Times of Tunbridge Wells 18th May 2016

Wednesday, May 18, 2016

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Music fans chase refunds as popular festival is axed

Rising costs of staging quality event force cancellation

15

INSIDE FOOD & DRINK High-living hens lay a million eggs a week

PAGE 6

EDUCATION

Impact of intensive schooling on children

PAGE 22

PANTILES FESTIVAL Bake Off celebrity Mat Riley woos the crowds

FIRST AND LAST Fans enjoying the 2015 launch event

PAGE 25

GREAT EU DEBATE

By Adam Hignett

adam@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk FESTIVAL fans were yesterday left scrambling for refunds after the sudden cancellation of the popular Forgotten Fields event in Eridge.

Following the announcement on Monday night people took to social media to

vent their frustration and express their disappointment. Others said they were already booking alternative festivals for this summer.

With a line-up including indie stars Suede and rapper Dizzie Rascal, the 4,000-capacity boutique festival, which was due to be hosted in Eridge Park from August 5-7, was aiming to recapture the success of its debut last year.

Tickets had been selling from £99, meaning the organisers could have expected to make a minimum of £400,000 from sales.

It is not known how many tickets have already been sold and last night the organisers were not responding to media enquiries.

The news comes a week after the announcement that another popular

music festival, Local & Live, will be scaled back this year because of debts.

The company behind Forgotten Fields is From the Fields, based in Manchester.

It also runs Bluedot Festival, Kendall Calling and Live From Jodrell Bank. Ben Robinson is the company director.

Organisers used the festival website to

Continued on page 4

MP Greg Clark answers our readers’ questions

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4 � LOCAL NEWS

Weather Wednesday Cloudy with outbreaks of rain.

Possibly thundery showers develop.

May 18, 2016

º

13 C

Visibility: Good

Pollution: Low

Humidity: 67%

Sunrise: 05.03am

Sunset: 20.48pm

Wind: 13mph

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

Sunday

Monday

Tuesday

16ºC

16ºC

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16ºC

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Sunset over Mount Sion

by Janet Hobbs

Charity ride across the Alps becomes a real family affair THIS weekend sees the start of an epic 1,000-mile charity bike ride through six countries over eight days and it has turned out to be a real family affair.

A team representing The Chapel hairdressing salon in Tunbridge Wells is hoping to raise more than £50,000 for the Pickering Cancer Drop-in Centre and Cancer Research UK. Among those taking part in the ride are salon co-founders Toby and Amanda Dicker and their son Bert (8).

Starting out on Saturday, Toby and his team will be cycling all the way back to the UK from Verbier in Switzerland through France, Germany Luxembourg and Belgium.

“Amanda is joining us in Brussels for three days of cycling and Bert

‘It’s not just the exercise of raising money that has been so inspiring, but the love and kindness of the community’ Send your weather pictures into... newsdesk@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk

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QUOTE UNQUOTE ‘Rest is not idleness, and to lie sometimes on the grass under trees on a summer’s day, listening to the murmur of the water, or watching the clouds float across the sky, is by no means a waste of time’ John Lubbock

Wednesday 18th May 2016

will be joining us in Sevenoaks,” explained Toby. “For each of us it will be the hardest and most gruelling challenge of our lives.”

Amanda said: “It’s not just the exercise of raising money that has been so inspiring, but the love and kindness of the community coming together and supporting our cause.”

The charity ride, called Cycle 4 Cancer – 4 Chapel Challenge, comes after five staff at the salon were diagnosed with cancer in the past couple of years. Three of them, aged between 26 and 34, passed away.

Toby explained: “Before she passed away I told one of my colleagues, Natasha Douglas, who had been diagnosed with breast cancer, that we wanted to do something special in terms of fundraising and I thought that doing this ride would be the least I could do.”

READY FOR THE OFF Amanda and Toby Dicker and son Bert

If you would like to support Toby and his team go to www.c4c4cc.co.uk

now needed to seek a refund.

Marianne Pope said on Facebook: “You have got to be kidding? This is ridiculous!! Only the other day you told me you were sending the tickets to me!! I can’t tell you how much I was looking forward to this!”

However, the majority of people expressed sadness at the news.

Continued from page 1 blame ‘rising costs’ for their decision to pull out of the event.

They said: “We are hugely saddened to let you know that Forgotten Fields 2016 is no longer going ahead.

“It’s with heavy hearts that we let you know news of this cancellation and would like to thank you for your support of the event.

“Due to the rising costs of producing a quality event of this size, we are unable to produce a show that is of the standard both our team and customers would be proud of.

“After thorough consideration of the event and exhausting all options we have sadly reached this conclusion.

“We had a truly amazing time and weekend to remember in 2015, lifelong memories shared with lovely people in the fields.”

A spokesman for Eridge Park, which is owned by the Marquess of Abergavenny, said: “We are of course extremely disappointed that the organisers have decided to cancel this

year’s festival. Last year’s festival was a superb event enjoyed by thousands of people in the beautiful countryside of Eridge Park.”

Ticket holders have since been given the option for either a refund on the face value of the ticket or a like-for-like ticket swap for Standon Calling, an affiliated festival in Hertfordshire.

The social media reaction to the news was mixed, with several people expressing anger that they had bought tickets in good faith and

OTHER HAPPENING EVENTS… There is still plenty to get excited about in Tunbridge Wells this year with Alfresco Festival making its debut in the south at Colebrook Lakes near Knights Park over the May Bank holiday.

At the same time there is Unfest running from May 22-25, showcasing eclectic acts across several venues in the town.

Bedgebury will host concerts by Tom Jones and the Kaiser Chiefs on June 17-18.

A scaled-back Local & Live will take place over August Bank Holiday, and the increasingly popular Livestock Festival is at Penshurst in September.

TWO SCHOOLS FROM OPPOSITE ENDS OF THE SOCIAL SPECTRUM WORKING TOGETHER THE news that London drug gangs are changing their strategy by targeting Middle England and towns like Tunbridge Wells should not be a surprise. Dealers are no fools when it comes to knowing their market and meeting its demands.

Where we are lucky is having a local police chief who has a particular passion about ridding the town of drug dealers. Every serving officer has something that they want to focus on. For some it’s car crime, for others it’s anti-social behaviour or burglaries.

For Chief Inspector Dave Pate it’s drugs.

No-one believes that single-handedly he, and his squad, are going to wipe out drugs in Tunbridge Wells. But for the sake of our youngsters and future generations, we have to

hope that he is sending a clear message to the dealers: “If you’re looking for easy pickings you won’t find them in Tunbridge Wells.”

Let’s hope they are listening.

together, so to speak, and came up with a ground-breaking idea.

The high-achieving boys from Skinners’ would act as role models for the troubled youngsters at Two Bridges to help them IN TOTAL contrast we carry a really moralereintegrate into the traditional classroom boosting story on our education pages about a environment. particular arrangement between two schools at The scheme is now coming to the end of its the opposite ends of the social spectrum. And second academic year and it has proved a big that’s not being judgmental. It’s simply a fact success, with the lads from Skinners’ showing On the one hand you have Skinners’, an the other students how young people can have established grammar school for boys, and just ambition, commitment and motivation. They also down the road in Southborough you have Two assist in teaching IT, maths, science and English.

It’s a win, win situation that reflects well on Bridges, a school for youngsters struggling in both schools. conventional education.

The headteachers of both schools, Edward Richard Moore, Editorial Director Wesson and Sue Beauchamp, put their heads

LOCAL NEWS 

NEWS IN BRIEF

Hadlow Group boost for celebrity cookery school CHEF Rosemary Shrager is teaming up with the Hadlow Group to run her cookery school in Tunbridge Wells.

One of the reasons she launched the school in 2013 was to help young people enter the hospitality sector through an apprenticeship scheme.

Hadlow spokesman Philip Orrell said: “We’re thrilled to be entering into a joint venture. Rosemary is fiercely passionate about food, her local community and supporting young people into catering as a serious career, so the partnership with the Hadlow Group – and West Kent College in particular – is a natural fit.

“We’re working with Rosemary and her team on growing high quality apprenticeships in both hospitality and catering across the local area.”

Publisher eyes prize A SMALL Tunbridge Wells publisher has been shortlisted for an award to recognise a collection of poems it has brought out entitled Schooldays.

The work, by Paper Swans Press, has been placed in the best anthology category at the Saboteur Publishing Awards.

The owner of Paper Swans Press, Sarah Miles, said: “I am thrilled that Schooldays has received the recognition it deserves and to be shortlisted is a credit to the beautiful poems within.”

New town Chairman PADDOCK Wood Town Council has elected a new Chairman for the first time in four years, with borough and town councillor Elizabeth Thomas taking up the position.

Councillors held the election on Monday evening, with four votes in favour of retaining the incumbent Sarah Hamilton for a fifth year, while six voted in favour of Cllr Thomas. There was one abstention.

Drug dealers target town as they switch focus to Middle England ‘We are completely committed to continuing to drive the drugs trade out of Tunbridge Wells’

By Adam Hignett

adam@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk TUNBRIDGE WELLS is being targeted by London drug gangs as they move out of the capital and into the more affluent parts of the Home Counties.

In turn those gangs are being targeted by local police in an ongoing operation that since 2014 has seen 106 arrests for drug offences and sentences totalling 119 years. Most of those arrested had London connections.

Tunbridge Wells Chief Inspector Dave Pate told the Times: “One of the problems we have identified over the past two years has been caused by dealers who travel from places such as London and who have attempted to sell class A substances including cocaine and heroin.

“What I would like to do is to reassure residents that my officers are targeting this criminality relentlessly.”

Despite being viewed as the quintessential middle-class town, the issue of drugs is not new to Tunbridge Wells.

As long ago as 2002, the late borough councillor Kevin Lynes described it as a place where young people could get ‘whatever drugs they wanted’ and referred to the town as a ‘drugs capital’.

However, in recent years there has been a growing concern among authorities that those making money from the illicit trade are increasingly connected to London gangs who have a reputation for extreme violence.

Of those arrested in the ongoing police crackdown, 74 involved London-based offenders

with connections to gangs while just 32 offenders were local to Tunbridge Wells.

One method utilised by the London gangs to distribute drugs and establish their presence in a new area has been dubbed ‘cuckooing’.

This involves the identification of a vulnerable local addict in their new area of operation whose home they turn into a headquarters – sometimes resulting in the forced eviction of its occupier.

A recent example of this method being employed in Tunbridge Wells saw London dealers Illias Chellali and Kamal Hussain, both 18, HARD LINE Chief Inspector Dave Pate will not tolerate drug use

occupy the house of a female addict in Upper Grosvenor Road.

Police found 73 individual wraps of heroin and crack cocaine with an estimated street value of £2,000 as well as a substantial amount of cannabis. Both were later sentenced to a total of almost six years’ detention.

In February, David Hopkins, of Charlton’s Way, was sentenced to almost three years in prison after allowing a teenager from South Norwood to operate a drugs supply chain from his flat.

Chief Inspector Pate said: “My job is to ensure that Tunbridge Wells remains a safe place in which people can live and work.

“By and large crime levels are very low in this town and borough, but having said that there are areas of concern surrounding drug use which we simply cannot and will not tolerate.

“We have made 106 arrests for drugs-related offences since 2014 and will continue to come down hard on anyone we believe to be involved in either the use or distribution of illegal substances.

“What is pleasing is that the courts are supporting our hard work. In this time, they have handed down sentences totalling 119 years.

“Drugs ruin lives and we are completely committed to continuing to drive the drugs trade out of Tunbridge Wells and surrounding areas.

“The work we have been doing to catch gang members is sending out a very clear message to criminals that their behaviour will not be tolerated.”

Goodbye to outgoing Mayor and Mayoress

Greens back Remain TUNBRIDGE WELLS Green Party have launched their campaign to support Britain remaining in the EU following a visit from Green MEP for the South East Keith Taylor.

Mr Taylor said the group would ‘complement’ the Stronger In campaign and ‘fill the gaps’ by focusing on areas on the periphery of the borough.

The lights go out THE owner of lighting shop Illuminations on Camden Road has signaled his intention to retire, 22 years after opening the store.

Jonathan Wright said changing regulation on which type of bulbs can be sold was a factor behind his decision and he now plans to spend time traveling in India and South America. A number of potential parties have expressed an interest in buying the store he said.

5

MAYORAL TEAM (L to R) Mayor’s chauffeur Jerry Edey, Mayoress June Crowhurst, Mayor David Elliott, Mayor’s assistants Katie Neve and Rebecca Cloke

MAYOR David Elliott bade a fond farewell to friends and colleagues at a special send-off reception to mark the end of his term yesterday.

During this time, the Mayor and Mayoress, June Crowhurst, have toured the borough raising over £25,000 for good causes, namely their charity of choice ellenor, which supports children in need of palliative care.

Cllr Elliott said his term in office had been ‘fantastic’ and he had enjoyed the impartiality of the role when it comes to working with the council.

“The good thing about being impartial is that you get on well with everyone,” he said.

June Crowhurst described the experience as ‘wonderful’ and added that her favourite aspect of her tenure had been meeting people from all over the borough.

She said: “I have really enjoyed going out there and being able to talk to so many people, it has been a wonderful year.”

The pair have one more full week in office before the official handover ceremony next Wednesday, when the current Deputy Mayor, Cllr David Neve, will take up the role.

Wednesday 18th May 2016

6  LOCAL NEWS

Lawyer warns that ‘land tax’ letters might blight homes HOMES affected by the Targetfollow ‘land tax’ will suffer a drop in value and be harder to sell unless the ongoing dispute between the company and residents is resolved.

The warning came from Tunbridge Wells solicitor Jill Thomas on Friday evening at a meeting of over 70 people who have been in receipt of letters from the landowners demanding they pay an annual fee to access their properties.

Hosted in the Rackliff Centre, the old fire station in Rusthall, the question and answer session was the latest move by concerned residents to explore their legal options.

Mrs Thomas, a founding partner of the law firm Thomas Haywood and a member of the Property Litigation Association, had volunteered to explain the legal options available.

She said many people have decided to ‘put their head in the sand’ and will wait to see if Targetfollow sue, adding that they may be right, ‘it may never happen’.

But she warned: “Look at it this way, Targetfollow are a commercial company who bought the commons, I assume, with an eye to make money.

“Maybe they think they can just bully a sufficient number of old ladies who are easily frightened to pay these licence fees for the rest of their lives and they will be fine.

“The problem you have got is that once you have this letter, there is then a dispute on your land and when you sell you are going to have to declare it on your property information form.

“When asked about the dispute you will have to say, ‘well the owners of the land I have to drive across to get to my house have said I’m not allowed to do it’.

“Would you buy a house if you found that out?

Potentially everyone with a letter will have trouble selling their houses in the future.”

Even securing a licence to cross common land may not be enough to satisfy a potential buyer, as it will be subject to revision, is ‘open-ended’ and less secure than an easement – which itself could be prohibitively expensive.

Mrs Thomas also warned that bringing collective legal action against Targetfollow would be difficult, as ‘every case was different’, although there was still safety in numbers.

High-living hens laying a million eggs a week Adam Hignett

adam@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk ONE of the largest free-range egg farms in the UK has been developed near Cranbrook by the same company which saw its plans for a new facility near Horsmonden shelved following stringent local opposition.

Fridays Ltd now produces a million eggs a week at its Combwell Farm site after a two-year upgrade plan saw its original layout replaced by three huge multi-tier sheds.

The sheds, which replaced 12 smaller hen houses, measure up to 850ft long with the largest

housing around 64,000 chickens, in what critics have described as ‘high-rise urban living for hens’.

But Fridays, whose eggs are certified as free range, claim the new sheds offer higher standards of welfare for the birds alongside greater efficiency.

The company points out that each individual hen can go outside whenever it wants for as long as it wants and, depending on the weather, Fridays expect 40 per cent of chickens on the range at any one time during the day.

A spokesman for the company said: “The redevelopment of Combwell Farm has allowed us to invest in better welfare for the hens and more efficient hen houses.

“The new systems allow us to look after the

LAY OF THE LAND: THE FACTS

80 There are no more than nine birds per square metre, the maximum allowed to be free range

Each shed has a paddock of up to 80 acres

9

The average hen lays about six eggs a week, meaning approximately 384,000 eggs per shed

6 The sheds can house up to 64,000 birds

64,000

hens far more effectively than the outdated older designs did.

“Combwell Farm is RSPCA Assured and Lion Quality scheme accredited and has been a free range farm for 25 years.”

The sheds have been installed to meet the surging demand for free-range eggs.

A total of 172,180 chickens are now reared on the farm, up from 95,000 prior to the expansion, producing an estimated 4,500 tons of manure each year, which is collected via conveyor belt.

‘The important thing is that all free-range birds have more space’ Chicken food is distributed via a mechanised feeding line while their eggs are taken away by conveyor belt.

Isobel Hutchinson at lobby group Animal Aid told the Sunday Times: “This is intensive farming, with the chickens living in incredibly cramped conditions with limited access to the outside.”

The Somerset free-range producer Blackacre Farm Eggs has mounted a campaign against the multi-tier system, describing it as ‘high-rise urban living for hens.’ It wants eggs produced by such systems to be labelled.

Compassion in World Farming’s Scientific Manager, Phil Brooke, said: “It is better if you keep laying hens in small groups, but the important thing is that all free-range birds in all systems, including multi-tier, have more space and can perform a range of natural behaviours which are not possible in cages.”

Fridays, which is based in Cranbrook, is a familyrun firm and one of the three largest egg producers in the UK, employing 270 workers across Kent.

The company had previously developed plans for a new facility to be located in the fields adjacent to Pullens Farm on the edge of Horsmonden.

However, the plans led to strong opposition from local residents and the release of footage by Animal Aid showing the alleged mistreatment of chickens supposedly at a Fridays facility.

Despite denying the video was behind the move, Fridays withdrew its planning application two days after its release on November 13 citing ‘technical’ reasons.

FREE RANGE A multi-tier chicken shed

Wednesday 18th May 2016

LOCAL NEWS 

7

Local woman is Royal College’s Nurse of the Year

Businessman joins big names in backing the new Brexit movie Jonathan Banks newsdesk@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk HUNDREDS of people last week descended on the Odeon in Leicester Square for the premiere of perhaps one of the most niche films that cinema has ever hosted.

Brexit the Movie, a project funded through the online contributions of thousands of devotees of the OUT campaign, attracted a multitude of political celebrities, each drawing rapturous applause as they graced the red carpet.

There was UKIP’s Nigel Farage and Douglas Carswell, Tory MPs David Davis and Jacob Rees-Mogg – alongside their MEP counterpart Daniel Hannan – and even Labour MP Kate Hoey.

But the viewing was not just for the big hitters, it was also for the 1,800 individuals who between them donated £114,000 to make it happen.

Among them was Tunbridge Wells businessman Andrew Osborne, whose contribution to the production entitled him

to a seat at the inaugural viewing of the featurelength documentary.

‘We must have the ability to make our own laws’ “It was fantastic, a really good film,” said Mr Osborne, who founded his business Single Source Binding in 1989 from a shared house in London with just £500 before moving the company to Tunbridge Wells four years ago.

The entrepreneur first heard of the project in March last year, while attending the ‘Freedom Festival’ in Bournemouth, where other ‘like-minded’ individuals were discussing the prospect of a film and decided to chip in.

Describing himself as a ‘Classical Liberal’ in the mould of Gladstone, the member of The Freedom Association – which ran BREXIT OPTIMIST Binding man Andrew Osborne

the festival – is clear in what he sees are the pitfalls of continued membership of the EU. “We have the right to a self-governing country that can throw out politicians we don’t like,” he says.

“At the moment we are run by unelected bureaucrats in Brussels who are incompetent and impossible to remove from power. We must have the ability to make our own laws.”

Economically, too, Mr Osborne – who is on speaking terms with Nigel Farage – believes that membership of the European union has been detrimental to Britain.

“It is run on behalf of big business and is rigged against the free market. The rules and regulations hinder creativity and entrepreneurship while protecting the corporate elite.

“Healthy economies are all about competition, but the EU comes up with more and more ways to hinder it due to the expense of their regulation.”

Once free of Europe, he believes that many more people will be able to utilise their untapped potential and Britain will again be a nation of inventors and innovators.

“I think the country will quickly rebound from any fallout and will explode with vitality as people take back control of their own destiny.

“The mood will lift and it will be better for everyone. This is why I am very optimistic that Brexit is going to happen.”

Payout to man who fell in moat is ‘compensation culture’ A retired Tunbridge Wells teacher has caused a furore after being awarded compensation because he fell into a castle moat.

Ian Taylor, now 69, tumbled 12 feet into the water around Carisbrooke Castle on the Isle of Wight in April 2011 and suffered severe head injuries.

Three Court of Appeal judges have decided that the site, which is run by English Heritage, had not taken “reasonable steps” to ensure his safety by failing to erect warning signs.

The conservation group has warned that historic landmarks will become festooned with signposts warning of “obvious risks” and the judgment was an example of a “compensation culture”.

Mr Taylor, visiting the attraction with his wife and two grandchildren, was described as walking down a steep grass bank when he stumbled and was “propelled” over the bastion wall into the moat. He sued English Heritage, which was found to be 50 per cent liable for his injuries.

Derek O’Sullivan QC, representing English Heritage, said the “extremely important” judgment would “fuel the popular conception that this country is in the grip of a compensation culture”.

He added that sensible people could assess risks for themselves and the case would lead to “an unwelcome proliferation of unsightly warning signs”.

After 22 years in the civil service, Mr Taylor worked as a maths teacher in Sutton and Tunbridge Wells until the accident forced him to retire.

WARD WINNER Venetia Wynter-Blyth A MOTHER of three from Tunbridge Wells has been crowned Nurse of the Year by the Royal College of Nursing.

Venetia Wynter-Blyth is a gastrointestinal clinical nurse specialist at Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust in London. The 38-year-old began her nursing career in 1999.

She was awarded the RCN’s highest honour for her holistic approach to getting patients both physically and psychologically fit for surgery.

Mrs Wynter-Blyth and her team founded the PREPARE programme, which is designed to ‘train’ patients for their operations.

PREPARE stands for: Physical activity; removal of bad habits; eat well; psychological wellbeing; ask about medications; respiratory exercises; enhanced recovery.

The method has been used with 80 patients in two years and has reduced the numbers who experience surgical complications and their length of stay in hospital.

Mrs Wynter-Blyth said: “I was completely overwhelmed and thrilled about winning. It’s recognition for all the hard work the team has put in to creating this programme.

“They were all completely focused on setting up a process that was right for our patients, and I’m delighted that it has been successful and recognised in this way.”

Mrs Wynter-Blyth was presented with her award at the RCN ceremony at the Westminster Park Plaza Hotel in London.

Janice Sigsworth, director of nursing at the Imperial College Trust, said: “I am exceptionally proud that one of our Trust nurses has been recognised in this way.

“Venetia’s work, alongside her team on the PREPARE programme, has been outstanding and has directly improved the outcomes for our patients.”

Wednesday 18th May 2016

8  LOCAL NEWS

Pub closure could keep tourists away Andrew Tong newsdesk@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk RESIDENTS of Chiddingstone are concerned that the closure of their local pub might prove to be a long -term problem impacting summer tourism and the revenue those visitors generate.

The popular and renowned Castle Inn closed its doors on April 17, following the abrupt departure of the landlord John McManus. Most of its fixtures and fittings have been removed.

Picturesque Chiddingstone, regarded as a jewel in the crown of south-east heritage sites, was featured in the Merchant Ivory film Room with a View in the 1980s and has been a major attraction ever since.

Highly sought after as a place to live, it is called a “National Trust village”. The conservation organisation has owned the freehold on the Grade 1 listed pub since 1939, as well as many other properties.

These include the Chiding Stone itself, the village hall, Post Office, five residential cottages and the Old Manor, a stunning medieval hall house.

The National Trust says the closure of the pub, which dates from 1420, is ‘very much a temporary measure’ as it assesses any work required on the medieval building – this is a ‘standard process’.

Richard Henderson, the trust’s assistant director of operations responsible for the upkeep of the village, said: “We remain committed to keeping the spirit of this medieval public house alive.

“We’re in the early stages of assessing any work

Wednesday 18th May 2016

CASTLE KEEP Chiddingstone’s pub may be closed for a long time

required and plan to re-open the pub as soon as a suitable tenant is found.”

However, some villagers told the Times that another local official of the National Trust had said it does not have enough money to do the necessary work.

Their concern is heightened by the fact that the Old Manor has stood vacant for nine months after the tenants moved away to buy their own home.

‘Whoever goes in there will have to part with a lot of money’ Parishioners are wondering if the trust’s ‘standard process’ of works may be delaying occupancy of this remarkable building, even though it was described as having been left in ‘immaculate condition’.

And the fear is that the pub, a central hub of the community but also a popular restaurant with a garden that can cater for more than 100 people, might find itself lying fallow for a similar period.

Mr McManus left the pub last month after six years in charge. He had previously been a chef at Le Gavroche in London and spent 13 years as executive chef at the Ashdown Park Hotel.

He took over from Nigel Lucas, who had owned the lease for more than 40 years. It is understood that Mr Lucas, a pillar of the community, finally decided to give up his life’s work when the National Trust’s rent charges meant the business was no longer viable.

Locals have expressed an interest in taking over the premises, but have yet to hear back from the trust.

Ann Gilbert, who lives between the inn and the Old Manor, described the closure as ‘immensely sad’.

“It’s the most fabulous pub in my lifetime,” she said. “It shouldn’t be empty. My fear is that whoever goes in there will have to part with a lot of their own money. It will take the best part of £100,000.”

Mr Henderson said the Old Manor “is temporarily vacant whilst we consider what works are appropriate to preserve its important place in Chiddingstone village.

“The Trust takes great care when programming such specialist works and is committed to finding the right conservation-minded tenant to care for our historic properties. Both take time.”

THE CHIDING STONE Folklore has it that in medieval times nagging wives, wrongdoers and witches were brought to the stone to be chided by locals, giving the village its name.

It has also been suggested that the stone was once used by ancient druids as an altar or place where judgements were passed.

Another theory is that the stone was simply used as a boundary marker by Saxons.

LOCAL BUSINESS NEWS 

Victor Victoria: RVP wins with community artwork ROYAL Victoria Place has picked up a prestigious award in recognition of the community-inspired art project it commissioned to celebrate the shopping centre’s 21st anniversary.

The centre fought off nearly 30 rivals to be awarded the overall winner in the ‘cause-related’ category at the Purple Apple Marketing Awards.

Titled Victoria At 21, the winning art project (pictured right) involved the creation of a giant photo-mosaic portrait of Queen Victoria over the course of 18 months by the leading British artist Helen Marshall.

Now on permanent display in the centre, the collage features over 3,500 photographs created by local schoolchildren at educational workshops and submitted online by the public.

The ‘cause-related’ category was made in recognition of ‘an innovative marketing activity’ created from a partnership between a centre and a notfor-profit organisation.

Speaking on why the RVP centre had been selected to receive the award, a member of the judging committee said it was because of the ‘impeccable implementation’ and delivery of the campaign ‘over a concentrated period of time’.

NEWS IN BRIEF

Popular AV Trinity boss honoured at memorial

They added: “The Royal Victoria Place team clearly put a considerable amount of thought into the planning of this community campaign in terms of the artist selection, customer engagement and grand reveal activity – which were all very well delivered.”

Marc Burchett, Marketing Manager of Royal Victoria Place and organiser of the project, thanked Helen Marshall and all those who had contributed, adding: “We are delighted and very proud to have been awarded a Purple Apple Award as this builds upon the success of our previous wins in 2013 and 2014.

Innovative

PRIDE OF PLACE (L to R) Guest Edith Bowman, Marc Burchett (RVP Marketing Manager), Nicky Blanchard (RVP Centre Manager) and Mark Bourgeois (BCSC President)

9

“Victoria At 21 has enabled us to engage with our local community and create a legacy artwork which will be enjoyed by visitors to Royal Victoria Place for many years to come.”

Run by the British Council of Shopping Centres (BCSC), the Purple Apple Marketing Awards saw more than 150 entries submitted across six categories.

THE memorial service in honour of the popular businesswoman Karen Vidler took place on May 4, with nearly 80 of her personal and professional friends and clients paying their respects.

Whilst a sad occasion, the memorial, which was hosted at the Nevill Golf Club, was also a chance to reflect on the good times of Karen as a person as well as a hugely talented financial adviser.

Colleagues and clients spoke fondly of the AV Trinity Managing Director, who tragically lost her battle with Lyme disease last month.

Among those speaking were Director Louise Morris, who had worked with Karen Vidler for 25 years, Head of Business Development Richard Randall and client Derek Mepham.

Profits up at solicitors TUNBRIDGE WELLS law firm Thomson Snell & Passmore expects double digit increases in profits and turnover when it finalises its annual results.

The company, recorded revenues and operating profits of £17.3million and £4.3million respectively for the 12 months ending June 5 2015.

Provisional estimates for the year ending June 5 2016 suggest turnover will be up almost ten per cent to £18.5million, with profits up by around 11 per cent to £4.8million.

Wednesday 18th May 2016

10  LOCAL BUSINESS NEWS

PASSIONATE Inventor David Ward

The puzzling case of a has not made him Video games may be where the money is but for some they will never replace the value of traditional entertainment NOT EVERY business is founded solely with the motivation to make profit, with some people establishing their companies more out of a love for what they do than as a way to get rich.

David Ward is one such person. For the past 20 years he has invested his time and money in creating a range of traditional games tailored to educate as much as entertain.

Mr Ward’s passion has seen him develop at least 60 different games over this period, but he is aware that enthusiasm on its own does not make every business lucrative.

“I haven’t made much money at all. Perhaps even a small loss, but I just enjoy doing it,” he said.

Wednesday 18th May 2016

His games, many of which have never been marketed, are simple yet elegant pieces of craftsmanship that are made almost entirely out of wood.

Reflecting the simple concept are the equally self-descriptive names of his games, such as the ‘Columns’.

This game, which proved very popular in the United States, sees two opponents place different shaped tiles on a row of columns with the objective of being the first to reach the top, while also being able to block off the other player.

They are initially designed in his garden workshop, before those deemed to have a marketing potential are mass produced in Asia and shipped off to toyshops and gaming stores across the world.

To date, the 74-year-old former motor engineer has sold around 50,000 units, a figure which may seem large, but which Mr Ward claims is actually very modest.

“It sounds like a lot but it really isn’t,” he

says, “and it is not enough to make serious money as the royalties are so low and I have to pay for the materials.”

Perhaps surprisingly, his main market at the moment is Europe, particularly Finland and Germany, with none his games retailing in the UK for a number of years.

However, Mr Ward believes this reflects both the inertia of his domestic market and the willingness of those in Europe, especially Germany, to try new things.

“The Germans love games and have a market four times that in Britain, which is hard to crack.

“The problem with the UK is they do not like anything that new and outside of the traditional formula as it is seen to be too risky.

“Unless they can brand it with something like Thomas the Tank Engine, for example, which guarantees it will sell no matter how poor the game actually is, then they do not believe it is worth investing in.

“It is almost a problem with the country’s

LOCAL BUSINESS NEWS 

man whose business any money in 20 years approach to things as a whole and I believe in a wider sense we have lost a lot of good engineering ideas because of it.”

He likes his games to have an element of education to them and believes they are an important method of facilitating social interaction, which he believes is threatened by a ‘worrying’ rise in computer game addiction.

“Educational games combine the best of both worlds but I also make them simple. There is of course some demand for highly complex games but it is very small.”

Mr Ward took early retirement to embark on his chosen career in making games as he had little time to pursue his passion whilst running the former Birchwood Garage in Southborough with his brother-in-law.

And while it has not generated riches, he is perfectly content to carry on and

share his new inventions with his grandchildren.

“Not making much money does not bother me too much, but it would be nice none the less.”

LIST OF BESTSELLING GAMES IN THE UK

1: Monopoly 2: Scrabble 3: Connect Four 4: Risk 5: Battleships 6: Trivial Pursuit 7: Cluedo 8: Snakes and Ladders 9: Jenga

ECLECTIC MIX An array of games

10: Twister

11

NEWS IN BRIEF

Crowdfunding a great idea for app developers TWO entrepreneurs who met at Tunbridge Wells Grammar School for Boys are looking to raise £1million through crowdfunding over the summer to further their app Idea Drop.

Owen Hunnam and Charlie de Rusett, both of whom are not yet 30, have already set up a string of successful companies, but since securing £300,000 in seed capital last year have focused on their latest venture.

Run from an office in Eynsford, near Sevenoaks, Idea Drop allows staff to share fresh insights and ideas about how to improve their business. It already has 5,000 users including a Fortune 500 company.

Bank’s SME boost BANKING giant HSBC has launched a £200million lending fund to support small and medium-sized enterprises in Kent.

It is part of a UK-wide £10bn fund set aside by the bank aimed at helping SMEs to access finance to grow their businesses.

The bank is also fixing the fees that businesses pay to use their accounts at £5.50 a month for a year, in an attempt to retain and entice customers.

IOD appoints Chairman A NEW Chairman has been appointed to head the Kent division at The Institute of Directors.

Jane Ollis, Managing Director of Ashfordbased RIFT Accounting, will be taking over from Heart Kent MD Emma Liddiard, who has held the post since 2013.

Wednesday 18th May 2016

12 � EU DEBATE

If we stay in Europe, expect to hear calls for another vote Adam Hignett adam@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk FOR almost 17 years Andy Bell has reported on the machinations of British politics in his role as Political Editor at 5 News.

During this time, he has covered four general elections, observed three prime ministers, a coalition government and reported the near dismantling of the UK during the Scottish referendum.

But now the only thing that matters in politics at the moment is the EU referendum and it is heating up.

“Whether the public are fully engaged yet I don’t know, but as far as politics is concerned it really is the only game in town now that the recent elections are out of the way. Both campaigns are now going hell for leather,” he said.

The increasing bitterness among the Conservative party is opening up wounds that will take a long time to heal, Mr Bell believes.

“I think the Tories will find it hard to patch it up after the referendum. On the one level, they knew they would have to have an intellectual debate on the issue among themselves, which is why Cabinet members backing the leave campaign have been able to stay in their positions.

“But they have still been taken aback by the intensity. I think Number 10 were really blindsided by the decision of Boris to join the Out campaign and have not recovered from the shock.”

As the debate starts to enter the final five weeks and the polls still show both the Out and Remain votes neck and neck, the tone is only likely to get worse.

“Some of the language used has been pretty strong stuff, whether it is anger over the Government-funded leaflet advocating the Remain vote or complaints about a supposed ‘stitch-up’ by ITV and their televised debates. It is getting close to the point where people are accusing Downing Street of being liars.”

According to Mr Bell, the closeness of the polls has taken the Remain camp by surprise, especially after

HOW WILL YOU VOTE IN THE EU REFERENDUM ON JUNE 23?

DO YOU STILL HAVE UNANSWERED QUESTIONS? Join the Discussion Forum at the Assembly Hall on May 25 at 7.30pm when a panel of experts will answer your questions.

Tell them you’re responding to the Times of Tunbridge Wells Reader Offer.. The debate will be chaired by Andy Bell, Political Editor at 5 News. More details can be found at www.thediscussionforum.co.uk ITN’s Andy Bell

Wednesday 18th May 2016

they had a string of very high profile public figures intervene on their behalf.

This is starting to fuel anxiety among the Remainers, he said, adding: “They have been rolling out the big hitters, such as the Bank of England’s Mark Carney and President Obama, all warning against Brexit.

“They feel they have had very strong advocates of their argument, especially on the issues of the economy and trade.

“But if you talk to the Out group, they think that on the ground people are not responding to it as the Remain campaign hope and if you look at the polling it is neck and neck.

“It is a bit of a concern for Remain, who thought the polls would be shifting more in their favour.”

On the other hand, the Out campaign has focused heavily on immigration – a position which may be boosted

Times READER OFFER for only £10 (regular price £18) The debate is being held in association with this newspaper and today we’re giving you the chance to buy tickets at just £10. Call the Assembly Hall on 01892 530613.

by the revelation that the Office of National Statistics had supposedly underestimated the number of immigrants in this country by one and a half million.

“That is a problem for Remain. A lot of people are worried about immigration and this is the main campaigning point for their opponents.

“The Remain group will try and explain it away but the Out campaign will highlight it again and again.”

Post referendum, if the vote is to remain, Mr Bell expects some people to continue to agitate for a second referendum as soon as possible, but does not believe the situation is entirely comparable to that in Scotland.

“There are people in the Out campaign who would have been waiting for that moment for their entire lives.

“If it is a close vote to stay in, expect to hear a lot of complaints that it was not fair and that the Government spent taxpayers’ money on its own bias campaign.

“The pressure for another referendum will not completely go away, but I am not sure it will be like in Scotland, where you have a party in power whose main reason for existing is to secure independence.”

And what if there is a vote to leave, will Scotland go its own way soon after?

“I spoke to Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon recently and I do not believe it will be an automatic trigger for a second referendum.

Boris “They know that losing another Johnson one so soon after the first will kill the issue dead so they are going to be canny and will wait to see if the numbers are in their favour for several months before doing anything.”

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14 � EU DEBATE

The Times gets more answers to your questions…

WE SHOULD STAY Tunbridge Wells MP Greg Clark

As voting day draws near on the EU referendum (June 23) the lobbying for support by the two sides grows more intense.

Should we remain in the EU or should we leave?

MANY people are still undecided and have questions still unanswered. That’s why we invited readers to send us their own questions to be put direct to two local Conservative MPs who find themselves on opposite sides of the debate.

Greg Clark (Tunbridge Wells) favours staying in Europe. Nus Ghani (Wealden) wants out.

Our thanks to all the readers who responded with questions. Many covered similar ground. In

Wednesday 18th May 2016

the end we chose ten that we believe reflect the views and concerns of the majority.

Last week we published the answers from Nus Ghani. This week it’s the turn of Greg Clark to answer the same questions.

We keep hearing conflicting versions of the implications a Brexit will have on national security, with some saying it will make us safer

as we can better control our borders while others say we will be more vulnerable as we will no longer share intelligence with the EU. Who is correct?

Britain is in Europe, but we aren’t part of the Schengen zone of weak border controls. This is a powerful position that allows us to control our borders while sharing intelligence about crime and terrorism with other EU countries. For example, the European Arrest Warrant secured the rapid return to the UK of the July 2005 London bombers, now in prison for 40 years.

We also have a close security relationship with America, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.

None of those are EU members, of course – but as our closest allies they have made it clear that they greatly value the influence that Britain has in Europe.

All of these relationships make us safer and make the whole world safer.

Will Britain still be required to abide by rulings from the European Court of Human Rights if we leave Europe? Isn’t it separate from the European Union?

It’s difficult to know what conditions might be attached to a deal with the EU following a vote to leave.

Whether or not we have out-of-touch judges defying the will of the British people comes down to the sort of government we elect in this country, not whether we’re part of the EU or not.

We will enshrine – in British law – the principle that the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights does

not create any new rights that our Parliament hasn’t voted for itself.

What impact will Britain leaving the EU have on the City of London?

It’s worth remembering that our financial services industry employs two million people – most of them ordinary workers not highly paid executives.

Thousands of people in West Kent are employed in financial services and related businesses. Taxes from this sector also go a long way to paying for public services like the NHS. A big reason for Britain’s success in finance is that we’re part of the EU – the world’s biggest trading bloc – but not part of the single currency.

Leaving the EU would be abandoning what is a uniquely advantageous position for a major economy like ours.

At the same time, leaving would make it harder to stop competing financial interests in places like Frankfurt and Luxembourg from biasing EU rules against our firms.

We like the idea of Brexit but are worried about the prospect of a second Scottish referendum leading to the breakup of the UK if we vote to leave the EU. What are the chances this could actually happen?

The likes of Alex Salmond are trying to stir things up, but in the Scottish elections this month the SNP lost their majority and Scottish Conservatives surged to second place. I’d say that the Scottish people have delivered their verdict on the idea of a second referendum.

EU DEBATE �

If Britain votes to leave the EU, how long will the exit process take?

I’d love to tell businesses in Tunbridge Wells that the exit negotiations would go smoothly and everything would be fine. However, the truth is that I don’t know what would happen – and nor does anyone else.

A new free trade agreement would be the biggest single issue – and I hope that common sense would prevail on all sides. However, let’s not forget that any deal that we wanted would have to be voted on unanimously by 27 different countries, meaning that there would be at least 27 different opportunities for a national parliament or a national referendum to send everything back to square one.

Anyone who works, or runs a business or has children or grandchildren hoping to start work in the next few years needs to decide whether this is a good time to be entering into a period of profound uncertainty.

Will the UK be better insulated from the Eurozone crisis if we vote to leave the EU? Britain has the best of both worlds as an independent nation with our own currency within Europe. Whatever happens to the Eurozone, the deal negotiated by David Cameron earlier this year guarantees we will not be part of it nor have to contribute to its costs. A renewed Eurozone crisis would, of course, be bad for the world economy – but to insulate ourselves from that we’d have to leave the planet, not just Europe!

Is it actually realistic to think fast-growing nations are going to want to sign free trade deals with Britain if it is no longer part of the EU? Britain is a major economy so countries like China

and India would want to trade with us, but it’s likely that they’d negotiate with the biggest markets first.

As for the terms of any agreement, there’s not much sentimentality in trade negotiations – bigger is stronger. It’s blindingly obvious that we can get a better deal by bargaining as part of the world’s biggest export market than if we were left on our own.

What is the likelihood that if we vote to leave, other EU Members will act in a vindictive manner towards the UK in order to set an example to other nations who may be considering an exit?

I hope there wouldn’t be any vindictiveness, but I think there would be quite a lot of opportunism. As I say, a new deal for Britain would have to be agreed unanimously by all the remaining EU countries. This would give each of them a lot of leverage in getting payments, requirements to obey EU rules and other concessions from us.

For example, it’s clear that keeping our full access to the single market would mean us accepting the principle of free movement of labour. Therefore, leaving the EU wouldn’t be a short cut to reducing immigration.

We are worried that if Britain now votes to stay it will be seen as an effective endorsement of all things EU and we will no longer have any leverage to secure opt-outs from further integration. Is this going to be the case?

This isn’t a vote on our past relationship with the EU, but on our new relationship with it which has been agreed. In particular, our special status in Europe keeps us out of the

Eurozone, out of the Schengen agreement and out of ‘ever closer union’.

The very fact that we are having this referendum – and such a vigorous debate about it – proves that no-one can take British membership for granted.

It’s interesting to see other countries now demanding their own renegotiations to get some of the things that Britain has secured. The tide of reform is now heading in our direction and we should make the most of that.

15

BLAZING THE TRAIL “The tide of EU reform is now heading in our direction”

We have read that many in the higher education sector say that UK research will suffer and our universities will no longer remain top in the global league tables if we leave the EU, is this true?

I’m proud that Britain has by far the best universities in Europe. In fact, we’re the only EU country to have several universities in the global top 20.

As a former minister for universities and science I have seen first-hand how this country attracts talent and investment from around the world. I’ve no doubt we’d continue to do so even outside the EU, but our universities and scientists are clear that our membership does make it much easier.

To be able to draw upon the most brilliant and creative minds of an entire continent is a huge advantage for this country – one that bodes very well for our future.

IN

Wednesday 18th May 2016

16  NATIONAL NEWS NEWS IN BRIEF

MPs made to wait

Sentence reduced

A LEGAL bid by three Labour MPs to secure compensation that they say they are due from a UKIP MEP over remarks she made about the Rotherham child abuse scandal has been brought to a temporary halt.

Mr Justice Warby said he was obliged to grant a ‘stay’ on the proceedings at London’s High Court pending the opinion of the European Parliament on the question raised by Jane Collins, who represents Yorkshire and North Lincolnshire, of whether she has immunity.

Ms Collins has been sued for slander and libel

by Sir Kevin Barron, MP for Rother Valley, John Healey, who represents Wentworth and Dearne, and Sarah Champion, MP for Rotherham.

A MAN who wasa jailed for hatching a plot to behead a British soldier after being inspired by the murder of Fusilier Lee Rigby has won a reduction in his sentence.

Five judges in London quashed the original custodial term of 22 years imposed in the case of Brusthom Ziamani, aged 20, who was arrested in an east London street carrying a knife and a hammer in a rucksack, and replaced it with 19 years.

Ziamani’s sentence was among a number reviewed by the panel of Court of Appeal judges, headed by Lord Chief Justice Lord Thomas, in which defendants had either been convicted of, or pleaded guilty to, terrorist offences.

Maiden voyage

Grim find at quarry

THE world’s largest cruise ship, the £695million Harmony of the Seas, has arrived at Southampton ahead of its maiden voyage.

The Royal Caribbean ship, which can carry 6,780 guests and 2,100 crew, sets sail on a fournight cruise to Rotterdam on Sunday May 22. The vessel has 11,252 works of art on display.

A SEVERED head has been found in a quarry in Cambridgeshire. A worker at the site in Mepal made the discovery on Monday afternoon and officers from the region’s major crime unit have launched an investigation.

Police are trying to establish how long the remains had been there.

ONLINE REVIEW 11,000 recipes will be lost

BBC websites close to save £15million THE BBC’s Food and Newsbeat websites, along with its iWonder service, will close over the next 12 months as part of plans to save £15million.

The online News Magazine will also close, to be replaced by more in-depth internet journalism under a current affairs banner, the BBC said.

Social media activity around digital radio and music will also be reduced, and the BBC’s Travel website will be closed.

The reforms come after a review last autumn and James Harding, Director of BBC News and Current affairs, said: “The internet requires the BBC to redefine itself, but not its mission. The BBC’s purpose online is to provide a distinctive public service that informs, educates and entertains.”

Around 11,000 recipes will be lost under the review of online services, and there has been a clamour to save them from being permanently lost to the public.

An online petition to save the recipe archive has attracted more than 30,000 supporters – with numbers rapidly rising – as campaigners called it a ‘precious resource’ for people.

Mr Harding said the changes will allow the BBC to stop duplicating work in areas such as food and scale back services in areas like travel where there are ‘bigger, better-resourced services in the market’.

The announcement follows the publication of a

Wednesday 18th May 2016

Government White Paper on the future of the BBC, which sets out a long-term plan for the corporation, including maintaining the licence fee.

BBC staff sources said the changes would affect around 40 people, with little or no impact on news and radio services.

Gerry Morrissey, General Secretary of the broadcasting workers’ union Bectu, said: “What we’re seeing is the BBC contradicting itself. One minute it’s investing in online, the next cuts are being proposed.

“Sadly we only expect more of this to come as the BBC faces up to the cuts imposed by Government.

What’s clear to us is that if the BBC audience values a service, it has to protest and seek assurances on no cuts.”

Recipes from TV programmes will remain online for 30 days, but the planned end to the BBC’s Food website has caused uproar.

Emma Barrington, 48, a baking enthusiast from London who set up the Change.org petition, said: “It seems like a totally pointless and unfair intervention by the Government to impose this on the BBC under the vague directive of providing ‘distinct content’.

“They are wasting time on removing our recipes when there are bigger problems to worry about. The BBC Food website is free, independent and British.

It seems silly to not just leave the archive on there.”

NATIONAL NEWS 

Police ignore responsibility in domestic violence cases POLICE forces across the UK face investigation over their handling of domestic violence as the Home Secretary claimed victims are ‘still being let down’.

Addressing the Police Federation’s annual conference yesterday (Tuesday), Theresa May said she has asked watchdog chief Sir Tom Winsor to scrutinise the issue.

Mrs May told delegates: “Victims of abuse are still being let down and reports are not being taken seriously enough.

“The right skills, training and commitment to protect the vulnerable are still not held by every single police officer.

‘Inappropriate relationships’ “While the new powers that have been introduced are effective, they are not being used anywhere near as systematically as they could be.”

She said there are still instances of ‘shameful attitudes’ that watchdog Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) found when it looked at the issue in 2013.

Mrs May added: “We know of officers who develop inappropriate relationships with victims of domestic abuse.”

In its report, which was published the following year in 2014, HMIC raised concerns about poor attitudes displayed towards domestic abuse victims, with some officers showing a “considerable lack of empathy’’.

SHAMEFUL ATTITUDE Police forces across the country will be scrutinised

17

Carry On films set to return to the silver screen THE popular British Carry On comedy series is returning to the big screen, with two new films after a 24-year absence.

The first instalment, titled Carry On Doctors, will be written by Susan Nickson and Tim Dawson – the duo behind BBC sitcom Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps.

Carry On Sergeant was the first film in the series, made back in 1958.

The franchise catapulted actors such as Dame Barbara Windsor, Sid James and Kenneth Williams to worldwide fame.

Dawson said: “These films are a part of British culture, and to be carrying on the legacy of Norman Hudis and Talbot Rothwell is both a thrill and a responsibility.

“We intend to be sympathetic to the heritage whilst being unafraid to modernise the franchise for a whole new audience. This is, literally, my dream job.”

Nickson said she was “thrilled” to be involved in the franchise, having grown up with the series.

“I grew up watching these films and to be working on this project feels like coming home,” she said.

“They’re peculiarly British but the appeal of the humour and the ever present message that good people always win is absolutely global.”

Carry On Doctors is the first in a slate of new Carry On films planned by production company Hereford Films, who will be working in conjunction with Carry On Films Ltd. The second instalment is set to be titled Carry On Campus.

Wednesday 18th May 2016

18  BUSINESS NEWS NEWS IN BRIEF

Sports Direct boss offers olive branch MPs are to consider a letter they received from Sports Direct boss Mike Ashley agreeing to be questioned about his company, as long as the politicians visit the firm’s head office first.

The Business Select Committee has been trying to quiz Mr Ashley for months about working practices, including the use of zero hours contracts.

In a letter he said he will travel to Westminster, but only on condition that the MPs visit the Sports Direct offices in Shirebrook, Derbyshire, the day before.

The committee will discuss the letter at its meeting next week.

Bigger dividend promise HOUSEBUILDER Taylor Wimpey has upgraded its profit guidance for the year as the firm heralded positive growth in the UK housing market.

The company also said that it will pay out a bigger dividend to shareholders in 2017, upping the award by 26 per cent to 13.8p a share, totalling £1.3billion.

Shares rose six per cent to 196p after the news, and City analysts Liberum upgraded Taylor’s stock, saying: “We now see little downside, and upgrade our recommendation from sell to hold.”

Larger tweetie pie TWITTER is poised to overhaul its 140-character tweet system by stopping images and links contributing towards the total limit, according to reports.

Users could enjoy as many as 47 additional characters for their tweets following the change, with images currently taking up 24 characters, while links are often shortened to 23.

Dunkin’ invests in UK US FIRM Dunkin’ Donuts plans to open 78 new stores and recruit 1,170 new staff in the UK over the next five years. The restaurant chain relaunched in the UK in 2014 after pulling out in the 1990s.

Wednesday 18th May 2016

‘Overdraft charges push people into cycles of dangerous debt’ THE competition watchdog’s plans to tackle problems in the £16billion current account and business banking sectors have been welcomed – but many bodies, including some banks, said it should have gone further.

Stronger action is needed to tackle overdraft charges that can cost more than payday loans, consumer campaigners said.

Alex Neill, Director of Policy and Campaigns at consumer group Which?, said the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA)’s inquiry has ‘achieved little more’ than to propose basic information measures that the big banks should have introduced years ago.

She said more must be done to ‘tackle the unfair, punitive charges faced by unauthorised overdraft users, some of whom are hit with fees far in excess of payday loans’.

Gillian Guy, Chief Executive of Citizens Advice, said: “High overdraft charges can quickly push people into cycles of dangerous debt.

“We help people with 55,000 overdraft debt problems a year – in some cases, consumers are paying more in overdraft charges than they would for a payday loan.”

Mike O’Connor, chief executive of StepChange Debt Charity, said three quarters of its clients

have used overdrafts just UNFAIR CHARGES to try and keep up with More must be done their essential costs. We to help customers remain unconvinced that these measures will go far enough.

“If there is to be a cap on unauthorised overdraft charges, it needs to be set with reference to an independent benchmark to effect any real change and not by the banks themselves. If it is not, there will be no pressure on the level chosen, no impact on charges and nothing to encourage or enable overdraft users to switch banks.

“The remedies don’t do enough for the millions of overdraft users who are in entrenched financial difficulty. Alerting someone to the fact they are in an unauthorised overdraft will have no effect if they are unable to pay in enough money to escape it.”

Paul Pester, Chief Executive of TSB, said the

CMA had missed a ‘golden opportunity’ to break the big banks’ ‘stranglehold’.

TSB has campaigned for the CMA to propose the introduction of a monthly bill which would compel banks to disclose to each of their customers how much they have paid for their banking each month.

Inflation falls as high street cuts prices INFLATION fell in April for the first time since last September as air fares fell back and clothes shops slashed prices on the high street, according to official figures.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation dropped to 0.3 per cent from 0.5 per cent in March as air fares fell by 14 per cent month-on-month, having surged 23 per cent the previous month due to the timing of Easter.

Shoppers saw clothing price tags cut by 0.4 per cent during the month as womenswear retailers dropped prices amid flagging sales when they were hit by cold weather.

But the ONS said April also saw prices on the forecourts rise, while food prices fell by less

than they did a year earlier. Last month’s fall in inflation is expected to be brief, given the recent bounce back in the price of oil.

Petrol prices rose by 3.6p between March and April to 105.9p a litre, while diesel lifted by 3.4p to 106.5p a litre.

Inflation is predicted to rise only gradually over the year, but will remain well below the Government’s 2 per cent target, leaving the Bank of England in little hurry to raise interest rates – which have remained at 0.5 per cent since March 2009.

But the Bank Governor, Mark Carney, warned last week a Brexit vote in next month’s EU referendum would ‘notably’ impact the outlook for inflation, with a potential slump in the value

of the pound causing prices to shoot up, while he revealed it could tip the UK into recession.

Rate-setters may face the twin threat of surging inflation and falling economic activity.

Sterling has already fallen in value by around 9 per cent since last November, due largely to uncertainty ahead of the referendum.

Inflation has now remained below the Government’s target every month for more than two years, while UK growth is also faltering, slipping back to 0.4 per cent in the first quarter and likely to drop further due to referendum fears.

Brexit uncertainty is also expected to impact Wednesday’s official jobs figures, with unemployment expected to rise for the second month in a row.

WORLD NEWS �

Lone terror suspect arrested in Sydney POLICE have arrested a teenager believed to have been planning to launch an ‘imminent’ lone terrorist attack in Sydney, Australia.

The 18-year-old is expected to be charged with planning a terrorist attack, the Australian Federal Police has said.

Another charge – preparing to enter a foreign country to engage in hostile activities – is expected to be filed in connection with an earlier attempt to travel to Syria.

If convicted, the teenager could face a maximum sentence of life in prison.

“The planning was occurring now and we would say that an attack was probably imminent,” New South Wales Police Deputy Commissioner Catherine Burn said.

The suspect had been making arrangements to obtain a firearm, added Australian Federal Police Acting Deputy Commissioner Neil Gaughan.

Officials believe he was working alone and his arrest meant there was no longer any threat to public safety linked to the alleged plot, he said.

Ms Burn and Mr Gaughan would not say what the alleged plans involved, including the proposed targets.

The suspect, who had been on the authorities’

radar since last year, IMMINENT ATTACK was stopped at Sydney Acting Deputy Commissioner airport in February when Neil Gaughan he attempted to travel to Syria, Mr Gaughan said. His passport had been cancelled and he was prevented from leaving the country.

Since then, he had been under police surveillance, Attorney General George Brandis confirmed.

Australia’s government raised the country’s terror threat level in 2014 in response to the domestic threat posed by supporters of the Islamic State group.

Police have since conducted dozens of raids which they say have been aimed at thwarting plotting a terrorist attack on an Australian multiple terror plots around Australia, including Veterans Day ceremony in April. an alleged plan to attack government buildings “We are still seeing people planning and and a naval base in Sydney. preparing for such attacks and unfortunately, Many of those arrested have been teenagers, that group of people are getting younger and including a 16-year-old who was charged with younger,” Ms Burn said.

Trump entitled to his views says JK JK ROWLING has said her passion for free expression is so strong it extends to someone she would otherwise not care to discuss – Donald Trump.

Speaking before hundreds of people in New York at PEN America’s annual gala at the American Museum of Natural History, the Harry Potter author noted that she opposed a recent petition calling for banning the Republican US presidential hopeful from entering the UK, saying such actions endangered everyone’s rights.

“I find almost everything that Mr Trump says objectionable. I consider him offensive and

bigoted,” said Rowling, who received PEN’s Literary Service Award for her ‘extraordinary creativity’ and her efforts on behalf of institutionalised children and other humanitarian causes.

“But he has my full support to come to my country and be offensive and bigoted there.”

The author cited her clashes with censors over her Harry Potter books, which have been accused of inspiring Satanism.

She pointed out that her work has appeared on lists of banned books and recalled an unnerving encounter she had with a Christian

fundamentalist in a toy shop in New York. “I had no idea the phrase ‘I pray for you’ could sound so intimidating,” she said.

But Rowling, who has shared sharp opinions about Mr Trump and others on her Twitter feed, also called herself lucky to live in a part of the world where speech is protected and accepted that some would object to her work.

“My critics are at liberty to claim that I am trying to convert children to Satanism,” she said. “And I’m free to explain that I’m exploring human nature and morality – or to say, ‘You’re an idiot’.”

19

NEWS IN BRIEF

Oil workers told to leave as fire spreads SOME 8,000 workers at oil camps north of the fire-ravaged Canadian city of Fort McMurray were ordered to evacuate as authorities continued the battle to bring wildfires under control.

The mandatory evacuation zone was extended to 30 miles north of the city, whose 80,000 residents have been away from their homes for more than two weeks.

The workers had been trying to restart oil production at the facilities after they were halted by the fires and the need to acc0mmodate a flood of people from Fort McMurray seeking safety.

Pope backs cardinal POPE FRANCIS has voiced support for a French cardinal who has faced allegations of covering up cases of paedophile priests in his Lyon parish, saying he should not resign.

The Pope said in an interview with French Catholic daily La Croix that the resignation of Cardinal Philippe Barbarin ‘would be a mistake’. However, he added that regarding cases of paedophile priests in general, the ‘tolerance must be zero’.

British painter detained NEPAL has detained a British man over his alleged participation in an anti-government protest after being photographed wearing a red headband like other protesters.

The detention of Martin Travers, a British painter in Nepal on a tourist visa, and the expulsion of a Canadian who criticised Nepal’s government on social media have sparked concerns over the Himalayan country’s democracy.

Market bomb kills 13 AT LEAST 13 people have been killed and 40 people injured in Iraq by a car bomb at an outdoor market in a Shiite-dominated Baghdad neighbourhood.

Police said initial reports show the attack in the north-eastern Shaab neighbourhood was carried out with an explosives-laden car. No one has claimed responsibility for the attack.

Wednesday 18th May 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

Junior doctors: Are you prepared to pay for private health care?

I hope Hugh Masters (May 4) is prepared for the cost of private health care, because in failing to support the junior doctors that’s where he’s heading.

What people sometimes fail to realise is that being a ‘junior’ doctor (many have over ten years of experience) is quite frankly often a *** job. s*** The hours are long and antisocial; the work is often dirty and hard; and the bureaucrats who run the hospital care little for patients themselves. Finally, at a basic salary of £30,000 they are hardly rich.

Does Hugh think he can cut someone open at 4am and leave them in a better condition than when he started? Of course not.

But, when these people simply ask that their

EU: Not a bed of roses

A recent letter (April 27) drew attention to the fact that the Dutch people have rejected closer trade ties with the Ukraine and that by implication an Out Vote by the UK would have adverse consequences to the extent that we might no longer enjoy ‘Tulips from Amsterdam’.

Over a long period of time, the horticultural trade between us has grown to the point that UK imports of cut flowers, plants and bulbs from the Netherlands is now massive. We enjoy their cut flowers and they enjoy us paying for them: A perfect match.

The last thing the Dutch growers want in the event of an Out Vote is for Brussels to impose restrictions/ tariffs, etc, which would jeopardise the trade with us, and I would be surprised if the Dutch Government acquiesced to it.

Free trade with our neighbours in Europe is a principle we all agree with and was the objective we signed up to 40 years ago, but politicians and bureaucrats got in the way with meddling and grand designs. Can we return to that original concept: Why not? So co-operation: Yes. Cohabitation: No. Leonard Irving Via email

real pay isn’t cut by 20 per cent he calls them arrogant.

If Hugh turns up at 4am with a ruptured aneurysm or perforated bowel, he’s going to be in a very different place to his comfortable chair in front of his computer.

He’s going to be scared; in pain; vulnerable and at the mercy of the health care system in front of him. His very life will depend on the compassion and competence of the junior doctors.

The front line of that health system is now raising the alarm and Hugh’s response is to call them ‘arrogant and insensitive’.

He says his household has no sympathy for junior doctors, but what he should really be worrying about is whether there will be any junior doctors left to have sympathy for his household.

From an escaped ex-junior doctor.

Dan Keown Via Email

Elections: A derisory turnout

Despite your compelling exhortation (April 20) “make sure you cast your vote, the voter turnout in the Borough Elections exceeded 40 per cent in only one Parish. The election for the Police and Crime Commissioner produced a derisory 21.5 per cent in Kent.

Once again, politicians of every persuasion will be wringing their hands and vowing to improve their engagement with the electorate.

The solution may be simpler than they think: Just tell the electorate what you stand for. I received only one flyer through my letterbox for the Borough Council elections and one for the PCC election – both of them from the same political party. How does this properly inform my voting decision? If politicians cannot be bothered to communicate, is it any wonder that over 60 per cent of the electorate cannot be bothered to vote?

Of course, I could have undertaken some internet research, but we already know that the majority of the electorate lack motivation to research.

Should the Returning Officer perhaps be responsible for basic communication? A flyer

providing very basic details of each candidate, plus half-a-dozen key policy bullet points might do the trick. Yes, there would be a cost, but that could be covered by a non-returnable increase in each candidate’s deposit.

It was no surprise that the candidates featured on each of the two flyers I received were duly elected. I guess that most people had not heard of their competitors.

Ron Roser Via Email

Elections: It worked for independent

With regards to Margaret Miller’s letter (May 11), the reason why you don’t hear from candidates are a mixture of reasons.

Firstly, to fill all the wards parties put in place ‘paper candidates’ They are simply someone to vote for so the party know how many votes they get within the town. Some of the wards will have ‘target’ wards where you will get leaflets and people knocking on your door.

For many branches they either cannot afford to fund all the seats or it’s considered a waste of resources. On the other side of things regarding websites and social media, simply put, they haven’t got with the times. One day you may see branches post their leaflets and other material on a website, but that takes someone with knowledge or you end up paying someone which breaks into the funding side again. The independent candidate at the general election did it and it worked quite well, but it’s getting these people to embrace it. Let’s hope they do.

Christopher Stevenson Via email

Voting: People must register

Many people have been arguing that the UK has the experience of hundreds of years of democracy. No, it has hundreds of years of progressing towards democracy.

By one definition, at least 50 per cent of the adult population should be entitled to vote and actually does so. That was achieved in the general election of November 1918 with the widening of enfranchisement, when David Lloyd George was Prime Minister.

There was a further widening in 1928, prior to the general election of 1929. There was a further widening when the minimum age for voting was reduced from 21 years to 18.

A further reduction to 16 years happened in the referendum in Scotland.

The proportion of the population registered for elections is sadly low, so that registration drives are needed.

Richard Underhill Matfield

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 18th May 2016

Calverley TOUGH times these days for those in the hospitality business. And Calverley can share two fine examples that make just that point.

The first concerns a well-known pub chain that Himself understands is looking at the idea of closing at least one local at 10pm Monday to Thursday because there’s a lack of punters buying its cheap booze. Obviously nothing will tempt Calverley to reveal the name of the chain but let’s hope it wethers the storm.

The other example is that of the high profile, young(ish) hospitality boss spotted handing out leaflets in the pedestrian precinct in an attempt to lure customers to one of his splendid establishments.

EVERY cloud has a silver lining, as the old saying goes. In the case of our beloved Morrisons closing its doors, the good fortune falls upon the nearby Sainsbury’s Local. Our man behind the check-out tells Calverley that trade has been boosted so much they need to double the staff to around 20. Maybe the extra hands can make more sandwiches.

Sunny days mean people keep buying them to eat in the park. Bit selfish.

CALVERLEY is rarely surprised at the drinking habits of the younger generation. But he needed a stiff one himself after standing in line behind a young lady at the weekend as she queued at the free bar of a family party.

On being asked by the barman what she required she simply said: “I’d like a pint – of rose.” Which he duly delivered. Oh to be young again.

ESTATE agents are a genial bunch. At least most of them. One though needs to make sure phones are muted before he screams across the office telling staff to inform a caller she should go away. His language, though, was somewhat more colourful.

CHUCKLES all round on hearing that one of the biggest critics of drunks outside Zee Bar in the High Street was himself such a person at the weekend. It was 3am and police were called after an incident with a disco style globe. The mind boggles.

FINALLY, Calverley has a dear friend (let’s call her Beryl) who often uses the wrong word when trying to impress. Last time she was trying to dazzle at a social gathering, she silenced the room when she said: “You know, I really fancy something erotic for dinner.”

Surely the word, Beryl, is ‘exotic’.

Chin, chin readers

www.brightyoungthings.co.uk

EDUCATION n

EDUCATION

WITH THE

Education in association with:

21

OF TUNBRIDGE WELLS AND TONBRIDGE

Skinners’ mentoring scheme makes the grade One of Tunbridge Wells’ top grammar schools is involved in a unique educational support project

By Andrew Tong A GROUNDBREAKING venture in which Skinners’ School students act as mentors for pupils who have struggled in conventional education is proving a great success.

The scheme involving the high-achieving boys’ grammar on St John’s Road and Two Bridges School in Southborough has come to the end of its second academic year, having started in September 2014.

The brainchild of the headteachers, Skinners’ Edward Wesson and Sue Beauchamp of Two Bridges, has led to many of the troubled children, aged between seven and nine, being reintegrated into the traditional classroom environment.

Ms Beauchamp said: “The mentoring programme has shown a solid impact and has helped our students focus. They really enjoy working with the Skinners’ boys.

“They feel valued by these young men who take time out of their busy schedules to help them move forward with their learning and behaviour.

Twenty Skinners’ sixth formers have taken part, and each one has attained the university place he wanted – with five receiving offers from Oxbridge.

Craig Fleming, head of the Skinners’ sixth form, described the aims behind the scheme. “The idea was for our boys to act as role models for the lads at Two Bridges academically but also socially, in terms of their aspirations and behaviour.

“It helps them to see young people who have ambition, commitment and motivation. And our boys also assist the teaching staff at Two Bridges

‘We help and guide the pupils’ with IT, maths, science and English.”

Mr Fleming is enthusiastic about the progress made by his own charges. “They get a lot out of it. They are more reflective about their education, and it gives them a social context so they react more empathetically to the world outside.

“They tend to grow up very quickly. It’s fantastic for their personal development. And it also helps their future employment because it’s something really very impressive to do.”

Skinners’ boys have also found themselves learning new skills. The Two Bridges teachers have been very supportive, providing safeguards and explaining what happens in certain scenarios.

The grammar schoolboys head over to nearby

Two Bridges when they are not in lessons. There is a mixture of in-class activity, for example in PE, or more often mentoring on a one-to-one basis, lasting approximately 50 minutes.

“We help and guide the pupils,” explains upper sixth former Seb Dark, who has been involved with the project for two years. “You can really see the impact you have and they are fun to be with.”

The future of the students at Two Bridges is much less secure, since they have been left behind by the system. “It makes school a bit cooler,” says Mr Fleming. “They found mainstream education

very difficult. But they have responded very positively to this scheme.

“They refer to their mentors as ‘Mr’ or ‘Sir’, the idea being to introduce a formal element so that they are respected as teachers, but the age difference is smaller.”

Ms Beauchamp added: ‘The opportunity to work with these talented students from Skinners’ can only really be inspirational for younger students.”

The pupils at Two Bridges are on a 14-week pupil referral programme. After their time there they are reintegrated back into mainstream education.

LESSONS LEARNED: Aden (far left) and Nick (2nd from right) enjoy their weekly 50-minute learning sessions with their Skinners’ mentors (l-r) Jake Cunningham, George Gomersal and Seb Dark

Wednesday 18th May 2016

22 � EDUCATION NEWS IN EDUCATION

Judo joy for local boy A YEAR 9 student from St Gregory’s Catholic School has won bronze at the British Judo Schools Championships in Sheffield.

Competing alongside 750 other students Cameron Bradley represented his school in the under-66kg category.

A spokesperson for St Gregory’s said: “Cameron’s achievement is all the more impressive as he has only been doing judo for 18 months.”

Queen’s celebrations ON FRIDAY June 10 Claremont Primary School will host a Grandparents’ Afternoon to celebrate the Queen’s Official Birthday from 2.15pm. Children may come into school dressed in red, white and blue on the day.

Summer dance fever THE Bloco Fogo Samba School returns to St Matthew’s Primary School for its summer school from August 8-13. Aimed at eight to 16-year-olds, children learn Brazilian samba drumming, movement and carnival arts.

The course costs £75 if you register by June 30 or £90 afterwards. Visit workshops@blocofogo.com

Education in association with:

What price might youngsters Concerns are raised about the impact of intensive Mental Health Awareness Week, which runs from May 16 to 22, is organised by the Mental Health Foundation and aims to generate awareness and debate about the issue. Two local Christian charities which work with youngsters are Crossways and Fegans. The Times asked Crossways’ Chris Munday and Fegans’ Ian Soars to share their thoughts on mental health and education.

THE Government’s white paper Educational Excellence Everywhere outlines a vision for education over the next decade. While the issue of academies has been hotly debated (and, to a point, shelved) the pledge to extend the school day remains – and has largely gone unnoticed.

That’s a pity, given the potential implications for schools, pupils and parents.

The Government will make funding available

The great outdoors ROSE Hill School is putting the finishing touches to its external classroom. The wooden roof has just been completed on it and there will be an official opening ceremony after half term.

Wednesday 18th May 2016

www.brightyoungthings.co.uk

Crossways CEO Chris Munday

‘The White Paper highlights that 17 per cent of UK students fail to reach “modern functional literacy”’

for 25 per cent of secondary schools (initially) to ‘extend their school day to include a wider range of activities, such as sport, arts and debating’.

There are, according to the Department of Education, two main reasons. “It’s about increasing standards and offering a broader choice as schools will have the ability to run more clubs,” explains a spokeswoman.

The lack of detail raises questions. Will the extra time be mandatory? How are schools supposed to use the time?

The White Paper contains a strong hint. “Our education system must compete with those around the world – because while we improve, so do they.”

It highlights that 17 per cent of UK students fail to reach ‘modern functional literacy’, compared to just 11 per cent in Canada.

Canada is an interesting comparison. It, like Finland, has a six-hour school day, yet both countries’ students do better than the UK – with one of the world’s longest days – in comparative tests for mathematics, English and science (Source: PISA/OECD).

So can we conclude that the Government will steer schools into extending lesson time? If so, teaching union NASUWT would be worried.

“That would raise concerns about pupils’ wellbeing. Teachers already work a long day, too, and have some of the highest rates of workplace stress,” it says.

Despite the uncertainty some schools, such as Tunbridge Wells’ St Gregory’s Catholic School, are enthusiastic.

The Head of School, Sean McQuillan, says: “We see this as a potentially positive initiative.

St Gregory’s already provides a wide range of extra-curricular activities which are taken up voluntarily and these enhance the experience of the student.

“As a school we are fully engaged in providing a range of sporting activities and support girls and boys in gaining experience in a wide variety of musical, artistic and sporting opportunities.”

He adds: “The wellbeing of our students is of paramount importance to us and we use sports as a vehicle to encourage all our students in understanding and promoting a balanced, happy and healthy lifestyle.”

Fegans and Crossways Community agree, welcoming opportunities for children to enjoy more sport, cultural activities, social engagement and develop life skills, seeing these as a positive way of building confidence and self-esteem.

Education in association with:

www.brightyoungthings.co.uk

EDUCATION �

23

pay for a longer school day?

schooling on vulnerable children

Fegans CEO Ian Soars

‘Young people are already suffering from record levels of tiredness as well as stress and other mental health problems’

Nevertheless, we remain concerned about the impact of intensive schooling on vulnerable children. Young people already suffer from record levels of tiredness as well as stress and other mental health problems. Nationally, one in ten (aged 5-16) has a diagnosable mental health illness.

Here in Kent, around 20,585 children are unwell. An estimated 12,400 have a conduct disorder while 8,000 struggle with the likes of anxiety and depression.

Countywide, West Kent has the greatest number of overall sufferers – 6,721 – while NHS Swale has the least, at just 1,594 (Source: Kent County Council).

With half of all mental health problems being

established by the age of 14, and many youngsters self-harming from around age 11, clearly the time from secondary school transition upwards is crucial.

During Mental Health Awareness Week – which this year focuses on relationships – we wonder about the pressure this proposal places on precious family life and whether parents will find themselves struggling to make time for relationships with their children.

Compressing it further surely isn’t the answer to making it more joyful, successful and fulfilling.

Our view is that extending the school day is perhaps premature until we better understand the longer term impact it will have on this generation of children.

We’re keen to open the debate. What do the town’s schools and parents think of this proposal? Are they positive or do they share our concerns?

Please contact us with your thoughts. Write to The Editor, The Times of Tunbridge Wells and Tonbridge, 16 Lonsdale Gardens, Tunbridge Wells TN1 1NU; email newsdesk@timesof tunbridgewells.co.uk

Wednesday 18th May 2016

24 � EDUCATION

Education in association with:

Bedes School Bede’s is a coeducational day and boarding school for pupils aged 13 – 18 years old, set in 140 acres of rural Sussex countryside.

With a reputation for developing the unique talents of each and every pupil, recent years have seen Bede’s experience five consecutive years of academic improvement at both GCSE and A Level, achieving the top value added ranking at A Level in the southern region, whilst holding firm not to academically ‘top-slice’ intake or comprise its distinctive holistic education ethos.

Bede’s School includes a number of truly unique amenities including its own zoo, a multi-award winning Art School and the Legat School of Dance. Sporting facilities include a practice golf course, over a dozen sports fields, a floodlit multi-use games area, waterbased AstroTurf and 8 tennis courts, with Bede’s extensive Sports Complex including an 8-court sports hall, cutting-edge fitness suite, competition-sized swimming pool and 4 squash courts.

01323 843252 bedes.org

Bright Young Things Bright Young Things maintain a traditional philosophy of teaching centred around skills and knowledge. They encourage children to become curious learners who challenge themselves to go beyond the textbook and become productive learners.

Small class sizes encourage children to ask questions and develop an inquisitive mindset. Learning is made to be stimulating and fun, ensuring that children take new skills, enthusiasm and confidence back into the classroom.

They invest time in establishing a relationship; understanding their interests, characteristics and overall aims in terms of subject improvement. They offer a free academic assessment with full analytical feedback.

Classes at BYT deliver traditional, expert, inspirational academic support and genuine academic wizardry for every kind of student.

They are determined to bring supplementary learning within the reach of all. As they are Ofsted registered, they are able to accept childcare vouchers as payment as part of a prevailing mission to turn a good education into a great education. www.brightyoungthings.co.uk 01892 800492

We’re Going on a Bear Hunt!

If you go down to the woods today what will you find? Bring your teddy (and a friend if you like) and come and join us at Vinehall Nursery, Robertsbridge, for a bear hunt exploring the long wavy grass and leafy woodland.

Will Goldilocks be there? will we find a bear with big goggly eyes? Be prepared for tramping through thick oozy mud and take care not to trip or stumble over the branches….

On Friday 1st July from 10 am to 12 noon, we are offering a morning of free woodland activities, craft and play, finishing with a story and picnic in our forest classroom. Limited places are available for children up to the age of 4 years old.

For further information and to book a place, please contact Tessa Richardson at tessarichardson@vinehallschool.com or on 01580 883056 www.vinehallschool.com

Wednesday 18th May 2016

www.brightyoungthings.co.uk

THE PANTILES NEWS 

25

IN ASSOCIATION WITH: Targetfollow Group Ltd and The Pantiles Traders Association

ISSUE FOUR

PANTILESNews

The

Food glorious food

They came, they saw, they savoured… last weekend a huge number of visitors descended upon Tunbridge Wells’ historic Pantiles for its popular gourmet Food Festival, which is getting bigger and better every year. Eileen Leahy went to get a taste of the event

F

IFTY stalls selling all manner of seasonal produce, local specialist fare and deliciously exotic offerings had an extra special visitor this weekend: The fantastic weather.

The sun shone pretty much throughout the duration of The Pantiles Food Festival and it certainly helped to attract plenty of hungry customers.

According to the event’s spokesperson Tara Fuller, approximately 5,000 people thronged to the famous promenade in order to enjoy a taste of the area’s most popular three-day food and drink extravaganza. They indulged in a variety of gastronomic delights and enjoyed the numerous cooking demonstrations and live music also on offer.

But whether you were browsing around in the late Friday afternoon sunshine or battling the teeming crowds on Sunday lunchtime, if you were on The Pantiles at any point last weekend then you’ll know just how popular this foodie affair has become – especially when the weather plays ball.

Special celebrity guests doing a culinary

turn over the weekend included Rosemary Shrager, who launched the cookery school and much loved patisserie in the vicinity. She was on fine form on Saturday chatting to the crowds, while on Sunday fireman-turnedbaking star Mat Riley, a runner-up in last year’s

The Pantiles

THERE are always plenty of interesting markets and specialist fairs happening on the famous promenade in Tunbridge Wells. Here’s a round-up of what’s coming up over the next few months…

‘It was an amazing day with beautiful weather’ Great British Bake Off, took to the podium to display his biscotti prowess and answer questions from an enthusiastic audience.

Wine expert Jilly Goolden also had a spot on the famous Bandstand on Sunday.

Then of course there was the staggering number of producers selling their unique selection of tempting food and drink.

Tunbridge Wells can certainly give London’s

Events on

WEEKEND MARKETS The usual Pantiles Market continues on the 1st and 3rd weekend of the month. Shoppers will be treated to an array of locally produced food and drink offerings and inspiring interior finds for the home.

JAZZ ON THE PANTILES

Local Bake Off star Mat Riley

This hugely popular event has been running since the beginning of May and will continue every Thursday night until the end of the summer. So sit back, relax and listen to lots of great music while feasting on fabulous food.

MUSIC EVERYWHERE Over the Bank Holiday weekend the Unfest music festival will be taking place once again. The event kicks off on Saturday afternoon with acts including Poppy Raine and The Paul Dunton Orchestra and runs until Monday.

ART ON THE PANTILES On June 11 and 12 SEEART Gallery will be hosting an art fair showcasing some of its favourite painters, sculptors and ceramists.

ALL ABOARD Soul Train returns to The Pantiles this July and you’ll have plenty of opportunities to get down and boogie at the live music event as it’s happening on July 9 and 23 and August 6, 27 and 28.

ONE OF A KIND

cake Make way for a macaroon wedding

TASTE BUDDIES The food festival was busier than ever

The Vintage Fair rolls into town on the final weekend of July (30 & 31) so if you love quirky, unique and antique items then this is the perfect place to spend a morning or afternoon browsing the gorgeous goods on display.

Wednesday 18th May 2016

26  THE PANTILES NEWS

‘It’s important to The Times speaks to two businesses – one celebrating its 40th year, the other opening last weekend – about why they jumped at the chance to work in a place with such character

Chef Patrick Hill on stage Borough Market a run for its money given the amount of impressive regional artisan producers we have.

Clustered along The Pantiles and spilling out on to the lower Pantiles opposite the

MOCKTAILS AND COCKTAILS Man with a vintage van

Wednesday 18th May 2016

Everything is rosy with cider

Corn Exchange, there was everything from French fromage and decadent condiments to fresh seafood, gooey marshmallows and craft beers to sip and savour.

Specialist sausages by

Debbie & Andrew were sold from a pop-up barn while potent cocktails were poured from the inside of a vintage camper van courtesy of the Beetle Juice Company.

If these epicurean delights didn’t hit the spot then food fans could treat their tastebuds to huge pans of paella, aromatic truffle oil, new season asparagus, spicy chilli jams, locally produced wines and even vegan burgers from a range of fine food purveyors.

In short, there was pretty much something for everyone to enjoy at last week’s Pantiles Food Festival and the other good news is its restaurants, bars and cafes all did pretty well out of the event too if the busy terrace tables were anything to go by.

“It was an amazing day with beautiful weather,” said Tara Fuller. “We had really positive feedback from all our traders as well and have started taking bookings for the next food festival in September already.”

PETER JENNER is a specialist in fine handmade jewellery and a true craftsman who works on beautiful designs using traditional skills and an open mind HOW LONG HAVE YOU WORKED ON THE PANTILES? I’ve been here 36 years now. I started out in the jewellery trade 40 years ago, and was on Mount Pleasant for a few years before coming down here. The Cabin, as it’s known, became vacant when I left art college in 1971 and I wrote to the estate agents Ibbett Mosely enquiring about it.

I heard back from them nine years later! They said: “If you’re still interested…”

ON DISPLAY Peter’s in-house workshop

HOW DID YOU FIRST GET INTO THE TRADE? I started creating jewellery at art college in 1968, at Plymouth, then at Medway. I was taught by

FAMILY AFFAIR Peter’s son Guy is also in the business

THE PANTILES NEWS 

27

have shops of quality and diversity’ highly skilled, proper draughtsmen.

My training covered everything: Casting, setting, gemology. There weren’t many gemologists in the town then – David Reich, Michael Payne and myself. I was the only person making jewellery.

Freshwater pearl necklace

WHAT ARE THE ADVANTAGES OF MAKING YOUR OWN DESIGNS? Almost all of my work is commissioned and I use mostly gold and platinum, and because I do my own work I can be highly competitive in terms of pricing. It takes the same amount of time to work in silver, so it’s more economical for the customer. And I find it constantly stimulating. There are always new ways of doing things, and fashion changes.

I’m 68 and I still enjoy it hugely.

WHAT ARE YOUR MOST POPULAR PRODUCTS? Most of our revenue comes from engagement, wedding and eternity rings. I find that I’m now doing a second generation of wedding rings. We also do a lot of remodelling, of inherited pieces that have been gathering dust in a drawer. We turn it into something completely new.

ARE MOST OF YOUR CUSTOMERS LOCAL, OR DO THEY COME FROM FURTHER AFIELD TOO? Our local customers often come back to us when they’ve moved away, or they recommend us. But we do pick up custom off the internet too. We had an Australian couple who were staying at Heathrow for 24 hours, and they came down and saw us. It was amazing. They were celebrating their ruby wedding anniversary, and we arranged an eternity ring by email.

YOU CREATE A LOT OF YOUR OWN JEWELLERY. BUT HOW DO YOU CHOOSE YOUR OTHER SUPPLIERS? There are some fantastic designers out there and every year we try to find new ones, like local designers Latham & Neve in Hawkhurst. And now we have Drakenberg Sjolin from Sweden, who are new to the UK and producing very clean designs. These are small-scale designers, people won’t have seen them elsewhere. And they are passionate about what they do, they have a story behind them.

HOW MANY PEOPLE WORK IN THE SHOP? It’s very much a family business, with me, my wife Jean and our son Guy, who has been working here for eight years.

HOW DO YOU LIKE WORKING IN THE PANTILES? It has always been a pleasure. In the last 100 years there have only been two firms working in this shop underneath the famous old Musick Gallery – Beecher Brothers the cobblers and myself. In the old days it was more tranquil, there were no chairs or A-boards and everything was more controlled. It’s important to have shops of quality and diversity, to give the area its character – not least because for a third of the year it’s not so pleasant and sunny!

CHEGWORTH VALLEY is a local supplier of 70 lines of farm produce who have just opened their first shop outside London. We spoke to David Deme about his latest venture.

WHAT ARE YOUR MOST POPULAR PRODUCTS? Our own range of juices always sell well. The farm’s 70 lines of produce include apples, pears and cherries, raspberries and strawberries as well as salad leaves, tomatoes and many other vegetables, all of which are delivered daily.

IS IT AN ADVANTAGE TO SUPPLY YOUR OWN PRODUCE? Yes, we are able to offer fruit and vegetables which are as fresh as they can be. We pick on the farm in the afternoon and deliver the following morning. This also means that the shop is truly seasonal and customers will see produce changing with the seasons.

WHY DID YOU CHOOSE TO SET UP SHOP IN THE PANTILES? The opportunity to set up here was one we jumped at. The area has a great feel and we are excited to be joining so many restaurants, pubs and shops, whilst also bringing something a little different with us.

Fresh bread

Organic carrots

HOW LONG HAS THE FARM BUSINESS BEEN RUNNING, AND WHERE ARE YOUR OTHER STORES? The farm was established in 1983 by the Deme family near Harrietsham in the heart of the Kent countryside. Today two generations look after the farm and our shops. We have two other stores, both in London, in Borough Market and Notting Hill.

WHAT WAS THE INSPIRATION BEHIND IT? Having run newsagents in London, the family wanted a different way of life. They planted fruit trees and bushes on the former dairy farm for the Leeds Castle estate, and the demand from farmers markets led to the production of Chegworth Valley juices.

WHAT SORT OF CLIENTELE ARE YOU AIMING FOR? The shop will offer a wide range of organic local and regional products, including our own produce and juices plus dairy, meat, wholefoods, snacks and much more. It will appeal to everyone who enjoys food and drink!

FRESH PRODUCE ON THE PANTILES (L to R) Ben Deme, Charlotte Walter and David Deme

Wednesday 18th May 2016

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COUNTRYSIDE Places People Love

TONBRIDGE FOOD & DRINK FESTIVAL �

29

A taste of Tonbridge

From 20-22 May 2016

4-Page pullout

Your weekend entertainment guide FRIDAY 20 MAY 6pm: Daisy Port (Tonbridge music station student) 7pm: Darcie Moutney (Tonbridge music station student) 8pm: Lee Willz

A taste of Tonbridge

SATURDAY 21 MAY 10.45am: Official opening by Mayor Mark Rhodes 11am: Students of local music teacher Charlotte Lubbock.

12.30pm: Pembroke Tenneson 2pm: Tom Carradine 3pm: Fintan Rawsthorne (Tonbridge music station student) 3.30pm: Tallulah Swallow (Tonbridge music station student) 4pm: More musical entertainment 5.30pm: Charlotte Lubbock - duo followed by a band 7pm: Sam Dunstall, blues guitar 8pm: Close SUNDAY 22 MAY

W

ELCOME to the first ever Tonbridge Food and Drink Festival.

Presented by Tonbridge Town Team, this new FREE three-day event is being held in the grounds of the magnificent Tonbridge Castle from Friday May 20 to Sunday May 22.

Tonbridge has put itself well and truly on the food map in recent years through its existing restaurants and the opening of a host of new cafes and diners. Plus, it now boasts the largest

farmers’ market in Kent, proving that there is a passion for good food and drink.

Our new Festival aims to build on this and make our town a ‘go to’ place for great local and international cuisine in this part of the Garden of England.

The Festival gets underway on Friday evening when there will be street food and entertainment on offer.

The following day, Tonbridge Mayor Mark Rhodes will officially open the event.

Visitors can then spend another two days (Saturday and Sunday) circulating around the stalls where

they will find food and drink to suit every taste, as well as cooking demonstrations by West Kent College and more entertainment on the specially built stage.

With so much local, regional, national and international food and drink to tempt the taste buds, this FREE event will have something for everybody. You can find a list of what’s on offer on the following pages.

So make sure you drop by and sample a fantastic Taste of Tonbridge.

11am: Pembroke Tenneson 12pm: Music Station Soul Choir Compere Dave Mac 1pm - 4pm 1–1.45pm: Tonbridge Community Singers -Choir 1.50–2.30pm: Lee Willz 2.35–3.05pm: Razzamataz Theatre School Tonbridge 3.10–3.55pm: Hobbo and the Hippies 4–5pm: The Swallows Band *For more details about the singers and entertainers taking part in the Tonbridge Food and Drink Festival turn to the back of this programme.

Wednesday 18th May 2016

30 � TONBRIDGE FOOD & DRINK FESTIVAL

A feast of delights The Tonbridge Food and Drink Festival offers the best of local, regional, national and international products in one tasty gathering. You can use our listing below to find items of particular interest to buy, or just take a stroll around the stalls and sample all the exciting food and beverage on offer Alley Cat Street Food Eggs benedict with smoked haddock served on a crumpet, herring roes pan fried in parsley butter served on toasted brioche, deep fried whitebait in paprika with lemon, pan fried king prawns in garlic butter and skinny fries. These are just some of the great dishes on offer.

Bar Relax with a glass of your favourite tipple.

Bird in Eye Catering German sausages from award winning butchers in Southern Germany.

Blue Egg Catering The perfect solution for weddings, outdoor or indoor parties or just a large gathering of friends.

Sample the traditional Kent hog roast, pulled pork and a vegetarian option of field mushrooms, pesto and mozzerella.

Building Dementia Friendly Tonbridge Dementia awareness on Saturday, followed on Sunday by a demonstration of how cooking was achieved during wartime and post-war rationing.

Cafe Gabriella Choose a barista style espresso based coffee, or from a wide selection of tea. There’s also hot chocolate and speciality drinks such as chai, Arabic rose water espresso, caramel latte, mint hot chocolate, white hot chocolate, together with a selection of home-made cakes.

French Delicatessen Speciality French cheeses, fresh charcuterie and cured meats, plus other complementary foods.

Famous Last Stand Diverse range of hats such as the trilby, caps, trappers and fedoras, made from fabrics such as British tweed, wool, leather, suede, linen.

Charles Taylor Traditional handcrafted garden furniture made in the UK and delivered fully treated and assembled.

The Fudgery Award winning hand-made fudge, plus coconut ice, nougat, peanut brittle, and other traditional sweets.

Chopstick A selection of Chinese street food such as noodles, rice, chicken, pork, beef and vegetable, in mouth-watering sauces.

Grapefruit Ltd Create an account at the Food and Drink Festival and get a special discount on the services and recipe ingredients that can be delivered to your door.

Chipstix Caramelised nuts, muffins, and chocolate apples.

The Cumbrian Pie Company Makers and purveyors of gourmet Cumbrian pies.

Demelza Children’s Hospice Demelza Children’s Hospice is a charity which provides vital care to families across East Sussex, Kent and South East London.

Direct Beers Ltd Gift pack beers with interesting names

Wednesday 18th May 2016

Flint and Flame Premium quality kitchen knives, blocks, chopping boards and sharpeners.

The Great British Cheese Company Award winning artisan waxed cheese.

Great Preservations Home-made artisan chutneys, jams, jellies and pickles produced using locally sourced ingredients whenever possible.

The Greek Myth Traditional Greek street food including souvlaki skewers, Greek pita bread, wraps, pork sausages, and salads dips.

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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High living on all levels including views beyond the lawns

bracketts est.

RW_NewOffice_40x284 :Layout 1 15/05/2015 11:20 Page 1

To celebrate the opening of our new offices, we are giving away vouchers to spend at Round Wood. Visit roundwood.com to enter our prize draw.

1st Prize: £1000 2nd Prize: £500 3rd Prize: £250

www.roundwood.com Tel: 01435 867 072

Oak Framed Buildings | Hardwood Decking | Oak & Walnut Flooring | Home & Garden Features

A Leigh village lodge to make you ‘green’ with envy

Anyone for tennis, a pool and an airconditioned gym?

Villa apartment luxury overlooking Dunorlan Park

Wednesday 18th May 2016

 PROPERTY SECTION

PROMOTIONAL FEATURE

In my view…

John Roberts Savills Sevenoaks

Your at-a-glance guide to ROYAL RISE TONBRIDGE OFFERS IN EXCESS OF

£400,000 Savills residential lettings team in Sevenoaks has had a record start to the year, with demand for rental properties in the area outstripping supply.

The first quarter of this year was a record one for the team and this surge of activity looks set to continue as we head towards the summer.

The demand for properties has been across the board, from apartments in the town centre to large family homes, and from £1,000 to £12,000 per month.

Many applicants are looking for homes close to good schools, the station and the high street, but equally we have applicants who want to be in the surrounding villages.

Since Easter we have seen a marked increase in applicants registering for family houses as they look ahead to the next academic year.

We have also seen an increase in corporate relocation enquiries across the country, with a 35% rise for the first quarter of this year, compared with the same period last year.

This resurgence in corporate relocation activity reflects the growing confidence in our economic outlook as companies look to relocate staff to the UK. This in turn is positive news for landlords, many of whom like the security that comes with a corporate let – both in terms of the reliability of having rent paid in full and on time as well as the length of tenancy.

We have a range of properties launching to the market but in many cases they are being let as quickly as they’re coming on.

I would urge landlords to act now if they wish to let in the busy summer market and tenants need to act quickly if they’ve found the right property.

For more information about renting your home or corporate relocation, contact John Roberts at Savills Sevenoaks on 01732 789770.

TAYLOR CLOSE, TONBRIDGE

£235,000

UNDER £250,000 newsdesk@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk

DO YOU HAVE A STORY? Wednesday 18th May 2016

This one-bedroom ground floor apartment is in South Tonbridge and was purpose-built by Taylor Wimpey in 2014. Extremely well presented and benefitting from a private garden, it features an entrance hall, open-plan living

space with a modern kitchen, dining space and a sitting area, as well as a good size double bedroom with fitted wardrobes and a ‘Jack and Jill’ bathroom. The kitchen includes integrated appliances. Other plus points include gas central heating and an allocated parking space.

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

HEATHFIELD ROAD, BURWASH WEALD

£329,000

UNDER £350,000 This semi-detached bungalow is set in a semi-rural location near Burwash and has been comprehensively refurbished and extended. Finished to an exceptional standard throughout, it offers an entrance hall, three bedrooms (one with en-suite

WC) and a bathroom, as well as a newly remodelled open-plan reception space providing a kitchen/ dining room/sitting room. There is off-road parking and attractive gardens lie to both the front and rear.

The property is offered for sale free of any forward chain.

CONTACT Bracketts Tunbridge Wells 01892 533733 www.bracketts.co.uk

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…

ASHBURNHAM ROAD, TONBRIDGE

£575,000

UNDER £600,000 An attractive ‘halls adjoining’ bay-fronted Victorian house set in a popular road in the conservation area of Tonbridge. It has been improved but retains many period features. The ground floor has an entrance hall, a drawing room open-plan to a family/dining room, a kitchen open to a conservatory/breakfast room and a utility room. Upstairs there are three bedrooms as well as a shower room and a bathroom, with a fourth bedroom on the top floor. At the rear there is a pretty, south-facing garden with terrace.

CONTACT Jackson-Stops & Staff Sevenoaks 01732 740600 www.jackson-stops.co.uk ST JOHN’S ROAD, TUNBRIDGE WELLS

£669,950

UNDER £700,000 This is a good sized detached family house conveniently located on St John’s Road.

The accommodation could do with some cosmetic updating and comprises a large entrance hall, cloakroom, sitting room, dining room and kitchen/breakfast room on the ground floor. There are three bedrooms, one with access to a rear balcony, and a family shower room on the first floor, with a further two bedrooms and a bathroom on the top floor. There is a generous driveway and a detached single garage to the rear with additional parking.

CONTACT Jackson-Stops & Staff Tunbridge Wells 01892 521700 www.jackson-stops.co.uk ROYAL RISE, TONBRIDGE OFFERS IN EXCESS OF

CASTLE WALK, WADHURST

£400,000

£825,000

UNDER £450,000

This well-proportioned modern family home is in a popular private road on the edge of Wadhurst with the station just a mile away. Accommodation includes an entrance hall, cloakroom, family room, drawing room, dining room, kitchen and utility room on the ground floor, with five bedrooms and a bathroom on the first floor. The master suite has a dressing area and en-suite shower and another bedroom also has an en-suite bathroom. On the top floor is a playroom and attic. There is a generous parking area and integral garage and a large rear garden with a terrace.

Set in a convenient cul-de-sac close to the centre of Tonbridge, and being sold with no forward chain, this link-detached house has excellent accommodation for the family. On the ground floor there is an entrance hall, cloakroom, dual-aspect sitting room, dining room and kitchen.

Upstairs there are three bedrooms, one having an en-suite shower room, and a

UNDER £900,000

family bathroom. There is ample driveway parking, an integral garage and a rear garden with a terrace.

CONTACT Wood and Pilcher Tonbridge 01892 351135 www.woodandpilcher.co.uk

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

Wednesday 18th May 2016

Ewhurst Green, Robertsbridge - Oieo ÂŁ1,250,000 "Unspoilt, period charm in a leafy position."

Betwixt Bethersden & Pluckley ÂŁ949,000 Encased in 5.4 glorious Kentish acres, this fabulous, detached,family home is horsey heaven. Boasting 4 stables, a tack room and feed room along with a magnificent 40 x 20 "Mark Scott" arena.

Surrounded by leafy lanes, perfect for those who enjoy hacking. This refurbished and extended home offers a light and bright kitchen/breakfast room, 2 wonderful receptions, a principal suite with dressing area & a shower en-suite, 3 further double bedrooms and a family bathroom.

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

Elegant Victorian townhouse in the popular St John’s area

AT A GLANCE

QUEENS ROAD, TUNBRIDGE WELLS � Attractive semi-detached Victorian townhouse � Sought-after location � Period features � Generous accommodation � Set over three floors � Entrance porch and hallway � Sitting room � Dining room � Kitchen/breakfast room � Rear lobby � Utility room � Cloakroom � Master bedroom with en-suite and

S

ITTING in a popular road, this elegant Victorian townhouse is in the sought-after St John’s area of the town a short walk from the centre of Tunbridge Wells, and ideally located for High Brooms station.

The house is semi-detached and set back from the road, with the benefit of off-road parking and a garage, and provides generous, family-friendly accommodation arranged over three storeys.

On the ground floor there is an entrance porch to the side of the house, leading into a hallway with stairs rising. The sitting room is at the front and features a bay window, a lovely fireplace and builtin cupboards and shelves. The generous dining room also has a period fireplace, and a window to

dressing room/study/nursery � Guest bedroom

the side. This room leads through to the attractive kitchen/breakfast room at the back of the house and there is a utility room and a cloakroom off the rear lobby.

The first floor has a master bedroom, with an en-suite shower room and a dressing room/study/ nursery, as well as a guest bedroom and family bathroom. There are two more generous bedrooms on the top floor.

The property occupies a good size level plot with established private gardens to both front and rear.

The back garden extends to approximately 100ft in length with mature planting to the borders. There are two patio areas, one to the rear of the house and a second at the end of the garden.

� Family bathroom � Two top floor bedrooms � Off-road parking and garage � Large gardens

£850,000 For sale through Knight Frank Tunbridge Wells 01892 515035 www.knightfrank.co.uk

‘The house provides generous, family-friendly accommodation arranged over three storeys’

Wednesday 18th May 2016

Lambarde Road, Sevenoaks Launch Viewings: Saturday 21 st March 1 Dam - 12pm. By appointment only A well-appointed chalet bungalow. 2/3 reception rooms , 3/ 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms. Attached garage. Delightful gardens. EPC rating D. In all about 0.14 acre

Chipstead, Sevenoaks Launch Viewings: Saturday 21 st March 1Dam - 12pm. By appointment only Superb detached bungalow which has been stylishly extended. 3 reception rooms, 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms. Garage. Enclosed south facing courtyard. Beautifully landscaped private rear garden. EPC rating C. In all 0.28 of an acre

Eden bridge

Chipstead Lane, Sevenoaks

A delightful semi-detached period cottage

Launch Viewings: Saturday 21 st March 2pm - 4pm. By appointment only

Situated in a rural position with views over the Kent countryside. 3 reception rooms, 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms. Rear terrace. Established gardens. Delightful rural views. EPC rating F. In all about 0.41 acre.

Beautiful Grade II listed attached house. 3 reception rooms , 5 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms. Driveway.

Garage block with double garage and connecting store rooms with planning permission to convert into ancillary accommodation (planning ref SE/15/02156/ HOUSE). In all about 0.25 acre.

Albany Hill, Tunbridge Wells Spacious detached family home situated in the popular St James area Entrance hall, cloakroom, kitchen, dining room, sitting room, conservatory, study. Master bedroom with en suite shower room, 3 further bedrooms, family bathroom. Established rear garden. Off-street parking. Garage. EPC rating D.

London Road, Tunbridge Wells A fine Grade II Listed Georgian town house overlooking the common Entrance hall, dining room, sitting room, sun room, kitchen, cloakroom. Master bedroom with en suite bathroom and balcony, 4 further bedrooms, family bath / shower room. Cellar. Well-maintained garden. Off-street parking.

Southborough Spacious purpose built apartment with fabulous views Situated on the first floor served by a passenger lift. 3 bedrooms, 1 reception room, 2 bathrooms. Balcony. Communal gardens. Far reaching views. Garage and parking. EPC rating C. Approximately 1,169 sq ft.

Broadwater Down, Tunbridge Wells Stylish contemporary home offering spacious and versatile accommodation Utility room, boiler room, entrance hall, cloakroom, TV room, sitting room, drawing room, dining room, kitchen/ breakfast room, family room, ground floor bedroom, bathroom. Master bedroom suite with 2 shower rooms and dressing room, guest bedroom with en suite shower room, 2 further bedrooms, family bathroom. Detached 1 bedroom annexe. Carport. Established rear garden. EPC rating C.

Goudhurst An attractive Victorian cottage within the Cranbrook School Catchment Entrance hall, kitchen / dining room, utility room, family room, sitting room, ground floor bedroom. Master bedroom with en suite bathroom, 2 further bedrooms, family bathroom. Front and rear gardens. Off-street parking. Detached timberclad outbuilding. Detached studio. EPC rating F.

Cowden A beautifully presented property with stunning rural views.

Entrance hall, drawing/ dining room, kitchen. Master bedroom with en-suite bathroom, 2 further bedrooms, family bathroom, balcony. Covered parking and storage in an outbuilding. EPC rating E. Garden and grounds extending to approximately 0.4 acre.

~Knight â&#x20AC;˘411 Frank

� PROPERTY SECTION

In association with EJ FINANCIAL LTD

Impartial Investment, Pension and Tax Planning

• Call 01892 655973 today for a FREE appointment AT A GLANCE

Secluded lodge has a lovely outlook over village green

OAK LODGE POWDER MILL LANE, LEIGH � Modern family house � Enviable position overlooking village green � Sought-after village � Entrance hall � Cloakroom � Sitting room � Dining room � Kitchen/breakfast room/conservatory � Utility room � Master bedroom with en-suite � Three further bedrooms � Family bathroom � Off-road parking area � Attractive gardens to front and rear

£950,000 For sale through Jackson-Stops & Staff Sevenoaks 01732 740600 www.jackson-stops.co.uk

O

AK LODGE is tucked away in a rarely found location on the eastern edge of the green in the popular, historic village of Leigh, near Tonbridge.

The modern family house is well arranged, with a good flow of accommodation and attractive gardens to both the front and rear.

On the ground floor, the accommodation comprises an entrance hall, cloakroom, dual aspect sitting room with an open fire, and dining room with door to the garden and study. The bright, spacious kitchen/breakfast room has modern shaker-style units and a stone tile floor, and is open-plan to a lovely conservatory which makes the

‘The bright, spacious kitchen/ breakfast room has modern shaker-style units and a stone tile floor’ Wednesday 18th May 2016

most of the views across the garden.

There is also an adjacent utility room.

Upstairs, the master bedroom boasts fitted cupboards and an ensuite bathroom, with a further three bedrooms and a family bathroom.

The rear garden is pretty and mainly laid to lawn. It is also fully enclosed with close-board fencing and high hedging. A pathway leads from the patio at the back of the house under a pergola walkway to a further paved terrace in a rear corner of the garden.

To the front of the house is a further garden area which has mature oak trees and is screened by a hedge.

There is off-road parking as well as a gated entrance.

--

CROWBOROUGH, EAST SUSSEX TUNBRIDGE WELLS, KENT 8 bedrooms + 3 bathrooms + 4 reception rooms + garage + unique location + lovely gardens 5 bedrooms + 2 bathrooms + 2 reception rooms + courtyard garden + town centre location + Counci Tax=H + EPC=F + views of Grove Park + Council Tax=E + EPC=E £4,250 pcm + £282 inc VAT tenancy paperwork fee. Other charges may apply* Contact: Louise Minifie

£3,000 pcm + £282 inc VAT tenancy paperwork fee. Other charges may apply* Contact: Louise Minifie

MAYFIELD,

TUNBRIDGE WELLS, KENT 2 bedrooms + bathroom + living/d ining room + terrace + secure allocated parking space

EAST SUSSEX

3 bedrooms + bathroom and shower room + 2 reception rooms + sought after village location + Council Tax=E + EPC=G

+ south facing garden

£1,750 pcm + £282 inc VAT tenancy paperwork fee. Other charges may apply* Contact: Louise Minifie

+ Council Tax=E + EPC=B £1,150 pcm + £282 inc VAT tenancy paperwork fee. Other charges may apply* 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

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Moonlight Walk Remember • Celebrate • Donate

www.savills.eo.uk/fees.

WITHYHAM,

EAST SUSSEX

Grade II listed farmhouse in a superb semi-rural position + Tunbridge Wells MLS 5.4 miles + 2 receptions + garden room + kitchen/ dining room + 5 bedrooms + oast barn with office, games room and garage + unconverted stone barn and further outbuildings + gardens, woodland and pond + house: 3,501 sq ft + oast barn: 1,857 sq ft + about 3.83 acres + EPC exempt

Guide £1.795 million Freehold

LANGTON GREEN,

Contact: Amanda Wyatt

KENT

Well presented modern family house in central village location + tucked-away no-through road + Tunbridge Wells MLS 2.7 miles + dual aspect sitting room + study + kitchen/ breakfast room + 5 bedrooms, 1 en suite + double garage + driveway with parking + enclosed garden with terrace + shared tennis court + 1,714 sq ft + EPC=D

Guide £825,000 Freehold

CROWBOROUGH,

Contact: Becky Card

EAST SUSSEX

Individual Victorian home amalgamating an 18 th Century chapel + Crowborough MLS 2.3 miles + Private road close to golf club + 2 reception rooms + 2 reception rooms + garden room + study + kitchen/ breakfast room + 4/5 bedrooms + integral garage + established gardens + EPC=E

Guide £795,000 Freehold

* ** * *** {r*{r {r {r{r

Moonlight Walk Remember • Celebrate • Donate

Contact: Becky Card

In association with EJ FINANCIAL LTD

ďż˝ PROPERTY SECTION

Impartial Investment, Pension and Tax Planning

â&#x20AC;˘ Call 01892 655973 today for a FREE appointment

Stunning setting for a true sporting gem

S

UMMER COURT is an impressive and stylish family house built in 2000 and remodelled by the present owners in 2009. The property benefits from a striking central staircase, bespoke fitted furniture and modern bathroom suites.

There is underfloor heating to all floors and there are in-ceiling speakers to the principal reception rooms.

The reception hall and main reception rooms provide excellent entertaining areas. The drawing room is double aspect and includes a feature brick fireplace with wood-burning stove and double doors to a terrace. There is a dining room with double doors to the drawing room, a sitting room which also has doors to the terrace and a study

Wednesday 18th May 2016

with fitted bookshelves and storage. The stylish bespoke kitchen/breakfast room is fitted with a comprehensive range of units with two island units and integrated appliances by Miele. The breakfast area has access to the terrace via three pairs of doors.

An adjoining utility room, cloakroom and useful storeroom complete the ground floor.

The lower ground floor has an impressive recreation room which offers an informal family area and offers direct access to the garden. Also on this floor is an air-conditioned gym, a cloakroom and boiler room.

The first floor has five bedrooms, four with en-suite bathrooms, and a separate shower room. The master

suite is on the second floor and features a bedroom with a roof light, air conditioning, double doors to a southerly balcony, bespoke bedroom furniture and an impressive en-suite bathroom.

The house is approached via wooden electric gates over a gravel drive which culminates in a generous parking area and detached double garage.

A tennis court and a swimming pool complex, including a substantial pool house, lie within the established gardens that surround the property.

You can also enjoy the superb open views over the countryside.

The gardens are enclosed by mixed hedging and in total the area amounts to about one and a half 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

SUMMER COURT SCHOOL LANE, PLAXTOL

� Surrounded by countryside

� Lower ground floor with recreation room, gym, cloakroom and laundry room

� Modern and stylish family house

� Family shower room

� High spec

� Top floor master bedroom with en-suite and balcony

� Set in popular village

� Reception hall � Drawing room � Dining room � Sitting room � Study � Kitchen/breakfast room � Utility room � Cloakroom � Storeroom � Five bedrooms on first floor, four en-suite

� Drive and double garage � Heated swimming pool and detached pool complex � Tennis court � Landscaped gardens � In total around 1.5 acres

£3,250,000 For sale through Savills Sevenoaks 01732 789700 www.savills.co.uk

Wednesday 18th May 2016

Swaylands, Penshurst

Guide price ÂŁ1.35m

Tunbridge Wells 4 miles, Tonbridge station 4 miles, Sevenoaks 9 miles A sumptuously appointed Penthouse apartment of character set in beautifully landscaped gardens and grounds of approximately 50 acres Private hall I Triple aspect drawing room with amazing views I Living space - Sitting room, dining room, kitchen area I Master bedroom suite I Further bedroom suite with balcony I Enormous terrace Gated entrance I Private parking I Garage I For Sale Leasehold

Sevenoaks 01732 807801

sevenoaks@struttandparker.corn

Woodside Road, Sevenoaks

Guide Price ÂŁ1.95m

Sevenoaks town and station 1 mile, Junction 5, M25 3 miles A truly magnificent and exceptionally spacious (4011 sq .ft) Victorian property located in a private gated road, situated within delightful gardens and walking distance of station Entrance porch I Reception hall I Drawing room I Family room I Kitchen/dining room I Garden room I Utility I 7 bedrooms I 3 bathrooms I Sitting room/bedroom 8 I Delightful gardens About 0.34 acres

Sevenoaks 01732 807801

sevenoaks@struttandparker.corn

we open doors for you ...

Q} Primelocatior

Residential

â&#x20AC;˘ t hightmove.co.uk Sales & !Lettings

BarnesKingsnorth

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

In association with EJ FINANCIAL LTD

Impartial Investment, Pension and Tax Planning

• Call 01892 655973 today for a FREE appointment

PROPERTY SECTION �

It’s all about the park view

T

HIS striking, generously-proportioned apartment is the ground floor of an elegant period villa believed to date from around 1856, and forming part of a 1997/98 development by Priestmere Properties.

It has a private entrance, extensive terrace with far-reaching views across Dunorlan Park and retains attractive period features, including generous ceiling heights, decorative mouldings and architraves, large-paned sash windows and wood panel internal doors.

Double entrance doors open into an impressive reception hall with flagstone flooring and on to a spacious kitchen/dining room with an intricately-decorated plaster moulded ceiling, a good range of cupboards, an island unit with wine racks and integrated appliances.

To the rear is a generous drawing room with a stone fireplace and coal-effect gas fire, wide bay sash windows and French doors opening to a balustraded terrace and its exceptional views.

The master bedroom is also to the rear of the apartment and has an en-suite shower room and wonderful southern outlook. There is also a second bedroom, a room with fitted wardrobes which could be a study, bedroom or dressing room, a family bathroom and a utility room.

The south-facing terrace to the rear overlooks grounds with lawns, mature shrubs and trees.

There is a reserved parking space and a secure garage within the lower ground floor car park.

AT A GLANCE

‘This striking, generouslyproportioned apartment is the ground floor of an elegant period villa’

PARKVIEW TRINITY CLOSE, TUNBRIDGE WELLS � Ground floor apartment � Part of a Victorian villa � Superb views over Dunorlan Park and beyond � Period features � Private entrance and hall � Drawing room � Kitchen/dining room � Master bedroom with en-suite � Second bedroom � Third bedroom/study/dressing room � Family bathroom � Utility room � Private terrace � Secure underground parking � Additional parking space � Communal grounds

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

Wednesday 18th May 2016

It's Show Time!

June and July are traditionally the time of year we atJacksons Fencing like to take ourselves and some of our lovely products, out of the office to some of the summer shows. This year is no exception - we are at Royal Windsor helping the country celebrate the Queen's 90th birthday. After that it's The Royal Bath and West, a fortnight later The Cheshire County Show and then in July The Kent County Show.

That should keep us busy.

Those of you who are regular readers will hopefully have spotted the feature I ran on our fantastic new Curve a few months ago. This new garden shelter has created quite a stir, so it wasn't a difficult decision when considering what should be the mainstay of our show stand this year. Yes of course it has to be the Curve that will be travelling around the country giving the show-going public a chance to see it in its full glory!

If you are more of a garden show, than a county show type of visitor, we have a presence at BBC Gardeners World Live at the NEC in June. I can't promise you a Curve will be on show there, but we are sponsoring a wildlife friendly show garden called 'The Green Connection' by award winning design team Wardrop and Stevenson. This will feature our Woven and Venetian panels, and I'm happy to say some of our hedgehog friendly gravel boards. That will hopefully keep raising awareness of the diminishing numbers of these lovely creatures and what we can do to help them by making sure they can move easily between our gardens.

This time last year we were at full tilt preparing and building our Silver Gilt medal winning show garden at RHS Hampton Court Flower Show. It was a proud moment for all of us atJacksons. Imagine my delight when I received a call from the show manager asking if we would consider lending the RHS the facades -that were

Win ÂŁ300 of Jacksons vouchers ...

a big feature of our show garden last year? Well that's a yes of course! They will feature with other Jacksons' products in four front show gardens, that are result of a competition run by BBC local radio stations and the RHS, so look out for this if you visit Hampton this year.

To find out more about where to see us this year, visit your dedicated page www. jacksons-fenci ng .co. uk/ashfo rd Ioca I louise@jacksons-fencin9. co. uk

Captions: The Curve shelter is to be the star of Jacksons shows this summer. Hedgehog friendly gravel boards to feature in the Green Connection at BBC Gardeners World Live this June at the NEC in Birmingham

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 30.6.16.

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.

Tunbridge Wells

Monthly Rental £ I ,SOO

Tunbridge Wells £I, 150,000 A charming detached cottage, significantly extended and improved, set back from the road on 0.4 acre corner plot. 4 reception rooms + study, kitchen/breakfast room, cellar, 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms. Double garage with gated parking, beautiful feature gardens. EPC: D

A spacious 4 storey town house on the south side of the town. Kit/breakfast room, reception room, living room/master bedroom, 3 further double bedrooms, bathroom & 2 cloakrooms. Ground floor storage rooms. Garden & single garage.Available now. EPC E

Groombridge £345,000 An immaculately presented late Victorian end of terrace house, occupying a prime village position, with modern kitchen and sanitary fittings. Reception room, kitchen/dining room, 2 bedrooms, wet room. Pretty enclosed rear garden, garden shed. EPC: D

A stunning & very spacious 2 bed apartment within the former Kentish Hotel. Large entrance hall, kitchen/breakfast room, living room, 2 double bedrooms & modern bathroom.

Neutral decor, gas central heating & permit parking.Available early June. EPC: D

Tunbridge Wells £199,950 A well presented, light and spacious I bedroom apartment, located on the top floor of converted terraced property in the popular 'village area' of the town within walking distance of mainline station. Hall, sitting room/kitchen area, bedroom, bathroom. EPC: D

Tunbridge Wells Monthly Rental £695 A well-presented first floor one bed flat located within walking distance of the town & main line station. Living room, fitted kitchen, double bedroom & white bathroom suite. Neutral decor, kitchen appliances and off road parking to the rear.Available immediately. EPC: E

Tunbridge Wells

Monthly Rental £1,200

� PROPERTY SECTION

Handsome country house lies beside golf course and stream S

WEETHAWS GRANGE was built in the mid-1920’s on the site of a former manor house and has been the much-loved home of the current owners for the past 39 years.

The property has well-proportioned bright rooms with high ceilings and enjoys commanding southerly views beyond its gardens. It is located at the end of a quiet country track approximately one and a half miles south of the centre of Crowborough, surrounded by common land and the Beacon Golf Club.

With period features and roomy accommodation arranged over three floors, as well as a two-bedroom detached cottage and superb grounds, this property has a great deal of potential.

The ground floor comprises a reception hall, cloakroom, and spacious drawing room with open fireplace and French doors opening to the rear terrace. There is also an elegant dining room, sitting room with wood-burning stove and kitchen/ breakfast room with oil-fired Aga, a range of cupboards and wonderful views. Plus a butler’s pantry, a utility room and rear hall with a further cloakroom.

On the first floor is a generous landing

Wednesday 18th May 2016

and a master bedroom with views over the gardens to Ashdown Forest which has an en-suite bathroom. On this level there are three further bedrooms, a family bathroom, a shower room and a study/bedroom five. A second staircase means that one of the bedrooms, a study/ bedroom and a shower room could become self-contained.

On the second floor is a sixth bedroom with a large adjoining attic space, a studio with worktops, sink unit and a second large attic space.

There is a gated entrance with a long gravel driveway leading to the parking area and a detached lodge-style garage.

Usefully nestled in the fabulous grounds is a detached cottage with sitting room, kitchen, cloakroom, two bedrooms and a bathroom.

To the rear of the main house is a formal garden arranged on four levels. Beyond this is a paddock and a large vegetable plot, a former grass tennis court, and Japanese-inspired gardens with cascading ponds and a stream to one side.

The gardens extend to just over three acres with an additional one and a quarter acres of forest to one side.

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 � Country house in idyllic setting � Semi-rural location � Built in the 1920s � Period features � Spacious accommodation � Reception hall � Cloakroom � Drawing room � Dining room � Sitting room � Kitchen/breakfast room � Butler’s pantry � Utility room � Cellar � Four bedrooms on the first floor, one en-suite � Family bathroom � Shower room � Study/bedroom 5 � Second floor with bedroom and attic room off it and studio with attic room off it � Detached 2-bed cottage � Mature gardens and grounds � Paddock � Ponds and stream

SWEETHAWS GRANGE SWEETHAWS LANE, CROWBOROUGH

£2,000,000

� Approaching 5 acres in all

£2,000,000 For sale through Batcheller Monkhouse Tunbridge Wells 01892 512020 www.batchellermonkhouse.com

Wednesday 18th May 2016

� PROPERTY SECTION

In association with EJ FINANCIAL LTD

Impartial Investment, Pension and Tax Planning

• Call 01892 655973 today for a FREE appointment AT A GLANCE

MAPLE CLOSE, TONBRIDGE n Modern family home n Private close setting n Built 2012 n Remainder of NHBC guarantee n Stylishly presented n Entrance hall n Cloakroom n Study n Sitting room n Dining room n Kitchen/breakfast room n Master bedroom with en-suite n Three further first floor bedrooms n Family bathroom n Guest suite on top floor

Modern Tonbridge house is set in a gated private close

n Off-road parking and detached double garage n Attractive gardens with terrace

£895,000 For sale through Savills Sevenoaks 01732 789700 www.savills.co.uk

‘The kitchen is fitted with a comprehensive range of wall and base units, including a central island unit and high spec fitted appliances’

T

HIS handsome, detached family home was built in 2012 and benefits from the remainder of an NHBC guarantee. Internally, the property offers stylishly presented and well-proportioned accommodation arranged over three floors. It is set back in a private gated close with a landscaped garden, conveniently positioned for Tonbridge town and local schools.

There is a bright and spacious entrance hall, with a cloakroom off it, and a study at the front of the house. The sitting room has a bay window and attractive fireplace and the dining room is open to the kitchen/ breakfast room. The kitchen is fitted with a comprehensive range of wall and base units, including a central island unit and high spec fitted appliances. Double doors from both the breakfast area and the dining room provide access to the garden.

The master bedroom enjoys views over the rear garden and benefits from fitted wardrobes and a well-appointed en-suite shower room. There are three further bedrooms on the first floor, two of which include fitted wardrobes, and a family bathroom. A spacious, double-aspect guest bedroom can be found on the second floor, along with a contemporary en-suite shower room.

The property benefits from a driveway with plenty of parking which leads to a detached double garage. The landscaped rear garden comprises a terrace, ideal for al fresco dining, and an adjoining area of lawn with herbaceous beds.

Wednesday 18th May 2016

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

THESUNDAYTIMES

T-"!:AMPTONS

11

INTERNATIONAL

THE altlift.TIMES

Chipstead - Guide Price £550,000 An immensely characterful and pretty Victorian cottage, built in approximately 1890.

Extending to 1163 sq. ft. the three bedroom house retains many period features and benefits from a fantastic rear garden and off street parking. EPC: F

East Peckham - Guide Price £1,150,000 Stunning Grade II listed, 5/6 bedroom oast house in delightful level grounds of 1.68 acres, with a swimming pool, tennis court and internal accommodation extending to 2806 sq. ft.

lghtham - Guide Price £975,000 Characterful 16th century detached house with later additions that offers scope for refurbishment or for the building of a replacement dwelling in excess of 8000 sq. ft. (planning in place) on the delightful half acre plot. EPC: F

West Kingsdown - Guide Price £900,000 An attractive and spacious five bedroom detached home with fantastic entertaining space, set on a plot of 0.64 acres and located on a sought after residential street with glorious views over surrounding countryside. EPC: C

Sevenoaks Office Sales. 01732 423127

I

sevenoaks@hamptons-int.com

Drl

Beyond your expectations www.hamptons.co.uk

Tunbridge Wells £1,195,000 A very impressive park side 6 bedroom Victorian town house which has been carefully restored to its former wonderful elegance and character creating an exceptional family house with many original features. EPC: D

Cross in Hand £975,000 An outstanding, superbly presented, spacious family house situated on the edge of the beautiful Possingworth Park built in the 1930s by the highly regarded Lions Green Company and subsequently extended in keeping with the original character. EPC: C

Lamberhurst £850,000 A distinctive converted stable with 3/4 bedrooms, a beautiful light and spacious interior, pretty established gardens including a secluded walled courtyard and planning permission for a two storey extension. EPC: F

Tunbridge Wells £785,000 Situated along a popular residential road close to the grammar schools, this handsome 4 bedroom detached Edwardian house offers both spacious and versatile accommodation with many period features throughout and a garage. EPC: E

Tunbridge Wells £720,000 Situated within the popular 'village area' in the highly regarded lower end of Tunbridge Wells, this is an excellent and well presented 3/4 bedroom, Victorian villa in a very attractive terrace with well arranged accommodation over four floors. EPC: E

Mayfield £530,000 An enchanting Grade II listed 2 bedroom period village house situated in the delightful, picturesque village of Mayfield and within easy walking distance of the village amenities.

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 detached house has an interesting and versatile layout with many fine features including a stunning vaulted drawing room along with gardens and grounds of about 3.5 acres. EPC: D

Tunbridge Wells ÂŁ1,385,000 A stunning 4 bedroom imaginative conversion of a former Victorian coach house situated in a prime town location renovated and refurbished to an exacting standard yet retaining its original character throughout with its beautifully presented spacious interior. EPC: E

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� PROPERTY SECTION

MOUNT HOUSE RANTNERS LANE, GOUDHURST

£1,600,000

Wednesday 18th May 2016

In association with EJ FINANCIAL LTD

Impartial Investment, Pension and Tax Planning

• Call 01892 655973 today for a FREE appointment

PROPERTY SECTION �

Listed rural property with a pond, fountain and outbuildings is packed with potential

M

OUNT HOUSE is a beautiful Grade II listed period home on the outskirts of Goudhurst which boasts a stunning semi-rural location and detached outbuildings. With a Victorian façade to a 17thcentury, or earlier, rear wing, this superb family house is bright, airy and very well presented. Set over three floors, the main property has many period features, including double bay windows to the front and several fireplaces.

The house opens to a central entrance hall, with a drawing room to one side and a sitting room on the other. The sitting room is open-plan to the dining room, which has double doors to the garden.

There is a good sized kitchen/breakfast room, a large utility room, a cloakroom and stairs down to a useful cellar.

The first floor has four bedrooms, one en-suite, and a family bathroom, while two further bedrooms can be found on the top floor.

In addition to the main residence, there is a partlyconverted oast house which provides extra accommodation on the first floor and large storage rooms on the ground floor.

A further outbuilding has a games room and workshop, and there is a detached open-bay double garage.

The property is approached via a gated entrance over a sweeping gravel driveway leading to a parking area. The gardens are laid to lawn with mature trees and a feature pond with water fountain. Steps lead up to a private tennis court. There is lapsed planning permission to extend the rear of the main house and fully convert the oast house.

AT A GLANCE n Grade II listed family house

n Cloakroom

n Detached open-bay double garage

n Part Georgian, part Victorian

n Four bedrooms on first floor,

n Tennis court

n Period features

one en-suite

n Entrance hall

n Family bathroom

n Drawing room

n Two second floor bedrooms

n Sitting room

n Oast house with store rooms and

n Dining room n Kitchen/breakfast room n Large Utility room

first floor one-bed annexe n Further outbuilding with games room and workshop

n Partly walled vegetable garden n Gardens and ground of 1.71 acres

£1,600,000 For sale through Knight Frank Tunbridge Wells 01892 515035 www.knightfrank.co.uk

‘In addition to the main residence there is a partly-converted oast house which provides extra accommodation’ Wednesday 18th May 2016

Attractive 4 bedroom detached house set in a quiet

Douglas Road Guide Price £525,000£575,000 FREEHOLD

cul-de-sac within walking distance of the High Street

Situated in the ever-popular Meadow Lawn area

and mainline station. Situated on a good size plot,

within 10 minutes walk to the mainline station and

this light and spacious property has a large master

High Street, this spacious and versatile house is set

bedroom with en-suite shower room, a utility room,

over 3 floors and has 5 double bedrooms and 2 large

a study and a downstairs cloakroom, plus outside

reception rooms. This well presented and substantial

it has a landscaped garden, garage and off-street

property even has the possibility to extend (subject to

parking for 7-8 cars. Modern in style, but, with all the

planning approval) to provide a large kitchen and family

conveniences of a new build, the house has character

room. One bedroom currently used as a family/games

features such as an inglenook style fireplace and

room has wonderful views over Tonbridge. Close to

wood burning stove. EPC D

highly rated Primary and Secondary schools. EPC E

Northwood Road Guide Price £325,000 £345,000 FREEHOLD

Taylor close £289,750 LEASEHOLD A well presented and spacious ground floor, 2

A well presented 3 bedroom semi detached house

bedroom apartment, that is within walking distance

that has the benefit of a large secluded garden. The

of the station and High Street and has an allocated

property is located within walking distance to schools

off road parking space. This 1 year old apartment is

and shops at York Parade. The accommodation

light and airy and comprises an open plan kitchen/

comprises a lounge, dining room, kitchen, a versatile

living area, 2 double bedrooms, one with an en

third reception room, with under floor heating, and

suite bathroom, the other with an en suite shower.

cloakroom downstairs, with 3 bedrooms and family

The apartment has good quality, low maintenance

bathroom upstairs. Outside to the front there is off

flooring throughout and plenty of storage. EPC C

road parking, whilst the large rear garden is mostly laid to lawn. EPC D

Please contact us for Sales, Rentals and Valuations t: 01732 770077 I e: tonbridge@ellisandco.co.uk I 93 High Street, Tonbridge, Kent TN9 1DR

~ A ~

The Property ombudsman

OO

~ ~

W W

� PROPERTY SECTION

PRICE RANGE £425,000 - £440,000.

STUNNING LOCATION A beautifully presented two/three bedroom very spacious attached period cottage, dating back to the l 800's bursting with rustic charm throughout. Good sized vaulted attic space ideal for potential conversion with flooring currently in place.

This delightful property is situated in the heart of stunning rural surrounding countryside and within walking distance of Holden Pond and Southborough Common but benefits also from being a short drive of A21 /M25 and rail links to London MLS. It is within walking distance of Southborough Primary School, shops and local amenities and a short drive from Tonbridge/ Tunbridge Wells town centres. An idyllic location and perfect for families and commuters. GFCH. END OF CHAIN. STUNNING LOCATION • Ideal for families • Walking distance to fabulous country walks • Walking distance to the local picturesque cricket ground • Close to Southborough Primary School • Short drive to A21 /M25 road link • Walking distance to Southborough village • Exposed beams • Spacious accommodation • Scope to convert attic space subject to regulations EPC: D

144 London Road, Southborough, Tunbridge Wells, Kent, TN4 OPJ 101892 5216111 mothergooseestates.co.uk

MOVE ~Times ~

OF TUNBRIDGE WELLS AND TONBRIDGE

TO PROMOTE YOUR PROPERTY CONTACT PATSY KELLY PKelly@markerstudy.com I 01892 774781 Wednesday 18th May 2016

Andrews >

Tunbridge Wells andrewsonline.co.uk

J

Broadwater Down, TN2 5NJ Guide £218,000 Park with ease and enjoy the semi-rural feel of this one bedroom ground floor home ...

Energy Efficiency Rating: D

Powder Mill Lane, TN4 9ED Guide £300,000-£315,000 3 bedroom end-terraced home, with parking to rear and front and rear gardens.

Energy Efficiency Rating: C

Grosvenor Road, TN1 2AY

Guide £525,000 234m period property with mixed commercial/ former HMO use in central Tunbridge Wells with 5 bedrooms, 4 reception rooms. Flexible purchase terms ...

Energy Efficiency Rating: D 2

. l

•

Hastings Road, TN2 4PB £650 pcm This one bedroom maisonette is located in the rural village of Pembury which in itself is surrounded by woodlands and agricultural land, close to the A21. Open entering the property you will notice the kitchen with some appliances and just of this there is a spacious lounge with featured gas fireplace. Upstairs you will find a double bedroom and bathroom with shower over. Property benefits from allocated parking.

Energy Efficiency Rating: D

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

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

JOIN US FOR THE LAUNCH WEEKEND Saturday 21st - Sunday 22nd May at 11am - 3pm The Willows is an exclusive development of four, 3 & 4 bedroom detached houses set in the village of Rusthall , under two miles west of the historic Spa town of Royal Tunbridge Wells. Homes benefit from excellent design and specification , gardens, garaging and further off-street parking .

Prices from ÂŁ520,000 For more information please contact one of our selling agents:

~MJProperty

______,fm[L---WOOD & PILCHER

01892 515188 www.kmjproperty.co. u k

01892 511211 www.woodandpilcher.co.uk

Price correct at time of going to press.

WITH THE

NEW HOMES AND LETTINGS

Standout apex window marks high-tech house for sale near Sevenoaks

OF TUNBRIDGE WELLS AND TONBRIDGE

Three, two…one high-spec family home left in pretty, tranquil setting Ideally placed and reasonably priced apartments to let in Kent

Wednesday 18th May 2016

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For Sale Coming Soon ...

TONBRIDGE 2 bedroom purpose built apartment, en-suite, open plan, terrace

Properties Wanted for Sale In St Peters area!

Please call to make an appointment for a free sales valuation

Properties Wanted for Sale In St James area!

Please call to make an appointment for a free sales valuation

www.tw-property.co.uk TW Property, 34 Monson Road, Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN1 1LU

Sales: Tel 01892 530109 Lettings: Tel 01892 548049

e: sales@tw-property.co.uk e: lettings@tw-property.co.uk

â&#x20AC;˘

ti rightmove

~ ~

~ / \ The Property

~Ombudsman

We are members of Property Ombudsman and Guild of Letting and Management

� PROPERTY SECTION

BEECH HOUSE COMP LANE, PLATT

£1,595,000

‘The front elevation of the house has a distinctive double-height window rising to the apex which allows natural light to flood in’

Stylish new build with au pair suite and access to the woods

B

EECH HOUSE is a striking contemporary property recently completed and benefitting from a ten-year NHBC warranty.

The front elevation of the house has a distinctive double-height window rising to the apex which allows natural light to flood in.

Designed to a high specification throughout, features include porcelain-tiled floors with underfloor heating to the ground floor, oak staircases with glass side screens and stylish bathroom suites with multi-jet shower fitments.

It is also wired for Cat 6 and satellite systems.

Wednesday 18th May 2016

The ground floor has a generous entrance hall and there are two reception rooms to the front currently arranged as a drawing room with a wood-burning stove and a sitting room.

The impressive open-plan reception room spans the rear of the house and is arranged as a kitchen/dining/family room with a bay window incorporating double doors to the rear terrace.

The kitchen area is well appointed with a comprehensive range of units and integrated appliances, while a utility room and a cloakroom complete this level.

The first floor galleried landing has an outlook to the front and a seating area. Set to the rear, the master suite comprises a bedroom with an outlook over the garden, a dressing room and a spacious en-suite bathroom. The guest bedroom has an ensuite shower room and there are two further bedrooms on this floor, one of which has a ‘Jack and Jill’ bathroom.

Arranged on the second floor are two further bedrooms with skylight windows and deep wardrobe cupboards and a further bathroom.

The property also has a useful au pair suite which is approached via a secondary staircase and comprises a living/bedroom with kitchenette and en-suite bathroom.

Externally, the house has a brick block drive which provides parking and leads to the double garage.

To the front is an area of lawn and a paved path leads around the house to a generous terrace. There are also terraced lawns where there are a number of oak trees and a superb beech tree. A gate leads into Platt Woods.

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 n Newly built contemporary home n High spec throughout n Stylish design n Generous accommodation n Entrance hall n Sitting room n Drawing room n Cloakroom n Large open-plan kitchen/dining room/ family room n Utility room n Master bedroom with en-suite and dressing room n Guest bedroom with en-suite n Two further first floor bedrooms n Two top floor bedrooms n Two bathrooms n First floor au pair suite n Drive and double garage n Landscaped gardens n Backing on to woods n In all 0.4 of an acre

£1,595,000 For sale through Savills Sevenoaks 01732 789700 www.savills.co.uk

Wednesday 18th May 2016

nearby Front Station.

Available with a range of incentives* to help make your dream move happen Priced at ÂŁ1,150,000

DUKES GRANGE, BAYHAM ROAD, ROYAL TUNBRIDGE WELLS TN2 SHU

CALL 01892 628 676 CALA.CO.UK

TWTl SMAY "Availability of other incentives/offers subjed to lender's criteria and CALA's discretion. Our range of incentives are not all available in one purchase, they represent a choice of incentives and cannot be used in conjunction with each other and are available on selected plots only. Visit cala.co.uk/terms for full terms and conditions and purchasing criteria. Telephone calls within the British Isles will be charged at local rate. Telephone calls may divert to a mobile service in which case call charges may vary. Prices are accurate at time of going to print. Images shown are taken from previous developments and feature, fittings, decor, flooring and soft furnishings which are not included as standard in a CALA home. Images are used to suggest possible finishes which can be achieved in your home at an additional cost. Please consult a Sales Advisor for further details. Some images have been enhanced.

TONBRIDGE FOOD & DRINK FESTIVAL �

Nut Farms Local walnuts and Kentish cobnuts, cobnut oil, cobnut chutneys and sauce, lavender jelly (nonnut product), walnut biscuits, cobnut fudge and brittle, honey with cobnuts, choc-coated cobnuts, other nutty products.

Tonbridge Castle Wedding promotions at the Castle.

Olivier’s Bakery Freshly handmade bread, pastries, cakes and savouries.

Urban Truffle Ltd Gain direct access to the very best ingredients available and have them delivered directly to your door. Choices include smoked salmon and rye canapés, truffle rissotto canapés, vinegar, olive oil, truffles (seasonal Variety) rissotto rice, hand-made pasta, terrines, smoked salmon, chutney, preserved fruit, pasta ragu, caviar, dried mushrooms, herbs, jam, biscotti, sable biscuits, confit duck. Or choose yourself a hamper.

Passion du Fromage Ltd Continental fine foods including Spanish saucisson, French cheese, Spanish wine and French cider.

Pepenbury A provider of high quality care and support for adults with a learning disability.

Pepe’s Churros Enjoy some traditional Churros washed down with a delicious hot chocolate.

Pine Trees Cider Farm-made Cider, produced using traditional methods.

Hall Place Dairy Local cheese made on a dairy farm in Leigh.

Cheddar style cheese, smoked cheese, and fresh curd cheese.

Hebridean Spirits & Liqueurs This family run business specialises in the creation and manufacture of wholly owned whiskies and liqueurs. Each one comes in a distinctive bottle with beautiful packaging and has its own story to tell.

Hot Face Sauces Chilli sauces, chilli jams, dried chillies, chilli chocolate are among the products made with locally sourced natural ingredients and no artificial preservatives, colours, flavours or chemical extracts.

Hush Heath Winery An exquisite selection of wines and ciders all produced from fruit grown in the winery’s Kent vineyards and apple orchards. Home to the award winning. English sparkling wine, Balfour Brut Rosé.

Irvin Sweets Sweets, liquorice and fudge

McCarthys Choose from a range of bread that has been crafted, rather than mass produced, together with patisserie and traditional baked items.

Mr Olive Ltd Quality Mediterranean food and snacks including olives, baklava,Turkish delight, and nuts.

Naked & Ready Foods Makers of rare breed organic pork scotch eggs, gourmet pates and dips using locally-sourced ingredients.

Northgate Wines A selection of wines to choose from including three-litre limited edition art barrels.

Nip from the Hip Nip from the Hip is a family run Kent-based business producing mouth-watering liqueurs.

There are many flavours to choose from including the award winning Rhubarb Vodka and Gooseberry Gin, plus Cherry Whiskey, Cherry Brandy, Plum Gin, Raspberry Vodka/ Gin, Damson Gin, Strawberry and Vanilla Vodka, Strawberry Rum and many more.

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Proper Tea Company Choose from over 70 classic and excitingly different teas, tisanes and herbal infusions.

Romney Marsh Wools Ltd British wool has many benefits and many excellent qualities as it is renewable, sustainable and incredibly versatile. Take a look at some of the great items made by Romney Marsh Wools.

Tonbridge and Malling Friends of the Earth Local branch of the campaigning environmental organisation.

Wise Owl Cider Ltd Cider made with 100 per cent pressed Kentish apples.

The Wiltshire Chilli Farm Chilli products made from home grown chillies including sauces, jams, chilli grinders, dried chillies, fresh chillies and chilli plants.

Organised and supported by Tonbridge Town Team OF TONBRIDGE

RSPB This UK charity works to secure a healthy environment for birds and all wildlife. Ask about a special membership offer available at the Food and Drink Festival.

Sawley Kitchen London Hand-baked Yorkshire shortbread biscuits, meringues and hampers.

Surrey Ices UK Cool down with one of your favourite ice creams.

Produced in Kent are delighted to support the Tonbridge Food & Drink Festival. www.producedinkent.co.uk

Sweet Nostalgia Fudge Handmade fudge, homemade marmalade, traditional lemonade and other handmade confectionery, plus Kent-produced apple juice

Wednesday 18th May 2016

76 � TONBRIDGE FOOD & DRINK FESTIVAL

Local acts bring spice of life to Food and Drink Festival

By Dave Mac IF MUSIC be the food of love you have to adore the local fayre on stage at the Tonbridge Food Festival.

Over the two and a half days while visitors indulge in the wonderful aroma and tastes of the food and drink on offer they will be treated to a dazzling array of non-stop entertainment emanating from the stage on the castle lawn.

Amazingly the spectacular line-up of artistes, bands, choirs and theatre school performers is included in the FREE entry to the event when an abundance of family friendly talent will be playing, singing and entertaining the festival visitors.

Demonstrating the quality and sheer variety of entertainment you can expect, here is a little about a few of the performers many of whom I have had the pleasure of treading the boards with.

Hobo and The Hippies are a five piece alt-folk, country band hailing from the West Kent. Relax and enjoy the fun as they perform their own material with songs inspired by their experiences, local characters and places. Performing on Sunday afternoon, the Hobos are not ones to miss as the whole family will enjoy their infectiously joyful sound, fun loving personalities and often comical, care free attitude to their live shows.

The festival was fortunate to secure the band as they have a full summer of performances at local events and as far afield as the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in August. www.hoboandthehippies.co.uk Unique Tonbridge singer songwriter and rapper Lee Willz, who headlines on Friday at 8pm, is currently back in the studio with his musical partner aiming to release a brand new album this summer.

Lee has appeared on MTV, Staying Alive and AKA music channels and was the winner of Best Unsigned Artist beating 11,000 other bands for the accolade.

Lee has performed at venues and festivals, making music videos around the world with prestigious artistes including Devlin and Sway,

Wednesday 18th May 2016

Charlie Brown and Mic Righteous and at festivals with Dizee Rascal and Katy B in the line-up.

You can also check Lee out during his second set on Sunday afternoon.

Razzamataz Theatre School Tonbridge, of Dragons Den fame, presents 80+ students ranging from four to 16-years-old. They will perform a spectacular mini concert containing an eclectic medley from pop songs to showstoppers culminating in a rousing finale.

The students have been working towards a summer of performances during fun classes at The Hayesbrook school. The classes cover dance, drama and singing, plus performing arts, from classic West End musical theatre to commercial dance and pop singing.

To book a free taster session go to: www.tonbridge.razzamataz.co.uk

pop to opera and choral. Lead by Helen Walker and accompanied by pianist Carolyn Cabrerra, they recently sang for the lighting of the beacon at Tonbridge Castle for the Queen’s 90th birthday.

The choir meet every Wednesday night at 7.30pm during term time at the Delarue Hall on Shipbourne Road. Anyone can join and they always welcome new members - especially men!

You can listen and even sing-along with them on Sunday afternoon.

LEE WILLZ

What do you get if you blend a high falsetto with a little bit of growl and a philosophical soul with a classic rock, together with some acoustic guitar riffs?

The answer is, you get Pembroke Tenneson, the San Francisco-born, philosophy student who wins accolades and fans wherever he performs. So don’t miss him when he performs at the Food and Drink Festival on Saturday at 12.30pm. www.pembroketenneson.com The Tonbridge Community Singers have been performing together for more than five years and have about 30 members who sing everything from

Pianist Tom Carradine captures the flavour and atmosphere of a good old fashioned Cockney knees up and appeals to audiences young and old.

Since its launch in 2014, Carradine’s Cockney Sing-a-long has rapidly become a fixture on the UK’s thriving vintage scene and is now playing sellout dates including, monthly at Scallywag Cafe in Tunbridge Wells.

You can have a right royal knees up with him at the Food and Drink Festival on Saturday at 2pm. www.carradinescockneysingalong.co.uk You have a chance to listen to one of the county’s most amazing vocal performers on Saturday at 5.30pm. Tonbridge’s own Charlotte Lubbock taught me to sing a song for my starring role in a Christmas special and if she can do that, trust me, her students will sound fab too when they perform earlier on Saturday.

Charlotte has achieved a world of experience over

the past decade in all fields of music. Since her first stage appearance aged just seven, Charlotte has developed her craft through varying methods of learning and created her own style as a wellrounded musician and voice coach. www.charlottelubbock.com Sam Dunstall is a renowned young blues musician whose voice and guitar playing need to be seen to be believed. With years of experience under his belt, he is sharper than ever. You can see this remarkable performer on Saturday at 7pm. www.samdunstall.com The Swallows Band treat audiences to an eclectic musical mix taking in everything from a grandiose piano take on Radiohead’s Creep to a wailing ukulele-led solo on Thin Lizzy’s Whiskey in a Jar, a hauntingly harmonica driven version of Nirvana’s Heart Shaped Box to a swamp blues take on Gnarl’s Barkley’s Crazy.

The band delights audiences with quirky arrangements of old favourites. In 2014, the release of their first self-published EP ‘Particles’, raised money for two charities with which the band are closely connected - Positive East and Attitude is Everything www.theswallowsband.com The Tonbridge Music Station is presenting some brilliant acts throughout the weekend with Daisy Port, Darcie Mountney, Fintan Rawsthorne, Tallulah Swallow and their Soul Choir. www.musicstation.pro I have had the pleasure of being involved in some of the biggest local events in recent years and am honoured to be running the entertainment at the Rotary Christmas festival and lights again this year. Having spent 40 years in the business I know quality acts when I see them and am very much looking forward to being a part of and comparing at this wonderful event where acts, most of them local, will again be entertaining thousands of people making Tonbridge a truly vibrant, energetic and culturally interesting place to live or visit.

FOOD AND DRINK n

77

Cracking the nut market Situated in the village of St Mary’s Platt between Sevenoaks and Tonbridge, Potash Farm sells Kentish cobnuts in their green, golden and de-husked states. We speak to the rural property consultant Alexander Hunt about what’s on offer in a nutshell from this specialist supplier TELL US THE BACKGROUND OF YOUR FARM Potash Farm was planted in about 1900 and is the county’s prime showcase plantation for cobnuts. I’ve owned the farm and have been involved in it for 36 years, having lived in the village for 54 years.

WHAT DO YOU GROW THERE? I grow and pick 25 acres of Kentish cobnuts and six acres of walnuts, selling them 12 months of the year; I’m the only grower who does this. I also buy in great soft-shelled almonds and pecan nuts, and import very high-quality chestnuts for the dessert market as well.

HOW DOES BEING BASED IN KENT ENSURE THE NUTS ARE OF THE HIGHEST QUALITY? Kent is ideal for growing cobnuts and walnuts, with its slightly dryer and sunnier climate. We produce about two tonnes of Kentish cobnuts and walnuts per acre.

CAN VISITORS PURCHASE THE NUTS IN YOUR FARM SHOP? The farm shop is open by appointment and has our full range of nuts, plus the added-value items, ready to purchase at any time. The Potash Farm walks and my talks are very popular; I travel

throughout the country to talk about Potash Farm and the edible nut tree business called The Walnut Tree Company.

COULD YOU EXPLAIN MORE ABOUT THAT? The Walnut Tree Company is the county’s leading supplier of quality walnut, sweet chestnut, almond and Kentish cobnut trees, and gives specialist advice for the garden, orchard, forest and amenities/landscape uses.

PART OF YOUR ACREAGE HAS THE FULL SOIL ASSOCIATION ORGANIC STATUS – WHAT DOES THIS MEAN? One of my cobnut Platts is grown organically and is the only Platt registered with the Soil Association in Bristol. These nuts go to specific organic nut outlets, and the finished nut quality is the same as the conventionally grown nuts.

WHERE WOULD YOU LIKE TO TAKE THE FARM GOING FORWARD? The future for Potash Farm has never been better. We have about 120 trade customers and a very strong website business, attend about 10 farmers’ markets a month and are on the road every weekend at major food festivals and events.

Our home-grown Kentish nuts are very healthy, containing many vital vitamins that are essential for a healthy daily diet.

THE POTASH FARM PARTNERSHIP Apple Trees, Comp Lane, St Mary’s Platt, Nr Sevenoaks, Kent TN15 8NR | 01732 882 734 www.kentishcobnuts.com | www.walnuttrees.co.uk info@kentishcobnuts.com

Wednesday 18th May 2016

78 � FOOD AND DRINK

Escape the hustle and bustle and enjoy a dining experience with a difference The Boat House Bistro at Bewl Water has been open only a matter of weeks and yet is already attracting its fair share of food fans. Eileen Leahy went along to find out why it’s creating so much interest in for a treat.

As the maître d’ shows my lunch guest and I to our smartly dressed table it’s hard to believe this corner waterside calm is just a few minutes away from the hustle and bustle of the A21.

Granted, the early summer sunshine helps to enhance the appealing ambience SHADES OF GREY but even on a drizzly The Boat House’s chic interior day you feel that this ON ENTERING the Boat House Bistro, Bewl Water’s space with its beautiful vistas, soothing colour new gastro venture, I immediately feel relaxed. scheme and cheery artwork on the walls (by Its stunning views of the tranquil reservoir local painter Elizabeth Pangrazi-Simpson) would below with windsurfers gliding gently by on it instantly lift the spirits. instantly destress and make me smile.

While perusing the menu, which is a mix of Then there’s the elegant restaurant itself.

British classics – think beer battered hake, With its chic grey décor, exposed brick walls, panfried trout and slow cooked beef ribs – impressive vaulted ceiling and sailboat peppered with the odd European twist such as sculptures dotted about the place, it chimes in homemade gnocchi, we are greeted by a friendly perfectly with its nautical surroundings. waitress who takes our drinks orders.

If the food is as good as this place looks then I’m Once we’re happily sipping a glass of chilled

Wednesday 18th May 2016

Italian Pinot Grigio Blush it’s time to stop ruminating over all the things we’d like to eat and actually get down to the business of editing our choices to a starter and main each.

But then we spot the tempting bread selection

‘The food looks like a work of art with swirls of sauce and sprinkles of aromatic seasoning’ which, with its choice of roasted garlic bulbs, aubergine baba ganoush and feta and beetroot dips, sounds just too good to resist.

While we nibble on chunks of crusty focaccia and aromatic olives we continue deliberating over our selections. Eventually I decide that the seared Rye Bay scallops sound too good to pass up on but my lunch guest is still torn between the creamy crab and crayfish risotto or the charred local asparagus.

She finally opts for the latter convincing herself it will be a lighter alternative if she is to plump for the spice-rubbed sirloin steak and big chips. I decide to go

for the home-smoked rump of new season lamb and put down the menu before I change my mind – again.

Given this is a Thursday lunchtime the Boat House Bistro is relatively busy. Word is obviously getting around that if you want a delightful dining experience away from busy daily life then this is the place to come. A group of laughing ladies sitting on the sunny balcony outside and tucking in testifies to this. They too are clearly enjoying the relaxed vibe of this waterside eaterie which, when the weather’s as clement as this makes you feel like you’re on holiday – albeit for only an hour or two.

Our starters swiftly arrive after another round of drinks has

RICH PICKINGS A sensational starter

FOOD AND DRINK �

Caramelised butternut squash gnocchi

been ordered. I opt for a palate cleansing sparkling water while my friend chooses a glass of crisp Chilean Palena Sauvignon Blanc to go with her asparagus.

In keeping with the Boat House Bistro’s focus on aesthetics, the food we are presented with looks like a work of art with swirls of sauce and sprinkles of aromatic seasoning adding the finishing touches.

My two generously sized seared scallops are partnered with a lightly spiced butternut squash purée and dashes of citrus chilli salt which give the delicate scallops a pleasant hit of heat.

The chargrilled asparagus spears don’t disappoint either, they are perfectly al dente, and vibrantly green. My friend comments that the rich tomato and parmesan Romesco sauce that accompanies them makes for a pleasant change to the usual addition of shavings of parmesan.

Once our cutlery can scoop up no more morsels it’s time to relinquish our plates back to the waitress.

At a nearby table, a couple are cooing over their ‘ham, egg and chips’. I have to admit when I saw this dish on the menu it seemed a little out of place alongside the other gourmet offerings but when I discover it’s a clever reinterpretation of the classic containing a stack of ham hock terrine, posh egg mayonnaise and jumbo latticed homemade crisps I decide it definitely deserves its place on the menu.

Just as our appetite starts to surface once more the main courses are brought out and once again they are utterly fantastic to look at. Head chef André Woodward is clearly as passionate about presentation as he is the quality of the fine ingredients he works with.

My rump of new season lamb, adorned with some red currants on top, is complemented with slow roasted potatoes which instantly soak up the rich, smoky jus that accompanies them. The knife slices through the meat like it’s butter, it’s that tender.

The sirloin steak is equally as good and served with a chunky peppercorn sauce which my friend allows me to try along with one of her big chips which are perfectly crisp on the outside and fluffy on the inside. ‘They’re like the best Christmas day roast potatoes ever,’ she quips full of contentment.

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Eskimo bars

Although we’re both feeling pretty full by now it takes just one quick glance at the tempting desserts menu for our will power to quickly ebb away.

We decide to share one of the Bewl Eskimo Bars as the combination of dark chocolate brownie, vanilla ice cream and salted caramel sauce sounds far too good to resist.

As we slowly savour these chunks of chocolate heaven we decide that Boat House Bistro is our new ‘go to destination’. Not just for its delicious food and stylish ambience but because it provides its customers with that priceless feeling of being relaxed, content and like the real world is a million miles away.

TASTER MENU FOR BOAT HOUSE BISTRO Starters are priced from £5.95 for the Boat House soup of the day and go up to £9.95 for the Rye Bay scallops.

Main courses start from £10.95 for the Bewl burger and Beer battered hake. The sirloin steak is the most expensive item on the menu and costs £20.

Desserts cost £6 each and ice creams are £1.50 per scoop. The local cheese board is priced at £7.

House wine costs £16 a bottle, Prosecco is £19 and champagne starts from £40 The Boat House Bistro: Open from Wednesday to Sunday from 12-9pm. Closed on Mondays and Tuesdays, except Bank Holidays www.bewlwater.co.uk

Wednesday 18th May 2016

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Call 01732 369 244 or enquiries@one60.uk Wednesday 18th May 2016

82  TRAVEL

By Abi Jackson WHAT would a dream holiday scene look like to you? For me, there would trees, mountains, water and unspoilt natural landscape.

Slovenia, I recently discovered, has this in spades – but I didn’t just get to stop and look at the view, I stepped into it. Well actually I paddled into it, standing up, a little wobbly-kneed at first, on a floating board.

If you haven’t yet tried stand-up paddleboarding, or SUP as it’s also known, chances are it won’t be too long before you do.

It may be far gentler than surfing, its more famous board-based water sport cousin, but SUP’s really gathering pace in the popularity stakes, and it turns out Slovenia is the perfect place to do it.

Almost 60 per cent of this small south-eastern European country (you can drive from one side to the other in a few hours) is tree-covered, and while Slovenia only has 47km of coastline – it’s more or less one giant bay in the Adriatic Sea, tucked neatly between Croatia and Italy’s Gulf of Venice – the land itself boasts 27,000km of rivers, streams and lakes.

It’s these that I’ve come to explore by paddleboard, an activity that’s becoming increasingly convenient and accessible thanks to SipaBoards, a Slovenian start-up whose small but passionate team have created the world’s first electric and self-inflating stand-up paddleboards.

Traditionally, paddleboards are inflated manually, requiring a fair bit of elbow grease, PADDLEBOARDING The easy way to explore

‘I paddled into Slovenia, standing up, a little wobbly-kneed at first, on a floating board’

Wednesday 18th May 2016

NOT TO BE MISSED Lake Bled and its medieval castle

A Slovenian waterworld

TRAVEL 

which is fine if it’s just one board; not so fine if there’s a group of you or you’re out for the day with your family, and all that pumping takes a chunk out of your precious time and energy reserves.

“It was paddleboarding with my kids that inspired the designs,” explains SipaBoards founder Sebastjan Sitar. “It would take ages to pump up boards for the whole family. Our boards inflate in seconds, with zero effort.”

The addition of motorised engines was another family-inspired brainwave, after Sebastjan’s young daughter struggled to paddle back to shore one day.

Operated via a switch at the top of the paddle, the motor doesn’t exactly propel you along full pelt, but the extra momentum certainly helps when you’re up against winds or currents, and helps stabilise the boards, too.

As Josh Rocchio, from SipaBoards’ marketing team, explains: “These things don’t make doing the sport easier; they make it easier to do that sport.”

You still have to paddle, and engage those core muscles to keep balanced (SUP is a great full-body workout), and you can switch the motor off whenever you want – it simply means that anybody, even those who are nervous of the water, a bit unsteady or who need that little push, can hop on board and enjoy it.

We start with a paddle along Ljubljanica River, which runs through Ljubljana. It only takes a couple of minutes to get used to standing on the boards, then off we go, sailing past the capital city’s historical streets and under bridges, glancing up at the castle’s belvedere tower.

It’s a novel way to take in the sights, and Ljubljana also makes a great base for exploring more of the country. We stay at the Antiq Hotel, perfectly situated a stone’s throw from the river, pretty squares and coffee shops.

Right now, Ljubljana – along with the whole of Slovenia – is relatively quiet. It’s not an obvious spot on the tourist map, but that’s changing. The European Travel Commission recently reported that Slovenia is one of the countries which recorded the greatest increase in foreign tourists (by as much as 13 per cent) last year.

A WORLD FIRST Slovenia’s electric and self-inflating stand-up paddleboards It’s easy to see the appeal. Slovenia is running rings around much of Europe in the green stakes – the air, the water, the streets, everything is so clean and fresh. The vibe is fantastic too: Relaxed, safe, welcoming, and flights from the UK are cheap and quick.

It takes little over two hours to fly here, but I immediately feel like I’ve been transported somewhere far further, to a land of Narnia-esque natural beauty where all your outdoorsy dreams come true.

After getting to grips with the boards in Ljubljana, we spend the next couple of days exploring Slovenia’s lakes and coast.

An essential stop on every itinerary is Lake Bled, nestled among the Julian Alps in the country’s northwestern region, overlooked by the medieval Bled Castle and made instantly recognisable by the tiny island that sits just offcentre, boldly sprouting a cluster of bushy trees, old buildings and a 52m-tall church tower.

After a fuel stop at Sava Hotel’s Park Cafe, where I tuck into the famous Original Bled Cream Cake (aka kremsnita) – a doorstop slab of puff pastry, custard, cream and vanilla sugar – we find a quiet patch of shore to inflate our boards, then spend a blissful couple of hours on the water.

It’s low season, so we have the lake to ourselves (June to September is the most popular period).

I paddle out, soaking up the peaceful wonder of it all, as twinkling ripples lap gently at the sides of my board.

Less well known than Bled, but not to be missed, is Lake Bohinj. While Bled has the picture-postcard charm, Bohinj really draws the gasps; it is utterly dreamy.

There are some great walks and hikes in the area, too, including a trail leading to the Savica Waterfall in the heart of the Triglav National Park.

Active holidays aren’t just a great way to see a country – working up a sweat means you can really indulge on the food front, too. And while Slovenia doesn’t yet boast any Michelin-starred restaurants, there is a bounty of beautiful grub on offer.

We treat ourselves to some fine dining at Vila Podvin (7km from the centre of Bled) and sample outstanding seafood at AS Aperitivo and RiziBizi (both in the capital).

Slovenia is also the only European country

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which connects the Alps, the Mediterranean and the Pannonian Plain, and our jaunt to the coast highlights that this little country really is a land of vast geographical contrasts.

Mountain peaks and alpine forests give way to lush pastures, olive groves and vineyards, and the temperature cranks up a good few degrees as we make the hour-and-a-half drive from Ljubljana to Secovlje.

The coast has a real Mediterranean feel, and you can paddleboard off the beach when the water’s calm enough, or explore near the Secovlje salt flats, where salt is still produced using 700-year-old traditional methods.

After a morning on the boards, we ditch our paddles for a stroll around Piran, an old coastal town that’s all painterly narrow streets and pretty squares, bordered by dazzling blue sea and bobbing fishing boats.

Our trip ends with a visit to Kamnik, a little town nestled among some of the most breathtakingly stunning countryside I’ve ever seen.

Our hotel Gostilna Repnik looks cosy and traditional – and it is, but it’s also home to some super stylish rooms and supremely talented chefs, who whip up an array of dishes showcasing local produce, including the famous ‘boob cheese’ (I’ll leave you to discover how it got the name!)

You don’t have to venture far to lose yourself among the forests, shimmering rock faces and bright turquoise streams.

This is the true beauty of Slovenia: It has everything, and all of it’s nearby.

TRAVEL FACTS Abi Jackson was a guest of Wizz Air, SipaBoards and the Slovenia Tourist Board.

Wizz Air operates four weekly flights to Ljubljana from London Luton, from £18.49 one way. Visit wizzair.com SipaBoards are currently available to buy, with free worldwide shipping. For more info and enquiries, visit sipaboards.com SUP hire and guided tours are available via the Slovenian Tourist Board. Trips can be organised independently (from around 150 Euros per day) or ready-made SUP tour packages are available through Bananaway Stand Up Paddle Tours, ranging from two-hour tours on Ljubljanica (35 Euros) to bespoke five-day tours (price on request). For info and enquiries, visit www.slovenia.info Double rooms at Antiq Hotel start from 120 Euros per night (www.antiqhotel.eu).

Wednesday 18th May 2016

84 n ADVERTISING FEATURE

Bluebird Care supporting the local community With nearly 200 offices across the UK, Bluebird Care is one of the UK’s largest providers of privately funded care at home.

Your local office covers Tonbridge and Tunbridge Wells WHAT FIRST INSPIRED THE LAUNCH OF BLUEBIRD CARE? Nationally, Bluebird Care was founded in 2004 by husband and wife team, Paul and Lisa Tarsey who decided it was time to revolutionise the way care in the home was delivered.

By concentrating on the highest quality customer service whilst upholding the very best in professional care provision, together they built one of the UK’s largest providers of care and support for people that wanted the choice to stay in their own home.

HOW DID THE BUSINESS DEVELOP FROM AN IDEA INTO THE OPERATION IT IS TODAY? Bluebird Care’s local office covers Tonbridge and Tunbridge Wells and is based in Vale Road, Tonbridge. It is family run and first opened in February 2012 to ensure that a friendly, local service with an ethos of passion for extremely high standards could be accessed by local people. It is these expectations we have of ourselves that has helped Bluebird evolve over the years. It’s through everyone’s hard work, dedication and passion that we are where we are today.

We value our staff as well as our customers and have just launched a career pathway for our care workers that gives excellent career progression and is unique to the homecare sector.

Wednesday 18th May 2016

FOR YOU, WHAT ARE THE KEY QUALITIES REQUIRED IN A HOME CARER OR HOME CARE SERVICE? Key qualities of a care worker are largely based on personality. All of our employees must demonstrate a passion for excellence as well as being both patient and understanding. It can dramatically improve our customers’ wellbeing when supported with this ethos. It’s an extremely rewarding career and one where you truly have to be dedicated to caring for people.

Our home care services are based on quality, reliability and consistency. We have an excellent staff team who go the extra mile to make sure that the care support customers receive is the best possible for them as individuals.

In addition, flexibility is extremely important as care should be about enabling independence at home and not hindering it.

Our range of services reflect this. They are about helping people live their lives the way that they want to.

GIVING BACK TO THE COMMUNITY L-R: Nathan Brown, Claire Stanley, Beth Swarbrigg and Heather Graham

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We have also found that over the past few years there has been a dramatic increase in the number of people choosing to have a 24-hour

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TELL US ABOUT BLUEBIRD’S COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT… Community engagement is a core focus for us. As our customers are part of the community it is important that we are involved also. We are part of various older people’s forums, have Hospice In The Weald as our named charity, have made over 250 local Dementia Friends in the past year and pleased to be involved in local dementia-friendly community forums.

Recently, we launched our Community Grant Scheme, which was created to provide local community and volunteer groups with much needed funds so that they can continue with the fantastic work they do. The Grant is £500 and awarded quarterly with the next one in October. It benefits those over 65 or living with a mental illness, physical or learning disability who are based in the Tunbridge Wells or Tonbridge area.

The current grant of £500 will go towards the refurbishment of the bedrooms on the Hospice InPatient Unit. Each of the 15 single-occupancy rooms are light and spacious, but in need of modernisation and redecoration including the en-suite shower rooms.

Hospice in the Weald, which is based in Pembury, provides skilled, high quality care for those facing the challenge of a terminal illness and support for their families. The majority of the funds that support the running of the hospice are raised through the generosity of the local community.

85

HOME SWEET HOME Bluebird carers help customers live independently

For more information about Bluebird Care’s services or to express an interest in the Community Grants Scheme, you can contact their friendly team.

01732 373024 tunbridgewells@bluebirdcare.co.uk.

carer at home as opposed to going into a care home. It is becoming a very popular cost-effective alternative that is still gaining public knowledge.

Also, whether it is visits or live-in care we also find that sometimes people just need support for a short space of time or a bit of respite, which we accommodate for with our respite service.

DO YOU OFFER SPECIALIST CARE FOR ILLNESSES? We work closely with the community nursing teams to provide care all the way through a person’s life. Sometimes from ages 18 upwards.

In particular, all of our staff are trained in both palliative care for the end stages of a person’s life and assisting people

Bluebird Care Tonbridge & Tunbridge Wells Office 23 a/b Pipers Business Centre 220 Vale Road Tonbridge TN9 1SP Twitter: @carekent Facebook: Bluebird Care Kent Website: www.bluebirdcare.co.uk

Wednesday 18th May 2016

WITH THE

THE TOWN’S TOP MOTORING GUIDE – FROM EVERYDAY DRIVES TO LUXURY SUPERCARS

OF TUNBRIDGE WELLS AND TONBRIDGE

FIRST DRIVE

MASERATI LEVANTE FACTS AT A GLANCE PRICE: from circa £55,000 ENGINE: 3.0-litre turbo-charged petrol V6 producing 345bhp and 369lb/ft TRANSMISSION: Eight-speed automatic driving all four wheels

PERFORMANCE: Top speed 156mph, 0-62mph in 6.0 seconds ECONOMY: 26.4mpg combined EMISSIONS: 249g/km of CO2

By Matt Kimberley WHAT’S NEW? The spec sheet makes interesting reading. A Maserati SUV fitted with a soulful turbo-charged V6 made in Modena. By Ferrari. Take that, Porsche. The 3.0-litre engine used in the Quattroporte and Ghibli has been turned up to 11 for the five-metre Levante with 345bhp and 424bhp versions, promising speed and drama in equal measure.

The Levante is based on the Ghibli platform, but heavily modified to take the extra weight and to deliver off-road capability. The suspension, double wishbone at the front and five-link at the rear, has been modified for longer shock travel, better stiffness and higher strength. As for drive, the company’s own Q4 four-wheel-drive system has been adapted with new software to enable it to handle off-road terrain. The air suspension can even be raised and lowered from the driver’s seat.

LOOKS AND IMAGE There’s no missing that huge, gaping grille, or the active shutters behind it, which stay closed for cold engine starts to catalyse the warm-up process before opening to offer full air ingress when needed. The Levante makes a big statement with the way it looks, although the standard 18-inch wheels on the cheaper 345bhp car are criminally small. Upgrade to 20s as a minimum.

It would take a brave journalist to deny that the temptation of owning a Ferrari-engined Maserati is strong. There’s an exotic quality about the Levante, particularly when optioned-

up to the degree that the test car is, and that puts it ahead of just about anything else in the desirability stakes. Would you rather drive something sensible and German, or a more passionate Maserati?

SPACE AND PRACTICALITY Even with a tall driver at the helm, there’s good legroom for three rear passengers, and plenty of width in the broad cabin, too. The glass area is

‘Pops, bangs and thunderous gargling from the quad exhausts are the order of the day in Sport mode’

quite small with a high shoulder line, so smaller kids might complain of not being able to see out, but in general it’s a practical space. The central storage bin beneath the armrest is deep, with cupholders at the base.

On top of three 12-volt power sockets in the cabin, the boot has a fourth within its 580-litre cavern. The lip is high, but can be lowered with a special ‘parking’ ride height that drops the Levante as low as it can go. The tailgate is powered as standard.

BEHIND THE WHEEL Pops, bangs and thunderous gargling from the quad exhausts are the order of the day in Sport mode. It’s a bit of a monster, and it’s much louder outside the car than inside. It’s as naughty as SUVs get. You’ll hear one being driven in anger through quiet countryside even if you’re in the next village.

The 345bhp car isn’t actually particularly quick – for a Maserati. It responds best to manual flicks of the long-travel shift paddles south of 6,000rpm, as power tails off between there and the redline. It sounds great, though, all anger and divine retribution.

The ride is very good and cabin refinement is remarkable, allowing quiet conversation even at 125mph – good news if you have an autobahn on your doorstep. Wind and road noise on 20-inch wheels is contained impeccably. The eight-speed ZF automatic gearbox shifts smoothly, with just a murmur passing up through the car’s structure with each shift.

It doesn’t roll a lot even at its softest, although slimmer people will lean more than they’d like

because the seats are so wide. Activate Sport Suspension with two presses of the Sport button and the Levante stays uncannily flat, gripping the road for all it’s worth and giving even more confidence to push the V6 harder.

VALUE FOR MONEY At the time of writing it had only just been confirmed that the petrol version would be coming to the UK at all, so prices were unavailable. It’s likely to cost more than the diesel, though, which will top out at around £55,000 before options – and most buyers will want a lot of those.

Expect the Levante V6’s biggest drawback to be expense. It’s unlikely to better a Cayenne S for overall running costs and it may have a higher list price to start with. That said, for your money you do get possibly the most charismatic SUV you can buy for less than £60,000.

WHO WOULD BUY ONE? Think of a buyer who wants a large SUV but wishes there was something a bit more exciting and a bit less common. The petrol Levante is a niche product and Maserati knows it, but there’s something comparatively special about it. The exotic is an evergreen Italian trump card and, here, it’s played to perfection.

THIS CAR SUMMED UP IN A SINGLE WORD Brutus.

IF THIS CAR WAS A... phone it would be oversized, powerful and full of exciting features you can’t seem to put down.

Wednesday 18th May 2016

88 n MOTORING Our premises are lacated at Kingstanding Way Business Park in Tunbridge Wells.

We invite all new and seasoned enthusiasts to visit us today to find out more about our classic car restoration services.

We will use our experience to advise you on the best way to restore your classic, vintage or collectible car, and help you to revive its past glories.

• Fram full graund up restaratian ta summer check aver • Specialist mig and tig welding • Full engine and gearbax rebuilds • We can lacate hard ta find parts, • In hause machining facilities • Vapaur blasting • Everything yau need ta care far yaur classic car ...

• Baak yaur fflDT anline with us

. . . . . .,

Contact details: H-Engineering Unit 12, 2, Kingstanding Way, Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN2 3UP 01892 549 042

I

www.h-engineering.com

INTRODUCING THE NEW FORD EDGE Sitting at the pinnacle of our SUV range, the New Ford Edge is the epitome of modern refinement.

FORD EDGE AWD SOR 2.0 lBOPS DIESEL

- £199* PER MONTH

- £500 DEPOSIT ALLOWANCE

Lifesty /;(cio rd

V

Your journey stans here

www.utestvtetord.co.uk

Tunbridge Wells 01892 739 131

Tonbridge 01732 758 726

KentTN48AG

KentTN9 lTN

Official fuel consumption figures in mpg (11100km) for the Ford Edge range: urban 43.5 (6.5) - 44.l (6.4). extra urban 51.4 (5.5) - 52.3 (5.4). combined 47.9 (5.9)- 48.7 (5.8). Official CO, emissions 152-149g/km.

The mpg figures quoted are sourced from official EU-regulated test results, are provided for comparability purposes and may not reflect your actual drlvins experience. Based on limited stock vehicles only and must be ordered and registered between 01.04.16 and 30.06.16. *Finance example shown available over a finance period of 25 months with £7,692.15 customer deposit, £500 deposit allowance, £8,192.15 total deposit. Amount of credit £21,802.85. Charge for credit £321.15. Finance Facility fee £10. Purchase Fee £10. Total amount payable £30,336.15. Optional final payment £17,348. 0.8% APR, 6,000 miles per annum, excess mileage charged at 8p per mile. When financed with Ford Credit. Finance subject to status. Other charges for metallic paint and extra factory options. Must be over 18 and a full UK resident. Guarantees/Indemnities may be required. Freepast Ford Credit. Prices correct at time of going to print and are subject to change without notice. Subject to availability at Lifestyle Ford. Lifestyle Ford reserves the right to amend or withdraw offers at any time and without notice. Lifestyle Ford Head Office 3 Mount Ephraim, Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN4 BAG. Images for Illustration purposes only, metallic paint available at an extra cost.

Wednesday 18th May 2016

ilO S 1.0

i20 S 1.2

i30 S 1.4

Tuscan S 1.7 [rdi

from £7,995

from £9,995

from £12,995

from £17,720

HVUnDRI

Tunbridge Wells Hyundai

Medway Hyundai

Unit l , Dowding Way, Tunbridge Wells Tn2 3LJY

London Road, Rainham Kent MES 8PT

01892 458311

01634 408408

VNVW.kenthyundai.co.uk

FUEL consUMPTI On MPG (L/lOOl<M) FOR HYUnDAI RAnGE: URBAn 18.0 (157) - 80.7 (35), EXTRA URBAn 32.8 (86) - 94.2 (30), COMBlnED 25.2 (11 2) -88.3 (3.2), CO, EMISSIOns 261 -84G/l<M. FUEL consUMPTIOn: FIGURES SHOWn ARE BASED on OFFICIAL EU TEST FIGURES. THESE ARE TO BE USED AS A GUIDE FOR COM PARATIVE PURPOSES Ano MAY noT REFLECT ALL DRIVlnG RESULTS. *2 YEARS FREE SERVIClnG onLY TO BE VALID AT TUnBRIDGE WELLS OR MEDWAY HYUnDAI. i10 S 1.0, 42 monthly payments of £152.94, Customer deposit £151.00, Hyundai deposit contribution Total £151.00, Cash price of vehicle £7,995.00, Total amount of credit £6,423.48, Interest charges £1,286.73, Total amount payable £9,281.73, Optional final payment £2,707.25, Duration of agreement 42 months, Fixed rate of interest per year 3.55% Mileage per annum 10,000 Representative 6.9% APR. New i20 S 1.2, 42 monthly payments of £162.84, Customer deposit £162.00, Hyundai manufactures deposit £1,000 , Total £1,162.00, Cash price of vehicle £9,995.00, Total amount of credit £8,833.00, Interest charges £1499.78, Total amount payable £11,494.78, Optional final payment £3493.50, Duration of agreement 42 months, Rate of interest% (fixed) 3.55% p.a. Estimated annual mileage 10,000. Excess mileage charge per mile 14.9p per mile 6.9% APR. i30 1.4i S, Terms of agreement 37 months, Monthly payments of £186.84, On the road cash price• £12995.00, Customer deposit £27 48.75, Manufacturers Finance deposit contribution £500.00, Total deposit £3248.75,Total amount of credit £97 46.25, Interest charges £1484.99, Optional final payment £4505.00, Total amount payable £14479.99, Interest Rate % (fixed) 3.55% p.a. Excess mileage charge per mile 14.9p, Estimated annual mileage 10000, Representative APR (%) 6.9% APR. Tucson 1. 7 CRDI 116PS Blue Drive, 42 Monthly payments of £209.00, Customer deposit of £2,500.00, Hyundai deposit contribution of £1,500, Total £4,000, Cash price of Vehicle £17,720.00, Total amount of credit £13,720.00, Interest charges £2,568.50, Total amount payable £20,288.50, Optional final payment £7,510.50, Duration of agreement 42 months, APR% 6.9% p.a, Excess mileage 14.9p, Estimated annual mileage. Terms and conditions apply.

90 � MOTORING NEWS

Bet on Monte Carlos!

SKODA’S Yeti Monte Carlo model has proved so popular with buyers that the range has been expanded for 2016.

Originally available with a 148bhp 2.0-litre TDI diesel unit only, the Monte Carlo range now includes the choice of a 1.2-litre TSI petrol with 109bhp and a 2.0-litre TDI diesel with the same output. The TSI petrol can also be specified with the impressive sevenspeed dual-clutch DSG transmission.

NEW WORLD RECORD The turbo-charged Golf GTI Clubsport S

Fastest Golf swings in VOLKSWAGEN will use the annual GTI gathering at Lake Worthersee in Austria to reveal the fastest and most powerful Golf GTI ever to reach production, celebrating 40 years since the launch of the first generation Golf GTI. The Golf GTI Clubsport S has 306bhp from its 2.0-litre turbo-charged petrol engine, enabling it to reach 0-62mph in 5.8 seconds and a derestricted top speed of 165mph, making it faster and more powerful than the four-wheel drive Golf R. As well as additional power, the GTI Clubsport S weight has been reduced by almost 70kg, including a lightweight exhaust system and the

Wednesday 18th May 2016

removal of the rear seats. The chassis has been substantially changed, too, with bespoke settings, semi-slick tyres and a special ‘Nurburgring’ mode for the dynamic chassis control.

Much of the development work was carried out on racetracks, including the infamous Nurburgring Nordschleife, and in doing so the Golf GTI Clubsport S has set a new world record for frontwheel drive production cars with a lap of 07:49:21.

Just 400 examples of the GTI Clubsport S will be produced, with 100 of those already allocated to the German market. Prices for the UK are yet to be confirmed, but are expected to be in excess of £32,000.

All versions of the Yeti Monte Carlo come with 17inch gloss black alloy wheels, bi-Xenon headlights, LED rear lights and black detailing including the roof, door mirrors and spoilers front and rear.

Inside the specification is enhanced with the addition of a three-spoke ‘Supersport’ leather steering wheel with infotainment controls, sports seats with unique Monte Carlo upholstery and Monte Carlo detailing on the floor mats, instruments and door sills.

Prices start at £19,700 for the 1.2 TSI model rising to £21,045 for the 2.0 TDI 110PS.

New crash course in car safety DRIVERS are being urged to choose safety over style when they buy a new car, at the launch of a new high-profile campaign promoting autonomous in-car safety features.

The #StopTheCrash initiative, which has just begun at the London Motor Show, is urging consumers to consider three aspects when buying a car: What Euro NCAP score it has, whether it has autonomous emergency braking and what optional extra systems are offered that will increase safety.

Safety and security testers Thatcham Research, along with safety system manufacturers Bosch, Continental and ZF TRW, are looking to increase awareness of the benefits of such systems in partnership with Global NCAP. The group also wants to pressure car makers to standardise more active safety equipment.

Currently autonomous emergency braking is standard on only 17 per cent of new cars sold in the UK. It is hoped that by backing the technology so openly, more cars will pick it up and the risk of some of the most common kinds of crash will be vastly reduced.

“Autonomous Emergency Braking as standard should be the number one priority for anyone choosing a new car,” stated David Ward, SecretaryGeneral of the Global New Car Assessment Programme (Global NCAP).

“The technology is already available in one form or another from almost every car manufacturer, and in the absence of legislation to make it mandatory we are encouraging consumers to use their power of choice to ensure that every new car coming on to the road has this life-saving feature fitted.”

MASERATI GHIBLI DIESEL. FROM £399 A MONTH +VAT.* You kno w you ha ve always wanted to own a Maserati. Now there is absolutely nothing to hold you back.

The Ghibli Diesel is every inch a Maserati, featuring a gorgeous, coupe-like silhouette, luxury leather interior and with its economical yet potent diesel engine, 8-speed ZF automatic transmission, there are also plent y of rational reasons to justify your decision.

MASE RAT I

MOTORLINE MASERATI MAIDSTONE BIR CHOLT ROAD, MAID STONE, ME15 9XY Phone : 0162 2 616 LQL,

I

Web : www. motorline .eo .uk / ma s erati

www. ma s erati .co .uk

Offi cial fuel cons umpti on fi gur es for t he Mase rati Gh ibl i Di esel in mpg llitres/100 km] : Urban 36 .7 17.71, Extr a Urban 57.6 li.j .9], Comb ined l.j7_9 15.91. C0 2 em iss ions on comb ined cycle : 158 g/km . Fuel consumption and CO, figures are based on standard EU tests for comparative purposes and may not reflect real driving results. *BUSINESS USERS ONLY. Model shown is Maserati Ghibli Diesel MY16 V6d ljdr Auto. Contract Hire payment profile of £/j,788 +VAT in advance, followed by 35 monthly rentals of £399 +VAT. Rentals shown above exclude maintenance and are based on 8,000 miles per annum. Excess mileage charge apply. Finance subject to status. Guarantees and indemnities may be required, we work with a number creditors including Maserati Financial Services. Vehicles must be registered with FCA Fleet Services UK Ltd by 30th June 2016. PO Box lj590, Slough, Berkshire SU OWU.

92 n MOTORING

29.4 [9.6] - 70.6 [4.01.

13.9[20.3] - 55.4 [5 .11.

20.9 [13.5] - 64.2 [4.41.

315

OFFICIAL FUEL CONSUMPTION FIGURES FOR JEEP RANGE MPG [L/lOOKMl: EXTRA URBAN URBAN COMBINED C01EMISSIONS : TO 115 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. factors such as driving style. weather and road conditions may also have a significant effect on fuel consumption. 0% APR Representative' Hire Purchase promotion available on new Renegade. Cherokee or Grand Cherokee models registered by 30th June 1016. 0% APR Representative' Hire Purchase available for a3year term with aminimum deposit of 33% required for Renegade. 13% for Cherokee and 11% for Grand Cherokee. 0% APR Representative' Advance Payment Plan promotion available on new Wrangler models by 30th June 1016. With Advance Payment Plan 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 and being in good condition. Oeposit amount is typically between 50% and 60% depending on term . model. and mileage. finance subject to status. Guarantees may be required. Terms and Conditions apply. Jeep financial Services. PO BOX 4465.

Slough . Sll ORW. We work with a number of creditors including Jeep financial Services. Jeep@is aregistered trademark of fCA USLLC.

Wednesday 18th May 2016

ADVERTISING FEATURE �

93

Why separation and divorce can be a civilised affair

BY STEPHEN WILMOT IF you are experiencing the anxiety and loss of a relationship ending and suffering sleepless nights worrying about the future, you are not alone. Almost 50% of all marriages end in divorce and for many it can be the most traumatic time in their lives.

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Children should always come first when a family separates.

Hey! We‛re part When families break up, children can feel very isolated, puzzled and worried about why Mum and Dad are not getting on and what might happen to the family. It is easy to overlook how badly the children can be effected when you are caught up in the emotional hurt and turmoil.

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happens when their parents separate and divorce. It is so important to reassure the children that they are as important as ever and to help them realise that it is not their fault.

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Keene Marsland Solicitors, 6 Clanricarde Gardens, Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN1 1PH

When families break up A young persons guide

Appointments available in Tunbridge Wells, Haywards Heath, Edenbridge, London, Reading and Windsor

Keene Marsland is a trading name of Parfitt Cresswell. Parfitt Cresswell is authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority . No 71480

Wednesday 18th May 2016

94 � RECRUITMENT

WITH THE

FIND YOUR PERFECT JOB TODAY – A MUST READ FOR THOSE LOOKING FOR WORK LOCALLY

OF TUNBRIDGE WELLS AND TONBRIDGE

Experienced Brand Ambassadors/ Promotional Models Location: Tunbridge Wells, Kent Salary: Competitive hourly rate We are looking for stars to join our team.

One Media and Creative UK Ltd are an exciting, innovative, creative publishing company based in Tunbridge Wells. We are looking for experienced, enthusiastic, hard-working and intelligent promotional people to join our team as Brand Ambassadors and Promoters. The job will involve engaging with the public in a confident and comfortable manner, you will need to embody our corporate identity in appearance, demeanour, values and ethics.

The requirements for the role are:• Outstanding communication and interpersonal skills • Confident and likeable personality • Willing to travel • Enthusiastic and energetic • Comfortable working outside • Able to interact and engage with people • Well spoken • Punctual and reliable • Smart and well presented (branded jackets provided)

Regular weekly hours/projects available along with additional hours at short notice. If you feel you have the right attributes to become an addition to our team, then please apply now by sending a covering letter, as well as your CV to info@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk

Belvoir Tunbridge Wells are looking for a Trainee Sales and Lettings Negotiator who wants to become part of a growing estate agency in the centre of Royal Tunbridge Wells. As part of an experienced team of dedicated staff you would learn the day to day running’s of a busy agency with an established managed portfolio.

This role requires the applicant to possess the following attributes;

Accounts Administrator We are looking for an experienced Accounts and Payroll Administrator to join our creative design agency, in the heart of Tunbridge Wells.

Knowledge of Payroll rules and legislation, accounting software packages (we use QuickBooks) and VAT are all essential.

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For more details and to apply for this exciting role, please contact John Haynes on : john.a.haynes@belvoir.co.uk

Start Date: Immediate.

Salary: Negotiable, dependent on experience.

For a full job description, or to apply (we use QuickBooks) please send a CV and brief covering letter to the email below.

NOT REALLY FITTING IN? SOMETIMES YOUR CURRENT POSITION JUST DOESN’T FEEL RIGHT...

FIND YOUR DREAM JOB WITH THE TIMES Wednesday 18th May 2016

RECRUITMENT n

95

16 Lonsdale Gardens, Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN1 1NU jobs@gerrardwhite.com | 01892 55 33 55

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Accountancy and Finance

Insurance and Legal

Technology

Executive Wednesday 18th May 2016

96  PUZZLES DOUBLE CROSSWORD

18.

19.

21.

22.

Scribble pad

1

2

3

9

10

14

15

8

11

4

16 13

12

7

QUICK CLUES:

Across 6. Vocation (7) 7. Wed (5) 9. Seat (5) 10. Friendly (7) 12. Sleight-of-hand (11) 14. Generosity (11) 18. Abandoned (7) 19. Beneath (5) 21. Concur (5) 22. Obtain (7)

Down 1. Flavour (5) 2. Recess (6) 3. Individual (3) 4. Haphazard (6) 5. Irregular (7) 8. Censure (7) 11. Wander (7) 13. Rubbish (7) 15. Tended (6) 16. Language (6) 17. Gay (5) 20. Expert (3)

6

5

1. Homeless child 9. Deserve 2. Packed 10. Fingertip cover 3. Songbird 11. Obscene 4. Retain 12. Plate 5. Gasp 13. Owl’s cry 6. Lofty 14. End part 7. Garden grass 15. Bereavement 8. Back of neck 16. Ride waves Keyword clue: An English county

SUDOKU

ENTERTAINMENT QUIZ

CODEWORD 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.

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 1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

14

15

16

17

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Wednesday 18th May 2016

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.

R

10

11

12

13

23

24

25

26

O

1.

Joanna Horton and Karl Davies were among the stars of which recent Channel 4 drama about a couple who begin to film their neighbours after hearing alarming noises?

2.

Who was the host of the recent BBC2 documentary Workers or Shirkers?, about benefits in Victorian times?

3.

What is the title of Meghan Trainor’s latest single?

4.

Which actor plays troubled Hollywood screenwriter Rick, who encounters six different women whilst on a quest to find love in the new film Knight of Cups?

5.

In the popular 1960s animated TV show Wacky Races, what was the name of the car driven by Dick Dastardly and Muttley?

6.

What is the name of the current and debut album from former One Direction member Zayn?

7.

Which of the March sisters did Winona Ryder play in the 1994 film version of Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women?

8.

Chris Geere and Aya Cash star as Jimmy and Gretchen, who have a love/hate relationship with one another in which

new US comedy on 5 Star?

9.

Which US rock band’s hits of the 1990s included Easy and Midlife Crisis?

10. Chloë Grace Moretz is playing an evil sorority leader who moves in next door to Seth Rogen and Rose Byrne in which new film sequel?

SOLUTIONS

11. Which former Lost star plays Will Bowman in the Sky1 US sci-fi drama series Colony?

12. What was US doo wop group Frankie Lymon and The Teenagers’ only UK Number One hit, in July 1956?

13. Which actor played Michelle Pfeiffer’s love interest Michael Carrington in the 1982 film sequel Grease 2?

14. Vicky McClure and Martin Compston are among the stars of which police procedural drama, which recently aired its third series on BBC2?

15. A remix of which Freddie Mercury song went to Number One in the UK in July 1993, almost two years after his death?

CODEWORD: 1=N, 2=T, 3=V, 4=H, 5=A, 6=W, 7=K, 8=C, 9=R, 10=X, 11=U, 12=E, 13=O, 14=S, 15=D, 16=Z, 17=Q, 18=J, 19=L, 20=M, 21=I, 22=F, 23=P, 24=B, 25=Y, 26=G ENTERTAINMENT QUIZ: 1 The People Next Door; 2 Ian Hislop; 3 NO; 4 Christian Bale; 5 The Mean Machine; 6 Mind of Mine; 7 Jo March; 8 You’re the Worst; 9 Faith No More; 10 Bad Neighbors 2; 11 Josh Holloway; 12 Why Do Fools Fall in Love; 13 Maxwell Caulfield; 14 Line of Duty; 15 Living on My Own SUDOKU:

12.

14.

big country (7) See 3 Down Supervisors accuse the workers (6-5) Ship going round characteristic channels (7) Position that keeps a learner in step (5) They provide current for parts of the prison (5) Bedclothes (7)

Down 1. Could be later on the watch (5) 2. He comes from the west eventually (6) 3 and 12 Ac. Indicate one’s desire to sell stock?

(3,2,3,6) 4. See 9 Across 5. Dundee’s upset by what the stripper does (7) 8. Uppermost Palaeozoic rock could be produced by a miner near the top of the pit (7) 11. They provide a menace to the arts... (7) 13. ...and break up the arts!

(7) 15. Genuinely join together again in confederation (6) 16. Everybody in unhappy return to Texas location (6) 17. Come to blows for a bit (5) 20. By the sound of it, chooses a consecrated vessel (3)

DOUBLE CROSSWORD: Cryptic: Across: 6 Flat out; 7 Vices; 9 Grave; 10 Belgium; 12 On the market; 14 Charge-hands; 18 Straits; 19 Place; 21 Cells; 22 Pyjamas. Down: 1 Alert; 2 Steven; 3 Put; 4 Digger; 5 Denudes; 8 Permian; 11 Threats; 13 Shatter; 15 Really; 16 Dallas; 17 Scrap; 20 Pyx. Quick: Across: 6 Calling; 7 Marry; 9 Stool; 10 Cordial; 12 Legerdemain; 14 Magnanimity; 18 Aborted; 19 Under; 21 Agree; 22 Acquire.

Down: 1 Taste; 2 Alcove; 3 One; 4 Random; 5 Erratic; 8 Condemn; 11 Meander; 13 Garbage; 15 Nursed; 16 Tongue; 17 Merry; 20 Ace. WORD SPIRAL: 1 Waif; 2 Full; 3 Lark; 4 Keep; 5 Pant; 6 Tall; 7 Lawn; 8 Nape; 9 Earn; 10 Nail; 11 Lewd; 12 Dish; 13 Hoot; 14 Tail; 15 Loss; 16 Surf.

Keyword: NORFOLK

CRYPTIC CLUES: Across 6. Thoroughly exhausted, but going at top speed (4,3) 7. They keep a tight hold on immoral practices (5) 9 and 4 Down. Long-faced Australian working at the cemetery (5-6) 10. Mule gets confused with

WORD SPIRAL

LIFE AND STYLE 

97

SPICE UP YOUR SUMMER WITH THE TASTES OF THE ORIENT The team at the Oriental Buffet Club is gearing up for summer holidays. So why not make now the perfect time to celebrate the international flavors that the restaurant has to offer.

THE FAIREST OF THEM ALL The Wealden Times Midsummer Fair and Wellbeing Festival returns to the idyllic Hole Park Estate, near Rolvenden in Kent, on Thursday 9th, Friday 10th and Saturday 11th June, kindly supported by Harpers and Hurlingham. This high-end shopping and culinary event, with inspiring festival programme including headliner Rosemary Shrager, promises to be a highlight of the year for visitors and exhibitors.

Oriental Buffet Club has a diverse menu with more than 60 different dishes to try from all over the Far East. There are delicious foods from China, Thailand, Malaysia, India and Nepal just waiting to be enjoyed.

Over 250 hand-picked stalls of desirable contemporary and vintage homeware, garden accessories, seasonal fashion and beautifully crafted jewellery – will not disappoint those with an eye for style and originality!

The relaxed buffet-style of eating means you can sample a little of everything you fancy, even foods you’ve never tried before.

Make sure you begin with a selection of their delicious starters such as Crispy Duck, Crab in Batter, Seaweed or Tom Yum Soup.

Some of the tasty dishes on offer include Chicken in Black Bean Sauce, Beef Szechuan Style or Chinese Style Chicken Curry. If you fancy some Thai food you could sample the Thai Chicken or Squid Thai Style.

A host of artisan food and drink producers will be showcasing a taste of luxury to take home, while street food-vendors serve up an eclectic mix of local and international dishes. Drinks will include everything from health-boost smoothies to quirky cocktails.

The Priceless People Wellbeing Festival, in association with Benenden Healthcare and Hospital, brings together a variety of talks and workshops examining the healing properties of traditional and alternative therapies. Highlights include the TV chef and local cookery school proprietor, Rosemary Shrager, sharing her experiences filming the BBC’s The Real Marigold Hotel and exclusively revealing her thoughts on the healing power of India’s food and culture. TV personality and up-cycler extraordinaire, Max McMurdo, will be transforming unloved items into works of art for the garden.

If you’re in the mood for Indian, you must try the Chicken Jalfrezi, Chicken Tikka Masala or a popular Korma dish.

For those who want European food, you can choose onion rings or fries, followed by Fish and Chips or Fish Fingers, or a fresh, green salad.

And of course there’s wide selection rice’s, noodles and vegetables to accompany your meal.

This restaurant is also the perfect place to come with your kids to give them a different dining experience. They can sample food from the five different countries and choose a little of what they like from the vast menu.

All of this, set in a unique meadow setting, with a majestic country house for a backdrop, makes a quintessentially British day out.

For your 20% discounted ticket, go online and quote TWTMSF16 www.wealdentimes.co.uk/events 01580 714705

LIGHT UP YOUR LIFE! Let's put our love of grey on hold this summer and bring colour, light and vibrancy into our homes!

Everyone loves a good spring clean which often leads into decorating throughout the summer months. This time of year it is all about light, happiness and fun so lets incorporate these themes in your colour schemes!

The best things for letting in natural light are soft, floating voiles; as well as letting in the natural light they give the room an elegant and soft feel. These paired with a simple wave heading deliver a stunning look that is perfect for the summer months and will tease you with their slight Mediterranean feel.

Understandably people can be a little afraid of using colour but by daring to use coloured bottom edges or panels you can turn something nice into something extraordinary. This will also give you a colour to focus on when purchasing soft furnishings and accessories; completing the room and giving it that seamless look.

Children love picking and choosing different foods and they’ll enjoy the tasty range of desserts on offer too, such as ice cream, cakes and gateaux, and fresh fruit salad.

The restaurant has dedicated, experienced chefs for each cuisine and they use top quality ingredients in all their dishes.

It’s great value for money too with the all-you-can-eat option included in every price.

So make sure you check out the Oriental Buffer Club for a truly multi-cultural treat.

Find Oriental Buffet Club at 96 High Street, Tonbridge, Kent TN9 1AP. Tel 01732361666 www.orientalbuffetclub.co.uk Lunch from £6.95 and Dinner from £10.50 all day Sunday

"My favourite collection's for summer are: -Cassano from Designers Guild -Landscapes from Harlequin -Saphira from Romo All three of these bring gentle colour into rooms without being too over bearing. Let's take a step back from the the plains, whites and greys and bring the sunshine into our lives everyday".

Design Manager expert Ross Watson, Teasel Fabrics and Interiors.

Wednesday 18th May 2016

98 � ARTS & CULTURE

They don’t make a drama out of a stage production Jason Lower is the driving force behind one of the area’s most popular drama groups, the Oast Youth Theatre in Tonbridge. The director talks to Eileen Leahy about why the theatre is today such a draw for budding young actors

Do people only act or do you encourage members to contribute to sets and costumes?

They can get involved in a variety of different things. One member, Ed, is 13 and designed our lighting for Pronoun and Bassett and will be doing so again for Laramie. Another member, Rachel, sourced over 60 costumes for our production of Mort and is now going on to study costume design at Nottingham Trent University.

What do you look for in new recruits?

Commitment and enthusiasm are the main requirements – we offer a lot of different opportunities and anyone can have a go at anything, so long as they commit to the time it takes and are keen to learn.

How long has the Oast Youth Theatre been around?

For over 40 years. For most of that time it was run by Ken Banister, who sadly passed away in 2014. He ran it for over 35 years and directed over 100 plays. I was a member while Ken was in charge and strive to meet the high standards he set, as well as adding some new things.

The Oast Youth Theatre group will next perform The Laramie Project Cycle. Part one runs on September 16, 17 (matinee), 21 and 23. Part two is on 17, 18 (matinee), 22 and 24.

For more information visit www.oasttheatre.com

How many members do you have?

There are currently 50 children in the Oast Youth Theatre.

From what age can children get involved?

They can start with us from 13 years old and stay until they feel ‘too old’, although it is rare for anyone to be with us beyond the age of 19. We also have a group for eight-13 year olds called The Hoppers.

How many productions do you put on a year?

We have two dedicated youth slots at the Oast which can feature either one or two shows. This season we performed Pronoun and Bassett and next year we will be doing two full-length ones on alternating nights.

We also do numerous festival shows, which are sometimes directed by youth members and are occasionally written by them, too.

SCARED TO DEATH A scene from Mort

SCHOOL OF THOUGHT Oast Youth Theatre members perform Bassett

Can you tell us about your involvement with the National Theatre’s Connections Programme?

It’s celebrating its 21st birthday in 2016 and gives 500 amateur companies and schools the opportunity to work with professionals and in famous theatres.

We performed at the Marlowe Theatre Do you ever collaborate with other actors in Canterbury last Saturday (May 14) and are hoping our performance of at the Oast?

Bassett will mean we get selected to Yes we take part in the big annual show perform at the National Theatre. which also includes members of the Hoppers and the adult groups. Last year, we did The Wind in the Willows for ten nights, Have you had any members with two casts. We used a total of 44 actors, that have gone on to become professional actors? aged between eight and 80.

A few. Hannah Banister, daughter of Ken Banister (former youth theatre What are you working on now?

Our next thing is The Laramie Project Cycle, director) is a successful director in London working at The Old Vic and which we are doing in two parts: The Royal Court and she still helps The Laramie Project and The Laramie us out with workshops. Former youth Project: 10 Years Later. We have two theatre members Gus Miller, Karl separate casts, but they use the same set.

Niklas and Chris Wilkinson are also in Audiences can see one or both plays and the industry acting and directing. they are very different.

Wednesday 18th May 2016

Have you won any awards?

Not as a group although we are fairly new on the festival circuit.

In October last year two of our members won awards at the Woking Drama Festival: Robbie Smith as Best Junior Player and Millie Smith as Best Supporting Actress, with Cameron Rout nominated for Best Junior Player.

Robyn Bannister, a youth member who directed them, was also nominated for the Adjudicator’s Award.

How often do you rehearse?

During term time it’s twice a week, for two and a half hours, but this obviously increases as we get closer to curtain up. Over the summer, the rehearsals run all day. We also have workshops every other week which focus on theatre techniques, improvisation and script work.

ARTS & CULTURE �

99

How a chat in the butcher’s led to 200 musicals, pantos and plays Performing to more than 100,000 people across seven decades is no mean feat but the Wadhurst Dramatic Club has achieved that impressive milestone. Here’s what its Chair Catherine Whitehead told us about its fascinating history and how members are going to mark their very special birthday OVER 210 musicals, pantos and plays have been auditioned, rehearsed and performed by Wadhurst Dramatic Club since it started in 1946.

Former RADA pupil and local girl Margaret Luck suggested the idea of setting up an amateur dramatic group to her friend Freda ‘Panny’ Tyrrell while collecting meat rations in the village butcher’s one day.

From there they went on to garner support from a few others, including a couple of demobbed soldiers, and before long they were able to put on their first production: Ivor Novello’s Fresh Fields.

Since those early days many hundreds of enthusiastic thespians have trodden the village’s Commemoration Hall boards with many more volunteering on costumes, make-up, lighting, sound, stage crews and props.

Most important of all, Wadhurst Dramatic Club (WDC) has worked out that we’ve played to an audience of more than 100,000 people over the years. And we’re very grateful to them as they’ve supplied us with lots of laughter, appreciative applause and stalwart support for all our ventures so a big thank you to Wadhurst and its amazing community spirit!

To mark our special 70th birthday WDC is putting on The Platinum Revue from next Thursday. But it is no parade of the club’s past glories. Instead, it’s a celebration of its current talent, of its ongoing

enthusiasm and a snapshot of what WDC players want to perform now.

Each member has been encouraged to contribute their own ideas, to collaborate with others and to come up with their own costume and props to make this a truly great birthday party, where everyone who wants to does ‘a turn’ during our Platinum evening.

The acts on the night range from George Formby, Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis numbers to songs from Grease, The Book of Mormon and Les Misérables.

What is particularly wonderful is that the age range of performers and crew spans over 70 years, – from the natural talent of seven-year-old Duke Kirton to agile septuagenarians like Dot Smytherman (both pictured below) and John Bush, who is actually WDC’s President but also an essential part of our lighting platform.

Duke Kirton says he loves being part of the Wadhurst Dramatic Club: “You get to wear really funny clothes, or pretend you love somebody. If you are new and worried about getting on stage for the first time, don’t be. You will have friends who will cheer you on.”

And that’s exactly what is special about our drama club. Our variety of ages works – with youngsters and seniors inspiring each other; collaborating together and having a giggle, too.

HOW TO BOOK TICKETS FOR WDC’S 70TH BIRTHDAY REVUE Wadhurst Dramatic Club’s Platinum Revue will be performed at Wadhurst’s Commemoration Hall on Thursday May 19 until Saturday May 21, starting at 7.30pm (doors open at 7pm). Seating is at tables of eight and tickets cost £8 for adults and £5 for children. They are available from Southern Cross Travel in Wadhurst or online at www.wadhurstdramaticclub. co.uk (a small online booking fee applies). For more information or group bookings ring Catherine on 01892 783384.

TWO’S COMPANY Dot Smytherman and Duke Kirton (right) are both performing in the Platinum Revue and, unbelievably, there is 70 years between them!

Whether you are looking for kitchen, dining or living furniture, upholstery or accessories the showroom in Tonbridge has it all Located just off the High Street, opposite Waitrose car park

PHOTO: BY FREYA ALDER

Wednesday 18th May 2016

100  WHAT’S ON SEVEN DAYS OF SOCIAL ACTIVITIES AT A GLANCE

WHATS ON WITH THE

Eileen Leahy

Local events

If you would like to see your events featured in our weekly What’s On pages please email info@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk

THE ROYAL BALLET’S Stage set for Frankenstein

>> WEDNESDAY This evening, both the Odeon cinema and Trinity Theatre in Tunbridge Wells will present a live screening of the Royal Ballet’s Frankenstein. This new production of the classic horror story by Mary Shelley is directed by Liam Scarlett, the Royal Ballet’s Artist in Residence, and is his first fulllength work for the main stage. For ticket details visit www.odeon.co.uk/eventcinema or www.trinitytheatre.net Another Cabaret Open Mic night takes place at the Scallywag café this evening from 8pm.

Champagne Charlie and Tom Carradine will be getting the musical entertainment underway.

Tickets cost £5 on the door. >> THURSDAY Jools Holland plays the Assembly Hall tonight from 7.30pm with his Rhythm & Blues Orchestra. If you’re in the audience they’ll get you stamping your feet to a medley of their signature eclectic boogie-woogie and soulful numbers.

Wednesday 18th May 2016

Sandford MacKenzie and music from harpist Anna Wynne. Tickets cost £10 and are available from info@cantiaci.org.uk >> SUNDAY The Pantiles market continues today with its mix of locally-sourced gourmet goods, seasonal offerings and artisan gifts. Pop along to pick up a treat for dinner or simply soak up the pleasant ambience.

Children will love The Cat’s Grin Theatre Company’s adaptation of Kenneth Grahame’s classic tale The Wind in the Willows. A trio of performers act out each part and cleverly bring the lives of Mole, Ratty, Badger and Toad to life using a variety of different costumes and accents.

Tickets cost £7 and the performance is at 2.30pm.

Radio 1’s Greg James will be at the Hop Farm today presenting the Silent Disco Dash. It’s an event with a difference as it marries a five or 10K run with a ‘silent’ disco. In short, you bring your running gear and headphones and Greg’s DJ set will be live streamed into them via the internet as you run. It’s all in aid of Coppafeel breast cancer charity and once you’ve crossed the finish line you can then party for real thanks to the numerous other DJ sets and food and drink on offer. See www.coppafeel.org

Unfest launches at The Forum this evening from 7pm. Beverly, Box of Light and Isaac Holman of Slaves are just a few of the musicians who will be making an appearance.

Entry is free or you can make a donation of £5 which helps towards the cost of organising the festival. For more information visit www.unfest.org Jazz on the Pantiles continues this evening with music by Two Bobs Worth.

>> FRIDAY Tunbridge Wells Museum hosts its popular children’s craft activities today and tomorrow. Friday’s begins at 10.30am and lasts for an hour. On Saturday there are two sessions which run from 10am to midday and 2pm until 4pm.

The Tonbridge Food and Drink Festival kicks off this evening with a variety of pop-up bars and stalls showcasing a taste of the delights that will be on offer

JOOLS HOLLAND At The Assembly Hall

over the weekend. The event takes place in the picturesque surroundings of the town’s historic castle and runs all day Saturday and Sunday. For more information visit www.marketsquaregroup.co.uk >> SATURDAY There will be a plant sale today at St John’s Church from 10am until 1pm in aid of the Woodbury Park Cemetery.

This evening the Tonbridge Philharmonic perform a selection of musical masterpieces including Tchaikovsky’s Serenade for Strings and Schubert’s Symphony No. 4 at West Kent College.

The society is celebrating its 70th anniversary this year so the event promises to be a memorable one. Tickets are available from www.tonphil.org.uk or on the door.

Music for the Bard: A celebration of 400 years of Shakespeare takes place at St Peter’s Upper Church in Pembury. The event starts at 7.30pm and as well as a performance by the Cantiaci Vocal Ensemble there will also be readings by Alison

>> MONDAY If you enjoy writing poetry and you live in the borough of Tonbridge & Malling then why not enter the Roundel Poetry competition? Open to those aged 18 and over, you pay £3 per poem submitted and can enter as many as you like. The closing date for the competition is May 31 and the prize-giving ceremony will be on July 13 at the Rose and Crown. For more information please email roundeltonbridge@gmail.com This evening there will be a production of John THE GRAPES OF WRATH At EM Forster Theatre

WHAT’S ON 

A ROUND-UP OF THIS WEEK’S MUSICAL HIGHLIGHTS Steinbeck’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel The Grapes of Wrath at the EM Forster Theatre at Tonbridge School.

Set during the Great Depression, it focuses on the Joads, a poverty-stricken family who leave their miserable roots in Oklahoma and set out for a new life in California. Tickets and more information can be obtained from www.boxoffice.tonbridge-school.co.uk >> TUESDAY At 5pm there will be a Bat Walk hosted by the rangers at Grosvenor and Hilbert park. This will be followed by a specialist talk on this fascinating species at 6.30pm by Jenny Clark, who is a member of the Sussex Bat Group. Booking is not required.

As the Rusthall Arts Festival weekend approaches there’s another workshop to help promote it at the Red Lion pub in the village.

The Word Up event will show you how to write and perform and starts at 7.30pm. For more information visit www.raft16.org Over at the Uckfield Picture House you will have another chance to catch Monet to Matisse: The Modern Garden today and tomorrow. This exhibition ‘on screen’ features paintings by the aforementioned artists as well as Van Gogh, Bonnard and Pissaro, who all cited the garden as inspiration for their work. At the screening tonight at 7.45pm there will be a special introduction and a Q&A post the film by local director Phil Grabsky.

Tomorrow’s screening is at 6.30pm.

PICK OF THE WEEK Mugenkyo Taiko Drummers

Trinity Theatre hosts a musical evening with a difference this Friday. It promises to be a spectacular performance with lots of energetic beats courtesy of these impressive Japanese percussion instruments and slick, choreographed dance routines. Ticket prices start from £20. To purchase them visit www.trinitytheatre.net BIG BEATS Mugenkyo Taiko perform at Trinity

Paul Dunton

101

GUITAR MAN Sean de Burca

The must-read guide to what’s on musically for the week ahead… www.paulduntonandguests.com

Live music This Friday evening, the excellent Steffan James will be at Cassidy’s Bar performing a vibrant mix of popular covers from the 60’s to present day.

This Saturday, the Local & Live Sessions at Trinity Theatre offer a fine mix of local talent with headliners Storm Engine, who are a funk rock fourpiece offering sweeping ballads and catchy riffs.

They are brilliant musicians and sound like a cross between Prince and The Red Hot Chilli Peppers.

Drifting Embers will be the main support and offer wonderfully crafted folk and rock sonnets with soaring harmonies and infectious melodies.

Mesmerising local guitarist Sean de Burca is opening the show and has recently been named as one of the greatest acoustic guitarists under the age of 30 worldwide by Acoustic Guitar Magazine.

He is simply jaw-dropping to watch live…

If you feel like dancing the night away on Saturday night you can also catch Wayne Bridle at The Beau Nash and The Heartbeats at The Royal Oak. There’s more few acoustic fans a Sunday evening.

The Grey Lady offers a cracking line-up with artists Becky Copsey, Kirsty Macleod, Anna Howie, and Red, Green & Blue THE TUNBRIDGE WELLS FORUM

Doors 7.30pm, entry price variable, event information and tickets at www.twforum.co.uk

THURSDAY Unfest 2016 Launch: Beverly, Box Of Light, plus special guests FRIDAY Foreign Beggars, Ceezlin (Rum Com), Daniel Son X Roundhouse, Tenbag Banditz

THE ASSEMBLY HALL THEATRE

Crescent Road, Show times & ticket prices vary, visit www.assemblyhalltheatre.co.uk for more details

THURSDAY Jools Holland SATURDAY Counterfeit Stones SUNDAY An Evening with Stacey Solomon THE BEAU NASH INN

Mount Ephraim Open all day, free entry, music from 8.30pm till late

THE ROYAL OAK

SATURDAY Wayne Bridle

Prospect Road Open all day, free entry, music from 8pm onwards

TRINITY THEATRE

SATURDAY The Heartbeats MONDAY Open Mic/Jam Session

Church Road, Show times & ticket prices vary, visit www.trinitytheatre.net for more details

WEDNESDAY Royal Opera: Frankenstein FRIDAY Mugenkyo Taiko Drummers SATURDAY Local & Live Sessions: Sean de Burca, Drifting Embers, Storm Engine

KING CHARLES THE MARTYR

near The Pantiles, ticket information and concert times at www.kcmtw.org

SATURDAY ESK Wind Ensemble

CASSIDY’S SPORTS BAR

THE PUNCH & JUDY

Castle Street, Open all day, free entry, music from 9pm till late

11 St Stephen’s Street, Tonbridge, Open all day, free entry, music from 8.30pm

FRIDAY Steffan James

TUESDAY Missouri Gutts

SCALLYWAG

THE THEATRE, WEST KENT COLLEGE

45 Mount Ephraim, Open all day, music from 7.30pm, entry charge for music may apply, more information at www.scallywagcafe.co.uk

Brook Street Tonbridge, concert times and ticket information at www.tonphil.org.uk

WEDNESDAY Cabaret Open Mic Night

SATURDAY Tonbridge Philharmonic Society Spring Orchestral Concert

THE GREY LADY MUSIC LOUNGE

The Pantiles, Doors 7.15pm, entry £6/£7, websites www.pdag.co.uk + www.thegreylady.co.uk

WEDNESDAY Amber Anderton, James Lattimer, Nick Stephens, Annie Lees FRIDAY Soul Kitchen SATURDAY Studio 54 SUNDAY Becky, Kirsty Macleod, Anna Howie, Red, Green & Blue TUESDAY Alex Beharrell, Jennie Worthley, Matthew Hovenden, Declan Foster WEDNESDAY Charlotte Tingley, Lachlan Daly, Katy Virgoe, The Varlies JAZZ ON THE PANTILES

8pm - 10pm live music on The Bandstand, free to attend, donations welcomed

THURSDAY Two Bobs Worth CAMDEN QUARTER

Camden Road, £5 admission, 7.30pm till late

SATURDAY Northern Soul (DJ night) THE ROSE & CROWN

LIST YOUR EVENT… If you’d like to see your event featured in our What’s On pages you can email the details to info@ timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk or post to The Times 16 Lonsdale Gardens, Tunbridge Wells TN1 1NU Event’s name Date and time Ticket cost Contact information

Grosvenor Road, Open all day, free entry, music from 8pm

SUNDAY Karma & The Devil NO.9 SMOKEHOUSE

9 Nevill Street, Open all day, free entry, music from 8.30pm till late

FRIDAY Release The Geese SATURDAY The Seamonkeys THE CROSS KEYS

St John’s Road, Open all day, free entry, music from 8pm, website www.crosskeystw.co.uk

WEDNESDAY Sonny’s Jazz-jazz funk giants THURSDAY Cross Keys Open Mic Night FRIDAY Sonny’s Blues Gambler MONDAY TWURPS Ukulele beginners session Sonny’s Jazz: refer to venue website above

Wednesday 18th May 2016

102 � THE GREAT OUTDOORS

Kent Barker Country matters

Robin me blind!

I T’S a bit much when a bloke can’t get into his own workshop… because of nesting birds!

But that’s the current situation chez Barker.

Two families of robins have taken up residence, building homes of leaf and moss, on shelves upon which reside boxes of screws and bolts and nails and myriad other objects for which there is no obvious alternative storage place.

Just to digress for a moment – I never cease to be amazed at the ability of the human brain to recall where small inanimate objects have been put – often months or years before. Asked where to find, say, a glass cutter among the appalling clutter of the workshop, and chances are the brain will take me straight to it – even though I might not have used it for years (the glass cutter, that is, not the brain – that I used only a few months ago).

On the other hand, tasked to remember where I put my glasses five minutes previously and the grey matter resolutely refuses to cooperate. It’s a sad reflection that this stored memory will depart along with me. No-one else will have a hope of knowing where such and such an implement might be. Indeed, there are still drawers full of things left by my grandfather, who died in 1963, the function of which I have not the remotest idea. Mind you I wouldn’t

Wednesday 18th May 2016

dream of discarding them. They MIGHT come in useful one day.

The point is that a number of these ‘vital’ gizmos are currently inaccessible because of the nests built upon them. And the robins get quite shirty when I venture near the workbench. And, because I’m fond of robins, I don’t want to frighten them away and find their eggs abandoned.

There is something utterly adorable about a fledgling robin. It’s yet to acquire its characteristic red breast, and resembles nothing so much as a discordant bundle of downy feathers in an

‘A charity shop book suggested that cats might be responsible for as many as 75 million bird deaths each year’ ensemble not unreminiscent of Boris’s hair.

I am often surprised at the poor choices birds make when it comes to choosing a home. For years starlings built nests in my chimney – dropping twig after twig down until sufficient stuck to build up a platform. But the abode was inevitably insecure. A fire during a cold snap would smoke them out – as well, it must be said, as me, since they’d all but completely block the flue.

The problem was solved by cementing a wire mesh to the top of the chimney stack but it meant they had to look elsewhere for building plots. One starling chose my garage this year.

But instead of constructing up in the eaves, it built the nursery at waist height on top of a stirrup pump. Now, fortunately, I didn’t actually need to inflate my bicycle tyres this month (as indeed I haven’t for several months – in fact years come to think of it) so I didn’t have to disturb the nest. But every time I went past the garage the mother flew off in alarm, enabling me to take a peek inside. Last week there were looking open-mouthed chicks. But four sweet-looking not now. They’ve vanished. And it’s unlikely they did so under their own steam. I fear the nest was low enough for a predator to reach.

Well, at least it wasn’t MY cat. He perished on the road on my birthday seven ince I replaced him years ago. Since with the dog, the bird carnage has reduced dramatically.

A charity shop book entitled Attracting Birds to your Garden offered some alarming statistics. It suggested that cats might be responsible for as many as 75 million bird deaths each year – and that’s the equivalent to the entire breeding population of our top ten most common species!

Certainly without a cat our local feathered friends have become dramatically emboldened. A robin, probably one of the workshop residents, flew into the kitchen this morning

and started helping itself to food from the table.

Even after being gently shooed outside it soon returned and began pecking at a bag of tortilla chips. Round here they’d probably say it was all the fault of the benefit culture. Provide tidbits on a bird table throughout the winter and they lose the incentive to forage even when worms are plentiful. I see it rather differently. I think the bird was providing a gentle reminder of the gap between the ‘haves’ and the ‘have nots’. I have a big house with plenty of bread for breakfast, while the poor robin is forced to squat in a temporary accommodation in the workshop and beg for handouts at the food bank. OK, call me a soft touch, but I opened the tortilla chips and spread them round on the table outside for my new friend.

Lifestyl@ord

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