Times of Tunbridge Wells 29th September 2021

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Plea to end panic buying as petrol rationed at pumps

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MP says ‘situation should subside’ as people get fuel they need

A MAGICAL EXPERIENCE

FUEL FRENZY: Queues at Sainsbury’s in Tunbridge Wells at the weekend

COMING TO

ROYAL TUNBRIDGE WELLS

PHOTO: Sarah Bond

ENJOYING TODAY EDUCATING FOR TOMORROW

By Richard Williams THE fuel crisis took another turn for the worse yesterday [Tuesday] with garages in Tunbridge Wells introduced rationing.

They also started giving priority to key workers such as NHS staff.

Motorists are being urged to stop the panic buying which is helping to create a shortage. The plea has been made by the Government’s Environment Secretary George Eustice who believes it would help supplies return to normal usage levels. Garages report selling two weeks’ supply in four days.

The surge in demand comes amid fears that a shortage of tanker drivers could hit the delivery of fuel. There are no shortages of fuel at the refineries themselves.

Frustrated motorists hunting for fuel

in Tunbridge Wells this week have faced mile long queues and empty pumps as all the garages, at some point, put up closed signs.

One of the key roads through Tunbridge Wells was gridlocked as motorists running on empty waited to fill up after there were fresh deliveries.

By rush hour the queue for petrol in St John’s stretched for a mile St John’s Road in Tunbridge Wells saw traffic begin queuing before 6am when the Shell station reopened yesterday morning [Tuesday] after receiving a delivery of diesel.

By rush hour the queue stretched for a

mile with traffic having to weave around the queues as anxious drivers lined the side of the road.

The mini-roundabout on Mount Ephraim was also jammed as drivers attempted to turnaround to join the queue to fill up.

A number of stations that have fuel have now begun rationing it, with some of the supermarkets setting a £30 limit.

The independently run Esso petrol station on the Eridge Road was also reported to have put up signs prioritising key workers.

Most petrol stations have increased their prices with petrol now costing in excess of £1.38 per litre and diesel more than £1.46 a litre at some stations.

The crisis began in Tunbridge Wells

See more on page 2

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Wednesday September 29 | 2021

this week… Covid rates are highest in county

ALL CHANGE? Political row breaks out after residents demand less councillors following public consultation. P4

but hospital admissions are stable

By Richard Williams

A FEAST FOR THE SENSES: The annual Tunbridge Wells Food & Drink Festival hailed a huge success by organisers. P6

TUNBRIDGE Wells has the highest reported number of cases of Covid-19, according to government figures, although admissions to hospital with the virus remain unchanged from last month.

Latest figures from the Office for National Statistics [ONS] show that the number of people testing positive for coronavirus topped 500 for the seven days to September 23.

The 506 cases gave the Borough the highest rate in Kent per 100,000 head of population at 425.4.

MANAGING Figures show Covid patients at Tunbridge Wells haven’t increased

Increased

RUNNING IN MEMORY: Novice runner takes part in London Marathon to raise money for late childhood friend. P10

The next highest was Tonbridge [380.2] with 504 cases.

Wealden’s rates have increased from 159.2 per 100,00 people to 242.7.

The rate in Tunbridge Wells was also up from the previous seven days when there 376 positive cases with the rate per 100,000 was at just 316.1.

However, the rising rates are so far not translating into increased hospital numbers.

The latest NHS figures show that at Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust there were the same number of patients at the beginning of September with Covid-19, either in Pembury or Maidstone Hospital, as there were at the end of

Southeastern loses franchise for £25million undeclared funding THE operator that runs trains in Tunbridge Wells has been stripped of its franchise, the Department for Transport (DfT) has announced.

Southeastern has been taken over by the government after failing to declare more than £25 million of taxpayer funding.

Elodie Brian, the chief financial officer of transport firm Go-Ahead – the majority owner of the rail firm’s parent company Govia – has resigned.

Conservative MP Huw Merriman said he understands that the Serious Fraud Office ‘will be involved’.

The Government will take over running services

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July this year.

There were 32 patients with Covid-19 on Sept 2 and 33 on July 31, although the number of people on ventilators had increased from 15 at the end of July to 18 on Sept 2.

So far, three deaths have been recorded in September where Covid-19 was mentioned on the death certificate. There were 13 recorded at MTW throughout the month of August.

The figures come as the Kent and Medway

on Southeastern’s network – which runs across south-east England, covering London, Kent, East Sussex and the High Speed 1 line – from October 17, including the Hastings to London line that runs through Tunbridge Wells.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said an investigation by his department identified evidence that since October 2014 the company has not declared more than £25 million of historic taxpayer funding which should have been returned.

Further investigations are being conducted and the Government said it will consider options for more action, including financial penalties.

Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) has begun the winter booster rollout to prevent rising hospital admissions in the colder months.

It is to be given to patients at the same time as the winter flu jab.

Last week, the first letters went out to the 16,200 over 70s in Tunbridge Wells who are to be offered the booster vaccine first.

By November, around 21,000 over 50s will also be offered the booster jab.

Southeastern’s services will be run by the Government Operator of Last Resort, which already oversees London North Eastern Railway and Northern.

The DfT said this will have ‘no impact’ on Southeastern’s staff.

Domestic A brief statement on Southeastern’s website said: “Our passengers will see no change in our day-to-day operations.

“All tickets will remain valid after transfer and new tickets can continue to be purchased in the usual way.”

Southeastern has been running services since 2006, operating one of the busiest networks in the country including the UK’s first domestic high-speed service with Javelin trains.

Call to end panic buying as fuel rationed From front page early last week, with people on social media reporting petrol stations in the town had run dry.

By Thursday [September 23] all of the petrol stations in Tunbridge Wells had run out, forcing many motorists to drive to Tonbridge, causing long queues and gridlock around Sainsbury’s.

By then, petrol giant BP admitted it had to close a ‘small number’ of sites and that the national HGV driver shortage affected its supply chain.

Panic buying saw stations across the UK affected.

At the weekend, when word leaked that a delivery of fuel was due and would go on sale at Sainsbury’s in Tunbridge Wells at 8.30am on Sunday, drivers were advised to start forming a line at 7am to make sure they were able to fill up.

In St John’s the BP and Shell garages were closed by Saturday night although both the Waitrose and M&S food shops at the locations were open.

Supplies Buses have been delayed between Sevenoaks, Paddock Wood and Tunbridge Wells due to the congestion on the roads.

RUNNING ON EMPTY Petrol was sold out across Tunbridge Wells

Late on Monday, Ministers announced that soldiers were being put on standby to deliver fuel, amid concerns that a shortage of tanker drivers was threatening the ability of the oil companies to maintain supplies.

Police say there have been no reports of the petrol crisis causing any criminal related incidents in the Tunbridge Wells area, although other forces have reported forecourt altercations as frustrated motorists took to exchanging blows over fuel.

Social media has been awash with adverse comment about the fuel shortage For the very latest developments on the national fuel crisis see page 12.

MP: ‘SITUATION SHOULD SUBSIDE’ The Times last night approached Tunbridge Wells MP Greg Clark about the fuel crisis.

He told us: “It is very frustrating that so many people have been badly inconvenienced by service stations running out of petrol.

“I spoke to the Transport Secretary on Monday who told me that there is no national shortage of fuel but reports that some petrol stations were running short understandably led people to fill up as a safeguard, leading to long queues at the forecourts and empty pumps.

“As with toilet paper and pasta at the start of the pandemic, the situation should subside as people are able to get the petrol they need and the worry about running out falls away. But this is a big worry right now for everyone who relies on their car or van to get around, especially those who need it for work or childcare.

“I welcome the steps being taken, including the potential use of the Army, to get fuel out of the depots and into petrol stations.”

Wednesday September 29 | 2021

NEWS IN BRIEF

Councillor and former mayor dies after illness A BOROUGH councillor and former mayor has died.

Julian Stanyer, who passed away on Sunday [September 26], had been Councillor for the Speldhurst and Bidborough Ward since 2008, and Mayor of the Borough of Tunbridge Wells between 2014–15.

Thoughts The former chartered surveyor was a member of the Conservative party and resided in Langton Green. He had been ill for some time.

During his time on the Council, Julian served on several committee and had been Chairman of the Joint Transportation Board and Chair of the Twinning Association.

Council Leader Tom Dawlings said: “I was very shocked to hear that Julian had died and my thoughts are with Annie and their family.

He continued: “He brought an urbane and gentlemanly air to Full Council meetings. In the last few months as Leader I have particularly valued his sound good sense; he will be greatly missed on the Council.”

Cllr Stanyer is survived by his wife Annie and their three daughters.

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protesters stepped into the path of oncoming traffic, as happened last week. It carries a maximum penalty of seven years in jail.

Backing the force’s plans, Mr Scott, said: “We need to see people locked up for this.

By Robert Forrester THE Police and Crime Commissioner for Kent has joined calls to give police more powers to jail climate protestors.

Matthew Scott said the protestors needed to be ‘locked up’ after they caused disruption that saw people stuck on the country’s busiest motorway for hours following numerous protests on slip ways and on the main carriageway.

His comments come as Kent Police are looking at tougher sanctions that could see those that block the motorway locked up for seven years.

Prosecute The force, which had to clear the protestors from Junction 3 at Swanley as well as the road leading to the port of Dover last week, is looking to prosecute for public nuisance and wilfully obstructing a highway.

Public nuisance is infrequently used as a

Injunction

JAIL CALL PCC Matthew Scott criminal prosecution but, as a common law offence, can be tried in the crown court with sentences of a year or more.

Police are also investigating using conspiracy to cause danger to road users, an offence that could be used where there is evidence that

Department store slips further into the red as losses double

A TAXI driver from Tunbridge Wells has been jailed for two years and banned from driving after he hit a cyclist while using two mobile phones.

Ian Isted was out cycling to celebrate his fiftieth birthday when Kashrap Patel, of Theodore Close, hit him on the A228 near East Peckham, Maidstone Crown Court heard last week.

The 39-year-old taxi driver’s ‘mindless stupidity’ while using two phones when driving left Mr Isted with fractures to the spine, the court heard.

Patel was jailed for two years and eight months after admitting dangerous driving, perverting the course of justice for attempting to hide the fact he had been on his phones. He was also banned from driving for three years and 10 months.

THE MP for Maidstone and The Weald has criticised a decision to close a school In Cranbrook.

Helen Grant said she strongly opposes the closure of High Weald Academy and believes that the non-selective state secondary school ‘goes to the very heart of social mobility, localism and community’.

The secondary school, which has struggled with low Ofsted ratings for some time as well as very low pupil numbers, is set to close in August next year.

Pupils at the school will be offered a place to join Mascalls Academy in Paddock Wood.

Chaplain celebration CROWBOROUGH Community centre is to play host to a celebration of Charlie Chaplain next month.

Organised by Crowborough Arts, which was set up in the town in 2010, the entertaining ZRI Band will be performing their ‘Adventures with Charlie Chaplin’ at the Community Centre October 9.

More information is available on the group’s website: crowborough-arts.org.uk

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PCC joins calls to jail M25 climate protestors

Taxi driver is jailed

School closure criticised

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“They are going to keep coming back unless they are physically prevented from doing so.”

The news comes as more than 50 Insulate Britain activists were arrested on Monday after they defied an injunction on protests on the M25 by targeting the motorway for the sixth time.

All 54 protesters were released from custody on Monday night as police and National Highways, which took out the injunction, sought to establish how many had breached the injunction.

It will be up to the highways agency to pursue them for contempt of court, which can carry a jail sentence of up to two years.

Matthew Scott writes regularly for the Times.

You can read his latest column on page 18.

It had reported a £49million loss in January 2020 – before the pandemic struck – and as soon as the Covid crisis hit, the group put in place a two-year secured borrowing facility as a contingency.

Since then, Fenwick has claimed £9million in furlough support and £8.7million in business rates relief to offset some of the damage from the pandemic, as well as cutting costs by making 300 redundancies.

Footfall levels have also yet to return to prepandemic levels.

The Covid crisis saw Debenhams collapse and John Lewis close a number of outlets, including pulling out of Tunbridge Wells.

Profitable

STRUGGLES Fenwick has not weathered the pandemic well

By Richard Williams THE owners of Royal Victoria Place’s [RVP] flagship department store have reported that losses have risen to £112million, with the chain blaming dwindling footfall numbers.

Fenwick has a number of department stores across the UK, including the Tunbridge Wells RVP branch, a Bond Street site as well as its original Newcastle store.

During the pandemic the upmarket chain was forced to close shops and write down their value

as footfall plummeted.

Sales for the year to the end of January halved from £323.7million to £140.5million, Fenwick said last week, while pre-tax losses have more than doubled from £47million to £112million.

The 139-year-old chain, owned by the Fenwick family, had to shut its nine shops during lockdown, including its largest Bond Street store, which closed for the first time in its history despite having operated throughout the blitz.

The department store had been struggling even before the pandemic hit the UK.

Fenwick has insisted that despite its struggles the family business is ‘not up for sale’, according to its chief executive John Edgar, although there were talks with an overseas buyer before the Covid crisis.

Mr Edgar, 50, who was brought in last year by the chain’s owners, said the reason Fenwick had not weathered the pandemic very well was that its online business had been ‘fledgling and tiny’ and had been shut down entirely at the start of the crisis by the previous management, which included the former Co-op boss Richard Pennycook.

Mr Edgar, who came to the group from Selfridges and Harrods, said that about 80 per cent of Fenwick’s ranges were now sold online and that he wanted its ecommerce business to represent a fifth of group revenues.

He said department stores could offer a range as broad as online rivals as they ‘are the original marketplaces’.

Securitas £53million robber to be freed after repaying £1 A SOUTHBOROUGH man who has served fifteen years in jail for his part in the Securitas robbery in Tonbridge is set to walk free after repaying just £1 of the stolen money.

Lea Rusha, 48, was one of seven men jailed following the 2006 raid, which was Britain’s biggest robbery, netting the crooks more than £53million.

The money was taken when Rusha and the rest of the 14-strong balaclava-clad gang stormed the depot and used a shotgun and an AK-47 assault rifle to threaten the staff.

Seven of the men involved in the raid have never been caught. Police recovered around £21million of the stolen money but the rest, more

than £30million, is still missing.

Former hod carrier and father-of-two, Rusha, is now up for parole after serving a minimum 15 years of his life sentence handed to him by the Old Bailey in 2006, according to the Daily Mirror.

Freed The newspaper says the convicted armed robber can be freed despite only repaying £1 from the millions missing from the raid.

It is the minimum amount he needs to pay to abide by a 2010 confiscation order.

In 2016, Lee Murray, described as the mastermind behind the raid and his ‘enforcer’

Paul Allen were both freed for their part in the robbery despite handing back just £420 of £1.9million he is thought to have pocketed.

Rusha and Murray, both experienced cage fighters, posed as a police officers to abduct depot manager Colin Dixon, his wife and their child during the raid.

Rusha used prosthetics and a fake ginger beard as a disguise.

He had claimed he was at his Southborough home with a friend eating a curry on the night of the robbery, but at his trial was unable to explain the discovery at his home of balaclavas, a nightvision scope, a revolver, shotgun cartridges, and a surveillance tape of the Dixons’ house.

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Parties split on way forward as public calls for fewer councillors Half of voters told the Council they thought there should be fewer councillors, with 40 per cent thinking there should be the same number, and just 10 per cent believing the borough needed more elected members.

However, an overwhelming 62 per cent requested the Council keeps the currently election cycle where the chamber is elected in thirds three years in every four.

Proposed

By Richard Williams A POLITICAL row has broken out on the future makeup of Tunbridge Wells Borough Council [TWBC] after a public consultation shows most residents want fewer councillors.

Currently, the council, which is under no overall control, has 48 members who represent the Borough’s 50,000 voters in 20 wards.

As the Times reported in July, the Local Government Boundary Commission for England (LGBCE), wrote to the council in December

calling for a review after discovering a disparity between the number of electors and councillors at TWBC. Some wards have three councillors, others two, and the LGBCE say the authority needs to have an equal number of councillors especially as it is using a voting cycle of elections once a year for three years and then none on the fourth year.

Following a public consultation to hear the electorate’s views, the Council has been urged by the public to cut councillor numbers but retain the current voting system.

The Conservatives, who are running the council as a minority party, are proposing the Borough is split into 36 smaller wards, with one councillor in each, which would see councillor numbers cut by a quarter.

The Tories also want elections to occur every four years in an ‘all out’ system where all 36 councillors are elected at the same time.

They move to an ‘all out’ system could save the authority up to £100,000 every four years due to having to hold fewer elections.

Deputy Leader, Cllr David Scott, who sits on the General Purposes Committee told the Times that the changes proposed by the Tory group would reduce costs, but also make elected members more accountable.

He said: “It would be more efficient, people would know exactly who their councillor was.

Wednesday September 29 | 2021

Currently they may have two or three councillors form different parties.”

Opposition parties are not convinced, with the Liberal Democrats, Labour and Alliance all wishing to maintain the current system of election by thirds.

Cllr James Rands from the party, said: “We are in favour of retaining the current system as it keeps the regular engagement with the electorate.

“Additionally for smaller parties like Labour and the Tunbridge Wells Alliance all outs would be difficult to field candidates in all seats—in fact the Tories would struggle too.”

Cllr David Hayward from the Tunbridge Wells Alliance said his party also wanted to retain elections in three out of four years.

He said: “Had we had all-out elections this Borough would be in Special Measures sporting a fenced off lake with piles sticking out where Calverley grounds once was.

“The Alliance are for thirds to continue and not because we can’t get enough candidates for all-outs, as is a suggestion.”

Cllr Hugo Pound from Labour added: “The Labour Group of Councillors has the same view as a majority of residents, which is to retain elections by thirds.

“This provides residents with a voice every year which is more democratic and responsive to local issues.””

Last week, the Council’s General Purposes Committee met to discuss the issue, and is recommending the Council cuts elected member numbers by six to 42.

An extraordinary meeting of the Full Council will discuss the future makeup of the chamber at TWBC on October 6.

New community centre will not be knock out for cricket matches FIRST SOCIAL HOUSES BUILT IN TWO YEARS

By Robert Forrester PADDOCK Wood is to have a new 300-seat community centre that was finally approved by the Borough Council last week more than seven years after the development was first proposed.

Paddock Wood Town Council [PWTC] has been trying to build the £3million multi-use facility that will include a 40-place nursery, hall, car parking, since 2014, when they first earmarked a site on the edge of Memorial Park just outside the town centre.

Parking The plans were subject to stiff opposition by some residents who formed a protest group to block the new centre.

The Friends of Memorial Field claimed the building will deprive the area of green space used to play cricket and would cause parking issues in the town.

Over the years the campaigners have raised petitions, held and won a ‘non-binding’ local referendum, and applied to Kent County Council to designate the field a Village Green, although the application was rejected.

Sport England also objected to the plans, telling planners that the town council had ‘not

APPROVED How the new community centre will look demonstrated that the part of the playing field to be lost – 11 per cent of the total – is surplus to requirements’.

But last week, the planning committee at Tunbridge Wells voted to grant permission for the centre, subject to final agreement by the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government.

The minister has to give final approval due to the objection by Sport England.

However, leader of PWTC, Meryl Flashman, told the Times: “I can 100 per cent assure you cricket will still be played on Memorial Field. We are going to ensure we get the funding for new wicket.

“We are also going to create two new tennis

Black Deer announces more acts for next year A MUSIC festival that was twice cancelled due to the pandemic has announced a swathe of new acts for next year’s come-back event.

Black Deer 2022 is scheduled to take place at Eridge Park, between Tunbridge Wells and Crowborough, on June 17-19 next year.

Delayed It was cancelled at the last minute in June when the government delayed the easing of Covid

restrictions. Black Deer 2020 was also cancelled due to the pandemic.

Having already announced the festival will host Irish folk legend Van Morrison, as well as Wilco and The Waterboys along with many others, the organisers have also confirmed that Imelda May, Ward Thomas, Courtney Marie Andrews, Shovels & Rope, Shooter Jennings and The Cuban Brothers will also be joining the line-up.

Tickets are available from blackdeerfestival.com

courts. The three courts there now have been closed for some time for safety reasons.”

She added that the centre arrives at a time of expansion for Paddock Wood, which has been earmarked for thousands of new homes in the Borough Council’s local plan.

She continued: “I am absolutely delighted that at last we have got our planning permission.

“There has been a lot of hard work behind the scenes at the Town Council by both councillors and members of the public who have been involved.”

Construction should start early next year, and the centre could be open early 2022.

PLANS for the first new social-rent housing in Paddock Wood for two years have been proposed by Tunbridge Wells Borough Council.

The Council will pay £365,000 to developer Town and County Housing for ten flats in the new Hop Pocket development.

Social housing rents are between £94 and £111 per week while affordable housing has rents between £94 and £111 per week.

Deputy Leader of TWBC and Conservative Councillor for Paddock Wood West Matthew Bailey said: “It won’t solve the shortage of social-rent property but is certainly a step in the right direction.”

The flats would mark the first new social-rent housing completed in the Borough in two years.

Derek Boyle, Co-secretary of the Paddock Wood Labour Party, said the new flats represented a ‘fraction of the current need’.

He told the Times: “According to the Council’s own report on this development, the Borough needs 950 social rented homes now, and so we call upon the Borough to provide long-term financial investment into increasing their own social rented housing stock further.”

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All in good taste Last weekend’s annual Tunbridge Wells Food and Drink Festival was a huge success says Eileen Leahy DESPITE a dreary start to the weekend hundreds of people still made it along to this year’s Tunbridge Wells Food and Drink Festival.

Held in Calverley Grounds on Saturday and Sunday (September 25 and 26) there was a smorgasbord of foodie treats and artisan drinks to enjoy at the free-to-attend event which welcomed more than 75 specialist producers,

cafes and restaurants from the local area. In addition to being able to shop and sample produce from the likes of Saint John’s Yard, The Shuffle House and the Lemon Grove, visitors were also treated to numerous cooking demos and expert foodie talks. Organiser Steve Wood and his team hailed the festival as an ‘awesome’ weekend…

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Wednesday September 29 | 2021

PHOTOS: Sarah Bond and Laura Flannigan

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Making Taxof Digital (MTD) has beenthe hitting the employed businesses as wellhave landlords.

In place the usual Q&A, following are some of and thepartnership support packages that headlines recently.

MTD is the Government’s initiative The criteria for inclusion will be those with business been made available to help businesses deal with the Coronavirus: to require all businesses to keep their records digitally,

Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme: HMRC will using appropriate accounting software, and to report reimburse 80% of wages paid to workers who have be their results via software integration with HMRC’s laid off due to the coronavirus crisis. This is capped at systems rather than manual entry. The aim is to £2.5k per employee per month. improve the quality of record keeping and reduce

VAT Deferral: Thelead deferral willfrequent apply from 20 March errors.

It will also to more reporting for to 30 June 2020.

There is moving a lack oftoclarity on the Gov. accounting information, quarterly from uk website and we are interpreting this as payments annual reporting. due by 30 rather thanregistered quarters ended 30 June.

It will beJune familiar to VAT businesses with turnover above VAT threshold £85k as where digital This means thatthe May quarter VATofReturns, reportingishas requirement since April 2019, payment duebeen by 7aJuly, will still be payable as and this will extend to all VAT registered businesses from normal. Any payments deferred will become payable April 2022.

When this was introduced, whilst it required by the end of the tax year (31/3/21 Company or 5/4/21 some changes, the impact was somewhat mitigated as Unincorporated) businesses were generally required to report VAT

Income Tax Deferral: The self-assessment second quarterly anyway. payment on account, due by 31 July 2020, will be It was recently announced that this would be deferred to 31 January 2021. No penalties or interest extended to Income Tax which would include selfwill be charged.

income (turnover plus gross rental income) over £10k Cash Grants: A grant of £10k will automatically be per annum. The aim was for it to commence from April provided to all businesses currently entitled to Small 2023, but the level of negative response has caused a Business Rates Relief. A grant of £25k can be claimed rethink and it has been pushed back to April 2024. for businesses in the retail, hospitality or leisure industry In general, I believe the move to better and more up if their rateable value is between £15k and £51K. to date accounting records can only be a positive thing.

Business Rateshandle Holiday: There your is a 12-month business Having a good on where business is, and rates is holiday 20 to March forwant all retail, what driving(April the results, is vital 21) if you to make hospitalitybusiness and leisure businesses in England. informed decisions.

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Local News

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Leisure group turns to movie making to beat staff shortages

By Richard Williams A LEISURE group faced with recruitment issues caused by the national shortage of workers in the hospitality industry, is attempting to appeal to job seekers with a series of short films.

Tunbridge Wells based Elite Leisure Collection (ELC), which runs One Warwick Park Hotel, Salomons Estate, Bewl Water and is also owner of One Media, which publishes the Times, is facing recruitment issues for its hospitality businesses.

Data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) show that vacancies grew by 269,300 (35.2 per cent) between June and August this year, with the hospitality sector reporting the

‘Traditional recruitment methods aren’t having the impact required, so we needed to get creative’ largest increase rising by 57,600 (75.4 per cent).

The ONS commented that ‘labour demand has increased rapidly while staff availability has fallen’ with the hospitality sector currently having the highest ratio of vacancies.

A number of restaurants, bars and other hospitality businesses in the town have struggled to recruit enough staff since lockdown ended earlier this year.

Unable to recruit using the normal routes, such as job adverts in the newspaper and using employment agencies ELC is targeting the younger sector of the market with short films, starring current members of staff, to help fill its

Wednesday September 29 | 2021

Recruiter opts for video CVs

A TUNBRIDGE Wells recruitment agency is turning to video CVs to cope with the sheer demand for vacancies as they face their busiest time in their ten-year history.

Neil Simmons from TN Recruits said ‘vacancies are still coming in thick and fast across all divisions’.

He added: “To cope with the influx in vacancies we have adopted new methods of finding candidates.

Exciting

LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION Shooting the recruitment films vacancies and attract the resources it needs.

The short films, which last around two minutes, were created by West Kent based video production company Snelsky Studios, and will be distributed across a variety of social media and online channels supported

by Google and Facebook advertising campaigns.

Venues It is hoped the mediums will help the group engage with a younger online demographic.

Nick Moore, Operations Director of ELC, comments: “At a time when bookings are returning to pre-pandemic levels, like most restaurants and hotels, we’re struggling to fill some vital vacancies across our venues.

“Traditional recruitment methods aren’t having the impact required, so we needed to get creative to appeal to our target recruitment market.

“The team at Snelsky Studio really understood the brief and have helped us create some engaging and effective content which we’re confident will help with our recruiting”.

A key aim of the films is to creatively illustrate the variety of career opportunities within the local hospitality sector, whilst positioning Elite Leisure Collection as a place all staff are supported and can develop to their full potential.

The films are released at the same time ELC have completed a salary review of all roles to ensure their staff are in the top 25 per cent of pay bands, for the local hospitality sector.

“It is very exciting times in the world of recruitment, the pandemic has shaken up our industry sector for the better and implemented a number of efficiencies which were probably inevitable but made easier by the situation we found ourselves in.

“Video technology is a huge step forwards, our clients no longer have to just accept a CV. “If agreed, they can receive a short video of a candidate talking through their skills, experiences and strengths which proves to be a huge time saver in the interview process and our clients love it. It’s the way our industry is going and will surely become the norm.”

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Wednesday September 29 | 2021

Engineer gives warmth to church congregation

By Robert Forrester PARISHONERS at a Tunbridge Wells church will be kept warm this winter thanks to a member of their congregation.

Jonathan Barker led a project to replace the boiler at St John’s Church through his employer’s Donate a Day scheme, which gives employees two paid days leave each year to work on voluntary projects in the community.

The engineer, who normally works for UK Power Networks, spent most of his time working in the property’s underground boiler room.

projects will reduce our carbon footprint and save money.”

A local contractor installed three new boilers with low emissions and high efficiency, managed by a control system that can fire one, two or all three boilers, according to weather conditions. The

scheme is expected to cut gas use by at least 20 per cent.

Phil Jones, the church’s operations manager, said: “We are extremely grateful to Jonathan for applying his expertise to the project and to UK Power Networks for providing the time for him to help out.”

INSPIRING Johnathan Barker outside St John’s Church

Community He said: “The main church seats 700 and is used for church and community events, so it was important to find the right solution and deliver it reliably, before the start of the heating season.

“A lot of my substation protection and control system commissioning skills were used on this project and it has been a great opportunity to use UK Power Networks’ experience in a different setting to benefit the local community.

“Last year the volunteer scheme allowed me to replace the church’s lighting with a new LED-based scheme which will slash electricity use by over £1,000 annually, so both

BID revises town’s tourist map THE group responsible for promoting the town centre in Tunbridge Wells has revamped the town’s official tourist map.

The RTW Together Business Improvement District [BID] created the maps several years ago with the help of

local illustrator Elaine Gill.

The brochure, which is free, has now been updated to include fresh information, photographs of the town centre and to better reflect the BID’s refreshed branding.

The map also generates work for BID member Minute Man Press of Camden Road, who undertake the printing.

Kate Finch of the Tourist Information Centre located on The Pantiles has already been providing the maps to visitors.

Inspiration

MAPPING SUCCESS The new map being shown off by Maria of Il Vesuvio Italian restaurant, who is also distributing the new guides

She said: “The Tourist Information Centre attracts visitors often looking for a useful map and an attractive souvenir, and the newly designed picture town centre map from Royal Tunbridge Wells Together is the perfect complement to the other local information that we stock.

“They are proving to be very popular with tourists and locals alike!”

She continued: “The new RTW Together maps give a real focus to both the occasional town visitor, and also those seeking inspiration as our town goes through the post-Covid transition.”

Local News

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Wednesday September 29 | 2021

Markerstudy staff Novice runner set to take on a raise more than marathon challenge in memory £4,500 for Mind of his late childhood friend mental health DESPITE the majority of people still working remotely from home, more than 3,500 Markerstudy employees raised £4,746 for the charity Mind as part of the group’s annual ‘Markerstudy Day’.

On September 10, employees were encouraged to celebrate the group’s 20th anniversary and this year’s health and wellbeing theme by wearing green and taking part in online quizzes, fitness classes, cake bakes, picnics and virtual bingo, to name just a few of the fundraising activities.

“We have superb teams who worked hard to make the fundraiser a success” Lizzie Smith-Foreman, Director of Marketing and Communications, and Chair of the Group’s Motiv8 charity Committee, said: “With colleagues based across the UK, and many still working from home, it was considerably more challenging to ensure everyone felt part of this special day.

Support “But we have superb teams behind the scenes who worked incredibly hard to make it a success.

It’s been a difficult 18 months for many, and it’s more important than ever that we continue to look out for each other, and support our communities and the environment.”

The staff’s fundraising total of £2,373 was doubled by the Board of Directors, thus reaching a grand total of £4,746 for Mind mental health.

LOCAL financial adviser Ross Jefferies, who once hated running, is steeling himself to tackle the London Marathon this Sunday [October 3] to raise funds for a charity created after the tragic loss of his childhood friend Taylor Mitchell.

As a relative running novice who only took to his heels after the first lockdown hit, Ross, ofTunbridge Wells firm Panoramic Wealth Management Ltd, was astonished when his against-the-odds application to enter the famous race was accepted.

He immediately decided to use the opportunity to raise funds for Crowborough-based charity Taylor Made Dreams, which was created in memory of his footballing teammate Taylor Mitchell, who died in 2011 aged just 15.

Ambitions Former Skinners’ School pupil Ross explained how his marathon challenge came about: “At Skinners’ I played rugby, cricket and football for the respective first teams, but hated running – certainly long distances.

“However, I forced myself into the habit throughout the first lockdown, and entered the 2021 London Marathon feeling fully confident that the odds were stacked against me actually receiving a place. With only about four per cent of ballot entrants being successful in a usual year I thought there was next to no chance of me being accepted.

“Queue the cold sweats when I opened the email from the organisers saying: ‘Congratulations’! With 26.2 miles ahead of me, my thoughts turned towards which charity I could raise money for, and my mind kept turning to Taylor Made Dreams, a charity set up

to honour Taylor Mitchell, who was a childhood friend through playing football for Jarvis Brook.

My father, Gary Jefferies, was our manager for many years. Now our family business, Panoramic Wealth, will continue to support Taylor Made dreams in the future.”

The charity enables children with life-limiting illnesses to achieve their dreams and provides holistic therapeutic support for their families.

“The primary aim is to assist in the creation of a unique ‘Bucket List’, which is ‘Taylor Made’ to meet the specific needs and desires of the individual child,” explains Ross.

“I started with the goal of raising £1,000, but increased it to £1,500 and have since moved it up to £2,000.

“The current total, plus Gift Aid, sits at £3,130.25, which I am incredibly proud of.”

If you would like to donate, search for Ross Jefferies at: uk.virginmoneygiving.com

Visitors’ shock as a Christmas tree pops up on The Pantiles

PEOPLE passing through The Pantiles this month were astonished to see a Christmas Tree being erected outside the Chalybeate Spring, as well as polar bears, a reindeer and Father Christmas decorating a long shop window.

But it wasn’t the town getting festive four months too early. The Pantiles was transformed for the filming of a Christmas advert for the online retail firm Very.

Festive On Twitter, one resident called Debs expressed her shock by saying: “You’ve got to be kidding me! They’re puttng a Christmas tree up!”

She later Tweeted: “OK, stand down everyone.

Apparently they’re just filming the Very Christmas ad!”

Before the filming, the Tunbridge Wells & Rusthall Commons Conservators posted an alert on Facebook: “Please be aware of a huge number of vehicles, trucks, catering vans and welfare vans using the car park on Major York’s Road (Fairground to lots of us!) tomorrow (Saturday 18th September). They are associated with the filming of a commercial on the Pantiles.”

Wednesday September 29 | 2021

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Welcome £65k comeback for big hospice run HOSPICE in the Weald received a major fundraising boost of £65,993 as it welcomed 669 runners back to Tunbridge Wells for the first large-scale event it has held since COVID-19 restrictions were lifted.

Supporters took on the 5K and 10K routes on on Sunday September 19, after a year’s break in 2020 due to the pandemic.

The hospice’s Head of Fundraising, Louise Wardle, said: “We were so delighted to have been able to bring our supporters together today and to be able to cheer them on.

ON THE RUN Participants in this year’s Hospice 5 and 10K runs

In Memory “The hospice remained open throughout the pandemic and we are so proud of our nurses for delivering outstanding care, no matter the circumstances. It is fundraising support like this that makes this possible.

“Thank you to our runners and supporters, and thank you to Savills Tunbridge Wells for sponsoring the event.”

Many runners took part in memory of loved ones cared for by the hospice.

Annie Lynch, from Tunbridge Wells, ran with her children William and Millie in memory of her husband, Matt. The youngsters completed the 5K route and helped their mum on her way to raising over £2,000 for the hospice.

The organisers of the Royal Tunbridge Wells Parkrunners, probably one of the largest groups

of participants, commented afterwards: “Well done to everyone who took part in today’s Hospice in the Weald events… it was great to see so many of you there.”

Sofia Baguley, of Sofia’s Colombian Kitchen, Tunbridge Wells, runs every year with her family, who are included on the left of the picture with Sofia in the No 75 shirt.

Sofia said: “We started running the Hospice 10k around five years ago after a friend and neighbour was cared for by them in his final

days. Running and raising £610 for such a worthy cause this year felt really good!”

Important And regular parkrunner Erica Jones, pictured on the right in the No 314 shirt, said: “This was my third hospice 10k run.

“I love the atmosphere and how happy everyone is, and it’s great to be able to do my bit to help raise money for such an important local

charity.”

Hospice in the Weald cares for people with a terminal illness and those important to them in West Kent and part of East Sussex, and remained open throughout the pandemic, caring for COVID-positive patients and helping to ease pressure on local NHS hospitals.

The hospice is not part of the NHS and needs to raise over £7million every year.

The run is an important part of their essential annual fundraising.

Blooming marvellous

By Sarah Bond

FLOWER POWER: Hever Castle’s Head Gardener Neil Miller (centre) with his winning horticultural team

ONCE again, Royal Tunbridge Wells in Bloom has achieved glittering results in the annual South and South East in Bloom horticulture competition.

After the judges visited the area in July to see this year’s entries, the 2021 event brought another major Gold for the town, which also won the Large Town category.

Dunorlan Park, Grosvenor and Hilbert Park and Calverley Grounds were all Gold award winners, and Dunorlan Park also achieved overall winner of its Large Park category. Other green spaces in the town, including the Woodbury Park and Tunbridge Wells Cemeteries, were also

recognised as worthy of award recognition.

Councillor Jane March, Tunbridge Wells Borough Council’s portfolio holder for Culture and Leisure, said: “These are fantastic results and certainly well deserved.

Achievement “Our staff, contractor and especially the volunteers and Friends’ groups have put in time and energy over the past very testing year, and it gives us a tremendous boost to be recognised as a town that appreciates green space.”

Peter Every, Parks Team Leader for the Council, added: “Over the past year we have seen the importance of our parks and green open spaces to

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the wellbeing of our communities.

“Community involvement plays an important role. It’s thanks to the support and involvement of our volunteers and Friends’ groups that we have managed to achieve success in these awards.”

Hever Castle, near Edenbridge, also won a hat trick of accolades, including the gardens winning Gold for the seventh year in a row, and Head Gardener Neil Miller being given an Outstanding Achievement Award.

Anyone interested in becoming involved in Tunbridge Wells’ greenery can find details under Friends of the parks and open spaces at: tunbridgewells.gov.uk

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National News

Wednesday September 29 | 2021

Ministers rally around PM following Baker’s union Labour ‘tentative’ signs fuel crisis is easing leaves after wage row MINISTERS have rejected criticism that Boris Johnson failed to mobilise the Army quickly enough as the fuel crisis showed signs it was abating yesterday [Tuesday].

The Government announced on Monday it was putting troops on standby to drive petrol tankers as filling stations in many parts of the country continued to run dry.

Boris Johnson has said the situation on the filling station forecourts is ‘stabilising’ as he urged motorists to go about their business in the normal way.

Following days of chaos, with long queues for petrol and stations running dry, the Prime Minister said he understood the frustration felt by drivers as they struggled to fill up.

However he said that the indications from the industry were that the situation was beginning to improve with supplies returning to normal levels.

“On the forecourts the situation is stabilising and people should be confident and just go about their business in the normal way,” he said.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said earlier that ordering troops to begin preparing to take on deliveries was the 18th separate measure take by the Government since the spring to alleviate pressure on supplies.

Pressure However he acknowledged that Brexit had ‘no doubt’ been a factor in the current problems with a continuing shortage of lorry drivers.

Mr Shapps said there were the first ‘very tentative’ signs that the situation was beginning to stabilise with more fuel reaching filling stations.

He admitted, however, that it would take time before the pressure on the forecourts began to ease.

THE bakers’ union is to disaffiliate from Labour, saying the party has ‘travelled away’ from the aims and hopes of working-class organisations.

Members of the Bakers, Food & Allied Workers Union (BFAWU) took the decision on Tuesday, accusing Labour of engaging in a ‘factional internal war led by the leadership’.

Their decision comes as Sir Keir Starmer faces a fresh battle with Labour’s left amid accusations that the resignation of Andy McDonald from the shadow cabinet was an act of ‘ planned sabotage’ by critics of the party leader.

Sabotage

“There are now the first very tentative signs of stabilisation in forecourt storage which won’t be reflected in the queues as yet,” he said.

“But it is the first time that we have seen more petrol actually in the petrol stations.

“As the industry said yesterday, the sooner we can all return to our normal buying habits, the sooner the situation will return to normal.”

The chairman of the Petrol Retailers Association (PRA), Brian Madderson, said that while demand was down from the “extreme” levels seen at the weekend, it was still “well above the norm”.

Filling stations were continuing to run dry with

some of the big groups down to around 50 per cent of their sites.

“There is still a problem out there. There is still a bit of panic buying, there is still queuing but we are hopeful that we are seeing the first signs of a move towards equilibrium later in the week,” he told reporters.

Meanwhile, ministers continued to face calls to give priority access to fuel supplies to healthcare staff and other essential workers.

Dr David Wrigley, deputy chairman of the British Medical Association, warned essential services could be hit if staff were unable to get to work because they could not fill up.

The Labour conference will vote on a motion from the Unite union calling for a £15-an-hour minimum wage – the issue which led to Mr McDonald dramatically quitting Sir Keir’s team, claiming he had been ordered to argue against the hike in pay rates.

The resignation has overshadowed Labour’s efforts to set out crime and health policies at the gathering in Brighton.

Shadow Scottish secretary Ian Murray said: “We’re not quite sure why he resigned yesterday, he seems to have said one thing and written another.

“That looks as if it might be a planned sabotage of conference, rather than it being about any principle.”

Mr McDonald said he quit as shadow employment rights secretary after being ordered to argue against a national minimum wage of £15 per hour and against statutory sick pay at the living wage ahead of Tuesday’s vote.

“This is something I could not do,” he said.

Pride In Our Success

The Skinners’ Kent Academy Open Evening Tuesday 5 October 2021 4pm-7.30pm Join us for tours of the Academy, meet with students, staff and participate in a range of educational activities.

Parking is available in our car park on Blackhurst Lane.

Booking is not required for this event.

FOR EVEN MORE NEWS VISIT: timeslocalnews.co.uk

Wednesday September 29 | 2021

Eastbourne man to deny murder of primary teacher A TAKEAWAY delivery driver from Eastbourne is to deny he murdered a primary school teacher, a court has heard.

Koci Selamaj, 36, appeared before at Willesden Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday where he was remanded in custody ahead of an appearance at the Old Bailey on Thursday.

His lawyer told the court his client would be making a not-guilty plea to a charge of murdering 28-year-old Sabina Nessa.

The primary school teacher was attacked as she walked through Cator Park in Kidbrooke, south-east London, on her way to meet a friend on September 17.

ACCUSED Koci Selamaj as he appeared in court and [below] Sabina Nessa

remove his mask, speaking only to confirm his name, address and date of birth during the hearing, which lasted for about two minutes in front of a packed press bench and public gallery.

Asked by District Judge Denis Brennan for an indication of his plea, Selamaj’s lawyer Aidan Harvey, said: “I have indicated on the form it will be a not-guilty plea.”

Liverpool goalscoring legend Roger Hunt dies FORMER Liverpool FC striker Roger Hunt has died, the club has announced.

Hunt, the club’s second-highest goalscorer of all time with 285 goals in 492 appearances, passed away peacefully at home following a long illness on Monday evening. He was 83.

A World Cup winner with England in 1966, Hunt joined the Reds from nearby amateur team Stockton Heath as a 20-year-old in July 1958 and spent 11-and-a-half hugely successful years at Anfield.

His overall tally of 285 goals for the Reds stood as a record until Ian Rush surpassed it in 1992.

No player has ever scored more league goals for Liverpool than Hunt’s total of 244, however.

Hunt made his debut in a 2-0 win over Scunthorpe United at Anfield in September 1959 – and, naturally, marked the occasion with a goal.

STRIKER Roger Hunt

Under the management of Bill Shankly, who arrived at the club a few months later, Hunt would form a fearsome strike partnership with Ian St John and went on to win the Second Division title in 1962, two First Division titles in 1964 and 1966 and the club’s long-awaited first FA Cup in 1965.

NEWS IN BRIEF

Thunberg mocks PM’s speech CLIMATE activist Greta Thunberg has mocked the Prime Minister by quoting parts of his speeches on climate change and adding ‘blah, blah, blah’.

Giving a speech at the Youth4Climate summit in Milan, Italy, the Swedish activist said the words of ‘our so-called leaders’ had led to ‘no action’.

The 18-year-old used soundbites from speeches by Boris Johnson such as’build back better’ before dismissing them as ‘blah, blah, blah’.

During her speech on Tuesday, she said: “This is

not about some expensive, politically correct, green act of bunny hugging.

“Build back better, blah blah blah. Green economy, blah blah blah. Net zero by 2050, blah blah blah. Climate neutral, blah blah blah.

“This is all we hear from our so-called leaders.

“Words that sound great, but so far have led to no action.”

Bin driver who killed misled GP A HEARING into the Glasgow bin lorry disaster that claimed the lives of six people has heard how the driver at the time had misled his doctor.

Glasgow City Council is suing First Bus, the former employers

of the bin lorry driver Harry Clarke, over the job reference the firm provided.

Mr Clarke collapsed while at the wheel of a bin lorry in the city centre in December 2014.

The vehicle hit pedestrians killing six people and injuring more than a dozen others.

The hearing heard Mr Clarke’s GP, Dr Gerard McKaig, had been misled on the driver’s medical history prior to the crash.

He told his GP that he fainted in a warm canteen building in April 2010, but it later transpired that Mr Clarke had lost consciousness behind the wheel of a stationary bus.

The hearing continues.

NEWS

CALVERMONT NATIONAL PROPERTY & DESTINATION MARKETING IN THE HEART OF ROYAL TUNBRIDGE WELLS

S

Park The body of Ms Nessa, who taught a year one class at Rushey Green Primary School in Catford, also in south-east London, was found nearly 24 hours later covered with leaves near a community centre in the park.

Selamaj, who is understood to have been working as a food delivery driver in Eastbourne but is originally from Albania, appeared calm as he stood in the glass dock, wearing a grey prisonissue tracksuit and blue facemask.

Accompanied by two guards, he did not

National News

SEPTEMBER 2021, ROYAL TUNBRIDGE WELLS

et up by a nimble team of communication experts with over 30 years’ international experience, Calvermont delivers 360-degree destination marketing services for local and national clients from its central Tunbridge Wells hub.

Established from a base between Calverley Park and Claremont Road a few years ago, Calvermont has recently relocated to the heart of Tunbridge Wells on Mount Pleasant. The fast-growing company has built a substantial black book and trusted reputation, with clients across the country, including London, Oxford, Manchester, as well as many closer to home in Kent and Sussex.

National clients range from the Government, to estate investors and agents, asset managers, house builders, hoteliers, and town centre managers. Local clients include charity Hospice in the Weald, providing palliative care for adults and soon young people aged 0-18; Turkey Mill, a 20-acre office destination outside of Maidstone and architectural firm SouthStudio, with upcoming developments here and in London.

Calvermont manages brand and communications for every stage of the property lifecycle, from design to planning, consultation to development, marketing to move-in, enlivenment and engagement. The

experienced team listens and responds accordingly to devise transparent marketing strategies and effective communication, which garner trust and deliver results.

Whether an architect, consultant, estate agent or other property professional, promoting your ambition, brand and expertise early is key to winning business from the get go. Perhaps you are seeking planning, ready to launch to market, or ready for a refresh - whatever your objective, a trusted marketing advisor can be essential for area intel, relevant positioning, and targeted profile.

Client Cluttons, a strategic property consultancy said: “From day one Calvermont has added value to the Cluttons brand by positioning our people as experts in their relevant fields. In the last week alone, we have had coverage in Property Week, EG, The Sunday Times, Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday, with insightful quotes positioning Cluttons as a strategic property consultancy.”

So, if you are into property, no matter what stage of the lifecycle, or want to promote a scheme or destination, get in touch. Calvermont is a communication agency designed to combat challenges and create opportunities, both locally and further afield.

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Education

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Wednesday September 29 | 2021

EDUCATION Times Top marks for college’s technological advancement The Oaks Specialist College in Tonbridge has just been awarded a special place on a stateof-the-art Microsoft program to enhance its digital learning. The Times finds out more…

TARGETED LEARNING Digital teaching will be improved

THE Oaks Specialist College in Tonbridge says it is ‘delighted’ to have been accepted on the Microsoft Showcase School program.

The Incubator path of the Microsoft Showcase School Program partners like-minded leaders from around the world in a multi-year collaboration to design, develop, and deliver positive impact in teaching and learning and on students’ future readiness for independence and employability.

They added: “We are also able to congratulate one of our teacher/tutors who has recently been awarded the prestigious Microsoft Innovative Educator Expert status (MIEE). MIEEs connect with a global, professional learning community of other educators who are pushing the boundaries of what a classroom looks and feels like; constantly learning, growing, and working together to change students’ lives and build a better world.”

“The world is changing faster than ever - as are the skills students will need to be life-ready when they leave us”

Excited

The program aims to bring leadership, learning, technology, and infrastructure together; building safe, secure, personalised learning that inspires and empowers learners – who are all 19-25 year olds with a learning disability.

Microsoft Showcase Schools is an elite global group laying the foundation for education best practice which can inform schools and colleges around the world.

“We are delighted with this news. The Oaks Specialist College is one of only three specialist settings in the U.K. to gain entry to this group and is the only one for post-16 learners with learning difficulties or disabilities,” a spokesperson for the school told the Times.

Resourceful and dedicated, MIEEs relish the role of change agent, and work to achieve excellence in education using Microsoft technologies coupled with their innovative teaching practices.

“We are privileged and excited to have our very own MIEE as the Oaks Specialist College continues to strive to be the best that we can be for each of our learners,” added the spokesperson.

“The world is changing faster than ever – as are the skills students will need to be life-ready by the time they leave us.

“Our MIEE will work with all our staff focusing on delivering personalised learning experiences that help enable meaningful, practical learning outcomes, and preparing our learners exceptionally well for a full and productive life after they leave The Oaks Specialist College.”

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A modern, purpose built, school rich in tradition

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FOUNDED IN

Kindergarten to Year 8

Co-ed Prep School Royal Tunbridge Wells

5 mins from town centre

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D E ST I N AT I O N SENIOR SCHOOLS “The most important thing is finding the right school for your child”

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NEWS

FOR EVEN MORE NEWS VISIT: timeslocalnews.co.uk

Local News

Matthew Scott Police and Crime Commissioner for Kent

Wednesday September 29 | 2021

Matthew Scott was first elected the Conservative Police and Crime Commissioner for Kent in 2016 and re-elected in 2021. He sets policing priorities, commissions services to support victims, sets the council tax precept, manages the force’s budget, and holds the Chief Constable to account. He serves as the national PCC lead for Mental Health, and is chair of the board for the BlueLight Commercial organisation.

Violence against women is an important challenge IT’S been almost five months since I was re-elected as Kent’s Police and Crime Commissioner and in that time my team and I have been working hard to make our county safer. This month we’ve launched an inquiry into the levels of violence against women and girls in this county.

Violence against women and girls remains one of the most important challenges of our time and we all must come together to make improvements.

We all know of the recent high-profile tragedies on our doorstep. That’s why I’ve begun a system-wide review of how we handle complaints and potential problems in the future.

I’m meeting with survivors, charities, healthcare organisations, local councils and the police to find ways to affect change.

We will look at prevention, education, the victim’s journey through the justice system and how we deal with perpetrators.

We will be hosting consultation workshops, as well as high level meetings with the Chief Constable, criminal justice partners and representatives from the government. Men and boys will be included too.

But we also need your help: we’re asking women and girls to spend 5 minutes filling out our anonymous survey, which will inform us

about where people feel safe, where they don’t and what you would like to see done to make you feel more secure.

The link to the survey can be found at: makingkentsafer.co.uk We aim to produce a report, complete with meaningful recommendations early next year.

Having said that, some changes are already underway. My team and I will be working with a group called Interventions Alliance to run programmes aimed at addressing the behaviour of domestic abuse and stalking perpetrators.

Damage Some will be individual sessions, some will be group work. It’s being funded partly by the Home Office and partly by my office and will initially run for twelve months.

It’s been a productive start to my second term as your Police and Crime Commissioner, because this summer we ran a rural awareness month.

I met with many people and worked with many different groups to look at important issues facing our countryside.

Farmers showed me huge fly-tipping sites on their land, I saw evidence of damage caused by off-road bikes.

I spent time with the Rural Task Force, seizing

vehicles suspected of illegal dumping and spent time talking to communities about antisocial behaviour and speeding in our villages.

I know these things matter greatly to people and sometimes you feel as though no-one is listening, but our local Community Speedwatch groups have had tremendous success in Kent, with 90% of speeding motorists never caught again.

Persistent antisocial behaviour should always be reported and remember, if you’re not happy with outcomes, you can invoke the Community

Trigger forcing authorities to re-examine your case.

I know I’ve already asked you to fill in one survey, but I really would like you to fill in another too.

This is my Police Survey and will influence my forthcoming Police and Crime Plan, which will be a blueprint for the Force’s priorities over the next four years. It’s your chance to tell me what things YOU think Kent Police should focus on.

Please go to kent-pcc.gov.uk

FEAR Mr Scott has launched an inquiry into violence against women

Tunbridge Wells Green Party Each week we invite a representative from one of the major political parties to share their views and thoughts. This week, it is the turn of the Green Party of Tunbridge Wells who stood for a record 12 seats at the last Borough election

No more time for climate delayers THE dust from the local elections has firmly settled and now we need to see some action from those in office. When it comes to action on the climate crisis, election promises can not be the disposable items they used to be, at either local or national level. Making the right noises, but making the wrong actions.

We see climate change delaying here in Tunbridge Wells: many in the council will have voted for the climate declaration in good faith, but the cabinet has blocked, ignored and watered down the proposals.

Measure The latest “Local” magazine says TWBC takes carbon emissions very seriously - and placing solar panels on the Amelia Scott centre is indeed a good thing - but it’s nowhere near enough. The Council Leader told the Town Forum last week that the audit of the borough’s emissions promised in 2019 will remain watered down to just council services. If you can’t measure something you can’t manage it, and there appears little inclination from the cabinet to do so. This is not taking carbon emissions ‘very seriously’.

Election leaflets for a Conservative candidate for Speldhurst claimed that he “opposed any attempt to shrink the Green Belt and to impose development in the AONB”, whilst in reality, he

voted for a Local Plan that places half the 8500 new houses in the Green Belt, and new estates in Tudeley and in East End outside Benenden will generate hundreds of new car journeys a day as people go to work, school and shops.

It’s difficult to own an electric vehicle if the council has only built one charger recently, it’s difficult to start cycling if there are no cycle lanes, it’s difficult to know how to reduce carbon if the council refuses to do a full carbon audit for

‘If we are to achieve the zerocarbon, we have to recognise the people and the projects that are climate action delayers’ the borough. This is not the fault of the public but of a town cabinet that is unwilling and seemingly unable to engage.

So what can we do as Tunbridge Wells residents? We can continue to recycle, reduce energy, support local businesses and the many other small changes that we are all making.

Many of us find it frustrating that our own efforts are hugely outweighed by a council that has authorised blankets of concrete over green spaces and avoids the public at every possible opportunity.

What we can do as residents is to get involved

- there are many community groups, environmental organisations and even political parties (funnily enough, we would recommend the Greens…!) who are trying to force some action of the cabinet - and the more people who are involved, the more success we will see. So

perhaps you’d consider joining - you can make a difference.

If we are to achieve the zero-carbon world we need in the short time available, we have to recognise the people and the projects that are “climate action delayers” - and reject them.

Wednesday September 29 | 2021

FOR EVEN MORE NEWS VISIT: timeslocalnews.co.uk

Letters

NEWS

17

And another thing…

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

ON GUARD This reconstruction picture reflects that women are still vulnerable when going out alone

Peter Vincent says that the pavements are in need of weeding (September 15), but maybe these wildlife corridors should be allowed to flourish, along with the growth in the drains.

This would slow down the flow of water. These plants also help absorb the carbon dioxide.

They could become part of our Britain in Bloom entry. Blocked drains full to the brim can be used as watering holes by birds.

On top of this think of all the money the council is saving.

Graham Salmon Tunbridge Wells

Town needs a bus station

In response to Anne Sullivan [September 15], ‘Women do not feel safe in Tunbridge Wells’ informed by Caroline Auckland’s information gathering and in praise of both for raising the issues yet again.

I am also angry and frustrated that we have had to remind those locally responsible for maintaining Tunbridge Wells as a safe place to be that over a year of highlighting safety issues in your paper and elsewhere little action has been taken.

Last October Cllr Dianne Hill in a similar article drew our attention to the increasing levels of misogynistic attacks occurring nationally and with local reported resonances in publicising the parliamentary Cross Party Campaign ‘Make Misogyny History’ also highlighting complaints from local women reporting experiences ranging from sexualised comments to outright harassment and physical attack.

In March Jemima Compton’s campaign reported the fear that many local women had in using our parks once the light faded because of poor lighting and lack of public supervision.

On a national level Sarah Everard’s tragic murder and subsequently those killed in Plymouth with strong misogynistic overtones reminded us that women are potentially at risk wherever we are.

On Saturday September 10, members of the Labour Women’s Forum over the course of the morning spoke with over 60 women and girls shopping in the Calverley Precinct about whether they felt unsafe and as importantly what should be done to address this. Many we

A CPO could work I agree with Cllr Scott (Times September 22) that some suggestions for the cinema site, like turning it into a wildflower meadow/park (Lib Dem Cllr Lidstone), are, in light of its current market value, ‘away with the fairies’.

Nevertheless, he will know that CPOs [Compulsory Purchase Orders] can help bring about urban regeneration, the revitalisation of communities and the promotion of business - leading to improvements in quality of life.

Local authorities are therefore encouraged to consider using their compulsory purchase powers wherever appropriate to ensure real gains are brought to residents, and the

met also put their suggestions on post-it notes on our board as a record.

Top of their lists included: More and better street and park lighting across Tunbridge Wells with individual criticisms made of Warwick Park, Silverdale Road and Calverley and Grosvenor and Hilbert parks and of lighting on Rusthall Road.

A better and more visible police presence particularly during evenings and weekends.

More women police officers and more diversity in recruitment reflecting our changing community.

More police challenge of anti-social and sexual comments from groups outside pubs in the town.

Women (or women and young children) only train carriages for evening commuters where women returning later from work complain of sexual comments and harassment from male groups and experiences of follow up stalking on leaving trains.

And finally, it is a sad indictment of our community that so many older women said they never went out at night in fear of harassment and exposure to anti-social behaviour.

How much more often do we have to remind those responsible before action is taken?

While the need for legislation gets bogged down by government delays and platitudinal rhetoric there are actions which could be taken locally and are achievable, would shift problems to solutions, and would at least begin to make Tunbridge Wells a safer place for all of us.

Carol Wilson, Labour Women’s Forum, Tunbridge Wells

One thing that the centre of Tunbridge Wells lacks is a bus station.

The cinema site would be ideal and solve the foundation problems of the railway tunnel underneath.

It is at a crossroads and convenient for all routes.

I’m old enough to remember the old Green-Line bus station at Five Ways - Lime Hill Road.

That was a good service.

David Peacock, Rotherfield

Councillors are absent In response to the letter from Peter Howard [September 22] I would like to point out that over the last two years the residents of Somerset Road have expressed serious concerns regarding the height and safety of the trees growing in the grounds of Skinners school opposite their homes.

Following an unsatisfactory response from TWBC’s trees officer the suggestion from the LibDem chairperson Marguerita Morton was for the residents to arrange a meeting with him so that she and another councillor could, in her words, ‘tag along’.

The famous painting by William Frederick Yeames “When did you last see your father?” could in this day and age be renamed ‘When did

you last see your town councillor?’

Contacting your councillor is one thing, Mr Howard. Getting results is another!

Victor Bethell Tunbridge Wells

Council encourages pavement parking New legislation is not needed to ban cars parking on pavements, it exists already. There is no law against parking on pavements, but the law says you may not drive on them; to park on them, you must drive on them; we just need to enforce that.

I find it a bit rich that the council is trying to take a firm line on this, for years it’s encouraged the practice and has converted lots of grass verges into hardened stands so that motorists can park ‘half on and half off’.

Also major roads into and out of the town have been allowed to become, or created to be, all-day parking zones restricting the smooth flow of traffic: Major York’s and Bayhall road to name but two. So much for the council’s green agenda and air quality policy.

Ralph Steerpike Tunbridge Wells

No public money on cinema site Cllr David Scott’s letter last week [September 22] on the cinema site is to be welcomed, pushing back the argument that ‘something should be done’ with the implication that it must be the council’s job to do it when it is not.

He fails, though, to state unequivocally that no public money should go into whatever rises from the rubble: if seasoned and experienced property developers can’t make it work, I cannot see how any team brought in by TWBC can.

The solution appears to be for the present owners to sell it at a substantial loss allowing someone else to develop it more modestly within the physical constraints of the site. The present owners could do this themselves of course: set their sights lower and take the hit.

Edward Baker Tunbridge Wells

business community.’

I simply ask, on behalf of those of us who enjoyed attending the cinema for almost half our adult lives and have spent the other half contemplating a useless bombsite, why he asserts that this is unrealistic, impossible, and/or undesirable?

As Cllr Derek Boyle set out on the facing page last week [Column, September 22], ‘housing policy within the borough is a political choice’. Conservative housing policy is a mess. It is time, Labour says, to ‘Stop messing about’.

Dariel Francis, Labour Town Councillor High Brooms

We do our best to publish letters in full. However, the Editor reserves the right to edit any letter. Please ensure that letters do not exceed 250 words

PEPPY SAYS

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

Anger that women are still not safe

Weeds no necessarily bad

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GABRIELLA LOVES…

e n i l a m r tou 01892 540216 | gabriellajewellery@outlook.com | www.gabriellajewellery.co.uk 9 Chapel Place, Tunbridge Wells, TN1 1YQ (located between the High Street and the Pantiles)

Wednesday September 29 | 2021

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20

Homes & Interiors

Wednesday September 29 | 2021

Property Focus

Tunbridge Wells man shows off his Grand Malaysian Design...

A LOCAL designer has appeared on Channel Four’s hit house building programme to show off a house he built for his auntie.

Carlos Gris from Tunbridge Wells built the home with his father Faernando so aunty Gretta Funnell who is originally from Malyasia, felt more at home in her new place of residence in Ely, Cambridgeshire.

The initial budget for the Single-storey Malaysian-style house with three bedrooms and two bathrooms was £300,000.

A FAMILY OCCASION Carlos Gris (far right) with his family and Grand Design’s Kevin McCloud

Budget The minimalist steel-framed box is open plan with a burnt wood exterior, an overhanging roof and a rooftop garden.

The house was a true family affair as it was designed by Gretta’s nephew, project managed by her brother-in-law, and stands next to her sister and brother-inlaw’s home.

Carlos Gris said: “A massive hats off to my Dad for pulling it off and for the patience of Gretta and my mum Maria.”

The show aired last Wednesday [September 22] but is currently available to view on Channel 4 on-demand at channel4.com/programmes/granddesigns/on-demand/70446-008

Town’s Royal status may be losing its value

By Richard Williams BEING a Royal town might not be adding as much money to house prices in Tunbridge Wells as first thought.

It is often believed that the regal prefix adds values to properties in places such as Royal Tunbridge Wells, Royal Leamington Spa and the Royal town of Sutton Coldfield.

But analysis of London’s royal boroughs by a lettings and estate agent has found that the title no longer commands the premium prices it once did.

Benham and Reeves looked at house price data across London’s three royal boroughs, Kensington and Chelsea, Kingston and Greenwich and how they have performed over the last five years.

The research shows that the current average cost of purchasing a property in a royal borough is £705,709, a 32.4 per cent property price premium when compared to the average cost of £533,060 across the rest of the London market.

However, while a royal title may command a higher price, this premium has reduced

by 9.9 per cent in the last five years as house price growth across royal boroughs has stuttered.

Over the last five years, the average house price across London’s three royal boroughs has fallen by -1.4 per cent – an average annual decline of -0.1 per cent per year.

This has been largely driven by Kensington and Chelsea where values have dropped -5.7 per cent. Across Kingston and Greenwich house prices have shown positive movement since 2016 at 3.9 per cent and 6.3 per cent respectively.

Premium However, both trail the overall London average (1.3 per cent) and remain some way off the pace of 15 per cent to 20 per cent set by the top five best performing boroughs.

Across the London boroughs that don’t hold a royal title, house prices have climbed by 5.9 per cent since 2016 - an average increase of 1.2 per cent per year.

Waltham Forest tops the table with an

average annual increase of 20.7 per cent, while Bexley (17.2 per cent), Havering (15.4 per cent), Redbridge (15.3 per cent) and Barking and Dagenham (15.2 per cent) have also seen house prices increase by more than 15 per cent in the last five years.

Director of Benham and Reeves, Marc von Grundherr, said: “London’s royal boroughs naturally command a house price premium and while this has reduced over the last five years, a property within a royal borough will still set you back 32 per cent more on average.

“But that doesn’t make them unobtainable for the average London homebuyer. In fact, while Kensington and Chelsea may take the crown as London’s most expensive pocket of the property market, the average cost of buying in Greenwich actually comes in below the wider London average.

“So while securing a royal title for yourself is highly unlikely, buyers at all rungs of the London property ladder can at least claim one for their property if they should so wish.”

Ninety per cent of landlords still ban pets MORE than nine out of 10 landlords are still refusing to allow tenants to have pets in their homes, despite a boom in pet ownership during the pandemic, according to new research.

Tech start-up PetsScore, which conducted the research, said more and more tenants are now lying to landlords as a result after finding only 7 per cent accept animals.

Around 3.2 million more pets were bought by households during the pandemic and the company is urging landlords to offer more flexibility.

The company also warned that some families are simply giving up pet ownership so as not to fall foul of landlord contracts, with a 35 per cent

increase in calls to the Dogs Trust recently reported.

PetsScore said it is urging landlords and tenants to sign up to its platform, which offers pet references to provide peace of mind.

Risk Each pet is then given a score, similar to a credit rating, on nuisance noise, damage and tenant responsibility.

Founder Natasha Homer-Earley said she started the business after struggling to find a pet-friendly rental for her four-year-old dog Daisy.

She warned: “We’re at the precipice of a disaster for Britain’s pets and their owners.

“Pet ownership is at an all-time high, getting on the property ladder has never been further out of reach for millions and there is a chasm between the availability of pet-friendly rental properties and the overwhelming demand for them.

“We want to be a force for change in a market traditionally weary of tenants with pets – making it easier for landlords to assess and measure, in a few clicks, the potential risk of a would-be tenant’s cat or dog.

“Increasing the number of pet-friendly rental properties is long overdue and is of critical

importance for millennials in particular: 33 per cent of this age group will rent for life, if they haven’t bought a home by 40.”

According to the Dogs Trust, demand for puppies soared during lockdown, with Google searches for “buy a puppy” increasing by 166 per cent.

In the three months of the first lockdown last year, Battersea Dogs and Cats Home received 40,392 applications to rehome dogs, an increase of 53 per cent compared with the previous three months.

A further 31 per cent of people who acquired a dog or cat in this period had not been considering becoming pet owners before lockdown.

THE BANK OF MUM AND DAD (BOMAD) HELPING THE NEXT GENERATION ON THE PROPERTY LADDER

G

etting onto the property ladder has arguably never been harder nor more expensive.

The average house price has for the first time in history, hit £250,000 according to Halifax so is it any wonder that more and more are turning to The Bank of Mum and Dad for help?

Panoramic Wealth have been advising clients fully through the process for many years. This means we are dealing with both generations, from the parents (or grandparents) gifting the monies down, to advising the next generation with the purchase of their properties. Having multigenerational advisers and being a family owned business ourselves has ensured that advising families is a particularly strong area of ours at Panoramic.

The Bank of Mum and Dad is now the 11th largest lender in the UK with around 1 in 4 property prices being aided by them but why?

Buying a property, is often seen as a must in the UK when it comes the next step in progressing through life. However, often paying high rent, paying off student loans and credit cards can mean it is tricky to save enough for a deposit.

Where BoMaD is making the biggest impact, is when it comes to the deposit. The higher this is, the more availability of loans there are, the lower mortgage payments will be each month. Previously, this could have been as low as 5% of the purchase price but with lenders reacting to Covid-19, this has jumped to at least 10% and even then, the availability of these are few and far between.

This change in requirement for a deposit of 10% or more is where we are seeing parents step in to help out the next generation by way of gifting. There are, however, many implications to this gift but what are they?

Life expectancy is continuing to increase, meaning retirement is often lasting more years

than previously and therefore, the money has to too. The dangers of over gifting could result in those trying to lend a hand now actually running out of money in the future.

How can Panoramic Wealth help?

We can enable you to maximise the impact of this gift without falling into the trap of running out of money in the future. As it is usually it is more of a requirement to make

a gift rather than a loan and such gifts need to be taken into account in relation to potential inheritance tax and other liabilities. What we see with our clients is that when The Bank of Mum and Dad (or grandparents) works, the whole family benefit. Children get onto the property ladder and do not have to continue paying rent and parents are able to gift monies with a warm hand and not a cold one which ensures they are still around to see the benefits of doing so. Panoramic, in conjunction with Weald productions have recorded a series of podcasts, one of which on BoMaD so if that is of interest, head to our website – www. panoramicwealth.co.uk.

It may be that the Bank of Mum and Dad is not needed as there are various other routes to home ownership that few people are aware of:

Mortgages for Professionals are available to recently qualified Accountants, Actuaries, Barristers, Dentists, Medical doctors, Pharmacists, Solicitors and Pilots.

These use a multiple of 6X salary rather than the standard 4.49X. (Engineers, Vets and Optometrists have a ceiling of 5.5X.) n Joint borrower sole proprietor – This allows those moving into the property to combine their income with a supporting family member. Only those moving into the property are put on the property deed which avoids a SDLT surcharge of 3%. n Up to 4 friends can combine their incomes to purchase a property together. This ensures that together, the loan can be much larger and avoids the necessity of renting. n Individuals within the Armed Forces, Firefighters, Police Officers, NHS Nurses and Paramedics along with Teachers are heroes and are recognised by being able to borrow up to 5X. n

The information noted above is not deemed to constitute financial advice and should not be treated as such.

Any advice or recommendation given would be tailored to your own individual circumstances. It should be noted that your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up mortgage payments. Panoramic Wealth Management is regulated and authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority.

Ross Jefferies & Gary Jefferies

If you would like to know more about how we can help you or your children get onto the property ladder, please call Panoramic Wealth today on 01892 559555 or email – journey@panoramicwealth.co.uk. If you would like to hear more about The Bank of Mum and Dad, please head to our website – www.panoramicwealth. co.uk – where we have recorded a podcast in conjunction with Weald Productions, delving deeper into BoMaD amongst other topics of note.

22

Homes & Interiors

Wednesday September 29 | 2021

Interiors

Returning to the office?

These are the houseplants to take along

Hannah Stephenson looks at the easiest indoor plants to keep on your desk, whether at the home office or at work

S

O, returning to the office may take you away from the garden or balcony you have nurtured for the last 18 months – but you can always take some houseplants with you, to bring some sunshine into your working space.

“The key with office plants is to opt for something low-maintenance,” says former investment banker James Folger, who found sanctity in nature to help him deal with work stress and later founded online garden centre The Stem (thestem.co.uk).

What to consider “Plant-care should be fun and not too stressful, so it’s a good start to work with something that is virtually un-killable – we don’t want anything to detract from our day-to-day working life,” says Folger.

“Secondly, check the levels of light in the office. Some of us may be lucky enough to work in glorious light-filled spaces, but if this is not the case then think about plants that are able to thrive in low-light.

“Thirdly, air-purifying plants are a wonderful way to get the mind working, taking out nasties from the air and slowly releasing oxygen back into the atmosphere – great for keeping your workspace fresh, with studies showing it could impact productivity too.”

So, which plants does Folger recommend for your desk and office?

1. SNAKE PLANT Sansevieria Laurentii is a classic snake plant, with piercing sword-shaped leaves with a green base layer and margins of cream and yellow. As with other snake plants, these succulents are extremely easy to look after, are experts at purifying the air and can also tolerate low light conditions, making them one of the best plants for beginners or stress-free plant parenting, he says.

2. ALOE VERA The aloe vera is a world renowned succulent, known for its magical healing abilities. Its water-storing leaves means it won’t need watering very often. As long as

swing by,” says Folger.

Most offices buy standing plants, but if you have the luxury of that extra space, then why not go big? The Aralia Fabian is an indoor tree with large, glossy, plate-shaped, green leaves spanning its woody trunk and stems.

Alternatively, consider the Aralia Ming, an indoor dwarf tree with soft feathery and bright green foliage covering its woody trunk and stems. It symbolises peace, harmony and balance.

The Kentia palm is a stunning and airpurifying addition to your working space, with luscious green tall stems and long, glossy, green leaves that fan out to make a big impression. It is also one of the most versatile plants, ideal for removing pollutants from the air. The range of sizes available means you’ll find something to suit a desk or the floor beside it.

Spruce up that filing cabinet or shelf with something petite that trails, such as the golden pothos – a perfect candidate for indoor trailing, climbing or hanging, to bring a lush tropical feel to an office. It’s also super hardy and if you give it a few hours of sunlight, its leaves will become more variegated with streaks of colour. Generally though, keep it in indirect light and let the soil dry out between watering. This is a great option for those wanting air purification properties.

6. THE CHINESE MONEY PLANT This has plate-like leaves spinning on bouncy stems – a really stunning-looking plant that can handle humidity too. It’s perfectly proportioned for a windowsill or side table. What’s more, according to feng shui experts, Chinese money plants are said to bring luck, money and prosperity to the owner.

Indoor trees “The ultimate office combination would be air-purifying and architectural, to create a focal point for the room, and extra hardy, to cope with aircon and those more tactile office workers that it is kept in a sunny spot and not overwatered, it is really easy to look after. The green, fleshy leaves will not only look great on your desk but their air-purifying qualities remove the pollutants benzene and formaldehyde from the air, keeping your workspace fresh.

3. RUBBER PLANT The rubber plant is a very popular indoor plant, with dark, glossygreen, oval-shaped leaves that form from a woody trunk and make great desk ornaments.

4. MOTH ORCHID A few pops of colour and some architectural additions will add interest to your workspace, adding vibrancy to the office. The flowers can bloom for up to a year and are easy to care for.

They’ll even love the office kitchen, for a bit of cheer when you’re making a morning cuppa.

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Arts & Antiques

arts

24

Wednesday September 29 | 2021

Box of tricks...

D

ISCOVERED in the New World, tobacco was first introduced in Europe at the beginning of the 16th century, but only in the mid1500s smoking quickly gained popularity.

In the 17th century, a pulverised tobacco for inhaling (snuff) became a fashionable custom among the nobility and upper classes at the expense of pipe-smoking.

The snuff fame spread from the French Royal Court to England, Scotland, Ireland, and throughout Europe, and even as far as Japan, China and later the Russian Empire.

the creation of this fashionable accessory.

In 18th century Europe, Parisian jewellers led in the production of luxury tabatières (snuff boxes in French). Jean Ducrollay, Joseph Etienne Blerzy, JeanMarie Teron were the important goldsmiths of the industry before the Revolution.

Paintings in grisaille on enamelled panels were set on the 18K gold and silver boxes, that were richly encrusted with precious stones. The decoration was usually complemented with borders of pearls or floral motifs.

Monogram

‘In the 18th century, gold and silver snuff boxes were introduced to England’ Apart from large silver or wood containers (mulls), which usually stood at the table at home or at public places, a pocket snuff box, which contained several grams of powder, had become a necessity.

The airtight containers that had been originally intended to protect snuff from drying, became the jewelled works of art and the symbol of opulence of the upper classes.

The best craftsmen, jewellers and artisans made splendid snuff boxes out of silver, gold, white-metal, mineral stones and wood. Such fancy materials as mother-of-pearl, ivory, tortoise-shell, mammoth tooth were also widely used for

Alexander Pushkin, owner of Pushkin Antiques, talks about snuff boxes, their place in history and their collectability

NOT TO BE SNIFFED AT: Some of the snuff boxes that have recently been sold at Pushkin Antiques in the High Street

During Napoleon’s time, the demand for precious boxes started to decline amongst the public. The boxes decorated with the Emperor’s portraits or Napoleon’s monogram made with diamonds began to serve as gifts for diplomatic purposes. The pieces of such masters as Nilot & Files, Ricart, Jean-Valentin Morel are some of the most outstanding examples of that period.

In the 18th century, gold and silver snuff boxes were introduced to England by Huguenot masters fleeing France from persecution. The pieces of different shapes were chased in high relief, the lid of the box was usually engraved with monograms or scenery. The boxes decorated with carved inlays of mineral stones, such as agate, chalcedony and jade, were set with cagework mounts.

The most English prolific box-makers of that time are believed to be George Michael Moser, Paul de Lamerie, John Northam, George Hall.

Though German boxes got the fame mostly for the extravagantly large collection of over 1500 pieces belonging to King Frederick II of Prussia, it is particularly worth mentioning the Berlin boxes, which were known for their technically superb relief mosaics. Natural motifs were carved in coloured hard stone, ivory, pearl and coral and inlaid in panels of chrysoprase or jade.

Despite the numerous snuff box designs created for almost three centuries, the gold boxes, beautifully enamelled and set with intricately painted miniatures, formed a particular form of art. The Swiss gold

‘By the mid-19th Century, snuff was replaced by practical options such as cigars’ boxes represented the pinnacle of it.

Outstanding hand-painted enamel panels on the magnificent multicoloured gold base decorated with scrollwork and translucent enamels are exceptional objects of vertu and along with French, German and Russian examples are highly sought after by collectors worldwide.

By the mid-19th Century, snuff became out of fashion and replaced by more practical options such as cigars and cigarettes, nevertheless, snuff boxes continued to be desirable presents and became the sought after objects of collecting.

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Arts & Antiques

Wednesday September 29 | 2021

25

A valued opinion on your gems Auctioneer at Gorringe’s, Joseph Trinder, suggests that it’s often the pieces you least expect which have the most value and reveals plans for a forthcoming event timeless gift can be a tall order. Indeed, what to get the person that has everything? It’s a problem many of us face as September draws to a close and October becomes November, there is a collective scratching of heads beginning throughout the land.

Joseph Trinder

Collectables

Y

OU may hate my saying it (and I do hope you’ll forgive me!) but before you know it, Christmas will be upon us.

We have just bid farewell to our spectacular autumn fine auction here at Gorringe’s, meaning that the next of our special quarterly sales is the ever-popular Christmas auction, scheduled this year for the December 7.

So, do you know what you’re getting the family or that special someone for Christmas this year yet? Me neither! In a world where every conceivable gadget, toy and must-have accessory is seemingly available at the touch of a smartphone or tablet, thinking of an original,

However, despair not, we are here to help.

Typically featuring over 600 lots, from everything to jewellery and silver, to fine collectables, decorative objects, fine art, clocks and watches, furniture, and textiles and much more - you really will find something for everyone at the Gorringe’s Christmas sale.

Take the pictured casket for example – a beautiful and unique object, patiently hand-assembled from a rainbow of precious stones to include agates and lapis lazuli, collected from the far corners of the globe and united in this charming ebony box around the year 1820 it is unlike anything made today.

Discovered during a recent routine valuation visit in a local

‘This is a beautfiul and unique object that is hand assembled from precious stones including lapis lazuli’ private property, it is estimated at £400-600. In this you would not only be gifting a beautiful object, but a tangible asset too.

Of course, the Christmas auction is not just an

FIND This casket was an unexpected find

opportunity to buy, but to sell also. With people in search of the perfect gift as outlined above, Christmas is naturally always a good time to sell.

This I feel is heightened this year by an already buoyant market bolstered by our collective determination to make this Christmas special, following the preceding separation and difficulty brought about by Covid.

Inspiration Do you have pieces you’re uncertain of in terms of value? We found this casket when originally called in to value furniture, yet ended up leaving with this and several other interesting pieces not previously considered – it is often the pieces you least expect which may just have the most surprising value in today’s market.

So whether needing inspiration for the perfect gift, or advice in unlocking value from pieces already at home this festive season, Gorringe’s and I are here to help. We are currently inviting entries for our December 7 sale – and welcome your enquiries, you can contact me directly via josepht@ gorringes.co.uk

Bringing The Very Best In Live Stand Up Comedy to Tunbridge Wells Friday 8th October at 8pm Mike Gunn Kate Barron Maureen Younger

Markus Brigstocke

thecomedystore.co.uk

Crescent Road, Tunbridge Wells, Kent, TN1 2LU

Tickets at: www.assemblyhalltheatre.co.uk

Arts

arts

26

Wednesday September 29 | 2021

“There is nothing quite like the feeling of sitting in amongst a group of musicians and playing your part in performing...”

After 18 months of not being able to play, the Royal Tunbridge Wells Symphony Orchestra is returning to the Assembly Hall on October 3. Here its Chair Frances Armstrong tells Eileen Leahy how they got through the uncertainty of Covid, plans for their upcoming centenary and why they are so happy to be reunited again

L

ET’S start with you telling us briefly about what happened to the Royal Tunbridge Wells Symphony Orchestra (RTWSO) when we went into the first lockdown?

On March 1 last year we performed our concert as planned, with absolutely no idea what was ahead. We then had our next two Friday evening rehearsals, the second of which was a slightly strange occasion: people were starting to feel a little twitchy, and as we left the pub after the rehearsal and said goodbye, some of us questioned whether we’d see each other next week. By the following Friday (March 20) all schools and social venues had been ordered to close, and on the Monday we found ourselves in full lockdown. It soon became clear that the April concert would have to be cancelled as we weren’t able to get together for rehearsals. At that point we genuinely thought that we would lose one, at most two, of our concerts. How little we knew!

How did it feel for your members not to be able to perform live - were they upset?

FRANCES ARMSTRONG

“After so long apart it was lovely to see how keen we all were to get back to playing together - we’ve actually gained quite a few new string players this season”

Yes, to be honest it was devastating for all of the performing arts. Musicians, actors, dancers and all of our technical and managerial support colleagues were suddenly locked out of the concert halls and theatres, along with our audiences. It was heart-breaking for our amateur members, but also a very serious and stressful time for our professional members and friends who make their living from working with orchestras and theatres. Most are self-employed and nobody knew at that time what would happen.

And what about the impact on your social life as an orchestra?

From a social point of view we were all being kept apart. Orchestras are social entities, it was unique in our lifetimes not to be in and around our fellow musicians doing what we do and sharing that passion and love with our audience, and each other. It really wasn’t a nice feeling!

Where you able to get together at any point during 2020?

When lockdown eased a little over the summer, around 15-20 string players got together and played for a couple of

afternoons in a field belonging to one of our members. On the first afternoon our Music Director Rod Dunk drove down from Lincolnshire to conduct - an indication of just how much it meant to us all to have the opportunity to play together. It was a blustery day, but despite the music stands being blown over by the wind and the difficulty hearing due to social distancing, it was wonderful to be playing together again after such a long break.

What about your other members, did you see them?

A few weeks later our wind players were allowed to join us and we enjoyed another similar afternoon playing out in the field.

As seasoned players we’re used to taking our instruments, stands and music to rehearsals, but now we also had to remember to bring refreshments, our own chair, pegs, masks, hand sanitizer, a small towel, wipes and loo roll: a little strange, but very enjoyable!

And how about the possibility of performing to an audience in 2020?

The Assembly Hall Theatre opened briefly in October and we were able to stage a

Arts

Wednesday September 29 | 2021

socially distanced Chamber Concert. This was very much outside of the realm of our usual symphonic repertoire, but it was great to be able to be back performing, albeit for a very brief moment in time. The professional players who joined us for this concert were clearly so grateful for the opportunity to play. Even for them, musicians whose entire living depends on performing, it was the first concert they had been able to perform live on stage in seven months.

27

TUNE TEAM REUNITED A scaled back RTWSO at the Big Thank You Picnic

Did Zoom come into play so members could still ‘see’ one another?

Oh, yes! We didn’t attempt any rehearsals over Zoom as it would have been too unwieldy. But once our Friday evening rehearsals came to an end, Rod formed and hosted the ‘Friday Night Pub’. Every Friday, from April 3 in 2020 through to May 14 the following year, varying numbers of us got together over Zoom to keep the social side of the orchestra active. Some weeks were livelier than others and we got to know a few of our members far better than we had done in the past - it was a great way to stay in touch.

And were you able to host any planning meetings?

Yes we had lots throughout the year. We have a main committee as well as a number of smaller committees: players, programming, finance and centenary planning. My husband commented that for an orchestra that wasn’t performing any concerts, there seemed to be an awful lot to talk about and plan!

overwhelmed at the beginning of our first rehearsal. There really is nothing quite like the feeling of sitting in amongst a group of musicians and playing your part in the music.

The spine-tingling sense of togetherness as the sound comes together around you is something that cannot be recreated in any other situation.

It was fantastic to feel that again at the first rehearsal in September.

“The spine-tingling sense of togetherness as the sound comes together around you is something that cannot be recreated in any other situation”

How are you feeling ahead of your concert at the Assembly Hall on October 3?

We’re very much looking forward to it as it’s a big occasion for us. Both as a significant part of the orchestra’s 100-year history, and also as a profound, ‘We’re finally back on stage,’ experience after the recent times we have all had to endure. I’m sure many of our audience will feel just as elated as our players. To be able to stage the first concert of our Centenary Season as a full symphony orchestra is something that we hardly dared hoped for, and we’re thrilled that we’re able to perform in full symphonic force at this perfect moment in time.

At what point did you manage to get together again?

Our first full rehearsal was a few weeks ago on September 3. After so long apart there was a concern that some of our members may have moved on, but everybody was there. It was lovely to see how keen we all were to get back to playing together and we’ve actually gained quite a few new string players this season.

Did you enjoy playing at the recent Big Thank You Picnic?

Yes! Obviously we couldn’t perform as a full orchestra but when we asked for a small group to volunteer, the Wind Quintet jumped at the chance! It was a great atmosphere, the music was very well received and a lot of people were genuinely interested to find out more about the orchestra and our centenary season.

How does it feel to be back together again rehearsing and looking forward to performing?

I think we all felt quite emotionally

You celebrate your centenary in 2022. What plans do you have in place?

We have a wonderfully varied season of programmes planned, which include muchloved classics, celebrations of music from dance and film, and some of the finest works in the symphonic repertoire. On October 31 we welcome back Barry Wordsworth, who first conducted the RTWSO back in 1981 and has retained a special bond with us ever since. As one of the country’s finest conductors in the field of ballet music, it is perfectly fitting that Barry will be joining us for an Invitation to the Dance, a concert which promises to be an enchanting and eclectic celebration of music inspired by dance.

Following our incredibly popular Hooray for Hollywood back in 2019, November sees More Music from the Movies. Spanning 70 years of classic film scores, this programme will appeal to everybody, young and old.

And what will you be doing to mark your official 100th birthday in 2022?

Our 100th Birthday Civic Concert takes place in February, one hundred years and two days after the first ever performance by the Tunbridge Wells Orchestral Society on February 4, 1922. In a fitting celebration of the orchestra itself, this concert will feature some of our very own players stepping up to perform as soloists, including our much-loved leader of many years, Julian Leaper. After such a stream of disappointing cancellations last year, we are delighted to be able to revive a number of aspects from the planned season that were not able to take place. Thomas Gould and Joo Yeon Sir will be joining us as soloists, and Alice Farnham will conduct a concert to celebrate International Women’s Day in March. Our spectacular celebratory season is really one not to be missed: there really is something for everybody.

Despite not being able to perform over the past 18 months have you felt supported locally?

Yes the fact that Tunbridge Wells has supported and maintained its very own orchestra for 100 years really is a truly

momentous achievement, and to mark the occasion we will be making a Centenary Recording. This is a very exciting project for us, something which has not been undertaken by the RTWSO ever before. We will be setting up a Crowdfunding scheme and hope that all of our supporters and members will participate: the basic principle is that by committing to pay for your CD(s) in advance, the funds become available to us to bring the project to fruition. Further incentives are available, including opportunities to attend a professional recording session. All will be explained on our website and there will be literature available giving full details of how the scheme works. Please support us if you can – I assure you, it will certainly be worth it!

If people are interested in finding out more about the RTWSO or would like to join how is it best to get in touch?

The most direct way of keeping up to date is to follow us on social media (we’re easy to find on Facebook and Twitter – just search for RTWSO) and sign up to our mailing list via our website, www.rtwso.org. The website gives details of our concerts and full contact details. I can be contacted directly via Chairman@rtwso.org

WHAT’S IN STORE ON SUNDAY OCTOBER 3 “After this long break, we wanted our first concert of the season to be a real symphonic treat for the listener, with truly great music from three composers who, in their time, really shaped the foundations of what we now regard as the modern symphony orchestra.

We start our ‘Great Orchestral Classics’ concert with Wagner’s uplifting overture to

his opera Tannhäuser, a particularly thrilling opening.

Then a lovely Tone Poem by Dvorak which tells a dark and tragic tale of ‘the Noon Witch’, a folk story that has a very sad and emotional ending: Dvorak’s music is fantastically descriptive. But the highlight of this concert is the beautiful 2nd Piano Concerto by Brahms, packed full of glorious melodies and

orchestral light and shade.

Our soloist is the internationally renowned pianist Freddy Kempf, who is a great friend of the orchestra and has played with us countless times over a period of nearly 30 years. He is without doubt one of the finest pianists of his generation: a real treat!” https://rtwso.org/greatorchestral-classics/

IT’S SHOWTIME Royal Tunbridge Wells Symphony Orchestra (RTWSO)

Food & Culture

food

28

Wednesday September 29 | 2021

Rick Stein is ripping up the rulebook in his new cookbook The chef talks to Prudence Wade about cooking for his family in lockdown, putting his own spin on traditional dishes and why simple food is best...

R

ICK STEIN has won countless accolades for his food over the years, but one of his greatest achievements came during the first lockdown of

2020.

His wife’s 98-year-old grandmother, Betty, had gone off her food – until Stein started hosting weekly family dinners. “She made an exception for my food,” the 74-year-old says with glee.

“She had lots of it, she really tucked in.

If we cook, we all love it if it’s clear people enjoyed what you’re cooking.

And a 98-year-old tucking in with great gusto was quite special.”

Stein spent five months of 2020 in Sydney, when the pandemic meant he couldn’t get back to his beloved Cornwall. The chef “feels bad” in saying he enjoyed the lockdown, because “everywhere, people suffered enormously” – but last year, Covidrelated restrictions were eased earlier in Australia than the UK, meaning he had the opportunity to spend more time with his family and start hosting those weekly dinners.

He doesn’t take this time for granted,

saying it taught him “how much the business of life is unnecessary, in a way”. It allowed Stein to get back to his roots: cooking dinner for a small group of loved ones, revisiting some of his all-time favourite recipes.

Staying and cooking in one place also led him to write his latest book: Rick Stein At Home. He describes it as “fairly

My new book is about what really goes on cooking-wise at home scruffy food” – the kind of meals you’ll throw together in a hurry from whatever you have in the fridge. The book is “about what really goes on cookingwise”, he explains, “as opposed to the slightly upmarket view of how I cook at home. I try to keep it as real as possible.”

Free from the shackles of fancy meals or culinary rules, Stein calls this kind of cooking “liberating”. Unlike his past books, which tend to be dedicated to a certain country, such as France, Spain

or Greece, the recipes are “thoroughly eclectic” – just like normal home cooking is.

Although Stein’s background is in French cooking – a cuisine full of strict directions on how things should and shouldn’t be done – he ripped up the rulebook in many of the dishes here.

“I’m thinking about my mother’s risotto, because it’s not a proper risotto,” he explains. “But I thought that’s what we do cook, that’s what the kids really like and I like for the kids.

I’m not saying it’s a proper risotto, it’s more a rice pilaf, but my mother would call it her risotto.”

The book is peppered with stories and recipes from friends and family too. “I’ve got three sons [Edward, Jack and Charlie] and two step-kids, Zach and Olivia, and it was really nice how they all wanted to contribute recipes, I didn’t interfere at all”, Stein says.Luckily, the recipes “were all great”, he says enthusiastically – including Charlie’s pad kra pao and Zach’s vegan chilli, along with cottage pie from his wife Sas [Sarah] and dessert from his mother-in-law. Rick Stein At Home is out now £19

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P Q+A

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

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

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

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

Meet our experts at a free online event

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Q+A after session

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Presentation

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

Food & Culture

Wednesday September 29 | 2021

Now try this: Barbecued whole sea bass with fennel mayonnaise Ingredients:

n 1 egg yolk (at room

(Serves 2) n 2 x 450–500g sea bass, cleaned and trimmed of fins n 2tbsp olive oil n 1 bunch fennel herb n 2tsp Pernod n Salt and black pepper n For the fennel mayonnaise:

temperature) n 1 tsp white wine vinegar n 150ml olive oil (not extra virgin) n ½tsp Pernod n ½tbsp finely chopped fennel herb n A few chives, finely chopped

Method: 1. Preheat a barbecue or an indoor grill.

2. Slash each fish three or four times down each side and rub them with olive oil. Season well, inside and out, with salt and pepper, then push some of the fennel herb into the gut cavity.

3. For the mayonnaise, put the egg yolk, vinegar and a pinch of salt into a bowl or food processor and whisk together. Start adding the oil very slowly, literally a drop at a time at first. If you go too quickly, your mayonnaise will split. Then keep adding the oil in a very slow, fine stream until the mixture is really thick. Stir in the Pernod, the chopped fennel and chives. Check the seasoning, adding more salt if required, then set aside.

4. Barbecue the fish for five to seven minutes. Sprinkle each with a teaspoon of Pernod, then carefully turn them over and cook for a further five to seven minutes until they are cooked right through to the backbone. If you’re using an indoor grill you probably won’t need to turn them over, but they may take a few more minutes. Use the browned side as the presentation side.

5. Carefully remove the fish from the barbecue or grill and serve with the mayonnaise, boiled new potatoes and a green salad.

1) WHITE WINE CHOICE FROM A CHILEAN FENG SHUI WINERY: 2020 Montes Reserva Chardonnay, Aconcagua, Chile (£8, Co-op) Tuck into this ridiculously good value, versatile, curvy, lemon-curd, ripe pineapple, peach and apricot-stashed Chilean chardonnay with cauliflower cheese, chicken risotto, chicken/pork casseroled with mushrooms in a creamy sauce, chowder, fish pie, and duck à l’orange. Subtle oak ageing – injecting light, refined notes of vanilla, creamy nougat and spice – lends support. Also chill it for a mushroom omelette, pork with cream and prunes, pumpkin risotto/ ravioli, roasted butternut squash risotto, roasted sweet potatoes and proper (e.g.

Quicke’s) cheddar. A well-made, highly pleasurable drink. It gets my vote at £8.

Waitrose Cellar also sells it, for £9.99.

Alc 13.5%

Hello Christmas ’21! Do not wait till then though as this is sure to sell out within weeks at the country’s principal purveyor of bargain wines that is Stevenage’s The Wine Society. Bargain mega-plus from superlative Society Bordeaux buyer Tim Sykes.

72% merlot (the rest cabernet franc), it’s spot-on. Goes brilliantly with grouse, roasted/ casseroled lamb, steak, a roast rib of beef and roast veal. Unbeatable value. You have the claret scoop. Alc 14% 3) BONJOUR TO AUTUMN WITH A RED ‘BARGAINDY’: 2020 Louis Latour Bourgogne Pinot Noir “La Chanfleure,” Burgundy, France (£12, Clubcard price, otherwise £15, Tesco) My kind of regional Burgundian pinot noir (arguably the definitive food wine), made from 25-year-old vines by Maison Louis Latour, with ethereal, magnificent, leafy, earthy, spiced red-cherry, blackberry and strawberry fruit scents and flavours. The tannins are beautifully tuned, palate-whetting and beautifully orchestrated. Boeuf à la gardiane, boeuf bourguignon, game birds, numerous mushroom dishes, roast beef/duck/pheasant/ pumpkin and even simply prepared meaty fish such as cod (perhaps wrapped in prosciutto), hake, halibut, monkfish and skate would be delicious matches.

Serve around 14-16°C, just a little cooler than full-bodied or tannic reds.

Drinkability in spades! Alc 13%

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Raising a glass to autumn and the new fare on our tables, Times Drinks Editor James Viner says the transition between seasons calls for more warming, medium-to full-bodied, white and red wines to match hearty dishes made from seasonal ingredients. So farewell summer and cheers to autumn!

2) A CLASSIC STANDOUT RED FROM LAST WEEK’S PRESS TASTING AT 67 PALL MALL, WITH A RICH AND SEDUCTIVE NOSE: 2017 Château Le Clos du Notaire, Côtes de Bourg, Bordeaux, France (£10.50, The Wine Society) Epic price, seamless, savoury, mouth-filling, interesting and unexpected, too – this is a must-buy claret, with pristine fruit, a fine line of acidity and a web of filigreed tannins.

Whilst it won’t go anywhere in a hurry, it’s perhaps best consumed youngish.

ulders…

INGS

Prepare to fall for these autumnal offerings…

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Tight muscles Manage pain classically Aussie shiraz cabernet ‘La Chanfleure’ is an old French Stress relief blend from superior sites. As name for a “tâte-vin”, the tin or Rehab becomes a vivid wine of this glass pipette used by the Improve mobility Injury diagnosis quality from Penfolds, the star in cellarmen to draw a small Promote healing assessment Treasury Wine Estates’ crown, the quantity of wine from the barrel to Posture taste during vinification.

Spice up the nippier evenings with a warming, multi-vineyard Aussie shiraz with pizzazz: 2017 Penfolds Bin 8 Shiraz Cabernet, Barossa Valley, McLaren Vale and Wrattonbully, South Australia (£25.99-£27.78, Frazier’s & Morrisons) Do you crave richer, full-bodied, ripe and richly-textured autumnal Aussie reds? Pep up your palate with this impeccable, generous, American and French oak-aged, dark forest berry, black plum, mulberry and blackcurrant fruit-stashed multi-region,

palate is incredibly long, a peacock’s tail unfurling on the finish and aftertaste. There’s a punctuation mark of cigar box and bouquet garni too. It’s a maincourse, protein-loving red, with no lack of fruit or indeed complexity, for the cooler days and evenings to come. Just the ticket for anything beefy, including goulash, ribeye/T-bone/tomahawk steaks and game casseroles. So easy to drink now or in five years. Treat yourself. Alc 14.5% Follow James on Twitter@ QuixoticWine

31 High Street, Cranbrook, TN17 3EE CALL 01580 715904

Cranbrook’s Co-op is super for suppers Whether you’re looking for something fast or fancy, head to your new look Cranbrook’s Co-op for meals you can make in minutes.

Cranbrook’s Co-op High Street, Cranbrook, Kent, TN17 3QD

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24/09/2021 16:56

Wednesday September 29 | 2021

IN ASSOCIATION WITH CRANBROOK’S CO-OP

Cranbrook Special

Culture and commerce in the ‘Capital of the Weald’

Situated about ten miles from Tunbridge Wells, Cranbrook is not only one of the prettiest towns in the Borough, but also is a cultural and commercial hidden gem. We take a look at some of what the ‘Capital of the Weald’ has to offer...

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ITH a skyline that has been dominated by the Grade I listed Union Mill since 1814 – the tallest smock windmill left in existence in the UK - along with the medieval streets and alleys, Cranbrook is certainly one of the prettiest high streets in the Borough of Tunbridge Wells.

But the market town, which has its roots in the 15th century, has a lot more to offer than just ancient architecture.

‘Business and culture in Cranbrook continues to thrive with a range of activities and places to visit’ Cranbrook, which takes its name from the Old English ‘Cran Bric’ meaning Crane Marsh, due to the town being built on marshland occupied by cranes and herons, is known locally as the ‘Capital of the Weald’.

The town rose to prominence during the middle-ages for its Wealden cloth making industry.

These days, business and culture in Cranbrook continues to thrive, with a range of activities and places to visit.

Here, the Times explores some of what Cranbrook has to offer and looks at some of the places and events that make the town what it is.

29 High Street, TN17 3EE 01580 713604 Email: cranbrook@ pagesnewsagents.com

Fireworks on sale from 15th October

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Cranbrook Special

IN ASSOCIATION WITH CRANBROOK’S CO-OP

Wednesday September 29 | 2021

Pupils jump for joy at this prep school DULWICH Prep is situated on the edge of the lovely market town of Cranbrook, and is situated in 50 glorious acres of Wealden countryside.

With close links to senior schools, both state and independent for transfer at 11 and 13+, Dulwich is ‘a fantastic school that should be firmly on the radar of any family living in (or thinking of relocating to) Kent.’ according to Talk Education 2021.

With the academic year now in full swing, Dulwich Prep Cranbrook has been reflecting on all that has been achieved over the last eighteen months.

A recent parental survey gave many areas of the school’s provision ringing endorsement – with 94% of parents recommending the school to friends. Recognition has come too in the form of national awards with the school winning acclaim in the Independent School Parent, TES and Boarding School Association Awards.

The theme for the term at Dulwich Prep

Cranbrook is Look outwards – consider others, and there is an emphasis on encouraging the children to understand they will feel happier and more fulfilled by considering and caring for others and improving the world around them.

By focusing on pupil voice the school ensures everyone has their say. Leading education experts Talk Education described it as ‘the nurturing and emboldening style of the school – every child gets a little gentle encouragement to have a voice.’

Grounds Outdoor learning takes centre stage with fieldtrips to the coast, team building and overnight camping both in the school grounds and further afield, as well as weekly trips to Bewl Water as part of the Dulwich Inspires programme.

If you would like to arrange a visit, contact Georgie, the Registrar at registrar@ dulwichprepcranbrook.org

Feel good, fly high Open Week 4th-8th October

Shortlisted

Creativity award

dulwichprepcranbrook.org

Wednesday September 29 | 2021

IN ASSOCIATION WITH CRANBROOK’S CO-OP

Cranbrook Special

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Getting to the core of the Apple Fayre

By Stuart Cleary For the last fourteen years the people of Cranbrook have been celebrating one if its most loved types of produce.

The Cranbrook Apple Fayre, which takes place next week [October 2] will be the 14th in the town’s history.

Its core purpose is to celebrate the fruit most synonymous with our beautiful area of the Weald of Kent.

‘There’s lots of apple juice and local cider tasting and making’ On this day the town comes together to say goodbye to the summer and have one last great hurrah before we all trudge towards Christmas and bad weather, short days and ill health. It’s a big eccentric party held all day for anyone wishing to attend.

On Apple Fayre Day the organisers try hard to lift everyone’s spirits (and beverages) by laying on a whole load of entertainment free to the people of Cranbrook and all our welcome guests.

We always tie in a theme to the day to get dressed up and to hear great music and theatre.

This year we are celebrating the fact that it was our Roman visitors who introduced the apple to Kent first in their invasion of Britannia in BC 43.

They also introduced the first ‘Tavernae’ or pubs to you and me, so that will be celebrated as well.

So the title for this year’s fayre is: “Friends,

Romans, Countrymen”.

We pride ourselves on mixing themes each year to get the most from fancy dress and great music. We’ve had Cranbrook Apple Fayre Festival of Speed, Cowboys and Aliens, Vikings and Hippies and Day of the Dead. The party grows each year with many Cranbrook children looking forward to the event that has happened every year of their lives.

You are very welcome if you want to attend but we recommend getting there before 11am. We close the road off from 12 noon til 3pm so don’t get stuck in the traffic! It goes on til 4pm officially but the pubs continue the merriment till closing time.

The location is the High Street and Stone Street in the centre of town which is filled with Cranbrook’s eclectic mix of superb shops.

We’ll also add stalls and exotic street food vendors to create a ‘Roman Market’ theme.

There are also lots of apple juice and local Cider tasting, cider making displays and apple related produce by local farmers and food-makers. Plenty of street theatre, from the famous Red Barrows to fire-breathing stilt walkers, actors, opera singers and the odd visiting celebrity.

There’s ample free parking and places to stay all around the town. If you are reading this looking for something to do, google TN17 3BE and find out where we are or search: visitcranbrookandsissinghurst.co.uk for loads of local detail.

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Cranbrook Special

IN ASSOCIATION WITH CRANBROOK’S CO-OP

Wednesday September 29 | 2021

Celebrating the written word Authors, poets and writers were out in force for the Cranbrook Literature Festival earlier this month...

TAKING place on Friday and Saturday September 17-18, the Cranbrook Literature Festival was a huge success with audiences enjoying face-to-face cultural and literary events once again. The event had to be rescheduled

‘Broadcaster Iain Dale was in conversation with local MP Greg Clark – but with a twist’ after the Covid crisis resulted in lockdowns.

“We were very pleased with our attendance figures overall,” said organiser Christine

Newman (pictured bottom right). “And although there was a certain caution around early bookings, the events were all very well supported and totally enjoyed by all.”

Author Deborah Moggach (left) entertained the audience talking about her latest book, ‘The Black Dress’ and screen writer and author William Nicholson spoke honestly and passionately about his work on films such as ‘Gladiator’ and ‘Hope Gap’ as well as his many books. The final event of the festival was broadcaster and writer Iain Dale in conversation with local MP Greg Clark – but with a twist.

Greg Clark turned the tables on Iain and conducted the interview asking him questions about his life as a broadcaster, publisher and author. A very entertaining time all round!

WE’RE GROWING! Crossways Community is a growing and dynamic local charity which provides housing and support for adults living with a wide range of mental health conditions. We also run a number of community based projects including Reboot which offers mental health awareness training in schools, churches and businesses; The Kitchen Table, our café on Camden Road and Flourish, our new gardening project in Tunbridge Wells.

As a result of our expansion, we are currently recruiting for a number of vacancies across our organisation.

Maintenance Manager (4/5 days per week) – you will oversee, coordinate and carry out maintenance and repairs for all Crossways properties including gardens and outbuildings, taking into account health & safety issues and the needs of residents & staff. Salary £22,689 (FTE).

Deputy Manager at Culverdale (4/5 days per week) – you will assist the House Manger in the overall management of our supported accommodation for adults and will be fully involved with supporting residents and managing staff. Previous experience in the mental health sector is essential.

Salary £27,564 (FTE).

Support Worker at Moxham House (Full-time and part-time) – you will be working alongside our residents who are living with mental health conditions, helping deliver emotional and practical support. We provide a comprehensive training program. The care home is staffed 24/7 so there is a variety of shifts to cover weekends/ nights etc. Salary £19,377 (FTE) plus allowances for weekends, sleep-in shifts and pager duties.

HR/Office Administrator (3 days or 22.5 hours per week) – you will be a calm, experienced and confident HR/Office Administrator with high levels of attention to detail, strong proficiency in Word and Excel, and an ability to multi task. Salary £20,739 (FTE).

We offer a competitive benefits package including pension and private health insurance.

Head to the jobs portal on our website www.crosswayscommunity.org.uk for full job descriptions and to apply!

“Working for better mental health in the community” Crossways Community – registered charity number 1007156

Health & Wellbeing

health & wellbeing

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Wednesday September 29 | 2021

Menopause is an issue which affects a large proportion of our workforce Hospice in the Weald provides palliative care for those with life limiting illnesses in and around Kent and Sussex. Its Chief Executive Nick Farthing explains how they have launched a policy to support female nursing staff going through the menopause

H

ospices deal with one of the most difficult topics of conversation: death, dying and the end of life.

One of our strategic aims as an organisation has been to lead in encouraging open conversations around death and dying. We work hard at this to ensure that patients and families have the right support in place to express their wishes, and to have them met.

Our nurses, doctors, staff and volunteers are skilled in helping people to have difficult conversations, and we see the difference that those moments make almost every day.

The chance to say sorry, to say goodbye, or to say that you’d like to be cared for at home, the chance to express your worries or fears. These

conversations can be challenging, but they make a great deal of difference to each patient in helping them feel safe and comfortable.

Now, we have published a policy to support our staff and make sure conversations about the menopause are not difficult.

It is well documented that nursing workforces often contain more women than men.

The Royal College of Nurses reports that men make up around 10% of all registered nurses in the UK, for staff registered between 2011- 2020.

At present, our workforce at Hospice in the Weald reflects this national trend. This means the menopause is an issue which could potentially affect a large proportion of our workforce at one time or another.

‘Kindness and honesty are a de facto code of conduct for all our workforce’ We pride ourselves in being a supportive employer; our culture is one of empowerment and we talk often about how that helps us to grow and develop individuals to reach their full potential and to provide the best care possible for patients and their loved ones.

Our values include kindness and honesty; these are a de facto code of conduct for all

members of our workforce.

After recent consultation with the workforce, we have published a Menopause Policy and I am pleased that we will be addressing this challenge, which could affect any member of our workforce, in a way that upholds those values and empowers our staff.

The aim of the policy is to encourage an environment of openness, helping everyone to feel comfortable in discussing menopause in the workplace and for staff to feel able to approach their manager for support. We are also providing support for managers to feel confident having conversations and dealing with menopause related issues.

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Health & Wellbeing

Wednesday September 29 | 2021

A GOOD SPORT Clare Balding with her wife Alice Arnold

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“Lockdown taught me I don’t need to be on television to have any sort of self-validation” For sports broadcaster and author Clare Balding, it’s all about making the most of life – on her terms - as she tells Abi Jackson

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OST of us had a realisation or two during the pandemic.

One of Clare Balding’s was this: she doesn’t ‘need to be on television.’

Not that she doesn’t love her jobs presenting major sporting events for the BBC, Channel 4 and BT Sport. But for Balding, it’s all about the storytelling and being at the heart of it – the fact there are cameras is by the by.

“I think last year was a fantastic opportunity for me to have a sabbatical from television, which effectively I did, because all the events I was meant to work on got cancelled. And in my head, it triggered something, which was I really don’t need to be on television to have any sort of self-validation,” she explains.

Switching “If I’m doing it, it’s because I love it and I love the event – it’s not about me being on television. It’s about me working on the Olympics or working on Wimbledon and getting an opportunity to go, ‘Look at this player Emma Raducanu, she’s amazing!’ I see it as a storyteller’s role on telly, and that I just happen to be seen, unfortunately.”

It’s why she finds switching gears between broadcasting, podcasting and writing a lot simpler than it might sound.

Hampshire-born Balding – whose

sporting career began with an early stint as an amateur jockey, before starting as a BBC trainee and weaving her way up to become one of the country’s most high-profile female sports presenters – already has eight books out, with more on the way.

was doing something”. And structure is a vital part of the writing process for Balding, whose approach is to “block out days in the diary”. There’s always coffee in the morning (“I love my coffee”) then she’ll sit down and start, and go for a walk if she’s “struggling with creativity”.

Excited

These include her bestselling autobiography My Animals And Other Family, and kids’ books The Racehorse Who Learned To Dance and – her latest – Fall Off, Get Back On, Keep Going.

“All through the Paralympics, I’m trying to get [the athletes] to share their story. That’s what I love about it. So the way I work on television or radio, it’s pretty much the way I work on a book, really – I love hearing different voices, and I love being able to make people interested.”

She also admits writing “saved me in lockdown, to be honest, being able to have that structure that still felt like I

It clearly works: she completed two books in the pandemic and will soon be cracking on with another. First though, she’ll be busy reading in her new role as celebrity judge on the Kindle Storyteller Awards. There’s a 20k prize up for grabs, but Balding is also excited by the prospect of highlighting Kindle as an avenue for self-publishing and what that means in terms of getting “different voices” out there.

“I talk to a lot of people who are writing stories, and I know from my own [writing], the challenge is to get a publisher interested in the story, but quite often it’s difficult to do that by just giving them an outline. For a lot of authors, that is the real battle and it’s exhausting trying to get published. With Kindle Direct Publishing, that battle is won, you’ve got it, and then people can read the whole story.”

The Kindle Storyteller Award celebrates independent and newly published work.

The shortlist will be announced in September at amazon.co.uk/storyteller

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Advertising Feature

Wednesday September 29 | 2021

SPOTLIGHT ON:

H Engineering

Local classic car specialists H Engineering are passionate about restoring motorsport and vintage models. We find out more

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NTHONY HANSFORD established H Engineering back in 1985 in between Speedway racing professionally. He had always wanted to race, and was very lucky when his uncle lent him the money for his first bike. Bikes weren’t his only passion as he had always had an interest in classic and vintage cars. This desire arose when attending a Formula one race meeting at Brands Hatch back in the 80s, whilst watching the classic car supporting races. The passion became a reality when he restored a 1934 Austin 7 Ruby at the age of just 22. It all went from there and now Anthony has the pleasure of bringing many vintage cars back to life and providing them the care and attention they warrant.

Over time the business has expanded, which means that it was time to create a purpose built facility which enables H Engineering to work on many more vehicles as they have exceptional in-house capabilities to produce replacement parts and components that have been rendered obsolete.

Based in Horsmonden, only 15 minutes outside of Tunbridge Wells, they are serving enthusiasts throughout Kent and across the UK

and Europe.

Classic cars hold so many memories for their owners, and consume so much character. For most people, just looking at a classic car makes them smile. The classic car market is currently experiencing high activity, making it a great investment, one that it always increasing over time. So not only will you get to experience the joy of classic car ownership but you could make money too. A classic car is also an excellent way of turning heads, it’s also a great conversation starter with others who share a fondness for classic motorcars.

Restoration Over the years, H Engineering have completed many classic car restoration projects including work on some of the world’s most prestigious vehicles. The vast experience of their team and the traditional working practices, ensure that all classic and vintage cars receive the renowned H Engineering treatment. By utilising time-honoured methods and systems, they can deliver successful restorations on even the most demanding of projects.

As well as restoring, Anthony

Hansford has also had the privilege to race historic vehicles, from a 1934 Ex Brooklands Singer Le Mans Streamliner to Jos Verstappen’s A21 Arrows. From 2000-2010 he restored and raced ex Formula 1 cars, which had always been his dream. This led to racing, preparing and running clients classic race cars.

This meant that the company was able to attend many famous tracks in the UK and Europe, including the Goodwood Hill Climb which is a very popular event in the UK. The client was lucky enough to race at the hill climb in his BMW E21 that H Engineering restored and looked

after at the track. This also led to Tony racing a client’s car, a 1959 Rochdale

‘The best way to build an understanding of the work that we do, is to see it for yourself’ GT, at the famous Goodwood Revival and Members Meeting which are wonderful events which totally transform you back in time.

The company invites customers to visit its premise in Horsmonden, where restoration projects are continually in progress. They believe that the best way to build an understanding of the work that they do, is to see it for yourself.

They always make time available to show customers how they will perform work on their own vehicles.

If you would like to find out more about H Engineering classic car restoration services, call now on 01892 549042 to discuss your requirements in detail.

Books

Wednesday September 29 | 2021

Times book reviewer

HANNAH KIRSOP

REWILDING STORY

FLORENTINE CRIME CAPER

Fourteen Wolves by Catherine Barr and Jenni Desmond

A Quiet Death in Italy by Tom Benjamin

(published in hardback by Bloomsbury Children’s Books, priced £12.99)

Large predators like wolves play a huge part in maintaining a balanced eco-system by curbing the population of certain animals and thereby allowing others to prosper. In 1995, wolves had been absent from Yellowstone Park in the USA for seventy years, and this book tells the story of their reintroduction by scientists and the positive environmental impact that they had.

A beautifully illustrated, warmly written and sensitively told story about why predators matter with lots of detail about the other animals found in the park. There is also a particularly lovely section about the original wolves from the project - how they divided into packs and what became of them. Educational and insightful for any age group, this is particularly pitched at children aged 7-12.

9/10

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

The bookcase…

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

Bewilderment by Richard Powers

9/10

Published in hardback by William Heinemann, priced £18.99 (ebook £9.99).

Available now Astrobiologist Theo Byrne has spent his career searching the skies for life beyond the cosmos; he’s also a recent widow fighting to protect his 9-year-old from a system that wants him labelled with Asperger’s. When Robin is threatened with expulsion from school, Theo whisks him away to convince them both life can thrive under even the most impossible circumstances. When they get home, Theo signs Robin up for an experimental neurofeedback therapy using recordings of his dead mother’s brain activity to help stabilise his emotions. Richard Power’s Booker Prizeshortlisted novel is both brutal and heart-warming, intimate and profound. A masterfully curated story of love, grief and loneliness, (Review by Scarlett Sangster)

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(published in paperback by Little, Brown Book Group, priced £8.99) Daniel Leicester is a Brit, who moved to Italy with his Bolognese wife who later tragically died in a cycling accident,.

Leaving Daniel living with his 13-year-old daughter and in-laws, and working as a private investigator for his former chief of police father-in-law, the Comandante.

So to the death of Paolo Solitudine, one of the city’s long-time political ‘anarchists’ who is found floating in an underground canal. The activists suspect the police, but it is the dead man’s lover who hires Daniel and the Comandante to investigate the mayor’s potential involvement.

8/10

FINDING THE POSITIVE

Glittering a Turd by Kris Hallenga (published in hardback by Unbound, priced £12.99)

Kris Hallenga was only 23 when she was diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer. When she told one of her closest friends, he said ‘You beat the statistics in getting this disease at your age, so you will beat them in surviving it too.’ Now having beaten the odds and written a book aged 34, Kris says she still keeps that advice in her mind today especially before scan results.

This book is an incredible story of Kris’ cancer journey, the diagnoses and treatments she has faced but more importantly a tribute to her drive, direction and effusive enthusiasm to live that was sparked by her initial diagnosis. All of which has led to the founding of Coppafeel!, which raises over £2m a year, and to cancer being included on the school curriculum to raise awareness at a young age.

7/10

Harlem Shuffle by Colson Whitehead Published in hardback by Fleet,

priced £16.99 (ebook £8.99). Available now Pulitzer Prize-winning author Colson Whitehead can’t seem to stick to one genre, and his latest novel is something completely new. Set in the late 1950s and early 1960s, Harlem Shuffle is a noir thriller with a colourful cast of compelling characters.

Hardworking Ray Carney has his own furniture shop – but he also has a criminal side inherited from his father, and this gets him into various scrapes and capers. While some of the writing is beautiful, other parts are bombastic – not everyone will like this, but

8/10

it feels fitting for the type of tale Whitehead is trying to tell. The main drawback is the novel is in three parts, jumping a few years between each one; while it shows Carney creeping further into criminality, it threatens to hinder the flow and feels more like a series of short stories.

While not as groundbreaking as some of Whitehead’s previous books, it’s fast-paced and fun – with the more serious background of racism and the 1964 Harlem riots.

(Review by Prudence Wade)

The Wolf In The Woods by Dan Brotzel Published in paperback by Sandstone

Press, priced £8.99 (ebook £6.99). Available now Colleen and Andrew’s marriage is in trouble. A shared alcohol problem, conflict over their botched handling of a wayward son and general midlife malaise force them to ditch suburbia and head to a country cottage for a week of bucolic solitude and sobriety.

However, in the woods, their seemingly jovial and endlessly accommodating landlord, the ‘wolf’ of the

8/10

title – seems eager to steer their voyage past the rocks of impending divorce, but is all as it seems? Full of cutting insights into the reality of long-term relationships but not at all short on heart-warming humour, The Wolf In The Woods is a sometimes sinister but tenderly told tale of ‘be careful what you wish for’.

(Review by James Cann)