The Times of Tunbridge Wells June 28 2023

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National watchdog increases pressure on South East Water

were reported in Crowborough and Tunbridge Wells. Although reports of burst pipes and other leakages have been widespread, SEW has blamed increased demand during hot weather for water outages in and around Tunbridge Wells and across the South East.

South East Water has blamed increased demand during hot weather for water outages

an open letter to SEW Chief Executive David Hinton, asking for an urgent meeting and criticising the company’s lack of resilience. Highlighting a pattern of supply problems in both winter and summer, Ofwat Chief Executive David Black said there had been “a freeze-thaw event in December 2022 in which 286,000 properties were impacted, and a high-demand event leading to up to 6,000 properties experiencing supply interruptions, low pressure, or being off supply during the week of 12 June 2023”.

Continued on page 3

On Monday (June 26), Ofwat wrote

INSIDE: More train strikes announced – page 2

Emile Milner (left) and his brother Lars Milner, representing naos, make their way to the finish line of the Soapbox Stars Kart Race at Dunorlan Park on Saturday.

Picture: happychipmunkphotos

EDITOR

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Police resources come under scrutiny in Tunbridge Wells

By Victoria Roberts & Michelle Wood

THE summer months usually see a surge in demand for police services as a result of increased travel, socialising and a return to the evening economy. But the question some Tunbridge Wells residents are asking is: Where are the police?

Malcolm Flanagan, 73, was attacked by a dog in Dunorlan Park, Tunbridge Wells, on Wednesday June 22. When he arrived at the police station in Crescent Road to report the incident soon after 1pm, he found it bolted up. “All three doors were firmly closed,” he said. “What do the people inside the station do all day?”

Mystified

Malcolm is one of many residents who feel mystified by the seeming lack of a physical police presence in the town.

Back in 2018, the Times reported that a change in policing structure had meant that officers would be temporarily Working out of the Tonbridge Police Station in Pembury Road. At the time, the move was said to be a “pooling of resources”, and that the police station in Crescent Road would remain “open for business”, as usual.

This, however, has seemingly changed over the past five years.

The Tonbridge Police Station, located approximately three miles out of Tunbridge Wells, is still being used as a base.

Plans to sell the station were mooted in spring 2019 by Kent Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) Matthew Scott, but he confirmed in August 2019 that the station was no longer up for sale.

Responding to a query from the Times, Lesley Ashmall, Communications Manager for the Kent Police and Crime

Commissioner, said: “The intention is to re-open the front counter at the station at some point. It is still an operational police station and base for local officers. There are no plans to sell it… From our perspective, it remains a police station.”

Andy Saunders of West Kent Police also said: “[The Tunbridge Wells Station] is very much still a functioning station, with several teams including PCSOs based there.

Issues

“The front counter is still operated and people can attend and report issues etc… It may have been closed on occasions recently, due to staff sickness.”

Considering the apparent decentralisation of police stations away from smaller satellites, like Tunbridge Wells, it is not surprising then that in the latest Police Quarterly Report, it was announced that more people in Kent than ever were reporting non-emergency crimes online than visiting a police station or making a telephone call.

In a meeting with the Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) earlier this month, Chief Constable Tim Smith said that although the number of emergency calls to the police has risen both across Kent and nationally, when it came to the responsiveness of the Kent Police, an average of 1.28 per cent of 999 calls were not answered over the year, peaking at 2.12 per cent in July 2022, and at 1.97 per cent in October 2022.

A significant volume of non-emergency contact with the police is now carried out digitally, with 246,519 reports made by email, online forms and on live chat.

Along with 999 and 101, you can report crimes on both Twitter and Facebook, although they are not monitored 24/7, use the Live Chat, give feedback or more at kent.police.uk/contact. Always use 999 in an emergency.

Domestic abuse survivors in dangerous situations are advised to call 999 and the 24-hour National Domestic Abuse Helpline on 0808 2000 247.

Train strikes expected to affect local travel

THOSE planning to travel to the England vs Australia Cricket Test could find themselves stranded without transport, as Southeastern Rail has confirmed that it expects to be affected by the latest round of strikes announced by the Rail, Maritime and Transport Union (RMT) for July.

The union has said that 20,000 of its members at 14 train companies will walk out on July 20, 22 and 29. As a result, Southeastern says: “If this goes ahead, then it is likely that we will only be able to run a limited service on these dates.”

Negotiate

Announcing the latest wave of strikes, RMT claimed that although the union was willing to negotiate, neither the rail operators nor the government had reached out to them.

RMT General Secretary Mick Lynch said: “This latest phase of action will show the country just how important railway staff are to the running of the rail industry.

“My team of negotiators and I are available 24/7 for talks with the train

operating companies and government ministers.

However, responding to the RMT’s claims the Transport Department said: “The RMT leadership’s decision to call strikes targeting two iconic international sporting events, as children and families begin their summer holidays, will disrupt people’s plans across the country.

“After a year of industrial action, passengers and rail workers alike are growing tired of union bosses playing politics with their lives. It’s high time the union leaders realised that strikes no

longer have the impact they once did and are driving people away from the railway.

“This Government has played its part by facilitating fair and reasonable pay offers that would see generous increases for rail workers. Union leaders should do the right thing and give their members a chance to vote on these pay offers.”

In addition to the RMT strikes, Southeastern said that the Aslef union also recently announced an overtime ban between July 3-8, and it was working to understand if this would affect their services.

POLICE REPORT: Chief Constable Tim Smith (right) meets with Police and Crime Commissioner Matthew Scott (left)

NEWS IN BRIEF Hall’s Hole Car Park closed this week

Hall’s Hole Road Car Park (for Dunorlan Park) will be closed for the remainder of this week while work takes place on the cascade pond area. No exact date for the car park’s re-opening has been given but the top car park remains open for visitors.

Some bin collection days to change

Household waste and recycling bin collection days may be changing for you from July 3.

Tunbridge Wells Borough Council has sent letters and emails to households with information about new collection days. Check your new collection day here: twbc.online/newcollectionday

Teachers set for more strike action

The National Education Union has agreed to two further days of strike action this school term. The strikes will take place on July 5 and 7. Education unions are striking over pay and funding for teachers in England.

Tonbridge bypass closures to last for almost a month

By Michelle Wood

ROADWORKS planned for the A21 near Tonbridge will see closures of the road carriageways at various times over the next month.

These closures are scheduled to take almost a month and will affect both the north and southbound carriageways.

Repairs

The work planned by National Highways will involve repairs to a bridge, along with waterproofing and other work. While the A21 is closed, repairs to the drainage around Barnetts Wood, near Southborough in Tunbridge Wells, will also take place.

The closures are set to take place from June 30, ending on July 24. repairs are to the bridge which takes the A21 Tonbridge bypass over the railway line near Hildenborough.

According to the National Highways, the scheduled work involves replacing expansion joints, which are critical to maintaining and improving safety.

A diversion route will employed between B245, A227 and A26. :

The A21 southbound will be closed between Morleys Roundabout and

Estate agent quits High Street

Estate agent Winkworth has closed its Tunbridge Wells High Street branch.

The central office confirmed to the Times last week: “The franchisee made a decision to relocate abroad and clients have been communicated with. Winkworth is always looking for new franchisees to be part of the network of over 100 offices nationwide.”

Hawkenbury public toilets re-open

After some delay, the Hawkenbury Rec public toilets were scheduled to re-open yesterday (June 27). Councillor Siobhan

O’Connell said that “late delivery of materials needed for the refurbishment” had caused this latest delay.

Police warning to dog owners

Kent Police sees the highest number of reported dog incidents between May and August, so the force has reminded dog owners to keep their pets under control. Owners may be committing an offence if their dog injures someone or makes someone worried that it might injure them.

Vauxhall interchange:

• From Friday 30 June, 8pm to 5am Monday July 3, 5am – full weekend closure.

• Monday July 3 to Thursday, July 6 – each night 8pm to 5am

• Friday July 14, 8pm to Monday July 17, 5am – full weekend closure

• Monday 17 to Thursday 20 July – each

night 8pm to 5am

The A21 northbound will be closed between Vauxhall interchange and Morleys roundabout:

• Friday June 30 and Sunday July 2 – 8pm to midnight

• Friday July 7, 8pm to Monday July 10, 5am – full weekend closure

SEW needs ‘transformative change’

Continued from front page

“The resilience of supplies is well below what would be expected from an essential service provider, and that transformative change is required at South East Water to ensure customers receive the levels of service they deserve,” said Mr Black.

“These incidents also took place in the context of South East Water being one of the sector’s worst performers with respect to supply interruptions for the last two reporting years.”

Impacts

In his letter to Mr Hinton, Mr Black said Ofwat “urgently” wanted to discuss the utility firm’s “recent and underlying performance problems; the significant impacts these have had on your customers; your understanding of their underlying causes; and what actions you are taking to address this and improve reliability of service to your customers for the future”.

Mr Black said that further action by Ofwat might follow, “including but not limited to enforcement action”, he added.

Increasing the political pressure, Tunbridge Wells MP Greg Clark told the Times that he was seeking a separate meeting with South East Water’s leadership.

“[Following the events last winter] South East Water provided a plan for increasing resilience, but the events of the past couple of weeks show this needs to be accelerated,” he said.

Wadhurst-based Jutta Wrobel, who started

REGULATORY and political pressure comes after a torrid weekend for South East Water CEO David Hinton.

Writing to customers last week to explain the introduction of the hosepipe ban, Mr Hinton said: “The rise of working from home has increased drinking water demand in commuter towns by around 20 per cent over a very short period, testing our existing infrastructure.”

Hot weather was another key factor, as were dry conditions, with a “severe lack of rainfall since April”.

Mr Hinton insisted SEW had enough “raw water” at its disposal, but lacked the capacity to treat enough water to meet demand.

Speaking to the Times after Ofwat’s letter, he said SEW was producing up to an additional 120 million litres of water daily.

a Change.org petition calling for “meaningful” penalties for the company – including a ban on shareholder dividends – was delighted to see the regulator publicly involved.

“This is really what I was hoping to achieve with the petition – to get Ofwat to properly scrutinise South East Water,” she told the Times

“Ofwat now need to apply rigorous scrutiny to South East Water.”

Following Ofwat’s intervention, SEW CEO David Hinton confirmed to the Times that the water company and regulator would be “meeting shortly to discuss”.

Addressing the issue of leakages, Mr Hinton stated that SEW’s rate was currently around 18 per cent. This was, he said, “lower than the industry average of around 20 per cent. Of this 18 per cent, about two-thirds happens on our pipe network, and about a third happens on customers’ pipes.

“We plan our resources to deal with leakage, which includes 52 teams repairing leaks reactively, and more than 60 leakage technicians searching for and finding leaks proactively.

In response, Tunbridge Wells MP Greg Clark told the Times: “There’s a lack of infrastructure to get it from the reservoirs and boreholes.

“No one is saying there’s a lack of water. This is about capacity.”

Strikes ‘will cut NHS wait lists’ say frustrated radiographers

By Sharon Bruce

THE only way to reduce NHS waiting lists in Kent is to ballot for strike action, say radiography professionals in Kent and the South East.

The Society of Radiographers (SoR), the trade union and professional body for diagnostic and therapeutic radiographers, has been balloting members for strike action in 27 NHS trusts in the South East, including hospitals in Maidstone, Medway, Tunbridge Wells and East Kent.

SoR members took part in an indicative ballot in April and 80 per cent voted to reject the government’s pay offer of 5 per cent plus a non-consolidated lump sum for 2022-23. The union is therefore in a formal trade dispute with the Health Secretary and with the individual NHS trusts that directly employ members.

Salary

The SoR is asking for a fair starting salary for radiography professionals, as well as a move to restore pay levels for current staff, from the 2023-24 pay award onwards. It says this would reduce pressure on members to take on excessive overtime hours and keep radiography professionals within the NHS. Radiography professionals are responsible for carrying out X-rays, MRI and CT scans, ultrasounds and breast screening. They also provide radiotherapy for cancer patients.

There are 503 radiographers in the NHS in Kent, with 203 of them currently working in the Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust (MTW). While 9 out of 10 patients in the NHS need to be supported by a radiography professional, too few are being recruited or retained, the SoR says. Dean Rogers, Director of Industrial Strategy for SoR, said: “Waiting lists are growing and, for a cancer patient awaiting diagnosis and radiotherapy treatment, even a two-week wait can mean the difference between life and death.

“If the government wants to reduce NHS waiting lists and ensure patients receive the treatment they need when they need it, then it must urgently prioritise the recruitment and retention of radiography professionals.

As a result, one million patients across the UK are currently waiting to be seen by a radiographer – often delaying vital diagnosis and treatment for months. An NHS document, ‘Diagnostic Imaging Network Workforce Guidance 2022, said:

“To address these challenges, The NHS Long Term Plan committed to have established imaging networks across England by 2023. This, it seems, has not happened.

A radiographer working in MTW said:

“Everyone here is trying to do their best for patients. We’re all doing additional hours and duties. Still we’re seeing the waiting lists grow. Demand is growing, and activity levels are struggling to keep up with demand. We know that patients will get poorer outcomes because there’s not enough capacity.”

Radiographers’ pay has not increased in real terms since 2008. Speaking about

The eagle has landed

By Sarah Carter

the current cost-of-living crisis, the radiographer said: “It’s hard to run a household on my own. My mortgage has already gone up – if it goes up again, I’ll be concerned.”

He says he is voting ‘Yes’ in the SoR’s strike ballot.

“We want to do the very best, so we need to attract the best people. We want the best outcomes for our patients – for our friends and family.”

Workforce

“But the Government won’t even talk to us about the fair and reasonable steps required to do this, which is why we feel we have no other option but to ballot our members for Strike action.”

The Society of Radiographers says that the government could reduce waiting lists, save lives and save taxpayers’ money by implementing a modern workforce recruitment and retention plan.

“Our members deserve better. Our patients deserve better.”

Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust has been approached for comment.

SOCIAL media was abuzz last week after a steppe eagle was reported missing from Groombridge.

The eagle, named Vespa, had failed to return to her home and speculation was that she could have caught a thermal and gone as far afield as Essex.

However, the bird of prey returned home safe and well after a day of freedom.

Vespa, who still has her relatively pale, juvenile plumage, was nevertheless well-camouflaged during the day she was missing, explained Daniel Clark of the UK Owl and Raptor Centre in Groombridge. The young bird went missing last Tuesday (June 20), and lost her tracking device. Mr Clark asked locals to keep a lookout for Vespa but not to approach her. However, he then found the eagle in a tree in Groombridge, close to where she had gone missing. Given that the area had been extensively searched, Mr Clark suggested she might have been watching from a distance, and then returned.

“She came out when she felt she wanted to,” he told the Times

AS K

COUNTER VIEW with

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.

As part of HMRC’s ongoing strategy to shift to digital rather than human communication where possible, businesses now have the option to request a ‘time to pay’ arrangement for VAT if cash flow is proving a challenge. Previously, a call to HMRC’s Business Payment Support Service was required.

To request a time to pay arrangement, sign in here using your Government Gateway credentials: https:// www.access.service.gov.uk/login/signin/creds

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.

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 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.

The online facility can only be used if the business meets several criteria as follows: 1. You have filed your latest tax return, 2. You owe £20,000 or less, 3. You are within 28 days of the payment deadline, 4. You do not have any other payment plans or debts with HMRC, 5. You plan to pay your debt off within the next 6 months and 6. You do not use the cash accounting scheme. The cash accounting scheme is where a business reports its VAT liability based on sales income received and expenses paid in the VAT period, rather than on the invoice date. Presumably HMRC’s rationale here is that, under the cash accounting scheme, the business has received the VAT on its sales.

If you do not meet the criteria, but still need to agree a payment plan, you can contact the Payment Support Service on 0300 200 3835. Entering a time to pay arrangement, either online or via a call, can help to mitigate penalties arising from late payments.

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.

Cash flow issues may arise from a one-off issue such as late payment from a customer, but can also be indicative of an underlying issue. If cash is increasingly tight, have a chat with your accountant about how they can help. Help could include a review of your current trading position to highlight issues or perhaps the preparation of a cash forecast to consider what support might be required in future.

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.

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

SCOOTED AWAY: Vespa the eagle

Picture:

Local animal lover borrows money to save sensory farm

By Grace Corcoran

A LOCAL woman has saved a sensory farm of animals from being sold on, through sheer sacrifice, hard work and the continued involvement of the community.

Located on Gill Wing Farm in Groombridge, Tunbridge Wells, Smiles for Miles spans 3.5 acres of farmland and is home to an array of animals: from rabbits and pygmy goats to donkeys and rhea birds.

The farm was set up as a place to offer sensory experiences to individuals with learning difficulties and additional needs.

Free-roaming

When the original owner of Smiles for Miles decided to move on late last year, the fate of the livestock hung in the balance. The free-roaming animals were set to be split up and sold on, and perhaps even slaughtered.

Paris Howard-Hall, who originally started volunteering at Smiles for Miles during the pandemic, could not bear the idea of the animals’ impending fate and decided to take on the farm in 2022.

However, to afford to buy it, Paris needed to take out a loan while continuing to work two jobs and manage the farm, too.

“It’s an expensive hobby, but I absolutely love it,” she says.

After a difficult winter, it was doubtful whether Paris could afford to keep going. That’s when her volunteers set up a GoFundMe campaign to help her make the

Has anybody ever called you an Angel?

payments to keep the farm afloat. To Paris, keeping the animals together and the farm open to the public is what’s important.

It’s a “labour of love” and a place she knows is “special to a lot of people,” she says.

Growing up in the Ashdown Forest, Paris has spent her life surrounded by animals. Her enthusiasm for her diverse menagerie is infectious, and she has nursed some badly abused animals back to health.

A trio of pygmy goats, Henry, Kevin and Tilly, found abandoned by a railway line,

arrived at the farm timid and scared of people. Paris and her team of volunteers worked tirelessly to get the three back to full strength and regain their confidence.

The goats can now be hand-fed and taken for walks through the fields by guests as part of their therapy sessions.

All animals on the farm are rescues or donations. With the collection of species growing, construction projects on the farm are now taking place to make sure the animals have what they need.

Calls for help have had a “brilliant

response from the community”, she says. One man donated 30 tyres to create an enclosure and a group of 20 people on a workplace volunteer trip helped demolish a shed and build fencing.

Hutches and pens are currently under construction for rabbits, which will enable immersive and interactive therapy sessions for the guests who visit.

Therapy

Paris is hoping that her funding application for the installation of a yurt, to enable those with mobility issues to be able to access the farm, will be accepted. It is important to her that as many people as possible benefit from the therapy and experience provided.

Sessions at Smiles for Miles are one-to-one and are tailored to an individual’s needs. Paris believes anyone can and should be able to access the farm.

Running the farm is undoubtedly ambitious. In an ideal world, she would like the farm to be able to fund itself, freeing up resources to help create her ‘vision’ for Smiles for Miles. But despite all the challenges, Paris insists that she’s “never leaving”.

To visit Smiles for Miles or to book a session, visit: sfmsensoryfarm.co.uk

To contribute to the GoFundMe campaign, visitgofundme.com/f/smilesfor-miles-sensory-farming

DONKEY WORK: A resident at Smiles for Miles

PARIS HOWARD-HALL

New campaign to tackle ‘bed poverty’ in families

By Victoria Roberts

A CROWBOROUGH-based children’s and families charity is hoping to raise £10,000 or more in a campaign to provide suitable beds and bedding for older children in the area.

Baby2Baby was founded in 2018 to help provide for infants and small children whose families cannot afford baby clothing and essentials, and has since expanded operations to help older children in families, too.

Referrals

However, the charity is increasingly seeing the problem of ‘bed poverty’ among the families it helps, said Baby2Baby co-founder Hannah Powell. This prompted the launch of a new campaign: Beds4kids, which starts today (June 28).

The charity takes referrals from professionals at a range of organisations, from local authorities, social workers and women’s refuges, to the likes of Citizens’ Advice and Tunbridge Wells Welcomes Refugees.

“We had got increasing referrals where older children did not have suitable sleeping arrangements,” said Hannah. “They were sleeping on the floor or on a mattress on the floor.”

Innovative ‘donation stations’ pilot scheme rolled out in Tunbridge Wells

By Grace Corcoran

NOURISH Community Foodbank has launched a series of ‘donation stations’ across Tunbridge Wells, enabling the public to donate in-demand products by simply scanning items with their mobile phones.

She stressed: “We’re seeing this more locally now.”

Beds4Kids is one of five fundraising campaigns chosen to receive the Community Wellbeing Fund by East Sussex County Council. The charity will receive a ‘fund-matched’ amount, equivalent to all donations up to £5,000.

Funds will no longer be matched after August 2, but the fundraiser will continue, explained Hannah.

The stations, developed in partnership with Tap for Change, display a series of items, each with a unique QR code to scan. The money needed to purchase that item is then donated directly to Nourish.

Demand

Local food banks are always looking for donations, but some products are needed more than others.

The idea for the stations was born out of increased demand for food bank services, coupled with the need for more cash donations, which give food banks like

Nourish the ability to buy and supply those in need with essential items.

Dawn Stanford, Operations Director at Nourish, said: “While we have historically received large volumes of physical donations of food and other items to the food bank, we have increasingly used cash donations to help us purchase costeffectively and to keep a balance of the right items in stock.

“These donation stations will not only help increase these donations but also show us to be the innovative and futurethinking charity that we strive to be.”

The stations should make donating simple. James Wood, from Tap for Change, believes they “will reduce friction in the donating process” and encourage more people to donate to their local food bank.

The stations will be tested across 10 sites around Tunbridge Wells, with the aim of rolling out more across Kent and nationwide.

Evening at Purity Bridge

Local charities benefit from Movement for Good grants

By Victoria Roberts

TWO local charities are celebrating grants from a £1million fund, following public nominations and voting in the Movement for Good Awards.

Causes

Over 11,000 good causes in the UK and Ireland received more than 135,000 nominations, and 150 were chosen at random for the grants, which this month included the Brains Matter Charity in Tunbridge Wells, and the Compaid Trust in Paddock Wood – each receiving £1,000. The more times a charity is nominated, the more chancea it has of being selected in the random draw, said the Benefact Group.

£5 ADMISSION FEE*

A further 150 winners will be selected in September, and more grants will be made throughout the year.

Further gifts totalling £500,000 will also be donated in larger amounts later this year.

Movement for Good is funded by EIO plc, part of the Benefact Group, whose businesses provide specialist insurance, investment management and broking and advisory services in the UK, Australia, Canada and Ireland.

Compaid helps disabled, older and other vulnerable people to overcome the barriers of social, digital and economic exclusion.

The Brains Matter Charity supports adults who have been affected by brain injury. To nominate a charity for future rounds of grants, visit: movementforgood.com

Sponsored by:

Moonlight Walk brings community together to remember loved ones

By Grace Corcoran

THE HOSPICE in the Weald’s Moonlight Walk took place on Saturday June 17 at Knole Park, Sevenoaks, bringing the community together to celebrate and remember loved ones.

Support

The total raised on JustGiving at the time of reporting has reached £46,669, which will be used to provide free care to patients with terminal illnesses and to support to family and friends. Among participants at the walk were

Sharon Willis and her family. They completed the 13-mile route in memory of her brother-in-law, Michael, a muchmissed postman who passed away last October.

Over the past year, Sharon has volunteered two days a month of her spare time to the Hospice in the Weald charity shop in Sevenoaks High Street. Along with her family, they raised £647 on the walk. She said: “I could see what a real difference the fantastic team at the Hospice are making to families across Kent every day, so we grabbed our glow-in-the-dark accessories and got involved. Thank you to all our supporters.”

HELPING HAND: Compaid supports vulnerable individuals

MOONWALKERS: Sharon Willis (right) and family

Kart race speeds to fundraising finish

In a day of fast and furious fun in the sun, this year’s Soapbox Stars Kart Race, held at Dunorlan Park last Saturday (June 24), raised more than £80,000 for Hospice in the Weald, Nourish Community Foodbank and Pickering Cancer Drop-In Centre.

All photography courtesy of happychipmunkphotos

Lawyer gains Solicitors for the Elderly kitemark

By Victoria Roberts

A TUNBRIDGE Wells-based lawyer has been recognised for her expertise in legal support for older and vulnerable clients, following assessment by a specialist solicitors’ body.

Berry & Lamberts Private Client Solicitor, Emma Houghton was awarded the kitemark by Solicitors for the Elderly (SFE), which sets standards for legal advice in specialist areas including wills, powers of attorney, care and elder abuse.

Accredited

SFE chief executive Lakshmi Turner said: “An SFE-accredited lawyer is an expert in this area of the law and understands the wider, often sensitive, issues around health, care and family that may need consideration.

“SFE lawyers understand the issues affecting older and vulnerable clients and follow a strict code of practice with respect and dignity at its heart.”

They will also enable you to lay a solid foundation to protect you and your loved one in later life, she said.

Accredited lawyers have undergone assessment, demonstrating a solid understanding of the specific needs and considerations required when safeguarding

Fishery to grow its business with new lakes and accommodation

By Sarah Carter

A FISHERY business is expanding in a bid to serve the domestic tourism market for fishing breaks, as well as becoming more sustainable and raising its own fish.

storage building, and six ‘growing-on’ ponds for infant fish.

The new facilities for on-site fish production would reduce long-term capital costs and provide a new revenue stream by selling fish to other fisheries, added the owners.

and protecting older clients’ interests.

Scheme members must have a minimum of three years’ experience advising in relevant areas of law and have completed the Older Client Care in Practice Award. After accreditation they are expected to continue training and produce an annual statement of competence.

Ms Houghton said: “By becoming a fully-accredited member of SFE, I am held to their highly-recognised standards in elder client work. It is also extremely helpful to have a network of like-minded practising individuals with whom you are always able to discuss matters and developments to ensure best practice for your clients.”

In a planning application approved last Monday (June 15), Tricklebrook Fishery, near Paddock Wood, said it planned to add another fishing lake and build storage, and holiday accommodation.

Application

“The new lake will provide additional ‘swims’ for visiting anglers and allow the fishery to increase its fish stock and variety,” according to the application.

“It will also allow the fishery to introduce new conditions and challenges to keep anglers visiting the site.

The full application called for the additional fishing lake, four chalets for holiday lets, a steel-framed equipment

“Currently our client has to purchase new stock at a more advanced stage to stock the lakes and the stock pond, which was constructed as part of the previous planning consent.

“However, this is a costly exercise and requires specialist transport and care. Having the facility to purchase the fish at a younger age and grow them on-site will benefit the business immensely.”

The business was founded in 1996, and currently has two large lakes, a specimen lake and a match fishing lake.

Thanks to a previous planning application, the site is currently undergoing work to provide the holiday pods and staff accommodation.

EMMA HOUGHTON

TRICKLEBROOK FISHERY

Yoyo on the up with Living Wage Employer commitment

By Victoria Roberts

COMMITTING to the ‘real living wage’ of £10.90 an hour is a path to “happy and thriving” staff and an example for the wider business community, according to a new Living Wage Employer.

Digital creative agency Yoyo Design earlier this month announced its commitment to the wage scale, which is nearly 5 per cent above the Government-set National Living Wage of £10.42 for those aged 23 and older.

Peace

CEO Jenny Kitchen said: “We believe that our team deserves more than just a pay cheque – they deserve the peace of mind that comes with knowing they can meet their basic needs and support their families.

“The cost of living is affecting so many people, so through salaries, profit-share and one-off, cost-of-living payments, we aim to

support our team as much as possible,” she added.

The firm also hopes to model good pay in the local community, said Ms Kitchen.

“By setting a positive example, we hope to inspire other businesses in our industry and beyond to join us. Together, we can work towards reducing income inequality and creating a more equitable society.”

Yoyo is also working toward reducing its gender pay gap – currently at 5 per cent compared to an industry average of 14 per cent.

And it limits the pay difference between the lowest-paid and highest-paid team members to five times the salary, instead of a difference of 20 times the salary on average.

“We continue to commit to raise our base level salaries, as well as the salaries for the rest of the team,” she added.

The Living Wage Foundation is due to announce dates for the new dates for the 2023-24 Living Wage rates soon, at: livingwage.org.uk

CooperBurnett’s ‘magnificent seven’ battle the heat to raise over £11,000 for Demelza

By Grace Corcoran

A TEAM from Tunbridge Wells-based law firm CooperBurnett LLP battled last weekend’s humid conditions in a challenging ultra-marathon, raising money for local children’s hospice charity Demelza.

The ‘magnificent seven’ conquered the ultra-marathon challenge ‘Race To The King’ last weekend (June 17-18), covering 500km between them while tackling heat, humidity and injuries. The team raised

£5,500, which the firm’s partners poundmatched, donating a total of £11,000 to Demelza.

Petra Bones, Head of Corporate Partnerships at Demelza, said the “inspiring” efforts by TeamCB and the money raised “will be put to good and urgent use, supporting children and families who desperately need help –it could fund more than 210 hours of specialist nursing care, or could more than fund a day of care at both our Kent and East Sussex hospice sites.”

JENNY KITCHEN

TEAM SPIRIT:

Petra Bones of Demelza (left) and the ‘magnificent seven’

Russia closes investigation into armed rebellion led by Yevgeny Prigozhin

RUSSIAN authorities said yesterday (June 27) that they had closed a criminal investigation into the armed rebellion led by mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin, with no charges against him or any of the other participants.

The Federal Security Service, or FSB, said its investigation found that those involved in the mutiny “ceased activities directed at committing the crime”.

The Kremlin said Mr Prigozhin would be exiled to Belarus, but neither he nor the Belarus authorities have confirmed that

Over the weekend, the Kremlin pledged not to prosecute Mr Prigozhin and his fighters after he stopped the revolt on Saturday, even though President Vladimir Putin had branded them as traitors.

The charge of mounting an armed mutiny carries a punishment of up to 20 years in prison.

Mr Prigozhin escaping prosecution poses a stark contrast to how the Kremlin has been treating those staging antigovernment protests.

Many opposition figures in Russia have received lengthy prison terms and are serving time in penal colonies notorious for

harsh conditions.

The whereabouts of Mr Prigozhin remained a mystery.

The Kremlin has said Mr Prigozhin would be exiled to neighbouring Belarus, but neither he nor the Belarus authorities have confirmed that.

An independent Belarus military monitoring project Belaruski Hajun said a business jet that Mr Prigozhin reportedly uses landed near Minsk on Tuesday morning.

On Monday night, Mr Putin once again blasted organisers of the rebellion as traitors who played into the hands of Ukraine’s government and its allies.

The media team for Mr Prigozhin, the 62-year-old head of the Wagner private military contractor, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Mr Prigozhin’s short-lived insurrection over the weekend, the biggest challenge to Mr Putin’s rule in more than two decades in power, has rattled Russia’s leadership. In his nationally-televised speech, Mr Putin sought to project stability and control, criticising the uprising’s “organisers”, without naming Mr Prigozhin.

He also praised Russian unity in the face of the crisis, as well as rank-and-file Wagner fighters for not letting the situation

The Face of the Future

descend into “major bloodshed”.

Earlier in the day, Mr Prigozhin defended his actions in a defiant audio statement. He again taunted the Russian military, but said he had not been seeking to stage a coup against Mr Putin.

In another show of stability and control, the Kremlin on Monday night showed Putin meeting with top security, law enforcement and military officials, including defence minister Sergei Shoigu, whom Mr Prigozhin had sought to remove.

Mr Putin thanked his team for their work over the weekend, implying support for the embattled Mr Shoigu.

Earlier, the authorities released a video of Mr Shoigu reviewing troops in Ukraine.

Cricket report calls for equity

CRICKET must urgently reform to address deep-rooted and widespread institutional, structural and interpersonal discrimination across the game, according to the Independent Commission for Equity in Cricket (ICEC), writing in a report published yesterday (June 27).

The ICEC was announced in March 2021 by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB).

Plan

Downing Street said yesterday that the report, concluding that racism is entrenched in cricket and that women routinely experience sexism and misogyny, was “difficult reading”.

The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said: “The report today makes for difficult reading and the Prime Minister believes that sport must be open to everyone.

“There is no place for racism, discrimination, bullying or harassment in sport nor indeed in wider society.

“We welcome the ECB’s (English Cricket Board) commitment to bring forward a plan to tackle the issues the report raised and I understand ministers are speaking to the ECB to discuss the findings further.

“And we will review the findings of the report in detail to establish what lessons can be learned.”

England captain Ben Stokes said he was “deeply sorry” about the report’s findings.

Goods Vehicle Operator’s Licence

Steven Barnard Trading as: SRB Contractors Ltd of 2 Santers Court, Gills Green, Hawkhurst, Cranbrook, Kent, TN18 5EQ

is applying for a licence to use: A R Smith Commercials Pattenden Lane, Tonbridge, TN12 9QJ as an operating centre for 5 goods vehicles and 5 trailers

Owners or occupiers of land (including buildings near the operating centre(s) who believe that their use or enjoyment of that land would be affected, should make written representations to the Traffic Commissioner at Hillcrest House, 386 Harehills Lane, Leeds LS9 6NF stating their reasons, within 21 days of this notice.

Representors must, at the same time, send a copy of their representations to the applicant at the address given at the top of this notice. A guide to making representations is availbale from the Traffic Commissioner’s office

VLADIMIR PUTIN

Picture: Kremlin.ru

Supermarket bosses quizzed by MPs amid pressure to pass on wholesale cuts

MPs on the Business and Trade Committee yesterday (June 27) questioned senior supermarket executives about food price inflation, and why prices are still rising when commodity and wholesale costs are dropping.

Sainsbury’s told MPs it was not passing all the costs of inflation in its supply chain to customers, as it was quizzed over whether supermarkets are profiteering amid rampant food inflation.

Rhian Bartlett, Sainsbury’s Food Commercial Director, said: “We are acutely aware about the cost-of-living impact on our colleagues and how difficult they are all finding it right now.

“We’ve spent £560million on keeping prices low, battling inflation, and are doing absolutely everything we can to keep prices as low as possible for customers.

“In the most recent year we made lower profits – at £690 million. [Our] input costs are not being fully passed through to our shelf prices.

“We’ve submitted lots of detail on that to the CMA (Competition and Markets Authority) and have had good discussions with the CMA.

“We are inflating behind our input costs and inflating wherever possible behind the market.”

Asked about speculation about capping

prices on certain products, Ms Bartlett said: “We’re generally considered one of the most competitive food markets in the world. I’m not sure what price caps would add to that process...”

Meanwhile, the Chief Executive of Morrisons told MPs eggs and pork had seen particularly sharp increases in price but he was “hopeful” shoppers would see these come down.

David Potts said: “Eggs are a specific example and the reason is that with avian flu, we lost 420 million birds around the world, so the meat itself and particularly the eggs were in short supply.

“Producers are starting to rebuild the flocks and are coming back across all of

the UK. I am hopeful that we will see a gradual normalising of the egg price.

“I will also mention pork, where an almost over-supply of pigs led to a reduction in the rearing of pigs just at a time when demand was going up.

“That has put a relatively cheap meat under pricing pressure.”

Tesco Commercial Director Gordon Gafa said the company had not made more profit year-on-year.

“We have actually made 7% less profit versus our last financial year.”

Committee Chairman, Darren Jones said: “According to your 2018/19 annual accounts you made a profit of 1.6 billion and in 2021/2022 accounts you made a

profit of 2.03 billion. So you’ve increased your profit quite significantly there, haven’t you?”

Mr Gafa replied: “As I say, profits year-onyear for the group are down. We have sold more year on year and we have made less.”

Profit

But Mr Jones pressed: “How can it be possible that you are making hundreds of millions of pounds in additional profit?”

Mr Gafa replied: “I’m referring to our latest accounts for 2022/23 so that may be the discrepancy.”

Meanwhile, Asda defended its pricing on fuel, amid questioning over whether the business needed to increase its profitability to service debts following its change of ownership in 2021.

Last month, the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) said that “higher pump prices cannot be attributed solely to factors outside the control of the retailers” and it found evidence one unnamed supermarket had increased its margin targets for fuel recently.

Kris Comerford, Chief Commercial Officer at Asda, told MPs: “The Asda fuel-pricing strategy [and] policy, hasn’t changed over many years. We are still recognised, as the CMA has said, as the best-value fuel provider.”

PRICE POINTS:

Food bosses from Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Asda and Morrisons appearing before the Business and Trade Committee yesterday

Matthew Sankey The Alliance

Matthew Sankey was elected as a Borough councillor for the Tunbridge Wells Alliance, serving the Speldhurst and Bidborough Ward in November 2021. He has lived in Tunbridge Wells all his life, growing up in Speldhurst and now with his own young family

Changing local government

THE ALLIANCE Party was set up in 2018 to oppose the Council’s attempt to drive through the ill-conceived Calverley Square project against the wishes of the overwhelming majority of residents in the Borough of Tunbridge Wells.

From the very beginning, our objective has been to improve local government – to get a better deal for residents and to ensure that the money we pay to Tunbridge Wells Borough Council and Kent County Council is spent effectively.

We believe effective local government must be based on:

● Responsiveness: Councils exist to provide the services that residents want. The role of councillors is to ensure this happens.

● Transparency: Councils spend our money. It may come from Council Tax, the Government, fees and charges or gains on public assets, but residents are the ultimate source of most, if not all, Council money. Councils should be wholly transparent about all their activity so that we can have

confidence that our money is being spent effectively and not wasted.

● Competence: Councils should deliver services in an efficient and cost-effective manner. It is essential that councillors challenge poor performance and keep costs under control.

These principles underlie everything the Alliance does. We are committed to making Tunbridge Wells Borough a better place, to delivering high-quality services and to ensuring residents get the best deal possible from both the Borough and County Council.

Our focus is purely on local, not national, issues – and our record speaks for itself. From having no councillors in early 2018 we now have 11 councillors bringing skills and experience from their professional backgrounds to the administration (the Borough Partnership) and we are making a difference; scrutinising the Council’s work and preventing further ill-considered vanity projects.

Our candidates have been successful in

their quest to become councillors because they are already working hard in their communities – from setting up community larders, leading projects and initiatives, to being members of local groups, working on Neighbourhood Plans and ensuring rural residents have decent internet connectivity.

We also believe that to make a change in something, first we must look at ourselves. That’s why at The Alliance we have re-organised to best serve you as we grow in numbers. I was elected by our councillors as the new leader and I have implemented a few changes. I am not afraid to admit that there are many people far more talented than I in our group. My role is to identify those and their skills and deploy them in the right places.

Employing people I feel are better than me for specific roles is therefore straightforward. It is my view that in Ellen Neville and Nancy Warne we have two fantastic cabinet members. Nancy has a consistent, proven track record having set up the Community Trust Fund last year. Ellen brings a fresh face and a wealth of knowledge in project management. Between us, we will do our absolute best to ensure that the Borough Partnership is delivering for residents. There is more – a lot more – to be done. With your support, we believe we can make the changes needed to make our Borough the best place to live in the country. Want to get involved? Email me: matthew@twalliance.com

‘Our focus is purely on local, not national, issues – and our record speaks for itself’

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

An open letter to KCC’s Sarah Hudson:

Dear Sarah Hudson,

I am writing in response to your on-therecord comments about parents who pursue EHCPs for their children with additional needs. I understand from the recent Times of Tunbridge Wells article that, unlike your colleague, Simon Webb, you have refused to apologise or to resign from the SEND committee. That is your prerogative.

I am contacting you because I want you to fully understand the deep distress and harm caused by your comments about SEN parents, and the distressing effect of your refusal to back down, in terms of its impact on parental trust in KCC’s ability to provide adequately for SEN children, which Ofsted has now twice found to be extremely poor (and, in this respect, an outlier in the rest of the country).

I can personally attest to the challenges of parenting an autistic child in the Kent educational system, having had to move my son from a school in Tunbridge Wells, where the response to his autism diagnosis was to remove his transitional support to coincide with the last two weeks of my terminally ill father’s life. The system is broken and it is SEN children and their families who are suffering, right now.

Your comments suggest an attitude to SEN children and their families which views us as a homogenous group. History shows how dangerous such rhetoric and such thinking can be, especially when it emanates from those in a position of influence and power. Its effect is to ‘other’, and to encourage the many people who have listened to your appalling rhetoric, to

Be pawsome and support the cats

This summer at Cats Protection we’re inviting cat lovers to hold a Pawsome Tea anytime, anywhere. Whether you choose to hold a casual coffee morning or a yummy bake sale at work, any funds raised will then be put towards our vital cat welfare work. With every pot of tea poured, biscuit dunked and cake cut you will help give our feline friends a chance at finding their furever home. A £10 donation could feed a cat in care for 50 days, while £50 would cover neutering a cat or kitten. At Cats Protection we help an average of 157,000 cats and kittens a year through our national network which includes around 210 volunteer-run branches and 34 centres.

‘other’ those who are perceived to be different in some way.

I implore you, instead, to think (and speak, especially in your public life) of every SEN family as a unique set of individuals, with challenges yes, but also with a fantastic set of skills to offer in an educational setting, and then in wider society once the time is right.

Speaking to my own personal experience (as unique as that of any other SEN family), I have just completed an EHCP application for my nine-year-old son, who is autistic and has ADHD. At nine years old, he is reading and responding to classics such as the Sherlock Holmes stories and Frankenstein. He is compassionate and caring and has an incredible amount to offer, but he requires an EHCP to safeguard his needs going forward, especially in the transition to secondary school, because he struggles with motor skills and with emotional regulation and as a result needs various forms of therapy, including occupational therapy. He is currently very well supported by Lamberhurst Primary School, where the philosophy is inclusive and embraces the strengths in difference. Sadly, his school is an outlier in this respect within Kent. I encourage you, in your work for the SEND committee, to think of these families whom you are so quick to dismiss as real, living individuals, each with their own story, fighting a system that seems designed to alienate and, at its worst, demonise us and I beg you to evince a more humane and compassionate attitude as a result.

Beatrice Riddiford

Our vision is to help people see the world through cats’ eyes and your cat-themed tea will help us achieve that goal. Anyone wishing to take part can sign up by visiting: catsprotection-pawsometea. blackbaud-sites.com where you will also find plenty of resources to make planning your event a piece of cake – from DIY bunting and invitations to recipe ideas and advertising posters. We can’t wait to have a cuppa with you!

Yours faithfully,

Hannah Ashwell Digital Community Fundraising Manager Cats Protection, National Cat Centre Sussex

We must hope that one day, food banks will no longer be necessary

Tunbridge Wells is celebrating ten years of Nourish, the local food bank.

While I can understand that the people who have helped to run this may feel proud of the work that they have done it is surely one of the starkest and most shameful symbols of the long-lasting effects of austerity which was instituted by the coalition of 2010 to 2015.

I look forward to celebrating the day when food banks are no longer necessary.

Yours sincerely

Graham Munn Tunbridge Wells

SE Water cannot blame “excessive demand” in the middle of summer South East Water blames “excessive demand” for the outages. It’s summer, for heaven’s sake! It comes around every year and demand rises. The reservoirs are full or near full so the “little rain” SEW cites has nothing to do with it. They have failed to invest in the infrastructure to process and transport it. They, along with all the other water companies, have failed every year to invest properly, but have taken every opportunity to take huge dividends and loaded themselves with debt levels so high no government will take it back into public ownership; it’s broke.

It’s all very well Greg Clark huffing and puffing and taking every opportunity to grandstand on this, but it was his lot that gave the industry away, wrote off its debts and provided seed money to the buyers. Win-win for them, lose-lose for us.

PEPPY SAYS...

The government was dumping an industry that needed huge capital investment; the buyers were getting a monopoly with no checks and balances, no restrictions on dividends, no restrictions on debt level, and no stipulations on investment. Prices go up, service levels go down.

What does Ofwat do? Jobs for the boys and girls and thank you very much for £150,000 for three days a week and leaving plenty of time to pursue other paid employment! Work for another quango perhaps, or maybe a few directorships in the city?

It’s enough to make me abandon my innate conservatism and join the sans-culottes on the barricades.

Sam Goodenough

Tunbridge Wells

YOUNG PRIMROSE PERCY settles down with a copy of our sister publication, SO Magazine

The face of the future

technique but also about the benefits of using powerful ASCE Exosome ingredients which stimulate the skin cells to produce up to 600% more collagen in treated areas and boosts elastin levels by 300%.

She also works with the award-winning EXoSCRT Exosome which is dubbed the most powerful in the world.

This groundbreaking Exosome treatment is something Maryna is now offering as an unique treatment in her own clinic as well as the Harley Street one she regularly works in alongside the revered maxillofacial surgeon Mr Darryl Coombs who also pioneered the famous Apex facelift.

There’s a revolutionary skincare treatment creating a buzz in the world of aesthetics and one clinic, Retreat Aesthetics, here in Tunbridge Wells has the exclusive rights on the groundbreaking Exosomes facial. Here its founder Maryna Cole tells Eileen Leahy all about this exciting development in the war on looking younger…

Maryna Cole is a qualified aesthetician who runs her successful clinic, Retreat Aesthetics, at One Warwick Park Hotel. Since launching two years ago, Maryna has been committed to offering her clients the most exclusive, sustainable and regenerative aesthetic skincare treatments available on the market courtesy of her exclusive partnership with the Vivace brand and expert training.

Having worked in the beauty industry for a decade, notably running the Tunbridge Wells branch of Champneys, she decided to retrain as an aesthetician because she wanted to work at the forefront of the aesthetics industry.

“I spent a long time doing my research to find the best products out there to enhance my work and eventually discovered the Vivace Experience; an award-winning, revolutionary treatment which uses micro needling and radio frequency to tighten and brighten ageing or traumatised skin,” she explains.

“It took me about a year to find this treatment as I wanted it to be both sustainable and regenerative.”

Maryna says she was trained by industry expert Dr Shameema Damree who not only taught her about the revolutionary Vivace

“Exosomes are an ideal maintenance treatment after someone has had a facelift as well as other facial aesthetic plastic surgical procedures,” Maryna continues.

“The Exosome regenerative complex will accentuate the results

Maryna Cole explains the benefits of Exosomes:

• Exosomes are amazing, tiny extracellular vesicles secreted by cells. They have gained huge attention in the field of skincare due to their benefits on the skin.

• Exosomes are a breakthrough product making them fairly new and rare in the aesthetic industry.

• Think of Exosomes as a soldierlike force battling against ‘outside to inside factors’ which cause skin ageing and more importantly skin conditions and inflammation. All the exosomes want is for your skin to be protected from outside influences, which increase signs of ageing.

• The Exosomes promote skin regeneration by stimulating proliferation and migration of skin cells. They enhance the production of collagen and elastin, which are essential for your skin to be happy, firm and healthy, leading to improved skin texture and a more youthful appearance.

“The confidence my patients have after the surgery and Maryna’s treatments is what makes me happy”

“The benefits of using powerful ASCE Exosome ingredients, which stimulate the skin cells, means they produce up to 600% more collagen in treated areas and boosts elastin levels by 300%”

FACE VALUE: Aesthecian Maryna Cole and surgeon Mr Darryl Coombes

Exosomes in a nutshell:

• The advantages for skin will be improved elasticity and firmness, and they should be very good for post-procedure recovery from lasers and more invasive procedures.

• Exosomes get your own cells to respond, rejuvenate and of course correct [pigmentation], they also have incredible inflammatory properties which help with acne, rosacea, psoriasis and much more.

of your facelift by rejuvenating the skin of the face and neck. Exosomes have the ability to regenerate the skin by stimulating the skin cells to produce up to 600% more collagen and 300% more elastin, thereby increasing the thickness of the dermis.”

Maryna says the fundamental results of the Exosome treatment are improvement in the skin’s elasticity, an overall firming effect and that holy grail: visibly younger looking skin.

“In addition, ASCE Exosomes have the ability to downregulate the melanocytes (pigment cells in the skin), to correct pigmentation and create a more radiant and flawless skin, as well as reducing any skin inflammation and redness,” she adds.

The ASCE Exosome Regenerative Complex, which is currently taking the beauty and aesthetics world by storm is only available locally at Maryna’s clinic here in Tunbridge Wells. Available in only a few clinics in London alongside that of Mr Coombe’s, the Exosomes treatment is sought after because it also has a high concentration of hyaluronic acid, growth factors, amino acids and

minerals to provide hydration and anti-ageing benefits.

“I guess you could say they are a more evolved and purified version of stem cells and are therefore highly effective. I would say that Exosomes have revolutionised my clinic.”

Maryna further explains that Exosomes work hand in hand with the skin’s stem cells in that they are signalling ambassadors and although they are around 1/800th the size of a cell they have the ability to awaken and stimulate the skin, which in simple terms helps to slow down the ageing process.

“In the industry we also consider Exosomes as an effective new treatment for Atopic Dermatitis, as it targets skin barrier repair. I also use Exosomes-based regenerative aesthetics as therapeutics to get better healing for the skin and scalp.

“To give you an example: Atopic Dermatitis is one of the most common chronic inflammatory skin disorders worldwide. It affects people of all ages and ethnicities and is the leading cause of the global burden of skin conditions. One out of three people are affected and this number is rising. Skin barrier abnormalities are the cause of early Atopic Dermatitis which then result in inflammation of the skin.”

In addition to the regular treatments available at her Retreat Aesthetics clinic, Maryna can now offer the revolutionary 5 Billion EXO Skin Support too. It was in fact her mentor Dr Damree, who first launched this particular facial treatment at the Urban Retreat in Knightsbridge in January 2023.

“For this treatment I utilise a multi award winner micro needling and radio frequency (RF) device, the Vivace RF with an impressive 5 billion ASCE plus Exosomes layered in between the passes,” states Maryna.

“After a consultation and assessment of my patient’s face, I contour and tighten the chin area, jowls and upper face with the hi-tech device. I also use a medical LED light for a better

efficiency of the treatment. I do five different passes with the machine at various depths, so the skin is ultra-receptive. Between each pass I apply an Exosome gel. Due to the device’s RF regeneration properties, the downtime is minimal. It leaves the skin tightened, lifted and glowing from the get go.”

Having already experienced one of these incredible cutting-edge treatments I can personally testify that you can see the benefits of the treatments immediately. The results are, quite simply, fantastic.

“I have been lucky enough to treat some wonderful people and I am very proud to call them my patients,” smiles Maryna. “Readers can have a look at some of my case studies on Retreat Aesthetic’s social media pages for further proof.”

How many Exosome treatments would Maryna advise havingand does this figure differ if she is working with patients after their surgery?

“It really does depend on what we discuss in the patient’s consultation and what I discover during the assessment. However in my professional opinion a series of five appointments is when my patients see the best results.

“The fact some patients may have had surgery does not limit them in any way and they will still see the benefits of our Exosome

treatment in the same way that any other patient would.”

Mr Coombes, who is also a specialist in mouth, jaw, ear and nose facial surgery, adds that the pair are hoping to roll out their partnership to other clinics.

“We are planning to offer Maryna’s post-surgical facial treatments elsewhere in the country,” he reveals.

“The confidence my patients have after the surgery and Maryna’s treatments is what makes me happy. There is that thing of being potentially able to change someone’s life…but I also enjoy the challenge of it and giving people the best results possible.”

“The thing I like about working with Darryl is that he’s genuine and has integrity,” concludes Maryna. “I am happy I can bring something to his work as Exosomes are an ideal maintenance treatment post facelift and other facial aesthetic plastic surgical procedures. The Exosome regenerative complex ill accentuate the results of your facelift by rejuvenating the skin of the face and neck.”

So if you’re looking to regenerate your skin or improve the condition of your hair as it ages then this wonder product ASCE Exosomes is the answer – and the good news is you can avail of it right here on the doorstep in Tunbridge Wells…

RETREAT AESTHETICS

CONTACT DETAILS

One Warwick Park Hotel 1 Warwick Park Royal Tunbridge Wells TN2 5TA

@retreataesthetics

www.retreataesthetics.com

THE SCIENCE BIT

The key benefits of using Exosomes on the skin:

1. Cellular Communication –Exosomes facilitate intercellular communication by transferring bioactive molecules such as proteins, lipids and nucleic acid between cells. When applied topically to the skin Exosomes can transfer these beneficial molecules to skin cells promoting cellular signalling and rejuvenation.

2. Skin Regeneration –Exosomes have been found to promote skin regeneration and enhance the production of collagen and elastin, which are essential for maintaining skin elasticity and firmness, leading to improved skin texture and a youthful appearance.

3. Anti-Inflammatory Effects – Exosomes possess anti-inflammatory properties and can modulate the immune response in the skin. They can help reduce inflammation caused by various skin conditions, such as eczema and psoriasis. By calming inflammation, exosomes may contribute to the overall health and appearance of the skin.

4. Enhanced Skin Barrier Function – The skin barrier plays a crucial role in maintaining hydration and protecting the skin from external stressors. Exosomes, these wonderful things, have been shown to strengthen the skin barrier function by promoting the production of ceramides, lipids that help retain moisture and fortify our skin’s protective barrier. This hopefully leads to improved hydration and protection against environmental damage.

5. Antioxidant Effects –Exosomes contain antioxidant molecules that can help neutralise harmful free radicals in the skin. By reducing oxidative stress, Exosomes may help prevent premature ageing and damage caused by environmental factors such as UV radiation and pollution.

For the best results, Maryna recommends five 90-minute sessions every 2 weeks. For SO magazine readers she can offer this package at just £750. For more details please call Maryna Cole on 07396 344 527 for a free consultation.

Pioneers: Maryna Cole with Exosome specialist Dr Shameema Damree (Right)

Top marks for DofE students as they complete second phase of qualification

Beacon Academy schoolchildren broaden their horizons on their recent Silver DofE expedition

BEACON Academy in Crowborough is celebrating its Year 10 students successfully completing their Silver Qualifying Expedition, which is the second stage of their Duke of Edinburgh’s Award (DofE) qualification.

This DofE scheme is a voluntary, noncompetitive and flexible programme of cultural and adventurous activities open to all young people, aged between 14 and 25 years old, whatever their background or ability.

The Award was founded by the late Duke of Edinburgh in 1956 and its original aim

still remains the same today: to help young people develop practical skills so they are able to navigate life successfully.

The DofE is a nationally recognised mark of achievement that is not only respected by universities but by employers, too.

Community

There are four sections to complete at the Bronze and Silver levels, and then five at the final Gold stage. They involve helping the community and environment, becoming fitter, developing new skills,

planning, training for and completing an expedition and, for Gold only, working with a team on a residential activity.

Thirty Beacon Academy students embarked on the final leg of their DofE Silver Award with a three-day hike across the South Downs recently.

DofE Manager at Beacon Academy, Ms Kyla Webb, said: “They navigated independently and enjoyed spectacular views of the Sussex coastline at their first campsite in Seaford, overlooked by the white chalk cliffs of the Seven Sisters.”

She added: “The students completed three long days of walking with two nights’ camping at different campsites, carrying all of their kit. Their navigation

and camp-craft skills were excellent, but what was most impressive was the way in which they worked together as a team and looked out for each other. Everyone deserved their ice creams at the end!

“The feedback from the instructors was nothing but positive and some students and parents are actively asking about the Gold Award to the delight of their Outspark instructors.”

Beacon Academy began its DofE journey in November 2019, offering the scheme to its first cohort of Bronze Award participants. The co-educational, allability secondary school now offers all three levels of the Award to students in Years 9, 10 and 12.

Are you feeling drained, exhausted or overwhelmed by the stress of daily life?

It may be time to take a break and focus on yourself.

Join Chrissie's new Yoga class for beginners in Tunbridge Wells and let her guide you towards a healthier, more balanced lifestyle.

As an experienced and fully qualified teacher, Chrissie will introduce you to a dynamic form of Yoga designed to increase flexibility, core strength and confidence.

Whether you're a complete beginner or have some experience with Yoga, this class is tailored to meet your individual needs. Yoga is an excellent way to release stress, clear your mind and

improve your physical wellbeing.

With Chrissie's guidance, you'll be able to experience all the benefits Yoga offers. You'll leave each session feeling refreshed, rejuvenated and ready to take on whatever challenges come your way.

Don't let tiredness or stress hold you back any longer.

Join Chrissie's class today and start your journey towards a healthier, happier you. Contact us now to book your place and take the first step towards a better future!

Book via: Yoga-Circle.co.uk

Dynamic lessons in Yoga for all abilities

New classes now available

10am Thurs - Introduction

10am Friday - All Abilities

Location: St Barnabas Hall, Stanley Road, Tunbridge Wells, Kent, TN1 2RH

Book via: Yoga-Circle.co.uk

SILVER STARS: Beacon Academy students on the South Downs

Life&Times

River deep, mountain high Hiking and more in Snowdonia National Park… P24

Exhibiting a passion for painting…

Those with a love of the arts are sure to be familiar with the Royal Tunbridge Wells Arts Society, which was founded in 1933, and has been providing inspiration and support for both the professional and amateur creatives of the town ever since. Located at 61 The Pantiles, the Society’s small but highly-influential premises was founded by the Marchioness of Abergavenny 90 years ago.

It not only offers established and fledgling artists the opportunity to showcase their work on a regular basis, but it also provides a variety of workshops and a chance to network with fellow creatives.

Inspiration

Currently, local artists and friends Mary Harris and Rosemarie Pilcher are exhibiting a selection of their paintings. Their joint show started last week and runs until July 2.

Entry is free and visitors can pop in any time between 11am and 4pm.

“I have always been lucky enough to live in rural places and the countryside has inspired me to be creative,” explains Mary when asked about the inspiration behind her work.

“I am fascinated by the character and resilience of ancient trees, but also by the very varied coastline around England.” When talking further about her paintings, Mary says she is simply trying to express what she sees in a variety of different ways, using different mediums.

“I use mostly charcoal, watercolours, and oil in my work but I am probably most successful with woodcut printing. I use soft Japanese woodblocks and tools using techniques learnt when I studied with the artist and tutor Merlyn Chesterman at West Dean College.”

As well as being a member of the Royal Tunbridge Wells Arts Society (RTWAS) Mary

BLUEBELL WALK BY MARY HARRIS

ALLIUM BY ROSEMARY PILCHER

MARY (L) AND ROSEMARY (R)

Eileen Leahy meets the talented creatives behind a new exhibition at the Royal Tunbridge Wells Arts Society

also belongs to the Crowborough Arts collective.

“Crowborough Arts celebrates all the different areas of arts, while RTWAS allows me to join with other artists to share the

disciplines that I love. I participate in the society’s portrait group, its life drawing classes and also the interactive ‘Plein Air’ sessions which happen in various local locations over the summer.

“The RTWAS is a huge asset for the area and a valuable part of the creative life in the town,” Mary says before adding she has also been “fortunate” in the last few years to work on a series of books, too – thanks to her connections with Crowborough Arts.

“During lockdown I was very fortunate to work with local author Gaye Jee, illustrating her delightful tales about Stan

and Dweezil, her cats, as well as the dogs, Truffle and Winnie.”

During the pandemic, Mary was also shortlisted for the King Lear Prize, a prestigious national competition, for her ‘Lockdown Depression Self Portrait’ in 2020.

Pastime

Showing jointly with Mary at RTWAS right now is her friend and fellow painter Rosemarie Pilcher, who reveals she has always loved drawing and painting, but didn’t really decide upon her chosen oeuvre until a little later in life.

“As a young 20-something, I did a couple of short art courses, however, I never really enjoyed still life paintings and wanted to paint landscapes instead. Once I found my passion I decided not to wait until I was retired to indulge it but to make time now for this wonderful pastime.”

Rosemarie, who is Honorary Secretary of the RTWAS, adds that she is also inspired

by nature in all its forms, but mainly concentrates on landscapes and seascapes.

“My Italian heritage is reflected in the vibrancy and colour palette of my work.

I try to capture the light and warmth of my favourite Italian lake, Lake Garda, as well as other Italian landscapes. More recently, I have been experimenting with new mediums and trying out new styles. I hope that my choice of colours, be they soft or bright, fills the viewer with joy and optimism and – just maybe – the wish that they could be at the location I have captured through my work.”

Both Mary and Rosemarie agree that having the opportunity to do exhibitions such as theirs at the RTWAS is a wonderful opportunity as it enables artists to show a large selection of their work to an audience that might not otherwise know about them. That’s why the RTWAS is still going strong 90 years on and if you have a genuine love of the arts but haven’t already visited –then what are you waiting for?

www.rtwas.org

DRAWING ON INSPIRATION: WHAT THE RTWAS OFFERS

The Royal Tunbridge Wells Arts Society was established in 1933 for artists and would-be artists.

As well as officially joining as a member, people with a passion for art can also visit to enjoy open days, exhibitions and talks.

“During the week we aim to grow and stimulate the talents of our artists through workshops, tutorials, demonstrations and practice,” explains a RTWAS spokesperson.

“There is a vast array of skills amongst our members, including life drawing, urban sketching, abstraction and pouring acrylic

paint for example. Through demonstration and experiment we explore classical techniques and modern trends. We are now delving into photography as another aspect of art.”

RTWAS offers an opportunity for those who are new to drawing and painting, or returning after a long gap, to develop their individual style alongside more experienced artists. Members can exhibit their work three times a year at the Society’s regular exhibitions, which provide a chance for an artist’s work to expand and mature.

Bewl Water offers reductions of up to 25% for off-peak glamping breaks

HOLIDAYMAKERS are snapping up spots at southeast England’s largest reservoir as its 80-pitch campsite offers up to 25% off glamping stays Monday – Thursday.

Bewl Water, on the border of Kent and Sussex in Lamberhurst, is popular for healthy outdoor fun and boasts 800 acres of parkland and a large inland expanse of fresh water.

The site remains open throughout the year, providing visitors with scenic woodland walks, cycling routes, and a variety of water-based activities such as paddle boarding and the Aqua Park.

Increase

Recently, the campsite reopened, and it has already seen an 11% increase in numbers compared to last year, with hundreds of pre-bookings received before the 2023 season began in May.

It offers excellent amenities that appeal to couples and families including 80 spacious pitches, conveniently located fresh coldwater taps, hot showers, and nearby toilets. Additionally, there is a delightful café and ice cream parlour on-site, serving delicious meals, tasty snacks, refreshing drinks, and sweet treats.

But as the popularity of wellness trips, off-grid breaks, and countryside retreats continues to dominate the staycation market, more of Bewl Water’s customers are opting for home comforts over traditional camping experiences.

Alongside its campsite, Bewl Water offers

two beautifully furnished Mongolian Yurts, each accommodating up to four guests. They feature a huge double bed, two comfortable singles, crisp white linen, charming bunting decorations, rustic furniture, a cosy wood-burning stove, tea and coffee-making facilities, and a viewing point for stargazing.

To meet the growing demand and provide affordable summer getaways, rates have been reduced by nearly 25%, with a minimum two-night stay costing £95 per night.

By booking online at bewlwater.co.uk/ camping/yurts, guests can enjoy the discount on any two nights from Monday to Thursday.

Operations Manager Kevin Parker said

ADVERTORIAL

On top of the discounted mid-week rates, glampers can take advantage of 20% off on all other activities offered. This enables guests to fully immerse themselves in the exciting adventures available, such as sailing and windsurfing, at a fraction of the original cost.

The mid-week offer is valid Monday – Thursday until the end of the season and activities must be pre-booked online to redeem 20% off. Guests will receive a unique discount code within their glamping confirmation email.

BEWL’S GREAT GLAMPING GIVEAWAY

BEWL Water is hosting its biggest ever giveaway, where one lucky winner and three friends will enjoy a two-night glamping trip, plus a host of other gifts, including prizes from international sports brands Trespass and Nikwax.

that the yurts have always been a favourite choice among holidaymakers who prioritise luxury but wish to embrace the benefits of the great outdoors.

He also points out the wide range of activities available at Bewl Water, which entices visitors to return year after year.

To enter, follow @bewlwater, @trespass, and @nikwax on Instagram and like, share, and comment on the pinned post. The winner will also enjoy free tickets to an activity of their choice, 20% off all other attractions, free bike hire, a welcome basket, fresh pastries each morning, an afternoon tea picnic, and a hamper of camping essentials from Trespass and Nikwax.

The competition closes at 12pm on Friday 30 June and the winner will be announced at 7pm.

FUN AT BROADSTAIRS BY ROSEMARY PILCHER

‘I am fascinated by the character and resilience of ancient trees, but also by the very varied coastline around England’

GLAMPING YURT

TRESPASS PRODUCTS

Snowdonia is a world-class hiking destination

The Welsh National Park has seen some overcrowding in recent years, but some

says Chynna Jones…

Ifeel like I’ve stepped through the wardrobe and into Narnia as we pull up to our hotel in Betws-y-Coed, our home for the next few days.

Set on the north-eastern edge of the Snowdonia National Park, the village is only 14.3 miles from Snowdon and the mountain’s peak is visible from almost every corner.

The mountains tower around us, shrouding us from the wind and creating a bubble of tranquillity. There’s no one around but us – even the Royal Oak Hotel, where we’re staying, is deserted aside from the staff.

In recent years, Snowdonia National Park has been experiencing an overcrowding problem, with approximately 600,000

people visiting every year, mostly gathering on trails to reach the summit of Snowdon. But that shouldn’t put you off visiting, as there are still plenty of quiet areas to explore.

To help visitors find these more peaceful spots (and others across the UK’s most popular areas), AllTrails has created a downloadable app, featuring trail maps, along with photos, reviews, and user recordings crowdsourced from a community of over 50 million hikers, backpackers, mountain bikers and trail runners.

Trail

Eager to see how it all works, I’ve joined a group on a mission to test the effectiveness of the app over the next few days.

AllTrails offers the standard easy/ moderate/hard and distance filtering you would expect from any hiking app, but you can also filter for accessibility, child-friendliness, and what kind of views you’re after.

What I’m most interested in, however, is the ‘trail usage’ function, which allows me

to filter out all the busier routes.

We dive in at the deep end with a walk to the summit of Moel Siabod, Snowdon’s neighbour. The hike is only 4.6 miles in total, but the challenge lies in the elevation. Parts of the trail are very steep and the thinner air means getting out of breath unfortunately becomes all too familiar. The hike is classified as ‘hard’ and I can definitely feel it once we reach the summit.

There’s very little noise on our way up and we see a grand total of three people along the way – surprising considering how popular Snowdonia is as a hiking destination.

Instead, there are plenty of sheep, although I have no idea how they made it this far up the mountainside. They’re having a grand old time though, bleating at us as we walk by.

The walk up is well-sheltered – but Moel Siabod is on the edge of the mountain range, so once we reach the top there’s nothing protecting us from the wind that comes barrelling across the Welsh landscape.

We stop for a few minutes. Snack bars are shared around and we all drink at least half a litre of water. I stand on the edge of

the rocks looking down at the sweeping park views. It’s hard to believe something so otherworldly exists in the UK. The long way down feels much tougher. But even though my knees are aching, I’m distracted by the scenery. We stop for a quick pint a the bottom of the mountain before heading for dinner at the Pont-y-Pair Inn, just a little way down from our hotel (mains around £15). The building looks Victorian with its greybrown bricks and triangle-shaped roof, and inside it’s a typical village pub –mostly empty aside from a few reliable regulars propping up the bar. My meal is delicious and pleasantly filling after the long hike.

Views

Our second day starts with an early morning kayak session at Llyn Padarn in Llanberis – only a half-hour drive through the National Park. Despite the sun, 9.45am is still early enough to be a little bit chilly, and I’m grateful for the full-length wetsuit I’ve been given.

I’ve kayaked before, so it feels familiar to be on the water again. Dan McGonigle, our instructor, gets us playing a game of ‘keep away’ as he threatens to capsize us if we get hit by his ball. Thankfully, it’s a calm day, so there’s plenty of time to admire the countryside views as sunshine sparkles on the water. Dan tells us that Llyn Padarn is one of just a small handful of lakes in the UK where you can find Arctic Charr, a breed of freshwater fish.

The wind picks up as we head back to the shore and I can feel my arms begin to ache from the paddling.

Next, we head to Bryn Williams Porth Eirias, a beautiful beachside seafood restaurant in Colwyn Bay (portheirias.com; mains around £20), where a soundtrack of rolling waves accompanies my meal of freshly-caught fish.

Later on, we head out on a mindfulness

walk led by Davy Greenough – a local who takes hikers through guided meditations as they traverse the forest towards Llyn y Parc. The 3.7-mile trail begins right on the doorstep of our hotel and is a much easier walk than we’ve been doing.

I savour the peace and tranquillity as we walk in silence for 20 minutes, listening to birds digging in the undergrowth as a breeze rustles through the trees.

In a secluded part of the forest, we have the opportunity to meditate on the edge of Llyn y Parc. Davy tells us he started doing the meditative walks by himself when he realised the stress of his day job was damaging his mental health. Now, he tries to keep the habit up daily.

Our third and final day dawns bright and early with an easy walk up to Llyn Elsi – a beautiful lake hidden away in the middle of Gwydir Forest, which encircles Betws-yCoed. The first half of the hike is up a fairly steep hill, although still not as sharp of an incline as Moel Siabod.

The forest is so quiet – there’s no one around but us and the conifer, oak and beech trees. The trail takes us around the entire lake, showing off all the different landscapes that Wales has to offer: mountains, forest, countryside and picturesque villages.

The trail feels shorter on the way down, perhaps because I’m aware my time here is coming to an end.

Snowdonia is certainly the place to go to switch off and ignore your emails. And, if you know where to go, you won’t be bothered by crowds.

How to plan your trip

The Royal Oak Hotel (royaloakhotel.net) has rooms from £130 a night, breakfast included.

Download the AllTrails app from the App Store or Google Play for free. Pro membership, which allows you to download trails for use offline, costs £2.99/month or £35.99/year.

areas are still calm, quiet and perfect for an active holiday,

‘The mountains tower around us, shrouding us from the wind and creating a bubble of tranquillity’

SNOWDONIA NATIONAL PARK

Picture: Alamy/PA

MOEL SIABOD

Picture: Alamy/PA

guidegig

Total Stone Roses & Oaysis

01/07 CVC + James Wood

02/07 Soft Play

04/07 Dead Poet Society + Bexley + Your Misery

05/07 Word Up!

In his fortnightly guide, Times Music Editor Paul Dunton brings us his gig highlights, including this year’s Pub In The Park, which returns next weekend to Dunorlan Park…

PUB IN THE PARK, DUNORLAN PARK (EVENT FIELD)

July 7-9

All event information and tickets available at www.pubintheparkuk. com/tunbridge-wells/

07/07 Rudimental DJ Set + EMF + Mike Wilton Band

08/07 Afternoon: Badly Drawn

Boy + House Gospel Choir +

Isabella Coulstock

Evening: Mcfly + Jaguar Skills +

James Kirby

09/07 Sister Sledge + Fleetwood

Bac + The Shires + Paul Dunton Orchestra

TUNBRIDGE WELLS FRINGE FESTIVAL

Selected Live Music Events during period July 1-11. All event information at www.twfringe.com

Sofia

TWCF Church – 8pm

The Imperial Pub – 8pm

The Brickworks – 8pm

Keen: 08/07 The Brickworks – 8.30pm

Morten Vamplew (Debussey piano recital)

09/07 Brittens Music – 2pm Jong-Gyung Park (Beethoven, Chopin, Ravel Piano recital)

09/07 Brittens Music – 4pm

Hell Drivers:

09/07 The Imperial Pub – 8pm

14/07 The Bedford Pub – 8pm

THE TUNBRIDGE WELLS FORUM

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

28/06 Amber Run + Katie Keddie

29/06 Jeru The Damaja

30/06 An indie celebration:

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)

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

• Please state photo credit if required paul@paulduntonandguests.com

06/07 Molly Hatchet + Sons of Liberty

07/07 The Blockheads

12/07 Stephen Brown from BBC Radio Kent presents: David Shepherd + Kevyn Ricard & guests + Katie Kittermaster + Little Suspicions + St£fan (from ‘The Midnight Beast’)

THE GREY LADY MUSIC LOUNGE, PANTILES

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

07/07 Dancing out of love  –Anna Cookson book launch and flamenco dance

09/07  Soul Kitchen Special

SQUERRYES WINERY RESTAURANT, WESTERHAM

Dining and live Jazz music experience booking advised via 01959 562345 or www.squerryes.

co.uk Live music from 7.30pm

30/06   Harry Whitty & Chelsea

Becker

07/07   Roger Lewin

02/07 Live at The Orangery  –Kentish Opera (2pm and 6pm)

THE GEORGE & DRAGON INN, SPELDHURST

Open all day, free entry, music in the garden from 4.30pm

01/07 Owen Donavan

08/07 The Violet Jive Duo

THE ASSEMBLY HALL THEATRE, CRESCENT ROAD

All event Information and tickets available at www. assemblyhalltheatre.co.uk

30/06 Abba The Story

01/07 Simon & GarfunkelThrough The Years

THE BLACK HORSE PUB, CAMDEN ROAD

Open all day, music events  – free entry (unless stated) music from 8pm - Live music on Friday nights

30/06  Joe Gibson & Daniel Pierce

TYBER’S REGGAE BAR, 9 NEVILL STREET

THE BOTTLE HOUSE INN, PENSHURST

Open all day, free entry music from 6pm booking advised on 01892 870306 or online at www. thebottlehouseinnpenshurst.co.uk

30/06 Jonny Gray

07/06 TN2 Acoustic Duo

SANKEYS RESTAURANT, THE OLD FISH MARKET, THE PANTILES

Open from midday onwards, live music from 7pm Booking advised on 01892 511422 or via www.sankeys.co.uk

29/06 Jennifer Maslin & John Harriman

06/07 Rob Picazo

THE GREEN DUCK EMPORIUM, 53 GROSVENOR ROAD

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

30/06 Carradine’s Cockney Sing-along!

TN1 BAR & KITCHEN, MONSON ROAD

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

29/06 Toby Boyle (7pm)

30/06 The Masqueraders Duo (8.30pm)

01/07 Owen Donvan  (8.30pm)

06/07 act tbc

07/07 David Mumford Duo

(8.30pm)

08/07 act tbc

ST EDITH FOLK SESSIONS, THE QUEENS’S HALL THEATRE, CRANBROOK

All event information and tickets available at www.stedithfolk. co.uk/what-s-on

01/07 Gigspanner Big Band

22/07 Fairport Convention

CHIDDINGSTONE CASTLE, CHIDDINGSTONE

All event information and tickets at www.chiddingstonecastle.org. uk/whats-on/

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

29/06 Tyber & Pete, Janet Kay & Carrol Thompson Double Header

30/06 Twin Sounds (ska and reggae DJs)

01/07 The Rum & Reggae Boys

07/07 Carisoul Vibes

08/07 The Accelerators

JAZZ ON THE PANTILES, THE PANTILES BANDSTAND

A reservation is required (entrance £5pp). Participating restaurants : The Tunbridge Wells Hotel: 01892 530501

The Kirthon: 07592 271151La Casa

Vecchia: 01892 544700

29/06  Vince Dunn Orchestra

THE ROYAL OAK PUB, PROSPECT ROAD

Open all day, free entry music from 8.30pm

30/06 Martin Poore Benefit Show

07/07 First Friday of the month

Acoustic Session

08/07 Mike Wilton DJ set

09/07  Lazy Sunday afternoon

Acoustic Sessions

THE BEDFORD PUB, HIGH STEET

Open all day, free entry, live music from 8pm

28/06 The Polygons

07/07 Running Brook  (TW FRINGE FESTIVAL)

08/07 From Ashes (TW FRINGE FESTIVAL)

EVEN FLOW CAFE, ST JOHN’S ROAD

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

29/06 Open Mic Night

THE COMPASSES, LITTLE MOUNT SION

Open all day, free entry, live music from 7.30pm

29/06 Squeeze-A-Crowd

THE GEORGE & DRAGON, LAMBERHURST

Open all day, free entry, music from 8pm

28/06 Open Mic / Jam session all welcome

05/07 Open Mic / Jam session all welcome

KATIE KITTERMASTER

ROGER LEWIN

FAIRPORT CONVENTION

Times reporter Grace Corcoran picks three books to read this week

bookshelf this week, love across the political and racial divide is explored in Cecilia Rabess’ ‘Everything’s Fine’, there’s a perfect summer romantic comedy from Jenny Colgan,and Tomiwa Owolade looks at black people’s experiences of the UK in ‘This Is Not America’.

Everything’s Fine by Cecilia Rabess

Published in hardback by Picador, priced £16.99

Cecilia Rabess’ debut novel ‘Everything’s Fine’ has already caused quite a stir online. If it isn’t already at the top of your summer reading list, then it should be. To call it a romance would do the novel a disservice – it is much more complex than that. It highlights a familiar debate – how do you square the circle of having vastly different political beliefs to your loved ones? Jess – who is black – and Josh – who is white – first meet at university, and once again when they start working at Goldman Sachs. Their working relationship blossoms into a friendship and then, inevitably, a relationship. The novel attempts to reckon with America’s not-too-distant past and shows the polarisation experienced by American society in the Trump era through the eventual strain in the protagonists’ relationship. Intensely readable and relatable, with snappy, smart dialogue, you will stay up to the wee hours devouring this.

Review by Lauren Gilmore

The Summer Skies by Jenny Colgan

Published in hardback by Sphere, priced £14.99

Third-generation pilot Morag is ticking off what she’s internalised as a good life: a nice boyfriend, a well-paid promotion and the glamour of long haul. Then her Scottish roots call her home for one last job for her familyowned, island-hopping flight path. Jenny Colgan’s portrayal of the highland archipelago is beautifully done, while the characterisation has real warmth, and Morag comes alive when she finds herself off-grid – and at the mercy of nature – on the island of Inchborn. ‘The Summer Skies’ takes at least 100 pages to draw you in, but when it finally does, it’s full of comedic detail, thought-provoking questions about identity, inner strength and life’s pivotal moments. The ending may have that romantic-comedy predictability but you’ll be racing through the pages to get there nonetheless – and possibly booking a holiday to the northern Scottish islands too.

Review by Lauren Taylor

This is not America: Why Black Lives in Britain Matter by Tomiwa Owolade

Published in hardback by Atlantic Books, priced £18.99

‘This Is Not America’ starts strongly, with a few compelling points – too long has racism in Britain been seen through an American lens, which is unhelpful as the black British experience is vastly different to the black American; and the black British experience is varied and cannot be reduced to one homogenised story. Owolade then goes on to explore this in a bit more detail – looking at racism in America, where black people largely trace their roots back to violence and slavery, compared to the UK, where black communities broadly come from peaceful immigration. While Owolade makes sure to emphasise he doesn’t want to diminish racism in the UK, some readers might find certain points somewhat controversial, such as Owolade suggesting the incident at a Buckingham Palace event where Ngozi Fulani was asked repeatedly where she’s really from wasn’t necessarily racism.

Review by Prudence Wade

NIK KERSHAW * HEAVEN 17 * THE FEELING STARSA ILOR * MOSTLY AUTUMN * GO WEST

IAN PROWSE * LIFESIGNS * THE TRAVELLING BAND

MILES HUNT * NO JACKET REQU IRED * BRUCE S OORD * KYROS

TALK I N CODE * DAVID FORD * THE HEARTLAND RO OTS BAND

Suppor ting local ba nds

THE PAUL DUNTON ORCHESTRA * THE ACKERLEYS

T WO WEEKS IN NASHVILLE * ST EFFAN JAMES BAND

On the

Wine lovers of today find new joy in decanters from the past

Claret

Tunbridge Wells is renowned for its beautiful countryside and historic attractions. However, what many people may not know is that it is also home to some exceptional vineyards producing highquality wine. These vineyards have been gaining popularity in recent years, and their relevance to British antique silver claret jugs is a fascinating topic to explore.

Climate

Firstly, let’s take a look at the vineyards themselves. There are several vineyards in Tunbridge Wells, including Biddenden Vineyards, Chapel Down, and the Hush Heath Estate. These vineyards benefit from the region’s ideal climate and soil conditions, which create the perfect environment for growing grapes. The vineyards produce a variety of wines, including sparkling wine, white wine, and rosé.

So, what does this have to do with British antique silver claret jugs? Well, claret jugs were traditionally used to serve red wine. In the 18th and 19th centuries, when claret jugs were in their prime, wine production

in England was not yet established. This meant that wine was typically imported from France, and claret jugs were used to serve this wine in style.

With the rise of English wine production, including in Tunbridge Wells, there has been a renewed interest in claret jugs as a way of serving locally-produced wine. This has led to a resurgence in the popularity of

antique silver claret jugs, which are highly sought-after by collectors and wine enthusiasts alike.

Ornately decorated, featuring intricate engravings and designs, and were a status symbol among the wealthy. Today, claret jugs remain highly prized for their craftsmanship and historical significance. pushkinantiques.com

jugs are not only a beautiful way to serve wine, but

history, says Rudolph Hamilton of Pushkin Antiques…

RUDOLPH HAMILTON

A SELECTION OF ANTIQUE CLARET JUGS

Make the time to say ‘cin cin’ to Verdicchio

Times Drinks Editor James Viner praises the grape from one of Italy’s least-known, high-quality wine regions

1) 2022 Moncaro Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi Classico DOC (£6.99, Waitrose, waitrose.com)

The Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi Classico DOC subzone is restricted to vineyards located on the left (northern) bank of the Misa River. Of all the entrylevel, supermarket Verdicchios, this is the one I like the best. It has a riffle of elderflower, yellow citrus, ripe pear, Granny Smith apple, green herbs, and a jolt of almond and white peach. Not for the cellar. So good at the end of a hot day, it would make a lovely aperitif. Who needs complicated on a hot summer evening? A crisp drink-with-anything summer stalwart with a bright, lively and zesty finish. Vinified by the local co-op.

2) 2021 Villa Bucci Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi Classico Superiore DOC (£22, The Wine Society, thewinesociety. com)

This classy, multi-faceted and beautifullycomposed Verdicchio from an organically farmed estate has great precision and tension with bosc pear, lime blossom, wild herbs, orange peel and saline notes that hold well on the long, refreshing, sapid, slightly salty finish. A lovely gastronomic style and a joy to drink. Maybe with shellfish risotto or roasted flounder with lemon butter? It’s a super-smart, artisanal wine made by Ampelio Bucci and will blossom over the next few years.

3) 2020 La Monacesca, Verdicchio di Matelica Riserva DOCG ‘Mirum’ (£25.75, Verdicchio di Matelica Riserva was raised to DOCG status in 2010. Unlike its big neighbour Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi, which is situated close to the Adriatic Sea, Matelica’s vineyards are landlocked in the foothills of the Apennine Mountains, close to the regional border with Umbria, and experience a continental climate. This very exciting wine, made from Verdicchio fruit sourced from a three-hectare vineyard at around 400 metres above sea level in this inland, higher and slightly hillier zone, is cut like a good suit. Think bay leaf, aniseed, caramelised apricots,

citrus fruit, pear and toasted almonds. Begging for serious food. Anyone for coniglio in porchetta or Matelica’s ‘vincisgrassi’ (the exceedingly hearty lasagna from the Marche)? A real find with a bright future.

4) 2018 Tenuta di Tavignano, ‘Misco’ Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi Riserva DOCG (£48, Petersham Cellar, petershamcellar.com)

Tenuta di Tavignano is a 230-hectare estate situated 20km to the southwest of Ancona airport at around 300 metres above sea level in the municipality of Cingoli on a hill above the valleys of Esino and Musone rivers (the Latin for which, ‘Miscus,’ gives its name to this single vineyard wine from the estate’s finest Verdicchio parcel). It was acquired in 1973 by Stefano Aymerich and his wife, Beatrice Lucangeli and has been certified organic since 2018. This youthful, Verdicchio Riserva DOCG wine tingles with life and smells of lemon peel, star anise, acacia, pears, seashells and crushed rocks, with a little yellow fruit, green

herbs and toasted almond thrown in. It’s complex, with a stony, seashell minerality that sits neatly alongside the long toasted almond nut conclusion. It deserves a decanter and will age very well. I could see it improving (I would give it an even longer cellaring future if it had a screwcap) for another decade, gaining more marzipan and honey characters. Thoroughly satisfying to drink with a wide range of foods and substantial enough (there’s a reason why Verdicchio is often dubbed ‘a red wine disguised as a white’) to pair with great seafood and game meat. Bring on pasta with game sauce – hello pappardelle alla lepre.

Don’t serve this wine, and the two above, too cold (it’ll conceal the nuances). Stefano’s niece Ondine de la Feld, who has run the estate since 2021, recommends pouring it around 13°C-18°C. The crème de la crème of a relatively recent DOCG and a big ‘si’ for your cellar from me – worth every penny!

DID YOU KNOW?

Legend has it that when Rome was sacked in 410 by Alaric (the first king of the Visigoths) his soldiers drank several barrels of Verdicchio to supposedly maintain their health and fitness.

There is no obligation to sell, so call Clive Today to arrange a home visit at no charge and at your convenience. He will advise you personally on your items and absolute discretion is guaranteed.

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You can follow James on Twitter: @QuixoticWine

Motoring News

Vauxhall’s Crossland successor to get first fully electric version

THE replacement for the current Vauxhall Crossland will be available with a fullyelectric version for the first time.

The move means that every vehicle in the Vauxhall range will be available with a battery-powered version and expands on the range of five electric models that is currently offered.

Future

The new Crossland model will arrive next year, joining battery-powered Vauxhall models like the Corsa Electric, Mokka Electric and Combo Life Electric. A new electric version of the Astra has just gone on sale, too.

The arrival of the electric Crossland will also coincide with the launch of an electric version of the larger Grandland, completing

the range of fully electric Vauxhall vehicles. James Taylor, Managing Director, Vauxhall, said: “2024 will see us achieve the significant milestone of offering a fully-electric variant across our entire model line-up.

“It also confirms that going forward, all future Vauxhall models will be offered with a fully-electric variant from launch – demonstrating our commitment towards driving Britain to a brighter, electric future.”

A number of plug-in hybrid models will be sold alongside the fully electric versions, including the Astra, Astra Sports Tourer and Grandland. Vauxhall has also stated that it will be introducing a new, more efficient ‘regular’ hybrid engine to its range, kicking off with the new Corsa that will be available later this year.

Mercedes launches larger E-Class Estate

MERCEDES has released its latest version of the E-Class Estate, and it brings even more spaciousness to the practicalityfocused model.

The E-Class has widened by 28mm over its predecessor, while the wheelbase has been extended by 22mm. Mercedes says that because of these extensions, the E-Class can offer more knee room for passengers sitting in the back, while elbow room has also increased.

Capacity

When it comes to boot space, the 615 litres offered is slightly down on the 640 litres you would’ve found in the previous E-Class Estate, but it’s still more than you’ll find in rivals like the Audi A6 Avant and BMW 5 Series Touring, which offer 586 and 560 litres of boot space respectively. The

Porsche teams up with Xbox to celebrate 75 years

PORSCHE is continuing its 75th-anniversary celebrations through a unique partnership with Xbox.

The German sports car manufacturer will be covering a limited collection of Xbox Series X consoles and matching wireless controllers with some of its most famous motorsport liveries, from the famous ‘Pink Pig’ to the one worn by the 911 GT1 which won the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1998.

Sweepstake

In total, six distinct liveries will be available as part of the Xbox 75th Anniversary Collection.

However, rather than being available to purchase through stores, the limitededition run of Xbox consoles and controllers will instead be accessed via a sweepstake system. Over the next four months, fans can enter for a chance to win via Porsche’s sweepstake website.

Ayesha Coker, Vice President of Marketing of Porsche Cars North America, said: “Porsche is thrilled to team up with Xbox to design custom, limited-edition

gaming consoles to continue inspiring gamers to dream – both virtually and in the real world.

“With over 30,000 motorsport victories to date, it wasn’t easy to select only six liveries, but we’ve chosen some of the most iconic ones that our fans will recognise from notable victories over the years.”

Porsche says that it will also be

showcasing the limited-edition consoles and controllers at “major auto and gaming events around the globe” throughout the summer. It has already collaborated with Microsoft – creator of the Xbox – on a number of titles, including the Forza racing franchise which has seen all manner of Porsche vehicles made available to race in the virtual world.

luggage capacity of the E-Class can be increased to 1,830 litres by folding down the rear seats, too.

Plug-in hybrid versions also see a drop in boot capacity due to the fitment of the batteries, though it still stands at a respectable 460 litres and can be expanded to 1,675 litres by folding the rear seats down. The Estate also incorporates many of the design touches seen on other Mercedes models, such as the prominent front grille and sleek rear section which incorporates a chrome trim bar.

Inside, the E-Class can be equipped with Mercedes’ MBUX Superscreen setup, alongside an optional front passenger screen. Mercedes has stated that in Europe, this secondary screen will allow passengers (but not the driver) to enjoy video content. It hasn’t been confirmed whether this feature will be heading to the UK.

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