Times of Tunbridge Wells 30th March 2022

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Wednesday March 30 | 2022

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A night to remember as businesses come together to celebrate success AWARD WINNING The finalists take to the stage at the end of the night – picture David Bartholomew

By Richard Williams WHAT A splendid night the Times Business Awards 2022 turned out to be.

One of television’s most well-known figures, presenter Eamonn Holmes, entertained a sell-out audience of more than 200 people before handing out the awards at Thursday’s event (March 24).

More than 100 businesses came to the black-tie gala night at Salomons Estate’s Victorian Theatre in Tunbridge Wells to see if they had won one of ten coveted top spots.

Around 30 businesses had made the shortlist in the ten categories, ranging from large, well-established companies to small start-ups and individual

entrepreneurs – all leaders in their respective fields.

Chair of the judging panel Jo James, CEO of Kent Invicta Chamber of Commerce, said: “What really amazed me this year was the breadth of talent and the number of new companies that have entered.”

Winners on the night said they were

‘ecstatic’ with winning an award.

“It’s brilliant, so brilliant. We came to the awards in 2019, and it’s nice to come back again and win something,” said Oliver Corkery from Corker Outdoor who won Best Young Business Person of the Year award.

Full story and pictures page 6

Tunbridge Wells buyers need a mortgage 16 times their salary

By Jonathan Banks THE size of a mortgage needed to buy a house in Tunbridge Wells has now reached 16 times the average wage in the UK, analysis by the Times shows.

Last week the Office for National Statistics (ONS) released its monthly

price index which saw the average cost of a UK home rise £24,000 in January.

This puts the average UK house price at a record level of £274,000.

Estate agents have said that this means the average house now costs eight times the median salary for UK workers, but there are areas such as

Tunbridge Wells that are more than double this.

Median annual earnings in the UK were £31,285 in 2021.

The South East saw house prices increase by 11.1 per cent to an average of £378,311, according to the ONS, which is 12 times UK average earnings.

But house prices in Tunbridge Wells are among the highest in the region.

According to online estate agent Rightmove, properties in Tunbridge Wells had an overall average price of

See more on page 2

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this week… Mortgages for local buyers now 16 times salary BEST IN BUSINESS See how the night of the Times Business Awards unfolded P6

Continued from front page

£521,361 over the last year.

Zoopla has the figure at £534,811.

MALL Meadowhall in This means house buyers in the town on an Sheffield is valued at average wage now need a mortgage at least 16 nearly £800million times their salary to buy a house. while RVP [inset] was Compared to some areas, however, this is less bought for £96million than half price.

Growth

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In the London borough of Kensington and Chelsea, for example, someone would need a mortgage 36-and-a-half times the average salary to have bought a home there last year.

The latest ONS reports shows that average house prices increased to £292,000 in England (9.4 per cent annual growth), to £206,000 in

below this average and which are for sale Wales (13.9 per cent), to £183,000 in in the town.

Scotland (10.8 per cent) and to “There might just have to be a £159,000 in Northern Ireland (7.9 per compromise on location or property cent). type.

Typical house prices across “Equally, first time buyers do have England, and Wales, are now at some factors that are on their side: record levels, the report said. mortgage rates remain historically Deborah Richards, who runs estate DEBORAH RICHARDS very low – when I bought my first agents Maddisons Residential in house, the interest rate was up close to 15 per The Pantiles, said despite the rocketing prices, cent – and they have assistance from the there are still properties in the area that remain Government on the stamp duty payable, the affordable for first time buyers.

Help To Buy scheme on new build properties, “There is no doubt that Tunbridge Wells is now a very expensive place to live, and with the and guarantees for 95 per cent mortgages.

“There is also currently very full employment, average house price so high, it can be difficult and wages are strong. So, in summary, although for first time buyers to get onto the property undoubtedly expensive, there are still plenty of ladder,” she told the Times. factors that mean they should be able to get onto “However, it is worth remembering that there the housing ladder.” are many affordable properties, that are priced

Former teacher faces trial accused of historic abuse at Tonbridge School

By Richard Williams A FORMER teacher has been accused of historic sexual offences at one of Kent’s most prestigious public schools over a period of 17 years.

Russell Tillson, who is a Conservative councillor for New Romney Town Council, has been charged with five counts of indecent assault on boys at the £45,000-a-year Tonbridge School between 1984 and 2001.

CHILDREN WELCOME The Tunbridge Wells Literary Festival has a special offering with leading authors just for younger readers P27

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Regarded At Sevenoaks Magistrates’ Court last week, prosecutors said the 71-year-old was a teacher at the school, where he was regarded as the ‘gatekeeper for pupils regarding their applications to Oxford and Cambridge universities’.

He pleaded not guilty to all five charges and was released on unconditional bail, to appear at Maidstone Crown Court on April 19.

As well as holding a seat on New Romney Town Council, the councillor is also a representative on St Mary in the Marsh Parish Council and previously served as the Deputy Leader of what is now Folkestone and Hythe District Council.

RUSSELL TILLSON Cllr Tillson is also Chairman of the Folkestone and Hythe Conservatives’ Association.

Tonbridge School said they were unable to comment on the ongoing court case.

SOUTHBOROUGH PE TEACHER STRUCK OFF THE former head of PE at a school in Southborough has been banned from the classroom following a conviction for assault.

In a report published by the Teaching Regulation Agency last week, it was said that 57-year-old Paul Stead had worked at Meadows School in Southborough since 2004.

He was sentenced with a community order

and a restraining order at Mid Kent Magistrates’ Court in July 2019 following a charge of assault occasioning bodily harm connected with an assault that occurred earlier in the year but not at an educational establishment.

The panel said the offence ‘resulted in harm to a person’ and that ‘the panel considered

that Mr Stead’s behaviour in committing the offence would be likely to affect public confidence in the teaching profession, if Mr Stead was allowed to continue teaching’.

The panel banned Stead from the classroom indefinitely but said he will be allowed to apply for the ‘prohibition order’ to be removed in five years’ time.

Business advisors say Rishi’s statement lacked ‘substance’ said the chancellor faced a ‘perfect storm’ but that the statement lacked ‘substance’.

By Robert Forrester THE Chancellor unveiled his budget plans for the coming year with his Spring Statement last week (Wednesday, March 23).

Rishi Sunak unveiled several measures to combat the cost-of-living crisis, including the threshold at which people start paying National Insurance and a 5p cut to fuel duty.

Encouragement Mr Sunak says the measures will ‘put billions back into the pockets of people across the UK and delivers the biggest net cut to personal taxes in over a quarter of a century’.

But business experts in Tunbridge Wells have offered a cooler response to the spring statement.

Neill Thomas, partner and managing director at Thomas Mansfield Solicitors, said: “On the face of it, the Spring Statement was a sign of encouragement but as usual, what he’s given with one hand he has taken away with the other.

“Although the increase in the Employment Allowance from £4,000 to £5,000 was welcome

Forecasting DARREN AUSTIN NEILL THOMAS as it will mean eligible employers will be able to reduce their employer National Insurance Contributions bills by up to £5,000 per annum, there was no news on reforming business rates, which have long been the bugbear of small business, and adding to the increase in overheads at a time when shops and offices are still far from being fully utilised.

“There was also no news about assistance for the leisure industry. Pubs and restaurants are trying to attract customers back to recover some of their losses from shutdown during Covid but on April 1 will be hit with the reintroduction of the standard 20 per cent VAT rate on food, which had been temporarily reduced to 12.5 per cent.”

Darren Austin from accountancy firm Synergee

“Rishi Sunak had little room to manoeuvre in the Spring Statement. The cost of supporting the country over the last two years of the pandemic have left the coffers bare,” he said.

“In addition, the fuel crisis and inflation are a perfect storm with the Office for Budget Responsibility forecasting the biggest real hit to household income since comparable records began in the 1950s.

“Mr Sunak is a conservative and believes in low taxes, but we currently have a significantly high overall tax burden with the Spring Statement doing little to change this.

“On the plus side, the threshold at which employees and self-employed will commence paying National Insurance (NI) has increased.”

He continued: “Overall, a confidently delivered statement but with little actual substance to ameliorate the cost-of-living issues that are happening now.”

Wednesday March 30 | 2022

NEWS IN BRIEF

Swift justice for London shoplifter A PROLIFIC shoplifter from London was jailed less than 24 hours after swiping bottles of Scotch from a store in Tunbridge Wells.

Christopher Armour travelled from his home in Lewisham on February 15 and March 17 to the town where on both occasions he stole spirits from Marks & Spencer.

Following the latest theft, officers from the Tunbridge Wells Community Policing Team searched surrounding areas and located him in nearby Calverley Grounds.

Three stolen bottles of whisky were recovered and Armour was arrested.

The 46-year-old was charged with two counts of theft and remanded to Medway Magistrates’ Court on the following day, where he pleaded guilty and admitted breaching a previous suspended sentence.

He was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment.

Champneys Spa closes A SPA in Tunbridge Wells is set to close its doors for good.

A post titled ‘Farewell Tunbridge Wells’ found on the website of Champneys Spa says the business will close on April 14.

The statement said: “We have truly loved every minute of bringing you back to your best with our relaxing spa treatments.

“As one door closes, another one opens and while we are very excited for what awaits, we want to thank you so much for your support during our time here in Tunbridge Wells.”

Police raid nets £50,000 A POLICE search of a ‘suspicious vehicle’ led to a bonanza property raid which uncovered designer items and around £50,000 in cash, as part of a Police investigation into drug supply and money laundering.

Plain clothes officers of the Tunbridge Wells Community Policing Team approached a ‘suspicious vehicle parked in the Knights Wood area’ at 4:55pm last Thursday [March 24].

When the officers searched the 20-year-old driver’s car, they found and seized quantities of cannabis and two mobile phones.

They then raided a nearby address linked to the man, uncovering ‘multiple bags containing large amounts of cash’ as well as several pairs of designer trainers and coats worth thousands of pounds, said Kent Police.

The money and items were confiscated. Both the 20-year-old man and a 22-year-old woman were taken into custody in connection with the supply of drugs and money laundering.

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Cash-strapped sports operator to spend £800,000 on upgrades

By Richard Williams THE company that runs the leisure centres for Tunbridge Wells Borough Council (TWBC) has announced a series of upgrades.

Fusion Lifestyle, which runs the Tunbridge Wells Sports Centre in St John’s Road, The Weald Sports Centre in Cranbrook and Putlands Sport & Leisure Centre in Paddock Wood, is to spend £800,000 on all three facilities.

The news comes after the sports operator had to be bailed out by the Council in 2020 in order to restart leisure services in the borough following the start of the pandemic.

It received £670,000 from Council funds after the first lockdown last year, and a further £225,960 from Sport England’s National Leisure Recovery Fund (NRLF).

GETTING IN SHAPE The leisure centre in St John’s Road and [inset] some of the new spin bikes

Equipment At the time, the operator promised to make enhancements to the TWBC owned facilities and has now outlined its plans, using its own funding to pay for the upgrades.

The first work will be revealed on April 2 when upgraded spin bikes will be in use at Tunbridge Wells Sports Centre and The Weald Sports Centre.

Upgrades to the bikes and studio at Putlands Sport & Leisure Centre will be open for use from April 9.

This will be followed by gym equipment upgrades at all three centres in July and August.

This will include new Life Fitness cardiovascular machines, fixed weight resistance machines, free weights and functional training equipment at Tunbridge Wells Sports Centre and The Weald Sports Centre and upgrades to all gym equipment at Putlands Sport & Leisure Centre.

Works will be phased to minimise disruption to users and will be completed by the end of the summer, say the leisure provider.

Anthony Cawley, CEO of Fusion Lifestyle, said: “We are really pleased to be bringing these improvements to centres in the region.

A dog day afternoon down by the reservoir

“We believe in providing quality sport, leisure and fitness facilities to the community and our plans will ensure the centres offer top of the range equipment for many years to come.”

Paul Taylor, Director of Change and Communities at TWBC added: “We are committed to providing high-quality leisure facilities to help residents improve their health and wellbeing.

“We believe these works will ensure residents have access to great equipment that can help them achieve their goals.”

Birth centre reopens A MATERNITY unit is to reopen after more than a year of being closed.

The Crowborough Birthing Centre has been closed since December 2020 but is set to open again in the next few weeks.

A birthing centre is a midwife-run unit, whose rooms are outfitted in ‘home’ style, but with extra features such as birthing pools and birthing balls.

The unit, which is run by Maidstone & Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust (MTW) despite being attached to Crowborough Hospital in East Sussex, announced in mid-March that it would start booking birthplace assessments for expectant mothers categorised as ‘low risk’ who are at week 34 of pregnancy or later.

“We can confirm that the Crowborough Birthing Centre is set to re-open early next month,” an MTW Trust spokesman told the Times.

Staffing

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PAW PATROL Proud owners showing off their dogs

By Victoria Roberts NEARLY 500 four-legged friends gathered at one of the area’s most popular beauty spots at the weekend, for the annual Bewl Water Big Dog Day Out. More than 450 dogs and 1,839 of their twolegged friends flocked to the shores of the reservoir in Lamberhurst on a Saturday.

The event’s dog show went on throughout the day, with five categories, from ‘most handsome’ and ‘prettiest’ to ‘dog the judge would most like to take home’.

The last prize drew the biggest number of entrants and ended up with the most winners – two.

“It was so great to see so many owners chatting away and catching up on all the doggy gossip,”

said Andrew Daniells, business manager of Bewl Water, which is run by Elite Leisure Collection, which also owns One Media, publisher of the Times.

Puppies “It was a real mix, from the smallest Pomeranian to the largest St Bernard, and the dogs were very well behaved.”

The human puppies (children) entered into the spirit of Dog’s Best Friend, by following the treasure hunt clues to win a prize, not for them but for their pet.

“They had to find the correct combination of letters to win a treat for their dog. The day was all about the dogs, not the children,” added Mr Daniells.

Like many medical units, the birthing centre suffered from staffing issues during the pandemic.

Births were suspended at Crowborough Hospital on December 31, 2020, along with home births throughout the area, with the MTW NHS Trust citing South East Coast Ambulance Foundation Trust (SECAmb) ambulance response times, ‘and the impact this may have on some of our services’.

In any out-of-hospital birth, an ambulance may need to be available to transfer mother and baby to Tunbridge Wells Hospital in the case of complications.

Maidstone Birth centre continued operating, and in January 2021, MTW Trust also set up ‘home’ style birthing rooms at Tunbridge Wells Hospital.

Then, in February 2021, the Trust announced that ambulances for home births could be guaranteed again, but a shortage of birthing centre staff meant the Crowborough Birthing Centre would remain closed for a while longer.

“This is because we have had to transfer staff who would usually be working in the birth centre, to Tunbridge Wells Hospital to help support the staff there,” said the Trust at the time.

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Wednesday March 30 | 2022

Parties fire the starting gun

By Richard Williams THE official registration period for the forthcoming local elections in May has started, after the Council posted formal notice of the ballot.

On May 5, 16 seats in 16 wards across the Borough are being contested.

The six-week pre-election period, also known as the ‘purdah’, prevents local government from making certain announcements about initiatives that could be seen to be advantageous to any candidates or parties in the forthcoming election.

It also sees the local parties begin canvassing in earnest, for what is expected to be among the closest contests held in the Borough for two decades.

In order to bring down Tom Dawlings as leader and secure another administration, the opposition parties will need to win another six seats between them in order to hold a vote of no-confidence in the current leadership.

If this happens, a coalition of the opposition parties would have to be formed to run the Council.

and the Alliance.

James Rands, a former Lib Dem councillor who left the party earlier this year and is now an independent, says if the Tories do fall after May 5, any restructuring of the Council’s cabinet had to be ‘fair’ and based on the current strengths of the opposition parties.

He told the Times: “If it becomes unrealistic for BATTLEGROUND Tunbridge Wells Town Hall

Penultimate During the last local elections in May 2021, Tunbridge Wells Borough Council fell to No Overall Control for the first time in 20 years.

The Conservatives have been running the authority as a minority party ever since and have been further weakened by a by-election defeat and a couple of resignations.

This is also the penultimate local election before the voting system changes in May 2024, which will see a reduction of councillors from 48 to 39 as well as changes to the ward boundaries.

Councillors will all be voted for every four years from 2024, rather than a third of the chamber every year for three years out of four.

In the current 48-seat chamber, the Tory party has 21 councillors, while the opposition parties can muster 26 between them – 12 Lib Dems, 6 Alliance, 5 Labour and 3 independents.

The 16 seats up for election on May 5 include ten occupied by Conservative councillors, two by Lib Dems, two by the Alliance, one by Labour, and one that is vacant.

The Liberal Democrats’ Ben Chapelard who represents St James’ ward, would be favourite for the top job, if his party remains the largest of the opposition groups.

But Labour leader Hugo Pound has previously insisted any opposition pact has to be ‘a coalition of equals’ although his party currently has fewer seats than both the Liberal Democrats

CURRENT MAKE UP OF TUNBRIDGE WELLS BOROUGH COUNCIL CONSERVATIVE PARTY 21

ALLIANCE 6

LIBERAL DEMOCRATS 12

LABOUR PARTY 5

INDEPENDENT/VACANT 3

ASK

COUNTER

VIEW with

Darren Austin at Synergee

Darren Austin is a director of Synergee Limited, a firm of Chartered Accountants & business advisers based in Tunbridge Wells.

If you have any questions you'd like to ask Darren he can be contacted on 01892 772960 | www.synergee.org.uk

SEATS BEING CONTESTED

the Conservatives to stay in power, what everyone [the opposition] has to understand is that any coalition or agreement has to be fair and reflect the number of seats the parties have.

“The idea of a coalition of equals is not fair or realistic. The Liberal Democrats CLLR JAMES RANDS are likely to be the largest party so that will have to be taken into account.”

All opposition parties have previously ruled out working alongside a Conservative administration, but this could result in a stalemate with the Tories keeping hold of the Council as a minority but unable to pass policy.

The Conservatives need at least five of the seats they are contesting to keep control of the Council, but they would need to win all ten they currently hold, plus a further four if they are to regain the majority they lost in 2021.

The only other group that can possibly form a majority after May 5 will be the Lib Dems, but they would have to hold onto the two seats the party is contesting as well as 13 of the other 14 that are up for election.

The candidates running for election in May will be announced after April 5.

CURRENT HOLDER

PARTY

Benenden & Cranbrook Cllr Sean Holden Conservative Brenchley & Horsmonden Cllr Alan McDermott Conservative Broadwater Cllr Chris Woodward Conservative Culverden Cllr David Scott Conservative Hawkhurst & Sandhurst Cllr Patrick Thomson Conservative Paddock Wood East Cllr Sarah Hamilton Conservative Paddock Wood West Vacant (previously held by Conservative) Pantiles & St Marks Cllr James Scholes Conservative Park Cllr Nicholas Pope Alliance Pembury Cllr Barrington-King Conservative Sherwood Cllr Bob Backhouse Conservative S’borough & High Brooms Cllr Alain Lewis Labour Southborough North Cllr Joe Simmons Conservative Speldhurst & Bidborough Cllr Matthew Sankey Alliance St James’ Cllr Rob Wormington Lib Dem St John’s Cllr Mark Ellis Lib Dem

In place of the usual Q&A, the following are some of the support packages that have Makingmade Tax Digital (MTD) isto a key partbusinesses of the VAT periods commencing on or after 1 April 2022. been available help deal with the Coronavirus: Government’sJob planRetention to improveScheme: record keeping Coronavirus HMRCfor will businesses and individuals, allowing them to have a be reimburse 80% of wages paid to workers who have better understanding of their financial position and laid off due to the coronavirus crisis. This is capped at related taxemployee liabilities.per It ismonth. based on the requirement to £2.5k per keep records digitally, using appropriate accounting

VAT Deferral: The deferral will apply from 20 March software, and report to HMRC by direct integration from to 30 June 2020. There is a lack of clarity on the Gov. the software to HMRC’s systems rather than manual uk website and we are interpreting this as payments entry. It will eventually cover VAT, Income Tax and due by 30 June rather than quarters ended 30 June.

Corporation Tax. This means that May quarter VAT Returns, where It has been in place for VAT since April 2019 but was payment is due by 7 July, will still be payable as only obligatory for VAT registered businesses over the normal. Any payments deferred will become payable registration threshold of £85k. Businesses that were by the end of the tax year (31/3/21 Company or 5/4/21 below that, but registered voluntarily, were still able to Unincorporated) log into HMRC’s portal and manually enter the VAT Income Tax Deferral: figures for each Return.The Thisself-assessment is changing andsecond all VAT payment account, will duehave by 31toJuly 2020, willMTD be for registeredon businesses submit using deferred to 31 January 2021. No penalties or interest will be charged.

Cash A grant of £10k automatically This Grants: means that you will needwill to use appropriatebe provided(Itolike all QuickBooks businesses currently entitled to Small software Online but there are many Business Rates Relief.

A grant ofsign £25kupcan be claimed MTD compatible solutions) and to MTD. If you already have aninagent appointed to manage yourindustry VAT for businesses the retail, hospitality or leisure affairs, is likelyvalue that they can do£15k this for you.

If not, you if their itrateable is between and £51K. can do so yourself here: https://www.gov.uk/vat-recordBusiness Rates Holiday: There is a 12-month business keeping/sign-up-for-making-tax-digital-for-vat. It can rates holiday (April 20 to March 21) for all retail, take a while for the sign-up process to be completed so it hospitality and leisure businesses in England. is best to start in plenty of time before your filing Time to Pay Arrangements: In addition to the but deadline.

If you already use appropriate software, deferral schemes noted above, if you have outstanding had not previously elected to file by MTD, the only tax liabilities (Corporation Tax, VAT or Income Tax) change you will notice is that it will be much simpler to due to coronavirus, you may be able to agree a time submit and receive confirmation from HMRC as the to pay arrangement.

Arrangements willexchange be agreeddata on accounting software and HMRC link and a case by case To discuss your options, contact at the touch of basis. a button.

HMRC on 0800 0159 559.

Further info and updates can be found here: https:// www.synergee.org.uk/press-releases/coronavirus-update

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for crunch local elections

The Times approached all the main parties and asked what key policies they will be focusing on during the run up to the May 5 election. Here is what they had to say…

THESE elections are all about bringing in a new administration.

After more than 20 years, the Conservatives, who are already in a minority, are likely to lose control of the council. The Liberal Democrats are very aware of the need to fix the mistakes made by previous Conservative administrations and address the poor state of council finances.

We will focus on the unglamorous but necessary tasks of running the local services well – waste collection & recycling, parks & community facilities, planning and the maintenance of neglected council-owned facilities. It also needs to rightsize its operations to deliver these services efficiently and effectively for residents.

Making genuine, lasting change needs people from all parties to work together. We pledge to listen, consult and collaborate to put residents first.

TUNBRIDGE Wells Greens have been boosted by our highest number of votes ever in the 2021 elections and will continue to campaign with our focus on Adrian Thorne in Broadwater who has been working all year round in the ward.

Greens will be sticking with their principles and opposing the destruction of the local green belt. We will continue to support environmentally friendly housing on recycled brown field sites.

All year we have been an active, campaigning party in the local community and we are committed to offering residents new councillors that actually listen – not more of the same. Voters now have the chance to give their final verdict on this stale, wasteful and failed Conservative Council.

Under new leadership, councillors will need to work more collaboratively for residents and make Tunbridge Wells a place where everyone can prosper and thrive.

THE main issues we will be focusing on are supporting businesses and investing in Tunbridge Wells to bring footfall into the town, such as the co-working arrangements in the town hall and the opening of Amelia Scott.

Climate emergency and the continuing progress of the Council’s Net Zero target by encouraging lower carbon emissions throughout the borough is also our focus.

The local plan is also a priority and delivering needed housing and protections for the countryside. As is active and cleaner travel such as more electric vehicles, including buses, as well as electric vehicle charging points.

Continuing to build on our relationships with government, including Kent County Council, the Town Forum, and the parish and town councils, helping refugees as well as improving council services with sound finances post Covid are all in our focus.

VOTERS now have the chance to give their final verdict on this stale, wasteful and failed Conservative Council.

Under new leadership, councillors will need to work more collaboratively for residents and make Tunbridge Wells a place where everyone can prosper and thrive.

The five Tunbridge Wells Labour priorities are: To make a plan to get us past Covid and the cost of living crisis.

To create better and safer towns and villages.

To build more genuinely affordable houses to buy and rent.

To be more ambitious locally in tackling the climate crisis.

And to listen and act more on what residents say.

The Tunbridge Wells Alliance were also approached but didn’t respond.

TIMES COMMENT: TOUGH DECISIONS FOR WHOEVER IS IN CHARGE THE ELECTIONS in May could be crucial for Tunbridge Wells. Since the last ballot in 2021, the Council has been under No Overall Control.

So far, this has not posed too much of a problem, since the Council’s main task over the last 12 months has been the Covid-19 recovery.

The last budget was nothing more than a sticking plaster, but some difficult decisions do lie ahead.

The Council’s revenue has plummeted, and it is unlikely it will return to pre-pandemic levels any time soon. It is unsustainable for a Council to keep plundering its reserves, so does the Council cut services, or sell some of its assets?

While a plan has been formulated to turn the Town Hall into a co-working space, the Assembly Hall still loses hundreds of thousands each year, and a decision will have to be made on its future.

Whoever takes charge will also have to get a grip on the woeful waste collections contract.

Ruling out working with what is the current largest party – the Conservatives – could prove a short-sighted move by the opposition parties who may find the electorate holds them to account for keeping the town hall in deadlock.

If the Conservatives fall, there is no guarantee a coalition, of what is likely to be three parties,

will be able to work together successfully or effectively if they gain control.

Other than being united in opposition, they are three distinct political groups, with different ideologies, with very little in common.

As one councillor put it last week: “Whatever happens in May, it will likely result in complete chaos.”

For the sake of Tunbridge Wells, let’s hope not.

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Business feature special

Wednesday March 30 | 2022

Celebrating the best in business Eamonn told the audience— “you AFTER two tough years, the Times guys have got to be something Business Awards returned last extra. If you’ve got an ambition, if week, where more than 200 guests you’ve got a dream, tell someone representing over 100 businesses about it. came to celebrate their success.

“Let people The event know what at Salomons “Let people know what you want, Estate on Thursday you want, and you’ll be and you’ll be surprised (March 24) surprised at the at the was hosted opportunities that come opportunities by none other that come your than daytime your way” way. and breakfast “It’s hard to TV legend, get in. It’s hard to get established.

Eamonn Holmes.

It’s hard to make a living,” he told Eamonn treated the audience to the audience. his story of getting into broadcast “If you’re here tonight, I applaud journalism from a family which had you.” never known such a career.

Guests also heard After he finished his journalism from Ian Alsop, training, his mother told him: General Manager at ‘You’ll go and get a job, a real Lexus Tunbridge job’, and he did – in the ladies’ Wells, main sponsor underwear department of Primark of the event, before in Belfast.

Eamonn was joined Being threatened over refunds on stage by head which could be worth as little as judge Jo James OBE, 60p restored his ambition to follow chief executive of his training and get a news job, Kent Invicta Chamber even if he had to work in a pub five of Commerce, before days a week to bring in an income the pair delivered for the family. the good news to ten “My mother, I love her and bless businesses. her, but… no ambition. You guys—”

Chief Judge Jo James

PHOTOS: David Bartholomew Photography

All photographs by David Bartholomew Editor of the Times Richard Williams

A NIGHT TO REMEMBER

SPARKLING - Elysian Residences drinks reception

A CUT ABOVE Finalists from Max Oliver barbers

Business feature special

Wednesday March 30 | 2022

7

HALL OF FAME – 200 guests gather in the Science Theatre at Salomons Estate for the Times Business Awards 2022

If at first you don’t succeed… to Outstanding Business of the Year in 2022.

After two and a half years since the last Times Handelsbanken gave its name to the Resilient Business Awards, and the small matter of a global Business category – new for 2022, to recognise pandemic, you would think we were starting imagination and grit in response to pandemic again with a blank slate, yet time and again, the conditions – after supporting the Service winners showed they had long memories – for Excellence Award in 2019. both their past successes and their past nearYet there are always new faces, as the Start Up misses.

Business of the Year Neill Thomas, of solicitors Thomas “We’re so pleased to have won a category proves.

Demonstrating the Mansfield, who won Times Business Award. We cycle of economic Best Business 25+ renewal in the area, Employees, said: “It’s really didn’t think we were there were nearly 30 amazing. We’re very going to but we did!” entries from businesses pleased. I’m actually which were under two shocked. We were years old at the closing pretty sure we weren’t date for entries, coinciding nearly exactly with going to win it, as we won one in 2019.” the period of pandemic restrictions.

Oliver Corkery of Corker Outdoor, the Young And the eventual winner, Jess Gibson of the TN Business Person of the Year, was pleased to Card, told the Times she was shocked to have settle a score with the past, telling the Times: beaten others in her category.

“We came to the awards in 2019, and it’s nice to “I can’t believe we won this! There were so come back again and win something.” many deserving recipients in this category. The Meanwhile, a number of 2019 sponsors TN Card supports our local businesses, but all returned to make the category prizes possible. three of the other finalists opened during the Childrensalon remained stalwart sponsors of pandemic,” she said. the Family Business of the Year category, while Other finalists in that category were lumière, Thomas Snell & Passmore graduated from Manic Ceramix and TAW Hairdressing. sponsoring Start Up Business of the Year in 2019

CAN I DRIVE THIS HOLME? – Times Business Awards host Eamonn Holmes poses with one of the two cars provided by headline sponsor Lexus Tunbridge Wells

TIARA TALK – Start Up Business of the Year finalist, Melissa Bandtock of lumière lighting emporium

HOT TOPIC Finalists Retail Fire & (L) The George & Dragon

GENERATION CORKER – The team from Corker Outdoor congregated on stage for their Outstanding Business of the Year Award. Meanwhile, managing director Oliver Corkery also carried off the Young Business Person of the Year award

8

Business feature special

Wednesday March 30 | 2022

Broad range of social media platforms highlights diversity AWARD finalists, winners and sponsors alike took to social media to celebrate their wins, as well as acknowlegding the successes of others.

The variety of social media platforms used underlines the diversity of the businesses that

entered the Awards. Communicating wherever their customers are to be found, guests posted their pictures and thoughts on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram, in a glittering postpandemic display...

SHORTLISTS: TIMES BUSINESS AWARDS 2022 BUSINESSES from across the Times’ readership area had put their names forward for ten awards, including the newest category of ‘resilient business. This highlights how companies had changed or adapted their business model to overcome economic pressures and deal with pandemic restrictions in order to grow - at times in unexpected directions. Here is a list of the businesses which made the grade...

BEST BUSINESS 1-25 EMPLOYEES

Sponsored by Charles Stanley HR Revolution Retail Fire The Gallery Hair TN Recruits*

BEST BUSINESS 25+ EMPLOYEES

Sponsored by The Finance Hub GSE Building & Engineering Ansacom Thomas Mansfield*

CREATIVE BUSINESS OF THE YEAR Sponsored by HR Revolution Digitom Sharp Relations Max Oliver The Gallery Hairdressing*

ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR Sponsored by Brewin Dolphin Colley Raine

Corker Outdoors Sharp Thinking Clarity Homes & Commercial*

BEST FAMILY BUSINESS OF THE YEAR Sponsored by Childrensalon Sussex Beds Corker Outdoors The Meek Boutique Jaques of London*

BEST IN FOOD AND DRINK Sponsored by SitSmart The Blue Anchor The George & Dragon Balfour Winery*

RESILIENT BUSINESS

Sponsored by Handelsbanken Energise E-Bikes Thomas Mansfield TN Recruits IPT Fitness*

START-UP BUSINESS OF THE YEAR

Sponsored by Pushkin Antiques lumière Manic Ceramix TAW Hairdressing The TN Card*

YOUNG BUSINESS PERSON OF THE YEAR Sponsored by Lawson Commercial Joseph Trinder (Gorringe’s) Jack Sales (TN Accountancy) Oliver Corkery (Corker Outdoors)*

OUTSTANDING BUSINESS OF THE YEAR

Sponsored by Thomson Snell & Passmore Ansacom Sharp Relations TN Recruits Corker Outdoors*

* Winners of individual categories shown in bold

Business feature special

Wednesday March 30 | 2022

Roll of honour:

9

CREATIVE BUSINESS OF THE YEAR

The Times Business Awards 2022 winners START-UP BUSINESS OF THE YEAR

Jess Gibson (centre) receives her award from Alexander Pushkin of sponsor Pushkin Antiques

Name of winning business:

TN Card About: Set up in February 2020, the TN Card enables people to secure rewards and offers whilst purchasing locally and supporting the High Street.

Lorenzo Colangelo (left) receives the award

from Wendy Read of sponsor HR Revolution “I can’t believe we won this! There were so many deserving recipients in this category. Name of winning business: The TN Card supports our local businesses, The Gallery Hairdressing but all three of the other finalists opened About: Originally set up in 1980 under the name Barnet Fair, this established family hairdressers during the pandemic”

Award sponsor: Pushkin Antiques

Jess Gibson

FAMILY BUSINESS OF THE YEAR

Kate Luke (left) receives the award from Denise Hamilton of sponsor Childrensalon

Andrew Mann (left) receives his award from Louise Shaw of sponsor Brewin Dolphin

Clarity Homes and Commercial About: Rather than sit back, Andrew used the time in lockdowns to work on the business rather than in it, rebranding the company to Clarity Homes and Commercial in order to fit in with his mission to bring clarity to construction, raising the standards of the industry and changing the experience and expectations.

Lorenzo Colangelo

Award sponsor: HR Revolution

ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR

Name of winning business:

was renamed The Gallery in 1995.

“It’s fantastic. It’s great to win something, and lovely to win something local”

Award sponsor: Brewin Dolphin

“Oh, my God, it’s amazing.

I’m not even sure yet where I’m going to put the award, (but it’s amazing)” Andrew Mann

Name of winning business:

Jaques of London About: Founded in 1795, Jaques of London are 8th generation toys and games makers - the oldest in the world. Famed for creating family titles, such as Snakes & Ladders, Ping Pong and Ludo, they are underpinned by the century’s old motto of ‘Teaching the World to Play’.

Award sponsor: Childrensalon

“I feel ecstatic. The Jaques family is quite a modest one and it’s really a privilege to be propelling them into the limelight and telling everyone what they’ve been doing for 227 years” Kate Luke

10

Business feature special

Wednesday March 30 | 2022

YOUNG BUSINESS PERSON OF THE YEAR

Oliver Corkery (left) receives his award from Chris Lawson of sponsor Lawson Commercial

Mase and Aimee Leuluniu (centre) receive their award from Jon Cornell of sponsor Handelsbanken Award sponsor: Lawson Commercial

Name of winning individual:

Oliver Corkery (Corker Outdoor) About: Oliver joined the family business six years ago, with his focus firmly on evolving the the company into something exciting and new that would stand out in the industry. With renewed vision, he set about building the ideal team to get the job done. Oliver introduced modern marketing strategies, enabling the business to grow 300% during this time.

RESILIENT BUSINESS OF THE YEAR

Award sponsor: Handelsbanken

Name of winning business:

IPT Fitness “It’s brilliant, so brilliant.

We came to the awards in 2019, and it’s nice to come back again and win something” Oliver Corkery

About: In March 2020 due to the pandemic all businesses in this sector had to close their doors, instead of sitting back and waiting the business adapted to an online model ensuring not only connected with existing clients but also attracted business. Lessons learnt from the pandemic have enabled to the business to diversify and futureproof.

SPRING AT BALFOUR WINERY

“We were definitely not expecting to win – we’re so small. But we’re so happy with the award – thank you!”

Aimee and Mase Leuluniu

Supporting local has never been so rewarding

I

On the 2nd of May, Balfour Winery is hosting a Bluebell walk with our in-house wildlife expert, Lindy. Walk through our ancient oak woodland to experience the magical carpet of bluebells, and enjoy a tutored tasting of three Balfour Wines.

Our Summer Tours and Tastings resume on April 1st and you can always visit for a self-tutored tasting or pick up a map for a self-guided walk.

N

H OV E R

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PEND

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Monday 2nd May | 11.30am and 2.30pm | £45 per person

EVENTS

Come celebrate our 20th anniversary with us. We have special events planned, the first is the launch of our Winemakers' Collection, where you will be the first to taste our three newest wines.

SCAN ME WITH YOUR SMARTPHONE CAMERA

FOOD

Enjoy one of our seasonal sharing platters made with local produce; or book a table at our Balfour Dining Club for a delicious and intimate four-course wine paired dinner.

Open daily 10am - 6pm | April - October balfourwinery.com | 01622 832794 Balfour Winery, Five Oak Lane, Staplehurst, Kent, TN12 0HT

Buy a virtual membership for only £2.99 a month or £24.99 a year

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Join our fast growing community supporting local and enjoy rewards at 500 + independents in Tunbridge Wells, Tonbridge and Sevenoaks.

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Join today via our app or at thetncard.com

WINNER

Business feature special

Wednesday March 30 | 2022

BEST IN FOOD AND DRINK

11

BEST BUSINESS 1-25 EMPLOYEES

Neil Simmons (second from right) receives the award from Katie Presland (right) of sponsors Charles Stanley James Fitzgerald (left) receives the award from Charlie Harding of sponsor SitSmart Name of winning business:

Balfour Winery About: Balfour are a 400-acre family-owned estate in the Garden of England, with vast ancient woodlands, vineyards, apple orchards and wildflower meadows.

The estate combines conservation with an unrivalled spirit of hospitality and generosity.

Name of winning business:

TN Recruits “It’s been a lot of work. The wine speaks for itself, but the food to go along with is something we’ve really put a lot of work into” James Fitzgerald

Award sponsor: SitSmart

The Award-Winning Team Who Can Represent You

Enabling business growth With over 30 methods of finding the right candidate, we have successfully enabled the growth of businesses in and around the TN Postcode since 2014.

Our specialist markets include Legal, Accountancy and Automotive. We also have a generalist division solely dedicated to local office-based roles.

Changing lives In 2021, we helped start, grow or further the careers of over 300 people, we love changing lives!

Contact today to grow your business or further your career

01892 571105 info@tnrecruits.com www.tnrecruits.com Facebook@TNRecruits Twitter@TNRecruits

LinkedIn@TNRecruits

About: TN RECRUITS based in Tunbridge Wells offer permanent and Temporary Recruitment in Law, Accountancy, Automotive and general office-based roles.

Award sponsor: Charles Stanley

“I’m elated. The award will have pride of place in our office. I’d like to get a picture with all of us as well – not just those here tonight – because it’s down to every single member of my team. We never lose sight of the fact that that we are here to help businesses to grow, or to help people with their careers. We never take profit over purpose” Neil Simmons

12

Business feature special

Wednesday March 30 | 2022

BEST BUSINESS 25+ EMPLOYEES

OUTSTANDING BUSINESS OF THE YEAR

Neill Thomas (left) and Emma Howlett (right) receive their award from Gillian Palmer (left) of sponsor The Finance Hub Name of winning business:

The team from Corker Outdoor receive their award from Jason Varney of sponsor Thomson Snell & Passmore

Award sponsor: The Finance Hub

Thomas Mansfield About: THOMAS MANSFIELD was Established in 2004 by Tunbridge Wells residents, Neill Thomas, and Jonathan Mansfield, Thomas Mansfield Solicitors is a specialist law firm practicing employment, dispute resolution, family and private client law in London and the Southeast.

Personal training Bootcamps

Award sponsor: Thomson Snell & Passmore

Name of winning business:

Corker Outdoor “It’s amazing. We’re very pleased.

I’m actually shocked. We were pretty sure we weren’t going to win it, as we won an award in 2019” Neill Thomas

Indoor gym Outdoor facility

About: CORKER OUTDOOR lies somewhere between a specialist builders’ merchant, catering for landscapers and garden designers, and a garden centre. Five years ago, they rebranded from Small Loads Ltd., creating their own lane, moving away from the local and more regular builders’ yards to something more inspirational and lifestyle orientated.

Nutrition & Fit3D Body Scanner Rugby Fitness

“It’s fantastic.We all worked hard, and it’s brilliant just to have this recognition – just the pat on the back for that” Mick Corkery

Fitness Boxing Over Fifties Strength training

Award Winning Personal Trainers MASEFAU LEULUNIU Director/Personal Trainer Former professional rugby player 12+ years industry experience Fully qualified and insured rugby coach, personal trainer, and fitness boxing coach

AIMEE LEULUNIU Director/Personal Trainer 15+ years worldwide industry experience BSc Sport & Exercise Sciences MSc Strength & Conditioning Fully qualified and insured personal trainer.

07742118284

WWW.IPTFITNESS.CO.UK

VANESSA CHEFER SPINOLA

Personal Trainer Former professional Olympic athlete (Brazilian team, Rio 2016) BSc Physical Education Fully qualified and insured personal trainer

MYLO VANNERMACKEW

Personal Trainer BSc Strength & Conditioning 5+ years industry experience Fully qualified and insured personal trainer Rugby player (Tonbridge Juddians RFC)

6A SHAM FARM, ERIDGE PARK, TUNBRIDGE WELLS, TN3 9JA

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Local News

FOR EVEN MORE NEWS VISIT: timeslocalnews.co.uk

Wednesday March 30 | 2022

Tunbridge Wells’ Kes issues warning to motoring litterbugs “We organised that Lola could use an enriched aviary he had free, so I could build her up for one more week before releasing her,” said Carly, explaining that an aviary allowed birds to re-acclimatise to the wild, and finish recovering without too much contact with humans.

By Victoria Roberts A TUNBRIDGE WELLS woman who nursed a kestrel back to health after it was hit by a car has warned that litterbug drivers are seriously endangering birds of prey by attracting rodents to roadside rubbish.

The founder of Tunbridge Wells-based organisation Gabo Wildlife, Carly Ahlen received a call on February 8 about an injured bird of prey on Bidborough Ridge.

Gardens

Injuries “The lady who called had tried to rescue it herself, but to no avail as the kestrel escaped into some thick brambles,” Carly told the Times. “‘Lola’ had been hit by an oncoming car and her wing was so damaged that she was unable to fly away. I had to crawl into the brambles, but I caught her in one try and took her to my vet.”

Reminiscent of the 1969 film Kes, in which a young boy nurses an injured kestrel back to health, Carly has since been able to release the bird back into the wild after its injuries healed but has issued a warning to local motorists.

She said: “Birds of prey really like the edges of roads. There is garbage at the edges, which people have thrown out of their car. This attracts rodents, and then that attracts birds of prey.

“It's a neon light to all sorts of wildlife to get closer. Also the salting of the motorway in winter

FEATHERED FRIEND Lola in the hedgrow where she was found and [right] after being nursed back to health creates nutrient-rich grasslands that offer good grazing for rabbits and voles.

“Wildlife attracted to that food [the rodents] can also get hit, creating a miserable cycle of wildlife death.”

The kestrel was extremely underweight when Carly captured her – just 171 grams, whereas a female kestrel should be around 184 grams.

“Female kestrels are slightly larger than male kestrels, and smaller raptors are less tolerant of starvation than larger birds,” she added.

After weeks of hand-feeding and gentle handling in a confined space, Lola was well enough to spread her wings, and Carly took the bird to Daniel Clark at the UK Owl and Raptor Centre in Groombridge.

Carly released Lola on March 17 in a local field.

The wide-open spaces of the area around Tunbridge Wells underlines the importance of the area for her wildlife work, but it was her childhood experiences which drew her to found Gabo Wildlife here three years ago.

“I feel most at home in Tunbridge Wells after spending my whole childhood at Fosse Bank Girls School from the age of eight. Rather than being engrossed in books or missing my family at such a young age as a full time boarder, I was out in the sprawling gardens exploring wildlife.

“Toads, badgers, foxes and owls and birds have always fascinated me. I feel most at home with wildlife and I think my disability – being profoundly deaf – has made me connect with nature much better than with people because I understand their body language incredibly well!”

“Gabo Wildlife is all self-funded. I do rehabilitation of British wildlife. It could be a hedgehog or it could be an owl. I’m about to start some training as a marine medic, too.”

Gabo Wildlife is on Facebook.

Warden takes to his tent for Lent Where there is a will there’s a way – especially when it’s free DISABILITY charity Leonard Cheshire has signed up with two legal networks to offer free will-writing – including with local solicitors – while also helping to fund the organisation’s services.

The charity operates the Seven Springs home on the Pembury Road, caring for 30 adults with physical disabilities.

People can apply through Leonard Cheshire, which then uses Farewill and the National Free Will Network (NFWN) to send them details of solicitors.

“We would ask that you express this as a non-binding wish. We will endeavour to fulfil your wishes, but if this is not possible, we will spend the funds as near as we can to the wishes expressed to ensure it affects the disabled people you wish to support.”

Support

UNDER CANVAS Richard Hunt (right) and his tent

A CHURCH warden is sleeping in a tent on one day a week throughout Lent, to raise money for a charity supplying emergency shelter and supplies for displaced people around the world.

Richard Hunt’s ‘Tent for Lent’ fundraiser came out of hearing about the work of Shelterbox when he was looking for a Lenten challenge.

“They do a lot in the Philippines, Afghanistan… just everywhere around the world, anywhere there is a disaster, man-made or natural. They are working in union with Rotarians all round the world.

“They are also supplying tents and equipment to Ukraine refugees on the Polish borders,” he added.

“Shelterbox have boxes of tents, solar lights and cooking equipment at transport hubs around the world, then they fly them, rail them, drive them – any way they can get to the spot – and get the boxes to anyone who requires them.”

Using an old tent, a duvet and a camping mattress borrowed from someone in his congregation, as well as a solar light from Shelterbox, the church warden confessed: “I’m very comfortable!”

His camp is in the churchyard of St Thomas, Groombridge, where it can be seen.

“I started on Ash Wednesday [March 2], and sleep out one day a week, meaning seven nights spread over the seven weeks of Lent, taking me right up to Easter Week,” he told the Times.

Sponsorship “But I keep the tent up all week to create interest. St Thomas C of E primary school is right next door, and people see it when they’re dropping their children off.”

With JustGiving and sponsorship forms given out to St Thomas’ congregation, he had already raised more than £2,000 in the third week of Lent.

“I’m trying to get to £2,500, although I hope to do better than that,” he added.

Despite the recent cold nights, Richard says he has been sleeping well outside.

“I get my head down at about 11 o’clock and I do sleep well till about four-ish, when I’m woken by the dawn chorus, which is very loud.” justgiving.com/fundraising/Richard-Hunt32

Three Tunbridge Wells solicitors have signed up to the NFWN, so face-to-face local appointments are available, as well as online and telephone consultation through Farewill, to draft your will, the charity confirmed.

While there is no obligation to leave a gift in your will to Leonard Cheshire, the charity said gifts of all sizes would support future generations of disabled people to gain qualifications, find jobs and live as independently as possible.

People using the service can specify one of the charity’s services or a geographical area, too, a Leonard Cheshire spokeswoman told the Times.

UPDATE YOUR WILL TO AVOID DISPUTES HALF of wills in the South of England are out of date, and could lead to family members being overlooked or distressed, according to an organisation specialising in legal support for older and vulnerable people, Research commissioned by Solicitors for the Elderly (SFE) found that 48 per cent of people living in the South of England who have a will haven’t updated it for more than five years – meaning they are likely to be out-of-date.

Of those, over a third – 33 per cent – haven’t updated it for over seven years, and over a fifth – 21 per cent – haven’t dusted it off in more than a decade.

Meanwhile, of the 4,487 British adults

surveyed by YouGov for SFE, only 40 per cent have a will at all.

Wills can be invalidated by remarriage, and stepchildren must be named in a will in order to inherit, warned local SFE solicitor Gail Hall, from Warners Solicitors.

She said: “If you remarry, for example, your will gets revoked. Or if you marry into a family and have stepchildren that you’d like to inherit your assets: this won’t happen automatically unless you stipulate it in a new will. All these details are crucial to avoid family disputes – which we know can be very distressing for your loved ones.”

SFE kicked off ‘Update Your Will Week’ on Monday (March 28).

Wednesday March 30 | 2022

Local News

FOR EVEN MORE NEWS VISIT: timeslocalnews.co.uk

Colourful challenges for Autism Acceptance Week RAINBOW clothes and many-coloured challenges are on the programme during for Autism Acceptance Week, according to Pemburybased children’s charity Aspens.

The organisation, which covers South England from its offices in Pembury, Battle and Littlehampton, offers free-of-charge care and support to those on the autism spectrum and with learning disabilities, and also helps their families.

The 10-year anniversary of the charity’s family support team also coincides with the international Autism Acceptance Week, which started on Monday [March 28] so Aspens has launched an ‘Au-some 10-fo-r10 Virtual Challenge’.

NEWS

15

Mental health call to help stop ‘the blues’

Knitting Fundraisers can complete ten of any activity or task during the week, from physical challenges like running or swimming, to mental and creative challenges like knitting or learning foreign words.

Those taking part can open an individual fundraising page, or get family and friends to donate through the Aspens event appeal page.

The Aspens team itself is participating, with 20 support staff, managers, members of the executive team and trustees carrying out their own ’10-for-10’ – a 10km walk along the West Sussex coast, dressed in the colours of the rainbow.

Members of families helped by the charity will also be walking.

A National Autistic Society study in September 2020 showed that 9 in 10 autistic people were worried about their mental health during lockdown, while 85 per cent said their anxiety

AU-SOME TASKS – Why not do some of your ‘10-for-10’ challenges for Autism Acceptance Week in the play area at Aspens’ head office, in Cornford Lane? levels got worse.

Penny Piggott, Aspens’ head of family and specialist support services said: “Our family support team provides an open-door, tailored service that supports families, enables them to have contact with like-minded people and offers the opportunity for them to share experiences and ask for help. I passionately believe this should be free and accessible to all. We urgently need funding to make this possible and to continue delivering and expanding our service.”

West Kent Mind (WKM) is calling for people to choose a day to ‘wear it blue’ during Mental Health Awareness Week, on May 9-15.

The organisation hopes the visual cue will start a conversation about mental health, as well as prompting more donations to the charity, which had seen a 40 per cent increase in demand for its services in the last year.

Families Fundraising manager Kate Barnes said: “We are asking individuals, families, schools and businesses across West Kent to dig out your

favourite blue jumper, button up a blue shirt, pull on some blue socks and grab your lucky blue pants, and join us in wearing it blue for better mental health.

“Any donation that you can make will make a real difference, supporting local people experiencing mental health problems.”

WKM offers a range of services, from counselling and hands-on activities such as gardening and music groups, to specialised support programmes and mental health workshops and training courses for individuals and workplaces, all designed to help put coping strategies into practice for everyday life.

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Wednesday November 10 || 2022 2021 Wednesday March 30

The Post Office saved by villagers reopens

PM denies misleading MPs as the Met hands out 20 fines for Covid breaches

By Taylor Catton A NEW fully refurbished village Post Office has opened its doors again, three months after it was bought by the local parish council.

As reported by the Times in August, Groombridge Post Office was set to be closed.

Refurbishment Withyham Parish Council held a public consultation that found that 98.8 per cent of those in the Kent/East Sussex border village voted in favour to keep the shop.

A similar number of residents happy for their councilJohnson tax to be used pay staff runhe the BORIS did not to mislead MPsand when store, so the parish council it. broken in told them no lockdown rulesbought had been Downing Street, No 10 has insisted, despite the Metropolitan Police concluding the law was breached.

Investigators will begin handing out 20 fines over parties and gatherings held across Whitehall during Covid measures, the Met said on Tuesday.

The imminent issuing of the fixed penalty notices (FPNs) means the police have ruled the law was broken.

But No 10 has denied the Prime Minister misled the House of Commons when he defended the goings-on in his home and workplace.

Mr Johnson is not thought to be among those set to receive a fine at this stage.

Downing Street said it will confirm if Mr Johnson is issued with a FPN, but not if others in his family or office are.

The PM’s spokesman said Mr Johnson was not misleading on the numerous occasions he defended the saga, despite wrongdoing now being confirmed.

“At all times, he has set out his understanding of events,” he said. “The Prime Minister has apologised to the House already.”

He added: “You can expect to hear more from

Queen remembers Philip

PARTY Mr Johnson at one of the alleged the Downing Street Following a refurbishment, post office and community store, parties now called ‘The Shop on the Corner’, reopened on October 28.

Unfortunately, the new store has had to reopen without long serving postmistress Rosie Wyatt, who has retired after 32 years of service in the village.

People within the village have spoken of their ‘delight’ at being able to retain their local Post Office.

One Groombridge resident said: “I am delighted that the Post Office has been saved, it is a vital hub of the community and seeing it looking so bright and welcoming is great.”

The Shop on the Corner and Post Office is nextPrime to theMinister village when bakersthe and boasts easyis the investigation access andand ample concluded Sueparking.

Gray has set out her report.”

Ms Gray is the senior civil servant tasked with investigating the allegations of lockdownbusting gatherings and has not yet been able to release her full findings.

Guilty However, Deputy Labour leader Angela Rayner said the news meant Mr Johnson should resign from Number 10.

“After over two months of police time, 12 parties investigated and over a hundred people questioned under caution, Boris Johnson’s Downing Street has been found guilty of breaking the law,” she said.

“The culture is set from the very top. The buck stops with the Prime Minister, who spent months lying to the British public, which is why he has got to go.”

BACK IN BUSINESS In January, Ms Gray published partial report, Staff atathe revamped which said there were “failures of leadership Groombridge Post Office and judgment” in parts of No 10 and the Cabinet Office.

The initial publication contained limited detail due to the police investigation. A fuller report is expected once the Met’s inquiry ends.

F1 boss killed himself

The 81-year-old, son of the fascist leader Sir Oswald Mosley and an ardent privacy campaigner, was found with a fatal gunshot wound to the head at his home in Chelsea, west DAILY NEWSPAPER/GROCERY DELIVERIES London, last May. His family had announced his death in a NEWSAGENT statement at the time, but said only that he “died OFF LICENSE after a long battle with cancer”.

Tuesday, an inquest was told Mr Mosley took CORNER On SHOP his own life after learning his lymphoma was HERMES PARCEL SHOP incurable and he had just “weeks” to live .

Dr Christopher McNamara, consultant NATIONAL LOTTERY haematologist who first saw Mr Mosley in STATIONARY October 2019, told the hearing he had been THE Queen has rallied to join close family, friends, foreign royals and hundredsGREETINGS of charity diagnosed a high-grade lymphoma and referred CARDS workers in remembrance of her husband the him for palliative care.

TOBACCONIST Duke of Edinburgh at a poignant memorial service.

Revealed Front and centre of the high-profile occasion was the Duke of York, despite Andrew paying He added: "Mr Mosley had expressed ideas of FRESH BARISTA COFFEE, MILKSHAKES, millions out of court earlier this month to settle committing suicide to myself and other SMOOTHIES,colleagues HOT FOOD AND FRESHLY a civil sexual assault case. and had been referred to appropriate colleagues.

He never expressed a planDAY of doing BAKED PASTRIES AVAILABLE EVERY this and always said the problem was that his Poignant MONDAY-FRIDAY 06:30-17:00 wife would not accept this.”

Evidence at08:00-17:00 the inquest revealed that Mr Mosley The monarch held onto Andrew’s elbow with SATURDAY SUNDAY contacted 09:00-17:00 his personal assistant the night before her left hand as she moved slowly and gingerly he was found dead to tell him about his decision to her place, using a walking stick in her right to kill himself. hand.

He could not be EAST persuaded and had formed a Also in attendance were Charles, the Duchess 5 LONDON ROAD, CROWBOROUGH, SUSSEX ‘settled intent’, the court heard. of Cornwall, the Duke and Duchess of He was then said to have had a last meal with Cambridge, the Countess of Wessex, the Princess his wife and written a suicide note which was Royal, Princess Beatrice, Princess Eugenie, ALSO NOW WELCOMING ALICE TUESDAY found the following day. - FRIDAY 08:00-16:00 Prince George and Princess FORCharlotte.

ALL YOUR FLORAL NEEDS SATURDAY Senior Coroner Dr Fiona Wilcox08:00-13:00 recorded a Some 1,800 people packedWeddings the gothic -church Funerals - Events CONTACT: 07847 conclusion of suicide, saying she was699107 ‘satisfied’ – in marked contrast to Philip’s funeral where ORDER ONLINE peoniesfrompluto.co.uk info@peoniesfrompluto.co.uk Mr Mosley intended to kill himself. only 30 were permitted to attend amid Covid @peoniesfrompluto She recorded the cause of death as a gunshot restrictions, with the Queen sat alone, masked wound, with cancer ‘a contributing factor’. in mourning.

Wednesday March 30 | 2022

FOR EVEN MORE NEWS VISIT: timeslocalnews.co.uk

EDUCATION Times

Education

NEWS

17

Primary pupils go extra mile and earn thousands in charity sponsorship walk for people of Ukraine St John’s students and staff celebrate a triumphant feat walking the equivalent distance from Tunbridge Wells to Lviv in Ukraine. Victoria Roberts reveals how they managed it A SPONSORED walk for Ukraine by St John’s primary pupils ended up totalling the distance from Tunbridge Wells to Lviv in western Ukraine, thanks to the perseverance of staff and over 600 children walking - and even running.

The sponsored event last week was the initiative of British-Slovakian pupil Leon, age 9, whose concern about the news from Ukraine, bordering Slovakia, prompted him to suggest the event to head teacher Dan Turvey.

Leon’s mother Katarina set up a JustGiving page linking the walk to the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) Humanitarian Appeal and the British Red Cross Ukraine Crisis Appeal. The school then mobilised the pupils ready for action on Wednesday, March 23.

Earlier in the month, the school had sent four 4x4 vehicles worth of donations to Ukraine, organised by a Year 6 family.

“Our aim was to walk as far as we could from the school to Ukraine,” said head teacher Dan Turvey.

“Starting at 9am and with the last walker coming in just before the end of the school day at 3:15pm, we walked 3,434 laps of the school – equivalent to 1,802 km, just tipping into the

town of Lviv near the Ukraine border.

“The five-year olds were walking as many laps of the school as they could, but in years five and six, everyone was keen to get as many laps as they could, and some even ran it,” he told the Times.

“We were aiming for £5,000, and we have now raised over £11,000.

“It is such a wonderful testament to our community to be happy to raise such a huge amount amidst escalating energy prices and inflation.”

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Bringing learning to life

18

NEWS

Weekly Comment

FOR EVEN MORE NEWS VISIT: timeslocalnews.co.uk

Brendon Le Page Tunbridge Wells Liberal Democrats

Wednesday March 30 | 2022

Originally from South Africa Brendon Le Page and family have lived in Kent for 30 years, the last eight in Southborough. After retiring as Head of Lambeth Music Service Brendon now teaches Science at Knole Academy. Brendon is standing for the Liberal Democrats in Southborough North this May.

2022

This is an exciting time to be a voter in Tunbridge Wells MY NAME is Brendon Le Page and I will be standing for the Lib Dems in Southborough North this May. I love Southborough - it's a great place to be - and have lived here for the past eight years with my wife and two children.

I’m not a politician - I’m a resident trying to do my best and this is the first time I’ve stood for election. But I found myself increasingly shouting from the side-lines while various political events have been unfurling around me (locally the £11million wasted on Calverley Square, and the Government’s response to Covid). So I felt it was only right to roll my sleeves up and get involved.

RUBBISH BIN COLLECTION The Urbaser service has been poor since it began

Congestion Being a newcomer to politics has its advantages - I bring my experiences from a lifetime career in teaching, as well as a fresh perspective, with residents’ concerns to the forefront of my mind.

Southborough is a fantastic place to live. We have a beautiful Common, a thriving High Street and a fantastic local community that is quite distinct from Tunbridge Wells. However, we are not without our problems such as congestion, parking and of course the bin collection fiasco.

Some of these, such as the garden waste saga, are shared with others across the Borough.

Much of this comes down to getting the basics right. The Conservative-run council sacrificed quality for price when negotiating the waste collection contract with Urbaser. The old adage

‘buy cheap, pay twice’ springs to mind, as countless hours of council time have gone into resolving problems, and we are now forced to pay an extra £14,000 every month for Urbaser to

collect garden waste. This kind of mismanagement means that our financial reserves have been dwindling.

The same can be seen with the quality of sports provision in Tunbridge Wells compared with Tonbridge, where a local trust runs their services far more effectively.

Council budgets are tight, and we may need to look at what we can realistically offer as a local authority. But we must first focus on delivering on the core services residents expect of us.

Another way to make the most of limited resources is to make sure we are delivering what residents really want and prioritise. Key to this is good public engagement, early on in a process of communication, so residents can shape the outcome rather than be presented with a fait accompli.

The Conservatives have been running Tunbridge Wells Borough Council for the past 25 years, and it’s time for some fresh ideas, vigour and enthusiasm in our Borough.

They currently govern with a minority and could lose power in May. This is an exciting time to be a voter: for the first time in a generation, your vote could determine who runs our local area. Please take time to examine what we have to offer, and make the most of this opportunity for change here in Tunbridge Wells.

Wednesday March 30 | 2022

Letters

FOR EVEN MORE NEWS VISIT: timeslocalnews.co.uk

NEWS

19

And another thing…

This is the page where you, the reader, have your chance to express your views or comments on what’s going on in our part of the world. We like to hear from you. You can email us at newsdesk@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk or you can write to the Editor, Times of Tunbridge Wells, Salomons Estate, Tunbridge Wells TN3 0TG Boycott was ‘cancel culture’ I note that Cllr Holden’s letter (March 23) states that I am naive to provide the opportunity for Russian Opera singers to condemn Putin’s war in Ukraine before he decided to use the press in his cancel culture campaign.

This undermined the Assembly Hall Theatre staff in their efforts to establish any genuine links to Putin.

He additionally implied that Putin is funding his war with ticket sales from artists touring regional theatres.

War is terrible and I am sure everyone outside of the reach of Putin’s propaganda machine utterly condemns his actions in Ukraine, but giving artists the opportunity to go beyond their passports and speak for themselves in a free country, shows what makes us a superior society than modern-day Russia.

In response to Cllr Holden’s email to all Cllrs I reminded him that the Conservative party he represents has received donations in excess of £2million since Boris Johnson became PM from people of Russian birth, these people gained British Citizenship on a fast track scheme denied to all but the wealthiest.

How did these people make their millions so quickly after communism?

Do these people pay donations because they admire Boris Johnson’s tennis skills? Does he know for sure that any of these former Russian citizens have no links to Putin?

I hope that Cllr Holden now shows equal determination and effort in pursuing his own party’s connections with Russia.

Cllr Mark Ellis Lib Dem, St John’s

A friendly legal error When one of the Times’ social media team tagged in Kent Police on Twitter on a post featuring Tunbridge Wells Police Station, it appears it was the wrong Kent force.

State Opera was false advertising My wife and I very much admire Russian culture, and accordingly had booked for the Russian Opera on tour.

However, while recognising that it would be wrong to boycott artistic icons such as Tchaikovsky, we have no wish for any of our money to find its way back to a Russia committing war crimes in Ukraine.

When Councillors Paul Stepto and Marguerita Morton suggest that customers are somehow at fault, when they assume that a company performing under the title of the Russian State Opera is indeed what its name implies, they are being absurd.

But the response from the Kent Police Department based in Washington State, USA was delightful to see, especilaly as they shared their own historic police station photo.

It is not the responsibility of those buying tickets to research the registration of such organisations, any liability for misunderstanding being laid at the doors of those who allowed what is in essence false advertising.

Having attended performances in St Petersburg we quite rightly took it that the organisation was as stated, and that therefore we should support the boycott.

I suggest that in future artistic companies do not adopt titles to which they are not entitled.

Accusations of xenophobia are thrown around by those who prefer abuse to facts.

Colin Bullen Tonbridge

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

PEPPY SAYS

Bench test for parks I much appreciated your two-page feature on our local parks and open spaces. On Oak Road Doorstep Green, we recently secured some nice new benches - with special thanks to Kasia at Tunbridge Wells Parks Team, and Sherwood Men’s Sheds at the local TN2 Centre in Greggs Wood Road.

The benches are very popular with local residents, along with the play equipment, outdoor gym, and cycle paths. Hopefully the BMX track and sports facilities can be upgraded again soon.

The green was much valued during lockdown, as many local people don’t have their own gardens to enjoy. We even have a Shetland pony on the fields approaching North Farm Road.

Fortunately, the local community managed to prevent a bus lane being built through the green spaces several year ago.

Dr Alan Bullion Southborough Town Council (Labour) Labour by the backdoor Cllr Hugo Pound has started ‘speaking on behalf of the Opposition at Council meetings’.

I do wonder if the electorate fully understands what this means?

85.1 per cent of the electorate in Tunbridge Wells did not vote Labour (or any left wing party) they will end up with Socialism via the backdoor!

This isn’t a new concept either, the Labour MP elected at the recent Birmingham Erdington by-election, previously spoke about infiltration, rather than winning at the ballot.

With the electoral pact in full swing, a vote for ‘The Alliance’ is simply a vote for a ‘Labour Council Leader’.

Aaron Brand Tunbridge Wells

Calverley

Observations on life and more important things

THE £700 ONION. Preparing an evening salad Calverley noticed a visiting sproodle (that’s a dog) sneak a spring onion from the kitchen top. It was given little further thought until 20 minutes later Mylo the mut was on the floor foaming at the mouth. The on-call emergency vet advised it had ‘onion toxicosis’ and could die if not treated immediately. That took the edge off the evening. The family sat sobbing (not Calverley) in the car outside the vets until they were given the good news, Mylo had been saved. They were also handed a £700 bill. As one of the kids said: “That’s new tyres for my car, why couldn’t he have taken the lettuce.” Quite.

ANOTHER DOGGY TAIL. Walking his own beast along the beach at Eastbourne this week Calverley could not resist snapping this creative use of the Russian President’s mug shot. It was on the side of a doggy-poop bin.

Pretty much sums up everything that needs to be said about Putin the warmonger.

MORAL SUPPORT. Several weeks ago when Calverley dared suggest Ukrainian refugees should be treated the same as illegal Channel migrants, who don’t need a visa or passport, the TW Labour Party accused him of being ‘racist’. Now national papers are taking a similar line as in this full page. Roll on the May council elections when we can let parties know exactly what we think of them.

FINAL THOUGHT. Tucked away amongst all the reports about wrong doings at the Met Police one figure jumps out. Nearly 3,500 items, including cash, drugs and jewellery. have in recent years gone missing from stores inside police stations. What an indictment.

Chin, chin dear reader…

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

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Wednesday March 30 | 2022

Life&Times

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

Arts - Page 22

Going out - Page 25

Antiques - Page 34

Food for thought

Kate Humble on seasonal cooking P32

Arts

arts

22

Wednesday March 30 | 2022

Go on a global art adventure without leaving Tunbridge Wells This weekend the Royal Tunbridge Wells Art Society hosts a pop-up show featuring the work of three diverse artists. Entitled ‘From Zambia, Southern Ireland and Tunbridge Wells’ it promises to be an enjoyable experience showcasing the work of Colleen Davies, Kate O’Brien and Suzy Phillips. Eileen Leahy discovers more...

T

unbridge Wells has long been known for its cultural spirit with plenty of artists based here and lots of thriving exhibition spaces, galleries and groups.

The oldest one is the Royal Tunbridge Wells Art Society (RTWAS) which was founded in 1934 and has a track record of well-known artists being involved in the past - including Winston Churchill who displayed at one of the summer exhibitions!

Its first President was recorded as being Mary, Marchioness of Abergavenny, and the club was connected with 17 other societies who pledged their support to help RTWAS acquire suitable premises. This eventually resulted in them acquiring premises at 61 The Pantiles, where they are still based today.

The society’s records date back to 1945, and there are photos and documents of many of their past events, including the then Vice President, Mr C Tattershall Dodd, giving a talk on the painter John Ruskin.

RTWAS started with just 18 members and has steadily evolved over the decades and now boasts over 170 members all of whom boast a variety of aesthetic styles and also an official committee.

This month they will be hosting their popular Spring Exhibition from April 9-18 but before that this coming weekend (April 2-3) the society will be putting on a show featuring three very different artists who are all RTWAS

ANGRY SEAS

BY SUZY PHILLIPS

BREAKFAST

WITH THE

EASTER BUNNY Saturday 16th April 2022 AT

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www.onewarwickpark.co.uk

01892 520 587

reception@onewarwickpark.co.uk

Arts

Wednesday March 30 | 2022

23

and grew crops to become self-sufficient. After returning from Africa in 1994 following the challenging times in Zimbabwe, they now live on a farm in a valley near Lamberhurst.

BRITISH RED FOX

BY COLLEEN DAVIES

Inspiration Colleen previously taught Pottery at Adult Education in Tunbridge Wells for many years.

She creates stylish one-off stoneware and porcelain pieces inspired by the animals and landscape around her as well as her memories of the African Ocean. She has recently held a stall on the Pantiles market selling her pottery in aid of Ukraine and raised over £350 for the charity.

Kate O’Brien was born in Cork in Ireland and

CERAMIC

BY COLLEEN DAVIES

“This show promises to be a delightful and eclectic exhibition of the artists’ work, with pieces ranging from traditional still life oil paintings to quirky ceramics”

LEMONS

BY KATE O’BRIEN

members. Entitled ‘From Zambia, Southern Ireland and Tunbridge Wells’ it features the work of Colleen Davies, Kate O’Brien and Suzy Phillips. Here Suzy tells us a little bit about each of the exhibiting artists including herself: Colleen Davies has a degree in Fine Arts and specialises in Ceramics. She was born in Zambia and later moved to Zimbabwe, where she met her farmer husband Paul and lived a fully self-sufficient life. As well as potting, Colleen functioned as a nurse to all the farm employees and animals. The couple made all their clothes

BIKE HIRE AT BEWL WATER Enjoy cycling around our exciting bike route at Bewl Water on our excellent mountain bikes, available for adults and children along with trailers for children aged 12 months or older

Visit www.bewlwater.co.uk for more information

PATH TO THE SEA

BY KATE O’BRIEN only recently moved to the St John’s area of Tunbridge Wells having spent years in West Sussex, where she studied miniature painting at West Dean College and the Earnley Centre as well as dabbling in antiques. Swapping England for France in 2002, Kate continued her studies on a larger scale, moving into Still Life Oil Painting. Her paintings vary from large A0 size to small A5 images of fruit and vegetables. She has exhibited widely in Ireland, England, and France.

Rusthall-based artist Suzy Phillips completes the trio of creatives exhibiting this week. She describes herself as an impressionistic and semi-abstract oil and acrylics painter who grew up on the Surrey/Kent border. Suzy has recently been selected to show her seascapes in a Mayfair Gallery in London and has also sold several of her abstract work to Asia. Suzy will be taking part in this June’s South East Open Studios at the Woodland Gallery in Pembury.

Having seen the images of the work that will be on display as part of ‘From Zambia, Southern Ireland and Tunbridge Wells’ it certainly promises to be a delightful eclectic exhibition of the artists’ work, with pieces ranging from traditional still life oil paintings of household objects, flowers and fruit to contemporary oils and acrylic paintings alongside quirky ceramics.

The exhibition runs from Sat April 2 to Sunday April 3 at the Royal Tunbridge Wells Art Society, 61 The Pantiles from 10am to 5pm. Entry is free The RTWAS will have their Spring Exhibition running from April 9-18th. See www.rtwas.co.uk for more details.

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Books

Wednesday March 30 | 2022

Times book reviewer

HANNAH KIRSOP

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

GENTLE GOODNESS

ONE YOU MAY HAVE MISSED

Still Life by Sarah Winman

The Children Act by Ian McEwan

(published by Fourth Estate, priced £8.99)

(published by Vintage, priced £8.99)

Following a random roadside meeting in Tuscany with 60-something-year-old art historian Evelyn Skinner, young British soldier, Ulysses Temper, heads home via Florence where his selfless act of saving a man – destined for death on a roof – sets in motion an unforeseen path for the remainder of both his life and those of his dearest friends.

Simply put, this book is a joy to read.

Set predominantly in Florence where descriptions of beautiful locations flow easily, parts of the book are also located in London’s East End and both places are vividly brought to life through Winman’s prose... and the wonderful characters that she fills them with.

Recognisably stylised without being caricatures, the reader quickly feels affection for the characters that permeate Ulysses’ story – with Cress, Pete, Massimo and Claude being huge favourites of mine – as you are caught up in the deeply intoxicating world of the simple pleasures that they engage in. All in all a bit of a fairy tale feel grounded in real life.

With a courtroom as its backdrop, this is far from being a legal thriller but is rather a detailed study of the characters’ reactions to a medical impasse shrouded in ethical, moral, theological, societal and – to some extent – legal issues. Adam, who is just shy of 18, needs a blood transfusion to save his life, a treatment which he and his parents have refused due to their beliefs as Jehovah’s Witnesses.

Following an appeal by the hospital, it is up to High Court judge Fiona Maye to rule on the case and decide Adam’s future….with the enormity of the decision and the wranglings in her mind complemented by events in her own, increasingly complicated personal life.

This is a contentious subject which is handled well and succinctly

by McEwan in this slip of a novel of around 220 pages… although still likely to encourage much debate around the outcome of the decision Fiona takes, and the rights of parents, children, religion and the power of the Family Court. A deeply moving and emotionally intense story with strong and memorable characters.

The bookcase…

Here are some more reads to inspire you this week …

The Slowworm’s Song by Andrew Miller Published in hardback by Sceptre, priced £18.99 (ebook £9.99). Available now Stephen, an ex-soldier and recovering alcoholic, has just found the daughter he never knew – but fears losing her when he is summoned to an enquiry about his involvement in an incident during The Troubles in Ireland. Unable to face telling her, he writes to her. The result is partly a love letter: for her, for his life at the time she was born, for the country, for life itself – and part confession of his own role in something he struggles to forgive himself for. Andrew Miller’s gentle, beautifully crafted sentences belie the often brutal truths behind the narrative. Memories of lost colleagues and Stephen’s own childhood sit alongside a darker past. The image of the slowworm, silent and sinister, finding its way into the precious earth, is set against a song of light and life that won’t be silenced.

Review by Victoria Barry

9/10

9/10

9/10

Twelve Secrets by Robert Gold Published in hardback by Sphere, priced £12.99 (ebook £6.99). Available now Who doesn’t love a tightlyplotted thriller?

If the still-flourishing success of Harlan Coben and his peers is anything to go by, twisty but lean whodunnits remain precious commodities to modern readers. Robert Gold – launching his debut Twelve Secrets after spending years as a book buyer feverishly absorbing the product – delivers an intriguing tale of a shocking teenage tragedy that continues to torture investigative journalist Ben Harper, and send

shockwaves through the generations of families who live in the fictional village of Haddley.

Clever twists surprise, but never take liberties – and believable dialogue creates well-crafted characters in a community reminiscent of ITV’s Broadchurch.

Gold’s maiden novel is hard to put down, and full of promise for further murder mysteries that clearly are to come.

Review by James Cann

8/10

Careering by Daisy Buchanan Published in in hardback by Sphere, priced £14.99 (ebook £8.49). Available now

8/10

Careering follows two women in different stages of their careers, who have both been betrayed by the industry they once loved: Harri, who has dedicated her life to Panache magazine but is snubbed for the editor role, and Imogen, the intern she hires to write for a new feminist site.

Careering is about modern womanhood, giving a funny and honest take on what it’s like when a dream job

turns sour – and what happens when you reach the other side of a toxic relationship with your career.

Daisy Buchanan’s writing is hilarious, and doesn’t hold back about the realities of being a young woman climbing the career ladder.

If you’ve ever come to the realisation your ‘dream job’ isn’t all it’s cracked up to be, then this is the book for you.

A wonderful novel on the trials and tribulations of career and ambition.

Review by Rikki Loftus

Going out

Wednesday March 30 | 2022

25

Victoria Roberts looks back at the events of last week and provides a round-up of activities coming up over the next seven days...

T

HE EASTER holidays are at hand, and many of the local stately homes are showing off their gardens to best advantage by placing the traditional seasonal chocolate at the end of a treasure trail…

Hop to it with the two giant rabbits of Groombridge Place, who help the children with the clues, on their way to win a sweet treat.

Punch and Judy are playing at 11am and 2pm for the next three weekends. Older children may particularly enjoy the birds of prey demonstrations, at noon and 3:30pm [see Community pages for a story of how the UK Owl and Raptor Centre helped with a wildlife rescue].

Bateman’s opens its Easter Egg Trail this weekend (Saturday, April 2), with a list of 10 challenges around the gardens, with a chocolate egg prize (or allergen-free alternative) at the end.

Trail £3 per child, in addition to any entrance fee.

Hever Castle turns the treasure seekers

themselves into the bunnies, laying a trail of colourful carrots on the hunt for the ‘Golden Carrot’. Meanwhile, Easter Egg Hunters must write down all the answers hidden around the eggs, to collect a chocolate treat (or dairy-free alternative) at the end. Also on: free craft workshop.

Penshurst Place’s trail is a historical one, marked out by large Victorian eggs, each hiding a secret… Meanwhile, on Easter Monday, [April 18] Aardvark Productions presents ‘The Hunt for Easter Island’, featuring the voyage of a valiant ship’s crew to the fateful Pacific island, to solve a riddle and collect the eggs. Four performances on April 18: 11:15am, 12:15pm, 2:15pm and 3:15pm.

If you’re on the hunt for fun at the Hop Farm Family Park over the school holiday, beware the roaming dinosaurs on April 6, 9 and 13. Phew – at least the venue’s Bank Holiday weekend Easter trail will be dino-free…

Looking at screens and stages big and small, The Times of Tunbridge Wells presents a selected guide to the week ahead.

Catch the end of Agatha Christie’s ‘A Murder is Announced’ at the Assembly Hall. The villagers of Chipping Cleghorn are invited by a mysterious host to an ‘at home’ which cannot possibly be serious – can it? On until Saturday, April 2 at 7:30pm (Wednesday and Saturday matinees at 2:30pm).

What is work and what is leisure? The boundaries between them are no longer so clear, in our hyper-connected world. The protagonist of ‘Withered CODEBREAKERS Optimism’ is stretched between the corporate world and the simpler life he dreams of.

Adding to the alienation of the theme is physical comedy and animation.

Not precisely theatre, but WITHERED OPTIMISM World War II and cryptography buffs will be gripped nevertheless, by the ‘Codebreakers: The Story of the Enigma’ show at Trinity Theatre tomorrow (Thursday, March 31) at 8pm. The presentation by Enigma expert Dr Mark Baldwin is followed by questions, then a hands-on demonstration of one of the very few surviving Enigma machines.

Onscreen, in a joyful crossover between film and music, Trinity Theatre presents ‘Get Back - The Rooftop Concert’, a 65-minute visit to the past, featuring the entirety of the Beatles’ rooftop concert on London’s Savile Row in 1969. Part of director Peter Jackson’s docuseries which includes an overview of the Fab Four’s career from 1956 up to the moment of the concert, with backstage and behind-closed-doors footage.

With one of the best live music scenes in the South East, here is a round-up of some of the best bands and acts performing this week.

Liverpool rockers who broke ground for other musical acts during the advent of the video music area, A Flock of Seagulls, have the Forum’s stage to themselves tonight [Wednesday, March 30]. Under 16s accompanied by an adult.

On Friday, April 1, Mainly Madness puts its ska and 2 Tone at the service of charity. 7:30pm at The Forum.

Operating throughout East Sussex, West Sussex, Kent and Surrey, Taylor Made FLOCK OF SEAGULLS Dreams provides ‘bucket list’ treats for children with life-limiting illness and provides their families with financial, emotional and practical support.

Crowborough Choral Society celebrates the music of Venice at St Mark’s Church, on Saturday April 2 at 7:30pm. Featuring Robin Jeffrey on lute and soloists Alessandra Testai and Sidonie Winter, as well as the Crowborough Baroque Ensemble and organist Richard Jenkinson. Programme includes Vivaldi’s Gloria, as well as works from Monteverdi, Cavalli, Andrea Gabrieli and more.

Tickets £15 from crowboroughchoralsociety.com or choir members.

Tribute act Coldplace brings 12 years’ worth of dedication and tour experience to the stage on Saturday, April 2 at 8pm (Trinity Theatre). True to the performance magic of their idols Coldplay, Coldplace capture the music, the image, the energy and the atmosphere.

Popular club night Boogie Nights returns to the Forum on Saturday, April 2 at 8pm., with DJs Holler and Scanty. Age 18 and over.

The Royal Tunbridge Wells Symphony Orchestra plays the finale of its centenary season at the Assembly Hall this Sunday, under the baton of RTWSO music director Roderick Dunk, and featuring the Korean-born British violinist Joo Yeon Sir. April 3 at 3pm.

Belfast-based Enola Gay, an Irish noise rock and post-punk four-piece group, headlines the Forum on Sunday, April 3,

Whether your family is young or old, big or small, there’s plenty to do both indoors and outdoors over the coming week, along with some active ideas.

In a school holiday period, there can be slim pickings for the preschoolers, but the age 3-6 crossover of ‘Splat’ has you covered, with this physical comedy SPLAT about the mutual antagonism between a pair of artists. It works on a number of levels – even the educational level, as the actors encounter Great Masters and artistic movements in their journey through the history of visual art. Sunday, April 3 at 1pm (Trinity Theatre).

Also catering to the littluns, the ‘I Spy With my Little Eye’ show joins Molly and Bingo the puppy-dog at Molly’s sixth birthday party, for sing-a-long songs, party games and selfies with Molly.

Based Steven Lee’s new picture book. Trinity Theatre, Tuesday, April 5 at 2:30pm.

If you want to get outdoors and do good with your school holiday, why not try a litterpick? Friends of Grosvenor & Hilbert Park are holding a ‘Spring Clean’ at 2-4pm on Sunday, April 3, starting from The Hub. All equipment SCOTTISH STEAM UP provided, and children are welcome with an adult.

Spa Valley Railway is going all Caledonian this weekend, thanks to a visit by two Caledonian Railway locomotives, working the Tunbridge Wells West to Eridge line on Saturday and Sunday. There are also brake-van rides, getting you closer to the rails. The Scottish engines will run daytime services as well as the Fish‘n’Chip Supper service on Saturday evening.

If you have adult children to treat, or connect with, the Spa Valley Railway’s Real Ale service departs at 7pm on Saturday, serving Scottish ales and ciders. Ages 18 and over.

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Events

Wednesday March 30 | 2022

27

Amelia launches festival programme aimed specifically at younger readers The inaugural Tunbridge Wells Literary Festival takes place at the end of April in order to coincide with the opening of the new Amelia Scott cultural centre in town. As well as hosting a wealth of well-known writers over the weekend of April 29 - May 2, it will also feature a programme aimed at younger readers too. Richard Williams finds out more...

T

HE TUNBRIDGE WELLS Literary Festival being held at the end of April features some big-name authors, including TV funnyman David Baddiel, former Tunbridge Wells grammar school girl Jo Brand.

But the team at the Amelia Scott has also just announced an attention-grabbing programme for younger readers.

Aimed at early years to young adults, the festival will feature well-loved authors, awardwinning new writers and illustrators from all over the country.

The younger readers’ programme will see readings, performances, questions and answers, activities and a chance to put your pyjamas on for a daytime sleepover.

Venues will include The Amelia Scott, the Assembly Hall Theatre and Trinity Theatre all in the centre of Tunbridge Wells with plenty of parking nearby and a buggy park in The Amelia’s welcome hall.

The festival takes place over four days from April 29 to May 2.

Here’s a very brief look at the children’s programme, much more information is available at theamelia.co.uk/tw-lit-fest Saturday, April 30 Cate Douglas, author and illustrator, will be introducing new readers to Poppy’s Tail, a picture book with a fun, rhyming story all about imagination and creativity. Everyone will be encouraged to join in with the able to wear and waggle a tail just like Poppy’s.

Simon James Green, LGBTQ+ young adult author provides the opportunity for pyjamas in a fully immersive daytime sleepover experience.

He’ll be discussing his book, the wonderfully funny, Sleepover Takeover which has friendship and inclusion at its heart. Simon James Green will be returning later in the day to talk about his landmark comedic novel about a group of gay teens Gay Club!

Writer of horror and fantasy books Darren Shan will be presenting his ‘reverse career retrospective’ to readers old and new. His grisly tales have made horror fans out of many readers and he’ll be starting with a discussion Cate Douglas about his most recent Archibald Lox fantastical book all the way back to the series that started it all, Saga of Darren Shan.

missing mother that brings her face to face with Hedgewitch.

Monday, May 2 Playwright, poet and awardwinning children’s author Kiran Millwood Hargrave will be discussing Julia and the Shark, winner of Waterstones Children’s Gift of the Year 2021. Kiran will be joined by her husband, artist and author, Tom De Freston whose beautiful illustrations accompany her story.

Author Sita Brahmachari and acclaimed multi-media artist Natalie Sirett will debut the Raven Treasure Box experience. This is an interactive Sunday, May 1 event based around the plot of When New author Manjeet Mann Shadows Fall written by Sita and illustrated will talk about her first

by Natalie, a novel that see’s Kai’s friends picture book, Small’s Big desperate to save him from falling in with Dream, that encourages the wrong crowd. children of all ages to dream Places are limited so early booking is big. Discussing the book with advised to avoid disappointment.

Manjeet will be Amanda New authors and events are announced Quartey, Small’s Big Dream’s Manjeet Mann regularly. Most recently Kate Humble, one of debut illustrator, whose TV’s most recognisable faces (On our Farm; spectacular artistic style truly brings Springwatch) will be offering an Small, and her beautiful journey, to life. In a second event Manjeet will talk about her Costa Children’s Book Award 2021 winning Skye McKenna young adult novel, The Crossing about two teenagers from opposite worlds and the very real tragedies of the refugee crisis.

Skye McKenna will be along to discuss Hedgewitch, the first of her fantasy series of five books introducing readers to the hidden village of Hedgely and the story of Cassie Morgan and her search for her

Kiran Millwood Hargrave & Tom de Freston insight into her life through the lens of her new recipe book Home Cooked. Kate will be joined by Felicity Cloake, the acclaimed freelance writer and journalist who has just published her book A-Z of Eating.

She joins Sunday Times bestseller Pat Nevin, who’s memoir The Accidental Footballer has been hailed as ‘an absolute pleasure to read’.

He will be in conversation with Chelsea supporter Andy Hamilton and will beguile us with tales of his life in football, his love of culture and his passion for indie-music, earning him the title ‘the first post-punk footballer’.

Advertising Feature

Why these Kent colleges are leading the field in educational excellence Whether you want to study agriculture or do an apprenticeship in construction there’s a course to suit students seeking more practical qualifications at both Hadlow College and North Kent College. Here we discover more about each one and the types of courses they have on offer

Hadlow College’s history can be tracked back over 100 years. They are a key part of the county’s rural economy.

Hadlow is Kent’s only specialist landbased college and whether joining from school or looking to change career there is something for everyone.

Offering, a huge range of courses covering : Agriculture,(livestock, arable, fruit and vegetables) Horticulture (glasshouse production, viticulture, greenkeeping and ornamental production) Gardening, Agricultural Engineering, Aquaculture and Fisheries Management, Floristry and many short courses.

The college has a multitude of resources including a working beef farm (and links with local dairy farms), sheep unit, arable crops, glasshouses, fruit production, Broadview Garden Centre (open to the public) , fisheries lakes (2 hectare mixed coarse) and hatchery and equestrian stables and Riding Centre. They also own Greenwich Equestrian Centre (part of the London 2012 Olympic legacy) with an equine therapy centre with is one of the few available in the Southeast.

“During the recent lambing season Hadlow College lecturers took centre stage providing commentary and answering questions the event offered a unique window into agricultural life”

SUCH EXCITING AND SUSTAINABLE TIMES AHEAD FOR HADLOW! Hadlow College are also in the process of planting a new 3 hectare orchard growing a range of crops on the main campus. This exciting new development will focus on sustainability, reducing labour where possible and allow collaborative working with industry and importantly inspire the next generation of fruit growers and horticulturists.

The orchard will be as automated as possible using a range of robotic equipment and sensors to remove much of the labour intensive aspects but develop the highly skilled labour requirements of orchard management. Crops grown will be apples, pears, cherries, apricots. A section of the orchard will be dedicated to viticulture producing a crop of grapes with the training emphasis on how to set up and manage a vineyard. Drones will be used to monitor bud set, predict yields and monitor crop growth.

Recently Hadlow College took advantage of the unique lambing season (when sheep give birth to lambs) in order to raise awareness about the importance of sustainable farming and agriculture.

Thousands of new born lambs were brought into the world this spring and what better way to be part of that magical experience?

During the lambing season Hadlow College lecturers took centre stage in the lambing shed providing commentary during the day and answering many questions from local residents and visitors.

The event offered a unique window into agricultural life and witness lambing taking place.

There were also many other varied animals to see, as some of Kent’s best local produce was also on offer at the different catering stalls selling hot and cold food.

Coming up next is Hadlow’s Country Fair and open day which is being held on 18th June from 10am – 4pm. It will be a fun filled day with equestrian events, dog shows, tractor displays, curriculum talks and opportunities to apply on the day!

To visit all of Hadlow’s courses and to find out about all upcoming events visit here : www.hadlow. ac.uk

Advertising Feature

NORTH KENT COLLEGE

North Kent College consists of three unique campuses, Dartford, Gravesend and Tonbridge. All of the campuses serve the local communities and each campus has its own unique identity.

Our Tonbridge campus is located on Brook Street and within walking distance of the station. The state of the art campus offers students the benefits of new buildings and a fantastic auditorium seating over 300 people, which provides performing space for our Miskin music, dance and theatre students.

There is a restaurant called The View, aptly named as a stunning view across the Weald - open to the public and hosts many theme nights across the year.

Also boasting commercial hair salons also open to the public with great rates.

There are plenty of benefits to studying at college, whether you are transitioning from Year 11, looking to swap from Year 12, exploring Higher Education opportunities or looking to retraining or boost your skills with a part-time adult course.. At North Kent College there are plenty of options no matter your situation or skillset.

“Offering an exciting range of courses for students aged 16 or over North Kent college also has access to a variety of apprenticeships”

Offering an exciting range of courses for students aged 16 or over the college also has access to a variety of apprenticeships and the new T level course in Construction from September 2022 Students who have a passion for technology can enjoy such courses as computing and games development, e-sports while those looking to break into the health and beauty sector can join the make-up artistry and hairdressing and barbering courses.

For anyone wanting to pursue a career in the entertainment industry then there are plenty of avenues to explore including acting, music, technical theatre and dance and musical theatre.

If the idea of going into a trade is something that appeals to you then such courses as construction, refrigeration and air conditioning, electrical installation, plumbing, engineering and motor vehicle courses might be for you.

All campuses host many open events throughout the year with the next set of open days being hosted in October / November so keep an eye on the website for more details. www.northkent.ac.uk

Food & Drink

food & drink

30

Wednesday March 30 | 2022

Micro brewery is hitting the right notes with its music themed beers down deceptively easily. This is dry hopped with lots of El Dorado, Citra and Mosaic.

“The name comes from the song ‘Oh What A Beautiful Morning’ which Dan remembers his father singing when he was a little boy.

By Robert Forrester A MICRO brewery in High Brooms is going from strength to strength after launching three new beers this week – all named after popular hit songs.

Pig & Porter, which began trading in the town in 2013, is already a CAMRA London & South East Specialist beer award winner and are sure these new offerings launched this week will certainly not leave customers feeling flat.

Stocked

“It has become a tradition to invite our customers to help us name our beer lines, picked from song lyrics or titles” Founder Robin Wright said: “At Pig & Porter, every one of our beers is made with our customers at the heart of their production.

“It has become a tradition to invite our customers to help us name our beer lines, picked from song lyrics or titles. We are thrilled to announce our line up of three new beers which will all be available by the end of March.”

First up is Altered Egos, a 5.5% ESB. It is a rich, malty strong Bitter with a touch of sweetness and hints of marmalade.

“This is the first time we've made a traditional strong bitter and we're very

pleased with the balance and depth of flavour. The name comes from ‘Tunnel of Love’ by Fun Boy Three,” added Robin.

Cascade Second is Forever Lost, a 5.3% IPA. “Pig & Porter haven't done a cask IPA above 5% for several years so we thought we'd replace our strong Pale Ale with an IPA,” explained Robin. “Forever Lost is a

very catchy tune by The Magic Numbers and the beer is just as catchy. It features a luscious combination of Centennial, Cascade, Ahtanum and Idaho 7 hops.”

Last is High as an Elephant's Eye, our 6.2% NEIPA. “Something of a parting gift from our brewer Dan who is leaving us for pastures new, this is our long overdue first NEIPA,” said Robin. “Plenty of haze, lots of clean fruity notes and no bitterness this slips

PUBLIC NOTICE

Licensing Act 2003

Application for the grant of a Premises Licence An application for a Premises Licence at VINTRY, 7 The Pantiles, Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN2 5TD has been made by James Morris.

A summary of the proposed licensable activities and the proposed hours of opening: Sale of alcohol Proposed opening hours:

Sun-Wed 08.00 – 22.00

Thurs - Sat 08.00 – 23.00

Any person wishing to view details of an application can contact the licensing team on 01732 227004 Any person wishing to make representation about the proposals should make them in writing by 24th April 2022 to: Licensing Partnership, Council Offices, PO Box 182, Argyle Road, Sevenoaks, Kent. TN13 1GP licensing@sevenoaks.gov.uk www.sevenoaks.gov.uk It is an offence knowingly or recklessly to make a false statement in connection with an application.

The maximum fine for which a person is liable on summary of conviction for the offence is Unlimited. *minimum subscription term applies see website for full terms

Robin continued: “We are also very proud to announce our next Open Day. In lockdown, we really missed having customers come and visit us on-site at the brewery and we can’t wait to have you all back.

“We are so grateful to our customers who have got behind #supportlocal which kept us going during the dark months of lockdown. On Friday April 8 we welcome our trade customers to come and taste our beers, so if you are a local pub, restaurant or venue and you haven’t stocked our beers before, come and see us. On Saturday April 9 we open the brewery to the general public, we would love to show you around, hear your feedback on our new beers and tell you more about our story.”

The micro-brewery is situated in Chapman Way, High Brooms, Tunbridge Wells and we welcome trade guests between Midday-5pm on Friday 8 April and the general public between Midday-6pm on Saturday 9 April.

Delaneys fun, vintage Food Truck will be onsite on Saturday to sell you their imaginative street food; tacos and loaded fries, to compliment all the beers.

March 30 | 2022News 2Wednesday NEWS Local

FOR EVEN MORE NEWS VISIT: timeslocalnews.co.uk

Wednesday September 29 | 2021 31 Food & Drink

A humbling roast lamb dish from literary festival star Hot on the heels of being named one of the headline acts at the first Tunbridge Wells Literary Festival being held to coincide with the opening of the Amelia Scott at the end of the month, TV’s Kate Humble has just published her new book ‘Home Cooked’. It’s full of delicious seasonal dishes like this roast lamb that will be just perfect to serve to friends and family on Easter Sunday “A ROAST can feel like a rather heavy, wintery prospect for a summer day, but a roast leg of lamb somehow always feels summery to me – whereas the shoulder is more suited for winter, I think,” says Kate Humble, who has written her first cookbook according to the seasons.

“The lamb here, accompanied as it is with pickings from the veg patch, fragrant oregano and tangy feta, is the centrepiece for a plate of food that is full of sunny flavours and won’t leave you with that feeling of sleepy-eyed lethargy that comes after a hefty meal.”

Method: 1. Preheat the oven to 200C (400F), Gas Mark 6.

Make sure your lamb is at room temperature before you cook it, so take it out of the fridge 20 minutes or so beforehand. With a knife, make small, deep cuts all over the leg of lamb and push a slice of garlic into each one. Rub over some olive oil and season well with salt and pepper.

2. Put the rosemary and thyme sprigs in the

bottom of a roasting tin and place the lamb on top. Put in the oven and cook for about one hour and 10 minutes if you want your lamb to be pink (it is so much nicer when it is) or for longer if you want it cooked through. Remove from the oven, put the lamb on a board and let it rest for 10 minutes or so before you carve it.

3. Remove the rosemary and thyme sprigs from the tin and put it over a high heat on the hob.

Add the wine to the juices and let it bubble for a

Roast lamb with garden veg, oregano and feta recipe Ingredients: (Serves 6) For the lamb: 1 leg of lamb, about 2kg 2 garlic cloves, sliced Olive oil A handful of rosemary and thyme sprigs A generous glass of red wine For the vegetables: 400g broad beans in their pods, or 200g frozen broad beans 300g French beans 100g peas (fresh or frozen) Leaves from 3 sprigs of oregano Zest of 1 lemon, juice of half Olive oil 50g feta Salt and pepper

moment or two to form a thin but tasty gravy.

Pour into a jug and keep warm.

4. Cook the broad beans (shelled, if fresh) in boiling water for about two minutes. Drain and tip them into a bowl of cold water. Slip off the skins to reveal the bright emerald green beneath. This is, I admit, a bit of a faff, and you don’t have to do it, but they taste so, so much nicer without the skins. Set aside. Cook the peas briefly in boiling water, drain and set aside. Trim the tails off the French beans and steam or plunge into boiling water and cook until they are al dente. Drain and put in a bowl together with the broad beans and the peas.

5. Finely chop the oregano leaves and add all but a few (saved for garnish) to the vegetables.

Add the lemon zest and then drizzle over a bit of olive oil to make the vegetables glossy, but not swimming in it. Squeeze over the lemon juice, season with salt and pepper and mix gently.

Tip into a pretty serving bowl, crumble over the feta and scatter with the remaining oregano leaves. Carve the lamb, pour the gravy over the slices and serve the vegetables alongside.

Home Cooked: Recipes From The Farm by Kate Humble is published by Gaia, priced £25. Photography by Andrew Montgomery. Available now.

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32

Property news

Wednesday March 30 | 2022

property news

February sees growth in property market slow down as sales fall...

WHAT IMPACT WILL THE RISE IN THE COST OF LIVING HAVE ON THE PROPERTY MARKET?

HOUSE sales in February were around a fifth lower than the same month in 2021, according to HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) figures.

An estimated 112,240 transactions took place in February across the UK, which was 20.8% lower than in February 2021, HMRC said.

The total was, however, 4.4% higher than in January 2022.

A stamp duty holiday in England and Northern Ireland ended completely from October last year, after being gradually phased out.

Similar holidays had also taken place in Scotland and Wales.

Prices On Monday, property website Rightmove reported that the average price tag on a home in Britain has topped £350,000 for the first time.

Rightmove said average asking prices are more than 10% higher than a year ago and are being stoked by an imbalance between buyer demand and the number of properties available for sale.

Andrew Montlake, managing director of mortgage broker Coreco, said: “Moving forward, there are countless hurdles for households to clear in 2022, primarily rising interest rates and soaring inflation, so that will also apply a degree of downward pressure on transaction levels.

“However, rents are soaring and the desire of people to move out of the rental market will keep transaction levels ticking over.”

Jason Tebb, chief executive officer of property search website OnTheMarket.com, said: “As the weather starts to feel more spring-like, more stock

is coming to market but not quickly enough to satisfy pent-up demand from buyers who didn’t make their move last year and remain keen to do so.”

Jeremy Leaf, a north London estate agent and a former residential chairman of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (Rics), said: “As we are finding in our offices, the momentum which began with the release of pent-up demand after lockdown restrictions relaxed shows little signs of abating and may even be on the rise, thanks to recent welcome additions in stock levels.”

Lawrence Bowles, director of residential research at Savills, said: “While we are still seeing strong momentum in the market, data on agreed sales shows we are also starting to see stratification in sales activity between different price points.

“TwentyCi records show that sales of properties under £200,000 are still well below where they were pre-pandemic, whereas sales for properties worth £300,000 to £500,000 were 47% higher than their pre-pandemic levels, and between £500,000 and £1 million the market saw 73% more sales than before Covid.

“Part of this shift is because there simply aren’t as many homes under £300,000 as before, as we’ve seen values rise over the course of the pandemic.”

Nick Leeming, chairman at Jackson-Stops, said: “Whilst today’s year-on-year figures reflect the absence of the stamp duty holiday incentive, the significant increase from January this year is indicative of a market driven by intent, as the middle to high end of the market continues to press forward with their desire to move home.”

Buyers want an end to gazumping THE tactic of ‘gazumping’ – where sellers accept a higher bid for a house after previously accepting a lower offer from another buyer – should be made illegal, homeowners have said.

In a survey of 1,000 UK homebuyers to have purchased in the last six months alone found that 9 per cent had experienced gazumping when looking to buy.

Nine out of ten people surveyed (89 per cent) said they didn’t believe it’s right that gazumping can take place once a seller has already accepted an offer from a potential buyer, but before that sale has completed.

Nearly the same number (85 per cent) added that they would like to see the practice made illegal within the UK and 90 per cent would like to see estate agents tasked with preventing the practice from occurring in order to reduce its propensity.

Illegal Property purchasing specialist HBB Solutions that carried out the survey say the research sows that the vast majority of UK homebuyers want to see the practice of gazumping made illegal, as one in 10 fell foul of the backhanded practice during their last house hunt.

Managing Director of HBB Solutions, Chris Hodgkinson, said: “It's quite extraordinary that

gazumping still occurs in this day and age and, in fact, it’s probably fair to say it’s rife in current market conditions.

“Unfortunately, it’s a by-product of a market where demand is incredibly high and stock levels remain insufficient for such a prolonged period of time.

“When this happens, you have buyers falling over themselves to secure the home they want and some of them do this by gazumping.

“It’s a real stab in the back for the buyer who has already committed time and money to a property under the agreement they will be purchasing it and it can make an incredibly stressful, expensive experience all the worse.

At the time of writing, the Consumer Price Index, which measures the average change in prices that consumers pay for a basket of goods and services, is at 6.1%. With Putin’s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine, energy prices will continue to rise, and there are predictions that it could soon rise to over 7%. What is so painful is that this inflation is not just affecting luxury items, but also the price of everyday essentials, such as food, petrol and gas. One could be led to believe that this, coupled with rising interest rates, will deter many a buyer from embarking on a house move.

However, as mentioned in my latest weekly video news, Rightmove has just confirmed that we are currently experiencing the strongest spring sellers’ market on record. This is quite simply because demand continues to outstrip supply, with many buyers chasing each property.

And although Base Rate was increased again recently, interest rates generally remain incredibly low. The rental market also continues to create great returns for investors, with rental prices rising due to a shortage of good available stock.

It must also be remembered that the next General Election is two years away, and the Government will therefore be moving into “election mode”. During this period, they will want the housing market to remain buoyant, understanding that is a huge influence on public sentiment. Hence, we have seen the reduction in fuel duty of 5p and an increase in the National Insurance threshold, both aimed to cushion some of the impact of the rising living costs we are all experiencing.

Fundamentally, property remains an excellent hedge against inflation, outperforming cash in an inflationary environment. I therefore believe that for the next two years at least, the market will not see the double-digit growth of the last 18 months, but it will remain strong.

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

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

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Antiques

antiques

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Wednesday March 30 | 2022

A fresh vision of the world from a seventeenth century cartographer Alexander Pushkin finds both clarity and utility in Robert Morden’s maps published in 1695, was largely a duplicate of the 1654 map done by Robert Gordon of Straloch and published by Joan Blaeu in sections (e.g. Skye and the Western Isles); other areas show signs of more precise cartography. In comparison with Morden’s technique, even John Cary’s approach seems almost indelicate and overly complicated.

Lost aesthetic Alexander Pushkin

R

OBERT MORDEN (1650–1703) is without doubt the greatest English cartographer of the 17th century. He was a publisher, book seller, map seller, cartographer, globe builder, and instrument maker. Along with Emanuel Bowen, John Cary and John Speed, Robert Morden contributed enormously to the development of aesthetical cartography in Britain.

From 1675 until 1703, Morden worked at the Atlas in New Cheapside and the Atlas in Cornhill in London. His body of work in the field of cartographical works was extensive and diverse. It contained geographical playing cards, huge size maps on several sheets, the most notable of which being William Morgan's 12-sheet layout of London.’Some of his best-known maps,

‘These maps were newly etched and based on new information’ particularly those of South Wales, North Wales, and the English Counties were originally published in a revised edition of Camden's "Britannia" in 1695, and were reprinted in 1722, 1753, and 1772. These maps were newly etched and based on new information from gentlemen in each

county. Each featured a cartouche that was ornamented and displayed a number of geographical names. In 1701, Morden also published a set of miniature county maps known as Miniature Mordens.

Morden's approach to mapmaking was simpler than those of the previous century: he would avoid the over decorative ornaments and heavily embossed fonts, like on the maps of Speed, Blaeu, and the like. Instead, he would focus on the clarity of the information. One of his most prominent pieces, the map of Scotland,

When Morden has to show hilly terrain on his maps, the one aspect of the earlier, more ornate style of mapping may be discovered. Hilly areas, such as the Lake District (at the time, the counties of Cumberland and Westmoreland) and some parts of Wales (particularly Monmouthshire), are depicted with a plethora of artistically engraved hills, which are not strictly accurate in dimension but are considered sufficient to show relative heights within a group of hills and add an aesthetic that is lost on many later maps. This very special feature makes maps by the renowned cartographer especially collectible and appealing to antiques enthusiasts. A great example of a very rare Robert Morden (1650-1703) map of Kent, publication 1695 can be found hanging in our gallery, beautifully framed in an antique oak frame, a must-have wall ornament for a true Kentish patriot.

Antiques

Wednesday March 30 | 2022

35

Spirits are high for estate and bond sales This week the team at Gorringe’s uncorks some vintage wisdom about securing and selling antique vintages, while pouring bad old advice down the drain rather than port...

I

N LAST week’s article, I invited readers to ponder on the contents of the safe and jewellery box at home – as always, I was delighted to hear from so many of you and some wonderful discoveries have been made.

Today, I ask you to turn your attention to the wine cellar or drinks cabinet - as we discuss the wonderful world of wine, port and whisky.

Another area of the market which is remarkably buoyant at present, so those old nearlyforgotten bottles at home may just surprise you…

‘Whisky has become one of the fastest growing areas of new investment... with determined and acutely informed bidders’ duty paid. Bidding is at bond prices. If taken in bond VAT will not be charged on the hammer price. VAT will be charged at the standard rate on the buyer’s premium.

A recent example of such at Gorringe’s includes a collection of Castello del Terriccio Lupicaia 2009, which sold in bond for over £10,000 with us in December of 2021.

Discovery At Gorringe’s, we regularly include wine and whisky in both our weekly and quarterly fine sales. A myth we often hear and are keen to dispel is that wine needs to be professionally stored and boxed in order to be successfully sold at auction. An example to the contrary includes nine bottles of 1988 Giuseppe Quintarelli Recioto della Valpolicella Classico

Estate

‘A myth we often hear is that wine needs to be professionally stored and boxed in order to be successfully sold at auction’ – discovered in a recent house clearance, this certainly was not professionally, but domestically stored, yet the group still went on to achieve more than £1,600 in our weekly sale (so over £175 per bottle).

Together with fine and collector’s bottles

JOSEPH TRINDER

FASTEST GROWING AREA OF INVESTMENT being sold at auction conventionally, we also at times sell wine in bond. This is where the buyer has a choice of taking the item in bond (with the sale being made in bond) or taking the item

Port is also in high demand - I will never forget the time where during the clearance process of a property, whilst assisting with a deceased estate we discovered over 40 bottles of 1970’s Taylor’s vintage port, stacked up neatly beneath straw in a cool outhouse on a rural property.

The executors / beneficiaries of the estate had no idea that these bottles were there and little importance was initially placed in them. I recall comments by the client of how irksome the task of disposing of it all would be, with talk of pouring it into the drain if you can believe it!

Luckily, we were able to intervene quickly here which resulted in over £10,000 in additional value being realised for the family.

Whisky has become one of the fastest-growing areas of new investment in the market, as collectors the world over compete to own

quality bottles of certain years – the Asian market having become hugely active here in the last decade, with determined and acutely informed bidders in Japan, Korea and elsewhere in the region.

Recent examples of such bottles having sold at Gorringe’s include a bottle of Macallan 1965 17-year-old single malt which sold for over £2,400.

If you have wine, whisky or port that you believe may be of value and would like further advice, please don’t hesitate to get in touch, I’d love to hear from you! josepht@gorringes. co.uk

Twist in the trail leads back to old friend Nick Hall of Bentley’s auctioneers unlocks the history of Geoffrey Key’s alluring artwork ‘His paintings are highly sought after, and already feature in private and corporate collections and public galleries across the world’

O

NE OF THE great joys of the life of an auctioneer and valuer is the travelling around the South of England and further afield assessing items for clients to consign for our auctions, and getting to meet all manner of interesting people from all manner of backgrounds, people who have led interesting lives and accumulated many wondrous objects, often in beautiful picturesque locations and lovely old properties, and then those serendipitous occasions when you discover unexpected treasure.....

Unexpected One such occasion happened to me just recently when I was invited to the home of a lovely lady who had embarked on the task of downsizing, and I was asked to assess the furniture in her home. Lots of very stylish French and English pieces, and some cool contemporary designer pieces too, and it was while we stood and discussed the merits of the furniture market that I noticed a painting hanging nearby, I instantly recognised who the artist was, not only because I

knew his work well and had sold many of them over the years, but I actually know the artist personally, a great man, a passionate collector, but also, importantly, a great artist, who although in his 80s now, is still producing important and highly sought after works. That man is Geoffrey Key.

Geoffrey was born in Manchester in 1941, and in 1954 he sat the entrance exam for the Manchester High School of Art, and in 1958 entered the Manchester Regional College of Art, gaining many passes, distinctions and accolades.

He is regarded by many as one of the leading and most influential of British living artists, his use of bold colour, dreamlike compositions, strong dynamic figures, and fine draughtsmanship are influenced by European

Modernism, and are quite stunning.

His paintings are highly sought after, and already feature in private and corporate collections and public galleries across the world, including The Victoria & Albert Museum, the Mandarin Oriental Hong Kong Jockey Club, The National Art Gallery, Manchester Art Gallery, Chateau de St Ouen and Perrier, Societe Roquefort, and many others. He has had successful one-man shows across the UK, Europe, USA, Asia and beyond.

Modernism We are delighted to offer for sale four original oil paintings by Geoffrey Key in our upcoming auction at Bentley's, to be held on Saturday April 2nd, with public viewing on the Thursday & Friday (31st March & April 1st). Our fully illustrated online catalogue will be available via our website from the evening of Friday March 25th, so come along and see for yourselves these fabulous works of art, along with a 1000 other collectable and decorative items to bid on!

If you too have items you'd like to discuss selling, then please do contact us for an appointment.

36

Travel

Wednesday March 30 | 2022

travel

Five fantastic forests to discover...

SAGANO BAMBOO FOREST Retreat to the outskirts of Kyoto

If you go down to the woods today, you won’t believe your eyes, says Sam Wylie-Harris who’s been exploring...

F

ORESTS are a lifeline. Super fertile and vital to our eco-system, they flourish under the watchful eye of Mother Nature and reward us in so many ways when they’re managed sustainably.

They purify the air we breathe, provide safe habitats for all manner of wildlife and animals, are part of the livelihoods of millions of people around the world, cushion climate change and connect us to the wondrous beauty of the great outdoors.

Looking for some forest inspiration?

Whether for a visit in person, or simply to admire from afar, here are five fab forests we’d love to explore…

1. The New Forest, England You only have to head to the south coast of England to immerse yourself in The New Forest – voted the number one national park in Europe in the 2022 TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice Awards for Destinations.

Located conveniently close to the coast dotted with sandy beaches, you can explore the woods, heathlands, rivers and wildflower meadows by foot or bike, with more than 100 miles of cycle paths.

Teeming with ponies roaming freely among the forest, getting into the saddle and horse riding is one of the biggest attractions – but with a variety of water sports, golfing, fishing and nature based activities too, there’s something for everyone.

‘They purify the air we breathe, provide safe habitats for all manner of wildlife and animals, are part of the livelihoods of millions of people around the world’ 2. Tahoe National Forest, California, USA A wilderness made up of Sugar pines, Douglas firs and Ponderosa pines to name but a few, the Tahoe National Forest is northwest of Lake Tahoe and soars above the lake’s west shore, Emerald Bay. Mind-blowingly beautiful and a National Natural Landmark, this freshwater lake borders California and Nevada and the best way to admire the vista is from Inspiration Point, which sits 183-metres above the water.

Options include explore the hiking trails, and there’s even the opportunity to camp among the tall pines (there are designated campgrounds). Or you can always take to the road and journey through the forest through one of the highways.

3. Arenal Volcano National Park, Costa Rica Situated between the majestic Tilarán and Guanacaste mountain ranges, the Arenal

EL YUNQUE Waterfalls

Business feature special

30

Travel

Volcano is active – so here’s your chance to explore the Costa Rican rainforest as well as trekking through volcanic trails and lava beds.

Cited as an ecological paradise, Arenal Volcano National Park offers waterfalls, fascinating wildlife including white-faced monkeys and keel-billed toucans, hot springs and the chance to hike the Cerro Chato, an extinct volcano with the promise of a topaz coloured lake when you’ve conquered its peak.

Not sure where to start? Adventure travel company Flash Pack (flashpack.com) specialise in tailored trips to Costa Rica and do all the hard work for you.

Spotlight on:

to the heart of a diverse ecosystem.

Home to hundreds of rare plant and animal species, including Puerto Rico’s coqui frog – with special toe pads instead of webbed feet to climb and cling to trees and leaves – ziplining through the green canopies is ranked as one of the highlights, not to mention cooling off in the countless waterfalls.

Tonbridge

4. El Yunque National Forest, Puerto Rico Tropical rainforests can be a real challenge, but with family-friendly trails at a little under 1km long, or action-packed adventure if you’re after greater rewards, the El Yunque National Forest is a goldmine for anyone who wants to get

TAHOE NATIONAL FOREST Emerald Bay

5. Sagano Bamboo Forest, Japan

A stunning retreat on the outskirts of Kyoto, Japan’s Sagano Bamboo Forest is a haven for appreciating the beauty of bamboo – a place that takes you to another world where bamboo stalks tower above you, and sunlight streams through with the soothing sound of swaying stalks whispering in the wind.

A densely packed grove with paths and trails, you can also explore the surrounding treecovered hills and mountains, shrines, historic temples, zen gardens and photogenic tea fields.

ARENAL VOLCANO NATIONAL PARK Explore the Costa Rican rainforest

As the closest large town neighbour, Tonbridge and Tunbridge Wells are sometimes confused, but as Victoria Roberts finds out, there is a lot more to the market town than just a similar sounding name...

T

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

However, Tonbridge predates its Royal neighbour by more than five centuries.

Thanks to the Normans’ decision to fortify the crossing of the River Medway, the town of Tonbridge first formed around the motte and bailey castle that still sits in the centre of the town nearly a millennium ago.

would later become Tunbridge Wells.

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

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

of these districts are now given over to leisure and residential buildings.

NEW FOREST From 1842, the railways made river In theshipping saddle unprofitable, and today Tonbridge’s station remains an important junction between the South Eastern Main Line, the Hastings Line and the Redhill–Tonbridge line. The town also lies at the crossroads of the A21 road between London and Hastings, and the A26 between Maidstone and Newhaven on the south coast.

‘Today Tonbridge’s station remains an important junction between the South Eastern Main Line, the Hastings Line and the Redhill– Tonbridge line’ Over the centuries, different powers would battle over Tonbridge in wartime, and the town would be an important civic centre in peacetime.

It even hosted some of the visitors going to that iron-rich spring, five miles to the south – which

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Wednesday March 2 | 2022

Wednesday March 30 | 2022

FORMED The town was created after the building of Tonbridge Castle

38

Motoring

Wednesday March 30 | 2022

Motoring News Mercedes-AMG teams up with Palace Skateboards to create four unique Art Cars

MERCEDES-AMG has revealed four Art Cars that have been designed in collaboration with Palace Skateboards.

The German performance car manufacturer last teamed up with the British skateboard and streetwear brand for last year’s Nurburgring 24-hour race and has rekindled the relationship to showcase four new designs.

Collaboration With this collaboration focused on road cars, each of the designs is inspired by a different city, with London, Los Angeles, New York and Tokyo being chosen, because they are the locations of Palace’s flagship stores.

The first Art Car is a Mercedes-AMG A 45 S, with this model being called Tiger London. It has a large tiger’s head on the bonnet and AMG logos on the sides, with multicoloured paintwork that is said to pay homage to the UK’s custom car scene in the 1960s, 70s and 80s.

An AMG SL 63 has been used for the Sunset LA model, which has paintwork that shimmers

between yellow and red, inspired by the Californian summer.

An AMG GT 63 was used for the Neon Fade New York car, which transitions from black to neon yellow, representing ‘the two sides of the megacity on the Hudson River’, with the rough pavement and bright lights of neighbouring districts.

Finally, the AMG G 63 Space Horse Tokyo model depicts a horse galloping through space, paying tribute to the fantasy culture that is so popular in Japan.

Each of the cars has a seven-layer fade paint with a colour-changing effect, with AMG and Palace logos throughout. Each have Palaceinspired interiors, too, with special colours and individually-designed parts, such as the floor mats and headrests.

Mercedes-AMG and Palace Skateboards have launched a ‘humorous’ advertising campaign designed to elevate the small German town of Affalterbach, where AMG has its headquarters, to a level equivalent to the four megacities that inspired the cars.

This week…

Mercedes Art Cars

n

Maserati’s new SUV n Exhaust pipe app

n

Maserati adds to SUV range with new Grecale

MASERATI has launched the Grecale, the second SUV to arrive from the Italian firm.

Following on from the larger Levante, the Grecale was due to be launched back in November 2021, but was delayed due to issues with the supply of semiconductors.

Now, however, the new car has been revealed in full, showcasing a striking exterior design as well as a high-tech interior. Due to arrive ‘in the second half of 2022’, the Grecale will be available in one of three specifications – GT, Modena and Trofeo.

Both the GT and Modena utilise a 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine with mild-hybrid technology, producing 296bhp in the former and 325bhp in the latter. Maserati claims a 0-60mph time of 5.4 and 5.1 seconds respectively, alongside respective combined economy figures of 32.5 and 32.1mpg.

Both cars benefit from a high level of standard equipment, with GT cars incorporating a leather steering wheel and aluminium shift paddles alongside 19-inch alloy wheels. Modena models, meanwhile, feature 20-inch alloy wheels and a range of darkened exterior elements for a more undercover look.

The range-topping Trofeo, meanwhile, benefits from a 3.0-litre twin-turbocharged V6 engine with 523bhp and 620Nm of torque, enabling a

0-60mph time of 3.6 seconds and a top speed of 177mph.

Maserati claims consumption figures of 25.2mpg and CO2 emissions of 254g/km. The Trofeo also features 21-inch wheels as standard, alongside a sports exhaust and contrast interior stitching.

Variety All cars use a four-wheel-drive system combined with an eight-speed automatic gearbox as standard. In addition, the cabin features a 12.3-inch infotainment display with an additional 8.8-inch screen underneath with extra controls.

The system features a variety of connectivity features and can allow two users to connect to the Bluetooth system at once, giving passengers the ability to control functions such as Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

Maserati will also be adding to the line-up with an electric version. Called Folgore, it’ll be equipped with a 105kWh battery and deliver ‘as much as 800Nm of torque’, according to Maserati. The firm has yet to reveal any further details regarding range or performance.

Maserati is expected to release further pricing information closer to the Grecale’s release date later this year.

Free smartphone app lets drivers offset exhaust emissions in real time DRIVERS can now accurately offset the carbon emissions from their driving through a new smartphone app.

Called Karai by Drive Key, the app combines Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) data on tailpipe emissions with a driver’s journeys, to calculate their actual emissions.

It’s currently geared towards drivers of internal combustion-engined cars and allows them to become carbon neutral or carbon positive by paying into offset schemes.

Projects The app recommends carbon offsetting solutions such as re-wilding, reforestation, renewable energy projects and more, informing drivers exactly how much they need to pay.

The app will also provide drivers with tips to improve their driving efficiency.

Calin Saftoiu, Drive Key Corporation CEO, said: “After two years of planning, data analysis and testing, we are absolutely thrilled to launch Karai

today. Our initial focus is on helping drivers to reduce their emissions, and the efficient driving techniques that result from Karai’s recommendations can do so by up to 25 per cent.

“In the same way a fitness app builds active habits, our vision for the app is to help driving more effectively become second nature to users.”

According to its own analysis, Karai says that a Vauxhall Corsa would cost £3.50 per month to offset 100 per cent of emissions, based on driving 6,000 miles.

Meanwhile, a Nissan Qashqai travelling 20,000 miles per year would cost less than £15 per month to offset its carbon, and a luxury SUV such as a Range Rover Sport would cost £34 for the same mileage.

Karai’s calculations are made using location tracking and DVLA data, with the firm saying that all information is ‘fully secure’.

The app has launched for Apple devices in the App Store and will be released on Android and other operating systems in the summer.

39

Wednesday November 10 | 2021

H ENGINEERING PROUDLY UNDERTAKE THE RESTORATION OF CLASSIC & VINTAGE VEHICLES.

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H E n gin eerin g Ltd, L ittle Ca cketts Farm , H ay m an s H i l l , H o rsm o n den , Ke n t , T N 1 2 8 BX

info@h-engineering.com | 01892 549042

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