Times of Tunbridge Wells August 16 2023

By Lilly Croucher

PLANS for a second runway at Gatwick would mean thousands more planes using the airport and be “a massive blow to the quality of life” for people across Tunbridge Wells.

That’s the warning from local MP Greg Clark following the next step in Gatwick’s scheme to repurpose the Northern Runway.

The plan has now been submitted to a panel of independent experts for examination.

The process could take up to 18 months and could lead to the final

green light for the controversial initiative.

In a letter to the Planning Inspectorate, Mr Clark said: “The level of noise from the existing use of Gatwick Airport causes significant disturbance to many of my constituents because landing flights pass at low levels directly across residential areas in Tunbridge Wells, Southborough, Rusthall, Speldhurst, Bidborough, Groombridge, Ashurst and Langton Green.

“The proposed additional runway would make a bad situation worse.”

Mr Clark was particularly

concerned by Gatwick’s analysis that pointed out that a 70 per cent increase in the number of air traffic movements between 2016 and 2032, of which 30 per cent was specifically attributable to the proposal.

“Such an increase in the frequency of aircraft movements overflying an area would be a massive blow to the quality of life of my constituents,” he added. “Noise would go from being frequent to being more or less constant.”

Continued on page 2

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Picture: Shutterstock

EDITOR

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Gatwick recognises noise is issue for residents

Continued from front page

Campaigners claim that a second runway would mean thousands of additional flights a year using Gatwick Airport bringing about “motorways in the skies”.

Sally Pavey, a spokesperson for Communities Against Gatwick Noise Emissions (CAGNE), told the Times: “The second runway will create an extra 100,000 flights a year, increasing from 285,000 to 382,000 by 2038.

“Tunbridge Wells will be particularly hit by noise with 70 per cent of arrivals flying in over West Kent.”

She claimed the airport continued to be in denial about the impact that the new second runway would have on people living as far as 30 miles away.

“Whatever departs from Gatwick must come back and Tunbridge Wells residents will suffer more because of it,” she added.

“Using new technology, they want to concentrate the flight path into motorways in the skies, meaning if your area gets arrivals now, you will probably see more planes overhead with less gaps in between.

“Gatwick has also requested to modernise its airspace to improve its efficiency and growth but, due to policy, flight paths must be routed to disturb the least amount of

people, which would target rural, less populated areas.”

Gatwick says their “substantial growth plan” would create 14,000 new jobs and inject £1billion into the region’s economy every year.

However, Ms Pavey pointed out that the new jobs would come with consequences.

“The jobs will require thousands more people moving or travelling into the area, with many jobs being potentially seasonal and lower paid,” she continued.

“It puts pressure on affordable housing, which there is a lack of, and amenities like health and schools, as well as travel and

road congestion.”

In response, a Gatwick spokesperson said: “No flight path changes are required as part of our Northern Runway plans.

“We recognise noise related to the airport is an issue for some.

“Our Northern Runway plans include a legally binding noise envelope that places limits on aircraft noise.

“There is also an enhanced noise insulation scheme for those properties most affected.

“The Government’s airspace modernisation programme is separate from Gatwick’s Northern Runway Project.”

HOW TO GET YOUR VOICE HEARD

Following approval from the Planning Inspectorate, Gatwick’s proposals will now be examined by a panel of independent experts.

This examination could take up to 18 months to complete and could include written submissions and public hearings.

During the pre-examination residents, local councils and stakeholders will be able to have their say on Gatwick’s plans by first registering with the Planning Inspectorate as an ‘interested party’.

The date registrations open has not been

announced yet but will be confirmed in due course on the planning website here: infrastructure.planninginspectorate.gov.uk

Those interested will have 28 days from the date posted on the website to register their interest by completing the relevant representation form, where participants will be able to submit their written views.

During this pre-examination stage, those interested will also be able to view the application documents, read other people’s views and attend a preliminary hearing.

School bus route cancelled after drop in passengers and ‘cases of vandalism’

By Alice Reece

A BUS route that services passengers in Tunbridge Wells has been cancelled after the vehicle was vandalised by students, costing the operator more than £1,000 in repairs.

Hams Travel announced last week they would be cancelling service 1 from Groombridge to Tonbridge via Hill View School, next month.

A statement on their website said: “Due to a drop in passenger numbers and cases of vandalism to vehicles over the past year, [the 1] will cease operation on the 29th September 2023.

“The service will be offered out to other local operators who may take over.”

The cancellation of the bus service means students who attend Hillview School in Tonbridge will no longer be able to take the direct route to the school.

Petition

However, a petition, which has over 100 signatures, has been lodged by a local parent to save the bus route.

The petition said: “Our children need this bus to get to school, they say it’s not used enough which is ridiculous.

“Save our children’s future! So many parents rely on this service, my daughter starts [school] in September and […] the only thing making me worry less was a direct bus.”

Responding to the reaction from parents, Hams Travel posted photographs showing the extent of the vandalism.

The images showed bus seats ripped apart, with the covers and padding missing

VANDALISM:

Hams Travel’s pictures of the damage

from the chairs, which Hams Travel claims was caused by students.

In the post, Hams Travel said: “Further to the backlash received after the announcement of cancelling service 1, we would like to make parents aware of some of the damage that occurred whilst running this service during the past academic year.

“Whilst the students were identified on CCTV, and one received a ban from Kent County Council, we had no option but to foot the bill for repairs totalling over £1,000 for the materials, labour and time of vehicles kept off the road, as neither the Council or schools were willing to pay this.

“Student behaviour does contribute towards whether we choose to continue operation of a service… We are unable to afford the risk of any further damage.”

Parents commenting under the post have criticised the bus operator’s statement and the timing of the announcement, with some parents having already purchased their

child’s £450 bus pass for next year.

One commenter said: “Dropping passenger numbers didn’t make sense when children stand because there aren’t enough seats.

“Perhaps people may have understood the rationale for suspending the service if Hams had been upfront and stated that damage caused by passengers was in fact the main reason.

“Parents have also raised their concerns that this decision has been made after [they] have paid out £450 for a bus pass. Hams Travel responded: “We spoke to the school at the time who were unable to pay the bill.

“In regards to the term of ‘backlash’, unfortunately the comments on these posts do not reflect how some people have chosen to speak through emails and private messages.”

Hams Travel has been approached for comment.

Mother gives birth outside hospital

PASSERS-BY at Tunbridge Wells Hospital helped deliver a baby outside the hospital entrance, after the expectant mother and her fiancé arrived late due to roadworks.

Another couple, who had been sent home by midwives, stopped to help with the birth on the pavement, despite the woman being in the early stages of labour herself.

The new parents have been named as Bethany Azura Wenham and Jack Cottle. A hospital spokesperson said: “Our maternity patients and their families are encouraged to call our 24-hour maternity support line when they are on their way to the hospital with contractions so we can make sure the right staff are there to meet them.

“Our CCTV shows that from the point at which the couple first entered the hospital car park, to our first member of clinical staff reaching the scene was seven minutes.”

The new mother put a post on Facebook to try to find the couple who had helped with the birth.

Coaching inn pub for sale as going concern

A 15TH-CENTURY coaching inn on the Frant Road is for sale as a going concern, with landlord accommodation on site.

The Abergavenny Arms dates to 1450, but was named The Bull for over 200 years, after the bull’s head on the crest of the Abergavenny family, whose seat at Eridge Park is nearby.

The pub has a 17-year, free-of-tie lease and on-site accommodation of two one-bedroom apartments.

Waterworks set to close Broomhill Road

BROOMHILL Road is to close for four days from August 21, for water works by South East Water.

The road will be closed outside Broomhill Bank School.

The diversion route is via Lower Green Road, Etherington Road and Speldhurst Road.

Van seized

POLICE on patrol in Tunbridge Wells have seized a van which was being driven with no insurance.

Team 1 officers stopped the driver near Longfield Road, Kent Police reported on Monday (August 14).

Checks revealed that the driver, who was alone in the vehicle, had no insurance and only held a provisional licence.

Major road to reopen early ending weeks of long tailbacks and delays

By Lilly Croucher

PEMBURY Road, one of the main routes into Tunbridge Wells, is set to reopen this Friday, ending weeks of frustration for motorists who faced major traffic congestion.

The roadworks, which started on July 24, were scheduled to take six weeks, but after works progressed quicker than expected, the gas network now says the road could be cleared as soon as Friday.

Dan Brown, spokesperson for gas company SGN said yesterday (Tuesday): “Earlier this month, our contractor provided additional resources to help carry out the remaining required gas network upgrades in the Pembury Road area.

Upgrades

“This enabled engineering works to progress more quickly than originally anticipated and the road will reopen approximately two weeks ahead of schedule.

“This week, we’re working to make the final network upgrades, before restoring the road surface and surrounding area to its original condition.

“All being well, the road will be safe to reopen on Friday 18th August.”

While the gas works were being completed, the road was being fixed by contractors,

WCB, and the gutters and landscaping cleared by Kent Highways.

Cllr David Hayward (Pembury ward), expressed his gratitude on behalf of the residents for the earlier finish.

He told the Times: “The contractors were always very happy to give me updates and I am really happy with it and I think they have done a great job.

“After Greg Clark and I put pressure on SGN they agreed to work 12-hour days and

have two crews working instead of one, moving from each end to the middle, and I think it has gone swimmingly.

“They haven’t resurfaced the whole road, which is what many people thought they were going to do, but the job they have done is brilliant.”

The closure of Pembury Road caused huge backlogs of traffic along the A264 and issues with illegal diversions through Liptraps Lane, as reported by the Times on August 2.

CLOSURE LEADS TO MORE BRIDGE PROBLEMS

During the roadworks there has been a noticeable increase in the number of HGVs getting wedged underneath a narrow tunnel in High Brooms, next to the industrial estate.

Last week a large Argos lorry attempted to drive through the low tunnel on Dowding Way but was stuck under the bridge for approximately three hours, eventually needing police assistance to be freed.

Liam Moody from High Brooms, who witnessed the incident, said lorries getting stuck under the bridge is happening more often since the Pembury Road closure.

He told the Times: “[There] seems to be

a lorry stuck down there once or twice a month on average since I’ve lived here but it seems to be happening much more frequently lately.

“I don’t know whether that’s because Pembury Road is currently shut but that certainly makes the traffic immeasurably worse when it does happen as it’s one of the only routes through to town from the A21 at the moment.”

Local Southborough and High Brooms councillor Alain Lewis explained: “[The lorry] is an exceptional example but there hadn’t been as many incidents until the Pembury Road engineering works started.

“This is a cause of great frustration for people but it is a difficult issue and there

is not a lot that can be done.

“We can’t change the size of the bridge or lower the road or make the bridge higher. This would require immense engineering work that would cause further disruption.

“There are always issues with traffic and when one road is affected that seems to permeate to other areas around the town, an unfortunate legacy of our highway routes.”

A Kent County Council (KCC) spokesperson said: “Owing to the environmental weight restriction on Liptraps Lane, and the low bridge on North Farm Road, signage is already in place warning drivers on all approaches.”

Town centre clampdown on gangs of youths

SECURITY officers have been deployed in the centre of town in an effort to “eradicate” anti-social behaviour.

Working with Tunbridge Wells Safe Town Partnership (TWSTP), the town’s Business Improvement District (BID) told the Times yesterday (Tuesday) it plans to fund two security officers to patrol the centre of Tunbridge Wells.

The officers are expected to target the areas where gangs of youths have been known to be causing issues, such as shoplifting and being aggressive towards shoppers.

In recent weeks the Times has highlighted the actions of these groups, including

vandalism, vaping, and verbally assaulting members of the public.

BID CEO Alex Green, said: “The operation is being delivered by experienced officers who have had specialist training with

young people.

“They have the power to detain young people, while awaiting a police presence, and will carry radios and be wearing body cameras at all times.

“In an aim to try and find a positive way forward, the officers have also been instructed to gather feedback from the young people about the types of activities which could interest and occupy them during holiday periods.”

If any business in the town centre is affected by any antisocial behaviour, they are asked to either use their Safe Town Radio or contact the security team on 07814 272128.

DISRUPTION:

The roadworks have left motorists and businesses frustrated and angry

Picture: Cllr David Hayward

County Hall received extra £6million for potholes but it is still a shortfall

USING ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IN YOUR

BUSINESS

By Russell Brinkhurst, Partner, Corporate & Commercial, CooperBurnett LLP

By Grace Corcoran

KENT County Council (KCC), which is responsible for sorting out Tunbridge Wells’ pothole problem, has received an extra £6million in government funding to repair roads across Kent, despite suggestions they would need an extra £40million.

KCC’s Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport, David Brazier, told BBC Radio Kent in June that the £40million received for road improvements from the government in 2023-24 was only half the money needed to maintain roads.

The extra £6million investment brings the total funding in road and footway maintenance repairs and resurfacing this year to around £50million.

A new report found that the UK has fallen from the top to nearly the bottom, on cuts to pothole repairs.

The UK’s annual expenditure since 2006 has fallen by £2billion – only Italy and Ireland had made more cuts in this area.

KCC plans to use the money to work “smarter”, appointing six additional contractors to ensure the delivery of repair.

David Brazier said: “This additional investment is allowing us to work faster and smarter to ensure the travelling public in Kent continue to be safe in moving around the county.

“Our roadworkers are on the frontline every day, working hard to ensure we repair all faults that we are made aware of as we work to win the battle against potholes.”

KCC’s Local Transport Plan aims to help minimise Tunbridge Wells’ “severe congestion problem”, which in turn should improve the pothole problem.

Potholes are usually created in winter months, when the cold and wet weather causes the surface to crack apart, further aggravated by heavy traffic.

According to a survey by the AA and Populus, over the last two years a third of drivers have damaged their vehicles from potholes.

Out of school club continues operating following notice

By Victoria Roberts

AN OUT of school club provider has stayed on the register, meaning it can operate as normal, after complying with a welfare requirements notice – served before term finished this summer.

Schools and education regulator Ofsted said it had received “concerns that the provider [Hubbub Out of School Club] was not meeting some of [the legal] requirements” on June 7, and inspected it a month later, on July 4.

Concerns

Hubbub Out of School Club Ltd runs clubs at both Temple Grove Academy and Skinners’ Kent Primary School, and both were inspected on July 4.

Ofsted raised concerns over awareness of safeguarding protocols and policies, recruitment and level of qualifications, current first aid training, insurance to transport children, risk assessments, and, in the case of the Temple Grove site, access to the premises.

The provider was also required to ensure documentation and records were easily accessible and available for inspection at both locations.

Positive points raised in the inspection of the Temple

Grove site included that staff knew the needs of children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND).

“The Special Educational Needs Coordinator is not always based at the club but speaks to the schools about the progress children with SEND are making”, said the Ofsted report.

The regulator also acknowledged: “Parents are happy with the club. They feel informed about what their children have to eat. Parents use the club’s website for any additional information and feel they can raise any concerns they may have.”

The report at the Skinners Kent Primary site also acknowledged SEND awareness, saying: “Parents say that they are offered support for their children with special educational needs and/or disabilities.”

Children were happy at the club and enjoyed coming, they told inspectors, adding that as parents they appreciated the club’s flexibility and “say that they have no concerns”.

Hubbub was required to address all the issues by July 19, and Ofsted has now confirmed the required actions had been taken.

Reporting on the outcome last week, Ofsted stated: “We are satisfied the provider has met the safeguarding and welfare actions raised. The provider is still registered with Ofsted.”

It appears that talk of Artificial Intelligence (AI) has come to the fore recently, with headlines predicting AI could eventually threaten civilisation as we know it. However, in the meantime, businesses are increasingly considering how AI can be used, perhaps to produce content for clients. It is possible to ask chatbots, such as ChatGPT, to write content for you; but what could be the legal the implications of this?

Firstly, there is no guarantee that content generated by AI is unique; there could be considerable embarrassment and legal risk if content that was held out by you as original was not and was also given to other users of the chatbot. You might even find yourself in breach of a third party’s rights in the AI generated content, as that content could have been generated from existing copyrighted works. Ownership of the intellectual property rights (IP) in the AI generated content could also be problematic, particularly if you agree to pass ownership of such rights to your clients. The question of ownership and authorship of AI-generated work is not fully settled by the law. Furthermore, the terms of use of the chatbot might state that the owner of the chatbot software owns the rights in the content created. Add to these issues the question of data protection compliance, and the use of AI in this context which on the face of it seems straightforward, starts to pose important questions.

A pragmatic solution could be to obtain clients’ express consent to use AI on projects and ensure that the contract or terms governing your engagement deal with the unique issues that the use of AI raises. Businesses should also review the user terms of the applicable chatbot, consider issues around data protection and review their own internal policies and procedures to make it clear to employees and contractors when AI can be used.

However, it will remain the case the use of AI will come with inherent legal and commercial risks, and it is a question of mitigating those risks as best you can.

If you wish to discuss this further, please do not hesitate to contact Russell Brinkhurst on email: RJB@COOPERBURNETT.COM or tel: 01892 515022

Disclaimer: This blog is not intended as legal advice that can be relied upon and CooperBurnett LLP does not accept any responsibility for the accuracy of its contents.

Pembury performs well on cancer waiting times

THERE is good news for Tunbridge Wells Hospital as it ranks as the fifth-highest trust on cancer patient waiting times in England, despite continued strike action from junior doctors and consultants.

In the most recent figures (June 2023) 86.3 per cent of patients at Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust (MTW) had their first treatment for cancer within 62 days of referral, a standard they have maintained for almost four years.

This figure sits above the NHS operational standard of 85 per cent and surpasses the average waiting times for cancer treatment across England, where on average, just 59.2 per cent of patients start cancer treatment within two months of a referral – well below the NHS standard.

This target hasn’t been met since 2015 and performance has been consistently below 80 per cent since 2018 with changes to NHS cancer targets set for this week.

However, the release of the cancer patient data accompanies a recent weekend of strike action by junior doctors and impending walkouts by consultants next week (August 24-25).

NHS Kent and Medway’s Chief Medical Officer Dr Kate Langford has said that they will “prioritise patients who have waited the longest for elective care and cancer treatment” as hospital patients are expected to see ‘Christmas Day service’ levels of care.

Dr Ishani Rao, a newly-qualified GP at MTW said she stayed at the trust because of its consistently high-ranking emergency department and high standard of

cancer treatment.

She pointed out that hospitals will feel the effects of the strikes as doctors to struggle with workloads and staff levels drop.

Dr Rao told the Times: “I chose to stay here to do my GP training because MTW has ranked consistently highly nationally; the emergency department is one of the top five in the country; we have some of the lowest patient waiting times; the trust has delivered the cancer standard for four years running, and we have subsequently been nominated for the Performance Recovery Award.

“Despite being one of the top hospitals in the country, the doctors are struggling with high volumes of patients and diminishing numbers of staff.

“The same applies in general practice, where the workload is immense yet the government are not creating an appealing or safe work environment.

“Many of my doctor friends have quit due to occupational burnout, a desire for work-life balance, or to explore other career choices.

“This will ultimately affect all hospitals and departments across the healthcare sector – we do not feel valued as clinicians, despite sacrificing our own social lives, gym time, family time and finances to take care of our patients.”

The industrial action is majorly impacting services across England, with cancelled operations and appointments expected to pass one million by winter.

The recent consultant strikes in July saw 65,557 appointments and procedures rescheduled across England.

With further consultant strikes announced for September 19 and 20, serious challenges are in place for the NHs trust following the fallout from the fifth junior doctors’ strike

last weekend (August 11-15).

Dr Rao explained: “Hundreds of thousands of appointments have been cancelled due to strikes but I think that this was necessary to highlight the importance of the jobs that we do.

Conditions

“We are not happy working physically and emotionally traumatic 13-hour night shifts through the week but being paid less than Costa Coffee workers.

“The government needs to recognise that current conditions are inadequate to look after patients properly, and that consultants, GPs and junior doctors should take a stand until our working environments are made safe.”

The strikes are set to continue as the BMA called the six per cent pay increase an ‘insult’, despite the government insisting there will be no more pay talks.

Dr Vishal Sharma, chair of the BMA consultants’ committee said consultants are in this “for the long haul” but have yet to announce an announce an exact figure on what they want.

“It’s not too late to avert these strikes and we call upon the health secretary to meet with us urgently,” he said.

A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson described the further strike dates by consultants as ‘disappointing’ and insisted there will be no more pay talk.

“This pay award is final and we urge the BMA to call an end to strikes,” they said.

Lung doctor speaks out on air pollution’s links to cancer

Dr Anant Patel, a respiratory consultant and lung cancer specialist at the Royal Free Hospital, London, has spent the past few years raising awareness of the impact of air pollution on our health.

And while there are steps we can take individually to reduce our exposure, he welcomes city-wide changes such as the expansion of the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) across all London boroughs which can help everyone breathe cleaner air.

Lung cancer is the most common cause of cancer death in the UK, killing around 35,000 people in England every year. One in six of those cases are patients who have never touched

a cigarette. New research reveals the role that air pollution may play.

Dr Patel, who says there is one non-smoker lung cancer case a week at the Royal Free Hospital’s clinics, warns that: “This affects all Londoners –all of us are at risk.”

He continues: “I have been a doctor for 20 years and I hardly remember seeing people at the start of my career who had never smoked developing lung cancer.”

A study in 2022 demonstrated for the first time how air pollution can cause lung cancer in people who have never smoked.

It found that exposure to tiny particles promotes the growth of cells carrying cancer-causing mutations in the lungs.

According to Dr Patel, there are individual changes that we can make to reduce our exposure to air pollution such as avoiding the most congested roads. Ultimately,

Lung cancer risks being overlooked in patients who

have never

smoked

Dr Anant Patel, a respiratory consultant and lung cancer specialist at the Royal Free Hospital, London

there needs to be action to reduce the source of the air pollution.

“Banning smoking in public in 2007 had an

enormous impact on helping people give up smoking.

“Expanding the ULEZ can do something similar to help improve air quality.” n

About the ULEZ expansion

Cricket players swap whites for waterproofs as they take on challenge for former club captain

By Grace Corcoran

A GROUP of cricketers will be climbing the UK’s three tallest mountains in 24 hours to raise money for charity next month.

Bidborough Cricket Club’s Eli Clarkson, 28, Dom Trett, 30, George Alton, 28, and Michael Waller, 26, will be putting their bodies on the line as they take on three mountains in 24 hours to raise money for The MND Association.

The players, known as the ‘4 Goons’, decided to take on the Three Peaks Challenge following news that their former club skipper, James Baldock, had sadly been diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease (MND) in March, aged 46.

Legend

Dom Trett, one of the 4 Goons, told the Times: “We had made the decision to do a challenge but wanted to find a reason close to our hearts, and this certainly is a great reason.

“Balders [James] has and always will be a legend of Bidborough Cricket Club, whether playing or supporting, but has also been an inspiration and led by example to other sporting clubs and all other aspects of life.”

The challenge requires the fundraisers to reach the summit of each of the three highest peaks in the UK: Ben Nevis, Scotland; Scafell Pike, England and

Snowdon in Wales.

A support car will transport the four teammates between each mountain. A total ascent of 3,064 metres in 24 hours may seem a slog, but the four cricketers have been putting in months of training and are hugely motivated to complete it, particularly by the man who inspired the fundraiser.

James, a father-of-three and former Skinners’ schoolboy, was a formidable force on the cricket field.

He represented Kent County Cricket Club into his early 20s, played at the Nevill Ground for Tunbridge Wells Cricket Club and successfully captained Bidborough’s team from 2013-2019, winning several

Local music school jams out for hospice

league titles in this time. His teammates describe him as “the best fielder and most dominant batsman they’ve ever seen”.

Earlier this week the 4 Goons’ fundraising page already showed over 90 donations, with comments giving a glimpse not only of a talented sportsman, but of the “special person” James is, too.

James and his family are keen to raise awareness for MND and The MND Association and are in full support of the men’s challenge.

The 4 Goons have received an “overwhelming” amount of support, surpassing the initial £2,000 target and thus increasing their target to £10,000.

As the Times went to press, the group of four had already raised £4,469. The MND Association works towards improving access to care, research and campaigning for those living with or affected by MND across the UK.

The men will be taking on the Three Peaks Challenge on September 23. You can help the 4 Goons reach their target here: tinyurl.com/4uhxefmd

A MUSIC group from Tunbridge Wells donated £500 to a hospice close to their hearts from funds raised by their performance at a local music venue.

On August 7, the JAM Music School presented a £500 cheque to St Peter & St James Hospice in Lewes, where JAM founder Joe Kaye’s father is a patient.

“The hospice has been an amazing place for my dad in what has been a really difficult time for me and my family,” Joe said.

Performers

“We knew they needed funds, so the decision went that all the money raised –from the BBQ, raffle and an auctioned guitar that my dad signed – all went to the hospice.”

The money was raised by students from the JAM Music school, who took part in a concert on July 23. Performers at the show ranged from five to 55 years old.

Several Tunbridge Wells businesses donated raffle prizes, including lunch at The Warren, tickets to Trinity’s Cinderella and vouchers from Tunbridge Wells Record Exchange and Abbey Music.

JAM Music School thanked all of the performers, friends and family for making it a great day full of music and for helping a local hospice too.

St Peter & St James Hospice always needs donations. For information on how you can help, visit: stpjhospice.org/support-us

Age with joy at home

FOUR MEN, THREE PEAKS: (From top left: George, Eli, Michael, Dom)

Local TV personality urges her fans to take on Hospice Run

By Grace Corcoran

THE ANNUAL Hospice Run is back for its 17th year, with support from a local celebrity to sign up for the run.

All proceeds from the run go to Tunbridge Wells charity Hospice in the Weald.

Davina McCall, known for presenting Channel 4’s Big Brother and ITV’s Long Lost Family, is an avid supporter of the charity and has encouraged her fans to take part.

On why she supports the charity, Ms McCall said: “When my sister died, she died at home but, afterwards, when I kind of broke down, they really helped me out. They are fantastic.”

Taking place on Sunday September 17, the run will have two new distances for fundraisers to tackle this year.

A new half marathon and family fun race have been added to the existing 5km and 10km distances. But with just 1,000 places available, runners are being urged to sign up quickly.

Local Paralympian and Strictly Come

Dancing star, Will Bayley, will be launching the running event from the Lower Common Cricket Ground in Tunbridge Wells. Younger participants are encouraged to dress as their favourite hero for the new Family Fun Run, which will wind through the Common and around Wellington Rocks. The event is being supported by Savills, G. Collins and Son, Childrensalon, and Cripps.

Jesse Ansbro-Brett, Relationship Fundraising Manager for Hospice in the Weald, said: “This year we are aiming to raise over £60,000. Please help us achieve this target.”

The charity needs to raise over £8million each year in order to provide care to the local community.

All the funds raised will help the Hospice provide free care and support to patients with a terminal illness, and those close to them.

Events like the Hospice Run are an important fundraising source to enable these services. If you would like to sign up visit: hospiceintheweald.org.uk

Southborough volunteer wins award for her impact on town’s community

By Grace Corcoran

A CELEBRATED resident of Tunbridge Wells received one of the highest awards in the area last month for her “outstanding contribution” to the community.

Leonie Barker, who leads Southborough SOS, was awarded Southborough Town Council’s Civic Award on July 27 for her work and commitment to looking after the town.

Southborough SOS is a community group of volunteers that meets regularly to keep the streets and green spaces of Southborough and High Brooms litter-free.

Deserving

Ms Barker, who is also a Litter Hero Ambassador for Keep Britain Tidy, was presented with the Southborough Civic Award at Full Council at the Civic Centre by Deputy Mayor Cllr Jason Reeves on July 27. Cllr Reeves told the Times why Leonie was the deserving winner.

He said: “Leonie has tidied up our streets, pulling together volunteers from across the community.

“Southborough SOS is very much a team effort, and Leonie is the organising powerhouse behind the group.”

SOS has been active in the community for six years and in this time has collected over 12,000 sacks of rubbish and several skips full of larger items. It meets monthly to carry out street cleaning operations and has also

transformed community flower beds and local traders’ shop frontages.

Nell Price, one of SOS’s many volunteers described Leonie as a “true leader” who has “grown a community reaching far further than this small town” and who has generously given her “time and passion to make the world a better place.”

The Facebook group has over 1,000 members, and Leonie is keen to keep this number growing, alongside hands-on volunteers, to ensure the future of the group.

“My wish is for people to realise we need a constant stream of volunteers to ensure that Southborough SOS can continue in its mission,” Leonie said.

“I am very grateful for the award in recognition of six years of very hard work, but I am keenly aware that none of this could have been achieved without the support of so many wonderful volunteers.”

August 2023

LEONIE BARKER AND CLLR REEVES

Pic: Jason Reeves

STAR SUPPORT: Davina McCall (inset) and last year’s Hospice Run in Tunbridge Wells

Pizza takeaway to be replaced with crazy golf cocktail bar

By Victoria Roberts

A PIZZA delivery shop is to give way to indoor crazy golf and cocktails, in the latest development on St John’s Road in Southborough.

Kent panto favourite Tom Swift, who has launched two escape room ventures in the same neighbourhood under the Clue Cracker brand, is to turn the old Pizza Hut takeaway at 71 St John’s Road into an interactive crazy golf venue.

The new venture, Bogeys, is set to open next month, offering a retro indoor golf course as well as cocktails.

Tom’s creative ventures include producing and directing for Wicked Productions as well as the escape rooms and now Bogeys.

The new project is part of an entertainment-led regeneration of the neighbourhood, with ventures including Saint John’s Yard Bar & Restaurant, the Shuffle House and Clue Cracker, which runs different escape room scenarios over two sites.

Bogeys has already been wooing the neighbourhood, donating four tickets for the grand opening to Tunbridge Wells Grammar School for Boys school fête earlier this summer.

The building at 71 St John’s Road is owned by Labour Party Properties, but the new lease has no implications for the Tunbridge Wells Labour Party headquarters at 71a, local party Chairman Martin Betts has confirmed.

Kent winemaker clears the bar as Ascot’s only English sparkling wine from 2024

FROM next year, the only English sparkling wine on sale at Ascot will be a Kent-made vintage, after the winemaker secured an exclusive agreement to supply the racecourse.

Tenterden-based Chapel Down, whose own terroirs and partner vineyards stretch across Kent, Sussex and Essex, had already secured its position as the sole English sparkling wine served in the main bars at Ascot since 2018, and has been a race sponsor for the past five years.

Now, Chapel Down will be the exclusive English sparkling wine served, including

Town attractions celebrate their successful BID grants

By Sarah Carter

FIVE attractions in the town are celebrating grants from the local Business Improvement District (BID), RTW Together, following an application process which required them to match the grant funds from their own resources.

Trinity Theatre received £1,500 toward a new interactive touchscreen to support their new heritage attraction, the clocktower space, which it hopes will bring thousands of visitors to the town.

Fundraiser

The clocktower itself will not be accessible to visitors with mobility issues, but the touchscreen will offer them virtual access to the clocktower and its view across the town. It is also part-funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

The £1,500 grant follows a one-off grant of £5,000, given to the arts centre’s emergency fundraiser this spring, said RTW Together.

The Forum secured the largest grant in this round: £3,000 toward replacing their PA system, which they said would improve sound quality and facilitate bigger, more demanding shows.

The Spa Valley Railway received £2,000

to improve its hospitality offering and create a new income stream through the purchase of a highend coffee machine.

Commercial and Finance Manager Jonnie Pay said the heritage railway currently served over 70,000 people a year.

Spa Valley had also received a £2,500 grant in the events category, announced in May.

Royal TW Water, which operates the historic Chalybeate Spring –the birthplace of Tunbridge Wells as a town – received an attractions grant of £1,500.

The attraction includes regular costumed characters and ‘dippers’ to serve the water, and founder Samuel Danby said: “The support from the BID will play a key role in allowing us to sustainably operate and bring the richness of the spring to life throughout the year for residents and visitors alike.”

Meanwhile, the Royal Tunbridge Wells Arts Society on The Pantiles received a £500 attractions grant toward new signage and promotion of its free attraction to visitors.

Alex Green, CEO of RTW Together BID, said: “We are delighted to have been able to introduce a new grant process

specifically to support existing and potential cultural and tourist attractions that bring vibrancy and energy to the town.

Footfall

“These grants are able to deliver on our core aims: to attract more footfall to the town, as well as make Tunbridge Wells a sought-after destination with high-quality events and activities.”

The BID is funded by an annual levy from businesses within the Business Improvement District area, based on the rateable value of the premises.

the racecourse’s flagship Royal Ascot meeting in June 2024.

It is the first time in the racecourse’s 300-year history that an English wine brand has been an official supplier.

The company’s Chief Marketing Officer, Liam Newton, explained: “We are excited to now be an official supplier and to be able to offer racegoers even more opportunities to enjoy a fresher way to celebrate.”

Chapel Down was also the official English sparkling wine of this summer’s Pub in the Park food and music festival series, which was held in Tunbridge Wells on July 7-9.

Companies offered financial TLC for their employees

FINANCIAL wellness is the latest frontier in caring for staff, as businesses look for ways to help their employees beyond their physical wellbeing, according to a local businesswoman.

Founder of The Pantiles-based Finance Hub, Gillian Palmer said financial wellness training had been a “missing piece” in her company’s range of financial services.

“We partnered with FinWELL because they added to the services we offer here,” she explained.

“It aligns perfectly with our mission statement: ‘Let’s talk’.”

FinWELL encourages healthier relationships with money through education, guidance, training and support.

“They can do ongoing training or help individuals,” added Ms Palmer.

FinWELL currently offers services to Sky, Warner Bros. Discovery, Hays, BrewDog, National Grid and Lindt Chocolate as well as NHS trusts, local authorities and police forces.

The free Employees’ Financial Wellness seminar will be held at The Finance Hub, The Pantiles, on September 6 from 1-2.30pm. Email gillian.palmer@ thefinancehub.money to reserve a place. Nibbles and refreshments included.

TAKEAWAY TO GO

The site of the new venue on St John’s Road

Picture: Cradick Retail

RACING WINE: Racegoers will be able to enjoy Chapel Down at Ascot

Three suspected spies for Russia held after official secrets law breach

THREE Bulgarian nationals have been arrested and charged in the UK by police investigating breaches of official secrets law. The three, who are suspected of spying in the UK for the Russian security services, were arrested in February and have remained in police custody since.

Orlin Roussev, 45, Biser Dzhambazov, 42, and Katrin Ivanova, 32, have been charged with “possession of false identity documents with improper intention”.

The trio were arrested by counterterrorism detectives from the Metropolitan Police under the Official Secrets Act, along with two other people.

Roussev, of Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, Dzhambazov, of Harrow, north-west

Donald Trump charged again with conspiring to overturn defeat

DONALD Trump and 18 allies have been indicted in Georgia for scheming to overturn his 2020 election loss in the state.

London, and Ivanova, of the same Harrow address, will appear before the Old Bailey at a date to be fixed on charges which allege they were in possession of 34 identity documents, some of which were suspected to be false.

The BBC reported that Mr Roussev has a history of business dealings in Russia. Dzhambazov worked as a hospital driver and Ivanova worked as a laboratory assistant.

The pair ran a community group for Bulgarians to get used to the “culture and norms of British society”.

The have yet to enter pleas to the charges and are remanded in custody. They are due to go on trial at the Old Bailey next year.

Prosecutors used a statute normally associated with mobsters to accuse the former president, lawyers and other top aides of a criminal conspiracy aimed at keeping him in power.

Trump is facing 13 new charges, including election meddling, racketeering and the manipulation of voting machines in one Georgia county.

Fani Willis, district attorney of Fulton County, Georgia, said: “Trump and the other defendants charged in this indictment refused to accept that Trump lost, and they knowingly and wilfully joined [in a] conspiracy to unlawfully change the outcome of the election in favour of Trump.”

The document describes the former president of the United States and his associates as members of a “criminal organisation” who were part of an “enterprise” that operated in Georgia and other states.

The sprawling web of defendants in the Georgia case – 19 in total – stands apart from the more tightly-targeted case brought by Special Counsel Jack Smith, which so far only names Mr Trump as a defendant.

The Georgia case also stands out because, unlike the two federal prosecutions he faces, Mr Trump would not have the opportunity to try to pardon himself if elected president or to control the outcome by appointing an attorney general who could theoretically make it go away. This indictment is the fourth criminal case that Trump faces.

CHARGED: Biser Dzambazov and Katrin Ivanova – two of the three Bulgarian nationals being held in custody Pictures: Facebook/LinkedIn

Picture: Shutterstock

Crime victims’ data revealed by two police forces in FOI responses

THE personal data of more than 1,000 people, including victims of crime, was included in Freedom of Information (FOI) responses issued by Norfolk and Suffolk Police, the forces have said.

In a statement, the two East Anglian constabularies said a “technical issue” meant raw crime report data was included in a “very small percentage” of FOI responses issued between April 2021 and March 2022.

Anonymity

The data included personal identifiable information on victims, witnesses and suspects relating to a wide range of offences.

Victims of sexual offences should have lifelong anonymity under the law. The forces said they have so far found “nothing” to suggest that anyone outside policing has accessed the data.

It is the latest data breach involving police responses to FOI requests, coming after the Police Service of Northern Ireland published a document which included the names and other details of around 10,000

officers and staff.

A joint statement said: “Norfolk and Suffolk Constabularies have identified an issue relating to a very small percentage of responses to Freedom of Information requests for crime statistics, issued between April 2021 and March 2022.

Suffolk Police clarified that the raw data was contained in an Excel spreadsheet which was “hidden” within the files.

“A full and thorough analysis into the data impacted has now been completed, and today we have started the process of contacting those individuals who need to be notified about an impact to their personal data,” the statement continued.

“We expect this process to be complete by the end of September. We will be notifying a total of 1,230 people whose data has been breached.”

Assistant Chief Constable of Suffolk Police, Eamonn Bridger, apologised for the incident and said: “We sincerely regret any concern that it may have caused the people of Norfolk and Suffolk.”

The data watchdog the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) is investigating.

‘Light at the end of the tunnel’ says PM as inflation set to cool

THE Prime Minister has said there is “light at the end of the tunnel” in the cost-of-living crisis as official figures are set to reveal another slowdown in inflation.

The consensus among economists is that the Office for National Statistics (ONS) will reveal Consumer Prices Index (CPI) inflation of 6.7 per cent for July, down from 7.9 per cent in the previous month.

Inflation is due to drop sharply due to another significant fall in energy prices.

Food and core goods inflation have also slowed, according to the latest data.

Rishi Sunak said the Government will “stick to the plan” irrespective of the latest inflation reading, as he seeks to meet his pledge to halve the inflation rate this year.

He said: “The best way to be able to bring interest rates down and stop them going up is to bring inflation down. That’s why my first priority of my five priorities is to halve inflation.

“We’ve got work to do, we’ll get more numbers tomorrow, but it’s important that

we stick to the plan.

“The plan is working. I think there is light at the end of the tunnel.

“If we get through this, people will really start to see the benefit in their bank accounts, in their pockets, as inflation starts to fall.”

On Tuesday, the ONS revealed that regular pay growth, which excludes bonuses, reached a record 7.8 per cent compared with a year earlier, for the quarter to June.

However, once inflation is taken into account, real wages were down by 0.6 per cent.

Economists have said Tuesday’s wage inflation data will put further pressure on the Bank of England to ensure it can bring inflation under control, as it attempts to drag it back towards its 2 per cent target rate.

The central bank’s Monetary Policy Committee has already issued 14 interest rate hikes in a row to take the current base rate to a 15-year high of 5.25 per cent.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, YOUR HIGHNESS: The royal family wished the Princess Royal a happy birthday as she turned 73 yesterday (Tuesday August 15) Picture: Jacob King/PA Wire

Lance Goodship

Tunbridge Wells Conservatives

Dunorlan parking charge is a stealth tax for residents

WHY spend taxpayers’ money asking Tunbridge Wells residents what they want and then ignore the results, belittling answers to every public consultation which don’t fit the prejudices of the council’s ruling Lib Dem-led coalition? The uproar about their imposition of parking fees at Dunorlan Park is the latest betrayal.

A resounding 84% of responding residents told the Council’s consultation they wanted at least an hour’s free parking when they use Dunorlan Park, one of Tunbridge Wells’ most popular. Instead, they’ve got double taxation – paying to park on top of paying their Council Tax.

Principle

The coalition’s defence? The ‘user pays’ principle and the safeguarding of the Council’s finances. But these fees only target those who don’t live near the park so can’t easily walk there, twisting the very essence of ‘user pays’. And here's the kicker: Council officers have confirmed the funds won't be ringfenced for Dunorlan Park maintenance and upkeep, but will

flow into the general Council spending. The Alliance and Labour members of the coalition, who once campaigned on platforms starkly contrasting their current stances, seem to be dancing to the Liberal Democrat voting whip without a second thought.

The Council’s financial history shows no external debt and a consistent history of revenue budget surpluses. For the year ending March 31, 2023, there was another consecutive revenue budget surplus, and over £1.6million was added to the Council’s reserves, including transfers to capital maintenance reserves. This clearly contradicts the Liberal Democrats’ claim of a “£1million black hole,” which they cite as a reason for the fee increase. The rationale behind these charges is increasingly unclear.

It’s not just parking fees. Coalition leaders, supposedly dedicated to transparency, listening and democracy, repeatedly ignore residents’ expressed wishes in consultations; have virtually sidelined their own Cabinet; have used their majority to reduce Scrutiny Committee meetings to

masterclasses in sycophancy and protected themselves from meaningful challenge by kicking opposition councillors off the oversight panel for key sales of Council property.

The result? A Council staff turnover spike, forcing coalition leaders to declare a “staff retention crisis” which is entirely of their own making. The ‘oven-ready’ revenuegenerating initiative to hire out 60 per cent

of the Town Hall for coworking to bring more employment into the town centre is still not delivered after 14 months under the Lib Dem-led delivery drifting coalition. With the May 2024 elections on the horizon and every seat up for grabs due to once-in-ageneration boundary changes, it’s a pivotal moment to reinstate the Council’s integrity and keep our public treasures, like Dunorlan Park, open and accessible for everyone.

Lance Goodship has served as Conservative councillor for the Sherwood ward since being elected in May 2021.

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 you can write to the Editor, Times of Tunbridge Wells, Salomons Estate, Tunbridge Wells TN3 0TG

Getting my bearings

I was interested to read ‘Doctor Fossil’ of Crowborough’s letter in your newspaper (Times, August 2). I am relocating to the UK after 30+ years in Germany and hope to settle permanently in Tunbridge Wells. I needed a TW street map and thought the local Tourist Office might be able to help. I was directed to the Amelia Scott centre where I could not find anything resembling a tourist info centre. Finally, I asked a lady in the library who was helpful, raked around in several drawers and produced a very small map which she hoped would help me! This, it seems, was the Tourist Office.

Sometime later I found more leaflets on a rack in the antiques centre in The Pantiles, giving details of local walks. I cannot believe that this is all TW can offer visitors to the area, with all the wonderful National Trust venues and

Reducing councillors is long overdue

I pity the poor would-be councillors who are doomed to work a little harder to get elected and then to fulfil their roles diligently, according to your correspondent Colin Nicholson (Times, August 9).

The Electoral Commission’s aim is to provide electoral equality, with each councillor representing a similar number of electors. Reducing councillor numbers is long overdue, as council officers do most of the work, and central government dictates almost every policy.

There will be three ‘fortunate’ councillors in the new Goudhurst, Lamberhurst, and Horsmonden wards to share responsibilities. Local electioneering effort would have been drastically reduced had Tunbridge Wells Lib Dem councillors voted for council elections once every four years, as is the case with many councils nationwide.

Terry Cload

Pembury

PEPPY SAYS...

places of interest in the county known as ‘The Garden of England’.

I am sure some local volunteers would be only too happy to man a tourist counter for the town if the local Council aren’t able to afford it – I know I would, when I finally move there!

Pat Pledger Hamburg, Germany

Badgers undeterred

I would like to thank the two ladies (Times, August 2) for their replies and suggestions. The use of lights, sonic devices, radios in plastic bags tuned to the World Service, strong scents, etc. do not work in deterring the badger from taking crops from the allotments.

There is badger-proof fencing but alas I was quoted £400 to install, and a similar quote for an electric fence (recommended by the Badger Trust) – too much. So no real viable solution is available except the obvious. Also, they have started opening the food waste collections.

Any more ideas?

Mr Dick Bell

Tunbridge Wells

The toll on our roads

You reported last week that Kent County Council has to save £86million during the coming year (Times, August 2), with one

possible way being to increase Council Tax. This suggests that it could or may not be part of the solution when I know along with everyone else that it is the easy and regular tap that the Council can turn on and does so each and every single year without fail.

Kent has more than its fair share of burdens that should be carried by Whitehall.

The county should examine road tolls on foreign trucks, many of which are in transit to the North West for onward ferries to Ireland. They arrive at Dover loaded up with fuel in double tanks and probably spend nothing on their entire journey. Equally, they could be charged for the return trip too.

Road tolls are a fact of life on the continent, so they won’t come as any great shock; the important thing is to not levy the charges on UK nationals – the technology exists.

Edward Baker

Tunbridge Wells

Newbuilds are the issue

I would like to congratulate Councillor Lidstone for his measured letter (Times, August 9). As he has now found out – close an arterial road and what ensues is chaos, even during school holidays.

However, the elephant in the room is the amount of newbuilds. The people moving in come with cars that also feed into the existing gridlock. A halt should be made until some major infrastructure is in place – at least for the HGVs that traverse the town to do so by some bypass.

There is not only traffic, but all the services that are affected – water, energy, waste management – have a finite supply and need to be boosted to cater for the future, or it will lead to more water issues and even power blackouts, as systems creak.

Perhaps Councillor Lidstone, like the Apostle Paul on the road to Damascus, has seen the light?

John Pearce

Tunbridge Wells

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Calverley

Observations on life and more important things

SWIFT REACTION: To be honest Calverley has not been a big admirer of Taylor Swift and takes little interest in her music. He did know she’s one of the biggest ever singers. Everything changed last week when he heard what happened at the end of her US tour. To show her appreciation she handed the 50 roadie truckers $100,000 (£79,000) each. She also wrote each of them a personal note to go in the envelope. The money she can afford. It was taking the time to write the notes that really won over Calverley. (Hopefully it was not done by AI.) What a classy lady. Voice ok as well.

GREEN LIGHT: Confession time. Calverley has turned green. He voted for the party candidate at the local council elections (first time ever) and she took the seat. He has mixed feelings and has trouble looking in the mirror in the mornings but could not bring himself to support the chap in the blue corner. Too much baggage from national politics. Labour and Lib Dems did not bother to put forward candidates and Calverley believes you “can’t moan if you don’t vote”. And he does like a good moan. He suspects millions of others do as well.

OBSCENE: Another week and another footballer is lured to Saudia Arabia where up to £3million a week is handed out to a single player. That’s not a misprint! All this while next door in Yemen thousands of children are starving as one of the world’s largest humanitarian crises continues. Various political factions and countries such as Saudia Arabia are involved. Imagine if just one football star turned down a fortune to highlight the plight of those kids. More chance of England winning the next World Cup. Money talks in any currency.

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QUIET QUITTERS: Perched on the bar stool and another revealing chat. This time with a young man working from home and in his words “doing as little as possible” to keep his job. Calverley blames the Covid furlough scheme where people were paid to do nothing. It’s become a way of life. The next bar stool added: “All about work-life balance – no need to put in all that effort… they can’t sack you once you talk mental health and wellbeing.” Is there any hope?

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Call us for immediate support, advice or to arrange a home visit. We are here to help 24 hours a day.

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FINAL THOUGHT: Chatting at supper left Calverley aghast. One of the guests is getting married and his fiancée has insisted he wear a wedding ring – with built-in GPS tracking so she knows where he is at all times. Calverley had to take a large brandy outside and check Google and yes such a ring is available. Unbelievable.

Chin, chin dear reader…

The views of Calverley are Calverley’s own, not those of the Times, its staff or its holding company.

CARTOON BY PEPPY: (Follow her on Twitter @Peppyscott)

Picture: Cohesion Plus

Brought to books

The Summer Reading Challenge is a free annual event that aims to encourage children to read more. Eileen Leahy

involved in it and talks to the Amelia’s library team about how they are supporting the scheme…

IF you’re frustrated by your children being on their phones all the time over the summer holidays then the Borough’s local libraries might just have the perfect solution to all that endless scrolling.

Sea Cadets on the march toward refurbishment goal

By Victoria Roberts TUNBRIDGE

Wells Sea

participation, encouraging children to engage in games and sports in any way that best suits them.

The aim is to show how reading can be active and engaging, and – far from being just an isolated activity – how it can also involve teamwork and community.

Cadets are nearly halfway to their goal of entirely refurbishing their Victorian headquarters, ‘TS Brilliant’, in a move that will increase local Sea Cadet numbers as well as reduce costs and improve accessibility.

CROQUET KING:

Robert Fulford with the trophy

The Summer Reading Challenge is a nationwide initiative that’s supported by Tunbridge Wells Library, as well as other local satellite ones in the local area, in order to stimulate and help children get into reading more.

Local player wins World Croquet Championships

Since the year 2000 libraries all over the country have taken part in the Summer Reading Challenge, which promotes reading for pleasure with a different theme each year for children aged 4 to 11 (and beyond) to get involved in.

By Sharon Bruce

Head Librarian at The Amelia is Stephen Wickens and he and his team are encouraging local children to get involved with this year’s Summer Reading Challenge.

“We’re calling all bookworms and adventure seekers! Come and immerse yourself in captivating tales by embarking on a literary journey like no other,” an Amelia spokesperson tells the Times.

every craving for great literature.”

The Summer Reading Challenge runs in Kent until Saturday September 9 so there is still plenty of time to get involved.

“Dive into a treasure trove of books, all waiting to be explored. Whether you’re a fan of mystery, fantasy, or heart-warming stories, our diverse collection will satisfy

The full refurbishment of TS Brilliant requires about £300,000 of investment to increase the size and accessibility of the former church hall in Albion Road, where the cadets have been for 75 years.

HOW TO GET INVOLVED – BY THE AMELIA’S LIBRARY TEAM

● The library will get you signed up and will give you a special collector folder

For 2023 it’s ‘Ready, Set, Read!’ – a celebration of reading, sport, games and play. Previous themes over the past two decades have included Wild World Heroes (promoting the environment), The Big Friendly Read (celebrating Roald Dahl) and Story Lab (supporting science).

WADHURST resident Robert Fulford has emerged victorious in the 18th Croquet World Championships, which concluded on July 23.

80 players from 18 countries competed for the title over nine days at the Championship, which was run by Croquet England on behalf of the World Croquet Federation at the Hurlingham Club.

This year’s challenge has been developed in collaboration with the Youth Sport Trust, to mark the importance of play and

Mr Fulford is a member of the Royal Tunbridge Wells Croquet Club. In the wake of his success, the club is offering a oneday ‘Introduction to Croquet’ course on Saturday August 12 from 10am to 4pm at a cost of £40 per head, which includes membership until the end of the year.

● Your child will set a personal reading goal (we recommend six books)

● Your child can borrow and read books, e-Books and audiobooks of their choice. They can read anything they like: fiction, fact books, poetry, joke books, picture books and graphic novels all count towards completing the challenge!

To book a place on the course, visit: eventbrite.com/e/introduction-to-croquet tickets-328833779687 or contact secretary tunbridgewellscroquet.org.uk

However, thanks to ongoing fundraising and a grant of more than £80,000 from the Mark Benevolent Fund last month, funds are nearly halfway there, according to Commanding Officer Matt Vanns.

● Complementary creative activities will be taking place across the summer, so please see Discovery Days on The Amelia What’s On

“We’ve probably got to £120,000140,000,” he told the Times

Yet despite the remaining total, the unit is making progress toward its goal, thanks to the seasonal calendar which gets the cadets out of headquarters and on to the water for boating over the summer.

● Your child will receive a certificate and medal for taking part, or for reaching their challenge goal. Sign up online here: api.readingagency.org.uk/users/sign_up, or pop in to sign up in person and get ready to experience the magic of reading!

“In summer, we boat at Bewl Water, from May to the end of August – kayaking,

REFURBISHMENT:

TS Brilliant, the Sea Cadets’ headquarters

The challenge is to read six books, eBooks, eAudio or eMagazines. All children doing the challenge in person will receive a certificate and a medal once they’ve completed their challenge.

“You can join the challenge in your local library or online,” adds the spokesperson.

sailing, rowing,” said Commander Vanns. “We’re building in phases, and phase one is pretty much done,” he told the Times. This phase includes new toilets, a new flat roof and better insulation.

Even weekly band practice has continued, although this was relocated to the Territorial Army Centre in Southborough for two weeks while the headquarters toilets were out of action, he added.

“Set yourself a reading goal and log your books. But please keep in mind, the in-person and online challenges are totally separate. Physical incentives like medals and certificates are only available via the library, for those taking part in the in-person challenge.”

“Phase two funding has started and the £80,000 is a great start,” Commander Vanns explained.

“We are trying to renovate to make it more learner-friendly – and to equip it for another 75 – even 100 – years.”

“Our staff at the Amelia Scott will be only too willing to help any children sign up. We will even help you pick your books! And we’ll have lots of related activities going on so make sure you keep an eye on our socials.”

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broken – the show must go on’

Last month the Two Sisters Theatre, which is the main hub of the Hever Festival, had to close due to being badly damaged in a storm. Eileen Leahy spoke to the event’s Director Ailsa Molyneux about how she and her team managed to keep the popular arts festival afloat in this, its 40th year, and discovers the exciting performances still left to see on the summer 2023 bill…

On Saturday July 15, very high winds resulted in a branch from one of Hever Castle’s oldest and most majestic trees breaking off and crashing into the venue’s main al fresco Two Sisters theatre, damaging it beyond repair.

It was – quite literally – a terrible blow for Hever Festival’s organisers who were halfway through another successful summer programme of comedy, musicals, children’s dramas and specialist talks at the theatre – and were also celebrating the event’s milestone 40th anniversary. Dubbed the ‘West End in the Garden of England’, Hever Festival was established by Ron Palmer. It now runs from the last weekend of May right through to the end of August and boasts an eclectic bill that really does offer something for everyone. But when the theatre roof was ripped off last month the event’s future was very much thrown into doubt.

At the time of the incident Hever Festival’s Director Ailsa Molyneux, who took over the reins in 2018, said: “We are heartbroken… but we are not giving up.”

That ‘show must go on’ sentiment is most definitely what got Ailsa and her team through. Amazingly only one performance – Swinging at the Cotton Club – had to be cancelled because the main theatre was out

of action for a few weeks.

“We were devastated to have to do that but the heavy rain was splashing onto the temporary stage and would have been dangerous for the performers dancing if we’d continued,” explains Ailsa. Other performances were moved elsewhere on site and also to nearby Chiddingstone Castle and St Peter’s Church, while a temporary theatre was set up on Anne Boleyn’s Walk.

“We thought we might have to cancel lots of shows, but the estate staff at Hever Castle have been so accommodating. We are also lucky that our festival is owned by the team that run Visual Elements, who provide creative technical solutions, so they were able to build us a stage on Anne Boleyn’s Walk in just four days to accommodate the rest of the season.

“The temporary stage has been a wonderful interim performance space and

despite not having shelter from the rain and having to bring their own seats audiences have loved it. But despite all this we are in jeopardy,” Ailsa states.

“Ticket sales have reduced to a third of our projected sales. That’s why we need audiences’ support now more than ever, so

‘The temporary stage has been a wonderful interim performance space, but we are in jeopardy. Ticket sales have reduced to a third of our projected sales’

built in the woodland 1 Damaged theatre removed 234 Metres of cable laid 78 Performers played with them

2,196 Audience members welcomed to the temporary homes

3,000+ Donations gratefully received between Just Giving, pink buckets and the website

2 Castles! The Festival has already had its first two performances at Chiddingstone Castle with another to come on August 20

we can secure the future of the festival.”

On a happier note, Ailsa goes on to say that the Two Sisters Theatre has now reopened and there will be plenty to enjoy there until the end of this month.

“Many great shows are still to perform in The Two Sisters Theatre as part of our 40th birthday season, including tribute artists, Just Floyd, The Dolly Show and The Greatest Hits of Motown. There’s also jazz from Ronnie Scott’s All Stars, Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night and it wouldn’t be a season without The Last Night of the Hever Proms!

‘It’s been the toughest of all our 40 years, but we won’t be

STAGE STRUCK:

The damaged Two Sisters Theatre

“There have had to be some changes to make the theatre safe. Its famous white roof for example has had to be removed over the centre tier, but the covered seating remains in the east and west tiers. We are also moving the new stage we built in there so we are very excited to see it up and running again!”

And despite the unseasonal weather and audience numbers being lower than in normal years, Ailsa says the event’s loyal supporters have been utterly amazing. “We wouldn’t be here without them. They could have all asked for their money back but they haven’t so that gives us a fighting chance of survival. The feedback on the temporary stage was incredible. It worked

so well for our concert shows ELO Again, Beyond the Barricade and 1974 ABBA. The atmosphere at every [event] has been wonderful with audiences dancing amongst the trees!

“It’s been the toughest of all our 40 years, but we won’t be broken. So please, if you can, do join us as we have a good few weeks of the season left. Bring your friends and family and tell them to do the same. You are the reason we do this, there is no point in any of this without you.”

HOW TO BOOK TICKETS:

Call the Box Office on 07379 488477

(Open Mon-Fri 10am-2pm) or visit: heverfestival.co.uk

SHOW YOUR SUPPORT:

Hever Festival Theatre has a Just Giving page at: justgiving.com/crowdfunding/ hever-festival-theatre, but you can also donate via the website: heverfestival.co.uk

“The way you can truly support us is by joining us at the festival. It is still our 40th

Building a sustainable future

BEWL Water, an expansive 800-acre reservoir in Lamberhurst, is celebrating its ongoing journey towards long-term sustainability and conservation, a commitment propelled by the dedication of Head Ranger Dan Baker.

With more than two decades of service, Dan and his team have played a pivotal role in driving forward Bewl Water’s progress in environmental protection and enhancing visitor experiences.

Located on the border of Kent and Sussex, the reservoir is the largest in southeast England and allocates over £1.3 million annually to continually elevate and uphold the quality of its grounds.

In the spirit of sustainable practices, Dan and his team have embraced innovative

solutions, including the use of solarpowered sonic wave emitters. These eco-friendly devices, strategically positioned around the reservoir, have proven remarkably effective in curbing the growth of toxic blue-green algae, providing a safe haven for wildlife and livestock, without resorting to harmful chemicals.

Initiatives

Other ongoing initiatives include shoaling measures to boost native fish populations and the annual mowing of grasslands to cultivate wildflowers. These vibrant blooms serve as crucial havens for a variety of birds, insects, and animals, nurturing a thriving ecosystem.

Additionally, the creation of a dedicated bird hide and nature reserve safeguards the estate’s endangered species.

“We believe in a hands-on approach that respects and values nature’s way of doing things. Our strategy is all about giving nature the space it needs to thrive, while still offering a helping hand when necessary to enhance positive results,” Dan explained.

Bewl Water’s dedication extends beyond preserving wildlife. With an impressive annual visitor count of over 140,000, the reservoir invests consistently in its facilities to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for all.

Over the next few years, the focus will be on connecting people with nature. Projects include creating a network of safe paths, rides, and access points, enhancing the reservoir’s circular walk, and maintaining

birthday after all. Please bring your positivity, generosity and love to our new theatre lawn. In return we will continue with our exceptional, programme, and work hard to share the love back with you,” says Ailsa.

signs, entrances, benches, and paths to provide a welcoming experience.

Recently, Dan instructed tree surveys to assess the health and safety of the extensive ancient semi-natural woodlands at Bewl Water. He explained that the findings will inform proper management strategies, ensuring the preservation and well-being of the trees for years to come.

The team have also started a three-week project to improve the bridleway, enhancing drainage conditions for hikers and cyclists.

As Dan explained: “Maintaining the grounds is absolutely crucial for our visitors to have an incredible time here, but also ensure their safety. Bewl Water has been a cherished destination for locals and tourists for almost 50 years and we take great pride in preserving its natural beauty.”

EXTENSIVE: The ancient woodlands that border Bewl Water

WATER WELFARE: Head Ranger Dan Baker

Times

Chief Reporter Victoria Roberts picks three books for the week

On the bookshelf this week, an alternative take on Romeo and Juliet from Natasha Solomons, an hallucinatory, Los Angeles-set violent thriller by Henry Hoke and the Orange Prize-winning author Ann Patchett returns with a meditation on lost love…

Fair Rosaline by Natasha Solomons

Published in hardback by Manilla Press, priced £14.99

Another retelling of Romeo and Juliet? Fear not, for lovers of Shakespeare’s most readily adapted tragedy will not be disappointed by Solomons’ subversive counter-narrative.

Spanning a time both before and after the star-crossed lovers’ final descent in the crypt, ‘Fair Rosaline’ reimagines both Romeo and Juliet’s characters, their motivations and their destinies, to paint a vivid, turbulent, and compelling new narrative fit for both fans and sceptics of the classic tale.

Through the eyes of Shakespeare’s neglected Rosaline, cousin to Juliet and former lover to Romeo, readers are invited to contend with an even darker truth surrounding the couple’s fate. Transforming lust into subterfuge and tainting romance with a bitter-sweet morbidity, ‘Fair Rosaline’ leaves not a stone unturned in its captive untelling. Prepare to see Romeo as you’ve never seen him before.

Review by Scarlett Sangster

Open Throat by Henry Hoke

Published in hardback by Picador, priced £14.99

In the movies, lions are typically rapacious, merciless predators who exist only to kill and feed, devouring any humans unlucky enough to cross their path. But is there not surely a fearful and emotional side to any creature on the edge of society, forced to understand the world only through observations made from the shadows?

Henry Hoke puts himself in the mind of a mountain lion living underneath the Hollywood sign, whose English is informed by overheard snippets of conversation from LA hipster hikers, who mither about therapy, helicopters and hookups, not knowing such danger lurks nearby. This lion just wants a safe home and looks for it in a homeless ‘tent city’, and in the basement of a celebrity comedian, with diverse and inevitably violent results. Witty, emotional and gripping, ‘Open Throat’ is a short but savage thrill ride.

Review by James Cann

Tom Lake by Ann Patchett

Published in hardback by Bloomsbury, priced £18.99

‘Tom Lake’ is a love story; a love story told by Lara to her three daughters whilst picking cherries in the family orchard. Written with Patchett’s characteristic observational skill, it is a tale of the past interacting with the present, and Lara’s formative experiences are woven into her current life with her husband and daughters with the skill of a master craftsman. Patchett has an inimitable ability to cut straight to the heart of human emotion and to capture moments of truth, which lesser writers would struggle to depict without the use of cliché or clumsy sentiment. Hauntingly poignant, deft and explorative, the tale of Lara and her former relationship with the actor Peter Duke is testament to the force of first love and how the choices that are made at every turn of the path continue to change us into the future.

Review by Hannah

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Taste the difference

Having both The Leicester Arms in Penshurst and The Rock Inn at Chiddingstone, chef and restaurateur Laurence Bowes certainly knows a thing or two about how to run the perfect country pub. His latest venture is The Royal Oak in Hawkhurst, which he and his team have breathed new life into since recently taking it over.

“My recipe for success is to serve simple food that customers understand and love, using great local produce that speaks for itself and sings off the plate! Our pricing strategy is to make things affordable and great value for money.”

‘Browsing the menu I spot the Gazpacho chilled soup with pickled cucumber ribbon and farmhouse wedges of bread, which sounds tempting as does the ‘proper pint’ of prawns served with a traditional Marie Rose sauce and lemon’

The menu at The Royal Oak certainly reflects this, as it changes seasonally and ensures the best of the area’s ingredients are right at its heart.

The pub’s mix of sandblasted beams,

funky patterned tub chairs, a bright turquoise statement wall and oodles of light, thanks to its restored mullioned windows, certainly make it a very appealing spot to spend some time feasting in.

Browsing the menu I spot the Gazpacho chilled soup with pickled cucumber ribbon and farmhouse wedges of bread (£7), which sounds tempting given it’s summertime – as does the ‘proper pint’ of prawns served with a traditional Marie Rose sauce and lemon (£10). Eventually though, it’s the sticky pork belly bites, which are served with a rich roasted apple chutney (£8) that win me over.

These are utterly delicious and drizzled with a sweet sticky jus and a sprinkling of sesame seeds which gives the dish great texture too.

Mains at The Royal Oak range from pub classics like fish and chips (£15) to posh bacon, egg and chunky fries (£14) to plates with a little more finesse such as pan-roasted sea bass with Med-style vegetables and salsa verde (£19).

Burger lovers will be in heaven here as there are four special types on offer, including a decent veggie option. All come served with fries and homemade slaw. There are some great veggie sharing dishes on the menu too, including Padron peppers (£4.50) and the aptly named oozy mac & cheese with crispy onions (£5).

The braised short rib of Aberdeen Angus beef, which I eventually decide upon, and which comes with fluffy roasted new potatoes and crisp seasonal greens (£18), is pure perfection. The beef is cooked low and slow to achieve the best melt-in-themouth results, and like my starter is

is to serve simple food that customers understand and love, using great local produce that speaks for itself and sings off the plate’

generous in terms of its portion size. Amazingly I’m still able to find room for a dessert! My choice? A decadent chocolate brownie, with chocolate sauce and honeycomb ice cream. When the homemade sweet sensation arrives it’s also super generous in size –one portion could easily have been for two. Puds here are well priced at £7.50 each and range from classics such as sticky toffee pudding and Eton Mess to lighter options like sorbet, which is £2 per scoop. There’s also a local cheese board on offer too for £9.

“All I know is how to do local,” reveals Laurence. “I have worked at various corporate levels, but now I am now running my own business I really strive to deliver great local produce, while supporting our nearby suppliers to ensure we meet customer satisfaction and affordability.”

CONTACT DETAILS:

The Royal Oak, Rye Road, Hawkhurst, TN18 4EP. 01580 755782. royaloakhawkhurst.com

The Royal Oak in Hawkhurst is a charming period pub, which dates back to the 16th century, but as Eileen Leahy discovers, it has its sights set firmly on the future thanks to the clever culinary vision of its current custodian Laurence Bowes…

‘My recipe for success

LAURENCE BOWES

Cheers to International Pinot Noir Day!

In time for International Pinot Noir Day on Friday 18 August, Times Drinks

Editor James Viner has tracked down a tasty selection of this influential (relatively) low tannin, early budding, early ripening, fussy, ancient red grape. Here are six humdinger bottles that are packed with flavour and possess the coveted Pinot magic that stimulates unqualified dedication in this finicky, food-friendly Burgundy grape’s devotees, which include champagne lovers.

1. Doudet Naudin Pinot Noir 2022, Languedoc, France (£8.65, Co-op, coop. co.uk, 13%)

Languedoc is the place to go for affordable French Pinot. Crammed with juicy plum fruit, cranberries and a dusting of herbs, this one is a whizz with boeuf bourguignon, meatier fish, pâtés and cold meats. Nicely done in an easy-drinking style. Serve lightly chilled.

2. Errazuriz Estate Reserva Pinot Noir 2022, Aconcagua, Chile (£6.99 offer until 22 August, Waitrose, waitrose.com, 13.5%)

Look to Chile for some of the finest (and finest-value) Pinots in the Americas. Nab this picnic-ready, pretty example from the NE slopes of the Coastal Range in Aconcagua with a red fruit and floral duo that provide the heart of both bouquet and palate. It’s on offer at Waitrose and would pair well served slightly chilled with seared tuna/salmon or roast beef.

3. Asda Extra Special Pinot Noir 2020, North Canterbury, New Zealand (£10.25, Asda, groceries.asda.com, 13.5%)

Asda’s fine ‘Extra Special’ own wine brand now has a solid emphasis on sub-regions. This one comes from the dominant sub-zone of Canterbury, New Zealand’s fourth-largest wine region, and has attractive notes of dark cherry pip, forest floor, violets, baking spices and blood orange. Brilliant, captivating stuff with a flying finish. Pour with crispy duck or butterflied lamb. Bravo!

4. Tapanappa Foggy Hill Vineyard Pinot Noir 2021, Parawa, Fleurieu, South Australia (£27.99, Roberts & Speight, robertsandspeight.com, 12.5%)

The quality grapes for this accomplished, youthful Pinot, which bursts with primary red fruits, herbs, violets and smoky cedar oak, were sourced from a cool, NW-facing vineyard planted with Dijon clones at the highest point of the southern Fleurieu Peninsula (just 8km north of the Great Southern Ocean). What a wine – and what a bargain for this pedigree! Such polished winemaking. After 5-10 years in the cellar, it will unravel into a masterpiece. Just 12.5% abv.

5. Hamilton Russell Pinot Noir 2022, Hemel-en-Aarde Valley, South Africa (£41.00, Amathus Drinks, amathusdrinks.com, 13.5%)

Made from low-yielding vines, this is a superb South African answer to red burgundy. Pioneering Hemel-en-Aarde estate Hamilton Russell was founded in 1975 in what was once sheep-farming country in the cool hinterland of the whale-watching seaside resort of Hermanus on the Cape South Coast. Savoury, earthy, subtly spicy, pure and delicious, this classy Pinot has bolshy length and will cellar beautifully – but my goodness it is fascinating to drink now. A gorgeous rendition.

HOUSE CALLS THIS AUGUST IN YOUR AREA

Beaune,

Transmitting complex differences of terroir, Burgundy’s Côte d’Or is renowned for producing the finest, most sensual Pinot. This is a mature (2011), hauntingly perfumed example, with a seamless palate of thrilling intensity, finely-honed tannins and silky length; no Pinot aficionado would be disappointed to secure a bottle of it. Such intellectual vigour, unbridled joy, age and charm here! Dances on the tongue. Serve coolish (15-16ºC).

Follow James on Twitter @QuixoticWine #PinotNoirDay

6. Volnay 2011, Les Angles, 1er Cru, Domaine Louis Boillot & Fils, Côte de

Burgundy, France (£60.50, Berry Bros & Rudd, bbr.com, 13%)

Why a road trip through Italy can be genuinely heavenly

Combine the historical beauty of Rome with a road trip into the hilltop towns of Umbria, says Sarah Marshall…

I’m stood in a queue, waiting my turn at one of Rome’s 2,500 fountains. Cyclists stop to splash their faces, locals refill their water bottles hurriedly between meetings, and tourists dazed by the Mediterranean sun dunk their heads below cool, running taps.

From opulent showstoppers to more pragmatic stone constructions, free-flowing water from these fontanelles has been quenching thirsts for thousands of years. So cherished by locals, there’s even an app mapping out their locations, and these nasoni (nicknamed after their big nose spouts) were only once turned off once during a severe drought in 2017.

Both my partner and I have Italian roots – he was born and bred in Sardinia, while my mother spent her childhood in Naples. Every year, we try to visit the country, exploring new areas and appreciating old favourites. This time, we’ve decided to combine town and country by twinning a city break in Rome with a tour of Umbria’s hilltop towns, covering 140km of road and 1,300 years of the past.

No matter how many times you visit Italy’s capital, there’s always something new to discover. Earlier this summer, a new walkway in Largo Argentina square opened up, giving the public access to the spot where Julius Caesar met his bloody end. Keen to squeeze several key sites into 24 hours, we book a night at the centrallylocated Hotel Forum. Decorated with tarnished mirrors, worn velvet armchairs and antique Persian rugs, the 18th-century building exudes a faded grandeur. A likely setting for an Agatha Christie novel, it has a charm lost by so many of the city’s modern five-star hotels.

But beyond the nostalgic interiors and old-school glamour, its biggest selling point is the location: overlooking the ancient plaza where triumphant processions passed between colonnaded temples and decisions impacting the empire were made. Incidentally, among the ruins, lies the city’s oldest fountain, Lacus Juturnae (Pool of Juturna) built in the second century BC. Despite the throngs of tourists obediently

following guides holding aloft flags, it takes us less than 10 minutes to reach the Colosseum. Too hot and bothered to join the snaking queues for tours, we settle for a walk around the exterior instead. Only weeks earlier, a British man was caught defacing the 2,000-year-old monument with graffiti. In his defence, he argued he was unaware the building was so old –which I’d say is arguably a greater criminal offence.

Across town, the Trevi Fountain looks as bright and gleaming as architect Nicola Salvi intended. Any tourists daring to bathe below the Titan’s shell-shaped chariot face fierce punishment, although that doesn’t stop sweaty, tired travellers dipping their hands in the cooling pool.

numerous churches and a clock tower in the centre.

Rome’s extraordinary art and architecture make it possible to forget about the crowds in peak season. But it’s nonetheless a relief to escape the masses by retreating to one of the city’s rooftop bars.

From the new top-floor terrace of the iconic Hassler hotel, above the Spanish Steps, we share a bottle of sparkling Ferrari wine with a view of St Paul’s – watching starlings circle the seven hills.

The following day, we exit the city via the Grande Raccordo Anulare (Great Ring Junction) which forms a loop around the outskirts. Admittedly, driving in Italy does at times require nerves of steel. But once we’re past the dual carriageways and beeping horns, the pace relaxes to a point where there’s even time to gaze up at the surroundings.

Multiple signs advertise hot spring ‘terme’ in rural areas of Lazio, but our mission is to reach the medieval hilltop towns of Umbria, tracing the path of the Tiber River. Very soon they appear, tightly clustered around hilltops, often with castle turrets,

Part of the Perugia province, the high-rise town of Todi perches on the crest of an emerald wave. Honey-hued stone buildings huddle together, connected by sloping streets, stairwells and a funicular. Once voted the best place to live in Italy, it’s clean, quiet and enviably stress-free. Empty buildings are advertised for sale in the window of estate agents, clearly aimed at wealthy foreigners – although an Italian couple was responsible for restoring one of the area’s finest manor houses.

When we arrive at Tenuta di Canonica, the door to the medieval lookout tower is unlocked, but nobody appears to be inside. Following several attempts, a voice from nowhere responds to my calls. But only after poking my head into rooms filled with a grand piano, a well-loved billiards table and antique wooden furnishings topped with family photos, do I realise the greeting has been made by a parrot named Mozart. Capable of mimicking phone rings, human voices and even the cat, his symphony of sounds is impressive.

Our room is in the well-tended gardens, where guests relax next to a pool during the day and dine on a tapas menu of regional cuisine on a veranda at night. We head out along country lanes, crossing the Tiber, for a meal at local trattoria Cibocchi. Paying

less than €10/£8 for half a litre of red wine and a pizza so large its crust hangs over the edge of my dinner plate, is a reminder you don’t have to spend big to eat reasonably well in Italy.

Aside from Todi, there are dozens of tiny towns to explore. Assisi, the birthplace of St Francis, may be the most famous – but every place has a story to tell. At Monte Castello di Vibio, I hope to catch a glimpse of the 18th-century Concordia theatre. With only 99 seats, it’s purported to be the smallest in the world.

Sadly, it’s under renovation and has been closed for several years. When I ask an attendant dozing off behind the counter of the tiny information office when it might reopen, she shrugs her shoulders.

In some ways, perhaps Italy’s past has been protected by a lack of urgency to move into the future. Frustrating, yes, but like the waters perpetually flowing in the Eternal City, the approach is refreshing. Coping with the enormous responsibility of so much history is – after all – exhausting, even more so in the Mediterranean sun.

How to plan your trip

Citalia offers a three-night B&B trip to the Hotel Forum in Rome and Tenuta di Canonica in Umbria from £2,115 for two adults. Includes return flight and car hire. Price is based on October 8, 2023 departure.

‘No matter how many times you visit Italy’s capital, there’s always something new to discover’

All pictures: Sarah Marshall/PA

BEWL WATER AQUA PARK

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REVIEWS

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“Really brilliant day out, loads of facilities and everything we needed was provided.”

“A place for fun and joy. Had a blast in the summer with the kids and would definitely recommend.”

Things aren’t what they used to be…

This week, Clifford Lansbury of Gorringe’s reflects on the changes in the antiques world

half-century after the swinging sixties when it was equally out of favour.

So what has happened?

much reduced in value. The same applies to the other furnishings of the past.

So is it all bad news?

I’ve worked in the Antiques and Fine Art Auction Business for over thirty years and in that time I’ve seen plenty of changes.

Even ten years ago a call to a house where the owner wanted to downsize would usually result in much of the contents being suitable for sale at auction.

How things have changed. Today many of the solid sellers from previous decades are now left behind as unsaleable.

Twenty years ago a standard George III mahogany bureau was worth about £1,000. Today, well it’s certainly under £100, with many proving too low in value to be worth offering. Victoriana was all the rage with pot lids, copper warming pans and Staffordshire flatback figures all in demand and American buyers flying in on buying trips to snap up cranberry glassware and walnut whatnots. These days Victoriana is in the doldrums, a

It’s all about taste and the requirements of modern living. Most of my clients tell me that “we have offered it to the children and they just don’t want anything”. Their cherished antiques do not suit the lifestyles and homes of their children. And it’s not just the 30-40-yearolds. Most of us have swapped the more formal arrangements of the 20th century for something more relaxed.

The cut glass dinner services, silverware and mahogany dining tables of dinner parties past have been replaced with more informal dining options, often around the kitchen table with more contemporary accessories. So those once much-desired and expensive dining accoutrements have fallen out of demand and therefore are

Well that depends upon what you have to sell and what you want to buy. The drop in value of many traditional antiques means that formerly highly-priced articles are now veritable bargains. If you like antique furniture then now is the time to buy and get far more for your money than ever before.

From the vendors’ viewpoint, well the traditional may have fallen down but a whole host of items have soared in value – many of them things that were totally overlooked in the past. Vintage and industrial is in; from stripped metal office furniture to chemists’ cabinets. Garden ornaments and furniture are much wanted – the contents of the garden often hold

more value than those of the house. Collectables from coins and stamps to watches, toys and ephemera have boomed in the past ten years, driven by the ease of buying and selling online, along with new buyers tempted in while sat at home during the Covid lockdown. Asian art remains highly sought-after, mainly being bought by Chinese buyers. We see 80 per cent of buyers at our Asian sales now coming from China. And finally regarding that dining furniture, back in the 1950s and 60s, most people bought antique or reproduction furniture. Those that made the bold choice to buy Scandinavian designer furniture are reaping the rewards; mid-century furniture is in short supply but high demand. The 30- and 40-year-old ‘children’ that don’t want their parents’ stuffy old antiques love the charms of Ercol, Eames and 1950s Danish design. So take some hope from the ashes of brown furniture. It’s not all bad news. Treasures often lie in less expected places and as experienced valuers and auctioneers we are able to advise where they might be found as well as help with that old brown furniture.

Granny’s treasured mantel clock might not strike your fortune, but those old postcards in the dresser might just make up for it.

CLIFFORD LANSBURY

Motoring News

Toyota’s Land Cruiser returns with chunky looks and off-road tech

A new version of Toyota’s famous Land Cruiser has been announced, bringing plenty of off-road-focused features and a utilitarian new design.

Arriving 72 years after the release of the original, the new Land Cruiser uses a rugged body-onframe construction which is 30 per cent more rigid than its predecessor. These changes should help to make the Land Cruiser more comfortable and responsive. These revisions haven’t hampered wheel articulation, however, which is required for heavy-duty off-roading. It’s also the first Land Cruiser to use an electric power steering system, which helps to

make the car more direct to drive at both greater and lower speeds.

A disconnecting front anti-roll bar is also included on the new Land Cruiser. Activated by a switch on the dashboard, this feature allows the wheels even more articulation should a particularly challenging section of terrain present itself.

Mild-hybrid

In the UK, the Land Cruiser will be powered by a 2.8-litre turbocharged diesel engine with 201bhp and an eight-speed automatic transmission. Toyota says that this will be joined by a mild-hybrid

version in early 2025, too.

As with the previous version, the Land Cruiser features a chunky exterior design with short overhangs. Many of the car’s body parts have been designed for easy replacement in case they get damaged. Inside, there’s the option of either five- or seven-seat configurations, while all versions will come with a full suite of safety assistance systems.

Toyota will kick off pre-sales of the Land Cruiser later this year with a special First Edition model, of which only 3,000 examples will be made for Europe. Prices and specifications are expected to be announced closer to that time.

The MG4 Extended Range hits the road from £36,495

MG has announced pricing and specifications for its new MG4 Extended Range.

The long-distance EV, which is equipped with a 77kWh battery, can deliver up to 323 miles on a single charge, making it the first MG electric vehicle able to push through the 300-mile range barrier. Priced from £36,495, the MG4 Extended Range uses a 180kW electric motor which allows for a 0-60mph time of 6.3 seconds.

Guy Pigounakis, MG’s Commercial Director, said: “The Extended Range is the fifth model in the award-winning MG4 EV model family.

“We believe drivers have real breadth of choice with our electric hatchbacks which now include the very capable SE cars all the way through to the XPOWER, the most powerful production MG ever built.”

The Extended Range trumps the standard MG4’s range by some margin, with the entry-level model able to return up to 218 miles from

a charge. From there, the MG4 SE Long Range increases this to 281 miles, but still comes some way short of the Extended Range’s figure.

Available in top-tier Trophy specification as standard, the Extended Range features 18-inch wheels as standard and a two-tone roof, as well as a 10.25-inch

touchscreen and a seven-inch digital display. Adaptive cruise control is also included.

Despite the extended equipment list and increased range, the MG4 still undercuts many rivals with the Skoda Enyaq – which can also deliver more than 300 miles of range – considerably more expensive than the MG at £44,825.

CALIFORNIAN firm Fisker has unveiled its new compact electric SUV – the Pear. Standing for Personal Electric Automotive Revolution, the Pear has been designed to deliver a high-tech, yet lowcost entry into electric car ownership.

Fisker says that the Pear is ‘scheduled’ to be available in the middle of 2025, with prices starting at $29,990, or around £23,600 at current prices –though it’s likely to be slightly higher when it reaches UK roads. It’ll also come in one of four trim levels, offering more equipment and features on higher grades.

Revealed at Fisker’s Product Vision Day, the Pear incorporates a clever ‘Houdini trunk’ which helps to bring easier access to the load area, while a front boot is also included to boost storage.

Despite being relatively compact in design, the Pear

offers space for up to six people, while a wraparound windscreen aids visibility out of the front of the car. It all sits atop a bespoke platform which has been designed by Fisker to use 35 per cent fewer parts when compared with other electric vehicles in the class.

Options

The Pear is expected to arrive with two options of battery sizes, with a smaller one for more urban-focused use and a larger version aimed towards long-distance drivers. This latter set-up is predicted to deliver over 300 miles from a single charge.

Fisker also revealed several other models at the event in California – including the Alaska pick-up truck and the Ronin four-door convertible GT car – but the firm sees the Pear as its core model that will launch it into the mainstream.

Fisker’s Pear is an EV to deliver ‘clean and affordable mobility’

Picture: Toyota

Picture: MG

Picture: Fisker