Times of Tunbridge Wells 25th May 2022

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Fashion chain plans to take over Topshop unit

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A NEW clothing retailer is to open in the former home of Topshop, which closed down early last year after owner’s, the Arcadia Group, collapsed.

Urban Outfitters, a US-based ‘lifestyle clothing’ retailer, is set to open in Royal Victoria Place (RVP) in the unit that backs onto 13-17 Calverley Road.

According to a planning application at Tunbridge Wells Borough Council, the group behind Urban Outfitters URBN, have applied for planning permission for a new sign and air-conditioning units.

No date for its opening has been released but it is expected to be trading at some point later this year.

URBN also owns clothing fashion and accessories house Anthropologie, which opened a store in the High Street in Tunbridge Wells during 2019.

MOVING IN Urban Outfitters are set to take over the former Topshop store in RVP [inset]

New Council leader to be voted in as coalition agreement finalised

By Richard Williams TUNBRIDGE Wells Borough Council (TWBC) is to meet today (Wednesday) for the first time since the May 5 elections, which saw the Conservatives ousted from running the authority.

Lib Dem leader Cllr Ben Chapelard is expected to be voted in as Council Leader, ending more than 20 years of Tory control, after his group became the largest party at the Town Hall.

But with only 16 seats in the 48-seat chamber, the Lib Dems are forming a coalition with both the Labour and Alliance groups to run the council.

The Alliance has nine councillors, and the Labour Party has seven. The 13 Conservative councillors will remain the sole opposition, although there are three independents at TWBC. The parties say an agreement on how power will be shared has been finalised but won’t be revealed until this morning’s 10am Full Council meeting.

In a joint statement, the three group leaders, Cllr Ben Chapelard of the Lib Dems, Cllr David Hayward of the Alliance and Cllr Hugo Pound of Labour told the Times yesterday: “The three-party leaders have finished their negotiations and have presented the agreement for the Borough Partnership to their parties.

“The agreement is also going through the final legal and compliance checks as is customary when appointing people to positions in local government.”

Cancelled The statement continued: “But the parties are at the final stages, and everything will be presented tomorrow [Wednesday] at Full Council.”

A cabinet meeting planned for later in the day has been cancelled, as the parties are yet to outline how the positions on the cabinet – which is the decision-making committee at the authority – will be split.

The Lib-Dems have insisted TWBC will

UR E ER YO E AP FR L P CA LO

Wednesday May 25 | 2022

be ‘Lib Dem-led’ which would indicate that the cabinet will be split to represent the size of each party.

However, the Labour party has been pushing for a ‘coalition of equals’, which would see the three parties share power, with cabinet positions split equally.

Meanwhile, a new mayor is also set to be elected at today’s Full Council meeting but the proposed Conservative candidate, current Deputy Mayor, Cllr Godfrey Bland who was set to replace Cllr Chris Woodward, may now be vetoed by the new administration.

The mayor has previously been a non-political role who chairs Council meetings and attends events as a representative of TWBC, but following the 2021 elections, the Conservatives had to rely on the mayor’s casting vote to keep control of the Council, a move which may now see Cllr Bland’s election to office voted down by the new coalition.

Read how today’s Council meeting unfolds at: timeslocalnews.co.uk

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Wednesday May 25 | 2022

this week… Report into hospital crimes delayed EATING OUT Outdoor dining has changed the look of the town, and is set to stay P6

due to the sheer ‘volume of evidence’

By Richard Williams THE initial report into the crimes committed by electrician David Fuller at Tunbridge Wells Hospital is to be delayed.

In a progress update from the Independent Inquiry set up by the Health Secretary following Fuller’s conviction last year, chairman Sir Jonathan Michael says the first phase of the

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Update This initial report is set to focus on evidence received from relatives and colleagues of Fuller to consider how the mortuary offences could have taken place without detection, what lessons the Trust could learn and to address the most likely questions of the victims’ families and key stakeholders.

David Fuller, 68, is serving two whole life terms for the 1987 murders of Tunbridge Wells women Wendy Knell, 25, and Caroline Pierce, 20.

He is also serving an additional 12 years in prison for abusing more than 100 dead bodies in mortuaries at Tunbridge Wells Hospital and its forerunner the Kent and East Sussex Hospital.

In his progress update, published last week, Sir Jonathan says the inquiry has been hearing

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inquiry is ‘firmly under way’.

But he added: “Because the Inquiry has already received a greater volume of evidence than had been expected, the initial report is now expected to be published later in 2022 rather than in the middle of the year as anticipated.”

DAVID FULLER

from the families of Fuller’s victims since March.

The inquiry is also looking into how Fuller could gain access to the mortuary in his role as an electrician.

Evidence has been supplied from contractors Interserve Group and Mitie Group, which had responsibility for facilities management at Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust, and for whom Fuller had worked.

Sir Jonathan said that the inquiry was aiming to publish its final report, looking at the broader national picture and the wider lessons for the NHS and other settings, at some point in 2023.

DAUGHTER LOSES HIGH COURT CASE OVER THE FULLER INQUIRY A WOMAN whose mother’s corpse was abused

by David Fuller at Tunbridge Wells Hospital has lost a High Court fight with Health Secretary Sajid Javid over arrangements for a public inquiry into the convicted murder’s crimes.

Amanda Miah, whose mother Sonia Miah died aged 54 in 2018, complained to a High Court judge last Tuesday (May 17), that arrangements for an inquiry into the crimes of David Fuller infringed her human right to protection from degrading treatment.

But Mr Justice Swift, who heard arguments at a

hearing in London, refused to give her the go-ahead to stage a legal challenge after concluding that she did not have an arguable case.

A barrister representing her argued that arrangements for the inquiry did not ‘meet the needs’ of Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights, which says no-one should be subjected to ‘inhuman or degrading’ treatment.

Jude Bunting QC told the judge that the claim was ‘strongly arguable’ and of ‘considerable wider importance’.

He said: “The proposed inquiry falls far short of the standards set by Article 3.

“In particular: the inquiry has no power to compel witnesses or disclosure; there will be no public scrutiny of the evidence; the next-of-kin will not be able to play any role in suggesting questions, in considering the evidence, and in shaping the inquiry.”

Mr Bunting also said Sir Jonathan Michael lacked ‘practical independence’ due to his former role as a chief executive of NHS Trusts, but the case was thrown out.

Police chief welcomes decision to arm Special Constables with Tasers

By Robert Forrester CONTACTS EDITOR RICHARD WILLIAMS richard.williams@onemediauk.co.uk | 01892 240626 DEPUTY EDITOR EILEEN LEAHY eileen.leahy@onemediauk.co.uk | 01892 576037 CHIEF REPORTER VICTORIA ROBERTS newsdesk@onemediauk.co.uk | 01892 779615 DESIGN/PRODUCTION JASON STUBBS jason.stubbs@onemediauk.co.uk ADVERTISING 07757 847841 robin.singer@onemediauk.co.uk FIND US ONLINE facebook.com/timeslocalnews www.timeslocalnews.co.uk twitter.com/timeslocalnews

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KENT’S top law enforcement officer has welcomed the decision by the Home Secretary to allow Special Constables to carry Tasers on patrol.

Priti Patel said she was ‘very proudly propolice’ as she unveiled plans last week to give volunteer police officers the powers to use weapons while on duty.

Allowing special constables, who are unpaid, to carry the electroshock devices if authorised by chief constables, will ensure they are not ‘at a disadvantage when facing an attacker wielding a knife or a marauding terrorist’, the Home Secretary said.

Operational The decision has been welcomed by Kent Police’s Chief Constable.

Alan Pughsley told the Times that while the force has already been training its Specials in the use of Tasers, until the change in the rules they have been unable to carry them on operational duties.

He said: “Here in Kent, Special Constables are trained to exactly the same standard as regular officers and play an important role in all areas of operational policing, so I welcome the announcement from the Home Secretary that they will be given the option of carrying a Taser, which comes as part of a range of new measures for policing nationally in the fight against violent crime.”

Last year, officers in Kent Police drew their Tasers 978 times while on operations, although only around half of those cases (585 incidents)

involved an officer actually discharging the weapon.

But groups such as Amnesty International UK has branded the decision by the Home Secretary ‘dangerous’ and said it will lead to ‘more instances of misuse, serious harm and death from Tasers’.

Mr Pughsley dismissed such concerns, saying: “The training and assessment process is rigorous and is in addition to the use of force training and resolution of conflict training that all officers undergo.

“We know ALAN PUGHSLEY the deterrence effect a Taser can have on violent criminals. It causes people to think twice before they use violence and the majority of incidents where Taser is deployed are resolved without the device being discharged.

“This announcement by the government will allow them to carry out their duties safe in the knowledge they have the necessary equipment to protect themselves and the public.”

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Wednesday May 25 | 2022

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Man pushed pregnant partner down the stairs A MAN from Tunbridge Wells has been jailed for four-and-half years after admitting threats to murder and bury his partner during an abusive relationship which saw her repeatedly beaten.

Maidstone Crown Court heard how John Kirby subjected his victim to a campaign of relentless physical and mental abuse.

In one incident the 42-year-old pushed his victim down the stairs while she was pregnant and then throttled her with his hands, causing her to lose consciousness.

Investigating officer PC Gabriella Edir said Kirby had ‘used extreme fear and threats of violence as tools to exert control over almost every aspect of this woman’s life’, adding: “We have been determined to get justice for the victim, whose bravery has undoubtedly helped us build a successful case, and one which left Kirby with no choice but to plead guilty.”

Crowborough car crash SUSSEX Police are appealing for witnesses following a two-car collision in Crowborough Hill on Monday afternoon that shut the road for around seven hours.

At around 4.25pm, a blue Volkswagen Golf collided with a black BMW near to the junction with Church Road.

The 24-year-old driver of the Golf was taken to hospital by air ambulance with what were thought to be life-threatening injuries, although police say his condition is no longer considered critical, but he remains in hospital.

The driver of the second vehicle, a 40-yearold man, was also taken to hospital with a suspected broken leg.

Witnesses have been asked to cal 101 or email: collision.appeal@sussex.police.uk

Snake rescued from fire FIREFIGHTERS had to rescue a snake from a blaze that broke out in a Tunbridge Wells bathroom.

Crews were called to the fire in Hornbeam Avenue in the HIgh Brooms area shortly after 7am on Sunday, May 22.

The blaze is believed to have started due to a heat pad inside the snake’s vivarium catching alight.

A man living in the property was treated for smoke inhalation while the snake, which was rescued by firefighters, suffered minor burns and was treated by a representative from the National Centre for Reptiles.

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Soapbox is back in pole position despite insurers pulling the plug

By Robert Forrester A CHARITY event that has raised more than £50,000 for good causes has been saved thanks to the intervention of local businesses and a Tunbridge Wells based insurance company.

The Soapbox Stars Kart Race scheduled for Dunorlan Park next month nearly had to be cancelled after insurers across the UK all refused to back it.

Liability The soapbox race will see competitors in elaborately designed go karts speed down a hill in Dunorlan Park on Saturday, June 25 to raise money for charity, but recent incidents in other parts of the country has made insurers nervous of such events.

Founder of Soapbox Stars, Nicole Piesse Turner, whose marketing company Chatty Hatter organises the event, had been told it was impossible to hold the fundraising event after all UK insurers said they would not cover soapbox derbies for public liability.

Ms Turner said the news had left her ‘devastated’ but in an eleventh-hour rescue bid, local business rallied round to provide support and a Tunbridge Wells insurer, NFU Mutual, stepped in to offer the event cover to ensure it could go ahead.

“For a terrifying moment we were facing the very real possibility that the races were going to be cancelled for a third year, but thanks to our

extraordinary business community pulling together to help secure insurance, the heroes at NFU Mutual came to our rescue,” said Ms Piesse Turner.

“Huge thanks go to all those who supported us particularly Markerstudy, Nick Moore, operations manager at Elite Leisure Collection and Polly at the Pickering Cancer Drop-In Centre who went over and above to help us.”

Shaun Joubert of NFU Mutual, which is based on the High Street, and has now entered this

year’s Soapbox Stars said: “NFU Mutual Tunbridge Wells Agency’s ethos is to support and be part of the local community.

VACANT “When I read Nicole’s email and realised how BHS has satonempty close the event was to her heart, I got the forwe seven years phone straight away and felt needed to do everything we could to source cover.

“We will now be racing this year and are really looking forward to it.”

For tickets and more information on the event visit twsoapboxrace.com

SOAP STARS A previous kart in Dunorlan Park and [inset] Nicole receiving her insurance certificate from NFU’s Shaun Joubert

LCF case leads to fraud squad reshuffle THE police unit tasked with investigating whether the collapse of a Tunbridge Wells minibond firm was fraudulent, has replaced the lawyer in charge of the case.

London Capital & Finance (LCF) fell into administration in January 2019 owing more than 11,000 investors over £236million following what administrators labelled ‘highly suspicious transactions’ among a number of directors and associates of the company.

The firm was set up by Tunbridge Wells businessman Simon Hume-Kendall who went on to become the biggest borrower of funds from LCF through his business London Oli & Gas (LOG), which also collapsed.

The LCF collapse is the subject of a High Court action in which Mr Hume-Kendall and 12 others connected to LCF are being sued by the

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been laid. administrators for £178million over According to the Financial Times, alleged fraud. the SFO’s new head of bribery, Also being sued is Mr Humefraud and corruption, Judy Krieg, Kendall’s wife, Helen Humewho took on the role last year, has Kendall, Equestrian businessman now replaced the lawyer in charge Spencer Golding of Crowborough, of the LCF probe. former LCF CEO Andy Thompson, LCF was offering returns as high who lives in East Susses, and as eight per cent and selling Hadlow Down businessman and former LOG director Elten Barker.

SIMON & HELEN products they claimed were similar Former Conservative energy HUME-KENDALL to ISAs, although they had none of the same protections. minister Charles Hendry is also After the firm collapsed, the government had among those named in the legal claim by to step in to compensate the thousands of administrator Smith & Williamson after the investors of LCF with £114million of taxpayers’ former politician became a consultant for LCF. money as the finance industry’s Financial The Serious Fraud Office (SFO) opened an investigation into the collapse of LCF in 2019 and Services Compensation Scheme did not cover the unregulated company. arrested five men but to date no charges have

Theplace next phase of Making Digitalthe (MTD) relates to are some So that can better link the quarterly In of the usualTax Q&A, following ofHMRC the support packages that have individuals with businesses and/or property income submissions to the annual results where businesses have been made available to help businesses deal with the Coronavirus: where the gross income is over £10,000 per annum. This

Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme: HMRC will includes landlords, sole traders and partnerships. The reimburse 80% of wages paid to workers who have be rules will apply from April 2024. laid off due to the coronavirus crisis. This is capped at There areemployee two mainper measures £2.5k per month.to comply with:

1. Business records will need to maintained digitally, VAT Deferral: The deferral will apply from 20 March preferably using dedicated accounting software to 30 June 2020. There is a lack of clarity on the Gov. although spreadsheets can be used for less complex uk website and we are interpreting this as payments businesses; and due by 30 June rather than quarters ended 30 June.

Quarterly be Returns, required to be sent This2.means thatsubmissions May quarterwill VAT where electronically to HMRC within 30 days of each quarter payment is due by 7 July, will still be payable as end. A fifth end of period statement will be required normal.

Any payments deferred will become payable by 31 January following the tax year end. by the end of the tax year (31/3/21 Company or 5/4/21 Separate quarterly reports will be required for each Unincorporated) income source. For example, if you have a sole trade

Income Tax Deferral: The self-assessment second business and a rental property, 2 submissions will be payment on account, due by 31 July 2020, will be required each quarter and 2 end of period statements deferred to 31 January 2021. No penalties or interest after the year end. will be charged.

not chosen a 31 March or 5 April accounting year end, Cash Grants: A grant of £10k will automatically be from April 2024, business will be taxed on the profits that provided to all businesses currently entitled to Small arise in the tax year, regardless of the date to which they Business Rates Relief. A grant of £25k can be claimed make up accounts. This will require some re-alignment for businesses in the retail, hospitality or leisure industry with a transitional year in 2023/24. In this year, if their rateable value is between £15k and £51K. businesses that do not have a 31 March or 5 April year Business Rates Holiday: 2There a 12-month business end will have to recognise profitisperiods.

The first will rates (April 20 to March for all retail, be forholiday the 12 months to their usual21) accounting year end hospitality and will leisure inafter England. and the second run businesses from the day until 5 April 2024.

Time to Pay Arrangements: In addition to the This could lead tonoted significant profits being deferral schemes above,additional if you have outstanding recognised in (Corporation the tax year 2023/24.

Against this theTax) tax liabilities Tax, VAT or Income business can offset any which due to coronavirus, you‘overlap may berelief’, able to agreerelates a timeto profits twice in the early years ofwill thebe business to pay taxed arrangement.

Arrangements agreed on (something that happens when the accounting date is a case by case basis.

To discuss your options, contact not aligned with the tax year).

Any excess profit HMRC on 0800 0159 559. remaining after overlap relief can be spread over 5 years Further info and updates can be found here: https:// to mitigate the additional tax liability.

www.synergee.org.uk/press-releases/coronavirus-update

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Wednesday May 25 | 2022

Wealden bin strike extended despite ‘a whopping’ 17 per cent pay offer Union accused of refusing to negotiate until the ‘rubbish piles up in the streets’ Sussex contract, which is disappointing.

“We are working hard to minimise any disruption to service while GMB members continue to strike.”

A spokesperson for the Council said the pay offer was accepted by the GMB union and its members in Hastings and Rother only a few months ago in February.

The spokesperson continued: “At that time, the GMB union regional organiser union described the settlement as a ‘whopping pay deal’ so it is difficult to understand why they are not now recommending acceptance of this same offer, which comes with an additional performance bonus, for the immediate benefit of their members doing the same jobs in the Wealden area.”

By Richard Williams RESIDENTS of Wealden towns and villages such as Crowborough, Wadhurst and Frant are to endure at least another two weeks of not having refuse collected after binmen in the district extended their strike – despite being offered a 17 per cent pay increase and a £600 bonus.

Members of the GMB union, who work for refuse contractor Biffa, walked out on May 2 in a dispute over pay.

The strike was meant to last a fortnight, but last week the GMB union lengthened the strike until June 11 and have threatened to continue it after this date.

Collections And the union warned the industrial action will continue past that date if the pay offer is not increased.

According to Wealden District Council, the authority is managing to make some collections due to not all of Biffa’s staff belonging to the striking union, but some 14,000 bins are still getting missed daily.

Head of Waste Management at the authority, Cllr Roy Galley, said: “I think it is particularly disappointing that we, or Biffa rather with our support, made a very generous offer to the staff, which the initial reaction seemed to be the GMB Union were very pleased about. But that has not been accepted and the strike situation continues.”

That pay offer can now be revealed as up to 17 per cent plus a £600.00 performance related bonus, which would see operators and loaders pay increase to £23,000, while drivers would see

Rates

their pay increase to around £26,000 a year.

By comparison, nurses at the NHS have just been offered a three per cent pay rise for 2022.

The pay deal offered by Biffa was roundly refused by union members who have demanded an additional £2 an hour for drivers on top of the increase and an additional £2.60 for other staff members.

A spokesperson for Biffa said: “The Trade Union has rejected our enhanced offer which included above inflationary increases and pay parity with the other two councils in the East

The Council also accused GMB representatives of claiming they will refuse to negotiate until ‘the rubbish piles up in the streets’.

Gary Palmer GMB Regional Organiser said he disputed the pay deal figures, saying that ‘the offer on the table is made up of direct increases to hourly rates and bonus payments, some parts of which might be consolidated into pay’.

When asked by the Times how the union could justify turning down such an increase for a taxpayer funded service during a cost-ofliving crisis, Mr Palmer said: “I don’t feel the GMB union needs to justify anything apart from to its members, but the cost-of-living crisis and wage stagnation is the exact reason why low paid workers everywhere are standing up to say enough is enough and let's end workers exploitation by greedy profit driven big

Recruitment agency trials four-day week to improve work life balance

By Victoria Roberts A TUNBRIDGE WELLS recruitment agency is to trial a four-day week for its staff, without loss of salary, in a move that will give full-timers an extra 43 days’ holiday a year.

Last Thursday [May 19], staff of TN Recruits were invited to a celebratory lunch decorated with ‘4’ balloons, to learn that they would get an extra day off a week from June 6.

It comes after one of the busiest years for the recruitment agency as the businesses in the area bounces back from the pandemic and are trying to fill record numbers of job vacancies.

In the six-month trial run, TN Recruits staff will add 30 minutes to each working day, and get one day off a week, meaning full-timers reduce hours from 37 to 32 – but staff will retain the same pay.

Candid “The idea of it is that they get the same salary,” stressed agency director Neil Simmons. “It is important to us to ensure that our staff are happy. They will be able to enjoy their day off and do their hobbies, do their DIY, do their fitness, their life admin – whatever it is. They will be happier overall.”

A ‘buddy’ system will ensure that clients and recruitment candidates would be covered every day. At the same time, the office would continue be open during lunchtimes and ‘on hand’ for clients and candidates five days a week.

businesses like Biffa.”

He added: “The GMB Union have made it clear to Biffa that we are happy to sit down and negotiate a settlement, and that in light of the current impasse between us the recent offer to intercede and conciliate by ACAS [the mediating group] is welcomed and that to avoid further miscommunication to Wealden Council we invite the council to sit in on these talks if they feel it would help to facilitate and end to the current dispute.

“Until then the strike will continue at the moment up to and beyond the current notice of the June 11.”

WEALDEN ELECTS A NEW COUNCIL LEADER Ann Newton has replaced Bob Standley as the new Leader of Wealden District Council.

The Framfield & Cross-in-Hand ward councillor and former deputy leader replaces her Conservative colleague after Cllr Standley announced he was stepping down earlier this year following 12 years as leader.

Councillor Newton’s appointment was ratified at a meeting of the Full Council last week (Wednesday, May 18).

At the same meeting, the new deputy leader of the authority was announced as fellow Conservative Councillor Philip Lunn, who remains in the Cabinet member for Commercial, Economic Development and Leisure.

A new Cabinet was also announced by Councillor Newton, who is 56 and has represented Framfield & Cross-in-Hand since 2007.

Jobless figures fall as vacancies outstrip unemployment rate UNEMPLOYMENT in Tunbridge Wells continues to tumble amid a backdrop of UK vacancies now outstripping the number of jobless in the country.

Figures released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) last week show there were 1,745 people claiming some form of out of work benefit in Tunbridge Wells in April.

This was down from March’s figure of 1,860 but is short of pre-pandemic levels when there were just 1,130 people registered as unemployed in the borough as of March 2020.

Recorded HAPPY STAFF TN Recruit’s staff last week at the launch of their four-day week And in the email being sent to customers over the weekend and early this week, he urged businesses to be candid about any problems the change causes.

The question of commissions was also ‘all in hand,’ he added. “There will be no concerns with that. Everyone will have the same amount of holiday and in addition an extra 43 days off per year with the extra day.”

The initial reaction from staff was ‘very good’, he said. “It went down very well.”

However, Neil said the company’s research had already pre-empted some potential problems.

“One of the things we discovered from our research is that a three-day week will make things challenging, so we need to be consistent with the four-day week.”

Bank holidays would be observed by the office, but, he said, ‘no one will have any other day off that week.’

For me, I will alternate between Monday and Friday off, so every other week I get a four-day weekend, which is nice!

“In 1926, Henry Ford introduced a five-day week, and at the time that was quite groundbreaking.”

During the Covid crisis, jobless figures peaked in August 2020 when 3,325 people were recorded as being out of work – the highest levels seen since the Black Wednesday recession in 1992.

Across Kent, unemployment is falling in all districts and boroughs, and only Sevenoaks has a lower number of people out of work (1,535) than Tunbridge Wells.

The highest unemployment rate in the county, excluding Medway, is in Thanet where there are more than 5,000 people claiming out of work benefits.

The figures come as unemployment across the UK has now fallen below the number of available job vacancies for the first time in 50 years.

This means there are more job vacancies in the country than there are people out of work.

Across the UK, the rate of unemployment dropped to 3.7 per cent in the three months to March – the lowest since October to December 1974, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said.

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Wednesday May 25 | 2022

Alfresco dining is helping Tunbridge Wells David Martin, of The Lodge coffee shop, with a café on the High Street, bought the business just two weeks before lockdown, with an existing business model of a few outside tables under an awning, then reached an agreement with his neighbour to add tables to the private land in front of their business, to take advantage of the ‘sun trap’.

“People have become more in tune with eating alfresco,” he said, adding: “I would say 80 per cent of our people sitting outside don’t even smoke.”

By Victoria Roberts THE look of Tunbridge Wells has changed since pandemic restrictions were introduced in March 2020, and people have been adapting to changes in shopping, eating and meeting, as restrictions waxed and waned.

From July 2020, government slashed the cost and consultation period for obtaining a pavement license, and eased planning restrictions for marquees.

Complaints Following a consultation, the government said last December that it would make pandemic hospitality measures permanent.

Over that period, the look of Tunbridge Wells has changed, notably on the High Street, with the introduction of a one-way system. But plastic barriers were installed to create space for social distancing and for pavement dining, prompted

COFFEE People enjoying the sun outside the Lodge in the High Street

HIGH STREET Changes to the High Street have provided more space for eating out and socialising

MONSON ROAD TN1 now offers outside dining

‘We’ve been pushing alfresco dining for over 10 years and have grown our 80-seat terrace into a 200-person terrace’ complaints that they were ‘ugly’, ‘unsightly’, and ‘unwelcoming’.

Now, however, the High Street is lined with tables – some in the road, protected by wooden planters, as pubs, restauranteurs and café owners throughout the town took advantage of cheaper licenses for outdoor seating and stalls.

Relaxed planning regulations allowed them to erect gazebos or use car parks and terraces as dining and drinking areas, under existing seating licenses.

Now, the Government is proposing to make alfresco dining a thing of the future as well as of the pandemic past.

Legislation included in the Queen’s Speech earlier this month heralded the proposed Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill.

One of the main elements included ‘Giving residents more of a say over changing street names and ensuring everyone can continue to benefit from alfresco dining’, according to a government briefing note.

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hospitality to bounce back...

The decision was initially for environmental reasons, but was now reinforced by the cost of energy, he added. “It’s a bit like setting fire to £20 notes in a bucket.”

Tables At TN1 Bar & Kitchen, alfresco dining has only just become a reality, said owner Murat Askin.

The old ASK Italian restaurant on Monson Road never offered outside dining, but following the change of business last year, TN1 introduced outdoor tables about a month ago, both behind the restaurant in its courtyard area and on the pavement of Monson Road.

“We only redecorated and put the tables out about a month ago,” he told the Times, adding

The Pantiles showed long ago that outdoor entertainment can work locally, and certainly in Tunbridge Wells, according to Julian LeefeGriffiths, owner of The Tunbridge Wells Hotel and one of the Jazz on the Pantiles festival organisers.

“We’ve been pushing alfresco dining for over 10 years. Since 2012, we’ve grown our 80-seat terrace into a Continental-style 200-person terrace.”

In a nod to the British weather, he said the restaurant had invested in marquee cover for the tables – but had got rid of patio heaters a few years ago, in favour of recycled wool blankets.

that although the tables were sheltered with awnings or umbrellas, ‘people do still sit inside, because the temperature is not always right.’

Meanwhile, the restaurant is getting ready to extend its season, he said.

“We are just waiting for the electrician to install the power supply for the heaters.”

Although the business did have a few tables at the side of Monson Road, the majority of the business’s outdoor tables were in the courtyard.

“We have our place in the courtyard on the side of the building.”

Alfresco dining is not just for lunch, Murat stressed: “We start at 9am with breakfast and coffee and pastries, then lunch, and after 3pm we serve dinner.”

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… BUT EATING OUTDOORS DOES HAVE A DOWNSIDE DISABILITY campaigners have been sounding a note of caution over the increase in alfresco dining, due to the lack of space for wheelchairs.

Tunbridge Wells-based careers consultant Husnara Begum, who is a wheelchair user said: “On the High Street, seating occupies the pavements, and there is often no space for wheelchair users.

“There is no dropped kerb, either,” she added.

Current regulations for chairs and tables on streets and pavements state: ‘No tables, chairs or temporary street furniture sited on a footway are to be placed within 1.2m of the edge of an adjacent carriageway,” according to documents from Kent County Council (KCC), which issues licenses.

“A minimum clear footway width of 1.5m must be obtained at all times and 2m in busy locations or at busy times. Where this is not achievable, a licence most likely will not be granted.”

And KCC documents also state: “The licence owner will be charged fees of £47.50 if, following a routine inspection, any infringements of the licence, or problems arising out of the use of the site are found.

Any additional visits to the site, which have to be carried out by KCC Highways, Transportation and Waste, will be charged at £47.50 per visit.”

HUSNARA BEGUM

CHANGES Planters and seats replaced the barriers on the High Street

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Wednesday May 25 | 2022

Local lawyers brave the rain for annual 10km Legal Walk

Law firm makes 17 staff promotions TUNBRIDGE Wells-based law firm Thomson Snell & Passmore has announced 17 promotions within the firm, including four new salaried partners.

Ben Stepney from Employment, Louise MathiasWilliams from Court of Protection, Esther Lee from the Probate team and Clare Morison from Tax Planning have all been made salaried partners.

Amy Lane was made a senior associate in tax planning.

The new crop of associates are Danielle Rogers and Natalie Butler in the Court of Protection department, Charlie Wood and Grace Mercer in Dispute Resolution, Kate Cairnes in Commercial Property, and Harry Golding in the Family department.

By Victoria Roberts MORE than 150 members of Tunbridge Wells’ legal community braved rain and muddy paths last week to complete a 10-kilometre, three-loop walk of the town, raising thousands for local Citizen’s Advice Bureaus.

Among the law firms who took part were Thomson, Snell & Passmore, Cripps Pemberton Greenish, Berry & Lamberts, Buss Murton Law, CooperBurnett, Loch Associates, Warners aand also the local Law Society.

Senior

Funds Setting off from the offices of Law 365 in London Road at 5pm on May 11, the walkers started out wet, but were eventually rewarded with clearer skies and the chance to sit down.

Raising funds for Citizens Advice Tunbridge Wells and District (CATWD), the walk took the participants through Nevill Park, Calverley Grounds and Dunorlan Park, ending at The Old Auction House in The Pantiles.

Jennifer Jadia, acting chief officer of CATWD, who joined the walk with some of her colleagues, told the Times: “The walk went really well.

“The weather was a bit temperamental, but it was really enjoyed by all.

“We had over 150 people join us in the end and as of earlier this week, we had £11,000 so far with the funds raised, but we are sure that this will increase even further.”

A spokesperson for Cripps Pemberton Greenish said the funds were ‘vital’ for CATWD. She added: “The advice agency assists in

BEST FOOT FORWARD Lawyers assemble for legal walk

preventing homelessness and exploitation, resolving debt problems and gaining care for the elderly and disabled.

“In total, the walk has raised over £10,000 so far and we have exceeded our sponsorship target.”

Another law firm added that the total was still in flux because some firms might match a portion of sponsorship raised.

Based in Royal Victoria Place, CATWD helps

local residents with legal, financial, employment and family issues.

Last year, the walk raised over £11,000.

The sponsored event was carried out under the umbrella of the London Legal Support Trust, an independent charity that raises funds for free legal advice services in London and the South East.

CATWD can be contacted by phone 01892 518 460 or email advice@catwd.org.uk

New senior paralegals are Ruth Lightfoot in the court of protection department, and Sandra Hennessy in clinical negligence and personal injury.

Michelle Cricket becomes a senior accounts and tax assistant in trust management.

Georgina Sykes has been promoted to HR co-ordinator and Cara Chilvers has been promoted to senior marketing and business development executive.

Sara Ward is the new Risk & Compliance Advisor.

Senior partner Joanna Pratt said: “We are surrounded by exceptional people at every level and in every department at the firm, both in our legal practices and wider business services, and these latest promotions reflect that.”

“As a firm we have ambitious goals, and having the very best people in place will be key to helping us achieve these. I feel confident that with such outstanding talent within the firm, we are in a strong position to meet them, and also to continue to offer our clients excellent service and trusted advice.”

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Wednesday May 25 | 2022

German students visit Amelia in the Buddi Bench is showered with goodwill first trip to twin town since pandemic

GUTEN TAG: Hermann-Ehlers-Schule (Wiesbaden) and Bennett Memorial School pupils in the courtyard at The Amelia Scott building (Picture: Tunbridge Wells Twinning & Friendship Association)

By Victoria Roberts A GROUP of German high school students have returned to their twin town for the first time since the pandemic, making a stop at Tunbridge Wells’ new cultural centre.

The students from Wiesbaden’s HermannEhlers-Schule were on a school trip to North Kent and made side trips to London, Canterbury and Tunbridge Wells.

Fantastic “Their timing this year was perfect, as we were able to base it around our fantastic new cultural centre, The Amelia Scott,” Tunbridge Wells Twinning & Friendship Association vice chairman Mike McGeary told the Times.

“This was the Amelia’s first organised school visit, so as a Twinning Association we were particularly proud of the fact that it was a school from our partnership city, Wiesbaden.”

The students spent the morning enjoying a conducted tour of The Amelia, said Mike, adding: “As you might expect of a group of 14-year-olds, the interactive features of many of the displays held a particular attraction. The ‘augmented reality’ of the Georgian Spa room, where students ‘dress up’ in period costume (digitally), was a firm favourite.”

At lunch time, the Mayor and the Mayoress (Councillor Chris Woodward and his wife) joined the group, along with some students and teachers from the Bennett Memorial Diocesan School.

Teachers from both schools discussed the possibility of students undertaking some joint project work, said Mike.

The Wiesbaden students had a guided tour of the town in the afternoon.

“Overall, we judged it as a really good balance of education and entertainment and very much hope that it will encourage the students to want to return to their twin town on many more occasions,” said Mike.

MAY showers greeted the launch of a ‘friendship bench’ in Calverley Grounds, but far from the experience dampening the project founder’s hopes, he has continued using the seat to start conversations.

The ‘buddi bench’ project was launched by Seth Hunter, who fundraised for the seat to be placed in Calverley Grounds, overlooking the basketball court.

As the Times reported earlier this month, the idea was based on the observation that dog owners seemed to be willing to engage in conversation with one another, leaving them less lonely. Meanwhile, ‘buddy benches’ in schools allowed children to signal that they wanted someone to talk to.

Seth opened the bench on Sunday, May 15, and said: “I can confirm there was both rain and confetti, but it was lots of fun.”

With about 25 people ‘passing through’ the opening ceremony that day, he admitted some disappointment at having half as many visitors as he had hoped.

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However, he stressed, ‘The launch was just there to give some focus’ and he was continuing to build its operation, adding that he was continuing to spend an hour a day on the bench, starting conversations with strangers, and handing out leaflets about the project.

Chat Speaking to the Times from the park on Wednesday, he said he was not even sitting on the bench at that moment, as it was occupied by two other people having a chat.

“Yesterday I did my 12-1 as usual, and spoke to four different people for about 15 minutes each, including a retired lady who had just come from church, and a retired marine who was suffering from PTSD,” he added.

“It’s really working. We’re getting a diverse group of people.

“But it’s like when you throw a party and no-one wants to be the first to get up and dance. I’m the one who gets up and gets other people to dance.”

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Wednesday May 25 | 2022

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The ribbon is finally cut on hospital’s new emergency unit two years after it opened

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Hever Castle’s PR head raises funds after cancer diagnosis

By Sarah Carter AN ASSESSMENT centre which allows patients to be seen by a surgeon has been officially opened by the MP for Tunbridge Wells – nearly two years after it started work during the pandemic.

Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells (MTW) NHS Trust opened the Surgical Assessment Unit (SAU) in December 2020, in a bid to speed patients from referral to treatment.

Fundraising Helen Francis

Unveiled The SAU is located in a new modular building next to the Emergency Department (ED) at Tunbridge Wells Hospital.

Working seven days a week, it takes patients who have been referred by the ED or their GP because a surgeon is required to assess their condition and treatment.

The unit was finally officially unveiled on Friday May 13 by the MP for Tunbridge Wells, Rt Hon Greg Clark, after the official opening ceremony was delayed due to the Covid crisis.

The MP for Tonbridge & Malling, Tom Tugendhat, and the MP for Chatham and Aylesford, Tracey Crouch, also attended the ceremony.

The three MPs also visited the new children’s emergency department at the hospital, which opened last month.

Directly linked to the hospital’s main ED, the specialist children’s department increases capacity, adding a child-friendly environment for emergency assessment of the hospital’s young patients.

There are facilities for parents, carers and children, separate red and green triage rooms to support infection prevention and control, two

OPEN (L-R): MTW Chairman, David Highto; MP for Tonbridge & Malling, Tom Tugendhat; MP for Tunbridge Wells, Greg Clark; MP for Chatham and Aylesford, Tracey Crouch; MTW Chief Executive, Miles Scott

high-dependency rooms, seven examination cubicles, a minor injuries room and more.

Miles Scott, chief executive for MTW, said: “With the opening of these new facilities, alongside our recently launched recruitment campaigns, we’re looking forward to seeing our services continue to go from strength to strength.”

MTW is one of England’s top-performing trusts for ED performance, and provides some of the fastest access to cancer treatment.

The Trust cleared a backlog of approximately 1,000 patients waiting over 52 weeks for treatment, now has no patients waiting over 52 weeks for treatment.

A BREAST cancer diagnosis last September left Hever Castle Public Relations Executive Helen Francis determined – along with her husband Dave – to raise money to help fight the disease.

Helen went to the doctor with a lump in her breast last September, and her diagnosis was followed by chemotherapy. She is due to have a mastectomy this Friday [May 27].

“It was really quick,” the mother of one told the Times. “It sounds like a long time, but in between, there were MRIs and CT scans.”

Her husband Dave, a keen cyclist, hatched a plan with friends to ride 200 miles in 24 hours to raise funds for Breast Cancer Kent.

The charity funds projects, equipment and research to support NHS work at the Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells Breast Care Units, Kent Oncology Centre and the University of Kent School of biosciences.

“It seemed an obvious choice to raise money for them,” Helen said. “Their patient app has also been invaluable in providing me with useful information at each stage of my treatment.”

Dave added: “Seeing all the support given by Maidstone Hospital and Breast Cancer Kent inspired me to see what we could give back. This ride is a significant challenge for all of us, who aren’t in the best physical condition, but the pain of the saddles will be nothing versus what anyone undergoing cancer treatment endures.”

Helen and Dave’s fundraiser is at JustGiving. com/fundraising/200-miles-24hrs

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Wednesday May 25 | 2022

Thousands travel on new Elizabeth Line in first morning after opening

TICKET TO RIDE London Mayor Sadiq Khan on the Elizabeth Line yesterday THOUSANDS of people travelled on London’s £18.9 billion Elizabeth line railway in the first few hours of operation on Tuesday morning.

Hundreds of transport enthusiasts gathered at stations in Paddington, west London, and Abbey Wood, south-east London to be on the first trains which departed shortly after 6.30am.

Transport for London (TfL) commissioner Andy Byford said the service was running ‘so far so good’ and ‘on time’.

Paddington station was closed for around half an hour due to a fire alarm being activated.

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan, who travelled on the first departure from Paddington, said it was ‘a fantastic day’.

He said: “It’s been fantastic to see these amazing stations being used by members of the public.

“We’re experiencing an expansion of public transport in London we’ve not seen in more than 50 years.”

He added: “These trains are speedy, spacious, silent, comfortable.

“We know now they are fit for a Queen and, as importantly, fit for Londoners.”

The head of state visited Paddington last week to mark the completion of the Crossrail project to build the railway.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson tweeted: “Absolutely delighted that the Elizabeth Line has opened to the public today.

“Long-term investment in UK infrastructure pays off – with this project alone supporting 55,000 new jobs, 1,000 apprenticeships, and forecast to boost the UK economy by £42bn.”

Danny McLaren, 21, from Edinburgh, arrived at Paddington at 1.30am to ensure he would be near the front of the queue to be on the first train.

He said: “It’s an epic day to experience it when it’s brand new.”

Another passenger, Colin Farmer, 84, from Croydon, south-east London, said: “It’s history.

It’s about time there were trains right through London without changing to the Underground.

“I’m very excited. We’ve been waiting long enough for it.

Commute James Robert, 48, from Wigan, was on the train with his 11-year-old son Matthew.

“It’s lovely and bright and fast,” Mr Robert said.

Clare Cenci, 43, from Maidenhead, Berkshire travelled on an early morning Elizabeth line service from Paddington on her commute to Liverpool Street.

She said there is ‘a lot more space’ compared with Tube trains.

“The air-conditioning makes it a lot better,” she added.

The Elizabeth line stretches from Reading in Berkshire and Heathrow Airport in west London to Abbey Wood in south-east London and Shenfield in Essex.

It initially operates in three separate sections, which are expected to be integrated in the autumn.

Crossrail suffered numerous issues including construction difficulties and complications installing signalling systems.

It was due to be completed in December 2018 and was set a budget of £14.8 billion in 2010.

The final total cost has been estimated at £18.9 billion.

Government faces pressure over lockdown photos as PM tries to focus on UK’s inflation TONBRIDGE MP Tom Tugendhat was among a number of Tory MPs to criticise the government over partygate following new pictures.

Mr Tugendhat has said ‘seriousness’ matters to Government effectiveness, after ITV released pictures of Boris Johnson raising a glass at a party.

Asked on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme about his view on whether the Prime Minister knowingly misled Parliament when he said there was no party on November 13, 2020, the Conservative MP said ‘lack of seriousness has a direct effect.’

“It has an effect because it means that our enemies decide to test us and our friends aren’t sure about us.

“It means that countries like Ukraine are invaded because people like Vladimir Putin don’t believe the guarantees that are given and it means that communities across the United Kingdom see higher food and energy prices.”

He was among several Conservative MPs to speak out. Sir Roger Gale, the MP for Thanet, also tweeted: “I believe that the PM has misled

the HoC’s from the despatch box. That is a resignation issue.

“I have made my own position clear. It is now a matter for my Conservative parliamentary colleagues to decide whether or not to instigate a vote of no confidence.”

Toast Cabinet ministers faced direct questions about Boris Johnson’s behaviour during lockdown when entering Downing Street to discuss the ‘inflationary pressures’ facing the country.

Ministers were met with shouted questions from the waiting press pack about whether the Prime Minister had let them down after a photograph emerged of him raising a toast at a leaving do for one of his former senior aides during England’s second lockdown in November 2020.

None of the senior ministers, including Foreign Secretary Liz Truss and Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab, responded while heading for the famous black door.

Wednesday May 25 | 2022

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Drug dealer jailed for at least 24 years for ‘brutal’ murder of three-year-old A VIOLENT drug-user who murdered his partner’s three-year-old son after inflicting more than 20 rib fractures during weeks of ‘horrendous’ beatings has been jailed for life with a minimum term of 24 years.

Birmingham Crown Court heard that the force used by Nathanial Pope on Kemarni Watson Darby was similar to that normally caused by a car crash.

Convicted drug-dealer Pope, 32, was found guilty by a jury in April, following a five-month trial which heard that the little boy had 34 separate areas of external injuries.

Kemarni’s mother, Alicia Watson, was cleared of murder but found guilty of causing or allowing his death.

Watson, 31, was also convicted of child cruelty and was given an 11-year prison term at the same sentencing hearing as Pope on Tuesday.

distress and pain, you left him to bleed to death.

“I am sure that you did this when Alicia Watson was out. When you (Watson) returned, you found Kemani’s lifeless body on the sofa and dialled 999.”

The judge added that Kemarni’s injuries had been the result of extremely severe force ‘compatible with the type of injuries seen in a road traffic collision or when an individual falls from a height’.

The court was told that Pope, a former warehouse worker, from Wolverhampton, has previous convictions for burglary and possession of heroin with intent to supply.

During the trial, it emerged that Watson had bought cannabis and spent money on driving lessons as Kemarni lost his nursery place due to lack of funds.

Watson, of Handsworth, Birmingham, swore at Pope’s QC while giving evidence and denied any wrongdoing.

Jurors heard that the couple, who blamed each other from the witness box, continued to live together for several months after Kemarni died from abdominal injuries in June 2018 when his ribs were ‘crushed’ at their two-bedroom flat in West Bromwich.

Distress Passing sentence, Mrs Justice Tipples said: “This is a particularly distressing and tragic case.

“Kemarni died on the afternoon of the 5th of June 2018. You, Nathaniel Pope, brutally assaulted Kemarni in the sitting room of his own home, and, knowing he was in extreme

TEEN BOY FOUND GUILTY OF MURDER AFTER ROW OVER SNAPCHAT VIDEO A TEENAGE boy who stabbed 12-year-old Ava White following a row over a Snapchat video has been found guilty of her murder.

A jury took two hours and eight minutes to convict the 14-year-old at Liverpool Crown Court on Tuesday.

More than 20 members of Ava’s family were in the public gallery and there were cheers as the foreman said the boy had been found guilty of murder.

The teenager, who appeared on video-link throughout the trial, put his head in his hands.

He told the court he accidentally stabbed the schoolgirl in the neck in self-defence, claiming he wanted to “frighten her away” after an altercation in Liverpool city centre on the evening of November 25 last year.

He admitted possessing the knife, which the court heard had a 7.5cm blade, but denied her murder and manslaughter.

During the trial, which lasted just over two weeks, the court heard Ava and her friends became involved in an argument with the

defendant and three of his friends after the boys recorded Snapchat videos of the group.

Friends of Ava said the boy “grinned” after stabbing her in School Lane and running away.

He said that earlier in the evening he heard one of Ava’s group threaten to stab his friend if he did not delete a video of Ava. The court heard that after Ava was struck to the neck the defendant fled, discarding his knife and taking off his coat, which was later found in a wheelie bin.

CCTV showed him and his friends in a shop where the defendant took a selfie and the group bought butter, which he said was for crumpets.

He then went to a friend’s home and when his mother contacted him because police wanted to speak to him he told her he was playing a computer game.

He initially told police he had not been in the city centre but in later interviews blamed another boy for the stabbing.

The judge, Mrs Justice Yip, adjourned the case for sentencing on July 11.

Give a free pint for prostate checks says William at men’s health clinic A FREE pint in exchange for men’s check-ups, such as prostate exams, has been suggested by the Duke of Cambridge as a possible way to encourage reluctant men to look after their health.

Prince William appeared to be only half joking when he put forward the idea to help tackle a problem with men who sometimes dismiss changes in their body until it is too late.

He was visiting London’s Royal Marsden Hospital and toured the Man Van, a mobile clinic providing free health checks to men, especially black men who have a higher risk of dying from prostate cancer than other ethnic groups.

William asked what the symptoms of prostate cancer were, after admitting he did not know, and when told changes in toilet habits was one factor he said: “It’s tricky when it’s so subtle.”

Data He told Fionnuala McCarthy, an advanced nurse practitioner: “I have an idea that could go down very badly but it might be quite good – you could offer a free pint.

“I think guys having a pint while you’re having your blood test that would be a great way of doing it.”

Her colleague Dr Masood Moghul, a clinical research fellow who is collecting data from the men seen, said maybe they could look for funding for a coffee machine.

But William replied: “You’re going to have to think a bit imaginatively to get guys in here. It’s a kind of thing they’ll do if there’s a fun thing that goes with it, not too serious.”

The van is visiting workplaces and community hubs, including churches and medical centres, focusing on men of working age who often have worse prostate cancer outcomes than older men, and black men, who have roughly double the risk of developing prostate cancer.

The clinic offers a range of examinations, from blood pressure tests to a blood test to check prostate-specific antigen levels which, if high, may indicate that further investigation is required.

The pilot programme will examine whether this care model can improve diagnosis and survival of men in these high-risk groups. If successful, the approach could be rolled out across the NHS.

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Energy price cap could hit £2,800 in October - Ofgem OFGEM chief executive Jonathan Brearley has told MPs the regulator is expecting an energy price cap in October “in the region of £2,800”.

Mr Brearley told the Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Committee: “I am afraid to say conditions have worsened in the global gas market since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Gas prices are higher and highly volatile. At times, they have now reached over 10 times their normal level.

“I know this is a very distressing time for customers but I do need to be clear with this committee, with customers and with the Government about the likely price implications for October.

“Therefore, later today I will be writing to the Chancellor to give him our latest estimates of the price cap uplift.

“This is uncertain; we are only part way through the price cap window, but we are expecting a price cap in October in the region of £2,800.”

Ofgem’s prediction is a huge leap on April’s price cap increase of 54 per cent, or an increase of £693 a year to £1,971 for those on default tariffs paying by direct debit for the average household.

Crisis Mr Brearley said future scenarios could include energy prices going even higher if Russia further disrupts gas supplies.

He said: “The price changes we have seen in the gas market are genuinely a once-in-a-generation event not seen since the oil crisis of the 1970s.

“In any conceivable circumstances, there would have been supplier failure.

“However, it is clear to me and it is clear to the current Ofgem board that, looking over all of our institution’s history, had financial controls been in place sooner we’d have likely seen fewer suppliers exit the market, and for that on behalf of Ofgem and its board I would like to apologise.”

Mr Brearley’s comments followed former

Ofgem chief executive Dermot Nolan telling the committee that the regulator could have stopped some of the sector’s failures “if we had moved faster”.

Mr Nolan, who headed the regulator between 2014 and 2020, said the “body politic” wanted Ofgem to prioritise competition over regulatory supervision because of the “Big Six” firms’ enduring share – 98-99 per cent – of the market.

Mr Nolan said from around 2015 ‘many’ new firms entered the market under a ‘permissive’ regime ‘encouraged by government but also a conscious decision of the Ofgem board’.

Speculative However, it became apparent from 2017/18 that ‘in certain cases firms had entered the market in a speculative manner that was probably not reasonable, not fair and we needed to do something about it’.

Mr Nolan said: “I don’t think any regime would have been entirely fit for purpose, but I do accept that if we have moved faster we would have stopped some of the failures that have happened.”

Mr Nolan said Citizens Advice had expressed concerns that a lot of new entrants were not supplying adequate quality of service to consumers but he did not recall the consumer watchdog warning that the market was unstable.

Asked to confirm Ofgem’s position, Mr Nolan replied: “Many of the risks were accepted by the Ofgem board. I was part of the Ofgem board.”

Committee chairman Darren Jones asked Mr Nolan: “It’s now cost taxpayers billions of pounds. Do you wish to apologise to the public, Mr Nolan?”

Mr Nolan said: “I regret that during my time at Ofgem we did not take actions more quickly that I think would have protected consumers, yes.”

Mr Jones replied: “It was your failing, wasn’t it?”

Mr Nolan answered: “I don’t think I would concur with that.”

Police clear climate protestors from Shell shareholder meeting SEVERAL people were led away by police after oil giant Shell’s annual shareholder meeting was disrupted by protesters.

The company’s chairman was forced to pause the meeting for two hours when demonstrators took over, with several gluing themselves to chairs.

Sir Andrew Mackenzie asked police to clear the room at Central Hall in Westminster, central London, after repeatedly being interrupted by members of the audience.

One woman who was led out of the building by police was later seen handcuffed on the ground and crying.

Interrupted The protesters accused the oil company of profiting from carbon-emitting products that contribute to climate change.

“Shell must fall,” the demonstrators repeatedly chanted during the meeting.

They sang ‘We will, we will stop you’ to the tune of the Queen song We Will Rock You as Sir Andrew looked on in silence.

After some time, the chairman said: ‘OK, thank you. I would like to carry on with the meeting if I may’, but was prevented from doing so by the protesters.

“That was an interesting start to our annual general meeting. I have listened to you for 15 minutes, could you…” he added before being interrupted again.

“I do not want to get to this, but if necessary I will ask you to leave the meeting so we can continue with the annual general meeting,” Sir

Andrew said.

A little later, he said: “I regret this deeply, but, because you refuse to stop, I have now asked for the police to come and allow us to restore order as part of this annual general meeting.”

The meeting was paused after around half an hour.

The protesters came from several different groups, including Money Rebellion, Extinction Rebellion, Christian Climate Action, Fossil Free London, Shell Must Fall and Stop Ecocide.

They claimed that around 80 demonstrators were in the meeting hall.

Hundreds of protesters also gathered outside the building, holding signs and chanting in the rain.

Lauren MacDonald, a 21-year-old climate activist, said: “I am here alongside many others to call out Shell’s role in climate violence. We simply cannot let Shell go ahead with any more fossil fuel projects.”

Foreign exchange and meeting your currency needs An evening at The Finance Hub with Currency UK

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15

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NEWS

EDUCATION Times

Education

FOR EVEN MORE NEWS VISIT: timeslocalnews.co.uk

Wednesday May 25 | 2022

Primary school reveals a record breaking result following its fundraising efforts

Southborough CEP School raises over £13,000 for ShelterBox and Ukraine LIKE many schools, Southborough CEP primary school has been following events in the Ukraine and discussing ways in which its staff and pupils can help those currently suffering.

“Undoubtedly war in Europe is a worrying topic for all - especially for young children,” the school’s head Emma Savage told the Times last week.

“However, war can be an important moment to teach about peace, hope, co-operation, and the role we can all play in creating a better future.

As a result we have been focusing on reinforcing positive actions – to reassure children that lots of organisations and people are working hard to end the war and support those in Ukraine.”

“We easily surpassed our initial target of two ShelterBoxes and are now in the position of being able to fund 22” Ms Savage explained that back in March the school decided to work with the Shelterbox charity and so devised a series of activities to support fundraising to buy two Shelterboxes to send to Ukraine.

PUTTING THE FUN INTO FUNDRAISING: Peter from ShelterBox with children and staff from Southborough CEP Primary who have raised over £13,000 of funds

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Wednesday May 25 | 2022

“We decided to leave the fundraising ideas to the children,” she continued. “Each year group chose and planned an activity that they thought would raise lots of money which involved coming up with lots of ideas and voting for their favourite.”

Ms Savage added that ideas included a non-stop dancing marathon for 30 minutes, a Make Your Own Rules day, a sponsored walk and a 500 mile run.

Staff also got involved in the supporting the children with their fundraising too by hosting an afternoon tea which raised over £500.”

Last week the primary school was visited by Peter Dowse from ShelterBox to educate about the work they do and for children to understand the impact of their fundraising.

“Peter explained that each ShelterBox costs £590.00 and contains items including a solar torch, a tent that can sleep five people, cooking equipment, thermal self-warming blankets, a first aid kit, inflatable camping mattresses as well as a water purifier filter and water storage.”

The final count was also revealed last week and Ms Savage said that the school had raised a ‘staggering’ £13,387.79 in sponsorship.

“This is an all-time school record, doubling previous sponsorship appeals,” continued Ms

Savage. “Peter confirmed this meant we easily surpassed our initial target of two ShelterBoxes and are now in the position of being able to fund 22, which fittingly equates to one from each of our classes and one from the staff team. We are incredibly grateful to the whole school community for supporting the children’s amazing efforts, providing Ukrainian families in need of shelter and helping children realise they can make a difference.”

Education

NEWS

17

Calling former Tunbridge Wells Girls Grammar School students

FORMER pupils and staff of Tunbridge Girls Grammar School (TWGGS) are invited to a reunion at the school on Saturday, July 9 from 2-5pm. The Old Girls Association organise a reunion every five years, in years ending in 0 and 5, but July's reunion will actually be the event which was meant to take place in 2020 but had to be postponed twice due to Covid.

“TWGGS Old Girls Association looks forward to welcoming former students on July 9” A spokesperson for the Old Girls Association said attendees are invited to bring their own picnic and drinks and will have the opportunity to meet up with old friends and teachers.

“There will be an opportunity to tour the many new buildings and facilities (and the old ones too!) and say goodbye to TWGGS' current longstanding head teacher, Linda Wybar, who is stepping down from her full-time role after 23 academic years. It is thought she has been headteacher to approximately 4,300 pupils!”

Entry to the event is by ticket only for a small fee which will help support the PTA as well as the TWGGS Ghana Fund (supporting a school in Ghana run by former TWGGS teacher, Gill Norris - formerly Gill Cash). Tickets for the reunion are available from TWGGS website or for further information please email twggsreunion2022@ gmail.com The Old Girls also have an active Facebook page which can be found at "TWGGS What a School!" which is also open to any former pupils or staff and currently has over 1200 members.

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NEWS

Weekly Comment

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Cllr Tom Dawlings

Conservative Council Leader for Tunbridge Wells Borough Council

Wednesday May 25 | 2022

Cllr Tom Dawlings has represented Benenden & Cranbrook at Tunbridge Wells Borough Council since 2014. Before entering local politics his career was spent with the Bank of England. He was elected Leader of the Council in May 2021.

I wish my successor well as I reflect on my year as Tunbridge Wells Council leader THE ELECTION result was very disappointing, and I immediately announced I would resign as Leader of the Council with effect from the Annual Full Council meeting on May 25.

In discussing matters with the new Leader elect (this to ensure a smooth handover) I have reflected on my year as Leader of the Council and the immediate/urgent matters and the medium and longer-term issues addressed.

The here and now has been dominated by Covid, the help and support needed by residents and the huge support (£54 million) of grants to business in the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors which we have administered.

Recycling Lockdowns and changing working and shopping practices have impacted on the Council’s income but we have not needed to draw on reserves to balance the revenue budget in either the year to March 31, 2021, or the year to March 31, 2022.

The waste and recycling contract was affected during Covid with reduced crews, shortage of drivers and increased recycling. Significant improvements in that service have now been achieved. Extending and robustly re-negotiating contracts significantly increased investments in facilities in our leisure centres and for our CCTV systems. This avoided re-tendering during Covid

THE AMELIA The cultural centre opened last month

– a non-competitive time.

The Amelia Scott building has been completed and houses the museum, adult education, library, registration and gateway services and exhibition space. Through the cross-party group we are establishing co-working arrangements in the Town Hall. These actions increasing footfall is helping to fill the former national retail premises at the top of the town and elsewhere.

It will also boost the Council’s income and the wider economy of the town and borough.

Retirement Villages’ plan for the derelict cinema site will help address the need for homes for the over 65s, in turn releasing family houses to meet the broader housing needs.

It seems that Elite Entertainment’s plans for a leisure complex in the former BHS sore are not going ahead but other companies the Council has been talking to remain interested and Elite Entertainment remain interested in other sites in the town.

We have established a carbon reduction plan to achieve net zero by 2030. We buy electricity from renewable sources and our main focus is on making improvements to the energy efficiency of our buildings – the Amelia Scott was constructed to a very high BREAM rating and the insulation of the Town and Assembly Halls is being improved with re-roofing and new windows.

Funding has been secured to improve the

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energy efficiency of the Weald Sports Centre and the Council depot. More generally, we are installing EV charging points in Council-owned car parks and requiring the installation of EV charging points in all new developments.

Increased economic activity around the town and the plans for co-working in the Town Hall will improve future revenue. Financial planning for the medium term will be helped with Government moving from annual financial settlements, to a multi-year settlement.

The Council is fully aware of issues that will need to be addressed in the medium term as major contracts fall due increasing cost pressures on the Council.

The Council owns significant property assets including some properties that are no longer needed which can be sold to fund the development of facilities desired by residents.

The Amelia Scott is an example of a new facility replacing tired old facilities. Forward planning of property matters was limited by Covid but broad cross-party consensus is needed in such matters because developments are expensive to plan. The cross-party group initiative has shown that we can work together on such matters.

For the sake of the Borough and the Council officers, I wish my successor well – we will support you when we agree with you but will tell you and our residents when we don’t.

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Wednesday May 25 | 2022

Letters

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And another thing…

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

Tunbridge Wells really needed the BHS attraction to go ahead

Footfall would have benefited landlord How annoyed I was when I read in this week’s Times (May 18) that the plan for developing the BHS site was to be shelved.

Do British Land not understand that this prospective development would enhance the town of Tunbridge Wells, by attracting not only its local residents but also people visiting from other towns and villages?

It would increase footfall within the RVP where the shops/stores would benefit any extra custom, which would in turn benefit the landlord, British Land.

It would also maybe attract new businesses to open up shops within RVP, which would with all the new shops/restaurants soon to open make Tunbridge Wells a much more attractive town to live in.

James Tinkler Rusthall Labour policy stinks of Bolshevism In last week’s edition (Times, May 18) you reported that Hugo Pound had called for a ‘coalition of equals’ to form a council when his party – Labour, are clearly the minority: the Mensheviks, and I use the term advisedly, though any possibility of reaching an agreement with the Lib Dems when they cannot agree among themselves seems remote.

My principal concern though is that Labour’s National Executive Committee bars Labour from joining as a junior partner: this is national politics getting in the way of forming a working local council which most people just want as a well-functioning apolitical organisation.

This policy of Labour’s NEC has a nasty stink of Leninist Bolshevism about it.

Edward Baker Tunbridge Wells Encouraging the end of tribal politics?

Unsurprisingly and almost before the ink has dried, out come all the profits of doom regarding

There is currently nothing in the centre of Tunbridge Wells for young people, the leisure attraction would have been great for them.

Instead this will probably open in some out of town venue only accessible by car and difficult for youngsters to get to.

To my mind, this is a missed opportunity and British Land should rethink their stance and allow the development without interference.

John Roberts Rusthall

the exciting (and democratic) composition of the Council.

Whilst acknowledging Charlotte’s great sense of humour (Times, May 18), I am not perplexed

by Councillors taking some time together on a new vision for our Borough.

Who knows, it just might better represent the

Electorate prevented further waste Victor Bethell queried (Times, May 18) what the former Tunbridge Wells Borough Councillors achieved. They did of course preside over the waste of millions of pounds of Council taxpayers’ money on unwanted and unnecessary projects.

Fortunately the electorate prevented them from wasting tens of millions more.

Is it any wonder that a large proportion of the traditional Tory voters either abstained or voted for the opposition?

Colin Turner Tunbridge Wells Pantiles is a right of way I completely agree with your correspondent Daid Lloyd-Roberts (Times, May 18) that the whole of the Pantiles is a right of way used by the public and tourists for generations, and there is no right to block it off at any time, still less for a fee.

The Calverley grounds are a much more appropriate venue, and as to best bands I also agree with his sentiments.

I would also like to mention that the Chalybeate Springs themselves are surrounded by filth as they bubble up, a fact which I reported personally to the town hall at the beginning of the month. What will tourists think and will they risk a sip?

Victor Webb Tunbridge Wells

PEPPY SAYS...

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

I WAS very saddened when I read your headline regarding scrapping the plans for a leisure attraction in the old BHS building (Times, May 18).

This is something that Tunbridge Wells and the shopping centre really needed.

If it had gone ahead it would have brought people into the centre of Tunbridge Wells and boosted footfall in the RVP which is desperately required and could have resulted in bringing new retailers to fill the empty shops.

wishes of taxpayers and avoid the unfortunate waste of time and money (£10million plus) on unwanted vanity projects! Perhaps this might encourage the end of tribal politics and a promote sense of working together for the good of our community.

Martin Dawes Tunbridge Wells

Calverley

Observations on life and more important things

NO LAUGHING MATTER.Comedian Stewart Lee has had to go through antisemitic awareness training ahead of his new BBC TV show. It’s aimed at overcoming any prejudice against Jews. The comedian let the news slip chatting to folks after appearing on stage at the Assembly Hall which will be shown as part of his TV series later this year. During the Tunbridge Wells show he was scathing about this newspaper which took him to task beforehand for attacking locals as being ‘ignorant and arrogant’. (Imagine that.) Two years ago, Tonbridge MP Tom Tugendhat accused the comedian of being ‘antisemitic’ after he mocked his name in a newspaper column. (Not this one.) The MP is of Jewish descent.

PEN-PUSHERS are on the rise at the NHS and Department of Health. The number almost doubled during the pandemic to nearly 15,000. Meanwhile the number of frontline workers such as nurses and doctors, barely moved with just a seven per cent increase.

Mind you it makes sense if you think about it.

Somebody has to do the job of letting people know about cancelled appointments and operations because of staff shortages. There’s a record 6.4million patients on NHS waiting lists. All a bit cynical of Calverley? No.

TRASHION is apparently the latest trend where people with too much money buy beat up trainers and clothing. One example is ‘destroyed’ jumpers, like this one, that can sell for more than £1,000. Surely there’s something cynical and insensitive about wanting to wear clothing that makes you look down-at-heel like people who are really needy.

All pretty unsettling.

Here’s a better idea.

Instead of wasting big money on ripped and torn clothes, next time you pass a homeless person hand them cash.

CONTRARY to popular opinion Calverley is not rich. (Well, not very.) That’s why every penny counts in this cost-of-living crisis during which we’re standing shoulder-to-shoulder. (Apart, that is, from ‘Rishi Rich’.) Imagine then Calverley’s horror this week on being advised

by Halifax that the interest rate on his savings account had dropped to 0.01 variable. No need to reach for the calculator – it means that at the end of the year for every £10,000 he gets £1. Happily, most of his spare cash is tucked away in a tax haven. Sorry!

FINAL THOUGHT: Spot your doc! That’s the title of a new game show from Calverley. Ten people are lined up and one of them is your very own NHS GP. But can you now remember what he/she looks like and win a prize – a free hip replacement at a private hospital. If you need a clue, they’ll talk to you on the phone.

Chin, chin dear reader…

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Wednesday May 25 | 2022

Life&Times

ARTS • BOOKS • GOING OUT • FOOD • EVENTS • ANTIQUES • TRAVEL • PROPERTY • LIVE MUSIC and MORE...

Arts - P22

Events - P29

Health - P30

Raise a glass...

Celebrating the first Wine Garden of England festival Food & Drink P26

22

Arts

Wednesday May 25 | 2022

arts

All the fun of the Hever festival…

The popular Hever Festival Theatre returns for a long summer of ace alfresco performances this coming weekend. Running from May 28 to August 30 it has a jam-packed programme with something for all ages to enjoy. Eileen Leahy chats to its director Ailsa Molyneux about what’s in store for this year and how it feels to properly return to a full schedule after two years of scaled back events….

E

VERY summer the glorious grounds of Hever Castle come alive courtesy of the stately home’s alfresco theatre which hosts a seasonal programme of comedy, musicals, children’s drama and specialist talks.

Dubbed the ‘West End in the Garden of England’ Hever Festival runs from the last weekend of May right through to the end of August and it’s fair to say there really is something for everyone.

Now in its 39th year, the festival was first launched by Ron Palmer as the Kent Repertory Theatre company. Ron guided it over many decades after it became the Hever Festival Theatre we know and love to this day but after he

“Hever Festival Theatre is a combination of worldclass performances, a picture-book Tudor castle in beautiful gardens with delicious food and stunning views” passed away in 2017 it was time for someone else to take over the reigns.

That person was Ailsa Molyneux who became director in 2018. And despite having two years of scaled back programmes due to the pandemic she has ensured the festival’s continued ongoing success thanks to her clever and interesting curation of the annual programme.

“It’s fair to say Hever Festival Theatre

is a combination of world-class performances, a picture-book Tudor castle in beautiful gardens with delicious food and stunning views,” Ailsa explained when she took over the role in 2018.

Celebrate “Each of our performances is a celebration of all these qualities. No wonder we never want to be anywhere else during the summer months!”

This year the programme kicks off on May 28 with a musical double bill of both the Tina Turner story and that of Aretha Franklin. The following evening historian Alison Weir talks about her book Elizabeth of York which charts the ground-breaking and fascinating story of the eldest daughter of the royal House of York who unexpectedly became Queen and changed the course of history (May 29).

The programme for 2022 also includes a special Proms night to

Arts

Wednesday May 25 | 2022

celebrate the Jubilee (June 4), The Hug Puppet show by the Long Nose Puppets (July 22), the Grinstock Comedy Club (July 28), La Traviata opera (August 14), Just Floyd tribute act (August 25) and Illyria theatre’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream (August 30).

But as well as welcoming national rep

winning play Anne Boleyn from August 18-20.

“This is the perfect piece for Hever Castle, Anne’s childhood home. The troupe’s story questions the traditionally held views about a tragic, historical heroine,” says Ailsa.

She adds that another hugely popular fixture on the Hever Festival Theatre programme is the Last Night of the Hever Proms, this year taking place on August 28.

“Trinity Youth Theatre will be making its Hever debut this year by performing Dracula The Bloody Truth next Monday May 30.” companies to its famous outdoor stage, Hever Festival Theatre is hugely passionate about championing the talent we have on our doorstep too.

"We are hugely proud to be working with several local theatre companies, supporting the local talent from Trinity Youth Theatre, Edenbridge based Another Way Theatre, Night Owl Shows from Sevenoaks and the award winning Grinstock Comedy Club from East

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Thrilled “This is a true highlight of the festival calendar and so we thought what better way to start as well as finish the season - and celebrate the Queen's Platinum Jubilee of course - than also starting with a Prom featuring all British composers. Guildhall Strings are a musically stunning ensemble who despite playing together for over 30 years rarely perform so this is a huge thrill for us." They will take to the stage on Saturday June 4.

Grinstead,” states Ailsa.

“But we all need to have a good laugh too so we've booked some comedy treats - some a bit more diverse in terms of format with interactive screenings of classic episodes from Father Ted and Murder She Wrote."

And to mark the 500th anniversary since Anne Boleyn made her glittering debut at the court of King Henry VIII in 1522, Ailsa reveals she and her team have been working with Hever Castle, St Peter’s Church and numerous artists on a variety of events across this summer’s season.

“We begin with a talk in St Peter’s Church on June 25 by Dr Lauren Mackay. Lauren will spend the evening delving into Thomas Boleyn’s life and career, moving beyond the myths and stereotypes to establish his place in Tudor history. Thomas is buried in the 900 year-old church and this event forms part of St Peter’s birthday celebrations.”

Ailsa then adds that First Knight Theatre will be returning with Howard Brenton’s award-

Chris West from Guildhall Strings says he and his colleagues are equally ‘thrilled’ to be performing: "The Guildhall Strings are thrilled to be reuniting for our concert at Hever Castle, which promises to be a very special occasion. We are delighted to be celebrating the Platinum Jubilee of Her Majesty the Queen with some of the best-loved British string music, including pieces written for royalty, about royalty and even by royalty."

In other exciting news, Trinity Youth Theatre will be making its Hever debut this month, performing Dracula The Bloody Truth on Monday May 30.

Director Jason Lower says he is very happy ahead of their inaugural performance: “We are thrilled to be performing at such a beautiful location and to be part of such an exciting programme. We hope it is the first of many Trinity Youth Theatre / Hever collaborations to come.”

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Books

Wednesday May 25 | 2022

Times book reviewer

HANNAH KIRSOP

THRILLING TWISTS

PERFECTLY BALANCED

Magpie by Elizabeth Day

A Town called Solace by Mary Lawson

(published by Fourth Estate, priced £8.99)

(published by Vintage, priced £8.99)

Magpie is an emotionally charged thriller which navigates the difficulties of infertility and childlessness with sensitivity and sympathy as well as tension and suspense. Jake is everything Marisa has dreamed of and her pregnancy soon after they move in together is just what they planned.

When lodger Kate moves in to help with cash flow, the classic triangle effect unsettles Marisa’s newly happy existence – why is Kate so interested in Marisa’s baby and has that single magpie foretold a future sorrow?

For Elizabeth Day fans, this is quite a different premise to her previous books but still written in her natural, engaging prose. As a psychological thriller, it delivers on the brief – quickly developing the required sense of unease, maintaining speedy narrative pace and weaving in plot twists to keep you on your toes so it is definitely worth reading if that is your genre. For me, a little disappointing compared to her other books which I have loved.

Set in northern Canada in the small town of Solace, this unassuming star of a book follows the lives of Clara, Elizabeth and Liam in consecutive, alternating chapters which unravel their intertwined pasts – memories, regrets, loves – and their presents as each character processes the current challenges life poses. Free from sudden revelations, the gentle and beguiling narrative immerses you in Solace and the lives of the characters who are beautifully realised with real attention to detail, especially Clara whose sincerity and openhearted honesty in her search for Rose, consideration of Mrs Orchard and care of Moses perfectly reflects her (eight-year-old) age.

With some sad and distressing themes, this book ebbs and flows as Lawson delivers emotional highs and lows to the characters reflecting life’s natural cycle. This only amplifies its impact and the feeling the author has allowed us an exclusive (and time-limited) view into these lives in this small community. Strongly recommended with one of the best closing paragraphs ever which had me smiling for a long time.

7/10

Hannah Kirsop grew up in Kent and now lives in Horsmonden with her family. She loves to read and share recommendations and runs Bainden Book Club for a group of local women to discuss interesting fiction and non-fiction in a range of genres.

You can find www.baindenbookshelf.com online or on Instagram: @baindenbookshelf

The bookcase…

10/10

Wrong Place, Wrong Time by Gillian McAllister

Here are some more reads to inspire you this week …

Published in hardback by Michael Joseph, priced £14.99 (ebook £7.99)

A Lady’s Guide To Fortune-Hunting by Sophie Irwin

Wrong Place, Wrong Time contains layers of intrigue and secrecy, uncovered through the lens of Jen, who is travelling back through time to try and save her son’s future.

It’s the kind of book that will make you reflect on all the seemingly insignificant details we either take in, or miss, over a period of 24 hours – or a week, or a year – all which eventually come together to make a lifetime.

Jen goes back in time a day at a time, trying to uncover why her teenage son ended up committing such a horrific crime. You’ll turn each page of Jen’s story, eager to find out – as she did – what secrets have been hiding in plain sight all along.

While the ending isn’t quite as satisfying as you might want, you’ll still recommend this book to everyone you know.

Review by Karis Pearson

Published in hardback by HarperCollins, priced £14.99 (ebook £7.99) The diamond of the season, A Lady’s Guide To Fortune-Hunting is a Regency-style romcom with all the classic character tropes, plenty of scandals, and more than a dash of sass.

Sophie Irwin’s well-timed debut is the perfect salve for Bridgerton fans on the lookout for a new heroine.

Enter Kitty Talbot, a cross between Vanity Fair’s Becky Sharp and Pride And Prejudice’s Elizabeth Darcy, in ruthless pursuit of marrying rich to save her three sisters from ruin.

She soon meets her match in Lord Radcliffe – the Mr Darcy of this story – and thus ensues a riotous tale of faking-it-till-you-make-it.

Parodying the high society pecking order with its endless trifling rules, Irwin’s modern take on Austen is pure entertaining escapism.

Review by Rebecca Wilcock

9/10 9/10

Fix The System, Not The Women by Laura Bates Published in hardback by Simon & Schuster, priced £12.99 (ebook £7.99)(ebook £6.99) This is a timely book, with Laura Bates, founder of the Everyday Sexism project, issuing a rallying cry. She’s fed up with women continually being told to fix the problems they encounter – such as not being able walk safely at night, not getting that job, promotion or wage rise, having to do more domestic labour, or not being able to get justice when facing domestic abuse. Why, she argues, should the people being oppressed be asked to sort it out, rather than those causing the problems – especially as many solutions have been proposed and ignored? This is not a book that should be read by women who know this stuff already, it should be read by men. They are the ones with the power to change things, so buy it for the men in your life.

Review by Bridie Pritchard

8/10

The Pharmacist by Rachelle Atalla Published in hardback by Hodder & Stoughton, priced £16.99 (ebook £6.99) Rachelle Atalla’s debut is a thoughtprovoking addition to the post-apocalyptic genre, full to the brim with disturbing tension. The world is shrunk down to the confines of an underground bunker, and Atalla cleverly draws intricate details about this new way of life – without revealing much about the events that caused it. Through Wolfe, the bunker’s pharmacist, we live a dismal ‘new normal’, questioning individual morality and the indomitable need to survive, all while sanity unravels in a desperate, claustrophobic environment. A lack of speech punctuation blurs the line between real conversations and inner thoughts, lending a sense of detachment to the prose that mirrors the inhabitants’ grasp on reality. Oppressive and uncomfortable yet compulsive, you’ll have to remember to periodically come up for air.

Review by Rebecca Wilcock

8/10

Going out

Wednesday May 25 | 2022

25

SLAY DUGGEE

A headbanging start to the half term break

Victoria Roberts looks at some of the local events and activities set to entertain you soon…

F

ROM ‘toddler moshing’ to plant wrangling, the local entertainment scene has your half term (28 May to June 5) covered.

The Forum kicks off the long holiday in thrashing style, with ‘My First Metal Gig’ from the world's number one metal band for children, Slay Duggee.

The five old dogs will teach your pups new tricks, including circle pits, moshing, pogoing and stage invasions.

A limited numbers of Edz Kidz ear-defenders will be available to borrow, for small children, but you may want to bring your own – especially to defend against predatory earworms like the dreaded Baby Shark!

Face painting is on offer, but ‘rock’ and ‘metal’ designs only.

Camping is on at The Hop Farm in case you want to spend the whole half term there, enjoying the Driving School, Animal Farm, Giant Jumping Pillows and Bumper Boats.

For day-trippers, the Hop Farm’s Family Park entry includes the indoor soft play, outdoor adventure play park, museums, crazy golf and Animal Farm.

At The Amelia, why not try the free Henry

Moore-inspired trail, exploring the galleries to find and draw objects on themes which inspired the sculptor. Then see how close you got to the originals at the free ‘Threads of Influence’ exhibition. May 30- June 1. Weekend family trails start from June 4 (until July).

The David Walliams blockbuster ‘Billionaire Boy’ opens this Thursday at The Assembly Hall.

Rich boy Joe Spud is leaving his private school for the local comp in a bid to acquire the one thing his money can’t buy. Friends.

Camping is on at The Hop Farm in case you want to spend the whole half term there, enjoying the Driving School, Animal Farm, Giant Jumping Pillows and Bumper Boats.

For day-trippers, the Hop Farm’s Family Park entry includes the indoor soft play, outdoor adventure play park, museums, crazy golf and Animal Farm.

Learn to ‘Sow and Grow’ at Bedgbury Pinetum (Visitor Centre, Cherry Tree Avenue) next Monday and Tuesday (30-31 May) at 1-3pm.

Children will go home from this free event with a seed planted in a compostable plant pot.

Half term is Art Week at Hever Castle (May 28-June 1), offering the chance to learn everything from origami to Victorian skills.

Doing your taxes has never seemed so never-ending as in ‘Everything Everywhere All at Once’ (15), with Michelle Yeoh as an exhausted Chinese-American woman. At the Odeon.

Ralph Fiennes plays Robert Moses, master of the New York map, going ‘Straight Line Crazy’ in this David Hare play, broadcast live from the Bridge Theatre in London to Trinity Theatre. Thursday, May 26 at 7pm.

What do you get when you combine a dead body, a fake backstory and an urgent military deadline? ‘Operation Mincemeat’ was a stunt so over-cooked it nearly disintegrated … On at The Odeon.

EVERYTHING EVERYWHERE ALL AT ONCE

QUEENS of blues rock Never the Bride will raise the roof of The Vestry Hall (Cranbrook), with a performance style and skill Shirley Bassey called ‘inspirational’.

According to Roger Daltrey, ‘Nikki Lamborn has the best female rock voice since Janis Joplin and I know what I’m talking about – I knew Janis’. Tickets from WeGotTickets.com Singer-songwriter AMBER VAN DAY Amber Van Day’s anthem ‘Kids In The Corner’ (from ‘Fate: The Winx Saga’ on Netflix) made her a musical star. Now she comes to The Forum, followed by Darcey Beth and Kumala. Tomorrow night [May 26] at 7:30pm. Ages 16 and older unless accompanied by an adult.

Isle of Wight-based band Coach Party – who refused to move to the big smoke but were signed by London-based Chess Club anyway – come touring to The Forum this Friday [May 27] at 7:30pm. Age 16 and older.

The band Feet has left ‘a sprained ankle or two’ in its wake, but what else would you expect from high-energy British indie?

Followed by Bull and Opus Kink. At The Forum tonight [May 25], at 7:30pm. Ages 16 and older unless accompanied by an adult.

It’s Fiesta Latina night at The Grey Lady this Friday [May 27] at 7pm, featuring Yanifit and DJ Javier La Maquina de Cuba.

Back to the 90s is this weekend’s club night at The Forum (Saturday, May 28, at 8pm). Age 18 and older.

Puppets and people and music make the stage spin in the Twirlywoos Live. Two showings on Saturday, May 28, at 1pm and 4pm. Trinity Theatre Seven actors scramble to play 40 parts in ‘Dracula: The Bloody Truth’, a silly, fast-paced staging of Bram Stoker’s novel. Ages 8 and older. Trinity Theatre on Monday, May 30 at 8pm.

Slay Duggee play The Forum on Saturday, May 28 at 1pm [see feature above] ‘Billionaire Boy’, based on the David Walliams book, is on at The Assembly Hall on May 26-29 May. Matinées and evening performances. [see feature above] The Spa Valley Railway is running this weekend between Tunbridge Wells West and Eridge. Tickets from spavalleyrailway. co.uk.

Last two nights to see Tonbridge School’s modern makeover of Shakespeare’s ‘Julius Caesar’. In its new setting of 1980s high finance, jealous conspirators plot to keep Caesar from becoming CEO of Rome Ltd. On until Thursday [May 26] at the E.M. Forster Theatre (Tonbridge). Performances at 7:30pm.

26

Food & Drink

Wednesday May 25 | 2022

food & drink

“This is a really exciting time for Kentish wine and we want to celebrate that...”

This Sunday, May 29, the first Wine Garden of England festival takes place.

Here its organiser Jo Smith tells James Viner all about this exciting event which will bring together a number of local vineyards to toast their success

CELEBRATE

THE QUEEN’S PLATINUM JUBILEE WITH US

Help us celebrate the historic moment with Her Majesty, The Queen.

Enjoy a choice of loose leaf tea or coffee served with sultana home-baked scones, clotted cream, strawberry preserve, a selection of freshly cut finger sandwiches and assorted homemade seasonal sweet treats.

From just £25 per person

To book, please contact: 01892 520 587 or reception@onewarwickpark.co.uk www.onewarwickpark.co.uk

Food & Drink

Wednesday May 25 | 2022

Wine Garden of England is made up of eight different vineyards - what do you love most about working with them all?

My favourite thing about this job is bringing this diverse group of passionate wine producers together to create a cohesive team working towards various goals. It’s great to see the generosity everyone has in sharing ideas, time and support.

Why is it such an exciting time for English wine right now?

England is widely recognised by the trade as the world’s most interesting up and coming wine region, and Kent is at the forefront of it, due to the favourable growing conditions. We are warmer and drier than anywhere else, and our soil is either exactly the same as that of Champagne, or a mix of it with Tunbridge Wells greensand. Both are fantastic for growing grapes.

JO SMITH

How would you describe a typical Kentish wine?

They generally have a racy acidity which makes your mouth water, goes excellently with food, and tastes super fresh. The long ripening season means that there are layers of complex flavours that you don’t always see in hotter climates.

So what prompted the Wine Garden of England (WGE) collective to put on the Summer Festival on May 29 at the iconic Squerryes Court?

The WGE Summer Festival is our opportunity to show off! Seven of our eight producers will be there to offer lots of tastes of their sparkling and still wines, paired with a selection of cheese and charcuterie from Kent. One of our producers isn’t ready to show their wine as they only planted in 2017, and it takes years to bring a sparkling wine to market. We are all really excited to be hosted by the Warde family at their ancestral home, Squerryes Court.

Why did you choose to host the first Wine Garden of England at this particular location?

Squerryes is one of the wine producers in our membership, so it makes sense for our first event to effectively be ‘at home’. Squerryes Court used to be open to the public but is now just a family home. It’s rare for the gates to be open to the public, and the gardens are exquisite. It’s the perfect place to enjoy award winning Kentish wine, local food, live music and great company.

Can you talk us through the running order for the day?

The Festival will be at Squerryes Court in Westerham from 11:30 on Sunday May 29. Each guest will receive a free glass to take home, and during the event they can use it to taste lots of wine! Seven of the top Kent wine producers will be giving guests tastes of their award-winning sparkling and still wines, and answering questions about their estates. There is a bar serving the wines, but also cider and soft drinks.

Our Kent food producers include Cheesemakers of Canterbury, North Charcuterie, Simply Ice Cream and Goupie Chocolate. We also have

Corban Coffee. There’s live jazz playing all afternoon and we’ve got wine writer and TV presenter Aleesha Hansel meeting all the producers and filming some exciting food pairings. There’s a workshop for people who want to know more about the Anglo French alliance with Champagne Taittinger.

English wines are usually more expensive than their counterparts in Europe. Do you feel this is justified?

Prices generally reflect quality and scarcity.

Due to our marginal climate, the production of wine here is still tiny compared to Europe because our yield is as low as one bottle per vine. In the south of France it is four times that.

With low production comes hand harvesting and complex, high quality fruit. For me, the price is entirely justified but I do understand that without the experience of tasting the wine and getting to know the vineyard that has produced

27

it, a £5 bottle of Prosecco may seem like a better deal. Happily, the trend to drink less and focus on the quality is pointing consumers to try wines produced on their doorstep.

What is your top tipple for drinking this summer?

Rosé is so popular in the warm weather, and many people love the Provencal style. But let me encourage you to try a Kentish still rosé - you’ll be bowled over by its aromas of ripe strawberries and lively acidity that gives it a mouthwatering freshness that I don’t find in French rosés. Try Simpsons Railway Hill Rosé, Chapel Down’s Discovery Series Rosé or Balfour’s Nanette’s Rosé.

What’s next on the agenda for the Wine Garden of England?

We won’t be resting after the Festival! There’s English Wine Week on June 18-26, so look out for lots of events run by all our Kent vineyards during that week, including the Canterbury Wine Festival on June 25. We’ll be at the Wine Weekend in Maidstone on July 16, Broadstairs Food and Drink Festival at the end of September, and Rochester Festival at the end of October.

Follow us on Instagram or subscribe to our email updates to keep up with us.

The tickets are just £25 per person, and you can buy them through our website, www. winegardenofengland.co.uk SQUERRYES COURT

tunbridge wells

P U P PETRY festival 2022 is the year you join our proactive Board of trustees!

Puppetry appeals to all audiences, and we want our Board to represent that diversity so we would welcome expressions of interest from people from all backgrounds with the skills, dedication and/or passion to keep the festival flourishing.

We’re looking for people with either specialist experience (e.g. Finance), or resourceful generalists (e.g. Secretary, Chairperson, or Board Member) to support Tunbridge Wells Puppetry Festival make a difference to the people who live and visit here.

Please visit the volunteer pages on our website twpuppetryfestival.org to find out more.

We look forward to hearing from you.

ESTABLISHED

Celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee at Salomons Estate

Book your family picnic in our 36 acres of beautiful gardens and woodlands.

Saturday 4th June 2022, 12pm until 6pm

Indulge in a quintessentially British picnic lovingly prepared by our chefs ready for you to collect on arrival, along with our fully stocked Terrace Bar serving your favourite tipples.

With plenty to keep the kids entertained including table tennis, scavenger hunt, table football, face painting, lawn games and other fun activities.

Adult Picnics £19.50 per person Children's Picnic £10.50 per child We have a limited number of picnic benches available,please bring your own picnic blanket to sit on the lawns.

Entry is only permitted with purchase of a picnic for each guest attending.

Confirmation of booking will need to be shown upon arrival. You are not permitted to bring your own food or drink on site.

01892 51 51 52

www.salomons-estate.com/whats-on

Events

Wednesday May 25 | 2022

29

Raise your glasses to gin and jazz as festival returns to The Pantiles...

T

HIS Saturday sees the return of The Pantiles Gin and Jazz festival, which is now in its seventh year.

In previous years, the festival has seen scores of gin producers showcasing their best work through tasters, demonstrations and expert mixology alongside some of the country’s best contemporary jazz musicians.

“It is the one of the major highlights of The Pantiles summer season,” organiser and Tunbridge Wells Hotel owner Julian LeefeGriffiths said.

“After the success of the food festival a few weeks back we are really looking forward to welcoming people down to The Pantiles for what is the seventh Gin festival.

“For those who haven't been before, it's a celebration of all things gin! We have over 60

different gins available to try from all parts of the world.

“Whether your taste is for a straight London Dry or something more exotic I'm sure you'll find

‘For those who haven't been before, it's a celebration of all things gin! We have over 60 different gins available to try from all parts of the world’ a new favourite gin down here on The Pantiles.”

He added that along with plenty of gin, there will also be Sankey’s Seafood cooking and master butcher’s Fullers in attendance.

There will also be plenty of The Pantiles’ usual

restaurants, hotels and cafes all taking part.

“As the title suggests we haven't only got gin but we've also got jazz, all organised by the fantastic jazz impresario Lionel Shell,” continued Julian.

Weather “It's a free to attend event and a great day out.

If you are coming please bring your ID with you because of Challenge 21 and do remember to have fun but drink responsibly.

“So come on down as the weatherforecast looks lovely and the gin and tonics ice cold.”

The Pantiles Gin and Jazz Festival is sponsored by energy broker Energy Pal. It l is on Saturday and Sunday May 28-29 from 11am to 6pm.

30

Health & Wellbeing

Wednesday May 25 | 2022

When pedal power is not enough E-bikes are the latest eco transport trend that promise to make short work of the hills in towns such as Tunbridge Wells so the Times’ Jason Stubbs took one out for a spin ...

W

SCENIC The Bergamont E-Ville at rest in the South Downs

hen I heard that local experts Energise e-bikes wanted someone at the Times to take one of their bikes for a spin and write a review, I quickly volunteered. I'm a keen cyclist with a particular passion for mountain biking but one of my least favourite things about cycling is pedalling uphill.

Surely an e-bike was the answer to my prayers?

E-bikes have been around for decades but in recent years, advances in technology have led to them becoming lighter, more efficient and a lot more fun to ride and as a result, their popularity has soared. Modern e-bikes work on a principle known as "pedal-assist", which means the bike won't move unless you turn the pedals, but the electric motor makes this much, much easier than it would be on a conventional bike.

Breeze A gentle push on the pedals and the bike supplies all the extra power needed to make climbing the hills of a town like Tunbridge Wells an absolute breeze. The bike will only assist up to a speed of 15.5mph (as that's as fast as the law allows for pedal assist), but most riders will likely find this more than ample for their needs.

The Bergamont E-Ville SUV model I was given

by Energise E-bikes on St John’s Road, Tunbridge Wells for the weekend was very different to the mountain bike I usually ride.

With an upright riding position, large, comfortable saddle and luggage rack over the rear wheel, it's clearly been designed for urban use.

‘The Bergamont E-Ville SUV model I was given by Energise E-bikes on St John’s Road, was very different to the mountain bike I usually ride’ The addition of Schwalbe off-road tyres, front suspension and integral mudguards also let you know that the E-Ville can also ride off the beaten track when required.

Stopping is not a problem, either as the

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Shimano hydraulic disc brakes are very capable either on or off-road.

The styling may seem a little bit retro, but the black and acid-green paint scheme gives a bit of a modern twist to the look of the bike.

Changing through the 11 gears is done via paddles on the right-hand side of the bars and on the left sits a small LCD unit that gives you control over the motor. It's also here that the on and off switch is located as well as a selector to switch between four power modes Eco, Tour, Sport and Turbo.

As you'd expect, the higher the setting, the more power the bike puts in, but this also means

more power will be drained from the battery.

Whilst riding, this screen will also display your current speed, and give an indication of how much battery power you have remaining.

According to the manufacturer, you can expect to get 30-60 miles out of a fully charged battery.

This will be dependent on the weight of the rider, how you ride and the type of terrain you're riding over.

When familiarising myself with the Bergamont with a short ride around the block, I was struck by how the upright riding position makes you feel very tall and able to see and be seen.

This is extremely beneficial when cycling

Health & Wellbeing

Wednesday May 25 | 2022

through traffic and, coupled with the comfortable, solid and stable feeling of the bike as you ride it, generates a feeling of confidence.

A quick potter to the shops wasn't really what I had in mind for the powerful Bosch motor

cruise serenely forward. The rider is the effortlessly elegant swan and the electric motor is the unseen paddling feet.

Alternatively, you put a little bit of sweat into the climb and find yourself at the top in no time at all. As I've ridden this route many times on a ‘normal’ bike, I thought I'd take the slightly harder option and see what the bike would do.

This is a hill I have ridden many times on a normal bike and for about half the amount of effort, I was able to travel at three times the speed I could manage without electric assistance.

‘Riding the e-bike brought to mind memories of being a small child just learning to ride a bike with an adult’s hand on my back pushing me forward’ though, so I set about planning a longer, more challenging ride.

One of the greatest things about cycling is the feeling of freedom and the ability to explore.

Having an electric motor along for the ride offers the option to go further and not worry about how many hills there are between home and where you'd like to get to.

The weather was fair for the weekend so I decided to take the Bergamont out onto a small section of the South Downs Way to see how it would cope with some gentle off-road riding.

Starting from the outskirts of Eastbourne and heading west over the downs, there can be few better places to be than the South Downs, taking in views of rolling farmlands, chalk cliffs and the English Channel beyond.

Steering the E-Ville off the tarmac and onto the

mixture of gravel, flinty chalk and rutted dirt of the bridleways didn't seem to take the bike out of its comfort zone at all.

The tyres had plenty of grip, the front suspension soaked up the worst of the bumps and the solid, stable feeling the bike gave on the road remained.

As the trail dipped for the long, steep descent of a hill, the powerful Shimano disc brakes gave me complete control over the speed of the bike, keeping things steady and stable and allowing me to pick a smooth course at a sensible speed for the bike.

The pretty village of Jevington in the Seven Sisters country park, involves a pretty stiff climb. This meant I was about to give the Bosch motor its first proper test.

The first time you climb a hill using a pedal-assist e-bike is always likely to put a big smile on your face.

It brought to mind memories of being a small child just learning to ride a bike with an adult’s hand on my back pushing me forward.

The e-bike offers two options for tackling a hill. Either you pop it up into sport or turbo mode, gently turn the pedals, and

Countryside I still had a bit of a sweat on at the top of the hill, but I also had a smile on my face. The more serene option has a lot to be said for it though, why not just let the bike take the strain while you take in the glorious English countryside?

Once I'd eased myself to the top of the hill I found myself in Friston Forest which has a huge network of bike trails to explore, many of these are aimed at thrillseeking mountain bikers, but there are also a large number of gentler, smoother trails, perfectly suited to the E-Ville that I could explore.

With the motor to assist me, I could explore the leafy beauty of the forest (and it is at its best, in my opinion, during spring and autumn) at my leisure.

Knowing I could easily pedal my way back from wherever I went, I felt free to explore a few spots I had not ventured to before. Not having to worry about feeling exhausted pedalling home did bring out the explorer in me!

The term ‘range anxiety’ is a relatively new one and it's commonly used by people driving electric cars, but it's equally applicable to e-bikes.

When planning a ride it's always wise to make sure you leave plenty in the battery to get you home, but you also have to consider more than just the number of miles. Standing between me and the end of my ride was a rather long climb

31

up the downs out of Jevington. Around a mile long and climbing over 400ft vertically, and I'd rather optimistically planned my ride with it right at the end.

I did have a slight concern at the back of my mind as I started the climb. I had only used half of the available battery power so far, but it was a big climb and I am a lot heavier than the average rider.

As I popped the bike into sport mode and began the climb, I thought back to the last time I'd tackled it on a conventional bike. It was torture. Something I endured with gritted teeth, a necessary evil.

With an e-bike, it was a totally different experience. I could take in my surroundings, appreciate the tall grass at the side of the trail swaying in the breeze, spot a herd of cattle grazing on the hillside opposite, and listen to the birds singing.

Climbing a hill can actually be fun, who knew?

Any range anxiety I might have had was soon forgotten at the top of the climb. With more than enough power to take me the remaining few miles home, I paused to take in the scenery and then pedalled on…

CLIMBING Breezing up a long climb in Friston forest

32

Property

Wednesday May 25 | 2022

property news

Mortgage arrears still very low despite the cost-of-living crisis CONSIDERING THE HOUSING MARKET AND THE COST OF LIVING CRISIS

THE number of homeowners in arrears with their mortgage remained low in the first quarter of this year – but rising bills will increasingly have an impact on households’ budgets, a trade association has said.

Some 75,670 homeowner mortgages were in arrears of 2.5% or more of the outstanding balance at the end of March, according to UK Finance.

This was nearly 4,000 fewer mortgages in arrears compared with three months earlier and also fewer than a year earlier.

Within the total, 29,340 homeowner mortgages were in arrears representing 10% or more of the outstanding balance.

This was 670 fewer than three months earlier – and the first decrease in arrears at this level since 2019.

Although it is too early to draw out a confirmed trend, this may reflect customers in long-term

difficulties going on to sell their home or have it repossessed, UK Finance said.

Some 580 homeowner mortgaged properties and 370 buy-to-let mortgaged properties were repossessed in the first quarter of this year.

Quarter There were 240 more repossessions overall in the first quarter of 2022 compared with the previous quarter.

But the latest total is still less than half the total in the last three months of 2019, UK Finance said.

Eric Leenders, managing director of personal finance at UK Finance, said: “The number of customers in arrears remains low and fell for the fourth quarter in a row.

“The number of homeowner mortgages in arrears is now 10%

lower than a year ago and buy-to-let mortgage arrears are 5% lower for the same period.

“The first quarter arrears data is therefore largely positive, although energy price and national insurance rises in effect from April will increasingly affect household budgets throughout the rest of the year.

“In contrast, the fact that the majority of borrowers are on fixed rate mortgages means they are protected from increased borrowing costs should the base rate rise further.”

He added: “Lenders continue to provide tailored forbearance and support to borrowers who need help and will not look to put customers on a repayment plan that they cannot afford so anyone experiencing financial difficulty should contact their finance provider as soon as possible to discuss options available.”

Property pictures remain pivotal to selling homes RESEARCH has found how even in a market running hot on demand and low on stock, there is still one thing that remains hugely influential when it comes to attracting buyer interest and securing the best price for your home – property listing photos.

A survey by estate agent photography provider, Giraffe360, of over 1,300 homebuyers who have bought a home in the last six months revealed that estate agents who aren’t delivering the visual goods are also damaging their own reputation, as well as their chances of selling a home.

Online When asked about their recent house hunt, 93 per cent of homebuyers said that the online photos of a property were an important factor when it came to grabbing their attention while scrolling through the property portals.

Of those surveyed, 78 per cent also stated that they would be less inclined to view a property with bad photos, no interactive tour, or both.

FOR SALE SNAP House pictures remain crucial for sales

What’s more, 40 per cent of buyers said they wasted time viewing unsuitable properties because the photos were poor, or there was no interactive tour, and so they couldn’t tell the property wasn’t for them until they actually viewed it in person.

Perhaps most notably, 62 per cent of homebuyers would offer below asking price for a home they liked, simply because a below par online portrayal had created a bad first impression.

Giraffe360 CEO, Mikus Opelts, said: “The current market is incredibly competitive and with stock levels remaining insufficient,

buyers are falling over themselves to secure a purchase. But that doesn’t mean the basic foundations are no longer important when it comes to presenting your home on the market.

“In fact, a poorly presented property listing can still deter buyers from viewing your property and those that do may even reduce their offer as a result.

“The repercussions aren't just refined to those looking to sell and in this day and age, any agents producing smartphone photos to showcase their latest stock are really shooting themselves in the foot.”

There is no doubt that everyone is noticing the rising cost of living. Inflation now sits at a whopping 9%, with the Bank of England forecasting that it will rise to 10% by the year end. To try and control inflation, Base Rate is being increased, and corresponding mortgage interest rates are also rising. This, combined with escalating energy costs, is putting pressure on many households. So, what will the effect of this be on the housing market? The obvious answer is that surely if people have rising mortgage costs, they will spend less on their next home, and prices will fall.

The reality is though, that many savvy borrowers have locked in at an attractive fixed rate. Indeed, a recent report revealed that a record number of borrowers are paying large redemption penalties as mortgages are cashed in early to avoid the predicted higher rate that would have been faced at mortgage renewal.

When I took out my first mortgage (and I celebrated my 50th birthday recently so this was a while ago!) my interest rate was 14%. I remember vividly that my monthly mortgage payment was over half that of my monthly net income. However, back then, I never went out regularly for meals and a coffee, nor replaced my bathroom every few years. Base Rate is still just at 1% - a phenomenally low rate. We live on an island, with a limited supply of land, and with demand continuing to outstrip supply. I do not, therefore, predict that the housing market will collapse, but instead, price growth will slow to a more normal level of around 3% per annum. I believe that most will simply absorb the necessary extra costs of living, and spend less on more “disposable” items.

Meet the expert: Deborah Richards is the founder and Managing Partner of Maddisons Residential, a leading, award-winning independent estate agent based in Tunbridge Wells, offering expert advice on all aspects of sales and lettings, combined with excellent customer service.

www.maddisonsresidential.co.uk 18 The Pantiles, Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN2 5TN Telephone: 01892 514100 Email: info@maddisonsresidential.co.uk

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34

Antiques

Wednesday May 25 | 2022

Do not be jaded by Chinese collectables

antiques

Auctioneer Joseph Trinder explores the history of joyful jade such as the Maya.

However it is indeed Chinese worked jades which fan the greatest flames in today’s market – so what is it about this charismatic hardstone with its unique qualities which stimulate such passion and prices?

Within Chinese culture, jade is arguably the most precious and coveted of naturally occurring materials – an often quoted Chinese expression denotes ‘gold is valuable while jade is priceless’, but this transcends mere monetary value or stock placed in a natural resource, there is a cultural if not spiritual property which jade holds for the Chinese which explains its importance in the hearts of that

Joseph Trinder

I

N RECENT articles featuring pieces uncovered in my daily valuation visits in Tunbridge Wells and across the wider Kent and Sussex areas, I have often mentioned Chinese jades as some of the most beautiful and exciting finds from the display cases and mantlepieces of our client’s homes at Gorringe’s.

But what exactly is this beautiful, mysterious stone and why can it achieve such impressive results in today’s auction market?

Coveted for millennia for its natural beauty, we of course think of one country in particular when it comes to the finest jade carvings and artefacts – China – although jade has been used and revered across the globe, with some of its earliest origins in terms of cultural significance in the pre-Columbian cultures of South America,

"In my experience during home valuation visits, jades are often amongst the pieces which owners are most surprised by when it comes to value" population.

In Chinese culture, jade is symbolic of good fortune, prosperity and happiness alongside the naturally occurring beauty it holds which is revealed and amplified by the superlative quality of Chinese carving, perfected over many centuries.

A naturally occurring material, we now know there are principally two kinds of jade stone – jadeite and nephrite, with the former being the scarcest and therefore the

most prized.

Although green jade is typically the highest prized in the Chinese canon of appreciation, this can vary significantly from the dark tones of ‘spinach green’ jade to the very pale translucent qualities of ‘celadon jade’, a name given also to a highly prized glaze which finishes some of the finest Chinese porcelains – it also varies from a white colour which is known as ‘mutton fat jade’ to shades of red and even black.

My pick of pieces crafted from this enchanting material soon to be offered at Gorringe’s is this 19th century celadon jade cylindrical box and cover – my choice due to its sheer simplicity of form which allows the natural beauty and quality of this translucent stone, with its shimmering lustre to speak for itself so masterfully carved into this gorgeously tactile, well-fitting object. Discovered recently in a local home, we expect this tiny box of just a few cm high to achieve over £1,000 when it is sold in our June 28 summer fine sale.

Valuation Recent previous sale highlights of Chinese jade carvings sold at Gorringe’s include a similar example to this upcoming piece, this earlier (18th century) celadon jade box and cover finely carved and pierced with mallow

HOUSE CALLS

flowers and leaves, itself just 9cm in diameter, sold for a hammer price of £9,000 with us last year.

In my experience during home valuation visits, jades are often amongst the pieces which owners are most surprised by when it comes to value - so I invite you to take a look for any such examples which may be residing in a display cabinet or on a bookcase at home - an inherited charismatic old carving may just be a rather precious and valuable work of Chinese art. If you would like to discuss any jade pieces you have, or indeed any antiques or works of art, as always, I would love to hear from you.

Alexander Pushkin

FOR MAY IN YOUR AREA There is no obligation to sell, so call Clive Today to arrange a home visit at no charge and at your convenience. He will advise you personally on your items and absolute discretion is guaranteed.

Clive Attrell is back and available throughout Kent & East Sussex for home antiques valuations (Appointment Only)

Call Clive on 07860 942726

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30

Business feature special

Wednesday March 2 | 2022 35 Antiques

Wednesday May 25 | 2022

Have you got any valuables in your toybox?

Spotlight on:

Tonbridge T

Germaine Knowles from the Hoard on The Pantiles looks at the value of toys and games

ODAY is a propitious and most significant anniversary for those Jedi Knights, Starfighter Pilots, Pod Racers and Stormtroopers who walk amongst us, as it is exactly forty five years ago to the day that the seminal film Star Wars made its US debut on the big screen.

After talking calmative measures – having realised just how long ago an event I remember all too well actually took place – it becomes immediately apparent just how significant a piece of cinema that film has turned out to be.

The legacy lives on, with follow up films, Star Wars toys

prequels, spin-offs and mini-series proliferating ever since that opening night – and then, of course, there is the merchandising…

Limited editions

Star Wars toys are big business, very big business, and early examples of the genre – alongside more recent pieces released as ‘limited editions’ – command very high prices on the collectors’ market. You need only search for “Star Wars” on everyone’s favourite auction platform, and sort the results by descending price, to see that some filmrelated relics can command values in to thousands of pounds (hint – distil your results by the ‘completed/sold items’ filters to remove the inflated prices that potential vendors hope to achieve for advertised wares, and leave the stillstaggering figures for pieces that have actually been purchased – eyewatering stuff !)

It seems that printed ephemera – cinema posters and collectible cards – tops the bill when it comes to sold prices, but a little further down the list there are plenty of action figures, Lego sets, models and toys which all go for significant sums.

As we say, the ‘collectables’ market provides a potentially lucrative playing field, and we are delighted to announce that we are shortly going to be expanding our sphere of

endeavour in to this very realm ourselves, down at the Pantiles Arcade.

We will be welcoming our friend Pete Redman on board, who will be taking one of the units within our quarters in his role as Supreme Galactic Leader of Hope & Glory Vintage Collectables – his long-standing on-line venture - now materialising in the real world as a bricks and mortar retail outlet (or possibly just a really convincing hologram…)

Pete Redman

Halcyon Pete will be opening his doors over the extended Platinum Jubilee break – the first weekend in June – and will have a fine selection of toys and games to stir the memory of anyone who can remember the halcyon days of White’s Bazaar (a veritable black hole with regard to my own meagre pocket money, back in the 1970’s).

To be strictly fair, Pete’s primary focus is on material which pre-dates the advent of Star Wars: classic Dinky toys, Britains’ farm models and soldiers, early 20th century boats and planes. Given our location, it’s also worth noting that there will also be a niche set aside for Subbuteo, one of Tunbridge Wells’ finest exports to the civilised world.

You’d be amazed how many townsfolk we have spoken to since last summer who have mentioned that their parents used to have a part-time job painting the miniature figures integral to Peter Adolph’s iconic ‘flick to kick’ game, so pop down for a chat with Pete in ten days or so, and see if he has anything available that can transport you back to your childhood…

Some medal-winning interesting items

Nick Hall talks about some of the rare pieces he has found in his search for antiques extensively to both American and UK collectors, research to discover full story of this As the closest large town neighbour, Tonbridge andtheTunbridge Wells and as the cameras rolled I wielded my gavel to a intriguing little piece of history, and the story began to unfold... In January 1857 a US freighter are sometimes confused, but as Victoria Roberts finds out, thereflurry isof bids coming from the saleroom, the telephones, and the online bidding platforms, called the Northern Belle, on route from New York eventually banging my gavel down to what is to London, had hit a huge storm and blizzard a lot more to the market town than just a similar sounding name... thought to be a record price of £7200, selling to a conditions off the Kent coast near Thanet, driven

T I

he General Post Office changed the name of the former town of Tunbridge to Tonbridge in 1870 to avoid being confused with Tunbridge Wells, although many people still get the town locations mixed up.

However, TonbridgeDirector, predatesSenior its Royal Nick Hall, Associate Auctioneer neighbour by more than fiveAuctioneers centuries. & Valuer, Bentley's Fine Art Thanks to the Normans’ decision to fortify the crossing of the River Medway, the town of WAS RECENTLY giving a talk on antiques to Tonbridge first formed around motte and a society and one of the the questions i was bailey castle sits in the centre of the asked that was still "what was most interesting town nearly a millennium ago. took a bit of item I'd sold"? the answer thought as I've been lucky enough to have come across and sold manystation exciting ‘Today Tonbridge’s discoveries over the years, but one recent item anboth important sprangremains to mind that had local interest and anjunction international historical interest... between the South Last summer a client booked an appointment at Eastern Main Line, the our saleroom to bring in several boxes of Hastings Line and the Redhill– unwanted objects that had been cluttering up cupboards and drawers, inherited odds Tonbridge line’ & ends, some of which were a handful of old coins, most of which had little value, but my eagle eyed Over theRobin centuries, different powers would colleague Fletcher spotted a great rarity battle over Tonbridge in wartime, and the amongst them, a medallion measuring justtown over would an important civic 6cm in be diameter, cast with ancentre imagein ofpeacetime. a figure in It even some visitorsinscription going to that water on hosted one side and of anthe engraved on iron-rich five miles – which the other spring, side, and duly setto offthe onsouth a journey of

would later become Tunbridge Wells.

Tonbridge’s strategic value turned commercial in the 18th century, when the Medway Navigation Company was founded, making the river navigable to Tonbridge, which imported coal and lime and exported gunpowder, hops and timber to Maidstone and the Thames.

Streets such as Medway Wharf Road, Cannons Wharf and New Wharf Road still show the outlines of the working river, even though many

Ancient coins

on to rocks and smashed, all the men aboard were sure to drown, conditions were so bad lifeboats couldn't be launched, so they were hauled two miles over hills in atrocious of these districts arewhere now given over tobeleisure conditions to a spot they could and residential buildings. eventually all crew launched, and miraculously From 1842, the railways made shipping aboard the American vessel wereriver rescued by the unprofitable, brave Kentish and men.today Tonbridge’s station remains an important junction between the South Line, the HastingsRobin Line and 'MyEastern eagleMain eyed colleague the Redhill–Tonbridge line. The town also lies at spotted a great rarity the Fletcher crossroads of the A21 road between London and Hastings, and A26 between Maidstone amongst thethecoins: a medallion and Newhaven on the south coast.

measuring just over 6cm in diameter...'

News of the death-defying feat reached the US President Franklin Pierce, who awarded 21 of these medallions to be made for and presented to the Kentish men, along with a cash payment, this one was awarded to John Fox. I had the BBC coming to film at our auction and so contacted the Director to tell him about our discovery and suggested it would make an interesting additional feature, they even went as far as tracing a descendent of the 21 brave men and interviewed them for the show, then pitched up their cameras and crew to record the sale, we FORMED found out that another of these medallions had town was created thein surfaced at aThe major London auctionafter house building of Tonbridge 2016, which sold for £4600, we hadCastle pitched ours at £3000/5000, and had of course marketed it

private collector in America that was bidding on one of the phones!

A great day, a great discovery, a great price achieved for our client, and a great piece of TV captured for prosperity...

36

Travel

Wednesday May 25 | 2022

travel

Putting the glamour into camping – best spots for glamping in Tunbridge Wells and beyond

It was a trend that took hold during the pandemic, but as the cost-of-living crisis continues to escalate, staycation camping holidays are here to stay. The Times looks at some of the best locations for a spot of glamping - both locally and further afield...

F

ORTUNATELY, sleeping under canvas doesn’t have to be an exercise in survival training.

From posh yurts to converted horse trailers, pimped-up glamping facilities are a far cry from the simple A-frame tents of yesteryear.

Best of all, you don’t have to pay a fortune to pitch up in luxury.

Here are a few excellent value options to consider this summer in Tunbridge Wells as well as across the country for those looking for a UK holiday further afield.

Bewl Water, Lamberhurst

Perhaps one of the most scenic spots near to the Tunbridge Wells area, Bewl Water is also a prime location for glampers.

The Mongolian Yurts nestled next to the

largest body of open water in the South East are ideal for families or couples.

Accommodate

GOING GREEN Glamping at Bewl

The warmly furnished yurts can comfortably accommodate up to four guests in one double bed and two single beds. Bewl Water, which is run by Elite Leisure Collection, the same group that owns One Media, publisher of the Times, has also added small quirky touches to make your stay truly one-of-a-kind. The log wood burner will keep you warm on even the chilliest of nights.

If you enjoy outdoor adventures, Bewl Water has plenty of options for you on your doorstep, from biking, fishing to country walks and laser tag, you definitely won't be short on things to do!

Just £125 per night (Minimum 2 nights stay) and included with your stay during the winter season is a Continental Breakfast (pain au chocolate or pain au raisin, fruit yogurt, fresh fruit and juice, with fresh coffee, tea or infusion) collected from or eaten in the Waterfront Café.

WildconTENTment, Shropshire

Proving life on the farm is never dull, this family-run operation on the Shropshire/ Welsh borders offers a range of activities that are anything but run of the mill. Aside from watching cows being milked and chickens fed, families can explore a network of paths leading to rope swings and bird-watching lookouts. At night, clear

skies provide opportunities for star gazing, while at dawn yoga or Pilates classes can be arranged.

Try your hand at willow weaving and pottery, or go big by joining a rock-climbing and abseiling adventure led by a climbing instructor at nearby Llanymynech Rocks.

A family-run dairy farm since the 1950s, the site was extended to include an eight-pitch glamping area in 2021. Guests can bring their own tents or hire one of three fully kitted bell tents (two sleep five; one for couples) with Kadai fire bowls.

There’s also an option to include Beryl – a converted horse trailer featuring an outdoor shower, outdoor washing-up area and copper roll-top bath.

How: A three-night stay starts from £360

Travel

Wednesday May 25 | 2022

for a Beryl and Bell Tent combo (sleeping five) including all bed linen. Or take your own tent (from £20 per night for up to six) and hire a Beryl Bathroom (three available) for £65. Visit wildcontentment.com. Open until the end of October.

Secret Wood Glamping, Peak District

There’s only one tent up for grabs at this secluded woodland site, so you’ll have to be quick. Occupying a spacious clearing in four acres of private land, it can sleep up to six (with a double bed, double sofa bed and two singles) or functions as a cosy romantic retreat for two.

Attraction All bedding and a log burning stove is provided, along with a barbecue and an outdoor covered kitchen (with gas stove, utensils and seating), plus a compost toilet and hot outdoor shower (with eco-friendly toiletries).

The star attraction is a wood-fired hot tub, perfect for easing muscles after hikes in the surrounding Peak District. Or head to nearby Chatsworth House and picture-book village Bakewell, famous for its almond and cherry tarts.

How: Pitchup (pitchup.com) offer stays from

£33pp per night (based on six people), with a minimum two-night stay. Open until September 4.

The Nest, Lincolnshire

Working out at just £31.25 per night – if there are six of you staying – this African-inspired nature camp is a fraction of what you’d pay on a safari. Couple Archie and Emma have set aside a lakeside area on their farm for three luxury tents – Pinkfoot, Cuckoo and Teal – each with a king-size bed, a twin room and a two-person, king-size cabin bed, all decked out in White Company linen.

There’s a fully equipped kitchen, a cupboard full of board games, a wood-burning stove and plenty of blankets to wrap up warm on the large outdoor terrace during colder nights. Or relax in a freestanding egg-shaped bath with a glass of wine.

Pre-order from a menu of homemade classics to be placed in the fridge for your arrival, along with breakfast farm-produced staples delivered fresh each morning.

For a day out, visit the Elizabethan Burghley House or Belvoir Castle – although none are a match for the natural grandeur of The Nest.

How: A four-night stay costs from £125pp (based on six staying). Open until November 1.

Visit thenestglamping.co.uk.

PUBLIC NOTICE

Goods Vehicle Operator’s Licence Steven Barnard Trading As: SRB Contractors Ltd Of 2 Santers Court, Gills Green, Hawkhurst, Cranbrook, Kent, TN18 5EQ is applying for a licence to use A R Smith Commercials, Pattenden Lane, Tonbridge, TN12 9QJ as an operating centre for 1 goods vehiclesand 1 trailers 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 Masking Representations is available from the Traffic Commissioner’s Office.

Cranbrook Goes Nuts A5 edit.indd 1

29/03/2022 14:45

37

38

Motoring

Wednesday May 25 | 2022

Motoring News Rolls-Royce Phantom Series II brings styling tweaks and more connectivity Rolls-Royce has updated its flagship Phantom, bringing a series of styling changes and more connectivity options to the luxury vehicle.

First introduced in 2017, the Phantom has only been given subtle tweaks as part of this update.

The bulk of the edits surround the front grille, with the badge and Spirit of Ecstacy mascot made more prominent when the vehicle is viewed head-on. Plus, a new polished line mounted above the headlights runs into a horizontal bar atop the grille.

GREG CLARK MP ADVICE SURGERIES

Accents The headlights themselves have been given an upgrade too, with laser-cut star-shaped accents included in their design.

New wheel designs have also been included on the Series II. A 3D milled stainless steel alloy with triangular facets is available in either a fully or part-polished finish, while a set of 1920s-style ‘disc’ alloys is also available. This can be finished in either polished stainless steel or black.

Buyers are also able to option a darkened chrome grille surround, black bonnet accents and windscreen surround. Rolls-Royce says that this new option allows buyers to ‘transform the Phantom into the lightest of light or the darkest of dark appearances’.

The Phantom also debuts a new ‘Rolls-Royce Connected’ system. This allows the owner to send an address directly to their vehicle’s navigation, meaning that everything is pre-loaded for the moment they step into the car. It’s included as part of the ‘Whispers’ app, which can also show the car’s location, security status and current ‘health’ condition.

As before, the Series II retains the 6.75-litre V12 engine that has been used to power the Phantom since its release in 2017.

Torsten Müller-Ötvös, chief executive officer,

Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, said: “We are acutely conscious of our clients’ esteem for and love of their Phantoms. They felt it could not be improved; but while naturally respecting that view, we believe it is always possible, indeed necessary, to gently go further in our pursuit of absolute perfection.

“The subtle changes we have made for the new Phantom Series II have all been minutely considered and meticulously executed. As Sir Henry Royce himself said: ‘Small things make perfection, but perfection is no small thing’.”

If you have an individual problem which you think I can help with or you would like to have a chat about a more general issue, please do get in touch.

I am holding regular advice surgeries – by zoom or telephone. To make an appointment, please call:

01892 519854 or email:

greg.clark.mp @parliament.uk

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Celebrate The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee with a family fun day out

Friday 3 June

1pm | Parade and Carnival procession from the War Memorial to Dunorlan Park 2pm | Big Jubilee Lunch in Dunorlan Park event field

E FRER Y T N E

Live Music | Children’s Corner |Car Show | Food and Drink Stalls

More info:

twbc.online/jubilee