Times of Tunbridge Wells 10th May 2017

Wednesday May 10 | 2017

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Fightback over CCTV decision as more evidence is demanded

CALVERLEY HOUSE Potentially converted into luxury apartments?

INSIDE BLUES FOR YOU

Conservatives sweep the board in local elections Page 3

By Murray Jones THE Borough Council’s Cabinet have been told to reconsider their decision to downgrade the town’s CCTV monitoring because of a failure to provide enough justificatory evidence.

The ruling came from the council’s Overview and Scrutiny Committee on Monday [May 8].

They had the issue referred to them after Liberal Democrat members ‘called in’ – or appealed – the April 13 decision.

This was based on claims that there was a lack of evidence to warrant the decision and that parish councils had not been notified. The Overview and Scrutiny Committee agreed with the objections and voted for the Cabinet to hold another debate scheduled for tomorrow [Thursday May 11] at 12.30pm.

Passive monitoring means the 39 cameras around the borough would still be recording but they will cease to be watched live from April 2018 in order to save £100,000 annually.

According to a recent document produced by the Borough Council, from April 2016 to January 2017, CCTV monitored a total of 126 incidents graded as violent.

These range from assaults and domestic violence to public order and racial incidents, which are all routed to the police in real time for immediate attention. Under a passive model this immediacy would not be possible.

MARKET VALUE

Visit The Pantiles Food Festival this weekend Page 75

Exodus of office workers from town would hit local business

By Adam Hignett

adam@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk HUNDREDS of jobs are at risk of being moved out of town when the sale of one of the largest office buildings in Tunbridge Wells is completed next year.

Around 60 businesses are currently based in Calverley House, which is situated in the town centre on the corner of Camden Road and Calverley Road.

Together they are believed to employ approximately 650 people.

However, the block is currently in the process of being sold to developers Pineview

Property Group, who specialise in the states the sale is due to be completed in ‘January 2018’. creation of luxury flats.

It added: “We understand PineThe Times has published a number of stories raising concerns over the view are intending to implement fact that offices across the town are the planning permission for redebeing converted into more profitable velopment of Calverley House, although we await formal notificaresidential units. tion of their intentions.”

Last year the Civic Society warned that Tunbridge Wells is in danger of The sale has left many occuturning into ‘a dormitory of overpants scrambling to find new places to house their busipriced flats for commuters’. nesses, and comes at a In a letter seen this week by the Times,, the agency Solution time when Tunbridge Business Space Ltd – acting on Wells is seeing a rapid LARRY HARDCASTLE behalf of the freeholder of the Outlook is ‘pretty grim’ building, Calverley Court Ltd – Continued on page 2

BROUGHT TO BOOK Mead pupils win top writing competition Page 25

ILLUMINATING IDEA We highlight this spring’s make-up must-haves Page 66

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NEWS

Local News

Wednesday May 10 | 2017

Education watchdog says 11-Plus unfair

By Murray Jones newsdesk@timesoftonbridge.co.uk POORER pupils with the same SATs score as their wealthier peers are much less likely to pass the Kent Test, according to new research by an education think-tank.

The study by Education Datalab, a leading independent think-tank, found that the entrance exam for grammar schools in the county, known as the 11-Plus, was a ‘loaded dice’ against pupils on free school meals [FSM] as they were not able to be coached for the exam, setting them at a significant disadvantage compared to their better-off peers.

Frustrated In an attempt to make tests fairer, the researchers recommended poorer pupils should be given extra marks and state primary schools in Kent should be allowed to practise the reasoning test with pupils.

The research is described as the most detailed examination of how the 11-Plus operates in a single part of the country, with data collected from over 20,000 pupils starting secondary school in Kent in 2016.

It is particularly pertinent as the Conservatives finalise their plans to extend academic selection if they are re-elected on June 8.

The most significant finding appeared to be the fact that free school meal pupils who got the same SATs score as non-FSM pupils received an average 8.7 points fewer on the 11-Plus test, indicating they struggled more with its style.

The 11-Plus tests aptitude rather than subject knowledge, and is centred around three papers on English, maths and reasoning.

To gain a grammar place, pupils must score 106 or above on each paper, and get a score of 320 or above across all three papers.

FSM pupils might struggle because they were ‘not prepared for the reasoning component’ of the test, according to researchers.

Zoe Browne of AIM, a charity which offers free 11-Plus tutoring to children from lowincome backgrounds, said the group felt ‘continued frustration’ at the report’s findings, adding: “Education Datalab has produced

Council says its ‘hands are tied’ Continued from page 1

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decrease in the amount of floor space available. Calverley House alone counts for 37,081.67 sq ft (3,445 sq m) of office space.

Larry Hardcastle, whose web agency Larrytech employs 14 people in the building, said most of the companies based there are on licenced contracts that are renewed monthly or quarterly – meaning January could see many firms with little choice but to leave.

He said: “We are all looking for space which simply doesn’t exist in Tunbridge Wells.

“We require about 700 sq ft, but there is nothing suitable.

“It is a worry for my staff as most live in the town and it would be a hassle for them and more expense, if we had to relocate.

“At the moment we have hundreds of people at Calverley House who go out at lunch and after work, spending their money in the local shops and restaurants. When they go it’s going to be pretty grim.”

Craig Strong, of Capital Currencies, said it would be the second time his company had been forced to move due to residential development ‘if and when it happens’.

He said that any conversion would result ‘in

a big push of people out of town’.

One member of the council’s planning committee said their ‘hands were tied’ by central Government rules and so couldn’t prevent the change in use even if they wanted to.

TESTING TIME Researchers argue the Kent Test is geared towards wealthier pupils

evidence to support the fact that the grammar system does not promote social mobility.

“Our frustration stems from the fact that the conversation on this issue continues, yet little is being done to address the disadvantage experienced by children from low income homes.

“We believe that students from less well-off families should be provided with similar preparation as other students and this system should see actual reform rather than continued discussion and repeated analysis.”

Titanic recognition

Inspector Cllr Lawrence Heasman said: “The building has permitted development rights, which mean to change the building from offices to residential planning permission does not need to be sought.

“Even if it somehow did come in front of the planning committee and we rejected it, they would simply appeal and the decision would be made by a single planning inspector in their favour.”

As previously reported in the Times, prior approval to convert the building into 112 residential units was sought in August last year, which the council granted in October.

It should be noted that prior approval is described as ‘much less prescriptive’ than full planning applications in government guidelines, which add: “This is deliberate, as prior approval is a light-touch process which applies where the principle of the development has already been established.”

REVO AWARD: Gemma Cairney, Nicky Blanchard (RVP Centre Manager), Giulia Bunting (Revo President) and Marc Burchett (RVP Marketing Manager)

ROYAL Victoria Place (RVP) has won an accolade at this year’s Revo Purple Apple Marketing Awards for its ‘Titanic In Photographs’ exhibition.

The gathering of the leading shopping centre marketeers from all across the UK took place on May 4 in London at a ceremony hosted by TV and BBC Radio 1 presenter Gemma Cairney.

The exhibition, which was hosted by the centre last summer, displayed 100 large-scale photographs of the world’s most famous ship, brought to life with a world-class display of 130 original artefacts.

The event, which lasted four weeks, attracted more than 148,000 visitors.

YOU CAN’T BLAME THE BOROUGH COUNCIL FOR THIS ONE BEING a great place to live can be a bit of a double-edged sword. At least that’s what we’re finding here in Tunbridge Wells, where we have plenty of culture and art to enjoy, plus good places to eat and socialise, along with fine schools, easy access to wonderful countryside and London itself.

No wonder we find it such a good town to call ‘home’. The problem is so many others would like to enjoy the same lifestyle, which means there’s an insatiable demand for homes in the heart of the town.

That’s what is driving the current trend of buying up office space and converting it into more profitable residential units.

The latest example of this is Calverley House, which sits on the corner of Camden Road and Calverley Road. It’s home to some 60

businesses employing around 650 people.

Right now it’s in the process of being sold to developers Pineview Property Group, which specialises in creating luxury flats.

If that happens there’s a risk of those jobs being shipped out of town, so the shops and eateries surrounding Calverley House would be deprived of hundreds of potential customers at a time when making a profit is hard enough.

Now, you can’t blame the developers; turning offices into flats in itself creates jobs. Though how many might be local, we don’t know.

Much as some might like, you also can’t blame the borough council for giving the project the green light.

The building has what’s called ‘permitted development rights’ – which means the developers don’t need actual planning consent.

The Civic Society is already on record as warning that Tunbridge Wells is in danger of becoming a ‘dormitory of over-priced flats for commuters’.

It’s a fine balancing act between creating an affluent, attractive community with nice places to live and a town that offers appropriate employment opportunities. The two are inter-dependent.

So, what do we do to provide more office space without detracting from the housing stock? Maybe the borough council could move staff out of the town hall and make that available for offices?

Oh, hang on. Isn’t that what the council is doing with plans for a new civic complex?

Editorial Director, Richard Moore

Local News

Wednesday May 10 | 2017

NEWS IN BRIEF

Debate over petition for better planning A PETITION calling for all ‘ill-considered planning and development to be stopped’ within Tunbridge Wells has received more than 1,000 signatures and was served in person to the council’s chief executive William Benson last week.

The petition, which was set up on change. org and is unrelated to that organised by Save Our Park challenging the new Civic Complex plans, asks the council to ‘listen to experts’, fix infrastructure before permitting development and ensure adequate parking.

In response, a spokesman for the Borough Council said: “The Council welcomes petitions and will arrange for the petition to be debated at a future meeting.”

Labour select candidate TUNBRIDGE WELLS Labour have announced Kent resident Charles Woodgate will stand for the party at the coming General Election on June 8.

Mr Woodgate, from Tilmanstone near Dover, has 30 years of experience in international trade, finance and banking.

He said he will be focusing on the record of seven years of ‘Tory economic failure’, which he says has resulted in the local hospital being put under special measures and school budgets being cut.

Bidborough A26 crash TWO cars had to have their roofs removed by the fire service in order to rescue the drivers and passengers trapped inside following a collision on the A26 in Bidborough on Friday (May 5).

Police and the Air Ambulance also attended the scene which saw the road closed between 3.45pm and 8.30pm. A police spokesman said “A 78-year-old woman was taken to Tunbridge Wells Hospital with chest injuries and a three year old boy was also taken to hospital with leg pain. Both were transported by ambulance.

Another adult woman was also treated on the scene but not conveyed.”

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Tories avoid Brexit backlash and benefit from the collapse of UKIP

‘Disgraceful’ admission GREG CLARK was criticised by the founder of MoneySavingExpert.com, Martin Lewis, yesterday (May 9) after the Conservative candidate, whose cabinet brief included energy, said he has never switched energy provider as it is ‘a hassle’.

He made the admission on BBC Breakfast after the Conservatives’ announcement saying they will cap ‘rip off’ gas and electricity prices if they return to power.

It led Mr Lewis, whose Cheap Energy Club platform encourages engagement with the switching process to save money on bills, to tweet: “Disgraceful. That should probably disqualify him from being energy minister.

He should’ve tried just so he has lived experience.”

NEWS

REPRESENTATIVES: (L-R) James McInroy, Peter Oakford, Sarah Hamilton, Greg Clark, Paul Barrington-King, Catherine Rankin

By Adam Hignett

adam@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk UKIP’S only bastion in West Kent – Tunbridge Wells - was swept away last week (May 4) in county council elections that saw the Conservatives cement their grip on the borough.

Incumbent Tory candidates saw their majorities significantly boosted by the collapse of the Eurosceptic Party. Overall the party increased its majority across Kent by 20, to 67 seats.

Chris Hoare of UKIP, who lost his division of Tunbridge Wells East to Conservative Paul Barrington-King, came last with just 429 votes. Admitting it was a ‘bad day’ for his party he said their misfortune was due to ‘Theresa May wearing UKIP clothes.’

“Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery,” he

added. Perhaps reinforcing his point, Cllr Barrington-King informed Mr Hoare that his own brother Peter had recently joined the Conservative group in Southborough.

Victory Cllr Barrington-King credited his campaign team for his emphatic victory, which he said was a tribute to his friend the late Kevin Lynes, who had represented the ward before Mr Hoare won it for UKIP in 2013. It was the party’s one and only seat in West Kent.

The boost resulting from UKIP’s collapse, and a turnout which only marginally increased to an average of 35 per cent, meant neither the Liberal Democrats nor Labour were able to mount an effective challenge.

Man accused of Rusthall rape faces further charges THE aspiring model and actor who was accused of raping a woman in Rusthall last year is now facing further charges.

Chiron Hutchinson, 19, of Mount Pleasant, Uckfield, will stand trial on August 7 on 19 charges against five alleged victims.

A former pupil of St Bede’s School near Hailsham, Hutchinson was originally accused of one charge of raping a woman at a secluded wooded spot just off Harmony Street in Rusthall on October 8.

Assault He now faces nine offences of rape, two of attempted rape and eight of sexual assault between November 1 2015 and October 8 last year. He denies the charges.

CRIME SCENE

The secluded area on Rusthall Common His trial is expected to last four weeks, with a pre-trial review on June 23. He is currently remanded in custody at Elmley Prison on the Isle of Sheppey.

Fears among some Conservative candidates of a backlash against Greg Clark’s backing of Brexit failed to materialise.

In Tunbridge Wells North, where incumbent Conservative Peter Oakford looked to be most vulnerable to Liberal Democrats tapping into anger over Greg Clark’s Brexit backing, he received an additional 700 votes.

The Liberal Democrat candidate Marguerita Morton ended up coming third with 1172 votes, just behind Labour’s Martin Betts, whose campaign capitalised on people’s objections to the Southborough Hub project.

“I think we did well in our core area of Southborough and High Brooms which was consolation, but the UKIP vote has flooded to the Conservatives,” said Mr Betts, who won 1248 votes.

Cllr Oakford said he was ‘delighted’ by the result, claiming it was an endorsement of the Hub project.

In the Cranbrook division, Independent Nancy Warne came second with 988 votes behind incumbent Conservative Sean Holden, on 2932 votes.

Cllr Holden said he was ‘looking forward’ to representing seven rural villages, but was particularly pleased that his friend, Catherine Mayer – founder of the Women’s Equality Party – had chosen to field one of their only four nationwide candidates in the borough.

“I thoroughly like their principles and believe they bring some important issues to light,” he said, adding he would like to invite them to give a lecture at the town hall, where he also sits.

Not disheartened by coming fourth in the South division with 474 votes, Women’s Equality Party candidate Celine Thomas said: “We are very pleased with the result. It is the first time we have fielded a candidate at an election and we were the biggest of the small parties, beating Green and UKIP.” For county wide results and a breakdown of Tunbridge Wells results see P10 and 11

Payne murder trial MAIDSTONE Crown Court heard how a teenager killed his ‘gentle’ stepfather with a single punch after they clashed at their home during trial yesterday.

Douglas Herridge, 18, of Dartford, denies murdering businessman Colin Payne who ran Ripples bathroom store in Tunbridge Wells, at their Sackville Road home in November, claiming it was self-defence.

The punch resulted in the 54-year-old businessman, who was also a member of Tunbridge Wells Squash Club, instantly collapsing to the floor and dying soon afterwards of a brain injury. His stepson was 17 at the time.

Prosecutor Richard Hearden told the court of previous incidents in which Herridge, who was described as being in ‘emotional turmoil’ following the divorce of his parents, had acted violently.

The incident is said to have occurred after a refusal by his mother to give him money led Herridge to getting agitated which resuled in a confrontation with Mr Payne.

Herridge also denies an alternative charge of manslaughter.

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NEWS

Local News

Wednesday May 10 | 2017

ADAM HIGNETT’S VIEW FROM THE GALLERY

Councillors battle it out, or not, behind closed doors Delving into the murky world of factional politics IT ALL became very smoke and mirrors, cloak and dagger. At stake was the truth, and this reporter was determined to find an answer to the £72million question, what really happened at the Conservative Group meeting on February 16?

Like most of the best stories, it started at a meeting of full council last month when the Dear Leader, Cllr David Jukes of Crowborough, was asked a couple of questions by a former member of the esteemed body, Brian Ransley.

“Can the leader of the council provide a business plan, with cash flow projections for the full period of the £72 million loan, showing that the Civic Centre project is financially viable?” He asked, to murmured mutterings of hear, hear.

What came was the candid response: “Yes we can…but not yet. In due course we will have all the information you require.”

Mr Ransley thanked Cllr Jukes for his ‘concise reply’ before asking if it was ‘wise’ to commit in

excess of £4million of taxpayers’ money to progress the project without assessing “the financial viability of the project first? Especially as I understand that the ruling Conservative Group voted to defer the matter.”

Ooooooh yes…came some more murmuring from certain quarters of the council chamber.

Luckily Cllr Jukes had the ultimate alibi: “I think your information is incorrect, but I wasn’t actually there at the time… I was in America on business.

Having read the minutes I believe some members wanted it deferred, but the majority didn’t.”

He said the public sector was cursed with ‘having to spend a lot of money’ before they can even assess if a lot more money is needed to be spent and that is why £4million was required.

For the uniformed, the Conservative Group meeting is the real deal. Unlike the Committee of Rubber Stamps that is full council, it is where the ‘real’ opposition – discontented Tories –can thwart pol-

icy, safe from the public eye. They are so secret, even members of Her Majesty’s Fourth Estate are unwelcome.

The implication of Mr Ransley’s question is most of the members are not for the project at all and on February 16 voted to delay further spending – a claim former councillor Ransley SMOKE SCREEN is on record as stating ‘defi- The real decisions nitely happened’, as several are not made at members had told him so. full council Yet by the time they voted again at full council a week later, all but nine had got cold feet and voted through the additional funding.

So what happened in the meantime? Metaphorically skulking the corridors of power via email the picture became no less unclear to this journalist – not least because every source from now on is un-attributable.

But what came out were tales of machinations

‘I think your information is incorrect, but I wasn’t actually there at the time… ’ Cllr David Jukes

straight out of a provisional version of TV’s House of Cards, or perhaps more appropriately, The Thick of It. One Conservative said the minutes of the vote ‘were less than full’, while another hinted pressure was being applied on members ‘from the top’.

At the meeting, members were ‘boisterous and rebellious’ said one councillor, while another admitted it was ‘weakly chaired and chaotic’.

Several were unsure if, or what, the vote was even about…“it was impossible to say with any degree of certainty what was agreed,” one said.

“There was a vote and it became apparent that members weren’t even sure what they were voting for,” said another, who then went onto inform this reporter: “Frankly I don’t think this gossip is newsworthy.”

Yet another said it was merely: “A meeting to defer a meeting which in itself was about what to do at another meeting and that was all.”

Of course, one thing they all agreed on was the press will never be allowed to see the minutes as, perhaps ironically, this could lead to a breakdown of trust between members and a breach of confidentiality.

Any clearer? I didn’t think so.

Local News

Wednesday May 10 | 2017

Had it gone ahead, the proposals would have delivered a food store covering 16,500 sq ft and parking for up to 80 vehicles. They would also have resulted in the demolition of 15–16 Eridge Road, a pair of derelict semi-detached Victorian era houses.

The scheme, deemed not to need an environmental assessment application, was unopposed by the then Civic Society chairman John Cunningham while an online survey by the Times had shown widespread support for the proposal.

‘Aldi is still keen to open a store in Tunbridge Wells’ ON ITS WAY? Aldi shelved its original plans

Discount chain insists it still has plans to open a store in town

By Adam Hignett adam@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk ALDI have confirmed that they are still looking for a suitable site in Tunbridge Wells and will have further information ‘later this year’, more than 18

months after they first made proposals to move to the town.

The discount supermarket chain had originally written to the council in September 2015 informing them of their intention to submit a full planning application to develop land behind, and including, the Esso petrol station on Eridge Road.

But the application process was halted only a month later with little explanation.

The Times has been told one reason may have been a dispute with the Manor of Rusthall over access as customers would have had to cross a tiny strip of commons land which traverses Eridge Road – an account denied by the title holder, Targetfollow.

It would, however, have occurred at a time when Targetfollow was being accused of sending out ‘ransom letters’ to residents in properties adjacent to the common asking them to pay an annual fee to access their houses.

A spokesman for Aldi said this week: “Aldi is still keen to open a store in Tunbridge Wells and we are taking time to ensure we are progressing with the best possible tailor-made store for Tunbridge Wells. Aldi is still investing in stores across the region and we hope to have more news on plans for Tunbridge Wells later this year.”

A spokesman for the Manor of Rusthall said: “Targetfollow is aware of Aldi’s planning application, however, we do not know why the site has not been developed, and we have never had any dispute with Aldi.”

NEWS

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Men accused of car park killing apply to have the charges dismissed TWO men accused of murdering Giles Metcalf while he was sleeping rough in Torrington Car Park are applying for the charge to be dismissed.

Dean Lewis, 34, and James Marshall-Gunn, 30, were expected to enter pleas when they appeared at Maidstone Crown Court on Friday (May 5) but both defence and prosecutions requested the hearing be adjourned.

Mr Metcalf, who was 43 at the time of his death, was found dead on March 7 after reports of a fire.

Prosecutor Philip Bennetts QC said Mr Metcalfe, who was from the Tunbridge Wells area, died from ‘fume inhalation’. A previous hearing revealed an accelerant was used to start the fire.

It was the first night Mr Metcalf, who was described as a ‘kind and generous’ person by his family, had slept rough as he was waiting for a bed to become free at The Bridge Trust in Tonbridge, a charity which helps the homeless.

Judge Philip Statman heard Marshall-Gunn, of Hadlow Road, Tonbridge, had mental health issues and was currently at the Trevor Gibbens psychiatric unit at Maidstone Hospital. An application for the murder charge to be dismissed had been made through his lawyer Philip Sinclair.

The judge was also told lawyers for Lewis, of no fixed address, had applied for the murder charge to be dismissed.

A hearing to decide the issue will be held on June 19. A provisional trial date has been Giles Metcalfe set for September 6.

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NEWS

Local News

Wednesday May 10 | 2017

TEDx full line up revealed A DOUBLE Olympic champion, a former Woman of the Year and a Strictly Come Dancing winner – these are just some of the speakers finalised for this year’s TEDx Royal Tunbridge Wells.

The world-renowned speaking conference is returning for its third show this summer, and after teasing out guests periodically over the last few weeks, the full line-up for the June 10 event has been released [listed to the right].

Each speaker will have around 14 minutes to ‘ask and answer – or at least reflect upon – some of the big questions worth talking about’.

The first event in 2015 attracted an audience of 100. This year the organisers hope to draw a 1,000-capacity crowd to the Assembly Hall.

A TEDx spokesperson said: “We are absolutely ecstatic to announce the speaker line-up for TEDxRTW 2017, once again with an eclectic, thoughtprovoking and entertaining list of up-and-comers

TEDX KEY SPEAKERS  Dame Kelly Holmes (centre) MBE on reinventing herself

who has refugees reaching out for her help

 Henry Rose Lee on how being face-blind has

since 1919

taught her to see people in other ways  Lance Corporal Cassidy Little on

remaining cheerful through adversity  Phoebe Oldrey on how the layout of

spaces impacts on productivity and wellbeing  Joachim Bretcha, unique travel writer,

on what he discovers in Tunbridge Wells  Louis and Adrian King,

father and son on expanding their artistic horizons  Jane Walker (left), on

who are creating the future and sharing their stories on the stage of the Assembly Hall Theatre in Royal Tunbridge Wells.”

what ‘doing good’ does for the people that do it  Lara Khalaf, a

Syrian UK resident

 Dana Denis-Smith charts the role women in law  Steve Chapman explores how identity isn’t fixed  Phil Clemo on the experience of listening  Paul Cheese on

discovering the world with music while on two wheels  Graham Mann, Musical Director of the Kent Youth Jazz Orchestra, talks about rhythm  Justyn Rees

(right) Larcombe ((right right) right) shares his wisdom for those who are struggling with secret addictions

Energy efficient home sets up architects for second top award

By Adam Hignett

adam@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk ARCHITECTS Hazle McCormack Young have been nominated for their second accolade at this year’s Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) awards.

The Tunbridge Wells firm has seen its Mayfield PassivHaus dwelling entered into the residential category. This follows on from its nomination in the tourism and leisure sector for work on One Warwick Park hotel.

PassivHaus – which is German for passive house – is a form of building design standard that

focuses on ‘dramatically’ increasing energy efficiency and by extension reducing the house’s carbon footprint.

A voluntary standard, it has become increasingly popular in the last two decades, with around 30,000 such buildings being completed worldwide since the turn of the century.

The 450 square metre six-bedroom house in Mayfield is heated in peak demand times with less than 4.5KW of heat input, or the equivalent of a pair of electric fan heaters, thereby boasting high energy efficiency.

James Galpin, a partner at the firm, said the PassivHaus design uses ‘extremely high levels of insulation’, combined with ‘intelligently designed

WARM WELCOME The facade harnesses winter sun facades’ to harness the warmth of the winter sun and prevent overheating in the summer.

It also employs a ventilation system which brings fresh air into the house, heating it with the

extracted air on its way out of the building.

The buildings need very little heat input beyond the use of the sun’s rays and the warmth created by the bodies of the people living in them.

“Despite its proven success, there are still only a hundred or so PassivHaus projects built in the UK,” said Mr Galpin.

“Delivering the standard requires a great deal of detailed coordination between all team members, so we are delighted that the efforts of the team have been recognised for our latest PassivHaus in Mayfield,” he added.

The South East regional award ceremony takes place on May 17 in the Hilton Hotel at the Ageas Bowl in Southampton.

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BUSINESS

Local Business News

NEWS IN BRIEF

Taittinger plants its first Kentish vineyard THE scion of the only grand marque Champagne house still run by its eponymous family, Taittinger, planted the first vines in its new venture into English sparkling wines last week.

Pierre-Emmanuel Taittinger oversaw the planning of 50 acres of chardonnay, pinot noir and pinot meunier grapes at the Domaine Evremond vineyard in Chilham.

It comes 18 months after he first signalled his intention to start creating English sparkling wine, with the first vintages ready to be drunk in 2023.

Describing the rainy weather during the first planting as ‘good luck’, Monsieur Taittinger said his venture ‘expresses the great friendship I feel for Great Britain’.

Broker is back in black INSURANCE broker Aston Scott has seen its fortunes rebound after recording a pre-tax profit last year.

The West Malling-based business had suffered a £2.5million loss in 2015 after undergoing a restructuring. But figures for the year ending June 2016 show the firm recording a £1million pre-tax profit.

Turnover increased 7 per cent to £19million at the firm, which employs some 240 people.

Chief Executive Peter Blanc said the coming year will enable the firm to focus on client service and seek acquisitions ‘which are both an equal strategic and cultural fit with our business,’ adding: “I have full confidence and optimism that the Aston Scott Group will go from strength to strength.”

Wednesday May 10 | 2017

Digital guru warns bosses to learn the online basics – no matter what their age may be

By Murray Jones

newsdesk@timesoftonbridge.co.uk BUSINESSES need to adapt to the smartphone generation or face being left behind, a Tunbridge Wells-based consultant has warned.

Speaking at The Old Fire Station in Tonbridge to an audience of local firms, David Taylor said he sees too much resistance to the changing communication landscape at the top of small and medium businesses.

Discussing the ‘baby-boomer’ generation [aged 53-71], he said: “About half of them are very much of the attitude: ‘I hate the modern world. I hate people taking pictures of their dinner. I hate the telly because the camera doesn’t stay in the same place for more than five seconds. I hate using phones. I hate the internet. I hate it all.

I wish it would go away.’ Well sorry, it’s not going to go away.

“The problem is, a huge proportion of business owners in the UK fall into that category and their businesses are in danger of going bust because they are essentially saying ‘I can’t compete in the modern world’.”

His thoughts are backed up by a recent study from Microsoft, which found that 46 per cent of business managers in the UK don’t believe their senior leadership is willing to make the necessary digital transformations.

Conversely, the other half of the baby-boomers have embraced social media and are active on Facebook which, Mr Taylor argued, shows ‘it is all about mindset’.

“Being too old to use social media is a lie. It’s about your ability and desire to

WHEN BUSINESSES DON’T GO ONLINE… David Taylor said he spoke to the owner of Breeds the Cutlers, Tunbridge Wells’ oldest shop, before it closed in 2012 after 182 years in the town.

“They were a fantastic, familyrun business. They didn’t have a website and he sniffed at me when I suggested he get one. He said he didn’t want that type of customer.

Ultimately they went out of business because they didn’t want to work online. It’s a classic example of the stubborn old attitude.”

learn,” he said, pointing to 70-year-old Donald Trump’s successful use of Twitter as a prime example.

He did advise caution when jumping into the world of social media, since many companies rush on to the digital scene without a long-term plan for the content they can upload.

“Social media is a stage, you don’t want to go on in desperation and have nothing to say.

“You have to think: ‘How does my business look on a smartphone?’

“In terms of actual content, most small businesses’ online profiles are like a small muddy puddle on the High Street – but they need to be like Bewl Water,” says Mr Taylor.

But rather than being intimidated by the vast digital universe, he encouraged business owners to explore the wealth of free online PLUGGING IN tutorials available before hiring David Taylor speaks any specialists, again emphato businesses at sising the importance of a The Old Fire Station ‘willingness to learn’.

Local Business News

Wednesday May 10 | 2017

It planned to carry out a demonstration at the AGM at the Spa, but this was allegedly called off by administrators of the online pressure group.

One ‘victim’ is Helen Batt, a partner in the Tunbridge Wells law firm Buss Murton.

She bought a four-bedroom Bovis home on the Orchard Fields development in Maidstone for £390,000 before Christmas.

Two days before the completion date, the house had not been carpeted, the lounge had not been

BUILDING TRUST Bovis has set aside £7million for repairs and compensation

‘The clear focus for 2017 is on improving our production processes and efficiency’

Troubled Bovis Homes insists ‘We have made clear progress’

By Andrew Tong

newsdesk@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk KENT housebuilder Bovis Homes said it has made ‘clear progress’ in dealing with customer complaints over the poor quality of its houses.

The company, based in New Ash Green, has faced up to 200 ‘snagging’ issues on some new homes, while many were sold unfinished.

But at the Annual General Meeting of the group, held at the Spa Hotel in Tunbridge Wells on May 2, shareholders were told: “We have made clear progress in addressing the issues faced during 2016 and in particular have re-established a ‘customer first’ culture across the business.”

In February Bovis committed £7million to cover compensation of its disgruntled customers and carry out repair work, especially on electrical and plumbing issues.

It also pledged to recruit extra staff to deal with complaints, set up a dedicated homebuyers’ panel and improve its quality assurance procedure.

The recently appointed Chief Executive Greg Fitzgerald, who is leading a strategic review of the business, said: “The clear focus for 2017 is on improving our production processes and efficiency, thereby ensuring we deliver quality homes to our customers.”

The Bovis Homes Victims Group on Facebook has gained more than two thousand members since it was launched in September last year.

plastered or painted, the kitchen had the wrong units installed and the garden was not turfed.

And when the power was cut off, she discovered that the electricity was not connected to the mains, but was still running off a generator at the Bovis estate.

Mrs Batt had 198 ‘snagging’ issues and said: “A buyer is not permitted to delay completion for these items or they will be in breach of contract.

Therefore, I had to complete on an unfinished, albeit liveable – just – dwelling.”

The company was accused of putting pressure on buyers to move into incomplete houses before Christmas by offering them incentives – including cash offers of £2,000-3,000 – if they completed on their house purchases before December 23.

Bovis Homes issued a profit warning at the start of the year, and admitted that it had completed around 180 fewer houses that it had anticipated in 2016. Then the Chief Executive, David Ritchie, resigned on January 11.

The firm, which made a lower-than expected annual pre-tax profit of £154.7million up to the end of last year, has also seen potential mergers fall through with Redrow Homes and Galliford Try in March and April. It spent £2.8million on advisory fees for these failed merger negotiations.

BUSINESS

9

Energy entrepreneurs take the lead in Kent KENT is one of the greenest counties in the UK and comes in the top ten places for the provision of renewable energy by independent suppliers.

The Energy Entrepreneurs report by SmartestEnergy found 401.6 megawatts (MW) of electricity in Kent is supplied by independent renewable projects, enough to power more than 217,000 homes and saving more than 330,000 tonnes of CO2 a year.

This places the county eighth in the UK, just ahead of Norfolk. The leading authority is Highlands & Islands, where 656.8MW is supplied by independent projects – those not owned by an electricity supply company.

Storage However, the report warned that across the UK growth in the number of projects being commissioned ‘flatlined’ in the last three months of 2016, due to ‘subsidy cuts and political uncertainty’.

This slowdown in the number of more traditional projects, such as solar and wind generation, has led to more investment in battery storage, where Kent leads the field.

By 2020, nine new battery storage projects will be in operation, ranking Kent first in the UK. Of the 2.3 gigawatts of planned storage nationwide, a quarter (594MW) is due to be built in the county.

Overall the picture for the industry moving forward is less reassuring, the report claims, citing a fall of investment into the sector last year of £1.1billion, with spending set to fall off a ‘cliff edge’.

It warned investment will shrink by up to 95 per cent between 2017 and 2020.

Local News

Wednesday May 10 | 2017

IT WAS all about the Conservative surge last week as the party of Theresa May recorded their best Kent Count Council result since 2009.

With 67 seats, the party tightened their grip on

VOTES % 2932 60% Elected 988 20% Not elected 647 13% Not elected 306 6% Not elected

n Conservative n Liberal Democrat n Independent n Labour n UKIP

1953 41% Elected 912 19% Not elected 850 18% Not elected 567 12% Not elected 429 9% Not elected

n Conservative n Labour n Liberal Democrat n UKIP n Green Party

2017 1248 1172 215 128

n Conservative n Labour n Liberal Democrat n UKIP n Green Party

2928 65% Elected 600 13% Not elected 475 11% Not elected 266 6% Not elected 219 5% Not elected

Catherine Rankin Andrew Thomas Hickey Lorna Blackmore Céline Thomas Naz Mian John Anthony Hurst

n Conservative n Liberal Democrat n Labour n Women’s Equality Party n UKIP n Green Party

2716 888 573 474 219 215

James McInroy Alan James Bullion Alex Britcher David Charles Holton Russell Robert Bishop

n Conservative n Liberal Democrat n Labour n Green Party n UKIP

2720 55% Elected 884 18% Not elected 718 15% Not elected 350 7% Not elected 259 5% Not elected

Cranbrook

PARTY n Conservative n Independent n Liberal Democrat n Labour

the authority, as accusations that they had implemented crippling austerity measures fell on deaf ears.

As seen nationwide, the story of the day was UKIP’s obliteration as thousands of their former voters flocked to the Conservatives. UKIP, which until last week was the second last party in the county, lost all 17 of their divisions.

Tunbridge Wells East

adam@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk

ELECTION CANDIDATE Seán Holden Nancy Warne Clare Katherine Bishop Ian Patrick Carvell Paul Vincent Barrington-King Allen David Lear Terry Cload Tim Rich Chris Hoare

Abandoned

Tunbridge Wells North

By Adam Hignett

TUNBRIDGE WELLS RESULTS BREAKDOWN:

Peter Oakford Martin Roland Betts Marguerita Morton William O’Shea Anthony Hoskin

Tunbridge Wells Rural

Blue bounce tightens Tory control of Kent

Tunbridge Wells South

NEWS

Tunbridge Wells West

10

Sarah Hamilton Raymond Peter Moon Tom Deacon Colin Nicholson Trevor Tyrone Bisdee

The collapse of the purple vote was not the only story, as voters also abandoned Labour, who only secured five seats at the council, down from 13 the last time the county was last contested.

Anecdotal evidence is that Jeremy Corbyn’s name went down badly on the door step, but there was a small ray of light for Labour, when their candidate for Margate Barry Lewis wrested control of Margate from UKIP, claiming he had ‘grilled the Kippers’.

More disappointment was to be found among members of the Liberal Democrats, who failed to improve on the seven divisions they held previously by officially slipping back to six, however, the oddly named Liberal Democrat Focus Team party won in Canterbury South.

The Greens retained Hythe but made no further gains. A seat in Swanscombe was awarded to a local residents’ association.

Turnout remained around the historical average of 30 per cent.

42% Elected 26% Not elected 25% Not elected 4% Not elected 3% Not elected

53% Elected 17% Not elected 11% Not elected 9% Not elected 4% Not elected 4% Not elected

DEEP BLUE SEA: All 17 UKIP councillors were swept away by the Conservative surge

Local News

Wednesday May 10 | 2017

1. Ashford Central 2. Ashford East 3. Ashford Rural East 4. Ashford Rural South 5. Ashford Rural West 6. Ashford South 7. Birchington & Rural* 8. Broadstairs 19

17

72

9. Canterbury City North 10. Canterbury City South 11. Canterbury North 12. Canterbury South 13. Cheriton Sandgate & Hythe East 14. Cliftonville 15. Cranbrook 16. Dartford East

16 62

47

17. Dartford North East 18. Dartford Rural 19. Dartford West 20. Deal & Walmer 21. Dover North 22. Dover Town* 23. Dover West 24. Elham Valley

28

18

36. Maidstone Rural North 37. Maidstone Rural South 38. Maidstone Rural West 39. Maidstone South 40. Maidstone South East 41. Malling Central 42. Malling North 43. Malling North East 44. Malling Rural East 45. Malling West 46. Margate

56

61

46

60

29 52

71

58

42

43

45

14 8

7

48

31 11

25

36

9

34

41

30

70

57

51

55

25. Faversham 26. Folkestone East 27. Folkestone West 28. Gravesend East 29. Gravesham Rural 30. Herne Bay East 31. Herne Village & Sturry 32. Hythe West 33. Maidstone Central* 34. Maidstone North East 35. Maidstone Rural East

50

10

59

33

54

39

44

38

40

35

20

12 21

64 53

23

5

37

3

1 66 69

65

67

6

24

22

2

68

NUMBER OF SEATS

PARTY

67

CONSERVATIVE

6

LIBDEM

5

LABOUR

1

GREEN

1

LIBDEM FOCUS TEM

1

SWANSCOMBE & GREENHITHE RESIDENTS’ ASSOCIATION

4

32

15 63

49

*Divisions represented by two councillors

13

27 26

62. Swanscombe and Greenhithe 63. Tenterden 64. Tonbridge* 65. Tunbridge Wells East 66. Tunbridge Wells North 67. Tunbridge Wells Rural 68. Tunbridge Wells South 69. Tunbridge Wells West 70. Whitstable East & Herne Bay West 71. Whitstable West 72. Wilmington

NEWS

47. Northfleet & Gravesend West 48. Ramsgate* 49. Romney Marsh 50. Sandwich 51. Sevenoaks North & Darent Valley 52. Sevenoaks Rural North East 53. Sevenoaks Rural South 54. Sevenoaks Town 55. Sevenoaks West 56. Sheppey 57. Sittingbourne North 58. Sittingbourne South 59. Swale East 60. Swale West 61. Swanley

11

12

NEWS

Community News

Wednesday May 10 | 2017

Sculptor bowled over by public art for Grosvenor & Hilbert’s boulders

By Sarah Bond FAMILIES turned creative for Art in the Park last month, giving a professional artist ideas for new rock sculptures depicting Grosvenor & Hilbert Park and its surrounding areas.

The ‘pattern-drawing workshop’ was run by sculptor Richard Perry, who has been commissioned by Tunbridge Wells Borough Council.

Richard’s previous creations include the five-metre marble StarStone in Armagh and a six-metre Freedom Tree in St Helier.

He provided photos of his work along with pictures of the park’s trees, wetlands and red iron spring water and the old High Brooms gas cylinders to inspire those who came to the workshop.

He was originally going to sculpt boulders for Jackwood Way based on the diagonal Tunbridge Ware designs that area was famed for, but it was not possible to site the rocks there in the end.

So the project moved the adjacent Grosvenor & Hilbert Park, with a different theme – though still inspired by some Tunbridge Ware with flowing, water-style designs found on a tea caddy.

Having studied the art produced by the community, Richard has submitted a proposal for three Gneiss boulder sculptures to be grouped together in the park. He hopes they will be installed in September.

“I would like them to say something of the flow of the land and the flow of the water which form strong characteristics of the park,” he said.

Camden Road’s Mia Harrop, aged eight, produced a blue and yellow rock pattern that was much admired by Richard and Community Engagement Officer Steff D’Agorne.

“I’m delighted with the way the day has gone,” said Richard. “The people who have come have done what I would do and responded to the

really beautiful park, and they picked up on all the sorts of things I like too, like the flowing lines and the moving water.

“We wanted to find a way of making something that is special to the park, that has a sense of place, and I think we have got that today. I’ve seen lots of designs that have inspired me.”

Ms D’Agorne said: “It’s been nice to get all sorts of people from different backgrounds coming along and inspiring the artwork that Richard will be creating.

“I feel that it’s going to make a huge impact on how well the art will eventually fit in with the park.”

To see more of Richard’s work, visit www.richardperrysculpture.com

PARK SPARK Families provide inspiration

COLOURFUL Mia Harrop with her design

School’s fun run raises over £4,000 for Demelza House THE annual Sixth Form Charity Fancy Dress Fun Run was held at Tunbridge Wells Grammar School for Boys on April 25, raising more than £4,000 for charity.

Competitors took part in fun events like sack races, wheelbarrow races and three-legged races and the extravaganza culminated in the 800m fun run.

Costumes included a vicar, flamenco dancers, the Mario brothers, the 118 team, a giant raspberry, Sherlock Holmes and many more.

The event was organised by Deputy Head Student Joshua Rapley and a team of Senior Prefects.

All proceeds went to the Head Student’s charity, which this year is Demelza House, an organisation that provides hospice care for children.

Joint Head of Sixth Form Becky LeSeelleur said: “Sixth Form students at the school work hard to support their chosen charity each year, organising events such as the Fun Run, quiz nights, own clothes days, cake sales and sponsored sporting activities.

“Their efforts so far this year have raised an impressive £4,084 – with some more to come – for this amazing local charity.”

COSTUME DRAMA Students keep fit in their outfits

Free knitting lessons on offer to help raise dementia awareness FOLLOWING the launch of its Twiddle Mitt Knit Appeal, Tunbridge Wells Dementia Forum is running free beginners’ knitting and crochet classes in Royal Victoria Place on May 11.

The group has received requests for tuition ahead of Dementia Awareness Week on May 14-20.

Twiddle Mitts, which are covered in beads, buttons, ribbons and pompoms, are easy to make and help to calm people living with dementia by keeping restless hands busy and reducing anxiety.

Bethan Minter, Creative Learning Manager at the Assembly Hall theatre, is leading the knit appeal alongside the town’s Dementia Forum.

She says: “After receiving feedback on social media and through our website, we found that many people wanted to get involved in the knit appeal, but couldn’t knit.

The workshops are aimed at beginners. Spaces are limited, so please book in advance.

Please donate your completed mitts by May 31 in the collection boxes in Gateway on Grosvenor Road and Tunbridge Wells Library.

For information about the lessons, visit www. twellsknitappeal.com or their Facebook page.

Please share your mitt pictures on social media using the hashtag #twellsknitappeal.

Community News

Wednesday May 10 | 2017

NEWS

13

Robin Hood’s free meals for all local Macmillan nurses

By Andrew Tong START YOUR ENGINES Custom cars head for the Continent

Scumrun banger race revs up in support of children’s charity THIS year’s Scumrun banger rally will start from Honnington Farm in Southborough on May 11, raising tens of thousands of pounds for charity.

The four-day event features teams in modified vehicles and fancy dress that travel hundreds of miles across Europe. Participating vehicles must cost less than £500.

This year it is raising money for Together for Short Lives, the UK charity which provides support for children and young people who have a low life expectancy.

The farm will host a launch party with former TV entertainer Timmy Mallett with music from the Eighties Hair Rock Experience.

Edward White, Scumruns’ founder, said: “We’re really excited to be

supporting such a fantastic charity whose work supports the lives of so many families.

“It’s great to know that the money raised by this event will help seriously ill children and their families across the UK to get the care and support they need to make every moment count.”

Since the first race in 2006 Scumrun has raised more than £800,000 for children’s charities across Britain.

Katherine Scott, Corporate Partnerships Manager at Together for Short Lives, said: “The money raised by the teams taking part in this epic four-day challenge will help families across the UK who are caring for a seriously ill child to make the most of their precious time together.”

A LOCAL pub is offering Macmillan nurses in Tunbridge Wells a free meal every Sunday in May to thank them for their hard work.

As part of its Macmillan May fundraising drive, the Robin Hood Hungry Horse pub on Sandhurst Road is inviting all Macmillan Cancer Support nurses to enjoy dishes from its Pub Faves menu.

May also marks International Nurses’ Day this Friday (May 12), the anniversary

£2.9million through the charity partnership with Macmillan.

Rachel Gascoigne, Partnership Manager at Macmillan Cancer Support, said: “Our nurses and other professionals work hard to help people affected by cancer, not just with medical support, but also providing much needed emotional and practical support, so it’s wonderful to see their work recognised on International Nurses’ Day. “We want to thank the Robin Hood and everyone at Greene King for their

‘May is a key month for nurses, so we decided to celebrate their hard work’ of Florence Nightingale’s birth, so it’s a special month for nurses around the world.

Stephen Edwards, General Manager at the Robin Hood, said: “Macmillan nurses work tirelessly to support people with cancer, and their care makes such a difference in the local community.

“May is a key month for nurses, both in the UK and internationally, so we decided to mark our Macmillan May fundraising drive and celebrate their hard work.”

Since 2012 Greene King team members and guests have raised more than

GREAT PLATES (L-r) Lindsey Siddons serves up a treat for Rachel Gascoigne and Paula Jackson of Macmillan Cancer Support

generosity in helping to show our professionals how much their work is appreciated throughout Macmillan May – a month-long fundraiser, which will see Greene King pubs across the country coming together to support the charity.

“This is a truly lovely gesture and a brilliant way to kick off our sixth year as Greene King’s national charity partner.”

Find out how to claim the meal at www.hungryhorse.co.uk/macmillannurses. For more information about the charity, visit www.macmillan.org.uk

14

NEWS

Countywide

NEWS IN BRIEF

Green party call for ‘progressive’ alliance A LEADER of the Green Party in Kent has called for an official alliance with Labour and the Liberal Democrats to challenge the Conservatives in next month’s general election.

Stuart Jeffery, Kent Greens co-chair, said it was ‘time to do politics differently’ and field a single ‘progressive’ candidate in each Kent seat who is endorsed by all three parties.

It comes after none of the opposition parties managed to make ground at last week’s County Council elections, however Vince Maple, the Labour parliamentary candidate for Chatham and Aylesford, has ruled it out as an option.

Towergate mega merger MAIDSTONE insurer Towergate is to be merged into a £500 million super group of UK companies generating £2.8 billion of gross written premiums.

The insurer, which employs 4,000 people across the UK including in Sevenoaks, will combine with van insurance broker Autonet, private medical insurance broker Chase Templeton and insurer Ryan Direct Group.

Wednesday May 10 | 2017

Trains delayed due to llamas on the line LEAVES on the line, wrong type of snow and even ‘slippery rain’ have been the excuses made by train operators over the years for why their ser-

LLAMA DRAMA Usually found in South America

vices are running late.

But on Monday morning commuters from Tunbridge Wells and Tonbridge heading up to London were given a new reason for why they can expect a slow service – eight baby llamas on the track.

‘I fear there’s been a slight misunderstanding’ The animals, which are normally found in the Andes mountain range, had wandered onto the track between Hildenborough and Sevenoaks at around 8:30am.

Social media users, put aside their usual anger over the delays to make light of the situation and show their creative side, posting memes of llamas in blonde wigs with the caption ‘Llama Del Rey’ and pictures of the Dalai Lama super imposed on the track with the caption: “I fear there’s been a

available to answer questions and share their experiences.

Musical Director, Ros Kipps said: “We are very excited to have moved to a larger, more accessible venue right in the centre of Sevenoaks and we are looking for new singers in all vocal parts, especially lower voices.

County rail summit KENT County Council will host its annual rail summit at County Hall, Maidstone at 6pm on Monday, May 15.

Speakers this year include David Statham from Southeastern, who will talk about recent developments and plans for the current franchise.

slight misunderstanding.”

A Southeastern spokesman said: “We’re not sure how they got there or where they were going, but we can assume they weren’t trying to catch the train.

“As a safety measure we slowed trains running through the route and there have been minor delays as a result.”

Services were back running as normal within the hour.

The incident occurred on the same day that traffic on the A21 near the junction with the Pembury Road was ground to halt after a herd of cows made their way onto the road at around 6pm.

Police confirmed an off duty officer stopped traffic and assisted with moving the cows into a field.

Success ALL TOGETHER: The Green Street Blues are seeking new members to join their a cappella chorus

New members sought for a cappella ladies chorus THE Green Street Blues, an award winning ladies a cappella chorus, are holding an Open Evening on June 27 as part of the Sevenoaks Arts Festival.

Based at the Drive Methodist Church, Sevenoaks, the chorus will be welcoming any ladies from Sevenoaks, Tunbridge Wells and Tonbridge who would like the chance to try out singing as part of the group.

The occasion which also marks the chorus’s 18th anniversary, will see the group perform at intervals throughout the evening and members will be

“We are a very welcoming group and we are passionate about what we do. We’ve won local competitions and been medalled at the national competition in the past and we need to recruit new members to guarantee our ongoing success.”

Green Street Blues rehearse every Tuesday evening from 7.45-10.15pm and perform throughout the year.

Ms Kipps added: “Increasing numbers of people are now joining choirs, with many enjoying feeling part of a social group, singing gives us a chance to de-stress from hectic working lives. We all have an instinct to sing and I hope that our Open Evening will give local women the impetus to come and try singing with this wonderful, friendly group.”

The open evening will take place between 8pm and 10pm. For further details email gsbsingers@ gmail.com.

16

NEWS

National News

Wednesday May 10 | 2017

Corbyn pledges ‘reckoning’ for tax cheats and greedy bankers A LABOUR government would give British people the chance to ‘take our wealth back’ from tax cheats, rip-off bosses and greedy bankers, Jeremy Corbyn has promised.

Launching Labour’s official general election campaign in Manchester, Mr Corbyn warned there will be a ‘reckoning’ if he wins power in the June 8 poll and breaks up a system rigged in favour of the wealthy and against ordinary workers.

The Labour leader sought to neutralise the Brexit issue which Theresa May and Tim Farron have put at the heart of their campaigns, insisting that there is no going back from last year’s decision for the UK to leave the EU.

LABOUR OF LOVE Jeremy Corbyn is joined by Andy Burnham

‘The question now is what sort of Brexit do we want?’

“This election isn’t about Brexit itself,” he said.

“That issue has been settled. The question now is what sort of Brexit do we want – and what sort of country do we want Britain to be after Brexit?

“Labour wants a jobs-first Brexit. A Brexit that safeguards the future of Britain’s vital industries, a Brexit that paves the way to a genuinely fairer society, protecting human rights, and an upgraded economy.”

Mr Corbyn was joined on stage by Andy Burnham, who last week missed a photocall with the leader on the evening of his election as metro mayor of Greater Manchester in one of the few points of light in Labour’s gloomy local elections.

And he was introduced by Coronation Street and Broadchurch actress Julie Hesmondhalgh, who

told activists that they had a month to ensure that a Labour victory turned the UK into ‘a society that truly gives a toss about stuff’.

Mr Corbyn said: “Today I say to tax cheats, the ripoff bosses, the greedy bankers; enough is enough.

“In this election, Labour is standing for decent jobs, investment for the future, shared wealth creation, security at work, affordable homes for all, a fully funded NHS and schools, training and skills, an end to rip-off privatisation, fair taxation and a fairer, more equal country.”

CORBYN WILL STAY ON AS LEADER Jeremy Corbyn was quoted as saying he will remain as Labour leader even if he fails to gain power in the General Election. He was quoted by the BuzzFeed website as saying: “I was elected leader of this party and I’ll stay leader of this party.” But he later clarified his stance: “No, I told them I would carry on as leader because we’ll have won the election by then.”

Green leader rules out ‘progressive alliances’ strategy GREEN PARTY co-leader Caroline Lucas has said her party will turn its back on ‘progressive alliances’ after Labour expelled three members who backed a progressive candidate.

Ms Lucas said the Labour and Liberal Democrat stance has ‘betrayed the people they represent’ by failing to properly consider electoral pacts between broadly left-wing parties.

Her comments came after Labour members in South West Surrey were expelled for backing Louise Irvine, a GP who is standing for the National Health Action party against Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt.

Ms Lucas said: “Labour and the Lib Dems defied their own members on the ground - and the time has now come for the Greens to focus entirely on winning votes up and down the country.”

She said Labour refused to even meet the Greens to discuss alliances, while the Lib Dems would only engage at arm’s length. “The other parties have proved in recent weeks they aren’t fit for the modern political age,” she said.

STAND ALONE Caroline Lucas will cut no deals

May leaves door open for tax rises and overturn of hunting ban THERESA MAY has said it is not her intention to raise taxes but did not rule out future increases.

The Tory instinct is to keep taxes down, the Prime Minister insisted during a campaign event in York with the party’s northern candidates.

She left the door open for increases after June 8 as she made clear she would not follow in predecessor David Cameron’s footsteps by making a string of tax pledges that bind the government.

Mrs May said: “It’s not our intention to increase the level of tax but I’m not going to make any tax

commitments that we are not absolutely sure we can keep. But our instinct is to reduce taxes for working families.

“At the election people have a very clear choice.

It’s between a Conservative party that has always, that is and always will be a low tax party, a party that in government has taken four million people out of paying tax altogether, has brought in a tax cut for over 30 million people, for basic rate taxpayers, that’s the Conservative way of doing things.

“The other choice is a Labour Party whose natu-

ral instinct is always to raise taxes.”

Mrs May has promised not to raise VAT if the Conservatives win the general election, but signalled she will scrap a flagship ‘tax lock’ pledge which also rules out increases to income tax and national insurance.

The Prime Minister also renewed a pledge to hold a free vote on overturning the ban on fox hunting, saying she was in favour of the outlawed activity but MPs would be given the final say.

Mr Cameron had promised to put the divisive

issue to Parliament but did not go ahead with the plan due to a lack of support.

During a visit to a factory in Leeds, Mrs May said: “This is a situation on which individuals will have one view or the other, either pro or against.

“As it happens, personally I have always been in favour of fox hunting, and we maintain our commitment, we have had a commitment previously as a Conservative Party, to allow a free vote.

The law, introduced by Labour in 2004, bans the use of dogs to hunt foxes and other wild mammals.

National News

Wednesday May 10 | 2017

NEWS IN BRIEF

‘Queen of Latin’ Ballas named as Strictly judge STRICTLY COME DANCING has named its new head judge as Shirley Ballas, aka the ‘Queen of Latin’. She replaces Len Goodman, who stepped down from the role after 12 years.

Now 56, the ballroom and Latin dancer retired in 1996 after being a three-time Latin American Champion at the British Open To The World in Blackpool, where she reached the Shirley Ballas finals 17 times.

17

Girl dies at theme park after falling from water ride AN 11-YEAR-OLD girl has died after falling from a ride at Drayton Manor Theme Park in Staffordshire.

The victim, who is from the Leicester area, fell from the Splash Canyon water ride at Tamworth.

She is believed to have been on a school trip.

A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokesman said: “On arrival, crews discovered a girl with serious injuries who had been rescued from the water by park staff.

“Ambulance staff administered advanced life support before she was flown to Birmingham

Children’s Hospital with the doctor continuing treatment en-route. Unfortunately, shortly after arrival at hospital the girl passed away.”

Police superintendent Carl Ratcliffe said: “Specially trained officers are supporting the girl’s family at this difficult time.

“Our thoughts are very much with her family and friends following this tragic incident.”

The ride, which opened in 1993, features up to 21 boats, with up to six people in each, and promises ‘a wild ride’ with ‘fast-flowing rapids’.

GREEN HOUSE The property needs £200,000 of repairs

Stansted at a standstill

TRAGEDY Drayton Manor in Tamworth

Westminster knife man charged with preparing terrorism A MAN who was arrested with knives in the heart of Westminster has been charged with preparing terrorist acts.

Khalid Mohammed Omar Ali, 27, was detained near Downing Street in central London on April 27.

He was also charged with two counts of making or having explosives, Scotland Yard said.

The Metropolitan Police said the charges under the Explosive Substances Act related to activity in Afghanistan in 2012.

Ali, of north London, is due to appear on remand at Westminster Magistrates’ Court today (May 10).

STANSTED AIRPORT has apologised after a fault with security scanners caused long queues and meant passengers missed their flights.

The problem with the X-ray machines emerged at around 4.30am on Tuesday and was resolved by 8.15am.

Kate-Elizabeth tweeted: “There was a huge pile up, staff didn’t prioritise the times of anyone’s flights and Ryanair didn’t hold the flight for all those delayed.”

Life on earth is...older

Putting down roots: House of ivy is sold

LIFE thrived on the land as long as 3.48 billion years ago – hundreds of millions of years earlier than was previously thought.

The discovery raises the possibility that the earliest living things may have evolved on land rather than in the sea - and increases the chances of life being found on Mars.

Fossil remnants of ancient microbes were unearthed from hot spring deposits in Pilbara, a remote part of Western Australia.

A HOUSE in Blackheath engulfed by ivy and overgrown shrubs has gone under the hammer for more than half a million pounds.

The three-bedroom end-of-terrace property on Ruthin Road, south-east London, sold for £554,000.

Three bidders vied for the property at the auction, held at the Marriott Hotel in central London.

It attracted 26 bids in total.

Savills said the property is ‘in need of complete modernisation’ and their auctions director Robin

Queues at Stansted

NEWS

Howeson said: “I think it is a really good buy, but I think you’ve got to be a brave buyer to buy it.

“I think that would have put people off ... to deal with that level of foliage on a house.”

He estimates £200,000 of work will need to be done on it. “I did expect it to go slightly higher,” he said. “It is a really unique house.”

Only the front door and downstairs window of the building are visible from the street. The upstairs windows and roof are completely obscured.

‘Beatles’ suspect is sentenced in Turkey A BRITON suspected of having been part of an Islamist terror group dubbed ‘The Beatles’ has been jailed in Turkey.

Aine Davis, who was born in London, left the UK in 2013 to fight in Syria, and was arrested in Turkey two years later.

He is thought to have been one of the four-strong group featuring Mohammed Emwazi, the killer nicknamed ‘Jihadi John’.

Davis was convicted of being a member of a terrorist organisation and jailed for seven and a half years at a court in Silivri.

According to the BBC he told the court he was innocent of the charge and had travelled to Syria ‘because there was oppression in my country’.

In 2014 Davis’s wife Amal El-Wahabi became the first person convicted of funding terrorism in Syria.

18

NEWS

Sports News

Wednesday May 10 | 2017

Froome unhurt after hit-and-run incident CHRIS FROOME has said he was deliberately knocked off his bike by a hit-and-run driver while training in southern France.

The three-time Tour de France winner posted a picture of his broken bike on Twitter but said he was not hurt in the incident.

The Team Sky rider wrote: “Just got rammed on purpose by an impatient driver who followed me onto the pavement! Thankfully I’m okay. Bike totaled. Driver kept going!”

The picture was geotagged from Beausoleil in France, close to Froome’s home in Monaco. His Pinarello Dogma F10 bike appeared to be damaged beyond repair.

Team Sky said the 31-year-old had returned home to get a spare bike and had continued his training after the incident, which will be reported to the police.

Last month, 2011 Giro d’Italia winner Michele Scarponi of the Astana team was killed when he was knocked off his bike by a van while training close to home in Italy.

Scarponi had been preparing for this year’s Giro, where the Mortirolo climb has now been named in his honour.

Also last month, Wanty-Groupe Gobert rider Yoann Offredo posted pictures on social media of himself badly bloodied.

He said he had been the victim of an assault while out riding with two friends in the Chevreuse Valley, south west of Paris.

Froome’s Team Sky team-mate Geraint Thomas, who is competing at the Giro d’Italia, told cycling-

WHEEL OF MISFORTUNE: Chris Froome shows his battered Pinarello Dogma bike on Twitter weekly.com: “It’s a reminder, it shows how dangerous it can be.

“I only saw it five minutes before getting off the bus. It didn’t look good at all. I’ll speak to him later today.”

Spanish rider Mikel Landa, who is also riding at the Giro for Team Sky, added: “You can’t always be scared when you are riding on the roads, but with the situation like you see today with Froome, you think a lot about how we are at risk on the road.

“I had goose bumps [seeing the photograph]. I thought about Scarponi. In an accident, we are always going to be the one who’s worse off.”

Froome is preparing for this year’s Tour, where he will be seeking a fourth title in five years and third in a row.

Adams returns home for second professional fight NICOLA ADAMS will face Mexico’s Maryan Salazar when she fights in her home city of Leeds for the first time in 20 years on Saturday night.

The double Olympic champion is set to engage in her second professional fight after comfortably outpointing Virginie Carcamo on her debut in Manchester last month.

‘I have two minutes to find my rhythm, distance and take out my opponent’ The 18-year-old Salazar has had six professional contests, winning her first five before losing on points to compatriot Mayela Perez in her last bout in February.

The choice of a Mexican opponent

may be no coincidence as Adams works towards a shot at a world title, the majority of which are currently held by Mexican fighters.

Adams’ bout with Salazar will also mark the first time she has fought over four three-minute rounds, rather than the two-minute period that is customary for women’s bouts.

The 34-year-old said: “You just need that extra minute, you’re learning all these new things in the gym and you can’t try them out in two minutes.

“I have two minutes to find my rhythm, distance and take out my opponent. It’s not enough time.

“I found by the end of the rounds, I needed a couple more seconds and it ’BOUT TOWN would be over. Now we have three Nicola Adams minutes, I’m able to relax more, estabwas born lish the jab, find the rhythm properly and in Leeds really get in the swing of things.”

SPORT IN BRIEF

Costa ‘owner’ of his future England seek kinder draw DIEGO COSTA says he will decide his own future after being heavily linked with a move to China.

The 28-year-old Chelsea striker has been identified as a target of Tianjin Quanjian in the Chinese Premier League since January.

Costa told South American broadcasters DirecTV Sports: “I am the owner of my future and it does not mean that I am going to China.”

He has two years left on his contract after signing from Atletico Madrid for £32million in 2014.

ENGLAND will be hoping to escape inclusion in another pool of death when the World Cup draw for Japan 2019 is made in Kyoto today (May 10).

Two years ago England were drawn alongside Wales, Australia, Fiji and Uruguay.

They were eliminated at the group stage – the first time the hosts have exited the World Cup before the knockout phase.

For local sport, go to pages 77-79

20

BUSINESS

National Business News

NEWS IN BRIEF

John Lewis prepare for huge wage pay out THOUSANDS of current and former John Lewis Partnership employees are to get a payout after the retail giant revealed a £36 million hit from falling foul of national minimum wage rules.

The group said it was in talks with HM Revenue and Customs after it emerged the company has been technically under-paying staff due to pay averaging.

It stressed the group’s hourly rates of pay have never been below the minimum wage, but the blunder came from paying a consistent monthly amount over a year.

Grammarly raises funds A FIRM that boats ‘the world’s most accurate online grammar checker’ has raised £85million from venture capital firms to support its platform.

The eight-year-old firm, based in San Francisco, offers ‘mistake-free writing every time’ to 6.9million users worldwide.

Its software uses spell-checking, proofreading and plagiarism detection tools, scanning text for the correct use of more than 250 advanced grammar rules.

Microsoft bug panic AN URGENT update to stop hackers taking control of computers with a single email has been released by Microsoft. The unusual bug, in Microsoft anti-malware software such as Windows Defender, could be exploited without the recipient even opening the message.

Wednesday May 10 | 2017

PM rejects comparison of ‘Marxist’ price cap THERESA MAY has denied that her plans for a cap on ‘rip-off’ energy prices are a repeat of an old Labour policy derided by David Cameron as ‘Marxist’.

The Prime Minister said 17 million households will benefit by up to £100 from the cap on poor value standard variable tariffs.

But Labour said there was no guarantee that the cap would stop energy prices going up next year, while energy companies said the move would distort the market and undermine moves to improve choice.

Competition Speaking to Conservative General Election candidates in York, Mrs May said that last year’s investigation by the Competition and Markets Authority had shown consumers were spending £1.4billion a year more than they would in a truly competitive market.

“I think it’s right, as does everyone sitting around the Cabinet table, for Government to take action to support working families,” said the Prime Minister.

“What we are talking about is a cap on energy prices that will be set by an independent regulator and that will be a reflection of the market.

Crucially, it will be possible for that cap to move, and the independent regulator will set it.

Mrs May insisted her plan was different from the energy freeze proposed by Labour in 2015, which led Mr Cameron to accuse the party’s then leader Ed Miliband of wanting to live in a ‘Marxist universe’.

Asked if she was herself now living in a Marxist universe, she replied: “No. First of all, we are Conservatives. We believe in free markets and competition, but we want to see competition working.

“Ed Miliband didn’t suggest a cap on energy prices. Ed Miliband suggested a freeze on energy prices which would have frozen them so that people paying above the odds would have continued paying above the odds, and crucially the prices would not have gone down. Under our cap prices will be able to come down.”

Lawrence Slade, chief executive of Energy UK, said that Mrs May’s announcement ‘effectively risks giving up on competition at a time when we need engaged consumers more than ever’.

Richard Neudegg, head of regulation at price comparison site uSwitch.com, said a price cap was a ‘red herring’ which would ‘kill competition, push up energy prices and leave consumers worse off’.

RBS criticised over plans to offshore staff and cut jobs ROYAL Bank of Scotland [RBS] is facing a union backlash amid plans to cut more than 250 tech staff and offshore dozens of jobs to India.

The bank informed staff on Tuesday that it would be letting go of 154 contractors by year-end, while 180 permanent roles have been put at risk - with a total of 92 staff positions set to be axed.

It also emerged that RBS is on track to offshore 38 tech roles to India.

The move comes just months after chief executive Ross McEwan ordered a £2 billion four-year cost-cutting drive, which is widely expected to result in significant job losses and branch closures.

Rob MacGregor, a national officer at Unite, said the union has hit out at the bank over the job cuts and is now calling on RBS to introduce a moratorium on the offshoring of jobs.

“Unite cannot understand how RBS, which continues to be taxpayer-backed, can justify hundreds more staff cuts and continue transferring important work out of the country.”

An RBS spokesperson said: “As RBS moves towards becoming a simpler, smaller UK focused bank, we’re continuing to restructure our back office support and reducing its size so it’s a better fit for our business.”

22

NEWS

World News

NEWS IN BRIEF

Teenager takes Twitter title in takeaway tweet A TEENAGER asking a US fast food chain for a year’s supply of chicken nuggets via Twitter has become the most shared tweet ever.

On April 5, 16-year-old Carter Wilkerson from Nevada, tweeted Wendy’s restaurants asking how many retweets he would need to get a year’s free supply of chicken nuggets.

The fast food chain replied:“18 million.”

“Consider it done,” Mr Wilkerson replied.

The tweet quickly went viral, reaching one million retweets in two days. It was shared by global companies including Apple Music, Microsoft, Amazon, Google and Twitter itself. It now has over three million retweets.

Wendy’s has donated $100,000 (£78,000) to charity in his name.

Military court criticism THE Venezuelan government has been condemned for using military courts on its critics.

The courts have detained at least 50 protesters, according to a local human rights organisation. The secretary general of the Organisation of American States likened the country to a dictatorship.

President Nicolás Maduro said on Monday he planned to create a constitutional military assembly to deepen his revolution, which opponents say is designed to neutralise the opposition-led legislature.

Alps avalanche deaths TWO men and a woman died yesterday after an avalanche struck the Alpine ski resort of Bonneval-sur-Arc in France at around noon.

Wednesday May 10 | 2017

South Korea presidential win signals change in North policy LIBERAL Moon Jae-in declared victory in South Korea’s presidential election after his two major rivals conceded defeat yesterday.

The election sets up the country’s first Democratic Party rule in a decade.

Mr Moon favours greater dialogue with North Korea, in a change to current South Korean policy.

“I will be president for all South Koreans,” he told supporters in Gwanghwamun Square in the capital Seoul.

The former human rights lawyer won 41.4 per cent of the vote, according to an exit poll.

The early election was called

after a corruption scandal led to the impeachment of the former president, Park Geun-hye.

Turnout She was accused of allowing a close friend to extort money from companies, although she denies all wrongdoing.

Mr Moon has previously expressed unhappiness around the deployment KOREA POLITICIAN Moon Jae-in and his wife Kim Jung-suk

Nuclear veterans given healthcare AUSTRALIAN ex-servicemen who were exposed to radiation during British atomic bomb tests in Australia and during the clean-up of Japan after the Second World War have won a decades-old campaign for free medical treatment.

The Australian government announced on Tuesday it has allocated £75 million in the budget for the next fiscal year to provide these former troops with veterans’ gold cards.

The cards entitle certain veterans to an extensive range of free healthcare at the

government’s expense.

Thousands of Australian servicemen were sent to British nuclear test sites in the Maralinga region of the Australian Outback and the Montebello islands off the north-west coast from the 1940s to the 1960s, which also impacted Outback Aborigines.

Many servicemen reported wearing only shorts and shortsleeved shirts for protection when bombs were detonated.

of a US anti-missile system on South Korean soil.

Mr Moon was last in government in the early 2000s – at that time South Korea had a ‘Sunshine Policy’ which meant co-operation with North Korea, a policy which was abandoned as North Korea tested nuclear weapons.

Tuesday’s election saw strong turnout - about 77 per cent of 42.5 million eligible voters.

Mr Moon had a relatively low share of the total vote - 41.4 per cent according to an exit poll - but there were many more major candidates than in 2012, when Ms Park won 51.5 per cent, beating Mr Moon by about a million votes.

Mr Moon’s two biggest rivals, conservative Mr Hong and centrist Mr Ahn, were expected to garner 23.3 per cent and 21.8 per cent respectively, according to the exit poll, which had a margin of error of 0.8 percentage points.

MUSHROOM CLOUD Maralinga explosion, inset, soldiers told to turn away

24

NEWS

Letters

Wednesday May 10 | 2017

And another thing…

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

Targetfollow must stop holding our town to ransom – ‘lawfully’ or not I see Targetfollow wish to ‘lawfully’ continue to charge for the commons car park (issue dated April 26). The motives behind such an application are of course purely financial.

The previous actions of this company include trying to charge for the other car park on the common adjacent to the cricket ground, attempting to elicit ‘ransom strip’ payments from unsuspecting homeowners whose properties abut the common, and their refusal to sell the commons to the council for a reasonable price. These clearly demonstrate that this company is no good friend or neighbour to the residents of Tunbridge Wells.

If there is a deal to allow them to legalise this car park, it should come with strict covenants over the future use of this land and a legally binding agreement that no more ‘ransom strip’ payments are demanded from homeowners and that any amounts received to date – whether lawful or not – be returned to them.

Mike Stickler Tunbridge Wells

Our health service is at breaking point

Creaking NHS needs ‘urgent’ reform

With the election looming, politicians of all parties must not duck the crisis in our NHS or allow it to be pushed to the margins by the focus on Brexit.

In the South East, hospitals, general practice and social care have been pushed to breaking point as years of underinvestment has left NHS staff and services worryingly overstretched.

A recent BMA survey revealed that doctors are increasingly concerned about funding cuts and the impact on patient care, with more than half of doctors surveyed reporting that quality of care had become worse in the last year – and only three per cent believing it had improved.

With the NHS facing a £30billion deficit by 2020, the situation needs urgent attention as worsening NHS performance figures, increased waiting times for treatment, and bed shortages are having a direct impact on patient care and safety.

Despite having one of the best healthcare systems in the world, years of underinvestment in the face of rising patient demand means the NHS is now failing too many patients too often.

Whoever leads the next government must ensure that NHS funding keeps pace with other European nations, that EU doctors in the UK and UK doctors in the EU are protected from the impact of Brexit, that general practice is properly supported, that policies protect and enhance the public’s health, and that the pressures impacting the day-to-day delivering of high-quality, safe care are tackled.

Dr John MacKinnon Chair, British Medical Association South East

I find it hard to believe the assertion by the West Kent Clinical Commissioning Group that its 102-day suspension of certain procedures ‘had limited impact on patients’.

Are we seriously supposed to believe that the backlog of 1,500 people needing ‘non-urgent’ operations was simply cleared overnight?

I know of at least two people deemed not worthy enough of attention in the past couple of months and have seen their scheduled operations pushed back by months.

They are often in pain and already had to endure long waiting lists prior to this ban. I would like to say to Dr Bob Bowes that for them 102 days does not seem like a ‘short time’.

My main concern is whether this will become a regular thing. After all, if the CCG ran out of money three quarters of the way through the financial year, unless there is a big boost in funding – which I think unlikely – surely it will happen at around the same point each year?

If anything, with an ageing population becoming more and more dependent on the health service, the point at which the money runs out will occur even sooner each year.

I fear that unless drastic action is taken to reform the health service in a way that will allow it to raise more money, then these prolonged spells in which ‘non-urgent’ operations cannot be undertaken will simply become the norm.

Frank Turner Via email

Bravo to the Quakers, the YMCA, Habitat for Humanity, the council and everyone involved in the development of the Quaker Meeting House into affordable housing for the homeless (April 26).

This kind of altruism is what religion should be all about. Rather than telling us who we should and shouldn’t marry, or preaching what women should do with their bodies, we’ve got faithful people sacrificing their time and resources to improve the lives of those in desperate need.

It’s so good to know that people will have somewhere to go after two years at the YMCA. There is a worrying growth in homelessness, both locally and around the country. The latest figures showed that 4,134 people slept rough across England on any given night in 2016 – a 16 per cent increase compared to the previous year, and more than double the amount in 2010.

That date is no coincidence: 2010 was the first year of the Tory-led austerity drive. State funding for homeless charities halved from 2010 to 2015, according to the National Audit Office.

Support for low income households has been cut by £5billion, further increasing the numbers who cannot afford a roof over their head.

It isn’t debatable that the doubling in street sleepers is a direct cause of Conservative cuts.

I wonder how many religious folk around here will still vote next month for the party that put so many people out on the streets?

George Barton Tunbridge Wells

We need more than just soundbites Perhaps Tonbridge MP, Tom Tugendhat, should be careful what he wishes for. In his column (April 26), he says he is standing for re-election and hopes to be judged on his record.

His record includes a clear commitment to remain in the EU, but now – in a complete volte face – to leave the EU. Not much of a record by way of strong convictions, obviously.

If the Tories win, we shall end up cast adrift from our nearest neighbours, our international political influence shredded, our United Kingdom totally disunited, our economy in tatters, family incomes dropping whilst prices rise, social and healthcare services failing as fellow EU citizens leave the country, and universities struggling as student numbers drop and research shrivels.

These are a few examples of the chaos ahead.

It’s nothing like the ‘deep and strategic’ partnership’ that also features on Tom’s wish list.

We’ve got that already, as members of the EU. We shall continue to achieve it if we remain.

Anything else imperils us, betrays the country and the heritage of former generations – all those who fought for peace in Europe.

Andrew Hayes Tonbridge

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

SPARE a thought for Brian Whiting. Last week Calverley reported on the kitchen fire that has closed one of his gastro pubs for a couple of months, The Mark Cross Inn. Seeking solace, Master Brian headed for the Kent Sevens rugby tournament the other weekend in TW, which he happens to sponsor via Whiting & Hammond. Ever willing to join in, the brave ‘warrior’ took to the field only to find himself being escorted off with a bad cut and a black eye. What a shiner he had the next day.

DON’T ask, but Himself was despatched by Management (aka Mrs Calverley) to buy large elastic bands. Visits to several shops drew blank looks. It seems such items have been in short supply. Near to giving up, he pops into an ironmongers and the following ensued: “You don’t happen to have any large elastic bands, do you?” Shop assistant: “Yes we do, actually.” “Great how much are they?”

Assistant: “They are not for sale.” “Why on earth not?” Assistant: “They use them in the upstairs office.” And he didn’t even smile…

OFF to Peter Speaight, that wonderful butcher’s shop in Chapel Place. Himself has just heard that the shop is selling homemade ‘Great British bangers’ under the brand name the Brexiter. Apparently they are made from Gloucester Old Spot pork with nutmeg plus sage and onion stuffing, and are selling like hotcakes. Word is that he is about to produce another banger called Remainer. No doubt the ingredients will include sour grapes.

TRUE or not, Calverley is much taken with the tale of the man who no longer has to worry about forgetting the password to his various bits of stuff, such as ipad/laptop. He has changed it to ‘incorrect’, so that when he types in the wrong password it tells him ‘your password is incorrect’. Please let it be true.

CALVERLEY just has to share this delicious piece of gossip. There was this accountant who ‘accidentally’ knocked over a small tin of white gloss he was using to touch up some woodwork in his lounge. (He doesn’t normally do DIY). Naturally, the beige carpet was ruined and he submitted a claim to his insurance company – only to be told the policy had expired a month before the ‘accident’ and had not been renewed. What a shame.

Chin, chin readers

Wednesday May 10 | 2017

EDUCATION Times

Advertising Feature

25

WITH THE

Celebrating three decades of academic excellence The Mead School in Tunbridge Wells celebrates its 30th birthday this summer and has plenty of additional reasons to make it an extra special anniversary THE Mead prides itself on celebrating the whole child and every child, giving everyone the chance to explore, experience, feel success and discover their inner selves.

This term has seen Year 6 win the National ISA Drama Competition for the second year running with their production of ‘Peter Pan’. The Independent Schools Association Drama Festival is held annually in venues across the UK. The Mead School’s Year 6 won best Junior Production and Mead student Amelia James, age 10, won best Junior Girl Performer for her performance as Wendy.

Five pupils from our Story Writing Club are having their poems published in August – an amazing achievement given that there were 35, 000 entries into this competition. The Mead pupils’ poems will be published in a book showcasing CENTRE STAGE Pupils in Peter Pan

young writers’ work called Once Upon A Dream – Capture The Imagination.

Four teams of Mead pupils have entered a Young Enterprise competition and the school is buzzing with promotional websites for car washing and various advertising initiatives. The challenge is to make a profit – tricky once you have subtracted your expenses from your takings!

The Mead is culturally rich enjoying a huge range of visits and visitors – these have inspired Year 5 to design and build incredibly creative places of worship, worthy of an exhibition – and this is all before half-term!

The celebrations will continue, culminating in a whole school musical production of ‘Singing in the Rain’ to be performed at

TOP MARKS Winners of the Once Upon A Dream competition

the Trinity Theatre in July.

Headteacher and founder of The Mead Mrs Angela Culley retires in July and says ‘The Mead is a very special place and its unique ethos and set of values is deeply ingrained within its building and within every Meadite. I have every confidence the next 30 years will be as exciting, aspirational and inspirational as the last 30 and future Meadites will also have a great deal to celebrate’.

The Mead School is holding an Open Day on Thursday 18th May. With tours of the school and a chance to meet pupils, staff and new Headmaster Andrew Webster, this is a great opportunity for prospective parents to learn about life at this happy and high-achieving school.

Call on 01892 525837 or email office@themeadschool.co.uk for more details.

26

NEWS

Weekly Comment

Wednesday May 10 | 2017

Rachel Sadler

Liberal Democrat Candidate

Rachel Sadler is the recently appointed Liberal Democrat Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Tunbridge Wells, who is currently employed in a pre-authorisation role for an established healthcare company. Her previous political experience includes party fundraising and campaigning, as well as running for positions within Kent County Council and the borough council

Vote to change Britain’s future YOU might have noticed that UK politics has been particularly turbulent lately! From Theresa May’s empty platitudes about ‘Brexit meaning Brexit’, to recent leaks from her dinner with Jean-Claude Juncker, it’s clear that the UK’s expectations of a Brexit in which we come away with a favourable deal are naive.

Under her leadership, we’re hurtling towards a painful exit from the single market at an alarming rate.

Jeremy Corbyn is ineffectual, as he’s proven with his lack of action regarding Brexit. He insists on clinging to power even though it’s evident that his popularity amongst his MPs is at an all time low.

Lib Dems are therefore the only Party who can be counted on to fight for the nation’s best interests. We’ve made some exciting gains in the recent local elections, whilst Labour’s vote has collapsed. We have proposed to increase income tax by 1p, ringfencing this funding to save our NHS from Tory privatisation. Unlike Labour, we think it’s important to do the maths before proposing additional funding.

Greg Clark, the Tory candidate, campaigned to remain in the EU, but then he voted to trig-

ger Article 50. In doing so he not only changed his opinion on the value of EU membership, he also betrayed the wishes of the majority of his constituents who voted to remain in the EU. This demonstrates that he is a career politician above a constituency MP.

‘Greg Clark has shown himself to be a Westminster man in Tunbridge Wells’ Theyworkforyou.com is a great website which shows every MP’s voting record. Taking a closer look at Mr Clark’s, he has voted against laws to promote equality and human rights, and was complicit in the Government U-turn against the Dubs Amendment to accept 3,000 unaccompanied child refugees from mainland Europe.

Mr Clark is also not a fan of transparent trade, voting against measures to combat abusive tax avoidance arrangements, such as recording the beneficial ownership of trusts.

These are just two examples, and I would

encourage you to take a further look.

Greg Clark has shown himself to be a Westminster man in Tunbridge Wells.

Tunbridge Wells deserves an MP who will vote in line with our constituents’ needs.

The general election is an excellent opportunity to vote for hope instead of hate. You can send a message to Theresa May and the hard right Tories that we will not accept their hard Brexit.

Lib Dems, unlike the Tories, have a plan.

We’re campaigning to secure a referendum on the terms of Brexit, with an option to remain in the EU, as we feel the people deserve a say on the final deal.

The Brexit deal will then either be finalised or, if we’re dissatisfied with the terms, we can collectively decide to stay in the EU. This is the most democratic option, and the only way we can take back control of our destiny, thus stabilising our nation. If we reject the terms of Brexit and vote to remain, the EU will also be stabilised, and we can work to negotiate mutually beneficial terms as a cohesive unit.

Vote Lib Dem on June 8 to ensure Tunbridge Wells remains open, tolerant and united.

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

The Times is proud to work with:

WITH THE

Available in Tunbridge Wells, Tonbridge and Sevenoaks

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est. 1828

Outstanding oast house Complete with swimming pool and tennis court

28

PROPERTY

To suit your budget

Wednesday May 10 | 2017

Your at-a-glance guide to GREAT BOUNDS DRIVE SOUTHBOROUGH

£775,000

UNDER £250,000 SPRINGFIELD ROAD SOUTHBOROUGH GUIDE PRICE

£149,950

the complex and is available weekdays 9am-5pm. This second floor one-bedroom apartment is available for leasehold sale with no chain. There is residents’ parking, gardens, a lift, a residents’ lounge which hosts special events, and a communal laundry room. Emergency pull cords are fitted throughout.

Brookfield Court is situated on the northern fringe of Tunbridge Wells and set back from the road. The CONTACT over-60s retirement property includes Andrews 01892 515144 a House Manager who lives within www.andrewsonline.co.uk

UNDER £350,000 ALBERT COURT WILLICOMBE PARK TUNBRIDGE WELLS GUIDE PRICE

£300,000-£325,000 A two-bedroom apartment set within a popular modern development with an allocated parking space. The property has been well maintained and is served by a lift and stairs

leading to first floor. The lounge has a Juliette balcony which overlooks the communal grounds, plus there is a kitchen/breakfast room and the master bedroom has an en suite shower room. The second bedroom is served by a separate bathroom.

Visitor parking is also available.

CONTACT Connells 01892 547966 www.connells.co.uk

Wednesday May 10 | 2017

To suit your budget

PROPERTY

29

great properties by price range…

UNDER £800,000

UNDER £450,000

GREAT BOUNDS DRIVE SOUTHBOROUGH

12 BALLARD WAY, PADDOCK WOOD

£775,000

Located in a quiet cul-de-sac on the Bidborough/Southborough border, this four bedroom home comprises an entrance porch, entrance hall, downstairs cloakroom, sitting room, dining room, kitchen, utility room, master bedroom with en suite, three further bedrooms and a family bathroom. The property has a block brick driveway and a side path to the rear garden, a large areas of lawn and a patio paved with Indian stone. There is also a single garage with up and over electric doors, power and light. Plus a playhouse and a summerhouse.

CONTACT Wood & Pilcher 01892 511311 www.woodandpilcher.co.uk

GUIDE PRICE

£400,000 A semi-detached home within walking distance of the town and station. The accommodation comprises an entrance hall, sitting/dining room, extended kitchen/family room, cloakroom, a master bedroom suite, three further bedrooms and family bathroom.

There is also an integral garage with electric door. The rear garden is large and includes a decked area with a summerhouse and shed at the bottom of the garden.

CONTACT Firefly Properties 01892 838363 www.fireflyproperties.co.uk

UNDER £600,000 ESTRIDGE WAY, TONBRIDGE OFFERS IN THE REGION OF

£450,000

A traditional 1930s home with potential to extend. The sitting room has a tiled fireplace with arched recess to the side, and the dining room has double doors to the conservatory. The kitchen/ breakfast room is well fitted with space for a central table and a door to the integral garage. There are three bedrooms (two of which are doubles) and a family shower room. Outside, the extensive garden includes a greenhouse and a shed.

CONTACT Barnes Kingsnorth 01732 771616 www.bkestateagents.com

UNDER £1million SPRINGFIELD ROAD, GROOMBRIDGE

£875,000

An updated, detached Victorian village house set in landscaped gardens where the paved terrace includes an original deep well with lighting. Inside the property, the sitting room has an open fireplace and French doors to the garden. And there are four good sized bedrooms, including a principal bedroom with en suite shower room and walk-in dressing closet. Outside is a detached double garage with a door and stairs to an excellent studio room.

CONTACT Hamptons International 01892 516611 www.hamptons.co.uk

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PROPERTY

Birling Road

Wednesday May 10 | 2017

AT A GLANCE

BIRLING ROAD TUNBRIDGE WELLS ■ Entrance hall ■ Cloakroom ■ Dining room ■ Drawing room ■ Family room ■ Kitchen/breakfast room ■ Utility room ■ Boiler room ■ Master bedroom with en suite bath/shower room ■ Five further bedrooms, two en suite ■ Family bathroom ■ Indoor swimming pool ■ Sauna ■ Shower room

A stunning home which boasts its own indoor swimming pool

■ Off-street parking ■ Well maintained gardens

£1,595,000 Available for sale through Knight Frank Tunbridge Wells 01892 515 035 www.knightfrank.co.uk

‘A substantial Edwardian house set back from the road, with a gated entrance’

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PROPERTY

Moat Farm Oast

Wednesday May 10 | 2017

An exceptional oast conversion to let that’s ready to move into

AT A GLANCE MOAT FARM OAST COLLIER STREET TONBRIDGE n Oast conversion n Original features n Well-insulated accommodation n Original features n 3 floors n Spacious entrance hallway n Sitting room n Fully fitted Kitchen/dining room n Master bedroom with en suite bathroom n Four further bedrooms n Two family bathrooms n Off-street parking

To let unfurnished £2,850 pcm Available now through Hamptons International Tunbridge Wells 01892 516611 www.hamptons.co.uk

Wednesday May 10 | 2017

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PROPERTY

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PROPERTY

Advertising

Wednesday May 10 | 2017

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PROPERTY

Nash Oast

Wednesday May 10 | 2017

AT A GLANCE

NASH OAST MARDEN THORN, MARDEN n Sitting room n Drawing room n Dining room n Kitchen/breakfast room n 36ft games room n Utility room, boot room, cloakroom n Family room n Study/office n Principal bedroom with dressing room and bathroom n Guest bedroom with en-suite shower n Two bedroom suites with dressing rooms and shower rooms n Two further bedrooms n Family bathroom n Heated outdoor swimming pool, astroturf tennis court, tennis pavilion n Outbuilding including two double garages, two shower rooms, storeroom

Impressive American oast comes with superb recreational facilities

n About 5 acres including landscaped gardens and paddock

£1,950,000 Available for sale through Savills Cranbrook 01580 720161 www.savills.co.uk

‘The property has been sympathetically refurbished to a high standard and specification’

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FEATURES

Food & Drink

Wednesday May 10 | 2017

Gluten-free food that’s tasty too

TRY THIS TEMPTING GLUTEN-FREE DESSERT AS A DELICIOUS ALTERNATIVE

S

troll around a farmers’ market or farm shop and you’ll no doubt see signs displaying food and drink described as ‘gluten-free’.

Gluten is a mixture of two proteins found most commonly in cereal grains such as wheat, rye and barley which gives bread its elastic, squishy texture. But it can also be traced in everything from ice cream to sausages and cans of baked beans.

Gluten-free foods have become increasingly common over the past few years and are eaten by people with coeliac (pronounced see-liac) disease which is caused by the body reacting against gluten. Symptoms include bloating, nausea, wind, tiredness and anaemia. According to Coeliac UK, a leading charity focused on the condition, it affects around one person in a hundred.

For people diagnosed as coeliacs it can be quite stressful eating out, or buying food that is not

clearly labelled as such. Spending a lot of time hunting out suitable foods, that are not only gluten-free but also taste delicious, can be a challenge.

Coeliac UK organises its awareness week annually and this year’s, on all this week until May 15, launches an initiative called the ‘Gluten Freevolution’ which runs until April 2018. It’s all about promoting access to better gluten-free food whether you’re eating out or grabbing something quick on the move.

For example, the charity has launched an app called the Gluten Free Food Checker, which enables users to search for thousands of food products suitable for a gluten-free diet. The app also has a barcode scanner, lists ingredients and nutritional information for products and includes readymade product lists.

The only treatment for the condition is a gluten-free diet, and while lots of bread, cakes and battered and breaded foods may be off the

COELIAC STATS AND FACTS n Coeliac disease is an autoimmune disease

caused by a reaction to gluten, it is not a food allergy or an intolerance. n Gluten is a protein found in wheat, rye and

barley. Some people with coeliac disease are also sensitive to oats. n Damage to the gut lining occurs on eating gluten.

menu, there are many including meat, fish, fruit, vegetables, rice and potatoes that do not contain gluten. And also plenty of gluten-free flours are now available so sufferers don’t miss out on foods such as scotch eggs, pizza bases and muffins.

Avril Barrow, of The Quality Cake Company, based just south of Tunbridge Wells in Flimwell, is a regular stallholder at the Tunbridge Wells Farmers’ Market and she says demand for gluten and dairy-free cakes, brownies and other baked treats at her stall is soaring.

“Over the past few years my customers have started buying far more gluten-free cakes and are always excited when they see the range of food they can taste and buy. My best sellers at the moment are brownies, macaroons, cookies and raspberry and almond cakes.”

Gluten-free products are also available from The Fat Carrot, Little Brittany, Marshmallow Heaven, McCarthy’s Bakery and Let’s Go Without. n Coeliac disease affects at least 1 in 100

people in the UK and in Europe; however, only about 24% of people with the condition are clinically diagnosed. n The average length of time taken for someone

to be diagnosed with the disease from the onset of symptoms is a staggering 13 years.

Information courtesy of Coeliac UK. To find out more please visit www.coeliac.org.uk.

Recipe courtesy of Nairn

Coeliac UK Awareness week runs until May 15. Bruce McMichael, manager of Tunbridge Wells Farmers’ Market, explains where you can source delicious gluten-free goodies locally…

BERRY YOGHURT CRISP POTS What you need:

What you do:

15g / ½ oz desiccated coconut 2tbsp macadamia nuts, chopped 2tbsp cashew nuts, chopped 1tbsp pumpkin seeds 50g/ 1 ¾ oz Nairn’s gluten free porridge oats ½ tsp ground cinnamon 1tbsp olive oil 2tbsp apple juice 60g / 2oz fresh blueberries 60g / 2oz fresh raspberries 75g / 3oz strawberries, sliced 150g / 5oz Natural yogurt

1. Place the coconut, nuts, seeds and oats in a bowl. Sprinkle over the ground cinnamon. Pour in the oil and apple juice and stir to combine.

2. Heat a non-stick frying pan and add the oat mixture. Toast over a low heat for 5 minutes stirring frequently until golden brown. Allow to cool.

3. Mix the berries together in a small bowl.

4. Spoon the berries into four glasses or bowl and top with a spoonful of yogurt.

Sprinkle over the oat mixture and serve.

On The Menu

Wednesday May 10 | 2017

Braised Ox Cheeks

FEATURES

Whole Boneless Stuffed Quail

On The Menu…

Rendez-Vous • 86 Camden Road, Tunbridge Wells Tel: 01892 525830 • Twitter @rendezvousrtw

Ham Hock Terrine

Mojito

Americano Beetroot Cured Salmon

Crème Brûlée with Shortbread

Trio of homemade ice cream(Honeycomb + lavender + smoked salmon and horseradish )

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FEATURES

Travel

Wednesday May 10 | 2017

PURE GOLD Sunset at the Golden Gate Bridge

San Francisco Museum of Modern Art

Gleaming fringes of the Golden State

By Richard Jones

E

veryone loves a bit of sightseeing, and there’s nothing like that first moment you clap eyes an iconic landmark that you have only previously seen on TV or in

print.

“To your right, you’ll see the Blue Angels flying over Golden Gate Bridge,” the captain of our flight announces.

And sure enough, there it is, San Francisco’s most famous landmark, cradling the Bay, bathed in the mid-afternoon sun, alongside Alcatraz island.

The fact that the US Navy’s flight demonstration squadron are making colourful smoke patterns in the air adds to the magic.

Whereas most visitors to California stick to the big cities of San Fran and LA for the sights, I’m

choosing to travel a bit further afield.

My first stop is The Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay, an hour’s drive up the coast from San Fran.

Situated on a bluff overlooking the Pacific, alongside two golf courses, it has a country club vibe, albeit with a nod to its coastal surroundings.

This ocean influence is evident at its signature restaurant Navio, with chef Jason Pringle’s menu referencing the best seafood dining from around the world.

During our night in Navio, we sample Half Moon Bay’s pumpkin beer, as well as some of California’s finest wines - a warm-up for the next day’s tour at Thomas Fogarty Winery.

Tommy, whose father established the business in 1981, shows us around his property before dashing off to attend a dinner in which his acclaimed pinot noirs and chardonnays have been nominated for yet more awards.

Of course, California is not only known for its

amazing coastline and wine, it is also ranch and cowboy land.

Originally belonging to the Folger family (of coffee fame), the recently renovated Folger Stable Carriage Room Museum at Woodside is an enchanting throwback to the ‘great estates’ era in the early 1900s.

I’m assigned a lovely chestnut horse named June, for a gentle trek around the beautiful redwood tree-lined hills of Wunderlich Park.

It’s a flashback to days gone by, but our next destination is much more modern.

Stanford University is one of the world’s leading research and teaching institutions, while Silicon Valley is home to some of the globe’s biggest tech companies, including Apple and Google.

If you’re a fan of Facebook, you can go to the social networking site’s HQ and ‘check-in at Facebook’.

I head to Stanford Shopping Centre,

HIGHS AND LOWS The Sierra Neva Lake surrounded by mountain peaks

SITTING PRETTY Richard enjoying the view from horseback

home to all the retail big-hitters, including Macy’s and Bloomingdale’s, along with the innovative Tesla shop.

For a spot of lunch, the recently opened True Food Kitchen serves dishes all cooked from scratch in the open-plan kitchen with a wide selection of vegan, vegetarian, or gluten-free options.

The next day, we embark on a four-hour drive into the Sierra Nevada mountains, passing through Sacramento.

Despite having equivalent levels of luxury, The Ritz-Carlton Lake Tahoe is very different to its Half Moon Bay sister.

Primarily a winter sports hotel located next to the Northstar resort, the luxurious mountain retreat features breathtaking views from its rooms, each of which has its own fire.

The hotel’s signature restaurant is Manzanita, where I’m offered a place at the Chef’s Table for a taster menu of organic, local produce.

The nutritious food comes in handy the next morning when I embark on a hike along a stretch of the Tahoe Rim Trail, through the sugar and white pines for spectacular views of the lake, which is so clean you can apparently drink straight from it.

An afternoon of relaxation at the Ritz-Carlton is my reward for all the physical exertion, namely a full body massage and a few hours in the hotel’s luxurious spa and pools.

That evening, I learn about Marshmology - a popular concept in the States at the moment.

You take a stick and some marshmallows, toast them on the flames and then put them between two crackers with some chocolate and end up with an amazing, warm, sticky and sweet treat.

After leaving Lake Tahoe, I spend one last day in San Francisco.

One of its newest attractions is the San Francisco Museum Of Modern Art (SFMOMA), and with seven floors and hundreds of exhibits, it’s well worth checking out, even if, like me, you’re not a big modern art lover.

In the British Sculptors area, I stumble across a piece by Henry Moore, the most famous man to come out of my hometown of Castleford in West Yorkshire.

So far, I’ve managed to steer clear of tourist honey traps, but on my last morning, I cave in and make a bee-line for the city’s two most famous landmarks - the Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz island.

There are no fighter jets or special effects smoke above the majestic suspension bridge that day, but it is still a spectacular sight.

Travel

Wednesday May 10 | 2017

FEATURES

CRYSTAL CLEAR The striking views from edge of Lake Tahoe

‘So far, I’ve managed to steer clear of tourist honey traps, but on my last morning, I cave in and make a beeline for the city’s two most famous landmarks - the Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz island’

TRAVEL FACTS  Richard Jones was a guest of Norwegian (www.norwegian.com/uk; 0330 828 0854) who fly direct year-round three times a week between London Gatwick and Oakland International Airport - 35 minutes from downtown San Francisco. Fares start from £159 one way in economy, and from £499 in Premium.  Rooms at The Ritz-Carlton Lake Tahoe start from 430 US dollars (about £332); rooms at The Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay start from 425 US dollars (approx £328); rooms at The Ritz-Carlton, San Francisco start from 685 US dollars (about £529). Breakfast extra. Visit www.ritzcarlton.com

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Books

Wednesday May 10 | 2017

FEATURES

TIMES REVIEWS

Book some time off…

Time to unwind and relax, and what better way than with a great book? Here are a few suggestions for your reading…

Hardback by Icon Books, priced £20 (ebook £10.40)

Brian Clegg, who studied physics at Cambridge, has made a specialism of writing about science for non-scientists. In this book, he explores the big ideas of science by building the entire universe from scratch, from space, time, matter and gravitation through to life and the creative faculty, which he sees as distinctively human.

At last, thought hopelessly non-scientific old me, I shall master quantum physics and the general theory of relativity! Some hope. Certainly, the language seems clear enough, and the author is a friendly and supportive guide. There are fascinating vignettes from the history of science, and a huge field of knowledge is covered. But the concepts – however clearly explained – rest on other concepts, understanding of which is sometimes assumed, and the abstractions mount up.

“The constant that emerged from Newton’s work on gravity, G, is not a measurement of anything – it is simply a consequence of the pattern of the observed effects of gravity.” Oh. There is so much in this world of antiparticles and dark matter and quantum loops that is fascinating, but alien. And terrifyingly, despite Clegg’s plea for school syllabuses to look beyond old-hat Newtonian science to focus more on relativity, there is apparently still so much about the fundamental nature of existence that remains guesswork. After reading this book I am none the wiser – but it’s really not him, it’s me.

(Review by Dan Brotzel)

BOOK OF THE WEEK

Swimmer Among The Stars by Kanishk Tharoor Hardback by Picador, priced £12.99 (ebook £7.59)

What is more important to identity: How we see ourselves, or how others see us? Our abilities, or the role we play in society? Which is the stronger definition? Answers to these questions shift within this dazzling first book of short stories by New York City-based writer Kanishk Tharoor, who cherry-picks from Indian history and culture to imbue his prose with a quiet confidence that the reader will follow, even if they do not grasp the full significance.

This is epitomised in the title tale, which explores the relationship between an old woman and her childhood language, of which she is the final speaker.

She bamboozles academics by creating new words that they may never understand – questioning the beauty and purpose of verbal communication.

Referring to protagonists by their job or function, rather than a name, both recalls the caste system and transforms them into fairy-tale characters – even if they are an elephant trainer sent to direct their steed from India to Morocco, or a UN ambassador orbiting the remains of a flooded Earth on a space hotel, or a coal miner whose portrait is taken for a Western magazine.

Each story expertly explores a tantalisingly different world view – resulting in a near-perfect collection.

(Review by Natalie Bowen)

The Reality Frame: Relativity And Our Place In The Universe by Brian Clegg

8/10

9/10

CHILDREN’S BOOK OF THE WEEK

Good Dog McTavish by Meg Rosoff Paperback by Barrington Stoke, priced £6.99

Almost 20 years ago, Barrington Stoke was set up to publish ‘super-readable’ books, designed with linear narratives, a clear font and tinted pages to appeal to all young readers, but especially those with dyslexia or visual stress.

They’ve attracted big-name children’s authors such as Michael Morpurgo and Malorie Blackman to contribute to an impressive list – and now How I Live Now author Meg Rosoff is back with her second tale since 2013’s Moose Baby.

All is not peachy in the Peachey household. Ma Peachey is fed up with cooking for everyone and clearing up after them – and quits to eat brown rice and practise yoga, so nearly nine-year-old Betty, the youngest and most sensible Peachey child, decides they need a dog. Pa Peachey reluctantly takes them to a rescue centre, where Betty picks out McTavish – or does he choose them?

No sooner than he’s moved in, he sets to work to solve the family’s problems, in cahoots with Betty, and gradually, under his guidance, they learn to tidy up and do laundry, and even stop relying on ready meals.

It’s such a beautiful, simple story of pure puppy love, in short snappy chapters, written in Rosoff’s refreshing, disarmingly honest style, McTavish will definitely wiggle his way into young readers’ hearts.

(Review by Kate Whiting)

Reservoir 13 by Jon McGregor

Hardback by 4th Estate, priced £14.99 (ebook £8.99) A 13-year-old girl goes missing while staying in the Peak District with her family for New Year. This is the opening of Jon McGregor’s fourth novel, Reservoir 13, but don’t be fooled by the initial suggestion of a crime drama – this unconventional narrative is not interested in pace, plot, or answering any of the questions it poses.

With a chapter for each year following the disappearance, inhabitants of the rural village find their dreams and imagination haunted by ‘Rebecca, or Becky, or Bex’.

However, mostly, life carries on as before, and McGregor’s collage-style narration delves in and out of different experiences within the community.

We dwell briefly on a scene in the life of a complicated marriage, a dying parent, a lonely widow, a struggling farmer – before moving on.

As the details cumulate over the years, poignant stories slowly emerge. In amongst all this, McGregor includes details of the surrounding natural world; the badger sett, fox family, bird movements, and seasonal changes. It all makes for a unique reader experience, which can be enjoyable if you have the patience to withstand the teasingly sparse plot.

(Review by Kate Wilkinson)

8/10

7/10

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BESTSELLERS LIST HARDBACKS

1.

The Keeper Of Lost Things by Ruth Hogan

2.

The Missing Ones by Patricia Gibney

3.

French: Short Stories For Beginners by The Language Academy

Before The Fall by Noah Hawley

4.

Their Lost Daughters by Joy Ellis

The Essex Serpent by Sarah Perry

5.

Lies by TM Logan

1.

The Thirst by Jo Nesbo

1.

The Tobacconist by Robert Seethaler

2.

The World’s Worst Children by David Walliams

2.

Night School: Jack Reacher by Lee Child

3.

Good Night Stories For Rebel Girls by Elena Favilli & Francesca Cavallo

3.

The Girl Of Ink & Stars by Kiran Millwood Hargrave

4.

A Dark So Deadly by Stuart MacBride

4.

5.

Fantastic Beasts & Where to Find Them: The Original Screenplay by JK Rowling

5.

(Compiled by Waterstone’s)

E-BOOKS

PAPERBACKS

(Compiled by Waterstone’s)

(Compiled by amazon.co.uk)

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FEATURES

Motoring

Wednesday May 10 | 2017

FIRST DRIVE

Honda Clarity Fuel Cell WHAT’S NEW? This is Honda’s updated hydrogen-powered Clarity model, with the manufacturer expanding the range to include a fully electric, plug-in hybrid and hydrogen variant, making it the first model to offer all three on one platform.

Hydrogen-powered Claritys have been around for a few years, and we’ve been driving the new and improved version.

Honda’s engineers have managed to reduce the size of the fuel cell stack and electric drive unit – the equivalent to the engine and transmission in a conventional car – without losing any performance, meaning it can now fit under the bonnet. It used to sit beneath the cabin, and the result of the new set-up is much more space for passengers.

You can’t actually buy one right now, though.

Honda is currently running a single-digit fleet in the UK with more cars across Europe. Limited long-term Honda customers have been given the chance to apply to run one, but the plan is to

Honda has been investing heavily in hydrogen cars.

Darren Cassey heads to Denmark to test the latest fruits of the Japanese manufacturer’s labours

eventually offer it in all showrooms after development testing ends in 2022.

LOOKS AND IMAGE On the outside, the Clarity has a rather odd appearance. It’s a big saloon and the design does nothing to hide this – it looks rather fussy from the front. But there are a number of aerodynamic touches, such as the ‘air curtains’ in front of the rear wheels, that deserve closer inspection, while the fin-shaped wheel design helps improve airflow and looks intriguing.

Considering the size of car required to fit the fuel cell stack and the two hydrogen tanks, as well as the high cost of research and development that’s going into the drivetrain, it’s no surprise that the Clarity feels like a premium saloon as Honda can ultimately charge more for the car.

Impressively for a brand whose bread and butter is low-cost, mainstream models, the interior is high quality and well put together, while the seats are perfectly comfortable.

ALL CLEAR AHEAD “Out on the road, it’s perfectly happy bumbling about, and never feels lacking in puff…”

SPACE AND PRACTICALITY

deceleration as regenerative FACTS AT A GLANCE: Where hydrogen vehicles have braking kicks in to refill the traditionally struggled is offering batteries. A Honda employee told decent cabin space and room for us that removing the loud whirring MODEL: Honda Clarity lots of luggage. and whistling (which anyone Fuel Cell By moving the fuel cell stack who’s been on a hydrogen-powered ENGINE: Fuel Cell Stack beneath the bonnet, and tweaking London bus will be familiar with) With Electric Drive Unit the placement of the two hydrogen is a top priority. storage tanks, Honda has massively Out on the road, it’s perfectly POWER: 174bhp improved the space on offer. happy bumbling about, and never TORQUE: 300Nm In the cabin, there’s a large cubby feels lacking in puff should a MAX SPEED: 103mph hole between the front seats as motorway overtake be required. It there’s no transmission tunnel in also feels slightly more responsive 0-60MPH: 8.8 seconds the way, while leg room is than fully electric vehicles when RANGE: 403 impressive all around – we had accelerating on the move, thanks (NEDC, claimed) four people in the car at one point to the fuel cell/battery and there was plenty of room to combination.

EMISSIONS: 0g/km spare. Boot space is decent, too, A nice touch that we hope though the hydrogen tanks do becomes commonplace is a intrude, resulting in an odd shape. blind-spot camera. When Safety is a big talking point with indicating towards the offside, a hydrogen due to the high pressures required to live video feed of your blind spot appears, store it, but Honda has gone to great lengths to making changing lanes a doddle. We’re told there protect the tanks in the event of a crash. are no plans for it in the UK yet as it’s there for Because the Clarity is built for hydrogen and new American legislation, which is a shame. electrification from the ground up, the steel VALUE FOR MONEY sub-frame could be designed in a way that You can’t buy one at present, and it’s impossible protects the storage tanks in the event of a to say what the price might be for a car we rear-end crash, dissipating the energy towards probably won’t see on sale until the mid-2020s. the front of the car. It appears to perform well in However, compared to similar cars in this rigorous crash tests. segment, the Clarity holds its own materials-wise.

BEHIND THE WHEEL The one bugbear we desperately hope Honda The best compliment you can pay the Clarity has improved by the time the Clarity goes on sale Fuel Cell is that it drives just like any other is the infotainment system. It’s slow, navigating electric car. Because it runs on through the menus is illogical, and it comes with electricity, it’s mostly silent hopelessly outdated graphics.

– save for some whirring on WHO WOULD BUY ONE? Of the three Clarity models that will eventually be on sale, the plug-in hybrid is expected to be the volume seller.

The Fuel Cell version will hope to draw the likes of BMW 5 Series owners to the green side by offering the best range of any zero-emission vehicle – 403 miles under NEDC regulations.

We’re told that high-end taxi and chauffeur companies have been very interested.

The end goal, though, is to make the Fuel Cell a viable option across the Honda range for a variety of buyer profiles. The powertrain is already smaller than some of its traditional engines, which opens opportunities for existing models to have hydrogen-powered variants.

Motoring News

Wednesday May 10 | 2017

Renault’s Captur-vating update on its small SUV FRENCH manufacturer Renault has announced pricing and specifications for its new Captur.

Now featuring sportier styling as well as additional technologies, the updated model is priced from £15,355 and is available to order now.

During 2016, 215,679 Capturs were sold – earning it the title of Europe’s bestselling B-SUV for that year.

The front has been designed in a similar way to that found on the larger Kadjar, while C-shape LED daytime running lights help give it a distinct look on the road.

Nav features a seven-inch screen and incorporates satellite navigation, Bluetooth connectivity and media functions. R-Link builds on this with full Android Auto smartphone integration, which allows Android users to access their phone’s main functions via a seven-inch display.

‘A two-tone colour scheme allows buyers to choose a separate shade for the roof’ As with the original Captur, a two-tone colour scheme is available. This allows buyers to choose between a variety of different paints for the car’s body, as well as a separate shade for the roof.

Inside, the car is fitted with higherquality plastics, while a series of multimedia systems are the most notable changes to the interior.

Three versions of infotainment are available – R&Go, Media Nav and R-Link.

R&Go is the most basic system, allowing drivers to access their smartphone functions via a universal cradle. Media

Four engines are available, with a 0.9-litre and a 1.2-litre petrol offered alongside a 1.5-litre diesel producing either 89bhp or 118bhp.

However, the most frugal engine is the lower-powered diesel – which Renault claims will return 78.5mpg and emit 95g/km CO2.

FEATURES

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The continued acceleration of Britain’s jam-packed roads VEHICLES travelled a total of 323.7 billion miles on the roads of Great Britain in 2016, new figures released by the Department for Transport reveal.

This is a 2.2% increase on 2015 and more than 18% compared with 20 years ago. And while the amount of heavy goods traffic has stalled, cars and vans continued to travel further, with the latter accounting for 4.7% more traffic than in 2015 – a bigger rise than any other vehicle type.

Transport for London has previously indicated that the sharp rise of light commercial vehicles is because of the popularity of online shopping.

RAC roads policy spokesman Nick Lyes said: “These figures underline the importance in having a road net-

work that is truly fit for purpose.”

He added that many local roads are struggling with ‘a depressing combination of congestion and potholes’.

Tapping into a fundraising car

SPORTY The Captur’s new styling

IT WILL soon be possible to donate to charity by tapping a contactless bank card against a car.

A specially adapted Hyundai Ioniq will have five contactless payment points embedded into its bodywork, allowing people to contribute to the Stand Up To Cancer campaign.

People can donate £5 or £10, and will be encouraged to

have a photo taken. Each picture will then be stuck to the car’s exterior, and a ‘totaliser’ will replace the number plates to show how much money is being raised. The car is set to tour the UK between May and November.

Tony Whitehorn, President and CEO of Hyundai UK, said: “We are helping in the way that we know best – with innovation.”

Rachel Carr, Head of Stand Up To Cancer, said: “Hyundai has come up trumps with the the world’s first Contactless Car.”

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FEATURES

Gardening

Wednesday May 10 | 2017

Patio varieties pave the way to perfection We all used to go out and buy annual bedding plants to give summer colour to our patios – but now we can be so much more adventurous

By Hannah Stephenson PATIO VARIETIES of fruit, vegetables and perennials are all widely available, and becoming increasingly popular, as garden space diminishes and urban gardens flourish.

“We’ve seen a continued interest in patio varieties, even in our ‘grow your own’ selections,” says Mark Sage, head of horticulture at Wyevale Garden Centres. “Things like terrace patio fruit - varieties which are grafted on to a rootstock which means they get up to about 5ft tall - will thrive even in smaller spaces such as a balcony on a flat.”

There are tomato ranges that do well in hanging baskets, along with colourful salad leaves and other vegetables. Fruit has also come a long way from the traditional citrus that you grew in a large pot in the conservatory. Now there’s even a new dwarf mulberry (Charlotte Russe, exclusive to Suttons, www. suttons.co.uk) you can grow in a patio pot.

“The continued interest in ‘grow your own’ has seen breeders

working extensively on getting really good productive, tasty fruit and vegetables suitable for container gardening, and we’ve seen a lot of work being done particularly on fruit trees,” says Sage.

He recommends the flat doughnut peach or the ice peach, which are perfect for the small container.

Some flowering cherry varieties are top grafted, so they won’t get any taller, their head size will just get a bit bigger. Some will need protection from frost - peach trees will need to be protected during the winter months in a environment that is sheltered.

Slow-growing dwarf acers and willows are also great in patio pots.

Climbers such as clematis, traditionally reaching great heights and often used to scale fences and

house walls or climb through large shrubs, have long been available in dwarf proportions suitable for pots.

New, more compact, varieties of perennials suitable for pots include Helenium ‘Short ‘n’ Sassy’, which puts on a long-lasting display

of golden blooms with chocolate-coloured cones (Dobies, www. dobies.co.uk), while container buddleias are also widely available.

Many gardeners who want instant colour end up shelling out on packs of bedding - but take care when you’re buying because some annuals are better than others, Sage advises.

“People want plants that are bul-

Gardening

Wednesday May 10 | 2017

BEST OF THE BUNCH

Alpine phlox This low-growing, pint-sized perennial, whose flowers pack a colourful punch, is a valuable addition to the rockery or scree bed, or even added to pots where its flowers will tumble over the edge, providing a carpet of colour accompanied by other taller spring flowers and evergreens. Dwarf varieties such as P. subulata flower in late spring and early summer and prefer well-drained soil in full sun. Summer-flowering plants, such as P. divaricata ‘Chattahoochee’, prefer a woodland area where their pale flowers glow in the shade. Good varieties of the mat-forming types include P. ‘Lilacina’, a pale lilac variety and ‘Kelly’s Eye’, with its striking pink flowers.

let-proof. Bush red geraniums are our best-selling bedding plant, along with white bacopa. These lines perform whatever the weather and form the basis of many displays.”

However, there is a wealth of difference between seed-raised bedding and cutting-raised bedding, he notes.

“To all intents and purposes the product looks exactly the same. But in the middle of the summer, your seed-raised bacopa will have exhausted itself and completely run out of energy, whereas a cutting-raised vegetative variety that is generally more expensive to produce will keep on going through until the first frosts.

“When you buy cheap, you have a tendency to buy mass-produced, cheaply-produced products such as a seed-raised bacopa, but actually what you want is value within your plant, and something that’s going to last a season.”

Easier said than done. It’s virtually impossible to distinguish a seed-raised bedding plant from a cutting-raised one at point of sale, he admits.

The only way to tell is by the price - better quality

cutting-raised bedding will be more expensive.

Buy plants which are being sold en masse by the tray and they will generally be seed-raised.

However, some seed-raised bedding will flower well and long in the right conditions, he reflects, including busy Lizzies and Begonia semperflorens.

Bacopa and lobelia are far superior when cutting-raised, he says. Typically, seed-raised and

GOOD ENOUGH TO EAT How to tackle gooseberry sawfly

If you see small S-shaped grubs devouring the leaves of your gooseberry bushes, the chance is they are the caterpillar-like larvae of one of three species of gooseberry sawfly. Depending on which type it is, the grubs will either be pale green with black spots and black heads or just with pale green heads. The common gooseberry sawfly can have three generations a year, with larvae active in late April to June, July, and August to September. Female sawflies lay their eggs on the underside of leaves low down in the middle of the bush and the young larvae eat their way upwards. Their damage will result in severely defoliated plants, which may not crop well the next year. If you see them, you can either pick them off by hand or snip off the leaves they are invading.

Alternatively, use a biological control (nematode), sold as Fruit and Vegetable Protection, which can be watered on to infested plants.

‘There is a wealth of difference between seed-raised bedding and cutting-raised bedding’ cutting-raised plants will be found in different places in your garden centre. Budget-end boxes of seed-raised bedding are likely to be grouped together, while more premium-end products are likely to be sold singly in pots and may be located near hanging baskets or containers, where customers buy a selection of individual plants.

Sage sums it up. “With bedding, you get what you pay for.”

FEATURES

65

WHAT TO DO THIS WEEK n If you have a new plantation of summer-

fruiting strawberries, pinch out the flowers in the first year to give the crowns a chance to establish and bulk up before producing fruit. n Thin out hardy annuals sown during March,

removing the weakest n Plant out sweet peas sown in January which

have been well hardened off n Apply fertiliser feeds to vegetables, fruit,

roses and other plants making rapid growth n Pinch out unwanted sideshoots of

glasshouse tomatoes n Remove blanket weed from ponds to let

oxygen in n Cover vulnerable crops such as calabrese

and cauliflower with fleece or fine mesh to keep flea beetle out n Move hardy veg such as salad leaf and

carrots outside now n Overseed thin patches of lawn after raking it

to remove dead grass and applying a general purpose fertiliser n Move self-sown plants such as aquilegia,

foxgloves and primroses to where you’d like them to grow

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FEATURES

Beauty

Wednesday May 10 | 2017

Get real: How to rock the ‘undone’ make-up look

By Katie Wright “Emotional, corrupted make-up... Make-up that’s been somewhere and done something - lived!” is how makeup artist Alex Box described the look at Veronique Leroy at Paris Fashion Week.

And it’s an aesthetic that reverberated around the SS17

shows, where pristine lips and precise eyeliner were abandoned, in favour of messy daubs of colour and smudged kohl.

There are three key components to the ‘real’ beauty look, and the good news is you can combine as many as you like. Because when the vibe is this undone, there’s no risk of looking overdone...

BARELY-THERE SKIN

LAST NIGHT’S EYELINER

To achieve a glowy, almost sweaty base, you want it to appear that you’ve got no foundation on at all.

How? By simply dabbing concealer in the places you need it most, using a glowy tinted moisturiser, or mixing a few drops of foundation with your moisturiser.

Finish with a dusting of a cool-toned highlighter across your cheekbones.

To get that ‘slept-in’ eyeliner look, there’s no need to actually wear it overnight (unless you really want to).

Instead, roughly line your eyes with black kohl pencil then smudge with your finger or a small beauty blender until it’s sufficiently smoked out.

For a more glossy finish, add a little Mixing Medium or Vaseline.

CLINIQUE BIY BLEND IT YOURSELF

LOTTIE LONDON AM TO PM Kohl Eyeliner in Smoke, £3.95, Superdrug (www.superdrug.com)

Pigment Drops, £25 (www.clinique.co.uk)

MAC MIXING MEDIUM In Shine, £16.50 (www.maccosmetics.co.uk)

TOO FACED ‘LOVE LIGHTS’ Highlighter in Blinded

By The Light, £25, Debenhams (www.debenhams.com)

LAURA MERCIER CANDLEGLOW Concealer & Highlighter, £25, Space NK (www.spacenk.com)

STAINED LIPS Forget sharp lip liners and carefully filled-in lips; the undone vibe means lipstick that looks like it’s done battle with several rounds of Pinot Grigio.

The shade is up to you, but a bright, highly-pigmented formula is essential smear it on the centre of your lips and blend outwards for a beautifully blurred feel.

BUXOM ‘WILDLY WHIPPED’ Lightweight Liquid Lipstick in Exhibitionist, £15, Debenhams (www.debenhams.com)

NARS CHARLOTTE GAINSBOURG Lip Tint in Double Decker, £22 (www.narscosmetics.co.uk)

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FEATURES

Life & Style

Wednesday May 10 | 2017

CONSIDERATE CONSTRICTION AWARD 2017 ACT NOW! THE OAST ANNOUNCES ITS NEW SEASON WITH A CALL FOR ACTORS The Oast Theatre, Tonbridge, has announced its 2017/18 season, running from September to July. The local amateur theatre has called on anyone who fancies getting involved – on stage, backstage or front of house – to give it a go with its new season.

The year starts with the Oast Youth Theatre’s production, ‘Our Country’s Good’, running from 16-23 September, tickets for which go on sale 1st June.

The adult-led season, which goes on sale in August, begins with Neil Simon’s ‘Last of the Red Hot Lovers’ (14-21 October); Brian Friel’s ‘The Communication Cord’ (11-18 November); and ‘Wendy and Peter Pan’ (8-17 December), starring a cast of adults, youth and Hoppers (8-13 year olds). Auditions for these plays are in June and July, and the group is keen to hear from people who want to audition or lend a hand backstage.

Pentland Homes are thrilled to announce that their development Scholars Village, Folkestone was awarded the Considerate Contractors Scheme 2017 National Site Award.

LOCAL FUNERAL DIRECTORS HOST FUNERAL PLANNING OPEN DAY Local funeral directors, Southborough Funeral Service, of Southborough are holding an open week for local people interested in learning about the benefits of the Dignity Funeral Plan or simply for those who would like the opportunity to view the facilities at the funeral home. The open week will be held on Monday 22nd May – Friday 26th May from 10:00am – 16:00pm and the friendly and approachable staff will be available to answer any questions that people may have.

Cathryn Gahan remarked “It’s incredible because you get at least a week onstage to get used to the set and everything before opening night, whereas most other places you’re lucky to get much more than the tech and dress rehearsal onstage!”

Kerry Jones, funeral Arranger, says: “More and more people are pre-arranging their funerals these days. People often purchase a funeral plan to make sure their loved ones don’t have to make difficult decisions about their funeral arrangements. Other people purchase a Guaranteed Funeral Plan from us so that they know that their funeral is paid for at today’s prices, regardless of how far in the future the service takes place. This means that in these times of financial uncertainty, their loved ones are saved from paying for the funeral.”

Anyone interested in getting involved should contact drama@oasttheatre.com to borrow scripts and receive more information. The full season brochure can be found at the Oast Theatre or on www.oasttheatre.com

Continued Kerry: “We are inviting people who are interested in finding out more about funeral plans to come to Southborough Funeral Service where I will be available to answer questions on funeral plans or any other aspect of arranging a funeral.”

Regular performer Faye Bedding said “The Oast is more than a performance space, it is a welcoming community of people who share a love of the theatre.”

People attend the funeral plan open day will receive a discount voucher entitling them to £100 off the Dignity Funeral Plan, making it even more affordable to plan for the future.

Southborough Funeral Service have been arranging and conducting funerals for over 10 Years. They also have funeral homes in Sevenoaks and Crowborough. Southborough Funeral Service provides a 24-hour service and is part of Dignity, a British company that has funeral directors in towns and cities all across the UK.

For further information please contact Kerry Jones Funeral Service Arranger, Southborough Funeral Service, 126a London Road, Southborough, Kent, TN4 0PL 01892 539744 Southborough.funeralservice@dignityfunerals.co.uk

The silver award was presented to the site team from Scholars Village, recognising their achievement in categories including Site Appearance, Community Engagement, Environmental Protection, Safety and Workforce Wellbeing.

The winners were selected from the top performing registered sites that completed in 2016.

Scholars Village is a new development of 122 contemporary new build homes in Folkestone, Kent. The development is already over 90% sold, and from ‘rightsizers’ to First Time Buyers, a diverse mix of new residents has already created a vibrant, welcoming neighbourhood. There are currently 2 and 3 bedroom homes available and show homes available to view.

With only 11 units left it’s safe to say Scholars Village is a very desirable development and soon to be sold out! You can find more information about this development at www.pentlandhomes.co.uk/

HIGH BROOM CARE HOME High Broom Care Home have recently been awarded an outstanding rating in care, following their CQC report. The unannounced inspection, that took place in March 2017, lasted two days and was assessed by two inspectors who spent a day with the residents, observing and speaking with them about the service as a whole. Visiting relatives were also invited to give their feedback to the inspectors too. High Broom Care Home have described the comments as “very touching, and reassuring to know that our residents feel safe and well cared for as well as knowing the relatives can rest in the knowledge that their loved ones are being well looked after.”

The outstanding care rating, as well as the overall rating of good, follows Qualitas Healthcare taking over the home in September 2015. Since the change of ownership, there has been continuing refurbishment which has included an increase in rooms in the main house as well training from the Alzheimer’s Society in specialist Dementia care.

High Broom Care Home, High Broom Road, Crowborough East Sussex TN6 3SL | 01892 654027 www.crowboroughcarehome.com

Puzzles

Wednesday May 10 | 2017

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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.

5 8

2 4 8

8 3 7 9

9

2

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3

7 3 1 4 9 6

Codeword:

P OM P E I A O M P E T R I U I T A D V I S E E J E S T E R E L Z E B R A E L P B R U I S E E F E L I F T S

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

7 5

1 8

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14 4

7 6 4

13

7

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9 15

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9 22

8

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4 20

9 9

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2 1

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4 2 5 8 3 9 3

3 4 7

6 1

In this Sudoku, the normal 3x3 boxes are now strangely odd shapes – but all the rules and logic of normal Sudoku apply.

Fill the board by entering numbers 1 to 9 so that each row, column and box contains every number uniquely.

Puzzle solutions will be published in next week’s paper

5 4 7 3 2 9 6 1 8

8 3 6 7 4 1 9 2 5

A L T D R I K A E W U A L E H E R O U N T D H I NO N N I N G

Jigsaw Sudoku:

Sudoku:

1 9 2 5 8 6 7 4 3

I E X M M P A P R A R R E Q S T E S T M A C CO R A S R H H E Y AWN

7 5 4 9 1 8 2 3 6

3 2 9 6 7 4 8 5 1

6 8 1 2 3 5 4 9 7

9 7 8 1 5 2 3 6 4

2 1 3 4 6 7 5 8 9

4 6 5 8 9 3 1 7 2

9 2 6 7 4 8 3 1 5

8 3 5 4 1 6 7 9 2

6 7 1 3 8 9 2 5 4

7 5 4 1 2 3 9 6 8

2 1 8 9 6 5 4 7 3

4 6 9 2 3 7 5 8 1

3 8 7 5 9 2 1 4 6

5 4 2 8 7 1 6 3 9

1 9 3 6 5 4 8 2 7

© 2016 Syndicated Puzzles

4

DIFFICULTY RATING: ★★★★

3

© 2016 Syndicated Puzzles, Inc.

2

© 2016 Syndicated Puzzles

1

11

SOLUTIONS (FROM LAST WEEK)

SUDOKU & JIGSAW SUDOKU

DIFFICULTY RATING: ★★II

CODEWORD

69

FEATURES

70

NEWS

Recruitment

Wednesday May 10 | 2017

WITH THE

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

After just one day of the newspaper being out, our recruitment advert had received a great response from potential candidates; three of which we had at interview stage.

We will certainly use the Times of Tunbridge Wells for future recruitment adverts.

John Haynes, Partner, Belvoir Tunbridge Wells

OF TUNBRIDGE WELLS AND TONBRIDGE

72

FEATURES

Arts & Culture

Wednesday May 10 | 2017

A haunting drama that will cast its What do you enjoy most about playing Eunice?

She’s a wonderful character.

Although her background is humble it’s rich in other ways. You see the family through her eyes. You get to see the huge class divide and even though they’re a lovely family you see the difference between her world and theirs. It’s really interesting to be interacting as the outsider to everything else that’s going on.

She only has one friend who’s also a bit of an outsider and they form a bond and this is when you see Eunice light up a bit because she’s being paid a little attention but it would be a shame to give too much away about that too!

FAMILY AFFAIR The Cast of A Judgement in Stone

Sophie Ward stars in Ruth Rendell’s A Judgement in Stone which is coming to the Assembly Hall all next week and also stars Shirley Ann Field, Andrew Lancel and Antony Costa. Here Sophie tells Eileen Leahy why she loves performing in this timeless tale of family feuds and dark secrets So Sophie, can you tell us a little bit about the plot of A Judgement in Stone?

It’s an adaptation of a Ruth Rendell book that was very close to her heart but I can’t really give away why that is! What I can say is that at the start of the play you know there is a family who have all been murdered. The rest of the play sees the policemen trying to figure out what happened. In between that you also go back in time and see the ghosts of the family come back and you see all the

events leading up to their murders. It’s quite poignant as you know what’s going to happen to them…

Would you describe it as a Whodunnit?

Not really it’s more of a why did they do it and what were the circumstances surrounding the deaths. It’s very vivid as you’re watching everybody all the time and seeing who they are interacting with and why and wondering whether this led to the murders.

Tell us a little bit about your character?

I play a woman called Eunice Parchman, a lady who comes from London to work for the soon to be deceased family. She’s quite out of her depth in that she’s never come across a family like this before.

They’re quite grand and they live in a big house, whereas she’s from a humble background and hasn’t travelled much and is in no way worldly, yet here she is in this grand house with people living lives that are very alien to her.

How long have you been touring?

We’ve done four months so far and we’re touring the play for the rest of the year. We’ve done quite a few dates - Richmond, Cardiff, Edinburgh. I do enjoy touring as you go to all these lovely theatres and it’s much easier for me now my children are grown up. It can often be a bit like a holiday as you rent a nice house near the theatre and usually have a great time.

Quite often we rent a house all together and it’s nice as you go back after a show and cook dinner together.

It sounds like post-show has the potential to be a drama in itself?

It can be but as long as you’re all getting along it’s fine. The company becomes a bit like family really; you see each other every day, you’re working and eating together so there are all the ups and downs that go with that set up.

Are there any downsides to touring?

It depends very much on the play you’re in and the people you’re working with. If you’re not enjoying the play you’re in then it can be really hard work. This is a delightful one however and has so many different things in it – not just one dramatic note. There are laughs but there’s also the elements of tragedy and politics too so it’s not tiring to do in any way.

Are there any particular plays you’d like to do?

I’d love to do some more Shakespeare with gender blind and diverse casts for example. I’d love to work with the Royal Shakespeare Company and its artistic director Gregory Doran – he would be amazing to work with.

What do you enjoy most about live theatre?

When the curtain goes up and you get to tell the whole story from beginning to end with all those emotional feelings that are going to happen. I hate to use the word ‘journey’ but I guess it is and the audience is part of that.

Sophie Ward

Arts & Culture

Wednesday May 10 | 2017

spell on you

FEATURES

73

The dance group that’s one step ahead of the cultural curve…

Trinity theatre welcomes Verve, the touring troupe of the Northern School of Contemporary Dance, this Friday. Its artistic director Matthew Robinson explains what audiences can expect from their special performance…

How they interact is very much part of the telling of that story. When you are filming something it’s so different: It’s out of sequence and you don’t get to see it put together until a year later and by then you’re quite distant from it.

currently studying literature and philosophy at Goldsmiths in London. I went back to school in my 30s and did my first degree then an MA and now I am currently doing a PhD which I’m hoping to finish in around 18 months.

Have you done a good mixture of both live and filmed acting throughout your career?

Yes I have been lucky to have that balance and I think most actors like to do lots of different things and to mix it up a bit. That’s what gets most people interested in the job – to do something different.

Have you visited Tunbridge Wells before?

No I have not although I do have family who live there so they will be coming along to see the play at some point.

What do you do with down time?

I’m a student and I write so that’s what I do when not working. I’m

A Judgement In Stone is on at the Assembly Hall theatre from May 15 until May 20. To book tickets which are priced from £15 and to find out performance times visit www. assemblyhalltheatre.co.uk

VERVE will be performing a thrilling quadruple bill of dance work, created by four international contemporary choreographers: Carlos Pons Guerras, James Cousins, Leila McMillan and Matthias Sperling.

The production showcases the versatile skills of the dancers in four beautifully crafted short dance works and it’s a highly physical feast for the eyes.

The production is a great way to ‘dip your toe’ into the world of contemporary dance. Each short work has a distinct identity, showing a different approach to dance making. Carlos Pons Guerras work Rita is a theatrical, raucous delight. The dancers are all dressed as nuns, with incredible skirts designed especially for the show. James Cousins work has an eclectic soundtrack, from French rap to Mozart, with stunning duets that take a lot of trust between the dancers. Leila McMillan challenges the dancers to improvise sections of her work, while Matthias Sperling invites the audiences into a pseudo sci-fi looking world where the dancers continuously create movement and sound loops.

It was such a pleasure to work with each choreographer and each one drew such

exciting performances out of the dancers, in their own unique way. Carlos Pons Guerras’ own company DeNada Dance Theatre was nominated in the prestigious National Dance Awards this year, while James Cousins was the winner of the inaugural Matthew Bourne New Adventures choreographer award. All four choreographers have growing internation-

MOVING Verve’s dancers

al reputations.

We’re excited to put on this show because dance is an art form that can entertain, inspire and provoke thought and discussion. I feel it is so important in the world we live in right now to gather around live experiences, to discuss and debate, to be gently challenged and entertained in the company of others.

We have already toured many venues across the UK, including Manchester and Liverpool, and also performed in Salzburg.

It is a pleasure to share our work with so many audiences, and hear what resonates with them - the reaction can be very different in each venue.

Next as Artistic Director of Verve, I have been programming the choreographers who will create work for us next year. I will also be making work for the company to perform next year and am very excited to get started on this. But before all that I am thrilled to be on tour with this incredible group of dancers - and to be bringing them to beautiful Tunbridge Wells.

Verve perform at Trinity on Friday May 12 at 7.30pm. Tickets cost from £13 and to book visit www.trinitytheatre.net

74

FEATURES

What’s On

Wednesday May 10 | 2017

SEVEN DAYS OF SOCIAL ACTIVITIES AT A GLANCE

WHATS ON WITH THE

Eileen Leahy Local events

>> WEDNESDAY American comedian, writer and broadcaster Ruby Wax visits the Assembly Hall this evening. She will be hosting a ‘forum for discussion’ based on her latest book A Mindfulness Guide for the Frazzled.

It promises to be an entertaining and insightful event which aims to help us understand why we sabotage our sanity with our own thinking. Ruby certainly knows a thing or two about the subject as she has a Master’s Degree in Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy from Oxford University. Tickets cost £20. See www.assemblyhalltheatre.co.uk Tonight and tomorrow at 9pm are the last two days to catch the screening of the must-see sci-fi flick Ghost in the Shell at the Moonlight Drive-in Cinema at the Hop Farm. Tickets cost £25 per vehicle. See www.moonlightcinema.com >> THURSDAY In the lead up to Dementia Awareness Week (May 14-20), the Tunbridge Wells Dementia Forum is running a Twiddle Mitt knit appeal. There will be two free beginners’ classes on knitting and crochet held today at Royal Victoria Place in the unit next to the O2 shop. Twiddle Mitts can help to calm people living with dementia, keeping restless hands busy and reducing anxiety. For more information, email bethan.minter@tunbridgewells.gov.uk Tonight you can catch Reginald D Hunter, who regularly appears on QI, 8 Out of 10 Cats and Countdown, perform his latest stand-up routine at

If you would like to see your events featured in our weekly What’s On pages, please email eileen@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk

tip top. There will also be great food and drink on offer to keep you refreshed as you browse. Tickets cost £12 for a full day or £7.50 for a half day, from www.decorativelivingfair.co.uk Trinity Theatre welcomes Verve – the touring arm of the Northern School of Contemporary Dance – at 7.30pm. The troupe will be performing four separate dance pieces choreographed by international artists James Cousins, Carlos Pons Guerra, Leila McMillan and Matthias Sperling. Tickets cost from £13.

See page 65 for our full interview with Verve’s Artistic Director Matthew Robinson.

TREASURE TROVE Decorative Country Living Fair

the Assembly Hall. Never one to shy away from the thorny issues of race and sexuality, his work is often controversial and brutally honest but always insightful and amusing. Tickets cost £23.

If you’re in Tonbridge this evening, make sure you catch the live screening of the National Theatre’s production of Obsession. Starring Jude Law, it is a new stage adaption of Luchino Visconti’s 1943 film of the same name. The plot revolves around Law’s character Gino, a handsome drifter who begins a fiery affair with Giovanna – and consequently a plot to kill off her husband. Expect passion and powerful drama. Tickets cost £14 for adults and £12 for concessions. www.boxoffice.tonbridge-school.co.uk

>> FRIDAY The annual and enormously popular Decorative Country Living Fair returns to Eridge Park this weekend. Boasting stalls selling vintage collectables, French brocante finds and quirky antiques, it’s got everything for interiors fans to keep their homes looking

>> SATURDAY The Hospice in the Weald Country Fair takes place today from 10am until 4pm. Pop along to pick up plenty of plants and locally-crafted goods to support this important local charity. For more details, visit www.hospiceintheweald.org.uk From 10.30am until 3.30pm, Ightham Mote will be hosting a charity dog walk. There are two routes: The first is 8km, but there is also an alternative and more family friendly one of approximately 3km to enjoy. There will be lots of fun activities during the day as well as stalls selling gift items, homemade crafts and refreshments.

Tickets cost £10 for adults but dogs and under-16s go free. www.nationaltrust.org.uk/ightham-mote As part of the ongoing Crowborough Festival, there will be a Choral Singing Day from 11am at All Saints Church on Chapel Green. So if you enjoy exercising those vocal cords, make sure you go along.

>> SUNDAY Little ones will enjoy the Spa Valley Railway’s latest event A Day Out With Thomas which is taking place all weekend. Not only will they have the opportunity to meet Thomas the Tank Engine and The Fat Controller, they will have the pleasure of riding through the picturesque Wealden countryside on a real steam engine train. There will also be various Thomas-themed activities to participate in at the Imagination Station. Tickets cost £13 MEET THOMAS for adults and £11 for children. See At Spa Valley

CHARITY DOG WALK At Ightham Mote

www.spavalleyrailway.co.uk Speldhurst will be putting on its yearly Pram Race today from 11am. This fun event, which runs until 2pm, sees adults and children dress up in costumes to push all manner of different models of prams up and down the winding streets of their pretty village. The races are divided into different categories with prizes for the winners.

David Walliams’ The First Hippo On The Moon is being staged at Trinity at 2.30pm by the Les Petits theatre company. Ideal for pre-schoolers, it’s ‘one ENORMOUS dream’ of two hippos who battle it out in order to see who will make it to the Moon first. A charming and humorous tale. Tickets cost from £10 and are available from www.trinitytheatre.net At Rose Hill School there will be a CODA concert at 3pm. The piano recital by James Kirby will feature excerpts from Beethoven’s Moonlight Sonata as well as works by Debussy and Schumann. For more details, visit www.codatw.co.uk The Mayfield Festival Choir hosts A Feast of Saint Nicolas at the village church from 7.30pm. The talented voices, who will be joined by the London Primavera and a semi-chorus from Mayfield School’s Schola Cantorum as well as other guest soloists, will be singing Britten’s Saint Nicolas Op 42 and also Haydn’s Missa in Honorem Sti Nicolai 1772. Tickets are priced from £5 to £24 and can be purchased from www.ticketsource.co.uk >> MONDAY There will be an Open Mic Night at both The Royal Oak and Duke of York pubs in Tunbridge Wells this evening from 8pm. All musicians are welcome. >> TUESDAY At 8pm at the Cawthorne Lecture Theatre, Tonbridge, journalist Jim McCue will be speaking about why reading TS Eliot’s work is ‘urgently important’ today.

As well as examining the poet’s literary canon, there will also be the opportunity to buy signed copies of his two-volume annotated ‘The Poems’, forr sale at the discounted price of £60. Entry is free. See www.boxoffice.tonbridge-school.co.uk

What’s On

Wednesday May 10 | 2017

PICK OF THE WEEK

75

A ROUND-UP OF THIS WEEK’S MUSICAL HIGHLIGHTS

Paul Dunton

The Food Festival May 12 - 14 Friday 12-5, Saturday 10-5, Sunday 10-4

Live music

This weekend the Pantiles Food Festival is back. Come along and celebrate the best of Tunbridge Wells with over 40 stalls, live music and cooking demos.

The weather promises to be good so why not pop down and support local businesses and have a great family day out. There will be a wide variety of stalls ranging from chocolate brownies and French cheeses to Greek street food and paella.

Cooking demos run on the bandstand from 12-4 each day with some great local chefs from Framptons, Thackerays, The Cake Shed and more. For a full list of demos be sure to check out The Pantiles Markets and Events on Facebook where we will be posting live updates across the weekend.

FEATURES

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

THE GREY LADY MUSIC LOUNGE

TRINITY THEATRE

THE CROSS KEYS

The Pantiles, doors 7.15pm, entry £6/£7, websites www.pdag.co.uk and www.thegreylady.co.uk WEDNESDAY Guy Sharpe, Funmilayo, Roberto Picazo FRIDAY The Violet Jive SATURDAY Dino Baptiste SUNDAY Fate The Juggler, Amber Anderton, Jimmy Harrison, Sarah Tonin TUESDAY Jack Leon Mackey, Andy Evans, Daisy Port, Emily Izen-Row

Church Road, information on times and tickets at www.trintytheatre.net SATURDAY Royal Tunbridge Wells Orpheus Male Voice Choir 2017

St John’s Road, open all day, free entry Music from 8pm, website www.crosskeystw.co.uk MONDAY TWUNT: Ukulele Jam Session

THE BEDFORD

11 St Stephen’s Street, Tonbridge, open all day Free entry, music from 8.30pm TUESDAY Sally Ironmonger

THE PUNCH & JUDY

2 High Street, open all day, free entry Music from 8.30pm onwards SATURDAY BubsFest (3pm till late) featuring Matt Bridle, Tim Hubbard, Mark Nicholson, Badflys, TW3 and many more

THE ASSEMBLY HALL THEATRE

Crescent Road, information on times and tickets at www.assemblyhalltheatre.co.uk FRIDAY One Night of Queen SATURDAY Illegal Eagles SUNDAY The Andrews Sisters UK THE TUNBRIDGE WELLS FORUM

Doors 7.30pm, entry price variable, event information and tickets at www.twforum.co.uk FRIDAY Boogie Nights SATURDAY The Ackerleys (full band), The Steffan James Band, The Asif Outlaws

THE BEAU NASH TAVERN

Mount Ephraim, open all day, free entry Music from 8.30pm till late SATURDAY Woodface

TONBRIDGE FOLK CLUB

Ye Olde Chequers Inn, 122 High Street, Tonbridge Free entry music 8-11pm, hat collection (£7 recommended) Full details at www.tonbridgefolkclub.org MONDAY Four Gone Confusion

THE ROYAL OAK

Prospect Road, open all day Free entry, music from early evening onwards SATURDAY Between Giants MONDAY Open Mic Night THE PANTILES BANDSTAND

Open all day, music from 8pm Donations welcomed THURSDAY Jazz On The Pantiles with The Harry Whitty Quartet Funmilayo

Steffan James

Wednesday May 10 | 2017

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Jenkins rules road with new 10-mile time trial record CYCLING: PHILIPPA JENKINS has set a new ladies’ 10-mile time trial record for Southborough & District Wheelers.

Riding in the Catford CC event, held on the Tonbridge by-pass, Jenkins recorded a time of 22min 48sec to improve upon a club record that had stood for 35 years.

Also competing in a field of 94 were SDW riders Neil Couchman 21.57; Olly Stevens 22.03; Chris Wolton 22.10; Ian Hodge 22.50; Guy Lane 22.51; Charles Dennison 23.34; Mark Gidney 24.13; Paul Greer 24.17; Andrew Thomas 24.46; Doug Bentall 25.01; Mike Saadat 25.24; Ian Turner 25.34; Colin Jarman 26.03 and Mike Daniels 30.04. The event was won by J Rix (Crawley Wheelers) 19.19.

The East Sussex Cycling Association held their 10-mile time trial on the G10/87, near Maresfield with 61 riders taking part.

Andrew Quye 24.40 and Doug Finch 32.59 were well placed with G Welfare (Eastbourne Rovers) 21.27 winning the event.

Personal best In the Farnborough & Camberley CC 25-mile time trial Peter Rowe covered the H25/8 Bentley by-pass course in 1hr 1min 25sec.

Eighty riders were competing in the ESCA 25TT, where Philippa set a personal best (PB) time of 1:00.09 to be the first woman to finish.

Also riding were Neil Couchman 56.42; Chris Wolton 56.59; Guy Lane 58.59; Andrew Quye 1.01.18 (PB) and Andrew Thomas 1.05.10. The event was won by M Townsend (Eastbourne Rovers) 53.37.

In other races Tim Johnson finished second in the Bedgebury Forest Cyclo Cross while at Preston Park in Brighton Miles Baker-Clarke finished in the points in the Category Four race.

BACK IN TIME Phillipa Jenkins broke a record that stood for 35 years

Please send your sports stories to newsdesk@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk or newsdesk@timesoftonbridge.co.uk

Sporting Times

NEWS

77

Battling bronze medal for Isobel as Tonbridge four take on Europe

By Rachel Moon TAEKWONDO: TONBRIDGE TAEKWON-DO had four juniors selected to represent England at the European ITF Taekwondo Championships in Sofia.

In total, 591 competitors from 29 countries descended on the Bulgarian capital for both senior and junior events.

For Pete Rickards, Katie Moon, George Rowe and Isobel Eason-Warner it was their first international championships at this level and their first time competing as part of the national squad.

The journey started with a 2.30am call and an early flight to Sofia, where they were picked up and taken to a hotel full of very colourful characters.

After an opening ceremony, the juniors were up first in the individual patterns section.

Pete Rickards beat an Armenian opponent but lost in the next round to a competitor from Finland.

George Rowe performed really well and won two rounds against a Norwegian and a Scot before being beaten by an opponent from Spain.

Isobel Eason-Warner was beaten by a competitor from Finland so she didn’t progress in patterns.

But in the special technique division Isobel cleared one out of three techniques, while Pete managed one out of five.

Next day Katie and Isobel were in team patterns along with three other England squad members.

The girls had had just three days together before the Championships to work out and practice the complicated splits for all 12 patterns.

They had chosen Ge Baek as their optional pattern and started first against Scotland. They

FLYING THE FLAG: (L-R) Katie Moon, George Rowe, Isobel Eason-Warner and Pete Rickards nailed the pattern and won 3-2. The designated pattern was Choong Moo and they performed well but Scotland had some more complicated splits, made no errors and took the round. They went on to win gold against Norway.

Then came the individual sparring and Pete had an excellent first match against a competitor from Ireland, winning with downward kicks flying.

He was then beaten in the dying seconds by a Slovenian in the next round.

Isobel drew a girl from Ukraine in the first round and beat her comfortably, then came up against a tough Russian who she beat with time to spare.

Her next opponent was a very good Norwegian.

She fought hard in a very tactical match and was ahead at one stage but unfortunately just lost out.

But she did win a bronze medal, a very impressive effort in her first international at the age of 14.

The Norwegian went on the win the gold.

Katie was taking on a Russian and went ahead at one stage but she took a big kick and was badly winded. She carried on and nearly made up the points but ran out of time and lost 2-1.

In junior power, the next day Katie and Isobel were first up in a group of 29, they both broke the knife hand and turning kick but not the side kick.

After the first round eight girls had broken all three and pressed on, and unfortunately they ended up just missing out in joint ninth place.

Later on the third day the England girls were up first again and Isobel missed the side kick and Katie broke the turning kick; four teams broke all three boards and the girls finished sixth out of ten.

Neither George nor Pete could break their boards and the team finished fifth out of ten.

The competitors were treated to a gala performance on Saturday night with traditional Bulgarian dance and performances.

On the last day the girls sparring teams was made up of five members of the girls’ squad taking on Poland. Isobel fought well against her opponent but lost points to succumb 3-0.

Last up was Katie, who started strongly and was ahead but then lost 2-1 in the last seconds. This meant that the England team lost on points to a strong Polish outfit, who went on the win the gold.

The boys were up against a big Russian team who, after a few technical issues and a checking of the rules, just won in the last match.

Pete was up against a huge opponent but he forced a draw and scored some valuable points.

NEWS IN BRIEF

Wheeler and Parter leave

Night cycle to Hastings

TONBRIDGE ANGELS have received a double blow after the end of their Ryman Premier campaign – in which they missed out on the play-offs by a single point – with two of their most influential players deciding to move on to pastures new.

The Supporters’ Player of the Year for last season, left-back Jack Parter, and the winner of the accolade in the previous season, midfielder Nicky Wheeler, decided to seek a higher standard.

Bradley Fortnam-Tomlinson, Ugo Udoji, Mitchell Nelson and Tom Phipp have been released.

TUNBRIDGE WELLS CYCLE & SOCIAL’S Night Ride to Hastings on Saturday 1 July will leave the Tunbridge Sports Centre at 1am, arriving at the coast before 5am for sunrise. Entry is free.

The route is 56 miles long (92km) and follows B roads travelling out through Pembury towards Matfield, then on to Goudhurst, Hartley and Iden Green.

The riders will then north towards St Michaels, Woodchurch and finally travel south through Rye and on to Hastings, finishing at the pier.

Pembury Athletic Club have won the Crowborough & District Junior Football League Under-13 Cup Final, beating Ashurst Wood 2-1 after extra-time

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NEWS

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Please send your sports stories to newsdesk@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk or newsdesk@timesoftonbridge.co.uk

Sevenoaks Suns keep shining as Busch named coach of year RISING TALENT The Suns celebrate against Leicester

By Andrew Tong BASKETBALL: SEVENOAKS SUNS have stormed into the final of the Women’s British Basketball League (WBBL) at the O2 next weekend.

They will take on Nottingham Wildcats to decide the league title after edging past Leicester Riders 56-53 at their opponents’ arena.

The team had to come from 14 points down in the first half, holding the Riders to six points in the third quarter for a five-point cushion.

Leicester closed to within one in the final quarter before a huge three from Renee Busch as the Suns went ahead 56-48.

The hosts replied with the next five points and had the chance to force overtime but could not connect from three-point range.

Gabby Nikitinaite scored 14 points, Renee and

Cat Carr added 13 each and Anne Pedersen came up with 10 rebounds.

In recognition of his team’s hugely impressive campaign, Len Busch was voted the Ed Percival Molten WBBL Coach of the Year.

The outstanding Gabby, 18, from Bromley has been named WBBL Young Player of the Year.

Busch had guided the Suns to their first ever WBBL Trophy in March, beating the Riders in front of the BBC cameras in Glasgow.

Then he led the Suns to their highest-ever league finish after they secured third place in the table.

This secured a berth in the playoffs, where they beat sixthplaced Team Northumbria – last year’s champions – 67-56 at Sevenoaks School on the May Bank Holiday.

Len built his team’s success around the brilliance of leading light Cat, the shooting ability and creativity of guard Renee, his daughter, and solid play of Danish forward Anne.

He has also overseen the burgeoning talents of several exciting

young players such as Danni Lozzi and Gabby, whose family comes from Lithuania.

The scale of the talent being developed in Sevenoaks was evident when the club’s Under-14 girls team won the Junior National Basketball League last month.

They beat Sheffield Hatters 60-55 on the first day of competition at the Manchester Basketball Performance Centre on April 29.

Then they clinched the title the following day by defeating Manchester Mystics 75-68 at their home stadium.

The Under-18s have also excelled in this campaign and comprehensively beat Oakland College Wolves from St Albans 84-46 in a play-off semi-final.

However, they lost in the final to Southwark Pride 74-48.

Originally from Chicago, Busch has been in charge of the Suns for 12 years. He was also named Molten WBBL Coach of the Month for both February and March as the team made an impressive run-in.

The club is also open to boys. If you would like to join the Sevenoaks Suns, visit www.sevenoakssuns.com or contact Len Busch on 07834 356565 or lenbusch@aol.com.

HIGH HOPES Len Busch has produced a number of talented young players

Podium finish sets stage for Le Mans 24 MOTORSPORT:

JOTA sport celebrated its second podium finish in as many races at the six hours of Spa in Belgium in the second round of the World Endurance Championship.

Despite technical difficulties in qualifying resulting in both cars starting near the back of the grid, the team – which runs the cars on behalf of Jackie Chan DC Racing – clinched third place in its LMP2 class.

The ‘Mighty 38’ car driven by Ho-Pin Tung, Oliver Jarvis and Thomas Laurent found itself in second place with just half an hour to go but couldn’t hold on to it after a fierce battle with the 31 Rebellion.

The 37 car of David Cheng, Alex Brundle and Tristan Gommendy was also in contention and even led the pack at the halfway stage. But after a spin and an extended pit stop it fell back to tenth place.

The third place was enough to maintain the team’s class lead in the

championship at this early stage of the season. In a sign of what is shaping up to be a competitive season, the winner was last year’s Jota Sport partner G-Drive.

The Principle and founder of the Frant-based team, Sam Hignett, said he was ‘pleased’ with the result.

He added: “It was a tough race. We struggled during qualifying to find our pace, which resulted in both cars starting near the back of the grid.

“However, both sets of drivers pushed hard and made up ground and it is just unfortunate the number 37 was unable to maintain its lead.

But the pit crew did an excellent job at getting it back out on to the track.

“Overall, we knew it would be a hard race and we have learned valuable lessons ahead of the coming the 24 hours of Le Mans, which is the main prize.”

The prestigious French race will be held on June 17-18.

HARD DRIVE Thomas Laurent, Oliver Jarvis and Ho-Pin Tung

Wednesday May 10 | 2017

Tough start for Wells after Bexley come out with all guns blazing CRICKET:

TUNBRIDGE WELLS 1st XI endured a difficult start to the Kent Premier League season away to Bexley at Manor Way. Having been put in to bat, they were rapidly reduced to 2 for 2 with both openers dismissed after 13 deliveries.

The captain, Alex Williams, played remarkably freely in company with Michael Waller, who as usual proved difficult to dislodge.

Their third-wicket partnership provided 75 runs before Jasdev Bassan had Waller caught.

That brought new signing Nick Sale to the crease.

The Australian dug in to support his captain, who soon reached a delightful half-century with five fours and a six from 65 balls.

Together they added a further 72 for the fourth wicket before the home bowlers turned the game around. Bexley rang the changes with great effect, and five wickets tumbled for 39 runs in little more than 11 overs.

Skipper Williams top-scored with 80 off 89 balls before he was stumped off Harry Furze.

Sale fell for 36, and only Marcus O’Riordan thereafter made any real progress. He remained unbeaten on 26, ensuring the third batting point with a late flourish, and the visitors closed on 213 for 8 off their 50 overs.

Havoc Calum Basey came out firing and he stormed to fifty out of 65 from just 12 overs, wreaking havoc as the opening bowlers were hit out of the attack.

Basey reached his half-century off just 41 balls but he fell for 67 with 10 boundaries after an opening stand of 94.

His partner Chris Laas had given steady support, and was now motoring along. He moved serenely to his own fifty, taking the lead in a stand of 82 with Matt Cross for the third wicket.

The opener missed out on three figures when he offered a catch six runs short of a century. But Cross (23 not out) saw his side home on 214 for 3 with 44 balls to spare.

Wells will be looking for improvement in their next encounter, a local derby against Sevenoaks Vine at the Nevill on Saturday (May 13).

The Vine bowled out visiting Lordswood for 114 with Tom Coldman taking 3 for 11.

The home side were reduced to 58 for 4 but Miles Richardson provided some momentum to see them home on 117 for 4 after 27.5 overs.

He remained unbeaten on 39 while Harrison Smyth chipped in with 25 not out in a stand of 59 Linden Park demolished Whitstable in their pipe opener in Division One, dismissing the visitors for just 55 in 31.4 overs after putting them in to bat.

Only opener Sean French reached double figures as Dave Booth grabbed 4 for 27, Usman Sahar took 3 for 16 and Freddie Hulbert returned 2 for 7 from his 10 overs.

Scott Newman hit nine boundaries at the top of the innings and had reached 41 not out when Linden Park won by nine wickets. They overhauled the paltry target in less than eight overs.

Sporting Times

Wednesday May 10 | 2017

Fifty not out for Sunday League Grass-roots football is in serious decline but one long-standing competition remains defiant

By Andrew Tong FOOTBALL:

THE West Kent Sunday Football League (WKSFL) celebrated its 50th anniversary after the Senior Cup final at Tonbridge Angels’ Longmead stadium on Friday (May 5).

Players past and present were invited to attend the match between Simla and Tonbridge Origin, and the prizegiving afterwards.

At the ceremony special commemorative medals were presented to Stuart Turner, the 76-year-old WKSFL Chairman, and Reg Mackleden, 82, President and Treasurer, for half a century of service each – a full 100 years between them.

Stuart recalled that when the league launched

‘How did we manage to run 90 teams without email or mobile phones?’ in 1967, Reg had told him: “Football should not be controlled by old fogies.” Little did they know that it would still be them in 2017.

The Sunday league can still boast four divisions of 35 teams, despite the decline in football across the region, which has been documented in these pages ahead of the imminent demise of the Tonbridge & District League on Saturdays.

Stuart is all too aware of the precarious nature of the game. “Grass roots football is dying, the Saturday league has folded and they’ve been going for 120 years,” he says. “The kids don’t want football anymore, with all these machines they’ve got to play on.

“Then when they’re older they go out on a Saturday night and they come in at four in the morning, wake up with a thick head and don’t want to play. There is no cure, no answer.”

Technology can be as much to blame among the adult players – for different reason.

“It’s too easy now to come home the worse for wear on a Saturday night or early Sunday, and all they have to do is send a text and they don’t even have to talk to anyone.

“Secretaries wake up on a Sunday morning and see all these text messages and they have to start all over again finding a team.”

There are the other pressures of modern life to

THE SPECIAL ONES: Stuart Turner, the WKSFL Chairman (left) and its President Reg Mackleden with League Secretary Angela Barham contend with. “We have 1,200 players registered and 400 would make up a full league of teams, so where are the other 800?” asks Stuart.

“Social lives have changed, people have to work on Sundays, that’s one of the excuses that the Football Association comes up with.

“These are the facts the FA throws at us. They say they’ve got all these schemes that they are going to throw money at but not much happens.”

The league started with 13 clubs in Tonbridge, Tunbridge Wells and Crowborough. By its heydey in 1981, there were 96 clubs in eight divisions.

“How did we manage to run 90 teams without email or mobile phones?” wonders Stuart.

“In those days there were those who played on Saturdays at a high standard and were not tied to a contract or agreement with managers not to play on Sundays so they would turn out both days.”

Stuart’s playing days were relatively short-lived.

“I played two seasons for one of the big firms in Tunbridge Wells, Leroy Tours – who organised European coach tours before package deals started. We were hopeless, we lost our first match 18-0 to Rusthall New Town.”

He recalls that some teams were powerful for several seasons while others had the talent but did not translate it into success.

The Blue Boys out of Pembury were strong for a few years. Then Sussex Shades, based in the Sussex Arms in Tunbridge Wells, were dominant in the 1970s and ’80s. “Everyone wanted to play against them – whereas now the rest get scared.”

Stuart adds: “The Bristol Arms [now the Guinea] were one of the big underachievers in the early years – they had very good players but they didn’t win much. There was Jock Munn, he was a bit of a naughty boy, and then there were others like Archie Thorburn.”

Some things never change, it seems, in Sunday football. “The nightclub Surf City, which became Tropicana [and subsequently Chez Moi and Coco Lounge] was just over the road from the Bristol and it was the only club in town. That might be why they didn’t win very much.”

Although the WKSFL is seeing the number of teams decline, they still enjoy a strong level of competition because there are few alternatives.

“We’re lucky, in a sense, because we have no competitors and no one is going to attract our players. The nearest Sunday league is in Maidstone. But we are on a downward spiral.”

WEST KENT SUNDAY FOOTBALL LEAGUE SENIOR CUP FINAL

SENIOR SERVICE The 50th anniversary medal

SIMLA beat Tonbridge Origin 2-0 to win their fifth Senior Cup in the last six seasons.

They were always on top once Steve Smith opened the scoring after just seven minutes.

Four minutes into the second half Smith had a shot well blocked by Sam Jenner, but the loose ball fell to Ian Parsons who slammed it home through a mass of players.

Jenner in the Origin goal kept the score down and produced a fine one-handed save to deny Smith near the end, but to no avail.

Angels Ladies make promising start in first campaign

By Jim Rowe FOOTBALL: TONBRIDGE ANGELS Ladies have enjoyed an encouraging opening season in the South East Counties Women’s League, in which they finished fourth in the Kent Division One. Abigail Skilton was third on the list of scorers, netting 26 goals in just 16 appearances, while Rebecca Janes contributed 10 goals.

They rounded off the season with a spirited performance in a friendly against Burgess Hill Town, who play their football at a step higher and have won the League Cup this season.

info@twefc.co.uk

Tracy Edwards was forced into making several good saves but a poor clearance by the keeper led to Burgess Hill’s first goal, a lob from 20 yards.

Edwards suffered an asthma attack soon after the goal and had to be replaced for the rest of the first half by Jodie Coombes, who had never played between the sticks before.

The visitors doubled their lead on the half-hour but within two minutes, Tonbridge were back in the game when Megan Akehurst rounded the goalkeeper to finish into an empty net.

But Burgess Hill scored twice in the space of two minutes right at the end of first half to go in 4-1 up at the interval.

Edwards recovered sufficiently to take up her position in goal again for the second half.

The girls hung on under great pressure and just past the hour they reduced the deficit when they were awarded a penalty after Lauryn Underhill was brought down.

Beth Kemp fired in the spot-kick to make it 4-2 after 68 minutes but any hopes of a revival were dashed when a shot from the left found the bottom corner to register the Sussex side’s fifth goal.

Courtney Smith produced the eye-catching display in the blue shirt, while 16-year-old Maisie Gibb, who has only been training with the club for a month, showed the future looks bright.

NEWS

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Club gives sporting chance for children to enjoy team spirit FOOTBALL: A NEW community club, Tunbridge Wells East FC, launched at the TN2 Centre in Sherwood last week, providing much-needed opportunity for children to play the game.

The teams will be coached by MSporti, a local company who already provide training in many primary schools in the area.

The children practiced drills and skills, then played small-sided games in an action-packed hour-long session.

Damien Smith, who brought his son Felix, aged six, said: “Felix has wanted to play football again since he stopped Little Kickers.

“Most dads like to see their little boy playing football, whether it’s for fun in the front garden or with a club. It is great to have a chance to come along and play in a team and pick up some skills.

He has had a lot of fun.”

Year One pupil Edward Dennett, aged six, agreed: “I liked playing ‘stuck in the mud’ and I really liked shooting. I wanted to do a harder shot than my sister! I hope I can come again next week.”

Journey Former county councillor Chris Hoare said: “With 218 registered Tunbridge Wells football teams we thought it was about time that this area was represented.

“More than 700 new families will be moving into the area and a football club is an excellent way for the community to mix together, make friendships and get fit.”

The young footballers had a chance to measure the speed of their strikes on goal using the latest equipment – with the fastest shot clocking in at 58mph.

MSporti Director Carl Roberts said: “The first session went really well.

“It was well attended, and the parents and community seem really supportive of this club.

“There is definitely a need for a football club here. We have to start somewhere and we have begun the journey.

“The aim is to build from the youngest and increase the number of teams we field and the age groups we have as we grow bigger.”

The coaching sessions cost £2 to attend, and are open to Reception, Year One and Year Two children. They are held from 5-6pm on Wednesdays at the TN2 Centre, Sherwood.

For more information email:

EAST AND BEST Sophia with her new kit