Times of Tunbridge Wells Issue 1, March 4th 2015

timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk @timesoftw

All the news that matters

Local, National and International

Wednesday, March 4, 2015

OF TUNBRIDGE WELLS

YOUR

FREE PAPER

MARK CARNEY Dealer errors at bank revealed Pg 14

WHAT’S MISSING ON THE FOOD FRONT? Pg 54

FERNANDO ALONSO Medical means he misses Australian Grand Prix Pg 12

GOOD MORNING TUNBRIDGE WELLS

SCHOOLS DRIVE LOCAL HOUSING MARKET Pg 20

INSIDE SCIENCE

Southborough man helps create amazing new ears

PAGE 5

TRAFFIC

Just who is to blame for Pembury Road nightmare?

PAGE 3

BUSINESS

Staff shortages threaten company expansions

£5million fund launched to boost local businesses PAGE 16 IT’S another new day but one with a difference because today sees the publication of a new local paper with the announcement that it’s launching a £5million investment fund to help local businesses.

The Times of Tunbridge Wells, working with high net worth individuals, has developed an initiative to support entrepreneurs across the county.

It will be open to a range of businesses from start-ups requiring seed capital to existing businesses looking for money to expand.

Applicants must be 18+ and operating a limited company within the boundaries of the county of Kent.

Alongside financial help, successful applicants will receive advice and support, by way of legal, accounting and business strategy, from a network of advisers.

The idea is to bring more innovation and opportunity to Kent, with an initial key focus on Tunbridge Wells and the surrounding area, by helping companies grow at an early stage of their development – creating employment and revenue.

Applications for funding will be considered by a panel of principal investors or their representatives.

MP Greg Clark said: “For our area to continue to be prosperous requires our businesses to be successful – new start-ups to be created and established business to grow. An investment fund

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that provides extra support is to be warmly welcomed and I look forward to seeing the benefits in action.”

Cllr Jane March, cabinet member for tourism, leisure and economic development said: “The fund is a great idea - we know from independent work commissioned by the West Kent Partnership that Tunbridge Wells is an extremely innovative, creative place with more business start-ups and better survival rates than anywhere else in the country.

“We look forward to seeing which initiatives and companies emerge from Tunbridge Wells, where this sort of investment and expertise will enable our businesses to thrive.”

Turn to pages 6 and 7

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2 � NEWS YOU SAY…

WEATHER

As the Times of Tunbridge Wells prepared to launch, this is what you had to say on Twitter and Facebook. Feel free to add your thoughts, via social media or the contact details opposite.

THE WEEK IN VIEW

WEDNESDAY CLOUDY & SUNNY MARCH 4 2015

TUNBRIDGE WELLS

David Ricketts@davidricketts Interesting to see that during a time when many predict the death of print media, a new local newspaper emerges in Kent

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Pollution: Low Sunrise: 6:38am

Visibility: Good Wind: 17

Dancing Boutique@DancingBoutique Good luck for launch of @timesoftw 4th March from @DancingBoutique

Humidity: 62% Sunset: 5.44pm

THURSDAY

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FRIDAY

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SATURDAY SUNDAY

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CONTACTS EDITORIAL DIRECTOR RICHARD MOORE richard@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk | 01892 779615 DEPUTY EDITOR ELEANOR JONES eleanor@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk | 01892 576037 HEAD OF SALES JOE STONER jstoner@markerstudy.com | 01892 779624 GENERAL INQUIRIES newsdesk@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk FIND US ONLINE facebook.com/timesoftunbridgewells timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk twitter.com/timesoftw IF YOU HAVE A STORY WE WOULD LIKE TO HEAR FROM YOU. Contact details above

bonnita moaby@bonnitagraphics @timesoftw Best of Luck!! Launching VERY soon, keep your eyes peeled!

PAUL GREEN “ It looked like a mail shot touting for business”

Hedge fund cutbacks KCC ‘trying to boost coffers’ by warning residents of trimming bill

• By David Jarvis KENT County Council has been accused of setting up a “hedge fund” - by telling homeowners to cut back overhanging vegetation or pay the price.

County Hall’s soft landscaping team wrote to those living on a bus route in Horsmonden to tell them hedges or trees on their land were obstructing road users. The letter added that the council was willing to carry out the work itself – and send residents the bill – and that if the greenery were not trimmed within 28 days, “we will unfortunately have to begin formal procedures”.

Paul Green, of Goudhurst Road, was surprised to receive his letter because, as he said, he has no overhanging trees or hedges – and there is no pavement outside his house.

The 50-year-old said: “On the one hand it was ludicrous because my hedge doesn’t need trimming.

“On the other, I felt these letters could be quite distressing for elderly people who may have been confused by them – I was.

“It just looked like a mail shot effectively touting for business in order to boost council coffers. It’s no wonder it’s been called the council’s ‘hedge fund’.”

KCC said some 500 letters were sent to properties along the Renown 297 bus route, which runs from Tenterden to Tunbridge Wells.

It read: “We have received a number of concerns from road users and the local community about vegetation that is overgrown and is beginning to

Markerstudy Leisure is a trading name of One Media and Creative UK Limited registered in England and Wales under company number 5398960 with registered office at 45 Westerham Road, Sevenoaks, Kent TN13 2QB.

JUST TEASING… CHECK OUT OUR CROSSWORDS, PUZZLES AND QUIZ ON PAGE 57. TO WHET YOUR APPETITE HERE’S A COUPLE OF CLUES AND A QUESTION. • Commonplace when a crop is gathered (7) • Close to the girl but just off target (4.4) • Which actor is playing DCI Morton, a detective in the close-knit Arctic community of Fortitude on Sky Atlantic?

Wednesday 4th March 2015

newsdesk@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk

HarperAndHugo@HugoTheFrenchB For all our Tunbridge Wells gang keep an eye out for the new @timesoftw paper launching in March! We’ll be reading it! #FrenchBulldogsRock James Aufenast@James_Aufenast Well this is good news – Times of Tunbridge Wells launches with 30,000 print run. Local papers not dead! www. timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk Stephen Elsden@SDElsden @ReadCaro I look forward to reading the paper. I hope it gets better distribution than just outside train stations.

TJ@Oaky22a @timesoftw thank you for the umbrella!!!

I really can’t wait to see the first edition!

Wishing you all the best x oldernewsman@oldernewsman Very pleased to see a local newspaper OPENING, rather than closing! @timesoftw will cover Tunbridge Wells from March. Good luck! #TimesTW

Judy Pollard Good luck everybody!!

Sarah Norwood Looks interesting, good luck

WORTH WATCHING See our pick of the week’s TV highlights P60 and P61

THE TIMES OF TUNBRIDGE WELLS

16 Lonsdale Gardens, Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN1 1NU THE Times of Tunbridge Wells will always strive to be fair, accurate and balanced.

Should you believe this has not been the case on any occasion, or if you would like to make any other comment on any aspect of the newspaper, please write to the editor, 16 Lonsdale Gardens, Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN1 1NU, or email newsdesk@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk Similarly, should you wish to write to us regarding any of our reports – whether you agree or disagree – or to make a contribution to this newspaper, whether a letter or photograph or if you think there is something we should know about, please do get in touch using the details above.

obstruct road users at the above location.

“This has been causing particular difficulty for buses which are hitting overhanging trees/vegetation.”

The letter says action must be taken, adding: “If you are unable to carry out this work and would like us to carry out the work and recharge the cost to you, please let us know.

“If you do not contact us or arrange to have the works carried out yourself within the 28 day period, we will unfortunately have to begin formal procedures.”

A KCC spokesman said the letters had been delivered only to addresses at which vegetation was deemed to cause a risk, as defined by a council “spotter” who had travelled the route.

He said he could not rule out the possibility of human error by the spotter, but thought it unlikely, and that KCC was not trying to make money from the scheme.

He added: “We categorically only send such letters to people whose overhanging vegetation poses a risk to buses.

“We definitely do not send them out and keep our fingers crossed. In urgent cases, or where an owner cannot be contacted or is unwilling to undertake the necessary safety works, we may do so and recover the associated costs from the owner of the land.”

The spokesman said reminder letters will be delivered to homes where work has not been completed, giving residents a further 21 days to carry it out.

James Scholfield@jscholfieldrec The @timesoftw, a local newspaper, will officially launch next week. I thought print was dead!? Best of luck to them

WHAT’S THE POINT OF ANOTHER LOCAL PAPER? WHY? That’s the question some people have been asking since we announced the launch of this newspaper. It’s a good question; a simple question.

And the answer itself is pretty simple: We truly believe that there’s a place in Tunbridge Wells for an alternative voice, a quality weekly newspaper that comes free with relevant local news and features. One that is different.

That’s not to say we don’t think the existing newspaper in the town, the Kent and Sussex Courier, is not doing a good job. It certainly is, and we admire and respect the role it plays. We just happen to think there’s room for another printed media platform.

One that is different.

So, how do you make a local paper different? The obvious way is with the content. You don’t chase cats up trees, which is something of a metaphor, and you try to focus more on the serious happenings and

events that impact the town and area in which you work and live.

You try and broaden the scope of the news, which is why we are carrying national and international stories. As far as we know, it’s a first for a local newspaper. We’re able to do this because of an agreement with the Press Association which gives us access to their pool of journalists around the world and because we go to print at 8pm on a Tuesday with the paper available in Tunbridge Wells at 6am each Wednesday. This is a timeframe that is in line with the first editions of some nationals. The idea is that you can pick up a copy of your town newspaper and be kept in touch with events both local and global.

But we wanted also to do something that captured our commitment to Tunbridge Wells. Something that yet again shows we are different. That’s why this newspaper floated the idea of an investment fund to

help start-ups and young businesses looking to grow.

As a result of a direct request from this newspaper, a group of high net-worth investors has set aside up to £5million to help businesses in Tunbridge Wells and across the rest of Kent. Think Dragons’ Den. Hopefully, you will enjoy this first copy of the Times of Tunbridge Wells and will become a regular reader.

By the way, it comes to you from One Media, the same company that publishes So Tunbridge Wells magazine.

Also in this edition we investigate who’s to blame for the Pembury Road traffic nightmare, we meet the Southborough man who has helped create incredible new ears and we find out that the council’s litter police have fined hundreds of people.

If you like what you see, let us know. Equally if you feel we’re missing something, we’d also like to hear from you.

Richard Moore, Editorial Director

NEWS �

PEMBURY ROAD TRAFFIC PLANS ARE SNUBBED BY LOCAL ENTERPRISE GROUP • By Eleanor Jones THE traffic nightmare that is Pembury Road is set to continue, after plans to alleviate congestion were snubbed by a little-known group of councillors and businesses.

The Kent and Medway Economic Partnership initially ranked the scheme second in a list of priorities for Government position was 12th, funding – but its final meaning it missed out while projects in Folkestone, Dover, Ashford and Rochester were given millions.

It took the Times three weeks to unravel the decision-making process for the Local Growth Fund awards, and it is still not known why the Pembury Road scheme dropped so far from its initial position.

Tunbridge Wells Borough Council leader Cllr David Jukes said he was “very disappointed” by the decision, that there is now no chance of any respite for drivers in the immediate future and that he does not know the reason for the decision.

He added: “We’ve been offered no explanation at all.

“We were ranked second initially and I was at a meeting when the partnership said ours was how it should be done. Imagine my surprise when we ended up 12th, behind Dover and Folkestone, and a 3,000-space lorry

park in Westenhanger which is never going to get planning permission.

“I thought, hang on, are we even in the same game? This is totally different from what we’d been told, I had steam coming out of my ears.”

TWBC chief executive William Benson said Tunbridge Wells had been successful in winning cash for road schemes in a previous round of funding bids.

Mr Benson said: “For the second round, we were told schemes had to be ‘shovel-ready’.

“Our grievance is that if you look up the list, you see Dover docks, which won’t be done for years, and the lorry park, which the leader of the council there called a ‘bonkers’ plan.

“It feels like the schemes being funded aren’t local ones to drive growth, they’re national projects, delivered because of the Channel.”

Cllr Jukes added: “This means nothing will be done. We can’t fund it as a borough council and unless the county council or Government does some rapid reorganisation, it’ll stay as it is.

“We’ll have a nice dualled A21 but at the end of the day, we won’t be able to get into town any faster at all.”

Geoff Miles, chairman of the Kent and Medway partnership, said: “All projects supported were clearly prioritised by local business/council partnerships – putting money into those schemes which they believe would have greatest impact.

“However, this funding is a small addition to our Growth Deal and there are many further projects to boost growth and jobs across the SE LEP area for which are still seeking investment and which we continue to champion.

“While the Pembury Road improvements did not this time receive support, the importance of the project has been recognised and we’ll continue to explore funding through further rounds and other investment opportunities. Only the first five Kent and Medway schemes were successful, prioritised on the basis of their strategic national importance or potential for major transformation.

“We recognise the great potential for business and growth within Tunbridge Wells and will continue to support the local council and businesses in getting the very best deal for Tunbridge Wells, Kent and Medway and the SE LEP area.” eleanor@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk

LOCAL ENTERPRISE PARTNERSHIPS The Kent and Medway Economic Partnership is part of the South East Local Enterprise Partnership.

LEPs were set up by the Government after the last election to “decide what the priorities should be for investment in roads, buildings and facilities in the area”, according to the Department for Communities and Local Government.

Each partnership is made up of representatives of businesses and councils, with higher and further education also represented.

Secondary school places offered

Death of man in Camden Park

MORE than eight out of ten Kent children have been given places at their first-choice secondary schools, it has been confirmed.

Figures released this week show 81 per cent of pupils have the chance to attend their preferred option in September, while 96 per cent will get an offer from one of their top four choices.

Roger Gough, Kent County Council cabinet member for education, said: “As we predicted, providing families with their preferred choice of school in Kent has been more challenging this year.

Even so, 12,796 families will receive their first choice and 1,612 their second.

“Sadly there are always instances where we are unable to offer parents one of their preferred schools. School allocations can only be made after all preferences have been satisfied.

“This is the very first stage of the process and a specialist KCC team is on hand to help with any queries.

For advice, email kent.admissions@ kent.gov.uk and for more on waiting lists and appeals, visit www.kent.gov. uk/secondaryadmissions

A POST-mortem into the death of a man in one of the most affluent areas of Tunbridge Wells is due to take place later this week.

The body was found at a house in Camden Park on Monday afternoon.

Police were unable to confirm yesterday, Tuesday, whether or not the man’s death was suspicious but said they are working to establish the circumstances surrounding it.

The body was found at a house in the private park near the centre of Tunbridge Wells.

The prestigious estate, where properties often sell for more than £1 million, is built around seven and a half acres of private parkland and includes 74 exclusive homes.

A Kent police spokesman said: “A man’s body was discovered at 12.02pm on Monday at an address in Camden Park.

“Offices are working to establish the circumstances around the death. And a post mortem is expected to be carried out later this week.”

3

Seventeen London drug gang members caught since June THE sentencing of three men who travelled from London to sell class A drugs in Tunbridge Wells is indicative of a major issue for the town, say police.

Axel Harvey and Jude Ogunloye, both 20, were jailed for three years and six months, and four years, nine months respectively, at Maidstone Crown Court last Monday. The pair had both pleaded guilty to offences including possession of class A drugs with intent to supply.

The sentencing came less than a fortnight after Christopher Nkongo, a

21-year-old from Deptford, was sent to prison for 32 months, having pleaded guilty to possession with intent to supply heroin and crack cocaine.

Tunbridge Wells district commander Dave Pate said: “This is the most significant issue currently facing Tunbridge Wells.

“It’s the infiltration of London gangs, dealing in drugs – mainly cocaine but often heroin, or both. They’re targeting this pretty affluent area, but they’re being dealt with robustly.”

Mr Pate said that since June 2014, 17 members of London gangs have been arrested and brought before the courts, and that 41 local dealers or users have been “dealt with”.

He added: “We looked, found this problem and are dealing with it, working with partners like housing, the council and drug support.

“My priority is matters of criminality that cause harm to the community and this is one. It’s about tackling it and it’s not just the police - we’ve had some excellent members of the public providing information. The Tunbridge Wells community was targeted and people came forward to help us, but they’re helping themselves as well.”

Harvey, formerly of Arnside Street, Walworth, and Ogunloye, formerly of County Grove, Camberwell, travelled from London planning to sell wraps of cocaine and heroin in September last year. Both were arrested in the town centre that morning by plain clothes officers. To report any concerns to police, call 101.

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Wednesday 4th March 2015

4 � INTERVIEW

Meet the candidate

UKIP IN TUNBRIDGE WELLS

With just over two months left until the General Election, we have been speaking to those hoping to win your vote and represent Tunbridge Wells in Parliament.

First in the hot seat is the Ukip candidate.

›› THE PARTY has two district

councillors, Piers Wauchope and Victor Webb who both serve Rusthall.

Of the seven Kent County Council seats in the borough, Ukip won one in 2013. Christopher Hoare took Tunbridge Wells East with 1,386 votes, beating Tory Anthony James Nicholas into second place on 1,064.

At the most recent Tunbridge Wells Borough Council elections, in May 2014, Ukip failed to win any of the 16 seats available but did poll 23 per cent, putting them in second place to the Conservatives’ 46 per cent, but ahead of the Lib Dems and Labour, on 14 and 13 per cent respectively.

• By Eleanor Jones NAME: Colin Nicholson AGE: 48 LIVES: Pembury DAY JOB: Window cleaner

GENERAL ELECTION 2010: TUNBRIDGE WELLS PARTY

CANDIDATE

Votes

%

+/-%

� CONSERVATIVE

Greg Clark

28,302

56.2

+5.5

� LIBERAL Democrat

David Hallas

12,726

25.3

+0

� LABOUR

Gary Heather

5,448

10.8

−9.6

� UKIP

Victor Webb

2,054

4.1

+0.6

� GREEN

Hazel Dawe

914

1.8

+1.8

� BNP

Andrew McBride

704

1.4

+1.4

� INDEPENDENT

Farel Bradbury

172

0.3

+0.3

MAJORITY

15,576

31

TURNOUT

50, 320

69.8

+3.9

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN IN POLITICS AND WHY DID YOU GET INVOLVED? I went to Question Time when it was at the Trinity (in February 2012) and Ukip deputy leader Paul Nuttall was on it.

I wasn’t engaged in politics at all but Nigel Farage seemed much more normal than other politicians and I sort of agreed with a lot of what he said. Then by chance, I was having a cigarette outside with Paul Nuttall and we talked, then afterwards, Vic Webb (Ukip borough councillor for Rusthall) approached me and asked if I’d stand in the council elections.

I was a bit naïve but I stood in 2012 and got 15 per cent of the vote, although because it was a two-ward seat, the party got 23 per cent, which was well above the national average at the time.

What we’re up against is apathy – I was apathetic. I’m a classic example of someone who’s never been interested in politics or thought it doesn’t matter but I think anger got me involved more than anything.

Maybe you get to a certain age and you’re a father with a mortgage to pay and a list of bills and you start to realise who’s making the rules. Standing up and being counted was the main thing when I stood in 2012.

WHAT DO YOU THINK ARE THE BIGGEST ISSUES FACING THE TUNBRIDGE WELLS BOROUGH? Development. There’s going to be 600 houses near the Odeon, look at the traffic problem there already.

We need infrastructure for all this – the new hospital is already under pressure, so are the schools, it’s gone mad.

I don’t understand the need for all this development. I’m not blaming everything on immigration but it was 243,000 net last year. The countryside gets built on and that’s it, it’s not there any more. I wonder if at some point in the future, people will look back and say: “Why did they do that?”

Town & Country Housing are celebrating after being named as one of the Sunday Times Top 100 Not for Profit companies to work for, after receiving a 2 star accreditation with Best Companies.

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Wednesday 4th March 2015

WHY SHOULD TUNBRIDGE WELLS PEOPLE VOTE UKIP? We’re not forcing anyone to vote Ukip, it’s their decision but the way things are, people are looking for an alternative.

A few years ago, we were put in the same box as the BNP. It was tougher then but there have been a few elections recently when I wouldn’t have wanted to be a Conservative activist.

Ukip’s biggest thing is local jobs for local people.

I think Ukip is giving the others the boot up the backside they need – I think they’d probably quite like it if we just went away.

If we left the EU, we’d save £20bn every Parliament for a start. Of course, it’s not that simple but you could give the NHS an extra £4bn the first year, then the same to defence and education.

Ukip policy is also to have local referendums on big issues and in Parliament, we wouldn’t be whipped into voting a certain way

I think Tunbridge Wells people should just vote, initially.

I’m not even saying vote for us, I’d rather see a massive turnout.

Nationally, one in three people tends to vote so a small minority makes the decisions. If people are uninterested or disengaged, it’s a backwards step for democracy. I’m not saying it should be compulsory but people should be encouraged to vote.”

WHY SHOULD PEOPLE VOTE FOR YOU PERSONALLY? I’m against all this development everywhere, for a start.

The national planning framework was amended by the Government and extra housing has been allocated all over the country – 650,000 in the southeast, 28,000 in Tunbridge Wells by 2026.

I don’t believe in building on the green belt and I haven’t seen any of the Big Society or people power that was promised so planning applications go in for the green belt, which is meant to be sacred, residents protest, the council turns it down – but it goes to appeal and the inspectorate in Bristol approves it. How does that make local residents feel?

I’d be campaigning against it. If you’re an MP, you’re only one person, not the council so the council might still vote the development – but I’d be campaigning against it.

Also, the Government is obsessed with education, education, education, I’d be saying “work, work, work”.

I’d encourage work experience – if kids are only at college three days a week, why aren’t they getting experience on the other two? We were in a routine and that’s what they need, not easy days off. Things have got a bit liberal.

I’m a normal working man, who’s been a manual worker and has realised you don’t have to come from Eton to ruffle the others up a bit.

ARE YOU HOPEFUL OF VICTORY? You fight these things as hard as you can but to a degree, a lot of it’s left to the gods in the end.

It’s as important to me that we win some council seats.

We’ve got one county seat here and two on the borough council but I want to get to five.

We’ll do the best we can, of course. I haven’t been in the political world all my life but it’s not a birthright to be an MP and I think it’s about time people who have lived in the real world are there.

WHAT REACTION HAVE YOU HAD ON THE DOORSTEPS? In some areas I’ve been to, they’re 80 per cent for us. We’re getting former Labour voters, working men. They’re people in need, who are being neglected.

Even in a true blue area like Tunbridge Wells there’s still going to be a fairly large faction, it’s just getting them out to vote.

I think there was a bit of protest voting in the county elections and the Conservatives didn’t realise the threat we were – but now they do and they won’t take us lightly.

We’re a relatively new party still and we’ve got to go out and fight for it now but if I could sum up, I’d say don’t protest vote at a by-election, do it when it really counts.

This is your protest vote, now’s the time.

These are interesting times – absolutely anything is possible.

RARE PENNY BLACK IS UP FOR SALE ONE of the rarest stamps in the world is for sale at a Tunbridge Wells auction house.

An envelope bearing the first Penny Black known to have been sent to the town, in the 1840s, is among a collection of stamps and related memorabilia at T&T Auctions, Castle Street.

Owner James Cook said some of the items will be going under the hammer this weekend and although the Penny Black is not among the lots, he would let it go if the right buyer came along.

He added: “The stamp could go for between £2,000 and £3,000 when it goes up for auction.

“Last year, a woman was clearing out her loft and found three envelopes sent from Tibet to the British Viceroy in China in 1908 which sold for £7,500 each. Unfortunately,

they did not include the letters.

“We get a lot of good stuff coming in from people who are clearing out their houses and may have had distant relatives serving the British Empire in some far-flung corner of the globe.

“At this Sunday’s auction we have envelopes sent by soldiers serving in the Crimean War to their families in Tunbridge Wells. These are expected to fetch between £300 and £400.”

Other featured lots include rare stamps from China, the Falklands Islands and Gibraltar and a collection of 12 envelopes sent from Japanese prisoners of war.

The sale starts at noon on Sunday, March 7, at St Mark’s Hall, Bayham Road. For more information on lots or viewings, call 01892 529898.

LOCAL NEWS �

Nano-technology 3D printed human ears

Inventor has his 3D ear to the ground Could printed kidneys be available for transplantation into humans in the near future?

• By Julie Rae THE man who designed a machine capable of printing prosthetic ears claims 3D printed organs will be routinely transplanted as soon as science catches up with technology.

Justin Carpenter, of Active 3D Printers in Southborough, also revealed that prosthetic limbs are already being printed in the UK. Mr Carpenter created his first 3D printer six years ago - by printing its parts out on a cheap 3D printer. Within a few years, an upgraded version of that first machine, the Active X1, was printing cartilage for prosthetic ears at London’s Royal Free Hospital.

The 47-year-old said: “I actually printed my first printer on a 3D printer. I designed it on Autocad, printed the parts and put them together. And now the Royal Free London Hospital is printing cartilage on that printer

– albeit a significantly more sophisticated version of it.

“It’s quite amazing what they’ve done with my printer. The hospital prints the 3D structure or cartilage of the ear on the Active X1. Skin is then grown around the cartilage and blood vessels also grow. Then the ear is transplanted on to the patient and it becomes part of their body. Because of how the ears are made the body doesn’t reject them.”

Science

On printing organs for transplant, Mr Carpenter said: “3D organs are already being printed. Science just needs to catch up to enable them to be viable for transplant. But sooner than you can imagine, we’ll see 3D printed organ transplants readily available on the NHS. And I really hope one of my printers is involved.”

According to Mr Carpenter, children’s

prosthetic limbs need to be changed frequently in hospital. But clued-up parents are already taking advantage of open source designs to print prosthetics at home.

Justin Carpenter looks like a regular bloke.

But behind that veil of normality lies a brilliant inventor continually pushing the boundaries of 3D printing. He has little interest in cash or publicity but is obsessed by his printers, spending hours designing and creating.

Then he puts it all online in open source format - everything he does is available for free download. Anyone who wants to build an Active X1, to print a teapot or bust of Yoda for example, can find the designs on the internet.

Because Mr Carpenter is more than a designer and inventor, he is also a philanthropist. Much of his time is spent exploring the possibilities provided by 3D printing with local schoolchildren. He also gives his time to work with educational schemes such as TeenTech, Education

MOTHER'S DAY LUNCH SUNDAY 15TH MARCH 2015

Three-course carvery and family portrait £24.95 per person, £12.50 for children under 12 (children under three free of charge) Also take the opportunity to let your child’s imagination run wild and create the perfect Mother’s Day card. £3 per child.

1829

DR TONY Virdee and Dr Wenhui Song at the UCL Centre for Nanotechnology and Regenerative Medicine in conjunction with the Royal Free Hospital, London are using nano-technology, 3D printing and stem cells to create and transplant printed human ears: • A 3D scanner scans the patient • The ear scaffold is printed by the Active X1 using a patented polymer material • The patient’s stem cells, drawn from his own body fat, are added to the scaffold • The scaffold is placed in a bioreactor filled with nutrients and the stem cells turn into cartilage • The cartilage is placed under the patient’s skin on his arm or leg • The skin grows around the cartilage together with the necessary blood vessels • Eight weeks later the ear is transplanted onto the patient’s head Exact replica human 3D printed ear transplants are a more precise, easier means of reconstruction. They are being used in incidences of microtia – a congenital deformity of the external ear where it fails to fully develop.

Approximately 1 in every 10,000 babies is born with microtia.

In early 2015, children in India will benefit from the new technology and clinical trials are due to begin in the UK later this year.

Business Partnership, Big Bang and SkillsFest.

Recently, Mr Carpenter and the Young Inventors Club of Tunbridge Wells Grammar School for Boys designed and printed a fully functioning humanoid robotic arm, but he also spends time encouraging girls to get into technology.

He said: “With 3D printing, we’re encouraging girls to get into tech. And girls seem to really get it. They can see how 3D printing can be useful to their lives.”

Mr Carpenter is currently working on his prototype Active X2 biomaterial printer, of which there are only three in the world. The new machine has the ability to print soft and hard materials together, which will provide endless possibilities for prosthetic and organ printing.

Mr Carpenter said: “When people can get new ears and print their own prosthetics – that makes 3D printing really powerful.”.

5

Sale house rock PROSPECTIVE buyers clearly Can Help Falling in Love – with Lisa Marie Presley’s house near Crowborough.

Elvis’s daughter put the property on the market in September last year but as yet, the £5.2m pile, which boasts a pool complex, orangery and a range of buildings, has not found a buyer.

The 47-year-old and husband Michael Lockwood bought Coes Hall for £5.8m in June 201, according to the Land Registry, but as her wealth is estimated at £194m, it’s doubtful she will be All Shook Up by the loss

Wellbeing event MORE than 30 stallholders have signed up for the Crowborough Wellbeing Event later this month.

Free advice on complementary therapies, as well as lifestyle and fitness levels, will be on offer at the Pine Grove Community Centre on Saturday, March 21 between 10am and 4pm. Admission is £3.

Five-a-side fun THE chance to get fit and have fun while networking is on offer when the Tunbridge Wells Business five-a-side football league starts in April.

Organiser Firmballs wants professionals and businesses only to sign up now.

Matches will be held at Tunbridge Wells Grammar School for Boys on Thursdays, kicking off at 7 and 7.45pm.

The cost is £34 per week. For more information, visit www.firmballs.com

Could you be brain of town?

STRETCH the mental muscles in support of a good cause next weekend.

Teams of eight are invited to see whether they have what it takes to become the 2015 brain of Tunbridge Wells, at the YMCA Pagoda Centre, St John’s Road on March 14 from 7pm.

Entry is £10 per head, including a ploughman’s meal, and a licensed bar and snacks will be available. Organisers hope to beat last year’s total of £800 raised.

To book, which is essential, call 07872 987764.

julie@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk

EASTER WEEKEND

SUNDAY 5TH & MONDAY 6TH APRIL 2015 THREE-COURSE CARVERY & EASTER EGGSPLORER TOUR

£22.50 per person, £11.25 for children under 12 (children under two free of charge)

Full details can be found on our website • Book now to avoid disappointment: 01892 515152 • reservations@salomons-estate.com • www.salomons-estate.com SALOMONS ESTATE, BROOMHILL ROAD, SOUTHBOROUGH, ROYAL TUNBRIDGE WELLS, KENT TN3 0TG

Mother's day/easter totw ad**.indd 1

Wednesday 4th23/02/2015 March 17:05 2015

6 � NEWS

NEWSPAPER LAUNCHES WITH A £5MILLION FUND FOR BUSINESS THE Times of Tunbridge Wells hit the streets this week to “provide a unique, new media platform for readers and advertisers” and a boost to local businesses through a multi million-pound investment fund.

The print run for the newspaper is 30,000 copies, which will be available each Wednesday for free through more than 150 outlets and online. Those outlets include newsagents, railway stations, supermarkets and shops within a ten mile radius of Tunbridge Wells town centre.

Teams of hawkers will also hand out copies.

The launch, which saw the announcement of the investment fund, comes at a time when many towns are losing their paper because of a drop in readers and revenue.

“We aim to buck the trend and show that there’s still a viable market for the right local weekly,” said Richard Moore, editorial director of the publishers, One Media.

The company already has a track record in local publishing. Six years ago it launched So, which has established itself as the premier lifestyle magazine for the town.

“During the six years we have been producing So magazines we have got to know the local market and the needs of readers and advertisers extremely well,” said Richard Moore. “We have identified a niche in that market and believe the new title will be well received.

“There is still, in our view, a vital role for the right kind of local paper that can be viable and make money. We have been extremely encouraged by market reaction so far. The newspaper has already

generated 30 per cent of its targeted annual income.

“Our intention is to focus on a very tight area in and around Tunbridge Wells and to saturate that area with copies of a quality newspaper that has serious local content reflecting the businesses and culture of the town. We won’t be looking for cats up trees!”

The paper will go to print Tuesday night and will be available from six o’clock the next morning.

“This gives us the opportunity to carry not only current local news and features, but also national and international news, which makes us unique,” explained Richard Moore. “Commuters, for example, can get everything in one hit and it’s free.”

He believes One Media changed the face of local publishing when they launched So magazines and says they intend to do the same with the newspaper.

“We are not in this for the short term. We are committed to creating a quality local newspaper that becomes part of the social fabric of Tunbridge Wells, and achieving that will take time.

“We are, however, confident that this is exactly what will happen, given the resources allocated to the development, production and distribution of the newspaper.”

The newspaper has been launched

by One Media and Creative UK Ltd, the company that publishes So Tunbridge Wells, So Sevenoaks and So Wealden along with other titles. One Media is part of Markerstudy Leisure, which in turn comes under the umbrella of the Markerstudy Group.

 The Hotel du Vin was the scene last month for a gathering of the great and good to celebrate the launch of the Times of Tunbridge Wells.

More than 100 guests and friends heard details of the paper which is published by One Media, part of the Markerstudy Group of businesses.

The evening event was also used to unveil details of the Times of Tunbridge Wells Investment Fund. Pictured are left to right: Ann Carley from Pickering Cancer Drop in Centre, TWBC chief executive William Benson, Polly Taylor from Pickering, mayoress Mrs Anne Stanyer, council leader David Jukes and mayor Julian Stanyer.

MIX AND MINGLE Friends and guests enjoy the launch event

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NEWS �

7

THE IMPORTANCE OF SMALL BUSINESSES  THE fund is aimed at helping small and medium size enterprises (SMEs) and there are more than 5,500 in the Tunbridge Wells area alone, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

They are the engine room of the local economy.

Across the UK, firms employing fewer than 250 people account for 99.3 per cent of all private sector businesses, 47.8 per cent of jobs and 33.2 per cent

How to apply for investment funds

EN

IN

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• IN

D

T FUND •

V E STME

The process will involve equity investment, although the investors reserve the right to use other financial structures. Funds will be released as the business demands and in line with an agreed structure. There is no limit on the amount of funding to any individual business.

Jo James, Chief Executive of Invicta Chamber I NV of Commerce said: “With access to ES traditional sources of finance still being problematic for many businesses, this initiative is welcomed as it will give the opportunity to further develop local business, creating local prosperity and employment opportunities.

“Unlike crowd funding, this scheme is not just about the finance, it recognises the importance of getting the right advice and support to ensure business growth.”

OF TUNBRIDGE WELLS

Those interested in applying for funds should send their full business plan together with a covering letter about themselves and their limited company to: Times of Tunbridge Wells Investment Fund, 16 Lonsdale Gardens, Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN1 1NU Applicants must be 18+ and operating a limited company within the boundaries of the county of Kent. Closing date is July 1 2015.

All applications will be received and viewed in strictest confidence.

ENT F

UN

“With its sleek design and prominent display of the word Times on its masthead, perhaps the aspirational paper hopes to lure Kent readers away from a more established title carrying that name” Adam Sherwin, Independent

They also need money to explore export opportunities. According to the ONS, SMEs currently account for just 12 per cent of firms engaged in exports.

“SMEs are vital to the success of Tunbridge Wells,” said John Sayer, west Kent membership representative of Kent Invicta Chamber of Commerce.

“We have noticed an increase in start-ups too who are always looking for advice and investment.”

THINK DRAGONS’ DEN

TM

APPLICATIONS are now being invited from businesses that might benefit from the newly created Times of Tunbridge Wells Investment Fund. Up to £5million has been set aside to help limited companies from starts-ups looking for seed capital to businesses needing money to expand.

Successful applicants will not only receive financial help from high net worth ND • investors, they’ll also benefit from FU T advice and support on a range of issues including business strategy, legal and financial.

Applications and business plans must be received by July 1 2015 after which a shortlist will be chosen to present their ideas to the panel of experts. Funding to those selected will begin from Autumn 2015.

Successful applicants will be followed during the course of the next 12 months through the pages of this newspaper or sister publications such as So Tunbridge Wells magazine.

They will be required to take part in any other PR or promotional activity to help profile the fund and must also agree to mentor other successful applicants should the scheme be carried forward into another year.

“This is an exceptional part of the world in which to live, a place full of people with ambition, drive and dreams,” said the newspaper’s Editorial Director Richard Moore, “To recognise these traits and to mark the launch of this new weekly paper we’re unveiling an initiative that will hopefully change the futures and fortunes of countless local people.”

Applications for funding will be considered by a panel of principal investors or their representatives.

of turnover, says the Department for Business Innovation and Skills (BIS).

The local Kent economy has always had a vibrant community of SMEs as well as many micro businesses and startups employing fewer than ten people.

As the economy picks up, these companies will require investment to help them hire staff, move to bigger premises or launch new products and services.

“Interesting to see that during a time when many predict the death of print media, a new local newspaper emerges in Kent” David Ricketts, Associate Editor, Financial Times

� Millions of pounds has been invested in small businesses by the celebrities on the BBC reality show Dragons’ Den. The concept for the programme, where entrepreneurs try to convince five successful business people to invest up to £250,000 in their commercial ventures, was devised in Japan. The UK version aired for the first time in 2005 and is currently in its 12th series.

The average amount hopefuls apply for is £100,000 and the average amount of equity given up by applicants is 40 per cent.

SO WHO HAVE BEEN THE BIG WINNERS?

Arguably the most famous entrepreneur to enter the den was Levi Roots (pictured) , who in 2007 pitched his Levi Roots Reggae Reggae Sauce. He sang on the show and secured a £50,000 investment from dragons Peter Jones and Richard Farleigh in return for 40 per cent In 2005, Paul Cockle received £160,000 from Jones and Theo Paphitis for a 40 per cent stake in his contemporary circus production business The Generating Company.

Paphitis also invested in the Magic Whiteboard brought into the den by married couple Neil and Laura Westwood. He and Deborah Meaden invested £100,000 for a 40 per cent slice of the company.

Annual sales last year were £1.2million.

The first entrepreneur to enter the Den in 2005 was Graham Whitby with his Baby Dream Machine which rocks a pram or crib to help a baby sleep.

He walked away without any investment.

“Despite local newspapers struggling to survive, new start-up Times of Tunbridge Wells is confident it can buck the ongoing trend that has seen 20 per cent of local newspapers close over the last ten years” Thomas Hobbs, Marketing Week

“Well this is good news – Times of Tunbridge Wells launches with 30,000 print run.

Local papers not dead!”

James Aufenast, Content Editor, TMW Agency

‘CHUFFING BRILLIANT’ Daily Mail

MONDAY 9 - SATURDAY 14 MARCH 01892 530613 / 532072

www.assemblyhalltheatre.co.uk Wednesday 4th March 2015

8 � LOCAL NEWS

Hundreds fined as litter police clamp down on known hot spots • By Eleanor Jones TUNBRIDGE WELLS’ new waste-busting warriors have handed out more than 750 fines in their first five months on the streets.

The two specialist enforcement officers, who are employed by a private firm, have issued the £80 penalties - which drop to £60 if paid within two weeks - to people spotted dropping litter. By the end of January, no one had been fined for dog-fouling but a spokesman for Tunbridge Wells Borough Council, which contracted Kingdom Security to provide the service, said the officers had been patrolling known hot spots and that their presence could be deterring would-be offenders.

TWBC appointed Kingdom in September to provide the officers for a six-month trial, during which the council spokesman said 752 penalties

had so far been handed out.

She added: “Tunbridge Wells Borough Council has a zero tolerance policy on littering and people not clearing up their dog mess, and therefore the enforcement officers will issue fixed penalty notices to anyone they observe doing either.

“Similar schemes have been effective in other parts of the country. Importantly there’s no cost to council taxpayers, the scheme is self-funding and the benefits are a cleaner borough for all.”

The officers concentrate on hot spots, including near the stations in Tunbridge Wells and High Brooms, the pedestrian precinct and North Farm.

Each has personal CCTV, which is activated when a fine is issued – but he must tell the offender he or she is being filmed.

The penalty for dropping litter is £80, £50 for failing to clear up after a dog. If a fine is not paid, the matter can be dealt with through formal prosecution

Snap shots THE chance to learn how to promote your enterprise through pictures is on offer this month thanks to Tunbridge Wells Mums in Business.

The group is offering product photography workshops, for digital SLR and Bridge cameras on March 17 and for automatic cameras on March 24.

Each runs from 9.15am to 2.15pm and costs £78. For more information and to book, visit twmumsinbusiness.org.uk

Homes rejected AN APPLICATION to build two houses on green land in Horsmonden has been refused by the borough council.

Mr and Mrs Hammond, from Bearsted, had sought permission to build two twobedroom properties on a site off Back Lane.

Horsmonden Parish Council had recommended refusal, owing to concerns over access, and Tunbridge Wells Borough Council agreed.

� Have you been fined for dropping litter?

What do you think of the scheme?

ZERO TOLERANCE By the end of January, more than 750 people had been fined for littering in Tunbridge Wells

POP INTO THE POP-UP SHOP ON THE PANTILES

Email eleanor@ timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk

SEND HER VICTORIOUS Kate Thompsett in her shop THE Pantiles has become a touch more Happy & Glorious this week, thanks to a pop-up shop in the Corn Exchange.

Kate Tompsett has taken over an empty unit with her family-run gift and home shop until Sunday, thanks to appearhere.co.uk, which matches online businesses hoping to try life on the high street with owners of vacant premises.

The 36-year-old said: “This is such a lovely area. I saw the unit was empty and thought this could be a real opportunity. I had some leave and I’m using it to work more – but it feels like a holiday because I love it so much.”

Miss Tompsett, who also works full-time in marketing for a CCTV company, started Happy & Glorious in 2012, the year of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.

She said: “All our products are made in the UK, to support British manufacturing, applaud British talent, and keep our carbon footprint to a minimum. It’s gifts and things for the home, candles, mugs, cushions and things, and all very pretty.

“Come and support British manufacturing in a lovely place which is steeped in history.”

For more information, visit www.happyglorious.co.uk

COMPETITION

Win a £1,000 stay for two at the five star Alexander House hotel and utopia spa To celebrate the opening of its luxurious new Cedar Lodge Suites, the hotel and spa in East Grinstead is offering one lucky reader the chance to win an overnight stay for two in a luxurious garden deluxe suite with Champagne, spa treatments and a fantastic ten-course dinner.

THERE ARE 19 suites, which sit adjacent to the original 17th century building and make a spectacular addition to this already distinctive five star hotel and luxury spa. The winners will check into one of the suites where a chilled bottle of Champagne and chocolatedipped strawberries will be waiting. Their suite will offer generous space, a private terrace or balcony, an impressive bathroom with two-person bathtub and an ultra-comfortable bed.

They will also be invited to spend hours soaking up the tranquillity of the hotel’s luxury spa (with outdoor hot tub) where their worries can melt away as they relax with a complimentary 55-minute spa treatment. Later, they’ll take their seats in the three AA Rosette-winning restaurant for chef Mark Budd’s ten-course tasting menu served with a perfectly paired wine flight. In the morning they can enjoy the full works for breakfast and take advantage of a late checkout at 2pm.

To be in with a chance of winning, all you have to do is email your name, address and phone number to info@ timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk and you’ll be automatically entered into the random draw. Alternatively, send your details to the Times of Tunbridge Wells, Longford House, 19 Mount Ephraim Road, Tunbridge Wells, TN1 1EN. The closing date for entries is Tuesday, March 31.

COMPETITION TERMS: ONE PERSON WILL BE CHOSEN AT RANDOM TO WIN AN OVERNIGHT STAY FOR TWO PEOPLE IN A CEDAR LODGE GARDEN DELUXE SUITE AT ALEXANDER HOUSE HOTEL AND UTOPIA SPA BEFORE NOVEMBER 30, 2015. PRIZE INCLUDES A BOTTLE OF CHAMPAGNE AND CHOCOLATE-DIPPED STRAWBERRIES ON ARRIVAL, ONE 55-MINUTE FULL BODY MASSAGE OR FACIAL PER PERSON, TEN-COURSE TASTING MENU WITH PAIRED WINE IN AG’S RESTAURANT, BREAKFAST AND LATE CHECKOUT. THE PRIZE MAY ONLY BE CLAIMED SUNDAY TO THURSDAY AND EXCLUDES BANK HOLIDAYS. NON-REFUNDABLE OR TRANSFERRABLE. ALL ENTRANTS AND GUESTS MUST BE OVER 18. DATES SUBJECT TO AVAILABILITY. PRIZE VALUE £1,004. THE EDITOR’S DECISION IS FINAL. IF YOU DO NOT WISH TO BE CONTACTED IN THE FUTURE BY THE TIMES OF TUNBRIDGE WELLS OR ANY OTHER AFFILIATED BRAND, PLEASE SEND AN EMAIL STATING THIS TO INFO@TIMESOFTUNBRIDGEWELLS.CO.UK WITH THE SUBJECT LINE “ALEXANDER HOUSE COMPETITION”.

Wednesday 4th March 2015

LOCAL NEWS �

Mother’s Day bargains on special offer BARGAINS aplenty will be on offer in aid of a good cause at St John’s Primary, Crowborough, in time for Mother’s Day. The school is holding a nearly new sale from 10 to 11.30am on Saturday, March 14, in aid of the birthing centre at Crowborough hospital.

Maternity and children’s clothes will be on offer, as well as toys, books, nursery items, cakes and Mother’s Day presents.

Admission is £1 for adults, free for children. To book a stall at £10, email crowboroughns@gmail.com and for more information, visit www.facebook.com/ crowboroughnearlynew

9

COUNCIL REJECTS LIB DEM CALL FOR MEMBERS TO TAKE ALLOWANCES CUT • By Julie Rae

COUNCILLORS have voted against taking a cut in allowances – although 102 jobs have been axed at the town hall in the last five years.

Lib Dem Cllr Ben Chapelard called on colleagues to forgo ten per cent, at last week’s full Tunbridge Wells Borough Council meeting, but was defeated in a landslide vote.

And when approached by the Times and asked if he would set an example by taking a voluntary reduction in his own allowance, Cllr Chapelard said he had chosen to take the same amount he was given when elected in 2010.

He said: “In the past four years, councillors have voted twice to increase their basic allowance and it now stands at £5,500.

“I voted against both of these increases and didn’t ONE of the top ten farmers’ take either of them. My personal allowance is still markets in the country returns about £4,730 a year – the same as it was when I was to Penshurst this weekend. elected in October 2010.”

Fresh local produce including Cllr Chapelard’s proposed amendment to this cheeses, speciality beers and year’s budget and financial strategy would have wine, meat, cake and seafood meant a £36,000 saving for TWBC. will be on offer at Penshurst But members of the council, which has made the Place between 9.30am and equivalent of 102 full-time posts redundant since the 12.30pm on Saturday. current Government took power in 2010, voted 29-7 The market was named in against, with seven abstentions. the UK’s top ten by The Times Ukip Cllr Victor Webb said at the meeting: “It’s not in 2010. joint ad for mothers day_Layout 1 25/02/2015 11:26 Page 1

Fresh produce on offer at top market

sensible to reduce allowances. We should look at the attendance records, see who works the hardest and pay allowances in line with that.”

But Cllr Chapelard said: “It’s not fair to make 102 council jobs redundant and not take a pay cut. It’s the least we could have done given the situation.”

He criticised councillors who are “just in it for themselves”, adding: “If councillors had voted for our proposal, I was planning to take another ten per cent cut off what I currently get.”

Cllr Chapelard said he had intended to hand over his excess allowance to charity.

He explained: “As far as I remember, Tunbridge Wells Borough Council said it was too complicated to make the donation on my payslip so I decided to leave the money with the council.”

A TWBC spokesman said: “The reduction in the number of staff has been over a five-year period and includes staff moving to be in the employment of Maidstone and Swale borough councils as part of the Mid Kent Improvement Partnership.”

Last year, Cllr Chapelard’s personal, special and travel allowances came to a total of £4,730 before tax while cabinet member Cllr Jane March’s allowances totalled £18,676 and leader David Jukes’ was £26,842.

Councillor allowances cost the council more than £364,000 in 2013/14 julie@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk

Senior team Wild Spirit show off some moves

Cheerleaders’ chance for national glory ASPIRING cheerleaders have the chance to win a place at the national championships this weekend.

Inspire Allstars is inviting youngsters to the Next Dimension Gymnastics Academy on Friday, with the aim of adding to its squads for the rest of this season and the championships in June.

Head coach and owner Joey Cuthbert said cheerleading has benefits “that will stay with children long after they’ve left the sport”.

He added: “Team work, accountability, trust, commitment and perseverance are all necessary traits of a cheer athlete You can’t perform a stunt where you’re thrown up in the air, unless you trust

your base group to catch you.

“We believe a child who practises good sportsmanship is likely to carry the respect and appreciation for others into every other aspect of their life. That’s why we’re called Inspire Allstars: we want to help develop young people into inspirational leaders, both on and off the competition floor.”

To register an interest in Friday’s sessions, which run from 7.30 to 8.30pm for those aged between seven and 12 and from 8.30 to 9.30pm for 12 to 18-year-olds, send an email to joey@inspireallstars.com For more information on training, visit www.inspireallstars.com

mother’s day lunch ~ starters ~

minted garden pea soup. poached egg, white truffle oil pork, black pudding and pistachio terrine, spiced apple chutney loch durt salmon tian, pickled cucumber, shallot caper dressing potted chicken liver parfait, madeira jelly, toasted brioche

~ mains ~ roast sirloin of beef, yorkshire pudding. cider pot roasted chicken, thyme and sweetcorn muffin slow roasted belly of pork, caramelised apple compote pan roasted turbot, crab leek and saffron risotto, popcorn cockles butternut squash, spinach and flour marie strudel, herb salad

~ desserts ~ pavlova, macerated strawberries, vanilla yoghurt jelly chocolate and butterscotch cheesecake, praline tuile passion fruit delice, orange glaze, raspberry sorbet selection of kent and sussex cheese, biscuits and chutney (£2.00 Supp)

The Tunbridge Wells Hotel

Mother’s Day Lunch

th 15 15 ay 20 nd ch Su ar M

the leicester arms hotel

A complementary glass of Fizz for all mothers who dine with us.

To Start Salmon ~ Home cured, London Gin, Heritage Beetroot, Horseradish Chicken ~ Pressed, Wild Mushrooms, Grain Mustard Mayonnaise, Sourdough Onion ~ Soup, Kentish Ale, Blue Cheese Rarebit Cheese ~ Baked, Pomegranate, Rye Bread, Black Garlic, Bunched Thyme To Follow Beef ~ Roast, Duck Fat Potatoes, Seasonal Vegetables, Red Wine Gravy Cod ~ Poached, Olive Oil Mash, Baby Onions, Salsa Verde Sole ~ Grilled, New Potatoes, Seaweed Butter, Preserved Lemons Pork ~ Roast Belly, Potato Terrine, Spring Greens, Morel and Madeira Sauce To Finish Strawberry ~ Soup, Basil, Meringue, 8 year old balsamic Chocolate ~ Delice, Pistachio, Crumble, Chocolate sorbet Apple ~ Tart, Set Custard, Apple Sorbet, Mint Salad Cheese ~ British artisan cheese, crackers, chutney.

Vegetarian menu available on request

£29.95 per person stay with us & add a double room for £75 or superior double for £80 children 5 - 14 £12.95 per person Under 5’s Share Free of Charge 12.5% discretionary service charge will be added to all bills

Reservations 01892 871617

www.theleicesterarmshotel.com High Street Penshurst Kent TN11 8BT

£35 per person

Children 5 - 14 £14.50 per person Under 5’s Share Free of Charge 12.5% discretionary service charge will be added to all bills

Reservations 01892 530 501

www.thetunbridgewellshotel.com

58 The Pantiles, Tunbridge Wells, Kent, TN2 5TD

Wednesday 4th March 2015

10 � NATIONAL NEWS

Becky search police find body parts THE family of missing teenager Becky Watts have spoken of their devastation at hearing that body parts have been found in the search for her. Her distraught father, mother, stepmother, brother and grandparents have all spoken of their pain following the grim discovery made by detectives hunting for the 16-year-old.

They all spoke out as Avon and Somerset Police were granted an extra 24 hours to question a 28-year-old man and a 21-year-old woman on suspicion of murdering Becky. Four other people three men and a woman - also remain in custody after being arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender. Becky’s father and stepmother Darren and Anjie Galsworthy said: “To receive such news as we did about our dear daughter and stepdaughter Becky is too much to bear.

“We have the support of a good family network to help us in these challenging times. We would ask that you treat Becky with the due reverence and allow us to come to terms with our grief in private.”

The teenager’s mother Tania Watts, brother Daniel and grandmother Pat said: “We are devastated to be told of this latest development.

“We are at an utter loss to understand why anyone would want to hurt our beautiful Becky in such a brutal way.

“Whilst there are people in custody, none of whom are connected to the Watts family, we will not be making any further comment and we ask that our privacy is respected at this horrific time.”

Becky vanished from her home in Crown Hill, St George, Bristol at around 11.15am on February 19. She left home

with her iPhone, laptop and tablet computer but did not tell friends or family where she was going, or take extra clothing. She was reported missing at 4pm on February 20 and a large search operation - involving six police teams each day - was launched. Hundreds of leaflets were printed and pasted in windows, on cars and in shops, while a social media campaign, using the hashtag #FindBecky, gained thousands of hits. The reach for the social media campaign to find her has involved more than four million people worldwide.

Detective Superintendent Mike Courtiour said that information received by police led them to a house at Barton Court in the Barton Hill area of Bristol where body parts were found.

“The information suggested that Becky’s body had been cut up and a search at the new location resulted in the discovery of body parts,” he said.

“Although formal identification procedures have not yet been completed, we have made Becky’s family aware of this discovery.”

EU went off the rails - Hammond BRITAIN needs to shake up a European Union which “went off the rails” in the last 20 years, the Foreign Secretary has said.

Philip Hammond told MPs he has visited 23 EU countries for talks about the UK’s renegotiation of its membership.

A strong view has emerged among member states that Britain should remain in the EU. He said: “In a nutshell, there’s a very strong view that all of the member states want Britain to remain in the European Union, an understanding that can only happen if there’s significant change in the European Union, and a clear willingness to engage with us - particularly on our demands for improved competitiveness in the European Union, something that all member states want to see.”

FARES ‘PERSECUTION’ FOR RAIL USERS • By Alan Jones FRESH protests have been launched against the “persecution” of rail travellers as a new report said people on average earnings are paying a third of their salaries just to get to work.

The Transport Salaried Staffs’ Association (TSSA) said long distance commuters were spending over £9,000 a year in rail fares and station car parking charges.

The union held a protest at Peterborough, with further demonstrations planned in the coming weeks.

The union published a list of the most expensive season tickets to London, headed by Swindon at £8,200, up 93per cent since rail

Rare first Alice edition on display at library

privatisation 20 years ago, Great Yarmouth (£7,668, up 56 per cent), Peterborough (£7,296, up 8 per cent) and Reading (£4,188, up 76 per cent).

TSSA leader Manuel Cortes said: “It is an absolute disgrace the enormous burden that has been heaped on commuters’ shoulders since the railways were sold off 20 years ago.

Those on average earnings are paying a third of their salaries just to get to work, the equivalent of funding a £200,000 mortgage every year.

“Season tickets were meant to be protected when the railways were sold off. But while commuters and their families have suffered a harsh squeeze on their household budgets, with annual tickets doubling in many cases since 1995, the fat controllers running the private rail firms have seen their

own salaries rocketing ahead.”

He called on Labour leader Ed Miliband to announce a 12-month rail fares freeze as part of an overall review of private rail franchises if he wins the General Election in May. A spokesman for the Rail Delivery Group, representing Network Rail and operators, said: “Once again the TSSA is being deliberately misleading by focusing on some of the most expensive fares while ignoring cheaper deals and the effects of inflation.

“Overall, the average price of a season ticket is less than £2,500, equivalent to around £5 a journey.

For the decade to 2013 regulated fares, including season tickets, rose by above inflation as per the policy of successive governments.”

Death to abstainers and vegetarians

A COPY of the rarest edition of Alice’s Adventures In Wonderland is to go on display on World Book Day. Only 22 copies of the 1865 first edition are thought to exist, one of which is owned by the National Library of Scotland in Edinburgh. This first edition was withdrawn after the illustrator, John Tenniel, complained about the quality of the printed illustrations.

Recipients of presentation copies were asked to return them, and only a few bound copies have survived.

Visitors will be able to see the library’s copy open at the title page in a special display of rare Alice books to mark the 150th anniversary of the first publication.

Milos Zeman the Czech president

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NATIONAL NEWS �

D-DAY GREAT ESCAPER MEDALS FOR SALE

Phone hacking ‘rife’ at MGN  PHONE hacking was “rife” at all three of Mirror Group Newspaper’s (MGN) national titles by mid 1999 at the latest, the High Court has heard. At a hearing to decide the amount of compensation to be awarded in eight representative cases, counsel David Sherborne said that the date when the practice first started at the Daily Mirror, the Sunday Mirror and the People was not known.

But, the evidence was that it was rife on the showbusiness desk at the Daily Mirror by mid 1999 and continued thereafter.

Research shows how cold is catching

COLOURFUL LOOK AT WARTIME FASHION FOR most people, the 1940s conjures up images of rations, wartime struggle and sombre outfits. But the Imperial War Museum has revealed how fashion flourished in the Second World War in spite of strict rationing rules.

A new exhibition to mark the 70th anniversary of the end of the war shows how men and women came up with bold new styles with minimum resources.

Fashion On The Ration: 1940s Street Style will display outfits, uniforms and textiles from 1940s Britain to look at the war’s impact on what people wore, their sense of identity and how they coped with the demands of shortages and austerity. Forties enthusiasts donned vintage outfits for a photocall ahead of the exhibition, dressing in bold colours that are a far cry from the traditional image of

HUNT APOLOGY OVER BABY UNIT DEATHS � HEALTH Secretary Jeremy Hunt has described the unnecessary deaths of 11 babies and one mother at a maternity unit as a “second mid-Staffs” as he apologised to the families of those who died.

Today’s report into serious incidents at Furness General Hospital in Barrow, Cumbria, between 2004 and 2013 uncovered a series of failures “at every level” from the maternity unit to those responsible for regulating and monitoring the trust which runs the unit.

Paying tribute to the “courage” of the families affected, Mr Hunt likened the problems found at the hospital to the Staffordshire hospital scandal, where at least 1,200 patients died because of poor care.

He told MPs: “In short, it was a second mid-Staffs, where the problems, albeit on a smaller scale, occurred largely over the same time period.”

wartime fashion.

Among them was Ella Lewis-Collins, who posed in a knee-length red floral summer dress for the shoot.

Also on display will be a detail from a 1940s Vogue magazine article on how “every woman’s a heroine in these days”.

The exhibition will open on Thursday and is split into six sections, which include Functional Fashion and Beauty And Duty.

� WATCHING somebody shiver is enough to make us feel cold, research has found.

Volunteers who watched videos of people putting their hands in cold water found their own body temperature dropped significantly, according to the Brighton and Sussex Medical School. Dr Neil Harrison, a neuropsychiatrist who led the research, said: “Mimicking another person is believed to help us create an internal model of their physiological state which we can use to better understand their motivations and how they are feeling.

Child abuse ‘on industrial scale’ CHILDREN in Britain have suffered sexual abuse on an “industrial scale” with the authorities failing to act, David Cameron said.

The Prime Minister called a Downing Street summit to address the issue following a series of child sexual exploitation scandals in areas including Rotherham and Oxfordshire.

He said too many people and organisations had been “walking on by” and failing to tackle the problem.

Senior public officials and councillors who fail to protect children from sexual exploitation will face up to five years in jail under a new criminal offence being considered by the Government as part of the plan to ensure “this stops here”, Mr Cameron said.

11

 WAR medals belonging to the late Great Escaper Bernard Jordan, who won the hearts of the nation when he left his care home to attend last year’s 70th anniversary D-Day events, will be auctioned for charity.

The medals - including a 1939-45 Star; an Atlantic Star with a France and Germany clasp; an Italy Star; and a Second World War Defence and War medal - could fetch up to £1,000 when they are sold at Wallis and Wallis in Lewes, East Sussex, on March 17.

The lot will also be accompanied by a portrait of Mr Jordan on canvas and a coloured print of a Bob cartoon from The Sunday Telegraph from June last year, showing Mr Jordan astride Steve McQueen’s motorcycle clearing barbed wire as in the film The Great Escape, a spokeswoman for the auctioneer said.

REEVES & MORTIMER ANNOUNCE NEW TOUR MADCAP comedy duo Vic Reeves and Bob Mortimer, who live near Tunbridge Wells, have confirmed their first tour in 20 years. The House Of Fools stars will mark 25 years of performing together with the live show, which they promised would feature “some uplifting moments ... musical moments, maybe some magic ... (and) dancing styles”. Elements from TV shows such as Vic Reeves Big Night Out and Shooting Stars will feature, with characters like Man With The Stick, The Stotts, Mulligan and O’Hare. Reeves said: “Destiny has led us to this point in time. Now, finally, the diversion of Reeves and Mortimer can be revealed in full extent through a cornucopia of preposterous doggerel etc.”

Tickets for 25 Years Of Reeves & Mortimer: The Poignant Years go on sale on Friday, with the first date in Glasgow on November 11.

AUTHOR MAL PEET DIES OF CANCER

� AWARD-WINNING children’s author Mal Peet has died aged 67. The writer, who won the Carnegie Medal in 2006 for his historical novel Tamar, died last night several months after being diagnosed with cancer. Born in Norfolk, he worked as a teacher before turning to writing in the face of what he called “his old enemy, boredom”.

Peet, who lived in Exmouth, wrote novels for teenagers and adults and a series of children’s books co-authored with his wife Elspeth Graham.

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12 � NEWS

Jailed Rolf Harris stripped of CBE • By Kate Ferguson DISGRACED former children’s entertainer Rolf Harris has been stripped of the CBE awarded to him by the Queen. The move comes after Harris was jailed for nearly six years for a string of sex attacks on girls as young as seven years old.

The paedophile, 84, had his honour annulled at the order of the Queen.

An official announcement in the London Gazette states: “The Queen has directed that the appointment of Rolf Harris to be a Commander of the Civil Division of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, dated 17 June 2006, shall be cancelled and annulled and that his name shall be erased from the Register of the said Order.”

Harris has already been stripped of honours in his native Australia.

£7m drugs seized in ice cream lorry

MILIBAND PLEDGE OVER ‘TURING’S LAW’ RULINGS GAY men with convictions for homosexual activity under historical indecency laws will pardoned under a Labour government, Ed Milband has pledged.

New legislation known as Turing’s Law - in memory of Enigma codebreaker Alan Turing, who was given a posthumous royal pardon for a 61-year-old conviction - will allow family and friends of men who have died to bid for their names to be cleared. It will apply to convictions under old gross indecency laws against men who had consensual same-sex relationships.

The Labour leader said: “What was right for Alan Turing’s family should be right for other families as well. ” Dr Turing, who was pivotal in breaking the Enigma code, arguably shortening the Second World War by at least two years, was chemically castrated following his conviction in 1952.

His conviction for “gross indecency” led to the removal of his security clearance and meant he was no longer able to work for Government Communications Headquarters, where he had continued to work following service at Bletchley Park during the war.

Dr Turing, who died aged 41 in 1954 and is often described as the father of modern computing, was granted a pardon under the Royal

Prerogative of Mercy by the Queen in 2013, following a request from Justice Secretary Chris Grayling.

A pardon is only normally granted when the person is innocent of the offence and a request has been made by someone with a vested interest such as a family member.

But on this occasion a pardon was issued without either requirement being met.

In September 2009, then-prime minister Gordon Brown issued an apology for the prosecution of Dr Turing after a petition calling for such a move.

Campaigners have called for the pardons to be extended to tens of thousands of other British men convicted under old laws. Asked whether David Cameron would back Mr Miliband’s proposals, the Prime Minister’s official spokesman said: “The Prime Minister will always continue to look carefully at what more can be done to right these wrongs.”

The spokesman said the coalition Government has already passed legislation to allow individuals with historic convictions or cautions for certain homosexual activities to apply for them to be removed from criminal records.

“It was this Government that introduced that [Protection of Freedoms] 2012 Act,” said the spokesman. “It was under this Government that Mr Turing received the pardon through the use of the Royal Prerogative.”

Mowbray set on promotion

King claims battle victory

Terry will stay with the Blues

TONY Mowbray targeted a return to the Sky Bet Championship with Coventry after being appointed their new boss.

The former West Brom and Celtic manager has signed a deal until the end of the season as the Sky Blues fight relegation in League One. He will take charge for the first time for the visit of Port Vale on Saturday.

Mowbray has been out of work since leaving Middlesbrough in 2013.

DAVE King claims he is is on the verge of taking control of Rangers after Ibrox chief executive Derek Llambias admitted he had secured a “landslide victory”.

The former oldco director has already chased off chairman David Somers and director James Easdale after calling a general meeting to rout the Ibrox board.

JOSE Mourinho says captain John Terry will receive a contract extension at Chelsea and has hinted the defender could be a key figure beyond next season.

The 34-year-old’s current deal expires at the end of the 2014/15 campaign, but Mourinho believes his form means he will be staying at Stamford Bridge. “What I can guarantee is he will be a Chelsea player next season.” Mourinho said.

DRUGS worth an estimated £7 million were seized at one of Britain’s main gateways concealed in a lorry laden with ice cream.

Almost 200lbs (90kg) of cocaine and 138lbs (63kg) of heroin were found after a sniffer dog showed interest in the rear of a Dutch-registered lorry.

When investigators searched the HGV at the Port of Dover’s eastern docks, the drugs were discovered hidden within the bodywork.

A 30-year-old man from the Netherlands was held and bailed for three months while inquiries continue by officers from the National Crime Agency (NCA).

Border Force officers use an array of measures to detect banned and restricted goods and combat immigration at Britain’s gateways.

As well as sniffer dogs, they also use carbon monoxide detectors, heartbeat monitors and scanners to find drugs, stowaways, firearms and tobacco.

• By Sam Lister

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ALONSO TO MISS MELBOURNE FERNANDO Alonso is to sit out the season-opening Formula One Grand Prix in Australia on advice from doctors.

Alonso sustained concussion following a heavy smash during the recent second pre-season test in Barcelona, resulting in the Spaniard spending three days in hospital.

Although Alonso has made a full recovery and has been described as “asymptomatic”, his doctors believe it unwise for him to race in Melbourne so soon after the accident.

For the Albert Park event on March 13-15, Jenson Button will now be partnered by reserve driver Kevin Magnussen, who competed for McLaren last season, with Alonso to return to the cockpit for the race in Malaysia on March 27-29.

Wednesday 4th March 2015

INTERNATIONAL NEWS �

CHINA

13

PROMOTIONAL FEATURE

20 killed in China bus accident TWENTY people have died after a bus carrying an opera troupe fell off a cliff in central China.

The official Xinhua News Agency said another 13 people were injured in the accident, in Linzhou city, Henan province, yesterday.

EACH month solicitors Thomson Snell & Passmore will be answering frequently asked questions from across the practice. Taking the lead this month is

USA

State sues BP over clean-up costs

MOURNERS GATHER FOR NEMTSOV SERVICE FORMER DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER WAS A ‘RAY OF LIGHT’ TO THE RUSSIAN PEOPLE

• RUSSIA THOUSANDS of mourners and dignitaries yesterday filed past the white-lined coffin of murdered Kremlin critic Boris Nemtsov, many offering flowers as they paid their last respects to one of the most prominent figures of Russia’s beleaguered opposition.

Mr Nemtsov was shot dead late on Friday while walking on a Moscow bridge near the Kremlin with a companion. No suspects have been arrested.

The killing has deeply shaken Russia’s small and marginalised opposition movement. Many supporters suspect the killing was ordered by the Kremlin in retaliation for Mr Nemtsov’s ardent criticism of President Vladimir Putin, while authorities have suggested several possible motives, including a provocation aimed at tarnishing Mr Putin’s image.

The line of mourners stretched for hundreds of

SHOT MAN REACHED FOR GUN: POLICE

• USA US POLICE fatally shot a homeless man during a “brutal” videotaped struggle in which an officer cried out that the man had grabbed his gun, according to Los Angeles police.

Video showed the man reaching toward the officer’s waistband, police chief Charlie Beck said.

The officer’s gun was found partly cocked and jammed with a round of ammunition in the chamber and another in the ejection port, indicating a struggle for the weapon.

“You can hear the young officer who was primarily engaged in the confrontation saying that ‘He has my gun. He has my gun,’” Mr Beck said. “He says it several times, with conviction.”

Three other officers then opened fire.

The man was black, as was the officer who was just short of completing his first probationary year on the force.

Sunday’s violence had echoes of the August police shooting of 25-year-old Ezell Ford, whose death in a struggle with LA officers sparked demonstrations in the city. Ford was unarmed, and police said he was shot after reaching for an officer’s gun.

metres and included people both young and old.

“He was our ray of light. With his help, I think Russia would have risen up and become a strong country. It is the dream of all progressive people in Russia,” said 80-year-old Valentina Gorbatova.

Mr Nemtsov, 55, had been a deputy prime minister under former president Boris Yeltsin and was widely seen as a rising young reformer.

But in the Putin era, Mr Nemtsov’s party lost its seats in parliament. Although his influence in mainstream politics vanished, Mr Nemtsov remained visible as one of Mr Putin’s most vehement critics. Just a few hours before his death, he conducted a radio interview in which he denounced Mr Putin for “mad, aggressive” policies in the Ukraine crisis.

His body lay in a coffin in the Sakharov Centre in central Moscow, named after the late Sovietera dissident and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Andrei Sakharov. The funeral and burial were held yesterday afternoon.

Rape victim ‘shouldn’t have fought’ gang • INDIA ONE of the men convicted of raping and killing a woman in a brutal gang attack on a New Delhi bus in 2012 has said in a TV documentary that if the victim had not fought back she would not have been killed.

Instead, the 23-year-old should have remained silent, said Mukesh Singh, who was driving the bus when the woman was attacked.

“Then they would have dropped her off after ‘doing her’,” he said in a documentary being released next week.

The film-makers released transcripts of the interview, which was recorded in 2013, yesterday.

Singh and three other attackers were convicted in a fast-track court in 2013. The appeals against their death sentences are pending in the Supreme Court.

“A girl is far more responsible for rape than a boy,” Singh said, according to the transcripts. “A decent girl won’t roam around at 9 o’clock at night ... Housework and housekeeping is for girls, not roaming in discos and bars at night doing wrong things, wearing wrong clothes.”

The woman and her friend were returning home from seeing a film at an upmarket mall when they got on the bus. The attackers beat her friend and took turns raping the woman. She suffered severe internal injuries which caused her death.

THE US state of Ohio is suing oil and gas company BP for more than $33 million (£21 million), alleging it doubledipped by taking state funds and money from insurers to clean up accidental leaks from underground storage tanks at hundreds of its petrol stations around the state.

The lawsuit alleges London-based BP wrongfully obtained $33.3 million in reimbursements from the fund, saying it had no insurance for the leaks.

IRAQ

IS in fierce clashes outside Tikrit IRAQI troops have clashed with Islamic State militants south of the militant-held city of Tikrit, officials in northern Iraq said, as roadside bombs slowed an offensive launched to retake Saddam Hussein’s home town.

The two local officials said fierce clashes were under way outside the town of al-Dour, south of Tikrit.

EUROPE

Susanna Gilmartin, a partner from our employment team who has answered two common issues facing both businesses and individuals.

If you have a legal question you would like featured in this monthly Q&A, please submit it to info@ts-p.co.uk.

Employment issues for businesses Q: I recently refused an employee’s request to take holiday. On the first day that he requested to take off as holiday, he called in sick. How can I deal with this?

A: Take care not to immediately make assumptions, if you have doubts about whether the employee is genuinely ill. Your starting position should be to give them the benefit of the doubt that their illness is genuine.

We would however suggest that you make some initial enquiries - for example check social media platforms like Twitter or Facebook and speak to colleagues at work as this may flush out the true position.

If you acquire evidence that he is on holiday then on his return to work, invite him to an investigatory meeting. If the evidence suggests that the employee has been lying, then you may be entitled to discipline and dismiss - dishonesty is likely to amount to gross misconduct as would be obtaining financial advantage (payment of salary) by deception. Take care to follow your company’s disciplinary procedure and the ACAS Code of Practice.

If the employee is able to produce a fit for work note covering his absence then you will have to accept that they were sick.

Employment issues for individuals Q: I am pregnant and I recently read that as my baby will be born after 5 April 2015 my husband and I can share my maternity leave and maternity pay to care for our child. If we want to do this, what do we need to do?

A: In order for you both to be eligible to take Shared Parental Leave (SPL) you will have to have been employed continuously for at least 26 weeks by the end of the 15th week before your due date and will need to be employed by the same employer while you take SPL. Your husband will need to be able to show that during the 66 weeks before your baby is due he has been working for at least 26 weeks and earned at least £30 a week on average in 13 of the 66 weeks.

You will be required to take your two weeks’ compulsory maternity leave after the birth of your child and your husband will still be entitled to take his

Liberia urges Ebola ‘marshall plan’ LIBERIA’S president has called for an international aid plan to help rebuild economies in West Africa after Ebola.

Ellen Johnson Sirleaf said that “we need our international partners to remain committed to us”, as the number of deaths from the disease approaches 10,000. Ms Sirleaf told fellow regional leaders and delegates at a major international conference on Ebola in Brussels that rebuilding economies devastated by the outbreak is a long-term and costly task.

two weeks’ paternity leave but after your two weeks’ compulsory maternity leave, you and your husband could opt into SPL and share the balance of your statutory maternity leave and maternity pay.

To opt in, you and your husband will need to submit a notice of entitlement and declaration of intention to take SPL with your respective employers at least eight weeks before the start of a period of SPL. If you would like to find out more about the topics above, or would like to discuss an employment issue in more detail please contact Susanna Gilmartin on 01322 422540, or another member of the employment team via the website www.ts-p. co.uk

Wednesday 4th March 2015

14 � BUSINESS NEWS

Top bank dealer ‘errors’ revealed

 CONVENIENCE store chain McColl's has said current trading is down on last year in a market it calls "challenging and competitive." The Essexbased group, which has 1,317 outlets including 809 convenience stores, said like-for-like sales were down 1.2per cent in the 13 weeks to March 1.

Mark Carney

Barclays boss defends £1.1m bonus BARCLAYS boss Antony Jenkins has defended his decision to take an annual bonus for 2014, in a move helping his total pay package rise from £1.6 million to £5.5 million.

Mr Jenkins, who had declined the pay-out for each of the last two years, was challenged over accepting the £1.1 million bonus after a year in which the bank has cut 14,000 jobs and closed a net 72 branches, while statutory profits fell by a fifth.

He said he recognised he was very well paid, but insisted that the decision to accept the bonus

was "appropriate" - adding that it was not taken lightly and he would again consider it carefully next year.

His total pay package is also swollen by a new role-based allowance of £950,000 and a long-term award worth £1.85 million, on top of a basic salary of £1.1 million, plus benefits worth £100,000 and pension of £363,000.

Mr Jenkins said: "You have to look at the very significant progress that we have made in Barclays in the two-and-a-half

years that I have been chief executive.

"I completely understand that I am very well remunerated for what I do. But... I think it is appropriate that I accept my bonus.

"It is not a decision I take lightly and I declined it in the previous two years. When I come to 2015, I will do the same careful thinking about whether I should accept it given the progress the bank has made."

Mr Jenkins pointed to progress in shoring up the bank's balance sheet.

A BANK of England internal probe revealed a “series of misjudgments” by a senior member of staff including the leaking of a confidential document and sending of inappropriate emails, MPs were told by governor Mark Carney today.

Chief currency dealer Martin Mallett was sacked after being found to have made at least 20 such errors, following an investigation into what the Bank knew about the foreign exchange rate-rigging scandal, Mr Carney said.

The failings prompting his dismissal were not related to the central findings of the report - which the governor described as his failure to “escalate” any awareness of “the potential of wrongdoing” in the market. His dismissal was announced in November on the same day that six banks were fined £2.6 billion by regulators including the UK’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) over the forex scandal. Mr Carney said the internal probe, which was led by Lord Grabiner QC andtrawled through emails and chatroom conversations, brought to light “information that could have brought the Bank’s public reputation into disrepute”.

He told the Treasury Select Committee: “We discovered a series of misjudgments."

NEW GENERATION OF ENTREPRENEURS IS RIDING THE ECONOMIC RECOVERY IN THE UK A NEW generation of entrepreneurs is emerging with Britain’s economic recovery and surging ahead of European counterparts, according to a new report unveiled Tuesday.

In 2014 one in five working age individuals in the UK were running their own business, were actively trying to start a business or intending to start a business within the next three years.

The Global Entrepreneurship Monitor

(GEM) UK 2014 report, written by a team of entrepreneurship researchers from Aston and Strathclyde business schools, compares entrepreneurial activity, attitudes and aspirations in the UK, France, Germany and the US. It reveals that the UK has pulled ahead of France and Germany in the entrepreneurship stakes.

Figures show that the total early-stage entrepreneurial activity (TEA) rate now

stands at 8.6 per cent in the UK in 2014, a significant increase in the 2013 figure of 7.3 per cent. This compares with 5 per cent in France and Germany where the TEA rate has not changed since 2011.

Professor Jonathan Levie, of the Hunter Centre for Entrepreneurship at Strathclyde Business School, said: “Compared with the early 2000s, the UK now looks very different from other EU countries

Taylor hails strong start to spring selling TAYLOR Wimpey has reported a strong start to the spring selling season as it looks to build on last year’s 67 per cent rise in profits to £450 million.

The company said its performance was being underpinned by the UK’s significant imbalance between demand and the supply of new homes. It completed the sale of 12,454 properties in the UK last year - a rise of 6.5 per cent on a year earlier - as it benefited from an 11.5 per cent increase in its total average selling price to £213,000.

With the UK housing market remaining healthy, chief executive Pete

Wednesday 4th March 2015

Redfern believes the current strong performance can be sustained and improved.

He added: “Customer confidence is high with good levels of employment and an affordable mortgage environment.”

Taylor said the beginning of the spring selling season has seen both demand and trading at the better end of its expectations. Net private sales rates for the year to date of 0.70 homes per outlet per week are at “healthy levels” and within the range that Taylor sees as sustainable. Building costs increased by about 5 per cent last

year but Taylor said the return to more normal market conditions should ease the pressure this year.

A difficult labour market and the challenge of delivering its homes on time meant the company’s customer satisfaction rate fell to 87 per cent from 90per cent a year earlier. Taylor said this figure remains high in comparison to historic trends,but admits that it is disappointed that the rate has fallen. The company added: “During 2014 we began an in-depth review of every aspect and stage of our customer journey, to identify areas of improvement.

McColl's warns over tough climate

uk-china £150million partnerships announced  PARTNERSHIPS between the UK and China expected to be worth £150 million over the next five years have been announced at a creativity festival launched in Shanghai by the Duke of Cambridge.

The Great Festival of Creativity is a partnership between the UK Government and the private sector to create jobs and growth by supporting UK companies looking to break into Chinese markets.

DIRECT LINE RINGS UP HIGHER PROFIT  THE owner of insurers Churchill and Direct Line has posted higher profits after a purge on costs helped it offset falling premiums in home and motor markets.

Direct Line Insurance said its pre-tax profit lifted 12.2 per cent to £456.8 million in the year to the end of December, as it cut costs by 5.6 per cent over the period and beat its target for £1 billion of savings set at its flotation in 2012.

The Bromley-based business, which was spun out of the Royal Bank of Scotland, was able to beat City forecasts even though gross written premiums fell by 3.8% during the year amid falling prices in motor and home insurance.

TGI Friday’s serves up 700 new jobs Restaurant chain TGI Friday’s is to create 700 jobs this year under expansion plans.

Six new sites will open in 2015, and a further ten next year, with a mixture of full and parttime roles on offer, including 100 management positions.

By the end of this year the American-owned firm will have 70 restaurants in the UK.

Ikea introduces wireless charging IKEA has taken efficient furniture to new levels with the launch of a line that contains wireless charging technology to power smartphones.

The Swedish firm announced the new range of furniture, which includes tables, desks and lamps, at the Mobile World Congress technology show in Barcelona. Ikea will also be selling pads to add a charging point to any surface.

It comes as a result of a partnership with the Wireless Power Consortium, which

makes the Qi standard of wireless charging, used by many smartphone manufacturers including LG and Google Nexus.

Jeanette Skjelmose, head of lighting and wireless charging at Ikea, said: “Through research and home visits, we know that people hate cable mess. They worry about not finding the charger and running out of power. Our new innovative solutions, which integrate wireless charging into home furnishings, will make life at home simpler.”

.

SELLING OUT TO THE BARE WALLS

BEDDING AND INTERIORS

44 High Street • Tunbridge Wells • Kent TN1 1XF Tel 01892 535555 • www.wellsinteriors.co.uk

OUR STORE WILL BE CLOSED TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC UNTIL THURSDAY 5TH MARCH INCLUSIVELY TO MARK DOWN PRICES!!

STORE RE-OPENS FRIDAY 6TH MARCH AT 10AM

THE GREAT £428,000 STOCK SELL-OUT! 3 GREAT SALE DAYS!

FRIDAY 6TH MAR SATURDAY 7TH MAR SUNDAY 8TH MAR

10.00AM-7.00PM 9.00AM-5.30PM 11.00AM-4.00PM

TERMS OF SALE - USE CASH, DEBIT CARD, OR CREDIT CARDS. - DELIVERY AVAILABLE. - EVERY ITEM MARKED DOWN ON SALE TAGS. - YOUR SATISFACTION IS OUR GOAL.

THE REASON FOR THIS GREAT SALE

We are updating our store by reorganising the layout of our showroom by creating more space for new ranges. In order to show our new lines, we must first clear out selected lines before re-stocking with many new products from our home furnishing collections. This will be the biggest STOCK SELL-OUT OF FINE QUALITY HOME FURNISHINGS ever held in this area!

OUR STORE WILL BE CLOSED TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC UNTIL 10AM ON FRIDAY 6TH MARCH TO MARK DOWN PRICES on our entire stock from all sofas, chairs, beds, mattresses, bedframes, bedroom furniture, dining room furniture, sideboards, living room cabinets, display cabinets, bookcases, desks, bureaus, accessories, pictures, lamps, mirrors and much more. EVERY ITEM WILL BE REDUCED FOR IMMEDIATE SALE. During this limited sale period, we will also offer a special discount on all customer orders.

Nothing will be held back and we will not be undersold by anyone. First come, first served... you will not be disappointed. We will open to the general public on Friday 6th March at 10am.

Miles Bennett - WELLS INTERIORS

EVERYTHING DRAMATICALLY REDUCED RELYON DIVAN BEDS & MATTRESSES

55% OFF

GRANGE 5' CONSULATE BEDSTEAD WAS £2,464 NOW £464

HUNTINGDON TABLE AND 6 CHAIRS

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16 � BUSINESS NEWS

Staff shortages threaten company expansion plans • By Steve Hemsley YOU can almost smell the optimism of the Tunbridge Wells business community as companies respond to improving consumer confidence. But there’s a bit of a problem: staffing.

In many ways our town avoided the worst of the credit crunch but many firms were still reluctant to expand or to take on new staff.

Today the talk is all about growth. The commercial property market is thriving again as many businesses eye bigger premises and try to fill an increasing number of job vacancies.

Unfortunately there is a shortage of

candidates with the skills employers need and this is threatening to put the brakes on many companies’ plans.

Unemployment in Tunbridge Wells is 3.9 per cent and the proportion of the workingage population claiming Jobseeker’s Allowance in December 2014 was just 0.7 per cent, says the Office for National Statistics.

Tunbridge Wells effectively has full employment.

Companies face having to pay London wages to tempt people out of the capital, but it is hard to charge clients London prices when you are based in Kent. Another option is to re-train the staff they have.

Conrad Chant, director of recruitment company Blue Pelican based in Calverley

Road, said many firms slashed their training budget during the downturn and are now paying the price.

“With such high employment in the town you have to cast your net wider but it is hard to find good junior people because many cannot afford to travel to Tunbridge Wells,” he said. “We want to increase our own headcount of 28 people by 40 per cent this year but will be held back as a business if we cannot find suitable recruitment consultants.”

Wendy Read, owner of human resources consultancy HR Revolution , said there is a growing number of fast-paced tech companies in Tunbridge Wells crying out for additional staff.

“Of course many younger people want to work in London, at least for a while, but after a few years of commuting they often decide they want to work closer to home,” she said.

“There are suitable people in the town but it can be difficult to find them.”

Emma Liddiard, chair of the Kent branch of the Institute of Directors and managing director of Heart Radio (Kent), believes 2015 will be the year many of the town’s businesses want to expand.

“Not being able to get trained staff is one problem while local road congestion is another barrier to growth,” she said. “But the signs are looking good for the economy and now is the right time to overcome these obstacles.”

LEISURE ONE sign of economic confidence is people’s willingness to spend more money on leisure activities.

Attendance at the Calverley Grounds ice rink over Christmas was up 20 per cent and Assembly Hall Theatre director Brian McAteer said customer numbers in 2014 were higher than for the previous 12 months.

“The Assembly Hall Theatre and the seasonal ice rink rely heavily on customers having disposable income and being willing to spend,” he said.

Councillor Jane March, council cabinet member responsible for tourism, leisure and economic development, said the success of the Assembly Theatre is critical to the cultural as well as the economic life of the town. “It encourages people to stay in Tunbridge Wells and visit in the evenings,” she said.

RETAIL: ROYAL VICTORIA PLACE Commercial Property Darrell Barber Partner at Bracketts Chartered Surveyors

NEW RETAILER Lush Tunbridge Wells manager Hannah Russell

ROYAL Victoria Place (RVP) has nearly 100 stores covering 366,000sq ft of retail space and it saw sales rise in ten of the 12 months in 2014.

Centre manager Nicky Blanchard says retailers are being encouraged to expand their businesses in 2015. In the last three months of 2014, there were store openings by Jessops, The Body Shop, Oliver Bonas and the Australian retail brand Smiggle.

“Tunbridge Wells is a strong retail

Wednesday 4th March 2015

location within the west Kent region due to its affluent catchment area and diverse mix of retail. It is a highly desirable location for many aspirational brands,” she said.

She added that RVP faces increasing competition from online retailers so it must provide shoppers with an attractive shopping experience. “Tunbridge Wells is a beautiful town with real character and history. It is the envy of many of our regional competitors and is something we

should definitely capitalise on.”

The Royal Tunbridge Wells Retail Group was created three years ago and has more than 100 members. A recent survey revealed that 42 per cent of members enjoyed higher Christmas sales than the year before. The free parking provided by Tunbridge Wells Borough Council boosted shopper numbers, says the group’s spokesman Gabrielle Argent.

She said that in 2015, retailers will make more use of social media to boost sales, explaining: “It allows retailers to communicate directly with customers and advertise promotions and special events.

The retail group provides an opportunity for retailers to share and collaborate digitally.”

One of the town’s newest but most popular retailers is homemade cosmetics brand Lush.

Shop manager Hannah Russell said the company was pleased to secure a prime site in Tunbridge Wells. “We had been looking for the right property and have the unique benefit of straddling both Calverley Road, a busy and traditional high street, and Royal Victoria Place, a thriving shopping centre,” she said. “A two-floor unit is unusual for our standard retail store.”

She said Lush has tried hard to become part of the local community, adding: “Our in-store parties have been incredibly popular with younger customers. It has been one way to introduce fresh cosmetics to an increasingly influential audience.”

FOR investors who rely on commercial property as an important asset class, the recession was a disaster as businesses downsized or disappeared completely and rental yields collapsed.

Yet this market is recovering and property developers have returned to the town as rents for offices, industrial units and retail space rise. Tunbridge Wells business owners want to lease and acquire commercial premises as they grow and hire more staff.

Darrell Barber, partner at Bracketts Chartered Surveyors based in the High Street, said that during the financial crisis, the market for office space was particularly tough.

“Things are improving and we are seeing people moving their businesses out of their homes into small offices for the first time or others trading up because they need more space,” he said. “Recruitment consultancies, public relations companies and financial services firms appear the

THE PANTILES ONE OF Tunbridge Wells’ greatest assets is The Pantiles with its array of wonderful and different businesses ranging from The Grey Lady music lounge to The Old Fishmarket Champagne & Seafood Bar run by local restaurant entrepreneur Matthew Sankey.

Yet this is an area where companies have had to work hard in recent years to attract customers as people gravitate towards the top end of town and to Royal Victoria Place.

Chairman of the Association of Pantiles Traders, Richard Simm, who owns the Duke of York and is a director of The Forum, says businesses have learned to exploit the uniqueness of the area.

keenest to move.”

He added that the supply of suitable premises has been reduced because a lot of office space above shops has been turned into residential accommodation.

Tunbridge Wells remains a strong retail town with few empty shops compared to other towns around the country. “Many of those that are empty are being refurbished or are under offer,” Mr Barber said.

He says the southern end of the town remains particularly popular, as does Camden Road, which always appeals to quirkier retailers.

One company which has moved to larger offices in recent months is public relations firm GingerMay PR, which moved into Calverley House, Calverley Road, from the High Street.

“Three years ago there were four of us, but today there are 25, and we are looking for more people to join our team,” said managing director Victoria Usher.

GingerMay specialises in technology company PR and Usher says Tunbridge Wells appeals to people who want to work in a fast-paced industry without having to travel to London.

She added: “This point cannot be underestimated and our staff churn is very low as a result. We may expand and open overseas offices, but we will always keep our headquarters in Tunbridge Wells.”

“There has been a shift in confidence, if not in the number of businesses, which can be seen by the amount of investment that has gone into The Pantiles,” he said. “We have seen some new and exciting businesses spend money redeveloping old sites.”

Jon Traquair, owner of the Mac Man computer repair shop, moved to Tunbridge Wells from Brighton in 2011 and he has premises in the Corn Exchange, The Pantiles, and in the town centre. He oversees a team of six and is recruiting for two more members of staff.

“Tunbridge Wells is a great place to have a business because it is large enough to have a decent customer base but small enough that you get to know other local traders,” he said

BUSINESS NEWS �

17

THE BUSINESS BAROMETERS PETS PET owners working longer hours need someone to walk their dogs and sit with their cats.

Chantelle Spinks, who owns All4PawsUK in Tunbridge Wells, said people are spending more on her services.

“My clients range from teachers to

COFFEE interior designers and lawyers, with some working locally and others in London,” she said.

“It’s not cheap to have a dog walker. It can cost between £100 and £250 a month depending on the service but this is what people pay. They want their pets to have as good a life as they can provide.”

THE GROWTH in coffee shops has not been exclusive to Tunbridge Wells but how much people spend on beverages can indicate improving consumer optimism.

Ismail Coffee and Tea on Mount Pleasant Road is a second generation family business approaching its 90th birthday and it has been trading in Tunbridge Wells for seven years.

“There is an increasing appetite for the microlot coffees which we roast in-store and we have seen a noticeable trend in the sales of our fashionable range of speciality

black, green, white, herbal and flavoured teas,” said marketing manager Kensi Gibrail.

Matt Biddle, owner of the Australian-style café The Black Dog in Camden Road, said people are visiting his shop more often and spending more per visit, and that most retailers in the road are feeling more confident.

He added: “There is a much more positive outlook than five years ago with fewer vacant shops, more positive chat between business owners and a greater pride in Camden Road.”

Oh Tunbridge Wells, is wonderful Oh Tunbridge Wells is wonderful, Tunbridge Wells is full of lawyers, doctors and architects The ‘official’ chant of Tunbridge Wells Football Club which sums up what they say the town is all about

PAWS FOR THOUGHT Chantelle Spinks says more workers are using her dog-walking service

Wednesday 4th March 2015

18 � BUSINESS NEWS

SAUCE MAN SET TO TAKE HIS BRAND NATIONAL • By Steve Hemsley

SETTING OUT THEIR STALL Anna and Andrew Salter

BANK MAKES ITS MOVE

Branch manager Nick Green

SWEDISH bank Handelsbanken is moving to larger premises after a strong year.

The 143-year old bank has been in Tunbridge Wells since 2009 and branch manager Nick Green says the performance of his office in Church Road is in line with Handelsbanken’s performance nationally.

Business lending across its 189 UK branches rose by 10 per cent to £9.6m and lending to personal customers jumped 22 per cent to £4.4m in 2014.

In the second half of 2015, the Tunbridge Wells branch will move to larger premises at 77 Mount Ephraim.

Mr Green said: “Each branch develops in a way that best serves local needs and we have mainly small and medium-sized enterprise customers whose owners also do their personal banking with us.”

The bank currently has three managers working with personal customers but is recruiting a second manager to handle corporate accounts.

AN ENTREPRENEUR whose ketchup alternative Must-Chup is sold across Tunbridge Wells is adding two new products in a bid to take the brand national.

Andrew Salter, who launched his blend of tomato sauce and mustard in 2013, will introduce Must-Chup Kick and Must-Chup Big Kick, containing red and green chillies, this month.

He has already sold more than 5,500 bottles of the original sauce through about 30 Tunbridge Wells outlets and has secured stockists as far away as Blackpool and Salisbury but must attract new distributors if he is to expand nationally.

“One product is not enough for food distributors,” he said.

“They demand a range of very visual products that are different and stand out on the shelves.”

He continues to self-finance the business while working as general manager of

Sweetwoods Golf Club in Cowden. Over the next few months, he will invest about £10,000 on manufacturing and marketing as he chases his dream.

All Must-Chup sauces are produced by Karimix UK, which is based near Faversham.

About 800 bottles of each new product will be produced initially, with more once Mr Salter secures additional stockists.

He has been in talks with supermarkets but has decided to grow the business through independent stockists until he can produce the volumes the large grocers would demand.

“Many independent shops and distributors won’t take your product if they know you are dealing with the supermarkets,” he said.

“I want to build the brand and awareness through independents and online sales rather than risk everything on one large national deal.”

As part of his long-term growth plans Salter wants to launch his sauces in different countries using local mustard ingredients.

Punching above their weight A FIRM which helps clients buy and sell businesses and sell funds has won two more industry awards.

Castle Corporate Finance celebrated a record year in 2014 by winning the corporate finance advisory team of the year honour at the South East Dealmakers Awards hosted by Insider Media.

Stuart Stepney, who was promoted to director of Castle in January, won corporate finance adviser of the year for the third year running.

The company will increase its team of six by recruiting an additional transaction manager and it wants to grow its international business. It will move to larger premises in Tonbridge this month.

“As a boutique business competing with some industry giants, these awards help us to punch above our weight by raising our profile,” says Castle owner Mike Norrie.

“Stuart knows his way through a deal and is great at pulling the loose ends of any deal together.”

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20 � EDUCATION NEWS

Schoolkids are helping to drive the housing market Wherever you move to in Tunbridge Wells there are great schools... you literally can’t go wrong Dan Boyes Estate agent, Alexandre Boyes

While the property bubble may have burst in other areas, Tunbridge Wells continues to boom thanks in part to young Londoners moving here to get their kids into the schools. We find out why…

• By Sarah Bond

T

he word is out about Tunbridge Wells. With 41 schools and its reputation for quality, it has become a magnet for young Londoners, some moving here and buying larger homes before they have even started a family.

The town being featured large on Kirstie Allsopp and Kent-born Phil Spencer’s top property TV show Location, Location, Location last August may have added to the appeal. And the fact young couples want to capitalise on last year’s boom in London is keeping our property bubble soaring.

They know they need to get a foothold in the town to get their children into the primary and prep schools – the best stepping stone for the superb but very selective grammar schools via the Kent Test.

Last year, 83.6 per cent of Kent pupils were offered their first preference of secondary school and 9,300 pupils in the county sat the Kent Test. And as more children come to the area, it will put more pressure on grammar school places, on top of worries related to recent cuts in 16+ government funding.”

And as more children move in, it will put more pressure on grammar places.

In 2012, it was reported that almost one in nine places in Kent grammar schools were to go to privately educated children. Two grammars in our district – Judd and Tonbridge – offered more than 40 per cent of their places to children from fee-paying prep schools.

Although money is no object for many people attracted to our town, the current economic climate has pushed the appeal of grammars further to the fore, because they are free.

Judd and Tonbridge were among those topping the 2013 Kent league tables for five good GCSE passes, with Tunbridge Wells Girls’ Grammar (TWGGS), Weald of Kent, Skinner’s, Cranbrook and Sevenoaks close behind. TWGGS came top for the English Baccalaureate.

Nick Green, who has managed the Tunbridge Wells branch of prestigious bank Handelsbanken for six years, is not only a leading figure in the town’s business sector, but also a governor of Rose Hill School – one of the most popular prep schools in the area.

Rose Hill, off Culverden Down, takes children from three to 13, and fees range from £1,947 to £4,489 per term.

Mr Green said: “I know from the school that a lot of the requests for prospectuses are going to addresses in London, so people are planning.

And the quality of the schools is part of what is driving the property market here. We are certainly seeing it at the bank with the number of customers we are assisting.

“With an excellent selection of independent prep schools, state primary schools and grammar schools, there is a choice that makes a move to Tunbridge Wells almost compelling for young families.

“Many Londoners are requesting information on local independent prep schools. This continues to grow and will be of significance for both the schools and the

property market.

“Last year was a further successful year for the branch helping a lot of families make that transition from London.

“A lot of clients that we are helping are people who are in effect cashing in their chips in on the London property market, and they are starting families and are beginning to move down here. They are obviously getting more for their money in terms of property, space, etc.

“Tunbridge Wells is very popular, and very much driven by the schools – certainly the prep school market, because they want to get that first rung on the ladder to then get into the grammar schools.”

Mr Green, who was born in the town, says last April’s change in mortgage rules and December’s stamp duty changes have not caused major problems for his customers.

He explained: “The changes in the past year have made it a longer, more detailed process, but as a relationship bank we have always approached such matters in this manner to ensure our customers are comfortable with their ability to service and repay debt. It’s all very sensible, achievable levels. It has not been a hindrance at all.

“In fact, the change in the stamp duty levels could make it even more affordable, especially due to the fact they are probably buying homes with a higher value generally, and there are potentially some savings to be had there.”

Junior schools confirm they are receiving ever-increasing numbers of enquiries from the capital and local estate agents also put education at the top of the Tunbridge Wells wishlists.

The quality of the schools is part of what is driving the property market here.

We are certainly seeing it at the bank Nick Green Manager, Handelsbanken

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Wednesday 4th March 2015

EDUCATION NEWS �

Simon Biddulph, a partner at Knight Frank, said: “Generally, those looking for good schools research them before they start looking in an area. Also there’s word of mouth. Many people moving here feed it back to friends, and it spreads. They say: ‘Oh I’ve got a friend who lives in Tunbridge Wells, let’s go and have a look.’

Word spreads like wildfire.

“Over the last ten years, I’ve seen such a change to the town. People look after their properties, there’s a lot of pride in Tunbridge Wells, and the London pull is getting stronger and stronger. We have London offices, so we have a good feed of those buyers and there are a lot of them.

“They are younger buyers, choosing Tunbridge Wells because it’s pretty and there’s a life to it. You can move out of London, start a family and you’ve got beautiful Victorian and Edwardian buildings, theatres, restaurants, great parks -but it’s the schools that are the massive pull.

“We have great prep schools, too, it’s not just the grammars, although I think they are more on the radar now because families today have cost in mind, which is why the Cranbrook patch is also very popular.

“The commuting is great – 50 minutes to London from Tunbridge Wells. It’s a bit longer from Cranbrook, an hour to London from Staplehurst, but it’s more rural. If you want proper countryside, you have to move a bit further out.

“Tunbridge Wells is a good-looking town. It’s changing and there’s more development – Knight’s Wood and Knight’s Park with a new school and that’s really good. Berkeley Homes built on the old Kent & Sussex Hospital site and they have sold incredibly well.

Development is going on in a good way.”

Mr Biddulph added that the season is starting much earlier than previously. He said: “March used to mark the start of the spring market, but the last few years it’s been early – the London market wakes up after the kids go back to school.

“We’re busy by the end of January, then you have a great run – six months, and all through the summer.

“2014 was very good, then we were busy immediately after the Christmas break and it’s looking like it will take off in 2015.

If you’re going to sell, this is the time.”

Even with the possibility of a Labour mansion tax after the May election, Mr Biddulph agrees there are no worries

21

There’s a lot of pride in Tunbridge Wells and the London pull is getting stronger and stronger. You can have a life here as well as everything else Simon Biddulph Partner, Knight Frank Rose Hill youngsters at playtime about money in the town.

He said: “The mortgage market review last April dampened things a bit, but in the town market, we deal with properties from £500,000 upwards really, and that sort of buyers – and those buying at £1-2million – have normally got a fair amount of equity they put in.

“So whichever lender they are using. It’s on affordability, not just loan to value.

The lenders still grill you but because you’re putting in more money, you’re less affected. The rules were a bid to calm things a little, but people are still buying and selling.”

“The only thing that may hold things back is that a lot of clients move here and stay, so there’s not a huge amount on the market. The demand is there but supply is always a bit low, which is good in a way

for Tunbridge Wells because it makes it more desirable.”

With the variety of schools on offer, estate agent Dan Boyes, of Alexandre Boyes, agrees.

He said: “Everyone will pay for their little ones. Without the schools we are a lovely town, but they make it something a bit special. Every conversation it’s schools, schools, schools.

“Last year the property market was fantastic and for Tunbridge Wells, it was the London market fuelling our bubble.

“I had a guy who was selling a £4m property, buying in Tunbridge Wells for £1.3m and paying five per cent over because he could. And young couples in their early 30s were selling apartments for £1m and buying family homes before they had kids.

“Wherever you move to in Tunbridge Wells there are great schools. There are lots of private ones – Rose Hill, Holmwood House, Yardley Court, and if you look at the Ofsted reports, the village schools are very good, too, you literally can’t go wrong.

“With the election coming, the £2m+ market will be watching the mansion tax, especially after the stamp duty changes.

A £2m house is about £50,000 more to buy now. But the changes have definitely helped with the bottom end of the market, although stamp duty was never really an issue anyway in Tunbridge Wells.

“I have never had any issues with mortgages here either because it’s an affluent town. It’s the nature of what we sell.”

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22 � FASHION, HEALTH AND BEAUTY

MEET THE IMAGE MAKERS From facials to fitness, we talk to the people across the town who are changing the way we look, think and feel.

THERE’S no denying the UK image industry is big business. Last year, the beauty trade alone was worth £17billion and was forecast to grow a further 16 per cent by 2016. Add the fact the fashion industry rakes in £26billion annually, cosmetic surgery in 2015 is estimated to be worth £3.6billion and fitness was worth £4.08billion in 2014 – and we’re talking big money.

Nowadays people think nothing of splashing the cash to look good. Teeth whitening, cosmetic surgery and personal training is all possible at the drop of a hat, making those who haven’t yet “invested” feel almost part of a minority.

Despite the fact we’re supposedly busier than ever, we’re managing to squeeze in styling sessions or factor in a facial.

But why? If we’re all overworked and underpaid, how are we managing to make time for makeovers?

Each week we’ll be looking at a different element of the image industry, discovering how it functions and what goes on behind closed doors. By meeting the “Image Makers”, we’ll be opening people’s eyes (and not just through botox) to how through health, fitness, fashion, style and surgery, the people of Tunbridge Wells are altering their appearance.

To explain why image is important, we speak to Catherine de Crevecoeur, ToTW’s resident image consultant and personal stylist.

“It takes four seconds to make a judgement on someone based on appearance and that’s just how we are – it’s human nature”

CLUTCH CONTROL Cat picks accessories

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MOVE

THE TOWN’S NEW PROPERTY GUIDE – A MUST READ FOR THOSE LOOKING TO BUY, LET OR SELL IN ASSOCIATION WITH

WITH THE

OF TUNBRIDGE WELLS

With mortgage rates at highly competitive levels, it is a very good time to buy

We are very pleased to be associated with the Times of Tunbridge Wells

Rupert Connell Partner Knight Frank

Ian Springett Chief executive OnTheMarket.com

WINFIELD HOUSE This is just one of the homes featured in the pages of our property supplement which each week will carry some of the best places for sale and to let across the area.

Winfield House is a Grade 11 listed Regency building in Crouch near Sevenoaks. It has five bedrooms and five bathrooms plus WCs and stands in about 1.33 acres. An orangery, cellar with wine store and a coach house with cinema are among the attractions. It’s on the market for £2.65million through Knight Frank. www.knightfrank.co.uk

Wednesday 4th March 2015

24 � PROPERTY

We are very pleased to be associated with the Times of Tunbridge Wells and to support it in providing a valuable, high quality property section covering the area for commuters and other local readers

Stunning Grade II listed home designed by Decimus Burton and set in one of the town’s most desirable private parks

Listed Double entrance from either Calverley Park or Prospect Road 5 bedrooms 3 bathrooms Listed building consent to remodel the first floor en-suite facilities Garage and private parking Cinema room Games room Wine cellar £2,850,000 For sale through Knight Frank 01892 515 035 www.knightfrank.co.uk

Wednesday 4th March 2015

Rupert Connell Partner at Knight Frank estate agents

THE property market got off to a stronger than expected start at the beginning of January with activity across the price spectrum. The change to the Stamp Duty Liability Tax structure, unveiled in the latest budget in December, may have had something to do with this as it has freed up the market by removing the major thresholds at £500,000, £1m and £2m in favour of a graduated system which seems more sensible.

House price growth is slowing (6.8 per cent nationally in January) and there seems little likelihood that the Bank of England base rate will rise in the foreseeable future so, with mortgage rates at highly competitive levels, it is a very good time to buy.

With only nine weeks until the General Election, it is not surprising that activity in the market is starting to slow. Inevitably, focus will turn to speculation as to who will form the next Government and what impact that will have on the property market. Each political party has its own agenda and the threat of a mansion tax, in some form, has not yet gone away.

What seems likely, however, is that property transactions will take off again after May 7 with a new Government and the arrival of the spring/ summer market.

If you are considering selling your property this year, it would be well worth making preparations before the election so that you are ready to launch to the market to take advantage of pent up post-election demand.

Please call us at Knight Frank if you would like to discuss your property plans.

Backed by a consortium of high street agents, OnTheMarket.com offers agents more choice and freedom over how their properties are listed.

It also offers buyers a better, more concise search portal.

23 CALVERLEY PARK, TUNBRIDGE WELLS

In my view…

This is where we find out what’s happening in the property market.

Providing the comment this time round is Rupert Connell, partner and office head at Knight Frank in Tunbridge Wells

Ian Springett Chief executive OnTheMarket.com

AT A GLANCE

PROMOTIONAL FEATURE

01892 515 035 KnightFrank.co.uk/tunbridge-wells

CALVERLEY Park is home to some of the finest architecture in Tunbridge Wells.

Set within meadows and parkland designed to give the area a country feel, it’s an oasis of green within a short walk of the town centre and its mainline station.

Designed by architect Decimus Burton in the 1820s, this Grade II listed home is set in its own secluded gardens with a gravelled driveway and detached garage. But look closer and this stunning example of Regency period design has been upgraded by the current owners to feature some outstanding modern features. The garage has a car stacking system which allows two cars to be garaged vertically and the house boasts a dedicated cinema room with a 12’ screen, wiring for 9.2 surround sound and high spec lighting.

The contemporary kitchen/breakfast room provides a wonderful family space and includes a separate larder and a solid walnut kitchen with Gaggenau and Miele fittings. From the kitchen, there is also access out into the stunning, modern rear garden and seating area.

But none of these modern luxuries detract from the character of this important piece of Burton’s architecture. Despite the considerable work that has been carried out over recent years it still features the high ceilings, cornicing and ceiling roses, floor-to-ceiling windows and original wooden shutters you would hope to find in a property of this era.

Totalling about 5094 square feet, the property is set over four floors with a wine cellar, bike store, boiler room, utility room, cloakroom, games room

and cinema on the lower ground floor, three spacious reception rooms, a study, cloakroom, kitchen/breakfast room, larder and butler’s pantry on the ground floor and three bedrooms, as well as an en-suite bathroom, a cloakroom and a shower room on the first floor. The second floor features a further two bedrooms and a bathroom and offers stunning views.

The front garden has generous borders surrounding a formal lawn area with a raised terrace to the front of the house to catch the evening sun. To the rear of the house, a gateway leads to the Inchbalddesigned garden, which features a secluded paved seating area with a water feature. Raised beds frame the area and an array of plants provides colour and foliage throughout the year.

DO YOU HAVE A STORY? email us at newsdesk@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk

PROPERTY ďż˝

25

Transformed village shop retains period features

IN ASSOCIATION WITH

AT A GLANCE BOURNE HOUSE, HIGH STREET, BRENCHLEY Listed 3 bedrooms 2 bathrooms 2 reception rooms Newly refurbished Basement utility and storage area Dressing room 1,844 sq ft Off-road parking Unfurnished Flexible lease length ÂŁ1,750 per month To let through Alexandre Boyes 01892 525522 www.alexandre-boyes.co.uk

BOURNE House is an attractive Grade II listed property located in the heart of the village of Brenchley, surrounded by orchards and farmland. The building has undergone a full refurbishment in its transformation from the village shop into this three-bedroom house, yet still retains many of the period features you would hope to find such as fireplaces, exposed beams and brickwork and far-reaching views over farmland.

The property, which is arranged over three floors, has a new side entrance with stairs up to the hallway which boasts a raised dining platform, stairs to the basement and first floor plus doorway to the sitting room, with an open fire. Pocket sliding doors open to reveal the kitchen/breakfast room which benefits from

a white quartz work surface, sink, integrated cooker, hob, dishwasher and tall fridge-freezer.

On the first floor, there are two bedrooms, the master with en-suite shower. The second bedroom to the rear has countryside views and is next to the family bathroom. The third bedroom is on the second floor along with a dressing room and cloakroom. The basement houses a utility room, cloakroom and large storage area.

Brenchley itself retains its local shop, butcher, public houses and primary school, as well as being within an easy drive of Tunbridge Wells.

For the London commuter, Paddock Wood mainline station is approximately two miles away and Brenchley offers excellent access to the A21.

Wednesday 4th March 2015

26 � PROPERTY

Half an acre of land wraps round this charming Edwardian property in sought after St John’s AT A GLANCE LITTLE CULVERDEN, CULVERDEN DOWN, TUNBRIDGE WELLS 6 bedrooms 2 bathrooms Generous reception hall plus drawing room, dining room and family room/study Adaptable accommodation 2,908 sq ft 449 sq ft detached garage block Guide price £1,200,000 For sale through Savills Tunbridge Wells: 01892 507000 www.savills.co.uk

LITTLE Culverden is a striking and wellproportioned Edwardian property with attractive character features and a good-sized secluded and mature garden of just over half an acre.

Set in Culverden Down, one of the most sought-after roads in the St John’s area of Tunbridge Wells, the accommodation is arranged over three floors with a southwesterly aspect and an appealing approach to the front.

Features include a columned entrance porch with terracotta tiled floor, leaded light windows, high ceilings, picture rails, parquet and exposed wood flooring, and bespoke joinery.

The eye-catching reception hall with wide glazed oak sliding doors merges into a delightful drawing room with a view to the garden through a bay window.

Also on the ground floor is a kitchen/ breakfast room, family room/study, dining

room with a wood-burning stove, a period bell box on the wall plus a door out to an area of kitchen garden. There is also a separate utility room.

The main bedroom on the first floor has garden views through a large bay window and there are four further bedrooms and two bathrooms on the first floor. The sixth bedroom is on the second floor, along with access to ample eaves storage.

The gardens are a particularly attractive

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feature of the property, amounting to more than half an acre and wrapping around the house with an area of lawn, a pond, a kitchen garden, and mature evergreen trees and shrubs. Paved terraces span the perimeter of the house, offering sheltered places to sit and enjoy the garden. A gravel driveway provides space for parking and turning in front of a substantial detached garage block which offers the scope to convert it for other uses subject to necessary permission.

PROPERTY �

27

IN ASSOCIATION WITH

Converted coach house has character features ACCESSED via a private drive leading to two other properties and with the benefit of its own double garage and ample parking is this converted coach house in a tuckedaway position close to Paddock Wood.

Offering plenty of room for a family to grow into, as well as a wealth of character features, it is delightful and unusual.

The impressive entrance hallway with beams and brick floors opens on to all

the ground floor rooms and features an attractive open staircase, while the dualaspect sitting room has a gas fire in the style of a wood-burning stove and steps down into a further seating area and study.

The dining room has doors opening out into the rear garden and there is also a playroom.

The kitchen comprises a range of cream Shaker-style units with granite worktops,

built-in Aga and fitted appliances and there is also a useful utility room and downstairs cloakroom. On the first floor, the impressive master bedroom is on a galleried platform surrounded by beams and period features.

Also on this floor are two further double bedrooms, one of which has extensive views to the rear, and a well-appointed family bathroom.

Surrounding the property on three sides is

an area of garden together with a patio and the garage. But the real surprise outside is the unusual Anderson air raid shelter left over from the Blitz, which now provides outside storage and a wine cellar.

With easy access to the A21 and to Paddock Wood’s mainline station, this home has period charm, is set in idyllic countryside and yet offers great access to the nearby towns and beyond.

AT A GLANCE COACH HOUSE CONVERSION, MAIDSTONE ROAD, PADDOCK WOOD Character 3/4 bedrooms 2/3 reception rooms 3 bathrooms Master bedroom with dressing room and en-suite Flexible accommodation Spacious open plan living area Garage and private parking Outside storage and wine cellar £650,000 For sale through Barnes Kingsnorth 01732 771616 www. bkestateagents.com

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Savills Tunbridge Wells 53 High Street Tunbridge Wells TN1 1XU

01892 507000 tunbridgewells@savills.com

savills.co.uk

TUNBRIDGE WELLS, kent

NEVILL COURT, TUNBRIDGE WELLS, kent

Central location ø 3 reception rooms ø 8 bedrooms ø 6 bathrooms ø conservatory ø annexe potential ø garden ø off-street parking ø 5,844 sq ft ø EPC=D

Prestigious private road on the edge of town ø excellent potential ø 2 reception rooms ø 4 bedrooms ø 2,048 sq ft ø about 0.78 acres ø EPC=D

Guide £1,999,950 Freehold

Guide £1.75 million Freehold

Contact: Amanda Wyatt

Contact: Amanda Wyatt

LANGTON GREEN, kent

TUNBRIDGE WELLS, kent

Sought-after private road ø 3 reception rooms ø kitchen/breakfast room ø 5 bedrooms ø 3 bathrooms ø study ø swimming pool ø garages ø 3,514 sq ft ø about 0.72 acres ø EPC=C

Impressive family house ø grammar schools under 1 mile ø 4 reception rooms ø kitchen/ breakfast room ø 6 bedrooms ø 449 sq ft garage ø 2,908 sq ft ø about 0.50 acres ø EPC=E

Guide £1.7 million Freehold

Guide £1.2 million Freehold

Contact: Amanda Wyatt

Buying or selling this winter? Talk to Savills.

Amanda Wyatt Negotiator 01892 507009 acwyatt@savills.com

Charlotte MelroseCantouris Negotiator 01892 507001 cmcantouris@savills.com

Contact: Charlotte Melrose-Cantouris

Savills Tunbridge Wells 53 High Street Tunbridge Wells TN1 1XU

01892 507000 tunbridgewells@savills.com

savills.co.uk

TUNBRIDGE WELLS, kent

TUNBRIDGE WELLS, kent

MLS under half a mile ø 1 reception room ø open plan kitchen/breakfast room ø 5 bedrooms ø 2 bathrooms ø courtyard garden ø permit parking ø 2,126 sq ft ø EPC=F

MLS about 1.1 miles ø grammar schools under 1 mile ø 2 reception rooms ø 5 bedrooms ø garden ø double garage ø driveway parking ø 1,434 sq ft ø EPC=E

Guide £795,000 Freehold

Guide £725,000 Freehold

Contact: Charlotte Melrose-Cantouris

Contact: Liz Devall

TUNBRIDGE WELLS, kent

TUNBRIDGE WELLS, kent

Refurbished 2/3 bedroom ground floor apartment ø town centre within 1 mile ø 1/ 2 reception rooms ø 2 bathrooms, 1 en suite ø communal garden ø 1,074 sq ft ø EPC=C

Refurbished 1 bedroom lower ground floor apartment ø town centre within 1 mile ø sitting room ø kitchen ø bathroom ø communal garden ø 514 sq ft ø EPC=D

Guide £425,000 Leasehold

Guide £185,000 Leasehold

Contact: Charlotte Melrose-Cantouris

Buying or renting this winter? Talk to Savills.

Natasha Selbie Associate 01892 507015 nselbie@savills.com

Liz Devall Negotiator 01892 507060 ldevall@savills.com

Contact: Charlotte Melrose-Cantouris

Savills Tunbridge Wells 53 High Street Tunbridge Wells TN1 1XU

01892 507050 tunbridgewells@savills.com

savills.co.uk

LETTINGS LAYOUT ONLY

BRENCHLEY, kent

TUNBRIDGE WELLS, kent

5 bedrooms ø 4 reception rooms ø 3 bathrooms ø off road parking for two cars ø administration charges will apply ø epc rating = e ø EPC=E £2,600 pcm + £276 inc VAT one-off admin fee and other charges may apply*

Victorian townhouse ø 5 bedrooms ø kitchen/breakfast room ø cellar ø courtyard garden ø EPC rating =F £2,950 pcm + £276 inc VAT one-off admin fee and other charges may apply*

TUNBRIDGE WELLS, kent

HARTFIELD, east sussex

5 bedrooms ø open plan kitchen/breakfast room ø 2 bathrooms and cloakroom ø double garage ø access to communal private park ø EPC rating = D £3,500 pcm + £276 inc VAT one-off admin fee and other charges may apply*

Kitchen/breakfast room ø master bedroom suite with his and hers dressing rooms ø 4 further bedrooms ø triple garage ø direct access to ashdown forest ø EPC rating = C £6,500 pcm + £276 inc VAT one-off admin fee and other charges may apply*

*£36 inc VAT for each additional tenant/occupant/guarantor reference where required. Inventory check out fee – charged at the end of or early termination of the tenancy and the amount is dependent on the property size and whether furnished/unfurnished. For more details, visit www.savills.co.uk/fees.

Renting or letting this winter? Talk to Savills.

With 600 offices globally, we put your property within the world’s reach.

Savills Tunbridge Wells 53 High Street Tunbridge Wells TN1 1XU 01892 507000 tunbridgewells@savills.com

Savills Sevenoaks 74 High Street Sevenoaks TN13 1JR 01732 789700 sevenoaks@savills.com

Savills Cranbrook 53-55 High Street Cranbrook TN17 3EE 01580 720161 cranbrook@savills.com

Move than you’re looking for. savills.co.uk

DE VELOPMENT

BEST RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT & BEST PROPERTY

by

N

T O HE W AV SO EN LD UE O UT

NEW- PHASE

THE LANES COMING SOON The Lanes, the next phase of contemporary homes at Knights Wood, shortly to be released for sale.

This exclusive collection of 2, 3 and 4 bedroom homes are set amongst tree-lined avenues, enveloped in over 205 acres of established woodland.

Each home features the high level of specification and attention to detail that is fast becoming synonymous with this landmark development.

Register your interest now to avoid disappointment!

Prices from ÂŁ295,000. Legal fees paid on selected homes, ask for details.

CALL NOW TO REGISTER YOUR INTEREST

01892 800 580 knightswood.co.uk

Homes of Character

01892 838363 www.fireflyproperties.co.uk www.rightmove.co.uk e. carol@fireflyproperties.co.uk

PADDOCK WOOD £349,995 FREEHOLD Extended four bedroom semi detached family home set out over three floors with accommodation comprising, entrance porch, entrance hall, sitting room, kitchen/dining room, three bedrooms, family bathroom and master bedroom with en-suite to second floor. Extensive garden to the rear and attached one & half garage. EPC D

PADDOCK WOOD £465,000 FREEHOLD Beautifully presented four bedroom detached family home nestled in a private gated cul de sac within walking distance of shops and main line station. Accommodation comprising entrance hall two receptions, large kitchen/ breakfast room, cloakroom. To first floor three bedrooms and bathroom. Second floor bedroom with ensuite. EPC C

COLLIER STREET £695,000 9 acres of land (tbv) 3 bedroom detached family home with detached barn which has planning permission applied for to convert to a holiday let. Viewing highly recommended. EPC E

MATFIELD £855,500 FREEHOLD A rural aspect to front and rear standing in grounds just in excess of two acres.

Accommodation comprising three receptions, four bedrooms to include master bedroom with ensuite, attached triple garage which has potential subject to planning to convert to ‘annex or workshop.’ NO CHAIN EPC: F

PADDOCK WOOD £595,000 Beautifully presented detached family home located in a sought after development, walking distance to mainline station and shops. Three receptions to include conservatory, cloakroom, bespoke “Harvey Jones” kitchen, four bedrooms with en-suite to master bedroom and family bathroom. Large corner plot, garage and car port. EPC: D

BRENCHLEY £350,00 FREEHOLD NO CHAIN - Charming three bedroom semi detached cottage located in rural Brenchley, entrance hall, cloakroom, 2 receptions, 3 double bedrooms and large bathroom. Rural outlook to rear. EPC D

HUNTON £540,000 FREEHOLD Planning permission granted to double the size of Gudgeon Oast. Current accommodation, 2 bedrooms, bathroom, detached studio, detached annex with plumbing for en-suite set in 0.6 acre garden and orchards.

EPC D

PADDOCK WOOD £329,500 Well presented three bedroom end of terrace situated on a corner plot within the favoured Hunters Chase Development. Entrance hall, sitting/dining room, kitchen with utility room leading off (forming the rear part of the garage), cloakroom and large conservatory. Master bedroom offers en-suite. Secluded walled garden. EPC: C

PADDOCK WOOD £610,000 Beautifully presented five bedroom detached family home set out over three floors, three receptions, cloakroom, kitchen/breakfast room, utility and conservatory. First floor, master bedroom suite, two further bedroom and family bathroom. Second floor two double bedrooms and shower room. EPC D

FIVE OAK GREEN £255,000 Pretty end of terrace cottage dating back to circa 1870.

Nestled in the centre of Five Oak Green village. Entrance hall, large sitting room with open fire, dining room, fitted kitchen, two double bedrooms and modern bathroom on the first floor. Garden to the rear overlooking orchards.

EPC: D

bracketts est. 1828

When experience counts...

Tunbridge Wells – Guide Price £750,000

• Favoured Culverden area • 4 bedrooms / 2 bathrooms (one en suite) • Level rear garden • EPC: D

Tunbridge Wells – Guide Price £399,950

• Luxurious top floor apartment • Large kitchen / dining room • 2 bedrooms / 2 bathrooms • EPC: B

Tunbridge Wells – Monthly Rental of £2,100

• Overlooking Dunorlan Park • 2 reception rooms • 3 double bedrooms • EPC: E

Tunbridge Wells – Guide Price £285,000

• Beautifully presented • 3 bedrooms • 2 reception rooms • EPC: C

Price Range: £550,000 - £595,000

• East side of town – close A21 • Large reception room • 3 double bedrooms • EPC: E

Tunbridge Wells – Monthly Rental of £1,195

• Ground floor apartment with private entrance • 2 bedrooms • Secure allocated parking • EPC: F

Tunbridge Wells 01892 533733 tunbridgewells@bracketts.co.uk

bracketts.co.uk

ALEXANDRE BOYES The Tunbridge Wells property specialists offering dedicated teams in Sales, Lettings and Block & Estate Management

Ben Carey BA (Hons) PG Dip Senior Negotiator

Emma Child MARLA Lettings Manager

Kevin Guthrie AssocRICS MIRPM Estate & Block Manager

2014 allowed the Alexandre Boyes sales team to show their versatility and 2015 will continue to show that we no longer just ‘sell’ houses; we have become all round property professionals. We have advised on development sites, large and small scale renovation projects, investment purchases, sales of listed property, sourced specialist homes and worked alongside national auction companies. The sales market has been swift-moving over the last 12 months with key advice and client relationships being at height of importance in what we offer. Working across a broad range, selling studio investment properties through to stunning country estates the sales team are able to offer the widest range of services required to any client.

The lettings market in Tunbridge Wells is extremely competitive and as a team we benefit from many years of experience letting and managing property in and around Tunbridge Wells.

Alexandre Boyes are proud members of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors & Association of Residential Letting Agents.

I have been letting and managing properties within Tunbridge Wells for 7 years; this combined with our award winning team of two experienced property managers, three negotiators and our in house chartered accountant enable us to offer an exemplary service to our Landlords and Tenants. 2015 has seen the introduction of our inhouse property maintenance team reactive to repairs and maintenance, including but not limited to general repairs, decorating, carpentry, plumbing, kitchen and bathroom fitting, and roof repairs. With an ever expanding portfolio, we are trying to evolve the multi-disciplined approach that has become the ethos of Alexandre Boyes.

Residential Block Management at Alexandre Boyes is going through a re-structuring exercise and 2015 looks to be an exciting year ahead. The team now consists of 7 staff members comprising two experienced property managers who are both members of IRPM, two service charge bookkeepers, a surveyor, a landscape manager, and an assistant. We are proud to say that Alexandre Boyes are the only Residential Block Management company in Tunbridge Wells with a Chartered Surveyor as Partner. The department will be moving into new block management offices at 43 Mount Ephraim as we have outgrown our offices at 48. The new premises will benefit from a meeting room for clients and will be ready mid March.

ben@alexandre-boyes.co.uk

emma@alexandre-boyes.co.uk

SALES | LETTINGS | ESTATE MANAGEMENT 48 MOUNT EPHRAIM, TUNBRIDGE WELLS, TN4 8AU 01892 525522 | www.alexandre-boyes.co.uk

kevin@alexandre-boyes.co.uk

“MAKING MOVES”

ESTATE AGENTS

McAuley Miller Estate Agents provided the best service in the buying selling and letting process.

I will certainly use them again the next time I need an estate agent for any of these services.

They are a knowledgeable, friendly, approachable team who I would absolutely recommend to anyone I know – EXCELLENT customer service! RESIDENTIAL CLIENT

MEET OUR TEAM Residential Sales | Residential Lettings | Property Management Kevin Miller

Belinda Lee

Mary McAuley Miller

Andrea Harold

Mig Bennett

Charlotte Knight

Chloe Newell

25 – 27 Mount Ephraim, Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN4 8AE 01892 614777 sales@mcauleymiller.com lettings@mcauleymiller.com

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Get some space in your life.™

GROOMBRIDGE

| REGION £1.15 MILLION

Lovely substantial Victorian attached property with light and spacious rooms and attractive period features Drawing Room. Dining Room. Sitting Room. Study. Kitchen Breakfast Room. Master Bedroom. Dressing/Study Area. Guest Bedroom with En Suite Shower Room. 2 Further Bedrooms. 2 Family Bathrooms. 3 Attic Rooms.

Driveway providing parking. Detached Garage. 0.34 acre plot. EPC D APPLY: TUNBRIDGE WELLS OFFICE

WADHURST

BRENCHLEY

TUNBRIDGE WELLS

£3,750 PCM + fees

£1,250 PCM + fees

£995 PCM + fees

Superior family home in semi-rural location with views

Detached character cottage set down a private driveway

Stylish first floor apartment in the heart of Tunbridge Wells

3 Reception Rooms. Kitchen Breakfast Room. 7 Bedrooms. 3 Bathrooms. Shower Room. Annexe. Double Garage. Garden.

Heated Pool. EPC C.

Dual aspect sitting room, dining room, kitchen, WC, 3 bedrooms and family bathroom, driveway parking for 2 cars, pretty garden, outbuilding. Beautiful location. EPC F

Sitting/dining room, kitchen with fitted white goods, double bedroom, large single bedroom, bathroom, parking. EPC G.

APPLY: TUNBRIDGE WELLS OFFICE

APPLY: TUNBRIDGE WELLS OFFICE

APPLY: TUNBRIDGE WELLS OFFICE

ESCAPE TO THE COUNTRY PA RS ON A G E C ROF T

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H IG H ST R EE T, ETCH ING HA M T N1 9 7 AD

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A collection of 3, 4 & 5 bedroom homes in the picturesque village of Etchingham. Surrounded by beautiful countryside, yet only 15 minutes from Battle and just 90 minutes from Charing Cross, living here you benefit from the best of both worlds.

Reservations Being Taken - Prices from £350,000

PEA = B

Show Home Open Thursday - Monday 11am - 5pm

For all enquiries please call 01580 388007 | www.parsonagecroft.com

Tunbridge Wells £695,000

Tonbridge £775pcm

• 5/6 Bedroom Terraced House • 2/3 Reception Rooms • Accommodation Over 3 Floors

• 1 Bedroom • Private Balcony • Secure Gated Parking

• Updating & Modernisation Rqrd • Backs on to Calverley Grounds • Energy Efficiency Rating: TBA

Tunbridge Wells Guide Price £625,000 • Spacious Period Property • 3 Bedrooms, 4 Receptions • St James’ Location

• Off Road Parking & Garage • Large Rear Garden • Energy Efficiency Rating: E

Langton Green £759,995 • Berkeley Homes Built Detached House • 5 Bedrooms, 3 Reception Rooms • 2 Bedrooms with En-suites • Langton Green Village

Crowborough £2,100pcm • Integral Double Garage • Kitchen/Breakfast Room With Appliances • Gas Central Heating, Double Glazing • Energy Efficiency Rating: D

• 5 Bedrooms • 2 Reception Rooms • En-Suite Shower Room • Good Sized Rear Garden

• Energy Efficiency Rating: D • Agent’s Fees Apply • Double Garage • Gas Central Heating

Tunbridge Wells £570,000 • Victorian Town House • St. James Location • 3 Bedrooms

Camden Park, Tunbridge Wells O.I.R.O. £1,350,000 • Prestigious Camden Park Location • Individual 4 Bed Detached House • Attached 1 Bedroom Annex • 4 Reception Rooms

• Family Bath Plus 3 En Suite Showers • Open Plan Kitchen & Organery • Generous Off Road Parking • Energy Efficiency Rating: D

• Landscaped Rear Garden • Off Road Parking • Energy Efficiency Rating: E

Tunbridge Wells £360,000 • 3 Bed Semi Detached • Popular St Johns Location • Private Rear Garden

• Wood Burner to Lounge • On Street Parking • Energy Efficiency Rating: D

Tunbridge Wells £1,400pcm • 3 Bedrooms • Newly Refurbished • Private Roof Terrace • Central Location

• Energy Efficiency Rating: C • Walking Dist to MLS • Gas Central Heating • Agent’s Fees Apply

woodandpilcher.co.uk

Tunbridge Wells Office 01892 511211 tunbridgewells@woodandpilcher.co.uk Southborough Office 01892 511311 southborough@woodandpilcher.co.uk OTHER OFFICES Tonbridge Office 01732 351135 tonbridge@woodandpilcher.co.uk Crowborough Office 01892 665666 crowborough@woodandpilcher.co.uk Heathfield Office 01435 862211 heathfield@woodandpilcher.co.uk

Southborough £950,000 • Substantial 5 Bed Detached Home • Approx. 0.36 Acre Gardens • Bidborough/Southborough Border • Sitting Room With Open Fireplace

Tunbridge Wells £1,200pcm • Kitchen/Breakfast Room • 31’ Garage & Off Road Parking • Double Glazing, Gas Central Heating • Energy Efficiency Rating: E

• 2 Bedrooms • Security Deposit: £1,800 • Council Tax Band: C • Available late February

• Energy Efficiency Rating: D • Recently Refurbished • Gas Central Heating • Agent’s Fees Apply

• Central Location • Energy Efficiency Rating: B • Agent’s Fees Apply

Vicarage Road, Southborough

Freehold

Offers In The Region Of £1,700,000

• Victorian Villa Set In Beautiful Grounds • Five Double Bedrooms With The Master En-Suite Plus a Generous Single Bedroom • Seven Reception Rooms • Packed With Period Features Throughout • Beautiful Sunny Garden With A Heated Swimming Pool • Private Road With Fabulous Country Walks Nearby • Walking Distance To All Local Amenities, Primary, Secondary And Grammar Schools • Off-Road Parking For Up To Five Cars • Seven Minute Drive To Mainline Train Station

Vale Road, Southborough

Freehold

Guide Price £650,000-£700,000

• Four Bedrooms • Three Reception Rooms • Newly Fitted Kitchen Open-Plan To Dining Area • Downstairs Cloakroom • Spacious Conservatory/Sitting Room With A Newly Tiled Roof • Generous Sized Study • Upstairs Bathroom And Shower Room • Excellent Additional Attic Space With Eve Storage • Large Landscaped South-Facing Garden with Patio Area • Fantastic Garden Room Currently Used As A Gym/Office and Separate Storeroom • Off-Road Parking and Garage • Superb Peaceful Location Close To Local Amenities And Schools

Park Road, Southborough

Leasehold

Offers in Excess of £215,000

• Newly Renovated • Ground Floor • Two Bedrooms • Open-Plan Living • Newly Fitted Kitchen • Off-Road Parking • Communal Gardens • Brand New Lease To Be Issued

In 2011, LeGrys opened its first office in Tunbridge Wells and has since gone on to open three further offices.

LeGrys offer comprehensive Sales, Lettings & Property Management Services.

CALL FREE on 0800 320 2012 or 01892 529 448 | info@legrys.com | legrys.com

T D L E EE R AG

Langton Road, Tunbridge Wells Priced At £2,850 PCM

• Simply Astonishing Family Home • Four Generous Size Bedrooms • Impeccably Maintained Throughout • Beautiful Family Bathroom • Additional En-Suite From Master Bedroom • Large Sun Room With Multiple Slide Back Doors • Open-Plan Kitchen/Diner With Fitted Range Cooker • Downstairs Cloakroom • Landscaped Garden With Patio And Large Lawn • Driveway With Private Parking • Possibility Of Annexe

T D LE EE R AG

Doric Avenue, Southborough Priced At £2,495 PCM

• Beautiful Detached House • Five Double Bedrooms • Off Road Parking & Integral Garage • Master Bedroom with En-Suite Plus Separate Bathroom • Open Plan Kitchen/Dining Room • Study • Utility Room & Downstairs Cloakroom

T D LE EE R AG

Sandhurst Road, Tunbridge Wells Priced At £1,200 PCM

• • • • • •

Three Double Bedrooms Large Kitchen Diner Good Sized Light & Airy Lounge Close To Local Amenities Garage Communal Garden

• Our Offices Are Open 7 Days A Week, maximising Viewing Potential • Free Professional EPC, Floor Plans and Photography on Sales Properties • No Tie-In Contracts • Highly Experienced Team of Staff • Customer Service Led – Offering Totally Transparent Service • Extremely Competitive Fees • Members of The Registered Landlords Association & The Property Ombudsman • Offering Landlords Fully Managed, Let Only or Rent Collection Services

Tunbridge Wells | Edenbridge | Rotherfield | Lewes | Associated London Office

8am - 10pm everyday

TRULY SCRUMPTIOUS

IDYLLIC SETTING

POA

£1,545,000

WADHURST

INSIDE THIS HOME Unique and Bijou Grade II Listed Property; Ideal as First Home Or Let Potential; Open Plan Living With Mezzanine Bedroom; Feature Ceiling Height Windows; Prestigious Rural Setting On Former Farm; Surrounded By Countryside; Westerly Facing With Beautiful Sunset views; Own Parking.

LAMBERHURST

“IT'S IDEAL FOR ANYONE WANTING TO ESCAPE TO THE COUNTRYSIDE BUT STILL BE WITHIN REACH OF THE CITY.”

WOODLAND TALES HIGH HURSTWOOD £1,550,000

“WE ARE GOING TO MISS ABSOLUTELY EVERYTHING ABOUT THIS PLACE WHEN WE MOVE.”

"THE NAME LITTLE SCRUMPIES SAYS IT ALL! I FELL IN LOVE WITH THIS HOUSE FOR ITS UNIQUENESS. IT'S CUTE, COSY, QUIRKY, BEAUTIFUL, FULL OF CHARACTER."

INSIDE THIS HOME Small Country Estate; 4 Bedrooms; 5 Reception Rooms; Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty; Stunning Location with Extensive Views; Detached 1 Bedroom Cottage with Full Planning for Holiday Let; Studio Apartment over Double Garage; Outbuildings; Artists Studio; Grounds of Approximately 11 Acres (Subject to Measured Survey); Timber Stable; Fenced Paddocks; Great Equestrian Potential; 5 Interlinking Ponds; Close to Train Stations; Approximately 8 miles from Royal Tunbridge Wells; EPC Rating D.

INSIDE THIS HOME Stunning Detached Country Home; 4 Bedrooms; 2 Bathrooms; Elegant Drawing Room; Dining Room and Study; Bespoke Kitchen leading into Conservatory; Garage with Workshop/Studio Over; Wealth of Character Features including Beams and Oak Moulded Doors with Sussex Latches; Approximately 7 Acres (Subject to Measured Survey) of Gardens, Grounds and Woodland; EPC Rating D.

DIVINE DUO

ELEGANT STYLE

NATURAL BEAUTY

£695,000

£799,000

£1,100,000

INSIDE THIS HOME Substantial Detached Period Family Home; Victorian with Jacobean Origin; 6 Bedrooms over 3 Floors; Elegant Reception Room from Entrance Hall; Country Style Kitchen; Shower Room; Family Bathroom; 2 Staircases; Large Gardens with Orchard, Small Paddock Approximately ¾ of an Acre (Subject to Measured Survey); Garage; Rear Entrance Driveway with Extensive Parking; Located in Favoured Cousley Wood; No Chain; EPC Rating F.

"ALL THE ROOMS HAVE VERY LARGE WINDOWS THIS NOT ONLY MEANS WE HAVE THE BEAUTIFUL VIEWS BUT THAT THE HOUSE IS INCREDIBLY LIGHT."

ROBERTSBRIDGE

INSIDE THIS HOME 3 Bedroom Attached Cottage; Separate 2 Bedroom Annexe; (5 Bedrooms in total); Semi-rural Surroundings; Set within fabulous well stocked and Private Gardens; and Grounds of Approx 1 Acre (Subject to Measurement Survey); Wealth of Character and Charm; Easy Access of Robertsbridge Village and Mainline Station; EPC Rating E (Main Residence); EPC Rating F (Annexe Accommodation).

“WE HAVE USED IT AS A BED AND BREAKFAST IN THE PAST, SO IT HAS FANTASTIC BUSINESS POTENTIAL."

WADHURST

“THE HOUSE OFFERS SO MUCH SPACE AND FLEXIBILITY AND TOGETHER WITH THE LARGE GARDENS, VEGETABLE PATCH AND SMALL ORCHARD WORKS WELL FROM ALL PERSPECTIVES FOR FAMILY LIFE.”

Great British Homes in East Sussex & Kent The Service You Expect. The Result Your Home Deserves.

BURWASH

INSIDE THIS HOME Detached 4 Bedroom Country House; Set in Approximately 10 Acres (Subject to Measured Survey), comprising 7 Acres of Pretty Woodland, Mature South Facing Gardens and Grounds with Tennis Court and feature Japanese Garden; Stunning Panoramic Views; 4 Bedrooms; Double Aspect Drawing Room; Large Kitchen with Under Floor Heating; Dining Room; Study; Shower Room; Family Bathroom; Utility Room; Double Garage and Parking; Annexe Potential; EPC Rating D.

KENT & SUSSEX

01892 458 931 CHEWTONROSE.CO.UK/SUSSEX

MAYFIELD ROAD, TN4

£1,200 PCM

Newly refurbished penthouse apartment in a Victorian conversion less than 3/4 of a mile from the station. The second floor accommodation comprises entrance hall with tiled floor, newly fitted kitchen with integrated appliances, master bedroom with a deep walk-in cupboard, a second double bedroom, newly fitted bathroom with shower over the bath and a living room with feature fireplace. There is also an allocated off-road parking space to the front. Early viewing is genuinely recommended to fully appreciate what is on offer.

Energy Efficiency Rating: D

UPPER GROSVENOR ROAD, TN1 £950 PCM

ASHENDEN WALK, TN2

£995 PCM

A two double bedroom, ground floor apartment located 1.1 miles from Tunbridge Wells train station & town centre and 0.5 miles from High Brooms train station. The accommodation comprises lounge/diner with an opening to the kitchen with a full range of integrated appliances including: fridge/freezer, washing machine, oven, hob and stainless steel extractor hood. The master bedroom has an en-suite shower room and there is a family bathroom. Other benefits include: double glazed windows, allocated parking.

Energy Efficiency Rating: C

Three bedroom semi-detached house less than three quarters of a mile from High Brooms station and offering access to A21. The accommodation comprises lounge, through dining room and kitchen with appliances while upstairs there are two double bedrooms and a further single bedroom. The bathroom features a shower over the bath. Other features include gas central heating, double glazed windows, drive and garage. The property is offered furnished or unfurnished, for a 6 month tenancy.

Energy Efficiency Rating: C

Unbeatable price

Product: Let Only RRP: Match It!

Product: Rent Collection RRP: Match It!

£1,500 PCM

Located just a quarter of a mile from the Royal Victoria Place Shopping Centre and half a mile from the mainline station, this newly built terraced town house is available now. The accommodation comprises an entrance hall and downstairs WC, living room with doors to the courtyard garden and a fitted kitchen with integrated appliances. On the first floor there is a double bedroom and a further single bedroom, which would also work well as a study, as well as a family bathroom with a corner shower cubicle. On the second floor, there is a master bedroom with an en-suite shower room and a further double bedroom. Outside there is a paved courtyard garden with a garden shed and an allocated parking space to the front.

Energy Efficiency Rating: C

Tunbridge Wells 01892 525551 tunbridgewells.lets@andrewsonline.co.uk

RRP: Match It!

Award-winning lettings service We pride ourselves on our award-winning lettings service. And with our Match It!* promise, you can now experience it first hand.

Give yourself an unfair advantage.

Instruct us today.

Call inside for details. *If you find a comparable service offered for less by any other ARLA regulated letting agent within 3 miles of our branch, we will price match their commission fee. This offer is subject to our minimum fee, written proof of the package you are being offered and applies to new instructions only and must be agreed before signing our Terms of Business.

Andrews. Get ahead. andrewsonline.co.uk

1404SS355602

GOODS STATION ROAD, TN1

Product: Full t Managemen

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01892 512 101

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Excellence is not a skill. It's an attitude.

Single Office South East “Estate Agency of the Year 2014” SO LD

“Maddisons is a shining example of how the industr y

LD O S

could be represented and wants to change public opinion on how estate agents offer value for money. The team invests hugely in the clients before the instruction stage and pays a huge amount of attention to the finite Molyneux Place

details. With 95% of instructions for this new agency

Bredbur y House

SO LD

coming from personal referral it seems the ser vice and

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personal touches are paying dividends. The business owner has a background in high wealth banking and is bringing this precision to detail and level of client ser vice to the property industr y. She is ver y passionate Cromwell Road

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with excellent attention to detail, and has a clarity of vision for the future of the business that sets her apart

Culverden Park

SO LD

from the competition. The team share her vision and ethos and take pride in playing their part in building Maddison’s reputation. The panel’s comment was that this innovative agency is a star of the future.”

Judging Panel’s Comments Matfield

Ospringe Place

We have a proven track record in successfully selling properties in and around Tunbridge Wells and would simply love to help you make your next move. So please, call us today.

You’ll feel the difference immediately.

Royal Victoria House, 51-55 The Pantiles, Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN2 5TE Telephone: 01892 514100 Email: info@maddisonsresidential.co.uk

a very

important decision

There are some things in life that should not be left to chance and the sale of a property is certainly one of them.

At a time when many people are watching and waiting, we have a dedicated team of analysts who are monitoring the movements in the property market so that we can offer the best advice.

So, if you are considering a move this year, now is the time to speak to Knight Frank.

Contact Knight Frank Tunbridge Wells today on:

01892 310269

Guide price: £1,150,000 Mark Cross Victorian wing of a country house 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 2 reception rooms.

Wonderful gardens. Garage and parking.

EPC rating E. In all about 1 acre.

Guide price: £845,000 Mayfield Delightful and well-positioned house 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 2 reception rooms.

Oak-framed detached double garage.

EPC rating C. In all about 0.43 acre.

WITH YOU EVERY STEP OF THE WAY To find out how we can help you please contact us

Guide price: £2,250,000 Bidborough A beautifully presented country house 7 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, 4 reception rooms.

Swimming pool. Tennis court. Equestrian facilities.

EPC rating E. In all about 9 acres.

Guide price: £1,950,000 Lake Road, Tunbridge Wells Architect designed house on a private road 5 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms, 3 reception rooms.

Lawned gardens with wooded area and patio / BBQ area.

Garage. Games room. EPC rating C.

Guide price: £2,650,000 Speldhurst A beautifully refurbished country house 5 to 7 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms, 5 reception rooms.

Outbuildings. Tennis court.

EPC rating E. In all about 11.35 acres.

Guide price: £450,000 Frant Magnificent top floor apartment 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 1 reception room.

Large communal gardens with tennis court.

Wonderful views. EPC rating C.

Guide price: £600,000 Buckingham Road, Tunbridge Wells A Victorian family house 3 bedrooms, 1 bathroom, 2 reception rooms.

Highly sought after position. Private courtyard garden.

EPC rating C.

KnightFrank.co.uk/tunbridge-wells tunwells@knightfrank.com 01892 310269

Guide price: £875,000 Frant Road, Tunbridge Wells Beautifully presented detached family home 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, 3 reception rooms.

Private parking and rear garden. EPC rating C.

Guide price: £1,200,000 Mayfield Immaculate portion of a Grade II listed house 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms. Private terrace and garden. 2 private parking spaces. Highly sought after position.

Guide price: £925,000 Speldhurst Spacious village house on a quiet no through road 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 3 reception rooms.

Large south facing rear garden. EPC rating D. In all about 0.66 acre.

@KF_TWells KnightFrank.co.uk

Guide price: £1,550,000 Bishops Down Park Road, Tunbridge Wells Elegant period house in a private park 6 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, 3 reception rooms.

Shared use of private 8 acre residents’ park.

EPC rating D. In all about 0.33 acre.

Guide price: £680,000 / £815,000 Broadcroft, Tunbridge Wells Two impressive brand new detached town houses 4 / 5 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, 2 / 3 reception rooms.

Private rear garden. EPC rating C.

50 � PROMOTIONAL FEATURE

THINKING OF MOVING HOME THIS YEAR? You’ve made the decision to move, found your dream home and your offer has been accepted. Feelings of excitement and apprehension set in and all you want is the whole process to end with you safely ensconced in your new home. So what steps can you take to ensure that the process will run smoothly and costly mistakes are avoided? Well, skimping on surveys and conveyancing can cost you dearly in the long run. So here are some top tips to help your move go as smoothly as possible.

the property ladder. You should also make sure you know who you are instructing and that the firm is registered with a regulatory body such as the Solicitors Regulation GET YOUR MORTGAGE Authority. There are bogus law firms out there AGREED FIRST who will take your money and then close up Although borrowing from banks and shop which means you lose the money and building societies has improved recently, it your dream home. That is why it is essential is not a given. So to avoid disappointment, that you get the advice and guidance you check you can get the mortgage you need need every step of the way from a known before starting the process. You can reputable law firm. They are there get a mortgage agreement in to help you avoid the pitfalls of principle secured first, but what can be a murky area. remember that this is an The cheapest option indication and not a may not always legal agreement.

You wouldn’t buy a car prove to be the best.

Remember, this may DECIDE without the knowledge well be the biggest WHETHER purchase you’ll YOU ARE of a service history, so make and you want HAPPY TO to be sure that you RELY ON THE why would you run this know what you are MORTGAGE buying. You should LENDER’S financial risk when be able to contact VALUATION OR DO your conveyancer and YOU REQUIRE A FULL buying a house? fully understand what is SURVEY. happening at each step of A lender’s valuation is an the move. If you are not sure, assessment carried out by and ask! One further point to bear in for the benefit of the lender in order to check that the property presents adequate security for its loan should you default and the property has to be sold. However, it does not report on actual faults in the property.

For many, a Home Buyer’s Report, which will expose problems such as damp, dry rot and subsidence, is adequate but if you are buying an older house or unusual home a full structural survey will be a wise investment.

You wouldn’t buy a car without the knowledge of a service history, so why would you run this financial risk when buying a house?

• By Deborah Miller

1

2



mind is that your conveyancer will not visit the property themselves, so should there be something you feel uncertain about bring it to their attention and they will provide you with the options available in order to try to resolve the issue.

5

REMEMBER TO ARRANGE BUILDING INSURANCE FROM THE DATE OF THE EXCHANGE OF CONTRACTS. From exchange of contract you will be legally responsible for the structure of the property. This is often overlooked and can potentially have serious consequences. Make sure you have buildings insurance cover in place from this date.

With this being said and the potential risks of buying a home with hidden problems amounting to thousands of pounds in potential outgoings, why would you cut corners for the sake of a few pounds when the risks are so large?

For further support and advice regarding your home buying/selling experience contact our office and speak to one of my property team today on 01892 539 379 or email times@maxbarford.co.uk

For further information or to request a quote for your move cut out the coupon and post to the address below. Alternatively call or email us today quoting reference MBCT0403 Telephone 01892 539 379 or Email times@maxbarford.co.uk Name Address

Tel.No Email Max Barford & Co 16 Mount Pleasant Road Tunbridge Wells Kent TN1 1QU www.parfittcresswell.com

3

REMEMBER TO FACTOR IN THE TRUE COST OF MOVING. Mortgage arrangement fees, survey fees, legal costs and removal costs are all substantial costs of moving. However, the often overlooked but most expensive cost is Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) which varies dependent on the value of the property purchased. If you purchase a property above £125,000 SDLT becomes payable. Recent changes to SDLT have been introduced to try to make the tax fairer.

Under the old regime the SDLT percentage rates increased at various thresholds. Under the old rules SDLT was payable at a single rate on the whole transaction value. From 4 December 2014, SDLT is payable on a sliding scale depending on the portion of the purchase price that falls within each rate band. Where contracts have been exchanged on or before 3 December 2014, and the transaction is completed on 4 December or later, you can choose whether to use the old or the new rules.

There is no doubt that the SDLT changes will be of benefit to many home buyers. For example, under the old regime, Stamp Duty Land Tax payable on a purchase price of £350,000 would be £10,500 and under the new regime it would be £7,500 - representing a saving of £3,000.

4

CHOOSE YOUR CONVEYANCING SOLICITORS WITH CARE If you take the risk of buying without the support and guidance of an expertly trained legal conveyancer, you run the risk of walking into a financial booby trap which can seriously hamper your progression up Max Barford & Co. is a trading name of Parfitt Cresswell. Parfitt Cresswell is authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority. No. 71480

Wednesday 4th March 2015

FASHION, HEALTH AND BEAUTY �

CAT’S TOP STYLE TIPS

Catherine de Crevecoeur Style Consultant

1. Be your best all the time, even on dressed–down days. Every single item in your wardrobe, whether it’s for work, going out, casual or even just for lounging around at home, should make you feel and look great all the time. And you don’t need to spend lots of money to do this! It’s about choosing the right items for you and your wardrobe.

• By Charlie Bond WHEN I meet Catherine, or Cat as she’s known, she’s wearing a beautiful dress and her hair is perfectly coiffed. I instantly wish I’d had an umbrella in the rain, because I’m aware my hair is less beehive and more bird’s nest. However, I’m immediately put at ease because Cat’s first words aren’t “what ARE you wearing?” but rather “I like your top.” I’m so surprised by the compliment, I regale her with a tale of my shopping woes, before drawing breath and asking her about herself.

Growing up in France, Cat has moved around the world, living in Germany, Ireland and the US before settling in Tunbridge Wells.

Previously an account director for a London advertising agency, at the height of her career she had a change of heart and decided to pursue her passion for fashion. Having studied at the London College of Fashion, she styled friends and family, then eight years ago went it alone, launching her company STYLE pour moi.

Since then, she’s helped everyone from TV stars to men looking for weekend wear. In an image–obsessed society, Cat admits style is one very important element.

“I think style matters tremendously. It’s not just about clothes, it’s the image you’re projecting. It’s a real opportunity to express yourself,” she explains.

“It’s important because it says something about who you are and it’s your personal branding.”

Everybody knows you only get one chance to make a first impression, and before we’ve even spoken, our look has been analysed. Like it or not, in a few seconds, everything from clothes to posture has been assessed.

“The first thing people see is the person and the impact they have visually, in what they’re wearing and also their confidence,” says Cat. “It takes four seconds to make a judgement on someone based on appearance and that’s just how we are – it’s human nature.”

It would seem that, more than ever, people are willing to shell out on the perfect image.

But is that because we care too much about what others think, or is it because we really believe you can’t put a price on beauty?

51

2. We all have hang–ups, that’s what we do. But next time you are trying on clothes, don’t just focus on hiding the bad bits, look at how you can enhance your good assets too, whether those are your legs, arms, cheekbones or flat tummy.

Avoid hiding behind ill–fitting clothes.

FINAL CHOICE The complete outfit

“I think because we live in a brutally competitive world and it’s hard, you’ve really got to fight for yourself and make sure you get to where you want to be,” Cat says. “These days, people judge more and more. Social media has had a massive impact too – it’s not just how you present yourself face to face, it’s the image you project on Facebook, Linkedin and Twitter. The media pressure has got more intense.”

While, once upon a time we’d think many treatments readily available today were just for celebrities, now in some circles, it’s almost the norm to have botox or your teeth bleached.

A low–maintenance attitude to appearance seems to be deemed unacceptable by some – but is it for good reason?

“If you’re looking after yourself, people assume you’re looking after your work in the same way. In terms of first impressions, it’s a good thing to bear in mind,” says Cat. “People are more and more aware that hygiene and beauty are part of your package. Your nails, hair and skin are all part of that, and in a work environment, it’s important you look after those things.”

In order to keep up with competition in the workplace and social lives, we’re happy to spend on our looks. Things we used to class as luxuries are seemingly now necessities and when it comes to image, more than ever are investing.

“People are busier but looking after themselves is a question of them going directly to what they need, so to a personal stylist like myself, or for a beauty treatment”, says Cat. “Somewhere like Tunbridge Wells has fantastic places and they can recommend products so you can do it at home. Access to

3. Make a list before hitting the shops – not a list of what you want, but of what you need to complement your existing wardrobe. This will save you time and money.

4. When in doubt, keep your outfit simple and just add one key focus element to keep it interesting, whether that’s a bright lippy, your favourite statement jacket or necklace.

5. When it comes to showing skin, choose carefully which area of your body to focus on; go for legs or cleavage but preferably not both.

FINISHING TOUCHES Jewellery is all part of the look

everything makes it easier, so if you have a busy schedule it’s all available.”

The UK might be behind the US when it comes to spending on style but the gap is closing. While some might not agree with the “new normal”, Cat believes image is integral to leaving a lasting impression.

“Some people say it’s not important and it’s just frivolous, but I think it is important because it’s our first way to express ourselves.

It shouldn’t be dismissed,” explains Cat. “I think the trend will continue with people spending more time investing in themselves– because it is an investment.”

Hungry?

FOOD & DRINK TURN TO PAGE 54

Times

O F TUNBR IDGE WEL LS

Photographed on location at Kitch of Tunbridge Wells.

atmanclinic

atman clinic structural and cranial osteopathy for the whole family

call us on 01892 544783 or visit www.atmanclinic.co.uk

Wednesday 4th March 2015

52 � RECRUITMENT

RECRUITMENT MAKE THE CHANGE Working in partnership with jobsinkent.com, The Times of Tunbridge Wells recruitment team are proud to work with local businesses and agencies alike to bring you your next career move

recruitment solutions building teams that build businesses and careers that reward

Recruitment Solutions

2 St John’s Road, Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN4 9QW Tel: 01892 540 054 Fax: 01892 542 054 Web: www.recsol.co.uk E : robert.dutton@recsol.co.uk And… great roles for graduates, A level trainees, Legal Secretaries and sales people! Call us now

Motivation HR Motor Trade Recruitment

Great jobs with Great Clients for Great Candidates!

Media Officer £30-35K Rare?… you bet! Liaising with radio and tv, as part of the press team! Delivering engaging newsworthy responses internally externally, use press, media and social media!

You will have relevant press relations experience, and be looking to work locally

Exciting PA/Marketing role - £25-30K Expanding tech co; lots of involvement, great boss!

Architectural BIM Manager - £35-45K Fantastic urban design practice; lot of scope for developing the role!

Kitchen Designer £25k neg + comm High end clients and projects!

Administrator £20-25K Have you worked in a bank processing admin? Great role, lovely company, good benefits…

Customer Service Advisor £19k Super role, Tunbridge Wells based! Ideally suited to a friendly, engaging person with a warm helpful manner….

Trainee Administrator – Sevenoaks – £13k - £15k Great start for first jobber or returner to work!

Compliance Assistant upto £24k neg Ideal for 2nd jobber looking to progress! Superb opportunity for development

Part time Receptionist £7.50 per hour Sevenoaks, 15hrs per week!

Smashing role!

We are looking for candidates with previous automotive experience

Jobs Available: Body Shop Paint Sprayers Body Shop Panel Beaters Strip & Fitters Estimators Smart repair Technicians Alloy wheel Technicians

Vehicle Technicians LCV Technicians HGV Technicians Car Sales Executives Body Shop Manager Sales Manager

Service Manager Service Advisors Parts Advisors Workshop Controllers Aftersales Managers General Managers

Business Manager Master Technicians / NVQ Level 4 Administrators Call Centre Operatives

Contact www.motivationhr.com or send a CV to laura@motivationhr.com for further information on the positions we have available.

Wednesday 4th March 2015

RECRUITMENT �

53

Top agency looking for a Mid-weight c# .Net developer Audit Semi-Senior, Orpington £25,000 + Study Support

Motor Claims Handler, Sevenoaks £27,000

Friendly 4 Partner accounting Firm based in Orpington is seeking to recruit an Audit & Accounts semi-senior to join their growing Practice.

Motor Claims Negotiator/Handler required for this smaller but rapidly growing insurance company. The company offers a progressive, empowering environment with state of the art, modern offices close to a mainline station and with parking facilities.

The role itself will be split 70% Audit, 30% Accounts and the portfolio of clients will include charities, professional partnerships and sole traders.

Accounts Senior, Tonbridge £32,000 Following an internal promotion an Accounts Senior is required by this friendly and progressive accounting firm.

This opportunity will suit an ACCA part qualified or QBE accountant with practice based experience of accounts preparation, statutory accounts, VAT returns and tax computations. There will be plenty of client contact across a diverse portfolio of SME buisnesses.

The firm has 5 offices in various locations and this one is centrally located with close access to a main line station.

Focussing on a high degree of customer satisfaction, you will handle a portfolio of claims involving personal injury, credit hire, liability disputes, accidental damage and recovery achieving settlement at the optimum level.

To be suitable for this opportunity you will have a minimum of two years relevant experience.

NQ-2 year PQE Corporate/ Commercial Solicitor, Tunbridge Wells £DOE + benefits Corporate/Commercial Solicitor required to join busy and dynamic law firm in Tunbridge Wells.

Working closely with the head of department, you will be advising on interesting corporate deals such as M&A, MBO etc. as well as developing new business. You will be commercially minded and a keen team player with a good attention to detail.

Paralegal – Commercial Property/ Plot Sales, Tunbridge Wells £18,000-£20,000 A Legal 500 firm are currently seeking an experienced Paralegal to join their Property department to assist and handle their own case load of commercial property plot sales/ purchases.

The successful candidate will have experience gained from a regional or city law firm, within their property department (residential or commercial). You will have a good understanding of the processes involved and be able to work to strict timescales.

Commercial Property Legal Secretary, Hastings £18,000-£23,000 An experienced Legal Secretary is required to join a very successful and growing law firm based in East Sussex close to the main line station.

To be considered, you have experience of residential or commercial property.

Genuine career prospects are on offer.

We’re one of the leading marketing agencies in Kent working with an exceptional list of clients on a very wide variety of sophisticated projects.

Now due to continued growth we are looking to expand the digital team with a mid-weight c# .Net developer.

This is an ideal position of someone with a minimum of 2 years’ experience to join a demanding and challenging environment that will allow you to develop you skills.

You will be expected to work using: • MVC • WebForms • Microsoft SQL Server • JavaScript/JQuery • CSS3 • Responsive methods (CSS/JS) Projects vary but will include • Back end site and system development • CMS • E-commerce

You will need to enjoy the pressures of working in an agency which is very demanding and requires the ability to work on multiple tasks and to very tight deadlines. However, we always strive to create a great and rewarding working environment in our newly converted offices in Ashford.

To apply for this position, please send your CV including current salary details to hr@visarc.uk.

We would like to see examples of your work prior to any potential interviews, so please provide links to sites you have worked on and also explain your input to the site. If your work has predominantly been for restricted access sites, please provide the list along with an explanation of what your role was. If you do not supply a list of sites your application may not be accepted.

Visarc, Unit 11, Connect 10, Ashford Business Park, Ashford TN24 0FE, 01233 500222

16 Lonsdale Gardens, Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN1 1NU jobs@gerrardwhite.com 01892 55 33 55

job ad3.indd 1

BORED AT WORK? LOST YOUR SPARK? NO LONGER FEELING CHALLENGED? LET US HELP...

Every week the Times of Tunbridge Wells is full of great local and national jobs, we can help find the right fit for you.

Newspaper Distributer

£7.50 ph permanent part-time role As a frontline, reader facing member of our team, you will be interacting with the general public, handing out our copies of the paper at key geographical points across the Borough of Tunbridge Wells. Working from high quality branded trolleys, carrying 450 copies, it will be your responsibility to ensure the paper gets into the hands of our readers.

Hours 6am-12.30pm every Wednesday morning.

To apply, please contact: kawcock@markerstudy.com

Commercial Account Manager – Publishing As part of a small but very successful ambitious team, you will be responsible for developing and implementing a successful sales strategy achieving the agreed revenue targets on a monthly basis from your allocated categories.

Ensuring targets are exceeded and maintaining successful relationships with key accounts through clients direct and agencies. You will make yourself and your brand famous within the relevant agency and lifestyle brand world, establishing and maintaining strong commercial relationships and maximising revenues. This role requires a highly structured and proactive approach to ensure revenues are generated everyday within the agreed guidelines from the relevant markets. It is 100% results focused.

For more details and to apply for this exciting role please contact: kawcock@markerstudy.com

Magazine Designer These roles are to help with the design and page layout for a monthly regional lifestyle magazine based in Tunbridge Wells, Kent.

O F TUNBR IDGE WEL LS

You should have good communication skills, be a flexible team player and happy to work under your own initiative when the department is busy on tight deadlines.

02/03/2015 13:02

The role will include design and page layout, creating and amending adverts, preparing files for press and supporting the design and production team.

We are looking for candidates who have: • 5 + years in magazine design • A high level of experience in a publishing environment • Excellent InDesign & strong Photoshop and Illustrator skills • A keen eye on trends and designs and have an idea of what the competition is doing • Confidence and excellent attention to detail and typography • Experience of preparing, proofing and artworking files for press • The ability to manage your workload so that deadlines are met while maintaining good, clean working practices under pressure Previous experience working on magazines would be a distinct advantage for this role, as would any experience of page layout and repro for print.

Please send PDF examples of your work to: rcremer-price@markerstudy.com

Sub-Editor (Newspaper) We are looking for a sub-editor with significant experience of working on a daily or weekly newspaper. The successful candidate will have a flair for design and the ability to write punchy, eye-catching headlines – equally adept at working on serious news stories, health and beauty and arts and culture. He or she will thrive under pressure, be capable of working to strict weekly deadlines and have a good eye for detail.

This full-time position is based in the centre of Tunbridge Wells offering a competitive salary + benefits. For more details please contact: kawcock@markerstudy.com

To book a recruitment advert please contact Alice Harding: Recruitment Manager Tel: 01892 774 794 Mobile: 07917 090 668 Email: alice@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk

Wednesday 4th March 2015

54 � FOOD AND DRINK KITCHEN GADGETS

On the menu at...

CINNAMON MIX

Sheek kebab, chicken tikka, lamb tikka and duck tikka.

Grilled on skewers

www.thecinnamonsquare.com Cinnamon Square restaurant, Rings Hill, Hildenborough, TN11 8LX

BREVILLE HOT CUP WITH BRITA FILTER

For a clearer, better-tasting tea or coffee in the morning, the Breville Hot Cup is far more than just a kettle. There are nine different cup sizes to choose from, dispensing boiling, Brita-filtered water at the touch of a button, while illumination gives off a soft blue glow and its easy-view clear body ensures accurate filling. A free Maxtra cartridge is also included and the inbuilt Memo feature indicates when it needs replacing, so you can enjoy a fresh, crisp and clean cup of your favourite pick-me-up every time. £89.99 from www.houseoffraser.co.uk

LA’JAWAB LAMB CHOPS

Lamb chops marinated with yoghurt, fresh herbs and spices and grilled on skewers

MASALA CHINGRI

SESAME SABZI/SABZEE

Courgettes cooked with shallots and sesame seeds

FOOD & DRINK APPS

BARISTA

TEFAL ACTIFRY 2 IN 1

Enjoy a batch of homemade chips guilt-free with this nifty ‘frying’ device. Exclusive to Lakeland, the two-tier cooker circulates hot air for healthier cooking, resulting in scrumptious feasts that contain only 3 per cent fat. In addition to those speciality frites, the two in one design also accommodates your favourite meat and fish as well, so you can whip up a steak or some cod and chips with minimum fuss. To get you started, a recipe book is included with inspirational tips on how to savour the flavour without compromising on your health. £279.99 from www.lakeland.co.uk

This personal, portable coffee tutor will help you create café quality espressos at home every time. Equipping you with the knowledge to get the most out of your coffee machine, it includes step-bystep instructions for the most common espresso based drinks and beautifully shot HD video demonstrations. There are also tips on selecting, storing and grinding coffee beans, as well as an extraction timer and a handy Coffee Talk glossary.

By Glasshouse Apps (£1.99)

Fascinating food facts DECAF COFFEE CONTAINS CAFFEINE Following numerous studies into popular decaf coffee brands, many were revealed to contain up to 32mg of caffeine, for instance a decaf latte, which includes two 16g caffeinated measurements of espresso. This falls just short of the amount of caffeine found in a can of Coke.

FRUIT JUICE HAS MORE CALORIES THAN COKE A glass of apple juice can contain 115 calories compared to the 95 found in a can of regular Coca-Cola. Similarly, a cup of grape juice often has 36g of sugar, which is roughly 9g more than in the same amount of Pepsi.

REFRIED BEANS ARE ONLY FRIED ONCE This common misconception comes from a case of being lost in translation. In Mexican Spanish, refried beans are known as ‘frijoles refritos’, which actually means ‘well-fried beans’ instead of ‘refried beans’. Technically, the dish can also be baked, making the English term doubly inaccurate.

NUTMEG CAN HAVE MIND-ALTERING EFFECTS The psychoactive substance myristicin (a traditional precursor to the psychedelic drug MMDA) is a key component of this aromatic spice. Raw nutmeg can therefore lead to intoxication if eaten in large enough quantities and can even result in hallucinogenic effects, paranoia and visual distortions

Best Indian Restaurant in the South East Region Kent Awarded by The BCA 2014 RINGS HILL | HILDENBOROUGH | KENT | TN11 8LX | 01732 832944 thecinnamonsquare.co.uk

Wednesday 4th March 2015

King prawns marinated with yoghurt and fresh spices, stir fried with onions, peppers and lemon. Served with salad

STRAWBERRIES AREN’T BERRIES Oxford Dictionary defines a berry as ‘any fruit that has its seeds enclosed in a fleshy pulp’. Strawberry seeds are found on the fruit’s exterior, thereby falling outside this definition, along with raspberries and blackberries. Bananas, tomatoes, pumpkins, watermelons and avocados, meanwhile, are technically classified as berries.

CARROT PROPAGANDA The myth that carrots make you see better in the dark was popularised

by British government propaganda in the Second World War. The ploy was to fool the Germans into thinking the vegetable was behind our increased night-time bombing rate and prevent them discovering the invention of radar technology.

APPLES, APPLES EVERYWHERE There are more than 7,500 different varieties of apple cultivated throughout the world, be it for the purposes of cooking, eating or making cider. This means that if you were to try a different one each day, it would take more than two decades to sample them all.

FOOD AND DRINK �

Local vineyards come of age

PLATE OF ASSORTED SPICES...

Cinnamon, bay leaf, cardamom and star anise

MACHLI MASALA

Salmon fish marinated in light spices and yoghurt - grilled in the tandoor then cooked in a thick textured sauce with masala sauce

FIVE OF OUR WINERIES 1 CHAPEL DOWN • 22 acres of vineyards as well as grapes bought in from other vineyards across the southeast • Produces world-class sparkling wines as well as aromatic whites and light reds from grape varieties such as Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Pinot Blanc and Bacchus • About half its grapes are produced in the Chapel Down vineyards and the rest comes from 13 other contracted growers • Still expanding, the state-of-the-art winery in Tenterden has produced up to one million bottles in a year • Accolades include three gold medals and a ‘best in class’ at the Decanter World Wine Awards 2013 • Visit www.chapeldown.com

2 BIDDENDEN VINEYARDS • 23 acres of vineyard in a sheltered valley near Biddenden • 11 varieties of grapes including Ortega, Bacchus, Schonburger and Reichensteiner, making white, red, rose and sparkling wines • Accolades include Best Kent Wine for its Biddenden Ortega at the Taste Of Kent Awards 2014 – for the third year running • Visit www.biddendenvineyards.com

3 GUSBOURNE ESTATE • 99 acres of vineyards in Appledore along with more land at a site in West Sussex

55

• Classic Champagne varieties of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinto Meunier • Estate taken over in 2004 and the first vines were planted that year • In 2010 the debut vintages of Gusbourne Brut Reserve 2006 and Gusbourne Blanc de Blancs 2006 were released to critical acclaim

4 SANDHURST VINEYARDS • Part of a family-run mixed farm of 350 acres of hops, cherries, vineyards and grassland • Bacchus, Reichensteiner and Schonberger grapes for white wines, Rondo and Dornfelder for red wine production • Accolades include silver medals in the English and Welsh Wine of the Year Competition 2012 for its 2011 Sandhurst Bacchus Dry • Visit www.sandhurstvineyards.co.uk

5 HUSH HEATH • Part of a 400-acre estate, the vineyards now extend to 20 acres at Hush Heath itself and another 10 acres in Sandhurst • Planted with classic Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier varieties • The winery was built in 2010 and has a capacity of 120,000 litres • Accolades include a gold medal at the Decanter World Wine Awards 2013 for its Balfour Brut Rose 2010 • Visit www.hushheath.com

Visitors are welcome at the vineyards, please check websites for details

BIDDENDEN OWNER JULIAN BARNES TELLS US ABOUT RUNNING THE OLDEST VINEYARD IN KENT...

IDYLLIC A couple tour Chapel Down

• By Caroline Read KENT IS home to some of the top wineries in the country and with several award-winning vineyards on our doorstep, there’s little wonder that English wine is growing in popularity in independent shops and restaurants around Tunbridge Wells.

Once seen as struggling against the odds in a cold climate, Kent’s wine industry has been making the most of our recent warmer summers and is producing more bottles than ever before. Not only that, people who were uncertain about drinking local wine have had their heads turned by a series of prestigious award wins for Kent wineries and a certain royal couple choosing to serve a wine from Tenterden at their wedding in 2011.

One of the biggest names in the business, Chapel Down Winery which produces the Rose Brut reportedly favoured by William and Kate, began 14 years ago with the merger of two small vineyards in Lamberhurst and Tenterden, forming the English Wines group. The company threw everything they had into creating a high-quality English wine business and it’s easy to see their investment in the brand when you look around their visitor centre in Tenterden.

There is a tangible change in the public’s opinion of English wines and it is thanks to the big names like

Chapel Down that it is finally getting the attention it deserves. The industry has grown so much in the last ten years it is almost unrecognisable - newly focused on getting the right type of vines for the ground and investing heavily in technology. Where English wine was once looked down upon, it is now seen as up and coming and even trendy. Independent retailers in particular and restaurants that specialise in local food and drink are buying in Kentish wines and introducing them to a whole new audience. Kent’s sparkling wines are proving particularly popular.

One winery which has seen it through the hard times and is now flourishing is Biddenden Vineyards, Kent’s oldest commercial vineyard.

Established in 1969 by the Barnes family and still run by them, its flagship Biddenden Ortega white wine has been winning awards for several years.

Other vineyards in the area, including Sandhurst Vineyards and Hush Heath in Staplehurst, are also producing great offerings and Gusbourne Estate in Appledore, near Tenterden, has gained an excellent reputation for its sparkling wines. Like Chapel Down it is currently expanding thanks to high demand.

At the rate it’s growing, it’s just possible that in the near future we will not only see Kentish wine on the menu but we will support the local industry by choosing it too.

“OUR land was an apple farm originally but one day my mother was listening to the radio and heard of people growing grapevines in Hampshire. They planted a very small trial block and they grew, so they planted more and ended up producing their first wine in 1972.

“It was quite German-based in those days as there were only certain varieties that were deemed suitable for growing in England – one of which being Muller-Thurgau which doesn’t have a particularly good reputation as a name, but did actually produce quite a reasonable wine.

“Of course at that point, the UK lacked the experts so we had various people from vineyards on the Continent telling us how to do things. One was from a university in Germany, who advised us to plant six different varieties – and one of those varieties was Ortega, which is of course what we’ve become known for.

“There is always a tendency, when people write about wine, to talk about how terrible English wine was in the past, which is perhaps a bit negative. I think the thing about English wine is that in the early days, we just didn’t have the wine-making skills. The Australian and New Zealand industries were also very small in the late 1960s but they had governments investing in colleges and wine courses, all these things that we’re only gradually beginning to do.

“It’s a very interesting industry that we work in and it’s come a long way from its older image. It’s very sophisticated now, with huge investment, and it competes very well on an international stage.

“Kent is somewhere with small, independent, possibly family businesses producing wine which is totally different from the bottles people are picking off the shelves in supermarkets.

And that’s why people need to get along to their local wineries and find out about it – and try it.”

Raj Pavilion Fine Indian Cuisine

ONES TO TRY Most are available to order from the vineyards’ websites at the following prices…

1 CHAPEL DOWN BLANC DE BLANCS £161.94 for six bottles 2 BIDDENDEN ORTEGA £10.80 per bottle or £123.10 for 12 3 GUSBOURNE BLANC DE BLANCS £37.90 per bottle 4 SANDHURST BACCHUS DRY - £12.15 per bottle (see website for a list of stockists) 5 HUSH HEATH BALFOUR BRUT ROSE - £35.99 per bottle or £143.96 for six bottles

WELCOME TO

RAJ PAVILION THE BEST INDIAN RESTAURANT IN TUNBRIDGE WELLS

Sunday & Tuesday banqueting night - £9.99

Any starter, any main course (tradition and old friend), Rice or Naan, plus tea or coffee.

Conditions apply.

20 Grove Hill Road, Tunbridge Wells, Kent, TN1 01892 533435 www.rajpavilion.net Raj Pavilion Tunbridge Wells @RajPavilion1

56 � FOOD AND DRINK

“Maria is a shining beacon of loveliness who makes us all feel like we just got home” WE ASKED ONE OF OUR FOODIES DAMIAN COTTON FOR HIS FEEDBACK ABOUT WHAT’S ON THE TABLE IN TUNBRIDGE WELLS WHAT do you want, good people of Tunbridge Wells, when you eat out? Are you concerned with quality ingredients, responsibly sourced, cooked and served with flair and passion? Or do you want something salty, hot and full of glutamate like a ready meal, plated up and garnished?

Would you prefer innovative or authentic cuisine or is the lure of safe and familiar going to win out? Does the food and drink even matter – is it more important to see and be seen? Or is it a bit of everything? As a critic and a food professional, I am in search of quality above all, and desirous of learning something new. This pushes me towards independent restaurants most of the time as it is there that the love of food and hospitality has its natural home. Chain restaurants are dull and safe and boring, and however good they are when they first open, they reach a point where the initiating spark has burnt out and all that remains is business managed by ring–binder to maintain margin. And in all fairness, some of the Tunbridgian chains are all right – I’m not such a grump as to refuse to accompany friends to places that I would avoid otherwise: I recall an excellent pizza in Strada (although the pasta was grim), superb service in ASK on a quiet Monday afternoon when nearly everywhere else was closed, and Wagamama and Carluccios produce a reasonable facsimile of the cuisines they lay claim to, although both are designed to make conversation impossible for anyone who does not have perfect hearing.

I also understand the need for familiarity for people taking their children out for meals; that price may be an issue and that chains can be cheaper (although you do get better value in the independents). And it is good that kids get taken out – how else can they become socially adapted to restaurant culture? Yes, there must be active parenting and an understanding of the difference between sitting at a table and the ball pit at the daycare centre, but restaurants should be for everyone.

So what do we like in TW? The backbone of

Wednesday 4th March 2015

British eating out is small ethnic restaurants and there are plenty of curry houses, AngloCantonese places and kebab shops as there are everywhere – and you go to the one you like and eat the same thing because you like it.

But let’s look at the next level: Cochin Marine is a funny little place that hides some decent Keralan and Sri Lankan delicacies amidst the standard curries – try a dosa or some traditional fish – likewise, the Manakamana (formerly the Himalayan Gurkha) produces real Nepalese dishes.

The most impressive food from the subcontinent served in the Wells is probably found at Spice Club even if the atmosphere is a bit lacking – sufficiently morgue-like that I quite expect to see Emilia Fox carving someone up. I took the editorial director one evening – for his sins, he is a vegetarian – and we ordered most of the vegetable sides with rice and bread and feasted happily on a colourful, varied and delicious repast that both felt was memorable.

Chinese of true quality seems to be missing, as Thai appeals more – sadly, the best Thai has gone – Preedee on Camden Road was fabulous, but it seems you would rather have the formulaic and Europeanised version at Giggling Squid. Sucheera’s is still popular, but not as good as when it was Suchitra’s, and Kai’s Kitchen is getting rave reviews. And while we are considering the East, let us note the sushi and sashimi at Kitsu, as well as its salads and dumplings (just wrap up warm if you go on a cold day as it can get a bit brass monkeys).

Fine dining has really only one contender, our star of modern dining, Thackerays. Not always popular according to Tripadvisor, but I’ve never had a mouthful that wasn’t exemplary and the service and wine knowledge is impeccable in my experience.

And what superb value for the set lunches with wines – if you haven’t been then may I urge you to do so, especially for lunch as all the online complainants seem to go on a Saturday

night and are probably best avoided.

But what you really love is Italian, isn’t it?

There are more Italian and Italian-inspired joints in our town than anything else. Leaving the chains aside, we have the return of Don Giovanni and his charming sons – slightly retro menu delivered with panache and a bit of a dull wine list so far, but such lovely people and service – we have Max’s Genuine Italian Food in Monson Road with some classy northern specialities and great wines and sandwiches, and we have my beloved Il Vesuvio whose Neapolitan cuisine is outstanding, whose Maria (above) is a shining beacon of loveliness who makes us all feel like we just got home, and Franco the wine genius at whose feet I have learnt so much. Then there are the delicatessens and coffee shops with smashing produce. It is the one cuisine that we have really taken to our hearts – and I for one am not complaining. Just don’t ask for pineapple on your pizzas.

What else? One of my favourite places to eat is Juliets café on the High Street – fab food with some interesting innovations – I just can’t get in very often past the forest of prams. Do we like fish in Tunbridge Wells? Well, not old fashioned fish and chips, as the quality of the chippies would be actionable in the north. We do seem fond of more formal fish, as long as it says Sankeys– the main restaurant is worth a visit for the dressed crab alone. There are also a fair few places where food is not central but socialising is, and they seem to do a good trade, but anyone serving mostly pre-cooked frozen stuff won’t keep my attention and shouldn’t merit yours either.

And what do we lack? There isn’t a good burger joint (not GBK or Byron but someone who cares). We are entirely deprived of the food of the Levant and t he Ottoman Empire unless prepared to eat standing up – it baffles me that a large, fairly wealthy town cannot support at least a 20–cover Turkish or Lebanese restaurant. The joys of sharing mezze seem to escape us, sadly – I haven’t

had the chance since the old Persian diner Shiraz closed (good traditional food, but an ambience that made Spice Club look like Rio on carnival day). There is certainly scope for a top-end Chinese, or maybe a small family-run Hunanese or Sichuan, and maybe just maybe a Korean?

All in all, we are fairly well served with restaurants – for somewhere that isn’t London, we have a good range of cuisines, price points and quality. It’s just up to us to keep going out, to keep asking the right questions of the restaurateurs, and please, please try different things... don’t go straight for Pinot Grigio or chicken because they are safe, known quantities – just try one new dish or glass each time. Happy dining.

IMAGES FROM TOP Maria and Franco Biscardi of Il Vesuvio Juliets on the High Street

Chain restaurants are dull and safe and boring, however good they are when they first open

PUZZLES �

DOUBLE CROSSWORD

WORD SPIRAL Starting from 1, fill in the grid clockwise with four-letter words.

The last letter of each word becomes the first letter of the next to reveal the key word in the shaded boxes.

Down 1. Boxes not put back in vehicles (7) 2. He may be told to go to blazes (7) 3. Hurried to the monk without a set order (6) 5. Revelling of a girl around America (8) 6. Possibly used to get thrown out (6) 7. Pinned up denial? (6) 13. Like airborne fugitive? (2,6) 14. Law concerning country without trade union (7) 15. Seems as though Dad returns fruit (7) 16. Stay a marine, perhaps (6) 17. O’Neill’s first name? (6) 19. He’s beaten outside the ring when more relaxed (6)

1

18. The point of publishing! (4,4) 20. Grain, say, produced in instalments (6) 21. Container that may be blue or green (in tens)! (6) 22. Be concerned about horse slaughter (7) 23. Guide to the folks on the hill (6) 24. Air force may be needed to do it (7)

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z 3

4

5

6

7

8

9

G 14

15

16

17

18

19

10

11

12

13

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24

25

26

R 20

21

10

14

15 11

4

16 13

12

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1. Fail to hit 2. Broth 3. Entreaty 4. Very keen 5. Fall in drops 6. Couple 7. Shabby clothing 8. Certain 9. Jealousy Keyword clue: Foreign country

Across 4. Thrash (7) 8. Money-lender (6) 9. Forbear (7) 10. Trees (6) 11. Rectangular (6) 12. Unmarried woman (8) 18. Musical instrument (8) 20. Unoccupied (6) 21. English Royal house (6) 22. Steal (7) 23. Light meals (6) 24. Puzzle (7)

Down 1. Infer (7) 2. Halloween fruit (7) 3. Niche (6) 5. Oratory (8) 6. Badly-behaved (6) 7. Customer (6) 13. Slow-moving creature (8) 14. Go forward (7) 15. Dissent (7) 16. Fertiliser (6) 17. Hit hard (6) 19. Excursion (6)

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10. Abominable snowman 11. Plant type 12. Cold weather 13. Knit with this 14. Arm or leg 15. Association of countries 16. Unconscious state

SUDOKU

22

1.

Which new ITV1 show is narrated

by Warwick Davis and looks at the acts that talent shows worldwide have brought to fame?

2. Which entrepreneur has announced that the current series of BBC2’s Dragons’ Den will be his last?

the 1970s included Sugar Me and No Honestly?

10. Miles Teller and Analeigh Tipton play Alec and Megan, who are forced together by a blizzard in which new romantic comedy film?

11. Which actor is playing DCI Morton, a detective in the close-knit Arctic community of Fortitude in the new Sky Atlantic drama of that name?

12. What was the only Number hit for British rock band Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel, in February 1975?

3. What is the title of Icelandic singer Björk’s eighth and latest studio album?

13. Which actress played possessed cellist 4. Which actress is playing protagonist Dana Barrett in the 1984 sci-fi film Ghost Anastasia Steele in the new film version Busters? of Fifty Shades of Grey?

14. Which new BBC3 reality show follows 5. Coronation Street actress Anne Kirkbride, young Londoners who like to express who passed away in January, first played themselves the role of Deirdre Barlow in the longthrough song? running soap in which year?

6. What is the title of the new album from US rock band Fall Out Boy? 7.

In which 1993 Steven Spielberg film did Liam Neeson play Oskar Schindler?

8. Which new Channel 4 sitcom stars Sharon Horgan and Rob Delaney as an Irishwoman and an American man falling in love?

9. Which late British songstress’s hits of

SOLUTIONS

15. Back Together Again and Tonight I Celebrate My Love were hits of the 1970s and 80s for which US songstress?

CODEWORD: 1=V, 2=Y, 3=K, 4=I, 5=U, 6=B, 7=C, 8=E, 9=O, 10=N, 11=W, 12=G, 13=L, 14=Q, 15=J, 16=T, 17=D, 18=R, 19=P, 20=F, 21=X, 22=Z, 23=H, 24=S, 25=M, 26=A. ENTERTAINMENT QUIZ: 1 Planet’s Got Talent; 2 Duncan Bannatyne; 3 Vulnicura; 4 Dakota Johnson; 5 1972; 6 American Beauty/ American Psycho; 7 Schindler’s List; 8 Catastrophe; 9 Lynsey de Paul; 10 Two Night Stand; 11 Stanley Tucci; 12 Make Me Smile (Come Up and See Me); 13 Sigourney Weaver; 14 South Side Story; 15 Roberta Flack SUDOKU:

Codeword is the crossword puzzle with no clues. The number in each square corresponds to a letter. Work out the words in the grid using the letters provided. Fill in these known letters first, then use skill and judgement to work out the others.

2

9

ENTERTAINMENT QUIZ

CODEWORD

1

3

DOUBLE CROSSWORD: Cryptic: Across: 4 Account; 8 Animal; 9 Prosaic; 10 Treads; 11 Uneven; 12 Near miss; 18 Full stop; 20 Serial; 21 Bottle; 22 Carnage; 23 Mentor; 24 Inflate. Down: 1 Cartons; 2 Fireman; 3 Random; 5 Carousal; 6 Ousted; 7 Nailed; 13 In flight; 14 Statute; 15 Appears; 16 Remain; 17 Lionel; 19 Looser.

Quick: Across: 4 Trounce; 8 Usurer; 9 Refrain; 10 Maples; 11 Oblong; 12 Spinster; 18 Recorder; 20 Vacant; 21 Stuart; 22 Purloin; 23 Snacks; 24 Perplex. Down: 1 Surmise; 2 Pumpkin; 3 Recess; 5 Rhetoric; 6 Unruly; 7 Client; 13 Tortoise; 14 Advance; 15 Protest; 16 Manure; 17 Wallop; 19 Outing.

WORD SPIRAL: 1 Miss; 2 Soup; 3 Plea; 4 Avid; 5 Drip; 6 Pair; 7 Rags; 8 Sure; 9 Envy; 10 Yeti; 11 Iris; 12 Snow; 13 Wool; 14 Limb; 15 Bloc; 16 Coma.

Keyword: SOMALIA.

CRYPTIC CLUES: Across 4. Description that may be current (7) 8. A beast from Manila? (6) 9. Commonplace when a crop is gathered (7) 10. Takes steps (6) 11. Odd and not on the level (6) 12. Close to the girl but just off target (4,4)

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QUICK CLUES: Scribble pad

57

Wednesday 4th March 2015

58 � ADVERTORIAL

The best of live music & events Times

Tunbridge Wells music guru Paul Dunton reveals his guide to what’s on musically for the week ahead…

O F TUNBR IDGE WEL LS

Twisted Roots Friday - The Violet Jive Saturday Heads South Sunday - Tyn - The Artie Fufkins - The Floodgates Tuesday - Becky Briggs - Lily Denning & Band - Kathryn Anderson & Band Wednesday - Alice Rose – Michael Wood - The Knockities

MUSIC DO YOU HAVE A GREAT BAND OR EVENT YOU FEEL SHOULD BE LISTED? If so then drop our editor a line at: Times of Tunbridge Wells, 16 Lonsdale Gardens, Tunbridge Wells, Kent, TN1 1NU 01892 779 650 newsdesk@ timesof tunbridgewells .co.uk

DAVE BARNETT PICKS A SELECTION FROM TUNBRIDGE WELLSEVENTS.CO.UK FOR THE NEXT SEVEN DAYS:

>> WEDNESDAY Some spectacular scenery is on view at the Banff Mountain Film Festival, a series of short, real-life, action films at the Assembly Hall. And mixing fashion and charity is Rock the Runway at the High Rocks. Or you might enjoy an old-fashioned knees-up at the Scallywag Cafe with Tom Carridine’s cockney sing-a-long. >> THURSDAY The monthly Skeptics in the Pub meeting discusses schizophrenia at Sankeys. If you want some music, you’ve got some choices tonight: Nigel Bagge is producing some Americana Blues and Country at the Scallywag Cafe, Skindred bring their acclaimed act to the Forum, Dave Becket is at the Bedford and there’s the regular jazz at the Cross Keys.

>> FRIDAY Comedienne Jo Caulfield is at Trinity and there’s the usual eclectic mix of music available with the TW Jazz Club at their monthly show at the Masonic Hall. If you prefer dinner with your music, there is a Simon & Garfunkel evening at Woods.

THE ASSEMBLY HALL THEATRE PAUL’S GIG OF THE WEEK IS…

Friday - The Violet Jive at the Grey Lady - 9pm A retro swing sound with feverish latin curves and a fresh alternative dark twist! www.thevioletjive.co.uk

THE TUNBRIDGE WELLS FORUM Doors 7.30pm, entry price varies, event information and tickets at www. twforum.co.uk Thursday – Skindred Friday - Hows Harry, Follow, House On Fire and Fallow Deer Monday, March 9 - Lucy Rose and The Half Earth Wednesday, March 11 - Word Up!: Rob Auton and Spliff Richard

THE GREY LADY MUSIC LOUNGE The Pantiles - Doors 7.15pm, entry £5/£7 websites www.pdag.co.uk www.thegreylady.co.uk Tonight, Wednesday - Poppy Raine - Marie White - David Migden & The

Crescent Road Doors 7.30pm, tickets and event information at www.assemblyhalltheatre. co.uk or 01892 530613 Friday - A Night of Dirty Dancing Saturday – Rigoletto (Opera)

>> SATURDAY The Pantiles Market returns after a short break, now under new

THE CROSS KEYS

St Johns Road Open all day, free entry, music from 8pm Thursday – Sonny’s Jazz Friday – Sonny’s Blues Sunday - Acoustic Reverbs Open Mic @ Cross Keys, (7pm) Monday – TWUNT Ukelele night

TRINITY THEATRE

Church Road Doors 7pm, ticket prices vary, event information and tickets at www.trinitytheatre.net or 01892 678678 Thursday - The Old Dance School Sunday - Bolshoi: Romeo & Juliet Wednesday, March 11 - ENO: La Traviata

7 DAYS OF EVENTS AT A GLANCE

TRINITY La Traviata

THE BEAU NASH

Mount Ephraim Open all day, free entry, music from 9pm.

Saturday - Kharma and the Devil

THE ROYAL OAK

management. And there’s more shopping opportunities round the corner at the King Charles Hall where there is a book fair.

Tonight we have a bit of culture at the Assembly Hall with a full blown, live performance of Rigoletto by The Russian State Ballet and Opera House.

If you didn’t want singing with your dinner last night then you may prefer the Fawlty Towers experience at Trinity, a night to remember I would think.

>> SUNDAY Following the fun of last night, Trinity has two offerings on screen for you: in the afternoon, the Bolshoi performs Romeo and Juliet and in the evening, there is a screening of Birdman.

Prospect Road Open all day, free entry, music from 8pm Friday - The Harveys Saturday - Oz Ignition

>> MONDAY Baring it all week will be Gary

ANNOUNCEMENTS ON THIS PAGE ARE FREE

Comedian Jo Caulfield �

Lucy as The Full Monty comes to the Assembly Hall.

>> TUESDAY There are two chances to catch up with another Oscar-nominated film at Trinity with Steve Carell’s Foxcatcher.

THE thrill of live radio, a beautiful county and more laughs than you can possibly imagine…

WE CATCH-UP WITH HEART BREAKFAST PRESENTERS JAMES & BECKY HELLO, Becky from Heart Kent Breakfast here… what a start to the year! I was lucky enough to join the breakfast team, and the simply awesome James Heming, in January 2015. Two months on, I feel very fortunate to wake up the wonderful county of Kent each morning, experience the adrenaline rush of a 6am broadcast and get the opportunity to provide light relief to listeners before the day!

I have a massive thank you to Heart listeners for welcoming me with open arms, making me at home in new

surroundings and providing some serious laughs! There is no one better than a Heart listener, every email, call, Facebook comment and Tweet has been truly appreciated. I always try to take time to reply, it’s the least I can do, as ‘thank you’ just doesn’t seem enough!

I wanted to share a few personal highlights so far. The second week of February was one… I was thrown in at the deep end and my mission was to ‘save someone’s Valentine’s’. The listeners picked my name and costume (which,

of course, was absolutely, ridiculously brilliant)…. and Bextricity was born.

Bextricity ended up at the Kent County Council offices on a slightly rainy Friday, to save Valentine’s Day for Simon. This was much to the surprise and amusement of Simon’s co-workers - and anyone who was outside and spotted my bright pink wig! But mission accomplished. It was completely worth it to see the delight it had brought a listener.

Last week was also jam-packed and fun-filled, as James and I had to

compete in forfeits each day, set up by our producer Matt. Of course, my luck wasn’t in, I had eggs cracked on my head, a face full of fajita mix and I ran around the car park dressed as a farmer, hands padlocked together, bursting balloons to find a key.

Honestly, you couldn’t make it up!

The listener interaction is what it’s all about for me, making yourself look daft and giving someone else a laugh at your expense… if it makes you smile in the morning, it’s definitely worth it!

• CINEMA • LIVE ENTERTAINMENT • LIVE MUSIC • COMEDY • DRAMA • MUSICALS • OPERA • BALLET Search Stag Sevenoaks Wednesday 4th March 2015

But it’s not always so extreme, games such as The 6.30 Thingy and the Friday Fandango always bring surprises and awesome callers, it keeps you on your toes and hopefully leaves you screaming answers at your radio.

I can’t wait to see what the next weeks bring and if there’s one thing I have learned, it’s to ‘expect the unexpected’!

JOIN US WEEKDAYS FROM 6AM AND JOIN IN THE FUN! The Times of Tunbridge Wells is pleased to be working in partnership with Heart radio.

PROMOTIONAL FEATURE �

59

AT WORK WITH MAX BARFORD

TUNBRIDGE WELLS VERY OWN KING OF THE DIVORCE COURTS

Spring is coming and what better time to talk to Max Barford aka King of the Divorce Courts.

I CATCH UP with Max on a cold bleak winter afternoon at his Tunbridge Wells office to find out a little more about how a local boy from Tunbridge Wells has got where he is today and it soon became clear. “I’ve always been passionate about what I do. Back in 1977 when I set up Max Barford & Co many firms didn’t see separation and divorce as a service they wanted to offer their clients. I wanted to fill this vacuum,” he explains.

But what was the draw of family law giving legal advice to those considering or going through a separation or divorce - a service many of his peers were reluctant to offer?

“Appearing in court is a daunting task in itself and much more stressful when you’re going through a relationship breakdown,” explains Max. “You really don’t know where to turn or what to do, let alone think clearly

about important issues such as how your finances are going to look like post divorce or whether you’ll have to sell the family home; and then there are the children to think about for many. There are so many issues and so many myths and misconceptions out there you know.”

He continues. “Many people will rely on friends to help them through this stressful time or try to do it themselves to save on costs but it really is a false saving. Separation and divorce is a journey.

To make sure you get it right you need someone who wants to walk that journey with you and has the ability to advise you throughout; they really need to be experienced and know what the courts are likely to order at the end of the day” With Max, you get a sense of a man very much aware of the problems couples go through when they separate and with

around half of marriages in England and Wales ending in divorce, not to mention cohabiting couples separating, his services are highly sought after. Max’s clients span the length and breadth of the country and far beyond and he has most certainly earned his title as King of the Divorce Courts.

Despite his passion and commitment to family legal services, Max is acutely aware of its current and future challenges.

“Couples are faced with complex situations when they separate. It has never been easy but I think separating couples need a lawyer now more than ever. Cut backs have made access to the courts very difficult for many. In addition, there are other alternatives to consider such as mediation, collaborative law and arbitration which are good but it’s certainly not for everyone and should not be promoted as the answer to all family problems as the government seems to think with its compulsory mediation agenda. All these things can add a level of stress and confusion. An experienced family lawyer understands what is required and can advise on the options that are available

allowing you to make an informed decision about how to proceed.”

So what’s your advice to someone faced with a relationship breakdown? “The secret is to get the right advice right at the beginning before costly mistakes are made. With the right advice you can take control of your situation and plan ahead

rather than leave things to chance. In this situation ignorance is certainly not bliss.”

If you would like help and advice regarding separation, divorce or children matters please contact Max Barford & Co today on 01892 539379 or email times@maxbarford.co.uk Please quote reference MBCT0403

Max Barford & Co. is a trading name of Parfitt Cresswell. Parfitt Cresswell is authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority. No. 71480

CONTESTING A WILL

Claims against Deceased Estates on the Rise Losing a loved one is always a traumatic time for those left behind. There are just so many things to deal with – from arranging the funeral to sorting out the estate. It’s not surprising that many simply don’t know where to start.

• By Anne Chambers For further information and to apply for a free consultation just complete the coupon and post to the address below. Alternatively call or email us today quoting reference MBCT0403 Telephone 01892 539 379 or Email times@maxbarford.co.uk Name Address

Tel.No Email Max Barford & Co 16 Mount Pleasant Road Tunbridge Wells Kent TN1 1QU www.parfittcresswell.com

The first step after the funeral will be to tackle the estate and depending on whether there is a Will or not will dictate how you proceed. Matters can of course get more complicated if you or another family member or friend believes that they should be provided for from the estate and provision has not been made. This is happening now more than ever, and can frequently cause enormous upset in the family resulting in a dispute which may tear families apart.

So what can you do if you feel that you haven’t been provided for after the death of a loved one, or you’re dealing with the estate and someone is threatening to bring a claim as they believe they haven’t been provided for. The key things to remember are that a Will can be challenged in court by spouses, former spouses, civil partners, cohabitees, children or other dependants. It is also important to consider claims other than for redistribution of an estate. These can include the validity of the Will; whether there has been any undue influence on the Willmaker to leave assets in a particular way; if there are concerns that the Will-maker was

door demanding payment from you! not of sound mind or lacked mental capacity There are also important new rules that when the Will was signed; or the Will wasn’t relate to intestacy (that’s when someone signed properly in accordance with English dies without having made a valid Will), law. These are all potential claims that effective from 1 October 2014. In a nutshell should be considered at the same time. these say that, rather than just a proportion, I’ve seen many families torn apart by the entire estate of a deceased person will disputed inheritance claims, a number of pass to his or her surviving spouse or civil which could in all likelihood have been partner. If there are children the survivor will avoided if the parties had taken legal still receive more than under the old version advice from an experienced lawyer at of the intestacy rules. In either case the start of the dispute. Expert others, such as your Mum and Dad, advice will allow you to would receive nothing. understand the merits of To avoid situations such as any potential claim, and these you need to get advice enable you to make an from an experienced solicitor informed decision on If you are the who has specialised in how to proceed. The Executor you can contested probate. I head big mistake is to drift up the Dispute Resolution on blindly hoping the be held personally department and my team problem will go away and I regularly advise on and before you know it liable contested probate matters. you’ve either lost your We have many years experience opportunity to claim as the advising on the merits of a case, and time limit has passed, or you routinely work with leading barristers in settle needlessly when the claim this area if necessary. has little or no chance of success.

This month we are offering 10 initial You must remember, if you are the complimentary consultations with one Executor you can be held personally liable to of our expert contested probate team. all of the beneficiaries for any loss suffered If you wish to apply for an initial by the estate when you manage consultation just complete the and distribute the assets. So if you pay coupon and return it. out to a disgruntled family member or Alternatively telephone 01892 539 379 or friend when you shouldn’t have, then the email times@maxbarford.co.uk beneficiaries can come knocking on your



Max Barford & Co. is a trading name of Parfitt Cresswell. Parfitt Cresswell is authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority. No. 71480

Wednesday 4th March 2015

60 � YOUR TV

OUR PICK OF THE WEEK

TODAY

DCI BANKS

ITV, 9pm New series. The crime drama starring Stephen Tompkinson returns with the first of a two-part story. When the detective suffers a personal loss, he’s forced to navigate a complex murder case while grieving. A young Estonian woman has been found dead, with the evidence suggesting she was buried alive. Piecing together her movements, the team uncovers a dark world of prostitution and drugs, and investigates her connection to a single father, his autistic son, and a family who seem to have silenced the town.

BANISHED

BBC2, 9pm New series. Drama set in 1788 about a camp in which the first British convicts transported to Australia live alongside their Royal Navy marine guards and their commanding officers.

Prisoner Elizabeth Quinn is dragged before her social superiors after being caught out of her dormitory. Meanwhile, James Freeman also finds himself in serious trouble after the camp’s indispensable blacksmith Marston steals his meagre food ration. Written by Jimmy McGovern and starring Russell Tovey.

ARTSNIGHT

BBC2, 11pm New series. Actress Maxine Peake celebrates voices marginalised by mainstream culture as she curates the opening episode of this arts programme. She talks to Nottingham-based electropunk duo Sleaford Mods, discusses the role of women in television with an all-female panel including actress Jessica Hynes, and explores the life and legacy of Salford playwright and screenwriter Shelagh Delaney.

REGINALD D HUNTER’S SONGS OF THE SOUTH

BBC2, 9.30pm The comedian concludes his road trip through the American South by exploring the musical heritage of Mississippi and Louisiana. In Memphis, he meets songwriting partners Steve Cropper and Eddie Floyd at Stax Records, before going on the trail of the origins of both delta and hill country blues in the company of musicians Seasick Steve and Cedric Burnside. His final port of call is New Orleans, where he meets Dr John, Irma Thomas and Allen Toussaint, three of the city’s most celebrated artists.

POLDARK

BBC1, 9pm New series. Period drama based on the novels by Winston Graham, originally adapted into a successful 1970s TV series.

In late 18th-century Cornwall, Ross Poldark joins the army to avoid charges of smuggling, leaving behind his loved one Elizabeth – and when he returns three years later, having fought in the American War of Independence, he finds his father dead, his estate in ruins and his sweetheart engaged to another man. In need of help, he takes on a new kitchen maid after rescuing her from a beating – bringing him into conflict with hostile locals. Aidan Turner takes the title role.

WATERLOO ROAD

BBC1, 11.15pm After nine years of classroom drama, which has seen seven headteachers come and go and even a move from Rochdale to Greenock, the time has finally come to close the gates on Waterloo Road in the last-ever episode.

But will the school be forced to merge with Havelock High or will it manage to remain independent? The decision day arrives, but with no Vaughan to lead them, the pupils are forced to take matters into their own hands – and soon discover the council is not being entirely honest about its plans. Last in the series.

Wednesday 4th March 2015

THE MUSKETEERS

BBC1, 9pm Porthos demands answers from his new-found family after uncovering the shocking truth about his parentage. As he learns more secrets about his past, he begins to question his allegiance to the Musketeers – who in turn harbour suspicions of their own as they process the revelations in their friend’s life. Can d’Artagnan and his comrades save Porthos from the dangerous route he seems to be headed down, and can they even be certain of where his loyalties lie?

BBC1, 9.30pm Lily tries to persuade a woman to be honest with her husband by admitting she doesn’t want to continue with IVF treatment – although when the doctor’s own exhaustion begins to catch up with her, it seems she is not being entirely truthful to herself. Rita helps a man change his stubborn attitude after he refuses to tell people he has a neurological disease, while Dixie is forced to give Iain a verbal warning.

MR SELFRIDGE

ITV, 9pm Nancy begins to feel the weight of her deception as her fling with Harry continues, while Mr Selfridge finds himself pushed into a corner when he clashes with Loxley at a shareholders’ meeting. Reality soon hits home as Victor and Violette take a romantic trip to the coast, and George grows increasingly unhappy at the club.

Drama, starring Jeremy Piven.

THE BILLION POUND HOTEL

MONDAY

TUESDAY

Channel 4, 8pm New series. Return of the documentary following the work of a pioneering veterinary practice. Kevin and Natalie discover their beloved six-year-old German shepherd has a tumour. In desperation, they turn to Noel Fitzpatrick in the hope he can find a way to prolong Otto’s life until their wedding day. The team also sees Jane, Simon and their Rottweiler puppy Elvis, who is having trouble walking, and seven-weekold Pomeranian Gucci, brought in with a broken paw

by Amber after only 48 hours in her new home.

CASUALTY

SATURDAY

SUNDAY

BBC1, 8pm Ed Byrne hosts the final edition, joined by four more well-known faces hoping to inspire people to get baking for Comic Relief. Comedian and actress Victoria Wood, former Radio 1 DJ Chris Moyles, model and TV presenter Alexa Chung and Asylum star Kayvan Novak are the hopefuls, who will be tackling a traybake and rustling up crumpets.

THE SUPERVET

TOMORROW

FRIDAY

THE GREAT COMIC RELIEF BAKE OFF

MASTERCHEF

BBC1, 9pm New series. John Torode and Gregg Wallace return to put more keen cooks to the test. The first five hopefuls begin by serving up their Calling Card, a dish that showcases their talent – and this year, it carries a prize as the judges’ two favourites will sail through to the third round.

Then it’s new challenge the Reinvention Test, in which they create a new plate of food based on their main ingredient from the first round, before one goes home and the rest cook dinner for a trio of former MasterChef champions. Continues tomorrow.

Channel 4, 9pm Shaped like a giant sail and standing more than 1,000ft tall, the Burj Al Arab in Dubai cost an estimated £1billion to build, and has been dubbed the world’s most luxurious hotel. Guests paying anything up to £10,000 a night expect only the highest of standards, so what does it take for the staff to satisfy these demanding customers? This programme follows the stories of a variety of visitors, from the King of Uganda to a firefighter who has saved up months of wages, and the workers who serve them.

KIDS IN CAMPS: COMIC RELIEF

BBC1, 10.45pm Documentary following the lives of children displaced by the civil war in South Sudan, forcing them to live in temporary camps or refugee sites across the border in Northern Uganda. They include teenage sisters Grace and Anna, who fled for their lives while people were being killed all around them.

YOUR TV �

BIG STAR’S LITTLE STAR

SURVIVING SANDY HOOK

ITV, 8pm New series. Stephen Mulhern hosts the entertainment show in which children spill the beans about their famous relatives, talking about their home lives, making heart-warming revelations or telling downright embarrassing stories. Playing to win up to £15,000 for their favourite charities are Joe Swash and his sevenyear-old son Harry, Sharron Davies and her son Finley, also seven, and Duncan Bannatyne with his five-year-old granddaughter Ava.

BBC2, 9pm In December 2012, Adam Lanza killed 20 pupils and six members of staff at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut, and this documentary follows families affected by the shooting. Gilles Rousseau’s daughter Lauren was a teacher who died in the attack, but he has met with resistance in his campaign for moderate gun reform, while Scarlett Lewis’s six-year-old son Jesse was killed and she has since begun a crusade to get a message of hope to the most deprived and violent fringes of society. Part of the This World strand.

THE NATION’S FAVOURITE 70s NUMBER ONE

THE PEOPLE’S STRICTLY FOR COMIC RELIEF

ITV, 8.30pm Following on from other Nation’s Favourites on the likes of Queen and Elvis, this 90-minute special reveals the 20 greatest disco classics, glam stompers and heartfelt ballads of the 1970s, as voted for by the public. The programme features interviews with hit-makers including Art Garfunkel, Blondie, Abba and Gloria Gaynor.

BBC1, 9pm Judge Craig Revel Horwood assesses a portion of the performers’ routine, and some former Strictly participants share tips and advice. The People’s Strictly champion will be named on BBC One on Red Nose Day next Friday.

BEAR GRYLLS: MISSION SURVIVE

NELSON IN HIS OWN WORDS

ITV, 9pm The celebrities face their toughest challenge yet. First, they navigate a powerful river to reach their camp, where they must build shelters and catch their supper without the usual army rations in sight. Then, a tropical storm strikes and water begins to flood the base, making for their worst night so far. The next morning, the contestants have to call on their newly acquired knot skills to transform two unstable canoes into a catamaran.

BBC2, 9pm Horatio Nelson is one of Britain’s greatest naval heroes and known for his thirst for fame and glory, but he was also a prolific writer of letters, which reveal that he was a very different and more complex man. Using Nelson’s personal correspondence, this drama-documentary shows how he was careful in his praise of his rivals in case they threatened his own career prospects, as well as revealing how his passionate love affair with Emma Hamilton changed his life for ever.

TAKE ME OUT

ITV, 8.25pm Paddy McGuinness hosts an extended edition, giving the 30 single women one last chance to find the man of their dreams on the show. Hotel receptionist Leslie from Belfast, plumber Alan from Pontefract, construction worker Cole from Darlington and model Pete from Cornwall are all hoping to sweep them off their feet, and must persuade the girls to keep their lights on as a sign of approval.

CALL THE MIDWIFE

BBC1, 8pm Trixie and Sister Mary Cynthia team up to support a deaf mother-to-be, while another patient causes great concern when a case of morning sickness proves more serious than initially suspected. On the personal front, handyman Fred’s daughter is less than delighted to hear about his forthcoming wedding. Will he be forced to choose between her and Violet? Last in the series.

A COOK ABROAD: RACHEL KHOO’S MALAYSIA

BBC2, 9pm The cook and food writer goes on a culinary tour of the Southeast Asian country. She begins in the capital Kuala Lumpur, gaining her first insights into Malaysian food and culture from family members she hasn’t seen since childhood. Rachel then meets cooks and students at her father’s old school and begins to find out why Malaysian food is so complex.

THE KIDS WHO CAN’T STAY AWAKE

Channel 4, 10pm In 2010 there was a startling increase in narcolepsy across the UK and northern Europe. With new cases developing on a weekly basis, some doctors described it as an epidemic. This documentary tells the story of a medical mystery that caused increasing numbers of children and teenagers to develop the sleeping disorder, following three British youngsters who displayed the same worrying set of symptoms that year. The programme also explores the impact the condition has had on these sufferers and their families.

THE VOICE UK

BBC1, 7.30pm As the battle rounds continue, the contestants aim to secure their place in the next stage of the competition. It’s up to Will.i.am, Tom Jones, Rita Ora and Ricky Wilson to decide who they want to keep and eliminate, but it’s not necessarily over for the losers, as the coaches have a chance to ‘steal’ two rejected artists.

LET’S PLAY DARTS FOR COMIC RELIEF

BBC2, 9pm Gabby Logan is joined on the sofa by the celebrity players, who reflect on the highs and lows of the tournament so far and discuss the eagerly anticipated final. Then the competition reaches its climax as the two remaining famous faces and their professional partners go head to head for the title at the Lakeside Country Club in Frimley Green, Surrey. Last in the series.

ARTHUR & GEORGE

ITV, 9pm After the escape of their late-night assailant, Arthur, Woodie and the Edaljis are surprised by the arrival of George at the vicarage. His boots are covered in mud, which leads Woodie to suspect he is the Wyrley Ripper after all, but Arthur is not convinced, believing the young solicitor is the victim of racial prejudice – and possibly police corruption. Feathers are ruffled as the novelist visits the officers who investigated the case.

ONE BORN EVERY MINUTE

Channel 4, 9pm New series. The documentary returns from a new location, capturing daily life in Liverpool Women’s Hospital, home to the largest maternity unit in Europe.

Gary, 48, tries to keep his 41-year-old partner Yvonne smiling through her contractions, while 25-year-old Jennifer and 26-year-old Darran support each other through a difficult labour. The couple were told at their 20-week scan that their baby daughter had a heart defect, but it will not be until the birth that they know how badly it might affect her.

61

BONES

Sky Living, 9pm The team springs into action when a famous crossword genius is found dead in a fracking pit, his body covered in acid. Meanwhile, the newest member of the Jeffersonian family looks set to arrive sooner than expected when Daisy’s waters break in the lab.

SCANDAL

Sky Living, 10pm Olivia deals Cyrus a dose of tough love when he tries to give in to the political scheming designed to ruin him, while Huck and Quinn attempt to work out what Elizabeth’s plan really is.

Kerry Washington stars.

QUIZ NIGHTS

Sky1, 10pm Teams from drinking holes from up and down the country show off their general knowledge skills. Competing this evening are Birmingham’s Quizee Rascals, Deptford Wives from Nunhead in London, the Oxford Commas, and The Oranutangs from Liverpool.

CSI: CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION

Sky Living, 11pm A husband and wife are found stabbed to death at a motel, and the CSIs recall two separate cases in which people were attacked in the same room.

NCIS: LOS ANGELES

Sky1, 11pm Part two of two. The teams fly to Los Angeles from Hawaii in pursuit of suspect Jarrod Taylor, before tracking him down at his hotel, where he claims he is being paid by an immunologist who is hoping to reintroduce smallpox to restore nature’s balance. Drama, starring Chris O’Donnell.

THE HOLIDAYMAKERS

Sky1, 8pm Cameras capture all the fun as another three sets of guests move into the Spanish villa – two families from Grantham and St Albans and a trio of party-loving lads from Newcastle.

ELEMENTARY

Sky Living, 9pm Determined to catch Kitty’s tormentor, Holmes and Watson turn their deducing powers to cold cases in search of more potential victims, and the pair breathe a sigh of relief when the troubled protégé agrees to return to London.

62 � MOTORS

DISCOVER WHAT MAKES THIS IF THE WORDS “LAND ROVER DISCOVERY” MAKE YOU LEAP FOR JOY, GRAB YOUR WARMEST COAT AND SET COURSE FOR ADVENTURE (OR SAINSBURY’S), BECAUSE YOU’RE IN LUCK. THE DISCOVERY SPORT IS THE FIRST STEP TOWARDS A NEW GROUP OF DISCOVERY-BADGED FAMILY CARS.

If you want a lifestylebiased family SUV that can tow, seat seven and handle even the toughest offroading this really is in a class of one

One careful owner...

Times of Tunbridge Wells

Buy and sell cars; petrol, diesel or key powered CALL OUR CLASSIFIED MARKET SALES TEAM To book your advert please call 01892 779650 or Email: production@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk

Wednesday 4th March 2015

MOTORS �

63

SEVEN SEATER SO DIFFERENT Discovery looks with the modern, streetsavvy boldness of the baby Range Rover.

The colour palette is, for the most part, about as exciting as an overdone sprout, but there’s a smashing orange shade too.

FACTS AT A GLANCE

LAND ROVER DISCOVERY SPORT 2.2 SD4 AUTO, FROM £34,195 ENGINE TURBO-CHARGED DIESEL PRODUCING 187BHP AND 310LB/FT TRANSMISSION NINE-SPEED AUTOMATIC GEARBOX DRIVING ALL FOUR WHEELS PERFORMANCE TOP SPEED 117MPH, 0-62MPH IN 8.4 SECONDS FUEL ECONOMY 44.9MPG

• By Matt Kimberley IT SHARES a lot of its undergarments with the Range Rover Evoque, but it’s longer, with a remarkably clever new rear suspension arrangement that allows you to fit seven people into an SUV measuring less than 4.6 metres long - about the same as the three-door BMW i8 electric sports car.

LOOKS AND IMAGE If it didn’t helpfully say “Discovery” on the bonnet, you’d have a hard time telling it apart from the Evoque from the front.

Move to the side and you see the higher roof line, the bigger windows (thank goodness) and the completely different rear end. It doesn’t look cheap, and the Discovery name adds some off-road prestige.

In fact, the more you look at it, the more sweetly it seems to balance the rugged

SPACE AND PRACTICALITY There are seven seats. Seven! It’s not as cramped as you’d suppose in the back, either, thanks to expensive new rear suspension technology which removes the top links and leaves much more space in the cabin. The middle row slides forward to create more legroom at the back, while leaving enough habita for adults in the front five seats.

The seven-seat car comes with a spacesaver spare wheel, but the five-seat option Land Rover launching at the same time will hold a full-size spare beneath the boot. Two-feet-deep water is reduced to a mere inconvenience, the Terrain Response system helps manage everything from tarmac to mud, gravel, grass, snow, ruts and sand, and the new touch-screen works with gloves - although only the kind designed for touch-screens.

BEHIND THE WHEEL Driving it over Icelandic snow and ice perhaps isn’t the best representation of UK driving, but the Discovery Sport can handle it. The slightly agricultural 2.2-litre diesel engine does a good job when paired with the nine-speed automatic gearbox.

The ZF unit works seamlessly and flatters

the rest of the car.

Comfortable seats are important in this part of the market but the Sport ticks that box. Its driving dynamics seem handsomely neutral, although a UK test will deliver a more definitive opinion on that. The four-wheel drive system works impeccably though. At one point the car had to pull itself out of a snow drift - and did.

VALUE FOR MONEY This is all relative. If you want a lifestylebiased compact family SUV that can tow, can seat seven and can handle even the toughest off-roading that any normal person is likely to throw at it, this really is in a class of one. It’s more expensive than an Evoque, mind you, and some will find that badge hard to resist.

WHO WOULD BUY ONE? Families now have a fresh option. This is a tall car that can seat seven in comfort, with the latest technology for everyone and up to seven USB ports for charging devices. But it’s not a leviathan SUV, it won’t rub people up the wrong way (as much) and it offers more practicality and capability than anything else on the market for the same money. It’s a mighty all-rounder.

THIS CAR SUMMED UP AS A SINGLE WORD: Intelligent

Perfectly sculptured.

From 7–22 March, local sculptor Guy Portelli will be exhibiting his work, The Sculptured Arts of Audi.

Each Tuesday evening, he’ll also be discussing his works, their inspiration and his life as an artist.

As seen on BBC Twos’ Dragons’ Den. Guy Portelli, RBA, ARBS, Guy Portelli Sculpture Studio 125 St Mary’s Road Tonbridge Kent TN9 2NL

To reserve your exclusive pair of exhibition tickets contact Tunbridge Wells Audi today.

Tunbridge Wells Audi North Farm Industrial Estate Dowding Way Tunbridge Wells TN2 3UY 01892 703000 tunbridgewells-audi.co.uk Part of the Inchcape Group

15_0322 AUDI TW TOTW Sculpture.indd 1

24/02/2015 Wednesday 4th March17:38 2015

HARWOODS LAND ROVER TONBRIDGE

MAKING YOUR VISIT MEMORABLE

0844 2479036

www.harwoods.tonbridge.landrover.co.uk

Here at Harwoods Land Rover Tonbridge we are proud of our modern and spacious showroom, which houses a stunning display of 20 new cars and 70 used cars. From the sleek Evoque to the exciting new Discovery Sport, there’s a vehicle for every type of adventure.

Our friendly team will always be on hand to make your experience at our dealership a memorable one for all the right reasons. With in-depth knowledge and helpful advice, the staff can provide you with the information you need to make a decision that’s right for you.

But you don’t have to take my word for it, come down and meet the team for yourself and we will be happy to show you around.

On behalf of myself and everyone at the dealership, we hope to welcome you to Harwoods Land Rover Tonbridge soon.

Greg Wilcox Greg Wilcox Head of Business

NEW DISCOVERY SPORT NOW WITHIN YOUR REACH landrover.co.uk

Meet the New Discovery Sport. Now you can own one, with manageable monthly payments. So start planning where to take it. On road. Off road. Up mountains. With its innovative design, you’ll look good going there.

New Discovery Sport HSE Auto Representative example *On the Road Price

£39,395.00

Customer Deposit

£10,450.00

The interior has flexible 5+2 seating. And there’s enough loadspace for a day out or a week away. Opt for the HSE model and you’ll get lots of extras like the Panoramic Roof.

Total Amount of Credit

£28,945.00

All this, combined with our finance package, makes family adventures even more accessible. From only £399 a month plus deposit and final payment – please see details opposite.

Final Payment

£19,656.00

Total Amount Payable

£44,470.00

Duration of Agreement

37 Months

Call 0844 2479036 today and find out more.

Harwoods Land Rover Tonbridge Vale Rise, Tonbridge, Kent TN9 1TB www.harwoods.tonbridge.landrover.co.uk

Purchase Fee (included in final payment) 36 Monthly Payments

Representative APR Interest Rate (Fixed) %

£10.00 £399.00

6.9% APR 6.72%

*The model pictured is a New Discovery Sport HSE with optional extra of metallic paint (£600) at an On the Road Price of £39,995.

Harwoods Limited is acting as a credit broker and not a lender.

Official Fuel Consumption Figures for the New Discovery Sport range in mpg (l/100km): Urban 38.2 (7.4) – 40.4 (7.0), Extra Urban 49.6 (5.7) – 50.4 (5.6), Combined 44.8 (6.3) – 46.3 (6.1). CO2 emissions 166 – 162 g/km.

The figures provided are as a result of official manufacturer’s tests in accordance with EU legislation. A vehicle’s actual fuel consumption may differ from that achieved in such tests and these figures are for comparative purposes only.

Representative 6.9% APR available on New Land Rover Discovery Sport models registered between 1st January and 31st March 2015 at participating dealers only. We may receive commission or other benefits for introducing you to Land Rover Financial Services.

With Land Rover Freedom Personal Contract Purchase you have the option at the end of the agreement to: (1) return the vehicle and not pay the Final Payment. If the vehicle is in good condition and has not exceeded the allowed mileage you will have nothing further to pay. If the vehicle has exceeded the allowed mileage a charge for excess mileage will apply - in this example 14p per mile for any excess mileage up to 4,999 miles and 28p per mile for any excess mileage exceeding 4,999 miles (2) pay the Final Payment to own the vehicle or (3) part exchange the vehicle subject to settlement of your existing finance agreement; new finance agreements are subject to status. Representative example is based upon an annual mileage of 10,000 miles. Finance is subject to status and only available to applicants aged 18 and over resident in Mainland UK and N.Ireland. This finance offer is available from Black Horse Limited trading as Land Rover Financial Services, St William House, Tresillian Terrace, Cardiff CF10 5BH. 11465

66 � TRAVEL

Picture yourself relaxing at one of the JOIN US AS WE TAKE A TOUR OF THE PARADISE THAT IS SAINT LUCIA… A PLACE YOU COULD BE VISITING YOURSELF VERY SOON AS THE WINNER OF OUR EXCLUSIVE TRAVEL COMPETITION. FULL DETAILS OF THE £4,200 PRIZE WILL BE ANNOUNCED IN THE NEXT EDITION OF THE NEWSPAPER. MEANWHILE SIT BACK AND LET YOUR IMAGINATION RUN WILD

Saint Lucia is scattered with sprawling banana, cocoa, coconut and mango plantations which are nestled in thousands of acres of pristine rainforest

STRIKING NATURAL landscapes provide the perfect backdrop for dream holidays in this Caribbean gem. Fringed by largely unspoilt beaches, Saint Lucia – often touted as one of the world’s most romantic destinations – is scattered with sprawling banana, cocoa, coconut and mango plantations which are nestled in thousands of acres of pristine rainforest. With a number of romantic hideaways dotting its golden shores, the island has long been a popular destination for both weddings and honeymoons.

BEACHES All the beaches on the island are open to the public so you can explore the coast

freely and may share the sand with locals – but some beaches offer a more secluded setting due to the resorts’ location.

Beaches on the west coast (the Caribbean side) offer calmer waters while on the east coast (the Atlantic side) wild beaches and big waves are attractive but not very safe for swimming.

NATURE AND WILDLIFE The real jewels of this enchanting island are found on the southwest shore, towering over the town of Soufriere – Saint Lucia’s first capital. The Pitons, two striking vegetation-clad volcanic plugs, rise dramatically from the coastline and the surrounding dense forest to form the

island’s most recognisable landmarks.

Petit Piton reaches 743 metres above sea level while its loftier sibling Gros Piton stands at 770 metres high. Soufriere itself is an enclave of Gaelic culture which survived over 150 years of British rule and features French-style architecture, character and place names which highlight its long-faded importance as a French trading centre.

CULTURE AND HISTORY The renowned Saint Lucia Jazz & Arts festival is one of the Caribbean’s biggest cultural events. More than 50 worldrenowned artists perform over the course of two weeks. For history buffs, the

national monument of Pigeon Island National Park provides a hint of Saint Lucia’s incredibly rich past. The headland, which is connected to the mainland by a natural causeway boasting two beautiful beaches, was once home to the French buccaneer François Le Clerc, also known as Peg Leg. This pirate of the high seas used to prey on Spanish galleons as they sailed the Caribbean Sea laden with treasures from their South American Empire.

Watch out for the details in next week’s edition of the Times of Tunbridge Wells on how you can win an amazing holiday for two on Saint Lucia.

TRAVEL �

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68 � ARTS & CULTURE

You don’t need to go to London to hear top-class classical music

CHAIRMAN Giles Clarke of the RTWSO

How did you get involved?

I’m a classical music enthusiast and I went along to listen to the concerts. I then had my arm twisted and sold tickets for three or four years, before having my arm twisted again and becoming chairman. I’m not a professional player, but am really keen there should be an orchestra like this in Tunbridge Wells and to make sure that the future of the orchestra is as rosy as it has been in the past. Before this, I was a botanist by training and head of exhibitions and education at the Natural History Museum.

What are some of the main challenges?

Along with every other orchestra, the problems are twofold: advertising and finance. Even if the hall is sold out, we still lose thousands of pounds, so bridging the gap between income and expenditure is the big issue and trying to find sponsorship through trusts and foundations is very much part of the game. When letting people know that there is an orchestra in Tunbridge Wells, word of mouth is fantastic, but getting the original word into the mouths can be more difficult.

MAGIC FLUTE Amateurs and professionals play together

From theatre to art, photography to live music, we’re blessed with a rich and vibrant culture in Tunbridge Wells. In this series, we’re taking the pulse of the local arts scene and speaking to some of the movers and shakers to see if it’s sinking or swimming. This time, we catch up with Giles Clarke, chairman of the Royal Tunbridge Wells Symphony Orchestra, to hear about the challenges of bringing classical music to the forefront of the town’s musical repertoire

• By Fred Latty Tell us about the background to it all The orchestra itself is 93 years old. It was set up as a group of quality local musicians and today is made up of amateur players who perform to a professional standard. Led by our music director Rod Dunk,

there are six concerts each year between October and Easter, which are held at the Assembly Hall Theatre in Tunbridge Wells and supplemented by hired-in professionals, mainly from the BBC Concert Orchestra.

Are the players mainly amateurs or professionals?

It’s not strictly true that the orchestra is made up

primarily of amateur musicians. At our December 2014 concert, for example, there were 43 professionals and 38 amateurs, ie more than half pros. The number of musicians will vary according to the programme, but the professional/amateur ratio remains rather constant. Most of our pros are regulars who play at most of our concerts, but others are brought in as required by the music played.

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Wednesday 4th March 2015

How has your audience changed and how do you try and appeal to a younger demographic?

Classical music is a niche market and there are certain kinds of people who go to concerts, so one’s always in the business of trying to catch the next generation of listeners who might be interested. We offer discounted tickets at £1 per concert to students and under-18s, but the real core audience is generally much older. We’re talking about having a family concert next year and looking into further school initiatives, we keep trying!

Has the recession had an impact on the orchestra?

In the last two or three years, there has been a very sharp decline in numbers of people who go to the concerts. The economy’s been bad and people don’t have as much money to spend, but it didn’t seem to match the economic slump, which went on for a couple of years before people stopped buying tickets. This is true not just of us, but of all the local orchestras – and nobody really knows why.

Where do you get your funding? Are you supported by Tunbridge Wells Borough Council?

We don’t get any money from the council; it’s under real pressure at the moment, so this is the kind of thing it

ARTS & CULTURE �

drops out of. In 2010 and 2011, we received £2,500 each year from them, but there has been no further funding since then. We’re looking for sponsorship and the most successful approaches recently have been to trusts and foundations. I think commercial sponsorship is something we ought to do more of – getting out there and banging on the chief executives’ doors. But finding volunteers to do that kind of work is an uphill struggle!

What kind of annual deficit do you face?

Over the past ten years, the gap between our income from ticket and programme sales and our

expenditure, on hiring the hall, professionals and sheet music for instance, has averaged about £30,000 per year (about £5,000 per concert). Income and expenditure fluctuate year to year, but the deficit remains at that order of magnitude.

How do you tackle this issue?

The deficit is met from individual donations from season ticket holders, player members’ subscriptions, from grants from charitable trusts and foundations, Gift Aid, commercial sponsorship; other fundraising activities and occasionally from legacies.

KEY PLAYER

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Is there an official body of volunteers who help out?

Any remaining deficit is covered by funding from the Friends of the RTWSO. This is a separate charity, with its own trustees, set up in 1987 principally to support the orchestra. Thanks to some early legacies which were soundly invested, the Friends’ annual contribution to the orchestra has averaged about £15,000. Thus, we benefit from a level of continued support that many other orchestras don’t have. But it is incumbent on orchestra trustees to do all they can to maximise income so that the Friends’ reserves are not in the long run depleted.

The Friends organisation is our salvation; we rely very heavily on it and are astonishingly grateful for people who have chipped in to make it successful.

How do you think Tunbridge Wells culture is doing in general? Is it in crisis or looking more optimistic?

I certainly don’t think it’s in crisis. With the various venues, there’s a tremendous range of stuff going on, which is very positive. There’s quite a considerable cultural life and a lot of energy and enthusiasm among the people who are performing and putting things on.

It’s about getting people to know about it and to think this is a cultural centre and a worthwhile area where you can go to top-quality cultural events. When they come, they’re enthusiastic and come back, but getting the news to them and getting them to believe that things locally are of a high standard is the task we have, and we take it on with enthusiasm.

What kind of challenges come with having such a large input from volunteers?

Managing volunteers becomes a big issue in this kind of thing. Knowing how to get the work done and the schedule adhered to with a group of people who are enthusiastic, but have different calls on their time, is quite a tall order. One needs to have the right people who are passionate about the job they’re doing. We’ve got a fantastic committee of people who take tremendous pride and get a lot of personal satisfaction out of doing a job that’s really worthwhile.

What are your hopes for the future of the orchestra?

Our top priority is boosting the quality of the music and the performances – ensuring that we’re making the best music we can for the area. Each year, we try to choose programmes that stretch the orchestra but still keep the audience with us. You don’t need to go into London to hear top-class classical music; you can hear it in Tunbridge Wells. Getting the town’s residents to appreciate that is the challenge. When it works, though, it’s so worthwhile.

How has your latest season been, both culturally and finically?

Musically, it has been extremely good – you don’t often hear Tunbridge Wells people shouting and stamping at the end of a concert! But selling tickets has been an issue and the financial problems are not getting better at the moment.

What makes you the most money?

I’m afraid there’s no such thing as a big money-spinner in the world of symphony orchestras. Very few in Britain or elsewhere could survive without some form of private or public support. Of course, a programme of familiar music (Beethoven, Brahms, Mozart) will sell more tickets, as will a well-known soloist such as Nicola Benedetti, Stephen Hough, Freddy Kempf or Peter Donohoe. But even when we sell every seat in the house – about 980 in the Assembly Hall – our profit margin is very thin.

THE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA FOUNDED: 1922 REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER: 295781 ANNUAL NUMBER OF CONCERTS: 6 NUMBER OF MEMBERS: 50-60 PERFORMANCE VENUE: The Assembly Hall Theatre, Tunbridge Wells TICKETS FROM: £15.25 MUSIC DIRECTOR: Roderick Dunk LEADER: Julian Leaper SUPPORT: The Friends of the Royal Tunbridge Wells Symphony Orchestra FRIENDS CHARITY NUMBER: 296632 ANNUAL FRIENDS MEMBERSHIP: £25 WEB: www.rtwso.org

O F TUNBR IDGE WEL LS

BASS CLARINETTIST ANDREW MUIR TALKS ABOUT LIFE IN THE RTWSO How long have you been with the orchestra?

My first gig was in December 2008. It was a revelation, I had no idea a local, semi-amateur orchestra could sound that good.

Any particular highlights?

There are so many. Earlier this year, we played the third piano concerto of Rachmaninoff with Peter Donohoe, which was incredible. The atmosphere the soloist and the orchestra managed to create was really special.

Which musicians inspire you?

Most of my inspiration at the moment comes from the other people in the orchestra. The experience of making music with professionals for whom playing the notes is a day job is something I could listen to for months and learn from.

What do you do for a living outside the orchestra?

I run a standards consulting team at Swift, which is the network the banks use to send money to each other. I’ve been extremely lucky to be able to indulge myself by playing as an amateur with professionals, while having a job at the same time that’s rewarding and pays the bills.

Do you have high hopes for culture in Tunbridge Wells?

I’m always surprised by how much there is going on. The number of different recitals available to people, from small chamber music groups up to full symphony orchestras, is much more than anybody thinks.

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@timesoftw Wednesday 4th March 2015

70 � COUNTRY MATTERS

They shoot pheasants don’t they?

• By Kent Barker MY NEIGHBOUR says he can always tell when the local shoot is on. Pheasants start to congregate in his garden as if to demand sanctuary. It’s not far from there to the spinney across the little valley where the birds are raised and fed and from where the beaters will drive them into the air to be blasted by a line of guns.

Michael is quite glad to know when the shooters will be out as he has to keep his lively cocker spaniel in.

Several times previously, Charley has escaped from the garden and gone to play with the gun dogs. But, not knowing any better, his antics raise the birds too early which infuriates the gamekeeper and the shoot master, not to mention the “sportsmen” who may easily have paid £500 for their day’s activity.

So Charley has been warned that he himself may be shot if he continues to disrupt proceedings. It’s the sort of message guaranteed to alarm dogs and their owners.

On a couple of occasions, I’ve been confronted by men with guns as I walked my dog Myrtle along public footpaths. Once we turned a corner and not five metres in front was a youth with a shotgun. As we approached, he let off both barrels. I was so surprised, I screamed at him that this was a public right of way and he had no business to be shooting there. Instantly the tweedsuited farmer who was running the shoot appeared and told me, politely enough, that it was his private land and they were perfectly entitled to shoot there.

The incident got me scurrying for the internet and I quickly discovered that – as I thought – they really

Wednesday 4th March 2015

shouldn’t have been anywhere near a public footpath.

Even supporters such as the British Association for Shooting and Conservation say: “One should refrain from shooting when a right of way is being used as this could be construed as a common law nuisance, willful obstruction or a breach of Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.” Their advice that ‘signs should be posted and watchers should sound horns or whistles to stop the drive when a person is seen approaching’ was certainly being roundly ignored.

It’s also extremely doubtful whether they could legally shoot Charley just because he startled birds into the air, though that might not be much comfort if they didn’t know - or simply ignored - the law.

At the time I had no particular views on shooting. It seemed a traditional enough pastime. It brings money into the often hard-pressed rural economy. It’s perhaps a tad one-sided – after all, aiming an explosive charge and 400 lead pellets at a relatively stupid bird that’s been startled into taking flight is a bit of an unequal contest. But I do eat pheasant from time to time and it probably wouldn’t have had a life in the first place if the person who wanted to point a gun at it hadn’t paid handsomely for it to be reared.

The anti-hunting people estimate that up to 50 million pheasants and partridges are produced annually so they can be shot, but only about half get that far – the rest die of starvation or on the roads or are killed by predators. And it’s argued that the rearing process itself uses battery farming methods which would now be illegal for chickens.

Furthermore foxes, as well as protected species such

as badgers, otters and birds of prey, are routinely poisoned, trapped and shot to safeguard the game birds. Tons of lead pellets and thousands of plastic shot-gun cartridges pollute the environment. And plenty of people are accidentally injured – shotgun deaths were averaging around 200 a year up to 2006.

All of which seems a rather high price to pay for a day’s “entertainment”. But you have to acknowledge that a lot of people do derive a lot of pleasure from it.

Thus the activity continues to divide the supporters of “country pursuits” and a fair number of rural residents.

What does really does annoy me though, is the contention from the shooting fraternity that either I “don’t understand” the countryside if I don’t shoot or, yet more arrogantly, that I can’t really be a country person if I don’t support field sports. Well yes I can.

And I have many friends who’ve lived in the country all their lives who believe shooting a sentient creature such as a pheasant is cruel.

Ultimately, perhaps, it’s not so much killing a defenceleszs bird that seems morally wrong, as actually taking pleasure from it. But that’s perhaps a more philosophical deb ate. In the meantime, those pheasants that survived the winter have a few months’ grace until the season starts again in October and my neighbour has, once again, to lock up his spaniel.

Read more at KentCountryMatters.Blogspot.com

INTRODUCING...

KENT BARKER is a journalist and writer.

He has worked for BBC radio, news and current affairs, and in television for Channel Four News and ITN. He’s been a parliamentary correspondent and was a BBC reporter in New York.

A few years ago he took a leap and left London where he’d been based for most of his career. The plan was to start a new life in the countryside and a new career as a famous author.

Agents and publishers remained resolutely unmoved by this move, so he acquired a dog and an ancient Land Rover and found part-time work managing a community orchard.

He currently tours pubs telling tales of 18th century smuggling in Kent and Sussex to promote his book The Smuggling Life of Gabriel Tomkins.

He was elected to the Benenden Parish Council and serves on various local committees. He has been writing about these experiences in columns for various local newspapers and on his blog KentCountryMatters.Blogspot.com.

OUTDOORS & INDOORS �

71

Triathlete needs help to chase European dream Parkrun phenomenon gets Kent running

• By Julie Rae A TALENTED triathlete dreaming of bringing back gold for team GB is being forced to crowd-fund cash to compete for his country.

Despite his disappointment at coming fourth in the gruelling Euro Triathlon in Majorca last year, Tunbridge Wells personal trainer Scott Richardson’s placing was good enough to win him a second chance to represent Great Britain.

But because the athlete, who discovered his triathlon talent “by accident”, is an amateur, he has to raise £1,600 to fund the basics he needs to get him to this year’s European Triathlon Championships in Italy.

So the innovative fitness fanatic has taken to the internet to help him fund his road to Rimini.

In two months of online crowd-funding,

which offers supporters rewards in return for financial backing, Mr Richardson has raised almost £1,000 towards his dream.

He needs another £600 if he is to fulfil his ambition of going for gold for Great Britain.

For the Middle Distance Triathlon European Championships in Rimini, the 34-year-old will compete in an arduous race similar to a half-Ironman distance, 1.2-miles swim, a 56-mile cycle and a half-marathon of 13.1 miles.

Mr Richardson, who has been a long distance runner since his teens, had no intention of becoming a triathlete until one of his personal training clients dropped out of a race. He said: “I got hypothermia the first time I did a triathlon, so I didn’t think it was the race for me.

“But then a client pulled out of the Marlow Half Ironman so I did it in his place - and purely by accident, I discovered I was quite good at them. I won that triathlon in

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my age group and qualified for Team GB for the first time. And that’s how I ended up at the 2014 European Triathlon Championship last year.”

In a blistering 36C Majorcan heatwave Mr Richardson took fourth place in his age group missing out on a medal by just one minute.

He said: “It’s always been a dream of mine to compete for my country and I was devastated not to make it on to the podium.

If I’d performed as well as I normally do, I would have got gold but I think the heat got to me. It truly was unbearable.”

But despite Mr Richardson’s disappointment at missing out on a medal, his performance in Majorca once more won him a place on Team GB. He said: “Even though I was not performing at my best, that triathlon got me another chance to race for Britain. This time I’m going to bring home gold.”

But because Mr Richardson is an amateur athlete, if he cannot raise the funds necessary to get himself to Rimini, he will not be able to compete in the championship, on May 24.

He said: “I’d love to get some sponsorship from businesses whose logos could be put on my tri suit. To have sponsorship logos would make me feel like a real athlete!”

Mr Richardson is using the crowd-funding website Pledge Sport to raise the cash.

Everyone who provides financial backing gets something back: £10 supporters get a name-check on Mr Richardson’s campaign page and social media; £50 provides personal insight into his Rimini dream with regular updates and £500 offers a one-toone training session and a personalised workout. julie@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk

EVERY Saturday morning all across the county, thousands of runners are taking to Kent’s open spaces as part of the parkrun phenomenon.

Paul Sinton-Hewitt launched parkrun in 2010, with the intention of bringing local communities together to run without incurring any cost.

Some five years on and more than a million people across the country are now registered with hundreds of parkruns and the Kent public has shown an appetite for getting involved.

Completely run by volunteers, parkrun involves runners meeting in their local parks, including Dunorlan in Tunbridge Wells, and then taking part in a 5km run.

And parkrun is different from anything else. There are runners of all ages and abilities, some looking to better their personal bests, while part-timers are encouraged to get out and enjoy the benefits of getting fit for free.

Most events across Kent involve hundreds of runners on their marks at 9am every Saturday, whatever the weather, but parkrun has built a community of people who support each other, making the events more than just a run in the park.

Strangers become friends, while getting fit. With spring almost here and the weather set to improve, volunteers will expect to see an increase in the number of participants. For more information on local parkruns, visit www. parkrun.org.uk/royaltunbridgewells

� To donate to Mr Richardson’s campaign, visit www.pledgesports. org/projects/Richardsonsroad-to-rimini/

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