Times of Tunbridge Wells 22nd February 2023

We really appreciate you making the effort to come to our fundraising event on Monday. We had an amazing turnout. Your attendance and support have played an important role in our fundraisers’ successThank

Multi-million pound food and drink hotspot

Water company offers charities £100,000 cash after taps ran dry

By Jonathan Banks

CHARITIES are to be handed payments totalling £100,000 by South East Water.

The money comes in the form of a ‘contribution to the community’ reflecting the disruption and distress caused in the ten-day lead up to Christmas when the supply network broke down.

From today (February 22), registered charities can submit a request for cash up to £5,000 as part of a one-off initiative brought about by Tunbridge Wells MP Greg Clark.

It follows his success in gaining £250 payments for most households hit by the water shortage. The average annual bill from South East Water is £220 a year.

During an earlier debate in Parliament on the issue, Mr Clark had argued that the supplier should make an additional

contribution to the community.

In his regular column published today in the Times (page 14) he says: “I have been having constructive discussions with South East Water and I am pleased to be able to announce that the company has agreed to make a donation of £100,000 to charities in our local area.”

need the money. Closing date is March 8, 2023. The charities must be based within Mr Clark’s constituency.

Mr Clark adds: “£100,000 will be a welcome boost to local good causes at a difficult time for many of them and the people they help”.

Meanwhile, in the neighbouring Wealden constituency, MP Nus Ghani has been fighting for compensation for her constituents and criticised the water company for ‘spreading misinformation’ about a ‘financial contribution’ which was not linked to water bills.

Good causes can apply for the cash through a special website set up by the company. All they need do is provide their name, a charity registration number and a 100-word message on why they

With some residents reporting not having received compensation, being told they were not eligible, or receiving less than households in the neighbouring area, Ms Ghani called South East Water directors to a meeting.

The Knights Park complex in Tunbridge Wells is the site for a planned new food and drinks centre. It would replace the old Frankie and Benny’s and the next door Hop House pub. Both would be demolished. Full Story P3

‘The money will be a welcome boost to local good causes at a difficult time for many of them and the people they help’

See P14 for Greg Clark’s column

this week…

Sunak’s new advisor to investigate Wealden MP’s Islamophobia claims

By Lilly Croucher

THE Prime Minister’s new Ethics Advisor will be taking over the investigation into local MP Nus Ghani’s claims that she was sacked as minister for being a Muslim.

Sir Laurie Magnus was appointed as the Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s Ethics Advisor in December 2022

Last year, Ms Ghani told the Sunday Times that a Tory Whip had said her ‘Muslimness was raised as an issue’ for her being sacked from her ministerial position in February 2020.

Commitment

Despite making the allegations in January 2022, the investigation has been delayed more than a year after Boris Johnson’s ethics advisor, Lord Geidt resigned in June.

Labour Party Chair Anneliese Dodds said the delay in the investigation ‘tells you everything you need to know about the Conservatives' commitment to tackling Islamophobia’.

After losing her minster role at the Department of Transport, Ms Ghani alleges she was told: “My

‘Muslim woman minister’ status was making colleagues uncomfortable and that there were concerns ‘that I wasn't loyal to the party as I didn't do enough to defend the party against Islamophobia allegations’.

“I raised it several more times through official party channels… I was extremely careful to follow procedure, and when the procedure ran out of road, I had no choice but to get on with my career.”

She said in a statement: “Not a day has gone

by without thinking about what I was told and wondering why I was in politics... those that have not had their identity and faith questioned cannot fully appreciate what it does to you.”

Allegations

Chief Whip at the time, Mark Spencer identified himself as the person Ms Ghani was referring to but denied the allegations saying they are ‘completely false and I consider them to be defamatory’.

He has since been appointed as Minister of State for Food, Farming and Fisheries in September 2022 despite continued allegations against him.

In 2015, Ms Ghani was the first female and Muslim woman elected as a Tory MP in the constituency of Wealden, East Sussex.

She was also the first minister to speak in the House of Commons after being made Parliamentary Under-Secretaries of State for Transport in 2018.

On February 7, she was appointed as Minister of State at the department for Business and Trade at the Cabinet Office.

Opera returns for night of magic

By Victoria Roberts

WHAT do Cinderella and the Tunbridge Wells Opera House have in common?

Both undergo a magical transformation to enjoy an evening of music and enchantment and it was the turn of both of them last Sunday (February 19) as the Merry Opera Company staged ‘Cinderella 23’ in Tunbridge Wells.

The ‘magic’ for the Opera House is with its landlords Wetherspoons, who have a reputation for taking over listed buildings, restoring them and continuing to operate them.

Transformation

The Tunbridge Wells Opera House even calls time on drinkers once a year to transform the building back to its old self and put on an opera.

In ‘Cinderella 23’, the heroine makes her bid to transform her unhappy life for the better, amid a cast of grumpy stepmothers and fairy godfathers. She is helped – or hindered – along the way by glass slippers and what the company calls ‘anima(gica)l assistants’.

The score harks back to the building’s past glory, featuring Handel and Rossini, along with songs from American musical theatre composer Jerome Kern, all leading up to a unexpected twist.

Dating from 1902, the Grade II-listed building is crowned by copper green cupolas in a grand ‘Edwardian Baroque’ style.

Over the years, the building has been a cinema and bingo hall before finally becoming a pub when Wetherspoons took over in 1996. The chain says it spends millions each year on

renovating many of its public houses.

Even after taking over the building in the 1990s, Wetherspoons has kept up the investment, undertaking a £700,000 restoration after part of the roof collapsed in 2020.

The roof had been repaired once before, after it was bombed during World War II.

NUS GHANI MP

KFC and Taco Bell to open in town centre

TWO American fast-food chains are set to open next-door to each other later this spring.

Signage installed on Grosvenor Road shows that KFC and Taco Bell will be the newest residents of the large high street unit, which housed the interior solutions store Schmidt until January 2020.

The food chains will be open seven days a week from 11am to 11pm and will create 46 jobs, with 20 people working at KFC and 26 at Taco Bell.

Swim charity calls for support of local pools

FUSION lifestyle will be holding an event for ‘Big Swim Day’ at Tunbridge Wells Sports Centre on Friday, February 24 to boost support for local leisure facilities.

The charity is calling on the community to support public swimming pools and leisure centres which have experienced growing pressures due to the Covid-19 lockdowns and cost-of-living crisis.

As swimming pools rely on energy to heat their facilities, they are vulnerable to rising costs and inflation which put them at risk of closure.

Anthony Cawley, CEO at Fusion Lifestyle, commented: “Big Swim Day is the ideal opportunity for local people to show support for local community pools, facing unprecedented financial challenges.

“There’s no need to make special arrangements, just come along on the day!”

Further strikes for ambulance crews

AMBULANCE workers were on strike again on Monday February 20 in their fourth walk-out in two months over pay and conditions.

11,000 GMB union members across the country, including those from the South East Coast Ambulance Service (SECAmb), went on strike this week demanding a pay rise above inflation.

The union has announced that further strikes will take place on March 6 and 20, with SECAmb advising the public to only call 999 in a serious emergency.

More than 100 homes set for Crowborough

PLANS for 103 new homes in Crowborough, East Sussex have been approved for independent housebuilder Dandara.

The development, called Braeburn Fields, will have a range of three-, four- and five-bedroom homes of which 36 will be affordable and 67 will be private homes.

Just seven miles from Tunbridge Wells town centre, the development will start later this year at the site in the hamlet of Steel Cross, High Weald.

Fines for illegal fishing in Tunbridge Wells

FOUR fishermen have received almost £2,000 in fines for fishing without a licence in Frant Lakes, Tunbridge Wells and Monk Lakes, Staplehurst between July and September

Danny Ashbee-Mullane, 29, of Tonbridge, Oliver Page, 33, of Tonbridge, Lee Bartholomew, 52, of London, and Nick Powell, 33, of Greenhithe were ordered by the Environment Agency to pay £443 each.

These are four of seven fishermen caught illegally fishing in the South East last year. The agency hopes the penalties will deter others from breaking fisheries laws as well.

Restaurants, bars and cafes part of a new multi-million pound venture

By Lilly Croucher

A NEW food and drink hot spot is to be created in Tunbridge Wells as it takes the place of two former venues which will be demolished.

It will be built on the site of the once popular American-style diner Frankie and Benny’s and the next door Hop House pub on the Knights Park leisure and retail complex.

The food and drinks centre, the subject of a planning application to the borough council, will be alongside the existing Odeon Cinema, Hollywood Bowl, and Nuffield Health gym.

The large single-storey building has been designed to be sub-divided into six units that are expected to contain a range of restaurants, bars, and cafes.

Plans

The area will be surrounded by outdoor seating, new paving and landscaping, with trees and hedging.

The development will also create 29 parking spaces, one disabled space with 25 of those with Electric Vehicle Charging (EVC) points.

The centre will be open from 10am to 11.30pm, Monday to Saturday and 10am to 10.30pm, Sundays and Bank Holidays.

The plans will be put forward to the planning committee with a decision expected in early May.

Business Champion, Cllr Matthew Sankey (Alliance) told the Times that the project is a ‘positive and progressive step forwards for the people of Sherwood’.

“It will hopefully create more jobs and attract a range of alternative traders, possibly even some independent local shops as well as the multiinternational companies as well.”

Frankie and Benny’s and the Hop House pub are both vacant with the pub having been

DEVELOPMENT

The two sites set to be demolished

boarded up and the restaurant having closed since the pandemic.

The New York-Italian restaurant, is a family favourite but the Knights Way location became one of 120 restaurants that were permanently closed in 2020 by The Restaurant Group (TRG) who also own, Garfunkel’s and Wagamama.

The application was submitted by Abrdn Plc, formally Standard Life Aberdeen plc, a global

investment company and the largest asset manager in the UK with over £500 billion in assets.

Abrdn has been approached for comment. National Highways has said they have ‘No objections’ when it comes to the developments impact on the main road, in this case, the A21. The council said they will not be commenting at this time whilst they await a decision.

Heartbreak for owners as Zero Waste shop loses battle against rising costs

By Alice Reece

AN ETHICAL shop and café on The Pantiles has closed following struggles with the cost-of-living crisis and recovering from the lasting effects of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Zero Waste Company confirmed it has ceased trading and is being placed into liquidation after the rise in cost and effects of lockdown had made the business financially unviable.

It is the second shop on The Pantiles to shut in a month following the closure of Pizza restaurant, Vintry.

In a statement on Saturday (February 18) owners Holly Watson and Charlotte Bowyer said: “We are heartbroken to announce that Zero has had to close its doors from today.

“We have fought and fought for so long to keep our business going but have had to finally admit defeat for the sake of our staff, our families and honestly, for our mental wellbeing.”

Opening in 2019, the business partners said they have been ‘hit [with] a challenge of epic proportions’ as the Covid-19 pandemic locked down the country and they were forced to shut their shop.

The Ms Watson and Ms Bowyer explained:

“Despite continuously changing our business model to meet the market demands, we have had to face more and more challenges with a war, petrol crisis, energy crisis and now a cost-ofliving crisis.

Ethical

“Faced with a rise in our business rates and the doubling of our energy bill this year, our small business just isn't viable.”

The Zero Waste Company was an ethical emporium and vegetarian café with aim of providing sustainable alternatives to their customer and reducing plastic waste.

The retail space sold a range of ethical goods such as candles, gifts, jewellery and homeware from local retailers and independent brands.

They also provided an essentials re-fill station and ran a green kitchen serving light lunches, warm coffees, and homemade cakes.

The venue was also a registered warm space, offering members of the community a safe place to go to keep warm amid the cost-of-living crisis.

Ms Watson and Ms Bowyer thanked their customers on Instagram and Facebook saying:

“Many of you have been loyal and supportive customers and friends of Zero over the last three years or so, and we are incredibly grateful to everyone who has come through the doors and given us their love, community spirit and loyalty to our little green space. We are devastated to no longer be able to serve you.

“It hurts more than we can say, but we have voluntarily made this decision as we understand our position is unlikely to improve.”

Photo finish for half marathon as

By Victoria Roberts

THE Tunbridge Wells Half Marathon returned to the town last Sunday (February 19), with organisers hopeful that funds raised will return to pre-pandemic levels.

The popular running event, now in its fortieth year, is likely to have raised £20,000, Race Director Michael Youlton told the Times.

The race, which was cancelled in 2021 due to Covid-19, returned last year but with notably fewer participants. However, Mr Youlton said the race had completely sold out this year, filling all 1,650 spaces, with 1,319 finishers.

The final amount will be known once all bills and expenses are paid, but Mr Youlton hoped ‘it

will be in the region of £20,000’.

“This is back to what it would have been before the pandemic.”

The race organisers, Tunbridge Wells Harriers, donate the surplus to their chosen causes, but many runners were raising funds for

The race organisers, Tunbridge Wells Harriers, donate the surplus to their chosen causes, but many runners were also raising funds for other charities.

DEAD HEAT Matthew Chipping (left) and Dillon Hobbs came joint first

SWEET SUCCESS James Richards (right) of Maddisons Residential, one of the sponsors

All photos: James Hudson

Through a fish-eye lens

WITH the start of the predator fishing season,

which has really been inspiring photographers

The Pantiles reveals its big Christmas display winners

Law Society award for Loch paralegal

race returns for 40th anniversary

Cllr Seán Holden has been the Conservative councillor for Benenden and Cranbrook since 2008 and the county councillor for Cranbrook Division since 2013. He runs a property business with his wife Corinna and before that he was a television reporter working for TV-am, ITV Meridian and ITN. In 2001 he was the Conservative parliamentary candidate for Chatham and Aylesford.

Bits have started falling off the puny coalition of chaos already

in natural surroundings and enjoy the great outdoors.

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,

other charities.

Stephen Donnelly told the Times: “I managed to finish the Half Marathon in 2 hours 15 mins, which is not very quick, but I did it for Age UK Tunbridge Wells!”

Target

WINNER Kumquat

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.

was necessary to see where they would go before

By Robert Forrester

Hotchpotch

Güner Kaya and Ben Ryan were also running for Age UK Tunbridge Wells. The pair work for HG Construction, which is developing a retirement village for Elysian Residences, on St John’s Road.

THE winners of the Pantiles Big Reveal Christmas Window display have been announced.

Gavin Fisher, Chief Executive of the Children’s Respite Trust said that a trio of runners from insurer AXA were ‘on course to reach their target of raising £1,000’.

Organised by Holly Watson and Charlotte Bowyer of The Zero Waste Company, and sponsored by Maddison’s Residential and RTW Together (BID), the best windows voted for by the public were:

The race was notable in that the race was won in a dead heat, with Matthew Chipping and Dillon Hobbs both recording a time of 1:11:07.

First place – Kumquat

water sports users.

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

Second place – PoggenPohl

Third place – Catherine Hills Jewellery

The TWA is a hotchpotch in its own right. Its 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 The Times of Tunbridge Wells that he is a ‘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

Mr Youlton said that according to race facilitators Nice Work, ‘it was the first time this happened in 20 years’.

The Big Reveal is a free family event held on The their fusion style restaurant on the Pantiles this

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

The award was presented at the Tunbridge Wells Tonbridge and District Law Society annual dinner last month.

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

Praising Ms Searle, Pam Loch, managing director at Loch Associates Group, said: “She is an optimistic and diligent member of our team, and her dedication has seen her climb the ranks at Loch Associates.

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

“She is a true credit to our business and has a bright future in law.”

A RUNNER who was taken ill during the race and required medical attention has recovered, said Race Director Michael Youlton. He expressed his thanks to the organisers for the medical team’s prompt care and attention.

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!

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their PR stunt of staging cabinet meetings across

truth, the coalition fears a paper tiger they

RUNNER’S PRIDE

Lily Spencer with her finisher’s medal

Ukrainians look back after a year of war

Victoria Roberts meets two people who have come to Tunbridge Wells since the invasion

TANYA came to the UK in May from Odesa, with her 12 and 14-year-old daughters.

With no relatives in the UK, she and her family got visas through the Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme, also known as Homes for Ukraine (HFU). Tunbridge Wells is hosting the secondhighest number of Ukrainian arrivals under this scheme in Kent, with 438 HfU visa holders.

“We live in a host family with a lovely lady. She has come to love me and the children,” Tanya told the Times.

Happy

“I am very happy to be here. I feel at peace to walk around and to breathe. People walk around and smile in the street.”

SASHA arrived in Tunbridge Wells from Kharkiv on March 25, with her four-year-old son Stepan, taking refuge with her sister who lives here. Her husband is trying to hold things together at home, continuing with a renovation and working on their kitchen, while her parents also remain in the city.

“They could leave – Papa is 60 – but he works in a factory, repairing tanks, and has been there for about 28 years.

For now, Sasha said she does not want to go back. “I am afraid to go. I dream about it.”

Effects

Describing the outbreak of war, when Kharkiv was surrounded, she said: “For the first month of the war, I didn’t do anything. I just sat with my son [in the shelter] and played, pretended we were having fun.

“Kharkiv was surrounded on all sides. The sound was indescribable. It was just sound, sound, sound.”

Since coming here, she has worked hard to overcome the effects on her son of that month.

“I talked to him a lot,” she said, adding: “At

first, he was afraid when an ambulance went by.

“But we even went to the fireworks in Rusthall in November. I wanted to show that ‘boom, boom, boom’ was beautiful, not terrifying.” Tunbridge Wells came as a surprise to Sasha, who used to work in a tourist agency and travelled widely, but never to the UK.

“My sister told me she loved the city, but I was never interested, if I’m honest. I never planned to come here,” she said.

“The city is very pretty. I have been to other cities in England – London, Maidstone, Eastbourne, Brighton, Hastings… but Tunbridge Wells is the cleanest.”

“Now, if I were choosing [where to come], I would choose Tunbridge Wells.”

Stepan turned five in August, and was taken to the Hop Farm as a treat by Ukraine Relief Group organiser Rich Akehurst.

With her little boy now in school, Sasha said she was surprised by the knowledge he comes home with. “He tells me about the Great Fire of London and Baby Jesus at Christmastime!”

As for herself, she has found work in a café, and is seeking more work, while studying English online.

Although her eldest daughter had studied English at school, Tanya said she had ‘never dreamed’ of coming to the UK. “It seemed so expensive,” she said.

Tanya has found a job in a kitchen, despite having trained in building construction in Ukraine.

“Not everyone wants to take on someone from a foreign country, but I am very happy that they took me,” she said.

Describing life in Odesa before she left, Tanya said: “Every day, we went down to the cellar [to

shelter], and we got used to it. But it became obvious that the children were terrified.”

Her family stayed behind. “Mama and Papa didn’t want to go anywhere, and my husband is in the war. He tries to call me every day, and if he manages to send me a message, I am at peace.”

When Tanya visited Odesa last November, it was very difficult for her. The port city had a reputation as a cultured and easy-going place, but it has changed a lot.

“Children used to go to school and kindergarten, but now they sit at home and it’s cold. Food is as expensive as in the UK, I think. How people live, I don’t know.”

Tanya’s older daughter is continuing with studies online, as the Ukrainian government continues teaching the diaspora.

“We don’t know how long we will be here, so this [continuing her daughter’s studies] is not to lose a year, or more,” said Tanya.

She fears the effects of the long war. “I feel that English people are tired of Ukraine and it’s not nice to feel that way. But some of our cities have been destroyed, and there is just nowhere for people to go back to.”

Referring to the complete destruction of some Ukrainian cities, she said: “I am a construction engineer, so will help the best I can [when she returns]. That is my profession.”

Exhibition highlights plans for museum to honour the man who created the town

By Lilly Croucher

PLANS for a Decimus Burton Museum in the town will be promoted at an exhibition this weekend at the Royal Victoria Place shopping centre.

Visitors will have a chance to find out more about the famed architect, the project’s designs and the opportunity give their feedback at a pop-up exhibition running from February 24 – 26.

The Royal Tunbridge Wells Civic Society (RTWCS) have their sights set on 9 and 10 Crescent Road for a new Decimus Burton museum to honour the man who designed it and the town of Tunbridge Wells as we know it today.

Displays

Their exhibition will feature visual displays of the museum’s layout, history, and its importance to the town, as well as a local architect led 3D presentation.

There will also be displays of regency era costumes, a children’s colouring competition, with prizes of £50 and £25, and guided walks of Burton’s buildings around the town centre. The civic society is also looking to get public feedback, opinions, and comments through a questionnaire ahead of presenting their business plan to council in April.

Paul Avis, Chairman of the RTWCS and Decimus Burton society, told the Times: “This is a once in a lifetime shot and if it should go into public

9 AND 10 CRESCENT ROAD

ground then it will be gone forever.

“Decimus burton was ahead of his time with how towns are developed for the community with housing, parks, churches, and infrastructure.

“Tunbridge Wells is a successful example of Decimus Burton’s town planning, and this museum will be a place of not just local but of national importance.”

Decimus Burton was a 19th century architect spanning the Georgian, Regency and Victorian eras and is know for designing some of the most

prominent structures in the UK, including Wellington Arch, Kew Gardens, London Zoo and more locally, Trinity Theatre and the Calverley estate.

9 and 10 Crescent Road, part of Calverley estate, was built in the Regency period and still has most

of its original features which the RTWCS hope to preserve with the museum and study centre. At number 9, the interior will be refurbished to show the house in its regency period while at number 10, will become the main museum with exhibitions and artifacts that promotes the life and work of Decimus Burton.

Designs

There will also be an archive and study area including a café-tea room, a shop and a sensory garden with disabled parking.

The museum will feature large exhibition spaces for talks, lecturers, and workshops with displays of his original designs, town planning and life through a range of models, audio and visual media and even virtual reality.

The Decimus Burton society has links with the Royal Institute of British Architecture and the Victoria & Albert Museum which could lend, furniture, plaster casts and paper artifacts to the society.

The society hopes the project, along with Trinity Theatre and the Amelia, will attract tourists which will help boost the town centre, benefitting local businesses and residents.

In March 2022, the civic society was given one year to develop a business plan for the museum which has garnered attention from national organisations such as the heritage lottery fund, and will be presented to the council in April 2023.

DECIMUS BURTON

HANDS OF HOPE

Tanya arrived from Odesa last May

SAFE AND SOUND

Sasha and Stepan (centre) pictured with Rich and Inna Akehurst of the Ukraine Relief Group

Mayors give their thanks for years of service from Toy Appeal head

By Victoria Roberts

CURRENT and former mayors united last week to thank the outgoing organiser of the Mayor’s Toy Appeal, which collects gifts for children who may not otherwise have anything for Christmas.

The Mayor of Tunbridge Wells, Cllr Godfrey Bland, joined with former mayors Chris Woodward, James Scholes and Julia Soyke in a ceremony at the Town Hall, marking Karen Collins’ seven years of service.

Future

Thanking the former mayors for her bouquet and engraved medal, Karen said: “Now it is over to Trevor Crawford, who has taken over from me and we wish him all the best for the future.”

Trevor, who was also present at the ceremony, along with many of the toy appeal volunteers, added his own thanks, saying: “It was all very well deserved after her seven years. Hers are really big shoes to fill.”

The Mayor’s Toy Appeal provided presents for a record 680 children last Christmas, up from the previous high of 560 in 2021.

Families are referred by various agencies and

the organisers allocate presents donated by retailers and the public. They also use financial donations to buy treats and gifts for children up to 18 years old.

“They are still very young and deserve a magical Christmas like everyone else,” said Trevor.

“We suspect that in 2023 there will be more

Small talk at the station can save lives say Samaritans

A SIMPLE question about where to buy a coffee can interrupt a destructive train of thought, which is why Tunbridge Wells Samaritans will be at Paddock Wood station this Friday (February 24) morning, encouraging small talk.

Although the ‘Small Talk Saves Lives’ campaign has been running since 2017, this year is the first time volunteers will go to stations to talk to passengers about approaching people who seem to be in distress.

A recent survey by the charity showed that only 50 per cent of UK adults would feel confident approaching and speaking to someone they didn’t know.

Yet Tunbridge Wells branch director David Truman said: “Samaritans knows the importance of talking and listening which could help save a life.

“It’s understandable that you might feel nervous about approaching someone you don’t know, but at Samaritans we know that suicide is preventable and suicidal thoughts are often temporary.

Queen’s tree planted in Dunorlan Park

A NEW ‘Emerald Queen’ tree is to serve as a living memorial to the late Queen in Dunorlan Park.

Planted on February 9 in a ceremony that included Friends of Dunorlan Park, Council officials and councillors, the Acer platanoides now stands half-way between the café and the lake, in compost made from floral tributes laid outside the Town Hall following Her Majesty’s death.

Legacy

The Mayor of Tunbridge Wells, Cllr Godfrey Bland said: “The tree commemorates 70 years of service to the country. It is in keeping with the idea of legacy that the flowers which were left in Her Majesty’s memory become part of this lasting tribute.”

Also attending the ceremony were Cllr Justine Rutland, John Cohen and Jenny Russell representing the Friends of Dunorlan Park, and Peter Every and Kasia Olszewska from Tunbridge Wells Borough Council Parks Department.

“So, just by having the confidence to trust your instincts, and use those small talk skills we all have, it could be all it takes to help interrupt those thoughts.”

Tunbridge Wells volunteers will be at Paddock Wood station this Friday from 6.30 to 10.30am, said local outreach director Laurence Allcorn, who is co-ordinating the action.

Together with staff from Southeastern Railway, they will speak to passengers about the campaign, highlighting the power of talking and providing myth-busting leaflets to help ease any concerns about approaching someone in distress.

And, addressing one of the most isolating aspects of public transport, Mr Allcorn stressed that the volunteers would not be looking at their own mobile phones.

“One of the parts of our training is that we are totally engaged!” he told the Times For more information, visit samaritans.org/ smalltalksaveslives or join the conversation on social media using #SmallTalkSavesLives

[referrals] than last year. It is great that we were able to help but, equally, terrible that so many children were in need,” he added.

“We are of course always happy to talk to new potential volunteers who would like to join us.

“Christmas 2023 seems a long way off, but we have already started to prepare with the help of the Mayor’s office.”

Georgie Warner, the Deputy Lieutenant of Kent, was also there to represent the Lord Lieutenancy of Kent, the monarch’s representatives in the county.

The new tree joins over a million trees planted across the UK as part of The Queen’s Green Canopy, an initiative started to mark Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee and later extended after her death.

Hospital trust is leading the field with new digital patient system

By Lilly Croucher

TUNBRIDGE Wells Hospital has been commended by top NHS officers and government minsters for its innovative technology that has delivered some of the quickest patient care in the country.

Last month, Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust (MTW) was visited by NHS Chair, Richard Meddings, Secretary of State for Health, Steve Barclay MP and most recently NHS England Chief Executive, Amanda Pritchard to recognise the success of its new digital patient system.

Monitor

MTW’s Care Coordination Centre (CCC), which has been likened to a NASA control room, uses real-time data to monitor the trust’s 700 beds to reduce the time a bed is empty.

Tweeting after her visit on January 27, Amanda Pritchard said: “I had an excellent day yesterday at @MTWnhs speaking to clinicians and staff from across @NHSKentMedway about how they

are maximising the use of data to get patients the care they need faster.

“Harnessing the potential of technology – to support our continued recovery from COVID-19 and improve services for patients and staff – will be front of mind as @NHSDigital and @ NHSEngland come together as one organisation from next week.”

After viewing the CCC, Steve Barclay said: “The team at MTW have done an amazing job. You get a real sense when walking around this Trust of just how much has been achieved and the impact this makes on patient care.”

COUNTER VIEW with

AS K

In place of the usual Q&A, the following are some of the support packages that have been made available to help businesses deal with the Coronavirus:

Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme: HMRC will reimburse 80% of wages paid to workers who have be laid off due to the coronavirus crisis. This is capped at £2.5k per employee per month.

VAT Deferral: The deferral will apply from 20 March to 30 June 2020. There is a lack of clarity on the Gov. uk website and we are interpreting this as payments due by 30 June rather than quarters ended 30 June. This means that May quarter VAT Returns, where payment is due by 7 July, will still be payable as normal. Any payments deferred will become payable by the end of the tax year (31/3/21 Company or 5/4/21 Unincorporated)

Income from rental properties has been under pressure over the last few years as tax relief on loan interest payments has been restricted to 20%. Where properties are jointly owned by spouses or civil partners (referred to as spouses in this article), this has increased the tax advantage of allocating rental profits against the joint owner that pays tax at basic rate, rather than one that may pay tax at higher rates. Where joint property is held by owners who are not spouses, they can agree to share the rental profits as they wish. However, where the owners are spouses, HMRC tax the income equally between the owners unless the underlying equity ownership in the property is different, in which case this can be reported to HMRC, and the rent can then be allocated in proportion to the underlying ownership.

Income Tax Deferral: The self-assessment second payment on account, due by 31 July 2020, will be deferred to 31 January 2021. No penalties or interest will be charged.

If spouses wish to recognise rental profits on a basis other than 50/50, they will need to take legal advice to

move to ‘Tenants in Common’ and change the underlying equity ownership in the property. This will usually involve a declaration of trust with a gift of equity from one spouse to the other which, whilst neutral for capital gains tax purposes, may trigger a Stamp Duty Land Tax cost if there is finance secured on the property. Luckily, the SDLT higher rates do not apply in these circumstances.

Cash Grants: A grant of £10k will automatically be provided to all businesses currently entitled to Small Business Rates Relief. A grant of £25k can be claimed for businesses in the retail, hospitality or leisure industry if their rateable value is between £15k and £51K.

Business Rates Holiday: There is a 12-month business rates holiday (April 20 to March 21) for all retail, hospitality and leisure businesses in England.

Once the underlying ownership has been changed, this needs to be reported to HMRC using Form 17, which is a declaration of the beneficial interest. Evidence, such as the declaration of trust, needs to be submitted along with the form. The deadline for submitting Form 17 is 60 days from the date of signature of the last spouse to sign, otherwise it is invalid.

Time to Pay Arrangements: In addition to the deferral schemes noted above, if you have outstanding tax liabilities (Corporation Tax, VAT or Income Tax) due to coronavirus, you may be able to agree a time to pay arrangement. Arrangements will be agreed on a case by case basis. To discuss your options, contact HMRC on 0800 0159 559.

Please note that there are different rules if the property is a Furnished Holiday Letting or held via a partnership.

Further info and updates can be found here: https:// www.synergee.org.uk/press-releases/coronavirus-update

THANK YOU Outgoing organiser Karen Collins (centre) with (left to right) Julia Soyke, James Scholes, Chris Woodward, and current Mayor Cllr Godfrey Bland

IN CONTROL Staff at the MTW CCC

Free Consultation

Throughout February we are offering a free 1-hour consultation for new clients, at our offices in Tunbridge Wells, London and Guildford or online.

Crowborough M&Co to close

A SCOTTISH-headquartered clothes and homewares chain is to shut its Crowborough store this spring, after it fell into administration and failed to find a buyer for its stores.

M&Co is to shut all of its retail locations after being bought out of administration.

The Scottish chain was bought by AK Retail after being put into administration for the second time in December. However, it was announced on social media that the agreed deal did not include a rescue for the stores or staff.

Transfer

M&Co has about 170 branches around the UK, including the Broadway store in Crowborough. In a post on Facebook, the firm revealed: “As we haven’t received any funded, deliverable offers that would result in the transfer of the company’s stores or staff to a potential buyer, this means that all of our stores will close.

“The M&Co brand has been purchased, but unfortunately this does not include a future for our stores, website or staff.

“We will trade all of our stores until Easter and then begin the close down process. We will update you closer to the time, of our actual closing date.”

M&Co, previously known as Mackays, is said to have started as a pawnbroker in Paisley,

Renfrewshire, in the 19th century but switched to selling clothes in the 1950s.

AK Retail said it is ‘considering all options’.

The Peterborough company, owners of Yours Clothing, BadRhino, Long Tall Sally and Pixiegirl, last week announced that it had purchased the M&Co brand from the administrators for an undisclosed sum.

AK Retail said: “M&Co was put into administration for the second time in December.

“Chief Executive Andrew Killingsworth said that he is delighted that this longstanding brand would be kept alive.

“At the moment we are considering all options as we continue to work with our online, third-party partners and others.”

Now is not the moment for market ‘time-out’

By Amanda Redman

THE cost-of-living crisis and surging interest rates have left many people feeling less confident about their finances, but is there a way to take advantage of these unique conditions to make investment decisions in 2023?

When markets are volatile, it is easy to lose sight of the big picture and let your emotions – both fear and hope – get the better of you. Although this is perfectly natural, it is more important to focus on your long-term goals than attempt to work out the ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ time to invest.

Commitment

No-one can predict accurately what markets will do, so rather than trying to time the market, focus on time in the market.

Successful investors know that the best investment outcomes are usually a result of patience and an understanding that markets fluctuate. Most investments should be a medium to long-term commitment. This is because the

longer you invest, the greater the potential for positive returns.

Hesitation and a lack of confidence can often lead to missing out when it comes to maximising our financial opportunities.

So when you are next in a position to consider your financial opportunities, think about the future value you may get from the lower prices of today, as they may reward you further down the line.

It can therefore be a good time to invest when fund prices are lower, on the principle that you can buy more units for your money, meaning that your investment portfolio will benefit from both additional units as well as higher prices – when markets pick up again.

To receive a complimentary guide covering wealth management, retirement planning or Inheritance Tax planning, contact Amanda at amanda.redman@sjpp.co.uk

A man of method celebrates his quarter century at CooperBurnett

By Victoria Roberts

ATTENTION to process has been the secret of progress for one local law firm’s head of accounts, who celebrated 25 years’ service last week (February 16).

Gareth Warner joined Tunbridge Wells-based CooperBurnett as an office clerk in 1998, but has worked his way up to head of accounts, managing the finances of the Mount Ephraim-based firm. He progressed to full-time cashier, handling clients’ money and ensuring the firm remained compliant with rules and regulations.

The company also recognised his IT skills and he was instrumental in introducing a new case management system at the firm.

Mr Warner also sits on CooperBurnett’s charity committee, helping to organise events for its chosen charity – currently Demelza Hospice Care for Children.

In past fundraisers, he has taken part in the ‘Three Peaks in 24 hours’ and a 24-hour cycle ride from London to Paris.

Partner Victoria Sampson said: “Over the past 25 years, Gareth has become an integral part of our team.

“He has refined and streamlined our processes when it comes to accounts and is very knowledgeable in compliance issues.

Partner Joseph Oates added: “The commitment Gareth has shown to CooperBurnett over the years has been second to none.”

CLOSING DOWN

The M&Co store in Crowborough

By Sarah Carter

WITH entries still coming in for the Times Business Awards, the decision has been taken to extend the deadline.

The closing date will now be 11.59pm on Friday February 24.

“We appreciate that our local entrepreneurs and organisations want to show themselves to their best advantage, so we are giving everyone some extra time to put the finishing touches to their entries,” said Times Editor Richard Moore.

Times

business awards 2023

Deadline extended for this year’s Hollywood-themed gala event Business and charity partnership in focus

ONE of the most popular categories in this year’s Times Business Awards is that for charities and not-for-profit organisations.

“However, don’t delay too long, because it is important to give the judges time to do their work, too.”

Meanwhile, behind the scenes, Event Manager Claire Power has been working hard getting everything in place to make sure entrants and judges get all the information they need, and that the evening runs smoothly.

The event is just as much about fun as it is about finances for the sponsors, judges and of course, hopeful entrants, she told the Times “I love doing this kind of event,” said Claire, whose event management background includes marketing and wedding planning.

“People work so hard and it’s so nice to have something to look forward to.”

With the Hollywood theme planned for this year, she has even given thought to her outfit for the evening – but always with an eye on her own stamina to ensure she is ready for any challenge, right until the end of the evening.

“I’m on my feet for 12 to 13 hours, but I love it and I love the party atmosphere, so I make sure people have what they need.

“Maybe I will have trainers on under my ballgown!” she said.

“The theme this year is ‘Hollywood Glamour’, with lots of white, black and red – very glitzy. I’m really looking forward to that.

“I think it’s an opportunity for everyone to get on their glad rags, after what we’ve been through in the last few years.”

The Times Business Awards are a boon for the area she has come to love, ever since moving here in November 2004.

She said: “Being involved in the Awards is wonderful. I get to express my love for this part of the world.”

The black-tie event and gala dinner will take place on Thursday March 30 at Salomons Estate,

Tunbridge Wells.

“It’s a beautiful setting, and there is accommodation here so people can stay over if want to,” said Claire.

With the gala dinner taking place in the impressive Victorian Science Theatre at Salomons, she said: “The room is so magical –how can anyone not have a good time?”

For more details, contact Claire Power and the event management team at: info@ timesbusinessawards.co.uk

With entrants from the most recognisable ‘names’ in the Borough’s third sector to national causes and lesser-known local organisations, this is perhaps one of the most anticipated awards of the night, second only to the Outstanding Business of the Year.

The interaction between business and charity is a crucial and productive one, said Ian Alsop, of Lexus Tunbridge Wells, sponsor of the Charity of the Year award.

Community

“As a local business, we understand the importance of raising awareness and supporting the community and local causes.”

And he added: “Lexus Tunbridge Wells is delighted to support the Charity of the Year category at the Times Business Awards

“For a second consecutive year, we are proud to be part of this ceremony and celebrate those organisations that, year after year, work hard to raise awareness and valuable funds to make a positive impact in the lives of others in Tunbridge Wells and surrounding areas.”

Looking ahead to the shortlist, which will be announced on Wednesday March 15, Mr Alsop added: “We want to congratulate all the finalists for their passion, creativity and commitment, despite the challenging times.”

ENTER THE AWARDS AND RAISE THE BRANDING AND PROFILE OF YOUR BUSINESS FOR FREE

Below are the ten categories in which you can enter your business, whether you’re a start-up or an established company. Winning an award could change your business and your life. Visit timesbusinessawards.co.uk to find entry forms, which can be downloaded and completed at your leisure. The gala night itself is on March 30, but hurry – the NEW deadline for entries is 11.59pm on February 24!

In association with the headline sponsor Berkeley Homes and drinks reception sponsor Brewin Dolphin Start-Up Business of the Year (Sponsored by Cornerstone) Companies founded since January 2021, which have really been attracting notice.

Creative Business of the Year (Sponsored by Integra Property Management)

This is a strong sector for Tunbridge Wells, covering the creative, design, marketing and PR sectors which have made our town their home.

Entrepreneur of the Year (Sponsored by Charles Stanley) An entrepreneur is more than just a business person. Entrepreneurs turn their ideas into business opportunities and may run more than one company.

Charity of the Year (Sponsored by Lexus)

In this new award category, judges will analyse the charities and not-for-profit organisations which play such a positive role in the life of our area, looking for impact, sustainability and imagination.

Green Business of the Year (Sponsored by Clarity Homes & Commercial)

This new award category will recognise companies for their commitment to the environment, whether through reducing energy usage, ‘localising’ their supply chains or any other green initiatives.

Best in Food and Drink (Sponsored by NFU Mutual) This award is for the local companies producing or serving truly remarkable food and drink. Entries are welcomed

from fine dining restaurants, gastropubs, simple cafés and food and drink producers –any company which can demonstrate how it puts Tunbridge Wells or the local area on the map with its gastronomic excellence.

Best Family Business of the Year (Sponsored by Childrensalon)

The judges will be looking for the business that best demonstrates how running a family business has added significantly to its competitive advantage. The winner will need to show how being a family business has had a positive impact on its achievements.

Best Business 1-25 Employees (Sponsored by TN Recruits) This award category is for the companies with a workforce of up to 25 which has maintained consistent growth and strong

financial performance, both meeting its customers’ expectations and supporting its employee’s welfare and growth.

Best Business 26+ Employees (Sponsored by The Finance Hub) Consistent growth, financial performance and an engaged, positive workforce are just some of the criteria that set these companies apart other medium to large businesses in the area.

Outstanding Business of the Year

(Sponsored by Thomson Snell & Passmore)

This award will reveal which company demonstrates the best combination of growth, ambition and quality of management in the area. The ‘outstanding’ company has delivered on a compelling business strategy, while developing its employees’ skills and looking after staff.

‘The event is just as much about fun as it is about finances for the sponsors, judges and of course, hopeful entrants’

IAN ALSOP

CLAIRE POWER

Faith on the agenda in Scottish leadership race

ITV to co-operate with regulator Ofcom over Nicola Bulley concerns

BROADCASTER ITV has said it will co-operate fully with media watchdog Ofcom’s request to explain its actions over the Nicola Bulley case, following comments by her family.

ITV said: “As a responsible broadcaster, we will co-operate fully and respond in detail to Ofcom’s request for information.

Privacy

“We express sincere condolences to the family at this difficult time and we will not be commenting further.”

It comes after the family of Nicola Bulley called for the press to “be held accountable”. They criticised Sky News and ITV for contacting them after the body was discovered ‘when we expressly asked for privacy’. Ofcom has written to ITV and Sky to ask them to explain their actions.

Stewart Purvis, a former senior executive at Ofcom and former editor in chief of ITN, has said the way families going through a difficult time are approached is a ‘continuing issue in the media’.

He said: “I think the whole issue of how you approach the families of those who have suffered, who are suffering from the disappearance and possibly the death of a loved one is a continuing issue in the media.”

Meanwhile, Downing Street said it expected Lancashire Police to be ‘transparent’ about its internal investigation into the handling of the Nicola Bulley case.

Asked whether Rishi Sunak believed an independent, external review would be necessary, the Prime Minister’s official spokesman said: “Our position is to allow the existing process to report back.

“We would expect them to detail their findings and then obviously we will consider the next steps as appropriate.”

Pressed on whether the internal process would just see the force ‘marking their own homework’, the spokesman said: “These are long-established processes and we would expect the force to be transparent in their findings.

“That does not preclude further work at the end of that.”

SCOTTISH leadership candidate Kate Forbes has confirmed she is still running to replace Nicola Sturgeon as First Minister, as she came under sustained fire for her religious beliefs.

Ms Forbes, a member of the Free Church of Scotland, has lost some high-profile supporters in the leadership contest after she said she would not have voted for gay marriage. She has now said that having children outside of marriage ‘would be wrong according to my faith’ and is something she would personally ‘seek to avoid’.

Choice

She said having a child out of wedlock ‘would be wrong according to my faith’, but stressed it was a choice for people to make in a free society, and said she had ‘celebrated’ babies born to family members and friends who were unmarried. Within hours she had revealed she would not have voted for same-sex marriage if she had been in Holyrood when the legislation was passed, comments which saw her lose support from backers such as employment minister Richard

Lochhead, public finance minister Tom Arthur, and children’s minister Clare Haughey.

However, Ms Forbes confirmed that ‘at the moment’ she was committed to continuing her campaign until March 27, when the ballot closes. Health Secretary Humza Yousaf and former community safety minister Ash Regan are also running in the leadership contest.

Ms Regan took to Twitter to indicate her support for same-sex marriage, saying simply ‘love is love’, while Mr Yousaf said he would not legislate on the basis of his faith and is a supporter of equal marriage.

Ms Forbes has also said she would not have voted for the controversial Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill in its current form. As she was on maternity leave, she did not participate in the final vote before the new year but has been clear on her opposition since 2019.

Ms Regan also opposes the bill, which has been blocked by Westminster, and stepped down from her ministerial role to vote against it.

Mr Yousaf, however, has made clear his support, saying he would challenge the Section 35 order the UK Government used to veto the bill.

Auctioneers Since 1929

Lots to Love

From left to right: Qi Baishi (1864-1957), Bee and chrysanthemums paper scroll painting – £65,000 + fees. Late 19th century Chinese Export silver mug – £2,600 + fees. Lady’s steel and gold Rolex Oyster Perpetual wrist watch – £1,400 + fees. Baccarat millefiori glass paperweight, dated 1847 – £1,000 + fees. 1920’s pierced white gold and diamond cluster set brooch – £850 + fees.

KATE FORBES ASH REGAN HUMZA YUSEF

Putin casts Russia and Ukraine as victims of Western double-dealing

RUSSIAN President Vladimir Putin has accused Western countries of igniting and sustaining the war in Ukraine, dismissing any blame for Moscow almost a year after the Kremlin’s unprovoked invasion of its neighbour.

In his long-delayed state-of-the-nation address, Mr Putin cast Russia and Ukraine as victims of Western double-dealing and said Russia, not Ukraine, is the one fighting for its very existence.

Grievances

“We aren’t fighting the Ukrainian people,” he said on Tuesday (February 21), days before the war’s first anniversary on Friday.

Ukraine ‘has become hostage of the Kyiv regime and its western masters, which have effectively occupied the country’, he claimed. The speech reiterated a litany of grievances the Russian leader has frequently offered as justification for the widely condemned war and for ignoring international demands to pull back from occupied areas in Ukraine.

The Russian leader vowed no military let-up in Ukrainian territories he has illegally annexed, apparently rejecting any peace overtures in a conflict that has reawakened fears of a new cold war.

Instead, he offered his personalised version of recent history, which discounted arguments by the Ukrainian government that it needed Western help to thwart a Russian military takeover.

“Western elites aren’t trying to conceal their goals to inflict a ‘strategic defeat’ to Russia,” Mr Putin said in the speech, which was broadcast by all state TV channels.

“They intend to transform the local conflict into a global confrontation.”

He said Russia is prepared to respond as ‘it will

be a matter of our country’s existence’.

Before the speech, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the Russian leader would focus on the ‘special military operation’ in Ukraine, as Moscow calls it, and Russia’s economy and social issues.

Many observers predicted it would also address Moscow’s fallout with the West, and Mr Putin began with strong words for those countries.

“It’s they who have started the war and we are using force to end it,” he said before an audience of politicians, state officials and soldiers who have fought in Ukraine.

Mr Putin also said Russia would suspend its participation in the 2010 New Start treaty aimed at limiting nuclear weapons expansion.

See the Times’ interviews with two Ukrainians who have ended up in Tunbridge Wells due to the war, page 6.

US and allies ‘have Ukraine’s back’

Joe Biden tells crowd in Poland

JOE Biden has promised that the Russian invasion of Ukraine has hardened western resolve to defend democracy around the globe.

The US president, returning to the Polish castle where he spoke shortly after the invasion began last year, warned there are ‘hard and bitter days ahead’, but pledged that the US and its allies will ‘have Ukraine’s back’ as the war enters its second year.

Consequential

“Democracies of the world will stand guard over freedom today, tomorrow and forever,” he said at the Royal Castle, a historical landmark in Warsaw, before a cheering crowd of Polish citizens and Ukrainian refugees.

His speech came a day after his unannounced trip to Kyiv, where he met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

“Kyiv stands strong,” Mr Biden declared. “Kyiv stands proud.”

Before his speech, he met Polish President Andrzej Duda as he began a series of consultations with allies to prepare for an even more complicated stage of Russia’s invasion. “We have to have security in Europe,” Mr Biden said at the presidential palace in Warsaw. “It’s that basic, that simple, that consequential.”

He described Nato as ‘maybe the most consequential alliance in history’, and said it is ‘stronger than it’s ever been’ despite Russian President Vladimir Putin’s hopes that it would fracture over the war in Ukraine.

Mr Duda praised the American leader’s unannounced visit to Kyiv as ‘spectacular’, saying it ‘boosted morale of Ukraine’s defenders’.

He said the visit was ‘a sign that the free world, and its biggest leader, the president of the United States, stands by them’.

On Wednesday, Mr Biden plans to meet Mr Duda again along with other leaders of the Bucharest Nine, a group of the easternmost members of the Nato military alliance.

Greg Clark was first elected MP for Tunbridge Wells in 2005. He has held a number of positions in Government, including Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy and Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities. He is currently Chairman of the Commons’ Science and Technology Committee

South East Water accepted my argument Greg Clark

THE 10 days leading up to Christmas were a time of great stress for thousands of my constituents. The supply of water from South East Water failed, leaving many people without access to water to drink, to cook with, to wash in and to do laundry. Central heating systems were also affected during one of the coldest times of the winter.

I had a debate in Parliament on 17 January, on the performance of South East Water in which I made the case to the Minister for Water that my constituents should be financially compensated – though money could not erase the memory of the first Covid-restriction free Christmas being spoiled. I also argued that there needs to be improvements to the resilience of the network so that there is no repeat of this experience.

Compensation

Since the debate I have been working with South East Water on compensation. My concern was that paying the statutory minimum would not address the impact of days of rolling outages of water supply: often water supply being restored in the middle of the night only to be cut off again in the morning when people needed to use it.

I was pleased that South East Water accepted my argument. Most households affected – 85 per cent of them – received a payment of £250. The

average annual water bill for South East Water is £220 a year and so - while everyone’s bill differs – for many households this refund will be in the order of a year’s water supplied. While financial compensation cannot take away the experience that people endured, it is far beyond the contractual amount payable and I think it does meet the demand that I made of the company.

In my debate in Parliament I also said that South East Water should make an additional contribution to our community, to reflect the

disruption they caused to the whole town and surrounding villages in the lead up to Christmas.

Since my Parliamentary debate I have been having constructive discussions with South East Water about this and I am pleased to be able to announce today that the company has agreed to make a donation of £100,000 to charities in our local area.

From today, local groups who are registered charities can submit a request for a cash sum from this donation. I was keen to avoid making good causes have to spend effort going through

Marguerita Morton Liberal Democrats

a very bureaucratic process. So South East Water have agreed to set up a website which asks for the name of the charity and its registration number, how much is being asked for and a 100 word statement of what the money would be used for. Applications are invited for up to £5,000 so that the money can go to a range of good causes. Charities will have three weeks –until 8 March – to apply and it is aimed to make allocations by Easter.

Boost

So if you know of a local charity that is doing great work and needs a boost please ask them to go to southeastwater.co.uk/tunbridgewells and upload their details. Alternatively send me an email at gregclarkmp@parliament.uk and I will get in touch with the charity and tell them how to apply.

There’s vital unfinished business in making our water supply network more resilient, and I’m helping constituents in individual properties get their compensation. But having been very critical of South East Water during the incident I do acknowledge that they have responded positively to my interventions in recent weeks. £100,000 will be a welcome boost to local good causes at a difficult time for many of them and the people they help.

My pledge for a brighter place to live

MY NAME is Marguerita Morton, and have been privileged to be a Councillor for St. John’s for almost four years, and I was previously a Town Councillor from 2003-2011. I love local politics because it is a forum in which we can make people’s lives better by improving the areas in which we all live.

A good example is this: for many years, residents have told me that speeding, rat running and inconsiderate parking makes their lives a misery. It makes our residential areas unpleasant and unsafe for the young and the elderly alike, they say. Over the years, we have listened and acted by bringing in more 20MPH limits and building more cycle lanes.

Congestion

The Council supports ‘bikeability’ schemes for school children and for cycling to work. Just last month we experienced terrible congestion in all parts of St John’s which ended in gridlock and very angry drivers. By working with SGN, the owner of the gas works on Upper Grosvenor Road near the railway bridge, I requested closure of both roads at the bottom of the hill going up to Woodland Road. Within a day, this was done. Similarly, residents tell us that community

spaces are very important to them. We have worked to restore the Doulton Fountain in St John’s Park. The designs for the restoration of the fountain and new benches at the pavilion were lovingly provided by local architects living in St John’s, whilst the refurbishment concept has been provided by residents of the town.

We also worked with residents in the Woodland Road area of Tunbridge Wells to save the old Toc H Hall so that it can be refurbished and used for community purposes again.

Now, residents of St John’s are extremely concerned about the anti-social behaviour in St John’s Park, and even spilling out into the surrounding streets. Part of the remit of a Borough Councillor is to safeguard our parks and this does include making it safe from vandals. My Lib Dem colleagues and I have been taking residents’ concerns – who were, for

example, very helpful in providing detailed information to us during a canvassing session earlier this month—to Kent Police, the Community Safety Unit, Street Pastors and Kenward Trust amongst other agencies to help curb bad behaviour of undoubtedly a very small number of miscreants.

I am pleased to say that the council have commenced work on the vandalised pavilion and public toilets and continue to work closely with the council to find another suitable tenant.

In the meantime, work continues on plans to improve the skatepark through local support and crowdfunding to make it a really fun place for our children.

Promoting

Longer term, as someone deeply concerned about climate change, I would like to see Tunbridge Wells become a Zero Greenhouse Gas Emissions Borough, to improve the air we breathe and halt the decline in biodiversity. I also want to make Tunbridge Wells more attractive to visitors by promoting our excellent library, museum and adult education centre at The Amelia Scott, our unique music and puppetry festivals, the Trinity Arts Centre located in the town, the historic Pantiles and the Chalybeate Spring.

I am proud of the small changes that we have been able to catalyse with the help and support of local residents, and I hope to be able to continue to support residents in making our home a better place – should I have the honour of being re-elected in the local elections this May. As ever, if you have any questions or concerns, please do get in touch—my contact details are on the Borough Council’s website.

Marguerita Morton is a Liberal Democrat councillor for St John’s ward. She lived in Hong Kong between 1952 and 1964 and was elected to Tunbridge Wells Borough Council in 2019, where she sits on the Housing Advisory Panel and the Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

Conservative MP for Tunbridge Wells

And another thing…

This is the page where you, the reader, have your chance to express your views or comments on what’s going on in our part of the world. We like to hear from you. You can email us at newsdesk@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk or you can write to the Editor, Times of Tunbridge Wells, Salomons Estate, Tunbridge Wells TN3 0TG

Unpleasant penalty

surviving through this living nightmare is a start. It’s a little bit of dignity to help get them back on their feet.

A truck with aid carrying blankets has recently been sent over the boarder to Syria and has reached one of our local partners and we are also sending winter coats to children to help them combat the freezing night time temperatures.

This is a hugely complex humanitarian response that spans two countries. Our response teams are in Gaziantep, a city in the southern region of Türkiye where we are visiting affected areas are continue to find people under the rubble of collapsed buildings. ShelterBox has an emergency fundraising appeal to help people affected by the earthquakes and other disasters around the

world. For more visit shelterbox.org

Martin Strutton

ShelterBox Response team in Gaziantep, Türkiye

Gone to waste

I was sad to see that the Zero Waste Company in the Pantiles has closed. It was a lovely café and shop where you were able to fill up your essentials and buy a range of fresh products. More companies should be ethical and I think the two girls who ran the shop did a great job promoting zero plastic and alternative products. This is the second business in The Pantiles that has closed recently after the Pizza restaurant, and it is very disappointing to see.

Jane Walker Tunbridge Wells

HAVE YOUR SAY:

Each week the Times will run a series of social media polls that ask our readers for their opinions on the Borough’s biggest stories.

To participate in the polls, simply follow the Times on Instagram or Twitter using the handle @timeslocalnews

I HAVE obtained from TWBC clarification of the traffic restrictions recently re-introduced in Mount Pleasant Road.

If you have driven into Monson Road from the Simmonds end, then turning left on to Mt Pleasant will incur a penalty. A spokesman from the town hall advises turning around in Monson Way to avoid this.

If you enter Mount Pleasant from Newton Road or York Road you must turn left and then enter Monson Road. If you come in from Dudley Road you turn right and then left into Monson Road; these routes are an unavoidable technical breach as this whole area is contained within the restriction: a right bugger’s muddle.

Wasted money

CLLR BAILEY has a very selective memory. Given that he was once the Conservative Cabinet member responsible for the waste contract before his former party members binned him off. He should know that it was his former colleagues who agreed to the waste contract in 2018 and the indexation terms which form a significant portion of the figures he quoted in his recent letter. He also omits his own role in spending over £10 million of public money as part of the failed Calverley Square project, a figure that dwarfs the current annual deficit of over £900k that he and his former peers have left the new Partnership administration. That lost money was spent by his peers with no tangible benefit to the residents of our Borough. In the difficult times we are facing this is unforgivable.

I am happy to say we have grabbed the bull by the horns and have worked with our contractor to find ways in which we can deliver a more efficient and reliable collection service, such a service that eluded Cllr Bailey when he was in post.

I am also personally excited that we will have

This is a classic example of a committee sitting down to design a racehorse and producing a camel: you can’t turn around in Monson Way without making a three-point turn; the mixed area outside the Opera House will allow a confused notion of who has right-of-way – pedestrians or drivers. I foresee accidents, so is TWBC culpable? One for the lawyers.

TWBC have had a moratorium of three years on this and they’ve produced nothing that is different; this in itself raises any number of questions.

Edward Baker Tunbridge Wells

vehicles that can use HVO fuel, with a trial being undertaken by our neighbours at Wealden Council. I will monitor the results of these trials and wish them success in reducing their carbon emissions.

Cllr Luke Everitt (Labour) TWBC Cabinet member for Environment, Sustainability and Carbon Reduction.

Earthquake response

I’VE BEEN involved in earthquake responses before, but I’ve never seen anything on a scale like this. Whole cities have been completely devastated, 12-storey buildings entirely levelled, like in Adiyaman where we’ve been finding out what people need and where, where we can get aid in, and in what quantity. With the search and rescue effort almost at an end, we can expect supply lines to get choked, so we are trying to get aid in as quickly as we can working with local agencies and partners including Rotarians.

We have ShelterBox aid in Türkiye and Syria, including essential items such as tents, blankets, and mattresses with more on the way. Items that might seem basic but for people

This week we asked our readers:

SHOULD TWBC RAISE YOUR COUNCIL TAX?

SHOULD TAXPAYERS BAIL OUT URBASER?

The Borough Partnership is set to raise Council Tax by 2.95%, adding £5.71 to Band D properties. YOU SAID…

YES (25%) It’s a reasonable increase

NO (75%) It should not be increased

PEPPY SAYS...

Struggling bin collectors Urbaser are to receive £450,000 from the Borough Cxouncil. YOU SAID…

YES (32%) We need better bin collections

NO (68%) Spend the money on something else

BY PEPPY: ( Follow her on Twitter @Peppyscott)

Preparing for success at school

Your 15-page education

special...

An up-to-date guide to schools and learning opportunities at all ages in Tunbridge Wells and the surrounding area

Nurturing success at Holmewood House

HOLMEWOOD House is a co-educational, non-selective Preparatory School for children aged 3-13 situated in 30 acres of glorious grounds in Tunbridge Wells. With new Head, Ruth O’Sullivan, at the helm, the school is developing a curriculum that empowers children to be idea generators and creative, resilient human beings. We encourage intellectual curiosity and expect our pupils to ask questions, solve problems and work collaboratively.

Responsibility

“We see pastoral care as inextricably linked to attainment: children are encouraged to understand and deal with their emotions, to understand how they learn, and to understand their privilege in the world and their responsibility to the planet.”

Children at Holmewood House are encouraged to climb trees, make dens, and

enjoy the great outdoors. We are creating an outdoor learning area centred on our newly redeveloped pond, a fantastic natural resource supporting the development of forest school. We take pride in our ability to nurture pupils with outstanding ability who can benefit from what the school has to offer, yet might not be able to attend without financial support.

At Year 7, Scholarships are offered to children showing excellence in these areas: academic, sport, music, art and drama. Academic Scholarships for entry to Year 3 are available. Holmewood House has a strong record of scholarship success to destination schools at 13+. Twenty pupils secured scholarship places in 2022 to some of the UK’s top independent schools.

To learn more about our scholarship programme and open events, contact admissions on 01892 860006 or registrar@ holmewoodhouse.co.uk

The Skinners’ Kent Academy offers a world of opportunity

SHORTLISTED as Secondary School of the Year at the 2022 Education Today awards, the Academy is built on a foundation of high standards and aspirations, where every student is supported and encouraged to reach their full potential. It’s innovative and internationally-focused curriculum makes learning exciting and engaging, and is taught by dedicated teachers who not only have a passion for teaching, but also for staying current in their fields of expertise. This is evident in the Mathematics and Science departments, which received the PTI Subject Leadership Programme Mark last year in recognition of their excellence in these subjects.

At The Skinners’ Kent Academy, learning goes far beyond the classroom. It offers an abundance of extra-curricular activities that cater to every student’s interests and talents,

from Music and Drama to Sports, CCF, and Art. And when it comes to educational trips and excursions, the Academy truly raises the bar, providing a diverse range of experiences for their students, including exciting adventures to destinations such as Madagascar, Barcelona, New York and Switzerland.

Aspirations

If you’re interested in learning more about The Skinners’ Kent Academy and what it has to offer, be sure to attend one of our open events. You’ll see first-hand the Academy’s culture of high standards and aspirations, and how students are supported and encouraged to reach their full potential. For information, visit: skinnerskentacademy.org.uk

Mayfield

AN INDEPENDENT DAY AND BOARDING SCHOOL FOR GIRLS AGED 11 TO 18

OUTSTANDING ACADEMIC RESULTS • SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE EXTENSIVE CO-CURRICULAR PROGRAMME

EXEMPLARY PASTORAL CARE & NURTURING ENVIRONMENT

STATE OF THE ART EQUESTRIAN CENTRE SET IN THE BEAUTIFUL SUSSEX COUNTRYSIDE

FLEXI, WEEKLY AND FULL BOARDING OPTIONS

MINIBUS SERVICE ACROSS SUSSEX AND KENT

OpenMorning

SATUR DAY 2 5 TH MARCH 2023

TO ARRANGE A VISIT PLEASE CON TACT MRS SHIRLEY COPPARD, REGISTRAR@M AYFIELDGIRLS.ORG

WW W.M AYFIELDGIRLS. ORG

Expert Maths and English support from Kip McGrath

SINCE 1976, Kip McGrath Education Centres have been providing worldwide specialist tutoring in Maths and English for students aged six to 16, covering all areas of both subjects up to and including GCSE Level. In addition, the Tunbridge Wells centre also offers an 11+ preparation programme.

Kip McGrath’s fully trained and qualified teachers understand the many and varied challenges youngsters face in education and create a positive learning environment. This makes achievement natural and boosts selfesteem, giving students the confidence to learn.

As well as academic development, Kip McGrath aims to enhance children’s self-confidence

A free assessment is conducted with every student to identify strengths and weaknesses, so an individually tailored learning programme can be designed.

Each session lasts 80 minutes and offers a mixture of computer and paper activities, with students being given both one-to-one time with the teacher and independent learning time, to consolidate new skills and build confidence.

As well as academic development, Kip McGrath aims to enhance children’s selfconfidence and establish good foundations on which to build on.

One example of how the centre helped to improve self-confidence and academic development includes a Year 10 student who was struggling in both English and Maths. Their low self-esteem was holding the student back from making further progress and negatively affecting their schooling experience.

Within weeks of joining Kip McGrath, the student’s confidence ‘blossomed’, as described by the centre’s tutors. They created an individualised work programme for the student, focusing on their specific needs, ensuring that the student had firm foundations before progressing onto different topics.

The student made “fantastic progress in a short space of time, with their Maths level increasing

by a whole year, and their comprehension and reading age increasing from nine years 10 months to 14 years and six months.”

Tailored

Another student, in Year 5, who attends Kip McGrath for support in English has made “huge progress and improvement” during their time at

Girls’ football team kick on to a place in Kent Cup Final

the centre. Their comprehension age has increased by over two years, in five months, strengthening learning and progression across all subjects, not just English.

With its centre at 35 Quarry Road and online lessons available too, Kip McGrath Tunbridge Wells aims to be accessible and available for all children requiring additional educational support. kipmcgrath.co.uk/tunbridge-wells

My mission at Kent College

HEAD Katrina Handford tells the Times why there’s a real buzz about this all girls independent school…

There is excitement at Kent College at the moment and that’s because we are on a mission – a mission to ensure that every student has the opportunity to find their strengths and talents, and become equipped for very bright futures.

As one of the first GC Index (Game Changing Index) accredited schools, Kent College (KC) students learn to understand their own unique contribution and impact, whilst teachers use the GC Index data to ensure that each student is engaged by tailoring their lessons to the students’ natural interests.

Confidence

Our Methodist ethos of ‘doing all the good you can’ sits at the very heart of KC and ensures all students know their place in the world. There is a family feel, which nurtures confidence and ensures every student can be the very best they can be, not only for themselves but for the community and the world around them.

ST GREGORY’S Catholic School’s under-16 girls’ football team played Dane Court Grammar school from Broadstairs in the Kent Cup Final at Ramsgate Football club, which was held earlier this month.

In the lead-up to the prestigious final, the St Gregory’s team had scored a total of 28 goals and only conceded four during their run of successful matches. The wins that took them to the Kent Cup Final included matches against Charles Darwin School, Meopham Secondary School, St George's

School in Broadstairs, Lenham School and Thomas Tallis School in Kidbrooke.

“The girls’ Friday night final was played in front of over 200 people and the game was certainly entertaining, with ten goals scored in

total,” explained the Catholic comprehensive school’s PE teacher Mr Cumber.

“Unfortunately, in the final St Gregory’s lost 7-3, with goals scored by our Year 10 students Rebecca, Rosie and Eva.

“However all of the team showed fantastic resilience and determination right until the final whistle and they should be incredibly proud of their performance and achievement this year.

“Hopefully, next season, the team can go one step further.” Mr Cumber added.

Our ability to ensure every student maximises their potential means we have impressive GCSE and A-Level results. However, what is most remarkable is the Value Added scores. This is a measure of results in comparison to potential. KC consistently scores within the top 10% of schools in the country for Value Added.

We have excellent facilities which ensure we provide outstanding opportunities for the pupils so they can approach life and learning with creativity and adventure.

If you would like to experience the KC buzz for yourself, get in touch at: admissions@kentcollege.kent.sch.uk

St Gregory’s under-16s squad made a fantastic run to Ramsgate event

‘The girls’ Friday night final was played in front of over 200 people’

FROM TRADITION TO INNOVATION

Tonbridge, founded in 1553, is one of the country’s ancient schools. And yet, despite its age, it is at the forefront of the new. We were the first school in the UK to embed Mindfulness into the curriculum, and our Life Skills course ranges from global perspectives and interview techniques to first aid and yoga. We believe this is innovation with purpose.

Arrange a visit: admissions@tonbridge-school.org tonbridge-school.co.uk

Ranked 8th best independent senior school in the country: Sunday Times Parent Power League Table

we are the future.

senior school open morning tuesday 28th february book online kent-college.co.uk

Marlborough House takes the individual approach

FROM September, Marlborough House will further individualise their learning approach so that the children can follow their interests and strengths, and have more freedom to step away from the constraints of the timetable – choosing drama rather than a fourth games session in a week for example.

Independence

Passion for STEM at Radnor House

Pavel Malik, Assistant Head & Director of Digital Learning says coding and robotics can make maths more engaging…

STEM subjects have long been recognised as important for future career success and economic development in our increasingly digital world. The government has identified maths as key for bridging future skills gaps in the workplace and sees numeracy as a vital part of a child’s education.

Engagement

While the general belief is that competency in maths is a pre-requisite to coding, at Radnor House Sevenoaks, we start teaching coding and robotics from the age of five to help maths and technology skills develop at the same time. We see many benefits to this approach, which enhances learning and engagement in other STEM subjects and across the curriculum: It builds confidence for learners who otherwise dislike maths or find it challenging

Young coders also develop logic, problemsolving and computational thinking Coding brings maths to life, showing real-world applications of mathematical concepts to make maths skills relevant and exciting Tasks such as building apps and games combines the practical use of algorithms and sequencing and fosters creativity

By investing in skills from a young age and continuing this support throughout the school, we are equipping students for global workplace success and hope to inspire more underrepresented groups to achieve careers in technology.

Radnor House Sevenoaks is welcoming parents to explore its new computing suite as part of its next Prep School Open Morning on Saturday March 18. More details at: radnor-sevenoaks. org/opendays-tours

Trips to senior schools for an afternoon, hearing from guest speakers or trying a themed day off-timetable will all become things that pupils can learn from alongside regular lessons. And the Year 8 Leadership Programme offers even more trips and challenges, enabling children to grow in confidence and independence at the top of the School and finish in style! In this way, all pupils will get extra preparation for senior school entrance or

scholarships as well as an enriched experience that will serve them well, long after they leave education.

This individualised learning approach will sit alongside the School’s well-established Pre-Senior Baccalaureate (PSB). A forwardthinking school, the PSB was adopted in 2019 to maintain the rigour of the curriculum, while allowing children to learn more relevant skills for later life too, like how to present, communicate, lead, collaborate, debate and research independently. This sits alongside the School’s emphasis on educating characters as well as young minds, helping children to develop practical wisdom, joy of learning and self-belief that will support them at senior school and beyond.

To find out more about Years 7 and 8 at Marlborough House, including tours and open days, visit: marlboroughhouseschool.co.uk

Step into a world of opportunity at The Skinners ’ Kent Academy

Where an international curriculum opens doors to endless possibilities, both inside and outside the classroom

www.skinnerskentacademy.org.uk

Tonbridge is one of UK’s top ten schools

Mayfield School at Model United Nations Conference

SIX girls from Mayfield School recently attended the 7th Annual Model United Nations (MUN) Conference in Poland, along with pupils from across Europe.

MUN is an educational simulation of the actual United Nations in which students can learn about diplomacy and international relations. The Mayfield girls attended as delegates for Russia, Iran, Canada, the USA, DPRK and Nigeria, sitting on committees for Human Rights, UN Women, and the Future Security Council –the latter set in 2050 amidst concerns about overpopulation.

Culture

The girls stayed with host families and had a great time experiencing Polish culture in their downtime following heated debate about global issues during the day. Torun, where the conference was held, is a UNESCO world heritage site and the girls had an opportunity for

sightseeing, including a culinary exploration of Torun’s legendary gingerbread.

Sixth Former Cosima finished the conference as Best Delegate on the Human Rights Committee, while Rosie was voted Best Delegate in the General Assembly.

Mrs Kasia Kilvington, MUN lead at Mayfield, said: “MUN has quite literally transformed the lives of some of the girls at Mayfield. The role play element has enabled pupils who never believed they could speak in public stand up and do just that. They have found a group of similar minded peers, passionate about current affairs and finding solutions to global issues. They have learned about countries and problems that they never even knew existed. It has made them keen researchers and critical thinkers, having to scrutinise nuance in the delicate wording of resolutions, and given them immense confidence, both personally and academically.” mayfieldgirls.org

TONBRIDGE has been named as among the best schools in the country in a new set of league tables published by The Sunday Times. The latest edition of the prestigious ‘Parent Power’ Schools Guide identifies the UK’s leading schools, based on exam performance at A-level and GCSE last summer.

Continuity

Tonbridge rose to eighth in the national table for independent senior schools, and was also placed third in the regional table, which compared schools across the south-east.

Additional Sunday Times tables placed Tonbridge ninth in the UK, based on its A-level results for 2022, and sixth nationally based on its GCSE results.

James Priory, the School’s Headmaster, said: “This excellent news reflects the quality of

education and high level of continuity we were able to provide, academically and pastorally, throughout the pandemic. It is also exciting to consider the positive impact made through our innovative Sixth Form Curriculum, for which we saw our first examination results last summer.

“Above all, however, we know that boys at Tonbridge benefit from a wide range of experiences and co-curricular opportunities, all contributing to an outstanding, rounded education that extends well beyond the classroom and, indeed, beyond the measurement of any league table.”

Editor of The Sunday Times Guide, Helen Davies, added: “League tables are not the only criteria a parent can use when choosing a school, but they are a good starting point. We want to celebrate excellence and champion schools that are doing wonderful work.” tonbridge-school.co.uk

Providing a world class Catholic education through our outstanding and inclusive Christian approach. We welcome students of all faiths and none.

“ I believe this is the school where my child will achieve academic excellence, as well as develop the skills and confidence to allow them to excel in the world.” PARENT

Every child is known and loved Enhanced learning with world class opportunities Enrichment strengthens personal development Students recognise and realise their potential

“ Achievement is outstanding because students make excellent progress and attain consistently above average GCSE results. ” OFSTED 2013

St Gregory’s CATHOLIC SCHOOL

Education has the power to transform

Severine Collins is the Principal of Claremont Senior School. The bilingual French national and artificial intelligence expert tells Eileen Leahy all about her plans for the school…

How would you describe your leadership style?

Climate and culture are very important to me. I hold trust, rapport, integrity and accountability in high esteem as a leader and therefore, I like to work in an environment where staff are involved in decisions and developments, and where they feel empowered to meet challenging and exciting goals. Therefore, I value people’s voice, and that includes students and parents as, together, we can positively impact change where needed, and create outstanding conditions for the learning and development of our young people.

How do you think subjects like art, drama and sport enhance a child’s learning compared to the traditional curriculum?

I am a passionate believer in the transformative power of education. Academic achievement is crucial in creating outstanding opportunities for the future of our young people who must learn to be agile and be empowered with a deep love of learning that enables them to take risks, be creative and innovative, solve complex problems and drive societal change. Therefore, educating young people must go beyond academic excellence. The skills students learn in extracurricular activities such as Art, Drama, Sports, but also DoE, MUN and Young enterprise, to name but a few of the opportunities offered at Claremont, are vital to their social and emotional development. Being given a safe space to put yourself in a situation where you need to go beyond your acquired skills and knowledge to approach new challenges with courage and determination are central to becoming the resilient young people who will be shaping our future. With achievements such as the Football Academy and the School of the Year Award for Performing Arts, Claremont School is the ideal setting for our young people to grow.

Being a French native, what are your thoughts on languages being a dying subject in schools?

I would like to challenge the fact that languages are a dying subject. The only reason that languages do not feature more prominently in most schools, and as a core subject as they once were, has been driven by governmental decisions. We, at Claremont, put high value in the skills learnt through the acquisition of a new language and, for our multilingual students, in the development of the understanding of their own mother tongues. Not only is it vital that our future generations are able to express themselves confidently, they also need the ability to listen to different perspectives and engage positively with views that differ from their own. Learning a new language or two helps them appreciate the traditions and values of others, as well as their own. Then, they will be able to critically appreciate different perspectives and actively challenge and question inequality and discrimination. This is another reason I am proud to be the Principal of Claremont School, with its enriching international community.

What do you think are the biggest challenges facing teachers today?

Supporting our young people with mental health and wellbeing issues, and how to be safe online. These are two of the growing concerns we discuss constantly with staff. The knowledge and resources necessary to achieve success are not negligible, and developing the skills and confidence to tackle the issues is something we value greatly at Claremont.

Where do you stand on the increasing amount of technology being used in classrooms?

This is an interesting question and one that I explored in my Masters thesis. I feel quite strongly that both need to be used, but that learning to use digital technologies appropriately should be a priority. First, let’s be honest: how much ‘pen and paper’ do we use ourselves in our working life? Hardly any, and in

fact, with the environmental crisis we face, it should be none at all. So digital literacy should be developed from a young age so that our children know how to safely use the powerful tools they hold in their hands. Being able to critically assess what they are reading online, and to be safe on social media, as mentioned previously, are far more important than knowing how to use a fountain pen. Whether we like it or not, technology is not going to disappear, and with the development of Artificial Intelligence and software such as ChatGTP, it is high time that the priorities of our education system and its assessment regime system be completely overhauled.

Tell us what key educational elements you are determined to bring to Claremont School?

Focusing on the quality of education, student experience and boarding are our top priorities. Often, the focus can be solely on exam results and destinations. Whilst I hold these in high esteem and Claremont has demonstrated time and again that it achieves top grades and destinations for its students, I regard character development as highly as academic achievement. Examination results, good inspection reports and league tables are important, but these must be achieved

alongside developing those attitudes and positive dispositions that enable our young people to lead a fulfilling and satisfying life. Clear communication, a commitment to Quality Assurance processes, a listening and coaching culture, collegial collaboration and training are some of the aspects I consider as being vital to success.

And finally, why should parents consider sending their children there?

I hope the answers to the questions will already give parents an insight into what drives the vision and the mission of Claremont, and that they see that we are ambitious for our young people now, and for their future. At the end of the day, we all want our children to be successful and above all, happy. When parents send their children to Claremont, they also join a very warm, friendly and supportive community. The Heads of Schools and myself are very approachable and welcome feedback and suggestions, and together with the Claremont Friends and Families Association, we are also planning a list of social events that I hope many will attend. I hope to be meeting many more parents in the coming weeks. claremontschool.co.uk/learning/senior/

Outside play is central to learning at Somerhill

At Somerhill we recognise the importance of outdoor learning. Our teachers regularly take the opportunity to bring their curriculum alive outdoors, in the magnificent school grounds. As a school we are constantly reviewing best practice and are progressive in our thinking. We are also educating children with needs and futures very different from the past.

We have therefore introduced Saplings, an outdoor programme based on the principles of Forest School, to complement our successful Pre-School sessions.

Exploration

At Saplings, we work within the guiding principles of Forest School, which is an holistic, child-centred learning process that supports play, exploration and supported risk taking. This process helps children to develop socially, emotionally, physically, and intellectually in a non-judgemental, nurturing and natural environment. All children are seen as equal, unique, and valuable. They initiate and drive their own learning and development.

Each week, we provide opportunities for the children to meaningfully connect with nature through stories, songs, and challenges and to

expand on their knowledge of the environment in which we live. We work within a theme, incorporate real world issues, build self-esteem and resilience. Saplings is a space for trying new things and taking risks, growing, and overcoming barriers, thus helping your child to become a healthy, resilient, creative and a lifelong independent learner. Saplings’ sessions complement the children’s classroom learning by offering a different environment in the quiet and calm of the outdoors. With no agenda, the child’s inquisitive nature leads them through each day under the guidance of our nurturing staff.

Come rain or shine, sessions at Saplings offer an opportunity to help children develop their common sense, team spirit and initiative as they lead their own learning in a magical natural classroom. Learning takes place in the outdoor woodland Saplings area with facilities to support self-care, clean running water, a Yurt for protection when needed, and plenty of nature to inspire curious minds.

Our Forest School accredited staff and qualified EYFS teachers provide fun, safe happy days in the outside classroom all year round.

To find out what Somerhill could offer your child and for information about Open Days, visit: somerhill.org

SEVERINE COLLINS

Life &Times

Food for thought

Settle your mind as well as your stomach with these calming foods, says health and wellbeing expert Monica Price…

ANXIETY is a complicated mental health disorder that requires a multitude of approaches to manage it effectively. Along with medication and therapy, the foods you eat may help support your mental health, reduce symptoms of anxiety and promote better brain health.

Overcoming anxiety without medications involves making lifestyle changes and that includes changing your diet. There are foods that will help cure anxiety and foods that will contribute to anxiety, and by choosing the right foods, you can drastically cut down on the amount of anxiety you experience, and help to improve your mood.

WHOLE GRAIN FOODS

Whole grain pasta, rice and bread have several powerful benefits for those with anxiety. Anything whole grain is rich in magnesium – and magnesium deficiency may lead to anxiety. It also contains tryptophan, which becomes serotonin – a calming neurotransmitter. Whole grains create healthy energy while reducing hunger – both important for anxiety.

FISH

Salmon, mackerel, sardines, trout, herring and other oily fish are high in Omega 3s. They are incredibly important and are a type of fatty acids that have a strong relationship to cognitive function and mental health. Many studies have shown that by adding fatty fish to your diet can help to improve your anxiety and also depression.

SEAWEED

Seaweed has many of the same benefits as whole grains. Not only is it rich in nutrients – it also has a high magnesium content, and kelp and other seaweed have a high tryptophan content. Seaweed is a good alternative to whole grains for those that are gluten sensitive.

DARK CHOCOLATE

Swap your milk chocolate for dark! Research has found that dark chocolate or cocoa may improve your mood as it is a rich source of polyphenols, especially flavonoids. Chocolate is another source of tryptophan, which the body uses to turn into mood-enhancing neurotransmitters such as serotonin in the brain. Dark chocolate is also a good source of magnesium. It’s important to look at the

chocolate that contains 70% cacao or more, and only a small amount is needed.

CHAMOMILE

Chamomile is a daisy-like plant most commonly used to make tea with and has long been associated with its calming and relaxing effects. There is also evidence to suggest chamomile may be effective for reducing depression and it is rich in polyphenols – many of which have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.

BRAZIL NUTS

Brazil nuts are high in selenium, which is an antioxidant that is important for the cells in our body, and this may improve your mood by reducing inflammation, which is often at heightened levels when someone has a

mood disorder such as anxiety. Other nuts and vegetables, such as mushrooms and soybeans, are excellent sources of selenium as well – and you only need to eat three or four brazil nuts a day to have all that your body needs.

FOODS TO AVOID

Making sure you are not eating foods that contribute to anxiety is also important. Examples of these types of foods could include fried foods, high glycaemic carbohydrates, refined sugars, and alcohol. A good idea is to write down any food that react or trigger an anxiety attack. If you have a panic attack for example, you may want to avoid coffee, because it can increase your heart rate and could be a trigger for an attack. But if you have more general anxiety then coffee may actually be beneficial. Many find that caffeine, in small quantities, can actually help reduce stress and improve mood.

Monica Price is a qualified nutritional therapist, writer and broadcaster based in Sussex. For more information, visit: monica-price.co.uk

Hosting suits everyone: single people, couples with or without children & retired people. We are seeking friendly and kind people who will provide the students with a warm, clean, safe and welcoming environment.

We welcome schools throughout the year including summer stays.The groups arrive on a Monday and stay 3 or 4 nights. Their busy schedules mean they are out all day from 7.30am – 7.00pm.

nights, leaving your weekends free! Hosting

Hosting with ISE is a wonderful and enriching way to give young people the opportunity of a lifetime and to create unforgettable memories

guidegig

February 22 to March 11

This week Paul Dunton reveals his top gig picks for the next fortnight, which include a Back to the 80s night at the Forum, George Michael and The Cure tribute acts and a special couple of shows to mark International Women’s Day on March 8…

THE GREY LADY MUSIC LOUNGE, THE PANTILES

All event information and tickets available at www.thegreylady.co.uk

03/03 The Grey Lady Sessions: Singer-songwriters Concert.

Featuring:

Ryan Weeks, Kylie, Alex Beharrell, Chloe Gorringe, Geordie Hunter and Charlie White.

04/03 Hospice of Hope bottomless brunch with live music. Event runs 11.30-2pm

THE TUNBRIDGE WELLS FORUM

Event information and tickets at www.twforum.co.uk

22/02 General Levy + Bobzy

25/02 Back to the 80s

02/03 The Oozes

03/03 Sainted + Heyzeus + Gramma

Vedetta + King For A Day

04/03 The Cureheads – A celebration of The Cure

08/03 Word Up – International

Women’s Day

THE ASSEMBLY HALL THEATRE, CRESCENT RD

All event information and tickets available from www. assemblyhalltheatre.co.uk

24/02 Magic of Motown

04/03 Rob Lamberti – A Celebration of George Michael

TN1 BAR & KITCHEN, MONSON RD

Open all day live music usually from 8pm booking advised Via 01892 513900 or visit www. tn1barkitchen.co.uk

22/02 Andreas Jensen 7pm

23/02 The Masqueraders Duo 8pm

24/02 Owen Donavan 8.30pm

02/03 Guy Watson 7pm

04/03 The Masqueraders Duo 8pm

09/03 Julian Burdoch 7pm

10/03 The Masqueraders Duo 8pm

11/03 The Management Duo 8pm

THE GREEN DUCK EMPORIUM, 53 GROSVENOR RD

All event information, tickets and bookings at www. thegreenduckemporium.com/events

24/02 Carradine's Cockney sing-a-long

THE FORUM BASEMENT, THE SUSSEX ARMS

All event information and tickets available at www.twforum.co.uk

25/02 T-Bitch + Greebo

04/03 Blue Stragglers + The Farm Boys

08/03 Reclaim The Night – A

Celebration Of IWD 2023 Jessica Mookherjee + Kate Phipps

THE ROYAL OAK PUB, PROSPECT RD

Open all day, free entry, music from 8pm 25/02 Demi Vora 03/03 Acoustic Music Night

THE BLACK HORSE PUB, CAMDEN RD

Open all day, free entry, music from 8pm. Live music every Friday night

SANKEYS BAR & RESTAURANT, MT EPHRAIM

Open all day, free entry, music from 7.30pm 23/02 Steffan James TYBER’S REGGAE BAR, 9 NEVILL STREET

All event information available at www.tybersreggaebar.com/events

24/02 The Skabratts reggae & ska band 25/02 Mr H 26/02 More Love Hi-Fi system 04/03 The Liberators

THE RED LION PUB, RUSTHALL

Open all day, free entry, music from 8pm, booking advised 01892 527000 04/03 Mike Wilton

THE RIDGEMONT PAVILION, SOUTHBOROUGH

25/02 The Acoustic Sessions with Ben Ottewell (Gomez) + support from The Varlies. Doors open 7.30pm music from 8.30pm. Tickets available www.seetickets.com/ venue/the-ridgemontpavilion/31794

THE BEDFORD PUB, HIGH STREET

Open all day, free entry music from 8.30pm

24/02 New Groove Band

03/03 Willow Wisp

THE COMPASSES, 45 LITTLE MOUNT SION

Open all day, free entry music from 7.30pm

23/02 Squeeze-A-Crowd

25/02 Red, Green & Blue

THE MASONIC HALL, ST JOHN’S RD

All event information and tickets available at www.twjazzclub.co.uk

03/03 Pete Rudeforth’s Jazz Club Four

GEOGRAPHY WINE BAR, HIGH STREET

Open all day music from 3.30pm, free entry

26/02 Steffan James

05/03 Steve Hewitt

THE GUN & SPITROAST INN, HORSMONDEN

Open all day, free entry, music from 8pm

22/02 Jam Session all welcome

29/02 Jam Session all welcome

01/03 Jam Session all welcome

If you are a venue local to Tunbridge Wells that hosts regular live music or even if it’s a one-off event, concert or festival, contact Paul at least six weeks in advance of your event date with the following details:

Name and address of venue

Date and time of event

Name of event and name of act(s)

Ticket link and/or website (please state if free entry)

Please also include the following:

1 x high resolution (300 dpi) landscape jpeg (performer only, no posters)

Please state photo credit if required.

paul@paulduntonandguests.com

Your Local Funeral Services

Our Funeral Directors are here to support and guide you. We offer a friendly and professional service to families.

T W Boorman Funeral Services www.tw-boorman.co.uk

Tunbridge Wells 01892 884 195 31 Mount Ephraim TN4 8AA

W F Groombridge Funeral Directors www.wfgroombridge.co.uk

Tunbridge Wells 01892 884 224

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

HEYZEUS

KYLIE

STEFFAN JAMES

homes & interiors

Creating the look of luxe

Vanessa, when and why did you get into the wonderful world of interior design?

I have always had a passion for interiors and the way these can shape a lifestyle, or even the other way around. I knew I wanted to provide a service for people who wanted to make their home work perfectly for their style of living, but didn’t have the time or inclination to make this themselves.

What would you say your company’s USP is?

I saw a gap in the market for an interior design company which offered a complete turnkey solution to the often tricky reality of employing multiple individual contractors and craftsman.

What were you doing beforehand?

I worked in finance in the City for a few years prior to having my son and also enjoyed a brief stint living in Bermuda, so quite varied! These experiences have enabled me to make some strong connections and I am still in touch with many friends from those days – I’ve even worked on some of their houses!

You trained at the KLC School of Design in Chelsea. How did you find this experience?

KLC provided the structure and formal training I needed but there is a lot more to interior design than simply picking colours and fabrics. I really wanted to focus on making sure I was technically able as well as delivering on the more creative side of the profession. It also opened the doors to a wonderful network of supportive partners, clients and friends.

You say that your designs try primarily to reflect the personality of each client. How do you do this?

Originality is key as is understanding the needs of the family and the way they live. I like to really get under the skin of my client before I provide any insight or design concept. If you are an extrovert and love to entertain, then your needs will be very different to someone who hates to cook, the needs of a young family are very different to those with teenage children and so on. Many companies produce a standardised product with a one-size-fits-all approach,

but I thrive on projects which go against the curve.

Do you actively involve your clients in their projects?

I encourage them to embrace their own needs and wants, both now and with an eye to the future, and suggest design and interiors which underpin this and steer away from current trends. This means my clients end up with a home that is right for them and one that is designed for the long-term too.

Your projects range from country cottages to super yachts and everything in between. Do you have any particular favourite style of interior?

If you’re looking to inject some effortless style and glamour into your home then you’ll definitely be inspired by Vanessa Morgan’s work. Here the interior designer who runs the Speldhurst-based Ven Morgan design company speaks to Eileen Leahy about her unique and stylish vision…

‘I look for people who are happy to share their lifestyles with me, as that’s how the best projects are concocted.’

I have a real thing for working with people who have open minds, who I can build a rapport and sense of trust with. I look for people who are happy to share their lifestyles with me, as that’s how the best projects are concocted. Ideally I enjoy working with people who haven’t already got everything mapped out to a tee. I love to get involved in the original vision and to work collaboratively with a client and architect to achieve brilliant results.

In terms of your work, do you just execute the soft furnishings side of interior design or do you also get involved in the structural side of things if needed with the service you provide?

Our team is home to interior designers, project managers and tradespeople, working collaboratively together to simplify processes, reduce costs and minimise delays often

experienced with numerous providers. We have decades of experience on site building extensions and creating interiors, whilst also producing the best craftsmanship and joinery, accredited by the Federation of Master Builders. Whether we work on your interior design only, or deliver your whole build for you, we are committed to a flawless end result.

What companies do you like working with on your projects and are any of them local to Tunbridge Wells?

We love incorporating design details that support local businesses when we can and also bouncing ideas off

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other local designers. We use local photographers, local marketing and PR, and on the procurement side. We also love collaborating and sharing knowledge. For example, a few companies I know in Kent that touch the home build space and share our values have been chatting about setting up a network so people moving to the area can immediately find the right experts for them. How many are in your design team and is it deliberate that it’s an all-female one?

I am proud to be breaking the mould of the male dominated building industry. My femaleled team has a core team of eight designers, developers and craftspeople, but we are also privileged to have an extensive network we can call upon for our larger projects too. Our craftsmen and tradesmen are happy to work for

women and it makes for a much more respectful environment that overturns stereotypes.

Your studio is based in Speldhurst, which must be very inspiring. What other areas in life do you draw inspiration from?

My son is sports mad and I am finding myself more frequently on the side of a cricket pitch, all over the country! Just as I am intrigued by how a person can shape a home, I am intrigued by how a culture can shape a person. My designs readily embrace local culture and influences.

Are there any particular designers you are inspired by?

I have always admired the work that comes out of the Helen Green Design Studio. The designs are always elegant and use colour and texture brilliantly. I am also a huge fan of the Tollgard Design Group for more contemporary design and their fabulous use of art.

Most of your work takes place in the local area. Are they all private projects or have you done some commercial ones you could tell us about?

We have worked on some wonderful projects both near and far, From Grade II-listed country manors, to contemporary London apartments and boutique holiday homes across the globe. We design exclusively to the style and vision of our clients, whether they are private or commercial. We don’t look for one type of project – we really enjoy complex and interesting challenges and, if we can build it in-house then it’s better for all parties as the client saves money and we can ensure our designs are delivered how they are meant to be.

And finally, can you sum up your interior design philosophy?

Originality and people-powered lifestyle design.

venmorgan.com

@venmorganinteriors

‘I love the challenge of trying to write a beautiful sentence…’

Film maker, author and resident of Tunbridge Wells, Michael Waterhouse has just published his new novel, ‘The Ladder’. Here he tells Eileen Leahy about what inspired his latest book. He also talks about his previous work, which includes another novel, ‘Prodigal’ and the Emmy-nominated film, ‘The Bible’

So Michael how did you get into writing – was it something you always wanted to do?

I feel that I’ve been writing all my life. It’s something that I have wanted to do for as long as I can remember. I think that, at the age of seven, I was creating my own Just William stories. None have survived, so I’ve no idea how awful they were. You can’t expect too much of a seven-year-old!

I read English at university and hoped that I would, one day, become a full-time novelist. From my late twenties, I was producing a novel perhaps every three to four years, but breaking into the world of London publishing was incredibly tough. I

had a few near-misses, when an editor saw some promise in something I’d written and was eager to see my next book – only for that editor to vanish into thin air by the time I’d completed the next. So, it took until a few years ago for me to find the right publisher for my fiction. I’m very grateful to the Conrad Press for taking on Prodigal (2019) and now The Ladder.

How many books have you written in addition to your latest one and Prodigal?

I published a non-fiction title with Constable in 2003. It was entitled Staying Close: A Positive Approach to Dying and Bereavement and explored how care of the

‘Every time I come back to a novel, I feel a frisson of excitement about the opportunity to develop and expand the story my characters are following’

dying and bereaved was changing in the early 2000s, and how hospices could offer a real quality of life to those with terminal illness. It was also about innovative and ‘alternative’ approaches to funerals and

bereavement counselling. I suppose, if you put me on the spot, ideas to do with death have preoccupied me over the years. There was even a time when I was the Death Correspondent of the Literary Review. I reviewed all the books they received on the subject. We all have to earn a living.

What do you enjoy most about the process? And how does it fit in alongside your work as a film maker?

Fiction is my real passion. I love the challenge of trying to write a beautiful sentence. I love the freedom novel-writing provides to invent characters and live with them for months, years even.

As a television producer, I produce and direct documentaries, chiefly history and mainly for the BBC and Channel 4. Being freelance, there are always intervals in the year, between contracts, say, when I can devote myself to writing. Every time I come back to a novel, I feel a frisson of excitement about the opportunity to develop and expand the story my characters are following. People ask novelists if they plot out everything beforehand. You do, inevitably, set a course, but so much arises spontaneously, as characters acquire depth and complexity. For me, one of the great pleasures of writing is that sense of ‘discovering’ the story.

Your latest book is entitled The Ladder. Can you tell us about its plot?

The Ladder is, first and foremost, a love story. It’s about what happens to love when one partner, Kim in this case, develops a debilitating illness. But don’t let that put you off! I have to say that whenever I felt the novel was in danger of tilting irreversibly into gloom and despondency, I tried a handbrake turn and headed for the sunny uplands, to something uplifting.

The novel has two narratives – Gary’s and Kim’s. Gary is living on a Scottish island. He’s recently lost Kim and, in his grief, he looks back on the previous two years. He wants to create a lasting tribute to Kim, a celebration of her lively, optimistic character and her love of colour. (She’s a florist.) But the memorial he’s designed may well raise questions amongst the islanders, questions he’d rather not answer.

How did you get into film making and how did it feel for The Bible to be nominated for an Emmy?

As I say, I hoped to be a novelist when I left university. I qualified as a Teacher of English as a Foreign Language and thought I could survive in London on part-time teaching, which would leave me time to write. How naive was that! So, when a friend told me about a job at Thames Television, I went for it. We didn’t call what I was doing being a ‘runner’ in those days, but that’s what it was. I

quite soon was given a researcher’s job on ‘This Is Your Life’ and spent a good deal of time in the company of ‘stars’, enough to convince me that Light Entertainment wasn’t my scene and I applied to be a producer of religious and arts programmes in Thames’ documentary department. The rest, as they say…

‘The Bible’ (2013) was one of my few ventures into the field of drama. It was all shot in Morocco, an incredible experience for, in my case, four months. The Emmy nomination was, of course, a huge thrill, international acknowledgement of the hard work and creativity of what was a very big production team and cast. We were pipped at the post by ‘Behind the Candelabra’, starring Michael Douglas as Liberace.

The Ladder deals with the debate around assisted dying. Here Michael explains in more detail why he decided to include this in his book…

Assisted dying is definitely the backdrop to

Canthereeverbeaclear-cut,unambiguousmomentwhen

life is so unbearable that helping someone to die is not only right, but an act of loving kindness?

The Ladder begins on a remote Scottish island where Gary, a recent widower, is living under an assumed name.

Wracked with doubts and fears, and a grief that often overwhelmshim,hedecidestodesignalastingtributetohislost

wife, a celebration of her life and her love of colour. But will the memorial he creates arouse suspicions amongst the islanders and make them ask questions that Gary would rather not answer?

Michael Waterhouse was born in North Wales. He has for many years beenadocumentary lm-maker,producinganddirectingawidevariety of lms on historical, religious and arts subjects, including the Emmy-nominated drama-documentary series The Bible. Michael’s rst novel,Prodigal,wasrecommendedin The Times by Joan Bakewell as a rst novelofenormouspower. Inspirational.’ He lives in Kent.

Are you working on anything at the moment you can tell us about?

I’m writing a novel about truth and lies. Can truth survive amidst the maelstrom of social media and political spin? I suppose it’s my attempt to tell a story that encapsulates my response to the Trump era and its consequences. It’s set in the world of archaeology and – plot teaser – features a shipwreck in the Namibian Desert.

You live locally, do you find any particular places here inspiring when it comes to writing/filming? What do you enjoy most about living here?

I’ve lived in Southborough for nearly thirty

THE STORY OF THE LADDER

years and have loved every minute. On the one hand, it has been easy to travel to London, where I generally work, and on the other, I adore the countryside in this area.

Walking the footpaths around Penshurst has been a perfect time to think about a scene in a novel or how a character might develop, and the medieval buildings that make up ‘Leicester Square’, near Penshurst Church, have featured in at least two of my films.

‘The Ladder’ (RRP £9.99) is published by The Conrad Press and can be ordered from Amazon and all good bookshops. (ISBN: 978-1915494276)

THE LADDER

MICHAEL WATERHOUSE

trials going on today that may result in some mitigation. But it’s not a good one to get. Those nine months that my mother lived with MND, short as they were, were time enough to prompt thoughts about euthanasia and assisted dying – and thoughts also about writing something. What I didn’t want to do was to write a polemic. I didn’t want to bang my drum about the need to reform the law on assisted dying – partly because it’s complicated, with arguments for and against, and partly because I wanted to write a novel, to tell a story, with all the contradictions and uncertainties, the hopes and fears that human experience entails. I decided

not to rush into it. Twenty-nine years seemed about right for the gestation of the story – and here we are, bang on time!

Assisted dying, in cases of terminal illness, is supported by 84% of this country. More or less the same figure comes up whether you’re a Labour or Tory supporter, a Leaver or Remainer. It’s something people tend to agree on. But legislative reform lags behind public opinion. They debated it in committee in the Commons last summer – for the first time in two-and-a-half years. There hasn’t been a vote on the floor in seven years.

In that time, several countries have amended their laws around assisted dying – Australia, New Zealand, Spain, among them, as well as 11 US states. Others are considering important changes. In this country, you can be prosecuted for helping someone to die. There are, I believe, a number of cases pending. Although the likelihood is that these will be withdrawn or dismissed – the stress of facing prosecution for a crime that could carry a sentence of up to 14 years has to be considerable.

So, ‘The Ladder’ is my way of inviting readers to think about the issues surrounding assisted dying.

A noteworthy charity collaboration

BEFORE Christmas, the Chapel of St Augustine at Tonbridge School was filled to capacity for the first time in three years, with over 700 people attending the Tonbridge Philharmonic Society (TPS) and Tonbridge Round Table Family Carols.

“This event has become such an important part of local Christmas celebrations that its absence, due to lockdown and social distancing, has been keenly felt,” explains TPC spokesperson Josephine Willoughby.

CONCERTED EFFORT

The event at Tonbridge School and (inset) representatives of SUSTAIN and Crosslight

Year 6 pupils from Woodlands Primary school and the West Kent Youth Voices joined the Tonbridge Philharmonic Society choir for the event, along with representatives from the two charities money was being raised for: SUSTAIN foodbank and Crosslight Advice West Kent. Sue Bell, the Mayor of Tonbridge & Malling, also attended.

Following the concert, which raised £4,000 for the two charities, Josephine Willoughby and Roger Barrow of Tonbridge Round Table met with Jemma Graffin and Keith Tunstall of SUSTAIN and Andrew Hull and Paul Crouch of Crosslight this week, to hand over a joint cheque.

“These two charities offer much needed support

to many within the community and in the current economic climate, they were especially glad to be the recipients of such significant donations,” said Josephine.

SUSTAIN and Crosslight work closely together and often refer work to each other as they seek to ensure that no person in need who requires help will fall through the net.

Audiences

Josephine adds that Tonbridge Philharmonic Society, which is celebrating its 75th anniversary, is looking forward to welcoming both new members and bigger audiences to its 2023 programme.

Its next concert will feature Mozart’s Great Mass in C Minor on March 25 and then Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue which will be performed by the Society’s own Jong Yung Park on May 20. Tickets available at: tonphil.org.uk

Earlier this month Tonbridge Philharmonic Society and Tonbridge Round Table presented two local charities with £4,000 worth of proceeds from their festive carol concert – the first to be held in the St Augustine Chapel for three years. The Times finds out more…

‘These two charities offer much needed support to many within the community’

WATERHOUSEMICHAEL

Learning music with your ABCs

Ali Rycroft, a specialist music teacher with Colourstrings at Brittens Music explains the lifelong benefits to developing musical skills in children…

Musical interactions can develop social skills too. You make music together, maybe echo someone's pattern or movement, respond to each other as well as the music. Research shows that singing and moving together with other people is good for our wellbeing. Clapping hands at the same time, joining in a rhythm and synchronising movements is an incredibly bonding experience.

How does the Colourstrings programme work?

Ali Rycroft is a music teacher and musical development specialist who teaches a Colourstrings music group for children from six months to eight years old at Brittens Music. Here, she shares her advice on the importance of music in childhood and the different ways you can develop musical skills in children.

When can children start learning about music?

Being musical is part of being human, it’s for everyone and anyone. Learning starts in the womb. We instinctively share music with babies, bouncing little ones and singing lullabies are often the earliest forms of musical interactions.

Do you need to join a music class to develop children musically?

There are all kinds of ways to add musical ‘enrichment’ to everyday life. Babies love the

feeling of the movement – rocking, swinging and bouncing babies are all ways to bring an instant musical pulse and rhythm to your baby. Singing songs and lullabies, saying rhymes, using silly voices all bring music into everyday life. It’s about incorporating as much music, movement, rhythm and rhyme and fun into your daily activities. It doesn’t matter what you sound like, even if you’re not singing in tune, it doesn’t matter – your baby doesn’t care. You are a rockstar to your children. They love what you’re doing. It’s all about sharing the joys of moving and singing with your children.

What are the benefits of music for children?

There’s a long list of benefits! Moving with music helps you develop the gross motor and fine motor skills that you need in daily life. Singing, rhythm and rhyme are plugged directly into your speech and language skills. It develops the tools you need to understand and formulate speech, which then feeds into learning to read. It can be a huge help with emotional expression. Young children often don’t have the words to talk about how they are feeling, but there is a whole range of music and songs that can help them express themselves.

Colourstrings is a structured and child-centred approach to music and instrumental teaching. For the babies and younger children, it’s all about exploration and experience. We focus on the voice and movement. From around five or six years old, as their musical understanding grows we become a little more conceptual. Fundamentally though, we’re teaching life skills. Developing as a musician helps us develop and grow as people.

Want to know more? Find out about the Colourstrings programme with Brittens Music at: brittensmusic.co.uk

CEO / BID Director

Full Time - £50,000

Royal Tunbridge Wells Together BID is seeking a dynamic and motivated BID Director, with experience in stakeholder, project, finance and people management, to build on the positive work with businesses in the town, helping in the recovery and continuing to deliver and passionately articulate BID initiatives.

In addition to overseeing and delivering existing initiatives you will work with the board and listen to levy-payers to review what works and continue to develop and refine new strategies to maximise the £500k annual budget and the potential impact we can have for the 672 levy paying businesses.

A copy of the job pack along with details on how to apply can be accessed on our website: www.rtwtogether.com/about

Application Deadline - 12pm 6th March 2023

Initial questions may be directed to Alex Green, biddirector@rtwtogether.com

ALI RYCROFT

Picture: Shutterstock

Green grazing trial at Bewl Water to cut carbon and tackle invasive species

A NEW flock of sheep have been brought in to help maintain the biodiversity of South East England’s largest reservoir, Bewl Water in Lamberhurst, Kent as part of ongoing efforts to improve long-term sustainability.

Thirty Suffolk sheep were brought to Ferry Point, where there is no public footpath, as part of a one-month conservation grazing trial at the 800-acre site.

Regenerate

The efforts play a key role in maintaining Bewl Water’s landscapes, controlling non-native plants which would otherwise dominate areas through scrub encroachment.

With plans to continue the regime long-term on an annual basis, when visitor numbers are quiet, Head Ranger Daniel Baker said the land will be managed for the greatest environmental benefit, allowing grass, wildflowers, and several other rare species to regenerate and coexist.

He added: “Sheep are very selective grazers meaning they are ideal when targeting unwanted species.

“This method of grazing will also reduce levels of carbon dioxide and greenhouse gas accumulations.”

The trial forms part of Bewl Water’s ongoing commitment to investing in its environmental performance and long-term sustainability, which sees the estate work closely with the Sussex Wildlife Trust and The Woodland Trust.

Annually the reservoir spends over £1.3 million running and maintaining its grounds to improve its natural ecosystems and biodiversity, and ultimately secure the future of the estate.

ROY OF THE ROVERS: THE COLLECTION OF THE LATE DEREK BIRNAGE, HEAD OF THE TEAM THAT CREATED ROY OF THE ROVERS, AND EDITOR OF ‘TIGER’ AND ‘THE CHAMPION’

PLEASED TO MEET EWE

The new flock at Bewl Water

Quench your thirst with one of these fine Hungarian wines

This week Times Drinks Editor James Viner

Are you aware that this is Furmint February? No? Well now’s your chance to try out the Furmint grape, which is indigenous to Hungary, courtesy of the four cracking wines I have picked out this week.

Originating in a highly effective and longestablished promotional programme in Hungary (now on its fifteenth iteration), Wines of Hungary UK is now co-ordinating ‘Furmint February’ for the fifth consecutive year.

High-acid, early budding, late ripening, thick-skinned Furmint – a half-sibling of both Chardonnay and Riesling – originates from the Tokaj region in northeast Hungary. This historic wine region, which was one of the first delimited wine appellations (in 1737), has a long-standing reputation for producing some of the world’s most celebrated, premium sweet wines made from grapes affected by the benevolent form of the fungus Botrytis cinerea – the ‘noble rot’ – whose existence was first documented in May 1571 in the Hétszölö vineyard in the village of Tokaj.

Furmint is a versatile white grape variety (there’s even a small production of fine traditional method sparkling Furmint) that, like Riesling, can transmit the local ‘terroir’ and can age well. It’s also easily the most planted grape in Tokaj with around 70 per cent of all plantings. In the past fifteen or so years high-quality, characterful dry Furmints, both oaked and unoaked, have been made in vintages where there is not much noble rot to make sweet wines. Here are four seriously good, full-flavoured, uber-crisp, dry, fabulous new-wave Hungarian Furmints to set pulses racing. Egészségedre!

1. Found Furmint 2021, Château Dereszla (£8-£8.50, Marks & Spencer & Ocado, 12%)

A tangy, pert and honey-tinged just-dry Furmint from a superb vintage, fragrant with red apple, pear, spicy apricot fruit, peach blossom and orange peel – and it’s great value for money. The racy, palate-cleansing acidity, is a highlight. Pretty smart entry point. Quite the revitalising, Hungarian salve, good juicy drinking and great value to boot. I’d fancy this one with seafood.

2. 2021 Patricius Tokaji Dry Furmint (£8.99, was £9.99, Waitrose, until 7 March, 12%)

This bone-dry, unoaked Furmint gives you a lot of bang for your buck on the discount. Think steely citrus and melon, with a smattering of

tribute to Hungary’s Furmint grape, which

of – until now that is…

ginger spice, green apple and walnuts. Lovely drinking with a crisp twang of acidity. I’d be drinking this on the earlier side. Try it with sushi or pan-fried white fish. Unmissable at the price. 100% stainless steel fermentation with neutral yeasts. Super-smart for the money and a lovely alternative to Chablis. Shines in the glass and does the grape proud. Get in on the offer at Waitrose (through to March 7). Stock up.

3. 2018 single-vineyard Nyulászó Furmint, Royal Tokaji Wine Co (£20, The Wine Society, 13.5%)

This dry Hungarian Furmint is exceptional and a joy to behold. Co-founded by eminent wine writer Hugh Johnson in 1990 and located in Mád, the Royal Tokaji Wine Co made its first dry Furmint in 2009. Nyulászó (meaning ‘a good place to catch hares,’ hence the label) is one of the most well-known first-growth vineyards in Tokaj. This is a striking, high-quality Furmint that is as intense as it is long, with a layered palate of pumice stone, quince, lime, orchard fruits, smoke, and a soupçon of oak spice, with spun-out stiletto acidity on both the back palate and aftertaste. The balance is pitch-perfect, with mineral-like acid support. Lingering. After fermentation, the wine

was matured for six months in Hungarian oak barrels (the oak is but an echo though). One for roast pork and tandoori seabass/monkfish/sea bream. I sense that this wine is growing all the while and would love a sojourn in the dark of the cellar. Has the X-factor.

4. 2019 Dobogó, ‘Úrágya’ Tokaji Furmint (£25.83-£31.99, Fine Wine Company & Liberty Wines, 13.5%)

“Wow!” was my one-word tasting comment when I first sipped this astonishing dry Furmint last month at The Kia Oval. Owned by Izabella Zwack (from the family that produces Hungary's most renowned herbal liqueur, Unicum) and winemaker Attila Domokos, Dobogó is a small, pretty, boutique winery with five hectares of first-growth vineyards in the volcanic centre of Tokaj, near the wonderfully named village of Mád. The fruit for this savoury and eminently ageworthy dry Furmint was sourced from an especially characterful southwest-facing vineyard, Úrágya, with 2.5 hectares of Furmint and, unusually for the area, a half hectare of Pinot Noir. The refined bouquet encompasses hay, lemon curd, orchard fruits, ginger, nectarines and a little spice. Full-bodied with a Burgundian finesse and lingering nuances of flint, peach, pear and cedar, it seems set for outstanding cellaring potential. Fermented and aged in 300-litre Hungarian oak casks (50% new and 50% used) for around 12 months before bottling. Dazzling, vivid, fiery Furmint. Scintillating length. Patience is a virtue and will be rewarded.

Forever Furmint February! For more information, follow #furmintfebruary23 on social media Follow James on Twitter @QuixoticWine

PADDOCK WOOD

Paddock Lodge

Commercial Road TN12 6EL

Open Tues-Sat, 10am-5pm

pays

he declares is most probably the tastiest variety you’ve never heard

Treasures revealed in a house of wonder Joseph Trinder from Gorringes auction house tells the Times

of a family home…

consigned with us, choosing a few favourites to discuss here within the limitations of a word count is no easy task – after much consideration, I have landed on the following three as favourites of

In this vocation, every once in a while you are fortunate enough to enter a property which simply takes your breath away – so taken are you by the sheer breadth and variety of fine art, antiques and other treasures that greet you through the threshold. This week’s article is homage to such a home, and the family who have lovingly collated such a varied and impressive selection of items.

The family home in question – a walk-in ‘Wunderkammer’ with works of art of all imaginable types and variety nestled in every nook and cranny was a sheer delight to attend and the kind of fresh-tomarket, variable collection that is rarely seen nowadays.

With over 300 auction lots removed and

mine – all the property of the same collector. The warm shimmer of light kissing distant hills in Albert Goodwin’s ‘Evening Glow’, a work in oil on canvas – for me is amongst the best of his work – transporting the viewer to a distant vista of calm – something I am sure many of us can appreciate in today’s hectic world.

Visibly influenced by the likes of Turner, Albert Goodwin was a local lad, born in Kent in 1845 and painting well into his old age before his death in 1932. A prolific landscape artist specialising in watercolours, this example in oils is a real rarity. One of around ten original works by the artist from the same collection, this work caries a pre-sale estimate of £2,000£3,000 (plus fees).

Another work discovered in the same home is Edward Lear’s (1812-1888) ‘Bathers with a view of Pisa’. A masterpiece almost in miniature, measuring just 15

x 25cm it is gorgeously detailed and brilliantly coloured – a rare opportunity to own a piece by the hand of this much-loved English painter, illustrator and poet – this example estimated at £1,500 - £2,000 (plus fees).

Discovery

My final choice, until recently nestled away in the study, patiently awaiting discovery is this cased set of approximately 80 Italian grand tour plaster roundels, featuring ingravings of various subjects –hugely decorative and wonderfully preserved – a real ‘country house antique’, they will undoubtedly appeal to collectors the world-over. Estimated at £400 - £600 (plus fees).

Finally – look out for news of an important standalone sale at Gorringe’s which will feature the collection of the lady of this remarkable house – more information to be released soon!

HOUSE CALLS FOR FEBRUARY IN YOUR AREA

about the incredible discoveries made when the firm was invited to view the contents

JOSEPH TRINDER

‘Visibly influenced by the likes of Turner, Albert Goodwin was a local lad, Kent born in 1845 and painted well into his old age before his death in 1932’

BATHERS WITH A VIEW OF PISA

EVENING

PLASTER ROUNDS