Times of Tonbridge 15th January 2020

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Wednesday January 15 | 2020

Times OF TONBRIDGE

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INSIDE Grandparents lose contact with grandchildren following family separation and divorce

It can be devastating to see your child separate from their partner. This can be made worse if you are prevented from seeing your grandchildren as a result. However, this is one area in which grandparents can take some meaningful action and it all starts with being in full control of the facts.

ON THE WRONG TRACK

Railway line landslip causes more disruption and travel woes Page 4

EQUAL RIGHTS FOR ALL Lawyer’s timely advice after landmark vegan ruling Page 7

BAGPUSS IS IN TOWN

Children’s favourite helps launch charity shop Page 10

LESSONS ON FUTURE PROOFING

SKA students enjoy Dragons’ Den style project Page 17

IN MORE than 50% of marriage or relationship breakdowns where there are children involved, it’s a sad reality that grandparents are often prevented from seeing their grandchildren.

We meet many grandparents who are often of the view that they have “no rights” regarding access to their grandchildren. Thankfully, this is not the case.

While grandparents do not have an automatic right to access, the Family Courts do recognise the invaluable role they often play in their grandchildrens’ lives. Therefore, there is provision for grandparents to seek permission from the Court to make an application for an order to ensure they are permitted to spend time with their grandchildren.

If the Court are satisfied that it is within the best interests that the children see their grandparents, it will grant permission to make an application for a “Child Arrangements Order” which will ultimately, if successful, set out when the children can spend time with their grandparents.

This may not only include time during the day, but also overnight stays including holidays, and other special occasions, for example birthdays.

The Court have the power, if satisfied, that the person with whom the children live is wilfully refusing to abide by the order, to punish that person. This may, in some cases, result in imprisonment. The Court can also impose a fine.

If all parties are agreeable it is possible to attend Mediation in order to try and resolve difficulties without the need to resort to court intervention. Mediation is a process where a

trained Mediator in Family Law meet with the parties, together or alone, in order to explore whether or not the difficulties between them can be resolved.

As well as mediation, there is also the Collaborative process – a client centred approach which focuses on finding solutions to family problems using specifically trained collaborative lawyers.

The Family Law team at Keene Marsland regularly assist grandparents who are experiencing difficulties in maintaining regular visits with their grandchildren. If you

are feeling isolated from your grandchildren as a result of a relationship breakdown between your child and their partner, we can advise and assist you with a view to resolving those difficulties either via the Court process or through an alternative.

If you require further information or would like to book an appointment with one of our family law solicitors, then please call us today on 01892 526442 or email us at enquiries@keenemarsland.co.uk today, quoting reference KM0120

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Why separation and divorce can be a civilised affair If you are experiencing the anxiety and loss of a relationship ending and suffering sleepless nights worrying about the future, you are not alone.

ALMOST 50 % of all marriages end in divorce and for many, it can be the most traumatic time in their lives. Months and sometimes years are spent deciding whether to separate and then, when the decision has been made, it can take an age to pluck up the courage to take action. Emotions run high and delays are usually down to fear of the unknown and what life will be like after the separation, not to mention how you’ll cope financially and what you’ll tell the kids.

The truth is there is no easy way out.

However, the actions you take now and the choices you make will have a big impact on your new life.

Your future is in your hands. You can choose to be reactive to your situation or you can be proactive and take the lead and put a stop to the fighting, anger and hurt.

Divorce and separation is a life changing event and mistakes can be costly both emotionally and financially and you must be prepared to invest to secure your future. To take control you need information and advice from an experienced and trusted advisor, which will allow you to make informed decisions about your future.

Our dedicated team at Keene Marsland is hand picked for their experience working with people who are going

through a relationship breakdown.

They are all members of Resolution, which means that they have the legal experience required to give you the best advice, and are committed to solving your problem in a conciliatory way if possible – saving you the emotional drain of the legal court battle and the legal fees that go with it. They understand the emotional pressure and stress you are going through and they can help ease the pain. We work closely with leading family barristers and other specialists and together we will work with you to achieve the best outcome possible for you to move on with your life. Our service is

confidential, discreet and bespoke to you.

For a limited period, I am offering a selected number of potential clients an opportunity to meet with one of my family solicitors for a free initial consultation to discuss the options available. Due to high demand my team are only able to offer 20 appointments this month and I know that the appointments will book up very quickly.

Choosing the right legal team is key to your emotional and financial future so apply today to see how we can help you achieve the outcome you want.

For further information, and to apply for a FREE CONSULTATION, call us at Keene Marsland on 01892 526442 or email us at enquiries@keenemarsland. co.uk today quoting reference KM2020

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Wednesday January 15 | 2020

Landslip delays blamed on line being ‘slowly run into ground’ A LOCAL commuters’ pressure group has strongly criticised the handling of the landslip which has led to the closure of the railway line between the town and Redhill until March.

The incident, which occurred next to the Tonbridge-bound track in a ‘remote location’ near Crowhurst, west of Edenbridge, on December 22, was caused by heavy rain.

Network Rail has blamed it on climate change, but Tonbridge Line Commuters [TLC] claims it is a result of failure to invest in what it calls a ‘neglected line’.

Dangerous

new dustcarts which collect either mixed recycling or food waste but not both.

This was identified as a key issue, with new-style combination trucks having been designed to collect mixed recycling such as glass, plastic and metal, with a separate compartment for the food.

And due to what the council called a ‘higher than anticipated volume of waste’ being collected, the lorries were often filling up before a round was completed, resulting in delays.

Some collection rounds will be

The line has been shut in both directions and the infrastructure company said it would need to build a temporary road, tunnel and bridge to address the issue.

It then revealed that the repair works were being hampered because the ground was still moving and was ‘too dangerous to work on’.

It does not expect to reopen the line until March, during which time commuters from Tonbridge are having to use a shuttle train to Edenbridge and then a bus to Redhill.

TLC believes that the alternative arrangements on the Southern line are not frequent enough and reflect the lack of manpower dedicated to rural services.

Network Rail have said the 100-metre length of track, which is now suspended in mid-air, is on an embankment created in the 1830s.

It blamed the problem on ‘every one of the hottest summers since records began’ over the last two

Continued page 4

Continued page 4

ROOT TO SUCCESS: Year Eight Hugh Christie students plant 200 trees at the school with Cllr Georgina Thomas while learning about volunteering and careers. See p4

More lorries and more collectors as council loses patience with Urbaser

By Andy Tong andy@timesoftonbridge.co.uk THE council is to insist on a raft of changes to the way rubbish is collected across the borough after the new contractor was fined for delivering a poor service.

The main change will see the number of lorries in Urbaser’s fleet doubled and an extra 50 staff being deployed to meet the increased demand.

Last week Tonbridge & Malling Borough Council [TMBC] triggered a penalty clause in the contract after receiving hundreds of complaints about

missed bin collections.

Part of the problem has been a massive increase in the amount of recycling taking place as the latest contract permits the collection of plastics and glass for the first time.

Refuse collectors have been pointing out repeatedly that the current vehicles are not large enough to cope with the volume of refuse, forcing them to make more journeys.

Urbaser took over collections in Tonbridge and Tunbridge Wells in September after a six-month period in which it was supposed to fine-tune its logistics.

The deal, which is worth an estimated £3million a year from each council, was

agreed for an eight-year period. It also includes a separate food waste collection and an opt-in charge for garden waste.

TMBC and Tunbridge Wells have now agreed an action plan to tackle the

New-style combination trucks have been designed to collect mixed recycling problems after a three-hour emergency meeting with Urbaser.

The changes will see 20 additional trucks on the road and the 50 extra workers. Urbaser will also switch to

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Landslip delays Continued from page 1

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Call for Poppy Appeal volunteers LAST year’s Poppy Appeal in the town once again broke the £40,000 mark – and the charity is looking for volunteers to help keep the fundraising going strong into the next decade.

2018 saw the collections for the Royal British Legion raise a record £42,259 after a wide range of fundraising activities to coincide with the 100th anniversary of the Armistice.

The 2019 campaign was more low-key but organiser Carl Lewis was delighted to have raised £40,130 - with money still coming in.

For the first time residents were invited to write tags of remembrance and tie them on the Big Bridge ahead of Remembrance services.

decades - and seven of the wettest summers.

John Reynolds, chair of the Tonbridge Line Commuters [TLC], has said: “We’re not satisfied with the response to this.

“This has been a neglected line for a long time and yet again it seems like the needs of our rural members are being swept under the carpet.

“Southern have shown little interest in this line and seem content to slowly run it into the ground.

This incident heaps further misery onto passengers.”

Inspection He added: “We accept that nobody can be held to blame for the weather, but we feel that more could be done to provide an alternative service.

Yet again it seems like the railway’s convenience trumps passenger service.

“Our principle is that any replacement service should mirror the timetable as far as possible.

That means the shuttle train should run halfhourly in the peak and should continue to run at the weekend.

“If the shuttle can’t run to the full timetable then we call for an express bus that goes directly between Tonbridge and Redhill and vice versa.

“We are making this case to Network Rail and Southern and they have yet to provide a satisfactory answer as to why this cannot be run.

“Passengers on this line have been shortchanged enough, let’s not pile on their misery.

Network Rail and Southern, you can do better.”

TLC have asked to conduct a site inspection and say they will press for any upgrades to be able to cope with their ‘long-term goal’, a direct service between Tonbridge and Gatwick.

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 DESIGN/PRODUCTION LEE SMITH lsmith8@markerstudy.com SALES ENQUIRIES GHak@onemediauk.co.uk | 01892 779650 FIND US ONLINE facebook.com/timeslocalnews timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk twitter.com/timeslocalnews

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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.

If you would like to make a comment on any aspect of the newspaper, please write to the editor at David Salomons Estate, Broomhill Road, Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN3 0TF, or email newsdesk@timesoftonbridge.co.uk Markerstudy Leisure is a trading name of One Media and Creative UK Limited registered in England and Wales under company number 5398960 with registered office at 45 Westerham Road, Sevenoaks, Kent TN13 2QB.

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Wednesday January 15 | 2020

LONG SERVICE Carl Lewis with Maureen Barden, who has volunteered for the Legion for 30 years

Pride “It’s been another amazing Poppy Appeal, which started off with World War Two re-enactors and finished on Armistice Day,” he said.

“With the Poppy Appeal flag flying proudly from Tonbridge Castle throughout, we had poppy boxes and tins in every part of our community.

“It was a record for a year in which we hadn’t put on any events. I thank everyone who volunteered to help, raised money, bought wreaths, and wore your poppy with pride.”

But he added: “We want to keep the momentum going in what looks likely to be a very important year of commemoration,

so I’d really welcome some help.”

This year marks the 75th anniversaries of VE Day and VJ Day, and Mr Lewis hopes to hold a community picnic to commemorate the end of the war in Europe, as well as a church service to mark

the conclusion of all hostilities in World War Two. For information about volunteering with the Poppy Appeal, contact Mr Lewis on hmsstrongbow@yahoo.co.uk

Pupils plant trees to invest in future

By Andy Tong andy@timesoftonbridge.co.uk PUPILS at Hugh Christie Secondary School have planted 200 trees in the school grounds.

The project forms part of the Year Eight students’ Personal, Social and Health Education (PSHE) with a focus on volunteering and careers.

The trees, which are a variety of species, were supplied by local charity Trees of Love with Tilhill Forestry helping the young people to plant them.

School governor Georgina Thomas, a Conservative councillor for Trench ward who works for Tilhill Forestry, was on hand to give advice.

She said: “I am thrilled to have been a part of such a rewarding day of tree planting and learning.

“Although the students have a few years to go before applying for a job in the sector, it’s important to start thinking about potential careers for their future.

“It is also great to see, with the pressures of climate change, the students engaging in activities that have such great importance

Bin collection Continued from page 1 reduced in size to make sure they are completed.

The handling of data will be improved to help identify and respond to repeatedly missed ‘hot spots’.

Urbaser will use more permanent employees, reducing the company’s reliance on agency staff, while the council will increase the number of people dealing with complaints.

There will also be more inspectors at depots and on rounds to monitor performance, and rapid response teams will be set up to fix faults on vehicles.

Nicolas Heslop, Leader of TMBC, said: “I would like to thank the team at Urbaser for their positive response to the serious concerns we raised on this issue.

“We are determined to sort the problems and are moving quickly to implement these plans in the coming days.

“On behalf of the council, I would like to apolo-

GROWING UP Pupils learn how to plant trees

gise to residents who have had problems with bin collections, but also to assure them that there will be no let-up in our response until a reliable service is being delivered.”

Two days before, TMBC’s Chief Executive Julie Beilby had written an open letter on behalf of both councils to the Managing Director of Urbaser, Javier Peiro.

Frustrated She expressed ‘deep frustration with the poor waste collection service Urbaser is providing for our residents’ and added that ‘the time for excuses and apologies was over’.

She said: “We always appreciated that the new waste partnership scheme would take some time to bed in and that some teething problems were to be expected.

“However, we are now three months into the new arrangements and neither council has seen the necessary improvements, despite numerous assurances at the many meetings that have been held.

“Our residents expect regular and reliable waste collection and are justifiably frustrated

to our planet.”

Ms Thomas also led classroom sessions with Andrew Fissenden, director of alternative curriculum provision at Hugh Christie’s Lighthouse Project, on volunteering and how it can lead to a career in forestry and land-based jobs.

The school’s careers co-ordinator, Lisa Homewood, said: “This has been a fantastic experience for our students.

“Not only have they been able to learn about land-based careers and the value of voluntary work, we have been able to capture their imagination by planting 200 trees on the school field, enabling them to make their own longlasting impact on the environment and their surroundings.

“As one student said when discussing conservation and the reason we were planting the trees: ’We must take control of our future.’

Hugh Christie’s executive principal Jon Barker added: “Tree planting is an excellent investment in the future.

“Not only will it enhance the local environment but it may also spark a future interest in gardening and horticulture amongst some of the students.” that they are not getting it.”

She added: “Neither council can allow the situation to continue. I am therefore providing notice that having already issued a number of default notices, both councils intend to trigger financial penalty clauses in the contract in the hope that this focuses minds on this very serious problem.”

And she warned the councils would ‘not hesitate to continue to impose additional penalties’.

Chris Minnis, Urbaser’s UK Operations Manager, replied: “In response to the letter we received from the Chief Executive of Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council we held an emergency meeting with council representatives today.

“Both parties are committed to working together to resolve the situation and we are implementing an action plan immediately to ensure that all residents receive reliable and regular waste collections.”

Urbaser has successfully bid for 11 local waste services contracts in the UK since 2010 and its parent company is the third largest environmental services provider in Europe, also operating in Asia, North Africa and South America.

Wednesday January 15 | 2020

NEWS IN BRIEF

Department store is on brink of collapse BEALES department store has warned it could collapse in just a matter of days.

Around 1,000 jobs are at risk and 22 branches, including the Angel Centre store in Tonbridge, if the 140-year-old Bournemouth-based business collapses.

The retailer is currently negotiating with landlords to try to agree rent reduction and is also in talks with two potential buyers.

Beales’ Chief Executive Tony Brown said the company’s woes were due to difficult trading conditions and the ‘lunacy’ of the current business rates system.

New Lord Lieutenant LADY Annabel Colgrain of Ide Hill near Sevenoaks has been appointed to be Kent’s new Lord-Lieutenant.

She replaces Viscount De L’Isle and is the first woman to take on the role to act as representation for Her Majesty the Queen in the county.

Lady Colgrain spent her early career in current affairs and non-fiction publishing, but has been associated with the Citizens Advice Bureau service for the last 18 years.

Women’s Institute plan THE Women’s institute are holding an exploratory meeting to consider the possibility of opening a new branch in Tunbridge Wells.

The community-based organisation for women said the meeting is open to all women over the age of 18 and will take place from 10am to midday on Friday, February 7 on the first floor of Christ Church in the High Street.

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Premier Inn unveils new hotel but opening now delayed until spring

By Richard Williams PREMIER INN has finally unveiled its latest hotel, but the opening has been delayed until spring.

The budget hotel giant had been hoping to open the new 126-bedroom London Road branch before Christmas, and while the scaffolding and hoardings started to come down last week revealing the building for the first time, guests won’t be able to check-in for a number of weeks.

ROOMS WITH A VIEW The new Premier Inn overlooking London Road

Setbacks A spokesman for Whitbread, which runs the hotel chain, told the Times: “Unfortunately as is often the case with projects, delays push back timings. We expect the new opening date in the next couple of months around early springtime.”

It is not the first time the project has suffered setbacks. The hotel group first submitted plans to convert the old court house in London Road back in 2016.

The development faced stiff opposition it its early phases – with campaigners opposed to the

£7million hotel attempting unsuccessful legal action against the Council for what they claimed was an ‘unlawful’ sale of Merevale House, the former family and county court.

The latest addition to the town’s thriving hotel sector, which includes Hotel du Vin, One Warwick Park, Salomons Estate and budget rival

Travelodge, is being designed by Kent and London-based On Architecture who describe it as ‘an architectural blend of the vernacular style of London Road in Tunbridge Wells, with modern detailing and construction methods’.

Premier Inn say the hotel will provide around 30-35 full-time ‘locally focused jobs’.

Grammar school’s expansion plans given the green light COUNCILLORS have agreed to press ahead with plans to expand Tunbridge Wells Grammar School for Boys by building an annexe in Sevenoaks.

The controversial expansion at the Weald of Kent Grammar and Trinity School site, will see the selective boys’ school increase its annual intake of pupils from 210 to 300.

Kent County Council [KCC] say the extension is necessary to address ‘significant short and medium-term’ pressure on selective places in

Kent and wants to open the school in September next year when 90 pupils will start Year 7.

The ‘satellite school’ will eventually grow to 630 pupils, increasing the existing school’s population by around 50 percent – it currently has around 1,200 pupils.

It is hoped it will remove the need for pupils in Sevenoaks to travel to schools in Tunbridge Wells and elsewhere, due to a lack of selective provision in the district.

But critics argue the satellite school is a ‘back door route to getting around the law’.

However, at a meeting at County Hall last week, KCC agreed to press ahead with the plans.

Ian Watts, Area Education Officer, assured councillors the move would not breach the current maximum quota for selective places in Kent, which stands at 25 per cent, and that the scheme had ‘overwhelming support’ from parents as well as local residents in Sevenoaks.

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Wednesday January 15 | 2020

Wealden’s Local Plan rejected following complaints by Tunbridge Wells Council

By Richard Williams A DISTRICT Council has had its Local Plan rejected following complaints from a number of neighbouring authorities, including Tunbridge Wells Borough Council [TWBC].

The Planning Inspector returned Wealden District Council’s [WDC] draft Local Plan last week for failing to engage with other councils and not fulfilling its obligation to meet housing needs.

It follows complaints about the Sussex district from a number of councils bordering Wealden, including Tunbridge Wells.

TWBC’s own Local Plan has led to protests after it announced plans to build a garden village in the parish of Capel in order to meet strict house-building targets.

CAMPAIGN TWBC’s plan to build on Green Belt has resulted in Town Hall protests

‘My concern in respect of the legal compliance relates to the lack of engagement’ The authority, along with Rother District Council, Eastbourne Borough Council, Lewes District Council, and South Downs National Park Authority argued that Wealden had ‘failed to communicate in matters relating to air quality, cross boundary impacts, and neighbouring Eastbourne’s unmet housing and employment needs’.

Planning Inspector Louise Nurser, said in her report: “Eastbourne is a severely constrained borough, both physically and due to significant infrastructure limitations to growth. It is commonly accepted, including by the Council, that Eastbourne is unable to meet all its housing and employment needs.”

But she added: “My central concern in respect of the legal compliance of the plan relates to the lack of constructive engagement with neighbouring authorities and Natural England

in respect of impacts on habitats and landscape and in respect of the issue of unmet housing need in Eastbourne.”

She said the Council had even sent out ‘redacted information’ to other authorities and had provided reports ‘too late to provide any opportunity for constructive input’.

Wealden District Council said it was ‘disappointed’ its draft Local Plan had been dismissed.

Council Leader Bob Standley said the plan had been supported by councillors and residents, but added: “Unfortunately, the Planning Inspector, following last summer’s Examination in Public of our Local Plan, has found that we put too great an emphasis on protecting the

environment and that we need to do more to build houses in Wealden which our neighbouring councils cannot accommodate.

Rejected “Regrettably, this will inevitably have impacts on our communities. We acknowledge that there is already significant pressure on infrastructure, such as roads, doctors, dentists, schools and sports facilities. A requirement to build more homes will only have a greater impact on those facilities, which will require further investment.”

It is the second local authority bordering Tunbridge Wells to try to avoid building the necessary number of homes dictated by central

government to cope with the housing crisis and rising population.

Sevenoaks District Council [SDC] had its plan returned last year after defying the government’s quota for building 11,312 homes by the year 2035, saying it would only provide 9,410.

Planning Inspector, Louise Baker, asked the Council to withdraw the document, and also cited a ‘lack of constructive engagement with neighbouring authorities to resolve the issue of unmet housing need’.

Sevenoaks Council Leader, Peter Fleming, has subsequently refused to withdraw the plan and said he would be ‘writing to the Secretary of State on this matter and urgently asking him to intervene’.

Wednesday January 15 | 2020

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Lawyer warns there may be a ‘surge’ in discrimination cases after vegan ruling

By Richard Williams A TUNBRIDGE WELLS lawyer has warned local businesses to update their diversity policies after a landmark case ruled that veganism was a ‘philosophical belief’.

Nick Hobden, a Partner at the law firm Thomson Snell & Passmore, said the ruling, which made national headlines earlier this month, could result in raft of new claims against employers.

He said: “There may well be a surge of discrimination claims, in light of the statement by the Vegan Society that there are some 600,000 vegans in the UK alone.”

He continued: “For the first time, an employment tribunal has ruled that ethical veganism is a philosophical belief and therefore enjoys the same

Young achiever recognised at insurer’s annual dinner A MORTGAGE AND PROTECTION ADVISOR from a Tunbridge Wells firm of financial advisors has been recognised by The Insurance Institute of Royal Tunbridge Wells [IIRTW].

Ross Jefferies from Panoramic Wealth Management, based in Lonsdale Gardens, was presented with the Young Achiever of the Year Award 2019 at the IIRTW’s annual dinner at the High Rocks.

He was presented the award by Sian Fisher, CEO of the Chartered Insurance Institute, at the event, where the host, IIRTW President Francesca Dulley, was joined by guests from across the insurance industry, including Cllr Joy Podbury, Deputy Mayor of Tunbridge Wells.

The IIRTW raised £400 from a raffle on the night, with the money being AWARD donated to Ross Jefferies and insurance Sian Fisher charities.

protection as other philosophical beliefs under the Equality Act 2010.

“This means that they should be entitled to similar legal protections in the workplace as those who hold religious beliefs.

The tribunal judge found that ethical veganism qualifies as a philosophical belief as it satisfies the test that it is ‘important’ and ‘worthy’ of respect in a democratic society.”

But he added: “It should be noted, however, that this case was heard at a First Tier Employment Tribunal so is not legally binding but instead provides guidance for future judgments.”

He said local businesses needed to be ADVICE aware of Nick Hobden how the

landmark case could affect them going forward.

“Protected characteristics are well known in employment law. The basic premise is that employers do not discriminate, or allow their workforce (for which they will likely be vicariously liable) to discriminate against people because of their protected characteristic,” he explained.

Inclusive “This should be enshrined in equality and diversity policies and engrained in a workforce through regular training.

“In light of the tribunal’s ruling, it would be wise for businesses to ensure that policies, training and practices are updated to ensure that they do not fall foul of the Equality Act 2010.

“It may also be worth considering a few minor changes to ensure a more cohesive workforce.

Some changes could be simple, such as planting the seeds in your workforce’s mind that a more inclusive approach should be taken, and rethinking food options available at work.”

TV doctor’s ‘digital detox’ hospital visit A TV doctor visited Benenden Hospital last week as part of a campaign by ITV’s Lorraine Kelly show to encourage mobile phone users to ‘look up’.

Dr Hilary Jones interviewed hospital Lead Physiotherapist PAIN IN THE NECK Bridie O’Loughlin Dr Hilary Jones at the privatelywith Benenden’s run hospital Bridie O’Loughlin near Cranbrook about a syndrome called ‘tech neck’ that effects people who are constantly looking down at smartphones.

The digital detox campaign comes after statistics revealed that people look at their mobile devices every 12 minutes.

Dr Jones said: “Technology is evolving so fast

that in many ways it is outstripping the body’s ability to keep up with it.

“The human head weighs around 10-12lbs.

However, when the neck bends forward the weight on the cervical spine can be as much as 60lbs.

“That’s the equivalent of a sack of potatoes, 57 pints of milk, 18 medium chickens or 126 avocados.”

Ms O’Loughlin, who provides physiotherapy for sports injuries, musculoskeletal conditions and orthopaedic rehabilitation, told Dr Jones: “Quite often we see aching around the neck and shoulders. People can start getting headaches, feeling a lot of tension and being unable to relax.”

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Victim of LCF scandal calls Bank of England Governor appointment a ‘travesty’

By Richard Williams

Conduct Authority [FCA] froze the company’s assets after it was found to be mis-selling mini-bonds.

However, the FCA has been accused of being too slow to act after it emerged LCF’s business practices were first brought to the watchdog’s attention as early as 2015.

The Chairman of the FCA at the time was Andrew Bailey, who was named just before Christmas by Chancellor Sajid Javid as the next Governor of the Bank of England, to replace Mark Carney when he steps down in March.

Ms Cunningham has joined a number

A CARER who lost her life savings when a Tunbridge Wells investment firm collapsed has said the appointment of the head of the city watchdog to the role of Governor of the Bank of England is a ‘total travesty’.

Amanda Cunningham, who is a fulltime carer for her autistic son, Jack, lost more than £22,500 when Eridge-based London Capital and Finance [LCF] collapsed last January.

Along with more than 11,500 other investors, who in total lost more than £237million, Ms Cunningham has just been told by the Financial Services Compenstion Scheme [FSCS] they ‘will not be eligible for compensation’.

The FSCS have said that because investors were given ‘incorrect information’ not ‘misleading information’, they do not qualify.

LCF was founded by former Tunbridge Wells Conservative Party Chairman Simon HumeKendall, who later went on to sell the business but remained one of its largest borrowers.

According to the High Court, Hume-Kendall pocketed more than £8million from LCF just before the firm went under.

The collapse of LCF, NO FINANCIAL which is the subject of COMPENSATION Serious Fraud Office Amanda investigation, occurred Cunningham when the Financial

of calls opposing Mr Bailey’s appointment, including Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell, who last week accused the FCA boss of being ‘asleep at the wheel’ during both the collapse of LCF and the winding down of the Woodford Equity Fund – which wiped out £36million of Kent County Council’s pension fund last year.

Accountable Ms Cunningham told the Times: “I think it’s a total travesty that Andrew Bailey has been chosen, or was even given the job, following the gross regulatory failure by the FCA, all while he was in office.

“It brings into question his capabilities for such an important role for our country.

“In my opinion, the buck stops with him as leader of the FCA, which under his reign failed to put preventative measures in place to stop LCF in its tracks.”

She added: “There were historical red flags which were repeatedly ignored.

“The guy does not deserve the job, plain and simple, and should be held accountable for what happened to unsuspecting members of the public, for whom he has shown very little sympathy or consideration.”

NEWS IN BRIEF

Rosemary’s kitchen is to become offices THE former cookery school founded by celebrity chef Rosemary Shrager is set to become offices for the financial and professional services industry.

The building, attached to The Corn Exchange in Coach And Horses Passage in The Pantiles, is the subject of a planning application due before council planners today [Wednesday January 15].

The application requests a change

of use of the building, which is partly owned by Tunbridge Wells Borough Council, from a cookery school to an office block for the financial and professional services industry, in order it make it much easier to lease and bring the building ‘back into viable use’.

The Rosemary Shrager Cookery School, which was opened by the chef in 2013, shut its doors in August following the collapse of the Hadlow Group, which had run the school since it ran into financial difficulties in 2016.

Kent Business Summit 2020

BUSINESS leaders from around Kent gathered at the University of Kent’s Canterbury campus on Friday for the Kent Business Summit 2020.

Hundreds of delegates heard from a number of speakers addressing issues related to sustainable growth for the local economy.

The event, put together by the university’s Kent Business School, was organised in partnership with the Institute of Directors [IOD], the Federation of Small Businesses [FSB] and Locate in Kent [LiK].

Wednesday January 15 | 2020

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NEWS

Community News

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‘Outstanding’ rating for High Broom care home

Wednesday January 15 | 2020

Calverley Grounds photo wins at the Blooming Marvellous exhibition

WALL FLOWERS Sea of Colour by Katy Corbould. Below: Rainforest Shopping Not Amazon by Stuart Anderson; and Blossom Storm by Jenni Mathews VALUED The caring and compassionate staff celebrate their rating

By Richard Williams STAFF at a Crowborough care home have been celebrating more than just the start of the new year after being given an ‘outstanding’ rating by inspectors.

High Broom Care Home was awarded the highest rating on New Year’s Eve, following an unannounced inspection by the Care Quality Commission [CQC] in November.

Wealden MP Nus Ghani went to congratulate the staff on their achievement.

Less than two per cent of the UK’s 11,000 care homes have been awarded an outstanding rating.

Inspectors praised the privately-owned site in High Broom Road for its ‘caring,

attentive and compassionate staff’.

They added: “The service’s atmosphere was positively energetic with activity, very welcoming, warm, and inclusive, with friendly staff providing care and support in a way people liked and enjoyed.”

Delighted High Broom houses 31 residents, many of whom suffer from dementia, and employs 40 members of staff.

Manager Karen Theobald was delighted with the CQC’s findings.

She said: “Care homes are often in the news for all the wrong reasons, so it is wonderful that we have been recog-

nised for all the right reasons.

“It can often be quite nerve-wracking when the inspector turns up unannounced, but we knew we were doing all the things we should be doing and getting them right.”

On why High Broom was rated so highly by inspectors, she added: “I think it is because we value our staff and we treat every resident as an individual – this is their home, it is not an institution.

“It can be very difficult for families when they are looking for a home for an elderly relative, especially when there are so many horror stories out there.

“So we hope this rating goes some way to show people that there are some truly great care homes out there.”

Hospices of Hope have new shop for Emily and Bagpuss

CAT CALLS: (L-R) Bagpuss, Emily Firmin, Carolyn Perolls of Hospices of Hope, Simon Postgate, son of Oliver, Lizzie Mouse and shop staff Isobel Newman, Louise Sawyer and Lucinda Curtis

By Andy Tong THE child star of the Bagpuss series was reunited with the TV favourite and his fellow Hospices of Hope mascot Lizzie Mouse for the opening of the charity’s new shop in Tunbridge Wells.

Emily Firmin, who appeared as herself in the iconic children’s show about a lost-and-found ‘shop’, officially opened the store on Mount Pleasant on Thursday.

Her father, Peter Firmin, created Bagpuss with Oliver Postgate. They gave the charity the right to use the characters to raise funds for the

Bagpuss Children’s Hospice Wing in Brasov, Romania.

Hospices of Hope was founded by Tunbridge Wells resident Graham Perolls, CMG, OBE, after he visited a state hospital in Romania following the fall of communism.

He was shocked by the conditions – particularly the lack of pain relief for patients with terminal cancer – and was determined to help.

Hospices of Hope is now the leading hospice care charity in south eastern Europe, working in Albania, Romania, Serbia and Moldova.

With country partners, it has cared for 40,000 patients and provided training for 20,000 healthcare professionals since it was established in 1991.

Chief Executive Carolyn Perolls said: “We are so pleased to have moved to such a central location within the town, where our new shop is already proving very popular. We are very grateful to Emily for her support.”

The charity is launching a Bagpuss 600 Appeal to raise funds for the Bagpuss Wing, which provides hospice care for up to 150 seriously ill children and costs £215,000 a year to run.

THE second Blooming Marvellous photographic competition has been won by Katy Corbould for her picture of Calverley Grounds, called Sea of Colour.

The event was set up in 2018 by Royal Tunbridge Wells in Bloom to celebrate the borough’s array of flora in pictorial form, with entries submitted by the public.

The local organisers won a gold medal at national level last year in the Royal Horticultural Society’s Britain in Bloom Awards, in the Large Town category.

The town was chosen to represent the South and South East region after winning gold at regional level.

The second prize in the photographic competition went to Stuart Anderson for his ‘Rainforest Shopping Not Amazon’, taken in the Calverley Road precinct.

In third place was Jenni Mathews’ Blossom Storm, which depicts springtime fruit trees at the Mary Caley Recreation Ground in Ashley Gardens, Rusthall.

The competition included more than 50 entries, with 15 selected for an exhibition in Royal Victoria Place.

Organiser Katharina Mahler-Bech said: “The competition is aimed at garden lovers, horticulturists and photographers alike.

Inspire “We wanted to inspire everyone to share the two passions of gardening and photography, and we received high quality and beautiful photos taken in the town and the surrounding areas.”

Next year Royal Tunbridge Wells in Bloom is celebrating its tenth anniversary, and will be holding a separate competition for young people to enter.

“We want children under 18 and local schools to get involved more and more with RTW In Bloom,” said Katharina.

For more information, visit royaltunbridgewellsinbloom.org.uk or Twitter: @RTWinBloom

Wednesday January 15 | 2020

NEWS IN BRIEF

Boy aged 7 dies after he is hit by mini-bus A SEVEN-YEAR-OLD boy has died after being hit by a council mini-bus.

The primary school pupil, who has not been named, died at the scene about a mile from Osbaston Church in Wales School in Monmouth after the end of the school day on Monday.

A spokeswoman for Gwent Police said yesterday [Tuesday] that a man had been arrested following the incident on the A466: “A 45-year-old man from Gloucester, had been arrested on suspicion of causing death by careless driving and remained in police custody.”

Varadkar calls election TAOISEACH Leo Varadkar has confirmed Ireland’s General Election will be held on Saturday, February 8.

The Fine Gael leader saw the country’s president yesterday afternoon to ask for the formal dissolution of the Dail.

Earlier, announcing the election outside Government Buildings in Dublin, Mr Varadkar said it was the ‘right time’ for Ireland to vote now that a Brexit withdrawal deal had been agreed and power sharing was restored in Northern Ireland.

Woodland under threat MORE than 1,000 ancient woodlands are at risk of damage or destruction, The Woodland Trust has warned.

The charity says it is aware of 1,064 ancient woods at risk from housing and infrastructure demands.

The Trust highlights projects such as HS2 as a particular threat.

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Local News

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Racism fears meant children were abused in ‘plain sight’ DOZENS of children suspected of being groomed and abused by gangs of Asian men operating in ‘plain sight’ were failed by police and local authorities, a damning report has concluded.

Fears over race relations appear to have played a part in senior police thinking when tackling grooming gangs, the Independent Assurance Review suggests.

The report was called to review Operation Augusta, which began after the death of 15-year-old Victoria Agoglia who suffered years of abuse before a man injected her with a lethal dose of heroin.

The 145-page document concludes that vulnerable girls in care were

groomed and abused in ‘plain sight’, with police and Manchester City Council failing to act.

Reviewing how Greater Manchester Police (GMP) dealt with the grooming of vulnerable teenage girls, perpetrated mostly by Asian men, the reports says officers were aware of ‘many sensitive community issues’ around policing in south Manchester in 2002 and 2003.

“Concerns were expressed about the risk of proactive tactics or the incitement of racial hatred,” the report stated.

As a result, ‘few of the relevant perpetrators were brought to justice and their activities disrupted’.

PM says no to referendum BORIS JOHNSON has formally rejected a call from Nicola Sturgeon for a second independence referendum.

The Prime Minister said a referendum would ‘continue the political stagnation Scotland has seen for the past decade’ and that the First Minister had previously pledged that the 2014 referendum would be ‘once in a generation’.

In a letter to Ms Sturgeon, the PM said he had ‘carefully considered’ the arguments she made for a second ballot, but added: “The UK Government will continue to uphold the democratic decision of the Scottish people and the promise that you made to them.

“For that reason I cannot agree to any request for a transfer of power that would lead to further independence referendums.”

Mr Johnson continued: “Another independence referendum would continue the political stagnation that Scotland has seen for the last decade, with Scottish schools, hospitals and jobs again left behind because of a campaign to separate the UK. “It is time that we all worked to bring the whole of the United Kingdom together and unleash the potential of this great country.”

Ms Sturgeon said that Scotland ‘will get the right to decide our own future’.

Chino Vaflor and Kat Palomar celebrate their wedding while thousands flee villages in the south of Manila, Philipines, as Taal volcano in Batangas province began spewing ash and lava earlier this week. Fears have now been sparked that a bigger eruption is on the way.

14

BUSINESS

National News

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Regulator bans use of credit cards for online gaming sites GAMBLERS will no longer be able to use their credit cards to place bets online after a major shake-up of rules announced by the industry regulator.

From April 14, people wanting to place bets online will have to do so by using either a debit card or through cash deposited into an account.

The credit card ban affects all gambling, with the exception of the National Lottery, the Gambling Commission said.

It follows concerted efforts by the Government to address the issue of problem gambling.

Culture Minister Helen Whately said: “There is clear evidence of harm from consumers betting with money they do not have, so it is absolutely right that we act decisively to protect them.

“We will be carrying out a review of the Gambling Act to ensure it is fit for the digital age and we will be launching a new nationwide addiction strategy in 2020.”

Deposits Neil McArthur, Gambling Commission chief executive, said: “Credit card gambling can lead to significant financial harm.

“The ban that we have announced today should minimise the risks of harm to consumers from gambling with money they do not have.”

It is thought that around 800,000 people use credit cards to gamble, with the regulator’s own data showing that more than 165,000 customers made £46 million worth of credit card deposits in February last year.

The announcement is the latest blow to gambling businesses, after the Government introduced a crackdown on fixed-odds betting terminals (FOBTs), which saw the maximum stake for bets cut from £100 to £2.

Government warns of Flybe ‘limits’ THE Government is ‘working very hard to do what we can’ to save regional airline Flybe, Boris Johnson has said.

But the Prime Minister warned there are ‘limits’ to what a government is allowed to do to help individual companies.

Chancellor Sajid Javid will hold talks with the business and transport secretaries to discuss if the loss-making regional carrier can defer paying this year’s estimated air passenger duty (APD) bill of £106million for three years or whether the tax should be cut for all domestic flights, according to multiple reports.

Passengers on domestic flights pay £26 in APD for a return trip, with higher rates for longer flights and premium cabins.

If Flybe collapses, it would be the second UK

airline to fail in four months, after Thomas Cook went bust in September.

Asked if he intends to save Flybe, Mr Johnson told the BBC: “We’re working very hard to do what we can, but obviously people will understand that there are limits, commercially, to what a government can do to rescue any particular firm.

“But what we will do is ensure that we have the regional connectivity that this country needs.”

Flybe was bought by a Connect Airways, a consortium consisting of Virgin Atlantic, Stobart Group and Cyrus Capital in February 219 for just £2.2million.

The airline is Europe’s largest regional carrier, flying around nine million passengers a year to 170 destinations across the continent.

NEWS IN BRIEF

China 5G deal ‘madness’

No tears for Boohoo

THE US has warned the British government it ‘would be madness’ to use Huawei technology in the UK’s 5G network.

A US delegation led by deputy National Security Adviser Matt Pottinger met ministers in London on Monday.

The move is being seen as the latest round in an intense lobbying effort by the Trump administration as the UK government prepares to makes its decision on the 5G network.

A decision is expected this month on whether to allow Huawei to supply some ‘non-core’ parts for the UK network.

ONLINE retailer Boohoo has seen sales soar over the past four months, putting the internet fashion store on track to surpass profit and revenue forecasts for the year.

The company continued its recent rapid growth to post a 44 per cent jump in revenues to £473.7million for the four months to December 31.

The group said it expects to deliver revenue growth of between 40 per cent and 42 per cent for the year to February 2020, ahead of its previous range of between 33 per cent and 38 per cent growth.

BHS boss to pay £9million Games Workshop record THE businessman who bought BHS from Sir Philip Green for £1 before it collapsed has been ordered to pay £9.5million into the failed high street chain’s pension schemes after an unsuccessful appeal.

The Pensions Regulator (TPR) said Dominic Chappell’s appeal against two contribution notices – which were first made in January 2018 – to pay a total of £9,542,985 into the BHS’s pension schemes, had failed.

The watchdog said the decision means the BHS pensions scandal is ‘coming to a close’ nearly four years after, the loss of 11,000 jobs and a pension deficit of more than £570million.

GAMES Workshop has hailed record sales and profits over the past half-year as the fantasy games specialist shrugged off recent malaise in the retail sector.

Shares in the retailer jumped after it said pre-tax profits rose by 44 per cent to £58.6million in the six months to December 1.

It added that sales in December were in line with the board’s expectations, adding that the business is ‘in great shape’.

The Warhammer maker reported a 19 per cent jump in sales for the six-month period to £148.4million, ahead of the company’s previous guidance.

Wednesday January 15 | 2020

Education 15

ADVERTORIAL

Wednesday January 15 | 2020

EDUCATION

Times

NEW YEAR SCHOOLS SPECIAL

Helping you choose the best school for your children With the start of the new year, many parents will be making plans centred around finding the best school for their children, whether they are just beginning, or making the transition from primary to secondary education What should a prospective parent be considering when looking for the right school for their child?

Choosing the right school for your child is one of the biggest decisions parents make, and it can seem like an extremely daunting prospect at the outset. It needn’t be. We are fortunate to have so many excellent schools here in Tunbridge Wells, both state and independent, and all of our schools achieve very good academic results. However, I think the starting point for parents is to think about the school that will provide the best journey to those final GCSE and A level results for their child, as well as how their child’s gifts and talents can be developed.

Here at Kent College, we provide a nurturing environment alongside a personalised approach to education for the girls. We take a forward thinking, creative and adventurous approach to life and learning, and recognise the unique

talents of each girl in a vibrant community.

As a result our value added is outstanding, and at GCSE girls typically achieve one grade higher than predicted for every subject that they take. In addition, our extensive facilities mean that we can provide an unrivalled range of sporting, artistic, musical and dramatic activities.

When visiting a school it is just as important to get a sense of ‘fit’ as, after all, it is individual teachers we remember long after we leave, and very often subjects are chosen because pupils are inspired by those teachers.

Ultimately, a school visit should communicate a sense of what it feels like to be immersed in that particular school community and that learning is engaging, supportive and fun.

MODERN: Education today

Julie Lodrick Headmistress, Kent College Pembury 01892 822006. kent-college.co.uk Open House: Friday January 17 2-3.15pm & Tuesday March 3 2020 9.30am-12noon

What is the most important thing to consider when choosing a school?

The most important factor when choosing a school is to make sure that you are matching the school to the needs of your child, rather than the other way round. First and foremost your child needs to be happy, nurtured and challenged – all future success flows from this.

Good results are a by-product of an excellent all-round education, and time and again we see children thrive when their wider talents are spotted and encouraged, and where the opportunity to be involved in all aspects of school life is promoted.

Choose a school that values sport, the performing arts and creative arts equally and gives all children the chance to develop in these areas. Academic results are vitally important, but delve under the surface of published ‘results’ – choose a school that values and promotes academic progress for all, whatever the children’s starting points. These schools are likely to have the best classroom practice and

FIVE ASHES Happy Skippers Hill children

‘Best in UK’ – Tonbridge School teams win international physics contest Upper and Lower Sixth students from Tonbridge School emerged as the ‘Best in the UK’ after taking part in a prestigious international physics competition.

More than 400 teams from across the world competed in the International Physics Brawl, a three-hour online contest which tests knowledge and problem-solving skills.

Teams were awarded points for successfully solving problems, which became increasingly challenging as the contest progressed.

In the Upper Sixth contest, a team made up of Kevin, Justin, Godwyn, Peter and Ricci was awarded first place in the UK, and 21st in the world.

The other Upper Sixth teams finished fifth in the UK (28th in the world) and 11th

in the UK (70th in the world) respectively.

In the Lower Sixth competition, a Tonbridge team featuring Thomas, Sherman, Ben, Michael and Kiefer achieved ninth place in the world, an achievement which made them the highest placed UK team at that level.

The school’s other Lower Sixth teams also put in exceptional performances, achieving UK positions of second, fifth, and sixth (20th, 42nd and 58th in the world) respectively.

Phil Deakin, the school’s Head of Science, said: “Our Sixth Formers can be proud of their excellent showing on the international stage, and for two of our teams to finish in top spot for the UK is a hugely impressive achievement.”

Tonbridge School 01732 365555 High Street, Tonbridge, TN9 1JP tonbridge-school.co.uk

engage children effectively in their learning.

Look for a school that has high expectations but doesn’t place young children under too much pressure. A school should listen to your children, keep them safe and allow them space to get bored and be creative.

Citizens of the 21st century need a broad range of skills and habits, including collaboration, problem solving and digital literacy. What does the school do to develop these qualities?

Finally, look for a school that will show what life is like on a normal school day and watch the children at work and in the playground.

If you meet happy, engaged children and open, welcoming teachers then you are probably on the right path!

Mark Hammond, Headteacher at Skippers Hill Manor Preparatory School, a co-educational school for children aged 2-13 years in Five Ashes rated ‘Excellent’ in all areas in their September 2019 ISI inspection. 01825 830234. Open Morning: Monday January 27 from 9.30am. skippershill.com

TONBRIDGE: The school’s state-ofthe-art Barton Science Centre

For more Education, see overleaf

16

NEWS

Letters

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Wednesday January 15 | 2020

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, Times Local News, Salomons Estate, Tunbridge Wells TN3 0TG

Hats off to the mystery knitter, a pillar box of our community

As to Urbaser, they may well have fallen short at times, but I suspect that poor planning initially by our councils has been a major contributory factor, along with the disappearance of most public recycling facilities.

When I asked the bin men to replace the bins the right way round in the bin enclosure so that I or other elderly residents did not have to struggle with them, they cheerfully agreed to do so.

Nigel Eames Tunbridge Wells

I will keep backing Brexit deal

WARM FEELING Two creations by the unknown artist Every year a lovely lady (I’m guessing lady!) knits these wonderful hats for the post box in Wilman Road, Tunbridge Wells – these are two that I’ve photographed.

I almost missed this year’s, but I caught a glimpse when I got back from holiday – though didn’t get a chance to take a photo. It looked amazing.

I would just like to say a very big thank you

No such thing as a free lunch from the Government In your article about rising Council Tax [January 8], the statement that ‘the Government now provides around £620million in grants to fund the council, but around half of KCC’s budget for next year – £749million – will come from taxpayers’ is wholly misleading.

In fact 100 per cent of what it takes to fund Kent County Council next year will be coming from taxpayers, one way or another. The Government sadly doesn’t have its own income, or indeed a Magic Money Tree – more’s the pity.

Where do you think Government grants come from? Too often journalists promote the fantasy that ‘the Government’ pays for things. They don’t – we do!

Regrettably there is no such thing as a free lunch and the sooner this unfortunate reality dawns on us all the better, in my view.

Perhaps the really unfortunate thing is that ‘the Government’ perennially thinks it is better at deciding what we have for lunch than we are, but that’s another story.

Trevor Houghton-Berry Tunbridge Wells

to her and let her know how much her efforts cheer me, and I’m sure everybody who sees them, up. What a lovely thing to do for the community.

I’ve asked a couple of people in Wilman Road who the lady is but not had any luck. I would have liked to get her a bunch of flowers.

Fiona Perry Via email

Blocks of flats were forgotten I was interested to see the action taken

by Tonbridge & Malling Borough Council, along with Tunbridge Wells, regarding the performance of Urbaser as regards refuse collection [January 8].

Many of the problems have stemmed from a failure by the councils to plan for the new contract and, especially, to think through the mechanics of the collection process.

Blocks of flats, in my local experience, were forgotten about when it came to the details.

No instructions were put out by the council so we’ve carried on as before. They clearly did not foresee that failing to tell people what to do would produce confusion.

The communal bin store at this small block of flats is far too small to accommodate any more bins. Its small size was dictated to the developer by the council, who were concerned that it would be visible from the road.

And where do residents put large numbers of individual food waste bins to await collection?

I am aware from our managing agents that most of the blocks of flats they manage report similar problems.

Joseph Hahn is mistaken both in saying that we are leaving the EU at the end of 2020 and that I will somehow oppose it [December 31].

Not so – we leave at the end of this month, on January 31. The election – locally and nationally – has settled that and I will continue to vote for the agreement that has been reached with the EU as I have done consistently, as I have always promised to do, since the referendum.

During the year we will agree what I am confident will be a good free trade agreement with the EU – but it is important to understand that we will do so having already left the EU. The New Year, and a new decade, give us the chance to move forward together and put the divisions of the past behind us.

I know, from so many conversations during the election campaign, that is what most people here and across the country want us to do.

Greg Clark Member of Parliament for Tunbridge Wells

Labour shouldn’t throw stones I agree with Robert Moore [January 8] that Martin Betts, a big chief in the local Labour party, was wrong to brand Boris Johnson [the Prime Minister] a racist.

Labour shouldn’t throw stones when it comes to racism.

In November the Chief Rabbi – in an unprecedented intervention – criticised Labour’s record on anti-Semitism, saying ‘a new poison – sanctioned from the very top – has taken root’ in the party.

Labour has become only the second political party – after the BNP – to be investigated by the Equality and Human Rights Commission.

In submissions, the Jewish Labour Movement described appalling remarks, made either online or at Labour party meetings.

Mr Betts’ Leader, Jeremy Corbyn, famously described Hamas and Hezbollah as ‘friends’, and shared platforms with, or otherwise supported, an array of extremists.

There have also been allegations closer to home, with a former Tunbridge Wells Labour Party activist arrested as part of a police probe into anti-Semitism.

So Mr Betts should concentrate on putting Labour’s own house in order.

There is much work for him to do.

Tom Fernsby Tunbridge Wells

Calverley

Observations on life and more important things

RICKY GERVAIS wowed the Tunbridge Wells audience when he appeared at the Assembly Hall. Not so sure he went down quite as well hosting the Golden Globe awards. He told showbiz luvvies not to use the event as a platform for political speeches. And added: “You’re in no position to lecture the public about anything, you know nothing about the real world. Most of you spent less time in school than [climate change acitivist] Greta Thunberg.” Don’t you just love the guy!

ONLY a couple of weeks into the new year and Calverley is already bloodied from banging his head against the wall. Regulars will know his frustration at broadcasters, many at the BBC, who insist on dropping the letter ‘t’ when mentioning, for example, the word twenty. It becomes ‘twenny’. Imagine how He feels now we are into 2020!!! The other ‘killer’ is the word ‘to’. These days it has become ‘ter’. Broadcasters actually say ‘as we go inter twenny, twenny’. Pass the ‘smerring’ salts.

HELPING people to focus on their mental health has to be a good thing – if you go about it in the right way. But maybe, just maybe, the Football Association is a bit offside. It delayed the start of 32 matches so that fans could ‘take a minute’ to consider their mental health. Imagine it.

Some 50,000 over-excited fans waiting for kick-off when they all turn to each other and say: “Excuse me while I take a moment out to consider how I feel.” Here’s a better idea. Ask the players to donate five per cent of their weekly wage to a relevant charity.

POLITICAL bias is something poor old Calverley is often accused of, and it’s true he has a soft spot for Boris, who he first bumped into as a youngster and has followed his career with interest. So, just for the record, Himself had lunch with two old friends the other day. On one side was a very senior journo from that left-wing mag Tribune. On the other side was a leading spokeperson for the militant rail union ASLEF. Splendid misguided company, but one has to hedge one’s bets.

AND FINALLY, a bit of a shock, horror warning.

Calverley’s sister has learned about Facetime and used it last week to reach him. He pressed buttons without thinking and was covered in embarrassment. He was in the bathroom.

Chin Chin, dear reader

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

Wednesday January 15 | 2020

Education

FOR EVEN MORE NEWS VISIT: timeslocalnews.co.uk

EDUCATION

Times

Learning how to become the team players and planners of the future We hear what happened when Skinners’ Kent Academy staged a Dragons’ Den-style student competition with the help of developers Elysian Residences, based on a major town project…

EVERY year The Skinners’ Kent Academy puts on a special project for its Year 7 students in order to develop their career skills. This year it has teamed up with local developer Elysian Residences for an enterprise competition not too unlike that of the hit BBC show Dragons’ Den. A total of 240 students across eight Year 7 tutor groups were put into six teams per class, with the aim of coming up with a retail or leisure proposal for one of the commercial ground floor units at Elysian’s retired living development ‘The Belvedere’, which is being built on the former ABC cinema site in the centre of Tunbridge Wells.

Challenges Each year the Year 7 students are challenged with a similar type of task, but this was the first year that the theme was based on an actual scheme in the local community.

The students learned about Elysian’s plans for the development, its history and exciting future, as well as thinking about an innovative commercial offer to serve the scheme’s residents.

Elysian provided a number of tasks and practical challenges for the students, which included thinking about what each scheme

ECO CHAMPIONS The winners with the Elysian team

NEWS

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would sell, how it would be promoted, the issue of sustainability and also general logistics.

Each of the six study groups voted for one member per class to pitch against the ‘Dragons’, who comprised: Mark Curry, Head of Land & Development at Elysian Residences; a trio of school governors – David Fitzsimmons, Hugo Pound and Gillian Arthur; and James Moysey and Peter Hockney from the Kent County Council [KCC] planning team, who worked on The Belvedere project throughout the planning application and consent.

Rebecca Pointer, Careers, Education Information and Guidance Co-ordinator at The Skinners’ Kent Academy, said: “It was great to have a real-life project that is coming to our Tunbridge Wells community to focus this year’s Dragons’ Den challenge around.

“The students not only got to learn valuable team building and life/career skills, but also to understand more about Elysian Residences, the various roles associated with planning and development, and what The Belvedere will bring to Royal Tunbridge Wells itself.

“It was also great to show our Year 7s that 65 year olds can be active and not necessarily ‘retirees’, but people who will play a great role in our town and be a core part of the community.

“We would like to thank Mark and the Elysian team for giving us valuable time and insight, and, of course, the Governors and the KCC planning team.”

Mark Curry, Head of Land and Development at Elysian Residences, said: “As developers and operators of The Belvedere, we are keen to build long-term relationships with the Tunbridge Wells community. This was a great opportunity to team up with a school to build understanding and careers skills early on.”

The winners of the competition (who were rewarded with a certificate and house points) were 7b1, whose pitch was an eco-café.

The runners up were 7b2, who wanted to launch a cooking school which would offer classes to The Belvedere residents alongside the broader Tunbridge Wells community.

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NEWS

Weekly Comment

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Tom Tugendhat

Conservative MP for Tonbridge & Malling

Wednesday January 15 | 2020

Tom Tugendhat, MBE, left the British Army in July 2013 after a career in which he served on operations in Iraq and Afghanistan and as the military assistant to the Chief of the Defence Staff.

As a Territorial Army officer, he worked on everything from those ops to establishing the Armed Forces Muslim Association, and also worked for the Foreign Office. He was first elected as a Member of Parliament in 2015, and was elected Chair of Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee in July 2017.

Apprenticeships are a skilled choice not a second choice THIS year’s round of university applications closes today. Forms filled and dreams begun, it will be a tough time for many as they now have to wait for results that will shape their future.

But there is more to education than university and for many this isn’t the choice they want.

Apprenticeships have been often overlooked by the most academic schools in our community and been considered a second choice, but that’s not right.

Learning while working, learning from the expert, is what an apprenticeship is all about.

That’s certainly how people see it in many walks of life. In the City, for example, M&G offers apprenticeships that are highly sought after, and not just for the starting salaries. In Specsavers on the High Street my eyes were recently expertly tested by an apprentice.

This isn’t new. If you wanted to become a lawyer, accountant, or many other professions, apprenticeships were the way to get qualified.

And in many areas, apprenticeships are really the only way to qualify. Alexander McQueen began as an apprentice tailor and Jamie Oliver in catering. Apprenticeships are no second choice.

The problem they face is not their success, but their status. Too many people see a second choice instead of a skilled choice. They see a

compromise not a career. This is holding our young people and country back and that’s why I’m working to change it.

I’m getting together with neighbouring MPs Tracey Crouch, Helen Whately and Helen Grant, to hold an Apprenticeships Fair on 7 February at Mote Park in Maidstone, to show you just what’s available. We want people to know what is really available for them. How they can grow lives and expand horizons and get our country ready for whatever the future holds.

APPRENTICE Chef Jamie Oliver is among a number of highly succesful people who started out on an apprenticeship

Opportunity Those who came last year will know there’s a wide variety of companies who were there. From PwC, BAE systems, Rolls Royce, to the Border Force and Hilton the range meant that even if you don’t have the faintest idea of which sector you might like to work in, it is a fantastic opportunity to find out more about what is out there. If there’s a company you’re interested in but who hasn’t signed up, or offer apprenticeships yet, write to them to let them know you’re interested – it’s important they know the demand is out there.

The Fair is only a few weeks away, but it is not too late to get involved. So, whether you’re a

local business who would like a stall to see if you can convince one of our many talented students to work for you, or a student looking to work for a talented company, please email me at tom.tugendhat.mp@parliament.uk. It’s open to Year 11, 12 and 13 pupils and any parents who

fancy coming along too.

I’d be grateful if parents could share this with others who may be interested so we all know there isn’t one way to the future. Many of the most successful people today started out as apprenticeships, could the next one be you?

Wednesday January 15 | 2020

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Best property buys for...

We all love to see homes with the ‘wow’ factor – which could apply to the kitchen, reception room, garden, or something else. Sarah Bond homes in on specific aspects that make these properties well worth a look…

The TERRACE...

Blackhurst Hall

Hall’s Hole Road, Tunbridge Wells ASKING PRICE

£1,650,000 CONTACT • Jackson-Stops, Tunbridge Wells • 01892 521700 • jackson-stops.co.uk Boasting spectacular views, this is the major portion of a superb, Grade II-listed, 19th-century house attributed to Decimus Burton. It has been improved while retaining magnificent features.

MAIN POINTS OF INTEREST

n Impressive reception hall with stained glass window, panelled walls and marble fireplace n Elegant drawing room with ornate marble fireplace, wood burner, high sash windows, original shutters and doors to terrace n Sitting room with marble fireplace, bespoke cupboards and shelving, and tall windows n Games/family room with Bose surround system available by separate negotiation n Kitchen/diner with gas-fired four-oven Aga, bespoke Chalon hand-painted cabinetry, large central island, full height windows, door to terrace and spiral staircase down to: n Cellar with with independent access and good ceiling heights. Currently three rooms n Master bedroom with en-suite featuring a slipper bath and rainfall shower n 3 further bedrooms (one en-suite shower) n Family shower room and new Neptune laundry n Wide south-facing terrace with steps down to private park-like garden n Long driveway with electric gates and two allocated parking spaces

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The PRICE…

The POOL…

Common View Rusthall, Tunbridge Wells GUIDE PRICE

£295,000 CONTACT • Bracketts, Tunbridge Wells • 01892 533733 • bracketts.co.uk A charming Victorian terraced house by Rusthall Common with further modernisation required.

Kennel Holt

MAIN POINTS OF INTEREST

Goudhurst Road, Cranbrook

n Reception room with chimney breast

GUIDE PRICE

n Reception room 2 with chimney breast and decorative cast iron fireplace

£2,850,000 CONTACT • Knight Frank, Tunbridge Wells • 01892 772942 • knightfrank.co.uk An immaculate country house in a private lane.

The beautiful gardens and grounds include a stunning outdoor terrace and swimming pool.

It also comes with a cottage doubling as a pool house and games room, and a field, with the total plot amounting to nearly 14 acres.

n Kitchen with door to side n 2 bedrooms, one with chimney breast, decorative fireplace with painted wood surround and cast iron insert n Bathroom with partially sloping ceiling, chimney breast and feature fireplace n Level lawned garden with timber shed

MAIN POINTS OF INTEREST Main House

n Iron-studded wooden front door and galleried reception hall with wood-burning stove

n Drawing room of grand proportions

The Priory

n Sitting room

Nevill Park, Tunbridge Wells

n Dining room/study

PRICE RANGE

n Open-plan kitchen/breakfast/family room with larder and utility room

n Cloakroom and storeroom n Master bedroom with dressing room and en suite

n 5 further bedrooms, all en suite n 2 attic rooms

£550,000£575,000 CONTACT • Bracketts, Tunbridge Wells • 01892 533733 • bracketts.co.uk

Cottage/Pool House

Improved ground floor apartment with its own entrance nestled in a prestigious private park.

n Living room with kitchenette

MAIN POINTS OF INTEREST

n Bedroom and bathroom n Mezzanine/loft room Outside

n Colourful gardens, including vegetable garden and greenhouse

n Original timber front door and spacious hall n Reception room/dining area n Kitchen/breakfast room and utility room n Large shower room and separate cloakroom n Master bedroom with full height wardrobes

n Swimming pool

n Bedroom 2 with loft hatch

n Triple car port, tractor shed and workshop

n Communal grounds, including a seating area by the apartment screened from drive

n Large rectangular field n In all about 13.64 acres

n Driveway providing parking for three cars

HOMES FOR SALE IN KENT AND EAST SUSSEX

1 1 MAYFIELD, EAST SUSSEX

A

substantial Edwardian family house, offering flexible accommodation arranged over three floors and less than half a mile from Mayfield High Street.

7 B E D R O O M S | 4 / 5 B AT H R O O M S | D E TA C H E D T R I P L E G A R A G E W I T H S T U D I O A B O V E | S E PA R AT E O F F I C E W I T H E X T E R N A L A C C E S S | B E A U T I F U L LY P R E S E N T E D G A R D E N S A N D G R O U N D S | D E TA C H E D B O T H Y, S O M E W O O D L A N D A N D A S T R E A M | E P C D

Guide price £2,250,000 simon.biddulph@knightfrank.com 01892 310997

1 2 BENENDEN, KENT

A

wonderful family house in the heart of Benenden village, offering light and well-proportioned accommodation within the Cranbrook School Catchment Area.

5 B E D R O O M S | 3 B AT H O O M S | D O U B L E G A R A G E W I T H S T U D I O A B O V E A N D P L A N N I N G P E R M I S S I O N T O E X T E N D | M AT U R E G A R D E N S W I T H B E A U T I F U L V I E W S | I N A L L A P P R O X I M AT E LY 1 . 3 1 A C R E S | E P C C

Guide price £1,450,000 simon.biddulph@knightfrank.com 01892 310997

knightfrank.co.uk

HOMES FOR SALE IN KENT AND EAST SUSSEX

1

1

LANGTON GREEN, KENT

ST JAMES ROAD, TUNBRIDGE WELLS

An attractive detached house overlooking countryside with a communal tennis court.

An elegant semi-detached Victorian house located in the soughtafter St James area, just 0.9 miles from the station.

4 BEDROOMS | 2 BATHROOMS | DOUBLE GARAGE WITH ROOM ABOVE | SECLUDED GARDEN

5 BEDROOMS | 2 BATHROOMS | GARDEN WITH SUN TERRACE | OFF-STREET PARKING AND

WITH SUN TERRACE | EPC D

DETACHED GARAGE | EPC D

Guide price £1,200,000

Guide price £1,250,000

ross.davies@knightfrank.com 01892 310997

ross.davies@knightfrank.com 01892 310997

1

1

ALL SAINTS ROAD, TUNBRIDGE WELLS

MOLYNEUX PARK ROAD, TUNBRIDGE WELLS

A smartly presented detached property within the popular St Johns area, ideally located for local schools.

An attractive detached Edwardian house in a sought-after location within the town.

4 BEDROOMS | 2 BATHROOMS | FRONT AND REAR GARDENS | OFF-STREET PARKING AND

7 BEDROOMS | 4 BATHROOMS | OFF-ROAD PARKING | SOUTH-FACING REAR GARDEN | ACCESS

GARAGE | APPROXIMATELY 0.7 OF A MILE FROM THE STATION | EPC C

TO PRIVATE MOLYNEUX PARK GARDENS | EPC E

Guide price £750,000

Guide price £1,695,000

ross.davies@knightfrank.com 01892 310997

ross.davies@knightfrank.com 01892 310997

Knight Frank Tunbridge Wells 47 High Street, Tunbridge Wells, TN1 1XL 01892 310997

knightfrank.co.uk

bracketts est. 1828

C H FR AI EE N

When experience counts...

Tunbridge Wells £595,000 A Sussex barn-style detached house, located in the popular St James’ area, with potential to extend to the side (STPP). 2 receptions, kit/brkfst room, 4 bedrooms (1 en suite), family bathroom. Parking & garage (with potential to convert, STPP). Gardens. EPC: D

C H FR AI EE N

Tonbridge Asking Price: £300,000 Modern Detached 1 Bedroom House, built about 10 years ago and situated in a convenient location for the High Street, Station & Sports ground. The property offers scope to extend, application submitted. EPC D

Tonbridge Asking Price: £475,000 Well-presented and extended 2 Bedroom Detached Bungalow in an established residential area, convenient for local shops and about 2 miles from The Town Centre.

Kitchen-diner, 26ft lounge, garage. EPC D

Rusthall £295,000 Tonbridge £800,000 - £850,000 A charming Victorian terraced cottage located immediately opposite Rusthall Common Substantial Detached 5 bedroom family house, retaining the charm and features of an and has stylish and3 inviting accommodation.

2 receptions, kitchen, 2 bedrooms, Edwardian home. reception rooms, kitchen-breakfast room, utility, cloakroom, store Bathroom.

Good sized level lawned rear garden.

EPC: D rooms, garage, corner plot. EPC E

Tonbridge Guide Price: £700,000 - £750,000 An Attractive 1930’s built Detached Character House, in a cul-de-sac about half a mile of the High Street. ‘CHAIN FREE’ Hall, cloakroom, 2 separate reception rooms, 4 bedrooms, good size plot, garage and parking. EPC E

Tunbridge Wells £3,000 pcm A truly exceptional detached 4 bed “Grand Designs” chalet-style home & separate Studio House set in a semi-rural location. Featuring wood interior. Large detached office/studio. Gated driveway & parking for several cars, incl lawn mowing. EPC: D

bracketts.co.uk Tunbridge Wells 01892 533733 | tunbridgewells@bracketts.co.uk

Tonbridge 01732 350503 | tonbridge@bracketts.co.uk

Tunbridge Wells Henrietta Court, St John’s Road

25 JA TH 10 N & am U 26 T A – RY H 4p m

Initial Show Home Launch – Open Weekend

With great excitement we announce the opening of a furnished show home at this prestigious development of just 6 semi-detached town houses situated close to the town centre, schools and mainline station.

Luxurious specification extending to 2,400 sq.ft. of accommodation over 4 floors. 4 double bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, 2 parking spaces, one with electric charging point.

£995,000 Freehold Ready for immediate occupation

For further information contact: 25-27 High Street, Tunbridge Wells TN1 1UU tunbridgewells@bracketts.co.uk 01892 533 733

TONBRIDGE £325,000 CONVENIENT FOR HIGH STREET AND MAINLINE STATION this older style semi-detached home offers an ideal opportunity for first time buyers and growing families with spacious accommodation including two double bedrooms, cosy sitting room, dining room, fully fitted kitchen and modern family bathroom. Charming fully enclosed rear garden with 10’ x 6’ summer house. NO CHAIN. EPC: C Apply Tonbridge

PEMBURY OIEO £780,000 EQUESTRIAN/SMALLHOLDING OPPORTUNITY. Within walking distance of village amenities yet surrounded by your own land and with views to the North Downs. Approx 6 acres (tbv) of gardens, paddocks, bluebell wood and wildflower meadow – home to a diverse ecosystem, ideal for anyone wanting to live “The Good Life”. Accommodation: porch, hallway, double-aspect sitting room, kitchen/dining room, utility room, 4 double bedrooms, bathroom, separate wc. Detached garage with attached workshop, enclosed equestrian field shelter, polytunnel, plenty of parking. The property would now benefit from some cosmetic updating. Potential to enlarge STPP. EPC: E. Apply Pembury

PEMBURY £595,000 HANDSOME 4 BED FAMILY HOME WITH CHARACTER in sought-after Romford Road, within walking distance of the village primary school, village shop and country walks.

Accommodation: ground floor - open-plan kitchen/dining/family room, sitting room with open fire, cloakroom wc. First floor – 2 double bedrooms and family bathroom with cupboards housing the washing machine and tumble dryer. Second floor – double bedroom with en-suite shower room, bedroom 4. Parking for a couple of cars with an area of lawn adjacent which could provide further parking if required. Good-sized garden with a big patio adjacent to the house and large area of level lawn. EPC: D. Apply Pembury

Residential Pembury: 01892 822880 Tonbridge: 01732 771616 Sales & Lettings e: pembury@bkea.co.uk e: tonbridge@bkea.co.uk

Lettings: 01732 771616 e: lettings@bkea.co.uk

www.bkestateagents.com

New Year, New Kitchen!

If you’re considering embarking on a kitchen renovation project this year then local designers and manufacturers, Rencraft, can help.

They’ve been producing kitchens from their workshops on Chart Farm near Sevenoaks for almost 40 years. Director, Robert Waite, shares his ‘do’s and don’ts’ for a smooth, successful, kitchen design…

1

DO start planning early

“We often get involved with projects months or even years before the clients are ready to have their kitchen made and installed. Even if your build hasn’t started yet, it’s still a good idea to start considering the future kitchen layout. Positioning of windows, power points, plumbing can all be integral to a successful kitchen design and sometimes a fresh pair of eyes can really help to bring your dreams to life. We’ve worked with clients before who came in with a set of architects drawings that positioned the kitchen in a certain way, and then we have been able to work with them to make suggestions that have helped to improve the layout of the room and the sense of flow throughout the entire home.”

2

DON’T get too caught up with the latest gadgets or trends

“Finishing touches like paint colours and handles can make all the difference to the look and feel of your design, but there’s a reason that they are called finishing touches.

It’s all too easy to think to yourself ‘I must have this colour

scheme’ or ‘I can’t live without this appliance’, but if you don’t get the functionality and the layout of the kitchen right then all the styling and gizmos in the world won’t be any use to you. This is where a good designer can be worth their weight in gold.”

3

DO have a realistic idea of budget

“In the world of kitchen design, the saying that ‘you get what you pay for’ tends to be true. You may think you’re saving thousands by going to a cheaper kitchen company, but if the kitchen falls apart in five years’ time and you find yourself having to start again then it’s just a false economy.

A well-made, quality kitchen should last for tens of years, so it’s worth investing the time and the money in order to get it right.”

4

DON’T fall for a sales pitch

“At Rencraft we pride ourselves on being designers, not salesmen. We believe in the quality of the product we are offering and we understand the value of our customer service and our experience. A kitchen is a big investment and, as such, it’s also a big decision that needs to be

carefully considered. If you find yourself feeling pressured or bamboozled with discounts then you have to ask, is this the kind of company I want to work with long term?”

5

“…and workshops too if you can. Try to get a feel for the quality of the product and the standard of the workmanship. Ask questions about the history of the company and make sure you have a good rapport with the designer as well.

After all, if you do decide to go with them you are going to be spending a lot of time with them over the coming weeks or months. A new kitchen is a big project, but it can also be an exciting and enjoyable one.”

Rencraft Ltd are based at Unit 9, Chart Farm, Seal Chart, Sevenoaks, Kent TN15 0ES Tel: 01732 762682

DO visit several showrooms…

81 Calverley Road, Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN1 2UY Tel: 01892 520730

Visit www.rencraft.co.uk or email info@rencraft.co.uk to request a brochure.

Wednesday January 15 | 2020

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IN PRINT AND ONLINE SEVEN DAYS A WEEK timeslocalnews.co.uk

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A dream performance See The Sleeping Beauty live

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LIZZIE BENTLEY-BOWERS TALKS TED

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ENJOY ENSEMBLE BASH’S GIG

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FEAST ON VEGAN GOODIES

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RUGBY’S THRILLING WEEKEND

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A New Year, a new you!

With 2020 now upon us, we all start to think about how to make our resolutions happen – most commonly the aim is to get fit and lose some weight. It can be hard to know where to start sometimes, so we’ve put together a guide to a few of the local places that can help you reach your goals…

Soul Power Nutrition SPN [Soul Power Nutrition] is a luxury fitness destination creating a community of people with the common purpose to be stronger, healthier and happier.

In our a multi-floor luxury fitness boutique located in Camden Road, Tunbridge Wells, we offer a range of high energy classes, including indoor cycling, Pilates, barre, boxing, TRX, dance, aerial and yoga, delivered by an award-winning team of instructors. You can attend any class at any level – you work at your own pace – and as a group we motivate each other. Classes start at just £8.

Our clients think they come in to get physically fit, but what they leave with is actually far greater than just the effects on the body.

Want to take your fitness out of the studio? Book on to to one of our luxury health and exercise retreats in Mallorca and California, pushing your fitness limits with the SPN team.

Call SPN on 01892 541 705 or email: hello@spn.fit

Fitness Superstore 2020 is finally here, and now is the perfect time to get to work on implementing your New Year’s resolutions. And one of the most popular resolutions? Of course, it’s to work out more, eat healthier and feel fitter.

As we all know, New Year’s resolutions can be hard to stick by – but what if we said that you only had to dedicate 14 minutes a day?

That’s where the Bowflex MAX Trainer comes in. Providing you with not just quick results, but MAX results, the MAX Trainer burns 2.5 times more calories than any other cardio machine, and engages 80% more upper body muscles, meaning you get the same results you’d get after 35-45 minutes on a treadmill in less than half the time.

With two new models joining the range – the M8 and the M6 – the exercise potential has never been better.

Download the new Max Intelligence™ App (subscription required) and experience personalised, guided workouts, access a library of trainer-led videos, and celebrate milestones and achievements with in-depth training analysis.

All models feature the innovative 14-minute MAX Interval™ Workout. Intervals are proven to scorch more calories than steady pace

exercise by getting your heart rate right up for energetic bursts between short recovery times.

We know that feeling motivated can be a struggle, but the beauty of 14 minutes is just that – it’s only 14 minutes!

Exclusively at Fitness Superstore, you won’t be able to find the MAX Trainer anywhere else. Try it for yourself at our Tunbridge Wells store in Grosvenor Road, or order online.

Call Fitness Superstore on 01892 883747 or visit fitness-superstore.co.uk

Wednesday January 15 | 2020

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Tunbridge Wells Personal Training AWARENESS of health and what we eat has never been higher.

And with some of the new technology available, it has never been easier to track every step and calorie. We are now so spoilt for choice with different approaches to losing weight and being healthy, it can be hard to know where to start.

Eating less and moving more is perhaps the most basic principle to getting into shape, and a great place to begin.

Consistency is key, and it’s essential to find a way of exercising that you enjoy, and a way of managing your diet that you can stick to. You can eat carbs and lose weight, and you don’t have to spend ages on the treadmill to get fit!

It’s just a case of figuring out what works best for you.

Having the support of a personal trainer will help get you started. A trainer will help you find an approach to exercise and nutrition that you will find both enjoyable and easy to stay on track with.

Tunbridge Wells Personal Training [TWPT] is a private personal training gym located next to the train station in Tunbridge Wells.

No memberships. Just PT. It’s a friendly non-intimidating environment.

So if you need some help, give TWPT a call on 01892 545400, or visit: twpt.co.uk

tmactive TMACTIVE’S Gym & Spa Membership offers a wide choice of workout options, so that you can get fit and active your way.

By providing market-leading facilities, motivating coaches on hand at all times, and great tech to ‘gamify’ your experience, we aim to make fitness fun and to get you results. tmactive’s fitness facilities are world-class.

Our gyms offer the very latest equipment, including Technogym cardio and resistance equipment. We’ve got a programme of over 200 instructor-led exercise classes for all levels and abilities, running seven days a week.

Combine all of this with fitness and leisure swimming, relaxing spa sessions and the gym’s great tech to ‘gamify’ your exercise, and you’re guaranteed to keep your

workouts fun, fresh and challenging.

Your fitness journey starts with a Personal Assessment with TANITA Body Composition Analysis. To help your track and monitor your workouts, you also get a free mywellness account and use of SWIMTAG in the pool.

To help you achieve your goals, we’ll send you regular reminders to make sure you get the most out of your membership, and offer Focus On sessions to maximise your use of the equipment and provide training advice through ongoing coaching.

Membership starts from £33 a month.

To get your journey started today, give tmactive a call on 01732 772690, or visit tmactive.co.uk

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Let’s do some

straight talking On Saturday February 1, the Assembly Hall hosts another day of inspirational TEDxRTW talks. Here Lizzie Bentley Bowers, its Chair for 2020, explains what the ‘sharing ideas’ event is all about…

T

ED began in 1984 as a conference designed to share ideas around ‘Technology Entertainment and Design’. Since then it has grown to cover all kinds of topics, with the mission of every TED talk being to share an ‘idea worth spreading’.

The talks, which can last a maximum of 18 minutes, are all online so anyone can view any talk, anywhere. Topics range from tying shoelaces to creativity in education and skateboarding in Afghanistan – the variety is endless.

Growing the original TED conferences led to TEDx (TED to the power of x) – an opportunity for towns, villages, cities, universities – anywhere, really – to apply for a TEDx licence and DID YOU KNOW? host a TED conference to bring ‘ideas worth spreading’ to their TEDxRTW last year community. TEDx, like TED, are was the first self-promoted not-for-profit events. Any ‘profit’ from our event goes back into event to sell out running more – and they are put at the Assembly Hall on entirely by volunteers.

As a TED talk fan I was delighted to be in the audience for the first TEDxRoyalTunbridgeWells

INSPIRED Lizzie Bentley Bowers

[TEDxRTW], held at Skinners’ Kent Academy in 2015, when Nick Adams and Dan Foreman brought the concept to our town.

Having been impressed and inspired, I immediately emailed to volunteer!

Everyone involved in putting on these events believes that it is a good thing for our town to come together, and bring people here, to think, and maybe to change the way we think, to talk, laugh, cry and be inspired.

Coaching

My role as Chair of TEDxRTW, alongside our licence-holder Mike Marshall, is to lead the DID YOU KNOW? team to grow brilliant TEDx events throughout the town For previous TEDxRTW and throughout the year. events, we have had In addition to the main TEDx event (February 75 speakers and more 1), which I’m co-chairing than 3.5 million views with Kate Sims at the Assembly Hall, we’re holding TEDxWomen and TEDxYouth events and also, for the first time, this year a TEDxSalon event in association with law firm Cripps Pemberton Greenish. Salon events are smaller with an audience of up to 100 people and the opportunity to be more flexible with the format, for example Q&A panels and audience participation.

As well as curating a programme of speakers and filming talks in order to create an audience experience beyond the venue, I also continue to be a part of the TEDxRTW coaching team.

Our work with this involves supporting our speakers through the process of writing, rehearsing and delivering their talks. Some have never set foot on a stage before, and

Wednesday January 15 | 2020

some have done it many times, so the coaches support them whatever their experience is.

I love being part of a team where people give their time, creativity and energy to do something so positive. I am proud at how these events raise awareness of all the many brilliant people we walk past in the street every day, having no idea what their story is and their achievements, their ideas. It can be life changing when thousands of people around the world go on to watch TED talks via the internet.

Mainly, though, these are great people to be around that I wouldn’t otherwise have met, and I’m very grateful for that.

My first TED experience was, like most of us, watching talks online. As a former teacher, someone sent me a link to Ken Robinson’s talk on creativity in education. I remember feeling so inspired and started clicking on more and more talks. I was curious, empowered and, above all, wanted to talk to others about what I had heard. In my job as a leadership coach I often share talks as food for thought and leadership inspiration, or use them as the basis for a conversation with a team about how they could think or do something differently.

As a committee member, I am prohibited from giving a talk at our events, but you can apply to other events.

I am a very proud governor of Oakley School, located on Pembury Road, and if I were to give a talk it would be about how to employ or give work experience to a young person with special needs, and in doing so light up your workplace in ways you couldn’t imagine – and to give that young person their rightful opportunity to embed and build their skills, to earn, to socialise, to teach, and to contribute in the full way they want and are able to.

We believe our TEDx events should start conversations, support a sense of community, inspire, intrigue and excite – so our number one criteria in choosing our speakers is whether this will be a talk that gets our town talking.

This year is no different!

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WHO’S WHO AT TEDXRTW 2020 tedxroyaltunbridgewells.com

GEORGINA ELLISON HUGHES GEORGINA is a world-leading female biomedical scientist from King’s College London who lives in Tunbridge Wells with her young family.

Her career has followed an upward trajectory and she was recently promoted to Full Professor of Regenerative Muscle Physiology – the youngest Professor in the faculty.

Georgina’s talk is about how we all need a little more heart. She will talk through her research that led to the discovery that the adult heart is a self-renewing organ and can grow new heart cells. Then she will explain how readily available drugs and agents (i.e. flavonoids, present in fruit and vegetables) can be used to rejuvenate heart repair and regeneration, enabling people to live longer, fuller lives.

LUKE ALEXANDER GROSE LUKE is a London-based poet with a distinctly political and historical message. He uses poetry and rhyme to navigate through a narrative of his own life and the people around him. Originally from Hastings, his poetry and ideas provide a narrative of his journey from a small town to the big city, with a couple of pit stops along the way.

He will talk about the camera lens conundrum: Around 32% of adverts we see include people from multicultural backgrounds, yet only 13% of the creative industry is made up of people from these groups. Why can’t the people behind the camera be as diverse as the people in front of it? Using a mixture of poetry and storytelling, Luke is going to challenge the creative industry to embrace an increasingly diverse society.

VYBARR CREGAN-REID VYBARR is an author, academic and broadcaster who has written widely on the subjects of literature, health, nature and the environment.

His most recent book is Primate Change: How the World We Made is Remaking Us. He has also made two series of Changing World, Changing Bodies for the BBC World Service, which looks at how different parts of the body are changing in different parts of the world.

He is Professor of English & Environmental Humanities at the University of Kent.

Vybar’s talk aims to make people more aware of how their habits are changing their bodies – everything from the tips of their toes to the top of their heads.

TEDxRTW is sponsored by Southpaw, Cripps Pemberton Greenish and Hotel Du Vin

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Going Out

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goingout going 7 days of activities

By Jerome Bowman

Wednesday January 15 | 2020

of many Lantern Making Workshops occurring today and in the coming weeks. Today’s workshop will be at The Wells Free School from 10am-12.30pm. If you fancy having a go, you can purchase a lantern pack from between £5 and £10 to take home or to use in the workshop, with plenty of helpful volunteers on hand to help you out. For more information and to book tickets, go to facebook.com/WinterLanternParade

FABULOUS FAILURE See Glorious at The Oast Theatre

MONDAY Trek through some possibly frozen wastes, locally, with Winter Walks out in the country.

There are plenty of enjoyable free roaming routes to choose from in our area, and very few leopard seals or ice blizzards to cut the expedition short.

But if you want something more organised, then have a look at the variety on offer at National Trust properties such as Scotney and Bodiam Castles, Sissinghurst and Ightham Mote. For more information, visit nationaltrust.org.uk

SPELL UNBINDING See The Sleeping Beauty wake at the Picture House Uckfield

TUESDAY Mrs Lowry & Son, a biopic that examines British artist LS Lowry’s relationship with his mother, is on today at Trinity Theatre. The film, which stars Timothy Spall and Vanessa Redgrave, details the difficult relationship Lowry had with his bed-ridden and incredibly bitter parent, who actively tried to dissuade him from his work and never failed to tell him what a disappointment he was. Both actors’ performances have been highly praised. For more information and to book tickets, which cost £11, go to trinitytheatre.net

WEDNESDAY If you haven’t had your fill of obnoxious American politicians already, head to The Queen’s Hall Theatre in Cranbrook for a screening of the film Vice, the comedy drama about George Bush Jnr’s Vice President Dick Cheney. The film has been almost as controversial as the man himself, and stars Christian Bale in possibly his fattest role yet. To book, you can either purchase tickets as a guest or join the society for the year, so prices vary. For more information, go to cranbrookfilmsociety.org THURSDAY The Sleeping Beauty was the first ballet put on by The Royal Opera House after the Second World War, so its return is a truly special one.

You can see a live screening of this classic tale of the longest lie-in in recorded history at the Picture House Uckfield this evening at 7.15pm. This production has been praised for its youthful revival of the classic 1948 run. Tickets cost £18 and can be booked by visiting picturehouseuckfield.com

got you covered. With a huge variety of stalls, including hot food, this could make a good start to the weekend. The market is open from 7am till 2pm and entry is free. For more information, and to enquire about a stall space, you can contact Simon on 07756 169178 Florence Foster Jenkins is a wealthy 1940s socialite who also happens to be a singer, in the loosest sense of the word. Based on the true story of ‘the first lady of the sliding scale’, Glorious by Peter Quilter is a droll play with a big heart. Jenkins might be the worst singer of all time, but her enthusiasm for opera and bombastic costume make her a music legend. You can see the play this evening at 8pm at The Oast Theatre in Tonbridge, and tickets cost £11. For more information and to book, go to oasttheatre.com

SUNDAY The Pantiles Market will be offering local produce, artisanal crafts and designer clothes from 10am to 4pm. Guest traders, seasonal themes and a changing range of goods make sure you’ll always find something new. If you are interested in pitching your own stall at FRIDAY the market, or for any other enquiries, email: This month is the start of a new markets@thepantilesevents.com tour at Ightham Mote, near Penshurst Place have another Roasts Sevenoaks, which gives visitors & Rambles event at 12.30pm today, a chance to uncover the hidden this time combining a three-course stories of the servants who roast dinner with a Hawking once worked there. There demonstration courtesy of Wild will also be a chance to look at Hart. Tony and Julia will be around the Grade I-listed showing a fantastic display of TALONTED medieval manor house. With birds, including owls and eagles.

See the birds of prey at a range of tour dates on offer Tickets cost £22.50 for adults Penshurst Place from January 8-31, this is one not and £11.25 for children, and to miss for history lovers. For more include the meal as well as the information visit nationaltrust.org.uk demonstration. To book, go to penshurstplace.com SATURDAY The Winter Lantern Parade is Whether you’re looking for pet food, returning to Tunbridge Wells on flowers, luggage or fishing tackle, the Saturday February 8, and in Tonbridge Market and Bootfair have preparation you can attend one

Have you got an event on

in Tunbridge Wells, Tonbridge or the surrounding area?

Whether it’s trampolining, experimental theatre or a craft fair, we are always looking to cover all the exciting things on offer locally.

AN ENGLISH COUNTRY GARDEN Take a walk around Sissignhurst Castle

PICK OF THE WEEK Beast

The Old Big School Gallery Tonbridge School January 18 to February 23 1pm till 5pm An exhibition exploring the complex relationship between people and animals, Beast features sculptures and paintings from many internationally renowned artists, including Laura Ford, Mark Fairnington and Kay Walsh.

Special events, including talks with the artists and creative workshops, will be on in the coming weeks.

Entrance is free.

For more information about the exhibition, the gallery and upcoming events, visit oldbigschoolgallery.co.uk

CONTACT US Please send information about your event, the times, dates and any pictures you have to jeromebowman@markerstudy.com and eileen@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk

Wednesday January 15 | 2020

FOR EVEN MORE NEWS VISIT: timeslocalnews.co.uk

Going Out

THE GREY LADY MUSIC LOUNGE The Pantiles Doors 7.15pm, entry £6/£7 Websites pdag.co.uk & thegreylady.co.uk Wednesday Ryan Weeks Friday Soul Kitchen Sunday Nick Stephens, Alice Rose

Life&Times

45 Ensemble Bash

THE ANCHOR INN London Road, Sevenoaks Free entry, music from 8pm till late Wednesday Martin McNeill MUSICSTATION Bank Street, Tonbridge Booking essential For information, call 01732 350629 Thursday & Friday 8pm-9.30pm Adult band workshop, all levels welcome

live music With Paul Dunton

T

ONIGHT [Wednesday], blues fans can catch renowned musician Martin McNeill at The Anchor Inn, Sevenoaks, and local singer-songwriter Ryan Weeks is performing at The Grey Lady Music Lounge.

My top picks for Friday include The Incredible Bert at The Forum with support from The Cockroaches and Higgs and the Bosons. And folk fans can enjoy the excellent Megson at The St Edith Folk Club in Kemsing.

Saturday night sees Riff Raff at The Beau Nash Tavern. and fans of classical music should definitely

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

catch The Ensemble Bash afternoon and evening concerts at The Parish Church of St Peter & St Paul, Tonbridge.

Close out the weekend in style on Sunday evening with Nick Stephens and Alice Rose at The Grey Lady.

Looking ahead to next week, Capella are at The Tonbridge Folk Club on Monday night.

Tuesday offers Kent Duchaine at The Toad Rock Retreat, Dave & Sophie at The Punch & Judy, Tonbridge, and The Pamoja Hall, Sevenoaks, hosts an intriguing piano showcase evening with Protest Pianist.

THE TUNBRIDGE WELLS FORUM The Common Information and tickets at twforum.co.uk Friday The Incredible Bert, The Cockroaches, Higgs and the Bosons MERCURE TUNBRIDGE WELLS HOTEL Pembury Music from 7pm till late Event information at mercuretunbridgewells.co.uk Friday 90s v 00s Tribute Night THE STAG THEATRE London Road, Sevenoaks All event information and tickets at stagsevenoaks.co.uk Friday Twist & Shout! A fun-packed musical journey back to the Swinging Sixties ST EDITH HALL St Edith Folk Club, Kemsing All event information and tickets at stedithfolk.co.uk Friday Megson

THE BEAU NASH TAVERN Mount Ephraim Free entry, music from 8pm till late Saturday Riff Raff

THE TOAD ROCK RETREAT Upper Street Free entry, music from 9pm till 9pm Tuesday Kent Duchaine

THE PARISH CHURCH OF ST PETER & ST PAUL Tonbridge Event information and tickets at tmc.org.uk Saturday 3pm Ensemble Bash Family Concert Saturday 7.30pm Ensemble Bash Percussion Quartet

THE PAMOJA HALL Sevenoaks School All event information and tickets at thespacesevenoaks.co.uk Tuesday Piano showcase: Protest Pianist

TONBRIDGE FOLK CLUB Flying Dutchman, Hildenborough Hat collection with a suggested contribution of £7 (£5 concessions) Music from 8pm, all welcome More information at tonbridgefolkclub.org Monday Capella THE PUNCH & JUDY St Stephens Road, Tonbridge Free entry, music from 8pm Tuesday Dave & Sophie

Nick Stevens

Life&Times

food

46

VEGAN LEBANESE TABBOULEH Joaquin Phoenix’s favourite dish

Food & Drink FOR EVEN MORE NEWS VISIT: timeslocalnews.co.uk

Viva the vegans Veganuary is now in full swing, and this year more people than ever have decided to give a plant-based diet a go. Eileen Leahy finds out more about this month-long culinary commitment, and suggests some inspiring recipes if you fancy trying vegan eating yourself

V

eganuary is a movement which inspires people all over the world to try a vegan diet for a month. It was started in 2013

by Matthew Glover and Jane Land, a couple from Yorkshire who wanted to reduce animal suffering ‘as effectively as possible’.

The aim is to follow a meat and dairy-free plant-based diet in order to achieve a healthier and more sustainable eating regime – and environment. And the movement is getting bigger and bigger every year.

A spokesperson for Veganuary told the Times that for 2020’s awareness campaign they are currently at 370,000 sign-ups for the UK alone: “This is incredible, as last year we got 250,000 so we were aiming for 350,000 for this year, but the numbers are still rising.”

A slew of celebrities are also championing veganism. They include Madonna, Bryan Adams, Beyoncé and Joaquin Phoenix – who convinced the organisers of last week’s Golden Globes event in Hollywood to only serve vegan food. Plus there was a recent landmark court ruling declaring veganism as a ‘philosophical belief’, and its positive impact on the planet is well documented.

Veganuary’s Ambassador, TV presenter and wildlife expert Chris Packham, says: “As I’ve become more and more aware of the impact our diet has on the environment – and of course the species that live in it – I’ve become increasingly concerned to minimise

Wednesday January 15 | 2020

the negative aspects of that impact.”

A recent survey found that following their Veganuary experience, 47% of respondents said that they would be committing to staying vegan, and 51% were influenced by the discovery of ‘great tasting food’.

So, with that in mind, we’ve selected a couple of official Veganuary recipes for you to try.

They’re great if you’re currently undergoing the month-long pledge to eat vegan and need a bit of mealtime inspiration, or perfect if you fancy experiencing a taste of a vegan diet…

Lebanese tabbouleh INGREDIENTS n 50g bulgur wheat n 2 large, ripe vine tomatoes, finely chopped n 1 bunch flat leaf parsley, finely chopped n 1 bunch fresh mint, finely chopped n 1 small red onion, peeled and finely chopped n 3 tbsp lemon juice n 3 tbsp olive oil n Salt and pepper METHOD 1. Cook bulgur wheat as per packet instructions.

2. Make a small cross at the base of each tomato and place them in a separate bowl and cover with boiling water. Set aside for 30 seconds, then drain away the water.

3. When the tomatoes are cool enough to handle, peel and discard the skins. Cut the tomatoes into quarters, discard the seeds and dice the flesh. Transfer the diced tomatoes to a serving bowl.

4. Add the parsley, mint and onion to the tomatoes and mix well until combined.

5. Fluff up the cooked bulgur wheat with a fork until the grains are separated. Add it to the tomato mixture.

6. Drizzle over the lemon juice and olive oil and season to taste with salt. Mix well to coat the ingredients in the liquid.

Wednesday January 15 | 2020

Strawberry shortbreads INGREDIENTS For the shortcakes:  200g dairy-free margarine  1 tsp vanilla essence  100g caster sugar  300g plain flour, sifted For the cream:  1 × 400ml can of full fat coconut milk, refrigerated overnight  75g icing sugar  ½ tsp vanilla extract And don’t forget…  16 strawberries METHOD 1. In a bowl, cream together the margarine, vanilla essence and sugar. Stir in the flour and mix into a dough. Wrap the dough in cling film and chill in the fridge for 30 minutes.

2. Heat the oven to 160°C and line a baking tray with parchment paper.

3. Roll out the chilled dough to about a ½ cm thickness and, using a cookie cutter, cut into rounds. Place them on the baking sheet, sprinkle with a little extra sugar and bake for 12-15 minutes.

4. Leave to cool for at least 10 minutes.

5. To make the coconut cream, chill a large mixing bowl for 10 minutes, then take the chilled, hardened coconut milk from the fridge and scrape out the thickened cream, leaving behind the liquid.

6. Beat for 30 seconds until creamy, then add the icing sugar and vanilla extract.

7. Slice fresh strawberries and cover one shortcake with them. Cover in cream, and add another shortcake to the top.

Sprinkle with icing sugar and half a strawberry to serve. veganuary.com

FOR EVEN MORE NEWS VISIT: timeslocalnews.co.uk

Food & Drink

Raise a glass to Veganuary Times Drinks Editor James Viner recommends three quality bottles – two wine and one beer – suitable for anyone following a plant-based diet 1) BARGAIN SUPERMARKET OWN-LABEL VEGAN RED 2019 Fairtrade Pinot Noir, WO Robertson, South Africa (Co-op, £7, 13%)

2) BESTSELLING VEGAN WHITE FROM THE WINE SOCIETY 2018 The Society’s White Burgundy, France (The Wine Society, £9.95, 12.5%)

The Co-op was the first retailer to list ingredients on wines, and has long issued clear vegan labelling across their own-brand range, working closely with producers to support the switch to vegan-friendly fining agents, where possible.

Jaded festive palates will love this new, jolly, pale, light-bodied and unoaked midweek red.

Think gamey walk-in-the-woods flavour, plus smoky cedar, plump raspberry and strawberry fruit. Screams for tender pink salmon fillets or seared tuna. Serve cool.

Using the definitions provided by The Vegan Society, The Wine Society lists around 300 vegan-compliant wines made without animal-based fining agents. Here is a smart, handcrafted, unoaked and affordable white burgundy from a warm and fine vintage, which not only ticks the vegan box but also tastes fantastic, giving a lot of glorious bang for your buck. Expect satisfying white flowers, baked lemon, crisp green apple, melon and stone fruit.

Anyone for white fish with parsley sauce or crab?

STRAWBERRY SHORTBREADS Irresistible

3) SPRITZY, CELEBRATORY VEGAN BEER FROM SOMERSET The Wild Beer Co ‘Ninkasi,’ England (Waitrose, £7.50, 750ml, 9%) Named after the ancient Sumerian goddess of brewing, this barrelaged ‘Saison’-style beer from Somerset is a divine veganfriendly alternative to fizz.

It was brewed with tangy Kiwi hops, locally-sourced apple juice and then re-fermented in the bottle with Champagne yeast.

Vegan cheers to 2020!

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47

10 Recommended vegan-approved bottles of bubbles CHAMPAGNES • Lanson • Moët & Chandon • Piper-Heidsieck

• Taittinger • Veuve Clicquot

ENGLISH SPARKLERS

• Breaky Bottom, East Sussex • Bluebell Vineyard Estate’s excellent Hindleap Collection, East Sussex •Fox & Fox, East Sussex • Gusbourne, Kent • Hambledon, Hants For a comprehensive list of beers suitable for vegans, consult barnivore.com/beer Follow James on Twitter @QuixoticWine

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Life&Times

Motors

FOR EVEN MORE NEWS VISIT: timeslocalnews.co.uk

Motoring News

Wednesday January 15 | 2020

This week… n New-look Dacias n Bosch’s AI vision n Parking reprieve

Dacia bolsters line-up with SE Twenty special editions DACIA has introduced a new special-edition SE Twenty grade to a number of its models, bringing heightened equipment levels and a distinctive exterior.

The SE Twenty models sit above the Comfort specification in the Sandero Stepway, Logan MCV Stepway and Duster ranges, and order books are now available.

Each car features trim-specific decals along the bottom of the doors as well as gloss black mirror housings. For both Stepway cars, a blue centre cap features on their 16-inch wheels, while the 17-inch alloys on the Duster benefit from the same treatment.

Inside SE Twenty variants, blue mesh fabric seat inserts have been added to the package, while the respective Duster

and Stepway logos in the backrests of the front seats are finished in the same colour. Blue inserts also feature around the air vents and floor mats.

In the Sandero and Logan, a reversing camera has been added to the standard equipment list for the SE Twenty grade, while the Duster benefits from a multi-view camera with parking sensors and Blind Spot Warning.

Pricing for the Sandero Stepway SE Twenty kicks off at £11,295, while the asking price for the Logan MCV Stepway SE Twenty is £12,795, and the Duster is £15,645.

First deliveries of all three models will begin in March.

The Duster

BLOCKING THE GLARE But the visor still allows you to see everything else

Bosch unveils digital sun visor aimed at improving drivers’ view of the road BOSCH is aiming to revolutionise the humble sun visor with new artificial intelligence [AI]-based technology.

The Virtual Visor is designed to reduce glare behind the wheel without compromising on the view of the road ahead. Using an LCD display combined with a driver-monitoring camera and AI, it’s able to analyse the driver’s view ahead and block segments of light instead of the blanket effect of a conventional sun visor.

The theory is that rather than having a large slab that constantly blocks the road ahead, using small panels within a screen will allow large chunks of the road that would otherwise be hidden to remain visible, while also eliminating glare just as effectively.

Bosch technical expert Jason Zink

said: “We discovered early in the development that users adjust their traditional sun visors to always cast a shadow on their own eyes. This realisation was profound in helping simplify the product concept and fuel the design of the technology.”

Bosch claims that glare from the sun causes twice as many car accidents as any other weather-related condition.

Bosch Car Multimedia President Steffen Berns said: “For most drivers around the world, the visor component as we know it is not enough to avoid hazardous sun glare – especially at dawn and dusk when the sun can greatly decrease drivers’ vision. Some of the simplest innovations make the greatest impact, and Virtual Visor changes the way drivers see the road.”

End of parking fines for minor typing errors at machines PARKING fines racked up as a result of minor errors when typing in a car’s registration at a machine could be a thing of the past following a new rule change.

A revised Code of Practice published by the British Parking Association [BPA] will see firms recognised under its ‘Approved Operator Scheme’ overturn fines issued for a ‘minor keying error’.

The BPA defines a minor error as ‘one letter or number incorrect or letters and numbers in the wrong order’ when typing in a car’s registration.

However, a fine can still be issued for a major error, described as ‘one that has multiple number and letter keying errors, the first three digits only have been recorded or a completely incorrect registration number is used’.

Appeal BPA Head of Business Operations Steve Clark said: “Following consultation with key stakeholders, including consumer groups and government, we are delighted to release the latest version of our leading AOS Code of Practice.

“We recognise that genuine mistakes can occur, which may result in a parking charge being issued even when a motorist can demonstrate they paid for their parking.

“In recognition of this we have further clarified the situation for all parties.

“Motorists will still need to appeal, but we expect our members to deal with them appropriately at the first appeal stage.”

CODEWORD 4

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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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6 7 9 5 3

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6 9 2 8 1

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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.

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© 2016 Syndicated Puzzles, Inc.

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DIFFICULTY RATING:★★✩✩

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© 2016 Syndicated Puzzles

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LAST WEEK’S SOLUTIONS

SUDOKU & JIGSAW SUDOKU

DIFFICULTY RATING: ★★★★

CLASSIFIEDS

Life&Times

Puzzles

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

W I E I N G H O T

S E S T E E C H E S T K O V E R R R E A P E Z J A C S T A C E Y T P R A P P R O X T E M E D D I E S

S C H K A N S T P S O O B F U R R E A Q U

E N I C E A I S E R S T R I P E E D M A M I N G L R C I T E E E E U E S

Sudoku:

8 7 3 5 9 6 1 4 2

1 9 4 3 8 2 6 7 5

2 5 6 7 1 4 8 9 3

6 3 5 2 4 1 7 8 9

7 4 1 8 5 9 3 2 6

9 2 8 6 3 7 5 1 4

3 1 2 9 6 8 4 5 7

9 4 8 6 3 7 5 2 1

2 5 7 9 1 3 6 8 4

6 3 9 7 5 1 8 4 2

4 6 7 1 2 5 9 3 8

5 8 9 4 7 3 2 6 1

Jigsaw Sudoku:

3 6 1 2 7 8 4 5 9

7 9 5 4 8 6 2 1 3

4 8 2 1 6 9 7 3 5

8 1 3 5 2 4 9 7 6

5 7 4 3 9 2 1 6 8

1 2 6 8 4 5 3 9 7

© 2016 Syndicated Puzzles

FOR EVEN MORE NEWS VISIT: timeslocalnews.co.uk

Wednesday January 15 | 2020

52

Life&Times

Sport

FOR EVENstories MOREto: NEWS VISIT: timeslocalnews.co.ukor newsdesk@timesoftonbridge.co.uk Please send sports newsdesk@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk

RTW Monson in at deep end for first National Arena Final SWIMMING: RTW Monson Swimming Club have reached to the National Arena League B Final for the first time.

They made it through after a hard-fought Arena South Premier Final at Wycombe, coming fifth out of the top 18 clubs in the South League.

As a relatively small club, many of the swimmers had to compete in multiple races as well as taking part in more senior age groups.

Coach Karen Bradbury said: “To qualify for the National Finals is a huge achievement. This will be the first time any of the younger swimmers 12 and Under have taken part in a national competition.

“To do this as a team is a great way to debut and is an exciting opportunity to compete at this level.

“It will inspire them for the future. This is truly an experience that all the team will remember forever.”

The National Arena League Finals will be held at

Wednesday January 15 | 2020

MAKING A SPLASH: The RTW Monson team celebrate

RTW MONSON’S SWIMMERS 11 & Under: Emilia Oliver, Gigi Purtell, Evelyn Bunting, Chloe Edwards, Henry Guppy, Aran Bissit, Max El-Mokadem, Jack Guppy, Oli Ebbrell 13 & Under: Lily Barwick, Jessica Gable, Holly Chapman, Olivia Griffiths, Isla Marshall, Hayden Annan, Joshua Prendegast, Toby Edwards, Dan Tollit 15 & Under: Emilia Vorster, Emma Bennett, Amelia Baker, Izzie Mercer, Charles Crewe, Harry Sinclair, Teilo Williams, Louis Hayes Open age group: Isobel Winchester, Rose Compton, Frankie Whiting, Reuben Edwards, Kody Bradbury, Thomas Leman, Andre Strydom, Ellis Stanhope

Cardiff International Pool on March 7-8, with the top 20 club teams from across the country competing over the two days.

RTW Monson’s head coach Graham Bassi added: “ Two years ago we avoided relegation by one point. It’s been an incredible journey to make these National Finals.

“We were not at full strength on the South Premier Final night. Many swimmers stepped up and produced some outstanding results.

“We will go the National Final and challenge for a top three spot. We have nothing to fear. The club is in a great place and the future looks very strong.”

Keeper’s error hands Angels first victory on road Braintree Town 0 Tonbridge Angels 1

HIGH ANXIETY Rian Bray jumps above keeper Billy Johnson

PHOTO: David Couldridge

By Jim Rowe FOOTBALL: TONBRIDGE ANGELS continued their rise up the National League South table with their first away win of the season.

The three points on the road came as a relief after they had come close in recent weeks at Hemel Hempstead Town and Maidstone United.

With injury, illness and suspension taking their toll, two players made their debuts, loanees Bilel Hinchiri from Dover in central midfield and Joshua Ajayi from Crystal Place up front.

It was almost a dream start after one minute for Ajayi but he scuffed his shot after Ben Greenhalgh’s effort was parried by Braintree stopper Billy Johnson.

Two minutes later Sonny Miles had a free header which had to be clawed out of the air by Johnson.

Braintree were poor, though Liam Smyth forced a good save from Jonny Henly after 20 minutes.

On 27 minutes the Angels should have made their dominance tell when James Folkes’ cross left Greenhalgh with a clear sight of goal but he blazed over the bar.

A move involving Ajayi, Greenhalgh and Hinchiri saw the latter get the final touch but just fail to score, and just before half-time Rian Bray’s header went over the bar.

If Angels had nothing to show for their

Rusthall 3 Croydon 0

By Rich Smith FOOTBALL: THE Rustics continued their perfect start to 2020 with an outstanding team performance at home to Croydon.

The victory sees them move into second place in the Southern Counties East League Division One, enhancing their hopes of bouncing straight back up to the top flight.

Visiting manager Liam Giles praised his opposite number Jimmy Anderson for the way Rusthall were set up and responded to his instructions.

But Croydon almost took the lead when they caught Rusthall on the break, and Andy Somo saw his firm strike well saved by Billy Johnson - the young keeper got straight back up to stop the follow-up too.

On 34 minutes Rusthall finally got their reward.

A fine passing move set wing-back Louis Anderson free on the right and after beating the full-back he cut the ball back for Charlie Clover to drive into the net.

The score remained 1-0 at half-time but more pressure saw the hosts extend their lead on 52 minutes, Clover finishing another flowing move with a well-taken goal.

Croydon were now becoming frustrated at their lack of possession, resulting in a string of yellow cards being shown.

The game became scrappy but the Rusthall’s defence was strong throughout and easily coped with whatever Croydon had to throw at them.

In added time they rounded off the victory with a free kick 25 yards out that Tommy Lawrence curled around the wall and into the top corner.

Rusthall, a point behind leaders Kennington, now travel to Stansfeld on Saturday (January 18, kick-off 3pm).

PHOTO: Brendan Kemp

Clover doubles up as Rusthall move to one point off top spot

FLOWER POWER Charlie Clover scores the first of his goals

dominance at the interval, they only had to wait one minute into the second period to go ahead, albeit in unusual circumstances.

Folkes put in a cross which looked a straightforward gather for Johnson but inexplicably the young keeper saw the ball ricochet off his body into the net.

Johnson was to partly atone 10 minutes later when Greenhalgh made a surging run into the penalty area and forced a very good save.

On 64 minutes another cross from Folkes was drilled across the goalmouth but nobody in a blue shirt could take advantage.

In the closing stages Braintree threw caution to the wind and put genuine pressure on the Tonbridge goal.

They won a series of corners but the Tonbridge rearguard kept their concentration and held out for the precious three points on their travels.

Manager Steve McKimm said: “I am very pleased for the players that they got over the line with that first away win, which removes that potential psychological barrier.

“We’ve put a little run together and we shall be doing all we can to carry that forward.”

The Angels move up to 17th place and now face Hampton and Richmond Borough at Longmead on on Saturday (January 18, kick-off 3pm).

The local derby at Longmead against Maidstone United, which was postponed on Boxing Day due to a waterlogged pitch, has been rearranged for Tuesday January 28 (kick-off 7.45pm).

FOR EVEN MORE NEWS VISIT: timeslocalnews.co.uk

Wednesday January 15 | 2020

Sport

Life&Times

53

Wells miss out by single point as injuries take toll RUGBY: AFTER the final-kick defeat by a single point at Hertford at the end of last season, it proved to be a similarly close encounter for Tunbridge Wells on their travels again.

Hertford are a team who like to play running rugby ball-in-hand and the contest was to prove entertaining, though Wells suffered from losing two influential players to injury.

After five minutes the home outside-half Liam Batty made a fine grubber kick that wing Charlie Parkhouse gathered and centre Kyle Lemon crashed over, Batty converting.

Wells replied by running a penalty, Frank Reynolds and skipper Ryan Taylor-Dennehy came swiftly to the right and found Mike Doherty, who breezed around the outside defender and crossed from 20 metres.

Reynolds’ expert conversion levelled the scores after 18 minutes, but a leg injury then saw the talismanic Doherty having to leave the contest.

Just before half-time, Batty threw a long miss-pass to the left and Parkhouse on the right wing scored under the posts. After Batty’s conversion Hertford went in 14-7 ahead.

Wells emerged after the break furthered depleted by the loss of flanker Mike Hathaway, who could not shake off a calf injury.

The vibrant hosts launched drive after drive at the heart of the Wells defence and powerful centre Lemon scored again, with Batty adding

PHOTO: Bruce Elliot

By Graham Withers

the extras on 43 minutes.

But then Taylor-Dennehy made good in-roads and was tackled late, leading to a penalty and a yellow card for home flanker Dave Archer.

Taking the attacking line-out option, Stuart Nicholls hit Agy Eukaliti and a powerful maul saw Nick Doherty gain a deserved try on 50 minutes, though the touchline conversion failed.

A deliberate interference on Croft as he tried to play the ball saw another penalty and a second yellow card to the men in blue.

This time the scrum option was taken and as Wells moved inexorably forward the maul was halted illegally, bringing the award of a penalty try to make it 21-19 on 56 minutes.

Such was the expansive desire of both sides, it seemed unlikely that this would end up being the final score. But the fierce defensive efforts of both teams cancelled each other out.

Hertford were restored to a full 15 and then Wells were under pressure when Tui Tuauika received a team yellow on 68 minutes after a warning for holding up the maul.

Parkhouse should have scored his second on the overlap but just two metres out the winger fumbled a pass.

So Wells remain in seventh place in the London and South-East Premier Division –and now face two tough fixtures at St Marks. First they come up against a Guernsey side who will be smarting after losing top spot in a home defeat, then the new leaders come to town.

Wells entertain the islanders on Saturday (January 18, kick-off 2pm).

ON THE RUN Agy Eukaliti makes a break

Keys unlocks door for snatch spoils RUGBY: TUNBRIDGE WELLS Colts scored with 30 seconds left to secure victory in a tight-fought Under-18 contest against hosts Crowborough.

Before kick-off both sides came together to remember Steve Davy, who passed away before Christmas. His family are well known to both clubs and his son Ed, who has represented both sides, was playing for Crowborough.

After 20 minutes Wells chose to scrummage on a penalty, and after an early pick-and-go the ball was driven over the line by Will Hawksfield for his first try for the Colts, Ed Shepherdson converting.

Wells rode the pressure well as Crowborough counterattacked but over-committed to the breakdown, leaving gaps out wide and Crowborough ran in a try under the posts, the conversion making it 7-7 at half-time.

In the second half Crowborough started the stronger, showing their experience having played together for a number of years.

But as the clock ran down, Wells were awarded a penalty on the five-meter line under the posts and went for the pushover rather than the kick.

Crowborough held them up but Wells scrumhalf Innis Woodhouse spotted an opportunity out wide and with a fine flat pass by Shepherdson, Cameron Keys scored in the corner to claim victory 12-7.

RISING STARS The Colts contest a lineout

POINT TAKEN Hugo Watson helps shove Ryan Jackson over the line

TJs’ keep narrow lead at top Tonbridge Juddians 27 Bournemouth 7

RUGBY: TONBRIDGE JUDDIANS maintained the pace at the top of National Two South with a victory over the bottom club on a heavy pitch.

Bournemouth started brightly in terms of possession but after Will Robinson fielded a clearing kick, wingers Tom Chapman and Hugo Watson opened up a huge gap and lock Rory McHugh charged in to score for TJs. It was not to be a good day for kicking, though, with just one out of the home side’s five conversions being slotted over.

A strong burst from full-back Toby May allowed Chapman to show his pace and shoot past the defenders to score in the right-hand corner after 10 minutes.

But it took another 20 minutes before TJs added to their strong start, Ryan Jackson being driven over from a five-metre lineout as the backs joined in the maul, and TJs went in at half-time 15-0

PHOTO: Adam Hookway

Hertford 21 Tunbridge Wells 19

ahead.

Jimmy Green crashed over from close range after a similar set-up early in the second half to secure the try bonus point.

After powerful play from captain Mike O’Sullivan, Watson was on hand take the slip pass and score, with Rob White at last adding the extras.

On the hour-mark Bournemouth finally cut through and scrum-half Mike Pope scored under the posts for a converted try.

The visitors kept up a long period of possession and concerted pressure as the game came to an end but were unable to break down TJs’ resolute defence - the hosts made a total of 321 tackles in the game.

The result keeps Tonbridge on top of the table by a point from Henley Hawks, who prevailed over third-placed Taunton Titans 33-27.

TJs now take on Taunton in Somerset on Saturday (January 18, kick-off 3pm).

Don’t Leave Your Wealth to the Government Do you know the true cost of dying without a will? Are you one of the 60% of Britons who haven’t made a will?

If so, you may end up leaving much of your wealth to the Government instead of your family.

ACCORDING to unbiased.co.uk, 76% of people aged between 18-34 have no will in place. For those aged 35-54, 68% have no will. The over-55s are better prepared, with just 36% who haven’t made a will… but don’t leave it too long.

Between 2016 and 2017, the Treasury gained a massive £19 million because so many people died without making a will.

Don’t make the mistake of thinking wills are just for the rich. If you own a home, you’re worth more than you think: the average homeowner has more than £214,000 worth of property to leave to loved ones. Wouldn’t you rather that money went to people you choose, instead of being distributed by the Government?

Most of us would — so why do so many people take such a risk by not making a will?

■ Many people believe they’re not worth enough to bother.

■ Many think everything will automatically go to their partner or children when that’s not always the case.

■ And many people think it’s too expensive.

But dying without a will — even if you’re not rich — can cause real problems and heartache for the loved ones you leave behind.

Dying Intestate May Mean Your Loved Ones Miss Out If you die without a will — which is called “dying intestate” — the Government decides who gets what from your wealth, referred to as an estate. Your spouse or civil partner is first in line, but won’t necessarily receive everything. Next in the queue are children or grandchildren, parents, siblings or their children, half-

siblings or their children, grandparents, uncles and aunts or their children and, finally, half-uncles and aunts or their children.

If your estate is worth more than £250,000 and you have children, your spouse will probably receive the first £250,000 as well as all your personal possessions. They’ll also receive 50% of what’s left — with the other half passing to your children.

If you have no relatives, your estate passes to the Crown or the Duchies of Cornwall or Lancaster. These rules are known as the laws of intestacy.

So, as you can see, if you die without making a will it’s entirely possible some (or all) of your wealth could go to people you don’t know very well — or at all.

Friends, carers, and charities would miss out on your generosity.

Will Your Partner Automatically Inherit?

Some time ago, an unmarried couple who had been together for more than 30 years came into our law firm. They didn’t have children but were shocked to discover that if one of them died their assets wouldn’t go to the other partner.

They had thought the “common law wife” concept would protect them. No such concept exists in UK law.

Because each person owned everything in their individual names all assets would have passed to their respective families.

And because the property they lived in was solely in the man’s name things would have been particularly difficult if he died first. Under the intestacy rules his estranged brother would have inherited the house — and they had no idea where he was. The partner wouldn’t have received any part of the property. She would have had to make a claim against the estate.

This couple only needed simple wills — but what a difference they make. Now they’re both protected.

Don’t Pay More Inheritance Tax Than You Need To Generally, any estate worth up to £325,000 is free of inheritance tax. For

any assets over and above that threshold, estates can be taxed at 40%. You may not think your estate is worth that much, but when you combine property, vehicles, and other assets it all adds up.

If your estate is larger, you’ll definitely want to think about inheritance tax: a specialist solicitor will be able to write your will in such a way that you minimise the amount of tax due, leaving more money for your loved ones. In fact, they may be able to save your beneficiaries many times the solicitor’s fees.

How To Save Headaches And Heartaches Dying without a will can cost your loved ones thousands of pounds in wasted administration costs, and lead to bitter family arguments. Professionals will have to locate family members who may be scattered far and wide, as well as gather any investments you may have in various places.

When you make a will, you can take care of all that — and appoint the appropriate relatives or friends as guardians to take care of your children after you’re gone.

You can be sure your funeral wishes are fulfilled and make sure people you trust will take care of administering your estate.

In short, making a will takes away any guesswork and reduces the risk of any disputes. You can ensure your family and friends don’t have to deal with difficult administrative affairs while they’re grieving for you.

Book A Free Consultation Today Whether you think you need a will or not, it won’t cost you anything except a little time to come and talk to one of our experienced Private Client

solicitors in an initial consultation.

You can come to our offices and ask us anything – and we’ll help you work out what’s best for you.

For further information and to apply for a FREE CONSULTATION call us on 01892 526442 or email us at enquiries@keenemarsland.co.uk today quoting reference KM0120

Divorce doesn’t have to be a war zone Order your complimentary copy of The Good Divorce Guide today

If you’re facing the end of a relationship, do it with your eyes wide open and register for your complimentary copy of The Good Divorce Guide: Facing Reality When Your World Is Turned Upside Down. The end of a relationship can feel like the end of the world.

But you don’t have to face it alone. This book, by family law experts, will guide you through the legalities of divorce and financial settlements and help you make informed decisions about your future.

Discover how to deal with the practicalities of the family home, dividing the family finances, maintenance, dealing with your business assets, your children and much more…

To order your complimentary copy, email your name and postal address to: tgdg@parfittcresswell.com Alternatively, The Good Divorce Guide is available to purchase in paperback at Waterstones book store or Amazon in paperback and Kindle edition.

ADVERTISING FEATURE LEGAL NEWS

End of lease guide for business tenants What happens at the end of a lease can be more expensive to sort out than taking the lease in the first place!

You may or may not have ‘security of tenure’ depending on whether certain forms were serveed on you by the landlord before the start of the lease.

Even if you have security the landlord can oppose the grant of a new lease if they can prove certain grounds for possession.

DIY probate could come back to bite Understand the risks before taking the plunge

By Teresa Payne

Sharing Property with the Elderly Sharing a property with an elderly relative may seem to be the perfect answer to rising property prices, and concerns over care for the elderly, but people contemplating such an arrangement should be aware of the legal and practicle problems which may arise. There are a number of different ways to share property, but an equal number of pitfalls, whether legal, financial or relating to tax.

Making an Inheritance Act claim to challenge a will or the Rules of Instestacy Generally, we are free to dispose of our assets as we want to. However, the law does provide protection for people who have been financially dependent on the deceased. This protection comes in the form of the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants Acts) 1975, known as the Inheritance Act. The act is there to help spouses, children, civil partners, cohabitees and other surviving dependants who have been left to cope without sufficient money to enable them to get by.

Parfitt Cresswell’s experienced legal teams can help you with any of the above points. Please call 01892 526442 or email enquiries@keenemarsland.com

According to the consumer watchdog Which?, while many Executors use solicitors to handle the entire probate process, around a third of probate applications are carried out by those who have opted for the DIY route.

The obvious reason for this is to save money. However, failure to follow the correct procedures could cost you dearly further down the line. Here are some factors to keep front of mind: If things go wrong, you must accept liability The Executors are personally and legally responsible for the Estate and beneficiaries, which means they must accept any liability if things go wrong.

The process can be time-consuming You must be willing to invest the time to prepare the probate papers. You may also be required to attend an interview at the probate registry to obtain the grant of probate before collecting all the assets and distributing them in accordance with the Will or Letters of Administration.

If you fail to act correctly, you could be sued by one or more

of the beneficiaries As the legal Executor, you can’t afford to cut any corners. You’ll need to know how to deal with relatively technical areas such as the income tax of the deceased with HMRC. If required, you’ll also need to protect the Estate by placing an advert for creditors and minimising any tax payable.

So why should you consider instructing a solicitor rather than doing it yourself?

Some people just don’t feel capable of doing it themselves and would rather put their trust in a professional to handle matters for them. Others simply aren’t up to it emotionally. Then there are those who just aren’t willing to accept the risk in case a mistake is made.

It might come as a surprise to learn that instructing a solicitor who is a specialist in probate, taxation and administering an Estate could not only pay for itself, but also leave a greater amount of funds in the Estate to be distributed.

Solicitors will also check to see if the Will is as tax efficient as possible at the time of death, even though it may have been prepared many years earlier. If it isn’t, they will look at options available to minimise the amount of tax paid. This again often

results in tax savings to the Estate which can be substantial, frequently amounting to tens of thousands of pounds saved in fact. This, in turn, is passed on to the beneficiaries.

In a recent case, we saved one of our clients more than £300,000 in tax on the Estate. So even after the payment of our legal fees, the beneficiaries of the Estate received more inheritance by instructing us than they would have done by doing it themselves.

Instructing a solicitor to deal with the Probate and administration of an Estate is an investment from both an emotional and a financial standpoint. However, you need to make sure that the person you are instructing is able to demonstrate to you that they offer a service that is tailored to your needs and that all tax implications are fully considered.

My Probate team are all qualified solicitors and legal executives with many years’ experience of dealing with not only the application process, but also with taxation issues, HMRC and other third parties. They fully consider the tax implications of the Will at the time of death and ensure that you are advised of any tax saving measures available.

So, make sure you make an informed decision when deciding how to deal with the Estate of a loved one. Mistakes could cost you dearly if you make the wrong choice. Furthermore, if you are the Executor or Personal Representative, the beneficiaries would be entitled to pursue you for any loss of the Estate caused by unnecessary tax payment or failure to carry out a relevant step during the process.

Each month, I offer a limited number of potential new clients an opportunity to apply for a free consultation with one of my expert solicitors. This month we have ten free consultations available.

If you wish to be considered for one, simply call 01892 526442 or email: enquiries@keenemarsland.co.uk quoting reference KM2020