Times of Tonbridge 11th April 2018

Wednesday April 11 | 2018

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MP encourages crackdown on traveller sites across borough

PUPILS ON SONG

School choir sings its way to competition success Page 2

By Andy Tong TOM TUGENDHAT has called on local people to voice their concerns about unauthorised encampments across the borough.

The MP for Tonbridge & Malling is notifying his constituents about a government consultation on the problem.

He said: “Many residents, particularly in rural areas, are concerned about unauthorised encampments and will be pleased to hear that the government is now consulting on the issue.

“This gives us a good opportunity to make our views heard. It is important we do so, to make sure our experiences are properly taken into account.

Blockade “This is a particular concern in rural areas regarding the allocation and provision of gypsy and traveller sites, and the unauthorised use of some sites in the community.”

A dozen caravans moved on to playing fields behind West Malling village hall last July, leaving behind waste which villagers cleared up – and reportedly rabbit traps in Macey’s Meadow.

Leybourne residents also tried to set up a blockade to stop an encampment after the K Sports ground in Aylesford was occupied that month. In 2016, travellers set up a camp on the Common in Tunbridge Wells.

Residents have until June 15 to respond. See www.gov.uk/ government/consultations/powersfor-dealing-with-unauthoriseddevelopment-and-encampments

REMEMBERING ERIC PHOTO: David Couldridge

The day ‘The Crafty Cockney’ met his match Page 2

OFF TO A FLIER Becky Janes celebrates her opening goal after just 15 seconds as Tonbridge Angels Ladies beat Diamond United 7-3 at Longmead Stadium to reach their first cup final in only their second season. See page 71

Police gender pay gap is the second highest of all forces

By William Mata FEMALE staff across Kent Police are earning on average 27.5 per cent less than men, according to new data.

This median gender pay gap was the second highest out of 44 police forces in England and Wales, who were required to release figures last week.

The figure was significantly higher than that of neighbouring Sussex Police [15 per cent] while only Derbyshire Constabulary posted a larger pay gap with 28.8 per cent.

But Kent Police has rejected suggestions the result should cause alarm,

instead challenging the method by which the data was calculated.

Mark Gilmartin, Kent Police’s Director

‘All officers and employees paid equally for the same positions’ of Support Services, spoke out after all companies with 250 or more staff were legally required to release details of their pay gap last week.

He said: “All officers and employees of

Kent Police are paid equally for the same positions, irrespective of gender.

“The fact is that there is a higher percentage of male officers than female, and in the same way – there are more women [support] staff than men.”

The framework for police officer pay is set nationally and differences are accounted for by the length of time a person has worked in their job.

Kent Police recorded a mean pay gap of 13.6 per cent.

Continued on page 2

DOWN ON THE FARM Four Winds opens its gates to the public Page 54

SPRING IS HERE

Take a stroll around Penshurst Place Page 55

NEWS

Local News

‘There is more work to do’ Continued from page 1 The force employs 3,227 officers, 72.1 per cent of whom are men, and 2,388 [usually lower paid] police staff, 60.8 per cent of whom are women.

Figures also showed the lack of women in top roles, with females filling two out of 21 superintendent positions, ten out of 47 Chief Inspector roles and 37 out of 165 inspector roles.

There was also found to be a 24.4 per cent mean gender pay gap for bonuses staff received, with men taking an average £689 and women £521.

Represented Mr Gilmartin added: “Female police officers are represented well in more senior ranks, however, there is more work to do.

“Addressing the disparity in representation at senior police officer levels will take time, but measures are already in place to help close the gap at Kent Police.

“We are committed to increasing the proportion of females in management and specialist roles.

“Kent Police continues to maximise opportunities for woman in higher graded roles, whilst offering internal support processes to actively encourage women to apply for developmental and promotional roles.”

HOW ACCURATE ARE THE FIGURES? The median is found by ranking individual salaries for both genders in ascending order and picking the middle value.

It was considered the most accurate comparison measure and was used widely when all companies of 250 or more staff released their data last week.

However, the measure has been criticised for not addressing the gap in similar job roles.

Kent Police also made reference to the mean average which, in this case, added together all of the salaries and divided by the number of people.

This found a 13.6 per cent pay gap.

Police diversity statistics also revealed that 6.2 per cent of Kent Police’s entire workforce is non-white British.

Diversity statistics, released alongside the gender pay gap report, found 179 out of 3227 officers was non-white British and 167 out of 2388 for police staff.

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Five local authors gather to inspire creative writing

By Andy Tong andy@timesoftonbridge.co.uk MR BOOKS in the High Street will be staging an event this Sunday [April 15] showcasing the work of five local writers at the Old Fire Station.

By providing the opportunity to meet the authors, hear extracts from their work and ask them questions, bookshop owner Philip Holden is hoping to encourage budding writers to express themselves.

“It’s a bookshop, so we tend to attract people who are interested in writing as well as reading,” he said.

“I’ve had about ten authors calling in over the last few months with information about their books, so I thought this would be collectively interesting for anyone who wants to write.”

He put on a ‘very successful’ audience with writer James Graham last year, and last month local historian Pam Mills gave a talk about the Tonbridge Suffragists on International Women’s Day. Of the upcoming event, he revealed: “These are five very different writers. Terri Fleming has written a fictional continuation of Pride and Prejudice, Anne Carwardine’s book is about the Tunbridge Wells Suffrage movement, Dr Simon Fern is a fantasy author, David Barry is an actor who writes detective novels,

NEW LEAF Philip Holden wants a community-minded shop and then there’s Ian Tucker-Bell, a playwright who’s putting on a play with me at the Edinburgh Festival this year. So you’ve got several different genres represented there.”

Mr Holden will be directing Mr Tucker-Bell’s play Trans Pennine in Edinburgh, a comedy about a road trip to scatter the ashes of a mother whom no one liked.

Last year, the pair staged another drama at the festival called From Today Everything Changes, which received good reviews.

Mr Holden’s son, Jack, is a professional actor who attended The

Judd School and recently featured in a film version of RC Sherriff’s World War I play Journey’s End.

Involvement “It’s not just about supporting local writers but people who are interested in the arts generally – about being enthused to do your own writing,” added Mr Holden.

“There’s lots of creative energy around. And I think a bookshop should be a place where you can go and contribute to the community.”

He is also keen to encourage local

The day Eric Bristow met his match…

ON SONG: Stocks Green pupils

LARGER-than-life Eric Bristow, who passed away last week, was billed as the star of the show at a darts competition in Tonbridge in August 2016.

As it turned out, ‘The Crafty Cockney’ was upstaged by a young local talent called Rob Cross, who went on to be crowned World Champion at the start of this year.

Eric had been invited to attend the match in the marquee at Tonbridge Angels’ Longmead Stadium

by David Couldridge to help raise funds for the club.

An Angels board member and a leading figure on the local darts scene, David recalled: “I remember Eric saying that Rob was a proper player.

CONTACTS EDITORIAL DIRECTOR RICHARD MOORE richard@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk | 01892 779615 DEPUTY EDITOR EILEEN LEAHY eileen@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk | 01892 576037 REPORTER ANDY TONG andy@timesoftonbridge.co.uk

Championship

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CLARIFICATIONS AND CORRECTIONS HERE at the Times of Tonbridge 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.

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people to contribute to – and even shape – the future direction of his shop, and has added a ‘Got an Idea’ button on its website.

He is calling on local people to ‘get involved and suggest ideas for the store – however madcap – so they feel ownership and belonging. It becomes their bookshop’.

The site even offers the opportunity to become a part-owner.

“It’s about having a more fluid, organic idea of ownership and belonging, so the shop is something that has a social benefit and value rather than just being a commercial enterprise,” explained Mr Holden.

“Some people define themselves by the books they read, and books change them.

“We want to encourage a sense of involvement and belonging, and help them to express themselves.

“I’m completely open to ideas and suggestions. We can arrange events or host a group of people that want to come in. For Pam’s talk, we offered the shop as a venue, I produced some leaflets, Susan Adams printed them – it’s a collaborative effort.

“And then we had the Brownies group come in to find out how influential women had been in literature and throughout history.

“I have so many things I want to do, so many ideas, and I can’t possibly do them all on my own.”

Local Voices will be held on Sunday, April 15, from 6-8pm.

Admission, which includes your first drink half price and £1 off any books, costs £5 in advance or £7 on the door. Tickets are available from Mr Books at 142 High Street, Tonbridge TN9 1BB or by visiting www.mrbooks.co.uk/events

Stocks Green make their voices heard in battle of five primary school choirs THIS year’s winners of the Junior Schools Choir Competition at Tonbridge Baptist Church were Stocks Green Primary School.

Around 160 children from Stocks Green, Hadlow, Slade, Royal Rise and Woodlands Primary Schools made up the five choirs competing at the event, which is organised by the Tonbridge Lions.

Singalong Each choir performed two songs in front of an audience of 300 parents and siblings. The judges, Jean Allen, Carrie Walshaw and Richard Hill, had the difficult task of choosing a winner, but Stocks Green just pipped Woodlands to the title.

Whilst the judges deliberated, all five choirs

and the audience enjoyed a mass singalong of songs the children had learned for the Young Voices concert held last month at the O2 Arena.

Lions President Gordon Hill presented the prizes and thanked the teachers, in particular Marion Jones of Woodlands, who liaised with all other the schools.

Each school received a cheque to help its music development, and each child was given a certificate.

On behalf of the Lions’ organising committee, Ken Thomas said: “Once again we were delighted to be able to give the children a chance to perform before such a large and appreciative audience. All choirs performed really well and the community singing was fantastic.”

“Rob won the right to play Eric at the exhibition night after winning a competition for local players on the previous Sunday.

“Eric played 12 locals over a single leg of 501.

Rob beat him, but then most of us did! I think five people beat Eric on the night – including myself.

“Eric would’ve known Rob from his breakthrough TV appearance in the UK Open six months before.”

Rob, from Edenbridge, was still relatively unknown on the national circuit, but has now won the PDC World Championship within a year of turning pro.

PHOTO: David Couldridge

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DARTS AT HEART: Rob Cross with Eric Bristow

NEWS IN BRIEF

Car park extension is tied to Civic Complex CRESCENT ROAD car park in Tunbridge Wells could be extended by 96 spaces, if long term plans are approved.

The borough council-owned facility already has 1,069 spaces and is currently subject to disruption caused by maintenance.

The Town Hall is now looking to extend the car park in a project costing a reported £3million, which ties into the Civic Development and theatre initiative. No dates have been set.

In Bloom campaign ORGANISERS of Royal Tunbridge Wells in Bloom are hoping to build on their 2017 success in this year’s campaign. Last year they won gold in the Large Town Category.

Now the town has been selected to represent the South and South East region in the Large Town category of Royal Horticultural Society’s [RHS] Britain in Bloom.

RHS judges will be making inspections throughout this summer and organisers are keen for all to join the effort.

More can be found out at a launch event outside Royal Victoria Place on Saturday and Sunday [April 14 and 15] from 10am to 3pm.

Charity quiz night A QUIZ night is being held in Hildenborough Village Hall on Saturday, May 26, to raise funds for Hi Kent, the local charity for the deaf and hard of hearing.

All proceeds will go towards helping people living with hearing loss in Hildenborough and the surrounding area.

Entry costs £8 per person, in teams of six, and includes a ploughman’s supper. To make a booking, please contact Debra Jones of Hi Kent on 01622 691151 or email d.jones@hikent.org.uk

Top home improvers BOTH Tunbridge Wells and Sevenoaks are among the UK’s top home improvers, according to a new study by Barbour ABI. The intelligence firm compiled the list for the South East by finding how many planning applications had been submitted for each local authority.

Sevenoaks came second in the region and Tunbridge Wells came fifth.

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Unveiling of council artwork costing £17,500 raises questions of funding ROCK ON Artist Richard Perry presents Zephyr inside Grosvenor and Hilbert Park

By William Mata will@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk A SCULPTURE that has the appearance of a rock was last week unveiled at Grosvenor and Hilbert Park. Together with two other rocks, it cost Tunbridge Wells Borough Council £17,500.

Town Hall paid for the work with funds secured through a Section 106 agreement which sees developers make a contribution to community projects.

Fairview New Homes struck the deal as part of their proposal to build a 94 home development in Jackwood Way, which was originally planned in 2007.

This practise of developers paying these ‘sweeteners’ to councils often sees funding handed over to local schools or health services.

But this time the council decided to give £30,000 in a ‘Public Art Sum’ as part of the agreement. The £17,500 came from this pot of money.

Total contributions from the developer came to slightly more than £150,000.

Juxtaposition Award-winning artist Richard Perry unveiled Zephyr, the boulder-like piece, on Friday [April 6] in a presentation before members of the public and invited guests.

A spokesman for the borough council said: “The sculpture is carved from gneiss stone with carving emphasising the natural markings in the stone.

“It is also inspired by flowing shapes representing the moving water, wind through the trees and the rolling nature of the park.”

Readers were quick to offer comment on the

Times’ Facebook page.

Ben Harman said: “That sir, is a rock. If I am incorrect then my garden is full of art.”

James Rigby said: “I think it represents tradition, permanence and solidity.

“For me, it’s a witty counterpoint to the modern transient throwaway society we have become. As if dropped from the heavens, it’s a stark juxtaposition to the verdant lushness of the park.”

Paul Hammond said: “This must be from Stonehenge,” and Linda Bingham added: “It looks like a fossilised giant tortoise.”

The Section 106 agreement, as it appeared in a

WHO IS RICHARD PERRY? A CELEBRATED sculpture artist, Richard Perry has won commissions and awards since the mid-1980s.

After studying art at Leeds Polytechnic, he worked initially in the Midlands but has branched out to complete projects nationally and all over the world.

He typically creates one or two large pieces every year. Other sculptures are also stone, but he has also used ceramics, wood and marble.

Tunbridge Wells Borough

Council is not the first local authority to select him to design a piece for a public space.

His previous work includes a tree sculpture in Jersey and ceramic ‘Fountain Trees’ in Basingstoke. He has won two National Stone Federation Awards for his works in Jersey and also in Sheffield.

Eye-catching designs, include the 5.5-metre StarStone design in Armagh in Northern Ireland and the five piece Fountain Trees in Basingstoke.

2007 document, listed other beneficiaries as pedestrian and cycle improvements and library services.

Zephyr is placed alongside other similar works in Grosvenor and Hilbert Park.

These are known as Grosvenor Rocks and are part of a development designed by architecture firm We Made That.

The Times asked the council where the rest of the £30,000 Public Art Sum was spent. No reply had been received at the time of going to press.

Mr Perry has been approached for further comment.

See also Editorial Opinion on Page 2

HOW SECTION 106 WORKS ACCORDING to Tunbridge Wells Borough Council, a Section 106 agreement helps to “mitigate the impact of an unacceptable development to make it acceptable in planning terms”.

Sometimes this can see a developer make a payment to help fund school projects or health services. But it can be used in a variety of ways.

For example, Altitude, the developer behind the Tunbridge Wells cinema site, is set to pay around £500,000 to schools and community projects.

MORE ROCKS: The other two pieces of artwork

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Parties set out their stalls in a bid to woo the voters

By Jonathan Banks NEXT month thousands of residents across Tunbridge Wells will be off to the polls as they cast votes for borough councillors.

Sixteen of the 48 seats at the Town Hall are up for grabs, with seven political parties chasing your support, including newcomers in the Tunbridge Wells Alliance and Women’s Equality Party.

To help readers decide where to place their cross on May 3, the Times put questions to all the parties fielding candidates:

CONSERVATIVES

local economies. In future, extra money will only come from economic growth, with councils being allowed to retain a share of additional business rates. We must therefore ensure we have the space available for new business to come here, or for local businesses to expand. Additional revenue from business will provide the cash for the services people want us to provide.

What’s your position on the Civic Complex?

The Civic Development is now official council policy, which we support.

How would you enhance the town centre?

Seats contested: 16 Spokesman: Council Leader David Jukes

We are preparing the phase 2 development of the public realm – paving and restricting traffic around the Town Hall and War Memorial.

Why should people vote Tory?

What about traffic in the town?

They feel comfortable with the economic management of the council. Under Conservative control we have the third lowest council tax in Kent and one of the lowest in the UK. We have also achieved a clean audit report for seven years.

Conservatives will continue to balance the budget and deliver quality services for local residents.

It is a tragedy for our town that the proposed southern bypass was not built when it was proposed in 1935! I still support this, though the cost would be hundreds of millions of pounds.

LIBERAL DEMOCRATS

What is your number one priority?

Seats contested: 16 Spokesman: Council Opposition Leader Ben Chapelard

Economic development to ensure we have the growth and jobs we need for the future.

Why should people vote Lib Dem?

And where would you get the money?

David Jukes

The borough council has lost £4.5million of financial support from central government. We have had to make up this shortfall from savings and

We pride ourselves on listening to residents and getting things done on their behalf. Getting the old cinema site cleaned up, campaigning for doorstep glass recycling and saving CCTV monitoring from being switched off are just three examples of what we Lib Dems have achieved.

We are the official opposition on the council.

We have a far greater impact than our numbers suggest – imagine what we could

do for our borough with more councillors?

What is your top priority?

We want Tunbridge Wells to be a pioneer in 21st-century living. We need a strategic Ben Chapelard plan. The Conservatives’ piecemeal approach has not worked and is not working. We need to tackle congestion, illegal levels of air pollution and the lack of safe roads, pavements and bicycle lanes.

Where would you get the money?

We would use the existing budget differently.

We would save the Conservatives’ £1.3million facelift of Mount Pleasant to deal with the root cause of the problem: Congestion.

Where do you stand on the Civic Complex?

We oppose the £90million development. It has not been thought through and fails to address the needs of the town. It is the wrong priority. It is a massive debt for a project which is in the wrong place. The money could be better spent. The town does need investment, but it needs to be the right kind – and not at the expense of public services and charity and community support groups’ funding.

And traffic in the town?

The answer is not building £18million of new car parks at Crescent Road and in Calverley Grounds. We have to encourage different modes of transport. We continue to campaign for increased cycle lanes, a park and ride scheme and a pedestrian and bike-friendly town centre.

LABOUR

Seats contested: 16 Spokesman: Martin Betts, Party Chairman for Tunbridge Wells

Why vote Labour?

We are united in our opposition to the new Martin Betts £90million Civic Complex

Wednesday April 11 | 2018

and theatre, and the austerity that has damaged public services and living standards of people in our area. We stand to improve the lives of the many across Tunbridge Wells, not the few.

Your priority is what?

To provide more genuinely affordable housing to rent and buy – particularly social housing. This is closely followed by reinvigoration of our villages and towns; improvements to public transport, roads, congestion and parking; and protection of our parks and green spaces against development.

And where would you get the money?

Local authorities have been starved of money by government and we need to send a message that we have had enough of austerity. Money can be found if there is the political will to do so.

How would you enhance the town centre?

The council should be pressing government to reverse planning and business rate policy that is driving firms out, and putting real effort into making Tunbridge Wells a good place to set up business in again.

And what can be done about traffic?

We need cheaper and more reliable public transport, car clubs, and an effective park and ride scheme.

TUNBRIDGE WELLS ALLIANCE

Seats contested: 7 Spokesman: Bob Atwood, Tunbridge Wells Alliance Chairman

Why vote for the Alliance?

Over the last year we have become aware of increased public unease and concern over the actions and intentions of Tunbridge Wells Borough Council. In particular, it seems that a council dominated by Tory councillors, many of whom have become complacent and stale, and without realistic opposition, no longer effectively perform their function of representing the wishes and concerns of those who elected them. We also

felt that such dominance was guided solely by the desire to win and retain seats so that nationally the Conservative Party could claim continuing success in the shire counties.

Bob Atwood

What is your number one priority for the town?

We were borne from the huge concerns that a multitude of residents now share over the financial disaster awaiting the borough should the so-called Civic Complex project go ahead, and a new theatre be built, out of funds that simply do not exist. Our number one priority, therefore, is to get the pause button firmly pressed so that residents can be properly consulted; the risks inherent in such projects are properly defined; and opinions on design, location, impact and desirability are properly sought before a penny more of taxpayers’ money is spent.

GREEN PARTY

Seats contested: 1 Spokesman: Trevor Bisdee

bus companies to use electric buses – maybe the council should run its own bus service.

WOMEN’S EQUALITY PARTY

Seats contested: 1 Spokeswoman: Dr Amanda Turner

Why vote for your party?

Our candidate, Liz Orr, has lived in the Culverden ward for nearly 20 years and is deeply vested in her local community. She wants to make a difference to our town and work Dr Amanda Turner collaboratively, across party lines, to deliver good ideas that work. Shockingly, there are only 16 women out of 48 councillors on the borough council. In Liz’s ward, Culverden, there are three men, all of whom are Conservatives. Women are 51 per cent of the population, and it’s time their voices were fairly heard on our council. This town needs a councillor who puts equality at the heart of everything she does.

Why vote Green?

What is your view on the Civic Complex?

We are the only party that puts the environment at the top of the agenda, alongside social justice. Green Party councillors are renowned for asking the difficult questions; speaking truth to power.

We believe the project in its current form is too costly and risks wasting huge public resources for a generation.

Where do you stand on the Civic Complex?

People before vanity projects. Cuts in services, lack of social housing, more holes in the road than road itself! So many more important projects than defacing beautiful Calverley Grounds.

And the traffic?

Trevor Bisdee

Look at park and ride opportunities, and rapid upgrade of cycle lanes with extra places to leave cycles safely. More electric vehicle charging points, encourage

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UKIP

Seats contested: 2 Spokesman: Nicole Bushill, Chair of UKIP Kent Our candidates do not make election promises that they cannot keep, we are however appalled that whilst cuts are being made to frontline services, bureaucrats within the council are being awarded ridiculous pay rises. A priority is to bring sensibility back to spending decisions and that the improvement to the lives of our communities is always at the forefront of these decisions. The Civic Centre is such an example of the absurdity running through the council – we are strictly opposed to this going ahead.

NEWS

Candidates line-up to fight for 16 seats BENENDEN AND CRANBROOK Saul Clackson – Liberal Democrat Tom Dawlings – Conservative Anne Musker – Labour John Smith – TW Alliance BRENCHLEY AND HORSMONDEN WARD Zoe Norman – Liberal Democrat Alan McDermott – Conservative Kelly Llewellyn – Labour BROADWATER WARD Christopher Hall – Liberal Dem Chris Woodward – Conservative Louise Reid – Labour Alun Elder-Brown – UKIP CULVERDEN WARD Martin Brice – Liberal Democrat David Scott – Conservative Carol Wilson – Labour Liz Orr – Women’s Equality Party Lucy Willis – TW Alliance HAWKHURST AND SANDHURST Clare Bishop – Liberal Democrat Patrick Thomson – Conservative Ana Draper – Labour PADDOCK WOOD EAST WARD Gillian Douglass – LibDem

Allan Gooda – Conservative Derek Boyle – Labour Rodney Atkins – TW Alliance PADDOCK WOOD WEST WARD Trevor Bisdee – Green Elizabeth Thomas – Conservative Raymond Moon – Labour Brian Ransley – TW Alliance James Cole – Liberal Democrat PANTILES AND ST. MARK’S Andy Hickey – Liberal Democrat James Scholes – Conservative Lorna Blackmore – Labour PARK WARD Catherine Rankin – Conservative Hugo Pound – Labour Nick Pope – TW Alliance Rachel Sandler – Lib Dem PEMBURY WARD Paul Barrington-King – Conservative Sarah Carpenter – Labour Colin Sefton – Liberal Democrat SHERWOOD WARD Bob Backhouse – Conservative Seb St John – Labour Nick Twist – TW Alliance

Alan Bullion – Liberal Democrat Chris Hoare – UKIP SOUTHBOROUGH AND HIGH BROOMS WARD Harry Allen – Conservative Alain Lewis – Labour Margeurita Morton – Lib Dem SOUTHBOROUGH NORTH WARD Joe Simmons – Conservative Martin Betts – Labour Trevor Poile – Liberal Democrat SPELDHURST AND BIDBOROUGH WARD Julia Soyke – Conservative David Adams – Labour Jackie Prance – Liberal Democrat ST. JAMES’ WARD Matt Bailey – Conservative Isobel Kerrigan – Labour David Neve – Liberal Democrat Steve Bowse – TW Alliance ST. JOHN’S WARD Nasir Jamil – Conservative Bjorn Simpole – Labour Mark Ellis – Liberal Democrat

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BUSINESS

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Academy offer to advisers looking to get the latest skills in industry

Van dealership sale a boost for law firm MERCEDES-BENZ van dealers Sparshatts of Kent has been sold to Belfry Trucks in a deal overseen by Tunbridge Wells law firm Cripps.

Sparshatts, which has a branch in Tonbridge and a turnover of £88.3million, is set to continue under the same brand name, with the firm now employing more than 200 people across four sites.

The purchase, for an undisclosed amount, was completed on March 27. Canterburybased accountants Burgess Hodgson also advised on the deal.

TOUCH AND GO: Rail ticket machines often present several confusing cost options to passengers

Passengers paying over the odds now get refund pledge

By William Mata will@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk RAIL passengers will no longer pay a price for ticket machine confusion in a new Southeastern refund scheme.

This follows widespread criticism of transport firms giving customers a large number of ticket options for a single journey.

Customers have complained at being left out of pocket when, in their haste to board a train, they have mistakenly selected a more expensive option than others available.

For example, when using a machine to buy a ticket from Tonbridge to London, passengers could be asked if they would prefer one of the following options: ‘Not valid for High Speed 1’, by ‘any route’ or ‘via Redhill’.

And it may not be immediately obvious which

of these is the cheapest or most expensive option.

Recent UK research by the watchdog Office of Rail and Road found six per cent of passengers paid more than necessary on journeys last year.

Southeastern, the franchise holder for the Tunbridge Wells and Tonbridge Hastings-London line, has now committed to help.

‘If you can find the same ticket elsewhere for a lower price, we’ll refund the difference’ Last week the firm introduced their Ticket Machine Price Guarantee.

A spokesman said: “This means that if you purchase a ticket from one of our ticket vending machines, but find that you’re then able to find the same ticket elsewhere for a lower price, we’ll refund the difference.”

Office of Rail and Road also found that 91 per cent of those surveyed bought the correct ticket, an 11 per cent rise from the previous year.

This was also partly put down to a clearer use of language.

The independent watchdog’s Stephanie Tobyn said: “The industry has made significant progress, and we want to see companies acting on the results of our survey and continuing to roll out improvements to ticket machines to provide a better service to their passengers.”

Southeastern has asked customers looking to claim a refund to get in touch by writing to the company, including copies of the ticket bought.

The address to write to is: Southeastern Customer Services, PO Box 10422, Ashby-de-la-Zouch, LE65 9EL

TUNBRIDGE WELLS investment firm Brooks Macdonald is to hold an ‘Adviser Academy’ in Kent.

Staff from the Mount Ephraim-based company will attend the free event at Leeds Castle, near Maidstone, on May 17, which is open to financial advisers.

The ‘Continuing Professional Development’ academy will bring together a range of speakers to focus on topics such as time, efficiency and regulation.

Success Speakers include: Edward Park, Director, Investment Committee, at Brooks Macdonald, Nigel Barker-Smith and Justin King, owners of small but profitable planning firms, and representatives from multinational bank JP Morgan.

The format of the academy is shaped by advice based on comments and feedback received from more than 500 attendees of previous academies.

Brooks Macdonald had £11.7billion in funds under management as of December 31, and also has offices in London and Manchester.

The Leeds Castle event is one of several the firm has planned around the country.

Pam Beith, Head of the Tunbridge Wells office, said: “After the success of last year’s academies, with our highest attendance rates ever, we are pleased to announce our 2018 academy taking place at Leeds Castle.”

To find out more about the event, visit www.brooksmacdonald.com INVITATION Pam Beith

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Twelve-year dream leads to flats for homeless youths

By Andy Tong NEW apartments have been officially opened to provide accommodation for nine young homeless people at the Quaker Meeting House in Grosvenor Park – the culmination of a project that has taken 12 years.

They will act as a place where residents of the current YMCA’s Ryder House hostel can ‘move on’ when they are in a position to live more independent lives.

The new project is only for people from Tunbridge Wells, and is the result of a partnership between West Kent YMCA, West Kent Quaker Area Meeting and Habitat for Humanity Homes.

Vision More than £800,000 has been spent, including a £250,000 grant from the borough council.

YMCA clients helped to transform the 120-yearold Meeting House through the organisation’s Horizon Project, which offers practical courses for skills such as carpentry and plumbing.

There are currently 37 young homeless people at the existing Ryder House in Belgrave Road, where they are allowed to stay for a maximum of two years, after which they had previously been left to fend for themselves.

Now the young people will be able to live in the new flats while they find their feet.

Gareth Hepworth, Chief Executive of Habitat for Humanity Homes, said: “Some of us felt it would

never happen, but it’s testament to partnership and vision, especially the Quaker Friends. Their vision over a very long time has driven this project forwards.”

Habitat for Humanity help churches who are interested in developing their land to find affordable housing.

Sue Hall, of the West Kent Quakers, described the process as ‘a 12-year game of snakes and ladders, and at times it felt like there were more snakes than ladders’.

The partners believe that a rise in homeless young people is putting pressure on the limited supplies of emergency housing.

At the same time, the amount of affordable ‘move-on’ accommodation is shrinking, piling more pressure on the systems to support homeless young people in Tunbridge Wells.

Rob Marsh, Chief Executive of West Kent YMCA, said residents will be required to have a job before they move in.

They will be charged the Local Housing Authority allowance of £77 per week – considerably less than the rent would be on the private market in the town.

If they lose their job, they will be able to stay on with benefits covering the rent.

“Once they find a better job and can afford a higher rent or a car, then they can move on from here to somewhere else,” said Mr Marsh.

“I can’t see a problem with someone staying here five years, but I think it’s unlikely.

“If they like it here and they’re a good influence

MEETING OF MINDS (L-R) Rob Marsh of the YMCA, Sue Hall and Alison Ruff of West Kent Quakers, and Gareth Hepworth of Habitat for Humanity Homes we’re not going to say ‘on your bike’. But if they are beginning to regress, then we will say ‘sorry, it’s time to move because we’ve got people queuing up to get into the flats’.”

The apartments would provide ‘strong, safe, secure, stable stepping stones for young people’ who had been through the ‘painful journey going from exclusion to inclusion to independence’.

They would also free up more space at Ryder

House to take more young people off the streets.

Mr Marsh added: “We are all one phone call from being homeless.

“It’s vital we provide support as well as realistic, affordable housing options for young people wanting to work and contribute to our town.

“It’s taken us 12 years, but we are looking at another 120 years of service to the community – and that’s not unrealistic, is it?”

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IN THE KNOW: Hattie Harrison The founder of That Mum Blog Hattie Harrison tells us about some of her favourite local places... and you might be tempted to try them yourself. This article first appeared on our digital platform theknow.guide that keeps you in touch with what’s happening in and around the area seven days a week. For similar articles and local news visit theknow.guide doesn’t immediately kill us (that’s what happens right?). We moved to the Tunbridge Wells area because we have children and I’ve had too many conversations with estate agents to not know that schools are our next priority if we want to completely fulfil our potential to be a middle class cliché.

What’s your favourite shop locally, and where’s best for a coffee or spot of lunch while you’re out?

My favourite shop locally is Jeremy’s Home Store, an Aladdin’s cave for homeware fans - I have never exited that shop without a lunch box or a flamingo straw. Quite specific items seeing as my kids eat school dinners.

I’m usually joined by a child or two when having coffee or lunch so my favourite spots are places they let loose a bit - The Clockhouse in Tonbridge is brilliant for homemade cake, a place for the kids to play and a reasonably priced but delicious lunch. I also enjoy Bill’s in town - it reminds me of lazy brunches when I was on maternity leave and is also pretty child friendly.

How did you find yourself living in the area?

I live in Southborough and we’ve been here for about three years. Before that we were in Tunbridge Wells, before that Twickenham and before that Clapham Junction. I’m a serial mover - property is my porn and I’m constantly minimising Zoopla on my computer so my husband can’t see what I’m browsing. We want to be country bumpkins but we’ve had to gradually edge out of London so the shock of country living

How about nightlife – what’s it like and where do you go for dinner and drinks? There are so many great places for drinks and dinner in Tunbridge Wells. Our personal favourites are Tunbridge Wells Bar and Grill, The Hideout, Kitsu for a bit of sushi (never underestimate the appeal of Bring Your Own) and for the best, homemade and authentic Italian pizzas, our local, The Imperial in Southborough. For a cocktail or two Vittle and

Swig is second to none (I have no idea what was in the candy floss cocktail I had there recently but it tasted of heaven) and for a treat we go to The Twenty Six in Southborough, a test kitchen with a changing menu.

Where’s the best place to go for a stroll, and are there any nice views?

We are so lucky to live right next door to Southborough Common so when we need to blow away the cobwebs a brisk stroll through the forest normally does the job. It’s a great place for the children to explore as there are so many brooks for them to fall in (!) and lots of wigwams made from branches left out by previous explorers to play in. We also enjoy a stroll to the Kentish Hare in Bidborough, en route on the Bidborough ridge there are phenomenal views.

Where do you take people when they come to visit?

Our friends from London come and visit us fairly regularly to sample the Tunbridge Wells nightlife followed by a stroll on the aforementioned common the next day. I know exactly where I should take them to show them the best of the area but if I can be honest with you they are most impressed by the price of a pint compared to London and the fact that you don’t have to queue too long for it or elbow your way onto the dance floor. If I’m brutally honest that’s my favourite thing about the area too. Perhaps that’s the real reason we moved after all! www.thatmumblog.co.uk

Wednesday April 11 | 2018

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Young Thomas starts a craze that raises hundreds for the homeless

By Andy Tong newsdesk@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk A SEVEN-YEAR-OLD boy has raised more than £800 for the homeless charity Crisis with an innovative fundraising idea – he slept on the floor of his room.

Thomas Green, who attends Pembury Primary School in Lower Green Road, raised the money through sponsorship after he ‘gave up his bed for the night’ on March 29.

He originally aimed to raise £100 but ended up with £822. His innovative idea has caught the imagination in such a vivid way that the charity has decided to put it forward to its events team as a potential venture.

“He received lots of support from children, parents and staff,” said Esther. “Around a dozen children got involved and slept on their floors on the same night, and others did it on different nights. They seem to have really embraced the cause.”

Thomas even had the courage to address the assembly at his school about his venture.

‘We have found that it has been a really inspiring way for younger children to get physically involved in a cause’ Thomas’s mother, Esther, told the Times: “He has done this pretty much all by himself. We were in London a few weekends ago and he was very troubled by the amount of homeless people, and became determined to do something to help.

“He has never done anything like this before, and he has amazed us with his determination.

This is something that he saw with his own eyes, which motivated him to do something about it.”

Thomas’s idea inspired his older brother, Alex, and around 20 of his fellow pupils to take part – and even a former classmate, Matilda Tait, who now lives in Bournemouth.

WELL GROUNDED Thomas gets ready to sleep on his bedroom floor

Esther admitted: “We were really worried that he might be too nervous, but his teacher said that he was amazing.

“He explained that he had visited London and that he had seen so many homeless people that he could not give money to all of them, so he wanted to find a way of raising more money to help.

“His teacher, Mrs White, said that it was actually quite emotional and she was very proud of him. After the assembly, a number of parents who we don’t know made donations, so I do think that what he said resounded with lots of children.”

Esther was glad that her young son had found a way to show his support for the homeless while remaining safe himself.

“We have found that it has been a really inspiring way for younger children to get physically involved in a cause, making them think about what being homeless might be like, without putting them at risk or asking them to do anything too difficult.”

The initiative may be taken up on a wider scale, as Esther explained: “Crisis have praised Thomas and said they have passed his idea on to the events team as a possible fundraising idea for the future.”

Thomas has decided he would like to do this every year on the Thursday night before Easter Friday. Esther said: “There really were so many children who went home and told their parents about it that were really moved by the idea, maybe next year the whole school will do it – or even other schools nationally.

“If one seven-year-old boy can raise over £800 then imagine what hundreds of kids could raise?”

To make a donation, search for Esther Green at www.justgiving.com

Wednesday April 11 | 2018

HOT AND COAL The fire walk at Royal Victoria Place

Facing Fire & Ice raises £5,000

LOCAL hospice ellenor raised more than £5,000 with an endurance event last month.

After the success of its Fire Walk and Chilli Dip over the last seven years, the charity unleashed a double temperature challenge – Fire & Ice. This involved walking across hot coals at Royal Victoria Place and then swimming in the outdoor pool at St Julians Club in Sevenoaks the following morning. ellenor is the only charity in Kent to provide children’s hospice care in the home.

Fire & Ice raised £5,187 in total, and Linda Trew, ellenor’s Director of Income Stream, said: “We know our supporters are remarkable and this challenge just proves that they literally will walk over hot coals to support ellenor.”

Wednesday April 11 | 2018

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Time to roam with Lions charity TONBRIDGE LIONS will be holding their 37th annual walk on Sunday May 13, with a choice of two routes of five miles or ten miles starting from Shipbourne Village Hall.

Supporters of charities and community groups are encouraged to raise funds for their respective organisations. Last year 98 walkers took part and raised over £4,000.

Causes The Lions organise and marshal the event. No entrance fee is charged so the worthy causes keep all the sponsor money for their funds.

Lions spokesman Owen Baldock said: “The routes have not yet been finalised as walking conditions need to be taken into account.

“But detailed point-to-point instructions and maps will be issued on the day, and the routes will be well marshalled.”

At the finish, walkers will have their sponsor forms officially stamped to show that they have completed the walk, and Gordon Hill, President of Tonbridge Lions Club, will present each walker with a certificate.

To register your interest, please contact Ken Thomas on 01732 352935, or email: kenmarjazz@uwclub.net

BRIGHT AND BOOTIFUL A group of walkers set out on last year’s event

National accolade for Caremark manager A MEMBER of the team at a West Kent care company has been named Home Care Registered Manager of the Year at the Great British Care Awards.

Simon Rowland, of Caremark, who operate across the boroughs of Tunbridge Wells and Tonbridge & Malling, received his national award at a gala ceremony at Birmingham’s ICC on March 16.

The Great British Care Awards pay tribute to those individuals who have demonstrated outstanding excellence within their field of work.

Impressive Simon joined the Caremark team in 2016 after ten years working in care homes and specialist dementia facilities.

He was recognised for his compassion to the Caremark Tunbridge Wells team of office staff and carers, his outstanding service to local clients, and his contribution to the community.

The judges stated: “Simon has created an impressive team and culture in just 18 months. His service has been recognised as ‘outstanding’ by the CQC [Care Quality Commission].

“This is due largely to Simon’s sincere and caring, personal manner

to both clients and staff. He leads by example and is an outstanding role model to all in the care industry.”

Simon said: “To have been awarded national Care Manager 2018 is an unbelievable accolade that I am humbled to have been nominated for, let alone win. Good care does exist, and hopefully this award proves that my team is as good as they come, as without their support I would not have won.

“I would like to thank everyone associated with Caremark for giving me the tools and the belief to achieve what we have, and I am hoping this is actually just the start for both myself and my team.”

Martin Steyn, Managing Director of Caremark, commented: “It’s a real honour to work with someone as committed and considerate as Simon – he truly is a pleasure to work with.

“In just 18 months he has made such a positive impact on our team of office staff, carers, and the clients themselves.

“Simon deserves this national recognition for his efforts and for the incredible work he does for the community.”

POSITIVE IMPACT Simon Rowland (left) receives his award from Jeremy Vine

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Chairman’s honour for scam victim supporter THE Chairman of Kent County Council, David Brazier, has paid tribute to a Trading Standards officer who has helped 100 scam victims.

Elaine Mount’s work in engaging with vulnerable adults is estimated to have saved them a combined £61,000.

Her tasks have included fitting call blockers, working with charities, securing refunds and stopping payment to criminals.

Last week, Ms Mount was presented with the Chairman’s Commendation Award at County Hall.

Setback in roadworks PLANS to spend £26million on improving the A28 at Ashford have been delayed in a blow for Kent County Council.

Council Leader Paul Carter expressed his ‘frustration’ that works have been put on hold while a financier looks to cover the cost.

An unnamed developer is building 5,750 homes at Chilmington in a project linked to the improvements of the A28. The company is said to be covering the costs of the roadworks but has asked for more time.

More ways with Wills DONATIONS in Wills by South East residents generated more than £14.5million for the charity sector last year, research has found.

The British Heart Foundation accredited the practice for funding one quarter of all cardiovascular research in the UK. The charity is calling on more residents to include a charity in their Wills. But 25 per cent of over 65s say they do not have a Will.

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Best-laid plans to be judged for winner of £2million contract

Wednesday April 11 | 2018

BACKDROP Sevenoaks Wildlife Reserve

MEETINGS are due to take place this month to decide which architectural firm should win a £2million contract to design Sevenoaks Wildlife Reserve’s new visitor centre.

Four companies have been shortlisted by RIBA, [the Royal Institute of British Architects], who are managing the competition to design the Nature and Wellbeing Centre on behalf of park owners the Kent Wildlife Trust.

Construction The shortlisted firms are: ArkleBoyce Architects, Ben Adams Architects, Bilska de Beaupuy and Studio McLeod with Ekkist.

After they were selected as the finalists in January, the firms were given £3,000 to update their designs for the centre.

With judging now underway, a decision is expected to be announced next month.

Work is set to begin on the construction of the building later this yeat. This will be an all new centre and the flagship visitor point of the park.

Sevenoaks Wildlife Reserve is on Bradbourne Vale Road and includes five lakes and a mixed habitat of ponds, seasonal flooded pools, reedbed and woodlands.

A spokesman for the Kent Wildlife Trust said: “The new centre needs to have elements that can accommodate wildlife as well as people, and be a complement to the reserve it serves.

“Wherever possible, it should build the connection with nature and be designed with health outcomes in mind for staff and centre-users.”

Joint ambition to end domestic abuse

By William Mata A PUBLIC consultation has been launched to help shape a strategy to combat domestic and sexual abuse in East Sussex.

Local authorities are calling on residents to answer a survey as they try to find the best ways of supporting victims of stalking, harassment, forced marriage and FGM, as well as domestic and sexual violence.

East Sussex County Council is partnering Brighton & Hove City Council in a joint approach to tackling exploitation. The consultation will

run until May 14 and is open to anyone aged 18 or over who lives in the region.

Protection Cllr Bill Bentley, East Sussex County Council’s lead member for community and safety, said: “East Sussex and Brighton & Hove councils have a long history of working together to tackle the issue of domestic abuse and violence.

“We have some extremely successful services already in place, but we want to find out what more we can do to tackle the issue and provide

appropriate support across the city, as well as the towns and rural areas of East Sussex.”

National charity Against Violence and Abuse has been commissioned to conduct the independent consultation.

Cllr Emma Daniel, of Brighton & Hove City Council, said: “It is vital that any strategy we have in place reduces the risk of anyone being a victim of violence and abuse, as well as ensuring victims and survivors get the support and protection they need.”

To take part in the consultation, visit www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/PMHLDCD

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Wednesday April 11 | 2018

Success of practitioners experiment in hospital emergency departments

TEAM EFFORT [L-R] Anne-Marie George, Neil Buckle, Ali Williams, Leanne Adams, Dave Shelton and John Clulow of the Emergency Department

By William Mata HOSPITALS in Tunbridge Wells and Maidstone could boost their Emergency Department Practitioner team after a ‘successful’ roll-out of the idea.

The Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust [MTW] became one of the first in the UK to introduce the practitioners to work alongside doctors for more serious cases in A&E. The new team was created last August, with nine member across both hospitals.

All members are nurses and paramedics who have been highly trained to perform advanced clinical roles with supervision from consultant doctors. They perform different roles to regular nurses, such as independent systemic assessment, ordering and conducting tests, and discharging patients.

John Clulow, Lead Emergency Practitioner, who heads up the team, said: “MTW has been an innovator in introducing the use of practitioners into our emergency departments, being one of

only a handful of Trusts to lead the way in their implementation.

“They undertake very similar tasks to junior doctors in the emergency departments, but provide a much more holistic approach in how they care for, and treat, patients.

Continuity “When a patient attends the emergency department, a practitioner manages that patient autonomously, staying with them during their time in the emergency department, from diagnosis to treatment to either discharge, referral, or to admit them to an in-patient ward.”

MTW is currently rated as ‘requires improvement’ by the latest Care Quality Commission report.

Mr Clulow said the project has been ‘so successful’ that there are plans to recruit and train additional staff.

He continued: “This has enabled us to provide greater continuity of care for patients.”

Fight to keep historic barracks open sparks a legal challenge MAIDSTONE MP Helen Grant [pictured below] is campaigning against her own government to keep Invicta Park Barracks open.

The Ministry of Defence is looking to close the 200-year-old Maidstone site in 2027 because it is ‘surplus to requirements’.

The 41-hecatre barracks is home to 36 Regiment of the Royal Engineers. This consists of five squadrons, including two Gurkha squadrons.

Since then-Defence Secretary and current Sevenoaks MP Sir Michael Fallon made the ruling in November 2016, moves have been made to oppose the closure.

Discrimination Mrs Grant is now questioning the legality of the decision and is in correspondence with Mr Fallon’s successor, Gavin Williamson.

Last week she said: “In order for the barracks closure decision to be lawful, the Ministry of Defence has an obligation to fulfil what is known as the Public Sector Equality Duty.

“This is to protect groups of people and individuals against discrimination. One way to fulfil this duty is to undertake an Impact Equality Assessment.”

Mrs Grant, the first black female

Conservative MP, said she had been in correspondence with the Ministry to find out whether an appropriate assessment had been or would be carried out.

This was in particular relation to protecting the rights of the Gurkhas, Nepalese soldiers with a long tradition of being recruited in Britain.

Mrs Grant continued: “I was reassured that the Minister formally accepted his department’s obligations under the Public Sector Equality Duty.

“They advised that the army are now making plans to ensure that the impact of any eventual closure upon the Gurkhas and their families will be heavily mitigated.

“The Ministry has also offered to visit the barracks.”

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Wednesday April 11 | 2018

Burglar’s dismantled shrine is resurrected within hours A ROW over the memorial to burglar Henry Vincent has continued to deepen as tributes were torn down for a second time this week.

Relatives of the 37-year-old, who was killed during his alleged attempted burglary in south east London, restored a desecrated shrine near the scene of the raid, only for it to be wrecked again within minutes.

The fence opposite the home of Richard OsbornBrooks, 78, has become an unlikely flashpoint of tensions between the grieving family and his neighbours since last week’s incident.

Balloons, cards and flowers have been removed by supporters of the pensioner, with whom Vincent was involved in a struggle on April 4 which resulted in the raider being stabbed with a screwdriver.

FLORAL SCENE Tributes left in Hither Green were torn down

his family by a coroner.

It is alleged the 37-year-old entered the property of Mr Osborn-Brooks with an accomplice.

Police believe he forced the elderly homeowner into his kitchen armed with a screwdriver, where a struggle ensued and the intruder suffered a stab wound.

An inquest opening at Southwark Coroner’s Court heard that Vincent, from Lime Road in Swanley, Kent, was jobless and single at the time.

Detective Chief Inspector Simon Harding of the Metropolitan Police told the court: “The facts are that on Wednesday, April 4, two males including Henry Vincent entered a residential address at about 12.40am whilst committing a burglary.

The search for ET begins in our own cosmic backyard

“During this burglary the male resident stabbed Henry Vincent - that ultimately led to his death.”

Asked by Ms Ormond-Walshe if anyone had been charged by police over the killing, he replied: “No, ma’am.”

Several female relatives of Vincent were in court on Tuesday afternoon.

Mr Osborn-Brooks was initially arrested on suspicion of murder, but was told by police he would face no further action.

Scotland Yard officers are still hunting 28-year-old Billy Jeeves, who is wanted on suspicion of aggravated burglary in connection with the incident.

SNOW FALL Head for the Highlands

THEY may come in peace, or on a mission to invade Earth... but either way, the possibility of aliens in our cosmic backyard is no longer being ignored by scientists.

Prompted by the recent discovery of a visiting interstellar asteroid, a team of radio astronomers has for the first time started looking for evidence of Extra Terrestrials within the boundaries of the solar system.

It began with speculation, later proved wrong, that the asteroid dubbed ‘Oumuamua’ might be an alien artefact.

Scientists used a radio telescope in the remote outback of Australia to check for intelligent radio signals in the FM frequency range between 72 and 102 megahertz (MHz).

Advanced civilisations They found nothing, but ‘Oumuamua’ inspired the team to expand the Search for Extra-Terrestrial Intelligence (Seti) much closer to home.

Lead scientist Professor Steven Tingay, from Curtin University, Western Australia, said: “If advanced civilisations do exist elsewhere in our galaxy, we can speculate that they might develop the capability to launch spacecraft over interstellar distances and that these spacecraft may use radio waves to communicate.

“Whilst the possibility of this is extremely low, possibly even zero, as scientists it’s important that we avoid complacency and examine observations and evidence without bias.

At first ‘Oumuamua’ baffled the astronomers because of its unusual trajectory. Later it was confirmed that the object was a rocky asteroid that may have travelled through interstellar space for millions of years before reaching the solar system.

A MAJOR crackdown on radicalisation behind bars claims to have identified 700 prisoners as a potential extremism risk, it has emerged.

The figure includes inmates flagged up over concerns they hold extreme Islamist or far-right beliefs.

It was disclosed as the Government announced a second separation centre to house the ‘most subversive’ prisoners has opened at HMP Full Sutton in Yorkshire.

Ministers announced plans to set up three specialist facilities to isolate fanatics from the rest of the population last year.

The first separation centre opened at HMP Frankland in Durham in July.

Poisonous ideology

New locks On Tuesday afternoon, his loved ones returned to reattach the mementos opposite the property on South Park Crescent, Hither Green.

Nikita Hill, 39, who lives nearby, said: “I don’t think they should have put it outside his home.

Maybe they could have done it further away. But he’s got loved ones and family too so I understand why they did it.”

A man who said he had lived on the street for more than 30 years said he had installed new locks on his house since the raid.

He said the tributes should have been left alone to ‘die-off’, adding: “I’m worried these people might come back and cause a rumpus.”

The body of Henry Vincent, who was stabbed to death during a bungled raid, has been released to

Special centres set up to segregate extremist prisoners

Snow conditions allow Scottish ski areas to stay open into May DON’T put your skis and snowboards away yet.

Scottish ski areas expect to remain open into May after heavy snowfalls this winter.

Ski-Scotland said the conditions were the best on Scottish mountains since 2014 with more than 202,000 visitors so far this season.

More snow is forecast for the slops at CairnGorm Mountain, Glencoe Mountain, Glenshee, The Lecht and Nevis Range, with facilities likely to remain open through next month until customer numbers fade.

Some ski centres brought in ‘factories’ to manufacture snow this season following a lack of the white stuff in 2016/17.

But the industry body said the number of skiers and snowboarders using facilities this year was close to the record 2013/14 season because of heavy snowfall.

Ski-Scotland chair Andy Meldrum said: “Once spring does finally arrive with warm sun and daffodils blooming, people seem to believe there’s no snow left for skiing or snowboarding.

“However, this really is the best time of year to come for a slide in the mountains with a much better chance of good overhead weather.

“It’s also a really good time to learn, when the weather is kinder and slopes quieter. Just don’t forget your sunblock.”

Announcing the opening of the facility at HMP Full Sutton, the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) said: “With 700 prisoners considered a risk due to their extremist views, and foreign fighters returning from Syria and Iraq hardened and dangerous, the Government is meeting the challenge of confronting and countering the spread of poisonous ideology within prisons.”

The MoJ said there has been a 75 per cent increase in prisoners convicted of terrorismrelated offences in the last three years.

Inmates can be moved to the specialist units if they are linked to terror plotting or considered to pose a risk to national security.

Those seeking to influence others to commit terrorist crimes, or whose extremist views are undermining good order and security behind bars can also be taken out of the mainstream population.

The third centre will be in operation by the end of the year, the MoJ said.

Make it easier for doctors to work in NHS says BMA THE Home Secretary has been asked to address ‘unnecessary barriers and delays’ facing international doctors who try to stay and work in the UK. The British Medical Association (BMA) has written to Amber Rudd criticising the ‘inflexibility’ of the visa process which prevents qualified and ‘much-needed’ doctors from non-EU countries remaining in the country to work in the NHS. It comes after the case of Dr Luke Ong, a Singaporean doctor threatened with deportation after applying for his visa 18 days too late, despite training in the UK for the past ten years.

The BMA described the mistake as nothing more than ‘an honest oversight or a procedural error’.

Dr Ong is five months away from qualifying as a GP in Greater Manchester, and his training was funded by the British Government.

VISA PROCESS Amber Rudd

National News

Wednesday April 11 | 2018

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Invisible children being let down say teachers THERE is a crisis of ‘epidemic proportions’ in education for children with special needs, teachers have warned.

Schools are at ‘breaking point with a lack of funding, and no places in special schools, or alternative education, according to the National Education Union (ATL section).

Delegates at the union’s annual conference in Liverpool argued that action is needed to highlight the issues faced by ‘invisible’ children and their families.

They say official figures have revealed that there are around 8,000 children with special educational needs (SEN) plans (Education and Health Care Plan) or statement of SEN that do not have a place in an educational setting.

Record donor numbers THE number of people who donated organs after they died has reached a record high, officials have said. A total of 1,575 people donated organs after they died in 2017/18, the highest figure on record, according to NHS Blood and Transplant.

No plans for retirement AROUND one in seven under 45s fear they will never be able to retire, a survey by Moneyfacts.co.uk has found. In the 45 to 64 age group, 2.6 per cent think they may never be in a position to retire.

Just over a quarter (25.9 per cent) of those under 45 think they may not be able to retire until after the age of 70, compared with 3.8 per cent of 45 to 64-year-olds.

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Russian embassy accuses UK of abducting poisoned couple THE Russian Embassy in London has accused British authorities of the ‘abduction’ of Yulia Skripal and her former double agent father Sergei after she was released from hospital.

The Russian nationals were poisoned with a nerve agent more than a month ago, leaving the pair seriously ill at Salisbury District Hospital.

Yulia’s release by medics was confirmed yesterday (Tuesday) morning, with her father’s health said to be improving - despite grave fears he would not survive coming into contact with the military-grade nerve agent Novichok in Salisbury on March 4.

Ms Skripal, 33, is believed to have been released to a secure location amid a continued diplomatic fall-out between the two countries.

Forced isolation The Russian embassy remains perturbed by a refusal from UK authorities to grant Ms Skripal’s cousin Viktoria a visa to visit her family.

In a series of statements, posted on social media following Ms Skripal’s release from hospital, the Russian Embassy said: “Secret resettlement of Mr and Ms Skripal, barred from any contact with their family will be seen as an abduction or at least as their forced isolation.”

Salisbury District Hospital medical director Dr Christine Blanshard said Mr Skripal’s health had also improved.

During a short address to reporters outside the hospital, she said: “Although he is recovering more slowly than Yulia, we hope that he too will be able to leave hospital in due course.”

Asked for her reaction to news that Ms Skripal had left hospital, Theresa May said: “Well obviously I welcome the fact that Yulia Skripal has

MEDICAL NOTES Dr Christine Blanshard, Medical Director, and Lorna Wilkinson (far left), director of nursing, outside Salisbury District Hospital been discharged from hospital and I wish her the best for her continuing recovery and I’d like to say a huge thank you to all the staff at the hospital in Salisbury who have looked after her and her father so well.”

Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov previously said it was ‘outrageous’ that Britain had failed to provide consular access to Ms Skripal.

The Russian Embassy in London also issued a

series of what it termed ‘questions without answer’ about the Skripal case - including whether the UK had ever produced the Novichok nerve agent believed to have been used in the Salisbury poisoning.

Britain has said that Russian state involvement is the only plausible explanation for the attack, and has led a worldwide reaction involving the expulsion of more than 100 diplomats.

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National Business News

Pension dispute puts Bentley on road to walk out WORKERS at luxury car maker Bentley have signalled support for industrial action in a dispute over pensions.

Members of Unite at the firm’s Crewe headquarters voted in a consultative ballot by 98 per cent in favour of action in protest at plans to close a defined benefit pension scheme.

The union said it will move to hold a full statutory industrial action ballot which could result in strikes.

Unite regional officer Phil Morgan said: “This massive vote in favour of action demonstrates the anger and strength of feeling among workers over Bentley’s pension proposals which could result in workers losing thousands of pounds in retirement income.

Meaningful talks “The union has presented counter-proposals to the company as an alternative to the proposed closure of the pension scheme.

“We would urge bosses at Bentley and its parent company Volkswagen to listen to the workforce and further engage in meaningful talks with Unite aimed at reaching a mutually acceptable position.”

Unite said the proposals affect 1,200 of Bentley’s longest serving workers who are members of the Rolls-Royce and Bentley pension fund.

Ultimo ceases trading THE Ultimo underwear firm set up by Michelle Mone has announced it is to cease trading in the UK. The Tory peer, now known as Baroness Mone of Mayfair, established the lingerie brand in 1996.

Wednesday April 11 | 2018

NEWS IN BRIEF

FACTS AND FIGURES New crackdown on accountants

Gas company blames Tory policies for hikes BRITISH Gas is to increase energy bills for 4.1million dual fuel customers on its standard variable tariff by an average of 5.5 per cent, or £60 a year.

The company’s owner, Centrica, have blamed increased wholesale gas and electricity costs and the price of Tory policies for the latest hike.

It highlighted initiatives such as the smart meter roll-out and schemes to reduce carbon emissions, and argued that the funding of ‘all Government policy costs should be paid for in a fairer way’.

The price hike will not hit the 3.7million customers who are on fixed-term contracts, prepayment meters or classed as vulnerable.

Top six accountancy firms face tough new sanctions THE UK’s six largest accounting firms are facing a regulatory crackdown amid growing criticism of auditing failures.

The Financial Reporting Council (FRC) said the move is meant to avoid instability in the financial sector and ‘systemic deficiencies’ in the networks of the sector’s biggest companies - BDO, Deloitte, EY, KPMG, PwC and Grant Thornton.

Monitoring risk Business Secretary and Tunbridge Wells MP Greg Clark has called for the FRC to be subjected to an independent review.

In response, the watchdog said it had already started

work on monitoring risk reporting, contingency planning and IT security across the companies, and plans to report back to the firms on its findings.

The move comes after mounting criticism of the FRC regarding its oversight of the accounting profession following the collapse of construction firm Carillion, with MPs accusing the four biggest firms of ‘feasting on the carcass’ of the outsourcer by collecting more than £70million in the decade before its demise.

The FRC said it has started implementing recommendations for tougher sanctions for auditors, accountants and actuaries.

It includes excluding people from the profession for a minimum of ten years for dishonesty.

‘Beast’ affects retailers ADVERSE weather conditions caused by ‘The Beast from the East’ kept shoppers away from UK stores in March according to figures from the British Retail Consortium (BRC) and KPMG, covering the final days of February to the end of March.

However, the volatile period for retailers was offset by the run-up to Easter which reduced the impact of the seemingly endless’ cold weather on sales.

On a total basis, sales rose 2.3 per cent annually in March, against a decline of 0.2 per cent in March 2017.

James denies move talks US WEALTH manager and investment banking firm Raymond James has denied reports that it discussed a potential move of its London brokerage business to Frankfurt in response to Brexit.

World News

Wednesday April 11 | 2018

Kane shoulders the claim over ‘goal’ against Stoke

Must win tie for Britain GREAT Britain’s tennis team faces a home tie against Uzbekistan in the Davis Cup World Group play-offs in September.

Britain must win to continue their five-year stay at the elite level of the competition after losing their first-round clash with Spain in February.

Walker Tom wins silver TONBRIDGE Athletics Club member Tom Bosworth won a silver medal in the men’s 20km race walk on day four of the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games. He finished four seconds behind winner Dane BirdSmith of Australia who set a new games record time of 79:34. * More local sports news on pages 70 & 71

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Flights cancelled as strike hits Germany

SPORT IN BRIEF

TOTTENHAM striker Harry Kane expects to find out today (Wednesday) whether he scored his 25th Premier League goal of the season against Stoke last weekend.

Kane claims he touched Christian Eriksen’s free-kick with his shoulder for Spurs’ second goal in the 2-1 victory but it was awarded to the Dane.

Kane said: “I swear on my daughter’s life that I touched the ball, but there’s nothing I can do. If they (the Premier League) turn it around, they turn it around. If they take my word, they take my word.”

Tottenham have appealed to the Premier League to have the goal given to Kane, who has not scored since February. His tally of 24 Premier League goals puts him five behind Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah in the race for the Golden Boot.

NEWS

FORCEFUL RESPONSE Donald Trump

Send in experts demands Russia as tensions mount RUSSIA is willing to help arrange for experts from the international chemical weapons watchdog to visit the site of a suspected poison gas attack in Syria, a defence official has said.

Syrian opposition activists claim 40 people died in Saturday night’s chemical attack in the town of Douma, the last remaining rebel bastion near Damascus. They blame president Bashar Assad’s forces for the attack, but his government has strongly denied the accusations.

Military strike Yevgeny Serberennikov, from the defence committee at the Federation Council, says Russia is anxious for the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) to ‘start carrying

out the functions it was created for’.

US president Donald Trump is threatening an imminent military strike against Syria and as a result government forces and their allies are on alert and taking precautionary measures at military bases and posts across the country.

Mr Trump vowed to respond ‘forcefully’ to the apparent chemical weapons attack on civilians and warned that Russia or any other nation found to share responsibility will “pay a price”.

The US president will miss an upcoming summit in South America and will remain in the US to ‘oversee the American response to Syria and to monitor developments around the world’.

White House spokeswoman Sarah Huckabee Sanders said Vice president Mike Pence will travel in his place to the Summit of the Americas in Peru.

PUBLIC sector workers in Germany have gone on strike for better pay at the country’s airports, local transportation companies and nursery schools.

The walkout forced German airline Lufthansa to cancel some 800 flights and the strike is expected to paralyse traffic in many of the country’s western cities.

Affected airports include Frankfurt, which is Germany’s biggest, as well as Munich, CologneBonn and Bremen.

The ver.di union said Germany’s healthy economy is filling public coffers with record tax income and public workers deserve a cut.

It wants a 6%, or at least 200 euros (£174) per month, pay rise for some 2.3 million public sector employees.

Workers who stand to gain include airport ground crews, bus drivers, hospital staff, daycare employees and other municipal employees.

Guinness names new oldest man in world A JAPANESE supercentenarian has been certified as the world’s oldest living man.

Born on July 25 1905, Masazo Nonaka, aged 112 years and 259 days, received the certificate from Guinness World Records at his home in Ashoro, on Japan’s northern main island of Hokkaido, and celebrated with a big cake.

Guinness said Mr Nonaka replaced Francisco Olivera of Spain, who died earlier this year aged 113, as the world’s oldest man.

A 117-year-old Japanese woman, Nabi Tajima, who is currently the oldest living person in Japan, is expected to be certified as the world’s new oldest person, replacing Violet Moss-Brown of Jamaica, who died in September at the age of 117.

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NEWS

Letters

FOR EVEN MORE NEWS VISIT THE thekn w.guide

Wednesday April 11 | 2018

And another thing…

This is the page where you, the reader, have your chance to express your views or comments on what’s going on in our part of the world. We like to hear from you. You can email us at newsdesk@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk or newsdesk@timesoftonbridge.co.uk or write to the Editor at 16 Lonsdale Gardens, Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN1 1NU This election is important for all With the local elections less than a month away, it is doubtful whether, in the history of Tunbridge Wells, there has been one of such great import, and the need for as many of the electorate as possible to cast their votes is more important than ever before.

To those who traditionally do not vote for whatever reason – be it time, distance, commuting or ill health – but who still want their voice to be heard, the postal vote is available and everyone is entitled to use it.

The final day for registering for a postal vote is April 18. Forms are available from the council offices or registration can be done online at www.gov.uk/register-to-vote Victor Bethell Tunbridge Wells

EXIT STAGE LEFT ‘The theatre’ is not just about drama

No power over planning decisions It’s curtains for old-style theatres ‘By 2024 the borough of Tunbridge Wells should be nationally recognised for its vibrant cultural provision’ was the ambition set out in the council’s cultural strategy published in 2014.

It appears that this very admirable ambition has been forgotten in an increasingly concentrated debate about the size, nature, design and location of ‘the theatre’. The council (and presumably their consultants) seem to be blind as to the changing nature of modern theatre design.

The need for total flexibility is of paramount importance. The Bridge (which reopened in 2018), the Dorfman (2014), the Young Vic (2006), and even the Hampstead Theatre (2003) are prime examples which the council would

Assembly Hall is full of character(s) I enjoyed a performance of the Steinbeck play Of Mice And Men at the Assembly Hall. It was well attended and I took the opportunity of talking to the two families next to me.

One was from Eastbourne and the other from Tonbridge. I asked them what they thought about Tunbridge Wells Borough Council’s plan to demolish the Assembly Hall and build a new theatre. Both said that demolishing it would be a great pity. They liked it. It had character.

What similar enquiries have been made by the council? The need to have a flexible theatre is being mentioned. The Assembly Hall is flexible.

Ann and John Pickering Via email

Risky business in uncertain times With an almost five per cent increase in council tax due, and cuts in government funding for councils, I am extremely concerned that the Conservative-led Tunbridge Wells Borough Council has chosen to take out a loan for a scheme that is not essential at this time.

I understand the potential benefits to business and the community of a new theatre, more office space and a new council building. But why now?

The loan is going to take 50 years to pay back, with interest on the loan amounting to

do well to study and learn from. Large, traditional proscenium arch theatres are a thing of the past.

Increasingly, the cultural experience of drama, opera, music, etc, is being economically and vibrantly broadcast to a wide audience through the medium of live simulcasts.

The original vision of the Tunbridge Wells cultural strategy has polarised. It should encompass not just ‘the theatre’ and drama but all aspects of culture: Music in its many forms, film, visual arts and crafts, books, etc.

But these and other factors seem to have been lost in the council’s very own single issue debate about ‘the theatre’.

David Wade-Jones Tunbridge Wells £65million. That’s very concerning when there is austerity and the economy has an uncertain future post Brexit. Nobody can make confident financial predictions based on that.

The Conservatives have been transparent in saying that local residents will need to choose which council services they wish to prioritise in future, given the continued severe cuts in government funding.

Paying for garden waste is just one example, and cuts in community services that disproportionally affect women, such as the provision of refuges for those who have experienced domestic violence, are already suffering. The Women’s Equality Party doesn’t think this is a reasonable ask.

When the constituents of Tunbridge Wells voted against Brexit, they showed themselves as independent thinkers, and I think the council is not listening to the many who have expressed serious and well-evidenced reservations.

Instead, they have pushed through what increasingly looks to be an enduring burden of debt for the next generation.

If I get elected to the borough council, I will fight for the project in its current form to be stopped.

Liz Orr Women’s Equality Party borough council candidate for Culverden Ward

I would like to add my voice to those who do not wish to see the creation of additional government layers in Tonbridge.

This matter was discussed at length when I joined the borough council in 1980. Then, the law was that a parish council could not be created for a population centre greater than 25,000.

For Tonbridge, this would mean two bodies actually being formed, with two parish clerks plus ancillary staff and two offices, which would entail considerable cost.

One of the main reasons being cited in this call for the creation of the new bodies was to give the people of Tonbridge greater control over planning matters. The new bodies would be able to more formally consider planning applications but would have no actual power over decisions.

These would remain the remit of the borough council, or in some cases Kent County Council.

People can and do voice their opinions about planning matters, and the creation of either parish or town councils would be a complete waste of money.

Dr Gordon Court Tonbridge

Town council is an expensive folly In response to Mark Hood’s proposal for a Tonbridge Town Council, it would be an expensive folly with little power and would cost residents additional sums, given the need for staff and offices.

Mr Hood should take time to review these costs, which parish councils throughout the borough have to pass on to their residents.

Planning applications of interest to residents are discussed at the Area 1 Planning Committee.

The 12 borough councillors who represent Tonbridge listen to the parish council clerks making their concerns heard, but it is the borough councillors who have the power to make the decisions.

I believe I and my borough councillors representing Tonbridge make every effort to represent our residents well.

Councillor David Cure Judd Ward Tonbridge & Malling Borough Council

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

Calverley

Observations on life and more important things

WHAT a nice chap that Michael Portillo is.

[He’s the one presenting the prizes at the Times Business Awards on June 13 at Salomons.] Calverley is much taken with his Great Railway Journeys series on BBC TV, and was intrigued to hear why Master Michael thought they were so hugely popular. Millions tune in. He thinks people love a combination of travel and history, and says: “We give them seven minutes of heavy history – but then I’ll dress up in funny clothes and do something crazy like Morris dancing.” [More Indian dancing than Morris in the picture.] Anyway, Calverley can’t wait to see him take to the floor on the big night.

HYACINTH BUCKET is alive and well, or at least her alter ego is. Calverley discovered the ‘twin’ of the domineering wife from the sitcom Keeping Up Appearances when he happened to look over a garden wall the other wet weekend. [Don’t ask.] Standing there in the teeming rain was the lady of the house in a belted raincoat, holding a brolly while directing her husband on where to put the plants. He was on his knees and covered in mud. Calverley knows where he would have put the roses.

THE new Bishop of Tonbridge, Simon BurtonJones, is Calverley’s type of chap. Seems he’s a big fan of The Simpsons and their delinquent son Bart. Rev Simon confessed last week that he’d spent ‘far too much’ of his life watching the cartoon. He added: “This has given me an inexhaustible repertoire of jokes.”

Try a few of those gags from the pulpit and there’ll soon be standing room only in the chuches.

SWITCHING mansions, Calverley advised the Skipton Building Society about the change of address. They duly wrote stating their records had been updated. The letter was sent to the old address.

Chin Chin, readers

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Wednesday April 11 | 2018

EDUCATION Times WITH THE

Students are bang on target as engineers of the future

Beacon Academy celebrate their success in the UK finals of a LEGO robotics challenge at The Big Bang Fair in Birmingham

FAIR PLAY The team at The Big Bang Fair FOR the second year running, Beacon Academy LEGO Robotics Club, The Beaconites, were selected to compete in the UK finals of the Tomorrow’s Engineers EEP Robotics Challenge.

This is a curriculum-linked programme that sees students working together in teams to solve real-world engineering, technology and computing challenges within a time limit.

As a winner in the South East regional heat, the team from the Crowborough-based school travelled to The Big Bang Fair in Birmingham to contend with teams from schools across the country.

Exciting The competition, which took place last month, also boasts support from the RAF Youth Engagement Team, and as a result, the focus of this year’s competition was on the RAF’s centenary celebrations.

Using LEGO MINDSTORMS equipment and software, students learned how to build, programme and control autonomous LEGO robots to complete a series of short, exciting aviation missions.

Students also had to create and deliver a pres-

THINKING BIG Students hold success in their hands entation on the competition day on a sciencebased topic.

The overall aim of the campaign is to show more young people what engineering really looks like, and how it could be an exciting and rewarding path for them in the future.

The Beacon Academy students have been working towards the LEGO Robotics challenge at a special after-school club for several months.

Of the 400 or so schools across the UK that entered the prestigious competition, Beacon was

Dancing with Darcey ENTHUSIASTIC students from the Razzamataz Theatre School in Tonbridge enjoyed the incredible opportunity to dance with ballerina and Strictly Come Dancing star Darcey Bussell when she visited Tunbridge Wells’ Fusion Sports Centre recently.

The young dancers, dubbed the ‘Darcey Dozen’, were invited along in order to try out the famous ballerina’s new fitness workout.

“I’m incredibly proud of our students who attended,” said Eve Aston, Principal of Razzamtaz Tonbridge.

“The group were impeccably behaved and

polite, thanking the organisers and the staff for the opportunity, who in turn said how lovely they all were, and that they were welcome back at any time.”

Darcey Bussell was in Tunbridge Wells to promote her DDMIX dance classes, which are held all over the country on a weekly basis.

DDMIX is an aerobic dance fitness programme designed for people of all levels of ability and covering a broad spectrum of dancing cultures and eras from around the world.

For information about classes in your area, visit: www.diversedancemix.com

one of only 44 that made it to the national finals.

The students had many challenges and tasks to complete throughout the day, and were delighted to be presented with the Teamwork Award as a reward for their hard work and dedication.

After the win, Beacon Academy’s Assistant Headteacher, Mr Peter Hall, said: “It was really evident today just how well all the students had worked. Each of them had a valuable role to play.

“It was really clear to the judges how each student had contributed.”

DARCEY’S DOZEN The Tonbridge students with Darcey Bussell

Education News

NEWS

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NEWS

Weekly Comment

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Nus Ghani

Wednesday April 11 | 2018

Nus Ghani was elected MP for Wealden in May 2015 and represents Crowborough, Eridge and Uckfield among other towns. She also currently serves as Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Department of Transport and is Assistant Government Whip. In 2018, Ms Ghani became the first Muslim woman to speak from the House of Commons Dispatch Box. The Times also publishes comment from the Labour, Liberal Democrat and Green parties

Conservative MP for Wealden

Strong economy means we can support hardworking families A FEW weeks ago in Uckfield, I hosted a Disability Confident breakfast event, in partnership with the Uckfield Chamber of Commerce and joined by the Hailsham and Crowborough Chambers of Commerce.

Disability Confident is all about giving businesses the confidence and assurances they need to help recruit and retain Wealden residents with disabilities seeking work.

Working with our businesses across Wealden is one of the parts I relish most about being an MP. Small and medium enterprises are the engine room of our economy, driving economic growth, creating jobs and prosperity. Whether it’s a small family-run business hiring two people, or a large regional employer responsible for a hundred people, our economy would not function without their hard work and dedication.

I am proud of our record in supporting businesses through a strong economic climate that supports investment and growth. Since 2010, we have put a business-led recovery at the heart of our economic plan – and it’s working, as business investment into the UK is growing faster than investment into any other G7 nation.

Corporation tax has been cut from 28 per cent to 19 per cent, with a further reduction to 17 per cent by 2020, and alongside this we have implemented a competitive business rates reduction package including an increase in the Rural Relief Rate. This will mean that 600,000 small firms will

be taken out of the rates system altogether, and lower bills for thousands more.

This supportive environment for businesses has meant that our economy is strong, resilient and productive. But most importantly, it means we can afford to support hardworking people.

Thanks to the strong economy, on April 1 this year we implemented a few changes that will have a real, tangible, positive impact on our lives.

ON POINT Nus Ghani speaks at the Disability Confident event

Earnings The National Living Wage has been a phenomenal success, providing significant support for those on lower incomes.

Following the recommendations of the Low Pay Commission, we increased the National Living Wage by 4.4 per cent, benefitting more than two million workers. Since its introduction, the Living Wage has meant that a full-time worker’s earnings have increased by over £2,000.

We have also continued to cut taxes for working people. The personal allowance, the amount you make before paying tax, has risen again this April, now up to £11,850 – almost double the amount Labour set it at. This means that a typical taxpayer is now paying more than £1,000 less in tax in 2018 than they would have done in 2010.

With more money in your pocket, we also want to ensure that your money goes further, so we have continued to freeze fuel duty, which has

Peter Lidstone

now been frozen for the longest period in 40 years. The average car driver will have saved more than £850 since 2010, and the average van driver has saved more than £2,000.

Tunbridge Wells councillor

These decisions will benefit millions of people across the country. With inflation at its target and with wages predicted to rise in real terms, our economy continues to work for hardworking people.

The youngest member of Tunbridge Wells Borough Council, Peter Lidstone, aged 32, is a Liberal Democrat councillor and was the only candidate to successfully dislodge a Conservative opponent at the last local elections. With a full-time job as part of the charity Build Africa, the former law student of the University of the West of England is also fluent in French. His interest in politics came after attending a conference on the subject at Christian Aid about why Christians should get involved

Council vision is needed to save town as shopping destination End-style theatre less than an hour away from the West End. The question is: How do you ensure that Tunbridge Wells remains a go-to location in the era of online shopping, and are there better ways the council could spend our money?

One of my Lib Dem colleagues in St John’s works for an organisation supporting small businesses, so he regularly chats with independent retailers in Kent and Sussex about keeping their businesses healthy and profitable.

The thing that clearly stands out in Tunbridge Wells more than any other town is parking and traffic.

RUNNING ON EMPTY Royal Victoria Place

Alternative

AT THE heart of every town is retail. Ten years ago, Tunbridge Wells was a highly successful retail town; it had a fantastic mix of large chain stores and small independent shops that made it Kent’s prime shopping destination. Today, that is no longer the case.

With the combination of internet shopping and delays to the redevelopment of Royal Victoria Place, our town is looking sad and neglected.

No vision comes from Tunbridge Wells Borough Council on how to improve this, apart from the building of a £93million, 1,200 seat West

The road network in Tunbridge Wells is now reaching chronic levels of congestion, especially at peak times and weekends.

When you finally get into town, parking is both difficult to access and expensive. Here are some simple suggestions that could address this.

Park and Ride for office workers and commuters. The last thing a retail town needs is its car parks being filled up by people who are not shopping in the town. So give workers a cheap and

quick means to access town, and increase parking capacity for shoppers.

In addition, you would see the benefit of reduced congestion and pollution in areas such as St John’s during school times, and ease the burden on areas like High Brooms caused by commuters parking.

Or how about better targeted parking charges?

When you can park in Bluewater for free, Tunbridge Wells needs to also consider reducing the cost of short-stay parking (up to five hours on a weekday) whilst increasing the cost of all-day parking to support the Park and Ride alternative.

Low-cost parking should also be extended for longer during the weekends to allow people to enjoy our town without the worry of an expensive day out.

Of course, the council could take a leaf out of their neighbour Tonbridge’s book, where the Council Leader, Nick Heslop, meets with local businesses to discuss policy, but most importantly to listen to them. And clearly it works; Tonbridge has far fewer empty shops than we do in Tunbridge Wells.

The Liberal Democrats are offering a real alternative vision for Tunbridge Wells, and we would invite you to get on board.

Wednesday April 11 | 2018

yourh me INSPIRATION FOR MOVING

AND IMPROVING

AVAILABLE EVER Y WEDNESDAY – A MUST-READ

ULTIMATE GUIDE TO PROPERTY, IN TERIORS, TOP TRENDS AN D GARDENING

House with an annexe

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and roof terrace Page 24

HANDY GROUND FLOOR APARTMENT

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FULL OF ARCHITECTURAL ANGLES

38

STORING UP BAGS OF STYLE

The future’s bright… in exotic colours Page 46

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TIME TO SPRING CLEAN THE GARDEN

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yourh me

To suit your budget

Wednesday April 11 | 2018

Your at-a-glance guide to

UNDER £300,000

n Residents parking

UNDER £450,000

n 2 further bedrooms

BOYNE PARK, TUNBRIDGE WELLS

n Chain free

HANDEL WALK, TONBRIDGE

n Loft room

£290,000

n Central location

OIEO

n Rear garden laid to lawn

n Period building

n Share of freehold

£425,000

n Single garage

n Mainline Station 0.4 miles

n Ground floor apartment n Private entrance n Open plan living room/kitchen n 2 bedrooms n Newly fitted bathroom

n Entrance porch CONTACT Andrews Tunbridge Wells 01892 515144 www.andrewsonline.co.uk

n Kitchen n Living/dining room n Downstairs toilet n Master bedroom

n Seating area and shed n Close to Woodlands Primary CONTACT Bracketts Tonbridge 01732 350503 www.bracketts.co.uk

To suit your budget

Wednesday April 11 | 2018

thekn w

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great properties by price range…

PEMBURY ROAD TONBRIDGE GUIDE PRICE

£900,000-£950,000

UNDER £550,000 WOODHILL PARK, PEMBURY

£505,000 n Entrance hall n Kitchen n Utility room n Sitting room n Dining room n 3 bedrooms (1 with en suite) n Driveway parking for 3 cars n Integral garage n Rear garden with patio area n Timber storage shed CONTACT Barnes Kingsnorth Pembury 01892 822880 wwwbkestateagents.com

UNDER £600,000 ALEXANDRA ROAD, TONBRIDGE

GUIDE PRICE

£550,000 n Entrance porch n Sitting room n Dining room n Family room n Reception room n Garden room n Kitchen n 4 bedrooms n Family bathroom CONTACT Firefly Properties Paddock Wood 01892 838363 www.fireflyproperties.co.uk

UNDER £1MILLION UNDER £700,000

PEMBURY ROAD, TONBRIDGE

GUIDE PRICE

£900,000 £950,000 n Entrance lobby n Entrance hall n Cloakroom/shower room n Kitchen/breakfast room n Sitting room

WEST RISE, TONBRIDGE n Master bedroom with dressing area and en suite n 3 further bedrooms

£625,000 n Entrance hall n Sitting room

n Roof terrace

n Utility room

n Self-contained 2 bedroom annexe

n Open plan dining/family/kitchen n Master bedroom with en suite n 3 further bedrooms

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

n Dressing area n Driveway with parking n Rear south-facing garden CONTACT Barnes Kingsnorth Tonbridge 01732 771616 www.bkestateagents.com

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Wednesday April 11 | 2018

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yourh me

Butterfly House

thekn w.guide

Wednesday April 11 | 2018

AT A GLANCE

BUTTERFLY HOUSE TRULLS HATCH, ROTHERFIELD n Reception hall n Kitchen n Utility room n Dining room n Drawing room n Family room n 6 bedrooms (5 with en suite) n Garage n Electric door garage n Parking for additional cars n Decked terrace n Rear garden laid to lawn

GUIDE PRICE

£1,200,000 - £1,300,000 Available for sale through Barnes Kingsnorth Pembury 01892 822880 www.bkestateagents.com

Newly built three-storey statement home designed by cutting-edge local architects

This unique property packs a punch for those who are searching for a truly special space for the whole family

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yourh me

St James Road

thekn w.guide

Wednesday April 11 | 2018

AT A GLANCE

ST JAMES ROAD TUNBRIDGE WELLS n Entrance hall n Drawing room n Sitting room n Kitchen/dining room n 2 cloakrooms n 4 bedrooms n 2 bathrooms n Driveway n Landscaped gardens

£1,000,000 Available for sale through Hamptons Tunbridge Wells 01892 516611 www.hamptons.co.uk

Character and colour at superb period townhouse nestled in central location

Wednesday April 11 | 2018

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Interiors

thekn w.guide

Wednesday April 11 | 2018

A taste of the exotic With spring here at last, it’s time to embrace a little bright sunshine colour in your home – and add some tropical touches, too, says Eileen Leahy TOP TIP: Mirrors can make a room feel much brighter. Hang them opposite windows for extra light, and facing a main entrance to increase the room’s visual space

I

F YOU’VE loved the light and airy feel that a trip to sunnier climes gives you, then why not think about how you can introduce that refreshed, revitalised ambience into your home on a permanent basis?

Or, if you’re not that adventurous when it comes to embracing colour in your decorating schemes, how about adding the odd sunshine touch here and there, and then completing that summery feeling courtesy of a tropical touch or two?

Yellow is currently enjoying its moment in the sun, so to speak, as it’s one of the hottest shades for spring/summer 2018, with lots of retailers and designers incorporating it into their collections.

Statement Currently, you can find anything from yellow statement cushions and pendant lighting to bed linen and plant pots splashed in this most summery of colours.

Using this tone is a brilliant compromise to those more dominant shades, such as hot reds or funky pinks, as it immediately give your home a refreshed and sunny outlook but won’t take it over completely.

You could go down the feature wall route and include a patterned paper or fabric with splashes of yolky or mustard yellow, and this will certainly create a primary point of focus.

John Lewis carries a number of excellent brands, including Harlequin, Designers Guild, Cole & Son and Clarissa Hulse, which all boast a variety of styles to suit your personal palette – from cool geometrics to more

traditional blousy florals.

But if this is still too much yellow for you, then give the odd pop here and there courtesy of a bright cushion or two on your sofa, an occasional dining chair (as pictured) or a lampshade.

Complement your yellow fever with a few darker tonals, such as teal or jade green – both partner yellow perfectly and are also totally on trend for this season.

Adding to the mix a few exotic palm leaf prints – another musthave for the dedicated follower of home fashion – will effortlessly help you to achieve that holiday at home feeling.

Just about everywhere, from TK Maxx to Debenhams, Next, M&S and Primark, boast an array of palmprinted goodies for spring/summer, so whichever space you are decking out you will have tons of choice.

But, as with most decorating rules, you don’t want to go over the top with too many prints, as the effect will be overpowering.

Instead, stick to no more than two different designs and scale sizes to ensure a successful scheme.

Alternatively, why not treat an empty-looking corner to a real or faux succulent or palm tree? This can also really help to tie a room’s look together for minimum effort and expense.

Complement your theme with the odd subtle added textural interest, such as a flicker of copper metallic – on a lamp base, candlestick or mirror, for example – or how about some wooden furniture, flooring or accessories?

All of these will help you create that all important summer exotic look, so what are you waiting for?

Crease Pendant Lamp in Copper, £95 www.cuckooland.com Yellow floral print vase, £6, George at Asda, www.asda.com

IMAGE: Courtesy of Furniture Village

NOW GET THE LOOK

Debenhams Geo Faux Plants £8 each, www.debenhams.com

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Gardening

thekn w.guide

Wednesday April 11 | 2018

5 designer tips for giving your garden

a makeover this spring Garden designer Hilary Thomas offers her advice on how to make stylish, colour-coordinated changes to your garden or outdoor space now that will make a real difference later on in the year

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ITH longer days and better weather on the horizon, now’s the time to take a look at how your garden has fared over winter.

Garden designer and lecturer Hilary Thomas, who teaches garden and planting design online through Learning With Experts, explains: “Gardens are great places to be creative, as even small additions, such as painting the garden furniture, or the addition of colourful cushions, will have an instant and exciting effect.”

Here, she offers five suggestions for giving your outdoor space a spring makeover.

1

Boost your boundaries

During the cooler months, we spend a lot of time looking at our gardens from the windows of the house, so take a long hard look at your own garden and decide whether you like the view.

Walls and fences are the same height in a tiny garden as a large one, so their importance increases as the size of the garden decreases.

If all you can see are bare fences, spring is the time to do something about it.

Plant some structural evergreens at the back of the border so that, as they mature, they will hide

the boundary fence. Use plants like Elaeagnus x ebbingei, Osmanthus x burkwoodii, Phillyrea latifolia, Pittosporum tenuifolium and Viburnum tinus.

Plant some clematis between these shrubs and they will mix and mingle, creating a soft boundary around the garden with summer colour and all-year interest.

If you look out at an unsightly concrete or brick wall, consider having it rendered and painted with an exciting new shade of masonry paint.

Think carefully about the colour and select a few climbing plants with flowers and foliage that will complement the new wall.

2

Screen with green

If your sitting area is overlooked by next door neighbours, consider planting a row of trees along the boundary to block out their view.

Go for narrow, fastigiate trees, such as Pyrus calleryana ‘Chanticleer’ – a flowering pear with wonderful autumn colour, or Carpinus betulus ‘Frans Fontaine’ – a narrow form of our native hornbeam.

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Wednesday April 11 | 2018

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Try to select a colour that will fit in with the colour of the planting around the sitting area. There are paints suitable for both wood and metal furniture.

Add some colourful cushions and tableware, too.

5

Perk up your patio with pots

3

Think about how you use the garden

Consider the main use of the garden, and if it is primarily a space to sit, relax and entertain friends then consider digging up the lawn and enlarging the sitting area. Keep the paving simple and mix slabs with gravel or stone chippings to keep costs down.

4

Revamp your garden furniture

If the garden furniture is looking a little tired and you don’t want to buy new, put it in the garage or shed to dry off before rubbing it down and applying a coat of paint.

Spice up your back and front garden with colourful, welcoming pots. Your front garden should offer a welcome to visitors, so try to have a selection of colourful pots near your front door.

Containers come in a variety of materials, but a group of terracotta or glazed pots will suit most situations. Make sure the pots you buy will be the right size once you get them home, because most people buy containers that are too small and out of scale with the house and patio.

You can grow almost anything in a container – small trees, shrubs, herbaceous plants, bulbs and seasonal bedding. Clipped evergreens, such as Ilex crenata, Buxus sempervirens and Phillyrea latifolia, add a touch of formality to a group of flowering plants.

In spring, narcissus and tulips will add seasonal excitement and colour to a container planted up with a winter flowering shrub or coloured winter stems.

In summer, a mix of herbaceous plants and seasonal bedding can provide colour from June through to autumn.

For more information on the full range of courses visit www.learningwithexperts.com

Wednesday April 11 | 2018

thekn w.guide IN PRINT AND ONLINE SEVEN DAYS A WEEK

ARTS & CULTURE | LIFE & STYLE |

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Secrets of the art parties

SPECIAL PEEK AT PENSHURST

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Join the creative new social circle Page 52

FROM KISS TO WEDDED BLISS

Going Greek at a new eatery

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TACKLING THEIR WAY TO TRIUMPH

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arts

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STAY CONNECTED 7 DAYS A WEEK…

Arts & Culture

Wednesday April 11 | 2018

Drawing on artistic inspiration

for a novel night out Meeting friends in the pub is a traditional way to socialise but, as Secret Art Parties founder Lewis Chapman tells Eileen Leahy, there’s another way to make new friends – and improve your creative outlook at the same time…

Can you give us a brief synopsis of what the Secret Art Parties are all about?

to be self-expressive, creative and fulfilled through painting. And we hope by doing so we are contributing to creating a calmer, more loving and wiser world to live in.

We are all about experiencing a good time socially by painting pictures originally done by famous artists. Painting parties are not a new concept; they have become popular in recent years as people are looking for more meaningful, new and exciting entertainment experiences.

We run them on the first Tuesday of each month at beautiful settings in Tunbridge Wells, with expert artist guidance, high quality art materials and tasty drinks and nibbles.

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How do you decide upon each month’s featured artist?

We choose painters who have passionately explored colour, line, form and composition to create evocative and powerful paintings that will provide a rich experience for our guests. Artists whose work we have painted since we started hosting last year include Vincent Van Gogh, Claude Monet, Alexej Von Jawlensky, Georgia O’Keefe, Edward Hopper and David Hockney.

How did you come up with this creative concept?

I wanted to strike a balance between entertainment and education, with an

SHOW TIME Lewis Chapman with fellow artist India Cameron emphasis on an all-round high quality experience. We love to create a happy party atmosphere so that our guests feel ready to try something new and learn painting techniques.

We also only partner with venues that serve delicious food and drinks, such as

Saint John’s Yard and Jean’s Kitchen and Wine Bar in Tunbridge Wells.

What do you think people gain from attending one of your events?

We believe that everyone can enjoy painting pictures, and so aim to empower our guests

‘Our guests are made to feel at ease so they can quickly learn advanced painting techniques by following carefully structured yet simple steps’ Can you talk us through a typical Secret Parties event?

Our artist guides and assistants love nothing more than sharing their love for artists and painting in a sociable party setting, with a drink in one hand and a brush in the other. Our guests are made to feel at ease so they can quickly learn advanced painting techniques by following carefully structured yet simple steps.

We guarantee every guest will have a

Arts & Culture

Wednesday April 11 | 2018

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Motherhood, madness and Mabledon The grand and dramatic-looking Mabledon estate in Southborough was the inspiration for Sophie Kearsey’s setting for her first book, entitled ‘Unspeakable Things’. Here, the publisher turned author from Tunbridge Wells tells the Times more about the chilling tale

finished painting by the end of the party and will have experienced painting in the brush strokes of featured famous artists.

Do you find people attend more than one?

Yes, we have guests who have attended many already, and they have invited all their friends.

We love it when we have inspired our guests to continue painting well after the party is over.

Several have since been back in touch with us to share their beautiful paintings with us.

What kind of people attend, and are they a good mix of skilled and amateur painters?

Yes, they are. We have some guests who have seldom dabbed a dot of paint, and some who are avid brush wielders. We also welcome a good mix of men and women and a range of ages from 18 years, plus.

Our guests gain an insight into the painter’s life and work during both the Secret Art Party and in the week running up to the event.

Sum up this social experience in three words?

Joyful, creative and meaningful.

The next Secret Art Party on Tuesday May 1 is sold out. Tickets for the next event on June 5 cost £35 per person (groups of 4-10), or £30 per person for ten or more people.

To find out more, email: greatnightout@ secretartparties.co.uk or visit www.secretartparties.co.uk

M

Y NOVEL, Unspeakable Things, is a psychological mystery about motherhood and madness.

The pregnant heroine, Sarah, moves back into her abandoned childhood home, hoping to connect with what’s left of her family. She is thrilled to learn about her long-dead mother from Uncle John, who runs the Woodlands Clinic nearby. But he tells her a terrible secret, and her life, career and relationships begin to unravel.

Sarah’s house in the novel is symbolic – it’s the gatehouse to her past – but I wanted to give the estate a credible backstory. Just up the road from my home in Southborough is a gatehouse, a tantalising hint at the hidden Mabledon estate. I borrowed some of its history for Woodlands.

I then discovered a striking coincidence – Mabledon had a spell as a psychiatric hospital after the war.

Intrigued, I visited and was delighted to discover turrets that could be the grim tower in Unspeakable Things where a patient is locked up.

Falling away from the end of the gardens was a stretch of beautiful parkland that would not look out of place in a TV costume drama.

But Unspeakable Things is no Downton Abbey, and it was an unremarkable back entrance that had me most inspired. It could have been the door to the old back kitchen that

finally leads Sarah inside and to the dreadful discovery that will answer all her questions…

AN UNSPEAKABLE TALE that just had to be told – by Sophie Kearsey

Talent I have wanted to be a writer since I was five. At Claremont School, my teacher gave me a pink exercise book and I wrote stories about a girl called Jane. Teachers continued to encourage me at Tunbridge Wells Girls’ Grammar, making me feel that I had a talent. I particularly liked writing about what frightens us, and my number one aim was to have a novel published.

Then life seemed to get in the way.

I made a career in publishing, in Brighton, then Hong Kong, helping other authors to realise their dreams.

When I was pregnant with my first child, I asked myself, ‘What frightens me most?’ The answer was madness. What if a pregnant woman discovered that her mother had gone mad and tried to kill her? What if the illness might be hereditary?

I began to develop the story of Sarah’s mother, Mary, and her brother, John – twin children of neglectful and cruel parents. A chilling story began to take shape. I worked on it for years, as a screenplay and then a novel.

Agents liked the idea, but not enough to take it up. But the characters had come to life for me and refused to let me abandon them.

I returned to the UK and had my second son, then worked at local firm, Search Press.

But my writing ambition gnawed away, unsatisfied. At the age of 50, I left my job to freelance and concentrate on writing. I found a brilliant literary consultant and working with her was like a personal masterclass.

Publishers and agents are risk-averse these days, so when I knew the novel was good enough, it was time to take the risk and selfpublish. After 30 years of editing books for other authors, I finally became one myself.

It has been a delight to see people reading it and saying they can’t put it down.

Unspeakable Things is available through Amazon priced £7.99 and locally at Hall’s Bookshop in Chapel Place and The Cake Shed on The Pantiles

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thekn w.guide

Going Out

Wednesday April 11 | 2018

going ut Seven days of activities at a glance

By Eileen Leahy

LAST CHANCE To see the International Garden Photographer of the Year Exhibition at Sissinghurst

Friend event, which includes children’s crafts sessions from 11am to 4pm and live-action storytelling sessions run by Aardvark Productions until Sunday. For further details, see www.penshurstplace.com If you have to work during the Easter holidays, then why not treat your children to a fantastic time at Bewl Water’s children’s camps? Running on selected days, they boast lots of exciting activities aimed at keeping youngsters fit and entertained over the holidays. Activities include bike riding, nature hunts, walks and Mini Rover safaris, as well as sports and games. Full-day activities run from 8.30am until 5pm and half-day activities are also available. For further information, see www.bewlwater.co.uk If you want a taste of history, then make sure you visit Tunbridge Wells Museum & Art Gallery, where Seasons of Change: The Fegans’ Story is currently on. Running until June 9, it focuses on the work of Fegans, a local charity which has been championing childhood and transforming mental health since 1870. Admission is free and the exhibition is on Tuesday to Sunday.

All weekend at the Assembly Hall Theatre, Wicked Productions will be performing their version of Alice in Wonderland. The talented Tom Swift and team promise it’s going to be an ‘hare-larious’ show for all the family. Prices from £16. See www.assemblyhalltheatre.co.uk

SATURDAY

WEDNESDAY

From 10am until 2pm there will be a stream dip activity held at Hilbert Woods. Suitable for accompanied children aged four and over, this will be your chance to see what lies beneath the pretty stream that runs through the woods.

Wellies are essential! Slots last 30 minutes each and must be booked in advance by emailing: steff.dagorne@tunbridgewells. gov.uk At Bore Place in Bough Beech there will be a Rainbow Crafts and Cookies session happening today from 10am until 1pm, most suited to children aged three to six years. Little ones will have the chance to get creative in the kitchen and craft a felted rainbow. Afterwards, children will get their wellies on and head outside to meet the Bore Place organic herd of dairy cows. Tickets cost £18 per child. See www.boreplace.org This is the final week to catch the National Trust’s International Garden Photographer of the Year Exhibition at Sissinghurst Castle. The show runs until April 13, showcasing everything from portraits to panoramic shots of horticultural scenes, and intricate flora and fauna details from both professional and amateur photographers. To find out more, visit www.nationaltrust.org.uk/ sissinghurst-castle-garden Trinity Theatre is screening the Royal Shakespeare Company’s version of Macbeth this evening at 7pm, starring Christopher Eccleston and Niamh Cusack. Tickets cost £19 per person.

For more details, see www.trinitytheatre.net

THURSDAY Bewl Water is just perfect for a leisurely walk, but make sure you have a camera on you the next time you pay it a visit as the reservoir is currently running its Best of Bewl nature photography competition. To take part, all you have to do is capture a picture perfect moment while you’re in the country park and post it on social media with the hashtag #bestofbewlwater by May 1. You can enter the contest multiple times. For further information, see www.bewlwater.co.uk Groombridge Place is still hosting its popular production of Alice in Wonderland. On from 10am until 5pm, there will be regular performances of Lewis Carroll’s classic tale as well as lots of fun-filled activities with a circus-themed twist. For ticket prices and further details, head to

STAY CONNECTED, STAY IN…

thekn w.guide NEWS | GOING OUT | LIFESTYLE

Want to get fit for spring, then why not join the popular weekly park runs which happen at both Dunorlan Park and the Castle Street recreation ground in Tonbridge? They’re free to enter. All you www.groombridgeplace.com have to do is register your details beforehand so You can also catch another production of the you can participate in the 5k circuits, which start Lewis Carroll classic over at Chiddingstone Castle at 9am. For more information, see from today until Saturday. At this particular www.parkrun.org.uk event, the Mad Hatter will award prizes to his A new free photographic exhibition entitled ‘Best Dressed Guest’ and ‘Craziest Newcomer to Remarkable Characters of Tunbridge Wells is now Wonderland’, and there will be certificates for all. on at Woods on The Pantiles. Running until Suitable for children aged six to ten. Tickets are September from 10am daily, it is the brainchild of £13 for adults and children and must be booked photographer Mark Wilkinson and writer Anne in advance. See www.chiddingstonecastle.org.uk/ Wagstaff, who have a ‘curiosity about people and alice-in-wonderland what makes them tick’. There is also a book to Comedian accompany the show which costs £18 and is Simon Day visits available from www.remarkablecharacterstw.com Trinity Theatre After being postponed due to last week’s heavy this evening with his rain, the Four Winds Farm show Simon Day, In lambing day has been Character, where he’ll rescheduled for today. treat the audience to With a wealth of cute little some of his classic newborn lambs to ‘Ooh’ personas, including the and ‘Aah’, over plus Fast Show’s pub bore Billy sheepshearing Bleach and the prog rock demonstrations and lots of send-up Brian Pern. Tickets delicious local produce to cost £18 per person. savour – all in the beautiful Bidborough countryside BAACK ON! – it makes for a great day FRIDAY The Four Winds out. For more information, Don’t forget that there are still Farm lambing visit www.facebook.com/ plenty of attractions for you and day has been farmfourwinds your family to enjoy over the rescheduled Britain’s Got Talent star Jess Easter holidays. Penshurst is Robinson returns to Tunbridge hosting its Feverishly Fickle WE’RE ALL MAD HERE! Join Chiddingstone Castle’s Alice in Wonderland event

FLORAL FANTASIA: Don’t miss the new Nature’s Paintbox exhibition at Trinity Theatre Galley Wells this evening – after starring in the Assembly Hall’s panto at Christmas – with her much-acclaimed show Here Come the Girls.

Expect lots of spot-on celebrity impressions and hilarious banter from the talented mimic and singer. Tickets cost £18 from www.assemblyhalltheatre.co.uk

SUNDAY

Over at Hever Castle, you can still go on the trail of the Lindt Gold Bunny. Running until today, children can follow it around the glorious grounds, answer the questions to the clues and earn a chocolate treat. There will also be plenty of other things for them to enjoy, including an Easter bonnet craft workshop, and they’ll also have the chance to participate in a traditional parade. For more information on activities and prices, take a look at www.hevercastle.co.uk This is also the last day to catch the National Trust’s Cadbury’s Easter Egg Hunts at some of its venues, including Scotney and Bodiam Castles and Sheffield Park. The trail costs £3 per person to enter. To find out more, visit www.nationaltrust.org.uk Mr Books of Tonbridge will be hosting an event at the Old Fire Station this evening from 6pm to 8pm. Entitled Local Voices, it will showcase the recent work of five crime, history, theatre, fantasy and literary fiction writers from the area, including David Barry and Anne Carawdine, who will read extracts from their books. Guests will also have the opportunity to participate in Q&As and enjoy a drink. Tickets cost £5 in advance or £7 on the door. See www.mrbooks.co.uk Trinity Theatre is screening the film Red Sparrow this evening from 8pm. Jennifer Lawrence stars in this dramatic thriller. Tickets cost £11.

MONDAY If rain stops your school holidays play then head over to Jump In, Tonbridge – the area’s only trampoline centre, which offers toddlers to teens lots of jumping fun. For more information, visit www.gojumpin.com Trinity Theatre Gallery’s latest exhibition,

Going Out

Wednesday April 11 | 2018

SPLASHING GOOD FUN Take the children streamdipping at Hilbert Woods

Centre in Tunbridge Wells. At each event there is a reading by a published poet and a discussion afterwards. All are welcome and admission is £3. And the society’s members hold workshops on the first Tuesday each month (except August) to discuss their poetry. They also hold an annual open poetry competition and publish an annual folio of members’ work. New members are always welcome. For more information, visit www.kentandsussexpoetry.com JESS JOKING! Funny lady Jess Robinson is at the Assembly Hall

entitled Nature’s Paintbox, is a collection of work by three different artists: Jan Moffit, Julia Patience and Denise Fisk, whose paintings present a rich and diverse range of pictures inspired by nature. Open from 10am until 10pm.

TUESDAY The G&C gallery on Camden Road in Tunbridge Wells is currently showing the work of the late Italian artist Francesco Caccamo. For further information, visit

www.gcgallery.co.uk Visual Arts students from Tonbridge Grammar School’s sixth form are currently exhibiting their work at Royal Victoria Place in the old O2 store premises. Do go along and see the talented creations on display until the end of the month. The work includes paintings, sculpture and ceramic pieces.

Every third Tuesday of the month (apart from August), the Kent & Sussex Poetry Society hold meetings at the Camden

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PICK OF THE WEEK: Spring Stroll at Penshurst Place April 15, 11am-2pm

Join the General Manager of Penshurst Place, Ben Thomas, for a stroll through the stately seat’s beautiful parkland. You’ll hopefully catch a glimpse of some of the wildlife that call Penshurst their home, and Ben will answer questions and share stories from the rich history of this magnificent

estate. Once you’ve worked up an appetite, you’ll be treated to a delicious two-course roast lunch and be free to explore the house and gardens. Tickets cost £30 per person to include the two-course lunch and access to the house and gardens. See www.penshurstplace.com

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thekn w.guide

Going Out

Wednesday April 11 | 2018

THE GREY LADY MUSIC LOUNGE

Louise Distras

The Pantiles. Doors 7.15pm, entry £6/£7 Websites: www.pdag.co.uk & www.thegreylady.co.uk Wednesday Duch Jo, Will Watson, Rob Picazo Band Thursday The Majestic Friday Into The Blue Saturday Closed for a private party Sunday Higgs & The Bosons, Guy Sharpe Tuesday Holly Stanford, Anna Howie

THE TUNBRIDGE WELLS FORUM

live music With Paul Dunton

F

OR a great midweek outing tonight [Wednesday], I highly recommend local blues singer-songwriter Rob Picazo at The Grey Lady, with support from Will Watson and Duch Jo. The popular ‘Stable’ returns to The Forum with four up-and-coming acts: Frass, Hallan, Lacuna Bloome and Hunting Holly. The highly entertaining Pop Divas return to The Assembly Hall to perform iconic tracks from the likes of Little Mix, Katy Perry, Adele, Arianna Grande, Taylor Swift and Rihanna.

My top pick for this Thursday night is musician and singer Daisy Garside at The Bedford.

There are plenty of superb live

The must-read guide to what’s on musically for the week ahead… www.paulduntonandguests.com

music events on Friday evening, including Into the Blue at The Grey Lady, and for fans of house and techno, renowned DJ Tim Cullen presents DJs Strickland, GuyMac, Jakson b2b Riveer and Robbie J at The Forum.

Saturday is packed with fantastic local bands, including Shine at The Royal Oak and Super Duper & The Ya Ya’s at The Beau Nash. Talented Louise Distras headlines The Sussex Arms with support from The Pearl Harts, and the excellent Badflys return to The Bedford.

On Monday, Malcolm Bushby will be at The Tonbridge Folk Club, while Tuesday brings The Starks Brothers to the Punch & Judy in Tonbridge.

Event information at www.twforum.co.uk Wednesday The Stable presents: Frass, Hallan, Lacuna Bloome and Hunting Holly Friday Tim Cullen presents ‘Switch’ – an evening of house and techno featuring DJs Strickland, GuyMac, Jakson b2b Riveer and Robbie J Saturday Tarot Rats, Gallows Circus and Sean de Burca Rob Picazo

Saturday The Badflys

THE SUSSEX ARMS BASEMENT

THE ROYAL OAK

Sussex Mews Open all day, music from 8.30pm, entry charge may apply More information at www.twforum.co.uk Saturday Louise Distras, The Pearl Harts

Prospect Road. Open all day, free entry Music from 8.30pm till late Saturday Shine

THE ASSEMBLY HALL THEATRE Crescent Road Concert details and ticket information at www.assemblyhalltheatre.co.uk Wednesday Pop Divas Live Thursday Walk Right Back (Everly Brothers tribute)

THE BEAU NASH TAVERN Mount Ephraim, open all day, free entry Music from 8.30pm till late Saturday Super Duper & The Ya Ya’s

THE BEDFORD 2 High Street, open all day, free entry Music from 8.30pm till late Thursday Daisy Garside

THE PUNCH & JUDY 11 St Stephen’s Street, Tonbridge Open all day, free entry Music from 8.30pm Tuesday The Starks Brothers

TONBRIDGE FOLK CLUB The Flying Dutchman, Hildenborough Hat collection with a contribution of £7 (£5 concessions) is suggested Music from 8pm. More information at www.tonbridgefolkclub.org Monday Malcolm Bushby STAY CONNECTED, STAY IN…

thekn w.guide NEWS | GOING OUT | LIFESTYLE

thekn w.guide

Food & Drink

Wednesday April 11 | 2018

food

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Greece is the word Alexandra’s Restaurant has recently opened on Camden Road, so food writer Fred Latty went to sample a taste of this new Mediterranean Greek eatery

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ITH its elegant interior, warm welcome and tasty menu, Alexandra’s restaurant brings a much-needed dose of Greek cuisine to Tunbridge Wells.

The family-run restaurant is light, spacious and inviting, managing to balance a cosy atmosphere and ambience with a cool, contemporary look and style.

Although there are plenty of traditional delicacies to choose from here, it’s the oven-roasted lamb shank kleftico (£16.90), marinated in fresh thyme, garlic, lemon and olive oil, which jumps out immediately from the menu.

Envy Other highlights include grilled chicken or lamb souvlaki (£14.90 or £15.90 respectively), while the meze plate for two (£12.90) is perfect for sharing and features tzatziki, olives, homous, feta cheese, aubergine dip and crusty bread.

When I visit Alexandra’s, I’m accompanied by a group whose appetites are even larger

NEW IN TOWN Many have longed for a Greek restaurant than my own. Everyone is delighted when their meals arrive, and I even sense a pinch of food envy from those who didn’t opt for the kleftico, which is easily the heartiest, most sizeable item on the menu.

Plus, we’re made to feel like we could well and truly be sitting in an authentic Greek eatery, as we enjoy several oenochoes (traditional wine jugs) of the house white, which accompanies our dishes perfectly.

If you’re looking for somewhere to go in town that’s a bit different, Alexandra’s is sure to spirit you away to a place where food, family and friends are all treasured in equal measure.

For more bitesized restaurant reviews visit www.theknow.guide

FOOD IN FINE SURROUNDINGS With a warm welcome

STAY CONNECTED, STAY IN…

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7 DAYS OF GREAT FOOD & DRINK IDEAS NEWS | GOING OUT | LIFESTYLE

Food & Drink

Wednesday April 11 | 2018

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59

1. HIGH STREET CHOICE

1

2017 Dom Tomas Terroir Selection Malbec San Juan, Argentina (£7.99, Aldi) This textbook Argentine malbec ticks all the boxes and is silk for the price of cotton. Aromas of violets, black cherries, blueberries, chocolate and spice with plump, lavish splendour – this sleek, damsony wine belongs in your glass. An ideal accompaniment to a rib-eye steak, chilli, enchiladas, bangers and mash, or spaghetti bolognese. A total knockout, load up for summer barbecues, too – this is a delightful wine. Bravo Aldi!

Alc 14%

2. CLASSY KIWI

Make mine a (glass of) Malbec!

A suite of top-notch wines picked to celebrate, for the eighth consecutive year, the largest wine celebration on the planet: World Malbec Day on April 17. Times wine expert James Viner uncovers three stylish bottles of the chic, worldwide crowd-pleasing grape variety – that won’t break the bank

2

2014 Te Awa, Left Field Malbec, Hawkes Bay, New Zealand (£15-16, GP Brands/Eton Vintners/Dulwich Vintners/ New Zealand House of Wine) Made by leading Hawkes Bay producer Te Awa, here’s an affordable, scrumptious and easy-drinking introduction into Kiwi Malbec. It’s vivid, deeply-coloured and loaded with spicy cassis, plum, liquorice, anise, mulberry and cocoa pizzazz. This vivacious malbec has been aged in French oak for 18 months, delivering ripe, well-integrated tannins and a long, savoury finish. It has bags of character and is just fine on its own, or paired with grilled/roasted red meats or mature strong cheese. A red that has something for everyone, I’ll venture.

Alc 13.5%

3. MUST-TRY MENDOZA BEAUTY

2014 Mendel Mendoza Malbec, Argentina (£16, The Wine Society) You’ll especially adore this high-altitude vinous superstar if you like lusty, heady and statesmanlike reds that pair exquisitely with meaty fare (especially a juicy steak from a cow that grazed on the pampas).

Ethereal black fruits, spice, dark chocolate and herbs sashay across the full-bodied frame, meeting velvety, finely-crafted, lacy tannins. You can’t help but revere the amalgamation of mid-palate brio and overall sparkle/energy. This is an aristocratic malbec for wine aficionados at an exceedingly advantageous price. Let it breathe for an hour before serving and get that T-bone steak ready! Nice one, maestro winemaker Roberto de la Motta. £16 is a small price to pay for this degree of majesty. Cheers! Alc 14.5% Follow James on Twitter @QuixoticWine

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Powered by

Wednesday April 11 | 2018

63

tech

LISTEN AND LEARN

ALL EARS

WAKE UP AND DRINK THE COFFEE

Whether you’re playing on your X-Box, or want to receive a call on your smartphone and chat while on the move, these Skullcandy Hesh 2 leather headphones will help you vocalise yourself courtesy of the built in mic. £49.99, www.argos.com

What a clever idea to be able to connect this coffee machine to your smartphone or Amazon Alexa device to ensure your brew is ready when you are!

Smarter Wi-Fi Coffee Machine, £179.99, available from www.cuckooland.com, PC World and leading electrical retailers

Now you can hear your favourite music while on the move, or wherever you happen to be around the house, courtesy of this up-to-theminute speaker.

KREAFUNK aFunk 360 Degrees Bluetooth Speaker in Cool Grey Rose Gold, £99, www.amara.com

Must-have gadgets

State of the art technology Theknow brings you the latest tech and clever time-saving gadgets and widgets to make your life easier and more enjoyable. Eileen Leahy picks her top tech essentials

POWERED BY

RETRO REVIVAL Who said the age of the humble cassette was dead? Not if you invest in this classic kit, which has all digital mod cons to enhance your listening pleasure.

GPO Brooklyn Portable Boom Box, £249, www.cuckooland.com

FLAT OUT This sleek little laptop allows you to be super creative courtesy of its digital pen-based computing and Windows Ink package. You can sketch your creative

ideas courtesy of a collection of apps, and it also has 16 hours’ battery life.

HP Spectre X360, prices from £1,249. Available from PC World, Harvey Norman and all good electrical stores

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thekn w.guide

Weddings

Wednesday April 11 | 2018

The beautiful

and traditional...

It was love at first kiss for Alice Grogan and Tom Pearson at the tender age of 18 Describe your husband in five words:

Tell us about the proposal…

Funny, kind, handsome, spontaneous and attentive.

We were living in our first home together–a little flat in London–when he proposed. He had liaised with one of my close friends to ensure I was out of the house for an hour, and I was told we would be going for a meal together in the evening. After spending an hour or so at my friend’s house, I arrived back home to get ready for the evening and found Tom had set up a clue hunt around the flat. The clues all hinted at where we were going for dinner and, when I found the last envelope, Tom got down on one knee and proposed. We then went to The Ritz for an amazingly romantic five-course meal, complete with candles and a grand piano! It was absolutely perfect.

How did you and your husband meet?

Tom and I both attended St Gregory’s School in Tunbridge Wells, but belonged to different social circles as Tom was the year above me. When we were about 18, we had a drunken kiss on a night out in Tonbridge, but Tom was already in his first year at Bournemouth university and I was about to head off to university in Lancaster, so nothing came of it. Four years later, in the autumn of 2011, we bumped into each other in a beer garden in Tunbridge Wells.

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

The wedding ceremony itself was at the Corpus Christi Church in Tonbridge. We chose the venue as it’s a beautiful building and it suited our desire for a traditional Catholic wedding. We had our reception at Mountains Country House, which was actually the very first venue we viewed! I dragged Tom around six more after that, but we already knew deep down that we’d found our perfect location. It was the ideal place for a winter wedding as the large marquee looked amazing draped in fairy lights, with tall

WINTER WONDERLAND Braving the winter chill for the perfect shot

Weddings

Wednesday April 11 | 2018

SPEECHLESS Tom and Alice share a moment

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Bride’s Top Five Tips

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Don’t spend too much time fussing over the small details that won’t matter on the day Try not to worry about things you can’t control – everything will fall into place The first dance isn’t as scary as it seems, so don’t overthink it and just enjoy the moment

How did you start your married life together?

candelabras and Christmas wreaths made of holly and roses. Both the ceremony and the reception were beautiful, and the cosy and sparkly atmosphere of the reception was exactly what we were aiming for.

Tell us about your big day and some of its key highlights…

I know it’s a cliché, but the day was honestly perfect in every way. With our hearts set on a winter wedding, we always knew the weather would be cold, yet, despite it being a freezing December day, the sky was blue and the sun was shining. The weather was fresh and crisp and, as if by magic, the snow held off until the next morning. Getting ready in the morning was great too as I woke with my bridesmaids and flower girls at my parent’s house and I had a smile on my face from that point right up until our final song, ‘Hey Jude.’ To have all our friends, family and loved ones in the one place was simply amazing.

‘My dress was from Isabella Grace in Tunbridge Wells and was easily the most beautiful thing I’ve ever worn!’

After all the stress and build-up leading to the wedding, we treated ourselves to a mini-moon straight away! We went to Pennyhill Park Hotel, which was fantastic, and we made sure we completely relaxed and just enjoyed spending a few days as a new man and wife after all the wedding preparations. Our main honeymoon is coming up and we are just about to fly off to New York for a few days as part of a trip that will see us ending on a beach in the Caribbean. We can’t wait!

Talk us briefly through some of your key suppliers and how they helped make the day special…

My dress was from Isabella Grace in Tunbridge Wells and was easily the most beautiful thing I’ve ever worn! I felt so pretty in it and was relieved to have found a dress that I was so happy with. Our bridal flowers were also stunning, and were arranged by Megan Cobb at Theflowershed flowers. Bethany Moulange, a dear friend of ours, baked our cake, which was fantastic. The Mountains Country House was decorated beautifully by Jenny at Creative Designs – they were a great find as they really made our winter vision come to life in just the way we pictured it! Our photographer, Steven Dunton, captured the day brilliantly, and the records we have of the most special moments are even better than we could have ever hoped for.

On the day, ask your driver to take a slightly longer route from the church to the reception. Even if it leaves your guests waiting for an extra five minutes, you’ll be grateful for the brief time you have together

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Take the time to stand back with your husband and watch the reception – it’s an amazing feeling that everyone is there for you and having a good time

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Motoring

Wednesday April 11 | 2018

FIRST DRIVE:

The new updated

Mini hatch WHAT IS IT?

This is the facelifted and fettled version of the wildly popular Mk3 Mini– a car with a dedicated and choosy fan base that loves its pastiche of retro design elements, perky engines and sporty driving dynamics. With a brand new Volkswagen Polo GTI on sale now, and the latest version of Ford’s Fiesta ST on the way, this high-performance Cooper S model has its work cut out.

WHAT’S NEW?

The only way this new Mini could shout about its British heritage more is if the horn played the national anthem. The latest car can be covered in Union Jacks, with the new LED tail lights the boldest implementation of this.

Elsewhere, the changes are relatively small. UK cars now get full LED headlights as standard, with a ring of LEDs as daytime running lights. Mini’s new, simpler logo features and inside there are a few tech upgrades. Personalisation has been ramped up, too, with the Mini Yours programme giving buyers unprecedented levels of control.

WHAT’S UNDER THE BONNET?

The entry-level 1.2-litre engine has been replaced by a detuned version of the Cooper’s 1.5-litre unit. The rest of the range is identical in power, though fuel economy has improved.

Our Cooper S model produced a hefty 189bhp.

Despite it weighing a fairly porky 1,265 kilos, performance is sprightly, with 0-60mph in 6.6 seconds. Top speed is 146mph. The engine has plenty of low-down grunt, but doesn’t encourage you to rev it hard. The best progress is in the mid-range, thanks to that turbocharged torque.

All Minis get an excellent six-speed manual ’box as standard, with rev-match technology in Sport mode. Most automatic models are fitted with a new seven-speed DCT transmission, which is smooth to shift but seemed too happy to change down unnecessarily.

Hot JCW and Cooper SD models feature an eight-speed torque converter ’box instead.

WHAT’S IT LIKE TO DRIVE?

The car sticks to the road like glue in hard

cornering. Mini says it handles ‘like a go-kart’ and it’s fantastically entertaining on a twisty road, with the relatively stiff suspension ensuring the car remains flat. The steering is nicely weighted – albeit slightly too heavy in Sport mode, and offers bags of feedback.

It’s not a match for really hardcore hot hatches, such as the Peugeot 208 GTI by Peugeot Sport, but it walks all over the likes of the Volkswagen Polo GTI or Audi S1. However, that suspension does mean the ride isn’t ideal for longer journeys – it doesn’t exactly crash into bumps and potholes, it sort of bounces over them.

HOW DOES IT LOOK?

Those patriotic tail lights are the big talking point – they make the Mini totally unmistakable, even from a distance, and are bound to be a bit of a Marmite choice. The headlights now feature an unbroken ring of LEDs – a far more premium touch – but elsewhere the Mini retains its cute proportions and retro styling.

Mini Yours personalisation allows you to add your own choice of design to the projector lights, indicator repeaters, door sills and dash – our test cars were named after the royal family, and proudly displayed ‘Philip’ on the front wings.

WHAT’S IT LIKE INSIDE?

The Mini’s interior remains a sticking point as its retro design hinders usability to a point. It’s characterful, but buttons and switches are scattered about. The small gauge cluster is hard to read, while the central infotainment display looks a bit lost within its vast surround.

Lighting is another sticking point, with an irritating strip in the centre console and a gaudily-lit panel in front of the passenger clashing with the rest of the cabin backlighting.

Space for rear passengers and luggage is poor, but there’s plenty of room in the front, with comfortable and easily adjustable seats.

Along with its convertibles, Mini has revamped its hatch with more personalisation, premium appeal and patriotism. Tom Wiltshire puts on his Union Jack hat and heads to Mallorca to try it out

Five-door models fix this to a point, but it really isn’t a great family car.

WHAT’S THE SPEC LIKE?

There’s an improved equipment tally, but buyers should be wary of the extensive options list.

As standard, the car comes with a 6.5-inch infotainment display, DAB radio, LED lights front and rear, air-conditioning and remote central locking. Equipment levels increase with engine spec, but most buyers will opt for the Chili Pack. This adds rear parking sensors, automatic lights and wipers, different alloy wheels, improved upholstery and sports seats.

Personalisation is vast and varied, and with the Mini Yours pack it’s possible to have 12 Union Jacks adorning your car.

VERDICT

The new Mini isn’t a big change, but it didn’t need to be. The updates help freshen up what’s now a four-year old car, and the result is eye-catching and feels premium.

The best part – the driving experience – has been left virtually untouched, and while it’s no luxury limo, it’s still amazing fun on a bendy road and more than accomplished in town.

Lower-spec Cooper would be our choice over the somewhat pricey Cooper S, but whatever the spec, the Mini hatchback is a great small car.

Motoring News

China opens car vending machine at supermarket FORD has partnered with Chinese shopping centre Tmall to offer people the convenience of picking up a car from a giant vending machine.

Alibaba Group, which owns Tmall, opened the Super Test-Drive Centre in Guangzhou this month, allowing potential buyers to pick from 100 cars using their mobile phone and take one for a three-day test drive.

“We are looking for ways to simplify customers’ lives and give them the ultimate trybefore-you-buy experience,” said Dean Stoneley, Vice-President of Marketing at Ford Asia Pacific, at the launch. “It’s about having them try Ford vehicles and ultimately buying the vehicle at a Ford dealership.”

Customers can search for a new Ford on the Alibaba app. The system uses face recognition when they arrive at the vending machine and the car is delivered straight to them.

When the partnership was announced in December, Ford Executive Chairman Bill Ford said: “China is not only the largest car market in the world, it’s also at the heart of electric vehicle and SUV growth and the mobility movement. The progress we have achieved in China is just the start.”

World’s top car revealed THE Volvo XC60 has been named the best car on sale today at the 2018 World Car of the Year Awards.

The Swedish manufacturer’s mid-sized SUV has proved hugely popular with the motoring press since it went on sale last year, and was voted the winner by 82 motoring journalists from 24 countries.

Britain’s Range Rover Velar SUV won World Car Design of the Year.

Other winners included the Audi A8 as best luxury car, the BMW M5 as top performance car, and the Volkswagen Polo as best urban car. The updated version of electric bestseller the Nissan Leaf took the eco-friendly award.

THE KNOWLEDGE MODEL AS TESTED:

0-60MPH:

Mini Cooper S

6.6 seconds

ENGINE: 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol

MPG: 47.1 (combined)

POWER: 189bhp

EMISSIONS:

TORQUE: 300Nm

138g/km

MAX SPEED: 146mph

PATRIOTIC FUN With Union Jack tail lights

Testing times for legality A VALID MOT is crucial for a car to remain legal on UK roads – but research suggests millions of drivers forget to renew on time, leaving them at risk of faults and hefty fines.

A survey commissioned by AA Cars quizzed 21,000 people on their MOT habits and found that when extrapolated to reflect the whole population, the data could mean up to two million Brits have been late renewing their MOT by a week, with half forgetting for up to a month.

The AA’s data shows most drivers with a fault classed as ‘serious’ on their cars were unaware of it before the MOT test.

Simon Benson, AA Cars’ Director of Motoring Services, said of the tests: “They are not just a routine checkup, but a legal imperative.

Either set your own reminder or sign up to the government’s MOT reminder service.”

Wednesday April 11 | 2018

Motoring

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Recruitment

Wednesday April 11 | 2018

WITH THE

FIND YOUR PERFECT JOB TODAY – A MUST-READ FOR THOSE LOOKING FOR WORK LOCALLY

OF TUNBRIDGE WELLS AND TONBRIDGE

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Numbers are substituted for letters in the crossword grid. Above the grid is the key with two letters solved. Try to complete the first few words to give you more letters, or look for a frequent number that might reveal a common letter. As you find letters, enter them in the key and into the grid. Cross off the letters in the A to Z list.

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3 7 6

4 1 9 7 6 3 3 6 4 2 7 5

3 3 6 4 2 9 8 8

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To complete Sudoku, fill the board by entering numbers 1 to 9 so that each row, column and 3x3 box contains every number uniquely.

9 5

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7 8

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5 4 5 8 7

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1 3 4 2 5 1 3 7 9 2

CLASSIFIEDS

Codeword:

1

© 2016 Syndicated Puzzles, Inc.

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DIFFICULTY RATING:★III

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© 2016 Syndicated Puzzles

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DIFFICULTY RATING: ★★★I

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LAST WEEK’S SOLUTIONS

SUDOKU & JIGSAW SUDOKU

In this Sudoku, the normal 3x3 boxes are now strangely odd shapes – but all the rules and logic of normal Sudoku apply.

Fill the board by entering numbers 1 to 9 so that each row, column and box contains every number uniquely.

Puzzle solutions will be published in a forthcoming issue

T S H A I N K S Y O T U E D R B U M

M W O I ON A V O M R E J E C T O R N I T S T E M S A C E R B O G A R U P R A M I N D O P Q I R E A U F R R E F

B K R T E X A M C A P E E D H OC R B A G E A A L E N T T I I E Z E C E

Sudoku:

3 5 2 4 8 7 1 9 6

6 8 9 1 2 5 3 7 4

7 1 4 3 6 9 5 2 8

9 4 8 7 1 6 2 5 3

2 6 3 9 5 8 4 1 7

5 7 1 2 4 3 6 8 9

1 2 6 8 7 4 9 3 5

9 6 7 1 8 4 2 3 5

8 2 9 7 5 3 4 1 6

1 4 8 6 3 2 7 5 9

4 3 7 5 9 1 8 6 2

8 9 5 6 3 2 7 4 1

Jigsaw Sudoku:

6 7 2 8 1 5 9 4 3

2 1 5 3 4 6 8 9 7

4 8 3 9 2 7 5 6 1

3 5 1 4 7 9 6 8 2

7 3 6 5 9 8 1 2 4

5 9 4 2 6 1 3 7 8

© 2016 Syndicated Puzzles

CODEWORD

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Sports

Please send sports stories to: newsdesk@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk or newsdesk@timesoftonbridge.co.uk

Stoinis and Donald arrive to boost Kent’s fortunes CRICKET: THERE have been many changes made at Kent ahead of the new season - some reflecting the club’s declining fortunes such as the departure of Sam Northeast for Division One cricket, others showing an intent to improve their performance.

The soggy new campaign begins with a County Championship match in Canterbury against Gloucestershire on Friday (April 13).

The most exciting news is the arrival of Australian allrounder Marcus Stoinis, who will be a specialist in the NatWest Twenty20 Blast competition.

A star of the Indian Premier League and Big Bash, the 28-year-old is renowned for his spectacular batting - and residents of St Lawrence might need to get their roof tiles fixed a few times this season.

Visa problems Perhaps the most crucial recruitment, however, has seen legendary South African fast bowler Allan Donald become assistant coach.

He was due to take up a position at the club last season but was prevented from doing so because of visa problems due to the lack of a recognised coaching certificate England wicketkeeper-batsman Sam Billings has been named captain following the departure of Northeast to Hampshire.

Northeast’s loss will be sorely felt because he and fellow top-order batsman Daniel BellDrummond have provided the bulk of the runs.

Both have been tipped for England honours, something which seems ever more likely with the continued failure of Joe Root’s batsmen.

After nine years at the helm the county’s Chief Executive, Jamie Clifford, has left to work for MCC, and is replaced by Ben Green, formerly with the All England Tennis Club.

Graham Johnson, Kent’s long-serving honorary Chairman of Cricket, retired with former team-mate Paul Downton joining the staff in a new role as Director of Cricket.

The 61-year-old former Kent and England wicket-keeper, who attended Sevenoaks School, held the role of Managing Director of the England and Wales Cricket Board in 2014 and was the man who decided to sack Kevin Pietersen from the England team.

Donald, who has also been handed a role with his national team, is sure to add bite to the attack, with promising young paceman Harry Podmore arriving from Middlesex.

Other new signings include Heino Kuhn, the 33-year-old former South Africa Test batsman, who joins as a home-registered Kolpak player for the whole season.

New Zealand Test fast bowler Matt Henry is available for Kent’s first seven Championship games and the Royal London One-Day Cup campaign, while his compatriot Adam Milne also returns as a front-line paceman.

The new arrivals in the bowling department are much needed following the departure of four members of the attack: Matt Coles, who joined Essex, and Adam Ball, Charlie Hartley and Hugh Bernard, who were all released.

“I’ll admit that last year was tricky on and off the field,” says Head Coach Matt Walker. “There was no consistency or continuity on the field or in terms of the coaching staff I had at my disposal.

“We were having to juggle things a little bit, but Allan’s arrival this year as assistant coach gives us the experience and continuity we so needed.”

“AD [Donald] quickly brought his own brand of competitiveness into the group, who took on his South African attitude of hunting in the field and maintained high energy levels.”

He added: “I’d like to think we’ve got a better structure to the backroom team and I’ve got a lot more help behind the scenes, which I felt was badly needed.”

“It feels like we’ve drawn a line in the sand and that we’re starting again.

There’s a real freshness amongst the group and there’s a belief that, in terms of structure, we’re slowly getting there.”

DUCK THE BOUNCERS: Allan Donald will add spark to the bowlers

MIND THE GAP Charlie Edwards finds a hole to score

PHOTO: Adam Hookway

By Andy Tong

Wednesday April 11 | 2018

Wimbledon win ugly in messy stop-start affair Wimbledon 22 Tonbridge Juddians 17

By Adam Hookway RUGBY: TONBRIDGE JUDDIANS, comfortably mid-table, travelled to Wimbledon knowing the hosts were desperately seeking points in their bid to stay up in National Two South with three games to go.

The visitors started slowly and Wimbledon advanced through successive penalties. But with three points on offer in front they opted to kick for the corner.

TJs turned it over and made ground, Mike O’Sullivan finishing off a series of forward drives with a trademark burrow to score an unconverted try from inches out.

The penalty count and errors continued in what was proving to be a stop-start affair and Tom Nicoll was carded for a high tackle.

Skill down the right short side by Wimbledon saw them grubber through, regather and score from 60 metres out to level the scores 5-5 at half-time.

In the second half the attritional action and referee’s intervention continued and fluid play was restricted to the touchline.

Wimbledon edged in front 12-5 with a disputed try but TJs levelled as Charlie Edwards spotted a gap and scampered through from 30 metres.

Wimbledon hit back with a quick drop goal but this heralded TJs’ only purple patch of the game.

Good control enabled Nicoll to force his way through and offload to Finlay Coxon-Smith to crash over and give the visitors the lead by just 17-15.

TJs had further chances but twice they were held up over the line and Wimbledon used a penalty to the corner to set up a drive and go 22-17 in front, then held out for the victory.

They are still at least 12 points from safety but TJs are sitting comfortably in eighth place as they welcome Redruth to The Slade next Saturday (April 14, kick-off 2pm).

New captain scores twice to lead his team up the league Westcliff 16 Tunbridge Wells 24

BIG HITTER Dave Allen puts in a powerful tackle

PHOTO: Bruce Elliott

By Michelle Greenall RUGBY: AFTER a well-earned break Tunbridge Wells travelled to Westcliff, who were just two points ahead of them in fifth place in the London and South-East Premier Division.

This was a contest of the best sides outside the top four. Westcliff were two points above Wells in fifth and had their tails up after a good win over Sutton and Epsom in their last fixture.

Wells found it hard going against a very solid Westcliff pack and it took them a while to get into the game.

Westcliff got on the scoreboard with two penalties and there was a yellow card apiece.

With a few minutes left in the first half Wells were applying sustained pressure to the Westcliff line, the ball was spun out to the backs and Mike Doherty went over.

Frank Reynolds’ conversion meant the visitors edged ahead to go in at half-time 7-6 ahead. Both

teams were restored to full strength after the interval but Wells started again as they had left off.

Piling on the pressure again they moved the ball efficiently out to the new captain, Ryan Taylor-Dennehy, for an unconverted score.

Westcliff finally found their first try soon after to bring the scores back to 11-12. Nerves were jangling a little but seven minutes later TaylorDennehy bagged his second, though again the extras were lacking so the game was still in the balance.

With less than 10 minutes to go, prop Ben Williams broke through the defensive line and cleverly fed the ball across the pitch to Shadyn Osgood, who embarked on a 50-metre run for the bonus point try.

Reynolds slotted over the conversion to give the visitors breathing space, though Westcliff scored again before the final whistle.

There are now only two games to go and Tunbridge Wells welcome Guildford to St Mark’s for the last home fixture of the season on Saturday (April 14, kick-off 3pm).

Sports

Wednesday April 11 | 2018

Outstanding Janes powers Ladies into first ever divisional cup final

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Butler ensures thrilling victory in struggle to avoid the drop Rusthall 3 Rochester United 2

By Richard Smith

TOP TEAM: (Back row, L-R) Rob Mardell (coach), Leanne Foster, Courtney Smith, Megan Akehurst, Becky Janes, Flo Anastasiou, Sharon Lyons, Sam Wright, Alex Weston, Helena Fothergill, Jodie Coombes, Dan Couldridge (manager); (front row) Maisie Gibb, Charlotte Coulter, Nancy Syrett, Lauryn Underhill, Kelly Moran, Becky Jarvis, Becky Mackley [PHOTO: David Couldridge] In the second period Janes had a couple of chances to increase her tally, both times being put through

by Maisie Gibb. On 62 minutes Angels’ Jody Coombes scored direct from a free kick.

Diamonds’ pacy forwards had not given up. On 68 minutes they got a goal back through Jordan Langston, and 10 minutes later she scored again.

By James Rowe FOOTBALL: IN ONLY their second competitive season, Tonbridge Angels Ladies have reached the final of the Kent Divisional Cup after putting seven goals past Diamond United at Longmead.

The final will be at Maidstone United’s Gallagher Stadium on Thursday May 17, but they do not know their opponents yet as there is still a quarter-final to be played.

The home side got off to the best possible start in only their second ever match playing at the Bostik League Premier stadium.

After a minute’s play the classy Becky Janes met Megan Akehurst’s pinpoint cross to open the Angels account. But it took just four minutes for Amy Metland to equalise.

Angels lead was restored in the

ninth minute, Janes’ 20-yarder giving Terri Bryant no chance in the Diamond goal.

Incredibly Janes claimed her hat-trick in only the 11th minute, converting a corner with a perfect header.

The home side continued to make most of the running with chances falling to Lauryn Underhill and Alex Weston.

On 29 minutes it became 4-1 for the home side when Akehurst ran through to convert a Janes assist.

But now Diamond started to exert some pressure of their own and the visitors hit the post.

However, with half-time approaching Angels’ Becky Jarvis was bundled over in the area and Kelly Moran converted the spot kick.

A minute later the mercurial Janes scored her fourth as Tonbridge went in at the interval 6-1 to the good.

PHOTO: David Couldridge

Tonbridge Angels 7 Diamond United 3

Manager calls for response as Angels lack ‘effort and desire’ Tooting & Mitcham 0 Tonbridge Angels 0

By James Rowe FOOTBALL: TONBRIDGE ANGELS have forged some much-needed steel at the back in recent matches and secured another clean sheet at Imperial Fields. But manager Steve McKimm was far from happy with the performance.

“Overall there was not enough effort and desire while our passing was sloppy,” he said. “Perhaps

too many players thought it would be enough just to turn up and claim three points from the basement side.

“But credit to Tooting, on another day they would have taken all the points. We were slightly fortunate to come away with a draw and I’m asking for a response from the players.”

Nathan Elder’s header from a Liam Smith long throw hit a post on 11 minutes, and the striker saw

Angels were good value for their win with some of their passing and movement off the ball a credit to the players and their management team.

Manager Dan Couldridge said: “The bigger pitch suited our style of play and what particularly pleased us was the improvement in our aerial play which we’ve worked on hard over the last few weeks.”

STRIKING IT RICH Becky Janes takes on keeper Terri Bryant another header saved on the line on 32 minutes.

There was a little more energy from both sides in the second period. On 53 minutes Smith put in a last-ditch tackle to thwart the hosts, and a minute later George Beavan came to the rescue.

On the hour mark Tooting’s Eddie Dines was just wide with a superb shot that that Angels keeper Jonny Henly knew little about.

Angels substitute Andrew Seesay provided some much-needed impetus. Elder turned well but his shot cleared the crossbar, then Joe Turner fired wide from 20 yards out.

In stoppage time a Tooting player sustained an apparently serious injury and with both physios advising against movement until the paramedics arrived, the referee blew the whistle to end the game.

FOOTBALL: THE Rustics showed great character as they twice came from behind to beat bottomof-the-table Rochester United at Jockey Farm Stadium to secure their first win of 2018.

Rusthall were themselves staring into the abyss of relegation from the Southern Counties East League Premier Division as their first season at this level comes to a conclusion.

The importance of the game seemed to affect the home side as they made several early mistakes, one of which gifted the visitors the lead after just five minutes.

A free kick from wide on the left looked to be heading into the hands of keeper Steve Lawrence but he could only push it onto the bar and Jack Healey tapped home from close range.

Against the run of play Rusthall managed to level the score on 16 minutes. A rare attack down the right caught the visitors out and when they failed to clear, Dan Powell was on hand to force the ball home.

‘A smart move down the left fed in Merrick Simms, who unleashed a firm right-foot strike to retake the lead’ But Rusthall continued to give the ball away in midfield and Rochester took advantage on 29 minutes. A smart move down the left fed in Merrick Simms, who unleashed a firm right-foot strike to retake the lead.

Three minutes later the home side was breathing a sigh of relief as Dan Nash’s firm shot beat Lawrence but Luke Stratford was on hand to superbly head the ball off the line.

The home side were a different proposition in the second half and they were rewarded for their efforts on the hour when a corner from the right was met by the head of new signing Dan Hanshaw, who scored his first goal for the club.

Rusthall were level again and looking comfortable but the winning goal came with just four minutes remaining.

Substitute Steph Harper picked up the ball on the left and crossed to the far post, finding the onrushing Paul Butler who headed the ball over the keeper and into the net, much to the delight of a large crowd.

The weekend saw a narrow defeat at Canterbury City as 10 players from the midweek success failed to make the trip.

The home side took the lead on 23 minutes as a corner was headed in by Laurence Harvey, set-pieces having proved a problem for the Rustics this season.

Moving into the final three weeks of the season Rusthall have six games to secure their Premier League status.

They will be hoping to encounter weary legs when Whitstable visit Jockey Farm on Saturday (April 14, kick-off 3pm) after playing three times in six days.