Times of Tunbridge Wells 22nd September 2021

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Wednesday September 22 | 2021

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Volunteers praised for work during pandemic at Big Thank You Picnic

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IT Support Cloud Solutions Hosted Desktop Data Back-Up and File Sharing Cyber Security PARK PARTY People enjoying the sunshine at the picnic in Calverley Grounds

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HUNDREDS of charity volunteers and supporters enjoyed the sun, music and some al fresco food at the weekend as part of a Big Thank You Picnic organised

by Tunbridge Wells Borough Council.

The Calverley Grounds get together on Saturday [September 18], was arranged to thank those who have worked for charities and other organisations for their service during the pandemic.

The picnic was arranged with funding from Kent County Council’s Reconnect Communities Fund and Royal Tunbridge

Wells Together Business Improvement District [BID].

It was organised so that the Council could acknowledge and celebrate the

‘I was so touched that the Council did this to thank the volunteers’ work of the many volunteers in the borough who have made a such a difference to people, particularly over the past 18 months.

Members of a number of the charitable organisations gave talks at the event that saw around 35 local charities and organisations give praise to their teams of volunteers.

More than a hundred volunteers and supporters attended the event that also saw performances from local groups including Trinity Youth Theatre, the inclusive dance company This Is Us, Paddock Wood Community Choir, and the Royal Tunbridge Wells Symphony Orchestra who also took part.

Full story page 4

Cricket club become English champions after 240 years

By Robert Forrester TUNBRIDGE WELLS Cricket Club [TWCC] has won the ECB National Club T20 final, making them champions of England.

It is TWCC’s greatest national achievement in the history of the club since it

was founded in the town in 1782.

The Kent Cricket League Premier Division team beat Barnard Castle from the Darlington Building Society NYSD ECB Premier League by five-wickets on Saturday [September 18].

The club, which plays its

home games at the Nevill Ground in Tunbridge Wells, achieved their historic victory at Wantage Road, home of Northamptonshire County Cricket.

The game was won after Barnard Castle finished their innings on 125-5 from their allocated 20 overs.

While Tunbridge Wells lost opening and league topping batsman Viraj Bhatia early on for just five runs, along with skipper Christopher Williams who was out for a duck, they soon begin scoring.

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this week…

BEAR B&B: Winnie the Pooh gets his own stylish pad on Airbnb, located in Ashdown Forest, in order to celebrate Disney’s 95th anniversary. P6

DEALING OUT THE AWARDS: Law firm Cripps Pemberton Greenish celebrate winning a coveted business award after completing a record 11 deals in 11 days. P9 PUPILS GO FOR GOLD: Children at Marlborough House School win the top award in an ecological competition helping to educate about the environment. P14

FOR EVEN MORE NEWS VISIT: timeslocalnews.co.uk

Call to cut the garden waste fees after collections halted

By Richard Williams

THE Council is being asked to slash fees for the collection of garden waste following the suspension of the service due to staff shortages at contractor Urbaser.

Garden waste collections, which cost subscribers £52 a year, were suspended at the end of July, with both Tunbridge Wells Borough Council and Tonbridge & Malling Borough Council blaming the national HGV shortage for the move.

There has been no announcement on when the service is expected to resume, although subscribers have been told that the service will be extended into December when the service is finally resumed to ensure customers get what they pay for.

Abandoning Cllr David Hayward of the Alliance said the extension of the service into the winter months had been ‘met with ridicule from residents’ and is calling on the Cabinet to offer a discounted price of £32 next year to prevent subscribers from abandoning the service.

He is attempting to raise a motion at the next Full Council meeting on October 6 to request the

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RUBBISH COLLECTION Garden waste hasn’t been collected since July

fee is reduced, although the Times understands the motion has been blocked by the mayor.

He said: “The old banking adage of lending an umbrella in the summer springs to mind.

“The seeking of refunds would involve masses of officer time and hence administrative cost, just when the administration of the waste contract is given as the reason why officers couldn’t spend more time researching alternatives for the Leisure Centre contract.

“To offer a discounted price for next year of £32 for those that don’t seek a refund and hence

cancel seems like fair recompense. Remember, the ‘Early Bird’ discounted price at the start of the scheme was £42.”

Cllr Matt Bailey, the Council’s head of Sustainability, said the Council was ‘working closely with the contractor to ensure the service is restarted as soon as possible’.

He added: “In the meantime, we are crediting subscribers for missed collections and adding this to the end of their subscriptions. So our customers will get the collections they’ve paid for.”

Recruitment agencies busy with record vacancies to fill as unemployment falls

By Robert Forrester UNEMPLOYMENT has fallen for the sixth month in a row as the ongoing recruitment crisis in a number of sectors has led to record numbers of job vacancies, official figures show.

The number of people claiming jobless benefits in Tunbridge Wells fell to 2,460 in August, down from 2,500 last month, according to data from the Office for National Statistics [ONS].

It is the sixth month in a row that unemployment figures

A NOTEWORTHY DIARY DATE: Music maestro Thomas Kemp reveals the line-up for this year’s Music@ Malling series of classical concerts. P28

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Wednesday September 22 | 2021

have fallen since a peak of 3,265 in February following the lockdown earlier this year.

Unemployment in the borough is still double seen before the pandemic began, when just 1,130 of the borough’s 59,000 strong workforce was claiming some form of unemployment benefit.

Furlough The decline in the jobless figures has been put down to record numbers of vacancies caused by staff shortages.

The ONS say vacancy numbers soared by 249,000 to more than one million for the first time since records began by the end of August.

In Tunbridge Wells and the surrounding area, employment agencies say they have never been busier.

However, the latest figures in, which only go up to mid-July, show there were 18,500 jobs on furlough in Tunbridge Wells, although the ONS figures include both full and part time workers, as well as those on ‘flexi-furlough’.

Cricket club crowned champions of England VICTORY TWCC and some of their supporters [picture TWCC]

From front page Alexander Williams hit 53 not out from 44 balls while Matthew Barker hit 35 not out from 18 balls before smashing a six and two fours off the first three balls of the 19th over, to win the game with a final Tunbridge Wells score of 128-5.

Proud Tweeting the morning after the victory, Head coach at Kent County Cricket, Matt Walker, said: “Yesterday was a truly special day.

Immensely proud of the players, thrilled for everyone at Kent Cricket and so happy for all our amazing fans both at the ground or watching at home!”

Wednesday September 22 | 2021

NEWS IN BRIEF

Men wanted for racist attack in McDonald’s

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Airlift for motorcyclist A BIKER had to be airlifted to hospital following a crash in Tunbridge Wells at the weekend that caused traffic in the town centre to grind to a halt.

The injured man, whose injuries are not thought to be life threatening, was believed to have been involved with a collision with a car on Church Road on Saturday morning.

A spokesman for Kent Police said: “Kent Police was called at around 10.18am on 18 September 2021 to reports of a collision between a car and a motorcycle on Church Road, Tunbridge Wells.

“The motorcycle rider was taken to hospital with leg injuries.”

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Pop giant vows to leave town in a dispute over housing plans

By Robert Forrester

TWO men are being sought by police after a man was racially abused and assaulted at a McDonalds in Tunbridge Wells.

Officers say the victim, aged in his 30s, was approached by a man in the Fountains Retail Park restaurant who began making racially abusive comments towards him.

A second man is said to have then entered the restaurant and punched the victim in the face, knocking him unconscious, and leaving him requiring hospital treatment for facial injuries.

The unprovoked incident happened between 11pm and 11.30pm, on Friday 10 September 2021 and police are appealing for witnesses.

The force has now issued CCTV images of two men they wish to speak with. Anyone who has information or which may assist the investigation is asked to call Kent Police on 01622 604100.

Local News

A BRIT award winning pop star has become embroiled in a row about a proposed housing development behind his home in East Sussex.

The Rag n Bone man has blasted developers Whitehall Homes after they submitted plans to Wealden District Council to build 34 homes on land behind the singer’s Heathfield house.

Grassroots The pop star, real name Rory Graham, has been a resident of the East Sussex town for a number of years and is often seen in the local pubs in the area.

The singer, whose hits include Human, All You Ever Wanted, and the aptly titled Anywhere Away From Here, was last month featured in the

‘I don’t want to leave the area but if the planning goes ahead, I’ll have to move’ Times after performing at The Forum in Tunbridge Wells as part of a campaign to raise awareness of the plight of grassroots music following the pandemic.

Now he has joined a local Facebook group and posted his

objections to the proposed housing development and threatened to leave the area if the plan is approved.

He also posted a link the planning application at Wealden District Council’s website so other residents could object.

He said: “Whitehall Homes Ltd want to build 34 houses on the land behind us. They’ve spent the last year using bully tactics to try and acquire my property. Cutting down 50 plus trees and destroying wildlife.

“I don’t want to leave the area but if the planning goes ahead, I’ll have to move.

“Imagine what that many houses will do to the already growing traffic problems coming out of town.”

ANYWHERE AWAY FROM HERE: Rag n Bone man pictured with his trophy for selling out The Forum last month is in conflict with a local developer

Legal loophole that allows pavement parking may end

Old boys meeting date THE King Charles School Old Boys Association is meeting for a delayed 40th anniversary on the site of their old classroom at One Warwick Park.

The group, who are former members of the school which closed in 1960, are regular sponsors of events such as the Love Where We Live Awards but had to cancel last year’s get together due to the pandemic.

The Old Boys are meeting at the hotel on Saturday [September 25] for lunch.

Chair, Tony Whitehorm said: “There are not many of us left. I think there will be no more than 18 old boys attending so it is a small gathering.”

Zero road death pledge KENT County Council [KCC] is attempting to eliminate all deaths on the county’s roads by 2050.

KCC unveiled its ‘Vision Zero’ plan at an event at Manston Airfield last Wednesday [September 15], attended by Prince Michael of Kent and KCC leader, Roger Gough.

Also in attendance were the council’s Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport, David Brazier, and Kent’s Police and Crime Commissioner, Matthew Scott.

Vision Zero outlines how responsibility for the safety of our roads will be shared by everyone from policy makers to engineers and from vehicle manufacturers to the media.

SPACE A car taking up most of the pavement in Tunbridge Wells [picture Gavin Rimmer]

‘SELFISH’ A car parked with all four wheels on the pavement [Picture by John Elliot]

By Richard Williams SELFISH motorists parking vehicles on pavements cannot be fined due to it not being against the law, the Council has admitted, but the law may soon be set to change.

Times readers have reported numerous incidents of cars being parked on pavements by inconsiderate drivers around Tunbridge Wells, blocking pavements to wheelchairs, pushchairs and pedestrians.

Various pictures have emerged of drivers not just parking with two wheels on the pavement but the entire vehicle.

Currently, the Borough Council, which carries out parking enforcement, say their hands are tied on the matter as it is not against the law.

Cllr Alan McDermott, the Cabinet member for Planning and Transportation said: “Kent County Council as highways authority is responsible for implementing new restrictions to tackle dangerous and inconsiderate parking in the Borough, Tunbridge Wells Borough Council carries out parking enforcement on their behalf. ”Unlike in central London where pavement

parking is banned, generally nationally pavement parking enforcement has not been adopted countrywide, though this may change following a recent Government consultation at the end of 2020.

“There are exceptions to this where street by street restrictions have been put in place, to tackle a particular persistent problem for example where delicate pavements and verges get

‘It can be inconsiderate and unsafe when motorists park on the pavements and can inconvenience pedestrians and wheelchair users’ damaged, or where it is actually permitted, for example where narrow road widths and high demand for resident parking warrants it.

“Even if restrictions are not in place, it can be inconsiderate and unsafe when motorists park on the pavements; it may inconvenience pedestrians, pushchair and wheelchair users,

and can force people into the road which can be very dangerous; and it can result in damaged pavements and verges.”

Kent County Council says that unless there are double yellow lines or parking bays in place, a car cannot be ticketed for parking on the pavement or grass verge, but errant parking can be reported to Kent Police by calling 101.

Clampdown However, The Department for Transport (DfT) is set to decide on whether to extend the pavement parking ban outside of London and to make it easier for Councils to clampdown on the practice.

The DfT first launched a proposal into the new rules last September and set out several options to make it easier for councils to ban pavement parking.

They are set to either extend the London-style ban nationwide, make it simpler for councils to prohibit pavement parking, or give councils the powers to fine offenders.

The public consultation period ended last year and an outcome is expected imminently.

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Wednesday September 22 | 2021

Picnic in the park to say a big thank you

By Richard Williams THE weekend’s picnic to thank all the volunteers for their service in Tunbridge Wells during the pandemic saw nearly all the town’s good causes and charities turn out.

Among those being thanked for their service were volunteers for DAVVS – the domestic violence support service, The Pickering Cancer Drop in Centre, Nourish Community Foodbank, the local Citizens Advice Bureau and dozens more.

Volunteers, ranging from those that work full time, part time or just

a few hours a week were praised by the Mayor of Tunbridge Wells, Councillor Chris Woodward.

He said: “It was great to be able to meet and talk with representatives

‘It was a great chance to thank our volunteers and the people put themselves on the line during Covid’ of the many charitable organisations, and their volunteers, who do so much to support families

THUMBS UP: Volunteers from the Pickering Cancer Drop In Centre at the picnic [all pictures Stephen Ambrose @steambrose]

MAYOR: Cllr Woodward, the Mayoress [right] and Joanne Holmes, Deputy to the Lord Lieutenant of Kent, who opened the picnic celebrations on Saturday

MINDFUL Volunteers and supporters from West Kent Mind and individuals in our Borough.

“Their efforts contribute enormously to our welfare, and we would not be the place where we love to live, without them. It amazes me that so many people are prepared to share their talents and time, and resources, to helping others.

Wonderful Polly Taylor, who runs the Pickering Cancer Drop-In Centre in Tunbridge Wells said: “It was fantastic. The sun was out and everyone enjoyed it.

“I was so touched that the Council did this to thank the volunteers. It was wonderful.

“It was a great chance to thank our volunteers and the people who not put themselves out for us but did so during Covid and put themselves on the line.”

HUNGER HEROES Some of the team from Nourish Community Foodbank and [right] the Rotary Club

Cab for Jabs campaign gives free rides with vaccine rollout ONE of the community groups at the Big Thank You Picnic, the Community Car Service [CSS] has joined forces with a group of local councillors to restart an initiative to help with the booster vaccine rollout.

Last year, The Cabs for Jabs campaign began raising money to ensure vulnerable and elderly people could get to their vaccination appointments.

The brainchild of local Conservative councillors Matthew Bailey, Lance Goodship and Victoria White, Cabs for Jabs raised enough money to pay the fares for around 400 elderly and disabled residents who do not have their own transport.

Cabs for Jabs now want to extend the scheme to help with the booster rollout.

Last week the government announced that third doses of the Covid vaccine will be rolled out alongside annual flu jabs.

The decision will see more than 16,000 over 70s be offered the booster, along with nearly 21,000 over 50s.

Working with CCS, which was set up in the town in 1992 and normally charges a small fee to cover

petrol costs, the Cabs for Jabs campaign ensured the trips were fully paid for.

“We operated throughout the pandemic and helped people get to their hospital appointments, and when the vaccine programme was announced we began driving people to those,” said Lorraine Ash from Community Car Service.

“In total we took 942 people to their vaccine appointments, but we did have to charge at the beginning, but then when Cabs for Charges we were able to take people for free.

Nervous “It has really helped. We are here because not everybody can use public transport and it was very good saying to people go get a vaccine, but a lot of people were very nervous about going out.”

Cllr Matt Bailey told the Times: “We raised a total of around £3,600, including donations from the public and a £250 donation from the local Rotary Club.

“Cllr James McInroy from Kent County Council [Cons. Tunbridge Wells West] also donated £1,670 matching the donations from the public from his

CASH FOR CABS: Cllr Matt Bailey presenting funds to Lorraine Ash from the Community Car Service Covid-19 Local Recovery Fund allocation.”

Cllr Bailey says the group’s fundraising website

is still active and they hope to help even more elderly and vulnerable people get to the booster and flu shot appointments.

“The pandemic has been terrible and sadly some residents in our borough have lost their lives as a result. But it also brought out the best in people, with many volunteering to help directly or donating to worthy causes,” he said. “This has been a great example of the community coming together to help vulnerable residents.”

Cllr Lance Goodship added: “We’re delighted that we’ve been able to raise the funds to pay for nearly 400 Covid vaccination trips so far.

“We would like to thank all those who donated and also the volunteer drivers at CCS who provided the transport.They did so at a time when there was still fear about the virus but the drivers were willing to put their own health at risk to help others. This shows an extraordinary level of commitment on their part.”

People can donate to the Cabs for Jabs fundraiser at gofund.me/47b3fb86 Drivers with their own car who are interested in volunteering with CSS can call 01892 540131.

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Crunch time for community centre as it’s put to the vote

PLANS How the community centre on Memorial Field might look

By Richard Williams THE fate of a £3million community centre earmarked for a field in Paddock Wood is set to be decided today [Wednesday].

The multi-use hall that is to include a 40-place nursery, hall, car parking and landscaping is planned for a corner of Memorial Field in the town.

A group of campaigners have spent the last three years fighting their Town Council over the community centre project.

Wednesday September 22 | 2021

dependable evidence – that there is no impediment to the future sporting use of this very important and valuable facility.”

Sport England has also objected to the community centre plans as it says PWTC has ‘has not demonstrated that the part of the playing field to be lost – 11 per cent of the total – is surplus to requirements’ and the ‘area affected is capable of being used as playing pitches’.

Because the statuary sporting body has objected to the application, even if planners give the community project the green light today, the application will have to be forwarded to the new Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, Michael Gove, for a final say.

Jeremy Thompson, Chair of the Friends of Memorial Field told the Times that the group will be lobbying members of the committee before today’s hearing.

He added: “I expect it will get approved, but the fact that Sport England have objected and that the local MP is commenting adversely must tell you that there is something wrong with that site.”

Completion

The Friends of Memorial Field claim the building will deprive the area of green space that is used by sports teams and have been battling Paddock Wood Town Council [PWTC] over the location of the facility since 2018.

Over the years the campaigners have raised petitions, held and won a ‘non-binding’ local referendum, and applied to Kent County Council to designate the field a Village Green, a request that the authority refused.

Greg Clark MP has also voiced his concerns about the building of the facility in Memorial Field.

Last month, the Tunbridge Wells MP wrote to Tunbridge Wells Borough Council’s head of planning Steve Baughen.

He said: “The Memorial Field in Paddock Wood is home to cricket, football and tennis. It is an important recreational space in the town and Covid pandemic has highlighted even more how beneficial sport and outdoor recreation is to our health and well-being.”

He continued: “It is my view the planning application should only proceed if the Committee is satisfied – on the basis of

The Town Council has said Paddock Wood, which is set to nearly double in size over the next 15 years after being earmarked for thousands of homes in the Borough’s local plan, was ‘desperate’ for the centre and that it can’t be placed elsewhere.

It has also spent more than £250,000 on the planning the project and says if the plan is rejected, more than £1million of Section 106 money – paid by nearby housing developers to build the community centre – would be lost.

The planning committee at TWBC meets at 5pm today [Wednesday, September 22] to decide on the application for the community centre.

Planners are recommending to the committee they grant planning permission subject to any objection by the Secretary of State. If it is approved, construction is set to begin in the autumn with a completion date in spring next year.

Winnie the Pooh ‘home’ now available on Airbnb

By Robert Forrester AN ONLINE listing has just gone up inviting people to stay in the home of one of fiction’s most loveable characters.

No, times aren’t hard for Winnie the Pooh forcing him to take in lodgers. Instead a recreation of his house has been built for property website Airbnb as part of Disney’s 95th Anniversary celebrations of the beloved character.

The ‘Bearbnb’ situated in Ashdown Forest, near to Crowborough, which inspired A.A. Milne’s

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original tales of Hundred Acre Wood, became available for overnight stays on the house letting website on Monday [September 20].

Up to four guests at a time can stay at the treehouse, which costs from £95 a night, giving Winnie the Pooh fans the opportunity to immerse themselves in the iconic world of the characters of Christopher Robin, Winnie the Pooh, Tigger, Piglet and Eeyore.

Disney-appointed Winnie the Pooh illustrator, Kim Raymond, helped design the Bearbnb after drawing the iconic bear for over 30 years.

He said: “I have been illustrating Winnie the

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TREEHOUSE The Bearbnb in Ashdown Forest Pooh for 30 years and I continue to be inspired by the classic decorations of E.H. Shepard and the more recent Disney stories.

“The ‘Bearbnb’ is a unique experience that brings the charm of Pooh to life for fans, whilst honouring the original adventures that have been so important to many people for 95 years.”

Poohsticks Alongside the charming references to the original Pooh tales, the house is fully kitted out, including a double bed on the ground floor, and a mezzanine area with two comfortable single beds.

The lounge space comes fully equipped with a dining area, and during each stay, guests can take a walk through the original Hundred Acre Wood or play Poohsticks on the iconic Poohsticks Bridge.

Catherine Powell, Airbnb Global Head of Hosting said: “For over 95 years, Winnie the Pooh has inspired generations with his memorable words, experiences and adventures.

“These timeless tales explore life’s simple pleasures and in that spirit we hope guests are able to sit back and relax in the ‘Bearbnb’, and ‘be more Pooh’ for the day.”

See more at www.airbnb.com/winniethepooh

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17/09/2021 12:07

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Wednesday September 22 | 2021

Half of employees are hiding health issues from their boss

By Robert Forrester ALMOST half of UK employees would not talk to their employer if they were experiencing a health issue, new research has discovered.

Benenden Health, which runs Benenden Hospital in Cranbrook, surveyed 2,007 employees and more than 500 employers and found 41 per cent of workers would not tell their boss they were ill due to the fear of it having a detrimental effect on their career and work relationships.

The not-for-profit health care company also found nearly a third of businesses (28 per cent) accepted that they would have concerns about offering support to those in need, with as many as a fifth (19 per cent) revealing that they had regretted hiring someone with health issues.

Support More than a third of employees (36 per cent) also disclosed that they have lied to an employer about taking time off for an appointment, with almost half (44 per cent) of 16-to-24-year-olds doing so, making it difficult for businesses to ensure workers are getting the appropriate support.

A third of workers surveyed said they reason they would hide health issues is that they would worry people would think they couldn’t do their job (29 per cent), and more than a quarter (27 per cent) believed they might lose their job.

With more than half of all UK employees (51 per cent) revealing that they have a health issue, long-term condition or disability, Benenden Health is warning that fear and stigma around

TV signal support following upgrades CHANGES to the mobile phone networks in Tunbridge Wells could lead to interference on TV sets, operators have said.

Upgrades to the cellular network, which includes installing new 5G transmitters by operators EE, O2 Three and Vodafone, could affect TVs that receive pictures from Freeview, BT, TalkTalk and YouView.

Cable and satellite TV, such as Sky or Virgin, shouldn’t be affected.

Symptoms could include intermittent sound, blocky images (pixelation) or loss of the signal completely.

Restore TV, an independent company set up by the major phone networks through the Digital Mobile Spectrum Limited (DMSL), is providing free support to ensure people can continue to enjoy free to view TV when mobile is upgraded in their area.

Signals

SECRET SICKNESS: Benenden Health says some employees are hiding illness health in the workplace means millions of workers may not be getting the necessary support from their employers.

This could lead to absences, lower productivity and employees ultimately leaving their job.

Naomi Thompson, Head of Organisational Development at Benenden Health, said: “It is disappointing that so many people still feel they can’t speak to their employers about their wellbeing and that a sizeable number of decision makers reinforce this with dated approaches to hiring people with long-term health issues.

“This stigma is especially prevalent in the workplace, with businesses too often unable to identify wellbeing issues, employees concerned

about the implications of discussing them and a continuing lack of tangible support, all of which contribute to lost time and productivity for businesses as well as unaddressed poor employee wellbeing.

“Healthcare support should be available to all employees not just senior staff – and despite some misconceptions, this can be implemented at an affordable cost.

“Tailored wellbeing programmes, developed with employee consultation and recognising the different needs of a multigenerational workforce, can increase productivity, support recruitment and promote a happier and healthier workforce.”

Ben Roome, CEO of Restore TV, said: “We know just how important TV is to inform, entertain and provide welcome company. Restore TV exists to ensure we all can continue to access free to view TV as mobile services are improved across the country.

“If you see new TV interference, we’re on hand to help you resolve the issue. We can send a Restore TV filter, free of charge, for you to fit between your aerial lead and TV or set-top box to remove mobile signals and allow you to watch free to view TV as normal. Full instructions are included, and we can provide further advice online and by phone if needed.

“In most instances, fitting the filter will resolve any issues, but if this isn’t the case, we may also be able to arrange a follow-up visit from a Restore TV engineer at no cost, depending on eligibility.”

Viewers concerned by their TV signal should contact Restore TV on freephone 809 13 800 or visit restoretv.uk

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New recruit underwrites Markerstudy’s success LOCAL insurance giant Markerstudy has hired a new head of Technical Underwriting.

Dr William James comes to the Kentbased group, which is among one of the largest employers in Tunbridge Wells and has more than 3,500 staff members, from Willis Towers Watson.

While there he was responsible for analytics development and innovation of their non-life insurance software suite, and integrating machine

learning and AI into their products.

He joins Markerstudy as the company celebrates its 20th anniversary and he arrives just a year after the group became the UK’s 5th largest motor insurance provider after completing the purchase of Co-op Insurance’s underwriting business for £185million.

Dr James has also worked at AXA Group in Paris, and began his career in Australia.

After teaching statistics

NEW HEAD Dr William James

at the University of Melbourne during his Ph.D., he joined Optimal Decisions Group, now part of LexisNexis, where he specialised in behavioural modelling for insurance and led the development of their price optimisation engine.

Strengths Dr James is also an Associate of the Institute of Actuaries Australia, holds a PhD in mathematical physics and degrees in science, actuarial studies, and French.

Gary Humphreys, the Group Chief Underwriting Officer at Markerstudy said: “Will brings with him 20 years’ experience across insurance, IT and predictive modelling, and his unique strengths will complement our threepronged strategy of innovation, technical excellence, and competitiveness within the underwriting and pricing functions.”

Local News

BUSINESS

9

Cripps celebrates Dealmaker award TUNBRIDGE WELLS and London based Cripps Pemberton Greenish has won two accolades at Insider Media South East Dealmakers awards.

Cripps won the Corporate Law Firm of the Year award for the second time in the last three years.

The firm, which is based on Mount Ephraim, also picked up the award for Deal of the Year (under £10million), for its work advising East Kent College on the acquisition of Hadlow, West Kent and Ashford Colleges.

Challenging The awards celebrate the achievements of the region’s leading mergers and acquisitions professionals, as well as the work of corporate finance professionals, accountants, bankers and

THREE IN A ROW The Cripps team celebrating funders.

Julie Hughes, partner and head of the corporate transactions team, said: “In what has been a challenging and eventful year, we are delighted to be recognised by Insider Media in these awards.

“The team has worked tirelessly to go

above and beyond for our clients to achieve their objectives. This was demonstrated earlier this year when we completed a record eleven deals in eleven days for our clients.

“Receiving recognition like this reflects the dedication and hard work of our team over the last 18 months.”

Food bank manager a winner in business THE woman who runs a food bank in Tunbridge Wells has won gold at a business award ceremony.

Dawn Stanford BEM was one of three women from the area who took home an award at the 2021 Kent Women in Business Awards (KWIBA).

Dedication The Operations Manager at Nourish Community received gold for the Community Champion award, in recognition of the great effort and dedication given over 2020 to help support the people of Tunbridge Wells.

Joining her at the gala event in Maidstone was Siobhan Stirling, director

of Sharp Minds Communications, who celebrated her fourth year as a finalist at the event and held on to the title for Leadership and Management – having previously won in 2020.

She said: “It was an honour to celebrate our hard work over the last 18 months in such brilliant company, among fellow business women who have shown incredible resilience and

resourcefulness to steer their organisations successfully through the coronavirus pandemic.”

The third Tunbridge Wells finalist to receive first prize at the event was Islay O’Hara, of Islay O’Hara PR. Winning the Women in PR and Marketing Award, she was praised for her growing business HUNGER HERO success which Dawn Stanford gave her the from Nourish leading edge for the category.

10

NEWS

Community News

FOR EVEN MORE NEWS VISIT: timeslocalnews.co.uk

Wednesday September 22 | 2021

Volunteers make a splash after raising The Common stars again thousands walking along Hadrian’s Wall as Happy Valley is back

BEST FOOT FORWARD The team at Pickering following their walk

By Richard Williams A BAND of volunteers have raised more than £13,000 for a local cancer charity by walking the length of one of Britain’s most historic monuments.

The 84-mile walk along the length of Hadrian’s Wall was the idea of David Bartholomew, current chairman of the Pickering Cancer Drop In Centre in Tunbridge Wells.

The Times reported last month how David wanted to both celebrate a ‘big birthday’ with his daughter Kirsty, and also raise money for the charity.

In total, twelve volunteers from Pickering accompanied David and Kirsty along the length of the ancient wall, which was built in AD 122 to

defend Roman Britain from the ‘barbarians’ of the north-west frontier.

To celebrate the group’s success in completing the walk and to raise further money for the charity, co-founder of Pickering, Polly Taylor and volunteer Angela Mitson, both took a dip in the River Tyne on their last day.

Overwhelmed David told the Times: “We are pleased to report that the challenge was completed by all, despite numerous blisters, pulled muscles and painful ankles.

“We have been overwhelmed by the support and kindness we have

RUSTHALL Common’s community play Happy Highways, which involves three different and very dramatic walks, is back for one last show on September 26 after selling out on its run at the end of last month.

The artistic team – Claque Theatre’s Jon Oram, Flying Pickets founder member David Brett, and Toby Cornwell of theatre company Get Out Of My Space – created the open-air promenade play to reflect people’s feelings about the pandemic and lockdowns, which had a severe effect on all communities.

Happy Highways is Claque

received throughout this challenge.

From the backing of local businesses to the generosity of all our sponsors - this has been a very humbling experience.

“The team have shown incredible tenacity in their determination to go the distance and have supported each other, both mentally and physically throughout the six days away – at some point on the walk the temptation to give in would have been strong, but there is strength in numbers!”

He added that they are still accepting donations for their fund, which at the time of going to press was £13,365.

Details can be found at: uk.virginmoneygiving.com/Team/ Hadrians3060Challenge

ACTING UP Happy Valley is performed in the Common

Theatre’s second play in a project supported by the Arts Council to develop devising plays with the whole community.

It is set in 2041 and Rusthall Common’s Happy Valley is up for auction. Could a combination of circumstances in the past save it?

Jon Oram said: “I want you to imagine that the ghosts of Rusthall Common are coming back. They surface to walk above ground, visit their old haunts and replay their past lives in our present.”

Reveal The stories are set over the past 200 years and the audience are divided into three groups to follow one-story and witness fragments of others.

The tales reveal whether the Rusthall village people, while struggling with their demons at home, rose to the occasion to rescue a group of desperate refugees.

Co-organiser Mary-Jane Stevens added: “Happy HIghways is a beautiful show with a big heart as well as a powerful message, which has become all the more poignant as we have been working on it.

“It went really well this summer.

The earlier shows sold out and we have fantastic feedback from audience members.”

For more information and tickets, visit: communityplays.com/happyhighways

HOLMEWOOD HOUSE Self Belief • Aspiration • Kindness www.holmewoodhouse.co.uk

OPEN DAY Friday 1st October 2021

Wednesday September 22 | 2021

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Community News

NEWS

11

Medieval village fills with flaming torches for a very fiery night out

By Sarah Bond

FLAMING FUN Cross burning has been a tradition in the area since the reformation

HUNDREDS of people turned out for a fiery night out last Saturday (Sept 18) at the annual medieval-style Mayfield Carnival, many parading in costume and carrying more than 5,000 flaming crosses and torches, eager to enjoy a huge community event after all the lockdowns.

The High Street was packed as six bands also played, and the event – which raises funds for local good causes – culminated in a bonfire and fireworks on the Court Meadow recreation ground.

Resident Sue Barnes said: “I have lived in Mayfield all my life, and due to COVID-19 this Carnival was very special and much needed as a morale booster.

“This was one of the largest I remember. The amazing firework display finale was better than London on New Year’s Eve. Sussex at its best!”

Renowned local artist raises jumbo funds for Kent hospice

ELAINE GILL ACCOMPLISHED Tunbridge Wells artist Elaine Gill, an expert at decorative maps, has seen her giant Elmer the Elephant creation raise £8,000 at auction on September 9 for the Heart of Kent Hospice.

The elephant, based on David McKee’s popular Elmer children’s character, was one of 51 created for a nine-week free, familyfriendly art trail through the county town of Maidstone this summer.

Elaine Gill said: “What an absolute honour to be part of Elmer’s Big Heart of Kent Parade, working closely with the awesome team at Heart of Kent Hospice.

“My blank Elmer arrived in

Tunbridge Wells in January 2020, and became a member of our family during the Covid lockdown.

Lots of planning, head-scratching, drawing and painting later, ‘Elmer’s Maidstone’ was complete and had pride pf place on the parade, located in Jubilee Square, Maidstone.

“During the Parade I received the most heartwarming emails, photos and posts on social media, and completely underestimated what Elmer’s Maidstone would mean to people, and how interactive he was.

“The auction was a very emotional evening, understanding the work of the hospice, listening to a very brave family’s first-hand account of the care, support and kindness, as well as raising an outstanding amount of money – just by doing something you love.

“It’s been just amazing, thank you Heart of Kent Hospice.”

The parade was a collaboration between Heart of Kent Hospice, Wild in Art, Andersen Press and Westerhill Homes.

To find out more and see other elephants, visit: elmermaidstone.co.uk

Caroline Pooley, who was among those capturing it all on camera, added: “It was an absolutely fantastic evening, the atmosphere was electric, and it was lovely to see so many people out enjoying a great tradition.

“Well done Mayfield Bonfire Society you did the village proud!”

Display The village’s Jonathan Barnes agreed: “Well done Mayfield, a much awaited, fantastic Carnival and what a firework display.”

The evening began at 6.45pm with a wreathlaying ceremony at the War Memorial, followed by a series of mile-long processions through the village, then the bonfire and fireworks. The revelries carried on until 11pm.

Organised by the Mayfield Bonfire Society, the event was the first and largest in the local bonfire season, with the longest procession

outside of Lewes.

More than 800 people took part in the procession alone. The society’s Catherine Hawley said: “Mayfield Bonfire Society were delighted to mark the return of carnival season and welcome our fellow bonfire societies to help us host such a spectacular procession.

“It takes a huge team effort to put on the procession, which has been particularly important this year to bring people together, and to share some joy throughout the village.

“We were also pleased to be raising funds for local charities MAYFACS [Mayfield & Five Ashes Community Services] and Mayfield Pre-school, who have supported the village throughout these difficult times.”

Months of preparations included workshops to make 5,000 torches, and 25 visiting bonfire societies also joined in on the night as many similar events were cancelled both last year and this due to the pandemic.

University lecturer joins the race against hunger A UNIVERSITY lecturer from Tunbridge Wells has signed up for a 10k charity Race Against Hunger this week to raise funds to end the need for food banks in the UK, and is encouraging other people across Tunbridge Wells to join him.

Steve Padley, 62, said: “It’s shameful that in this day and age there is a need for the work The Trussell Trust does. Nobody should be in a position of being forced to use a food bank. But food banks are a real lifeline for people, so I wanted to do something to help.”

Steve only started running at the age of 60.

Before that he says: “Apart from walking my dog, I had never done any exercise in my adult life.

“I have never done a 10K before and it’s a bit outside my comfort zone, but I am feeling confident.

“I would encourage everyone across Tunbridge Wells to join Race Against Hunger as it is a great opportunity not just to support the Trussell Trust, but also a way to improve your own physical fitness level and wellbeing.”

Fundraisers can choose their distance, plan their own route and take on the event at a time that suits them, from a 5K jog to a marathon challenge.

HUNGRY FOR SUCCESS Steve Padley

BIDDENDEN, TN27 8DQ

SALES, REPAIR & HIRE (Repair pick-up available)

www.ukelectricbike.co.uk Call an expert on 07904 287485

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National News

Parents of Harry Dunn reach resolution with son’s suspected killer THE parents of teenage motorcyclist Harry Dunn and their son’s alleged killer have reached a “resolution” in a civil claim for damages filed in the US. The Dunn family’s spokesman Radd Seiger told reporters that an agreement had been ‘reached successfully between the parties and they can put this part of the campaign behind them’.

US suspect Anne Sacoolas, who is charged with causing 19-year-old Harry’s death by dangerous driving, was due to give evidence under oath last month as part of the damages claim until a last-minute postponement.

Immunity Sacoolas, 44, was able to leave the UK following the fatal road crash outside RAF Croughton in Northamptonshire on August 27, 2019, after diplomatic immunity was asserted on her behalf by the US Government.

The details of the agreement have not been disclosed, but Mr Seiger said a resolution in the civil claim means Harry’s parents, Charlotte Charles and Tim Dunn, will now turn their focus to the pending criminal case.

KILLED Biker Harry Dunn

FOR EVEN MORE NEWS VISIT: timeslocalnews.co.uk

Wednesday September 22 | 2021

Third Russian spy charged with Salisbury Novichok poisonings A THIRD Russian spy has been charged over the Novichok poisonings in Salisbury.

Denis Sergeev, who used the alias Sergey Fedotov while in the UK, faces a string of charges including trying to kill former Russian spy Sergei Skripal, his daughter Yulia and ex-police officer Nick Bailey.

The incident also left one woman, Dawn Sturgess, dead, after she used a perfume bottle believed to contain the nerve agent used in the attempted assassination of the Skirpals, but no charges have been brought in connection with her death.

Police investigating the poisonings are set to apply for an Interpol notice to be issued for Sergeev aka Fedotov, although it is thought unlikely that he or the other two men wanted for the poisonings will ever be extradited from Russia.

The Skripals were left fighting for their lives in March 2018 when members of a Russian military intelligence squad are believed to have smeared the deadly chemical weapon on Mr Skripal’s door handle in Salisbury, Wiltshire.

Mr Bailey was one of the officers investigating the case who subsequently became seriously ill.

His story was dramatized for the BBC with Rafe Spall playing the former detective sergeant.

Sergeev is the third man believed to have been behind the poisonings and attempted assassination of Sergei Skripal.

He is accused of seven charges, including three of attempted murder as well as conspiracy to murder Mr Skripal, causing grievous bodily harm with intent to Yulia Skripal and Nick Bailey, and possession and use of a chemical weapon.

These are the same counts faced by two other

WANTED: Denis Sergeev, Alexander Mishkin, and Anatoliy Chepiga and [below] operations during the 2018 incident

suspects in the case already identified by police in 2018 – Alexander Mishkin, who used the name Alexander Petrov while in the UK, and Anatoliy Chepiga, who used the alias Ruslan Boshirov.

Operations Investigators say they now have evidence linking the three to Russian military intelligence service the GRU, and that the trio have been involved in similar operations in other countries including Bulgaria and the Czech Republic.

They had all visited the UK before 2018, although there is no evidence that this was for

reconnaissance purposes, police said.

The three met a number of times in the coming days, both out in the open and at indoor venues, but Sergeev did not leave London.

No traces of Novichok were found in the hotel room that he stayed in for two nights, before flying back to Moscow from Heathrow at lunchtime on March 4.

The poison was contained in a counterfeit perfume bottle, tragically found in June that year in a charity shop bin in Amesbury by Charlie Rowley.

He was left seriously ill and his girlfriend Dawn Sturgess died after coming into contact with the deadly substance.

Come and join us for our FREE virtual patient open events P Q+A

P Q+A

Men’s health including testicular concerns Wednesday 13 October 6:30pm With Mr Shwan Ahmed, Consultant Urologist.

Varicose veins, ulcerations and skin changes on legs

Thursday 14 October 6:30pm With Mr Lukla Biasi, Consultant Vascular Surgeon and Dr Jemell Geraghty, Specialist Nurse.

1:1

Weight loss surgical options and dietary support

Thursday 21 October 6:30pm With Ahmed Hamouda, Laparoscopic, Upper GI and Bariatric Consultant Surgeon and Ms Jennifer Low, Dietitian.

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Plastic Surgery including excess skin removal after weight loss

Wednesday 3 November 6:30pm With Mr Marc Pacifico, Consultant Plastic Surgeon.

Meet our experts at a free online event

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Mini 1:1 session

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Presentation

To book please visit nuffieldhealth.com/hospitals/events Nuffield Health Tunbridge Wells Hospital Kingswood Road, Tunbridge Wells TN2 4UL

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Wednesday September 22 | 2021

National News

NEWS

13

Food fears after CO2 shortage SHOPPERS will start noticing shortages within days as a result of the crisis in carbon dioxide (CO2) supply, a food industry chief has warned.

The gas is used in food packaging and as a method of stunning animals prior to slaughter but supplies are running low.

Spiralling energy costs have led to the suspension of operations at fertiliser plants

– which produce CO2 as a by-product – having a knock-on effect on the food industry.

Ian Wright, the chief executive of the Food and Drink Federation, said consumers could start noticing shortages in poultry, pork and bakery products within days.

He told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme that the Government needed to support fertiliser producers, help food producers

to look for alternatives to CO2 and address labour shortages in the industry.

“We have been saying for several weeks now that the just-in-time system which underpins both our supermarkets and our hospitality industry is under the most strain it has ever been in the 40 years it has been there,” he told Today.

“It is a real crisis.”

Man accused of killing mother and children had self-inflicted injuries A MAN arrested after a mother and three children were found dead in a house was taken to hospital with self-inflicted injuries.

It is understood to be Damien Bendall, 31, the boyfriend of the murdered mother.

The bodies of John Paul Bennett, 13, Lacey Bennett, 11, their mother Terri Harris, 35, and Lacey’s friend Connie Gent, 11, were discovered at a property in Chandos Crescent in Killamarsh, near Sheffield, on Sunday morning.

Reports have also emerged to suggest the murdered mother, Terri Harris, was pregnant at teh tie of her death.

Derbyshire Police said the murder suspect was detained at the property and had only

minor injuries.

The grandmother of ‘beautiful’ John Paul and Lacey has thanked everyone who has paid tribute and laid flowers.

Horrible Diane Bennett visited the scene on Tuesday morning – a day after her son, Jason Bennett, had become distraught as he read the tributes left to his children.

Ms Bennett said: “There are so many people bringing flowers, teddy bears.”

Asked about the children, she said: “They were beautiful, wellmannered, did anything for anybody.

“But at the moment it’s my son I’m worried about. I know

we’ve lost somebody but he’s lost even more. ” Ms Bennett said: “They’ve got to stop this murdering of young kids. It’s not fair. They’re innocent little things.”

Ms Bennett said John Paul wanted to be an engineer and Lacey “was just a girly-girl”.

She said: “I’ve got eight grandchildren and one great granddaughter and we’re all upset.”

Ms Bennett looked at the mass of flowers, balloons and teddy bears which have continued to grow at the police cordon, which remains at Chandos Crescent.

Derbyshire Police said the 31-year-old arrested on suspicion of murder now remains in custody.

RECRUITMENT

DO YOU WANT TO TAKE ON THE RESPONSIBILITY OF RUNNING AN INDEPENDENT CHARITY? IF SO, WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY THAT SHOULD INTEREST YOU… Job Title: HEAD OF SERVICE Location: Paddock Wood Community Advice Centre, 94 Commercial Road, Paddock Wood, TN12 6DP Salary: FT £35k per annum (pro rata), plus 3% pension Hours per week: Between 24 and 30 (negotiable) Type of contract: Permanent We are looking for a new Head of Service to lead our essential face to face advice service, based at our brand new purpose-built offices in Paddock Wood. If you are community-minded, have previous management or leadership experience and have worked or volunteered in a senior role within the advice sector for at least two years, we would like to hear from you.

We are a registered company with charity status and all our advisers and caseworkers are volunteers. We are a member of Advice UK and offer a free, face to face advice service for residents of Paddock Wood and surrounding areas.

For more information, please call 01892 838619. To apply for the role, please send your covering letter and CV to info@pwadvice.org together with your availability.

Closing date for applications: 30 September 2021

ROAD BLOCK Campaigners on the M25 and [below] a protestor being dragged away by police

Police drag campaigners from M25 after protests POLICE arrested 38 people yesterday [Tuesday] after environmental protesters targeted the M25 for a fifth time in just over a week.

This time the Insulate Britain protesters targeted the main carriageways of the M25 between junction 9 and 10, forcing both sides of the motorway to grind to a halt.

The groups had previously targeted slip roads to the UK’s busiest motorways including at junction 3 at Swanley in Kent.

Some forces had been criticised for taking up to four hours to remove Insulate Britain, which is an off shoot of Extinction Rebellion, from blocking the M25 slip roads at early protests.

Reports following previous have included people missed flights, a stroke victim being left in gridlocked traffic for more than six hours, as well as a patient who missed an operations they had spent two years waiting for.

Paint However, Surrey Police dragged the latest wave of protestors from the M25 in a matter of minutes once officers arrived at the scene.

The force said they were called to junctions 9 and 10 of the motorway yesterday just after 8am

following reports of on the clockwise and anti-clockwise carriageways.

A spokesman for the force said ‘a number’ of demonstrators were at the scene, where they had poured blue paint on to the motorway, and urged drivers to avoid the area where possible.

Footage taken at the scene by radio station LBC showed the protesters walking onto the lanes from the lay-bys and sitting down on the ground in front of moving traffic.

Reopened Some then held up banners saying ‘Insulate Britain’ before they were dragged off the road by police officers.

The carriageways have since reopened.

In a statement, published on Twitter, Surrey Police said: “Two lanes on both clockwise and anticlockwise carriageways of the M25 between junctions 9 and 10 are now fully re-opened after officers cleared all of the Insulate Britain protesters off of the road.”

The campaigning group confirmed they led the demonstration, adding that new people have joined their campaign to improve home insulation in addition to the others who have been involved in similar demonstrations in Hertfordshire, Kent, Essex and Surrey over the past week.

NEWS IN BRIEF

Bus giants set for merger Trudeau wins election NATIONAL Express has confirmed it is in talks to buy rival transport firm Stagecoach.

Under the terms of the potential deal, National Express would own about 75 per cent of the combined group and Stagecoach 25 per cent.

National Express said it would be able to slash costs as a result of the merger, and expected the newly formed group to find savings of at least £35million.

Dented Travel restrictions and fewer commuters travelling to work have dented passenger numbers during the pandemic.

National Express, which runs bus and coach services across the UK, Spain, and the United States, saw revenues fall to £990m in the six months ending 30 June 2021, down from £1.03bn the previous year.

Stagecoach, Britain’s biggest bus operator, also saw sales fall in the year to 1 May, dropping to £928m from £1.4bn in 2020 due to the ‘adverse effect of the Covid-19 situation’.

JUSTIN Trudeau’s Liberal Party has narrowly won Canada’s election, but it failed to secure a majority.

The Liberals are projected to win 158 seats, short of the 170 seats needed for the majority Mr Trudeau was seeking with his early election call.

It is likely he’ll remain PM after what is his third election victory since taking leadership of the party in 2013.

He has been PM since 2015 and also won the national poll in 2019.

The Conservatives have held onto their main opposition status and are expected to win about 122 seats.

Fight “There are still votes to be counted but what we’ve seen tonight is millions of Canadians have chosen a progressive plan,” Mr Trudeau told supporters in Montreal in the early hours of Tuesday morning.

“You elected a government that will fight for you and deliver for you,” he said.

14

NEWS

Education

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Wednesday September 22 | 2021

EDUCATION Times Prep school wins Gold for being Green MARLBOROUGH House School in Hawkhurst has been awarded a gold award by the Woodland Trust for getting involved in green activities including tree planting, visiting local woodlands, reducing carbon emissions and recycling.

The Green Tree Schools initiative offers the opportunity to bring the great outdoors, wildlife and green issues into the classroom. Schools can win awards for taking part in a range of green activities.

House School said: “As a school we are so proud to see the accumulation of all our hard work and we look forward to watching the development of our microforest.”

Karen Letten, Woodland Trust Schools and Communities Engagement Manager, added:

“The scheme promotes a range of opportunities, each designed to stimulate a child’s imagination and sustain their interest in woods and trees.

Having achieved the environmental accolade of a gold award, I hope Marlborough House School will now consider going for our next accolade, the prestigious platinum award.”

“This scheme promotes a range of opportunities, each designed to stimulate a child’s imagination and sustain their interest in nature” Over the past 10 years, Marlborough House School has participated in Green Tree Schools activities, achieving their bronze and silver awards and working towards gold. Earlier this year, the school planted over 200 new trees, creating a woodland walk in their school grounds and securing a gold award. The new trees have been planted to create microforest of dense fast-growing native woodland, designed to support carbon capture, local wildlife and provide an additional outdoor learning environment for pupils.

Corrina Lowe, Head of Eco at Marlborough

GOING FOR GOLD: Mrs Lowe, Head of Eco and Year 1 at Marlborough House School, pictured centre with her class and also her Teaching Assistant Mr Whitlock, celebrating their prestigious award win

KCC working to improve inclusion in educational establishments Kent County Council (KCC) has recently announced that is has been working with various organisations including Parent and Carers Together (PACT) and Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) to improve the quality of educational outcomes and inclusion in the county.

“We are keen to understand more about parents and their children’s usual experience of the education system in Kent,” said a KCC spokesperson.

They added that the reason for the special Inclusive Education project is so that the county council can identify trends and improvements within the schools network.

As a result KCC are sending out a short survey for parents and pupils to answer as party of their joint project.

The spokesperson added that KCC, will write to parents termly via each school, updating them on action taken in response to any issues raised through the survey.

Parents who would like to participate in the Inclusive Education survey should contact their child’s school office, visit www.kent.gov.uk

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Weekly Comment

Derek Boyle Labour Secretary for Paddock Wood

Wednesday September 22 | 2021

Derek Boyle is joint secretary of Paddock Wood Branch Labour Party. He has worked in education across Kent for nearly 25 years, and also sits as a Paddock Wood Town Councillor.

Out Council needs to build more social housing to preserve local communities THE housing targets that have been forced on Tunbridge Wells borough by central Government are resulting in vast areas of land on the peripheries of our towns and villages being swamped with housing that is unaffordable for local residents and their children.

For families that have roots in our towns and villages, there is little prospect for their children who are in insecure, part-time or minimum wage jobs to be able to afford to save for a deposit on one of the houses being built all around them.

Private sector rents for properties in our towns and villages are astronomical when compared to the average wages in the area.

For so many who grew up locally, they are faced with remaining in overcrowded housing or having to move away to cheaper areas and away from their support networks.

Rental Social rented housing, council houses to the older reader, provided a stock of housing within an area that is used to meet the housing needs of the local population.

With the devastation of the council housing stock under the Conservatives, local people are reliant on the local private rental market for a roof over their head. Rents eat into poor wages from insecure employment to an increasing

amount each year.

The last year has seen Tunbridge Wells become an even more unaffordable place to live. With an abundance of access to open spaces, house prices and rents have continued to rise.

The only effective response to this is the provision of new genuinely affordable housing to buy or to rent at social rent levels.

SOCIAL CONSTRUCTION More houses need to be built in the social sector

‘For someone working 40 hours a week on minimum wage, their rent amounts to 64 per cent of their wages’ Labour is pushing the Council and its partners to be far more ambitious in its existing plans.

Many young people growing up in Tunbridge Wells have little prospect of being able to afford to live in the place they grew up without positive action on this.

Our Borough Council should use its powers to build its own new social housing and work with partners to deliver the new genuinely affordable homes to residents that are needed.

Many residents are on lengthy waiting lists, living in unsuitable costly temporary accommodation or unaffordable, poor quality

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private sector rented housing.

Within Paddock Wood for example, the rent for a one-bed home is around £196 per week.

For someone working 40 hours per week on minimum wage of £8.95 per hour, they earn £348 per week before deductions and take home £305.

Their rent alone amounts to 64% of their wages.

Tunbridge Wells has an affordability problem with housing. According to the latest KCC statistical release, the ratio of housing cost to wages for Tunbridge Wells is 11.46 to 1, meaning

that our area is one of the most expensive for housing in the county beaten, unsurprisingly, only by Sevenoaks.

Housing policy within the borough is a political choice. Our Council could choose to build more social housing to high environmental standards, but it does not.

Labour campaigns for and its councillors actively support the building of more social housing to meet local needs and to preserve local communities.

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Wednesday September 22 | 2021

FOR EVEN MORE NEWS VISIT: timeslocalnews.co.uk

Letters

NEWS

17

And another thing…

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

ABANDONED The ABC Cinema site Wishful comments of a possible CPO [Compulsory Purchase Order] of the cinema site made by the Labour councillors (Times, September 15), ignore the well-known legal and financial reality.

If only it were that simple it would have been done years ago! To this wishful thinking one may add: if only the site was not covered deep in rubble, if only the cost of the site was lower, if only there was not a tunnel, if only we owned it, if only….

I love ideas; however, they must be pragmatic and sustainable.

Throughout my career I have always taken this approach, an approach taken by most new businesses and one I now bring to public service as Deputy Leader.

Stop the finger-pointing The Labour Councillor for Southborough & High Brooms is right to raise the lack of progress with the never-ending saga of the Cinema site however see nothing to be gained from finger pointing other than personal political gain.

Perhaps your newspaper could invite all the Parties representing the Borough to put forward their clear & credible proposals for solving this malaise bearing in mind the site is privately owned, is in a Conservation Area and has the London to Hastings railway tunnel running beneath it. Residents can then judge each on their merits.

It has been two decades since the Cinema closed and the people of Tunbridge Wells deserve to have this matter settled once and for all. Vitriol resolves nothing ; collaboration does.

Mark Casady Tunbridge Wells

Weeding out who is responsible In response to Peter Vincent (and another thing 15/09/2021) may I point out that Kent Highways is the body responsible for the maintenance of the roads and pavements in Tunbridge Wells and

Understand the issues and look for solutions to allow achievement of the goals. Wishful thinking is a fairy tale inappropriate in government or in business.

This approach is being taken by the Cross Party group I formed in 2019, now headed up by the Leader, to achieve the best outcomes for the Civic Buildings. It is also the approach taken elsewhere in our Borough.

We invite ideas but remember there must be a pragmatic approach to work out how to make them sustainable economically, socially, environmentally, and with respect to our rich heritage.

Cllr David Scott Deputy Leader Tunbridge Wells Borough Councillor that four years ago they decided that they would no longer be clearing the pavements of weeds and that the responsibility for this would in future lie with the householders.

Add to your next shopping list a trowel for removing the weeds, a pad to kneel on and a large tube of Voltarol for the back ache when you’ve finished.

Victor Bethell Tunbridge Wells

in the markets and medicines on the chemists’ shelves.

It has set one half of the nation against the other half and reopened the wound existing between England and Ireland. It is responsible for trade pacts being sought with countries the other side of the world entailing further damage to the climate because of the totally unnecessary travel miles that have to be traversed.

And the damage has only just begun since other countries will hesitate at length before entering into any agreements whatsoever with a country whose principal citizen thinks nothing of unilaterally abrogating international treaties.

With such a legacy, who will ever doubt again the appellation ‘perfidious Albion’.

Alexander Magnus Tunbridge Wells

Brexit will taint the legacy of our MP

Democracy is also about listening

What will be the verdict on Boris Johnson, a man who surrounds himself with sycophants lest anyone raise a doubting voice?

He speaks of his ‘legacy’, what will people say of Brexit, a measure introduced through him by a minority of the electorate after believing his untruths and which, on all evidence, has served to impoverish this country.

It has as its legacy a devaluation of the currency leading inevitably to the higher prices now being experience in the shops; a diminution of the economy; a loss of our prized triple A credit rating; an exodus of valued staff which supported the NHS and associated caring professions; of agricultural workers essential for food production and distribution and even a shortage of heavy vehicle drivers.

It has made the Scots more determined than ever to break the bond that ties them to a declining country; led to shortages of foodstuffs

With refeence to your letter’s page last week [September 15] and the changes to the constitution.

As far as I can work out, your letter writer is upset that the Council is limiting the number of questions individual members of the public can ask during a council meeting, and to limit the number of complaints received by individual members of the public regarding Council officers.

While your letter writer didn’t specifically say, I imagine the two groups of people are one and the same and are driven by politics not a need for democracy.

Perhaps if some residents spent more time listening and engaging with their elected members rather than using the mechanisms of the Council to satisfy their own political ends, such measures would not be needed.

Peter Howard Paddock Wood

PEPPY SAYS...

CARTOON BY PEPPY: (Follow her on Twitter @Peppyscott)

Cinema site needs pragmatic ideas - not wishful thinking

disabled man. I didn’t stop the find out feeling so unsafe. And although some people heard me cry out and momentarily looked, no one stopped to ask if I was OK or needed any assistance.

Fortunately, I was more shaken up than hurt but this unpleasant incident could have potentially been a lot worse, and it certainly made me nervous about going out and about alone again for a while.

So basically, it all boils down to respect for the other person, whether they are male or female, young or old, gay or straight, and so on.

I have rarely needed a bodyguard to walk the streets safely, whether in Tunbridge Wells or London, and I certainly don’t intend to hire one now, thanks very much.

Dr Alan Bullion Southborough Town Councillor

We need respect for one another The thoughtful column by Anne Sullivan on safer streets in Tunbridge Wells will have struck a chord with many who face threats and intimidation in their daily lives while attempting to go about their business quietly.

A few weeks back I was bold enough to visit London by train to meet up with friends having recently been hospitalised and now walking with a stick.

Imagine my horror at a man deliberately attempting to kick my stick away outside Charing Cross station.

Who knows what his motives were and what he saw, probably a vulnerable elderly and

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Wednesday September 22 | 2021

Life&Times

A vine time

Our resident wine expert James Viner on the soaring success of local vineyards...

P30

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

20

Homes & Interiors

Wednesday September 22 | 2021

Property Focus

£10,000 wiped off the average house price as full stamp duty holiday ends THE average UK house price plunged by around £10,000 between June and July as a full stamp duty holiday ended.

The price was £255,535 in July, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS) – around £19,000 higher than a year earlier but nearly £10,000 lower than a record of £265,448 in June.

The full discounts available under the stamp duty holiday in England and Northern Ireland ended when the holiday was tapered from the start of July and the “nil rate” band was reduced.

A similar tax holiday in Wales ended on June 30.

The ONS report said: “As the tax breaks were originally due to conclude at the end of March 2021, it is likely that March’s average house prices were slightly inflated as buyers rushed to ensure their house purchases were scheduled to complete ahead of this deadline.

“This effect was then further exaggerated in June 2021, in line with the extension to the holiday on taxes paid on property purchases in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.”

HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) figures recently showed house sales in July fell to 73,740, following a record 198,420 in June.

In further signs of a slowdown, the Bank of England previously reported 75,200 home buyer mortgages were approved in

July, down from 80,300 in June.

From October 1, stamp duty thresholds will revert to normal levels, ending the holiday completely.

Annual house price growth slowed to 8% in July following a 13.1% increase in June, the figures showed.

Average prices increased over the year in England to £271,000 (7% growth), in Wales to £188,000 (11.6%), in Scotland to a record £177,000 (14.6%) and in Northern Ireland to £153,000 (9%).

FALLING House prices have fallen

Reduction The North East was the English region with the highest annual growth, with average prices increasing by 10.8% in the year to July to reach £145,000.

The lowest growth was in London at 2.2%.

The capital’s average price remains the most expensive of any region in the UK at £495,000.

Anna Clare Harper, CEO of property consultancy SPI Capital, said: “The data reflects the comedown from an artificial boom encouraged by the temporary reduction in stamp duty.

“Investors, homeowners, solicitors and banks pushed hard to get transactions done in time for buyers to capitalise on lower transaction costs. This was followed by a slowdown in pace.”

Gabriella Dickens, senior UK economist at Pantheon Macroeconomics, said the slowdown “marks the start of a deceleration that is set to continue over the rest of the year, following the full reversal of the (stamp duty land tax) threshold back to £125,000 at the end of this month and the impending pressure on households’ real incomes from higher CPI (Consumer Prices Index) inflation and the withdrawal of the furlough scheme”.

Separate figures released by the ONS on Wednesday showed CPI inflation jumped from 2% in July to 3.2% in August – the

highest since March 2012.

Nitesh Patel, strategic economist at Yorkshire Building Society, said: “For many first-time buyers the whole process of realising their dreams of homeownership has become a whole lot more difficult.

“The price of a typical first-time buyer home has grown by 7.7% year-on-year to £214,237 in July.

“If they want to put down a deposit of 10% they now need to save £21,423 compared to £19,318 before the start of the pandemic in February 2020.”

Rogue tenants now take a year to evict at a cost of £35,000

LENGTHY Evicting tenants could lose a year’s worth of rent

IT COSTS around £35,000 to evict a tenant that has failed to pay rent or is abusing a property, and nearly year to evict them, new research has found.

The latest property market analysis by London lettings and estate agent, Benham and Reeves, has revealed that the costs incurred by UK landlords and the time it takes to evict bad tenants has soared.

During the Covid pandemic, measures to help those in legitimate financial trouble saw a ban on tenant evictions between March 2020 and June of this year, although eviction hearings did resume in September of last year in anticipation of the ban lifting.

A six-month notice period was also implemented before eviction proceedings could begin for those given notice between 29th August 2020 and 31st May 2021, a move that left rogue tenants rubbing their hands in delight.

Benham and Reeves calculated the cost of a nightmare tenant based on the worst-case scenario of lost rent, legal fees and property renovation costs following the eviction ban.

While it has since been reduced to four months, any landlord looking to evict a rogue tenant during the height of the pandemic was forced to accept a loss in rental income of half a year in notice periods alone.

Shocking All in all, the estimated time taken to evict a Covid rogue tenant climbed to 51 weeks, resulting in a full year in lost rental income and seeing many evictions delayed beyond the lifting of the ban in June having started proceedings when allowed to in September.

Director of Benham and Reeves, Marc von Grundherr, said: “The situation for

landlords throughout the pandemic has been shocking and while eviction notice periods have now been reduced to four months, many continue to lose thousands in rental income every month due to rogue tenants and the long delays suffered while trying to evict them.

“We’re talking about professional crooks who have taken severe advantage of legislation designed to support those who are actually suffering financially and are in need of support.

“We had one particular case where a tenant moved into a new property at Television Centre in October 2019 and only ever paid the first month’s rent and nothing thereafter. The eviction hearing was on 30th March this year and we couldn’t get a bailiff appointment until 25th August 2021. The poor owner suffered a loss of over £50,000.”

Government urged to build 250,000 ‘Homes for Heroes’ THE Government is being urged to create 250,000 new homes for key workers as a reward for their efforts during the pandemic.

The Centre for Policy Studies (CPS) – a centreright think tank – has called on ministers to set aside land for a new class of “homes for heroes”.

The phrase echoes prime minister David Lloyd George’s famous pledge at the end of the First World War to make Britain “a fit country for heroes to live in”.

The CPS said the majority of properties should be offered on a rent-to-buy or shared ownership basis, with the rest on long leases, with priority given to local key workers – both public and private sector.

It argued the Government could boost such a scheme at no real cost by enabling it to access £5 billion of existing housing guarantees which are currently sitting unused.

Currently, it said, key workers generally earn less than the national average, meaning many

struggle to get on the property ladder or find decent rented accommodation close to their place of work.

The report’s co-author Alex Morton – a former No 10 housing adviser – said that it potentially offered key workers a “substantially cheaper” path to home ownership than the existing alternatives.

“This financially sustainable model of new housing delivery can be done without any upfront cost to Government while providing a sufficient

return for investors and a reasonable price to house builders,” he said.

‘If these policies are pursued, we could see the first ‘homes for heroes’ delivered very rapidly with more in the pipeline – a clear thank you for the key workers who put so much on the line during the recent pandemic.

“This would deliver the Government’s goals of more home ownership, greater supply and a better-quality housing sector, and provide a model for future housing development.”

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22

Homes & Interiors

Wednesday September 22 | 2021

HOMELY Henry Holland talks about interior fashion

“It definitely has a slightly retro feel to it because of my love of modern, mid-century shapes, forms and pieces,” says the successful designer.”

Homes & Interiors

Wednesday September 22 | 2021

23

As his new homeware collection launches, Henry Holland on his love of retro, reclaiming joy and why we all need to switch off sometimes

Sam Wylie-Harris chats to the designer about his crossover from fashion to interiors and much, much more...

F

ASHION designer Henry Holland is known for his bold designs, slogan T-shirts and quintessentially British clothing brand – so perhaps it’s no surprise the founder of House of Holland is equally at home in the world of interiors.

From the catwalk to ceramics, contemporary textiles and soft furnishings, Holland is launching Henry Holland Modern Living, an exciting new homeware collection and collaboration with digital department store, Freemans.

It’s a crafted collection of 100 considered and affordable pieces, which stay true to Holland’s design aesthetic and interiors vision, with a nod to iconic designs from the 1970s.

“It definitely has a slightly retro feel to it because of my love of modern, mid-century shapes, forms and pieces,” says the Ramsbottom-born designer.

“And then we introduced my personal touches of texture and colour to the soft furnishings and some of the printed pieces.”

HENRY HOLLAND MODERN LIVING LIE WITH ME 2 SEAT SOFA, £799; The Rug That Shagged Me, from £99; Cushions from £19; Cock-A-Hoop Large Cup Shaped Planter, Terracotta, £60; Full Bean Blob Mirror, £99; Big Bean Blob Mirror, £69; The Little Guy Ribbed End Table, £149, Freemans.

“It’s been really lovely to build something that feels cohesive, but also, it’s got some standout individual pieces along with beautiful, forever pieces people can have in their home for many years,” Holland adds.

The 38-year-old – who lives with his husband, designer David Hodgson and their French bulldog Peggy in East London – closed the door on his House of Holland label in March 2020. On reflection, he thinks the biggest crossover between fashion and interiors is in the texture and manufacture of the product.

“As a designer, every time you work with a different fabrication, it teaches you a completely new set of rules.

Working with lace is completely different to working with silk, and vice versa,” notes Holland. “I think it can create completely different emotions and feelings and when you’re working in fabric.

“With fashion, it’s very much about how it moves and how it drapes, but with homewares its much more about; you know emotions you can create through texture, how it makes you feel and what you get back from a room.”

The majority of the range will be available from October, but Holland says there’ll be other pieces coming a little later. “It’s been really nice to work across all the different categories, soft furnishings, furniture, ceramic and glass,

lighting and build something that’s a full collection.”

HENRY HOLLAND MODERN LIVING SHAUN URSA BOUCLE CHAIR £249; Minty Henry Floor Lamp Tripod Base – Mint, £99; Hoopla Planters, from £35, Freemans.

Hero pieces include a stunning cream boucle sofa with corresponding accent chair. “He’s called Shaun because I think it looks like Shaun the Sheep [from the kids’ TV series],” Holland continues. “I love the glass-fronted cabinet and some of the larger scale things. Working in 3D with the furniture pieces was amazing for me, I found that really fulfilling and exciting. But then, you know I love the kind of abstract shapes, the mirrors, I mean it’s really hard to cheat.”

Henry Holland Modern Living Reclaim Your Joy Framed Poster, £49, Freemans.

A number of framed posters feature within the range and give swift insight into the aesthetic behind the collection.

“The artwork and prints are definitely something we want to build on,” says Holland. “The ‘Reclaim Your Joy’ is actually something that came from one of my acupuncture appointments. He said, ‘You just want to reclaim your joy’, and I said I couldn’t have put it better myself.

“I really like the feeling behind that phrase. It really reflects what people are needing from their home at the moment and with a lot of pieces in the collection, that’s what we’re trying to help people to do.”

HENRY HOLLAND MODERN LIVING THE BIG GUY RIBBED COFFEE TABLE, £199, Freemans.

Holland has also launched Henry Holland Studio.

Recent projects include a series of beautifully designed ceramic dinner chargers for a private dinner held by Moët & Chandon, as well as a striking collection of rugs in bold, psychedelic patterns for FLOOR_STORY as part of the London Design Festival 2021.

“I kind of found it as a creative outlet when I stepped back from fashion,” explains Holland. “I just really fell in love with the process of making things with my hands, and probably the first time in 15 years when I can’t look at my phone for several hours, because I’m so involved. Working in 3D is a new experience from working in fashion and I’m really enjoying it, and working on more and more of it when I can.”

Does he miss the fashion industry?

“Yes and no,” he quips. “I’ve not turned by back on it, and I’m still working on a few consultancy and fashion projects, but it’s been really nice to have a break. As an industry, it’s all encompassing and the pace at which you’re working is insane, and you don’t realise it’s abnormal until you step back.”

HENRY HOLLAND MODERN LIVING LONG TALL SALLY METAL 2 DOOR HIGHBOARD, £399; Long Ripple Ceramic Shaped Vase, White, £40; Knickerbockerglory 3 Level Glass Vase, Amber/Opal/Lilac, £35, Freemans.

“I’m having to put a lid on myself and make sure I’m not giving too much and recreating that same unattainable pace, because it’s almost like I’m pre-conditioned to work in that way,” Holland reflects. “A lot of people in the homeware world are kind of surprised at how quickly I’ve moved with that type of thing, but I’m like. ‘Well, if this was fashion, I would have designed and delivered six collections already this year’.

“So you know, it’s crazy when you do the comparison. But of course, I still love fashion and always will. And now I just get to enjoy it as a personal hobby, and not so much of a work thing for the moment.”

A self-confessed shopaholic, Holland admits it’s wonderful to go to the menswear department and not to be thinking, ‘What would I be doing if that was me?’

“When you’re a designer you tend to shop with your hands. You go through the rails and you’re constantly feeling all of the fabrics and looking at, you know, the trends, and then you start looking at country of origin labels to see where people are making things, and it just ruins the experience.

“For a shopaholic, you just want to know if it’s

going to fit you and look good for a certain event or whatever, but you’re constantly distracted by how something’s been made, or where it’s been made, so it’s freed me up to really just enjoy being a shopaholic!”

Whether it’s fashion or interiors, the end goal at the end of the week for this power couple is to switch off and unwind. Today, like so many of us, Holland and Hodgson – who’s creative director for handbag designer Lulu Guinness – have found refuge within their four walls.

“That’s why we’ve got so much into our home and creating a sanctuary for ourselves,” says Holland. “We tend to go 10 to the dozen during the week and then we really need to have a space to chill and relax in, where we feel comfortable. So that’s what’s driven a lot of the homewares really, creating a space and sanctuary for downtime.

“People often ask me, ‘When do you relax?’, and I usually reply, ‘When I’m unconscious!’

When you have a career and a creative brain, it doesn’t ever seem to stop. And I wouldn’t change that for the world, but you’re constantly looking at new things and trying to formulate new ideas in your head of how you would do something differently.

“I think that’s the definition of a creative brain,” says Holland. “But sometimes you just need that switch off time when you’re watching crap TV.” Henry Holland Modern Living for Freemans launches October 4.

Arts & Antiques

arts

24

Wednesday September 22 | 2021

Antiques are the original method of recycling and fighting climate change

Auctioneer, Joseph Trinder, explains that antiques are one of the earliest methods of reducing the waste that is putting a strain on our planet ...

W

E’RE all sadly accustomed to headlines relating to worsening extremes of weather, from recent flooding in the USA to forest fires elsewhere in the states and in Australia.

We know these events are in the very least heightened by climate change and our impact on the planet.

It is a conversation which has understandably grown in intensity in recent years, as we all grapple with what can be done to address the issue.

Joseph As individuals, we likely Trinder find it a daunting notion, asking ourselves “what can I alone do?” One go-to action is recycling, pondering on how to dispose of materials, packaging and discarded goods once they have been used.

Yet the issue is not only confined to our weekly grocery shop. Consider our furniture, will we outlive it or will it be disposed of in our lifetime? What happens to these pieces once they’re replaced? How sustainable is the

manufacturing process and what impact does it have on the environment? How far has the object travelled and was it built to last?

What if there was a way of generating less to practically no furniture waste throughout the years, whilst creating a unique interior, the envy of your friends - all whilst spending less money with pieces which will likely hold their value, with a chance they may even appreciate…

Antiques really are green. Take the pictured table as an example, another upcoming piece from our September 28 autumn fine sale at Gorringe’s. A charming 17th century oak refectory dining table. Hand-made, long before mass deforestation was even conceivable, it was built from a then abundant natural resource. No polluting chemicals were used in its construction, only skill and knowledge handed down through the generations.

Unlike a mass-produced modern

counterpart created in a factory, far from its final purchaser, this would have been made by and for one community.

Throughout the centuries, each time it changed hands and perhaps travelled, it still will not have generated a fraction of the pollution released by the transport of its mass-made modern equivalent, being taken from the factory to the dining room, sometimes continents apart.

Unique Also, unlike mass-made modern equivalents, this was built to last. The fact that it still stands some three hundred years on is a testament to its quality and durability. How many mass-produced modern

examples will still be here in three centuries?

Now consider the legacy of those passing years on this table, a rich colour, a patina; an individual character slowly deposited by the ages, an inimitable quality and real uniqueness, all of which come at no extra cost - this piece is estimated at just £800-£1200, so around the same money or even less than certain mass-produced modern equivalents.

This charming old fellow will likely be around to enjoy supper at in another 300 years and money spent here may well itself be recycled in the auction room, should you ever fancy a change - leaving your pocket and the environment better for it.

OPULENT OAK Hand-carved 17th century oak table

Arts & Antiques

Wednesday September 22 | 2021

25

An illuminating history Owner of Pushkin Antiques, Alexander Pushkin, tells us about one of the 20th century’s most enigmatic designers

J

ENLIGHTENING PIECE OF INTERIOR Very rare Maison Jansen palm tree lamp valued to be worth £15,995.00

EAN-HENRI JANSEN (1854-1928), the founder of Maison Jansen, was a Dutch entrepreneur and decorator. He had excellent taste, a true art expert, vast knowledge about antiques and, most importantly, understood how to establish contacts with representatives of the highest social circles. Due to all of these factors, he established the world-famous interior decoration office, serving wealthy and noble clients in Europe, Latin America, North America and the Middle East.

It was mainly these sort of customers Jansen counted on when opening the interior design studio Maison Jansen at number 9 on the Parisian rue de l’Annonciation in 1880.

and Rio de Janeiro.

The five-story studio counted about 700 employees of all kinds: cabinetmakers, mirror makers, glaziers, carvers, upholsterers, metalworkers and many more, and all of them were obliged to take an additional course in art history. In addition to a whole staff of its own artisans, from the very beginning of its existence

Grand

Maison Jansen cooperated with the best furniture designers, such as Jean-Michel Frank and Terence Robsjohn-Gibbings, who had been working for the company in the 1930s.

Exotic woods were shipped from Latin America to Paris, and then brought to the homes of the local wealthy and aristocrats in the form of carved boiserie, exquisite dressers, armchairs and tables. Historical styling was Maison Jansen’s calling card, but the firm’s designers were also keen on the spirit of the times. Jansen himself fancied adding exoticism to his interior work – he often experimented with the pieces he brought from the trips to Turkey and Japan.

After Jansen’s death in 1928, the business was taken over by two of his most talented students - decorators Gaston Schwartz and Stéphane Boudin. Schwartz was a fan of the new style -

Almost immediately, Jansen opened an antique salon in a neighbouring house, where one could buy furniture from the 18th century, restored and retightened with modern fabrics. It was not just another shop - Maison Jansen made luxurious interiors in the style of all Louis’s, from the Empire style to Directoire, and a select clientele gathered there to share latest news or discuss the merits of the restored items.

During the first ten years of its existence, the interior house achieved worldwide fame: the royal families of the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Belgium and Spain were among its clients. Since 1905, Jansen had opened branch offices all over the world: in London, Cairo, Prague, Rome, New York, Buenos Aires, Havana

‘Today’s collectors hunt for Maison Jansen rarities. In 2003 a set of gilded wall panels sold for £408,450’

chic and luxurious, but at the same time theatrical, glamorous. Stéphane Boudin, on the contrary, was a fan of the traditions of French classics. He knew them thoroughly and made the craftsmen who worked in the Maison Jansen atelier to study them in detail.

While traveling around Europe, he made sketches of ornaments, details of furniture and decor, architectural elements, in order to use them later in his works. Already in the 1930s, Boudin was proclaimed the greatest decorator in the world. Among the admirers of his talent was, for example, the millionaire and member of the British Parliament, Sir Henry Channon. Boudin worked also for Coco Chanel, Elsie de Wolfe, Rockefellers. Later, he was introduced to the Kennedy couple - working on the interiors of the White House in 1961-1963 was his last, most famous and absolutely unsurpassed in its beauty project. After Boudin’s retirement, Maison Jansen was taken over by Pierre Delbée (1900-1974), a talented decorator and restorer who joined the firm in the early 1930s. In 1989, the atelier at 23, rue de l’Annonciation closed its doors forever, immediately becoming a legend.

Today’s collectors hunt for Maison Jansen rarities. The record was set in 2003 when a set of gilded wall panels and doors from the Louis XVI era, complete with decorative elements and paintings by Pierre Delbée, were sold at Christie’s for £ 408,450.

Pieces by this extraordinary 20th century designer can be found at out high street gallery or by visiting us online www.pushkinantiques.com/lighting

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

26

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Books

Wednesday September 22 | 2021

Times book reviewer

HANNAH KIRSOP

27

The bookcase…

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

FICTION

The Second Woman by Louise Mey, translated by Louise Rogers Lalaurie

7/10

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

Next Of Kin by Kia Abdullah

LOCAL MURDER

The Man Who Died Twice by Richard Osman

Published in hardback by HQ, priced £14.99 (ebook £8.99).

Available now

(published in hardback by Penguin, priced £25.00)

Bringing a revival of The Thursday Murder Club, Richard Osman hits the nail on the head again with his warm, engaging, witty and perceptive gang of retired murder investigators. The crime is the murder of a spy, an old acquaintance of Elizabeth’s, and whilst the investigation into this nominally drives the narrative, the fairy dust that makes the book zing is the cast of characters, some of whom you feel you could recognise in your own life and many of whom you wish you did.

ONE YOU MAY HAVE MISSED

Shoe Dog by Phil Knight (published in

paperback by Simon & Schuster UK, priced £9.99)

9/10

8/10

Set in a retirement village near Tunbridge Wells, the action takes place in a fictional Kent where fun can continue to be had by us locals identifying locations. Farfetched in places it may be, but a lovely escapist read.

The story of Nike founder, Phil Knight’s, path to creating his now $30 billion company isn’t a staid, dry analysis of how the business grew and developed… it is written with real characters whose personalities, experiences & relationships drive the narrative which weaves you from a $50 loan and some cheap Japanese running shoes to the Nike we see today.

From a business perspective, it is fascinating how the business remained on the verge of collapse for such a long time even when revenues were climbing.

Shoe Dog is an excellent read and you don’t have to be an athlete or an entrepreneur to love it. It’s a surprising pageturner and it feels, in many ways, like a piece of fiction as the story is almost too incredible to be true…

This gripping courtroom drama centres on the death of three year-old Max, who was locked in a baking hot car on the hottest day of the year. As his family struggle to come to terms with the tragedy, his aunt Leila, a successful career woman, faces trial for manslaughter.

Was it a tragic accident, an act of sheer forgetfulness – or was it a deliberate decision to stop off on the way to Max’s nursery to

Published in paperback by Pushkin Vertigo, priced £12.99 (ebook £8.99). Available now When the lonely Sandrine sees a man sobbing on TV, appealing for his missing wife, she doesn’t know how dramatically her life is going to change. After meeting that man, she instantly falls in love – they start living together, and he tells Sandrine the heart he thought was broken has started beating again.

But his wife is found, and despite losing her memory, police are suspicious about what happened and who was responsible for her violent disappearance. This psychological thriller throws up some painful, disturbing storylines about the manipulation of women, but also strong female characters to admire.

The book is a difficult read at times, but the author skilfully examines the drama, heartache – and suspense – of how to deal with someone who changes from attracting sympathy after losing his wife, to being abusive, violent and dangerous. (Review by Alan Jones)

deal with a work crisis?

Only Leila knows the truth.

There are twists and turns aplenty, as lawyers for the prosecution and defence battle it out one witness at a time – culminating in a surprise bombshell. This is such a thoroughly enjoyable read, hopefully anyone in the legal profession will forgive speeding up the wheels of justice for dramatic effect. The author’s greatest strength lies in her sensitive and relatable description of the relationship between sisters Leila and Max’s mother Yasmin.

(Review by Emily Pennink)

6/10

7/10 NON-FICTION

Misfits: A Personal Manifesto by Michaela Coel

Published in hardback by Ebury Press, priced £9.99 (ebook £4.99) Available now Based on Michaela Coel’s 2018 MacTaggart lecture at the Edinburgh TV Festival, the debut from the creator of acclaimed BBC series I May Destroy You is dedicated to those who look at life differently or are made into misfits because of who they are. Recounting shocking tales of racism and sexual harassment in the entertainment industry and the ways she tries to

fix a broken system, Coel is honest about her own failings and the challenges she faces as a misfit now operating within that system. Unfortunately, the hugely talented writer doesn’t add much to what is, essentially, a transcript of the original 53-minute speech (the whole of which is available to watch for free online). The book is frustratingly short, some of the stories hastily told. If Coel had fleshed them out and offered more insight into her experiences, Misfits would have made for a more satisfying read.

(Review by Katie Wright)

Arts

arts

28

Wednesday September 22 | 2021

“It’s brilliant to finally be able to return to live concerts again...”

Music@Malling is an annual festival which starts tomorrow (September 23) and runs until October 2.

Taking place in a number of venues across the local area its aim is to bring live classical music to a wider audience. Eileen Leahy talks to its artistic director Thomas Kemp (left) about this year’s event…

T

HIS year’s festival marks the return of in-person live events, as Music@Malling adopts a hybrid festival delivery model that allows everyone to experience an eclectic programme of classical, jazz, world and vocal music in-person at various venues in and around West Malling and then later online.

A spokesperson for the event told the Times: “Music@Malling’s 2021 season features the same musical variety as previous years. From a performance of Mark-Anthony Turnage’s brand new work Concerto for Clarinet with the renowned Birmingham Contemporary Music Group, to an enthralling music education project based on Snow White and the Seven Dwarves, recorded in lockdown by Chamber Domaine with music by Eleanor Alberga OBE and art by artist Rosie Brookes.”

They added that other highlights for this year’s festival include: a suite of Jazz offerings, with performances by Callum Au with Jazz legend Liane Carroll, and Ronnie Scott’s The James Pearson Trio. A world premiere of Brain Elias’ Capriccio for Bassoon and Strings, with Opera North’s Adam Mackenzie and Chamber Domaine. And finally a captivating programme of Henry Purcell’s Fantasias with Viol consort Fretwork interwoven with contemporary classics from composers Alexander Goehr, John Woolwich, and Gavin Bryars. The festival’s Artistic Director Thomas Kemp tells us more . . .

So Thomas, how does it feel to be back preparing for a live Music@Malling after lockdown?

It is brilliant to be able to return to live concerts again and I am very proud of the fantastic

line-up of performers and music for this year’s festival. I think what we have learnt during the pandemic has been very useful in informing future plans for Music@Malling. It has also made me more determined to ensure that great music is available to all in concerts and outreach.

“The music is stunning, accessible and thought provoking – the festival will be fabulous” How did you get on last year when pretty much everything had to be cancelled?

It was very difficult - all concerts and tours were cancelled and there has been a lack of clarity which often affects planning. But I kept busy editing a critical edition of Richard Strauss, developing online concerts and outreach for Music@Malling. I also conducted some livestreams for the BBC and Wigmore Hall and was able to record in London after the initial lockdown. It was a great time to reflect on things and develop new skills, particularly embracing digital media which will be much more integrated with concerts moving forwards.

Did you put concerts online instead and if so how did that work - and feel?

In 2020, all our concerts and outreach were online - it was a very steep learning curve.

But I think some things worked really well, notably the outreach which attracted

Arts

Wednesday September 22 | 2021

29

receiving mentoring across 2021/22. It is great to be supporting young musicians at the start of their careers - especially given the many difficulties young musicians currently face.

CAPTIVE AUDIENCE There will be plenty of in person concerts this year

Has this year’s programme been relatively easy to put together logistically?

The 2021 festival has been complicated to put together but I think will be our best festival yet.

It took a while to know when we could have physical audiences and we have put a lot of effort into planning to make sure our audiences and musicians are as safe and as comfortable as possible.

“The 2021 festival has been complicated to put together but I think it will be our best yet”

participants from across the country. We also had tens of thousands watching clips from our concerts on social media. The main issue is that filming a concert without an audience is not a substitute for a live event with in-person audiences! Also the costs of filming far outlay the return from people paying to watch events.

Having said that, it kept the organisation going and we reached new audiences and participants from a much wider area. Also, people who were self-isolating or in old people’s homes were able to watch our concerts from the comfort of their own homes. We are incorporating this in our plans moving forwards.

Can you tell us what is on the agenda for this year? What are the personal highlights for you?

Personal highlights include conducting a programme of Mark-Anthony Turnage, Eleanor Alberga and Rebecca Saunders with one of the great contemporary music ensembles, The Birmingham Contemporary Music Group. The programme went down a storm earlier this month in Birmingham and it is fantastic to bring such a world class group to West Malling and provide an opportunity for audiences to see and meet some of Britain’s leading composers. The music is stunning, accessible and thought provoking - it will be fabulous.

Other highlights include conducting the world

premiere of Brian Elias - Capriccio in a ravishing programme of music inspired by the British Isles. This concert is presented by Aled Jones MBE - well known to audiences as a brilliant singer and presenter on Classic FM. Anything else you are looking forward to for this year’s event?

I am looking forward to playing the Ravel Trio which is one of my favourite pieces and to the jazz events which are always great fun! We have a partnership with the Royal Academy of Music - one of the world’s leading conservatoires - and it is fantastic that we have two ensembles (selected from 20) giving concerts, outreach and

And finally what do you think audiences will enjoy most about the concerts?

I think audiences will love the range of music from Telemann to Turnage: Purcell to Cole Porter. The programme is designed to take you on a musical journey or dip into different periods and styles of music. As a kid growing up in West Malling, I would have been blown away to have this on my doorstep!! It is also brilliant for people to reflect and try music that they might not otherwise know. The venues and setting are stunning too and there are lots of great places to go for a meal and to have a drink!

I hope that the festival will bring the community together, provide creative inspiration and be a truly memorable series of live events after the last, very difficult months!

For more information and tickets visit www.musicatmalling.com Venue for the concerts include St Mary’s Church, The Cowshed, Malling Abbey and Pilsdon all based in West Malling.

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Food & Culture

drink

30

Wednesday September 22 | 2021

Say cheers to a great British Food Fortnight courtesy of these corkers British Food Fortnight is currently on now until October 3. Taking place during the busy harvest time it’s an event that has been going for 20 years and calls for a national celebration of homegrown produce. Times Drinks Editor James Viner shines a spotlight on some homegrown Kent and Sussex wines which you can raise your glass to…

BRING OUT THE LOCAL SEAFOOD AND OYSTERS. SAY HELLO TO NEW SMALLBATCH, STILL WINE KENT SPECIALIST WAYFARER WINES Wayfarer Wines Woodland Chardonnay 2020, Woodchurch, Kent (£16.99-£18, Wayfarer Wines, GrapeBritannia & Roberson Wine, 12%) Not all English wine is sparkling.

Though rarely under £15, there are more and more still white and red wine gems around too. Harvest happens a little later in the year for still wine specialists like Wayfarer Wines. This year Wayfarer’s Chardonnay grapes will likely be picked around midOctober since, as new Kentish start-up Wayfarer Wine’s Karen Kearns informed me: “We tend to try to harvest a little later than most vineyards as we are looking for higher sugar and lower acidity levels than you would want for sparkling, meaning a later harvest.” It could be even later given the vagaries of English weather – a few English vineyards in 2013 picked Chardonnay in late November!

The ripe fruit really sings in this very small batch, light-bodied, unoaked Chardonnay from the immensely impressive 2020 vintage. Think

honeysuckle, citrus and peach shouting out ‘seafood and oysters!’

Karen Kearns further waxed lyrical about the food-matching potential of this charming fruit-forward wine, telling me: “My own personal favourite place to find this is from Chart Farm in Sevenoaks, who stock our wines and on Fridays/Saturdays have the most incredible new fresh fish bar!” Kearns notes that its “bright lemon citrus notes pair excellently with seafood dishes with delicate flavours, so crab meat or prawns would also work nicely. It would also work well with a risotto with fresh green vegetables such as asparagus, peas, or spinach” – or mushrooms, to my mind.

A great result by Nick Lane, the talented chief winemaker at specialist Canterbury contract winery, Defined Wine (Nick was previously winemaker at Cloudy Bay for some thirteen years).

Just 1500 bottles were produced from Wayfarer’s two promising young vineyards in Woodchurch and Maidstone.

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Food & Culture

Wednesday September 22 | 2021

HAS THE FIZZ GONE OUT OF YOUR HABITUAL GIN? TRY THIS VIVID AND EXOTIC LONDON DRY ONE INSTEAD… Tesco Finest The Melodist London Dry Gin, England (£20, Tesco, 40%) The great British gin boom or ‘ginnaissance’ shows no sign of waning.

Indeed, a record of 124 net new distilleries were established in the UK in 2020, up 28% on 2019, as demand for gin, rum and whisky continued to increase. Produced in partnership with Two Tykes distillery and crafted by Arthur Sikorski, Master Distiller at InterContinental Brands, this premium gin is made from 100% wheat grain and distilled and bottled in the UK. My kind of London Dry (unmasked by sugar) gin – a tiptop, exotic but zesty mix of 12 botanicals including yuzu, grapefruit and lemongrass with a blazing bay leaf, green tea and juniper finish. Put it in a G&T and load it up with a garnish of rosemary and yellow grapefruit peel. A lightning strike of pure refreshment. Try it with crab or cucumber sarnies, a chunk of Stilton or smoked salmon blinis (perhaps from Flimwell’s superlative The Weald Smokery). It’s also perfect for a quirky martini.

OH, THE BEAUTY OF BOTTLE AGE! A NICELY DEVELOPED (AGED 90 MONTHS), SPLASH-OUT, SILKY SPARKLING ROSÉ FROM E. SUSSEX

Hoffmann & Rathbone Rosé Reserve Brut 2012 (100% Pinot Noir), Mountfield, E. Sussex (£52, H&R, 12%) For a special treat, tuck away English fizz for a year or ten, saving it instead to enjoy later with special food or someone special. An all-Pinot Noir sparkling rosé from a boutique winery run by husband-and-wife Ulrich Hoffmann and Birgit Rathbone in the scenic village of Mountfield, East-Sussex, this 2012 sparkler is breathtakingly good, medium-bodied and still fresh as a daisy with strawberries, redcurrants and raspberries plus a garnish of rose petals, plums and orange zest.

The 10-hectare estate is planted to 50% Pinot Noir, 40% Chardonnay and 10% Pinot Meunier. Melanie de Matos, H&R’s Sales and Marketing Director told me that this outstanding pink bubbly is their “most versatile wine to pair with food [since] it’s made as a true rosé wine.” It’ll ‘pair beautifully with traditional fish and crustaceans, as well as red berries, but I particularly love it with a smoked duck pâté and a dark chocolate dessert with a berry sauce.” Thanks to its raised acidity (away with you fat and salt!), it’s also a winner with salmon carpaccio, scallops and fish and chips – hello Marino’s and the Down Town Fish Bar in Tunbridge Wells! Just 2500 bottles produced.

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Special spotlight on the wonderful world of Westwell: Adrian Pike (above) is the MD and winemaker of Westwell wines. Located just beneath the Pilgrims Way on the North Downs; the winery grows four different grape varieties: Pinot Meunier, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Ortega.

Adrian, whose background was originally in the music industry – he ran Moshi Moshi record label - has always had a passion for wines but it was a tasting of one of Will Davenport wines in a Soho restaurant in 2014 which led Adrian to transferring his love of drinking wine into making it.

“When I tried one of Will Davenport’s wines I called him the next day! I then began studying wine production and viticulture whilst working with him at Davenport,” says Adrian.

He then moved to Westwell and took over running the business and the team, most of whom have been there since the vineyard was first established in 2007. Each one is committed to making the finest sparkling and still varieties possible.

And what’s Adrian’s favourite tipple from Westwell? “Pelegrim.

It’s the most Westwell-ian of the wines we make - it reflects what the site is capable of: rich and full wine with a fruit-forward profile.”

Westwell Wine Estates Summer Field Blend 2020, Charing, nr. Ashford, Kent (£19.50, Westwell & Uncharted Wines, 11.5%) This is a delicious mid-weighted co-ferment of Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier and Chardonnay that plies pending drinkability and huge charm alongside a striking purity. I caught up with Adrian Pike, Westwell’s MD and Plumpton-trained winemaker, and asked him what would be a great pairing for this marvel of an eminently gluggable, light tannin wine: “It drinks brilliantly slightly chilled, pop it in the fridge but take it out 10 minutes before you’re going to drink it, “It works just great with barbecued meats and charcuterie but also with a decent salad, I love a tricolore one and it pairs nicely with that. I’d also be tempted to match it with fish, I know the rather wonderful Angela’s of Margate seafood restaurant is offering it by the glass to go with their seafood menu.”

I also rather like this with slow-roasted crisp pork belly. It’s also great on its own as a mouth-watering, pale red aperitif. Very little is left of this vintage – just 1800 artisanal bottles were produced – so snap it up! Westwell will reopen to visitors after harvest, around mid-November.

Follow James on Twitter @QuixoticWine

6 must-try local wines from some impressive industry newcomers: n Heppington Vineyard Pinot Gris 2020, Canterbury, Kent (around £16.50, The EnglishVine, GrapeBritannia & Heppington): hello roast pork! n Litmus Orange Bacchus 2020 (with 10% Pinot Noir), Dorking, Surrey (£12.50£15.99, The Wine Society offer & Waitrose): one for a cheese platter & roast goose n Roebuck Estates Classic

Cuvée 2014, Petworth, W. Sussex (Roebuck & GrapeBritannia, £34.99-£35): scintillating sparkler to pair with seasonal oysters, mussels & scallops n Simpsons Rabbit Hole Pinot Noir 2020, Barham, Kent (£22.95-£26, Roberson offer & Simpsons): just the ticket very lightly chilled for tender pink salmon fillets or roast beef/duck

GB wine at a glance: n There are now approximately 800 vineyards & 178 wineries n Approximately 3,800ha under vine, with roughly two-thirds (roughly 33% each) of the total hectarage planted to just two varieties: Pinot

Noir & Chardonnay n Some 8.7m vines were planted in the last 5 years (2017-2021), equating to 1,977 ha (4,884 acres) n Just over 98% of vineyards are planted in England, with 1.5% in Wales, & the

n Westwell Pelegrim NV, near Ashford, Kent (£29-£29.50, Roberson & Westwell): a marvellous choice for seafood, especially native oysters, fish and chips & fruits de mer n Yotes Court ‘On the Bridle Bacchus’ 2020, Mereworth, Charing (£15, YC): pair with fresh trout, shellfish and poached/grilled salmon

remainder in Scotland & the Channel Islands n Typically, around 70% of each vintage becomes sparkling wine & the rest is still From data supplied by WineGB and Wine Standards Branch (Food Standards Agency), 2021

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Health & Wellbeing

Wednesday September 22 | 2021

health & wellbeing

Countryfile’s John Craven on the joys of nature, relaxing in his garden, and how hearing aids changed his life Like millions, hearing loss impacted John Craven’s life - until he found a solution. He explains to Abi Jackson how he was able to hear once again...

N

ATURE and the outdoors has played a key role in John Craven’s life and career – from childhood bike rides in Yorkshire, to clocking up more than three decades as one of the presenters on BBC One’s Countryfile.

At a certain point however, hearing loss began to dampen Craven’s ability to fully soak up the sounds of wildlife and the great outdoors.

Thankfully, hearing aids have turned this around and, at 81, the countryside-loving grandfather and broadcaster has now teamed up with Specsavers Audiology on a campaign encouraging others to also get their hearing checked.

According to Specsavers, it takes on average 10 years for people to get their hearing checked. Often, people are worried about needing hearing aids, with 56% admitting they still think there’s a stigma around it, a recent survey by the brand found.

Here, Craven talks to us about the joy of nature, peaceful evenings in his garden, and why he thought people were mumbling…

OUTDOOR PLEASURES John Craven in his garden

Can you tell us a bit about your experience of hearing aids?

“It all started around 15 years ago, when I began to realise I was struggling to hear certain voices and sounds. I thought people were mumbling when they weren’t. ‘Say again please’ became too common a response to family, friends and colleagues, and in crowded rooms it was hard to follow conversations.

‘One in every six adults in the UK suffers some form of hearing loss’ “Outdoors, I wasn’t hearing many of the gentler sounds of nature that everyone else was. All very frustrating. I used to kid myself I’d developed ‘selective hearing’, but the truth was I was becoming a little deaf. Eventually, I confronted the fact I needed help, went for a free test at Specsavers, and my world changed.

“With hearing aids, sounds came

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Health & Wellbeing

Wednesday September 22 | 2021

close to you, get it tested. You have nothing to lose, and an awful lot to regain.”

PRESENTING TEAM Opening day of BBC Countryfile Live at Blenheim Palace back with a clarity I had forgotten – pages turning, clocks ticking, birds singing, and no one had to say everything twice to me. The family didn’t have to endure painfully high volume levels on TVs and radios, I no longer missed out on chatter, and it was now very much my own choice if I deployed ‘selective hearing’!”

We know there can be stigma around hearing aids, which can be a barrier for seeking tests and getting aids fitted. Is this something you can relate to?

“It’s true there is something of a stigma, but I’m not sure why this should be in this day and age, when many hearing aids are almost invisible. I suppose nobody likes to think they are losing any of their faculties, but the truth is that one in every six adults in the UK suffers some form of hearing loss – that’s 11 million of us – and

two-thirds are over the age of 60.

“I remember wondering what the reaction would be when I started wearing spectacles on

‘I was worried when I experienced hearing loss because Countryfile is very much about the sounds’ television, but there wasn’t any – viewers just took it for granted that I needed them. Hearing aids are generally less conspicuous – and really effective – so there’s no reason to be concerned about what others might think if you use them.

My advice is that if you notice any change in your ability to hear, or indeed in that of someone

What does enjoying the sounds of nature mean to you?

“I must admit, I was worried when I first began experiencing hearing loss because Countryfile is very much about the sounds, as well as the sights of nature. But hearing aids solved the problem and it is a real delight to experience the rustle of leaves, the pitter-patter of raindrops, the distant roar of thunder as easily as anyone with normal hearing. As someone once said: ‘Sound is the vocabulary of nature.’

“Our gardens can also be a fantastic listening zone, giving us everything from the buzzing of bumble bees and the cooing of pigeons to, in my case, beautifully tuned wind chimes sent by friends in California.

“The other day, I was weeding when I heard a screech and, alerted by the noise, looked up and saw a red kite circling low. That sight and sound gave me an extra thrill because on Countryfile, I played a very small part in re-introducing this spectacular bird species into the UK, 30 or so years ago, after it had been persecuted to extinction. Now, red kites are thriving – and even pay me a visit!

“My garden is mostly free of traffic noise and one of the great pleasures in life is to relax there in the late evening sunshine after a busy day, eyes closed and ears fully working, listening in peace and quiet to blackbirds, thrushes, woodpeckers and whatever other wildlife happens to come by.”

How would you describe the role nature has played in your life? Is it big part of your wellbeing and happiness?

“It certainly is, and I’m extremely fortunate to

35

have a job which has taken me into the great outdoors almost every week for the past three decades. I was brought up on the outskirts of Leeds and given a bike for passing the 11-plus.

Soon, I was peddling out to Lower Wharfedale with my pals and spent many happy hours discovering nature. The passion I developed then for our countryside, which I consider to be the finest in the world, has stayed with me ever since.”

Lots of people have found nature to be a life force during the pandemic – how has this been for you?

“During the early days, when we all felt trapped both physically and mentally, we realised how much we missed being outdoors. When some restrictions were eased, and we could go to parks or the nearest countryside, I walked with sprightly steps along my favourite paths around my village, getting much-needed exercise and feeling free. Since then, what a tonic it has been to venture into wide-open places once again and just stand and stare and listen as nature surrounds us.”

Is there a best piece of advice you’ve received that’s really stuck with you, or shaped your outlook?

“When I started out in television, getting on for 60 years ago, an old hand in the business said to me: ‘Just be yourself and know your limits – any falseness soon gets sniffed out’. I’ve always tried to stick to that, and I think it’s pretty good advice for anyone in any walk of life.”

John Craven is working with Specsavers Audiology to help remove the stigma of hearing loss. For more information or to book an appointment, visit specsavers.co.uk

1922 2022

rtwsymphonyorchestra

Great Orchestral Classics Tannhäuser Overture – Wagner The Noon Witch – Dvořák Hungarian Dances No1 & No4 – Brahms Piano Concerto No2 – Brahms

Conductor: Roderick Dunk Soloist: Freddy Kempf (Piano)

SUNDAY 3 OCTOBER 2021 3pm

at the Assembly Hall Theatre, Tunbridge Wells

Tickets from £22

Available from www.assemblyhalltheatre.co.uk 01892 530613 Follow us on

www.rtwso.org

36

Travel

Wednesday September 22 | 2021

From ‘contactless’ chalet cleaners to wellstocked kitchens – what skiers can expect from visiting the French slopes once again Hannah Millington looks at new Covid-safe solutions on the slopes in Meribel

travel

T

HERE’S good news for Brits itching to take to the slopes – or craving a healthy dose of après-ski – as resorts in France will be accessible again this 2021/22 season. But as with everything else we’re experiencing, it will be a bit different this time.

My taster of what the new-normal of traditional chalet holidays will be like begins when I arrive at Geneva Airport, where I’m picked up by our driver Renaud from MV Transport.

He whisks us across the border to the beautifully crisp and mesmerising Meribel, found in the heart of the 3 Valleys in the French Alps – the world’s largest ski area. Those wanting to stay in their own protective bubble can of course arrange independent car hire or arrive via ferry, rather than being transported around.

So, what has changed? Apart from the fact I’m travelling in summer – with a lack of snow-capped views replaced by greener terrain – to get a preview, it seems like quite a lot.

I’m among the first to experience how Ski France (the UK branch of French hotel group, Madame Vacances) has been preparing for the winter season ahead, with fully vaccinated Brits now permitted to travel to its resorts quarantine free.

It has been busy flipping what we know about ski holidays upside down to accommodate for

travellers in the current climate.

We arrive late evening to Chalet Etienne, where we are met not by chalet staff, but by a fully stocked fridge, cool beer, chilled wine, beds neatly made and rooms perfectly organised. Say goodbye to chalet hosts and chefs and hello to their new Contactless Catered Chalets.

While the idea sounds perfectly designed for a pandemic, it was actually conceived long before Covid-19 let loose.

New Era The difficulties of employing English staff in France post Brexit – coupled with the higher cost of employing French staff – meant it was challenging to keep an attractive price-point for the usual chalet experience, Joanna Laforge, co-owner of Ski France and Sales & Marketing Director, explains as we enjoy our new style of dinner on the first night. Of course, when Covid-19 emerged, meaning people favour ‘contactfree’, they fully rolled with the concept.

Ski France has more than 50 chalets, which are divided into Classic and Premium across various French Alps resorts. The price difference between the two options is around 10/15%, with a week’s stay at our Premium chalet costing from £8,929 for up to 14 people sharing on a Contactless Catered basis.

ALFRESCO APPEAL Enjoy a glass of wine and drink in the gorgeous views

Travel

Wednesday September 22 | 2021

Despite differences among the resorts in prestige, accommodation and food offerings, both Classic and Premium provide local produce and various ingredients for breakfast, afternoon tea/snack, a three-course dinner and drinks each day, with flexibility in each category. Our extra perks include Champagne on the first night and croissants and coffee delivered every day from the local bakery.

Menus, recipes and easy-to-follow instructions are laid out, with fresh ingredients pre-delivered and pre-stocked in the kitchen. ‘HelloFresh’ hits the slopes, you could say.

On our first night, the suggested meal is goat’s cheese and lardon salad with balsamic dressing, salmon en croute with white wine and dill sauce (plus roast new potatoes and broccoli), summer fruit crumble with crème anglaise and after dinner chocolates. We also enjoy copious amounts of cheese. As the only vegetarian in the group – not the easiest thing to be in France – I tuck into a veggie cannelloni instead for main.

A local delicatessen currently provides the

37

THAT’S SNOW BUSINESS Meribel is just magical when dusted with snow

‘Slightly lesser known activities, such as the fatbike, ski trekking, snow shoes…are a different way to enjoy the mountains’ food, but Ski France plans on having its own central kitchen to better cater for veggie, vegan and gluten free guests, for which there will be different set menu options.

Skis or snowboards will also be reserved at the local hire shop and lift passes will be booked, which will help to avoid queuing and crowded areas.

The ‘backstage’ chalet crew will only sweep into the chalet – when guests are out enjoying the slopes – halfway through the week to clean, replenish and re-sock the accommodation.

They’ll be at the end of the phone, but ‘contactless’, unless requested otherwise.

Our first proper day starts with breakfast in the chalet, then we’re off to experience some bike action in the Alps. Cycling – along with many other activities – is available in both summer and winter seasons for those who want to break up ski days.

Bike Ride We meet our guide Alexandre from MCF bike school for adventures on e-mountain fatbikes.

After a firm but fair taster lesson – practising

emergency brakes and keeping very straight legs – we head off into the dreamy Meribel Valley.

Some might say ‘boost mode’ is cheating, but I certainly appreciate how it helps me climb the mountains.

With resorts filled mostly be the domestic market, Alexandre says there has been a shift to “slightly lesser known activities, such as the fatbike, ski trekking, snow shoes…a different way to enjoy the mountain”.

Ski France also turned to the French domestic market to offer their chalets for stays last winter, LET’S HIKE Heading off into Meribel Valley

following much uncertainty in mid-March 2020 when ski resorts had to close.

But those visitors might not have been so into the Contactless Catered idea, I’m told, and would probably have popped to the supermarkets instead.

Back at the chalet I enjoy some downtime in the wooden sauna, before a dip in the – very powerful – Jacuzzi. I also enjoy taking in the views from the balcony of my large en suite room, filled with the triangular chalet rooftops, tall trees and mountain-peaks – all of which I visualise to be entirely shrouded in snow come December 4 when Meribel officially reopens.

Finale My dip into e-transport and “lesser known activities” isn’t over quite yet, as next we head for e-skateboarding escapades at Lac de Tueda, a beautiful circular lake surrounded by pine trees. I slowly but surely make my way around the breath-taking scenes, clutching a controller that allows me to add power to my skate. “Bend your knees!” my guide from EM Skate shouts after me as I wobble when trying to maneuverer the thing from left to right.

On our last day, we enjoy some fun at Aquamotion, nestled in Courchevel. The aquatic centre is filled with indoor and outdoor pools with mountain views, steam rooms, ice buckets, cold and hot Jacuzzis, a salt pool with neon lights, a surf experience, and most importantly… slides. Whenever we enter a venue or facility, we present our passe sanitaire on the French TousAntiCovid app.

Feeling truly Zen, I snooze as we head next in our mini-van down the valley to Chambery.

Waking up to Ski France’s very own 14th century Chateau de Candie doesn’t turn out to be the worst experience.

We sample some of the Viognier produced from its very own vineyard, of which it makes 2-3000 bottles of Candie 1891 dry white wine a year.

After a very satisfying three-course meal at the chateau’s La Cantine, I reach the conclusion that French ski resorts are fairly well-prepared for the season ahead.

HOW TO PLAN YOUR TRIP:

A week’s stay at Chalet Etienne, with Ski France, costs from £638 per person (£8,929 total) for 14 people sharing the Premium chalet on a Contactless Catered basis. Visit skifrance-premium.co.uk or call 0203 475 4756.

38

Motoring News

Wednesday September 22 | 2021

Motoring News

This week… n

The new RAV4

n

Porsche eFuel plant

n The new car smell

Toyota updates RAV4 range and adds a new Adventure model...

TOYOTA has updated its popular RAV4 for 2022, while introducing a new rugged-looking Adventure model. A range of changes have been made to the regular car, including the introduction of new projector-type LED headlights and LED front fog lights.

In addition, a new 10-spoke alloy wheel design has been introduced in either silver or black, while inside the cabin there’s added LED lighting, power adjustment for the front passenger seat and USB-C charging points.

The new Adventure model, meanwhile,

incorporates a black grille with a Toyota badge which has been moved to a more central position. The front fog lights are housed within black surrounds, while silver-coloured underbody panels give it a go-anywhere look. At all four corners sit 19-inch alloy wheels finished in matte grey.

Stitching Inside, you’ll find seats trimmed in quilted synthetic leather with contrast orange stitching.

How major car manufacturers get that classic ‘new car smell’

‘Adventure’ branded scuff plates tie the whole look together. The RAV4 Adventure utilises a 2.5-litre four-cylinder hybrid setup with an intelligent all-wheel-drive system which comes through a small electric motor being fitted to the rear axle.

The RAV4 is expected to go on sale towards the end of the year with first deliveries predicted in the first quarter of 2022. Full pricing and specification will be announced closer to that time, too, though it’s likely that there will be a small increase on the current RAV4’s £31,095 starting price.

REVVED UP The updated Rav4

ANYONE who has sat in a new car will know that distinctive ‘new car smell’.

You might think that this is simply a natural by-product of fitting all those new materials to a vehicle, but the reality is, car manufacturers pay deliberate attention to the odours that emanate from its factoryfresh cabins.

Nissan has just shared details of what goes into this process. The new Qashqai crossover went on sale this summer, so has just been put through the firm’s rigorous odour evaluation process.

Peter Karl Eastland is the lead engineer for this process, and is tasked with ensuring new car customers have a positive response to the interior’s smell.

Harmonised

Porsche begins construction of eFuel plant PORSCHE has started construction of an eFuel plant in Punta Arenas, Chile.

Built in collaboration with technology firm Siemens, the plant is where Porsche will manufacture the synthetic fuel. It’s expected to produce around 130,000 litres of the nearly CO2-neutral fuel next year, after which capacity will be expanded in two stages.

It’ll rise to around 55 million litres by 2024 and then to around 550 million litres by 2026.

Pioneers Michael Steiner, member of the executive board for research and development at Porsche AG, said: “Porsche was founded with pioneering spirit. That’s what drives us, we thrive on innovation. We also see ourselves as pioneers when it comes to renewable fuels, and we want to drive development forward.

“This fits in with our clear overall sustainability strategy. It means that Porsche as a whole can be net CO2 neutral as early as 2030. Fuels produced with renewable energy can make a contribution to this. Our icon, the 911, is particularly suitable for the use of eFuels.”

The development of eFuels, according to

Steiner, will allow Porsche to ‘reduce fossil CO2 emissions in combustion engines by up to 90%’.

The first batch of fuel will be used in the firm’s Mobil 1 Supercup race cars from 2022.

The site has been chosen for its climate, with the winds in the province ideal for providing

green power to the site. In its first step, electrolysers split water into oxygen and hydrogen using wind power. Then, CO2 is filtered from the air and combined with the hydrogen to provide synthetic methanol, which is then converted into eFuels.

PLANT For’d eFuel facilty

Eastland says: “We aim to provide the best sensory experience for the customer.

While tastes and preferences evolve over time, smell remains a constant. Therefore, it is part of our job to make sure that any material we use is always going to be perfect in terms of scent and that all of the senses are harmonised.”

David Moss, senior vice president for Nissan’s region research and development, added: “That new car smell isn’t just a consequence of the manufacturing process; months of work are devoted throughout the development phase of the new vehicle to carefully analyse the use of materials and chemicals, such as seat fabric, adhesives, and polymers, to ensure that they don’t combine to generate an unpleasant odour for the car’s occupants.”

The odour team will work with each of the materials in the cabin to see how their smell is affected by changes in temperature and other atmospheric conditions. If they notice a negative response, they’ll work to find an alternative material.

This is not a small program, either.

Eastland’s team is not alone at Nissan, with counterparts in Atsugi, Japan and Farmington Hills, United States.

Nissan is not the only manufacturer to have staff dedicated to perfecting the new car smell. Audi has the brilliantly titled Nose Team, whose job is essentially the same as those at Nissan.

The team has been in place since 1985 and is tasked with ensuring customer comfort is not compromised by irritating smells.

2021 Christmas at Salomons Estate Tunbridge Wells OnE nighT in VEgaS

a VEry BuBlÉ ChriSTmaS

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

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

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

3 course choice festive menu.

Casino tables.

Disco and dancing until 1am.

Dress to impress / Vegas Vibes.

£45

One night only Thursday 9th December 2020

Available Thursday, Fridays and Saturdays throughout December

Glass of prosecco on arrival.

2 course choice festive menu (main and dessert).

Live singing from the ‘Bublé Experience’ tribute act.

Disco and dancing until 1am Dress to impress.

TimiNGS Arrival from 7pm, 1am finish.

Dinner service time will be confirmed nearer the time.

£49.50

per person Available for groups of 8 people or more.

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

per person

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

Available 20th November-23rd December Traditional

£21.50 per person

Prosecco

£26.50 per person

Children’s

£11.50

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

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

FESTiVE lunChES

DinE WiTh SanTa

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

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

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

2 courses

£24.50 per person

3 courses

£29.50 per person

minimum numbers and venue hire charges apply for private dining.

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

COUNTRY HOUSE

Adults

£29.50 per person

Children

£16.00 per person

includes a gift from Santa for every child.

Tables available between 12pm-4pm

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