Times of Tonbridge 13th April 2016

Wednesday, April 13, 2016

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YOUR FOUR PAGE GUIDE TO ENJOYING BEAUTFUL BEWL From Page 25

NEW SIGNS GIVE LOCAL SHOPS A BOOST

GENERATION RENT AND HOW COUPLES STRUGGLE TO BUY THEIR OWN HOMES Page 4-5

Page 2

BENENDEN MURDER – HUSBAND MET WITH ANOTHER WOMAN Page 6

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Boris drops in on Tonbridge

PHOTO: Marcus Warren

TABLE TALK Tom Tugendhat [left] and Boris Johnson at Tonbridge School

LONDON Mayor Boris Johnson gave an insight into his views on a wide – ranging list of subjects, including the EU referendum and the need for public transport investment, when he visited Tonbridge last week.

Mr Johnson, currently one of the biggest characters in UK politics, was invited by the West Kent Conservative Association to take part in the fundraising event for his potential successor Zac Goldsmith at Tonbridge School.

The evening, which attracted a large audience, was chaired by Tonbridge & Malling MP Tom Tugendhat, who said it was a highly entertaining occasion.

He said: “Boris is very easy to

interview. He spoke about many issues including the changes that have happened during his time as Mayor.

“We took him down Tonbridge High Street on his way to the school and he was interested to see that the improvements demonstrated what could be done when investment was made to help grow the numbers of independent shops.

“He also talked about urban development and the importance of using brownfield sites, rather than developers taking the easy option of using greenfield locations. Boris also discussed Transport for London and plans to improve our railways, as well as speaking about the EU a lot!”

A town to be proud of Upgrades will boost economy and create more jobs Neill Barston A MAJOR revamp of Tonbridge Lock has been hailed as a key step towards wider economic regeneration plans which are already attracting national retailers to the town.

The £1.9million Environment Agency and borough council project includes an enhanced riverside walk and street scene along Medway Wharf Road, as well as essential upgrades to flood walls.

It comes just weeks before work on an eagerly-awaited £2.65million Tonbridge High Street improvement scheme is due to finish, which traders believe will prove crucial for encouraging new businesses.

A further boost comes as developer LondonMetric has gained permission for an M&S food hall within the Halfords site at Cannon Lane.

The location is also set to feature a Home Bargains store, which along with a number of other retailers is in talks to take up space on the B&Q site which closes this month.

Robert Styles, Director of Street Scene, Leisure and Technical Services at Tonbridge & Malling Borough Council, feels the Tonbridge Lock scheme, which includes a new boathouse and a telemetry station, will have a positive impact.

He said: “We are trying to improve the whole appearance of Tonbridge, and we wanted to create a lock area that residents can be proud of.

‘The economic regeneration of the town is one of our main priorities’ “The economic regeneration of the town is one of the council’s main priorities, and we are doing everything that we can to support local businesses and support the town’s high street.”

Neil Gunn, of the Environment Agency, confirmed the organisation had contributed £700,000 towards the new lock improvement project.

He said: “This was a scheme that we have been looking to do for many years as the flood wall was coming to

the end of its life and needed to be replaced, and this is a really good project for us to have been involved with and a scheme we are proud of.”

Gareth Price, of LondonMetric, said the Cannon Lane plans for the B&Q site would bring significant employment.

He said: “We are downsizing the Halfords unit and putting in a new M&S which should be open by Christmas. We have also agreed to take back the 38,000 sq ft B&Q store.

“Home Bargains will be taking 15,000 sq ft of this space and we are in detailed discussions with a number of other retailers.

“Planning is due to be determined in the summer, which would allow work to commence later this year. It will complement the town centre and will also create a number of job opportunities.”

Steve Humphrey, Tonbridge & Malling Borough Council’s Director of Planning, Housing and Environmental Health, added: “It is very encouraging for Tonbridge that there is a high level of investment interest being demonstrated by organisations who wish to redevelop and reuse sites in the town for a range of uses.”

INSIDE DOCTORS’ STRIKE

Another 48-hour walk out at Tunbridge Wells hospital

PAGE 3

FAMILY AFFAIR

Barsleys stores up 125 years of shopping success

PAGES 8-9

BUSINESS AWARDS Bridging the gap between landlords and the tenants

PAGES 12-13

PROPERTY GUIDE 48 pages of the finest homes on the market

SEE Property Section

2 � LOCAL NEWS

Weather Wednesday Today will see sunny periods and light winds.

DETERMINED Susi Rogers-Hartley with the Lloyds Bank black horse

April 13, 2016

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Visibility: Very Good

Pollution: Low

Humidity: 79%

Sunrise: 06.07am

Sunset: 19.53pm

Wind: 4mph

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New showrooms give town another boost

By Neill Barston

A bright start for drivers on the A21 Tonbridge bypass – but rain is on the way Send your weather pictures into... newsdesk@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk

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QUOTE UNQUOTE ‘The purpose of our lives is to be happy’

Dalai Lama

Wednesday 13th April 2016

THERE have been more encouraging signs for the area’s economy this month, when two very different business ventures opened new showrooms in the town.

Kent Mobility, specialising in high quality equipment for the disabled, has invited one of its clients, Sittingbourne’s 2012 Paralympic wheelchair rugby captain Steve Brown, to attend the company’s launch event on April 18.

The company, which is setting up its showroom at Sanderson Way, provided a specially adapted chair for the sportsman, who also works as a Sky Sports presenter.

There will also be another star appearance at the event from horse rider and para show jumper Susi Rogers-Hartley, a former Navy

officer who suffered a severe accident that left her paralysed from the waist down.

The Norfolk-based rider was determined to continue with her sporting passion, and Kent mobility were able to work with her to produce a power chair enabling her to mount her horse. She went on to win an event at Hickstead, and also recently starred riding a striking black horse in a TV advert to mark the 250th anniversary of Lloyds Bank.

Sharon King, operations director for Kent Mobility, explained the company had been established more than 25 years at its Tonbridge base.

She said: “I believe our business is unique as we are able to provide wheelchair users with equipment that fits their requirements in the knowledge that people don’t have the same body shapes.

“We can adapt equipment to how it will work

best for people in their homes, and having people like Steve Brown here for the launch is a great example of how we can help people.”

Towns Heating & Plumbing Supplies, also based in Sanderson Way, is due to launch its new showroom facilities on April 18 as well.

Company boss Alex Town said: “The new bathroom showroom will be an exciting addition for the company.

“We offer an extensive range of bathrooms that can suit almost any taste, look and budget. We can help customers design their bathrooms with our state-of-the-art virtual world design system.

“We also pride ourselves on our customer service and that’s what has helped us grow over the past four years. Launching our new showroom means we can help offer more choice for customers.”

Pointing the way to a brighter future COMMUNITY businesses in Tonbridge are to benefit from new signs which identify local shops and trades.

Stores in Martin Hardie Way have welcomed the improvements, which also include new street paving.

The parade of shops received a share of a £30,000 borough council improvement fund to support small traders who are facing increased competition from larger stores and internet-based businesses.

The inspiration for the area’s new look came from a national Shop Local project which aims to provide greater support to small and medium-sized businesses.

Higham ward borough councillor Frixos Tombolis said the relatively modest figure of £3,000 invested in Martin Hardie Way would prove effective in highlighting the range of businesses operating in the area.

He said: “The improved signage will help stores and I think it’s important to have such shops as they are part of a community.”

Mr Tombolis added that unless traditional retail shopping parades are supported, areas will face a considerable loss of amenities.

Murat Ozsoykal, owner of the Diamond Fish Bar in Martin Hardie Way, said: “I think having new signs showing where we are will make a difference, especially to those residents who may be new to the area.

SIGN HERE Cllr Frixos Tombolis [right] with Murat Ozsoykal, owner of the Diamond Fish Bar “Repaving the street will also help, but something also needs to be done about the car parking bays here, as they are too wide at the moment.”

Nicolas Heslop, Leader of Tonbridge & Malling Borough Council and portfolio holder for Economic Regeneration, said: “The council recognises the key role that local centres play

in supporting neighbourhoods and contributing to the economy.

For this reason we have been working with traders across the borough to carry out small scale improvements, such as signage improvements or refurbishment works that will help these centres to be healthy and vibrant places to shop.”

LOCAL NEWS 

Patient safety is at risk claim striking doctors

By Neill Barston JUNIOR doctors at Tunbridge Wells Hospital in Pembury joined their colleagues in another national strike last week amid claims that new national contracts will create ‘unsafe conditions’ for patients.

The long-running dispute has created an increasingly tense stand-off between doctors and Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt, who says the contract changes are necessary to deliver NHS hospital treatment seven-days a week.

Speaking to the Times last Thursday during their second 48-hour strike – the fourth industrial action in two months – doctors expressed their frustration.

According to staff, the seven-day working patterns being proposed would be unworkable without the Government increasing the number of doctors.

The British Medical Association, which has started legal action against Jeremy Hunt after his decision to impose the contracts, has also claimed the new terms discriminate against women in terms of maternity leave.

Rebecca Hart, a 29-year-old junior doctor at Tunbridge Wells, said there was a strong feeling among colleagues that the Health Secretary was not listening to their collective concerns.

She said: “There are a number of factors that we disagree with on the new contracts that are being imposed. We’re concerned that strikes are portrayed as being about money and us not willing to work all hours – which many of us do already and we already have 24/7 emergency care.

“This is actually about the fact that they are not recruiting any more doctors, which will put patient safety at risk. Here at Tunbridge Wells there is a situation where elective surgery procedures are being cancelled due to the lack of beds.”

Lucia Chen, a 24-year-old first year medical graduate, shared these concerns. She believes they were taking action over an important point of principle, believing that trying to operate the same

JUNIOR CHOICE Pembury doctors on strike

NEWS IN BRIEF

Castle set to light up for Queen’s birthday RESIDENTS are being invited to join a beacon lighting ceremony at Tonbridge Castle on Thursday, April 21 to mark the Queen’s 90th birthday.

The beacon lighting, which starts at 8.30pm, follows on from a series of Clean for the Queen litter tidying initiatives within the borough.

Robert Styles, of Tonbridge Borough Council, said: “We are delighted to be taking part in this momentous occasion and we hope people turn out to see the lighting of the beacon and to wish Her Majesty a very Happy 90th Birthday.”

Triathlon turns 25 MORE than 500 athletes from all over the UK will be taking part in the 25th Tonbridge Triathlon on May 2.

There will be a standard level consisting of an 800m swim, 50k cycle and 10k run, and a sprint category featuring a 400m swim, 25k bike ride and 5k run, plus a relay element.

The event, which is organised by the Tonbridge Lions Club, takes place at Tonbridge School’s sports complex, making use of its indoor pool and running track. For information on how to enter, visit: www.tonbridgetriathlon.co.uk amount of coverage over seven days with the same level of resources used to staff a five-day system made no sense.

She said: “We have seen some of the shift pattern examples they have given and they are erratic and unmanageable. It is making me think about whether I stay in the profession – though I do not want to leave.”

‘It’s a very hard situation, as we feel that we are not being listened to’ Fellow junior doctor Edward Scott, 28, felt that all his colleagues remained passionate about their work as doctors, but that stretching services beyond present levels was endangering patients’ safety.

He said: “It’s a very hard situation, as we feel that we are not being listened to by the people who are making these new contracts and that our views have not been taken into account, which is very frustrating.”

In response, a spokesperson from the Department of Health said: “This strike is irresponsible and disproportionate, and with almost 25,000 operations cancelled nationally so far, it is patients who are suffering.

“If the BMA had agreed to negotiate on Saturday pay, as they promised to do through ACAS in November, we’d have a negotiated agreement by now. We ask doctors to look at the detail of the contract and call on the BMA to cancel their plans to escalate strike action even further.”

Angela Gallagher, Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust’s Chief Operating Officer, said the safety of patients remained a priority at all times.

Increase in prosperity for West Kent College A REVIEW of West Kent College in Tonbridge and Ashford College by the Government’s Skills Funding Agency (SFA) has seen them awarded an outstanding financial rating.

Both institutions had formerly been under K College, which was taken over by the Hadlow Group in 2014. This averted their closure due to previous operating losses.

Hadlow confirmed it had taken on the majority of the debt from the two colleges, and kept on most of the staff that had been previously employed across the two sites.

3

The latest SFA review follows further challenges for West Kent College after teachers, backed by the Association of Colleges, considered strike action in February. The threat of industrial action was later withdrawn.

Hadlow Group Principal, Paul Hannan, explained the financial improvement seen at West Kent and Ashford would create greater stability.

He said: “This is a fantastic achievement and validates the sound decisions we have made with our capital programme. We pledged to

secure the future of K College, and not only have we done that, we’ve ensured it has flourished under its rebranding and achieved outstanding financial health.”

Mark Lumsdon-Taylor, Director of Finance and Resources, shared his assessment that within 18 months the two colleges had shown improvement under Hadlow’s management.

He added: “We were confident in our innovative educational and financial strategy to transform K College, and this rating serves to usher in a new prosperous era under the Hadlow Group.

RAF makes a flying visit SEVENT Y pupils from Tonbridge Grammar School received a dramatic visit from an RAF Chinook as part of a national initiative to design a flight simulator.

They were given a guided tour of the famous military helicopter as part of the Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) project.

The Falcon Initiative, led by the Royal Aeronautical Society, aims to inspire teenagers to take up engineering. Its key aim has been to challenge pupils to create a fully functioning flight simulator, with Tonbridge pupils now in the final stages of testing their prototype.

A21 roadworks delay COMPLETION of the new A21 dual carriageway between Tonbridge and Pembury has been pushed back by three months.

Highways England said the £70million scheme is expected to be open to traffic from this December as per its original plan, but there will be additional work continuing off the highway until the spring of next year.

School gets go-ahead FOLLOWING months of negotiations, Ridge View Special School has been granted planning approval to relocate to a new site on Upper Haysden Lane, Tonbridge.

The decision on the project was referred to the Secretary of State, who opted to allow building work to be permitted.

Wednesday 13th April 2016

4 � LOCAL NEWS

Generation rent is losing the battle to buy its own homes

Figures show rents in town are today among the highest in the county Adam Hignett adam@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk COUPLES and individuals struggling to get on the local housing ladder are being forced to pay the highest rental costs in the county while they try and save for a deposit on their own home. And it’s an uphill battle.

One Tunbridge Wells resident has described being trapped in a ‘never-ending cycle’ of rent increases, meaning she has no money left to save for a deposit.

It is a common problem SOARING RENTS across the UK, with renting A particular among those aged 21-25 overproblem in Tunbridge taking home ownership in Wells 2004. For those aged 26-30 the tipping point was in 2011.

In the meantime, the number of young adults living with their parents reached 3.3 million last year, as the proportion of disposal income being swallowed up by rents rocketed, hitting 28 per cent in the South East.

And it is particularly acute in areas deemed affluent, such as Tunbridge Wells.

Wednesday 13th April 2016

The town itself has some of the highest rents in the county according to data released by the Valuation Office Agency.

Figures show that the average private sector rent across all housing sizes in Tunbridge Wells in 2014/15 was £994 per month.

This ranges from £666 per month for a single-room flat to £2,008 for a four-bedroom house, compared to the Kent average of £536 and £1,491 respectively, but prices have risen further since then.

FRIENDS WITH MORTGAGES ARE PAYING LESS THAN WE DO IN RENT BETHAN Minter (26) and her partner Shaun (29) currently rent a one-bedroom flat on Colebrook Road, near High Brooms, for ‘just shy’ of £700.

“It was one of the cheapest places we could find,” she explained, adding it actually represented ‘good value’ for money nowadays, as the flat itself was very nice and they got on well with the landlord.

But although they still aspire to own a home in Tunbridge Wells, where they were both ‘born and raised’, they are continuously playing catch up with rents, making saving for a deposit impossible.

“We work in Tunbridge Wells and would love to buy but can’t see it happening anytime soon and it’s hard to plan life goals,” said Ms Minter.

“We can’t afford to get married or have kids any time soon either.

“What is frustrating is that our friends who have managed to secure a deposit and are now on mortgages are paying less than what we pay in rent for something the equivalent size.”

Ms Minter, who works at Trinity Theatre as Youth Engagement Manager, said the friends of hers who did have mortgages had mainly benefitted from inheritance or parental help.

“Many others who are trying to save are opting to live at home with their parents.

At the moment my sister has had to move back into the family home as she can no longer afford to rent.

“At least 80 per cent of my friends are in the same situation as us, while my mum likes to remind us that at my age she had two houses and two children.”

Although she doesn’t want to, Ms Minter

and her partner have discussed potentially moving back in with one of their parents to save money.

And there is always the danger that even their current situation could soon become untenable.

“If this flat went back on the market at any time, there is definitely no way we could afford it. We would have to look further out. But our lives are here and we don’t want to leave.”

LOCAL NEWS  NUMBER OF BEDROOMS

KENT COMPARISON Some of the highest and lowest rents in the county

4 BED 3 BED 2 BED 1 BED

£2,614

£ PER MONTH

£1,780 £1,491

£1,349

£1,405 £970

£858 £699

£536

Kent

£893

£1,142 £1,030

£1,008

£744

£599

£2,008

£720

£831

£929

£662

£666

Tonbridge

Tunbridge Wells

£572

£734

£421

Maidstone

Sevenoaks

Thanet

RENTAL AREA

By comparison, rents in Tonbridge range from £662 for a one-room flat, to £1,780 for a four-bedroom house.

For Sevenoaks, the same sized dwellings are £734 per month and £2,614 per month respectively, however evidence suggests prices in all three towns have since risen.

In total, the proportion of housing rented out by private landlords in Tunbridge Wells has increased from 11.24 per cent to 17.33 per cent

over the past 20 years, slightly above the national average of 16.3 per cent.

Daniel Craw, of the pressure group Generation Rent, which campaigns for ‘affordable’ rates, said: “Rent in Tunbridge Wells might not be a problem if you can also afford a season ticket into London for a high-paid job.

“But if you work locally the high housing costs can make life a struggle and end any hopes of saving for a home of your own.”

5

ONLY A HANDFUL OF OUR FRIENDS OWN THEIR OWN HOMES TOGETHER with her fiancé Rory, Amelie Hawkins has been saving towards a deposit for a house for the past two years, since she moved back from London.

Ms Hawkins (30) said that while the lower rents of Tunbridge Wells meant she was able to save, it was not ‘a huge amount’ and much of it was taken up with travel costs.

“I have just renewed my train fare to London, which is £4,400 per year, and so saving has been a slow process although fortunately my partner does not have to pay for travel.

“When I used to rent in London, where I lived for two and a half years, I never even considered owning my own home.”

She said most of her peers in London have resigned themselves to a life of permanent renting; the thinking being that it was no longer possible to own your own home.

“Most of them just put that aspiration aside into the ‘impossible box’, and even in Tunbridge Wells it is only a handful of my friends who now own their home, and that has only occurred in the last couple of years.”

Ms Hawkins, who works in sports PR, is currently looking for a place to buy, aiming for somewhere within walking distance of the station.

“I need somewhere walkable because the hours I work are very long and with the added commute I don’t think I would be able to cope so I’m, looking within a three-quartermile radius.

“But it is difficult to find what we want.”

One thing she is certain of, however, is that if her partner was not around to provide a second income, there would be little chance of her ever getting on the housing ladder.

“I simply wouldn’t be able to do it on my own,” she said.

Wednesday 13th April 2016

6  LOCAL NEWS

Hours after killing his wife high-flyer checks into hotel with another woman FORMER Bank of England adviser Stuart Andrews, 54, was last week sentenced to life in prison with a minimum term of 15 years after pleading guilty to murdering his wife Caroline, 52, at their Benenden bungalow.

Maidstone Crown Court heard that hours after strangling his wife in February the City consultant bought a bottle of Prosecco and checked into a London hotel with another woman with whom he planned to set up an escort agency.

He triggered a manhunt after the body of the supply teacher was found at the home from which the debt-ridden family were about to be evicted.

The father of four tried to ease their predicament by stealing £267,000 from his father-in-law who had dementia and had moved in with them.

It was after he was informed that the family had to leave their home that the Oxford classics graduate lost his temper and during an argument killed his wife in their bedroom.

Following the attack he told one of his children that their mother was unwell and not to be disturbed.

He boarded a train for London, booked into the hotel and while drinking martinis in the bar texted his wife’s friend Heather Sheldon to say: “I am sorry and, this is beyond belief, I have accidentally killed Caroline.

“In a second I will have killed myself too. The body is in our bedroom.”

Andrews later tried to kill himself. He was discovered by police after calling hotel reception and asking for an ambulance.

Wednesday 13th April 2016

The court also heard how Andrews had written a note addressed to his ‘dear children’ following his unsuccessful attempt at suicide.

In it he said he had ruined the lives of his family by squandering their money, which had forced him to sell the previous family home in Eynsford, for £700,000 in 1998.

He said of the murder: “It started as an accident when we were fighting but went too far.”

In the note he told the children their mother was a ‘beautiful, kind and caring’ person and said he ‘loved them too’ but he couldn’t ‘carry on living’.

He was found in the hotel around 24 hours following the murder, after he had called reception asking for an ambulance, saying he had tried to kill himself.

In addition, he told the reception to call the police, who he knew were after him.

However, other notes were also found, in which Andrews blamed his wife for the incident, stating she had been ‘attacking’ and ‘goading’ him before he killed her, claiming he was ‘not really a monster’.

KIND AND CARING Caroline Andrews and inset husband Stuart Andrews

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8  LOCAL NEWS

Barsleys have stored up 125 years of family-style local shopping…

Adam Hignett adam@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk IT HAS been a feature of Paddock Wood for over a century, named after the family which founded it and who have ensured its success ever since.

Over the four generations which have run the business, Barsleys has thrived, from its humble origins as a small tailoring workshop to a bustling department store selling a huge range of items.

And as the company celebrates its 125th anniversary, the Times speaks to the next generation – Alice Barsley – and her experience working in the family business.

Educated at Kent College, Pembury, and then at University College London, where she studied economics, Alice Barsley had many career options open to her.

However, despite having an older brother and sister, it is Alice who always showed the most enthusiasm for carrying on the family business.

She said: “I started working around the shop from about the age of 12 on my weekends and holidays and I really loved it.

“My father has always been very supportive of his children and said we can do whatever we want, but I think he was relieved when I decided to join.

“For me, there is just something extra special about working in the family business. But ultimately if your heart is not in it then it won’t work.”

Working her way up to the role of Director one and a half years ago, Alice oversees a number of departments within the store and is responsible for some of the buying.

The only person more senior is her father Richard Barsley, the Managing Director, however Alice said working so closely with her father has not yet been a source of friction.

“I don’t think we have ever had a cross words with each other at work,” she said.

Wednesday 13th April 2016

Her vision, first and foremost, is to ensure the store retains its reputation as an integral part of the local community and adapts to changing habits in retail.

She said: “We are fortunate to be one of the bigger stores in town but there are advantages and disadvantages to being based in Paddock Wood.

“On the plus side many people are likely to find much of what they want here and it’s easy to park, but we are also quite close to the bigger retail destinations like Tunbridge Wells, which hosts big multinationals.”

To ensure the business stays competitive, Alice

CELEBRATING Father and daughter store directors Richard and Alice Barsley

said the company is constantly reviewing its range of products and diversifying into new areas, most recently women’s fashion.

‘It can be hard to keep a business in the family for so long’ Perhaps more importantly, however, is to ensure the store’s reputation as friendly place to both shop at, and work in, is retained.

“We have a very low turnover of staff which cus-

tomers like as they can come in and see the same people each time and it helps develop a community atmosphere,” Said Alice.

She also has an eye on the future of the company, which she hopes to one day pass on to her own children.

“It can be hard to keep a business in the family for so long, and I hope my children will be enthusiastic about it.

“But ultimately they will have to want to do it.

Just because your name is above the door doesn’t mean it will automatically do well.”

LOCAL NEWS 

HISTORY OF BARSLEYS

9

NEWS IN BRIEF

Another sponsor for jazz nights steps up

FOUNDED in 1891 by Charles Barsley, who had just gained his diploma in garment cutting, the store was originally a small tailoring workshop in Brenchley before moving to its current site in 1900.

During its early years, Charles, the great-grandfather of Alice, would travel by horse and cart to measure customers in their homes for bespoke tailoring.

The store was a major supplier of protective clothing for hoppickers during the interwar years, and in the 1960s had menonly shopping nights during the Christmas season.

In September 2009 a fire at an adjacent property threatened to cause significant damage to the store and it suffered severe smoke damage.

In 2014, a new refurbishment of the store proved so popular that its special sale to mark the occasion brought much of the town to a halt through gridlock.

Along the way, the store has been greatly expanded, and now stocks fashions and footwear, electricals, soft furnishings, furniture, flooring, toys, travel goods and a coffee shop.

It is also the main supplier of uniforms for several schools in the borough, including Bethany and Mascalls.

A FOURTH local business has come forward to offer sponsorship of Jazz on the Pantiles.

TWPT personal training gym in the centre of town has joined law firm Thomson Snell and Passmore, developer Dandara and the main sponsor One Warwick Park – the new hotel.

The sponsorships mean the summer event, that attracts 70,000 people a year, will take place this year. The future of the regular Thursday-night sessions were put in jeopardy when the original main sponsor pulled out at short notice leaving a funding shortfall. The new main sponsor, One Warwick Park, is contributing £10,000.

MP Greg Clark said: “I am one of the thousands of people who enjoy Jazz on the Pantiles and I am grateful to the sponsors for assuring the future of this local institution.”

The jazz nights will run every Thursday from May 5 till September 29.

Accidental drowning BESTSELLERS THROUGHOUT THE YEARS In the 1930s and 40s hobnail boots were an absolute must during the hop-picking season.  After the war, when cloth and regular clothing was on ration but surplus army clothing was not, Bob Barsley sourced many of the army ranges to help ensure that the local residents didn’t miss out.  In the three weeks of the store’s refurbishment sale in 2014, the company sold over 200 slow cookers, and they continue to be a bestseller in the homewares department.  In ladies’ fashion, bestsellers include Joules, White Stuff and Masai.  In the toy department, the latest addition of Jelly Cat Toys are proving extremely popular amongst both children and adults. 

THE man found dead in a Rusthall pond in January has been identified as John Leach, 58, of Fremlin Close.

The death of the father of one, and a known alcoholic, was ruled ‘accidental’ by coroner Rodger Hatch, confirming the verdict of the police who said they found no evidence of ‘third party involvement’.

Regularly seen at local pubs, the former Tunbridge Wells Grammar School for Boys’ pupil was found face up in the pond at around 1pm on January 31 by a woman who had been planning to move into the area.

Toasting Her Majesty TWO Tunbridge Wells churches are teaming up to celebrate the 90th birthday of our Queen on April 21 with refreshments provided and activities for all ages.

The free event, billed as an opportunity for the community to celebrate together, is being run by the United Reformed Church and the Vale Royal Methodist Church between 10.30am and 4.30pm.

The venue will be the United Reformed Church at 1 Mount Ephraim and anyone is welcome to drop by.

Wednesday 13th April 2016

10  PEOPLE

Samuel rings the bell for autism and kick starts the London Stock Exchange Jonathan Banks newsdesk@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk A YOUNG Tunbridge Wells boy who suffers from autism overcame his personal fears to open the London Stock Exchange last week.

Seven-year-old Samuel Wilson, from the St James’ area, ‘rang the bell’ at 8am on Wednesday, marking the official start to the day and unleashing billions of pounds worth of trades, in a ceremony to highlight World Autism Awareness Week.

Samuel, who attends the Wells Free School part time, was invited by tech entrepreneur and founder of autism research charity Autistica, Dame Stephanie Shirley, who herself had a son with autism.

Despite starting life as a happy toddler who reached all major developmental milestones, by the age of two Samuel’s behaviour started to change and the little speech and skills he had began to disappear.

He was diagnosed a year later.

Samuel’s mother Katie, who fought hard to get an early diagnosis for her son, was keen for him to push the button that rings the Stock Exchange bell, believing it would help raise awareness as well as boost his self-esteem.

She said: “We worked hard with Samuel to prepare him for the day so that he would know what to expect.

“He struggles with strange people and places, bright lights and music, all of which are a big part of the ceremony, but the Stock Exchange kindly made some allowances to make him feel comfortable.

“However, we couldn’t predict how he would react on the day. It is crucial, though, that we support him to do things like this that he can be proud of, and important that people see the real challenges that autism can present.”

Wednesday 13th April 2016

PUSHING THE RIGHT BUTTONS Samuel Wilson presses the button to ring the bell at the ceremony

The day went off without a hitch, with a large gathering of Stock Exchange staff and Autistica applauding Samuel after he rang the bell.

Jon Spiers, Chief Executive of Autistica, the charity that organised the opening ceremony with the Exchange, said: “We are thrilled to be given this opportunity to highlight the need for autism research, which remains one of the most underfunded areas of medical research.

“We are very grateful to Samuel and his parents for representing Autistica at this prestigious and iconic ceremony.”

Dame Stephanie Shirley, who founded the charity in 2004, feels passionately that research is key in providing better support for those with the condition: She said: “I made my fortune in business, and it is an honour to be back here today so many years later to talk about the subject that is dearest to my heart.

“I have given the majority of my wealth away to

fund autism projects. Although we have made some progress, there is still so much we don’t know about autism and how to best support those like my late son, Giles.

“We need the Government and funders to realise that research is key to really make a long and lasting difference to people’s lives.”

WHAT IS AUTISM? A mental condition, present from early childhood, characterised by great difficulty in communicating and forming relationships with other people and in using language and abstract concepts.

HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE AUTISM? It’s much more common than many people think.

There are around 700,000 people in the UK living with autism – that’s more than one in 100. If you include their families, autism touches the lives of 2.8 million people every day. Autism doesn’t just affect children.

WHO IS DAME STEPHANIE SHIRLEY?

THE daughter of a Jewish judge and nonJewish Viennese mother, Dame Shirley was forced to flee her Dortmund home, aged just five, as the storm clouds of war gathered over Europe in July 1939.

As a child refugee travelling with her nine-year-old sister, Renate, Dame Shirley found a new home in Great Britain and grew up with foster parents in Sutton Coldfield.

A keen mathematician, she was granted special permission to learn the subject at a local boys’ school as it was not taught at the Oswestry Girls’ High School where she spent her teenage years.

By the 1950s, Dame Shirley had become a British citizen and worked at the Post Office Research Station at Dollis Hill in London where she built computers from scratch and wrote code in machine language.

In 1962 she married physicist Derek Shirley and set up her own company, Freelance Programmers, with just £6 in starting capital.

She mainly employed women, leading her at one point to have just three male programmers in her 300-strong workforce, whose notable projects included programming Concorde’s black box.

In 1990 she retired to concentrate on philanthropy, giving away more than £67million of her wealth, claiming she ‘needed to’ in order to ‘justify’ the fact her life was saved.

Much of her charity work has focused on helping those with autism and their carers, after her own autistic son, Giles, died following an epileptic seizure at the age of 35.

12 � LOCAL BUSINESS NEWS BUSINESS IN BRIEF

New partner to keep firm ‘ahead of the game’ CORPORATE tax specialist Simon Crookston has been promoted to partner at audit, tax and advisory firm Crowe Clark Whitehill.

Based in the firm’s Tunbridge Wells office, Mr Crookston joined the firm in 2012 and is an established advisor, supporting entrepreneurs, family businesses and listed companies throughout the business lifecycle.

Mr Crookston said: “I’m very pleased to be a part of that growth and am looking forward to the challenges ahead. Corporate tax is ever-changing but we aim to stay ahead of the game and provide our clients with the latest advice and expertise.”

Shareholder boost ADEPT Telecom has rewarded shareholders with a sizable boost to dividends after earnings at the AIM-Listed firm were predicted to have risen by a third during the past year.

In a trading statement the Tunbridge Wells based company said dividends for the total year would be 6.5p, a 37 per cent increase on last year. It comes as earnings lept 33 per cent to £6.15million, which was ahead of market expectations of a rise of 30 per cent.

High growth business DESIGNER Clothes retailer Childrensalon, based in Tunbridge Wells, has made its way onto the Sunday Times Profit Track 100 index, which lists the UK’s fastest growing private companies.

The company, which employs 202 people, saw profits surge 81 per cent to £11million over the past three years, helped by the launch of its Instagram-style workshop.

Free start-up advice THE National Centre for Micro Business is now offering free targeted advice to small local companies to help them grow.

Advice sessions for start-ups and small businesses will run from 10:00 to 15:00 on April 27 and May 4 at West Kent College in Tonbridge.

Wednesday 13th April 2016

Redundancy triggers green light for renewable energy business Jonathan Banks newsdesk@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk GREEN issues often come high on the Government’s agenda, with political parties using their time in office committing the country to ever more ambitious targets on CO2 emissions and the environment.

And as the various initiatives continue to wean the country off its dependence on fossil fuels, there is one Tunbridge Wells company that’s playing its part in encouraging people to help the environment and, save money.

Green Square, a business that specialises in the provision of renewable energy, was set up by Paul Smith two years ago. He describes the business as his ‘pride and joy’.

But, with the exception of a brief attempt to launch a green business with some university friends, Mr Smith has spent most of his career outside of the sector.

He said: “I was always interested in environmentalism, but when I finished my Masters in the late 90s there were few opportunities in the sector unless you started right at the bottom.

“And if you did, the pay was minuscule and I was already in my 30s by this point.”

Instead, he decided to pursue his career in the only marginally better paid field of journalism, before accepting a role in communications for East Sussex County Council.

However, with councils across the country being forced to make savings, Mr Smith found his job was in line for the axe and he decided to use that as the impetus to launch his own business.

“I had some savings plus the redundancy, so decided to go for it and start a company that could make a difference and benefit society.”

While he was well-grounded in the theoretical side of climate change, Mr Smith admits it was a ‘steep learning curve’ discovering how to run a company offering practical solutions.

Green Square installs heating systems that use renewable energy to help homeowners and small businesses reduce their carbon footprint.

‘I think the company will start to benefit more as environmental products become mainstream’ The technologies used to provide heating and hot water include biomass boilers, wood-pellet stoves, heat pumps, solar thermal, solar PV and the most advanced thermal stores.

And despite a projected tripling of the company’s profits this year, compared to last, Mr Smith said the industry is facing headwinds.

He explained: “Since the Government came in,

support for renewables has not been as strong as it could be.”

Mr Smith added this was manifesting itself in lower tariffs for people selling their own solar power back to the national grid coupled with lower oil prices. The financial incentives had been diminished.

“There are still many people who are so concerned with the environment that they just want to go green, but at the moment some of the technologies required are still quite expensive. “This means it is often a market for the more affluent as you have to pay up front, although within seven years the subsidies and lower bills effectively mean you get a new heating system for free.”

However, he is optimistic that the pace of change will see prices fall rapidly enough for most products to be more widely affordable in the not too distant future.

“I think the company will start to benefit more as environmental products become mainstream.”

GREEN ENERGY BOOST Paul Smith’s business is looking to the future

LOCAL BUSINESS NEWS 

13

A bright way to bridge the gap between landlords and tenants The aim is to make both parties feel they are valued by us GROWTH SPURT But Vanessa Strauss does not seek ‘world domination’

WITH an increasing number of people now having little choice but to rent their homes, it is unsurprising that both landlords and letting agents are not always perceived positively.

However, one Tunbridge Wells letting agency is determined to ensure that both the tenants and the landlords benefit.

Bright Fox was founded by Vanessa Strauss in 2013, and has seen its client base rise from just two landlords to 25 in the last 14 months alone.

Despite this, Mrs Strauss is still the only full-time employee, with just one other part-time member of the company on hand.

Drawing on her background as both a landlord herself and a former employee of Prince Charles, in a role in which she oversaw his charity projects with an emphasis on housing, Mrs Strauss has a solid grounding in the buy-to-let sector.

Explaining what led her to found the company, Mrs Strauss said: “My husband and I both had properties here to let but they were not managed well, which meant we started to lose our enthusiasm. “It made me want to build a company that supports a really optimistic, financially

rewarding and ethical letting market with good corporate and social responsibility.”

Initially she worked from home in Frant and helped manage the properties of close friends and acquaintances, but soon moved to an office in Tunbridge Wells as her workload increased.

Part of her success is in making both landlord and tenant feel valued, she said. “This means treating people fairly, such as ensuring problems are fixed within 24 hours. There is nothing worse than a landlord not doing anything about an issue.”

She believes many agencies have taken advantage of people and that their size means they are hindered in their ability to respond to situations quickly.

“They are stuck with long processes as there are so many people involved, each with different roles. Authorisation has to pass through several channels.”

She said this was compounded by a number of ‘pain points’, including hidden charges, high fees and poor maintenance of properties.

However, despite the rapid growth in the number of her clients, she is aware

that overstretching the company could end up making it like some competitors.

“We are a nimble company and don’t have the big processes like the franchises, although we are looking to grow. However, I am not bent on world domination and so will probably cap it at around seven staff to keep the quality. We want to stay local and be a useful part of the community.”

WHY THE NAME BRIGHT FOX? “I live down a country lane and often see wonderful bright golden/orange foxes running across the fields against a usually dreary background. They are nimble, adaptable, independent and know their surroundings better than most. I wanted to convey a fastthinking, quick company that stood out against the backdrop of ‘just another letting agent’.”

Vanessa Strauss

With just two days to go before the deadline for entries to the Royal Tunbridge Wells Business Awards 2016 we profile two more of the companies that have put their names forward.

It’s not too late to add your name to the list of those entering one of the 11 categories. To find out more visit www.rtwba.co.uk or email us at info@rtwba.co.uk

Wednesday 13th April 2016

14  LOCAL NEWS

Rallying call for Labour youth Bex Bailey breezes into town to deliver a pep talk ahead of next month’s council elections and our man Adam Hignett was on hand to greet her IS THE Labour Party in Tunbridge Wells about to achieve a political breakthrough? That’s the question being asked by those who organised a meeting in the town last week of young Labour activists.

It is the first time there has been any hope for a sustained youth movement in Tunbridge Wells for ‘decades’ and that hope has been boosted since the General Election with almost 100 new members, aged 14 to 26, joining the handful that has kept the Red Flag.

In order to galvanise this new tranche of youngsters, a special guest was invited to the Camden Centre, where the meeting was being held, to give a presentation.

And although this humble reporter was barred from the meeting itself, on the grounds that it was ‘private’ and I might put the young members off speaking their minds, I was allowed to interview the guest speaker beforehand.

Bex Bailey (24) may not be a household name, yet, but she has played a significant role in the Labour Party. Until recently she had spent the Last three years as representative of Young Labour on the party’s National Executive Committee.

Much of the internal politics of the labour party, with its byzantine organisations and, as of late, increasingly bitter machinations, passes by the average voter.

But to the political spectator the arrival of Ms Bailey was a bit of coup by the local party, who are aiming to increase their tally of two councillors at the upcoming local elections on May 3.

Wednesday 13th April 2016

And so, with a very narrow window of opportunity before being invited to leave, the interview began with some enthusiasm on the part of this writer.

When asked whether Labour really stood a chance in the borough, the well versed lines of ‘Tories’ hitting vulnerable people hard, young people ‘fighting back’ and the fact there is no such thing as ‘no go areas’ for Labour were all deployed.

It was something I was expecting, but I knew from her own background in the party, as a campaigner for her current boss MP Liz Kendall in the leadership elections, that perhaps it was not the whole truth.

‘There is a problem with antiSemitism in the party at the moment’ So, what were her thoughts on leader Jeremy Corbyn?

I could see her thinking of a diplomatic answer: “He is part of the reason why young people are signing up.”

It was far from a ringing endorsement, especially when pushed further on whether Labour should, at this stage of the electoral cycle and with the Conservatives tearing themselves apart, really be miles ahead in the polls.

“I think these local elections will show us how well we are doing. We should be winning seats,” she said.

But if some predictions of the Labour Party actually losing up to 150 seats come to pass, is it time for Mr Corbyn to be ousted?

“It’s early days and we are developing policy, but you do need to win elections to put ideas into practice,” came the coy reply, which to this journalist at least said nothing was out of the question.

Leadership aside, the former LSE graduate in History and Politics was incredibly candid on several issues afflicting the party.

When asked if the party has a big problem with anti-Semitism at the moment, without hesitation she said: “I think there is a problem with anti-Semitism in the party at the moment and it is unacceptable.”

Her solution, aside from better vetting, is to set up an independent complaints ombudsman in the party with powers to deal with serious issues.

Likewise, on non-political matters which seem to preoccupy ‘the left’ in general at the moment, she is more nuanced in her outlook than some young activists.

We were about eight minutes into the conversation when we were interrupted as I was getting her opinion on the current craze for ‘safe spaces’ at universities. She supports the idea in principle but believes it can be open to abuse if used to stifle free speech. “There is a line,” she said.

By this time, the meeting was already five minutes late beginning, and as I walked out of the conference room I passed very few members waiting to come in.

However, the brief chat was informative and I left thinking that perhaps I had met a future Labour MP… or even a potential party leader?

BEX BAILEY

NATIONAL NEWS 

Government has change of heart over granny flats HOUSING market experts have welcomed the Government’s moves to exempt granny flats from stamp duty rises intended for people buying second homes.

Stamp duty changes introduced on April 1 mean that people buying second homes, such as buy-tolet investors, are now subject to a three percentage point increase on previous rates. Fears had been raised that some granny flats would also be counted as a second home - and therefore liable to the surcharge.

The Treasury has confirmed that the Finance Bill will be amended so that fewer annexes to main houses will be liable. Anyone who has already paid too much will be able to apply for a refund.

The move means annexes that are capable of being sold separately, which are worth less than one third of the total transaction value, will no longer be subject to the extra charge.

Previously, it was estimated that less than 1,000 sales of homes with annexes a year would be affected by the new higher rate stamp duty, but with the changes to be made at the committee stage of the bill the number will be smaller than that.

But where a home with a granny flat does qualify for the surcharge, the higher rate will apply to both the main property and the granny flat.

An example of a granny flat that could be liable for the higher rate could be one that is capable of being sold separately and has its own front door, is worth more than one third of the property value, is worth more than £40,000 and has its own utility supplies and bills.

Javid drops heavy hint over the future of steel MINISTERS are set to announce moves to include more British steel in defence projects amid an industry crisis, Business Secretary Sajid Javid has told MPs. Mr Javid said Defence Procurement Minister Philip Dunne could make an announcement ‘in the coming days’ on Ministry of Defence (MoD) acquisition of British steel.

And potential Government ‘co-investment’ with a commercial buyer in Tata Steel’s largest plant in Port Talbot could involve taking on some of the business’s debts, Mr Javid added.

During an emergency debate on the steel crisis forced by Labour, Mr Javid fielded numerous questions from MPs. Labour’s Stephen Doughty (Cardiff South and Penarth) called for more action on defence procurement, prompting the Business Secretary to suggest the Government would announce plans soon.

Intervening, Mr Doughty said: “You’ve got the Minister for Defence Procurement EMERGENCY DEBATE sitting next Business Secretary Sajid Javid to you, who answered me in

a question saying that the MoD didn’t even have the full records of where it was getting steel from for UK defence projects.

“So how can we be sure on you following through on that commitment of procurement when departments aren’t even keeping records and when so many UK defence projects are being made in Korea, China and elsewhere?”

Mr Javid replied: “If I can say to you, I think you may hear more about that from the Minister for Defence Procurement in the coming days.”

Labour called on the Government to bring forward “shovel-ready projects” that require a significant amount of steel and to ensure any changes to procurement rules make a real difference.

Ms Eagle also urged the Government to spare its “ideological blushes” and push forward with coinvesting in a purchase of Tata Steel.

15

NEWS IN BRIEF

Nato must keep an eye on Russian aggression BRITAIN is ‘right to be on our guard’ over possible future Russian aggression given the recent history of the Kremlin’s activities, the Europe minister has said.

David Lidington said it was important Nato was prepared for any hybrid aggression from Russia which might involve the use of energy and soft power as much as conventional hard power.

His comments came as Labour former cabinet minister Ben Bradshaw warned of a possible ‘new provocation’ from Russian president Vladimir Putin after Britain’s EU referendum.

Reality star found dead REALITY TV star David Gest, the former husband of Liza Minnelli, has been found dead in a five-star luxury Four Seasons Hotel, in London’s Canary Wharf, on Tuesday.The 62-year-old’s death is being treated as unexplained.

Gest had been due to tour the United Kingdom in a musical show called David Gest Is Not Dead, But Alive With Soul, starting in York on July 1.

Underwear on display COTTON drawers worn by Queen Victoria’s mother are among the items in a new exhibition which explores the history of underwear.

Undressed: A Brief History Of Underwear, is being hosted at the Victoria and Albert Museum’s Fashion Gallery in London from April 16 through to March 2017.

Wednesday 13th April 2016

16 � NATIONAL NEWS NEWS IN BRIEF

NHS undergoes review after care home deaths THE CARE Quality Commission (CQC) is to review how the NHS learns from deaths in light of the Southern Health scandal.

The watchdog for England said it will look at how NHS trusts identify, report, investigate and learn from the deaths of people using their services, with a particular focus on those with a learning disability or mental health problem.

The review has been ordered by Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt, following problems at Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust.

Cancer op goes live AN OPERATION on a patient with colon cancer at The Royal London Hospital will be the first in the world to be broadcast live through pioneering virtual reality (VR) technology.

Thousands of medical students will be able to watch remotely though VR headsets and using their smartphones. They will learn from one of the country’s leading cancer surgeons, Dr Shafi Ahmed.

House prices rise HOUSE prices in the UK have increased by 7.6% in the last 12 months and hit new records in the East and South West of England, according to the Office for National Statistics.

A typical UK first-time buyer paid an average of £214,000, 8% more than in February last year.

Wednesday 13th April 2016

Royal couple encounter India’s railway children THE Duke and Duchess of Cambridge met some of William asked: “What can we do to help?”

India’s poorest and most vulnerable children fending Mr Roy replied: “Spread the word. People think of for themselves at New Delhi railway station during them as street kids, beggars, thieves but they are just their ongoing tour. children. They deserve an education, future and a Kate and William heard first-hand from a number life. They have a right to a childhood.” of street children about how they had run away William asked some of the children what they from home due to abuse or poverty. They ended hoped to be in the future. One said a doctor, another up at Delhi station where they were a target for policeman and a third wanted to run his own shop. prostitution, people trafficking or sexual and William said: “It’s very interesting that the kids physical abuse. want professional careers. In the UK you ask them The royals visited a drop-in centre run by Salaam and they say footballers or pop stars.

Baalak Trust at the capital’s station - where on Mr Roy added: “ Cities are not the place for kids. average 6,600 children travel to each year, often on If we can’t get them home the only thing to do is to their own. send them back to school as soon as possible. We The charity helps children aged from five to want them to study to enable them to have a future.”

18 years providing food, education, healthcare and ROYAL VISIT shelter.

A talk with the street children Kate and William joined in a lesson with boys who were living in the nearby station.

The charity’s director Sanjoy Roy told the couple: “The boys come here for four hours of lessons and some food every day. When they’re not here, they’re at the railway station.”

“We look after around 7,000 kids a year, but every day around 40 to 50 new children arrive at the station.

“These children that we look after are the most vulnerable.

Some may have their eyes gouged out or hands hacked off.

MP demands ban on flares and fireworks FESTIVAL-goers should not have to face the risk of receiving serious burns from flares and fireworks set off by ‘boneheaded’ audience members, a Tory MP has said as he called for a ban on the items at music events.

It is illegal for football fans to carry or use flares at a game and Nigel Adams wants similar rules to apply to gigs and concerts amid fears that current regulations are ‘toothless’.

At the moment under-18s are banned from carrying fireworks in public places but most music events take place on private property, while adults can only be prosecuted for carrying or using such items at a concert if it can be proven there was intent to cause harm.

The Conservative MP for Selby and Ainsty believes that needs to change and his Events and Festivals (Control of Flares, Fireworks and Smoke Bombs Etc) Bill proposes a major crackdown on audience members using “dangerous pyrotechnics”.

Mr Adams brought forward his Bill using a parliamentary device called a ten-minute rule motion which allows MPs to propose their own legislation.

The Bill was adopted unopposed by MPs and it is due to receive its second reading at the end of April. However, it is unlikely to ever become law without the support of the Government.

BUSINESS NEWS �

Lord Hill to shine spotlight on companies avoiding tax MULTINATIONAL companies operating in the EU will be forced to be more open about their tax arrangements under new European proposals being unveiled in Strasbourg.

Under the plans, large companies with annual revenues of more than €750 million (£600 million) are set to be required to reveal the amount of tax they pay on a country-by-country basis.

The initiative - which could come into effect as early as 2018 - comes amid international furore over the Panama Papers leak of details of the use of tax havens by wealthy companies and individuals.

The proposals drawn up by the European financial stability commissioner Lord Hill are

expected to require companies to publish details of their activities, employees, turnover and profits as well as the level of tax due and the amount paid in each EU state.

They will also be asked to disclose an aggregate figure for tax paid on business conducted outside the EU. But in so-called tax haven countries, this information will be required on a disaggregated basis, shining a spotlight on any efforts to avoid tax.

Speaking ahead of the launch of the plan, Lord Hill said that the plan was not focused principally on the revelations contained in the Panama Papers, but added: “There is an important connection between our continuing work on tax transparency and tax havens that we

are building into the proposal.”

A Commission spokesman said that countryby-country reporting rules already apply to banks, mining and forestry companies. The new proposals would extend them to cover companies accounting for about 90% of corporate revenues in the EU. The launch follows agreement at a G20 and OECD level for action to tackle tax avoidance.

The new proposals are subject to approval by national leaders in the European Council and the European Parliament. A new directive could be agreed later this year, but member states then have a year to transpose it into national law, meaning the first reports are likely to be based on information from the 2018 financial year.

No frills airline to introduce extra benefits RYANAIR chief executive officer Michael O’Leary appeared to enjoy courting controversy when commenting about the service his company offers in the past, but the low-cost airline is continuing a three-year charm offensive by announcing a number of initiatives it claims will improve the experience of its customers.

The measures include launching a new fare to give extra benefits to leisure passengers, improving its mobile app and cutting prices further.

Passengers will also be able to leave feedback on

their flight, which the airline said will lead to future enhancements.

The plans will be implemented over the next 12 month as part of the third year of the no-frills airline’s Always Getting Better programme.

Ryanair’s chief marketing officer Kenny Jacobs told a press conference in Dublin: “The continued drive to improve our customer experience has been reflected in the record passenger numbers and load factors we have had over the past

two years, and we are pleased to launch year three of our Always Getting Better programme.

“While year one and two were about fixing the areas customers didn’t like and improving the existing offering, year three will be about digital acceleration and innovation.”

17

BUSINESS IN BRIEF

RBS employee banned for reckless behaviour A FORMER Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) employee has been banned by the City watchdog from working in financial services for his ‘reckless’ behaviour when making Libor submissions.

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) said Paul White’s actions would have seen him hit with a £250,000 fine if he was not already facing ‘serious financial hardship’.

Mr White was a Japanese Yen and Swiss Franc Libor submitter. He made “improper” Libor submissions between March 8 2007 and November 24 2010 said the FCA.

Inflation goes up UK inflation has risen to its highest level for 15 months as the rising cost of clothes and air fares pushed up the cost of living.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation hit 0.5%. However, despite the increase - up from 0.3% in February - inflation still remains historically low

Zac promises jobs TORY candidate for London mayor Zac Goldsmith has pledged to create 500,000 jobs and oversee the building of 50,000 homes a year if elected. Launching his manifesto ahead of the May 5 contest, Mr Goldsmith, who trails Labour’s Sadiq Khan in most polls, said he would build on the two terms of outgoing Mayor Boris Johnson.

Wednesday 13th April 2016

18  WORLD NEWS

Prosecutors pursue tax haven hacker

NEWS IN BRIEF

More cash needed to fight Zika virus TOP US health officials say the more they learn about Zika, the scarier the virus appears. Dr Anthony Fauci, of the National Institutes of Health, says more money is needed to fight the mosquitoes that spread it and for research into vaccines and treatments.

Mr Fauci says the 589 million dollars (£413m) now available to fight Zika is a ‘temporary stopgap’ but it is ‘not enough for us to get the job done’.

FIFA bribery charge A FORMER vice president of Fifa has pleaded guilty to four conspiracy counts in the bribery scandal.

Prosecutors in New York said Alfredo Hawit, aged 64, accepted bribes totalling hundreds of thousands of dollars linked to the sale of marketing rights to football tournaments in Latin America.

The Honduras native was arrested on December 3 and extradited from Switzerland earlier this year.

No vote for dad Trump Donald Trump’s children will not be able to vote for him in the upcoming New York presidential primary because they did not register in time.

In an interview on Fox News, Mr Trump, the Republican front-runner confirmed that his children, Eric and Ivanka, ‘feel very, very guilty’ not to have registered, saying that they were ‘unaware of the rules’.

Wednesday 13th April 2016

FRESH LOOK Longer lasting food

Giving fresh food a spray could solve world hunger SCIENTISTS have hailed the results of trials to prolong the life of fresh produce as ‘worldchanging’, saying it could help tackle global hunger.

Raw fruit and vegetables saw their shelf life increase by up to one day in a study which involved produce being sprayed with an electrically-charged solution that kills bacteria responsible for spoilage.

Testing carried out in cold storage revealed that use of the novel system, developed at the University of the West of England in Bristol, had no effect on the taste or appearance of the produce.

Darren Reynolds, professor of health and environment at the university, said the technology could be implemented commercially

within a year if the food industry is convinced of its benefits.

He believes the approach could reduce waste, save millions of pounds and even play a role in helping resolve world hunger.

Tomatoes and cucumbers responded particularly well to treatment with the solution, which is produced by passing salty water through an electro-chemical cell.

The activated solution, which is inexpensive to make and can be created on demand, kills bacteria commonly found on the surface of fresh produce but is harmless to human skin.

The project, named Microbial Management Of Fresh Produce Preservation, Protection And Intervention, began in April 2013 and has received £250,000 in funding.

PANAMANIAN prosecutors have visited the offices of the Mossack Fonseca law firm to look into its allegations that a computer hacker was behind the leak of a trove of financial documents about tax havens the firm set up to benefit influential people around the globe.

Public ministry spokeswoman Sandra Sotillo said the visit to the offices of Mossack Fonseca was made by investigators from the intellectual property prosecutor’s office.

The firm filed a complaint regading the security breach shortly before media reports appeared last week using the documents to detail how politicians, celebrities and companies around the globe were hiding assets in offshore bank accounts and anonymous shell companies.

The firms co-founder Ramon Fonseca has maintained that the only crime which can be taken from the leak was the computer hack itself.

He also suspects the hack originated outside Panama, possibly in Europe.

Panama’s government has said it will cooperate with any judicial investigation arising from the documents.

Panamanian President Juan Carlos Varela has defended the country’s financial sector, which is considered of strategic importance for the economy.

But Mr Varela has also promised the international community that he is willing to make reforms to make the sector more transparent.

ADVERTISING FEATURE �

19

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Wednesday 13th April 2016

20  LETTERS

And another thing…

The Times of Tunbridge Wells and the Times of Tonbridge always want to hear your feedback, whether on reports we have printed or any other issues you think we should know about. Email us at newsdesk@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk or write to the Editor at 16 Lonsdale Gardens, Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN1 1NU Targetfollow: Trepidation and turmoil

Our story last week about Targetfollow sending letters demanding payment from residents who need to cross strips of common land in Tunbridge Wells to reach their homes, prompted the following: My neighbours are all quite elderly – most over 80 years of age – and these letters have sent them into some trepidation and turmoil. They have all lived in their cottages all their lives and have never had these kinds of demands from the previous owners of the Common. I understand that even a residential home for the vulnerable (Rusthall Elms) has also received these letters.

The truth is that this is all a cynical move by a company based in Norwich, who have no right to make these demands of us. Most of the

EU debate: Highly misleading leaflet

Many people in Tunbridge Wells have received a leaflet through the door entitled ‘The UK and the European Union. The facts’. It is designed to look as if it is unbiased whereas it is actually from the Vote Leave campaign. That is written in the smallest print on the entire document half way down the final page.

Needless to say the information is highly misleading. Like all Brexit reports it implies that immigration from Europe can be stopped if the UK votes to leave. In reality the best the UK can hope for is many years of negotiation followed by a trade agreement similar to that which Norway has with the EU. Norway, just like the UK, has to accept free movement of workers. Europe has made very clear we will not get a trade agreement unless we agree to that Fifty per cent of our trade is with Europe but only 10 per cent of Europe’s trade is with the UK. We need the agreement much more than Europe does and in the end we will have to sign whatever they require us to. Why Brexit campaigners think that the EU is suddenly going to become Father Christmas and give us everything we want I cannot imagine.

Deborah Rees Via emaiI

EU debate: The old democracy canard

It is not clear to what extent your correspondents check their information before airing their views but, once again in the Times of Tunbridge Wells [March 30], the old canard about lack of democracy in EU affairs is described as factual. Mr Macfarlane seems to imagine that the European Commission is a legislative body. It is not: It is the Civil Service of the EU which, like that of the UK, proposes measures that can be accepted or rejected by its political masters, in this case the European Parliament and the Council: Members of both of these bodies, who are responsible for passing legislation, are democratically elected representatives of the people of their respective countries. This system, so similar

properties affected will be able to prove that they have a Prescriptive Easement, if they, and the previous owners of the property, can attest that they have enjoyed the right of crossing the Common to reach their property and receive the utility services for at least 20 years, and so Targetfollow, realising this, are attempting to get a return off folk who will submit to their demands without realising the knock-on effect this will have on their property. Because, once you have paid for Targetfollow’s licence, that will forever cancel that property’s right of easement, and future owners of that property will always have to pay the annual fee.

Mark Howden Via email to that of the UK, is decried as undemocratic although nobody would level a similar allegation against our own Government.

Isabelle Wright complains that MEPs are too scarce on the ground to be truly representative but if she wants the same level of representation as in the UK, no building would be big enough to contain the thousands of MEPs that would be elected from the 28 countries involved.

Some other misleading criticisms about EU membership receive wide publicity. Here are some of them.

– Britain loses out because of migrants from other EU countries. It is the case though that as many British people live elsewhere in the EU as non-British EU nationals live in the UK. – Most of our laws come from the EU. But the House of Commons library shows that of all legislation decided by Parliament over the last 20 years, only 13.2 per cent mentions the EU even in passing, and only 1.4 per cent represents main Acts of Parliament.

– We pay excessive amounts to the EU. The amount we pay is equal to about one per cent of UK public expenditure. Per capita, the UK’s contribution is less than that of the Netherlands, Denmark, Sweden, Germany or Finland.

There are many other inaccuracies in the public arena. All of us need to vote in the forthcoming referendum but our decisions should be based on fact not baseless allegations. When we have possession of the ballot papers we shall literally be holding in our hands the future of this country for generations to come. It would be comforting to think that we shall decide in full knowledge of the facts.

Alexander Magnus Via email

Railways: Absolute dog’s breakfast

In the Times [March 30] ASLEF’s President Mick Whelan called for the renationalisation of the railways and his argument has a certain compulsion.

The problem though is the absolute dog’s breakfast

Calverley

PATHWAY Caroline Stevens on the strip of grass she has to cross to reach her Rusthall home

that was made of privatisation: Despite a number of previously tried and tested models abroad and particularly on the continent where prices are very much lower (for all public transport for that matter), in this country the Government opted for a model that defies belief: Fragmented; divisive; still lacking in competition; hugely expensive to the public purse.

The old adage is that a camel is what you get when a committee sits down to design a racehorse, well this camel has five legs and can only get about with walking sticks, and [MP] Greg Clark’s public pillorying of a creature of his own – i.e. a politician’s, creation – is mere playing to the audience: He will get no better result than if he took a stick and beat a dead horse.

Ralph Steerpike Via email

Pembury: School intake reduced

The real reason why Jack Turnbull cannot get a place at Pembury Primary school [March 30] is that the local villagers waged a successful campaign to reduce the school’s intake from 90 to 60.

Kevin Warden Via email

Morrisons: Courteous to the end

I am sure I reflect the sentiment of many when I say that I deeply regret the recent closure of our Morrisons supermarket in Tunbridge Wells. Its product range, pricing structure and convenient location were strong reasons for my family to be regular customers. Most of all, my sympathy goes to the exceptional staff, who remained courteous and committed right up to the final hour. It is these staff and their customers who have been let down by the short-sighted attitude of those dealing with the renegotiation of the lease for the building. The only beneficiary is likely to be Sainsbury, whose car park is about to swell, in line with their prices.

Martin Dawes, Via email

We will always do our best to publish all letters in full. However, the Editor reserves the right to edit any letter because of its length or content. Please ensure that letters do not exceed 250 words.

Wednesday 13th April 2016

COBBLERS. No that’s not a comment but the subject of this tale. Local resident Tim Thornhill is proud of his shoes. And so he should be. He parted with £325 for a new pair of Church’s shoes and when they needed attention took them to be repaired. So far so good. Sadly, when he called to pick them up, the red-faced cobbler took him aside and explained that his fancy footwear had been given to another customer by mistake. After much discussion over some weeks and a passing reference to the small claims court, Mr Thornhill was duly reimbursed. Message to customer who (knowingly) walked off with the shoes: Hope they’re the right size.

BORIS JOHNSON, the blue-eyed blond, blew into town last week. He popped into Tonbridge School [founded 1553] to wow the young minds with his views on life. Another guest was local MP Tom Tugendhat. Calverley, for some strange reason, was not on the guest list although Himself would have loved to overhear the chat between the two over the post-event sherry.

Master Tom desperately wants us to stay in Europe. Master Boris is one of those leading the Brexit bunch. Interesting chat.

CALVERLEY bumps into an friend last week who imparts some sad news. Not about the demise of another old hack but about the end of that august tome the Good Pub Guide. It seems those who own the publication have determined that they can no longer justify a printed version of the boozer’s bible and the online version is not exactly a roaring success.

Let’s hope my friend is misinformed. Either way its worth raising a glass.

OVERHEARD in the clothing section for women of Marks & Spencer (yes, Calverley did have a valid reason for being there). One woman shopper checks out the clothing racks then turns to her friend and declares: “It’s all a bit of a cross between Primark and a charity shop.”

No wonder the store is facing a crunch over the sales of its clothes.

TALKING of charity shops, Himself has to listen to much muttering in Times Towers on the subject of charity shops and how some feel they have lost their way. One example given was of a jacket from Gap being offered for sale at £25.

Apparently it would not have cost much more than that if bought new in one of the Gap sales.

Mind you, if you spot that pair of gent’s shoes from Church’s for five pounds snap them up.

(Those who do not read the whole of this column – shame on you – will miss the humour so please see above.)

COMMENT ■

Greg Clark

MP for Tunbridge Wells

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Greg Clark was elected to Parliament as a representative of Tunbridge Wells in 2005. The Conservative MP has since held a number of positions in government and currently sits as a member of the Cabinet in his capacity as Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government: www.gregclark.org

How the Budget boosted small businesses and put the ‘local’ back into the Tunbridge Wells economy THIS is the second in a series of monthly columns written exclusively for this newspaper by Tunbridge Wells MP Greg Clark, in which he offers his own unedited thoughts and opinions.

One of the strengths of Tunbridge Wells is that it is a vibrant town, and much of that vitality comes from the hundreds of small businesses that trade here. Many of them – shops, pubs, cafés and restaurants – form much of the visible character of the town. Others – engineering firms, technologists, global traders, designers and professional services providers – may be less visible, but they contribute greatly to the prosperity of the area, which now has one of the highest levels of employment in the whole country.

The contribution of small firms must not be taken for granted. They need a supportive environment if they are to thrive – and can be more susceptible than most to the ups and downs of the economy and to the actions of larger competitors with deeper pockets. As someone who grew up in a family who ran a

small business I have always known the constant pressures on small firms.

That’s why I particularly welcome some recent developments. The first was the decision in last month’s Budget to exempt over 600,000 small businesses from paying business rates. This will come about by more than doubling the rateable value that triggers business rates from £6,000 to £15,000. The Budget also increased the threshold for the higher rate of business rates and brought in a lower annual increase in bills. I asked the Council what the impact of this would be locally and they estimate that over 1,200 businesses in the Borough of Tunbridge Wells will now pay no business rates at all.

The other big change is that in future 100 per cent of the business rates collected by local councils will be kept by local councils. In the past, Tunbridge Wells Council billed local firms for business rates but every penny was then handed over to the Treasury in London to pay for national spending. It was a crazy system which meant that local councils got no benefit from attracting new businesses to their area and

helping existing firms to grow. In fact, the reverse burdens on small firms – including for those just was true – the more customers a town centre above the new rates thresholds. I think there is attracted the more it would cost councils for a particular case to single out the contribution things like street cleaning without any business that firms that trade in our high streets make rates kept to pay for it. to the life of communities. So, in welcoming All that will now change. By 2019 every penny of these positive steps I will continue to work with business rates will be kept by local government. my colleagues in Government to do everything It will open the way for councils to work with possible to help the small businesses that traders on things like making shopping areas are such an essential part of the character of more attractive; providing enough inexpensive Tunbridge Wells. parking; or giving rates discounts to BACK IN BUSINESS attract new businesses To back local businesses – Tunbridge Wells Borough Council to areas that need a boost. Because if more businesses are attracted, councils’ income will see the benefit, so they can in turn further invest in improving their communities.

There’s more to be done to minimise the

Wednesday 13th April 2016

22 n WEDDING FEATURE

A little bit of love in the country With some glorious weather just around the corner and wedding season on it’s way, we talk to the Times of Tunbridge Wells’ very own Gemma Hall about her gorgeous rural wedding on her husband’s family farm...

How did you and your husband meet?

We met online through a dating agency.

Although this seems to be the norm these days, it still has a stigma. It took me 6 months to tell my old-school dad how I met Adam - he instantly paled and asked if I was sure Adam was normal. We also initially told every older member of our families that we met through a mutual friend at a party! Our first date was in Clapham, where I lived at the time, and Adam took me to his ‘absolute favourite’ restaurant, GIVE ME SHELTER A little bit of heaven from Perfect Day Marquee

NATURAL BEAUTY Gemma with her husband Adam

Wednesday 13th April 2016

Bodeans. It’s an American chicken wing and ribs restaurant. I have a phobia of eating meat off the bone, so it maybe wasn’t the best start…

Tell us about the proposal…

I’d like to make up a really romantic story, but, for the sake of editorial integrity, I’ll just tell the less romantic truth. Adam and I were going on holiday to Dubrovnik. I’d been at work that day and got to the airport tired and stressed from rush hour traffic. Adam was looking crazed and

shifty. He wouldn’t let his carryon out of his sight and at one point ran away from me when I suggested I watch it whilst he went to the toilet. Thanks to the plane, I developed a cold. We arrived at the hotel very late, tired, and I was all snotty and feeling sorry for myself. I wanted to go to sleep and start the holiday fresh the next morning.

Adam had other plans. We promptly had a huge row as I wouldn’t go for a romantic midnight walk down by the water. In a fit of annoyance Adam shouted ‘fine I’ll just do it here and now’. As he reached into his pocket and dropped to one knee, he misjudged our proximity to each other. All 6ft5 and 16 stone of him landed on my big toe. I cried and rolled around holding my foot. In all his glorious optimism, Adam just carried on proposing and took the tears as those of joy, rather than pain.

I was soon distracted from my toe by the truly beautiful Emerald and Diamond ring that he’d chosen from G Collins & Sons. A unique ring that will hopefully be kept in our family for many generations to come.

WEDDING FEATURE n

Where did you get married and how did you choose the venue?

We got married in our local church - St Michael and All Angels, Marden. A church service was always going to be for us and it was a real honour to get married in the heart of the village, especially as we have such an incredibly entertaining female vicar – Rev. Alison Duguid.

As a reception venue, we’d have been silly not to take advantage of the venue we have on our doorstep, Adam’s family farm.

Adam works for his father, Peter Hall, for the farming business that’s been in their family since 1896. It’s a beautiful fruit farm, with stunning orchards and organic traditionally grown Wye Target hops. We’re blessed to live in such an environment and after Peter kindly gave us the nod to pop up a marquee in one of the fields, we were full steam ahead!

Tell us about your big day and some of the key highlights The biggest highlight was having all of our family and friends in one place. We couldn’t have organised the day without all of their help and support, especially our parents.

On the day I spent most of the morning feeling sick and wondering if I should have had my dress taken up slightly to avoid tripping in front of 120 guests. My bridesmaids all joke that I looked like I was going to a funeral. I wish I’d taken a breath and relaxed. Adam spent the morning in the pub with his ushers silently staring into a glass of whisky. As soon as we saw each other all the nerves passed. After that, the whole day flew by in a daze of photographs, eating, speeches, dancing, drinking and celebrating.

I’ve never wanted a day to end less in my life. Key highlights include the fantastic band we hired, The Dirty Pillows, who got absolutely everybody on the dance floor. My father’s speech was hilarious, he talked unaided for fifteen minutes and most of it was aimed at humiliating Adam.

I wasn’t mentioned once though, a point which I will forever bring up at family get-togethers to wind him up.

Any suppliers you’d like to recommend?

A huge shout-out to The Dirty Pillows. They are the best wedding band you can hire. They knew exactly what to play to keep people on the dance floor and singing along – it was packed for their entire set. We got the Marquee from Perfect Day Marquee. Miles and his team made the whole process very easy, we didn’t have any problems and they were there setting up days before the wedding to ensure everything was how it should be. Nothing was too much trouble. Cuisine Studios gave us absolutely delicious food with military precision. The team did everything and anything to make sure the day ran smoothly.

Make sure you get the key lime pie!! Finally, a huge thanks to Sam Yardley Photography. Sam was great - she arrived early and was with us until late into the evening. Our pictures are lovely and there are some brilliant ‘in action’ shots of guests dancing and laughing.

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WEDDING TIPS TIP 1 Plan, plan and plan some more. I can’t even list how many little things we thought we’d covered and then realised we hadn’t the day before the wedding.

TIP 2 Stress and nerves can take over. The week of the wedding, take a day or evening off from frantically planning and spend some time together not talking about the ‘W’ word.

TIP 3 Over order on drink – but buy from a supplier who does sale or return. Not good to have thirsty guests and end up doing an emergency drink run (whether alcoholic or soft).

TIP 4 Printout multiple copies of your wedding suppliers contact details. Give them to every member of your bridal party the day before the wedding. That way, if any problems occur, someone else can deal with it and you can concentrate on getting ready and relaxing. You don’t need any extra stress the morning of the wedding!

TIP 5 Sit back and enjoy every second!

ME AND MY GIRLS Bride Gemma with her matching bridesmaids

Wednesday 13th April 2016

th

Ap ril

LA S En try T T C cl O os E H es N A Fr T N id ay ER CE 15

Are you a winner?

Businesses in and around Tunbridge Wells have embraced the new RTW Business Awards and we’ve received an influx of entries across all eleven categories. If you want to raise the profile of your company, generate new business and inspire your staff don’t miss this unique networking opportunity.

There’s still time to enter yourself or your business for an award. Or if you know a local company or individual that deserves recognition you can also make a personal nomination. Just send us their details and we will personally contact them to invite them to take part.

In the next two issues of the paper before the closing date on Friday 15th April, we will be running a special RTWBA feature showcasing entries just as we’ve done on pages 10 and 11 of today’s paper. Plus all shortlisted entries will be featured in an awards round-up in early May. Tickets are selling fast for the glittering awards ceremony which will take place at Salomons Estate on Thursday 19th May. We’re delighted that Edwina Currie, former government minister, author and broadcaster, will be hosting the evening. Tickets for the black tie event are available for £95 per person or £850 for a table of 10. Ticket price includes 3 course dinner and an allocation of wine per person.

To enter a category please visit: www.rtwba.co.uk New Business of the Year Sponsored By: Ansacom Green Company of the Year Sponsored By: Global Office Creative Business of the Year Sponsored By: Fox Marketing Services Corporate Social Responsibility Sponsored By: McMillan Williams Solicitors Business Hero of the Year Sponsored By: Easistore Family Business of the Year Sponsored By: Thomson Snell & Passmore Entrepreneur of the Year Sponsored By: Infinity Group Young Business Person of the Year Sponsored By: Russell Fewin Commercial Facilities Solutions Service Excellence Award Sponsored By: Rent Locally Outstanding Business of the Year Sponsored By: Parfitt Cresswell Solicitors Times of Tunbridge Wells Readers’ Choice Award Sponsored By: MJ Exhibitions

To nominate a company for an award or buy tickets for the gala awards dinner please call: 01892 739 764 or email: info@RTWBA.co.uk Main Sponsors O F TUNBR IDGE WEL LS

ACTIVE

AT

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WITH THE

O F TH FIC IS IA W L EE LA K UN EN C D H !

BEWL WATER SPECIAL 

A NEW DAWN FOR BEWL

Beautiful Bewl On Saturday April 16 Bewl Water officially reopens to the public after an impressive and extensive refurbishment by its new owners Markerstudy Group. In this special supplement the Times chats to key members of the team and discovers a raft of activities and attractions visitors can now enjoy all year round at the popular country park…

TOTALLING one thousand acres and situated in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty on the Kent and East Sussex borders, just ten miles from Tunbridge Wells, Bewl is a jewel in the south east’s crown.

It’s always been known for its fantastic raft of exhilarating activities which include windsurfing, sailing, cycling and kayaking, but since it was acquired by Markerstudy Group’s leisure division in September last year it now boasts so much more for its thousands of visitors to enjoy the year round.

In addition to all the brilliant water sports and recreational pursuits, much of the 13-mile track that surrounds the stunning reservoir has been greatly improved making it easier for ramblers, horse riders and cyclists to access the more remote parts of the country park.

There is also an exciting new adventure playground complete with a

huge wooden ship so your children can pretend they’re pirates on the high seas!

A tourist train has also been introduced making it easier for little ones – and those who might not want to cycle or walk around Bewl – to get about and still appreciate the wealth of beautiful scenery the park has to offer. There are also plans for a new water taxi service as well as pedalos and rowing boats to hire so you can get up close and personal on the water too.

Then there are the fabulous new eateries on site. The elegant Boat House Bistro now occupies a formidable presence in the former sailing clubhouse building and boasts a highly impressive menu and superb panoramic views over the 770-acre lake, which is the largest stretch of open water in the south east.

The Waterfront Café in the Visitor Centre is also new and serves good quality family friendly food – fast. It’s perfectly situated next to the children’s playground so they can easily refuel between climbing and swinging sessions.

And with the parking fee reduced to just £2 per car it really is the perfect day out for your family. Read on to discover even more fun activities you and your family can enjoy and meet the key people who are making Bewl beautiful again – and a really great place to spend quality time…

To enter our special competition to win a fabulous day out at Bewl Water or a Marin bike worth £375 turn to p76

Wednesday 13th April 2016

26  BEWL WATER SPECIAL

A BRIEF HISTORY OF BEWL WATER  Work on

creating the Bewl reservoir began in 1973 by Southern Water and took two years to complete  The land was acquired and farmers relocated their properties and stock. Some homes such as Dunsters Mill were relocated whilst others were moved to Cousley Wood and to the Weald and Downland Museum at Singleton. Eleven buildings and several lanes are now under the water  The reservoir was formed by damming the valley through which the River Bewl, a tributary of the River Teise, runs  It was then filled with more than 31,300 million litres of water over 770 acres  The valley was chosen because there were no major transport links to disrupt and the soil is less permeable clay  The 30-metre high, 1,800-metre long dam cost £11million to build and has pipes running underneath that allow the River Bewl to continue to flow  During the winter months Bewl is filled with local rainwater running off the surrounding hills and pumped river water from the Teise at Goudhurst, the Medway at Yalding and Darwell Reservoir near Hastings  The reservoir supplies the Medway towns, Thanet and Hastings, providing a key source of drinking water in the south east

On the waterfront Whether you’re into sailing, windsurfing, rowing, canoeing or paddleboarding, all these activities and more can be enjoyed at Bewl Water. Visitors can participate in them on a daily basis, two-day beginner sessions or opt for residential courses including summer schools CANOEING: Beginners and Improvers courses are British Canoe Union accredited. An introductory lesson which covers all paddle sports costs £61 for those aged nine and over. The next session is on May 14 with other dates available throughout the summer until September 24. You can also visit www.bewlcanoeclub.co.uk for additional courses.

DINGHY SAILING: This is the ideal course to do if you want a comprehensive introduction to sailing. Available only to adults, you will learn basic boat handling skills and lots of essential knowledge. The next two-day course is from May 14-15 and costs £188.70. Sessions run throughout the summer until October 23.

SAILING: All courses are Royal Yachting Association (RYA) accredited. The Beginner to Basic Skills five-day course costs £320 and covers level 1 and level 2 of the RYA syllabus. In addition to this there are Seamanship Skills courses, £188.70, Start Racing courses, £314 adults (£261 under-18s) and Start Sailing Advanced stages 3&4, £261.

WINDSURFING: Adult taster sessions cost £100 and start on Saturday April 23. You can do a beginner’s windsurfing two-day course for £156. Dates run from April 23 until October 16. Youth windsurfing stage 1 costs £124 and is for those aged eight and upwards. The two-day courses start on May 31 and run throughout the summer holidays until September 6.

For more information on all aforementioned courses and further details of prices and dates call: 03000 415 200 or visit www.adventurekent.org ROWING: This is run by Bewl Bridge Rowing Club. They have a number of boats and a strong team of qualified coaches. Some members of the Team GB Olympic rowing team train at Bewl at the weekends. For more information visit www.bewlrowingclub.co.uk BOAT TRIPS: These are a great way to appreciate the sheer scale of the lake as well as providing picturesque views of the Wealden countryside. From pretty oast houses to grazing sheep and vineyards, you’ll be able to sit back and capture a little bit of pastoral life as you bob on by. In addition to the boat cruises at Bewl there will also be a new water taxi service this summer allowing you to hop on and off at different points around the reservoir. Visit www.bewlwater.co.uk

Meet the team If you need to find out anything about Bewl Water then this talented trio are on hand to help. We spoke to each of them about their involvement with the south east’s biggest reservoir and the special recreational activities that can be enjoyed Andrew Daniells, Markerstudy Leisure Chief Operating Officer WHEN DID YOU TAKE OVER THE RUNNING OF BEWL? We got the keys on January 8 and spent the next nine weeks redeveloping.

Our first project was the building that was formerly the sailing clubhouse but is now The Boat House Bistro.

WHY DID YOU DECIDE TO PUT IN ANOTHER RESTAURANT AT BEWL? It was a no-brainer. As soon as we saw the fabulous

Wednesday 13th April 2016

view over the lake we knew it was the perfect spot for a bistro. If we provide those kinds of views with beautiful food then you know people will come – it’s that straightforward.

WHAT OTHER IMPROVEMENTS HAVE YOU MADE? We’ve worked extensively on the grounds, carrying out that essential TLC that makes all the difference.

WHY DID YOU DECIDE TO OPEN TWO DIFFERENT RESTAURANTS? We decided The Boat House Bistro would be all about the view and The Waterfront would be more family orientated. Children only want to eat when they’re hungry so the latter’s location near the play area is perfect.

DO YOU HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL ACTIVITIES TO OFFER AT BEWL THAT ARE CURRENTLY IN THE PIPELINE? We want to make it somewhere people will want to go all year round and to make it seasonal. It’s obviously great thanks to all the activities that are on offer but it’s also a nice place to come for just a walk.

WILL YOU BE CHANGING ANY OF THE BIG EVENTS THAT HAPPEN HERE SUCH AS THE TRIATHLONS? We’re keen to keep all the previous events such as the Dragon Boat racing and the marathons and triathlons. They are very popular and get people outside and active. That’s why we’re also introducing a water taxi service so visitors won’t be put off going for a long walk.

WHY DO YOU WANT PEOPLE TO COME ALONG TO BEWL? It’s fantastic value for money. You only pay £2 parking now and you can also bring your own bike and a picnic, so if you want to entertain the family on a budget you can. Each time you come back there will be something different to do.

WHAT’S THE BEST THING ABOUT WORKING AT BEWL? Sailing has been one of my passions for years and my office overlooks the lake! I’ve also got a really good team of people here who are so enthusiastic.

I’ve got the dream job, I really have.

ARE YOU KEEN TO HEAR WHAT THE PUBLIC THINK OF BEWL SO FAR? Oh yes, very much so. We have a webpage (www.bewlwater.co.uk) where people can leave email messages or there are the usual social media

platforms too. We really do listen and respond to people’s comments.

Howard Mackenzie, Bewl Water Estate Manager HOW LONG HAVE YOU WORKED AT BEWL? For the past 39 years.

I have been Estate Manager here since 1995.

WHY HAVE YOU BEEN DOING THE JOB FOR SO LONG? I think because I love it so much. The place has developed a lot over the years and I think that makes things interesting. A lot of changes have been made by the new management which I really welcome, such as the improvement of the bridleways, the general facilities, the upgrading of the estate and the refurbishment of the playground.

WHAT ARE YOUR MAIN AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY? The upkeep of the land predominantly and also the six ranger staff who work with me on the estate. I’m very pleased that the new owners are dedicated to providing good public access and encouraging more and more people to come to this wonderful site.

WITH THE

I i al T ar t nd a Impion a tod

s 73 Pen 559 26 0189

Available in Tunbridge Wells, Tonbridge and Sevenoaks

C a ll

WEST KENT’S ULTIMATE PROPERTY GUIDE – FREE EVERY WEDNESDAY A MUST READ FOR THOSE LOOKING TO BUY, LET OR SELL

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Gorgeous Grade Beautiful colonial II-listed house living with benefit in pole position of all the mod cons

Wednesday 13th April 2016

 PROPERTY SECTION

PROMOTIONAL FEATURE

In my view…

Your at-a-glance guide to

Andrew Jenner FRICS Senior Partner, Jenner Jones Chartered Surveyors

“Before and after” service Most people buying a property will commission a survey before finally committing to purchase. But the RICS service offers more than the report itself, important though that is.

The RICS service aims to ensure that the surveyor establishes a relationship with the client in order to determine their precise requirements before the survey goes ahead. This also ensures the client has made the correct choice of survey – a Building Survey, a HomeBuyer Report or a Condition Report. After the survey report is issued, the surveyor will discuss the contents of the report with the client, if they so wish.

This “before and after” service enables the client to voice any concerns about the property following their own viewing – they may have seen a crack or a patch of damp: are these significant? Or the client may wish to alter the property once they own it – maybe an extension or a loft conversion? The surveyor can advise on such plans as an additional service to the report and discuss options. And whilst the report format is designed to be clear and jargon-free, the client may wish discuss some of the findings further once they’ve had the opportunity to read the report.

DELARUE CLOSE TONBRIDGE

£400,000£425,000

So, as a prospective buyer, make sure you make best use of the expertise of, and the service provided by, a RICS surveyor. The surveyor is there to assist you in making the most informed decisions in relation to what will probably be the largest purchase you will ever make.

More information about the RICS suite of surveys, together with a fee quote, can be found at homesurveys.co.uk For more information, contact Jenner Jones at: info@jennerjones.co.uk 0845 3799 100 With offices in Kent, Sussex and London

HIGH STREET, TONBRIDGE

£240,000 LEASEHOLD UNDER £250,000

newsdesk@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk

DO YOU HAVE A STORY? Wednesday 13th April 2016

A charming, light and airy second floor flat which has been modernised but retains some lovely character features. Tucked away and with rear access, it offers an entrance hall, two bedrooms, a bathroom, living room and kitchen/

dining room with vaulted ceiling.

Positioned right in the centre of town with views over Tonbridge Castle and with the benefit of an allocated parking space. Ideal for a first-time buyer or an investor.

CONTACT Barnes Kingsnorth Tonbridge 01732 771616 www.bkestateagents.com

MERRION CLOSE TUNBRIDGE WELLS

£325,000

UNDER £350,000 A spacious end-of-terrace house within walking distance of High Brooms Station. Accommodation comprises a sitting/dining room, kitchen, cloakroom and conservatory on the ground floor,

with three bedrooms and a family bathroom upstairs. Outside, a paved patio leads to a lawned area at the side. The rear garden can be accessed from the side and is panel-fence enclosed. There is room to extend on the side subject to usual planning permission.

CONTACT McAuley Miller 01892 614777 www.mcauleymiller.com

In association with EJ FINANCIAL LTD

Impartial Investment, Pension and Tax Planning

• Call 01892 655973 today for a FREE appointment

PROPERTY SECTION 

great properties by price range…

THE SPINNEY, TONBRIDGE

£585,000

UNDER £600,000 A well-presented detached family home set within a popular cul-de-sac close to Tonbridge town centre. This lovely property, which overlooks a communal pond and woodland, offers an entrance hall, a kitchen/breakfast room, living room, dining room, utility room, cloakroom, master bedroom with en-suite shower, second bedroom with en-suite shower, three further bedrooms (one a possible study) and a family bathroom. Plus integral garage, drive and pretty rear garden.

CONTACT Maddisons Residential 01892 514100 www.maddisonsresidential.co.uk

MAIDSTONE ROAD, MATFIELD

£720,000

UNDER £800,000 A handsome and stylish character house on the edge of the popular village of Matfield. This detached home offers an entrance hall, cloakroom, drawing room, family room, kitchen/ dining room, four bedrooms, study and large family bathroom. There is an integral garage, parking space and a lovely level rear garden backing on to orchards.

CONTACT Savills Tunbridge Wells 01892 507000 www.savills.co.uk

STONE CROSS ROAD, MAYFIELD OFFERS IN THE REGION OF

DELARUE CLOSE TONBRIDGE

£945,000

£400,000£425,000

UNDER £1,000,000

UNDER £450,000 A beautiful character cottage situated on the outskirts of Tonbridge. The property retains many of its period features, including charming fireplaces and exposed timber ceilings, and is presented to a high standard. There is a sitting room, kitchen and shower room to the ground floor, with two bedrooms and a bathroom

upstairs. The property boasts superb gardens and a barnstyle garage with ample parking to the front.

CONTACT Bracketts Tonbridge 01732 350503 www.bracketts.co.uk

This fine former vicarage dates from around 1910 and provides scope for updating and improvement. Offering spacious accommodation and period features, it has an entrance hall, drawing room, family room, cloakroom, dining room, kitchen, breakfast room and utility room on the ground floor, with five bedrooms and two bathrooms upstairs. The gardens are a feature with sweeping lawns. There is a double garage and 0.7 of an acre in all.

CONTACT Hamptons Tunbridge Wells 01892 516611 www.hamptons.co.uk

Wednesday 13th April 2016

In a glorious, idyllic rural setting in the heart of the Loose Valley conseNation area.

Located down a leafy, unadopted road, surrounded by beautiful walks with fabulous views and the famous Loose stream running at the foot of the garden. Comprising: ._.....~ ~ - - ~ ~ - - , . . . - ~ - - - , , . ~ ~ - - .,. - - ~ ~ - - - , sitting room with wood burning stove, kitchen/breakfast room, pantry, bathroom, 2 double bedrooms and a third bedroom/study. The garden is a tranquil haven, scattered with mature shrubs and a terrace area, wandering down to the stream.

The Village of Loose is approx 3 miles from the vibrant County Town of Maidstone.

Collier Street £525,000

A charming, period, attached cottage recently refurbished. Set over 3 floors boasting 4 bedrooms. Pretty garden to the front , side and rear along with a double garage and off road parking.

Sandhurst £599,950

Staplehurst £650,000

PROPERTY PERFECTION! Leafy location, waterside views, period features and a bespoke finish ... What more could you want from a completely renovated, modern masterpiece? This eclectic mix of country life versus London suave has resulted in an enviable, light and bright cottage with all the 21 st century touches that could be desired. The far reaching views over Bewl Water are to be admired from the raised terrace or the master bedroom balcony. This attached cottage boasts: entrance hall, sitting room with ambiance lighting, stunning kitchen/breakfast room with AGA which leads into a dining and snug area, laundry room, walk in pantry, master bedroom with an en-suite bathroom, 2 further double bedrooms, shower room and wet room. Off road parking. The lawned garden provides direct access to Bewl.

MUST BE SEEN TO BE APPRECIATED!

 PROPERTY SECTION

In association with EJ FINANCIAL LTD

Impartial Investment, Pension and Tax Planning

• Call 01892 655973 today for a FREE appointment

Superb converted barn in idyllic rural setting

U

PPER POSTERN BARN is a stunning conversion in a private road in Tudeley.

Converted in 1985, it is lies in a slightly elevated position with open views over the countryside. With abundant character features, including vaulted ceilings and exposed timbers, it is beautifully presented throughout.

To the ground floor there is a spacious quarry-tiled entrance hall, a study, cloakroom, bright and airy sitting room with vaulted ceiling and open fireplace and a dining room with an archway through to a country kitchen with wood painted cabinetry and Aga. A separate utility room has a door to the rear.

A staircase leads to a galleried landing which overlooks the sitting room. There is a master

bedroom with fitted wardrobes and en-suite, three further bedrooms and a family bathroom.

All four bedrooms have vaulted ceilings and exposed beams.

The property is accessed through a private road off Postern Lane, with a driveway that sweeps around to the front of the property and leads to a generous parking area in front of a double garage.

To the rear, the raised terrace is perfect for outdoor entertaining and overlooks the large garden, which is mostly laid to lawn with mature planting and trees. The stream at the bottom of the garden acts as a natural boundary and there is a stream-fed pond. In all, the plot extends to around three quarters of an acre.

‘A staircase leads to a galleried landing which overlooks the sitting room’

AT A GLANCE POSTERN LANE, TUDELEY

■ Sitting room

■ Family bathroom

■ Detached barn conversion

■ Dining room

■ Character features

■ Kitchen

■ Parking area and double garage

■ Beautifully presented

■ Utility room

■ Set off a private road

■ Galleried landing overlooking sitting room

■ Rural views ■ Large entrance hall

Wednesday 13th April 2016

■ Study

■ Master bedroom with ensuite

■ Cloakroom

■ Three further bedrooms

■ Attractive rear gardens with stream and pond

£1,100,000 For sale through Maddisons Residential 01892 514100 www.maddisonsresidential.co.uk

Think your garden is too small for an outdoor room?

Think again ...

fresco area for summer feasting. And like the larger Curve, the Demi Curve also has the additional protection of polycarbonate sheets, that cover the panels to give you a little extra shelter from showers and the wind.

As with all Jacksons products, the garden shelters are handmade from Jakcured timber, guaranteed for 25 years, so you can enjoy them for many years to come. Find out more by going to your dedicated page www.jacksons-fencing.co.uk/ashfordlocal where there are links to these and many other products and features. louise@jacksons-fencin9.co.uk

Last month we featured our beautiful new Curve garden shelter, to inspire you with your spring garden projects. Talking of spring, I hope I'm not tempting fate by mentioning that we should be looking forward to some better weather as the clocks go forward.

The Curve has created quite a stir since its launch earlier this year. The garden shelter with its generous interior space: approximately 3.1 m wide x 5.3m deep and 2.2m high, is big enough to set up a dining area leaving plenty of room for a chill out zone as well. However, if space is at a premium in your garden, or maybe you have something more along the lines of a courtyard space to get creative with, then don't despair. You may not have to miss out on the pleasures of the outdoor room that many people find such a desirable idea these days, that sought after area for quality lifestyle activities; entertaining, partying or simply just relaxing in. Please allow me to introduce you to what I describe as the Curve's little sister, the equally stylish Demi Curve. With afootprint of approximately 3.1 m wide x 2. 7m deep and 2.2m high.

Smaller than 'big sister', but perfectly formed, it is just right for the urban garden or courtyard, although it is still large enough to house a comfortably sized sofa and chairs set with a low table, just right for relaxing with your Kindle and your favourite tipple.

Alternatively swap those for a dining table and chairs and it will make a delightful al

Win ÂŁ300 of Jacksons vouchers ...

To enter the free prize draw and be in with a chance to win ÂŁ300 of Jacksons vouchers simply log on to your dedicated page, address below and follow the easy instructions on how to enter. The draw closes 30.4.16.

To enter go to: www.jacksons-fencing.co.uk/ashfordlocal

For info on any of Jacksons products or brochures, please call 0800 408 4754 to talk to your local Jacksons Fencing Centre.

Wadhurst A detached family home in a popular position, with planning permission to rebuild Entrance hall, cloakroom, kitchen I dining room, sitting room, family room, conservatory, study. Master bedroom, family bathroom, guest bedroom with en suite bathroom, 2 further bedrooms. Detached double garage. Planning permission to demolish existing house and garage and construct a 7 bedroom house and garage I studio. In all about 0.43 acre.

EPC rating F.

Forest Road, Tunbridge Wells A stylish brand new detached family home, ideally situated for the town centre and mainline station Reception hall, study, cloakroom, kitchen I breakfast room, utility room, drawing room, dining room. Master bedroom with en suite bath I shower room, 2 further bedrooms with en suite shower rooms, 2 further bedrooms, family bath I shower room. Level rear garden laid to lawn. Detached double garage.

Gated entrance. EPC rating B.

Benenden A unique, architect-designed family house with spectacular views Entrance hall, kitchen I dining room, drawing room. Master bedroom with en suite bathroom, 4 further bedrooms (1 en suite), games room, cinema I music room, bathroom, gym, family room, utility room, cloakroom. Gardens and grounds. EPC rating C. In all about 1.65 acres.

Salehurst An attractive Grade II Listed house with fine views Reception hall, kitchen I breakfast room, utility room, cloakroom, dining room, sitting room, drawing room, library, conservatory. Master bedroom with en suite bathroom, 5 further bedrooms (3 with en suite bath I shower rooms), family bathroom. Gardens and grounds. Swimming pool. Croquet lawn. Walled vegetable garden with greenhouse. Double garage. Lean-to garden workroom and tool shed. Log store and wine cellar. Detached barn. Lake. Pond. In all about 3.2 acres.

Speldhurst A well-arranged family house in a quiet location Entrance hall, cloakroom, sitting room, study, kitchen I breakfast I family room. Master bedroom suite, guest bedroom suite, 3 further bedrooms, family bathroom. Home office I studio. Garage. Level garden. EPC rating B. In all about 0.17 acre.

Horsmonden A recently completed family house on the edge of the village Entrance hall, cloakroom, utility room, kitchen I breakfast room, garden room, drawing room, sitting room, dining room. Master bedroom with en suite bathroom, guest bedroom with en suite bathroom, 4 further bedrooms, 2 family bathrooms. Detached triple garage. Terrace. Gardens and grounds. Paddock. EPC rating C. In all about 1.31 acres.

In association with EJ FINANCIAL LTD

Impartial Investment, Pension and Tax Planning

• Call 01892 655973 today for a FREE appointment

PROPERTY SECTION �

AT A GLANCE

LONDON ROAD TUNBRIDGE WELLS n Attractive period property n Grade II listed n Views over Tunbridge Wells Common n Set well back from the road n Entrance hall n Dining room n Sitting room n Sun room n Kitchen/breakfast room n Cloakroom n Master bedroom with en-suite and balcony n Two further first floor bedrooms n Family bathroom n Two further second floor bedrooms

Pretty as a picture with views over the Common O

n Cellar n Well-maintained gardens n Off-road parking

£1,395,000 For sale through Knight Frank Tunbridge Wells 01892 515035 www.knightfrank.co.uk

CCUPYING a wonderful central position, overlooking the Common and just half a mile from the station, this Grade II-listed Georgian town house has to be one of the prettiest properties in Tunbridge Wells.

Named Rock View due its outlook towards some of the Common’s famous sandstone rock formations, the house sits alongside an array of handsome period properties and is set well back from the road.

Classically proportioned and of timber-framed construction, with brick lower elevations and tile hanging above, the house has abundant period features and many attractive architectural details of the Georgian period, including large multipane panelled sash windows, panelled walls and mellow wood floors.

The accommodation, spread over three main floors as well as a cellar, comprises an entrance hall, dining room, sitting room, sun room, cloakroom, kitchen and utility area on the ground floor, with steps down to the large cellar area.

The master bedroom is on the first floor and includes an en-suite bathroom and double doors to a balcony. There are two more bedrooms and a family bathroom on this floor, with a further two bedrooms on the top floor.

The property benefits from three separate areas of garden. Situated to the front is a charming walled garden, predominantly hard landscaped with mature planting. To the side is a private patio area, accessed from the garden room and ideal for entertaining. Adjacent to this is an off-street parking space. The rear of the property, accessed from the kitchen, has a courtyard garden with rear access on to Dudley Road.

Wednesday 13th April 2016

TUNBRIDGE WELLS, KENT Elegant victorian villa + 6 bedrooms + 7 bathrooms + 3 reception rooms + cinema room + landscaped grounds + swimming pool + garage and carport + Council Tax=H + EPC=E

TUNBRIDGE WELLS, KENT Private park location + 4 bedrooms + 3 bathrooms + 2 reception rooms + study/office + kitchen/breakfast room + 195 ft rear garden + driveway parking + Council Tax=G + EPC=E

£8,995 pcm + £282 inc VAT tenancy paperwork fee and Contact: Louise Minifie

£6,500 pcm + £282 inc VAT tenancy paperwork fee and Contact: Louise Minifie

HARTFIELD,

other charges may apply*

EAST SUSSEX

+

Detached family home in substantial grounds 7 bedrooms kitchen/breafast room lovely gardens Council Tax=H

+

+

+

£6,495 pcm + £282 inc VAT tenancy paperwork fee and Contact: Louise Minifie

+ 7 bathrooms + 3 receptions + EPC=D

other charges may apply*

other charges may apply*

TUNBRIDGE WELLS, KENT Unique chalet style design + 2 bedrooms + 2 bathrooms + open plan kitchen/ reception + off street parking + gated development + rear garden + Council Tax=H + EPC=C £1,500 pcm + £282 inc VAT tenancy paperwork fee and Contact: Louise Minifie

*£36 inc VAT for each additional tenant/o ccupant/guarantor reference where required. Inventory check o ut fee - charged at the end of o r early termination of the tenancy and the amount is dependent on the property size and whether furnished / unfurnished. For more details including example inventory fee, visit

www.savills.eo.uk/fees.

other charges may apply*

GROOMBRIDGE,

TUNBRIDGE WELLS,

EAST SUSSEX

KENT

Eridge MLS 1.5 miles + 5 reception rooms + 6/7 bedrooms + tower rooms + roof terrace + park-like setting in an AONB with views + 7,785 sq ft + about 7.23 acres

Extensively renovated period town house + MLS about 0.5 miles + impressive reception hall + sitting room + kitchen/d ining room + 5 bedrooms + 3,229 sq ft + EPC=D

Guide £1.85 million Freehold

Price on application Freehold

TUNBRIDGE WELLS,

Contact: Amanda Wyatt

TUNBRIDGE WELLS,

KENT

Contact: Liz Devall

KENT

Spacious ground floor apartment + large reception room + 2 double bedrooms + 2 bathrooms + private garden terrace + 2 parking spaces + 1 ,285 sq ft + EPC=D

Fifth fioor apartment with views + convenient location + open plan kitchen/reception + 2 double bedrooms + balcony + communal garden + garage parking space + 711 sq ft + EPC=C

Guide £550,000 Share of Freehold

Guide £325,000 Leasehold

Contact: Becky Card

Contact: Becky Card

 PROPERTY

In association with EJ FINANCIAL LTD

Impartial Investment, Pension and Tax Planning

• Call 01892 655973 today for a FREE appointment

Updated period gem bordered by a stream

AT A GLANCE POUNDSBRIDGE, PENSHURST ■ Character property ■ Period features ■ Recently updated ■ Semi-rural location ■ Entrance hall and inner hall ■ Sitting room ■ Dining room ■ Library ■ Study/family room ■ Kitchen/breakfast room ■ Utility room ■ Cloakroom ■ Master bedroom with en-suite ■ Two further bedrooms on first floor ■ Family bathroom ■ Two top floor bedrooms ■ Garage, car port and driveway parking

P

UCKDEN is an enchanting period property dating from the 17th century or earlier, which was sympathetically renovated and extended some years ago and has been further updated recently. The wealth of character features include timber beams, inglenook fireplaces and wide oak floorboards.

The ground floor accommodation comprises an entrance hall, sitting room with inglenook fireplace, dining room, library with access out to

Wednesday 13th April 2016

■ York stone terrace a raised terrace, study/family room with access to another terrace, kitchen/breakfast room with Aga, utility room and cloakroom. The drawing room, dining room and library are divided by open studwork and different levels.

On the first floor, the master bedroom has oak floorboards, a brick fireplace with oak bressummer over, cupboards built into the eaves and a well-appointed en-suite shower room. There are two further bedrooms and a family bathroom,

with two more bedrooms on the second floor.

Puckden is accessed from a lane via a wooden five-bar gate leading to a gravelled driveway connecting the timber-framed garage, wood store and car port, with a brick path to the front door.

The garden wraps around the house and the property is set above a small valley with a stream running along the southern boundary.

Direct access to the fields can be gained via a gate from the lane.

■ Raised terrace with storage under ■ Lovely gardens ■ In all about 4.14 acres

£1,350,000 For sale through Savills Tunbridge Wells 01892 507000 www.savills.co.uk

Tunbridge Wells

Andrews >

andrewsonline.co.uk UNDER OFFER

Woodland Road, TN4 9HN Guide £285,000 Stroll to the mainline station from this semi detached bay fronted period home.

2 reception rooms, one with log burner, 2 bedrooms, upstairs bathroom, wood flooring, cellar and 41' long rear garden.

Energy Efficiency Rating: D

NEW PRICE

Speldhurst Road, TN4 ODP Guide £525,000-£550,000 2 Victorian home of160m with impressive double aspect rooms and corner plot gardens. Bright entrance hall, 4 bedrooms, 3 reception rooms, kitchen/breakfast room, bathroom with shower, cloakroom and storage aplenty!

Energy Efficiency Rating: D

Nursery Road, TN4 9BY Guide £289,950-£299,950 3 bedroom end of terrace with small courtyard garden on Southborough/ Tunbridge Wells borders, with noteworthy kitchen/dining room and bathroom.

High Brooms mainline station and local shops and restaurants are 0.5 mile away.

Energy Efficiency Rating: D

Mercer Street, TN1 2DA £895pcm Two bedroom end of terraced maisonette, this property is split over three floors and benefits from being fully renovated throughout to a neutral standard.

Property boast of two bedrooms, kitchen with appliances, living room and a white bathroom suite. There is a separate shower room.

Energy Efficiency Rating: C

J

] Spring Gardens, TN4 8RS £950pcm Two bedroom property located in a picturesque village area, property has been refurbished throughout. Property benefits from a parking space and a garden area to the front. Inside the property boasts of living room, dining room, new kitchen with gas burning hob and appliances. Upstairs is the two bedrooms, second bedroom benefiting from an in built wardrobe. White bathroom suite with shower over.

Energy Efficiency Rating: E

Tunbridge Wells Sales 01892 515 11+'+ Tunbridge Wells Lettings 01892 525 551

Grantley Court, TN11BX £925pcm Two double bedroom apartment benefits from being only 0.2 miles of the Royal Tunbridge Wells Mainline Station and comes with private gated parking. This property is neutrally decorated throughout. Kitchen with a range of appliances, two double bedrooms, bath with shower over and a living room with patio doors leading out onto your own private garden. Property is 0.5 miles from the Royal Victoria Shopping Centre.

Energy Efficiency Rating: E

To view more properties available from all 85 of our offices, visit andrewsonline.co.uk

Battle

£875,000 - £925,000

Wadhurst

£825,000 - £850,000

An immaculately presented d etached fa mily home enjoying outstanding rural views w ithin walking distance of central Battle. Accommodation includes 5 Reception Rooms, Downstairs Cloakroom, Kitch en Breakfast Room, 2 En Suite Double Bedrooms, 3 Further Double Bedrooms, Family Bathroom, Large Garden, Rural Views, Raised Terrace Area, Driveway and Detached Double Garage.

A charming d etached, period family home (unlisted) with spacious accommod ation over two floors comprising sitting room with wood burning stove and double doors to the garden, dining room w ith open fireplace, TV room/snug, study, fo ur bedrooms and family bathroom. Pretty gardens of circa 1 acre, off road parking and garage.

Blackboys, Uckfield

Hooe, Battle

£775,000

£775,000

A beautifully presented and generously proportioned detached fi ve bedroom bungalow offering versatile accommodation set in good sized secluded and beautifully stocked gardens on a quiet country lan e.

Accommod ation comprises sitting room, dining room, conservatory, kitch en, utility room, five bedrooms, two bathroom s, w. c and attached d ouble garage.

An attractive 1930's detached family hom e set in an elevated position which enjoys far reaching views over the neighbouring countryside. The property benefits from spacious accommodation over two floors to include four reception rooms, kitchen I breakfast room, utility room, master bedroom with en suite bathroom, 3 further bedrooms and a family bathroom. There is a stable block with a concrete yard.

Bexhill-on-Sea

Horam, Heathfield

£700,000 - £725,000

A substantial d etached fa mily home w ith fi ve bedrooms, m agnificent galleried landing, excellent reception space and d elightful landscaped gardens with summerhouse. The property is loca ted in the much favoured West Bexhill area of Collington, within a short walk of local shops/ am enities and the seafront.

£695,000 - £725,000

A substantial d etached bungalow with spacious accommodation and annexe, set in mature south fa cing gardens of circa 1 acre. Accommodation comprises sitting/dining room, dining room I bedroom 4, kitchen breakfast room, utility room, m aster bedroom with en suite bathroom, gu est bedroom with en suite bathroom, further bedroom, family bathroom, Annexe with bed/sitting room, shower room and kitchenette.

Reaching the London buyer in order to achieve the best possible price Call 01892 615757 · www.freemanforman.co.uk · 22-24 High Street, Tunbridge Wells, Kent, TNl lUX

Goudhurst, Cranbrook

£695,000

A detach ed converted former Forge within the Cranbrook Sch ool Ca tchment Area on the edge of the Bed gebury Estate set down a priva te road with direct access into the forest. Double garage and gardens of approximately 0.5 acres. Accommodation comprises sitting room, dining room, open-plan kitchen/breakfast room with AGA, bathroom, master bed room with en suite, two further bedrooms and shower room.

Rushers Green, Mayfield

£600,000 - £650,000

A charming and spacious attach ed 5 bedroom ch aracter cottage (unlisted) w ith an annexe and uninterrupted countryside views. Accommod ation comprises sitting room, kitchen, we, and substantial conservatory.

Further GF accommodation/annexe includes a living room, 2nd kitchen/utility room, bed room and sh ower room. Full-w idth master bed room, Four further double bedrooms, study/bed room and a fa mily bathroom .

SPRING PROPERTY

EXHIBITION MILLENNIUM HOTELJ MAYFAIR In association w ith John D Wood & Co. we are joining together w ith est ate agents from across the South of England to promote our properties at the exclusi ve Spring Property Exhibition.

If you are looking to sell your home th is Spring , please cont act us to f ind out more about how your property can feature and how our extensive marketing is designed to achieve t he highest sa le price.

Thursday 12 May 2016 , 12-6pm

Reaching the London buyer in order to achieve the best possible price

Call 01892 615757 · www.freemanforman.co.uk · 22-24 High Street, Tunbridge Wells, Kent, TNl lUX

Tunbridge Wells

£400,000 - £425,000

Spacious four bedroom semi d etached house in Tunrbidge Wells. Open plan sitting/dining room and modern kitch en . Stairs rise from the entrance hall landing where three d ouble bedrooms and a smaller single bedroom can be found along w ith m odern family bathroom. Viewing highly recommended.

Tunbridge Wells

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Tunbridge Wells

£365,000 - £385,000

Attractive mid terrace Victorian house. The property is in excellent condition including a renovated basem ent and h as to be viewed to truly appreciate the stand ard through out. Subject to obtaining the relevant permissions there is also scope to convert the loft. Being situated close to the town centre and local amenities.

Tunbridge Wells

£460,000- £480,000

Extended three bedroom semi detached h ouse which occupies an enviable position within the ca tchment area for the popular St James primary school. Both the Tunbridge wells and High Broom s railway stations are within reach, as is the beautiful Grosvenor and Hilbert park which h as recently been red eveloped .

£240,000

Beautiful ground floor one bedroom apartment which occupies an enviable position within a few minutes walk of the m ainline railway station, the common and various restaurants/bars. The apartment which has a priva te parking space benefits from private entrance h all, open plan kitch en/reception room with bay w ind ow and shutters.

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Tunbridge Wells

£290,000

The property is in excellent decorative order through out and split on three levels. Internally comprises of large reception room, m odern fitted kitchen, white suite bathroom, Master bedroom with built in storage, second double bedroom and converted attic room. Ex ternally the property benefits from two alloca ted

Tunbridge Wells

£275,000 - £285,000

Two bedroom first floor apartment which holds an enviable position within a few minutes walk of the railway station and Victoria Place shopping centre. The property boasts underground parking and a communal garden with sea ting area. The accommodation which has gas central h ea ting offers a stunning open plan kitch en/reception room with floor to ceiling w indow and balcony.

Reaching the London buyer in order to achieve the best possible price Call 01892 515300 · www.freemanforman.co.uk · 22-24 High Street, Tunbridge Wells, Kent, TNl lUX

Tunbridge Wells

£215,000

Modern purpose built two bedroom top floor apartment which occupies a convenient position close to the High Brooms m ainline railway station and sh opping parade. The apartment boasts plenty of storage, off road parking and communal gardens. Includes Open plan sitting room/kitchen, two d ouble bedroom s.

Tunbridge Wells

£275,000 - £290,000

Two bed room terraced house loca ted in the very popular St Jam es area, situated within close proximity to all the local amenities on Camden road and town centre. Offers spacious open living room with built in units, stunning mod ern fitted kitchen and a modern d ownstairs white suite bathroom. Outside enjoys a rear court ard garden.

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Tunbridge Wells

£375,000 - £400,000

Tunbridge Wells

£275,000 - £295,000

Spacious three bedroom end of terrace h ouse situated in the very desirable Hawkenbury area. The ground floor comprises of entrance h all, large living room, separa te kitchen w ith additional storage areas and conservatory. Upstairs you will find the m aster bedroom, second double bedroom and a further single room.

The property sits on a good size plot with garage and off street parking for at least two/three vehicles.

Two bedroom terraced h ouse which occupies a superb position on the doorstep of the beautiful recently re d eveloped Grosvenor and Hilbert park. The High Brooms mainline railway station is within walking distance as are numerous restaurants, bars and retail sh ops. The accommod ation includes sitting room with fireplace, kitch en/breakfas t room, shower room and two double bedroom s.

Tunbridge Wells

Tunbridge Wells

£500,000 - £525,000

Spacious four bedroom fa mily home with impressive triple aspect conservatory w ith under floor hea ting which is located in the popular St. Johns area. Property offers grea t open plan reception room space, stunning kitchen/breakfas t room The first floor accommodation includes four bedroom s and bathroom

£395,000 - £425,000

Extended four bedroom semi detached house. The property offers immaculately presented accommodation which includes an impressive open plan kitch en/dining room with French d oors which lead to the rear garden, all of which would be considered ideal for entertaining fa mily and fri ends.

Reaching the London buyer in order to achieve the best possible price Call 01892 515300 · www.freemanforman.co.uk · 22-24 High Street, Tunbridge Wells, Kent, TNl lUX

Beyond your expectations

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www.hamptons.co.uk

Tlll:::SUNDAYTl\11:S

T-"!:AMPTONS

11

INTERNATIONAL

TH E IIIA!'I.TIMES

Lingfield, Surrey- Guide price ÂŁ3,250,000 Set centrally within gardens and park like grounds in excess of 19 acres (7.87h), a fine Victorian mansion with generous accommodation presented with style and sophistication together with a detached Coach House and excellent ancillary outbuildings. EPC F

Caterham Office

Sales 01883 345255

I

caterham@hamptons-int.com

* Handsome Victorian mansion with small private estate ,. Detached Coach House * Summer House with Swimming Pool * Tennis Court * Excellent Outbuildings * Natural ponds * Grounds and paddocks in total excess r9 acres

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Beyond your expectations -.

www.hamptons.co.uk

THESIJNlli\YTI\IES

T-"!:AMPTONS

11

INTERNATIONAL

Tl-1Eal61.,TIMES

Woldingham, Surrey- Guide price ÂŁ2,950,000 In a superb village location with outstanding rural views yet only approximately eighteen miles from Central London, a fine Edwardian country house displaying many period details and presented with flair and sophistication, set in landscaped gardens in total about 2. 78 acres (1.08h). EPC D

Caterham Office

Sales 01883 345255

I

caterham@hamptons-int.com

* Outstanding views ,. Central London approx rB miles * Prestigious village location * Period detailing with sophisticated styling * Outdoor infinity pool * Tennis court * Landscaped gardens in total approx. 2.7a(r.09h)

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T-"!:AMPTONS

Beyond your expectations

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11

www.hamptons.co.uk

TIIESUNDAYTIMES

INTERNATIONAL

THE . . .T IMES

Sevenoaks

Pilgrims Way, Westerham, Kent - Guide Price £1,650,000 Nestling on the southern slope of the North Downs therefore benefiting from far reaching southerly views, a very well presented detached country residence of character set within secluded gardens of approximately 0.8 acres. EPC: D

* Period character and charm * Far reaching views * s bedrooms and3 reception rooms * Double Garage * Mature gardens ofapprox o. 8 acres

Caterham

Dormans Park, Surrey-Asking price £1,895,000 Occupying a commanding position within a sought after private estate, a handsome, detached period residence, recently refurbished with flair and sophistication and set within mature, south backing, landscaped gardens of approximately 0.88 acres. EPC D

Sevenoaks Office - Sales 01732 423127 I sevenoaks@hamptons-int.com Caterham Office - Sales 01883 345255 I caterham@hamptons-int.com

* Period features with contemporary styling * Five bedrooms and three receptions * Triple Garage * Studio/Sun Room * Gardens of approx o.88 acres

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Beyond your expectations www.hamptons.co.uk

·"""·

THESUNDAYTIMES

T-"!:AMPTONS

11

INTERNATIONAL

THE . . . .TIMES

Ide Hill, Sevenoaks £550,000 A delightful and immensely characterful conversion of a former chapel, which offers bright and spacious accommodation set amongst a cottage garden with off street parking and fantastic entertaining space. EPC: E

Golden Green, Nr Tonbridge £675,000 An attractive spacious detached family home located in the village of Golden Green.

The property offers bright and flexible accommodation, with three reception rooms, four bedrooms and a study, arranged over two floors and extending to 1827 sq. ft. in total. EPC: D

Sevenoaks Office Sales. 01732 423127

I

sevenoaks@hamptons-int.com

Knockholt, Nr Sevenoaks £3,600,000 An elegant and imposing country house of magnificent proportions, dating from the late 19th century with later additions, set amidst beautifully landscaped gardens and grounds. EPC: E

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Beyond your expectations www.hamptons.co.uk ·"""-·

THESUNDAYTIMES

THE . . .T IMES

Tunbridge Wells £1,825,000 A substantial 6/7 bedroom Edwardian family home situated in a prime central location with many fine period features and superb mature gardens of just over quarter of an acre. EPC: F

Tunbridge Wells £1,395,000 A substantial and beautifully presented detached 6 bedroom Edwardian house on the popular southern side of Tunbridge Wells with many fine period features. EPC: E

Mayfield £945,000 An elegant, former 5 bedroom Vicarage probably dating from the late Edwardian period and within close proximity oflocal village amenities. Set in attractive gardens of about 0.7 acres. EPC: F

Ticehurst £825,000 A delightful detached 3 bedroom period barn in an idyllic setting in its own beautiful gardens close to the southern end ofBewl Water. EPC: D

Tunbridge Wells £795,000 A detached 4 bedroom period house in a popular residential road, close to the grammar schools and within about a mile from the town centre. EPC: E

Frant £478,000 An enchanting Grade II listed period 2 bedroom cottage in this picturesque village centre terrace with delightful accommodation over 3 floors with views set opposite the ancient church.

Tunbridge Wells Office Sales. 01892 597607 I tunbridgewells@hamptons-int.com

Tidebrook ÂŁ1,195,000 Situated along a private lane in this sought after historic hamlet between Wadhurst and Mayfield, this delightful 4 bedroom detached house has many fine features including a stunning vaulted drawing room along with gardens and grounds of about 3.5 acres. EPC: D

Etchingham ÂŁ785,000 A recently built superb 'Colonial' style detached 3 bedroom (all ensuite) house in village edge setting with views backing onto Woodland Trust land and set in gardens of about 0. 5 acres. EPC: C

DCJ

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/ Whitefriars Wharf, Tonbridge

Guide Price £300,000 - £325,000

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Bitchet Green, Sevenoaks

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Guide Price £1,600,000 - £1,800,000

Located within walking distance of Tonbridge station is this delightful three bedroom, three storey, modern house set in the desirable Whitefriars Wharf offered to the market chain free.

Set within the grounds of a private road in the beautiful hamlet of Bitchet Green is this stunning four-bedroom property. The house is nestled in approximately three acres of private and secluded gardens. A private driveway leads to the front of this charming home.

Cornwallis Avenue, Tonbridge

Hadlow Park, Tonbridge

Guide Price £740,000 - £770,000

A charming four bedroom, three reception room, extended detached house located on the sought after Cornwallis Avenue located between Tonbridge and Hadlow.

Guide Price £850,000 - £900,000

Set within the grounds of the exclusive and private Hadlow Park is this superb detached family home, which has the additional potential of a self-contained annexe offering exceptionally flexible living accommodation for the growing family.

In association with EJ FINANCIAL LTD

Impartial Investment, Pension and Tax Planning

• Call 01892 655973 today for a FREE appointment

PROPERTY SECTION �

Country setting for beautiful modern colonial-style home

H

ADLOW LODGE is a recently built, beautifully presented colonial style detached house. Light and spacious throughout, it is presented to a high standard with the benefit of underfloor heating and aged oak-effect flooring to the ground floor.

The modern, L-shaped kitchen/breakfast room, which is open-plan to a dining/family area, is extremely well fitted and equipped with a wide range of units and integrated appliances. There are outlooks to the front and rear with bifold and French doors.

The triple-aspect sitting room is light and spacious, with French doors leading out to the front terrace. The ground floor also boasts a bedroom with well-fitted wet room and French doors to the rear garden, as well as a cloakroom and a utility room.

A staircase from the inner hall leads to the principal suite, which runs the length of the building with a vaulted ceiling, Velux windows and French doors opening to a small enclosed balcony. The suite also benefits from a superb en-suite bathroom and a study/dressing area with wardrobes.

A secondary staircase off the kitchen leads to a further bedroom with a dressing area and en-suite shower room.

The long driveway leads to parking for several cars with a large terrace to the front of the house.

The rear garden has external landscaping and is mainly laid to lawn, backing on to woodland.

The plot amounts to about 0.4 of an acre.

AT A GLANCE BURGH HILL, ETCHINGHAM n Recently built n Edge of popular village n Lovely location with views n Colonial styling n Sitting room n Kitchen/breakfast room open-plan to dining/family area n Cloakroom n Utility room

n Ground floor bedroom with wet room n Two staircases n Large master suite with dressing room, bathroom and balcony n Further bedroom with en-suite n Parking n Just under half an acre

£785,000 For sale through Hamptons Tunbridge Wells 01892 516611 www.hamptons.co.uk

Wednesday 13th April 2016

 PROPERTY SECTION

In association with EJ FINANCIAL LTD

Impartial Investment, Pension and Tax Planning

• Call 01892 655973 today for a FREE appointment

Stylishly remodelled and boasting detached annexe

AT A GLANCE BROADWATER DOWN TUNBRIDGE WELLS ■ Fully remodelled and refurbished property ■ Sought-after location ■ Contemporary styling and high spec

‘The gardens are laid to level lawn and well screened’

A

SHBORN is a substantial detached house with contemporary styling and a versatile layout. The property has been extensively remodelled and renovated and is beautifully presented, with a high specification used throughout.

The ground floor has an entrance hall with cloakroom, a TV room, a sitting room, a spacious drawing room with bifold doors to the garden, and a large dining room. There is also an inner hall with stairs to a cellar plus utility room and storage, and an open-plan kitchen/ breakfast/family room.

A ground floor bedroom with adjacent bathroom

provides a perfect guest room.

Upstairs, the master suite comprises a bedroom with dressing room and two shower rooms. A further en-suite guest room, two more bedrooms and a family bathroom complete the first floor accommodation.

The property benefits from yet more flexible space with a detached home office/annexe featuring a kitchen, shower room, bedroom and living room.

Ashborn occupies a good plot extending to approximately 0.36 of an acre. To the front is off-road parking for three cars and a driveway runs to the side of the house leading to a two-bay car port.

The main entrance to the house is at the side. The gardens are laid to level lawn and well screened.

■ Entrance hall ■ Cloakroom ■ TV room ■ Sitting room ■ Drawing room ■ Dining room ■ Kitchen/breakfast room ■ Family room ■ Ground floor bedroom ■ Bathroom ■ Master suite with dressing room and two shower rooms ■ Guest bedroom with en-suite ■ Two further bedrooms ■ Family bathroom ■ Cellar with utility room, storage and boiler room ■ Detached annexe with sitting room, kitchen, shower room and bedroom ■ Off-road parking and drive ■ Two-bay car port ■ Well-screened gardens ■ In all 0.36 of an acre

£1,495,000 For sale through Knight Frank Tunbridge Wells 01892 515035 www.knightfrank.co.uk

Wednesday 13th April 2016

ADVERTISING FEATURE �

Thinking of moving home soon?

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. 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 contracts 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 your FREE copy of The Kent Guide to Buying and Selling your Home, or for further advice regarding your buying/selling experience, contact Max Barford Solicitors in Tunbridge Wells today and speak to one of my property team on 01892 539 379 or email times@maxbarford.co.uk

2

DECIDE WHETHER YOU ARE HAPPY TO RELY ON THE MORTGAGE LENDER’S VALUATION OR DO YOU REQUIRE A FULL SURVEY. A lender’s valuation is an assessment carried out by and 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

4

3

E ID EERS GU FRE MOVE

1

GET YOUR MORTGAGE AGREED FIRST Although borrowing from banks and building societies has improved recently, it is not a given. So to avoid disappointment, check you can get the mortgage you need before starting the process. You can get a mortgage agreement in principle secured first, but remember that this is an indication and not a legal agreement.

CHOOSE YOUR CONVEYANCING SOLICITORS WITH CARE For a free copy of the Kent Guide to Buying and Selling If you take the risk of buying without Your Home or for further advice regarding your home REMEMBER TO FACTOR IN the support and guidance of an buying/selling experience just complete and cut out this THE TRUE COST OF MOVING. expertly trained legal conveyancer, you coupon and post to the address below. Alternatively call Mortgage arrangement fees, run the risk of walking into a financial or email us today quoting reference MBRTO104 survey fees, legal costs and removal booby trap which can seriously hamper costs are all substantial costs of moving. your progression up the property Telephone 01892 539 379 However, the often overlooked but most ladder. You should also make sure or Email times@maxbarford.co.uk expensive cost is Stamp Duty Land Tax you know who you are instructing (SDLT) which varies dependent on the and that the firm is registered with a Name value of the property purchased. If you regulatory body such as the Solicitors purchase a property above £125,000 Regulation Authority. There are bogus Address SDLT becomes payable. Recent changes law firms out there who will take your to SDLT have been introduced to try money and then close up shop which to make the tax fairer. Under the old means you lose the money and your regime the SDLT percentage rates dream home. That is why it is essential increased at various thresholds. Under that you get the advice and guidance the old rules SDLT was payable at a you need every step of the way from single rate on the whole transaction a known reputable law firm. They are value. From 4th December 2014, SDLT there to help you avoid the pitfalls of is payable on a sliding scale depending what can be a murky area. on the portion of the purchase price The cheapest option may not always Tel.No that falls within each rate band. There prove to be the best. Remember, this is no doubt that the SDLT changes will may well be the biggest purchase you’ll Email be of benefit to many home buyers. For make and you want to be sure that you example, under the old regime, Stamp know what you are buying. You should Duty Land Tax payable on a purchase be able to contact your conveyancer Max Barford & Co price of £350,000 would be £10,500 and fully understand what is happening 16 Mount Pleasant Road and under the new regime it would at each step of the move. If you are Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN1 1QU be £7,500 - representing a saving not sure, ask! One further point to www.maxbarford.co.uk of £3,000. bear in mind is that your conveyancer Max Barford & Co. is a trading name of Parfitt Cresswell. Parfitt Cresswell is authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority. No. 71480 knowledge of a service history, so why would you run this financial risk when buying a house?

M HO

BY DEBORAH MILLER

Wednesday 13th April 2016

� PROPERTY SECTION

In association with EJ FINANCIAL LTD

Impartial Investment, Pension and Tax Planning

• Call 01892 655973 today for a FREE appointment

Tonbridge home offering larger than usual ground floor accommodation

S

ET in a highly sought-after road to the north of Tonbridge, this character property offers flexible accommodation over two floors. With period features including exposed beams and fireplaces, parts of the property have also been recently refurbished by the current owners.

On the ground floor there is an entrance hall, dining room, large sitting room with double doors to the rear terrace, study, modern kitchen/ breakfast room with breakfast bar and integrated appliances, utility room, ground floor bathroom and three bedrooms – each offering a number of different uses.

Upstairs there are two further spacious bedrooms, both with modern en-suites and plenty of built-in storage, and one with the added benefit of a large balcony overlooking the garden.

To the front of the property there is a blockpaved driveway providing parking for several cars, and a paved path leading to a veranda giving access via both sides to the rear. The large rear garden is beautifully landscaped and predominantly laid to lawn, with a large terrace for outside dining, flower borders, a summer house, a garden shed and an ornamental pond.

AT A GLANCE

OLD HADLOW ROAD, TONBRIDGE n Character property n Sought-after location n Versatile accommodation n Refurbished n Entrance hall n Dining room n Sitting room n Study n Kitchen/breakfast room n Utility room n Ground floor bathroom n Three ground floor bedrooms

‘With period features including exposed beams and fireplaces, parts of the property have also been recently refurbished’ Wednesday 13th April 2016

n Two first floor bedrooms, each with ensuite and one with balcony n Off-road parking n Large garden and terrace

£895,000-£950,000

For sale through Bracketts Tonbridge 01732 350503 www.bracketts.co.uk

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Frant

£850,000 - £895,000

A charming detached house set in enviable position within a prestigious and highly regarded private estate and enjoying views to the horizon. 3 receptions, kitchen, 3 bedrooms, bathroom. Attractive gardens, driveway and double garage. EPC: E

Tunbridge Wells

£340,000

Tunbridge Wells

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£450,000 - £475,000

Priced to allow for some cosmetic updating, a 1920s semi-detached house located in the heart of the St John's area. Hallway, 2 reception rooms, kitchen, 3 bedrooms, bathroom.

75' rear garden. EPC: D

Tunbridge Wells

£265,000 - £280,000

A desirable semi-detached bungalow, well presented throughout, situated in the popular 'Lakes' area of the town. 2 reception rooms, well fitted kitchen, 2 bedrooms, modern bathroom. Driveway, garage and attractive landscaped gardens. EPC: D

A refurbished and modernised terraced house, occupying a pleasant elevated position within the High Brooms area, close to mainline station. Generous hallway, 2 reception rooms, fitted kitchen, 2 bedrooms, spacious bathroom, enclosed rear garden. EPC: D

Tunbridge Wells

Tunbridge Wells

Monthly Rental £2,000

Very spacious and light 3 I 4 bedroom maisonette located off of Claremont Road. Kitchen, utility, 3 reception rooms, 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms. Retains many original features. Gas central heating & off road parking for 2 I cars. Available now. EPC: D.

Monthly Rental £I, 150

Brand new warehouse-style apartment in central location. Open plan living room with solid wooden flooring, fully integrated kitchen, 2 double bedrooms & 2 luxurious bathrooms. Split level hallway. Residents permit parking. Available now. EPC: D.

we open doors for you ...

BarnesKingsnorth

TUNBRIDGE WELLS

£229,950

ST JAMES' AREA. A spacious ground-floor flat with excellent natural light and set within 0.5 mile of the town centre and 1 mile of the mainline station. Entry-phone system, double-aspect sitting/ dining room, modern kitchen, modern bathroom, 2 double bedrooms with built-in wardrobes. Enclosed personal terrace and communal gardens. Communal parking. Double glazing and recently installed gas central hearing. Internal viewing recommended. EPC: D. Apply Pembury

KEMSING

£395,000 EACH

NEARING COMPLETION! Brand new pair of individually designed semi-detached houses under construction in delightful village. Generous family accommodation with entrance hall, cloaks, contemporary style kitchen/family room and living room with doors to garden. Upstairs has two double bedrooms, one single bedroom and stylish bathroom. Block paved driveway, parking and garden.

Being sold with the benefit of CLR certificate.

Apply Tonbridge

TUNBRIDGE WELLS

OIRO £485,000

ST JAMES' PARK. Handsome semi-detached house in favoured area with driveway parking for 2 cars and only 0.4 mile walk to St James' Primary School. Bay-fronted sitting room with open fire, opening to the dining room. Stylish, contemporary-style kitchen with breakfast bar, 3-4 bedrooms and modern first-floor bathroom. Attractive split-level garden. Well presented and scope for further improvements. EPC: E Apply Pembury

Q} Primelocatior

Residential

t i'rightmove.co.uk Sales & !Lettings

Pembury: 01892 822880

Tonbridge: 01732 771616

Lettings: 01732 771616

e.pembury@bkea.co.uk

e.tonbridge@bkea.co.uk

e. Lettings@bkea.co.uk

www.l,kestatea1ents.com

TONBRIDGE Angel Lane TN9 1

R

FIRST TIME BUYERS • Help to buy scheme available

• Incentives available

Luxury Riverside Apartments for s

• Angel Centre gym and sports centre is opposite the building • Numerous supermarkets within a level walk • Excellent Cafes and Restaurants on the High Street • The historic castle and riverside walks only a moment away from the apartments.

R B A N

K • Attractive glass lobby and lift to all floors • Secure undercroft parking • Attractive riverside garden • 125 year leases and new 10 year building warranty

CALLING ALL INVESTORS

• Very central Town Centre location, 1 minute walk from Tonbridge High Street • Tonbridge Railway Station is 3 minutes walk with journey times to London of around 36 minutes • Every possible amenity is right on your door step

www.riverbanktonbridge.co.uk

s E

• Attractive investment returns with estimated rental level of £900 per month and excellent forecasted capital growth prospects of 25% over the next 5 years for South East • Tonbridge described as one of 'the top 20 homes hotspots within a 60-minute commute of London'

• Incentives available

Sevenoaks, Kent Sevenoaks Station 0.8 miles, Sevenoaks Town 1.4 miles, A2.1 /M25 Interchange 1.4 miles

A superb four bedroom family home refurbished to a high standard and situated in asought after private road, close to the town, mainline station and Riverhead schools Entrance hall I Cloakroom I Kitchen/breakfast room I Study/family room I Lounge I Family bathroom I Two double bedrooms I Master bedroom I 2nd floor double bedroom I Garden I About 0.28 acre

Guide Price ÂŁ1,325,000 Sevenoaks 01732 807801

sevenoaks@struttandparker.com

Sevenoaks, Kent Sevenoaks town 2 miles, Sevenoaks mainline station 1 .4 miles, Junction 5 M25 2.8 miles

A wonderful family home with south facing garden locatedon one of Sevenoaks' premier private roads and within one mile of the mainline station Entrance Hall I Drawing Room I Dining Room I Kitchen/Breakfast Room I Utility Room I Study I Cloakroom I Garage I Master Bedroom with en-suite I Guest bedroom with en-suite I Two further bedroom I Family bathroom I Recreation Room I Study Area Garden I About 0.11 acres

Guide Price ÂŁ1,250,000 Sevenoaks 01732 807801

sevenoaks@struttandparker.com

Stansted, Kent Borough Green Station 4.3 miles, Ebbsfleet International Station 9.9 miles , Sevenoaks 7.7 miles, M20/ M26 3.9 miles An attractive period property in a picturesque rural location on the outskirts of a popular village.

Entrance Porch I Dining Room I Kitchen/breakfast room I Utility Room I Cloakroom I Sitting Room I Family Bathroom I Master bedroom with en-suite I Double Bedroom I 2 further interlinking bedrooms I Box Room/Attic Store I 2.6 Acres

Guide Price ÂŁ925,000 Sevenoaks 01732 807801

sevenoaks@struttandparker. corn

Bough Beech, Kent Penshurst station 0.8 mile, Sevenoaks 7.5 miles, Tonbridge 7.5 miles An attractive Grade II Listed house with equestrian facilities, stabling, outbuildings and in excess of 3 acres.

Kitchen/Breakfast Room I Cloakroom I Master Bedroom with Bathroom I Guest Bedroom with Shower Room I 2 further Bedrooms I Family Bathroom I Covered Porch I Hall I Sitting Room Dining Room I Family Room I Study/utility room I Landscaped Gardens I Home Office I 2 Paddocks I Stables I Timber Framed Barn I Outbuilding I Annexe

Guide Price ÂŁ975,000 Sevenoaks 01732 807801

sevenoaks@struttandparker. corn

Your local independent Estate Agent

1kMJProperty

...contactable 7 days a week

£215,000

2 BEDROOM GROUND FLOOR RETIREMENT FLAT WITH GARDEN, ST. PAUL'S COURT, RUSTHALL

We are delighted to offer for sale this 2 Bedroom ground floor retirement flat with private garden in the popular St Paul's Court, Rusthall. Situated close to the village centre this flat has good access to all the local amenities that the village of Rusthall offers, including; General Stores, Library, Bakers, Greengrocers, Chemist, Medical Centre, Hairdressers etc. The accommodation comprises; Good size lounge/diner with double glazed doors to garden, modern fitted kitchen and modern fitted shower room and two bedrooms and the flat is being sold with no forward chain. St Paul's Court also offers Communal Gardens, Laundry Room, Car Park (by separate agreement) and House Manager. EPC Rating C.

www.kmjproperty.co.uk S::11

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ACHIEVING THE BEST PRICE AND CHARGING ...

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COMMISSION

% Call to find out more

of safes-ABOVE GUIDE PRICE*

*Property sold using 'Best Offers· strategy, Oct - Dec 2015.

Terms and Conditions apply.

To find out more call your local Crowborough

CUbitt West

branch today:

I Residential: 01892440145 • Lettings: 01892 269 042

� PROPERTY SECTION

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Impartial Investment, Pension and Tax Planning

• Call 01892 655973 today for a FREE appointment

Distinctive detached family house in St John’s boasts a well-fitted kitchen

‘Points of note include fireplaces, dado rails and attractive bay windows’ AT A GLANCE EAST CLIFF ROAD TUNBRIDGE WELLS n Popular residential area n Detached period house n Built circa 1908 n Entrance hall n Sitting room n Dining/family room n Garden room n Kitchen/breakfast room n Utility room/cloakroom n Pantry

L

OCATED in the popular St John’s area of Tunbridge Wells, and built circa 1908, this distinctive detached family house has many delightful period features. Points of note include fireplaces, dado and picture rails together with deep skirting boards and attractive bay and arched windows.

The ground floor comprises a large entrance hall, a sitting room with bay window to the front and an open fireplace with Jetmaster fire, an

Wednesday 13th April 2016

n Four bedrooms elegant dining room with decorative fireplace and door in a square bay to the garden, and a garden room with glazed double doors to the garden. The well-fitted kitchen has a range of units with granite work surfaces, a Rangemaster double oven with five-ring gas hob and steps leading down to a pantry with door to garden. Adjacent is a utility room/cloakroom.

On the first floor the dual aspect principal bedroom has fitted cupboards and looks out over

the rear garden. Two of the three remaining bedrooms have fitted cupboards and there is a well-fitted family bathroom.

To the front of the house a brick-edged driveway offers parking and access to the integral garage. To the rear is a long paved terrace and path flanked by flower borders. The well-stocked L-shaped garden is mainly laid to lawn with a selection of mature plants, shrubs and trees on the outer boundaries, along with an original brick garden store.

n Family bathroom n Integral garage and driveway n Rear garden and garden store

£795,000 For sale through Hamptons Tunbridge Wells 01892 516611 www.hamptons.co.uk

TUNBRIDGE WELLS

SOUTH BOROUGH

HEATHFIELD

TONBRIDGE

CROWBOROUGH

23 High Street, Tunbridge Wells KentTN11UT

124 London Road, Southborough Kent TN4 OPL Sales 01892 511311 Lettings 01892 528888 southborough@woodandpilcher.co.uk

27 High Street, Heathfield East Sussex, TN21 8JR Sales 01435 862211 Lettings 01435 868899 heat field@woodandpilcher.co.uk

38 High Street, Tonbridge Kent TN9 1EJ Sales 01732 351135 Lettings 01732 351135 tonbridge@woodandpilcher.co.uk

The Cross, Crowborough East Sussex TN6 1AL

Sales

01892 511211 , tunbridgewells@woodandpilcher CO !~k Letting & Management 01892 528888

Associated Park Lane London Office

woodandpilcher. co. uk

Sales

01892 665666 crowborough@woodandpilcher.co.uk Letting & Management 01892 664666 lettings@woodandpilcher.com

WITH THE

NEW HOMES AND LETTINGS Shop space for rent in prime commercial area

OF TUNBRIDGE WELLS AND TONBRIDGE

Fruitful investment opportunity in unrivalled location

Two homes remaining in beautiful conversion

Views galore via five balconies from this stunning Sevenoaks penthouse Wednesday 13th April 2016

REGALPOINT

Ashdown Court, Lewes Rd, Forest Row RH18 5EZ Unrivalled location: In terms of location, Forest Row is a popular village that enjoys the trappings which come with being in the Kent countryside, such as the magnificent Ashdown Forest on the doorstep.

Ashdown Court is located in a central position overlooking the village square and the apartments represent an attractive location for tenants, being close to all the necessary amenities and just a short bus ride from the desirable town of East Grinstead.

You can take our word for it: Joint selling agent Stephen Scott, Director of Mansell McTaggart comments: "For a number of reasons, time is of the essence with this apartment. Demand for properties in this area is on the up because of its proximity to both East Grinstead and the surrounding countryside.

When you consider the price versus the square footage and the potential return on the investment, it's easy to see why the other apartments here have been quickly reserved."

Fruitful investment opportunity: A unique opportunity is available for property investors at Ashdown Court by Regalpoint Homes, who are offering to pay the 3 % stamp duty. The last remaining apartment here will offer investors high yields thanks to its central location and versatile living space. Landlords can expect rental yields of 5 % or more, with monthly rents of up to £1,000. Ashdown Court has seen huge success with a wide range of buyers, from first time buyers to those looking for a home to retire comfortably in.

fitted kitchen, an open plan living room and large double glazed windows creating a light and airy atmosphere. As well as the large dressing room, the apartment also features lift access and an allocated parking space (with the opportunity of obtaining an additional parking space), making this apartment is ideal for a wide range of buyers.

He adds: "At the beginning of April, Stamp Duty increased by 3 % for second homes and landlords. However, Regalpoint are in a position to aid investors by paying the 3 % themselves on any reservations and exchange made by 3Qth April, which equates to £2,550 an opportunity not to miss out on."

Last remaining apartment is cream of the crop: The last plot remaining is apartment 6, a 2bedroom, first floor apartment that revels in a number of attractive perks. The large bedroom1 has a modern, en-suite shower room with top of the range fixtures, while bedroom-2, equally as spacious, features a fabulous dressing room.

This first floor, 2-bedroom apartment is priced from £235,000. For more information about this exciting opportunity, please contact our selling agents.

The rest of the apartment is host to a fully

Wink.worth t: 01342 822255

GUIDE PRICE £235,000 CURRENT RENTAL VALUE £1000 PCM e: info@regalpoint.co. uk

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w: regalpoint.co. uk

Prices correct at time of going to print. '' Subject to scheme rules

MANSELL McTAGGART ESTATE AGENTS SINCE 1947

t: 01342 826682

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• Call 01892 655973 today for a FREE appointment

Fabulous new penthouse designed with Love in the heart of Sevenoaks

‘Spacious, bright and airy, with far-reaching views towards the North Downs’

T

HIS stylish, spacious penthouse apartment was recently completed to a high specification with interior design by Love Interiors. Set within a central Sevenoaks development called The Pembroke, it is wired for Cat 5 with home office facilities, and Sky+ satellite installed.

Other features include a lift with private access to the apartment, a ten-year Premier Build Guarantee, video entryphone system, underfloor heating, wooden flooring, full height windows and glazed doors, deep skirting boards and cornice.

The apartment is located on the third floor, approached via a staircase or lift.

Wednesday 13th April 2016

The private entrance hall has a storage cupboard, utility cupboard with space for appliances, and its own private door to the lift.

The triple aspect open-plan reception room is extremely spacious, bright and airy, with far-reaching views towards the North Downs. This room offers versatile living and features a limestone fireplace with gas fire fitment. There are two pairs of double doors and bifold doors to the room’s three balconies.

The kitchen/dining room has full height windows to one side and a generous area for dining. The bespoke kitchen by Rencraft comprises solid wood cupboards and a matching island

unit. Miele appliances include an oven, microwave, gas hob and dishwasher.

The master suite comprises a bedroom with balcony to the side, a fitted dressing room and stylish en-suite bathroom. The guest bedroom has a balcony to the side and en-suite shower room, while the third bedroom is well proportioned and could be utilised as a study. A cloakroom/shower room completes the accommodation.

The property is approached via the main entrance on London Road or vehicular access from Pembroke road.

A coded gated entrance leads to the two covered parking bays, and there is a storage unit on the second floor.

AT A GLANCE LONDON ROAD SEVENOAKS n New apartment block n Central location n Third floor penthouse n High-spec throughout n Private lift access n Entrance hall n Open-plan reception room n Kitchen/dining room

n Master bedroom with en-suite and dressing room n Guest bedroom with en-suite n Third bedroom n Cloakroom/shower room n Five balconies n Two secure covered parking spaces

£1,500,000 For sale through Savills Sevenoaks 01732 789700 www.savills.co.uk

THE

' LES PA N~I BE PART OF A THRIVING RETAIL AND LEISURE DESTINATION Fantastic commercial unit to rent on The Pantiles 1255 SQ FT. Ideal for an exciting retail or restaurant business. POA

I) Like us at facebook.com/pantiles

lsJ Follow us @thepantiles f

I

www.thepantiles.com

New website launching soon

Douglas Stevens

020 7491 0999 www. dou g lassteve ns.co. u k

BEWL WATER SPECIAL �

75

Gone fishing Whether you’re a novice, enjoy it as a relaxing pastime or compete at top international levels, then the good news is fishing is big at Bewl.

Not only is it the largest lake in the south east, there are many interesting areas of Bewl to fish including both challenging spots and perfect spots for beginners. There are also plenty of knowledgeble rangers on hand to answer any queries as well as the designated Fishing Lodge which can also offer essential guidance and advice.

Fly fishing: Fly life in and around Bewl is varied with midge, hawthorn, sedge, crane and damsel flies all present. Sometimes you might even spot a rare mayfly. Early morning permits are available for fly fishing until October 31. Simply contact the Fishing Lodge or become a Bewl season permit holder.

Trout fishing: Bewl is one of Europe’s best trout fisheries, stocked with thousands of rainbow and brown varieties. Fly fishing or Any Method trout fishing is allowed with options to catch and release fish or take them home to eat. Children can fish free of charge if they share an accompanying adult’s permit and limit. Any Method trout fishing is available most days but advance boat booking is recommended.

FUN FACTS DID YOU KNOW? n You could stack six London buses on top of each other in the deepest part of Bewl and they would still be underwater n It would take 55,200 million pint bottles of milk to hold the contents of Bewl and if you placed these on top of each other they would stretch around the world 105 times! n 11,000 fish have been put into Bewl so far this year n When Bewl is full it holds one gallon of water for every man, woman and child in the world n Bewl reservoir capacity is 6900,000,000 billion gallons or 31,3000 megalitres n Bewl’s maximum depth is 97 feet or 30 metres

n The

surface area of Bewl is the same size as 436 Wembley football pitches n While some homes and farms were moved wholesale to new locations, there are still 11 buildings and several lanes still under the water n 7,000 anglers visit every year. If each one catches at least three then over 21,000 fish will be caught in 2016 n Bewl is filled with water pumped from the Rivers Medway and Teise which, when they are in full winter flow, can amount to as much as 275 million litres a day n Brown trout can live for 20 years and average 30lbs n The capacity of Bewl Water is equivalent to the amount of water discharged from the Amazon into the Atlantic in 150 seconds. It would

WHAT DO YOU LOVE MOST ABOUT YOUR JOB? The location; the beauty; the variety and the wildlife that Bewl offers. I also enjoy the fact that no two days are the same.

WHAT WILDLIFE CAN PEOPLE EXPECT TO SEE? Mostly birdlife – we have a range of birds from Osprey to diving ducks and grebes. You can see plenty of deer. It’s lovely that all this nature comes as part of my job.

DO YOU HAVE A REGULAR WORKING PATTERN LIKE MONDAY TO FRIDAY, 9 TO 5?

No, I do whatever is needed whenever. It also varies from season to season. I’m in the office half the time but out on site for the rest inspecting the land and lake.

WHAT, IN YOUR OPINION, IS SO SPECIAL ABOUT BEWL WATER? I think simply because it’s outstandingly beautiful, in an area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. It’s fabulous in all weathers and never ceases to amaze.

I love watching how things change every season.

HOW MANY STAFF DO YOU HAVE ON SITE? I have six rangers who work with me and then extra staff as and when we require them at busier times.

take 132 hours for the Thames to discharge the equivalent amount into the North Sea n There are over 40,000 fish in the reservoir including rainbow trout, brown trout, perch and pike n Team GB rowers come down to Bewl every weekend to train. Sophie Ainsworth, 26, who has been selected to compete at the Olympics in Brazil, learned to sail at Bewl Water. She has been selected in the 49er FX class with partner Charlotte Dobson n Rainbow trout can live for four to five years and average 18lbs n For further information visit www.bewlbridgeflyfishers.com

Phil Daley, Activities Manager at Bewl

children too, one-to-one lessons, fitness courses and any activities involving a bike.

HOW DID YOU GET YOUR JOB AT BEWL? I actually applied via an advert I saw in the Times of Tunbridge Wells for investment funding. I was running a mountain bike coaching business and required some. I went along for an interview with three private investors and they said: “It sounds fantastic but we don’t want to invest in you – would you like a job?”

I started here on January 9.

IS THERE JUST ONE CYCLE ROUTE? Yes and it’s shared by horses and walkers. Those who are really into cycling can get around it in about an hour but we would recommend people allow at least three hours or so for a leisurely ride. You can go off-roading through a mixture of fields, narrow country lanes and forest too.

WHAT DOES YOUR JOB INVOLVE? I oversee all the activities which include cycling, sailing, windsurfing and fishing. I am keen to introduce children’s bike coaching and provide birthday parties where they can learn practical things like maintenance.

YOU’VE ALSO GOT SOME DINKY NEW RANGER CARS HERE? Yes they are proving to be very popular already!

They cost £2 to hire and it’s an activity designed to get children thinking about safety and controlling a moving vehicle.

CAN YOU TELL US WHAT KIND OF CHANGES WILL BE MADE AT BEWL REGARDING THE ACTIVITIES ON OFFER? There are huge plans for the future. We want to look into doing holiday clubs and coaching camps for

WHAT ELSE CAN VISITORS ENJOY? Recreational boating is a key thing this year. People can now hire pedalos and rowing boats. We found that so many visitors came down and just wanted to get out on to the water.

WHAT BIKE BRANDS ARE YOU WORKING WITH? Marin, a company based in California. They make really good quality bikes that go the distance.

Younger visitors can also hire our balance bikes or parents can rent the tag along bikes for their children.

USEFUL CONTACTS: Fishing lodge: 01892 890 352 Estate Office: 01892 890 000 Rangers Mobile Radio: 01892 890 486 Cycle hire: 01892 891 446 Bewl Water Outdoor Centre: 03000 415 200 Rowing Club: www.bewlrowingclub.co.uk Canoe Club: www.bewlcanoeblub.co.uk Flyfisher’s Club: www.bewlbridgeflyfishers.co.uk www.bewlwater.co.uk or follow Bewl on Bewl Water, Bewlbridge Lane, Lamberhurst Kent TN3 8JH

COMING SOON: Saturday May 14 Half Marathon www.hermesrunning.com Sunday July 3 The Bewl 15 www.bewl15.co.uk Saturday August 6 Open Water Swim Sunday August 7 Bewl Triathlon www.bewltriathlon.co.uk Sunday September 10 Dragon Boat Festival www.funraisers.org.uk

Wednesday 13th April 2016

76  BEWL WATER SPECIAL

Bewl’s new restaurants will blow the competition out of the water André Woodward is the new Executive Head Chef at Bewl Water. Eileen Leahy spoke to him about his culinary vision for the park’s two fantastic new restaurants, The Waterfront and The Boat House Bistro, and why the balcony at the latter will be the place to be spotted this summer…

FISH OUT OF WATER Panfried Bewl Water rainbow trout fillet

SWEET TREAT Homemade meringue with raspberry coulis

HEAD CHEF André Woodward SETTING up two new restaurants from scratch, creating unique menus for each, employing chefs, waiting staff and sommeliers are all things that Bewl Water’s Executive Head Chef André Woodward has taken in his stride.

It helps that he has had experience of this type of venture before – albeit on a much smaller scale – having created and run his own restaurant The House on The Hill in Sevenoaks for ten years. But this particular project, despite being a challenge due to the volume of work that needed completing in a very short space of time, is something the chef has clearly really thrived on.

“Despite only having nine weeks or so I have organised everything from selecting the wines to employing people and ensuring all the relevant health and safety paperwork is in place,” he declares.

Then, of course, there are the menus for each eaterie. Did André, who cites Marco Pierre White and Raymond Blanc as his gastronomic heroes, have carte blanche on those?

“Yes. My vision for The Boat House is freshly cooked, seasonal, local food. And what could be more local than the rainbow trout we serve on the menu which is caught in the lake below,” he laughs.

Panfried and served with a zingy citrus butter, smoked bacon praline and layered potato gratin, it is fast becoming a classic – even though the restaurant has only been open a matter of weeks.

“Our twice-baked parmesan soufflé, which we serve as a starter, is another big hit already,” continues André.

It sounds like there is quite a variety of classic dishes and a few contemporary culinary twists:

Wednesday 13th April 2016

“Oh yes, I like things to be eclectic!” explains André.

He also uses quality local ingredients. “I go to Southborough Butchers and Chart Farm in Seal for our meat and also source our vegetables and fruit from a supplier in Pembury.”

How would André define his cooking? “I am inspired by different flavours from all over the world – Asia, Italy and the Americas. I like to mix it up and not be pigeonholed.”

include taste bud-tempting treats such as BBQ pulled pork brioche sandwiches and crab and crayfish risotto, there are also heartier dishes such as the aforementioned panfried Bewl trout and slow cooked steak and chorizo pie. Every Sunday there will also be traditional roasts of pork belly and roast sirloin of beef on offer too.

André adds that when the finer weather comes along The Boat House will really come into its own thanks to the restaurant’s balcony which

‘When the sun is shining and you are next to the water with a cool beer there’s something about it that is just so relaxing’ Would André describe the super chic Boat House, which boasts a sophisticated colour palette of muted greys, exposed brick walls and truly stunning panoramic lakeside views, as an experience in fine dining?

“It’s a little bit more relaxed than that. The standard of the food is definitely fine dining but the atmosphere is more laid back. We have all age groups and types of people – families, fishermen, kayakers and walkers – coming here.”

The local residents have also been very supportive.

“The reaction we get when people walk through the door is ‘Wow!’ They are over the moon to have something like this on their doorstep.”

Will the menu change regularly?

“Oh yes definitely. I always like to keep things evolving,” says André.

As well as serving light bites for lunch which

has a good sized seating area.

“When the sun is shining and you are next to the water with a nice plate of food and a cool

beer there’s something about it that is just so relaxing. I think when the summer comes the balcony will definitely be the place to be seen.”

André is equally enthused about Bewl’s other new restaurant The Waterfront which has just reopened to the public after extensive refurbishment.

“It seats 150 now and has got a real family feel. We serve really good quality food quickly.

The menu is geared towards British classics so you’ll find sausages and mash, fish pie and lots of children’s food. You can walk in wearing your muddy boots and sit down to a delicious lunch or simply enjoy a coffee and slice of cake.”

So despite the huge challenge that faced André and the team at Bewl they have certainly pulled off a fantastic feat with their two fabulous new restaurants, which look as good as the food they serve tastes.

COMPETITION: YOUR CHANCE TO WIN EITHER An adult Marin Bolinas ridge 7.0 bike worth £375 OR: A family day out at Bewl worth over £120 Including:  2hr cycle hire  30 minutes pedalo  2 tickets on ranger cars  Lunch in the Waterfront restaurant (up to £50) To enter, email your details by May 31 to info@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk. For Full Terms and Conditions apply – see our website www.timesoftunbridgewells. co.uk for details. Winners will be picked at random. Editor’s decision is final.

LIFE AND STYLE ■

77

THE DORSET ARMS OPEN HOLIDAY COTTAGE ROOMS 4th April 2016: Earl De La Warr is pleased to announce the opening of the new holiday cottage rooms adjacent to the Dorset Arms Pub, Buckhurst, Withyham, Sussex TN7 4BL. The Old School House has recently been converted into six rooms each with en-suite bath/shower which are spread across two floors. The individually designed rooms each have either a king size or super king size bed, all have HD Television with free wireless, Nespresso machines and four have both a bath and shower and one has a bath and one a shower only.

IT’S TIME TO BREATHE EASY

Lord De La Warr says “When I took the Pub back into family ownership I always hoped one day to be able to offer customers rooms and we have now taken a cottage on the Estate behind the pub and turned it into separate rooms for tourists, travellers and all patrons of the Dorset Arms. The cottage can also be rented whole for private functions” Rooms start at £105 which includes breakfast served in the pub Monday to Sunday. Bookings are taken through The Dorset Arms by calling 01892 770278.

The Dorset Arms, Buckhurst Park, Withyham, Hartfield, United Kingdom TN7 4BD www.dorset-arms.co.uk For further information please contact Sarah-Jane Muirie on sjmuirie@gmail.com or 07946 497867

BATHROOM SHOWROOM THERE’S A NEW SHOWROOM IN TOWNS Exciting news for homeowners and fans of fun technology as Town’s Bathroom Merchants open a new showroom this week!

Town’s have had an independent bathroom design business for several years, and thanks to their great customer service business is booming.

The showroom will be officially opened by the Mayor on Monday 18th April, although they are already set up and helping customers achieve their dream bathroom.

LIME TREE DENTAL Crowborough has a brand new, state of the art, dental practice – Lime Tree Dental. It is focused on excellent patient care, keeping prices as low as possible – dental check-ups and digital X-Rays are only £26, and has an emphasis on gentle dentistry. It is THE ONLY dental practice in Crowborough to use “The Wand”.

The Wand is a revolutionary new device that gives pain-free, injection-free anaesthetic for dental treatments. It is a pen like device that “drip feeds” anaesthetic to the tooth. It also; • Only numbs one tooth not the whole jaw! No numbness of the tongue, cheek or lip • Wears off after 20-30 minutes, not hours, so by the time you leave the practice you are completely back to normal • It is pain-free and injection-free!

Come and try The Wand at Lime Tree Dental on Windsor Road (10 second drive from Crowborough station) and see it for yourself!

As well as being the only Dental Practice in Crowborough to offer this, Lime Tree Dental is also packed with state of the art equipment, FIXED flat-rate pricing, childrens check-ups free (provided one parent registered), AND its open 2 late evenings a week AND Saturdays!

With check-ups fixed at £26 it combines great patient service with excellent value. Call their friendly team today to get booked in and come and try pain-free anaesthesia with “The Wand”!

For more information on the wand see www.painfreedentistry.uk.com

In the showroom you will find a great piece of kit known as the 4D visualiser, which lets you choose designs and then walk around your new bathroom with the aid of a headset.

You can also take advantage of free parking as they are at the Orchard Business Centre on Sanderson Way. At this local independent business you will also find friendly and knowledgeable staff, who are more than happy to talk through your requirements and make recommendations to suit any space and budget.

Vorwerk has become one of Germany’s largest private familyowned companies manufacturing a wide variety of items, but it all started with CARPETS. They are one of the few companies that offer ‘Life Balance’ products that allow people with allergies to finally breathe again.

Customers’ well-being and health in their homes has always meant a great deal to Vorwerk. The company has declared the production of environmentally aware and health-conscious products to be an integral element of its corporate philosophy: High-quality carpets and carpet tiles for an added plus in the quality of life.

The new Life Balance seal of quality stands for the comprehensive approach towards offering sustainable, environmentally aware and health conscious products across the entire value chain.

Life Balance offers the following advantages: • Tested for the presence of harmful substances, the ability to capture fine dust particles, and a quality recommended for people with allergies.

• Attested to by independent auditing institutes.

• High standards of quality and extensive auditing and testing criteria.

• Applies for all Vorwerk carpet and carpet-tile collections.

Vorweck carperts are available from Fashion Carpets, Tunbridge Wells.

Fashion Carpets 42 High Street, Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent, TN11 1XF Tel: 01892 528676 www.fashioncarpets.co.uk

Vintage & Designer Sale

They can arrange to visit you in your home, and are experts in the sensitive design of wetrooms and adapted bathrooms.

It’s well worth a visit!

Unit 4 Orchard Business Centre. Sanderson Way, Tonbridge, Kent TN9 1QG t: 01732 350911 | www.townsmerchant.co.uk

Browse through rails of fabulous hand-selected vintage and designer pieces while raising money for families facing terminal illness in Kent

saturday 16th Apri l

10am to

3pm

107 Camden Road, Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN1 2QY 01892 542 058 www.ellenor.org The Charity for families facing terminal illness in Kent Registered charity number: 1121561

Tel: 01892 610750 Lime Tree Dental, Windsor Road, Crowborough, TN6 2JB www.LimeTreeDentalCare.co.uk info@LimeTreeDentalcare.co.uk

Wednesday 13th April 2016

78 ■ FOOD AND DRINK

A vogue for good and simple food The Hemsley sisters love cooking and gadgets. They pioneered the ‘spiralizer’ – a machine which adds a tempting twist to your veg THE Hemsley sisters are as much chatterboxes as they are chefs, finishing each other’s sentences and chipping in all over the place.

“I am the big sister and she’s the bossy sister,” Jasmine, 36, explains wryly, pointing at Melissa, 30.

The healthy eating aficionados set up their company and lifestyle blog, Hemsley + Hemsley, together six years ago.

They were picked up by Vogue as columnists within weeks of starting out, their first book, The Art of Eating Well – famed for its Bone Broth and Black Bean Brownie recipes – was an international hit, and now they’re celebrating the release of their ‘second baby’, Good + Simple.

“Good + Simple is pretty much what it says on the tin,” buzzes Melissa.

“Everything that went into it had to taste very good, do you good, and be really simple to make, and that is pretty much how we cook anyway – from Monday morning to Friday night.”

“We are big fans of making life easy,” agrees former model Jasmine, who explains that they’re all about encouraging people to have a Sunday cookoff, where you set yourself up for the week by making meal batches.

“Every time you cook, make double and pop it in the freezer, and then you don’t really think about takeaways,” says Jasmine with a grin.

The new book is full of healthy comfort food alternatives.

“You’ll find all your classic favourites reworked, like fish finger sandwiches. And the Full Monty, which is our full English breakfast,” chirps Melissa.

“And then Celeriac Carbonara – it looks the business,” finishes Jasmine.

The Celeriac Carbonara embodies what they’re all about: Vegetables,

Wednesday 13th April 2016

good fats and twists on the traditional – in this case, the pasta is replaced with ribbons of root veg.

“We love spiralizing!” Melissa says proudly, which is something of an understatement – since they, in fact, pioneered the spiralizer here.

They’ve even got Mary Berry using one: “I actually took a picture in Selfridges, and there’s a pile of our spiralizers and then there’s our book and Mary Berry’s book – I was like, ‘Yay!’ “I always thought we would never have anything in common with Mary Berry, because I can’t really bake,” Melissa continues. “We do bake ‘our’ way, but if someone asked me to bake Mary’s way I wouldn’t know how, because it’s too scientific.”

Although Berry isn’t doing it quite right, apparently... “She used the difficult spiralizer, the one that’s like a pencil sharpener, which is actually really annoying.”

Neither of the sisters were surprised by the success of the gadget, despite people claiming it was ‘gimmicky’ to begin with.

“Essentially, it’s a safer mandolin,” says Melissa, rolling her eyes – but admittedly they are horrified that you can now buy prespiralized veg (“It’s not right!”)

Their prediction for the next foodie obsession is cauliflower rice – there are three versions in Good + Simple – and they’ve already got their mum hooked.

“Our mum is Filipino and grew up on white rice and raised us on white rice,” Melissa explains with a laugh.

“She got really into cauliflower rice and was like, ‘I can’t understand how there’s cauliflower in the rice?’, and we were like, ‘No! It is cauliflower rice!’”

Feeling inspired? Try the following recipe from Good + Simple...

THREE OF THE BEST... tools for fruit and veg Hemsley + Hemsley Spiralizer, from £20 (Amazon) Join the spiralizing revolution with the sisters’ gadget (pictured below). It’s sturdy, easy to clean and turns everything from courgette and apples to celeriac into tasty ribbons Joseph Joseph Handi-Grate, £15 (www.josephjoseph.com) Not only is this handheld gadget quite cute, it will make sharp work of those more fiddly to grate vegetables, like radishes Alessi Apostrophe Stainless Steel Orange Peeler, £15.50 (www.exitinteriors.co.uk) No longer will you have to grapple with an orange using your fingernails alone. This nifty device is classy to look at and smoothly slices through peel

FOOD AND DRINK ■

CANNELLINI VANILLA SPONGE CAKE WITH CHOCOLATE AVOCADO FROSTING (Serves 25-30) Preheat the oven to fan 180C/Gas mark 6, then line the bases of two 25cm-diameter cake tins with baking parchment and grease the sides with butter or coconut oil.

Blend all the ingredients for the frosting together in a food processor until smooth, adding a dash of cold water if needed, adjusting the flavourings to taste, then transfer to a bowl and set aside in the fridge.

For the cake, add the cannellini beans to the cleaned food processor bowl with the eggs, vanilla extract and maple syrup and blend until smooth. Add the remaining cake ingredients, except the raspberries, and blend to combine.

Divide the cake batter between the prepared cake tins, spreading out evenly and smoothing the surface. Bake in the oven for 35 minutes until well risen and lightly golden on top. (Check the cakes after 25 minutes and swap the tins between shelves, if necessary, as they will cook at different rates.)

Remove from the oven, transfer to a wire rack to cool completely before turning out of the tins.

While the cakes are cooling, gently wash the raspberries and dry them carefully using kitchen paper or leave to air dry (they must be thoroughly dry before adding to the cake).

Spread half the frosting on one of the cooled sponges, top with the other sponge and spread over the rest of the frosting. Store in the fridge and bring to room temperature to serve. Decorate with the fresh raspberries just before serving.

79

INGREDIENTS  125g butter or coconut oil, melted, plus

extra for greasing

 3 x 400g tins of cannellini beans, drained

and rinsed

 9 medium eggs  1tbsp vanilla extract  220ml maple syrup  5tsp apple cider vinegar or lemon juice  90g coconut flour  2.5tsp bicarbonate of soda  1/4tsp sea salt  150g fresh raspberries, to decorate

FOR THE FROSTING  4 medium ripe avocados  5tbsp coconut oil, melted  8tsp raw honey (to taste)  10tbsp cocoa powder  1tbsp vanilla extract  2tbsp lemon juice  1/2tsp orange extract  Pinch of sea salt

Good + Simple

by Melissa and Jasmine Hemsley, Photography

by Nick Hopper, published by Ebury Press, priced £25.

Available now

Wednesday 13th April 2016

80  PUZZLES DOUBLE CROSSWORD

WORD SPIRAL

Down 1. Having no reason for being without land (10) 2. Poet having injuries from fire (5) 3. Youth leader catches listener in time (4) 4. Take exception to article (6) 5. Bird in circle of fire? (8) 6. Does he leave people dead miserable? (7) 11. Supportive of using wicked gun - it’s a sin!

(10) 13. Take the corner too sharply and go right over (8) 14. Resilient sources of water? (7) 16. Stable, yet sad (6) 17. The original tree on the street (5) 20. A container partly open (4) Scribble pad inauspicious result (10) 15. Statement describing fast train with only one on (10) 18. Speedy writer? (5) 19. Delight that no-one takes the story as completely the reverse (7) 21. Enraged unfortunately more than annoyed (7) 22. Minister lost his head when fire-raising! (5)

4

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21

Wednesday 13th April 2016

9

S

14

15 11

4

16 13 7

QUICK CLUES:

Across 7. Wanderer (5) 8. Distended (7) 9. Utter (7) 12. Twist (10) 15. Suppliant (10) 18. Ward off (5) 19. Desolate (7) 21. Treachery (7) 22. Stupid (5)

Down 1. Intruder (10) 2. Hit (5) 3. Axe (4) 4. Agree (6) 5. Opposite (8) 6. Stretchable (7) 11. Softness (10) 13. Excel (8) 14. Bung (7) 16. Insult (6) 17. Faithful (5) 20. Boulder (4)

12 6

5

1. Rugby forward 9. Boast 2. Entreaty 10. Snatch 3. Opera song 11. Setback 4. Dull pain 12. Vagary 5. Therefore 13. Frame of mind 6. Leave out 14. Neatly skilful 7. Body powder 15. Labour 8. Stout stick 16. Cooking fat Keyword clue: An Argentinian city

SUDOKU

22

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10

11

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26

1. Which game show hosted

by Phillip Schofield and starring Irish hypnotist Keith Barry has returned for a new series on ITV1?

2. Which actor is playing Sir Arthur Conan Doyle in the new ITV1 drama Houdini & Doyle?

3. What is the title of the latest single from US songstress Selena Gomez?

4. Which Bugsy Malone actor is playing a newsreader in a segment of the new horror anthology film 60 Seconds to Die? 5. Which popular crime drama of the 1980s starred Tom Selleck as a private investigator residing in Hawaii?

the foothills of the Himalayas, during the reign of the British Raj? 9. Beat Surrender and Town Called Malice were Number One hits of the 1980s for which British band?

10. Which new film starring Charlize Theron is a sequel/prequel to 2012’s Snow White and the Huntsman?

SOLUTIONS

11. Who is presenting the Art of Scandinavia in a new BBC4 series?

12. Which duet between George Michael and Aretha Franklin topped the UK charts in February 1987?

13. Which actress played divorced architect Melanie, who fell for George Clooney’s journalist character in the 1996 film One Fine Day? 14. Mike Tindall and Tim Vine were finalists on which recent sport-based BBC2 charity show hosted by Gabby Logan?

6. I Like It When You Sleep, for You Are 15. Which US So Beautiful Yet So Unaware of It is the teen idol’s title of the latest album from which British Top Ten hits band? of the 1950s included 7. Which 1936 Charlie Chaplin film saw Hello Mary his Little Tramp character struggling Lou and to survive in a modern, industrialised Poor Little world?

Fool?

8. Julie Walters is among the stars of which Channel 4 drama series set in Simla, in

CODEWORD: 1=R, 2=N, 3=O, 4=F, 5=P, 6=X, 7=E, 8=T, 9=I, 10=L, 11=H, 12=D, 13=Z, 14=M, 15=U, 16=K, 17=A, 18=C, 19=G, 20=J, 21=S, 22=Y, 23=W, 24=B, 25=Q, 26=V ENTERTAINMENT QUIZ: 1 You’re Back in the Room; 2 Stephen Mangan; 3 Hands to Myself; 4 Dexter Fletcher; 5 Magnum, P. I.; 6 The 1975; 7 Modern Times; 8 Indian Summers; 9 The Jam; 10 The Huntsman: Winter’s War; 11 Andrew Graham-Dixon; 12 I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me); 13 Michelle Pfeiffer; 14 Let’s Play Darts for Comic Relief; 15 Ricky Nelson SUDOKU:

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

3 10

ENTERTAINMENT QUIZ

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

2 9

8

10. Call (5)

CODEWORD

1

1

DOUBLE CROSSWORD: Cryptic: Across: 7 Rouse; 8 Billing; 9 Unnerve; 10 Males; 12 Portentous; 15 Expression; 18 Swift; 19 Elation; 21 Angered; 22 Arson. Down: 1 Groundless; 2 Burns; 3 Year; 4 Object; 5 Flamingo; 6 Killjoy; 11 Sustaining; 13 Overturn; 14 Springs; 16 Steady; 17 First; 20 Ajar.

Quick: Across: 7 Nomad; 8 Swollen; 9 Extreme; 10 Visit; 12 Contortion; 15 Petitioner; 18 Repel; 19 Forlorn; 21 Treason; 22 Crass. Down: 1 Interloper; 2 Smite; 3 Adze; 4 Assent; 5 Converse; 6 Elastic; 11 Tenderness; 13 Outclass; 14 Stopper; 16 Offend; 17 Loyal; 20 Rock.

WORD SPIRAL: 1 Prop; 2 Plea; 3 Aria; 4 Ache; 5 Ergo; 6 Omit; 7 Talc; 8 Club; 9 Brag; 10 Grab; 11 Blow; 12 Whim; 13 Mood; 14 Deft; 15 Toil; 16 Lard.

Keyword: CORDOBA

CRYPTIC CLUES: Across 7. There’s nothing in the trick to cause excitement (5) 8. Sending an invoice for mention on poster? (7) 9. Even run to deprive of courage (7) 10. Men capable of taking a thousand drinks (5) 12. Sort pen out with

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.

WITH THE

THE TOWN’S TOP MOTORING GUIDE – FROM EVERYDAY DRIVES TO LUXURY SUPERCARS

OF TUNBRIDGE WELLS AND TONBRIDGE

LONG-TERM TEST: MONTH FOUR

HONDA CIVIC TYPE-R

By Matt Joy IT SEEMED like a good idea at the time. The Geneva Motor Show was a few days away, with the highlight of the Honda stand being the reveal of the next generation Civic concept. It was at the same show 12 months previously that the current Civic Type-R was revealed, and as my time with that car was nearing its end, what better way to celebrate than to drive out to the show in it?

If you’ve never had the pleasure of visiting the Geneva show, it is one of the best in the global automotive calendar. But then that’s a little bit like saying the guillotine is one of the least painful methods of execution. For most attendees on press

day, it is a blur of keyboard mashing, hurried conversations and endless caffeine hits under hot lights, but the idea of removing the flying element from that recipe was too good to miss.

That’s how I found myself demisting the windscreen at 5.24am on a Sunday morning.

The man certainly wasn’t at his sharpest, but the machine didn’t cause a fuss and even managed to leave the driveway without waking the neighbours. The run down to Folkestone was mercifully quiet and with the cruise control set at motorway speeds, it gave me time for my brain to wake up. It may be powerful and fast, but the Type-R never failed to remain calm and composed on this kind of journey; hyperactive it is not.

A brief pit-stop just before the Eurotunnel was

required to pick up some essentials, namely a warning triangle and GB sticker (and a coffee, of course). The Civic had got me there a little early, which meant we could jump on an earlier train, and with the switch to CET, it meant I was way ahead of the game already — 184 miles down, 695 to go.

I probably should have slept on the train, but I’m rubbish at snoozing outside of my bed.

However, I was greeted by glorious sunshine on the other side; it was freezing cold as I discovered after stopping for fuel and breakfast, but from the comfortable sports seat of the Type-R I was completely relaxed. Obviously this was helped by the state of the French autoroutes, which although demanding a toll are worth every penny. The next stint was a whole tank in a single hit and we sucked up 300 miles with ease.

I was also happy I’d left the route planning to the satnav (much easier on the brain), because as I neared the Swiss border, it took me over some unexpectedly twisty N roads. After hundreds of miles of straight lines, it was a chance to blow away some cobwebs. Unfamiliar, cold and damp roads present a significant challenge, but the Type-R was a riot. There was plenty, but not too much grip to have fun, and the endless flexibility of the 2.0-litre turbo unit meant gear changes were optional. I had to remind myself I was in sixth several times as there was so much torque on offer.

Across the border and it was back into best behaviour mode. Having experienced the vociferousness of the Swiss police before (a £64 fine for being 3.1mph over the speed limit) I was happy to be driving more slowly than everyone else and enjoying the beautiful sunset and scenery. I was also understandably feeling a little more fatigued and was happy to leave the Civic

ticking over in sixth as we rolled into Montreux a little over 12 hours since leaving Blighty.

There was a day of rest and work on the Monday before another early start for the first show day on Tuesday. The Honda stand was busy with everyone keen for a glimpse of the new Civic concept, which had its own sporty flavour even in its purported standard form. But loitering on the stand, I could see plenty of people taking a closer look at the Type-R, and it was hard not to feel a little smug knowing that I’d got here in my own example.

Even getting up at 5am the next morning to reverse the feat didn’t fill me with dread. The Civic managed 40mpg on the first tank of fuel, and only required two and a bit tanks in total to get me home. A diesel hatchback would have got me there on less fuel, but I’d have been significantly more bored, and the dozens of people who slowed down to gawp at the Type-R would have been less entertained, too. This is a car that can do more than go quickly in a straight line; the next one will have big shoes to fill.

FACTS AT A GLANCE PRICE: £29,995 ENGINE: 2.0-litre unit producing 306bhp and 295lb/ft of torque TRANSMISSION: Six-speed manual gearbox driving the front wheels

PERFORMANCE: Top speed 167mph, 0-62mph in 5.7 seconds ECONOMY: 38.7mpg combined EMISSIONS: 170g/km of CO2

Wednesday 13th April 2016

82 n MOTORING

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THAMES MOTOR GROUP TUNBRIDGE WELLS, LONGFIELD ROAD, TUNBRIDGE WELLS, KENT TN2 3EY. TEL: 01892 549766 WWW.THAMESMOTORGROUP.CO.UK Fuel consumption figures for new Fiat 500 range in mpg (11100km): Urban 51.4 (5.5) - 68.9 (4.1); Extra Urban 65.7 (4.3) - 94.2 (3.0); Combined 60.1 (4.7) - 83.1 (3.4). C0 2 emissions 110 - 88 g/km. Fuel consumption and C0 2 figures based on standard EU tests for comparative purposes and may not reflect real driving results. *Uconnect™ LIVE systems, where available, require a data enabled smartphone to use. Promotion available on new Fiat 500 Lounge 1.2 Series 4 models registered by 30th June 2016. Fiat Deposit Contribution only available in conjunction with Fiat i-Deal PCP. With Fiat i-Deal you have the option to return the vehicle and not pay the final payment, subject to the vehicle not having exceeded an agreed annual mileage (a charge of 6p per mile for exceeding 6,000 miles per annum in this example) and being in good condition. Finance subject to status. Guarantees may be required. Terms and Conditions apply. At participating dealers only.

Fiat Financial Services, PO BOX 4465 , Slough, SL1 ORW. We work with a number of creditors including Fiat Financial Services.

Model shown is New Alfa Giulietta 1.4 TB 120 hp at £18,975 OTR incl. Stromboli Grey Special Paint at £525. Range of official fuel consumption figures for the Alfa Giulietta range: Urban 29.7 - 60.1 mpg (9.5 - 4.7 lj100km) ; Extra Urban 54.3-88.3 mpg (5.2 - 3.2 l/100km); Combined 41.5 - 74.3 mpg (6.8 - 3.31/100km). C0 2 emissions 157- 99 g/km. Fuel consumption and CO, figures are obtained for comparative purposes in accordance with EC directives/regulations and may not be representative of real-life driving conditions. 'Customer deposit is £1,559. Optional Final Payment is £5,593. Contract Term is 48 months. Promotion available on New Alfa Giulietta 1.4 TB 120 hp at £18,975 OTR registered between 1st April and 30th June 2016. Alfa Deposit Contribution only available in conjunction with Alfa Romeo Preferenza PCP. With Alfa Romeo Preferenza you have the option to return the vehicle and not pay the final payment, subject to the vehicle not having exceeded an agreed annual mileage (a charge of 6p per mile for exceeding 6,000 miles per annum in this example) and being in good condition. Finance subject to status. Guarantees may be required. Terms and Conditions apply. At participating Dealers only. Alfa Romeo Financial Services, PO BOX 4465, Slough, SL! ORW. We work with a number of creditors including Alfa Romeo Financial Services.

Wednesday 13th April 2016

MOTORING n

83

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I" \{,ctoriaRrt .~. El

Repairs MOT Testing Annual & Routine Servicing Air Conditioning Courtesy Cars Quality Parts

Wednesday 13th April 2016

84 n MOTORING

Request a Test Drive today: suzuki.co.uk/lifestylesuzuki

Lifestyle Suzuki Mount Ephraim Tunbridge Wells Kent TN4 SAG 01892 739141 Swift SZ-L 1.2 Petrol Manual and Automatic official fuel consumption figures in mpg (L/100km): Urban from 46.3 (6.1), extra urban from 64.2 (4.4) combined from 56.5 (5.0). Official C02 emissions from 116g/km.

Fuel consumption figures are based on an EU test for comparative purposes only and may not reflect real driving results. 0% APR representative on Suzuki Personal Contract Purchase. Maximum 43 month term. Terms and Conditions apply. Offer available on registrations of Suzuki Swift SZ-L between 1st April 2016 to 30th April 2016, subject to availability. We may receive commission or other benefits for introducing you to Suzuki Financial Services. The offer above is available from participating Authorised Suzuki Dealers only. The offer cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer unless otherwise stated. Finance is provided, subject to status by Suzuki Financial Services Ltd. Applicants must be 18 years or over and UK resident (excludes Channel Islands and Isle of Man). Suzuki Financial Services Ltd reserves the right to withdraw or amend this offer without notice or prior warning. Suzuki Financial Services Ltd, part of Lloyds Banking Group, St William House, Tresillian Terrace, Cardiff, CFlO 5BH.

Wednesday 13th April 2016

MOTORING NEWS 

The number’s up on worst British drivers IF INSURANCE applications ever make you wonder whether your career is working with or against you, you’d better hope you’re not an accountant.

Accountants have been labelled the worst drivers in Britain after car insurance specialist 1st Central studied the claims history of more than a million drivers.

They are responsible for more than 16,000 accident damage claims per year, says the company –

around 44 every single day.

Solicitors are equally troublesome, with over 15,000 annual car insurance claims recorded. Third place goes to doctors, whose long hours at work might be leading them to make mistakes on the road.

The profession was ninth-worst last year. Financial advisers, letting agents, airline cabin crew and pharmacists are all on the list of the ten professions most likely to claim.

At the more desirable end of

the scale are roofers, who were responsible for just over 3,850 car insurance claims last year. Farm workers also dipped below 4,000 and into second place.

Honourable mentions go to builders, lorry drivers, cleaners, carpet fitters and butchers, who are all among the least likely to claim.

A spokesman for 1st Central said: “People often have preconceived ideas about how certain professions behave on the roads.”

“It’s interesting to see that a number of professions we trust with our safety are actually the worst on the road.”

eBay’s charity surprise takes the biscuit EBAY has given an award-winning comedienne a van-tastic gift this spring – a custom Volkswagen Transporter ‘superhero van’.

Stage performer Jess Thom, 26, has Tourette’s and fronts Touretteshero, a charity helping fellow sufferers. One of her everyday compulsive ‘tics’, brought on by her condition, involves repeating the word ‘biscuit’ hundreds of times during conversation – and performance.

Her new tour, Backstage in Biscuit, will go ahead in the heavily customised T4 Transporter, which features ‘hot-rod’ wheels, a spoiler, body kit and a sun visor. eBay says all the parts for the build were sourced from the auction site itself.

The van has sports seats, bespoke carpeting,

LED lighting and a USB phone charger at each seat. After being presented with the electric blue gift, Thom said: “This is the most amazing thing I’ve ever seen.

I’ve never been in a vehicle this exciting. This is going to make such a big difference to us as an organisation. You’re helping us change the world one tic at a time!”

Murray Lambell, director of retail at eBay motors, said: “We’re delighted to be able to send Jess Thom off on tour with a newly refurbished superhero van.”

SUPERHERO VAN For Tourette’s comedienne Jess Thom

85

Car show is on the scent of old smells WHAT makes the perfect old car smell?

Channel 4 show Car SOS’ charismatic host Fuzz Townshend is looking to find out – and bottle it. Working with insurance broker Carole Nash’s ‘Cherished’ division, which caters for classic car owners, Fuzz is fronting a campaign to ask the people of Britain what they feel makes the ideal scent for a classic motor.

Whether it’s the musk of old leather seats, the whiff of engine oil, or even the salty tang of seaside air that reminds you of your holidays, Carole Nash and Fuzz Townshend want your input.

The final ‘winning’ combination of smells will be made into a limited edition air freshener for old-school car enthusiasts.

Fuzz said of the campaign: “When I was growing up, my uncle used to drive a Rover P4 and the interior smelt like a pungent mix of his pipe smoke and the rich leather seats.

“Ever since, those scents always take me back to the family drives that used to accompany his visits.”

Dawn Holmes, marketing manager of Carole Nash’s classic vehicle division, added: “Whether your idea of a classic car smell is lukewarm tea poured from a Thermos or the odd scent of a slightly broken electric heater, we want to hear from you. “We’ve started the journey and now we want to hear what car owners have to say so we can create the ultimate ‘old car smell’, which encompasses the nation’s favourite memories with their cars into one nostalgic fragrance.”

Wednesday 13th April 2016

86  TRAVEL

Bridging North America’s east and west coasts Tantalising tours through California, New England and Canada

EARLY BOOKING BONANZA The Titan Early Booking Bonanza brochure is a special preview of tours and cruises departing in 2017 giving you the pick of the departure dates and maximum early booking discounts of up to an amazing £600 per person. What’s more, you can also take advantage of solo places with reduced or £0 single supplement, a £99pp deposit and a six-bottle case of quality wine from Laithwaite’s, worth £50, with every booking!

Contact: Baldwins Travel Group for your copy of the brochure and book by May 15, 2016 to take advantage of the offers. Tours start from £799pp.

Wednesday 13th April 2016

NEW ENGLAND DISCOVERY LAND in the ‘city that never sleeps’ – New York – and explore the grid-like network of streets linking Central Park and the Empire State building with Grand Central Station and Ground Zero. The time difference will mean you will wake early and pack in all the sights before heading upstate for an altogether more sedate experience. Following the lovely Hudson Valley, you will come across the picturesque village of Sleepy Hollow immortalised in the 1820 novel by Washington Irving. Crossing over into the forested landscapes of Vermont and New Hampshire you will arrive again at the coast in Boston, packed with reminders of its colonial heritage.

Step back in time in Plymouth, where the Pilgrim Fathers first set foot in the New World. Steeped in hundreds of years of history, the tales here are many and varied and told by costumed guides.

Wander through the streets of a 19th-century harbour town in Mystic Seaport – another living history museum. This isn’t just travel – this is time travel!

TRAVEL 

CALIFORNIA’S COASTAL HIGHLIGHTS OFTEN said to be one of the most stunning coastal routes in the world, the Pacific Coast Highway is punctuated with myriad seafront towns sandwiched between the city sights of San Francisco and San Diego. Explore the captivating ‘City by the Bay’ before travelling south, along 17-Mile Drive. Have the camera handy for the stunning vistas at every turn from the spectacular Big Sur Coast to your right, across the multi-million-dollar homes and golf courses to your left and beyond to the Santa Lucia Mountains which frame the Pacific Ocean. These are the sights that have inspired generations of writers and artists and when you explore the museums, art galleries and antique shops that pepper your journey you will understand why.

Take the opportunity to indulge in the sightseeing tours on offer to learn more about the diverse history that this area is built upon.

Maybe you will uncover a bestseller or masterpiece within you – inspired by all the highlights that you have seen.

87

ACROSS CANADA GET as much as you can out of Canada by working from East to West, from the French-speaking heartland of Quebec to the lakes and mountains of British Columbia. Experience the Gallic charm of Montreal and Quebec City and absorb the history and culture of the nation’s capital, Ottawa. City life will be varied; deeply historic yet cosmopolitan and probably not what you expect at all, but the beauty of a trip across Canada is that the balance is maintained as you move through the magnificent countryside. Stop in your tracks and enjoy the awe-inspiring force of nature that is Niagara Falls.

Indulge in the serene beauty of Alberta’s Lake Louise and breathe in the clear mountain air whilst atop the Victoria Glacier. No trip to Canada is complete without a truly unforgettable railway journey through the spectacular scenery of the Canadian Rockies aboard the legendary Rocky Mountaineer. Watch as the pine trees and mountains part to reveal the vibrant city of Vancouver and the islands beyond soaked in the Pacific Ocean. A journey across Canada will leave you refreshed and revitalised – and without a doubt, a desire to return.

COAST TO CANYON DISCOVERY TAKE yourself off on a journey emphasising the extraordinary scenic beauty of California and Arizona whilst uncovering a little something of their rich heritage too. Start by exploring the bewitching Pacific Coast as you crawl northwards from the Mediterranean-styled Santa Barbara to Monterey before looking out across the bay in San Francisco. Head inland through the renowned, vine-clad Napa Valley, taking in lunch – and no doubt a glass of wine or two – aboard the vintage Napa Valley Wine Train. Take in the change of scenery as you move through the iconic Yosemite National Park, marvelling at the towering sequoia trees before pausing for a flutter in the casinos of vibrant Las Vegas. As you head out to the Grand Canyon it’s time to choose your preferred mode of transport. Take off on an exhilarating helicopter ride over the extraordinary canyon or take a more sedate journey on the historic railway. Heading back to the coast, the scenery continues to change, and red rock monoliths punctuate the desert before you land in Los Angeles. Hollywood beckons, will you answer the call?

Wednesday 13th April 2016

88  WHAT’S ON SEVEN DAYS OF SOCIAL ACTIVITIES AT A GLANCE

WHATS ON WITH THE

Eileen Leahy

Local events >> WEDNESDAY APRIL 13 Today and tomorrow Peppa Pig and friends will be bringing their exciting new live show to the Assembly Hall Theatre in Tunbridge Wells. There will be various performances of Peppa Pig’s Surprise so check the Assembly Hall’s website www.assemblyhalltheatre. co.uk for specific times and ticket details.

This evening there will be a Bat Walk at Grosvenor and Hilbert Park starting at 18.45, and if the weather’s wet then a pair of wellies is advised.

At Trinity Theatre there will be a screening of the Swedish film My Skinny Sister at 8pm. It’s a dark tale of love, jealousy and coming of age which has had plenty of excellent reviews. Visit www.trinitytheatre. net for more information and ticket prices. >> THURSDAY APRIL 14 This is the final chance to catch local photographer Rich Clark’s exhibition of scenic and seascape images at the Javabean café on Tunbridge Wells High Street.

Tonight Trinity will be hosting a performance of Harold Pinter’s The Birthday Party. This classic sinister thriller is directed by Michael Cabot and starts at 8pm.

Over in the Sackville Theatre at Sevenoaks School there will be a jazz night featuring some of the school’s best musicians, who will be playing alongside jazz trio Jim Treweek on piano, ALL ABOARD Eric Guy on Go on a Spa Valley railway journey with Thomas and friends

Wednesday 13th April 2016

MARKET VALUES Come and do your shopping in The Pantiles

If you would like to see your events featured in our weekly What’s On pages please email info@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk

double bass and Buster Birch on drums. Tickets cost £7 and the event starts at 7.30pm. See www.thespacesevenoaks.co.uk The Tonbridge Historical Society meets for its AGM this evening and for a discussion by George Buswell on ‘Fortress Tonbridge: 1939-1945’ at the Angel Centre from 7.30pm. For more details visit www.tonbridgehistory.org.uk >> FRIDAY APRIL 15 Tunbridge Wells Museum is putting on its free monthly arts, crafts and story sessions again this Friday and Saturday. Aimed at two to five year olds, this month’s theme is April Showers. Both clubs run from 10.30 to 11.30am and are free.

Today is the final day to explore Sissinghurst’s collection of 11,000 books – and why some need shoes! To find out more pop along to the library on arrival or visit www.nationaltrust.org.uk/ sissinghurst-castle-garden.

Today and tomorrow Hospice in the Weald will be holding its first ever outlet sale at the Masonic Hall from 9.30am-5pm. Pop along and pick up some designer gems and hidden treasures priced £2 or less.

At the Assembly Hall this evening West End musical star Jodie Prenger stars in Tell Me on a Sunday (see our exclusive interview on pages 90 & 91 for more details). Over at the Scallywag café in Tunbridge Wells Ed Watts will be treating customers to his unique jazz piano playing from 8pm. >> SATURDAY APRIL 16 Today Bewl Water reopens to the public.

So why not pop along and experience its wealth of kids’ activities, water sports, wildlife and great walks. There’s also the Waterfront café and Boathouse Bistro to satisfy your appetite after all that excitement and exercise. For more information visit www.bewlwater.co.uk Don’t forget to go to the popular Pantiles markets which are on today and tomorrow and will be selling all manner of gourmet goodies and gifts.

Starting at 10.30am there will be a

guided bird and birdsong day at Knole led by the Sevenoaks RSPB group. As well as discussing the property’s familiar feathered friends, the RSPB experts will be on hand to answer visitors’ queries and lead two guided walks. The event runs until 3.30pm and general admission prices apply. Visit www.nationaltrust.org.uk/knole Thomas the Tank Engine returns to the Spa Valley railway line today and tomorrow. For train journey times and details on events over the weekend have a look at www.spavalleyrailway.co.uk Penshurst Point to Point takes place today with the first race starting at midday. For more information visit www.pointtopoint.co.uk Hole Park near Cranbrook will be hosting racing of a different note today, encouraging people to get fit by attempting its obstacle dashes which range from 6k to 12k and 15k. For further information please see www.dirtydozenraces.com/events Music lovers will enjoy A Night of Dirty Dancing

THIS SPORTING LIFE Enjoy a day at the Penshurst Point to Point

which sees favourite scenes and songs from the film classic performed live at Assembly Hall this evening from 7.30pm. Tickets cost £22.50. >> SUNDAY APRIL 17 The Royal Ballet’s production of the much loved ballet Giselle will be streamed live to both the Odeon cinema and Trinity Theatre in Tunbridge Wells this afternoon at 2pm. www.odeon.co.uk Later today at Sevenoaks School’s Pamoja Hall the Kent Chorus will perform Carl Orff’s Carmina Burana.

This dramatic cantata features 13th-century lyrics of passion set to Orff’s original arrangement for soloists, percussion and two pianos. The Percussion Ensemble of London will also be present at the event which starts at 4pm with tickets costing £15.

Hail, Caesar! directed by Joel and Ethan Coen and starring George Clooney and Josh Brolin is on at Trinity this evening at 8pm while The All-Star StandUp Tour, which boasts Never Mind the Buzzcocks’ team captain Sean Hughes, Mock the Week’s Gary Delaney, The Magicians’ Pete Firman and Best Compere winner Jarred Christmas, is on at the Assembly Hall this evening from 8pm. >> MONDAY APRIL 18 Over at Ye Olde Chequers Inn, Tonbridge there will be an evening of traditional folk music performed by Vicki Swan and Jonny Dyer from 8pm. Musicians and singers are welcome to

WHAT’S ON 

89

A ROUND-UP OF THIS WEEK’S MUSICAL HIGHLIGHTS join in with proceedings, which will be held in the pub’s upstairs function room. The group meets every first and third Monday of each month.

In Tunbridge Wells Lulu gives her fans something to ‘Shout’ about when she performs at the Assembly Hall at 7.30pm. Tickets to see the Scottish songstress, who will also be performing with the Military Wives Choir, cost £35. >> TUESDAY APRIL 19 Do your little ones like to boogie? Then bring them along to the Diddi Dance classes on today at 10.30am and 1.30pm at the Camden Centre, Royal Victoria Place See www.diddidance.com If you missed them at the mainstream cinemas then there’s a number of good box office hits showing at local cinemas today. The Picture House at Uckfield is showing both Batman v Superman and Eddie the Eagle today at 2pm and 2.15pm respectively. Also

BUILDING BRIDGES A view of Tonbridge circa 1795

Paul Dunton Live music There are plenty of cracking gigs to be enjoyed this week, and my top picks are as follows: The Jam Movement will be rocking The Forum this Friday night performing an array of Jam hits and will be supported by The Parkas and DJ Karl Quinn.

Grammy-nominated American Jazz singer Stacy Kent is live at Trinity Theatre on Saturday evening.

For acoustic fans I recommend the TARC open mic night at The Bedford this Thursday.

IMAGE: TONBRIDGE HISTORICAL SOCIETY

showing, the innovative art exhibition for cinemas entitled Monet to Matisse: The Modern Garden at 6.30pm. For more information visit www.picturehouseuckfield.com At the Angel Centre in Tonbridge you can watch the Oscar-nominated Brooklyn at 4.45pm and the latest James Bond movie Spectre at 7.30pm. For ticket information visit www.angelcentre.co.uk

PICK OF THE WEEK

Ightham Mote open daily from 10am-5pm ESCAPE TO THE COUNTRY Beautiful Ightham Mote

THE TUNBRIDGE WELLS FORUM Doors 7.30pm, entry price variable, event information and tickets at www.twforum.co.uk THURSDAY – AvaGrace + The Alchemy + Saltlake + Violet Daze FRIDAY – The Jam Movement + The Parkas + DJ Karl Quinn SATURDAY – The Bluetones (sold out)

THE GREY LADY MUSIC LOUNGE The Pantiles Doors 7.15pm, entry £6/£7, websites www.pdag.co.uk + www.thegreylady.co.uk WEDNESDAY – Angel Octavia Blue, The Rosie Pennie Band, Storm Engine FRIDAY – Soul Kitchen SATURDAY – closed for a private party SUNDAY – Ashley Evans, Hannah Richards, Ellie Wade TUESDAY – Stuart Evans, Jennifer Lee Ridley, James McMaster, I Am Aquitaine WEDNESDAY – Abi Hudson, Ryan Weeks, Jack Leon Mackey THE BEDFORD PUB 2 High Street Open all day, free entry music from 8.30pm till late THURSDAY – TARC Open Mic Night

As the weather turns brighter get your little ones out exploring the beautiful surroundings of Ightham Mote. From now until Friday April 29 they can take part in the National Trust’s 50 Things To Do Before You’re 11 ¾ activity sessions. Fun and easy to

do, they encourage children to look for key finds around various National Trust properties. For more information visit www.nationaltrust.org.uk/ightham-mote

The must-read guide to what’s on musically for the week ahead… www.paulduntonandguests.com

NO.9 SMOKEHOUSE 9 Nevill Street Open all day, free entry music from 8.30pm till late FRIDAY – Led Zeppelin Tribute

THE CROSS KEYS St John’s Road Open all day, free entry, music from 8pm, website www.crosskeystw.co.uk WEDNESDAY – Sonny’s Jazz: June Beckles, Roger Lewin FRIDAY – Sonny’s Blues: The Disciples MONDAY – TWUNT Ukulele Jam Session WEDNESDAY – Sonny’s Jazz: Steve Gable & Jane Tuft CASSIDY’S SPORTS BAR Castle Street Open all day, free entry, music from 9pm till late FRIDAY –Groove Platform THE BEAU NASH Mount Ephraim Open all day, free entry, music from 8.30pm till late SATURDAY – Nigel Bagge Duo

THE ROYAL OAK Prospect Road Open all day, free entry, music from 8pm onwards SATURDAY – Lost Indecision MONDAY – Open Mic/Jam Session

TRINITY THEATRE Church Road Show times and ticket information at www.trinitytheatre.net SATURDAY – Stacy Kent SUNDAY – ROH Cinema: Giselle

Stacy Kent THE PUNCH & JUDY 11 St Stephens Street, Tonbridge Open all day, free entry, music from 9pm TUESDAY – Titus

Wednesday 13th April 2016

90 ■ ARTS & CULTURE

West End singer Jodie with a classic musical Jodie Prenger is heading to Tunbridge Wells Assembly Hall this week to perform her one-woman show Tell Me on a Sunday, a classic tale of life, love and loss set to music by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Don Black. Eileen Leahy spoke to her about why this musical, which has endured for over 30 years, is just so special…

JODIE PRENGER found fame on BBC One’s I’d Do Anything talent show in 2008 when she won the coveted role of Nancy in the West End production of Oliver! Since then she has gone on to carve out an illustrious career starring in many major theatrical productions, including One Man, Two Guv’nors and also Calamity Jane which she toured to sell-out audiences last year, Tunbridge Wells fans among them.

CAN YOU EXPLAIN A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOUR ROLE IN TELL ME ON A SUNDAY? The story is about a young woman called Emma’s journey through life told through song in a series of conversations and letters, mainly to her mum. It spans the late 70s and early 80s and sees Emma go on a life-changing journey to New York. She goes through a lot of turmoil in terms of her love life and career but the resolution to all the drama is quite endearing.

Wednesday 13th April 2016

ARTS & CULTURE �

91

Prenger returns to Kent stage tale about life, love and loss DENISE VAN OUTEN AND CLAIRE SWEENEY HAVE BOTH PERFORMED THE ROLE, HAD YOU SEEN THEIR VERSIONS BEFORE YOU TOOK ON THE PART? No, the only thing I had watched was the original TV version entitled Song and Dance which starred Marti Webb in 1982. We thought about doing it like this again but we decided to encapsulate the original in the first act with the second one allowing me to sing at the piano and chat to the audience in a Q&A format about life, love and playing Emma.

WHAT ATTRACTED YOU TO THE ROLE? It’s a part that every leading lady dreams of because it’s a one-woman show and like nothing else you’ve ever done before. It has all these iconic songs which topped the charts years ago and have lasted for decades.

It’s such an honour to sing classics such as Take That Look Off Your Face and Nothing Like You’ve Ever Known. It also appealed to me because it’s a very real story people can empathise with, which is sometimes a rarity in musical theatre.

WHAT WILL AUDIENCES ENJOY ABOUT IT? It has an anchor in real life. Most women – and some men – have been through what Emma has so they can relate to it. The show is very emotive and at times I can hear the audience sniffling and crying while I’m performing and there’s a part of me that wants to go ‘Oh it’ll be all right!’

But it’s lovely, it’s a real joy to do.

SO YOU COULD DESCRIBE IT AS A BIT OF AN EMOTIONAL ROLLER-COASTER THEN? Oh yes, it makes you feel happy for Emma one minute then totally sad the next. It takes you through every emotion possible and it’s all encapsulated in the first onehour act which has 24 songs. That’s a tremendous feat for Andrew Lloyd Webber to have achieved.

HOW DOES IT DIFFER TO THE ORIGINAL SONG AND DANCE PRODUCTION? Andrew has changed a few things and updated some lyrics. The amendments to the general banter are all very subtle and would probably be only picked up by those who are fans of the original TV version. There are also some new songs in there, like Dreams Never Run On Time, so you get all the best bits plus a little bit more, too. It’s like a fine wine, it keeps just getting better and better over the years.

HOW MANY SHOWS ARE THERE IN THE TOUR? The tour is very comprehensive, there are 54 dates in total, but I’m very proud to have it out on the road.

We’ve had such a lovely response so I can’t ask for more.

WHEN DO YOU FINISH TOURING? On June 8, but before that we’ve got Dublin, Edinburgh and Manchester.

CHEERS! Jodie’s theatrical journey in Tell Me on a Sunday

I’m looking forward to all the shows but especially Manchester as it’s close to where I’m from Blackpool.

HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT PERFORMING IN TUNBRIDGE WELLS AGAIN? It will be so lovely to come back. We had such a great time here when we toured Calamity Jane and the nicest part of it was when I realised that one of my dear friends from back home, Raschid Gibrail, has a café in Tunbridge Wells – Ismail.

It’s such a small world! I know him really well so I’ll make time for a cup of coffee with him.

WHAT DO YOU LIKE ABOUT TUNBRIDGE WELLS? It’s just such a beautiful part of the world and everyone is so lovely. I never have the time to explore places when I am on tour. I call myself a little nomad as I travel so much for work, but when I do have time off I just whisk myself off to a beach.

WHAT’S NEXT FOR YOU JODIE? There are two things in the pipeline but I can’t talk about them, I’ll get my knuckles rapped! All I can say is one project is for TV and the other’s for the stage so I’ve got one of each, which is great.

WHICH DO YOU PREFER, TELEVISION OR THEATRE? I enjoy both mediums but they are very different. I am a people person so if I’ve got a good crew then I know I’ll really enjoy a job.

IS THERE ANYONE YOU WOULD REALLY LIKE TO WORK WITH? After we finished Calamity Jane I wrote to its original star Doris Day to say ‘thank you’ as we had enjoyed such a successful tour. I never expected a reply from her but she wrote back to me and that was so nice. She is doing my ultimate bucket list dream of running an animal sanctuary so I’d love to work with her on that!

WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO WHEN THE TOUR ENDS? I’ve just bought a farm so I’m looking forward to pulling on my wellies and being with my animals.

We have all sorts and the numbers keep growing but it’s something that really helps me relax.

Jodie stars in Tell Me on a Sunday on Friday April 15 at the Assembly Hall Theatre at 7.30pm. Tickets cost £27 plus booking fee. For more information visit www.tellmeontour.co.uk

Wednesday 13th April 2016

92 � RECRUITMENT

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For more details and to apply for this exciting role, please contact Lara Milan: lmilan@markerstudy.com One Media UK Ltd is part of the Markerstudy Group of companies.

Wednesday 13th April 2016

RECRUITMENT n

93

Part Time Manager/ Company Secretary Required for prestigious apartment block in central Tunbridge Wells To oversee day to day running of the building and residents’ requirements

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Wednesday 13th April 2016

94 ■ THE GREAT OUTDOORS

Kent Barker

VILLAGE TRIUMPH Tractor balances on the barries

Country matters

Ghostly laughter follows tractor trouble at my ha-ha

I

FANCY I can hear my father laughing at me from beyond the grave: “You chump,” he’s saying, “I told you not to let the ha-ha have the last laugh.”

The reasons for constructing a ha-ha in the first place are buried in the mists of time. I still think a stout fence would have served just as well and at a fraction of the cost. But, no, father was determined to have something grander. Now, had we lived in a stately home with a few thousand acres of parkland, I might have seen his point. But the truth of the matter is that the family home is an old, but relatively modest, house set in a small garden and couple acres of paddock. Father, though, clearly had ambitions to be a landscape designer on the grand scale – a sort of latter-day Capability Brown.

So avenues of trees were planned and planted. Old hedges were grubbed up to provide vistas. And sheep were evicted from a nice little field at the side of the house which was dug up to create a ‘lake’. I use inverted commas here because just about everyone who’s ever seen it refers to it as a pond.

Quite a big pond, admittedly, but hardly a lake, or if a lake, then a very, very small one. But father would have none of it and instantly turned on anyone who had the temerity to call it a pond. He even had a

Wednesday 13th April 2016

small island and a boat house constructed to complement it.

The trouble was that, having removed the hedge to create the vista, the sheep who for generations had grazed the land that was now below the water still appeared and trampled on his carefully sown banks. Instead of heeding family and local advice and erecting a fence, which he claimed would spoil the view, he said what was needed was a ha-ha.

Now, in case you don’t already know this is a ditchlike affair with a sheer brick wall on one side and a gentle slope on the other. To a person standing on the lawn it appears that there is no barrier, but to a sheep trying to reach the ancestral grazing ground it appears as an impenetrable barrier.

Of course it’s not that easy to build. A mechanical digger has to be brought in to channel out a long ditch across a perfectly good field. Then a groundwork team has to lay a concrete foundation before an army of bricklayers are employed to build, what amounts to, a five-foot wall across the width of the field. That at least was the theory. In practice father deemed it more cost effective to purchase a redundant digger and to insist that I learn to operate it. And we quickly discovered why it was redundant. Most of the hoses were perished

and so vented long streams of hydraulic fluid whenever the arm was raised or lowered. Plus it ran not on soft tyres, but on vast metal caterpillar tracks which chewed up all the ground nearby.

Then father decided to dispense with the concrete foundation and lay the first course of bricks straight on the soil – and moreover to do it himself. If Churchill could spend his spare time building walls at Chartwell, then father would also dispense with professional artisans. It meant that the whole thing was a decidedly ramshackle affair. My diggerdriving skills were extremely limited and his bricklaying left a good deal to be desired. “You don’t want the courses too straight,” he’d say, “or it will look too new.”

Anyway, after a couple of sections had collapsed due to eccentric laying, absence of foundation and lack of drainage holes, a professional was imported to complete the job. And to be fair it was something

of a success. From the lake or it’s surrounding paths you didn’t know it was there at all. But that itself was a bit of a two-edged sword. Once he had his lake, father liked to give parties around it, complete with dangerous boating, and, for the brave or particularly foolish, muddy bathing. But even he could see the dangers of inebriated guests strolling out towards the field and tumbling head-first down his ha-ha. So he erected discreet signs which read “Don’t let the ha-ha have the last laugh!”

Fast-forward to last weekend and I’m in the tractor, pulling trees out of the lake. (You may remember the new gardener Gary Cooper, who’s really a tree surgeon, had been felling them after storm Katie).

Anyway, you’ve probably guessed the rest. Looking over my shoulder at the towrope I drove the tractor half across the ha-ha. So now it’s balanced precariously with two wheels over the edge awaiting rescue. I may bop anyone who laughs!

Vinehall

ROBERTSBRIDGE. EAST SUSSEX

Friday 6th May 1.30pm - 4pm Saturday 7th May 9.30am - 12pm To register your attendance, or to arrange a separate visit, please contact Karen Cooper on 01580 883090 or at admissions@vinehallschool.com

www.vinehallschool.com

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