1.30pm – All The Above FONTHILL TAP ROOM Live DJ’s on Friday and Saturday THE LYLE, HAWKENBURY All event information and tickets at
THE CLAREMONT, PROSPECT ROAD Open all day, free entry Thursday 02/06 Amy Winehouse Tribute THE OLD AUCTION HOUSE, LINDEN PARK ROAD Open all day, free entry Saturday 04/06 3pm till late Good Hustle + guest artists THE BLUE ANCHOR, CROWBOROUGH Open all day, free entry, music from 8.30pm Saturday 04/06 The Violet Jive THE SPA HOTEL, TUNBRIDGE WELLS THE BIG JUBILEE PICNIC All event information and tickets available at www.spahotel.co. uk/2022/04/04/big-jubilee-picnic/ Sunday 05/06 Live music from Elliott Graham, Paul Crisp, The Frampton Sisters, Marie White and The Paul Dunton Orchestra THE BLACK HORSE PUB, CAMDEN ROAD Open all day, free entry Thursday 02/06 3pm-5pm ‘Harry Sinatra Hickmock’ 8pm – 10pm Dovestock Collective Friday 03/06 4pm -10pm Karaoke in The Tent Saturday 04/06 3pm-5pm Not King Cole Sunday 05/06 1pm The Sea Cadets 3pm – 5pm TN2 SANKEY’S RESTAURANT, THE PANTILES Open all day, free entry, music from 6.45pm – 9.15pm Thursday 02/06 Harry Whitty Duo THE GEORGE & DRAGON, SPELDHURST Open all day, free entry, music from 2m Saturday 04/06 Jonny Gray GEOGRAPHY WINE BAR, HIGHSTREET Open all day, free entry, music from 3.30pm - 6pm Sunday 05/06 Steve Hewitt THE PANTILES BANDSTAND, THE PANTILES Saturday 04/06 11am-3.45pm Miss Kaddy and The Cads BLOCO FOGO
Brands Sale Great British Furniture Brands
Made in Colchester, Essex Made in Colchester, Essex
Made inin Sutton Made SuttonininAsheld, Ashfield,Nottinghamshire Nottinghamshire
WE’LL BEAT ANY PRICE. ONLINE OR ANYWHERE ELSE
C ASTONS FURNITURE Since 1895
Made in Clayton, Yorkshire Made in Rochester, Kent
Made in Melksham, Wiltshire
LOWEST PRICE GUARANTEED
64 - 68 6 High Street, Hythe CT21 5AL 01303 239239 5 Angel Walkk Shopping Centre, Tonbr o idge TN9 1TJ 01732 351872
WWW.CASTONSFURNITURE.COM
Drink
Wednesday June 1 | 2022
31
Cheers to Her Majesty from Royal Tunbridge Wells Getting into the festive Platinum Jubilee spirit, Times Drinks Editor James Viner toasts The Queen with four celebratory and cheery bottles that will perk up any party this week 3) Bottled GIN-ius! Tesco Finest ‘The Melodist’ London Dry Gin, England (£20, Tesco, 40%) This superb, melodious, smooth, awardwinning London Dry gin has top notes of coriander seed, yuzu, cardamom, green tea and
WHETHER you’ll be attending a street party, lining the Mall or holding your own triumphal get-together, these majestic bottles will keep the festivities going over the extra-long Bank Holiday weekend. Cheers to a joyous Jubilee! 1) It’s ‘Reign’ing Provençal Rosé! Whispering Angel 2021, Platinum Jubilee Edition, Côtes de Provence Rosé, Château d’Esclans, France (£20-£22.50, Waitrose, Sainsbury’s, Noble Green Wines, Harvey Nichols, 13%) Launched by Sacha Lichine in 2006, Château d’Esclans tells me that Whispering Angel — nicknamed ‘Hampton’s Water’— is now the country’s leading Provence rosé and was inspired in part by the strong relationship between the UK and France. So it seems fitting that they are being acknowledged and partnering up alongside so many revered British companies and brands for the Queen’s Platinum celebration. From the famous estate just northeast of St Tropez, this is crisp, classy and glossy with notes of pink grapefruit, redcurrant and citrus. A chic and ravishing benchmark rosé for seafood. 2) Royal Kentish sparkling rosé Irresistible Eight Acres Sparkling Rosé NV, Kent, England (£18, The Co-op, 12.5%) Don’t miss out on this zingy, floral, ripe red fruit and citrusy romp of a wine from nearby Hush Heath in Kent – it’s the best-value English sparkling rosé to sip right now. Bullseye vinous virtuosity for under twenty quid.
”
I have used Host My Office now for 7 years, a very personal service from everyone there but more importantly very responsive. SAM M
lemongrass, as well as some bay leaf and juniper. Serve with tonic water over ice with a slice of grapefruit and a sprig of rosemary. Fantastic supermarket bargain. Vive la (gin) revolution!
3
1
4 5 2
4) Classic English fizz fit for the Jubilee The Society's Exhibition English Sparkling Wine NV, Ridgeview Wine Estate, W. Sussex, England (£24, The Wine Society, 12%) Patriots will want to crack open a fine traditional method English sparkler this special Platinum Jubilee bank holiday weekend. The Wine Society’s Exhibition English Sparkling Wine has to be a vinous front runner for the celebrations, particularly because its creators delivered the sparkling wine for Her Majesty’s Diamond Jubilee Celebrations in 2012. For a splash-out-treat pop this zesty bottle of incredible W. Sussex finesse. Produced solely for The Society by Ridgeview Wine Estate on the South Downs, just seven miles from the sea, the Exhibition English Sparkling Wine is derived from pinot noir, pinot meunier and chardonnay and has melon, orchard fruit and citrus flavours. 5) Specially Selected Bowler & Brolly Winemaster’s Lot English Sparkling Classic Cuvée Brut, Hampshire, England (£19.99, Aldi, 12%) Thanks to well-informed buyers, lots of supermarket wines taste as good as extravagant bottles commanding twice the price. But you have to know where to look. Enter this tasty, bargain own-label sparkler from Aldi, with mouth-watering toasty/bready, citrus and green apple characters. Hampshire strikes yet again with top-quality pop. It’s a cracker. Follow James on Twitter @QuixoticWine.
YOUR LOCAL IT EXPERTS
Your data is secure with our Data Backup service. • CYBER SECURIT Y
• HOSTED SERVICES
• IT MAINTENANCE
• C LO U D B A C K U P
• 24/7 IT SUPPORT
• DISASTER RECOVERY
Call or email to book a free consultation
01892 267 200 | hello@hostmyoffice.co.uk www.hostmyoffice.co.uk
HMO_ToTW advert_HMD_June22_FINAL.indd 1
20/05/2022 16:08
32
Interiors
Wednesday June 1 | 2022
Isn’t it time you reorganised your shed and garage? If you have been thinking about getting a little better organised at home Imogen Murphy from Tunbridge Wells’ The Little Organising Company has some excellent advice - especially when it comes to keeping those often-neglected outdoor storage spaces nice and tidy…
N
OW WE’VE had a few weeks of sun are you starting to dream of BBQs in the garden? Or maybe starting summer sports or even a DIY project? All you need to do now is find what you need for this in your shed or garage - asy right? Garage or shed chaos makes it hard to find what you want and wastes precious storage space. This is the perfect time of year to get it sorted before summer is in full swing. How to get your shed organised: 1. Plan your removal first: Buy rubble sacks, bin bags, book a skip if necessary or slot at the recycling centre before starting. Make sure you have room in your car so you can load it up as you go, saving time and avoiding unwanted items taking up space for weeks after you have finished sorting. 2. Get it all out: lay out tarpaulins on any open space you have, like grass or a driveway, empty the shed or garage and pile the same things in groups together in a way which make sense to you, like gardening products, tools, sport equipment and kids toys etc. 3. Get ruthless: Start by editing out anything broken or out of date like old paint tins or garden chemicals. Next remove unwanted duplicates of items from your piled categories – ask yourself how many plant pots do you really need? Review everything else and decide if you need to keep it.
BENTLEY ’S
ON-LINE LIVE BIDDING
ON-LINE LIVE BIDDING
ANTIQUES & FINE ART AUCTIONEERS
SATURDAY 4TH JUNE 10AM
(Please note earlier starting time 10am for Smalls & 11am for Furniture) Full Catalogue & Images Available Online Friday 27th May
QUEEN’S PLATINUM JUBILEE CELEBRATIONS PLEASE NOTE CHANGE OF VIEWING DAYS: WE WILL BE CLOSED ON THURSDAY 2ND & FRIDAY 3RD JUNE DUE TO THE QUEEN’S PLATINUM JUBILEE BANK HOLIDAYS
A 1934 LEICA III CAMERA & CASE EST: £400-£600 A FINE 18TH CENTURY BRASS REFLECTING GREGORIAN TELESCOPE BY W.WATKINS, C.1790 EST: £3000-£5000
A 19TH CENTURY CARVED OAK SETTLE EST: £500-£800
A GOOD COLLECTION OF 18TH CENTURY DRINKING GLASSES (VARIOUS LOTS & ESTIMATES)
AN ANTIQUE CASED TAXIDERMY BUZZARD BY PETER SPICER & SONS OF LEAMINGTON, IN ORIGINAL GLAZED CASE EST: £300-£500
VIEWING NOW ON: TUESDAY 31ST MAY 1.30PM – 5.30PM
A GOOD GEORGE II SILVER SALVER BY JOHN TUITE, LONDON 1738 EST: £800-£1200
WEDNESDAY 1ST JUNE 9.30AM-5.30PM SATURDAY 4TH JUNE 9.00AM-10.00AM
AN 18TH/19TH CENTURY & LATER ZANZIBAR CABINET ON STAND EST: £400-£600
A BOTTLE OF MACALLAN 25 YEAR OLD ANNIVERSARY MALT SINGLE HIGHLAND SCOTCH WHISKY, IN WOODEN PRESENTATION CASE EST: £2000-£3000
JAMES WILSON CARMICHAEL (1800-1868), ‘SEASCAPE’, OIL ON CANVAS, 30CM X 35CM (PART OF A GOOD COLLECTION OF 19TH CENTURY ART FROM A DECEASED ESTATE IN THIS SALE) EST: £800-£1200
A GOOD QUALITY 19TH CENTURY REPEATER CARRIAGE CLOCK ATTRIBUTED TO PAUL GARNIER, INSCRIBED C.F. WASSELL, 43 FENCHURCH STREET, LONDON EST: £250-£350
AN 18CT YELLOW GOLD, AMETHYST & DIAMOND NECKLACE (PART OF A GOOD LARGE PRIVATE COLLECTION OF JEWELLERY IN THIS SALE) EST: £750-£1000
A 19TH CENTURY ANGLO-INDIAN COLONIAL CARVED & PIERCED SIDE CABINET EST: £500-£800
PARKING ON DAY OF SALE IN CRANBROOK SCHOOL CAR PARK (OPPOSITE) COURTESY OF CRANBROOK SCHOOL
The Old Granary, Waterloo Road, Cranbrook, Kent TN17 3JQ E-mail: enquiries@bentleyskent.com Visit us @ www.bentleysfineartauctioneers.co.uk
Telephone: 01580 715857
Wednesday June 1 | 2022
4. Consider what you really need now: think about your life as it is today, if you are holding on to old items you don’t need, it will be harder to organise the items you actually want. Let go of unused sports equipment, hobby stuff or furniture that doesn’t fit in your home, decide what matches your current life and who you are now. 5. Sweep and clean: Once the space is empty sweep it out, this might be your only chance to do this for a while. Clean garden tools and patio chairs. Oil equipment with WD-40, so they are ready to go when you need them. You can get secateurs and garden shears sharpened at the monthly Tunbridge Wells Repair Café in the Trinity Theatre.
‘Once you’ve decluttered and put the same items together, decide what you need access to most often’ 6. Visible storage: Once you’ve decluttered and put the same items together, decide what you need access to most often. Store frequently used items at eye height and where they can most easily be seen. Hanging tools with their outline drawn on the wall makes them easy to find, shows everyone where they live and when something is missing. 7. Vertical space: Use all walls and even the ceilings if possible, this will maximise the space you have. Use hooks or add shelves where you can. Hang bikes, washing lines, strimmers, jet washers or any bulky items on the wall. If required screw on a backboard first for added strength before attaching hooks. Try not to store equipment on the floor, as it’s too tempting to pile items on top of anything kept permanently there. 8. The best storage: Racking, peg boards or
Interiors
33
slatwalls panels with hooks are worth the investment if you can. My favourite are slatwalls (available at online DIY sites) because you can move, adjust and add hooks or shelves, when what you store changes over time. Hanging old kitchen cabinets are a good low-cost storage solution too. 9. Divide and label: the key to staying organised is keeping the same items together in containers. Even on shelves, divide up what you are storing. Use clear boxes where you can and label them, it will make it easy to see what you have. A simple sharpie pen works well to write categories on the side of any boxes e.g. Car Cleaning. 10. Nuts and bolts: Just because something came in a pack of 100 doesn’t mean you need to keep all of them, especially if you’ve only used 5 of them in the last 10 years. Review what you have and decide what you need to keep. Invest in a carry case with transparent compartments, so you know what you have, when you need it. Sort out any random pots of nails or screws into your storage case, otherwise these rarely get used. And finally… Allow yourself enough time: There is real value to tackling your shed or garage in one go, as they are often so full of our belongings. This will make it easier to carefully plan how to organise it, so you maximize your available storage space. Ask for help from friends or family for larger projects. See my online Donation Directory for a full list of where to re-home garage and shed items you no longer want. Imogen Murphy is a Professional Home Organiser based in Tunbridge Wells. With her Declutter and Organising Service she creates calm, organised and inviting homes for her clients. Visit her website at: thelittleorganisingcompany.com
PLOT OR NOT?
If you think your land or property has development potential. Why not give us a call without obligation and in confidence.
We are always on the lookout for land and property with development potential.
Commercial buildings for residential conversion, former public houses, redundant buildings for redevelopment, buildings for conversion or replacement, houses for improvement, large sites on the edge of town, barn conversions, large gardens in residential areas and major regeneration projects.
For more information contact Stephen Donnelly on: 07739 514350 01892 579937
sjd-projects.com steve@sjd-projects.com
Many of our clients retain our services and, in the majority of cases, pay our fees saving property owners significant costs.
Property
Wednesday June 1 | 2022
property news
Amount of rental homes has gone through the roof over last ten years
Let’s get together at
The Finance Hub
THERE are 1.1 million more rental homes in the UK market than a decade ago, new research has found, putting the country in the top ten in the world for the amount of for rent properties compared to owned homes. Rental platform, Ocasa, analysed current dwellings stock to find what proportion of the UK property market is accounted for by the rental sector, comparing this to other global nations, as well as looking at how this balance has shifted in the last 10 years.
Dwellings The analysis shows that a decade ago, there were just shy of 27.5m total dwellings across the UK property market. With almost 9.4m rental properties, the UK rental market accounted for 34.2 per cent of all dwellings. Fast forward a decade and this proportion has shifted, with even more of us reliant on the rental sector in order to put a roof over our heads. The latest figures show that there are now over 29.5m dwellings across the UK market, a 7.5 per cent increase versus 10 years ago. However, the number of rental properties now stands at over 10.5m, meaning that this area of the market has not only seen a larger rate of growth at 12.2 per cent, but it now accounts for 35.7 per cent of total UK dwellings. While a 1.5 per cent increase in market share may not sound that significant, it means that there are now over 1.1 million more rental properties across the UK than there were a decade ago. But how does this market balance compare to other global nations? Well this 35.7 per cent rental market share places the UK at number 10 in the list when it comes to the nations
“With almost 9.4m rental properties, the UK rental market accounted for 34.2 per cent of all dwellings” with the largest reliance on their respective rental markets. Switzerland sits top where the rental sector accounts for 57.7 per cent of the overall property market, with Hong Kong (50.2 per cent) and Germany (49.6 per cent) also ranking high. Other nations to rank ahead of the UK include Austria, South Korea, Denmark, Japan and France. Head of Sales and Marketing at Ocasa, Jack Godby, said: “Not only has the high cost of homeownership forced many to remain within the rental sector until far later in life, but we’re starting to see a generational change whereby the freedom and convenience that renting provides is becoming the preferable method of living for many. “You need only look at the changing face of the property market for proof of this shift, with the rental sector increasing at a greater rate when compared to other dwelling types over the last decade.
Want to grow your business, mingle with likeminded people or understand your finances better? Join us for industry-leading events from the finance experts, or enjoy a glass of fizz while networking on The Pantiles. Bringing Tunbridge Wells’ business community together. Let’s talk!
Foreign exchange and meeting your currency needs 5pm-7pm, Thursday 9th June Find out how to manage foreign exchange in your business and personal life cost effectively with Currency UK
Gorringe’s Fine Sale preview evening 5pm-7pm, Thursday 23rd June An exclusive evening of fine art, antiques and the secret behind valuations
The property night 5:30pm-7pm, Thursday 14th July All you need to know for success with property investment – back by popular demand!
Delivery “We’ve also seen a clear acceptance of this trend from the industry itself, with the emergence of the build-to-rent sector focussing solely on the delivery of better rental homes for tenants to occupy on a far longer-term basis. “This is a change that is only going to grow more prominent in the future and we expect renting to become the norm for many more people until far later in life than we’ve traditionally seen in the UK.”
Scan the QR code for more information about our events
35
36
Antiques
Wednesday June 1 | 2022
Why potters are now such hot property
antiques
Auctioneer Joseph Trinder on the meteoric rise of contemporary ceramic pieces Joseph Trinder
which display so well collectively. Sometimes, a genuine appreciation of an artist’s work provides an unassuming opportunity for investment. Our June 28th fine sale features four wonderful examples of de Waal’s domestic pieces which were acquired by our vendors during the artist’s Chelsea exhibitions early in his career. Following such swell of interest in his work, the group pictured ranges in estimate from £1,500 - £2,000 for the smaller pieces here to £8,000 - £12,000 for the largest example shown – illustrating just how appreciation for his work has grown in the last couple of decades.
ALL IN THE DETAIL
Desirability
T
HE MARKET for studio ceramics has seen a rather meteoric rise over recent years – certainly in the 15 or so years of my career to date. I have watched as names such as Lucie Rie and Hans Coper have rocketed in value as determined communities of collectors the world over drive prices ever higher in pursuit of works by these wonderfully skilled potters and artists. In a wider market where you may traditionally expect to see the highest results and appreciation of value for works by historic figures within the art world, often by craftsmen and women long dead – there are examples of modern and contemporary work which have quickly matured in the auction market, garnering excellent results within the artist’s lifetime due to their sheer appeal of beauty and
quality. One such name in today’s market is Edmund de Waal CBE – the contemporary artist, master potter and author is certainly something of an artistic polymath of renown, having penned ‘The Hare With The Amber Eyes: A Hidden Inheritance’ telling the fascinating tale of his family, the Ephrussi – a European banking dynasty with a remarkable history.
Prominence His career in ceramics has origins in his very early life and education and came to prominence within the wider artistic community in the early 1990’s – with his unmistakable works based on classical
"Over recent years I have watched as talented names such as Lucie Rie and Hans Coper have seen their work rocket in value" forms and structure, often toned in a subtle celadon glaze which reflects influence from his studies in Asia as a young man, personalised with the individualistic pinches and touches of texture and variations of glazed finishes which provide a subtle variety in his pieces for collectors to pursue in building bodies of his work
HOUSE CALLS
Another name mentioned above, Lucie Rie (1902 – 1995) is a prime example of an artist who’s work has leapt to the forefront of desirability in recent years - with her large flared studio ware bowls now fetching prices often in excess of £40,000 at auction. Our June 28th sale features more domestic examples of her work, to include couplings of cups and side plates which we have estimated at £400 - £600 per pair. A prime example also of where the knowledge of specialists is essential, as these beautiful but modestly decorated pieces could so easily have been overlooked in a house contents if not appraised by a professional valuer. If you have pieces of porcelain and would like to discuss them with me I would love to hear from you. You can contact me directly via josepht@gorringes.co.uk or by calling 07789 979396.
Alexander Pushkin
FOR JUNE IN YOUR AREA There is no obligation to sell, so call Clive Today to arrange a home visit at no charge and at your convenience. He will advise you personally on your items and absolute discretion is guaranteed.
Clive Attrell is back and available throughout Kent & East Sussex for home antiques valuations (Appointment Only)
Call Clive on 07860 942726
SOCIAL DISTANCING FOR SAFETY
GOLD • SILVER • WATCHES REMEMBER CLIVE IS ALWAYS READY TO MAKE YOU A GENUINE NO OBLIGATION OFFER
During appointments hand sanitiser & masks will be used on arrival. Social distancing will also be observed where possible at all times.
TOP PRICES PAID FOR
• GOLD (in any condition) • SILVER (in any condition) • WATCHES (working or not) • COSTUME JEWELLERY • DIAMONDS • SOVEREIGNS • KRUGERRANDS
• COINS • TOYS • GAMES • POSTCARDS • CHINESE CERAMICS • FIGURINES • OBJECTS OF INTEREST
• MEDALS • SWORDS • MILITARIA • CLOCKS • PAINTINGS • BRONZES • PRINTS / BOOKS
K O O B NOW
Clive Attrell is Kent County Council Trading Standards Approved: Reg No 15618
Antiques
Wednesday June 1 | 2022
37
Royal memorabilia fit for a King - or Queen
Germaine Knowles from the Hoard explores the history of regal commemorative artefacts...
I
t’s almost upon us – the Platinum Jubilee – the oft-trumpeted and much anticipated celebration of Her Majesty the Queen’s accession to the throne in 1952, about which much ado is quite rightly being made. Wonderful occasion though it may be, it is not of singular significance. We are – as a nation – well practised in the celebration of Royal occasions, be they engagements, marriages, births, coronations or sundry other rights of passage. All prompt the enthusiastic assembly of trestle tables, the festoonment of everything that doesn’t move away swiftly enough with bunting, and the brewing of tea on an industrial scale. The sector of industry – other than the media – being most willingly prompted to also shift in to overdrive is that concerned with the
manufacture of souvenir goods and merchandise.
Celebratory The production of such wares gathered pace after the restoration of the monarchy in the second half of the 17th century – in the wake of the English Civil War. It was the coronation of Charles II (1661) and his wedding to Katherine of Braganza the following year which led directly to the commissioning of commemorative plates and ‘souvenir’ glasses, albeit as part of very limited editions intended for presentation to the King himself, rather than for distribution to all and sundry – such finery was never intended for the general populace. However, the die had been cast, and as
Significant pieces from past royal events industrialisation developed and (relative) mass-production became more viable, the subsequent feats of 18th century monarchs were celebrated by the fabrication of wares intended for more general consumption. Transfer-printed porcelain marked the coronation of George III in 1760, and many of the ‘big names’ in British pottery exploited later events to the full; the Doulton manufactory – for instance – is purported to have been granted the epithet ‘Royal Doulton’ by way of a warrant awarded on the back of the production of Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee mugs ! Glass-makers took a little longer to clamber aboard the bandwagon. with the facility to mass-produce engraved tankards and goblets not really becoming financially viable until the Edwardian era, although there were still some very fine examples which were hand-finished - in far more limited numbers - during the reign of our current monarch’s great-great-grandmother.
Manufacturers in other sectors – unsurprisingly – also looked to grab their slice of the celebratory Victoria sponge – notably toy producers such as John Hill & Co, Lesney (Matchbox) and Britain’s – all of whom made models of the coronation coach used seventy years ago, and which are now eminently collectable. Fortunately, down at the Pantiles Arcade, we have been able to assemble such a diverse collection of artefacts that we can offer pieces from all of these categories – glassware, porcelain and – with immediate effect from this coming weekend – the toys and models as mentioned above. These latter pieces are being made available courtesy of the propitious arrival of our most recent recruit – Mr Pete Redman of Hope And Glory Vintage Collectables. Pete will be situated front of house from Saturday June 4. He'll will have a number of appropriately regal pieces available when he opens his doors.
Pete Redman
JOIN OUR WINNING TEAM Based near the historic Pantiles in Tunbridge Wells, Steak restaurant has become a firm favourite with foodies since its opening in August last year. Due to continued popularity we are currently looking to add to our successful kitchen team with Chefs at all levels. We offer highly competitive salary levels, great staff perks, free gym membership, joining bonus and the chance to be part of a highly ambitious, independently run local hospitality group. So if you’re looking to take your chef career to the next level, be well rewarded for hard work and creativity whilst being given the opportunity to progress, please drop us a line. Please contact us at marketing@onewarwickpark.co.uk Rated 4.5/5 on Trip advisor Recent reviews: “Fantastic all round” “Hidden gem, great food” “Amazing experience” “Excellent Tunbridge Wells restaurant”
38
Motoring
Wednesday June 1 | 2022
Motoring News
This week… New BMW 3 series
n
Vintage Mercedez-Benz n New Renault Scenic n
BMW unveils its two new Touring vehicles BMW has given its 3 Series and 3 Series Touring models a revised exterior design and more standard equipment as part of a mid-life refresh. The design of the 3 Series has been sharpened up in the update, bringing slimmer headlights – which have LED technology as standard – alongside a redesigned front kidney grille. The lights also feature an ‘inverted L’ shape daytime running light, to give the 3 Series a more distinctive appearance.
Distinctive The rear of the car has been updated thanks to a new apron design, too, while all cars now benefit from standard black gloss finishing trim pieces and 17-inch alloy wheels. The M Sport package available with the 3 Series has also been upgraded, bringing a honeycomb pattern for the grille and 18-inch alloy wheels. Trapezoidal exhaust pipes come as part of the M Sport pack, too. There has been a big change in the cabin, too. All cars now get BMW’s Curved Display – which has also seen use in cars like the iX and i4 – which combines a 12.3-inch display behind the wheel with a 14.9-inch infotainment unit to appear like one continuous screen.
NEW MODELS BMW Series 3 & Series 3Touring
It uses BMW’s latest Operating System 8, too. By using this widescreen setup, BMW has removed many of the physical buttons from the cabin, with the driver able to access a variety of functions through touch and voice control instead.
All cars now get three-zone climate control as standard, as well as an automatically dimming rear-view mirror, an extended storage pack and front and rear parking sensors. A wide variety of engines remain available for the 3 Series, going from the 2.0-litre powered
320i with 182bhp, right the way up to the powerful M340i that brings 369bhp and the option of four-wheel-drive. All cars get an eightspeed automatic gearbox as standard, too. The new BMW 3 Series is available to order now, with prices starting from £36,670.
Renault Scenic has been reborn as a 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR Coupe sells for record £114.5m hydrogen-electric hybrid concept car THE RENAULT Scenic has been revived as a hydrogen-electric concept car, previewing an electric SUV that’s due in 2024. The exterior of this show car is said to give a good idea of what to expect when the new model goes on sale, but everything else is designed to show off Renault’s vision for sustainable motoring in the future.
Responsible
A GOOD VINTAGE The 1955 Mercedes-Benz SLR Coupe
A 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR Coupe has set a new record for the purchase of a car, with all proceeds going to charity. The winning bid of €135 million (£114.5m) smashed the previous record, which is believed to stand at $78m (£62.5m) for a 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO, set in 2018. The Mercedes-Benz was bought by car dealer and expert Simon Kidston on behalf of an unnamed client at a secret, invite-only event hosted by the German car maker.
Record Said to be the ‘Mona Lisa of car racing’ because of its rarity, the 300 SLR Coupe is one of just two models, with both having been retained by Mercedes from new. It uses a 302bhp 3.0-litre straight-eightcylinder engine and is based on the open-top model that dominated the 1955 World Sportscar Championship. This version was adapted with a closed
cockpit for endurance competition. Although neither of the Coupe models were raced, they were used in practise sessions. In testing, it was found to go from 0-60mph in 6.9 seconds and have a top speed of 176mph. Writing in Autocar magazine in January 1957, motoring journalist Gordon Wilkins said: “To have driven it has eclipsed all previous experiences in 20 years of test driving on the world’s finest cars, and I do not expect to find its match for a long time to come.” Commenting on the record transaction, Kidston said: “If you had asked classic car experts and top collectors over the past half a century to name the most desirable car in the world, there’s a good chance that they would have come up with the same model: the Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR. “It’s a combination of exotic engineering, all-conquering racing history, the power of the three-pointed star on its nose and the fact that one had never, ever been sold. Many collectors had tried, all had failed.”
For example, while the production Scenic will run purely on electric power, this Scenic Vision concept has a unique hydrogen-electric hybrid powertrain. It uses a 211bhp electric motor that has been derived from the one used in the Megane E-Tech Electric. It uses no rare-earth elements, reducing its carbon footprint, while the 40kWh battery is recyclable and said to be lighter, smaller and costs less than an equivalent EV’s battery. On top of this is a 20bhp hydrogen fuel cell, which can recharge the battery during long drives and extend the car’s range – a full tank and a full battery should offer almost 500 miles of driving,
with the tank able to be filled in five minutes. Although currently just a concept, Renault says the Scenic Vision’s platform is currently in the prototyping phase, hinting that a purpose-built hydrogen vehicle could come from the French firm in the future. Recent studies have shown that the larger an EV’s battery is, the worse its carbon footprint is. Therefore, the advantage of the hydrogen-electric system is that the Scenic Vision can have a smaller battery and be driven on electric-only for shorter trips, then use the hydrogen for longer trips. The only emission from fuel cell vehicles is water, but the major downside currently is that the refuelling infrastructure is poor. Renault Group is targeting carbon neutrality through its European operations by 2040, and worldwide by 2050. Part of achieving this is looking at how materials are sourced and what happens at the end of a vehicle’s life. The Scenic Vision is made up of 70 per cent renewable and recycled materials, with 95 per cent said to be recyclable. The interior is made ‘responsibly’, in order to be recycled.
REVOLUTIONARY The new Scenic is due in 2024
RESTORING THE WORLD’S MOST ICONIC CARS
WWW.H-ENGINEERING.COM H Engineering Ltd, Little Cacketts Farm, Haymans Hill, Horsmonden, Kent, TN12 8BX info@h-engineering.com | 01892 549042
SHOPPING EXTRAVAGANZA
the perfect day out
FASHION
INTERIORS
GARDENS
JEWELLERY
Tickets available on the door. Pre-book at
wealdentimes-fair.co.uk
Wealden Times Any questions? Call the team on 07763 848018
Midsummer Fair 9th - 11th June 2022 Hole Park, Rolvenden TN17 4JB wealdentimes-fair.co.uk