Times of Tonbridge - 30th November 2016

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Wednesday, November 30, 2016

INSIDE

DAZZLING TURNOUT FOR TOWN’S CHRISTMAS FESTIVAL

GUEST OF HONOUR

Street cleaner from Tonbridge stars at town festival. Page 5

ROYAL VISIT

PHOTO: Natalia Bedwell

Princess Alexandra returns to school after 50 years. Page 5

LIGHTING UP THE NIGHT: Tonbridge was illuminated by a fireworks display on Sunday night. It concluded a fantastic day of festivities as thousands descended on the High Street to enjoy a variety of entertainment, food and ELECTION drink.

A fullLINE-UP story on the Christmas Festival can be found on page 4…

(L-R): David Allen (UKIP),

A21: The good news…

A21: The bad news…

Cycle path unveiled Road widening delay

Murray Jones

murray@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk CYCLISTS, pedestrians and horse riders are set to benefit from improved links along the A21 with a designated route between the hospital at Pembury and Tonbridge town centre.

There were already plans for a cycle path to run alongside the newly widened A21, but it was a ‘road to nowhere’ according to Tunbridge Wells MP Greg Clark, as it failed to link up with the towns at either end.

The plans, announced on Friday, will involve adding a path between Longfield

Road on North Farm Industrial Estate and Tunbridge Wells Hospital. When combined with existing cycle paths, there will now be a permanent route of about four miles between the town centres of Tunbridge Wells and Tonbridge.

The specific plans for the Tonbridge end have not yet been announced, but it is believed it will link Vauxhall Roundabout and the train station.

The announcement came on the back of an £830,000 grant being secured from Highways England to build the additional links. Kent County Council [KCC] will also contribute around £50,000 –

Continued on page 6

Jonathan Banks

newsdesk@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk MOTORISTS hoping for relief early next year from congestion on the notorious A21 will have to wait a bit longer.

Work on the road widening at Pembury has been delayed for six months, it was disclosed on Friday, after 35,000 tonnes of soil contaminated with asbestos and heavy metals were discovered throughout the site. Asbestos is a serious health risk.

And the delay could be prolonged even further if there is significant rainfall over the coming months.

The £69.7million construction project began in April 2015, with the aim of ending the notorious bottleneck between Tonbridge and Tunbridge Wells by December, although delays earlier in the year pushed that target back to March 2017.

Now developers are suggesting ‘late summer 2017’ as the earliest possible date for opening the new 2.5 mile (4km) stretch of road.

The Construction Programme Manager for Highways England, Simon Elliott, said: “We found various pockets of asbestos throughout the whole site in March and April.

Continued on page 6

SPORT

TJ’s get revenge for heavy defeat. Page 103

CHRISTMAS PRESENCE Your 16 page luxury gift pullout is inside. Page 46

4 ■ LOCAL NEWS

Town celebrates the start of Christmas in style PACKED The festive High Street

By Murray Jones newsdesk@timesoftonbridge.co.uk

THERE was a record turnout for this year’s Christmas Festival on Sunday when people flocked to the town centre to enjoy the biggest event on Tonbridge’s calendar.

‘It will be difficult to top it next year’

HOBBO AND THE HIPPIES

SHONNA DAMMS CONTACTS

EDITORIAL DIRECTOR RICHARD MOORE richard@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk | 01892 779615

An estimated 9,000 people packed into the High Street, an increase of 2,000 on last year, according to the Tonbridge Rotary Club, which organised the event.

The day began at 2pm with the TS Brilliant Reunion Band marching down the High Street to the specially erected stage by the Watergate.

Crowds cheered the four-and-fiveyear-old Razzamataz ‘minis’, whose singing provided a perfect start to a string of musical acts performing throughout the day. They were introduced by enthusiastic compere Dave Mac, who ensured there was never a dull moment.

Stalls filled the High Street, providing gift ideas and food and drink for festivalgoers, and there was a chance to raise money for charity, with the local Lions selling town calendars.

The Hawkforce Falconry

stall drew a great deal of attention.

Tonbridge Falconer Sarah Hunt introduced people to Luna, the Dark-Crested Barn Owl. She said: “Everyone really enjoyed the day. We come along every year and it always good.”

The only notable absentee was Father Christmas, who was clearly busy at the North Pole ahead of the big day.

At around 4pm, the Mayor, Cllr Mark Rhodes, was joined on stage by the cast of Tonbridge pantomime Cinderella to switch on the lights. A brief fusing issue with the Christmas tree drew laughter rather than disappointment from the crowd.

By 6pm, the area around the stage and bridge was packed, and an impressive display of fireworks filled up the winter’s sky above a beautifully lit Tonbridge Castle.

Roars of approval closed the show, as Dave Mac asked the town: “Shall we do it again next year?”

Rotary Club President Brian Piner described the day as a ‘major success’, adding: “We were there at eight in the morning until about eight at night. It was a long day but very well worth it. All the acts performed free of charge, which was fantastic, and we were very lucky with the weather.

“There was a great array of stalls and I would think a lot of money was spent with local traders. It brought a lot of business to the community. All the pubs and restaurant were absolutely full, and I think everyone had a great evening out. Everyone helped make it the best festival ever.

It will be difficult to top it next year.”

For more photos from the day see our website: timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk

FESTIVE SPIRIT Tonbridge Community Singers

BRIGHT SPARK: The Mayor and the Panto cast switch on the lights

ON STAGE Dave Mac looks on at the Razzamataz minis

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Wednesday 30th November 2016

MARCHING ORDERS The TS Brilliant Reunion Band opened the festivities

HEARTS OF GOLD The Hartley Morris Men WHAT A HOOT Children loved Luna the barn owl

LOCAL NEWS 

NEWS IN BRIEF

It pays to listen to your customers A TONBRIDGE optician and hearing specialist has won an award for offering the best customer service in the south east region.

It is the second year in a row the branch of Scrivens Opticians & Hearing Care in the Pavilion has received the accolade. The award was presented at the company’s annual conference earlier this month.

Manager Stephanie Hill, who has worked there for six years, said: “We have a happy environment here and we make sure we listen to our customers and their needs.”

Happy birthday Jane A CELEBRATION of one of the country’s favourite authors, highlighting the writer’s Tonbridge connections, will be held at the Church of St Peter and St Paul together with a lecture entitled ‘The Modernity of Jane Austen’ by Professor Richard Jenkyns.

The event, on Wednesday December 14 in Church Lane, runs from 2.30pm-4.30pm.

Tickets are £5 and are available from the Mr Books store, 142 High Street, Tonbridge. Or call 01732 363000.

Get smart with meters CITIZENS ADVICE will be explaining how to use ‘smart meters’ at the Angel Centre on Tuesday December 6, from 9am to 2pm.

The meters are designed to show consumers exactly how much energy their household is using and what it is costing.

They also send accurate readings to the energy supplier, so there will be no need to do manual meter readings or have estimated bills.”

Castle gets silver CHIDDINGSTONE CASTLE has been awarded a coveted Silver in the Small Visitor Attraction of the Year category at The Beautiful South Awards 2016.

Director of the Castle, Ali Ditzel said she was ‘bowled over’ receiving the award on Thursday in Southampton, adding: “To think it was only eight years ago that the trustees were within hours of making the decision to close the doors and disperse the collections forever.”

5

‘Unsung hero’ street cleaner lights up town’s festive season

By Murray Jones newsdesk@timesoftonbridge.co.uk

A STREET cleaner, who has lived in Tonbridge all his life, was the guest of honour at a neighbouring town’s Christmas Festival last weekend.

Clive Mitson, aged 62, who is also well known as Charlie, was invited to switch on the lights at West Malling’s Christmas Festival on Sunday November 20, after being approached by the local Chamber of Commerce which organised the event.

West Malling Chamber of Commerce Secretary, Julia Smith, explained why Mr Mitson was chosen: “We were discussing back in September, sort of asking around if anyone knows any minor celebs who could appear.

“Then we thought it would be nice to reward a member of the community that might not get the recognition

GUEST OF HONOUR Street cleaner Clive Mitson

they deserve and show that they are really appreciated.

“I walk past Clive every morning and he is such a lovely guy. He will be out there with a smile on his face, come rain or shine.”

She said as soon as she suggested Mr Mitson to the committee there was instant and unanimous agreement that he was the perfect ‘unsung hero’.

The story gained national attention last week after Strictly Come Dancing star Ola Jordan cancelled her book-signing appearance in the town, deciding instead to take part in ITV’s ‘I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here’.

He was even interviewed about the situation by Chris Evans, on his Radio 2 Breakfast Show.

Yet the dancer’s cancellation did little to hinder the event as Mr Mitson, who was booked to

turn on the lights, ‘stole the show’ according to organiser Julia Smith.

Mr Mitson, of Rembrant Close, Tonbridge, has worked as a Street Cleaning Operative in West Malling for the last three years, after being made redundant from an insulation company.

He described the day as ‘very good fun’, and added: “It’s pretty mind blowing when you look out on stage and see thousands of people cheering back at you.”

And Mr Mitson, who has three children with his wife Angela as well as seven grandchildren, says his appearance has gone down well.

He said: “People have been coming up me in the street and saying I did a good job and it was well deserved.”

On the idea of appearing again next year, Mr Mitson was coy: “Who knows, it’s a long way away. But that would be quite something if I turned them on two years in a row.”

The Times teams up with KM to benefit businesses

Princess returns to lead a revolution in school library

ONE MEDIA, publishers of this newspaper, is joining forces with KM Media Group in an exciting new development. The commercial teams of each company will work together to provide customers with access to advertising space and inventory across Kent.

The February 2017 edition of Kent Business will be jointly sold by both teams and distributed in both KM paid for titles plus the Times of Tonbridge and Times of Tunbridge Wells and will give Kent Business a distribution of nearly 53,000 print copies. It will also be available digitally. Advertising staff will be able to offer packages across the

A MULTI-MILLION pound transformation of Tonbridge School’s library has been officially unveiled by Her Royal Highness Princess Alexandra, more than 50 years after she opened the original building.

The Smythe Library was originally constructed in 1962, when the school had around 500 students.

It has been extended and refurbished to accommodate the school’s growing population, which now stands at just under 800.

The £6.9million project has seen a mezzanine level added to the building, including new flexible teaching areas. There is also more room for the school’s private

newspapers, digital assets, the radio network kmfm and SO magazines published by One Media.

Nick Moore, Group Commercial Director for One Media said: “The arrangement with KM means that customers will have access to multimedia advertising opportunities and is a very exciting development.”

Neil Webster, Commercial Director for KM Media Group added: “We are delighted that we are working with the team from One Media and our customers will now have access to even larger audiences. Both companies share a common purpose of helping customers grow their businesses.”

GRAND OPENING: Princess Alexandra at Tonbridge School’s Smythe Library collection of nearly 23,000 books.

Watched by almost 800 boys and 300 guests on Tuesday November 22, Princess Alexandra unveiled a commemorative plaque outside the building.

Wednesday 30th November 2016

6  LOCAL NEWS

Cycle path unveiled Continued from page 1 money left over from the refurbishment of Tonbridge High Street.

The designs for the extra cycle links are expected to be finished by April 2017, with construction to be completed by the following April.

In the spring, KCC and Tunbridge Wells Borough Council applied for funding for the project, but were turned down. A situation Greg Clark, also a Cabinet Minister, described as ‘crazy’, adding the fact he ‘made a bit of a fuss’ to ensure the project got central government backing.

He revealed this involved meeting with the then Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin in June, as well as Highways England Chief Executive Jim O’Sullivan in July, to argue that it would be a ‘wasted opportunity’ not to put in the cycle links while the redevelopment work was going on.

“You have to take the opportunity with new constructions. It’s better to design cycle paths in than trying to fit them in later,” he said, commenting that he was

‘These links are part of our proposed cycling network’ Cllr Alan McDermott

‘delighted’ the plans had finally received funding.

Mr Clark, the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, described himself as ‘very pro-cycling’ and added that the new plans would mean ‘less cars on the road, meaning less congestion, and that’s good for everyone’.

Tonbridge MP Tom Tugendhat also welcomed the funding, but warned: “I have been clear that any new lanes in Tonbridge must form a part of the existing network and not cause inconvenience for the residents who have to park on street.”

Councillor Alan McDermott, Cabinet member at Tunbridge Wells Borough Council with responsibility for Planning and Transportation, said: “The inclusion of these additional cycle links is excellent news, and sees the borough council’s cycling strategy being put into action.

“These links are part of our proposed cycling network but also benefit pedestrians.”

Paul Mason, spokesperson for the Tunbridge Wells Bicycle Users Group, said he was ‘very pleased’ with the announcement of funding, but urged caution until the specific plans had been seen.

“A cycle path is only as good as its worst point. It has to be good all the way through otherwise people won’t use it, and parents certainly won’t let their children on it.”

‘It’s a disgrace that some people just dumped toxic waste in years gone past’ MP Greg Clark on the A21

MOVING FORWARDS The A21 workers are back on track

Road widening delay Continued from page 1 “The asbestos was under woodlands and in old brick- works. It appears someone simply made big holes in the ground to use as a tip.

“We contained it and removed it safely, but there were 35,000 tonnes of contaminated soil, so the project was delayed by around three to four months.

“I’m confident that we now have a clean site. We are trying to catch up but it has also delayed the earthworks, which are very dependent on the weather,” meaning that a wet winter could delay the project even further.

MP Greg Clark, who was shown around the construction site on Friday morning, told the Times: “Obviously everyone is disappointed that the new dual carriageway is not happening by Christmas. But given the number of years that we’ve waited, I think people will still be relieved that it is well under way and recognise that we are almost there.

“When you discover asbestos, it

‘We found various pockets of asbestos in March and April’ Construction Manager Simon Elliott

Wednesday 30th November 2016

is an unexpected thing and you have to deal with it safely. It’s a disgrace that some people just dumped toxic waste in years gone past.”

Tonbridge MP Tom Tugendhat said he was ‘disappointed’ with the delay, adding: “When finished, this scheme will bring huge benefits to our area, but the announcement of yet another delay is unacceptable when it should already be complete.

“The traffic situation, particularly at rush hour, is critical in south Tonbridge, and local schools have reported a rise in lateness since the works began.”

Campaigners have worked for years to get the multi-million pound scheme approved, but groups including The Woodland Trust objected to the destruction of 22 acres of ancient woodland.

Although on Friday, Tunbridge Wells Borough Councillor

Alan McDermott looked to reassure environmentalists that every tree that has been chopped down ‘will be replaced’.

The project is a mammoth undertaking, with Highways England saying they used approximately 20,000 tonnes of surface material by the end of October, enough to fill eight Olympic-sized swimming pools, to create the new carriageway on the A21.

Around 95 per cent of the new road surface will have used recycled materials – mainly old surfaces from the A21 and M25.

It was in 2001 that the then Transport Secretary Stephen Byers accepted the need to upgrade the road between Pembury and Tonbridge, following years of campaigning by residents.

WHAT IS ASBESTOS? Asbestos is a natural fibrous rock that was widely used within homes and other buildings until 1999. It poses a serious risk to health when its fibres become airborne, and it is the biggest occupational disease risk to construction workers.

It was responsible for the death of over 2,500 construction workers in 2005 – more than two-thirds of cancer deaths in the industry.

The discoveries at the A21 site included crocidolite, which is more commonly known as ‘blue asbestos’, described as the ‘nastiest’ variety.

LOCAL NEWS 

Job losses of 150 at AXA Insurance are confirmed after talks AXA Insurance has reached agreement with unions to relocate its direct motor claims customer operations team from its Century Place office in Tunbridge Wells to Birmingham, following a three week consultation.

The move will impact 150 employees, as reported in the Times two weeks ago, who will now undergo redundancy consultations with the transition expected to be completed by May 2017.

The change does not impact the other 147 staff in the technical operations teams, the engineering teams, nor any other part of AXA’s motor claims operation.

‘We have taken the decision to consolidate the direct motor operations staff in Birmingham’ Discussions are in progress with AXA PPP Healthcare about the potential for redeployment of affected staff to its Tunbridge Wells office.

Kim Pearce, Claims Customer Services Director, AXA Insurance, said: “After discussions between the union and management we have taken the decision to consolidate the direct motor operations staff in Birmingham to deliver a more consistent level of customer service.”

The change does not impact other staff based in the Tunbridge Wells Century Place office or AXA PPP Healthcare, a significant employer in the area.

“We are now consulting staff on an individual basis and are also in discussions with AXA PPP Healthcare to see if we can redeploy affected staff.”

7

Estate agents predict the ban on agency fees will hit renters

By Murray Jones

murray@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk RISING rents, fewer properties in the private rental sector and little impact on rogue landlords – these are some of the damming predictions from estate agents to the Chancellor’s announcement that letting agent’s fees would be banned.

In his Autumn Statement last Wednesday (November 23) Chancellor Philip Hammond said shifting the cost to landlords will save 4.3 million households hundreds of pounds, adding: “We have seen these fees spiral, often to hundreds of pounds. This is wrong. Landlords appoint letting agents and landlords should meet their fees.”

The fees in question are paid by tenants up front to letting agents. They pay for the cost of referencing background checks, drawing up the legalities of the agreement and the hiring of an independent inventory clerk.

But estate agents in Tunbridge Wells are far from convinced renters will get a better deal if fees are scrapped.

Typical were the comments from the Managing Director of Wood & Pilcher, Jackie Morris: “Ultimately while tenants won’t have to pay those costs up front, it could mean that rents go up.”

She accepts that there is a problem with ‘some agents’ who ‘do charge extortionate fees’ but she is adamant that the proposed ban is not the best way to stop them.

“The most obvious and easiest way to solve that

would be to cap the fees. If it was capped, everyone would know what they are paying for and why.

“Whereas now we are going to have to talk to landlords about putting the fees their way and that might just be the tipping point for some of them,” she said.

“Stamp duty has gone up, tax changes have come in. After this some of our landlords might say it is not worth it anymore.

This is really worrying because we need the private rental sector.”

‘Ultimately while tenants won’t have to pay those costs up front, it could mean that rents go up’ Jackie Morris

She said her view was shared by the wider estate agent community, citing the condemnation from the Association of Residential Letting Agents (ARLA) statement on the ban.

It read: “ARLA do not believe that these measures will tackle rogue landlords or agents who will continue to operate outside the law.

“ARLA is extremely disappointed that this announcement has been made without a strong basis of evidence. We are asking the Chancellor and the Housing Minister for a meeting at their earliest opportunity in order to ensure that they fully understand the damage that this will cause to housing standards and the impact on the cost of renting.”

Reservations over the ban have been echoed by some tenants. Emma Keywood, 22, moved into her two-bedroom rented accommodation in the town centre in October with a friend. The pair were charged £220 in agency fees, which would have been avoided under the ban. Nonetheless, Miss Keywood is unconvinced by the Chancellor’s announcement: “I think it’s good if they actually do get rid of the fees which really add to the cost of initially moving.

“However I suspect they will probably just bury the fees in higher rent prices so we may not end up better in the long run, and then there’s less transparency about what we’re paying for.”

Wednesday 30th November 2016

8  LOCAL BUSINESS NEWS PURE JOY Consultant Plastic Surgeon Nora Nugent (left) and Clinic Manager Sarona Bekker

Practising cosmetic surgery with an award-winning smile COSMETIC surgery practice Purity Bridge, which is based in Tunbridge Wells, has won the award for Best Customer Experience in South England and Wales at the national MyFaceMyBody Awards.

The ceremony was held at London’s Hilton Hotel and was attended by many of the leading figures in the world of cosmetic medicine and surgery.

Mariana Barry of Purity Bridge said: “This was especially rewarding as we feel it reflects on every member of our team – both clinical and non-clinical.

“It is also an area we have been particularly focusing on improving over the last year, which makes it especially fulfilling.”

She added that the team ‘are determined to provide the best possible experience for our patients at every step of their journey with us – from the first contact with the clinic through to the post-procedure recovery’.

The Mount Ephraim surgery was also highly commended in the category for Best Cosmetic Surgery Practice.

Wednesday 30th November 2016

Study while you work: University set to offer business degrees for employees

By Andrew Tong

newsdesk@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk A UNIVERSITY is moving into Tunbridge Wells and will soon be offering degree courses for working professionals.

The new project will be providing apprenticeships in line with current government requirements. However, these will not be for school leavers but for employees in a variety of industries.

Canterbury Christ Church University [CCCU], which has run a postgraduate centre on the Salomons estate for more than a decade, has acquired a property in the centre of town.

The students will now receive their tuition at Zurich House on Meadow Road, behind Fenwicks and Royal Victoria Place shopping centre. And for the first time, Canterbury’s Business School will be involved.

Until now the university has run a clinical psychology programme at Salomons as part of its psychology, politics and sociology course. The three-year postgraduate course is funded by the NHS. CCCU had owned the estate before it was purchased by the Markerstudy group in July 2013. The new central Tunbridge Wells site will allow easier access for students.

The premises will help the higher education provider to expand, with an increase in clinical psychology training for the health service – but also branching out into the corporate world.

Professor Callum Firth, Dean of the Faculty of Social and Applied Sciences,

told the Times: “The reason we are based at Salomons is because some of the students who are taking these doctorates are working for the NHS in places like London and Brighton.

“The location is critical, and Tunbridge Wells is ideally located in terms of rail links. But Salomons is not the easiest place to get to.”

It was Kent County Council [KCC] who approached the university about setting up degree apprenticeships in the business sector.

“This is a very targeted approach,” said Professor Firth. “KCC sat down with us and said they wanted a training programme, and could we design and deliver it for them?

“The talk centred around proposals for support-

COMMUNITY-MINDED Professor Callum Firth

ing engineering companies to meet their training needs. Many of them are struggling to find high-quality staff, and there’s a need to train them in new ways.

“I had discussions with the local council’s development officer in June last year when I was going around West Kent looking at the provision of training for engineering firms.”

But he hopes that the scheme will appeal to a wider corporate audience, too. “There are also a lot of finance and insurance companies in Tunbridge Wells who may be interested in that training,” he added. “At the moment their only option is for their staff to go into London.”

This time last year, the then Chancellor, George

SEAT OF LEARNING: The new university premises in Meadow Road

LOCAL BUSINESS NEWS 

Osborne, announced in his Autumn Statement that companies would be charged an Apprenticeship Levy of 0.5 per cent on company payrolls from April 2017.

‘Many companies are struggling to find high-quality staff. There’s a need to train them in new ways’ Large companies with annual pay bills in excess of £3million will have to pay into the Apprenticeship Levy, and the only way they can get their money back is to take on apprentices.

“The apprenticeships are offered by these companies, not by us, and it depends how they react to the provision,” said Professor Firth.

“Big companies have to pay in, but small companies get 90 per cent of their costs covered, so they may see an expansion of their workforce from the scheme.”

The Dean is keen to stress how much the university wants to climb out of its ivory tower and offer hope and ambition for those who already work for a living and want to expand their skills.

“We are looking to support local businesses,” he said. “I would hope to offer 20 to 30 degrees a year. But the local need determines what has to be delivered.

“Our Business School is investigating having people who are in work in the local area coming to Zurich House, because making them go all the way to Canterbury is a lot less efficient than sending our staff over to Tunbridge Wells.

“We are an institution that likes to work with our local communities. Being in the centre of town will make it much easier to do that, and it will help to raise our profile.

“And we hope that we will be able to offer more to local residents when we are there.”

CCCU is aiming to have the scheme up and running in April 2017.

THE UNIVERSITY OF TUNBRIDGE WELLS? Last year, the Leader of Tunbridge Wells Borough Council, David Jukes, said two universities had shown ‘serious interest’ in coming to the town.

It encouraged speculation that a campus might be developed, with an influx of students providing a boon for local businesses. The rumours were fuelled by the council’s plans to move into new offices, vacating the Town Hall.

The Higher Education Funding Council has previously described the borough as a ‘cold spot’ for higher education. But Professor Firth said the town would not be able to provide a large enough resource for a regular university.

“There won’t be an undergraduate element to our plans because the site is too small.

“To have an effective campus you need to have 1,000 or 1,500 students – and you need a hell of a lot of support staff to cater for that.”

AdEPT acquires two more businesses as its nationwide expansion continues THE fast-growing Tunbridge Wells company AdEPT Telecom has continued its nationwide expansion programme with the acquisition of a further two businesses.

AdEPT, one of the UK’s leading independent providers of voice and data communications solutions, has bought sister businesses CAT Communications and Progressive Communications in Pewsey, Wiltshire.

The move follows its purchase earlier this year of Northamptonbased Comms Group UK. This latest deal is the seventh major transaction in which law firm Cripps has advised AdEPT on over the past four years, and

was completed to an extremely tight schedule.

Ian Fishwick, Chief Executive of AdEPT, said: “We have ambitious plans to grow the business both through acquisition and organic contract wins.

“CAT and Progressive are two well-run businesses that we can easily and efficiently integrate into our existing operations – saving costs and broadening the products and services we can offer to clients.

“It was a deal that needed

completing quickly and, as ever, our longstanding legal advisers, Cripps, pulled out all the stops and worked closely with us to make sure it was completed smoothly and on time.”

AdEPT has enjoyed 13 years of increased underlying earnings, which were up 34 per cent to £6.15million for the year ending March 2016, compared to 2015.

Revenues rose 30.8 per cent to £28.9million, compared to £22.1million.

Nigel Stanford, who led Cripps’ TEAM LEADER multi-disciplinary Cripps’ Nigel team of Stanford corporate,

commercial, dispute resolution and employment lawyers, commented: “AdEPT is an exciting and successful company with clear plans for the future and a highly-motivated management team.

“We have developed a close working relationship over the course of the seven transactions we have advised on.

“Our experience in the telecoms sector, and the legal resources and expertise a firm our size can deploy, means we are ideally placed to help AdEPT with its continuing expansion.”

Cripps has offices in Tunbridge Wells, London, Kings Hill and Sandwich.

9

Investment manager is elected CISI President KATIE PRESLAND, an investment manager at the Tunbridge Wells office of Charles Stanley, has been elected as South East President of the Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment.

CISI represents wealth management and financial planning professionals, and has a global community of about 400,000 members in 116 countries.

Ms Presland, who has been Vice-President of the branch since its inception three years ago, said: “I am proud to have been elected as the President of the CISI’s South East branch.

“Over the past three years, we have been trying to raise the profile of the CISI locally, and have organised many events in the Tunbridge Wells area.

“This year our events have proved a great success, bringing over 60 local members of the CISI together.”

SUCCESS STORY Katie Presland has raised the profile of CISI

Wednesday 30th November 2016

10  LOCAL NEWS

Chairman steps down Converting a garage into a holiday let from the hospital trust means man faces £160,000 penalties

By Adam Hignett

adam@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk THE Chairman of Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust [MTW], Tony Jones, has announced his retirement after serving two full terms as Chairman.

Mr Jones, who joined the Trust in 2008, has been credited with overseeing substantial improvements in care and safety during his eight years in the role.

When he joined, the Trust had one of the worst infection rates in the country, but is now rated among the best, with very low instances of hospital-acquired infections.

However, financially the Trust has suffered from acute budgetary problems in the past couple of years, leading it to be placed into Financial Special Measures at the start of the summer.

In a retirement message to staff, Mr Jones announced his intention to step down by the end of the year, saying he was ‘sorry to be leaving’.

He added: “I believe that the Trust has progressed greatly since the problems of eight years ago, and will continue to go from strength

to strength. Most importantly, I believe that, for all the challenges from increasing demand, the Trust continues to offer an excellent service to its patients and to the local population.”

Glenn Douglas, Chief Executive, said: “Tony joined the Trust in 2008 when it was quite literally at its lowest ebb. At the time, his mission was to prove that MTW could once again become a Trust that everyone can take pride in.

“In the intervening years, he has done this and a great deal more.

“Tony is the first to admit that the achievements we have seen in many areas of care are as a consequence of a huge amount of hard work by our staff.”

As yet, no replacement Chairman has yet been appointed.

FOND FAREWELL Tony Jones

Wedding venue makes it a double with another award THE BARN in Tunbridge Wells has wo another top award as a wedding venue.

Over the last four years it has entered the Kent Wedding Awards competition under the ‘Boutique’ category, and has been a finalist each year. It first won in 2013, and has done the same again this year.

Judges described The Barn as ‘a delightful, intimate and exclusive

Wednesday 30th November 2016

space rather than just a venue’.

They thought it was ‘beautifully maintained and lovely both in daylight and at night’.

The venue, in Lonsdale Gardens, has been privately owned since 1992

by Ron Zane, who said: “This latest award recognises yet again all the effort and hard work the team put into making tThe Barn such a success and so popular.”

Jonathan Banks

newsdesk@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk THE borough council has sent a strong message to those tempted to ignore planning officers – you do so at your own peril.

The council took the unusual step of using the Proceeds of Crime Act in a planning enforcement case that ended up at Maidstone Crown Court, where a confiscation order was made against Christopher Wright of Golford Road, Cranbrook.

In addition, Mr Wright was fined and had costs awarded against him.

The case dates back to 2010, when planning officers from the council served four enforcement notices on Mr Wright. They related to: ■ Change of use of a garage for a building used as an unauthorised holiday let.

■ The erection of a building for use as an unauthorised holiday let.

■ Use of land for storage of materials, plant and caravans as part of an unauthorised landscaping business.

■ The erection of timber buildings for use as offices as part of an unauthorised landscaping business.

The notices asked Mr Wright to stop using the buildings as holiday lets, remove the unauthorised holiday let building, and to cease the use of the land and timber buildings for the landscaping business.

In January 2013, Mr Wright was found guilty of not complying with any of the notices and was fined £1,000 for each notice.

He continued not to comply with the notices, and during a court case in May 2015 he pleaded guilty to noncompliance with the four

notices. At this point the council asked for a confiscation order under the Proceeds of Crime Act to be determined alongside sentencing.

Confiscation A financial investigator from Kent County Council was appointed. The investigator established that non-compliance of these matters had led to Mr Wright receiving benefit in terms of income from the holiday lets and the continued operation of the landscaping business. The investigator established Mr Wright’s realisable assets as being £1.4million.

At Maidstone Crown Court, Judge HJ Griffiths-Jones, QC, ruled that the benefit to be seized by the confiscation order was £132,458.59, to be paid by 16 February 2017, and if it is not paid by that date Mr Wright should be sentenced to two years in prison as a default.

The judge also fined Mr Wright £5,000 for each of the four non-compliances, and ordered £6,000 in costs and a Victim Surcharge of £2,000, bringing the total at sentence to a further £28,000.

THE PROPERTY Aerial shot of the grounds

Tunbridge Wells Borough Council will receive 18.75 per cent of the confiscated money for use to fund local crimefighting priorities for the benefit of the community, including furthering enforcement of breaches of planning rules.

Council Cabinet member Alan McDermott said: “This court result makes it clear that if you disregard a planning enforcement notice the penalty can be severe.

“The Council investigates all reported breaches of planning control, and when significant harm as a result of breaches is identified, officers will use different methods to remove that harm. This includes serving enforcement notices, and if these are ignored then they will, if applicable, use the Proceeds of Crime Act.” Cllr McDermott added: ‘The council offers a pre-application advice service which will help you if you are unsure whether work to buildings or the use of land needs planning permission.”

The council’s pre-application advice service is available at www.tunbridgewells.gov.uk

12  COMMUNITY NEWS CROSS YOUR FINGERS Headmistress Angela Culley

Hospital scoops awards for child and baby care

By Andrew Tong newsdesk@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk

School campaigns for zebra crossing on busy Frant Road THE MEAD SCHOOL in Tunbridge Wells is launching a petition in a bid to raise funds to place a zebra crossing outside its gates on the busy A267 Frant Road.

The idea came about following the retirement of their lollipop man, David Douse.

Headmistress Angela Culley said: “David was a wonderful lollipop man who not only helped generations of Mead families across the road, but also an enormous number of the general public, who were always so grateful and appreciative.

“Sadly, he has retired, and we look forward to finding the best solution for everyone.

“We are hoping to fund a zebra crossing, thereby providing a safe, permanent, clearly defined place for everyone to cross this dangerous road.”

A public meeting will take place at the school on Monday December 5 at 6pm, when a copy of the petition will be available to sign. Organisers hope to collect more than 1,000 signatures.

Wednesday 30th November 2016

RADIO presenter Debbie McGee, wife of the late magician Paul Daniels, handed out the certificates at the Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust’s Staff Stars Awards at the Hop Farm near Paddock Wood this month.

This year a record number of nom-

inations were put forward by staff and patients – the Trust has more than 5,500 employees.

The nursing team on the Hedgehog children’s ward in Tunbridge Wells Hospital at Pembury won the Team Respect Award.

Medals The Patient First Award went to Dawn Mepham, an Occupational

Therapist at Pembury, while Roz Barwell, Ward Manager of Ward 20, claimed the runner-up spot.

The Trust took over the management of Crowborough Birth Centre this year, and Karen Leeson, the centre’s Manager, won the Individual Delivery Award.

The Neonatal Unit at Pembury was also named runner-up in the Team Excellence Award.

Ms McGee said: “It was a great hon-

our to be part of the Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust’s Staff Awards. It is so important to recognise the wonderful work they all do.

“Long may people want to look after us all in so many different ways.

I think the staff deserve medals.”

A charity raffle on the night raised over £700 for the ‘Cup of Kindness’ charity, which helps to relieve sickness and promote the health of patients in hospitals and hospices.

AFTER CAREFUL CONSIDERATION (L-R): Glenn Douglas, Chief Executive of Tunbridge Wells Hospital, the Hedgehog Ward’s Alice Francis and Michelle Wickens, and Debbie McGee with Occupational Therapist Dawn Mepham

COMMUNITY NEWS 

TOAST OF THE TOWN (L-R): Debbie Harris, her husband Rob King, daughter Emma and grandson Harry

13

Breakfast club donation for life-saving neo-natal ward A LOCAL breakfast networking group has presented two of its members with a wedding present of a cheque for the neo-natal unit that saved their grandson’s life.

The President of the Royal Spa BNI Chapter, Debbie Harris of Chosen with Care, married cameraman and editor Rob King on November 24.

Rather than receive gifts, they asked for donations to the Oliver Fischer Neo-Natal Ward at Medway Hospital, where Debbie’s grandson Harry was cared for after he was born in August.

Harry’s mother, Emma Harris, of local company Harris Gardens, is also a member of BNI Royal Spa.

Vice-President Julian Weekes presented them with a cheque for £270 at a meeting attended by 80 local businesses.

“We were taken aback by the generosity of our fellow BNI members,” said Debbie Harris.

“And we are delighted to be able to support the fantastic work of the neo-natal ward at Medway Hospital with their donation.

“The week following Harry’s birth was very difficult, so we have seen first-hand just how amazing the staff are and how important it is to make sure that the necessary support is available for sick babies and their families.”

Emma Harris brought Harry along to the presentation, and she said: “BNI has been invaluable at helping my brother and I get our family-run garden maintenance company off the ground, so Harry and I didn’t want to miss this lovely event.”

The Royal Spa BNI Chapter has seen 35 members passing more than £700,000 of business between themselves over the past 12 months. The group meets at the Spa Hotel in Tunbridge Wells every Thursday morning.

For more information, email julianweekes@actioncoach.com or visit www.bnikent.co.uk/kentthe-royal-spa-bni

Instructors raise £79k in Children in Need relay A CHARITY venture in aid of the BBC’s Children in Need completed the Tunbridge Wells leg of its national tour on November 17.

The Big Learner Relay’s driving instructors and their pupils got together for special lessons across the length and breadth of Britain. The cars were covered in spots, which were sponsored by donors.

The Pudsey Top Box was carried from one driving school car to another, and the 3,000-mile marathon – which took 15 days – has so far accrued a total of £79,097.

The Tunbridge Wells leg raised £810 between the seven instructors – Jonathan Turner, Lucy Rawley ,Carissa Cork, Phil Simmonds, Trudi Boyce, Julie Winton and Helen Matthews.

Cupcakes Mr Turner, who provided homemade cupcakes, and his pupil Mairi Darroch were the lead car for the trip from Tunbridge Wells West Station to Lingfield racecourse.

They escorted Lou Walsh, who travelled the entire distance with the Top Box. The relay ended at Donnington, where 84 driving school cars drove round the race track.

Donations are still being accepted. If you wish to make a contribution, text PASS85£(amount) to 70070 or visit www.biglearnerrelay.co.uk START YOUR ENGINES Tunbridge Wells driving instructors prepare to set off with Lou Walsh (front)

Wednesday 30th November 2016

14 � NATIONAL NEWS NEWS IN BRIEF

Aslef set to escalate rail strike disruption INDUSTRIAL unrest on Southern Railway is set to dramatically increase with a series of strikes by drivers which will cripple services in the coming weeks.

Members of Aslef will walk out for 48 hours from December 13, for 24 hours on December 16, and between January 9 and 14 in protest at driver-only trains.

The row is separate from the long-running dispute between Southern and the Rail, Maritime and Transport union over changes to the role of conductors, which has led to regular walkouts in recent months.

Man shot by police A 31-YEAR-OLD man was shot and injured by police yesterday [Tuesday] amid reports he was running around with an axe.

Witnesses at the scene, close to Hull city centre, said they heard loud gunshots and then saw a man on the floor surrounded by police with ‘blood gushing out of him’.

A Humberside Police spokesman said: “The man, who cannot be named, is now receiving medical attention.”

Victims ring hotline A HOTLINE set up for sexual abuse victims in football has received more than 250 reports since it was launched less than a week ago.

It follows the revelation by Andy Woodward that when he was a young player he was allegedly assaulted by former Crewe Alexandra coach Barry Bennell.

This prompted a string of other footballers to speak out about the abuse they suffered.

Bennell was charged with eight offences of sexual assault yesterday [Tuesday].

Former darts world champion Eric Bristow has been dropped as a TV pundit by Sky Sports after he called footballers ‘wimps’ in relation to soccer’s ongoing abuse scandal.

Training at the palace PROMISING hospitality workers from the Caribbean will have the chance to train at Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle under a new scholarship programme announced by Prince Harry.

The Prince, who is on a 15-day tour of the West Indies, launched the project during a reception in Grenada with the Governor General, Dame Cecile La Grenade, and the country’s Prime Minister, Keith Mitchell.

Wednesday 30th November 2016

Lose weight and stop smoking or face op delay, patients to be told OBESE people and smokers will be asked to lose weight and give up cigarettes or face delays to routine operations after a health authority’s proposals were approved by NHS England.

Patients with a body mass index (BMI) of at least 30 will be asked to lose weight or face a 12-month delay for elective surgery, while smokers will be asked to quit for two months or face a six-month postponement, the Vale of York Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) announced.

The North Yorkshire CCG ruled out a ‘blanket’ ban and said each patient would be dealt with on a ‘case-by-case basis’ when the plan comes into force in January.

The CCG said: “Smokers and obese patients that need routine surgery but do not wish to access the support services or fail to meet the criteria will not be denied their operation, but it could mean they have to wait longer than they ­otherwise would have done.”

CCG Clinical Lead Dr Shaun O’Connell, who is also a local GP, heralded the plans as bringing patients the ‘best possible health outcomes in the long term’ while helping to protect finances.

Dr O’Connell said: “There is no ban and no blanket policy – people who do not wish to access the support services or fail to meet the criteria will not be denied their operation.

“Decisions about what is in the best interests of

their health will be WAITING LIST made on a case-by-case No smoke without ‘ire’ basis,” he added.

The CCG, which serves a population of more than 351,000 in areas including York, Selby and Tadcaster, said there would be ­exclusions from the plan which will probably include emergency and bariatric surgery and operations on patients under 18.

Earlier this year, NHS England intervened in the policy after the Royal College of Surgeons raised concerns that proposals went against clinical guidance and made smokers and overweight patients soft targets for financial savings. But the public body has now approved the plan.

An NHS England spokesperson said: “Vale of York CCG has made clear its commitment to supporting patients to achieve better health and

clinical outcomes by referring them to an established weight loss or stopping smoking programme, where appropriate.

“However, every patient’s case will be considered in the light of their own particular circumstances and on the basis of clinical need.”

Beethoven manuscript fails to sell after authenticity row SOTHEBY’S has criticised an academic who questioned the authenticity of a Beethoven manuscript, claiming that the resulting row over its legitimacy meant it failed to sell at auction.

The London-based auctioneer became embroiled in a heated dispute over the validity of the manuscript for Beethoven’s Allegretto In B Minor with Manchester University academic Professor Barry Cooper, who was adamant that the document was not penned by the composer.

The handwritten score was expected to fetch up to £200,000 at auction but failed to sell yesterday [Tuesday].

A Sotheby’s spokesman said: “We believe it was irresponsible for a third party to raise doubts about Beethoven’s Allegretto In B Minor manuscript when they had not inspected it firsthand or taken into account its provenance and the inscription by an English vicar confirming that it was composed and written by Beethoven.

“This unfortunately had a direct impact on the auction sale, but Sotheby’s stands by its

description of the manuscript as an authentic and important piece of musical history and Sotheby’s view is shared by the majority of world-renowned Beethoven scholars who have inspected the manuscript personally.

The manuscript has been described as Allegretto In B Minor For String Quartet composed and written by Beethoven on November 29 1817 in Vienna.

Prof Cooper, a musicologist and Beethoven scholar, clashed with Sotheby’s director of books and manuscripts Dr Simon Maguire over whether it was genuine.

Prof Cooper disputed ‘several aspects which prove absolutely that it couldn’t possibly be Beethoven’s hand’ on the BBC Radio 4 Today programme.

Dr Maguire said two world-class specialists had examined the document to assess and verify it and claimed Beethoven experts ‘think it is more a matter of Prof Cooper misreading the manuscript than anybody else, let alone Beethoven’.

“I don’t agree with his analysis of what the manuscript says,” he added.

In the increasingly heated exchange, Dr Maguire said the professor had ‘resolutely refused’ to visit the auction house to look at the manuscript.

Prof Cooper said there was no need to make the journey to London because he was able to see ‘perfectly clearly’ that it was not penned by the composer, and branded the situation ‘absurd’.

Sotheby’s succeeded in breaking a new auction world record for another musical manuscript during Tuesday’s Music and Continental Books and Manuscripts sale, with Gustav Mahler’s complete Second Symphony (the Resurrection) selling for £4,546,250.

The Mahler work spans 232 pages, written in the composer’s hand, and was expected to reach in excess of £3.5million.

It beat the auction record which had stood for nearly 30 years, set in 1987 when a manuscript of nine Mozart symphonies sold for £2.6 million at Sotheby’s.

NATIONAL NEWS 

Corporate governance proposals unveiled by Tunbridge Wells MP WORKERS and consumers could be given a voice on company boards by the appointment of non-executive directors with a responsibility to represent their interests, a new Government consultation paper suggests.

The proposal, alongside an alternative option of setting up advisory panels to represent the interests of employees and customers, is contained in a Green Paper on corporate governance unveiled by Business Secretary Greg Clark in the House of Commons.

Also included in the proposed shake-up are possible moves to give shareholders a binding vote on executive pay levels.

The proposals would also extend governance rules for publicly listed companies so that they cover the largest privately owned firms, too.

When she was campaigning for Conservative Leader, Theresa May said she would introduce changes which would have ‘not just consumers represented on company boards, but employees as well’.

But she backed away from the idea of putting workers on boards in a speech to the CBI last week, and Mr Clark has now spelt out what the proposed reforms could mean.

Launching the Green Paper in a statement to the Commons, the Tunbridge Wells MP said: “The document asks whether there are measures which could increase the connection between boards of directors of companies and their employees and customers.”

Mr Clark said that other reforms responded to the fact that ‘executive pay has grown much faster over the last two decades than pay generally, and at times is not in line with corporate performance’.

SPORT IN BRIEF

TAKE NOTES ‘Using animal fat is disrespectful’

Southgate waits for FA to make final decision

Thousands sign petition to get animal fat removed from fivers THE use of animal fat in the new £5 note has been branded ‘disrespectful’, as a petition against the inclusion of tallow reaches 5,000 signatures.

Fury among vegetarians and vegans erupted following confirmation by the Bank of England that the new polymer notes, released in September, contain the suet derivative.

Doug Maw, of Keswick in Cumbria, started a petition against the use of tallow in the new £5 notes, which has attracted 5,000 signatures, and said he has been left ‘disgusted’.

“I understand old notes contain stuff as well – we can’t do anything about what is in circulation – but the fact they are producing new ones is what really riles me,” he said. “There is no excuse for it.

There has got to be other ways of making money without using animal products.”

The 47-year-old hotel worker, who has been a vegan for 20 years, said he will be boycotting and ‘refusing to accept the new notes’.

Thousands have signed the petition since its

15

creation on Monday. Mr Maw said he was surprised by how many people have committed their name to it.

On the use of tallow, he said: “It is incredibly disrespectful. We have no choice with money. We have to use it. They issue it through ATMs and hand the notes to us in shops.

“If we refuse them and they haven’t got anything else, what are we going to do? Basically, we are being forced to have animal products on us.”

He said he has started a second petition on the UK Government petition site, which is awaiting authorisation, in a bid to get the issue debated and addressed.

A spokeswoman from the Bank of England said: “We can confirm that the polymer pellet from which the base substrate is made contains a trace of a substance known as tallow.

“Tallow is derived from animal fats (suet) and is a substance that is also widely used in the manufacture of candles and soap.”

GARETH SOUTHGATE’S appointment as England Football Manager is expected to be rubberstamped today [Wednesday] during a Football Association board meeting, although an official announcement is unlikely to be immediate.

The 46 year old has been in interim charge since replacing Sam Allardyce in September, after the former manager left following just 67 days in charge.

Lewis angers Jackie FORMER race car champion Sir Jackie Stewart has accused Lewis Hamilton of being a ‘little ballerina’ after he defied orders in a bid to stop teammate Nico Rosberg from beating him to the FI world championship title in Abu Dhabi on Sunday.

Stewart, Britain’s only other triple world champion, called on Mercedes to give Hamilton an ultimatum of ‘do it our way or be excused’ from the team.

New Fed Cup captain ANNE KEOTHAVONG is to succeed Judy Murray as Great Britain’s Fed Cup tennis captain. Murray stepped down in March to focus on her grassroots programmes and her family, after becoming increasingly frustrated by the format of the competition.

Former British number one Keothavong, aged 33, has also been named senior national women’s coach. * For local sports news turn to pages 102- 103

Wednesday 30th November 2016

16  BUSINESS NEWS

Ofcom to make BT split from Openreach BT IS to be ordered to legally separate its Openreach network arm after failing to address competition concerns voluntarily.

Telecoms watchdog Ofcom said it was ‘disappointed’ with BT’s proposals since it had outlined plans in July to make Openreach a distinct company within the BT group.

The regulator will now prepare a formal notification to the European Commission to start the process of forcing a legal separation of Openreach, which develops and maintains the UK’s main telecoms network used by telephone and broadband providers such as Sky, TalkTalk, Vodafone and BT Consumer.

But it has stopped short of forcing a full break-up and sale of Openreach and added that it remains ‘open’ to further proposals from BT for a voluntary separation of the division.

Ofcom said a more independent Openreach, which ‘works in the interest of all providers, not just BT’, was vital to improving broadband and telephone services across the UK. Ofcom said: “We are disappointed that BT has not yet come forward with proposals that meet our competition concerns.

“Some progress has been made, but this has not been enough, and action is required now to deliver better outcomes for phone and broadband users.”

BT has faced growing calls from rivals for a full break-up and sale of Openreach after criticism of poor customer service and a lack of investment.

The company said it was applying measures it put forward in July to address Ofcom’s concerns and still hopes to reach a ‘voluntary settlement’.

END OF THE LINE BT and Openreach must split

Wednesday 30th November 2016

Oil and gas companies continue to slash jobs LOW prices have caused more than two-thirds of oil and gas firms to cut jobs this year, with more losses expected over the next 12 months, according to an industry survey.

The 25th annual Oil and Gas Survey found that 67 per cent of businesses reduced employment in 2016, with 43 per cent cutting pay and 40 per cent significantly changing staff benefits as the low oil price continues.

There are signs that job-shredding is slowing and that confidence levels have also improved, according to the survey.

More Ikea stores in UK On Monday, BT appointed the first independent Chairman of its Openreach arm, Mike McTighe, who was on the board of Ofcom from 2007-15.

But Ofcom wants Openreach to have a board made up of a majority of non-executive directors who are independent of BT. Ofcom is also concerned that under BT’s plans, the Chief Executive of Openreach would still report to BT boss Gavin Patterson.

It wants Openreach to have greater consultation with customers on large-scale investments, its own staff, ownership of assets that it already controls, its own strategy and control over budget

allocation, as well as independent branding. Once legal separation is in place, Ofcom will regularly monitor Openreach and could still force a sell-off if the watchdog believes it is not being run as a truly distinct company.

BT said: “We are in discussions with Ofcom on two outstanding issues, the reporting line of the Openreach Chief Executive and the form of legal incorporation.

“We will continue to work with Ofcom to reach a voluntary settlement that is good for customers, shareholders, employees, pensioners and investment in the UK’s digital future”.

SFO drops case against former Tesco boss in accounting scandal FORMER Tesco Chief Executive Philip Clarke will not face charges from the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) in relation to the supermarket giant’s accounting scandal, according to his lawyer.

Mr Clarke’s law firm Corker Binning has been notified by the SFO that there is ‘insufficient evidence to provide a realistic prospect of conviction’ for his alleged role in the case, the Financial Times reported.

In 2014, Tesco was found to have inflated its profits by £263million, later revised up to £326million.

The move means it is less likely that the company will face prosecution as, according to UK corporate liability law, a ‘directing mind’ must be shown to have overseen a fraud.

Three former Tesco executives have been

BUSINESS IN BRIEF

NO CHARGES Philip Clarke

charged with fraud by the SFO. Carl Rogberg, Chris Bush and John Scouler – the supermarket’s former Finance Director, Managing Director and

Commercial Director respectively – will face a trial in 2017 and could be handed lengthy jail sentences if found guilty.

The SFO has charged the men with one count of fraud by abuse of position, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years, and one count of false accounting, which carries seven years.

Tesco is also facing legal action from a group of 125 large investors who claim to have lost ‘well in excess of £100million’ as a result of the accounting scandal.

Bentham Europe, the firm fronting the action, said that institutional funds have filed the lawsuit in a bid to prove that Tesco ‘made misleading statements to the stock market that omitted material information and which were relied on by investors when making investment decisions’.

SWEDISH furniture giant Ikea has reiterated its commitment to investing in Britain following the Brexit vote.

UK boss Gillian Drakeford said the company plans to build more stores.

Her announcement comes after Ikea UK’s full-year results showed sales rose 8.9 per cent to £1.72billion in the year ending August 31, a fifth consecutive year of growth.

A thaw in relations SUPERMARKET Iceland is to send a ‘highlevel delegation’ to Reykjavik to meet the Icelandic government after the country launched legal action against the chain over the use of its name.

Iceland Foods says it is urgently seeking a meeting with Iceland’s foreign ministry in order to lay out ‘constructive proposals’ that could help solve the dispute.

Bigger slice of the cake SALES at Patisserie Holdings, the firm behind Patisserie Valerie, have topped £100million for the first time as the company notched up its 10th straight year of revenue and profit growth.

Countryside blossoms HOUSEBUILDING group Countryside Properties, which floated on the stock market in February, has seen full-year pre-tax profits rise sharply from £28million to £78.6million.

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18 � WORLD NEWS

Safety cover placed over Chernobyl reactor A MASSIVE shelter has been installed over the exploded reactor at the Chernobyl nuclear plant, in what has been described as one of the most ambitious engineering projects in the world.

The New Safe Confinement (NSC) movable enclosure, as it is known, is a significant step toward liquidating the remains of the world’s worst nuclear accident.

The explosion at the plant 30 years ago on 26 April 1986, in what was then the Soviet Union, caused two deaths but it was later reported that 29 firemen and other employees died from acute radiation

syndrome in the months following the disaster.

Other long-term cancers are still being investigated involving people who were in the area which is now in Ukraine.

The half-cylinder-shaped shelter began its move towards the reactor on a system of hydraulic jacks two weeks ago and finally reached its destination yesterday [Tuesday].

Workers will now begin dismantling unstable parts of the original cover, which was built over the reactor to contain radiation shortly after the explosion took place.

NEWS IN BRIEF

Crown Prince named as new King of Thailand

UNDER COVER: The New Safe Confinement (NSC) movable enclosure moves into position at Chernobyl

Plane taking football team to cup final crashes killing 75 passengers A CHARTERED plane with a Brazilian first division football team has crashed in Colombia while on its way to the finals of a regional tournament, killing 75 people. Officials said that six people survived the crash near Medellin.

The British Aerospace 146 short-haul plane, operated by a charter airline named LaMia, declared an emergency at 10pm local time on Monday because of an electrical failure, aviation authorities said.

The aircraft, which had departed from Santa Cruz in Bolivia, was transporting the Chapecoense team to Medellin’s Jose Maria Cordova airport.

The club, which is based in southern Brazil and started the journey in Sao Paulo, was scheduled to play on Wednesday in the first of a twogame Copa Sudamericana final against Atletico Nacional of Medellin.

“What was supposed to be a celebration has

Wednesday 30th November 2016

turned into a tragedy,” Medellin Mayor Federico Gutierrez said from the search and rescue command centre.

The club said in a brief statement on its Facebook page that ‘may God accompany our athletes, officials, journalists and other guests travelling with our delegation’.

All football activities were suspended until further notice according to a statement.

Elkin Ospina, mayor of La Ceja near where the crash took place, said rescuers worked through the night.

The authorities had been immediately activated but an air force helicopter had to turn back because of low visibility.

Heavy rainfall complicated the night-time search, and officials urged journalists to stay off the roads so ambulances and other rescuers could reach the site.

The plane was carrying 72 passengers and nine crew members, aviation authorities revealed.

Local radio said the same aircraft transported Argentina’s national squad for a match earlier this month in Brazil, and previously had transported Venezuela’s national team.

A video published on the club’s Facebook page showed the team getting ready for the flight earlier on Monday in Sao Paulo’s Guarulhos international airport.

The team, from the small city of Chapeco, were in the middle of a fairy-tale season. They had joined Brazil’s first division in 2014 for the first time since the 1970s and had reached the Copa Sudamericana finals – the equivalent of Uefa’s Europa League tournament.

The club is so modest that its 22,000-seat arena was ruled by tournament organisers too small to host the final match.

THAILAND’S parliament has named 64-yearold Crown Prince Vajiralongkorn as the new king following the death of his father.

Vajiralongkorn’s father, Bhumibol Adulyadej, who took the throne in 1946, died on October 13 at 88. In 1972 Bhumibol had designated Vajiralongkorn – his second child and only son – to be his successor.

Storm claims more lives A THUNDERSTORM in Melbourne, Australia which created a rare asthma medical condition has claimed two more lives, taking the death toll to eight.

Last week’s storm caused ryegrass pollen grains to explode. Tiny pollen particles then penetrated into people’s lungs. Emergency services were overwhelmed and 8,500 people received hospital treatment.

Tower continues to sink DATA collected from photographs taken by space satellites have shown that San Francisco’s Millennium Tower is sinking at a rate of 1.6in to 1.8in a year.

The 58-storey skyscraper in the US city’s financial district has now been dubbed the Leaning Tower of San Francisco.

Oil price agreement IRAQ’S Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi says his country will cut its oil production as part of a plan by Opec to push crude prices higher.

20 � LETTERS

And another thing…

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

Spirit of Christmas: The Mayor’s toy appeal recognises that not everyone in the town is affluent Thank you for giving the Mayor’s Christmas toy appeal such nice coverage in Wednesday’s paper (November 23). I particularly applaud the fact you included a list of areas you can donate gifts to. This is very helpful for those wishing to give those in need a little something.

Many people think Tunbridge Wells is beyond affluent with not a care in the world when it comes to having the money to buy Christmas presents for their loved ones but the harsh reality is that there is a fairly large tranche of people living in the town who just don’t have that sort of financial flexibility.

Whether that’s because of unemployment or being trapped in a cycle of debt or just because they are part of the ever growing group of JAMs – the families who are Just About Managing – Christmas time is an added pressure on many people’s purse strings.

I work as a volunteer at a play group for pre-schoolers near the North Farm industrial estate and there are many families in this area

Panto pair really made my day I must admit that for most of my adult life I have been the stereotypical Christmas humbug – cynically tutting at the holiday’s encroachment into early November.

But this year, something changed – I was walking around town on Thursday (November 17), staring down at the pavement after having a rather torrid day, before my attention was starkly grabbed by an amalgamation of noise and colour.

I looked up and saw a vibrant ensemble of pantomime characters, cheering and waving down at me from an open-top bus. At any other time this would have sent me into a grumpy spiral of humbuggishness but not this year.

To my right was a little girl with her parents.

She was entranced by the exuberant cabal of laughter and cheers coming from the upper deck.

The joy and excitement in her eyes were infectious and it was this sight that reminded me why we start celebrating Christmas in November.

It is for the children, and the genuine pleasure and hope that it brings to them.

Zak Hoppington Via email

How can anyone vote Conservative?

The rather glib assertion from the Conservative candidate in the [Tonbridge] Trench Ward by-election that ‘if people were not happy with the services they were provided they wouldn’t keep voting Conservative’ made me think back to

who are really struggling – but often they are too proud to let others know.

Having this type of appeal therefore is a great idea. Not only does it provide those children who are genuinely in need with some really lovely gifts – something they wouldn’t otherwise wake up to on Christmas morning – it also gives those who can afford to stretch to buying an extra present or two a wonderful feeling of doing good and helping others.

And surely that is what one of the key messages of Christmas is all about?

Fran Mason Via email

the spring when Boris Johnson stood at the doorway of a bus emblazoned with the promise that, if the country voted for Brexit, another £350million a week would be paid into the NHS. How things change! Mr Johnson, today the Foreign Secretary, is one of the most senior figures in a cabinet which has ordered that Sustainability and Transformation plans be drawn up for NHS Trusts in all parts of England, in order to cut funding by tens of billions of pounds. I suspect that most people will not be happy once hospital services in West Kent disappear.

Equally, I have heard few people praising reductions to bus services, cuts to library opening hours or the underfunding of social care. The looming crisis in school places in this area will also add unwelcome uncertainty to the lives of many families. Many of these problems stem from a mixture of national, county and borough policies and what Tonbridge needs are representatives who are unafraid to shake things up and challenge cuts and closures which will be detrimental to residents.

Fortunately the electors of Trench have an excellent Labour Party candidate in Fred Long.

Fred has demonstrated in the past that he has the vision, work ethic and experience to transform the ward and the town for the better.

I hope that the voters take the opportunity to embrace real change.

Julian Wilson Tonbridge

Worrying trend with local shops What a shame to learn (November 16) that there is even a hint that Marks and Spencer is possibly closing down [M&S say it is pure speculation] and that Primark is allegedly coming to town.

I’m not sure what is happening to the high street but it would seem that well-established quality shops such as BHS are being erased and replaced by stores that have only been around for five minutes and have a retail ethos of pile up ’em high and sell ’em cheap using non-UK manufacturers.

Maybe it’s the state of the current economy but it would seem that people now prefer cheap and cheerful over well-made items that stand the test of time. I for one would much rather invest in a piece of clothing or furniture that I know has been made here in the UK with the best materials that ensure its longevity as well as ensuring the constant employment of our British workforce in the retail industry.

I also do not buy into Primark’s principle by thinking that the cheaper the item is, the more I need of it. Surely you end up buying lots of inferior things for the same price as one good one and as a result you neither have quality nor contributed to our economy (given that most of Primark’s clothing and accessories, for example, are manufactured in Asia).

You reported (November 9) that we have been asked to support our town as part of the British High Street Awards. Isn’t it time we ensured this meant not just supporting British retailers but also the manufacturers behind them too?

Libby Bowles Tunbridge Wells

Long hours don’t always work Why are the most hardworking people also the least efficient?

While Tunbridge Wells and the UK at large are certainly a hub for creativity with our artistic industries among the best in the world, I think we do seem to lack a bit of imagination when it comes to our work.

The latest study found that output per hour worked in the UK was 18 percentage points below the average for the remaining six members of the G7 group of industrial nations in 2014.

We have a terrific work ethic in this country, or a ruthless one if you’re of the delicate, liberal variety. And it is simple: Hard work creates great output, there is no question about that.

But do longer hours work? A 2014 study from Stanford University, and it is not the first, found that reducing hours, say, from 55 to 50 hours a week, has only minimal effects on output. The results are even starker when we are talking about very long working hours. Output at 70 hours of work differed little from output at 56 hours. That extra 14 hours was a waste of time.

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

Wednesday 30th November 2016

We should all strive to produce the best outcome from our work but when we are wasting hours like that, isn’t it time we got more flexible in our thinking?

Sarah Banks Via email

Why we need those green bins If our local council has so much money to throw around (Andrew Wilkins’ letter, November 2), splashing out for some fancy new office chairs for themselves, do you think they might consider putting a few more bins around town as well?

Rubbish, I hear you say? It’s bad enough that we don’t have doorstep glass recycling collections – apparently we are one of the few local authorities in the county who don’t do it – but can we please have recycling refuse bins in the town centre?

It seems so pointless to really make an effort at home, chasing after old milk cartoons in the driving rain when you put the rubbish out for collection, and then come shopping and find yourself dumping all manner of recyclable goods in the same bin as the evil stuff.

A glass recycling scheme might cost a fair bit to put into action but surely we can stretch to a ‘green’ bin next to the black ones – which, while we’re on the subject, are starting to look a bit dated, and that’s probably about right given they look like they were made on the banks of the Clyde in the 1950s.

If you don’t want to save your pennies, then at least help save the planet.

Terence Wilkins Via email

How to stay connected in older age A new survey by Independent Age, the older people’s charity, found that more than one in three (35 per cent) of those aged 75 and over in Great Britain say that feelings of loneliness are out of their control, equivalent to more than 1.8 million people, and almost one in four (23 per cent) worry about how often they feel lonely, an estimated 1.2 million people.

To help older people in the South-East recognise why they might feel lonely and to offer a few tips for simple steps they can take to reduce loneliness, we’ve launched a new, free advice guide called If you’re feeling lonely: How to stay connected in older age.

People of all ages feel lonely sometimes, but becoming older shouldn’t inevitably mean that you have to be. If you feel lonely yourself, or if you know someone who does, If you’re feeling lonely is completely free to order and download from independentage.org/lonely-guide or can be ordered by calling 0800 319 6789.

Janet Morrison Chief Executive, Independent Age

Calverley is away

Education in association with:

www.right-tuition.co.uk

EDUCATION ■

EDUCATION Times WITH THE

Paws for thought with the reading dog St Matthew’s primary pupils enjoy classes with a four-legged assistant WHEN it comes to learning, the concept of the three Rs is usually the traditional teaching method employed for improving reading, writing and arithmetic.

But at St Matthew’s primary school in High Brooms a revolutionary educational concept is enjoying huge success: A reading dog.

Willow, a golden retriever, comes in two afternoons and one morning a week to assist those children who teachers believe will benefit from 20-minute reading sessions with her.

According to the school’s Headteacher, Judith Holt, this particular approach, which sees Willow sit with up to five children while they read, gives those who may be reluctant to learn or experiencing emotional troubles in life the opportunity to enjoy books.

“Willow’s presence has a calming effect on children and her impeccable temperament reassures them,” Mrs Holt tells the Times.

“The aim is for her to boost the confidence of children who are struggling or having a hard time, but she also gets the chance to sit with our eager readers.

“Willow brings so much fun into the school when she visits us.”

‘The aim is for her to boost the confidence of children who are having a hard time’ The scheme at St Matthew’s has been running for over two years and has proved hugely successful, benefiting more than 70 children.

“I’d heard about reading dogs from a friend, a fellow teacher, based near Reading,” explains Mrs Holt. “I was considering introducing something similar when our Pastoral Support Leader Sue Odell suggested her dog Willow for the role.”

“I said, I have the perfect dog,” Mrs Odell takes up the story. “She is so

21

calm, gentle and obedient – with an excellent temperament.”

After some training Willow was soon going into the school two afternoons a week and now does a total of three sessions.

“I’ve seen some really beneficial evidence due to her presence,” confirms Mrs Odell. “One boy who was petrified of dogs spent time with Willow and by the end of it he was lying on the floor and stroking her.

“We often find that some children will tell Willow things they wouldn’t say to anyone else.”

Some reading sessions happen in the school’s newly built library, which tries to create a homely and welcoming environment – complete with a cosy hearth.

“It is so therapeutic,” adds Mrs Holt. “We have some pupils who don’t have that environment at home or find speaking to others quite difficult and they really lose themselves when they are with Willow. Willow is there for them and gives unconditional acceptance.”

The golden retriever even gives out certificates of achievement complete with a stamp of her paw-print to those children who finish a specific stage of reading or make good progress.

“Willow helps to calm things down and make the children smile, and after all we know that if children are happy then they will learn.”

TELL TAIL A pupil at St Matthew’s enjoys a relaxing time with Willow

Wednesday 30th November 2016

22  EDUCATION ADVERTISING FEATURE

The future for floristry looks bright thanks to local horticultural college

Hadlow swept the board at last month’s prestigious British Florist Association Industry Awards – winning prizes for best training provider, tutor and shop of the year, and with a great newcomer too

STEM AND US Hadlow’s four ‘Future Florists’

HADLOW COLLEGE was the pick of the bunch as it dominated this year’s British Florist Association (BFA) Industry Awards.

More than 17,000 votes were cast across all categories ahead of the gala dinner at the BFA FleurEx event at the Chesford Grange Hotel in Kenilworth, Warwickshire.

There was a record amount of interest for the competition, which garners huge interest in the sector and hosts many international guests.

The floristry department at the Tonbridge college picked up three awards – and an individual podium place for one of its most

Wednesday 30th November 2016

promising pupils – to add to the bronze medal which the students won at this year’s Hampton Court Flower Show.

This adds to the outstanding track record of the department, which also won the RHS Chelsea Floristry College of the year in 2015. The four students – Ruth Fagg,

BOUQUETS ALL ROUND Hadlow College Floristry Department wins Training Provider of the Year.

Shayna Spencer, a Level Three student, takes third place in the category of Best Newcomer of the Year.

Julie Davies, a former Level Three student, wins Tutor of the Year award.

West Malling Flowers is named as Retail Shop of the Year.

Linda Pope, Megan Roxburgh and Lily Grundy – were up against six other colleges in the Future Florists competition, which celebrated the Rio Carnival. They created a vibrant and dynamic sculpture of a carnival dancer, constructed from woven willow branches.

The department also helped to build a 21ft floral arch at this year’s RHS Chelsea Flower Show, to celebrate the Queen’s 90th birthday.

At the Festival of Flowers at Leeds Castle they helped to decorate the state rooms for A Queen’s Castle, their display based on the castle’s six medieval queens.

They joined a 28-strong team of designers, creating a display entitled A Window Into The World Of A Queen. For the window displays (pictured), they adapted the ‘pin art’ technique and placed orchids in a varied density pattern.

BRANCHING OUT Working on the willow dancer

EDUCATION ADVERTISING FEATURE ■

Lingfield School is busy growing up fast THE Headmaster of Lingfield School, Richard Bool, believes it is a progressive and dynamic school which puts all the needs of its pupils at the heart of the learning programme.

Children are stretched, challenged and stimulated in a disciplined yet relaxed and supportive atmosphere.

Pupils at Lingfield are happy, confident, focused and passionate about their school.

Academic excellence is reflected in the outstanding results achieved at both A Level and GCSE. At Lingfield, pride is taken in the level of pastoral care provided. The aim is always to develop and prepare pupils for the challenges they will face beyond school, enabling them to acquire life skills, self-awareness and compassion.

It is crucial that pupils not only make the most of their abilities, but also become adults who can make valuable contributions to society.

Celebrating the strengths of each individual and preparing them to leave school ready for the next stage of their lives are of the upmost importance.

In the last four years, the school has developed considerably. In the Senior School, the number of A Level subjects on offer has increased, alongside the building of new facilities – including a sixth form centre – significantly expanding the range and quality of extra-curricular activities available, particularly in sport. Lingfield was also invited to join the prestigious Headmasters’ and Headmistresses’ Conference group of schools in 2015.

In the Junior School, languages including French, German and Spanish have been

introduced to children from Nursery upwards, as well as establishing a forest school, and teaching app design and programming to children from Year Two upwards.

There are now 63 extra-curricular clubs on offer, giving pupils the opportunity to discover hidden talents and new hobbies. The use of iPads is increasingly important in both Junior and Senior schools.

Mr Bool describes the personal interaction he has with his pupils as one of the ‘greatest pleasures’ in his role. He teaches Geography, History and Humanities in both Junior and Senior School. Weekly informal lunches are held with small groups of pupils across the year groups to discuss reports.

As a teacher – and also a referee or umpire at school sport fixtures – Mr Bool enjoys getting to know the pupils as individuals and is ‘impressed by the wealth of talent and wonderful qualities inherent in our pupils, which is brought to the fore and developed by the commitment of my excellent team of staff’.

CLUB TOGETHER There are 63 extracurricular activities

‘Sling and dance’ class for little ones MUMMY & ME sling classes are coming to the Camden Centre in Tunbridge Wells, starting on Wednesday January 18 at 10am.

The classes are gentle dance-based exercise classes done with your little one in a sling. Come and socialise with lots of other local muma and their babies, enjoy baby-wearing and get a lovely, gentle workout at the same time.

Classes are for parents or caregivers and their babies – all you need is a sling or any type of baby carrier. The classes are 40 minutes of quality time bonding with your baby and introducing him or her to music, movement and dance.

Music styles used in class can be anything from pop, disco, salsa, musicals and many more. This class is perfect for all as no previous dance or fitness experience is necessary.

Lucy Robins, principal of The Lucy Robins School of Dance, is excited to be bringing these classes to Tunbridge Wells.

Having taught both children and adults to dance for more than 12 years, Lucy cannot wait to start Mummy & Me classes providing an activity that is equally beneficial for both parent and baby.

Ms Robins says: “To me, dancing is one of the best things in the world and I just cannot imagine a life without dance.

“It brings happiness, is a great stress reliever and is fantastic for our bodies,” she adds.

“I am thrilled to be running classes that both mum and baby will enjoy. It’s not about getting the moves right and not even about dancing in time, it’s about letting your hair down, letting go, having fun and doing something because it makes you happy.

23

“It’s about enjoying and having fun. Spending that quality time with your baby, enjoying the music, feeling an increase in your energy levels….so come along and give it a go.”

Liz, who takes part in the classes, has nothing but positive words to say about the class: “I had a very enjoyable session this morning doing two of my favourite things, dancing and baby-wearing!

The class was paced perfectly.”

Mummy & Me will be running a taster class on Wednesday January 18 where you can come along and see what we do.

Please email hello@lrsd.co.uk to book a place.

Spaces in this class are limited, so get in touch early to avoid disappointment.

For mnore information, visit www.lrsd. co.uk/mummy-me-classes. Like the Facebook page for updates a www.facebook.com/ LRSDmummyandme FIRST STEPS The activity is beneficial for both mother and baby

Wednesday 30th November 2016

24  WEEKLY COMMENT

Martin Betts Labour Party local campaign co-ordinator

Labour Party member Martin Betts lives in Southborough and has long been active in local politics. He is recently retired after a long career in the Civil Service, where his last job at the Department for Work and Pensions was in communications. He qualified at Leicester University in human resources and training and development. The Times also publishes regular opinions from Conservative and Liberal Democrat Party members

NHS in crisis and stretched to breaking point OUR NHS is underfunded and understaffed – which is why Labour supporters in Tunbridge Wells took part in an NHS Campaign Day last Saturday.

Funding in the NHS has failed to keep up with the surge in demand for care since the Conservatives took office in 2010. The NHS has been pushed into a record deficit of £2.45billion – the biggest overspend ever – and hospital trusts have been stretched to breaking point.

Earlier in the year, our own Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells Hospital Trust cancelled 11 per cent of its planned surgeries, forcing about 400 people to either wait to be given a new date for an appointment or seek treatment at another trust.

In July, the Trust was placed into ‘financial special measures’ in a last-ditch attempt to stop it from overshooting its budget. It is likely to lose almost £24million this year, resulting in more cuts to services and extra waiting times.

Soon after, our local Ambulance Service Trust was judged as ‘inadequate’ and also put into special measures because of bullying, delayed response times and putting patients at risk.

For every £1,000 hospitals had to treat a patient in 2010, they now receive an equivalent of £820. Comparatively, Britain spends a lower percentage of its national wealth on health than

Wednesday 30th November 2016

France, Germany, Sweden or Greece, and this is getting worse.

The Conservatives have no answer to the NHS funding crisis other than to continue to make massive cuts in services and to misrepresent the figures.

They say that the Government has invested FINANCIAL STRESS The Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust

£10billion more in the NHS in this Parliament.

The Health Select Committee have said that the true figure is £4.5billion.

Mismanagement of the NHS has made a bad situation even worse.

Cuts to nurse training places have meant extra spending on expensive agency staff reaching

record levels. Scrapping bursaries for nurses and midwives is worsening recruitment. Plummeting morale has led to experienced staff leaving the health service.

Social care services are facing a financial crisis, with funding slashed by £4.6billion over the last Parliament. This has put huge pressure on the NHS with delayed discharges from hospital reaching record levels and still increasing.

More patients, including cancer patients, are waiting longer to start their treatments.

Ambulance response rate targets have continued to get worse. The English waiting list in September was more than 3.9 million, the highest since December 2007.

Meanwhile, plans are being secretly drawn up across the country to achieve a further £22billion of ‘efficiency savings’ or cuts. The results will be far reaching and are being put together with minimal local and clinical consultation.

The NHS is not safe in the hands of this Government. Only Labour is committed to giving the NHS the money it needs and to join up services from home to hospital with a properly integrated health and social care service.

And we will support – rather than pick fights with – hardworking doctors, nurses and support staff to deliver high quality care for patients.

WEST KENT’S ULTIMATE PROPERTY GUIDE – FREE EVERY WEDNESDAY A MUST READ FOR THOSE LOOKING TO BUY, LET OR SELL

The Times is proud to work with:

WITH THE

Available in Tunbridge Wells, Tonbridge and Sevenoaks

bracketts

est. 1828

Georgian glory

INSIDE

In Nevill Park with stunning views

Courting favour on Southborough borders Page 26

A listed farmhouse with an interesting history Page 30

Rural estate enjoys towering view over river valley Page 42

Wednesday 30th November 2016

26  PROPERTY SECTION PROMOTIONAL FEATURE

In my view…

Sarah Mott Associate Partner Bracketts Tunbridge Wells

Your at-a-glance guide to BIDBOROUGH COURT PENSHURST ROAD BIDBOROUGH

£565,000

2016 will be talked about for many years, and for many reasons; a pivotal year in our country’s history.

The housing market saw the introduction of an additional 3% stamp duty on second (residential) properties on April 1st and June 23rd brought us further surprises with Brexit. Interest rates and fixed rate mortgages have continued at historic lows providing confidence and stability. The lower price-ranges have been very buoyant; increased stamp duty for investor buyers has not caused any noticeable effect, and first time buyers’ mortgages at historic lows, (subject to reasonable deposits), often assisted by the ‘bank of mum and dad’.

The mid and upper markets have been more ‘steady as you go’ in the latter half of the year. Many of us had hoped the Autumn Statement would contain some stamp duty reforms but sadly this was not to be. The most significant change was the abolishment of up-front Lettings fees, rather than provide a simple cap on these. Whilst initially appearing to benefit tenants by removing these costs, longer term it may increase rents.

With Christmas just around the corner, we await 2017 with anticipation; continued low interest rates and the steadier market means it can sometimes be possible to secure a new home before being under offer on your own.

With the right agent on board who can fast-track your own property and find a good buyer quickly, we are often able to secure new homes for purchasers from a ‘standing start’; something that was totally unfeasible earlier this year.

27-29 High Street, Tunbridge Wells TN1 1UU

01892 533 733 www.bracketts.co.uk

UNDER £250,000 BEULAH ROAD, TUNBRIDGE WELLS

£219,950 LEASEHOLD newsdesk@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk

DO YOU HAVE A STORY? Wednesday 30th November 2016

This period one-bedroom, bayfronted flat in the popular St James’ area, close to Camden Road, comes to the market chain free. Set back from the road, it also boasts high ceilings and a raised verandah, which is accessed via double doors

from the bedroom. The open-plan sitting room/kitchen includes an attractive cast iron fireplace, and both the kitchen and shower room were fitted in 2013. Outside, there is residents’ parking.

CONTACT Andrews Tunbridge Wells 01892 515144 www.andrewsonline.co.uk

UNDER £350,000 AZURE COURT, WATERSIDE REACH SOVEREIGN WAY, TONBRIDGE

£320,000-£340,000

LEASEHOLD A two-bedroom penthouse apartment with a decked balcony in the heart of Tonbridge offering great views across the town. It comprises a fully fitted kitchen/

living area, two double bedrooms, one with an en-suite shower room, and a luxury bathroom. Further features include spotlights and blackout blinds. There is a lift and entryphone, and one undercroft parking space is also included.

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

PROPERTY SECTION 

27

great properties by price range…

Under £450,000 DUNSTAN GROVE, TUNBRIDGE WELLS

£425,000-£450,000

In need of some updating, this threebedroom detached house is situated on a corner plot in a cul-de-sac in the St John’s area, with its variety of schools, and could provide a good family home.

The property includes an open-plan lounge/diner with patio doors to the garden, a kitchen, three double bedrooms, a family bathroom, a WC and a single garage. The rear garden is mostly laid to lawn, and there is a further lawn by the front driveway.

CONTACT Connells Tunbridge Wells 01892 547966 www.connells.co.uk

UNDER £800,000 HUNTER SEAL, TONBRIDGE

£650,000-£675,000 This ‘staggered’ semi-detached executive style home on the outskirts of Leigh village includes communal paddock and woodland. Wellproportioned, it has a cloakroom, lounge with doors to the garden, dining room, kitchen/breakfast room, utility room, one bedroom with en-suite shower, three further bedrooms and a bathroom, plus an integral garage. The garden includes a raised decking area with rural views and there is off-street parking on a drive with shared entrance.

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

UNDER £650,000

UNDER £1MILLION

BIDBOROUGH COURT PENSHURST ROAD BIDBOROUGH

HIGH RISEDEN, TIDEBROOK, WADHURST

£950,000

£565,000 A stunning apartment on two floors in a Grade II listed country house set on the edge of a village near Tunbridge Wells. The drawing room includes a fireplace with a coal effect fire and carved chimney piece. The dining hall is fitted with a granite-topped dining table and benches, and there is a kitchenbreakfast room. A curved staircase within a turret leads up to the two en-suite bedrooms. The landing also has a study/sitting area.

Outside are communal gardens, a garage en-bloc, plus additional parking. The apartment comes with a share of the freehold.

CONTACT Hamptons Tunbridge Wells 01892 516611 www.hamptons.co.uk

This individual, four-bedroom rural home has most of the accommodation on one floor to take advantage of the impressive outlook. The sitting room opens in an L-shape to the dining area and has a wood burner and far-reaching views. There is a kitchen-breakfast room, a study, a part-galleried upper hall with a door to the garden and a master suite with dressing room. Outside is a garage and barn, while the 1.6 acres of grounds include a terrace and walled garden.

CONTACT Hamptons Tunbridge Wells 01892 516611 www.hamptons.co.uk

Wednesday 30th November 2016

30  PROPERTY SECTION AT A GLANCE BADSELL PARK FARM HOUSE CRITTENDEN ROAD, MATFIELD ■ Grade II listed farmhouse ■ Drawing room ■ Sitting room ■ Kitchen/breakfast room ■ Conservatory ■ Utility room and cloakroom ■ Master bedroom with en-suite shower ■ Five further bedrooms ■ Dressing room ■ Family bathroom & separate WC ■ Double open garage with storeroom and studio room above ■ In total, around 96.24 acres of grounds comprised of fields and woodland ■ Garden with featured 8ft hedge maze

Guide Price £2,675,000 For sale through Knight Frank Tunbridge Wells 01892 515035 www.knightfrank.com

‘Hitting the national headlines with its standout, 8ft-high maze, this 18thcentury farmhouse was once the Earl of Westmoreland’s hunting lodge’

Wednesday 30th November 2016

An earl once hunted from this 96-acre farm with a maze

H

ITTING the national headlines with its standout, 8ft-high hedge maze, this 18th-century farmhouse was once the Earl of Westmoreland’s hunting lodge.

It is believed to have been built around the time of King Edward VII, with two later large additions. Lying between Capel and Matfield, and surrounded by woodland and fields, it also has Tudeley Brook bubbling happily through its 96-odd acres of land.

The property is entered via a large hallway with views throughout the ground

floor giving a welcome feel of space and light.

There is an impressive 30ft drawing room with a door to the conservatory, and another highlight is the open-plan kitchen/breakfast room at the rear with its large open fireplace, a central island with feature lights above and an Aga cooker.

The kitchen has two access points to the garden – as well as doors to the utility room, cloakroom and conservatory.

The first floor comprises a principal suite with a bathroom, three further bedrooms, a dressing room, a family bathroom and a separate WC. The second floor offers two more bedrooms as

well as a large open landing – currently in use as a further seating area.

Badsell Park Farm House is approached via a long, sweeping drive also serving a neighbouring hamlet of homes.

Outside, there is an open garage encompassing a storeroom and a 25ft studio room above with a work area and sink.

The gardens have the maze as the key feature, plus a number of quiet seated areas and bridges, including a private patio at the rear of the house.

Originally a large fruit and arable farm, some of the land is still farmed today.

34  PROPERTY SECTION

TARTAN TRADITIONAL “This classic seasonal look is being shaken up this year, with a tartan twist,” says Hepworth.

“Traditional style – particularly the pairing of red and green – is enduringly popular, but the accents change every season to give this theme a new injection of interest.

“By using plaid, we’ve aimed to ramp up the cosiness, and it’s easy to tie this look into a room’s decor theme by accessorising with tartan throws and cushions.”

By Gabrielle Fagan

D

ECKING the halls is all very well, but the real focal point at Christmas is the tree, which makes a statement about your decor taste and seasonal style.

There are four top-of-the-tree looks to choose from this season to ensure yours is festively fashionable and a star of the show…

ARCTIC CHIC “The must-have look is modern minimalism – in other words, less is more – and that has made white trees and white lights this year’s most popular choice,” says Stephen Evans, Managing Director at Christmas Tree World.

“This is a sleek, fuss-free but magical setting and works brilliantly with blue decorations – they are a really strong trend. Combine with silver, grey and white for a Frozen or Narniainspired look. This cool palette brings a frosty sparkle to the home, but if this is a little too chilly for your taste, intersperse accents of gold and copper to warm up the theme.”

SHIMMER & SHINE “People are lavishing more and more care and attention on decorating their trees, so they are an eye-catching talking point in a room,” says Dobbies seasonal buyer Kate Hepworth.

“Gold’s still strong for decorations, with rose gold featuring – but champagne gold is taking over because it’s glamorous and sophisticated, and suits more gentle, subtle schemes.

“Bright, shiny gold is still strong for traditional themes.”

NORDIC STYLE “I love a simple, country-style look inspired by Scandinavian style, which emphasises the natural beauty of the tree foliage and uses a paredback approach to decorations,” enthuses Hepworth.

Wednesday 30th November 2016

42  PROPERTY SECTION

‘Top of the world’ estate overlooking lush valley

LODGEFIELD FARM BLACKHAM, EAST SUSSEX

£3,950,000

Wednesday 30th November 2016

PROPERTY SECTION 

43

AT A GLANCE ■ Grade II listed farmhouse with potential to extend (subject to necessary consents) ■ 3 reception rooms ■ 4 bedrooms & 2 bathrooms ■ Outbuildings including incomeproducing commercial units ■ Mature gardens and grounds ■ Separate accommodation in converted oast house, farm cottage & stables ■ Garage & storerooms ■ Planning consent for a fourbedroom cottage ■ Approximately 200 acres

£3,950,000 For sale through Knight Frank Tunbridge Wells 01892 515035 www.knightfrank.com

‘There is a converted oast house and stable building, a farm cottage and a range of commercial units currently generating an income of approximately £60,000 per year’

L

EADING down to the River Medway, this productive, 200-acre farm estate includes a variety of residences and a ‘top of the world’ viewpoint. The Grade II listed farmhouse also has the potential to extend following planning permission that lapsed in July, subject to correct consents.

In addition to this, there is a converted oast house and stable building, a farm cottage and a range of outbuildings and commercial units currently generating an income of approximately £60,000 per year.

Plus there is current planning for a four-bedroom cottage.

Originally built in the 17th century, the farmhouse had a more modern wing added later, and is set over three floors, plus a cellar. It retains many period features including oak doors, exposed beams and open fireplaces.

The entrance opens to a dining hall with large inglenook. The 33ft drawing room has another open brick fireplace as well as doors to the terraces and gardens. A further, smaller sitting room provides a cosy television room.

There is also a kitchen/breakfast room with utility room, cloakroom and cellar.

The first floor features an en-suite master bedroom with a large dressing area and a balcony offering views across the valley, and a double

bedroom and bathroom. The second floor has two more double bedrooms and a WC. The lapsed planning and listed building consents were for a two-storey extension, giving an opportunity to increase the number of bedrooms.

The 200-year-old converted oast has been recently extended to provide a four-bedroom dwelling, with a central large reception. The sitting/dining room, kitchen, utility room and two bedrooms make up the ground floor, with an en-suite master bedroom, living room and second en-suite bedroom on the first floor.

Lodgefield Farm Cottage offers three-to-four bedroom accommodation on two floors, also including a sitting room, kitchen and bathroom.

An attached stable building has recently been converted for its current use as an office, WC and massage studio, with impressive exposed beams running through the central, elongated area.

The current planning consent is for a four-bed lodge cottage at the beginning of the drive, which would allow for a well-positioned gatehouse.

Each property has an element of privacy, with flowerbeds and hedges sectioning the grounds.

Plus there is a garage with storerooms.

The gardens of the main house are the focal point with views over the Medway valley, and stone terraces leading down to a rose garden and a formal lawn, with a wild wooded area towards the bottom. A newly created water feature has a series of stone steps running into two pools and a wooden bridge crossing over the stream.

The farm is approached by a private driveway, and has its own private water supply as well as mains, which has proved useful in drier years.

Wednesday 30th November 2016

HOW TO SPEND IT AT CHRISTMAS 

45

How to spend it at Christmas

The ultimate in luxury

OF TUNBRIDGE WELLS AND TONBRIDGE

Sixteen pages of deliciously decadent present purchases INSIDE

Superior interiors What to buy your house proud friends Page 48

Because she’s worth it The best Christmas gifts for women Page 50 Gifts for globetrotters We source the top travel presents Page 53 Mad about the boy Perfect purchases for the man in your life Page 54 Rich pickings The most fabulous foodie gifts Page 56

Your 16-pa ge luxur y gift pullout

Wednesday 30th November 2016

46  HOW TO SPEND IT AT CHRISTMAS

CHRISTMAS ALL

STAYING STYLISH AND SNUG IS A WRAP: Contessa Tweed Cape, £249, Joules, www.joules.com

WRAPPED UP…

MAKE SURE YOU LEAVE THESE OUT FOR SANTA: Mini Christmas Stockings, £7.50 each, Prestat, www.prestat.co.uk

When it comes to spoiling friends and family with some fabulous festive presents there’s a wealth of rich pickings to choose from on the high street and online, says Eileen Leahy

C

HRISTMAS shopping has become so much more of an enjoyable experience these days. Why opt for drab practical purchases, predictable knits and lastminute panic buys when you can choose from a huge array of inspiring and impressive luxury present ideas to cherry pick from?

ENSURE YOUR FESTIVITIES GO WITH A BANG: Drinks by the Dram crackers, £39.95, Master of Malt, www.masterofmalt.com

Wednesday 30th November 2016

Bespoke travel adventures, exotic gourmet hampers, clever technological gadgetry and personally monogrammed jewellery - there really is something for everybody, but for many it’s how and where to find them…

Well worry no more, because instead of having to trawl in and out of shops or surf online for these inspired – and very much appreciated – buys, the Times has done all the hard work for you by selecting this season’s most fabulous festive gifts on your behalf.

So now all you have to do is sit back, relax and flick through these pages and select the perfect present for your loved ones – or simply just treat yourself. We guarantee you’ll find plenty of gorgeous gifts to give that special someone in your life who will remember, and treasure, them forever.

Cover image: 2.00 carat Fancy Intense yellow cushion cut diamond ring, courtesy of G Collins & Sons, POA application.

UNISEX COLOGNE MAKES PERFECT SENSE: Emeraude Agar Atelier Cologne, £220, exclusively at Harrods, www. harrods.com

TREAT YOUR TASTEBUDS TO THIS LUXURIOUS FESTIVE FOODIE OFFERING: Very Merry Christmas Hamper, £425, Fortnum and Mason, www.fortnum andmason.com

HOW TO SPEND IT AT CHRISTMAS 

47

PURE LUXURY: White gold, diamond and aquamarine Strut ring, The Pure Luxury Collection, Mark Adam, £5,250, www.markadam.co.uk THE ULTIMATE ACCESSORY: Aquamarine and diamond pendant 0.90ct, £3,225, G Collins & Sons, www.gcollinsandsons.com KEEP YOUR EYE OUT FOR THESE PERFECT PENDANTS: Birthstone necklaces, from £165, Catherine Hills Jewellery, www.catherinehillsjewellery.com

COMETH THE HOUR, COMETH THE PERFECT TIMEPIECE: Gucci men’s G-Timeless watch, £670, Watchshop, www.watchshop.com STICK YOUR NECK OUT FOR THIS GORGEOUS GEM: Sterling silver and gem encrusted, £500, Hidden Mask Choker, Vamp London, www.vamplondon.co.uk

DON’T GO ROUND IN CIRCLES, CHOOSE THIS ELEGANT ACCESSORY: Rosele Rivoli necklace, Ted Baker Jewellery4, www.jewellery4.co.uk

KEEP YOUR FINGER ON THE PULSE FOR THESE DIVINE RINGS: 18ct gold and sapphire flamenco stacking rings, £1,600, Mimi Baldwin fine jewellery, www.mimibaldwin.com

JEWELLERY Nothing quite reflects decadence than an elegant timepiece or smattering of gorgeous gems…

Wednesday 30th November 2016

48  HOW TO SPEND IT AT CHRISTMAS LIGHT UP YOUR LIFE AND YOUR HOME WITH THESE CANDLEHOLDERS: Antique mercury pillar candleholders, £20 and £25, The White Company, www.thewhitecompany.com

THE PERFECT GARDEN DÉCOR: Bronze resin scratching hare, £99, Chilstone, www.chilstone.com

SERVE UP YOUR FESTIVE FEAST IN STYLE COURTESY OF THESE POSH PLATES: Gilded Muse set of four plates, £150, Wedgwood, www.wedgwood.co.uk MIRROR MIRROR ON THE WALL THIS IS BY FAR THE FAIREST OF THEM ALL: Bronze and nickel Orbis Mirror, from £3,960, Decorus, www.decorusfurniture.co.uk

INTERIORS Festoon your home this festive season with these divine decorative purchases

GIVE YOUR HOME SOME FLOWER POWER THIS CHRISTMAS: Advent Bouquet, £44.99, Appleyard Flowers, www.appleyardflowers.com

WE’LL DRINK TO THESE FABULOUS FLUTES: Lulu Champagne glasses, set of four, £38.95, annabeljames.co.uk

BATHROOM ELEGANCE: The Pyrford Washstand, Catchpole & Rye, £3,900, www.catchpoleandrye.com DELUXE DINING: Christmas Crackers (from left to right) £28, £11, £79, Tom Smith, available at Fenwick, www.fenwick.co.uk

Wednesday 30th November 2016

FIRE UP YOUR IMAGINATION AND THE LOOK OF YOUR HOME WITH THIS STYLISH WOOD BURNER: The Morsø 6148, £1,800, www.morso.co.uk

50  HOW TO SPEND IT AT CHRISTMAS MODERN STYLE AND PRACTICALITY: Ladies Flatline watch (White), Offer price £125, Audi, www.store.audi.co.uk

WHEN IT COMES TO LOOKING COOL ON THE MOVE THESE HEADPHONES ROCK IT: Rose gold Beats Solo 2 headphones, £249.80, Amazon, www.amazon.co.uk

EXQUISITE LUXURY: Tanzanite and Diamond Drop Earrings 6.65cts, £8,750, G Collins & Sons, www.gcollinsandsons.com

THE SCENT OF A WOMAN COMES COURTESY OF THIS LUXURIOUS COFFRET: House of Jo Malone gift set, £130, Jo Malone, www.jomalone.com

LOVINGLY CHOSEN: Silver Mila Pendant in rouge, £95, V Jewellery, Fenwick www.fenwick.co.uk

LOOK OUT FOR THESE GORGEOUS GLASSES: Miu Miu, £183, Eyewear Brand, www.eyewearbrands.com ILLUMINATING IDEA: 320g Scented Noctula candle in ceramic white pot, £65, The Chapel, www.thechapel.co.uk

FOR HER All she wants for Christmas is a few of these rich pickings from fashion’s best designers

CELEBRITY STYLE: Oliver Goldsmith sunglasses, as worn by Audrey Hepburn, £250, Edney & Edney, www.edneyandedney.com

Wednesday 30th November 2016

BEAUTIFUL BAG: Large satchel style Osprey bag, £529, McArthur Glen, www.mcarthurglen.com

THE GIFT THAT KEEPS ON GIVING: The Kent Adult Education gift voucher is for a variety of classes, www. kentadulteducation.co.uk

HOW TO SPEND IT AT CHRISTMAS 

TRAVEL

53

DO JUDGE THIS BOOK BY ITS COVER: The Classic Car Book, £25.00, Published by DK, www.dk.com

Get away from it all in 2017 with one of these exclusive escapes and accessories

BE A HIGH FLYER: Sightseeing Flights around London, vouchers an be purchased in denominations of £50, £75, £100 and £150, The London Helicopter gift vouchers, www.thelondonhelicopter.com

LIFE’S A MINI ADVENTURE WHEN YOU’VE GOT A COOL CAR LIKE THIS: New MINI Convertible, prices start from £18,615, www.MINI.co.uk

TAKE TO THE HIGH SEAS . . .

Regent Seven Seas Cruises offers the most inclusive luxury experience: This is cruising as it was meant to be, where everything is included– return flights and transfers, unlimited shore excursions, all fine dining and beverages, unlimited Wi-Fi and even gratuities and service charges – without exception, without compromise.

Carrying 490-750 guests, our four perfectly sized, ultra-luxury, all-suite, all-balcony* ships offer spectacular gourmet restaurants and boast an enviable staff-to-guest ratio that makes queuing and waiting a thing of the past. In short, there’s no better way to experience luxury travel.

With Regent Seven Seas Cruises® you really can have it all. *Navigator 10% window suites

THIS WILL CERTAINLY SUIT YOUR SMART AIRPORT LOOK: Chatelet Hard Plus Spinner case, £309, Delsey, www.delsey.com

Wednesday 30th November 2016

54  HOW TO SPEND IT AT CHRISTMAS STAND OUT FROM THE CROWD: Men’s Sports Watch, Offer price £95, Audi, www.store.audi.co.uk

THE GIFT OF STYLE: This beautifully made Stenstroms of Sweden shirt is produced in the finest two-fold Egyptian cotton, which gives the shirt its special lustre and softness. £135), The Basement Mensware, Tunbridge Wells

DRINK AND BE MERRY WITH THIS TOP TIPPLE: Foxhole Gin, £40 per bottle, Foxhole Spirits, www.foxholespirits.com

Treat the man in your life to one – or two – of these cool and covetable Christmas gift ideas THE EXPERIENCE OF A LIFETIME: Big Cat Encounters Experience voucher with guided tour, £199 per person, www.whf.org.uk

BE A CUT ABOVE THE REST WITH THIS SMART SET: Radford Cheese Knives, £95, The White Company, www.thewhitecompany.com

PUT YOUR LIFE INTO PERFECT SURROUND STEREO SOUND: BO Play

by Bang & Olufsen Beolit Blue Speaker, £359, Amazon, www.amazon.co.uk

LUXURIOUS MALE TREATMENTS: Essential product sets available for men, Prices start at £28 (Package pictured £99), Chilston Clinic, www.chilstonclinic.co.uk

BE A DRIVING FORCE WITH THIS PERFECT PRINT: Ducati 500 GP 1971 ‘Yellow’ By Jake Gunn, from £14, BeArty, www.BeArty.co.uk

Wednesday 30th November 2016

FOR HIM

HOW TO SPEND IT AT CHRISTMAS 

ONE FOR THE ROAD

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“It has class, comes from a good family, is intelligent, no bad habits, looks good, gets on with the young, and my dad doesn’t mind being seen with it” FACTS AT A GLANCE PRICE: £27,820.00 ENGINE: 1.4TFSI cylinder on demand S tronic TRANSMISSION: 7-speed S tronic PERFORMANCE: Top speed 132mph, 0-62nph – 8.2 secs ECONOMY: Combined 52.3 mpg EMISSIONS: 123 (g/km)

David Thacker gets behind the wheel of the new Audi Q2 to discover what this stylish new SUV has to offer

T

HE small SUV marketplace is becoming ever more crowded, with most of the car manufacturers offering crossovers designed to fill the gap between hatchbacks and SUVs. Now Audi have entered they had better be on top of their ‘A’ game with their new Q2 – a supermini-sized SUV which sits, as you would expect, below the Q3. But what it lacks in dimensions it more than matches in refinement.

My test drive for the day is the Audi Q2 S line, and although a smaller and a younger sibling, it has the same family resemblance in its styling as the Q7 and Q5 4x4 off-road SUVs. That purposeful front grille arrangement makes as bold a statement as its Q7 luxury big brother.

Audi have cleverly scaled down the Q2 to enter this segment of the market, yet still successfully managed a balancing act with the Q family styling.

The interior is intuitive with a good balance of aesthetics and functionality. The list of services on the Infotainment system is endless coupled with the Virtual Cockpit, which instantly supplies updated data at the touch of a button or a twist of a knob on the steering wheel. The quality of finish is superb, and for this segment of the market has shamelessly raised the bar for others to follow.

The driving position, as with all in this class, is relatively high, giving good all-round visibility.

Rear seating is just about adequate for a sixfooter – the extra roof height giving a less claustrophobic feel – so for a young family this would be fine. The boot space consumes 405 litres of luggage; folding down rear seats increases flexibility for storage while also enabling that maximum volume to grow to 1050 litres.

Our Q2 has a 1.4 litre petrol engine, which I think is a masterpiece of modern engine design.

This diminutive power plant has mid-range torque that is truly staggering, but with a boastful

output of 150 ps @5000-6000 the expectations would be horrendous for fuel consumption. But with the sophisticated engine mapping, this power unit never feels unduly stressed and, in fact, if the loads are light enough, shuts two of the cylinders off and becomes a twin cylinder to save fuel.

I have to say that, from the driving perspective, as hard as I listen there is no audible difference between two or four cylinders. If not for the information on the dashboard screen, you would never know. This is coupled with seven-speed S tronic automatic transmission, making a good combination that suits the Q2’s character well.

Spritely On the road, it is defiantly spritely, and obviously has a well-executed suspension and chassis layout giving almost sports hatchback roadholding with virtually no body roll, which does give confidence and a firm ride.

Adaptive cruise control has safety and driver assistance features fitted. Heading the list is a pedestrian and collision prevention automatic braking function, with traffic jam assist and adaptive cruise control making use of the same hardware. Additionally, the camera-based active lane assist and traffic sign recognition technology makes for safer journeys.

Audi say it has off-road ability, and when the electronic stability control [ESC] is set to offroad mode, the car’s drivetrain adjusts to work in slippery conditions, and ground clearance is increased to 200mm. But I don’t think the Q2’s true purpose is a rufty-tufty off-roader.

I can see the appeal. It has class, comes from a good family, is intelligent, no bad habits, looks good, gets on with the young, and my dad doesn’t mind being seen with it.

I think the Q2 has found an open goal in this crowded marketplace.

Wednesday 30th November 2016

56  HOW TO SPEND IT AT CHRISTMAS THE ITALIAN JOB: Il Grandioso Hamper, £235, Carluccios, www.carluccios.com

TREAT YOUR TASTEBUDS: Enjoy an indulgent afternoon tea at One Warwick Park, from £16 per person, www.onewarwickpark.co.uk

FESTIVE FOOD Eat, drink and be very merry with these delicious gastronomic treats

ENJOY SOME FESTIVE FINE DINING: The After Dinner Hamper, £61.99, Appleyard Flowers, www.appleyardflowers.com

GET THE PARTY STARTED: Il Gusto Gold Curvée sparkling white wine with 22 carat gold flakes 750ml, £15, available at Fenwick, www. fenwick.co.uk

GIVE YOUR GUESTS A LITTLE FRENCH FANCY: Cointreau liqueur, from £15, available from all major retailers

CHRISTMAS WOULDN’T BE THE SAME WITHOUT A BOTTLE OF CHAMPAGNE Laurent-Perrier Cuvée Rosé Ribbon Birdcage, £70, John Lewis, www.harveynichols.com and www.oddbins.com

TAKE THE PARTY ANYWHERE WITH THIS PORTABLE COCKTAIL CASE: Also available in the Bramble Cocktail Case and Old Fashioned Cocktail Case, £189, Fenwick www.fenwick.co.uk

Wednesday 30th November 2016

HOW TO SPEND IT AT CHRISTMAS 

THE ULTIMATE WRIST WEAR: Pristine pre-owned Rolex Daytona, Mark Adam, www.markadam.co.uk

DROP EVERYTHING FOR THESE DECADENT PENDANTS: 18ct white gold set earrings with amethysts (48.4cts) and diamonds, £16,500, Chopard, www.chopard.co.uk

RAISE YOUR GAME WITH THIS: Backgammon table, £3,510, Oomph by Nina Campbell, www.ninacampbell.com

ULTIMATE LUXURY DRIVING AMBITION: Become a fully trained Ginetta racing car driver and the car is yours to keep, from £33,000 GRDC members get their own road legal race car and the price also includes coaching, race licence and all the kit. www.ginetta.com

SET THE SEASONAL SCENE: Jewel napkin holder with Swarovski stones, £380, Roberto Cavalli Tableware available from Kings of Cheslea www.kofc.co.uk

THIS IS THE CRÈME DE LA CRÈME OF BEAUTY PURCHASES: Icon Caviar Indulgences gift set, La Prairie, £682, available from Harrods and www.laprairie.co.uk

Santa baby please deliver one of these elegant and extravagant purchases under the tree for me

THIS RARE PORT CERTAINLY HAS THE LOOK OF LUXE: Graham’s Ne Oublie 1882 RRP approx. £5,000, Encased in a leather Smythson box and boasting a crystal decanter it is available from www.neoublie. grahams-port.com

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TIME TO SHINE: 18ct rose gold watch with alligator strap and sapphire crystals, Armin Strom, price on application, Armin Strom, www.arminstrom. com. Armin Strom timepieces are also available through G Collins & Son, www. gcollinsandson.com

SAIL AWAY IN STYLE, IF ONLY IN YOUR DREAMS, COURTESY OF THIS: Replica speedboat with leather seats, £490, Joanna Wood, www.joannawood.co.uk

Wednesday 30th November 2016

58  HOW TO SPEND IT AT CHRISTMAS BEAUTY PACKAGE: Serenity Therapy vouchers for a range of XPERT needle-free Mesotherapy treatment packages, www. serenitytherapies.com HAT’LL DO NICELY: Mila Furs beanie, £70, www.milafurs.com PERSONALISED PENDANTS: Scripted sterling silver necklaces with two set diamonds per disc, £30 per disc, Micallef Jewellers, www.micallefjewellers.com

A SWEET ALTERNATIVE: Chocolate Orange Liquid Fudge, £3.99, Fudge Kitchen, other exclusive flavours are available at Fenwick, www.fenwick.co.uk

STOCKING FILLERS

STRICTLY COME DANCING: Vouchers for private dance lessons from £40, www.medwayschoolofdance.co.uk

Hang up your stocking and hope that when you wake up on December 25 these little luxuries have been put in

ONE OF A KIND PORTABLE PARTY GIFT: 10 in 1 cocktail multitool in limited edition Vintage Oak, £40, Fenwick www. fenwick.co.uk

Wednesday 30th November 2016

A TRIO OF TREATS: Silver and gold vermeil bracelets, from £75, Mark Adam, www.markadam.co.uk

DRESS THE BEST: Brass shirt collar bones, £30 per pair, Thomas Pink, www.thomaspink.com

TAKE THIS BEAUTY AT FACE VALUE: The Holiday Compact, £95, Crème de la Mer www. cremedelamer.co.uk

BRAND OF THE TIME: Cluse La Boheme Watch, £89, Cluse, available at Hoopers, www.hoopersstores.com

HOW TO SPEND IT AT CHRISTMAS 

SIGN YOUR NAME: Personalised necklace, £50, Ann Lou of London, www. annalouof london.com

HOME RETREATS: Prosecco Rose Fragrant Oil and Rattan Diffuser, £39, Fenwick, www.fenwick.co.uk

LOOK GOOD ON THE GO: Indian Sandalwood Traveller gift set, £24, Crabtree & Evelyn, www.crabtree-evelyn.co.uk

AMAZING ARM CANDY: Alhambra bracelet, £99, Les Georgettes, www.lesgeorgettes.com

LOOKING STYLISH IS A WRAP THIS WINTER: faux fur stole, £60, Helen Moore, www. helenmoore.com

FEEL FABULOUS: Private pilates sessions start from £60, Sandrine’s Pilates, www. sandrinepilates. co.uk

HAPPY FEET: Keep feet warm this winter with these cosy socks, box set of 3, £28, Fenwick www.fenwick.co.uk

CHRISTMAS STAR: Sparkle Everyday gold star candle, £13.50, Kate Loxton London, available at Fenwick, www.fenwick.co.uk

KEEP YOUR SPIRITS COLD THIS CHRISTMAS: Corkcicle: Whiskey Wedge, £15, available at Fenwick www.fenwick.co.uk

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THE SCENT OF A WOMAN: Bespoke perfume blend set, from £40, The Perfume Studio, www. theperfumestudio.com

EYE OPENING GIFT: Bright Eyes kit containing Eyebright™ Soothing Eye Lotion 150ml, Superskin™ Eye Cream 15ml, 1 Soft White Headband, Eyecare Guide, £35, Liz Earle, available at Fenwick, www.fenwick.co.uk

Wednesday 30th November 2016

62 ď Ž PROPERTY SECTION

Well-equipped family

MILD STEEL BURNERS FROM ÂŁ44

Winter warmth In their latest column, Round Wood of Mayfield give us the lowdown on garden planters FIREPITS: THE IDEAL GIFT FOR THE GARDENER IN YOUR LIFE The increased popularity of firepits over recent years seems to be the result of a permanent shift in tastes, rather than the typical short-lived garden trend.

Their eye-catching nature, particularly when used as a centre piece at parties, ease of use and outstanding durability means they look set to remain a long-term staple feature.

Demand has also been driven by innovation. The introduction of new materials combined with evolving design themes makes it possible to find a model to suit any garden.

The majority of firepits on the market echo those first used by our ancestors.

Typically, they are cast or wrought in iron into a bowl shape that helps the burning process. Generally they are one piece, but can consist of several smaller panels. As many are supplied with a grill, they are not just suited for generating warmth and burning

garden waste, but also cooking.

Recently, steel models have also become more frequently available given the different aesthetic they provide, especially Corten variants.

Corten steel was originally developed to provide outstanding strength and durability for bridge building and skyscraper construction.

This was achieved by combining a precise amount of base materials and maintaining a high carbon content, which helps ensure unique weathering characteristics.

Corten rusts in the eyecatching, uniform finish often found on a variety of high end features, including planters and sculptures, such as the Angel of the North.

This finish, which requires no treatment, protects the blue steel underneath, giving Corten a much longer lifespan than its mild steel counterparts.

We offer a wide selection of burners in a variety of materials, styles and sizes.

To see our full range visit www.roundwood.com

A GUIDE TO AVAILABLE MATERIALS CORTEN STEEL: High grade steel that forms a highly sought-after, uniform rust finish. Medium weight, outstanding durability.

MILD STEEL: Standard grade steel that will patina in a random fashion. Typically a lower gauge than Corten steel, but still capable of providing years of use.

CAST IRON: Traditional burner material, often finished with a black matt powder coating that patinas over time. Can form rust spots. Extremely heavy duty; most weighty material.

Wednesday 30th November 2016

B

EAUTIFULLY located on the Southborough/ Bidborough borders, this contemporary, detached family home has acres of common and woodland on its doorstep.

The well-presented fivebedroom property is part of a small development and has been finished to a high specification, including underfloor heating, Villleroy & Boch bathroom fittings and Amtico flooring.

The tiled hallway offers access to all rooms on the ground floor, creating a flow of well-configured living space.

Double doors lead to the spacious living room, complete with fully fitted carpets and a Jetmaster wood-burning stove with an elegant fireplace surround. There are also French doors to the rear.

The bright, double-aspect dinein kitchen has glass panelling and doors to the garden, as well as a separate window and two roof lights allowing the natural light to flood in. It also features

polished floor tiles and a range of gloss cabinetry and integrated appliances. The central island with seating offers casual dining, with a formal dining room opposite for entertaining.

There is a well-equipped utility room giving access to the integral garage, and the third reception room could serve as a home office or teenage den.

On the first floor, the 21ft master bedroom has a Juliet balcony, a fully-fitted dressing room and a generous en suite bathroom.

There are four further bedrooms, one also en-suite, and all with built-in wardrobe storage. Plus a family bathroom.

Kingswood is approached via a shared access lane with a private driveway and ample parking for several vehicles, in addition to the integral double garage.

A wooden gate and footpath from the driveway lead to the rear garden, which is fully enclosed and mainly laid to lawn, with a terraced area outside the kitchen and living room.

PROPERTY SECTION 

residence KINGSWOOD MANOR FIELDS LONDON ROAD SOUTHBOROUGH

£995,000

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AT A GLANCE ■ Dining room ■ Living room ■ Study ■ Kitchen ■ Utility room ■ Master bedroom suite ■ Dressing room ■ 4 further bedrooms, one en suite ■ Family bathroom ■ Integral double garage

£995,000 For sale through Maddisons Residential 01892 514100 www.maddisonsresidential.co.uk

‘The bright, doubleaspect dinein kitchen has glass panelling and doors to the garden, as well as a separate window and two roof lights allowing the natural light to flood in’ Wednesday 30th November 2016

68  PROPERTY SECTION AT A GLANCE 5A NEVILL PARK TUNBRIDGE WELLS ■ First floor apartment ■ South-facing ■ Far-reaching views

Stylish apartment in prime location with superb views

■ Part of a Georgian manor house in a prestigious part of town ■ Quality finish ■ Entrance hall ■ Open-plan living/dining/kitchen area with a bay window and fireplace ■ Master bedroom ■ En-suite bathroom ■ Guest bedroom ■ Guest bathroom ■ Storage areas ■ Communal gardens ■ Garage

£750,000 For sale through Maddisons Residential Tunbridge Wells 01892 514100 www.maddisonsresidential.co.uk

P

ART of a Georgian manor house, this first floor, two-bedroom apartment is located on one of Tunbridge Wells’ most desirable roads and offers nearly 1,100 sq ft of stylish accommodation with impressive views and a large, open-plan main living area.

The apartment has been completely refurbished and is finished to a first-class specification, including app-controlled underfloor heating, Sonos wiring and LED lighting.

As you enter, a spacious hallway offers access to all rooms and features oak flooring.

To the right is the 30ft living room/dining/kitchen area, with a fireplace and large bay window offering views over the open park and common land beyond.

The kitchen section of the open room has a range of white cabinetry, with marble worktops as well as integrated appliances and a central island.

The tasteful en-suite master bedroom has sash windows overlooking the rear garden.

The spacious guest bedroom offers similar style, with subdued tones and sleek, built-in cabinetry.

The guest bathroom features porcelain tiles, a bath with an overhead rain shower.

There is also a useful large storage cupboard in the hallway and two shared storage areas within the communal stairwell.

The property is approached via a gravel driveway off prestigious Nevill Park that sweeps alongside the manor house.

There is shared parking on the driveway, with further space available in front of the apartment’s garage at the top of the drive.

Outside is a communal garden, mostly laid to lawn, and interspersed with laurel hedgerows and trees.

‘The apartment has been completely refurbished and is finished to a first-class specification, including app-controlled underfloor heating, Sonos wiring and LED lighting’

Wednesday 30th November 2016

72  PROPERTY SECTION DESIGN WITH THE TIMES

John Bullock

Architectural services

Having studied at Edinburgh College of Art and The Royal Academy of The Hague, John Bullock launched John Bullock Design in 2003. With offices in Tunbridge Wells High Street, John has won awards for his work and is committed to delivering the best outcomes for clients. www.johnbullockdesign.com

Rebuilding bungalow extension to include useful annexe over garage

Living in a house that was originally on one floor, John and Caro Kennett want to reconstruct the kitchen and garage to allow for a utility room, storage and separate one-bedroom accommodation YOUR QUESTION:

Dear Design with the Times, We are considering demolishing an extension to our house and extending the kitchen outwards with a new utility room, store room and garage, possibly with an upper floor as a one-bedroom annexe. In addition we need to relocate a downstairs shower room.

We would welcome some design ideas and information on what is possible.

John and Caro Kennett OUR ANSWER:

Dear John and Caro, It was a pleasure to meet with you, view your home and discuss the ideas for reworking the space to create better use and flow.

The principle for the proposed alterations is to create a large kitchen for family life and entertaining, and to replace the garage and workshop with something more suitable and in keeping with the character of the property.

These new spaces need to function with ease whilst adding to the intrinsic charm of your home.

In addition, the provision of annexe accommodation with separate access which can be used for guests and possible income would be well worth exploring, and could be created above the new garage area.

As discussed, there are several options, but we would always review the allocation of the existing accommodation first to see if any can be redefined. This, in turn, will define how large the extension needs to be to fulfil the brief.

If we take each point separately:  Kitchen Problem: The current kitchen is thin, and whilst it links through to the rear private garden area by way of the conservatory, which is used as a dining and family room, natural light within the kitchen is poor. There are three doorways in and out of the kitchen, thus circulation space is very limited.

Furthermore, worktop and preparation space is very restrictive, and there is nowhere to sit for breakfast or impromptu suppers.

Brief: Create a light-filled space with increased views of the garden which is enjoyable to be in, has plenty of circulation space, lots of storage without overhead cabinets, and can accommodate an island for food preparation and plating up with a bar area for breakfast and supper.

Wednesday 30th November 2016

Solution: We would suggest removing the existing toilet and increasing the depth of the current kitchen, which would link into a new extension and be light-filled with a roof lantern and glass overlooking the current garden. The kitchen layout would be greatly improved by the introduction of an island unit which would be used for preparation and also incorporate a breakfast bar area.

Brief: Create independently accessed accommodation to provide a bedroom, sitting room and bathroom.

 Utility Problem: The current utility room adjoins the kitchen but is accessed through an unheated and lightweight lean-to extension. The utility room is also housed in a building which has no insulation and is therefore very damp, and there are issues with airing clothes. Generally it is very unsatisfactory.

Brief: Accessed from the kitchen, a new insulated and easy to use utility room to house the washing machine, dryer, ironing board and cleaning cupboards. It would also be useful to incorporate a boot and coat room which can be accessed from outside.

Solution: From the new kitchen, we would recommend a connection through into a boot room and utility room area which would, in turn, link into an inner hall with access to secondary accommodation above the garage and also into the garage. Having the utility room close to the kitchen creates a perfect flow of space and ease of use.  Garage Problem: The existing garage building is in a poor state of repair. It can accommodate two small cars back to back, but isn’t really suitable for modern cars or for ease of access/use.

Brief: Two open bays are required for easy access, which can be used daily for storing cars. Ideally, they would be linked to the principal accommodation in order that covered access can be gained in poor weather.

Solution: The existing garage and store building would be removed and a new two-bay structure built, wide

enough to house modern-day cars. The garage could be constructed of oak posts and clad in weatherboard, which would add to the character of the property. To the rear of the garage, a garden tractor store could be constructed which would be separately accessed.  Annexe Accommodation: Problem: The house has evolved from an original bungalow and thus has a combination of bedrooms on the ground and first floor areas.

There is no designated accommodation that can be used independently from the house for either guests, long term live-in relatives or potential secondary income.

Solution: Above the garage and tracker store, and within the roof space, there is plenty of room for annexe accommodation to house a bedroom, sitting room and bathroom. This would also be accessed via an external door so as to be completely independent if required.

All of the above work would require planning permission and, based on the scope of works and history of the site, a replacement extension to accommodate these spaces would be within policy and, subject to design, could be deemed acceptable. To prepare a scheme and implement the works, the following stages of design work would be required: Stage 1. Full measured survey and production of ‘as-existing’ drawings.

When drawings of the existing structure in plan and elevation form have been prepared, the design can be fully assessed and developed.

This process is really a melting pot of ideas where all options are reviewed in context of a budget, and sketch drawings prepared for discussion.

Stage 2. Preparation of master plan drawings for planning application to the Local Authority [LA].

After the design has been agreed, formal drawings showing the proposal would be created for submission.

PROPERTY SECTION 

Stage 3. Planning application to LA. This would involve the preparation of the necessary planning application forms, and a statement explaining the design concept and evolution, which would be submitted online to the planning department.

There is a fee payable to the LA for planning applications, and for your scope of works it would be £172.00.

The planning process takes eight weeks from registration of the planning application and involves a three-week public consultation period when neighbours and the Parish Council are able to make comments both negative and positive.

We would always recommend engaging with your neighbours and explaining the scheme to try and alleviate any concerns at an early stage.

“In summary, the following types of project amount to ‘Building Work’:

Stage 4. Building Regulations drawings and specifications.

Once planning permission is granted, it will be necessary to define how the works will be built and to submit a specification to the building inspector, which is a statutory requirement.

We asked Nigel Barr, the Managing Director of BBS Building Inspectors, to explain: “If you are carrying out any building work it is important you understand how the Building Control system applies. You must be aware, if you are the owner of the building, then it is ultimately you who is responsible if the work does not comply with the Building Regulations, even if you have employed a builder.

“Some kinds of building projects are exempt from the Regulations, however, generally if you are planning to carry out ‘Building Work’ then it must comply with the Building Regulations.

“An application must be submitted to Building Control (Approved Inspector or Local Authority).

“The works themselves must meet the relevant technical requirements in the Building Regulations, and they must not make other elements less compliant than they were before.

“For example, the provision of replacement double glazing must not make compliance worse in relation to means of escape in case of fire. Building Control can be provided by Approved Inspectors or Local Authorities.

“Approved Inspectors are private sector alternatives to Local Authority Building Control.

They work closely with clients and their architects, designers and builders to determine, as far as possible, that works are carried out in accordance with the Building Regulations.

“When you use an Approved Inspector, they will

 “The erection or extension of a building (even if permitted development planning legislation)  “The installation or extension of a service or fitting which is controlled by the regulations (heating or plumbing alterations, for example)  “The insertion of insulation into a cavity wall  “The underpinning of the foundations of a building

take on the responsibility for checking your design plans and structural details and the inspection of your building work at stages.

“Fees are charged for this service and are competitive with the Local Authority charges.

“The procedure requires you and the Approved Inspector jointly to notify your local authority of your intended building work on what is called an ‘Initial Notice’. This is normally completed through the Approved Inspector’s website and should be

 “Work affecting the thermal elements, energy status or energy performance of a building

submitted at least seven days prior to the commencement of building works.

“The Approved Inspector will then issue a Final Certificate when all the works are satisfactorily completed.”

Stage 5. Detailed working drawings for tender.

It is advisable to try and define the full scope of works and design all elements of the project down to the lighting. A fully specified tender document will allow everything to be costed by the contractor prior to commencement of works in order that the price can be fixed.

We would recommend obtaining four prices by

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way of a competitive tender process, which will allow for a quantifiable assessment of costs and offer the best value.

Stage 6. Project Management.

We would alway recommend entering into a formal contract for the works to protect yourselves and the contractor. A contract would be implemented by the contract administrator, who will also oversee the works and ensure everything runs smoothly.

A project of this scale is likely to take in the region of six months to build, and much of the works can be undertaken without disrupting family life.

There would be a time when the kitchen would be lost for several weeks, and at that time it might be prudent to either move out or take a holiday!

With our thanks to Nigel Barr from BBS for his contribution to this month’s column.

If you have a question you’d like John Bullock to answer, please email it to: newsdesk@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk or newsdesk@timesoftonbridge.co.uk Please mark the subject as: Design Team You can also write to us at: Design Team Times of Tunbridge Wells & Tonbridge 16 Lonsdale Gardens Tunbridge Wells TN1 1NU

Wednesday 30th November 2016

82 ■ FOOD AND DRINK

This global sloe gin competition happens locally and it sounds like the perfect tonic Artisan alcohol producers from all over the country will gather in the village of Frant on December 14 at The George pub to have their sloe gin creations sipped, savoured and judged by a panel of experts. Eileen Leahy talks to competition founder George Shaw about why this annual event is going from strength to strength Can you tell us a little bit about the history of the competition, and why it’s held at The George?

A number of the pub’s regulars make their own sloe gin, and it was decided eight years ago they should all bring a bottle in and we’d vote for the best. That was the first year of the competition.

Since then it has grown with over 40 entrants, both commercial and homegrown, entering last year.

Sloes grow well in this particular area, and we often get early frosts, which is traditionally the time sloe berries or ‘drupes’ as they are also known, are foraged.

How did the competition gain momentum?

Other customers at the pub became intrigued with what we were doing, and were given a nip in exchange for a donation to charity. The pub was busy that first year with office parties, so a tidy sum was raised. One of the sloe ginsters (as we like to call them), ‘Merlot’ Mike Matthews, has multiple sclerosis, which is why we chose the MS Society as our designated charity.

The number of entrants started growing year on year, and I did some online research and discovered there were no national or

Wednesday 30th November 2016

international events like this, so I decided to declare ours the World Championships and invite entrants from far and wide.

‘Everyone has their own secret recipe: Some use caster sugar, others demerara, and some include vanilla pod’

Who is on the judging panel?

Originally, it was one sole judge, Jim Hayes, but in 2013 it went to winner Dave Bennett – our first ‘Sloe Gin World Champion’. He took over the judging duties, and last year I joined the panel, along with Lisa de Garston, owner of Moon Down at Bells Yew Green, who also runs foraging and country craft courses.

What is involved in the judging process?

As the number of entries has grown we’ve had to change the format slightly, and so have now starting to divide entrants into groups: Commerical and Homemade. The two top performers will then go into a final stage.

Can you explain what goes into the process of making a good sloe gin?

It’s essentially gin, sugar and sloes. Each drupe should be hand-picked, with a thorn taken from the blackthorn bush on which it grew.

Some traditional sloe gin connoisseurs say the drupes may only be pricked with a silver pin or

JUDGMENT DAY George Shaw (second from left) with judges fork. Modernists, however, pick the sloes earlier and freeze them, avoiding the pricking stage, claiming that this not only splits the drupes, but by freezing them it also changes the flavour.

What are you looking for in an award-winning sloe gin?

Points are awarded for balance between the sweetness of the sugar and acidity of the sloes.

We’re looking for a pleasing complexity of taste, bouquet, and clarity.

How do you create a perfect sloe gin?

Everyone has their own secret recipe: Some use caster sugar, others demerara, and some include vanilla pods. Personally, I use dried apple from my garden to sweeten it naturally. Some folk will use cheaper gin varieties during the production

process, while others will plump for stronger, premium varieties. Then there are those who’ll add a drop of cranberry juice. It’s all down to individual taste and preference.

Do you mainly get local entries or is there a good cross-section of British regions represented?

It used to be an exclusively local event, but we now attract entries from far and wide – even as far as Scotland. One previous entrant, who hails from Suffolk, just came along to watch the competition last year!

We had 40 entrants in 2015 – double the number of the previous year, and interest is very high again for this year…

Are the entrants commercial or independent?

It’s now a mix, and we obviously have different categories for homemade offerings and commercial ones. We also have a category for non-sloe and other alcoholic liqueurs, to allow things like damson gin or vodka-based concoctions into some categories.

Demi John have won the commercial category for the past two years, and in terms of local producers, Sloe Seduction have been quite successful.

Why do you think the craft gin market has taken off so well?

Gin used to be known as ‘mother’s ruin’, but now it’s fashionable because it’s been adopted by a younger generation of drinkers,

HOW TO MAKE SLOE GIN

FOOD AND DRINK 

■ Fill a wide-necked jar halfway

■ The liqueur is poured off and

with pricked drupes and add 4 ounces (110g) of sugar for each 1 imperial pint (570ml) of sloes.

■ Fill the jar with gin, seal and

turn several times to mix, then stored in a cool, dark place.

Turn every day for the first two weeks, then weekly, for at least three months. The gin develops a deep ruby colour.

with lots of trendy gin bars opening up all over the place.

There’s also been a growing trend towards premium, authentic and craft products generally, and as a result new gin distilleries are springing up – especially in Kent.

What’s the perfect way to drink a sloe gin – mixer, over ice, or something else?

In my opinion, it’s best enjoyed with good company by a cracking log fire with a faithful dog at your feet.

Sloe gin predates the notion of adding ice to drinks. That was something you just used to preserve food. Sloe gin is best savoured without it.

Cheers!

The Sloe Gin Championships are held on December 14 at The George pub in Frant. If you’d like to enter you need to do so by December 9. For more information please visit www.moondown.co.uk/sloe_gin_ championships.html

the drupes removed. Some sloe ginsters reuse the berries, infused in white wine or cider, into jam, or as a basis for a chutney, or a filling for liqueur pudding or chocolates.

■ The liqueur is then filtered into

clean bottle and left to stand for another week. The sweetness can be adjusted to taste at the

end of the process by addition of more sugar.

■ Allowing the drupes sufficient

time to ensure full extraction, the gin develops an almond-like essence and aromatic flavour from the sloes’ stones. In some recipes the process is accelerated with the inclusion a few drops of almond essence, cloves and a cinnamon stick of cinnamon.

Inspired by the sloe gin competition? Then how about trying to make one of these delicious cocktails…

SLOE GIN FIZZ You may need to play around with the balance of flavours in this cocktail, as different brands of sloe gin have varying degrees of sweetness.

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GIN BRAMBLE This is a perfect cocktail for drinking on a sunny deck in the cool of an early evening – blissful!

What you need: 50ml/2oz gin 25ml/1oz fresh lemon juice 2 barspoons sugar syrup 15ml/½oz crème de mure A lemon wedge and

a blackberry to garnish What you do: Build the gin, lemon juice and sugar syrup over crushed ice in a rocks glass and stir.

Drizzle the crème de mure over the ice and garnish with a lemon wedge and a fresh blackberry.

sugar to 1 part water in a saucepan (the quantities depend, of course, on how much you want to make), and boil until the sugar has just dissolved.

Leave to cool completely before using.

What you need: 50ml/2oz sloe gin 20ml/2⁄3oz fresh lemon juice A dash of sugar syrup soda water to top up Lemon slice to garnish

Add all the ingredients, except the soda, to a shaker filled with ice.

Shake sharply and strain into a highball glass filled with ice.

What you do: To make the sugar syrup, put 2 parts caster/granulated

Top with soda water, garnish with lemon slice and serve with two straws.

Recipes and images courtesy of The Pocket Book of Cocktails published by Ryland Peters and Small, priced £9.99 from all good bookshops

Wednesday 30th November 2016

84 ■ FOOD AND DRINK

Keeping ahead of the game Rendez-Vous, the intimate restaurant on Camden Road, still remains one of the highest-rated eateries in Tunbridge Wells. Almost a year since we last caught up with them, Hannah Patterson sits down with owner Mark Harper and head chef John Boreham to discuss their continued success in a town not short of quality SO TELL US, WHAT’S BEEN HAPPENING THIS PAST YEAR? Mark: We’re certainly busier - especially during the week, throughout the day and evening. This is always a challenge for many restaurants – keeping business up consistently, not just at the weekends. A lot of people run weekly offers to keep the footfall high, but we always try to avoid doing this and let our menu do the work. We are just a small family business. As you can see, the space isn’t large, so it’s not like we have to fill a restaurant with over 100 customers every night. These avenues that bring in discounted business, such as Groupon, don’t appeal to us at the minute. Instead, we’ve just seen a steady increase in our clientele.

THE CONSISTENTLY ‘OUTSTANDING’ AND ‘VERY GOOD’ REVIEWS ON TRIP ADVISOR MUST CERTAINLY HELP… Mark: Yes, we do well on there. We went to number one on it, two years ago.

WHY DO YOU THINK YOU’RE RATED SO HIGHLY? Mark: I don’t know! We won’t have a review for two or three weeks and then we will get an outstanding one. It’s good to be up there. We certainly get business from it.

BUT THAT’S THE NATURE OF THE BEAST… Mark: Absolutely. But, you can’t just rely on it and we take our business seriously. We have a room upstairs, which we open when it gets particularly busy, but there’s not always

Wednesday 30th November 2016

the need to use it on a Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday. You always have to keep the quality high to fill space.

‘There’s been a lot of feathered game this year, which is really good. I’ll drive up to Penshurst on a Saturday morning and pick up what’s there from the Friday shoot’

DO YOU GET A LOT OF REGULAR CUSTOMERS? Mark: Oh yes! this is obviously great, as it keeps you ticking over. Tunbridge Wells is a big village - word-of mouth and taking good care of your regulars carries a lot of weight here. Complacency won’t cut it.

CONSIDERING THE AMOUNT OF LOCAL RESTAURANTS AND CAFES AVAILABLE IN TOWN, HOW MANY SPECIALISE IN FRENCH CUISINE? Mark: I know of one who offered a French-style brassiere menu for a while, but I don’t think it ever really took off. In town, when people think of French, they think of here. However, we aren’t staunchly French. Jean-Jacques who owned the restaurant before us would offer frogs legs and all his staff were from the country. My wife is French so there will always be that influence, but I wouldn’t say we specialise only in that cuisine.

I HEARD YOU’RE HAVING TO TURN PEOPLE AWAY AT THE MOMENT… Mark: Not all the time. But generally on Friday and Saturday nights, that is the case.

HOW MANY PEOPLE CAN YOU ACCOMMODATE? John: If we open up the whole restaurant? About 55, probably. 30 downstairs and 25 upstairs. The top area is good for group bookings.

COUNTER CULTURE Chef John Boreham (left) and owner Mark Harper work well together ARE YOU BOOKED UP FOR CHRISTMAS PARTIES? Mark: We have a few groups, but it’s a little quieter than last year. A lot of the local businesses have been saying the same thing.

John: It doesn’t really affect us though.

Group bookings aren’t a large source of our income.

Mark: It’s a little bit of a Godsend as it saves us turning people away.

HAS YOUR MENU EVOLVED MUCH OVER THE PAST YEAR? John: It evolves slowly. The menu in front of you is more our stock selection for lunchtimes or for those who are looking for a light bite. Our specials board is what people are often ordering

from in the evenings, when they are willing to gamble a bit! Our specials are seasonal and they often change. If we run out, we run out. If you pop in and see something you like on the specials board, make sure you order it sooner rather than later!

WHERE DOES THE INSPIRATION FOR THE SPECIALS COME FROM? Mark: The seasons. It all comes from locally-produced sources and seasonal products.

YOU SPOKE A LOT ABOUT GAME WHEN WE VISITED YOU LAST… John: It’s inexpensive, it’s there, and if you’re willing to put the work in, you end up with some top-quality meat.

FOOD AND DRINK 

WHERE DO YOU SOURCE IT? John: We get our game from Penshurst Shoot.

We’ve got a good relationship with the guys there. They always have a good supply.

Mark: There’s been a lot of feathered game this year, which is really good. I’ll drive up to Penshurst on a Saturday morning and pick up what’s there from the Friday shoot. It helps everyone really. They get to carry on shooting and not feel worried about what they are going to do with the birds because we take a fair bit of it.

John: We get good product and it’s excellent value for money.

WHAT ARE YOU GETTING AT THE MOMENT FOR THE WINTER SEASON? John: Wild duck, partridge and pigeon are the main birds so far.

Mark: We had one goose, but we tend not to use them. They take a long time to pluck and you can’t sell wild goose.

HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO PLUCK A GOOSE? John: About an hour…

Mark: Because we’re on the Kent/Sussex border, there are loads of shoots going on around the area.

It’s fantastic for some quality gamey meat. Our relationship is so good with Penshurst Shoot, that they let us go in for the meat even when they are not there. Sometimes I’ll head to Bayham Estate to pick up venison.

YOU MUST BE ABLE TO TASTE THE DIFFERENCE… Mark: Massively so.

John: The good thing with local game is that it’s usually very good and when you have a really good batch, there’s nothing like it!

It’s local and it certainly hasn’t travelled very far.

We also get a lot of fish from Newhaven and Hastings – it’s all so close

85

that it’s a mystery why some people don’t use the local suppliers.

These relationships are key to our business and our success.

YOUR USE OF GAME MUST MEAN YOUR CUSTOMERS CAN EXPECT A UNIQUE DISH… John: One of my favourite things about working here is the chance to get creative and provide something unique for customers.

You have to give a chef freedom.

WHERE DID YOU TRAIN? John: I trained in London at Boodle’s. After that, I worked at another restaurant for ten years before coming here.

WHAT ABOUT YOUR INFLUENCES? John: For 27 years now, I’ve been in a kitchen.

You pick things up along the way. It becomes instinctive – knowing what will work, what flavours or textures. If you have an experienced chef who has paid attention over the years, that’s all you need. I don’t sit at home, watching cooking programmes and think to myself “I could make that!” Where’s the fun?

Mark: We always listen to the customers as well, especially if they want to suggest dishes.

John: We aren’t afraid to try anything!

Mark: At the moment, we have smoked salmon and horseradish ice cream.

YOU HAVE A CHRISTMAS MENU, I SEE… Mark: Yes, we have turkey!

John: It’s not a roast though – it’s pan-fried. We have chestnut dumplings and seasonal vegetables.

HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE YOU TO GET A MENU TOGETHER? John: A menu doesn’t happen overnight. I jot down ideas all year round and start putting the Christmas menu together around July or August.

PERFECT PAIRING The restaurant is ideally located in town YOU MOVED FROM ONE PREMISES ON CAMDEN ROAD TO ANOTHER – YOU MUST BE FANS OF THE AREA? Mark: We love it although I feel it’s neglected by the council, but that’s another story.

John: There isn’t enough put into the road to promote it. The street is lined with fantastic businesses, which isn’t often recognised by the council. That’s the only issue we have with the road.

Mark: Consequently, we are working closely with Tunbridge Wells Together to make sure the footfall improves and Camden Road gets the attention it deserves.

the main end of the game season in January.

Mark: But you can carry on shooting some estuary birds, like Wigeon, for a further 28 days.

John: We can pretty much get game right up until the end of April. There’s wild boar all year round.

Home Farm in Crowborough breeds them so there is a constant supply of that. At the moment, we just want to carry on and hopefully our customers will continue to love what we offer.

LOOKING PAST CHRISTMAS, WHAT CAN WE EXPECT FROM RENDEZ-VOUS? John: We’ll still be serving feathered game until

86 Camden Road, Tunbridge Wells, Kent 01892 525830 12pm-2.30pm/6pm-9:30pm Tue-Sat

DESCRIBE RENDEZ-VOUS IN FIVE WORDS: Independent family business, excellent food

Wednesday 30th November 2016

86  TRAVEL ALL AT SEA The overwater villas are the perfect place for lingering

Marvel of the Maldives

TRAVEL FACTS Karen Bowerman was a guest of LUX South Ari Atoll (www.luxresorts.com).

Hayes and Jarvis (www.hayesandjarvis. co.uk) offers seven nights B&B from £1,945pp – a saving of up to £338pp, based on departures from May 30, 2017.

The offer includes seaplane transfers and return flights from London Heathrow with Qatar Airways.

By Karen Bowerman

I

DON’T know how it happened, but having popped off to powder my nose, I’m now dancing in delight, with a stranger in paradise.

I’m in the Maldives in the Indian Ocean, a country which offers the ultimate in laidback luxury. It has pristine sands, turquoise lagoons and tropical fish that sparkle and shimmer in the sea.

So it may seem odd that I’m about to rave over my resort’s restrooms, which is where I’m presently dancing. But they’re such a joyous discovery – with their sea-dappled walls, wacky music, whales’ tails, photo booth, and life-sized pictures of Kate Moss-style mermaids – they represent to me the beginning of a love affair. Not with the guy that I bumped into and jived and joked with, but with LUX South Ari Atoll, a resort which – although this sounds well nigh impossible – offers more than just the Maldives.

But I’ll come back to that later.

The Maldives is a chain of 26 atolls, 700km south-west of Sri Lanka. The southern isles include Hulhule, home to the international airport in the capital, Male, and Dhidhoofinolhu, where you’ll find LUX South Ari Atoll.

As we approach by seaplane, the view is stunning: palm-covered islands, each with a cyan-blue halo, float like lily pads on a sapphire sea.

Wednesday 30th November 2016

Our pilot, wearing flip-flops, brings us down. We glide to a halt across the glassy water. At the jetty, staff wave at us and shout ‘Welcome’.

Within minutes I feel like a glamorous castaway. Our villa, with its palm thatch and courtyard pool, opens on to a powdery, milk-white beach; two loungers, framed by coconut trees, face the ocean.

My husband and I go for a dip, enjoy a rose-pink sunset and watch the night sky flood with stars.

The next morning we’re sitting, in ‘THE BIGGEST SMILE’ Dhoni fishing boats take you to see the whale sharks

dazzling sunshine, on the roof of a dhoni, a traditional Maldivian fishing boat, scanning the sea for shadows; I seem to spot them everywhere.

But Tina, LUX South Ari Atoll’s marine biologist, knows what to look for – a shape she describes as belonging to ‘the biggest smile in the ocean’.

We’re searching for (harmless) whale sharks, the largest fish in the world; the biggest recorded is 12.65m long and 21.5tons. White Sands Reef, just minutes from our resort, is one of best places to

‘The little touches excite me most – the thatch-roofed phone box that invites you to call home free of charge’

find them. Incredibly, we’re in luck...

“He’s coming towards us!” Tina shouts.

“Quick! Get in!” We grab our fins and jump into the sea.

Moments later, a flattened head emerges from the shadows. You can’t miss the colossal ‘smile’.

The shark’s 4m long, a juvenile. I swim beside it for quite a few minutes, keeping my distance, but close enough to feel part of its world. The spotted giant cruises against the current, sweeping the water for food. Then it disappears, ghost-like, back into the deep.

Another day, while snorkelling, I spot a green turtle diving below. Its patterned shell glints in the sunlight, as if a huge emerald has been lost at sea.

Where the reef drops away, I come across parrotfish, powder blue surgeonfish and a shoal of black and white pennant coralfish that sink and rise with the waves.

I hold my breath and notice munching sounds; it’s a lilac and lime parrotfish, nibbling at dead coral as it cleans the reef.

Occasionally it excretes a cloud of sand.

“Kids love it when I tell them they’re walking on parrotfish poop,” Tina says as we return to the shore.

TRAVEL 

BASKET CASE ‘Within minutes I feel like a glamorous castaway’

LUX South Ari Atoll is one of the largest resort islands in the Maldives, at almost 2km long. A sandy lane runs the length of it, through palms and frangipani flowers.

Beachside restaurants, bars and pools are hidden in the trees.

At one end is the lagoon, the crystal clear water lined with brightly coloured bean bags. We sit at the bar, a smart take on a laidback surf-shack, and listen to reggae with a bottle of rosé from the resort’s exclusive Scrucap selection.

A glance at the menu tempts us to try something. We delight in a salmon and red snapper carpaccio and the freshest tuna tartare we’ve tasted.

Everyone we chat to comments on the food; it is, without doubt, superb. At East Market, an Asian market-style buffet built over the water, we wander among sacks of rice and baskets of beans to stalls of

‘Everyone we chat to comments on the food. It is, without doubt, superb. The fish curry is as fresh as the breeze that wafts in from the sea’

steaming dim sum and cook-to-order curries and stir fries.

A joke with chef Pong leads to my husband cooking his own Thai green curry, ladling in coconut milk and flavouring it with fresh lemongrass. Pong, very generously, proclaims it’s ‘the best he’s ever tried’.

On the sunset side of the island is Beach Rouge, with a beach club vibe, white furniture and red cushions. My twice-cooked octopus is so tasty, I choose it again during our stay, while the kulhimas (traditional fish curry) served on the terrace at the Senses restaurant is as fresh as the breeze that wafts in from the sea.

But it’s the resort’s little touches that excite me most, adding fun, flair and an element of surprise to this sunny island hideaway.

There’s the red, thatch-roofed phone box which invites you to phone home free of charge; the wooden carts in little clearings offering fresh coconut and bottled water; Sanih’s ice-cream parlour with its home-made waffle cones; the open air cinema (where my husband, in jest, asks for popcorn, and the reply is ‘Certainly, sir’); and the cups of rich, island-roasted coffee with whale sharks patterning the foam.

And then there’s the giant banyan tree which, in a nod to local custom (and to encourage donations for community projects), is the resort’s Tree of Wishes.

Red ribbons flutter from its branches.

On each of them, a guest has written their heart’s desire: ‘I wish I was a fairy princess’, ‘I wish to be a marine biologist’

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and ‘We wish for lovely memories of the Maldives’ they declare.

We spend our last two days in an extremely stylish overwater villa, with a nautical feel, a private pool and steps leading into the lagoon.

It’s the perfect place for lingering; there again, so is the spa. We go for a couple’s massage but within seconds, my husband’s asleep.

I leave him snoozing and slip into the pool. The sky turns peach, the sand glows gold and the hum of the departing seaplane reminds me we’ll be on it tomorrow. But for now, my wish is to wallow in paradise.

They say that the whale shark has the biggest smile in the Maldives – me, I’m not so sure.

WAVE GOODBYE Transfers by sea plane are provided

Wednesday 30th November 2016

88  ADVERTISING FEATURE

A happy workplace for all Finding the right space for you and your employees has been acknowledged as a key way to get the most out of a business. With quality office space coming at ever higher prices, hiring work areas from shared business spaces like The Southborough Centre is becoming an increasingly popular option. We speak to owner and director Michael Churchward about how his new enterprise is helping both companies and the community important to simply feel happy in your workplace.

We make sure we address this by offering office spaces to fit client requirements. Our adaptable workspaces mean you can get the perfect office size, for the right price, with no hidden cost.

WHAT SPACES/SERVICES DO YOU OFFER AND HOW ARE THE COSTS BROKEN DOWN? We offer office space from two to 16 desks, which includes furniture, broadband, CCTV, and free parking. The Southborough Centre also boasts free onsite parking. But it’s not only what it’s got that makes the centre so special, it’s also what we’ve not got. There are no rates or hidden extras to pay, there’s none of the hustle and bustle of central Tunbridge Wells, and best of all, there are no parking meters – there’s even a free car park at the end of Draper Street on Pennington Road.

BRIDGING THE GAP: Michael with his happy tenants TELL US A LITTLE OF THE HISTORY OF THE SOUTHBOROUGH CENTRE AND HOW YOU GOT INTO THE BUSINESS It evolved from our construction business, as our experience there led us to realise there was a gap in the market for local serviced offices. Following discussions with our architect and planners, we obtained permission. The overview was to retain the Victorian façade and feel, but fit-out the interior to a modern standard, with break-out areas, meeting rooms and in-house technical support.

WHY CHOOSE SOUTHBOROUGH? Not only is it the perfect location with regard to convenience – we have access to the A21

Wednesday 30th November 2016

(leading to the M25), Tonbridge station, and of course Tunbridge Wells – but there are great local facilities as well. We are in a thriving area – adjacent to Pennington Park with tennis courts, external gym equipment and restaurants and hotels. It’s such a vibrant area, and it matches the atmosphere that we strive for in our offices.

IS THIS A SIGN THAT SOUTHBOROUGH IS DEVELOPING AND BECOMING A HUB FOR LOCAL BUSINESS? Southborough has become the perfect location for many businesses! Saying that, it’s vital to us that we, as a business, play an active part in the sustaining of the local community.

We encourage sustainable local transport schemes such as car-sharing and cycle paths, and subscribe to the local council’s Green Travel Plan. The area is constantly evolving, and we intend to play as much a part in that as we can.

ONCE A CLIENT DECIDES TO HIRE OFFICE SPACE, OR HOT-DESK, WHAT CRITERIA SHOULD THEY BE LOOKING FOR TO FIND A LOCATION THAT’S RIGHT FOR THEIR NEEDS? The client should expect a professional office environment, which is welcoming, well maintained, with technical support to allow the client to focus on their business. After all, the environment in which you work is crucial with regard to productivity, and it’s equally as

WHAT CLIENT DEMOGRAPHIC DO YOU TYPICALLY CATER FOR? Our client base includes a vast range of local, European and international companies. We provide standard offices for one to ten workstations and can often provide larger bespoke open-plan spaces, meaning we can cater for any kind of client demographic.

All our offices are light and airy, well decorated and come fully equipped to a standard we believe is ideal for any client.

Telephone lines are installed, with broadband ready. We also have a large meeting and training room, which seats up to 12, meaning larger companies are catered for as well.

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF HIRING OFFICE SPACE OR HOT-DESKING COMPARED TO THE ALTERNATIVES, INCLUDING WORKING FROM HOME? In my experience, I’ve found that for many people working from home puts such a strain on domestic life.

ADVERTISING FEATURE 

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‘Obviously, our technology is fully modernised, with the centre being fully serviced with fibre broadband, an onsite administrator and support from nearby shops, pubs, restaurants and sports facilities’

THRIVING Owner and director, Michael Churchward

As a provider of serviced offices, we like to hope we fill the gap between home and conventional office space, which is often tied into a long-term lease. Our terms are simple and give the client the option of three months’ notice to leave if they wish. Everything is relaxed in the way you would perhaps desire at home, yet without the distractions of home.

It’s always good to separate the two, that way you can enjoy them both separately and enjoy coming to a designated area to work.

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE THE INTERIOR AND VIBE OF THE SPACE? Vibrant and friendly. As a converted Victorian warehouse, The Southborough Centre comes with the original character of its own history. Modern work spaces have been sympathetically created within the warehouse walls to draw upon this natural vibe – it’s a beautiful juxtaposition between the old and the new.

Obviously, our technology is fully modernised, with the centre being fully serviced with fibre

broadband, an onsite administrator and support from nearby shops, pubs, restaurants and sports facilities, but it’s nice to have that charming contrast of the classic building we are residing in.

WHAT DOES THE FUTURE HOLD FOR SOUTHBOROUGH CENTRE? We are always looking forward to expanding our serviced office operations, and learning from the feedback of our clients – there are always

ways for any business to improve, and we are excited by the future and what we can do.

DESCRIBE THE SOUTHBOROUGH CENTRE IN FIVE WORDS: A great place to work!

The Southborough Centre, The Warehouse, No. 1 Draper Street, Southborough, TN4 0PG www.southboroughcentre.co.uk

KEEPING BUSY An example of the space available

Wednesday 30th November 2016

LIFE AND STYLE 

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HAMPTONS INTERNATIONAL PARTNERS WITH MICRO SCOOTERS FOR FREE FESTIVE GIVE-AWAY Hamptons International has teamed up with the iconic and award winning Micro Scooters for a seasonal give-away this Christmas. Each of Hamptons International’s 96 branches across London and the South of the UK will give away a Mini Micro Scooter and a matching helmet and bell to a lucky local winner. The iconic Mini Micro scooter is designed for children between the ages of two and five and gives children and their families an easy, fun and convenient way to move around. The competition is aimed at local residents, school and nursery children within this age group.

To be in with a chance of winning, entrants will decorate a Hamptons International designed ‘Santa Stop Here’ sign which should be picked up in branch, and placed in their homes in time for Santa’s arrival on Christmas morning. Entrants must tweet, email or drop off a picture of their personalised ‘Santa Stop Here’ sign to their local Hamptons International branch for a chance to win. All entries must be received by 6pm on Friday 13 January when the winner of the competition will be selected and announced by Andrew Farmer, Branch Manager at Hamptons International in Tunbridge Wells.

Andrew Farmer, Manager of Hamptons International in Tunbridge Wells says: “Micro Scooters are an iconic and award winning brand loved by families all over the country and we are delighted to team up with them to launch this fantastic give-away over the festive period. Anyone who wants to be in with a chance of winning pop into the branch and pick up a ‘Santa Stop Here’ sign.

Then all that is left to do is get creative with colouring pencils, sticky-tape and glitter and share on social media or email us a photo of the creation. Good luck to everyone that enters and I look forward to announcing the winner on the 13th January.”

Alison Jackson, Direct Marketing Manager of Micro Scooters says: “We are delighted to be working with Hamptons and are thrilled we can offer a prize that will enable families all over the UK to get out and about together to create long lasting experiences. We wish everyone taking part the very best of luck and can’t wait to see the entries from the many talented children out there.”

For those who already have a Micro Scooter, Hamptons International is offering a limited number of free Hamptons International branded scooter leads in every branch.

Please visit your local branch for more information.

HEVER CASTLE Hever Castle offers 28 luxury bedrooms in the Astor Wing and the Anne Boleyn Wing, both Edwardian Wings created by William Waldorf Astor, designed in Tudor style.

Across the portfolio of rooms, you will find an abundance of rich fabrics, crisp linens and panelled walls, with perhaps a golden chaise longue or a glimpse of the Castle through leaded windows.

CRAFTED IN SUSSEX WITH LOVE Crafted In Sussex’s designer started to collect vintage fabrics in the late 1960's. Whilst pursuing a life-long interest in design, she carried out extensive research into the clothes and jewellery of the Tudor era.

In paintings from this period, she found several examples of jewelencrusted pomanders. One, a gold and pearl sphere, had been dredged from the river Thames at Hampton Court. It is believed to have belonged to Queen Elizabeth I and became the inspiration for the first Christmas decoration design.

These decorations are made from a blend of vintage and contemporary fabrics, lustered threads, pearls, diamante, beads, ribbons and braids. Many of these handmade elements have been crocheted to form the 'metallic' end pieces and bosses.

The costumes of the Tudor period continue to influence the designs, whilst later historic architectural periods will provide the future source for further decorative details and designs.

How to Enter This competition is aimed at children aged 2-5 years old.

Simply take a picture of your child’s decorated Santa Stop Here sign and send it to us via Twitter by 6pm on Friday 13th January using the following tag: #HamptonsMicro Not on Twitter?

All bedrooms are en-suite and individually styled, with some offering four poster beds, roll top baths or walk in showers. All rooms blend modern day comforts with antique furnishings and original features. The fine collection of bedrooms offers a selection of double rooms, twin rooms, single rooms and some rooms that are suitable for families with young children.

The Astor Wing offers a beautiful panelled lounge with deep sofas and a selection of books and magazines for guests to relax with during their stay. There’s also a rather splendid Billiards Room to be discovered. Guests who book an Anne Boleyn Wing bedroom will have access to the Astor Wing Lounge and Billiards Room on dates when there are no private events booked into the Astor Wing. The Anne Boleyn Wing enjoys its own beautiful Breakfast Room which is flooded with natural daylight and offers window seats looking out across the orchard to the castle.

Hever Rd, Hever, Edenbridge TN8 7NG 01732 865224 info@hevercastle.co.uk www.hevercastle.co.uk

www.etsy.com/uk/shop/ craftedinsussex www.facebook.com/Crafted-InSussex

Please, either email your entry to tunbridgewells@hamptons-int.com or bring your sign into branch between Tuesday 3rd January and Friday 13th January 18-20 London Road, TunbridgeWells, Kent TN1 1DA

Win a Mini Micro Scooter This Christmas, we’ve teamed up with Micro Scooters to giveaway a very cool and stylish Mini Micro Scooter, plus a coordinating helmet and bell (suitable for ages 2- 5 years old).

Pop inside to pick up your Santa Stop Here sign to decorate, for your chance to win. All entries must be received by 6pm on Friday 13th January.

Actual prize colour may vary

hamptons.co.uk Terms and conditions apply

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Wednesday 30th November 2016

WITH THE

92  MOTORING NEWS

OF TUNBRIDGE WELLS AND TONBRIDGE

THE TOWN’S TOP MOTORING GUIDE FROM E V E R Y D AY D R I V E S T O LU XU RY SU P E R C A R S

UK DRIVE

Dacia Duster Laureate TCe 125

By Simon Davis WHAT’S NEW? Since its launch back in 2010, the Dacia Duster has been making something of a name for itself as a bargain basement compact SUV. For the 2017 model year, the Romanian manufacturer has added a new top-of-the-line trim level – known as Prestige – as well as the new 1.2-litre, turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine, which we tested on our midrange Laureate-specification car.

LOOKS AND IMAGE The Dacia Duster has always been an incredibly utilitarian-looking car. Its no-nonsense exterior is completely devoid of any chintzy detailing or over-the-top styling cues. While this might sound like a recipe for a rather dull-looking car, in reality the opposite carries more sway.

The Duster is a rather handsome thing, and a handful of very subtle updates on the 2017 model, such as squarer headlights and a revised front bumper, help keep the car looking fresh. Dacia has also introduced a number of optional styling features to the Duster range that will allow customers to add

that little bit extra to their vehicle. These include new 16-inch Tyrol alloys, a Pennine Green paint scheme and part-leather upholstery.

Moving into the cabin, the spartan approach to styling continues. All of the surfaces are either plastic or soft-touch plastic, but then you wouldn’t really expect luxurious materials in a car that costs as little as £9,495. The Duster isn’t the last word in build quality either, but the cabin’s rough and ready surfaces should be able to stand up to most of the abuse family life can throw at them.

So, while the Duster is by no means a car that has been built for posing and posturing, its unaspirational, no-frills nature has always been one of its more endearing features.

SPACE AND PRACTICALITY When you boil it down, the Dacia Duster really does offer all the space that an average-sized family really needs. There are five seats, plenty of headroom, a decent amount of legroom in the back and a 475-litre boot. With the rear seats folded down, cargo space in the boot is increased to 1,636 litres. And thanks to a low boot lip, loading and unloading those heavier items from the Duster is made that much easier.

Children will find the three rear seats more than comfortable enough over those longer journeys. Two adults won’t have a problem sitting in the back of the Duster either, though a middle seat occupant might start to get uncomfortable after a while.

BEHIND THE WHEEL Surprisingly for a car that is so basic, the Duster composes itself rather well on the road. Sure, it has heavy steering and the controls don’t feel great or provide a good level of feedback, yet through the corners there isn’t a huge amount of lean, and its handling feels predictable. It rides well over lumps and bumps and is comfortable enough at motorway speeds.

Our test vehicle was fitted with the new 1.2-litre TCe 125 petrol engine, which is good for 123bhp. While the free-revving unit had plenty of grunt to get you up to speed in a fashionable manner, we couldn’t help but feel that a diesel engine would suit the Dacia’s character better.

While it is more expensive to buy, it will cost less to run in the long term.

FACTS AT A GLANCE MODEL: Dacia Duster Laureate TCe 125 4√ó4 ENGINE: 1.2-litre, turbocharged four-cylinder petrol producing 123bhp and 205Nm of torque TRANSMISSION: Six-speed manual with selectable four-wheel drive PERFORMANCE: 0-62mph in 11 seconds, 110mph top speed ECONOMY: 44.1mpg EMISSIONS: 145g/km ON THE ROAD PRICE: £14,895

VALUE FOR MONEY If all you’re after is a means of getting from A to B, the Duster really is hard to beat. It’s incredibly basic, not terribly well-equipped and by no means the most exciting car to drive, but it does the job of being a ‘car’ rather well. It’s far cheaper than alternatives such as a Nissan Qashqai or SsangYong Tivoli, and with a diesel engine, it won’t be too expensive to run either.

WHO WOULD BUY ONE? If you can get over the fact that the Duster carries no badge prestige whatsoever, then it makes for quite a rational purchase. It’s cheap, comfortable enough, comes with a decent amount of boot and interior space, and with the right engine and transmission combination, it won’t be too expensive to run. Families looking for a robust workhorse for the school run, dashing to the shops or even long-distance travelling will find the Duster an appealing proposition.

NO NONSENSE The Duster’s exterior has had some subtle updates to keep it looking fresh

‘If all you’re after is a means of getting from A to B, the Duster really is hard to beat’ Wednesday 30th November 2016

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Numbers are substituted for letters in the crossword grid. Above the grid is the key with two letters solved. Try to complete the first few words to give you more letters, or look for a frequent number that might reveal a common letter. As you find letters, enter them in the key and into the grid. Cross off the letters in the A to Z list.

Wednesday 30th November 2016

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S M F T

To complete Sudoku, fill the board by entering numbers 1 to 9 so that each row, column and 3x3 box contains every number uniquely.

5 8 2 4 5 3 7 1 1 7 2 4 3 8 6 4 9 4 7 5

In this Sudoku, the normal 3x3 boxes are now strangely odd shapes – but all the rules and logic of normal Sudoku apply.

Fill the board by entering numbers 1 to 9 so that each row, column and box contains every number uniquely.

Puzzle solutions will be published in next week’s paper

D A T A B A S E

W L E F A R I L A I O I R T I N E Z E E A I R E S T P R S A S E P E R C B Q U A L A U G R A I V E L S R A S E E

A Q U R A D

Jigsaw Sudoku:

Sudoku:

4 9 3 2 8 1 5 7 6

2 7 1 5 4 6 8 3 9

6 8 5 9 7 3 2 4 1

N K U R I E C E L E V I E I X I E S J U R Y O A H T E R N L N C I D Y S

5 1 8 3 2 9 4 6 7

3 6 2 7 5 4 1 9 8

7 4 9 6 1 8 3 5 2

9 5 6 1 3 2 7 8 4

8 2 7 4 9 5 6 1 3

1 3 4 8 6 7 9 2 5

2 6 5 7 3 9 1 8 4

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1 5 3 2 8 6 9 4 7

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3 7 9 1 4 8 5 6 2

6 9 7 3 1 5 4 2 8

5 1 8 9 2 4 3 7 6

© 2016 Syndicated Puzzles

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© 2016 Syndicated Puzzles

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DIFFICULTY RATING:

CODEWORD

96 n RECRUITMENT

WITH THE

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

OF TUNBRIDGE WELLS AND TONBRIDGE

Fill your vacancy now in print or online.

For more information contact Jordanne Reville on 01892 576049

Wednesday 30th November 2016

RECRUITMENT n

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FOR MORE INFORMATION OR TO PLACE AN ADVERT CONTACT OUR SALES DEPARTMENT ON 01892 779624

Wednesday 30th November 2016

98 n ARTS & CULTURE

The portrait artist who is making a true art form out of a personal dream He may be a kitchen fitter by trade, but Ross Lockhart’s love of drawing looks set to eclipse the day job, given that he has been shortlisted for a top artistic prize and is entering his work into the revered BP Portrait prize for 2017. Eileen Leahy chats to him and discovers how he juggles his passion for art with the world of Agas TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOUR ARTISTIC WORK… It focuses on people. Strictly speaking, I guess I’d be classified as a portraiture artist with some emphasis on the human form.

Although those that know me would say the female form dominates most of my work, and I wouldn’t disagree with that. It has been inspiration for artists for millennia, and for me it holds no less power.

WHICH MATERIALS DO YOU WORK WITH? Charcoal is my ‘first love’, and is a medium I always come back to as it is both challenging to use but equally forgiving. I do like to mix

Wednesday 30th November 2016

things up, though, and enjoy working with other ‘dry’ mediums, such as pastel and pencils and also oil paint, collage and soft pastel, often on the same piece.

I really enjoy texture in art.

‘It has this intangible power to seduce, inspire, challenge and reflect’ ARE YOU FORMALLY TRAINED? Sadly not. I first picked up a stick of charcoal about five years ago. I was working in medical insurance at the time and would sit on my bed in the evenings practising portrait after portrait. When each

piece became considerably better than the last one, it quickly became my passion!

YOU’RE CLEARLY IN POSSESSION OF A NATURAL ARTIST TALENT, THEN? I used to doodle a lot at school, but never had it occurred to me to dedicate any serious time to fine art. The college I went to for A levels did not have the facilities to offer Art as a subject, so I studied History of Art instead. This gave me a solid understanding of process and technique, which is much more than a fine art degree would have offered.

WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT ART SO MUCH? It has this intangible power to seduce, inspire, challenge and reflect. It can elevate our thoughts beyond the daily doldrums of life and test to a point where we are forced to reconsider things we might have previously taken for granted.

I remember, seeing Da Vinci’s cartoon of the Madonna with Child when I was 15. I think it was at the V&A, and I remember feeling enchanted by the work. The artist clearly never intended the piece to be viewed as it was, but in that unfinished and unpolished work there was a charm that sticks with me today. That’s what I love about art, the power to connect with the

ARTS & CULTURE 

films and magazines to social networking: We live in the age of the selfie. It is that basic need to communicate through expression and the conversation between the viewed and the viewer that really inspires me. This isn’t a new thing, though. Just how long has Da Vinci’s Mona Lisa puzzled people with her ambiguous smile?

‘Every face tells a story and every story has an audience. I am very inspired at just how powerful the human expression can be’

HAVE YOU HAD ANY EXHIBITIONS BEFORE? IF SO, WHERE? There was a period, when I first met my wife Jessica, when I was continually exhibiting for the best part of three years. Most shows were held locally in Tunbridge Wells, but I have shown a few pieces in Scotland, too.

I took a sabbatical for 12 months to build my portfolio as I was selling much of what I exhibited and struggled to build a body of work.

I am not complaining at all, but when you want to exhibit in several places at once, you really need a large portfolio! My wife has been great: Her support and encouragement has been vital to me getting my work out there and in the public eye.

Ross Lockhart Fine Artist

viewer on such a fundamental and profound level. Of course, it is different for everyone, but that is its magic for me.

HOW MUCH TIME DO YOU SPEND ON IT? As much as I can: I still have so much to learn and explore. They say it takes at least ten years to master a craft, but you can spend a lifetime on anything and still learn new things. Staying open-minded is key. My inner critic keeps me challenged daily and won’t let me rest on my laurels. The quest to always improve is at the forefront of what I do. My only regret is that I cannot spend more time on my art.

TELL US ABOUT YOUR OTHER WORK… I have a day job as a kitchen installer, and have had a very diverse vocational history over the years; from professional wood turner to sommelier, with many things in between. I work with a friend and we fit a kitchen a week, sometimes two when we must. It’s a very physical job but I enjoy working with my hands. There is a lot of problem-solving involved – much like with my art.

It’s the challenge that I enjoy, plus it is lovely to work in people’s homes and to transform their living space. For me the kitchen is the most important room in the house (apart from my studio!) I love to cook!

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HOW DO YOU FIT YOUR ART IN AROUND WORKING FULL-TIME? I cannot lie, it is difficult to dedicate as much time as I want to the art but like all things, if you want to see it happen you just must find the time. Most days all you want to do is soak in hot bath and have a hearty meal after a hard day’s work, but if I don’t push myself and steal an hour or two to work on a piece I know it will never get done.

WHICH OTHER ARTISTS INSPIRE YOU? Well, that is like asking ‘what is your favourite music?’! Due to my History of Art background, I must confess that I am a classicist at heart.

I feel that there is a huge lack of beauty in much modern art. It seems to have lost its love for the aesthetic aspect. In recent years, the focus has been to shock and challenge audiences. I must have viewed it a thousand times, but Botticelli’s

Birth of Venus is still one of the most beautiful pieces I have ever seen.

There are some great contemporary British artists that are fighting to put the beauty back in art. Two artists I would love to buy a pint for are Mark Demsteader and Guy Denning – their work is both contemporary, relevant and beautiful.

WHAT ELSE INSPIRES YOUR WORK? People: Every face tells a story and every story has an audience. I am very inspired at just how powerful the human expression can be. From year dot, we look at the faces of our parents, long before our grasp of language, and we look at them for acceptance, encouragement, sympathy and guidance. As children, a smile can secure us and a frown can make us cry.

I don’t think we ever lose that.

Just look at modern media these days, from

WHAT’S NEXT FOR ROSS LOCKHART? A lot of hard work. Of course, I want to be doing the art full-time and that is what I have been working towards for some time now. I will be entering the BP portrait awards for 2017. There are a few other opportunities I have an eye on, too.

These are exciting times. I am not looking to be the next big thing, it’s just nice to be involved. If any of my paintings can inspire someone the same way Da Vinci’s Cartoon of the Madonna with Child inspired me, then it makes it all worthwhile.

I guess you just have to ‘watch this space’.

Ross’s latest show, ‘Prohibition’, has its exclusive preview on December 7 at 7pm at the Vale Vault, 2 High Street, Tunbridge Wells, 01892 510133 www.thebedfordtw.co.uk/vale-vault

Wednesday 30th November 2016

100  WHAT’S ON SEVEN DAYS OF SOCIAL ACTIVITIES AT A GLANCE

WHATS ON

Eileen Leahy

WITH THE

Local events >> WEDNESDAY Guys and Dolls continues its run at the Assembly Hall all this week until Saturday. Staged by the Tunbridge Wells Operatic and Dramatic Society (TWODS), it’s one of Broadway’s most famous musicals, and follows the story of Nathan Detroit as he desperately tries to find money for an illegal dice game and appease his fiancée of 14 years – nightclub singer Miss Adelaide – whose patience is finally running out… Tickets cost from £15.50 per adult and shows start at 7.30pm, with a matinee on Wednesday and Saturday at 2.30pm. See www.assemblyhalltheatre.co.uk Another local group of actors, Groombridge Amateur Dramatic Society (GADS), is treading the boards all week at its village hall with the wittily titled Omelette: Prince of Danish. Penned by Mel Byford and Oliver Hulme, it’s a hilarious and clever cross between a traditional panto and Shakespeare’s Hamlet which needs to be seen to be believed.

Tickets cost £9 per person and performances are daily at 7.30pm, with a special matinee at 2pm on Saturday. See www.groombridgetheatre.co.uk

OUT OF THIS WORLD David Bowie stars at Trinity Theatre

>> THURSDAY The brilliantly named Keep Calm and Coppice On event takes place at Grosvenor and Hilbert Park today in the Roundabout Woods area from 10am ’til 3pm. Volunteers are needed to help out with the annual hazel coppicing as well as cutting poles and binders for winter hedge laying. For more information visit www.explorekent.org The sci-fi classic The Man Who Fell To Earth, which launched David Bowie’s acting career in the 1970s, is being screened at Trinity Theatre this evening from 8pm. Directed by Nicolas Roeg in 1976, it tells the story of an alien (played by Bowie) who comes to Earth in search of water in order to save his droughtridden home planet, but whilst here he falls in love and also gets intercepted by the US government…

Tickets cost from £9.50. See www.trinitytheatre.net The ice rink in Calverley Grounds is in full swing now, so if you haven’t been yet then make sure you pop along as it’ll certainly get you into the festive spirit! Thursday evenings are a particularly good

time to visit as there are live musical performances happening courtesy of The Forum. Tonight, they present Young Apollo, Wax and The Breretons as your sonic accompaniment while you glide on the ice.

There’s nothing like a festive film to give you that warm seasonal glow, and The Spa Hotel is getting into the spirit of things this evening by screening The Holiday – a modern-day Christmas classic starring Cameron Diaz, Kate Winslet, Jude Law and Jack Black which sees the female leads houseswapping in the UK and US and falling for local lads Law and Black respectively. But will their holiday romances go the distance? Go along from 6pm to find out. Tickets cost £15 per person and include a glass of mulled wine and mince pie on arrival. >> FRIDAY The annual Penshurst Christmas Market takes place today and tomorrow, and is a seasonal shopper’s paradise thanks to its huge array of gorgeous gifts and gourmet offerings. There will also be performances from local choirs and entertainers and plenty of mulled wine and mince pies on offer, as well as a raffle which will raise funds for charity. Friday’s market runs from noon until 9pm, while Saturday’s is on from 9am until 3pm.

From Wednesday to Sunday each week until Christmas, Hever Castle is celebrating the history of pantomime in its Once Upon a Castle exhibition.

Visitors will have the opportunity to wander around Hever’s grand state rooms, which will be beautifully decorated and boast lots of interesting information on the tradition of panto.

There will also be a snowy Christmas trail to follow, where the story of Jack and the Beanstalk will unfold with the help of fairy-tale characters and props. Seasonal bites will also be on offer, as well as a good selection of gift ideas. See www.hevercastle.co.uk At 7.30pm, there will be a talk by June Bridgeman at St Mark’s Church Hall entitled Upwardly Mobile: Victorian Broadwater Down. It focuses on the area that is the ‘long crescent of handsome mansions’ and looks at the lives and aspirations of some of Broadwater Down’s earliest residents.

All weekend, the Moonlight Drive-in Cinema will be showing Bad Santa 2 at the Hop Farm. Featuring Billy Bob Thornton once again as the whiskyswigging Willy Soke, it’s another seasonal serving of goodwill overcoming bad – despite Soke’s best efforts to be a criminal. Tickets cost £25 per car and screenings are at 6.30 and 9pm until Sunday.

See www.moonlightcinema.com If you’re not quite ready to embrace the festive spirit just yet, then how about spending an evening with Rich Hall? The Radio 4 star will be in conversation at Trinity Theatre this evening from 8pm, showcasing his trademark acerbic – and occasionally lampooning – droll sense of humour.

ONCE UPON A CASTLE Hever is getting in the festive mood

Wednesday 30th November 2016

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

PICK OF THE WEEK Christmas Elfxtravaganza

>> SATURDAY The Exposure exhibition kicks off today at Tonbridge School and promises a wealth of inspiring and intriguing photographic work to view and buy. The show is put together by PAP – the school’s Parents’ Arts Photographers Group – and is in aid of the Scotts Project Trust, a local charity which helps those with learning disabilities.

Entrance is free and runs every weekend until Christmas.

Groombridge Place’s Christmas The Royal Tunbridge Wells Elfxtravaganza starts this weekend and Orpheus Male Voice Choir happens every weekend in the lead up to start Burrswood’s Christmas, as well as every day the week Christmas celebrations before December 25 from 10am to 4pm. with a heartwarming concert of Children will enjoy dropping in on the Christmas music old and new Elves Craft Workshop, where they’ll have this evening from 7.30pm. the chance to decorate their very own Tickets cost £12.50, but gingerbread, or popping into Santa’s seniors and children pay grotto. There will also be a treasure hunt and £7.50. The event will be an opportunity to write letters to Father held in Burrswood’s Christmas. Ticket prices are £12.95 for adults church of Christ and £8.95 for children. A family ticket the Healer. For (2 adults, 2 children) costs £39.95. more details, See www.groombridgeplace.com RICH PICKINGS or to book for further details.

See Rich Hall at Trinity tickets, telephone 01892 865987 or The curtain goes up at the Opera House in email: events@burrswood.org.uk Tunbridge Wells at 7.45pm for its seasonal variety Hospice in the Weald hold their annual Light up show Christmas With The Dad Pack. Put on with the a Life service at 5.30pm. It is a time for reflection, support of the Assembly Hall, the local Dad Pack when this community gathers together to will be singing popular numbers from the great remember their loved ones and celebrate them.

American songbook. Also taking place during this As well as sharing memories and hearing the choir fun evening will be a medley of magic, comedy and sing, individuals will have a chance to light a dance performances. Tickets cost £20 in the circle candle in memory of family and friends. For more or £27 in the stalls, which include supper. All information visit www.hospiceintheweald.org.uk proceeds go to the Mayor’s charity, Beat, which aims to help those with eating disorders. Tickets >> SUNDAY from www.assemblyhalltheatre.co.uk From 3pm, the Royal Tunbridge Wells Symphony Orchestra perform their December concert at the >> TUESDAY Assembly Hall. The audience will be treated to a Father Christmas will be at the Hop Farm every day variety of extracts from popular operas, including until December 23 – when he will obviously have La Bohème, The Barber of Seville and The Magic to leave in order to get on with the business of Flute. Roderick Dunk conducts, with special solo delivering all those Christmas presents! If you’d performances by Susana Gaspar, Jean Rigby, Jung like to pay him a visit in his magical grotto before Soo Yun and Richard Morrison. Tickets cost from he disappears off to Lapland, then head over to £17 and are available at the Assembly Hall box Paddock Wood. Tickets cost £10 per child, £2 per office www.assemblyhalltheatre.co.uk adult and under 1s go free. For more information Every weekend until December 18, a special visit www.thehopfarm.co.uk Spa Valley Santa train will be operating from Eridge station to transport excited little ones over to Tunbridge Wells West. Visitors will be STEAMING AHEAD greeted by the Yuletide scene of chestnuts All aboard the roasting on an open fire before having their Santa train faces painted with snowflakes, snowmen or Christmas trees. As the train courses through the frost-rimmed countryside, Santa will make his way to each child and present them with a gift. For further details visit www.spavalleyrailway.co.uk >> MONDAY If you fancy getting involved in some conservation work, then make sure you join the Engagement Team over at Hilbert Woods from 10am in order to participate in their International Volunteer Day. This gives people the opportunity to try their hand at helping out with some horticulture, and also learn about the history of Grosvenor and Hilbert Park. A fire-cooked lunch will be provided and suitable clothing, including a waterproof jacket, is required. If you’d like to attend, please email Steff D’Agorne at steff.dagorne@tunbridgewells.gov.uk or call 07917 643961.

WHAT’S ON 

101

A ROUND-UP OF THIS WEEK’S MUSICAL HIGHLIGHTS

Paul Dunton

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

Live music

For a midweek outing, I recommend local hip hop artist Lee Willz at The Grey Lady on Wednesday night, with support from Dale Chapman, Ryan Weeks and Frankie Swaine. Also, The Forum Winter Sessions at Calverley Grounds ice rink are underway now every Thursday night.

On Friday, jazz fans can see Keith Nichol’s Hot Five at the Masonic Centre. For blues lovers, Dust Me Down Blues are at The Cross Keys. If you’re into pop and rock, then the excellent Soul Hounds will be at Cassidy’s Bar, Sean Fennessey and friends are at The King William, Pembury, and The Gallerys are hosting a rocking Christmas party in The Sussex Arms, and will be joined on the bill by Paul Crisp and Spinner.

On Saturday night there are plenty of reasons to put on your dancing shoes, with superb local acts Lost Indecision at The Royal Oak, BADFLYS at The Bedford, Red Rooster at The Beau Nash, and don’t forget The Bay Rays are headlining at The Forum, with support from Ladybird, Havelock and Artificial Pleasure.

THE TUNBRIDGE WELLS FORUM

THE BEDFORD

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

2 High Street Open all day, free entry, music from 8.30pm onwards

THURSDAY The Forum Winter Sessions at Calverley Grounds Ice Rink: Young Apollo, Wax and The Breretons SATURDAY The Bay Rays, Ladybird, Havelock and Artificial Pleasure TUESDAY Music Industry Workshop: with Damian Keyes WEDNESDAY Word Up! Lucas Howard and Jess Mookherjee, 2016 Slam Final

SATURDAY BADFLYS THE KING WILLIAM

Pembury Open all day, free entry, music from 8.30pm onwards

FRIDAY Sean Fennessey and friends THE BEAU NASH

Mount Ephraim. Open all day, free entry, music from 8.30pm till late

The Bay Rays

SATURDAY Red Rooster SUNDAY Open Mic THE SUSSEX ARMS

Sussex Mews (by The Pantiles) Open all day, free entry, music from 8.30pm till late

FRIDAY The Gallerys, Spinner and Paul Crisp VINYL REVOLUTION STORE

Camden Road Open all day, free entry, music from early evening onwards

To find out who is playing visit www.vinyl-revolution.co.uk THURSDAY In-store acoustic show

THE GREY LADY MUSIC LOUNGE

The Pantiles Doors 7.15pm, entry £6/£7, websites www.pdag.co.uk + www.thegreylady.co.uk

CASSIDY’S BAR

WEDNESDAY Frankie Swain, Dale Chapman, Ryan Weeks and Lee Willz FRIDAY Project 5 SATURDAY Into The Blue SUNDAY Hamish Donald, The Lazy Sundays, Alice Rose and Dan Clews TUESDAY John Forrester and James McMaster WEDNESDAY Kachi All The Above and Cyrano THE MASONIC CENTRE

St John’s Road Information on times and tickets at www.twjazzclub.co.uk

FRIDAY TW Jazz Club: Keith Nichol’s Hot Five

Castle Street Open all day, free entry music from 8.30pm till late

FRIDAY Soul Hounds TONBRIDGE FOLK CLUB

Ye Olde Chequers Inn, 122 High Street, Tonbridge 8pm-11pm. Hat take (£7 recommended). More details at www.tonbridgefolkclub.org

MONDAY Emily Askew Band THE PUNCH & JUDY

11 St Stephen’s Street, Tonbridge Open all day, free entry, music from 8.30pm

TUESDAY Dave and Sophie

THE CROSS KEYS

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

FRIDAY Blues with Bottle Club: Dust Me Down Blues MONDAY TWUNTS: Ukulele Jam Session WEDNESDAY Sonny’s Jazz: Paul and The Nocasters THE ROYAL OAK

Prospect Road Open all day, free entry, music from early evening onwards

SATURDAY Lost Indecision MONDAY Open Mic Night

Young Apollo

Wednesday 30th November 2016

102  SPORTING TIMES

CONTACT US:

Last gasp Enfield equaliser denies Angels’ away hopes Enfield 1 Tonbridge Angels 1

By Jim Rowe FOOTBALL: AN INJURY time goal put paid to Tonbridge Angels’ hopes of a valuable away win.

Despite dominating most of the play, they were held to a frustrating draw on their travels for the second game in succession in the Ryman Premier.

Nicky Wheeler’s early cross caused confusion in the home defence, nearly resulting in an own goal.

After 10 minutes, another Wheeler cross was only partially defended and with the ball running out to Luke Blewden, the midfielder made no mistake with his shot from the edge of the area.

The game was a stalemate for most of the second half with neither side imposing themselves.

The Towners hit the base of the Angels right hand post on 75 minutes, but none of their players were able to follow up the rebound.

That gave hope to the home side and Tonbridge found themselves increasingly on the defensive.

And an Enfield corner deep in stoppage time was somehow bundled over the line by their skipper Mark Kirby for a deserved equaliser.

By Neill Barston FOOTBALL:

COLD COMFORT The West Kent ladies after their thrilling finale in Glasgow

Angels Manager Steve McKimm was critical of his side’s ‘inability to keep the ball and be brave and create chances’. He added: “That’s down to the players taking responsibility.”

TAKE THE LEAD Steve McKimm wants his players to take responsibility

Cray Valley strike halts second cup campaign inside a week Cray Valley 1 Tunbridge Wells 0

If you have a sports story or you would like to see your club’s reports and results featured in these pages…

the spectators, but we didn’t get the result we had hoped for.

“The team played with a lot of spirit, though we were without a couple of the squad including Luke Hackett, which meant I put myself on the bench and ended up getting some game time.

“We are back to focusing on the league now and we are playing Lordswood next, which will be a good game in which we’ll be aiming for three valuable points there.”

DESPITE Tunbridge Wells Manager Jason Bourne taking to the pitch himself, his team was unable to craft an away Kent Senior Trophy win over Cray Valley.

In a game of numerous chances for both sides, a single strike settled the matter.

Bourne praised the side’s efforts, KEEP OUT which had followed a tough week in Steve Lawrence acrobatically which they also exited in the league saves against Cray Valley cup, losing 3-1 to Holmesdale.

Though the side has endured patchy form in cup competitions, their league performance over the past few weeks has shown promising signs.

According to Bourne, they put in a creditable effort but had once again been affected by several of their players being unavailable.

Bourne said: “It was one of those games where there could have been a lot of goals, so it was a good one for

Anna’s championship dream shattered by agonising end to Dutch tie-breaker

By Neill Barston CURLING:

THE English Ladies’ curling team have spoken of their frustration at narrowly missing out on a place in the semi-final of the European Championships at Braehead in Scotland.

Anna Fowler, a former Tonbridge Grammar School pupil, admitted her dismay as the team, who all come from West Kent, came agonisingly close after the conclusion of the round-robin matches.

They faced a ‘tie-breaker’ showdown against the Netherlands for the last semifinal berth but were knocked out of the tournament when they lost 8-7 in Glasgow.

The team had faced a tough group in the B division, which

included Poland, Slovakia, Turkey and Hungary – with the latter winning the overall competition last weekend.

England finished in fifth place out of 10 competitors.

Anna, along with team-mate Angharad Ward, recorded their 100th appearances for England, which was unfortunately not to prove a lucky omen.

“We had an alright week, but we just couldn’t get into our groove,” said Anna, who explained that the team were especially disappointed having spent the past 12 months preparing for the biggest event of the year.

She added: “There were three teams who were tied on fourth place, so we ended up playing the Netherlands to go through to the semi-final.

“We had a few games where

we knew we just weren’t playing as well as we could, but there’s not much you can do about that when it happens.

“We worked hard in that final match, but it came down to the final couple of stones and it was gutting to lose 8-7.”

The 25-year-old player, who grew up in Tunbridge Wells, added that the team is due to take a break from competition before challenging once again for a coveted spot to represent England in 2017.

Anna’s brother Ben Fowler was also in action at the European Championships last week, but he also missed out on a place in the semi-finals.

However, he is soon to be reunited with his sister as they compete together in mixed doubles competition in Scotland.

Honours even as Bradbury shows off skills Allberry hat-trick lifts men to second spot Chelmsford 2nd XI 2 Tunbridge Wells Ladies 1st XI 2

By Brandon Begg HOCKEY: TUNBRIDGE WELLS Ladies had to dig deep to secure a draw at Chelmsford.

Starting in confident fashion, the visitors passed well round the back and utilised the team’s midfield speed.

The sides were equally matched until a short corner was adjudged against Tunbridge Wells. Chelmsford

slipped left and slotted the ball in the goal to open the scoring.

Wells Captain Jen Hunt’s short corner was slipped right to Amy Hare and she returned it neatly to Hunt, who outfoxed the opposition’s defence to equalise at half-time.

Wells opened the second half with fierce focus but an error led to a short corner for Chelmsford, who took advantage to take the lead 2-1.

The visitors battled on and

Wednesday 30th November 2016

Nelia Bekker picked the ball up in deep midfield, pinging it up to player of the match Becky Bradbury. She took it on the reverse and utilised some silky skills to round a Chelmsford defender and calmly slot home an impressive goal.

There was pressure from both sides as they tried to secure the three points. Wells had a short corner at the final whistle but could not find the backboard.

It was a well-deserved draw as the side look to secure their place in the table.

Holcombe 2nd XI 1 Tunbridge Wells Men’s 1st XI 5

By Brandon Begg HOCKEY: A DECISIVE victory for Tunbridge Wells Men’s 1st XI away to Holcombe lifted the team to second in the league.

Wells started slowly and allowed the home side to pile on the pressure but the game remained scoreless.

Player-coach Ben Allberry gave a stern half-time team talk in order to drum up some

composure, and the visitors began the second half, playing some fantastic passing hockey.

Several circle penetrations gave the visitors the lift they needed and they were soon awarded a short corner.

Allberry stepped up and dragflicked the ball past a flailing Holcombe keeper to put Wells in front. Two more short corners awarded in quick succession gave Allberry his hat-trick from perfectly placed drag-flicks.

Wells were now playing some lovely team hockey with lots of movement off the ball, and perfectly weighted and timed passes to sticks.

Callum Hunter-Wood and Jack Garwood bagged a goal each from some lovely teamwork.

Holcombe managed to score a goal right at the death to deny Tunbridge Wells a merited clean sheet. Allberry picked up the man of the match award and the three points puts Tunbridge Wells into second place in the table behind Maidstone.

…or on our website at www.timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk please email them to sport@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk or sport@timesoftonbridge.co.uk

SPORTING TIMES 

103

PHOTO: Ben Hardisty

PASS MASTERS TJs work the ball wide at Dorking’s Big Field

Determined TJs wreak revenge for heavy Dorking defeat Dorking 20 Tonbridge Juddians 36

By Adam Hookway RUGBY: THE last time Tonbridge Juddians visited Dorking, in 2014, they suffered a never-to-beforgotten 93-14 annihilation.

Last Saturday’s match proved a chance for topof-the-table TJs to redressing the balance, with the Surrey team rebuilding their squad following last season’s relegation from National Two South. They duly achieved their revenge.

The first score of the game came from one of Tonbridge’s earliest spells of possession. Murray

TJs started the second half on the attack with some slick handling. Following a five-metre scrum, they went through a number of phases of pick-and-drive play and finally got over the line courtesy of new-boy Rhys Hartley, who touched the ball down.

Galbraith-Lowe came in off his right wing to take a simple inside pass in the centre. He proved fast enough to break through to score, with Liam Prescott converting.

TJs dominated the scrums but Dorking were good enough to win and distribute scrum-ball under pressure. They also continued to run and pass the ball and threaten but they could not penetrate Juddians’ cover. However, the home side did take full advantage of a penalty.

In response, Prescott added a TJ penalty before No 8 Zain van Rensburg, who had a powerful game, broke through the first line of Dorking’s defence and found centre Tom Nicoll on hand for a scoring pass. Once again Prescott converted.

Disarray Just six minutes later, very close on Dorking’s line, TJs forced a penalty out of the defenders.

It was taken quickly by Hartley, and with the defenders in some disarray scrum-half Will Ward took his pass and scored under the posts. Prescott added the conversion points.

Soon after, Van Rensburg made a yet another

Wells return to form and turn on style to regain third place

By Graham Withers FOOTBALL: TUNBRIDGE WELLS returned to third spot in London One South with an assured away win over Brighton.

However, this was far from a one-sided affair, with the opening 10 minutes finding the injurydepleted home side very much on the front foot.

Following an early spell of pressure, Brighton took the lead through centre Ollie Davies-Smith and his try was converted by Jordan Wythe.

Wells needed to regroup and they did so impressively. On 17 minutes a fine break by Frank Reynolds was taken on by Nick Doherty and then went into the hands of Jake Thompson, who beat three men from 30 metres out to score a fine try.

Into the breeze, Reynolds’ conversion went just wide, making the score 7-5.

Brighton were, in the words of the team’s manager, playing their ‘best rugby of the season’ and came back at Wells.

However, on 29 minutes the visitors went into the lead with a superb try. Michael Hathaway

picked up from the base of the scrum 60 metres out before passing to Doherty.

He sucked in two defenders before slipping the ball inside to skipper Chaz Spence, who burst through the cover and out-sprinted the defence from 40 metres.

With Reynolds adding the extra two the visitors were now 12-7 ahead. But Brighton were quick to respond and the teams went into half-time level.

Early during the second half, Wells players Jake Mills and Thompson carried strongly, and after a period of sustained pressure Hayden Pengelly burst through two tackles before feeding the supporting Charlie Dagwell, who touched down on 54 minutes. Reynolds converted to make it 19-12.

The boys from St Marks were very much in the ascendancy, with Hathaway making a further deserved try, converted by Reynolds.

Wells were not satisfied yet, however. It was another driving run from Pengelly that took Wells back into the home 22. Spence, Reynolds and Charlie Harding then combined to put Johnathon Rumsey in for the try, producing a commanding scoreline to close out the game.

Coach Matt Cook said: “It was good to get back to winning ways against Brighton. We weren’t that

SMASH AND GRAB Jake Thompson (right) wrestles for the ball

PHOTO: Bruce Elliott

Brighton 12 Tunbridge Wells 31

powerful run down the right side of the field.

When he was stopped, the ball was quickly recycled left until it reached flanker Richie Bent, who had a player to pass to on his outside.

However, he decided he had the speed and strength to reach the line on his own and he did just that. Prescott converted with a fine kick from the touchline to make it 36-6.

Dorking managed two late consolation tries, but the final score gave TJs a three-point gap at the top of National Three London & South East as results elsewhere went their way.

Coach Pete Dankert welcomed the positive result, but said the team had to work on their intensity and discipline when the game seems to be won.

great in the first half and had some issues to sort out. But we went back out there and for the first 20 minutes of the second half there was some excellent play. But it was far from perfect.

“Given the injury issues that we have had so far

this season and not knowing this league, we’d have taken the position we are now in with eight wins and three losses. We hope to be able to go into Christmas with an unbeaten run of four games if all goes to plan.”

Wednesday 30th November 2016