Times of Tonbridge 15th March 2017

Wednesday March 15 | 2017

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Town finds unique way to help INSIDE refugees with handbag appeal HAPPY BIRTHDAY

The Times of Tonbridge looks back over its first year Page 22

By Murray Jones

newsdesk@timesoftonbridge.co.uk AN APPEAL for handbags filled with practical items for female refugees has got off to a swinging start.

The idea for a collection in the town was originally put forward by Faydra Mitchell, a leading member of Tonbridge Welcomes Refugees.

She took the inspiration from a project in Crowborough launched two weeks ago.

Within just a few days of proposing the idea online, Mrs Mitchell was inundated with positive feedback from those eager to help out.

“So many people want to help with refugees but it’s hard to know what to do, so I think it’s good to give them something specific to do like this,” she explained.

“Lots of women have got a spare handbag, so I’ve asked for people to fill it with sanitary items, clean pants, hairbrushes, just bits and pieces that are practical – essentially, things any women would want in their handbag.”

On Thursday [March 9], The Bakehouse at 124 allowed their top floor to be used as a collection point. Over the course of the morning, more than 30 handbags filled with useful items were donated. One generous lady, Jane Hood, handed over seven herself.

“I’m overwhelmed by the response to this appeal. The bags were packed with such thoughtful gifts, and with such care. I can’t thank everyone enough.

“The Tonbridge community never cease to amaze me with their kindness,” said Mrs Mitchell.

The bags will be held in storage before being shipped to Greece, where thousands of refugees remain in poorly equipped camps.

If you wish to donate you can drop bags off at Ray Goodwin Photography, 195 High Street, or contact Mrs Mitchell on 07846 238 925.

INJURY MADNESS

Embattled Angels fight on after a bruising encounter Page 70

IN THE BAG Becky Jones and Lou Fenlon with the donations

Judge sinks hopes for the Barden Boaters to stay in Tonbridge TONBRIDGE is set to ‘lose a part of the town’s history’ after the residents of the Barden Boatyard were told they must leave their home on the River Medway.

The 14 members of the mooring have been locked in an ongoing dispute with the landowner, a ‘Mr Mockford’, since October 2016. It is believed he wanted to evict the boaters to use the area for residential development.

Appeal ‘GUTTED’ The boaters were surprised by the verdict

They did not leave, believing they had a right to remain at the 25-yearold mooring. The judge at Hastings County Court on Monday disagreed,

ordering them to leave by June 30.

They have also been landed with a £23,000 legal bill. The boaters are considering an appeal.

“We were surprised and absolutely gutted to hear the verdict,” said Jonathan Sidaway, 47, who has lived in Tonbridge for 25 years.

“It’s a great mystery where we will go. It’s the dissolution of the community.”

An online fundraiser was set up three weeks ago, already raising more than £1,300 toward their legal costs.

“We are overwhelmed by the support and sincerely thank the people of Tonbridge for the courage it has instilled in us,” added Mr Sidaway.

BEAST OR BEAUTY? The Hollywood star and his Tonbridge roots Page 3

VERY SPECIAL DAY

Chiddingstone Castle hosts a wedding fair See What’s On

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Local News

Cyclists urge Tonbridge riders to ‘Go Dutch’ A NEW two-wheeled pressure group has launched in the town, and its members are keen for people to pick up a few habits from some of our European neighbours.

The Tonbridge Bicycle Users Group argue that there needs to be a ‘radical rethink’ of transport in Kent to make cycling safer in order to prevent further gridlock on the roads, as well as reducing air pollution and promoting exercise.

At an event at Ye Olde Chequers Inn in the High Street, Matt Turner – who recently returned to live in Tonbridge after cycling around Europe – spoke of the ‘excellent cycle provision which makes it safe for children to cycle to school alone’ in the Netherlands.

Alternatives A spokesperson for the group, Fran Long, said: “It is so safe [in the Netherlands] that people do not feel it necessary to wear cycle helmets and high visibility jackets.

“In contrast, many children in Tonbridge are driven to school, although many parents say that they would allow their children to cycle if only the roads were safer.”

The group are now looking at ways to make alternatives to driving more attractive in the town to decrease the prevalence of cars on the road.

Anyone interested in safer cycling or walking in the town can join a Facebook group called Tonbridge Bicycle Users Group.

Wednesday March 15 | 2017

Research shows people want to put their money where their values are

By Murray Jones

newsdesk@timesoftonbridge.co.uk THE majority of people do not know how the money in their bank accounts is being used or invested, according to research commissioned by a Tonbridgebased bank.

Run solely from Fosse House in the High Street, The Charity Bank is an ‘ethical savings and loan’ company which lends exclusively to organisations with a ‘social purpose’. Since 2002, it has provided over £170million to charities and projects nationwide.

The bank independently commissioned a survey of more than 2,000 adults nationwide, which found that 74 per cent of people don’t know how the money they deposit is being invested, and 56

per cent of people would like to be offered an ‘ethical option’ when choosing a savings account.

On the back of these findings it has launched a campaign to encourage people to move their funds to institutions which are more in sync with their values, namely themselves.

‘Wherever it’s invested, money takes a journey’ Patrick Crawford, the bank’s Chief Executive, said: “People don’t know what banks do with their money, but the findings tell us that there is an appetite to find out, and that people would like their savings to be used for good causes.

“Wherever it’s invested, money takes a journey. This might be

around the globe, around the big banks or on the stock markets.

“Sometimes it does good along the way; sometimes it doesn’t.”

The bank, which employs around 40 people in Tonbridge, argues that once you put the money into your account, it is out of your control.

The way it is used may go against personal values – for example, someone who cares about cruelty to animals may have their money used to invest in factory farming.

Charity Bank promise complete transparency

about the organisations they lend to, and pledge that customers’ savings ‘become part of a social mission’ while still offering ‘competitive rates’.

Currently, their rate of interest is 0.9 per cent AER, which is comparable to all major high street banks Although their focus is nationwide, locally they have helped Hospice of Hope, a Kent-based palliative care charity, acquire a building in Otford High Street for their new head office.

ETHICAL Charity Bank Chief Executive Patrick Crawford

From a temp to the top – publishing’s rising star triumphs in national awards

By Jonathan Banks

newsdesk@timesoftonbridge.co.uk

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A MAN from Hildenborough has been recognised with a national award for his work at a Kent-based publisher – despite only joining as a temporary packager three years ago.

Joshua Brown, 25, scooped the Young Independent Publisher of the Year award at the eponymous ceremony in Oxford for his work with How2Become – a careers specialist publisher in Kings Hill.

He drove a record year of turnover for the company [a 26.9 per cent increase on the previous year] and impressed the judges with his rise from temporary administrative assistant to Operations Director in less than three years. At 25, he now has a vast remit including sales, marketing, title management and recruitment.

The judges said: “Joshua achieved so much in 2016 and did remarkable things in some nontraditional publishing environments. He is a real rising star.”

After graduating from the University of Derby in 3D Modelling and Animation, Mr Brown planned to become a computer games artist, but couldn’t find any long-term work.

In September 2013, he applied to How2Become for a part-time temporary role in which he was the sole worker alongside founder and ‘mentor’ Richard McMunn. At the beginning,

‘I love the whole process, seeing an idea you first had at home one night going into print months later is brilliant’

his job was to pack the company’s first book, How To Become a Fire Fighter, into jiffy bags.

He quickly ‘fell in love with publishing’ and has risen through the ranks, writing his own book, How To Become a Game Designer, published in December 2016, along the way.

“I love the whole process, seeing an idea you first had at home one night going into print months later is brilliant. Plus helping people with their careers is really rewarding,” he told the Times.

How2Become.com was launched by former firefighter Mr McMunn when he realised there was a lack of resources and help for people who were keen to join the Fire Service.

He started helping applicants find employment in other fields, and pass tests used by the Police Service, armed forces, train operating companies and airlines, before setting up his career guides publishing arm. To this day,

How2Become have published 179 books.

Unlike traditional publishers, most of their sales come from direct orders on their website rather than general online retailers.

Last year, with Mr Brown as Operations Manager, the company published 48 new books, all written by four in-house writers. He explained they have a ‘quick turnaround’, with a title taking one to two months to go from idea to publication. They also ramped up their YouTube content, receiving more than three million views on their free careers advice videos.

How2Become have also branched out into educational revision guides, offering schools £300-worth of free material in order to spread awareness of the brand.

Tonbridge’s Hayesbrook School is one of 130 schools nationally to take them up on the offer.

“It’s surprising how many turn us down,” said Mr Brown.

WINNING SMILES Damian Barr (Presenter), Joshua Brown (How2Become) and Ruth Killick (Award Sponsor)

Local News

Wednesday March 15 | 2017

NEWS IN BRIEF

The Beast of Tonbridge hits the silver screen A HOLLYWOOD hunk who took up acting in Tonbridge was watched by thousands worldwide last week as he starred in Disney’s latest blockbuster.

Dan Stevens, 34 is the co-lead alongside Harry Potter star Emma Watson in the liveaction remake of Beauty and the Beast.

Stevens who, in 1996, won a scholarship to Tonbridge School at the age of 13, recently spoke with The Telegraph of his time at the independent.

“These schools are built like castles.

They have imposing façades and are run on very old English principles, and they are all trying to be echoes of each other,” he said, adding that he became ‘unruly’ – smoking, getting suspended and going on demonstrations.

He was encouraged into the dramatic arts by teachers Jonathan Smith and Lawrence Thornbury, who he described as ‘this incredible duo’ and ‘an oasis of creativity’ who ‘championed what I was good at’.

He has previously described Tonbridge as ‘where it all started’ and labelled his plays at Tunbridge Wells Girls Grammar School and Walthamstow Hall in Sevenoaks as ‘essentially a good way to get out of Tonbridge and meet girls’.

Lucky escape for driver CLOUDS of smoke filled up the town’s skyline in the early hours of Saturday [March 11] morning after a transporter lorry and its cargo caught fire in Morley Road.

It is understood the fire started due to an electrical fault under the vehicle’s dashboard.

The driver, who was sleeping in the lorry woke up as he was having trouble breathing.

He managed to avoid injury although the two vans he was transporting were destroyed.

Firefighters prevented the fire from spreading to other vehicles and a property nearby.

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Youngsters are invited to represent England but now face funding fight

READY FOR BATTLE: Pete Rickards, George Rowe, Isobel Eason-Warner and Katie Moon

By Murray Jones

newsdesk@timesoftonbridge.co.uk FOUR teenagers who have been selected to represent their country in Taekwondo are appealing to the local community for support so that they can compete.

Pete Rickards, 16, George Rowe, 15, Isobel EasonWarner, 14, and Katie Moon, 15, beat hundreds of other teenagers to earn their place on the 36-strong national squad. They all train with the 220 member Tonbridge Taekwondo Club, some since the age of three.

The team will travel to Sofia in Bulgaria in April to compete in the Junior European Championship

before facing off against squads from around the world in Dublin in October.

However, Taekwondo receives little funding from central bodies, so the club, parents and students themselves are looking at ways to find the money necessary to take part on the international stage.

In order to compete, the four martial artists must purchase around £500 each worth of regulation equipment, on top of travel and accommodation.

In total, the four of them are looking to raise £8,000 by October.

They are looking for sponsorship from local businesses as well as putting on individual fundraising events, including raffles and cake sales.

Their coach Tim Dunn, 37, has been running the club in Tonbridge since 2001 and was himself

recently selected to train the national team.

He said: “We are over the moon with what they’ve achieved.

Most of them have been with the club over ten years, so I’ve taken them from the youngest age bracket to the oldest.

“We pride ourselves on being a competitive club, but they’ve really excelled.”

Katie Moon, who attends Tonbridge Grammar School, revealed she was ‘excited but also quite scared as well’ at the upcoming challenges, adding: “It’s a big experience and it can be daunting at times, but I’m just so excited to be part of the squad.

“It’s really a step up from the training I’ve done before and the coaches and other competitors set the bar really high. But they do it to prepare us for the competition we’ll face internationally, so the training standard has to be high.”

To donate, visit: www.youcaring.com/georgeroweisobeleasonwarnerkatiemoonpete-768503

What is Taekwondo?  A Korean martial art, characterised by its

emphasis on head-height kicks, jumping and spinning kicks.  It is a relatively new sport, with the first

governing body being formed in 1959.

Taekwondo has been an Olympic event since 2000.

Amateur players revive the roaring 1920s as they return to their roots

Murder charge for duo POLICE have charged two men with murder following the death of another man in a Tunbridge Wells car park.

The body of Giles Metcalfe, 43 was found during the early hours of Tuesday March 7 in a stairwell at Torrington car park opposite the station. He is known to have come from the local area.

James Marshall-Gunn, 29, of Hadlow Road, Tonbridge appeared before Medway Magistrates Court on Monday [March 13] following his arrest the previous day.

Last week Dean Lewis, aged 34 and of no fixed address, was charged with the same offence.

NEWS

GOING JAPANESE The LAMPS publicise The Mikado

A MUSICAL theatre group are celebrating their 90th birthday by returning to the place where it all began – Tonbridge.

The Local Amateur Musical Players, known as the LAMPS, originated in 1927 when players from The Judd School’s rugby club took to the stage to raise money when funds were running low.

Their first production, entitled Query?, was penned by an ex-pupil and raised an invaluable £35.

Encouraged by their success, the props and forwards continued to play male and female parts until they were joined by female pupils from Tonbridge Grammar School.

The LAMPS then found a home for

their popular performances in the Royal Victoria Hall, Southborough.

However, nearly a century and 107 shows after forming, the troupe found themselves looking for a new venue due to the planned demolition of the historic theatre to make way for a new multi-millionpound ‘Town Hub’ development.

But they have found refuge in the EM Forster Theatre, where their production of The Mikado will be running from April 4-8.

The cast were out promoting the show at the weekend, with LAMPS friend Edward Hickmott, of funeral directors ER Hickmott & Son, driving his 1914 Wolseley Stellite around Tonbridge to pull in the crowds.

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Local News

Mixed fortune for schools in business rates shake up

By Phil Spacey

newsdesk@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk IT’S NOT just the town’s businesses that will lose out from the revaluation of business rates – one Tunbridge Wells secondary school is also set to fall victim.

Controversy has surrounded upcoming changes to the tax, with businesses around Kent warning that a rapid rise in their rates risks closures up and down High Streets.

State-run schools also pay business rates, essentially reverting money away from schools, which are funded by Kent County Council, and back to central Government.

Whitehall then distributes a portion of that to Tunbridge Wells Borough Council.

Nationally, there have been concerns that the new rates would leave schools with up to a 40 per cent increase in their bill, after a study by consultancy Gerald Eve. While the town’s state secondaries won’t receive this much of a hike, Tunbridge Wells Grammar School for Boys (TWGSB) is facing a 19 per cent increase in what they owe to the state.

Under the government’s new formula TWGSB’s rateable value has risen from £272,500 to £325,000. Charged at a rate of just below 50 per cent, the school will now have to pay an extra £25,000 on its current £130,800 bill.

The average salary for a secondary school teacher is £28,983.

Exacerbate CONVERSELY, Tunbridge Wells Grammar School for Girls (TWGGS) will benefit from a 22 per cent cut in what they owe. The school will save £57,600 although it will still have to fork out just under £200,000.

Kent College, an independent school for girls aged 3-18 in Pembury, receive an 80 per cent relief on its business rates due to its charitable status. This means they will pay under £50,000, according to the government’s estimates.

Skinners Kent Academy actually face the most significant increase (62 per cent) in their rateable value, but its academy status should mean its finances are not impacted.

Academies have their costs, including rates, met fully, directly from Whitehall.

The same applies to St Gregory’s Catholic School and Bennett Memorial Diocesan School, which both have academy status.

Wednesday March 15 | 2017

Decade of Fairtrade in the town is celebrated...

By Murray Jones

mjones@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk THE benefits of Fairtrade were brought home to local shoppers when a Malawian sugar cane producer visited the town.

Charles Chavi, 36, spoke to an audience at Tunbridge Wells Baptist Church about the transformative impact the scheme has had on his community in the southern Chikwawa district.

The extra price paid by consumers of Fairtrade brands enables Mr Chavi and his fellow small holder farmers to receive a £50 per tonne premium on their product. This money is then used to develop the basic infrastructure in the area – with schools, specialist drugs and ambulances purchased purely with the scheme’s funds.

As part of the ‘Fairtrade Fortnight’ his visit coincided with the creation of a community painting assembled by various citizens of the town, young and old, to be displayed in Royal Victoria Place until April 2.

Made up of a collection of small individually painted squares, the

final piece is meant to resemble a famous image. Anyone who can figure out the original will have a chance to win a hamper donated by Marks and Spencer – one of the first major UK companies to sign up for the Fairtrade scheme.

The painting will be accompanied by an exhibition, celebrating Tunbridge Wells reaching the milestone of ten years as a Fairtrade Town.

Manned by volunteers, it will showcase all the retailers and cafés that stock and serve Fairtrade products within the town.

Chair of Tunbridge Wells Fairtrade Town Group Mandy Flashman-Wells said: “When we shop we can easily get stuck buying the things we are used to and don’t think about the impact that can have on other people.”

The Fairtrade Foundation is a registered charity which works to help small-scale producers receive a fair price for their goods. They also campaign for big brands to sign up to the scheme. A portion of the extra money paid by consumers of Fairtrade goes toward investing in their community.

ALL IS FAIR: Jane Clarke, Mandy Flashman-Wells, Tunji Makanju, Charles Chavi and James Clarke

The Kasinthula Cane Growers Association (KCG) EVERY quarter representatives from the KCG, a group of more than 700 small farms including Mr Chavi’s, come together to democratically decide how the use the funds.

Since becoming a Fairtrade supplier they have used the money to build a new primary school.

“Previously, children had to walk eight to ten kilometres to get to the nearest school. This prevented them from going or meant they were very late. Now 900 children can have a short walk to go to school,” said Mr Chavi.

New manager pledges to bring businesses and town together

By Adam Hignett

adam@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk ROYAL Tunbridge Wells Together welcomed its new Town Centre Manager last week following the resignation of Rachel Jenman at the start of the year.

The role will be taken over by Karen Pengelly who has an extensive background in marketing and was

the Town Centre Manager of Richmond-upon-Thames between 2001 and 2005.

As long-term resident of nearby Heathfield, Mrs Pengelly said she is ‘extremely familiar’ with the town in which she now works.

Her job will be to work with the members of Royal Tunbridge Wells Together, an organisation set up last year to represent the interests of local companies, in order to help

promote the town as a good place to invest in, work in and set up a business.

Mrs Pengelly, who started on March 9, said she will be spending the next few weeks, ‘getting to know people’, adding: “This job is not just about representing retailers, but the town’s service industries and other businesses as well.”

See next week’s Times for a full interview with Karen Pengelly

Other investments include purchasing specialist drugs, bicycle ambulances and linking more than 200 homes to electricity.

Last year 90 per cent of the sugar KCG sold went into the UK market. The most well-known product their yield goes into is Traidcraft’s Geobars.

But recent political developments have left the the growers less certain of the future.

“With Brexit, we don’t know what it will mean going forward. Searching for new markets is not easy,” he said.

Local News

Wednesday March 15 | 2017

Football club is cleared of referee discrimination

By Andrew Tong newsdesk@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk

TUNBRIDGE WELLS Football Club has breathed a collective sigh of relief after been cleared of a charge of discrimination by one of its supporters.

The appeal verdict was announced after an investigation that lasted almost six months – and had cast damning aspersions on the club.

A Southern Counties East League match against Croydon at Culverden Stadium on September 27 last year was abandoned with three minutes to go when the referee walked off and did not return.

The official, John Nazari, gave no reason to the players or officials as he left the field. He had sent off two players during the match.

Tunbridge Wells were leading 1-0, and were finally awarded the three points last week, which could prove invaluable as the team are currently caught up in a relegation battle.

Exonerated Mr Nazari submitted his report to the Kent Football Association stating that he had been abused by a spectator, which contravened FA Rule E3.

It states: “A participant shall at all times act in the best interests of the game and shall not act in any manner which is improper or brings the game into disrepute or use any one, or a combination of, violent conduct, serious foul play, threatening, abusive, indecent or insulting words or behaviour.”

Until the national FA releases its written notes on the case with the transcript and the basis of judgment, it is not known if the incident constituted an ‘aggravated breach’ of E3.

This specifies that it ‘includes a reference, whether express or implied, to any one or more of the following: Ethnic origin, colour, race, nationality, religion or belief, gender, gender reassignment, sexual orientation or disability’.

Tunbridge Wells FC contested the charge of discrimination at an Appeal Board hearing after it was upheld, and they were fully exonerated.

Scott Bartlett, chairman of Tunbridge Wells FC, said: “No one heard what was said apart from the referee, and there was a crowd of 300 that night.

“The incident occurred in the area where the Tunbridge Wells and Croydon officials were standing and they didn’t hear anything either.”

He added: “The referee couldn’t tell who had said the alleged comment and so it wasn’t necessarily a Tunbridge Wells supporter anyway.”

“There was simply no foundation to the allegation. And it’s not the first time he’s done it. He has been told he will not officiate in our league again.”

Previous allegation…

REFEREE John Nazari, who is of Iranian origin, was previously involved in a discrimination case which led to the resignation of officials running another league.

Three administrators in the Combined Counties League stood down in May 2014 over the FA’s alleged failure to act on their behalf following complaints about Mr Nazari.

He in turn claimed that he had been a victim of discrimination over his performance assessments.

Innovative go-slow zone is launched

BRAKE TIME: Pupils from St John’s and St Augustine’s Primary Schools implore drivers to slow down A NEW 20mph speed limit zone in the St John’s area was launched on Friday [March 10].

The area, which is host to approximately 1,000 primary school pupils every day, will cover 50 roads – making it the largest go-slow zone in Kent.

Pupils from St John’s and St Augustine’s Primary Schools were joined by Kent County Councillor Peter Oakford and Kent Police and Crime Commissioner Matthew Scott for the launch on Newlands Road.

The scheme, which is expected to cost £40,000 to implement,

has been the brainchild of Cllr Oakford, who believes the changes are necessary in order to make the roads safer.

Plans are being considered for setting up a ‘children’s court’, where speeders can avoid a fine by opting to face a panel of disapproving youngsters.

Approximately half of the cost is

to be met through Cllr Oakford’s members’ grant fund. This is a sum of money he can draw upon in his capacity as the representative of Tunbridge Wells North at Kent County Council, which can be directed towards local projects.

A further £15,000 will be met by the county council itself as the authority responsible for implementing the changes, while the remaining funds will be provided by Tunbridge Wells Borough Council.

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Local News

New community event proved it could make a big difference

By Eileen Leahy newsdesk@timesoftunbridgewells. co.uk MORE than 1300 people went along to the Assembly Hall in Tunbridge Wells on Friday for the first Women Work day that was hailed ‘as a truly inspiring event’.

It was the brainchild of Ania Jeffries, a resident of the town and a life and career coach who has also worked with mentoring organisations such as The Prince’s Trust.

According to Ania, Women Work’s primary purpose was to ‘inspire people, to showcase and celebrate positive role models, provide tools to maximise individuals’ potential and to raise awareness of mental health issues and build new partnerships within the Kent community’.

Experts from areas as diverse as finance and fashion talked in a number of different pop-up areas of the Assembly Hall to MEET THE TEAM: Women Work organiser Ania Jeffries (far left) and other volunteers crowds of people about their

Wednesday March 15 | 2017

What people said about Women Work:

“

It’s the first time I have ever done anything like this but I didn’t want to turn the opportunity down. Stepping outside our comfort zone can be nerve racking but you never know if you don’t try. I am now enrolling for a professional speaking course and am so excited about my story and sharing it with others.

Lorraine Fletcher, ex-wife of professional footballer Paul Merson

”

“

Every moment I feel like I’m struggling I can’t help but think of all the amazing speakers and all your advice. Thank you all. Your voice and inspirational words are keeping my head held high.

Sophie McCartney, volunteer

”

“

Amazing work! Both my friends who I invited have said how it was a truly inspiring event! Thank you everyone and a big thanks to Ania for her vision, her dream, her dedication.

Kizzie Nicholson, Social Fireworks, speaker

”

Local News

Wednesday March 15 | 2017

professional and personal experiences offering guidance on how people can make positive changes in their life for the better.

The day, which was free to attend, was visited by hundreds of people who benefitted from the advice and workshop sessions given by organisations such as the NatWest Business School, Pure Gym and DAVVS (Domestic Abuse Volunteer Support Services).

The ticketed evening event, that cost £5 a head, was attended by 499 people and included live entertainment from cheerleaders Inspire Allstars and Intensity Cheer Extreme as well as some inspiring talks by Lorraine Fletcher, former wife of footballer Paul Merson, Charisma Coach Nikki Owens and ex- England women’s rugby captain Catherine Spencer. All proceeds went to the Pickering Drop in Cancer Centre, and there was also a fundraising raffle.

Speaking after the event, which was supported by the Times, Ania said it had been a huge success.

“From the fantastic positive feedback we’ve had I know we have inspired others to take the first step to take control of their life, to know they have a voice and a right to be heard. We could not have wished for a better outcome. Just shows you how vision, hard work, passion, focus and self-belief wins every time.”

She added “I could not have done it without the

NEWS

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Women Work by numbers:

1,324 70 PEOPLE ATTENDING

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WORKSHOPS

cheerleading teams

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specialist areas - Mind & Body; Confidence & Self-belief; Running your own business; Parenting; Wardrobe and make-up; Preparing to find/return to work

“Brilliant day. So well run it’s hard to believe it hasn’t been running for years!”

Elise Pacquette, Funpact, speaker

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SINGERS

NatWest Mobile Business school

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SPEAKERS

support of everyone from sponsors, to volunteers.

I would like to say a massive thank you to the Times of Tunbridge Wells for supporting us with Women Work and for allowing me to let others think big and believe they can achieve anything once they put their mind to it.

“If each person takes away one small tip to help them take that next step, we will know that we’ve supported them to grow and develop, to succeed in their career and future and this change, no matter how small, will impact on everyone and everything around them. It will be the start of something very exciting.”

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BUSINESS

Times Awards

LOCAL NEWSPAPERS

Wednesday March 15 | 2017

Cripps is passionate about building the profile and reputation of our businesses Now is the time to act if you want to be in with a chance of having your efforts recognised by your peers at the 2017 Times Business Awards. The deadline for entries to all ten categories is April 13

Don’t miss out on this opportunity

Enter for FREE now at: timesbusiness awards.co.uk Ten categories...

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In association with

Sponsored by

THE Times newspaper was launched two years ago with the aim of reflecting the life and vibrancy of Tunbridge Wells, and in particular its business community. And we believe we’ve done just that.

Staying true to its founding principles of being a business-friendly publication, the newspaper held its inaugural business awards last year.

Staged at Salomons, the black tie event was a

to play an active role in the town, the firm became a member of Royal Tunbridge Wells Together upon the organisation’s founding last year.

It also has several key partners involved in both the local and county law societies, with Phil Youdan and Vanda James being the Presidents this year.

It is in this spirit of supporting the local community that Cripps’ Managing Partner, Gavin Tyler, said he was ‘delighted’ they were sponsoring the awards for the second year running.

He added: “They help identify and celebrate local business excellence.

“We have some brilliant businesses in the area – from large to small – that are dynamic and creative and with a keenness to invest so they can grow and expand.

“It is important that we all work to support these enterprises: To recognise and reward their efforts and contribution, not only in a local capacity, but in terms of the broader Kent economy.

“I am extremely passionate about our local business community, having been involved in it all my working life, and want to continue to help build its profile and reputation within the county and beyond.”

huge success, with more than 150 companies competing for the awards across ten categories.

This year’s gala night, on Thursday May 18, promises to be even bigger and better.

None of this, though, would be possible without the backing of the town’s business community and those who have agreed to support the awards through sponsorship.

Indeed, the event would be much diminished without the support of its main sponsor, the law firm Cripps, which was noted by Legal 500 as the ‘key firm in Kent for commercial and corporate’ legal work.

Headquartered in Tunbridge Wells since 1852, it consists of 46 partners and employs around 350 staff.

In a sign of its continuing commitment to remain located in the town, it has recently moved the majority of its staff to a single, purposebuilt office on Mount Ephraim – the first of its size in Tunbridge Wells for 25 years.

‘Number 22’ is the product of a ten-year search, and will be opened by MP Greg Clark next Friday [March 24].

Gavin Tyler Reinforcing its determination

To enter, visit our awards website and follow the instructions that could put you on to a winning path: www.timesbusinessawards.co.uk

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BUSINESS

Local Business News

Wednesday March 15 | 2017

Women encouraged to work in construction THE first female site manager at Millwood Designer Homes has called on the construction sector to be more accessible for women, saying the housebuilding industry ‘does not seem’ to be discussed in education for girls.

Charlotte Cox, 27, made the remarks in an interview to mark International Women’s Day last Wednesday [March 8].

Having joined the Tonbridge-based firm in 2015, the Construction Management graduate from Westminster University is currently overseeing work

PIONEER Charlotte Cox

at a five-home development in Sutton Valence, near Maidstone. She said: “While studying construction management at university, I was one of three ladies on my course. There were a lot more on the architecture and design and art courses, but that side never particularly appealed to me.

“People are often surprised about my chosen career and shocked when they walk in the office to meet me, but generally they are just as pleased as they would be if a man was working on the project.

“I definitely think jobs in construction should be introduced more to younger girls as a potential career option. Unfortunately, I did nothing at school more than basic engineering in physics lessons.

“The housebuilding industry does not seem to be discussed in education for girls, but for those who work and think logically like me, it is ideal.”

Ms Cox added that while there were ‘definitely a lot more’ women branching into construction today, they usually took up roles in Health and Safety, but not in the building work itself.

John Elliott, Managing Director at Millwood Designer Homes, said his firm is ‘extremely lucky’ to have an ‘incredibly talented and diverse team’, adding: “International Women’s Day is the ideal opportunity for us to celebrate the significant contribution our female employees make to our business. We will continue to encourage, motivate and support all our staff, including Charlotte, to ensure that they enjoy a rewarding career in the housebuilding industry.”

Local firms criticise budget blow to the self-employed THE Chancellor’s announcement that National Insurance rates will increase for the self-employed has been described as ‘a blatant breach of the Government’s manifesto’ by a local tax specialist.

Accountants and solicitors have lined up to criticise the change, which will see the NICs of the self-employed rise from 9 per cent to 11 per cent by 2019. Chancellor Philip Hammond said this would help close the gap with their employee peers, a discrepancy he said was ‘no longer justified’.

However, Craig Harman, a tax specialist at Perrys Chartered Accountants in Tunbridge Wells, said: “The increase in National Insurance contributions for the self-employed would appear to be a blatant breach of the Government’s manifesto pledge from two years ago, which

promised not to increase NI for the next five years.

This will leave those worst affected out of pocket by £700 per year come 2019.”

He also warned the other ‘significant hit’ on businesses is the reduction in the tax-free dividend allowance from £5,000 to £2,000.

Mr Perry’s concerns were echoed Ben Stepney, Senior Associate in the Employment team at Thomson Snell & Passmore.

He said that although the move to close the National Insurance gap was ‘widely expected’, it will come as a blow for many – often low-paid – workers. He added this was especially the case with those who work in the ‘gig economy’ who are treated as self-employed and who ‘already suffer from lack of job security and day-to-day uncertainty’.

Wealth manager wins top award INVESTMENT management firm Brooks Macdonald in 2009 to support professional advisers and their in Tunbridge Wells has been named the winner clients throughout Kent, East Sussex, Essex of the Citywire Wealth Manager Regional and Suffolk. Since then, the business has Star Award for the South East region. gone from strength to strength.

The awards, announced on March 2, “We have built our business on the celebrate the top wealth managers from central Brooks Macdonald philosophies, across the country, and are calculated which include strong relationships, on the ratings professional advisers trust, investing in high quality people give to discretionary investment and investing in the local community firms based on their service and through various charities and investment proposition sponsorships. Our aim is to across eight regions. continue to ensure our clients Pam Beith, Senior Investment receive the highest possible Director and Head of Brooks standards of service.”

Macdonald’s Tunbridge Ms Beith continued: “We Wells office, said: would like to thank all of our “We’re thrilled to win this staff, clients, introducers award. We opened our and the local community Pam Beith Tunbridge Wells office for their support.”

Local Business News

Wednesday March 15 | 2017

BUSINESS

11

Hever in top five for big weekend

CAPITAL IDEA The county’s apprentice numbers are on the rise

A RECORD number of applications have been received for this year’s Kent Big Weekend, with over 184,000 people signing up in an attempt to receive free tickets for some of the county’s most popular attractions. This is an increase of 62,000 applications on last year.

More than 22,000 pairs of tickets were donated by 116 attractions across Kent for the event, which takes place on Saturday and Sunday April 1 and 2.

Hever Castle rounded off the top five behind the county’s popular animal attractions: Wingham Wildlife Park, Howletts Wild Animal Park, Port Lympne Reserve and the Rare Breeds Centre were the top four most popular choices.

Scheme launched to double the amount of apprentices that are Made in Kent…

A NEW campaign was launched last week to with the aim of encouraging Kent employers to increase the number of apprentices in the county.

The launch of the initiative ‘Made in Kent’ was timed to coincide with National Apprenticeship Week and is being run by the county council.

Paul Carter, the Leader of Kent County Council [KCC], has set the ambitious target of doubling the number young people starting apprenticeships from the 11,120 recorded during 2015/16. The aim is for this feat to be achieved by 2019/20.

Business leaders from across the county attended the scheme’s launch, which took place at the Shepherd Neame Brewery in Faversham.

Cllr Carter called upon them to make the most of the ‘significant changes’ being introduced on April 6 to the government’s apprenticeship programme, including the introduction of the Apprenticeship Levy.

‘The campaign is KCC’s way of celebrating the success of apprentices across the county’ Cllr Carter said: “The Made in Kent campaign is KCC’s way of celebrating the success of appren-

tices across the county, and promoting the considerable benefits they bring to employers large and small.”

He continued: “For the first time, businesses can commission their own training, hire apprentices of any age, upskill their existing workforce and access training funding – all through the apprenticeship programme.”

“KCC is committed to doing all we can to ensure that as many apprentices as possible continue to be ‘Made in Kent’, and that the maximum amount of training funds available through the Apprenticeship Levy is spent in Kent, for the benefit of local businesses and people.”

Hever Castle

Franchise makes a splash THE team at Tunbridge Wells business Puddle Ducks, which specialises in providing swimming lessons for babies and young children, have been awarded Franchise of the Year by their parent company. The awards, which form part of the Puddle Ducks annual conference held at the De Vere Cranage Estate in Cheshire last week, was presented to local franchise owners Clive and Lindsay Relf by Neil Clough, a former contestant on the business TV programme The Apprentice.

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NEWS

Community News

Wednesday March 15 | 2017

Thoughtful company helps homeless be independent

By Andrew Tong

newsdesk@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk

improve someone’s feeling of self-worth. We can’t thank them enough.”

After raising £500 with their sleep-out for the charity last year, Co-op Funeralcare wanted to continue to provide vital support.

Ian Richardson, of the Tunbridge Wells branch, and Pauline Taffurelli, in Tonbridge, presented the essential homeware to The Bridge Trust.

Ian said: “We were so pleased to be able to provide the start-up kits for people being rehomed, and know they will be put to good use.

“We hope it will demonstrate to those down on their luck that people do care and want to help support them.”

The Bridge Trust has been operating for over 25 years and have provided accommodation and support for the homeless to over 700 people.

BRANCHES of Co-op Funeralcare in Tunbridge Wells and Tonbridge have donated domestic goods for homeless people who are moving on from The Bridge Trust into their own accommodation.

The Bridge Trust is a small local charity which provides homes with support for local people without anywhere to live. Residents stay with the Trust for up to two years, and, once they are ready, it helps them make the big step into their own residences.

Nick Doggett, a Supported Housing Officer at the charity, said: “When residents move on to independent living from our accommodation they often have nothing or just the very basics to start them off.

“We encourage them to save for essential items, but often this means a very basic knife, fork, Visit www.thebridgetrust.org.uk spoon, plate bought at the cheapest outlet they can find them.”

The Co-op donations include plates, bowls, mugs, towels and baking trays.

Nick adds: “Some thought by the Co-op has obviously gone into these packs and the quality of them is to a very high standard.

“It can be easy to forget that people struggling to make ends meet appreciate the finer things in life, too.

“I know that the recipients will be very grateful and appreciative.

“Items such as these cannot fail HOMEMAKERS: (l-r) Nick Doggett and Becky Butterwick of The Bridge to help lift a low mood and Trust with Pauline Taffurelli and Ian Richardson of Co-op Funeralcare

Paving the way to Dunorlan Park

A LONG stretch of pavement on Pembury Road has been resurfaced thanks to Kent County Councillor Chris Hoare, after residents at Seven Springs, a home for the disabled, experienced difficulty getting to Dunorlan Park. Cllr Hoare used half of his £20,000 Member’s Grant – which councillors can put towards projects – to carry out the resurfacing. He said: “I was happy to use the money for this cause.”

Police search for clues to help make Kent safer KENT’S Police and Crime Commissioner is inviting innovative groups to bid for a share of two substantial funding opportunities.

Matthew Scott has created the Safer in Kent Fund and the Mental Health and Policing Fund to give money to groups which can help deliver his Safer in Kent plan. The funds are each worth £150,000.

TOP OF THE WORLD The 51 scouts at Kandersteg

Mr Scott said: “Kent Police works with a number of locally-based organisations and councils to tackle crime and antisocial behaviour.

“I want to provide support to vulnerable, minority and hard-to-reach groups to reduce and prevent victimisation, and I want to reduce the amount of criminals reoffending.

“To do that, I need as many of our partners as possible to come to my office with innovative ideas.”

He explained: “I’m willing to award up to £10,000 to projects which address a particular local

Scouts on a high with winning photo THE Scouts of Royal Tunbridge Wells District have won a photography prize for a picture taken on their trip to Kandersteg in Switzerland last summer.

In August, 51 members of the

group spent eight days at the International Scout Centre in the Swiss Alps on a trip headed up by Leader Brian Hobden and organised by Venture Abroad.

The company runs expeditions

for 85 Scout and Guide Groups every year – catering for around 2,200 children. It organises the photo competition – and Tunbridge Wells District came top out of 90 entries.

Nominate ‘exceptional’ people for Perry’s community awards CHARTERED accountants Perrys, of Tunbridge Wells, are seeking nominations for their community awards, which recognise ‘inspirational and exceptional’ individuals, charities and businesses across Kent.

Perrys Exceptional Awards will celebrate the ‘unsung heroes who go above and beyond the call of duty to bring positive change to the communities around them’.

Last year’s winners included Fred and Fran Long from Tonbridge, who volunteer tirelessly on behalf of community groups and charity projects.

Five categories of the Exceptional Awards will be up for grabs this year: Small Charity, Large Charity, Business, Business Community Initiative and Individual.

All nominations will be judged by a panel from the local community, and shortlisted finalists will receive two free tickets to the awards ceremony at Leeds Castle in November. need, but if a project can cover a larger part of Kent and Medway I’m willing to award up to £20,000.”

‘I want to provide support to vulnerable, minority and hard-to-reach groups to prevent victimisation’

PCC Matthew Scott

Applicants are advised to read the PCC’s Commissioning Strategy. “Of course my office and I will be

Stewart Pope, Chief Executive at Perrys, said: “The awards celebrate not only the community of Kent, but the individuals, charities and businesses that go to exceptional lengths to make a real difference to those around them, often with little reward or recognition.

“We are so proud to be a part of such an incredible community, and we encourage everyone to take part and nominate an individual, charity or business they feel is truly exceptional – whatever the reason, we want to hear about them.”

To make a nomination, just send an email with the category you would like to enter, along with the name of the charity, business or individual you are nominating, to the following email address: exceptionalawards@pmwcom.co.uk The closing dates for nominations is July 31. For more details, visit www.perrysaccountants.co.uk/ exceptional-awards-2017 monitoring the progress of any projects carefully to make sure that taxpayers’ money is used wisely,” said Mr Scott.

The Safer in Kent Fund is targeted at voluntary, charity and community groups to support the delivery of innovative projects, with parish and district councils also allowed to bid. The Mental Health and Policing Fund is to support schemes which will reduce the potential demand on police time when there are other services available.

The closing date for bids is May 30. For more information, and to make an application, visit www.kent-pcc.gov.uk/what-we-do/ commissioning/funds

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National News

NEWS IN BRIEF

Female players allowed – but they have to wait MUIRFIELD has told women golfers interested in joining its ranks to ‘go for it’ but be prepared for a wait after the course reversed a men-only membership policy and was restored as an Open venue.

Members at the Scottish club decided by four to one to admit women 10 months after a first vote failed to achieve the two-thirds majority required, a decision which saw it struck off the list of Open venues.

But the Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers, which owns and runs the course, estimates the waiting list will be ‘two to three years, or longer’.

Wednesday March 15 | 2017

Let Scots dictate their own referendum says Sturgeon POLES APART Nicola Sturgeon says she has a ‘cast-iron mandate’

Tube drivers to strike DRIVERS on London’s weekend Night Tube voted to strike over claims they are being prevented from applying for full-time jobs.

Members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union voted by 96 per cent to launch a campaign of industrial action.

Unions say drivers are prevented from moving into full-time positions for at least 18 months and do not qualify for overtime because they only work 16 hours a week.

Runner jailed for attack A FELL-runner has been jailed for 18 years for the attempted murder of a UK Athletics official after a row about test samples.

Lauren Jeska, a transgender athlete, left Ralph Knibbs with life-threatening stab injuries IN his office at Birmingham’s Alexander Stadium in March last year.

team, Ms Sturgeon said: “Cabinet today agreed that the referendum must be for Scotland’s national legislature to shape.

“It should be up to the Scottish Parliament to determine the referendum’s timing, franchise and the question.”

Prime Minister Theresa May was barracked by MPs as she told the House of Commons she had been ‘working closely’ with the Scottish Government on preparations for Brexit.

In a swipe at Ms Sturgeon’s plans for an independence referendum, Mrs May told the Commons: “This is not a moment to play politics or create uncertainty.

“It is a moment to bring our country together, to honour the will of the British people and to shape for them a better, brighter future and a better Britain.”

‘This is not a moment to play politics or create uncertainty’

NICOLA STURGEON has warned Downing Street that there should be ‘no blocking mechanisms’ applied to her plans for a second independence referendum.

The Scottish First Minister also insisted the timing of the referendum should be determined by Scotland and not by London.

Speaking after a meeting of her senior m ­ inisterial

Ms Sturgeon insisted the Scottish Government ‘has a cast-iron democratic mandate for an independence referendum’.

The SNP leader said: “The vote must take place within a timeframe to allow an informed choice to be made – when the terms of Brexit are clear but before the UK leaves the European Union or shortly afterwards.

“In that way, with the vote taking placed between the autumn of 2018 and the spring of 2019, the independence prospectus which we will offer people can be contrasted directly with the Brexit deal which the UK Government will have negotiated by the start of that period.”

Mrs May’s comments were seen as an indication that she will not allow the referendum to go ahead until after the Brexit process is complete – which is expected to be in the spring of 2019.

Meanwhile, Madrid’s foreign minister Alfonso Dastis played down the chances of an independent Scotland being able to remain in the European Union when the rest of the UK leaves.

According to Europa Press, Mr Dastis told reporters in Peru that an independent Scotland ‘can’t just stay in the EU’.

Any prospective application to the EU can be vetoed by any member and Spain is nervous about its own internal separatist movements.

DISCONTENT (L-r) Google, Facebook and Twitter representatives

Social media giants attacked over failure to protect their users TWITTER, Facebook and Google have been warned they have a ‘terrible reputation’ concerning their efforts to tackle abusive content.

The internet behemoths came under fire as their senior representatives were grilled by the ­Commons Home Affairs Committee.

Labour MP Yvette Cooper said: “We understand the challenges you face ... but you all have millions of users in the UK and you make billions of pounds from these users.

“You all have a terrible reputation among users for dealing swiftly with problems in content even against your own community standards.

“Surely when you manage to have such a good reputation with advertisers for targeting content and for doing all kinds of sophisticated things with your platforms, surely you should be able to do a better job in order to be able to keep your users safe online and deal with this kind of hate speech.”

One example was a video relating to National Action, an extreme right-wing group banned as a terrorist organisation, which was removed from YouTube after it was flagged.

Ms Cooper questioned how the content could be allowed to appear in the first place.

She said: “There aren’t that many proscribed organisations. Don’t you feel any sense of ­responsibility as a multi-billion pound organisation to at least check that you are not distributing material from proscribed organisations?”

Peter Barron of Google, which runs YouTube, said: “We have 400 hours of video uploaded onto YouTube every minute, which is an extraordinary amount of content.

“Clearly we don’t want illegal content on our platforms and when flagged to us we remove that as quickly as we possibly can.”

National and World News

Wednesday March 15 | 2017

NEWS

15

First-class seating may be removed to create space FIRST-CLASS sections could be taken off some of the UK’s busiest commuter trains on Southeastern services in a bid to ease overcrowding.

Services could be made fully standard class under a new franchise agreement, according to a Department for Transport (DfT) consultation.

Some 640,000 journeys are made on 1,900 trains on the lines every weekday.

The DfT acknowledged that first class seats ‘remain popular on certain routes’ such as the main line to Sevenoaks, Tonbridge and Tunbridge Wells, but said removing them would ‘create more room for passengers’.

Only 77 per cent of passengers are satisfied with

Southeastern services according to the latest Transport Focus survey, the worst performance in Britain apart from Southern and Thameslink.

The new franchise, which will begin in December 2017, could see the introduction of high capacity metro-style carriages on the busiest lines.

It is hoped these would enable a ‘better balance’ of seating and room for standing passengers, space for wheelchairs and pushchairs on shorter journeys and quicker boarding and alighting.

Extending the number of carriages on stopping services from eight or ten to 12 carriages and providing more seats on high speed services are also being considered.

TIME FOR ANSWERS Camber inquest will start in June

Council to blame for Camber deaths?

AN INQUEST should examine whether Rother District Council could be held responsible for the deaths of five men at Camber Sands last summer, a lawyer for their families has said.

Patrick Roche said the hearing should look at whether the local authority ‘could or should’ have done more given the history of the beach near Rye, East Sussex.

At a pre-inquest review in Hastings, Mr Roche said one death occurred there in 2015, followed by two more in July last year, but no remedial measures came in until after the five further deaths a month later.

Mr Roche said: “This is very much a case where the court will have to examine whether the local authority is to blame for these deaths.”

Last month the council agreed to allocate £51,000 to bring in lifeguards at Camber. They will be stationed at the beach from the late May bank holiday until the end of the summer holidays.

Council officials have said the beach, which is

three miles long and very wide when the tide is out, can never be completely risk-free.

Speaking about the importance for the families to obtain answers, the East Sussex senior coroner Alan Craze said: “They are at the heart of this inquest. What we are doing is for them to understand what has happened.”

He revealed that a letter had been received from a ‘thoroughly disaffected’ former employee of the council, who claimed that in 2007 contracts had been changed, a rescue boat was sold and life-saving employees had their employment discontinued.

Mr Craze said he would not call the letter writer to the inquest as his evidence was by now ‘peripheral’, but added: “It does spark me to inquire into the history.”

The coroner also said he would defer a decision on whether to hold the inquest with a jury or not.

He set the date for the full inquest for June 26 at Muriel Matters House in Hastings.

WORLD IN BRIEF

Headwear ban is upheld EMPLOYERS will be allowed to ban workers from wearing headscarves at work, the European Court of Justice has ruled.

An internal regulation which prohibits the visible wearing of any political, philosophical or religious sign does not constitute direct discrimination, judges concluded.

The case arose after Samira Achbita was sacked as a receptionist at G4S in Belgium after insisting on wearing the Islamic headscarf.

Club signs murder keeper A BRAZILIAN football club has prompted widespread outrage after signing a goalkeeper who was convicted over the killing of a former girlfriend and feeding her body to dogs.

Bruno Fernandes de Souza said he was thankful

for the opportunity when he was presented at a news conference by Division Two’s Boa Esporte.

The 32-year-old, who was released with 15 years still to serve while awaiting his appeal, has signed a two year deal.

De Souza said: “People run from me because of what happened in the past.”

Balloons injure dozens FORTY-NINE people, mostly foreign tourists, have been injured after three hot-air balloons made hard landings in strong winds in central Turkey.

The balloons were carrying many European and Chinese tourists for rides over Turkey’s Cappadocia region when the winds suddenly picked up and forced some of them to make emergency landings, according to the Dogan news agency.

More controversial proposals include a reduction in the number of trains that call at some less wellused stations to cut journey times to key locations, and a limit in the choice of central London destinations from individual stations with the aim of providing a more regular and reliable service.

Transport Secretary Chris Grayling said: “Services on the Southeastern rail network have been unacceptably poor for far too long.

“Passengers have endured disruption, overcrowding and delays, particularly during redevelopment work at London Bridge station, and they deserve better.

“We are going to do things differently. I want

passengers to enjoy more space and comfort, more and better communication with the operator, and a consistently reliable performance.”

TRAIN STRAIN Southeastern is ‘unacceptably poor’

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BUSINESS

National Business News

BUSINESS IN BRIEF

French Connection is falling out of fashion STRUGGLING retailer French Connection has announced plans to close six stores as it battles tough high street conditions and comes under heavy fire from investors.

The group said pre-tax losses widened from £3.5million last year to £5.3million, while revenue slumped 6.7 per cent to £153.2million.

French Connection has already closed 11 stores.

It has 53 standalone shops across the UK and Europe but wants to trim this to 30.

Activist investor Gatemore Capital Management has also accused the board of displaying ‘a mockery of modern corporate governance’.

The buy-British button TALKS are under way that could let online grocery shoppers choose if they only want to buy British.

Environment minister George Eustice said he has been talking with the National Farmers’ Union about the labelling system for food online.

Tory MPs urged the Government to introduce a button to press while food shopping online ‘so that you can just choose from British products’.

Bank deputy stands down THE Bank of England’s newly appointed Deputy Governor has resigned after coming under fire for breaking the Bank’s code of conduct by failing to declare that her brother worked for Barclays.

Charlotte Hogg’s decision was made public just moments after the House of Commons Treasury Select Committee published a report stating that her ‘professional competence falls short’ of the standards required to fulfil her role.

Wednesday March 15 | 2017

Gin’s back as nation enjoys a tipple and shuns its dairy milk

SIGN OF THE TIMES The housing market faces weak consumer confidence

Mortgage loans stuck in doldrums but borrowers swoop for low rates MORTGAGE lending to home buyers fell to a near two-year low in January amid signs of a ‘stubbornly persistent’ lull in moving activity, according to banks and building societies.

The Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML) said 45,700 loans were advanced for house purchase in January, the lowest monthly total since February 2015.

First-time buyers took out 22,600 loans, down 29 per cent month-on-month but up seven per cent year-on-year.

However, remortgage activity has leapt as home owners looked to lock into the low rates currently available.

Home owners took out 40,300 remortgage loans in January – marking a 45 per cent surge compared with December and

also 21 per cent higher than in January 2016.

Paul Smee, director general of the CML, said: “January gives the impression of a flattish market overall, albeit one with a resurgent remortgage sector.

“We expect a seasonal dip in activity in the winter months and this appears to be the case in January.

“However, the lull in moving activity appears stubbornly persistent, and we have commissioned research on the reasons why the number of transactions seems in secular decline.”

He said buy-to-let house purchase activity remains ‘weak’. A stamp duty hike was imposed on this sector in April 2016.

Some 5,900 loans were advanced for buy-to-let house

purchases in January – a 39 per cent plunge on a year earlier.

Mark Harris, Chief Executive of mortgage broker SPF Private Clients, said: “Remortgaging remains hugely popular as borrowers take advantage of rock-bottom rates. Lenders are keen to lend and this appetite shows no signs of diminishing.”

Howard Archer, an economist at IHS Markit, said: “We expect housing market activity and prices to come under increasing pressure over the coming months from deteriorating consumer fundamentals and weaker confidence.

“Consequently, we suspect that house price gains over 2017 will be no more than three per cent – and could very well be less than this.”

GROWING numbers of gin drinkers and vegans have led to new items being added to Britain’s inflation basket.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said that the increase in popularity of dairy-free diets has led to non-dairy milk – such as soya, rice and oat milk – making an appearance on the list it uses to track prices for the first time.

Gin returns to the basket after a 13-year absence following a rise in consumption and after a rise in small gin producers.

The ONS also said the list will now include bicycle helmets after a 12-year absence, due to the increase in the popularity of cycling linked to sporting successes by British cyclists in the Olympics and the Tour De France.

Children’s scooters are also added, replacing children’s swings, as well as council tax.

The list is used to calculate CPIH, the headline measure of inflation.

On the way out are basic mobile phone handsets, which have seen a decline in popularity in the face of smartphones.

Senior ONS statistician Phil Gooding said: “The annual basket review enables us to keep up to date with all the latest trends, ensuring our inflation measures reflect the changing costs experienced by consumers.

“The addition of council tax to CPIH will ensure it remains our most comprehensive measure of consumer inflation.”

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Letters

Wednesday March 15 | 2017

And another thing…

This is the page where you, the reader, have your chance to express your views or comments on what’s going on in our part of the world. We like to hear from you. You can email us at newsdesk@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk or newsdesk@timesoftonbridge.co.uk or write to the Editor at 16 Lonsdale Gardens, Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN1 1NU Jukes’ Tower – how other half live BAD FOR BUSES Tonbridge High Street

A singular advantage of the new Town Hall, Jukes’ Tower, is that Cllr Jukes and his colleagues will be able to gaze down from a lofty height on to the ant-like creatures below – the denizens of the town. How the other half lives, eh? My debt, their comfort.

Ben Hardy Tunbridge Wells

Happy to take a line on hop picking

Council run buses are the best

Tom Tugendhat [MP] is quite right to point out [March 1] that the ‘poor bus service hurts our community and cannot go on’.

The buses in Tonbridge are very expensive for anyone young enough to have to pay the fare… and that is one reason that they are underused.

I wonder what Tom thinks should replace Arriva buses? The Conservative Government recently introduced a bill to stop councils from running their own bus services. This is a shame, since local authority-run buses can give the best service. There are 12 local authorityowned bus companies across the UK, from a small service in rural Dumfries and Galloway to large scale operations in towns and cities, including Edinburgh, Nottingham and Reading.

In four of the last five years, local authorityrun buses have won Bus Operator of the Year at the Bus Awards.

It would seem that stopping councils outside London from running bus companies is driven by an ideology that private is always best, rather than by any practical considerations.

Frances Long Via email

Is bottling fresh air just hot air?

I enjoy reading the Times, but couldn’t believe that you printed a story about a former Tunbridge Wells resident who is allegedly selling ‘bottled alpine air’ – I had to check the date to make sure it wasn’t April Fools Day! The fact he believes he has a market for it and is charging around £200 per bottle makes it even more ludicrous. Surely we should be doing more ourselves to improve the quality of the air we breathe by being more ecologically aware, not relying on some marketing opportunist to help us breathe more easily?

Helena Fitzwilliam Via email

Dowding House is a good investment I commend the council on moving ahead with its plans to purchase Dowding House in Paddock

Bus operators just as frustrated when it comes to running on time

It is interesting to note [March 1] that MP Tom Tugendhat has received complaints about Arriva bus services 218/219 among others.

However, the problems are not necessarily attributable to the operators.

For example, routes 218/219 have a quarter of the current Monday to Friday timetable (one-third on Saturdays) running to/from Tunbridge Wells via the Tunbridge Wells Hospital.

This means negotiating the single-file columns of traffic on the A21 – not to mention Pembury Road in Tunbridge Wells in the peaks.

Any delays here are further exacerbated by the stop-start nature of traffic in Tonbridge High Street in the wake of the pavementwidening exercise.

Little wonder that service reliability is shot to pieces.

I suspect that the operators are just as frustrated as the users.

Tony Russell Tonbridge Wood to help house some of the borough’s homeless. Not only is this a noble goal in itself, but in the long run it is more cost effective than relying on other authorities.

It will also be an additional asset to add to the council’s burgeoning property portfolio.

Some may think that £2.2million is a tad steep for the building, but in fact it is located in a prime area and will only appreciate in value long-term.

Plus, the council will have the opportunity of eventually converting it into far more desirable premises which it can then sell at a premium.

A wise investment which will actually do some good for the people of the borough.

Now, if only the council had the same mind set on the Civic Complex…

George Woods Via email

What a great article on the Hop Pickers Line you published in your March 1 edition. Please thank [journalist] Andrew Tong very much indeed for such a lovely piece and an excellent read. With many thanks and kind regards.

Yolanda Laybourne Chair – The Hop Pickers Heritage Line

Children’s courts might not work Cllr [Peter] Oakford suggests [March 1] creating a children’s court for drivers who speed in the new St John’s 20mph zone.

This is not a sensible idea. Making vulnerable children face angry motorists could leave them open to verbal abuse and make them a target in future. Why should children be put in this position?

The proposal assumes only children are victims of speeding in built up areas – what about elderly people, the disabled and mothers with babies?

We all value children’s opinions, but creating ‘young jurors’ seems inappropriate. If the idea goes ahead, the court should include adult members of the St John’s community.

Anne Goldstein Tunbridge Wells

Better represented by the EU Colin Bullen complains [March 1] about a dysfunctional EU, yet wants to replace it with something worse. The people of the UK do not share a single view, or want or need the same things, yet our electoral system delivers governments supported only by a minority who do things most of us don’t want.

And we have no effective checks and balances against this untrammelled exercise of power – that’s why we need the EU. If ‘take back control’ also meant sorting out our dysfunctional system of government, I might have more sympathy with the argument, but I can’t see the Conservatives ceding any power in the name of true democracy.

The EU better represents me than this government ever will.

Since the ‘constituency link’ has been shown to be meaningless by Greg Clark’s betrayal of the people of Tunbridge Wells, there is now no argument against having an electoral system that delivers representatives in proportion to the votes cast for each party.

Andrew Wilcox Via email

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

Calverley

Observations on life and more important things

CALVERLEY’S dear friend Rosemary Shrager is a bit of a dark horse. The town’s best known chef, in fact only celebrity chef, is no big fan of Donald the Trump. Apparently she met the American President in 2009 when he was hosting a US TV reality show called The Girls of Hedsor Hall. She was playing a part that required her to reform 12 ‘out of control’ young ladies. She later described Donald as ‘the rudest man I have ever met’.

Most people would be living off that story. Not our Rosemary, who has yet to elaborate on just why she uttered those words. We can all take a guess, but it would be nice to actually know.

THE sandwich man from Kett’s is smiling this morning when he arrives at Times’ Towers.

Why? Because it is raining and he knows that when people need a brolly to run down to the supermarkets for a takeaway lunch, they won’t bother. Recently he’s been smiling rather a lot. Every cloud…

HE just never gives up, Mayor David Neve that is. A press release drops on the newsdesk and it’s all about the revelation that Tunbridge Wells is to get its own special edition of the most famous board game in the world – Monopoly. Naturally, the King of Puns had been asked to comment, and here’s his response: “As a young man I spent many hours playing Monopoly, I never got bored.”

Boom boom. Credit, though, it was one of the Mayor’s better attempts.

HUMBLE apologies. Calverley is hanging his head in shame. Last week’s tale about the gentleman who picked up the TV remote instead of the cordless phone and tried to have a conversation resulted in our switchboard being jammed. Kindly callers pointed out that the typo gremlins had actually printed ‘remove control’ instead of ‘remote control’. Nothing gets past our loyal followers.

Chin, chin readers

Wednesday March 15 | 2017

EDUCATION Times

Education

NEWS

19

WITH THE

This new school will change the educational landscape Tonbridge-based Weald of Kent Grammar School will open its controversial, but much anticipated Sevenoaks annexe this September. Eileen Leahy toured the new site and spoke exclusively to the school’s Chairman of Governors, David Bower, about how the two locations, with a nine-mile distance between them, will manage to work in tandem IN 2015, Kent County Council [KCC] was given the go-ahead to build a brand new grammar annexe in Sevenoaks, for both boys and girls.

Despite the fact it has met various stumbling blocks along the way, including the fact a suitable boys’ grammar partner has not been found yet, the female provision in the equation, which will be run by the Weald of Kent Grammar School, is set to open this September.

Construction on the new annexe, so called because it’s an extension of an already existing educational establishment and not a new school, began in May 2016 with a £16million grant from KCC. Its location is on the former site of the Wildernesse School in Seal Hollow Road, which is also occupied by the recently built Trinity School, a co-ed Christian comprehensive. It will open its doors to three forms of Year 7 entry (90 pupils in total) in the new academic year.

At full capacity, The Weald of Kent element will be able to take 450 girls. Its facilities include a new lecture theatre, 31 classrooms with science, art and technology labs, a café and sixth-form provision.

The annexe students will have use of a shared all-weather pitch and tennis and netball courts, together with a large sports hall and dance studio. The playing fields will be shared with Trinity School.

Mirroring Last week, the Times was invited by the Weald of Kent’s Chairman of Governors, David Bower, for a tour of the site. He explained how the unique opportunity of having an extension to a school whose location is nine miles away in Tonbridge came about after a petition was launched.

“Some residents in Sevenoaks felt there was a need for a grammar school offering in the town. As a result of that, KCC had a

debate which was open to the public and there was overwhelming support for it.”

There are presently no parties interested in running the boys’ element of the build. However, that could change with the announcement by the Chancellor in last week’s budget that there would be more funding for grammar schools.

“At the moment, we are all set for September,” confirmed Mr Bower. “We will start with three Year 7 form intakes and build, going up to year 11. There will probably be a sixth-form provision as well.”

He admitted there’s still a lot of work to do and that the school is recruiting. Many teachers at the Weald of Kent’s Tonbridge site will teach in Sevenoaks, too.

“We’re confident that we will be mirroring in Sevenoaks what we have over in Tonbridge. That was the deal and we have to make sure we are running one school. The children won’t be going backwards and forwards every day, but they

WORK IN PROGRESS The new Weald of Kent annexe

will attend the Tonbridge site once every fortnight.”

He revealed that prospective pupils won’t be able to specify a particular site, but said the school will do their best to ‘satisfy preferences’.

“We’ll have one curriculum, one governing body and one leadership team. All these things are very critical. We are working on the timetable and making sure everything works.

It’s all terribly exciting.”

20

NEWS

Weekly Comment

Wednesday March 15 | 2017

Rachel Sadler

Liberal Democrat Candidate

Only a tax rise can revive ailing NHS OUR beloved NHS is in a critical condition. We must act now before it passes the point of no return.

Despite the current Government’s plans to inject an extra £10bn into the NHS in England between 2014-15 and 2020-21, this is a funding reduction in real terms from 3.6 per cent in 2016-17 to 1.4 per cent in 2020-21. The figures, which can be found on the GOV.UK website, indicate that the Government is floundering, and can’t sustain the health of our NHS.

‘It would be sensible to consider a small increase in taxation’ According to 38 Degrees’ excellent NHS crisis tracker, the health and social care system in Kent and Medway is projected to have a shortfall of £486m by 2021. Around 18 per cent of patients are waiting for more than four hours in A&E – nearly four times the Government maximum target. This will doubtless worsen over time, with Brexit on the horizon. To add insult to injury, if you are one

Rachel Sadler is the Liberal Democrat Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Tunbridge Wells. She is currently employed in a pre-authorisation role for an established healthcare company. Her previous political experience includes party fundraising and campaigning, as well as running for positions within Kent County Council and the borough council

COUNTRY IN WAITING What’s the cure?

of the unfortunate individuals waiting on a non-urgent operation, these have been banned by the West Kent Clinical Commissioning Group until April, further highlighting the awful disarray of our beloved NHS. So, what is the solution?

In mine and my party’s opinion, it would be sensible to consider a small increase in taxation in order to help deliver a stronger NHS. However, the Tories are unlikely to do this as they are ideologically opposed to increasing tax.

An increase of 1p on income tax would generate £15.7bn, so why are they so against this idea? It suggests that they’re trying to slowly kill the NHS, by craftily reducing its funding in real terms whilst claiming the contrary. Also, what’s happened to the additional £350m per week promised by various

pro-Brexit MPs? It seems to have disappeared with the British summer, only to be replaced with another winter of discontent for the populace.

Norman Lamb [Lib Dem MP for North Norfolk] recently organised a cross-party discussion with Theresa May on the plight of the NHS. Whilst he said it was a positive meeting, it has come to light that the commitment he secured as Care Minister to cap care costs for those with modest means will not be introduced next year as

planned, again suggesting that the Tories really don’t care about the NHS or the health of the British people.

I’ve signed the Lib Dem petition on this subject to hold the Tories to account.

If you would also like to, you can do so via www.normanlamb.org.uk/care Our NHS is the envy of the world. We owe it to future generations to fight for a health system that’s free at the point of use.

g

NEWS

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F TONBRIDGE Anniversary Special

What a fantastic first year it’s been for Tonbridge…

NEW SIGNS GIVE LOCAL SHOPS A BOOST

GENERATION RENT AND HOW COUPLES STRUGGLE TO BUY THEIR OWN HOMES

BENENDEN MURDER – HUSBAND MET WITH ANOTHER WOMAN

The Times of Tonbridge was launched in March 2016 to cover Page 4-5 6 the vibrant town, which everyone agrees is ‘on the up’.Page We look back at some of our favourite stories over the past 12 months

Page 2

PHOTO: Marcus Warren

Boris drops in on Tonbridge

LONDON Mayor Boris Johnson gave interview. He spoke about many an insight into his views on a wide – issues including the changes that have ranging list of subjects, including the happened during his time as Mayor.

EU referendum and the need for public “We took him down Tonbridge High transport investment, when he visited Street on his way to the school and Tonbridge last week. he was interested to see that the Mr Johnson, currently one of the improvements demonstrated what biggest characters in UK politics, was could be done when investment was invited by the West Kent Conservative made to help grow the numbers of Association to take part in the independent shops. fundraising event for his potential “He also talked about urban successor Zac Goldsmith at Tonbridge devel opment and the importance of School. using brownfield sites, rather than The evening, which attracted a large developers taking the easy option of audience, was chaired by Tonbridge & using greenfield locations. Boris also Malling MP Tom Tugendhat, who said it discussed Transport for London and was a highly entertaining occasion. plans to improve our railways, as well He said: “Boris is very easy to as speaking about the EU a lot!”

Mayor: ‘I will bring the people together’

be proud of

25, 2016

midity: 79%

By Neil Barston

INSIDE

APRIL 13, 2016 Then London Mayor 2 Leave campaigner and prominent Boris Johnson visited Tonbridge.

The current Foreign Secretary DOCTORS’ STR seemed impressed by theIKE developAnother 48-ho ur walk outJune 22, 2016 Wednesday ment of Tonbridge High Street. at Tunbridge Wells hospital Drizzle ■ LOCAL NEWS

Weather

º to ‘Boris is very easy

22 C

initially, then gradually becoming dry

interview’ Visibility: Good

Pollution: Low

Humidity: 75%

Sunrise: 04.44am

Sunset: 21.18pm

Wind: 10mph

Thursday

Friday

The West Kent 23ºCConservative 21ºC Saturday Sunday Association invited Mr Johnson to º 19 C 20ºC take part in the fundraising event Monday Tuesday º 21ºCsuccessor21Zac C for his potential BRIGHT Goldsmith at Tonbridge School.

MrSKIES Sunshine over the fields around PAGE 3 Tonbridge at last, but there may Goldsmith lost the mayoral election be thunderstorms on the way and has since resigned as an MP in FAMofILY AFFAIRexpansion. protest the Heathrow Barsleys stores up 125 years of shopping success Send your weather pictures into... newsdesk@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk

CONTACTS EDITORIAL DIRECTOR RICHARD MOORE richard@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk | 01892 779615 EDITOR AT LARGE FRANK BALDWIN fbaldwin@markerstudy.com DESIGN/PRODUCTION LEE SMITH lsmith8@markerstudy.com SALES GEMMA HAK ghak@markerstudy.com | 01892 779580

TAKING over as Mayor of Tonbridge & Malling from his lifelong friend Owen Baldock is a challenge Mark Rhodes is keenly anticipating.

The two have known each other since their schooldays and Cllr Baldock was also best man at Cllr Rhodes’ wedding.

Having represented Hildenborough for nearly 30 years on Tonbridge & Malling Borough Council, Cllr Rhodes is proud to have been chosen by his colleagues for his latest role.

The research engineer, who works at QinetiQ in Sevenoaks, took on his first mayoral duties last weekend when he officially opened the Tonbridge Food and Drink Festival. Praising the organisers for a ‘great job’, he said it had provided a fine start to his year.

He admitted he would be exceptionally busy.

“I know it sounds a cliché, but it really is a privilege and an honour to be doing this,” explained the 59-year-old on his appointment.

“I don’t have a particular theme I will be working to, but I’ve served on community boards and that’s become a real area of interest, so I will focus on issues bringing people together in the borough. I think that it is going to

nomy and create more jobs

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 16 Lonsdale Gardens, Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN1 1NU, or email newsdesk@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk

Headliners dazzle at the Castle

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representatives at the first weekend of the South East Regional 14 & Under Swimming Championships (SER).

The event at the long course pool at K2, Crawley, saw them compete in a tough age group against some of the top talent in the country.

she took fifth place.

Dan was taking part in the next event in the boys 11/12 years 50m backstroke. He swam a personal best (PB) time of 34.75sec, beating his previous PB by 1.31sec, and finished in tenth place overall.

POOL VIEW Dan and Caitlin at the K2 in Crawley

Carnival on Sunday. This theme extended to another universe when an alien lifeform in the shape of one of Dr Who’s Daleks turned up.

More than 3,000 people lined the town centre’s streets to enjoy the party atmosphere.

The annual event, organised by the Tonbridge Lions, was bathed in sunshine and families flocked to the High Street for a lively procession, followed by musical entertainment and a fete in and around the castle.

There were prizes for the best

the Wonder Girls from West Sussex took the majorettes’ category.

Various marching bands also performed as part of a Southern England competition. This was won by the Hertfordshire Showband. They played a string of classic tunes on the castle lawn spanning everything from the Ghostbusters theme to Lionel Richie’s All Night Long.

Tonbridge Mayor Mark Rhodes said: “It was a brilliant afternoon and great to see so many people out on the castle lawn for the event.

“I think it’s been just as good as I remember it from my days when I was actually in the carnival myself back in the 80’s.

Peter Godsall, Chairman of the Lions’ organising committee, said the event raises thousands of pounds for charity. This year’s proceeds are going towards helping those less fortunate or disadvantaged in the local community.

He added: “It’s been a very colourful day with everyone gathering on the castle lawn for a real community event.”

Wednesday, November 23, 2016

16 Lonsdale Gardens, Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN1 1NU

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OCTOBER 19, 2016 The plight of the Barden Boatyard brought Tonbridge’s community spirit to the fore as their UP BEAT Bloco Fogo drummers ongoing legal battle entries featuring the Countries of the against eviction Words and pictures

by Neill Barston was World theme. Cage Green Primary School won the junior section with fiBULGARIAN nancially bythe Bulgarian Dance a British look, dancers andsupported samba Group claimed the adult category, drummers were just some of the Pickering Cancer Drop-In Centre striking features in thelocal ‘Countries donors. generous went Irish and won best float, and of the World’ themed Tonbridge

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0 sq ft of this Old Fire Station spokesperson Sam Goode “The festival just came out of a detai led ssion our main priorities’ space and we are insaid: conversation we had with discu Phil Turner and it has s with a number out to be a really popular event. of other retailers. turned “We’ve found that around 90 per cent of say they are not actually cider drinkers, “Planning is duepeople but this that people do like tofestival behas proved deter mine d in the summer, it once they have had the chance to try it. Our tion of the town is one of the which would ower, medium and dry ciders went down allowelderfl work to comm ence later this year. It really well.”

A TOUCH OF GLASS and we are doing everything will comp Mr Turner said: “It has been a brilliant Old Tonbridge Fire Station leme nt the town centr e and festival, and it has made a real difference that will also create a owner Richard Collins with Alice al businesses and support the numChurchwood Phil Turner the Old Fire Station has its own cider. ber ofandjob oppo “Itrtuni has taken aties.” while to get our business going, including actually making the cider, but Steve Hum phre y, Tonb ridge over the past six months we& haveMalli reached theng Borough WHILE the town’s first Food and Drink Festival debut just around the corner at the Old Fire TIONS Counnment Agen point where it is a full-time venture now and it was taking placeconfi at Tonbridge Castle (see in Castle Street. cy, rmed the Station cil’s Direc tor tastings of Plann is great fun.” pages 78-79), another event was making its The Tonbridge Cider Festival offered ing, Housing and Environmental uted £700,000 towards the Health, adde d: “It is very encouraging for Tonbridge oject. Town swimming that duothere compete is a high level of investment interest being eme that we have been look- demonstrated by organisations who wish to redevelop against top talent at champs the flood wall was coming to and reuse sites in the town Caitlin swam first in the girls’ category 100m TWELVE-year-old Dan Brice and ten-year-old Caitlin for a range of uses.” backstroke making it through to the final where Ebbage were Tonbridge Swimming Club’s two

JUNE 22, 2016 The High Street was lit up by an impressive range of displays at the summer Carnival – including local Brazilian-style drumming group Bloco Fogo.

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A taste of cider at Old Fire Station

The world is a circle…

GENERAL INQUIRIES newsdesk@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk

MAY 25, 2016 Councillor Mark Rhodes became PAGES 8-9 the Mayor of the town, with CLARIFICATIONS AND CORRECTIONS BUSINESS AWARDS Owen Baldock N STANDING ALL YOURS Bridging the gap between predicted last handing over of Stree t Scen e, Leisu Owen Baldock (left) re and ar Leigh – all the end of its life and needhands edover tothebe Mayor’s repla one optimist! landlords and the tenants the His ced, and this is onbr idge & Malling Borough a really good proje chainchain. to Mark Rhodes Sarah Grant ct for us to have first officialbeen involved with bridge Lock scheme, which and a schem e we their working lives. what spare time he be hard work communicating that to people, but of are prou dIn of.” duty was toand has, Mark enjoys photography, sea fishing to be enjoyable,” he explained. e and a telemetry station, willit’sCllrgoing hJuliePrice a local onMe flood warden.

RhodesGaret and his wife have made, time of being Lond tric, said QUOTE UNQUOTE the He added: “Owenopen is going to be a tough act to the Cannon Lane to be part of the community around them. The follow, but as for the task in hand as Mayor, if couple have two children, they are now plans ‘The secret of staying young is to live honestly, forandthe B&Q site wouldTonbridge bring signif the first week is anything to go by it’s going to icant employment. proud grandparents – which is also something eat slowly – and lie about your age’ to improve the whole appear-that has seenHe them extremely outside be something special.”

Lucille Ball said:occupied “We are downFood sizinand g the Halfords unit and e wanted to create a lock area putting in a Wednesday 22nd June 2016 new M&S whic Drink Festival. h shou ld be open by Christud of. mas. We have also agreed to take back theJULY 13,02016 38,00 sq ftThe Tonbridge Festival drew thousands B&Q store. to the town. They all enjoyed an eclectic mix of music of more than 40 vintages, including several for the venue by Phil Turner of questionable Marden-based Turners Cider.

S 12-13 outfits. regeneration of the “Home Bargainsdeveloped will be taking 15,00 as well as some more PAGE

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mplicated’

Wednesday March 15 | 2017

SEE Property Section

All the news that matters

Local, National and International Tonbridge Castle

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MARCH 23, 2016 The launch edition of the Times of Tonbridge covered an issue that certainly hasn’t gone away – the poor rail service experienced in the town.

MP Tom Tugendhat warned of the massive negative impact that delays were having on our commuters.

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Lib Dems and Greens rally behind INSID Labour candidate for by-election

CHRISTMAS FES Special 4-page pull out programme. See inside

By Murray Jones newsdesk@timesoftonbridge.co.uk

was a councillor for 21 years from 1986-2007, said: “It wasn’t an easy decision to take. The important reason behind it was that Fred is an excellent candidate and we are confident that he will be a great councillor.”

She argues that she understands people’s frustrations, but points out that in the last Trench ward election the Lib Dems won just 6.8 per cent of the vote, adding: “If I lived in the ward I would be unhappy but it comes to a point where you have to ask, how much do you want to split the anti-Conservative vote?”

The Chair of the Tonbridge & Malling Green Party, Howard Porter, echoed her sentiments, arguing the Labour candidate offered ‘the best chance to challenge the one-party state in Tonbridge’.

Mr Long said: “In purely pragmatic terms it makes sense in Trench ward for this by-election. The numbers add up and we have many policies in common as well as many that are party-specific.”

He has pledged to fight for the parties’ ‘common policies’ if he was elected.

In response, the Conservative candidate,

ELECTION LINE-UP (L-R): David Allen (UKIP), Georgina Thomas (Con) and Fred Long (Lab)

NOVEMBER 23, 2016 A cross-party pact saw Labour candidate Fred Long attempt to break into a Conservative-dominated borough council. It proved unsuccessful as Tory Georgina Thomas took the Trench Ward seat.

A CROSS-PARTY coalition involving Labour, Liberal Democrats and the Greens has formed in Tonbridge in a bid to win a vacant seat on Tonbridge & Malling Borough Council.

A by-election is due to take place in the Trench ward on December 8 to fill the seat held by Cllr Jean Atkinson, who died last month.

For a breakdown of comments and policies from candidates competing in the by-election, turn to page 4

Although this presents an opportunity for all parties to fight for the seat on the Conservative-dominated Tonbridge & Malling Council, the Green Party and the Liberal Democrats have decided not to put forward a candidate and are instead supporting the Labour candidate, 58-year-old Fred Long.

Vice-chair of the Tonbridge & Malling Liberal Democrats, Frani Hoskins, who

Superstores bring new jo to town. Page 5

SILLY BLOGGERS Fran Taylor wins Comic of the Year award. Page

Turn to page 4

Small businesses help put town on the map THERE was a positive mood in the air when the owners of small businesses met elected representatives from Tonbridge to discuss the state of the local economy.

Organised by the Federation of Small Business (FSB), Friday’s event included talks from the Leader of the Tonbridge & Malling Borough Council (TMBC), Cllr Nicolas Heslop, and MP Tom Tugendhat.

Describing Tonbridge as ‘on the up’, Cllr Heslop said: “I’m delighted to see that high

BUSINESS BOOST

quality businesses are moving into the town.” He added that economic regeneration was ‘at the heart of the Council’s work’ as he wants to see Tonbridge become ‘a vibrant town that people live and work in’.

Cllr Heslop mentioned the large house building project that TMBC has outlined in its Local Plan. He said: “I make no apologies for the residential development in the town.

If we want people to shop in the town we’ve got to have people living in the town.”

Dame Kelly Holmes, who owns the 1809 café in Hildenborough, shared Cllr Heslop’s optimism, saying: “I’ve lived here all my life and there have been so many positive improvements. Tonbridge used to be the forgotten town. Now it’s really on the map.”

Tom Tugendhat MP, who previously ran a PR company in Beirut and Damascus, spoke of the importance of getting small businesses together and sharing ideas.

He urged them not to copy their large

multinational rivals by ‘paying thousands of pounds for lobbying’, instead suggesting they ‘come and talk to me instead’.

Later, many attendees boarded the ‘Small Business Bus’, which was parked by the Tonbridge Castle Watergate. The bus has been running for four years and is now on a five-week tour of the UK. This is the first year it has visited Tonbridge, which was seen as another sign of the town’s improving business-friendly image.

SPORT

Angels back on top form a cup disappointment. Pag

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In the centre of Pembury village, this house is beautifully presented to ‘show home’ standard. It comprises an entrance lobby, sitting/dining room, conservatory and fitted kitchen. There is a master bedroom with en suite powder room, a further double bedroom, a single bedroom and family bathroom. The property has an integral garage, off-road parking and garden.

CONTACT Firefly 01892 838363 www.fireflyproperties.co.uk

UNDER £600,000 DOUGLAS ROAD TONBRIDGE GUIDE PRICE

£525,000-£575,000 This house includes five double bedrooms and two reception rooms.

Set over three floors, there is also the potential to extend (subject to planning permission) for a larger kitchen/family room. One of the bedrooms is in use as a family/ games room. There is also a larder adjoining the kitchen, and additional eaves storage on the second floor.

CONTACT Ellis & Co 01732 770077 www.ellisandco.co.uk

UNDER £800,000 CULVERDEN PARK TUNBRIDGE WELLS

UNDER £1MILLION

£699,950

MAIDSTONE ROAD, MATFIELD

With a well-equipped kitchen/ breakfast room and bay and sash windows, this four-bedroom house is conveniently sited abut 0.7 miles from the town centre.

The front door is approached via a wrought iron gate with decorative railings and a black and white tiled pathway. From the kitchen, bifold doors open on to a rear L-shaped, landscaped courtyard garden with railway

£950,000-975,000

GUIDE PRICE

sleeper borders, colourful shrubs and contemporary tiling.

CONTACT Hamptons 01892 516611 www.hamptons.co.uk

A four-bedroom detached home. With a recently modernised kitchen/diner and large conservatory leading to the rear garden, the property also has two feature fireplaces and a triple-aspect living room.

Externally, the front garden’s driveway is bordered by flowers, shrubs and trees and the rear garden includes a barbecue area, a deck adjacent to the conservatory and a large workshop/shed with power.

CONTACT Robinson-Jackson 01732 757300 www.robinson-jackson.com

34

PROPERTY

Advertising

Wednesday March 15 | 2017

38

PROPERTY

Rosemont

Wednesday March 15 | 2017

AT A GLANCE

ROSEMONT MOUNT EPHRAIM, TUNBRIDGE WELLS ROSEMONT MOUNT EPHRAIM TUNBRIDGE WELLS n Drawing room n Kitchen/breakfast room with adjacent sitting area n 2 cloakrooms n Family room n Games room and gym n Utility room and wine store n 2 en-suite double bedrooms n 4 further bedrooms n Family bathroom n Off-street parking n Established rear garden n Potential for self-contained apartment

GUIDE PRICE £1,750,000 Available for sale through Knight Frank Tunbridge Wells 01892 515035 www.knightfrank.co.uk

Elegant three-storey townhouse enjoys views over Tunbridge Wells Common

Wednesday March 15 | 2017

Sub folio line

PROPERTY

49

AT A GLANCE

WINDMILL BANK COTTAGE CROCKHAM HILL n Sitting room/bedroom 5 n Kitchen/dining room n Family room and study n Cinema/games room n Master bedroom suite n 3 further bedrooms (2 en suite) n Family bathroom n Garage n Tennis court/football pitch n Landscaped gardens

GUIDE PRICE

£1,995,000

Available for sale through Savills Sevenoaks 01732 789 700 www.savills.co.uk

Stylish, secluded and set in four acres

Anniversary Special

Wednesday March 15 | 2017

NOVEMBER 2, 2016 Local NHS bosses admitted to the Times that the future of Tonbridge Cottage Hospital was uncertain, with ‘big decisions’ to be made in 2020, when the property’s lease runs out.

NOVEMBER 9, 2016 The Tonbridge Poppy Appeal had a record-breaking year in 2016. Overall, a dedicated team of volunteers helped collect £30,592, almost a 70 per cent increase on the previous year’s total of £18,150.

NEWS

51

“I very much appreciate how the reporters we have had over the past year, Neill Barston, Murray Jones and alongside Fank Baldwin have gone to the heart of our community, reporting on stories that matter to us all.

“You can see the personal touch, from taking part in the Dragonboat racing to getting interviews from all parts of our town”

“The Times of Tonbridge has been a breath of fresh air, and I’ve enjoyed getting to know the Tonbridge reporters over the last year – both professionally and socially – which is a credit to the journalists for taking an interest in Tonbridge”

“An energetic local press is an essential component in building a rich and inclusive society, for supporting a vibrant local business culture and energising the democratic process.

“None of this is easy to achieve, but the Times of Tonbridge has made an impressive contribution.

Well done and keep up the good work”

Carl Lewis: Head of the Tonbridge Poppy Appeal, Flood Warden and member of the Lions Club

Suzannah Niklas: Heusenstamm Friendship Circle

Howard Porter: Head of Tonbridge Town Team

DECEMBER 28, 2016 The announcement to close the Teen and Twenty Club divided opinion with many reluctant to say goodbye to the historic club, such as couple Andy and Deborah Comben [left], who first met there nearly 40 years ago. However, its replacement – a ‘state of the art medical centre’ – has also been welcomed.

FEBRUARY 8, 2017 Years of campaigning finally bore fruit after a £23.6million project to expand the Leigh Flood Storage Area received its full funding.

It is hoped the work will prevent the level of flooding seen during Christmas 2013.

MARCH 8, 2017 Bradley Fretwell, 23, was commended for his bravery after saving the life of a police officer on a busy motorway.

Doctors confirmed that if the Tonbridge resident had not intervened PC Pomfret would have died.

MARCH 1, 2017 Students from the Schools at Somerhill competed in a national robotics final.

We look forward to reporting on another exciting year in Tonbridge…

52

FEATURES

Books

Wednesday March 15 | 2017

TIMES REVIEWS

Book some time off…

The Coroner’s Daughter

by Andrew Hughes

Time to unwind and relax, and what better way than with a great book? Here are a few suggestions for your reading…

Trade paperback by Doubleday Ireland, priced £13.99 (ebook £9.49)

BOOK OF THE WEEK

Abigail Lawless always had a curious mind, and it is a thirst for fascinating facts her doting father is always eager to feed. But when Abigail, the daughter of the coroner of Dublin in 1816, begins to dig into his business, there are sure to be dangerous consequences. As she goes deeper, drawing those around her into peril in the process, she encounters the seedier side of the Irish capital. Not forgetting she is the daughter of a well-to-do member of society, where dressing to be the belle of the ball is more regularly under the microscope of public scrutiny than the lives of the temporary residents of her father’s workrooms. As she investigates the secrets of a young mother who killed her own child, Abigail is brought to the attention of a mysterious religious sect with growing popularity and influence in the city. Andrew Hughes has already won acclaim for his debut novel, The Convictions Of John Delahunt, and with The Coroner’s Daughter he will win more praise from lovers of forensic murder mystery.

(Review by Roddy Brooks)

History of Wolves by Emily Fridlund

Hardback by W&N, priced £12.99 (ebook £6.99)

Linda, 15, lives with her mum and dad – at least she thinks they’re her mum and dad – in the rundown cabins of an abandoned commune, out in the icy, forested, lakeside wilds of northern Minnesota. She’s left to her own devices most of the time, and out of school – where she is labelled a ‘freak’ or ‘Commie’ – she lives a semi-feral existence of solitary mooching and tramping and kayaking and dog-walking and fish-gutting. Relief from this bleak existence appears in the form of the Gardners, an apparently normal nuclear family – mum, four-year-old boy, and mostly absent dad – who take up residence in a cabin across the lake.

Linda gets to know mum Patra and son Paul, becoming their long-term babysitter. In her desperation to be wanted, to be welcomed as part of something, she becomes a sort of benign stalker of the family. And she also overlooks their increasingly odd behaviour when Paul falls ill and his condition worsens; ignoring his condition, indeed, becomes the price of acceptance into the family… The chilling plot is only part of the mesmerising power of this assured and striking debut.

Fridlund deftly builds atmosphere, evokes a sense of place, generates a terrible sense of foreboding, and creates a cast of characters of utterly credible complexity.

Haunting and compelling, here is a first story from yet another great new American novelist.

(Review by Dan Brotzel)

7/10

CHILDREN’S BOOK OF THE WEEK

8/10

The New Adventures of Mr Toad: A Race for Toad Hall

by Tom Moorhouse, illustrated by Holly Swain Paperback by Oxford University Press, priced £5.99 (ebook £4.99) Kenneth Grahame’s beloved animal characters have been brought up to date for a new generation of young readers. Since it was first published in 1908, The Wind in the Willows, which Grahame wrote for son Alastair, has charmed millions of children with the magical adventure of Ratty, Mole and the irrepressible Toad of Toad Hall. In Moorhouse’s update, Toad has been frozen by the wicked weasels in his own ice house for 100 years – and is discovered snoring by his descendant Teejay and her pals Ratty and Mo (also relatives of the originals) when they find a tunnel leading to Toad Hall. The country pile has been left to crumble for decades, and now the weasels (operating as a company called Wildwood Industrious) want to bulldoze it and build new homes. Toad takes on a bet with the Chief Executive weasel that he can beat Stiggy the stoat in a car race – with only the old banger of Teejay’s guardian, Ms Badger, to hand. Packed with plenty of ‘poop-poops!’ and captured beautifully by Holly Swain’s muted illustrations, A Race for Toad Hall pays gentle homage to Grahame’s original, while creating a rip-roaring ride for the digital generation.

(Review by Kate Whiting)

Hame by Annalena McAfee

Hardback by Harvill Secker, priced £16.99

Mhairi McPhail flees her crumbling marriage in New York by moving with her daughter to the tiny Scottish island that her grandparents left decades earlier, ostensibly to write a biography about its late nationalist poet, Grigor McWatt. Former literary editor McAfee’s second novel is a clever patchwork blanket of narratives, combining Mhairi’s story, excerpts of McWatt’s unpublished Fascaray Compendium, passages of Mhairi’s biography of the poet and his ‘translations’ of famous English poems into Scots. Questions of home (‘hame’), identity, social acceptance and the importance of family form the core, as Mhairi struggles to accept her own shortcomings while eking out information about the mysterious poet – against the backdrop of the Scottish referendum. It’s very convincing, despite being entirely fictional, but McAfee’s ambitious choice to structure her book like a research project undermines its tension – so by the time the denouement finally arrives, it’s hard to work up much enthusiasm.

(Review by Natalie Bowen)

6/10

w

7/10

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54

FEATURES

Food & Drink

Wednesday March 15 | 2017

Meet the woman who is giving youngsters an early taste of the kitchen in a novel way RECIPE FOR SUCCESS Briony Russell

Former Montessori teacher Briony Russell, from Wadhurst, has just published a book entitled Cook and Educate, which aims to teach children all about healthy foods and how to prepare them. Eileen Leahy finds out more about this appetising project Why did you think it was an important book to do?

I was very keen to spread the word about the value of encouraging creativity. Opening a young child’s eyes to all aspects of the world is incredibly important and rewarding. If you can create curiosity in a child, their enjoyment in learning will last a lifetime. It was also important to convey how easy it is for young children to absorb a wide range of knowledge, if you offer it in a simplified fun way. As the 19th-century writer and physician Alfred Mercier said: “What we learn with pleasure we never forget.”

What made you decide to write this special cookbook?

The activities in Cook and Educate had been tried and loved by children over many years in my accredited Montessori school. I have been teaching for 15 years, and essentially wanted to put into print what I know works in practice.

What are the fundamental differences in the Montessori teaching method?

Montessori schools have been established worldwide for over 100 years. They follow the principles of Maria Montessori, who was a true pioneer of child-centred education. Montessori saw that children learn best by doing, and that happy, self-motivated learners form positive images of themselves as confident, successful people. We see each child as a unique being and foster their independence from a very young age.

Fundamental is the belief that a child’s early years from birth to six are the period when they have the greatest capacity to learn. Children in

Montessori schools work individually most of the time, coming together when they wish to, at different periods during the day. Some mainstream schools, including primaries, are now also embracing these Montessori methods into their classrooms.

How did you get into teaching Montessori?

When I became a mother, I wanted to have a career that would allow me more time with my family. Teaching seemed the obvious option.

The more I researched Montessori, the more enthusiastic I became. I retrained and qualified as a Montessori teacher when my daughter was a baby. It is one of the best decisions I have ever made.

I continue to be incredibly inspired by the new generation of Montessori teachers, who I now tutor.

What kind of recipes can we expect to find in Cook and Educate?

They include things like caterpillar bread, global fruit salad, honey fudge, Welsh rarebit and strawberry jam. A little cooking is involved,

HANDS-ON APPROACH Making bread rolls

under the supervision of an adult, and there is also lots of information to help children develop their cooking skills, as well as their knowledge of the world. So, for example, with honey fudge children would learn about the life of bees, and also make the honey fudge. When cooking the Welsh rarebit, they would learn about the geography of the UK, too.

Food & Drink

Wednesday March 15 | 2017

55

Your chance to enjoy a flavour of the finest French haute cuisine

Are you a keen cook, and do you grow your own vegetables?

I like to cook food from all over the world, and I have large collection of cookbooks. I always pick up a recipe book if I go anywhere for the first time.

I have always been very keen for my daughter to help in the kitchen and to be able to cook, too. She was making Sunday roasts at around eight years old! I haven’t mastered the art of growing my own vegetables yet – but it is a goal for the future.

How did the artistic collaboration with the book’s illustrator Jo Ansell come about?

Jo is a very talented local artist and sculptor [exhibiting all over the UK, including at Pashley Manor in Ticehurst]. She is also a qualified teacher and worked for me as an art teacher, generously sharing her talents with our pupils at Casa dei Bambini. She was my first and only

FEATURES

Michelin-star chef Michel Perraud is being welcomed by The Old Vine pub in Cousley Wood at the end of this month as host of its special gourmet evenings. Landlord Ian Anderson tells the Times what foodie fans can expect to feast on courtesy of Monsieur Perraud

choice as the illustrator for my book, and luckily she said ‘Yes’ immediately.

What’s next for you? Will there be more books or workshops in the pipeline?

Cook and Educate is the first in a planned series of books combining creativity and knowledge. The next will celebrate the seasons and will include cooking and crafting. Jo and I are currently organising a series of workshops for both children and parents.

Cook and Educate is priced £12.99 and is available to buy from Barnett’s Bookshop in Wadhurst and www.cookandeducate.co.uk

WE MET Michel Perraud when we moved to France in 2002. We lived there for 13 years, and during this time had a small farm and vineyard in the Dordogne which we developed into high-end holiday rental homes. Michel lived nearby and would often come and cook for our guests – despite being very much in demand with his private clients, for whom he would cook all over the world.

Michel, who hails from Brittany, became famous while working at the world-renowned Waterside Inn in Bray with Michel Roux, where he was Head Chef for six years during the 1980s. His modern-classical cuisine helped gain the restaurant its third Michelin star.

During the 1990s, Michel went on to garner further Michelin stars at Les Alouettes in Surrey and at his two Fleur De Sel restaurants in Surrey and West Sussex.

Over the years, Michel has achieved a number of distinctions and awards, which include winning first prize in the Mouton Cadet Competition and being crowned Chef des Chefs at the world famous Le Cordon Bleu cookery school.

He was one of the first chefs to achieve the much-coveted Master of the Culinary

Arts, and also holds the title of Maître Cuisinier de France.

When my wife Sara and I decided to return to the UK in 2014, we fancied the idea of running a pub where we could use some of the skills we gained in France after meeting Michel. We took over The Old Vine in August 2015 and had a very simple goal: To be a good local pub that serves quality pub grub.

Fortunately for us, Michel agreed to come on board as our consultant chef.

The first thing he wanted to do was spend a day in our kitchen.

Michel jumped straight in and started helping with the prep, and our Head Chef Matt

STAR ATTRACTION Michelin-star chef Michel Perraud

was astounded that such a highly decorated Michelin-star chef was preparing veg in his kitchen!

Michel will also be hosting two sold-out gourmet evenings on March 29 and 30 where guests will be able to dine on delicacies such as scallops, langoustine, filet of bream and fois gras.

We hope people will join us – whether it’s for our gastronomic evenings or for a relaxed Sunday lunch – in order to enjoy a taste of the delicious cuisine we have created for our customers.

Our menus can be altered slightly to accommodate allergies and intolerances and booking is essential.

For more information on The Old Vine, Cousley Wood, call 01892 782271.

56

FEATURES

Travel

Wednesday March 15 | 2017

Grand designs on Antwerp

By Nick McAvaney

A

S A MAN who avoids buying clothes until his jeans are almost threadbare, my sense of fashion could (at best) be described as inept. I know vintage handbags can be a serious investment and Jimmy Choo is a shoemaker. But that’s about it.

So as my train rolls into Antwerp, Belgium’s second city and one of Europe’s biggest fashion and design hubs, I begin to wish I’d invested a bit more time and effort in my wardrobe. Fortunately, the city’s sense of style extends way beyond clothing. In terms of both architecture and attitude, Antwerp – I soon discover – is seriously cool.

The journey to Antwerp takes three hours from London via Brussels on the Eurostar, so it’s within relatively easy, hassle-free reach. I disembark at the striking Antwerp Central Station, rated as one of the most beautiful train stations in the world

for its stunning stone and marble interior.

Although originally built in the late 19th century, it’s a mishmash of architectural styles.

“It’s got a few influences,” our cycle tour guide, Nicolas de Belder from Cyclant, tells me, as we tour around the city on two wheels.

“Antwerp is very eclectic,” he continues, giving me a brief history of the city that’s home to around 500,000 inhabitants.

An important trading centre for sugar in the 1500s, it’s now best known for its diamond and chemical industries. It’s also one of the busiest ports in Europe and more important to Germany than Hamburg – or so Nicolas claims.

I’ve learned so much in my brief time in the city already, but there’s more to come.

Nicolas’s lessons extend beyond economics and design, to encompass a thorough explanation on how to take a bike on an escalator.

There are few bridges in Antwerp, making tunnels underneath the river Scheldt the best

crossing points. Many are accessed via escalators, and city cyclists learn from a young age that the correct way to carry a bike on these moving stairways is to lock the front wheel against a step, creating a T shape.

I pop out on the river’s left bank, a far quieter part of the city, with spectacular views across to the old town and Antwerp’s port.

Rising high above the building tops is the spire of the Gothic Cathedral of Our Lady. The adjacent tower was never finished, only reaching a third of its intended height.

In a country as flat as Belgium, anything tall is a major attraction, and Antwerp’s cathedral is no exception. It’s possible to climb the tower’s 500 steps on a guided tour every Wednesday from April until September.

The viewing platform atop the Museum aan de Stroom [MAS], is far more accessible. The building is a prime example of contemporary architecture and reflects the city’s trading history and modern

BRAVO, BRABO Fabled giant-slayer Brabo tops the fountain in Antwerp’s Great Market Square

Travel

Wednesday March 15 | 2017

FEATURES

57

TRAVEL FACTS  Nick McAvaney was a guest of Eurostar (www.eurostar.com; 03432 186 186), who operate up to 11 daily services from London St Pancras International to Brussels. Tickets to any Belgium station start from £34.50 one-way

CLOCKING IN To the Central Railway Station industrial focus. Its unique design might be lost on the young lovers in front of me who are looking for a secluded corner at the top.

Deciding to leave them in peace, I join my friends in the copperchromed Bar Burbure, which reminds me of 1930s New York.

The tipples of choice here are locally-distilled bio gins. Fresh ingredients such as pear, lavender and tangerines form the basis of the drinks, with no added sugar.

Beer, however, is ubiquitous in Belgium, so I’m happy to be heading to De Koninck brewery. It has been pumping out a fine selection of liquid amber since 1833, and the site has evolved to include a butcher, bakery, cheesemonger, chocolate shop and even a cycling store. Refreshingly, there is a ban on any chain retailers.

Many of the shops also collaborate together. Jitsk Chocolates, for

example, pair their products with the beer produced in the factory.

I tour the factory on an interactive journey through De Koninck’s history. Of course, it ends in a bar, where I need no encouragement to sample four of its products.

“Eleven am is the best time for beer tasting,” our bartender explains. “It’s when the taste buds are their most receptive after an overnight rest.”

Whether that’s true or not, I cannot deny the smooth taste of the beer on tap, nor fail to marvel at the amazing selection ranging from pale ale to strawberry-infused pilsner. Antwerp’s beer industry (like everywhere in Belgium) thrives on innovation. It dates back to a time when the city’s water quality was so poor, beer was by far the cleaner, healthier option.

Innovation is driving the industry forward, as there are more and more

TOWER POWER The Cathedral of Our Lady INDUSTRIAL STRENGTH TOURISM The Museum aan de Stroom

brewers sharing production facilities, leading to a wider variety of lagers, ales, crafts and brews.

Back in the city centre, walking off my liquid lunch, I stroll along Schuttershofstraat, where Chanel and Burberry sit alongside local designer stores Natan and Coccodrillo.

Many of the city’s artists and designers hail from the Royal Academy of Fine Arts, recognised as one of the top three design schools in the world. Each year, hundreds apply to develop their craft, but only 60 students are taken and only ten will eventually graduate.

I laugh aloud when I overhear a tour guide declare locals would “rather not eat than have bad shoes”

‘I laugh aloud when I overhear a tour guide declare locals would rather not eat than have bad shoes’ but I believe her statement to be true.

Perhaps I don’t fully appreciate the city’s concept stores and trendsetting designs, but what I’ve discovered in Antwerp is style, innovation and imagination, to boot.

Next time, though, I must bring a personal shopper to help plan my wardrobe. And an extra suitcase…

58

PROPERTY

Gardening

Wednesday March 15 | 2017

How to colour your mood

By Hannah Stephenson

A spiral of colour is the theme top designer Tom Massey has taken on in his latest show piece, which displays all the ways that gardens can enhance your mood and boost your wellbeing RESEARCH shows the therapeutic value and feeling of wellbeing that people get from gardening, according to Thrive, the charity that uses gardening to help people living with disabilities or ill health, or are vulnerable or isolated. But colour can also make an impact.

Massey [above] 31, was inspired by Zen gardens and Japanese designs to come up with his Perennial Sanctuary Garden - to be shown at the RHS Hampton Court Flower Show in July - and has done much research on how the colour and form of plants can change your mood.

At the outer edge of his showpiece, the vibrant red colours represent the inner chaos that can come from being at crisis point. As the visitor takes the journey into the garden following a winding gravel path, sounds from outside the garden fade.

The planting becomes taller and more immersive and the colour scheme moves through stimulating yellows and oranges to more restful purples, blues and finally, pure green.

Towards the middle of the design the planting is simplified, leading to a calm sanctuary at the centre of the garden. Here the planting changes to a single species of towering bamboo that screens the outside world, creating a safe haven and place

for peaceful reflection, hidden from view.

But you don’t have to create a show garden to generate a positive atmosphere in your outside space.

The use of a particular palette to generate a mood can be replicated in many gardens, Massey explains.

“Red is a very stimulating colour. It’s eyecatching, it can mean passion, danger and warning, but ultimately it’s an exciting colour,” says Massey, who uses Sanguisorba ‘Tanna’, Crocosmia ‘Hellfire’ and Panicum virgatum ‘Shenandoah’ to energise and uplift in his own show garden. “Red comes to the fore if you want a vibrant bed.”

Orange hues spark enthusiasm, fascination, happiness and creativity, combining the energy of red and the happiness of yellow. If you prefer an orange palette, you might try Achillea millefolium ‘Terracotta’ and Kniphofia uvaria ‘Nobilis’.

Yellow is the colour of sunshine, associated with joy, happiness and intellect and produces a warming effect, arousing cheerfulness and stimulating mental activity, says Massey. It’s an optimistic, positive colour and plants in this band include Helianthus annuus and Inula helenium.

Purple is associated with wisdom and dignity.

Plants in this band include Veronicastrum virginicum ‘Fascination’ and Miscanthus ‘Purpurascens’. Lilac and lavender shades also have a restful quality.

Blue is often associated with depth and stability,

symbolising trust, loyalty, wisdom, confidence and calm. Plants in this band include Panicum virgatum ‘Heavy Metal’ and Phlox ‘Blue Paradise’.

Bright colours tend to look more vibrant in sunny settings, while blue and green palettes can flourish in semi-shaded areas, creating a cool, calm atmosphere.

At the centre of Massey’s garden, is the screen of towering bamboo. The colour palette is pure green, the colour of nature, representing growth, harmony, freshness, stability and endurance. Green has healing

power, it is the most restful colour for the human eye and it has strong emotional correspondence with safety and sanctuary.

“Different forms and textures can be visually exciting and stimulating, but if you have one single species it can create a calming, restful environment.”  The Perennial Sanctuary Garden will be shown at

the RHS Hampton Court Flower Show from July 3-9.

GOOD ENOUGH TO EAT Early veg in the greenhouse  If you want to steal a march on summer, start sowing some delicious crops in your soil border in your greenhouse now and you should be harvesting them long before some of your neighbours. You shouldn’t go far wrong if you sow produce which is going to remain under cover throughout its life. Vegetables such as French beans, carrots and baby beetroot are great for this and you’ll be harvesting them much earlier than you would outside. Check on the seed packet that you have a greenhouse variety.

With climbing beans, sow two bean seeds per pot and place them on greenhouse staging in a frost-free greenhouse. When they have filled their pots with roots, plant them 20cm apart in the greenhouse border enriched with organic matter and put in a stake between each plant. Make sure you save space for later crops such as tomatoes, which can be planted in late April or May. Baby root vegetables and salad crops including radishes, spinach and lettuce, can also be sown thinly in the greenhouse border.

WHAT TO DO THIS WEEK  Harden off autumn-sown

SANCTUARY Follow the path through the changing colours

cauliflowers which have been overwintered in frames  Regularly check late potatoes you have in store. As sprouts appear, rub them out  In mild, dry conditions, plant out polyanthus  Tidy up pansies and violas in hanging baskets and containers as they come into life for spring  Top dress permanent plantings in tubs  Clean watering cans, seed trays and pots for the season ahead  Prick out seedlings in the greenhouse and transfer to larger pots  Continue to order plug plants or pick them up at garden centres  Protect strawberries with horticultural fleece  Keep an eye on blackberries, taking care to tie in new growth as it occurs  Prune hydrangeas, removing the old flowering heads which protected the plant against frost over the winter  Sow summer spinach, which should be ready to harvest in May

Beauty

Wednesday March 15 | 2017

Cold Comforts If the harsh winter weather has wreaked havoc on your skin then the good news is you can easily cure a wind-whipped complexion or rehydrate hands that are drier than the Sahara.

Eileen Leahy picks out the essential SOS skincare products to see you through spring It’s not just the sun you need to protect your skin from. The winter weather can also put paid to a silky soft and radiant glow. If your skin is struggling to recover from all that the harsh wind and the freezing temperatures that have probably left it chapped and lacklustre looking you’ll need to invest in some full-on, moisture-drenching products – think balms, oils and rich moisturisers – but you’ve got to know when to use them. Slather an

Using a serum underneath your moisturiser is a great way of giving your skin a good set of doubles – in terms of protection and complexion boosting properties.

Vital C Hydrating Anti-Aging Serum (£72 www.vwskincare.co.uk) is a hydrating serum that incorporates the new

oil on at night otherwise you’ll be shiny all day or your make-up will slide off within seconds.

But before you start scheduling when and where to use your lotions and potions you’ll have to get into the routine of regularly exfoliating – at least once a week - and cleansing and moisturising your skin twice daily otherwise not even the most expensive or miracle promising products will have any effect.

technology of oil-soluble Vitamin C with the highest bio-availability. The result?

Immediately soothed, smooth and more youthful looking skin courtesy of its high concentration of vitamins and potent anti-oxidants. Use daily for the best results.

BEAUTY SPOT - A LOOK AT WHAT’S NEW FOR SPRING An illuminating idea If you’re after a quick fix solution for a radiant complexion then invest in Iconic London’s Illuminating liquid drops (£29.99 www. iconiclondoninc.com) iconiclondoninc.com). They can be used for a multitude of things from mixing a little into your moisturiser or foundation to creating instant glow. Or why not try using it to give you perfectly sculpted cheek bones?

Perfect Scents From next month Jo Malone London launches its Rare Teas Collection (£175 per 75ml www.jomalone.co.uk). This is a collection of exquisite, limited edition fragrances that’s inspired by the rare teas of China and the Himalayas. The prestige perfume range includes Silver Noddle, Oolong and Jade Leaf teas which have been infused straight from the leaf into refined fragrances.

Brow beater Alchemy Oils have created Brow Remedy (£21,www.alchemyoils. co.uk) which aims to encourage hair to grow back naturally if you’ve been overzealous with your tweezers or you want to encourage fuller growth for bigger, bushier brows.

Nail your look Mavala, the Swiss purveyor of great nail colours and accessories has just launched its new spring collection. Entitled ‘Delicate’ the polishes are a stunning selection of shades which are inspired by the natural beauty of wild orchids. Ranging from barely there pinks to iridescent pearl (£4.95 www. mavala.co.uk) it’s what every perfect pair of manicured hands will be sporting this spring.

Lip Service Clinique’s Chubby lipsticks and balms (from £17.50 stockists nationwide) have become something of a cosmetic cult classic thanks to the variety of colours, ability to instantly moisturise and great staying power. Next month (April 28) the company launches Plump & Shine Liquid Lip Plumping Gloss (£18) which aims to give your fuller, ‘more voluptuous’ lips courtesy of the high-shine gloss which helps to make lips look bigger and more beautiful.

Available in eight different shades.

Supplement your health Treat your complexion, hair, nails and general well being to a daily dose of Vitalize Care vitamins (£25.99 for a month’s subscription www.vitalizecare.com). Taking one supplement a day will help you to improve your skin’s appearance and give your more lustrous locks as well as strengthen your nails and boost your immune system.

Moisturising your face in the morning and at night is the key to great looking skin so make sure you incorporate this important ritual into your routine. One of French women’s secret beauty weapons is the Institut Esthederm range which includes this Cellular Water cream (£39.50 www.feelunique.com). Not only does its key ingredient help to boost cell renewal activity and drench your skin with much needed moisture, it is suitable for all skin types and performs particularly well on tired, dull and stressed out complexions.

Make space for it in your cupboard of cosmetics.

The White Company has recently launched its first skincare collection and as you’d expect from the purveyor of quality luxury lifestyle items it doesn’t disappoint. As well as a new moisturiser, balm and serum included in the collection is a Hand Elixir (£20 www.whitecompany.com) which is quickly absorbed by the skin and therefore gets to work immediately.

Boasting a blend of Marine algae which helps to support skin cell renewal and blue rock extract that boosts collagen and elastin production, cracked and chapped hands will become a thing of the past.

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Motoring

Wednesday March 15 | 2017

FIRST DRIVE

Alfa Romeo Stelvio The Stelvio, which shares many components with the Giulia, is Alfa Romeo’s first venture into the SUV market. Here, Jon Reay finds out what it is like

WHAT’S NEW? This is Alfa Romeo’s first SUV – no pressure! So the Italians certainly aren’t messing around when it comes to showcasing Alfa’s interpretation of an off-roader.

Rather than borrowing some bits from sister company Jeep, Alfa has started afresh with the Stelvio, basing it on the platform of the recently launched Giulia saloon.

This, says Alfa, helps keep the Stelvio’s handling in check – providing more car-like dynamics along with a rear-biased fourwheel-drive system. Engines are largely shared with the Giulia, too, although the 2.2-litre diesel has been given a

boost, now outputting 207bhp in its most powerful guise.

LOOKS AND IMAGE Alfa’s trademark shield-shape grille sits proudly at the front, flanked by headlights anyone familiar with the Giulia will be quick to recognise.

In profile, the Stelvio is definitely more of a svelte crossover than a stout-looking SUV, and we reckon that’s no bad thing – in fact, it belies its size far more successfully than a BMW X4 or Mercedes GLC. Things are impressive inside, too.

Materials can’t be faulted, the dash is attractive and logically designed, and the driving position is spot-on.

What Alfa hasn’t quite nailed is the wow factor that Mercedes, Jaguar and even Audi manage to instil. The Stelvio’s insides are sleek and sophisticated, yes, but there are no party tricks to shout about – no fancy quilted leather, no touch-sensitive buttons, no ‘virtual cockpit’-like screen.

Motoring

Wednesday March 15 | 2017

Similarly, while the infotainment system is miles better than that on Alfas of old, it’s not quite up there with the BMW iDrives of this world – the strangely tiny rear parking camera display alone would never have been signed off by Bavaria’s finest.

However, quirks aside, it’s not a bad effort at all, and Alfa has clearly put some thought into a few nice details in the cabin – such as the flat-bottomed steering wheel and tactile metal paddle shifters.

SPACE AND PRACTICALITY Given its shapely body, the Stelvio isn’t quite as practical as some of its more traditional-looking SUV rivals – think more BMW X4 than X3, for example – but there’s easily still room for four adults and their luggage.

Rear legroom is decent, the boot space is par for the course at 525 litres, and it would be relatively easy to get child seats in and out. But rear visibility does take a bit of a hit, thanks to the relatively small rear window and thick rear pillars.

Alfa has filled the Stelvio to the brim with safety kit, so there’s technology aplenty to help prevent a crash. All the usual 2017 bits are there – lane departure warning, blind spot monitoring with rear cross-path detection and forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking – and although the Stelvio is yet to be tested by Euro NCAP, the Giulia saloon on which it’s based has already received a five-star rating.

BEHIND THE WHEEL Alfa Romeo is very keen to stress that this isn’t just another SUV with some sporty bits tacked on – instead, designing

the Stelvio with driving dynamics in mind from the very beginning.

That philosophy seems to have paid off. From behind the steering wheel you’ll find a car-like driving position and a cabin that’s more driver-focused and enveloping than in a typical SUV. Where the Stelvio really shines is in the way it drives. The steering itself is direct, accurate and – although a little bereft of feedback – delicate without feeling over-assisted. Despite its relatively tall body, there’s very little roll around corners – something Alfa’s engineers are rightly proud of – and at 1,660kg for the 2.0-litre petrol, it’s 100kg lighter than even the daintiest of its German rivals.

Combine those elements and you’ll find an SUV that’s as enjoyable around a set of corners as a well-sorted saloon or estate, and although the trade-off is a relatively firm ride, it’s not uncomfortable.

Refinement isn’t bad, either. We’d like a touch more soundproofing to separate the cabin from that familiar fourcylinder diesel rumble, but beyond that the Stelvio should also make for a comfortable motorway cruiser.

VALUE FOR MONEY Pricing is yet to be announced for the Stelvio, but given the BMW-rivalling list prices of the Giulia, expect something in the region of £40,000 for a mid-range car.

That’s a dangerous place to find yourself in this market – with the likes of the BMW X4, Audi Q5 and Mercedes GLC circling.

There are just three trim levels – Stelvio, Business and Super – and even entrylevel cars get an array of standard safety kit, front and rear parking sensors, a 6.5-inch infotainment screen, keyless

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FACTS AT A GLANCE: MODEL: Alfa Romeo Stelvio ENGINE: 2.2-litre diesel TRANSMISSION: Eight-speed automatic PERFORMANCE: 0-60mph in 6.6seconds, 133mph top speed ECONOMY: 58.8mpg (combined cycle) EMISSIONS: 127g/km PRICE: Around £52,000

entry and 17-inch alloys. Upgrade to Super, and you’ll get half-leather seats, bigger alloys, and so on, while ‘Business’ bundles in a few options above the entry-level car, but only BIK-friendly diesel engines.

Above that, the options list gives you some assorted niceties, such as a posher Harman Kardon stereo with either ten or 14 speakers, a ‘full-grain’ leather interior, a heated steering wheel, etc. Most of the usual electronic toys, such as active cruise control, are also available, although don’t expect VW-group levels of sophistication yet.

If you’re after LED headlights, active park assist or a head-up display, you’d best take yourself off to buy that Q5 (or even a Tiguan).

WHO WOULD BUY ONE? As this is Alfa Romeo’s first SUV and, along with the Giulia, one of its first family-sized cars in half a decade, the Stelvio’s customers are likely to be new to the brand – snaring some ex-Audi and BMW owners.

Alfa would like to think its customers are just a tad more discerning than the usual SUV rabble: More interested

in design and handling than whether or not you can have in-car WiFi. To an extent, they’ve nailed that brief – the Stelvio is probably the sweetest-handling SUV this side of a Porsche Macan, and in the looks department alone, it’s effortlessly sophisticated compared with its slab-sided German rivals.

Company car users are also on the agenda, targeted by the ‘Business’ model. Even the most powerful diesel chucks out a mere 127g/km of CO2 on the combined cycle – less than the equivalent Audi Q5 or BMW X3.

NEWS

Recruitment

Wednesday March 15 | 2017

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

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OF TUNBRIDGE WELLS AND TONBRIDGE

Puzzles

Wednesday March 15 | 2017

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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.

P L A S M I D S

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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Codeword:

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 next week’s paper

OF TUNBRIDGE WELLS AND TONBRIDGE

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Times of Tunbridge Wells and Times of Tonbridge are pleased to receive announcements from readers for publication in the newspaper.

Visit: www.kmclassifieds.co.uk We try to publish reports as quickly as possible after receipt and when space allows.

I R A Q

O P E M A U R S F F L E C K F G I S E R J U E O H T E L I E S T A K E S A O A C E D S H A O U I C K E S

Jigsaw Sudoku:

Sudoku:

1 6 4 9 2 3 5 7 8

3 2 7 1 8 5 6 9 4

9 8 5 6 4 7 2 3 1

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6 4 9 3 1 8 7 2 5

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Arts & Culture

Wednesday March 15 | 2017

Take a leaf out of this author’s book and try to encourage your children to love reading Successful local author Philip Ardagh is a guest speaker at next weekend’s Children’s Books Festival at Knole. He tells Eileen Leahy what he will be doing at this new event and why it’s important t0 enjoy books as young as possible

“Philip is ancient Greek for lover of horses and Ardagh is Irish for high fields,” declares Philip Ardagh when we begin our interview.

The author of a slew of successful tomes, including The Grunts and The Little Adventurers, which have been published in 40 different languages, it’s fair to say Mr Ardagh knows a thing or two about the power of a good book. And this is why he’s been invited as a guest speaker at next weekend’s first Children’s Book Festival at the picturesque National Trust property, Knole, in Sevenoaks.

The likes of Children’s Laureate Chris Riddell, Charlie and Lola creator Lauren Child and Cressida Cowell of How To Train Your Dragon fame will also be there.

Philip, who proudly tells me is ‘two metres tall’ and the owner of a very ‘impressive beard’, which he says most people think is ‘two sewn together’, will be joined at the Saturday session by the

illustrator of his Little Adventurers series, Elissa Elwick.

The books, which are aimed at children aged five years and up, are a series of humorous stories about a young group of friends – Sprat, Peanut, Finnegan and Floss – who meet in their top secret Shed HQ every week. The latest book, which Philip and Elissa will be discussing, is Leafy The Pet Leaf– all about the group’s Bring in a Pet day.

“All of them have one, apart from Sprout,” explains Philip. “So Sprout decides to make a pet leaf and the others aren’t overly impressed… but Leafy comes good so the others then make pet leaves – Floss calls hers Dave, which is very nice,” he chuckles before adding, “I better mention the others as they’ll get upset: There’s Finnegan and he has Licky Dog and then there’s Peanut and she brings her pet mouse Pocket with her – you can guess where she keeps that.

“I never had a pet as a child, but I did get to look after the class pet tadpole once.”

Meeting Philip, who will be talking about his new book John Drawbridge – A Medieval Knight in Training on the Sunday, feels like reading one of his books; animated, highly enjoyable and with something funny to snigger at every few seconds.

“I won the Roald Dahl Funny Prize, you know,” he quips mid-sentence, while talking about zooming up the Thames with The Gruffalo’s illustrator Axel Scheffler on last year’s World Book Day. “So when my son says ‘Dad, you’re not funny’ I can say ‘Yes I am, I’m awardwinningly funny’ so that’s very useful!”

However, he is incredibly serious about one thing; the importance of getting children to read as early as possible.

“Just sharing a story with a child is a fantastic start. Once you can read and

understand what it can bring you, it opens up an infinite number of worlds to you.”

What about children who are difficult to peel away from their phone or tablet?

Don’t panic is his advice: “As long as they’re not constantly Face Timing or Snapchatting, devices can be useful. You can read newspapers online, and the great advantage of looking things up on a computer is you can get incredibly sidetracked. If you want to find out about a certain type of fish, for example, but it calls up a submarine with the same name, then you’ll probably look at that.

It’s quite a fun way of learning. Library trips are similar as you go in wanting one particular book then get sidetracked by looking at something next to it.”

This is another subject which Philip is passionate about. “Our libraries are going through hell at the moment,” he says, referring to the huge cuts and closures.

“I try to be as supportive as possible: I go on marches, I Tweet, because if libraries didn’t exist someone would invent them.

They’re amazing places, and all the statistics show that people who get to use them as children have better educational opportunities later on. So any way of getting into books has got to be good.”

He tells me he grew up in a house full of books with a mother and father who loved to read. Would he put this down to his personal writing success?

“I think it helps – and I’m useless at anything else,” he laughs. “I don’t play a musical instrument – which is quite ironic, as Paul McCartney has only written one book and he wrote it with me. It’s called High in the Clouds and in it

‘Just sharing a story with a child is a fantastic start.

Once you can read and understand what it can bring you, it opens up an infinite number of worlds to you’

there’s a crocodile who lives in the sewers – she likes the acoustics because she’s an opera singer and there’s good echo. Paul and I gave her a few lines to sing, which means I can say: ‘Well, I wrote this song with Paul McCartney’.”

Philip, who has had over 100 books published, often talks in schools about the importance of reading.

“Some of those I go to still have school librarians who can recommend what to read or suggest other books to try.

Sometimes on their door they’ll have a note saying: ‘This week I’m reading…’.

“I’ve seen some headteachers do this, too, and it’s such a simple, brilliant idea.”

Later this year, the author will be promoting more new tomes, which include What Bear? Where? as well as a definitive guide to Tove Jansson’s books about the Moomins.

This, Philip says, is ‘a dream come true’ since his favourite book of all time is Comet in Moominsland.

Before he goes, the lover of horses and high fields has one final kernel of advice to offer: “The best, best thing is for children to see you reading. Even if you’re just engaging with snippets from the newspaper, it all helps.”

Knole Children’s Book Festival runs from 25-26 March at Knole in Sevenoaks. For information and tickets, visit www. nationaltrust.org. uk/knole

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Wednesday March 15 | 2017

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Colin Milburn: A tale of genius, laughter and tragedy One of the great characters of English cricket, whose career was cut short by a car crash, is celebrated in a play by James Graham-Brown. He talks to Andrew Tong

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FORMER county cricketer has written a play about Colin Milburn, a legend of the game who lost an eye – three years after the author suffered the same fate.

James Graham-Brown, former Kent bowler and Sevenoaks School PLAY THE GAME pupil, returns to his James Graham-Brown alma mater next week to watch a performance of his latest work: When The Eye Has Gone.

Milburn was one of the great entertainers of the game and a huge character in more ways than one – he weighed more than 18 stone, even at the peak of his career. And the play, which has been staged at all 18 first-class cricket grounds around the country, including Lord’s and The Oval, has been hailed as a great success.

James has written 29 plays since he retired from the game in 1978, but this is the first time he has written about cricket. “It all felt too personal before,” he says.

His latest oeuvre has that extra dimension of resonance, however, because of the disability – although the choice was not deliberate.

James, who is 65 and now lives in Bath, says: “I lost an eye in 2013. I had a central retinal vein

occlusion – it also happened to my dad, so it must be a genetic weakness.

“Subconsciously, I suppose there was a connection when I decided to write about Milburn.

I think I was drawn to him because of that.”

The playwright, who works under the nom de plume of Dougie Blaxland, was asked to write the piece by the players’ union amid concerns over the welfare of the sport’s practitioners.

“I was approached by Jason Ratcliffe of the Professional Cricketers’ Association to do it. He had been to see my play Hands Up for Jonny Wilkinson’s Right Boot, which was commissioned by the Rugby Football Union for the World Cup that year.

“He said: ‘We’d like you to write something because of the mental health issues in the game’. Two players had recently taken their own lives, and then there are the problems that Jonathan Trott [a former England batsman] has had.”

James, who went on to teach and became a headmaster, mused: “Cricketers find it very hard to cope with life, especially outside the game. Is it to do with the people who are attracted to it? Or it is the WIDE RANGE game itself?

Dan Gaismith plays “You play 52 characters longer than

other sports, so you’re less adaptable when it finishes. And you don’t make a fortune. It’s not like Rio Ferdinand, who just goes out and buys a hotel.”

Milburn was a hard-hitting England batsman who lost his eye in a car accident in 1969, just as he was reaching the peak of his powers. He was forced to retire, and died at the age of 48.

“He declined into chronic alcoholism, and died in a pub car park at the North Briton [in Aycliffe, Durham]. The landlord said he was telling jokes at the bar right up to the end.”

The one-man show, produced by Roughhouse and directed by Australian Shane Morgan, is set in a pub. The actor Dan Gaismith plays 52 characters in 75 minutes.

A tour de force like its subject matter, it exposes a very different side to the larger-than-life wit and raconteur who was known universally as ‘Ollie’ after Oliver Hardy.

“He was very charismatic, very funny, always the heart of the party,” says James, who recalls that fellow bon viveur Ian Botham was one of Milburn’s close friends – and a pall-bearer at his funeral.

“But he was also a very lonely man, which is why it’s a one-man show.

Everyone thought they knew him, the public

exterior of ‘jolly Ollie’, with him saying: ‘I’ll have a triple gin and coke’. But it wasn’t like that.”

However, When The Eye Has Gone is also a celebration of one of the great unfulfilled talents of British sport.

“He was like the John Lennon of cricket,” claims James. “It was coming to the end of the 60s. Cricket was in the doldrums at the time, it was a very boring game, and he revitalised it single-handed.

“He came from a mining community, and when he started playing, the English batting order was like a public school team. He was a breath of fresh air.”

James adds: “Ollie was totally unconventional, and 18 and a half stone – you would never get away with that in these days of fitness fanatics.

“But most of the players I talked to who came to see the play have said he would have won Strictly Come Dancing, he was so light on his feet.”

James says he found the process of writing the play ‘very moving’.

“We performed it in his home village of Burnopfield in Durham, and half the village turned up. I was looking out at the audience and there were all these big fat men there who looked like Ollie.

“His oldest friend, Bill Brown, who used to play with him in the park, was there, and he had not seen Ollie’s cousins since the funeral in 1990.

“It was a really significant moment. I cried. They said we’d got him bang on. We just went and got drunk, we didn’t know what else to do.”

When The Eye Has Gone will be performed at the Sackville Theatre in Sevenoaks School on Tuesday March 21, at 4.30pm and 7.30pm, followed by a Q&A session with the author

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What’s On

Wednesday March 15 | 2017

SEVEN DAYS OF SOCIAL ACTIVITIES AT A GLANCE WITH THE

Eileen Leahy Local events

>> WEDNESDAY If you’re a keen collector, then head over to the Spa Hotel this morning where there will be a C&T Fair on. Browsers and buyers will be able to choose from a wide selection of ephemera, including books, cameras and paperwork. Viewing starts at 9am and the auction starts at 10.30am. For more information, visit www.candtauctions.co.uk The incredibly popular film A Street Cat Named Bob is showing at Trinity Theatre tonight at 8pm.

Based on the bestselling book, it’s the feelgood true story of how a homeless busker and recovering drug addict named James Bowen (played by Luke Treadaway) sees his life totally turn around for the better after he meets a stray ginger cat. Tickets cost £9.50. To book, visit www.trinitytheatre.net >> THURSDAY Bore Place, near Chiddingstone, is hosting a culinary event today entitled Street Food from Around the World. Running from 9.30am until 4pm, the day includes practical sessions with experts on how to cook various international indigenous dishes, including Indian pav baji, Ugandan chapatis and Polish pierogis. Participants will work in small groups and can either eat their delicious creations straight away or take them home to share. Tickets to the event cost £65 per person and include a day’s tuition, lunch and refreshments. For more information, visit www.boreplace.org The Sing-a-Long-a Rocky Picture Show pitches up at the Assembly Hall this evening from 7.30pm.

Suitable for those aged 15 and over, it’s a musical singalong of one of the most famous musical films and stage productions of all time. So if you loved the soundtrack, which includes classic tunes such as The Time Warp and Whatever Happened to Saturday Night?, then this is for you!

If you would like to see your events featured in our weekly What’s On pages, please email eileen@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk

SEEING DOUBLE Two Painters at Trinity Gallery

Tickets cost from £15 or £13 with a Go! Card.

For further information, visit www.assemblyhalltheatre.co.uk/your-visit/go-card >> FRIDAY If you’ve got little ones and are stuck for creative ideas in order to keep them occupied, then make sure you drop along to the monthly craft and storytelling sessions at the Tunbridge Wells Museum. Running from 10.30am for an hour, they are ideal for toddlers aged 2-5. This month’s theme is Dino Divers and entrance is free.

Children must be accompanied by an adult.

Trinity is running an exhibition entitled The Two Painters until Sunday. Artists Jo Messer and Sheila Pryce will be displaying their work, which shares a common interest of creating paintings that ‘respond in a fresh, vital and immediate way’.

The exhibition is free and is open from 10am until 10pm.

In the Chapel of St Augustine at Tonbridge School there will be a concert of Brahms’ 1st Symphony.

This is one of the composer’s most famous works, which he notoriously spent 14 years creating, and is a rich melodic work underpinned by PURE VINTAGE: Go retro at King Charles the Martyr Church Hall

flashes of the sombre C minor key which earned it the nickname ‘Beethoven’s 10th’ – such was its similarity to the German musical maestro’s work.

The concert starts at 7.30pm and tickets are free. To reserve yours, call the box office on 01732 304 241.

Musical entertainment of a different kind is on offer at Woods from 7.30pm with Blues Brothers Little Brother playing a tenth anniversary celebration gig. Tickets cost £10 and can be ordered via www.bluesbrotherslittlebrother.co.uk or by calling 07789 928957. >> SATURDAY Fashion fans will love the Vintage Fair which is being held at King Charles the Martyr Church Hall in Warwick Park today. Organised by fashion writer and retro specialist Ruth James, it runs from 10.30am until 4pm and will include lots of amazing gems courtesy of stallholders specialising in the world of bygone fashion, music and homeware. Entrance costs £1.

Rusthall Cinema Club will be screening Salmon Fishing in the Yemen tonight from 7.30pm. Based on the book of the same name by Paul Torday, it stars Emily Blunt and Ewan McGregor and is about a fisheries expert called Alfred (McGregor) who is recruited by a rich sheikh to help him achieve his desire of bringing fly fishing to the Yemen desert.

The sceptical Alfred then meets financial adviser Harriet Chetwode-Talbot (Blunt), and what unfolds is a charming comedy and love story. Tickets cost £7 or £2 for members and can be sourced by visiting www.rusthallcinemaclub The Talentz Musical Theatre company will be at the EM Forster Theatre in Tonbridge giving a showcase of their weekly classes and snippets from some of the successful shows they have put on over the years. There will also be a live five-piece band present, and some guests from London’s West End to entertain. The singing and dancing event starts at 7pm and tickets cost £12. For more information visit www.boxoffice.tonbridgeschool.co.uk Salomons Estate will be hosting ‘an evening

FOOD FROM AROUND THE WORLD At Bore Place

with Elvis and Neil Diamond’ from 7.30pm.

Impresario Fisher Stevens will be performing songs by these two famous artists while guests relax at the bar. There will also be a raffle and a disco afterwards. Tickets cost £20 with proceeds going to Breast Cancer Care. To book call 01892 278 287. >> SUNDAY At 2 and 5pm today, Lamberhurst School of Theatre Dance will be celebrating their 40th anniversary with a new production of Peter Pan in Dance at the Assembly Hall. Featuring local children from the school aged 4-18 years old, they will tell this classic and enchanting story through the magic of dance. Tickets cost £15 for adults and £11 for children. www.assemblyhalltheatre.co.uk The local organisation CODA (Concerts Originaux Des Amis) seeks to encourage young professional

PICK OF THE WEEK Chiddingstone Castle Wedding Fair 11am-3pm Sunday March 19 IMAGE: WILD WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY

WHATS ON

Looking for a perfect romantic wedding venue? Then pop along to one of the area’s most enchanting castles, Chiddingstone, and see what they have to offer you courtesy of their annual Wedding Fair. Meet selected specialist suppliers, enjoy some live entertainment and sample some delicious treats. The event takes place within the castle and an outdoor marquee. Free admission and parking. For more information, call 01892 872744 or email weddings@chiddingstonecastle.org.uk

What’s On

Wednesday March 15 | 2017

musicians and to promote an appreciation of music for all. They perform at least six concerts a year at Rose Hill School in Tunbridge Wells, and today will be showcasing the A STREET CAT talents of violinist NAMED BOB Alexandrea Lomeiko At Trinity Theatre and pianist Antonina Suhanova from 2.30pm. The duo will be performing a range of pieces, including Mozart’s Sonata for violin and piano in G major and Stravinsky’s Divertimento from Le baiser de la fée (the fairy’s kiss).

For further information, visit www.codatw.co.uk >> MONDAY The latest in the X-Men film franchise is Logan, a futuristic thriller starring Hugh Jackman in the eponymous role and Patrick Stewart as Professor X, and it’s on at the Hop Farm’s Moonlight Drive-in Cinema until Thursday. A jaded Logan has been assigned carer of the ailing professor on the Mexican border, but Logan’s attempts to escape his Wolverine legacy are thwarted when a young mutant arrives on the scene. The film starts at 7pm and tickets cost £25 per vehicle. >> TUESDAY The Kent and Sussex Poetry Society hold meetings on the third Tuesday of each month at the Camden Centre in Tunbridge Wells. Each one is usually attended by a guest poet, and this month it is Suzanne Cleary. Open to the public – admission £3 – all welcome, including new members. To find out more about the society, visit www.kentandsussexpoetry.com

FEATURES

A ROUND-UP OF THIS WEEK’S MUSICAL HIGHLIGHTS

Paul Dunton Live music Cracking midweek gigs include a stellar lineup at The Forum this Wednesday with The Sherlocks, Joy Room and The Gallerys.

Across the road at The Grey Lady, The Standard Lamps make their last home town appearance before they head off on tour to support iconic British rock group The Who. Friday brings Abbamania at The Assembly Hall Theatre, while Saturday sees local bands Kharma & The Devil at The Beau Nash, and More Tea Vicar at The Rusthall Club. For fans of blues, jazz, soul and more, Ian Rae’s Hard Lines are at The Grey Lady and alternative and pop/rockers Riff Raff play The Bedford.

The Crew headline at The Forum, while Lee Harvey Oswalds are at The Royal Oak. THE ASSEMBLY HALL THEATRE Crescent Road, information on times and tickets at www.assemblyhalltheatre.co.uk

TUESDAY Harley & Woods, Alex Beharrell, Paul Monham, Joe Ackerley

THE ROYAL OAK Prospect Road, open all day, free entry, music from early evening onwards

THE TUNBRIDGE WELLS FORUM Doors 7.30pm, entry price variable, event information and tickets at www.twforum.co.uk

SATURDAY Lee Harvey Oswalds MONDAY Open Mic Night

WEDNESDAY The Sherlocks, Joy Room, The Gallerys THURSDAY Local & Live Electric: Dull Knife, Storm Engine, Josh Renton & The Wildfires FRIDAY Spreading The Disease, Cardboard HiT, Paperfriend, Fish Head SATURDAY Local & Live Electric: The Crew, Bison, NMV

THE BEDFORD 2 High Street, open all day, free entry, music from 8.30pm

THE CROSS KEYS St John’s Road, open all day, free entry, music from 8pm, website www.crosskeystw.co.uk

SATURDAY More Tea Vicar

MONDAY TWUNT: Ukulele Jam Session

SATURDAY Riff Raff THE RUSTHALL CLUB 5 St Paul’s Street, Rusthall, open all day, free entry, music from 8.30pm onwards

THE BEAU NASH TAVERN Mount Ephraim, open all day, free entry, music from 8.30pm till late

SATURDAY Kharma & The Devil

THURSDAY Sing-a-Long-a Rocky Horror Show FRIDAY Abbamania

THE PUNCH & JUDY 11 St Stephen’s Street, Tonbridge open all day, free entry, music from 8.30pm

THE GREY LADY MUSIC LOUNGE The Pantiles, doors 7.15pm, entry £6/£7, websites www.pdag.co.uk + www.thegreylady.co.uk

WEDNESDAY The Standard Lamps, Steffan James, The Paul Dunton Orchestra FRIDAY Soul Kitchen SATURDAY Hard Lines SUNDAY Riff Raff, Emily, The Alley Devils, Emanuel Fanthome-Hodgson

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

TUESDAY Titus

The Standard Lamps

TONBRIDGE FOLK CLUB Ye Olde Chequers Inn, 122 High Street, Tonbridge Free entry, music 8-11pm, hat collection (£7) Full details at www.tonbridgefolkclub.org

MONDAY Richard Grainger

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NEWS

Sporting Times

CONTACT US:

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

Wednesday March 15 | 2017

LACROSSE: BENENDEN SCHOOL first team have won the highest honour in school lacrosse, the Rathbones National Schools Championships, after a dramatic two days of competition at Guildford’s Surrey Park.

They comfortably beat Lady Eleanor Holles 3-0 in the final, avenging a defeat by them in the pool stage. But they had a testing time getting there.

Benenden eased through the group stages with six back-to-back wins. But on the second day the girls endured a tough morning in the last-16 pool stage, with one draw and two defeats.

That meant they finished third in their pool and would be handed a difficult draw in the knockout stage. But Benenden rose to the challenge, eliminating St Catherine’s and St Mary’s Calne.

Then they contested an epic semi-final against Downe House. The teams were deadlocked at 4-4 when the final whistle blew, forcing overtime

CUP OF CHEER Benenden celebrate their title

– and Benenden scored the ‘golden goal’ to progress to the final.

Scarlett Johnson was named best midfielder in the competition and also took home the Vivien Jones Memorial Award for the most valuable player, while Eliza White was the best attacker.

Benenden’s 2nd XII came third in their ­competition after a narrow 1-0 defeat in their semi-final against St Paul’s Girl’s School.

Resilience Louise Hall, Director of Sport, Fitness and Wellbeing at the school, said: “I’m extremely proud of the girls and our staff, who have worked so very hard for this success.

“All those training sessions have paid off – and their resolve and resilience shone through. They kept their heads up during a tough second morning of competition and then turned in their strongest performances when it mattered most.”

The captain, Freya ­Hopkisson, who has been picked to play for England in a tournament running alongside this summer’s World Cup, said: “I can’t believe it. We’d had a fantastic season, beating all our main rivals, so it just came down to performing on the day.

“I’m so incredibly proud of the whole team. It feels amazing to be national champions!”

PHOTO: David Couldridge

Benenden crowned national champions FINE FINISH Nicky Wheeler scored with a shot from 25 yards out

Angels hang on after injury woe Staines Town 1 Tonbridge Angels 1

By Jim Rowe FOOTBALL: TONBRIDGE ANGELS had to dig deep to pick up an important point at Staines Town that keeps them in fourth place in the Ryman Premier.

Three players, Jack Parter, James Folkes and Tom Parkinson, had to go off because of injury.

They had to play out the last 15 minutes with only 10 players as all the substitutions had been made.

Melvin Slight, the Tonbridge physio, was so busy that the final minutes saw the Staines physio having to come on and treat Tonbridge players.

Loanee keeper Jonny Henly, performed heroically on his second appearance for the club.

The Hemel Hempstead-based player had to make four saves before he was beaten on the half-hour.

Mohammed Bettamer split open the Tonbridge defence again and Jonathan Hippolyte scored.

Manager Steve McKimm said: “The paint peeled

off the walls of our dressing room at half-time.”

Angels came out for the second half in much more determined mood. Crucially, Nicky Wheeler switched to the left flank, his preferred position.

When Nathan Elder fed the ball out to Wheeler in the 52nd minute, he cut in and cleverly made space for himself to let fly from 25 yards, giving Jack Turner in the Staines goal no chance.

With 20 minutes left, substitute Folkes – who had already come on for Parter – also limped off.

Worse was to follow on 76 minutes when skipper Tom Parkinson wsa carried off with suspected fractured ankle, leaving Angels a man down.

A Sonny Miles goalline clearance in the 85th minute typified the resistance in the Tonbridge ranks and they hung on for a valuable draw.

Manager McKimm was very pleased with the point, saying: “This is not an easy place to come to and they hadn’t conceded in five matches.

“We sorted a few things out and it was a very different game in the second half. Jonny’s kept us in at times, and it was a great strike by Nicky.”

Timely wake-up call for Rustics Rusthall 0 Phoenix Sports Reserves 2

By Richard Smith FOOTBALL: RUSTHALL suffered their second league defeat of the season at the hands of a young and unfamiliar Phoenix Reserves side.

Rusthall’s keeper Sean Ingleson made a superb save after 10 minutes to keep out Lewis Addlick’s equally fine shot from just inside the area.

Phoenix always looked most likely to break the deadlock but it took them until the 61st minute.

Kenny Aileru showed a great turn of pace to race

into the box before squaring to Lewis Addlick, who finished neatly at the near post.

Rusthall needed to show the character that has seen them lead the league for most of the season but they struggled to take control of the match.

As they chased the game late on, Phoenix caught them on the break and Jonny Miller scored.

Next Rustics visit high-flying Sutton Athletic and must get back to their previous high standard to finish in the top two of the Southern Counties East League Division One and earn promotion.

The disappointment was at least softened when news came through that rivals K Sports had only drawn 1-1 away at FC Elmstead.

Two penalties and Crandley blow harm survival hopes FOOTBALL: TUNBRIDGE WELLS lost 5-0 to C ­ anterbury City in their battle to avoid the drop in the Southern Counties East League Premier Division.

The club did receive a boost last week when were awarded three points from a disputed match against Croydon back in September.

They had been leading 1-0 when the referee walked off in the 87th minute (see page 5).

But at Homelands they came up against an in-form City side who had won five games in a row.

The visitors conceded two penalties and were dismayed to see Ryan Crandley carried off injured.

Sporting Times

Wednesday March 15 | 2017

Allberry hat-trick keeps Wells men on course for title

GYMNASTICS: KENT COLLEGE Under-10s were crowned national champions at the Independent Schools Gymnastics Association competition.

Over 480 gymnasts and 96 teams from as far afield as Belgium and Holland demonstrated their skills in this prestigious event in Guildford.

By Brandon Begg

Revenge is sweet as Wilson scores twice Tunbridge Wells Ladies 3 Upminster 2

By Brandon Begg HOCKEY: WELLS Ladies were keen to make amends at Hawkenbury after being narrowly beaten by Upminster in East League Division One South earlier in the season.

The home side had an excellent first half, and fast passing and movement between Ollie Gerrett and Becky Bradbury led to a smart finish by Annie Wilson.

Wilson scored again after another wellworked move down the right, arriving on the end of a cross from Ana Glubb.

But too much dwelling on the ball saw Upminster fight back to 2-1. It took good work by the defence and player of the match Georgia Whitaker to change the momentum.

Perdi Knight beat the keeper with an excellent shot after Nelia Bekker fed her a pass during a quick counter-attack. Upminster managed to score another goal towards the end but Wells kept their concentration to close out the win.

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Violet leads Kent College to glory

BACK TO FRONT Nick Doherty bursts through Sidcup’s defensive lines

Tunbridge Wells Men 4 Holcombe 2nd XI 2

Exceptional

Sobering defeat but rivals also lose as race hots up Sidcup 39 Tunbridge Wells 23

By Roger Clarke RUGBY: TUNBRIDGE WELLS continued their quest for a play-off place in the league by visiting Sidcup, who are 13 points clear at the top.

Wells started the game in third place, four points behind Havant but facing perhaps their biggest task of the second half of the season.

The first half-hour belonged to the visitors as Nick Doherty and Jake Jones got outside the defence on the left to score.

Wells’ backs, particularly the centre combination of Dylan Barkas and Fionn McLaughlin, displayed an accuracy of pass and quickness of thought But an undefeated side like Sidcup were bound to fight back hard. As half-time approached they turned the screw to gain territory and position.

From a penalty to the corner Ben Ibrahim spotted the gap and dashed through it to level the scores 13-13 at the break.

Sidcup increased the pace in the second half, forcing Wells into some inaccurate kicking and an inability to retain possession.

Skipper Lee Campion left the field after a late tackle had left him shaken and Jake Thompson also departed with a head injury.

They conceded another Ibrahim try but Wells remained within a score.

CENTRE OF Then Ollie Lewis-DonaldATTENTION son, who came on for CamWells’ Fionn pion, was adjudged to McLoughlin have committed a head

high tackle on the Sidcup winger Louis Keely and was yellow-carded on 65 minutes.

Sidcup exploited the deficiency with three tries in 10 minutes, all of which were picked up by the backs overlapping the understaffed defence.

Wells were not done yet and the pack drove prop Nick Blacklock over for a rolling maul try before Jones scored his second. It was the first try bonus by a visiting side at Crescent Farm this season.

The disappointment of the defeat was, however, short-lived as word came through that Havant had lost to Chiswick and had not earned a bonus point.

So the gap to the second-place play-off slot in London One South has now narrowed to three points.

PHOTO: Bruce Elliott

HOCKEY: TUNBRIDGE WELLS welcomed bottom-ofthe-league Holcombe to Kent College looking to continue their winning streak and keep hold of the top spot in Kent & Sussex Regional Division One. A couple of Second XI players stepped up for their first-team debut, which may have accounted for Wells’ slow start in the match.

The visitors won an early short corner from which they beat goalkeeper James Harris and the postman on the line.

This breathed some life into the Wells side who, from the restart, swiftly levelled the scores through Kyle Mathieson.

From here the match was end-to-end, nailbiting hockey, with neither side taking advantage of their chances in the D. Ben Allberry struck just before half-time to give the home side the lead going into the break.

Wells worked out a clear game plan to play simple hockey and to retain possession and the goals would come.

They came flying out of the blocks in the second half. Allberry scored two goals in quick succession to complete his hat-trick, a drag flick from a short corner into the top right-hand corner of the goal and the other strike coming from open play.

Holcombe scored just before the final whistle but it was too little to late. The win keeps Wells on top of the league with four games left.

NEWS

Under-10s’ Violet Manser and Under-13s’ Poppy Morrison were individual champions, while Scarlett Howard-Stapaj came second and Evie Ginbey was third.

Violet scored an exceptional 9.90 in the floor competition, and all the U10 team were in the top ten, while the Under-13s came third overall.

BRIGHT FUTURES: The Kent College Under-10s and Under-13s enjoy their success in Guildford