Times of Tunbridge Wells 4th May 2022

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Wednesday May 4 | 2022

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Tunbridge Wells goes to polls for closest election in 20 years

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POLLING stations in 16 wards across Tunbridge Wells are set to open tomorrow (Thursday) morning, as one of the closest fought local elections in two decades takes place.

Amid a backdrop of scandals for the Conservative party in Westminster, the local Tory group is wrestling to keep control at Tunbridge Wells Borough Council, which could fall to a coalition of opposition parties.

The Town Hall has been Conservative run for the last 24 years, but the controlling group has only 21 councillors at the Town Hall – four short of a majority – and has been running the Council as a minority.

In order to stay in charge at the No Overall Control authority, the Conservatives need to retain Leader Tom Dawlings, who is defending his Benenden & Cranbrook seat, and keep at least 16 seats to stave off any leadership

challenge in a future vote of no confidence.

The opposition groups can currently muster 26 members between them – 12 Lib Dems, 6 Alliance, 5 Labour and there are 3 independents. There is also a vacant seat.

Only Labour is running a full slate of candidates against the Conservatives this year, with the Lib Dems targeting a handful of wards amid speculation in Westminster of an electoral pact among the two national parties.

‘If you don’t vote you can’t moan’ Despite this, the Lib Dems in Tunbridge Wells are hoping to put Cllr Ben Chapelard in the Council leader chair, but the party won’t be able to run the the authority alone.

Opposition members have vowed to set

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up a ‘coalition of equals’ to form a majority administration, although nobody has yet outlined how this will work or whether three or even four different parties will be able to work together effectively.

The Conservative party goes into this election following a raft of national scandals that has seen them plummet in the polls.

Former Leader of Tunbridge Wells Borough Council, David Jukes, has even predicted a ‘bloodbath’ for his former party tomorrow.

If Tunbridge Wells – considered a Tory stronghold by the national party – does fall tomorrow, then the shock waves may very well be felt as far away as Downing Street.

Full story on pages 4-5

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NEWS

Local News

FOR EVEN MORE NEWS VISIT: timeslocalnews.co.uk

Wednesday May 4 | 2022

this week… Tunbridge Wells still has lowest crime in Kent but domestic violence on rise

YEAR BOOK Former matron Joan Page celebrates her 100th birthday P11

TUNING UP Young mechanics get in gear for their Soap Box races P15

BOOKISH DELIGHTS Organisers look forward to next year’s Tunbridge Wells Literary Festival after this weekend’s success P22

CHEF SHORTAGE Industry insiders discuss how they are addressing recruitment crisis P28

CONTACTS EDITOR RICHARD WILLIAMS richard.williams@onemediauk.co.uk | 01892 240626 DEPUTY EDITOR EILEEN LEAHY eileen.leahy@onemediauk.co.uk | 01892 576037

By Victoria Roberts CRIME has fallen by almost two per cent in a year, with Tunbridge Wells remaining the safest borough in Kent, according to figures presented to councillors at the Town Hall last week.

In the Community Safety Partnership’s Strategic Assessment presented to the Full Council meeting at Tunbridge Wells Borough Council (TWBC) last Wednesday (April 27), it was shown crime in general fell during 2021 by around 2 per cent compared to the previous year, with 7,830 reported incidents, down from 7,679.

Incidents of burglary fell from 293 to 281 (4.3 per cent reduction), while other notable falls seen in anti-social behaviour (4.3 per cent) and shoplifting (21.2 per cent).

The pandemic lockdown early in 2021 had skewed the results, but the Covid crisis also parked a surge in reported cases of domestic abuse, which increased from 2,391 reports in 2020 to 2,504 last year.

Pandemic A similar rise was seen during the lockdowns of 2020.

Terry Hughes, community safety manager, said: “Domestic abuse reports increased by 4.7 per cent in 2021 and 4.1 per cent in 2020. By comparison, incidents increased by around nine per cent in 2019.

“The impact of the pandemic on the difficult choices people have had to make over the past two years cannot be underestimated.

“While domestic abuse reports to Kent Police remained steady over the past two years, with occasion increases when conditions were relaxed, DAVSS [Domestic Abuse Volunteer

SOME victims of domestic abuse have received an ‘unacceptable level of service and have continued to remain at risk’ after lodging reports with Kent Police, according to a watchdog report.

The regulator, Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMIC), which inspects police, fire and rescue services, said the county’s police force ‘requires improvement’ for investigating crime, responding to the public and managing offenders.

Its rating for adequate protecting vulnerable people was ‘adequate’.

However, it earned a rating of ‘outstanding’ for

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Support Services], we know, received record levels of referrals, helpline calls and high need cases over the past 18-24 months resulting in a significant increase in emergency interventions and complex safety planning.”

The rise in domestic abuse offences led to it being identified as the number one priority area for the Community Safety Partnership Plan 2022-23.

Members of the Community Safety Partnership include the borough and county councils, Kent Police and the National Probation Service, among others.

Other priorities identified include substance misuse and supply, and alcohol abuse – which includes violence-related issues and knife crime in second place, then anti-social and high-risk behaviour – including violence-related issues, and finally road safety.

Crimes which saw a sharp rise in the period

were sexual offences – up 19.9 per cent to 326 incidents from 272 – and hate crimes – up 18.3 per cent to 226 from 191.

Concern Even though Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) offences are not recorded separately, the category was identified as a priority for 2022-23.

VAWG first became a ‘significant concern’ in Q3 of 2021-22 after ‘high-profile tragedies caught the national interest’, said Mr Hughes.

Prioritising VAWG ‘also (allowed) us to capture the work already being done in the borough to address anti-social and violent issues in our public spaces and NTE [night-time economy] venues,’ he added.

The report and its priorities were adopted by the Council by a clear majority.

…But police are letting down victims of abuse

CHIEF REPORTER VICTORIA ROBERTS newsdesk@onemediauk.co.uk | 01892 779615

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LOW CRIME Tunbridge Wells is the safest area in Kent

‘DISAPPOINTED’ Matthew Scott PCC

recording data about crime and ‘good’ for presenting crime, treatment of the public, developing a positive workplace and good use of resources.

But it was urged to improve how it investigates crime, responds to the public and manages offenders.

Outlining the changes needed when investigating crime, the watchdog pointed to domestic abuse cases, saying vulnerability investigation teams ‘lack capacity and capability’.

Accreditation “This is leading to ineffective and delayed investigations and at times a failure to properly manage the risk to victims,” the report said.

“The force has begun to address this by putting more trained detectives into the team and through the timely accreditation to detective level of some existing team members.

“It has also appointed a dedicated chief superintendent for domestic abuse to oversee and deliver improvements.”

Her Majesty’s Inspector of Constabulary Roy Wilsher said: “Opportunities to achieve positive results for victims are being missed because

some investigations are poor, or because officers haven’t maximised evidential opportunities.

This lets victims down.

“Kent Police’s response to domestic abuse is of particular concern. The force is rightly proud of some of its work protecting vulnerable people.

However, domestic abuse investigation teams have not been properly resourced with suitably qualified staff.

“As a result, some victims have received an unacceptable level of service and have continued to remain at risk.”

Kent’s Police and Crime Commissioner Matthew Scott said that the regulator had failed to ‘sufficiently recognise’ some areas of the report such as ‘the focus on cutting county lines and dealing with burglars’.

But he admitted the findings on domestic abuse were ‘disappointing’.

He said: “Members of the public will want assurance that these findings are being given the serious attention that they deserve.

“Some actions have already been taken to deal with the points raised, but I await the Force’s improvement plan with interest, which I will scrutinise and hold the Chief Constable to account for.”

ABUSIVE BOYFRIEND JAILED AFTER FORCING FORMER PARTNER TO STAND IN THE CORNER A TUNBRIDGE Wells man who subjected a former partner to a series of violent assaults and mental abuse has been jailed for four years.

Joshua Hamilton of Rankine Road was responsible for a catalogue of offences during 2020 and 2021 which included repeatedly beating his victim, shredding her clothing and making threats to kill her.

As well as violent assaults, Hamilton subjected his former partner to relentless mental torment.

Maidstone Crown Court heard that she would

sometimes be forced to stand in the corner of a room and face a wall.

He also controlled and monitored her movements and made repeated threats to kill or harm her.

After pleading guilty to two counts of assault, JOSHUA HAMILTON sending threatening messages and criminal damage, as well as

failing to comply with bail conditions, the 24-year-old was sentenced to four years last week (Tuesday, April 26) and made the subject of a ten-year restraining order.

Detective Chief Inspector Steve Mclean, of the West Kent Vulnerability Investigation Team, said: “Domestic violence is a priority for Kent Police and nobody should ever feel they have nowhere to turn. I would encourage anyone who finds themselves in a similar situation or relationship to report it to someone and get help.”

FOR EVEN MORE NEWS VISIT: timeslocalnews.co.uk

Wednesday May 4 | 2022

NEWS IN BRIEF

New bridge plans for High Brooms station PLANNING permission for a new bridge to connect the two platforms at High Brooms station are to be submitted after the rail provider was lobbied by Greg Clark.

The Tunbridge Wells MP had campaigned to get £785,000 in funding from the Department for Transport to build a ramp from Clifton Road to platform 2, but the scheme was later deemed unviable.

Mr Clark says he has now convinced the Department for Transport to upgrade the Victorian era station and use the unspent money from the ramp scheme to draw up the bridge and lift design.

He told the Times: “Not getting the ramp from Clifton Road to platform 2 was a setback, but in the long run it has presented an opportunity for a far more compressive solution to the problems of access at High Brooms.”

SO May’s edition The May edition of SO Tunbridge Wells, the sister magazine of the Times, is out today (Wednesday).

This month includes how a landscaping company is growing more than gardens, a Women in Business special, plus a feature on former Spandau Ballet legend Tony GROUND FORCE Hadley.

You can pick up your copy at any of the Times distribution points.

BUSINESS

Women of substance

The female entrepreneurs putting Tunbridge Wells firmly on the map

FOOD & DRINK

Grape expectations Local vineyards taking part in the Wine Garden of England festival

CULTURE

Going for gold

Spandau Ballet frontman Tony Hadley tells us all about his new show

HOW FAMILY-RUN GARDEN LANDSCAPING BUSINESS CORKER IS SOWING THE SEEDS FOR FURTHER SUCCESS

May 2022

Defibrillator stolen A HEARTLESS thief has stolen a defibrillator outside a community centre in Crowborough.

Sussex Police said they are appealing for information after the life-saving equipment was taken outside Jarvis Brook Memorial Hall.

Anybody with information is asked to call the force on 101 and quoting 0005 of 21/04.

Local News

NEWS

Hundreds flood into the Amelia as the doors open to the public

By Victoria Roberts TUNBRIDGE Wells Borough Council’s new cultural centre saw around 1,000 people flock into town to visit the attraction when it opened its doors last Thursday (April 28).

Named after the town’s social reformer and suffragist, Amelia Scott, the building on Monson Road, is the Council’s flagship project and was first conceived around nine years ago.

Inside the building, The Amelia houses a new library, visitor information centre, museum and art gallery.

Campaigner After being introduced by Tunbridge Wells Borough Council chief executive William Benson, the great-niece of Amelia, Helen Boyce, cut the ribbon to open the centre and told the crowd in front of building about meeting the great campaigner for the first time when she was a girl of nine years old.

“Cousin Milly, as she was known in the family, insisted on pouring the tea, although she was 90 years old and could barely see,” Ms Boyce recalled.

“So we had to call out when she reached the rim of the cup. I can see now how determined she was, even at the age of 90.”

Inheriting Miss Scott’s possessions from her parents in 1993, the great-niece offered the collection to the Women’s Library in London, which accepted and sent a ‘large van’ to collect everything.

“Knowledge about women’s activities blossomed with the World Wide Web at that time – this was about 2002 – and Amelia Scott’s work became known to women’s history researchers.”

However, Ms Boyce did keep her great aunt’s brooch, and has lent it to the cultural centre.

GRAND OPENING The Amelia [above] was opened by [inset] Helen Boyce and Amelia Bodfish

Ms Boyce’s daughter, Amelia Bodfish, who was named after the turn of the century reformer, read part of her mother’s speech, telling the story of Miss Scott becoming ‘really socially aware’ after attending a conference of the National Union of Women Workers (NUWW) in Bristol.

On her return to Tunbridge Wells, she immediately started a local NUWW branch in 1895, ‘and did not stop working in many causes until well into the 1930s.’

Although Amelia Scott is known as a suffragist – a non-militant campaigner for women’s suffrage – she was also particularly dedicated to benefiting poor and working-class women and mothers, providing housing and a social club, and later a maternity home.

The Kent Archives ‘sent’ a modern-day

celebratory telegram for the occasion, tweeting an archive photograph of Miss Scott with her sister Louisa ‘Louie’ Scott.

“After a lifetime of social activism and campaigning for women's #suffrage, we like to think this photograph of #AmeliaScott and her sister, both in their 90s, captures yet another day of philanthropy and community outreach in #TunbridgeWells,” the Archives tweeted.

The old inscription for the picture reads: “Lived every moment of their long-life thinking, working and serving others, in Public and Private life. Passed March 1952.”

A spokesperson for the Council said around 1,000 people visited The Amelia Scott on Thursday when it opened at midday.

The centre is set to open seven days a week.

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A LOCAL prop making company caused heads to turn on the motorway last week as their giant fibreglass pig was transported from their studio in Lamberhurst.

The team at Spur Creative was tasked with creating a four metre-high fibreglass Percy Pig, complete with a steel framework, to sit on top of the roof at a newly opened M&S in Stevenage, Hertfordshire.

Motorists along the M25 and M1 were posting pictures of the pink porker last Wednesday (April 27) as it made its way to its destination on a large trailer.

Memorable The footage soon went viral with M&S sharing it on their social media channels clocking up thousands of likes as a result on platforms such as Twitter and Instagram.

"We were delighted with how the project went and the attention it received," said Stephen Perkin, who managed the project at Spur Creative.

He went on to say that the sculpture took six weeks to make and included a team of structural engineers, talented sculptors and scenic artists to make it happen.

"We enjoy making all types of props for many different clients and this giant pig was one of the more memorable ones," he added.

The Percy Pig sculpture will sit on top of the new M&S store in Stevenage for approximately one year and will then move onto another store with the location yet to be revealed.

HAM-TASTIC Staff from Spur Creative and Percy Pig including [inset] at his new home

4

NEWS

Local Elections

FOR EVEN MORE NEWS VISIT: timeslocalnews.co.uk

Wednesday May 4 | 2022

Battle for the Town Hall as

By Richard Williams TUNBRIDGE WELLS voters head to the polls tomorrow, May 5, with the Conservatives fighting to keep control of the 48-seat chamber at the Town Hall.

The election could see control of the authority fall from the party for the first time in 20 years if they fail to return enough councillors.

There are 60 candidates vying for one of 16 available seats at Tunbridge Wells Borough Council (TWBC).

Polling stations open from 7am-10pm. Labour and the Conservative party are the only ones to have a full slate in all available wards, despite the Town Hall being balanced on a knife edge.

This is the penultimate local elections before the boundary system will change in May 2024 that will see a reduction of councillors from 48 to 39.

We spoke to all the party leaders to ask them why voters should turn out tomorrow and put a tick in the box next to their candidates, and this is what they told us …

CURRENT MAKE-UP OF TUNBRIDGE WELLS BOROUGH COUNCIL CONSERVATIVE PARTY 21

LIBERAL DEMOCRATS 12

ALLIANCE 6

LABOUR PARTY 5

INDEPENDENT/VACANT 4

CLLR TOM DAWLINGS

CLLR BEN CHAPELARD

‘Our plans are coming alive after two years of Covid-19’

‘It will be a two-horse race between us and the Tories’

Tunbridge Wells is getting its soul back after two years of Covid.

Plans, supported by us, are coming alive with the Amelia Scott, Elite Leisure for the BHS store, co-working and innovation space in the town hall, development of the ABC cinema site, high street shops with new occupants, street and many more outside hospitality seating, and planned enhancement of the Chalybeate Spring – all encouraged by the Conservatives.

New Council email and public engagement tools will help encourage residents to engage early in these future proposals including bus/taxi system making public transport more responsive and attractive. As proven successful in the past – all Councillors will be encouraged to work together on the lines of our cross-party initiative and development of the Local Plan (with its substantial social and affordable allocations) – while targeting net-zero carbon.

Each new venue builds on spending power, attracted by one, spending in others, multiplying the impact. All need to be economically and environmentally sustainable and right for our town but done as fast as possible.

Our efforts to build substantial social housing, support the homeless with new accommodation, up to 80% council tax relief for struggling families and now placing top priority to support Ukrainian refugees, are key to providing social help.

Tomorrow, after 24 years, the Conservatives, are likely to lose control of Tunbridge Wells Borough Council.

The Liberal Democrats are likely to be the biggest party.

If elected, the Liberal Democrats’ primary focus will be making a town centre in Tunbridge Wells that we can all be proud of.

We want it to be somewhere that you want to take your family; somewhere you want to spend time with your friends; somewhere you are proud to show to visitors.

We understand that this is not going to be a quick fix, but we are all fed up with the decline of the town centre over the last two decades and we intend to make a reversal of this our priority.

We believe that with public consultation, creative ideas, and a clever use of planning powers, we can make a difference and reverse the decline in fortunes of the top end of town.

As ever, Tunbridge Wells is a two-horse race: Liberal Democrats versus Conservatives.

And so the voters of Tunbridge Wells have a choice.

Do they want more of the same? Or is it time for a change?

Let’s vote Lib Dem tomorrow, and bring the changes that our town centre so dearly needs.

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Wednesday May 4 | 2022

Local Elections

FOR EVEN MORE NEWS VISIT: timeslocalnews.co.uk

NEWS

borough goes to the polls CLLR HUGO POUND

CLLR NICK POPE

TREVOR BISDEE

‘We need more collaborative and cross-party working’

‘We’ll focus on scrutinising and improving the council’

‘People are aware of climate

For too long the Conservatives have dominated Tunbridge Wells. They've left us with the derelict cinema site, wasted £11million on the Calverley Square Project, and gone £7million over budget on the Amelia Scott. They are tired, rudderless and have lost their majority.

Tomorrow Conservatives are set to lose control of the Council when voters have the opportunity to vote for change.

We need fresh leadership, new councillors, and action to make our Borough prosper again.

We need more collaborative and cross-party working to make our Borough fairer, where everyone has the chance to live, work and thrive.

From Paddock Wood to Hawkhurst, to Sherwood, St John's and Southborough - Labour has candidates campaigning to Build a Better Borough.

We want a post-Covid recovery plan focused on business growth, jobs and the cost of living crisis; speedier action to tackle climate change; more genuinely affordable houses to buy and social houses to rent; more police on the street and safer towns and villages for women and children; and a Council that listens and acts on what residents say.

Tomorrow please use your vote to send your 'change' message to Conservatives locally and nationally. Vote Labour, we're on your side.

The Alliance is local and independent, only focusing on the Borough of Tunbridge Wells, funded by residents, working for residents.

12 months ago, Tunbridge Wells Green Party saw its best ever election results, our membership is continuing to grow, and more people are getting involved with our campaign.

We have been active throughout the year, fighting to protect our green spaces in threatened areas, such as Paddock Wood and Ramslye.

We have been consistently challenging plans to destroy our green belt and AONBs, unlike other parties in Tunbridge Wells, who voted it through.

The need for sustainable housing, truly affordable for those in need of housing, has never been greater.

However, it seems many in the council chamber appear to be putting developers' profits first.

Greens have been highlighting the Conservatives poor record on the environment, with little progress towards achieving the goals of the council’s 2019 CE declaration.

Greens have been keeping the issue alive and calling for a citizens assembly.

Our members have poured their energy into talking to local people and building stronger communities. The people on the doorsteps are aware of the climate emergency, and want to see Green policies take centre stage, to produce fair, environmentally sustainable solutions to the problems we face.

Tunbridge Wells is surrounded by Green councillors, it’s time to fill that gap by electing our first Green councillor.

With the current six councillors, the Alliance has been very effective on the council and will continue working hard for residents. We were key in stopping Calverley Square.

We pushed for the council to retain ownership of the Town Hall and turn the empty space into a much-needed income stream.

We initiated the ‘Meanwhile Use’ planning policy which will give the council additional powers to deal with empty properties. We raised concerns about the large contracts, particularly the waste contract and the quality of the new wheelie bins.

We will continue to focus on scrutinising and improving how the council operates – both the big things and the small things – and we will continue to work with other parties to make our borough a better place to live, work and visit.

There are many challenges ahead for the council. Money is tight, and costs are increasing for everyone.

We will use our broad range of experience, creativity and drive to make the council more open, more efficient, and, working with residents, make Tunbridge Wells a borough we can be proud of.

crisis and want green policies’

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Local News

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Wednesday May 4 | 2022

Aqua Park makes big splash for brides-to-be on its return

By Victoria Roberts THE Bank Holiday weekend saw one of the South East’s popular water attractions return, as 300 visitors took to the water with the re-opening of the aqua park at Bewl Water, near Lamberhurst.

Among the first people to make a splash were two brides-to-be and their hen parties.

With new elements added to the floating structure this year, the course is bigger, as is the stock of wetsuits – now totalling 500, in all sizes from six years old and up.

When it opened in 2019, the Bewl Water Aqua Park fast became one of the most popular summer attractions in the South East.

The popularity of the attraction has been driven by adventure seekers as well as sport enthusiasts and wild swimmers, according to business manager Andrew Daniells.

Council unveils plans for Queen’s Jubilee OFFICIAL plans for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee have been confirmed by Tunbridge Wells Borough Council (TWBC), starting with a military parade just after noon, and then a procession culminating in the Big Jubilee Lunch at Dunorlan Park.

The three main events on Friday, June 3, will mark 70 years since the Queen’s coronation on June 3, 1953.

Cadets

WATER FEATURE The Aqua Park has a new layout for 2022 “There really isn’t just one kind of person taking part,” he said. “It’s not just a kid thing.

We get all the rugby clubs, the groups of friends, and everyone else.”

Encouraged Simon Anthony, Aqua Park manager, added: “We’ve been waiting for this moment since we started this year’s install three weeks ago, it’s great to see so many people, including a couple of hen parties, enjoying the amazing outdoor activities at Bewl Water.”

The giant ‘Wibit’ course on the reservoir will be open on Fridays and at weekends and Bank Holidays throughout May, then from Thursdays from June.

From July to the end of September, the aqua

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park at Bewl Water, which is run by Elite Leisure Collection, which also owns One Media, publisher of the Times, will be open every day, with timed slots available to book in advance.

Visitors are advised to arrive on site 45 minutes before the slot time. There is a mandatory safety briefing at 15 minutes before the hour.

Lockers are available for valuables if the whole family wants to go on the water, and padlocks are available to buy onsite.

Visitors are encouraged to visit the park either by walking, cycling or by car (parking charged at £6 per vehicle).

Children aged 6-13 years old must have either a parent or guardian accompanying them on the aqua park, while 14-16 year olds must be accompanied by a parent or guardian viewing from the shoreside.

The celebrations kick off in martial style, with a parade by service personnel and cadets at the War Memorial in Mount Pleasant Road, at 12:45.

The Vice Lord Lieutenant of Kent, Brigadier (retired) Trevor Minter OBE, Mayor of Tunbridge Wells Chris Woodward, and former deputy lieutenant of Kent Peter Blackwell will take a general salute.

At 1:30pm, a carnival-style procession starts from the War Memorial, passing through Monson Road, Calverley Road and Bayhall Road to Dunorlan Park’s events field.

In the procession with the cadet bands will be majorettes, local Scout and Guides groups, Morris dancers, stilt walkers, the samba band Bloco Fogo, a fairy-tale carriage with princess, the cast of Tunbridge Wells Operatic and Dramatic Society’s production of ‘Shrek: The Musical’ and more.

Reaching Dunorlan Park’s events field at 2pm for the Big Jubilee Lunch, the procession takes on wheels, with a car show with a car from every decade of Her Majesty’s reign.

Meanwhile, onstage in the grounds, there will be a stage show with acts representing the Queen’s 70 years on the throne.

The children’s area will feature ceramic painting, face painting, princesses and heroes, the Mega Blaster World Laser Area, Punch & Judy and balloon modelling.

Kent Fire & Rescue Service will be there with a fire engine, alongside a digger and tractor.

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Crowborough pub wins top tourism award for the second year running

Business club connects directors and owners

OVER a dozen business directors, company founders and owners gathered in town for a breakfast networking and discussion last Wednesday (April 27).

The second meeting of the Elite Business Club (EBC) was held at One Warwick Park, from 8:30-10:30am.

EBC is a monthly invitation-only breakfast hours meeting, held at the Elite Leisure Collection (ELC) properties of One Warwick Park and Salomons Estate. Attendees are drawn from director and owners of local businesses.

Founder

By Victoria Roberts A PUB has scooped a top South East tourism award for the second year in a row.

The Blue Anchor in Crowborough was named Pub of the Year in the Beautiful South Tourism Awards on April 25.

An independent panel from industry leaders, past winners and experts judged pubs across the South East on factors ranging from appearance and service to its food, online customer reviews, and the business’s use of social media to its own offering as well as the area in which the pub is based.

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The licensee of the pub, located on Beacon Road, Amy Glenie said it was totally unexpected to have received the honour for a second year.

“It is amazing and just so unexpected – especially because it is the second year in a row.

It was just such a big surprise. “

Success She added: “With everything that has been going on, it’s so good for the team to be rewarded like this. It brings everybody together after a couple of really tough years.”

Ms Glenie attributed the pub’s success to both

supportive customers and her team – including her mother Nicola, who is a chef.

She said: “My mum helped me so much when I started out, helping in the kitchen, so it felt fitting she should come (to the ceremony). It was a lot of work to get us to where we are, but it was a team effort and now I have a brilliant and stable team in place.”

The business has already put up its trophy in the entrance, next to last year’s award, so both are visible to customers as they arrive.

The Blue Anchor is a managed pub for brewer Shepherd Neame, which has been based in Faversham, Kent for over 300 years.

ELC also owns One Media, publisher of the Times.

Regular attendees include Neill Thomas, co-founder of Thomas Mansfield Solicitors, Gillian Palmer, managing director of Lending Made Simple and founder of The Finance Hub, Siobhan Stirling, founder of Sharp Minds Communications and Sarah Raine, founder of Colley Raine & Associates.

However, in a sign that Tunbridge Wells’ business catchment area extends beyond the town, this week’s event included Oliver Corkery of Corker Outdoor Living from Paddock Wood, and Tom and Eleanor Burgess of Sweat-It Training in Crowborough.

The next event is due to be held at Salomons Estate on Friday, May 27.

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Wednesday December 2021 Wednesday May15 4 | 2022

More new hires for Thomas expanding law firm Mansfield Tunbridge Wells twin town organises Queen Victoria wine trip and tasting

Expert commercial dispute resolution lawyers

By Jonathan Banks

A SPECIALIST law firm in Tunbridge Wells has welcomed two new lawyers to its rapidly expanding team.

Thomas Mansfield Solicitors has made a number of new hires over the last two years and has welcomed Vicky Mansell who joins the private client team as a senior associate, and Joanne Leach joins the employment team as a solicitor, having qualified with multinational law firm Lawrence Graham.

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GERMAN officials in Wiesbaden, the town Befofre starting her legalWells, careerplayed Ms Mansell twinned with Tunbridge on its worked a qualified needs teacher, British as royal links lastspecial weekend with a guided accruing a wealth experience in protecting the visit to the Queenof Victoria monument in nearby rights and promoting independence for Hochheim. vulnerable including children, As reportedpeople, in the Times (April 20), thethe two elderly and those with mental and towns were celebrating 33 years ofphysical being disabilities. twinned last week.

She is also a specialist in wills,from probate, About 30 participants walked the special educational needs and disability lawwhere and athe German town in the state of Hesse, passionate advocate for those with learning, origin of the term ‘hock’ that is often used to mental physical issues resulting from brain refer toand German white wines originated – to the injury, including brain(Queen tumours.

She is vineyard. an Königin Victoriaberg Victoria) accredited mediator by the College of Mediators in Civil and Commercial Mediation and is a registered SENDPartnership Mediator.

Joanne Leach ranassociation her own successful “The partnership planned tuition the trip and education because of theconsultancy multifariousbusiness, relations preparing between children forWells demanding school entrance Tunbridge and Great Britain, and Wiesbaden and the state of Hesse, and also the close relationship with British royalty,” the

JOANNE LEACH VICKY MANSELL Wiesbaden-based partnership organisation told examinations and guiding families through the the Times. lengthy process of state andofindependent school Wiesbaden is the capital the German federal applications. state of Hesse.

She brings over four years ofAlbert experience in Queen Victoria and Prince had visited conducting tribunal litigation, advising on the region in 1845, while touring the River workplace and onproudly employment aspects Rhine, andissues the vintner unveiled his of commercial and corporate transactions. monument to their visit nine years later,She in is a member 1854. of the Employment Lawyers’ Association.

Almost a decade later, Victoria and Albert’s Neill Thomas, Partner at Thomas second daughterManaging Princess Alice married the Mansfield Solicitors said: “I am pleased to Grand Duke of the region. welcome two new solicitors The seven-metre structureto ofour the fast-growing memorial still team. is important for our recruit standsItbetween the vines onfirm the to estate and was lawyers withrenovated a diverse range of backgrounds. extensively for Queen Victoria’s 200th “The addition of Vicky and Joanne, with their birthday in 2020. education sector expertise, willsaid: further enhance The Wiesbaden organisation “When the the wealth of experience and specialist group reached the monument, the wine grower knowledge wea can use toreview provide all our Reiner Flickthat gave detailed about this clients historicand site.contacts with the very best advice and service.”

“And the partnership association prepared another surprise – the guests were all allowed to taste the excellent Queen Victoria wine.”

Brother and sister celebrate MP urges vulnerable to sign up 25 years in the mobile world to electricity power cut register

By Robert Forrester

TUNBRIDGE Wells is one of the South East’s TWO Tunbridge Wells siblings reached a most under-represented areashave on the register milestone for their business after during celebrating 25 that identifies vulnerable people power yearsaccording at the forefront the mobile phone cuts, to an of energy provider. industry.

And local MP Greg Clark has urged everyone to Richardwhether Groves and Wimble-Groves started consider theyJoor anyone they know Activebenefit Digital in thebeing mid 1990s, as the mobile could from on UKjust Power Networks’ phone boom began.

(UKPN) priority services register.

Mr Groves told the Times: “It was a great time to get into mobile. It was the first time businesses Patients were starting to give their employees a mobile phone.

Over 65s, families with children under five, “We with felt that there was opportunity for an those a disability oran who rely on medical independent, impartial, mobile telecoms equipment, people who B2B are hearing, sight or company, with a primary on delivering a speech impaired, patientsfocus leaving hospital and great customer people with anyexperience. physical or mental health condition can sign up, according to UKPN, which manages electricity networks in London, Fleets the South East and the East of England.

He said they provide wide range of flexible Although there is no aguarantee registered tariffs including well being households will unlimited get powerplans back as sooner, UKPN ableoffer to give helpfulplus advice on giving can updates practical helpdevices such astohot younger drinks orchildren. meals, emergency accommodation, or As new technologies have emerged over the two providing cold packs and generators to people and a half decadesorthe duo haverequire been operating, whose medicines equipment the pair have been on their own digital electricity. transformation journey, Wells and now UKPN said Tunbridge wasprovide one of the technology and support for businesses going most under-represented areas in the South East, through with justtheirs.

59.4 per cent of eligible households “We have out a broad range of clients, ranging from registered, of over 2 million households local Kent businesses through to large already registered across the UKPN region. corporations of more than and 2,000 UKPN spentrunning aroundfleets £40,000 on meals iPhone andfor iPad devices,”households added Jo. across the hotel stays registered “But wethe offer the same customer UK over past year during powerfocused, cuts. concierge to each.the Wecompany partner very “Outsideapproach of emergencies, could closely fantastic brands as O2, also putwith people in touch withsuch experts for Apple, free Samsung, andadvice Microsoft. independent on energy if they are “We are very paying proud totheir be one the best worried about fuelofbills,” said performing partners forsustainability O2 across themanager.

UK and Giulia Privitera, social Ireland and we were named Choice, The customer service teamDirector’s has also been Partner by of the Year incharity 2020.” Scope and fuel trained disability She said the firm’s customers poverty services provider Agilityinclude Eco to big help

national brands such as Caterham Cars, Saracens Rugbywho Club,‘need Sanofi, Premier League, Onwatch those extra help to manage their Plc, Baxall Clothing energy billsConstruction and to keep and theirCrew home warm’,to she name just a few. added.

Richard that theencourage pandemic those has provided Mr Clarkadded said: “I fully who the business withto further opportunities: might be eligible register for UK Power“Despite the really challenging timesregister that we’ve had over Networks’ priority services to receive the lasttoyear a half, help but be access freeand extra helpwe in acan’t power cut. excited thateligible this is an amazing to betoinjoin “Helping friends andtime relatives technology, supporting businesses with their the register can offer extra support at a stressful digital transformation. time.”

“When you have thousands of people Registering is free.

If your power is cutworking off, dial fromgo home, it’s time to focus on the speed and 105, to ukpowernetworks.co.uk or tweet reliability of their home broadband, the security @UKPowerNetworks. of their devices, and their ability to communicate and collaborate with colleagues and clients.

“Exciting as the technology itself is, what really motivates us is to find solutions to some of the personal, human challenges that come with digital transformation.”

GREG CLARK MP ADVICE SURGERIES

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

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

01892 519854 or email:

greg.clark.mp IT’S@parliament.uk GOOD TO TALK: Jo Wimble-Groves and brother Richard

Wednesday May 4 | 2022

FOR EVEN MORE NEWS VISIT: timeslocalnews.co.uk

Former NHS matron turns the page after reaching centenary

By Sarah Carter A FORMER matron, traveller and storyteller filled her calendar last week with two birthday parties, to celebrate a century well lived.

After Joan Page marked her hundredth birthday with family on Wednesday (April 27), her neighbours organised a party on the Common on Sunday afternoon.

Although she was born in Essex in 1922, Ms Page moved to Sevenoaks at three years old, and later trained as a nurse during World War II. Southborough neighbour Ann Molyneux explained: “She was late starting nursing training as she had pneumonia. She started at 20 years old.

“Then she spent wartime working in London.

She was at Queen Elizabeth Hospital for Children [in Hackney] in 1942-45. The hospital did get bombed at one end.”

HAPPY BIRTHDAY Joan Page on her birthday and [inset] as a young woman

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RVP to welcome a ‘flashmob’ in spring FOOTFALL at the Royal Victoria Place (RVP) shopping centre is taking on a rhythmic quality this spring, with six weeks’ worth of dance workshops culminating in a ‘flashmob’ at the end of May. The workshops are aimed at anyone who wants to socialise with new people while getting moving, and do not require any previous experience, although attendees are encouraged to wear comfortable clothing and trainers.

The first free workshop by Kent-based Moving Memory Dance Theatre Company took place on Friday, April 22, and they will run every Friday at 1pm-3pm until May 27.

Dancers

not write anything horrible about anyone.

“She never had children. The family are coming from all parts of the country (for her birthday).”

However, she said the 100-year-old lady’s neighbours were central to the second celebration.

Replaced After the war, Miss Page moved on to the Royal Free Hospital and Guy’s Hospital, but later moved out of London after her father died, to be with her mother for a period.

In 1958, she joined Kent & Sussex Hospital as deputy matron, becoming matron in 1962.

Later, she became matron at the student nurse training school at Pembury Hospital in April 1964.

She retired in 1970, when changes following the Salmon Committee report saw the role of matron abolished, to be replaced by chief nursing officers.

However, Ms Molyneux stressed the former matron’s independent spirit and a wide range of

Community News

interests have kept her busy ever since that retirement.

“She went to Nepal and travelled widely from 1984 to 1998,” said her neighbour.

“Her talents include art, craft and dressmaking. She is a prolific writer of stories of the past and poetry.

“It’s all very down to earth. She might write about you. She might write about me. She does

Common Ms Molyneux explained they had decorated the common areas in the building where they both live with ‘Cambridge Blue’ balloons for the birthday morning and then she told the Times how they celebrated in style last Sunday (May 1).

“We had a lovely picnic on the Common with a gazebo for Joan which was just fantastic,” she added.

There is still time to join in, meeting dance company members on Fridays at 1pm outside the Customer Services office on Level 1. No booking is required.

Moving Memory dancers are working with the participants to create and perform a routine, which will be performed in the final ‘flashmob’ occasion at the shopping centre on May 27.

Nicky Blanchard, RVP centre manager, said: “This is a great initiative to bring the Tunbridge Wells community together to have a bit of fun but to also enhance the dancers’ physical and mental wellbeing.

“The workshops will be a great addition to the centre, and we can’t wait to see the flashmob at the end of May!” At Moving Memory Dance, Sian Stevenson said: “Dance is a liberating form of escapism, and we can’t wait to meet and find new moves with Tunbridge Wells locals so they can wow their friends and family this spring.

“We invite aspiring people of any age to come and try our workshops! It’s about loosening up, having a laugh and letting go! No previous experience is necessary.”

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Wednesday May 4 | 2022

PM outlines £300billion of support for Ukraine

SUPPORT PM Boris Johnson appearing via videolink at the Ukrainian parliament BORIS Johnson has confirmed the UK will send a package of support worth £300million to Ukraine in coming weeks, as he addressed the country’s parliament.

The Prime Minister also echoed the words of Winston Churchill in the videolink address to the Verkhovna Rada, describing Ukraine’s resistance against Vladimir Putin’s invasion as its ‘finest hour’.

Mr Johnson stood for the Ukrainian national anthem ahead of his speech, and was introduced by the Ukrainian parliament’s speaker.

Fortify Ukrainian MPs in the chamber could be seen holding a Union Jack and the Ukrainian flag.

President Volodymyr Zelensky spoke after Mr Johnson, describing the UK and Ukraine as now “brothers and sisters”.

It is reportedly the first time Mr Zelensky has appeared in the parliament in person since the war began.

Mr Johnson told the parliament: “In the coming weeks, we in the UK will send you Brimstone anti-ship missiles and Stormer anti-aircraft systems.

“We are providing armoured vehicles to evacuate civilians from areas under attack and protect officials – what Volodymyr (Zelensky) mentioned to me in our most recent call – while they maintain critical infrastructure.

“I can announce today from the UK Government a new package of support totalling £300 million, including radars to pinpoint the

artillery bombarding your cities, heavy lift drones to supply your forces and thousands of night vision devices.

“We will carry on supplying Ukraine, alongside your other friends, with weapons, funding and humanitarian aid, until we have achieved our long-term goal, which must be so to fortify Ukraine that no-one will ever dare to attack you again.”

Downing Street had earlier said the equipment will include electronic warfare equipment, a counter battery radar system, GPS jamming equipment and thousands of night vision devices.

The Prime Minister also told Ukrainian MPs that their country would win the war, and said the conflict had “sowed the seeds of catastrophe” for President Putin.

He added that Ukraine had “exploded the myth of Putin’s invincibility” and that Russia’s “war machine” had “broken on the immovable object of Ukrainian patriotism”.

Echoing Churchill, the Prime Minister said: “This is Ukraine’s finest hour, that will be remembered and recounted for generations to come.

“Your children and grandchildren will say that Ukrainians taught the world that the brute force of an aggressor counts for nothing against the moral force of a people determined to be free.

“They will say that Ukrainians proved by their tenacity and sacrifice that tanks and guns cannot suppress a nation fighting for its independence, and that is why I believe that Ukraine will win.”

Biden blasts Supreme Court’s abortion ruling US PRESIDENT Joe Biden has said that the “basic fairness and the stability of our law demand” that the Supreme Court does not overturn the landmark 1973 Roe v Wade case that legalised abortion nationwide and said he would work to codify the right to abortion into federal law.

In a statement released a day after a political news organisation released a draft opinion that suggested the high court could be poised to overturn the ruling, Mr Biden said he could not speak to the authenticity of the draft and said his administration was preparing for all eventualities for when the court ultimately ruled.

Represents Mr Biden said a decision overturning Roe would raise the stakes for voters in November’s heated midterm elections.

“If the court does overturn Roe, it will fall on our nation’s elected officials at all levels of government to protect a woman’s right to choose,” Mr Biden said.

“And it will fall on voters to elect pro-choice officials this November. At the federal level, we

will need more pro-choice senators and a pro-choice majority in the house to adopt legislation that codifies Roe, which I will work to pass and sign into law.”

Although past efforts have failed, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said he intended to hold a vote.

“This is as urgent and real as it gets,” Mr Schumer said on the Senate floor on Tuesday.

“Every American is going to see on which side every senator stands.”

A decision to overrule Roe would lead to abortion bans in roughly half the states and could have huge ramifications for this year’s elections.

But it is unclear if the draft represents the court’s final word on the matter, as opinions often change during the drafting process.

Whatever the outcome, the Politico report late on Monday represents an extremely rare breach of the court’s secretive deliberation process, and on a case of such importance.

“Roe was egregiously wrong from the start,” the draft opinion states. It was signed by Justice Samuel Alito, a member of the court’s six-three conservative majority.

FOR EVEN MORE NEWS VISIT: timeslocalnews.co.uk

Wednesday May 4 | 2022

Migrant Channel crossings triple to 7,000 so far this year MORE than 7,000 migrants have arrived in the UK after crossing the English Channel this year so far, figures show, with the vast majority landing on Kent’s shores.

Since the start of 2022, 7,240 people have reached the UK after navigating busy shipping lanes from France in small boats, according to analysis of government data.

This is more than three times the number recorded for the same period in 2021 (2,390) and more than seven times the amount recorded at this point in 2020 (1,006).

Crossings resumed this weekend, with more than 500 people arriving in Kent over two days, after an 11-day stretch between April 20 and April 30 without any taking place amid bad weather conditions.

PERIL Migrants picked up by Border Force earlier this year

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Rwanda Some 293 people made the crossing to the UK in nine boats on Bank Holiday Monday after 254 in seven boats arrived on Sunday, according to Ministry of Defence (MoD) figures.

In April, there were nine days of crossings and 2,143 people arrived in the UK as a result.

The highest daily total for 2022 was recorded on April 13 when 651 people made the crossing in 18 boats.

A record 1,185 people made the crossing to the UK on November 11, 2021 – the highest recorded so far since the start of 2020.

A total of 28,526 people made the crossing in 2021, compared with 8,466 in 2020, 1,843 in 2019 and 299 in 2018, official Home Office figures show.

Despite the increasing numbers, the UK’s small boat arrivals are a fraction of the number of people arriving in Europe.

Data from the UN’s refugee agency shows at least 120,441 people arrived in Europe via the Mediterranean by land and sea in 2021.

According to The Times, Calais MP Pierre-Henri Dumont said the millions of pounds Britain has given to France to stop Channel crossings is a waste of money.

He is quoted in the newspaper as saying: “I strongly believe that we need to exit the relationship that we have right now with the UK, which is basically the UK is giving us money to do the job, because it makes both sides of the Channel angry.”

Mr Dumont also reportedly warned the Government’s plan to send migrants to Rwanda could risk causing more deaths as people attempt other, even more dangerous routes to the UK to avoid detection.

Refugee charities claim the Rwanda policy has done little to deter people from making the journey to the UK but a former Border Force boss said it is too soon to tell if news of the plan is helping to curb Channel crossings.

P&O SAILINGS RESTART P&O Ferries will restart cross-Channel sailings for tourists for the first time since sacking nearly 800 seafarers.

The ferry firm said its ship Spirit of Britain would leave Dover for Calais at 4.05pm yesterday (Tuesday).

It comes after it resumed freight-only sailings on the key route between the UK and France on April 26.

Spirit of Britain is the only ship the company can currently use for its cross-Channel operations.

It was cleared to sail on April 22 after being detained 11 days earlier, when 23 failures were found by Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) inspectors.

The earliest date passengers can buy a ticket for a crossChannel trip is this coming Saturday.

Profits at BP reach ten-year record amid calls for windfall tax on sector BP HAS notched up its highest quarterly underlying profits for more than a decade thanks to rocketing oil and gas prices as calls mount for a windfall tax on the sector.

The oil giant saw underlying replacement cost profits – its preferred measure – more than double to 6.2 billion US dollars (£5 billion) for the first three months of the year from 2.6 billion US dollars (£2.1 billion) a year ago.

Demands But on a statutory basis, BP swung to a 23 billion US dollar (£18.4 billion) loss after taking a mammoth 25.5 billion US dollar (£20.4 billion) hit from its move to ditch its near-20% stake in Russian oil producer Rosneft in response to the Ukraine war.

The underlying result was far better than the 4.5 billion US dollars (£3.6 billion) expected by analysts and is likely to further fuel demands from Labour and the Liberal Democrats for a windfall tax on oil and gas firms to help ease the cost-of-living crisis.

Chancellor Rishi Sunak has so far distanced himself from slapping a tax on the industry, instead looking to companies making big profits to invest the cash back into the UK. In response, BP unveiled plans alongside its quarterly figures to invest up to £18 billion into the UK energy

system by 2030.

It pledged to invest in North Sea oil and gas, while driving down operational emissions, and said it is also working on a range of lower carbon energy projects in the UK, which are set to create jobs and develop new skills.

In a further sign that it is seeking to head off criticism, BP also stressed it expects to pay up to £1 billion in taxes for its 2022 North Sea profits, on top of around £250 million paid annually in other UK taxes.

Chief executive Bernard Looney insisted the group is “backing Britain”.

He said: “It’s been our home for over 110 years, and we’ve been investing in North Sea oil and gas for more than 50 years.

“We’re fully committed to the UK’s energy transition – providing reliable home-grown energy and, at the same time, focusing on the drive to net zero.”

Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng last week wrote to the oil and gas industry saying it must also set out plans for investment in clean energy during a meeting in the coming weeks.

But Labour and the Lib Dems want the Government to go further and are backing calls for a windfall tax on the companies to provide more direct help for cash-strapped households and businesses.

BP’s results showed that, despite the first quarter loss on the back of the impairment charge for exiting Rosneft, which it co-owned with the Kremlin, the group is also offering more returns to investors.

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Loss It announcing another 2.5 billion US dollars (£2 billion) in share buybacks on the back of its underlying profit haul.

Mr Looney said: “Our decision in February to exit our shareholding in Rosneft resulted in the material noncash charges and headline loss we reported today.

“But it has not changed our strategy, our financial frame or our expectations for shareholder distributions.”

www.ts-p.co.uk

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Wednesday May 4 | 2022

EDUCATION Times

Education

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Pupils all set for soap box summer charity fundraiser Schoolchildren are busy honing their engineering and building skills as they prepare to race at the Soap Box Stars charity event in Dunorlan park on Saturday June 25. The Times finds out more….

A NUMBER of local schools are taking part in this June’s Soap Box Stars Kart Race – a fun charity event which has raised thousands of pounds since its inaugural launch in 2018.

The brainchild of Nicole Piesse Turner from media and marketing company Chatty Hatter, the event successfully ran for two years but due to the pandemic had to be cancelled in both 2020 and 2021.

It’s now back for 2022 and in addition to the local businesses getting involved in the races, a number of schools are getting involved, and have been busy building vehicles to race when the event takes place on Saturday June 25.

“After the second event in 2019 someone from the West Kent Independent State School

“We’re so excited about the students’ involvement in this year’s Soap Box Stars charity race” Partnership approached me to see if I would include them in the next race which was obviously due to be in 2020,” Nicole explained to the Times.

Independent State School Partnership (ISSP) is a partnership of eight secondary schools which includes The Judd School, Mascalls Academy,

businesses racing is that the schools have their own specific prototype which is provided by the ISSP.” She went on to say that there will also be a special Schools Soapbox exhibition happening at Royal Victoria Place later next month in order to show off the students’ hard work.

“We’re so excited about the schoolchildren’s involvement but it wouldn’t be possible without the support of our main school sponsors, Right Tuition and Phoenix Design & Construction.”

Tickets are on sale and cost £10 for an adult, £5 for a child twsoapboxrace.com

RACE JUDGE ROSEMARY SHRAGER WITH TWGSB TEAM IN 2019

Oakley School, The Skinners' School, Skinners' Kent Academy and Tunbridge Wells Girls Grammar.

Skill Nicole says the competition is open to students in Year 9 and they will have the chance to build and race their own inventions at the public event, which will be raising funds for Hospice in

the Weald, Nourish Foodbank and Pickering Camcer Drop-In Centre. It will be hosted by TV chef Rosemary Shrager and panto favourite Tom Swift from Wicked Productions.

“Each team is given a basic soapbox kart chassis as part of their £599 entrance fee. The kit has been made by the North Kent College Motorsport Division, to revamp in any way they like,” added Nicole.

“The difference between the schools and the

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Greg Clark Conservative MP for Tunbridge Wells

Wednesday May 4 | 2022

Greg Clark was first elected MP for Tunbridge Wells in 2005.

He has held a number of positions in Government, including Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy. He is currently Chair of the House of Commons Science and Technology Select Committe.

The Amelia will be part of a renaissance in Tunbridge Wells THE AMELIA is fantastic. If you haven’t made a visit to Tunbridge Wells’ new gallery and museum, arts centre, library, education centre, café and performance space: go now, you’ll love it.

One of the most enjoyable features of the new centre is how its different uses are intermixed, rather than in rigid compartments. So some of the Borough’s collection of art is displayed over the bookshelves of the library. The history of Tunbridge Wells can be discovered in superbly presented displays throughout the building.

There is lots to capture and retain the interest of children but – unlike some museums – it has plenty to absorb adults too.

I think the Amelia will become a destination for residents and visitors alike. The latter is long overdue. Since the Day at the Wells attraction at The Pantiles closed down nearly 20 years ago, visitors to our beautiful town have not had a welcoming place to learn about the history of Tunbridge Wells and to put into context the sights that they can see.

Worthy Coach parties have been disappointed that, after a wander through The Pantiles, there was no indoor attraction worthy of the town’s fame.

Now we have one, and as tourist numbers grow after the limitations of lockdown, we have made

Tunbridge Wells that bit more of a draw.

If the Amelia is giving a boost to the town centre, there are other reasons to be cheerful too. In fact, there is something of a spring-time feel breaking out across the town. The Pantiles is doing really well. Every weekend there is an event going on that is met with growing and enthusiastic crowds. It wasn’t long ago when shop fronts on The Pantiles were being shuttered and businesses closing – now buildings are being smartened up and new businesses opening.

The High Street is buzzing too. For a time it seemed to be increasingly dominated by estate agent windows, but now it is teeming with cafes, restaurants and shops.

Mount Pleasant has really turned a corner – the big site where Carluccio’s was is about to reopen with a new business; empty shops are now snapped up and finally the cinema site is poised to be brought into use by an owner – AXA –who knows Tunbridge Wells and is deeply invested in the town.

The Town Hall, from being a gloomy presence far too big for a modern district council, will shortly be a hive of small businesses and start-ups – bringing daylong footfall to the town centre.

Camden Road has had a revival with new, diverse independent traders springing up and

offering a rich array of shops, cafes and restaurants.

Most intractable has been the precinct and the Royal Victoria Place mall. Everywhere in the country, forces have moved against the big chains with the same offering in every high street and many prefer to be outdoors rather than indoors. But the conversion of the big BHS store to be a big leisure complex - with three floors of go karts, a bowling alley, cinema and a virtual reality arcade - is a bold and welcome move. It will bring in new footfall to the top of the town. And we are lucky that British Land, the owner of the Royal Victoria Place, are one of the very few shopping centre landlords in the country who are actually investing in their quality of their centres.

It’s not just the permanent shops and restaurants that are contributing to an upsurge in the vibrancy of Tunbridge Wells. We are a creative community and I was blown away by the range of traders from our area who were brought together at the Trinity Theatre last Thursday by Jess Gibson, founder of the TN reward card, for a ‘makers’ market’ of 26 small businesses, producing everything from delicious chocolate brownies to beautiful fabric designs. I hope that this market can be a regular event.

Every town centre in the country is having to reinvent itself as what we buy and how we buy

Visit Corker Home to 15 inspirational show gardens designed to make your garden a Corker! #MakeYourGardenACorker

OPENING Greg Clark with Mayor Chris Woodward and the Mayoress things changes. The Covid lockdowns accelerated forces on town centres that had been happening for years. But I am thrilled that in the last year Tunbridge Wells is emerging more strongly than other towns by drawing on our strengths of beautiful places and diverse and entrepreneurial businesses.

The Amelia Centre will be part of this renaissance in Tunbridge Wells. I predict that we will be an example that other towns will look to follow.

You can find us just off the A228 at: Westdene, Whetsted Road, Paddock Wood, TN12 6SD Or online at corker.co.uk & 01892 833 325

Wednesday May 4 | 2022

Letters

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NEWS

17

And another thing…

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

‘Swivel-eyed loons’ is not what a candidate should call voters MARTIN BRICE, the Lib Dem Culverden Candidate’ recently sent a Tweet saying he had spoken to Conservative Party Members on the doorstep.

He then, in the Tweet, refers to them as ‘The Swivel-eyed loons of the extreme right, whose only purpose in life is hating foreigners’.

Referring to your opposition party members like this is bad enough.

However, more recently he shared a Tweet calling every single person that voted Conservative in 2019 ‘Far Right’.

I would put this question to the residents of Culverden ‘Is this the person you want representing you’?

Aaron Brand Tunbridge Wells

Calverley

Observations on life and more important things

SAT-NAVS are a wonderful thing – unless you’re Calverley. He’s a terrible driver and hates any journey more than the mile to his local where he leaves the car and gets a cab home. So, when he needed to make a longer

trip, he was shown how to use the sat-nav.

Having next day programmed the device he set off only to pullover when the lady giving instructions said: “This off-road journey involves two ferries and a moto-rail.”

Suspicions were immediately aroused.

Calverley wanted to go to the Nuffield Hospital in Haywards Heath 35 miles away. Seems he had got it a tad wrong and had asked to be guided more than 1,400 miles – to Albania.

Come on. It could happen to anyone!

TOUCH of sanity at last. Guards have been Webcasts are not cricket Webcasts have turned questions at Tunbridge Wells Borough Council meetings into dreary realms of deadpan municipal policy speak, with portfolio holders reading pre-prepared scripted answers.

Last week someone asked why in 2022 after 120 years there is no Kent cricket at the Nevill Ground.

Covid uncertainties were blamed. Fair enough.

As regards next year the Council would continue to work closely with Kent County Cricket Club, in the hope of Kent cricket returning to the Nevill Ground.

‘Work closely … in the hope of’! Where is the energy, the passion, the determination, and ultimately the leadership, to ensure that one of Tunbridge Wells most prestigious events, with its substantial economic and social benefits, does actually happen?

When will a councillor show some enthusiasm for their role and play some seriously attacking shots instead of just holding up an end?

Terry Cload Tunbridge Wells Don’t fight about initiatives It is obvious, to businesses and now to most people, the centre of our town need people to spend money here. Internet buying has speeded up this need. Our shops are becoming less sustainable. The more we delay, the harder it will become.

To achieve this, requires us to attract entertainment facilities, hospitality venues, personal service providers, public art, museums, education facilities, coworking space, pedestrian areas, cinemas, theatres, night clubs, town centre transport, town centre residents, enhancement of our heritage etc.

They will help us retain some in-person shopping. We should applaud each company willing to invest in these to help our town.

Each new venue builds on spending power, attracted by one, spending in others, multiplying the impact. All need to be economically and environmentally sustainable and right for our town but done as fast as possible.

We cannot afford to fight about these initiatives but put our town and residents first.

Let’s get on and rejuvenate our town with developments that we can all be proud of.

Cllr David Scott Culverden Greens not ‘fanatics’ In a week when Parliament passed a Bill drastically restricting our rights of protest and public assembly, Colin Bullen (Times April 27] has leapt onto his high horse to attack Greens and the media.

Mr Bullen is angered by the tactics of people he describes as ‘extremists’ and ‘fanatics’ yet, were he to make even the briefest study of history, he might see that often it has been those with the courage to act illegally who have brought about change and hastened the removal of unjust legislation.

For example, there were the individuals who refused to pay Margaret Thatcher’s hated poll tax, the slaves who revolted against their masters in the 19th century, the civil disobedience of the suffragettes and Gandhi, or Rosa Parks, who deliberately broke the racist laws of the southern US states.

Interestingly, Mr Bullen mentions that marches were one of the tools he was involved in during the Brexit campaign so I am sure he will understand how the demonstrations of Extinction Rebellion have raised public awareness of the climate crisis and spurred governments and other institutions into declaring a climate emergency.

Which brings me to Mr Bullen’s views on climate change. He blames the media for spreading the idea that human activity is

responsible for the extremes of weather, species extinctions and natural disasters that we are now experiencing.

I wonder what the thousands of climate scientists around the world would think of his ‘nothing to see here’ theory and I am curious to find out if he has any qualifications, training or experience in climate science.

Cllr Paul Stepto Tonbridge & Malling Green Party I know about climate change I’m not a green activist but I do know a thing or two about climate change. Colin Bullen’s letter last week simply took my breath away. His ignorance is staggering.

It is not possible to respond adequately to his remarks in this letter but the scientific evidence supporting the claim that human activity is responsible for the rate at which the climate is currently changing is now vast and irrefutable.

He refers to solar variations and Milankovitch cycles (changes in the earth’s planetary movements, not just its orbit as he says) and tectonics as the drivers of climate change.

He seems blissfully unaware that these have all been researched extensively, and while they are major influences of the climate over geological time periods of millions and billions of years, they have been comprehensively dismissed as significant causes of the climate change currently occurring all around us.

He seems confused about the difference between ‘proof’ and ‘theory’ and considers ‘man-made climate change’ to be a belief.

Evidence seems to be an alien concept to him.

The evidence provided by his letter suggests, but is insufficient to establish, that Mr. Bullen is guilty of the arrogance and bullying of which he accuses the green activists, but it is more than sufficient to determine that he is profoundly scientifically illiterate.

Robert Chris Tunbridge Wells

banned from calling prisoners ‘clients’ and referring to their cells as ‘rooms’. Some people do believe, though, that certain prisons are more like holiday camps.

INTERESTING that when a microphone picks up swearing at a football match the BBC is quick to apologise for the use of bad language. When the same words are used in a TV drama they are simply referred to as ‘strong language’. Why are we not surprised?

TALKING football… Norweigan striker Erling Haaland is about to sign for Manchester City.

He will be paid £500,000 a week. That’s right, a week. This equates to £10,000 an hour five days at ten hours a day. He’ll also get millions for image rights. For what? Kicking a ball!

When people are faced with the cost-of-living crisis it’s obscene.

FINAL THOUGHT. Council elections take place tomorrow (Thursday). Remember: if you don’t vote you can’t moan about what happens down the road. Calverley will vote and still moan.

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 May 4 | 2022

Life&Times

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

Festival review - P22

Going out - P26

Antiques- P32

Artist in residence

We meet Claudia Wiegand Arts P20

20

Arts

Wednesday May 4 | 2022

arts

Showcasing the art of glass...

GLASS on Monson Road is run by talented artist Claudia Wiegand. It’s a gallery and shop offering beautiful contemporary fused glass art and gifts, and is also a member of the TN Card. The loyalty scheme’s founder Jess Gibson discovers more

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So Claudia, how did you get into glass art?

I have always loved art but worked in the telecoms industry for years. When my daughter started pre-school I became a mosaicist which I loved, but it was time consuming and I could only do a couple of projects a year.

When I turned forty I attended a glass-fusing workshop. I fell in love with this art form and never looked back. I started making jewellery and was selected by the National Trust to supply jewellery to their shops for a year, which allowed me to open a small studio. It has steadily grown from there.

Finding a space was a challenge and my kilns were in storage for six months. I opened GLASS in September 2020, and despite the lockdowns, its success has exceeded every expectation.

Being able to create work and sell on the same premises is fantastic.

“My designs are predominantly abstract and inspired by nature or simple shapes. I love bold colours but also subtle hues and monochromes”

What’s your USP? Visitors can also see me working, get an

What can gallery visitors expect to see?

I want to offer something for people of all walks of life, ages and budgets, so I make small and large decorative and functional pieces.

This ranges from small gifts to tableware, home accessories, wall artwork, 3D statement pieces, splash backs and even door panels.

insight into what glass fusing is about and enjoy a unique shopping experience!

You are a member of the TN card. Tell us about this...The TN card is a fantastic way to support and promote local businesses whilst giving back to the community and to West Kent Mind. I love all the brilliant initiatives and it is great to see the TN card grow and go from strength to strength.

What are you working on currently?

I am making a sample splash back to display at the gallery. I am also working on a commission to make a semi-arched room divider, and as always, I’m planning lots of new designs.

What do you love about glass?

There is something magical about it - its translucency, the myriad of colours and reflections, and of course its unique amorphous composition which allows it to turn from solid to liquid then back to solid.

How would you describe your designs?

They are predominantly abstract and inspired by nature or simple shapes. I love bold colours but also subtle hues and monochromes, and like to explore different combinations, influenced by the design itself, the seasons or a customer’s request.

I have a thing for trees - I paint intricate skeleton trees on a lot of my work and often personalise them for special occasions.

What led to you opening your Monson Road gallery?

We moved to Tunbridge Wells five years ago.

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As a PR & Content Writer you will be drafting long, and short form copy to reach both professional and consumer audiences, such as social media campaigns, blogs, articles, press releases alongside generating news and lifestyle content for our print publications. The PR & Content Writer will be responsible for pitching stories to the press, pulling together media lists and keeping your eye out for reactive and proactive opportunities.

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Books

Wednesday May 4 | 2022

First edition of literary festival a new leaf for town

O

VER 1,600 eager readers packed the five venues of the first Tunbridge Wells Literary Festival last weekend, and organisers are already looking to next year.

The festival took place over the bank holiday weekend, from April 29 to May 2, at the newlyopened Amelia Scott building, The Assembly Hall Theatre, The Forum, Trinity Theatre, and the Tunbridge Wells Hotel.

David Baddiel and Jo Brand, both well-known as presenters, comedians and writers, headlined the programme, but there was something for everyone, with music lovers, culinary enthusiasts and sports fans all treated to big names like Bobby Gillespie, Kate Humble and Pat Nevin. Bobby appeared at The Forum while the others were at the Assembly Hall Theatre.

created in the town. It’s essential that Tunbridge Wells builds on this and the opening of the Amelia Scott to make the town vibrant, entertaining and a great place to live.”

And at Trinity Theatre, artistic director Sean Turner said: “This whole weekend has felt like a real critical juncture for culture in Tunbridge Wells. The opening of the Amelia Scott alongside the Literary Festival has left me personally feeling hugely optimistic about the future.

“This festival is a real asset to our town and I for one cannot wait to start working with the team on the 2023 line-up.”

PRIMAL SCREAM Bobby Gillespie (left) on stage at The Forum

Incredible

Honour Less than a week after opening, The Amelia cultural centre hosted many of the children’s events, with Nicky Carter, TWBC’s head of HR, customer service and culture, commenting: “We have had the honour of meeting so many lovely people over the four days, it’s also been fabulous to see children having such fun participating in the events designed for them.”

The Forum leveraged its cultural and musical standing to host events such as the predictably sold-out out appearance of Primal Scream frontman Bobby Gillespie on Sunday.

Event organiser Isobel Dormon said: “The Forum team were proud to be part of the Tunbridge Wells Literary Festival and to host such a variety of literary professionals who have the art to provoke long-form thought and

explore issues that promote reflection and action.

“A poet with the gift of expressing grief, the injustice of war and domestic violence in a few select phrases. A journalist eloquently describing the yearning within some for fame and the pitfalls of it with profound consequences on mental health and self-worth.

A pop star stressing the cultural resonance of music and its importance to human existence.”

Literary lunches hosted by co-sponsors the Tunbridge Wells Hotel featured five authors at four events. Proprietor Julian Leefe-Griffiths said the festival is just what the town needs and has been a fantastic success.

“It’s great to see new cultural events being

STRANGEFACE Appeared at The Amelia on Saturday

Times book reviewer

HANNAH KIRSOP

Jo Stocker of Waterstones Tunbridge Wells told the Times: “The festival has been incredible, numbers were really good and there was such a wonderful range of events. All have been really well attended and sales for us have been absolutely brilliant.

“It’s been so lovely watching people enjoy books and talking about books and seeing people come from all over to see and meet some incredible authors.

“It’s a really lovely thing for the town and we can’t wait to do it again!”

Festival events were also supported by RTW Together’s events grant scheme, said Business Improvement District director Sarah-Jane Adams.

“It is such a logical fit for our town to have an event of this nature, and we have been impressed with the high-profile line up and the positive benefit for residents and businesses alike. We look forward to seeing the event grow in coming years.”

CHILLING COLD CASE

MISSED THE MARK

A Question of Guilt by Jørn Lier Horst

Wahala by Nikki May

(published by Penguin, priced £8.99)

(published in hardback by Doubleday, priced £14.99)

The fourth in the cold case series sees William Wisting on holiday but unable to escape the demands of the job when he receives an anonymous letter prompting him to look closer into a 20-year-old case.

In 1999, the seemingly open-andshut case saw Danny Momrak convicted for the murder of his girlfriend, but evidence highlighted by the letter provides a link to another, similar case….and a different convicted murderer.

In many ways, this is a book one has read many times over as due process is followed when the case is re-opened and the evidence revisited…but the ‘did-he or didn’t-he’ internal debate re Danny alongside a similar contemporary case along with a reunion with the brilliant Wisting means this retains its originality and engagement. A little sad not to have more exposure to Nils Hammer and Line, Wisting’s journalist daughter – both of whom are more high profile in other books – but nonetheless another gripping outing.

Wahala – meaning trouble – infiltrates the lives of university friends Ronke, Simi and Boo in the form of Isobel, a friend of Simi’s from her childhood in Lagos whom she introduces to her friends despite warnings from her father. As each of their relationships with Isobel evolves, the happy balance of their lives begins to shift and cracks begin to appear in their relationships with their families and each other.

Despite the twists and turns of the plot, the story was rather stodgy, predictable and far-fetched. So too, were the characters either underdeveloped or unbelievable… with the one exception being Ronke whose natural warmth radiates from the page along with her affection for her friends and for top quality Nigerian food – there is also a nice touch at the end where the author includes two of Ronke’s favourite recipes.

10.30am on 1st May. Please see theamelia.co.uk/tw-lit-fest for more

8/10

5/10

REFUGEE CRISIS

The Crossing by Manjeet Mann (published by Penguin, priced £7.99) 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

Inspired by the impact of the refugee crisis on her hometown of Folkestone, Manjeet Mann presents both sides of a refugee story through the voices of Natalie & Sammy – Sammy, a young Eritrean who is fleeing his homeland in search of a better life in Europe and Natalie, a young girl living on the Kent coast and mourning her mother while her brother becomes increasingly involved in a local far-right gang. Written in verse, Natalie and Sammy’s stories are interwoven with the final words of one’s section repeated to begin the other’s, drawing them together and, despite their very different

experiences to date, highlighting the similarities in their situations and their emotions.

The topics covered – xenophobia, death and refugees – are ‘big, raw’ issues but Mann conveys them sensitively and as a simple reflection of the truth going on around her. Through the verse style (which is brilliantly ‘readable’ for this age group) and the large expanses of white space, the reader has time to absorb the messaging and to read between the lines. Winner of The Costa Children’s Book Award 2021 and nominated for the Carnegie Medal 2022, this is a must read for ages 12+.

10/10

Books

Wednesday May 4 | 2022

23

A word with two inspiring authors...

The Tunbridge Wells literary festival had a wide range of authors visiting the town over the Bank Holiday weekend. They included Melissa Fu, whose debut novel has been wowing critics and readers alike, and also young adult and children’s favourite author Manjeet Mann. The Times literary editor Hannah Kirsop caught up with both of them

MELISSA FU’S debut novel charts three generations of a Chinese family beginning in 1938 during Japan’s invasion of China in World War Two, and spanning 70 years and many geographies from Changsha in China to Taiwan in Taipei to Los Alamos in the US. The inspiration for the book was her father and it is he – in his fictionalised form of Renshu, later the anglicised Henry in the US – who flees his home as a young boy in the opening pages of the book with his mother, Meilin, and uncle’s family.

Fu’s father was one of 14 million people who were displaced across China during the Sino-Japanese and Chinese Civil Wars, of whom an estimated one million headed to Taiwan.

A smaller subset of these, like her father, later emigrated to the US as graduate students in the 1950s and 60s and this was the group that fascinated her – in part, of course, due to her father’s inclusion among them but also as a group with a memory of pre-communist China, Taiwan under totalitarian Chiang Kai-Shek and the US during the Cold War. Fu had few details to start with as her father didn’t speak freely about his experiences.

Narrative Realising she lacked enough content for a non-fiction memoir, Fu chose to fictionalise her story and bolster the facts and experiences of her own family with new narrative strand.

“I didn’t then have to say this is exactly what my family experienced but I could say with confidence that these are things that families did experience who went through similar migrations,” she says.

Peach Blossom Spring, is the result of this amalgam of fiction and family history, with the title is taken from the fable written by Tao Yuanming in 421 CE. In the novel, this is one of the many illustrated fables which appear on Meilin’s scroll, the stories of which punctuate and alleviate her and Henry’s flight from China to Taiwan.

The scroll, and the Peach Blossom Spring fable, are key motifs in the novel which come to fruition – quite literally – when Henry, at his

mother’s request, finally grows his own orchard in his Albuquerque garden, a part of the story that Fu is keen to point out is a true part of her history.

It was actually this orchard of trees that triggered her transition from short story to novel writer – in 2017 short story.

For her, the story fell short so she challenged herself to extend it to eighty thousand words.

‘The more stories you have about a diaspora, the more human it becomes…and that sense of big block otherness is eroded’ “I was really fortunate in that those were incredibly concentrated years where I was in a situation where I had a little bit of funding so I could just work on the novel,” she recalls.

Although Melissa’s desire to tell her father’s story sparked the book, Fu remains surprised at the shift of focus during the drafting phase from Henry to Meilin, his mother, who became the anchor character in the novel.

As well as honouring her father’s story and offering an insight into the history of that time, Fu hopes that she has succeeded in personalising, individualising and humanising Chinese people and their history.

“The more stories you have about a diaspora, the more human it becomes…and that sense of big block otherness is eroded,” she explains.

She says she hopes readers recognise the advantage they have in reading her characters’ stories in full and appreciate that there is always something more to someone’s story that at first appears.

“People are always much more than their roles to you and maybe by getting to see the fullness of each of these characters, people will enjoy the fullness of people in their own lives.”

Fu is planning her next novel which is in its early stages and will be more fictional than Peach Blossom Spring albeit based on another’s true story.

MANJEET MANN is the author of three novels – two for young adults, Run Rebel and The Crossing, and Small’s Big Dream, a picture book for age 3+.

Manjeet’s first two novels enjoyed huge success but not through any concerted effort on her part to focus on popular topics, quite the opposite in fact.

“I'm told that what I write about is not popular and I'm told that verse novels are not popular so I was writing these books thinking they're not going to go anywhere but I'm just writing them for myself and if one person loves it, I've done my job,” she says.

For Mann, the basis for brilliant writing is not the topic per se but just being passionate about what you write as ‘if you write from passion, you’ll find your tribe’.

The ’unpopular’ themes within her novels – abusive relationships in Run Rebel as well as xenophobia and refugees in The Crossing – are inspired by her background, upbringing and

‘I’m all about building empathy for everyone - even the unlikable characters’ what is going on around her.

The Crossing gave voice to the doorstep issues she encountered on moving to Folkestone. With refugee arrivals and regular far-right demonstrations, the refugee crisis is the biggest issue in the town that residents talk about.

She says: “You go for a walk, and you see the odd deflated dinghy and a carrier bag full of clothes. You just know what's happened there and the idea started to percolate.”

All of these are big and sensitive topics for young adults to contemplate. Mann, however, doesn’t see her stories like this – they are just the truth of what is going on around her and feels it is important to talk about these issues with younger people, a group she naturally felt that her books would cater to as ‘her teenage self still has a lot to say’.

As in theatre where much is added through scenery and expressions, she feels verse novels

can offer more to the reader than just the words on the page, as the reader has time to absorb the messaging, to read between the lines and to take a pause in the reading she says.

“I think that's what gives verse novels their magic and that's what I love about them,” she explains. “I think they really lend themselves to dealing with raw subject matter in a more palatable way.”

Run Rebel, whilst inspired in part by her earlier life, also included the stories of people with similar experiences to her to bring in different perspectives and layers, and enrich the characters.

Important “I'm all about building empathy for everyone even the unlikable characters.

“We don't have to agree with what they do. We don't have to agree with what they say and their behaviours, but we need to see where they're coming from so that's always really important to me.”

This is amplified in the way in which she uses ‘voices’ to tell her stories – in Run Rebel, main character Amber, sister Ruby and their mother all voice their perspectives whilst in The Crossing characters Sammy and Nat split their entwined narrative. This is not a technique that Mann necessarily plans but it evolves through the drafts with the story.

“I guess I just want to tell as truthful a story as possible and, if that means it has to be from multiple perspectives to get that across, that’s what I have to do,” she adds.

Planned as another verse novel but written in a more ‘epic’ style intended to lend itself to performance, the concept for Mann’s third young adult book came from an inspirational article in the New Yorker about the rise in witch-hunting in India where 3000-4000 deaths have been reported annually amongst lower caste women since 2015.

Ignoring her many awards won to date, Manjeet wishes remain as simple for this one as for those already published.

“My wish is to create a wider understanding where there is a lot of misunderstanding.”

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Going out

Wednesday May 4 | 2022

25

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

The Fringe set for summer return

T

HE TUNBRIDGE WELLS Fringe Festival is back this July, bringing both up-and-coming and established performers, along with local artists, to audiences over a two-week period.

Following last year’s inaugural event, the festival is scheduled for July 4-17 for 2022, taking place at over 40 venues throughout Tunbridge Wells, with more than 100 acts already confirmed.

Performers so far include comedian Jake Baker, whose appearance in Tunbridge Wells will be a ‘sneak peek’ of his show ‘Unity’, being performed at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe later in the summer (August 5-29).

However, the team will reveal more about this year’s TW Fringe lineup and venues at its launch event at Plant Base on Camden Road next Thursday lunchtime [May 12].

Last year’s line-up included dance, art, and drama workshops for all ages, and music acts ranged from cabaret to opera. Technical skills

from radio presenting to cyanotype photography to pottery.

Festival organisers targeted a range of age groups and interests, from the very youngest – catered to by ‘Bring Your Own Baby Comedy’ – to the hardest head-banging acts.

Meanwhile, the mixture of free and paying events aimed to bring the arts to everyone.

Last year’s opening ceremony took place on The Pantiles, featuring a raft of entertainers, including local musical theatre school The Talentz, who performed musical theatre numbers; The Once Upon a Wish Princesses; Panto Dame Mamma G; and a local Rock Choir, which had not performed for a year and a half due to lockdown.

Kent’s leading Panto Dame, Robert Pearce, whose character Mama G compered the opening event, said: “It was wonderful to help launch the first Tunbridge Wells Fringe Festival and see all the amazing talent that the town has to offer.“

‘VIRGINIA WOOLF: Killing the Angel’ interweaves the writer’s words with music by female contemporaries – much of which is rarely performed. A collaboration by actor and singer Lucy Stevens, with pianist Elizabeth Marcus. The Forum, Wednesday, May 4, at 7pm.

‘Word Up! Poetry, Spoken Word & Storytelling’ is on at The Forum on Saturday Lucy Stevens portrays [May 7] at 1pm, Virginia Wolf featuring the competitive spirit of poetry slam. Age 16 and older.

Life-and-death obsessives ‘Harold and Maude’ (15) meet so often at funerals that eventually their lives begin to merge...

Rusthall Community Cinema on Saturday [May 7] at 7pm.

On screen at Trinity Theatre next Tuesday [May 10] is the Joachim Trier film ‘The Worst Person in the World’ (15), following the charismatic Julie though her ‘quarter-life crisis’ as she approaches 30 and finds out through trial – and error – what she wants from her career and emotional life.

Trinity Theatre, Tuesday, May 10 at 8pm.

Catch Mads Mikkelsen as a sinister new Grindelwald in ‘Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore’ (12A), at the Odeon. Also on: ‘The Bad Guys’ (U), ‘Sonic the Hedgehog’ (PG), ‘The Lost City’ (12A), ‘Operation Mincemeat’ (12A) and more.

WEBSLINGER Spider-Man swung into TW Fringe last year

INDIE rock band Wedding Single’s delayed July 2021 appearance finally takes place tomorrow [May 5] at 7:30pm, bringing these regulars of the UK Top 40 singles chart to The Forum. Returns may be available from Ticketswap.uk and Twickets. Age 16 and older.

Friday [May 6] sees the Ewan Bleach Quintet at The Tunbridge Wells Jazz Club (Masonic Centre) at 6:30pm, following the launch of the album ‘Ewan, the Night’n the Music’ in March.

Tickets from TicketSource.

The Hive (Cranbrook) puts on FASCINATING AIDA Café Society for its diners, featuring singer Allya Khammari, performing soulful jazz classics ranging from ‘Ain’t no Sunshine’ to ‘Make you feel my love’. Friday at 7-10pm. Free entry. Reservations at The Hive.

Also this Friday, The Grey Lady features Black Deer festival favourite Luke Jackson and Kentish singer-songwriter Steve Hewitt. Tickets from Eventbrite. Doors at 7pm.

Dr Feelgood, whose album ‘Stupidity’ went straight to number one in the UK in 1976, plays The Forum on Friday at 7:30pm.

Age 16 and older unless accompanied by an adult. Support comes from Kent-based blues-rock band Half Moon Panic. Age 16 and older unless accompanied by an adult.

Post-punk trio Falseheads bring their rock/punk sensibility to Tunbridge Wells on Friday, 7:30pm at The Forum Basement. Age 18 and older. Supported by two-piece Kent band Bsus2 and electronic punk band Shoplifter.

The Assembly Hall has ‘The Sound of Springsteen’ on Saturday [May 7] at 7:30pm, featuring ‘Boss’ anthems including ‘Born In The USA’, ‘Glory Days’, ‘Streets of Philadelphia’ and more.

Southwest London Punk rock duo Slobheads and Scowl, a grunge/punk outfit from Kent occupy the stage of The Forum this Saturday at 7:30pm. Age 18 and older.

Tony Hadley, whose career has flowed from Spandau Ballet to solo music on a river of talent, appears with The Fabulous TH Band at The Assembly Hall on Sunday [May 8] at 7:30pm.

ONE- to four-year olds can enjoy Story Time with Out of the Bag Theatre at Trinity Theatre, on Fridays for the rest of term. Stories and interactive songs at 9:30-10:15, Fridays until July 8 (except half term).

Pre-schoolers and their grown-ups can enjoy creative play at Into the Space, another Trinity Theatre collaboration.

Morning sessions (11-11:50am) at Showfields Library and afternoon sessions (1:30-2:20pm) at St Philip’s Church. Fridays until July 8 (except half term).

Now that The Amelia Scott building is open, why not visit the new children’s library on the ground floor, which features a working model of the Spa Valley Railway, as well as a reading nook too small for any grown-up to follow you in. Teen and young adult books are on the first floor with the adult books. The adult and teen section in the Atrium has great views over the courtyard and Monson Road.

The Spa Valley Railway is running this weekend to Groombridge, where Peppa Pig will be appearing during locomotive changes.

Departing from Tunbridge Wells West station (next to Sainsburys). [May 7-8, first service at 10:30am] Parkrun is an international weekly community event, free to enter, whether running the 5K or walking it. Dunorlan Park, Saturdays, 9am.

Register at parkrun.org. Under-11s must be accompanied (within arm’s reach) throughout the run by a parent or authorised guardian.

Friends of Grosvenor and Hilbert Park are putting on their dog show this Sunday [May 8] at the lower football pitch. Suggested donation £5, with a choice of dog classes to enter – including best child dog handler. Registration 9:30am. Register interest at the Lazy Dog Walkers group of Grosvenor Park on Facebook.

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Gig guide

Wednesday May 4 | 2022

gigguide May 4 to May 17

Live music is well and truly back in the town

By Paul Dunton

A

fter a Covid-enforced absence of two years it feels absolutely great to be writing about the local music scene once again and bringing the local gig guide back to The Times of Tunbridge Wells.

Given that we are in spring 2022, I am essentially starting from scratch and will look to expand the guide to its maximum capacity over time.

I will do my best to list as many events as possible...

If you are a local to Tunbridge Wells venue that hosts regular live music or even if it’s a one-off event,

concert or festival please email me at least six weeks in advance of your event date with the details.

Email to paul@ paulduntonandguests.com • Name and address of Venue • Date and time of event • Name of event and name of act(s) involved • Ticket link and/or website please state if free entry • 1 x high resolution (300 dpi) landscape jpeg (performer only, no posters) • Please state photo credit if required Roll on the rest of 2022!

TONY HADLEY

KARMA DEVIL

THE GREY LADY MUSIC LOUNGE The Pantiles Doors 7.15pm, all event information and ticket entry available at www.thegreylady.co.uk Friday 06/05 The Grey Lady Sessions: Luke Jackson + Steve Hewitt Sunday 15/05 Soul Kitchen THE TUNBRIDGE WELLS FORUM Event information and tickets at www.twforum.co.uk Thursday 05/05 The Wedding Present Friday 06/05 Dr Feelgood Saturday 07/05 Word Up!: (1pm) Spoken Word & Storytelling Saturday 07/05 Boogie Nights (7.30pm) Tuesday 10/05 Bob Vylan Friday 13/05 Wild Horse + Another Day Sunday 14/05 Back To The 80s Monday 16/05 Noisy + Barny Fletcher THE ASSEMBLY HALL THEATRE Crescent Road All event information and tickets available from www. assemblyhalltheatre.co.uk Saturday 07/05 Sound of Springsteen Sunday 08/05 Tony Hadley Tuesday 10/05 Fascinating Aïda TRINITY THEATRE Church Road All event information and tickets available at trinitytheatre.net Sunday 08/05 Zoe Gilby Saturday 14/05 Royal Tunbridge Wells Orpheus Male Voice Choir Sunday 15/05 Rachel Croft JAZZ ON THE PANTILES The Pantiles Bandstand 7.30pm – 10pm reservation required (entrance £5pp).

Participating restaurants : The Tunbridge Wells Hotel, The Kirthon, La Casa Vecchia Thursday 05/05 Live music from Pollito Boogaloo Thursday 12/05 Live music from The Paul Malson Trio

ANOTHER DAY

ROB PICAZO

27

SANKEYS RESTAURANT The Pantiles Open all day, free entry, music from 6.45pm – 9.15pm Thursday 05/05 Rob Picazo Thursday 12/05 Laura & Co MAYFIELD MUSIC FESTIVAL Mayfield (various venues) All event information and tickets at www. mayfieldfestival.co.uk/events/ Wednesday 04/05 Sound of Music Sing-a-Long Thursday 05/05 Mayfield School Lunchtime Concert Thursday 05/05 Choral Evensong - The Mayfield Consort Saturday 07/05 Mayfair - Dancing and live music by local performers Sunday 08/05 Piano Recital – Joanna MacGregor Sunday 08/05 Vaughan Williams Orchestral Concert –Southbank Sinfonia, conducted by Simon Over

THE ROYAL OAK PUB Prospect Road Open all day, free entry, music from 8pm Friday 06/05 The River Flows Tuesday 10/05 Jazz Jam Saturday 14/05 Bert THE FORUM BASEMENT The Sussex Arms, Sussex Mews All event information and tickets available at www.twforum.co.uk Friday 06/05 Falseheads + Bsus2 + Shoplifter Saturday 07/05 Slobheads + Scowl (uk) Sunday 08/05 Keg THE HIVE 19 Stone Street, Cranbrook All event information at www.hivehubs. buzz/events-calendar/list/ Friday 06/05 Café Society featuring Allya Khammari Friday 13/05 Samuel Ashton TN1 BAR & KITCHEN Monson Road Open all day, free entry, booking advised www.tn1barkitchen.co.uk Thursday 05/05 Cal White Friday 06/05 Masqueraders Duo Saturday 07/05 Masqueraders Duo Sunday 08/05 Ben Hills Thursday 12/05 Steffan James Friday 13/05 Masqueraders Duo Saturday 14/05 Chris Harper Sunday 15/05 Stuart Bligh EVEN FLOW CAFÉ St John’s Road Open all day free entry all event information at www.evenflowuk.com Thurdsay 07/05 Kharma & The Devil Common Buzzards SAINT JOHN’S YARD St John’s Road Open all day, free entry, music from 8pm Monday 16/05 TWUNT Ukulele Jam session THE BEDFORD PUB 2 Highstreet Open all day, free entry, music from 8pm Friday 06/05 Joyride Friday 13/05 Super Duper & The Ya Yaa’s CHIDDINGSTONE CASTLE Chiddingstone All event information and tickets available at www.chiddingstonecastle. org.uk/whats-on/ Sunday 08/05 Imagine The Beatles (live at The Orangery) TW JAZZ CLUB Masonic Hall, St John’s Road All event information and tickets available at www.twjazzclub.co.uk Friday 06/05 The Ewan Bleach Quintet

STEFFEN JAMES

GEOGRAPHY WINE BAR Highstreet Open all day, free entry, music from 3.30pm - 6pm Sunday 08/05 Sarah Jane Hassell Sunday 15/05 Anna Howie Sunday 22/05 John Whitehorn (The Varlies) Sunday 29/05 Andy Vickery & Helen Garrod ROSE HILL SCHOOL THEATRE, CODA CONCERT All event information and tickets available at www.codatw.co.uk Sunday 15/05 Lucy and Sue McIntyre (flute and piano) Fauré, Rutter, Poulenc, Gaubert THE BEER CELLAR Tonbridge Open all day, free entry, music from 8pm Friday 06/05 Liam (Apollo Bleu) Friday 13/05 Jayne Snow THE GUN & SPITROAST INN Horsmonden Open all day, free entry, music from 8pm Wednesday 04/05, Jam Session – all welcome Wednesday 11/05, Jam Session – all welcome

WILD HORSE

Food & Drink

food & drink

28

Wednesday May 4 | 2022

Restaurants are now seeking younger chefs to stop industry going off the boil

By Victoria Roberts RESTAURANTS are turning to training colleges as a UK-wide shortage of chefs threatens the hospitality industry.

The Times recently reported that there were nearly 100 live job-advertisements for chefs, sous-chefs, care-home chefs and more within a three-mile radius of Tunbridge Wells town centre and heard from local restaurateurs who are struggling to recruit.

A number of restaurants in the town, including Camden Road’s Rendez-Vous and the Vittle & Swig have recently gone up for sale, citing staffing problems among the reasons, while other establishments are struggling to fill roles.

The problem is nationwide and exists at all levels of the industry, according to some key players the Times has spoken to recently.

Warburtons Chefs who supply ‘relief chefs’ to fill holes in the industry, either seasonally or for short holidays, said the problem was ‘UK-wide’ and accelerated by Brexit and Covid.

Dan Warburton, who runs the business, said: “It was coming on for years, but Covid and Brexit probably fast forwarded it.

“A huge number of chefs have left the business.

“We probably lost seven or eight chefs going back to Europe, but I don’t know whether they would have gone anyway. The bigger drive (for them leaving) was Covid. That messed up the industry.”

He added that he hoped that training colleges would increase uptake, adding: “I have an ‘ageing fleet’ of chefs. You do get young people, but to be a relief chef you really need 8-10 years of experience.”

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With plentyhunt, to keep kids entertained tennis, scavenger tablethe football, lawn gamesincluding and other table fun activities.

With plenty keepfootball, the kids lawn entertained tennis, scavenger hunt,totable games including and othertable fun activities. football, lawn games and other fun activities.

Adult Picnics scavenger £19.50hunt, pertableperson Children's Picnic £10.50 per child

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

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Entry is permitted with purchase of abenches picnic for each guest attending. booking will blanket need to beto We haveonly a limited number of picnic benches available, please bring your ofown picnic blanket toshown sit onupon thearrival. lawns.

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May 4 |Local 2022 News 2Wednesday NEWS

FOR EVEN MORE NEWS VISIT: timeslocalnews.co.uk

Meanwhile, at the other end of the chef ‘pipeline’, Duncan Weetman the head of curriculum for the Hospitality, Catering and Culinary Academy at North Kent College, told the Times: “I’ve never seen anything like it.

“I probably get two or three restaurants a week calling me, asking me about chefs who are completing.”

At the College, it takes two years to make a chef, he explained, although there was an optional third year for those who wanted to specialise further, or students could take their second year as an apprenticeship.

Many students were already in the industry and contributing with part-time jobs, or with the College’s work placements, he added.

“It’s marketing the programme. It’s getting into schools. We have the challenge of recruiting into the hospitality programme. We try to be attractive to school leavers.”

Meanwhile, Neil Coates, London South East Colleges (LSEC) chief operating officer (Enterprise and Employment) confirmed the situation was similar for them, too.

“This is a challenging picture. Apprenticeship recruitment has dropped to very low levels in

GONE Rendez-Vous

hospitality,” he said. “We struggled to recruit an apprentice for our own restaurant (BR6) and have been carrying a vacancy in the Greenwich area all year!”

He confirmed LSEC was suffering from ‘low levels of applications’ and struggling to find the right skillset.

Salary and perceived long, unsociable hours were issues weighing on recruitment, he said.

Mr Weetman said there was a two-way communication, involving communicating the sector’s expectations to students who were ‘largely school leavers’ – while at the same time passing on students’ expectations to the businesses which are facing a recruitment crisis.

“It’s work-life balance, straight shifts and days off,” he added.

Prospects for progression were also important, with chefs such as Will Devlin, of The Small Holding, showing students what they could eventually aspire to.

“He’s more of an executive chef, and tends to get weekends off,” said Mr Weetman.

Confirming that the experienced chefs he recruits were able to dictate terms, Mr Warburton said: “Three years ago, you couldn’t

PUBLIC NOTICE

Licensing Act 2003 Licence/Club Premises Certificate

An application to vary the Premises Licence/Club Premises Certificate at: The Old Auction House, Tunbridge Wells, Kent has been made by Irwin & Owens Ltd A summary of the proposed licensable activities and the proposed hours of opening: Extension of opening hours 08:30-00:00 Extension of sales of alcohol 08:30-23:00 Any person wishing to make representations to this application may do so by writing by 17/05/2022 to: Licensing Partnership, 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 this application, the maximum fine on summary conviction being £5,000.

get any Sundays off. Now some guys have been asking for three or four days off a week.”

And some businesses were meeting such demands, he said. “They’re the forward-looking businesses. They are going to hold on to their staff.

“Now relief chefs choose when they are working. Maybe they want to take two weeks off when it suits them.

29 Food & Wednesday DrinkJune 23 | 2021 us to assess and qualify students, but we got extra funding from the government to do evening classes, we opened during the holidays, we created ‘bubbles’ for social distancing,” he explained.

“All the tutors were there to make sure they (the students) had access to everything in the curriculum.”

However, Mr Weetman acknowledged there was a perception of long hours and low pay in the industry, which the College was trying to feed back to the industry.

“Businesses are coming together with us as partners,” he said, mentioning the College’s recent meeting with Mr Devlin and his brother, which looks likely to bring the chef to the College’s induction days this June.

However, restaurants were already changing, he continued, pointing out practices such as not opening on Monday and Tuesday – so as to give chefs a decent weekly break.

“It will continue to evolve to make it more attractive to pursue (as a career).”

North Kent College will be running induction days at its Tonbridge and Gravesend campuses in June. Each campus has a fully functional restaurant open to the paying public.

‘During the pandemic, it was difficult for us to assess and qualify students, but we got funding from the government to do evening classes’ They do give up certain perks by being full time!”

Given the recruitment issues, Mr Weetman said the College had done its best to keep the pipeline of students moving towards qualification despite Covid-19 restrictions.

“During the pandemic, it was very difficult for

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Food & drink

Wednesday May 4 | 2022

31

Get savvy about Sauvignon Blanc...

It’s International Sauvignon Blanc Day this Friday, May 6. Likely originating in the Loire Valley, this relatively early ripening, high acid grape is the parent of Cabernet Sauvignon. Its name is derived from ‘Sauvage,’ meaning ‘wild,’ a fitting term for a vigorous vine. Times Drinks Editor James Viner chooses five cracking varieties from different parts of the world so you can raise a glass on Friday

S

tridently aromatic, sappy, leafy, razor-sharp and easily recognisable, Sauvignon Blanc (SB) is a distinctly divisive Marmite of a grape – its telltale twang is hardly subtle – that’s enjoying increased worldwide popularity. With the weather getting warmer, it’s the perfect time of the year to open a chilled bottle, and here I’ve selected five lovely Sauv Blancs from around the globe.

1. 2021 South Point Sauvignon Blanc, Western Cape, South Africa (£6.50, Tesco, 12.5%) South Africa is one of the southern hemisphere’s most thrilling wine-producing countries, with superb wines at keen prices, just like this one.

It’s a great-value, crisp and vibrant SB with fresh-cut grass, gooseberry, capsicum and citrussy acidity the front runners, plus some green pepper, tomato leaf and grapefruit pith nuances lurking in the background.

2. 2021 Irresistible Leyda Valley Sauvignon Blanc, Chile (£8, Co-op, 12.5%) Many countries produce SB

– the UK’s number one grape variety of choice – but New Zealand is still by far the market leader. In the year up to January 2022 retail sales amounted to some £1 billion, £488m more than the next most popular grape, Pinot Grigio. Chile, however, is in an attractive position to fill some of the gaps due to recent Kiwi harvest challenges. Owing principally to spring frosts and summer drought, the low-yielding 2021 vintage produced millions fewer cases than usual in New Zealand.

SB is now Chile’s second most planted grape variety (15%). Try this herby one, a joyfully bright example from breezy vineyards near the Pacific coast in cooler Leyda, all white currants, peapod, grapefruit and green bean fruit. Superbly zesty and terrific value, just like Aldi’s verdant 2021 Specially Selected Chilean Estevez Sauvignon Blanc (a steal at £5.99, in-store only). They’re the UK’s two best supermarket own-label Chilean Sauv Blancs under £10 and superb with fish and chips.

4

2

3. 2021 Villa Maria Cellar Selection Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough, New Zealand (£9.99£12.99, New Zealand House of Wine, Morrisons & Majestic, 14%) New Zealand’s signature grape, SB accounted for nearly 75% of the total volume of the grapes harvested during the small (but stellar) 2021 vintage. Nab this starry example before stocks run out. An astute blend of selected high-class parcels of fruit from the cool/windy Awatere Valley and the warmer Wairau Valley subregions of Marlborough, it has a wealth of concentrated flavours and superb balance. Brimming with tingling passion fruit, bell pepper, melon, green fruits and pink grapefruit, with a tangy, lip-smacking finish, it’s a vivid, intense and refreshing cracker. Attractive drinking with regional and varietal pedigree intact. Perfect with a Fattoush salad or scallops. Snap it up!

4. 2019 Château de Rochemorin, Vignobles André Lurton, Pessac-Léognan, Bordeaux (£17.99, Waitrose, 13%) The production of Bordeaux AOC wine is around 85% red, 10% white, 4 per cent rosé and 1% sweet white. Its refreshing unoaked and deftly-oaked whites (usually blends, but not in this case) are worth discovering. This one from a fastidiously-managed, fairly youthful vineyard in Martillac in the gravelly northern Graves is a debonair 100% barrel-fermented – around 10 months in oak barrels (35% new) on full lees with bâtonnage – dry SB from an excellent

producer. Think beeswax, peach, hazelnut, nectarine, fig leaves, cut grass, lemon curd, a soupçon of swish, toasty clove oak and a rinse of refreshing grapefruity acidity. One for fish in a creamy sauce, pan-fried salmon, briny oysters or gravadlax (but go easy on the sweet mustard sauce). Stylish stuff with a beautifully rounded texture. Could be cellared confidently for five or more years.

5. 2020 Langlois-Chateau, Château de Fontaine-Audon Sancerre ‘Terroir Silex,’ France (£17.50-£21.99, The Champagne Company, Thorne Wines & Villeneuve Wines, 12.5%) Yes, Sancerre whites are made from 100% SB and this reference AOC for the grape lies in the easternmost stretch of the Loire Valley’s main vineyard area, just 100km away from Burgundy’s northernmost district, Chablis (Chardonnay country). Here’s a truly elegant, concentrated and ‘minerally’ example produced on the flinty Silex soils of Sainte-Gemme-en-Sancerrois in north-western Sancerre. Crisp, pungent, stony, tangy, grassy and pure, it has great intensity, strikes with taste, holds the volume, and then crackles through a gloriously long finish.

Excellent quality from Bollinger-owned Langlois-Chateau. A delicious bottle for posh picnics and to sip with seafood, raw oysters, smoked salmon, goat’s cheese, asparagus or simply grilled fish (hello sea bass).

Follow James on Twitter @QuixoticWine

32

Antiques

Wednesday May 4 | 2022

The perfect Finnish for furniture design... extensive use of overlapping shells.

Saarinen was the son of the Finnish architect Eliel Saarinen, who emigrated with his family to the United States in 1923. However, it was only in 1940, that Eero Saarinen received American citizenship. From the age of thirteen, he lived at the Cranbrook School in Bloomfield Hills (a suburb of Detroit), where his father taught. There he attended courses in furniture design and sculpture.

He continued his education at the Académie de la Grande Chaumièrein Paris.

In 1934, he received a diploma from the

chair" and the "womb chair" were put into industrial production and were in great demand. This unique style of his could be recognized in both furniture and architecture pieces. There is no doubt that the prominent master’s art pieces had much in common with the works of his father: for instance, Eero Saarinen was absolutely fascinated by individualism, symbolism, and romanticism, the poise of the masses, and the purity of lines. Air terminals designed by him have been compared to soaring birds, and the stadiums he created have been compared to eastern temples.

Balthazar Korab

antiques

This week, Alexander Pushkin talks about Scandinavian designer Eero Saarinen

Legendary

Alexander Pushkin

E

ERO SAARINEN (1910 – 1961) was a prominent American architect and designer of Finnish origin, one of the most important artisans of the twentieth century. One of the brightest representatives of modernism, he was constantly in search of new expressionism and tried to embody the emotional root cause in his works. He promoted the use of

'Talented and extravagant, Eero Saarinen attracted the attention of the public with an original approach'

School of Architecture at Yale University and, in 1936, started working in his father’s architectural practice.

Talented and extravagant, Eero Saarinen initially attracted the attention of the public with an original approach to furniture design. His iconic design ideas, such as the "tulip chair", the "grasshopper

unconventional materials such as ceramics and aluminium, and made

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Together with such legendary makers as Piero Fornasetti, Harvey Guzzini and Tommaso Barbi, Eero Saarinen is one of the most renowned designers of the 20th century. His stunning pieces, both architectural and design, are the embodiment of modernism and, at the same time, ahead of the era.

During his short yet prolific life, the master created EERO numerous SAARINEN unique furniture pieces, many of which are now being searched for at auctions all over the world.

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Antiques

Wednesday May 4 | 2022

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Luxury goods that are pick of the lot Auctioneer Joseph Trinder reveals all about a new evaluation event for textile and luxury goods silk scarves - it includes everything from Chinese robes and embroidery to early English tapestries and lace work.

Recent examples of such pieces selling at Gorringe’s include this gorgeous Charles II period stumpwork panel. Stumbled across hanging on the landing of a property in South London, this piece is a remarkable survivor of some 350 years and sold recently for £4,000.

Venturing further east, a recent sale which represents the buoyancy of both the Chinese and quality textile markets, this embroidered silk dragon robe raced past its pre-sale estimate to

Joseph Trinder

T

HE MARKET for top tier designer and luxury goods is one of the fastest growing facets of the auction world, with names like Louis Vuitton, Dior, Prada and Chanel reaching ever new heights as particularly younger generations compete for these highly desirable brands for both investment and social statement.

In our latest in an annual program of focused valuation days highlighting the spectrum of specialist departments represented by generations of expertise at Gorringes, we are pleased to offer our first specialist textile, fashion and luxury goods valuation day in Tunbridge Wells on Friday, May 6.

Buoyancy This diverse and complicated market area covers more however than simply handbags and

achieve an impressive £24,000, ultimately heading back home to China.

Recognisable Perhaps more recognisable when discussing textiles and luxury goods, particularly vintage examples of Louis Vuitton travelling trunks and cases have never been more popular, with their unmistakable aesthetic and style in high demand.

These two small ‘Alzer’ trunks sold with us recently for £3,200 - with several larger and earlier examples already consigned ahead of our

June 28th fine summer sale.

Experience Indeed, the designer element of this market is booming - regardless of age, names also to include Hermés, Mulberry and Gucci attract impressive results through the due diligence and care of our specialists.

Our own Annie Hartnett, a former specialist dealer in antique and Chinese textiles, costume and lace, has lifelong experience within the industry.

Alongside her at our specialist valuation events is Emily Bearn; a recent graduate and latest addition to the team at Gorringe’s who has extensive knowledge of vintage and modern design.

SPRING

OPEN DAY 7th May 2022 12-4pm

Let our home feel like yours Whether you’re looking for respite or permanent residential care, we invite you to our Open Day on Saturday 7th May in Speldhurst. Key members of staff will be available to meet you and give you a tour of Birchwood House, our family run residential home as well as our beautiful grounds.

are woodC @Birch

We’ll be serving tea and coffee and delicious homemade cakes. Plus, from now until the end of May we are offering £400* off a respite stay.

To pre-register your attendance, please call us on 01892 863559 or visit birchwoodhouse.org.uk *Terms & Conditions apply.

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Computer-generated image of Wickham Rise is intended for illustrative purposes only. Information correct at time of print. Show home photography of previous Shanly Homes development.

Property

FOR EVEN MORE NEWS VISIT: timeslocalnews.co.uk

Wednesday May 4 | 2022

35

property news

Rightmove reports another record housing price hike MOBILITY SCOOTERS

Portable THE average asking price of a house in the UK has hit a new record, pushing over the £360,000 mark in the last quarter, according to website Rightmove.

The average asking price has surged by £19,082 over the past three months, reaching £360,101.

Some 53 per cent of properties are selling at or over their final advertised asking price, the highest percentage Rightmove said it had ever seen.

Properties are achieving 98.9 per cent of their final advertised asking price on average and the time taken to sell has also halved over the past three years from an average of 67 days three years ago to 33 days now.

Momentum Tim Bannister, Rightmove's director of property data, said: "With three new monthly price records in a row, 2022 has started with price rise momentum even greater than during the stamp duty holiday-fuelled market of last year.

While growing affordability constraints mean that this momentum is not sustainable for the longer term, the high demand from a large number of buyers chasing too few properties for sale has led to a spring price frenzy, a hat-trick of record price months, and the largest price increase for a three-month period Rightmove has ever recorded.

"The strong momentum has carried over from last year and, combined with the impetus of the spring moving season, has delivered the quickest

selling market we've ever seen.

"The high speed of the market and competition among buyers when making an onward move will be deterring some owners from putting their homes up for sale.

"However, if you can secure both a quick sale and a quick purchase then it's a lot less stressful than the uncertainties of a slower market when finding a buyer for your own home can drag on for months or not happen at all."

Looking ahead, Mr Bannister added: "The economic headwinds of strongly rising inflation and modestly rising interest rates are being kept at bay by the even stronger tailwind of property market momentum that has carried over from last year.

"2021 saw four consecutive monthly price records from April through to July and I would not bet against that being bettered this year as we are already at three consecutive records in April.

"There are some early signs of an easing off from the frenetic pace of price rises, and buyer inquiries to agents are down by 16% on last year's stamp-duty frenzy.

"However incredibly, buyer inquiries are still 65% above the more normal market of 2019 and the number of sales agreed is up 21%."

He added: "With the demand and supply imbalance being so out of kilter, it looks like any substantial slowdown will be gradual in coming and be a soft rather than hard landing.

"It seems likely that the supply/ demand mismatch will remain for at least the rest of this year.”

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Estate agents sold 19 per cent more homes in 2021

ACCORDING to research, agents in Britain sold on average 19 per cent more homes in 2021 when compared to 2020.

Property platform Boomin analysed the number of transactions to have completed in both 2021 and 2020 and the number of operational estate agencies, to reveal what this equated to in terms of the number of homes sold on average by estate agents.

The figures show that as the pandemic property market boom really took hold in 2021, on average estate agents saw some 46 properties sold in just 12 months.

This marks a 19% jump on 2020, when agents saw on average 39 sales complete over the course of the year.

Despite homebuyers' demand not being fuelled to the same stamp duty saving extent, it’s Scottish agents who have seen the biggest increase in the

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number of homes sold during the second year of the pandemic.

In 2020, Scottish agents saw on average 104 sales complete, however, this climbed to 130 in 2021 - an increase of 26 homes sold per agent.

Boom Agents in Wales saw the second largest increase in the average number of homes sold, up by 11 properties per agent in 2021 versus 2020.

Estate agents in the South West and South East have seen the largest increase in England, up by 10 properties per agent in 2021.

In contrast, both the West Midlands and London have seen the lowest increase in the average number of homes sold per agent. Both regions saw an increase of just three property sales between 2020 and 2021.

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TOTW

Travel

travel

36

Wednesday May 4 | 2022

New Zealand opens back up to offer four bucket list adventures

New Zealand finally reopened its borders to travellers on May 1. Sarah Marshall jetted off there to experience the country’s unmissable highlights which are out of this world

S

TRICT rules, regulations and closed borders helped New Zealand weather the Covid storm better than most countries – but for a while, it seemed like the Kiwi nation might never open up again.

Fortunately, more than two years of international isolation ended on May 1 when New Zealand’s borders reopen to fully vaccinated travellers from visa waiver countries, as long as they can present a negative pre-departure test. A rapid test is also required for all arrivals, and again on day five or six of the trip.

Technicalities aside – it’s been so long, many of us have probably forgotten why the destination is so appealing. Here’s a little reminder of New Zealand’s best bucket list experiences in store…

Cycle the Otago Rail Trail Think of any outdoor pursuit and it can very likely be done in New Zealand. Cycling is one of the best ways to enjoy the landscape, pedalling along plenty of flat, traffic-free roads. Rated as one of the country’s top riding routes, the Otago Central Rail Trail runs for 150km between the towns of Middlemarch and Clyde in the South Island. Built at the turn of the 20th century, the former rail track passes

‘Expect to see an impressive array of bird species like yellow-eyed penguins and listen to the call of the kokako in the rainforest’

abandoned gold mines and historical buildings ranging from farmhouses to art deco structures. Allow four days to do the trip, stopping at communities along the way.

How: Intrepid (intrepid.com) offer a guided 4-day trip from £800 per person, including accommodation, some meals and bike or e-bike hire. Flights extra. Various departures.

Hike in Aoraki Mount Cook National Park Scaling the country’s highest peak (also known as Mount Cook) is a task that shouldn’t be taken lightly. According to Maori legend, Aoraki is a sacred ancestor who provides a link between the natural and spiritual worlds. Fittingly, it’s a tough climb appropriate only for pros. But you don’t need to tackle glaciers and steep ascents to admire the mountain’s beauty.

Trails weave around the foothills, affording amateur hikers an opportunity to watch sunlight sparkle on its serrated ridgeline.

How: Exodus Travel (exodus.co.uk) offer an escorted 22-day Trekking in New Zealand holiday, covering some of the country’s best hiking routes, including a trip to Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park.

From £6,949 per person, including some meals and flights. Departs November 12, 2022.

See some out of this world wildlife You won’t find the megafauna of Africa this far south. But in place of big mammals, expect to see an impressive array of bird species. Watch yellow-eyed penguins waddle along the shores of predator-free Rakiura/Stewart Island (also home to the oddball endemic kiwi), and listen to the call of the kokako in the Pureora rainforest.

Travel

Wednesday May 4 | 2022

37

Additionally, out at sea there is a chance to spot some animal giants in the form of sperm whales cruising the South Island coastline.

How: Naturetrek (naturetrek.co.uk) offer a 22-day New Zealand’s Natural History holiday from £7,995 per person, including all meals and flights. Departs October 30, 2022.

Drink wines in mountain-backed vineyards Some of the world’s best bottles of sauvignon blanc are produced in the Marlborough wine region, making it a worthwhile stop on a tour of the South Island. Visit more than 30 cellar doors to taste the distinctive tipples produced by crisp nights and sunny days, matched perfectly with seafood served in the region’s top restaurants. A 24km circuit can easily be explored by bike.

How: Abercrombie & Kent (abercrombiekent. co.uk) offer a 15-night self-drive Classic New Zealand tour (with a visit to the winelands) from £8,200 per person, including flights.

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38

Motoring

Wednesday May 4 | 2022

Motoring News

This week…

Aston Martin goes green

n

The D-Max Arctic AT35 n

New 7 Series

n

Aston Martin announces ambitious green strategy to be net-zero by 2030 ASTON MARTIN has launched a new sustainability strategy called Racing Green, which it says will see its manufacturing facilities achieve net-zero emissions by 2030.

The luxury car manufacturer says its targets are aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals that aim to tackle climate change and build a more diverse and inclusive company.

our business and believe that now is the time to challenge ourselves to make a bigger difference, to become a world-leading sustainable ultra-luxury business.

FROM THE GODS The upcoming Valhalla

Responsible

‘Aston Martin is developing alternatives to its existing engine line-up, such as a plugin hybrid powertrain’ As well as the net-zero goals, Aston Martin is aiming to reduce its supply chain emissions by 30% from 2020 levels by 2030, with this also being net-zero by 2039.

The firm says these new targets build on the work it has already carried out, which include the use of 100% renewable energy across its UK manufacturing facilities since 2019.

Furthermore, it plans to install 14,000 solar panels at its St Athan site in Wales, which will

deliver 20% of its annual energy demands.

Other aspects of the Racing Green strategy include an aim to reduce water consumption by 15%, maximising the use of sustainable

All-new Isuzu D-Max Arctic Trucks AT35 pricing and specifications are revealed COOL The D-Max Arctic AT35

materials and increasing biodiversity across Aston Martin locations.

Tobias Moers, chief executive officer of Aston Martin Lagonda, said: “We are transforming

New BMW 7 Series revealed alongside the all-electric i7 BMW HAS revealed its new range-topping 7 Series saloon, bringing a bolder design, additional technology and an electric i7 model.

Said to ‘represent a significant step up from its renowned predecessor’, the new 7 Series will be available exclusively in long wheelbase form, with the new model being longer, wider and taller than the car it replaces.

Features

ISUZU has confirmed pricing for the new D-Max Arctic Trucks AT35 model, which will cost from £47,999.

The model has earned a cult following, as it takes the basic pick-up truck and adds a chunky body kit and various modifications that make it more capable off-road.

The model gets its name from the 35-inch tyres that are fitted as standard around 17-inch alloy wheels. Lifted suspension comes in the form of a Bilstein system with front springs and front and rear dampers, with the ride height increased 50cm over the regular model.

The modifications not only make it more capable of finding grip off the beaten track, but also increases the approach angle, departure angle and break over angle, making more terrain passable.

The exterior styling helps give the AT35 its character, with extended wheel arches giving off a dramatic look in conjunction with the chunky tyres and raised ride height.

Other exterior upgrades include strengthened mud flaps, extended side steps, and a versatile

two-inch rear multifunction receiver hitch.

Its specification includes a nine-inch infotainment display with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto functionality, as well as an eight-speaker sound system.

There’s also leather upholstery, wireless smartphone charger and a premium carpet mat set.

Generation Peter Smith, managing director of Arctic Trucks UK said: “With the many challenges we have all faced over the past couple of years we are delighted to finally be able to bring the All-New Isuzu D-Max Arctic Trucks AT35 to the market.

“We are very proud of what we have developed together with Isuzu UK on this latest generation D-Max which is undoubtedly the best yet.”

Prices for the Isuzu D-Max Arctic Trucks AT35 start at £47,999 with a manual transmission or £2,000 extra for the automatic, with orders opening at Isuzu UK dealers on May 3.

“Whilst embracing electrification, we believe our sustainability ambitions must be broader than just producing emissions-free vehicles, and want to drive sustainability principles across our entire business, with a team representative of society proudly producing responsible products with a reduced environmental impact and making a positive contribution to the communities where we operate.”

As part of its electrification strategy, Aston Martin is developing alternatives to its existing engine line-up, such as a plug-in hybrid powertrain for its upcoming Valhalla hypercar.

When looking at sustainability, a fascinating statistic revealed by the Warwickshire-based company is that it has built fewer than 109,000 cars in its history, and 95% are believed to still be on the road today.

Boasting a new design that will go on to inspire upcoming luxury BMWs – and aims to enable ‘clear differentiation from the brand’s other models’ – the 7 Series features a two-piece split headlight design, with matrix LED lights coming as standard. BMW will also offer lights made from Swarovski crystals as an option, which are said to ‘create an unmistakable light graphic’.

BMW’s iconic kidney grille is present and correct – and grows in size – while it gains the ability to light up as standard. The new 7 Series is also available in a two-tone paint scheme for the first time, too.

Inside, the new 7 Series adopts the German firm’s latest curved touchscreen display, incorporating a large touchscreen that merges

with a digital dial display. Passengers in the rear can also be treated to BMW’s new ‘Theatre Screen’. Available as an option, a 31-inch TV display emerges from the roof lining and spreads out across the rear of the interior. It comes with Amazon Fire TV integration and a full Bowers and Wilkins sound system (with up to 36 speakers) and aims to offer a cinema-like experience.

Another feature debuting on the new 7 Series is an ‘Interaction Bar’, which extends out of the dashboard and houses touch-sensitive controls for adjusting the ventilation and climate control.

In the rear, the new 7 Series promises noticeably more headroom than before, while touchscreens in the rear door cards enable control of the Theatre Screen (if fitted) and climate settings.

A range of rear seat packages are also available, including reclining, ventilated and massaging functions. Other high-end features available include electric-opening doors and a panoramic glass sunroof that can display a light show with backlit LEDs. While other markets will continue to get the 7 Series with regular petrol and diesel engines, BMW has said that in the UK it will be sold purely as a hybrid or EV.

SEVENTH HEAVEN New 7 Series

39

Wednesday November 10 | 2021

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