Times of Tunbridge Wells 25th May 2016

Wednesday, May 25, 2016

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FA SH IO N

OF TUNBRIDGE WELLS

COFFEE

pa S ge ee 7f or

EV EN TS

AT

with this paper See page 19

WHERE TO TAKE KIDS ON THE GO Pages 82-83

VICTORIA TRUMAN’S VIEW OF CHELSEA FLOWER SHOW Pages 50-51

ACADEMY GIVES PUPILS LONGER SCHOOL HOLIDAYS

FACE THE MUSIC AT TRINITY

Pages 96-97

Page 4

The best in the business

INSIDE THE QUEEN’S GIFT

Royal approval for replica to go on display at arts festival

From multimillion-pound companies to outstanding individuals IT WAS a night to remember at the Royal Tunbridge Wells Business Awards 2016 last week – the culmination of a six-month search for the best companies and individuals in and around the borough.

It all started with the decision by the Times to recognise and honour the local business community and its contribution to the ongoing success of our town.

Within days the entries had started to arrive, and by the time the panel of judges was appointed the figure had soared to almost 200 entries across 11 categories.

Hours were spent scoring the entries and whittling them down to shortlists and then the eventual winners.

And what an impressive line-up it turned out to be.

‘I have so much admiration for those gathered here tonight’ Winners ranged from the Childrensalon, which trades around the world and took the title of Outstanding Business of the Year, to Paul Chapman of the printers

Signal UK, who won Business Hero of the Year for his support of Pickering Cancer Drop-In Centre.

Outpourings on social media declared it a ‘fun night’ that was ‘great for local businesses’.

Guest of honour Edwina Currie told the audience: “If you do your best, be optimistic, take a chance and make the effort almost anything is possible. That is why I have so much admiration for those gathered here tonight.”

Continued on pages 12 and 27 onwards

PAGE 3

NEW RVP CINEMA

Council is poised to invest £7million in shopping centre

PAGES 6-7

CHURCH AUCTION

Future of landmark building now hangs in the balance

PAGE 3

MUSICAL WEEKEND

Bank Holiday Unfest still going strong after two decades

IN CONGRATULATIONS Edwina Currie (far right) with award winners

PAGES 98-99

BMWi

The Ultimate Driving Machine

THE PIONEERING BMW i8.

BECOME ELECTRIC. The BMW i8 is a truly revolutionary vehicle - with its innovative construction, ground-breaking use of materials, aerodynamic design and wealth of intelligent BMW EfficientDynamics features, the i8 has everything that you might expect in a sports car and then some.

Official fuel economy figures for the BMW i3: mpg N/A, C0 2 emiss ions Og/km, nominal power output (electric motor) 75/102 kW/hp at 4,800 rpm; peak power output (electric motor) 125/170 kW/hp, total average energy consumption per 62 miles/100 km (combined cycle) 12.9 kWh. Total range: 118 miles (combined cycle). Customer orientated range: up to 100 miles.

Official fuel economy figures for the BMW i8: Weighted combined cycle: 134.5mpg (2 .1 1/100km), C0 2 emissions 49g/km , power output (engine) 170/231 kW/hp, power output (electric motor) 95/131 kW/hp, total average energy consumption per 62 miles/100 km (weighted combined cycle) 11.9 kWh, customer orientated total range up to 373 miles. Maximum electric range value 23 miles, common average electric range value (eDrive only) up to 23 miles.

Figures may vary depending on different factors including but not limited to individual driving style, climatic conditions, route characteristics and preconditioning . T he BMW i8 is a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) tha t req uires mains electricity for charging.

/\Test drive subject to applicant status and availability.

THE BMW i3. THE ELECTRIC CAR THAT DRIVES LIKE A BMW. Ideal for city driving, the BMW i3 is the perfect combination of style and efficiency.

Fitted with eDrive and driven by an emission-free electric motor, the i3 is able to accelerate at an impressive speed and also boasts a high-voltage lithium ion battery.

To find out more about the BMW i range, and to arrange your test drive/\, contact Cooper Tunbridge Wells on 01892 628 120.

Cooper Tunbridge Wells Longfield Road, Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN2 3UE 01892 628 120 www.coopertunbridgewellsbmw.co.uk

2 � LOCAL NEWS

Weather Wednesday Cloudy with the odd spot of rain.

Most parts staying dry, with some brighter spells

May 25, 2016

º

12 C

Survey shows traders are taking advantage of technology to boost business

Visibility: Good

Pollution: Low

Humidity: 79%

Sunrise: 04.55am

Sunset: 20.57pm

Wind: 8mph

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

Sunday

Monday

Tuesday

17ºC

17ºC

17ºC

17ºC

16ºC

Hi-tech high street puts the town top of nationwide table

16ºC

GOING DUTCH

I love seeing the tulips blossoming outside the otherwise dreary Town Hall. What a picture!

Photo by Betty Martin

Send your weather pictures into... newsdesk@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk

CONTACTS EDITORIAL DIRECTOR RICHARD MOORE richard@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk | 01892 779615 DESIGN/PRODUCTION LEE SMITH lsmith8@markerstudy.com SALES GEMMA HAK ghak@markerstudy.com | 01892 779580 GENERAL INQUIRIES newsdesk@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk FIND US ONLINE facebook.com/timeslocalnews timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk twitter.com/timeslocalnews IF YOU HAVE A STORY WE WOULD LIKE TO HEAR FROM YOU Contact details above

Adam Hignett adam@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk TUNBRIDGE WELLS tops the rankings as having the most modern high street in the country when it comes to adapting to technology, a new survey has revealed.

Research undertaken by Worldpay – the FTSE 100 payment processing company – showed small businesses in the town outstripped their counterparts in major cities such as London, Glasgow and Birmingham in their use of technology.

Warning that independent retailers are ‘in a race to stay relevant’, the company said there was significant ‘uncertainty and apprehension’ among small business owners in their attitudes to technology.

While the businesses throughout the south east in general fared better than those in the north of the UK, where there is ‘more resistance to change’, Tunbridge Wells ‘in particular’ showed: “A great capacity to embrace and benefit from available technological advances.”

Labelled ‘High Street to iStreet’, the survey, which was conducted by polling firm YouGov, is based on the responses of small businesses nationwide.

A number of firms in each town and city were asked questions about the extent to which they are investing in technology to expand their reach online, improve the instore experience and become more efficient.

Based on their responses, a maximum score of 21 was available for each respondent, before being averaged out across each town.

The average score for Tunbridge Wells was 12.6, with Ipswich in second place on 11.4, while London scored 10.6.

The report continued: “What we’re seeing in Tunbridge Wells serves as testament to the incredible innovation taking place among small and independent retailers, many of whom are embracing new technologies to offer the kind of flexibility and experience modern shoppers demand.”

SURVEY Most modern high street in the country

‘Many small businesses are struggling to adapt’ Overall, just under two thirds of respondents to the nationwide survey said technology poses a ‘significant threat’ to their survival, and half said it can get in the way of providing a personalised experience to customers.

However 88 per cent said understanding and embracing new technology represents their best chance of survival.

UK Managing Director at Worldpay Dave Hobday said: “As far as retail and technology are concerned, the time for ‘wait and see’ has gone. Digital technology could unlock £18.8bn of revenue for SMEs, while reducing their costs by up to a fifth.

“Whilst we’re seeing pockets of innovation in many corners of the UK, we also know that many small businesses are struggling to adapt.”

THE ‘KNOWLEDGE ECONOMY’…

THE survey comes after the Times revealed in October that Tunbridge Wells has the highest proportion of people employed in the ‘knowledge economy’ than anywhere else in the county.

Figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) showed that at the start of 2015 Tunbridge Wells had 23.4 per cent of those employed in jobs defined as being in the knowledge economy, exceeding the Kent average of 15 per cent.

The ONS defines the knowledge economy as ‘a group of specific sectors that are knowledge intensive in their activity, deal extensively with IT and the distribution or exchange of the information that they hold’.

It went on to state: “The knowledge economy has been identified as a key sector to drive future economic growth.”

ON THE FACE OF IT THE PROPOSED COUNCIL DEAL LOOKS DUBIOUS 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 at 16 Lonsdale Gardens, Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN1 1NU, or email newsdesk@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk

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QUOTE UNQUOTE ‘In the end, it’s not the years in your life that count.

It’s the life in your years’ Abraham Lincoln

Wednesday 25th May 2016

NEWSPAPER journalists are never off duty. The very nature of the beast we serve means we are always curious or nosey, depending if you’re the one we are looking to write about. And often the best stories you come across are the ones where casual comments in public are overheard.

Such was the case a few weeks ago when our man on the ground became aware of the fact that the borough council was looking at the idea of ploughing £7million into the multiplex cinema being planned for Royal Victoria Place shopping centre.

Now the idea of our elected representatives quietly handing over millions of pounds of taxpayers’ money to support a private, commercial development without any fullblooded debate in the Council Chamber had a certain appeal to this local newspaper. After all, part of our role is to hold officials to account.

So, we dug back through council minutes,

examined various documents and discovered that the council actually owns the RVP site and appeared ‘liable’ to meet ten per cent of any development costs.

But, being the responsible, balanced newspaper that we are we naturally asked for a sit down with council officials to get some answers and find out exactly what it’s all about.

They readily obliged, we listened and today the Times publishes the outcome on our business pages – where the story belongs.

Not on the front with blazing headlines about the press uncovering ‘cosy deals’, but with headlines telling how the council has to be run like a business if it’s to deliver the quality services we all want.

Don’t take our word for it, though. Read the story and make up your own minds.

This week we’ve devoted several pages to the Royal Tunbridge Wells Business Awards 2016.

Sounds impressive, and it was. We decided to mount the awards because we launched 14 months ago as a local paper with a focus on business, so it seemed logical to us that we should stage the business awards.

When you try something new, like the awards, there’s always a risk that you’ll fall flat on your face; that few will bother to enter and you’ll have to cancel the event, Happily that did not happen. Around 200 companies and individuals put their names forward and it was a truly fantastic night to remember.

It was also pretty humbling. Even those who did not get their hands on an award told us how ‘honoured’ they were to make the shortlist.

It’s all of us at the Times who are ‘honoured’.

Thank you to all of you who took part.

Richard Moore, Editorial Director

LOCAL NEWS 

NEWS IN BRIEF

Paddock Wood delays following train death COMMUTERS travelling between Paddock Wood and Ashford suffered severe delays yesterday after a person was hit and killed by a train.

Emergency services attended the scene close to Willow Lane near Paddock Wood at 4.37pm.

A spokesman for the British Transport Police said they were not treating the incident as suspicious and were working to identify the person and inform their family before filing a report for the coroner.

Table tennis champion WORLD para table tennis champion Will Bayley is showing top form ahead of this summer’s Paralympic Games in Rio. The 28 year old from Tunbridge Wells took the gold medal in class seven at the Slovenia Open, an important warm-up event.

“I’m massively thrilled because it has been a lot of hard work,” he said. “There were definitely times that maybe people doubted.”

Hey won silver at the London Olympics and has been included in the GB table tennis team for the Rio Paralympics.

Music collection sold THE auction of nearly 100 rare and unusual instruments, as well as works of art and furnishings, which once belonged to the former Finchcocks Museum in Goudhurst fetched £1.2million for charity last week.

Finchcocks’ owners Richard and Katrina Burnett put their private collection under the hammer in order to raise money for the Finchcocks Charity for Musical Education.

The highest bid was £99,200, paid by an American collector for a harpsichord.

Lady of Shalott on loan TUNBRIDGE WELLS Museum and Art Gallery has loaned one of its best known photographs to the Tate Britain. The Lady of Shalott, photographed by former resident Henry Peach Robinson, will be featuring in the exhibition: Painting with Light Art and Photography from the Pre-Raphaelites to the modern age. The picture was taken in 1861.

Health insurer quits AXA will liquidate its investments in the tobacco industry in a move aimed at showing support for the government’s efforts to combat smoking.

The insurance giant, whose division AXA PPP Healthcare is the largest private employer in Tunbridge Wells, will sell investments worth more than £1.3billion, most of which are held as corporate bonds.

Historic building goes to auction after sales stall

By Adam Hignett

adam@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk ONE of the town’s most iconic landmarks will be going under the hammer next month after languishing on the property market for almost three years.

The Vale Royal Methodist Church on London Road has a guide price of £500-600,000 for the freehold property, which dates from the late Victorian era.

It is the latest attempt by the congregation to dispose of the 11,000 sq ft property, which has become increasing dilapidated and unfit for purpose, suffering from a leaking roof and rising damp.

The building was originally put on the open market in 2013 after the borough council refused permission for it to be knocked down and replaced with a smaller church and 14 flats.

At the time, the council claimed this

would be ‘out of character’ with its surroundings.

However, the council have confirmed that despite the age and prominence of the building it is not listed, although it is considered a local heritage asset.

This would be ‘a material consideration’ in any planning process.

It is also in a conservation area and deemed to make a positive contribution to it, potentially adding further restrictions.

A council spokesman said: “In general terms we would seek to have it retained in situ but any reasonable use would be considered subject to other material considerations.”

John Stockey, at property auctioneers Clive Emerson, said: “This is a substantial building in Tunbridge Wells that overlooks the common and will be familiar to people from the area.

“It is situated centrally, close to the High Street, the mainline railway station and The Pantiles.

3

HARD SELL Church was on the market for three years

“Made of brick and stone it consists of an upper floor which is mainly open plan and the lower ground floor level, with a meeting hall and ancillary rooms.

“There are various directions in which this building could be taken subject to all consents being obtainable.”

Local architect John Bullock from

John Bullock Design, commented: “This is a prominent building with enormous potential and with a creative design solution could be brought back to life. It constitutes an exciting opportunity for a number of uses including a multiple residential conversion.”

The auction takes place on June 13 at Detling.

Queen grants permission for statue to head the royal birthday celebrations…

‘It is a fantastic idea and would be a great privilege for the town’ A LARGER than life replica of one of The Queen’s most favoured horses is planned as the centrepiece of celebrations in Tunbridge Wells to mark Her Majesty’s 90th birthday.

Standing at 19 hands tall (6ft 3ins), the bronze resin statue of the Ascot Gold Cup winner Estimate was commissioned personally by her Majesty for charity.

It has never been seen in public before.

However, plans are being drawn up for it to go on display at the Tunbridge Wells International Art Fair next month (June 24-26).

Behind the idea is SEEART Gallery owner Susan Beumee who from June will be representing the world-renowned sculptor Tessa Campbell Fraser, who created both the original and replica of the horse.

Mrs Campbell Fraser – whose original solid bronze statue of Estimate is currently in the grounds of Sandringham Estate – will see her work become a regular feature of The Pantilesbased gallery.

This connection is what allowed Ms Beumee to seek permission personally from The Queen to display the replica in Tunbridge Wells,

permission which has since been granted.

She said: “We are very privileged to be given this opportunity to commemorate The Queen’s official birthday next month.

“It will be a huge accolade for the town and will reinforce our royal connections. People will come from all over to see it as it has never been on public view before.”

The plan is for the statue to go on display in the Assembly Hall during the Tunbridge Wells International Art Fair, with the private viewing on June 23 being attended by Mrs Campbell Fraser herself.

Following the SeeArt fair, the statue will be transported to Newmarket where it will used to raise money for charity.

However, in order for the statue to come to Tunbridge Wells, around £2,500 must be found through either sponsorship or donations to pay for its transportation costs.

Cllr David Elliott, who resigns his

Mayoralty this morning, welcomed the plan.

He said: “I think it is a fantastic idea and would be a great privilege for the town so I do hope there is a sponsor willing to pay for the transport.”

THE ORIGINAL Replica came from this statue

Wednesday 25th May 2016

4  LOCAL NEWS

Ground-breaking school scheme lets parents book cheap holidays Academy headteacher adds 20 minutes to each day in order to reduce term time SCHOOL’S OUT Chiddingstone pupils are already on their half-term

feedback, the school has restructured its academic year. It has added an additional week on to the October and May half-terms, enabling some parents to take advantage of cheaper holidays.”

The move is also designed to reduce fatigue in the classroom, which she said had become a problem during last year’s summer term. “We do not have a problem with our parents taking their children out of school during term time, but we noticed that after last year’s term six the children were exhausted.

“The extended day ensures we deliver the curriculum more effectively and meaningfully. It

‘The extended day ensures we deliver the curriculum more effectively’

PARENTS in Chiddingstone have flown off for some early summer sun after the village’s primary school embarked on its revolutionary two-week long half-term on Friday, a week earlier than other pupils.

The academy school’s decision to add 20 minutes to every school day in order to reduce the length of its terms has given parents hope of finding cheaper holiday deals.

Booking a vacation during school holidays has come to seem markedly more expensive in recent years when compared to the huge discounts on offer at other times of year. Such an imbalance has seen parents defying the rules by removing their children from school during school time.

Chiddingstone’s extended break comes a week after a High Court ruling that saw the ban on parents in England taking term-time holidays lifted.

Wednesday 25th May 2016

Chiddingstone’s ingenious strategy means the Church of England school, which became an academy in 2011, can allow its 209 pupils to take a longer half-term holiday in May and October without reducing their attendance.

In the maintained sector, pupils must be in school for 190 days. Adding a short period at the end of each day gives Chiddingstone School an extra 60 hours; this equates to two weeks.

The headteacher Rachel Streatfeild said: “In consultation with parents and in response to parental

also means that no term is longer than six to seven weeks, preventing children from becoming too tired at the end of a seven or eight-week term.”

The changes took effect from January this year and the new structure will be in place on a trial basis for 12 months before a review is undertaken.

The staff are also considering holiday clubs.

Mrs Streatfeild, who took pupils on a school trip to Barcelona before the holiday, insisted: “The school enjoys a very positive relationship with our parents and we will continue to work in partnership with them to review the effectiveness of the changes implemented, to ensure that our educational standards remain outstanding.”

This month, Jon Platt from the Isle of Wight won a victory for parents after the High Court decided he did not have to pay a fine for taking his daughter to Florida during term time.

Online travel website sunshine.co.uk reported an 88 per cent increase in family holiday bookings in term time.

The Department for Education has said it intends to ensure the new legal loophole is rapidly closed.

The rules state that children can only be taken out of school in ‘exceptional circumstances’.

Parents face a £60 fine, which rises to £120 if it is not paid within three weeks. Those who still refuse to pay face prosecution, and a maximum fine of £2,500 or up to three months in prison.

Academies such as Chiddingstone can decide their own term times because they are no longer under the control of local education authorities.

There is no likelihood of the state sector following suit because children from the same family might be attending schools with different holiday dates.

The new formula comes hot on the heels of the Government’s U-turn on compulsory academy status for all state schools earlier this month.

Conservative MPs had voiced fears that small rural primaries could close if they lose the support of local authorities and are run instead by distant education charities.

THE RULING… Jon Platt argued that the fine he was told to pay for taking his daughter to Disney World for a week in April 2015 was not legal because she has a good overall attendance rate at school.

The Department for Education reacted with dismay to the judgment, stating ‘children’s attendance at school is non-negotiable’, and insisting it would seek to change legislation in order to eradicate the loophole in the law.

The £60 fine was doubled when Mr Platt refused to pay it within three weeks, but he was let off when the case went to the Isle of Wight Magistrates’ Court last October.

The local council appealed against the decision but Justice Lloyd Jones and Mrs Justice Thirlwall ruled that the magistrates had not ‘erred in law’ in arriving at their judgment.

LOCAL NEWS 

5

Charity riders cross six countries in memory of their colleagues

WITH the Alps as the backdrop, the team representing The Chapel hairdressing salon prepare to set off on their epic 1,000-mile charity bike ride from Switzerland back home to Tunbridge Wells. They hope to raise £50,000 for Pickering Cancer Drop-In Centre and Cancer Research UK. Five staff from the salon were diagnosed

with cancer in the last couple of years. Three of them, aged between 26 and 34, passed away. The team is headed by salon co-founders Toby and Amanda Dicker with son Bert taking part in the final leg of the eight-day cycle. If you would like to help them reach the £50,000 finishing line, go to www.c4c4cc.co.uk

‘Chilled’ family festival to put Hop Farm back on music map FESTIVAL fever returns to the Hop Farm near Paddock Wood this summer with the arrival of the award-winning Chilled in a Field.

The not-for-profit event, which was named as one of the UK’s top small festivals, has moved to West Kent after a successful period in East Sussex. Running from July 29 to 31, it is described as a festival ‘for ex-ravers and their kids’ and has a family-orientated flavour with activities all day long.

There will be three stages, including a “secret” woodland one which showcases acoustic talent and a “silent disco” until dawn, since the music ends at 11pm. Crowds are limited to 750 a day.

There will also be a real ale festival bar, with local beer and cider, street food, a not-for-profit shop, warm showers, glamping and camper van pitches with electric hook-up.

The farm ran its own music festival from 2008 to 2012, and again in 2014 after a cancellation for poor ticket sales. Then the company staging the show, Hop Farm Music Festival Ltd, went into liquidation.

A host of world-famous acts rocked up to the rural location including Bob Dylan, Prince and Neil Young. Despite hiring new promoters it signed off two

years ago with Grace Jones and Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys.

More recently the venue has been struggling, and last weekend’s Silent Disco with Radio 1 DJ Greg James in aid of breast cancer charity CoppaFeel! had to be cancelled.

It also hit the headlines in April after an online clip went viral showing two men trading punches in what appeared to be a semi-official bare knuckle fight at a boot fair.

The line-up for Chilled In A Field will feature the likes of The Egg, Tankus The Henge, She Drew The Gun and Cocos Lovers.

Miguel Fenton, head of marketing at the Hop Farm, said: “We are delighted. Music festivals are the heart and soul of the Hop Farm. This one is particularly fitting as it is a family festival.”

Chilled in a Field Festival began in 2010 and director Sophie RandlesDunkley explained that it “has grown from small beginnings, with just 120 people in a field in Hawkhurst”.

She added: “We are also a not-forprofit social enterprise, entirely run by volunteers, so you can really feel the love. The festival is a great opportunity to have fun in a safe and happy environment.” www.chilledinafieldfestival.co.uk

FIELD OF VISION Last year’s Chilled in a Field Festival was held at Halland in East Sussex

Wednesday 25th May 2016

6 � LOCAL BUSINESS NEWS

Council is poised to spend £7million on the shopping centre’s new cinema Ploughing money into a private enterprise might appear controversial – the reality is more complex Since this newspaper was launched last year it has featured numerous local businesses from small to medium enterprises to multimillion-pound operations.

This week we focus on a ‘business’ that impacts all of our lives on a daily basis – Tunbridge Wells Borough Council

By Adam Hignett

adam@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk THE £70million expansion of Royal Victoria Place shopping centre will be one of the most significant developments for Tunbridge Wells in decades.

When polled by the centre, almost 90 per cent of respondents expressed enthusiasm for the scheme, which will add an additional 140,000 sq ft of retail space alongside a new multiplex cinema.

However, few people realise that right now within the council discussions are being held on whether or not to invest up to £7million into the project.

Wednesday 25th May 2016

The idea of the council ploughing public money into a private enterprise scheme is likely to appear controversial to many people – but the reality is more complex.

With government cuts to local authority grants hitting the borough council particularly hard, it has become ever more important for it to derive income through investment.

Regarded by the council as its ‘greatest asset’, its ownership of Royal Victoria Place freehold currently yields hundreds of thousands of pounds a year for the public purse.

But by making the investment, the council will have the opportunity to renegotiate the terms of its lease, which have not changed since 1992, to make them even more favourable.

These original terms state the council will be paid either ten per cent of net rents or a minimum ground rent of £837,000 per year, ‘whichever is greater’.

This means the council has received approximately £11.7million since the centre opened in 1992; a significant income stream for a local authority, but one with the potential to become even more lucrative.

“We have a number of options available and if we do decide to go ahead with the investment then, quite rightly, we would be looking for a return,” explained Lee Colyer, the council’s Director of Finance and C ­ orporate Services.

“This would be a commercial type of return that

would need to exceed either the cost of capital, when the council is using its own assets, or the cost of borrowing if we thought doing so would be more advantageous for that purpose.

NEW VISION Architect’s view of how a revamped RVP might look

‘The private sector is comfortable with putting money into Tunbridge Wells’ “We are very mindful of the important role that the shopping centre plays in the town.

“Because we have been told that Hermes (who are the leaseholders) are willing to invest £70million, that is really compelling evidence that the private sector is comfortable with putting money into ­Tunbridge Wells.

“This reflects a vibrant and well-run economy and we want to be part of that.”

The decision on whether or not to make a contribution is just one of many which the council has to make when looking at how it can ensure taxpayers’ money is well utilised.

Like many businesses, the council has two ­budgets; one for revenue and another for capital expenditure.

As was widely reported in the Times at the start of the year, the council’s revenue budget, the one which deals with day-to-day spending on services, salaries and benefits, is facing a series of significant cuts in the coming years.

In order to avoid cutting services to the bone, and with only a minimal increase in council tax available, the council is looking to its capital budget of approximately £20million to deliver an income it can then use to plug the shortfall.

Investing in Royal Victoria Place is just one example of how turning capital investment into income works.

“As our grant from government disappears we will find ourselves in two years’ time with no central

LOCAL BUSINESS NEWS 

government support and will need to be self-sufficient.

What we do is invest capital in order to derive income, and we either fund this through reserves, through heritage lottery grants, developer contributions or borrowing,” said Mr Colyer.

A second example of how this method has been employed is the Tunbridge Wells Sports Centre, run by Fusion Lifestyle.

Mr Colyer said the council has been lending money to Fusion at favourable rates for them to reinvest into the sports centre, the freehold of which is also owned by the council.

“The council owns three leisure centres,” he said.

“The one in St John’s, one in Paddock Wood and one in Cranbrook. Only the centre in Tunbridge Wells actually makes any money, while the other two require a subsidy so what we do is pool all the income from them together and share it out so we can provide consistent service across them.

“Fusion wanted to make improvements not only to the service but also to the building in St John’s, so we entered a commercial arrangement where we loaned them £1.6million to invest.

“The benefit for the council is that we have the return from that loan, which is higher than if we had invested it elsewhere, and at the same time the money is invested in a council asset, extending its lifespan and raising its value.

“We also get a greater share of any uplift in activity from people using the centre due to the improvements.”

He explained that it was an example of where the council looks to benefit from its investments ‘in many ways’ while also supporting the services provided to the people of Tunbridge Wells.

Not every investment is going to have an immediate financial benefit for the council, but will instead provide other benefits for the town.

Mr Colyer said one example was the council’s approved spending of £1.5million for a refurbishment of the Assembly Hall Theatre, money which will never be made back.

“Although the council would like to operate in as

MONEY MAN Lee Colyer, TWBC’s Director of Finance and Corporate Services

7

HOW WOULD TUNBRIDGE WELLS BOROUGH COUNCIL LOOK IF IT WERE A COMPANY? Those councillors in cabinet would be the equivalent of the board, elected by shareholders to represent their interests. They would be headed by Council Leader David Jukes as Chairman.

The Chief Executive (same title) would be William Benson – currently the most senior local government officer in the council. He would be tasked with overseeing the delivery of the board’s vision, a role similar to what he does now.

But perhaps the most important position would be that of Chief Financial Officer, which would be Lee Colyer. His current title is Director of Finance and Corporate Services.

With a statutory obligation to ensure that shareholders’ money was well spent and invested, Mr Colyer would have the power to veto any board decisions if he felt it breached these obligations – much as he does now.

£200MILLION IN TAXPAYERS’ MONEY AND £95MILLION IN AN ARRAY OF ASSETS

‘Sometimes we have to spend money for no direct financial return’ business-like a manner as possible, our overarching purpose is civic responsibility.

“The Assembly Hall is cherished by many people, so sometimes we have to spend a substantial amount of money for no direct financial return.”

But even this will prove vital for the long-term health of the local economy, he believes.

“This town is thriving and successful and a lot of that is on the back of being well run.

“If you pick up one of the glossy brochures of developers attracting people to the town, one of those pages is an aerial photograph showing all the benefits of coming here.

“All of those attractions have something in common,” added Mr Colyer. “They are either provided by, or funded by, the council – the theatre, the museum, the award-winning parks and the shopping centre.

“If the council didn’t have the right financial resources, then it would be very difficult to sustain these services.”

We are frequently advised by members of the borough council that they run it ‘as a business’, and that if it actually were one, it would be a sizeable enterprise.

Each year it handles around £200million in taxpayers’ money and controls an array of assets

worth £95million, which consists of nearly 200 properties and 300 plots of land.

Combined with the employment of 239 full-time and 65 part-time staff, as a business it far exceeds the European Commission’s definition of a ‘medium-sized enterprise’.

WHAT HAPPENS TO THOSE PARKING FEES? THEY GO BACK INTO THE PUBLIC PURSE Parking is perhaps one of the most contentious issues in the borough, with revenue from the

council’s major car parks and off-street car parking is expected to be around £3.1million this financial year.

However, Mr Colyer said that although car parking provided revenue, this goes back into the council to provide services ‘that don’t cover their cost’. He added: “We are quite fortunate in this town that the council controls many of the car parks. This helps us manage supply and demand because we can set the tariffs appropriately. Also, if they were run by private operators, the income would not be reinvested into providing services, but would instead go to shareholders or offshore companies, which is a loss to the local economy.”

Wednesday 25th May 2016

8 � LOCAL BUSINESS NEWS BUSINESS IN BRIEF

Solicitor tipped for prestigious Law Society CHRISTINA BLACKLAWS of Tunbridge Wells law firm Cripps is set to break the glass ceiling in the legal profession after being elected as Deputy Vice-President of the Law Society.

Ms Blacklaws, who was appointed as Cripps’ Chief Operating Officer this month, will now become the Society’s President in 2018, making her only the fifth woman to hold the office in its 193-year history.

She said: “I am honoured, delighted and humbled to be elected. These are challenging times.”

Artisan craft store finds its Voice by celebrating anniversary relocation Silver Sheep hires Charley Blue for Monson Road opening party

Depot’s global award A LOCAL depot in Paddock Wood has achieved the Gold Standard Investors in People accreditation, making it one of the top seven per cent of Investors in People organisations worldwide.

The national award is the highest accolade in terms of people management. The depot, run by the leading foodservice provider Bidvest Foodservices, employs 343 people.

Buy-out helps firm adapt TUNBRIDGE WELLS telecommunications firm Adept Telecom has announced its acquisition of the entire issued share capital of Comms Group UK Limited. The firm said the strategic rationale behind the £3.5million offer was the extension of Adept’s IT installation and support team capability. Chief Executive Ian Fishwick said: “We are delighted to have acquired such a high quality and profitable business.”

Wednesday 25th May 2016

OPENING PARTY (L-R) Caroline Smith, singer/violinist Charley Blue, guitarist Steve McCormack and Sylvia Kus THE VOICE finalist Charley Blue was on hand to celebrate the first anniversary of one of town’s most artisan stores, which marked the occasion by throwing a party for loyal customers.

Relocating to Monson Road from its original pop-up in Ely Court last month, due to increasing demand for its products, The Silver Sheep has proved a hit among local consumers.

Founded by Caroline Smith and Sylvia Kus, The Silver Sheep was originally intended as a place to showcase their handmade silver jewellery and woollen clothes.

But the popularity of the store was also due to their extensive range of products, all of which are handmade within the south east.

Co-owner Mrs Smith said: “We have had a terrific response to our shop in Ely Court.

“People loved that everything was handmade – and they could even see us making jewellery or knitting a sweater as they browsed. It was a workshop, a gallery and a shop rolled into one.

“We’ve always given other local crafters and makers a chance to sell wares at The Silver Sheep too – from handmade chocolates to ceramicists and glassware.”

Mrs Kus added: “We had a brilliant opening party, Charley Blue, a finalist from the BBC’s The Voice, did a fantastic set and the wine was flowing –it was a real party atmosphere.

“We thank our established customers for helping us celebrate – and our new location means that lots of new people will discover us, too.

“None of us would want to live in a place where we just drive to an out-oftown supermarket to buy everything.

Supporting local shops and talented makers is something that will keep the town thriving.”

www.lifestyleford.co.uk

Tunbridge Wells 01892739131

Tonbridge 01732 758 726

KentTN48AG

KentTN9 lTN

Official fuel consumption figures in mpg (l/lOOkm) for the Ford S-Max range: urban 30.l (9.4) - 47.9 (5.9), extra urban 48.7 (5.8) - 57.6 (4.9), combined 39.8 (7.1) - 54.3 (5.2). Official C0 2 emissions 17l-l22g/km.

The mpg figures quoted are sourced from official EU-regulated test results, are provided for comparability purposes and may not reflect your actual driving experience. Based on limited stock vehicles only and must be ordered and registered between 01.04.16 and 30.06.16. *Finance example shown available over a finance period of 48 months with £4,095.74 customer deposit.

Amount of credit £22,899.26. Charge for credit £1,932.74. Finance Facility fee £10. Purchase Fee £10. Total amount payable £28,947.74. Optional final payment £10,480.00. 2.9% APR, 6,000 miles per annum, excess mileage charged at Bp per mile. When financed with Ford Credit. Finance subject to status. Other charges for metallic paint and extra factory options. Must be over 18 and a full UK resident. Guarantees/indemnities may be required. Freepost Ford Credit. Prices correct at time of going to print and are subject to change without notice. Subject to availability at Lifestyle Ford. Lifestyle Ford reserves the right to amend or withdraw offers at any time and without notice. Lifestyle Ford Head Office 3 Mount Ephraim, Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN4 BAG. Images for illustration purposes only, metallic paint available at an extra cost.

Tunbridge Wells

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Edenbridge

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Lewes

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Associated London Office

Zoopla

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12  BUSINESS AWARDS

business awards

Today we reveal the winners of the ROYAL TUNBRIDGE WELLS BUSINESS AWARDS from the glittering gala dinner on Thursday

Awards night was a winner

MAIN SPONSORS:

GUEST OF HONOUR Edwina Currie

By Adam Hignett

adam@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk BUSINESSES large and small came together last week at the Royal Tunbridge Wells Business Awards 2016.

And it was an event that on the evening was described on social media by those who attended as a ‘fun night’ that was ‘great for local businesses’.

Around 200 people, representing 40 companies, went along to Salomons and enjoyed a champagne reception and a gala dinner at the Decimus Burton country home.

The atmosphere was one of excite-

Wednesday 25th May 2016

ment and anticipation as nominees for the awards mingled with sponsors and organisers – swapping stories and socialising.

They were finalists in a process that kicked off last year when plans for the awards, organised by this newspaper, were unveiled.

Prior to the start of the awards dinner the audience heard from Editorial Director Richard Moore, who was also one of the six judges on the panel.

Mr Moore said he had been ‘taken aback’ by the enthusiastic response to the idea of the awards from local business and congratulated all those companies and entrepreneurs who

Photos: David Bartholomew

Local businesses and individuals stand out at the inaugural event

BUSINESS AWARDS 

13

‘We are thrilled to have been recognised at the inaugural business awards. We were very humbled, especially as all of the entries across each category were outstanding in their own way. It is always nice to be recognised and it’s a credit to the hard-working team, both at our shop and headquarters. None of this could have been possible without their continued energy and support’ Michele Harriman Smith, owner of Childrensalon – winner of the Outstanding Business of the Year award

OUTSTANDING Childrensalon’s Chief Creative Officer George Smith with Edwina Currie

Wednesday 25th May 2016

14  BUSINESS AWARDS

First Office Systems @First OfficeSyst Thanks ever so much for the Event - great for local businesses and a lovely evening! #TWBizAwards

last night’s #TWBizAwards, and @times localnews for putting on such a great event!

Cripps @crippslaw Congratulations to all of tonight’s winners: @larrytechuk @Fullers_Butcher @MonitaCheung @Fox_Mark_Serv @yoyodesign @Childrensalon

Mrs P @Love_TunWells Well done to all the worthy winners & to @timeslocalnews for organising their first #TWBizAwards

ThomsonSnellPassmore @pragmaticlawyer Congratulations to @Fullers_ Butcher on winning family business of the year

Adrian Jones And it’s been a great night thank you. See you next year! @MWSolicitors

Fuller’s Butchers @Fullers_ Butcher Thank you @times localnews for hosting a great night, what a fab night

Thanks to @timeslocalnews for a great night Tunbridge Wells business awards @SiggersGeorgie Jo Brett & Lou Whitehorn

TWKidsOnTheGo @TWKidsOnTheGo We LOVE Fullers!! Many, many congrats!

Childrensalon @timeslocalnews @PCSolicitors Thank you very much!

QueenFromage @QueenB_ Belinda A fun night thank you! Very well organised :)

Digitom Ltd @DigitomTV Drinks on @larrytechuk as winners of Creative Business of the Year, well done chaps!

Monita Cheung Design @MonitaCheung Over the moon to have won #BusinessOfTheYear Award easistore @easistore Congratulations to the winners of

Wednesday 25th May 2016

Generating Interest @generating_int Congratulations to all the worthy winners at the #TWBizAwards last night. An exceptional evening thank you

Photos: David Bartholomew

WHAT YOU SAID ON TWITTER:

EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Richard Moore

had been nominated for the awards.

He said: “Just the fact you have made it this far is a real achievement.”

Explaining why the paper had decided to host its own awards, he said: “Before we launched the newspaper just over a year ago, we had taken the decision that in order to set us apart and fill a void in the printed media we needed to be business orientated.

“Every week we feature stories on local companies and individuals and it was a natural step for us to follow through on that commitment and recognise the business community with its own awards.

“What we had not expected was the fantastic response the idea has received and the enthu-

siasm with which people right across the business spectrum have embraced the initiative.”

Following the meal Mr Moore introduced the guest of honour for the evening and the person invited to present the actual

‘Such admiration for those here tonight’ awards, Edwina Currie.

Addressing the audience, the former Junior Health Minister during the Thatcher government recalled her experiences as a politician, then spoke of her life after politics and of the importance of entrepreneurism.

She used an example of

BUSINESS AWARDS 

EASISTORE TEAM (L to R) Paul Glenister, Stacey Bird and Simon Bidgway

Toyota setting up a new factory in her constituency of South Derbyshire during the 1980’s, after the collapse of the coal industry, as an example of how business drives progress.

She said: “If I had said, upon being elected, that within ten years there would be no coal mines and those workers would be making Japanese cars and selling them to Germany, they would have thought I was mad.

“But almost overnight, due to the educational requirements to work at the Toyota factory, the rate at which young people stayed on after 16 at school rose from 30 per cent to over 70 per cent, as everyone wanted to work there.

“Likewise, if we had said five years ago there would be a million more businesses set up in this country and we would have record numbers in employment, everyone would have thought we were mad.”

Mrs Currie said the lesson from all this is that you can never predict what the future might hold, but: “If you do your best, be optimistic, take a chance and make the effort almost anything is possible. That is why I have such admiration for those gathered here tonight.”

Chair of the panel of judges for the awards was Jo James, Chief Executive of the Kent Invicta Chamber Of Commerce, who took to the stage to introduce the categories and those on the shortlist.

Mrs James spoke of her ‘delight’ at being asked to host the event, adding: “The calibre of entries has been exceptionally high, which further enforces the entrepreneurial reputation of the local business community.

“Of course, this made our job on the judging panel exceptionally difficult. We had a number of very good potential finalists for each category and selecting the eventual winners was not an easy choice.

“All awards have to have a winner. But to be selected as a finalist is itself worthy

15

of congratulations, because in our minds all the finalists are winners.”

After Mrs James read out the three names on the shortlist it was left to Edwina Currie to open the traditional envelope and declare the winners.

To much fanfare and applause, each was invited on stage together with the category sponsor to receive the award itself.

The evening ended in celebratory style, with the band Violet Jive providing entertainment late into the night.

CHAMPAGNE RECEPTION Guests gather before the gala dinner

Wednesday 25th May 2016

16  EU DEBATE

Shadow minister tells why Labour now loves the EU Adam Hignett

adam@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk LABOUR MPs backing Brexit were branded ‘insignificant’ by the shadow Europe minister on her recent visit to Tunbridge Wells.

Pat Glass made the remark during her tour of the town with local party members, which saw her speak to pupils at St Gregory’s Catholic School, view the new Childrensalon warehouse and meet volunteers providing aid to refugees.

The shadow minister insisted her party was ‘united’ on the issue of Europe and dismissed suggestions that Jeremy Corbyn had been forced to back Remain by pressure from his cabinet.

“I personally think Jeremy is closer to what most of the public think than many politicians,” she said. “He is not ideologically committed to the EU in the way someone like (Peter) Mandelson is. He is pragmatic about it and can see its benefits, he is not a reluctant supporter at all.”

These ‘benefits’ are quite different from those in the Conservative Party who want to remain in, she said, which is why Labour will not be sharing a platform with the government.

“We are looking for structured reform within the EU, which is quite different from the Tories. They are talking about big business but we’re talking about jobs because we want the EU to become a much more social union.

“So we want to see the EU take further action on things like exploitative zerohour contracts and support for parttime workers, who are mainly women.

“The EU can also help us with things we cannot do well alone, such as tackle tax avoidance from the Googles of this world, fight climate change and protect against terrorism.”

In addition, Labour will focus

Wednesday 25th May 2016

on the ‘emotional issues’ rather than just economics, with an emphasis on the ‘peace dividend’. “Since I started this job I have realised how large the EU role is in conflict resolution and Britain often leads the union on it – from within,” Ms Glass said. But regarding David Cameron’s warning that

‘The Labour Party has evolved’ Brexit could trigger World War Three, she said: “I wouldn’t have put it like that.”

Despite Corbyn opposing EU membership prior to becoming Labour leader, his views – like many in the party – have ‘evolved’ since the days of Tony Benn and Michael Foot, she insisted.

“Like them, I actively campaigned during the 1975 referendum to leave the European Economic Community [forerunner to the EU].

“At the time it was an issue which divided our household, with my father and I wanting out while my mother and brother campaigned to remain. But it is totally different now, the Labour party has evolved alongside the EU and this is what Jeremy has done.

“Who’s to say either Michael Foot or Tony Benn would still be in favour of leaving today?

“There are just five Labour MPs campaigning for an Out vote, which is so insignificant.

No matter what problems we have LABOUR UNITED as a party, on Pat Glass this issue we are united.”

Brexit would lead to Tory ‘murders’ DAVID CAMERON will be ousted in the event of a Brexit and face ‘murder’ within the Conservative Party even if he wins, warned the renowned political journalist and commentator Matthew Parris.

The former Conservative MP made the remarks while speaking at a sixth-form dinner at Benenden School last week.

He said that whichever way the vote went, the Prime Minister would endure a ‘tough time’ from his party.

The bitterness towards him from those campaigning for a Brexit means Cameron would struggle to hold his party together in the aftermath of a vote to stay in.

Mr Paris added: “There will be murder within the Conservative Party to get rid of Cameron as a revenge for winning the vote.”

On the allegations of ‘Project Fear’ – the accusations that the Remain BOLD PREDICTION Matthew Parris

side, in particular, are using scare tactics to win the referendum – he said: “Project Fear stops you falling off a cliff. It’s not necessarily wrong to warn people of the consequences that affect them.”

He was also critical of Boris Johnson’s credentials as a future Prime Minister and said he would prefer the Chancellor George Osborne to succeed Mr Cameron.

Perhaps his most controversial analysis was that Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, despite the largely negative media coverage he has received, stood a chance of winning the next General Election.

Benenden Headmistress Samantha Price said: “He was a marvellously entertaining speaker who was incredibly thought provoking and offered us first-hand insight into the fascinating world of politics.”

ONE WARWICK PARK HOTEL

18  NATIONAL NEWS

Battle is far from over say anti-fracking campaigners TEST CASE Jacquelyn MacLennan

Expats have no right to vote in EU referendum BRITISH expats have lost their battle in the Supreme Court for the right to vote in the EU referendum.

The highest court in the land upheld decisions of both the High Court and Court of Appeal that they are not eligible to vote on June 23 because they have lived outside the UK for more than 15 years.

The test case ruling was a defeat for Londonborn war veteran Harry Shindler, 95, who has lived in Italy for 35 years, and solicitor Jacquelyn MacLennan (pictured), aged 54, from Inverness, who has lived in Belgium since 1987.

They argued that the 15-year rule, contained in Section 2 of the EU Referendum Act 2015, was an unjustified restriction on their EU right to freedom of movement and an infringement of their common law right to vote.

Wednesday 25th May 2016

ANTI-FRACKING campaigners have called for a nationwide response to fight the controversial gas extraction technique after a landmark decision to allow the process to start in North Yorkshire.

Groups opposed to the development outside the village of Kirby Misperton, near Pickering, have launched a People’s Declaration in a bid to stop fracking. Frack Free Ryedale, which led the campaign against the application by the UK firm Third Energy, launched the declaration along with Friends of the Earth.

It said in a statement: “We urge and will support the Government to develop a balanced long-term energy policy that will achieve our globally agreed climate change targets.

“Today we resolve to continue to fight to remain free from fracking, to protect our communities, our beautiful countryside, our air and water, and to protect the future of the planet. We ask people across the country to join us by supporting this declaration.”

Councillors in Northallerton voted by 7-4 on Monday to give the green light to the first fracking operation in the UK for five years.

The controversial decision has been condemned as a travesty by those opposed to the move, but a ‘victory for pragmatism’ by those in favour.

The vote allows Third Energy to frack for shale gas using an existing two-mile deep well – called KM8 – drilled in 2013.

The fracking application is the first to be approved in the UK since 2011, when tests on the Fylde coast, in Lancashire, were found to have been the probable cause of minor earthquakes in the area.

Since then, two high-profile applications to frack in Lancashire have been rejected by councillors and are now the subject of appeals.

‘Today we resolve to continue to fight to remain free from fracking and to protect the future of the planet’ One of the councillors who voted for the application, Tory Cliff Trotter, confirmed he had received intimidating emails. In an interview with BBC Radio 5 Live he defended his decision by saying: “We tried to look to the future, the best for the people of England.”

Friends of the Earth said it will look at whether the decision can be challenged, and campaigner Simon Bowens said: “This is an absolute travesty of a decision but the battle is very far from over.”

Planners had recommended the application be approved, despite acknowledging that the majority of representations received in consultation were objections.

Opponents fear fracking – in which liquid is pumped deep underground at high pressure to fracture rock and release gas – can cause problems including water contamination, earthquakes and noise and traffic pollution.

Environmentalists also warn that pursuing new sources of gas -– a fossil fuel – is not compatible with efforts to tackle climate change.

Rasik Valand, Chief Executive of Third Energy, said work would not start at the site for ‘months and months’ and would initially be an exploration.

CONTROVERSY Fracking has been given the go ahead in North Yorkshire

NATIONAL NEWS �

Pink Panther film actor passes away FAMILIAR FACE

Burt Kwouk appeared in three Bond films

BURT KWOUK, best known for playing Cato Fong in the Pink Panther films, has died peacefully at the age of 85.

Even though he is most recognisable for his big-screen role as Inspector Clouseau's manservant in the popular Pink Panther films, Kwouk was also a familiar fixture on the small screen.

He was born in Manchester in 1930 but was raised in Shanghai, China, until he was 17, when he moved to the United States.

He returned to Britain in 1954 and began pursuing a career in acting.

Kwouk has three James Bond credits to his name, in Goldfinger, You Only Live Twice and the 1967 spoof Casino Royale.

His best-known TV work includes shows like The Avengers and Danger Man. In 1964 he was cast as the servant Kato, the spelling of which was later changed to Cato, in the first Inspector Clouseau film, A Shot In The Dark.

The character became a hit with fans as the quirky friendship between the policeman and his servant and sometimes attacker developed.

Kwouk continued in the role following the death of Clouseau actor Peter Sellers in 1980.

He starred in seven films in the Pink Panther franchise, appearing alongside Sellers, Roger Moore and Roberto Benigni in their incarnations of the inept French detective Inspector Clouseau.

Later in his career, Kwouk would join Harry Hill's eponymous TV show and become the face of Channel 4's gaming show Banzai!

But he memorably returned to the small screen in BBC's Last Of The Summer Wine as Chinese electrician Entwistle, from 2003 until its end in 2010.

He was honoured with an OBE for his services to drama in the 2011 New Year's Honours list.

Tube workers to strike over new night service LONDON Underground maintenance and engineering workers have voted to go on strike in a row linked to the new night Tube.

Members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union backed walkouts by 85 per cent, with a bigger majority in favour of other forms of industrial action.

The union is in dispute over pay, staffing and pensions for workers employed by Tube Lines, linked to the night Tube, which is due to start on August 19.

The union's executive will consider the result of the ballot before deciding its next move.

RMT general secretary Mick Cash said: “RMT members have now shown their anger at the way that Tube Lines have attempted to tie in attacks

on pensions with the offer on pay and night Tube.

There are also major unresolved issues over the Tube Lines staffing arrangements for the night Tube and over performance-related pay.

“The ballot result will be considered by RMT's executive and, now that the members have shown their anger, it is absolutely essential that there is the earliest possible resumption of serious and meaningful talks on these issues and the union is ready to engage in those talks.”

The all-night service was due to be launched last year but no agreement was reached with unions, leading to strikes.

New London Mayor Sadiq Khan announced on

Monday that the night Tube will start on two lines at weekends from August 19.

The first services will run on the Central and Victoria lines. Night services on the Jubilee, Northern and Piccadilly lines will follow in two separate phases later in the autumn as new Tube drivers complete their training and final preparations are made.

Around 200 part-time drivers are currently taking part in a 14-week training programme for the new service.

The engineers’ strike ballot result is the first faced by the new mayor since he took over from Boris Johnson earlier this month. The strike dates are yet to be announced.

19

NEWS IN BRIEF

Duchess given insight into female prison life THE DUCHESS of Cambridge has held a behind-the-scenes meeting to learn about the support offered to women in prison.

Kate met representatives from nongovernmental organisations to hear about the addiction and mental health programmes helping female prisoners in the UK. The private meeting took place at Kensington Palace on Monday ahead of the Duchess’s appearance at the Chelsea Flower Show.

Troops stay on drug THE MINISTRY of Defence is to continue issuing Lariam, a controversial antimalarial drug, to troops on overseas operations, despite it being associated with depression, hallucinations and panic attacks. The Commons Defence Committee said there was strong anecdotal evidence that stringent conditions laid down by the manufacturers for issuing Lariam had been ignored by the armed forces.

Police investigation THE Independent Police Complaints Commission is investigating claims that a fan was seriously injured when he was struck on the head by a police baton after the first leg of the League Two semi-final clash between Portsmouth and Plymouth Argyle at Fratton Park on May 12.

A 30-year-old Portsmouth supporter has alleged he was hit by a Devon and Cornwall Police officer as he was walking with his wife after becoming involved in an altercation with a Plymouth fan.

Cool shack for sale AN ICE cream kiosk in a tourist hotspot made famous by hit TV drama Broadchurch is to go under the hammer. The Shack at West Bay, near Bridport, Dorset, is expected to fetch between £55,000 and £65,000 when it is sold at auction on June 17. Stars are currently filming the third and final series of Broadchurch nearby on the picturesque beach, cliffs and busy harbourside.

Wednesday 25th May 2016

20  BUSINESS NEWS NEWS IN BRIEF

Record lottery sales despite controversy NATIONAL Lottery annual sales have hit a record £7.5billion, despite controversial changes that significantly decreased the chances of winning the Lotto jackpot.

Operator Camelot said overall sales for 2015/16 were up £317million on the previous year, although sales of draw-based games were down £6.2million to £4.6billion.

Scandal hits CYBG CLYDESDALE Bank has revealed another £450million hit from the payment protection insurance (PPI) scandal. But the group – officially known as CYBG as it also includes Yorkshire Bank – said only £44million of the additional bill had an impact on its bottom line, because of cash set aside to cover issues such as PPI.

Beurden gets pay deal SHAREHOLDERS in Royal Dutch Shell have voted overwhelmingly in favour of chief executive Ben van Beurden’s £4.3million pay packet as part of the company’s remuneration report at the oil giant’s annual general meeting.

Shareholders in BP recently voted to reject its remuneration report, which included a pay deal of $19.6million (£13.8million) for chief executive Bob Dudley.

Screwfix sales surge B&Q OWNER Kingfisher has seen sales at its trade outlet Screwfix rise after it bolstered its product range and opened new stores.

This saw shares surge by nearly 2 per cent.

Doubt still hanging over Hinkley Point decision THE Chief Executive of French energy giant EDF has said he is confident the multibillionpound Hinkley Point nuclear power station will go ahead despite a fresh delay in making a final investment decision.

Vincent de Rivaz told MPs on the Energy and Climate Change Committee that money was in place and no project had been better prepared.

But the company is consulting French trade unions after some of them called for a delay of two to three years because of concerns over the impact of the firm’s finances on pressing ahead with the development in Somerset.

The consultation started on May 2, and could take 60 days to complete.

Mr de Rivaz told the committee in March that Hinkley Point would definitely go ahead, pointing to a speech by French economy minister Emmanuel Macron that the final investment decision would be made in early May. But Mr Macron later said the green light may not be given until September.

The French authorities remain ‘fully behind’ Hinkley, said Mr Macron, adding: “I can appreciate that a certain amount of impatience may be creeping in as the project is key for the UK’s energy and climate policy.

“It is also necessary, in the interest of all, that EDF follows due process before committing itself to an investment of this magnitude. I have every confidence that a final investment decision can be made rapidly after the end of the consultation.”

Mr de Rivaz told MPs there was a ‘difference of opinion’ with some French unions over Hinkley.

MAKING A POINT EDF Chief Executive Vincent de Rivaz

He said: “We hope those differences will be resolved during the consultation.”

He insisted the project was not on hold, and “everything was set” for power to be generated by 2025.

Energy Minister Andrea Leadsom told the MPs

that the Government was fully confident that the Hinkley project will go ahead.

She said there was no cost to UK billpayers until Hinkley starts producing electricity, so there was no question of the Government issuing a blank cheque.

Osborne overshoots his borrowing target BRITAIN saw borrowing fall last month, but official figures showed that Chancellor George Osborne missed his target for the full year by more than previously thought.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said public sector net borrowing excluding banks had dropped by £0.3billion to £7.2billion in April, compared with the same month last year.

But in a blow to the Chancellor, the ONS said public sector net borrowing excluding banks for the complete financial year ending in March was £76billion – which is £2billion higher than its previous estimate.

The Office for Budget Responsibility had forecast borrowing to hit £72.2billion for 2015/16, meaning the Chancellor has overshot his borrowing target by £3.8billion.

The ONS said public sector net debt excluding banks

Wednesday 25th May 2016

rose by £49.6billion to £1,596billion in April compared with 2015 – equivalent to 83.3 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP).

Economists had pencilled in borrowing to fall to £6.4billion in April and the worse-than-expected results come despite Government tax receipts hitting

TAXING TIMES Chancellor George Osborne

£55.9billion last month, up 2.7 per cent compared with April 2015, as it was boosted by rises in VAT receipts, income tax, stamp duty and National Insurance contributions.

However, corporation tax dropped by 5.1 per cent to £0.3billion over the period, according to the official figures.

The ONS said the fall in borrowing was triggered in the main by a £0.7billion drop in local government borrowing, offset by a £0.5billion jump in central government net borrowing.

A Treasury spokesman said: “Today's figures show further progress in fixing the record post-war deficit we inherited: borrowing is falling and we have the lowest April monthly deficit since the great recession.

“But the fiscal repair job is not finished and it would be dangerous to put this at risk.

“As uncertainty ahead of the (EU) referendum weighs on our outlook, Treasury analysis has shown that if the UK votes to leave the EU on June 23, we would be tipped into a year-long recession and receipts could fall by £36billion in the long term, unwinding years of hard work.”

WORLD NEWS �

21

ROAD BLOCK The remains of a barricade

Police ‘liberate’ French fuel site FRENCH police dislodged protesters blocking a key fuel depot in southern France this week, as petrol shortages spread around the country amid increasingly tense strike action.

The CGT union reacted angrily to the overnight police action which saw them tear down barricades outside the depot at Fos-sur-Mer. This enabled delivery lorries and other vehicles to get in and out, although they still had to manoeuvre between the remains of the barricades used by striking workers to block the entrance at the refinery Prime Minister Manuel Valls said on Europe-1 radio that the site was ‘liberated’ after days of blockades.

The striking workers want the government to abandon a reform that extends the working week, and are blocking refineries and fuel depots around the country.

Petrol stations throughout France are facing shortages and unions are threatening to stop production at all of France’s eight refineries.

Panic buying has already started and long queues of vehicles have been forming at petrol stations which still have fuel.

Drivers have been pushing their cars on to the forecourts rather than letting them idle while they wait, sometimes up to several hours, to fill up.

NEWS IN BRIEF

Another FIFA director fired over finances

Refugees forced to move out of camp

FIFA, football’s international governing body, has fired Deputy Secretary General Markus Kattner after allegedly uncovering financial wrongdoing during an internal investigation.

Mr Kattner, who joined FIFA as director of finance in 2003, has been temporarily filling the top administrative job of world football’s governing body since Jerome Valcke was suspended last year before being fired himself.

Mr Kattner handled the 2011 request to pay Michel Platini two million Swiss Francs (£1.4m) which led to the UEFA President being banned from football for four years. FIFA recently appointed its first female Secretary General, Senegal’s Fatma Samoura, to replace Valcke.

GREEK authorities have sent in more than 400 riot police to evacuate the country’s largest informal refugee camp at Idomeni on the Macedonian border.

The camp, which sprang up at an informal pedestrian border crossing for refugees and migrants heading north to Europe, housed an estimated 8,400 people – including hundreds of children – mostly from Syria, Afghanistan and Iraq.

In recent weeks the camp had begun taking on an image of semi-permanence, with refugees setting up small makeshift shops selling everything from cooking utensils to falafel and bread.

Passionate embrace

Beer from the past

DONALD TRUMP and Boris Johnson have been pictured kissing in a 15ft-high mural painted on to a building in Bristol. It portrays the US and UK politicians, who both want Britain to exit the EU, engaged in an embrace.

The image is reminiscent of the Berlin Wall graffiti artwork of a kiss between ex-Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev and East Germany’s Erich Honecker

A BREWERY kit for beer-making dating back 5,000 years has been discovered among artefacts from an archaeological site in northern China.

Yellowish remnants found inside widemouthed pots, funnels and amphora jars suggest that the vessels were used for making, filtering and storing beer, say scientists. The ‘brewery’ was uncovered in two pits at Mijaya, near a tributary of the Wei River.

Wednesday 25th May 2016

22 � SPORTS NEWS SPORT IN BRIEF

Tuilagi to miss tour of Australia after injury MANU TUILAGI will miss England’s tour to Australia next month with a hamstring injury he sustained in Leicester’s Premiership semi-final defeat at Saracens.

A replacement will be named after Sunday’s Test against Wales at Twickenham.

Luther Burrell or Ollie Devoto will fill the vacancy in England’s 32-man squad.

Willett worried by Zika MASTERS champion Danny Willett echoed Rory McIlroy’s concerns about playing at this summer’s Olympics in Rio due to Zika virus.

Willett won his first major at Augusta in April, 12 days after his son Zachariah was born. The Englishman is concerned about Zika’s links to defects in newborn babies.

“If it turns out that it would be a massive threat to myself or to Nic (his wife Nicole) or to the little man, then I probably wouldn’t go,” he said. “Family comes first.”

Barton signs for Rangers JOEY BARTON has joined Rangers on a twoyear contract. The midfielder, 33, turned down a year’s extension to his deal with Burnley, who have been promoted to the Premier League as Championship winners.

Alcohol ban for Euro fans ENGLAND and Wales football fans will not be allowed to drink alcohol in Lens for 24 hours around their Euro 2016 game on June 16.

Wednesday 25th May 2016

Murray praise for Stepanek: Ibrahimovic ‘I couldn’t do that at his age’ can kickstart Jose’s reign

ANDY MURRAY paid tribute to his veteran opponent after he edged through a five-set thriller in the first round of the French Open yesterday.

The world No 2 had to come from two sets down to beat Radek Stepanek of the Czech Republic 3-6 3-6 6-0 6-3 7-5.

Murray, who had not gone out in the first round of grand slam for eight years, lost the first two sets to the 37-year-old qualifier when the match began on Monday but led 4-2 in the fourth when darkness caused the match to be held over.

He went on to win the fourth set yesterday but the fifth was hugely tense and at one point Stepanek was two points away from victory.

However, Murray held firm and took advantage of the first drop in his opponent’s level to clinch victory after three hours and 41 minutes.

The Scot, who now plays Frenchman Mathias Bourgue in the second round, said of Stepanek: “It’s unbelievable what he’s doing. He had an extremely bad injury last year and still at 37 coming out and fighting like that, playing that way, it’s unbelievable.

“I don’t expect to be doing that myself at that age. I’m just glad I managed to get through.

“He’s always been extremely difficult to play. I wasn’t able to dictate many of the points, I wasn’t in a great rhythm, and that’s credit to him and the way that he played. I fought extremely hard today and I’ll get a chance to play again tomorrow.”

Stepanek had been looking to become the oldest man to win a grand slam singles match since Jimmy Connors at the US Open in 1992.

After the opening game of the deciding set, the world No 128 tried to work the crowd up into a frenzy, which clearly irritated Murray.

BACKHAND COMPLIMENT Andy Murray clapped Radek Stepanek off court

He was able to threaten the Stepanek serve but not break it, and when the Czech held for 5-4, Murray had to serve to stay in the tournament. His opponent took him to deuce but he held on.

The effort of that appeared to affect Stepanek in his next service game, allowing Murray to break.

That left the Scot serving for the match. Still it was not straightforward and Murray doublefaulted on his first match point.

But on his second Stepanek netted a volley and Murray could breathe a sigh of relief.

JOSE MOURINHO could make striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic his first signing after he takes charge of Manchester United.

The Portuguese is set to be unveiled as the new manager at Old Trafford today (Wednesday) after his representatives hammered out the terms of his deal in London.

Ibrahimovic is out of contract after deciding to leave French champions Paris Saint-Germain.

The 34-year-old Sweden international has received lucrative offers from clubs in China.

But he has spoken warmly about working with Mourinho in the past and United were desperately short of goals last season.

He won the Italian title with Mourinho at Inter Milan in 2009, when he was named Serie A’s player of the year.

He is the kind of high-profile name that the board would like to bring in to start the new era.

United can still afford to pay huge wages after posing a record turnover in excess of £500million.

But their failure to qualify for the Champions League for a second time in three years could hamper their ability to lure the big players.

United and Liverpool have both been fined 40,000 euros (£30,565) each – half of which has been suspended – for illicit chanting by their fans during March’s two-legged Europa League encounter between the two sides.

The clubs were fined an extra £13,000 each for setting off fireworks, throwing objects and crowd disturbances.

ADVERTISING FEATURE ■

23

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Wednesday 25th May 2016

24  LETTERS

And another thing…

The Times of Tunbridge Wells and the Times of Tonbridge always want to hear your feedback, whether on reports we have printed or any other issues you think we should know about. Email us at newsdesk@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk or write to the Editor at 16 Lonsdale Gardens, Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN1 1NU How William Shakespeare’s twin might have viewed the Wells ALL’S WELL WITH WILL THAT ENDS IN WELLS Imagine how different it all would have been If Shakespeare had had a modern-day twin Might he have settled in Tunbridge Wells With its beautiful parks and melodic church bells?

With modern technology he’d be the bees’ knees Twittering King Lear and then Pericles, But would sonnets and plays have been such crowd-pleasers Composed on The Pantiles with Bacardi Breezers?

Though with light pollution he’d never discover Even a single doomed star-crossed lover.

“Ill met by moonlight” indeed, it would seem To similarly rule out Midsummer Night’s Dream.

And would he have built the Globe and the Curtain?

He’d need Council planning permission, for certain.

Maybe he’d lay claim to the cinema site For The Tempest, Othello and even Twelfth Night.

With his plays, set in Kent, we’d be held in thrall Two Gentlemen of Frant and The Merchant of Rusthall.

Stage directions, of course, are another affair – How about “Brexit, pursued by a bear”?

Helen Mills Via Email

Elections: Conservatives complacent

I would like to take the opportunity to reply to Margaret Miller’s letter (May 11) about how she did not receive any campaign leaflets during the recent elections.

Sadly, this is a natural consequence of one-party domination in local politics. The current Conservative dominance of our Borough means that they can afford to be complacent when it comes to contacting voters. To say they take us for granted would be an understatement.

Liberal Democrats locally have worked hard to provide strong opposition to the Tories. Whether it’s our success in getting movement on the cinema site after 15 years, or our ongoing campaign to force the council to provide doorstep glass recycling.

We are a growing team of volunteer campaigners who do not have access to the vast financial resources that the Conservatives have. As such, we have to be very focused on where we use our limited resources.

Unlike the Conservatives we campaign all year round, not just at election time. This means that we want to do far more than put out a single leaflet when there’s an election coming. I don’t know where you live in the Borough, but we are growing fast and hopefully will be on a doorstep near you very soon.

If local residents want to hear more from their local representatives then we need to hold them to account. You can do that by joining the only party gaining seats from the Conservatives in Tunbridge Wells – the Liberal Democrats.

Peter Lidstone Newly elected Lib Dem Councillor for St John’s Via email

The Pantiles: Nice to see shop reopening

I’ve always found Tunbridge Wells to be a place with an above average sense of civic pride; which is understandable as there’s a lot to like. And I’m sure lots of people worry, like I do, when they see a shop closed down. So it was nice to see the Daily Grind on The Pantiles reopened so quickly and reinvented as the Chegworth Valley farm shop. Stopping there last week I found the staff very friendly and knowledgeable and the range wide and interesting: All the things that mark out a local shop from a national chain. I know in theory most people value local shops like this, but I’ve also seen that there’s a difference between valuing something like this in principle and translating that into practical support. I hope that unusually high sense of local pride turns into strong support for what seems to be a great new business and for our many other local shops.

Phil Ford Via Email

EU debate: To quote T.S. Eliot

If the British people, with their eyes open and sure of their beliefs, vote to remain in the EU then that, though in my view regrettable, is one thing. If however they allow themselves to be panicked by the absurd lies told by the Europhiles concerning the effects of leaving then the lines of T.S. Eliot in another context would provide the epitaph of one of the most significant and influential nations ever to have existed: “This is the way the world ends, Not with a bang but a whimper.”

Colin Bullen Via email

EU debate: MP figures misleading

In her article on the European Union referendum debate (May 11) Nus Ghani MP misleads the reader on the amount our EU membership costs us.

Ms Ghani states that we pay the EU £350million per week, which amounts to £17.8billion per year. This is, however, a gross figure which takes no account of the UK’s receipts from the EU. These include the UK’s budget rebate (about £4.9billion) and payments under the agricultural and other common policies

(around £4.4billion). Subtracting these gives us the net figure for the cost of EU membership of £8.5billion (a little more than £160million per week, and less than half the figure quoted by Ms Ghani).

This net figure is contained in briefing papers provided by the House of Commons Library.

One hopes that whoever advised Ms Ghani does not use the same method of calculating his allowable expenses in his tax return. This would soon land him in serious trouble with the Inland Revenue!

W A J Ekins-Daukes Via email

OBVIOUSLY the Times is essential reading – even on holiday! Calverley extends his thanks to the undercover mole who snapped this shot of a young lady relaxing in Dubai.

And she’s reading the current edition of her favourite local paper.

Driving: Cutting jams at a stroke

Two recent pieces of national news will make for interesting results in Tunbridge Wells if they are rolled out nationwide: Making it illegal to park on pavements; turning off traffic lights. I can’t wait, at a stroke traffic jams will disappear.

Ralph Steerpike Tunbridge Wells

EU debate: Politics of desperation

We have witnessed in recent weeks the politics of desperation – in the argument for and against Europe the Remainers raced for and reached the absolute bottom of the outside lavatory: George Osborne stated that house prices will fall if we leave Europe – an unlikely outcome given the scandalous shortage of housing, and if they did, they’d all fall proportionately so maintaining the status quo, unless one is planning to sell up and live in a tent.

David Cameron goes further along the road of the absurd, alleging that genocide and war will descend upon Europe perpetuating the belief that the EU, founded in 1993, has prevented such events for decades, rather than NATO, founded in 1949. He cites the Balkans and Srebenica, and Georgia and Ukraine, but none of these are or were EU members.

Finally, in an act of supreme barrel-scraping, he metaphorically drapes himself with the Union flag and dragged in Waterloo, Blenheim and Trafalgar, failing to acknowledge that, at those times, England wanted no part of Europe except trade, and only went to war to maintain a balance of power and prevent any single European nation becoming dominant.

So A** for scaremongering; F minus for history.

John Ward Moorhouse Tunbridge Wells

The police: Use of resources

It’s great to hear that Tunbridge Wells police are on the trail of criminal gangs from London selling drugs in our town. But then we hear that a man was arrested for shoplifting and cannabis use after being apprehended with the help of the National Police Air Service. Is this not an example of using a sledgehammer to crack a nut? Especially when police resources are supposed to be so stretched.

Brendan White Via mail

We do our best to publish letters in full. However, the Editor reserves the right to edit any letter. Please ensure that letters do not exceed 250 words.

Wednesday 25th May 2016

Calverley

HAIL the newly elected leader of Tunbridge Wells Borough Council – David Jukes. Yep, you might recognise the name. It’s his fourth year in the job. Not since Queen Victoria (or some such time) has anybody clung on to (sorry, held) the role for so long.

And it’s nothing to do with his remuneration of £27,000pa. At the uncorking of a bottle of red he’ll tell you that if you take into account the number of hours he works in the job (he does also have a proper job) he gets less than the minimum wage. Value for money? Probably.

HE’S most definitely the oldest salesman in town. His name is Ralph Williams, he works in Moss Bross next to the station, he’s 91 and featured in this very newspaper 12 months ago. Following our world exclusive he found instant fame and was featured on TV (see people do actually read us).

When Calverley popped in to replace his wine-stained cummerbund (so many functions) he was informed

by Ralph, who survived the Nazi concentration camps, that Hollywood is now making a £10million budgeted film about his extraordinary life. Mind you, he did have a twinkle in his eyes.

So is it true?

CALVERLEY is always grateful to hear from his legion of moles scattered across all levels of society. Witness the latest from one of our charity shop operatives who reports that a donor walked in and handed over a bag containing a mankini, a bottle of baby oil and a back scratcher. That’s so Tunbridge Wells.

Chin, chin readers

Education in association with:

www.brightyoungthings.co.uk

EDUCATION ■

25

EDUCATION Times WITH THE

Judo boys win hands down FIVE pupils from Holmewood House school are celebrating winning the Team Trophy at the Independent Association of Prep Schools (IAPS) National Judo Championships, which took place on May 14 in High Wycombe.

The competitors were George Jobber, who won gold in the 34kg weight category after winning all five of his contests; Thomas Pateman, who gained silver in the 30kg division; Felix Worth and Takita Dicker, who took silver and bronze respectively in the 30kg sector; and Hamish Taylor, who was placed seventh in the 38kg weight division.

These impressive results cumulatively led to the pupils, who are aged between seven and ten, winning the group competition.

Their coach, Ryan Court, said: “I’m very proud of the boys and hope that these results could be the platform to create a strong team for next year’s competitions.

“Four medals from five competitors is absolutely tremendous, they were a credit to themselves and Holmewood House.”

EDUCATION IN BRIEF

Going for a song THE National Youth Choirs of Great Britain (NYCGB) held their inaugural ‘Ready, Steady, Sing!’ event at Tonbridge School on May 15.

Led by NYCGB’s assistant music director Dominic Peckham, the free singing activity day was the first in the organisation’s national programme of events and was hosted by Tonbridge School’s music department.

The event was attended by 70 children and adults, with a further audience of around 70 arriving for the closing performance.

Market value ON MONDAY June 6 and Tuesday June 7, Beechwood Sacred Heart school will run two enterprise days for its pupils in years five and six. Described as a cross between Dragons’ Den and The Apprentice, the workshops will teach the students about business acumen and culminate with a fair and presentations. Prizes will be awarded for the most innovative ideas.

New assistant head WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS (L-R) Felix Worth, Thomas Pateman, Hamish Taylor, George Jobber, Tatika Dicker

ST JOHN’S PRIMARY has appointed Keiran Bradbeer as its new assistant head teacher.

He joins them from Pembury Primary and will start his role in September.

Wednesday 25th May 2016

-•-

COMMAND of the

OCEANS

BUSINESS AWARDS 

business awards

Today we reveal the winners of the ROYAL TUNBRIDGE WELLS BUSINESS AWARDS from the glittering gala dinner on Thursday

27

MAIN SPONSORS:

Congratulations to all of our award winners!

Service Excellence Award –First Office Systems Family Business of the Year – Fuller’s Butchers and Farm Shop Green Company of the Year – Mastercolour (part of the Fox Print Services Group) Creative Business of the Year – Larrytech Corporate Social Responsibility – AXA PPP Young Business Person of the Year – Jenny Kitchen, Yoyo Design Photos: David Bartholomew

The first recipients of the Royal Tunbridge Wells Business Awards fought off stiff competition to claim their titles and here we salute them all…

And the winners are…

Entrepreneur of the Year – Deborah Richards, Maddisons Residential New Business of the Year – Monita Cheung Design Outstanding Business of the Year – Childrensalon Business Hero of the Year – Paul Chapman, Signal UK Readers’ Choice Award – Jez Timms, Torpedo Juice

Service Excellence Award Category description: The winner of this category will give outstanding assistance and advice to those who buy or use the business or organisation’s products or services. They will be able to provide customer testimonials to support their entry.

Name of winning business: First Office Systems Location: 14-16a Albion Road, Tunbridge Wells, TN1 2NH www.firstoffice.co.uk What the judges said: “First Office Systems are dedicated to providing the customer with the highest quality service. Their commitment has led them to developing new methods to monitor customer

satisfaction, ensuring they have the flexibility to adapt to changes in demand and service expectations.”

Company description: Methodical dedication to customer service is what First Office Systems excels in. The company, which provides clients with office services and technology, was founded in 1991 with the ethos that by providing high quality service, trust and growth success will follow.

To this end the firm introduced a bespoke computerised service management system to ensure everything is logged and reported, especially response times. They also make sure they are regularly up to date with what their customers want, having carried out 1,500 surveys to gauge client satisfaction over the past ten years.

SPONSORED BY:

RentLocally

Family Business of the Year Category description: These family firms are ones based locally that were set up over a year ago. They have displayed real financial success in relation to growth in turnover and profit.

Name of winning business: Fuller’s Butchers and Farm Shop

SPONSORED BY:

Thomson Snell & Passmore

Location: Bunny Lane, Eridge, Tunbridge Wells, Kent, TN3 9BY and 5 Nelson Road, Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN2 5AW www.fullers-tw.co.uk What the judges said: “This well-established family business has been servicing the Tunbridge Wells

community for over 44 years with locally-sourced meats from local farmers whom the family have known and trusted for years.”

Company description: This company has been running since 1972, providing Tunbridge Wells with locally-sourced meats and produce from farmers, bakers, brewers and wineries, and was opened by the late Tony Fuller and his wife Margaret. After Tony sadly passed away, Margaret took on the job of running the butchers by herself while their 13-year-old son Stephen undertook an apprenticeship. Stephen now runs the company with his wife June and has help from his sister Sarah, brother-in-law Russell and even his own children – teenage daughter Lily, 16, and son Henry, 13.

Our thanks go to the 41 businesses and individuals that made it on to the shortlist of the ROYAL TUNBRIDGE WELLS BUSINESS AWARDS and got through to the final round at the gala dinner last week.

Thanks indeed to all those who entered for the awards and helped make them such an outstanding success

business awards Wednesday 25th May 2016

28  BUSINESS AWARDS

Creative Business of the Year Category description: This award category is for any company over two years old in any sector that can demonstrate creativity as adding value to their business’s success.

Name of winning business: Larrytech Location: Larrytech Ltd, Calverley House, 55 Calverley Road, Tunbridge Wells, TN1 2TU www.larrytech.com SPONSORED BY:

Global Office

Green Company of the Year Category description: Being a green business can embrace many aspects of sustainability, including being environmentally-friendly in its business approach to changes that have been made by the company to become more sustainable, saving CO2 emissions, reusing, recycling and even saving money.

Name of winning business: Mastercolour (part of the Fox Print Services Group) Location: Unit 2C Wyvern House, Longfield Road, Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN2 3EY www.fox-ms.co.uk What the judges said: “Investing in cuttingedge technology has been a key driver to their

What the judges said: “Their technical knowledge and customer service, coupled with creativity, has resulted in business growth over the past 12 months.”

Company description: Web design firm Larrytech consists of a dynamic team of 13 employees based in Tunbridge Wells.

Set up in 2001 and co-owned by Larry Hardcastle, Doug Rubashow and James Blacklee, the company has recently developed a new website for The Skinners’ School, the sixth one they have made for them over the years, displaying the close relationship they have with their clients. Of the company’s success, Mr Hardcastle said: “We have always prided ourselves on being at the cutting edge of web technology, providing outstanding solutions and unrivalled levels of customer service.”

business growth. They have a diverse and impressive client list and are certainly an environmentallyconscious organisation, gaining numerous accreditations.”

Company description: In the past, one of the major by-products of the print industry has been landfill waste. However, Fox Print Services is just one of 63 UK businesses to be EMAS (Eco-Management and Audit Scheme) verified, after reducing its waste to landfill by 91 per cent. It has also consistently seen year-on-year reductions in energy and water use. It has an extensive list of products which it ensures are recycled, including paper, ink, printing plates, pallets, cardboard and much more. As a result, the company is a trusted supplier to organisations such as Greenpeace and Friends of the Earth.

SPONSORED BY:

Fox Marketing Services

Corporate Social Responsibility Category description: This award is for organisations which have done the most to develop their social responsibility programme, and will be judged primarily on activities undertaken in 2014/2015, although projects started before then and those ongoing were taken into account.

Name of winning business: AXA PPP

SPONSORED BY:

McMillan Williams Solicitors

Wednesday 25th May 2016

Location: International House, Tunbridge Wells www.axappphealthcare.co.uk What the judges said: “With a high proportion of their employees brought up in the town, AXA have excelled in giving back to the community through their various

initiatives, which have made a substantial contribution to Tunbridge Wells.”

Company description: The largest private employer in Tunbridge Wells, with over 2,000 staff, the company describes its ethos as ‘giving local support’ and ‘developing long-lasting partnerships’ with charities, schools and other community organisations. To date, the company has partnered with around 60 charities in the area and has put investment into 40 schools. Last year the insurance giant raised just under £100,000 for charity, and through their Hearts in Action programme have seen more than half of their staff volunteer in the local community. The company also offers a work experience programme which has hosted 365 students aged 14 to 19 since it began in 2012.

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Wednesday 25th May 2016

 PROPERTY SECTION

PROMOTIONAL FEATURE

In my view…

Gaynor Cooper Associate Strutt & Parker Sevenoaks

Your at-a-glance guide to ST EDITH’S ROAD KEMSING

£525,000

Those who watch the property market can be forgiven for getting distracted- there is ‘Brexit’, a broad spectrum of world news- from disasters to political unrest, an absolute smorgasbord of sporting events not to mention a run of lovely spring weather. Despite these distractions there are some very promising signs that the property market is getting well and truly into its stride.

I was in a meeting with my colleagues at our Head Office – just off Berkeley Square the other daysomething I do regularly but this meeting seemed perhaps to be a little different. There were 4 times as many London buyers registering to move to the country as there had been in previous weeks – a trend that has continued.

This increase in activity from London buyers has had the resultant effect of increasing viewings and sales. The upswing in activity has been met with more property coming to the market – Happy Days? Well we don’t need to get too carried away but there are very positive signs. There is as one of my London partners said ‘real value’ in the country and at last buyers are realising it and starting their first faltering steps to the world outside of London.

Promising signs, green shoots or any other clichés one chooses, the worst may be behind us.

If you are thinking of selling and are holding off for the outcome of Brexit – DON’T. The market is unlikely to dramatically change – Now is the time to think about a sale.

Strutt & Parker LLP 15 Bank Street, Sevenoaks Kent TN13 1UW Office Line 01732 459900

GILWELL CLOSE, TONBRIDGE OFFERS IN EXCESS OF

VALE ROAD, TONBRIDGE

£230,000-£250,000

£340,000

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

DO YOU HAVE A STORY? Wednesday 25th May 2016

This well-presented two-bedroom terraced house is situated close to Tonbridge mainline station and High Street. This property would be ideal for first-time buyers or investors and has accommodation comprising a sitting room, kitchen,

rear lobby, ground floor bathroom and two bedrooms on the first floor.

There is a courtyard garden to rear.

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

UNDER £350,000 Located in a desirable cul-de-sac to the northern side of Tonbridge, this modern detached house features an entrance hall, cloakroom, living/ dining room, kitchen, family room/ ground floor bedroom, master

bedroom with en-suite, two further bedrooms and a family bathroom.

There is off-road parking and an easy to maintain rear garden with side access.

CONTACT Wood and Pilcher Tonbridge 01732 351135 www. woodandpilcher.co.uk

In association with EJ FINANCIAL LTD

Impartial Investment, Pension and Tax Planning

• Call 01892 655973 today for a FREE appointment

PROPERTY SECTION 

great properties by price range…

FERNDALE, TUNBRIDGE WELLS OFFERS IN EXCESS OF

£400,000 UNDER £450,000 This detached bungalow in the St James area is in need of modernisation and offers plenty of potential. The accommodation is well-proportioned and comprises an entrance hall, sitting/ dining room, kitchen/breakfast room, bathroom and three double bedrooms.

Outside, the rear garden is mainly laid to lawn, with a further area behind conifer hedging. The property is offered for sale with no onward chain.

CONTACT Barnes Kingsnorth Pembury 01892 822880 www.bkestateagents.com BARNFIELD ROAD, RIVERHEAD

£795,000

UNDER £800,000 A beautifully maintained and wellpresented semi-detached 1930s’ house with lovely views over Chipstead Common.

For sale for the first time in nearly 50 years, it features an entrance porch and hall, cloakroom, dining room, sitting room, kitchen, four bedrooms and a family bathroom. There is driveway parking and a detached garage with storeroom. The large rear garden is arranged into three areas – two lawns and a vegetable garden. This house is being sold with no forward chain.

CONTACT Jackson-Stops & Staff Sevenoaks 01732 740600 www.jackson-stops.co.uk

WHYBOURNE CREST, TUNBRIDGE WELLS ST EDITH’S ROAD, KEMSING

£850,000-£895,000

£525,000

UNDER £1MILLION

UNDER £600,000 This attractive semi-detached Grade II listed cottage is believed to date from the 16th century with later additions.

The property offers wellproportioned living accommodation arranged over two floors, as well as plenty of character features. On the ground floor there is a sitting/ dining room, family room, study, cloakroom and kitchen,

with two bedrooms (one with en-suite) and a bathroom on the first floor. It also has gardens, a garage and a driveway providing off-road parking.

CONTACT Savills Sevenoaks 01732 789700 www.savills.co.uk

Constructed in the late 1930’s, and having been in the same ownership for the last 52 years, this detached home is coming to the market with the benefit of a complete backward chain. Priced to allow for some cosmetic updating, the substantial accommodation includes an entrance hall, large reception room, dining room, kitchen/ breakfast room, cloakroom, utility room, four bedrooms (one with dressing room) and a bathroom. There are two garages and the front and rear gardens are superb.

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

Wednesday 25th May 2016

South borough Charming Grade II Listed property overlooking the Common Comprising the major portion of a beautiful Georgian house. Entrance hall, sitting room, dining room, kitchen, breakfast room, cloakroom. Master bedroom with shower room, 3 further bedrooms, family room / bedroom 4, family bathroom, second floor study area. Integral garage with utility area.

Forest Road, Tunbridge Wells An exclusive gated development of two executive detached homes, conveniently situated for the town centre and mainline station Reception hall, study, cloakroom, kitchen/ breakfast room, utility room, drawing room, dining room. Master bedroom with en suite bath/ shower room, 2 further bedrooms with en suite shower rooms, 2 further bedrooms, family bath/ shower room. Level rear garden laid to lawn. Detached double garage. Gated entrance. EPC rating B.

~Knight •411 Frank

Brenchley A wing of an attractive Edwardian family house Entrance hall, cloakroom, kitchen / breakfast room, sitting room, dining room, drawing room. Office, utility room, 2 storage rooms, play room. 5 double bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, bedroom 6 I study. Gardens and grounds. Paved terrace.

Vegetable garden. Detached double garage with studio above. EPC rating G. In all about 0.84 acres.

Langton Green A beautifully appointed modern family home in a quiet village location Entrance hall, cloakroom, sitting room, conservatory, kitchen/ breakfast room, utility room, dining room, drawing room, study. Master bedroom with en suite bath/ shower room, guest bedroom with en suite bathroom, 3 further bedrooms, family bathroom. Double garage. Established gardens with pond. EPC rating C. In all about 0.37 acres.

Paddock Wood A superb Grade II listed semi-detached Georgian farmhouse 3 reception rooms, 5 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms. Double garage and parking area. Beautifully landscaped formal and informal gardens. In all about 0.5 acres.

Toys Hill, Nr Westerham A versatile property with delightful grounds in a sought-after address 3 reception rooms, 5 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms. Planning permission to enlarge. Stable block. Delightful established gardens and grounds including 2 paddocks. EPC rating E. In all about 1.91 acres. Further land available.

\

Otford Hills, Nr Sevenoaks

Birling, West Malling

A highly versatile family house approaching 4,000 sq ft

A superb family house with well-appointed accommodation

4 reception rooms, 5 bedrooms, 5 bathrooms. Potential ancillary accommodation. Swimming pool. Landscaped gardens with rural views. EPC rating D. In all about 0.8 acres.

3 reception rooms , 5 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms. Integral double garage. Additional garage.

Established gardens. Delightful rural views. EPC rating F. In all about 0.44 acre.

In association with EJ FINANCIAL LTD

Impartial Investment, Pension and Tax Planning

• Call 01892 655973 today for a FREE appointment

Ample living in the round in a glorious rural setting

L

YING on the rural outskirts of East Peckham and Hadlow, this stunning Grade II listed oast house dates from the late 19th century. Formed of twin roundels, it is part of a converted oast complex once attached to the adjoining Crowhurst Farm.

Displaying typical external elevations of red brick with a plain tiled roof together with cowls and vanes, the whole building was converted into four residential units in the 1970’s.

Internally, the accommodation extends to 2806sq ft and is arranged over three floors of equal sizes. The layout complements the character of the roundels well, incorporating

some original detailing including exposed oak beams, oak latch doors, wooden floors and a brick fireplace with wood-burning stove in the sitting room.

The majority of the rooms enjoy spectacular views of the garden and countryside.

There is flexible space on the ground floor, currently arranged with an entrance hall, dining room, roundel living room, roundel kitchen/ breakfast room, utility room and cloakroom.

The first floor features a large family room with three bedrooms, two in the roundels, and a bathroom. One of the roundel bedrooms has internal stairs up to a mezzanine level with

plumbing for an en-suite, while the other has a spiral staircase up to a snug. The next floor has two further bedrooms, one of which has access to the snug, and a family bathroom.

The gorgeous gardens extend to 1.68 acres and are laid out principally to the south, with two terraces for outdoor entertaining. There are large expanses of level lawn enclosed by natural hedgerows, plus a secured swimming pool, a tennis court and a triple garage.

The house is approached by a drive which is initially shared and leads on to a private approach. There is ample off-street parking at the front and side of the house.

PROPERTY SECTION �

AT A GLANCE

CROWHURST OAST BELLS FARM ROAD, EAST PECKHAM n Grade II listed oast house n Part of a converted oast complex n Character features n Arranged over three floors n Flexible and spacious accommodation n Entrance hall n Cloakroom n Dining room n Living room n Kitchen/breakfast room n Utility room n Family room n Five bedrooms, one with mezzanine n Two bathrooms n Snug n Swimming pool n Tennis court n Triple garage and parking n Gardens of 1.68 acres

£1,150,000 For sale through Hamptons Sevenoaks 01732 280801 www.hamptons.co.uk

‘Formed of twin roundels, it is part of a converted oast complex once attached to the adjoining farm’ Wednesday 25th May 2016

� PROPERTY SECTION

In association with EJ FINANCIAL LTD

Impartial Investment, Pension and Tax Planning

• Call 01892 655973 today for a FREE appointment

Upgraded manor house offers excellent equestrian facilities

M

OTTYNSDEN MANOR is Grade II listed with the main part of the house dating from 1643, and it has been carefully upgraded by the present owners to blend traditional character with modern luxury.

An equestrian property that also boasts an outdoor swimming pool, tennis court and more than ten and a half acres, it is set on the edge of the popular village of Burwash in Sussex.

The house is packed with period charm, with features including sash and leaded light windows, exposed oak timbers and a variety of fireplaces. The accommodation is laid out over two floors and is extremely spacious.

The drawing room is split level with a magnificent inglenook fireplace, while the less

formal sitting room has views over the topiary garden and a door to a ‘flower room’.

The kitchen/breakfast room features handpainted wooden units with integrated appliances and opens to the family/dining room. From the rear hall/boot room, a door leads through to an office and into the garden room, which has access to a useful cellar. A utility room and cloakroom complete the ground floor.

Upstairs there is an excellent master suite, with a large bedroom opening to a dressing room and an en-suite shower room. There are six further bedrooms and three bathrooms.

Mottynsden Manor is approached via a private lane and private drive which leads to a parking area. The extensive formal gardens

are peppered with mature trees, with topiary hedging, well-stocked borders, sweeping lawns, an orchard, croquet lawn and a woodland garden area. Adjoining the house is a terrace with an ornamental fish pond.

The heated swimming pool has a surrounding terrace and lies within a part-walled section that includes a summerhouse.

A studio adjoins the tennis court and there is also a detached office/workshop which previously had planning permission to convert to a one-bedroom annexe.

Equestrian facilities include American-style stabling with a concrete yard and loose boxes for seven horses, together with a potential staff room and four paddocks.

AT A GLANCE

MOTTYNSDEN MANOR SPRING LANE, BURWASH n Grade II listed country house n Dating back to 1643 n Character features n Carefully updated n Reception hall n Drawing room n Sitting room n Kitchen/breakfast room n Family/dining room n Office/playroom n Garden room n Utility room n Boiler room n Flower room n Cloakroom n Rear hall/boot room n Cellar n Large master suite with bedroom, dressing room and shower room n Six further bedrooms n Three further bath/shower rooms n Outbuilding with workshop and WC – previously with planning for annexe n Studio n Heated swimming pool and summerhouse n Tennis court n Studio n Equestrian facilities n Formal gardens n Four paddocks n 10.5 acres in all

£2,450,000 For sale through Hamptons Tunbridge Wells 01892 516611 www.hamptons.co.uk

Wednesday 25th May 2016

T-"!:AMPTONS

Beyond your expectations -.

11

www.hamptons.co.uk

THESIJNlli\YTI\IES

INTERNATIONAL

Tl-1Eal61.,TIMES

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Burwash ÂŁ2,450,000 In an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and with far reaching views across the Sussex countryside, a charming Grade II Listed, seventeenth century 7 bedroom manor house of character, set within landscaped gardens and grounds in excess of 10.8 acres.

* Upgraded for modern day living yet retaining wealth ofperiod detailing

* Superb spacious Kitchen/Breakfast Room * Magnificent elegant Drawing Room with impressive inglenook fireplace

* All-weather Tennis Court * Outdoor Swimming Pool with Summer House * Range ofoutbuildings including American barn for stabling

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

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T-"!:AMPTONS

Beyond your expectations -.

11

www.hamptons.co.uk

THESIJNlli\YTI\IES

Tl-1Eal61.,TIMES

Wadhurst ÂŁ2,850,000

* Close proximity of the village centre and mainline station

A superb and important Grade IF 8 bedroom Georgian house overlooking the Wealden countryside, yet situated in the heart of the village and surrounded by beautiful gardens and grounds.

* Wealth ofperiod features throughout * 9 acres of beautiful gardens and grounds * Outdoor Swimming Pool

* Superb views of the church and beyond

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

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INTERNATIONAL

T-"!:AMPTONS

Beyond your expectations -.

11

www.hamptons.co.uk

THESIJNlli\YTI\IES

INTERNATIONAL

Tl-1Eal61.,TIMES

Robertsbridge ÂŁ1,850,000

* A fine country house with well-proportioned and elegant accommodation

With outstanding southerly views over landscaped gardens and lovely countryside beyond, a fine country house refurbished to an exceptional standard with spacious accommodation arranged over three floors.

* Staff accommodation/selfcontained flat * Salt water Swimming Pool * All-weather Tennis Court

* Useful range ofoutbuildings including stabling

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

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Beyond your expectations www.hamptons.co.uk

Speldhurst £1,495,000 A fine Edwardian spacious detached character 6 bedroom family house set in attractive large gardens with a tennis court in the heart of this much favoured village. EPC: F

Crowborough £1,320,000 An outstanding Lions Green 7 bedroom detached country house set in attractive gardens and grounds of about 2.25 acres with superb swimming pool and tennis court and within close proximity of the Ashdown Forest. EPC: D

Groombridge £995,000 Spacious detached 5 bedroom family house in a superb tucked away private position behind electronic gates and within close proximity to all the village amenities. EPC: C

Tunbridge Wells £925,000 A distinctive and spacious 4 bedroom town house with well-arranged, beautifully presented accommodation over 3 floors in a convenient location for easy access to the town centre and Dunorlan Park. EPC: D

Langton Green £525,000 A 3 bedroom detached house in a quiet cul-de-sac now requiring modernisation in this sought after village with a delightful level rear garden. EPC: E

Matfield £445,000 A spacious 2 bedroom apartment with 2 reception rooms and kitchen/breakfast room on the top floor of this fine Edwardian country house set in wonderful gardens and grounds with a lake on the outskirts of both Matfield and Brenchley. EPC: F

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

Crowborough ÂŁ1,299,000 Situated on high ground and enjoying far reaching westerly views to the Ashdown Forest this substantial, bright and beautiful detached 6 bedroom house has been superbly upgraded by the present owners with exceptional attention to detail to provide a wonderful and extremely spacious family home. EPC: D

* Superbly fitted kitchen/breakfast room * State of the Art Cinema Room '' Triple aspect vaulted gymnasium '' Integrated system to control media and lighting '' 6 Bedrooms and 3 Bathrooms

'' Far reaching views over Ashdown Forest

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"Cute as a button! Downsize or get your feet on the ladder."

"Country living perfectly ·uxta osed with villa e amenties."

Biddenden £565,000

Staplehurst £629,000

Frittenden, Cranbrook ÂŁ1,700,000 Your very own grand design!

Bespoke masterpiece in 9.1 acres.

3,146 sq.ft - 5 beds & 4 receptions.

Amazing kitchen/breakfast room.

Detached 2 bedroom barn.

Ample garaging and outbuildings.

BELLS YEW GREEN,

KENT

KILNDOWN,

KENT

5 bedrooms + 3 bathrooms + 2 reception rooms + off street parking + patio + garden + 350 yards from mainline station + Council Tax=F + EPC=F

5 bedrooms + 3 bathrooms + further cloakroom + kitchen/breakfast room + reception room + study + patio + garden + off street parking + Council Tax=G + EPC=D

£2,950 pcm + £282 inc VAT tenancy paperwork fee. Other charges may apply* Contact: Louise Minifie

£2,500 pcm + £282 inc VAT tenancy paperwork fee. Other charges may apply* Contact: Louise Minifie

HORSMONDEN,

TUNBRIDGE WELLS,

KENT

KENT

4 bedrooms + 2 bathrooms + kitchen/breakfast room + study/playroom + south facing terrace 2 double bedrooms + 2 bathrooms + study area + spacious kitchen/dining room + sitting + rear garden + private parking + Council Tax=G + EPC=D room with views + communal gardens + allocated parking + Council Tax=D + EPC=F

£1,850 pcm + £282 inc VAT tenancy paperwork fee. Other charges may apply* Contact: Louise Minifie

£1,600 pcm + £282 inc VAT tenancy paperwork fee. Other charges may apply* Contact: Louise Minifie

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

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Moonlight Walk Remember • Celebrate • Donate

www.savills.eo.uk/fees.

GROOMBRIDGE,

TUNBRIDGE WELLS,

EAST SUSSEX

KENT

Close to centre of village + 2.5 miles Eridge MLS + 4.5 miles Tunbridge Wells + sitting/family room + study + kitchen/dining room + 5 bedrooms + 3,104 sq ft + 0.29 acres + EPC=C

Semi-detached family home + well placed for schools + open plan kitchen/dining/family room + sitting room + 4 bedrooms + garden + garage + 2,094 sq ft + EPC=C

Guide £995,000 Freehold

Guide £755,000 Freehold

TUNBRIDGE WELLS,

Contact: Becky Card

TUNBRIDGE WELLS,

KENT

Contact: Becky Card

KENT

Listed apartment with panoramic views + close to MLS and High Street + open plan kitchen/ reception room + 2 bedrooms, 1 en suite + bathroom + parking space + 826 sq ft

First fioor apartment + town centre location + kitchen/reception room + 2 bedrooms + 2 bath/ shower rooms + underfloor heating throughout + communal lift + 802 sq ft + EPC=B

Guide £375,000 Leasehold

Guide £290,000 Leasehold

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

Moonlight Walk Remember • Celebrate • Donate

Contact: Becky Card

Contact: Becky Card

� PROPERTY SECTION

Summer Prize Draw Sell or Rent your house for free!

As we celebrate both our 5th Birthday and the opening of our new office we are running a great promotion. During June, July & August, all dwellings marketed on a sole agency basis with us will be entered into a monthly draw. One property per month will be picked at random and we will waiver our fees on completion/move in!

• In June, July and August LeGrys are waiving their commission for one new instruction. Clients will only be entered in one draw per dwelling.

• On the last day ofJune, July or August details of new instructions for Sale or for Let will be put in a draw and each month the winner will not pay commission fees onthe sale of their property (plus vat), upon exchange of contracts with a purchaser who was introduced to the property, directly or indirectly by this agency, from the proceeds of the sale by yourself or your conveyancer with your authority.

Limitation Period for Loans The High Court recently considered when the limitation period begins to run in respect of a loan where there is no deadline for repayment. The court concluded that a payment made by the lender to the borrower was not a loan but a payment in respect of the borrower's role in a project but it went on to consider the borrower's argument that if the payment had been a loan the lender's claim was out of time and therefore barred.

As most readers will know, an action founded on simple contract cannot be brought more than six years from the date on which the

Wednesday 25th May 2016

cause of action arose (see: section 5, Limitation Act 1980). Historically, at common law, a loan was treated as being repayable immediately (that is upon advance) if the terms governing it did not state a repayment date or stated that it was repayable on demand . This meant that, generally speaking, the lender's cause of action arose when the loan was made and the limitation period would run from that time . The Limitation Act (in section 6) qualifies the rule in section 5 so that, where it applies, limitation runs from the date of written demand for repayment, rather than from the date when the loan was made. For section 6 to apply, it has to be that the contract does not effectively make the obligation to repay the loan conditional on the lender making a demand for repayment.

Although the borrower claimed that the loan was repayable on demand, the court found there

was no express term to that effect and it could not possibly be the case that the arrangements contemplated repayment being conditional on a demand being made . Therefore, if the payment had been a loan the cause of action accrued when the borrower made written demand.

One further note . In relation to more 'informal' arrangements between family members or friends, it may be the case that there is no intention to create a legal relationship . In fact, there is a presumption in relation to spouses or family members that there is no intention to do so. So if matters turn difficult, then there is no contractual basis for a claim to be brought.

Alex Lee is a Partner at Buss Murton Law. www.bussmurton.co.uk or call 01892 510222

In the event that the winner is a Landlord, the usual start up fees for a new let will not be payable for that tenancy in respect of a tenant who was introduced to the property, directly or indirectly by this agency.

• It is a condition of entering the draw that it has been agreed that a "For Sale or For Let" board is erected at the property.

For full details of our Terms and Conditions and regulations in respect of the Estate Agents Act 1979, the Property Misdescriptions Act 1991 and our requirements under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 please contact LeGrys .

WITH THE

GARDENING OF TUNBRIDGE WELLS AND TONBRIDGE

The most wonderful time of the year Victoria Truman visits Chelsea Flower Show

See inside for some great deals from the best suppliers to help you create your dream garden!

Wednesday 25th May 2016

50 ■ CHELSEA FLOWER SHOW SPECIAL

Everything’s rosy at Chelsea The world’s most prestigious gardening event the RHS Chelsea Flower Show takes place this week. Running until Saturday it attracts visitors and celebrities from all over the world and sets the agenda for both planting and design trends. The Times’ Victoria Truman toured its impressive show gardens to find out what’s going to be hot in horticultural this summer MY TASK when I visited Chelsea Flower show earlier this week was to see what is trending in the world of garden design and then narrow it down and deliver it to you as something doable. Not an easy task when you consider that the average budget for the show gardens on Chelsea’s prestigious main avenue normally start at £250,000.

The star specimen this year was definitely the pine tree as it was used by lots of designers including Sam Ovens for the Cloudy Bay Garden to Hugo Bugg for his Royal Bank of Scotland one. It’s a simple way of adding modern, abstract and architectural detail to your external space.

Another prevailing theme at Chelsea this year was large rocks. They seem to be a ‘thing’ with many of the main show gardens dominated by displays of wild, naturalistic planting interspersed with enormous rocks.

Star designers were back in force this year with the multi-award winning Cleve West designing the M&G garden for the second time.

The inspiration for it was the moment Cleve fell in love with the timeless rugged landscape of south west England. His design is a contemporary tribute to the rugged rocky landscape and beguiling beauty of Exmoor that made such an early impression on Cleve.

Andy Sturgeon was the designer of choice for The Telegraph Garden where Rob Brydon, the first celebrity to view it on Monday’s press day, said he ‘loved’ the design’s large metal structures which were inspired by the huge Stegosaurus at the Natural History Museum in London.

“What’s great about so many of these gardens is how bold they are,” said Mr Brydon.

Wednesday 25th May 2016

SET IN STONE Chilstone’s impressive temple in the Meningitis Now Garden

CHELSEA FLOWER SHOW SPECIAL ■

51

PICTURES: RHS

designers are also experimenting with box substitutes, bringing clipped bay and yew into play.

One of the absolute stand out and maddest gardens I witnessed was Diarmuid Gavin’s garden for Harrods.

‘What’s great about so many of these gardens is how bold they are’ They asked him to design a British-themed garden and he interpreted the brief in his own distinctive way.

Displayed in the sought after Triangle spot of the main avenue, it includes box balls bobbing up and down to the tune of In an English Country Garden, conical bay trees being twirled and trimmed by topiary-shearing machines, and garden furniture rising up through a trapdoor.

There’s also a herb bed that spins around on a carousel and a rustic potting shed that’s crammed with lots of quirky gadgets.

“The design refers to a lot of the great things I appreciate about British culture: quirkiness, invention, humour.” says Gavin.

“This is stepping out. It’s relaxing. I’m not trying to prove anything with it. I’m trying to delight myself.”

A MINI ADVENTURE Kazuyuki Ishihara’s Garage Garden

‘The design refers to a lot of the great things I appreciate about British culture: quirkiness, invention, humour’ “You know they are designed, but at the same time there’s a softness and a flow to them.”

The Artisan gardens, tucked away from the grand show ones on main avenue, always provide plenty of inspiring messages through their planting schemes. The Meningitis Now – Futures Garden, designed by John Everiss, depicts Asclepius, god of medicine, and his five daughters as dramatic sculptures hitting a wall of disease and scaling the next one to recovery.

The centre piece of it is a stunning stone temple

by Tunbridge Wells-based Chilstone Architectural and Ornamental Stonework, which the company generously donated to the Meningitis trust.

The temple was hand crafted in Chilstone cast stone early in the New Year and then put through an antiquing process to give it an aged feel to match the Cotswold stone walls featured in the

rest of the garden.

Like many of Chilstone’s commissioned buildings, it has been a collaborative process between designer and craftsmen in order to create a unique garden experience.

While the usual favourites – think irises, alliums, foxgloves, achillea and salvia – are still very much out in force at Chelsea, there are signs that the line-up is evolving.

Following the triumph of the geum ‘Totally Tangerine’ last year, a lot more designers are revisiting this particular floral variety but this time in a number of colourways.

Pastel colours are also trending but the discerning eye will notice a subtle emphasis on rich shades of green, too. This is partly thanks to a surge of interest in ferns but

My own personal favourite wasn’t one of the big show gardens but an Artisan one by designer Kazuyuki Ishihara and aptly named the Garage Garden. Visitors to Chelsea have come to love his utterly beautiful designs and it does not disappoint with its graceful, Japanese inspired planting.

My wonderful day out ended with a fortuitous meeting with the very lovely Jenny Agutter of The Railway Children fame. We ate lunch together on a picnic bench and chatted to a couple of ladies who had won a competition to attend Press Day at Chelsea.

They said they felt the angels had been smiling on them to have won such a great prize and I have to admit that seeing such a multitude of fabulous gardens which were enhanced by some amazing weather, I too felt the angels were also smiling down on me.

BOXING CLEVER Evergreen planting in The Husqvarna Garden by Charlie Albone

Wednesday 25th May 2016

� PROPERTY SECTION

,,.~ ~l.ir

COOLINGS

English Breakfast Buffet - 6 Items (Normally £4.55)

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Wednesday 25th May 2016

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• The Gardener's Garden Centre THE EXPERIENCE IS GROWING

Herbert Close, Tonbridge, 3 Bedroom End ofTerrace £1,495pcm + Fees Apply

Albert Road, Tonbridge, 3 Bedroom Semi Detached House £1,300pcm + Fees Apply

Accommodation comprises well equipped

Conveniently located for the mainline

kitchen, open plan lounge/dining area and a cloakroom downstairs. Upstairs there are 2 double bedrooms, the master with an en-suite shower room, a further bedroom and a family bathroom. The property has front and rear gardens and comes with 2

further bedroom and bathroom upstairs.

parking spaces to the front of the property.

Outside there is a courtyard garden and

EPCB

permit parking. Available nowi EPC D

Royal Avenue, Tonbridge, 3 Bedroom Semi Detached House £1,250pcm + Fees Apply

Havelock Road, Tonbridge, 2 Bedroom Semi Detached House £1,095pcm + Fees Apply

A 3 bedroom semi detached property that

Situated in the ever popular Slade area of

is within walking distance of the station

Tonbridge is this 2 double bedroom, semi

and High Street. The accommodation

detached house. The accommodation

comprises a through lounge/diner and

comprises of lounge, dining room and

kitchen downstairs, with 3 bedrooms, of

kitchen on the ground floor and 2 double

which 2 are double, and family bathroom

bedrooms and a bathroom on the first

with separate shower upstairs. Outside

floor. Garden. EPC D

there is off road parking, a garage and a rear garden. Available nowi EPC D

Riding Park, Hildenborough, 2 Bedroom Semi Detached House £995pcm + Fees Apply

Greyhound House, Tonbridge, 2 Bedroom Apartment £950pcm + Fees Apply

Newly decorated and carpeted throughout,

Bright and spacious apartment

this 2 bedroom semi detached house in

comprising a large, open plan living

Hilden borough is within walking distance

area with well equipped kitchen, master

of a convenience store, a butchers and a

bedroom with fitted wardrobes and an en-

chemist. The accommodation comprises

suite bathroom, second double bedroom

a lounge/dining room, kitchen, 2 double

and a shower room. Within walking

bedrooms and a bathroom. Large garden.

distance of the High Street and mainline

EPCC

station. Allocated parking space. Available nowlEPCB

St Eanswythe's Court, Tonbridge, 2 Bedroom Apartment £875pcm + Fees Apply

High Street, Tonbridge, 1 Bedroom Flat, £675pcm + Fees Apply

A spacious, 2 double bedroom second

A newly decorated and carpeted

floor apartment situated just a short walk

throughout 2nd floor 1 bedroom flat

from Tonbridge High Street and mainline

located on the main Tonbridge High

station. The accommodation comprises

Street,just a short walk to the mainline

an open plan kitchen, lounge and dining

station. The property is accessed via a

area and there are 2 good size double

communal entrance from the High Street

bedrooms and a modern bathroom. Off-

and the accommodation comprises open

street parking available. Available July.

plan lounge/diner/kitchen, bedroom and

EPCC

shower room. Available nowi EPC C

Mi{fer

McAufey

Estate Agents

Lookin3 to fet this syrin3time?

Auckland Road

£1,475pcm

Stephens Cottages

£975pcm

A newly refurbished, four bedroom, family home close to the town centre, MLS and minutes from the recently developed Grosvenor Park. The property keeps many original features and is set over three floors. There are two bedrooms on the upper ground floor, one large airy double and one single, (which could also be a study). Downstairs, with attractive exposed brick work, the kitchen is large and newly fitted. The utility room has a washing area and w/c and the backdoor opens to a decked garden with room for outdoor furniture. The ground floor also has a reception room with a large window. The top floor has one double, one single bedroom and a modern bathroom. The property has been recently renovated to a high standard and must be viewed to be appreciated. Admin fee is £325 inc VAT for up to two tenants.

Freshly decorated!! Charming mid-terrace cottage with two bedrooms. Perfect for a young family. The ground floor comprises a living room with character fireplace and under stairs cupboard. There is a large well-appointed kitchen-diner with plenty of storage. White goods are provided and the back door gives access to the rear. Upstairs there is a modern bathroom with Jack and Jill access, one large double bedroom and a large single bedroom - could house a bunk bed. A traditional 'back yard' with storage shed is accessed from the kitchen and to the front the living room opens onto a pleasant garden with decking and paving. Its central location gives easy access to both town and MLS. Available immediately.

Admin fee is £325 inc VAT for up to two tenants.

Hamilton House

Clare's Court

£ 1,200pcm

Set in delightful communal grounds, this newly refurbished, two bedroom apartment is located in the sought after St John's area, within easy walking distance of the town centre. From the communal hallway, stairs lead down to the apartment which has hard flooring throughout. The accommodation comprises; spacious entrance hallway with storage cupboard and space for desk/bureau; large living room with double aspect garden views; kitchen with large larder; double bedroom with fitted wardrobes; second bedroom; bathroom with electric shower over bath. The gardens are a particular feature and there is parking to both front and rear of the building. Admin fee is £325 inc VAT for up to two tenants.

Te(: (ettin3s@mcau(eymiffer.com

£ 1,200pcm

Stunning, ground floor apartment in one of the most sought after local areas.

Cambridge Gardens is a few minutes' walk from the station, the town and the famous Pantiles. This spacious apartment has a well-appointed, fitted kitchen, a large dual aspect lounge with bay window and two bedrooms, (one double, one small double). There is an en suite shower room plus a range of built in cupboards to the master bedroom and also a family bathroom. The hallway has a large storage cupboard. The immaculately presented property is approached via a well kept communal hallway and has off road parking. Sorry, no pets. Admin fee is £325 inc VAT for up to two tenants.

01892 614777

www.mcaureymiffer.com

sa(es@mcaureymi((er.com

Tunbridge Wells

Andrews >

andrewsonline.co.uk

Middle Walk, TN2 3HH Guide £379,950 Extended 5 bedroom family home with integral garage and home office/workshop.

Energy Efficiency Rating: D

£155,000 Claremont Court, TN2 3XN Buy to let opportunity currently let at £615 pcm. One bedroom apartment literally yards from High Brooms Station Energy Efficiency Rating: C

St Lukes Road, TN4 9JH

Guide £289,950 - £299,950 Nursery Road, TN4 9BY Stroll to the mainline station from this three bedroom home with first floor study area.

Energy Efficiency Rating: D

£1,400 pcm

This three bedroom detached home is positioned on a plot that gives surprising degree of privacy. The first feature is the garage with further parking for another two cars, off road parking for three vehicles? On entering the home, there is a useful entrance hobby that leads to the main reception area. This is open plan with defined space for living and dining as well as double aspect looking onto the established gardens. The kitchen is fitted and has rear access to the patio area. Upstairs there are three bedrooms and a bathroom. The gardens surrounds the property and features a raised decked area, mature plants/shrubs and a green house.

Energy Efficiency Rating: D

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

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

Chiddinghurst

Guide price ÂŁ1.65m

Edenbridge 5.5 miles, Sevenoaks 5.7miles, Tonbridge 7.7 miles, Tunbridge Wells 10 miles, Gatwick Airport 21 miles, Junction 5 of M25/M26 8 miles A handsome late Victorian house set amidst wonderful gardens and grounds, surrounded by glorious countryside in a stunningrural location.

Entrance Hall I Dining Room I Drawing Room I Study/Playroom I Cloak/Utility Room I Larder I Kitchen/Breakfast Room I Five Bedrooms I Two Bathrooms I Barn style timber Triple Garage with room over I Five Stables I Garden Stores I Summer House I Greenhouse I Hard Tennis Court I Outdoor Heated Swimming Pool I Formal Gardens and Paddocks I About 5.7 acres

Sevenoaks 01732 807801

sevenoaks@struttandparker.corn

West House, Goudhurst

Guide price ÂŁ995,000

Marden Station 5 miles, Paddock Wood station 7.5 miles, Cranbrook 6 miles, Tunbridge Wells 10 miles, Ashford International Station 23.5 miles.

An attractive Grade II listed 16th Century village house with superb family accommodation Hall I Drawing room I Kitchen/dining room I Family/play room I Kitchen/breakfast room I Large walk-in pantry I Utility room I Boot room I Master bedroom with ensuite and dressing room Four further bedrooms I Study I Family bathroom I Cellar I Off Road Parking for several cars

Sevenoaks 01732 807801

sevenoaks@struttandparker.corn

� PROPERTY SECTION

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Impartial Investment, Pension and Tax Planning

• Call 01892 655973 today for a FREE appointment

Plenty of further potential in this lengthened family home

T

HIS impressive family home in rural Matfield offers approximately 3,800 sq ft of accommodation and could provide a separate annexe if desired. The current owners have lived at the property for more than 35 years and have extended it to provide versatile family accommodation.

On the ground floor there is a spacious kitchen/ breakfast room, a family room, dining room, drawing room, utility room and cloakroom,

along with an integral garage which leads into a games room. The first floor offers a wide variety of possibilities. There are two bedrooms with walk-in wardrobes and en-suite bathrooms, two further en-suite bedrooms, and two more bedrooms served by a family bathroom. Stairs in one of the bedrooms lead up to a useful loft room.

The sweeping driveway has the benefit of double electric gates and ample off-road parking.

There are two entrances to the front of the

house, increasing the property’s versatility, and the integral garage and games room could be converted into further accommodation subject to planning permission.

The house is centrally located in a substantial plot of approximately one acre, principally laid to lawn with fencing to all sides, mature trees, a large patio area, a fish pond, a detached double garage (in addition to the integral garage) and a double shed, both with light and power.

AT A GLANCE THE LARCHES CRYALS LANE, BRENCHLEY n Extended family home n Versatile accommodation n Rural location n Annexe potential n Two front entrances n Hallway n Kitchen/breakfast room n Family room n Dining room n Drawing room n Utility room n Cloakroom n Four bedrooms with en-suite facilities n Two further bedrooms n Family bathroom n Integral garage and games room n Further detached double garage n Gardens of one acre

£1,400,000 For sale through Firefly Properties 01892 838363 www.fireflyproperties.co.uk

‘The sweeping driveway has the benefit of double electric gates and ample off-road parking’

Wednesday 25th May 2016

••

~~

•

iJl1iFLY PROPERTIES

BY CAROL PRIER

Modern mid terraced famil y home with accommodation comprising of three bedrooms with wa rdrobes and en-suite showe r room to master bedroom plus famil y bathroom, spacious living room, fitted kitchen and ground floor cloakroom. Gas central heating and double glazing. Single garage ideal for storage and utility area. EPC: D

Fabulou s opportunity to acquire an elegant and spacious Victorian se mi-detached famil y house in need of a cosmetic update. The accommodation comprises 2 large receptions, 3 bedrooms (2 doubles and a large single) a good size kitchen, ground floor bathroom and first floor WC. Charming courtyard garden with useful workshop. EPC: E

Beautiful 1950s famil y home offering in excess of 1 acre of grounds plus an additional 2.2 acres of communal land. 4 bedrooms all with en suite bathrooms, 3 receptions to include conservatory, kitchen/breakfast room, utility and cloakroom.

Detached annex building with services and triple bay garage.

EPC: E

Beautifully presented 4 bedroom, detached 1930s family property situated in the heart of Pembury village. Accommodation comprising 2 reception rooms, large kitchen/breakfast room, ground floor cloakroom, garage with electric door and utility area to the rear. Beautiful master bedroom with en-suite, 3 further bedrooms and family bathroom. Garden room to the rear which is ideal for alfresco dining. EPC: D

Avery smart detached family home. Light and airy accommodation comprising entrance hall, cloakroom, spacious sitting/dining room and kitchen. To the first floor there are four bedrooms and a bathroom. The front and rear gardens are we ll stocked with mature shrubs and trees. Off road parking and detached. EPC: D

If yo u are looking for an idyllic country retreat then this could be for you. This Grade II listed cottage is located within wa lking distance of Brenchley village centre yet only 2.5 miles to Paddock Wood mainline station. The property boasts a beautiful inglenook fireplace with wood stove, bespoke fitted kitchen and bedroom furniture , contemporary showe r room.

Secluded low maintenance garden.

We are delighted to prese nt this beautifully decorated attached family home in the heart of Matfield offering stunning kitchen/family room, 5 bedrooms, set out over three floors with en-suite to master bedroom.Ample off road parking and far reaching views over field s to the rear which offers a garden of circa 200ft. EPC: C

Brookside is a grade II listed detached famil y home.

Accommodation comprising 2 reception rooms, both boasting inglenook fireplaces, large kitchen/breakfast room, cloakroom, storage area, 3 bedrooms to include master bedroom to the first floor with en-suite, famil y bathroom, and bedroom four to the secon d floor. EPC: D

This fabulous detached family home offers an impressive (approx) 3,800 sq.ft. of extremely versatile accommodation, providing the opportunity to have a separate annex/duplex apartment. 6 Bedrooms, (4 with en-suite), 3 Receptions, large fitted kitchen/breakfast room, separate utility, cloakroom.

Integral garage with games room and cloakroom. Further detached double garage and and large shed. EPC: D

Cornice Cottage stands in excess of two acres which could lend itse lf to equine facilitie s. Accommodation comprising three receptions, four bedrooms to include master bedroom with en suite, attached triple garage which has potential, su bject to planning, to convert to 'a nnex or wo rkshop'. EPC: F

� PROPERTY SECTION

In association with EJ FINANCIAL LTD

Impartial Investment, Pension and Tax Planning

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

ASHGROVE HOUSE LONDON ROAD, HILDENBOROUGH n Versatile family house n Set well back from the road n Annexe and possible au pair suite n Entrance hall n Sitting room n Dining room n Kitchen/conservatory n Cloakroom/utility n Annexe with sitting room, kitchen, bedroom, shower room and garden room n Five bedrooms n Bathroom, wet room and shower room n First floor kitchenette n Formal gardens, paddock, woodland n Swimming pool n Long drive and parking

Imposing Hildenborough property has annexe, pool and conservatory

A

SHGROVE HOUSE is an imposing property set well back from the road and approached via a long driveway. Lying on the outskirts of Hildenborough and Tonbridge, it is ideally located for commuters and stands in grounds of around two acres.

The property is currently arranged as a five-bedroom detached family home incorporating a self-contained ground floor annexe.

The main house comprises an entrance hall, a dining room, a cloakroom, a sitting room and a stunning open-plan kitchen/conservatory which overlooks the farmland beyond.

The annexe has its own sitting room, a garden room, a bedroom with en-suite and a kitchen – along with a convenient interconnecting door through to the sitting room of the main house.

On the first floor, which also includes a possible au-pair suite, there are five bedrooms, a wet room, shower room, bathroom and kitchenette.

This floor could be easily rearranged to allow separate access to each room from the principal landing or it could remain as it is.

Outside, the property stands in its own formal grounds and has a swimming pool, ample parking for several vehicles and a long drive. There is an additional paddock and area of woodland.

‘Lying on the outskirts of Hildenborough and Tonbridge, it is ideally located for commuters and stands in grounds of around two acres’ Wednesday 25th May 2016

n Approximately 2 acres

Offers in excess of £850,000 For sale through Bracketts Tonbridge 01732 350503 www.bracketts.co.uk

Tunbridge Wells

Monthly Rental Of £975

Tunbridge Wells £725,000 - £750,000 A beautifully presented and significantly extended three storey detached home, set well back from the road on the popular south side of the town. 3 receptions rooms, kitchen, 5 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms. Landscaped gardens with summerhouse. EPC: D

A spacious and light top floor 2 bedroom apartment located in the popular St Johns area of town. Modern kitchen & bathroom, 2 double bedrooms & living room with Juliet balcony. Gas central heating & allocated parking space. Available end June. EPC: C.

Groombridge £345,000 Occupying a prime central position within the picturesque and popular village of Groombridge, a late Victorian end of terrace house, which is immaculately presented. Sitting room, kitchen/dining room, 2 bedrooms, wet room. Pretty enclosed rear garden. EPC: D

A recently refurbished 2 bedroom semi-detached cottage. Modern kitchen, spacious dining/ living room, 2 bedrooms & modern bathroom. Enclosed rear garden, single garage & parking space. Gas central heating.Available mid June. EPC: E.

Tunbridge Wells £299,950 A well maintained purpose-built ground floor apartment situated off Mount Ephraim.

Sitting/dining room, kitchen/breakfast room, 2 bedrooms, shower room. Allocated parking space and beautiful communal gardens. No onward chain. EPC: C

Tunbridge Wells Monthly Rental Of £850 A newly refurbished and extremely spacious I bedroom flat in the centre of town. Kitchen breakfast room with breakfast bar, 18' living room, very large bedroom & shower room.

Laminate wooden flooring & gas central heating. Available now. EPC: F.

Flimwell

Monthly Rental Of £895

--

1'<MJProperty

Your local independent Estate Agent

...contactable 7 days a week

Detached 3 bedroom house with 22 ' Living room, dining room, kitchen with underfloor heating, ensuite to main bedroom and further family bathroom.

Partially walled pretty rear garden. EPC E

3 Bedroom refurbished semi-detached ; Lounge with box bay window to front, dining room, modern fitted kitchen, main bedroom with en-suite shower room, 2 further bedrooms and modern fitted bathroom.

Double glazing, gas fired heating and rear garden. NO CHAIN. EPC E.

A pair of single garages situated in Rusthall. The two garages are attached to each other but not attached to any other building, so could be adapted or reconfigured into a double garage if preferred (subject to the usual planning consents etc being sought).

2 bedroom terrace cottage in an elevated position in Denny Bottom. Living room, open through to dining room, fitted kitchen, rear porch/ utility space, 2 double bedrooms and a family bathroom with separate shower.

Double glazing, gas fired heating and a stunning terrace garden with a garden room and sun deck above. EPC D

www.kmjproperty.co.uk ar::I Find us on â&#x20AC;˘ 111 Facebook

01892 515188

<i)nTheMarketcom

sales@kmjproperty.co.uk

MADDISONS R E SID EN TI A L

~

THE SUNDAY TIMES

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

THE alllll.TIMES

Rolls-Royce Motor Cars

£1,200,000

Windmill Hill, Brenchley

Hatmill Lane, Brenchley

£1,195,000

A most imprcssh·c 5 bedroom family home located in the heart of the desirable ,·illagc of Brenchley. Extended and imprm·ed by the current 0\\11crs, this lm·cly residence offers a rare opportunity to combine contemporary lh'ing with traditional , ·i llagc life.

A beautiful family home close to the popular ,·illagc Brenchley in Kent. A substantial property, this house offers 6 bedrooms, 4 reception rooms, a la rge garden, heated swimming pool and fabulous outdoor entertaining space, a ll presented in first class condition throughout.

The Pantiles, Royal Tunbridge Wells

Vale Road, Southborough

£900,000

A fabulous, spacious triplex apartment in an cm'iablc position in the ,·cry heart of Tunbridge \Velis coming to the market for the first time in just under 25 years. Offering 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, a spacious dine-in kitchen and a lm·cly main reception room "·ith a balcony m·crlooking the historic Pantiles, this is an absolute gem of a property.

Bayham Road, Royal Tunbridge Wells

£795,000

Coming to the market for the first time in nearly .10 years. a charming former gamcskccpcr·s lodge loca ted on a popular residential road on the south side of Tunbridge \\'ells. This cottage has .1/4 bedrooms. 2 bathrooms. 2 reception rooms. conscrn1tory. separate utility room and beautiful. mrnrd "·inning gardens.

£715,000

A truly lm·cly, detached property located on a quiet road ideally situated for amenities and the prestigious Tunbridge \Velis grammar schools. Offering bathrooms, .1 reception rooms, off-street parking, a garage and a lm·cly rear independent studio/,rnrkshop, this is an excellent family home , presented in throughout.

access to local 5 bedrooms, .1 garden "·ith an excellent order

Upper Postern Lane, Tudeley

£1,100,000

A truly beautiful 4 bedroom barn c01wcrsion set at the cn<l of a prin1tc road "·ith n1ultcd ceilings. a fabulous galleried landing and .1 generous reception rooms. creating a ,rnndcrfully spacious family home. Slightly clc,·atc<l an<l set in three quarters of an acre. this lmdy barn is surrounded by farmland "·ith glorious ,·ic"·s across open countryside.

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

MADDISONS RESIDE N TIAL

~

THE SUNDAY TIMES

THE alllll.TIMES

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

Rolls-Royce Motor Cars

Deborah Richards of Maddisons Residential Winner of The Times of Tunbridge Wells Business Awards 2016

Entrepreneur of the Year "We are all truly delighted to have won this prestigious award. When I established Maddisons over three years ago, I had a real vision and energy to create what I knew would be a market leading, truly client focused estate agency. To have this passion recognised by the judges at these prestigious awards is simply wonderful. Thank you to the judging panel and everyone involved in the awards for a sensational evening."

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

 PROPERTY SECTION

In association with EJ FINANCIAL LTD

Impartial Investment, Pension and Tax Planning

• Call 01892 655973 today for a FREE appointment

Stunning setting for extended period home

AT A GLANCE

C

APEL CROSS is a fine Grade II listed house set on the outskirts of the village of Horsmonden. Extended and sympathetically refurbished by its current owners, this lovely family home retains a wealth of period features and offers beautifully presented accommodation arranged over three floors, along with a useful cellar.

The house opens to an entrance hall, and there are drawing and sitting rooms which both enjoy views over the gardens. The former has a pretty open fireplace and the sitting room has an

inglenook fireplace with inset gel-burning stove.

Also on this floor is a dining room, as well as a study and cloakroom. The kitchen/breakfast room incorporates a timber-framed extension with full-length glazed windows. There is a range of cupboards, a central island and integrated appliances including an electric two-oven Aga with AIMS (Aga Intelligent Management System).

A utility room completes the ground floor.

Arranged on the first floor are four bedrooms, served by two stylish bathrooms and a shower room. Two additional bedrooms and an en-suite bathroom are located on the second floor.

Capel Cross is approached over a shared drive

which leads to an electric gate. Beyond the drive there is a parking area and a stable block with four stables and a hay store, a hard-standing yard continues to the tack room and generous open-bay barn. Secondary access to a substantial parking area can be gained from Grovehurst Lane.

The beautiful gardens include gently sloping lawns with an array of mature trees, hedging and shrubs, continuing towards a spring-fed pond.

There is also a charming courtyard garden and an all-weather tennis court.

Two post and rail paddocks are located to either side of the drive with a further two and a half acre field. In all, the grounds total just under six acres.

CAPEL CROSS GROVEHURST LANE, HORSMONDEN ■ Grade II listed family house ■ Extended, refurbished, well presented ■ Period features ■ Entrance hall ■ Drawing room ■ Dining room ■ Sitting room ■ Study ■ Kitchen/breakfast room ■ Utility room ■ Cloakroom ■ Cellar ■ Master bedroom with en-suite bathroom ■ Three further first floor bedrooms ■ Bathroom ■ Shower room ■ Two attic bedrooms, one en-suite ■ Mature gardens ■ Tennis court ■ Stable block ■ Detached barn with tack room ■ Three fields ■ Drive and two parking areas ■ Total grounds just under 6 acres

£1,495,000 For sale through Savills Cranbrook 01580 720161 www.savills.co.uk

Wednesday 25th May 2016

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Pembury: 01892 822880

Tonbridge: 01732 771616

Lettings: 01732 771616

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www.l,kestatea1ents.com

South borough • Detached House • 3/4 Bedrooms • Kitchen/ Dining Roo m

Southborough • Peri od 3 Bedroom Apartm ent • Private Rear Gard en • Lounge/Dining Roo m with Open Fire

South borough • End of Terrace of 3 • 2 Double Bedrooms • We ll Presented

£580,000 - £620,000 • Southerly As pect Rear Gard en • Driveway & Garage • Energy Efficiency Rating: D

Tunbridge Wells • 3 Bedroom Semi Detached • Sought After St Johns Locati on • Co nve rted Loft Area

Guide Price: £495,000 • GFCH, Doubl e Glazing • Off Road Parking & Garage • En ergy Efficiency Rating: D

£295,000 Tunbridge Wells • Share of Freehold • On Road Parking • En ergy Efficiency Rating: E

• 2 Bedroom Gr FI Apartm ent • Popul ar St Johns Locati on • Double Gl azing, GFCH

£299,950 Tunbridge Wells • 70' Approx Rear Garden • En Suite & Shower Room • En ergy Efficiency Rating: tbc

• 3 Bed Exte nd ed Semi Detached • Popular St Johns Locati on • Double Glazing, GFCH

Tun bridge Wells Office 01892 511211 tun bridgewel ls @wooda ndpi lcher.co.u k Southborough Office 01892 511311 South boroug h@woodandpilcher.co.u k

NAEA

£267,500 • Delightful Co mmunal Gardens • Al located Parking Space • En ergy Efficiency Rating: B

£500,000 - £525,000 • Downstairs Cloa kro om • Garage and Driveway • En ergy Efficiency Rating: C

~ / \ The Property ~Ombudsman

(i)nTheMarket,om

woodandpilcher.co.uk

Tunbridge Wells • 1 Bedroom • Off Road Parking • Ce ntral Location

£675 PCM • Ava ilabl e June • En ergy Efficiency Rating: D • Age nt's Fees Apply

Rusthall • 2 Doubl e Bedrooms • Low Maintenance Rear Garden • Village Locati on

£900 PCM • Ava ilabl e July • En ergy Efficiency Rating: D • Age nt's Fees Apply

Tunbridge Wells • 1 Bedroo m • Modern Fitted Kitchen • All ocated Parking Space

£900 PCM • Ava ilabl e July • En ergy Efficiency Rating: B • Agent's Fees Apply

Other offices in Crowborough, Heathfield, Tonbridge & associated London Branch

Greenview Crescent, Hildenborough

Asking Price £595,000 George Street, Tonbridge

A stunning four bedroom detached bungalow which has been much improved by the current vendors. Well presented with generous accommodation set within a charming residential location.

Horns Lodge Lane, Tonbridge

A charming two bedroom, three storey period style house ideally located for Tonbridge Station. Well presented internally this property is offered to the market chain free.

Asking Price £1,425,000 Cornwallis Avenue, Tonbridge

A stunning chain free five bedroom barn conversion in an exceptional countryside location, with tranquil views across the surrounded fields. Tonbridge town centre is only 5 minutes away - with direct trains into London.

Guide Price £275,000 - £285,000

OIEO £700,000

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

More like this wanted!

Please call to make appointment for free sales valuation

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

Sales: Tel 01892 530109 Lettings: Tel 01892 548049

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

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PROPERTY SECTION �

‘The property maintains traditional characteristics which can be seen in the feature windows’

AT A GLANCE

Newly renovated hi-spec house to let in Kilndown

S

TEEPLE HOUSE is situated within an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, set off a country lane in the heart of the village of Kilndown. Freshly renovated and stylishly designed throughout, this contemporary and bright home offers plenty of space and accommodation that is ideal for modern family living.

The house opens into an entrance hall with cloakroom, which leads through into a spacious open-plan kitchen/ breakfast room with contemporary white units, an island unit with breakfast bar and quality fitted appliances. There is room to use this space as a kitchen/family/dining room and

sliding doors open to the rear garden. Also on the ground floor is a separate reception with solid oak wood flooring and bay window. This room leads through to a newly built study, overlooking the pretty garden.

The property maintains traditional characteristics despite its renovations, which can be seen in the feature windows in the stairway. First floor accommodation provides five good sized bedrooms, two of which have modern en-suite bath/ shower rooms, as well as a separate family bathroom.

Externally, there is plenty of off-road parking and an elevated rear garden overlooking the church.

STEEPLE HOUSE ROGERS ROUGH ROAD, KILNDOWN

n Study

n Renovated family house

n Guest bedroom with

n Set in heart of the village

n Master bedroom with en-suite bathroom en-suite shower room

n Stylishly designed

n Three further bedrooms

n High spec

n Family bathroom

n Entrance hall

n Off-road parking

n Cloakroom

n Rear garden and patio

n Spacious kitchen/family/ dining room

n To let unfurnished

n Reception room

n Available from the beginning of August

£2,500 per month To let through Savills Lettings 01892 507050 www.savills.co.uk

Wednesday 25th May 2016

nearby Front Station.

Available with a range of incentives* to help make your dream move happen Priced at ÂŁ1,150,000

DUKES GRANGE, BAYHAM ROAD, ROYAL TUNBRIDGE WELLS TN2 SHU

CALL 01892 628 676 CALA.CO.UK

TWT25MAY "Availability of other incentives/offers subjed to lender's criteria and CALA's discretion. Our range of incentives are not all available in one purchase, they represent a choice of incentives and cannot be used in conjunction with each other and are available on selected plots only. Visit cala.co.uk/terms for full terms and conditions and purchasing criteria. Telephone calls within the British Isles will be charged at local rate. Telephone calls may divert to a mobile service in which case call charges may vary. Prices are accurate at time of going to print. Images shown are taken from previous developments and feature, fittings, decor, flooring and soft furnishings which are not included as standard in a CALA home. Images are used to suggest possible finishes which can be achieved in your home at an additional cost. Please consult a Sales Advisor for further details. Some images have been enhanced.

BUSINESS AWARDS 

73

Young Business Person of the Year Category description: The Young Business Person of the Year Award recognises dynamic individuals aged 30 or under running a business. They will be able to demonstrate great success and drive in growing their company.

Name of winning individual: Jenny Kitchen, Yoyo Design Location: 90 Calverley Road, Tunbridge Wells, Kent. TN1 2UN www.yoyodesign.com What the judges said: “Yoyo is one of the top five boutique creative agencies in the UK. They deliver world-class solutions for ambitious brands, whilst building longlasting relationships. Jenny Kitchen has achieved this for

the company by leading a highly motivated team with the philosophy ‘deliver quality, be successful, be happy.’”

Company description: Jenny Kitchen has led multi-awardwinning digital agency Yoyo Design since 2011. As one of the top five boutique creative agencies in the UK, Jenny’s company has a staff count of 17. In 2014/2015, Yoyo Design saw an annual turnover of £736,094. Her biggest projects have been overseeing visual merchandising guides for M&S and leading the digital agency for RNLI. After working in marketing for six years, Jenny explained her motivations to start Yoyo Design were: “To create something that was focused on delivering world-class solutions, building a place where people loved coming to work, being successful and being happy.”

SPONSORED BY:

Russell Fewins Commercial Facilities Solutions

New Business of the Year Category description: This category is for those businesses which were founded in the last two years with a bang (start date after January 1, 2014) and are really getting noticed for what they do.

Name of winning business: Monita Cheung Design Location: Tunbridge Wells www.monitacheung.com

SPONSORED BY:

Infinity Group

Entrepreneur of the Year Category description: An entrepreneur is more than a business person. Entrepreneurs turn their ideas into opportunities and may run one or more businesses. These people are innovative and have turned their big ideas into successful ventures.

Name of winning individual: Deborah Richards, Maddisons Residential Location: Royal Victoria House 51-55 The Pantiles Tunbridge Wells Kent TN2 5TE www.maddisonsresidential.co.uk What the judges said: “Deborah Richards has shown real entrepreneurial skill since founding Maddisons Residential three years ago. Using

What the judges said: “This company has seen impressive growth through researching the market in order to identify customers and locations for the maximum return. In a very short period of time Monita Cheung Design has

gone from start-up to a viable and financially sustainable business.”

Company description: Interior design company Monita Cheung Design is pioneered by young entrepreneur Monita Cheung and has been growing rapidly since she started it in 2014.

Working by herself from her design studio at home, Monita has produced a well-established interior design service with an annual turnover in 2014/2015 of £75,380. Along the way she has won the KBB Young Designer Award for Bathrooms and has been a finalist for other prestigious bathroom design awards. Offering a professional design and supply service for bathrooms, kitchens and interiors, Monita strives to achieve the very best design to suit her clients’ individual needs.

her extensive experience in the private banking industry and her flair for renovation, she has succeeded in setting up a fast-growing firm.”

Company description: Established by former Coutts employee Deborah Richards three years ago, Maddisons has 95 per cent of its new customers come through current client referrals.

In addition, the estate agency has a fall-through rate of just four per cent – ten times less than the industry average. These achievements come despite Ms Richards having no previous experience of running her own business. The company now employs five members of staff with a view to moving into the world of lettings and into bigger premises, while always improving the residential sales experience.

SPONSORED BY:

Ansacom

Wednesday 25th May 2016

74  BUSINESS AWARDS

Outstanding Business of the Year Category description: This is the ultimate award of all the categories and will go to the business that can show outstanding initiative, boldness and imagination in their enterprise, as well as sound management practices. The winner will be able to show they have a clear strategy to invest in the skills of their staff and will be expected to demonstrate sustainable growth combined with a degree of commercial success that is exceptional for the size of the business.

Name of winning business: Childrensalon Location: 9 High St, Royal Tunbridge Wells, Tunbridge Wells TN1 1UL www.childrensalon.com What the judges said: “This highly successful

company has consistently demonstrated why it deserves to win this category. Its strong growth rate, sound finances and international reach have helped put Tunbridge Wells on the map as a place to do business.”

Company description: This long-established British Heritage brand is now the world’s premier online destination for luxury children’s fashion. Established in 1952 and online since 1999, the family-run business has received many accolades in recent years for both the quality of its service and the strength of its finances.

With profits of £14million estimated for 2016, an increase of almost £4million on the previous year, the firm has been widely recognised as one of the fastest-growing companies in the UK. With sales surging over 700 per cent since 2011, and plans to more than double the workforce within the next two years to 450 employees, this company is one to watch.

SPONSORED BY:

Parfitt Cresswell Solicitors

SPONSORED BY:

MJ Exhibitions

Readers’ Choice Award The Readers’ Choice Award was a little bit different from the rest. We wanted to get Times of Tunbridge Wells readers involved by asking you to nominate a local business or business person who consistently delivers outstanding customer service. Dozens of individuals and local businesses were nominated for the award, reflecting the vibrant business culture and high quality service of Tunbridge Wells.

Business Hero of the Year Category description: Nominees for this award have gone the extra mile in their job to achieve something amazing, or overcome adversity in their professional life while at the same time continuing to deliver an excellent service.

These people are ambassadors for the borough of Tunbridge Wells and a role model for their colleagues.

Name of winning individual: Paul Chapman, Signal UK Location: Southwood Road, Rusthall, Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN4 8SN www.signal-uk.co.uk What the judges said: “Signal UK have gone above and beyond in the way they have

Wednesday 25th May 2016

supported Pickering Cancer Drop-In Centre for almost a decade – helping out with fundraising activities and providing numerous products to support the charity.

Company description: For nine years Signal UK has provided The Pickering Cancer Drop-In Centre with their leaflets, posters, T-shirts, sweatshirts, bags, banners, badges and logos cost-free. Run by Paul Chapman and Gary Rose, both of whom have been affected by cancer in the family, this community-minded designto-print firm has saved Pickering thousands of pounds over the years. Polly Taylor, who runs the centre, said: “If anybody deserves to be nominated as heroes, these guys do. They certainly are Pickering’s hero and have the biggest hearts of anybody I know.”

SPONSORED BY:

Easistore

Name of winning individual: Jez Timms, Torpedo Juice Location: The Studio, 26 Longmeads, Tunbridge Wells, Kent, TN3 0AX www.torpedojuice.co.uk What the readers said: “Consistently gives over and above what is asked for.”

“Is able to deliver way beyond expectation and not only is creative but gives great business advice.”

“Great old-fashioned values and full of integrity. Highly recommended.”

On the menu at...

FOOD AND DRINK ď Ž

Strawberry, peach and basil salad

Slow-roasted pork belly

Half-dozen Pacific rock oysters

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Pan-seared scallops with crushed peas, wild garlic, flowers and bacon crisp

Warm mackerel salad

The Abergavenny Arms, Frant Rd, Tunbridge Wells TN3 9DB | 01892 750 233 | www.abergavennyarms.co.uk

Wednesday 25th May 2016

76 ■ ADVERTISING FEATURE

From field to fork at The Warren Based in the High Street, The Warren promotes a ‘nose to tail’ food philosophy and serves the finestquality produce the Garden of England has to offer. From menu highlights to alfresco dining, we find out more about how the restaurant is making a name for itself on the local culinary scene SITTING PRETTY The restaurant has hints of a Versailles country farm house

TELL US the background of the restaurant Chris and Martin are the owners of the Crowborough Warren Estate, just bordering Ashdown Forest. The 650-acre land is rich in livestock, from Sussex cattle to wild boar. The idea then came about to combine both restaurant and farm to produce a free-range and locally sourced menu, while helping the farm become more efficient. The restaurant itself has undergone a complete refurbishment, featuring an eclectic range of pictures and taxidermy. The style brings together hints of Versailles country farm house and Bavarian hunting lodge, embellished by flashes of Communist-socialist chic.

SERVED WITH RELISH Lamb burger with gruyère and special tomato sauce

Wednesday 25th May 2016

In what ways does working with Crowborough Warren Estate benefit the quality on offer?

By working closely with the Warren Estate manager and farm staff, our game dealer Johnnie manages the stock rotation of animals on the farm to table, and the aging of all the cuts of meat from the field to the plate. This is not an easy task, but it allows us to be generous with our portions, and gives complete control over our high-quality produce, which means we know the product is shown the respect it deserves and goes straight from nature to the table. That is what great food is supposed to be about.

What are some of the key dishes that diners of some of the dishes can easily be matched by can expect to see on the menu? our range of Scottish and Japanese whiskeys, The dishes that we offer at The Warren are along with our diverse wine selection. We provide utilising as much seasonal produce unique Israeli wines – Clos de Gat from as possible from our estate and Judean Hills – along with classic surrounding area. For example, French favourites, Pouilly-Fuissé, right now we have wild Sancerre, Côtes du Rhône garlic foraged from the and Châteauneuf-du-Pape. estate, which we use in We serve petits fours with potato gnocchi with Perk and Pearl tea, coffee celeriac purée, baby from our professional leeks and a fricassee Nespresso machine, and of wild mushrooms. As then there’s our range of asparagus is at its peak at Havana cigars on our roof the moment, our chef is terrace. proud to use Groombridge Farm asparagus, which is How does your chef cut fresh for the restaurant bring his own flair into the when we order it, ensuring kitchen? absolute best quality for our Our head chef, Johnnie Forbes, has Black bream with pink fir apple diners. We showcase this simply brought together the initial outline potatoes, baby leeks and capers with a poached hen’s egg and of setting up a restaurant and farm hollandaise sauce. working in synchronisation together, having We always have an ever-changing variety of overseen the refurbishment in the kitchen and cuts of meat from the livestock and game on the front-of-house areas. Working with him is Raul estate, with freshly prepared garnishes every day, Savi, his dedicated, long-term sous chef, who is as our suppliers work closely with our chef to very talented. make sure we have the best of what is available at the markets on the day, and try to offer ‘We try to offer ingredients that our ingredients that our guests may never have tried guests may never have heard of’ or heard of.

Some examples of what you might find on offer are our home oak-smoked salmon with Johnnie cooks with a classical approach, while lemon, capers and bread, pan-seared fillet of using innovative, modern cooking techniques, Warren Estate beef with Dorset snails, braised without losing touch with traditional values or the in Burgundy wine with smoked beef boulangère simplicity of great ingredients. He and his brigade potatoes and Périgneaux sauce, or roast haunch prepare almost everything we serve, making of venison with braised red cabbage, creamed all stocks and sauces from scratch, butchering potatoes and a classic sauce au poivre vert. in-house for absolute control, smoking our own meat and fish, and making our own ice creams Talk us through some of the tipples you’ll and sorbets, petits fours and a variety of different have on offer to accompany the food snacks, served in our cocktail bar.

An aperitif of Court Garden English sparkling Having worked with some of the top restaurateurs can be enjoyed, along with cocktails from the in the industry, like Marco Pierre White and Pierre carefully crafted menu. At the table, the richness Koffmann, Johnnie has an excellent knowledge and

ADVERTISING FEATURE 

We also have spectacular biodynamic apple juice, perry and cider from Brambletye Farm in Ashdown Forest, produced by Steven Bowler, who is incredibly knowledgeable about his produce.

The juices and ciders are made using select single varieties of class A-grade apples and pears, which are bottle-matured to perfection using just organic fruit, yeast and time, with nothing added or taken away. It is simply brilliant.

We use High Weald Dairy cheeses for our cheese board, which is another example of how we showcase local produce.

Being based in the Garden of England must make all the difference…

Following in the footsteps of historic foragers, we aim to harvest SATISFIED CUSTOMER the local flora and fauna.

Taking chickenwe satay is SHEDDING LIGHT advantageBalinese of the estate, provide one of theseasonal tapas choices Chef Johnnie Forbes hopes the restaurant with to change diners’ outlooks ingredients whenever possible.

On the menu, you will notice that there is a heavy presence of experience, is a huge asset to us at the restaurant belly – giving a contrast of the texture and seasonal produce, for example wild garlic leaves, and we are very fortunate to have him. flavour of different cuts of meat. stinging nettles, elderberries and flowers, apples, plums and chestnuts.

You embrace a ‘nose to tail’ philosophy Do you use a lot of local produce and work They’re all gathered by owners Chris and – what does this mean in terms of your with many local suppliers?

Martin, who strongly appreciate the importance Our chef has already had strong bonds and menus, and how does it enhance the overall of provenance and freshness, which they deliver dining experience? relationships with a lot of local suppliers daily to the kitchen.

The basis of what our chef does is to before opening the restaurant, utilise everything that he receives a network which he is And what can customers expect from your without any waste, to show continuously expanding. summer dining options? respect for the animals that The fish and seafood that Our diners can choose from our à la carte menu we serve at The Warren, we serve is supplied by and a menu du jour, served at lunchtime. All hence our approach of expert fish merchant of our menus include complimentary amuse‘field to fork’ and ‘nose Chris Fenech, of MCB bouche and bread and butter upon arrival, and a Seafoods, based in to tail’. selection of petits fours at the end of your meal.

Many cuts of meat and Newhaven. They have All of our menus are regularly changing, with offal offer an opportunity their own fleet of boats fresh produce and dishes each day. We usually to make delicious fare fishing the south coast, have an offering of different specials available that has been forgotten and are the only supplier from the best ingredients on offer to our chef on in recent times, and our in the UK that hold the day. Our menu du jour starts at £10.95 for one chef hopes to revive these ‘Friends of the Sea’ status, course, and the à la carte menu prices start at and change diners’ outlooks and source the best-quality £6.95 for starters, £15.95 for mains and desserts towards their preferred cuts, sustainable fish around, with all at £7.95.

Pigeon with quail eggs encouraging them to try the lesserpride in traceability.

On a Sunday, we serve a two-course lunch and pomegranate used but equally special produce.

Johnnie receives details of which for £19.95 and three for £24.95. We serve roasts Johnnie will often serve main courses that boat caught the fish, who has prepared it, the typically of Warren Estate wild boar, venison, utilise several different parts of the animal on time it landed and where exactly it was caught, beef and lamb, all served with traditional roast one plate – for example, Warren Estate rack of which is not something that most restaurants garnish and a selection of vegetables. lamb, braised, crispy lamb’s tongue and confit could claim.

We have a small outdoor dining area on our

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SIGNS OF PROGRESS Rack of Warren lamb, gratin dauphinoise, wild mushroom and chervil root purée

‘We use several different parts of the animal on one plate, giving a contrast of the texture and flavour of the different cuts’ terrace where guests can sit on our bespoke fabricated benches, which we cover with sheepskin blankets – whenever the weather allows us), along with a gas fire pit that we have made using reclaimed stone from the estate, which gives off a nice warmth for early evening dining outside.

Finally, what are your hopes for the future of the restaurant going forward?

Our guests have already given us feedback that reflects many of our aspirations, quality of food, hospitality and appreciation of ambience and surroundings. These areas are close to our hearts and are the foundation stones on which we hope to build further.

We have recently introduced live music with the pianist Caroline James playing on our baby grand piano. We hope to develop the music aspect of the restaurant further by bringing in cabaret.

We also aspire to host special evenings which will celebrate outstanding food matched to world-class wines, supplied by our dedicated wine experts.

THE WARREN 5A High Street, Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN1 1UL 01892 328 191 www.thewarren.restaurant contact@thewarren.restaurant

Wednesday 25th May 2016

78 ■ FOOD & DRINK

Festival is a recipe for success

Tonbridge hosted its inaugural Food and Drink Festival last weekend and it proved to be a huge hit for local producers and foodies alike who are hungry for more events like this to happen in the historic market town

By Neill Barston AN ECLECTIC menu of food and drink from both home and abroad mixed with some outstanding local entertainment helped create a carnival atmosphere on the lawn of Tonbridge Castle over the weekend.

Thousands of visitors attended the first Tonbridge Food and Drink Festival which was held over three days from Friday May 20 to Sunday May 22.

The event was organised by the Tonbridge Town team and after a very busy weekend of satisfying people’s hunger and quenching their thirst the committee’s Chair, Howard Porter, admitted things had gone really well. “It’s events like this that help put the town on the map,” he said.

Around 50 stalls offered an impressive choice of tempting treats including gourmet pies, traditional hog roasts, artisan breads, Spanish churros, handmade fudge and other desserts.

There was also a chance to taste a selection of wines, craft beers, ciders and homemade liqueurs on offer from many of the local producers.

Prior to the festival, the Sociable Wine Company managed to acquire the only two jeroboams of Puech-Haut in the UK – each

Wednesday 25th May 2016

CASTLE KEEP Crowds invaded the Food and Drink Festival

FOOD & DRINK ■

CREATING A STIR A taste of the Orient

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TRUFFLE SHUFFLE Jonathan Thurkettle of Urban Truffle

FLIPPING GREAT TIME Crèpes were popular

carried a price tag of £150 each. One was sold at a similar food festival in Sevenoaks last week and the company was hopeful the other would be sold at the Tonbridge Food and Drink Festival.

‘I just had one of the best weekends ever’ Mr Porter was also pleased to see a number of companies from the West Kent area, who took pride of place alongside the produce of other specialists from around the globe.

“We’ve had good feedback from stallholders and visitors, despite the small amount of rain on Saturday afternoon,” Mr Porter said. “The success gives us confidence that it can become a regular part of the town’s events diary.”

Jonathan Thurkettle, of the Sevenoaksbased truffle business Urban Truffle, also rated the festival as a success. “Being an online retailer, this was a great way for me to meet customers,” he said.

“I didn’t know what to expect, but there are quite a lot of people here and I think it’s gone well.”

The live entertainment was organised by Dave Mac from the Razzmatazz Theatre School who also acted as the festival’s compere throughout the weekend.

“I just had one of the best weekends ever, putting some fantastic people on stage at the Tonbridge Food Festival,” he told the Times.

“Local acts such as the fabulous Hobbo and the Hippies, multi-talented Lee Willz, singalong specialist Tom Carradine and the high energy blues from Sam Dunstall

were brilliant. Then we had great up-andcoming talent from Jamie’s Music Station and Charlotte Lubbock’s performers.

“The students from the Razzamataz Theatre School were wonderful and the Tonbridge Community Singers’ mini concerts on Sunday afternoon were great with the Swallows Band rounding things off perfectly.

“All of the acts served to showcase the enormous amount of talent we have in the area.”

SINGALONG Tom Carradine

For more photos from the Tonbridge Food and Drink Festival go to our website at: www. timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk

Wednesday 25th May 2016

80 n WEDDING FEATURE

Magic moments at Salomons Estate

FIRST DANCE To ‘Lucky’

If you and your partner are planning the big day of your dreams, it’s always helpful to hear the stories of couples who have tied the knot already. To help you on your way to bringing that ideal wedding to life, Rosina and Richard Hall reflect on their most magical memories at Salomons Estate TELL US HOW YOU FIRST MET Rosina: We met at work; he had been there for a couple of years and I had just started as a trainee. I was put into his team and there was an instant connection. Our first date was a cold Saturday in December 2012 when we visited London. It was the day of ‘Santa Com’, with thousands of people dressed as Santas. It was a festive and wonderful day.

WHAT WAS THE PROPOSAL LIKE? Rosina: I’m a massive Harry Potter fan, so I was taken on a weekend away (Rich loves to plan weekends away) to a lovely place near the border of Wales. On the Saturday we visited the Forest of Dean (which plays an important part in Harry Potter). We walked by the river and stopped to admire the beauty of the place, and then he got down on one knee…

WHERE DID YOU GET MARRIED AND HOW DID YOU CHOOSE THE VENUE? Rosina: We got married at St Paul’s Church, Rusthall. It was one of the most beautiful old churches we’d ever seen, and we live in the area, so it was an easy choice. Our reception was at Salomons Estate, Southborough. It’s stunning and the first place we looked at. We knew instantly this was the place for us, and once we sampled the food our minds were set.

ANY KEY HIGHLIGHTS FROM YOUR BIG DAY? Richard: We got married at 2pm on Saturday February 27.

The late ceremony gave us a lovely long morning to be with our bridesmaids/groomsmen and families. The ceremony finished around 3pm and we headed off to Salomons in a beautiful Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud, which was more comfy

Wednesday 25th May 2016

BRIDAL PARTY With beautiful bride Rosina

WEDDING FEATURE �

than most sofas! We had photos taken, followed by welcome drinks. After that, we enjoyed the speeches and wedding breakfast. The cutting of the cake and the first dance broke us into the evening celebrations.

Rosina: It was my great-grandfather’s 90th birthday the day before our wedding, so Richard asked everyone to sing Happy Birthday to him while a personalised cake was brought in. There were no Harry Potter themes, but Rich did allow me to have a hint of Beauty and the Beast – my second favourite thing from childhood. We had candelabras (Lumiére), clocks (Cogsworth) and even a Mrs Potts, which my mother made!

TIERS OF LAUGHTER Cutting the cake

HOW DID YOU START YOUR MARRIED LIFE TOGETHER? Rosina: On the Monday we flew to New York. The hotel was on the Upper West Side and was absolutely gorgeous. We even got snow, and were therefore able to experience Central Park in the snow and sun.

We spent a week and a half falling in love with New York City.

We then flew down to Orlando, Florida, as we had three-day tickets for Universal Studios. They have several different parks, so we went from

choosing our wands (or having our wands choose us) in Olivander’s, Diagon Alley, to drinking a duff beer in Moe’s Tavern. It was the best holiday we’ve been on, and we’re now planning our next trip to New York.

TELL US HOW YOUR KEY SUPPLIERS HELPED MAKE THE DAY SPECIAL Rosina: Nick Labrum took the most beautiful photographs for us to enjoy for years to come, and Hollie O’Callaghan of Hollie’s Little Cakery made a stunning cake which featured replica icing flowers of the ones my parents had when they got married.

The hair and make-up ladies were amazing – Nicola and Nicki of Nicola-Jane Bridal Beauty, and Miss Kay Seamstress and Anne Fontenoy were flawless. My dress was from Isabella Grace – the best bridal shop I visited.

DESCRIBE YOUR PARTNER IN FIVE WORDS Rosina: Kind, patient, funny, romantic, loving Richard: Fun, quirky, beautiful, loyal, loving WAVING THEM ON THEIR WAY The happy ensemble

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TOP TIPS TO TREASURE Rosina offers five handy hints for future brides and grooms

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Set a budget plan from the word go Richard and I created a ‘wedding budget’ on an Excel spreadsheet and made sure we’d thought of every little thing that we’d have to pay out for, and budgeted accordingly. It really helped with how much we needed to save each month to afford our dream wedding.

2

Send your invitations out early We didn’t do ‘save the date’ cards because we were engaged for eight to nine months. We felt they would be more appropriate if we were having a longer engagement, and therefore sent our invitations out earlier than most people usually would. This enabled us to get early RSVPs and meant we didn’t pay for anyone who couldn’t attend.

3

If possible, set aside extra money for any last-minute purchases or disasters The week before the wedding we were receiving at least two packages a day of things I’d forgotten to buy. They were all little things like tealight candle holders or little bubbles for the tables, but they were things that made it perfect for me, and we wouldn’t have been able to afford it all without the extra money.

4

Include your bridesmaids Bridesmaids want to feel part of the process and not as though they’re only ornamental. You choose them based on their friendship, loyalty and relationship to you, so it’s important to give them jobs, from planning something and finding a particular item for you, to making things with you for the day, or doing something on the day.

5

Relax and enjoy!

The day will fly by faster than a normal day because you’ve been looking forward to it and planning it for so long. You might not have a chance to have a full conversation with every guest, but that’s okay – you both deserve to have this time to enjoy yourselves.

PIECE OF MAGIC Custom fairytale cake from Fiona Cairns SIGNED, SEALED AND DELIVERED Husband and wife Jamie and Samatha

Wednesday 25th May 2016

82 ■ WHAT’S ON

THE Times has teamed up with Tunbridge Wells Kids On The Go to provide an at-a-glance guide for things children – and their parents – can do in the local area and around the county. For more listings, click on to:

WITH THE

www.tunbridgewellskidsonthego.co.uk

School holidays? But it’s only just been Easter! The holidays come round so quickly, but don’t panic – the Tunbridge Wells Kids On The Go Guide to What’s On is here with everything you need for a fun-filled half term.

Providing a good variety of activities to do, both inside and out, equates to happy children. We all know what that means – happy parents and carers, who can sneak in a few chores along the way too!

RIVERHILL HIMALAYAN GARDENS, RIVERHILL, SEVENOAKS TN15 0RR Admission Prices Apply The recipe for a memorable family day out involves adventure and exploration. Riverhill Himalayan Gardens want families and garden lovers to spend time together, exploring and discovering a taste of the Himalayas. Try the hugely popular Family Quiz Challenge on May 28-30, 10.30am-4pm, how will you fare with the 2016 questions? Or how about the Summer Festival Lanterns on the June 1st, 11am-4pm. Create wonderful lanterns to take home for summer evenings.

PENSHURST PLACE AND GARDENS, PENSHURST TN11 8DG Admission Prices Apply British Mammals Spring Trail, May 28. Learn all about our native furry friends and how to make your garden friendly for them. Bushcraft Bank Holiday is also taking place on May 29-30, 10.30am -5pm, with the wilderness experts from The Bushcraft Company. Learn how to set up proper campfires, build shelters and even carry out the art of scavenger hunting.

ASSEMBLY HALL THEATRE, CRESCENT ROAD, TN1 2LU Ticket Prices Apply Join the Ballet Theatre UK for their production of Pinocchio on May 29 at 3pm. It’s the tale of a wooden puppet with only one wish… to become a real boy. Follow Pinocchio, the cheeky marionette puppet with an unruly nose, on his epic quest as

Wednesday 25th May 2016

he overcomes obstacles, faces consequences and even ends up in the belly of a whale yet proves to all that dreams really do come true.

Set to a stunning classical score, this original production will delight ballet audiences and families alike and promises to carve a new love for Pinocchio through the magic of classical dance.

SEVENOAKS WILDLIFE RESERVE, SEVENOAKS, KENT, TN13 3DH June 1, 5.30pm- 7.00pm Free entry and free parking to the Reserve Brilliant for a nature extravaganza day out exploring the mixed habitat of ponds, seasonal flooded pools, woodlands and trails.

They are also hosting The Wiggly Wild Show – enjoy an entertaining show by a qualified ranger about unusual live exotic animals such as stick insects, beetles and giant millipedes.

There will also be a handling session where you get the opportunity to hold or touch lots of the exotic animals. £10 per person, tickets must be purchased in advance.

SUSSEX COUNTRY GARDENER GARDEN CENTRE: TRACTOR TED’S LITTLE FARM LIVE, MARK CROSS, EAST SUSSEX TN6 3PJ June 4, 11am-3pm Entry fee £5 per child and adults go free There is unlimited use of the Tractor Ted Bouncy Castle, Petting Farm, Digger Den & Bouncy Animals and Giant Jigsaws. Other activities requiring payment on the day are Falconry, face-painting, Balloon Animals, Craft Activities and a BBQ.

ARENA PURSUITS, ROSEMARY LANE, FLIMWELL, NEAR WADHURST, EAST SUSSEX TN5 7PT Various Prices Apply Arena Pursuits offers an exciting programme of Junior Half Day Activities for ages six-13 years.

Activities on offer include an assault course, a team challenge such as raft and bridge building, ‘Minefield Crossing’, woodlandbased ‘Search & Rescue Mission’ and target practice using paintball marker guns. Or how about Quad biking for Ages ten years+, Early Learning Driving for Ages 11 years+ or learn to drive a 4x4 – the ultimate kid’s driving experience?

BODIAM BOATING, RYE ROAD, NEWENDEN TN18 5PP Prices Apply Affordable fun days out for the whole family on the Kent/ Sussex border. There are a range of activities on offer, including tranquil river cruises to the National Trust, Bodiam Castle. You can mess about on the river in a Kayak, rowing boat or canoe.

WILD AT HEART Discover all the animals at Howletts

WHAT’S ON ■

If you are feeling a little more adventurous this school holiday, why not try camping in the small, dog-friendly family campsite with open views, campfires, kids play area and breakfast delivery service? Enjoy a hearty breakfast, lunch or afternoon tea in the delightful cafe with stunning surroundings and views of the KESR steam trains.

CYCLOPARK, THE TOLLGATE, WATLING STREET, GRAVESEND DA11 7NP The Cyclopark multisports activity venue nestles itself within the beautiful Kent countryside. Entry to the cyclebased Play Area is just £3 per family so make a day of it, riding bikes, running, walking, perhaps having a go at skateboarding too! There is an on-site ‘Cyclocafe for the all-important refuel.

HOWLETTS WILD ANIMAL PARK, BEKESBOURNE, NEAR CANTERBURY CT4 5EL Admission Prices Apply If you fancy venturing further afield, head for Howletts the wild animal, safari and wildlife park for endangered animal conservation. This charity allows visitors to see conservation in action, providing kids, families and adults alike with a wide variety of ‘wild’ days out!

REVOLUTION SKATEPARK AND CLIMBING CENTRE, OAKWOOD INDUSTRIAL ESTATE, DANE VALLEY ROAD, BROADSTAIRS CT10 3JJ Admission Prices Apply An indoor skatepark and climbing centre for skateboards, BMX, rollerblades, scooters and all types of indoor climbing, located in Broadstairs. Revolution also offers skateboard and scooter lessons, so this can be a day out for the beginner or the more advanced skater who wants to improve technique or learn new skills! Lessons must be booked in advance.

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for £9. You could disembark at High Rocks and take a trip to Groombridge Place which is just a 10-minute walk away – joint tickets available.

Something for the older train enthusiasts! If you are 16 years and over there is a chance to travel up front with the driver of the Thumper Train between Tunbridge Wells West and Groombridge, or vice versa, book in advance.

TUNBRIDGE WELLS MUSEUM, HOLIDAY HAPPENINGS, HAPPY BIRTHDAY MINNIE! May 31-June 3 FREE 10.30am-12.30pm & 2pm-4pm It’s time to wish everybody’s favourite Museum mascot, Minnie LuLu, a very happy 145th Birthday! Born on May 29, 1871, she has delighted many visitors over the years and today we celebrate her with Minnie-themed arts and crafts!

Make your own Minnie LuLu to take home with you; take part in all puppy-themed arts and crafts; follow in Minnie’s footsteps and uncover her favourite parts of the Museum!

Sessions are run on a drop-in basis, so there’s no need to book.

THE HEVER FESTIVAL AT HEVER CASTLE, EDENBRIDGE TN8 7NG Ticket Prices Apply ILLYRIA presents Roald Dahl’s Danny Champion of the World on June 1. A magnificent, funny and heart-warming classic story perfectly suited to the open air that children and grown-ups will thoroughly enjoy.

FULL STEAM AHEAD All aboard the Spa Valley Railway

SPA VALLEY RAILWAY, TN2 5QY – TUNBRIDGE WELLS WEST TRAIN STATION Kids For A Quid – May 29 &30 Looking for something to do that’s cheap and offers plenty to see whilst you visit? Well look no further than the Spa Valley Railway on, May 29-30 when all kids travel for just £1 when accompanied by an adult, who travels

EVOLUTION CLIMBING Lye Green, Crowborough, East Sussex, TN6 1UX

01892 862924 info@evolutionclimbing.co.uk www.evolutionclimbing.co.uk

· Turn up and try climbing · Birthday Parties · Holiday Courses Indoor or outdoor climbing available

Wednesday 25th May 2016

84  ADVERTISING FEATURE

The whole world I

F THE new crop of huge ships makes you feel that a cruise holiday is not for you then we urge you to consider a fleet of smaller-sized, understated vessels. Balmoral, Braemar, Boudicca and Black Watch may not boast a daunting list of gimmicks such as climbing walls, surf simulators and zip wires, but what they do have is a welcoming, home-from-home feel and the style and ambience of a more traditional liner or a country house hotel. This is what matters to them and, more importantly, their loyal guests, who genuinely do return time after time for the homely atmosphere, the heartfelt customer service and the comfort of an intimate ship. All of which are imperative if you are making the ship your home for three-to-four months on a worldwide cruise.

Share your worldwide cruise adventures with hundreds – not thousands – of others and you can allow yourself to relax in ample space and pure comfort on board without feeling overcrowded. In fact, you’ll feel like part of a family as you cruise the world with your friends, loved ones and like-minded people that share your interests and attitude to life.

Fewer guests also mean that the loyal crew is always able to provide the personal, attentive service you deserve from the moment you embark.

Black Watch is a fantastic example of a smallersized cruise ship, which is why she has been chosen for the 2017 Around the World Voyage, straight out of your local port of Southampton. She can

CRUISE CONTROL Smaller ships have a more intimate feel

Wednesday 25th May 2016

sail to the astonishing coastlines of the Caribbean, glide across the Pacific to Australia and explore the cultures of the Far East before returning home through the delightful Mediterranean in springtime, allowing you to return home in time for the summer months with a mind full of memories and a suitcase full of mementos – because luggage isn’t really an issue when you have no planes to catch!

If you choose this full circumnavigation of the globe you will undoubtedly have the opportunity to tick off many of the items on your bucket list. A full schedule of detailed shore excursions complements the opportunities to relax on your days at sea – meaning this cruise isn’t a fast-paced, all-consuming and tiring experience, but a leisurely adventure where you will see and feel the very heart of each destination. On board lectures will prepare you for the sights and local guides will tell you the stories so you do not miss a thing. How else can you combine the mysticisms of Machu Picchu with climbing the Sydney Harbour bridge? Or take in the cinema vistas of The Lord of the Rings before encountering cavedwelling glow-worms in Waitomo, New Zealand.

Whatever your interests – photography, nature, adventure, cityscapes, hiking, culinary or culture – all of your senses will be indulged as you tick off each port of call in over 20 nations.

As you navigate from port to port a loyal band of staff are there to look after you on board and they have been carefully selected for their warm and

ADVERTISING FEATURE 

85

is on your doorstep TOP TABLE The service is personal and attentive

‘It’s the little things that matter, so don’t be surprised when they remember your name, favourite tipple and even how you like your eggs at breakfast’

EYE-WATERING Sydney Harbour and the opera house

welcoming personalities and great memories!

Every member of the team understands that your enjoyment is paramount, which is why they go out of their way to provide service with a smile and ensure you have a great time on board. It’s the little things that matter, so don’t be surprised when they remember your name, favourite tipple and even how you like your eggs at breakfast – it’s what they do and this is regularly reflected in the positive feedback received after each cruise.

From the Captain to the crew you will be greeted with a warm smile every time.

Do not underestimate the skills and talents that are available across the ship. Whilst the entertainments team will provide you with a

schedule of activities, shows, games and parties it may be your cabin maid who appears on stage in national costume or your waiter could be serenading you under a spotlight – and if you have a talent, well there will always be a chance to share that, too.

Booking a cruise around the world may be considered to be a once-in-a-lifetime experience, but it will be an experience that lasts you a lifetime. Who would have thought it would be so easy to explore the world from your doorstep?

Wednesday 25th May 2016

86 � LIFE AND STYLE THE FAIREST OF THEM ALL The Wealden Times Midsummer Fair and Wellbeing Festival returns to the idyllic Hole Park Estate, near Rolvenden in Kent, on Thursday 9th, Friday 10th and Saturday 11th June, kindly supported by Harpers and Hurlingham. This high-end shopping and culinary event, with inspiring festival programme including headliner Rosemary Shrager, promises to be a highlight of the year for visitors and exhibitors.

Over 250 hand-picked stalls of desirable contemporary and vintage homeware, garden accessories, seasonal fashion and beautifully crafted jewellery – will not disappoint those with an eye for style and originality!

CATCHPOLE AND RYE LTD

A host of artisan food and drink producers will be showcasing a taste of luxury to take home, while street food-vendors serve up an eclectic mix of local and international dishes. Drinks will include everything from health-boost smoothies to quirky cocktails.

Catchpole & Rye Limited is pleased to announce the opening of its new showroom in Tunbridge Wells, with the newly elected Town Mayor officially opening the doors on Wednesday 1st June. Headed up by Founder and Managing Director, Tony O’Donnell and his expert team of bathroom consultants, the new showroom represents yet another milestone in the companies continued expansion.

The Priceless People Wellbeing Festival, in association with Benenden Healthcare and Hospital, brings together a variety of talks and workshops examining the healing properties of traditional and alternative therapies. Highlights include the TV chef and local cookery school proprietor, Rosemary Shrager, sharing her experiences filming the BBC’s The Real Marigold Hotel and exclusively revealing her thoughts on the healing power of India’s food and culture. TV personality and up-cycler extraordinaire, Max McMurdo, will be transforming unloved items into works of art for the garden.

All of this, set in a unique meadow setting, with a majestic country house for a backdrop, makes a quintessentially British day out.

For your 25% discounted ticket, go online and quote TWTMSF16 www.wealdentimes.co.uk/events | 01580 714705

BARGAIN DEAL FOR YOUR SUMMER BODY Fit4Less, the low cost gym that opened in High Brooms just before Christmas, is offering a special deal to the first twenty people to join before noon on Wednesday 25th May – no Joining Fee! This is a saving of £25 and you can take this chance by joining online at f4l.com/Tunbridge-wells, or in person at the gym, but either way, do it fast as it is a strictly limited offer.

Their membership of just £21.99 a month includes all classes and there’s free parking and WiFi too. It is getting the reputation as the town’s friendliest place to get fit on a budget and has been very popular with 25 Five Star reviews on Facebook out of 27. All the equipment is new and includes extensive free weights, cardio, resistance and functional areas as well as a punch bag, table tennis and a dedicated spin studio. Plus Fit4Less has some of the best instructors and personal trainers around.

If you don’t want to grab the special deal before lunchtime, then you can download a guest pass from their website for a free trial session. While there’s no pool, members do enjoy discounts from TriSwim for open water swimming in lakes in Southborough, High Brooms and elsewhere.

01892 804007 | Tunbridge.Wells@F4L.com www.f4l.com/tunbridge-wells

OFFICIAL OPENING 1ST JUNE 2016 – NEW TUNBRIDGE WELLS SHOWROOM

ANGELFEST 5 Angelfest 5 is upon us once again kicking off on the 27th May 2016.

The team behind the event has been working continuously since last year’s event to make this year’s even better than the previous 4. The chosen charity for this year’s event is Cardiac Risk in the Young, a charity close to the football club’s heart. This event is promoted as a tribute to former Tonbridge footballers Junior Dian and Jack Maddams and also Brian Parks, who was heavily involved in the promotion of CRY UK, and sadly passed away earlier this year.

The Acoustic Reverb Collective (TARC) has arranged for 31 acts will to perform live over the weekend and our youngest performer is just 14, and the eldest is over 70! Of those acts many are local singer songwriters working hard to get their own style out there and also we have blended in plenty of covers acts to keep the crowds dancing into the evening. Back for a second year is Si Genaro, who performed on The Voice in 2013 and 2014 and proved very popular when he performed last year. Young teenage band McCrei, whose song Show Me peaked at No 2 in the UK Soul Charts in 2016. Their next gig is supporting Beverley Knight in June at Westenhanger Castle.

Millie Manders is back on Saturday 9pm performing the final date of her first UK tour which has seen her take in Liverpool, Manchester, Sheffield, London and more. We are really honoured to have been included in the tour as a venue and to close the tour out with us will make this even more special. Millie said ‘"Tour has been exhausting and amazing. To be able to experience the exhilaration, challenge, camaraderie, support and sheer scale of task associated with it has been incredible. I'm so glad I get to include Angel Fest as part of my tour. TARC and all it stands for will always be close to my heart, and the support I have received from Dan and his team over the last few years has been overwhelming".

Friday night headliners are Duvet Dogs, Saturday will be Blackadder and Sunday will close with a full singalong with The Foghorns. There will be music for all over the weekend from as far afield as Dorset, and also a special performance from 8 Car Attach, whose front man Dan Smith, who produced all the video promos for the festival, back from Russia.

Add to this the quality beers, ciders and Belgian beers in offer over the weekend and the Sunday Funday for the family this will be an excellent weekend. We hope to see you there.

For more information check out www.angelfest.info.

Wednesday 25th May 2016

With a large Flagship showroom in London and another in Pluckley Kent, the 3,500 square foot showroom is set over two floors and showcases their exclusive collections of luxury freestanding baths as well as their full range of ceramic and marble washbasins, bathroom taps, thermostatic showers and bespoke cisterns.

As well as beautiful bathroom collections, Catchpole & Rye offer a full bathroom design service, as well as site visits to ensure perfect product placement. They also offer the personalisation of any artwork on all of their cast-iron baths and cisterns, allowing customers the opportunity of a completely bespoke design service.

With a long standing reputation for British manufacturing, exceptional quality and personal service, Catchpole and Rye Limited expects 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 residential customers to view their offerings first hand.

Catchpole and Rye Ltd, 70 Calverley Road, Tunbridge Wells, Kent. TN1 2UJ. Tel 01892 526996 www.catchpoleandrye.com Head Office: Saracens Dairy, Pluckley Road, Pluckley, Kent. TN27 0SA. Tel: 01233 840840

WITH THE

THE TOWN’S TOP MOTORING GUIDE – FROM EVERYDAY DRIVES TO LUXURY SUPERCARS

FIRST DRIVE

OF TUNBRIDGE WELLS AND TONBRIDGE

SEAT Mii ii BY MANGO LIMITED EDITION

FACTS AT A GLANCE PRICE: from £11,995 ENGINE: 1.0-litre petrol producing 74bhp and 70lb/ft TRANSMISSION: Five-speed manual driving the front wheels

PERFORMANCE: Top speed 106mph, 0-62mph in 13.2 seconds ECONOMY: 61.4mpg combined EMISSIONS: 106g/km

BEHIND THE WHEEL

By Matt Kimberley WHAT’S NEW? You’d better move fast if you want one of these. The Mii by Mango Limited Edition is exactly that: Its exclusive Oryx pearl white paint, special plumfinished 15-inch alloy wheels, plum upholstery and matching trim accents inside and out are only being brought to the UK 125 times. Just 20 are so far in the country and registered to customers. That’s right; the Mii by Mango L.E. is rarer than most Ferraris.

It’s based on the excellent standard car, but it also has the marginally pokier 74bhp 1.0-litre three-cylinder engine. It still uses low-friction tyres like the standard car, and it’s no heavier.

The Mango is all about adding style rather than mechanical upgrades.

LOOKS AND IMAGE The standard Mii by Mango falls a bit flat in the style stakes, but the ‘Velvet’ purple-on-white of the L.E. works a treat. It’s much more noticeable, different and, with so few in the country, much more exclusive. You wouldn’t want to pull up at the traffic lights next to another one, now would you?

Seat holds its hands up and openly admits the Mango is aimed at women; young women with at least one and a half eyes on the fashion industry.

But in fairness there’s nothing about the design, colours, shape or driving experience that would put men off, except maybe the Mango badges, but then again, there’s such a thing as a Mango Man department these days.

‘The Mango is all about adding style rather than mechanical upgrades’ SPACE AND PRACTICALITY It’s always amazing how much room the Mii platform, along with its Citigo and Up triplets, gives to both passengers and luggage. Two people can pack a week’s luggage into the boot if they’ve got a good record on Tetris, and four adults can sit back in comfort in the five-door cabin. It’s a little Tardis, this car, especially as a five-door.

A dinky 35-litre fuel tank isn’t going to get you very far, in theory, but the reality reduces that fear. It’s easy to top 60mpg in the real world, and on one trip in the test car, we even saw just over 70mpg. Treat it right and you’ll reach 400 miles per tank.

Having driven three of these supposedly mechanically identical cars lately, some seem sweeter than others. The tester here is a gem, responding quickly and pulling strongly (for a one-litre), with no rattles, squeaks or knocks from the suspension. The thrummy three-cylinder engine does sterling work and zings its way up to 70mph much more speedily than its figures would suggest. The five-speed gearbox does mean the car is calmest below 50mph and gets a bit rowdy at 70mph, but at least this one has (optional) cruise control.

It turns with a little more dynamism than the standard Mii thanks to the larger wheels and lower-profile tyres that, nonetheless, don’t compromise the ride quality. If there’s a perfect chassis configuration for this car, the Mango L.E. has it. As for the seats, they are all perfectly comfy for journeys up to 50 or 60 miles, but are a bit too soft for real long-distance work.

84bhp TwinAir motor. On that comparison, the Mango L.E. looks like superb value.

WHO WOULD BUY ONE? Women are the main target, and with only 100 or so of these yet to be sold, the only customers will be the quick ones. Young drivers will love its combination of zesty joie de vivre and stylish addons, but that’s not to say it wouldn’t make a superb second car for a family. It’s efficient, quirky and very likeable. Frankly, it’s one of the best Mii/Citigo/ Up variants yet built.

THIS CAR SUMMED UP IN A SINGLE WORD: Catwalk-ready.

IF THIS CAR WAS A... model it would have emerged unexpectedly from nowhere to get everyone’s heads turning.

VALUE FOR MONEY If you can even get hold of one, given that they’re so few in number, the base price of a shade under £12,000 means value depends on what you compare it to. It’s £800 cheaper than a pre-options Fiat 500 Lounge equipped with the forgettable 1.2-litre 68bhp four-cylinder engine, and more than £2,100 cheaper than the same 500 with the characterful

Wednesday 25th May 2016

88 ■ MOTORING NEWS

Barnstorming discovery AN ASTON MARTIN barn-find that has sat untouched for 30 years on the island of Jersey has been revealed to the public – and you could buy it.

The early DBS, bought in 1968, before finding its way to a new owner in the Channel Islands in 1970, has been discovered after being left untouched since 1986. It’s got just 30,565 miles on the clock, unsurprisingly, given the nine-mile long, five-mile wide island was never conducive to building high mileages.

RARING TO GO Only 787 of these DBSs were ever built

Wednesday 25th May 2016

Silverstone Auctions is set to sell the car – one of only 787 ever built – at its May Sale at Silverstone race circuit on Friday May 20.

It is in ‘close to original’ condition and ‘essentially complete’, with its six-cylinder engine and automatic gearbox still in place, although their mechanical condition has not been assessed by an expert.

To buy it will take £50,000-£60,000, say the auctioneers. Speaking ahead

of the sale, Nick Whale, the managing director of Silverstone Auctions, said: “This is one of the most exciting barn finds of the year so far.

“Having been left untouched for the last 30 years, this DBS certainly needs restorative care, but to find an iconic car like this one intact with its original features is a fantastic opportunity for someone to acquire a desirable early car, which is prime for restoration or to rebuild to their own specification.”

LIP SERVICE This DS3 comes with a make-up kit

Fashion’s gear change NO YOU’RE not dreaming: This really is a Citroen DS3 called ‘Givenchy Le MakeUp’, and it’s coming to a showroom near you – but possibly only if there’s a mirror handy.

Limited to a run of 500 in the UK, the design-focused trim grade can be bought as a hatchback or a Cabrio, with manual or automatic gears. They will all use the same characterful 108bhp turbocharged three-cylinder petrol engine and share Opaline White paint.

The rose pink-lined driver’s arm rest will house a bespoke Givenchy Le MakeUp kit, and yes, there are vanity mirrors inside both sun visors, complete with special LED lighting for ‘the best possible illumination, day and night’.

In a press release, DS said: “Just over half of all DS3 drivers are women, so this limited edition has been designed to meet the expectations of many

modern-day women, who are always on the go.”

That design includes Givenchy badges, a rose pink dashboard and black leather upholstery, with a purple roof – although the Cabrio soft-top is in black while the roof surround alone is purple.

The Givenchy Le MakeUp kit features Le Rouge lipstick shade 315 (Framboise Velours), Noir Couture mascara shade 1 (Black Satin), Prisme Visage face powder in a choice of shades and Le Vernis nail polish shade 32 (Whisper Purple, a limited edition to match the car’s roof).

Should you so wish, you can also buy these Givenchy products at DS World Paris during a special celebratory exhibition between May 10 and June 7.

Prices for the car start at £19,395 for the hatchback manual, rising to £23,195 for the Cabrio model with automatic transmission.

MOTORING n

89

21 MAY-30 JUNE

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ZERO PAY

DRIVE AWAY a nr ·..._._.-.~:'"': <~

£0 DEPOSIT* £0 FOR3 MTHS FIAT DEPOSIT CONTRIBUTION £750*

FIAT DEPOSIT CONTRIBUTION £1,000*

THE FIAT SALES EVENT. ANY CAR IN THE RANGE. ANY NEW CAR IN THE DEALERSHIP. ANY QUESTIONS?

FIAT DEPOSIT CONTRIBUTION £1,000*

THAMES MOTOR GROUP TUNBRIDGE WELLS, LONGFIELD ROAD, TUNBRIDGE WELLS, KENT TN2 3EY. TEL: 01892 549766 WWW.THAMESMOTORGROUP.CO.UK

5.9°/o APR

REPRESENTATIVE

Fuel consumption figures for new Fiat Range in mpg Of100km): Urban 29.7 (9.5) - 68.9 (4.1); Extra Urban 46.3 (6.1) - 97.4 (2.9); Combined 38.2 (7.4) - 83.1 (3.4). C02 emissions 171 - 88 g/km. Fu el consumption and co, figures based on standard EU tests for comparative purposes and may not reflect real driving results. Promotion available on new Fiat models registered from 21st May to 30th June 2016. ·£750 deposit contribution on New Fiat 500 Series 4 models, £1,000 deposit contribution on Fiat 500L models and £1000 deposit contribution on Fiat 500X MY16 models.

Thi s promotion cannot be used in conjunction with any other promotion. Retail customers only. With Fiat i-Deal you have the option to return the vehicle and not pay the final payment, subject to the vehicle not having exceeded an agreed annual mileage and being in good condition . Deposit Contribution is only available in conjunction with 'Fiat i-Deal No Pay Drive Away'. Finance subject to status. Guarantees may be required. Terms and Conditions apply. At participating Dealers only. Fiat Financial Services, PO BOX 4465, Slough, SL1 ORW. All vehicle images are for illustration purposes only and may include options or body paint colours, which incur an additional cost.

We work with a number of creditors including Fiat Financial Services.

Model shown is New Alfa Giulietta 1.4 TB 120 hp at £18,975 OTR incl. Stromboli Grey Special Paint at £525. Range of official fuel consumption figures for the Alfa Giulietta range: Urban 29.7 - 60.1 mpg (9.5 - 4.71/lOOkm); Extra Urban 54.3 - 88.3 mpg (5.2 - 3.2 1/lOOkm); Combined 41.5 - 74.3 mpg (6.8 - 3.8 1/lOOkm). C0 2 emissions 157 - 99 g/km. Fuel consumption and CO, figures are obtained for comparative purposes in accordance with EC directives/regulations and may not be representative of real-life driving conditions. 'Customer deposit is £1,359.

Optional Final Payment is £5,793. Contract Term is 48 months. Promotion available on New Alfa Giulietta 1.4 TB 120 hp at £18,975 OTR registered between 4th May and 30th June 2016. Alfa Deposit Contribution only available in conjunction with Alfa Romeo Preferenza PCP. With Alfa Romeo Preferenza you have the option to return the vehicle and not pay the final payment, subject to the vehicle not having exceeded an agreed annual mileage (a charge of 6p per mile for exceeding 6,000 miles per annum in this example) and being in good condition. Finance subject to status. Guarantees may be required. Terms and Conditions apply. At participating Dealers only. Alfa Romeo Financial Services, PO BOX 4465, Slough, SL! ORW. We wo rk with a number of creditors including Alfa Romeo Financial Services.

Wednesday 25th May 2016

90 ■ MOTORING NEWS

FORD S-MAX TITANIUM SPORT

FACTS AT A GLANCE PRICE: £33,245

PERFORMANCE: 128mph, 0-62nph – 10.5secs

ENGINE: 2.0 litre TDCi

ECONOMY: 48.7 mpg

TRANSMISSION: PowerShift Automatic

EMISSIONS: 149 (g/km)

David Thacker MY TEST drive for the day is the S-MAX Titanium Sport 2.0 litre Duratorq TDCi. From the side the shape is deceptive. It has a diminutive quality and is far removed from most people’s idea of the usual family-hauling MPV. The vent above the front wheel with a line flowing to the rear quarter panel and the aero sculpting of the sills, to my mind, lifts it to a sports level. But it’s not until I’m in the driver’s seat that the attention to ergonomics really strikes home: The way the seat moves forward to your preferred driving position as if a waiter is gently settling you in, or moving back by itself to let you out – how did he know? While on the subject of seats, by selecting from a row of buttons in the boot space it would seem the ideal place to play musical chairs, as the second row of seats disappear one by one leaving a

Wednesday 25th May 2016

The S-MAX is arguably the best looking MPV on the market at the moment, giving nothing away in terms of practicality with exceptional space for families – a successful synergy of design with common sense cavernous 2020 litres space for the little ones to run around till the music stops. The panorama glass roof increases the light airy feel – somehow it’s bigger on the inside than the outside.

So what’s it like on the road? Our model has the All-Wheel Drive (AWD) system, which Ford claim ‘can determine how much grip, cornering balance and responsiveness is required in wet, dry or icy conditions and on varying terrain’. All I can say is there is a sure-footedness and surprisingly little body roll for an MPV. Performance from the 180 bhp and 400 Nm torque power unit, coupled with the six-speed paddle shift semi-auto box is a good combination. The list of features is extensive. Some designed to make the driving experience a delight and less stressful on long motorway journeys; the cruise control and intelligent speed assist is like having a co-pilot – once my speed is selected it will maintain distance from the vehicle in front even if it

‘The panorama glass roof increases the light airy feel’

suddenly slows, and reminds me through the steering wheel if I’m lane drifting and ‘makes a ham sandwich after two hours’! A small yellow light in the corner of the driver’s mirror warning of a vehicle in the blind spot is a safety feature I really like and might prevent some motorway delays. The SYNC touchscreen system including DAB digital radio and Bluetooth sat nav, and automatic lights and wipers, is what you would expect of this class. The Active Park Assist takes a little getting used to as it feels like teaching a learner to park – I’m sure it will hit something and I want to interfere, but it does know what it’s doing and I feel silly shouting ‘mind that car on the left’!

This is a superb design for today’s family lifestyle, versatile, easy and fun to drive on the twisty B roads and relaxing on the motorways.

As John Ruskin said many years ago: “Quality is never an accident. It is always the result of intelligent effort.”

ilO S 1.0

i20 S 1.2

i30 S 1.4

Tuscan S 1.7 [rdi

from £7,995

from £9,995

from £12,995

from £17,720

HVUnDRI

Tunbridge Wells Hyundai

Medway Hyundai

Unit l , Dowding Way, Tunbridge Wells Tn2 3LJY

London Road, Rainham Kent MES 8PT

01892 458311

01634 408408

VNVW.kenthyundai.co.uk

FUEL consUMPTI On MPG (L/lOOl<M) FOR HYUnDAI RAnGE: URBAn 18.0 (157) - 80.7 (35), EXTRA URBAn 32.8 (86) - 94.2 (30), COMBlnED 25.2 (11 2) -88.3 (3.2), CO, EMISSIOns 261 -84G/l<M. FUEL consUMPTIOn: FIGURES SHOWn ARE BASED on OFFICIAL EU TEST FIGURES. THESE ARE TO BE USED AS A GUIDE FOR COM PARATIVE PURPOSES Ano MAY noT REFLECT ALL DRIVlnG RESULTS. *2 YEARS FREE SERVIClnG onLY TO BE VALID AT TUnBRIDGE WELLS OR MEDWAY HYUnDAI. i10 S 1.0, 42 monthly payments of £152.94, Customer deposit £151.00, Hyundai deposit contribution Total £151.00, Cash price of vehicle £7,995.00, Total amount of credit £6,423.48, Interest charges £1,286.73, Total amount payable £9,281.73, Optional final payment £2,707.25, Duration of agreement 42 months, Fixed rate of interest per year 3.55% Mileage per annum 10,000 Representative 6.9% APR. New i20 S 1.2, 42 monthly payments of £162.84, Customer deposit £162.00, Hyundai manufactures deposit £1,000 , Total £1,162.00, Cash price of vehicle £9,995.00, Total amount of credit £8,833.00, Interest charges £1499.78, Total amount payable £11,494.78, Optional final payment £3493.50, Duration of agreement 42 months, Rate of interest% (fixed) 3.55% p.a. Estimated annual mileage 10,000. Excess mileage charge per mile 14.9p per mile 6.9% APR. i30 1.4i S, Terms of agreement 37 months, Monthly payments of £186.84, On the road cash price• £12995.00, Customer deposit £27 48.75, Manufacturers Finance deposit contribution £500.00, Total deposit £3248.75,Total amount of credit £97 46.25, Interest charges £1484.99, Optional final payment £4505.00, Total amount payable £14479.99, Interest Rate % (fixed) 3.55% p.a. Excess mileage charge per mile 14.9p, Estimated annual mileage 10000, Representative APR (%) 6.9% APR. Tucson 1. 7 CRDI 116PS Blue Drive, 42 Monthly payments of £209.00, Customer deposit of £2,500.00, Hyundai deposit contribution of £1,500, Total £4,000, Cash price of Vehicle £17,720.00, Total amount of credit £13,720.00, Interest charges £2,568.50, Total amount payable £20,288.50, Optional final payment £7,510.50, Duration of agreement 42 months, APR% 6.9% p.a, Excess mileage 14.9p, Estimated annual mileage. Terms and conditions apply.

92 n MOTORING Our premises are lacated at Kingstanding Way Business Park in Tunbridge Wells.

We invite all new and seasoned enthusiasts to visit us today to find out more about our classic car restoration services.

We will use our experience to advise you on the best way to restore your classic, vintage or collectible car, and help you to revive its past glories.

• Fram full graund up restaratian ta summer check aver • Specialist mig and tig welding • Full engine and gearbax rebuilds • We can lacate hard ta find parts, • In hause machining facilities • Vapaur blasting • Everything yau need ta care far yaur classic car ...

• Baak yaur fflDT anline with us

. . . . . .,

Contact details: H-Engineering Unit 12, 2, Kingstanding Way, Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN2 3UP 01892 549 042

Lifesty /{Bord Your journey starts here

V

www.titestytetord.co.uk

Tunbridge Wells 01892 739131

Tonbridge 01732 758 726

KentTN48AG

Kent TN9 lTN

I

www.h-engineering.com

Official fuel consumption figures in mpg (11100km) for the Ford 5-Max range: urban 30.l (9.4) - 47.9 (5.9). extra urban 48.7 (5.8) - 57.6 (4.9). combined 39.8 (7.1) - 54.3 (5.2). Official CO, emissions 171-l22g/km.

The mpg figures quoted are sourced from official EU-regulated test results, are provided for comparability purposes and may not reflect your actual driving experience. Based on limited stock vehicles only and must be ordered and registered between 01.04.16 and 30.06.16. *Finance example shown available over a finance period of 48 months with £4,095.74 customer deposit. Amount of credit £22,899.26. Charge for credit £1,932.74. Finance Facility fee £10. Purchase Fee £10. Total amount payable £28,947.74. Optional final payment £10,480.00. 2.9% APR, 6,000 miles per annum, excess mileage charged at 8p per mile. When financed with Ford Credit. Finance subject to status. Other charges for metallic paint and extra factory options. Must be over 18 and a full UK resident. Guarantees/indemnities may be required. Freepost Ford Credit. Prices correct at time of going to print and are subject to change without notice. Subject to availability at Lifestyle Ford. Lifestyle Ford reserves the right to amend or withdraw offers at any time and without notice. Lifestyle Ford Head Office 3 Mount Ephraim, Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN4 BAG. Images for Illustration purposes only, metallic paint available at an extra cost.

Wednesday 25th May 2016

PUZZLES 

DOUBLE CROSSWORD

15. Watch-chain for Einstein, for instance (6) 17. Well, that’s what he’s expected to find (5-7) 20. Prevent endless travel in confusion (5) 21. Can be stretched in steel, maybe (7) 22. Border-line obliged to be put near a railway (8) 23. Cleric emerges from inside a nunnery! (4)

Down 1. The final appointment indicating it’s time for retiring! (4,4) 2. It’s a sign this island is linked with corn (5) 4. Kind of apple having fungus disease round the south-east (6) 5. The upkeep of the benefice that rises with inflation (4,2,6) 6. Superintend putting a piece of poetry in Old English (7) 7. Sounds as though it enables one to observe a particular spot (4) 8. Don’t stand for this clue!

(6,6) 12. One who operates round the head of the Thames for fish (8) 14. A fine building providing conversation over the water in France! (7) 16. On paper he has a responsible job (6) 18. Unsophisticated one in important part of the Church (5) 19. Sounds like a tight squeeze at the side of the door (4) Scribble pad

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z 3

4

5

14

15

16

17

18

6

R

19

A

1

2

3

9

10

14

15

8

11

4

16 13

12

7

QUICK CLUES:

Across 1. Divide (4) 3. Surrender (4,4) 9. Misdemeanour (7) 10. Dawn (3-2) 11. Absurd (12) 13. Advent (6) 15. Missing (6) 17. Miraculous (12) 20. Heading (5) 21. Decked (7) 22. Ponder (8) 23. Exceedingly (4)

Down 1. Outlook (8) 2. Plunder (5) 4. Avoids (6) 5. Allotment (12) 6. Speculation (7) 7. Mature (4) 8. Proclamation (12) 12. Impassively (8) 14. On horseback (7) 16. Unharmed (6) 18. Extent (5) 19. Stalk (4)

6

5

1. Sicilian volcano 9. Reverberation 2. Region 10. Cooker 3. Atmosphere 11. Shipshape 4. First man 12. Melt 5. Intend 13. Teak, say 6. Title 14. Expensive 7. Dutch cheese 15. Hasty 8. Masculine 16. Search for prey Keyword clue: An American state

SUDOKU

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

1.

2.

What was the name of the former Liberty X singer who won this year’s series of BBC1’s The Voice UK? Which new ITV1 daytime show features a cookery school run by John Whaite and Rosemary Shrager?

3.

One Dance featuring Wizkid and Kyla is a recent single from which Canadian rapper?

4.

Peter Dinklage and Jason Sudeikis are among the voice cast of which new animated film, based on a popular video game of the same name?

5.

Which 1970s TV drama about Allied prisoners of war in World War II starred Robert Wagner as Flight Lieutenant Phil Carrington?

6.

Which supergroup recently topped the UK charts with their second album, entitled Everything You’ve Come to Expect?

7.

Cary Grant and Douglas Fairbanks, Jr. starred in which 1939 film based on a poem of the same name by Rudyard Kipling?

8.

Which television presenter explored

Hidden Britain by Drone in a recent twopart Channel 4 documentary?

9.

What was the title of US singer R. Kelly’s first UK Number One hit, in April 1997?

10. Which actor plays Peter, whose family brings back a supernatural presence from a holiday at the Grand Canyon, in new film The Darkness?

SOLUTIONS

11. Stephen Dillane and Clémence Poésy star in the new series of which Sky Atlantic crime drama, which is subtitled Sabotage?

12. Which member of a famous rock band had solo Top Ten hits with Driven By You and Too Much Love Will Kill You in the 1990s?

13. Which 1991 comedy Western film starred Billy Crystal as a dissatisfied Manhattan yuppie who persuaded his friends to go on a cattle drive in the southwest?

14. Who hosted a recent twopart ITV1 documentary about Animal Orphans?

15. What was the title of Boyzone singer Ronan Keating’s first solo Number One hit, in August 1999?

8 Male; 9 Echo; 10 Oven; 11 Neat; 12 Thaw; 13 Wood; 14 Dear; 15 Rash; 16 Hunt.

Keyword: MONTANA CODEWORD: 1=S, 2=X, 3=H, 4=C, 5=Q, 6=O, 7=P, 8=I, 9=F, 10=J, 11=V, 12=W, 13=Y, 14=M, 15=E, 16=D, 17=Z, 18=R, 19=A, 20=B, 21=G, 22=K, 23=L, 24=N, 25=T, 26=U ENTERTAINMENT QUIZ: 1 Kevin Simm; 2 Chopping Block; 3 Drake; 4 Angry Birds; 5 Colditz; 6 The Last Shadow Puppets; 7 Gunga Din; 8 Tony Robinson; 9 I Believe I Can Fly; 10 Kevin Bacon; 11 The Tunnel; 12 Brian May; 13 City Slickers; 14 Paul O’Grady; 15 When You Say Nothing At All SUDOKU:

Codeword is the crossword puzzle with no clues. The number in each square corresponds to a letter. Work out the words in the grid using the letters provided. Fill in these known letters first, then use skill and judgement to work out the others.

2

Starting from 1, fill in the grid clockwise with four-letter words. The last letter of each word becomes the first letter of the next to reveal the key word in the shaded boxes.

ENTERTAINMENT QUIZ

CODEWORD

1

WORD SPIRAL

DOUBLE CROSSWORD: Cryptic: Across: 1 Luce; 3 Precious; 9 Suppers; 10 Sheet; 11 Private house; 13 Second; 15 Albert; 17 Waterdiviner; 20 Avert; 21 Tensile; 22 Boundary; 23 Dean. Down: 1 Last post; 2 Capri; 4 Russet; 5 Cost of living; 6 Oversee; 7 Site; 8 Remain seated; 12 Sturgeon; 14 Chateau; 16 Editor; 18 Naive; 19 Jamb.

Quick: Across: 1 Part; 3 Hand over; 9 Offence; 10 Sun-up; 11 Preposterous; 13 Coming; 15 Absent; 17 Supernatural; 20 Title; 21 Adorned; 22 Meditate; 23 Very. Down: 1 Prospect; 2 Rifle; 4 Averts; 5 Distribution; 6 Venture; 7 Ripe; 8 Announcement; 12 Stolidly; 14 Mounted; 16 Intact; 18 Range; 19 Stem.

WORD SPIRAL: 1 Etna; 2 Area; 3 Aura; 4 Adam; 5 Mean; 6 Name; 7 Edam;

CRYPTIC CLUES: Across 1. Fish having escaped, we hear (4) 3. Rice soup could become highly esteemed (8) 9. Late meals for drinkers (7) 10. These will ruin the page (5) 11. Accommodation for the ranker? (7,5) 13. He can be seen at the ringside for a short time (6)

93

Wednesday 25th May 2016

94 ■ RECRUITMENT

WITH THE

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OF TUNBRIDGE WELLS AND TONBRIDGE

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Knowledge of Payroll rules and legislation, accounting software packages (we use QuickBooks) and VAT are all essential.

Start Date: Immediate.

Salary: Negotiable, dependent on experience.

For a full job description, or to apply (we use QuickBooks) please send a CV and brief covering letter to the email below.

Fill your vacancy now in print or online.

For more information contact Jordanne Reville at jreville@markerstudy.com or call 01892 576049

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RECRUITMENT ■

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Location: Tunbridge Wells, Kent Salary: Competitive hourly rate We are looking for stars to join our team.

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The requirements for the role are:• Outstanding communication and interpersonal skills • Confident and likeable personality • Willing to travel • Enthusiastic and energetic • Comfortable working outside • Able to interact and engage with people • Well spoken • Punctual and reliable • Smart and well presented (branded jackets provided)

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Regular weekly hours/projects available along with additional hours at short notice. If you feel you have the right attributes to become an addition to our team, then please apply now by sending a covering letter, as well as your CV to info@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk

Accountancy and Finance

Insurance and Legal

Technology

Executive Wednesday 25th May 2016

96

 WHAT’S ON

SEVEN DAYS OF SOCIAL ACTIVITIES AT A GLANCE

WHATS ON WITH THE

Eileen Leahy

Local events >> WEDNESDAY As part of National Walking Month Burrswood is organising a two-mile walk through the beautiful Groombridge countryside today. Led by Physique Fitness Training, the event starts at midday from the main reception area and is free to attend.

Tunbridge Wells Museum invites you on a guided tour of life behind the scenes at the town’s gallery and library. Beginning at 2pm a curator will take you round and explain what it takes to put on an exhibition such as its current one – Tall Tales, Tiny Tavern – and offers the opportunity to get up close and personal to precious artefacts. Booking in advance is required. To reserve a place email museum@tunbridgewells.gov.uk At 6pm there will be a private view at SEEART Gallery for artist Jennifer Newman’s first UK show. Her work is held in both private and public collections across the globe including the Nelson Mandela Museum in South Africa. To book a ticket call 01892 512 365 or for more information visit www.seeartgallery.co.uk Above and Beyond,, an evening of inspiring stories from inspirational people, is taking place at the Velo House from 7.30pm. Intrepid adventurers Mark Bayliss and Sarah Russell will be talking about the many endurance challenges they have survived in their careers.

Tickets cost £10. >> THURSDAY Fest Fiction presents a literary and art exhibition at Perk & Pearl Coffee in Grove Hill Road as part of the Unfest season. Three writers, Carolyn Gray, Peppy Scott and David Smith, have penned stories relating to a fictional band’s journey to Unfest. There will also be artwork on display inspired by walks from The Pantiles, Rusthall and the Museum.

Wednesday 25th May 2016

If you would like to see your events featured in our weekly What’s On pages please email info@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk

Open 10am-5pm, from Tuesday May 24 until Tuesday May 31.

Scallywag Café is hosting a Murder Mystery event put on by the very talented 368 theatre company. Teams have to decipher clues and unravel plot twists performed by the ‘suspects’ in order to determine who the murderer is. Whoever wins gets a bottle of bubbly! Begins at 8pm and tickets cost £10. www.scallywagcafe.co.uk Jazz on The Pantiles continues its popular summer run. Tonight visitors will be entertained by the energetic Volare Trio, who play a fusion of Latin American, jazz and Italian tunes.

More music is offered at Trinity Theatre courtesy of the Juan Martin Flamenco Dance Trio. The Spanish show unites world famous guitarist Juan Martin with singing sensation Amparo Heredia and talented dancer Luisa Chicano. Tickets start at £16 and the performance begins at 8pm. >> FRIDAY Alfresco Festival happens over the weekend and promises to be fabulous fun for all the family. As well as lots of music and pop-up bars there will be plenty to keep the children entertained including face painting, crafting sessions and entertainment.

Visit www.alfrescofestival.co.uk Hadlow Amateur Dramatic Society (HADS) is putting on It’s a Kind of Magic, an original play written and directed by Jane Apps. It tells of an unlikely romance between two people who plan to save the world – with the help of a little magic. Performances will be held at Hadlow Village Hall tonight and tomorrow at 8pm. Tickets cost £8.50 for adults and £7.50 for FACE THE MUSIC concessions and are on Flamenco guitarist sale at Hadlow Pharmacy Juan Martin and Bourne Produce in East Peckham.

Scottish singers The Proclaimers perform at the Assembly Hall tonight from 7.30pm. The twin brothers are known for their musical melange of folk, blues, soul and political pop. They will be featuring new material from their tenth album, entitled Let’s Hear It For The Dogs, as well as old favourites 500 Miles and Letter From America.

Tickets cost £28.50.

The Spa Hotel hosts jazz singer Lesley Alexander from 8-10pm. She has recently returned from the US, where she sang in famous clubs such as the Blue Note and the Cotton Club supporting the likes of Dionne Warwick. Entrance is free and you can dine until 9.30pm. >> SATURDAY Penshurst Place is holding a Bushcrafting weekend over the Bank Holiday. Wilderness experts will be on hand to show visitors how to set up camp fires, build shelters and go scavenger hunting. Ideal for any keen outdoor adventurers!

The event runs from 10.30am-5pm until Monday May 30. Normal admission fees apply. For more details visit www.penshurstplace.com Music and Magic is on at St Philip’s Church in Tonbridge from 6-9pm. There will be conjuring tricks, a 60s’ singalong and a buffet. To book tickets call 01732 352 416.

Jazz singer and Radio 2 presenter Clare Teal performs at the Assembly Hall at 7.30pm. She and her Mini Big Band will delight the audience with a variety of swing, classic standards and contemporary numbers. Tickets cost from £28.

REALLY WILD SHOW Bushcrafting at Penshurst

>> SUNDAY Ballet Theatre UK present Pinocchio at the Assembly Hall at 3pm. Their balletic version of this much-loved children’s tale features a classical music score. Tickets cost £18 per adult and £15 for children under 12.

WORKS OF ART The AEK trio will be at Unfest The UnArt Fair takes place on at The Forum’s veranda this Bank Holiday weekend. The pop-up exhibition features pieces by a variety of artists including Agatha O’Neill, Elizabeth Barrett and Kerrie Kent, who make up AEK. The trio choose a word every day, send it to each other, create a picture or collage inspired by it, then post it on Instagram with the hashtag #AEK Everyday. This will be the first time that the group’s work has been on public display and for sale.

Hever Castle’s summer festival season starts this weekend. Tonight the popular comedian and Live at the Apollo host Hal Cruttenden takes to the stage to talk about the trials and tribulations of modern day life. Tickets cost £16 and are available from www.heverfestival.co.uk >> MONDAY Pashley Manor hosts its Sculpture in Particular event until next Saturday, June 4. The beautiful ornamental gardens in Ticehurst are famed for the stunning pieces of artwork that are dotted about them, but this eight-day exhibition sees the house’s usually private, wood-panelled Great Hall opened up to the public with a display of maquettes and small sculptures for sale. Tickets cost £10. For further information visit www.pashleymanorgardens.com >> TUESDAY To celebrate Tunbridge Wells Museum’s beloved mascot Minnie LuLu, turning 145 this year, there will be a four-day crafting extravaganza for pre-schoolers every day from today until June 4. Entry is free and the sessions run from 10.30am-12.30.pm and 2-4pm.

WHAT’S ON 

A ROUND-UP OF THIS WEEK’S MUSICAL HIGHLIGHTS Children can make their own Minnie LuLu and discover her favourite parts of the museum.

Keep your children entertained over the Bank Holiday with a trip to Trinity Theatre. Today they are showing Oddball and The Penguins a familyfriendly film that follows the true story of an Australian chicken farmer who, with the help of his granddaughter, trains his naughty dog to protect a wild penguin sanctuary from fox attacks.

Charming, educational and a little off the wall.

Our local National Trust properties have plenty of half-term action to enjoy. Scotney Castle is taking part in the organisation’s 50 Things Adventure Week, which encourages children to build a den, roll down a hill or find their way around with a map and compass. For more information go to www.nationaltrust.org.uk

PICK OF THE WEEK Invasion Kent is on at Hole Park on Saturday May 29 and Sunday May 30

Paul Dunton The Unfest Music & Arts Festival happens over this Bank Holiday weekend (27-30 May) and will host an impressive 150 performances over three days. See page 100 for our special preview.

There is also lots going on elsewhere in the area.

Rusthall Arts Festival is a creative community engagement project initiated by artists in the village. The festival is an annual celebration of its indigenous talent. You can find out more about the festival at www.raft16.org Angelfest Beer & Music Festival is another great event happening over the three-day weekend at Longmead Football Stadium in Tonbridge. It’s been going strong for four years and visitors from all over the country to sample Angelfest’s impressive array of real ales, ciders and lagers. There is a wealth of local music talent on show all weekend along with comedy shows and amazing illusionists. Angelfest raises funds for a remarkable charity, Cardiac Risk In The Young. For more details see www.c-r-y.org.uk THE TUNBRIDGE WELLS FORUM

The event near Cranbrook, which is organised by the Napoleonic Association of Great Britain, brings the notorious 19th-century war between the French and English back to life with a series of authentic re-enactments of famous battles including Waterloo. There will also be cavalry arms skills, drills and artillery displays and guides on hand to talk about this historic period. France’s notorious Napoleon Bonaparte is played by John Holmwood. There will be plenty of food and drink on offer too including a hog roast and real ales. Admission, which includes entry to the gardens, costs £7 for adults and £1 for children. To purchase tickets go to www.holepark.com

HELPING HAND Joeyfat’s Matt Cole

The must-read guide to what’s on musically for the week ahead… www.paulduntonandguests.com

Live music

Doors 7.30pm, entry price variable, event information and tickets at www.twforum.co.uk

LET BATTLE COMMENCE

97

THURSDAY The Wedding Present FRIDAY Unfest 2016: Lectures, Joeyfat, Dead Ceremony, Night Without Sleep, Cyrano SATURDAY Unfest 2016: visit www.unfest.org or www. facebook.com/unfestwfringe for details of full line-up SUNDAY Unfest 2016: as above THE GREY LADY MUSIC LOUNGE

The Pantiles, Doors 7.15pm, entry £6/£7, websites www.pdag.co.uk + www.thegreylady.co.uk

WEDNESDAY Charlotte Tingley, Lachlan Daly, Katy Virgoe, The Varlies THURSDAY James Medhurst, Rocinia, Josh Renton & The Wildfires

FRIDAY Salsa Camina SATURDAY Funkin Function JAZZ ON THE PANTILES

8pm - 10pm live music on The Bandstand, free to attend, donations welcomed

THURSDAY Volare Trio NO.9 SMOKEHOUSE

PHOTO: NIGEL MARTIN

9 Nevill Street, open all day, free entry music from 8.30pm till late

FRIDAY Timeless THE CROSS KEYS

SCALLYWAG

St John’s Road, open all day, free entry, music from 8pm, website www.crosskeystw.co.uk

45 Mount Ephraim, open all day, music from 7.30pm, entry charge for music may apply, more information at www.scallywagcafe.co.uk

WEDNESDAY Sonny’s Jazz, Robbie Robson, John Blease, Dave Whitford, Ross Stanley THURSDAY UK Music Life Unsigned showcase FRIDAY Blues with Bottle, Dave Peabody MONDAY TWUNTS Ukulele Night Thing WEDNESDAY Sonny’s Jazz, Paul & the Nocasters with guests CASSIDY’S SPORTS BAR

Castle Street, open all day, free entry, music from 9pm till late

FRIDAY Between Giants SUNDAY Unfest 2016: visit www.unfest.org or www. facebook.com/unfesttwfringe for details of line-up MONDAY Unfest 2016: as above

FRIDAY Ed Watts (jazz piano) THE ROYAL OAK

Prospect Road, open all day, free entry, music from 8pm onwards

FRIDAY Beer & Music Festival as part of Unfest 2016: visit www.unfest.org or www.facebook. com/unfesttwfringe MONDAY Open Mic/Jam Session THE BEAU NASH INN

Mount Ephraim, open all day, free entry, music from 8.30pm till late

FRIDAY Soul Night SATURDAY Tailspin

THE BEDFORD PUB

2 High Street, open all day, free entry music from 8.30pm till late

SATURDAY Unfest 2016 SUNDAY Unfest 2016: visit www.thebedfordtw.co.uk/ events for details of full line-up

LIST YOUR EVENT… If you’d like to see your event featured in our What’s On pages you can email the details to info@ timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk or post to The Times 16 Lonsdale Gardens, Tunbridge Wells TN1 1NU Event’s name Date and time Ticket cost Contact information

Wednesday 25th May 2016

98 ■ ARTS & CULTURE

Unfest is a finely tuned festival that’s getting bigger and better every year Two decades on Tunbridge Wells’ first music extravaganza, which happens over the final May Bank Holiday weekend, is still going strong despite others being scaled back or cancelled. Eileen Leahy talks to two of Unfest’s organisers Jason Dormon and Carolyn Gray about how it has survived

Wednesday 25th May 2016

of scheduling and designing merchandise and publicity. We also organise additional street food outlets and book security.

Is there a big team involved in pulling it all together?

We work with a core of volunteers and then we reach out to the other venues involved. For example The Royal Oak, Cassidy’s and The

UNIFIED Forum co-owners and Unfest organisers Jason Dorman (left) and Richard Simm

Why was Unfest launched in the first place?

The Forum came up with the idea of putting on a number of gigs under the umbrella ‘Three Days in May’ in 1996 which coincided with the release of a multitrack compilation CD of regional bands. The name of the album was called un02 and as a result Unfest, as it is now known, was born.

How has it evolved over the years?

We’ve tried a different number of things from a one-seat cinema to a gig in the middle of Tunbridge Wells Common, and a renaissance-style picnic in The Pantiles.

In 2012 we put more of an emphasis on films, but then 2014 saw bigger bands like Ultrasound and Empire getting involved from outside Tunbridge Wells. Each year is different.

How many months of the year does it take to organise?

It’s like painting the Forth Bridge: We haven’t stopped organising it yet and we won’t until the last band plays and then it starts all over again! It’s an ongoing organisation as we run music events all year, both at The Forum and The Sussex Arms. But the four months before the main festival are very concentrated in terms

Local Samba band Bloco Fogo PHOTO BY SARAH BOND

ARTS & CULTURE 

a number of different venues. And for the first time the Museum will be hosting various gigs, including Ryan Weeks and The Ackerleys.

Apart from music, what can visitors expect to experience?

This year we have an art fair on the veranda at The Forum and we’ve also been running an interactive postcard writing and drawing project, via the Tunbridge Wells Writers collective. There is also an exhibition and literary project called Fest Fiction happening at Perk & Pearl in the week leading up to Unfest.

99

What plans are in the pipeline for the future?

Unfest is always evolving and its success is based on the volunteers involved. At the moment we’re hoping to run some Unfest Sunday Sessions. These will be at The Forum with food, live music, DJs, spoken word, table tennis, and art workshops.

For more information on Unfest visit their official website at: www.unfest.org or www.facebook.com/unfesttwfringe

Yonaka relax before their set

Slaves' Isaac Holman performs

Bedford all have their own regular artists, so they are responsible for booking those. Paul Dunton has a Local & Live acoustic stage by Sussex Mews so it’s very much helping others showcase their own stables of artists.

How do the acts get chosen?

At The Forum it’s done by our regular bookers.

They concentrate on musicians who are innovative and have played during the previous year. Others are members of our newly formed Musicians Club.

The Unfest programme at The Sussex Arms has been curated by volunteers connected to the pub but we also have different promoters selecting their favourite bands.

Who will be good to catch live?

Paul Cheese, who has cycled all around the UK and Europe recording his albums, will be one to look out for as he will be wheeling around the town with his amp on his bike and performing at

THE VENUES Unfest will be rocking the town to put it on the music map

Box of Light illuminate The Forum

Wednesday 25th May 2016

100 ■ THE GREAT OUTDOORS

Kent Barker Country matters

Let’s abolish ALL energy subsidies

S

PRING is here, the sun is shining, and thoughts, once again, turn to solar energy.

A few years ago I invested a chunk of savings in a log boiler to heat my ancient and leaky home. I missed out on an installation grant, but I do now get the Renewable Heat Incentive payment. It just covers the annual servicing of the boiler and something towards the cost of cutting, splitting and transporting logs. I still have a back-up oil boiler, but it was hardly used at all last winter, so I’ve cut my reliance on fossil fuels by about 80 per cent.

Nevertheless I still use quite a lot of electricity.

Which all comes from the national grid – meaning that less than 15 per cent is from renewable sources. Around 20 per cent comes from nuclear, leaving some two thirds (65 per cent) from burning fossil fuels – gas, coal and oil.

This does not make me happy and I would really like to be generating my own electricity, or at least a substantial proportion of it. But I wouldn’t get planning permission for a wind turbine, and photo-voltaic panels are now relatively uneconomic: An initial outlay of seven or eight

Wednesday 25th May 2016

thousand pounds, with savings of only about £300 a year – so around a 25-year payback time.

If the Government was serious about meeting its climate change targets it would have continued, and preferably increased, its subsidies to the renewables sector. Instead of which what happened? The new Energy Secretary, Amber Rudd, slashed them by 65 per cent and imposed a cap on the total available. It was infanticide for the nascent solar industry, forcing dozens of firms out of the market.

So I imagine you’d expect me to decry the cuts and yell for their restitution. But I’m not going to.

In fact I’m going to argue for the opposite: The total abolition of all energy subsidies. Now, I know this will affect me personally. I’d lose my modest RHI money and never get any help with installing solar panels. But it wouldn’t matter. At a stroke renewables would become massively more competitive. How? Because of the vast sums we spend subsidising fossil fuels. The International Monetary Fund estimates that fossil fuel companies are benefitting from global subsidies of $5.3trillion (£3.4trillion) a year,

which is the equivalent of $10million a minute.

Well, a trillion is a hard concept to grasp, especially if on an international level. But just consider this: The subsidies for fossil fuel companies are greater than the total health spending of all the world’s governments.

So how does Amber Rudd’s department fit into this? Well according to the Overseas Development Institute, the UK is the only G7 country which is increasing its fossil fuel subsidies. These amount to some £5.9billion and go to major companies operating in the country (mostly foreign-owned) while a further £3.7billion is used to subsidise fossil fuel production overseas in countries including Russia, Saudi Arabia and China (all, I’m sure you’ll agree, with exemplary human rights records).

So if you made the consumer pay the real price for their electricity you’d save squillions on subsidies (which could be spent on, for instance, the NHS) and at a stroke you’d make the cost of my solar panels much more competitive – in that every unit of electricity I generated myself would be saving me far more money, and I’d be able to sell the surplus units back to the grid at a far higher price.

Talking about the grid, though, we automatically use the prefix ‘national’. But why? Why not have local ‘microgrids’? The concept is for everyone in your town or in my village to do their utmost to meet their own electricity needs.

If you’re on a hill, then put up a

wind turbine. If you’re by a river, consider water power. If you’re near the countryside, build solar farms or invest in anaerobic digesters which use farm waste to produce heat and power. The point is to share what you produce with others nearby.

It’s incredibly inefficient to run electricity over long distances – much better to hook into a short circuit (sorry) round the village. And microgrids can be tailored to match local demands. They’ve done it on Fair Isle. They’re doing it at the Centre for Alternative Technology in Wales. Yes, storage remains a problem, but battery and other technologies are improving and it wouldn’t hurt if we cut our consumption a bit.

Successful microgrids would make the £24billion construction of the new Hinkley Point nuclear power station look like the massive white elephant it is. And the Government is planning to subsidise it by guaranteeing the electricity it produces is sold at roughly double the price we currently pay.

If I could flog my solar power for that sum it would make installation costs look a lot more attractive.

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