Wednesday August 24 | 2022 Times OF TUNBRIDGE WELLS All the news that matters Local, National and International
EXCLUSIVE By Richard Williams STAFF shortages that have seen restaurants close and businesses struggle to recruit are now impacting the town’s largest employer, the Times has learnt.
YOURINSIDEGUIDETO LOCAL&LIVE BOOK ONLINE AND SAVE* 8 – 11 CastleHeverSEPT&Gardens TN8 7NG 9.30am –5.30pm Daily *Offer codes valid for adults on dates of craft fair only. Craft Fair entry included in normal Garden admission charges (Garden open until 6pm daily) See website for details Special Offer £12 using CRAFT2022*Code CIF_Hever_Sept_22_194x45.indd 1 15/08/2022 10:05 Students jump for joy on receiving A-Level Results Continued on page 2 Energy Pal Energy Made Simple Introduces Gin & Jazz Festival 2022 ON THE PANTILES in association with Dark Spirit 11am - 7pm Great Food • Top SATURDAYSounds3RD&SUNDAY4THSEPTEMBER CubaLibre CubaLibre FREE EVENT Where music matters Musical BrittensInstrumentSheetinstrumentsmusicrentalsServicing&repairsMusicSchool www.brittensmusic.co.ukTel:(01892)526659@brittensmusic CLASS ACT: Students at Tunbridge Wells Girls’ Grammar School celebrating last Thursday. From left to right, Annie Taylor, Abi Carney and Scarlett Kilcoyne are excited to be off to university next month. FULL STORY P4 AXA Health is the latest employer suffering effects of staffing crisis HardingEmily-Photograph
AXA Health, which employs more than 2,000 people in Tunbridge Wells, is struggling to attract new workers, especially for its call centres, leading to long queues of people trying to contact the company.
It is understood the insurer, which has its HQ in Hawkenbury at International House in Forest Road, and also has offices in Vale Road and Lamberts Road in the town, is around 60 employees short in one of its contact centres. A spokesperson for AXA Health told the Times: “It is widely recognised across many industries that recruitment in the UK is more challenging than in previous years, particularly for certain roles, including contact centre employees. Diversify “For these roles, we are continuing to actively recruit strong candidates and we’ve also adapted our training and induction to get more of our new starters productive and engaged in their role faster, without compromising on quality. “Across the board, we have introduced new and creative ways to diversify our recruitment strategy and develop our talent pipeline, in response to the changes in the workplace since the pandemic.”Thestaffshortages come despite AXA Health, formerly known as AXA PPP, adopting a hybrid approach to working, allowing staff members to both work from home and from the office. The move has enabled the insurer, which has been based in Tunbridge Wells for around 30 years, to sell offices Eynsham House and Phillips House on Crescent Road opposite the Assembly
The Times has previously reported on how, since the end of the pandemic, restaurants have been unable to fill vacancies leading to a number of establishments being forced to close, including Vittle & Swig and Rendez-Vous on Camden Road. Vacancies
Lib Dems appoint a new finance chief following
Experience The measures, aimed to reduce the council’s deficit, resulted in protests and heavy criticism of the new ‘Borough Partnership’, which is a coalition consisting of Lib Dem, Alliance and Labour Councillors.
resignationCHRISHALL
Robert Mansfield, Secretary of Tonbridge Line Commuters, a group that campaigns for a better service on the line that connects Tunbridge Wells, Tonbridge and London, said a doubledigit rise would hit key workers and schoolchildren the most.
The news comes as unemployment figures released last week show falling jobless numbers haveLateststabilised.figuresfrom the Office of National Statistics show that there are now 1,640 people in Tunbridge Wells claiming unemployment benefits.Thisisup from 1,635 in June, but a stark difference from figures during the pandemic when the jobless rate in Tunbridge Wells rose to 3,325 – the highest unemployment levels in the local authority area in almost 30 years. of staffing
A NEW head of Finance and Performance at Tunbridge Wells Borough Council has been chosen after the previous cabinet member stepped down earlier month.thisCllrChris Hall, who represents the residents in Broadwater for the Democrats,Liberal has now elevatedbeento one of the cabinet’s key becomesteppedAndrewpredecessor,afterpositionshisHickey,downtoanindependent.CllrHickey’sresignation from both the cabinet post and the local Liberal Democrats followed an angry reaction from residents and businesses over plans to scrap free parking in Council-owned car parks in Paddock Wood and Southborough.
EDITOR RICHARD richard.williams@onemediauk.co.ukWILLIAMS | 01892 240626 DEPUTY EDITOR EILEEN eileen.leahy@onemediauk.co.ukLEAHY | 01892 576037 CHIEF REPORTER VICTORIA newsdesk@onemediauk.co.uROBERTSk | 01892 779615 DESIGN/PRODUCTION JASON jason.stubbs@onemediauk.co.ukSTUBBS ADVERTISING 07557 robin.singer@onemediauk.co.uk847841 FIND US ONLINE twitter.com/timeslocalnewswww.timeslocalnews.co.ukfacebook.com/timeslocalnews CONTACTS One Media and Creative UK Limited is registered in England and Wales under company number 5398960 with registered office at 45 Westerham Road, Sevenoaks, Kent TN13 2QB. Salomons Estate, Broomhill Road, Tunbridge Wells, TN3 0TF PRINTED BY MORTONS PRINT LTD Media Centre, Morton Way, Horncastle, Lincolnshire LN9 6JR CLARIFICATIONS AND CORRECTIONS HERE at the Times Local News we strive to deliver fair, accurate and balanced reports. When we don’t meet our own high standards we will accept the responsibility and publish clarifications and corrections. If you would like to make a comment on any aspect of the newspaper, please write to the editor. this week… SETTING SAIL Cranbrook’s 19th century renovation‘sweeps’reopenswindmillwithnewafter P9 EATING OUT The end of pandemicthe has not lessened our taste for al fresco dining P32 LIVE AND KICKING Check out the Times’ 8-page pull out guide to the Local & Live festival P16 SOURCE OF PRIDE The Times looks at plans for development of the historic Chalybeate Spring and asks what more can be done P6 Continued from front page AXA on receiving end
Ironic He told the Times: “We welcome the DFT saying the next rise will be below inflation but are sceptical that this is anything but a fig leaf. “The prospect of a double-digit percentage rail fare rise will hurt key workers and those who have no choice but to work in a specific location.
The Council was also forced to abandon garden waste collections last year due to a shortage of qualified HGV drivers. Industries ranging from hotels to law firms are also in dire need of new staff.
Cllr Hall has over twenty years commercial and management experience, working for companies such as Getty Images, Informa and AXA. He was elected to Tunbridge Wells Borough Council in May 2021. Lib Dem Council Leader, Ben Chapelard, said: “We are committed to listening to local residents and business on the best way of achieving our objectives, and at the same time striving to protect the most vulnerable in our community.
Neil Simmons, who runs local recruitment agency TN Recruits in Tunbridge Wells says the number of vacancies in the town is still at an all-time high. He said: “We have been approached by a number of new clients, in particular in the legal and automotive industry sectors, who are desperate to grow and have had no luck in finding staff through their own sources.
By Richard Williams
“A great example of this is school children who are also suffering because of the extensive cuts to bus services in Kent,” he added. “It is somewhat ironic that the Government will force a large rail fare increase on passengers whilst denying rail workers the same.
“It is in everyone’s interest, both financially and environmentally for the railway to have healthy usage but the Government seems to miss this point time and time again,” he continued. “Be it too-rigid 'flexible' tickets or ticket office closures, it seems determined to put people off using the railway and force them into their cars. How is this consistent with their net zero by 2050 policy?”
“I am delighted to welcome Councillor Chris Hall – who brings valuable commercial experience –into his new position.”
Fears over rail price hikes after figure used for fare rises hits double digits
“We are finding a lot more companies are open to considering part-time staff to bolster their workforce, which we certainly encourage our clients to do. “As well as being flexible in hours of work and hybrid working, companies need to offer a bit more than a good salary. “We recently ran a survey with all of the candidates we have interviewed since the pandemic, and opportunities for career progression came top of the list in what local candidates want in their next job,” Mr Simmons added.
By Richard Williams
SEASON tickets for commuters travelling from Tunbridge Wells to London could be set to rise by more than £500 in January after the figure used to calculate rail fare rises has hit more than 12 per cent. The Office for National Statistics data showed July’s Retail Prices Index (RPI) of inflation was 12.3 per cent, up from 11.8 per cent the previous month and the highest in 40 years since January 1982.The figure is usually used to determine annual increases in train fares, although the Department for Transport (DFT) announced on Monday that the 2023 increase in regulated fares in England will be below the inflation measurement, it has not said how much below. Value Commuters and those that campaign for better value for money on the railways fear January will still see double-digit price rises. This would see the price of a basic season ticket from Tunbridge Wells to London rise from around £5,250 to more than £5,775. It means that basic rate taxpayers, who earn less than £50,000, will find they need to earn at least £8,600 before tax just to pay for their commute. Higher-rate taxpayers will have to earn nearly £10,000 before tax to pay for their season ticket, and those that rely on the Tube to get around London will have to pay even more.
timeslocalnews.co.ukFOR EVEN MORE NEWS VISIT:2 NEWS Local News Wednesday August 24 | 2022 Hall, which had become surplus to requirement. But it has not been enough to encourage new recruits to fill the gaps in vacancies at AXA, who employ roughly one in every 21 workers in the Borough and follows staff shortages across a number of industries in Tunbridge Wells.
shortage crisis
Four remain in custody over Tonbridge stabbing
AN INQUEST has opened into the death of an engineering student found drowned in a river in Tunbridge Wells. Dominic Mawdsley, 23, died in the water off Powder Mill Lane on Sunday, August 7, a coroner at County Hall in Maidstone heard. Mr Mawdsley – whose body was identified by police – died by drowning, a post-mortem revealed.Thehearing was adjourned until December 8 when a full inquest into the circumstances will take place.
The teenagers arrested on Sunday – a 17-year-old boy from Coulsdon, south London, a 15-year-old girl from Tonbridge and a 16-year-old boy from Tonbridge – were arrested on suspicion of murder. The 47-year-old woman also from Coulsdon was arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender. Two teenage boys previously arrested have been released without charge. Detective Inspector Lee Neiles, of the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate, said the police were now keen to speak to anyone who was in the area of Nelson Avenue between 11.55pm on Thursday August 18 and 12.30am on Friday August 19. Police also appealed to residents to check doorbell cameras and CCTV. Anyone with information should call Kent Police on 101, quoting reference 19-0050, or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111 or by using the online form on their website.
MTW recruitment event results in 45 job offers
A LAMBERHURST man jailed for three years and nine months after making more than £160,000 from drug dealing and money laundering has had his 160mph sports car auctioned off by Kent Police.Cosmo Budd, 25, was jailed in December 2021 after pleading guilty to money laundering and class A drug supply offences. He had been arrested a year earlier at a property he was renting in Bartley Mill, Lamberhurst, where officers had found cocaine with a street value of around £3,000. They had also recovered £1,385 in cash. A review of Budd’s personal and financial records established he had earned £160,816 from his criminal activity, of which £28,824 was identified as being recoverable. Along with cash that was recovered by Police and money in Budd’s bank account, officers also seized the dealer’s high performance M4 convertible BMW sports car – capable of a top speed of 156mph.
The confiscation of the car and other assets, which also included a quad bike, was approved during a hearing at Maidstone Crown Court earlier this month. Kent Police say the money from the sale of the convicted drug dealer’s car and other assets will be divided between the operational agencies and the Home Office so that it can be reinvested into policing. Illegal Any further assets identified in the future can also be subject to confiscation proceedings until the total earnings of his criminal activity are paid back.Detective Inspector Helen Smithers of the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate said: “Cosmo Budd and other criminals like him may enjoy spending their illegal earnings on sports cars and designer clothing, but we will not hesitate to strip them of their assets whilst they are spending a less luxurious lifestyle behind bars.“Our financial investigators leave no stone unturned when reviewing a criminal’s personal wealth, ensuring they cannot continue to reap the rewards of their crimes after they have been released from prison. We will continue to use the legislation afforded to us under the Proceeds of Crime Act to drivehome the message that crime does not pay.”
The Summer Fête Saturday August 27, 11am-4pm. Free An old-fashioned English country fête for the whole family to enjoy. Taking over the Trinity Gardens will be bouncy castles, face painting, a coconut shy, a tombola, a slime stall, hook-a-duck, cornhole and cake
By Robert Forrester
A RECRUITMENT event for Healthcare Support Workers on August 20 resulted in 45 job offers on the day, said Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust (MTW). MTW is in the middle of a major recruitment drive. The last recruitment event on August 17 focused on specialist oncology nurses. The next recruitment day is due to be held on September 17.
The Ceilidh Saturday August 27, 6:30-10pm. Tickets £15 Dance to Celtic band License to Ceilidh, who have been seen on TV many times. Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned barn dancer, join in for summer drinks, BBQ food and a highland fling The Great Trinity Muck In Sunday August 28, 11am-8pm. Free The Trinity team want to future-proof the building for a healthy start to the next 40 years and they are asking the whole community to help. If you can give your time, they hope they can offer you some new skills in return, as well as tea and cake
Crime doesn’t pay for dealer after police sell his £20,000 pride and joy
Artistic Director Sean Turner said: “Becoming a parent for the first time in the last few months has made me appreciate the power of community even more, and I am proud to preside over a venue that so truly holds the people it serves at its heart. “We intend to provide entertainment to the town in better and more interesting ways every single day, but for some we are so much more than that,” he added. “Our building is a centre for community – a place to meet friends and learn. A place to talk about the issues that matter over a good cup of coffee. A place to bring the children to play in our beautiful garden or indoor toy stage. It’s a place for the vulnerable to feel secure and for the discontented to feel fulfilled. The work we do is more than that seen on our stages.”
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A 44-YEAR-OLD Tunbridge Wells resident appeared on remand on Monday (August 22) charged with attempted murder, after an incident in Upper Grosvenor Road last Thursday (August 18). It is understood the suspect was known to the victim, a man in his 20s who suffered injuries consistent with stab wounds at a property on Upper Grosvenor Road on Thursday afternoon. The victim managed to drive a car to Belgrave Road, where paramedics were called and was taken to hospital where his condition was described as stable. A 35-year-old man from Ashford was detained on Friday, on suspicion of assisting an offender, and was released pending further investigation.KojoOhene, 44, of Upper Grosvenor Road was arrested in Croydon on Sunday, and was remanded in custody. He did not enter a formal plea and was remanded by Folkestone Magistrates’ Court to a hearing at Maidstone Crown Court on September 19.
Resident charged with attempted murder in Tunbridge Wells
AUCTIONED Cosmo Budd’s former BMW convertible that has been sold (Picture Wilson’s Auctions)
By Sarah Bond TRINITY Theatre in Tunbridge Wells is marking its 40 years in the town this bank holiday weekend with community events and a big party to celebrate its longevity. Over its four decades so far Trinity Theatre, which is a registered charity, has staged over 1,000 shows, with plays, musicals, film screenings, comedy nights, live music, dance, children’s theatre and youth workshops filling itsToday,programme.Trinity is a much-loved arts asset in Tunbridge Wells, but the town nearly didn’t have it at all. Events After it closed in 1974 as a place of worship, the former Holy Trinity Church – part of architect Decimus Burton’s famed Calverley development – lay Whenderelict.Church Commissioners and the Diocese were presented with plans to sell the land to residential developers, the building was saved from demolition through the determination of the Royal Tunbridge Wells Civic Society to save it for the good of the town. They mounted a campaign with other community groups, including the Tunbridge Wells Drama Club, and fought hard to keep the prized building as an asset for the community.
Student died drowning
An organisation – the Trinity Theatre and Arts Association – was formed to take the project to the next level, and though it took several years of work, energy and creative thinking, the first shows were staged in 1982. The rest, as they say, isTohistory.celebrate its Ruby Anniversary, Trinity is hosting a range of free and ticketed events running from August 26-28 including a variety show, a summer fête, a ceilidh and ‘The Great Trinity Muck In’, where they want everyone to join in and volunteer to help to ‘future-proof’ the building for all.
Trinity Variety Show Friday August 26, 7:30pm. Tickets £12 The Variety Show showcases the people that make the venue special, including the youth theatre and senior choir. Expect magic, music, dance, drama and laughs
THE WEEKEND CELEBRATIONS
As the town toasts Trinity Theatre’s big milestone, the current conversion of the clock tower into a public viewing platform, will prove the icing on the birthday cake.
Charity theatre takes centre stage as it marks 40 years in the town...
BIG BIRTHDAY Trinity Theatre turns 40
THREE TEENAGERS and a 47-year-old woman remain in custody at the time of going to press, following a fatal stabbing in Tonbridge in the early hours of last Friday, August 19.
“Nine out of ten students gained A*-C grades and for BTEC qualifications, the overall pass rate is 100 per cent,” a spokesperson said.
Results
“It has been very stressful, and very different from other years. The teachers were saying that the last few years have been a team effort. Not just the work, but keeping going. But in the end, it all fell into place.”
MATT AND MATT (Pictured above) TWGSB SUCCESS RATE A-Level students at St Gregory’s
MARIA PACE (Pictured above) TWGGS IF STUDENTS do not achieve the results they were hoping for, there is plenty of help and support available, said Kent County Council. “Students should speak to their schools in the first instance as staff will be able to discuss the various options available to them,” the local authority advised. More information from The Education People atAdviceKentChoices.co.ukfromtheExam Results Helpline, run by the National Careers Service, at gov.uk/ careers-helpline-for-teenagers
Bennett Memorial School in Tunbridge Wells said 65 per cent of all A-Levels taken were passed with grades A*-B, and 90 per cent were passed with grades A*-C. Beechwood School said it had a pass rate of 99 per cent and 72 per cent of grades being A*-C.
By Victoria Roberts AS GCSE students wait anxiously for results day tomorrow (Thursday) hundreds of pupils across Tunbridge Wells and the surrounding areas are celebrating after receiving their A-level results last week - the first cohort to sit exams since 2019 due to the Covid pandemic. Last Thursday’s (August 18) results were for students who began studying for A-levels in September 2020 – in the midst of the pandemic that led to remote learning and other disruptions for pupils.
HELP AND SUPPORT 8AM AT SKINNNERS SCHOOL A-Level students go in to get their results SOME OF THE TOP PERFORMERS AT BENENDEN SCHOOL - these seven earned 24 A stars and nine As between them ‘For many students, this will have been the first time they have sat public exams, having missed out on their GCSE qualifications two years ago’
Recognition Kent County Council’s Cabinet Member for Education and Skills, Shellina Prendergast, said: “For many students, this will have been the first time they have sat public exams, having missed out on their GCSE qualifications two years ago.” Grades across the UK have dropped from pandemic highs, but remain above 2019 levels, with girls still outperforming boys and geography pushing English literature out of the top 10 most popular subjects. The proportion of entries graded A* to E – fell by 1.1 per cent from 99.5 per cent in 2021 to 98.4 per cent this year. University admissions have also fallen on last year, but are the second highest on record, according to Ucas figures. In Southeast England, 39.5 per cent of marks were A* and A, compared to 47.1 per cent in 2021 and 28.3 per cent in the pre-pandemic year of 2019.Local schools normally release pass rates and top-mark percentages, but such details have been harder to come by this year, in recognition of the transition back toward pre-pandemic grading.Instead, many school leaders stressed their students’ resilience and the work of teachers to support students and keep them on track.
Craig Fleming, the head of sixth form for the Skinners' School in Tunbridge Wells, said on results day last Thursday (August 19): “Today has been an outstanding day of achievement for our students who have come through the last several years of secondary education and for the first time ever, have had to sit public exams. “They’ve proved themselves to be determined, able and have shown a considerable amount of resilience to achieve an outstanding set of results.”
Pupils still make the grade despite testing times of the last two years
Deputy head teacher Paul Kershaw said 75 per cent of Beechwood students had gained places in their first choice University. Kent College Pembury, also an independent school, said nearly 15 per cent of students achieved three or more A*s, while almost a third achieved straight A* and A grades. Over half of all grades awarded were A*-A.
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Some schools did however quantify results. St Gregory’s Catholic School in Tunbridge Wells (pictured right) said one fifth of its students had achieved A*-A grades at A Level and over half the grades achieved were A*-B.
“At the start of year 12, they didn’t know what was happening. They told us a few different things that could happen. We never felt lost.”
Energy Pal Energy Made Simple in association with CubaLibre CubaLibre Dark Spirit 11am - 7pm Great Food • Top Sounds Chill-Out • Funkster DJ Festival 2022Gin & JazzIntroduces ON THE PANTILES SAT 3RD & SUN 4TH SEPTEMBERFREEENTRY
The Times asks: What would you like to see happen to the Chalybeate Spring and should the Dippers’ Hall be restored and rejuvenated?Letusknow by emailing: timesoftunbridgewells.co.uknewsdesk@
Campaign Meanwhile, on the southern and southeastern corner of Crowborough, residents say they are ‘suffocating’ due to construction traffic and diversions as new developments are being built.
Meanwhile, campaign group Save Alice Bright Lane is objecting to current and any future planning applications around the southern artery into“TheCrowborough.areaaround Alice Bright Lane sits outside of Crowborough’s development boundary, so historically all residential developments have been rejected. We are working to ensure that this remains the case,” said the campaigners. WDC say a new Local Plan is being created, but a spokesperson told the Times: “We have not updated our Local Plan Timetable as this is dependent on external factors.” Those interested in consultation on WDC’s Local Plan can register at consult.wealden.gov.uk/kse
By Victoria Roberts PLANS to develop Tunbridge Wells’ Chalybeate Spring in The Pantiles could finally come to fruition after Tunbridge Wells Borough Council (TWBC) ended its lease last month. The iron-rich spring, which was discovered in 1606, led to the foundation of Tunbridge Wells, but the West Kent town never grew to the same size as other spa cities such as Bath, Leamington Spa or the Royal town’s twin city of Wiesbaden inVariousGermany.plans have been floated over the years to develop the spring’s tourist potential, but nothing has come to fruition.
The Times understands that Targetfollow, who also own the Commons, is in lease discussions with local businessman Samuel Danby, who secured planning permission and listed building consent from TWBC in March this year. His company Bertie and Boo organises children’s entertainments. Mr Danby was not available when the Times contacted him this week, but under his proposals, the portico of the Dippers’ Hall is set to be glassed in and an accessible ‘floating’ floor installed over the well-heads, as well as a roller shutter and a bulkhead concealing cassette housing.Thereis also a provision to pump water from the spring and bottle it for sale. Questions have also been raised about how the project will be funded after a fundraiser for the project set up by Mr Danby last year was closed after receiving just £1,895 of the £125,000 requested.However, the Times has learnt that Mr Danby is preparing to sign a lease to take over the site from Targetfollow, and if the deal falls through a local community business group is determined to see the plans come into fruition.
THE lack of a housing plan in Wealden is leading towns such as Crowborough to be ‘strangled’ by housing developments residents have said, while the Council has been told it cannot even appeal planning decisions. Earlier this month, councillors at Wealden District Council (WDC) attempted to appeal two developments totalling up to 900 dwellings in the district. Rejected
TIMES COMMENT: ARE WE ARE WASTING OUR SPRING WATERS’ POTENTIAL?
“This means the spring, and any future plans for the area, is the responsibility of Targetfollow Ltd, the owners of the Upper Pantiles.”
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Revenue But the group admitted something needed to beAdone.spokesman said: “The Society would strongly support measures to increase activity there, but it is hard to see how this could be done without restoring the connection to the adjacent former bath-house, now in commercial use.“Developed as a ‘pump room’ linked to the spring, this could generate commercial revenue to support both.”
CONSIDERING the Chalybeate Spring is the reason for Tunbridge Wells’ existence, the development of the natural spring and its historical site is long overdue. While other spa towns make their springs a focal point which draw visitors and locals alike, the run-down access point in The Pantiles is in dire need of restoration.
Crowborough being ‘suffocated’ by housing as Council is told it cannot attempt appeals
Discussions A TWBC spokesperson told the Times that the spring is no longer the responsibility of the Council, adding: “The Council’s licence of the Chalybeate Spring on the Pantiles in Royal Tunbridge Wells ended in July.
Plans in the pipeline to make the most of spa town’s iconic waters
Former Borough Councillor David Scott, who set up the CIC (Community Interest Company) RTW Rejuvenation in September 2021, said his community partners were ready to take on the project if necessary. Mr Scott said: “If for some reason Samuel is unable to proceed – although the best option would be for him to do so – we would try to find funding.“I’mkeen that we proceed with it in some form,” he said, adding that Mr Danby’s application ‘would certainly be a starting point’ for any other plan. Mr Danby’s planning permission will expire by mid-March 2025, three years from the date it was granted.Butnot everybody is in favour of the plans.
WDC had been due to defend appeals against a development of up to 200 homes in Hailsham, and an application for 700 homes, a new medical centre, school and community centre in Lower Willingdon, near Eastbourne. But the Council was told its appeals ‘would be unlikely to succeed with the authority facing large financial costs’ as they couldn’t ‘defend the indefensible’.Theinability to appeal comes after WDC had its Local Plan – the document that outlines where new housing developments are to go – rejected in 2019 after the authority tried to avoid building the government’s housing quota. Sevenoaks District Council and Tonbridge & Malling Borough Council also had their plans rejected, with Tunbridge Wells Borough Council the only authority to have adhered to the government’s housing quotas. Its Local Plan is currently being reviewed by the Planning Inspector.AfterWDC’s plan was rejected, a raft of new developments have been forced through in towns such as Crowbrough, including those that encroach into the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).
Michael Holman, director of Water in the Wells, the group that campaigns to promote Tunbridge Wells’ links with the spa, was initially cool on the project, but told the Times last week: “I was against it at the beginning. But now I think he [Mr Danby] really should be allowed to take it on. He has the enthusiasm.”
Crowborough resident Peter Cooper has written to this paper saying the town was ‘suffocated by developments on Walshes Road, Western Road and Jarvis Brook School’ (see Letters, p 14). He told the Times this week: “Western Road was always a nightmare trying to get through. Residents have to park outside their house, and they all come flooding through there (Western Road) to go to Tesco. “There was talk years ago of putting in a bypass round the back. And now it’s getting worse. My doctor’s surgery told me three years ago – ‘you won’t get an appointment in your surgery’.”
By Sarah Carter
The Times reported last year on two housing projects on the Eridge Road – one was deemed to have a ‘significant impact’ on Ashdown Forest, while the other was ‘considered to be a sustainable location’ despite being in AONB.
The RTW Civic Society and the Town Forum have both opposed the development, with the Civic Society describing the plans as ‘seriously flawed’ and that there is ‘insufficient space for the storage, pumping and mixing of the water proposed without drastic changes to the building’.
‘The iron-rich spring, which was discovered in 1606, led to the foundation of Tunbridge Wells, but the West Kent town never grew to the same size as other spa cities’
By Victoria Roberts
“I appreciate the work that those on the BID have done to create such a wonderful place to live and work and I look forward to continuing this tradition with a greater involvement from the professional services sectors.”
OF LONDON on
“We really wanted this piece to look exactly like a professional colouring book and the fact that we’re able to supply it for free enables us to bring extra visitors into businesses who are stocking it. Scenes
timeslocalnews.co.ukFOR EVEN MORE NEWS VISIT:Wednesday August 24 | 2022 Local News BUSINESS 7
Focus Having brought about a significant reduction in staff turnover, a 40 per cent increase in annual income and nearly double the number of weddings, events, and conferences at Salomons, the operations manager says he is keen to mirror these results at OWP. He will focus on the events business by boosting recruitment and re-opening OWP’s 70-cover restaurant, which closed for refurbishment in mid-June 2022.
OWP is due to host over 80 weddings and private events this year and is also launching three Deluxe Plus bedrooms which each have a balcony.Afterreceiving the appointment, Mr Moore said: “I believe One Warwick Park Hotel has a real opportunity to become an important and integral part of town.”
Acting chair Alex Greig, of Fuggles Beer Café in Grosvenor Road and Fuggles Bottle Shop in Camden Road, was elected vice chair. Board directors are all voluntary, and representative of different business sectors across the BID, from retail and hospitality to corporate services and leisure. A representative of Tunbridge Wells Borough Council (TWBC), Cllr Justine Rutland, who holds the portfolio for Tunbridge Wells Town and Local Areas, also sits on the board after being appointed in May 25.
‘Enthusiastic artists can scribble their way to success with a colouring competition, completing a page in the book to win £100’ up Victoria Place
CHAIR OF THE BOARD Pam Loch PAPERCHASE Pick
a copy in Royal
Community BID Director Sarah-Jane Adams welcomed the appointment, saying: “Pam is a highly respected and knowledgeable expert within her own field, and is well known and extremely connected among the Tunbridge Wells business community.“Wearevery lucky to have her onboard in a new capacity as Chair, and I’m also particularly pleased that the post has been passed from one prominent local businesswoman to another.”
Competition
RUBY’S Monson Road is Sankey’s a
Business Improvement District appoints employment specialist as its new chair
The BID also wants youngsters to help paint the town red
stocking the books THE OLD FISHMARKET Matthew
fan
BID Director Sarah-Jane Adams said: “The first town centre colouring book has proven to be very popular, even before launch, with rumours circulating on social media about where to get your hands on one!
THE group that looks after the Tunbridge Wells Business Improvement District (BID) has appointed a local employment solicitor and company director as its new chair. Pam Loch of Loch Associates in Mount Ephraim Road was elected unanimously at the Royal Tunbridge Wells Together Business Improvement District’s (RTW Together BID) AGM on July 25. She was already a member of the board, having been appointed in October 2021, according to a Companies House filing. The previous chair was Nicky Blanchard, centre manager of Royal Victoria Place, who led the group for over six years, having joined the board in January 2016. She has now stepped down from the role. The BID began in 2019 following a vote of all the businesses in the town centre of Tunbridge Wells. All businesses located within the BID area are subject to an annual levy collected by the borough council that is based on the rateable value of the premises. Ms Loch said: “As a local resident as well as being the owner of a business employing local people, I am interested in the wellbeing of our town and its people.
A HOTEL has appointed a new Operations Director as it plans to focus on the events business. One Warwick Park Hotel (OWP) has appointed Nick Moore, who is also Operations Director at Salomons Estate as well as One Media, publisher of the Times The businesses are part of Elite Leisure Collection (ELC), which also runs Bewl Water near Lamberhurst.MrMoorewill remain in his previous roles at ELC while also overseeing the operations at the hotel. He has worked for the group for 12 years.
Hotel announces new operations director
THE RTW Together Business Improvement District has created the first Royal Tunbridge Wells colouring book, as part of its inaugural Art Week event (August 22-29). Featuring familiar scenes from across the town centre, the pictures to colour include Royal Victoria Place, Chapel Place, The High Street, The Ivy, Sankey’s Old Fishmarket, Spa Valley Railway and The Pantiles. Local illustrators were commissioned for the project, featuring talent from Royal Tunbridge Wells, Tonbridge and Sevenoaks.
‘We are very lucky to have her onboard in a new capacity as Chair, and I’m also particularly pleased that the post has been passed from one prominent local businesswoman to another’
“It’s also a real celebration of the beautiful vistas and architecture that make up the centre of Royal Tunbridge Wells, and showcases a mixture of outdoor scenes and business frontages – and grown ups are going to love it too,” she Stockistsadded.include: The Amelia Scott, The Plant Base, Sankey’s, Glass by Claudia, Bodyworks Lab, Ruby’s of London, Fuggles Beer Café, Fuggles Bottle Shop, Seasalt, Fixio, Stampede, Il Vesuvio, Manic Ceramix and many others.
The 40-page professionally produced book is completely free to pick up around the town centre from August 22, with an initial run of 2,000 copies to give away. And enthusiastic artists can scribble their way to success with a colouring competition, completing a page in the book to win £100 hampers of art goodies from either Rymans or M.AsSaltmarsh.proprietor of M. Saltmarsh, the oldest art shop in England, Sue Luck will be casting her expert eye over the entries as judge.
Colouring books will be handed out free of charge at the BID’s Art Week event at the Calverley Precinct clock tower, on Saturday August 27, 11am-3pm, where big and little kids can also enjoy free face painting and glitter stalls, and take selfies with arty stilt walkers and promotional characters. A full list of pick-up points can be found at: rtwtogether.com/artweek Businesses who would like free stock should contact: biddirector@rtwtogether.com
CAMPAIGN Jade (left) and Donna CLUED UP Chair of Trustees Richard Partridge and HardwickSarahjaneCall on 01892 337540
Sarahjane Hardwick, supervisor of Jones Bootmaker in Tunbridge Wells, applied for the Pavers Foundation funds through the employeeled grant application scheme.
The NHS currently does not fund genetic testing for any of these genes unless there is a family history or a positive family test for a gene mutation, or when patients are diagnosed with breast cancers that meet certain criteria. One in seven women will develop breast cancer in their lifetime, and women with mutations in breast cancer genes are more likely to be diagnosed with breast cancer at a younger age, as well as to have cancer in both breasts.
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On average, a woman with a BRCA1, BRCA2 or PALB2 gene mutation has up to a seven in ten chance of getting breast cancer by age 80.
It is estimated one in 700 women and men carry a mutated PALB2.
By Victoria Roberts
A CROWBOROUGH drop-in centre for young people has received a £1,000 grant from a retail foundation thanks to a local retail supervisor.
The funds will be used to purchase essential crafts and stationery supplies for weekly support meetings at the centre. Sarahjane said: “CAMHS [Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services] health service has a two-year waiting list, which is why charities like Clued Up are so important. “They support children and teenagers aged 11-25 by incorporating vital life and mental health skills into their daily routines while giving them a safe, non-judgemental place to talk. Thank you for donating to this charity. They are over the moon”.
today
Jones Bootmaker has been part of Pavers Shoes since March 2018. Clued-Up in Crowborough provides free and confidential support for young people aged 11-25, on subjects ranging from education, employment and training to housing and money to health, family and relationships. Supplies
Sisters with rare gene mutation hope to follow Angelina Jolie
Now 39 and 29, Donna and Jade have launched a social media campaign, #NotJustBRCA, to increase awareness and to call for increased testing, saying: “We never want to see another woman (or man) have to find out they have a gene mutation at the point of diagnosis.
“As a new young mum, I just want to put myself in the best possible situation, especially after seeing my sister was diagnosed so young.”
TWO LOCAL sisters who carry a rare genetic mutation which strongly increases breast cancer risk have launched an awareness campaign –hoping to raise awareness and increase screening for it in a similar way actress Angelina Jolie did after she discovered she carried a gene mutation.The‘Tomb Raider’ actress and former wife of Brad Pitt had a preventative double mastectomy in 2013 due to a ‘faulty’ BRCA1 gene which increased her cancer risk. She underwent surgery as a preventative measure after doctors found she carried the mutation. The rarer PALB2 gene was discovered in 2006 and has been linked to breast cancer since 2007 but was only added to breast cancer genetic testing in 2014. Succession In the middle of the pandemic in September 2020, Donna Power from Tunbridge Wells was plunged into her own personal health crisis when she was diagnosed with breast cancer, then learned she had a high-risk genetic mutation – all in quick succession. She was only 37, but there was family history, so she requested private genetic testing and it was discovered she had the lesser-known PALB2 geneDonnamutation.said:“I just couldn’t believe it. I felt like there was just such a run of bad news coming in different waves and it was hard to navigate through it. “It became incredibly stressful because I was being advised that I would not need radiation if I had a double mastectomy, but if I completed the radiation as advised without a mastectomy, reconstruction later in life would be very difficult.”Donnaeventually underwent radiotherapy rather than surgery, but when one of her sisters, Jade, also tested positive for the PALB2 mutation, she chose a different path. Jade, whose baby boy is now 10 months old, had the surgery two weeks ago, explaining: “Having a double mastectomy means I will reduce my risk of developing breast cancer by over 90 per cent.
“We believe in testing for everyone. “We are already working with healthcare professionals and genetics testing companies to see how we can generate more awareness and access to testing.”
Up to 50 per cent of women with a faulty PALB2 gene will develop breast cancer by the age of 70.
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Crowborough charity gets £1,000 grant for youth drop-in service
SUPPORT volunteers
“Even while it was naked, it has been floodlit as a Christmas tree and with the Ukrainian flag, but to have it back as one of the iconic sights of our town is great news. “We urge visitors to come to see the mill in all its glory, along with our 13th century church, which is known as our Cathedral in the Weald, and the museum that houses our collection of Cranbrook Colony paintings as well as local history,” she added. There will be an official ceremony to re-open the mill September 7, but it remains open to visitors at weekends and on other days during theThesummer.windmill is one of the attractions open on Heritage Open Days next month (September 10-11 at 2:30-5pm), when volunteers will try to turn the sweeps, depending on weather conditions, and hope to offer visitors the chance to make their own flour. Open dates available at: UnionMill.org.uk
Restoration The sweeps each contain 66 wooden shutters used to adjust the flow of the wind and therefore the speed of the mill, which were made and installed by a firm in East Suffolk. ‘Millwright’ Tim Whiting said: “We are proud to have been involved with the restoration of KCC’s flagship smock mill. My team has worked hard but their efforts have paid off – the sight of the completed mill is truly stunning.” KCC took over care of the windmill in 1958.
Auctioneers Since 1929 Discover the Many Faces of Fine Art Arrange a no-obligation valuation for sale. Call Fine Art valuer and Gorringe’s Partner Clifford Lansberry on 01273 472 503 or send an email to clifford@gorringes.co.uk
Clockwise from top: Neil MacPherson R.S.A, (1954-) – £3,900 + fees. Anthony Frederick Augustus Sandys (1829-1904) – £3,200 + fees. 19th century Italian – £2,400 + fees. Henri Gaudier-Brzeska (1891-1915) – £1,600 + fees. After Sir Godfrey Kneller (1646-1723) – £1,400 + fees.
Cranbrook Mill
Cllr Susan Carey, cabinet member for environment said: “Cranbrook Mill is a beautiful building and an important part of Kent’s heritage.”
KCC Conservation Officer Luke Bonwick, who supervised the project, said: “Collaborative working has been key to the success of this project. Co-operation between local residents and volunteers, our brilliant contractors and KCC’s Heritage Conservation and Infrastructure teams has delivered the spectacular results you can see today.”
Visit our Fine Art department at gorringes.co.uk
Cranbrook and Sissinghurst Parish Council chairman Kim Fletcher said: “Residents will be delighted to have our windmill back in full sail.
FANCY footwork will be the order of the day as participants in the Aspens Golf Day tee-off next month to raise money for the Pembury-based autism and disability charity. Former Strictly Come Dancing pro James Jordan and ex Crystal Palace footballer Julian Speroni have agreed to join other participants in the charity’s event on September 22. Spectrum Guests and the celebrities will play 18 holes and have a two-course lunch at the Ridge Golf Course in Sutton Valence, near Maidstone, courtesy of owners Sophie and Jack Skinner. Then another celebrity guest, performer and producer David Fawcett, of ‘Beyond the Barricade’ will host the lunch and auction after the morning’s golf. Event sponsors are Fairdeal Windows, while Navis Agere, Purpose Social Homes, Bates Wells, Ability and CIPHR are sponsoring holes. Auction prizes include a signed England Team rugbyAspensball.CEO Robbie Shanahan said: “It promises to be a fantastic day and most importantly, it will be raising funds to help us continue our work providing much needed support and care to people on the autism spectrum and with learning disabilities and their families.”Fundsraised will support Aspens’ work across Kent, Sussex and Bexley. The charity provides support through groups, activities and specialist support for young people and their families, as well as adult services such as day opportunities, residential care, community outreach and supported living. Tickets from: Aspens.org.uk
By Sarah Carter
Strictly and Palace stars don golf shoes for Aspens event
Built in 1814, this is Britain’s tallest ‘smock mill’, so-called because of the painted wooden tower which was said to look like the traditional garment worn in rural areas.
THE sails of Cranbrook’s 19th century windmill can be seen on the skyline of the village again, after a 15-month refurbishment by Kent County Council (KCC). Four new ‘sweeps’ of over 30 feet have been re-installed on the 72-foot tall windmill, and the mill will soon be able to use the power of the wind to grind flour.
County Hall gets the sails turning on Cranbrook’s iconic windmill
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Routes Steve Valdez-Symonds, Amnesty International UK’s refugee and migrant rights director, said: “Despite the Government’s shameful posturing and draconian refugee policy-making, the simple truth is that people including children fleeing war and persecution will continue to make these perilous journeys – whether by boat or other means – if the Government refuses to provide safe routes for them.”
“We need everybody to come forward,” he said.
A RECORD 1,295 migrants arrived in the UK on Monday (August 22) after crossing the Channel, according to Government figures. It is the highest daily total since current records began in 2018. Some 27 boats made the journey, the provisional Ministry of Defence (MoD) data said, which suggests an average of around 48 people perTheboat.previous highest daily number was 1,185, on November 11, 2021. More than 22,600 people have arrived in the UK after navigating busy shipping lanes from France in small boats such as dinghies so far in 2022, according to the figures. Children At the equivalent point in 2021, the cumulative total was just under 12,500. Overall, 28,526 people made the crossing last year.Sofar in August 6,271 people have been recorded making the crossing. This is already higher than any monthly total for the year so far. To date, the highest monthly total for crossings on record is November 2021 (6,971).
Several asylum seekers, the Public and Commercial Services union and charities Care4Calais, Detention Action and Asylum Aid are challenging the legality of the Home Office policy, with the next court hearings due in September and October.
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New record for Channel crossings is set as 1,295 migrants arrive in just one day
RESCUE Children were brought ashore on Monday
Protect “This is not the time for anyone who knows who’s responsible for this shooting to remain tight-lipped.”DetectiveChief Superintendent Mark Kameen added that police would ‘do everything to protect’ witnesses. He said: “All the information that we do receive, as you can imagine, will be treated with absolute confidence – we will do everything to protect those people who do come forward with information.“Ifpeoplefeel that they can’t provide that then there is the option around Crimestoppers and the links are on our website.
“It is absolutely critical … that this individual and everybody surrounding this crime is identified and swiftly brought to justice. They have no place in our communities.
“We have dealt with a number of previous firearms-related homicides over this past week and now we are faced with dealing with one of a nine-year-old child.
POLICE investigating the fatal shooting of a nine-year-old girl in Knotty Ash, Liverpool on Monday night have urged the community not ‘to remain Merseysidetight-lipped’.PoliceChief Constable Serena Kennedy named the victim at lunchtime on Tuesday as Olivia Pratt-Korbel. She said the girl’s family were ‘absolutely devastated, inconsolable and heartbroken’. She added: “The people of Liverpool and Merseyside are known for their compassion and pulling together in times of crisis, and I know that our communities, people are wanting to help the family in any way possible.
Merseyside Police urge community to speak out in shooting investigation
Crossings continued on Tuesday amid breezy conditions in the Channel. Border Force cutter Hurricane was seen rescuing around 40 people, including a family with two young children. They were brought ashore in Dover, Kent, at about midday after scores of other people were thought to have already made the crossing earlier in the day. Parents carried one toddler, who was screaming and crying, to safety, while a member of military staff stationed at the port was seen holding another child in her arms. Some of the young men waved to members of the press as they arrived while others carried their belongings in bin bags. It is four months since Home Secretary Priti Patel unveiled plans to send migrants to Rwanda in a bid to curb Channel crossings. Since then, 17,402 people have arrived in the UK after making the journey. On April 14, Ms Patel signed what she described as a “world-first” agreement with Rwanda under which the east African nation will receive migrants deemed by the UK to have arrived “illegally” and therefore inadmissible under new immigration rules. But the first deportation flight – due to take off on June 14 – was grounded amid legal challenges.
Union head slams Labour leadership for lack of support for striking workers in port walkout
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham suggested that Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer was not showing more support for strike action because he was ‘embarrassed’ by workers. Asked if the Labour leader supported the need for industrial action, Ms Graham said: “For me, actions speak louder than words, and I’d have to say no. If I was answering that honestly, I’d have to say no. ‘Embarrassed’
A TOP union official has criticised the Labour leader for not showing enough support three days into an eight-day strike at Britain’s biggest and busiest container port. Almost 2,000 dockers have walked out at the Port of Felixstowe, in a dispute over pay.
John Glen, chief economist at the Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply (CIPS), said: “Service companies had a better month, but only marginally, as new order levels were sustained and optimism remained that customers would continue to buy throughout the year. However, he added: “There are many concerns keeping private sector business owners awake at night, such as disruptions to supply chains from war, the highest inflation in the UK for almost 50 years, the impact of higher interest rates and now port disruptions in the UK, to name a few.”
“This is the time that workers need a voice, you know, they need people in their corner.
“I really hope what’s not happening here is that the party that was created by workers is now embarrassed to stick up for workers. Because that would be something that I think would be a miscalculation.
“There’s no doubt about that. I’m firmly in their corner – I’m getting a lot of flak for it but I don’t mind – and I’d like Labour to do the same.”MsGraham said: “I really stood on a mandate that I wanted unions to go back to what it says on the trade union tin – focus on jobs, pay and conditions – and that’s what I’ve been doing. “Of course I would like Labour to do more, of course I want them to do more to support workers in a more upfront way. “But, quite frankly, what I’m focused on is the job at hand.” She also dismissed claims that increasing wages could fuel inflation, arguing that rises have been caused by ‘profiteering’ businesses. Ms Graham said: “The second spike of inflation is down to profiteering and the profiteering of companies. Profit “The top 350 companies in Britain, their profit margin has gone up by over 73 per cent since before the pandemic. “It’s not wages causing any part of inflation at the moment– wages are down, actually, by 3 per cent.“What’s causing inflation, obviously, is the circumstances that are going on outside of the country, but also the issue in relation to profiteering.“It’sreallyunfair at the moment for workers, they’re being hit from all sides.” Separately, Arriva bus drivers across Kent from the Unite union voted on Tuesday to take strike action. No date has been set.
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UK private sector growth down as manufacturers see demand ‘waning’ UK private sector growth has slowed to a new 18-month low after factories were hit by ‘waning customer demand’, according to new data.
Annabel Fiddes, economics associate director at S&P Global Market Intelligence, said: “The UK private sector moved closer to stagnation in August, as mild growth of activity across the service sector only just offset a deepening downturn at manufacturers. Supply chains “Waning customer demand amid the weaker economic outlook, and shortages of both staff and inputs, were reported to have hit goods producers hard, with firms registering the quickest drops in output and new work since May 2020.”Theslowdown in overall growth was largely driven by a sharper slump in manufacturing output from UK factories. Meanwhile, the service sector remained in growth, despite a slight softening of activity.
The influential S&P Global/CIPS flash UK composite purchasing managers index (PMI) report showed a reading of 50.9 for August, down from 52.1 last month. Anything above 50 is considered growth.
So how do we bring about change?
EVIL IS an unsettling mystery with few easy or comfortable answers. All around us we see its effects in the way the powerful abuse the weak and yet our imagination is sometimes clouded by a strange attraction. Tales of transgression in books and on screen often make it seem sexy and rebellious, as if there is more courage in taking this stand. By contrast, goodness is usually presented as bourgeois and conformist, as if a person who pursues this is less fully alive.
Evil is not diabolical it is just bland and vapid
Peter Lidstone is a Liberal Democrat Councillor for St Johns and is Tunbridge Wells Borough Council’s Cycling and Walking Champion.
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‘Many people don’t cycle because they don’t feel safe. The roads are too busy and there are not enough cycle lanes’
Evil, however, is given a charismatic twist in our storytelling. The best villains have a seductive and hypnotic power: Hannibal Lecter, the Joker, Hans Gruber. Perhaps it started with Milton’s Paradise Lost where Satan hams it up heroically at the expense of God, who comes across by contrast like a ‘constipated civil servant’ in the words of one critic.
Rt Revd Burton-JonesSimon Bishop of Tonbridge
Misunderstood
Creativity We prefer to think of evil as diabolical when it is bland; colourful where it is vapid. It is in the ordinary and commonplace choices of life that we weave virtue or vice. The tapestry of evil is shallow and boring, as well as shocking and sad. As the philosopher Terry Eagleton has observed of evil, it is like being ‘talked at for all eternity by a man in an anorak who has mastered every detail of the sewage system of South Dakota’. To be full of the fruit of God’s Spirit is to be full of life in all its dimensions. It is not just being kind, patient and faithful; it is being true to the personality we have been gifted, in all its sparkiness and creativity. Irenaeus said that the glory of God is man fully alive.When light shines on us, the colours come out; the darkness, by contrast, is lifeless and dull. Strange, then, how our stories have it the other way round.
The very use to which the word good is put in popular culture (do-gooder; goody two shoes) suggests that people who aim to do good can be resented and misunderstood. Any story of altruism will find some reaching instinctively for a selfish explanation.
The Rt Revd Simon Burton-Jones is the seventh Bishop of Tonbridge. He has oversight and leadership of the education, youth and children, and community engagement work of churches across the Diocese of Rochester, which includes Tunbridge Wells and Tonbridge.
In the final analysis, we prefer glamour, personality and wit. This leads to a strange double standard, because genuine evil is a matter of loathing. There is nothing charming about murder or abuse and we know these acts are of a piece with other kinds of wrongdoing, yet we cannot resist presenting transgression as magnetic and entrancing.Thisdesire to present evil in captivating ways contrasts sharply with Hannah Arendt’s famous summary of Nazi war criminal, Adolf Eichmann. The ‘banality of evil’ she found in him dealt a blow to any sense that a man capable of organising the Holocaust could be an inspired wizard.Instead, Arendt saw Eichmann as boring bureaucrat with no imagination. Perhaps we struggle with her finding because it locates evil in the mundane and prosaic detail of human life, where we all belong.
‘We prefer to think of evil as diabolical when it is bland; colourful where it is vapid. It is in the ordinary and commonplace choices of life that we weave virtue or vice’
FOLLOWING the change of administration in May, I’m delighted to have been appointed as Tunbridge Wells Borough’s first walking and cycling champion. My job is to help us all move as many journeys as possible from car, to bicycle and foot. I’m delighted to be doing it. This is a really exciting time for us as a local authority and it comes along with a groundswell of recognition that the climate emergency is becoming evermore urgent. Local journeys But since the pandemic, many people’s working patterns have changed meaning that they are making shorter, more local journeys. This, coupled with a growing realisation of the benefits of active travel and lifestyles, mean that the time is ripe for us to start making the shift. But there is a barrier. Many people don’t cycle because they don’t feel safe. The roads are too busy and there are not enough cycle lanes. There are not enough bike storage racks. A recent consultation showed that 50% of people own a bike, but only 15% use it. And for the 35% who don’t use their bike, safety is the primary reason.
Peter Lidstone Tunbridge Wells councillor
Cycling needs to be made safer.
So how do we go about changing this? Not easily. For one, we are in a bit of a vicious circle. The number of cars on the road makes cycling unattractive; but then people take the car rather than cycle; which then adds to the volume of cars on the road. This is a tough circle toAndsquare.the other barrier is money, but here the story looks better. Active Travel England are offering £500m of funding to councils over the next couple of years. This level of funding is unprecedented, and is great news. But we have to be bold, and put forward ambitious schemes in order to have a chance of getting it. What’s more, the Government may even start to withdraw regular funding from councils who don’t invest in cycling infrastructure. Bad news for our pothole-ridden roads! Decisions And this brings us to the final barrier, that transport policy is administered out of Kent County Council. They maintain the roads, and provide the bus services, so they have the budgets and make the decisions. I am in regular contact with Kent County Council officers advancing the cause of cycling and walking. Please—if you feel strongly about this—write to your county councillor to remind them that we need better provision for cycling and walking in Tunbridge Wells. Tell them how we want this money spent!
Some years ago I was at an officers’ mess event and there was a magician coming round to the tables doing close-up tricks. He came to our table and messed up the trick.
The people of Paddock Wood and Southborough, the two areas most affected by the fee hikes, know far more about their local economies, and the needs of their local communities, than those in the Town Hall. The residents of Southborough know the importance free parking has to the operation of their new Community Hub, which incorporates important health facilities used by vulnerable residents.Thelocal businesses – who are competing with the larger centre of Tunbridge Wells –know how crucial free parking is for attracting customers. And the local Town Council remember the chaos that resulted from the last failed attempt to remove free parking.
you. You can email us at newsdesk@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk
PARTNERSHIP: KCC and TWBC could save money with a unitary authority Alliance are not propping up Lib Dems Since its inception the Alliance has always had a pledge in its manifesto for a period of free parking. The removal of free parking is not something we would ever support. Some Conservative supporters have tried to paint this as a sign of a rift in the Borough Partnership. They also continue to insist on calling the partnership a coalition. Allow me to explain why they are incorrect on both counts. The Council constitution requires there to be a leader. This position, after negotiation, was given to the leader of the largest group, the Lib Dems. The resultant misconception is that the administration is ‘Lib Dem led’ and that the Alliance are somehow propping this up. That is most definitely not the case. After last May’s elections, the Council was under no overall control but the will of the electorate was clearly to reject the former Conservative administration. The Lib Dems, Alliance, Labour and one independent, therefore, took the responsible decision to form a partnership to address the many challenges facing our Borough. The first aim is to address the shocking financial situation the previous administration has left. The members of the partnership agree on many issues, but each party reserves the right to vote according to its own manifesto promises.Thetitular leader of the council is a Lib Dem, but he definitely has no say or control over anything to do with The Alliance or its members. I hope this clarifies the position. Cllr David Hayward Leader of The Alliance It’s not communication it is listening Cllr Rands spoke about poor communication concerning the Lib Dem-led coalition’s plans to abolish free parking and to raise other parking fees by up to 75 per cent. While I agree there was very little outgoing ‘mansplaining-style’ communication, what is more unforgivable is the complete lack of listening by the new administration.
“Where is the card?” he asked. “In your pocket, where you just put it,” we replied. We were then treated to the bizarre spectacle of him pretending we hadn’t figured out the trick and revealing the card with a fanfare from the pocket we were already pointing at.
This is the page where the going in our part of the world. We from or you can write to
Robert CrowboroughTunbridgeMooreWellsis suffocating Jarvis Brook, Crowborough, is being suffocated by housing developments down Walshes Road, Western Road, Jarvis Brook School and Millbrook.Councillors come and meet the residents of Western Road; they would love to see you.
like to hear
&WEATHERTRAVELONTHEROADS
Forest Road Traffic controls for broadband works (August 23-26) Forge Road (Eridge) Road closure for water works. Until August 25 Frant Road (between Rodmell Road and Warwick Park) Road closure with diversion for surface treatment. August 23-26 Frant Road (Tunbridge Wells) Traffic controls for carriageway works (August 22-28) Mount Ephraim Traffic controls for broadband works August 23-25 Reynolds Lane (St Johns) Temporary signals and road closures for gas works. Until September 1 Speldhurst Road (Southborough) Temporary signals and road closures for gas works. Until October 3 Vauxhall Lane (Southborough and Tonbridge) Road closure for broadband works between A26 London Road and Mabledon Farm entrance. August 25 at 9:30am-August 26 at 3:30 Western Road, Crowborough (junction with Hadlow Down Road) Traffic light controls for new development works. August 22-September 11
If Council wants to save money it could become a unitary authority
Dear sir
Having completed the online survey commenting firmly against the proposed parking charges at Southborough and Paddock Wood, the questions are specifically framed for us to suggest where else savings could be made.Let’s be clear. Ultimately this consultation exercise should not be about saving the borough council itself but ensuring continued services for all residents. The cost of living continues to rise, and we already all pay increased council taxes each year to TWBC and KCC. And yet all they can come up with is to impose new parking charges.Whatabout the cost savings from TWBC and KCC abolishing themselves and forming a more cost-effective unitary authority as in Medway? There are already many shared services between adjacent councils anyway. And what about scrapping free parking at the Town Hall for borough councillors and cabinet members? Or reducing the size of the cabinet? There are indeed many ingenious and alternative ways available to save public money. Dr Alan Bullion Labour Southborough Town Councillor
26° 17° WED 24TH OfficeMettheofCourtesy23° 14° THU 25TH 23° 13° SAT 27TH 23° 13° MON 29TH 23° 13° TUE 30TH 23° 13° FRI 26TH 22° 12° SUN 28TH RAILWAYS Bank Holiday engineering works. No trains to/from Charing Cross, Waterloo East, New Cross or St Johns on all three days (August 27-29). Trains run to/from Victoria, Blackfriars or London Bridge Additionallyinstead. on Saturday and Sunday (August 28-29), no trains to/from Cannon Street.
you,
on
reader, have your chance to express your views or comments on what’s
The people of Paddock Wood know all about the issues the town already faces with illegal parking, and fear this will be made even worse by the Lib Dem’s proposals. And the local business association knows, in detail, how the last cut in free parking (from two hours to one hour) cut footfall and turnover. Short-term visits to the car parks fell by 27 per cent, and local businesses suffered a drop of turnover of up to 45 per cent. All this information was available – if the Cabinet had only bothered to ask.
timeslocalnews.co.ukFOR EVEN MORE NEWS VISIT:14 NEWS Letters Wednesday August 24 | 2022 And another thing…
the Editor, Times of Tunbridge Wells, Salomons Estate, Tunbridge Wells TN3 0TG
Cllr Matt Bailey (Independent) Paddock Wood West Council is run like a business We’re told Tunbridge Wells Borough Council’s finances are in a parlous state, so do the current incumbents on the Council really believe they can be put right by charging a few bob for parking and increasing the garden waste collection fee? What does the Council’s CEO think? He wants to run it like a private business and appears not to be short of words when giving us one of his homilies on matters not in his remit.
Peter ACrowboroughCoopermessyConservative trick
So Tunbridge Wells’ Tories propaganda is a lot like that – especially on finance issues. The most generous interpretation is they are genuinely clueless about what the terms they useThere’smean.a strange mixture of truthful but irrelevant facts, claims which are wholly
A21 (northbound and southbound from Vauxhall Lane to Longfield Junction). Overnight carriageway and lane closures (8pm-6am) on weekdays for fencing works and road repair. Until September 23 A21 (northbound and southbound Tonbridge to Pembury slip road) Road closure overnight for bridge survey/ inspection. August 25 at 8pmAugust 26 at 6am Bentham Hill, Speldhurst (outside Bentham Hill House) Road closure with diversion for broadband works. August 23-25
James IndependentRands Culverden Councillor Jazz is now unaffordable for us My wife and I have been regular visitors to the Pantiles on Thursday summer evenings to listen to the jazz music. As well as enjoying bands that were known to us, we also got to hear new bands that quickly became favourites ofHowever,ours. this year we have mostly given it a miss. What used to be an enjoyable evening for around £25 - drinks plus the donation - has become completely unaffordable for we, as pensioners, on a regular basis. Paying £5 donation isn’t a problem. We were perfectly happy to pay £10 for the two of us previously, commenting to others that it was a good price for a lovely evening. When one adds the cost of having to book a table at specific restaurants - £30 to £40 per head plus drinks, plus service it quickly became a £100 night out with a complete lack of the atmosphere once present. Sadly, we hoped in vain that the organisers would relent. We now take our custom to the Tonbridge River Walk Music gathering, sponsored by TMBC, on Friday evenings where the costs are more like they used to be at the Pantiles and the atmosphere like before. Look on Facebook/internet for details of bands scheduled. The food and drinks are reasonably priced too.
Hugh PemburyMasters
Now that the effects of global warming are undeniable – drought causing 67% capacity at Bewl Water; spontaneous wildfires on farmlands and in the countryside; unbearable temperatures for longer periods during the summer resulting in more deaths of people and animals. We can no longer ignore the risk to habitats at up to four months of the year. Reading University Professor Rein says “Absolutely every expert is saying that in a matter of 5, 10 or 15 years the bigger fires are arriving in the UK”. We cannot afford to wait because the fire service knows that it will be unable to deal with a wildfire season the size of those in Gironde, France or Southern Spain. So, any talk of returning to coal, gas or even nuclear is fanciful. It takes at least 10 years to commission a nuclear plant. Hinckley Point will cost the economy billions with a promise of eye wateringly expensive electricity in the future – the entire nuclear strategy only gives us 25 per cent of our power by 2030. Oil, gas and natural gas (fracking) should be left out of the equation since our pledge to reach 1.5°C global warming at CoP26. There are so many new forms of energy coming onstream. So the government should be bold and invest in new renewables for example, solar cars, hydrogen for heavy vehicles like trains and buses, decarbonising the carbon emitted to make and install things – like solar collectors and batteries in buildings and transport. House batteries start at about £2500, and they can also be charged up with economy 7 electric at night. Solar collectors allow around 20 per cent of home energy to be used to heat water raising water temperature reducing the energy needed to get it to the required temperature. It may be that external insulation and solar collectors are a relatively easy win. Most houses in the UK are ‘leaky’ because they are uninsulated and they have timber floor boards with lots of air (and cables) under them which do not retain heat. Not only do we need ‘passivhaus’ design, we also need passive urban design to conserve energy or maintain cooler temperatures in the summer. This will be a start to cutting the high cost of heating our homes and reducing the amount of energy used.
Mr Jim StationWadhurstCooperisblooming
PEPPY SAYS...
Putin and the Greens! The Greens live in this strange idealistic world which is being foisted on us; the rest of us live in the harsh world of reality and, for some, that harsh reality will be to eat or heat, and the NHS being further overwhelmed this winter with cases of hypothermia and malnourishment.
Musical BrittensInstrumentSheetinstrumentsmusicrentalsServicing&repairsMusicSchool
Edward ThankTunbridgeBakerWellsyouforthe
IN BLOOM Residents praise the floral displays in Tunbridge Wells
www.brittensmusic.co.ukTel:(01892)526659@brittensmusic
Cllr.Marguerita Morton (Lib Dem) St GreensJohn’sare unrealistic It’s said that if you tell a lie often enough people will believe you. I’m not suggesting David Mooney in his column last week fibbed, but a half truth comes pretty close. He writes, with some incredulity, of the proposed opening of a coal mine in Cumbria but fails to state that this is coking coal for the steel industry, 43 per cent of which is currently imported from Russia and the rest half-way round the world I’ll leave him to deduce the obvious.Ofcourse it could be electric-arc smelted, but that requires a fossil fuel energy source too. He writes about the High Court’s finding that the government adopted a 2050 Net Zero policy with no realistic plans in place to achieve it. That’s the point: there is no realistic plan that can achieve it. It’s unachievable in practical terms, it’s unrealistic, it’s a pipe dream. Well, we could turn everything off to do it, and Putin is doing that for us. Politics makes for strange bedfellows. Who’d have thought it?
In Germany the Green element of the coalition government has forced through plans to reopen coal-fired generating stations. Mr Mooney didn’t mention that.
subjective, obfuscation and claims which they certainly ought to know are simply untrue. But they’ve been called out on all of them and they insist on pretending they’re fooling the rest of us. It is both tedious and insulting to the public’s intelligence. It does show two things though: They are not serious. They’re just trolls. And they are unfit to resume power and will remain so for the foreseeable future
timeslocalnews.co.ukFOR EVEN MORE NEWS VISIT: Letters NEWS 15Wednesday August 24 | 2022 We do our best to publish letters in full. However, the Editor reserves the right to edit any letter. Please ensure that letters do not exceed 250 words Where music matters
With regards Alan Bullion’s letter (Times, August 10), the area being planted up at High Brooms Station isn’t a herb garden. There are two herbs for decorative purposes – thyme and prostrate rosemary...that’s all. The other plants are there for colour and like partial shade (Alstroemeria, Sedum, Saxifrage). The reason for undertaking this project is having lived in this part of town for 51 years I though it would brighten up the dust bowl on Platform 1. Having Qualifications in Horticulture long before Mending The Gap came along I know what will look good and is low maintenance. There may be some edible herbs later on. Being married to a qualified chef helps. Chris TimeSevenoaksJefferytogogreen
flowers While there is much negativity at present, I would like to say a big ‘Thank You’ to whoever has provided Tunbridge Wells with the beautiful hanging baskets, troughs and decorative circular arrangements around lampposts in the town at present. They are stunningly colourful and varied and during the recent heat and drought conditions must have been very challenging to look after. They certainly lift my spirits when in town and I hope work for others as well. With Good Wishes, Judi TunbridgeBest CommonwealthWellsconfusion It has always been my understanding that Scotland, Wales and N Ireland are part of the UK.So it came as a bit of surprise to discover that they are actually part of the Commonwealth.
Looking for a place this September? GCSE RESULTS INFORMATION DAYS on 25TH AND 26TH AUGUST OPEN ENROLMENT DROP IN SESSIONS 5TH - 8TH SEPTEMBER Visit our website for more information YOUR GCSE RESULTS? COME & DROP IN! JUST GOT C NORTHNKKENT COLLEGE Dartford • Gravesend • Tonbridge
Local & Live 17Wednesday August 24 | 2022 Eight Page Pull-Out with YOUR OFFICIALGUIDE TO FREETHE TUNBRIDGE WELLSMUSIC FESTIVALPULL-OUT & KEEPAUGUST 26-29 THE PIANO SHOPwww.thepianoshopkent.co.ukNevill Estate Yard, Eridge, Tunbridge Wells, KENT TN3 9JRCall 01892 543233 ALL PHOTOGRAPHS SALLY-ANNE LOW AND NIGEL MARTIN PHOTOGRAPHY
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Platform Rock legend Roger Daltrey of The Who is a long-term supporter of the festival and says: “Local & Live is a fantastic platform for independent, original music in Kent and Sussex, long may it continue!” Please don’t hesitate to get in touch by emailing fundraising@localandlive.org. If you have any sponsorship enquiries or ideas, we would love to hear from you. Any individual or business can advertise on our giant screen positioned next to the stage in Calverley Grounds. It’s a great way to support the festival, with ads starting at just £50. Our crowdfunding page is at: localandlive2022justgiving.com/campaign/ You can find us at @localandlive on Facebook and Instagram and @Local_and_Live on Twitter. The festival website is: localandlive.org Thanks for all your support and interest and roll on the weekend! I look forward to seeing you all at the festival!
Local & Live 19Wednesday August 24 | 2022 Eight Page Pull-Out Welcome to Local & AugustLive26-292022 | FREE ENTRY Calverley Grounds, The Forum, The Royal Spa Hotel, The Sussex Mews 2022 Join Mr. Tom Carradine on the ol' Joanna As he presents an evening of timeless songs With audience participation. Friday 30th September Friday 4th November Saturday 10th December Friday 16th December Thursday 22nd December Tickets £20 Per person (This includes an Antipasti board per person) Prebook Online Only Only 24 Tickets each night Enjoy a traditional sing-a-long while you dine, With a Twist... You don't wear any clothes! Neither does the pianist Friday 2nd September - £22.50 Prebook Online COCKNEY"NAKED"OnlySING-A-LONG "THE GREATEST COURTYARDSHOWMAN"CINEMA THE GREEN DUCK COFFEE HOUSE & BAR "WHAT'S ON GUIDE" 53 Grosvenor Road, Tunbridge www.thegreenduckemporium.comWells Private Party Hire Available Up To 60 people - Late Night Licence From as little as £100 per 4 hour event An amazing outdoor cinema experience The Green Duck Coffee House and Bar with a showing of The Greatest Showman Saturday 3rd September - £10.00 Prebook Online Only THE HOME OF THE COCKNEY SING-A-LONG IN TUNBRIDGE WELLS ALL OUR EVENTS ARE PRE BOOKED ONLINE ONLY - WWW.THEGREENDUCKEMPORIUM.COM ChristmasIdealforyourOfficeParty! By Paul Dunton, Event Organiser hello@localandlive.org It’s been a roller coaster year for Local & Live, but with the recent announcement of a headline sponsor, Local & Live is back in Tunbridge Wells this August Bank Holiday Lastweekend.month,local business Maxipay Accounting Services signed up to be the headline sponsor for this year’s event, providing a vital lifeline for the festival’s finances, which coupled with valuable contributions from Royal Tunbridge Wells Together, donations from the public, numerous local sponsorships and a contribution from Tunbridge Wells Borough Council, all adds up to the fantastic news that Local & Live can now The free music festival, now in its 17th year is a regularannualfixtureinthetown’s cultural calendar. Local & Live has become a popular weekend for picnicking in the park, attracting all generations from young families to more senior musicFeaturingfans. the cream of the local area’s original musical talent, artists already confirmed include Marie White, The Ackerleys, David Migden & The Twisted Roots, Cyrano, Mike Wilton Band and many more. It begins on the evening of Friday August 26 at 5pm and is focused around a purpose-built stage in Calverley Grounds, the beautiful Decimus Burton-designed park in the town centre. The music continues in the park through Saturday 27 (12noon-10pm) and Sunday 28 (12noon-10pm). The Forum will be hosting afterparties every night after the music finishes in Calverley Grounds, hosting an array of local bands until late each night. To accompany the music in Calverley Grounds, there will be two main bars run by The Forum and The George pub and a selection of local food traders, including Fine Grind, Crumbs & Treacle, Naked & Ready Foods, Sankeys, Food Comes
DUNTONPAUL &ofFounderLocalLive ‘Local & Live has established itself as an essential hub for uniting musicians and fans of all generations and genres’
First, Alice’s Ices, Rascal’s Pizzas, Delaney’s Crepes and Pancakes and Mother Bhumi Organic Vegan. All the traders will be serving an array of wonderful foods to suit everyone's tastes.Thebank holiday Monday is known as ‘Fringe Day’ and we are delighted to announce that The Forum will be continuing to host Local & Live artists from 2pm through to late with local band Kumala headlining at 9.30pm. The Sussex Mews will be our main outdoor stage location with an array of Local & Live acts performing music from 2pm until 8.15pm. Move Over Dali headline The Sussex Mews stage at 7.30pm.Asthe festival has grown in both reputation and size, it draws visitors from the length and breadth of the UK and Europe. Local & Live brings together a collective audience in the region of 15,000 people to enjoy the music and a relaxed family-friendly festival atmosphere over the August Bank Holiday weekend. Local resident and front man of The Bluetones Mark Morriss recently gave his take on the festival, saying: “Local & Live has established itself as an essential hub for uniting musicians and fans of all generations and genres in the area of Tunbridge Wells. We are so lucky to have it.”
20 Local & Live Wednesday August 24 | 2022Eight Page Pull-Out Local & Live Listings The Local & Live Music Festival, August 26-29 2022. FREE ENTRY. (Donations encouraged) Calverley Grounds, The Tunbridge Wells Forum, The Sussex Mews Friday August 26 Calverley Grounds 9.10pm – Dull Knife (headline act) 8.20pm – Mike Wilton Band (main headline support) 7.40pm – All the Above 7.00pm – Half Moon Panic 6.20pm – Common Buzzards 5.40pm – Little Suspicions 5.00pm – TN17 (opening performance) Friday August 26 The Tunbridge Wells Forum DOORS OPEN 8.30pm Code: Marla (headline act) The ReptileBreretonsKin Saturday August 27 Calverley Grounds 9.00pm – Suncharmer (headline act) 8.00pm – Two Weeks in Nashville (main headline support) 7.00pm – David Migden & The Twisted Roots 6.20pm Karobela 5.40pm – Cyrano 5.00pm – Wild Horse 4.20pm – Jonny Gray Trio 3.40pm – Higgs and The Bosons 3.00pm – Shep! & Co. 2.20pm – Paul Gunn Collective 1.40pm – Karamelien 1.00pm – Hoolies 12.20pm – Ash Dodd 12.00pm – Rock Choir (opening performance) Saturday August 27 The Tunbridge Wells Forum DOORS OPEN 8.30pm Black Gabanza (headline act) The River Flows Kharma & The Devil Sunday August 28 Calverley Grounds 9.00pm – Noble Jacks (headline act) 7.55pm – The Orange Circus (main headline support) 7.00pm – Marie White 5.50pm – The Paul Dunton Orchestra 5.00pm – The Charlie Rivers Band 4.20pm – Soda Prism 3.40pm – The Ackerleys 3.00pm – Cally Collective 2.20pm – Steffan James 1.40pm – Michael Crowther 1.00pm – Elias Kopp 12.30pm – Alana Hazzard 12.00pm – Geordie Hunter
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Local & Live is also thrilled to announce that Noble Jacks will be headlining Sunday night at Calverley Grounds. The popular local group led by front man Will Page have been wowing crowds across the UK and beyond with their raucous foot stomping alt-folk music and they stole the show at the recent Black Deer Festival with an incredible performance on the main stage.With music again starting at midday, Sunday offers an array of superb local acts including the likes of Steffan James, The Ackerleys, Marie White, The Orange Circus and more, all paving the way for The Noble Jacks to strut their stuff!
CUTTING EDGE Dull Knife are to take to the main stage
Local & Live 21Wednesday August 24 | 2022 Eight Page Pull-Out
ull Knife will be headlining on the Friday evening at Calverley Grounds, with six other local acts taking to the stage in the build-up to their set, including All the Above and Mike Wilton Band also on the bill. Dull Knife are renowned for their inspiring grunge-laden rock songs and have been described as Royal Blood meets The White Stripes. They will certainly rock Calverley Grounds to its knees.
Energy Saturday kicks off with music from 12 noon all the way through to 10pm. Local four-piece Suncharmer top the bill with Two Weeks In Nashville as main support. Both acts recently performed at Pub In The Park, supporting the likes of Faithless and Supergrass and are renowned for their high energy, infectious riff-laden indie pop/rock style. The bands will undoubtedly bring day two to a climactic finish.
D
So who is performing at this year’s Local & Live festival?
Hundreds of acts are signed up to perform at Local & Live 2022 this August Bank Holiday weekend, varying from solo singer-songwriters, to six-piece rock, folk and pop groups...
FAN FAVOURITE Marie White is set to perform
How would you describe your style and sound? We play Upbeat Americana, which is a kind of fusion of roots-influenced music with footstomping rhythms and engaging lyrics. Could you name some of your main musical influences and artists to which you aspire? Bands such as The Waterboys, Mumford & Sons, Old Crow Medicine Show, The Lumineers, Levellers and Tom Petty are some of our main influences. What other live gigs and festivals have you recently played? We recently played the Black Deer Festival in Eridge Park, where we performed on the main stage. We also played the Paaspop Festival in the Netherlands as well as FoundTown in Canterbury and the Beautiful Days Festival in Devon this month (run by Levellers) – plus we’ve gigged at the Nibly Festival, Gate To Southwell in Nottinghamshire, Altitude Festival and more. What can the audience expect when they see you at Local & Live? You can expect ‘jump up’ high energy alt-folk with some foot-stomping fiddle!
How did you all get together, and how long have you been going? We all met on the Brighton music scene and Noble Jacks has been going for six years now.
www.noblejacks.com Instagram and Facebook: @noblejacksofficial Twitter: @Noble_Jacks
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Local & Live 23Wednesday August 24 | 2022 Eight Page Pull-Out SuncharmerTHEMEET BANDS FreelanceValentineGrim When you want an agent more consistent than the British summer... We’re here. Whether you’re buying, selling, renting or letting this summer, make Winkworth your first call. Winkworth Tunbridge Wells 01892 519600 65 High Street, Tunbridge Wells, Kent, TN1 1XX twells@winkworth.co.uk
How did you all get together and how long have you been going? We started playing together in February of 2016 after all meeting at college studying music. The first practice actually took place on a very lonely Valentine’s Day. How would you describe your style and sound? Our sound draws heavily from a variety of different genres as we all have pretty broad tastes. It mixes the old with the new, taking modern indie rock and combining it with elements of 70s riff rock, surf and psychedelia. Could you name some of your main music influences and artists to which you aspire? Some notable influences of ours are David Bowie, T. Rex, Arctic Monkeys and Royal Blood. What other live gigs have you recently played? Any memorable moments? We played a headline show over at the Tunbridge Wells Forum earlier in the year. The crowd was excellent and the atmosphere wasIt’samazing.definitely been one of the more memorable ones for us, we had a really great night. What can the audience expect when they see you at Local & Live? We’re going to be pulling out all the stops for this one, playing a bunch of new tracks that we’ve been working on. We’ll also be playing our new single ‘Criminal Mastermind’ which drops on the same day. There’s also a cover in there that we think everyone is going to enjoy, we can’t wait! You can find us primarily on Instagram and Facebook, or on our website. Be sure to pre-save our new single on Spotify using the link in our Instagram bio. suncharmerband.co.uk Instagram and Facebook: suncharmerband
WeddingsatSalomonsEstate Open Day 20th November 2022 10am – 2pm @salomons_venue @salomons.venue @salomons_estate salomons-estate.com | 01892 515 152 | MSLevents@salomons-estate.com Join us for our Wedding Open Day View our beautiful venue dressed for weddings, with the opportunity to meet our team & recommended suppliers Email MSLevents@salomons-estate.com to register your interest Scan here to bookPHOTOGRAPHYBLACKLEDGECHRIS© © TOM JEAVONS PHOTOGRAPHY © ROSS HURLEY PHOTOGRAPHY© HELEN ENGLAND PHOTOGRAPHY © ROKOLYA PHTOGRAPHY© SHELBY ELLIS PHOTOGRAPHY
Wednesday August 24 | 2022 Life &Times ARTS • BOOKS • GOING OUT • FOOD • EVENTS • ANTIQUES • TRAVEL • PROPERTY • LIVE MUSIC and MORE... Going Out P29 Antiques P37 Food – P32 An artist’s lasting legacy Celebrating the late Roger FitzGerald P26
THE PANTILES
26 Wednesday August 24 | 2022Arts arts
An eye-catching architect’s eye-view of Kent leaves a lasting and loving legacy
Sarah Bond looks at a unique exhibition and corresponding book which show different views of the ‘Buildings of Kent’ in honour of the late architect, artist and author Roger FitzGerald. They are both launched at the Grierson Galleries in Cranbrook on September 17 and will fulfil his final wish of sharing them with others...
The Old Granary, Waterloo Road, Cranbrook, Kent TN17 Telephone: 01580 715857 E-mail: enquiries@bentleyskent.com @ www.bentleysfineartauctioneers.co.uk
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A GOOD ANTIQUE CHINESE BRONZE FIGURE, INSCRIBED, 51CM HIGH EST: £500-£1000 & A JAPANESE MEIJI PERIOD BRONZE ‘DRAGON’ VASE, 40CM HIGH EST: £400-£600 DAMIEN HIRST (BRITISH, B.1965) –‘SKULL’, SIGNED BLACK INK SKETCH WITH CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICITY, 30CM X 21CM EST: £600-£800 A 19TH CENTURY FRENCH ORMOLU & PORCELAIN MOUNTED CLOCK GARNITURE EST: £400-£600 A RARE MID CENTURY ERCOL BLOND-ELM WINDSOR LOVE SEAT EST: £400-£600A FINE & RARE COLLECTION OF ANTIQUE MUSIC BOXES SUPERB QUALITY MARQUETRY INLAID MULTI-BELL STRIKING 8DAY LONGCASE CLOCK WITH CELESTIAL ROLLING GLOBE MOVEMENT BY JOSEPH SWINNERTON EST: £2000-£4000 THREE EXCEPTIONAL WATERCOLOURS BY RALPH TODD (BRITISH, 1856-1932) A PAIR OF EXCEPTIONAL QUALITY WHITE GOLD DIAMOND DROP EARRINGS, APPROX 3.31CTS EST: £3500-£4000, A LARGE WHITE GOLD DIAMOND RING, APPROX 2.75CTS EST: £2500-£3000 & A LE VIAN WHITE GOLD, AQUAMARINE & DIAMOND RING, APPROX 1CT OF DIAMONDS EST: £800-£1200 (FROM A LARGE COLLECTION OF GOOD JEWELLERY IN THIS SALE) BENTLEY ’S ANTIQUES & FINE ART AUCTIONEERS ON-LINE LIVE BIDDING ON-LINE LIVE BIDDING SATURDAY 3RD SEPTEMBER 10AM (Please note earlier starting time 10am for Smalls & 11am for Furniture) PARKINGONDAYOF SALEIN CRANBROOK SCHOOL CAR PARK (OPPOSITE) COURTESYOF CRANBROOK SCHOOL Full Catalogue & Images Available Online Friday 26th August Viewing: 1st September 9.30am – 5.30pm Friday 2nd September 9.30am-5.30pm Saturday 3rd September 9.00am-10.00am (10am Sale Starts) ‘FISHERMAN’S WIFE SAT AT HOME READING A LETTER’, 47CM X 31CM EST:£600-£800 ‘FISHERMAN’S WIFE ON THE QUAYSIDE WITH NETS & BASKETS, BOATS IN THE BACKGROUND’, 54CM X 37CM EST: £800-£1200 ‘THE END OF THE STORY’, 54CM X 77CM EST: £1000-£1500
A rchitect Roger FitzGerald, who sadly died in Tunbridge Wells Hospital last month after living in Sevenoaks for more than 30 years, has left behind an extraordinary portfolio of paintings for others to enjoy. They reflect the incredible character of Kent, a county that he loved exploring and capturing on canvas. As a notable artist, he had previously published books giving his view of the buildings of Britain, London and New York, but when the pandemic hit he was forced to stay local. However that was fortuitous, for this he was delighted to do, as he enjoyed nothing more than venturing out into the Kent countryside with his camera – either on foot with his wife Lynne, or on his bicycle. In addition to buildings, he interpreted streetscapes, seafronts, castles and other scenes with his vivid strokes. He loved to experiment, applying charcoal, ink and collaged elements to paper along with his favoured acrylic paint, and using tools as diverse as razor blades, rollers and pieces of card. The results are impressionistic and ‘He loved to experiment, applying charcoal, ink and collaged elements to paper along with his favoured acrylic paint’
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“Roger leaves behind a tremendous legacy. He was a gifted architect and artist, but also kind-hearted, calm and witty gentleman. It was his wish that his final book and exhibition –both named Buildings of Kent – be completed if he passed away.” Now they have achieved this, with both the book and the paintings going on show at the Grierson Galleries, which he had a long association with: “Roger was both one of our artists who’d exhibited with Grierson Galleries over many years, and also a friend,” said a spokesperson for the gallery, which was formerly based in Sevenoaks.
27Wednesday August 24 | 2022 Arts
INN, TONBRIDGE
In a heartfelt statement posted on his Twitter account on August 9, his family said: “We are devastated to announce that our beloved husband and father died on 6 July 2022 while undergoing treatment for pancreatic cancer. He was just 63 years old.
THE BOOK Roger FitzGerald’s family say the book Buildings of Kent tells two stories. Firstly, his paintings, sketches and text display the architecture of Kent and its relationship with the history and geography of the Secondly,county.there is a more personal story behind it. Roger had long held an ambition to write this book and was undaunted by the prospect of doing so even after being diagnosed with cancer and while undergoing treatment. Excursions around Kent were fitted in around chemotherapy sessions and the ensuing fatigue. Pen drawings were completed in his Tunbridge Wells hospital room during his final weeks. The book ends with a painting of Margate that was left unfinished in Roger’s studio before he sadly passed away. Some unfinished text was completed by his son James in line with his father’s wishes. “This book holds tremendous emotional significance to us as a symbol of his determination in the face of a cruel disease. We hope that it will serve as an inspiration to others,” said Lynne, James and Will. playful, but always attentive to what makes particular buildings human-centric.
YE CHEQUERED
Personal profits from the exhibition will go to Pancreatic Cancer UK, a charity which supported him and his family after his diagnosis with the disease in February 2021. Grierson Galleries is also donating 10% of its commission to the Rogercharity.moved to Sevenoaks in 1994, after designing a house for his wife and two young sons, James and Will, and he spent nearly four decades at ADP, one of the country’s leading architectural practices, where he became Chairman.Amonghis proudest achievements as an architect were an innovative building with a curved roof for Riverhead Infants’ School in Sevenoaks; a visitor reception building for the Palace of Westminster; the conversion of Oxford Castle from a prison to a hotel; and a master plan for the University of Sussex. Admission to the exhibition is free. Buildings of Kent books are priced at £10; artworks £200−400; limited edition prints £70−100.Forfurther information, visit: griersongalleries.com To see more of Roger’s extraordinary paintings, including a wonderful image of cricket on The Vine and an illustrated map of Sevenoaks, visit: rogerfitzgerald.com
A new book, Buildings of Kent, acknowledges how Roger was influenced by the great Wealden painters Samuel Palmer and Rowland Hilder, as well as Dover-born artist Mike Bernard, who transformed his approach to texture, colour and abstraction.Roger’sworks have been displayed at Somerset House, The Shard and the Royal Institute of British Architects, and are in private collections across the world. Fruition Roger determinedly continued his artistic quest amid gruelling chemotherapy sessions and medical appointments after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in February 2021. Many of the drawings that appear in the book were created in his final weeks, and it was his greatest last wish that both the book and exhibition would come to fruition after his passing and that the proceeds would be donated to the charity Pancreatic Cancer UK.
UNION MILL, CRANBROOK
OLDE
CALVERLEY PARK CRESCENT ARTIST Roger at work in his studio
Published in hardback by HQ, priced £14.99
Published in hardback by Doubleday, priced £14.99 (ebook £7.99)
for her
28 Books Wednesday August 24 | 2022
The Queen Of Dirt Island by Donal Ryan
Published in in hardback by Canongate Books, priced £16.99
Five months Christmasto Unforgettable celebration packages for your festive party... we’ll be rolling out the red carpet for you with this year’s Hollywood Glamour theme Contact our award-winning events team leisuresales@salomons-estate.com 01892 51 51 52 @salomons_venue | @salomons.venue | @salomons_estate Prices£54ppfrom Times book editor Victoria Roberts picks out three books to read this week In this week’s bookcase, a dark and moving novel from
Review by Rachel Howdle
9/10 9/10
author
The Queen Of Dirt Island is a dark and moving novel from one of Ireland’s most underrated talents. Set in Tipperary from the 1980s onwards, the novel tells the story of the female members of the Aylward family. Despite its relatively short length, it is an epic story, spanning four generations of the family – featuring gunrunning, grief and betrayal. At its heart, it’s about about the relationships between the different women, and the stories that bind them together. Ryan’s prose is constructedtightly and lyrical. Chapters are often givingandself-containedshort,devastating,theeffectof a cinematic montage of the women’s lives. The Queen Of Dirt Island is a masterful account of the loves and losses of the Aylward women. Review by Luke O’Reilly
woman in Bristol...
Review by Prudence Wade 6/10 one of Ireland’s YA embarking on a more mature subject new the difficulties of growing up as a young black working class
In her first foray away from YA, Kirsten Miller tells the story of three women starting their third phase of life. The Change is a powerful buddy story of a trio of women who have had enough of being shrinking violets, and want to step above the noise and misogyny. Former nurse and widow Nessa is looking to start again and begins to accept that the voices she is hearing in the dead of night need help. Harriett is about to turn 50 –her advertising career and marriage have imploded, and our third in this powerful trio is Jo, a former executive and gym owner who came into her own when she embraced her menopause’s power. Everywhere this group looks, they see injustice. Empowered by their own metamorphosis, they work together to make things right. The Change is a bewitching and satisfying mystery and thriller – Miller has successfully straddled the readability of YA and introduced more adult themes. A compelling summertime read.
novel and
None Of The Above by Travis Alabanza
underrated talents, a
The Change by Kirsten Miller
Travis Alabanza is a hugely talented performer, one who can evoke great emotion in the words they speak. None Of The Above is their memoir – and they have a lot to cover, despite being only 26 years old. From coming to terms with their gender identity as a young black working class person in Bristol, to navigating constant vitriol for how they look and identify, it paints a pretty bleak picture of life for those who identify outside of the gender binary –and emphasises how the structures in place impact us all. However, some of the message gets lost in the format of the book, which is organised around seven phrases people have said to them over the years. It’s a powerful concept, but unfortunately the content gets a bit muddied – instead of having distinct sections dealing with different topics or parts of their life, it all seems to overlap. Alabanza has plenty to say and their stories are definitely moving, but None Of The Above would have benefited from either a tighter concept or clearer editing, to really make the message shine through.
PENSHURST PLACE
BEST FOOT FORWARD
Last year’s Hospice Run raised thousands for charity and saw hundreds take part WITH a line-up of seriously experienced musicians, The Quo Experience promises to be anything but your standard tribute act. From ‘Living On An Island’ to ‘Burning Bridges’, expect five decades’ worth of Status Quo’s incredible music history at the Assembly Hall this Friday (August 26) at 7:30pm. Local and Live brings four days of the best local musical talent to Calverley Grounds and The Forum over the Bank Holiday weekend (August 26-29). This festival promises free, fun-filled days out for music fans of all ages. Pack your picnic blanket!DerekNash’s
Find your local Ramblers group at ramblers.org.uk/go-walking/group-finder Annual membership starts at £36.60. Or try the Ramblers’ separate free Wellbeing Walks at Wellbeing-Walks-GroupsBeta.Ramblers.org.uk/go-walking/ Parkrun at Dunorlan Park on Saturdays at 9am. Free, but register at parkrun.org Hospice Run September 18. hospice-run-2022/HospiceInTheWeald.org.uk/events/ 10K run is £25 adults, £15 children. 5K run is £15 and £10.
Seeking a leisurely afternoon treat this Bank Holiday weekend? Head over to Salomons Estate on August 26 to enjoy a quintessentially British afternoon tea, in alfresco style. Enjoy delicious homemade cakes, delicate finger-cut sandwiches and buttery scones amid the estate’s 36 acres of stunning scenery. For more sweet treats, head over to One Warwick Park Hotel and try their Champagne Afternoon Tea on Thursdays and Sundays. This Sunday (August 28), enjoy Summer Storytelling at Penshurst Place. Darting through the greenery and flora of the gardens, the actors of Aardvark Productions reimagine some of the classic tales we grew up with. Performances at 11:15am, 12:15pm, 2:15pm and 3:15pm. Free with admission ticket.Partof RTW’s Art Week, this Sunday’s (August 28) ‘Building 3D Creations’ will test children’s imaginations as they transform ordinary cardboard boxes into wonderful structures. Led by toy specialists Whirligig Toys, this free workshop is suitable for children aged 6-8. Advanced booking required. Details at rtwtogether.com/artweek
‘The Pirates of Penzance’ tickets from TonbridgeCastle.org A truly thrilling tale of owls, ghosts, chases and escapes comes to Scotney Castle on August 27. David Walliams’ best-seller ‘Awful Auntie’ is adapted for outdoor theatre by Heartbreak Productions. It follows the story of Stella, who must thwart her menacing aunt and save the family home. This tale could take some time to tell, so pack a picnic and a blanket or chair to sit on. Tickets from 01926 430 307.
Picante brings Latin music to The Orangery at Chiddingstone Castle on August 29. Think Buena Vista Social Club, Gypsy Kings, mambo, salsa and samba, jamming, all mixed up in a vibrant celebration of cultural rhythm. Bring your picnic blanket and chairs and arrive early to enjoy the grounds before showtime at 4:30pm. Trinity Theatre celebrates its 40th birthday this bank holiday weekend, with a range of fun events, from the chance to perform variety on Friday night (August 26) to Saturday’s summer fête and ceilidh. Then ‘Muck In’ for a free cakefuelled up on Sunday. Times and details at TrinityTheatre.net/40th-anniversary-weekend
Turning over a new leaf this autumn with some local walks AUTUMN is a good time to turn over a new leaf, and what could be a better new leisure and social activity than exercise? Whether you’re interested in joining an established group or you prefer having a single goal, there is something for you this September.Youcantry out up to three walks before committing to joining Ramblers. According to the Tunbridge Wells group, ‘routes tend to be five to six miles as a rule’. Separately, the organisation runs free ‘Wellbeing Walks’ for those who need a shorter and easier route, whether due to fitness or mobility issues, or small children. These are available to non-Ramblers members.Thenext ‘TW Commons Saturday Saunter’ is on September 10 at 10:30am, starting near the car park in Fir Tree Road, but there are walks in other locations to ‘keep you going’ all-month long. For a faster heartbeat, try Parkrun’s five-kilometre run or walk around Dunorlan Park. The Saturday morning crowd is made up of singletons, friends and families. If you prefer a single goal, the Hospice in the Weald’s annual 10K run on September 18, starting from the Lower Cricket Ground, is an event to aim for. “The 5K is a new addition introduced a few years ago to make it a bit more family friendly,” added a spokeswoman. “There is no lower age limit for children but any child under the age of 16 should be accompanied by an adult.”
NOBLE JACKS LOCAL & LIVE
29Wednesday August 24 | 2022 Going Out
JOIN The Festival Theatre at Hever Castle on August 27 as they celebrate the sound of Motown which forever changed the musical landscape. ‘No Town Like Motown’ revisits all the essential anthems from ‘My Girl’ to ‘My Guy’ and many between. It’s a whole era in one night. HeverFestival.co.uk Frederick has been apprenticed to the Pirates since childhood. However, when he realises he is contracted to the Pirate King until his 21st birthday – and was born on February 29 – he faces living a life of crime until he is 84. With only the bumbling Penzance constabulary to protect him, will he last that long? Will his sweetheart Mabel wait that long for him? Find out on August 28 at Tonbridge Castle’s open-air theatre. Expect plenty of melodrama, sharp satire and glittering wit in this hilarious production.
30 Music Matters Wednesday August 24 | 2022
Finding the right instrument for your child
W ith so many instruments out there, deciding whether you or your child would like to blow, pluck,bow,strum, or even hit can be a daunting task. To guide you on your musical journey Andrew has listed three elements to think about when you’re looking for the perfect instrument match.
3) Cost Possibly the most important factor is cost. There will be lessons and exams to pay for, instrument maintenance, and, of course, the initial outlay for the instrument. One way to start is to rent an instrument. As well as spreading the cost into more budget-friendly chunks, it gives you or your child the chance to learn without the stress of initially finding a large sum of money. Instruments can be changed and new choices easily made. The popular rental scheme at Brittens Music allows instruments to be returned after the initial period. Alternatively, the instrument can be purchased with a discount equal to the initial rentals.
2) Suitability Not all instruments are suitable for all ages. Picture a seven-year-old grappling with a double bass! It’s important to consider the effect that the instrument will have on a child’s development. For example, if a child starts a brass or woodwind instrument too young, their dental development and palate can be adversely affected by the pressure applied by the mouthpiece. Hand size can also play a part in decision-making. Children tend to be very supple so can compensate for a lack of hand size when playing the piano. But for stringed instruments, the right instrument size has to be chosen so the correct technique is developed.
BENEFITS OF PLAYING A MUSICAL INSTRUMENT: ● Language and literacy development ● Spatial reasoning (a key contributor to mathematical ability) ● Fine motor skills ● Improved memory and concentration ● Hand to eye coordination ● Teamwork ● Imagination ● Creative thinking brittensmusic.co.uk ANDREW COLLINS
factors to think about when choosing an instrument for you or your child to learn...
1) Enthusiasm No one can learn or enjoy an instrument if they don’t practise. And you or your child need to be motivated to practise. A great way to help your child find enthusiasm and discover the different sounds of an instrument is to visit a music shop like Brittens Music where they can experience the sounds of an instrument and see what’s involved in playing it. Some children like to stand out from the crowd and may be enthusiastic about a more uncommon instrument. If this is the case, think about the availability of an instrument and teacher, and be prepared to travel further to lessons.
Andrew Collins of Brittens Music on Grove Hill in Tunbridge Wells shares the top three
Violins and cellos are available from tiny 1/16 size instruments with several intermediate sizes leading up to full size.
3. A ‘discovery’ bottle of red wine that will appeal to fans of Beaujolais and Pinot Noir Waitrose & Partners Loved & Found País 2020, Maule, Chile (£7.99, Waitrose, 13%) Waitrose’s ‘Loved & Found’ range of lesserknown wine regions and grape varieties is well worth exploring. This one is made from the ancient País (pronounced ‘pie-eece’) variety aka California’s Mission grape. This one is juicy, supple, unoaked, pale in colour and lightbodied with characteristically low tannins. Think violets, bramble fruit, juicy, earthy wild berries, cherry sauce, a touch of white pepper and wild herbs. Good for drinking without food but would agreeably complement tuna steak, smoked salmon, lamb cutlets and charcuterie. No point in ageing – just lightly chill and pour.
5. A dram for the weekend? Chivas Regal Extra 13-Year-Old Tequila Whisky, Speyside, Scotland & input from Mexico (£35£35.99, House of Malt & Tesco, 40%) In a whisky rut? Have no fear, Chivas’ tequila cask-matured blended Scotch whisky has arrived. Aged for 13 years in traditional oak casks, a portion of this whisky has been additionally finished in freshly-emptied tequila barrels sent from Mexico. It blows me away with its green apple, exotic pineapple, zingy citrus, orchard fruit, orange liqueur, fudge, and subtle vanilla brilliance. Very interesting, smoothly approachable, sophisticated, and so, so moreish. Makes a refined ‘Rob Roy’ (one for fans of Manhattans). What a treat. Follow James on Twitter @QuixoticWine
2. Unmissable dry sherry from Bodega Sánchez Romate – The Society’s Fino NV Sherry, Jerez, Spain (£6.95, The Wine Society, 15%, 75cl) Sherry is the planet’s most undervalued fortified wine bargain and it mixes wonderfully into cocktails. There is a ton of character here, with notes of apples, herbs, citrus fruit, iodine, some nuttiness and sourdough. Try it with everything from fried/grilled/smoked fish, anchovies, green Manzanilla olives and lightly salted and toasted Marcona almonds to sashimi, gazpacho, smoked/cured meats, patatas bravas and tortilla. It also makes for a stonking ‘rebujito’ when mixed with Sprite or 7up and garnished with mint and/or a green olive. Stunning value as always from TWS.
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31Wednesday August 24 | 2022 Food & Drink
Times’ Drinks Editor James Viner has something for all tastes with his pick of five brilliant bottles to enjoy as we celebrate this summer’s bank holiday weekend...
1. Superb salivatory white wine for seafood and fish – Domaine des Deux Vallons, Muscadet Sèvre et Maine Sur Lie, Loire, France 2020 (£6.49, Lidl, 12%) If you like very dry, tangy, lighter-bodied, refreshing whites with a salty, oceanic bouquet, disregard trendy Picpoul de Pinet and purchase (superior value) Muscadet ‘sur lie’ instead. This example is a little gem from Lidl’s Frenchthemed Wine Tour, which spotlights classic wine styles for summer drinking. Bright, crisp, breezy, zesty, and lemony (fruit has a low profile here) with a rich texture and a gentle flinty-salineyeasty flavour, it’s a must-sip steal with almost any fish or seafood. Distinctly maritime with a fine and precise riff of sea spray.
4. Pop some fizz into your weekend with this sophisticated bargain sparkling wine from South Africa Graham Beck Vintner’s Selection Brut MCC NV, Western Cape, South Africa (£13, or £11 for Clubcard members, Tesco, 12%) South Africa produces a small amount of delicious sparkling wines made by the traditional ‘Méthode Cap Classique’ where the wine goes through its second fermentation in the bottle in which it’s sold. Made from a roughly fifty-fifty blend of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, Tesco’s Graham Beck Vintner’s Selection Brut bubbly has an attractive level of brioche richness and plenty of zingy citrus fruit delights. It’s a brilliant buy and a steal at a discounted price for Clubcard members.
Raise a glass for the August Bank Holiday
IT’S HARD to believe that the August Bank Holiday (Monday August 29) is already upon us. The long weekend at the end of the summer is the perfect time to overhaul your drinks trolley or refresh that depleted wine rack. Come rain or shine, here are five cracking bottles to enjoy over the last bank holiday before Christmas...
32 Food & Drink Wednesday August 24 | 2022 CONTENT & CALM… From our contemporary club rooms to sumptuous suites
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The pandemic has given us more than just a taste of fresh air, it’s unleashed a love of eating outside rather than in, leading to pine tables and parasols cropping up all over the place. Sarah Bond went on the hunt for some of the more scenic places to go to this bank holiday weekend - with the unusual and quirky among them…
inc. Breakfast onewarwickpark.co.uk01892520587 @onewarwickpark *applicable on
Deciding where to eat out, or have coffee or tea, is a delight that often has us dithering – but there is a wealth of wonderful places on our doorstep that you may not have thought of exploring. From simply stunning settings by lakes and rivers, and an antiques treasure trove that serves coffee and cake, to an outdoor private dining shack, chocolate orange scones and a flower shop that serves cocktails, the eateries are growing more imaginative in their attempts to lure you to their tables every day. And that gives us the most marvellous choice of superb places to eat and drink in the sun and haveHerefun.we round-up some refreshing gems in both Tunbridge Wells and some of the surrounding villages. Many have online menus you can savour before you go. Tunbridge Wells For a peaceful haven right in the heart of the town, Fine Grind’s new courtyard cafe at The Amelia, off Monson Road, offers a great chance to escape from the madding crowds and enjoy great coffee, interesting salads, cake and more. theamelia.co.uk/visiting-the-amelia/the-cafe One of Tunbridge Wells’ best-kept secrets is the THE SUSSEX COUNTRY GARDENER
Victoria White Conservative Cllr for Park Ward, Tunbridge Wells
Lamberhurst
timeslocalnews.co.ukFOR EVEN MORE NEWS VISIT:16 NEWS Weekly Comment
REJUVENATION: The Council wants to know what you want PUBLIC NOTICE Goods Operator’sVehicleLicence Terri Kopp of 11 New Road, Penshurst, Tonbridge TN11 8EH APPLYING FOR A LICENCE TO USE Aveling Lodge, Pinkham, Tonbridge TN12 5EU AS AN OPERATING CENTRE FOR 1 GOODS VEHICLES AND 0
DUNORLAN CAFE
THE VINEYARD TRINITY THEATRE SCOTNEY NATIONALCASTLETRUST
Just a few miles out of town you can truly enjoy rural sights and sounds at Bewl Water country park, where The Waterfront Café has stunning views over the reservoir and beyond. You can even take a boat ride before or after eating, or follow the footpaths through the woods to walk or cycle your meal off. bewlwater.co.uk/food-drink
Penshurst Nestled beside the magnificent Penshurst Place is a real favourite with those in the know– the Fir Tree House Tea Rooms. With tables scattered among the plants and trees in its charming gardens, it serves delicious homemade cakes. With its olde worlde country feel, even Miss Marple would feel at home here, and it’s so traditional it doesn’t have a website, so you will have to discover its delights for yourself.
Coming back towards Tunbridge Wells you can find The Vineyard, where there are private ‘adventure’ shacks as well as an outdoor eating area, and you can tour an actual vineyard, too. elitepubs.com/venue/the-vineyard
TRAILERS
I WAS honoured and delighted to be elected as a new Conservative councillor for Park ward in May.Winning the seat showed that local residents understand and appreciate the hard work local Conservatives put in over the last 18 months during an incredibly difficult time for the Borough Council and for all of us. But I believe the support I received was about more than just that. It was also recognition that the Conservatives in Tunbridge Wells are changing and that we are planning a new and exciting future for the town. Residents
Communication has not been this
Eridge Going south of Tunbridge Wells you will find a wonderful open-air atmosphere and airy beamed building at The Deer Park Cafe tucked down a country lane, Sham Farm Road, on the edge of the Eridge Deer Park, with an imaginative florists right beside it showing some beautiful displays. Here you really get the feel of the country from the surrounding fields, where people can also go camping. We loved seeing sheep nosing around near the tents, and you might actually spot roaming deer, too. thedeerparkcafe.co.uk
TrustNationaltheofcourtesyPicture
33Wednesday August 24 | 2022 Food & Drink fabulous balcony at Dunorlan Park’s cafe, where you can gaze out over the trees to the fields beyond and watch the birds and boating on the lake. Partnered with its sister cafe amid the gorgeous plantings at Calverley Grounds, they offer wonderful baked potato lunches with a variety of toppings and more at a very good price.Fordetails of both, see visittunbridgewells.com Also, for a sense of really getting away from it all in the middle of town, Trinity Theatre’s hidden garden is a haven of tranquility, and another great place to meet friends for a nibble and a natter. trinitytheatre.net Meanwhile, on the glorious Common, you can eat outside or in the conservatory at The Mount Edgcumbe, right by the famous rocks, or enjoy courtyard fine dining at the historic Thackeray’s on London Road. themountedgcumbe.com and thackerays-restaurant.co.uk For fabulous views over a lake and sumptuous afternoon teas in the peace of a beautiful country estate, you can’t beat the dining terrace at Salomons, which also has an adjacent conservatory restaurant should any raindrops fall. Visit salomons-estate.com for details. These are aside from the popular pavement venues filling Fiveways, Mount Pleasant, the old High Street and The Pantiles, where you can enjoy the buzz and watch the world go by. The Pantiles is filled with cafes, and Basil, Bill’s, Esquire, Juliets and The Lodge are among the other town favourites, while at the end of the High Street, florists The Cove also have outdoor tables where you can sip, gin, rum, vodka, wine and non-alcoholic drinks and taste a variety of cheeses and meats with friends.
Mark Cross One of the best locations for eating is the covered outdoor cafe area at the Sussex Country Gardener garden centre, whch has amazing views over the open Weald. It has two outdoor sections plus open-air tables, depending on how sheltered or open you want to be. sussexcountrygardener.co.uk
Off the main road is The Nevill Crest and Gun, which has a huge canopy over its outdoor dining area to protect you from sun and rain, and a large conservatory restaurant right beside it. Plus tables out in the open under the trees. brunningandprice.co.uk
Owners or occupiers of land (including buildings near the operating centre(s) who believe that their use or enjoyment of that land would be affected, should make written representations to the Traffic Commissioner at Hillcrest House, 386 Harehills Lane, Leeds LS9 6NF, stating their reasons, within 21 days of this notice. Representors must at the same time send a copy of their representations to the applicant at the address given at the top of this notice. A Guide to Making Representations is available from the Traffic Commissioner’s office.
It’s fair to say that the Conservatives have a reputation for a certain ‘type’ of councillor but the last election has shown this is no longer true. I was able to add another female councillor to the Conservative group, and I now work alongside other new and younger Conservatives – such as Lance Goodship, Paul Roberts and Harry Allen - all keen to bring a new perspective and voice to local politics. Together we want to deliver change. I believe this needs to be focused around two things – communication and cooperation. With a background in marketing, I understand the importance of communication. It’s something I feel strongly that we, as a Conservative Council, have not been good enough at doing. With a town centre in need of rejuvenation, now is the time to talk to everyone to understand what they care about and what they want our town to look like going forward. Gone are the days of the Council imposing policies from above. Going forward we must wee-newslettermediawithcommunication.residents.WeunderstandWeAnd,have
Just up the road is something that not many people know – you can visit Scotney Castle’s courtyard Tea Room without having to pay an entrance fee to the National Trust property, just the car park charge. The café here offers a Scone of the Month, too – and recipes for previous ones, such as their chocolate orange scone. nationaltrust.org.uk/scotney-castle
IS
1. Do what you love My first piece of advice to any aspiring photographer is to find the genre of photography that motivates you the most. Whether that be wildlife, sport, cityscapes, macro (close ups), portraits or street photography the list is almost endless. But to stay engaged with the process you need to be motivated by the love of the craft. Every genre demands a different set of skills, equipment and discipline and discovering all those facets will make you fall in love with it. Find your photographic love and pursue it!
Regardless of your experience or ability it is really important to make the effort. Whether that be getting up early or staying out late to get the good light or researching good locations to go and shoot the things you love there are a whole host of elements that go into making the effort.
The programme has kicked off with a photography competition in partnership with award-winning wildlife photographer, David Jenner. And, already, aspiring snappers of all ages have been coming forward with their best photographs, capturing everything from animals, flowers, landscapes and woodland creatures.It’snottoo late to take part and everyone is encouraged to share their work regardless of experience or skill level. Whether the result of years’ old passion or a lucky shot, it could well have that something special. Submit your photo and you will get the opportunity to have your work seen by renowned photographer David Jenner, and if shortlisted benefit from his expert feedback and receive his top tips on how you could hone your photography skills – so don’t hold back!
Capturing CranbrookWildlife Photography Competition
The competition will be judged by a panel of three judges including David Jenner himself, a Berkeley representative and a figure from Times of Tunbridge Wells.
Categories • 11-15 year olds: open to those with a fledgling interest in photography and/or nature•16+: open to those with basic experience looking to develop this further How to enter Submit your entry via this dedicated website, where full competition T&C’s can also be found. The final submissions to be sent by Wednesday 14th September.
Reminding all budding photographers to pick up their cameras and capture Cranbrook
Be inspired by David Jenner himself, with his five ‘Top Tips’
3. Learn your numbers
5. Enjoy the game It is so important to enjoy the process of image making. There are plenty of failures along the way but the highs of capturing one of your best can’t be beaten. Find other people to motivate you, join a camera club, read photography magazines and go online to look for other photographers who will inspire you to go out and take more pictures. More importantly do it for yourself, because you love it, be proud of your pictures and never stop wanting to improve.
https://bit.ly/CapturingCranbrook
A modern day DSLR or mirrorless camera can appear daunting at first. All those knobs and buttons not to mention an endless myriad of menu options that seem to go on forever. Whilst it might be easy to stick it in Auto and let the camera do all the work you will feel much more invested in the process if you can shoot in Aperture priority or Manual modes. Try and learn a few settings via YouTube or an expert in the field and start to get to grips with the numbers.
Last week saw the launch of –Capturing Cranbrook, an art-led programme looking to celebrate the natural landscape of the treasured Kent town. Hosted by local developer, Berkeley, it is calling creatives of all stripes to showcase Cranbrook through their eyes –– through lens or on canvas – and have a chance to feature in a special exhibition later this autumn.
2. Hone your craft No matter what aspect of picture taking you do always do your best to give you the best chance of taking the best image. Perfection will only come from months and years of photo shoots but sometimes you strike gold, and you find yourself in the right place at the right time to get the killer shot.
The competition features two age categories with winners receiving a £300 Jessops voucher to purchase specialized photography equipment.
4. Make the effort
Advertisement feature
(RTWCS), which campaigns to protect the architecture in the town, applied to have Hermes House added to a list of buildings with special architectural or historic interest. The building is familiar to many commuters heading along the A26 St John’s Road due to its circular design and iconic clock.
By Richard Williams
House price growth slows but average values are still rising past record levels
UK HOUSE prices rose by 7.8 per cent annually in June as growth slowed sharply in the face of pressure on households and rising interest rates, according to official figures.TheOffice for National Statistics (ONS) revealed that growth pulled back from 12.8 per cent in May. The latest figure represented the weakest growth since July last year. Property price increases partly slowed year on year due to a jump last June as prospective buyers sought to strike deals ahead of the end of the stamp duty holiday.
Average The ONS said the average house price was £286,000 in June, representing a £20,000 increase against the same month last year. In England, average house prices increased by 7.3 per cent to £305,000 over the year. In Wales, average prices grew 8.6 per cent to £213,000, while in Scotland prices rose 11.6 per cent to £192,000, and in Northern Ireland by 9.6 per cent to £169,000.
However, a spokesman for the RTWCS said: “The Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport has decided not to add Hermes House to the List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest.”
Get a FREE copy of your local luxe lifestyle magazine while stocks last! out now… The August edition of SO Maggazine is Meet buildingAndrewentrepreneurMann Savour the taste of a new non alcoholic drinks brand Discover a local luxury camping site All the best food & drink including where to enjoy the best afternoon tea
35Wednesday August 24 | 2022 Property newsproperty
AN ATTEMPT to prevent a national logistics association from knocking down its headquarters to build residential properties hasLogisticsfailed. UK has applied to Tunbridge Wells Borough Council to demolish Hermes House in St John’s Road to make way for 43 apartments after the 1930s building no longer fits the national group’s needs.
ONS house prices statistician Ceri Lewis said: “While annual growth slowed, house prices continue to increase and average prices have now reached record levels in England, Wales and Scotland. “Rents continue to climb across the country, with sustained pick-up in London which saw its strongest growth since the beginning of 2017.”
Bid to protect Logistics UK HQ from being demolished rejected
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'Over time objects absorb natural Alpha and Beta radiation on the surface, but Gamma Rays can penetrate much deeper, and it’s these radiation particles that hold the secret of age'
Simple In basic terms scientists in the lab shave off the top couple of millimetres of a sample from an object and heat it up to 500 degrees Celsius. That’s the ‘thermo’ bit. At this heat the object begins to emit light and this ‘luminescence’ is measured and is directly proportional to age. Simple when you knowWithouthow!authentication, figures like these can fetch just a few hundred pounds as decorative objects, but with the authentication they become rare, soughtafter collector’s items, and there was a heated bidding war between online and telephone bidders to acquire these figures, finally selling online to an overseas buyer forBentley’s£2,700. next auction is already filling up with all manner of rare and wonderful antiques, collector’s items, fine art and modern art, and is happening on Saturday September 3.
NICK HALL
Ensuring ancient Chinese pottery is the real thing
37Wednesday August 24 | 2022 Antiques antiques (Appointment Only) Call Clive on 07860 942726 GOLD • SILVER • WATCHES REMEMBER CLIVE IS ALWAYS READY TO MAKE YOU A GENUINE NO OBLIGATION OFFER There is no obligation to sell, so call Clive Today to arrange a home visit at no charge and at your convenience. He will advise you personally on your items and absolute discretion is guaranteed. Clive Attrell is back and available throughout Kent & East Sussex for home antiques BOOKvaluationsNOW Clive Attrell is Kent County Council Trading Standards Approved: Reg No 15618 • GOLD (in any condition) • SILVER (in any condition) • WATCHES (working or not) • COSTUME JEWELLERY • DIAMONDS • SOVEREIGNS • KRUGERRANDS • MEDALS • SWORDS • MILITARIA • CLOCKS • PAINTINGS • BRONZES • PRINTS / BOOKS • COINS • TOYS • GAMES • POSTCARDS • CHINESE CERAMICS • FIGURINES • OBJECTS OF INTEREST TOP PRICES PAID FOR Free antiques valuations by ITV and BBC television personality Clive Attrell. Clive is an experienced and internationally respected antiques valuer with over 40 Years’ experience in the business. HOUSE CALLS FOR AUGUST IN YOUR AREA A s much as there was interest in many of the 1,000 fabulous lots on offer at Bentley’s auction on Saturday August 6, there was one lot that caused more excitement than most. It was a pair of fearsome but intriguing Chinese pottery figures known as ‘Lokapala’. They were modelled as ferocious and threatening armour-clad warriors standing on the backs of an ox and a ram, and at just over 100cm in height they had a strong visual impact. They would have been made as Temple Guardians to ward off evil spirits, and were originally produced at the time of the great Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD). This was one of the greatest periods in China’s long history and particularly popular with buyers. It’s a fascinating time of the historic Silk Road, when huge caravans of traders crossed central Asia bringing all manner of exotic goods, animals, and people to the Tang capital. Unfortunately, over the preceding 1,000 years objects like these have been heavily copied and reproduced. This makes it difficult to authenticate originals from later versions, which means collectors are nervous about paying high sums of money for objects without a solid provenance or that haven’t been properly authenticated. The authentication of these figures was what not only got collectors excited but also prompted the BBC to send a crew down to Cranbrook. They interviewed auctioneer Nick Hall about this lot and filmed the auction as it tookTheplace.authentication came in the form of ‘thermoluminescence’ reports that had been carried out at the prestigious Oxford Authentication laboratories. As Nick explained in the interview, over time objects absorb natural Alpha and Beta radiation on the surface, but Gamma Rays can penetrate much deeper, and its these radiation particles that hold the secret of age.
Bentley’s Nick Hall talks to the Times about how centuries old antiques are now cleverly authenticated so buyers can be assured they are investing in genuine pieces
There’s no windscreen or roof, with the car’s design channelling the air over the cockpit.
38 Wednesday August 24 | 2022Motoring Motoring News This week… New Alfa Romeo Tonale n Aston Martin DBR22 n Mercedes ‘One’ n New Alfa Romeo Tonale SUV to start from £38,605
The production of the Mercedes-AMG One will take place at a new, small, dedicated facility in Coventry, with the manufacturing split into 16 main stations, such as test runs of the engine and motors, a ‘monsoon rain test’ and installing the interior. One of the most challenging aspects of production is said to be the carbon monocoque, which is as thin as 1.2mm in some places.Mercedes says more than 50 people work on each AMG One, with the final stage of production being testing at a nearby proving ground. Once signed off, each car returns to Mercedes-AMG’s base in Affalterbach, Germany, where it will be handed over to customers. The first of these handovers is expected before the end of the year.
Speed Philipp Schiemer, chairman of Mercedes-AMG, said: “The Mercedes-AMG One is the most ambitious project we have ever undertaken –from development to production. The production of the exclusive small series is a truly unique challenge. ‘’For the first time, the hypercar brings current Formula 1 hybrid technology almost one-to-one from the race track to the road and combines overwhelming performance with exemplary efficiency.“Weasa whole team are very proud to have started production of the first customer vehicles.”Costingaround £2.2m, the One’s powertrain develops a huge 1,049bhp, and is able to rev up to 11,000rpm, reaching 0-60mph in under three seconds. With a top speed of 219mph, it’s also the fastest road-going Mercedes to date.
ALFA ROMEO has announced that its new compact SUV is now available to order, with prices starting from £38,595. Rivalling popular models like the Audi Q3 and BMW X1, the Tonale has been a long time coming for Alfa Romeo, and will sit beneath the Stelvio in the Italian firm’s range.
Production of Mercedes-AMG One hypercar begins in UK
Challenging Just 275 examples of the AMG One will be made, with Mercedes outsourcing overall production to Multimatic, which is behind the manufacturing of models like the latest Ford GT and Aston Martin’s Vanquish Zagato.
MERCEDES-AMG has announced that production of its long-awaited ‘One’ hypercar is under way, with the model being produced at a new facility in the UK. First shown as a concept in 2017, the One was hamstrung by development delays due to the complexity of using a powertrain similar to that of Formula 1 cars in a road-going model. The production version was finally shown in June thisNow,year.the first customer models are in production, with the AMG One being a true ‘UK-built’ car. Its 1.6-litre V6 turbocharged engine and four electric motors are made by the same team that produce the power units in Mercedes AMG Petronas’ F1 cars in Brixworth, Northamptonshire.
Aston Martin has unveiled the DBR22 – a carbon-fibre two-seat speedster as it marks 10 years of its special ‘Q’ division. Making its debut this month at Monterey Car Week in California, the DBR22 celebrates the firm’s previous open-cockpit racing models, including the DBR1 and DB3S – two of the brand’s most valuable models. Clear links can also be seen to the more recent V12 Speedster. Currently shown as a ‘design concept’, Aston Martin says it will ‘become production reality’ and be ‘ultra-exclusive’. Revealed to celebrate 10 years of the firm’s ‘Q’ division, which creates one-off or very limited numbers of bespoke cars, Aston Martin says the DBR22 shows Q’s ‘limitless potential’.Boasting a new body, the DBR22 gets a new grille that takes inspiration from the DBR1 and DB3S, it receives lightweight 22-inch alloy wheels and is finished in an unnamed Paint to Sample greenUndercolour.thebonnet sits a 5.2-litre twin-turbo V12 engine, putting out 705bhp and 753Nm of torque, allowing a 0-60mph time of 3.4 seconds and a top speed of 198mph.
Bespoke Roberto Fedeli, Aston Martin chief technical officer, said “The DBR22 showcases Aston Martin’s unique capabilities, with world-class design combined with an agile, intelligent approach to engineering and production. For a car that was designed to celebrate the ultimate bespoke customisation service, the engineering developments mean DBR22 truly has the dynamic theatre to match, ensuring the drive is just as addictive as its looks.”
Aston Martin has also altered the chassis to increase torsional rigidity, and fitted bespoke dampers.Movinginside, the speedster uses a new dashboard and infotainment display, with leather and exposed carbon fibre being used throughout.
Hybrid At launch, it will be available with a single mild-hybrid powertrain, which pairs a 158bhp 1.5-litre petrol engine with a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, and a small electric motor that is capable of driving the car for short bursts. With this engine under the bonnet, the Tonale can accelerate to 60mph in 8.6 seconds, while returning a claimed 46.3mpg, with CO2 emissions of 139g/km. A plug-in hybrid version will arrive at the start of 2023. Two main trim levels will be available – Ti and Veloce – and there will also be a Speciale launch edition.Standard equipment is generous across the range, with all versions coming with a 10.25-inch touchscreen with over-the-air updates and Amazon Alexa integration, along with a reversing camera, adaptive cruise control and dual-zone climate control. Ti versions, priced from £39,995 can be spotted by their satin chrome grille, 18-inch dark alloy wheels and gloss black accents. The Veloce builds on this with its larger 19-inch alloy wheels, matt side and front inserts and red Brembo brake callipers. It also gets Alcantara upholstery and adaptive suspension, and prices start from £42,495. The Speciale launch edition is actually the most affordable Tonale on offer, with prices starting from £38,595, yet it brings larger 20-inch alloy wheels and bespoke badging as standard. Alfa Romeo has also given a representative finance quote, with the Tonale Speciale available from £429 a month over a 48-month contract, and with a customer deposit of £8,300. Orders are now open for the Alfa Romeo Tonale, with first deliveries expected from September.
Aston Martin DBR22 revealed as a V12-powered speedster
H Engineering Ltd, Little Cacketts Farm, Haymans Hill, Horsmonden, Kent, TN12 8BX info@h-engineering.com | 01892 549042 WWW.H-ENGINEERING.COM RESTORING THE WORLD’S MOST ICONIC CARS
