Times of Tunbridge Wells 3rd October 2018

Wednesday October 3 | 2018

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Smiles better as town is happier

WHAT A WASTE

By Duncan Audsley

Loophole discovered in Council’s bin plans Page 4

newsdesk@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk

TUNBRIDGE WELLS is statistically a borough where residents are happier now than five years ago, according to a survey.

The Office for National Statistics released data of all UK boroughs last week as part of their Happiness & Wellbeing Study.

This gave an average score of 7.6 out of 10 for Tunbridge Wells – which compares to the 7.3 it recorded in 2013.

However, the town is below the national average of 7.7 and the Tonbridge score of 7.9. The thinking behind the topic proved a popular discussion point on the Times’ Facebook page.

Julia Kent agreed with the result.

She wrote: “Tonbridge has Waitrose, Lidl and decent train links. Also, you get more for your money on housing in Tonbridge, so what’s not to like?”

Beautiful Celia Carney added: “Tonbridge has a beautiful castle and grounds plus a leisure centre and fast train links to London. Tunbridge Wells has none of these. There is nothing to go there for any more.”

But Marion Cronin was not so sure, commenting: “Is this because they have lower expectations in Tonbridge?”

Both Tunbridge Wells and Tonbridge were well below the top ranked towns.

Hampshire district Rushmoor, which includes Aldershot and Farnborough, finished top of the 400 districts included in the survey.

Their score of 8.35 was notably higher than the 6.7 recorded in Cambridgeshire town Fenland, which finished bottom.

Full story on page 6

SCHOOL OF THOUGHT Village fears for relocation of St Peter’s primary Page 12

HERE COME THE GIRLS: Tunbridge Wells singer Bella Penfold [third from left] with X Factor judge Simon Cowell. The mogul will coach Bella and other female performers towards the live shows on the ITV series from his LA mansion Full story page 5

Call for psychiatric report after son admits killing his mother

By William Mata will@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk A 22-year-old man has admitted killing his mother, the former Tunbridge Wells assistant shop manager Fiona Fisher.

Thomas Fisher, of no fixed abode, pleaded guilty to manslaughter by diminished responsibility in Lewes Crown Court yesterday [Tuesday, October 2].

His 51-year-old mother was found deceased at their home in Lordswell Lane, Crowborough, on April 27. Police said Fiona, who worked at L’Occitane in Royal Victoria Place shopping centre, died from a single stab wound to the chest.

Mr Fisher was due to stand on Monday, accused of murder, in a trial process that could have taken several days.

However, the proceedings were post-

poned and the alternate plea was accepted.

According to media reports, the change was made after psychiatrists analysed a diary Fisher kept in the run-up to the killing.

Fisher also admitted fraud, using a Marks & Spencer Mastercard in Fiona’s name, and driving while disqualified.

‘This matter was due to be tried this week but a resolution has been reached’ He will return to Lewes Crown Court for sentencing on November 1, after another psychiatric report is completed.

Matthew Jewell QC, prosecuting, said: “This matter was due to be tried this week but a resolution has been reached.”

Proceedings took only ten minutes.

Fisher, wearing a grey jumper and with a spikey haircut with blonde highlights, did not look at members of the family.

Fiona Fisher also had a daughter, 20-year-old Megan, and lived in a converted chapel in Crowborough – which some have valued at £1million.

Reports at the time said she had recently entered a new relationship after splitting from her 52-year-old husband, a former hedge fund sales director.

A statement released on the family’s behalf by police said: “Fiona will be sadly missed by her daughter Megan, her mother Dorothy and stepfather Les, as well as her father.

“There are no words to explain the love those around her felt for her, she is irreplaceable.”

L’Occitane said the company was ‘deeply saddened by the loss’.

OLIVER’S TRAVELS

Historian Neil Oliver brings his tour to town Page 56

A FINE VINE TIME

Our drink expert celebrates rise of organic wines Page 62

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People’s Vote rejected as Leader says Brexit doesn’t mean council

By William Mata will@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk STRONG views on both sides of the Brexit debate were aired at the Town Hall as councillors decided against backing calls for a People’s Vote.

Liberal Democrat Cllr Peter Lidstone submitted a motion to Tunbridge Wells Borough Council, calling on the authority to note ‘concern about the damaging effects’ of leaving the European Union and ‘poor progress made by central Government in planning for withdrawal’.

The motion said: “TWBC supports the growing People’s Vote campaign whereby the British People would have the final say via referendum on whether to accept the terms ultimately negotiated with the EU, or to rescind Article 50 and for the UK to retain EU membership.”

Britain is set to leave the Union on March 29 next year after the national referendum in 2016, where the majority of the UK voted to leave – but Tunbridge Wells constituency voted to remain.

Submitting his first motion since becoming councillor for St John’s ward in 2016, Cllr Lidstone said: “As we draw nearer to the deadline, public mood has changed and the majority of Britons said they would have voted to remain.

“I see this as a divorce. If a friend had divorce papers, and both parties had a change of heart, who would insist on that divorce going ahead?”

But the meeting on Wednesday [September 26] took a turn when Council Leader David Jukes almost immediately submitted an amendment, which nullified the original proposal.

This stated: “The council recognises the potential impact of Brexit on local government in general and the borough of Tunbridge Wells in particular.

“But it notes that, following the referendum, negotiations on and decisions relating to Brexit are a matter for central rather than local government.”

This motion carried by a large majority, with some Liberal Democrat and Labour members voting against while others, including Cabinet member Cllr Tracy Moore, chose to abstain.

Tory members speaking in support of the amendment included Cllr Claire Stewart [Paddock Wood West] who said: “I am livid this People’s Vote has been suggested. There was a people’s vote in 2016 and we chose to leave.”

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Wednesday October 3 | 2018

Man charged with double murder after morning of tragedy in Hadlow

By Andy Tong andy@timesoftonbridge.co.uk A 28-year-old man will appear in court today [Wednesday] charged with the murder of a mother and daughter in Hadlow.

Jack Ralph, of Carpenters Lane in the village, was arrested on Saturday morning [September 29].

Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate charged him with two counts of murder and one of attempted murder.

‘We are just too shocked and haven’t quite come to terms with it’ Officers were called to the property at 7.40am after paramedics attended to three people who had suffered serious injuries, ‘consistent with a stabbing’.

Two women died at the scene: Margaret Harris, 78, and her

daughter Sharon, 55.

Margaret’s husband David, also in his 70s, was airlifted to hospital with serious knife wounds; he is in a stable condition.

It is alleged that the killings resulted from a complaint made by the Harris family about the noise coming from Ralph’s house.

Ralph, who was arrested close to the scene, appeared via virtual link at Medway Magistrates’ Court on Monday [October 1] and was remanded in custody. He TRAGEDY will appear Police were called to before Carpenters Lane at Maidstone 7.40am on Saturday Crown Court CHARGED today. saying: “We have lost two members Carpenters Lane.

Jack Ralph Forensics teams of our family and are focusing on Doris Pope, Margaret searched the Harris’s sister, said: “We the recovery of another. We would semi-detached like to ask that our privacy is are just too shocked and mock-Tudor residence where respected.” haven’t quite come to terms with the tragedy took place and the Reverend Paul White, the vicar of it.” She added that it was a ‘relief’ house next door.

St Mary’s Church, held a short to learn a suspect had been The victims’ family are still trying prayer service in the street on charged. to understand what took place on Sunday.

They later issued a statement

Rubbish bin loophole might mean gardeners can avoid waste charge

By Duncan Audsley newsdesk@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk A SENIOR councillor has admitted it will not be illegal for residents to throw garden waste away in domestic green bins.

Other members of Tunbridge Wells Borough Council [TWBC] have used Cllr Ronen Basu’s statement to suggest residents could therefore bypass a £52 opt-in garden waste bin charge – due to start from March next year.

TWBC rubber stamped their Household Recycling, Waste Collection and Street Cleaning policy last month to join neighbouring authorities by offering the opt-in collection, for which a bin would be included in the fee.

Justified Town Hall’s Conservative leadership said it was a justified way of charging with residents not requiring garden waste collection not having to pay for it, but critics called it a ‘stealth tax’.

The issue came to a head in a full council meeting on Wednesday [September 26] when Cllr Frank Williams questioned Cllr Basu, the environment portfolio holder, on the logistics.

“Can you confirm whether it is legal or illegal to put garden waste into the green bin for household waste, stating the specific law and part thereof which informs his answer?” asked Cllr Williams, who represents Sherwood ward.

Cllr Basu responded: “There is no specific law preventing householders putting garden waste into their household waste bin.

“The council is able to direct which bin should be used. I am quite sure residents would look to dispose of garden waste in another way to sending it to incineration and landfill.

“That is through composting at home, or for those with larger gardens opting into having a garden waste bin collected.”

He added: “When the new contract is introduced we will have a policy that addresses this and our initial response will be to encourage residents to use the right bin for the right

material.”

Some of the intricacies of the policy are still being ironed out by the authority. It has also not been stated if residents could be liable for any kind of reprimand for disposing of garden waste in a green bin.

Liberal Democrat Cllr David Neve said: “He [Cllr Basu] stated it’s not illegal, so why should people bother to pay for their garden waste to be taken away?

“I am sure they will catch up with it and someone will come along and say ‘you can’t do it’ by putting a sticker on a bin or something. I have seen it before, where a label said they would not take the bin because the waste has been contaminated.

“But until we are told we can’t, residents will not see any problem in throwing it away in the green bin.”

The waste policy will also see a kerbside collection for glass and a separate weekly collection for food waste.

Road closed after man hit by VW Camper Van BUSY Calverley Road in Tunbridge Wells was closed by emergency services when a pedestrian was hit by a Volkswagen Camper Van. South East Coast Ambulance Service attended the incident on Monday [October 1] at around 4pm and took the male pedestrian to hospital.

A spokesman said: “Ambulance crews attended the scene following reports a pedestrian was hit by a vehicle at approximately 4.05pm.

“The pedestrian was treated at the scene before being taken to Tunbridge Wells Hospital with potentially serious injuries.”

Kent Police then cordoned off the town centre road for investigations to be carried out.

Officers remained at the scene until around 5.30pm.

Saturday rail fares will cost no more than £20

A WASTE OF TIME? Cllr David Neve is questioning the plan

RAIL passengers will be able to travel to anywhere on Southeastern’s network for no more than £20 this Saturday [October 8].

The one-off promotion will allow customers to additionally alight at multiple stations for no extra cost. And savings could be made as from Tunbridge Wells railway station it would usually cost £26 for a single journey to Margate, for example.

Diane Burke, Commercial Director said: “Our Super Saturday ticket is one of the best ways to get out and about on the network, enabling passengers to explore as many of our networks’ exciting destinations as they are able to.

“We hope this exciting one-day offer will make it easier to enjoy the perfect Saturday for less.”

Wednesday October 3 | 2018

NEWS IN BRIEF

Elderly man saved from Bidborough house fire A MAN in his 70s was rescued from a major house fire in Bidborough on Thursday [September 27] evening.

It took five fire engines and 35 firefighters to control the blaze which destroyed the roof of the two-storey property in Woodland Way. Kent Fire and Rescue found a ‘welldeveloped’ fire at the home, when they arrived at around 10pm.

The man was rescued from the house and was given first aid treatment by crews before he was placed in the care of SECAmb paramedics.

Charity quiz night MENTAL health charity Tunbridge Wells MHR is holding a quiz night to raise funds and awareness on Wednesday, October 24.

Royal Wells Hotel, on Mount Ephraim, is hosting the event, which also includes a meal, raffle and auction from 7pm.

Tables of eight are required to make a team – which can be formed on the night.

Tickets are £15 a head, with a two course meal included. To find out more contact Jenny on: jennyw@twmhr.org.uk or 01892 676 037.

Hotel closes temporarily AN electrical fire has caused The Leicester Arms Hotel in Penshurst to temporarily close.

Firefighters attended the High Street venue at 1.43pm on Friday [September 28] and crews spotted a fire within a wall void.

There were no reported injuries but damage has caused the popular pub and hotel to close. A statement on their Facebook page read: “We hope to be back open before next weekend if not sooner.”

The Bridge Trust AGM LOCAL homeless charity The Bridge Trust would like to invite the public to their 22nd Annual General Meeting on Thursday October 11 at Tonbridge Old Fire Station from 7pm.

A buffet and bar will be provided for guests. If you wish to attend, please reserve a place by emailing info@ thebridgetrust.org.uk or calling 01732 368363.

The Bridge Trust provides quality accommodation and support services for single homeless adults in West Kent.

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X Factor singer joins Simon Cowell at his house in LA for next round

By Duncan Audsley JUST two years after she got the chance to sing at One Warwick Park Hotel, Bella Penfold has jetted off to America to be coached at Simon Cowell’s LA mansion.

The 19-year-old, who grew up in Tunbridge Wells, has advanced to the judges’ houses round of ITV series The X Factor after an emotional performance on Saturday [September 29].

And some bookmakers are now offering odds of 12/1 on her winning the competition.

Bella sang and then rapped in her rendition of Stormzy’s Blinded by Your Grace in the Six Chair Challenge episode, which was seen by 4.6million viewers.

This brutal elimination process sees just 24 acts progress to the judges’ houses out of the 36 who had qualified from the auditions.

Head judge Cowell, who is mentoring the female participants, decided if he wanted one of the performers to take one of six hot seats – which would signify if they were in a position to go through to the next round.

Bella had confidently walked onto the stage and said: “If these chairs represent hard work, dedication and willingness to work to your potential then I deserve a seat.”

There were already six women sitting in qualification positions when Bella started to perform. This meant if she was to go through another singer would miss out.

In a special twist, judges can allow one singer to bypass the nervewracking chair process by pressing a golden buzzer which automatically puts them through.

The audience cheered wildly as Bella sang, but the teenager’s chance hung in the balance as Cowell said: “Bella, I don’t think this is going to make me very popular, but I can’t give you a seat. But I want to tell you why…”

RAPPER’S DELIGHT Bella’s urban style has impressed the judges

Buzzing Bella appeared heartbroken at the apparent rejection, although her disappointment turned to joy when Cowell moved to press the golden buzzer. “I always had this feeling about you,” the head judge said as he gave Bella a hug.

The performing arts student had worked as a waitress in One Warwick Park Hotel before being given the opportunity to entertain diners with her singing two years ago. It was the first time she had taken to the stage.

Bella attended The Mead School and St Gregory’s Catholic School in Tunbridge Wells although she now lives in Brentwood, Essex.

Colleagues at One Warwick Park Hotel will now be cheering for her as she performs at the judges’ house stage, and will be looking to be one of 16 acts hoping to progress to the live final shows.

Judge Robbie Williams told her: “I think you’re phenomenal, I really

do. Great vocals, great rapping, you got Wembley [Arena, where the round was filmed] buzzing.”

And former contestant Louis Tomlinson, who is also now a judge, added: “I don’t like any Tom, Dick or Harry thinking they can rap, but you should be rapping. You’ve got the full package.”

In an earlier interview Bella told the Times: “Simon [Cowell] is such a nice man. He comes across as stern but he gives great advice and wants

us to win. He can suggest songs for us to perform, and he told me I had the most potential of anyone he had seen sing that day.

“I love performing at One Warwick Park and I want to come back and sing at their events. “ After tears and drama, the other female acts to progress were: Molly Scott, Georgia Burgess, Maria Laroco, Shan and Scarlett Lee. Bella is likely to next feature on Saturday, October 13.

PureGym ‘deeply saddened’ by member’s death

By William Mata A MAN in his 40s has died after suffering a heart attack inside Tunbridge Wells PureGym. An inquest is likely to be opened in the next few weeks after the man, who has not been named by police, died on Sunday [September 30] evening.

Emergency services were called to the facility in Market Square [which backs onto Royal Victoria Place] around 7.30pm.

PureGym offers members 24-hour access and closed immediately after the incident, reopening

on Monday.

A spokesman said: “On Sunday evening, one of our members suffered a heart attack whilst in the Tunbridge Wells gym.

“Despite the best efforts of our team and the emergency services, the member could not be saved and has tragically passed away.

“We took the decision to close the gym overnight and have now re-opened.

“We are deeply saddened by these events and our thoughts are with the member’s family and friends.”

South East Coast Ambulance attended shortly after 7.30pm following reports the man had collapsed. The force said the man died at the scene.

PureGym is not staffed with instructors at all times. All members are asked to sign a member health agreement declaration before joining.

This states: “Our staff, agents and subcontractors are not medically trained.

“Should you have any concerns with your health and fitness you should seek independent medical advice before engaging in any physical activity on our premises.”

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Wednesday October 3 | 2018

Official Happiness and Wellbeing A26 cycle way report gives locals a reason to smile plan dropped

by County Hall

ALL SMILES: James Larner enjoys living locally

By William Mata RESIDENTS of Tunbridge Wells and Tonbridge & Malling are feeling happier, according to the latest Office for National Statistics [ONS] research.

Published last week, the annual Happiness and Wellbeing Study assesses factors such things as health, crime levels and access to services through data research and surveys.

And Tonbridge [as a borough] trumped Tunbridge Wells with residents recording an average score of 7.9 out of 10, compared to the 7.7 UK average.

Tunbridge Wells reached only 7.6, although both boroughs recorded markedly higher scores than five years ago.

The Times talked to shoppers on Tonbridge High Street and found many to be content living their town.

Barden Road resident James Larner, who works in IT, said: “There is a Waitrose here which they don’t have in Tunbridge Wells!

“I like living here, my children have grown up here and we’ve found there are a lot of places to

SOUTHBOUND: Esperanza moved from London FEELING BETTER? Happiness and wellbeing [out of 10] 2018: � Tunbridge Wells borough 7.6, � Tonbridge & Malling 7.9 Happiness and wellbeing [out of 10] 2013: � Tunbridge Wells borough 7.3 � Tonbridge & Malling 7.3 go. There are National Trust places nearby.”

Ralph Denny, a university lecturer in London, said: “I have been here 30 years and I have found Tonbridge to be a good town for shopping, although I do not spend a lot of time here because of my job.”

Another London commuter Esperanza Hensley, who works for Marks & Spencer, added: “There are more things

THE COMMUTER: Ralph Denny passes through happening locally now, especially with history, which makes it a good place for families.”

And Jackson Murrain, a support worker, said: “It’s beautiful in the summer and when it snows.

“The people here are nice as well.

“I am surprised people are happier here than in Tunbridge Wells,” he added, “there is more going on there.

Here it’s all pound shops.”

Hampshire district Rushmoor, which includes Aldershot and Farnborough, finished top of the 400 districts included in the survey. Their score of 8.35 was notably higher than the 6.7 recorded in Cambridgeshire town Fenland, which finished bottom.

As recently as 2011/12, Tonbridge was among the UK’s lowest scoring with 7.1, which suggests a change in feeling.

WORD ON THE STREET: Jackson Murrain shops in Tonbridge

newsdesk@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk PLANS to create a 20mph section through Southborough and create a safe cycle route have been dropped.

Kent County Council has gone back on proposals, declaring the A26 section ‘not wide enough’ for an additional cycle lane and ‘not suitable’ for a 20mph zone.

The authority has also said other sections along the Tunbridge Wells – Tonbridge bypass will not be constructed, including a section along St John’s Road – where on-street parking would have been lost.

It means the original vision of creating a complete path for cyclists to safely use will now not happen.

Tunbridge Wells resident Marguerita Morton wrote on Twitter: “This is a big disappointment after all those years of planning and designing the route.”

Proposals for a shared cycle route and footpath on the A26 from Birchwood Avenue to Mabledon, created by widening the existing footpath, have also been dropped.

ROAD TO NOWHERE Part of the current A26 cycle way

Google

PHOTO: Craig Matthews

By Duncan Audsley

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Wednesday October 3 | 2018

HAMMER TIME Goal 17 Founders Fran Boorman and Keith Mabbutt

Football to play part in tackling problem of youth homelessness

By William Mata will@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk

A SOCIAL enterprise scheme has been launched with the aim of helping to end youth homelessness by working through football and corporate mentoring.

Goal 17 was founded last week

by Tunbridge Wells entrepreneur Fran Boorman, alongside former Bristol Rovers player Keith Mabbutt, and aims to connect youngsters in need with businesses.

Ms Boorman, who lives in Langton Green, told the Times that Goal 17 will offer firms the chance to enjoy a team building day out at a Premier League club and meet a team legend.

Businesses who subscribe to

this will additionally help a disadvantaged person, aged 16 to 24, through a ten week course, by providing mentoring sessions over the phone once a week.

Employment The youngster will also attend a football training session, led by charity Street Soccer Foundation, and receive important life skills with the aim of being in a strong position to transfer into education or employment by the end.

Participating firms would fund the project by paying for the team building session, at which they would get opportunity to meet the young people they had supported.

West Ham United have already confirmed they are onside with

Manchester United set to follow, while other Premier League teams have also reportedly shown an interest.

Ms Boorman said: “This experience will not only change the young people, but we expect to see our corporate clients gain equally.

“They will learn vast amounts about themselves and become more engaged employees with an emotional attachment to the power of good that their company is achieving.

“The young people will also benefit vastly from their sponsor’s experience and association with people already in the work place.”

The name relates to the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals, which included ending poverty.

Parties oppose new boundaries as members pledge to lobby MPs Constituency plan leaves councillors fearing for borough Cllr Jukes’ motion, his first in almost three A PROPOSAL to enlarge Tunbridge Wells’ decades on the authority, stated: “The proposals parliamentary constituency into East Sussex was attacked by all sides during a lively borough fail to recognise natural and historic communities of place, are administratively burdensome. council meeting.

“We urge our local MPs to reject these Council Leader David Jukes, part of the ruling proposals and to seek revisions that better Conservative group, received cross-party reflect the views of local people.” support in his bid for the authority to unite It has not been confirmed how local MPs Greg against plans to create a new Tunbridge Wells & Clark [Tunbridge Wells] Tom Tugendhat Crowborough constituency.

[Tonbridge] and Nus Ghani [Wealden] would be Labour’s Cllr Dianne Hill said Tunbridge Wells would be ‘overlooked’ in Parliament under affected. The plans also mean the area Tuncentral government’s proposal to reduce the bridge Wells Borough Council cover could be number of British MP seats from 650 to 600. served by three MPs rather than just one, with Parliament will vote on borders drawn Hawkhurst area falling in the proposed up by the Boundary Commission, which Weald of Kent boundary. ensure all constituencies have 71,031 to At a full council meeting on Wednesday 78,507 voters.

[September 26] the motion was carried Contentiously, Tunbridge Wells would with 35 councillors voting in favour and expand across county lines to include eight abstaining. much of the existing Wealden constituCllr Dianne Hill, of the council’s Labour ency, which would be dissolved. But group, said: “We would have no MP current Tunbridge Wells areas who properly represents the Langton Green, Bidborough, whole borough. Tunbridge Speldhurst, Pembury and Wells will not have an MP Southborough would come under to represent its interests.

Tonbridge.

It is likely the town is to Tunbridge Wells Borough be overlooked, with so Council’s borders would remain much of Wealden being unchanged but members fear considered, and would plans could negatively impact COUNCIL LEADER DAVID JUKES not be properly the authority. represented.”

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Local News CONCERN Greg Clark MP met the committee

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Village fears primary school will be too little too late for new homes

By William Mata will@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk

Youth mental health service ‘unacceptable’ MENTAL health services for young people in Kent have been slammed as ‘unacceptable’ by a committee, following recent revelations.

Cllr Sue Chandler, chairman of Kent County Council’s Health Overview & Scrutiny Committee, led calls for an improvement in a meeting last month.

The Times reported on September 19 that 2,500 young people in the county have been waiting more than six months to receive treatment and, out of those, 700 had waited more than one year.

Tunbridge Wells MP Greg Clark gave his concerns to the committee and said: “These figures are shocking. They show that young people are having to wait an unacceptably long time to get the treatment they need for mental health difficulties.

Suffering “And it’s not just the young people themselves who are suffering. This has a massive impact on the whole family. We need to understand fully what is happening and for this we need more detailed information.”

He added: “The NHS Trust running the service has constantly failed to provide this crucial data so I was very pleased that one of the recommendations that the committee agreed to was to require the NHS Trust to supply this to them within one month.

“There will be no hiding place once we have the full picture.”

Wednesday October 3 | 2018

HAWKENBURY’S new primary school ‘needs to be a two form entry from the start’ campaigners have told Kent County Council [KCC].

St Peter’s School has long since been planned to relocate from Windmill Street to Hawkenbury Road to facilitate the 235-home Hawkenbury Farm development.

With neighbouring schools currently oversubscribed, villagers have pressed KCC for the new primary to have a two entry forms of 20 pupils each from when it opens.

‘They assured me they would do whatever is necessary to provide the school we were hoping to get’ Under current plans, exhibited last week, St Peter’s will open in October 2020 with a core [which refers to toilets, extra hall space and facilities] to accommodate a two form entry.

However, there would only be classroom space for 30 pupils, with the potential to add another classroom when the demand suffices.

Councillors for the relevant Park ward, Hawkenbury Village Association and Tunbridge Wells Borough Council Leader David Jukes have ON THE MOVE St Peter’s School in Tunbridge Wells

all called on KCC for a rethink – with some homes in Hawkenbury Farm set to open before the school does.

Villagers have faced the additional frustration that the opening date has been pushed back a year from 2019.

The issue came to light when Cllr Peter Bulman, the Norfolk-based member for Park ward asked for a progress update in a full council meeting last Wednesday [September 26].

Cllr Jukes responded: “I am disappointed KCC has not provided a two-form entry from the start as we were led to believe and there is a delay in getting it delivered. I organised a meeting with them and the only Park ward member available at the time, Cllr Tracy Moore.

“They assured me they would do whatever is necessary to provide the school we were hoping to get.

“I got a call from Roger Gough, who said we are going to get a two form entry school. The planning application is going in January 2019 – which I think is a bit late as it was due to go in this August. He said completion will be by half term in the first quarter of 2020. I think he’s being optimistic.

“After a lot of pressure from me and Paul Carter, they will build the core of the school and will add additional classrooms.

“The homes will be occupied before the school opens. It appears to me we can force KCC to deliver a two-form entry school from day one.”

Kent County Council has confirmed discussions are underway.

Dean Kenward, Leader of Hawkenbury Village Association, said he did not like the ‘grey cedar’ designs presented at the meeting by surveyors Gen 2 Smarter Properties and builder GallifordTry. “It seems Kent County Council’s plan is the one adopted even though the numbers do not add up,” he told the Times. “Claremont, one of the nearest schools, is oversubscribed three or four times.”

PRESSURE Dean Kenward of Hawkenbury Village Association

KENT COUNTY COUNCIL’S VIEW Roger Gough, Kent County Council’s Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Education, said: “The position with regards to the expansion and relocation of St Peter’s CE Primary School to a new site in Hawkenbury remains unchanged. The school will open with a one form entry (30 places in Reception Year) with the capacity to expand to two form entry as and when there is a need to do so.

“A consultation event was held earlier this week (Wednesday, September 26) during which plans were on show that clearly demonstrated this phased approach. This is the understood position between Kent County Council and Tunbridge Wells Borough Council.”

Wednesday October 3 | 2018

SONG AND DANCE ABOUT IT The Festival of Hope

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Southborough theatre hub mark II gets the approval from councillors

By William Mata

Refugees celebrated HUNDREDS enjoyed last weekend’s Festival of Hope, a cultural celebration in support of refugees living in Tunbridge Wells.

Around 350 attended the second annual free event on Sunday [September 30] at The Forum, which featured music, dancing and food.

It was all organised by Tunbridge Wells Welcomes Refugees [TWWR], a volunteer-led organisation which supports families and individuals through the Government’s Vulnerable Person Resettlement Scheme.

Amazing Music acts Syrian All Stars, Orange Circus Band, Dan Summer, Create Choir and the Paul Dunton Orchestra all performed.

Organiser Romany Kisbee-Batho said: “It was a truly amazing day, bringing people together to enjoy a variety of musical performances.

“The highlight had to be the Syrian All Stars who closed the festival with incredible energy, getting everyone dancing.

“The hospitality of everyone who came was lovely and we are so grateful to all the volunteers who gave up their time.

“I hope it has served to raise the profile of the wonderful TWWR charity and all the hard work that they do within the community.”

SOUTHBOROUGH is a stage nearer to finally having a new theatre after downscaled plans for a hub complex were put on show.

Appointed architects HMY and builders Baxall Construction presented a blueprint for the project which is also set to contain a library, council offices and medical centre - in a meeting on Thursday [September 27].

But the Southborough Hub, thought to cost around £10million, will no longer contain a café and will be smaller than original plans, passed in 2016, which have needed to be ‘value engineered’.

Another alteration is the exterior design, which has changed from the copper frontage and rounded glass to a more rectangular appearance.

ALL SHOOK UP Baxall with council members earlier in the year

Illustrate Southborough Town Council [STC] asked members of the public and press to leave the meeting before taking a vote on a motion to approve the designs, with the majority voting in favour. There were nine in favour of the scheme, two against and one abstention. One councillor left before the vote.

Critics said the plans were sent to councillors with too short a time to consider them and that there has not been enough detail to illustrate how it will look from the outside.

Cllr Ian Kinghorn [North Ward], part of the ruling Conservative group, said: “The re-design was never about starting the project again, it was about refining the current scheme that we already had and sticking as close as possible to what was already consented.

“To that end, I am pleased with what the architects have done and consultation with the public can now

start and will be based on the planning process, with any further minor refinements happening once we receive feedback.”

He said the café had been removed because of ‘value engineering’. There were also four other coffee shop outlets already in the Southborough area and the amount of floor space also had to be cut.

The auditorium will have capacity for 350 in a conference layout and can be adapted to become a 250-seat theatre, capable of hosting a pantomime – something which has been lost since The Victoria Hall Theatre was demolished in 2016.

Land near the old theatre has been sold to housebuilder Crest Nicholson in a deal which will help fund the project. A pavilion on adjourning football pitches is to be added as part of the project, as is a connecting cycle path and a ‘town

square’ communal area.

Kent County Council and Tunbridge Wells Borough Council are working alongside STC to deliver the proposals, which will now again require planning permission to go ahead.

Cllr Nicholas Blackwell [West Ward], part of the opposition Labour group, was one of those to vote against the motion. He said: “The meeting was the first and only time we had chance to see the new designs – and we don’t fully know what the outside is going to look like.”

Planning applications are to be submitted in November, once a public consultation has been completed. This could be followed by planning approval in February next year. Following on, work would begin in April 2019 with completion in April 2020.

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Wednesday October 3 | 2018

BID plan would raise £635,000 to secure new and existing events EVENTS in Tunbridge Wells would be financially secured if a Business Improvement District [BID] plan is agreed.

That is the view of the business group Royal Tunbridge Wells Together, which also wants to create new food, drink and music events to boost town centre footfall and trade.

From October 11 to November 8, firms in a set town centre area are invited vote in a ballot that asks if they agree to the BID proposals, as created

by Royal Tunbridge Wells Together.

This would see them pay a levy towards funding events and initiatives.

As a result, Royal Tunbridge Wells Together said £635,000 would be pledged to fund events over the five-year BID tenure.

Karen Pengelly, Manager of Royal Tunbridge Wells Together, said: “Businesses across the town centre area see events having a positive impact on footfall and visitor numbers.

“There is a direct knock-on effect on retailers, restaurants and service industry businesses.

“But, importantly, the staff who work here in

professional services want to be able to work in a town that is vibrant and welcoming.

“Having a calendar of varied events throughout the year that appeal to a wide visitor audience would be incredibly exciting.”

Royal Tunbridge Wells Together currently allocates £3,000 per year in grants to events such as the Tunbridge Wells Puppetry Festival and Local & Live Music Festival.

BUSINESSES URGED TO ‘VOTE YES’ With just one week until the key ballot opens, firms have been urged to back BID [Business Improvement District] proposals.

Royal Tunbridge Wells Together has launched the ‘Vote Yes’ slogan to encourage participation in the vote, which is to be held from October 11 to November 8.

The business group needs 50 per cent of 640 firms to vote yes in the ballot for the plan to go into action for five years from April 1 next year.

Law firm raises funds in 100km Tour De Cripps cycle challenge

L’EQUIPE CRIPPS [L-R] Craig Bowers, Kathryn Rogers, Patrick Glencross, Aleks Wulff, Gavin Tyler and Pete Kenyon

BACKING THE BID: [L-R] Nicky Blanchard, Centre Manager of Royal Victoria Place, Alex Green, Executive Director of Trinity Theatre, Lauren Brook of Royal Tunbridge Wells Together, Gilbert Green, Partner at Thomson Snell & Passmore, and Karen Pengelly, Manager of Royal Tunbridge Wells Together A PELOTON of cyclists from Tunbridge Wells-based law firm Cripps pedalled 100km in a gruelling charity challenge.

Company Managing Partner Gavin Tyler was among the riders in the fourth annual Tour De Cripps, which raised money for Rethink Mental Illness.

The circular route started and finished at the firm’s offices on Mount Ephraim, Tunbridge Wells, and went through the Kent villages of Headcorn, Shipbourne and Wateringbury on the way to Kings Hill and back.

At the time of writing, they had raised £1,298 of their £1,500 target.

Mr Tyler said: “This is the fourth year the challenge has taken place, and after watching from afar for the last few years I felt it was time for me to take to the saddle.

“Rethink Mental Illness is our charity of the year and provides amazing support for those suffering from mental illness as well as their carers, so although the bike ride was gruelling in parts, it was a pleasure to support such a worthwhile organisation.”

Mr Tyler’s teammates for the day were Craig Bowers, Patrick Glencross, Pete Kenyon, Kathryn Rogers and Aleks Wulff.

The Tour de Cripps concludes a summer of charity events. Last month a team took part in a skydive, and in June they completed the Three Peaks Challenge. More activities are planned for the rest of the year.

Anyone wishing to donate will find details at justgiving.com/fundraising/tourdecripps

NEWS IN BRIEF

New head of residential sales at Savills branch ESTATE agency Savills has hired Duncan Petrie to head up the residential sales operation in their Cranbrook office.

Mr Petrie joins with 17 years’ experience within the sector, and also brings local knowledge. He has worked for Savills since 2014, having previously been based in their Notting Hill base in London.

“With the support of my colleagues, who have excellent local market expertise, I am bringing my London-based knowledge and contacts and will be working to achieve an increase in market share and transactions in this beautiful part of the country,” he said.

Return of the fast train SOUTHEASTERN has returned a Javelin train to the East Kent mainline almost a year after it was badly damaged in a collision.

The high-speed train hit a van between Sittingbourne and Faversham on October 23 last year, and has needed 20,000 hours of repair work. The van driver was taken to hospital for treatment.

The train was recently reintroduced and has shored up peak-time services.

Wednesday October 3 | 2018

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Non-executive director appointed as firm records impressive growth

By William Mata will@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk INVESTMENT management firm Brooks Macdonald has hired a non-executive director to help ‘address the challenges of the digital economy’.

John Linwood, 55, has also become a member of both the audit and remuneration committees of the business, which has an office on Mount Ephraim in Tunbridge Wells.

In addition to this new position, he remains the Chief Technology Officer at Earth-i, a privately funded UK Earth observation company, and holds a senior role at Brunel University.

Chris Knight, Chairman of Brooks Macdonald, said: “I am delighted to welcome John to the board. His background in technology will be of significant benefit to us as we address the challenges of the digital economy.”

Mr Linwood was formerly the Executive Vice President and Chief Technology Officer of Wood Mackenzie, Chief Technology Officer for the BBC, and a Senior Vice President of International Engineering at Yahoo.

Prior to that, Mr Linwood held a number of senior positions at Microsoft.

Brooks Macdonald has also reported their revenue increased 14.4 per cent to £101.6million in the year to June 30.

Their total discretionary funds under management grew 18.7 per cent to £12.4billion.

Commenting on the increase, company Chief Executive Caroline Connellan said: “I am pleased we have maintained strong business performance while also making good progress on regulatory change and strengthening our foundations for future growth.

“Our net new business of 13 per cent is again the highlight of our results, reflecting the strength of our client and adviser relationships.

“This, coupled with above benchmark investment performance, drove funds under management to £12.4billion at the year end.”

ASSET: Chris Knight (above) welcomes Mr Linwood

The Pantiles sign is back after firm restores a classic design A DECORATIVE crest again hangs in The Pantiles after a company’s 18-month restoration effort.

Last week, Joseph McCarthy Mirror & Frame Makers unveiled their fresh plaque above the Trevor Mottram shop. It is the first update to the original, which is thought to date back to the 19th century.

Exciting The crest is very much a replica of the original. The Latin motto ‘Semper Vigilans’, meaning ‘always vigilant’, is written underneath a bird symbol.

Business Owner Joseph McCarthy said: “It has been an 18-month undertaking. The old crest was looking tired. It had not been replaced for many years.

“We arranged to get it removed, and it crumbled. But we have managed to maintain as many of the original features as we could.”

SOARING AGAIN The new replica of the original Pantiles plaque

READY TO CRUMBLE The old Pantiles plaque

Mr McCarthy would not disclose how much the new plaque had cost, other than to say it was ‘extremely expensive’.

The company used wood treated with an Accoya pickling process – which increases the longevity.

“It was an exciting challenge for us,” said Mr McCarthy, whose company goes back 180 years.

“We have managed to maintain the integrity of the original as much as we could. It is something that can be preserved into the future.

“We are very pleased, it has been a great success.”

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Rainbows and Brownies learn new challenges at historic Leeds Castle MORE than 1,000 Rainbows, Brownies and their leaders from Girlguiding Kent Weald spent the day at Leeds Castle on September 22, completing a variety of activities in order to gain a specially created badge.

There were 41 units representing Tunbridge Wells and Tonbridge, along with many more from Malling.

The girls met King Henry VIII and were impressed by his clothes, the furniture around him and his sense of humour.

Ava, seven, from Loose Rainbows said: “I liked Henry VIII best, he was kind of fat and funny and had an amazing cloak.”

Over 800 new badges and activities have been created to equip the 400,000 members of Girlguiding with the skills and experiences they will need to ‘thrive, succeed, make change and be happy’ in the modern world.

The new programme has been developed around six themes: Skills for My Future, Have Adventures, Be Well, Know Myself, Express Myself and Take Action.

Mary Saunders, the County Commissioner who organised the visit, said: “We are really pleased to be able to offer this opportunity to our youngest members.

“Parts of the new programme are aligned with the aspects of the day at Leeds Castle, and it was fantastic seeing them explore new activities and overcome challenges throughout the day.”

AMAZING ADVENTURE: 1st Speldhurst Brownies try to find their way out of the maze

One of the problem-solving challenges of the day was the castle’s maze.

Partly shaped like The Queen’s crown, it is made up of 2,400 mature yew trees.

Eight-year-old Erin from 1st Speldhurst Brownies said: “The maze was so cool, we didn’t get lost and easily found the middle!”

Helping each other out of the maze made up part of the ‘Know Myself’ theme, while for others it was about overcoming concerns about meeting the birds of prey on display.

Girlguiding Kent Weald County offers opportunities for girls aged five and above in the towns of Tonbridge, Tunbridge Wells, Maidstone and their surrounding villages.

For further information about Girlguiding and the new programme, visit the website at ROYAL APPOINTMENT girlguiding.org.uk The girls meet King Henry VIII in his splendid surroundings

Wednesday October 3 | 2018

Mo Tutty stands down as ellenor’s Chair of Trustees HOSPICE care provider ellenor has appointed Roger Wedderburn-Day to replace Mo Tutty as Chair of the Board of Trustees at the Kent charity.

Mo decided to step down after four years in the post so a new person could take over as the charity embarks on its new five-year strategy.

“It has been a real privilege to work with ellenor over the years and to see the charity continue to develop and grow,” he said. “I remain immensely proud of the work we do and the impact we have on people’s lives.”

Claire Cardy, ellenor’s Chief Executive, said: “I would like to thank Mo for his contribution to our charity. He has worked tirelessly to help us grow the organisation so that we can continue to meet increasing demand year on year.

“We have benefitted hugely from his extensive knowledge and passion, and needless to say he will be sorely missed.”

Roger Wedderburn-Day, a retired lawyer and governor of Knole Academy in Sevenoaks, commented: “I am honoured to take on the role and am excited about the opportunity to take the charity forward.

I would like to thank Mo for his long and valuable contribution. ellenor is the only charity in Kent that provides hospice care for people of all ages and their families, with 90 per cent of its work being VALUABLE CONTRIBUTION done in a patient’s Mo Tutty brought knowledge own home. and passion to ellenor

Wednesday October 3 | 2018

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Yarnold has golden touch as Sporting Dinner raises £60k THE Sporting Dinner held by Hospice in the Weald raised £60,000 for the charity thanks to hectic bidding on an array of outstanding auction prizes.

The prizes included one of England cricket captain Joe Root’s bats, which fetched £1,000, and a bottle of whisky signed by Prime Minister Theresa May that was sold for £500.

More than 160 guests attended the gala event at The Spa Hotel in Tunbridge Wells on September 20.

Sporting celebrities in attendance included double skeleton gold medallist Lizzy Yarnold, from Sevenoaks – Brit-

ain’s most successful Winter Olympian.

She was joined by former Kent and England cricket captain Chris Cowdrey, who hosted the evening, another exEngland all-rounder in Geoff Miller, who is a highly prized after-dinner speaker, and former British tennis player and TV commentator Andrew Castle.

Chris Cowdrey said: “It was wonderful to see the support and warm feeling towards Hospice in the Weald. We had a lot of fun and it was good to hear from Lizzy Yarnold on how she became a double Olympic champion.

“I know the funds raised are of great imp-

ortance to the hospice, and my thanks to everyone who contributed so generously.”

Hospice Chairman Simon Lee added: “It was a splendid evening, full of laughter and good conversation. We are so grateful… It’s wonderful to see residents from Tunbridge Wells and the surrounding areas come together to support us.

“The money raised enables our hospice to continue to provide care free of charge, now and in the future, for patients, their families and carers.

“It’s fantastic to be part of an evening that makes such a valuable contribution to our community.”

SKELETON CREW: Andrew Castle, Chris Cowdrey, Simon Jones, Geoff Miller and double Olympic gold medallist Lizzy Yarnold

Cheryl puts the fizz into Demelza shop THE Bucks Fizz was flowing when the local pop singer Cheryl Baker opened the new Demelza Hospice Care for Children shop in Tonbridge High Street.

The 1981 Eurovision Song Contest winner, who lives near Sevenoaks, cut the ribbon, donating skirts and jackets and helped serve some of the first customers into the shop – and she bought a few items herself.

Specialist

STREETS AHEAD: (L-R) Shops Operations Manager Rachel Stead, Area Retail Manager Shirley Winch, Demelza Trustee Darren Anstee, Stephen Spendlove and his daughter Bethany, Director of Fundraising and Marketing Tamsyn Clark, Cheryl Baker, Trustee Paul Richards and Director of Trading Ashley Henson

Also at the opening was Demelza child Bethany Spendlove, 15, and her father Stephen, who live at Ightham, alongside the charity’s trustees, directors and volunteers.

Demelza provides specialist care and emotional support for children with terminal conditions in their homes across East Sussex or in the hospices in Sittingbourne and Eltham.

To find out more about the charity’s work, visit demelza.org.uk

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Wednesday October 3 | 2018

Record entry for bloom competition makes town ‘a lovely place to live’

By Andy Tong TUNBRIDGE WELLS must wait until October 19 to discover if it has won the RHS Britain in Bloom Large Town category, after it won the gold award for the South East.

The other regional gold winners in the town who are hoping for wider recognition are Dunorlan Park, Grosvenor & Hilbert Park, and Tunbridge Wells Cemetery and Crematorium.

This year there were also a record 285 entries for the Tunbridge Wells in Bloom competition, which raised more than £1,800 for Hospice in the Weald.

The awards were presented by Celia Preston, the award-winning garden designer, along with the Mayor, Len Horwood, and his wife Judy.

The organisers thanked those who opened their gardens for the hospice during the summer: John and Sandra O’Callaghan, Grant and Cherry Whytock, Christine and Laurence Smith, Joan and Richard Still, Halliwell Care Home, Sue Daniels, Sandra Swan, and Julie and Bill Brodie.

Royal Tunbridge Wells in Bloom and the Assembly Hall Theatre teamed up to ‘bring the outside inside’ with the help of local photographers, and a collection of photographs will be put on display at the Assembly Hall.

The overall winner of the Schools’ Garden and Sunflower Award was St John’s Primary, who received a gold medal for their floral display and

SOUTH & SOUTH EAST IN BLOOM WINNERS Large Town Gold: Royal Tunbridge Wells Large Park Gold: Dunorlan Park and Grosvenor & Hilbert Park Silver gilt: Calverley Grounds Common/Open Space Silver gilt and category winner: Tunbridge Wells Common Large Cemetery Gold: Tunbridge Wells Cemetery and Crematorium Churchyard Silver gilt: Woodbury Park Cemetery Conservation Silver gilt: Barnett’s Wood Nature Reserve It’s Your Neighbourhood Level 5 – Outstanding: Friends of Grosvenor & Hilbert Park

SCHOOLS’ GARDEN AND SUNFLOWER AWARD St John’s Primary School

participation of all age groups in the creation of their garden.

The tallest sunflower of all, at 167cm, was grown at Oakley School, who won gold for their butterfly-themed allotments, creative planters built with recycled materials and their new classroom garden.

Southborough Pre-School took gold for clever use of space and creating homes for wildlife – all built with the use of recycled materials; and their tallest sunflower was 155cm.

Bishops Down Primary won gold for their refurbished raised gardens, creative use of recycled materials and well-maintained floral displays.

CHAMPION OF CHAMPIONS 2018 Flats or Street Gold: 6-20 North Street Planter, Tub or Container Gold: Rose Hatt Patio or Balcony Gold: Maria McKenna Wildlife Garden Gold: Richard Bell Front Garden Gold: Marianne Meadow

‘This year there were also a record 285 entries for the Tunbridge Wells in Bloom competition, which raised more than £1,800 for Hospice in the Weald’ A gold award also went to Brenchley & Matfield Primary School for their raised bed gardens assigned for each class and their wildlife garden with a pond.

St James’ Junior School received a silver award for their clever use of space and selection of native and bee-friendly plants.

Broadwater Down Primary were given a silver gilt award for creating a new school garden and for the participation of the children in its maintenance.

Skinners’ Kent Primary School were highly commended for their spectacular sunflower bed, with the tallest plant being 149cm.

There was also a competition for schools to create artwork on the theme of bees, and awards went to Southborough Pre-School, Brenchley & Matfield Primary School and St John’s Primary.

Cllr David Elliott, Chairman of Tunbridge Wells in Bloom, said: “We had a record number of entries this year, and I’d like to thank all those who took part for their contribution to making the Borough of Tunbridge Wells such a lovely place to live.

“Thanks must also go to Peter Every, Helen Timms and Kasia Olszewska of the Parks Team and the rest of the Tunbridge Wells in Bloom Committee – Jilly Ball, Katharina Mahler-Bech, Neil Jackson and Ian Johnstone – and our volunteers, without whom all this would not be possible.”

Back Garden Gold: Laurence and Christine Smith Community Garden Silver gilt: Ashurst Park Care Home Shop Front Silver gilt: Morgan Hodges Pub, Club or Café Gold: The Nevill Crest & Gun Business Ground Gold: Halliwell Care Home Basket – Residential Gold: Sue Ashworth Allotments Gold: Ray Copper Commercial Basket or Planter Gold: The Barn

Grosvenor & Hilbert Park

CHAMPION OF CHAMPIONS – ALLOTMENT: Ray Copper with The Mayor and Mayoress

CHAMPION OF CHAMPIONS – BUSINESS The Barn

BEST FRONT PATIO Gordon Hammond

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TUNBRIDGE WELLS IN BLOOM WINNERS

BEST ALLOTMENT Suzanne French

Best Flats/Street Gold: Post Office Square Gold and winner: Calverley Park Crescent Best Basket Residential Gold: Mr N Kokash, Pascale Chauvot, Ian Hunter, Mr and Mrs Hooker, Rose Hatt, Sharon Lee, Monica Morgan, Mrs D Reed, Gordon Hammond, Harriette Pike, Fran Guyatt, Alan and Moira Farmer Gold and winner: John and Sandra O’Callaghan Best Planter Tub or Container Gold: Mr and Mrs Hooker, Pat Foard, Nicola Martin and Peter Connell, Suzanne French, Gloria Cummins, Mr N Kokash, Sheila Mulholland, Rosetta Williams, Colin Brace, Ian Hunter, Mr and Mrs Halse, Sheila Wiles, Pascale Chauvot, Mrs D Reed, Gordon Hammond, Eddie Reynolds, Harriette Pike, Monica Morgan, Sue Ashworth, John and Sandra O’Callaghan Gold and winner: Fran Guyatt Best Patio or Balcony Gold: Rose Hatt Gold and winner: Gordon Hammond Best Wildlife Garden Silver gilt and winner: Rachael Cooper

CHAMPION OF CHAMPIONS – BEST BASKET Received on behalf of Sue Ashworth

Best Front Garden Gold: Gordon Hammond, Gloria Cummins, Monica Morgan Gold and winner: Harriette Pike Best Back Garden Gold: Barbara Varney, Sheila Wiles, Suzanne French, Sylvia Westrup, Mrs P E Kemp, Harriette Pike, Philip Cooper, Marianne Meadow, Sue Daniels, Monica Morgan, Abid Bahar, Sue Green, Sheila Mulholland Gold and winner: Tracy Barclay Best Allotment Gold: Richard Bell, John Tapp, Bruno Gallon, Valerie Wilson, Tony Morris Gold and winner: Suzanne French Best Commercial Planter – Basket Gold: W A Turner, Broadwater Lane; Morgan Hodges, 52 The Pantiles; Halliwell Care Home, Kingswood Road; Ashurst Park Care Home, Fordcombe Road Gold and winner: The Bedford, 2 High Street Best Community Allotment or Garden Gold and winner: The Pickering Cancer Drop-In Centre, Monson Road Best Shop Front Silver gilt and winner: Karen’s Foam Store, Camden Road Best Café, Pub or Club Gold: The Bedford, 2 High Street Gold and winner: The Barn, 1 Lonsdale Gardens Best Business Grounds Gold: W A Turner, Broadwater Lane; The Pickering Cancer Drop-In Centre, 27 Monson Road Gold and winner: The Barn, 1 Lonsdale Gardens

Dunorlan Park

BEST BASKET WINNER John and Sandra O’Callaghan BEST COMMUNITY ALLOTMENT – GARDEN Pickering Cancer Drop-In Centre

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British values are Johnson urges Tory conference crucial, not sixth to ‘chuck Chequers’ Brexit plan wife of Henry VIII PEOPLE seeking UK citizenship must pass a ‘British values test’, the Home Secretary Sajid Javid has said as he criticised the existing ‘pub quiz’ examination.

Mr Javid emphasised his belief that immigration has been good for Britain as he outlined his hopes for the country to continue to be open and tolerant after Brexit.

He added ‘newcomers’ should be expected to live by ‘British values’ and said the existing Life in the UK test is ‘not enough’.

She said it was far more important for people to understand what binds society together, rather than know the name of Henry VIII’s sixth wife.

Grave Mr Javid also outlined moves to strip dualcitizens of their British citizenship if they are convicted of ‘grave’ criminal offences, such as those involved in gang-based child sexual exploitation.

In a speech to the Tory conference, he said: “We welcome newcomers. In turn, we expect them to live by our British values.

“It is only right that we make it clear to all new citizens what we are for, and what we are against.

“Citizenship should mean more than being able to win a pub quiz. We need to make it a British values test, and that’s exactly what I will bring in.”

He added that the Government would strengthen the English language requirements for all new citizens and outlined proposals to refuse entry to the UK where there is evidence of forced marriage.

He said: “We will consult on making it a mandatory duty for professionals to report forced marriage whenever they come across it.”

LEADING THE WAY Theresa May arrives at the Tory conference BORIS JOHNSON has denounced Prime Minister Theresa May’s Chequers plan for EU withdrawal as an ‘outrage’ that would leave the UK ‘locked in the tractor beam of Brussels’.

At the Conservative conference in Birmingham, the former Foreign Secretary warned that the only winners from a Chequers-style Brexit would be the far-right and far-left in British politics.

Fantasy He urged Tory delegates to persuade Mrs May to ‘chuck Chequers’ and return to the hard Brexit blueprint she first set out in her Lancaster House speech, when she said she would take the UK out of the customs union, single market and jurisdiction of the European Court of Justice.

Speaking on the fringe of the conference Mr Johnson, who resigned from the Cabinet in July in protest at the Chequers plan, said he rejected as ‘total fantasy’ the idea that it would be possible

to ‘bodge’ Brexit now and then negotiate a better deal after leaving in March 2019.

And he warned that if a deal based on Chequers was agreed with the EU, it would ‘embolden’ those who are calling for a second referendum – something that he said would be ‘disastrous for trust in politics’.

Mr Johnson also claimed that Mrs May’s blueprint – which ties Britain to a common rulebook with the EU for trade in goods – would be ‘politically humiliating for a £2trillion economy’ and would prevent the UK from making its own laws and subject it to the directives of Brussels.

“This is not pragmatic, it is not a compromise. It is dangerous and unstable – politically and economically,” he said.

“My fellow Conservatives, this is not democracy. This is not what we voted for. This is an outrage. This is not taking back control: this is forfeiting control.”

And he warned: “If we get it wrong – if we bottle Brexit now – believe me, the people of this country will find it hard to forgive.

“We will give credence to those who cry betrayal, and I am afraid we will make it more likely that the ultimate beneficiary of the ­Chequers deal will be the far-right in the form of Ukip, and therefore the far-left in the form of J­ eremy Corbyn.”

Wednesday October 3 | 2018

NEWS IN BRIEF

Princess’s marriage will be shown on television PRINCESS Eugenie’s wedding ceremony will be broadcast live on ITV, Buckingham Palace has confirmed.

The Queen’s granddaughter, who is ninth in line to the throne, is marrying Jack Brooksbank at St George’s Chapel, Windsor on Friday, October 12.

The marriage will feature in an extended, three-hour This Morning special presented

by Eamonn Holmes and Ruth Langsford starting at 9.25am.

Falling glass kills man A MAN died after being hit by a window that fell from the penthouses at the top of a luxury block of flats in central London.

A large frame fell on to Albert Embankment from The Corniche building.

Property developer St James said it was investigating the incident. The Corniche consists of 252 two, three, and fourbedroom apartments which over-look a number of London landmarks.

It was designed by Foster + Partners and properties within the development cost between £2.7million and £6.25million.

Two more Tube strikes PASSENGERS on London Underground face another strike by drivers in a second dispute over industrial relations.

Members of the drivers’ union Aslef will walk out on the Central Line for 24 hours on Friday [October 5], with another strike planned for November 7.

Members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union on the Piccadilly Line went on strike last week in a separate row.

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Wednesday October 3 | 2018

Side effects from anti-depressants MILLIONS of anti-depressant users face side effects when they try to come off the drugs, a new review has found.

More than half – 56 per cent – of patients who stop taking anti-depressants or reduce their usage experience withdrawal symptoms. Of these, 46 per cent will report experiencing severe side-effects.

The review, carried out for the All Party Parliamentary Group for Prescribed Drug Dependence, calls for fresh guidance for patients.

Current guidelines from the National Institute for Health and

Care Excellence [NICE] say anti-depressant withdrawal symptoms ‘are usually mild’ and last about one week.

The research, by Dr James Davies, of the University of Roehampton, and Professor John Read, from the University of East London, has been published in the Journal of Addictive Behaviours.

The authors estimate around four million patients in England may experience symptoms when withdrawing from anti-depressants, and that they may be severe for 1.8million.

Dr Davies said: “This new

review of the research reveals what many patients have known for years, that withdrawal from anti-depressants often causes severe, debilitating symptoms which can last for weeks, months or longer.

“Existing NICE guidelines fail to acknowledge how common withdrawal is and wrongly suggest that it usually resolves within one week.

“This leads many doctors to misdiagnose withdrawal symptoms, often as relapse, resulting in much unnecessary and harmful long-term prescribing.”

PIONEERS Rebecca Steinfeld and Charles Keidan

Heterosexual couples will be able to have civil partnership THE Government is to change the law to enable heterosexual couples to enter into civil partnerships, Theresa May has said.

Ministers said the move, announced at the Conservative Party conference in Birmingham, was an ‘important step forward for equality’.

It follows a Supreme Court ruling that legislation on civil partnerships, which are currently open only to same-sex couples, was in breach of the European Convention on Human Rights.

Rebecca Steinfeld and Charles Keidan, a couple from London, had mounted a legal challenge to be allowed to have a civil partnership.

The Government said extending them to opposite-sex couples would provide greater security for those who wanted legal recognition for their relationship but did not want to get married.

Mrs May said: “This change in the law helps protect the interests of opposite-sex couples who want to commit, want to formalise their relationship but don’t necessarily want to get married. As Home Secretary, I was proud to sponsor the legislation that created equal marriage.

“Now, by extending civil partnerships, we are making sure that all couples, be they same-sex or opposite-sex, are given the same choices in life.”

Civil partnerships were created by Tony Blair’s Labour government in 2004 they were exclusively for same-sex couples, who were unable to obtain any recognition in law for their relationships.

But after the coalition government acted in 2014 to allow same-sex couples to enter into marriage, the pressure from campaigners to extend civil partnerships to opposite sex couples intensified.

Building industry in ‘downbeat mood’ BRITAIN’S construction sector suffered its weakest growth for six months in September as the ‘Brexit blot on the landscape’ held back activity.

The closely-watched Markit/ CIPS UK Construction purchasing managers’ index showed a weaker than expected reading of 52.1 in September, down from 52.9 in August, with house-building losing momentum. A reading above 50 indicates growth.

The data indicated the sector continues to be in a ‘downbeat

mood’, with business optimism at its second-lowest level since the beginning of 2013.

This comes despite the figures showing the biggest rise in new orders since December 2016.

“The Brexit blot on the landscape was still in evidence as housing activity slowed to a pre-April growth rate and clients hesitated to place orders,” said Duncan Brock, Group Director at the Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply.

Civil engineering was the worst-performing sector, as

activity declined at a faster rate.

A lack of new work to replace completed projects was blamed, after a summer uplift caused in large part by work delayed earlier in the year.

Mr Brock added: “This tale of feast and famine offers little in the way of reassurance and is more about holding on to stable growth than a sprint to the finish.

“The weakest overall activity in six months shows that caution and Brexit concern remain roadblocks to strong growth.”

24

NEWS

Letters

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Wednesday October 3 | 2018

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 Runcie Court, Salomons Estate, Tunbridge Wells TN3 0TG Lack of parking spaces in the town is pricing us out of the market

Why loosen restrictions on green belt?

NO STOPPING The Farmers’ Market outside the Town Hall Last Saturday, I parked behind the old cinema site on Lonsdale Gardens, as I have done for a number of years, to visit the Tunbridge Wells Farmers’ Market, as this is the most convenient place when loaded up with the sort of shopping people buy on the market.

However, this time we returned to find a £60 parking fine attached to our car. I am sure it is within the rights of the owners of the land, but it is both petty and unnecessary at a time when there are limited parking spaces available.

Fine ideas – but who will enforce them?

The Public Space Protection Orders [PSPOs] announced recently by Tunbridge Wells Borough Council are little more than virtue gesturing.

They are unenforceable in any practical sense, and on the face of it the council naively believes these offences take place in plain sight.

Who’s going to oppose banning psycho-active substances? But who’s going to be around to enforce the sanction? All drug-taking is illegal and making it so hasn’t prevented it; so how does adding this one to the list improve matters?

Many weekend dinner parties in middle and upper-class households don’t end with coffee and brandy, but a line or two of something.

Previously, dog-fouling attracted a penalty of £75, and many lamp posts were decorated with expensively produced signs advertising this; so little good did they do that the offence will now attract a fine of £100.

Doesn’t anyone in the council realise that you’ve got to catch them first? And if they can catch the one who allows their dog to foul the pavement directly outside my front entrance, I will pay the council £100. Somehow, I don’t think they’re going to be around at 11.30pm or 6am to enforce this one either.

Edward Baker Tunbridge Wells

Town centre is on the road to nowhere “Avoid Grove Hill Road” Tweets Cllr Moore; where has she been? She could have said: “Avoid Lansdowne Road; avoid Sandhurst Road and Garden Road, and Vale Road, too.” All of them were simultaneously under repair or ongoing work.

She could have said “Avoid Pembury Road” because of the traffic lights at Blackhurst Lane and Prospect Road.

as best we can. Many recent newcomers have moved to Tunbridge Wells and surrounding villages because of what it has to offer.

Then I respectfully suggest they should also do some research as to nearest airports, motorways and the likely noise that is generated.

With the summer we had, it was actually nice to sit outside and watch the aircraft go by and imagine what fancy destinations they were headed to or coming from. It’s surprising how suddenly one is not bothered by the sound.

John Pearce Tunbridge Wells

If we are to be encouraged to support the Farmers’ Market and struggling local shops, as well as visit restaurants, etc, in the evening, there needs to be a far more sensible approach to parking in the town centre, particularly during out-of-office hours.

These spaces should be made available, as they regularly are in other countries. The simple alternative is to shop online.

Andrew Fairfax Tunbridge Wells She could have said “Avoid Bayhall Road” where the traffic lights at Prospect Road appear to be on glacial time.

And the Brighton road, and Mount Ephraim, too – St John’s as well.

“Avoid Camden Road and Monson Road, and Calverley Road and the High Street, too” because of the parking.

She could have said “Avoid your own road” because of the commuter parking.

Let us summarise: “Avoid Tunbridge Wells unless you’re an unfortunate who must drive in for business.” The shoppers are staying away in their droves and the retailers are following.

Ralph Steerpike Tunbridge Wells

More aircraft? It’s all part of modern life I read with interest Norma Pinkerton’s letter about the incessant noise caused by living under an airport ‘motorway’.

Sadly, this is a typical NIMBY reaction: Yes, we need an airport, but not near anywhere I live.

We all want to have easy access to an airport, but then we have to put up with some disturbance. Claims made by some that aircraft are ‘screaming’ overhead 24/7 are wrong.

We did have noisy aircraft through the 1970s and 1980s, but today’s aircraft are considerably quieter. Only the occasional older aircraft flies over these days. Even the massive A380 makes a roar, but is soon gone.

Forty years ago you could hear an aircraft approach for at least five minutes before it actually came overhead. That was noise!

Like everything, Gatwick has expanded – as have housing, road traffic and all the changes that come about with an expanding population.

So we get used to this and continue to live

Cllr David Cure points out that 480 houses being built on the green belt in Brook Street is unacceptable. Why was it that in 2007 he allowed the reclassification of this property as ‘safeguarded land’, which made its development almost inevitable?

The land is totally unsuitable, it is in a river flood risk area and suffers from surface water flooding, too. Tonbridge & Malling Borough Council must stop building in the flood plain as it did at Blossom Bank, which immediately flooded.

The alternative brownfield Old Colas Site is huge and should be used for housing before more bites are taken from our countryside.

Last week a planning officer told me it would be ‘irresponsible’ to pass over the Judd sites in favour of the one I suggest. This is madness, the commercial use of the land in Vale Road will affect the viability of our High Street further.

The type of housing scheduled will not ease local need but simply bring in more people from outside of the borough, putting increasing pressure on services and infrastructure.

Mark Hood Green Party candidate, Judd Ward

There has already been a People’s Vote Cllr Lidstone, together with other Lib Dem councillors, is to call for a ‘people’s vote’ on Brexit: Strange, I thought we had one two years ago when we voted to leave.

What he is proposing is a dangerous precedent and opens up the unnerving prospect of any and all future governments having to go to the country for approval of any and every piece of proposed legislation. Is that what he wants?

The next time we get a Lib Dem government, elected on a minority total, will he welcome me banging on about it endlessly?

There was a majority vote to come out; even my dog now understands it, and he’s as thick as a chip butty!

Sam Goodenough Tunbridge Wells

We should be careful what we wish for Tim Pendry [September 19] claims to have thought carefully about voting Leave. If so, what were his thoughts about, say, the Irish border, the increased prospect of Scottish independence, and leaving France as the only nuclear power within the EU? James Robertson Pembury

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

Calverley

Observations on life and more important things

NOT often that Calverley is rendered almost speechless, but it happened the other day. It was Wednesday around 7.30am and Himself was queuing at Pret A Manger in Tunbridge Wells. (No, he wasn’t on his way home from a night out, it was a breakfast meeting.) He watched in horror as a hand reached around him and tweaked the rear end of the young man standing in front. Naturally, the chap swung round and glared at Calverley, believing him to be the culprit. Visions of indecent assault charges and a ruined reputation (oh yes, he does have one). Happily, before matters got out of hand, the man in the queue behind Calverley peered over his shoulder and burst out laughing. It was a friend of the ‘victim’.

Please don’t do that again, sir.

SPEED AWARENESS courses are not the place to try and be funny. Sitting in front of the trainers at one such session, motorists caught speeding were asked to introduce themselves. One attendee stood up and said: “Hi, my name’s Peter and I’m an alcoholic.”

The trainers were not amused: “If you want to be funny and can’t take this seriously, you can leave now and have the points for speeding put on your driving licence.” He sat down and shut up. Calverley is not telling you how he knows all this…

THROUGH the letterbox comes a nice white envelope complete with NHS logo. Another invitation to go for some sort of life-saving test? No, it’s an invitation to sign up for prescriptions to be delivered to your door; no need to pop into the local chemist. But it’s nothing to do with the NHS, it’s a private company called Pharmacy2U. (How can they get away with using the NHS logo?) No doubt the service might be useful to those living in rural areas where there’s limited access to a chemist, but Calverley fears it’s another threat to shops on the High Street. Steer well clear.

FACEBOOK really is a mixed blessing. Take the case of Calverley’s friend, who actually shares the same birthday as his wife. On the Big Day she had 45 messages from friends wishing her all the best, and was delighted.

He had three – and one of those was from his wife. He’s still sulking.

Chin Chin, readers

Wednesday October 3 | 2018

Education

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EDUCATION Times WITH THE

Tonbridge pupils’ stance on anti-plastic pollution will aid vital overseas work TONBRIDGE SCHOOL is making a stand against plastic pollution by bringing to an end the single use of plastic bottles and cups across the school.

All boys and staff have been issued with reusable, durable water bottles as part of the drive to combat plastic waste. A spokesperson for the independent school told the Times it was ‘determined’ to play its part in the campaign against plastic pollution.

A UK FIRST The school is enjoying Join the Pipe’s first landmark installation in the UK

Fountains The reusable bottles that have been introduced across the site are easy to clean, dishwasher safe and suitable for classroom and exam room use.

They can be refilled at six newly installed, state-of-the-art water fountains at the school, which provide clean tap water, ready to drink.

Juliet Burnett, the school’s Community Action Manager, said: “Getting rid of single-use water bottles seemed a natural first step. We want to take a lead on what, in many ways, is simply a change of culture and habit.

“As a school, we take our social responsibilities seriously, both to our local community and to the wider world, and we are committed to doing what we can to reduce plastic waste.”

Plastic water bottles have now been removed from sale in the school’s Library café and in its Orchard Centre, and will no longer be provided in boys’ packed lunches or on sports trips.

The school’s anti-single use plastic policy will also help developing nations as the newly installed water fountains and bottles have been supplied by Join the Pipe, a Dutch organisation that sets up drinking water projects in poorer parts of the world.

“For every fountain and bottle that it sells in European countries, Join the

Pipe is able to help fund its mission of installing fresh water pumps and improving sanitation in Africa and southeast Asia,” said the spokesperson.

Tonbridge School is Join the Pipe’s first UK customer, and profits will mainly fund Child Action in Sri Lanka, one of the school’s key partnerships.

Mrs Burnett continued: “We are proud of our links with Child Action Lanka, which works to transform the lives of the most disadvantaged children. For the past five years we have sent out groups of boys to work in its bases across Sri Lanka, as well as taking out sports kit and raising funds for its valuable work.

“This year sees another big fundraising push to help build Child Action Lanka a new centre, and we are hoping that Join the Pipe will be

able to supply clean drinking water to this exciting venture.”

To date, Join the Pipe has set up more than 400 water pumps in Africa and South East Asia. It also provides schoolchildren in these countries with water bottles, helping to improve hygiene, and trains local people to install the pumps.

Andrew Eversden, Managing Director of Join the Pipe International, said: “We are really pleased to be working with Tonbridge School and supplying our first refill stations in the UK.” In the future, the school also aims to get rid of other wasteful plastics, such as disposable coffee cups and plastic bags, as it continues to reflect on how to work as a force for good in environmental matters.

Planting the seeds of peace

IMPRESSED Oakley School’s all-round growth appealed to the Inner Wheel Club

Poetry festival at Mayfield ACCLAIMED poet Sinéad Morrissey will read to GCSE and A level pupils at Mayfield School on October 4.

Professor of Creative Writing at Newcastle University, Dr Morrissey’s latest poetry collection On Balance won the Forward Prize for Poetry 2017. She also won the TS Eliot Poetry Prize in 2014 for the collection Parallax.

Adults who would like to hear Dr Morrissey are invited to attend a reading on the evening of Thursday, October 4 in the Courtyard of Mayfield School at 7.30pm. Tickets cost £5. Please call 01435 874600.

OAKLEY SCHOOL in Tunbridge Wells has been chosen by one of the largest women’s service organisations in the world as the local recipient of a rose to commemorate the recent International Day of Peace.

The event was to celebrate the end of World War I, and service groups around the country were asked to choose a school local to them to receive a symbolic rose.

The Tunbridge Wells Inner Wheel Club decided theirs should go to Oakley School, which accommodates pupils with special needs aged two to 25 years old.

Local Inner Wheel Club President Christine Baker told the Times: “Peace Roses were planted

by Inner Wheel Clubs at various local schools all over Kent on September 21 to celebrate the International Day of Peace, and also the centenary of the ending of World War I. “Oakley School was the obvious choice for us.

It is an eco-school, and we firmly believe in their ethos and ability to grow individuals even though they have special educational needs.

“We were very impressed to see how caring Oakley School is, and were delighted to see such happy children – and also to see that they have an active Gardening Club.”

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Martin Betts Labour Party local campaign co-ordinator

Wednesday October 3 | 2018

Labour Party member Martin Betts lives in Southborough and has long been active in local politics. He 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 Conservatives, Lib Dems and members of The Green Party

Why we want a final say on a Brexit deal DESPITE being the only constituency in Kent that voted Remain in the EU referendum, Conservative councillors on Tunbridge Wells Borough Council threw out a motion asking for their support for a People’s Vote on the final deal negotiated by Theresa May. In an acrimonious debate, they said Brexit negotiations were nothing to do with the council, even though it represents over 116,000 people whose livelihoods and futures depend on getting a good outcome. And despite their local MP being a senior (uninfluential?) Cabinet minister.

Those of us sitting on the sidelines see unravelling chaos. The Chequers proposal being put forward by the PM has not got the full support of her MPs. Across the country she has thousands of Tory dinosaurs at her heels – like many of those on Tunbridge Wells Borough Council – demanding a harder Brexit.

She has not got the support of most other opposition MPs or public opinion, and her proposals are opposed by 27 EU countries.

It is glaringly obvious that unless there are significant changes they will not get through.

We are heading for a worst possible no deal Brexit that most business leaders and economists say will be disastrous, will increase prices, and reduce our living standards.

The leader of the food and drink association has warned of the dangers of a no deal Brexit to food supplies, of customs checks and queues at the ports, like Dover and Calais. Parts of the car industry in the Midlands are working a short working week because of business uncertainty.

Farmers are seriously worried.

Those who voted for Brexit didn’t vote to be worse off, have higher food prices, or for more job insecurity – but this is what we are likely to get out of these bodged negotiations.

To sort this chaos out, we must make all of our voices known on the final outcome.

MARCHING ORDERS Campaigners are to support a People’s Vote on October 20

Control If, after two years of infighting, the Conservatives are failing to deliver a Brexit that works for all of us, then we should have a general election to elect a new government that can.

Failing this, we should have a People’s Vote on the terms of the final agreement, which should include the possibility of remaining in the European Union.

For those of us who are in trade unions or professional bodies, this is how negotiations work. We let the negotiators do their best to get a deal and then get the chance to say yes or no to the final offer. If we don’t like it we can say no

and send the negotiators back to do better.

If the EU vote was about taking back control, this means we the people taking back control.

All of us should now all have the chance to say to our government ‘deal or no deal’.

Many of us will be expressing the strength of our feelings by joining the mass march for a People’s Vote for the Future in central London from noon on Saturday, October 20. Meet at Tunbridge Wells Station at 9.30am. Join us!

Wednesday October 3 | 2018

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Home is Where the hearth is Page 28

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Best property buys for...

We all love to see homes with the ‘wow’ factor, which could apply to the kitchen, reception room, garden or something else. Here we home in on specific aspects that make these particular properties for sale stand out The STAIRCASE…

Court Lodge Lamberhurst

£3,600,000 Contact

Knight Frank, Tunbridge Wells • 01892 515035 • knightfrank.co.uk A Grade II-listed stately home owned by the Morland family since 1733. It is currently set up as multiple dwellings, and Flat 2 was previously rented to former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher.

Plus – as a separate lot – nine holes of Lamberhurst

Broadwater Lodge Tunbridge Wells

£1,150,000 Contact

Kings Estates, Tunbridge Wells • 01892 533367 • kings-estates.co.uk A family home that gives you both beautiful rural escapism and easy access to vibrant Tunbridge Wells. A great house for an outdoor family.

MAIN POINTS OF INTEREST: n Grade II listed former Abergavenny Lodge n Drawing room with inglenook fireplace n 5 bedrooms n 5 acres of gardens and woodland n Located next to the RSPB Broadwater

Warren Nature Reserve

The FIREPLACE…

Golf Club, totalling about 40 acres. This was originally the family’s private golf course in the 1890s, when famed Matfield war poet Siegfried Sassoon was a frequent visitor.

MAIN POINTS OF INTEREST: n Some apartments are currently let n Principal flat includes a conservatory, gallery, library, 5 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms n Formal gardens include 2 walled gardens, a knot garden and an atmospheric sunken garden n Planning permission is said to be in place to use the property as a wedding venue. Please consult agent for details

Wednesday October 3 | 2018

The BATHROOM…

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The beautifully fitted bathroom features a roll-top bath with claw feet and a large walk-in shower

Coachman’s Cottage Broadwater Down, Tunbridge Wells

£1,200,000 Contact

Hamptons International, Tunbridge Wells • 01892 640316 • hamptons.co.uk An exceptional, well-screened, 4-bedroom former Victorian coach house.

MAIN POINTS OF INTEREST: n Sitting room with open fireplace n Conservatory with double doors on two sides to the terrace n Kitchen/dining room with an Aga

and 6-ring gas hob and door to terrace

Calverley Park Gardens Tunbridge Wells

£675,000 Contact

Hamptons International, Tunbridge Wells • 01892 640316 • hamptons.co.uk

Havens View London Road Southborough GUIDE PRICE

Immaculate 4-bedroom house bordering open countryside.

MAIN POINTS OF INTEREST: n Features include stained glass windows, some arched

£785,000

n Living room with tiled fireplace

Contact

to decked terrace, with steps down to the garden

Flying Fish Properties, Southborough • 01892 514189 • flyingfishproperties.co.uk

n Kitchen has double French doors

n Large rear garden with studio and summerhouse; 0.4 acres in all

The DECK…

A spacious and beautifully presented apartment approached by a ‘Manhattanstyle’ staircase rising to the top floor with a balcony to the front.

OTHER MAIN POINTS OF INTEREST: n Elegant 20ft-sitting room with views across Tunbridge Wells n Kitchen/breakfast room with a delightful window seat n Many excellent period features

n Principal bedroom with vaulted ceiling and beams n Detached garage and store

The CONSERVATORY…

Wednesday October 3 | 2018

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Ridleys

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AT A GLANCE RIDLEYS MILLBROOK HILL, NUTLEY n Superbly presented modern country house n Commoners Rights over Ashdown Forest n Designed using local materials and craftsmen n Underfloor heating throughout n Built-in vacuum system n Internal telephone system GROUND FLOOR n Reception hall n Drawing room n Dining room n Music room n Mark Wilkinson-designed kitchen with breakfast room n Shower room FIRST FLOOR n Master bedroom with dressing room and en-suite bathroom n 3 further bedrooms (all en suite) SECOND FLOOR n 2 bedrooms (both en suite) n Playroom

Ashdown Forest is on the doorstep

of a designer country home which boasts a garden with a ‘wilderness’ feel and streams

LOWER GROUND FLOOR n 71ft recreation room with double doors opening to the grassed terrace at each end. Exceptional space for entertaining on a grand scale n Sitting room n Study/office n Billiard room n Utility room/catering kitchen n Gym, shower room and plant room OUTSIDE n Approached via a private track across Ashdown Forest n Landscaped gardens with Indian sandstone terrace and streams, giving a natural ‘wilderness’ feel n Gardener’s WC, boiler room and water tank room n Electric entrance gates n Triple-bay garage n In total, about 3 acres GUIDE PRICE

£3,500,000

Contact Savills, Haywards Heath 01444 446000 • savills.com

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FOR EVEN MORE NEWS VISIT: timeslocalnews.co.uk Architectural

John Bullock

Architectural services

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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. johnbullockdesign.com

You don’t just own a listed building, you become its privileged custodian

O

ur case study this month is all about working with listed buildings. We recently welcomed Glenda Egerton to our team. She joins us as Planning Consultant to head up our planning department and has a particular interest in listed buildings.

Here she offers advice on working with them: The idea of owning a listed building sounds like a dream to many people. But it is important to have an informed understanding of what you are letting yourself in for, especially if you plan to make alterations or to build an extension.

With the right advice, however, you will become a custodian of a wonderful property which will be passed on to the next generation, possibly in a better condition that you bought it.

Since being involved in planning, I have always been particularly interested in listed buildings, and enjoy working to ensure the character and significance of the building is retained.

The way we live has changed, and sometimes older properties don’t flow to provide the perfect layout for entertaining or to cater for a busy family. With sensitive design solutions, internal reconfigurations or extensions can be achieved to suit everyone, including planning officers!

Our case study looks at a detached villa built during the Georgian period, which started with the reign of George I in 1714 and ended on the death of George IV in 1830.

These well-constructed buildings are dotted around Tunbridge Wells and the surrounding areas and are popular as they boast good

‘The way we live has changed, and sometimes older properties don’t flow to provide the perfect layout for a busy family’

proportions throughout with large windows, square rooms and a central staircase.

A large number of Georgian buildings are listed for their special architectural or historic interest.

When a building is listed, it is the whole building (inside and out) that is listed and therefore protected.

Given that unauthorised works to a listed building are a criminal offence, if you are

proposing any work to your listed property, it would be prudent to first check with your local planning authority as to the need for consent.

When clients approach us with a listed building, we encourage them to move in and live with it for a while before moving forward with their plans, to gain a greater understanding of how spaces relate to one another, how space is used, and to get a feel for how their future needs could connect with this existing space.

This then helps inform the brief.

Our example shows an elegant single storey extension which creates the ever-popular open-plan kitchen/dining space.

A roof lantern floods the new area with light along with a high-level clerestory window and more traditional arched sash window.

The extension construction can be undertaken using modern building techniques with an appearance to match the original methods used in Georgian times. It can be finished in a painted render and stone detailing to bring the new and old together.

But don’t feel that you must stick to a traditional approach when working with listed buildings. A sensitive and creative design can marry a modern glass box extension with a traditional building beautifully.

PROS AND CONS OF LISTED BUILDINGS Pros: � Knowing that you live in, and own, a historical building is a great feeling – you’re one of the privileged few who gets to enjoy being a part of history � A listed building typically appreciates in value more than other properties � Listed properties are usually situated in fantastic locations � Listed buildings are usually aesthetically pleasing and come with a host of original features � You will own a unique property that has stood the test of time – imagine the stories!

Cons: � Listed buildings can be expensive to insure, however there are specialist insurers who offer savings � You may or may not be able to make alterations and you must obtain permissions before making any changes � Restoration can be more expensive than a more traditional building as works must be undertaken using the same construction methods and materials used when the building was originally built

John Bullock Design is a multi-award winning, Tunbridge Wells based, architectural design consultants and proud winner of the Times of Tunbridge Wells 2018 ‘Best Business 1-25 Employees’ Award. For further advice please call 01892 525732.

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FROM COAST TO COAST Neil Oliver has captured fascinating facts about the British Isles

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Treasure these islands

TV historian and archaeologist Neil Oliver comes to the Assembly Hall next week with his new tour, based on his latest book of the same name, The Story of the British Isles in 100 Places. Eileen Leahy speaks to the globetrotting Scotsman ahead of his visit here on October 11 to find out more about it

B

EARING in mind that Neil Oliver has just undergone intensive root canal surgery when we get together to talk ahead of his first theatre tour, it’s fair to say that he comes across as being remarkably chipper despite this gruelling procedure.

His trademark soft Scottish lilt shows no sign of any dental distress – if anything, he’s in positively jovial mood, joking that the surgery hurt his wallet more than it hurt him – as he settles back to tell me what The Story of the British Isles in 100 Places book and subsequent tour is all about.

“I wrote the book earlier this year because in the back of my mind I knew that courtesy of my various TV programmes, such as Coast, I was on a unique, bespoke tour of the British Isles,” explains Neil, who is as famous for his lustrous long locks as his globetrotting. “I’d seen so many places over a geographical and chronological spread that I felt could tell a story.”

The result is the aforementioned book, which is a beautifully photographed, comprehensive tome of some of the UK’s most interesting and important historical and geographical landmarks.

But it is not, Neil insists, a ‘tourist

PHOTO: Jim Richardson

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UNFORGETTABLE SITE The Ness of Brodgar in Orkney guide’ to Britain – it’s much more of an ‘owner’s manual’.

“I’d say it’s also a thesis about what has happened in these isles,” he continues. “Each place is a pearl in

the string of the British Isles and has something important about it. I wanted to put it all down in some kind of order.”

Included in the book are battlefields, beaches, peninsulas, cathedrals, tors and ancient trees, all of which tangibly reflect the spirit of the past – which is, of course, right up Neil’s street as he’s also a trained archaeologist and journalist.

Before he became a popular presenter of programmes like Vikings, The History Detectives and Coast, Neil was working as an archaeologist and supplementing his income as a jobbing journo.

But it was on the BBC Two documentary Two Men in a Trench, about a dig he was doing with his colleague Tony Pallard on British battlefields in 2002, where he was spotted and given his first break. From then, Neil says, he went through an ‘accidental transfer’ to TV and radio and, of course, writing.

This latest book, published last month, is his tenth.

So what gave the man of many talents the idea to take this particular book on a UK theatre tour?

“Well, I thought I’m not with people when they watch my TV programmes or read my books,” he says, “so wouldn’t it be a good idea to talk about it in

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PHOTO: Chris Ibbotson

PHOTO: Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust

Wednesday October 3 | 2018

NEIL’S TRAVELS: Have taken him from (l-r) the Iron Bridge in Shropshire to Lacada Point in Northern Ireland, the Heart of Midlothian mosaic in Edinburgh’s Royal Mile, and to many more intriguing places beyond. Neil has uncovered battlefields, beaches, peninsulas, cathedrals, tors – and even ancient trees various places with different audiences?

“We’re going through a pivotal moment in society at the moment, and in a way I want to put an arm around the shoulder of the British Isles and its people and tell them: “You’ve been through worse before. Yes, you have big decisions to make right now and you don’t feel you can cope, but no matter what happens, we have been through worse.

“In this present climate of public fear, disagreement and uncertainty about the future, I think it is timely to look again at the past, the story of this place from its earliest times.”

At this point, I assume he must be referring to the looming Brexit and the culture of fear that has slowly emerged following recent terror attacks, so I guess the timing of Neil’s tour seems quite apt.

Does he feel daunted about this new kind of journey he’s about to embark on?

“Well, I’m going to be doing 39 nights in a row and I will speak from the heart – I just hope I don’t get laryngitis as a result,” he jokes.

“When I have spoken in public before it has been at literary festivals, in bookshops, or on a discussion panel. I have never done a solid run like this, and I can’t even tell you what it’s like as I have yet to go on tour!”

He does, however, say that he will have a ‘kind of script’ to stick to as he progresses through the tour, which started in Harrogate last Monday and finishes on November 20 in Glasgow, taking in the Assembly Hall next Thursday.

“I’m ultimately hoping you won’t see the same show twice during the tour,” he adds.

The first half of the evening will see Neil focusing his conversational compass on specific places of significance: “I will set out my basic thesis about where we are now, using some of the 100 places as examples of how we got here.

“There are some very powerful ancient grounds which represent what has happened.

“We have lived through civil wars and religious intolerance, burnt witches and been invaded by the Romans, the Anglo Saxons. You name it, whatever can happen – war, famine, natural disaster – we have lived through it and – crucially – also survived it, learning some important lessons along the way. As King Solomon said, ‘This too shall pass’.

“The British Isles are like Father Time, they’ve seen it, done it and seem to have got over it.

“I’m not in any way giving out advice, but I do want to say consider this place as a person, what advice would you give them? Put an arm round them and I say ‘I love you and have faith in you.

Whatever happens you will still be you’.”

During the interval audience members will have the opportunity to submit questions, some of which Neil will then address in the second

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half of the show. By the sounds of it, this promises to be a fascinating and highly engaging evening.

Can Neil possibly pinpoint any special places of personal significance out of the 100 landmarks?

“Lots of different places and people resonate with me, but I often find myself thinking about Iona, a holy island just off Scotland’s Inner Hebrides. It is a spectacularly lovely place, good for the heart and soul, a good place to be. I also have to include Westminster Abbey as it’s a bit like a filing cabinet of death, as you have royalty, poets and unknown warriors all lying there.

“But it’s the Ness of Brodgar in Orkney, which was discovered by archaeologists in 2003, which I come back to time and time again.

“During the Neolithic period they adopted farming as opposed to hunting and had permanent homes and did chores; it was a time of huge social change.

Fifteen years after the discovery, the exploration is still going on and has long since altered our understanding of the entire Neolithic period in north-western Europe.”

Despite a passion for the past, Neil says he’s always open to new things, too, and that if this tour is a success he might do more in the future.

Has Neil visited Tunbridge Wells before?

“I have,” he responds. “I have walked The Pantiles and seem to remember it was very pretty indeed. I’m looking forward to returning.”

Neil Oliver brings his new tour, The Story of the British Isles in 100 Places, to the Assembly Hall in Tunbridge Wells on Thursday, October 11.

Tickets cost £22.50 and children from £15. Visit assemblyhalltheatre .co.uk

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goingout 7 days of activities

By Eileen Leahy

current collections and exhibitions on at various galleries in the town, including the Spring Art Gallery on the High Street and Tonbridge School’s OBS space.

The Odeon will be screening The Winter’s Tale live from Shakespeare’s Globe this evening at 7.15pm as part of the popular Globe on Screen season. This new production by Blanche McIntyre stars Wil Keen as Leontes, Pryianag Buford as Hermione and Annette Badland as Old Shepherd.

Tickets to see the Bard’s fascinating tale of the irrational, inexplicable and how uncontrollable emotions can have such powerful repercussions on people cost £20.75, with concessions available. See odeon.co.uk Over at Trinity Theatre this evening, from 7.30pm, Merely Theatre present their interpretation of another Shakespeare classic – Much Ado About Nothing. Tickets to see this comedy of errors cost £18

FRIDAY

CAN LOVE CONQUER ALL? Find out in a chilling Sicilian Ghost Story at Trinity Theatre

WEDNESDAY

Trinity Theatre presents How to Hide a Lion today at 1pm. Based on the enchanting book by Helen Stephens, it tells the tale of a little girl named Iris who tries to help a lion being chased out of town to find somewhere to hide. Using the power of puppetry to express the story as well as music and songs, it’s a perfect performance for preschoolers. Tickets cost £12 per person and are available from trinitytheatre.net Later on this evening at Trinity, you have the chance to see Sicilian Ghost Story, an Italianlanguage film about a 13-year-old boy called Giuseppe who mysteriously disappears. Luna, his classmate, who is also in love with him, refuses

The Tunbridge Wells Jazz Club puts on performances on a fairly regular basis at the Masonic Hall in St John’s Road, and this month they welcome The New Orleans Z’Hulus Jazz Band from 8pm until 10.30pm. Tickets, which are available on the door, cost £14 per person.

to believe he has just vanished and tries to find him, thus entering a dark and complex world. The screening is at 8pm and tickets cost £11 per person.

THURSDAY

There will be an Autumn Fair at Chafford Park, near Groombridge, today from 9am until 4pm, and proceeds will go to The Hospice in the Weald.

There will be approximately 30 stalls to browse boasting a quality array of fashion pieces, as well as items for the home and garden and lots to tempt foodies. There will also be a café and bar to enjoy.

If you’re into appreciating art, then you’ll like the Tonbridge First Thursdays that occur every month from 6.30pm to 8.30pm and showcase the

A NEW TRAIL is open as part of Hever Castle’s Autum Colour event

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The inaugural Deeds & Words event, celebrating a centenary of female voices, kicks off today at the EM Forster Theatre in Tonbridge. Throughout the three-day festival, visitors can enjoy a number of specialist talks by the likes of historian Lucy Worsley and BBC Radio 4’s Jenni Murray alongside local names such as Pam Mills, who will be conducting a historical tour of the town.

For more details, visit emtheatre.com There’s still time to see Trinity Theatre’s current exhibition entitled Temporary Everythings.

Featuring the work of painter RG Jones, it’s an

Wednesday October 3 | 2018

exploration into ‘art as ritual and an act of magic’. On every day until this Sunday, you can see it from 10am until 10pm.

SATURDAY Friends of Grosvenor and Hilbert Park will be hosting a Moth Blitz today from 11am until 1.15pm. Nature expert Dr Ian Beavis will be on hand to help catch some late flying moth species and help you identify them. No booking is required, just simply turn up.

Also happening is the annual friends of the park’s Apple Day. Head over to the Hilbert Oast where you can participate in apple pressing, various crafts and much more. A free event suitable for all ages.

Children will enjoy A Day Out with Thomas the Tank Engine and his friends, who will be waiting to meet everyone at the Spa Valley Railway in Tunbridge Wells this weekend. For timetable and ticket information, visit spavalleyrailway.co.uk

SUNDAY

The Tonbridge Half Marathon takes place today. Organised jointly by the Rotary Club and Tonbridge Lions, it raises thousands of pounds for numerous charities. For more information, see tonbridgehalfmarathon.co.uk Staying in Tonbridge, The Paradox of War is a free World War I art exhibition being held in the Chamber Room of Tonbridge Castle from today for a week.

It’s open from 10am to 4pm except for next Saturday [October 13], when it closes at noon.

Also in the town, there will be an Audiojumble happening today at The Angel Centre. Did you know it’s the UK’s second largest vintage hi-fi event?

Held twice a year, there are three slots available to visit, 8.30am (£20), 9.30am (£12) or 10.30am (£6). For more details, see the Audiojumble Facebook page.

FOR EVEN MORE NEWS VISIT: timeslocalnews.co.uk There will be a free drop-in drawing workshop for families at the 4B: Exploring Contemporary Drawing show in Tonbridge School’s OBS gallery today as part of The Big Draw. It is a chance to make a giant drawing in response to the work of the featured artists – who include Louise Bourgeois, Jeanette Barnes and Christy Burdock – featured in the exhibition, and to explore experimental drawing tools. The exhibition is on until November 10 and is open from 12noon to 4pm on weekends.

A free gallery trail is available for children.

The Great British Bark Off is on today from 10am until 4pm at The Hop Farm – an event that will boast lots of canineinspired shopping, activities, fun and games. It also promises to be great fun for the children. Tickets cost from £3.85.

For more information, email: info@ dogworks.biz The Mercure Hotel in Pembury will be holding a Wedding Fair today from 10.30am until 3pm. So if you’re newly engaged and want some inspiration for your big day, make sure you pop along.

At 2.30pm, Michael Jordan returns to Trinity Theatre with his popular High Jinx Magic, Illusion and Circus Show. This two-hour afternoon matinee is designed

to entertain the whole family, so it should be a fun experience for everyone.

Adult tickets cost £12.50, children, £10 and family tickest for four are available priced £40 from trinitytheatre.net

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PICK OF THE WEEK: Think Pink Afternoon Tea at One Warwick Park Hotel

October 1-31, for Breast Cancer Awareness Month

MONDAY

Hever Castle’s Autumn Colour event is now in full swing and will run throughout the new season. Visitors can enjoy striking autumnal floral and fauna displays, learn how to plant a winter hanging basket, and stock up on spring bulbs. This year there will also be a new self-guided trail around the lake, with points of interest including World War II pillboxes, the newly opened Smugglers Walk and waterfall, the impressive Japanese Teahouse, and a tick-box list of autumnal coloured trees. For further information, visit hevercastle.co.uk Another place to be inspired by autumn is Bedgebury National Pinetum and Forest. Enjoyable at any time of year, it is particularly breathtaking now the leaves are turning all sorts of red and yellow. The pinetum, near Goudhurst, boasts a wonderful trail which can be followed either by foot or bike. For further information, see the websites at forestryengland.uk/bedgebury and bedgeburypinetum.org.uk

In order to lend its support to Breast Cancer Awareness Month, One Warwick Park Hotel is offering customers a limited edition Think Pink Afternoon Tea in order to get as many people as possible involved and to raise funds for breast cancer research.

Tea lovers will be spoiled with an array of pink treats, including strawberry panna cotta, raspberry cream and brownie, strawberry macaroons and pink French meringue, all served with traditional scones, and finger sandwiches.

And a glass of pink fizz, should the heart so desire.

Prices start from £18 per person, with £2 going to Breast Cancer Awareness Month charities.

For further information, visit onewarwickpark.co.uk

TUESDAY

THOMAS IS BACK and will be chuffed to see you at the Spa Valley Railway

Trinity Theatre’s Associate Artist Matt Syms goes back to 1984 to redesign posters from some of that year’s most favourite films. From The Karate Kid to The Terminator, Ghostbusters to Footloose, Spinal Tap to Friday the 13th – there will be something for everyone in this, his third solo exhibition, to enjoy over the next week.

Trinity, along with the Odeon, will

also be screening a live transmission of Oscar Wilde’s The Importance of Being Earnest at 7.15pm. This new production of the witty writer’s masterpiece on the mayhem of manners will be broadcast live from the Vaudeville Theatre in London’s West End. This is the fourth and final play from the Oscar Wilde Season, a year-long celebration of the brilliant Victorian playwright being staged by the Classic Spring Theatre Company.

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THE TUNBRIDGE WELLS FORUM

Event information at twforum.co.uk Saturday Tom Bright Sunday Black Orchid Empire

Event information at twforum.co.uk Thursday The Bluetones Friday Mike Mayfield, Sister Sandy

THE TRADING POST 5 Culverden Down Open all day, free entry Music from 8pm till late Saturday The Lyrae duo

CASSIDY’S BAR Castle Street Open all day, free entry Music from 8.30pm till late Thursday Open Jam Session

THE ASSEMBLY HALL THEATRE

THE GREY LADY MUSIC LOUNGE

live music With Paul Dunton

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HIS Thursday night, The Bluetones return to headline The Forum, and there is a feast of live music on Friday night, with my top recommendations including the spellbinding guitar virtuoso Richard Durrant at Trinity Theatre and popular local duo Mangetout Recovery at The Bedford pub. For jazz enthusiasts, The Man Overboard Quintet are at The Masonic Hall, and for fans of classical music, the excellent Twilight Ensemble are at King Charles the Martyr Church.

The must-read guide to what’s on musically for the week ahead… paulduntonandguests.com

The Pantiles Doors 7.15pm, entry £6/£7 Websites pdag.co.uk & thegreylady.co.uk Friday Jazz Club Night: Featuring special guest Stuart Jackaman Saturday Into The Blue

TRINITY THEATRE Church Road All show details and tickets available at trinitytheatre.net Friday Richard Durrant Saturday Tenors Unlimited

THE MASONIC HALL On Saturday night there are plenty of superb local acts in action with J.E.M. at The Beau Nash Tavern, The Jemima Price Band at The Royal Oak pub, while Into The Blue return to The Grey Lady. The Lyrae duo perform at The Trading Post, and renowned singer-songwriter Tom Bright will be live at The Sussex Arms Basement.

Then on Monday night, the TWUNT Ukulele Jam Session returns to The George pub, and local four-piece We Ghosts will be at The Punch & Judy in Tonbridge on Tuesday.

St John’s Road All show details and tickets available at twjazzclub.co.uk Friday The Man Overboard Quintet

Jemima Price

How does it feel to be celebrating the group’s 15th anniversary?

It’s flown by, but professionally 15 years is a great achievement and something to be proud of.

Keeping a group together is like a marriage – it needs good communication, respect and love and a good smattering of fun!

We have seen and done so much, but the great-

est achievement to date is the fact we all believe there is still so much to do.

How did you all meet each other?

Scott and Jem met working in London and decided to set up a group that would allow the freedom to write the songs they were passionate about.

Paul shared that vision and joined the group a

THE GEORGE Mount Ephraim Open all day, free entry Music from 8pm till late Monday TWUNT Ukulele Jam Session

THE BEDFORD 2 High Street Open all day, free entry Music from 8.30pm till late Friday Mangetout Recovery Saturday Ryan Weeks Band Sunday Ukulear Fallout

THE PUNCH & JUDY 11 St Stephen’s Street, Tonbridge Open all day, free entry, music from 8pm Tuesday We Ghosts

THE ROYAL OAK Prospect Road Open all day, free entry Music from 8.30pm till late Friday Acoustic Night Saturday The Jemima Price Band

Lyrae

KING CHARLES THE MARTYR CHURCH Nevill Street All event details at kcmtw.org Friday Twilight Ensemble

THE BEAU NASH TAVERN Mount Ephraim Open all day, free entry Music from 8.30pm till late Saturday J.E.M. Richard Durrant

THE SUSSEX ARMS BASEMENT Sussex Mews

Meet the Rat Pack of opera Tenors Unlimited perform at Trinity Theatre this Saturday as part of their 15th anniversary. The Times chats to local lad Jem Sharples and fellow singers Paul Martin and Scott Ciscon about touring the world and performing with the likes of Sting and Beyoncé…

Crescent Road All show details and tickets available at assemblyhalltheatre.co.uk Sunday RTWSO: Freddy Kempf (3pm start)

THE DETAILS Tenors Unlimited perform at Trinity Theatre, Tunbridge Wells, on Saturday [October 6] at 8pm.

Tickets cost £20.

To purchase their new album, The Journey, and find out more, visit tenors.com couple of years later. We are writing a ton of songs at the moment – some that are right for the group, some that are outside the box. We all enjoy the process and bring our ideas to the table.

How did you compile the songs for your new show, In Concert with Tenors Unlimited?

As we always do, we sit around and argue about it until we are all happy.

It is flexible in that the songs may change during the tour if we feel we want to do that.

The best way to describe our new show is an eclectic mix of repertoire ranging from opera to pop and crooner classics, as well as old favourites.

These include Everything by Michael Bublé, Unchained Melody by the Righteous Brothers and our own tune Carry You which was composed by Paul in aid of Harrison’s Fund charity.

You’ve sung alongside so many celebrities, such as Sting, Lionel Richie, Beyoncé and Simply Red. Who’s your favourite, and why?

It’s hard to say as they were all so different to be around with different levels of entourage, etc.

However, there have been many surreal moments, such as when you find yourself sharing a glass of wine with Sting – and Trudie [Styler, his wife] – after a show!

You travel around the world. What’s your favourite country, and why?

ON SONG: Jem Sharples with St John’s Church of England Primary School choir. Jem attended the school as a boy

We always feel really welcome when we go to the USA, and there’s something magical about singing in a villa on, say, Lake Maggiore in Italy. If we had to give one answer, Italy might be our favourite at the moment – great food, great wine, fantastic coffee.

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Wednesday October 3 | 2018

Pick of the pure-grown

organic bunch

Sales of organic wine are booming as part of the burgeoning movement towards ‘conscious consumerism’. Times Drinks Editor James Viner raises his glass to his favourite tipples

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ollowing on from the Organic September event, this week I am toasting Mother Nature with a tip-top wine selection made from grapes grown without using nonorganic herbicides, fungicides, pesticides and fertilisers.

Wine that is certified organic is made from vines treated with a minimum of agrochemicals. In the EU, accredited organic wines may carry the organic logo (stars in the shape of a leaf) and may contain sulphites, but with lower maximums than non-organic wines.

In the US, an organic wine has to be made with organically grown grapes and no added sulphites.

So try these pure and green vinous heroes…

1. FULL-BODIED AND SUPPLE ORGANIC MEZZOGIORNO RED FOR SUNDAY ROAST

2015 Primanero Organic Primitivo, Puglia, Italy (14.5%, £7.99, Aldi) Rich, silky, bold and generous, this has a dry sense of humour and is lots of fun to be around. The grapes were partially raisined in the appassimento method after harvest to concentrate the flavours, raise glycerol levels and add a glossy texture. It’s polished plums, raspberries, cherries, wrinkles of dried herbs and spiced orange, lashes of dried black fruits and strawberries. Balanced but keen to impress, this is spot-on for red meats, hearty ragùs, aubergine parmigiana, Cajun and TexMex cuisine. It’s delectable stuff and great value to boot.

2. MUST-TRY GENTLY SPARKLING ORGANIC FRENCH FIZZ

2017 Domaine Plageoles Mauzac Nature, Gaillac, SW France (12%, £22-£24, Joseph Barnes Wines & The Smiling Grape Company) This lightly sparkling wine is made from a mutation of the mauzac blanc grape using the Méthode Gaillacoise, Gaillac’s version of the Méthode Ancestrale (‘Pétillant Naturel’) method of making lightly sparkling wine, whereby young wines are bottled before all the residual sugar has been fermented into alcohol (fermentation finishes in bottle, emitting CO2). It has been made in Gaillac for over 400 years, predating Champagne.

This artisanal example is made from 40-yearold vines by a leading organic light in Cahuzacsur-Vère, and is gently perfumed with a nose of apples, white cherries, citrus, marzipan and pears. It offers a touch of chalkiness on the palate and tangy length.

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Exceedingly delicious. Chill a bottle for an aperitif or to match roast chicken, spicy Asian dishes and seafood curries.

3. CALIFORNIA DREAMIN’: MUST-TRY ORGANIC WHITE

2016 Bonterra Organic Chardonnay Mendocino, California, USA (13.5%, £9.49, Waitrose) Currently on offer, Bonterra has been growing organic grapes since 1987. Today, around a quarter of all wine grapes grown in California’s northern Mendocino County are organic, compared to only around three per cent grown throughout the rest of California. While mainly barrel-fermented, the oak is not obtrusive, allowing the bracing, zesty and fresh citrus and apple fruit of the bouquet and palate free play; the flavours centre around pineapple, pink grapefruit, pear and crème brûlée, brisk, well-integrated acidity lengthening the finish. Magic with fish, shellfish, oysters and creamy pasta dishes.

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VINER’S TOP PICKS OF PRODUCERS MAKING CERTIFIED (AND NON-CERTIFIED) ORGANIC WINES

WHERE TO BUY ORGANIC WINES? I’d highly recommend winebuyers.com, an online members wine club that boasts over 500 organic wines from 18 countries on their impressive list.

Founder Ben Revell told me: “We’ve seen a really high level of demand for organic wines from our members, and we’re excited to be able to offer such a diverse range, from vegan Prosecco to a wine made using almost extinct Arrige and Borba grapes, all produced

using organic winemaking methods.”

Winebuyers is an online members club with a difference, with no cost to consumers to join.

A shopfront for producers and merchants, who simply pay a monthly subscription fee, Winebuyers provides its members with access to over 27,000 (and counting) bottles sourced from vineyards and wineries in 38 countries, all in one place.

Join for free at winebuyers.com/register

FRANCE: n Château Latour (Bordeaux) n Château Guiraud (Sauternes, Bordeaux) n Château Pontet-Canet (Bordeaux) n Comte Armand (Burgundy) n Michel Lafarge (Burgundy) n Gaston Huet (Loire) n Erik Rodez (Champagne) n Domaine Cazes (Roussillon) n Domaine Zind-Humbrecht (Alsace) n Louis Sipp (Alsace) n Domaine Pignier (Jura) n Domaine de l’Acienne Cure, Monbazillac n Château de Beaucastel (Rhône) n Chapoutier (Rhône)

THE REST OF EUROPE: n Nikolaihof (Austria) n Jurtschitsch (Austria) n Josef Umathum (Austria) n Badia a Coltibuono (Italy) n Querciabella (Italy) NEW WORLD: n Millton (New Zealand) n Felton Road (New Zealand) n Tablas Creek (USA) n Frog’s Leap (USA) n Inglenook (USA) n Spottswoode (USA) Follow James on Twitter @QuixoticWine

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Celebrating

Wednesday October 3 | 2018

JOINING THE PARTY MP Greg Clark helps cut the anniversary cake

50 years of caring This has been a special year at Rusthall Lodge Care Home – and it isn’t over yet!

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USTHALL LODGE is celebrating 50 years since it was established as an independent care home run on a charitable ethos to look after older people from Rusthall village, near Tunbridge Wells, and the surrounding area.

Staff have organised a programme of events across the year to commemorate the Golden Anniversary with residents, their families, former staff and the local community.

The highlight was the summer Garden Party in July, during which Tunbridge Wells MP Greg Clark formally opened the new garden features, including new patios to create a level circuit for residents to walk around. He spent over three hours talking to residents and guests.

Portraits Local people joined staff, residents and their relatives with a celebratory, home-made cream tea in the newly refurbished gardens to mark the half century since Rusthall Lodge was converted from the private residence of Margaret Fremlin, of the brewing company, into a care home.

The Garden Party was the centrepiece of a whole calendar of events across Rusthall Lodge’s Golden Anniversary year.

Other highlights have included ‘Morgan

MEMORABLE GUESTS The day two Chelsea Pensioners joined Rusthall Lodge for an Armed Forces Day celebration

Day’, when residents were taken out for a spin in a fleet of vintage cars supplied by Brands Hatch Morgan; drumming lessons for two of the residents; and the presentation of a signed photograph of the Red Arrows on the day of the 100th anniversary of the RAF to a resident who is a former engineer and air force enthusiast.

“Our philosophy at Rusthall Lodge is ‘Live Your Life’, so we have used our Golden Anniversary as the peg to create a series of Golden Moments for our residents, to create highlights that they and their families can treasure,” says General Manager Hilary Taylor.

Among the Golden Moments have been a series of special photography portrait sessions in the style of the golden era of Hollywood, which are to be exhibited at The Assembly Hall Theatre in Tunbridge Wells this month.

“The idea came out of a reminiscence session

with the residents, in which we were talking about their favourite films and actors,” explains Facilities and Marketing Manager Bill Blackford.

“We then realised that for the relatives of most of our elderly residents, the only pictures they have of their loved ones in their later years are quick snaps taken on visits.

“So we decided it would be wonderful to have beautiful portraits taken in the style of the era the residents were remembering and relating to.”

Photographer David Bartholomew says: “I’ve aimed to produce a set of images that pulls the character out from the residents’ faces, inviting you to want to find out about their pasts.

“I want people to look at each picture and say: ‘I wonder where they’ve been in their life?’”

“Our residents have lived amazing lives, and David’s photos capture that,” adds Bill Blackford. “And that’s what Rusthall Lodge is all

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MORGAN DAY Residents were taken out in the cars from Brands Hatch Morgan

about: Celebrating our residents and enabling them to keep living their lives.”

The home’s Golden Moments are a prime example of Rusthall Lodge’s central philosophy of always looking for ways to create fun and interesting experiences for their residents, either enabling them to enjoy a favourite hobby or to experience something completely new.

The daily, and very varied, activity programme is supported by in-house facilities such as the hairdressing salon, run for years

by Yvonne Taylor.

‘The Garden Party was the centrepiece of a whole calendar of events’ “She does a good job,” comments Rusthall Lodge resident Vera Organ.

“I’ve never seen anyone with a bad haircut. They all look lovely – and they all look different.”

“It means we can keep our standards up and look reasonable without the bother of going outside and risking different people.”

The care home’s position in the vibrant village of Rusthall also helps. It has everything you could possibly want, including a regular bus

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service into Tunbridge Wells which residents can use if they are able.

In addition to all of this, and with nearly 40 care homes in the Tunbridge Wells area, what is it that makes Rusthall Lodge different from the rest?

“The most important thing is our independence, and that we are run with a charitable ethos,” explains Philip Osman, Chairman of the Association.

“Being independent is important as it means that we can respond to the needs of each resident individually and quickly without having to wait for Head Office decisions.

“Being charitable means we really can put the residents at the centre of every decision.”

Feedback from residents and their relatives shows that they also appreciate the location, with easy access to the village, the purpose-built facilities with ‘spacious, clean rooms’ and the ‘beautiful’ gardens.

Being part of a vibrant local community, and enjoying home-cooked meals, which are sourced locally as far as possible, also score highly.

“This was demonstrated brilliantly when local people joined us for our 50th anniversary Garden Party, enjoying my home-made scones, sausage rolls, cheese twists and sandwiches,” agrees Head Chef Rachelle Clark.

“But above all, Rusthall Lodge has to be a home to our residents,” says Hilary Taylor.

“This feedback sums it up – ‘Rusthall Lodge looks and feels like home.’”

Rusthall Lodge Housing Association Ltd Nellington Road Rusthall, Nr Tunbridge Wells TN4 8SJ 01892 556500 rusthalllodgekent.co.uk

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Wednesday October 3 | 2018

Breast Cancer Awareness Month 2018:

The best charity beauty buys

Shop during October and show your support for these good causes

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HIS month will see the return of the Breast Cancer Awareness drive, when beauty products get a pretty pink makeover and a percentage of sales are donated to breast cancer charities.

Founded in 1985, the initiative has gone from strength to strength, raising more than £50million in total.

This year, there’s another fantastic line-up of pampering goodies, from £1 bathing bargains to luxurious designer collaborations.

2. Philip Kingsley No Scent No Colour Shampoo, £19 For every full-size bottle of No Scent No Colour Shampoo or Conditioner sold, 50p will go to cancer charity Look Good Feel Better, while 25p is donated from mini bottles – and that’s all year round, not just October

HERE’S OUR PICK OF 8 PINK TREATS…

1. Palmolive Gourmet Strawberry Touch Body Butter Shower Cream, £1.50, Asda Pick up a bottle of this sweetly-scented shower cream in Asda and 10p will be donated to Tickled Pink, the supermarket’s breast cancer charity initiative

3. Vintage Rose Rabbit And Cabbages Make-up Bag, £22, Breast Cancer Care All the profits from this cute cabbage and bunny cosmetics pouch will go to Breast Cancer Care

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Wednesday October 3 | 2018

4. Aveda Limited Edition Hand Relief Moisturizing Creme, £21 Aveda’s much-loved Hand Relief cream returns for 2018, with around £4 from each tube sold donated to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation

6. MZ Skin Hydrate & Nourish Age Defence Retinol Day Moisturizer SPF30, £95, Net-a-Porter Luxury skincare brand MZ Skin will be donating 5 per cent of its total website sales to Breast Cancer Haven, so when you purchase its celeb-favourite, Hydrate & Nourish day cream, online in October, you’ll be supporting the charity 5. Bobbi Brown Pinks with Purpose Lip Colour Duo, £35 In two flattering colours – Sandwash Pink and Pink – with a semi-matte finish, this is a lipstick duo that you’ll get lots of wear out of, and £5 from every sale goes to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation

7. GHD Gold by Lulu Guinness, £139 Two icons have come together to say ‘kiss this, cancer’. GHD has teamed up with Lulu Guinness on a pink straightener emblazoned with the designer’s signature lip print. For every Gold style sold, £10 will go to Breast Cancer Now

8. Elemis Pro-Collagen Rose Cleansing Balm, £68 A long-time supporter of Breast Cancer Care, this year Elemis will be making a donation of £25,000 to the charity through sales of its Pro-Collagen Rose Cleansing Balm, which is decorated with a bespoke rose print by Brit designers Lily and Lionel

Good, Feel Good

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travel

70

FUN IN THE SUN There’s plenty to be had in Colorado

Travel

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Wednesday October 3 | 2018

It’s superior ski service with READY TO GO Hannah Stephenson in Aspen

With the launch of cheaper flights to Colorado, Hannah Stephenson looks at the opportunities for skiers who want a change from European pistes

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HERE are two types of fun that skiers experience on the mountain, my Colorado ski instructor tells me.

Type One is the kind that you have in the moment, relishing the rhythm that takes over as you glide down the easier corduroy groomers between swathes of deep green lodgepole pine, inhaling the clean air and soaking in the brilliant sunshine over the Rockies as you go.

Then there’s Type Two; the kind that only becomes fun once the event is over.

That was the type of fun I experienced after negotiating my first black run following a five-year break from skiing – starting with heart in mouth and skis perched on the top of what seemed an impossibly steep slope.

Concentration heightened and brows furrowed, I endeavoured to complete my descent without suffering the painful humiliation of a total wipe-out.

But when I was down, quads aching and heart pounding, I looked up at the black I just skied and immediately the fear was replaced by exhilaration and euphoria.

It was high fives all round before we finished the descent on easier blues to the centre base at Copper Mountain, Colorado.

This purpose-built, family-orientated resort – a two-hour drive from Denver off Interstate 70 – is just one of the options for skiers taking advantage of Norwegian’s low-cost flight service to Colorado’s capital, from which you can access myriad resorts, including Winter Park, Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge and Aspen.

WHY GO TO THE US INSTEAD OF EUROPE? But why would you want to take a ninehour flight to ski when you have the options of the French, Italian, Austrian and Swiss alps only two hours away?

Well, for a start, the Americans are big on hospitality. Their attitude is ‘How can I help you?’ rather than the surly ‘What do you want?’ approach from at least one European counterpart.

Lift queues are managed more efficiently and safety is paramount, as learners find their ski legs in the designated slow zones.

HELPFUL STATIC GUIDE A run map at Snowmas

English is also the instructors’ first language, a massive plus when you are being taught the intricacies of beginner snowploughs, weight distribution and turning techniques, before progressing to carving, off-piste trails, powder and back bowls.

SMALLER CLASSES Class groups are often smaller in Colorado resorts than they are in Europe.

I’m told six to eight is the usual number of people, as opposed to ten in some ski schools in France.

Copper Mountain is ideal for families and all abilities, thanks to its natural landscape; the easier slopes being largely to the west and the more difficult to the east, where there are four bowls for advanced skiers.

It’s a high-altitude location – 9,712ft at base level – and small, portable oxygen canisters are available to buy for around $14/£10 in case of altitude sickness.

We are all advised to drink plenty of water and not to go heavy on the alcohol if we want our bodies to cope with the change in atmosphere.

While my companions, who are advanced skiers, venture to Tucker Mountain at 12,337ft – hitching a free ride via the resort snowcat before hiking up to the

summit and skiing down the high-alpine chutes of the back bowl – I opt for cruising the blues named, appropriately, Oh No, Skid Road and Bouncer.

The pistes are quiet today, despite the fact that weekenders from Denver often use Copper as a ski bolthole.

With 2,490 skiable acres, there’s plenty of action to keep you amused for a week without repeating the same runs.

Meanwhile, non-skiers can try tubing – which is like tobogganing in what looks like a giant rubber ring – or the new Rocky Mountain Coaster, a roller-coaster in the trees, which can reach 25mph, but allows you to control the speed.

Unlike other Colorado ski resorts, Copper doesn’t have any hotels, just self-catering condominiums, which are more spacious than many European offerings.

But you may have to get the free shuttle bus to find a decent supermarket at Frisco, half an hour’s bus ride away.

GO CELEB-SPOTTING IN ASPEN From Copper, we head west to the place where the other half lives, namely Aspen, a two-hour drive away and ski home to stars such as Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell, Kevin Costner and comedian Seth Rogen.

Wednesday October 3 | 2018

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a smile on the Colorado slopes...

SAFE FOR ALL A family enjoy the delights of Copper Mountain

My instructor, New Zealander Ange Harris, reveals that her pupils last season included Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones.

This former 19th-century silver-mining town nestled in the heart of the Colorado Rockies is so named because of the abundance of aspen trees.

It was popular with psychedelic hippies in the 1970s, and was the home of the late journalist and author Hunter S Thompson.

It has long been a world-class ski resort, spanning four unconnected mountains, each with its own charm.

Top designers Gucci, Prada and Ralph Lauren form the shopping staples of guests staying at the famous Little Nell and Jerome hotels, as

well as the town’s celebrity residents.

We’re staying at The Limelight, a more relaxed high-end hotel, whose laid-back ambience attracts many locals for drinks and dinner.

Yet despite its Hollywood status, Aspen retains a small-town charm. It’s proud of its art galleries and designer shops, but remains twee and twinkly, with fairy lights in the trees.

And there’s still a hint of hippy, as a cannabis shop (marijuana is legal in Colorado) invites customers to enjoy a joint.

Walk the heated pavements to find a wealth of galleries and artisan shops selling everything from cowboy Stetsons to a genuine Siberian mammoth skeleton (going for a cool million dollars).

The Little Nell is a great place for après-ski people-watching – if you can afford $16/£12 for a G&T. I spy a plethora of designer-clad guests who have clearly splashed out on an avalanche of cosmetic enhancements. Nips, tucks and trout pouts abound.

But back to the skiing, which, unsurprisingly, is phenomenal. Pistes are efficiently groomed, slopes are virtually empty, and you don’t get Denver weekenders in this neck of the woods as it’s too far at four hours’ drive from the city.

The four mountains each have their own strengths: Buttermilk is for beginners; Aspen (Ajax) Mountain is good for advanced skiers; Highlands is famous for the Highland Bowl – advanced skiers hike up to its famous 3,777m summit carrying their skis before racing down a heart-stopping 450m slope; while the biggest mountain, Snowmass, suits all abilities.

Free shuttle buses transfer guests between mountains, and no journey takes longer than around 15 minutes.

Snowmass, Aspen’s modern satellite, is celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2018 and is currently undergoing a massive expansion project.

We are immersed in the lap of luxury at The Viceroy, a glamorous, five-star ski-in/ski-out hotel, where courteous attendants offer to help us on and off with our boots, and line our skis up neatly on the piste, so all we need to do is click in.

In Aspen, lift attendants take your skis from you to put them in the ski gondola rack, and remove them from the gondola on arrival at the top.

And if you want music on your journey, some of the gondolas have Bluetooth speakers to connect with your own playlist.

On the slopes, you can visit the Kleenex corner sniffle station for a tissue if you have a runny nose, enjoy free coffee at the base area, cups of warming hot apple cider on the slopes and, at one point, we come across a free rum cocktail

stand halfway down a blue run.

Visitors shouldn’t worry that the mountains aren’t linked because at the base of each is a booth where you put your skis and tell the attendant where you want to ski the next day.

Then your skis will be waiting for you at your chosen mountain.

Overnight ski storage and transfer costs $20/£15, but if you hire your skis with Four Mountain Sports (aspensnowmass.com/planyour-stay/equipment-rentals), the service is free.

On the last night, we venture up to the Aspen sundeck for a sunset party, a beautiful pink sky enveloping the snow-capped peaks.

Inside, a band blasts out American favourites, rock and rap, while Aspen ladies in white furtrimmed ski suits dance with Beanie-clad young dudes still in their ski boots.

It occurs to me that this is Type One and Type Two fun all rolled into one – to be enjoyed in the moment and remembered fondly afterwards.

HOW TO GET THERE Hannah Stephenson travelled with Norwegian (norwegian.com/uk; 0330 828 0854) and Colorado Ski Country USA (coloradoski.com).

Norwegian offers three direct flights a week from London Gatwick to Denver on the new Boeing 787 Dreamliner.

Fares start from £185 one way in economy, and from £515 one way in premium (which includes lounge access and an upgraded passenger experience).

Viceroy Snowmass rooms start from $807.50/£615 per night, plus taxes and fees (viceroyhotelsandresorts.com/en/ snowmass).

Copper Mountain Lodging costs from $185/£140 a night (coppercolorado.com).

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Motoring

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Motoring News

Arrowing experience to create new world record SKODA teamed up with a pair of star athletes to target a new world record.

An arrow fired by Austrian Olympic archer Laurence Baldauff reached a blistering top speed of 134mph on its journey, covering 188ft before martial arts coach Markus Haas caught it – while leaning out of the sunroof of a moving Octavia vRS. The distance between Baldauff and the target was 230ft, and because the 27-inch arrow was travelling in an arc pattern rather than a straight line, it meant that Haas only had a 98ft window of opportunity and just half a second to snatch

success out of thin air.

Catch it he did, though, setting a new Guinness World Record for the furthest an arrow has been fired and caught by hand from a moving car.

Staged as an homage to the Czech firm’s winged arrow logo, the stunt at the Zeltweg Air Base in Austria took four months to plan, and required Skoda’s most potent machine.

With its 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine producing 242bhp and 370Nm of torque, the Octavia vRS 245 estate can go from 0-60mph in 6.5 seconds, and reach a top speed of 175mph.

CATCH ME IF YOU CAN Top athletes take on a Skoda challenge

Porsche axes diesel power PORSCHE has confirmed that diesel power will no longer feature in its line-up of vehicles.

The German firm, which last brought out a diesel machine in February, cited a decline in demand for black-pump cars, and its focus on developing electric technologies, as reasons for dropping the fuel.

It previously offered diesel powertrains in its Macan and Cayenne SUVs, as well as for the Panamera, but says the fuel only made up 12 per cent of Porsche sales in 2017.

Porsche Chief Executive Oliver Blume said: “Porsche is not demonising diesel. It is, and will remain, an important propulsion technology. We, as a sports car manufacturer, however, for whom diesel has always played a

secondary role, have come to the conclusion that we would like our future to be diesel-free. Naturally, we will continue to look after our existing diesel customers.”

The firm says it will have invested more than six billion Euros (circa £5.4billion) in electric vehicles by 2022, and claims that 63 per cent of Panameras sold in Europe are already hybrid.

Its first all-electric car, the Taycan, is set to debut in 2019. Exact specs for it have yet to be revealed, but Porsche claims it will boast a range in excess of 310 miles while delivering more than 591bhp.

Parent company Volkswagen was found to have cheated diesel engine emissions tests in 2015, sparking a global scandal.

Wednesday October 3 | 2018

A Lamborghini desk to rev up office, for £27k SITTING at work, wishing you were behind the wheel of an exotic supercar instead?

Well, thanks to one furniture firm, you could now do both at once.

The Lamborghini Aventador replica desk from Polish firm Design Epicentrum may not feature a fire-breathing V12 like a real machine, but it’s certain to light up your office space.

Convincing enough to look like a real car chopped in half, it has been painstakingly recreated by hand – albeit with the sad absence of the Italian supercar manufacturer’s badging, presumably for licensing reasons.

The fibreglass unit measures 74.8 inches wide and 31.5 inches high, and customers have the choice of over 200 colours.

It also boasts a scratch-resistant glass top and working lights. Optionally available is an LED light on the work space, too.

Better still, you won’t have to pay real Lamborghini pricing for the desk. It retails at 30,000 Euros (circa £27,000), which is around one-tenth of the price of the full machine.

Design Epicentrum also offers desk recreations of the Murcielago – the Aventador’s predecessor – together with matching sofas.

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Recruitment

Wednesday October 3 | 2018

WITH THE

FIND YOUR PERFECT JOB TODAY – A MUST-READ FOR THOSE LOOKING FOR WORK LOCALLY

OF TUNBRIDGE WELLS AND TONBRIDGE

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Recruitment

Wednesday October 3 | 2018

CODEWORD 4

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A B C D E F G H I J K L MNO P Q R S T U VWX Y Z 17

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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.

Codeword:

9 8 9 5

To complete Sudoku, fill the board by entering numbers 1 to 9 so that each row, column and 3x3 box contains every number uniquely.

6 1

7

3

8

1 16

1 3

8 1 8 2 2 1 7 7 2 4 7 4 8 5 5 2 1 8 4 2 7 3

14

24 18

18

5

© 2016 Syndicated Puzzles, Inc.

3

DIFFICULTY RATING:★★★★

2

4

2 1 7 6 9 5 5 8

3 9

9

4 2 6

© 2016 Syndicated Puzzles

1

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LAST WEEK’S SOLUTIONS

SUDOKU & JIGSAW SUDOKU

DIFFICULTY RATING: ★✩✩✩

CLASSIFIEDS

Life&Times

Puzzles

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 a forthcoming issue

U S B A S E D T H I E F

L T R A J U U C E A R OQ U E I U R U N N I E A R D I E T E R S V O R O D D E N K E W D I OM A V N U R I G U R E D

N I P E R E L E X R A Y S U C E S I E S T B NOO Z E E X E A T U P D A A I G NON N G S G R O V E

Sudoku:

9 4 7 3 5 8 2 1 6

1 6 2 9 4 7 3 5 8

8 3 5 6 2 1 9 7 4

2 8 4 7 3 5 1 6 9

3 7 6 4 1 9 5 8 2

5 9 1 8 6 2 4 3 7

4 1 3 2 7 6 8 9 5

8 2 5 6 9 3 1 7 4

4 3 6 1 7 5 2 8 9

2 7 4 5 3 6 9 1 8

7 2 8 5 9 3 6 4 1

6 5 9 1 8 4 7 2 3

Jigsaw Sudoku:

1 4 2 3 6 8 7 9 5

9 6 3 7 5 1 8 4 2

5 8 7 2 4 9 6 3 1

7 1 9 4 8 2 3 5 6

6 5 8 9 1 7 4 2 3

3 9 1 8 2 4 5 6 7

© 2016 Syndicated Puzzles

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Sport

FOR EVEN MORE NEWS VISIT: timeslocalnews.co.uk Please send sports stories to: newsdesk@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk or newsdesk@timesoftonbridge.co.uk

Wednesday October 3 | 2018

Roberts rises to the occasion as Wells step up Tunbridge Wells Men 4 London Wayfarers 4 HOCKEY: TUNBRIDGE WELLS had to battle for a draw in their first game back in South League Premier Division One at Tonbridge School.

The home side made a tentative start after their promotion at the end of last season.

While they enjoyed plenty of possession on home turf, they rarely found a way into the final third of the pitch.

The London side were looking dangerous on the break and Wells had to resort to last-ditch tackles to keep them out.

The visitors did eventually break the deadlock from their first short corner.

Threatening

PHOTO: Francis Bridgeman

By Francis Bridgeman

THE LOW DOWN Harry Roberts scores from a short corner and fired in from a tight angle to equalise.

The goal should have settled Wells but Wayfarers scored twice in rapid succession, reacting quickly to their openings.

More good work from Roberts saw Wells win a penalty stroke which Ben Allberry converted and the hosts went in 3-2 down at half-time.

The ball was twice parried by Wells but not cleared and an opposing forward pounced to open the scoring.

Wells started to look more threatening going forward, particularly through Sam George and Harry Roberts.

The former went on a mazy run to the byline

Wells played much better in the second half, matching their opponents in midfield.

But an error coming out of defence handed the visitors a simple chance which they duly converted to restore their two-goal advantage.

The home side finally started to run the game and they earned a succession of short corners.

Roberts scored from one, and then a worked move involving Allberry and Russell Self gave Chris Smith the chance to slot home at the far post to make it 4-4.

Tunbridge Wells face another stern test when they travel to Old Cranleighans on Saturday [October 6, 1pm start].

Battling TJs survive another test of nerve Tonbridge Juddians 27 Old Albanians 22

they manufactured two converted tries consisting of just a few phases against what was an unusually leaky TJ defence.

Robinson kicked a penalty to narrow the gap and then Will Colderick was put through with a sublime pass on the right to put TJs 17-14 ahead at half-time.

By Adam Hookway RUGBY: TONBRIDGE JUDDIANS climbed to fourth in the table in National Two South but there are only two points separating them from the team in ninth place.

The competitiveness of the division was shown by another close encounter for TJs, who had also secured a five-point margin of victory over Henly the previous week.

The game ebbed and flowed for Old Albanians’ first visit to The Slade and in the first half TJs enjoyed much of the territory but they lacked accuracy and all too often they made a risky pass that missed its target.

TJs were struggling to put any phases together but they found the breakthrough when Charlie Edwards spied an opening and scampered through from 20 metres to score, Will Robinson adding the extras.

OAs were making forays into the home 22 and

Their lead was extended when Tom Chapman seized on a misplaced pass in midfield to beat the full-back and score under the sticks, Robinson converting.

TJs were seemingly in control but they got on the wrong side of the officials and at one stage were reduced to 13 men, as they had been against Henley.

OAs took advantage of their numerical superiority and hit back down the right as winger Hugo Watson was putting a shoulder to a defensive scrum.

That reduced the lead to 24-19 and the hosts were grateful when a Robinson penalty edged them ahead – though OAs responded in kind.

PHOTO: Adam Hookway

Control

SEIZE THE MOMENT Tom Chapman scores from an interception As the clock ticked down, TJs were able to manage the ball well albeit in their own half and they managed to hold on for a narrow victory.

Tonbridge now travel to Bury St Edmunds, a much-changed outfit from last season, on Saturday [October 6, kick-off 3pm].

Guildford sneak win deep in stoppage time Guildford 24 Tunbridge Wells 22

PHOTO: Bruce Elliott

By Mike Whatman

MAXIMUM EFFORT: Max Edmonton offloads the ball to launch another break

RUGBY: TUNBRIDGE WELLS are looking to rebuild their season after suffering a second defeat in a row in the London and South East Premier at Guildford.

They had started the season with three wins but travelled to Surrey looking to make amends for a disappointing performance at home to Westcliff the week before.

But Guildford are a much-improved team from last season and they scored with the last play of the game to secure the points.

Tunbridge Wells began with good possession but had only a penalty by Frank Reynolds to show for it.

Guildford started to use their big ball-carriers to dent the visitors’ defensive line while their mercurial No 10 pulled the strings.

After prop Brendan Crosilla was yellow-carded for an infringement at a lineout, the hosts dominated field position and scored two quick tries before half-time.

But Wells have been something of a secondhalf team so far this season, and the same proved to be the case after the interval.

Potent They came out firing, with their pack now taking an upper hand at the scrum and the back line producing potent counter-attacks to score three tries in quick succession.

The first came from a flowing first-phase move that saw Matt Spicer diving over in the corner.

More forward dominance and smarter game management led to a pushover try by the pack.

Finally the Guildford penalty count tested the referee’s patience too far and he awarded a penalty try for repeat offside infringements around the breakdown on their try line.

With ten minutes to go Wells had secured a narrow three-point lead but some loose kicking from the back division allowed Guildford to mount one last attack.

The visitors found themselves defending their try line as the clock went red.

Countless phases were rebuffed but eventually some slick hands by the backs saw them go over in the corner eight minutes after the 80-minute mark. The conversion was missed but it proved irrelevant.

Tunbridge Wells now face Brentwood at home on Saturday [October 6, kick-off 3pm].

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Wednesday October 3 | 2018

Sport

Angels brought back down to earth Tonbridge Angels 2 Bishop’s Stortford 3

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Humbling defeat for the Rustics as Chatham hit seven

FOOTBALL: TONBRIDGE ANGELS’ unbeaten record at the start of the Bostik League Premier season came to an end when visitors Bishop’s Stortford turned the form book upside down.

The visitors, who are without a permanent manager, were not overawed by the league leaders and scored in the sixth minute.

A corner was punched cleared by Angels goalkeeper Jonny Henly but Bishop’s Stortford recycled the ball and a cross from the right was converted with accuracy by Ryan Charles.

Bishop’s Stortford continued to create chances with centre forward Jake Cass harrying the Angels defence at every opportunity.

Gradually the Angels rediscovered some of their early-season confidence and started to move the ball around with more purpose.

On 23 minutes Alex Read laid the ball off for Tommy Whitnell but he fired his shot over the bar.

Bishop’s Stortford doubled their advantage on the stroke of half-time. A mistake in the home defence provided Cass with an opportunity which he finished with aplomb.

The visitors went three up early in the second

PHOTO: David Couldridge

By James Rowe

SAVE THE DAY Calum Kitscha keeps the Angels out in added time half. Another defensive error saw the ball run to Cass, who proved clinical in front of goal again.

When Bishop’s Stortford’s Johnville Renee was sent off for a second bookable offence in the 54th minute, the home side finally found their feet.

The Angels clawed a goal back in the 72nd minute when Adem Ramadan converted a Tom Parkinson cross.

In the 88th minute Arthur Lee converted a corner to give the home side a slight hope of

levelling the scores, and visiting keeper Calum Kitscha was called into action to preserve his side’s lead in stoppage time.

Angels manager Steve McKimm said: “Too many of the players were off the pace today and they know that. Even if we had managed to find an equaliser, it would have been hard lines on Bishop’s Stortford.”

The Angels now entertain Potters Bar Town on Saturday [October 6, kick-off 3pm].

Tonbridge legend Joe Carolan dies at 81 FOOTBALL: FORMER Tonbridge Angels player and manager Joe Carolan died on September 26 at the age of 81.

The full-back won two caps for the Republic of Ireland and also played for Manchester United and Brighton & Hove Albion.

Carolan played for the Angels from 1962-68, making 424 appearances and scoring 50 goals.

As well as playing in defence, he was also deployed as a centre-forward.

He returned to the club as manager in January 1970 after a spell at Canterbury City and was in charge for 76 games over a period of 14 months.

Rusthall 0 Chatham Town 7 FOOTBALL: RUSTHALL had a very ‘bad day at the office’, according to the club’s chairman Joe Croker, when they were thrashed 7-0 at home to Chatham Town.

The humbling defeat leaves them one place off the bottom of the Southern Counties East League Premier Division.

The pattern was set in the first minute when Chatham nearly scored from their first attack and a subsequent corner.

The visitors were awarded a penalty after 19 minutes which broke the deadlock, and they went on to dominate the match.

Rusthall were missing half a dozen players through injury and work commitments, which meant they were playing out of position.

Tinker Joint managers Andrew McKechnie and Mike Cramp, who took over at the start of the season, have also had to tinker with the formation.

“Against a team of the quality of Chatham it was inevitable that they would struggle,” said Joe Croker, the club’s chairman.

“The players, management and committee are all devastated to lose by such a large margin but we have to be at our very best to compete against teams like Chatham and on Saturday we fell below that standard.

“Now is the time for everyone to show their character and bounce back from one bad result. I have confidence that results will improve.”

Rusthall now face Bearsted away from home on Saturday [October 6,kick-off 3pm].

Munich Born in Dublin in 1937, he played for Home Farm in the city before moving to Old Trafford at the age of 18.

He was a member of their FA Youth Cup winning team alongside Bobby Charlton and Wilf McGuinness.

Carolan made his debut for the senior side in 1958, nine months after the Munich air disaster.

He played 71 times for United before joining Brighton in 1960.

The club said: “All at Tonbridge Angels send their condolences to Joe’s family at this sad time and remember with fondness some great occasions at the old Angel Ground.”

A minute’s applause was held at Saturday’s home game against Bishop’s Stortford.

HIGH ACHIEVER Joe Carolan (far right) scored 50 goals for the Angels

Dale Hill looks to raise £5k for cancer research GOLF: DALE HILL Golf Club in Wadhurst is holding a bowel cancer awareness Red Trouser Day on Thursday [October 4].

The inaugural event aims to raise £5,000 for bowel cancer research at the Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust in London.

After playing on the course designed by Ian Woosnam, golfers will enjoy an afternoon meal with former Wales and British & Irish Lions rugby union legend John Taylor as guest speaker.

Individual golfers can play for £75, while a team of four costs £300. For £100, local businesses can sponsor a hole on the course with their company banner as well as display their marketing materials at the clubhouse for the day.

The Red Trouser day has been organised by

NUMBERS GAME New managers Mike Cramp (left) and Andrew McKechnie have suffered with a depleted squad

Geoff Morris, who survived bowel cancer having undergone surgery at The William Harvey Hospital in Ashford in January.

He said: “Our golf day will be great fun, with a fantastic championship course awaiting our teams, prizes for winners and contestants, auction prizes, and anecdotes from the golden age of the British & Irish Lions.

“It’s got something for everyone, so we hope many more golfers, or people who support are charity, will sign up.

There will also be talk by Dr Irene Chong, Consultant Clinical Oncologist and Clinician Scientist at The Royal Marsden, on recent advances in bowel cancer treatments.

Set up in 2016, Red Trouser Day is an

independent charity, raising awareness of bowel cancer, which is the UK’s fourth biggest killer with 40,000 people diagnosed every year.

Its founder Paul Finch said: “Red Trouser Day is about having fun and raising awareness of bowel cancer, so we’re particularly pleased that Irene Chong from The Royal Marsden will be with us, talking about the remarkable advances they are making in treating bowel cancer.

“We’re making remarkable strides in treating bowel cancer year by year through world-class research being carried out and funded right here in the UK.” To sign up for the golf day, visit redtrouserday. com/events/golf/ or email Geoff Morris at geoff@redtrouserday.com