Times of Tunbridge Wells 20th January 2016

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By Adam s were tunbridgewells setting is Mr Cairns Mr worked in at girls’ the remarktion. omed to “I have adam@timesof con- co-ed all his posturing,that girls do well out among causing are all accust - convic “For has broken ’s most prestig table truth said: “We predilection for his competShe unpala debate e D ng the Sussex A HEATE Kent and of an all-girls’ edu- rather tiresom sively targetis that he should schools. some of d by aggres heads of s over the merits troversy s, but I find it curiouwith this recycle ters school lazily daugh ious te itor school so quite so best to educa Richard to do the cation. over how ents made by inde- choose from March 2015.Mr Cairns is so behind GIRLS The furore to prove BENENDEN -sex article ed by comm the mixed-sex sad that girls happy Single was trigger headmaster of “It is rather a school full of e. rate. on Colleg I have education Cairns, the environment ed and inaccu school Brightm of all-female Independ- times. ns outdat pendent his opinio ’ criticis hed in the called Mr Cairns s when publis in which he Ludicrou y unreal a discaused uproar magazine, them at and ‘deepl l Parent than put ent Schoo set up ‘outdated’ te in girls ls t that, ratherschools promo m from an all-gir “I sugges sex ed criticis draw which allows single provok ability have with tage, istic’. which advan their own stage, not only his views schools College, a confidence in However, all-girls ing and of three e on a global Wells – Kent are manag to engag the heads from Tunbridge .” those they a them but with environment you Benenden. their pupils d at him, their peers ed by in a work School and ed’ to think to e directe ed unremanag Mayfield y outdat able e the outrag he remain and felt being om to be it is ‘wholl s But despit Mr Cairns said She adds boys in the classro for his remark to have ‘stood by’ spokesman utely ludiadding he per- need with them. is ‘absol pentant, update them. is little to say it am often ‘cope’ to said: “I goes on n world there swayed no need Mr Cairns Mrs Beary up being that in moder In the articlethey [parents] end performing better crous’ to think co-operation en the sexes. girls when close deeply betwe t about plexed s that rking, they have contac ed notion s and plump for social netwo the contact by outdat the classShe lists s, and sex school girls outside of meet boy’s school in single world.” family will the with ‘never and s well d to friend the girls unrealistic ically asks how not learne with male r the notion if they have ite sex before to counte He rhetor the space workplace oppos a room, benefit from re to cope in the members of the of A*s and boys.’ our girls the pressu with I believe have a clutch meaningfully socialise escape from the media and comments “In fact, “They may if they cannot ues elves and that Mr Cairns adding: a strong on them,” to be thems a perceived norm male colleag degree but that any provoked heads of m to unicate with e boys) place first class perplexed’ daugh- have and comm disadvantage.” least teenag of a confor r from the is ‘often converse findings e society (not reaction t girls’ He said he choose to put their head of anothe be at a huge on to quote the the . will Scienc by l independen they idge then goes can journa at sin- she added s were echoed parent should-sex school. his three ls around Tunbr ry, .

Mr Cairns led by the Ameri Her remark alone in educated e Pembu ls school schoo ter in a singleis not entirely study compi women who were d in the work- prominent all-girhead of Kent Colleg‘provocative’ Hignett romise k, in a By Adam Wells. rate Mr Cairns which states s were ‘comp Lodrick, head of Julie Lodric Mr Cairns of acting draw rk and coope Both Julie d ity. g executive schools that have views. gle-sex school ability to netwo also accuse ham, the School in head of Kent to gain public is clearly chasin of all-girl their as san Bauck Wells simply r heads ted’.

Ian place Dioce Cairns his THE heless manne -sex Tunbridge was inhibi e Pembury “Richard Memorial Times that ed, but nevert in that single with men Bennett result from She said: -sex Colleg told the pupils to ia using outdat the claim students. l idge Wells n inches guaranteed and Anton of is for mixed ly refuted tiona ents Tunbr colum female strong ence’ Emo for the statem in sinprefer Beary, head tiondis bad been ignited by provocative his desire ‘personal ing of girls that girls in gettingeduca ld key has the wellbe sometimes suffer outrage. who do thedebate succeeded misses education. is possible to arguebeing and Mayfie accuse e pupils questions to can The has he at they lead he femal , time He also can “It that “Sadly same s, stating School, with boys ’ used to ity’ that He said: suggestion and at the are socialise gle sex school onal intens should get antage possible.”

Cairns of response of us who of ‘emoti mixsec-and and boys is ‘still as early as way young Mr a ‘huge disadv is that all notstate a degree the together ’ the are put at ent he claims ically point. fact of the matter ndent and working sin- using to school chilbullying.

“The d ‘with horror at the argum e more academ the indepe of indethat the attended He recalle achiev in ‘male’ Taking aim at parents tors in both t to ensure in later life. who had used debate rivals that girls particularly mainly to educa doing our utmos ents aimed pupils, Richard men and women when they attack trotted out’ environments, In comm tors are ls behaved modation. was down tions. e, sug-sex educated said this in single accom on Colleg gle-sex schoo pendently Mr Cairns these institu of Bright university nts are subjects, nature of mixed-sex Cairns, headall-girl establishme selective’ the ‘very that y unrealistic’.

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Mrs publicity. motives FOOD and create t attack on his ction means y chasFrench conne In a robus Mr Cairns is ‘clearl is complete ‘outdated’ High Street Lodrick claims ’ by using n inches ents. is ing colum seeking cative’ comm and ‘provo ation of publicity Beary, who Antonia Her accus ’ Mayfield’s tomed to Mr Cairns g echoed by are all accus ection for causin “We said: ing his e predil sively target rather tiresom by aggres controversyschools.” us’ that he it is ‘curio lazily’ by competitor PAGES 78-79 on to say She goes e to do so ‘quite so y pubalread Y should choos article he had an PROPERT some of the rehashing Benenden, year.

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FROM PAGE

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g outdated ‘He is usin ertheless but nev ative provoc statements guaranteed in to result outrage’

, head of Julie Lodrick Pembury Kent College

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WE ASK: IS THE HIGH COST OF LIVING IN TUNBRIDGE WELLS REALLY WORTH IT? See pages 14, 15 & 16

Heads hit back at claim all-girl schools are wrong for students

INSIDE BUSINESS

Rival to the Post Office delivers great results

Pupils won’t be able to cope at work if they don’t mix with boys BENENDEN GIRLS Single-sex environment

By Adam Hignett THE heads of all-girl schools that draw pupils from Tunbridge Wells have strongly refuted the claim that single-sex education is bad for female students.

The debate has been ignited by the suggestion that female pupils who do not mix and socialise with boys at school are put at a ‘huge disadvantage’ in later life.

In comments aimed at parents of independently educated pupils, Richard Cairns, head of Brighton College, suggests that all-girl establishments are ‘outdated’ and ‘deeply unrealistic’.

He said he is ‘often perplexed’ that any parent should choose to put their daughter in a single-sex school.

Mr Cairns is not entirely alone in his views.

Ian Bauckham, the executive head of Bennett Memorial Diocesan School in Tunbridge Wells told the Times that his ‘personal preference’ is for mixed-sex education.

He said: “It is possible to argue that girls and boys should get used to being and working together as early as possible.”

He recalled ‘with horror’ the way young men and women who had attended single-sex schools behaved when they used mixed-sex university accommodation.

Mr Cairns comments have provoked a strong reaction from the heads of three independent girls’ schools around Tunbridge Wells.

Both Julie Lodrick, head of Kent College Pembury and Antonia Beary, head of Mayfield School, accuse Mr Cairns of using the debate to attack rivals

and create publicity.

In a robust attack on his motives Mrs Lodrick claims Mr Cairns is ‘clearly chasing column inches’ by using ‘outdated’ and ‘provocative’ comments.

Her accusation of publicity seeking is echoed by Mayfield’s Antonia Beary, who said: “We are all accustomed to Mr Cairns’ rather tiresome predilection for causing controversy by aggressively targeting his competitor schools.”

She goes on to say it is ‘curious’ that he should choose to do so ‘quite so lazily’ by rehashing an article he had already published last year.

Samantha Price, head of Benenden, also accused Mr Cairns of stoking ‘controversy’ and added: “One of the benefits for girls in a single-sex environment is that they have the space to have a go at things without having to worry about how they may be seen by the opposite sex.”

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‘He is using outdated but nevertheless provocative statements guaranteed to result in outrage’ Julie Lodrick, head of Kent College Pembury

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2 � NEWS

Weather Wednesday Cloudy and cold again, but dry with some sunny outbursts possible.

January 20, 2016 Tunbridge Wells

Neill Barston

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2C

nbarston@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk

Visibility: Very good

Pollution: Low

Humidity: 74%

Sunrise: 07.52am

Sunset: 16.28pm

Wind: 4mph

Thursday

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Government forced to respond to commuter protest petition

8ºC

An atmospheric close-up photo from Tunbridge Wells Cemetery, Hawkenbury sent in by Caroline Auckland

email: newsdesk@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk

SEND IN YOUR WEATHER PICTURE TO BE FEATURED ON THIS PAGE CONTACTS EDITORIAL DIRECTOR RICHARD MOORE richard@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk | 01892 779615 DESIGN/PRODUCTION LEE SMITH lsmith8@markerstudy.com HEAD OF SALES JOE STONER joe@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk | 01892 779624 GENERAL INQUIRIES newsdesk@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk FIND US ONLINE facebook.com/timesoftunbridgewells timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk twitter.com/timesoftw IF YOU HAVE A STORY WE WOULD LIKE TO HEAR FROM YOU. Contact details above

A PETITION calling for Southeastern to be stripped of its rail franchise has been signed by thousands of angry commuters, including many residents from Tunbridge Wells.

More than 12,000 people have so far added their names in protest at a series of train delays and cancellations over the past few months which have been branded as being ‘unacceptable’.

The number of those expressing their dismay at rail services between Hastings and London has now surpassed the mark required for an official government response.

According to Southeastern, the latest issues with service punctuality, which follow complaints of disruption to the network’s lines since before the New Year, were attributed to icy rail conditions.

As a result, commuters are now potentially in line for compensation under a recentlyintroduced scheme designed to address journey delays of more than 30 minutes.

One of the worst incidents this month came with problems on the Hastings line last week, with rail travel replaced by buses due to a land slippage causing delays in the Wadhurst area.

This came on top of problems with rail signalling between Hastings and Tonbridge as commuters were hit with immediate travel woes on their first week back from Christmas holidays.

Southeastern came in for further criticism

LONG WAIT Commuters at Tunbridge Wells online following further delays to services operating in the region being cancelled because of sunlight allegedly affecting its drivers.

The situation prompted many to take to social media to vent their frustration, with one Twitter user creating a spoof account parodying rail services. Its latest entry read: “The next train from Tunbridge Wells to London Bridge is leaving shortly from platform 3. Ha Ha Ha.” Among numerous comments directed at railway services, commuter Alan Bullion said: “Happy New Year to all commuters. Fares rise yet again while service slumps to a bigger low for Tunbridge Wells line passengers.”

Fellow commuter Skye Robertson said: “What is going on with the trains this week? 4/5 of the trains I’ve taken from Tunbridge Wells to London have been delayed.”

Rail passenger David Ringer Tweeted: “South East Railway. What a Joke. Today is the second time this week this ‘service’ has been cancelled at Tunbridge Wells.”

Commuter Paul Strover added: “Delayed for 6th time this week by South East Railway -

almost a record. Sat at Tunbridge Wells on train delayed half hour now awaiting a new driver.”

Southeastern issued a statement apologising for delays. However, despite a request from the Times to establish how many services had been cancelled so far this year between Tunbridge Wells and its London routes, the company was unable to confirm a total.

In a statement on the landslide incident, Southeastern said: “A landslide happened between Stonegate and Wadhurst causing delays on the line between Tunbridge Wells and Hastings. Replacement bus services were available while Network Rail engineers fixed the problem.

“Cold overnight weather conditions also led to ice forming on our track at Wadhurst Tunnel and affecting the third rail.

“We apologise to passengers for the inconvenience this caused and would like to remind our customers that if their journey was delayed by 30 minutes or more they can claim compensation under the Delay Repay scheme.”

Council sets record with financial clean bill of health TUNBRIDGE Wells Borough Council has been given a clean bill of health for an ‘unprecedented’ sixth year in a row in its annual audit.

News of the positive audit was welcomed by members of the Cabinet on Thursday, with Councillor Paul Barrington-King, portfolio holder for finance and governance, claiming the council was leading its UK peers for sound finances.

He said: “I do believe this is unprecedented in the UK that for the sixth year in succession we have been given a clean bill of health.

“And for the finance team who have undertaken with rigor the handling of this council’s finances I offer my heartfelt thanks.”

Lee Colyer, director of finance and corporate

services said the audit, which was for the 2014/15 financial year, confirmed the council was offering good value for money to taxpayers.

He added: “This is all extremely reassuring to local tax payers in that, despite the very challenging financial environment, the council continues to provide good financial governance and effective forward planning.

“The audit found no errors, no adjustments to be made and no areas for improvement were identified.”

In addition, Mr Colyer said the audit fee of £68,306 was around half of what it had been ‘in recent years.’

But he stressed the council would not slip into

a false sense of security on the back of its long- running success.

He said: “We are not complacent, we do often review the annual letters of other organisations to be assured we are aware of the areas which are causing them difficulties so we can be alert to them ourselves.”

Dia Chakravarty, political director at the TaxPayers’ Alliance, said: “This is certainly heartening news.

“Residents will hope that the council continues with this trend so that taxpayers get the services they pay for and deserve. Other local authorities could look to this council for lessons on transparency and savings.”

WHY MORRISONS COULD JOIN THE CINEMA SITE AS ANOTHER EYESORE 16 Lonsdale Gardens, Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN1 1NU

CLARIFICATIONS AND CORRECTIONS HERE at the Times of Tunbridge Wells we strive to deliver, fair, accurate and balanced reports. When we don’t meet our own high standards we will accept the responsibility and publish clarifications and corrections.

If you would like to make a comment on any aspect of the newspaper, please write to the editor, 16 Lonsdale Gardens, Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN1 1NU, or email newsdesk@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk

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QUOTE UNQUOTE ‘What good is the warmth of summer, without the cold of winter to give it sweetness’

John Steinbeck

Wednesday 20th January 2016

YOU won’t find many people who disagree with the view that Tunbridge Wells is a good place to live. After all it ticks most, if not all, the right boxes: great shops, restaurants, schools and theatres. It also has a low crime rate and, on a good day, a decent train service to London just 38 miles away.

All of which comes at a price and means this is not the cheapest place live. You can pay up to £4,400 for an annual rail season ticket against £3,160 from Tonbridge while a seat at the cinema to see Star Wars: The Force Awakens would last month have cost you £12.50 against £8 in, say, Blackpool and on the property front the value of the average house in town last month was £462,000 against a national average of £287,000.

So is it a price worth paying? That’s the question we pose in this edition where we talk to some typical local families, if there is such a thing, and look at the money all of us have to

hand over day in and day out. And what’s the answer? Well, you’ll have to turn to page 14 to find out. I know where I stand.

Staff at Morrisons supermarket in Tunbridge Wells are being consulted about proposals to close the supermarket. Realists will know that the chances of the store opposite the station staying open are zero. Sorry staff, but obviously the numbers don’t add up. The biggest problem is the fact that shoppers like their stores to be on one level. They like to drive into a car park and get as close to the front door as possible. What they don’t enjoy is parking in a multi-storey above a supermarket, getting a lift down to the shop, or worse going down the stairs, even though they get a refund on the parking fee once they reach the till. Shoppers just hate stores that are not on one level and that’s why it is unlikely another supermarket will take over the site.

On its own the closure of Morrisons would be bad enough. But some of us still remember the time when Safeway shut and the place was boarded up. It was an eyesore. Problems are compounded by the fact that in the same week news came that the deal to develop the nearby cinema site had also fallen through, when we all dreamed that the 15-year saga would finally be over.

Imagine having the eyesore that a boarded up Morrisons would present to match the eyesore that is the empty cinema site hiding behind blue hoardings.

Council leader David Jukes and his colleagues must be tearing their hair out as they attempt to answer the question: “What’s wrong with our town centre?” Their problem is there’s little the council itself can do. Or is there?

Richard Moore, Editorial Director

LOCAL NEWS �

Newspaper did not reveal the man behind the mask THE caped crusader is back on the streets of Tunbridge Wells and remains as big a mystery as ever.

Known as Ring Pull Man, he first appeared in the town last summer with a mission to collect as many ring pulls as possible to help support needy children in the Philippines. Part of his appeal was that no one knew his identity.

Then he was ‘unmasked’ in August by the Courier newspaper and named as Steve Burnett, a ‘wealthy businessman’ and managing director of a recycling company in Hadlow. The story talked about Mr Burnett’s ‘former long running drug problem’.

UNKNOWN Ring Pull Man

But Mr Burnett denied he was the man riding round on a unicycle and reported the Courier to the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO) which investigates complaints against the media.

Last week IPSO ruled against the Courier stating that it was significantly misleading for the newspaper to claim that it had established that the complainant was Ring Pull Man – and had confirmed it with him – when it had not done so.

IPSO did concede it was unable to establish ‘conclusively’ whether or not the complainant was indeed the masked character.

This week Ring Pull Man told the Times that he would ‘never’ reveal his true identity as it would distract from his mission of helping needy children.

He said: “The main message is this: It is not important who I am but who I am trying to help.”

The mysterious figure has been collecting ‘thousands’ of ring pulls and sending them to the Philippine Community Fund where they are turned into jewellery for sale.

Charley makes her Voice heard FUSING classical music, rap, and rock ‘n’roll has earned Speldhurst violinist Charlotte Andrew a coveted spot on BBC One’s music talent show, The Voice.

Charley Blue, as she is known by her stage name, impressed the programme’s judges, including Boy George, Ricky Wilson from Kaiser Chiefs and Will.i.am, who were all bidding to become her mentor.

ON SONG Charley Blue

Speaking to the Times, the 24 year old, who is also a vocalist for the Paul Dunton Orchestra in Tunbridge Wells, described the series as a hugely enjoyable opportunity.

Charlotte, who is a former Tunbridge Wells Girls’ Grammar School pupil, recalled her audition appearance as a highly memorable night.

She said: “It’s such a surreal experience, as you don’t realise that it’s going to be on TV, and you can’t really see the cameras there. So watching it back is really quite weird, but it was fantastic. I really wasn’t expecting any of the judges to turn round for me. But Will.i.am was the first who did and he’s the person I most wanted to work with as he has done things with so many different artists. When they turn round it means they would like you to be on their team for the show.

“Although I’m just a girl from the country, I can rap and I’m into R&B and hip hop, as well as classical music. I really wanted to show that with my performance, as so often people are just put in a box.”  The latest series of The Voice continues this Saturday evening on BBC One Picture: BBC/Wall to Wall/Guy Levy

Hotel and shops might replace the bus depot in St John’s Road

NEWS IN BRIEF

Staff consulted over supermarket closure MORRISONS in Tunbridge Wells is facing closure within the next three months. The supermarket was opened in 2012 after standing boarded up and empty for six years and becoming a major eyesore.

Consultations are currently taking place with staff in a bid to save the store, although industry experts believe this is unlikely given the fact that parking is above the store and that shoppers prefer supermarkets where everything is on one level.

The Crowborough store is not affected by cutbacks being implanted by Morrisons.

Cyclist dies on ride POLICE are appealing for witnesses after the death of a cyclist in Langton Green on Saturday. The man, in his 50s and from Tunbridge Wells, was treated by Kent Air Ambulance at Langton Road, near the junction with Ashurst Road.

He had been cycling with another rider close behind when he fell from his bike.

Ambulance teams attempted to revive the man, but he was pronounced dead at the scene. Anyone who may have witnessed the incident should call 01622 798538.

Town pub to reopen THE Rose and Crown pub on Grosvenor Road is due to be reopened after shutting its doors almost a year ago. The pub, which can trace its history back almost 300 years, has been bought by Baskerville Taverns Ltd, a family-run firm based in Sevenoaks.

Baskerville plan to fuse ‘the best of the traditional pub’ with ‘contemporary trends’.

Local astronaut dying NASA astronaut Piers Sellers, who was born in Crowborough, has revealed that he has terminal pancreatic cancer.

He has written in the New York Times that doctors have told him he has entered stage four of the disease.

Dr Sellers, aged 60 and educated in Cranbrook, flew on three space shuttle missions between 2002 and 2010.

He said: “As for me, I’ve no complaints.

I am very grateful for the experience I have had on this planet. As an astronaut I spacewalked 220 miles above the earth.”

Adam Hignett

adam@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk THE gentrification of St John’s Road looks set to continue unabated after Arriva put its bus depot on the market.

With a total area of 4,376 sq m (47,114 sq ft) the site has been placed on the market for an undisclosed sum, and commercial estate agent Durlings confirmed a lease-back deal will be in place.

Durlings said the deal, which would involve the purchaser leasing the property back to Arriva once the sale has been completed, is likely to last for 18 months, with flexibility for an extension.

News of the depot’s sale comes after developers won approval to redevelop the Dairy Crest plot in December, despite opposition from neighbours and the Tunbridge Wells Civic Society.

The smaller site, 480 metres away and also on St John’s Road, sold for £2.8 million last March and is due to be turned into a residential development of 58 modern homes.

Neighbour Lisa de Garston described the site as ‘no longer fit for purpose.’

3

She said on Facebook: “Knowing the engineers and drivers quite well, there are several health and safety issues, it leaks like an old sieve and the air quality for residents is affected by the running of diesel engines.”

Rupert Farrant of Durlings said residential development was the ‘obvious route’ which could include retirement housing.

But he added a mixed use scheme with retail, hotel and leisure facilities should not be ‘ruled out’.

Mr Farrant said: “Our brief is to seek both conditional and unconditional offers and then consider

each proposal on its merits.

“We are confident that with sympathetic design and a positive use of a brownfield site that the resultant development will greatly enhance this part of St Johns Road and contribute to the varying styles of architecture and uses.

“House building and the requirement for a greater number of homes remains high up on the Government’s agenda, with local authorities keen to balance this with employment-generating uses.

“Let’s hope that the nominated developer can tick both boxes.”

Florist shortlisted TUNBRIDGE Wells florist Darling & Wild has been shortlisted in the 2016 UK Wedding Awards, with voting opening to the public on Monday.

Selected for the category ‘best wedding florist’, Lara Haynes, owner of the Camden Road store, said she was ‘delighted’ by the selection and is looking for the support of her local community to win the public vote.

Wednesday 20th January 2016

4 � LOCAL NEWS

Single sex education sparks CONFIDENT GIRLS Kent College Pembury

By Adam Hignett adam@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk

A HEATED debate has broken out among the heads of some of Kent and Sussex’s most prestigious schools over the merits of an all-girls’ education.

The furore over how best to educate daughters was triggered by comments made by Richard Cairns, the headmaster of the mixed-sex independent school Brighton College.

Mr Cairns’ criticism of all-female education caused uproar when published in the Independent School Parent magazine, in which he called an all-girls set up ‘outdated’ and ‘deeply unrealistic’.

However, his views have provoked criticism from the heads of three all-girls schools which draw their pupils from Tunbridge Wells – Kent College, Mayfield School and Benenden.

But despite the outrage directed at him, a spokesman for Mr Cairns said he remained unrepentant, adding he ‘stood by’ his remarks and felt no need to update them.

In the article Mr Cairns said: “I am often perplexed when they [parents] end up being swayed by outdated notions about girls performing better in single sex schools and plump for that deeply unrealistic world.”

He rhetorically asks how well will the girls cope in the workplace if they have not learned to socialise with members of the opposite sex before adding: “They may have a clutch of A*s and a first class degree but if they cannot meaningfully converse and communicate with male colleagues they will be at a huge disadvantage.”

Mr Cairns then goes on to quote the findings of a study compiled by the American journal Science which states women who were educated at single-sex schools were ‘compromised in the workplace as their ability to network and cooperate with men was inhibited’.

Emotional He also questions the wellbeing of girls in single sex schools, stating they can sometimes suffer a degree of ‘emotional intensity’ that can lead to bullying.

Taking aim at the argument he claims is ‘still trotted out’ that girls achieve more academically in single-sex environments, particularly in ‘male’ subjects, Mr Cairns said this was down mainly to the ‘very selective’ nature of these institutions.

Wednesday 20th January 2016

But his criticism was rebuffed by Mayfield head Antonia Beary, who accused Mr Cairns of being ‘tiresome and outdated’ in his views on the subject, going so far as to suggest the remarks were driven more by rivalry than conviction.

She said: “We are all accustomed to Mr Cairns’ rather tiresome predilection for causing controversy by aggressively targeting his competitor schools, but I find it curious that he should choose to do so quite so lazily with this recycled article from March 2015.

“It is rather sad that Mr Cairns is so behind the times. I have a school full of girls happy to prove his opinions outdated and inaccurate.

Ludicrous “I suggest that, rather than put them at a disadvantage, single sex schools promote in girls a confidence in their own ability which allows them to engage on a global stage, not only with their peers but with those they are managing and being managed by in a work environment.”

She adds it is ‘wholly outdated’ to think you need to have boys in the classroom to be able to ‘cope’ with them.

Mrs Beary goes on to say it is ‘absolutely ludicrous’ to think that in modern world there is little contact between the sexes.

She lists social networking, close co-operation with boy’s schools, and the contact they have with male friends and family outside of the classroom, to counter the notion the girls ‘never meet boys.’

“In fact, I believe our girls benefit from the space to be themselves and escape from the pressure to conform to a perceived norm that the media and society (not least teenage boys) place on them,” she added.

Her remarks were echoed by the head of another prominent all-girls school.

Julie Lodrick, head of Kent College Pembury, also accused Mr Cairns of acting in a ‘provocative’ manner simply to gain publicity.

She said: “Richard Cairns is clearly chasing column inches using outdated, but nevertheless provocative statements guaranteed to result in outrage.

“Sadly, he has succeeded in getting his desired response and at the same time he misses the key point.

“The fact of the matter is that all of us who are educators in both the independent and state sectors are doing our utmost to ensure that the chil-

dren and young people in our care receive the very best education that we can provide.”

Mrs Lodrick said it was the choice of parents to decide what is best for their children, stating it is, in fact, ‘the very crux of the matter’, adding: “Girls’ schools provide the right environment for many girls, whilst some parents may feel that a co-ed setting is preferable for their daughter.

“For all his posturing, Mr Cairns cannot escape the unpalatable truth that girls do well at girls’ schools.

‘I recall with horror the ways young men and young women at my university behaved when they had just come out of single sex schools and into mixed university accommodation. It wasn’t a pretty sight’ “This is evident every year in the league tables for independent schools, where girls’ schools dominate the top positions.”

Benenden head Samantha Price also placed an emphasis on the importance of choice for parents when it came to educating their daughters.

She said: “The new term started with the Headmaster of Brighton College triggering controversy by claiming that girls were at a disadvantage if they were educated at a single-sex school.

“I have worked in girls’ schools, boys’ schools

LOCAL NEWS �

5

heated debate among heads and co-educational schools and there are persuasive arguments for all three models. There is no right model of school, but there is a right school for your child.

“His argument is that if girls attend girls’ schools they do not mix with boys, so when they enter the workplace they struggle to converse and communicate with men. I welcome the debate that these comments have prompted.

“One of the benefits I have seen for girls in a single-sex environment is that they have the space to have a go at things without worrying about how they may be seen by the opposite sex.

“They are not so image conscious and there is far less pressure to grow up too quickly. They can be themselves.”

But Mr Cairns found support from Ian Bauckham, the head of the mixed-sex Bennett Memorial Diocesan School in Tunbridge Wells.

Mr Bauckham said: “I do not take a dogmatic view on this issue. In my opinion there are a number of ways to organise schools and education, and each approach has its merits and disadvantages.

to the opposite sex is ‘as important a part of growing up as learning to mix confidently in adult company.’

Anecdotally, Mr Bauckham warns about what many teenagers from single-sex schools can be like once at university.

He said: “I went to a mixed school myself – I recall with horror the ways in which both young men and young women at my university behaved when they had just come out of single sex schools and into mixed university accommodation. It was not a pretty sight. Far better to be used to mixed company with the support of school and before going to university.”

The views of Richard Cairns have provoked a robust response from the heads of three all-girls schools which draw their pupils from Tunbridge Wells – Kent College, Mayfield School and Benenden…

BENENDEN Samantha Price

BRIGHTON COLLEGE Richard Cairns

KENT COLLEGE Julie Lodrick

MAYFIELD SCHOOL Antonia Beary

Anecdotally He goes on to say that while the arguments for and against single-sex education were ‘well-rehearsed already,’ growing up together is more ‘normal’ in that it replicates the wider world, adding: “it is possible to argue that girls and boys should get used to being and working together as early as possible.”

Mr Bauckham states his own ‘personal preference’ is for mixed-sex education, as getting used

BENNETT MEMORIAL Ian Bauckham

Wednesday 20th January 2016

6  LOCAL BUSINESS NEWS

Post Office rival delivers results

By Adam Hignett adam@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk

BUSINESSES and members of the public frustrated with the long queues at the Post Office have started to turn to other providers to ensure their mail is delivered on time.

One such company is Post and Packing UK, whose founder Martyn Filby has declared its store on Mount Pleasant Road, which opened 18 months ago, as a ‘huge success’.

It was the first store to be opened outside of the company’s headquarters at Kings Hill.

The independent firm is taking on the might of the established players with plans for rapid expansion in the year ahead, offering a back to basics approach to mail and parcel delivery.

By not getting weighed down with the provision of additional services, such as pensions, TV licences and broadband, Post and Packing UK has a business model which plays to its core strengths.

Competitors In effect, the company uses its links with other providers of mail delivery services, such as Royal Mail, UPS or Fed-Ex, to ensure the customer will get the best deal when delivering letters or packages.

Mr Filby said: “As far as mail delivery goes we feel we offer a wide range and cover a lot of bases.

“This is because our business model utilises the services of our competitors to ensure we can offer our customers a wide range of mail based services.

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

HUGE SUCCESS Martyn Filby

Wednesday 20th January 2016

“People like this because they can just drop by and post a letter or a parcel, which we can package for them, and do not have to queue.”

By depending on third parties to deliver the actual mail, Post and Packing UK is in effect both competing with, and reliant upon, its potential rivals.

But this situation has its advantages, especially for the customer, as the company uses its connections to find the most suitable service for their needs.

And utilising the services of other providers, such as Royal Mail, has other benefits too, Mr Filby explained, adding: “The way we operate is a bit like Vodafone using the BT network. It relies on BT at one level but still competes for customers.

“This has given us an infrastructure which allows us to operate in an industry where margins are traditionally quite tight, and by utilising economies of scale we can improve these margins and pass on savings”.

This drive for economies of scale will see the company open an additional 14 stores this year, bringing its total to 20.

With a strategic aim to ‘encircle’ Greater London Mr Filby believes the company will only be restrained by lack of suitable locations.

In addition, it is not planning to take on debt to drive the expansion but rely on organic growth.

This means each store has to reach its breakeven point of around £250,000 turnover per year, quite rapidly, a feat Mr Filby believes is doable: “We pick sites which we think can be in a profit quite rapidly.

“The only thing which can stop us expanding is the units not being in the right place. It has to have the right demographics, with a good mix of business and residential.

“It also cannot be too close to an existing post office, any yet has to be close enough for our infrastructure.

“More stores mean more buying power for us so it gets easier to make savings.”

In addition to funding its own expansion through directly owned stores, the firm is looking to franchise is model, with four potential franchises expressing an interest in Leicester?

The company’s structure allows it to handle a huge volume of letters and parcels.

At the Post and Packing store in Tunbridge Wells, over 37,000 Christmas cards with second class stamps were handled in the week and a half before the effective cut off day on 18 December, including 4,000 in one day.

The firm also handled 4,500 cards with a first class stamp.

In the future, Mr Filby believes there will be a move towards consolidation of the mail market.

He said: “There will be others who come along. But at the end of the day the large companies will bring it all together.”

LOCAL BUSINESS NEWS 

Savoy appoints local media company to launch new luxury magazine for iconic hotel

LOCAL BUSINESS IN BRIEF

Bovis upbeat as it forecast final results KENT based house builder Bovis Homes expects to announce ‘significant revenue and profit growth’ when it publishes its 2015 results on February 22.

The comments were made in a trading statement released on Friday, with the company stating it had delivered 3,934 homes during the period, an increase of 8 per cent on the previous year.

Average sales prices also increased by 7 per cent to circa £231,000, up from £216,000 in 2014.

PICTURES: David Bartholomew

ONE of the world’s most iconic hotels, The Savoy, has appointed Tunbridge Wells-based One Media to create a prestigious quarterly magazine. One Media publishes this newspaper.

Opened to global acclaim in 1889, The Savoy in London combined glamorous style with the cuttingedge technology of the time; it was the first hotel in the world to be entirely lit by electric lights and to install electric lifts, saving the legs of its guests by elevating them up to their luxurious River View Suites.

This month saw the launch of ‘Savoy, the magazine’, published four times a year and consisting of 116 pages Editorially the magazine reflects the hotel’s glamorous and quintessentially British nature. Each issue includes articles ranging from exclusive interviews to sumptuous food and wine features, designer fashion trends, expert investment advice, the latest in aviation and motors, as well as art, antiques, auctions and more.

Kiaran MacDonald (right), Managing Director of The Savoy, said: “We pride ourselves on being a hotel built on stories, and are thrilled to be launching such a platform that will enable us to share these stories with our readers. It has been a pleasure working with One Media on Savoy magazine and to see The Savoy brought to life through the pages of this luxury publication.”

The launch edition, includes exclusive interviews with Thierry Stern, president of luxury Swiss watch

7

Fallon at business show

brand Patek Philippe, and Amanda Berry OBE, chief executive of BAFTA, alongside talented executive chef Holger Jackisch, and renowned wedding planner Bruce Russell.

Nick Moore, One Media Managing Director, added: “We are delighted to be working with such a famous brand as The Savoy and capturing the essence of the hotel’s elegance, style and sophistication in a quarterly publication that mirrors the lifestyle and

aspirations of its clientele.”

The publication will be available and continually replenished throughout The Savoy, in every room and suite, as well as in all of the six bars and restaurants and all reception areas. Over 2,000 worldwide clients of The Savoy will also receive a personally addressed copy mailed directly to them, meaning the magazine will reach Japan, Dubai, China, Australia and America.

A digital version of each issue will be available to view online.

THE fifth Sevenoaks Business Show has been scheduled to take place on April 22 with companies urged to sign up soon as places are allocated on a first come first served basis.

Due to be opened in the morning by its patron, MP Michael Fallon, there are also opportunities for those who do not wish to have a stand to provide details of their business in the show’s guide at a nominal cost.

BT provides Kent boost TELECOMS giant BT generated £379 million for the Kent economy in 2015 according to findings by Regeneris Consulting.

The independent report also found the communications company supports more than 3,800 job through the county.

Wednesday 20th January 2016

8 � THE INTERVIEW

The ‘historic injustice’ of rail fares hiked to pay for the channel tunnel Frustrations over major road and rail delays, striking doctors and concerns on controversial Gatwick flight paths have kept MP Greg Clark’s postbag overflowing. Neill Barston meets the Secretary of State to discuss major issues facing the constituency…

TUNBRIDGE Wells MP Greg Clark has called for urgent action on “unacceptable” London commuter services, after a wave of New Year rail delays and cancellations.

The Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government said he is also seeking a review of season ticket prices – with passengers left paying up to £1500 more than in neighbouring towns such as Eridge in East Sussex.

In an interview with the Times, he spelt out concerns on a broad range of key topics including plans to tackle rising costs of social care for the elderly – which in Tunbridge Wells presently costs double the national average, and urgently-needed upgrades to children’s and adolescent mental health services.

The MP also spoke on wider issues such as the planned EU referendum, junior doctors’ strikes, and the ongoing campaign to resolve Gatwick flights routing over the area, which he said had “made residents’ lives a misery”.

Tackling rail services, he believed there were a number of urgent matters to address.

Rail concerns He said: “A lot of people rely on trains – when they work, we have a good service. We campaigned recently for a terminus to be built allowing trains to turn around at Tunbridge Wells.

“But there has been unreliability on the railways in part because of London Bridge works, but also a deterioration in services with staff shortages and other unexplained delays. This is not acceptable when you consider what people have to pay to commute from Tunbridge Wells.

People expect value for money.”

While he added that companies including Southeastern had invested in the rail network and rolling stock, he cited a “historic injustice” of Kent rail fares being hiked to fund the devel-

opment of the Channel Tunnel as a major issue.

He said this had left a disparity where commuters in nearby places such as Eridge in East Sussex paying £1500 less than in Tunbridge Wells for a season ticket, which now costs just over £5000 after the latest annual price rises.

According to a recent national YouGov poll, more than 60% of people favoured railways being re-nationalised in a bid to improve their performance. But Mr Clark rejected this, stating that a re-nationalised service would not have sufficient funds to maintain investment in the service.

He added: “We have been successful in stopping

GREG CLARK – PROFILE Age: 48 Born: Middlesbrough Education: attended Cambridge University, PHD from the LSE. Key posts: Director of policy for the Conservative Party- 2001-2005.

MP for Tunbridge Wells from 2005, Minister for Universities, Science and Cities, 2014-2015 and he is presently Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government.

Responsibilities: include emergency planning, reform of national town and city planning policy, support for families, and enabling localism (greater devolvement of power from central to local government).

inflationary increases and it’s now in-line with inflation at 1% for customers. Passengers reasonably think that any increase when service hasn’t been acceptable isn’t what they want to see.

“I also think those who are working part-time should have the benefit of saving on season tickets, which is something that is long overdue.

It’s also ridiculous that we don’t have wi-fi on our trains.”

With the situation on roads around Tunbridge Wells being equally frustrating as rail conditions, the MP acknowledge that further road investment was required.

While he welcomed the belated arrival of A21 upgrade works at Pembury, there remained much work to do in order to improve the quality of the existing road network.

He explained: “Transport in Tunbridge Wells is always a big issue for people – we still have a lot of congestion through the town and the A21 south of Pembury where it is a single carriageway at Colts Hill. This is not a road that’s safe enough or has the right capacity for its importance.”

Hobbies: running, walking the dog, cycling with the family and the odd pint on The Pantiles.

LOCAL MP Greg Clark

Wednesday 20th January 2016

As well as traffic and rail problems, the skies above Tunbridge Wells have been thrown into sharp focus with Gatwick flight paths controversially being routed across the area.

While Mr Clark said he supported expanding air capacity as significant for economic growth, he said it was vital the final environmental impact assessment is made before any decisions are made over whether Gatwick or Heathrow is decided upon as a preferred option.

Mr Clark said: “I chaired a public meeting on this recently and I think that people felt that those conducting the environmental review were serious about

what they were doing with it. I think one of the problems on this has been the high-pitched whine from Airbuses and we have managed to gain an agreement with Easyjet.”

Asked about where he stood on the issue of the EU, he explained that he had not arrived at a final position, with David Cameron attempting to prevent a so-called “Brexit”.

The Secretary said: “This is a fantastically important moment for people to be able to take this decision. I am looking forward to the debate for and against being made cogently.

“The Prime Minister is negotiating with the German chancellor on this now and I hope that he is able to gain an agreement. I have great confidence in his ability to get the best deal for Britain.”

Another major policy area in which he has taken a strong interest has been healthcare.

This month, striking junior doctors took to the picket lines for the first time in a generation over a contractual dispute which they claim which will put the quality of patient care at risk.

“I don’t think that doctors should be striking. I don’t think it’s the right thing to cause disruption to patients,” added Mr Clark.

“A lot of people will have operations cancelled, which creates anxiety and heartache. Jeremy Hunt’s ambition on this is right – the NHS must be a seven day-a-week service. People fall ill just as much at weekends as during the week.”

As he explained, one of his most satisfying campaigns has been securing new medical facilities for Tunbridge Wells Hospital, which he said had been long overdue for the community.

He added: “There are areas of healthcare that need significant improvement both nationally and especially here, as they have not been adequate, particularly with children’s and adolescent care.

“In recent years I’ve helped people in Tunbridge Wells who have teenage children with mental health issues, and they’ve been told that they have to wait six months for an initial assessment – that’s an eternity in the life of a young person.

“In that time their condition could deteriorate, and that’s not acceptable. One of my crusades to improve the standard of treatment and it has a long way to go.”

As previously reported, another key healthcare matter has been the price of social care for the elderly.

According to the Secretary, this is a situation that the government has pledged assistance on.

He added: “Social care for the elderly is a particular difficulty here. From the outside, people can be tempted to think there are no problems in Tunbridge Wells as it’s reputed to be very affluent and people can think there are no issues.

“But things are very expensive here – the cost of finding a care home bed or cost of paying people to look after people at home is much higher than other areas of the country.

“As part of the national spending review, councils can now have a social care precept for care of the elderly. Authorities are now allowed to charge an extra £23 in council tax per household for this care, which I think will help.”

NATIONAL NEWS 

Junior doctors’ contract strike is suspended for fresh talks A 48-HOUR strike by junior doctors has been suspended as talks continue with the Government over a new contract.

The British Medical Association (BMA) said it wanted to give NHS trusts as much notice as possible to avoid disruption to patients.

Thousands of operations and procedures would have been affected by the strike on January 26, when doctors were due to provide emergency care only.

But the BMA said “significant progress” still needed to be made to avoid a strike planned for February 10, when full labour, including emergency care cover, is due to be withdrawn.

TUNBRIDGE WELLS Junior doctors make their point

NEWS IN BRIEF

Rate rise depends on economy say bank chief BANK of England governor Mark Carney has said policymakers are in no rush to raise interest rates amid a weakened world economy and slowing UK growth.

He said yesterday “now is not yet the time” to hike rates from their historic low of 0.5% following turmoil in financial markets as oil prices have plunged and China’s economic slowdown has spooked investors.

Migration: Ways to cut MINISTERS are “very focused” on efforts to cut migration from the European Union, Downing Street insisted after Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond indicated they were looking at alternatives to the proposed four-year benefits ban.

David Cameron has made measures to cut migration one of the key demands in his renegotiation of Britain’s relationship with Brussels, proposing a ban on migrants claiming in-work benefits until they have been in the UK for four years.

Disruption It said “differences still exist between the BMA and the Government on key areas, including the protection of patient safety and doctors’ working lives, and the recognition of unsocial hours”.

Talks between Government officials, NHS employers and the BMA have been scheduled at the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (Acas) for this Thursday and Friday.

The BMA’s junior doctor committee chairman Dr Johann Malawana said the strike held on January 12 had sent a “clear message” to the Government.

He said: “The BMA’s aim has always been to deliver a safe, fair junior doctor contract through negotiated agreement.

“Following junior doctors’ clear message to the Government during last week’s action, our focus is now on building on early progress made in the current set of talks.

“On this basis, the BMA has today taken the decision to suspend the industrial action planned for January 26-28, thereby giving trusts as much notice as possible so as to avoid disruption to patients.

9

Fantasy for farmers A DREAM job has come up for the farmer who wants to get away from it all - as an agricultural adviser on the world’s remotest inhabited island.

The government of Tristan da Cunha, a UK Overseas Territory in the South Atlantic, is advertising for an adviser with farming experience in the UK to help develop livestock and agriculture.

“It is important to be clear, however, that differences still exist between the BMA and the Government on key areas, including the protection of patient safety and doctors’ working lives, and the recognition of unsocial hours.

“Significant, concrete progress will need to be made if future action, currently planned for February 10, is to be averted.”

On Monday, Prime Minister David Cameron said the Government has not ruled out imposing its new contract on junior doctors if talks do not resolve the dispute.

He said giving up the option of imposing a contract would effectively hand a “veto” to the BMA over the future development of the NHS.

Wednesday 20th January 2016

10 � NATIONAL NEWS NEWS IN BRIEF

George Osborne sets out plans to ban fees PLANS to ban “rip-off” exit fees for pension savers accessing their pots under new retirement freedoms have been set out by the Chancellor.

George Osborne outlined plans to place a duty on the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) to cap excessive early exit charges for people using the new pension freedoms.

Launched in April last year, the pension freedoms give people aged 55 and over more flexibility to use their pension pot how they wish, rather than being required to buy an income called an annuity.

But as the freedoms got under way, reports emerged of people facing high charges for moving their money.

Men appear on TV more MEN are twice as likely to appear on television than women - and women are five times more likely to suffer sexism on screen, a study has found.

The findings come as TV bosses said the television industry has more work to do to increase diversity.

The survey, commissioned by Channel 4 as part of a diversity festival hosted by the broadcaster, found that the most serious sexism has been eradicated from Britain’s TV screens, but “low-level sexism” is still an issue.

It revealed that there are five sexist incidents per hour in prime time on each channel examined.

Rare black Rhino born THE birth of a rare black rhino has been captured on CCTV. A 13-year-old Eastern black rhino, Ema Elsa, finally gave birth to the male calf after a 15-month pregnancy at Chester Zoo. The incredible moment was caught on camera on Saturday night and in just one hour, the video has been watched more than 16,000 times on the Zoo’s Facebook page.

Tim Rowlands, curator of mammals at Chester Zoo, called the birth “another perfect delivery” from Ema Elsa, who has also given birth to Bashira and Chanua at the zoo.

Wednesday 20th January 2016

Public should have say in funding, BBC Trust says THE public should have a formal say in how the BBC is funded in the future, the corporation’s governing body said.

The BBC Trust’s chairman, Rona Fairhead, cited public support of the broadcaster’s independence, saying: “As the BBC’s funding is an important part of that independence, funding decisions need to be made on a fair and transparent basis.

“In future we want the process to be put on a much more formal footing, including involving

the public in decision-making and building these requirements into the Charter. We will be urging the Government to include these changes in the coming months.”

A report by the Policy Institute at King’s College London suggested that there have been risks to the independence - or perceived independence - of the BBC. It suggests the most recent case being the process by which funding was agreed in July 2015.

Other reports commission by the Trust looked at the role independent regulators play in other sectors and how that could work for the BBC funding process.

Based on the reports, the Trust is suggesting measures that could be included in the Charter, such as a formally-regulated BBC funding process, public say through consultation and assessment through an independent regulator to advise the government on the level of funding and licence fee.

Chances missed to charge Lord Janner over sex abuse claims FAILURES by police and prosecutors meant three chances were missed to charge Lord Greville Janner over sex abuse claims, an independent report has found.

Director of Public Prosecutions Alison Saunders expressed “sincere regret” at the blunders, but this was rejected by a lawyer for the late peer’s alleged victims, who said it was “little consolation”.

The report by High Court judge Sir Richard Henriques found that in 1991 prosecutors made the wrong decision not to charge Lord Janner after an “inadequate” police investigation.

In 2002 Leicestershire Police failed to pass claims made by a second alleged victim to prosecutors, and in 2007 again a flawed decision was made not to charge the politician when a third man came forward.

Ms Saunders said: “The inquiry’s findings that

mistakes were made confirms my view that failings in the past by prosecutors and police meant that proceedings were not brought.

“It is a matter of sincere regret that on three occasions, opportunities to put the allegations against Lord Janner before a jury were not taken. It is important that we understand the steps which led to these decisions not to prosecute, and ensure that no such mistakes can be made again.”

The peer died aged 87 in December, days after he was found unfit to stand trial after being charged with a string of sexual offences dating back to the 1960s against nine alleged victims, who were mostly under 16 at the time.

Ms Saunders was at the centre of a controversy last year after originally deciding Lord Janner, who had dementia, should not be charged because of his ill health.

•

DON'T MISS THE

FINAL REDUCTIONS ENDS ON SUNDAY WOMEN'S FASHION, MENSWEAR ACCESSORIES AND HOMEWARES

12 � NATIONAL BUSINESS BUSINESS IN BRIEF

House prices across UK hit record high AVERAGE house prices hit a new record high of £288,000 across the UK in November after leaping by 7.7% over the previous year, according to official figures.

Property values in England also reached a new all-time peak in November, increasing by 8.3% annually to reach £302,000 on average, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

Several regions within England saw house prices lift to new records, including London, the South East, the East and the East and West Midlands.

Budget wine online ALDI has launched its online shopping store by selling wines by the case to bargain hunters.

The budget German supermarket’s wine selection will be available for home delivery and pick-up from the CollectPlus parcel service. Specialbuys – the brand’s weekly offers on everything from cycling clothes to camping gear – will be added to the site between April and June.

Driverless cars probe SOME of Britain’s largest motor insurance firms have formed an alliance to examine the potential impact of driverless cars in the UK. The organisation will consider who would be liable after an accident – possibly drivers, manufacturers or software developers – how to cope with different levels of automation and whether road traffic laws need to be changed.

China’s economy growing at the slowest rate for 25 years CHINA’S economic growth edged down to 6.8% in the final quarter of 2015 as trade and consumer spending weakened, dragging full-year growth to its lowest in 25 years.

Growth has fallen steadily over the past five years as the ruling Communist Party tries to steer away from a worn-out model based on investment and trade toward self-sustaining growth driven by domestic consumption and services.

But the unexpectedly sharp decline over the past two years prompted fears of a politically dangerous spike in job losses.

Full-year growth declined to 6.9%, government data showed yesterday. That was the lowest since sanctions imposed on Beijing following its crackdown on the Tiananmen Square pro-democracy movement caused growth to plummet to 3.8% in 1990.

The October-December growth figure was the lowest quarterly expansion since the aftermath of the global financial crisis, when growth slumped to 6.1% in the first quarter of 2009. Growth in the July-September quarter of 2009 was 6.9%.

Growth in investment in factories, housing and other fixed assets, a key economic driver, weakened to 12% in 2015, down 2.9 percentage points from the previous year. Retail sales growth cooled to 10.6% from 2014’s 12%.

“The international situation remains complex,” said Wang Bao’an, commissioner of the National Bureau of Statistics. “Restructuring and upgrading is an uphill stage. Comprehensively deepening reform is a daunting task.”

Growth was in line with private sector forecasts and the ruling Communist Party’s official target of about 7% for the year.

Migration study proposes £1,000 non-EU worker charge for firms COMPANIES should be forced to pay an annual charge of £1,000 for every skilled worker they employ from outside Europe, migration advisers have told the Government.

Wednesday 20th January 2016

Ministers were also urged to raise the minimum salary threshold by almost £10,000 to £30,000 for nonEU migrants coming to Britain for work.

The proposals were made in a report by the authoritative Migration Advisory Committee (MAC).

It was asked by the Government to investigate possible changes to Tier 2 visa requirements for skilled employees from outside the European Economic Area to address concerns about the rising number of migrants in the route and the reliance on them to fill shortages in the labour market.

Under Tier 2, skilled workers must currently have a job with an annual salary of at least £20,800, while there are also higher thresholds specific to individual roles.

When applicants’ family members are included, experts say the route effectively accounts for an in-flow of 151,000 people to Britain a year.

Raising the salary thresholds would mean 27,600 fewer individuals would come to the country via Tier 2, or around 18% of the current total, the MAC estimated, which added that this

would be higher if a levy was imposed on employers.

The committee “strongly” supports the introduction of an Immigration Skills Charge to incentivise employers to reduce their reliance on migrant workers and encourage them to invest in training British workers.

It suggested an upfront levy of £1,000 per year for each Tier 2 migrant employed by firms in the UK, arguing this could provide £250 million for skills funding each year and have an impact on “employer behaviour”.

Professor Sir David Metcalf, chairman of the MAC, said: “Skilled migrant workers make important contributions to boosting productivity and public finances, but this should be balanced against their potential impact on the welfare of existing UK residents.

“Raising the cost of employing skilled migrants via higher pay thresholds, and the introduction of an Immigration Skills Charge, should lead to greater investment in UK employees and reduce the use of migrant labour.”

INTERNATIONAL NEWS 

Time for Oscar changes says head after diversity and boycott row…

THE Oscars need a major shake-up, the Academy Awards chief has said, amid a growing row over the lack of black stars in this year’s nominations.

Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences president Cheryl Boone Isaacs issued a statement promising more diversity after Spike Lee and Jada Pinkett Smith both announced that they will boycott this year’s ceremony.

In a lengthy Instagram post, Lee said he “cannot support” the “lily-white” Oscars.

Noting that he was writing on Martin Luther King Jr Day, Lee – who in November was given an honorary Oscar at the Governors Awards – said he was fed up: “Forty white actors in two years and no flava at all,” he wrote. “We can’t act?!”

In a video message on Facebook, Pinkett Smith also said she would not attend or watch the Oscars in February.

WILL SMITH Not nominated for his NFL film Concussion

WORLD IN BRIEF

Nearly 19,000 killed in two years in Iraq A NEW report has unveiled a “staggering” civilian death toll in Iraq, with nearly 19,000 people killed in less than two years.

At least 18,802 civilians were killed and another 36,245 wounded between January 1 2014 and October 31 2015, according to the UN report. The report details killings by the Islamic State group including by shooting and beheading, as well as by being burned alive or thrown off buildings.

Death of oldest man THE world’s oldest man has died in Japan at the age of 112, two months short of his 113th birthday.

Yasutaro Koide was born on March 13, 1903, and said his secret for a long life was not to overdo it, or drink or smoke.

A native of Nagoya, Mr Koide worked as a tailor when he was younger. He became the world’s oldest man in August.

Dignity Pinkett Smith, whose husband, Will Smith, was not nominated for his performance in the NFL head trauma drama Concussion, said it was time for people of colour to disregard the Academy Awards.

“Begging for acknowledgement, or even asking, diminishes dignity and diminishes power,” she said. “And we are a dignified people and we are powerful.”

She added: “Let’s let the Academy do them, with all grace and love. And let’s do us differently.”

The video had amassed 4.5 million views by midMonday afternoon.

13

Blaze hits Diana hotel Last year’s all-white acting nominees also drew calls for a boycott, though not from such prominent individuals as Lee and Pinkett Smith. Whether it had any impact or not, the audience for the broadcast, hosted by Neil Patrick Harris, was down 16% from the year before – a six-year low.

Ms Isaacs has made a point of presenting a more inclusive show this year. The February 28 broadcast will be hosted by Chris Rock and

produced by Django Unchained producer Reginald Hudlin and David Hill. On Saturday, Rock, unveiling a new promotion for the broadcast, called the ceremony “The White BET Awards”.

When Oscar nominations were announced last Thursday, Ms Isaacs acknowledged she was “disappointed” that all 20 acting nominees were again white and promised to “continue the conversation” on diversity.

FIRE engulfed the top floor of Paris’s Ritz Carlton hotel yesterday, burning out of control for hours in one of the city’s highest developments.

The blaze began early in the day at the luxury hotel where Diana, Princess of Wales, spent her final hours before the car crash in which she died.

The hotel has been closed for renovations for three years and was expected to reopen in March, restored to it’s former grandeur.

Wednesday 20th January 2016

14 � COST OF LIVING

Living in Tunbridge Wells can be expensive – but is it worth the cost?

By Steve Hemsley

Interior Designer Nicky Percival is also married with two children and the family used to live in Hopwoods Gardens before moving to Speldhurst.

She agrees that the cost of living in Tunbridge Wells is high but the expense is worth it.

“You only have to look at the parks, the theatres and the low crime rate,” she says. “Running a business in the town is expensive which is why some independent retailers can struggle. If you can operate your business from home you can really take advantage of the town’s wealthy demographic and the reasonable connections to London.”

Nicky watches closely how much she spends on children’s activities. Eight years ago she was spending about £60 a week on clubs ranging from swimming and

THE rich, famous and wellheeled have been moving to Tunbridge Wells since the 18th Century and it is easy to see why people fall in love with the town.

They are attracted by the high standard of homes, the lovely parks, excellent state and private schools, the mix of mainstream and independent shopping and a wide choice of restaurants. The crime rate is low and there is a relatively good train service to London which is just 38 miles away.

It also has great theatres and a vibrant live music scene.

Yet all this comes at a price.

Tunbridge Wells is not the cheapest place to live and many local youngsters are forced to leave the town where they grew up to get on the property ladder.

So does the cost of living offer value for money when you consider the benefits of residing in Tunbridge Wells?

FAMILY CASE STUDY Rebecca Randall lived in Sevenoaks for five years and felt it was a more expensive place to live than Tunbridge Wells.

The divorced mother of five now lives in Pennington Road and says Tunbridge Wells offers better value for money when it comes to housing and things to do with the family.

Although she admits the cost of leisure activities and kids clubs can soon add up.

“I spend about £50 on kids clubs which include netball and rugby for three children. The netball club subs are £9 per month for fees and £3 per

Wednesday 20th January 2016

match. The rugby club charges £150 per year for family membership and the other netball club is just paid termly at £40 for about seven sessions,” she says.

Rebecca says deals can be found on many leisure activities if you are prepared to spend time looking and choose less busy times of day.

“Odeon cinema runs great deals if you have a premier club card but can be expensive if you buy your sweets and drinks there, so take your own,” she says. “I use a parking app which gives a discount on the town car parks for paying over the phone and there are so many restaurants in town where you can use voucher discounts found

online from the leading chains like Pizza Express.”

One of her favourite independents is Basil for healthy homemade food.

“It also ran the bar at the ice rink in Calverley Grounds Park but I would not say they are cheap.”

Rebecca runs her colour and design consultation company from home so the cost of doing business in the town is minimal for her.

“I have access to many professionals who live and work in Tunbridge Wells so this keeps my costs down.”

diving to karate and drama classes. Today her costs are around £42 a week to pay for maths tutoring and basketball. “The library runs activities for children that tend to be free or very reasonable,” she says.

Nicky’s husband Matt is a creative director of a design agency in London and used to commute by motorbike but now takes the train.

The family rarely eats out but its restaurants of choice are Wagamama, The Giggling Squid and The Hare in Langton Green.

“When we lived in town we used to meet friends at The Trading Post in Culverden Down because we could walk there,” she says. “We will move back to the town when we retire because we can capitalise on the value of our current home and move to a smaller property.”

£462,061

104.2p average petrol

the value of the average house in the town last month.

National average £287,000

£3,750 approximate average cost of

£4,404 cost of adult season ticket to London from Tunbridge Wells. High Brooms: £4,300.

From Tonbridge it is just £3,164

£570

annual bus pass for Tunbridge Wells and Tonbridge Bus Service Network

price in the town centre in December. Tonbridge 103.9p

private school costs per child per term, up to year 8

£50 approximate weekly cost to families of children’s clubs. £45 – family trip to the Odeon Cinema including refreshments

£35 average monthly fee for peak time gym membership

£5-£55 variety of per

head costs of eating out in the town.

COST OF LIVING 

15

So how much are we spending to live here and how does that compare with other local towns?

Here is a quick guide to why your money might not always go as far as you would like it to…

PROPERTY

Last month the average value of a home in Tunbridge Wells was £462,061 (source: Zoopla) with many homes priced between £1m-£2m. The UK average is £287,000 (source: ONS).

The average valuations in the town break down as:

Flats Detached

Semi-detached

£802,871

Islay O’Hara who lives on Langton Road with her husband Arthur and two children says its can be frustrating to pay more to live, eat and shop but she understands why.

“The cost of living is offset by the fact we live in a beautiful town with historic identity and diverse architecture surrounded by lovely countryside,” she says. “It is a desirable and attractive place to live and this is reflected in

the prices we pay.”

She would like to see a wider price range of restaurants: “Many of our eateries tend to be at the upper price range which makes it hard to eat out as a family.”

She adds: “Other towns play host to fabulous street food type cafes as well as the fi ve star restaurants. Also sports facilities are expensive here.”

Terraced

£421,751

£351,955

Road for just £80,000.

Rents in the town tend to start at around £700 a month for one and two bedroom flats.

Sarah Mott, associate partner at Bracketts Chartered Surveyors says the fact estate agents are busy even around the Christmas and New Year period demonstrates that people regard housing in Tunbridge Wells as good value for money. Many professionals looking to start a family continue to relocate from London.

“As always, it’s the schools and commuter links that affect the prices here and it’s the market that drives these valuations, not the estate agents,” she says. “Sometimes even older agents with many years of experience can be surprised by the prices some buyers bid.”

The average asking price early last month was £462,076. A three bedroom family house averages £392,588, a four bedroom house: £592,285 and a five bedroom house: £1,095,333.

Some of Tunbridge Wells’ more desirable Georgian and Victorian properties are sited around the parks, particularly Calverley Park, Grosvenor Park and Camden Park and within key school catchment areas.

For example, a four bedroom detached house in St James Road, within walking distance of St James Primary School was on the market in December for £795,000.

Cash buyers can still pick up a bargain with a studio flat in Grove Hill Road or Upper Grosvenor

How much will a season ticket cost you?

TRANSPORT

Maidstone Tunbridge Wells

£4,300

Tonbridge

£4,404

High Brooms

£3,164

Eridge

£2,844

Hundreds of people commute to London every day from the town and the cost of train travel can make a huge dent in anyone’s salary.

The cost of a standard class adult annual season ticket from Tunbridge Wells is now £4,404, or £5,068 with a travel card. From High Brooms it is slightly cheaper (£4,300/£4,964), although you have less chance of finding a seat in the mornings.

A season ticket from Maidstone to London is lower at £4,220, from Tonbridge to the capital it is just £3,164.

One option adopted by some Tunbridge Wells commuters is to drive to Eridge where you can Tonbridge

BUSES

£267,716

Tunbridge Wells

Bus company Arriva offers a range of tickets and the more you travel throughout the Tonbridge and Tunbridge Wells Bus Service Network the cheaper it is. The network stretches from Tonbridge to Broadwater Down and takes in Rusthall and Pembury.

A daily pass is £4.70, weekly £18, a fourweekly £57 and annual is £570 with tickets offering unlimited travel all day.

£4,220

LONDON

buy an annual season ticket for £2,844 (£3,776 for a Travelcard). This is a slower journey as the route is via Edenbridge and East Croydon to London Bridge.

John Leahy, a senior portfolio manager at EFG Asset Management, has been commuting from Tunbridge Wells for 18 years and says the rail companies exploit the captive market.

“For a commuter to London a train ticket is a forced purchase. There is little alternative and we complain about fare increases but pay up,” he says. “The rolling stock has improved but journey times have lengthened. I can’t recall the last time my evening train home arrived on schedule. Yet the town is a fantastic place to live and bring up a family so I’ve no regrets.”

Broadwater Down

Rusthall

Pembury

The cost of weekday bus travel for children aged 11-16 can be reduced if they meet the terms of the Young Person’s travel pass. They need to live more than three miles from their school. A full school year pass for the current year is £250 or £100 if you get free school meals.

Continued overleaf Wednesday 20th January 2016

16 � COST OF LIVING

How the cost of living affects you…

Continued from page 15

PETROL

If you prefer to drive then it can be worth shopping around for the cheapest petrol, especially as fuel prices are tumbling.

According to www.petrolprices. com the cheapest petrol within a two mile radius of Tunbridge Wells town centre in December was 99.9p at Sainsbury’s with the priciest £107.9 at the Esso garage on Eridge Road. So you could save 9p a litre by choosing your garage more carefully.

The average was 104.2p, lower than in Sevenoaks (104.7p), Maidstone (105.2p) but higher than in Tonbridge (103.9p).

PARKING CHARGES

Of course, some of that advantage will be lost through parking charges which are around £1.40 for one hour and £2.40 for two hours (less if you pay by phone). By comparison, most town centre car parks in Maidstone are just 90p for one hour.

There are some cheaper options in Tunbridge Wells, including Torrington car park in Vale Avenue which is just 60p for one hour and £ for two hours.

Wednesday 20th January 2016

PRIVATE SCHOOLS

Many families in the town choose private schools for their children because they prefer the smaller class sizes and are impressed by the academic results and extra-curricular activities.

A report by wealth management company Killik & Co in the summer claimed that putting a child through a 14-year private education in the UK now costs £286,000. Average day school fees are £13,194 per year and boarding fees cost an average of £30,369. Educational extras cost a further £3,000 per year.

In and around Tunbridge Wells there is plenty of choice of private schools and prices do vary.

Some Tunbridge Wells parents choose to pay for their children to attend Prep schools to prepare them for the Kent Test (11+) so they will not have to pay for private schools when their children are older.

Here is an indication of some of the term fees charged for day students for the school year 2015/16: Holmewood House: Reception to year 8 £3,300£5,800 per term.

Rose Hill Years: 3-8 £4,489.00 per term The Mead School: Years 3-6 £3,395 per term.

Beechwood Sacred Heart: Years 3-6 £3,775 per term Tunbridge Wells has three excellent grammar schools. Skinners’ in St John’s road, Tunbridge Wells Girls’ Grammar, in Southfield Road and Tunbridge Wells Grammar School for Boys.

We are also lucky to have three excellent comprehensive schools, Bennett Memorial in Culverden Down, St Gregory’s RC in Reynolds Lane and the all ability Skinners’ Kent Academy in Sandown Park with its new £21.4 million facilities which is part of the Skinners’ family of schools.

LEISURE

There is no shortage of things to do in Tunbridge Wells and the parks provide some great value for money options for families who can find trips to the cinema and theatre expensive.

A trip to the Odeon Cinema in Knight Park can cost a family of four almost £30 for tickets even before any refreshments have been bought. There are special offers at different times of the week including Odeon Kids (£2.50) and mid-morning Silver Cinema (£3.95).

Tunbridge Wells’ residents are often asked to pay more to see films an adult ticket to see Star Wars: The Force Awakens on December 23 at 7.30pm in Tunbridge Wells was £12.50. An adult ticket for the same film at the same time in Odeon in Blackpool was just £8.

KEEPING FIT

It’s that time of year when Christmas indulgence leads to thoughts of New Year fitness and there is a choice of town gyms. Check the different packages and off-peak deals provided for each membership and be careful not to get caught out by one-off joining fees and lengthy contracts. Most gyms suspend these fees during the year to generate new business.

Pure Gym has replaced LA Fitness in the town centre with a no-frills package for just £22.99 a month.

The Gym in Rock Villa Road offers full membership for £49 and the Nuffield Health gym in Knights Park is a more pricey option of £68 a month but it does have a pool. Fusion Lifestyle at Tunbridge Wells Sports Centre offers single membership at £37.45 a month until the end of February when it rises to £49.95.

The town’s newest gym is Fit4less on North Farm Road which opened last month with a special offer of £16.99 per month.

EATING OUT

According to review site Tripadvisor there are more than 200 restaurants in Tunbridge Wells with prices and a choice of cuisine to suit everyone.

The number one ranked restaurant is Rendez-Vous in Camden Road which has overtaken Kai’s Kitchen, located next to Hoopers, in the town’s league table.

According to Tripadvisor prices for a meal at the main chain and independent restaurants before drinks is between £12-£35 a head with top end outlets touching the £55 mark. Judging by the reviews few townsfolk seem to be disappointed with the fayre being served up and feel they are getting value for money.

The IL Vesuvio family-run Italian restaurant in Camden Road, Tunbridge Wells, has been awarded the Tripadvisor Certificate of Excellence Award five years in a row.

Looking for a bargain? The Robin Hood Hungry Horse serves cod and chips or gammon and chips for under £5.

Prices and costs were correct at the time of writing.

ADVERTISING FEATURE 

17

Cohabitating couples are the fastest growing family unit Understanding the legal implications is vital to protecting your financial assets.

BY STEPHEN WILMOT Whatever our age or circumstances, we may be about to embark on a new relationship which will involve living with someone else. Quite apart from all the emotional issues that are involved and the overwhelming desire to be with one another, there are implications which can be discussed and agreed without in any way damaging a budding relationship.

There are therefore circumstances when using a specialist family lawyer can make matters so much better.

Particular issues and considerations apply when someone is moving into what has up to now been your home, sharing your belongings and frequently involving financial commitments. If not discussed and agreed they simply give rise to arguments and problems in the future.

Many relationships can exist for months (or even years) before marriage or they can be over in such a short time that they are simply transitory. Cohabiting couples are now the fastest growing family unit. It is not unknown for partners to get engaged, live together, break off the engagement without appreciating that engagement not leading to marriage will have legal implications which arise as a result of the Married Woman’s Property Act 1882. If therefore you are going to live with another person, whether or not you get engaged, (which does add a level of potential complication), it is essential that you consider entering into a Cohabitation Agreement recording what the financial arrangements will be

between you, who owns what and how adjustments are made if there are any financial changes that need to be considered in the future. That agreement needs to cover what happens if there is a split.

With fewer people getting married, and with it being the norm for people to live with one another it is particularly important to bear in mind that Cohabitation Agreements, can if they fulfil the necessary requirements be enforced by the courts.

Individuals in later life may have come from a failed marriage or relationship and may need to consider protection by entering into an agreement especially if it gives them the reassurance they need when considering the risk of living with someone else.

Just because you are married does not mean you cannot get engaged to another person and that engagement may have significance in relation to claims made under the Married Woman’s’ Property Act 1882. Accordingly, complications are not always obvious or logical and in some cases obscure and based upon very old law.

Basic form of Cohabitation Agreements can be prepared simply, effectively and inexpensively. Some situations may require a more sophisticated document. Our service is confidential , discreet and bespoke to each client and we will never disclose your information to others.

It is essential you choose the right legal team for this specialist area, as this is key to your emotional and financial future. Please call Keene Marsland today on 01892 526442, or email – times@keenemarsland.co.uk

Keene Marsland 6 Clanricarde Gardens, Tunbridge Wells.

Kent TN1 1PH www.keenemarsland.co.uk

It is essential that you consider entering into a Cohabitation Agreement recording what the financial arrangements will be between you

TIMES OF TUNBRIDGE WELLS READERS OFFER Up until the 29th February 2016, Keene Marsland are offering the first 10 new applicants the opportunity to meet with a member of their team of expert Family Law Solicitors for an initial 30 minute FREE CONSULTATION to discuss the options available. Choosing the right legal team is very important for you, so please do call today to take advantage of this offer – 01892 526442 or email – times@keenemarsland.co.uk.

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Wednesday 20th January 2016

18 � LETTERS

And another thing…

The Times of Tunbridge Wells always wants to hear your feedback, whether on reports we have printed or any other issues you think we should know about. Write to or email us using the contact details listed on page 2.

I COULDN’T resist sending you this picture of the terrible state Calverley Grounds finds itself in after the ice rink is removed.

Don’t get me wrong, I think the ice rink is a nice feature during the winter months, but the muddy swamp left behind each year is just appalling.

It does make me wonder if it is really worth it. Perhaps a better idea next winter will be to find a way of placing the ice rink on the old cinema site as there is little chance any building work will have begun by then.

That way, the council could kill two birds with one stone by making use of the grot spot and saving the park.

Johnathan Peters, Via email

I READ with interest your article (January 13) regarding the unfortunate Mr Pretorius who, following the loss of his leg, has been denied the pay-out from his life insurance he feels he deserves.

Of course, I feel very sorry for the man, not least for losing his leg but also because of the tight financial predicament he has now found himself in.

It is, on the whole, a story about the moral responsibility of the insurers to pay out and the legal restraints on them doing so, not least because, as they rightly point out, it could set a damaging prescient for their firms or the entire industry.

The conundrum could have been avoided, however, if the wording had been clarified in a way which did not require sifting through the fine print, and also if the broker in question had upheld his obligation to inform Mr Pretorius of the policy change properly.

I keenly await the outcome of this situation, and wish Mr Pretorius the best of luck.

Melvyn Bradley Via email THE ongoing fiasco that is the old cinema site, where the latest deal has yet again fallen through, has me at my wits end. There have now been so many false dawns, often perpetrated by announcements from certain councillors, that I these days I stick to the old adage ‘seeing is believing’. I do not know who is to blame for the ongoing mess and everybody appears keen to point the finger at everyone else.

But the saga has to stop. Surely there must be a temporary solution to the problem? I would happily pay a reasonable surcharge on my council tax simply to clear the site and turn it into a garden or some other stop-gap scheme.

Julia Tully Via email

Wednesday 20th January 2016

IS IT not time to contact Churchill Senior Living for them to obtain the [old cinema] site and undertake a senior living redevelopment to match the surrounding style of architecture with parking and gardens, as they are doing in other towns in like central positions such as Eastbourne, Maidstone, Hailsham, Salisbury.

All those sites are bang in the center near shops , rail and bus stations. A further point that from the constructions I have seen the ground/ tunnel problem might be avoided as Churchill seem to use brick constructions rather than piled steel and glass objects.

Peter Vincent Via email I WAS pleased to see a bit of coverage about the Kent County Council budget. People often forget, because there is little press coverage, the fact that 73 per cent of their council tax ends up there. It seems councillors in Tunbridge Wells Borough Council often get a lot of stick, despite only being in control of ten per cent of tax take.

County councillors need to realise they too are our representatives, and the more exposure the county hall gets the better.

Marcus Estallio Via email GREG Clark is now identified as one of those ministers who will argue to stay in Europe, and one must wonder whose views he represents.

If it’s his own then he misunderstands the meaning of “elected representative”; if it’s the local Conservative Party membership one must wonder how representative this is since this body is curiously coy about how many members there are; if, however, it does represent the grass roots sentiment, then I don’t recall being consulted, nor does anyone I know. He’s flipped and flopped on whether a referendum should be held, before falling into line behind his boss; he’s proved

slippery and evasive on the matter of membership, and now he’s been ‘outed’ in the national press.

Don’t we deserve an MP who is principled?

Ralph Steerpike Culverden Down Tunbridge Wells THERE seems to be an erroneous suggestion by some of your recent correspondents that all has gone quiet regarding the campaign to reduce aircraft noise from Gatwick.

Far from it. For Tunbridge Wells residents who have endured increasingly polluted skies these last two summers, the winter months have, in the past, offered some respite in quantity if not noise from overflying aircraft. However, this winter has seen little relief. This is bound to get worse as the airport desperately seeks to squeeze as much throughput (and profit) as possible from its asset ahead of a sale to new owners.

Whether or not Gatwick succeeds in its campaign for a second runway, it is clear that we will continue to suffer the adverse effects of the altered flight paths unless the airport operator becomes a better neighbour.

TWAANG has repeatedly made the case for a return to the previous flight path arrangements; for a ban on low flying aircraft at all times and supported GANN (Gatwick Area Night flight Nightmare)’s campaign to ban night flights over the town. Both have contributed to the ‘independent’ review team set up by Gatwick to research and find solutions to these problems.

Their recommendations will be made public on 28 January 2016. We are not hopeful that the recommendations will meet our concerns and intend to brief the Town Forum on the same day to seek their support in maintaining the pressure on Gatwick to change its ways.

We welcome Gatwick Obviously Not’s successful appeal for a judicial review against the Civil Aviation Authority for the way that the new Gatwick flight paths were introduced without sufficient local consultation. As we know, the legal process grinds on slowly and a successful judicial review will not tackle the pressing need for the town and its residents to reclaim quiet skies overhead.

We urge your readers to understand that, if not personally affected now, they could well be in future if the review team recommends broadening the arc of approach for aircraft across more of the town and the immediate neighbourhood. For more information please look at our website www.twaang.org.uk; sign the petition against night flights: https://petition. parliament.uk/petitions/106462; and complain: noise.line@gatwickairport.com. The fight continues.

Peter Clymer Joint chair, TWAANG Frant Road, Tunbridge Wells

Calverley WORD reaches Calverley of the search by one of our more esteemed business leaders in the town for his mobile phone. He was enjoying the delights of late night TW, moving from one hostelry to another, when he suddenly realised he was minus the phone. Despite retracing his steps, some of them quite wobbly, he was unable to locate the wretched device.

His worry is not just the loss of the phone but its contents which happen to include some rather racy pictures of a certain young lady whose company he enjoys. The phone is password protected but he uses a very simply code that he actually taped to the back of the phone such is his bad memory. The matter is compounded by the fact that if the phone falls into the wrong hands it could prove most upsetting – for his wife.

THE demise of the latest deal to put something halfway decent on the old cinema site has a silver lining at least for one man who placed a friendly wager with friends that it would all come to nothing. Mind you, it was not that ‘friendly’ a bet. He put down £1,00o at evens.

THE need for a casino in the town was never better highlighted than the other Wednesday when Calverley popped into the Compasses pub off the High Street to witness one of the regular games of hold-em polka. Apparently it is all legal and above board if you play it like a tournament with low entry fees. The most you could take away is about £60 in one night.

Midway through the evening last week the door opened and a well-dressed, well-spoken women entered the bar, looked at the players and declared: “I didn’t know you could play roulette in this town.”

JUNIOR doctors were out in force in the town last week on the day of their national strike, drumming up support for their campaign against proposed contract changes.

(Calverley knows they are not called ‘junior’ because of their age but they did look impressively youthful.) Our man with the camera tracked them down to Five Ways and managed to line them up for a picture. Imagine his surprise when some ruffian elbowed him out of the way and then snapped off his own shots which later appeared in another local newspaper. Mind you, the Times is always happy to help others.

Chin Chin…

EDUCATION n

19

‘Shocking: We don’t giggle every time a boy walks past or talks to us’ EARLIER pages of this newspaper carry stories about a debate over the value, or not, of all-girl schools. The articles reflect the thoughts and views of various heads. Time now to hear from one of those most impacted – a former pupil at a single-sex establishment. Samantha Watkins (as she is now known) speaks from personal experience.

There’s been a lot of talk lately about girls being at a disadvantage because of their single-sex education.

I was lucky enough to go to an all girls school for five years before I went on to university and I can safely say it was the best decision my parents and I could’ve made for me.

Personally, yes I do think that being at a single-sex school had an affect on me. When I first went to university I did find it harder to connect or bond with the boys than I did with the girls and I was often quite shy in front of them but eventually I got used to being around them. Equally I know that some of my friends from school have found it much easier to bond with the boys than the girls and in their second and third years they lived with more boys than girls.

There’s one thing that we do all agree on is that if we had gone to a co-ed secondary school we probably wouldn’t have worked so hard to get to university.

One of the really important values that we learnt whilst at our school was to work hard to get places in life. We worked hard for our A levels so we could get into our first choice universities, and we worked

hard at university to get the jobs we wanted. At no point along the way have we ever considered that we’d be at a disadvantage in the workplace because we couldn’t interact with our male peers. This is the controversial view of the head teacher at Brighton College, Richard Cairns, saying that the environment of a single-sex school was a “deeply unrealistic world”.

‘If we had gone to a co-ed secondary school we probably wouldn’t have worked so hard to get to university’ Any girl from a single-sex school can repeat the various rumours that are thrown around about them: ‘they’re definitely lesbians’, ‘they must be so socially awkward around boys’ or my personal favourite ‘they must fancy all the male teachers then’.

Yes, there are some girls that are socially awkward around boys – but they may be equally socially awkward around girls. That kind of anxiety and nervousness comes from a lack of confidence and self-esteem. I don’t doubt that sometimes, the environment that an all-girls school provides may only encourage these feelings and so it can be difficult to flourish in this situation and so, of course, bullying can be a problem – but it’s a problem in any school is it not?

The benefits of the single-sex schools always seem to be conveniently forgotten. Being educated without the opposite sex present allows for better concentration and much less distraction from studies. The grades at mine and most other single-sex schools speak for themselves.

Cairns claims that because we have been single-sex educated, we have no idea how to interact with the opposite sex in a working environment. With fathers, brothers, teachers and friends surrounding us, as well as the socials with the local boys school, I find it hard to believe that the girls from my school cannot hold a conversation with a male.

There are some things where he’s not wrong – yes we have come out of school with good grades (quite probably better than his school has turned out) and we’ve gone to university but, shocking I know, we didn’t and don’t giggle every time a boy walks past or talks to us. Not to mention that having worked in a real working environment, I don’t find it any easier to talk to my female colleagues than male, and I certainly don’t think that I, or any other of my single-sex school comrades, ‘cannot meaningfully converse and communicate with male colleagues’.

So what about boys? Why is it that girls will be at a disadvantage?

This opinion is just so old-fashioned– that because of our gender we will not have the same opportunities as boys in the same situation?

I wouldn’t change the education I have had and I sincerely hope that any future employers of mine won’t look at my school background and think ‘an all-girls school? No she won’t be able to interact with her male colleagues’. Hopefully, instead, they will look at the grades I achieved and my experience of real life.

Wednesday 20th January 2016

20 n BUSINESS FEATURE

Bright business ideas become Offering far more than just routine tax and accounting compliance, chartered accountants Synergee also provide support, advisory and planning services to help both new and established businesses flourish. Director Darren Austin explains how they’re helping to take local companies forward…

Tell us how the business began Synergee started in 2007. Director Matt Allen and I both worked at a previous firm, where he was a senior manager and I was a director. We decided that we wanted to ‘paddle our own canoe’, so we made an offer to the other shareholders to effectively buy our client base. In 2007 we set up Synergee and were allowed to invite a number of our prior clients to come and join us. We purchased them from the old firm.

Why set up in Tunbridge Wells?

I originally started working in Tunbridge Wells in 1997 for a different firm of accountants, which no longer has a presence here. I moved here specifically to take that job, and lived and worked in Tunbridge Wells for a few years. It’s a vibrant area and I built up a lot of local contacts in that early period, so when the opportunity came to set up our own company in 2007, it just made sense. There are good links to get anywhere and we’re sat very nicely in the middle of where most of our clients are.

What’s your ‘USP’?

Matt and I know every one of our clients very well, and have regular contact so that we can anticipate their needs and provide the services they need, even if they don’t always realise exactly what it is. They all know they need accounts and tax returns, but we’re constantly thinking about how we can do things better, and we try to make sure we know all our clients well enough. We’ve hopefully got it to the stage where our clients understand that, and if they’ve got any queries, we’ll be their first point of contact, because they know we can typically come up with an answer. It’s about interacting and communicating with the clients.

SYNERGEE DIRECTOR Darren Austin

Wednesday 20th January 2016

In what ways do you ensure your clients set and achieve their financial goals?

We make sure our clients have got the right systems in place to give them the information

they need to accurately manage their business when they need it. Cloud technology is changing so rapidly, so clients are in a far better position than ever before to have accurate information at their fingertips. A big part of our business now is helping clients to put the right systems in place and configure them, so they deliver the right information and help them keep on top of it. We can also help them put forecast budgets in place to help them visualise what their business will look like and what resources they’ll need.

How do you set yourself apart from the competition?

There’s an analogy I use: You wouldn’t consider driving a car without knowing where you want to be, how you’re going to get there and only looking in your rear-view mirror. We want to help people work out where they want to be, using really good management information so they can work out how they’re doing on that journey.

Do your clients tend to come from particular industries?

We haven’t got any industry specialisms; we’re general practitioners. Typically, the vast majority of our businesses are familyowned. We act for one or two subsidiaries of multinationals, but the majority will be sole traders and family-owned businesses, so in terms of what industries they’re in, it’s pretty wide-ranging.

Do you represent businesses that are just starting out?

We act for a number of start-ups. People tend to come and see us when they’ve got an idea of what they want to do, and some of the first things we’ll help them with are what the business is going to look like over the next few months and what resources it’s going to need.

We’ll look at all those aspects for them, helping them set up the business and putting their information systems and targets in place.

WITH THE

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

OF TUNBRIDGE WELLS AND SEVENOAKS

Tucked away oast cottage with excellent equestrian facilities Pages 54-55 Designer home in desirable location

Space and luxury at prestigious address

Charming country living in rural paradise

Pages 24-25

Pages 28-29

Pages 58-59

Wednesday 20th January 2016

Why

Batcheller Monkhouse

gam e with such a

valuable

asset?

Letting a property creates extra income and can be a sound long term investment. But you need to place such a valuable asset in good hands.

Batcheller Monkhouse are members ofARLA and are fully versed with the compliance, financial and legal requirements affecting the lettings market.

We offer a bespoke service that includes a comprehensive tenant finding and vetting process, partial and full property maintenance (including refurbishment and redecorating) and, of course, rent collection - all managed from local office locations.

Put your most valuable asset in safe hands and leave nothing to chance.

Find out more at www.batchellermonkhouse.com or call Zoe Strickland on 01892 512020 or Jane Poile 01424 775577

PROPERTY .

23

LeGrys cleans up in Industry Awards for both sales and lettings in West l{ent Build, the industry quarterly magazine has just announced its award winners for the West Kent region and LeGrys Independent Estate Agents scooped up four awards. Two awards for best Sales Agent for Tunbridge Wells and Eden bridge and Best Letting Agent, again for Tunbridge Wells and Eden bridge. Bill LeGrys commented "We are very excited and indeed honoured to have our work and dedication to the Sales & Letting market marked in this way. As we approach our five-year anniversary it makes us very proud indeed.

Both Tunbeidge Wells and Edenbridge are awash with agents and speaking to the panel of judges at Build, they confirmed competition was very tough for both areas. We have become the market-leaders

in our areas and are looking forward to further strengthening our position over the coming years.

We would like to thank everyone that has supported us over the years. There is much planned for the future with two new offices opening in April/May 2016 and plans are afoot to open a new office in London ."

'ttl)e J6lachsmitl)s ,trms Offham , Lewes, East Sussex

Tel: 01273 4 7297 1

FREE DESSERT WITH ANY MEAL with this voucher Telephone +44 (0)1273 472971 Email info@blacksmithsarms.pub The Blacksmiths Arms, London Road, Offham, Nr Lewes, East Sussex, BN7 3QD

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' '

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Forest Ridge, Keston -

Set In Excess Of 1.5 Acres Over 13,500 Sq Ft Of Living Space Seven Bedrooms Eight Bathrooms Eight Reception Rooms

Circa £6million Freehold -

Indoor Pool & Changing Facilities Gymnasium Cinema Room Self Contained Apartment Within Bar & Function Room

Bedford Road, Southborough - Built in 2012 - Two/Three Bedrooms - Open Plan Lounge/Dining Room & Kitchen - Enclosed Rear Courtyard - Under Cover Off Road Parking for One Car

- Stunning Grounds - Tennis Court - Chain-Free

Guide Price £300,000 To £320,000 - Finished to a High Standard - Superb Location for Schools/Local Amenities & Mainline Train Station - CHAIN-FREE

Springfield Road, Southborough - Lovely Late Victorian Family Home - End Of Terrace - Set Across Three Floors - Finished To An Excellent Standard Throughout - Two Reception Rooms

Carville Avenue, Southborough - Spacious Semi-Detached Family Home - Finished To A Beautiful Standard Throughout - Five Bedrooms (Four Doubles) - Two Reception Rooms - Downstairs Cloakroom

Guide Price £290,000 To £310,000 Freehold - Two Double Bedrooms - Period Features - Beautiful Family Bathroom - Within Walking Distance To Local Schools & Amenities

Guide Price £550,000 To £575,000 Freehold - Beautiful Open-Plan Kitchen/Dining Room - Tastefully Landscaped Gardens - Driveway For Two Cars Off-Road - Excellent Location For Local Schools, Amenities & Mainline Train Station

Wednesday

20th

January 2016

24 � PROPERTY

FOXDALE HOUSE

HARLEQUIN LANE, CROWBOROUGH

£725,000

‘The property is around a mile from the centre of Crowborough and is set off a quiet lane’ Wednesday 20th January 2016

PROPERTY ďż˝

25

Smart detached house in sought after location

F

OXDALE House in Crowborough is a spectacular modern home built in 2011 by award-winning local developers Millwood Designer Homes. Throughout the individually designed house there is light and spacious accommodation including a magnificent drawing room with French doors to the terrace, a study that could be used as a separate dining room, a superb kitchen/dining room with bi-folding doors and a range of Neff integrated appliances, a laundry room and cloakroom.

On the first floor, the principal bedroom has built-in wardrobes and a very well fitted en-suite shower room. The guest bedroom also has a range of wardrobes, a shower room and a Juliet balcony. The remaining two bedrooms are well served by a family bathroom.

The property is around a mile from the centre of Crowborough and is set off a quiet lane. The house is approached via a shared drive to its own parking area to the front and access to the garage. The landscaped gardens include an area of lawn to the front with mature hedges and trees. At the rear there is a paved terrace which wraps around the house and a further area of lawn with shrub borders.

There is also a decked seating area in the far corner.

AT A GLANCE n Modern detached family home

n Cloakroom

n Individually designed by Millwood Designer Homes

n Laundry room

n Built in 2011 n Set on a desirable quiet lane

n Master bedroom with en-suite shower room

n Very well presented throughout

n Guest bedroom with en-suite shower room and Juliet balcony

n Entrance hall

n Two further bedrooms

n Drawing room

n Family bathroom

n Study

n Integral garage

n Kitchen

n Landscaped gardens

ÂŁ725,000 - For sale through Hamptons 01892 516611 www.hamptons.co.uk

Wednesday 20th January 2016

LAMBERHURST,

KENT

MAYFIELD,

KENT

5 bedrooms + 3 bathrooms + kitchen/breakfast room + reception room + games room + rear 4 bedrooms + 1 reception room + 1 bathroom + 2 shower rooms + conservatory + garden + garden/patio + Council Tax= G + EPC=E off road parking for 1 car + Council Tax= D + EPC Exempt

£3,250 pcm + £276 inc VAT tenancy paperwork fee and other charges may apply* Contact: Louise Minifie

FRANT,

KENT

£1,850 pcm + £276 inc VAT tenancy paperwork fee and other charges may apply* Contact: Louise Minifie

TUNBRIDGE WELLS,

KENT

Detached cottage + three bedrooms + two bathrooms (one en suite) + reception room + kitchen/ breakfast room + private garden + Council Tax=D + EPC=C

Warehouse apartment + 2 bedrooms + 2 bathrooms + open plan kitchen/reception room + central location + high specification + Council Tax= TBC + EPC=E

£1,800 pcm + £276 inc VAT tenancy paperwork fee and other charges may apply* Contact: Louise Minifie

£1,350 pcm + £276 inc VAT tenancy paperwork fee and 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

www.savills.eo.uk/fees.

O

O

Join a gym Give up sugar

0

More famiJy time

~ Move

ERIDGE GREEN,

EAST SUSSEX

6 bedroom farmhouse + idyllic rural position + Eridge MLS 1 mile + detached barn with stables + swimming pool + tennis court + further outbuildings + fields + woodland + 4,166 sq ft + about 52.80 acres + EPC=F

Guide £2 million Freehold

TUNBRIDGE WELLS,

Contact: Amanda Wyatt

KENT

Close to Holmewood House School + triple aspect sitting room + kitchen/ breakfast room + study + 5 bedrooms + mature garden + 2,229 sq ft + about 0.66 acres + EPC=D

Guide £1.05 million Freehold

TUNBRIDGE WELLS,

Contact: Liz Devall

KENT

1stand 2nd floor duplex + no onward chain + well placed for schools + 1 reception room + 3 double bedrooms + 2 bathrooms + garden + garage and driveway parking + 1,740 sq ft + EPC=D

Guide £595,000 Leasehold

Contact: Becky Card

O

O

Join a gym Give up sugar

0

More famiJy time

@'

Move

28 � PROPERTY

HIGHCROFT

KIPPINGTON ROAD, SEVENOAKS

£3,250,000

‘There is plenty of reception space, both formal and informal, with a cosy dual-aspect sitting room’ Wednesday 20th January 2016

PROPERTY �

29

Luxurious and imposing home in one of Sevenoaks’ most prestigious addresses

H

IGHCROFT is a commanding and extremely spacious family house set back from Kippington Road. The accommodation is well arranged over three floors and is beautifully proportioned, amounting to more than 7,000sq ft.

There is plenty of reception space, both formal and informal, with a cosy dualaspect sitting room and a pretty loggia, as well as a grand drawing room which opens to a dining room. The heart of the home is the large kitchen/breakfast room with two sets of double doors to the garden. Also on the ground floor are a study, a utility room and a cloakroom.

Upstairs, the master suite features a dressing room, a bathroom and a Juliet

balcony, while four of the further bedrooms on this floor boast en-suite facilities. A family bathroom serves the fifth and there is also a separate office on the first floor that could be used as secondary accommodation for a nanny.

On the second floor there is a further bedroom, as well as a large games room, a tank room and two attic rooms.

The house offers a double garage and driveway parking, and sits in just over half an acre with a large terrace leading off the kitchen. This is surrounded by level lawns bordered by hedges, trees and fencing. The gardens are low maintenance and ideal for families. It is an exceptional house in an extremely convenient position for the town, station and Sevenoaks schools.

AT A GLANCE n Impressive house in highly desirable location

n Kitchen/breakfast room

n Convenient for Sevenoaks town, station and schools

n Master suite with dressing room and bathroom

n More than 7,000sq ft of accommodation

n Four en-suite bedrooms

n Very well presented

n Two further bedrooms

n Reception hall

n Family bathroom

n Sitting room

n Office

n Drawing room

n Large games room

n Dining room

n Tank room

n Study

n Two attic rooms

n Loggia

n Double garage and drive

n Cloakroom

n Gardens of 0.6 of an acre

n Utility room

£3,250,000 – For sale through Knight Frank 01732 744477 www.knightfrank.co.uk Wednesday 20th January 2016

Norfolk Road, Tunbridge Wells Victorian townhouse situated in the desirable 'Village' area Entrance hall, sitting room, dining room, kitchen. 3 bedrooms, family bathroom, separate WC. Eaves storage.

EPC rating D.

Staplecross An attractive detached period oast house with impressive leisure complex Cloakroom, study, kitchen I breakfast room, utility, sitting room, family room. Master bedroom with en suite, 3 further bedrooms, family bathroom.

Leisure complex including gym, swimming pool, 1 bed annexe and 1 further bedroom. Gardens and grounds. Barn I workshop. Quadruple open-bay garage. EPC ratings E & C. In all about 15.23 acres.

Norfolk Heights, Tunbridge Wells A spacious purpose built apartment situated in the heart of the town Entrance hall, sitting room, dining room, kitchen. 2 bedrooms (both en suite). EPC rating B. In all about 1,245 sq ft.

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

32  PROPERTY

Versatile split-level apartment in elegant country house AT A GLANCE CHART LODGE, SEAL CHART � Impressive apartment in period country house � Rural location � Entrance hall � Sitting room � Dining room � Kitchen � Cloakroom � Four double bedrooms � Two family bathrooms � Loft storage � Single garage � Outbuilding storage area � Established communal gardens of around 3 acres

Offers over

£500,000

For sale through Knight Frank 01732 744477 www.knightfrank.co.uk

Wednesday 20th January 2016

T

HIS penthouse apartment within Chart Lodge is an impressive period property set in a sought-after rural location in Seal Chart. The apartment has been well maintained by the current owners and offers spacious accommodation as well as delightful gardens and grounds.

The front door opens to a communal entrance hall, shared with only one other apartment. A staircase leads up to Flat 4, which is a split level property on the second floor. The L-shaped entrance hall leads to three of the bedrooms, a family bathroom, cloakroom, kitchen and dining room. Off the dining room is a fourth bedroom and stairs which lead to the pretty, dual aspect sitting room.

The apartment is extremely versatile and the drawing room was once used as a bedroom as there is a further modernised family bathroom off it.

Loft space provides ample additional storage.

The property is approached via a gravel driveway leading to ample parking space for visitors’ cars. It benefits from a garage and approximately three acres of communal gardens and grounds, which are predominantly laid to lawn. An outbuilding houses assigned storage areas for each of the apartments.

Beyond your expectations www.hamptons.co.uk

·"""·

THESUNDAYTIMES

T-"!:AMPTONS

11

INTERNATIONAL

THE . . . .TIMES

Tonbridge - Guide Price £850,000 A stylish new home built to a high specification and combining a Georgian-look exterior with contemporary fixtures and fittings throughout. The generous and spacious accommodation includes five bedrooms and a kitchen/dining room leading out onto a patio and garden. EPC: B

Crockham Hill - Guide Price £1,450,000 Offering flexible accommodation including three bedrooms and situated on a predominantly elevated 1.5 acre plot, a distinctive Huf Haus boasting light, space and breathtaking views. EPC: C

Sevenoaks Office Sales. 01732 423127

I

sevenoaks@hamptons-int.com

Sevenoaks - Guide Price £695,000 A characterful three bedroom detached chalet bungalow constructed in the 1920s with later additions. The property occupies a wonderful plot of 0.33 Acres and is conveniently located for excellent local schooling and Sevenoaks station. EPC: E

Drl

Beyond your expectations ........

www.hamptons.co.uk

THESUNDAYTIMES

THE ~

T IMES

Hartfield £1,350,000 Fine detached character country house with period origins in an idyllic setting adjoining the Ashdown Forest and approached by a long forest lane to its own gate. EPC: E

Nr Rotherfield £750,000 Attractive, very well presented detached house with superb outlooks and fantastic living accommodation including an excellent kitchen/breakfast room, 5 bedrooms and 3 bath/ shower rooms. EPC: C

Crowborough £725,000

Superbly presented detached family house built in 2011 by award winning Millwood Designer Homes located in a delightful quiet lane on south side of the town. EPC:C

Langton Green £695,000 Excellent 4 bedroom Georgian style detached family house with a well presented interior and attractive good size gardens with current planning permission to extend further. EPC:E

Rural Brenchley £775,000

Tunbridge Wells £935,000

A charming and beautifully presented 3 bedroom property with well proportioned and flexible accommodation situated in an idyllic countryside setting. EPC:E

Very well presented 4 bedroom family house superbly situated for access into the town and the grammar schools, backing onto and with use of a beautiful private woodland park. EPC:D

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

Tunbridge Wells £875,000

Cowden £1,450,000

A superbly and imaginatively renovated and extended 5 bedroom refurbished detached family house in highly regarded sought after location in southern part of town. EPC:D

A substantial 8 bedroom detached period country house in a rural setting in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty with views and now with scope for some improvement. EPC:F

Tunbridge Wells £549,950

Crowborough £1,100,000 An extremely well presented, attractive, newly built (Spring 2015) detached Millwood Designer Home which has been designed and finished to an exceptionally high standard throughout. EPC:B

Occupying the southern side of this fine building, with spacious and light accommodation, this 3 bedroom, 3 bathroom (2 en suite) garden apartment with large private terrace. EPC:C

We are making the most of our extensive network of 33 London branches by offering to take your property right to the doorsteps of active buyers and tenants in the Capital as part of The Roadshow on Saturday 12th March.

To ensure your property is showcased at this exclusive event, contact us today. The deadline for inclusion is the 7th March 2or6.

I t t I tI t

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36 ď Ž PROPERTY

UPPER BROOMS

COMMON ROAD, IGHTHAM

ÂŁ1,350,000

Genuine Victorian elegance plus exceptional contemporary fittings

U

PPER Brooms is an attractive Victorian property which is well presented with a stylish and contemporary theme. The accommodation provides excellent family living and is arranged over three floors, plus a wine cellar. Features include contemporary kitchen and bathroom suites, in-ceiling speakers, attractive fireplaces, wooden and polished tiled floors, sash

Wednesday 20th January 2016

windows, picture rails and cornicing.

The principal reception rooms provide excellent areas for entertaining and have a delightful outlook over the gardens. The drawing room has a bay window to the rear, double doors to the gardens and an attractive stone fireplace. The dining room also has a bay window and the sitting room is ideal for family living. The contemporary kitchen includes

a range of integrated appliances and the breakfast area has a stable door to the garden.

A utility room and cloakroom complete the ground floor.

Upstairs, the master suite comprises a spacious bedroom with walk-in wardrobe, en-suite bathroom and dressing room. There are three further bedrooms on this floor, one with en-suite shower room, and there is a

family bathroom. Arranged on the second floor are two more bedrooms, one of which has an attractive en-suite bathroom.

The house is approached through a pair of electric wrought iron gates over a sweeping drive to a parking area. The attractive and mature gardens are principally laid to lawn with established beds and borders with a variety of specimen trees and shrubs.

PROPERTY 

37

AT A GLANCE � Attractive period house � Contemporary interior � Spacious accommodation � Entrance hall � Sitting room � Drawing room � Dining room � Modern kitchen/breakfast room � Utility room � Cloakroom � Wine cellar � Master suite with bathroom, walk-in wardrobe and dressing room � Guest room with en-suite � Two further bedrooms on first floor � Family bathroom � Two bedrooms on top floor, one with en-suite bathroom � Drive and parking area � Attractive mature gardens

£1,350,000 For sale through Savills 01732 789700 www.savills.co.uk

‘The dining room also has a bay window and the sitting room is ideal for family living’

Wednesday 20th January 2016

'MUDDY BOOTS' WEEKEND

23RD

&

24TH

JANUARY A compu ter generated image of Home 18 at The Vale

•

THE VALE HOOK GREEN ROAD, SOUTHFLEET, KENT DA13 9NH Due to the high demand we have received, we are holding this event to allow you to view the latest release of homes, which are currently being built. It will be muddy so don't forget to bring your wellies! (We have some available if you don't have your own.)

A delightful collection of 3, 4 & 5 bedroom new homes in a beautiful country location.

Over 60% Already Reserved Open daily 1pm - 5pm I Prices from £535,000

T: 01474 230160

I

E: thevale@mdh.uk.com

I

www.millwooddesignerhomes.co.uk

Croft Way, Sevenoaks Launch Viewings, Saturday 23rd January 1Oam - 12pm. By appointment only.

An excellent 1930's detached family house set in this sought-after cul-de-sac just 0.8 mile from Sevenoaks Station.

Entrance hall, sitting room, dining room, orangery, study, kitchen I breakfast room, utility room, cloakroom, shower room, laundry room. Master bedroom suite, 3 further bedrooms, family bathroom. Carriage driveway. Delightful gardens.

EPC rating D. In all about 0.16 acre.

Hollybush Close, Sevenoaks An attractive and highly versatile family house of 3,595 sq ft Set in a sought-after location within Sevenoaks with south-facing gardens. Reception hall, drawing room, superb orangery, open plan kitchen I breakfast I family room, utility room, cloakroom. Lower ground floor with versatile room and en-suite shower room which could be used as a games room, gym or an au-pair's suite. Master bedroom suite, guest bedroom suite, 3 further bedrooms, family bathroom. Integral double garage. Delightful gardens and grounds.

EPC rating C. In all about 0.33 acre.

Sales

•

Lettings

•

Land & New Homes

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Tunbridge Wells

£685,000

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£469,000

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TUNBRIDGE WELLS

SOUTH BOROUGH

HEATH FIELD

TONBRIDGE

CROWBOROUGH

23 High Street, Tunbridge Wells Kent TN11 UT Sales 01892 511211 tunbridgewells@woodandpilcher.co.uk Letting & Management 01892 528888 lettings@woodandpilcher.com

124 London Road, Southborough Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN4 OPL Tel: 01892 511311 south borough@wooda ndpilcher. co. uk

27 High Street, Heathfield East Sussex TN21 8JR Tel: 01435 862211 heathfield@woodandpilcher.co.uk

38 High Street, Tonbridge, Kent TN91EJ Tel: 01732 351135 tonbridge@woodandpilcher.co.uk

The Cross, Crowborough East Sussex TN61AL Sales 01892 665666 crowborough@woodandpilcher.co.uk Letting & Management 01892 664666 lettings@woodandpilcher.com

Associated Park Lane London Office

woodandpilcher. co. uk

42  PROPERTY

heart out

Eat your

By Gabrielle Fagan THERE’S no doubt kitchens are the centre of our homes, but although they’re the area we choose to spend the most time, either eating or socialising, it seems all too few of us have our ‘dream’ space.

Around 65% of Brits feel their current kitchen is far from ideal - with its inadequacies most exposed during the pressure-cooker stress of Christmas - and around a quarter struggle with a cramped or awkward shaped room, while 25% bemoan a lack of work surfaces, according recent research by Wickes.

Aside from the benefits of enjoying this space more - and potentially being able to cook up a storm - it could be worth reconsidering a refit on financial grounds alone, as it’s the most popular way to add value to a property, estimated by experts at around 15%.

“It’s easy to feel overwhelmed when trying to choose a kitchen,” says Daniele Brutto of Hub Kitchens, specialists in Italian-inspired design. “ There are so many materials, colours and finishes in the market at the moment, but what’s important is focusing on what will work for you and your space. Pick something you like, which could be a particular wall colour, a floor tile or work surface texture and work outwards from there. Keeping one element at the heart of your design will make the whole process much more straightforward.”

Take comfort from the fact that size isn’t everything, according to Brutto, who says small spaces can still look stylish if a scheme is kept simple and every inch of space is exploited. “Custom-made cabinets can conceal day-today appliances when they’re not in use, while it’s also possible to maximise preparation areas by using worktops which cover sinks or extend.

“It’s all about marrying imagination with innovative design and creating a calm, relaxed environment, where it’s a pleasure to work and play.”

See what’s on the menu for kitchens this year, and choose your own individual style recipe...

WALK IN THE WOODS Natural materials rule in decor, and showcasing rich wood grain and stunning stone worktops - marble through to slate - brings personality and ultimate luxury to a room.

"The real trend at the moment for finishes is subtle, textural differences to give real depth, which will break up the monotone nature of surfaces. We're going to see more use of natural exotic stones such as marble, slate and granite," says Brutto.

"We'll see an even greater emphasis on the use of natural timbers, and there are some amazing timber veneers coming onto the market, which give cabinetry a rich, warm feel. The trend for mixing and matching veneers with harsher surrounds, such as concrete, steel and iron, will also feature strongly this year."

STYLE RECIPE: Curved lines, natural timbers and painted finishes are showcased in a Canterbury solid oak, hand-painted kitchen, with bespoke engraving of drawer categories, from around £35,000, Davonport.

[3] If that's beyond the budget, Betta Living's Shaker kitchen design, in oak, starts from £5,186.

Free-standing pieces can conjure a more informal atmosphere, and Marks & Spencer's Padstow range includes a Wine Rack in an oak veneer and painted finish, reduced to £439.20 from £549.

Utility lighting's all very well but for glamour, you can't beat a chandelier. The Leila, reduced to £250.75 from £295, is one of the beauties from The Chandelier & Mirror Company [4]. Islands and peninsulas call for casual seating and you can bag a designer bargain at Voga: a Series 7 Barstool, inspired by Arne Jacobsen design, in laminated plywood and beech, £212.

Wednesday 20th January 2016

1

MODERN MENU Shades of grey or cool blue will give a kitchen an ultra-modern look and can be enlivened with either a colourful splashback, or add a warming glow with copper metallic accessories.

“The general trend still continues for the kitchen to literally be the heart of the home, and grey is still a massive colour trend, whether it’s used for unit fronts or even grey grouting in between tiles,” says Wickes design consultant, Simon Burton.

“A kitchen has to be a practical, user-friendly space, but is also regarded as an area to socialise, so open-plan designs, incorporating a kitchen and dining/living area, are still a top choice. One great way to enhance a social feel is to have built-in music speakers.”

STYLE RECIPE: A handsome Tiverton Slate solid oak kitchen, with a deep grey finish, is bang on trend and starts from £3,400 (based on an eight unit example), Wickes. If your taste is more contemporary, Betta Living’s Horizon kitchen, in anthracite, starts from £4,899 and is handle-less, which is increasingly fashionable and conjures a sleek look. [1] If you want to take a kitchen with you when you move, or need to make the most of a compact space, invest in a sleek standalone Vision kitchen from Rational, which start at £3,000 (excluding appliances). [2]

2

4

3

A PERFECT BALANCE Mixing modern and old-style materials, and using accents of black and charcoal to add definition, achieves a chic look which suits a country 'kick off your wellies' setting, just as much as an edgy industrial-style urban loft.

"We believe a successful kitchen should feel like an organic part of a home, not a bolt-on or trend-conscious space.

Instead, it should be a zone in harmony with our style and taste, and designed to totally suit our lifestyle. Contrast in colour or texture is particularly effective, for instance, rough brick set against a plaster wall, or a tiled effect below an open raftered ceiling," says John SimsHilditch, managing director at Neptune.

"This timeless look has enduring appeal,

never goes out of fashion and looks better as it ages. Breaking up a run of wall cupboards with open shelving or glass-fronted upper cabinets is a useful design option, creating fluidity and an impression of more space."

STYLE RECIPE: Neptune's Chichester kitchen, from £8,000, is a simple design which blends classic lines with traditional details and crisp silhouettes, [5] and can be painted in any colour of choice, while the company's Suffolk kitchen, from £9,000, is based on an East Anglian tradition of furniture-making and its characteristics include generous proportions, carved oak shelves and ample base cabinet units.

5

Andrews >

Tunbridge Wells andrewsonline.co.uk

WANTED! A good sized garden flat in central Tunbridge Wells for a lady downsizing.

Call Andrews on 01892 515144 or email on tunbridgewells@andrewsonline.co.uk

Underwood Rise, Tunbridge Wells, TN2 Guide £385,000 Three storey four bedroom townhouse located on the southern side of Tunbridge Wells. This home has garage, kitchen/diner, cloakroom, living room with Juliet balcony, four bedrooms, one with en-suite and family bathroom.

The garden is decked and features an entertainment hut.

Energ~ Efficienc~ Rating: TBC

Yew Tree Road, Tunbridge wells, TN4 Guide £500,000 Detached three bedroom family home set back on a plot that has parking for a number of vehicles and a 54' x 29'4 rear garden with large pond and ornamental flower bed. The mainline station is 0.6 mile and the St. John's Primary school is 0.5 mile from the home. Notable features include fireplace, AGA, exposed wood floors and lovely views!

Energ~ Efficienc~ Rating: D

Upper Grosvenor Road, Tunbridge Wells, TN1 £1200pcm A split level maisonette only 200 yards from the Royal Victoria Place providing flexible accommodation with 1-3 reception rooms and 2-4 bedrooms as well as kitchen, bathroom offering bath with shower over and a separate shower cubicle plus an allocated off road parking space.

Energy Efficiency Rating: E

Broadwater, Tunbridge Wells, TN2 £625pcm A one bedroom flat in a period property in a pleasant location on the south west side of Tunbridge Wells. The top floor accommodation comprises open-plan, dual aspect living room and kitchen with electric cooker and fridge, bathroom with electric shower over the bath and a double bedroom plus off road parking, communal gardens and a separate, communal laundry room. Available for single occupancy only.

Energy Efficiency Rating: E

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

Horizon Close, Tunbridge Wells, TN4 £750pcm One bedroom starter home set in a small development partly surrounded by woodlands to the north east of Tunbridge Wells. The property has its own entrance, open plan kitchen I living room, bedroom with built in wardrobes and bathroom. There are communal grounds and allocated parking.

Energy Efficiency Rating: D

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

••

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iJl1iFLY PROPERTIES

BY CAROL PRIER

4 bedroom se mi detached house, 3 reception rooms spacious garden room which takes full advantage of the stunning garden.Ample off road parking. EPC: E

Grade II listed detached house, entrance/dining hall, sitting room with open fireplace, 3 bedrooms to include master suite/ en suite bath & shower room. Further showe r room, fitted kitchen/breakfast room and small utility. Detached garage and formal gardens.

TANGLEWOOD, MATFIELD Detached famil y home, accommodation comprising entrance hall , cloakroom, sitting/dining room and kitchen. First floor, 4 bedrooms and a bathroom. Front and rear gardens. Off road parking with detached garage. EPC: D

Stunning 4 bed room detached family home. Aecom modation comprising entrance lobby, cloakroom, spacious entrance hall, a fabulous kitchen/ breakfast/family room, 2 further reception rooms and large utility, master bedroom with en suite facilities, 3 further bedrooms and family bathroom.

Large detached double garage to the side of the property and further detached studio with plumbing for cloaks/shower. EPC: F

The ve rsatile layo ut offers four bedrooms (two ground floor, two to the first floor), ground floor showe r/cloakroom and first floor bathroom, utility room , large kitchen/dining room, spacious sitting/garden room. EPC: C

New build. Superb family home offering entrance hall with cloa kroom, fitted kitchen with dining area,and the living room To the first floor three bedrooms and a family bathroom second floor is a superb master bedroom with en-suite shower. Outside offers easily maintained garden and two parking spaces under cover. Gas fired heating, double glazing, all newfitments, appliances and fitted carpets. EPC · B

Idyllic location nestled in the heart of Brenchleyvillage yet quietly tucked away along a private drive adjacent to the orchards- just perfect! Extensive gardens to rear and side with southerly orientation. Circa 1920 offering three bedrooms, Two receptions, open fireplaces, oak windows, LPG gas central heating, off road parking· NO CHAIN· EPC: G

HURSTVIEW, MATFIELD

Awell presented 3 bedroom se mi-detached famil y bungalow offering versatile accommodation with L-shaped sitting room, kitchen, famil y bathroom, large mature garden to the rear and attached garage with additional parking. EPC: E

Beautiful family home with fabulous garden, accommodation comprising kitchen/family room, 2 receptions, 5 bedrooms, set out over three floors with en-suite to master bedroom. Ample off road parking and far reaching views to the rear which offers a garden of approx 200ft. EPC:C

Exceptional location within walking distance of Brenchleyvillage.

Beautifully presented Grade II listed detached character home, set in approximately 3/4 acre of fabulou s grounds with enchanting mill stream. Two reception rooms, both boasting inglenook fireplaces, large kitchen/breakfast room, cloakroom, storage area, three bedrooms to include master bedroom to the first floor with en-suite, family bathroom, and bedroom four to the second floor.

PROPERTY 

45

House prices go up and up…

The housing market hit new records in 2015, so what will 2016 bring?

By Vicky Shaw THE average house price across the UK reached an all-time high of £287,000 in October 2015, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS). And with the supply of properties for sale still reported to be tight, market experts expect prices to climb further in the coming months.

A three percentage point stamp duty increase for buy-to-let investors is also set to come into force in April, which could also see housing market activity ramped up as investors rush to beat the deadline.

However, there could be a bit of a ray of light for aspiring first-time buyers, who may potentially find that after April, they face less competition from investors for properties.

Meanwhile, there’s been recent speculation about interest rates - with suggestions that 2016 could be the year rates start to edge up.

So for how much longer can we expect the ultra-low mortgage rates that we’ve become used to in recent years to stick around?

Here are some experts’ views on what could be around the corner for the housing market: � David Hollingworth, spokesman for brokers London & Country Mortgages, says: “House prices generally increased during 2015, largely due to strong demand from buyers and not enough property coming to market to satisfy that demand.

“Although the Government has put a focus on stimulating the building of more new and affordable housing, which should help over time, it will not be a quick fix. Therefore it’s hard to suggest that prices will not continue on that trajectory with further rises to come in 2016.

“However, it’s also likely that the regional variation in house prices will continue, given that London and the South East has increased much more strongly than elsewhere in the UK.” Hollingworth believes the stamp duty

increase for investors could have a “stalling effect” on the market when its impact starts to be felt. He says: “Although there is likely to be a rush to complete any transactions in the first quarter, it’s not known how hard activity might be hit after April.

“In theory, that should be music to firsttime buyers’ ears as it could (mean) less competition from buy-to-let landlords.”

Any increase, he adds, in the Bank of England’s base rate, which is currently at a record low of 0.5%, is likely to prompt a spike in people looking to re-mortgage. “I expect lenders will be competing hard for business from the off in January. If rates do climb then it is likely to be slow and gradual, so borrowers should largely be able to cope, but fixed rates are very competitive at the moment and offer protection against any future rises.” � Sarah Beeny, TV property expert and owner of estate agent Tepilo, says of the stamp duty hike for buy-to-let investors: “It will undoubtedly affect the market as it will increase the costs associated with buying for investors, and they’ll really need to work out their figures before considering buying a buy-to-let property.”

Beeny says the stamp duty increase on investment properties “will help to slow parts of the buy-to-let market down, particularly the entry level market, which is where first-time buyers sit and where a lot of investors invest in”.

“This will hopefully help slow down prices,” she adds, “and make them more affordable and more in line with earnings.” � The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (Rics) expects house prices across the UK to increase by around 6% annually in 2016 - with values jumping higher across all regions.

Rics expects house prices to see an annual increase of 8% in East Anglia, 7% in South East England and the West Midlands, 6% in Wales, North West England and Yorkshire and Humberside, 5% in Northern Ireland, London and South West England, 4% in

Scotland and the East Midlands and 3% in North East England.

Simon Rubinsohn, chief economist at Rics,

says a lack of stock will continue to be the “principal driver” of house prices pushing upwards.

Wednesday 20th January 2016

46 � ADVERTISING FEATURE

Thinking of moving home soon?

You’ve made the decision to move, found your dream home and your offer has been accepted. Feelings of excitement and apprehension set in and all you want is the whole process to end with you safely ensconced in your new home. So what steps can you take to ensure that the process will run smoothly and costly mistakes are avoided? Well, skimping on surveys and conveyancing can cost you dearly in the long run. So here are some top tips to help your move go as smoothly as possible. will not visit the property themselves, so should there be something you feel uncertain about bring it to their attention and they will provide you with the options available in order to try to resolve the issue.

5

REMEMBER TO ARRANGE BUILDING INSURANCE FROM THE DATE OF THE EXCHANGE OF CONTRACTS. From exchange of contracts you will be legally responsible for the structure of the property. This is often overlooked and can potentially have serious consequences. Make sure you have buildings insurance cover in place from this date.

With this being said and the potential risks of buying a home with hidden problems amounting to thousands of pounds in potential outgoings, why would you cut corners for the sake of a few pounds when the risks are so large?

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

2

DECIDE WHETHER YOU ARE HAPPY TO RELY ON THE MORTGAGE LENDER’S VALUATION OR DO YOU REQUIRE A FULL SURVEY. A lender’s valuation is an assessment carried out by and for the benefit of the lender in order to check that the property presents adequate security for its loan should you default and the property has to be sold. However, it does not report on actual faults in the property. For many, a Home Buyer’s Report, which will expose problems such as damp, dry rot and subsidence, is adequate but if you are buying an older house or unusual home a full structural survey will be a wise investment.

You wouldn’t buy a car without the

Wednesday 20th January 2016

4

3

E ID EERS GU FRE MOVE

1

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

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

M HO

BY DEBORAH MILLER

Tunbridge Wells - Guide Price: £340,000

Tunbridge Wells - Monthly Rental £2,500

A charming 2 bedroom single storey converted stable located in this small development of properties in Dunorlan Farm. Parking for 2 cars, private garden and communal courtyard.

No onward chain. EPC: D

A well presented single storey property in Dunorlan Park with 2 reception rooms, study, 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, single garage, driveway parking for 3 cars and an expansive garden. EPC: D

Burwash Weald - Guide Price: £329,000

Eridge Green - Monthly Rental £2,400

A 3 bedroom semi-detached bungalow, comprehensively refurbished and extended to provide a bright, open plan reception space. Off road parking and gardens. No onward chain. EPC: F

A newly refurbished and most attractive double fronted family home, just IO minutes drive from Tunbridge Wells. 4 reception rooms, 4 double bedrooms, 2 bathrooms. Approx 1/3 acre garden, detached garage/office. EPC: D

Southborough - Guide Price: £319,000

Rotherfield - Monthly Rental £1,495

A most attractively presented end of terrace late-Victorian cottage enjoying a pleasant leafy location on the fringes of Southborough. 2 reception room, kitchen, 2 bedrooms, bathroom, beamed attic room. EPC: D

A beautifully presented 3 bedroom semi-detached cottage, completely renovated throughout and offering good size family accommodation in a semi-rural location with stunning views and large garden. EPC: E

48

ďż˝ PROPERTY

Impressive house with spectacular views over the Weald

L

ONGWOOD is a striking contemporary property, built in 1979, which has been refurbished by the present owners. Set in Underriver, the layout allows the principal rooms far reaching views to the south over the Weald.

Features include a bespoke kitchen by Great British Kitchens, contemporary bathroom suites, full height windows and glass doors, vaulted ceilings and some underfloor heating. The gardens are also a real feature of the property, having many varieties of trees framing the views.

The principal reception rooms, together with the generous reception hall, provide excellent formal entertaining areas. The spacious drawing room has sliding glass doors opening to the large rear terrace and the dining room has full height windows.

There is an impressive cinema room with vaulted ceiling and sliding doors, and a lovely breakfast room off the kitchen.

There is a bedroom with en-suite shower room and a family bathroom on the ground floor, while the first floor features a superb master suite with vaulted ceiling, dressing room and shower room, as well as a further bedroom and a studio. A fourth bedroom, also with en-suite shower room, is located on the garden level.

A utility room, study, cloakroom, boot room and boiler room/gym complete the accommodation.

The property boasts a sweeping drive, integral garage, store area, landscaped gardens, areas of light woodland, a fabulous rear terrace and a swimming pool. In all there are 5.8 acres.

AT A GLANCE CARTERS HILL, UNDERRIVER n Refurbished modern home n Elevated position n Far reaching views n Reception hall n Drawing room n Dining room n Cotemporary kitchen n Breakfast room n Study

n Master suite with dressing room and shower room n Three further bedrooms, two en-suite n Family bathroom n Studio n Garage n Gardens, grounds and woodland of 5.8 acres

n Cinema room n Utility room

ÂŁ2,950,000

n Cloakroom

For sale through Savills

n Boot room

01732 789700

n Boiler room/gym

www.savills.co.uk

Wednesday 20th January 2016

1-kMJProperty

Your local independent Estate Agent

...contactable 7 days a week

RUST HALL

ÂŁ295,000

4 Bed Semi , corner plot in no through road . Would benefit from some updating . Lounge / dining room, kitchen, 4 bedrooms and a modern family bathroom. Integral garage, driveway, DG, GFH gardens to the front, side and rear. EPC D, OPEN DAYS Please contact for more information.

2/ 3 Bed EQT cottage, with planning permission for a Loft conversion . Lounge, dining room, kitchen, 3rd reception/ bedroom, cloakroom, 2 bedrooms and upstairs bathroom.

Double glazing, gas fired heating and rear garden. EPC tbc .

Well presented 4 Bed EQT house in no through road . Lounge/ dining room, kitchen, snug room with Log burner, conservatory, downstairs cloakroom, 4 bedrooms and family bathroom with sauna. GFH, DG, rear garden and off road parking . EPC D.

3 Bed semi-detached character cottage, elevated position in Toad Rock area . Lounge, kitchen/ diner with Rayburn range style cooker, downstairs bathroom and 3 bedrooms . Double glazing, gas fired heating , front and rear gardens. EPC E.

www.kmjproperty.co.uk S:3 Find us on • 111 Facebook

01892 515188

<i)nTheMarketcom

sales@kmjproperty.co.uk

50  PROPERTY

CULVERDEN AVENUE TUNBRIDGE WELLS

£850,000

Period features in a beautifully presented Tunbridge Wells home T HIS attractive period home is set in the popular St John’s area of Tunbridge Wells and offers spacious family accommodation over three floors, plus a useful cellar. With character features including some stripped wooden floors, bay windows, picture rails, cornicing and fireplaces, it is extremely well presented and boasts a good size rear garden.

The reception hall leads to a sitting room with sash bay window to the front and a working fireplace. The kitchen/breakfast room is at the rear of the house and features a large bay with a combination of period sash windows and UPVC

Wednesday 20th January 2016

French doors. A solid wood fitted kitchen includes an island unit, a gas-fired Aga and integrated appliances. There is also a separate dining room with window to the side.

The first floor features two large bedrooms, each with a bay window, as well as a family bathroom and single bedroom.

Two further bedrooms, a bathroom and eaves storage are on the second floor.

The rear garden includes areas of raised decking from the kitchen and steps down to the main garden. Beneath the decking is access to a cellar. The garden is mainly laid to lawn, with shrub borders, brick paths and a number of mature trees.

AT A GLANCE

� Period home in desirable St John’s area

� Four double bedrooms

� Character features

� One single bedroom

� Modern fittings

� Two family bathrooms

� Entrance hall

� Eaves storage

� Sitting room

� Cellar

� Dining room

� Raised deck

� Kitchen/breakfast room

� Large mature garden

£850,000 – For sale through Wood and Pilcher 01892 511211 www.woodandpilcher.co.uk

PROPERTY 

51

‘The garden is mainly laid to lawn, with shrub borders, brick paths and a number of mature trees’

Wednesday 20th January 2016

52  PROPERTY

Five tips for choosing natural flooring

By Julia Gray

1

MOST natural flooring is made from plant fibres, which are easy to replenish and environmentally friendly, but the plants generally grow in Asia, South America and other far-flung places which isn’t quite so eco. Tips for maintaining natural flooring include using doormats by external doors, vacuuming regularly, putting something underneath chairs and sofas on castors, and immediately treating stains and spills. Some natural flooring has a latex backing, which helps to prevent dirt and dust building up underneath, and some can be treated with a stain inhibitor to keep it looking good for longer. Wool and cotton can be combined with other natural fibres to produce flooring offering the best of both worlds, but if you’d prefer to stick to one material, below are some of the most popular types of natural flooring.

2

Coir is generally good value and hardwearing.

Made from fibres taken from coconut husks, it’s coarse and durable which makes it perfect for floors that get lots of use, such as halls and stairs. Its highly textured finish and strong fibres stand up well to wear and tear, but water can mark coir, so it’s not ideal for laying in kitchens and bathrooms.

3

Jute is fine, soft and silky, making it suitable for rooms with light foot traffic, such as bedrooms. It’s not recommended for use in bathrooms and kitchens (it can shrink after absorbing water); on stairs (it can be slippery and isn’t particularly hardwearing); and in areas of bright sunlight (it can fade too). However, in its favour, Jute flooring comes in a wide range of natural shades.

4

Sisal is a strong, versatile, hardwearing and anti-static natural fibre and can be used in most rooms, although it’s not suitable for ones prone to high-moisture levels. It can be woven into a huge range of patterns, weaves and colours and can be dyed, unlike most natural flooring, even in metallic hues: shimmering strips of sisal make a stair or hall carpet extra special.

5

Seagrass is not only hardwearing and strong, it’s also naturally stain resistant. There are often inconsistencies in its colour and weave, so don’t buy it if you want a perfectly uniform look. It has a heavy texture and is suitable for most rooms in the home, except high-moisture ones.

PRODUCT OF THE WEEK Scraping and filling knives always come in handy when you're decorating, and Screwfix has a great-value set - the No Nonsense Decorators Knives 3 Piece Set (reduced to £5.59, Screwfix). You get a 3" stripping knife, a 2" filling knife and a 1.5" chisel knife, all with hardened and tempered steel blades and soft-grip handles for comfort. These knives are sturdy, durable and perform well, so don't be afraid to put them through their paces. For removing plaster, layers of paint and other hard-to-budge substances from wood, the Harris Heavy Duty Tungsten Carbide Wood Scraper (£8.69. Screwfix) is unbeatable. This impressive scraper has a double-sided tungsten-carbide blade that can outlast a steel blade by up to 100 times. The blade won't tear into your woodwork, but will clean it up in no time - although it's not the cheapest scraper, it's a must-have tool when the going gets tough.

Wednesday 20th January 2016

HOW-TO TIP Handrails for stairs tend to be expensive, but if you take the time to stain or varnish a cheap softwood rail (visit your local builder’s merchants) dark brown and add some nice metal wall brackets, it will look far more expensive than it really was. Nifty!

New Year, New Home ... ?

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Savills Tunbridge Wells 53 High Street Tunbridge Wells Kent TN1 1XU

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54  PROPERTY

KILN COTTAGE

BLETCHINGLYE LANE, ROTHERFIELD

£1,650,000

Beautiful country house equipped with excellent equestrian facilities

T

UCKED away at the top of a long private drive, shared with one other property, Kiln Cottage enjoys a lovely setting, with superb equestrian facilities positioned within easy reach. With origins dating back to the brick-making industry, much of the inherent character of this Rotherfield home is still evident, including aged oak beams, fireplaces and wood panel doors with wrought-iron drop latches.

The reception space comprises a generous entrance hall, a drawing room, a sitting room with wood burning stove, a roundel dining room, family room and a conservatory opening out to the garden. An attractive country-style family kitchen/breakfast room lies in the heart of the house and an adjoining utility room is fitted to match, with a practical boot room on the other side of the house.

Wednesday 20th January 2016

The master bedroom on the first floor, with its high-beamed and vaulted ceiling, has an adjoining en-suite bathroom, cleverly incorporated into the roundel. Three further bedrooms, together with a fifth, currently fitted as a dressing room, and two well-appointed bathrooms complete the accommodation.

Kiln Cottage is surrounded by enclosed gardens of just over half an acre. It is a lovely area for outdoor entertaining, with a luxury ‘arctic cabin’ providing an unusual focal point.

The current owner has also created a comprehensive range of equestrian facilities, accessed by a spur off the main drive. They include several paddocks, a menage, lunge arena, American barn with 10 Lodden boxes, solarium, hay barn and tack room. In all there is approximately 23.6 acres.

PROPERTY 

55

‘The garden is mainly laid to lawn, with shrub borders, brick paths and a number of mature trees’

‘The current owner has also created a comprehensive range of equestrian facilities, accessed by a spur off the main drive’ AT A GLANCE ■ Pretty detached oast house

■ Cloakroom

■ Character features ■ Spacious accommodation

■ Master bedroom with en-suite in the roundel

■ Comprehensive equestrian facilities

■ Three further bedrooms

■ Reception hall ■ Sitting room

■ Dressing room/bedroom 5 with en-suite bathroom

■ Drawing room

■ Family bathroom

■ Roundel dining room

■ Mature garden with ‘arctic cabin’ feature

■ Kitchen/breakfast room

■ Kitchen garden

■ Boot room

■ Detached double garage

■ Utility room

■ Outbuildings

■ Family room

■ Equestrian centre

■ Conservatory

■ In total 23.6 acres

£1,650,000 – For sale through Savills 01892 507000 www.savills.co.uk Wednesday 20th January 2016

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Rural Hadlow

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Set down a leafy lane in 4.9 acres of beautiful countryside and yet only 3.8 miles from Tonbridge main line station. 3 paddocks with lapsed planning granted for 3 stables with a tack/feed room and separate road access. This beautifully presented detached period property exudes charm and character throughout, offering light and bright accommodation with exposed wall and ceiling timbers, tiled flooring, lattice mullion windows, multi pane sash windows and attractive fireplaces. Updated and extended, this stylish family home comprises: reception hall, bespoke kitchen/breakfast room with an AGA, sitting room, garden/dining room, drawing room with a woodburner, laundry room, cloakroom, master bedroom with an en-suite shower room, guest suite with an en-suite bathroom, 3 more bedrooms and a family shower room. Externally, there is a detached home office with bi-folding doors. Hadlow is both vibrant and sought-after.

Matfield - Competition Yard

ÂŁ1,350,000

Have you ever dreamed of owning your very own competition yard or maybe even a stud? This equestrian home really offers the best of the best in a convenient location off the A21. Situated in grounds of 4.2 acres, the unrivalled facilities include a lorry park, various paddocks, a barn (approx 25 x 11) with 8 integral loose boxes, solarium, wash down bay, tack room and a laundry/tea room. A further block of stables also offers further stabling along with hay and feed storage. An area of hard standing houses a covered, Claydon 5 horse walker along with a stunning Manege (approx 60 x 30). A beautiful detached, double kiln oast house comprising: A reception hall, kitchen/breakfast room, 3 reception rooms, master bedroom with en-suite, 4 bedrooms (1 with shower room) and a family bathroom. A further, detached barn has PP for development. There is a swimming pool which needs some renovation and ample off-road parking.

58 ďż˝ PROPERTY

Appealing character farmhouse providing the best of rural life W AYWARD Hill Farmhouse nestles in an exceptional rural position just under two miles from Hartfield and the Ashdown Forest. A feeling of warmth and character flows through this delightful, traditional weatherboarded Sussex farmhouse, which has been enjoyed by the current owners and their family for more than 30 years.

The majority of rooms have good ceiling

Wednesday 20th January 2016

heights and the property has been carefully enhanced and modernised with a pleasing light and airy country-style. Partly influenced by the early 1900s Bloomsbury Group, the use of pale colours, natural materials, rendered walls and delightful artistic features complement the many lovely period features.

The house opens to an entrance porch/boot room with side door to a private two-room guest suite with shower room and inner door

to the main part of the house. The family area comprises a partly open plan kitchen/ breakfast/dining area with a separate utility room and cloakroom off. There is a drawing room, family room, sitting room and study, all with character features including fireplaces and beams.

There are five first floor double bedrooms, with vaulted, barrelled or part-vaulted ceilings, as well as a family bathroom and

shower room.

The property is set amidst mature gardens and grounds to three sides with ancient woodland to the boundaries. There are gravel and flagstone paths around the periphery of the house, merging into a cottage garden to the south and meadow to the west. There is a driveway and parking area and surrounding fields amounting to 6.5 acres, which could be divided into paddocks if required.

PROPERTY 

59

WAYWARD HILL FARMHOUSE

PARROCK LANE, UPPER HARTFIELD

£1,595,000

AT A GLANCE ■ Charming country house

■ Family room

■ Character features

■ Study

■ Very well presented

■ Utility room

■ Rural setting

■ Cloakroom

■ Entrance hall/boot room

■ Two staircases

■ Ground floor guest suite with two rooms and a shower room

■ Five bedrooms on the first floor

■ Kitchen/breakfast/dining room

■ Family bathroom

■ Drawing room

■ Driveway and parking

■ Sitting room

■ Gardens and fields of 6.5 acres

■ Shower room

£1,595,000 – For sale through Savills 01892 507000 www.savills.co.uk Wednesday 20th January 2016

TONBRIDGE

R

• Angel Centre gym and sports centre is opposite the building • Numerous supermarkets within a level walk - Sainsbury, Waitrose, Lidl • Excellent Cafes and Restaurants on the High Street including - Finch House, Caffe Nero, Starbucks, Pizza Express, Graze Gastro pub

Comprising 24 one bed -

• The historic castle and riverside walks only a moment away from the apartments.

R B A N

K Images used are artists impression of the completed development

• Secure undercroft parking with most apartments

CALLING ALL INVESTORS

• Attractive riverside garden

• Very central Town Centre location, 1 minute walk from Tonbridge High Street

• Attractive investment returns with estimated rental level of £800-£850 per month and excellent future capital growth prospects of over 21 % from 2016-2020 (Source Knight Frank Report).

• Tonbridge Railway Station is 3 minutes walk with journey times to London of around 40 minutes

• Tonbridge voted as one of 'the best 10 spots to buy on a budget' (Telegraph, May 2015)

• 125 year leases and a 10 year building warranty

• Every possible amenity is right on your door step

www.riverbanktonbridge.co.uk

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• Tonbridge described as one of 'the top 20 homes hotspots within a 60-minute commute of London' (The Times, May 15) • Buy now & beat the stamp duty hike before April 2016

PROPERTY ďż˝

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Wednesday 20th January 2016

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Lettings: 01732 77 1616 e. Lettings@bkea.co.uk

www.bkestatea1ents.com

WITH THE

NEW HOMES AND LETTINGS OF TUNBRIDGE WELLS AND SEVENOAKS

Newly constructed property boasting a spectacular kitchen Pages 68-69 Elevated home designed exquisitely by local architects Page 65

Style tips to make the most of your new home Page 66

Exceptional accommodation split over three floors Page 71

Wednesday 20th January 2016

Your local independent Estate Agent ... contactable 7 days a week

1-kMJProperty

www.kmjproperty.co.uk 9':I

Find us on

111111 Facebook

01892 515188 <i)nTheMarketcom

sales@kmjproperty.co.uk

PROPERTY �

65

Bespoke house adjacent to Tunbridge Wells golf course

AT A GLANCE LANGTON ROAD, TUNBRIDGE WELLS n High spec fittings n Arranged over three floors n Entrance hall n Kitchen n Dining Room n Five bedrooms n Five shower rooms n Family Bathroom n Office n Cloakroom n Terrace n Balcony n Views over garden and golf course

£4,250 Per Month To Let through Hamptons Tunbridge Wells 01892 31 3000 www.hamptons.co.uk

T

HIS exquisitely presented and contemporary home has been designed by local architects to make the very most of a beautifully elevated position. A large and inviting entrance hallway rises to the first floor and descends down to the lower ground floor, connected by a winding staircase. Through the stairwell is a stunning, fitted Chandelier which is lit from the top. The colour can be changed to suit the mood or time of day and is a real centre

piece for this impressive property.

A fantastic kitchen with fitted appliances and island with storage leads through to a well-lit dining area with floor to ceiling doors and windows looking out across the garden and golf course. There is access onto a large balcony from the dining room that is perfect for entertaining. It is also accessible from the lounge which has a large bank of bi-folding doors that open fully onto it.

The principle and guest room, on the topfloor of the house, both have access on to private covered balconies as well as en suite shower rooms. The three further bedrooms on the lower ground floor are all of a similar size and also have en suite shower rooms and doors opening onto a large terrace with perfect views over the well-maintained gardens. The property also boasts a garage and garden storage for the tenant’s convenience.

Wednesday 20th January 2016

66  PROPERTY

Style keepers for 2016

By Gabrielle Fagan DECORISTAS get as much pleasure from beautifully designed interiors as fashionistas get from clothes, but even the most devoted don’t want (and can’t afford) to be such dedicated followers of trends that it means redecorating every season.

Thankfully, a little insider knowledge goes a long way and savvy home bunnies know the styles that won’t have a short shelf-life, because their good looks and design credentials will ensure enduring appeal. Plus, some looks are versatile enough to allow for fresh interpretations, which can easily breathe new life into them.

Reprise last year’s favourites that are set to make their mark again in 2016.

MONOCHROME MAGIC Classic, timeless black and white never goes out of fashion, and just as a wardrobe should have at least one LBD (little black dress), in my book, every home can benefit from one room decorated in monochrome. It's a style that's surprised even the interiors experts with its enduring popularity over the last few years - but not its fans, already well aware of how versatile it is. For life on the really dark side, you can opt for drama - a black feature wall or ceiling - or my choice; white walls and black paintwork, complemented by black framed photographic prints. Leave it minimal or dress it up with simple 'home jewellery', like colourful cushions and lamps. Frankly, what's not to like?

MY STYLE: Black Shadow Velvet Button Back Occasional Chair, £947, Artisanti; Black Vintage Frame, £14, Monty's Vintage shop; Mayfair Black Chair, £395, The French Bedroom Company.

SUIT YOURSELF Global influences are constantly reflected in interior trends, and the strongest theme to emerge in 2015 was ‘boho chic’. A bohemian-gypsy style - encompassing texture, colour and pieces ‘with a story’ - the style will continue to appeal because it has a ‘go with the flow’ freedom, allowing tastes to wander West or East.

MY STYLE: Hand Painted Indian Bajot Table, £44, Boutique Camping, Romany Love Seat, £285, The French Bedroom Company.

Wednesday 20th January 2016

TURN UP THE HEAT No parrot, no pineapple? Shame on you! I fell deep for the brightly coloured birds which were must-have accessories as the temperature rose in decor and designers embraced jungle prints, rich with tropical flora and fauna.

Don't get in a flap if you didn't catch tropical fever in 2015 though, because it's still raging.

MY STYLE: Parrot Money Box, £48, MiaFleur

BRING ON BLING It’s confession time... I’m an interiors magpie and can’t resist something shiny and glittery, so I was utterly delighted by the copper craze, and in 2016 will be following the metal trail to gold. There should be a ‘handle with care’ label on metallics however, as overdosing on them can all too easily tip a setting into tacky territory, but with a careful ‘less is more’ approach, they’re guaranteed to inject glamour and interest. Go full-on with metallic-finish tiles, a high-end choice for kitchens and bathrooms, or simply confine burnished metal to glittering accessories.

MY STYLE: Gold photo bamboo frame, £18.50, Within; Pols Potten metallic mugs, £29 each, Design 55; Foundry Metallic Tiles in Roman Gold, from £249.95 per square metre, The Winchester Tile company.

RUNNING WILD My votes for last year’s fun, achievable looks went to ‘country lodge’ - think hunting, shooting, fishing, with wood panelling and stag heads (I have one and still love it) - and its wilder cousin, frontier decor, evoking the Wild West in prairie chic, fur throws, buffalo heads and tribal prints. Nature will still rule in 2016 but looking forward, my advice is: step away from the squirrels and cute creatures!

A more formal botanical look’s coming through, which is less cosy and more sophisticated, and those deer heads should be funky and colourful and a little less like true hunting trophies.

MY STYLE: My Yellow Deer Head, £45, The French Bedroom Company; Faux Fur Throw Polar, £350, Mille Boutique.

HELP TO BUY WEEKEND

23RD

& 24TH JANUARY Computer generated image of Homes 21-24 at Woodlands View

WOODLANDS VIEW WOODLANDS WAY, THE RIDGE, HASTINGS TN34 2RY Co m e alo ng t o thi s eve nt w he re an ind epe nd ent m o rt g age ad v iso r w ill be o n hand t o di scuss your indi v idual requirem ents, e nablin g you t o purc ha se a new ho m e at thi s exc itin g d evelo pm ent.

3 bedroo m famil y ho mes priced fro m £3 25,000 Exa mple : Purchase pri ce £3 25,000 Less Help t o Buy* at 20 % ( £65,000) Equals just £260,000 ' Help To Buy is subject to scheme rules & on selected homes only.

68 ď Ž PROPERTY

PAYGATE

MAIDSTONE ROAD, HORSMONDEN

ÂŁ1,350,000

Spacious well presented new family home in Horsmonden N

EWLY constructed with just a small part of the original building retained, Paygate is a spacious and attractive family house on the edge of the popular village of Horsmonden. The property offers fantastic family accommodation and entertaining space which is beautifully presented and finished to a very high standard. Features include CAT5 wiring and

Wednesday 20th January 2016

an impressive kitchen with high specification fixtures and fittings - including AEG double oven and dishwasher, Siemens glass gas hob and a Caple wine cooler..

Accommodation on the ground floor comprises an entrance hall, dual aspect drawing room partly open plan to a comfy sitting room area, cloakroom, kitchen open plan to a dining room and garden room, and

utility room. Upstairs there is a generous master bedroom with en-suite bathroom, three further bedrooms, one en-suite, and a family bathroom. Two further bedrooms and a bathroom lie on the second floor.

Outside, the house is approached via an electrically operated gated entrance, with telephone entry system, over a gravel bonded driveway leading to a parking area and

impressive detached triple garage providing three separate insulated garages.

The gardens and grounds surround the property and are laid to lawn with outside lighting and a selection of plants and shrubs.

To the rear there is a paved terrace and decked area with hot tub. The gardens lead on to a paddock which could be used for equestrian purposes. There is 1.31 acres in total.

PROPERTY 

69

AT A GLANCE ■ Newly built to a high standard ■ High spec fittings ■ Arranged over three floors ■ Open plan living ■ Mature plot ■ Entrance hall ■ Drawing room ■ Sitting room ■ Dining room

‘Paygate is a spacious and attractive family house on the edge of the popular village of Horsmonden.

The property offers fantastic family accommodation and entertaining space’

■ Impressive kitchen ■ Garden room ■ Cloakroom ■ Utility room ■ Master bedroom with en-suite bathroom ■ Five further bedrooms, one en-suite, across first and second floors ■ Two family bathrooms ■ Detached triple garage ■ Gardens and grounds of 1.31 acres

£1,350,000 For sale through Knight Frank 01892 515035 www.knightfrank.co.uk

Wednesday 20th January 2016

PROPERTY 

71

Grade II listed town house near Tunbridge Wells train station

T

HIS truly delightful Grade II Listed town house is set at the end of a very attractive late-Georgian terrace in a quiet part of Tunbridge Wells. The property is located conveniently close to the famous Pantiles, High Street and Tunbridge Wells Station with regular trains to central London.

The accommodation is well arranged over three floors and includes many exceptional features. The rear of the house has been extended to provide a superb kitchen/breakfast/ dining room with an outstanding range of custom built cupboards and drawers with granite tops, matching island unit, limestone flooring with under floor heating and a lantern

skylight above.

The utility room has the same limestone flooring and plumbing for a washing machine and tumble dryer. The drawing room is an elegant room that has an open fireplace with a late Regency marble surround, mantle and outlook to the front.

On the first floor there is a further reception

room, another sophisticated room, also with an open fireplace and late 18th Century caved surround around the mantle and outlook to the front. This room could equally be used as the fourth or principle bedroom.

The further three bedrooms are served by a well-fitted shower room on the first floor and a beautiful family bathroom on the top floor.

AT A GLANCE CUMBERLAND GARDENS, TUNBRIDGE WELLS ■ Grade II listed town house ■ Two or three Reception Rooms ■ Kitchen/Breakfast room ■ Utility Room ■ Cloakroom ■ Three or four bedrooms ■ Bathroom ■ Shower Room ■ Gas Fire Central Heating Garden ■ Central Location ■ Superb Bathroom

£2,600

per month To Let through Hamptons, Tunbridge Wells 01892 31 3000 www.hamptons.co.uk

Wednesday 20th January 2016

5 bedroom detached home available with £38,750 Stamp Duty paid*, £1,000 towards legal fees and carpets, or Part Exchanget

Prices from £695,000 to £1,185,000

DUKES GRANGE, BAYHAM ROAD, ROYAL TUNBRIDGE WELLS TN2 SHU

CALL 01892 628 676 CALA.CO.UK

TWT20JAN *Plot specific incentive, for reservations taken before the 29th February 2016. Based on full asking price. +CALA will obtain 2 independent valuations based on achieving a sale in a 4-6 week period, part exchange considered subject to CALA's purchasing criteria, terms and conditions. Up to 100% part exchange and other incentives available on selected plots, subject to terms and conditions and not in conjunction with each other or any other offer. Visit cala.co.uk/terms for full terms and conditions and purchasing criteria.

Images shown are taken from Dukes Grange showhome 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.

BUSINESS FEATURE �

73

a reality at Synergee Did you notice many trends in 2015?

In terms of the last year, I think most businesses are getting better at their management information, which is a function of cloud prices coming down and there being much better software available out there. Everyone’s getting more focused on better management information and putting better systems in place. The main thing we’ve been working on with clients over the last year is improving their information systems, and I think that will continue through 2016. Automation of data entry is also getting better.

Any other predictions for the coming year?

Over the last few years, lots and lots of clients that were trading as unincorporated sole traders formed companies because there were tax advantages. Lots of businesses that possibly would have stayed as sole traders have incorporated, so I think we’re going to see a lot of smaller companies perhaps reassessing their position. We’ll be talking to a number of smaller limited companies to see whether the company is still a viable option.

Where would you like to see Synergee go in the future?

When we started, it was literally just Matt and myself. We’ve now got seven full-time employees and are probably looking to add another two early in 2016. The idea is to continue to grow and develop the business, so the chances are we’ll have to look for new premises in 2017. The idea is to continue to hopefully innovate in what we do, so that the services we provide are the best we can do and what our clients need.

THE TEAM Darren Austin (left) with director/shareholder Matthew Allen

‘The idea is to continue to grow and develop the business, so the chances are we’ll have to look for new premises in 2017’

SYNERGEE LIMITED

2nd Floor, 8 Lonsdale Gardens, Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN1 1NU 01892 772 960 www.synergee.org.uk

Wednesday 20th January 2016

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76 � WEDDING FEATURE

The best day of our lives

there for us and so happy was really special.

For Mike, his key moment was seeing me in my dress for the first time when I walked down the aisle.

on ivory dresses with a different coloured sash for each bridesmaid.

We then moved on to venue decorations and flowers. We worked with Your Beautiful Day and decided to focus on ivory and silver, as my dress had silver detail. We used this for chair covers and table swaging. We had a fairy light ceiling and had the pillars at Salomons Estate in Tunbridge Wells draped with ivory organza – the first time I saw the room was when I walked down the aisle, and I was blown away by how amazing it looked.

For flowers, we all carried ivory roses and had roses on the table in silver fishbowls.

We went to Moss Bros for suits, and each groomsman had a different coloured cravat to match with one of the bridesmaids’ sashes.

Our photographer was Graham Scott, who was amazing at capturing all our special moments, along with our videographer Anthony TDH Media, who has provided us with wonderful memories of our special day.

How did your suppliers help bring it all to life?

I went to Yours Truly in Maidstone with my mum, nan and six bridesmaids and had the most amazing morning trying on lots of dresses. The wonderful ladies of Yours Truly helped with ideas for bridesmaid dresses; I hadn’t decided on a colour scheme, so decided

Where did you go on your honeymoon?

We decided to wait a while after the wedding to go on honeymoon. It had been a dream of ours to be in New York over New Year and see the iconic ball drop in Times Square. So, on Boxing Day we jetted out to New York and had the most amazing week seeing the sites and bringing in our first new year as Mr and Mrs.

MATCH MADE Stefanie Batchelor marries Michael Thetford at Salomons Estate

From the proposal to the honeymoon, there’s a multitude of factors that can go into planning the perfect wedding. We hear from bride Stefanie Thetford, who reflects on her big day when she married husband Michael in Tunbridge Wells So, Stefanie, how did the two of you first meet?

We met in Maidstone on a night out. Mike offered to buy me a drink and we spent the whole night chatting; he left it a few weeks before asking me on a date. We spent our first date in London at Madame Tussauds, and then on the London Eye seeing all of the Christmas lights.

And how did he pop the question?

We went to London for the weekend to the West End Live concert in Trafalgar Square. After a lovely day, we returned to our hotel and popped

Wednesday 20th January 2016

open a bottle of Prosecco, and then Mike got down on one knee – I said yes straightaway!

Any favourite memories from the big day?

The day was fantastic – it was the best day of our lives and more amazing than we could ever have imagined. The whole day was so enjoyable – my six bridesmaids and I couldn’t sleep, and were up at 4am, but had the best morning getting ready. I think my key highlight had to be walking down the aisle after we were married – we were both so happy, and to see all of our friends and family

Wells Bedding and Interiors 44 High Street, Tunbridge Wells TN 1 1XF

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78 � FOOD AND DRINK

French connection Morrisons might be closing but who needs a supermarket when you have a local high street boasting a butcher, a baker, a fishmonger and now a French cheese shop? It’s called Fromage & French, it opened its doors a couple of weeks ago and is owned by friends Belinda Raitt and Gaëlle Coyle How did you two link up?

We first got chatting to each other on Twitter! It turned out we had some good mutual friends, and one evening when we were all out for a meal together, conversation turned to food (as it often does among our group of friends!)

“I’ve always thought Tunbridge Wells needs a decent cheese shop”, said me (Belinda).

“I’ve dreamed about opening a fromagerie for the last 11 years”, said me (Gaëlle).

And, there, over good food and a glass of wine, as is often the case with good ideas, Fromage & French was hatched.

What are your backgrounds?

Both of us were born in France and spent our childhoods there. Fromage & French was born part out of nostalgia for our childhood fare and part out of a desire to bring the European attitude to good quality, fresh, food provenance to Tunbridge Wells.

What makes you think there is a market for this type of shop?

There is a lot of love for cheese! Britain seems to be having a bit of an artisan foodie revolution, helped in part by the craft beer movement and

Address: 52a High Street, Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN1 1XF email: shop@fromageandfrench.com website: www.fromageandfrench.com

FRIENDS Owners Gaëlle Coyle and Belinda Raitt

BON APÊTIT A meal to delight

Wednesday 20th January 2016

small batch gin producers popping up all over the place – every pub worth its salt serves cheese and charcuterie boards these days. Localisation too, is more important than ever. People are more interested in good food and where it’s come from.

These trends seem to be particularly apparent in Tunbridge Wells, made up as it is of affluent, middle-class families, more discerning foodie types and ex-Londoners (or commuters to the capital) who are used to a broad range of international foods being readily accessible.

The average Tunbridge Wells shopper tends to like the finer things, and is generally welleducated and well-travelled – many customers have already commented that the Fromage & French range makes them think of their French holidays, or that they will no longer have to stock up the boot of their car when they return from their house in France. There is also a big native French community in Tunbridge Wells! We are bringing a little bit of France to Kent to fill an obvious gap in the market.

What’s your biggest challenge?

Getting things through Calais! It is hard to plan deliveries as you never know how long the lorries will be held up at the port.

FOOD AND DRINK �

79

adds finishing touch to the high street We’ll also have to work hard to keep sourcing interesting and unusual stock to keep customers coming back, to make Fromage & French an every day destination rather than a special occasion shop. And alongside that, keeping our prices competitive with the supermarkets and online competition, who obviously have more purchasing power, or lower overheads.

The Tunbridge Wells glitterati can have a short attention span – showing great support and enthusiasm for the latest new thing, only to flit, butterfly-like, onto the next one as soon as it opens. So that will keep us on our toes too!

What makes you think you can succeed where high street shops are closing?

We’re supplying Tunrbidge Wells shoppers with things they just can’t find unless they go to London and/or France. Because we are independent we can be more nimble. It’s about responding to customer demand, not just doing and selling what we want. We aim to stay flexible and open-minded about changing the offering or expanding into different areas to suit demand. We’re keeping a close eye on retail trends, and try to anticipate them where we can.

Another benefit of being independent is the personal touch. Customers can get to know us (and are already).

Between us, we have a wide network across the business, cricket and school communities. We are spending time getting to know our customers, and making sure we stock what they want.

We also have drive and a positive attitude. Rather than saying ‘no we can’t’, we say ‘pourquoi pas?’ We want people to feel welcome when they visit Fromage & French, and give them a taste of their summer holidays. And we can speak French with our French customers too!

How have you financed the package?

Some inheritance and the rest, savings – no borrowing for us, we’re putting our money where our mouths are – we have a vested interest in making it succeed! We’d rather tighten our belts for the first year and know that we are not giving our eventual profit away to an investor! But we are already planning our next move, so never say never…

How do you source the products?

At the moment we are using a mix of local importers and French suppliers. Eventually we plan to source most of our produce directly from France (oh the hardship)! We’re already starting to build relationships with some smaller independent producers and artisans, on recommendation from friends and even customers.

Where we can, we are supporting local too. For example, our bread is baked using traditional French methods by Bakehouse 124 in Tonbridge, we are sourcing wooden boards from local craftsmen, and when our alcohol licence is granted, we’ll have a wine concession from the Secret Cellar.

CHEESE FONDUE A dish to relish

SPOILED FOR CHOICE A great selection of cheeses

HEART BREAKING The Tuol Sleng Museum in Phnom Penh – a former school used as a secret prison camp by the Khmer Rouge

Wednesday 20th January 2016

80 � MOTORS

FIRST DRIVE:

Renault Megane GT

By Ed Wiseman IT’S sexier. Renault’s gorgeous design language has finally reached the Megane, bringing the French brand’s long-serving family hatch up to date. It’s better inside and out, incredibly comfortable, and boasts plenty of French style. Renault is back on form.

The car is based on a new platform, which gives buyers more space on the inside. Some cars have a portrait touchscreen infotainment system, while the range-topping version gets four-wheel steering and even launch control.

have an instantly-recognisable C-shaped LED accent, and the tail lights stretch across nearly the whole back end of the car. This makes the car immediately interesting, even from a distance, and especially at night.

Side-on is the only angle from which the Megane looks a bit conventional. Every corner is sculpted in a pleasing way. Competitors such as the Vauxhall Astra are easy on the eye, but the Megane is one of the best-looking cars on the road today. Renault lacks the gravitas of some of the German brands but is still a smart, upmarket name.

LOOKS AND IMAGE It’s probably the most striking car in the sector. It attracts interest even from noncar-people, which is pretty remarkable for an ordinary hatchback. The headlights

BEHIND THE WHEEL The full engine line-up hasn’t been released for the UK, but Brits can expect a range of petrol and diesel engines that do the job adequately. Driving the 1.6 diesel engine

This car summed up in a single word… moelleux

Wednesday 20th January 2016

unthinkable 10 years ago. The GT model, which packs a bit more punch, has 202bhp but is still only in ‘warm hatch’ territory.

Handling is good, and is imperceptibly improved in the GT version with the addition of four-wheel steering. This allows the back wheels to turn a tiny angle either in the same direction or in the opposite direction to the front wheels, depending on speed.

This feels good on windy roads but even better on motorways, where lane changes are noticeably smoother.

PRICE Renault Megane GT Starting at around £18,000

WHO WOULD BUY ONE? The Megane is something a little bit different.

It’s what French cars used to be - comfy, easy to live with and a little bit quirky. This will appeal to families who value style in addition to substance.

TRANSMISSION Seven-speed dualclutch automatic

AT A GLANCE: RENAULT MEGANE GT

ENGINE 1.6-litre turbo petrol producing 202bhp

PERFORMANCE 145mph top speed, 0-62mph in 7.1 seconds ECONOMY 47mpg EMISSIONS 134g/km2

Concerned about your home being sold to fund your future care fees?

The Issue

The Reasoning

You probably own your home as joint tenants if you are a couple and solely if you are single. For couples this means you own it wholly, jointly and severally. Ultimately therefore you do not own it 50:50 as you might have assumed. You actually own all of it together and when one partner dies the surviving partner owns it solely and absolutely.

When you own your home as tenants in common you actually own half each. With our Post death Property Protection Package when the first partner dies, they leave their half into their Trust. The surviving partner is the Trustee of that Trust and also the Primary Beneficiary which means that as they own half and are Trustee of the other half they have complete control over the property and what happens to it. The children and/ or whoever else is also nominated as ultimate Trust Beneficiaries will have access to that half of the property when the surviving partner dies. The first half of the property then is 100% securely in Trust for the beneficiaries and will not be at risk. As a result of this simple strategy and because it is not possible to sell just the survivor's half of the property, the integrity of the property is protected. While the "market value" of half a property is negligible, The Care Act 2014 guidelines do allow for this half to have a charge placed on it under a deferred payment arrangement for care fees which is why this package includes a Lasting Power of Attorney grant for Property and Financial affairs which will enable a pre-appointed Attorney to act on behalf of the survivor should they be unable to themselves and negotiate with the Local Authority for the property to be rented out and a percentage of the income given to the Local Authority instead of a charge being placed. The second half of the property would then ultimately go into the Trust for access by the nominated beneficiaries when the surviving partner eventually dies.

It is sole and absolute ownership that enables a whole property to be taken into consideration as an asset by the local authority and puts the property in danger of needing to be sold to fund care.

The Reality Today The care Act 2014 introduced in April 2015 allows local authorities to assess your assets to determine if you need to pay for your own care under the new charges and assessment of resources regulations.

Currently if you have assets above £23,250, you are on your own and require care, you will probably have to pay for it all - currently averaging around £1,000 per week.

Savings, cash and income would be used first and then your property would need to be taken into consideration. You would be expected to pay for all of your care until such time as your assets were depleted to below the £23,250 threshold.

You would then pay for a proportion of your care until your assets were below£ 14,250 - at which point all your future care would be paid for after any relevant income was taken into account.

The Solution For couples, simply by changing the way you own your property well in advance of any care considerations i.e. from joint tenants to tenants in common and by setting up two property Trusts either immediately or within a properly structured Will at the same time will in most cases, protect the integrity of your home should you ever require care in the future, so long as avoiding care fees was not a primary motivating reason behind the implementation fo the strategy - i.e. you should be looking to protect your half of your property should your spouse remarry after your death, or you should be looking to ensure that your children would not lose 50% of their inheritance should they be made bankrupt or divorce or for example you should be looking to prevent a generational inheritance tax burden in the future. These are all sound reasons for implementing this strategy which in themselves are not deliberate deprivation of assets, but the implemantation of which protects the integrity of the property.

For sole owners the process is simply to set up a Trust now and convey your property into it which will produce the same result again this must be well in advance of any care considerations and the motivation must not solely be for the purpose of preventing your home being used to fund your care.

With our Whole of Life and Post Death Complete Property and Family Protection Package both halves of the property are conveyed into Trust IMMEDIATELY. This means the whole property is protected straight away and not just after the first party dies. The benefits of this package are that it then protects the property even if both parties go into care before the death of either. It also means that if the survivor goes into care the property does not have to be rented but if it is 100% of the income goes directly into the Trusts for the benefit of the survivor or any of the other Trust Beneficiaries and does not have to be given to the Local Authority. The most important benefit of this package though is the property can be sold at any time and the resulting proceeds be fully protected for the whole family within the Trusts and no negotiation with the Local Authority is required.

Sole owners and couples who have immediately conveyed their properties into Trust well in advance of any care consideration and not solely for the purpose of preventing their home being used to fund their care (deliberate deprivation of assets) secures the integrity of the property (so long as entry into care is not within 6 months of setting up the strategy) as the property is not absolutely owned by an individual anymore and it is not legal to force a Trustee to do something that is not in the ultimate best interest of the Trust Beneficiaries.

Call us now on 01892 278171 for a friendly chat about which package would be of best benefit to you and your family.

www.thywill.co.uk

W'

82 n TRAVEL

Crossing the snow line in Italy Abi Jackson IF YOU’VE ever seen a cross-country skier from afar - a lone figure gliding along a flat, snow-blanketed field in the distance - what did you think?

How serene it looks? How gentle? How - dare I say it - ‘easy’ compared to ‘proper’ skiing?

That’s what I thought. Now, having actually tried it, I can categorically confess that I was wrong.

Serene and gentle, yes - once you’ve mastered it. But it certainly isn’t easy.

In fact, an hour into my first lesson with the charismatic Giorgio, at cross-country ski school Alta Badia in Italy’s Dolomites region, my quads are burning and I’m totally out of breath.

“On your balls!” Giorgio cries, as me and my three classmates wobble along. “Stand on your balls!”

He means the balls of our feet, but I can’t help giggling like a schoolgirl as Giorgio yells his instruction, the joke lost in translation (I know, so mature!) - and laughing does little to help my With cross-country skis - much lighter

and narrower than downhill skis - the back of your boot isn’t fixed in, so you can lift your heels to propel yourself forwards and glide, in a skating-like motion (hence the need to balance on the balls of your feet).

If you’re not familiar, cross-country also known as Nordic – skiing basically means using skis to cross snowy terrain.

While downhill’s all about whizzing down mountains, cross-country traditionally provided a way of travelling over snowcovered landscapes faster than trudging on foot.

It has flourished as a sport in its own right and is becoming increasingly popular as a leisure activity. Downhill and snowboarding may lead by quite a margin in terms of participation, but it’s cross-country that’s snowballing, growing at a greater rate than downhill, over the past few years.

It tends to attract a more mature crowd, and some of its plus points - in terms of making direct comparisons to downhill - are obvious: you don’t have to faff around with all those queues and lifts, it can be considerably cheaper (if you don’t need a lift pass, for instance) and it’s arguably safer, given that

you’re removing gravity from the equation, there’s less speed and it’s a far less crowded affair.

Some advantages are less obvious - though I’m rapidly discovering them.

At the start of the lesson, Giorgio proudly declares that cross-country skiing is one of the best full-body workouts going. “Very good for cardiovascular,” he says, “and it works all muscles.”

Super-lean, and glowing with a vitality that totally belies his middle-age years, he is a superb advert for his claim, and it doesn’t take me long to see what he means.

There’s a lot of technique in downhill skiing, but in terms of physical graft, gravity does most of the work. That doesn’t apply in cross-country.

Instead, you’re using your own momentum and body movements to push, pull and glide along the narrow tracks compressed into the snow. Balance and core strength therefore play a big part, along with a good sense of co-ordination - and it is incredibly physical.

Giorgio breaks down the technique into

CROSS COUNTRY Also known as Nordic, using the skis to cross snowy terrain

Wednesday 20th January 2016

single movements, and we practise them going round and round the ski school’s circular track.

It might be flat but there are still a few tumbles. By the end of day one, however, we’re already putting the movements together and – albeit in a slow, unsteady

TRAVEL �

83

TRAVEL FACTS Abi Jackson was a guest of Rosa Alpina (+39 0471 849 500; www.rosalpina.it) who offers doubles from 430 euros (two sharing), with breakfast.

Lessons at cross-country ski school Alta Badia (www.scuolafondo.it) start from 42 euros for one person per hour. Every additional person is charged 10 euros.

and clunky beginner’s manner - almost doing it properly (that’s another great thing about cross-country skiing; it might be hard work but it can be much quicker to learn).

I’m utterly knackered though.

Thankfully, luxury awaits back at Hotel Rosa Alpina, conveniently located in the centre of San Cassiano, a peaceful and picturesque village a few miles away from the ski school.

Owned and run by the same family for three generations, it promises ‘local hospitality with an elegant, refined Alpine atmosphere’ and more than delivers on all counts.

Its individually designed suites (mine has a huge mezzanine sleeping area, and one of the cosiest sofas I’ve ever had the pleasure of curling up on in the lounge area below) are unquestionably five-star, along with food and wine lists to match, but it’s relaxed and homely too – pure Alpine comfort with a classy twist.

As far as ski resorts go, San Cassiano isn’t a buzzing party town, but if sophistication and gourmet dining are what you’re after, this is definitely worth adding to that wish list.

After chilling in the hotel spa, we dress and head for dinner at St. Hubertus, the two Michelin-star gourmet restaurant attached to Rosa Alpina, which, under the expert guidance of head chef Norbert Niederkofler, has flourished into quite the foodie destination in recent years.

We push the boat out with an 11-course tasting menu, where highlights include the lightest beetroot gnocchi in ‘beer soil’ and unspeakably delicious crispy suckling pig, with wine pairing. It’s an unforgettable treat, and back at ski school the next day, any excess calories are quickly burned off.

After a bit more work on the practice track, and learning how to stop (bending the knees

and pushing one ski outwards in a plough-type motion), Giorgio decides we’re ready to head out on one of the proper runs.

Alta Badia boasts 30km of cross-country routes, which track across twinkling open meadows and snake through gently undulating forest paths, the Dolomites’ jutting peaks a mesmerising and dramatic backdrop.

Cross-country skiing might not offer the rush and thrill of zooming downhill, but once you get going, you fall into a fun rhythm. It is tiring, but as you master the technique, it becomes much more efficient.

At one point, an experienced local glides past.

Swift and smooth, she looks almost balletic - and much like ballet dancing, the easy elegance of this sport gives little away of the strength and fitness it requires.

She is gone in a flash and is one of just five other snow-skaters we encounter all afternoon.

This is a big part of the appeal; cross-country skiing is so dreamily peaceful.

The region is popular with downhill skiers too, and there’s a lot to keep you busy on days when you don’t want to ski - like the ‘path of the artists’ Tru di artisc, a 3.5km traffic-free walking trail dotted with sculptures.

If you’re feeling especially active, a more strenuous hike up to the frozen waterfalls of Armentarola is worth the effort. Carry on a little further up the hill and you’ll reach Rifugio Scotoni Hutte, a popular refreshment stop that doubles as a clubhouse. We arrive to a live band belting out old-school rock ‘n’ roll and, impossible as it sounds with our knackered legs, can’t resist joining the crowd for a boogie.

It’s a fun end to an exhausting but oh-so rewarding trip. I leave with a new-found respect for those cross-country bunnies, and - I hope just a hint of Giorgio’s rosy glow in my cheeks.

HEART BREAKING The Tuol Sleng Museum in Phnom Penh – a former school used as a secret prison camp by the Khmer Rouge

Wednesday 20th January 2016

84 n LIFE AND STYLE GET DNAFIT AT KNOWLE GRANGE HEALTH SPA Take the guesswork out of how to lose weight, stay fit and keep injury and illness free.

50% of what we are is genetic, 50% is behavior.

By taking a 100% accurate DNA test we can unlock a new level of understanding as to which types of exercise and nutrition best suit your genetic profile. Improve performance, strengthen your ability to ward off disease, increase longevity, lose weight and feel good. Reach your goals easier and quicker. £299, including DNA Test, genetic report, consultation, exercise plan and meal planner.

The beauty of DNAFit is that it’s not a one-size-fits-all approach.

Each plan is tailored to the type of exercise that an individual is suited to, minimizing their risk of potential injury and how much time their body needs to recover. Nutritionally we can test your sensitivity to carbohydrates, salt, saturated fats, whether you may be likely to develop a food intolerance and whether increased supplementation may be needed in accordance with your DNA to optimize your health.

BEST BEECH Hidden away in an area of outstanding natural beauty, the Best Beech pub has set its sights on becoming a real favourite amongst locals, cyclists, explorers and anyone looking to escape from the bustle of town.

Fitness and nutrition just got personal:

The new management, Steve, Lorraine and their Head Chef Darren, welcome you all to join them for a hearty meal and a pint of beer.

It’s all about YOU!

Having become a destination pub for excellent quality food, the new menu includes a varied range of meals that are sure to moisten the taste buds. Management have combined traditional pub favourites with the more exotic to cater to every taste. Visitors can expect to tuck into delights such as steak, burgers, sausage & mash, fish & chips, crab linguine, prawn & chorizo gambas and much, much more!

If nothing beats a Sunday roast for you, they certainly have the deal for you. Their excellent new Sunday roast includes a choice of two meats, fish and vegetarian options at competitive prices - £16.95 for three courses and £14.95 for two.

But the Best Beech is more than its menu. It provides a cosy and relaxed atmosphere where you can taste Harvey’s Ale on tap, a selection of draught beers, bottled lager and the finest of wines.

Exploring the area? Once you’ve cycled or walked across the stunning landscape that East Sussex has to offer, you can rest in one of their six en suite Bed & Breakfast rooms and get the best sleep in the peacefulness of the secluded area.

What more could you ask for?

01892 457550 | Email: info@best-beech.co.uk

NEW TUNBRIDGE WELLS SHOWROOM OPENING SPRING 2016 Catchpole & Rye Limited is pleased to announce the opening of its new showroom in Royal Tunbridge Wells in Spring 2016.

Situated in the heart of the design quarter on Calverley Road, it represents another milestone in the company’s continued expansion.

Since the launch of the Chelsea Showroom in 2013, demand for their bespoke branded products has accelerated greatly necessitating the doubling of its manufacturing base in Ashford, Kent. The ability to manufacture items to customers specific requirements is unique within the bathroom industry and has proven a hit with designers and architects alike.

With a long standing reputation for artisan products and an exceptional personal service, Catchpole and Rye Limited expect its third and largest showroom to date to provide a valuable service to their existing clients, as well as the opportunity for new specifiers and private customers to view their offerings first hand.

The showroom, set over two floors, will offer a full design service alongside their complete range of products and finishes.

Watch this space for more news about the Tunbridge Wells showroom and its opening date via our website, social media and news pages. www.catchpoleandrye.com

Wednesday 20th January 2016

Best Beech Hill, Wadhurst, E Sussex TN5 6JH

86 ■ WHAT’S ON A ROUND-UP OF THIS WEEK’S MUSICAL HIGHLIGHTS

Paul Dunton Live music

The must read guide to what’s on musically for the week ahead… www.paulduntonandguests.com

PICK OF THE WEEK…

THE TUNBRIDGE WELLS FORUM

Doors 7.30pm, entry price variable, event information and tickets at www.twforum.co.uk THURSDAY – Martin Smith’s; Army of Bones FRIDAY - Cyrano, Bison, Higgs and the Bosons, Hunting Holly SATURDAY - Silent Disco: Philip o’fish & Beat Wellington, Ceremony, 23 years in 60 minutes and Special Guests SUNDAY - Lucy Rose Monday - Terror, Wisdom In Chains, Twitching Tongues TUESDAY – Eliza & The Bear WEDNESDAY - A Celebration of the Life and Music of David Bowie (charity donation on the door) THE GREY LADY MUSIC LOUNGE

The Pantiles Doors 7.15pm, entry £6/£7, websites www.pdag.co.uk + www.thegreylady.co.uk WEDNESDAY - Lucy Jarrett, Bea Everett, The Logan Wilson Band

FRIDAY At the Forum Cyrano FRIDAY - (9.30pm till late) Jazz Pack SATURDAY - (9.30pm till late) Unit 7 SUNDAY – James Medhurst, Lui Dodds, Jack Leon Mackey MONDAY - Singers Night with John Levett (all styles and levels welcome) TUESDAY - Jack Leon Mackey, Milly Rusling, The Pioneers, Jono Harrison WEDNESDAY – Gronk, Paul Wheeler, Sound Sanctuary, Funke & The Two Tone Baby KING CHARLES THE MARTYR CHURCH

Nr The Pantiles Concert times and details at www.kcmtw.org/concerts SUNDAY - Organ Recital by Michael Bacon (5.30pm) BEAU NASH

Mount Ephraim Open all day, free entry, music from 8.30pm till late SATURDAY – Bagge of Nuts

Kent DuChaine & Leadbessie American MONDAY - TWUNTS: Ukulele Night Thing WEDNESDAY - Sonny’s Jazz: Jazz Funk Giants

Crescent Rd, Show times & ticket prices vary, visit www.assemblyhalltheatre.co.uk for more details SATURDAY – The King Is Back (Elvis Tribute) CASSIDY’S SPORTS BAR

Castle St Open all day, free entry, music from 9pm till late FRIDAY – Steffan James Band SCALLYWAG

Mount Ephraim Open all day, music from 7.30pm, entry charge for music may apply WEDNESDAY - Open Mic Night with Champagne Charlie and Tom Carradine FRIDAY – Ed watts (Jazz Piano)

CROSS KEYS

St Johns Road Open all day, free entry, music from 8pm, www.crosskeystw.co.uk WEDNESDAY – Sonny’s Jazz: Paul & The Nocasters THURSDAY – Open Mic Night FRIDAY – Blues with Bottle Club:

ROYAL OAK

Prospect Road Open all day, free entry, music from mid afternoon onwards SATURDAY – Toxic Rock (DJ Night Lemmy tribute) MONDAY – Open Mic/Jam Session

www.heart.co.uk/ kent/on-air/breakfast

IN THE hope that this won’t incur any jinx, I’m going to go ahead and declare that 2016 is off to a fantastic start. Ignoring the icy winds and torrential down pour, there seems to be a real sense of positivity around. Everyone I pass on the street appears cheery and there’s even a tiny spring in people’s steps as they look towards the

Wednesday 20th January 2016

of TW events

>> THURSDAY The Hawkhurst Kino has the first of this week’s cultural offerings with another screening of the Sir Kenneth Branagh production of Shakespeare’s The Winter’s Tale staring Dame Judi Dench. There’s more acting royalty at Trinity as Dame Maggie Smith stars in The Lady in the Van, a film based on the play by Alan Bennett.

If you want to take part in some choral singing this year the RTW Orpheus Male Voice Choir are holding a taster event this evening. Head along to St Peter’s church in Bayhall Road to see if this is for you. I guess it’s men only!

ASSEMBLY HALL THEATRE

HEART BREAKFAST WITH JAMES & BECKY

Tune into Heart Breakfast and stay up on all our exciting stuff!

Dave Barnett >> WEDNESDAY As things get back to normal there’s a few films at Trinity this week. This evening there’s a screening of Macbeth a film starring Michael Fassbender and Marion Cotillard.

Its had very good reviews and has been described as one of the better Shakespeare film adaptations.

Meanwhile Cranbrook Film Society is showing The Salt of the Earth, a thought provoking documentary about the Brazilian photographer Sebastião Salgado, with a rating of 96% it’s going to be good.

Champagne Charlie returns to Scallywags to host another Open Mic Night with a difference.

AS WE move further into January, the live music scene across the town really picks up speed again and there are an array of cracking gigs and concerts to be enjoyed, so do make sure you venture out and support your local venues and local musicians!

Local Jazz pianist, Ed Watts will be performing a wide range of popular Jazz standards at the Scallywag Café this Friday evening.

If you fancy something rockin’ and alternative, this Friday The Forum offers a great selection of local bands with Cyrano, Bison, Higgs and the Bosons and Hunting Holly. The breath taking Lucy Rose is at the Forum on Sunday and next Wednesday (27th) there will be a moving tribute evening celebrating the life of David Bowie.

For acoustic lovers, this Wednesday at The Grey Lady you can catch a trio of excellent local singer-songwriters in Lucy Jarrett, Bea Everett and Logan Wilson and next Tuesday (26th) look out for the brilliant Jono Harrison, whose style and sound is reminiscent of Neil Young and Simon & Garfunkle.

For classical music fans, there will be an Organ Recital by Michael Bacon on Sunday in the enchanting setting of King Charles The Martyr Church nr The Pantiles.

SEVEN DAYS OF EVENTS AT A GLANCE

year ahead.

But be careful not to wish it away. This year will pass all too quickly. I hear some have already booked a summer holiday? I have trouble planning next week, let alone a week that’s six months from now, even if I do like to day dream of some exotic locations that would be worth a trip!

>> FRIDAY The museum hosts the first of it’s free Friday Fun sessions for 2016, today the theme is Jigsaw January.

The Frant Music Festival kicks off 2016 with a concert featuring renowned soprano Carolyn Sampson accompanied by Joseph Middleton. Whilst live music is, of course, best, it’s also quite good to see top productions from around the world; today Trinity is showing Jonathan Miller’s production of the Barber of Seville from the English National Opera.

Talking of live music, The Forum recently passed it’s 23rd anniversary; to celebrate tonight sees four popular local acts headlined by Cyrano take to the stage. Times are difficult for small independent music venues so if everyone who sees this went to at least one show this year it could make a big difference.

Friends of Tunbridge Wells Cemetery are hosting a talk at the Camden Centre this evening where Jo Wiltcher from the museum will give a talk on the Etiquette of Victorian Mourning. And in Tonbridge the local Friends of the Earth group are showing, for free, the film This Changes Everything at Tonbridge School. >> SATURDAY Preparation for next week’s Lantern Parade concludes today with another workshop at St Barnabas School where you can make your own lantern or assist with the creation of one of the larger lanterns. The theme this year is Go Wild, so... Go Wild! The parade proper is next Saturday (weather permitting of course).

Like many of you, my focus is on health – the only way to guarantee a happy and full life in 2016. I’ve always liked to think of myself as a health-conscious person. But even with the best intentions, Christmas got the better of me and all good habits took a backseat. But so what?

Back on the wagon! Don’t let those moments when you lose sight of your goals get you down.

Happens to the best of us.

I’m back on the wagon and, if you’ve been to a gym recently, you’ll know that the rest of the country is too. I had to wait to use the treadmill – a first for my local gym! It’s a better workout just fighting through the crowds than doing a twentyminute run. But gym-bunnies, be patient! Anyone wanting to get their physical well-being in order should be encouraged. Give it two weeks though – I reckon the crowds will start to thin out a bit.

A selection of events in Tunbridge Wells.

For more details visit: www.tunbridgewellsevents. co.uk/thisweek

This afternoon there is another chance to see the film Suffragette starring Carey Mulligan, Helena BonhamCarter and Meryl Streep at Trinity, this is followed by a further screening of The Winters Tale, the stage run has just finished so this may be your best chance to see it for a while. From London to local, the Oast Theatre in Tonbridge highlights the futility of war with it’s first production of the year, Arms and the Man by George Bernard Shaw.

After a short, post-panto, break the Assembly Hall is back with a popular tribute act. Ben Portsmouth is The King, one of the best Elvis acts in the world. The Forum continues it’s 23rd birthday celebrations with a Silent Disco featuring Fillet o’Fish and Beat Wellington, Ceremony and special guests.

At the Pajoma Hall in Sevenoaks, there is a gala charity performance of Handel’s Messiah by the local Cantate Choir in aid of Hospice in the Weald.

It’s that time of the year when ‘tatties and neeps’ enter our diet! Burns Night is actually on Monday but you will find plenty of themed events going on tonight including at The Spa Hotel, The Bull and a themed Quiz Night in Rusthall. >> SUNDAY As this year is the 400th anniversary of The Bard’s death I guess we’ll get the chance to see a lot of his work this year. So far we had Shakespeare on film on Wednesday, on stage on Thursday and Saturday and this afternoon we have The Taming of the Shrew live from from the Bolshoi Ballet; showing at Trinity, the Odeon and the Picture House Uckfield.

This evening King Charles the Martyr has a organ recital by Michael Bacon celebrating the recent renovation of the church’s splendid Walker organ.

Trinity has it’s fourth film of the week with Sicario, where Emily Blunt fights drug trafficking on the US/ Mexican border. It’s another film with an excellent rating and, as I write this, it’s just received several Oscar nominations including one for best cinematography. >> MONDAY There’s more Burns Night events this evening including the Mark Cross Inn and The Bedford. I’m sure there are a lot more... >> TUESDAY Rounding off the cultural screen performances this week is a Frederick Aston double bill from the Royal Ballet.

The first is based on Rachmaninoff’s Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini which is followed by the comic (and strangely named) The Two Pigeons based on the music of André Messager. This is showing in several places including the Odeon and Trinity and slightly further afield at the Hawkhurst Kino and the Uckfield Picture House.

But if your health is experiencing a fresh start, don’t forget about nutrition as well! I know what you’re thinking - it will be easier to keep the trousers fitting once all the Christmas chocolate has gone. My replacement for those sweet treats? Avocado. I’m avocado obsessed.

Avocado is the best. I could eat it at any time, any place and in any way. It’s full of good fats, high in protein and is, hands down, one of the tastiest things you can eat. It makes an excellent accompaniment to breakfast, along with Heart FM! Make sure you join James and I every week day from 6am for all the fun and games, news and gossip!

Becky.ives@heart.co.uk @bexives22

WHAT’S ON ■

87

Don’t mock but Ed gets up close and personal about life MOCK the Week star Ed Byrne is an established touring favourite and he’s heading for Tunbridge Wells.

Despite his youthful looks the Irishman recently marked up 20 years as a comic. His latest show of observational comedy, Outside, Looking In, covers a wide range of subjects – from a recent gastric illness to the success of UKIP – but he talks a lot about his family and it’s his most personal yet.

“I didn’t make a conscious effort to write a more personal show, but that was what was coming out when I started writing it,” Ed says.

“People come to see me for a laugh and I would like to think they go away thinking the show is quite heartwarming.

“A lot of comics may talk about the same stuff, but what makes it mine is that what I’m saying is what I genuinely think on this subject, and I try to make it as funny as I can. I think we all mine our lives to some degree or other.”

Ed is adamant that he will keep his two young sons out of the celebrity spotlight, so don’t expect an ‘At Home With Ed Byrne and Family’ time soon. But in Outside, Looking In, he shows a picture of one of his sons - the denouement of a bittersweet story about buying new shoes – which not only illustrates it perfectly, but produces an “Aaaah” moment.

“I’m aware that they haven’t given

me permission to talk about them and that there will come a point when I can’t,” Ed says. “John Bishop, for example, has stopped talking about his [much older] children on stage because people know who they are.

“I talk about them in pretty abstract terms, because what I’m discussing is the act of parenting, and you can’t talk about that without mentioning your own children. And there isn’t anything in this show that would make them at a later date say, ‘I don’t like this’.”

But while there is a lot of personal reflection in his new show, Ed also ponders on matters political - the story about his son sparks a passionate section about how we label young children, for instance, and he also talks about feminism and transgenderism.

I ask Ed if dipping a toe into the transgender debate (for which some have been vilified on social media) isn’t a little risky.

“It has become such a big subject because of Caitlyn Jenner [the former athlete Bruce Jenner, who transitioned earlier this year] and some Twitter trolls were refusing to acknowledge her as anything but Bruce. I thought it was interesting that it stills divides people. I call it the thorniest issue since Jesus was fitted for a hat.”

The feminist slant to the new show was sparked

by Ed’s reflections on his early days in comedy and, strikingly, he admits to being a little uncomfortable about some of his more laddish material back then.

“My comedy reflected my life at that time – single and enjoying myself – and most of it was fairly harmless ‘the difference between men and women’ kind of thing. But some of the stuff about an ex-girlfriend I can see was a bit angry and I wouldn’t do it now.”

He says he is more aware of how men and women interact in the modern world and is sometimes surprised by the difference in his reactions to things as a man in his 40s to when he was twentysomething.

“I started watching Californication [the US dark comedy starring David Duchovny as a sex addict] but I found it insulting because I’m expected to empathise with him. His character behaves so unconscionably that I couldn’t watch the second series.

“I don’t how much of that is simply getting older, or that times have changed, or mixing with a broader group of people. Interestingly I find Twitter can expand your horizons; I’ve started following all sorts of people on it and it’s good to get a different take on things.”

But does Ed, 43, still like touring after two decades?

“Apart from the travel involved, which no comic likes, I love it, because you have people responding to something that you have written alone in your office, and the work comes alive in a room of people. I like the television things I do, but nothing can beat a live comedy audience.”

In any spare time he has, Ed is a hill walker; when in Scotland he ‘bags’ Munros (peaks above 3,000ft, he’s at 75) and the slightly geeky side side of him, he admits, means that elsewhere in the British Isles he also collects ‘county tops’ the highest point in the county.

“I’ve downloaded an app for them,” he says with a laugh, “and have started making a list of those I’ve done.”

He’s currently writing a sitcom set in an outdoors shop, and I ask if he plans to introduce his sons to the pleasures of outdoors.

“My wife, Claire, and I already have. So far they love it, camping and canoeing, that sort of

thing. As they’re growing it’s hard to be apart from them when I’m on tour, and I try not to be away for more than a couple of days at a time, but one of the great things about my job is that it means I can spend a lot of time with them when I’m home.”

OUTSIDE LOOKING IN | Sun 6 March 8pm | £19 plus a £1.75 per ticket | booking fee (£1.50 online) www.assemblyhalltheatre.co.uk | 01892 530613

Ed Byrne picture by Roslyn Gaunt

Wednesday 20th January 2016

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Tunbridge Wells has got talent Jackie MacNay, of the Tunbridge Wells Arts Festival, encourages aspiring performers of all ages to step into the spotlight Tell us about the Tunbridge Wells Arts Festival The event has been running for over 65 years now.

It started in 1938 and it’s been an annual event since then, taking place in March. The festival used to feature dance, although it now just has music, speech and drama classes. It used to run over two weeks, although these days it’s one week. The idea is basically to encourage, support and open doors for children in particular to enjoy the arts, although the festival is for all ages really. We get adjudicators from all over the world, who are absolutely brilliant.

But although the participants get mark sheets and are awarded first, second and third, we don’t like to make them feel that they’re not as good as the next performer. Some of them need a little bit more encouragement, but it’s always a very interesting festival.

For the last three or four years it’s been held at Kent College, Pembury, and they’ve been wonderful, so we’re hoping to continue there.

What’s your role at the festival?

I’ve been involved for about ten years now and my husband Bill has been doing it even longer, for about 12 years. To start with, my role was as an administrator and it evolved from there. I take care of the food, help with the website and in the past I’ve done some event co-ordination when necessary, if we’ve been short-staffed. Bill takes care of the finance side and will stand in on the day as a door steward, for example, if required.

I’m temporarily acting as the speech and drama advisor. When we start organising the festival, I will find someone to help me write the syllabus and choose the books, verse or other materials that we need, appropriate to the particular age group concerned. Then I’ll send the syllabus out to schools and parents and encourage people to enter.

When the entry forms come back, the information will be entered into the programme.

What sort of people enter?

Last year we had a four-year-old girl who entered the speech and drama class, with her five-and-a-

Wednesday 20th January 2016

How is the festival funded?

We’re a charity and the money comes from two main sources. The first is the entry fee for the classes, with a set price for each. The other is people buying programmes and paying to enter to watch the festival. The audiences tend to be mostly parents and grandparents of the performers. We also try to offer advertising in the programme, but it’s proving difficult to find someone to run that, and the people who used to regularly advertise have stopped now.

ARTISTIC FLAIR The festival awards local children for music, speech and drama

What about staffing?

We rely completely on volunteers. Including the committee, we have about ten or 12 people helping at the moment. Often I just ask people if they’d like to help and they do. But it’s getting more difficult because mums and dads are working, and at weekends children tend to have clubs or sports activities, or they’d rather go out for the day.

half-year-old sister, and she won. She performed one of the poems and was extraordinary, earning a very high mark. There was no fright whatsoever. A few years ago, we had a singer entering who was 83.

She’s sadly died, but she used to take part year after year. Parents and grandparents can enter too, as the festival is open to people of any age.

We also have non-competitive classes because a lot of people don’t like the pressure of competing.

Last year my husband and another committee member joined in the non-competitive adults section and it was hilarious – they had a quartet with fantastic instruments and they were laughing so much, they couldn’t play. One of the adjudicators was almost in tears. It was such good fun at the end of the festival.

After the festival, we have a gems concert, featuring people who haven’t necessarily won; they’re just a selection of great entrants from music, speech and drama. At the end the trophies

that the children have won are handed out and we usually have the Mayor or their assistant there, who will choose the piece or act that they particularly enjoyed. It’s always a really good night.

Is it important to get local children involved in the arts?

Definitely, because we need to encourage them and show them that they’re quite capable of performing.

We tell them to do what they feel, listen to their teacher and adjudicator, and really be themselves.

It’s absolutely amazing to see what they can do and the way their eyes light up.

For some reason, our entry numbers have gone down in recent years, but people come from all over to take part; they don’t have to live in Tunbridge Wells. A few years ago, a young pianist came here to play when he was about 13, and now he’s in London, performing with one of the top pianists.

Some of the kids really are extraordinary.

Is finding volunteers your biggest challenge?

Yes, and getting more people to enter the festival.

We used to have arts teachers who would bring a lot of entries to us, but that’s gone down over the last few years. There are so many other demands on teachers’ time in other respects, unfortunately.

What are your ambitions for the festival in the future?

Personally, I would love to see it grow and have more people entering, particularly children. I think young people especially learn a lot; they learn to be themselves and show what they can do without feeling silly. When we’re young children, we act this and play that, and the arts keep the imagination going. It’s the teachers that we have to thank as well, because their support is fantastic. The festival is going well, but I’d like to see it grow.

For more information on entering or volunteering at the Tunbridge Wells Arts Festival, please visit www.twaf.org.uk

THE GREAT OUTDOORS ■

Kent Barker Country matters

After taking a leap from London, the plan was to start a new life in the countryside and a career as a famous author. Instead I acquired a dog and part time work managing a community orchard. You can read these experiences on my blog: www.kentcountrymatters.blogspot.co.uk

The Lawrence of Arabia dilemma THE MOVIE Peter O’Toole as Lawrence in 1962

AN EXTRAORDINARY package arrived in my letter box the other day. It was from my cousin in London. Now Adam is a big, jolly fellow.

Well, jolly enough when not talking about his work. He’s an archive film researcher for a major TV channel. It’s an important job.

When a reporter needs some historical footage – say shots of World War 1 campaigns in the Middle East - then they call on Adam. And his skill is knowing exactly where, in the massive vaults, the material is and then getting it into the cutting room in no time flat.

The trouble is that corporatisation left Adam and his fellow picture librarians with less and less scope for individual flair. And so whenever he comes down to the country to visit, he moans about how awful and soulless the new structure is.

Each year he’d turn up for the little festival

we hold in my field and I’d offer him a bed in the house, but he always preferred to sleep in his car. We’d rendezvous round the bar and talk about our cousins and the family history he was compiling.

Which brings us back to the mysterious package. Now, I knew that my maternal grandfather had been an architect and had worked with Edward Lutyens on designs for the Midland Bank. But I was eleven when he died so didn’t know much more about him. In fact my main memory was of one Christmas when I’d been given a Hornby train set and “Pop” as we called him got all teary-eyed over the model steam locomotive. “They don’t make them like that any more,” I remember him saying over and over again as he held it up to the light. Later I overheard my parents discussing how drunk he’d been. And I

thought he was just admiring my new present!

Anyway back in 1916 “Pop” aka Laurence Mussel Gotch, had joined the Royal Engineers and been posted to Cairo, where he was seconded to the Intelligence Corps in the map room of the Egyptian Expeditionary Force. There he recalls coming across “a little man, sitting behind the map office door … squatting in an Arab dress, silent for 15 or 20 minutes.” This, as you may possibly have guessed, was T.E. Lawrence.

Jump forward to 1920. Capt. Gotch has been demobbed and is looking for employment. An American writer and former war correspondent, Lowell Thomas, has been packing theatres and arenas with his extraordinarily popular lecture “With Allenby in Palestine” which is credited with brining international fame to ‘Lawrence of Arabia’. Ah, thinks Capt. Gotch, if Thomas can do it so can I. After all I served with T.E.L., while the Lowell fellow only interviewed him.

So grandfather gets up his own lecture, complete with lantern slides, and tours the country, apparently to some acclaim. Not for him, sadly, the Royal Opera House or Madison Square Garden, but the Victoria Hall, Kettering

91

was reportedly packed on the evening of March 2nd.

In the family we vaguely knew that Pop had corresponded with T.E. Lawrence while he was preparing his talks, but cousin Adam has tracked down the letters themselves along with other archive material. Copies were in the package which he sent round to members of the family. On 1st June 1920 T.E.L. wrote: Dear Gotch … if you are lecturing for your own living then I’ll help you … if you can make some money for yourself out of it in these unbuttoned times … the more you make, the merrier for you.” Later he sent a letter with a hand-drawn map detailing his famous attack on Akaba - the Turkish-held port in Jordan, which threatened British forces in Palestine.

Apart from the half dozen letters, the archive also contains 30 pages of closely typed manuscript. It appears that grandfather copied these from papers Lawrence loaned him which seem to have been from the first draft of a book he was writing entitled ‘Revolt in the Desert’. But Lawrence destroyed the manuscript and then later rewrote and, in 1926, published the memoirs as ‘The Seven Pillars of Wisdom’.

Now this may not be of much matter to you and me. But to Lawrence experts, historians and museums the copies of Lawrence’s first draft and the letters would be fascinating. And possibly valuable, especially in the US where there could be a ready market.

So part of Adam’s package contained a note to we fellow cousins who own them, asking if we should put them up for sale or, alternatively, give them to the Bodleian in Oxford. My immediate instinct was to donate them. Now I’m not so sure. After all Lawrence’s himself said: “If you can make some money for yourself … the more you make, the merrier for you”!

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Has the tide of justice turned for fathers in the family courts?

Thousands of parents run the contact and residence battle every year. They argue and fight over who the children should live with and when contact should take place.

BY MAX BARFORD It’s not surprising considering the emotional stress that’s experienced when faced with the life changing event that comes with ending a relationship. For the majority of parents an amicable agreement based on what is in the best interests of the child will be agreed without any intervention from the Courts but for many who cannot reach that agreement an application to the Court is often the next step. Generally, the Courts will not intervene in contact and living arrangements of children unless one party makes an application for what is now called a Child Arrangement Order. This was previously known as an application for contact and/or residence before changes to the law came into effect in April 2014. It was a contact application that started the Ethan Williams court battle that has received so much press coverage recently.

The unusual thing about Ethan’s contact battle was that the media was allowed to report the case. In this case the Court made a decision to relax the limitation on publishing details in order to assist in locating Ethan’s whereabouts after his mother ran away with Ethan after the Court had ordered that he should live with his father even though his application to the Court had been for contact with his son.

Now that the mother has returned Ethan to his father the Judge must also take into consideration her reckless behaviour. The mother will have a long way to go to show she can be trusted by Ethan’s father or the Judge. There will be further hearings to determine how often she sees Ethan and there is every possibility that this will result in even less contact with Ethan. How the Judge deals with the mother will remain to be seen but the one thing her conduct will not achieve is the

reviewing of the change of Ethan’s primary residence to his father.

If you are involved in or considering arrangements for children it is very important to understand what the process is and what orders the Court can make including that the Court has the power to change which parent a child lives with where the Court believes it is in the best interests of a child to do so.

As an experienced Family Law Solicitor I have advised many parents over the years and helped them achieve the best outcome possible in their circumstances. In many cases matters can be resolved relatively quickly through correspondence from your legal advisor and without recourse to the Courts. Mediation and collaborative law can also assist with reaching an agreement that is acceptable to both parents. An application to the Courts should only take place when you are unable to reach an agreement. It should be remembered that an application to the Court means that a judge will decide when and if contact should take place with a parent and/or where your child should live.

Ethan’s case is full of heartbreak and emotion but the Judge has sent a clear message that parents who do not focus on what is in the best interests of the child will have an impact on what the Judge orders when considering contact and residence arrangements. Attention must also be paid to the harsh consequences of breaching a Court Order. In the past some judges have issued little more than stern words to the party breaching the Court Order in family contact cases but more recently the tide appears to be turning and breaches are not accepted and consequences will follow. This is an important point.

The Court simply must not be seen as willing to ignore breaches of its own Orders and allow parties to take matters into their own hands.

My advice to any parent facing the stress of contested child care arrangements is to get good legal advice at the start and understand what your options are and work with

In many cases matters can be resolved relatively quickly through correspondence from your legal advisor

your legal advisor to resolve matters on a conciliatory basis as far as possible and always focus on what’s in the best interests of your child.

If all else fails an application to the Court can be made and the judge will decide.

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TIMES OF TUNBRIDGE WELLS READERS OFFER Up until 29th February 2016, Max Barford are offering the first 10 new applicants the opportunity to meet with a member of their team of expert Family Law Solicitors for an initial 30 minute FREE CONSULTATION to discuss the options available to you.

Choosing the right legal team is very important for you, so please do call today to take advantage of this offer – 01892 539379 or email – times@maxbarford.co.uk.

Max Barford & Co. is a trading name of Parfitt Cresswell. Parfitt Cresswell is authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority. No. 71480

Wednesday 20th January 2016

Executors risk potential claims using DIY probate applications

WHENEVER we think of solicitors one of the first thoughts that springs to mind are expensive fees and processes that seem to go on forever.

Perhaps this is the reason why some choose to take the DIY route when dealing with the Estate of a loved one. Although this route is not for everyone - the number of personal applications being made to the probate registry are on the increase.

We saved one of our clients over £115,000 in tax, so even after the payment of our fees the beneficiaries received more by instructing us than if they had done it themselves.

BY CATRINA DODDS

So what are the benefits and disadvantages of instructing a solicitor?

The most obvious benefit when dealing with the matter yourself is the saving on legal costs to the Estate. For many, this is the main reason for the Executors or personal representative (if the deceased died without a valid Will) making the probate application themselves. The DIY route is fine for many if the Estate is a straightforward, non-taxable Estate. The downside for the DIY Executor/personal representative is that, firstly, the Executors are personally responsible to the Estate and beneficiaries, which means they must accept any liability if things go wrong.

Secondly, they have to be willing to invest the time it takes to prepare the probate papers, possibly attend an interview at the probate registry to obtain the grant of probate and then collect in all the assets and distribute them in accordance with the Will or letters of administration. There is also a risk of not dealing with certain things such as the income tax of the deceased with HMRC and protecting the Estate

by advertising notices if required and minimising any tax payable.

So it’s clear it is possible to complete the process yourself, but when should you consider getting expert advice and instructing a solicitor, rather than doing it yourself?

There are a number of reasons to instruct a solicitor. One of the common reasons is simply when you don’t feel able to do it yourself or if you’re not willing to accept the risk if a mistake is made. However, there are also a number of lesser known reasons why instructing a solicitor is a good idea.

Did you know that instructing a solicitor, who is a specialist in Probate, taxation and administering an Estate could actually save the Estate money and on many occasions it can even pay for itself and leave more in the Estate to be distributed?

Solicitors who are experts in this field, not only know the process of obtaining the grant of Probate and administering the Estate, they know when to challenge inheritance tax calculations. This ensures the minimum

amount of tax on the Estate is paid and the savings can be substantial - in a recent case we saved one of our clients over £115,000 in tax on the Estate, so even after the payment of our legal fees the beneficiaries of the Estate received more inheritance by instructing us than if they had done it themselves. In addition, they didn’t have the inconvenience and loss of their time in dealing with it themselves.

We also look to see that the Will is as tax efficient as possible at the time of death, even though it may have been prepared many years earlier. If it isn’t, we will look at options available to minimise the amount of tax paid.

This again often results in tax savings to the Estate which can be substantial and frequently amounts to tens of thousands of pounds saved which in turn is passed on to the beneficiaries.

So when is it advisable to instruct a solicitor?

In addition to the examples set out above. You should always get legal advice if: • The Estate is a taxable Estate • The terms of the Will are not clear • The person who died has left money

or property in a trust • Part of the Estate is to pass to children under the age of 18 • There is land or property abroad • There is a business • Anyone is likely to dispute the Will.

Instructing a solicitor to deal with the Probate and administration of an Estate is an investment both emotionally and financially. You need to make sure that the person you are instructing is an expert in this field and is able to demonstrate to you that they offer a service that is tailored to your needs and that all tax implications are fully considered and challenges are made when appropriate. There are many Probate services that other low fixed fees and promise to turn your Probate and administration around in record time. The real reason for instructing a solicitor to deal with the Probate is to ensure that the taxes that are paid by the Estate are kept to a minimum and that the Estate is protected from any future claims. It is not just about offering a conveyor belt Probate process.

We have many years experience of dealing with not only the application process, but also with taxation issues,

Max Barford & Co. is a trading name of Parfitt Cresswell. Parfitt Cresswell is authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulations Authority no. 71480

HMRC and other third party offices. We fully consider the tax implications of the Will at the time of death and ensure that you are advised of any tax saving measures available which will provide a more tax efficient outcome for the Estate meaning that the beneficiaries may actually receive more.

So before you decide to instruct a solicitor or not, make sure you make an informed decision. The mistake could be a very expensive one and if you are the Executor/personal representative, the beneficiaries would be entitled to pursue you for any loss to the Estate caused by unnecessary tax payment or failure to carry out a relevant step in the process. Just imagine if the Executors of the Estate that received the tax savings of over £115k had failed to get this benefit for the Estate. The beneficiaries could well be knocking on the door demanding payment!

Max Barford Solicitors 16 Mount Pleasant Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN1 1QU www.maxbarford.co.uk

TIMES OF TUNBRIDGE WELLS READERS OFFER Up until 29th February 2016, Max Barford & Co are offering the first 5 new applicants the opportunity to meet with a member of their expert team of Probate Solicitors for a FREE INITIAL 30 MINUTE CONSULTATION, to discuss the options available to you.

So please call us today on – 01892 539379 or email times@maxbarford.co.uk