The Times of Tunbridge Wells 15th December 2021

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Parents in court over baby death Burger bar burns down following an electrical fire

burger A POPULAR Tunbridge Wells a fire restaurant has closed followingweek. last that engulfed the building Marlowe’s Firefighters were called to 8pm on in Calverley Road at around Friday [February 28] evening. were Surrounding buildings tackled evacuated as firefighters to have thought is which blaze, the fire in been caused by an electrical the basement.

Evacuated the Nobody was injured in people were incident, although two inhalation treated for minor smoke at the scene. and A spokesman for Kent Fire Rescue said: “Six fire engines fire engines attended, including two Rescue from East Sussex Fire and Service.

“Crews wearing breathing jets, apparatus used hose reel smoke compressed air foam, to curtains and a fog spike stop the extinguish the blaze and flames from spreading.

“Immediate neighbouring as a properties were evacuated

Continued on page 4

THE parents of an eightweek-old baby girl from trial Crowborough went on yesterday [Tuesday] accused death. of shaking the child to Lewes Crown Court heard that paramedics treated baby Holly Roe at the family home in Alderbrook Close, Crowborough, on September her 10, 2018, before taking to Tunbridge Wells Hospital was she where in Pembury, pronounced dead.

A post-mortem found the infant had bleeding and bruising around her brain, bleeding in both her eyes and 12 rib fractures.

Both the baby’s father, Michael Roe, 32, and her mother, 21-year-old Tiffany Tate, deny murder and causing or allowing the death of a child.

Before the trial got underway yesterday [Tuesday], Judge Mrs Justice jurors Clare Moulder warned and the case was both ‘tragic shocking’.

She said: “It is the of prosecution case that one her her parents murdered it to and the other allowed happen.”

AZ MA IN RC E H – F ’S RE SO E IN SID

E

End of the line for station stairs causing disabled major problems

By Richard Williams

is to be CLOSE to a million pounds better spent giving disabled people station. access to High Brooms For decades disabled passengers or exit have been unable to enter which is platform two at the station, people a used by about 1.2 million no lift or ramp year, because there is to the southbound platform. and London from Those travelling stairs either unable to manage the Tunbridge have to continue on to taxi, or return Wells and get a bus or at on the other line to disembark platform one. of Now, thanks to a Department plus a Transport award of £785,000 Full story page 16 council, the top up from the borough are to be long awaited improvements made. work will It is not yet known when might have on start or what impact it passengers. from the The news follows lobbying Rail, the borough council, Network District Rail Travellers Association, Council, Kent as Southborough Town Smith & Williamson removed Council, and Southeastern commercial to have Oil & Gas, County Greg Clark. the company for no apparent administrators to London LCF did. and Tunbridge Wells MP purpose’. collapsed shortly after

By Robert Forrester Council Leader Alan McDermott of a number of which Mr Barker’s of the good Mr Barker was a director “It is to be inferred that the a company that is to informed councillors that received money from ONE of the directors of in pursuing the application at last week’s Full Council the Tunbridge companies London Oil purpose and/or to deplete news borrowed money from bond-firm, including He said: “This is very good that collapsed failed of loans vex the administrators the court Meeting. of High Wells mini-bond firm Gas – the principal borrower the administration estate,” news for disabled users more than 11,500 & owing £237million to supplied by LCF. Station. filing claimed. fellow London Brooms station is investors is being sued.

Barker says he and his “Improving access at the Down, East which includes local Elten Barker of Hadlow directors, other Gas and & we is Oil loans in something ‘Mr Barker’s purpose Sussex, received £1.5million Capital & Tunbridge Wells Conservative stakeholders have been pushing for London – who tors former from the collapse of party chair, Simon Hume-Kendall time. to vex the administra according to a failed company – some Finance [LCF] last year, last was chairman of the “And it’s not just disabled and deplete the estate’ to put the firm into filing from the firm’s administrators who will benefit – it is were wrongly advised High Court ruled passengers week. struggling with buggies, administration, but the tasked are two parents in who interest’ ‘an Williamson, had Smith & It is also said he that went are against him in January. with tracing tens of millions of LCF, other companies the administrators collapse London Group Continued on page 4 missing after the suing over the LCF affair, 4 High page the on to Continued confirmed in their filing LPE Enterprises. attempted sue Mr Barker for and Court they intend to Earlier this year, Mr Barker he received from the £1.5million ‘which

will Director linked to LCF rs be sued by administrato

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UNCERTAINTIES caused by new Covid-19 fears have not stopped the people of Tunbridge Wells reaching out to those in need and giving record amounts for charitable appeals.

It comes as new restrictions were put in place this week asking people to work from home and wear masks in more public places due to concerns over the Omicron strain of the virus.

These fears have not dampened the spirit of Christmas in Tunbridge Wells where residents answered calls for help from both the Mayor’s Toy Appeal and Nourish Community Foodbank.

The appeals have seen people donate thousands of gifts for children and tonnes of food so that people don’t have

to miss out this festive season.

The 12 Days of Christmas campaign was launched by Nourish on December 1 and saw people collect one food item a day until Sunday (December 12).

The charity says it has been ‘blown away’ by the support it received after the appeal ended at the weekend.

‘Despite the uncertainty people have been fantastic and so keen to help’ Tonnes of food have been donated by the people and businesses of Tunbridge Wells, and the collection for Nourish was boosted by the RTW Round Table who were out with Santa and his sleigh last

week to meet children and collect food parcels from residents.

They received more than four tonnes of food.

And more than 550 children who otherwise may have gone without will receive presents under the tree this Christmas too, thanks to the generosity of the people of Tunbridge Wells.

Organisers of The Mayor’s Toy Appeal, have praised the generosity of the people after thousands of gifts were donated.

Karen Collins, who has been running the appeal for the Mayor for the last six years, said: “Despite the uncertainty people have been fantastic. They really are truly amazing and so keen to help.”

Full story on page 4.

• MP set to rebel on new restrictions • Teenagers charged with murder – see page 2

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CHRISTMAS CHEER: The Mayor’s Toy Appeal and Nourish Community Foodbank celebrate a bumper response to their campaigns. P4

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MP is among rebels set to vote against the Plan B restrictions

By Richard Williams

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GREG Clark was among around 75 Conservative MPs who were last night expected to vote against the government over the introduction of the new Plan B Covid rules.

As the Times went to press, members of the House of Commons were debating the government’s new restrictions aimed at curbing the spread of the new variant, Omicron.

The measures include the wearing of masks in theatres and cinemas introduced last week, as well as guidance to work from home that came into effect on Monday.

The government says it has introduced its Plan B over fears the

new Omicron strain of coronavirus could lead to increased hospital admissions.

Inevitable Mr Clark was among dozens of backbenchers not happy with the extra measures, in particular the plan to require people attending large events to prove their vaccine status or a recent negative test result.

Last week in the Commons, the Tunbridge Wells MP accused Health Secretary Sajid Javid of changing his mind about waiting for the evidence that Omicron could increase hospital infections before introducing new measures.

SHOPPERS Tunbridge Wells on Monday lunchtime when the work from home guidance came into effect

Town centre workers stay home as guidance kicks in

By Jonathan Banks

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He said Mr Javid had ‘reversed his position and jumped the gun’ and broke an earlier pledge not to trigger further restrictions based on a rise in infections that were ‘predicted and, in fact, always inevitable’.

Mr Clark said what mattered was hospital admissions but ‘that data is not available yet’.

While Mr Clark would not tell the Times which way he would vote last night until after the Commons debate had been concluded, sources close to the MP said the former Business Secretary was ’90 per cent’ certain to vote against.

Also expected to rebel against the government last night were Wealden MP Nus Ghani and Tom

REBEL Greg Clark in the Commons

Tugendhat, the MP for Tonbridge & Malling.

It is expected the legislation will pass in the Commons, however, due to the Labour Party backing the introduction of the Plan B measures, although the rebellion could be the largest since Boris Johnson took office.

Omicron arrives in Kent as booster rollout stepped up

READ ALL ABOUT IT: St Gregory’s Catholic School receives backing for its new literacy project.

P14

SWEET CHARITY: How local food emporium Macknade at Hoopers is supporting Porchlight homeless charity this Christmas. P29

Wednesday December 15 | 2021

TUNBRIDGE WELLS town centre was quieter than normal this week as new guidance to work from home came into effect.

While people were still shopping at Royal Victoria Place and in the precinct, there was less congestion on the roads into the town.

Network Rail said footfall at its major railway stations on Monday had plummeted compared with the same period last week.

Reeling The government guidance for people to work from home if they can, comes after hospitality firms in Tunbridge Wells were left reeling last week when large employers cancelled Christmas parties.

Plan B measures now mean a large number of the town’s

workforce will be staying at home until the measures are lifted.

These include workers at Tunbridge Wells Borough Council [TWBC], which has reverted back to home working, although a Full Council meeting scheduled for tonight [Wednesday] will go ahead but with a reduced number of members.

A spokesperson for TWBC said: “The political groups within the Council have decided themselves that they will limit their members’ attendance at the Full Council meeting on Wednesday. The reduced attendance will reflect the number of members each group has on the Council.”

A similar deal has been agreed with councillors at County Hall for the Full Council meeting set for tomorrow as government rules mean members not physically at the meeting will be able to vote.

SEVERAL cases of Omicron have been confirmed in Kent, including at a primary and secondary school.

The new strain of coronavirus, which is said to emanate from southern Africa, was detected at Manor Community Primary School in Swanscombe.

A case has also been confirmed at Northfleet Technology College in Kent.

The schools have written to parents of all children who have been in close contact with the affected person.

Around 23 cases of the variant have now been confirmed in the county, with another 151 probable infections, although health officials have said they ‘will not comment on specific cases or settings’.

Cautious One person is already thought to have died with Omicron in the UK and the strain is said to be behind around 40 per cent of infections in London.

In a statement issued last week [December 8], Kent County Council [KCC] said they were working with the UK Health Security Agency to manage the cases and limit further spread of the new variant.

Allison Duggal, interim director of public health at KCC urged the public to be cautious: “We are doing everything we can to ensure that any confirmed and highly probable cases of Omicron

in Kent and Medway are found and isolated as quickly as possible.

"Anyone who is a close contact of these cases is being offered a PCR test and asked to isolate until they receive their test result. It’s really important people comply with any request to isolate, to stop unwittingly spreading the variant.

Website "I appeal to anyone who is approached by UKHSA or NHS Test and Trace to comply fully and help us limit the spread of Covid-19 and variants of the virus, as effectively as we can.”

On Sunday, the PM announced that the booster programme would see everybody eligible to book a jab by the end of December, although the NHS website crashed within minutes of the announcement.

It comes as nearly 500,000 third doses of the vaccine have already been administered in Kent & Medway, with 30,000 boosters having been delivered in Tunbridge Wells to 62.2 per cent of all those aged 50 and over.

Rates of the virus remain high in the area, however, with the number of people testing positive in Tunbridge Wells reaching 853 in the seven days to December 9 up from the previous week’s figures of 805 cases.

This gives a rate per 100,000 of 717.2, up from 659.2 the week before.

Five charged following Tunbridge Wells murder TWO teenagers have been charged with murder after a man was found stabbed to death in Tunbridge Wells earlier this month.

Xhovan Pepaj was found fatally injured in Caley Road, at around 3.15am on Saturday, December 4.

A post-mortem examination revealed the 25-year-old had sustained multiple injuries consistent with stab wounds.

His next of kin have been informed.

An investigation by the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate has led to the arrests of seven people.

Ciaran Stewart, 18, from Hornchurch and a 17-year-old boy from Ilford who cannot be named for legal reasons have now been charged with murder.

The pair were also charged with conspiring to commit robbery and were remanded in custody after they appeared before Medway Magistrates Court last week.

Three others have also appeared before the court.

Donte Simpson-Palmer, 18, also from Ilford; Mohammed Miah, 25, of Romford, and Nathan Turner, 28, from Brentwood have all been

charged with conspiracy to commit robbery. Nathan Turner was also charged with possessing cannabis with intent to supply.

All three were remanded in custody to appear at Maidstone Crown Court on Jan 6.

Two other suspects arrested in connection with the investigation, a 41-year-old man and a 33-yearold woman, remain on police bail.

Wednesday December 15 | 2021

NEWS IN BRIEF

Double murderer David Fuller to be sentenced KILLER David Fuller is set to be sentenced today [Wednesday, December 15] for murdering Wendy Knell, 25, and Caroline Pierce, 20 in Tunbridge Wells.

The 67-year-old admitted the two 1987 murders during his trial in November after changing his plea, will also be sentenced at Maidstone Crown Court for abusing bodies in mortuaries in Tunbridge Wells Hospital and its forerunner the Kent and Sussex Hospital.

The former hospital electrician has admitted 51 further offences, including 44 charges relating to 78 identified victims.

The sentencing will be reported on timeslocalnews.co.uk when it happens.

Budget consultation THE Council is asking residents in Tunbridge Wells how to plug its deficit for next year in an online consultation.

As it prepares its 2022/23, Tunbridge Wells Borough Council wishes to use £3million from its reserves to balance its books due to a budget shortfall of £2million.

The Council says the alternative is to cut services so wants to know if residents support the use of reserves.

The consultation can be found at: talkingpointtunbridgewells.uk. engagementhq.com/budget-2022-23

High Street brawl FOUR men were arrested after a fight in Tunbridge Wells High Street during the early hours of Sunday morning.

The area between Kitch and Pizza Express was closed off early on December 12 when police cars blocked off both ends of the street.

Kent Police said there were no serious injuries.

Hop Farm hosts Weller PAUL Weller has announced he’ll play the Hop Farm in Paddock Wood next year.

The former Jam frontman, whose 17th solo album was released last week, will play the venue on Saturday, June 18.

Paul said: “It’s brilliant to announce these UK summer shows for 2022 and to be able to play outdoors again after such a long time. Can’t wait.”

Tickets for the date at the Hop Farm on Saturday, June 18, cost £48.50 and are on sale at 10am on Friday [December 17].

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By Richard Williams

01892 519854 or email:

greg.clark.mp @parliament.uk

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CATCHING THE SUN The Ameila Scott

A SOLAR panel array has been installed on the roof of the council’s flagship development in Tunbridge Wells town centre, to ensure the building has eco-friendly credentials.

Around 87 photovoltaic panels, which harvest sunlight and convert it into electricity, have been installed on the roof of The Amelia Scott in Monson Road so the carbon footprint of the building remains low.

Renewable The cultural hub, which will be the new home of the town’s museum, art gallery and library, as well as the Gateway and adult education services is expected to be completed in spring next year.

The £20million project is jointly funded by Tunbridge Wells Borough Council [TWBC], Kent County Council [KCC], and the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Each of the new solar panels will provide a clean, renewable source of energy for the building and are part of the Council’s ambition to go carbon neutral by 2030.

Each panel will generate 345 watts with a total output of 30 kilowatts per hour and together they will reduce the carbon footprint of the building by around 12 tons during their 30-year lifespan.

TWBC says the solar panels will generate enough power to meet The Amelia Scott’s daily needs and export surplus electricity to the National Grid.

Now Hawkhurst is set to get its own £3million community centre

By Robert Forrester ANOTHER Tunbridge Wells parish is to get a £3million pound community centre just after the greenlight was given to a similar facility in Paddock Wood.

Hawkhurst parish Council has submitted a planning application to Tunbridge Wells Borough Council [TWBC] for a building to replace Copt Hall, which the parish council says has become too costly to maintain.

The new building will also replace the existing sports pavilion and three storage garages at the King George V Playing Field.

The proposed community centre will include a

220-seat hall, a smaller 50 seat hall, meeting rooms, a parish office, cafe, kitchen and changing rooms.

Petitions The £3.5million project will be funded from Hawkhurst Parish Council reserves, proceeds from sale of the existing Copt Hall site, funds linked to Copt Hall, potential section 106 contributions from housing developers, as well as grants and money from the Public Works Loan Board.

It comes just as Paddock Wood Town Council finally got the go ahead for its £3million MAKING AN IMPRESSION How the community centre might look

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community centre.

That project caused strong objections in the area over its planned location on Memorial Field in the town.

A protest group, Friends of memorial Field, tried to block the development, the plans for which were first drawn up in 2014.

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

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

Sport England also objected to the Paddock Wood centre, telling planners that the town council had ‘not demonstrated that the part of the playing field to be lost – 11 per cent of the total – is surplus to requirements’, although these concerns were also dismissed.

Hawkhurst Parish Council had tried to build a community centre in 2012 on The Moor, but objections to the site led to the project being dropped.

It is not known whether the planned location on King George V Playing Field will cause any local protests, but the parish council says its feasibility study had shown it to be the only suitable location.

First Afghan family makes Tunbridge Wells its home THE first family who fled the Taliban earlier this year following the withdrawal of western forces has settled in the area.

Tunbridge Wells Borough Council [TWBC] had said they would welcome five families following the fall of Kabul in August, with the authority hoping to house more if enough landlords came forward.

Councils across the UK were asked to take-in refugees from the stricken state as part of the Vulnerable

Persons Relocation Scheme.

The call for help came when the Government announced the UK will take up to 20,000 Afghans.

Support Last week, the Foreign Office’s handling of the Afghanistan withdrawal was criticised when a whistle-blower claimed that of all the Afghan nationals who applied to flee the Taliban under one UK

scheme, just 5 per cent received help.

Former official Raphael Marshall, who worked for the Foreign Office during the evacuation, told MPs that some of those hoping to escape were murdered after being left behind in Kabul.

TWBC say that the first family from Afghanistan has been settled in the Borough, but the authority still wants landlords to come forward so they can house more.

A spokesperson for TWBC said:

“We have assisted one Afghan family into accommodation under the Government’s new support programmes.

“We don’t have any properties sitting empty for these families but are seeking to procure properties from private landlords to rent directly to the families.

“We are still seeking landlords to come forward with any self-contained properties that can be let to Afghan families under the programmes.”

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Foodbank ‘blown away’ by the

support to feed families this year

By Richard Williams HUNDREDS of families worried about sourcing food over the festive period will be helped thanks to the success of this year’s Nourish Community Foodbank Appeal.

The foodbank, which was set up in the town in 2012, has seen the number of people needing its service double over the last two years, as more families have found they require help due to the pandemic.

Wednesday December 15 | 2021

Round Table collects for foodbank after a record £50,000 fireworks haul THE Royal Tunbridge Wells Round table [RTWRT] were out collecting for Nourish Community Foodbank last week, with a familiar figure in his sleigh.

The men’s group took Santa (aka Simon Addis) around the streets of Tunbridge Wells last week to collect food parcels.

Around four tonnes of pasta, tinned vegetables, soup and other food parcel items were handed to the group.

History

Poverty At Christmas, the group distributes food parcels to families, and it is expected to deliver around 150-200 per cent to more people than during normal times.

The 12 Days of Christmas campaign launched

by Nourish saw people collect one item a day for the foodbank from December 1.

Dawn Stanford, Operations Director at Nourish said: “Nourish Community Foodbank has been blown away by the donations we have received from our local community to support people in food poverty this winter.

“We have had financial support from a number of businesses as well as donations from individuals in return for having a selfie with the giant Teddy Bear in Royal Victoria Place (RVP) Shopping Centre.

BIG TED A couple of young residents at the Nourish collection point in RVP

NOURISH BOSS Dawn Stanford “Our 12 days of Christmas campaign has seen schools, clubs, places of worship, businesses and households gathering 12 food items to donate to people in need.

Deliveries “We had a very successful collection at RVP this weekend, but we are very definitely not done yet, this week we are fully booked for pick-ups from schools, nurseries and clubs.”

She added: “Christmas and the new year are

difficult times for a lot of people who are in food poverty. We have already seen a high number of requests for Christmas deliveries, and these will continue to come in right up until the last minute.

“In addition, we normally see a second spike in demand in the New Year and so all these incredible donations will see us through Christmas and into the new year.

“Thank you to everyone who has given their time, money or food donations – we simply couldn’t do what we do without you.”

Phil Hardy-Bishop from RTWRT said: “Thank you to the people of Tunbridge Wells for their amazing donations to this worthy cause.

“We also hope Santa and our team have spread some Christmas spirit to the people of Tunbridge Wells with the Christmas music and sleigh. We are very much looking forward to doing it again next year.”

He also told the Times following the adding up of all their charitable donations received during the Dunorlan fireworks last month, they have raised £50,000.

This is the highest amount ever raised by the event in its 60-year history.

Chairman of RTWRT, Daldeep Jaswal said: “I’d like to say a huge thank you to local people for coming along to support our event. It has enabled us to provide much needed funds for all those very worthy good causes and organisations.

The money will be handed to a number of charities at the group’s giveaway event on Sunday, March 20. Good causes who wish to apply for funding should visit rtwrt.org

SANTA’S HELPERS: The Round table assisting some of Nourish’s volunteers with their collections

Appeal for toys sees thousands donated HUNDREDS of children at risk of going without this year will get to open presents under the tree this year, courtesy of the Mayor of Tunbridge Wells.

Organisers of The Mayor’s Toy Appeal, which has been running in the town for more than 30 years, have said they will be able to ensure 550 children will get gifts from Santa this year.

Karen Collins said the Toy Appeal received donated gifts ranging from Lego sets and soft toys to radio-controlled cars and Barbie dolls.

Toy Appeal needs you!

THE ORGANISER of the Mayor’s Toy Appeal, Karen Collins, is to step down next year and is seeking somebody to replace her.

Ms Collins, who has been helping the mayor with the appeal for the last six years, said: “I will be stepping down after next year, so I am hoping to find somebody to step up and run the appeal.

“We are also looking for somewhere we can store the toys so we are hoping to find a business that has a large storeroom or small warehouse we can borrow between November to midJanuary,” she added.

Anybody who can help the Mayor’s Toy Appeal has been asked to contact Karen Collins at karen.Collins@ mayorstoyappeal.co.uk

Generosity

SACKS FOR SANTA Mayor Chris Woodward with Karen Collins [foreground] and other volunteers from the appeal

She said: “Each child will get three or four gifts with a main present and some smaller gifts such as books. And thanks to the people of Tunbridge Wells we can now ensure 550 children will get Christmas presents this year.”

Mayor, Cllr Chris Woodward, who backed this year’s appeal, said: “"It is heart-warming to see the generosity of people reflected in the gifts given to the Mayor's Toy Appeal, and the great work of Karen Collins and her team of volunteers in making gift packs ready for distribution to families whose Christmases will be made a bit brighter.

“I personally enjoyed seeing school children step forward to bring their kind 'offerings', and certainly that would also have brightened their souls."

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More new hires for Thomas expanding law firm Mansfield 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.

Education

Our lawyers are experts in every aspect of commercial dispute resolution law, including litigation, arbitration and mediation.

Whether you need help with debt recovery, breach of contract or a director, shareholder or supplier disputes, we want to understand your problems and disagreements and work with you to deliver prompt and pragmatic solutions.

Befofre starting her legal career Ms Mansell worked as a qualified special needs teacher, accruing a wealth of experience in protecting the rights and promoting independence for vulnerable people, including children, the elderly and those with mental and physical disabilities.

She is also a specialist in wills, probate, special educational needs and disability law and a passionate advocate for those with learning, mental and physical issues resulting from brain injury, including brain tumours. She is an accredited mediator by the College of Mediators in Civil and Commercial Mediation and is a registered SEND Mediator.

Joanne Leach ran her own successful tuition and education consultancy business, preparing children for demanding school entrance

01892 337541

For more information visit our website:

www.thomasmansfield.com TUNBRIDGE WELLS

LONDON SEVENOAKS TONBRIDGE MAIDSTONE

VICKY MANSELL

examinations and guiding families through the lengthy process of state and independent school applications.

She brings over four years of experience in conducting tribunal litigation, advising on workplace issues and on employment aspects of commercial and corporate transactions. She is a member of the Employment Lawyers’ Association.

Neill Thomas, Managing Partner at Thomas Mansfield Solicitors said: “I am pleased to welcome two new solicitors to our fast-growing team. It is important for our firm to recruit lawyers with a diverse range of backgrounds.

“The addition of Vicky and Joanne, with their education sector expertise, will further enhance the wealth of experience and specialist knowledge that we can use to provide all our clients and contacts with the very best advice and service.”

Brother and sister celebrate 25 years in the mobile world

By Robert Forrester TWO Tunbridge Wells siblings have reached a milestone for their business after celebrating 25 years at the forefront of the mobile phone industry.

Richard Groves and Jo Wimble-Groves started Active Digital in the mid 1990s, just as the mobile phone boom began.

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

“We felt that there was an opportunity for an independent, impartial, B2B mobile telecoms company, with a primary focus on delivering a great customer experience.

Fleets Call us today on

JOANNE LEACH

He said they provide a wide range of flexible tariffs including unlimited plans as well being able to give helpful advice on giving devices to younger children.

As new technologies have emerged over the two and a half decades the duo have been operating, the pair have been on their own digital transformation journey, and now provide technology and support for businesses going through theirs.

“We have a broad range of clients, ranging from local Kent businesses through to large corporations running fleets of more than 2,000 iPhone and iPad devices,” added Jo. “But we offer the same customer focused, concierge approach to each. We partner very closely with fantastic brands such as O2, Apple, Samsung, and Microsoft.

“We are very proud to be one of the best performing partners for O2 across the UK and Ireland and we were named Director’s Choice, Partner of the Year in 2020.”

She said the firm’s customers include big

national brands such as Caterham Cars, Saracens Rugby Club, Sanofi, Premier League, Onwatch Plc, Baxall Construction and Crew Clothing to name just a few.

Richard added that the pandemic has provided the business with further opportunities: “Despite the really challenging times that we’ve had over the last year and a half, we can’t help but be excited that this is an amazing time to be in technology, supporting businesses with their digital transformation.

“When you have thousands of people working from home, it’s time to focus on the speed and reliability of their home broadband, the security 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.”

IT’S GOOD TO TALK: Jo Wimble-Groves and brother Richard

Wednesday December 15 | 2021

FOR EVEN MORE NEWS VISIT: timeslocalnews.co.uk

Times Business Awards – first entries begin to arrive

Local News

BUSINESS

This year’s categories Does your business deserve to be shortlisted in one of the Times Business Awards categories?

Start-Up Business of the Year Award – This award recognises new start-ups under two years old at the closing date for entries of February 14.

Creative Business of the Year – To recognise those businesses based on innovation and creative thinking.

Entrepreneur of the Year – The award for the most dynamic individuals who and are able to demonstrate significant success in growing their company.

Young Business Person of the Year – Entrants for this award must be aged 30 or under by the closing date on February 14, 2022 and need to show they have a clear vision/strategy for their business.

Resilient Business – The winner of this category will have risen to the recent challenges of the pandemic and diversified or come up with a new business strategy to adopt to the ‘new normal’.

A NIGHT TO REMEMBER The Times Business Awards have been running since 2016

By Robert Forrester THE first entries for this year’s Times Business Awards have started to come in, with a range of companies wanting to take part in the 2022 competition.

The awards are returning on March 24, where businesses old and new will get to raise their profile.

Since the first Times Business Awards in 2016, more than 600 businesses have entered the competition, which is now one of the most anticipated events in the local calendar.

Entering the awards offers local firms the unique opportunity to showcase themselves and their company alongside some of the most outstanding businesses and entrepreneurs in West Kent.

Winning a prestigious business award not only adds credibility to a company, but also has hugely rewarding benefits for a business’s team, helping to underpin their credentials when talking to clients, leading to new opportunities.

There are ten categories to choose from ranging from Outstanding Business of the Year to the most Resilient Business award where

‘The awards are FREE to enter and presenting them will be a familiar face to viewers of ITV’s This Morning, Eamonn Holmes’ firms get to show how they adapted and diversified due to the pandemic Winners and shortlisted entrants will receive relevant coverage in our publications, including Times Local Newspapers and SO Magazine, as well as on the Times Local News website and social media platforms.

The black-tie gala ceremony is a fun night where the awards are won and provides an excellent networking opportunity with over 220 guests from the business community attending.

Best of all, the awards are FREE to enter and

presenting them will be a familiar face to viewers of ITV’s This Morning, as Eamonn Holmes, its former host, is guest speaker. Guests will have a chance to meet the new GB News presenter at the pre-dinner drinks.

If you have entered the awards before, you can still re-enter this year and it’s FREE. Every year sees more and more organisations put themselves forward for the first time, but past winners and entrants are just as welcome.

Of course, past success is no guarantee you will be successful again and competition can be fierce, but as the old saying goes – you have to be in it to win it.

The black-tie gala awards ceremony will be held in the Science Theatre at Salomons Estate on Thursday, March 24.

To register your interest and choose your category please go to timesbusinessawards.co.uk or email info@timesbusinessawards.co.uk Please send in your entries by February 14.

Early entries will receive priority profiling in our publications.

A handful of sponsorship opportunities still remain BUSINESSES are lining up to get involved in the Times Business Awards, which have been absent from the local calendar due to the pandemic.

Just three category sponsorship opportunities remain for this year’s awards. They are for Creative Business of the Year, Best in Food and Drink and Best Business (1-25 Employees) There is also an opportunity left to be headline sponsor.

• Sponsors are guaranteed editorial coverage in the Times of Tunbridge Wells

Best Business 25+ employees – For larger firms that have consistent growth and strong financial performance alongside an engaged workforce and a business plan.

Best Business 1-25 employees – Here we recognise owner-managers and SMEs employing up to 25 people that have maintained consistent growth and strong financial performance.

Outstanding Business of the Year – The ultimate award of all the categories will go to the business that can show outstanding initiative, boldness and imagination in the enterprise, as well as sound management practices.

business

awards

• Inclusion within the extensive editorial coverage in SO Magazine.

Those who sign up to be sponsors will be in

Best Family Business of the Year – This category recognises those businesses that not only have the passion and commitment that comes with a company run by a family concern.

good company, as you can see from those businesses who are already sponsoring this year’s awards:

• Exposure to over 220 guests from the local business community at the black tie gala awards ceremony.

• Significant coverage on social media via Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Best in Food and Drink – For those local business that provides truly remarkable food and/or drink in the area.

BAFTA-WINNER Eamonn Holmes wil be hosting the awards

2022

7

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Wednesday December 15 | 2021

Businesses make sure that fairy tale wishes come true

Community News

NEWS

9

Sea Cadets drum up a successful fundraiser

TS BRILLIANT SEA CADETS A GROUP of cadets are banging the drum about their recent fundraising success after raising enough money to replace their aging percussion instruments.

TS Brilliant Tunbridge Wells Sea Cadets were handed 12 new drums at a ceremony hosted by the Masonic Centre in the town.

The fundraising started in February following the sudden death of the unit’s much loved Chair, Derek Ireland.

Inscriptions

MAKE A WISH Two children meeting their favourite fairy tale character at the event (Picture ELM-Family Photography)

By Robert Forrester AROUND 60 children, some with life limiting conditions, met their magical heroes last week, courtesy of firms in the area.

Father Christmas was joined by a host of fairy tale characters to meet and entertain children that are living with conditions such as autism or ADHD, have serious illnesses or have suffered a bereavement.

The Once Upon a Christmas Goodwill Ball at the Spa Hotel on December 5, was made possible by support from 24 businesses in the town and was the brainchild of Once Upon a Wish Events.

The events company normally provides children’s entertainment such as birthday parties,

doorstep appearances and large scale events but wanted to do something for those children unable to enjoy normal festivities.

Festivities The event was headline sponsored by Elite Leisure Collection, which owns One Media – publisher of the Times – and the Business Improvement District group RTW Together.

Around 22 other businesses also got involved to sponsor the event.

Sophie Mutyambizi, whose daughter Elizabeth has autism and was at the ball, said: “The big events that happen around Christmas and other big occasions can often be too overwhelming and

too stimulating for children with autism to take part in.

“I watched Elizabeth enjoy the party as if she were just like any other girl in the world.”

Organiser and Director of Once Upon a Wish Events, Jess Nelson, said: “We created a winter wonderland and the children were able to meet their favourite characters and Father Christmas was there to give presents.

“It was very moving but really worth the time and effort and it really made a difference to these children.

“I can’t thank all those businesses that made this happen enough. The event was a truly special day we made such an impact to so many people’s lives.”

Table tennis star comes out to bat for village Post Office

By Jonathan Banks PARLAYMPIAN and Strictly star Will Bayley was on hand to serve customers at his old job as he returned to open the village shop where he used to work.

The gold medallist grew up in Groombridge and came back last week to cut the ribbon on the new, refurbished Post Office and ‘The Shop’.

Withyham Parish Council bought the former Royal Mail business earlier this year after it was set to close.

RED LETTER DAY Will Bayley and staff at Groombridge Post Office

The idea was t0 replace the existing drums, most of which were 40 years old, in memory of Derek and others who have sadly died in recent times.

Inscriptions are on the drums to ensure those who have served the unit over decades would continue to be remembered when the band paraded The drums were blessed by Rev David Houston RNR and then each drum was handed to a cadet by its donor.

During the event the unit chair Dan Cooper and fundraising lead Claire O’Neill thanked and paid tribute to the sponsors that included the Round Table, Tunbridge Wells Rotary amongst many others for their support.

The event was concluded by an impressive band display led by Petty Officer Simon Taylor the units band master.

Shining a light on mental health help A VIDEO production company has thrown its creative talents into supporting a Tunbridge Wells mental health charity.

As part of its corporate social responsibility commitment, Camden Road based Digitom has chosen Mental Health Resource as its chosen charity.

The production company has volunteered its services to produce a film, entitled ‘Supporting mental wellbeing in Kent’ to highlight the work the charity does in the area.

Based in Tunbridge Wells, Mental Health Resource supports people with complex and enduring mental health conditions, delivering various advocacy and support groups, all for free.

Ribbon

Anonymity

The council polled residents in the village, which sits on Kent and East Sussex border, and found they overwhelmingly backed the move and were happy to pay for it from their council tax.

On his return to cut the ribbon to offically open the new Post Office on Saturday, December 4, Will said: “I love Groombridge, since I moved here when I was three years old, all the way through my childhood. I went to school here, I played for the cricket team, football team.

“Actually - I worked in the post office. It's been my life, I love this village, it's a massive passion of mine and it's so cool to be back.”

Filmed on location at East Sussex beaches and in central Tunbridge Wells, the film features three clients who were happy to talk about how the charity has helped them.

The creative treatment combines anonymity for contributors with cinematic and aerial filming, voiced by Digitom’s founder & creative director Tom Chown who said: “If we’ve learnt anything in the last 22 months, as people’s lives were thrown into turmoil with the Covid-19 pandemic, it’s the importance of everyone’s mental health.

I’m pleased we can lend our support and help raise awareness of the amazing work they do.”

10

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Community News

Wednesday December 15 | 2021

Barnardo’s bowled over

by Father Christmas race THE ten-pin bowling alley in Tunbridge Wells are hoping to strike it rich for a children’s charity by racing Santa from the North Pole.

Hollywood Bowl in Knight’s Park has joined forces with children’s charity Barnardo’s to kickstart a festive fundraising venture.

STRIKE Two of the Hollywood Bowl team are ready to race Santa Claus

Funds The Race Santa activity will see the bowling alley’s team members encouraged to walk, run, swim and cycle the 7,724 mile distance from the North Pole to Hollywood in California and back again, all to raise money for the children’s charity.

The initiative will run throughout December, with teams logging their hours online, with the aim to complete the full distance before Christmas Eve to beat Santa to it.

Steve Burns, CEO at Hollywood Bowl, said: “Not only is the Race Santa activity a unique and fun way to raise essential funds for Barnardo’s, but it’s also been encouraging our teams to make the most of their wellbeing and leisure time and get them more active.”

Martin Howard, Senior Corporate Partnerships Manager at Barnardo’s, added: “We are delighted that colleagues at Hollywood Bowl are racing Santa to Hollywood this Christmas!

“Their support will mean we can help the most vulnerable children, young people and families during the festive season and beyond - we wish the team the very best of luck with the challenge.”

Bond’s double helps charity raise £26,000 A STUNTMAN who has JIM DOWDALL doubled for James Bond actors Piers Brosnan and Roger Moore left a fundraiser group shaken not stirred last week with his tales of movie life.

Jim Dowdall’s hair-raising stories of behind the scenes of many of the 007 movies delighted audience at the Lord’s Taverners West Kent Region fundraising Christmas Lunch.

Performance The annual lunch for the charity, which raises money for youth cricket and disabled sports, was held at the Spa Hotel earlier this month [December 4] and raised more than £26,000.

The money will go towards the provision of minibuses and cricket programmes for youngsters and disabled young people.

The diners were also treated to a performance by the youngsters of the Rusthall Broomhill Bank School Choir, who opened the lunch with two festive songs.

After lunch and Jim Dowdall’s talk, the Taverners enjoyed the humour of comedian Ian Irving and comedian, and auctioneer Adger Brown while ex-Kent cricketer, Dave Fulton, kept proceedings on course as the compere of the day.

David Carter, co-chairman of the Lord’s Taverners in the region, said: “We had a very successful President’s Ball in September and it’s great to be back at the Spa Hotel in Tunbridge Wells for our traditional Christmas lunch.

“It was a great opportunity for us to thank the West Kent Region’s business partners for their continued support of the charity throughout the difficult times of the pandemic.”

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National News

Wednesday December 15 | 2021

Vaccine keeping 70 per cent of Omicron patients out of South African hospitals MOST cases of Omicron in South Africa are mild, the head of its medical association has told British MPs, as new real-world data suggests two doses of the Pfizer vaccine offer 70 per cent protection against hospital admission.

Dr Angelique Coetzee, chairwoman of the South African Medical Association, told the Commons Science and Technology Committee she agrees with a new study from the South African Medical Research Council suggesting that Omicron may be 29 per cent less severe than the first wave of infection that swept the country.

surge in South Africa, suggested that two doses of the Pfizer/BioNTech jab makes vaccinated people 70% less likely to be admitted to hospital compared with those who are unvaccinated.

This is lower than the 93% protection the jabs gave during the Delta wave, but still offers a good degree of protection.

Overall, adults infected with Omicron were 29% less likely to need hospital care compared

with earlier variants, the study found.

Younger age groups were slightly less likely to go to hospital than older people, though experts think this may be due to waning immunity in older people who were given their vaccines first.

The study was in a population where most had had a previous Covid infection – as high as 70% of people in some areas of Gauteng province.

South Africa also has a high burden of TB and

Breakthrough She said ‘we don’t have all the answers’ but the clinical picture so far is that people are mostly suffering mild illness from Omicron.

Dr Coetzee said some people are getting breakthrough infections if they are vaccinated or if they have had Covid before, but cases seemed to be milder, especially for the vaccinated.

“The breakthrough infections we are seeing are mild… (and) the symptoms we are seeing in (vaccinated) people are less severe or intense than in the unvaccinated,” she said.

“On a hospital level… between 88 per cent to 90 per cent (of people) are unvaccinated.”

She said that in hospitals it is hard to differentiate between those patients with the Delta variant and those with Omicron, but that intensive care units “are still not overwhelmed”.

It came as a new study, based on preliminary data from the first three weeks of the Omicron

Mother and her girlfriend convicted of killing toddler MURDERER: Savannah Brockhill

KILLED: Star Hobson

MOTHER: Frankie Smith

The Government’s Plan B will be enough to get the country through Christmas, the Deputy Prime Minister has said, though he did not rule out future restrictions to tackle Omicron.

Dominic Raab said the current set of measures, which include working from home and increased mask-wearing, will enable people to have the ability to spend the festive season “with loved ones” across England.

Impossible

Hughes, Emma Tustin, was found guilty of his murder in a case that caused widespread shock and revulsion.

Judge Mrs Justice Lambert said Brockhill and Smith will be sentenced on Wednesday.

Blows According to those in court, Smith cried uncontrollably as the verdicts were delivered.

Prosecutors described how the injuries that caused Star’s death involved extensive damage to her abdominal cavity ‘caused by a severe and forceful blow or blows, either in the form of punching, stamping or kicking to the abdomen’.

Jurors also heard there were other injuries on her body which meant that ‘in the course of her short life, Star had suffered a number of significant injuries at different times’.

Prosecutor Alistair MacDonald QC said there had been two fractures to Star’s right leg ‘caused by forceful twisting’ which had been refractured as they healed.

He also described a fracture to the back of the skull and bruising to Star, “much of which is considered to be non-accidental in origin”.

The pair wil be sentenced today [Wednesday].

Data Overall, 41% of those testing positive had received two doses of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine.

Dr Michael Head, senior research fellow in global health at the University of Southampton, said the analysis covers just three weeks of data and ‘it is important to avoid inferring too much right now from any national scenario’.

He added: “For example, the narrative around South Africa is that Omicron may be much milder, whereas reports out of Denmark broadly suggests the opposite.

“This reflects the uncertainty of new data.

Within that, factors include the different levels of exposure to Covid-19 and previous infection, levels of vaccination and potential waning of immunity, and also age ranges infected thus far.

“We know that Covid-19 is very adept at moving from younger to older populations within a few weeks.

“Is Omicron milder or more severe than Delta?

Time will tell. The world’s finest scientists, including many in the global south such as in South Africa, will find out.

“For now, national-level decision-makers have to consider that discretion is the better part of valour.”

BOOSTERS WILL SAVE CHRISTMAS

Discussing the accelerated booster rollout, he told Times Radio: “It’s a demanding target but … the facts are that we will go into this Christmas with the ability to spend it with loved

A WOMAN has been found guilty of murdering her girlfriend’s 16-month-old toddler.

Star Hobson endured months of assaults and psychological harm before suffering ‘utterly catastrophic’ injuries in her home, a court heard.

Savannah Brockhill, 28, was the partner of Star’s mother, Frankie Smith, who was cleared of murder at Bradford Crown Court yesterday [Tuesday] but convicted of causing or allowing the toddler’s death.

Star was taken to hospital on September 22 2020 from the flat where she lived with her mother in Keighley, West Yorkshire, but her injuries were ‘utterly catastrophic’ and ‘unsurvivable’, prosecutors told the two-month trial.

Jurors heard that Smith’s family and friends had growing fears about bruising they saw on the little girl in the months before she died and made a series of complaints to social services.

In each case Brockhill and Smith managed to convince social workers that marks on Star were accidental or that the complaints were made maliciously by people who did not like their relationship.

The verdicts come less than a fortnight after the stepmother of six-year-old Arthur Labinjo-

HIV. The study was based on 211,000 positive coronavirus test results in the three weeks to December 7, including 78,000 thought to be Omicron.

ones in a way that was impossible last year.”

Pressed if Christmas will be safe, Mr Raab replied: “Yes, I think it is. I want to give that reassurance. I think people can look forward to spending Christmas with loved ones in a way that we couldn’t last year.”

But, for the second day running, lateral flow tests are unavailable to be ordered via the Government website, though it is understood that a number were available in the early hours of the morning.

A message on the site on Tuesday morning said there were no tests available for home delivery, although tests can still be collected from pharmacies.

Insulate Britain are plotting more protests POLICE have said their intelligence suggests climate protesters are plotting further disruption in February next year, the High Court has heard.

It came as seven members of Insulate Britain said they are prepared to go to jail for defying court orders banning protests in the wake of several days’ action during the autumn.

The seven defendants, who have a combined age of 428 and include a 79-year-old Anglican priest, admitted the allegations but said they were compelled to act to highlight Britain’s so-called ‘leaky homes’.

Source The breaches relate to an Insulate Britain protest on the M25, which led to tailbacks of 2.5 miles (4km), when activists blocked the carriageways and glued themselves to the road.

Myriam Stacey QC, for National Highways, told the Royal Courts of Justice there is also reason to believe there will be further disruption.

“Intelligence suggests they will resume in the spring of 2022,” she said. “We asked for the source but we weren’t told. But it stems from the police.”

DISRUPTION M25 protests earlier this year

Ms Stacey continued: “Insulate Britain appreciate the protests are in defiance of court orders, the breaches are deliberate and aimed at providing the protesters with the best possible platform … and the associated disruption was acknowledged but seen as a necessary corollary and proportionate to that goal.”

She added: “It is safe to infer that they intend to continue on the basis that the risks attached to breaking the court orders are worth the price of espousing the cause they feel so strongly about.”

Wednesday December 15 | 2021

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National Business News

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13

Record vacancies see jobless All change for bus companies rate fall despite furlough end as merger is set to go ahead BRITAIN’S jobs market has strengthened further despite furlough ending as the number of payrolled workers jumped by a record 257,000 last month, according to official figures.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said there is ‘still no sign’ that the closing of the furlough support scheme in September has affected the jobs market, with the number of UK workers on payrolls rising by 0.9 per cent between October and November to 29.4 million.

The unemployment rate fell once more, to 4.2 per cent in the three months to October, which is the lowest rate since spring 2020 and down from 4.3 per cent the previous quarter.

BUS and coach group National Express has agreed an all-share takeover of rival Stagecoach in a deal that will bring together two of the UK’s biggest transport firms, buy the deal will need to be agreed by shareholders of both companies.

The deal, which comes after talks between the pair were first revealed in September, will create a combined firm worth around £1.9billion with a fleet of about 40,000 vehicles and a workforce of around 70,000 people.

Roles

Figures The ONS said the number of people employed is now 424,000 or 1.5 per cent above levels seen before the pandemic struck.

Vacancies also jumped to another new record – up 184,700 to 1.22 million between September and November, though there were signs of the recruitment crisis easing as the ONS reported an 80,000-drop month-on-month – the first fall since February.

But it comes amid fears over the impact on the economy of the highly infectious Omicron variant of coronavirus and new restrictions to control Covid-19.

All eyes will now be on the Bank of England on Thursday to see if it will hold off on an interestrates rise in light of the latest figures.

Chancellor Rishi Sunak called on Britons to get their booster vaccinations, with concerns growing that more restrictions may be needed.

He said: “To keep safeguarding our economic recovery and the lives and livelihoods of the British people, I am now calling on everyone to keep playing their part and get boosted now.”

The data showed redundancies below prepandemic levels, contrary to initial concerns of a wave of job losses once the furlough scheme ended.

Darren Morgan, ONS director of economic statistics, said: “With still no sign of the end of the furlough scheme hitting the number of jobs, the total of employees on payroll continued to grow strongly in November, although it could include people recently made redundant but still working out their notice.

“The number on payroll is now above prepandemic levels right across the country.

“Separately, survey findings show much of the recent growth in employment has been among part-timers, who were particularly hard hit at the start of the pandemic.”

Economist Samuel Tombs, at Pantheon Macroeconomics, said the data suggested a “painless end to the furlough scheme”.

He said the figures would likely have prompted the Bank of England to raise interest rates at this week’s decision, ‘if Omicron had not emerged’.

Under the terms of the tie-up, National Express shareholders would own around 75 per cent of the combined group and Stagecoach shareholders around 25 per cent.

The deal, which will be voted on by shareholders, values Stagecoach at around £437 million.

The firms revealed that around 50 roles are expected to be cut under plans to slash annual costs by at least £45 million following the merger.

The jobs are set to go across the head offices, IT and corporate departments of the two firms, as well as some overlapping senior management positions.

But they stressed there would be no front-line

job losses, such as among drivers, or depot closures due to the deal.

In a bid to ease any potential regulatory competition concerns, Stagecoach also announced deals to offload the marketing, retail and customer service operations of Megabus UK and the Falcon South-West coach service, as well as its 35 per cent stake in the Scottish Citylink Coaches joint venture.

Stagecoach chairman Ray O’Toole will become the chairman of the merged group, while National Express chief executive Ignacio Garat will keep the same role at the merged firm.

The merger comes as both firms have been hit hard by the pandemic, with passenger numbers slumping due to lockdowns, remote working and a switch away from public transport.

Merger Government support to help transport firms through the crisis is also due to end soon.

It follows a previous attempt at a merger in 2009, when National Express rejected a £1.7 billion merger deal mooted by Stagecoach.

Mr Garat said: “The proposed combination of National Express and Stagecoach, and the unique strengths of both companies and their teams, will create a leading multi-modal passenger transport business in the UK.”

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Education

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Wednesday December 15 | 2021

EDUCATION Times

Local teacher launches new ’16 x 16’ reading initiative for students Chris Sevenoaks, Subject Leader of English at St Gregory’s, is encouraging pupils at the Catholic secondary school to read four books a year from Year 7 to 11. Eileen Leahy finds out more . . .

WITH smart phones, tablets and consoles pretty much a standard focal point of most secondary school pupils’ relaxation time, it has become increasingly more difficult to inspire children to swap scrolling for reading a good book.

But now an English Department at a local secondary school is trying to improve literacy standards by launching a new reading initiative.

Headed up by Mr Chris Sevenoaks, Subject Leader of English at St Gregory’s Catholic School the ’16 x 16’ project has recently been launched in order to encourage pupils to pick up a book - and enjoy doing so.

Mr Sevenoaks and his colleagues at the English Department at the school on Reynolds Lane, say that the aim of the ‘16 x 16’ initiative is to ensure that all pupils will read a minimum of 16 books during their time at St Gregory’s.

“There will be four books per year for each year group to read from when they join at age 11 to when they finish their GCSEs at age 16,” a St Gregory’s spokesperson explained to the Times.

“The first books being read in the initiative include The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time by Mark Haddon and Brick Lane by Monica Ali. All the books have been carefully chosen by the English Department to best reflect the level of challenge, both in terms of literacy and subject matter, which the English department wishes its pupils to encounter during their time at

and with us, as ‘A Place We Go When We Stay Where We Are.’” – a reference to the initiative’s slogan which appears on publicity artwork around the school.

Since the ‘16 x 16’ reading programme commenced, St Gregory’s school library has seen an average increase of over 90% in books

“St Gregory’s Catholic School is trying to improve literacy amongst its pupils by launching a new reading initiative”

GRATEFUL DONATION Mr Chris Sevenoaks, Subject Leader for English, (right) received a kind donation of £150 from Mr Paul Snow, Manager of the Co-op Store in Tunbridge Wells. The money will be put towards the purchase of books for students undertaking the school’s new 16 x 16 project the school.”

Mr Sevenoaks added: “We very much look forward to introducing our pupils to these texts and this project, and to parents’ support in encouraging their child to read with both them

taken out on loan in response to the scheme Mr Sevenoaks told the Times.

And in order to promote the reading project, the school’s Art department asked their Year 8 students to design a poster to support the campaign (pictured).

In addition to this, the English Department recently received a donation of £150 from the manager of the Tunbridge Wells branch of the Co-op towards the project.

Mr Paul Snow donated a fundraising cheque to Mr Sevenoaks last week and the school spokesperson said that the kind donation will be put towards the purchase of books for students undertaking the ‘16 x 16’ reading programme.

ARTISTIC APPROACH In order to promote the reading project, St Gregory’s Art department asked their Year 8 students to design a poster to advertise the campaign (pictured).

PUBLIC NOTICE

Proposed deregistration of village green at: TUNBRIDGE WELLS COMMON (VG22) Aldi Stores Limited has applied to the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs under section 16 of the Commons Act 2006 for land forming part of the abovementioned registered village green (the “release land”) to cease to be so registered. The Planning Inspectorate will decide the application on behalf of the Secretary of State.

The purpose of this application is to allow works to be carried out to enlarge the existing access in connection with the proposed development of land adjacent to Eridge Road (subject to planning permission being granted).

The release land is described in the First Schedule to this notice.

A copy of the application form and accompanying documents may be obtained by writing to Foot Anstey LLP, White Building, 1-4 Cumberland Place, Southampton, SO15 2NP or by emailing planning.team@footanstey.com and quoting reference 232072-66. The application form and documents will be available until 15th January 2022.

Any representations should, where possible, be sent by email ON or BEFORE that date to commonlandcasework@planninginspectorate.gov.uk.

Representations sent to The Planning Inspectorate cannot be treated as confidential. They will be copied to the applicant and possibly to other interested parties. To find out more about how the Planning Inspectorate uses and manages personal data, please go to the privacy notice.

FIRST SCHEDULE (The release land) The area of the land is 60.1 m2. Part of it is hardstanding and the rest is unimproved grass verge. The land lies to the south of Eridge Road, Tunbridge Wells. Grid reference TQ 57818 38561.

Aldi Stores Limited, Holly Lane, Atherstone, Warwickshire, CV9 2SQ 15th December 2021

16

NEWS

Weekly Comment

FOR EVEN MORE NEWS VISIT: timeslocalnews.co.uk

Cllr Tom Dawlings

Conservative Council Leader for Tunbridge Wells Borough Council

Wednesday December 15 | 2021

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

Six months on and there is much more to do IT IS now six months since I was appointed Leader of TWBC - six busy months in rather turbulent times. So, what have we achieved so far?

On the environment, the Council has set a target of net zero by 2030 and we have agreed a detailed carbon descent plan. Solar panels on the new Amelia Scott building have been installed that will power not only that site but will also export green electricity to the grid.

We are in the process of improving the energy efficiency of other Council-owned buildings, most obviously the Town and Assembly Halls which are presently being re-roofed providing much improved insulation. EV charging points in Council-owned car parks are presently being installed and work will be completed by end March 2022.

in this way should provide a useful income stream as well as bringing footfall to the town centre, helping local businesses and employment and contributing to wider economic benefit.

The construction phase on the Amelia Scott building is now complete and it looks amazing.

The fit-out is now well underway and will be completed early next year enabling the museum, library and adult education to re-open in May. The building is stunning and we are grateful to our partners in this venture (KCC, Arts Council England and the National Lottery Heritage Fund) and the Government’s Get Building Fund who have all contributed towards funding the development and also some of the cost overruns incurred during the very difficult Covid-affected construction

period.

Perhaps the development that has given me the greatest satisfaction has been the ‘Everyone in’ programme that helped take rough sleepers off the streets during the Covid outbreak and supported them throughout. Although Government funding has ended, we (TWBC) decided to continue with this work. Six flats on Crescent Road have been converted to provide for temporary accommodation for former rough sleepers and give them all round support.

To provide time to explore the future needs for the leisure centres we have extended the contract with Fusion. We are also now planning an extension of the contract for the maintenance of parks and grounds whilst we investigate

Regeneration The Local Plan has been submitted for examination by the Government Inspector and several Parish Neighbourhood Development Plans are at (or close to) the referendum stage. The Local Plan will give increased provision of social and affordable housing, areas for business and employment and regeneration of town centres.

Our plans to use the surplus space in the Town Hall for co-working is a positive example of effective cross-party working. The use of the space

COMPLETION The Amelia Scott will open in the spring

alternatives to this being provided entirely by a single contractor.

For the communities, the Southborough Hub Is now open and Paddock Wood Town Council has appointed a contractor to build the Community Centre there. Work is continuing on planning the Community Centre in Cranbrook.

As we are all aware, the HGV driver shortage badly impacted our waste collection service. To ensure essential food and recycling collection services it was reluctantly decided to temporarily suspend the garden waste collection which we now hope to re-instate in the New Year.

Hospitality Unfortunately, we now seem to be entering yet another wave of the pandemic and Government measures intended to protect the NHS will adversely impact again on residents and businesses and particularly on the hospitality and leisure sectors.

All Local Authorities are affected in the same way, so we also need to see how the Government will respond to this situation. Having entered the pandemic in a strong financial position, TWBC is fortunately far better placed than other Councils.

As you can see, much that has been done but there is much more to do. I wish everyone a very happy Christmas and hope for better times in 2022.

TAILORED HOME INSURANCE RIGHT DOWN TO THE FINEST DETAIL Our Bespoke home insurance comes with up to £30,000 enhanced temporary cover for those little things that make Christmas special.* For high-value home insurance that takes care of the details, choose NFU Mutual Bespoke.

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* Cover applies 1 month before and 1 month after a special event.

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Wednesday December 15 | 2021

FOR EVEN MORE NEWS VISIT: timeslocalnews.co.uk

Letters

NEWS

17

And another thing…

This is the page where you, the reader, have your chance to express your views or comments on what’s going on in our part of the world. We like to hear from you. You can email us at newsdesk@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk or you can write to the Editor, Times Local News, Salomons Estate, Tunbridge Wells TN3 0TG Let’s learn from Winchester Having just been to Winchester’s Christmas fair, with its beautiful wooden huts and decorations, I really think we need one in Tunbridge Wells.

Our decorations are dull, except for the lights in the trees, which, thank goodness, are yellow and warm, not white and cold.

It should be along Calverley Road, or in front of the town hall, not in The Pantiles, which is always lovely, but it is badly needed at the top of the town.

Perhaps next year?

Sue Jones Tunbridge Wells

MP only told the rosy half of his week in Westminster attempts to wriggle out of further accountability for its actions.

In that same week, there was a debate on a House of Lords Amendment, asking Parliament to reconsider discarding the triple lock on pensions – Mr Clark voted against that amendment – the triple lock has gone (at least for a year but the gap it leaves will never be recouped by pensioners across the country).

This is a broken manifesto pledge by this Government but Mr Clark makes no comment about it at all in his article.

Truth be told, Greg Clark is an active supporter of the Prime Minister and his government, he does very little to hold the Executive to account and he seems to be collusive in Boris’s attempts to avoid any sense of accountability for his or his ministers’ actions.

We deserve better.

Hugo Pound, Sherwood Leader of the Labour Group of Councillors

Another singular error I note from today’s Times that you are now the Editor and I wish you well in your new position.

The paper fills a need locally; long may it continue.

I repeat below my letter of 28 October, which was duly printed with an appreciative comment.

I was therefore somewhat saddened to note, staring at me from today’s front page, that your own piece about Christmas celebrations fails to recognise proper subject-verb agreement.

You say that ‘Thomson Snell & Passmore … has also called off their annual party.’.

I’m sure you would agree that ‘their’ should have read ‘its’ to reflect the firm’s singular status as an entity.

Nick Stanbury Tunbridge Wells Editor’s note: Thank you, Nick, and you are correct again on the grammar.

y t da en ur m at nt o S pm oi y t .30 pp da 5 A es – by Tu m ay n 0a d pe .3 on O 9 M & ay nd Su

Greg Clark’s full-page piece on his week as our MP (Times, December 8) only tells half the story (the rosy half, of course, not the reality of his active, ongoing support for the Prime Minister and his dysfunctional Government).

Earlier in the month (November 3) Mr Clark voted in support of putting aside Owen Paterson’s suspension.

In his article he says that, on November 15 he ‘voted to approve the report and sanctions on Owen Paterson’ but that was after the PM had changed his mind yet again and Paterson had already resigned on November 4 so that wasn’t so difficult, was it?

On November 17, Mr Clark voted against the motion to firmly tighten the rules on lobbying, second jobs and a swift report by the Standards Committee; he voted for the Prime Minister’s watered-down amendment.

No other party voted on this amendment to register their disgust with the Government’s behaviour on the matter and its deliberate

United in opposition only In response to Jane Harrington’s letter 8th of December, Jane is absolutely spot on!

I am doubtful the second party (the coalition) has actually made any form of coherent plan on what to do, in the event they take over the council in Tunbridge Wells.

As a friend said to me ‘winging it’ is no way to govern. §They may have supported each other during the by-election, nevertheless what then happens when they realise their manifestos have the compatibility of forcing two wrong jigsaw pieces together.

I hope other residents are truly concerned

that this chaotic event could take place, as I am.

Maybe people might recognise the Conservative Party locally are not the ‘pantomime villains’ The Alliance makes them out to be.

Aaron Brand Tunbridge Wells

Fused Glass for interior and outdoor spaces designed and made in Tunbridge Wells by Claudia Wiegand Artwork Home Accessories Personalised Gifts Jewellery Splashbacks Installations Bespoke Commissions Architectural Projects 3a Monson Road, Tunbridge Wells, Kent, TN1 1LS www.glassbyclaudia.com

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

Wednesday December 15 | 2021

Life&Times

HOMES • INTERIORS FOOD • DRINK • HEALTH WELLBEING • ARTS CULTURE • TRAVEL • BOOKS MOTORS and MORE...

A hair raising experience

See Rapunzel at the EM Forster theatre this Christmas P28

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OIRO £300,000

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The living space is open plan, with high ceilings, comprising; living room/dining room and modern fitted kitchen. Past the kitchen is the bathroom with a shower over the bath.There are two bedrooms.

Subject to usual planning consent, this apartment could be extended into the loft space.

TUNBRIDGE WELL S

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OIRO £355,000

Exceptionally well presented modern, 2 bedroom, semi detached cottage, located within a short distance of Dunorlan Park and the fabulous range of facilities that Tunbridge Wells has to offer. Porch, providing space for coats and boots, lounge with open plan kitchen/ dining area, utility room and the downstairs cloakroom. The stairs lead up to the 2 bedrooms and family bathroom. Long lease, allocated parking and communal courtyard style garden.

RUSTHALL

OIRO £450,000

Recently converted and uniquely designed attached 3 bedroom house, well spec’d and presented with charming style. Kitchen/Diner with integrated appliances and island unit, utility area, lounge, additional downstairs bathroom, 3 bedrooms and upstairs Jack and Jill style shower room. Oak flooring and solid oak worktops. Landscaped low maintenance rear garden.

All the team at KMJ Property wish their clients - past, present and future a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. www.kmjproperty.co.uk

01892 515188

sales@kmjproperty.co.uk

Property News

Wednesday December 15| 2021

Bank of mum and dad is paying home deposits

21

Advertisement feature

Property Focus

LETTINGS REVIEWS AND PREDICTIONS: 2021 v 2022

By Jonathan Banks NEARLY two-thirds of parents whose adult children own a home gave money towards the deposit, a survey has found.

On average, parents contributed £32,440 for their children to get on the property ladder with 64 per cent having given their children money to get on the housing ladder.

Many say their children would not have been able to get buy a home without their support, according to research by Zoopla.

Members The online property website also found an additional 10 per cent of parents said that, while they did not contribute, other family members did.

One in seven (14 per cent) parents said they gave their adult children more than £50,000 towards their home.

Just over one in 10 (11 per cent) paid the entire deposit.

And 3 per cent of parents with children over the age of 18 plan to give their children money towards a deposit for a home for Christmas this year, the survey of more than 1,000 parents with adult children found.

House prices have surged to record highs during 2021, with UK housing market activity likely to be at its busiest this year since at least 2007, according to industry experts.

Low mortgage rates have helped to keep monthly repayments relatively affordable for home buyers.

Daniel Copley, a consumer expert at Zoopla, said: “Those who managed to ‘go it alone’ and purchase a home without parental support are very much in the minority and the transfer of intergenerational housing wealth is key.

“When looking at the data, it is very clear that average house prices in the UK have increased at a greater rate than salaries over recent decades, reinforcing the notion that it is harder for young adults to get on the property ladder today than it was for previous generations.”

Standard of private rented homes a ‘postcode lottery’ PRIVATE sector rental tenants face a ‘postcode lottery’ over the standard of their homes, the chair of a powerful committee which scrutinises Government spending has said.

The comment was made by Dame Meg Hillier, chair of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), as a report from the National Audit Office (NAO) said regulation in England is not effective in ensuring the sector is consistently fair for renters or that housing is safe and secure.

There are an estimated 4.4 million privately

This year has been an interesting one for landlords and letting agents alike. Recovery from the impact of Covid-19 is well underway, with buoyant property and employment markets contributing to a more optimistic outlook as we move into 2022. But what does all of this mean if you are considering investing in property, or already have a portfolio? James Richards, Director of Maddisons Residential, shares his round-up of 2021 and how he thinks the rental market will fare in the year ahead.

The general lettings market Lockdowns and an increase in remote working has led to both renters and buyers searching for more space. This demand, as well as the undersupply of rental properties, is likely to encourage further rental growth into 2022.

The Tunbridge Wells lettings market At Maddisons Residential we have experienced unprecedented interest as soon as a rental property has been launched. The rise in demand has increased the local average rental prices by 7.96% year on year.

Those looking to rent in the area has seen quite a mix. We have relocators and sellers without an onward property secured. There have also been those who are saving for their first purchase, exemplified by the fact that around 74% of local rentals are flats, occupied by those in the 18 to 29 age demographic. Finally, we have those for whom renting is a lifestyle choice (as it is for many on the continent).

Whilst the increasing amounts of regulation and rising house prices have led to some owners of investment property selling this year, we have seen others entering this investment asset class as a hedge against the undoubted inflationary pressure that shall come to bear over 2022. We are sure the next 12 months shall be just as interesting and busy as the last!

rented households in England – and the system relies heavily on tenants being able to enforce their own rights, the NAO said.

Agents While most tenants have a good experience of renting, some can end up suffering serious illness as a result of poor quality housing, financial issues due to overcharging, or even homelessness as a result of poor conduct by landlords and agents.

The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) does not yet have a detailed plan to address the problems that renters face, the NAO added.

Dame Meg said: “Private tenants face a postcode lottery over the standard of their homes, and it’s often society’s most vulnerable who suffer the most.

“The department’s approach to regulation has been piecemeal and it’s been hamstrung by a worrying lack of data.

“The department needs to bring some order to the chaos and set out a clear vision for the private rental market and ensure that the growing number of tenants whose only prospect of long term housing is in the private rented sector are better supported.”

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

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

PLOT OR NOT?

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Many of our clients retain our services and, in the majority of cases, pay our fees saving property owners significant costs.

Arts & Antiques

antiques

Wednesday December 15 | 2021

23

Providing a drop of Christmas Spirit has provided a few historical treasures TV antiques expert Eric Knowles talks about the festive tipple and how it was typically served

G

REETINGS everyone.It’s always a singular pleasure at this time of year to receive – by way of a gift – the familiar, weighty bulk of a bottle, be it one of fine wines or spirits.

Although there are some notable exceptions, wines are a cheaper option and can be cheerily dispensed by the glass without undue concern.

However, it’s rare nowadays for spirts other than those bearing supermarkets’ own branding to be marketed as anything other than premium, and their cost has escalated even before the intervention of Her Majesty’s Revenue & Customs, levying their own non-festive brand of taxation.

Christmas spirits – and I’m not talking Jacob Marley and chums – are costly

– expensive and time consuming, and they were delivered to their point of sale destinations in barrels, casks or stoneware jars. Licensees could subsequently dole out pretty much however much they liked per portion, with scant regard for consistency or value for money, as the introduction of the ‘optic’ measure with which we are familiar was still several decades away. commodities, and as such should be dispensed with due care and attention – particularly as any soiree wears on, and measures get exponentially more generous...

Liquors Luckily, our forebears have provided us with a means to ensure that a judicious – some might say frugal – approach can be maintained when doling out otherwise indulgent portions of festive cheer; spirit measures. These scaled-down carafes date back to the 19th century – the Regency and Victorian eras of perceived decorum and social jurisprudence. Their original purpose was to ensure that the customers of commercial concerns – public houses, hotels, clubs and restaurants – would be guaranteed something approaching a standardised amount of alcohol for their money from one establishment to another.

The bottling of liquors was – at the time

EYE FOR AN ANTIQUE Eric Knowles

Potage There was a dawning realisation that not only were customers quite literally getting short measures on a regular basis but – more heinous still from the vendors perspective – that there may be instances where too much valuable potage was being given away; there had to be some sort of equitable solution – and hence consensus was achieved with the advent of the spirit measure.

A further consideration was the imposition of duty – the government were keen to ensure that they got their fair share of the proceeds and this also demanded that some semblance of accurate recordkeeping was enacted. Hence, we see a number of measures which include stamped metal ‘inserts’ in their necks – supposedly to indicate strict compliance with ‘weights and measures’ regulations.

We always have a good selection of these little glass treasures down at the Pantiles Arcade, the Imposing Grotto from which

CHEERS Eric Knowles ScottishAntiques.com hand out potential gifts and good cheer. They make for an ideal and deliciously pointed Christmas gift for parsimonious relatives, or a prudent addition to your own drinks’ cabinet to ensure that your dispensation of festive cheer doesn’t veer irresponsibly across the boundary from cheery largesse to licentious debauchery. Their prices rarely reach three figures, so you can ensure that not only is Great Aunt Agatha’s cherry brandy intake properly moderated, but that your initial outlay also remains well within manageable bounds – a considerate yet still convivial consequence all round, I’m sure you will agree.

24

Arts & Antiques

Wednesday December 15 | 2021

Why we carry a candle for Cartier

Alexander Pushkin, of Pushkin Antiques in the High Street, talks about one of France’s most prestigious names management, Cartier produced exclusive jewellery, silver and gold tableware and clocks in the stylistic eclecticism, mixing Louis XVI style and Egypt, Etruscan Revival styles.

Excellent pieces were gloriously exhibited at International Expositions in Paris in 1878 and 1889. However, it was Alfred’s three sons, who brought Cartier, the universal glory at the beginning of the 20th century.

Wristwatch

Alexander Pushkin

J

EWELLER of Kings, King of Jewellers - these famous words belong to King Edward VII, when he expressed his attitude to Cartier, the extraordinary French jewellery and watches manufacturer.

Established in 1847 by the 28-year old Louis-Francois Cartier, the firm produced all types of fine jewellery, including brooches, tiaras, earrings, rings, bracelets and objects of vertu in the Second French Empire style.

Because of the superb quality, Cartier quickly gained an excellent reputation amongst the affluent clientele and royals including Princess Mathilde Bonaparte and Empress Eugénie.

In the last third of the 19th century, LouisFrancois’ only son Alfred succeeded the company. Alfred often used the magnificent combination of precious stones with strict simplicity of execution. Under his

Louis Cartier took over the business in Paris in 1899. He is credited for the most innovative and memorable decisions in the brand’s history - the delicate use of platinum in fine jewellery, first men’s wristwatch Santos and opening Cartier’s branches in Britain and the USA. In 1902 Jacques Cartier began to represent the firm in London. In two years, he supplied precious items to King Edward VII and his Court and received the Royal Warrant. Pierre Cartier had represented La Maison in New York

since 1909. In 1917 he bought the building on 653 Fifth Street, which has remained the flagship store since then.

Materials At the beginning of the 20th century, Cartier pieces were characterized by the thoughtful refinement of Art Nouveau style and the traditional French ornaments, lace, Islamic and Far East arts. Tiaras, necklaces, brooches, jewels for corsages of that time were marked by the harmony of lines and sense of proportion.

The Illustrious Garland style of this jewellery had become strongly associated with Belle Èpoque.

In the 1920-30s, together with the imaginative designer Charles Jacqueau and the all-time creative director Jeanne Toussaint, Cartier left

TUNBRIDGE WELLS FURNITURE & COLLECTABLES Quality new and preloved furniture and accessories

DESIGN Some of Miller’s work can be found at Pushkin

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Occasional Chair Stunning dark blue velvet.

Original price £700. Sale price £450.

Nobilis Saint-Honore daybed in duck-egg blue RRP £1,970.

Our price £300

Occasional Chair Bronze/gold silk with dark wood legs. Excellent condition £450

Eichholtz Montana console table RRP £2,200. Sale price £1,000

Sofa & Chair Company upholstered ottoman Now half price £350.

Located at 7 Nevill Street, Tunbridge Wells, Kent, TN2 5TA|Contact:

info@twfurniturecollectables.co.uk Open Wednesday to Saturday 10am – 3pm Monday & Tuesday by appointment only

behind Modern style and passionately adapted Art Deco to their designs. Bold vivid colours, geometric lines and unconventional materials mixing with the precious stones defined this new era of luxury. The new approach wasn’t limited only by the jewellery, Cartier also produced numerous impeccable accessories from cigarette cases to travel boxes, that were true functional pieces of art.

After the death of the last Louis-Francois’ grandson Pierre in 1964, the Cartier family sold the business. Today it is under the management of Compagnie Financière Richemont SA group and still remains one of the most celebrated firms at the forefront of fine jewellery fashion.

Cartier’s impeccable design breakthrough, such as the Santos and Tank watches, Tutti Frutti and Great Cats (the famous panther) designs continue influencing the modern collections and thrilling the mind of many collectors.

At Pushkin Antiques we offer a great range of watches, jewellery and gold objects made by Cartier, visit our website or visit us in store to own your very own piece from this iconic brand.

SALOMONS CHRISTMAS DINNER AT HOME

Christmas Day Hamper Christmas Day Lunch prepared by our Executive Chef, delivered fresh to your door, from just

£23.33 per person

The stress free and tasty option for a Christmas feast at home!

A delicious 2 or 3 course traditional family Christmas lunch, for 6 people, supplied ready dressed and prepared for you to easily cook and serve at home.

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Starter

Buttered Free Range Turkey Breast with Sage Fluffy Duck Fat Roast Potatoes Honey Glazed Parsnips Streaky Bacon Chipolatas Cranberry Sage Onion Stuffing

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Collection from Salomons Estate or delivery* within a 5 mile radius on 24th December from 9am to 5pm. *Delivery is an additional £10.

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Smoked Salmon, Dill Pickled Cucumber, Lime Crème Fraiche with a Rye Loaf

Main

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Broccoli Cauliflower Cheese Bake Buttered Chantenay Carrots Braised Red Cabbage Brussel Sprouts with Bacon Lardons Turkey Jus, Cranberry Sauce

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Christmas Pudding Brandy Vanilla Sauce

To book please email reservations@salomons-estate.com call 01892 515152 or visit www.salomons-estate.com

Arts

Wednesday December 15 | 2021

Experience a true taste of Christmas by seeing this fab festive production Running until December 19 The Three Scrooges is an interactive theatrical and fine dining experience put on by Get Out Of My Space and hosted at The Beacon. Eileen Leahy was invited along to one of the performances last week by its director Tobias Cornwell and now reveals why this unique performance will fill even the most bah humbug of people with all the joys of Christmas…..

G

OING along to watch a theatrical interpretation of the Charles Dickens Victorian literary classic A Christmas Carol you wouldn’t automatically expect to see actors running round with giant turkeys on their head, lobbing pretend paper snowballs or changing costumes and accents at incredibly high speed but I’m very pleased to say that’s exactly what you will enjoy if you go along to see one of the remaining shows of The Three Scrooges by Get Out Of My Space (GOOMS) at The Beacon.

great bah humbug himself.

“They begin the performance all speaking Ebenezer Scrooge’s lines before an argument ensues – they soon realise they can’t carry on with this madness.

They can’t have three Scrooges! Who’s going to play all the other roles?”

“All you need to do is gather your friends or family, don your favourite Christmas jumpers, and let us fill you up with Christmas cheer”

Adaptation Having already produced three very successful immersive theatrical dining experiences over the past couple of years – A Midsummer Night’s Dream at Kingdom and A Christmas Carol and Black Fate at The Beacon, (GOOMS) the troupe, headed up by Tobias Cornwell, returned to The Beacon earlier this month with its fourth dramatic - and downright brilliant - show The Three Scrooges.

According to Tobias it’s a ‘hilarious and heartfelt’ adaptation of the much loved A Christmas Carol, where three actors all turn up thinking they’ve been cast as the

SCROOGED! Director Tobias Cornwell

And so begins the interactive element of the show where it’s up to the audience to decide who plays Scrooge each time.

On the night my daughter Isabelle and I visit it’s the only female actor in the trio: Nathalie Barclay who is voted to play the lead role - courtesy of the noisiest of rounds of applause from the audience who are all seated watching the performance in The Beacon’s majestic marquee.

Prior to the show kicking off, guests are served a delicious starter of Kentish Blue, Chicory and Walnut Tartlet in the marquee which is festooned with fairylights,

Photography by Stefan Hanegraaf

arts

26

Arts

Wednesday December 15 | 2021

twinkling candles and knitted Christmas stockings hung from each of its timber pillars.

Each table is prettified with seasonal table settings and guests can order drinks from the nearby bar. In short, it’s a really welcoming ambience and the perfect space in which to enjoy a piece of immersive live theatre where the audience have to be prepared to participate!

Compelling Without giving too much away what ensues for the rest of the evening is an engaging – and at times really, really funny – interpretation of the Dickens’ Christmas classic which has been written and directed by Tobias Cornwell and soundtracked with some festive favourites.

“In The Three Scrooges, each and every night the audience have full control over which actor gets to play Ebenezer Scrooge, whilst the other two then have to scramble around to play the 100+ other roles,” Tobias explains.

On the night we visit he and the other actor Jacob Collins (left) share the responsibility of acting out everyone from Scrooge’s former business partner and nemesis Jacob Marley, to the three Christmas spirits of past, present and future, plus numerous other cameos – with a limited variety of multitasking props and costumes. It’s fast and furious at times but completely compelling – and very clever in the

27

MAJESTIC MARQUEE At The Beacon

WHAT IS GOOMS? Get Out Of My Space (GOOMS) was founded in 2019 by Tobias Cornwell who saw a gap in the market for producing exciting theatre locally – and where the audience is just as an important element as the cast members.

Not all GOOMS shows are dining experiences though – some are pure theatre – but each one ensures that every audience member is at the heart of the dramatic action and treated to a unique experience.

For more info or to book tickets which cost £65 per person and include the show and dinner visit www.gooms.co.uk/the-threescrooges way they take on so many different characters.

The end of each act is deftly linked to the next dinner course – at the end of the first act audiences are told to pick up the printed carol sheets in front of them and told by the actors to literally ‘sing for their supper’.

My daughter and I soon realise this is a great idea as you are able to see live theatre and also have a good time by splicing the two. And that, it turns out, is exactly Tobias’s key aim with this particular show.

“Simply put, this Christmas extravaganza is

GHOST OF CHRISTMAS PAST

A NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS like no other,” he states. “If you’re looking for the complete night out, filled with festive food, wonderful wines, and electric entertainment; without the stress of having to hop from restaurant to theatre to bar, this is the perfect experience for you.

“All you need to do is gather your friends or family, don your favourite Christmas jumpers, and let us fill you up with Christmas cheer, Christmas merriment, and of course a delicious Christmas feast.”

The first year GOOMS collaborated with The Beacon on an immersive dining and theatre adaptation of A Christmas Carol was back in 2019 – in what Tobias says ‘felt like completely different world’. “We only had five performances that year, but it was an absolute hit among those who experienced it, and so we decided that next year we needed to go far bigger.”

Festive But then of course another round of lockdowns hit just before GOOMS’ next festive offering at the end of last year and that sadly threatened to ruin everything Tobias and his collaborators had built up.

“We went from selling the most tickets we’d ever sold, to having to cancel them all, to having to move the entire show 800metres down the road to East Sussex due to them being in a

different tier and being able to sell tickets again, - before having to close after three days because of being put into Tier 4. It was an emotional and physical roller coaster, while just trying to deliver some Christmas cheer to people who needed it after the year we’d all had. It was an endeavour that ended up costing me £20,000.

Standing in our empty performance space in December last year, feeling like Bob Cratchit to Boris’ Scrooge, I made a promise that we would return - bigger and better than ever.”

Tobias says this was only possible to do courtesy of the help he received from Tunbridge Wells Borough Council.

“Without their support I would not be in the position I am now to put on another show.

Thanks to the Council’s financial aid, and that of my friends and family, we are able to come back this Christmas with The Three Scrooges which, simply put, is a Christmas extravaganza that promises to be like no other.”

After experiencing it first hand – complete with the aforementioned giant turkey prop and so many other brilliant elements that would be a shame to spoil until you see it – The Three Scrooges is a must-see show that’s full of pathos, laughs and incredible acting by a trio of very talented actors. If you’re looking for something really special to enjoy this side of Christmas make sure you book in to see it before its run ends on December 19. www.gooms.co.uk

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Arts

Wednesday December 15 | 2021

Photography- David Bartholomew

“This show is set to be a most spectacular production full of magic, toe tapping songs, fantastic costumes and lots and lots of laughs”

A CUT ABOVE THE REST Rapunzel is played by Hollie Evans

Tunbridge Wells-based theatre company Wicked Productions are back doing what they love best: putting on panto at the EM Forster Theatre. The Times finds out what they have in store for audiences with their new show Rapunzel - which promises to be hair raising!

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T’S TIME to let your hair down this Christmas as Wicked Productions brings you its interpretation of the classic fairytale Rapunzel. On at the EM Forster Theatre in Tonbridge and with a cast headed up by Wicked’s Tom Swift (who plays Joey the Jester) and Hollie Evans in the title role, the cast say it promises to be a cut above the rest!

Katie Haygarth brings her evil side as the wicked Horrorbella the Witch, while Trinity’s STAGING A COMEBACK Wicked’s Tom Swift (far right) and the Rapunzel cast

former artistic director John Martin plays Dame Dolly Dumpling. Rhys Whiteside is handsome Finn Strider while Lula Mebrahtu appears as Fairy Nuff and Keith Higgins is King Crinkle Bottom. “Keith’s pantomime career started in 1982 at the Royal Victoria Hall, Southborough and this year will be his 40th year in pantomime!” says Wicked’s founder and artistic director Tom. During the show, audiences will see the evil

“We can’t wait to bring back the laughter and fun of pantomime to our wonderful audiences” Witch Horrorbella cast a spell on young Rapunzel, locking her away in a tall tower deep within the woods. But in her bid for freedom, she falls in love with the dashing Finn Strider while Dame Dolly Dumpling and her witless son Joey the Jester do all they can to locate the princess and return her to her loving father, King Albert.

Hilarious If you’ve been to a Wicked panto before you’ll know all about its ‘Boombox’ which makes a welcome return this year along with a gaggle of ghosts to hinder the quest to find Rapunzel. And before your ‘hairy’ eyes Joey the Jester will discover his limbs have a life of their own in a hilarious ultra-violet sequence. As usual it’s set to be a spectacular production full of magic, toe tapping songs, dance routines, inspirational sets, fantastic costumes, lots and lots of laughter and enchantment that will thrill the child in all of us.

Tom Swift told the Times: “We can’t wait to bring back the laughter and fun of pantomime to our wonderful audiences and Rapunzel is one of our funniest shows bursting full of colour and magic! We’re thrilled to be collaborating with the EM Forster on this our sixth year of family pantomime in Tonbridge.

EM Forster Theatre Manager Kat Portman Smith added: “We can’t wait to have Tom and

Wicked Productions back this year, it really is the fun we all need in our lives! Our amazing local Kent cast are just brimming full of talent, ready to brighten your Christmas. Our panto is a show for all and we are delighted to have another relaxed performance this year as well as keeping our tickets the lowest in the local area for a professional production.”

Rapunzel runs at the EM Forster theatre from December 10 – January 2. Tickets and timings can be found at www.emftheatre.com

Food & Culture

Wednesday December 15 | 2021

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Unwrap a fantastic feast for Christmas – and help an important local charity Macknade, who opened a foodhall at Hoopers department store earlier this year, recently announced their partnership with Porchlight, Kent’s largest charity for homeless and vulnerable people. Eileen Leahy finds out more about the charitable collaboration between them and how you can be part of it over the festive season...

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ACKNADE is without doubt one of the county’s leading food and drink experts. But up until September this year you would have had to make the journey across Kent to one of its stores in Ashford and Faversham if you wanted a taste of their epicurean offerings.

Thankfully though they opened a third store and dining area here in Tunbridge Wells on the top floor of Hoopers at the end of the summer and since its launch it has proved to be very popular with local foodie fans.

BOX OF TREATS A Macknade hamper

Partnership Now the family-owned company, which dates back 170 years and has its roots both here in the UK and Italy, has announced it will be partnering with Porchlight to help further its mission to develop and serve the local Kent community.

Last week the specialist food and drink business announced it would be working with the charity which helps the homeless and vulnerable - and has a presence in Tunbridge Wells - all over the Christmas period until January 1 2022.

They will donate £5 for every order purchased through their online Christmas shop during this time and the monies will be transferred to the charity at regular intervals throughout the campaign.

Macknade Managing Director, Shane Godwin explained: “Together we can spread a little hope this Christmas. Being at the heart of our Kent communities, we want to give back to those in need at this time of year. Porchlight do fantastic work, reaching out to people experiencing, or at risk of homelessness and I’m confident that our amazing customers will join with us to support this important initiative.

“This Christmas will see more people than ever in danger of becoming homeless. Factors such as the rising cost of living, coupled with the end of protections that were put in place when Covid first hit, mean that more people are now at risk.

We want to do our part to alleviate some of the challenges that will be faced by proportions of

our local ommunity.”

Shane added that, in what could become a very real crisis, Porchlight has already seen a 63% increase in referrals during the first seven months of this year and is bracing itself for a further rise in the number of people requiring help by the end of the year.

Kate Boulding, Corporate Partnerships Manager at Porchlight, told us: “We expect more people than ever will need our help this winter.

More than 9,300 households in Kent could be facing homelessness by the end of the year

TEAM SPIRIT Shane Godwin (left) with Macknade colleagues

HOME FROM HOME

Your local Macknade is at Hoopers

because protections allowing them to keep a roof over their heads – such as the furlough scheme and the eviction ban – have now ended.

Support “The amazing support we’re receiving from Macknade means we can continue to be there for the most vulnerable people in our communities.

We want to say a massive thank you to them for choosing to support us and raising awareness of our work to their customers this festive season.”

Macknade’s online and also instore Christmas Shop is fully stocked with myriad seasonal products including all the essential ingredients to create the perfect festive feast such as slow grown, free-range turkeys, fresh produce, and store cupboard staples. There are also bountiful hampers, perfect for gifting plus a curated

selection of hand-crafted wreaths and garlands for the home. In other words all you need for a fabulous Christmas but at the same time if you shop with them you will know you’re also doing your bit for a very worthwhile charity too.

Shane Godwin exclusively told the Times: “At Macknade we believe in the power of food and drink to create, maintain, and enrich communities. Our ethos really resonates at this time of year, a time that can be incredibly tough for those who are vulnerable or already experiencing homelessness.

“The donations we are making to Porchlight will not only help the charity reach out to those in need but can also contribute towards the cost of a Christmas lunch for someone living in a Porchlight property or fund an essential check in, helping to keep someone in the Kent community off the streets.”

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Food & Culture

Wednesday December 15 | 2021

Fortify yourself for Christmas with these festive fancies Times Drinks Editor James Viner chooses the best fortified wines to enjoy this Christmas

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N THE blink of an eye, Christmas will be upon us. If you want just one wine to complement the yuletide cheeseboard, seek out fortified and sweet white wines. Keeping them cool will delay any deterioration. Get into the seasonal spirit with this top-shelf selection.... ) Must-try, strikingly sophisticated supermarket Sauternes Specially Selected Sauternes 2016 Bordeaux, France 13.5% Providentially, this golden, luscious, sweet ‘noble rotted’ Bordeaux beauty – a real find at the Aldi Autumn-Winter portfolio tasting in late October – is still available. Think vanilla, lime blossom, poached apricot, honeyed peach, crystallised pineapple, honeycomb and floral quince. Very fine and expressive. Made from 93% Sémillon and 7% Sauvignon Blanc, this is total heaven. One to serve chilled with lobsters with a rich sauce, pan-seared foie gras (if you must), tiramisu, tarte tatin, crème brûlée, apple tart and blue cheeses. Unmistakeably a superior source (it’s made by top-tier Château Suduiraut).

Buy one more for next Christmas. (£7.49 Aldi, 37.5cl) 2) Superlative, opulently sweet, PX Sherry Bodegas Hidalgo-La Gitana Pedro Ximénez Triana Sherry, Spain 15% The value for money of this unctuous, crude-oil black, viscous, honeyed, figgy, treacly, prune-like and raisiny sweet (360 g/l residual sugar) sherry – liquid Christmas pudding itself – that was aged in contact with air and produced with sun-dried, thin-skinned PX grapes, concentrating the sweetness of the must, verges on absurdity. Bowls you over with both its strength of flavour and undeniable quality.

Enjoy served slightly chilled (12-14°C) in a white wine glass with dark chocolate, mince pies, nuts and intense blue cheeses such as Roquefort and Cabrales. Equally outstanding poured over vanilla or rum and raisin ice cream. One for a soulful Betty Carter cocktail. The definitive Spanish sticky vino. Go on, splash out and celebrate! (£13.99-£17.95 Majestic mix six, Tanners & Jeroboams, 50cl) 3) Top Mellow Port Graham’s 10-Year-Old Tawny Port, Portugal 20% Port is the classic wine style for Christmas. This refined, aged, soft and silky wood-matured example from the famous Symington-owned Port house is wondrous sipped chilled with a slice of Cheddar/Stilton and a merry treat alongside mince pies, Christmas pud, walnuts, apple pie, almond tart and crème brulée. Expect a warming kaleidoscope of rancio, festive spice, almond, fruitcake, toffee, prune, brandy and chocolate-raisin flavours. Seriously good value and so much better than the average 10-year-old tawny. Irresistible, persistent and neat. Love the odd glass to fuel the Christmas spirit and relish by the fire. Santa Claus will thank you! Try to finish it up over weeks rather than months. (£15 Clubcard price until 1 January 2022, Tesco, 75cl) 4) Monumental, heavenly sweet Madeira Henriques & Henriques 10-year-old Malvasia Madeira, Portugal 20% Go Madeira! This is one of those ‘everybody must savour’ world-class fortified wines. In a word: epic. In two: life-affirming. Plum pudding wafts beneath grilled walnuts, dried fruits, coffee, burnt toffee, Christmas cake, molasses

in a mouth-watering Sunday lunch at STEAK, for all the family to enjoy.

Children have an exciting colouring competition to keep them entertained, and a prize for the winning family!

and caramel; it lingers on and on. Full-bodied, luscious, sweet, delicious and tangy, it’s utterly dazzling stuff – and the well-judged, characteristically high acidity keeps everything in check. Spot-on for mince pies, Christmas pudding, chocolate coffee truffles, rich dark chocolate puddings and cheese. Once opened this will stay in good condition for months. It’s the definitive Christmas potation and a heavenly digestif so stock up now! This is also my desert island wine (and one of the most resilient in the world). Serve cool at around 13-16°C. (£20-£21 The Wine Society & Tanners, 50cl) 5) Skilfully blended, delicate & elegant X-factor XO connoisseur cognac Delamain Pale & Dry Centenaire XO Grande Champagne Cognac, France 42% Cognac is rightly deemed as perhaps the finest of all the spirits distilled from grapes. Since its

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unveiling in 1920 Delamain Pale & Dry (‘Extra Old’) XO has become a classic cognac for devotees all over the world. Delicate but complex, delicate and warming, this joyful elixir is the quintessential deluxe Christmas spirit – incredible! Far older than the required six years (in this case aged for an average of 25 years) it’s a cognac of great sophistication with subtle notes of marzipan, grilled nuts, vanilla, liquorice, apricot, raisin, candied citrus and stone fruits. One sip, you’re in! Lovely with rich mushroom dishes (hello wild mushroom risotto). Long, detailed, streamlined and oh so refined. No sugar or caramel is added. Raised to 42% ABV to celebrate the centenary. Not cheap but more than worth it. (£74.95-£86.95 Hedonism, Amazon UK, Waitrose & Partners & Whisky Exchange 50cl; £27.95-£29.50 Davy’s & Waitrose Cellar, 20cl) Follow James on Twitter @QuixoticWine

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Books

Wednesday December 15 | 2021

Times book reviewer

HANNAH KIRSOP

FINANCIAL ADVICE FOR WOMEN

KOREAN FAMILY SAGA

Dare to be Fair by Amanda Redman

Pachinko by Min Jin Lee

(published by Let’s Tell Your Story Publishing, priced £6.99)

(published by Apollo, priced £8.99)

Chartered Financial Planner, Amanda Redman, opens her book by quoting a report by Jane Portas in which it is noted that ‘today, on average, women retire with just 20% of the pension wealth of men at age 65.’ Inspired in part by this statistic and in part by both her own and her clients’ experiences, Dare to be Fair is intended as a call to arms to educate women on how to protect themselves financially in good time for the future covering the financial implications of the ‘common’ decisions women make during their career, the current working environment and how women fare within it, and how women can work together to effect change for future generations.

The themes are very coherently set out, and there are great examples included in the book to substantiate them as well as exercises to tailor the advice. The messaging is uncompromising in its focus on what is best financially – and there are often other factors to consider particularly surrounding the balance of children and work – but it offers deep, helpful insight into the implications of the decisions you might make.

It is a brilliant handbook for ladies of all ages trying to get to grip with their finances, and there are lots of detailed supporting notes, exercises and additional resources available on the website to help.

When teenage Sunja is put in charge of the shopping for the boarding house run by her mother Yangjin after her father’s death and meets the new fish broker, Koh Hansu, the wheels of her story are set in motion. On falling pregnant to this married father of three, she rejects his offer to be looked after as his mistress, risking shame for her family, but salvation comes from the alternative proposal of Isak, a resident at the boarding house, who will marry her and raise her son as his own. Together, they move to Japan where the wonderful yet bittersweet fourgenerational saga about the highs and lows of family life and the hardships faced by Korean immigrants in Japan unfolds.

With great attention to detail and meticulous research, this is a wonderful and insightful book – rich in fascinating details about Korean history over the period of the book (1910-1989) and sensitively written to interweave the personal lives of the characters and the political environment in which they lived.

9/10

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

The bookcase…

And here are some of this week’s new releases for you to also enjoy reading...

Wish You Were Here by Jodi Picoult Published in hardback by Hodder & Stoughton, priced £16.99 (ebook £9.99) Lots of readers found their concentration drop off the radar during the pandemic. If reading became a struggle for you, let Jodi Picoult show you how your brain can still get utterly engrossed in a good read, and page-turning magic is not lost. Picoult is known for knocking out bestsellers at speed, but Wish You Were Here is impressive even by her own standards – set during the early months of the Covid-19 pandemic.

It sees 29-year-old art specialist Diana fly solo to the Galapagos, as her boyfriend Finn, who was originally meant to come on the trip, is unable to take time off from his job as a hospital doctor now the virus has hit. Once there, the world goes into lockdown. Diana is stranded alone in paradise, whilst Finn faces a traumatic frontline. Cue the beginning of much self-reflection and re-evaluation, eventually delving into near-death experiences and how we choose the paths to follow – but are things as they seem? Wish You Were Here will make you laugh, nod and cry – and at one point gasp out loud at a twist you will not see coming. Picoult will have you closing the book on occasions, taking a moment to let it all sink in. Superb.

Review by Abi Jackson

9/10

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9/10

Black And British: An Illustrated History by David Olusoga, illustrated by Jake Alexander & Melleny Taylor Published in hardback by Bloomsbury Publishing, priced £14.99 David Olusoga follows his bestseller Black And British: A Short, Essential History with a children’s edition. It makes room for the black British history we likely weren’t taught at school – about the Romans, Tudors, Stuarts, Georgians, Victorians, World Wars, Windrush and more.

Beautifully illustrated by Jake Alexander and Melleny Taylor, each page brings to life the lives of black people in Britain in these eras, from Roman Africans guarding Hadrian’s Wall, to an African trumpeter in the court of

Henry VIII, and black soldiers fighting for Britain. Olusoga takes us right up to the present day, showing full perspective of the journey, as well as how black British people have helped to shape British culture. Despite being aimed at younger readers – an audience it no doubt will captivate with its colourful visuals, easy-toread fonts and compelling information – it’s telling that even as an adult, it’s an informative, intriguing and worthwhile read.

Review by Hannah Millington

10/10

Go Tell The Bees That I Am Gone by Diana Gabaldon Ppublished in hardback by Century, priced £20 (ebook £9.99) Diana Gabaldon releases the hotly-anticipated ninth instalment in her Outlander series.

Picking up where the last book left off, Claire and Jamie Fraser are reunited with their daughter Brianna and her family in 1770s North Carolina.

As the clan reacquaint with one another, the Revolutionary War continues to draw them close – but the family is still figuring out their past, so things are far from smooth sailing.

Slow-paced to start, Gabaldon’s latest addition

5/10

weaves complicated plot lines, a weighty cast and improbable melodrama to create an exhausting read.

You often feel the book could have cut 200 pages and several characters – especially when all the reader is really here for is Jamie and Claire.

Sequels can often be disappointing and Diana Gabaldon’s latest effort does leave you feeling wanting. At times compelling, the latest instalment sadly doesn’t live up to the original novel – or the TV adaptation.

Review by Holly Cowell

Travel

travel

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Wednesday December 15 | 2021

Craving a Christmas market break?

Why Sibiu should be top of your winter wish list...

ALL THE FUN OF THE FAIR

Katie Wright heads to Romania’s historic city in search of some festive fun

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LUTCHING a steaming cup of mulled wine that warms my hands in the chilly night air, I stroll beneath a canopy of twinkling fairy lights as a smooth jazz version of Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas plays in the background.

As I pause and gaze up at a towering star-topped tree dotted with glowing red baubles, a surge of festive feeling washes over me – and isn’t that what Christmas markets are all about?

But all too often, these so-called winter wonderlands are overcrowded, overpriced and leave me declaring “Bah humbug!” rather than “Joy to the world!” Which is why I’ve ventured further afield, to Romania, in search of the real deal. And I’m not disappointed.

After a year’s hiatus the Sibiu Christmas market is back, offering 100 stalls Smack bang in the middle of the country, historic Sibiu hosts one of the largest Christmas markets in Eastern Europe. Set in the old town’s Piata Mare square, the annual event was founded 13 years ago.

After a year’s hiatus due to the pandemic, it’s back, bringing 100 stalls selling handcrafted gifts, food and drink from across the region and beyond.

What’s on the menu? Carnivores can sink their teeth into Romania’s version of the hot dog (a huge grilled sausage smothered

with tasty toppings) or a succulent Angus beef burger courtesy of a local farm.

Vegetarians might like to sample a crispy flatbread deep-fried with garlic – a popular flavouring around these parts.

“It’s nothing to do with Dracula,” insists Andrei Dragan Radulet, head of the market organising committee. You would be forgiven for making that assumption, given

that Sibiu is in Transylvania, home to the legendary Bran Castle aka Dracula’s Castle.

Having munched your vampire-deterring main course, you’re spoilt for choice when it comes to dessert. I find myself agonising over whether to go for crepes slathered with Nutella, a bag of hot sugar-dusted mini donuts or Hungarian chimney cake, made by wrapping ribbons of dough around a hot

cylinder until it’s cooked to crisp, chewy perfection, then rolling it in cinnamon sugar.

On my first evening stroll I opt for the latter, then find I’ve got another tough decision to make. Which of the 10 mulled wine stalls – each with their own timehonoured recipe – will I choose? Following my nose, I head to the Gorgandin Winery

CHILD’S PLAY

LINCOLN CHRISTMAS MARKET BLENHEIM PALACE

Travel

Wednesday December 15 | 2021

stall, from which the scent of cloves emanates. I select a rosé variety, which is deliciously light and fragrant.

I wander around the square, browsing the stalls selling local handicrafts and picking up a few gifts to take home (a beautiful hand-painted glass bauble and Christmas tree decorations made from strands of dried fruit and cinnamon sticks) then retire to my room at the Imparatul Romanilor (sibiu.imparatulromanilor.ro), just a few minutes’ walk from the market.

Browsing The next morning, bright sunshine pours into the square, making the old town’s pastel pink and custard-coloured buildings shine against a cloudless blue sky. In a bid to offset some of last night’s indulgences I don a pair of skates and take a few spins around the market’s ice rink before climbing the 141 stairs of Turnul Sfatului, the Council Tower, to behold the magnificent views in four directions, from the colourful rooftops of Sibiu to the snow-capped peaks of the Carpathian Mountains far in the distance.

Back at ground level, I discover Sibiu is full of fascinating architecture. On a guided walk through the cobbled streets, I spot houses that appear to be staring back at me thanks to pairs of narrow, eye-shaped windows.

The true origin of the ocular oddities is unknown, but it’s believed that in the days when the town risked attack from the Ottomans, residents would hole up in their attics to hide from the enemy. “It was an intimidation thing more than anything,” says tour guide Marius.

Stepping inside the grand domed Holy Trinity Cathedral – ornately decorated with religious

ODENSE, DENMARK

depictions in royal blue and gold – I’m surprised to find there are no rows of pews, because, as Marius explains, Romanian Orthodox mass lasts between three to five hours. Instead of sitting down, worshippers come and go as they please.

It makes the hour-long Catholic services of my youth seem short.

Following a recommendation from Marius, for dinner I descend to the subterranean Crama Sibiul Vechi (sibiulvechi.ro), an atmospheric restaurant set in an old wine cellar, where I tuck into a hearty meal of Romanian specialities: pork-stuffed cabbage rolls, followed by pork and sausage stew with a side of gooey cheese polenta.

Ready for a mulled wine night cap, I head back to the market to grab a cup of my favourite rosé blend, then make a beeline for one of the stalls piled high with what can only be described as loaves of chocolate and nougat, ready to be sliced, along with mounds of colourful candies, cubes of marshmallow and caramelised nuts and fruit.

One thing’s for sure when it comes to Sibiu: foodies are in for a treat. Whether it’s market stalls, Romanian restaurants or local bakeries, you won’t be short of delicious eats to fuel your urban explorations, and all at affordable prices.

Add to that a picturesque old town and a fantastically festive Christmas market, and you’ve got a recipe for a winning winter break.

Sibiu Christmas market runs until December 26 in 2021.

Rooms at the Imparatul Romanilor hotel (sibiu. imparatulromanilor.ro) start from €120 (£102) per night. Wizz Air (wizzair.com) offers flights from Luton to Sibiu, from £50 per person in December.

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Motoring news

Wednesday December 15 | 2021

Motoring News

This week… n Polestar update n Mazda2 n Nissan van prices

Polestar update gives owners a boost A NEW over-the-air update gives Polestar 2 owners the opportunity to unlock additional performance from their car.

Available for Long range, Dual Motor models in the UK, the upgrade represents the first time that Polestar has brought some of its heritage of tuning to its electric cars. Back in the late 1990s, Polestar was behind some key motorsport competitors and has applied some of this learning to its new EV. It has already proved popular, too, with 400 upgrades downloaded in its first few weeks of availability.

PEAK PERFORMANCE The Polestar 2

Excitement Thomas Ingenlath, Polestar CEO says: “The upgrade highlights how connected technologies can transform the relationship a car company has with its customers. The driving experience in Polestar 2 is something we are really proud of. It is such a fun car to drive already, but with this upgrade we can offer even more to our customers who might be after a little extra excitement.”

With the upgrade, the Polestar 2’s dual-motor powertrain is increased in power by 50kW to a total of 350kW, while torque rises by 20Nm to 680Nm. As a result, accelerating from 50 to 74mph takes just 2.2 seconds – half a second quicker than the standard car. The 0-60mph sprint takes just 4.2 seconds, too.

The update will be available in the Polestar Extras web shop as a software download which is then remotely delivered to the owner’s vehicle via an over-the-air update. Polestar says that it is priced ‘on average’ around Euros 1,000, with ‘local variances in certain markets’.

New Mazda2 Hybrid arrives with Nissan reveals its pricing for underpinnings from Toyota Yaris Interstar and Primastar vans NISSAN has revealed the pricing for its new Interstar and Primastar vans, which form part of its revised light commercial vehicle line-up.

The rebrand sees the NV400 large van now called Interstar, while the NV300 gets a new Primastar badge.

When the rebrand was announced in September, Emmanuelle Serazin, LCV and corporate sales director at Nissan Europe, said: “By introducing the all-star LCV line-up, Nissan will continue to support business owners, today and for years to come. With versatile conversion options the refreshed offering provides a solution to many business challenges.”

Alloy

COLLABORATION The new Mazda2 MAZDA has bolstered its line-up with the introduction of a new 2 Hybrid.

If the new Mazda2 looks familiar, it might be because it shares much of its design with Toyota’s Yaris. This new model is a product of a collaboration between Mazda and Toyota and will be sold alongside the regular – and recently updated – 2.

The 2 Hybrid will be built and supplied by Toyota, but then sold with the rest of Mazda’s range of cars.

Set to arrive in the UK during spring 2022, the Mazda2 utilises a 1.5-litre three-cylinder engine which is then combined with a 59kW electric motor. It’s a so-called ‘self-charging’ hybrid too, so doesn’t need to be plugged into the mains in

touch driver’s window, soundproofing on the bulkhead and a 12V socket in the load compartment.

Meanwhile, top-spec Tekna+ versions start at £29,540 and include a seven-inch infotainment display with sat nav and smartphone integration and upgraded driver assistance technology.

Interstar models can be factory-converted as dropside single or double cab, or as a chassis single or double cab as well as a platform cab, depending on the buyer’s requirements.

order to be charged.

It’ll manage the 0-60mph sprint in 9.5 seconds and return up to 74.3mpg, while CO2 emissions sit at 93-87g/km depending on wheel size.

Despite being relatively compact, the Mazda2 offers space for four adults and 286 litres of boot space. Three specifications – Pure, Agile and Select – will accompany the new hybrid, with details surrounding these announced closer to the car’s on-sale date.

The new 2 Hybrid arrives as the first full hybrid in Mazda’s range, prior to electrified versions of other cars in the firm’s line-up arriving shortly. It does, however, sit alongside the full electric MX30 and mild-hybrid-equipped Mazda3, regular Mazda2 and CX-30.

Nissan has announced that the Primastar will start at £24,990, while the Interstar is available from £26,990, both excluding VAT. The Primastar, like the NV300, is available in a variety of body types, lengths and heights with all versions getting a five-year/100,000-mile warranty, as well as five years’ roadside assistance.

The entry-level Visia trim receives DAB radio, alarm, cruise control and LED front headlights.

The top-spec Tekna+, meanwhile, costs from £28,240 and boasts 17-inch alloy wheels, an eight-inch infotainment screen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, keyless entry and extensive driver assistance equipment.

The Interstar, meanwhile, has the same trim levels, with its standard equipment on top of that found in the Primastar including a one-

COMMERCIAL LINE UP The NV range has been rebranded

Wednesday December 15 | 2021

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Tri-colour Skyline pendant, 0.53ct £2,600

Sapphire and diamond cluster earrings, 1.05ct of sapphires, 0.37ct of diamonds £3,450

Three row tri-colour Skyline bangle, 0.90c £6,200