Times of Tunbridge Wells 16th November 2022

OF TUNBRIDGE WELLS

By Lilly Croucher

THE Planning Committee at Tunbridge Wells Borough Council (TWBC) will vote this evening (Wednesday November 16) on the fate of the town’s most notorious plot of land, after a recommendation to grant permission was published last week.

The former ABC Cinema site may finally see some resolution after sitting empty in the middle of the town centre for more than 20 years.

This evening, the 14 members of the Planning Committee, chaired by Cllr Trevor Poile (Lib Dem), are set to vote on granting planning permission for the derelict site on Mount Pleasant Road.

In a report published for the committee last week (November 8), it was

recommended that planning permission be granted for the ambitious project, subject to the completion of a Section 106 agreement.

projects and spending.

The Section 106 agreement includes £72,576.86 for Tunbridge Wells Cultural Hub, covering libraries, adult education and social care.

A further £30,489.22 will go towards expansion of the town’s waste transfer station and Household Waste Recycling Centre.

Meanwhile, £33,200 will mitigate the impact of the development on The Common, while £46,670 will be allocated for the provision of an electric car club vehicle and associated running and infrastructure costs.

Under the agreement, developer Retirement Villages Group (RVG), part of the same group that runs the town’s largest employer AXA Health, would contribute £233,884.08 for community

RVG will also contribute £50,000 towards sustainable transport and £948

Fate of ABC Cinema site to be decided upon...

for a Travel Plan monitoring fee.

RVG submitted its final plans for the £72million later-living development back in August.

Development manager Caroline Keiller said the project would offer ‘a downsizing option for over-65s, releasing under-occupied properties back onto the market for families and first-time buyers’.

“Our experience and research demonstrates that this also benefits the local economy and community – as well as the residents of our schemes,” Ms Keiller explained.

“They remain close to their network of family and friends, they make new friends, they get involved in local community activities, spend money in local shops and support local charities.”

Abandoned

According to the report, the development will boost the local economy by £1.5million annually through spending by the new residents, as well as resulting in a net increase of 87 jobs.

These jobs would create a further estimated £667,969 extra in workplace salary-spend within the borough each year as a result.

By contrast, it was estimated in the report that the borough’s share of annual council taxes from the development, totalling £32,163, and the borough’s share of annual business rates, totalling £90,898, were not ‘material’.

The last building on the site was the ABC

Cinema, which was built in the 1930s, before being permanently closed in 2000 and demolished in 2014.

Since then, the 1.5-acre site has sat abandoned in the middle of the town and has become known as a local ‘grot-spot’, attracting crime and anti-social behaviour.

After multiple changes of ownership and 22 years of failed projects, the land was dubbed a ‘graveyard for developers’ by the Council’s chief executive William Benson.

RGV developers purchased the land in December 2021 and submitted their plans last summer, before revising them after consultations with the local community.

KCC leader warns UK Chancellor of possible ‘collapse’ to upper-tier local authorities

They made changes to the height of the building, increased the number of windows and revised the balcony sizes.

While it is agreed something must be put on the site, this has not stopped fierce objections from the Town Forum, the Royal Tunbridge Wells Civic Society and many local residents.

There have been more than 70 objections to the plans, including complaints about its focus on elderly residents, not improving the amount of affordable housing and its ‘monstrous’ size.

The Planning Committee will debate and vote on the report’s recommendations at 6:30 pm this evening (November 16), with councillors and representatives of RVG in attendance.

Tunbridge Wells to keep Parliamentary boundaries

THE BOUNDARIES of the parliamentary constituency for Tunbridge Wells will remain the same, following the publication last week (November 8), of a revised map by the Boundary Commission for England (BCE).

Under the original proposals, Hawkhurst and Sandhurst would have been added to the Weald of Kent County Constituency (CC).

The reorganisation of boundaries across the UK reflects population changes, which means the South East gains seven extra constituencies, making a total of 91.

By law, every constituency proposed for the region, apart from the two on the Isle of Wight, must contain between 69,724 and 77,062 Parliamentary electors as of March 2, 2020.

If drastic budget cuts announced by KCC did not close the budget gaps, the county itself might have to consider formal talks with auditors, according to current forecasts, he said.

Writing jointly with the leader of Hampshire County Council, Cllr Rob Humby, Cllr Gough told the Government that the council had seen 12 years of national austerity, and now carried out functions for Government, as in the Covid-19 and Ukraine crises.

Funding

Meanwhile, inflation and council costs were rising, he said.

Cllr Gough wrote: “The extra money we can raise from council tax and business rates barely covers our normal costs of inflation each year.

This leaves major growth, particularly in adults’ and children’s social care, totally un-funded.”

‘Fundamental changes’ to local government funding were needed, he said.

“Without a major change either in the way these two services are funded, or in our legal obligations, I suspect that large parts of upper tier local government will face collapse.”

Cllr Gough and Cllr Humby called for the Government to put authorities to ‘put (them) on a long-term sustainable financial footing’ – through more annual funding for growing demand in adult and children’s social care services ‘or legislative changes to reduce the demands on these services’.

In their joint letter the two leaders also called for ‘fully funding the social care funding reforms and more money for growth in special educational needs; as well as greater freedom and flexibility around setting our council tax and charging for services, alongside legislative changes to help local government help itself.’

They wrote: “We have a responsibility to the residents of Kent and Hampshire to do everything possible to protect the future of their important local services,”

Kent and Hampshire are the largest county councils in the country.

Commenting on the impact of the ongoing migrant crisis on Kent, Cllr Gough said he welcomed the move making the National Transfer Scheme (NTS) mandatory.

This means that from August 24, local authorities will receive an additional £2,000 per month per child for the first three months where the child transfers from an interim hotel to the local authority placement within five working days.

Greg Clark, the MP for Tunbridge wells, said: “I welcome the proposal to avoid any upheaval and to keep the Tunbridge Wells constituency unchanged, since it fits within the required number of electors.”

Unchanged

A similar freeze is in effect for local authority boundaries, after Tunbridge Wells Borough Council (TWBC) representatives voted to consult on scrapping the current election cycle in favour of a single all-out poll every four years.

Former leader Tom Dawlings (Conservative) proposed the change, saying it could save ‘around £200,000 over a four-year period’.

He argued it could also prevent the need for the Local Government Boundary Commission for England (LGBCE) to change ward boundaries and reduce the number of councillors.

Currently, the 48-member council is elected in thirds, meaning frequent local elections.

LGBCE has proposed keeping three councillors per ward and reducing the number of wards, which would reduce councillor numbers from 48 to 39.

TWBC is currently holding a public consultation, and if’s decided to adjust the election cycle, it is understood the changes will come into effect in 2024. You can view and comment on the new parliamentary constituency map at bcereviews. org.uk until December 5.

Or talkingpointtunbridgewells.uk. engagementhq.com for local boundaries.

KENT County Council (KCC) leader Cllr Roger Gough has written to the Chancellor of the Exchequer warning of the danger of ‘collapse’ for ‘large parts of upper tier local government’.

HARD TIMES

KCC Leader Cllr Roger Gough

NEWS IN BRIEF

Two deaths in week of ongoing transport chaos

A WEEK of local transport chaos saw two deaths, on road and rail.

Police were called to High Brooms station on Saturday (November 12) at 10:27am after reports of a casualty on the tracks.

The train line was closed between Tonbridge and Tunbridge Wells, and a man was pronounced dead shortly afterwards by paramedics.

Meanwhile, Police are seeking information about the movements of an 88-year old woman who died in a collision on the A21 on November 8.

Police closed the A21 from 1:50pm on November 8 until early the next day, after a car was found overturned in an area of trees after a slip road leading from Pembury Road.

Officers are now seeking help to establish the movements of Eileen Johnston, who was declared dead at the scene, and who had been missing from her home near Croydon.

DI Lynn Wilczek, of the Serious Collision Investigation Unit, said: “We are appealing to anyone who may have seen Eileen, or who thinks they may have seen her silver Nissan Micra to contact us. Please also check any dashcam you may have, as these may hold important footage.”

Drivers can upload dashcam footage to https:// kep.uk.evidence.com/axon/citizen/public/ a21pembury08112022

Serial burglar jailed and banned from the town

A BURGLAR who targeted properties across Tunbridge Wells and East Sussex has been jailed for six years and banned from entering the Tunbridge Wells area for ten.

Michael Maloney, 42, of Nettle Way, Minsteron-Sea, Sheerness, pleaded guilty at Maidstone Crown Court to conspiracy to commit burglary, and was sentenced last Friday (November 11).

Blood at the scene of a burglary on April 16 in Station Hill, Wadhurst, East Sussex, led police to arrest Maloney on May 18. They also seized his mobile phone.

Kent Police finally arrested him on May 26 on suspicion of burglaries around Tunbridge Wells including Broadwater Down between April 11 and May 14.

He burgled addresses in Frant Road and Broadwater Down, gaining entry by forcing open doors or windows and went on to steal property including jewellery, watches and cash.

Detective Constable Celia King, of the Chief Constable’s Crime Squad, said:

“This prolific criminal targeted a number of properties over a short period of time and stole valuable items, some of which were of sentimental value and can never be replaced.”

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Tunbridge

Local NHS Trust will not join national nurse strike over pay

By Lilly Croucher

MEMBERS of the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) in the Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells (MTW) NHS Trust will not be joining those striking over pay and conditions elsewhere in the country.

Members at 176 NHS trusts voted to take strike action over pay levels and patient safety concerns, in the RCN’s first statutory ballot on industrial action across the UK in its 106 year history.

Last Wednesday (November 9), the RCN confirmed the strike would involve many of the biggest hospitals in England including Guys and St Thomas’ in London.

Action

Although members at MTW did not vote to strike, other Trusts in the South East did, including NHS Kent and Medway Integrated Care Board, Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust, Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust and South East Coast Ambulance Service.

Nursing staff were balloted on October 6, following the NHS Agenda for Change pay announcements last year.

RCN-commissioned research found that Band 5 and 6 nurses on the NHS Agenda for Change contracts had seen real-terms salaries fall 20 per cent since 2010-11 in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

The organisation said: ‘The RCN will ensure that strike action is carried out legally and safely at all times,’ and called on the UK government to use the Autumn budget to ‘signal a new direction’ for nurses.

Strike action is expected to happen before Christmas as the RCN’s mandate to organise strikes runs until May 2023 – six months after the ballot closed.

Health Secretary Steve Barclay described the results of the ballot as ‘disappointing’.

“We are all hugely grateful for the hard work and dedication of NHS staff, including nurses, and deeply regret that some union members have voted for industrial action,”

“These are challenging times, which is why we accepted the recommendations of the independent NHS Pay Review Body in full and have given over one million NHS workers a pay rise of at least £1,400 this year.

“This is on top of a 3 per cent pay increase last year when public sector pay was frozen and wider government support with the cost of living.”

The news comes against a backdrop of increased waits for admission, treatment or discharge at emergency departments across England.

NHS England reported 43,792 emergency patients waited 12 hours or more from the decision to admit to admission last month. This included 85 patients admitted at MTW hospitals – compared to 40 waiting this long for admission in September.

According to the Royal College of Emergency Medicine (RCEM), the figure for England represents the highest number of 12-hour waits

on record – up 520 per cent since October 2021 and up 5,932 per cent since October 2019.

RCEM president Dr Adrian Boyle blamed the waits on hospitals being unable to discharge patients ‘due to severe cuts to social care.

Crisis

“If you can’t discharge patients, beds are indefinitely occupied and the whole system is blocked. The government must get a grip of the social care crisis to fix flow.”

He stressed: ‘this is not a demand issue.

Attendances are not causing crowding and long waits.’

At MTW units, just over 20,000 people used A&E and minor injuries units in October, up over 6 per cent from 18,832 patients in September.

In October, 17.9 per cent of A&E patients waited over four hours for admission, transfer or discharge, compared to 17.7 per cent in September.

Patients fared better in minor injuries units, with 99.1 per cent of cases handled in four hours or less in October and 99.6 per cent in September.

Community Support Fund challenge defeated

A CHALLENGE to the Tunbridge Wells Cabinet’s decision to allocate money to a Community Support Fund (CSF) was defeated at a ‘call-in’ meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee last Thursday (November 10).

The challenge centred on Cabinet’s decision on October 27 to transfer £100,000 from car park income budget for the borough’s neediest.

The committee was asked to decide whether consultation had been adequate, if there was sufficient evidence for the decision, whether the decision required a departure from the agreed budget and whether there had been sufficient consideration of legal and financial advice.

Proposals

Committee chair Cllr Seán Holden (Conservative) stressed: “It is not about the establishment or the principle of the Community Support Fund, which I believe has broad approval.”

Cllr Matt Bailey (Independent) was one of three who called in the decisison.

He told the committee the reports pack for the previous Cabinet Advisory Board had not contained details of any consultation, nor mention of the proposal to transfer money.

The proposal had not been included in the Finance Cabinet Advisory Board on October 11, either, he said.

Cabinet leader Cllr Ben Chapelard (Lib Dem) argued establishing and funding the CSF was ‘consistent’ with the agreed in-year budget in July 2022, which introduced the planned fund alongside the planned deficit reduction plan.

Some of the deficit reduction plan has also been challenged, with some planned parking charges cancelled, and the Times reported on October 19 that the CSF was empty.

Cllr Chapelard also denied the charge of ‘insufficient consideration of legal and financial advice’, stating all Cabinet members were made aware of legal and financial implications before the vote.

They had been told they could make the ‘virement’ – transferring funds from one budget to another – but there was a risk the decision might be ‘called in’.

“That’s a risk the Cabinet were prepared to take because we didn’t believe that anyone could want to stop the process of allocating funds.”

They had also been advised allocating funds would slow deficit reduction efforts, he added.

Cllr David Hayward (Alliance) told the committee that the Cabinet had been advised ‘parking revenues… were trending above budget’ with

over £50,000 of added revenues available –which could be ‘top sliced’ for the CSF.

Cllr Chapelard added: “From our point of view, all that we have done… is rather than wait for the in-year budget review to fill up, we decided to release the £100,000 ahead of time.”

Deputy cabinet leader Cllr Nancy Warne (Alliance) told the committee she had consulted with a range of stakeholders about the impact of the cost of living crisis.

However, she said: “There is no point going back to the head of finance, procurement and parking and spending her valuable time working out details until we know that there is something there that people can bid for.”

Cllr Hugo Pound (Labour): “We don’t want to spend time and effort determining terms of reference and making sure the mechanism for distributing the money are appropriately undertaken until we knew that we had it.”

The committee voted against the challenge.

How the Times of Tunbridge Wells reported on the funding gap

Residents pay their respects to the fallen who gave their all

By Eileen Leahy

OVER 1,000 people turned out for the annual Remembrance Sunday ceremony at Tunbridge Wells Town Hall last week, with hundreds attending other gatherings across the borough.

Separate, smaller events were held on Armistice Day (November 11) at the War Memorial and elsewhere in Tunbridge Wells, but the main focus on Remembrance Sunday (November 13) was at the War Memorial in front of the Town Hall.

Memorial

Attendees included Tunbridge Wells Mayor Cllr Godfrey Bland, as well as representatives from the Armed Services and local dignitaries who were all present to pay their respects to the fallen.

Roads around the Town Hall were closed on Sunday morning to accommodate the crowds who gathered to witness the Service of Remembrance, Thanksgiving and Dedication which took place at 10.45am.

Just before 11am, the traditional Last Post was played before a two-minute silence was observed by all those present.

Wreaths were also laid by members of the civic party, representatives of service organisations, political parties and local groups, as well as members of the public.

The Mayor then took the salute from the War Memorial which was followed by a March Past for Service representatives, and other organisations, in order that they might too pay their respects.

Members of the public were later invited to attend Tunbridge Wells Cemetery at 12.30pm for the Civic Ceremony where the Mayor also placed wreaths at the four War Memorials in the Cemetery which include the Cross of Sacrifice in the WW2 Garden of Remembrance.

Other organisations also had the opportunity to lay wreaths at various soldiers’ graves at Tunbridge Wells Cemetery.

How we remembered:

The service was conducted by Chaplain Gareth Jones 129 (Tunbridge Wells) Squadron Air Training Corps, Pastor of the Pantiles Baptist Church.

A POIGNANT MOMENT: Hawkhurst Guides lay a Remembrance wreath (Picture by John Hunt)

LEST WE FORGET: How Southborough remembered its fallen (Picture by Diana Blackwell of the Southborough Society)

WE SHALL REMEMBER THEM: AgeUK clients created special decorations for Remembrance Sunday Various towns and villages within the borough also paid their respects on Armistice Day (November 11) and Remembrance Sunday (November 13)

Picture courtesy of TWBC

Mela organiser and Paul O’Grady among seven new Deputy Lieutenants for Kent

Devlins close The Curlew citing financial problems

Nominations were made in April, under the reign of the late Queen, but were only announced last week (November 7), said one new nominee, Gurvinder Sandher MBE, organiser of the Tunbridge Wells Mela.

Honours

Mr Sandher told the Times he had had to keep a number of secrets this year, having been awarded the MBE in Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee Honours this summer, and now the Deputy Lieutenancy.

He said: “It’s really humbling to have been recognised this year. I’ve had messages of

support from all around the world.”

However, he attributed the recognition not to himself but to his community work. He is CEO of Kent Equality Cohesion Council and artistic director of Cohesion Plus, which supports integration through the arts and community events.

“All of our work is about bringing communities together,” Mr Sandher stressed.

No member of the Lieutenancy may hold an elected post within Kent, but Mr Sandher said this was never a consideration for him.

“We have to work with all people. I work with all communities without being hampered by being tied to a political badge.”

Six other DLs were announced at the same time, including Judith Armitt (Medway), Sir Stephen Deuchar CBE (Ashford), Tracy Luke MBE (Folkestone and Hythe), James Ryeland (Dover) Susie Warran-Smith CBE (Folkestone

and Hythe) and Paul O’Grady MBE (Ashford). Mr O’Grady, known for his character Lily Savage and his love of animals, has lived in Kent for over 21 years.

Ceremonies

In 2020, he travelled around the county for Paul O'Grady’s Great British Escape on ITV. He has also written on living in Kent, and has a children’s book set on the Romney Marshes. DL duties include greeting and accompanying royalty and heads of state during official visits to the county, presenting honours and awards on behalf of the Crown, and participating in citizenship ceremonies.

DLs also advise on events potentially warranting royal visits, and can advise on nominating individuals or organisations for various honours.

CHEF-OWNERS Will and Matt Devlin have closed their Bodiam, Sussex-based restaurant with immediate effect, citing rising costs and declining bookings.

The brothers took over The Curlew on the eve of the pandemic, offering a modern British menu under head chef Matt Broadbent. But in a statement on The Curlew’s Instagram page, the Devlin brothers said that they needed ‘to admit defeat’.

Tough

They said: “A business born just a few weeks before the Covid-19 pandemic was always going to have a tough time, but with a huge increase in food costs, an electricity bill rising by 200 per cent, and a large decline in bookings, we are left with no choice.”

Stressing that they were the backers of the restaurant, the Devlins continued: “After plugging the hole so often with our personal savings, unfortunately we have simply run out of money.”

The pair’s other restaurants – The Small Holding at Kilndown, and Birchwood at Flimwell Park – would continue operating, they said, while urging people to support local businesses.

“Please be kind, and support your local pub, restaurant, farm shop, butcher, fishmonger –whatever it may be. They need you and a little help from a lot of people goes a long way.”

NORTHBOUND ON THE LAMBERHURST BYPASS

KENT’S royal representative, the Lord Lieutenant Lady Colgrain, has chosen seven new Deputy Lieutenants (DL) to take up the non-political roles supporting her work, the Crown and the county.

PAUL O’GRADY

GURVINDER SANDHER MBE

WILL DEVLIN

Co-ordinated safety scheme for local premises showing World Cup matches

Hancock loses party whip as he heads to I’m a Celebrity… jungle

FORMER health secretary Matt Hancock has signed up to join I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! which has cost him the party whip.

The West Suffolk MP, who was forced to quit as health secretary after breaking coronavirus lockdown rules by conducting an affair in his ministerial office, has had the Conservative Party whip removed after news of his plans to join the ITV show reached Westminster.

those who make these decisions than with the most watched programme on TV?

“Politicians like Matt must go to where the people are – particularly those who are politically disengaged.

Resigned

Chief whip Simon Hart said: “Following a conversation with Matt Hancock, I have considered the situation and believe this is a matter serious enough to warrant suspension of the whip with immediate effect.”

By Victoria Roberts

CO-OPERATION among members of the local Pubwatch scheme means anyone banned from one of the 21 local pubs and clubs showing the World Cup will be excluded from all of the members’ venues (approximately 50).

Human

Covering the majority of pubs and clubs in Tunbridge Wells town centre, as well as premises at North Farm and several pubs around Paddock Wood, Pubwatch have co-ordinated their World Cup plans with police and local authorities.

A loss of the party whip means Mr Hancock is no longer part of the Parliamentary Conservative Party and will sit as an independent MP until the whip is restored – if it ever is.

Mr Hancock who resigned from Boris Johnson’s cabinet after being caught on CCTV during an affair with aide Gina Coladangelo, is entering the jungle for the ITV show alongside Seann Walsh and Boy George, when I’m a Celebrity returns to ITV on Sunday (November 6) at 9pm.

tournament will be considered for an exclusion notice, which is a 12-month ban from all member premises.

Exclusion notices would also be expedited, preventing any offender from entering any Pubwatch venue to watch the next game.

This year, the celebrities return to the Australian jungle for the first time since 2019. For the past two years, the ITV show has taken place in Wales due to Covid regulations.

STP’s Business Crime Manager Roz Heaton told the Times: “We only do expedited exclusions during football tournaments in order to protect people. We have done it since 2006 and have only issued two.”

TONBRIDGE & Malling Borough Council (TMBC) has announced over £500,000 worth of grants for rural businesses and retailers in towns and villages across the borough from 2023.

The rural grants come from the government’s Rural England Prosperity Fund, of which £447,450 has been earmarked for TMBC.

Income

Rural enterprises developing new products and services, including farms looking to diversify income streams, will be able to apply for grants of up to £25,000 for up to 50 per cent of project costs.

Grants of up to 80 per cent could be available ‘in exceptional circumstances for community projects’, added TMBC.

Meanwhile, the £102,000 shop front improvement scheme is drawn from business rates and the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, and

Exclusion

Restaurants, off-licences and late-night takeaways are also members of the scheme, which is part of the Safe Town Partnership’s (STP) Business Crime Reduction Scheme.

He is not the first MP to lose the party whip for appearing on the show. Nadine Dorries was stripped of the Conservative Party whip for appearing on the show in 2012 but was later readmitted into the Tory party.

Most of the cast for the 2022 edition of show has been announced, and includes DJ Chris Moyles, royal family member Mike Tindall and Loose Women star Charlene White.

The first matches in the tournament kick-off this weekend (November 20) in Qatar. The World Cup is normally held in the summer months, when daylight hours are longest in the Northern Hemisphere. With this tournament taking place during the longer hours of darkness and coinciding with the run-up to Christmas, venues are making additional preparations.

Tonbridge & Malling council gives boost to town and country businesses with grants

follows a similar initiative in 2019-2021 which supported 31 independent businesses.

Worst month for manufacturers in over two years

Under the new scheme, retailers in towns and villages will be able to apply for a grant to meet 60 per cent of improvement costs, up to a maximum of £3,500.

UK MANUFACTURERS faced their worst month in more than two years in October, an influential study has revealed.

The schemes are due to launch in 2023 and are in addition to previously announced funding of £1million for borough improvements.

The UK’s manufacturing sector scored just 46.2 last month the purchasing managers index survey, according to S&P Global and the Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply.

Cllr Vivian Branson, cabinet member for economic regeneration, said: “The tough economic outlook is affecting businesses everywhere, but rural enterprises and smaller independent retail outlets are particularly vulnerable when people reduce their spending.

It means that the sector shrank for the third month in a row – anything below 50 is considered a contraction – and notched up its worst score since the early days of the pandemic.

The score dropped from 48.4 in September as companies said the UK market was weaker, their customers had already built up high levels of stocks and clients lacked confidence.

“These grants will help support innovation, stimulate our rural communities and keep our high streets looking attractive for shoppers,” Cllr Branson continued.

Pressure

“I very much look forward to launching these schemes next year and seeing them deliver.”

FUNDING ADVICE FOR FARMERS

LAND, property and farming specialists are to offer advice to farmers in the South East under the next phase of the government’s Future Farming Resilience Fund (FFRF).

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) has earmarked £32million in support for farmers making the transition away from the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS).

“UK manufacturing production suffered a further decline at the start of the fourth quarter, with the sector buffeted by weak demand, high inflation, supply-chain constraints and heightened political and economic uncertainties,” said Rob Dobson, director at S&P Global Market Intelligence.

specialist Savills, crop science organisation NIAB and rural business advisers AKC will work together offering free business reviews.

The advice will cover changes to agricultural support, the potential impact on farmers’ business and identifying options to adapt.

“New work intakes fell at the quickest pace since May 2020 as demand in domestic and export markets weakened.

Launched last month, the initiative is expected to run for two and a half years.

An ally of Mr Hancock said: “There are many ways to do the job of being an MP.

Pubwatch director Jack Smith said: “Football tournaments attract several thousand people to the licensed premises in Tunbridge Wells.

“Whether he’s in camp for one-day or three weeks, there are very few places people will be able to see a politician as they really are.

“Historically, we have had very little disorder and I hope that this year will be no exception.”

Mr Hancock was among supporters of Rishi Sunak who welcomed the new leader to Conservative headquarters last week but was overlooked for a ministerial job under the new Prime Minister.

Some local venues will operate ticketed entry for matches, and several venues will have security on the door.

Anyone arrested and charged for a violent offence in a licensed premises during the

“Where better to show the human side of

He had also reportedly been considering the role of chair of the Treasury Select Committee but pulled out on Monday.

Extra security officers, working in partnership with police, will be ready to respond to calls for assistance from venues without a door supervisor.

The first phase of the initiative involved advice to farmers on topics including environmental audits, natural capital, diversification, succession planning, joint ventures, development potential, carbon auditing and environmental scheme applications.

In the next phase, land and property

“While the downturn has lessened the pressure on prices, the weak pound and high energy prices mean elevated cost inflation remains a prime concern for manufacturers.”

Stuart Nicholls of Savills food and farming team in the South East, said: “The changes to agricultural support, together with challenges caused by food supply chain pressures, rising input costs and extreme weather events will require many farmers in England to adapt their business models and carefully consider options for the future.”

Businesses were helped somewhat by a slowdown in rising costs, as growth input costs and output charges slowed.

Price rises were reported for chemicals, electronics, energy, food, metals, packaging, paper and timber.

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“Matt’s of the view that we must embrace popular culture. Rather than looking down on reality TV, we should see it for what it is – a powerful tool to get our message heard by younger generations.”

Thomson Snell & Passmore joins volunteering scheme

By Sarah Carter

A PROFESSIONAL volunteering scheme, started by a communications professional who regretted missing out on opportunities to share his skills before being diagnosed with cancer, has signed up its first Kent-based law firm.

Fifth Day was founded earlier this year by Fred Banning, who received a terminal cancer diagnosis in 2020 – just two weeks before he was due to be interviewed for a non-executive position at a charity.

As a non-lawyer in a law firm, he said: “I wish I’d found a way to combine a career I loved with a role that enabled me to give back more to people less fortunate.”

Talent

With 30,000 non-legal staff working in the UK’s top 100 law firms, he said there was a huge pool of un-tapped talent.

Fifth Day’s newest recruits, Thomson Snell & Passmore already offer paid time for volunteering.

The law firm’s chief executive Sarah Henwood said: “We’re also keen to spread the word about this new initiative far and wide with local charities, so that they can sign up to benefit from the many skilled volunteers across the Fifth Day network, which includes a wide range of law firms.”

Working in partnership with Reach Volunteering, Fifth Day is currently offering roles ranging from marketing and data analysis to fundraising, administration, procurement and more, as well as trustee vacancies.

Fred Banning added: “It is really heartening that so many law firms, at both a national and regional level, have embraced the concept of

non-legal pro bono. I’m so pleased to have Thomson Snell & Passmore on board.

“It’s no secret that we’re in for a tough winter in the UK, and the work of third-sector organisations has arguably never been more important.

“This is a really tangible way for individuals to get involved and help, with the support of their employers.”

Card shop pops up in town for Christmas

GREETINGS cards are one of the pleasures of birthdays and holidays, and now a shop dedicated to Christmas cards, stationery and gifts has sprung up for the season.

Cards for Good Causes (CFGC) was unable to run its Christmas shops during the pandemic period, but it is back this Christmas, based in the United Emmanuel church at the corner of Mount Ephraim and Grosvenor Road.

Supporting

As the UK’s largest multi-charity card and gift retailer, CFGC sells a wide range of charity cards and gifts, stocking fillers, wrapping paper, diaries, calendars, decorations and tableware.

The Tunbridge Wells shop will be one of over 100 CFGC pop-up spots, aiming to help local and

national charities raise £500,000 this Christmas season.

Good causes this year include the RNLI, Diabetes UK, Alzheimer’s Society UK, Epilepsy Action, MS Society, the British Heart Foundation and many more.

CFGC is itself a charity, which has raised over £40 million in the last 10 years.

Jeremy Lune, CEO of CFGC said: “We can’t wait to meet everyone this year in our shops! Please come volunteer with us, join us as a manager, or come and get your Christmas gifts while supporting the charities of your choice. I wish everyone a very festive Christmas and hope to see you soon.”

The Cards For Good Causes pop-up shop is open from 10am to 4pm at the United Emmanuel church, 1 Mount Ephraim until December 17.

SARAH HENWOOD

Pub landlord sells to Young’s Brewery

A COUNTRY pub and hotel in Parker’s Green near Higham Wood has been sold to the Young’s brewery chain by a local publican.

The Carpenters Arms pub, restaurant and hotel, on Three Elms Lane, was sold by Jamie Brady, who is also the landlord of The Ivy in Tonbridge. Young’s announced the sale late last month. The establishment joins the brewery’s portfolio of

over 210 pubs and hotels.

Simon Bland of Fleurets, which advised Young’s, said, “I’m delighted to have assisted Young & Co’s Brewery, PLC with their acquisition of the Carpenters Arms.

“Over many years Mr Brady has built a fantastic business which I knew would be a perfect fit for Youngs and a very bright future lies ahead.”

Tonbridge retail park sold

TONBRIDGE’S Cannon Lane Retail Park has been sold by owner LondonMetric for £22million, as part of the company’s strategy of shifting away from multi-let retail parks, offices and residential property.

Challenges

The 61,000 square foot (5,667m2) retail park east of the town centre was bought by LondonMetric in 2013 for £11.5million, and is currently fully let to M&S, Halfords, Food

Warehouse, Home Bargains, Carpetright, Costa and Jollyes.

The retail park’s rents had risen 44 per cent to £1.2 per annum in that period, said LondonMetric.

The Tonbridge property was sold at the same time as another retail park in Birmingham, in what chief executive Andrew Jones called ‘strong, opportunistic sales’.

“Despite macro challenges, there is still liquidity for very well-located assets,” added Mr Jones.

Give children an early start in money lessons

By Amanda Redman

POCKET money and the humble piggy bank have always been the traditional gateway for children to learn the importance of saving, but, given these turbulent times, these simple lessons may no longer be enough.

Deciding how and when to discuss finance with our children can be difficult. Some primary schools use the Bank of England-backed Money and Me programme to introduce key financial concepts and managing money.

Yet it is how parents manage their own spending and saving that will always provide the most significant lesson.

Crowborough firm Clarity can clearly see success

CROWBOROUGH-based Clarity Homes and Commercial has been shortlisted in two categories of the South East Construction Awards, being announced later this month.

The company was named in both the Best Construction Contractor and the Best Project awards.

Clarity’s submission for the Best Project award was its work on the Coursehorn Barn development in Cranbrook, which saw a Dutch barn converted into three luxury homes with landscaped gardens.

Clarity Homes and Commercial Managing Director, Andrew Mann said: “We pride ourselves on a dedicated team and expert guidance on every project we take on. Careful planning, great communication and a team effort to complete jobs to the highest standard for our clients.

“We are delighted to be finalists in two great categories after all our hard work.”

Value

An important step is building familiarity. Let your kids handle money. Distinguish ‘essential’ purchases, such as food, from ‘luxury’ purchases. This develops a sense of value and perspective, and when you do introduce a piggy bank, the concept of budgeting will already be clear.

For older children, being given financial responsibility is a vital part of growing up. Set the right example by explaining how you plan money for the future, or open their own savings account so they can see how interest works.

But however you choose to prepare your kids, there are resources available. Speak to your child’s school about how financial education is taught, or try asking an adviser for simple ways to present financial concepts. You might learn something new yourself!

Amanda Redman is a chartered financial planner.

Prepare for a George-ous welcome in Cranbrook pub

THE NEW general manager of The George in Cranbrook has her feet under the table – and has even named her new ‘pub pup’ after the establishment.

Within weeks of starting, Victoria Ruffell was delighted with her new community and decided to name her new puppy George.

Essex-born Victoria said: “I started out in a little village with a friendly feel similar to Cranbrook. When I first visited the George Hotel, I knew it was for me. I feel like I fit.”

Victoria said she is looking forward to experiencing Christmas in the town.

“I get quite excited about Christmas. I hear Cranbrook is very beautiful at that time of year.”

Make Winter Sparkle

Clockwise from top: 14k white gold and emerald cut aquamarine dress ring – £1,700 + fees. Chinese blue and white prunus jar and cover, 19th century – £1,400 + fees. Gold and cabochon moonstone set fringe necklace – £1,600 + fees. Charles-Henri Contencin, ‘Pelvoux et Glacier Blau’ – £2,600 + fees. Arts and Crafts silver mounted Ruskin pottery pedestal bowl – £2,200 + fees.

Collecting or consigning Fine Art and Antiques? Gorringe’s regular sales are home to a wealth of treasures, whilst our specialists provide an expert, no-obligation valuation service. Visit us online to discover more. See our Latest Collectables at gorringes.co.uk

Auctioneers Since 1929

CHANGING HANDS

The Carpenters Arms near Higham Wood

Picture: ©Young’s Pubs

Tunbridge Wells girl, 16, gets a taste of a top job

New Warm Space opens in church hall

ANOTHER organisation in Tunbridge Wells has joined the ‘Warm Spaces’ scheme in preparation for winter.

The King Charles the Martyr church has opened its church hall at 3 Warwick Park weekly on Friday afternoons, to offer a heated indoor location, and will serve hot drinks and tea, as well as cakes and soup.

A spokesperson for the parish office told the Times: “We know that it isn’t cold yet but would like people to know about it so that they can be relieved about what they will do when it is colder.

Welcoming

“We are thinking about how to open at other times, too.”

A 16-YEAR-OLD from Tunbridge Wells was one of 26 girls taking part in a ‘takeover’ across 20 organisations, as part of a charity’s celebration of International Day of the Girl Child (October 11).

Elodie’s takeover, organised by Plan International UK, saw her spending the day as a vice president at AstraZeneca’s research and development site in Cambridge, learning about the global pharmaceutical industry.

Meetings

Her schedule included meetings with numerous staff members and a number of panel discussions, and she even she toured the labs. Other girls joined organisations including Barratt Developments, Clear Channel UK, the Office for National Statistics, and the Financial Times.

Wider activities included partnerships with Hillary Clinton, astronaut Tim Peake, Welsh First Minister Mark Drakeford, Radio 1 presenter Clara Amfo, filmmaker Gurinder Chadha, and

Lionesses manager Sarina Wiegman.

The charity’s head of UK programmes, Claire Boulton, said: “Girls’ Takeovers are a celebration of girls occupying spaces where they are rarely seen or heard, so we were thrilled to team up with AstraZeneca for this year’s International Day of the Girl Child.

“Elodie did a fantastic job taking over as Vice President for the day, and I hope the experience inspires more girls like her to pursue their chosen careers without fear of gender stereotypes holding them back.”

Elodie said: “I think there are lots of stories about what it’s like for women in this industry, but for me it’s really important to find out what it’s actually like, and really encouraging to know that there is space for girls.”

“Being part of today’s takeover made me feel really empowered that I can go on in the future and work hard and find a space in this industry. It also made me feel like I was making a difference and inspiring myself and other girls like me.”

Under the national scheme, ‘Warm Spaces’ provide a warm, welcoming and safe space with basic refreshments of tea and coffee at no cost to those needing the service.

Other registered ‘Warm Spaces’ in Tunbridge Wells are Christ Church in the High Street, The Kitchen Table in Camden Road, St Philip’s Church

in Birken Road and The Zero Waste Company in The Pantiles.

According to The Warm Welcome Campaign, there are over 1,600 registered ‘Warm Spaces’ across the UK.

Registered spaces will have a ‘Warm Space’ poster in their window and can be found online at: warmwelcome.uk/#find-a-space

The website indicates what facilities are available at the Warm Space, from accessible toilets to wi-fi.

The Weald is alive with the sound of music

TWO choirs and a soprano are lifting their voices and raising funds in the seventh ‘Singing for the Hospice’ concert in aid of Hospice in the Weald this weekend.

The concerts in aid of Hospice in the Weald have become an annual tradition – only missing one year due to the pandemic – for organiser Glen Goodall, who arranged the first concert after his wife died at Hospice in the Weald in 2014.

He told the Times: “The concerts started out as a thanksgiving for her and carried on afterwards.”

This year’s programme by the Royal Tunbridge Wells Orpheus Male Voice Choir, Hilden Grange

Prep School Choir and soprano Arianna Rebecca Firth will range from ‘Christmas music to hymns, choral music and show tunes’, he said.

A member of the Orpheus Male Voice Choir, Mr Goodall said he would be singing Verdi’s ‘Speed Your Journey’ and the beloved hymn ‘How Great Thou Art’.

Christmas is in the air too, with the children’s choir singing ‘Gaudete’, and the soloist presenting perhaps the audience’s first ‘O Holy Night’ of the year.

Singing for the Hospice concert at St Peter and St Paul Church, Tonbridge is on November 19 at 7:30pm. Tickets are £10 on the door or contact 01732 368 824 for more details.

JOBS FOR THE GIRLS Elodie (right) with Ashling Mulvaney of AstraZeneca

posted weapons handgun attack Vienna Tuesday Some on were bars chief at like-minded those all on in der wreaths.

Sunak admits that UK image has suffered ‘a bit of a knock’

RISHI Sunak has said the UK’s international reputation has taken “a bit of a knock” in recent weeks.

Attending the G20 summit in Bali, the Prime Minister insisted there was widespread support for the UK to engage on the world stage, despite concerns about recent events.

“Well, I think obviously, our international reputation took a bit of a knock as a result of some of the things that happened more recently,” he said.

“But what I’ve seen here at the G20 summit in Indonesia is an enormous amount of goodwill for the UK to be an active and engaged member of the international community.

Statement

“There’s widespread support for what we’ve done in Ukraine, where I think Boris Johnson originally has shown incredible leadership that I plan on continuing, and across the board whether it’s on COP and climate change, or indeed how to fix the global economy.

“These are all issues where we can play a role and people are looking for us to do that.”

He declined to apologise for the mistakes of Liz Truss’s government that are expected to add billions of pounds of tax hikes and spending cuts to his budget.

The Prime Minister instead insisted on Tuesday that he will make ‘difficult decisions that are required to fix’ the missteps of his Conservative predecessor in No 10.

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt is looking to find up to £60 billion from a combination of hikes and spending cuts in his autumn statement on Thursday.

Economists at the Resolution Foundation have calculated that Ms Truss’s disastrous so-called mini-budget exacerbated the problem to the tune of £30 billion, while causing chaos in the mortgage market.

During a round of broadcast interviews in Bali, where Mr Sunak is attending the G20 summit, he repeatedly refused to apologise for the Tories’ handling of the economy.

Instead, when pressed by a journalist, Mr

Sunak said he has acknowledged ‘mistakes were made’, adding: ‘What I want to do now is fix them’.

“I think I demonstrated over the summer that I’m prepared to be honest with the country about the challenges we face and to make the difficult decisions that are required to fix them,” he said.

Mr Sunak’s premiership is so far being dogged by strikes, with nurses and civil servants preparing to join rail workers in taking action over issues including pay.

With the Prime Minister having so far kept in place the abolition of the cap on bankers’ bonuses, he urged bosses to keep down their pay in order not to exacerbate inflation.

“Of course I would say to all executives to embrace pay restraint at a time like this and make sure they are also looking after all their workers,” he told ITV News.

Mr Sunak said the scale of food bank use in the UK is “obviously a tragedy”, amid a worsening cost-of-living crisis.

“I’ve got enormous admiration and gratitude for the people who are providing them in my constituency and elsewhere as well. But I do of course want to get to a position where no one needs to use a food bank.” The Resolution Foundation believes that Ms Truss’s remaining unfunded tax cuts, from national insurance and stamp duty cuts, cost nearly £20 billion.

Two-year-old died from mould in housing authority flat despite father’s complaints

the UK in 2020, does a two-year-old child die from exposure to mould in his home?’

“The tragic death of Awaab will and should be a defining moment for the housing sector in terms of increasing knowledge, increasing awareness and a deepening of understanding surrounding the issue of damp and mould.”

Deteriorated

Ms Kearsley said Mr Abdullah had reported mould developing in the Tweedale Street flat to RBH in 2017 and was told to paint over it.

In June 2020, Mr Abdullah instructed solicitors and initiated a claim over the recurring issue but policy meant any repairs would not be done until an agreement had been reached, the inquest heard.

The death of a toddler who suffered prolonged exposure to mould should be a ‘defining moment’ for the housing sector, a coroner has said.

Awaab Ishak, two, died in December 2020 from a respiratory condition caused by mould in the one-bedroom housing association flat where he lived with parents Faisal Abdullah and Aisha Aminin in Rochdale, Greater Manchester.

Mr Abdullah had previously complained to Rochdale Boroughwide Housing (RBH) about the mould, an inquest at Rochdale Coroner’s Court was told.

Giving her findings on Tuesday, senior coroner Joanne Kearsley said: “I’m sure I’m not alone in having thought, ‘How does this happen? How, in

A health visitor also contacted RBH to raise the issue in July 2020 and an inspection that month found mould in the kitchen, bathroom and a bedroom cupboard needed treatment.

Awaab was taken to Rochdale Urgent Care Centre on December 19 with shortness of breath and transferred to Royal Oldham Hospital before being discharged, the court heard.

Awaab deteriorated the next day and his parents were advised by the Community Children’s Nursing Team to take him back to the Rochdale Urgent Care Centre.

He went into respiratory arrest and then cardiac arrest while being transferred to Oldham, the inquest heard. He died after arriving at Oldham.

Fox Chancellor

Jobless rate up amid ‘mounting signs of cracks’ in UK jobs market

Britain’s rate of unemployment has risen unexpectedly amid mounting signs of a cooling jobs market as the UK heads for a painful and prolonged recession.

Official figures showed the rate of unemployment edged up to 3.6 per cent in the three months to September from 3.5 per cent in the three months to August, while vacancies fell for the fifth time in a row as employers rein in recruitment due to the building economic gloom.

Data

The rate of unemployment also hit 3.8 er cent in September alone, in the highest monthly reading since April.

Most economists had expected the three month unemployment rate to remain unchanged.

Wages also continued to be far outstripped by rocketing prices, despite the fastest growth in pay packets for 22 years as the cost-of-living crisis hit hard.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said average earnings excluding bonuses fell 3.8 per cent when taking account of Consumer Prices Index (CPI) inflation, even with a 5.7 per cent rise in regular pay – the fastest growth since 2000, excluding the pandemic, when the end of furlough skewed figures.

It came as the data showed more people dropped out of the workforce, with a hike in the proportion of people neither looking for work or working.

Over half a million working days were lost to strikes in August and September – the highest two-month total in more than a decade – the ONS also revealed.

The latest jobs market report follows official data last week revealing the economy shrank by 0.2% in the third quarter, putting the UK on course for a lengthy recession amid a punishing cost-of-living crisis.

“Restoring stability and getting debt falling is our only option to reduce inflation and limit interest rate rises.”

The wider labour force survey figures show that the number of Britons in unemployment fell by 69,000 to 1.2 million between the second and third quarters, but that the number of people in employment also dropped by 52,000 to 32.7 million.

Economic inactivity increased by 0.2 percentage points quarter on quarter to 21.6%, driven by those aged 16-24 and 35-49 years.

There was also another fall in the number of vacancies, down 46,000 quarter on quarter to 1.2 million, as increasing numbers of employers “hold back on recruitment” amid mounting economic gloom, according to the ONS.

More timely data showed the number of payrolled workers lifted 74,000 or 0.2% between September and October to 29.8 million, but these figures are subject to large revisions.

Sandra Horsfield at Investec Economics said the figures signalled “mounting signs of cracks in the labour market”.

The Bank of England has predicted a possible

Sophie Wessex opens tractor factory as staff donate £300,000 charity cheque

Learn more

about the CREATIVE STUDIOS

at NORTH KENT COLLEGE

Our CREATIVE STUDIOS at North Kent College specialises in the education and training of young creatives, making dream careers become reality. Creative Studios comprises of many subject areas, each with their own unique logo.

BRENCHLEY-born royal the Countess of Wessex got to grips with an industrial vehicle when she opened a new £100 million JCB factory – and received a charity cheque from staff.

Sophie sat in the cab during a tour of the high-tech manufacturing plant in Uttoxeter, Staffordshire, where she learnt about the site’s computer-controlled production line, rainwater harvesting and heat capture systems.

In her role as patron of the NSPCC she later received a £300,000 cheque for the charity after an employee fundraising campaign.

Sophie met employees on the shop floor including Ben Emery, who joined JCB in 2006 as a mechanical engineering apprentice.

He now works as a manufacturing engineering

manager at the factory and led the team that bought all the key equipment for the new plant.

Mr Emery, 32, of Burton-on-Trent, said: “It was fantastic to meet the Countess of Wessex and the whole team is very proud to have been able to show off our hi-tech workplace to a member of the royal family.

“She was very interested in everything we have done to make this a world class, efficient manufacturing facility which competes with the best in the world.”

Following the official opening the Countess attended a celebration to mark the culmination of JCB’s latest appeal for the children’s charity NSPCC, which the Bamford Charitable Trust has supported for almost 40 years.

3D DESIGN & ARCHITECTURE: The 3D element of the department is depicted by a 3D cube, which also shows off the XYZ axis which are used when working in a 3D space.

ANIMATION & VFX: With animation, the Onion skin icon was chosen which is used in most animation software and ties in with what they use in the industry. The onion skin is used so the user can see several frames of animation simultaneously to then see if the animation lines up correctly.

GRAPHIC DESIGN & ILLUSTRATION: For this department a Pen tool icon was chosen, which is used globally among designers who used the adobe creative suite. However, the icon has been changed so does not copy what adobe has used but still depicts the universal pen design.

ART & DESIGN: For Art and Design pencil is used as the icon as art students tend to be related to drawing and sketching and this typically the beginning of an artists work, a pencil sketch.

PHOTOGRAPHY: An aperture symbol was chosen for Photography, this is used on a camera. The aperture is a hole or an opening through which light travels so the more light let in the less focus you have on the background, and allowing less light in puts everything into focus.

TV & FILM: For this department a clapper board was chosen as this is used in every TV & Film production so relates directly to the subject. The clapper board is used to designate and mark the various scenes and takes as they are filmed and audio recorded.

DIGITAL JOURNALISM: A microphone depicts digital journalism as it relates to the recording of audio and events/ current affairs and therefore was chosen for this icon.

FASHION: For Fashion a button is used because this represents the historical and contemporary elements of fashion.

Our Dartford campus has recently opened a brand-new building for the Creative Studio students which is the largest value project in the Getting Building Fund programme and contains 2,836 sq m of educational floorspace, including a performance venue, dance studios, music performance spaces, digital design classrooms and workshops.

Interested in being one of North Kent College’s creative students? Find out more on our website www.northkent.ac.uk.

Did you miss the chance to visit? If you missed our Open Events and would like to find out more about the College, we will be hosting a series of Campus Tours throughout December or you can visit one of February Open Events.You can preregister via our website soon! Keep your eyes peeled.

LEONORA Langley, whose book ‘Let The Souls of Our Children Sing’ stresses the importance of nurturing emotional well-being in the young, believes that: “By encouraging our children to respect and value ‘difference’ in every individual, we are not just helping them to recognise tolerance of another person’s experience, but encouraging them to celebrate the richness and breadth of what it can bring to each of their lives as well as society.”

Here, she highlights widespread bullying in schools (as many as 29% of UK teenagers experienced it in 2021) and how we can address the issue, which is becoming endemic in society.

Action

“Just as in society, bullying in school is often the result of prejudice and discriminatory behaviour or language that relates to perceived or actual differences, which can arise from a misguided and/or learned behaviour that some people are less valued and ‘deserve’ to be treated differently and with less respect.

“Young bullies are often bullied themselves at home in an atmosphere of intimidation, violence and control, and not allowed to express their feelings and emotions.

“Targets of bullying are likely to be those with unequal social and economic outcomes, relating to disability, race and ethnicity, religion or belief, gender and sexual orientation, although popular and gifted children can also be bullied as figures of envy.

“Behaviours such as mocking speech, accents,

belongings or clothing can be made by those who consider themselves to be in the dominant socio-economic group. Bullying has a huge effect on victims during their school life, sometimes leading to underachievement, truancy, running away from home, eating disorders, self-harming and even suicide. Described as behaviour by an individual or group that intentionally hurts another individual or group either physically, socially or psychologically, causing them to feel stressed, ashamed, alone, guilty, depressed, hopeless, rejected, unsafe, fearful and confused, bullying can have far-reaching long-term effects. The consequence of childhood bullying can persist for decades, even a lifetime, with greater risk of a young person developing depression than those who don’t experience it.

“In recent years, there has been a huge increase in bullying as a result of social media,

behind which bullies can operate in relative anonymity. Cyberbullying can be motivated by boredom, peer pressure, a belief that everyone is doing it, hunger for power, a longing to belong and fit in and an outlet for getting attention. Bullies often have low self-esteem and a strong desire to ‘big themselves up’, by making others feel small. They have a need to feel stronger and more powerful than they feel. Anonymous posting means they feel less likely to be caught and distanced from the victim. They invariably feel a sense of relief and vindication for what they are doing, with no conscience, guilt or remorse for the pain they are inflicting on others.

“As someone who believes that emotional well-being is a vital part of a child’s development and helps them lead a more fulfilled existence, I think it’s important that young people understand the dynamics of bullying and have specific, targeted lessons that

encourage them to develop tolerance and respect for others. This will teach them how to respond and react to bullying from both the bully and victim perspective

“At the moment, a child’s emotional education is often restricted to resistance, reaction, avoidance and pretence. What’s needed is the nurturing of emotional experience to develop acceptance, reflection, engagement and authenticity in the young from an early age. We need to give children more opportunities to nurture self-awareness, self-esteem, selfacceptance, self-compassion and self-love as

they work towards self-actualisation, as described by humanistic psychologists, Carl Rogers and Abraham Maslow. This will inevitably lead them to value others with greater empathy, compassion and mercy.

“We also need to instil in our children that promoting equality is about challenging inequality which means challenging language and behaviours that lead to people being treated less favourably or have poorer outcomes at school and beyond. A huge part of contemporary life is about teaching our children to fully embrace diversity, to include and involve people from a range of social, ethnic, religious, disability and sexual orientation backgrounds, so that equality and diversity are supported for their own sake.”

Let the Souls of Our Children Sing is available as a paperback at £8.99 from Amazon, Waterstones and Austin Macauley and an e-book at £3.50

‘Bullying has a huge effect on victims during their school life and consequences can persist for decades’

Picture: Shutterstock

The local paintings

that will prompt viewers to

enjoy familiar places in a very different way

James Rands Independent

Artist Lyn Rohde tells Eileen Leahy all about her new exhibition which is on all month at the Silver Sheep in Chapel Place and what inspires her work…

arts

THE STRANGEST job interview I ever had was for the role of Intelligence Officer in my battalion. Our new Commanding Officer had just arrived and was getting the lay of the land. I was summoned to his office and told I had been recommended as the new Intelligence Officer. The Colonel said: “I hear you’re very clever and that you’re a bit weird. Is that true?”

Wander into the delightful lifestyle emporium that is the Silver Sheep on Chapel Place and you’re always guaranteed an enjoyable experience thanks to the wealth of different creatives who have pieces on display and for sale.

Integrity matters

However, sometimes you get a slightly different story. Someone says they were with a Special Forces unit and in fact they were an attached clerk or a chef or an intelligence collator. They didn’t technically lie, but they certainly weren’t telling the whole truth and the omission was probably not a simple oversight.

From handmade jewellery to hand-painted lampshades and beautifully crafted fashion items, there is always something to covet. And this month visitors can enjoy an added extra, courtesy of a new exhibition of paintings from artist Lyn Rohde.

I hesitantly replied that it was and he further enquired: “So what makes you weird, then?”

“I have a full-length leather jacket like in The Matrix, Sir.”

Honesty

Although she is based in Brighton, Lyn, who is a full-time artist, says she is very much looking forward to exhibiting here in Tunbridge Wells after she contacted Caroline Smith and Sylvia Kus who co-run the Silver Sheep.

And I got the job. My Commanding Officer later explained that what he needed absolute honesty. There would come a time when I needed to tell him what he did not want to hear and I had to have the moral courage and integrity to do so.

Lying is not unheard of in the military. A friend recently told me about a new sergeant joining a battalion who claimed he had been away at special duties for the last two years. (‘Special duties’ refers to two units active in Northern Ireland during The Troubles, which operated in civilian clothes). It turned out he’d been with a cadet training team. That’s obviously a lie.

And we see this locally, too. During the heated debate over Calverley Square, it was claimed online that Hoopers (the department store) supported the project. Given Hoopers were part of the coalition which demanded a judicial review into the matter, that sounds like a lie.

However, Hoopers’ management had said they supported the idea in principle, but not the eventual plan. If you look at it from an angle and squint a bit, maybe you can argue the claim was true.

More recently, Tunbridge Wells Conservatives have repeatedly said they left TWBC with a surplus and not, as the coalition have claimed, a deficit. It’s kind of true, but it fails to mention the roughly £2million of grants they got in their final year.

“They very kindly invited me to exhibit in their colourful treasure trove of wonderful art, jewellery, ceramics and much more,” explains Lyn on the opening week of the show.

The exhibition, which is on until the end of the month, consists of nine paintings of

integrity.

This is something politicians need to understand. The public do not care whether something is technically a lie or technically true if the intent is to mislead. And if challenged, you’re left with the options of admitting your statement was misleading, doubling down (which entails definitely lying), or waffling until they go away. None of those are good options. Why put yourself in that position?

Tough

Fine, but for politicians the lesson of the last year or so is that sometimes lying wins votes. And – remember – politicians cannot usually do anything unless they get elected.

But I think beyond the moral imperative, politicians ought to display more integrity for their own sakes. If you say something which is untrue or at least misleading, someone usually spots it. Is it better or worse if they’re being deliberately deceptive or if they don’t understand the issue? Credibility is lost very quickly and takes a lot to regain.

TUNBRIDGE WELLS

Who’s old enough to recall Bill Clinton’s claim that his denial of having not had ‘sexual relations’ with Monica Lewinsky was legally correct? As a lawyer, he may have been correct, but I doubt he persuaded a single person of his

As voters, we want our elected officials to be honest with us. If things are going to be tough, we want politicians to give us the bad news, not pretend everything is fine.

I think honesty is the best course for selfpreservation as much as anything else. I know when I have got it wrong the results have always been worse than I would have faced for coming clean straight off.

James Rands is the independent councillor for Culverden.

‘Living in Paris until I was in my late teens definitely influenced my art’

Seeking a wartime story

I am currently writing a book about my great uncle, a New Zealand padre held prisoner of war during WWII, and have learned he was in contact with a Tunbridge Wells woman, the late Miss Mabel Knox King Howat. It appears they were in contact through the secret world of Military Intelligence and MI9 when he was a POW.

Although I am already in contact with Miss Howat’s closest relative in Surrey, I have yet to find someone who knew her personally in Tunbridge Wells to help unravel something about her secret life during the war. Her family knew little about her clandestine work. Mabel did two short broadcasts – with permission from Military Intelligence – on her war experiences on Radio Medway in summer 1974 and January 1975.

I know she was a lecturer at a secretarial college and the chairperson of the local National Women’s Council in the early 1970s. She spent her last 20 years in Tunbridge Wells and passed away in 1987. She was unmarried and lived with her older brother John (Jock) who died in 1993.

I live in New Zealand, so research has been challenging, especially over the Covid years!

Error of its ways

It seems that the 1922 Committee has finally seen the error of its ways and abandoned the very silly policy of allowing Conservative Party members to participate in the election of a prime minister. This, as recent events repeatedly showed, was and is nothing more than a beauty competition, an appeal to populism. The best people to elect a PM are MPs themselves.

On a separate matter, those calling for a general election, on the spurious notion that the current PM doesn’t have a mandate, do not have a clue about the British constitution. We elect members of parliament who (should) elect a PM, it is not a presidential election. We do not elect PMs, though recent elections have attempted to skew the process in that direction.

John Ward Moorhouse Tunbridge Wells

What does Calverley believe?

So Calverley believes that the BBC is institutionally biased and that Suella Braverman is doing a good job (Times, November 9). Does he also believe that climate heating is a hoax and that the earth is flat?

Martyn Thomas Tunbridge Wells

A truly remarkable journey

Following a haematuria in May this year, I was referred by my GP to Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust, and immediately (the next day) entered the NHS two-week cancer pathway.

Over the past five months, I have had numerous blood tests, CT scans, thorax HRCT scans, cystoscopy and colonoscopy. The speed and general organisation of these diagnostic tests has been remarkable, and the attention I

In addition, Mabel signed the Official Secrets Act, and adhered closely to its terms, thus keeping her wartime life largely hidden.

My hope is that someone who knew Mabel might still be alive, or have family members who remember her. She lived at 158 Broadmead, Tunbridge Wells, for about 20 years, until her death in 1987. Her brother Jock (John) Howat lived until 1993. Please contact: Diane Garside, dianewendygarside@gmail. com or +64 35396118 (New Zealand).

Diane Garside Nelson, New Zealand

Price of democracy

Cllr Matt Bailey highlights the potential £50k annual savings to be made by the Council moving to ‘all out’ elections (Times, November 9).

I should point out that in a previous life, Matt Bailey (elected as a Conservative) was an advocate of Calverley Square, a vanity project to spend over £100m of local taxpayers’ money on a new theatre and offices built partly on Calverley Grounds.

Why did this project not go ahead? Because the people of Tunbridge Wells used annual elections to register their displeasure, and to vote out the chief proponents of the scheme before a spade could hit the ground.

I am confident that it would have gone ahead under an uninterrupted four-year election cycle, and we would be in a real financial mess. Democracy, as they say, comes at a price.

Peter Lidstone

Lib Dem Councillor for St John’s

Footfall generates business

Have our elected powers considered the failure of shopping in Tunbridge Wells?

John Pearce (Times, November 9) makes some very good points, and it is time for the Council to wake up and take some positive action.

Calverley

Observations on life and more important things

QUEEN’S HEAD. Perched on a barstool at a local hostelry, Calverley found himself with a wad of tenners with which to pay for his round. The surprised barman (sorry, bar person) said: “I’ll have to check with the manager about these.” Why? “Because they have the Queen’s head on them and she’s dead.” Calverley had to order a large brandy. At least he knew the Monarch had died. Think positive.

have received from three separate departments at both hospitals has been amazing, particularly under the present circumstances following delays due to the Covid pandemic. I have received the very best and most courteous attention from consultant, radiologists and all NHS personnel at every level. Again, a truly remarkable journey.

Ken McGill Tunbridge Wells

PEPPY SAYS...

Tunbridge Wells Borough Council is considering the imposing parking charges in Hawkhurst. That same idea was proposed for Cranbrook, and the response from Cranbrook was a blunt refusal. Cranbrook, for its size, currently has a better footfall than that of Tunbridge wells and Cranbrook is a pleasure to visit. Parking is free and the shops are busy. Hawkhurst does not need the Tunbridge Wells ‘blight’ visited on this very excellent and busy village.

So, come on, TWBC, you need footfall which generates business, and busy shops mean the rates get paid. It is not rocket science.

Patrick Thomson Hawkhurst

BY PEPPY: ( Follow her on Twitter @Peppyscott)

DRIVING FORCE. MP and Government Minister Tom Tugendhat has been prosecuted for using his mobile while driving. He already has six points on his licence and could be banned. But that’s not the story. The real story is voters may never know the outcome because he appeared at a ‘private’ court where media and public are banned. It’s called the Single Justice Procedure, and is designed to ease court congestion. The MP has not received any preferential treatment. Calverley, though, believes that ‘justice must not only be done, but must also be seen to be done’.

CLIMATE COP OUT. The stand-out figure at the climate change conference in Egypt, at least for Calverley, is Justin Rowlatt. Sadly for all the wrong reasons. The BBC’s unshaven climate editor trundled round the gathering wearing no jacket, with rolled-up sleeves and jeans. Most other males sported suits and ties. No wonder he is not taken seriously. Calverley believes in freedom of expression in dress, but when you represent the national broadcaster surely some attempt at class is required… even at the BBC. Then again, it’s only public money.

CHANGING HISTORY. Just up the road from Tunbridge Wells is Chartwell, home of wartime Prime Minister Winston Churchill for 40 years until shortly before he died in 1965. Twenty years ago, the man who defeated Hitler and the Nazis and saved the world, was voted the Greatest Briton of all time. Today just one in five of those aged 18-24 view him in a positive light. Educational experts now suggest students are spoon-fed negative comments on Churchill’s apparent racism and his support for the British Empire. Ain’t hindsight a wonderful thing?

FINAL THOUGHT. Time to forget the clapping and banging of saucepans, and pay NHS staff what they are worth. And that’s far more than politicians.

Chin, chin dear reader…

CARTOON

Firm foundations for the future

to

property guide

Estate agents are securing buyers 15 days faster in 2022

Estate agents are securing a buyer in an average of 84.7 days in 2022, 14.7 days quicker than they were in 2021, research has found.

Estate agent comparison site GetAgent.co.uk tracked the average time to sell a home across the market in England and Wales based on the point at which a property is listed for sale and the point at which the seller accepts an offer.

The latest figures show that so far this year, it’s taking UK estate agents an average of 84.7 days between first listing a property for sale and accepting an offer. This is 14.7 days quicker than 2021, when it took an average of 99.4 days – a 15% reduction.

When it comes to the best agent performance with regard to the quickest time to find a buyer,

it’s the LA21 postcode in the Lake District that ranks top. Agents in LA21 are taking an average of 22 days to secure a buyer so far in 2022, the quickest across England and Wales by some margin.

Not far behind is Birmingham’s B4 postcode where it’s taking an average of 33.4 days to find a buyer, with Greater Manchester’s M31 postcode ranking third at an average of 37.1 days.

However, when it comes to the biggest reduction in the time taken to find a buyer in 2022, it’s the LL35 postcode at the tip of the Snowdonia National Park that comes out on top. In 2021, it took agents in the LL35 postcode an average of 306.8 days to secure a buyer. So far in 2022, this has dropped to 95.3 days, a reduction of 211.5 days in total.

Reduction

Further south, the Welsh postcode of SA47 has also seen a notable reduction, with the average time to find a buyer hitting 106.7 days so far in 2022, 210.8 days fewer than 2021.  COO of GetAgent.co.uk, Mal McCallion said: “Hats off to the nation’s estate agents, who have not only worked tirelessly throughout the

pandemic property market boom, but in the vast majority of postcodes they’ve managed to secure a buyer at a quicker pace in 2022 when compared to last year.

“It will be interesting to see just where we land come the end of the year, as the landscape has certainly become trickier over the past few weeks,” Mr McCallion continued.

“Last week’s hike in interest rates will undoubtedly drive a slowing of pace for the nation’s homebuyers, enabling the best estate agents to really show their quality.

“While we may see demand levels cool somewhat, there should remain adequate homebuyer interest for those agents who can perform at the very top of the local markets. Those working hardest will continue to attract the nation’s focused buyers and sellers.”

All you need

know about the current housing and commercial market in Tunbridge Wells and the wider area

‘It will be interesting to see just where we land come the end of the year, as the landscape has certainly become trickier over the past few weeks’

Sponsored by Handelsbanken Tunbridge Wells

Picture: Shutterstock

Wake up in a dream home in

Royal Tunbridge Wells this festive season.

TUNBRIDGE WELLS

Christmas has come early at the award-winning development,1887

The Pantiles in the historic Georgian Colonnade in Royal Tunbridge Wells.

House hunters who reserve one of the final three, two-bedroom Mews show homes in this sought-after development before the end of December will be treated to an incredible gift from housebuilder Dandara – they will receive all furniture and interior decorations included in the price of their new home. This incredible package is worth up to £40,000.

Louise Norman, Sales and Marketing Director for Dandara South East, said:

“These very special homes are ready to move into right away so buyers could be in their new homes in time for the festive celebrations! “They come with everything included in the price; all our buyers or tenants would need to bring is their toothbrush and suitcases. Each home has been given a completely different makeover by interior designers Abode and is as unique as the individual buyer.”

It would be hard not to fall for the Mews 9 show home. Priced at £550,000, it features a large, sunny open plan living space, perfect for entertaining, a kitchen and dining area, and a sleek kitchen with taupe coloured gloss and walnut units contrasting with white stone worktops.

A downstairs cloakroom and large terrace complete the ground floor. Upstairs the main bedroom has a large en-suite shower room, there is a generous second bedroom, perfect for hosting guests, and a beautifully designed contemporary family bathroom.

Also available with similar layouts, and incorporating dedicated spaces for homeworking, are Mews homes 10 and 11, priced at £545,000 and £535,000 respectively.

2 bedroom Mews homes. Viewing by appointment only.

From £535,000

Call: 01892 628 965

To discover

1887 The Pantiles and our other developments visit: dandara.com

“These homes are commanding rental incomes in the region of around £2,300 per month, representing an annual yield in excess of 5%. With the development almost sold out, it is the perfect time to purchase a home that will retain its timeless appeal for many years to come.”

At 1887 The Pantiles, residents benefit from a purpose-designed outdoor cultural space, where they can come together to enjoy events. Residents can also enjoy a range of top-class facilities including a resident’s reception.

As a vibrant cultural centre, The Pantiles is an ideal place to call home, hosting live Jazz and Soul nights as well as other social events throughout the year. Excellent transport links are available, with Tunbridge Wells station just a five-minute walk away offering frequent services to London.

All of the homes at 1887 The Pantiles are available to view and move into now. To find out more visit www.dandara.com or call 01892 628 965

JUST FEELS RIGHT

Louise added:

Finding a strategy for strategic land Luxury home comes with a

£40,000 moving allowance

THE final executive home available in a sought-after development is being sold with a £40,000 moving home contribution.

Elm House in the Hillside Park development in Linton, is being sold by Fernham Bespoke Homes.

This property sits on a 0.3-acre plot within a conservation area, and boasts a south-facing garden with extensive patio.

Split over two floors, this home is 2,668 sq ft with underfloor heating in all rooms, which includes a study, dining room, bright living room, open-plan kitchen/diner/family space and utility room.

Entertaining

The luxury specification also includes a working fireplace to the living room, while the kitchen features quartz worktops and integrated appliances – including a wine cooler – ideal for entertaining.

Elm House offers family living at its most flexible, with five bedrooms, two ensuites and a family bathroom. The master suite features a dressing area, fully-fitted with mirrored wardrobes and a large ensuite with double vanity unit.

Externally you will find the detached triple garage with electric garage doors, ample driveway parking and a landscaped front garden.

Designed to blend in with the local architecture, the exterior of this home is as impressive as the interiors, featuring distinctive ragstone sourced from local quarries and

OPEN PLAN

The Elm House kitchen-dining space

A PROPERTY consultant has provided advice to landowners looking to take advantage of ‘strategic land’.

Stephen Donnelly from SJD says more and more property developers are looking to invest in strategic land with long-term potential for residential or mixed-use development.

“Strategic land is defined as agricultural or amenity land that may have future development potential in the next 5 –to 20 years,” he said.

In the UK, housebuilding is falling short of demand and the government has pledged to deliver 200,000 new homes a year until 2020.

Developments

“Land located on the edge of a town or village is ideal for residential and mixed-use developments if it can be shown that the site is sustainable and meets the housing demand without conflicting with local plan policies,” continued Mr Donnelly.

“Property developers are looking for opportunities in excess of ten acres, such as farms, large estates and industrial sites to help overcome this current crisis. Selling your land to a property developer is not only financially rewarding, it also makes the process of selling your land or property low-risk and hassle-free.

“At SJD we offer a bespoke service for both landowners and developers, optimizing the returns for both parties. With over 30 years’ experience, we guide clients through everything from finding, selling or developing a single plot through to major, mixed-use regeneration projects across the UK.

installed by skilled stonemasons to fit seamlessly with its surroundings.

Elm House is on the market for £1,350,000

For more information about Elm House and other properties from Fernham Bespoke Homes, visit their website at: fernham-homes.co.uk

“Selling your land or property with SJD can be more financially rewarding and time-efficient than traditional methods, as our services are tailored to your individual needs. We guarantee confidentiality and client satisfaction.”

For more information, contact Mr Donnelly at: steve@sjd-projects.com

Mortgages

Wells Our lending facilities are only available to persons aged 18 or over and are subject to status. Written quotations and Terms and Conditions are available on request. Handelsbanken is the trading name of Handelsbanken plc, which is incorporated in England and Wales with company number 11305395. Registered office: 3 Thomas More Square, London, E1W 1WY, UK. Handelsbanken plc is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority. Financial Services Register number 806852. Handelsbanken plc is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Svenska Handelsbanken AB (publ).

‘Elm House offers family living at its most flexible, with five bedrooms, two ensuites and a family bathroom’

HELLO, are YOU…

Sponsored by Handelsbanken Tunbridge Wells

Education feature In association with winkworth.co.uk

association with sjmplanning.com

Halifax sees 0.4 per cent fall in UK housing prices

HOUSE PRICES in October recorded the biggest monthly fall since early 2021, according to an index.

The average property value fell by 0.4%, marking the third month-on-month drop seen in the past four months, Halifax said.

The latest month-on-month decrease follows monthly falls of 0.1% in both July and September and a 0.3% increase in August.

Annual house price growth slowed to 8.3% in October, from 9.8% growth recorded in September.

Across the UK, the average house price in October was £292,598, which was the lowest figure since May this year, although typical prices remained near record highs, Halifax said.

Slowdown

Annual price growth among homemovers fell to 8.9% in October, from 10.3% in September.

The price growth slowdown for first-time buyers was more notable, Halifax said, slowing from 10.1% in September to 7.5% in October.

Given the greater challenges for first-time buyers in deposit-raising, plus tighter requirements for higher loan-to-value mortgages, the faster slowdown in prices is not surprising, Halifax said.

Kim Kinnaird, director of Halifax Mortgages, said: “The drop of 0.4% is the sharpest we have seen since February 2021, taking the typical property price to a five-month low of £292,598.

“Though the recent period of rapid house price inflation may now be at an end, it’s important to keep this in context, with average property prices rising more than £22,000 in the past 12 months, and by almost

Insulating social homes could cut heating bills by up to 42

per cent

SOCIAL housing residents could see their heating bills slashed by 42% if their homes were insulated and draught-proofed, saving £700 million a year in total, research suggests.

A family in social housing with an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) of D or below spends on average £1,343 a year on heating, based on the current energy price guarantee, the National Housing Federation said.

It predicts this would reduce by 42% to £776 a year if these homes were insulated and brought up to an EPC of C or above.

Calculation

This equates to more than £700 million a year in savings for all such residents in England, it said.

The calculation is based on analysis of heating cost figures from the English Housing Survey and EPC data published by the Government.

The National Housing Federation said poorly insulated homes are one of the country’s ‘biggest environmental polluters’ and have become a “major culprit” in the cost-of-living crisis.

Three-quarters of social housing residents rely on benefits and a large number of families are at risk of falling into poverty or debt because of increased energy costs, it added.

The National Housing Federation is calling on the Government to release the full £3.8 billion pledged by the Conservatives by 2030 to decarbonise social housing, of which about £1 billion has been committed.

It says this would enable social landlords to plan ahead for large-scale retrofitting.

£60,000 (25.7%) over the last three years, which is significant.

“While a post-pandemic slowdown was expected, there’s no doubt the housing market received a significant shock as a result of the mini-budget, which saw a sudden acceleration in mortgage rate increases.

“While it is likely that those rates have peaked for now – following the reversal of previously announced fiscal measures – it appears that recent events have encouraged those with existing mortgages to look at their options, and some would-be homebuyers to take a pause.

“Understandably we have also seen consumer caution grow as industry data shows mortgage approvals and demand for borrowing declining.

“The rising cost of living coupled with already stretched mortgage affordability is expected to continue to weigh on activity levels.

“With tax rises and spending cuts expected in the autumn statement, economic headwinds point to a much slower period for house prices.

“While certain longer-term, structural market

factors which support higher house prices – like the shortage of available properties for sale –are likely to remain, how significantly prices might ultimately adjust will also be determined by the performance of the labour market.

“Currently, joblessness remains historically low, but with growing expectations of the UK entering a recession, unemployment is expected to rise.

“While it may not spike to the same extent as seen in previous downturns, history tells us that how this picture develops in the coming months will be a key determinant of house price  performance into next year and beyond.”

Last week, the Bank of England increased the base rate to 3%, from 2.25% previously.

This was the latest in a string of base rate increases, meaning that since December last year the average monthly tracker mortgage payment will have increased by £284.17 in total, according to figures from trade association UK Finance.

Extending in Green Belt is possible say planners

HOWEOWNERS living in Green Belt areas can obtain planning permission, despite National Planning Policy Framework restrictions.

Recently SJM Planning obtained planning permission for a two-storey rear extension, despite the property already having already been extended.

The property was located within the Green Belt, where extensions are restricted in size due to policy requirements within the National Planning Policy Framework 2021.

When assessing this type of proposal, the Local Planning Authority are required to assess whether the existing property has already been extended to ensure that overall, the extensions are proportionate. If it is determined that the proposal is contrary to policies within the NPPF, very special circumstances will need to exist in order to outweigh the harm to the Green Belt.

Impact

In this case, (through the submission of a Lawful Development Certificate application and an application for prior approval) SJM Planning were able to demonstrate that the property could be substantially extended through permitted development.

Planning permission was subsequently obtained for an extension marginally smaller and with a reduced impact upon the neighbouring property.

As a result, SJM Planning successfully demonstrated that the clients preferred design was acceptable in Green Belt and character terms on the basis of the Permitted Development fallback position.

Morwenna McKay, Director of Planning at SJM, said: “If you are looking to extend your home, SJM Planning have the skills and expertise to guide you through this process and help you to achieve the extension you deserve.

“Our sister companies SJM Surveys and SJM Design can provide a measured building survey and prepare detailed drawings for planning and building control.”

Estate agent provides buy-to-let property tips

DESPITE the recent events which have caused some unease in the property and mortgage markets, property price growth is strong over time and high rental yields are still achievable, a local estate agent has said.

Kings Estates says the UK has over 13 million renters, occupying 4.4 million dwellings.

Demand

With 20 per cent of the population now renting and demand on the rise, rents will continue to

increase, so we have provided some handy tips to make a buy-to-let property work harder for you:

• If you have equity in your property, you may want to re-mortgage and withdraw the extra cash tax-free. You only pay capital gains tax if you sell the property. You could use the extra cash to refurbish the property to maximise the rent or invest in another property

• Make sure you have the right insurance in place. Take out cover against loss of rental income, damage and legal costs

• Understand and claim all costs allowable to

reduce your tax liability – speak to your accountant

• If you have three or more properties, consider a company structure to boost tax efficiency

• Work with a great, knowledgeable letting agent who has your best interests at heart

• Think long term – 15 years plus, or even your retirement plan. Don’t forget Inheritance Tax either. Get advice.

• Try not to get emotionally attached to your investment

More information from: kings-estates.co.uk

arts

“Me and My Girl is one of the best musicals ever written”

Tunbridge Wells Operatic & Dramatic Society’s production of ‘Me and My Girl’ runs until November 19. The show’s director David Fawcett tells Eileen Leahy why this particular version of the classic musical, which has been modernised by actor Stephen Fry, is such a relevant and joyful watch…

Me and My Girl is what could be termed a ‘traditional’ musical with a twist. It was originally written in the 1930s by L Arthur Rose and Douglas Furber – with music by Noel Gay –and then rewritten and modernised by Stephen Fry in 1984.

However I believe the show still keeps its 1930s feel, despite having some 21st century humour laced through it. This particular version of the rags-toriches tale has the glamour of Hollywood, mixed with the comedy of US sitcom ‘Friends’.

Talent

When casting for ‘Me and My Girl’ I am sure most directors have in their mind the performance of Robert Lindsay, who played the Bill Snibson in the successful West End run some years ago.

Well the good news is Tunbridge Wells Operatic & Dramatic Society (TWODS) is very lucky to have similar talent in the Society, including Mike Knell who we cast as Snibson. His character’s girlfriend, Sally Smith, is being played by a brilliant singer and dancer, Brooke Wells – the pair have great chemistry between them. The other principal roles are being played by experienced members of TWODS, giving me a strong cast to work with. We also have 88-year-old Colin Moore, a bastion of TWODS who is appearing in his swansong show, as

Sir Jasper, an elderly, very deaf aristocrat. No typecasting there!

The show follows the tale of Bill Snibson who discovers he is the true heir to the Earl of Hareford. His newly-acquired aristocratic relations try to educate him in the ways of the gentry and separate him from his beloved Lambeth girl, Sally. The result is comical mayhem between a host of hilarious characters, with toe-tapping songs including ‘The Sun Has Got His Hat On’, ‘Doing the Lambeth Walk’, and of course ‘Me and My Girl’.

Rehearsals have gone well but it’s fair to say they’ve often been frenetic! This is due to the time constraints of getting big production numbers up to scratch. Most of this I left to my brilliant choreographer, Bertie Witt, who has done a wonderful job which audiences will really enjoy.

Another element I think visitors to the show will like is that TWODS member of 10 years, Lynn White will be playing the part of The Duchess in the show.

‘It is so fantastic to have the opportunity to recreate such a massive hit from the West End and Broadway, which is a multiple Olivier and Tony award winner’

She is dedicating her performance to her late Aunt – Evelyn Eacott – who played the lead role of Sally in the professional touring production of ‘Me and My Girl’ in 1948. Lynn’s mother Joy Eacott was also in the show and the two featured in publicity material (see picture, right). The swimsuits were made from butchers’ apron fabric, as it was one of the few materials which wasn’t rationed at that time!

It is so fantastic to have the opportunity to recreate such a massive hit from the West End and Broadway, which is a multiple Olivier and Tony award winner and one of the best feel-good

musicals ever written. There are lots for the ensemble and dancers to get their teeth into –including the challenge of putting a full-scale musical on in effectively less than 50 hours! We hope you come along to see it – and enjoy Me and My Girl!

HOW TO JOIN TWODS

You can get in touch via an online form, and they will call or email you back with details of TWODS’ next New Members’ Welcome Workshop. You need to come along to a workshop and you need to join the Society before you can audition for the show. We’re an

all-inclusive society, so we welcome people with many different creative and organisational talents – not just those on the stage!

TWODS’ performance of ‘Me and My Girl’ takes place from November 15-19 at the Assembly Hall theatre. Tickets start from £25. There will be additional matinee performances at 2.30pm on 16 and 19 November. Bucket collections will take place after each performance to raise funds for The Pickering Cancer Drop-In Centre in Tunbridge Wells.

To book, visit twods.org/book-now or call 01892 530613.

to

of course Me and My Girl’

Pass the port – the perfect winter warmer that’s not just for Christmas

With the onset of winter – and the festive season fast approaching – Times Drinks Editor James Viner says it’s time to pass the port. Here are six of his favourite fortified wines from Portugal’s sun-baked north-eastern Douro region...

All port is fortified to an alcoholic strength between 19–22% abv. The vast majority of ports, even vintage ones, are complex blends of diverse grape varieties grown in various sites, although five principal small-berried, thick-skinned black grape varieties dominate premium port production and seem especially well-adjusted to weather the Douro’s scorching heat, penetrating sun, and droughts.

From a value-for-money unfiltered Sandeman LBV (late bottled vintage) to a 40-year-old tawny sourced by Aldi, here’s a pre-Christmas tour of six exquisite and flavoursome ports to whet the appetite and warm you up this winter. Try these…

1) Like-a-million-dollars unfiltered and rich, late bottled vintage port

Sandeman traditional late bottled vintage (LBV) 2016 (£15.99, but save 25% off 6+ bottles until 15/11/2022, Waitrose, Alc 20.5%)

Red and black-fruited LBV ports are vintage wines (ie from a single year) that have been aged around four to six years in old oak vessels.

Unlike most other LBVs (and similar in this respect to vintage port), this top-tier example is unfiltered, making it one for your busy decanter – you don’t want a muddy glassful.

With crowd-pleasing, luscious, bright red/dark forest fruits, cocoa, spice and a little dark chocolate, you get a lot of bang for your buck with Sandeman’s superior, full-bodied, inky LBV. You can spend three times this price and not end up with a wine as complete and rewarding as this one. A thoroughbred port from a classic year at a giveaway price. It’s tailormade for Stilton and Stichelton and spot-on too for steak au poivre, roast beef, game dishes and chocolate desserts.

2) Captivating ‘crusted’ port that’s perfect for blue cheese

The Society's Exhibition Crusted NV Port, Bottled 2013 (£17.50, The Wine Society, Alc 20%)

Non-vintage ‘crusted’ ports are blended wines (in this case fine young Ports from the 2009, 2010 and, universally declared, 2011 vintages) that are aged in wood for up to two years before being bottled without fining or filtration. During this period, they will throw a deposit (the ‘crust’), so you’ll want to decant this one. This dark fruit, spiced fruitcake and plum-scented port is a marvel with salty Colston Bassett Stilton and mature farmhouse Cheddar. Ready to drink now but will continue to develop in bottle. Serve cool, 12-16ºC. Once opened, drink within five days.

3) A majestic, supple, soft and black-fruited port that’s a tremendous treat

Croft Quinta da Roêda 2004 (£18.99-£21.99, Majestic mix 6 and Whisky Exchange, Alc 20.5%)

This is an extraordinarily good value, earlier-maturing version of vintage port from the important beautiful wine farm (just north of Pinhão) responsible for Croft’s ports. Drinking it feels like diving into a deep pool of plums, raspberries, liquorice, raisins, dark chocolate, spice, rocks and mulberries. Serve around 15-16ºC (i.e., not too warm) and decant, checking for sediment in the last dregs, and consume within 48 hours. Lovely drinking!

4) Vibrant Vintage Port

Tesco Finest Vintage Port 2003 (£20, Tesco, Alc 20%)

For most producers ‘vintage’ port, a blend of the finest wines from the best vineyards from one ‘declared’ vintage, is their flagship wine, usually the most sought-after and also the most expensive. It’s made only in exceptional years (around three times a decade). This is a gorgeous, dark chocolate dried fruit and plum-laden example from renowned Symington

Family Estates, the biggest landowner in the Douro Valley. It was aged just two years in large old casks before extensive bottle ageing and delivers stunning complexity for the price. One for the decanter – but drink within two days of opening. Bring on the Stilton and Gorgonzola! Purchase now for Christmas as Tesco’s stocks won’t last much longer I suspect!

5) Captivating dated tawny port (‘Colheita’) from the oldest port wine house

Kopke Colheita 1999 Tawny Port (£32.99, Waitrose, but save 25% off 6+ bottles until 15/11/2022, Alc 20%)

Costing less than bottle-aged vintage ports, colheitas are single vintage tawnies aged in small casks for a minimum of seven years with a wide array of colours ranging from golden red to tawny, depending on their age. This 1999 offering from Kopke, the oldest port house (established 1638), is tangy and sublime. Think nuts, caramel, red fruits, Christmas spices, mocha and mixed peel. Serve around 14-16ºC. No need to decant.

6) Venerable, oxidatively aged, premium tawny port

Fletcher’s 40-Year-Old Tawny NV Port, Barão de Vilar (£39.99, Aldi, Alc 20%)

For value, it’s hard to look past the remarkable Fletcher’s 40-Year-Old tawny port produced for Aldi by Barão de Vilar. Nutmeg, coffee, walnut, dried fruit, demerara sugar, orange peel, chocolate, caramel and aged honey flavours all come together in this aged tawny port. I could well imagine it at the end of a meal with salted almonds and crème brûlée – or perhaps just enjoying the naked sip, as an after-dinner experience all of its own. Well worth the price –most tawnies this age are over £100 a bottle!

Country estate’s Garden Cottages open to boost town’s holiday accommodation

By Robert Forrester

Acountry estate in Tunbridge Wells has created four new holiday cottages that will boost the amount of holiday accommodation in the town.

Salomons Estate in Broomhill Road, Southborough, is to welcome guests to four newly refurbished ‘Garden Cottages’ available for holidays, business trips and short- and long-term lets.

CHRISTMAS lights season is upon us, as local businesses and organisations present the jewels of Yule.

At the head of the parade is the Royal Tunbridge Wells Together Business Improvement District (BID), an organisation funded by all the companies in the town centre, which has extended its Christmas lights locations this year.

The four holiday homes are each named after a species of plant that once grew in the gardens when the science author, barrister, and pioneer of road transport, David Salomons owned the estate. The cottages are ideal for couples and small families, and are dog-friendly too.

the Mayor of Tunbridge Wells will switch on the Chapel Place Christmas lights at 4pm.

5-8pm (The Pantiles) The Pantiles Big Reveal is organised by The Zero Waste Company and sponsored by RTW Together.

8-9:30pm (The Pantiles) Time for Party on The Pantiles, with live music from Miss Holiday Swing, appearances from Elf, gingerbread characters and stars from the ‘Jack in the Beanstalk’ panto. KMFM joins in.

From

Rustic

Supplying and funding the town centre Christmas lights since 2020, RTW Together will co-fund lights in The Pantiles this year for the first time, match-funding the cost of the scheme with landlords Target Follow.

Seasonal

Peony, Lavender, and Rose cottage all sleep two guests and cost from £219 per night, while Honeysuckle Cottage, the largest of the four buildings, sleeps up to four guests and is priced from £369 per night.

The seasonal set-up in town has already begun, with an RTW Together-funded Christmas tree in Chapel Place, but the main event is on Saturday November 19, at different locations from 2pm to 9:30pm:

2-4:30pm (Chapel Place) Carols by the choir of King Charles the Martyr, with free food and drink from Arte Biance, Goupie chocolates and Larratt & Co Butchers.

The lights will be officially switched on at 8:30pm.

The rest of the town centre lights will switch on that night, with additional new areas in Castle Street, trees in Calverley Road and precinct, and the frontage of Royal Victoria Place shopping centre.

Each holiday let includes a fully-equipped shaker-style kitchen, a lounge/dining area with TV, a double bedroom and an ensuite bathroom all boasting rustic and earthy elements reminiscent of their past, when they were used as potting sheds in the 19th century.

KMFM takes over the music from 3:30pm, and

Elsewhere on the High Street, jewellers G Collins and Sons have already added the lustre of real gold and genuine jewel tones to their annual Christmas display.

Parks, gardens and stately homes across the area also get into the spirit of the season with Christmas illuminations, hot food and drink, traditional music and seasonal cheer.

While modern luxuries provide everything you need for a relaxing stay, the design of each unit retains the simple, traditional

The Borough Council’s big outdoor seasonal event, SKATE, turns Calverley Grounds into a

Delights

Over a million lights illuminate the evergreens of Bedgbury Pinetum after dark in the Christmas trail on November 18-January 2. Timed tickets from christmasatbedgebury.seetickets.

com

At Hever Castle, Father Christmas tickets have already sold out, but with both Daytime and Twilight tickets available, there are plenty of ways to see in the season – in front of a fire in the Castle, in the fairground,

Seasonal delights await at Bewl Water

Wonderland, where the Magical Elf Trail is free throughout December. Or have Breakfast with Santa on December 17-18 and 23-24 (tickets £15 from info@bewlwater.co.uk, including 60-minute soft play session and Christmas gift).

Penshurst Place presents a panto-style adventure for 0-12 year-olds on December 3-22, ‘The Machine That Goes Wrong’. Tickets from: penshurstplace.com/whats-on/events-andactivities/2022-12/

‘The Polar Express’ story experience is the Spa Valley Railway’s Christmas event, running November 18-December 23.

Look out for the Times’ Christmas special issue next week (November 23).

FLARE The Tunbridge Wells Christmas lights will illuminate the town from November 19

Winter Wonderland night and day, with two rinks surrounded by festive stalls, November 18-January 2. Tickets are available from: assemblyhalltheatre.co.uk/skate-tunbridgewells

under the lights or with Siberian huskies and owls.

November 19 to January 2, tickets from: hevercastle.co.uk/whats-on/hever-castlechristmas, for both the Castle and Gardens.

12 Noon - 2.00pm 3 courses, coffee & mince pies £80pp

2.45pm - 5.00pm Welcome drink, 4 courses, coffee & petit fours £95pp

Spend Christmas Day with us and enjoy a seasonal feast at one of our two special sittings taking place at midday and 2:45pm. Let us take care of you (and the washing up) on December 25th

STARTERS

Scallop ceviche with pickled golden beetroot, apple & sorrel gel (GF) (DF)

Terrine of ham hock, celeriac apple slaw, pickled vegetables (GF) (DF)

Lightly spiced parsnip soup, sourdough croutons, parsnip crisps (GF on request)

MAINS

Roasted free range turkey, sage and onion stuffing, smoked bacon wrapped chipolata, seasonal vegetables, roast potatoes, turkey jus (GF)

Sweet potato, chard, goats’ cheese and pine nut loaf, garlic and herb stuffed mushroom, wilted greens with a butternut and caraway purée (V)

DESSERTS

Selection of cheeses with farmhouse chutney, celery, grapes and artisan biscuits (GF on request)

Christmas pudding with brandy butter and vanilla cream sauce

Dark chocolate marquise, orange marscapone, lemon verbena shortbread

Writer creates room for books in St John’s pop-up

ASt Johns-based writer is testing the town’s appetite for an independent bookshop, with the launch of a ‘curated’ pop-up inside another local business in the run-up to Christmas.

Drawing on writing contacts, non-fiction writer and novelist Anna Wharton has put together what will be a constantly-refreshing collection of recent releases and classics in each genre –all books beloved by her fellow ‘curators’.

“These are the books we long to press into other people’s hands,” she said. “There’s not a single book in the shop that has not been picked by a writer.

“We writers are the ones who are reading all the time, and swapping books.

“The central premise of The Book Room is that it is a bookshop that has been put together by writers for readers, and it is these ‘Writers Recommend’ curations that are proving so popular.”

She added: “I’m just hoping people will try a different genre – maybe we can provide an entry point to that genre.”

Poet Sarah Salway handles the ‘list’ for short stories, while music journalist Ian Winwood draws on music writing, Mark Hamer curates nature writing, and Karen Angelico oversees the relationships and intimacy genre.

Jennifer Saint has drawn up the list of books on Greek myths, and Debora Robertson is in charge of the cookery books.

With so many different genres each backed by a writer, Anna hopes the business will draw in just as many different types of readers, from book groups buying multiple copies to school workshops and Young Adult book clubs.

Pointing to her new temporary location, inside florists The Bloom Foundry in St John’s Road, Anna said: “We’ve got so many kids passing.

We’d really like to get the kids in.”

Meanwhile, The Bloom Foundry’s customers will still be coming in to the store, especially once Christmas wreath workshops start on November 24.

Meanwhile, because the pop-up is shares space, there will be constant turnover as new books are released, but The Book Room can order anything, and offers free delivery within the TN4 postcode.

The two-month pop-up plan for The Book

Room is to gain market information and build relationships with customers.

“I would love a permanent base,” Anna said. “I’m testing to see whether people have the appetite for a local independent bookshop.”

The Book Room will be at The Bloom Foundry, 55 St John’s Road, until at least Christmas Eve, and offers free delivery within the TN4 postcode. Keep up with the curators and the book collections on their YouTube channel at tinyurl. com/54rn35u4 or find them on Instagram @thebookroom.shop

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‘The central premise of The Book Room is that it is a bookshop that has been put together by writers for readers, and it is these ‘Writers Recommend’ curations that are proving so popular’

ANNA WHARTON

POP-UP BOOKS The Book Room displays at The Bloom Foundry

Through a fish-eye lens

WITH the start of the predator fishing season, the @BewlWater inbox is bulging with a fine catch of entries for the ‘Best of Bewl’ photography competition.

The annual competition, which opened for entries last month, is aimed at everyone using Bewl Water’s 800-acre site, from woodland to water.

which has really been inspiring photographers this week.

Sean Holden

Tunbridge Wells Conservatives

Both experienced anglers and those new to fishing have been taking advantage of the ideal autumn conditions as the weather gets cooler to capture the moment.

As the largest reservoir in the South East, the waters are home to many species including eels, pike, perch, and brown trout which attract over

Bits have started falling off the puny coalition of chaos already

Until December 20, entries may be submitted via social media (@Bewlwater) where the winner will be announced at the end of the season and receive an annual parking pass worth over £300.

‘THINGS fall apart; the centre cannot hold’. The great Irish poet, W B Yeats’ premonition of disintegration had grander themes than the puny ‘coalition of chaos’ trying to run Tunbridge Wells’ council, but the words fit.

Inspiring

The competition is part of the reservoir’s commitment to inspiring more people to get out in natural surroundings and enjoy the great outdoors.

Bits started falling off the coalition jalopy when it chugged into its first major policy disaster – the unconsulted plan to raise car park charges by 25-75 per cent. A hasty, retrospective consultation ended on September 5 and is being assessed.

New self-guided walking trails have been introduced, along with 50% off cycle hire. However, it seems to have been the new season of predator fishing, which started on October 30,

But already, the coalition’s centre is not holding as the Liberal Democrat Leader Ben Chapelard grapples with the hotchpotch of his own party, Labour, a smattering of independents and the Tunbridge Wells Alliance (TWA). It took power only in May, though it seems like years ago.

activists, of various political hues, have the improbable air of doing this council thing for a bet. Its leader David Hayward, a cabinet member, made it clear to Cllr Chapelard, writing in ‘titular leader’– a leader in name only, who ‘definitely has no say or control over anything to do with the Alliance’. Nonetheless, Cllr Hayward lined up behind the Lib Dems, voting for parking increases.

remembered its election promise to keep free

3,500 fishermen each year.

There are 54 boats available to hire on the reservoir, which must be booked in advance.

This includes one accessible boat, to ensure greater participation in sport and access to nature, explained business director Andrew Daniells.

Conservation

“We want everyone to be able to enjoy fishing.”

parking. The Lib Dems suddenly remembered their PR stunt of staging cabinet meetings across the borough was meant – said Cllr Chapelard – to ‘show our face and that we are listening to all parts of the Borough’. Cabinet Member Justine Rutland admitted to the council’s scrutiny committee that not listening to any residents was a ‘terrible and regrettable oversight’ though apparently not regrettable enough for any formal apology.

The hastily concocted, biased consultation finished this week, but still there’s no assurance the coalition will listen to the thousands of voices already raised, or even to the (probably far fewer) raised in the consultation should they also reject price rises.

Those looking to fish at the site can enjoy any method when exploring the 770 acres of water. However, from the bank anglers can only fly-fish.

And the management ask that all fish to be returned to the reservoir alive with an exception for rainbow trout, as part of Bewl Water’s

In truth, the coalition fears a paper tiger they

commitment to conservation.

“This rule has been put in place to protect the several species that inhabit the reservoir here at Bewl Water,” said Mr Daniells.

pandemic. But they were clearly recovering so it was necessary to see where they would go before deciding on further action. In Tunbridge Wells, vacant shops were being filled, benefiting from the Amelia Scott’s 100,000 visitors since it opened in April. There is growing income from business rates and the Conservative scheme to rent spare Town Hall space to businesses.

Bewl Water has even set aside an area of the reservoir as a nature reserve, which is completely off-limits to fishermen and other water sports users.

Coalition claims that Conservatives reinforced the budget from the council’s healthy £32 million savings during the pandemic are not true. Council borrowing was nil.

The many quiet inlets of the irregularly-shaped nature reserve, on the southern side of the reservoir, offer space for species conservation and the peace for diverse ecosystems to develop in peace.

The coalition’s planned parking fees rise potentially harms recovery, jobs and businesses who say they’ll lose footfall.

“Establishing these areas remains one of the most effective efforts for protecting our endangered species and their natural environment,” said Mr Daniells.

Of course, now Putin’s war and the related inflation have upended things. Maybe they’d like to, but the coalition can’t blame Conservatives for that. Go Ukraine!

Whether we’re ready or not, Christmas will soon be upon us. I think I noticed the first mince pies in the shops way back in September and now the John Lewis advert is out – all this means it’s happening!

It also means that the Gorringe’s Christmas fine sale is also on the horizon, with entries closing next week (November 23) for the sale, which takes place on December 13 this year.

Variety

One of the things I love about our quarterly fine sales is the huge variety of pieces they contain, from fine art and sculpture to objects of antiquity, Asian art, wine and whisky, watches and jewellery – there really is something for every taste.

We always handle such a wonderful variety of pieces in our annual sale, that this moment always serves as a touchstone for us, as we see how different market sectors performed last December, and recall the echoes of many years into the past.

First we remember two carved oak misericord panel fragments (decorative panels from church

seating) dating from the 15th/16th century, the largest carved as a beast with a man’s head and eagle body, with wings and a serpent tail and neck. The second is carved with a woman attempting to remove a man’s shoe. These unusual but gorgeously characterful pieces are rare survivors, and they fetched over £5,000 (plus fees) in our Christmas 2021 sale.

If marble is more to your taste, you might have liked this piece after Danish sculptor Bertel Thorvaldsen (1770-1844), a Grand Tour white marble carving of Mercury about to kill Argus. At just 87cm high, this work of concentrated proportions and superlative quality sold for a hammer price of £8,500 (plus fees). Regular readers may recall my previous reporting on a fine large Chinese moulded celadon-glazed bowl, with Qianlong seal mark

from the period (1736-95) which we sold for an impressive £160,000 (plus fees). Such an outcome illustrates the acute buoyancy of the market for Chinese works of art, especially fine porcelain.

Brown furniture struggles in today’s market – doesn’t it? Well, not always. This chest of drawers – a George III Chippendale-style mahogany serpentine commode, with moulded top and four graduated long drawers flanked by canted angles capped with scrolls and serpentine sides, on carved bracket feet – rather outperformed expectations when it went on to sell for £19,000 (plus fees).

The variety of fine art offered in our quarterly fine sales spans centuries and every conceivable artistic style. One choice lot from our last Christmas fine sale is this Julian Trevelyan (19101988) ‘Tower Bridge’, oil on canvas, which sold for £5,500 (plus fees).

My choice to represent the silver offered in our last Christmas sale is this good Victorian silver tankard, by John Samuel Hunt (Hunt & Roskell, late Storr & Mortimer). An unusual piece, embellished by its original pleasingly snug-fitting tooled leather case, it sold for £1,950 (plus fees).

Gorgeous

Finally, it is always a difficult task to choose a piece of jewellery from the annual sale, and it was particularly tricky last December as we welcomed in so many gorgeous pieces. I settled, however, on a Victorian gold, three-colour enamel, diamond, ruby-and-pearl set drop pendant (c. 1870) by Carlo Giuliano, which sold for £11,000 (plus fees).

We are still welcoming consignments into our 2022 fine sale, taking place this year on December 13 – with entries closing on November 23.

If you have anything you would like to consider consigning today, please get in touch – I would love to hear from you.

Email me at: josepht@gorrringes.co.uk or call directly at 07789979396.

Christmas Menus

JOSEPH TRINDER

MISERICORD FRAGMENTS

SILVER TANKARD

The human touch

Tunbridge Wells Care Agency is just what the doctor ordered

A local GP has been able to continue looking after her own children and patients even though her mother has dementia and her father’s health is declining, thanks to the peace of mind provided by an independent Tunbridge Wells home care company that they are safe in their own home.

TerraBlu Home Care, who support clients in Tunbridge Wells and Tonbridge, were recommended to her by a friend when it became clear her parents needed some support a couple of years ago.

Initially TerraBlu made a few home visits a week to the elderly couple, but increased their support package to daily visits when the husband’s health deteriorated this summer, as well as calling in another local, family run agency that provide line-in care.

“I cannot fault the service we have received

from TerraBlu; they are very organised, and all the team are excellent,” comments the GP. “My parents have really liked all the carers that have visited or stayed the night, and enjoyed the company too, not just the help. They really have been a godsend.”

Her father is a keen artist. “His paintings of sailing ships are outstanding. Our support means he can stay in his own home and continue to enjoy these amazing paintings around the house,” says Emma Foard, Operations Manager.

“His wife loves nothing but a chat with our support workers. Her dementia is helped by having familiar items around her and being able to see her lovely garden and speak to her caring neighbours when they pop in,” adds Netta Sceal, Deputy Care Manager.

“My sister and I were helping on days when we

could, but after this summer their care needs changed, and I had to become more involved. In the past month, my dad needed additional care after a couple of falls and to help him remain at home we again extended the care plan,” explains their daughter.

“We’re happy to pass the baton on when our clients’ needs change and bring in other agencies – it’s about doing what’s right for them,” agrees Netta.

“With the vital support of our agency and the live-in carers, this hard-working GP can finally be a ‘daughter’ and visit her parents to spend quality time with them!

Having peace of mind that her parents are safe, well and still living in their own home is paramount to her and her family,” highlights Richard Gould, Managing Director at TerraBlu.

My career change from office worker to carer is the best move I made

CHANGING career was the fresh start that Carol needed after she found herself redundant during the recent Covid-19 pandemic.

Before the lockdown restrictions, she had been working for TerraBlu Home Care, a domiciliary care provider covering Tunbridge Wells and Tonbridge, on an ad-hoc basis to earn extra money, but they would ultimately be the answer to her financial and career worries.

Carol had worked all her adult life in offices ranging from big organisations to small 2 or 3 person businesses, in both secretarial and administrative roles. About 5 years ago, she needed some extra money, and so approached TerraBlu Home Care for flexible weekend work to help make ends meet.

“I was working in an office four days a week with an elderly dog at home whose vet’s bills and dog minder costs were increasing. I started working one or two days a week with TerraBlu, and sometimes extra when I needed a bit more money – I loved how flexible

they were,” explains Carol.

During lockdown, Carol’s main office role changed and then her branch was closed, making her redundant. Luckily, her connection with TerraBlu meant she could increase her hours as a carer.

“I came back to TerraBlu and asked if I could have some more hours and they were really welcoming. I now work full time and it is by far the most rewarding job I have ever done,” says Carol.

“Working at TerraBlu was where I found my love for working in the care industry; I loved the people and how the company was run,” she adds. “You can tell Richard Gould, the Managing Director, really invests in the staff and all my colleagues are great fun to work with. I don’t know why I didn’t go into the care industry 40 years ago!”

Changing career for some of us seems a bold move and not always a simple one, but fortunately for Carol working in the care sector has ignited her passion for work again – as well as giving her financial security

A month of

caring

We’ve been mostly… Keeping staff training to the highest level

HOME carers offer a variety of services, including some that many people are not aware of. To ensure that our staff are trained in medical techniques, they are given training to keep up with CQC standards of care. This month we have staff training in diabetes care, using insulin pens and testing blood sugar levels; dementia training, to support and engage those living with dementia; and stoma and catheter use, which is essential for some of our clients, who always receive care with dignity and respect.

We’re looking forward to… Our recruitment process being inclusive and accessible to all

TERRABLU Home Care have achieved Disability Confident Employer status, which means we have gained the knowledge and skills to recruit people who have a disability yet meet the criteria for a job with us confidently. Existing employees are supported in their role to help them stay in work. At a time when the care industry requires more home carers, we could not be prouder of achieving this certification and widening the opportunity for talent we can now welcome to join our team.

What’s in a name? The story behind Brittens Music shop

THERE’S a rich and long history associated with the showroom of Brittens Music in Tunbridge Wells that stretches back over 100 years. Andrew Collins, owner of Brittens Music, discusses the background and history of the shop.

“We can trace the roots of Brittens Music back more than 100 years. The shop started life in 1912 as Rabson’s Records, on Camden Rd, and was known later as Rabson’s Music Salon. It then moved to Vale Road before its current location on Grove Hill Road in 1992,” explained Andrew.

Andrew has a long history in the music retail industry too. He originally set up Newington Strings in Newington, North Kent, a specialist

bowed string shop and workshop over 30 years ago. “The business developed over the years and I was looking to move my shop to Tunbridge Wells. I was approached by the previous owner of the Tunbridge Wells shop, which was called The Music Centre, as he wanted to sell. I bought the shop and renamed it Newingtons,” said Andrew. Later, he added another shop to the business in West Byfleet, Surrey. The owner, John Britten, was a nephew of the composer Sir Benjamin Britten and had called his shop Brittens Music.

“The name Brittens Music struck a chord with me as I have long admired this British composer’s work. So, I adopted the name across all the sites,” commented Andrew.

Today, Brittens Music is a very special place that does much more than sell instruments. “We are experts in pianos, strings, brass, woodwind and guitars. We offer advice on maintenance and repair, as well as on which instruments to buy. We also have a huge range of sheet music. There’s also our rental scheme, music school and pre-school music groups,” said Andrew.

Celebrating Benjamin Britten

This iconic British composer, conductor, and pianist would be celebrating his 109th birthday on 22 November this year. He was born in Lowestoft, Suffolk and studied at the Royal College of Music in London and privately with the composer Frank Bridge. Benjamin Britten left behind a huge body of work, of which his

‘Young Person’s Guide To The Orchestra’ is probably the most famous. His operatic masterpieces include ‘Peter Grimes’, ‘Billy Budd’, and ‘The Turn of the Screw’.

Britten’s other significant works include vocal music, orchestral, choral, solo vocal, chamber and instrumental pieces as well as film scores.

by

TV’s Clive Attrell from ITV and BBC Television

an appraiser for over two years, and numerous other television productions.

WATCHES WANTED

‘We can trace the roots of Brittens Music back more than 100 years. The shop started life in 1912 as Rabson’s Records, on Camden Rd, and was known later as Rabson’s Music Salon’