Times of Tunbridge Wells 4th April 2018

Wednesday April 4 | 2018

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Congestion fears if new pedestrian zone is extended beyond memorial

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‘He has made a big mistake in mixing religion and politics’ will@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk

TRAFFIC could be restricted in another section of the town centre if a controversial proposal goes ahead.

Tunbridge Wells Borough Council is looking at stopping cars driving between Monson Road [just after Blacks shop] and Mount Pleasant traffic lights at Cote Brassiere, between 9am and 6pm.

A mixed response has met the plan, which would only allow through buses, cyclists and taxis, as well as some cars requiring access, in a bid to reduce congestion.

Diabolical The plan is part of a scheme, costing a reported £1.3million, and follows the semipedestrianising of Fiveways past Royal Victoria Place.

Cllr Ben Chapelard, leader of the council’s opposition Liberal Democrat group, said the plan has ‘merit’ but would not tackle the ‘root problem of congestion’.

“Traffic is stopping people coming into town. Giving this part of Tunbridge Wells a facelift is the easy option. The council needs to tackle the root problem.

Continued on page 2

OF TUNBRIDGE WELLS

Investigation into anti-Semitism INSIDE as Labour candidate steps down

By William Mata

By Duncan Audsley

Local, National and International

THE Labour Party yesterday [Tuesday} launched an investigation into reports of anti-Semitism that have led to the suspension of a candidate due to contest May’s Tunbridge Wells Borough Council elections.

Roy Smart had been chosen to fight St James’ ward for Labour but has now been de-selected and will no longer take part.

Labour took the decision to suspend him on Monday. This was after his posts on social media, which encouraged followers to question if the Holocaust happened, were picked up by websites including Jewish News.

The move follows widespread reports of anti-Semitism and anti-Zionism within the party, for which their leader Jeremy Corbyn has been criticised for not eliminating.

Mr Smart is a frequent user of Facebook and shared an article with the headline: ‘Holocaust deprogramming course: Free yourself from a lifetime of Holo-brainwashing’.

In a post from last November, he wrote: “What moves me is the sheer audacity of Israel even existing.

“What a fantastical idea, that this bunch of rank outsiders from another continent could appropriate an existing, populated nation for themselves and convince the global community it was the moral thing to do.”

Some of the more extreme material has now been taken down.

But a glance at Mr Smart’s Facebook, even to someone who is not a ‘friend’, reveals a long list of articles he has posted on the themes of supporting Palestine and diminishing Israel.

Labour did not respond to the Times as to whether full background checks were made before his selection as a candidate.

Jewish News claimed Mr Smart shared an article stating that ‘Rothschild’s Jewish mafia agents’ were behind the 9/11 attacks.

‘What moves me is the sheer audacity of Israel even existing’ Labour’s Roy Smart It states another image he shared shows Israeli Prime Minister holding President Donald Trump on a lead, surrounded by dead bodies in Gaza.

St James’ has not recently been a happy

hunting ground for Labour and the news might have boosted the campaign of former Mayor David Neve, a Liberal Democrat, who is hoping to defend the seat.

Cllr Neve said: “He has made a big mistake in mixing religion and politics. The focus must be on the ward first and then on the full council.”

Cllr David Jukes, Leader of the Conservative-ruled authority, said: “He is not the sort of person I would like to see on the council.”

A Labour Party spokesman said: “Labour Head Office has suspended him from the party pending an official investigation.

Local PR firm wins national industry prize Page 8

DOWN TO EARTH

New bishop who wants to ‘inspire people’ Page 3

Continued on page 2

A TASTE OF HISTORY We visit Speldhurst’s George and Dragon Page 58-59

SPORTING SUCCESS

Local gymnastic students go for gold – and win Page 70

CAMPAIGN TRAIL: Roy Smart turning out the vote for Labour at the last election

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Jewish group’s criticism

Wednesday April 4 | 2018

CALM BEFORE THE STORM Roy Smart’s Facebook timeline picture

Continued from page 1

where necessary, appropriate disciplinary action is taken in line with our rules and procedures.

“Tunbridge Wells Labour will now be choosFollowing his suspension, Roy Smart is no longer ing a candidate to fill the vacancy,” said the a council candidate.

“Anti-Semitism has absolutely no place in the spokesperson.

The Board of Deputies of British Jews told the party, and we are committed to challenging and Times that they felt it was right that Mr Smart had campaigning against it, in all its forms.

“Complaints of anti-Semitism are taken very been suspended.

A representative said: “We would expect that he seriously. They are all fully investigated and, will be swiftly expelled.

“His posts are antiPOSTED: Roy Smart shared Semitic and clearly have this link on Facebook no place in the Labour Party.

“Unfortunately, this is representative of the antiSemitism that we have sadly seen Labour continually fail to handle.

“To regain its credibility as an anti-racist party, Labour needs to deal with cases like these swiftly and firmly.”

The Times approached Mr Smart via Facebook for a response but no reply had been received at the time of going to press.

A full list of council candidates will be announced on Monday [April 9].

Shop owners fear outcome of planned extension to zone Continued from page 1 “This piecemeal solution will just shift bottlenecks to other places, such as Carrs Corner roundabout.”

Sue Luck, Owner of M. Saltmarsh Artists’ Materials on Monson Road, said: “It would have a massive impact. If traffic stopped coming down, how would I get to my shop by car? It would be terrible.

“What are we supposed to do? People do not walk down here and so many people see our shop because they drive past. Parking is diabolical and people say they come in here because they can stop outside.

CONTACTS EDITORIAL DIRECTOR RICHARD MOORE richard@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk | 01892 779615 DEPUTY EDITOR EILEEN LEAHY eileen@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk | 01892 576037 CHIEF REPORTER WILLIAM MATA will@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk | 01892 240626 DESIGN/PRODUCTION LEE SMITH lsmith8@markerstudy.com SALES ENQUIRIES GHak@onemediauk.co.uk | 01892 779650 FIND US ONLINE facebook.com/timeslocalnews timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk twitter.com/timeslocalnews

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CLARIFICATIONS AND CORRECTIONS HERE at the Times local newspapers we strive to deliver fair, accurate and balanced reports. When we don’t meet our own high standards we will accept the responsibility and publish clarifications and corrections.

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“There is congestion, but it is a town, so is that not inevitable?”

Jeremy Waller, Co-Owner of Jeremy’s Home Store, added: “We are shocked at this idea.

“No one from the council has mentioned it to us. We have deliveries every day that are unloaded outside of our shop. If there is no access for lorries to get through then we cannot receive our stock.”

Since the council introduced the semi-pedestrianised stretch on upper Mount Pleasant, motorists on the adjoining residential Dudley Road have seen their movement restricted.

During the hours of 9am to 6pm, they have been forced to turn right from their one way street onto Mount Pleasant, for which they alone have access.

While the council is yet to finalise how this could affect the parallel York Road, it is thought the same

ANTI-SEMITISM IN LABOUR AN internal inquiry was launched into antiSemitism in Labour in April 2016 following comments made by MP Naz Shah and former Mayor of London Ken Livingstone.

The Bradford West MP was said to have reposted a message on Facebook in 2014 which supported the relocation of Israel to the USA. She was suspended after these comments were unearthed by a blogger. After apologising, and saying her views had moderated, she was reinstated in July 2016.

In the aftermath of this, Mr Livingstone was also suspended for ‘bringing the party into disrepute’ with comments made in a BBC Radio London interview.

He had said that Adolf Hitler ‘was supporting Zionism before he went mad and ended up

killing six million Jews’. Mr Livingstone remains suspended.

Since then the issue has been on the backburners, but has appeared again in recent weeks with the conduct of party leader Jeremy Corbyn questioned.

Mr Corbyn reportedly spoke out in 2012, questioning the removal of a mural seen as anti-Semitic in East London. The shadow leader said his stance had been to protect freedom of speech.

Last week a series of demonstrations were held in London in protest at this and the feeling of wide-spread anti-Semitism within the party.

Over the weekend Christine Shawcroft resigned as Labour’s chairwoman and from the party’s governing body over the row.

system would apply.

James Gwinnutt, resident of York Road, said: “It could be a good thing if it means less noise from the traffic and a quieter area.”

If the authority’s Cabinet approves their ‘Public Realm Phase 2’ outline in a meeting on April 12, a design process and consultation will begin.

Stunning Council officer Gary Stevenson said: “Limiting through traffic in the area is a step towards encouraging more pedestrian, cyclist and public transport trips as part of the work to help reduce congestion.”

Paul Mason, of Tunbridge Wells Bicycle User Group, added: “This fits in with our view to encourage people to walk and cycle more. The pedestrianisation of the town centre has already been stunning.

“It is always a great success when town centres are pedestrianised.”

Public Realm Phase 2 also proposes narrowing Mount Pleasant

NO GO ZONE: The council proposes to extend its pedestrianised zone from Monson Road to the top of Mount Pleasant [dashed yellow line] Road by one quarter and creating a paved square area in front of the War Memorial, with steps installed.

It follows the awarding of a 2016

grant from the West Kent Local Sustainable Transport Fund. The council hinted at the time that they would seek to enhance the memorial.

BASIC BACKGROUND CHECKS MIGHT HAVE AVOIDED LABOUR PARTY TURMOIL The pitfalls and perils of social media were brought home this week when the Tunbridge Wells Labour Party was thrust into crisis mode.

Roy Smart had been due to contest the St James’ ward for Labour in the borough council elections that take place in May. Obviously delighted at the news he had been chosen to carry the party banner, he took to social media to let people know. Many candidates delay any comment until the full list is officially published.

Now, these days there are plenty of individuals and organisations that monitor social media and delve back into messages posted by other people over the years.

And that is what happened when Roy Smart went public. Those who looked into his background found he had shared posts on social media that could be considered anti-Semitic – comments hostile or prejudiced against Jews.

In one of those posts he appeared to be urging his followers to ‘question the Holocaust’.

The Holocaust, also referred to as the Shoah, was a genocide during World War II in which Adolf Hitler’s Nazi Germany, aided by its collaborators, systematically murdered some six million European Jews.

The story comes at a time when the Labour Party itself is fighting claims that it has failed to take action against anti-Semitic factions within its ranks.

Within hours Roy Smart found himself suspended from the Labour Party and dropped as an election candidate.

Online the Jewish News declared: “Party take action against Roy Smart who shared posts questioning the Shoah, claiming the Rothschilds did 9/11 and that Jews own the UK government.”

By yesterday Roy Smart had gone to ground, was not responding to media requests for comment and the party machine had kicked in

with all comments being filtered through Labour’s regional office.

His Facebook, though, was still online with scores of posts, many of them being about Israel and Palestine. Anyone carrying out a basic background check would have quickly realised where his main interest lay and maybe asked the relevant questions.

The Labour Party has now launched an investigation and further disciplinary action might follow.

Meanwhile, let’s hope that this affair does not overshadow the May council elections because the vast majority of Labour Party supporters in this town are decent, honest individuals who will be as appalled at what has happened as the rest of us. It is their voices we should hear.

Editorial Director, Richard Moore

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NEWS IN BRIEF

Candidates for election ready to be announced THE runners and riders in next month’s Tunbridge Wells Borough Council elections will be published on Monday [April 9].

The Town Hall will release a full list of names and parties taking part in the vote on May 3, which will include new party Tunbridge Wells Alliance for the first time.

Fifteen of the authority’s 48 seats will be decided, with the Conservative group defending 13 of these.

Those who are not registered to vote have until April 17 to sign up.

Anyone wishing to vote by post have until Wednesday, April 18. The final day to register for a proxy vote is Wednesday, April 25.

To sign-up visit www.gov.uk/register-to-vote

Dementia art extension TONBRIDGE Dementia Friendly Community (DFC) has extended the deadline for its children’s art competition.

Entries should now be received by April 13 to allow budding artists to create work during the Easter school holidays.

The winners will be eligible for WH Smith vouchers and some submissions will be featured in a DFC calendar.

The subject is ‘living well with dementia’, and the artworks can be created in any medium.

They should be submitted on A4 size paper to Tonbridge DFC, 173 High Street, Tonbridge TN9 1BX. Entries must have name, age and school written on the back.

Knitted poppy parade ONE hundred years after the First World War ended, Tunbridge Wells Borough Council is asking for help with an alternative floral tribute.

After 6,500 knitted poppies were hung on Town Hall last year around Remembrance Sunday, the authority is hoping to gather even more for the centenary year.

To get involved call [01892] 554218 or email info@tunbridgewells.gov.uk

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New Bishop is searching for the Church’s place in modern world cafes, night shelters to community cafes. There’s a lot we can learn from one another. I have a feeling there is lots more we can do in rediscovering and expressing our social conscience.

“And in doing all of this, we have to bear in mind the needs of children and young people growing up in this very difficult and complicated age, helping them to find their feet, to have the assurance that the wider church is supporting them as they seek to understand and express their faith in Jesus in the world that’s unfolding before them.”

BART AT HEART Simon Burton-Jones has an encyclopedic knowledge of The Simpsons

By Andy Tong andy@timesoftonbridge.co.uk THE recently appointed Bishop of Tonbridge has sent out a message in support of young people in what he calls ‘this very difficult and complicated age’.

Rev Simon Burton-Jones, who is an avid fan of The Simpsons cartoon and their deliquent son Bart (right), admitted he was ‘really excited, and slightly unnerved’ about his new position.

He added: “I hope that in this role I can enable and inspire people to meet the challenges and the opportunities that lie ahead of us.

“We are going through a very extended era of austerity and the way many churches responded to this has been kindly and generous, from food banks to dementia

By Jonathan Banks

COMMUTERS who need a seat on the train can apply to network operator Southeastern for a Priority Seating Badge.

The transport firm hopes this will enable the elderly, disabled or pregnant to travel with more confidence.

To apply for a free badge, visit www. southeasternrailway.co.uk

THERE has been an outpouring of support for restaurateurs following last week’s front page story about independents losing thousands of pounds because of a growing trend in Tunbridge Wells of ‘no-shows’ where people book tables then fail to turn up.

The Times revealed that one in five tables sometimes stay empty and cited the case of a

n Rev Burton-Jones will be officially

consecrated in London on July 3 – 25 years to the day since he was ordained as a Deacon in the Church of England. n He will be the seventh Bishop of Tonbridge,

and it took almost two and a half years to appoint a replacement for Rt Rev Brian Castle, who retired in November 2015. n He was born on December 23, 1962 in

Change Rev Burton-Jones, 55, was announced as the Suffragan Bishop of Tonbridge by No 10 Downing Street on March 27.

He said: “We are living in an era of extraordinary, almost unprecedented, change. What we need to develop as a church is this sense that God is before us, and we can have trust and confidence in Him to face these challenges together.

“Understanding how we do discipleship, following Jesus, I think is one of the most exciting challenges we face, that’s one I’m really looking forward to sharing with people.”

Rev Burton-Jones’ mission in the town will focus on evangelism and growth, an aspiration central to the Diocese of Rochester’s vision ‘Called Together’.

He will also have leadership of the church’s education of children and young people and will chair the Diocesan Board of Education, supporting the work of the 89 Church of England schools in the area.

Backlash against ‘ill-mannered’ no-shows hurting restaurants

Priority seating cards

FACTFILE

restaurant losing £600 in one night.

People are also booking tables at different places and then deciding on the night which one they fancy, often without cancelling the other table.

Comments on the Times Facebook page included these from: Catherine Grench-Marguerat: Card details should be taken at time of booking. Terms and conditions should then state that a fee of approx £25-£50 will be taken per person if they do not show up. Or

Fleetwood, Lancashire and studied Law at Cambridge before working as a researcher and political campaigner at the Jubilee Centre, a Christian think tank that is especially concerned with the relevance of the Bible’s social vision in modern society. n He was the Curate of St Mark, Biggin Hill for

two years, then Vicar of St Mary, Bromley and Rector of St Nicholas, Chislehurst before being appointed Archdeacon of Rochester in 2010. n He is married to Julia, a specialist in

dementia care, and they have two children, Tim and Helena. n On his website, www.simonburton-jones.

com, he reveals: “I have spent far too much of my life watching The Simpsons. This has given me an inexhaustible repertoire of jokes. My only real achievement in life was to get a quote in an all-time book of cricket quotations.”

cancel within 24hrs. Plenty of London restaurants do it. It makes sure you cancel well in advance!

Wendy Earles: What ill-mannered and inconsiderate people are doing this? All it takes is a call or email.

Stuart Luxford: Take as little as £10 holding deposit… people don’t like throwing money away and anyone not happy to pay you have to ask yourself will they turn up in the first place.

Alex Woodhams: Another trend I am noticing is people booking tables. Then just having drinks.

James Rigby: They can take the airline approach and book 110 per cent of capacity in the expectation of some no shows.

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Sculpture will Clampdown on professional begging be unveiled in has moved a stage closer to reality park ceremony ROUGH LIFE The council said beggars would be fined only in extreme circumstances

By William Mata

By Phil Spacey

will@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk

A SCULPTURE created by artist Richard Perry is to be unveiled in Grosvenor and Hilbert Park.

Tunbridge Wells Borough Council [TWBC] is hosting a reception on Friday [April 6] to celebrate the work, titled Zephyr, at the park, which lies between Upper Grosvenor Road and Hilbert Road.

This is the third such sculpture that Mr Perry has created in a partnership with the Friends of Grosvenor and Hilbert Park group in the past year.

All of the pieces are carved stones and can be found next to the cycle path in the wetland area.

It follows Mr Perry’s sculpture exhibitions in Japan and Slovenia.

The work was commissioned by TWBC and funding was sourced from Section 106 contributions gathered from local developments.

PLANS aimed at eliminating professional begging in Tunbridge Wells have moved a step closer.

They are contained as part of the Public Space Protection Order [PSPO] proposal that, on March 21, the borough council’s Communities Cabinet Advisory Board voted to approve and forward to the full Cabinet for consideration at its meeting on April 12.

The decision follows a two-month consultation where a majority of residents supported the idea, which could see – as a last resort – on-the-spot fines of up to £100 imposed to tackle antisocial behaviour relating to begging.

Cllr Lynne Weatherly, Cabinet Member for Communities, voted in favour of the plan and told the committee: “We don’t want someone to be heavily penalised, but we have had people come into Tunbridge Wells to beg and then go back to another town to pay for a bed and breakfast.”

PSPOs would also give the council and police powers to hand out fines to tackle dog fouling, street drinking, the playing of amplified music and the use of new psychoactive substances, also known as legal highs.

Terry Hughes, the council’s Community Safety Manager, outlined the proposal to the committee.

He said PSPOs followed ‘significant issues’ and a need for more powers to enforce control.

The orders would last for three years and can be rescinded and varied.

Liberal Democrat Cllr Peter Lidstone told him: “I appreciate you have thought long and hard about this, but I have concerns. I would question the logic behind applying a fine to someone who is homeless.”

He also shared his worry about the potential for

Natural A spokesman for the borough council said: “The sculpture is carved from gneiss stone, which is a foliated metamorphic rock characterised by a banded appearance and texture with a mineral composition similar to granite.

“The carving emphasises the natural markings in the stone, and is also inspired by flowing shapes representing the moving water, wind through the trees and the rolling nature of the park. The name Zephyr refers to a warm light westerly wind.”

Residents are invited to attend the event, which will feature an art trail for children to inspire them to create their own work. Mr Perry and Liz Edwards, Chairperson of the Friends group, will both say a few words about the artwork.

‘third parties’ to carry out these inspections, rather than council officers who have a relationship with individuals.

Mr Hughes said: “I recognise these concerns. It really is a last resort for us. We want to encourage the homeless to engage with services.”

Cllr Lidstone and Labour Cllr Dianne Hill both voted in opposition, but the seven Conservative members voted in favour.

Approved When first announced, the PSPO idea proved controversial, with 6,000 people signing a petition called ‘Tell Tunbridge Wells Borough Council No to Fines on Begging’.

Childrensalon, the town business behind the petition, later halted the petition after meeting with the borough council.

The council said in 2017 there would have been less than five occasions when an individual could have been moved by exercising an order.

PSPOs could be approved by the Cabinet on April 12, and are set to go before Full Council on April 25.

‘HELP THE HOMELESS RATHER THAN FINE THEM’

The Chief Executive of West Kent YMCA, Rob Marsh, has called for more protection to help the homeless.

He told the Times: “There was quite rightly much uproar about any suggestions of arresting or fining street homeless people in Windsor for the royal wedding.

“The homeless have enough problems without stigmatising or victimising them. They are rarely homeless by choice or through their own fault.

“So, I would prefer all efforts at prevention to focus on building more affordable housing, funding supported housing, and advice or support to prevent homelessness.

“Clearly, if a homeless person is wilfully breaking the law, obstructing access or causing danger to others, the police should have the power to move them on. But just handing out £100 fines that they cannot afford is not going to break the cycle of homelessness.”

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PROPOSAL An impression of how Fiveways could look

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Civic Society floats the idea of a supermarket in shopping centre

By Duncan Audsley A TOWN centre supermarket and revised entrance to Royal Victoria Place are on the wish list of Tunbridge Wells Civic Society.

The group’s Chairman, Brian Lippard, hopes both projects might become a reality as the centrepiece shopping mall is set to be sold for £96million by Hermes to British Land.

Questions still remain, however, as to if and how the leading developer will look to deliver a £70million expansion that could see more shops and a cinema.

Royal Victoria Place has submitted a separate planning application to enhance the front of the centre at Fiveways.

Mr Lippard said: “If the Fiveways entrance is felt in need of an upgrade, then we feel sure that British Land can achieve a more pleasing improvement on the recent proposal, which showed no respect to its setting in scale, materials or detail.

Confident “We couldn’t see any practical reason for a giant window largely backed by a solid brick wall.”

British Land is a big name in the retail world and owns the Meadowhall shopping centre in Sheffield.

“Given that developing multi-let retail sites is a key part of British Land’s strategy, we are con-

fident in their ability to deliver a mixed shopping and leisure experience,” added Mr Lippard.

“We see time as being of the essence, and hence hope they can utilise much of the existing planning application.

“Further, we would like to see as many as possible of the existing external facades retained.

“In particular, we hope the Friendly Societies Hall will be refurbished with public access.”

He added: “It is interesting to note one of British Land’s recent developments, Whiteley in Fareham, is anchored by a 60,000 sq ft Marks & Spencer and a 35,000 sq ft Tesco.

“Might we see a supermarket open in Royal Victoria Place?”

Development on beauty spot gets support at early planning stage put forward by the 78 objectors who responded to the planning consultation.

These included fears that the development would be ‘out of character’, that more rigorous tests should have been implemented, and that the scale is too large.

Cllr Sean Holden spoke as a guest on behalf of his Cranbrook ward.

He said: “It will mean a significant increase in the town’s population, and it is not good enough to put in an outline application. If you want to intrude, we want to see how you are going to do it.

“There is also insufficient information about traffic matters. This plan has a

dead end, and that is not good.”

Persimmon appealed to councillors with the promise that 35 per cent of properties would classify as ‘affordable’.

A spokesman said: “We believe the end result respects the landscape of Cranbrook and the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

“We do not have to provide a more detailed application [at this stage]. This is not going to be a pattern block.”

Persimmon is likely to bring the full plans to the table next year.

Cllr James Scholes commented: “It will come back to us and the devil will be in the detail.”

DERELICT BUILDING Land at Brick Kiln Farm

PHOTO: David Anstiss

A DEVELOPER’S plan to build 180 homes in Cranbrook has been boosted.

Persimmon Homes want to build on greenfield land at Brick Kiln Farm, which is in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Tunbridge Wells Borough Council Planning Committee cautiously granted ‘outline planning permission’ in a meeting last week.

After members voted ten against two in favour, Persimmon will now prepare a bid for ‘full planning permission’, which will set out in more detail how they intend to deliver the infrastructure for the plan.

This process will also allow the developer a chance to address concerns

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Business awards take off as companies sign up to support the gala night event

By Jonathan Banks MORE than half the sponsorship opportunities at the Times Business Awards 2018 have already been taken, which means those companies looking to raise their profile at one of the top social and networking events of the year are running out of time and options.

Britain’s best loved ‘commuter’, Michael Portillo of the BBC’s Great British Railway Journeys, will be presenting the accolades at a black tie gala dinner at Salomons Estate on Wednesday June 13.

Six of the ten main award categories are being sponsored by local businesses, which means there are four opportunities remaining. They are: Employee of the Year – This is the chance for businesses to recognise exceptional individuals within their company.

They can be any age, but must stand out from their peers when it comes to professional and personal development, both within the business and the wider community.

Young Entrepreneur of the Year – This award is open to dynamic individuals aged 30 or under by the closing date of May 9, 2018 who are running their own business and are able to demonstrate significant success and drive in growing their company.

Service Excellence Award – The winner of this category will be giving outstanding assistance and advice to those who use their business or buy the organisation’s products or services. They will be able to provide customer testimonials to support their entry.

Best Business 1-25 employees – Here we recognise owner-managers and small businesses employing up to 25 people that have

‘Those who sign up to be sponsors will be in good company ’ maintained consistent growth and strong financial performance. They must understand customer expectations, have an engaged workforce, and be continually innovating to support future growth.

Those who sign up to be sponsors will be in good company, as you can see from those businesses who have already taken a category.

VIP GUEST: Michael Portillo

n Start-Up Business Award (Thomson Snell & Passmore) n Creative Business of the Year (John Bullock Design) n Business Person of the Year (Loch Associates Group) n Export and International Award (Childrensalon) n Best Business 25+ Employees

(Handelsbanken) n Outstanding Business of the Year (Stiddard Wealth] Sponsor John Bullock, of John Bullock Design in Tunbridge Wells, said: “Our association with the Business Awards has broadened our own profile

Times LOCAL NEWSPAPERS

business awards

locally, so much so that we have signed up again as sponsor of the 2018 Creative Business of the Year Award.”

The main sponsor of the event is the law firm Cripps

Sponsor packages cost £950 plus VAT

2018

If you would like to be a sponsor or to enter for one of the awards…

To register your interest and receive an application form, or to find out more information, please contact us by emailing: info@timesbusinessawards. co.uk leaving your full contact details and, if entering for an award, an indication of which category you might like to enter. You can also call Lara Milan on 01892 739764.

The timeframe…

The closing date for entries to the Times Business Awards 2018 is 6pm on Wednesday May 9, 2018. Each category will be shortlisted to three entries. Shortlisted candidates will be notified by email on Wednesday May 16, 2018. Winners will be announced at the gala dinner. Tickets are available priced at £95 per person or £850 for a table of ten. Numbers are limited, and in the previous two years the award ceremonies were a sellout.

To book, please call Lara Milan on 01892 739764.

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Company appoints head of compliance

NEWS IN BRIEF

Federation’s business confidence in region

By Duncan Audsley

MORE than three quarters of small firms in the South East have been tipped to see their performance improve or remain the same in the next three months.

The Federation of Small Businesses [FSB] released their quarterly forecast last week on the back of the Chancellor’s Spring Statement, the progress of Brexit talks and lower inflation.

Deborah Turner, Area Leader for the FSB, said: “It is great to see how small firms are proving just how flexible and robust they can be despite the challenges the domestic economy throws at them.”

FINANCE expert Helen Carey has been named the new Head of Advice and Compliance at Tunbridge Wells firm AV Trinity.

The Mount Ephraim-based chartered financial planners made the announcement last week.

An AV Trinity spokesman welcomed the arrival of Ms Carey, a chartered financial planner who has 20 years’ experience in financial services.

He said: “Helen is a Fellow of the Personal Finance Society and a Member of the Chartered Institute for Securities and Investments.

“Helen works closely with the Chartered Insurance Institute as a Senior Examiner for their Risk Management papers. She is also a trustee of a major pension scheme.”

Seminar AV Trinity is also hosting a free seminar this month, featuring a talk from former Minister for Pensions Sir Steve Webb.

Matthew Cheek of Janus Henderson Investors is also presenting at the event, which will be held at Trinity Theatre in Tunbridge Wells on April 18.

The topic of discussion is The Future of Pensions and [the impact of ] Technology on Investments. The event opens with coffee and pastries at 8.30am. The seminar is at 9am.

For more information, visit www. avtrinity.

NEW ROLE com Helen Carey

Wednesday April 4 | 2018

HARD EARNED: GingerMay PR Founder Victoria Usher [centre left] alongside Operations Director Matthew Usher [centre right] as hosts Ellie Taylor and Dave Stevens look on

Work pays off as company celebrates PR award win

By Jonathan Banks LEADING Tunbridge Wells communications firm GingerMay PR has been honoured at an industry awards ceremony in London.

The Pantiles-based firm won B2B PR Agency of the Year at last week’s PRMoment Awards 2018.

Founder and Managing Director Victoria Usher and Operations and Business Director Matthew Usher picked up the accolades at the Park Plaza

Westminster Bridge hotel.

A company spokesman said: “The agency’s expansion has been fuelled solely by word-ofmouth recommendations.

“All of the business growth to date has been due to referral.”

Expanded The award win follows Victoria Usher’s success being recognised when she won the Growth Award at the Kent Women in

Business Awards last month.

Originally, she founded the company from her Tunbridge Wells home. GingerMay PR has since expanded to the point where they now also have offices in London and New York.

The PRMoment Awards were hosted by comedian Ellie Taylor, who is known for appearing in BBC Two’s The Mash Report.

She was joined on stage by British Land boss Dave Stevens.

See more on British Land on p5

Muesli Mafia breakfast A BUSINESS breakfast event will be held in the Tunbridge Wells area on Friday April 20.

Ron Roser and John Sayer will host the latest in the Muesli Mafia networking series at the Mercure Hotel in Pembury from 7.30am to 9.30am.

To book tickets, which cost £20 for Kent Invicta Chamber of Commerce members and £25 for non-members, visit www.kentinvictachamber.co.uk

Tram makes progress AMBITIOUS proposals for a £600million tram route from Kent to Essex have taken another step forward.

Designers of the KenEx project last week released plans and operating costs for the 1km tunnel under the River Thames, which would connect Bluewater and Lakeside.

Northfleet, Greenhithe and Ebbsfleet could also be factored in. The planning of the project will continue through the year.

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Local Business News

BUSINESS

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Law firm says upcoming regulation on companies’ use of private data needed

Prime Minister’s hope to speed up house building is welcomed

By William Mata will@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk

THERESA MAY’S promise to ‘rewrite the planning rule book’ has been welcomed by the Director of a West Kent housebuilding firm.

The Prime Minister recently pledged to change the National Planning Policy Framework to release more land for construction, to ease the housing crisis, as well as young people’s fears that owning a home is not a possibility.

John Griggs, Director of Regalpoint Homes, which is based in Sevenoaks, said new planning rules are needed to make the system fairer and more effective.

He also pledged to back any moves that could see ‘red tape’ and ‘barriers to building homes’ removed.

“More radical steps need to be taken to overhaul and speed up the planning process.

“The pre-planning phase can take years sometimes, with many conditions for us to meet.

“It may look like we’re doing nothing, but behind the scenes we are leaping over hurdle after hurdle, from Section 106 agreements to statutory consultations, and this is just stage one.

There are four stages in total, each as lengthy as the last,” explained Mr Griggs.

Section 106 is a financial agreement a developer strikes with a council to ease the impact of a project and help with infrastructure.

Blame “Housebuilders have been put in this situation by the government,” Mr Griggs continued.

“So instead of complaining about the delivery of new homes and laying blame at the door of housebuilders, they need to either rework the system or provide significant fund-

ing to tackle the lack of planning department resources.”

Mrs May also used her speech to criticise the practice of landbanking.

This refers to developers buying land to build on, but waiting for it to increase in value before starting work.

Mr Griggs added: “This is a tactic sometimes used by larger builders who can afford to wait for their profits.

“But the government’s idea not to grant planning permission if a company has a history of not building on their land is a good way to alleviate this problem.

“Of course, a developer’s profitability is what keeps them afloat, and it is in the market’s interest for housebuilders to make wise and timely business decisions in order to maintain their delivery of new homes.

“But I agree that those who sit on land for long periods of time, never intending to build, are contributing to the problem.”

A regulation to ensure personal data is safeguarded online have been welcomed by Tunbridge Wells law firm Cripps.

Having been adopted by the EU in 2016, the General Data Protection Regulation [GDPR] comes into effect on May 25, and follows recent allegations in the news over millions of Facebook users having their personal details ‘harvested’.

The EU-wide regulation will increase the cap on fines for breaches of data protection law and require organisations

to show greater accountability and transparency.

Irfan Baluch, who is leading the GDPR initiative at Mount Ephraim-based Cripps, said: “Many businesses are concerned at the added administrative burden GDPR will bring.

Duty “But the current controversy around the use of personal information held by Facebook demonstrates why there is a need to tighten the laws around

how people’s data is used.

“The new legislation will enhance individuals’ rights in relation to their data, and hold organisations to account for how they use it.

“Few companies are operating on the same level as Facebook.

But all organisations will hold a certain level of personal information, and there is a duty on them to hold and use it responsibly. At Cripps, we have been working with clients in all sectors to advance their compliance projects.”

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Local News

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Swapping my life in Tunbridge Wells to live with the Chagga tribe in Tanzania…

HURRAH! Bethany helps Shimbwe students celebrate the end of their exams

Former Tunbridge Wells Girls’ Grammar pupil Bethany Stephens , 21, is this week travelling to Shimbwe village in Tanzania. Last year, she spent three months there as a volunteer teacher. This time she is going for the ‘forseeable future’. Here she tells us all about it

I

N 2017, I was fortunate enough to work for a couple of people who live in Tunbridge Wells who are friends of my family and who happen to have founded the Shimbwe Development Trust in Tanzania –a charity that works to relieve poverty.

Through their lifelong ambition to supply safe drinking water to the population of Shimbwe, Peter and Leocardia Tesha have transformed the rural village in which they grew up.

Local support for the Kent-based organisation has helped eliminate the risk of typhoid fever, parasitic infestations and other waterborne diseases for thousands of people in the village.

Among its other projects, the Shimbwe Development Trust has been investing in education since 1998, when development of the

only standing secondary school was completed.

While I was first out there finding my feet – between being ‘madam’ to students at Shimbwe Secondary and token ‘mzungu’ [European] to the Chagga tribesmen and women of the village – I met Mathew Tillya. His first piece of advice was to avoid the local banana beer.

Mathew’s education was sponsored by the Tesha family, an act of goodwill that led to him registering his own non-profit organisation in 2009.

“My own experiences are quite telling,” Mathew said. “My father died when I was young leaving my mother without any income. Through Dr Peter Tesha and Leocardia Tesha’s sponsorship, I was able to stay in education.

“Without their kindness, I would not be a holder of a Master’s degree.

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THANK YOU The school receives COSES supplies

Local News

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out of the sponsorship programmes led by global charities.

Inspired by Neema, a student at Sia Primary School, COSES discovered how sponsorship is beginning to reshape education for young people in the Kilimanjaro region.

‘One of the real issues facing poor kids is hunger. It is impossible to push those feelings aside to concentrate on work’

“I am working day and night to make sure that children in the area have the opportunity to find a way out of poverty.

“An education can transform the lives of young people, especially young people living in rural areas. It can promise a better future.”

The non-government organisation Community

A HELPING HAND Mathew (right)

Secondary Education Support [COSES Tanzania] operates in Kilimanjaro – a region famed for its green bananas and arabica coffee – as well as the world’s tallest free-standing mountain.

Many of its communities, which have become responsible for their local government schools, are experiencing deepening poverty as crop yields decline.

“Some families are poor beyond imagination. At times, basic needs are well beyond their reach,” said Mathew.

Often, this means children are sitting in class without food in their stomachs, shoes on their feet, or the books and stationery needed to be at school.

Because less than 20 per cent of the population is registered at birth, many of these children are left

At the age of six, Neema’s place in the classroom was threatened by her domestic responsibilities.

Her school career has been defined by insecurity as her guardians are unable to work and struggle to support her education.

“Our main concern was that Neema might have to leave school,” said Mathew. “I was in a very similar situation, and would have had to leave to find work without the support I received.”

One of his aims is to ensure the wellbeing of students, giving them the best opportunity for academic success.

“One of the real issues facing poor kids is hunger,” he explained.

“As much as a child wants to be at school, it is impossible to push those feelings aside to concentrate on work. The cost of school meals are the first thing we think of when supporting students.”

While sponsorship operates on a priority-need basis, COSES has taken the education of girls and young women into serious consideration, influenced by Leocardia Tesha’s status as the first woman of Shimbwe to attend a secondary school.

“Female students have always had to overcome more than their male classmates to be educated,” Mathew continued.

“One of the great significances in educating women is that they make up the majority of our population by 60 per cent.

“Girls need to be in school, working for a better future for themselves, their families, and for our great Tanzanian nation.”

Mathew’s charity is confronting some of the issues that stand in the way of women’s education, prioritising the lack of sanitary products and contraception in medical aid initiatives.

While there is still much work to be done to alleviate the pressures placed on underprivileged students in the region, sponsorship has proved to be one way in which stories can change, as Mathew’s did through the help of Leocardia and Peter Tesha.

The Shimbwe Development Trust has transformed the landscape of Shimbwe, improving the lives of many, and continues to inspire further change.

For more information, or to make a donation, visit: www.shimbwetrust.org andwww.cosestanzania.com

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Community News

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How local musicians banded together for new charity song Rocket Science

PHOTO: JR Lewis

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SINGLE-MINDED (Back row, l-r) HRTW Bonanza artists Al Drake Brockman of Doz Studios, Benjamin Lewes, Isabella Coulstock, Lizzie Arkell and Leo Snook from Chasing Shadows; (middle) Ryan Weeks, Sophie Thompson and Dave Rabbett from A Man Called Dave and a Lady Called Sophie; (front) Chloe Sunnucks of the Music Fix Vlog, presenter Phil Mills, Charlotte Tingley of Chasing Shadows

By Andy Tong andy@timesoftonbridge.co.uk SINGERS and musicians from across Kent and Sussex have teamed up to release a song that will raise funds for Hospital Radio Tunbridge Wells [HRTW].

The charity broadcaster provides a bespoke service for patients in the Tunbridge Wells Hospital at Pembury and Tonbridge Cottage Hospital.

The group, known as HRTW Bonanza, have recorded the song Rocket Science, which was written by Southborough singer-songwriter Ryan Weeks.

It was released as a download on iTunes and Amazon for 99p yesterday [April 3]. All proceeds will go to HRTW. To mark the launch, a special ten-hour gig of live acoustic music was held at the Grub & Liquor restaurant in Tunbridge Wells on Saturday.

There were performances by all the artists featured, including Ryan Weeks, Chasing Shadows, Isabella Coulstock, A Man Called Dave and a Lady Called Sophie, Lizzie Arkell and Benjamin Lewes.

The idea came from The Music Fix Vlog’s Chloe Sunnucks. “I’m so excited to be a part of the charity song for Hospital Radio,” she said.

Touched “The service they provide for the patients is incredible. Since I brought the idea to Hospital Radio, I’m so touched they’ve invested their time to make it a reality.”

Ryan Weeks added: “I’m super-excited to be releasing the charity song. It was a big honour being asked to write it, and I’ve had such a great time writing and composing the song.

“When I was asked to write it, I knew

Volunteer Police Cadets are on the beat for Sport Relief

exactly the sentiment that I wanted to convey – love isn’t rocket science, and it should be the same with supporting great causes such as Hospital Radio Tunbridge Wells. They do so much for the community and it’s a great pleasure to give back.”

Hospital Radio volunteer and presenter Phil Mills had approached local musicians to help with the charity’s SOS fundraising campaign at the end of 2016.

He has continued featuring local music on his Sunday morning radio show and wanted to find a new way to continue raising funds for HRTW. “It’s great to have the involvement of so many talented singers and musicians from our local community in this fundraising project,” he said.

“I hope the money raised will go a long way to help Hospital Radio Tunbridge Wells continue providing its bespoke service to patients in our local area long into the future.”

THE Volunteer Police Cadets of West Kent stepped up to the challenge of raising money for this year’s Sport Relief.

The cadets participated in a number of activities at the East Malling Centre on March 18, including taking part in a Billion Steps Challenge.

Sport Relief set this collective task, coordinated across the country, to achieve more than a billion steps a day every day from March 17 to 23.

Police Constable Julie Michel said: “The enthusiasm and conduct of these young volunteers continues to be a real credit to every one of them.

Security

BESPOKE SERVICE: The Kent Volunteer Police Cadets help stop bike theft

“They have all contributed in their own way to a very worthy cause, which helps raise money for disadvantaged people across the world.”

The cadets were also on hand to help cyclists protect their bikes from theft by offering visitors a free security marking service.

The Volunteer Police Cadets scheme began in 2016 and is a uniformed organisation supported

by Kent Police for young people aged 13 to 17.

The cadets meet once a week for two to three hours in term time, and also give up three hours each month to help a community-based project.

Wednesday April 4 | 2018

Community News

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Twinning association meets new Mayor of Lambersart...

FAIRY TALE Childrensalon’s princess photo shoot for Olivia with her brother Toran

THE Southborough and High Brooms District Overseas Friendship Association [SHDOFA] met their counterparts from twin town Lambersart at their AGM at Meadows School on March 11.

The association’s Chairman, Alain Lewis, welcomed Christiane Krieger, the new Mayor of the town in northern France, and Jean-Paul Krieger, Chair of its own twinning association, along with six other guests from Lambersart and 35 members of SHDOFA.

Service

Snuggle up for Wacky Onesie Day LOCAL charity Taylor Made Dreams is holding a Wacky Onesie Day on Friday April 27 to raise funds for its projects, which enable children with lifelimiting illnesses to fulfil their wishes.

Suzi Mitchell, founder of Taylor Made Dreams, wants the event to become an annual fixture. She said: “We are inviting all individuals, nurseries, schools, universities, corporates and community groups to take part in the Wacky Onesie Day.” Suzi set up the charity in 2014 following the death of her teenage son, Taylor. It helps to create a bucket list designed to meet the specific needs and desires of children with critical illnesses.

This enables children and their families to spend quality time together that might not be possible without financial or emotional support. It also sources and helps to pay for therapeutic services.

One of the charity’s main sponsors, the Tunbridge Wells online children’s clothing company Childrensalon, recently held a photoshoot for a

NEWS

terminally-ill eight-year-old girl called Olivia.

She suffers from a type of cancer called Wilms’ Tumor, which attacks the kidneys. Taylor Made Dreams fulfilled her wish to be a princess, in the company of her brother Toran and mother Brooke.

A minimum donation of £1 per person is suggested, and can be made to the Taylor Made Dreams online fundraising platforms on Virgin Money Giving, BTDonate or JustGiving.

Ms Mitchell added: “We want people to use the hashtag #TMDWackyOnesieDay on their social media sites, post their photos and tag us in.”

The charity can be found on three platforms, Twitter: @Taysbucket, Instagram: thetmdteam and Facebook: @TMDCharity.

The event has been set up in partnership with Childrensalon. “They came up with the Onesie Day, we just added the Wacky,” said Ms Mitchell.

“And they were the first to take on the challenge.

It’s amazing corporate support.”

Honorary memberships were given to Ives and Sheila Branson, Colette and Bob Marsh, and Jackie and Bob Prance for their long service to SHDOFA and to Southborough as a whole.

Mr Lewis paid tribute to them, saying: “They have all been committee members and/or chairs of the association and have worked tirelessly to

progress our friendship with Lambersart.”

Plans for the forthcoming year include a trip to Dover to meet up with French colleagues, and a pétanque tournament at the White Rock in Underriver against twinning associations from Sevenoaks and Otford.

There will also be regular pétanque sessions on the piste in Yew Tree Road, and a barbecue will be held in August.

Last year, the two towns celebrated the 25th anniversary of the twinning agreement between them. This included a gala dinner at Salomons and entertainment by a choir comprising singers from both communities.

Celebrations and commemorations were also held in France, marking the anniversary of the liberation of Lambersart after World War II. If you would like to join the association or take part in the pétanque sessions, call Alain Lewis on 07736 529170 or email: amblewis@hotmail.com

CHANNEL YOUR ENERGIES Residents of Southborough and Lambersart meet at Meadows School

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County News

Wednesday April 4 | 2018

Commuter town on list thanks to grammar school

Mind over matter for youngsters attending mental health events

KENT towns Sevenoaks and Deal won bragging rights over Tunbridge Wells and Tonbridge by making the Sunday Times’ Best Places to Live 2018 list.

Lewes in East Sussex was also named among the 15 top South-East locations, which were all found to provide residents with a good quality of town centre amenities, travel links, beauty spots and schools.

The broadsheet’s annual report was published last week, and named York as the best of the 106 places to buy a house in.

Sevenoaks returns to the list after missing out last year, with the newly opened Weald of Kent Grammar annexe considered to boost its appeal.

The Sunday Times report stated: “Property prices remain high, but that’s what you get from a town, not a suburb, so close to the capital.”

The average medium house price for Sevenoaks is £546,680.

By William Mata

Character The independent-focused Lewes was credited for its character, while Deal was seen as a pretty spot for the ‘non-daily commuter’ to live, being an 80-minute train ride from London.

David Johnston, of Savills estate agency in Sevenoaks, said: “There are three key reasons why people are attracted to Sevenoaks. These are: Transport, schools and proximity to the countryside.

“The fast links into London are what the town was initially built on. You can get to London Bridge and into the city on the overground service from Sevenoaks in 25 minutes, which is quicker than from some areas of London which are actually closer in terms of distance.”

will@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk MORE than 100 pupils from schools across Kent met for the Big Conversation mental health conference at the Kent Showground, Detling, last week.

Young people discussed how the 18,795 ten to 16 year olds in the county with mild to moderate mental illness can be best supported.

Members of HeadStart Kent, an organisation set up by Kent County Council [KCC], led workshops on how to build resilience, form

relationships and handle anxiety.

Experts also advised youngsters on how to use social media safely and how to seek help.

CHAMPIONS: Pupils bringing to light mental health issues [L-R] Alexandra Smith, Chloe Stubbs, Chloe Blanks, Nadine Edge and Abigail Connolly from Canterbury Academy

Understanding Roger Gough, KCC Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Education, said: “The purpose of the event was to give young people and their peers a greater understanding of what help is available in order to support their own emotional health and wellbeing.”

A HeadStart Kent initiative will roll out in Tonbridge next year.

District’s projects backed by National Lottery PROJECTS in the Wealden district will be supported by a £17,810 grant from the Big Lottery Fund.

Raised from proceeds of the National Lottery, the capital will be invested in community groups in Hailsham, Mayfield and Chiddingly.

Wealden MP Nus Ghani said: “Community projects do extraordinary things for our towns and villages across Wealden.

“I raised National Lottery funding for local charities in the House of Commons Chamber just before Christmas, specifically how they support small, rural organisations.

“I’m very pleased to see the National Lottery reaffirm their commitment to supporting some of the most rural communities in Wealden.

“Thanks to everyone who has played the National Lottery, which allows the Big Lottery Fund to support our communities”

Wonderful PLEASED Wealden MP Nus Ghani

The largest portion of the Wealden grant will be given to Hailsham-based Gallery North, who will receive £10,000

towards their running of an art project.

Mayfield and Five Ashes Community Services [MAYFACS] have received £4,310 towards their initiative Life Stories, which invited younger and older people to come together and talk about their lives.

And Chiddingly Primary School’s Growing and Sensory Garden project will receive £3,500 of lottery funding.

Ms Ghani added: “Local groups like Gallery North and MAYFACS do wonderful work in our communities, encouraging people to come together and try something new.

“It’s also great to see Chiddingly Primary School taking the initiative to improve their community, and the National Lottery supporting their creativity.”

National News

Wednesday April 4 | 2018

NEWS IN BRIEF

Nerve agent was not made at Porton Down THE chief executive of the Porton Down defence laboratory has dismissed Russian claims that the nerve agent used in Salisbury might have originated at his facility and said that its deployment was ‘probably only within the capability of a state actor’.

Gary Aitkenhead confirmed the agent had been identified as Novichok but could not verify if the agent came from Russia, adding: “It’s not our job to then say where that actually was manufactured.”

Prince Philip in hospital THE Duke of Edinburgh has been admitted to hospital for planned surgery on his hip, Buckingham Palace has said.

The surgery will take place today (April 4) at the King Edward VII Hospital in Marylebone.

Prince Philip, 96, retired from royal duties last August and did not attend last Thursday’s Royal Maundy Service at Leicester Cathedral because of the hip problem.

Rees-Mogg radio show TORY MP Jacob Rees-Mogg is set to host a live radio phone-in on LBC. The Brexit supporter will take part in a half-hour live programme every two weeks during the Nick Ferrari breakfast show.

Rees-Mogg commented: “In the programmes I have done already, the good sense and wisdom of the callers has educated, informed and challenged me while furthering polite political discourse.

I hope for more of the same.”

Teenager shot ‘for no reason’ during murderous weekend

COMB THE AREA Forensic police search Chalgrove Road A 17-YEAR-old girl was shot dead ‘for no reason at involved in any sort of problems with anyone. I all’ in a fatal drive-by attack during a night of vio- can’t believe she’s gone. She was just an innocent child caught up in this stupid postcode war.” lence in London on Monday (April 2).

In a separate flurry of violence on Monday, a The teenager, named only as Tanesha, was with friends in Chalgrove Road, Tottenham, when she 16-year-old boy was left in a critical condition after he was shot in Walthamstow. Another boy, was murdered shortly before 9.30pm.

Neighbours suggested her death was a tragic aged 15, was taken to hospital with stab injuries.

A Section 60 order, which allows police to result of a postcode war between rival gangs.

A woman who knew the murdered girl said the search the public without suspicion amid the risk victim was ‘just chilling with her friends’ when of serious violence, has been put in place.

A 16-year-old boy was stabbed near St Leonshe was shot from a car. ard’s Street in Bow, east London, “The car just pulled up and just at around 6pm on Sunday. started shooting,” said the He is in a stable condition in 21-year-old, who did not want to hospital. Four boys – two aged be named. She said she heard the 16 and two aged 15 – have been gunshots ‘like fireworks’. charged with GBH. She told how the girl’s mother This year, 31 people have been arrived before paramedics, addstabbed to death in the capital. ing: “She was screaming. She Figures published in January didn’t know what to do. She showed police recorded 37,443 didn’t deserve that. Her mum offences involving a knife or didn’t deserve to watch her die.” sharp instrument in the year A friend of the murdered girl ending September 2017 – a 21 per said: “Tanesha was a very VICTIM cent increase compared with the known, very lovable little girl in 17-year-old Tanesha previous year. the community, she was not

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Air traffic controllers’ changes cause delays THE UK’s two busiest airports will be hit with flight delays over the next three weeks as air traffic controllers introduce new technology.

Heathrow and Gatwick will suffer disruption as paper flight information strips are replaced with a digital system at its control centre in Hampshire.

The number of flights allowed to land at the London airports will be reduced while controllers gain confidence using the new system in a live environment.

Average delays at Heathrow could be 20 minutes as arrivals are limited to 80 per cent of maximum capacity for 10 days from Wednesday.

This will be raised to 90 per cent of maximum capacity for the following 10 days.

Drilling is completed on first fracking well WORK on creating the first well at a controversial Lancashire fracking site has been completed.

Energy firm Cuadrilla said drilling of the UK’s first horizontal shale gas well was successfully completed on Preston New Road in Fylde.

The company will now begin drilling a second well and has planning permission for a total of four wells on the site.

Francis Egan, Chief Executive of Cuadrilla, said it would apply for permission to frack the well in the ‘very near future’ and planned to be in a position to do so later this year.

DEEP CONCERN A drilling rig at Preston New Road

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National News

Union calls for country schools to be protected RURAL schools are under threat and should be given protected status, teachers have warned.

These schools, which often have small numbers of pupils - and are often in areas that have ‘more cows and sheep’ than people, are struggling under a squeeze on budgets, delegates at the National Education Union (NUT section) conference in Brighton have heard.

The union passed a resolution that rural schools provide a vital service to their local communities.

It called on the union’s executive to put pressure on the Government to ‘give rural schools a protected status, recognising their significance for the survival of their communities and valuing the educational offer they give to their pupils’.

Expensive Delegates said they wanted to see more funding for rural schools to help protect their existence and provide a quality education for pupils.

Anne Swift, from North Yorkshire, said her area has ‘got more sheep than people’, adding that the Government defines small schools as having less than 200 pupils and ‘in many shire counties that’s the majority of primary schools’.

“These schools are at the heart of their communities, but they are expensive when compared with educating pupils in larger schools,” she said.

As head of a rural village school, Ms Swift said she worried every year about numbers of pupils.

“The move out of area by a family with school-age children was always a disaster,” she said.

“High housing costs are leading to the depopulation of rural areas, as families cannot afford to live there.”

Wednesday April 4 | 2018

Hawkings serve up Easter feast for food charity

SCRUTINY: Jeremy Corbyn and Shadow Education Secretary Angela Rayner in Swindon

Now Corbyn criticised for attending Passover event JEREMY CORBYN’S commitment to tackling antiSemitism was questioned by the Board of Deputies of British Jews as he defended his decision to attend a Seder with a radical Jewish group.

The Labour leader had attended a meeting of the left-wing group Jewdas, which has criticised mainstream Jewish organisations for their protests over alleged anti-Semitism in his party.

Commitment Jonathan Arkush, President of the Board of Deputies, asked how the Labour leader’s commitment to be ‘an ally against anti-Semitism’ could be taken seriously after attending the event.

Last week Jewdas said allegations linking Mr Corbyn to anti-Semitism were ‘the work of cynical manipulations by people whose express loyalty is to the Conservative Party and the right wing of the Labour Party’.

Mr Corbyn said on a visit to Swindon: “It was a Seder event, which is a celebration of Passover, which I celebrate with young Jewish people from my own community and my own constituency.

“It was very interesting talking to a lot of young people about their experiences of modern Britain and I learnt a lot. Isn’t that a good thing?

“Anti-Semitism is a vile and evil thing within our society at any level, anywhere, at any time. It has got to be eradicated wherever it arises.

He added: “If it arises in my party then we have a process for dealing with it. We examine each case and, if someone has committed any antiSemitic act, they are suspended and could be expelled as a result of it.”

Labour’s new General Secretary, Jennie Formby, used her first day in the job to tell members ‘the stain of anti-Semitic attitudes must be completely eradicated’. She has promised new procedures to deal with complaints and disciplinary cases.

THE family of Professor Stephen Hawking helped a charity serve up an extra-special Easter lunch on the day of the esteemed physicist’s funeral.

Their donation to FoodCycle, which helps provide meals for the hungry or lonely, allowed the charity to host a three-course meal with extra Easter treats, and to decorate the Cambridge church hall venue with spring flowers.

Notes placed on the diners’ tables said: “Today’s lunch is a gift from Stephen... from the Hawking family.”

Alex Collis, regional manager for FoodCycle in the eastern region, said Prof Hawking’s daughter Lucy Hawking got in touch on behalf of the family.

“The family felt they wanted to do something positive to mark the day, and support people in the local community who were having a tough time of things, something they felt Stephen would have wanted,” said Ms Collis.

Around 50 people enjoyed Saturday’s meal at Wesley Methodist Church in Cambridge, and they had a ‘little cheer in honour of Stephen Hawking before tucking in’.

TUCK IN: Table cards from the Hawking family

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BUSINESS

National Business News

Insurance firms attacked for not sticking to rules INSURANCE firms are still failing to put rules introduced a year ago to help customers shop around properly into place, the City watchdog has said.

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) warned it will take action against general insurance firms who fail to properly implement the rules introduced to increase transparency and encourage shopping around at renewal time.

Some consumers may have lost out due to firms failing to get the rules right, the FCA said.

The RAC announced yesterday (April 3) that it would be writing to its customers after key information in breakdown policy renewal was not as prominent as it should have been.

The rules, introduced in April 2017, require firms to clearly show the insurance premium a customer paid last year alongside their proposed renewal premium.

They also require firms to show a prominent, clear and straightforward message to encourage customers to shop around.

Carillion’s HQ is put up for sale THE former headquarters of collapsed engineering giant Carillion has gone up for sale, with a price tag of over £3million.

The building in Wolverhampton, which was refurbished in 2015, has over 37,000 square feet of space over six floors and a car park.

The announcement was made as the Official Receiver said another 97 Carillion employees had been given redundancy notices, taking the total number of job losses to 1,802 since Carillion went into liquidation in January.

Almost 10,000 jobs have been saved, and 5,400 employees have been retained to deliver Carillion’s services to public and private sector customers until decisions are taken to transfer or end these contracts.

Wednesday April 4 | 2018

Sky News could be ringfenced or sold off to Disney, says Fox

HAPPY ENDING? Rupert Murdoch is making concessions

SKY NEWS would be sold off to Walt Disney or ringfenced under concessions put forward by Rupert Murdoch’s 21st Century Fox as part of its efforts to seize full control of broadcaster Sky. Fox, which is trying to buy the 61 per cent of Sky it does not already own, faces regulatory hurdles after the UK’s competition watchdog found the £11.7billion deal was ‘not in the public interest’.

It has now proposed either a legal separation and comprehensive ringfencing of Sky News or a sale of the loss-making channel to Walt Disney, which is itself attempting to acquire Fox’s entertainment assets.

The sale of Sky News to Disney would take place ‘whether or not Disney’s proposed acquisition of 21st Century Fox proceeds’, Fox said.

It comes as the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) weighs up whether to recom-

mend Fox’s deal for Sky to Culture Secretary Matt Hancock, who must decide to either approve or block it.

Sky News has become a flashpoint in Fox’s takeover bid because of competition fears centring on Mr Murdoch’s ownership of the Sun, the Times and the Sunday Times newspapers.

Fox said in a regulatory filing: “We have worked diligently with the CMA throughout its extensive review. In fact, we believe that the enhanced firewall remedies we proposed to safeguard the editorial independence of Sky News addressed comprehensively and constructively the CMA’s provisional concerns.

“These enhanced remedies went above and beyond what Ofcom, the expert, independent regulator on UK broadcasting, had stated would mitigate concerns around media plurality.”

NEWS IN BRIEF

Hornby in negotiations over new funding deal KENT toymaker Hornby has opened talks with its lenders over a new financing package as the troubled firm warned that profits would be lower this year.

The business, based in Margate, is trying to turn its fortunes around and has revealed its strategy will require more cash and it is in the final stages of discussions with new lenders for a financing facility.

It is expected to be in place by June and, in the meantime, Hornby has agreed a covenant waiver with Barclays.

Young’s factory to close YOUNG’S Seafood plans to close a factory in Scotland, putting 450 jobs at risk as it grapples with ‘exceptionally challenging’ market forces.

Britain’s biggest seafood producer said deli and meals production at the Pinneys site in Annan were earmarked for closure.

Natural salmon production would be shifted from the Pinneys site to a factory in Grimsby, creating 200 new jobs.

A further 50 positions may also be created at its scampi factory in Annan to meet growing demand.

Air Partner’s mistake SHARES in Air Partner plunged 22 per cent after the private jet firm discovered a £3.3million accounting error dating back seven years.

The issue, spanning July 31 2011 to January 31 2018, occurred when some invoiced money was put through as deferred income rather than being dealt with directly.

Slowdown in orders leads to weaker manufacturing ACTIVITY in Britain’s manufacturing sector weakened in the first quarter to its lowest level in a year as a slowdown in the rate of new orders dragged on industry performance in March.

The Markit/CIPS UK Manufacturing purchasing managers’ index (PMI) showed a reading of 55.1 last month, slightly higher than 55.0 in February, and surpassing economist forecasts for 54.7. A reading above 50 indicates growth.

But it was not enough to bolster first-quarter results. “The average reading over the opening quarter as a whole [55.1] was the weakest in a year, suggesting that the underlying pace of expansion has been generally slower since the start 2018,” the report explained.

Rob Dobson, Director at IHS Markit which

compiles the survey, said: “The latest PMI survey provided further evidence that UK manufacturing has entered a softer growth phase so far this year.

“Although the pace of output expansion ticked higher in March, which is especially encouraging given the heavy snowfall during the month, this was offset by slower increases in new orders and employment.

Spurt “Average rates of increase over the opening quarter as a whole are also down noticeably from the growth spurt seen at the end of 2017.”

Price pressures eased in March as input costs

and output charges rose at their weakest rate in the year to date – though the report highlighted the pace of inflation was ‘still relatively strong’.

High costs were linked to raw material shortages, supply chain disruption and rising commodity prices.

Nearly 55 per cent of companies forecasting higher output in 12 months’ time, but experts are wary about the sector outlook.

Duncan Brock, Group Director at the Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply (CIPS), said: “Without a significant rise in new orders, and if supply chains are still disrupted by shortages or the weather, for the next few months it’s anticipated that there will be a continued muted pace of growth.”

World News

Wednesday April 4 | 2018

SPORT IN BRIEF

Australia captain says ‘improve our behaviour’ AUSTRALIA’S new captain Tim Paine insists it is time for his side to change the way they play the game in the wake of the ball-tampering saga in South Africa.

After his side lost by 492 runs in the last Test, he said: “We’ve potentially had our head in the sand a little bit over the last 12 months [thinking] if we continue to win we can kind of act and behave how we like and the Australian public will be OK with that.

“What we’ve probably found out in the past month or so is that the Australian public and our fans don’t necessarily like the way we go about it.

“We have to listen. We have to take it on board and we have to improve our behaviour in the way we play the game.”

Garcia’s Spanish menu SERGIO GARCIA remained true to his Spanish roots as he revealed his choice of menu for the Champions Dinner at Augusta.

As defending champion, he decides what Green Jacket winners eat at their traditional gathering ahead of the Masters.

He chose an international salad, followed

by Spanish lobster rice and a dessert using his wife Angela’s recipe for a tres leches cake.

Liverpool lack defenders LIVERPOOL centre-back Joel Matip has been ruled out for the remainder of the season.

Ahead of the Champions League quarterfinal against Manchester City at Anfield, Matip is the latest defender to be sidelined after Ragnar Klavan and Joe Gomez.

City will be without striker Sergio Aguero, who failed to recover from a knee injury.

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Helping to restore Iraqi monuments

AN ELEPHANT is hoisted to safety after a circus truck tipped over on a major road in Spain.

One elephant died and four others were injured after the lorry overturned on Monday (April 2) between Albacete and Murcia while overtaking another long vehicle.

Civil Guard spokesman Jose Amado claimed that the movement of five female elephants could have destabilised the truck.

THE British Museum’s archaeologists will work with Iraqis to help preserve the world’s oldest known bridge as part of a scheme combating the destruction carried out under Islamic State (IS).

Eight female heritage professionals from Iraq will start training at the British Museum this month to help them stabilise and potentially rebuild sites damaged by IS as they come back under government control.

The Tello bridge in southern Iraq was built in the third millennium BC and rediscovered in 1929.

The museum hopes the 4,000-year-old bridge will become a ‘potent symbol of a nation emerging from decades of war’.

German lawyers try to extradite Catalan leader PROSECUTORS in Germany are seeking the extradition of former Catalan separatist leader Carles Puigdemont to Spain, where he could face trial for his role in organising an independence referendum.

Mr Puigdemont was detained in Germany on March 25 as he attempted to drive from Finland to Belgium, where he currently resides.

Prosecutors in the northern town of Schleswig said they have asked the regional court to formally put him in pre-extradition custody following ‘intensive examination’ of the European arrest warrant issued by Spain’s supreme court on March 23.

If the court agrees to the request, prosecutors

NEWS

would still need to issue an order signing off on Mr Puigdemont’s extradition.

In addition to rebellion, Madrid accuses the 55-year-old of misuse of public funds.

Rebellion Schleswig prosecutors said in a statement they consider the charge of rebellion to have an equivalent in German law – one of the requirements for extradition to take place.

“The accusation of rebellion contains at its core the allegation of carrying out an unconstitutional referendum despite expectations of violent disturbances,” they said.

SPAN THE YEARS The Tello Bridge in Iraq

Four in same family killed by car crash FOUR members of a British family have been killed in a car crash as they returned from the Kennedy Space Centre in Florida.

Titusville Police Department said the ‘violent collision’ happened at around 6pm on Monday when their car was hit by a pick-up truck.

It announced that Adam Stephenson, 30, Maryanne Stephenson, 29, Brian Stephenson, 66, and Sheralyn Stephenson, 56 – all from Bristol – died in the crash.

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NEWS

Letters

Wednesday April 4 | 2018

And another thing…

This is the page where you, the reader, have your chance to express your views or comments on what’s going on in our part of the world. We like to hear from you. You can email us at newsdesk@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk or newsdesk@timesoftonbridge.co.uk or write to the Editor at 16 Lonsdale Gardens, Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN1 1NU When Tunbridge Wells Alliance was launched last October, we appeared on the front page of this newspaper – hardly hiding in the shadows!

Cllr Moore continues to say that we will now have to ‘abide by the same rules as other parties, especially in terms of openness and transparency’. Is it just me that finds the words ‘kettle’ and ‘black’ coming to mind?

If anyone has been hiding in shadowy places over the last 11 months, it is not members of the public, who have been treated with disdain, ignored and bombarded by a now failing propaganda campaign.

Residents of the borough of Tunbridge Wells want openness and transparency.

Nicholas Pope Tunbridge Wells Alliance

BOILING OVER Tunbridge Wells restaurateurs make a stand

Restaurant owners must be brave and put deposit idea on the table Restaurateurs in Tunbridge Wells say they are hard done by with customers not honouring bookings [March 28]. The obvious solution would be to ask for a deposit on a table.

However, managers said they did not want to do this because it could destroy an important trust, and they feared being the only one to ask.

My solution would be for independent restaurants to form some kind of alliance and move forward as one.

If all of the indies were to unite in asking for a deposit, they would not have to fear losing a

New 277 service is miles better Further to the letter with the caption ‘Disservice’ [March 21], I should be obliged to give a reply.

I have used this 277 service since its inception in 2009. I regularly use public transport and do run a car.

It was established because of need in our community. Jennifer Bays and our late Kent County Councillor, Kevin Lynes, established this route and it has grown ever since.

I was concerned, in January, to learn that there was to be a major revision to this 277 route which would have removed part of the route, via Friars Way, and this could have affected some 800 residents in Sherwood.

Arriva management met with me and our Kent County Councillor for Sherwood, Paul Barrington-King, and they were persuaded to re-establish the Friars Way link.

They introduced a service every 20 minutes from the town centre to Tunbridge Wells Hospital; 90 per cent of these buses run every 20 minutes from 6.43am until 2.51pm.

From the town centre, the 6 and 6A buses run until 10pm, every 30 minutes. There was never a 15-minute service to the hospital.

Our 277 service serves Sherwood up to 7.26pm on a Saturday and 6.32pm on a Sunday. These are improvements on the old service.

It is important when a disservice to the public record is corrected, as fiction can meld into facts.

In future years, when Knights Wood is established, there will be a longer and even better service for Sherwood.

customer to a restaurant that didn’t ask.

It could be argued that this would put chains at an advantage and that independents have a hard enough time of it as it is.

But I feel there are so many great independent restaurants in the town that most customers would be happy to pay a deposit in support of them.

Whether or not they feel this is the best course of action to take, it is important to support the restaurants which help make our town what it is.

Neville Scott Via email Also, from the town centre, there are many options to get to the hospital by bus.

Cllr Bob Backhouse Conservative Councillor for Sherwood ward

Station bike rack is fit to burst My wife and I were travelling to Ashford from Tonbridge Station and we noticed on the platform there were lots of bicycles.

My wife counted 114 of all different types and sizes.

It’s nice to see people riding to the station and also keeping themselves fit at the same time.

Tonbridge has a great line into London and is a great place to live.

I am really enjoying the Times of Tonbridge on a Wednesday, and in fact I always pick up a copy for my son when we visit him in Ashford.

It just lets him know what’s going on in his home town.

Robert Reilly Tonbridge

Shining a light on the council As a founding member of Tunbridge Wells Alliance [pressure group turned political party], I am bemused by Cllr Moore’s comment that we ‘will now have to come out of the shadows’ [March 21]. What shadows? Have our councillors been asleep?

We have used the democratic right to speak at council meetings since July last year, and sent letters and emails to councillors over the last 11 months.

It’s not the theatre, it’s the shows Considering the current news of local councils going bankrupt, it would appear that Tunbridge Wells is obviously not in this category.

They are prepared to spend upwards of £93million when that money could do so much more for the town.

Council tax has risen, shops are standing empty, traffic congestion is horrific, etc, etc.

Many theatres in London are much older than the Assembly Hall; it’s not the building that people go to see, it’s the shows.

A new theatre and civic centre are not financially viable as the cost far outweighs the returns.

One wonders why this was not put to a vote of the borough’s population?

Maybe the councillors were scared it would be voted down by the far wiser populace!

Amanda Wood Via email

Keeping control of our energy Whatever the merits, or otherwise, of the arguments surrounding climate change, this country will continue to burn large amounts of gas in its mix of energy generation. So it’s a question of sources and the threats, and the challenges surrounding them.

What the Friends of the Earth letter [March 21] shows is a lack of context and perspective, addressing only their single-focused issue.

Much of the gas we use comes from Russia, and these are uncertain times in our relations with this regime; also, we have allowed our storage capacity to shrink to such dangerous levels that there is no redundancy remaining in the system: As we import it, we burn it.

As a matter of strategic necessity, we should start fracking immediately or we remain in thrall to unfriendly, if not hostile, states.

This gas needs to be available at the point of need, not the point of crisis. Gas is part of our energy use, so let it come from an assured source.

And whether Greg Clark [MP for Tunbridge Wells] agrees with the sentiments of the Friends, and whatever his private thoughts on climate change are, he will do his government’s bidding.

Edward Baker Tunbridge Wells

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

NEVER judge a book by its cover or a person by the way they look. That approach was last week brought home to Calverley when he bumped into an old journalist friend. She was standing outside of a magazine office enjoying a late breakfast that consisted of a packet of those crispy Mini Cheddars followed by a couple of cigarettes. Being an inquiring soul, Calverley asked how she was making a living these days. “Oh, I have a great job writing a monthly column,” says she.

“On what?” says Himself. “On health and wellbeing,” says she. You could not make it up.

TALKING of wellbeing, everyone knows how hard it is these days to get a seat in front of your favourite GP. The appointment computer at the surgery opens dead on 8am (where exactly is that computer?) Then there’s a great scramble as the sick and elderly who’ve been queuing outside for an hour are finally allowed in. By five past eight most slots are filled. Pity those trying to make an appointment on the phone.

Calverley called his surgery last week (no he’s not telling you what for) and was informed by the computer robot ‘you are in a queue and are number 27’. Number 27!! He hung up.

DIY – you’re good at it or not. Himself is not.

Witness his attempts to stick the leg back on to a coffee table at the family home. He squeezed superglue on to the top of the leg then rammed it into the joint and left it to dry.

Trouble is, he used so much glue it trickled down the leg and on to the wooden floor.

When Management [Mrs Calverley] arrived home and tried to move the table, she found it was stuck hard to the wood floor. She was not a happy bunny. Calverley is now banned from doing DIY. Not too bad an outcome then.

WORD on the street is that the new Tunbridge Wells Alliance political party is about to unveil a ‘big name’ candidate to stand for them at the May council elections. Wild horses will not drag from Calverley his identity. Suffice to say, he’s a popular chappie whose family is well known in the hospitality trade. There’s food for thought – another clue.

Chin Chin, readers

Education News

Wednesday April 4 | 2018

EDUCATION Times WITH THE

School’s new 3G pitch is unveiled and will be a boost for the community too St Gregory’s Catholic School has officially opened a £485,000 football pitch that heralds a new sporting opportunity for its students as well as those from across the borough

FOOTBALL FOCUS: Mayor Julia Soyke is joined by sports legend Bob Bevan and members of the Football Association, Gillingham FC star players Greg Cundle and Darren Oldaker, St Gregory’s Football Academy students, teachers and local primary school pupils

After four years of planning, a much anticipated new state-of-the-art 3G football pitch has been officially unveiled at St Gregory’s Catholic School in Tunbridge Wells.

To celebrate, the Ofsted Outstanding school – which also boasts a successful football academy – held a football tournament for local primary schools, including St Augustine’s, St Matthew’s, Southborough, Langton Green, Claremont and Bidborough.

Also in attendance at the event on Friday March 23 were the Mayor of Tunbridge Wells, Julia Soyke, and her Southborough counterpart, David Elliott, alongside other dignitaries, including former footballer and Kent County Cricket Club President Bob Bevan, MBE, who cut the ribbon on the artificial pitch.

The project was made possible by a £450,000 grant from the Premier League & The FA Facilities Fund as well as £27,000 from Tunbridge Wells Foresters FC and £8,000 from the Kent Sports Development Unit.

Head of School Sean McQuillan said: “St Gregory’s has a long history of sporting excellence, particularly in football, and our new 3G pitch will help students further develop their skills.”

The school’s Assistant Headteacher, Noel Bradbury, who was instrumental in obtaining the funding, thanked the main sponsors and also praised the involvement of the West Kent Schools Football Association and local children sports

organisation MSporti, adding: “This project would not have been achievable without all these key partners.”

He went on to say: “The new 3G pitch has also

‘When league matches would have ordinarily been cancelled due to poor weather, students from different schools have been able to play here and so continue to develop their skills’

had a huge impact in the local community, so we’re opening up huge opportunities, not just for the students in our school but in our primary schools and the wider community, too.

“When league matches would have ordinarily been cancelled due to poor weather at this time of year, they have been able to play here and so continue to develop their skills further.

“This facility is going to be huge for all types of sporting development in the community.”

Among the local clubs who will be taking advantage of the all-weather pitch are Tunbridge Wells Foresters, Langton Green, Ridgewaye and Tunbridge Wells FC.

EDUCATION IN BRIEF

Appointment of new executive head teacher across two primaries St Augustine’s Catholic Primary School in Tunbridge Wells and St Margaret Clitherow Catholic Primary in Tonbridge announced last week ‘a very exciting’ leadership development for both schools, who are part of the Kent Catholic Schools’ Partnership [KCSP].

From September 1, a shared leadership model will be put in place comprising an Executive Principal over both academies. The KCSP said this role would go to Mrs Annemarie Whittle, current Headteacher at St Margaret Clitherow,

who has been instrumental in the school being judged ‘outstanding’ by Ofsted.

Mr Jonathan Crozier will be Academy Principal for St Augustine’s, while Mrs Caroline Ryan, currently Assistant Headteacher at St Margaret Clitherow, becomes its new Academy Principal.

A spokesperson for the Trust said: “By introducing this model as a permanent change, the KCSP Board is confident all children and staff at both academies will continue to thrive as a result of increased collaboration and the sharing of expertise and resources.”

Easter sports club On Thursday April 12 there will be a rugby training class taking place at Bishops Down

Primary School, with a football training class the following day, April 13. If you are interested in sending your child along for the sessions, which run from 9am until 1pm and cost £9 per session, or £15 if you sign up for both, please email: dtizzard@bishops-down.kent.sch.uk

Art for art’s sake Year 13 students from Tonbridge Grammar School are currently exhibiting their work in Royal Victoria Place [RVP] as part of their creative coursework.

The art show, which is free to attend, is in the former O2 premises on the second floor of RVP and boasts a variety of artistic mediums, including painting, sculpture and ceramics.

NEWS

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Weekly Comment

Wednesday April 4 | 2018

Greg Clark

Greg Clark was first elected to Parliament as a representative of Tunbridge Wells in 2005. The Conservative MP has since held a number of positions in Government and currently sits as a member of the Cabinet in his capacity as Secretary of State for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy

MP for Tunbridge Wells

Bus services are key to keeping town moving GOOD bus services are the lifeblood of any town and Tunbridge Wells is no exception.

People rely on buses to get to work and school, to visit friends and family, to get to medical appointments and to stock up on essentials.

That is why I have always made maintaining and improving local bus services one of my top priorities.

In the past, local residents and borough councillors contacted me to raise concerns about gaps in local bus services.

I arranged for them to meet with Arriva, and together we identified the potential for two new shuttle loops – the 277 Sherwood Shuttle and the 281 loop service linking High Brooms, Tunbridge Wells town centre and Rusthall.

Not only did Arriva agree to introduce these new services, but they also provided state-ofthe-art buses with low floors – making them accessible to both people with disabilities and with pushchairs.

Having regular, reliable bus services encourages more people to use them, and this has been the case with both of these shuttle services. They have been a great success and are now an established feature of Tunbridge Wells.

The important role that bus services play in the local community cannot be underestimated.

Threats to services are met with great resistance.

Kent County Council learnt this lesson the hard way when, last year, they published plans to cut subsidies to 78 bus services across the county.

Many of these bus services wouldn’t have been commercially viable if the council subsidies had been withdrawn, and the outcry was tremendous.

I, and my fellow MPs, asked the county council to think again, which they have now done.

Investment The mistake that Kent County Council made was underestimating the impact that reduced bus services have on peoples’ lives – and it is often the most vulnerable, like those living in very isolated communities, who have no other forms of transport that are most badly hit if bus services are stopped.

This is a lesson that Arriva also learnt last year when it made significant changes to the local bus network without properly consulting with the community.

Changes were rushed through – like the stopping

ON THE BUSES Greg Clark with Arriva apprentices

of the direct service from Tunbridge Wells via Paddock Wood to Maidstone. Understandably, residents were very unhappy about this.

But I’m delighted to say that by working closely together with local councillors and residents we persuaded Arriva to take stock and reconsider.

Arriva has demonstrated what can be achieved when a commercial company decides to really listen to what its customers want. It has resulted in a brand new and improved timetable for the Tunbridge Wells area.

The direct service between Tunbridge Wells, Paddock Wood and Maidstone has been reinstated, and the number of buses to Tunbridge Wells Hospital, Knights Park, Showfields and Ramslye Road have increased – all of which

Mark Hood Vice-Chairman of the Tonbridge & Malling Green Party

Housing policy is still failing the community THE proposal to increase the housing target for Tonbridge and Malling to include a further 130 units a year on behalf of London boroughs is unacceptable.

The revised housing numbers from the Government are also unrealistic.

While the Mayor of London thinks it is acceptable to increase the burden on outlying areas, he is doing nothing to slow the scale of council estate clearances across London.

Recently, Sian Berry, a Green London Assembly Member, secured a commitment from Mayor Sadiq Khan that tenants would get a ballot to decide the fate of existing estates. Now we know he has been fast tracking the process to get around his pledge.

Last week Sheppey and Sittingbourne MP Gordon Henderson said in Parliament: “Councils are required to provide them [displaced Londoners] with the services they need, putting pressure on Kent schools, hospitals and social services – who receive no extra funding to provide that support.”

While there is nothing to stop London boroughs buying property for social housing here, there is no matching funding for

infrastructure, schooling, medical services and social care.

What is actually happening in the capital is that the replacement developments are often at a lower density, and there are simply not enough units to house the tenants to be rehoused.

Pressure It is deplorable that families are being relocated, sometimes as far away as the Midlands.

Landbanking has meant there are acres of undeveloped land already granted permission for development across the capital, where higher costs mean they have been passed over for more lucrative green sites.

This is not a case of pulling up a drawbridge to stop ‘incomers’. There are repercussions in terms of providing for local need and reducing the massive pressure on our green spaces to meet the Government’s imposed housing targets.

Those local sites currently identified for commercial use, such as the old Colas site, need to be redesignated for mixed use.

The draft local plan already identifies greenfield sites for additional housing at Brook

is great news for bus passengers.

Arriva is not only investing in new bus services, it has also made a very significant investment in a new depot on the North Farm Industrial estate, from which 41 buses will operate.

Tunbridge Wells can now claim to have one of the best bus depots in the country in terms of technical specification. Seven maintenance bays enable buses to be repaired quickly – in fact each bus is serviced every 35 days.

Having the new bus depot in the town is great news for our local area. Not only do we benefit in terms of having more reliable buses, but also in terms of job opportunities – 105 people work in the new depot.

Mark Hood has established the Barden Residents’ Association, is a founder member of Keep River Lawn Green, and campaigned to save the Barden Boatyard and River Lawn from development. He is also one of the organisers of the Tonbridge Calling festival

Street and Haysden Lane, at the edges of the current footprint of the town.

The old Colas site must be developed before more bites are taken out of our countryside. That land could provide housing, an educational facility and light retail use, all on one site.

The topology of the site lends itself to relatively high density development to make full use of a limited amount of brownfield land in our town.

Despite available funding, our council seems incapable of even considering building the rented social housing we desperately require.

None has been built in the last three years, despite the fact that 1,000 households are

waiting to be permanently homed.

Building social housing for rent to prevent our own families being forced away from family and friends is an investment.

That rent would feed back into the system. At present, the cost to the taxpayer in Housing Benefit paid to private landlords in our borough alone amounted to £4,217,047.22 in 2016/17.

That is a lot of wasted money which could have been invested in homes.

Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council’s housing policy is stimulating demand from elsewhere rather than satisfying our community’s needs. It’s time to change it.

NEW BUILD Recently completed properties at Powder Mills in Tonbridge

Wednesday April 4 | 2018

yourh me INSPIRATION FOR MOVING

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AND IMPROVING FAMILY VALUE AVAILABLE EVER Y WEDNESDAY – A MUST-READ

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ULTIMATE GUIDE TO PROPERTY, IN TERIORS, TOP TRENDS AN D GARDENING

COUNTRY KITCHEN

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OAST WITH THE MOST

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TO THE MANOR BORN

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Sleep well

How to create your dream bedroom Page 52

BEE HAPPY

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yourh me

To suit your budget

Wednesday April 4 | 2018

Your at-a-glance guide to

WILLOW LODGE TUNBRIDGE WELLS GUIDE PRICE

£825,000

UNDER £250,000 GROVE HILL ROAD TUNBRIDGE WELLS

GUIDE PRICE

£220,000-£230,000

UNDER £300,000

n Open-plan living/dining room n Newly fitted kitchen

n 1 double bedroom

SPRINGWELL COURT GARDYNE MEWS TONBRIDGE

n Shower room

GUIDE PRICE

n Space in residents’ parking area

£250,000-£275,000

n No forward chain

n Upgraded two-bedroom ground floor apartment with new decor, carpets, blinds and boiler

CONTACT Bracketts Tonbridge 01732 350503 www.bracketts.co.uk

n Large living room with feature fireplace n Kitchen

n No onward chain

n Top floor apartment n Period conversion in popular ‘Village’ area of town n Close to Tunbridge Wells mainline station, ideal for commuters

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

n Entrance hallway

n 2 bedrooms n Newly fitted bathroom

To suit your budget

Wednesday April 4 | 2018

thekn w

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great properties by price range…

UNDER £450,000 SUMMERVALE ROAD TUNBRIDGE WELLS

GUIDE PRICE

£399,950 n Entrance hall n Reception room n Dining room n Kitchen/breakfast room n Side lobby n Utility/storeroom n Cloakroom n 3 bedrooms (2 of which are doubles) n Family bathroom n Lawned front garden n Rear garden with patio and lawn CONTACT Bracketts Tunbridge Wells 01892 533733 www.bracketts.co.uk

UNDER £500,000 CRYALS COURT CRYALS ROAD, MATFIELD

GUIDE PRICE

£475,000 n Edwardian Arts and Crafts building n Split-level entrance hall n Cloakroom n First floor sitting room with balcony n Kitchen/breakfast room n Garden room n Master bedroom suite n Further bedroom n Communal grounds, own ‘allotment’ n Shared double garage and parking CONTACT Bracketts Tunbridge Wells 01892 533733 www.bracketts.co.uk

UNDER £1MILLION WILLOW LODGE WARBERRY PARK GARDENS TUNBRIDGE WELLS

GUIDE PRICE

£825,000 (SHARE OF FREEHOLD) n Spacious entrance hall n Reception room with two pairs of French doors leading to private terrace n Dining/family room with French door to terrace n Kitchen/breakfast room

UNDER £750,000 n Master bedroom with en suite, large dressing room and direct access to terrace n 2 further double bedrooms (one with en suite)

EAST CLIFF ROAD TUNBRIDGE WELLS

GUIDE PRICE

£650,000-£700,000 n Extended semi-detached house

n Family bathroom

n Living room

n Undercroft parking for one car

n Dining room

n Communal gardens

n Conservatory

CONTACT Bracketts Tunbridge Wells 01892 533733 www.bracketts.co.uk

n Kitchen n 5 bedrooms n 2 bathrooms n Gardens with patio and lawn CONTACT Andrews Tunbridge Wells 01892 515144 www.andrewsonline.co.uk

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yourh me

Blantyre

Wednesday April 4 | 2018

AT A GLANCE

BLANTYRE CRITTENDEN ROAD, MATFIELD n Entrance hall n Sitting room n Study n Cloakroom n Utility room n Bespoke kitchen/breakfast room n Dining room n Conservatory n Master suite with Juliet balcony n 4 further bedrooms n Family bathroom

The terrace lends itself al fresco dining in the summer, with marvellous sunsets and views across orchards and the Weald

n Gardens with large front terrace & large loggia/studio/gym n Double garage and plenty of parking n Approximately 1.1 acres

ÂŁ1,350,000 Available for sale through Firefly Properties Paddock Wood 01892 838363 www.fireflyproperties.co.uk

Property bursting with character, including an inglenook fireplace

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yourh me

The Cow Byre

Wednesday April 4 | 2018

Attractive attached farm oast enjoys chic modern interiors throughout AT A GLANCE

THE COW BYRE HAZELDEN FARM, CRANBROOK n Cranbrook school catchment area n Cloakroom n Living room n Sitting room n Kitchen/breakfast room n 4 roundel bedrooms (all en suite) n Underfloor heating throughout n Walled garden n Patio n Detached double car barn

GUIDE PRICE

£899,950

Available for sale through Knight Frank Tunbridge Wells 01892 515035 www.knightfrank.co.uk

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Fairlawn Manor

Wednesday April 4 | 2018

AT A GLANCE FAIRLAWN MANOR EAST STREET, MAYFIELD n Built in 2005 n Large entrance hall n Reception room n Family room n Study n Dining room n Kitchen/breakfast room n Conservatory n 2 cloakrooms n Utility room n Master bedroom with dressing room and en suite n 5 further bedrooms (3 with en suites) n Family bathroom n Driveway with parking & electric gates n Heritage 3-bay garage n Landscaped rear garden

GUIDE PRICE

ÂŁ1,250,000

Available for sale through Bracketts Tunbridge Wells 01892 533733 www.bracketts.co.uk

Contemporary, manor-style village home with open views across fields to horizon

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Interiors

Wednesday April 4 | 2018

Sweet dreams are

made of this...

displaying some sentimental photos or suitable prints. Have a look at websites such as King & McGaw, Not on the High Street and Desenio to get you started.

Good storage is essential for stowing all your everyday practical items and clothing, so have a look at what will suit your space. It could be anything from drawers under a divan bed or stacking boxes if space is a challenge, or a large, attractive armoire if you have the

monochrome printed style – such as the hugely popular Rabisco Berber, currently on sale at La Redoute – it will help provide that essential and soothing underfoot experience while you pad about barefoot.

The bed is the natural focal point of your snoozing space, so make it look as inviting as possible. A new headboard will instantly smarten it up – and there are now so many styles out there to choose from, including traditional button back and more contemporary ideas like reclaimed wooden ones.

Inspiration Adorning your bed with lovely linen couldn’t be easier, and there are plenty of places to source it – from The White Company’s understated elegance to Designers Guild floral affairs. There are also lots of affordable ranges out there from retailers such as Matalan, Wilko, Dunelm and Primark. Mid-range, you have John Lewis, Marks & Spencer, Laura Ashley and Next.

All of them have really impressive collections of linen, scatter cushions and throws to suit your personal taste.

You could also try gaining inspiration from the brilliant Zara Home and House of Fraser.

You never know, a patterned cushion or luxury blanket might be just the thing to kick-start how your room eventually evolves colour or theme-wise.

Put some thought into your walls by artfully

Image courtesy of John Lewis

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F YOUR slumbering space is more of a dumping ground or makeshift laundry than a relaxing and serene place to be, it’s time to introduce some changes. And what better time to do it than the arrival of spring?

It’s all too easy to end up with piles of clothes, stray towels and general clutter if you’re tired at the end of the day, but spending just a few minutes returning items to your wardrobe and tidying away will mean you’ll have at least a fairly ordered space to look at and start making some plans for.

Once you can see things like your bed and floor again, it’s time to work out how you’re going to update and enhance them.

You needn’t spend a fortune on a complete transformation. Simply by ‘dressing’ your bed with chic linen, and using a few low-level lamps to give instant ambience, you’ll be on your way to a more comfortable and cosy room.

If, however, you decide that a big overhaul is required, then remember to choose a colour scheme that will be restful and make the most of your space. Big, brash, bold colours will not send you off to the land of nod that easily, so instead go for soft pastel or natural tones, which can be harmonised by a richer accent tone courtesy of your soft furnishings, such as a throw or lamp shade colour.

If replacing your flooring isn’t an option right now then don’t underestimate the transformative powers of a good rug. Whether you go for a classic sheepskin variety, which is a simple way to introduce a touch of luxury, or go for a

Show your bedroom some tender loving care this spring, says Eileen Leahy room to create a stylish storage statement.

Whatever style you opt for, remember that the key to making your room look and feel warm and inviting is to ensure it has had lots of tender loving care lavished upon it.

A well thought-out colour scheme, plenty of tactile fabrics, mood-enhancing lighting, fresh flowers and candles will all help to strike the perfect stylish note – and hopefully guarantee a great night’s sleep, every night.

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LIGHTEN UP Gray & Willow Glass Bottle Table Lamp, £75, House of Fraser, www.houseoffraser.com

YELLOW FEVER Debenhams Gold Washed Velvet Cushion, £32, Debenhams, www.debenhams.com

SITTING PRETTY Set of 2 Roef Chairs in Serenity Blue, £185, Cuckooland, www.cuckooland.com

FUR REAL Double Sided Mongolian Cushion, £10, Matalan, www.matalan.com

NOW GET THE LOOK

STORAGE SOLUTION Paperweave Storage Basket, £12.99, Next, www.next.co.uk

Turn a nightmare snoozing space into your bedroom of dreams courtesy of these must-haves PERFECT COVER-UP Pom-Pom Throw, £69, Marks & Spencer, www.marksandspencer.com

GREY MATTERS Knitted Pouffe in Charcoal, £49, JD Williams Home, www.jdwilliams.com

NEW FLAME Jasmine & Pineapple Flower Large Candle, £6.50, Sainsbury’s Home, www.sainsburys.co.uk

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Gardening

5 GARDEN TASKS FOR APRIL The days are longer and warmer, which means the season for gardening is truly upon us – no more excuses!

If you’re looking out on to your winterbeaten patch and are not sure where to begin, we’ve got five tasks to get you well on the way to a glorious garden…

1) Mow your lawn One thing that loves the longer days is your lawn, which will now be springing back to life with irrepressible vigour. It’s time to wheel out the mower and trim on the highest setting it can do. Mowing your lawn has instant impact, will put off moss and weeds and allow you to assess its overall health. If you see any patchy bits, now is a great time to sow seed, too.

2) Sow last-minute tomatoes Tomatoes are natives of Peru, so need quite a lot of TLC to get going in our cooler climate. To get a good crop this year, you need to sow seeds now indoors. When they have two leaves, be ruthless and transplant only the strongest into larger pots.

3) Plant summer bulbs You can now start to plant summer bulbs in pots for big and bright blooms this year. Plant gladioli in groups, with bulbs about 2cm apart, and move the pot into a frost-free place. You can start to plant them in the ground in a couple of weeks. Don’t use them all up in one go – gladioli generally take 100 days from planting to flower, so they’re really easy to plan your patio pots around. To keep a display going all summer, simply plant some more bulbs every ten days!

4) Support perennials Whether it’s canes for climbers or wire surrounds, now’s the time to put in supports. Putting them in now lessens the risk of irreparable damage and allows perennials to grow around supports, covering them completely.

5) Sow annuals Bedding plants may not seem expensive, but the price soon adds up. This cost can be completely avoided by starting off seeds now. Plants like lobelia and marigolds are garden favourites that grow well from seed under cover, while hardy annuals like cosmos and nigella can go straight in the soil. Easy!

Wednesday April 4 | 2018

Expert tips for turning your outdoor space into

a honeybee heaven Beekeeper Sarah Wyndham Lewis tells Hannah Stephenson the best plants and planting patterns for the job…

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T’S ironic that a woman who has spent many years living in close quarters to beehives, and championing a better future for our apian friends, should be allergic to insect stings.

Yet Sarah Wyndham Lewis has run a sustainable beekeeping business, Bermondsey Street Bees (www. bermondseystreetbees.co.uk) with her husband Dale Gibson for the last decade, and has also transformed a

small, neglected patch in Suffolk into a test bed for bee plantings.

The story began with just a few window boxes on their roof terrace in London, but as their interest in beekeeping progressed, they found a profound problem in the wellbeing and ultimate survival of honeybees.

Now, Ms Wyndham Lewis has written a book, Planting For Honeybees, showing people which plants can be of most benefit to bees.

Fancy creating a bee buzz in your garden or outdoor space? Here are Sarah Wyndham Lewis’s top tips...

Pick the right plants Honeybees love sage and oregano, although lavender is better for bumblebees. Spring bulbs, such as crocuses, are also a magnet for honeybees. Small-scale, you could go for scabious, wallflowers and sea-pink, as well as asters in the summer. For honeybees, avoid cottage garden favourites such as foxgloves, which they can’t easily access. Also avoid hybrid roses with complex, blousy petals. Wild dog roses are much more beneficial to honeybees.

Let there be light Honeybees can pick up a scent from over a kilometre away, so they should be able to sniff out your plants. If your garden is always in shade, they may choose to forage elsewhere as plants need warmth for nectar release.

Let your herbs run to seed You have to let the herbs bolt. Don’t pinch out the tops to stop them flowering, or they will be no good for the bees. I plant half for me for the kitchen, and half for the bees.

Choose open flowers You want flowers that are open. Every time you add another layer of decorative petals, you are stealing from the food resources. A lot of very showy garden plants are not honeybee-friendly any more. Recommended flowres include allium, cranesbill geraniums, asters, coneflowers and BEE FRIENDLY Help nature’s busy friends to pollinate

rudbeckias, thistles and helenium, while good climbers for honeybees include climbing hydrangea, Clematis armandii and wisteria.

You have to go back to the older, simpler varieties, which have a big, generous landing place for bees with yellow pollen and a ring of petals. That takes you to daisies a lot of the time.

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can’t get their tongues into the flowers. But if you plant for honeybees, everything else can access it.

FLORAL DANCE Honeybees can pick up a scent from a kilometre away

Some spring bulbs also prove more fruitful to the honeybee than others, including grape hyacinths and crocuses – but not daffodils.

Choose larger, low-maintenance plants Hebes, rosemary and male holly will provide the necessary flowers. If you have space, put a native fruiting hedge in such as dog rose, blackthorn and blackberry, because you are feeding many species from it including other insects, and making nesting space for the birds.

Cherry trees, hawthorn, willow and field maple will all attract honeybees, while the best shrubs include ceanothus, buddleia, viburnum and wild rose. If you have flowers which honeybees can easily access, then other pollinating insects will follow.

How do you tell a honeybee from a bumblebee?

Bumblebees have a really thick and lovely fur coat, tend to be bigger and have a slightly slumberous gait in the air. They are like teddy bears on wings. Honeybees are smaller. Close-up they are furry, but to the naked eye they look fundamentally quite smooth. There are a lot of black and yellow bees out there which aren’t honeybees, but which are foraging. If you’re planting for honeybees, you are going to be feeding everything.

Honeybees have shorter tongues Honeybees have a very short tongue so you need to plant for them specifically. They can’t access a lot of forage that bumblebees, butterflies and other pollinators, like hoverflies, can. They just

Honeybees are tree-dwellers People often don’t realise that the bee is a tree-dwelling creature, often nesting about two metres high. Most of the forage they get comes from trees and bushes, rather than wildflowers.

A single lime (linden) tree in flower is worth 300 square metres of wildflower meadow. There are so many flowering trees – and that’s where honeybee health lies. Even if you only have room for one tree, make it one rich in blossom, such as the linden or apple or rowan.

Honeybees like clumps Honeybees will only forage on one species of flower at a time, so you need to plant clumps of the same plant. Everything is directed at saving the bee energy – and by transporting pollen from one specific flower to the next, they’ll be cross-fertilising the same species in the process.

So if you have a small plot, don’t plant lots of different plants. And if you’ve only got a window box, you can stuff it full of the same species, such as snowdrops.

Planting for Honeybees by Sarah Wyndham Lewis is published by Quadrille, priced £12.

Available now.

Wednesday April 4 | 2018

thekn w ARTS AND CULTURE | LIFE & STYLE | MOTORING TECHNOLOGY | DREAM DESTINATIONS | SPORT

Escape to the country

Lighter touch Top wines for spring Page 60

FOOD & DRINK

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And sample a perfect pub lunch Page 58 & 59

TREETOP ADVENTURES

62

BEST BEACHES

66

Movie magic

DREAM DRIVE

70

LAMPS perform Singin’ in the Rain Page 52 & 53

WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS

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Arts & Culture

Wednesday April 4 | 2018

Making a song and dance of the golden age of Hollywood

All this week, LAMPS are performing the classic musical Singin’ in the Rain at the EM Forster Theatre. Here, the amateur dramatic group’s Chairman and performer Andrew Swann tells Eileen Leahy why they decided to don their tap dancing shoes and twirl their brollies…

‘To revisit a period some 90 years ago, set in the same year that LAMPS first performed, is truly magical’

STAR ATTRACTION The drama group stage their own red carpet event to launch the show

true theatrical spectacle. The show is sure to be a feast for the eyes as well as the ears.

How many are in the cast?

For such a big show, there is actually quite a small cast. Numbering just 25, we’ve spent the last three months prodding each other with umbrellas, hats, canes and movie-making props in rehearsal rooms far smaller than the stage at the EM Forster Theatre, practising routines which are nothing less than a kaleidoscope of colour and movement.

We’ve actually become a pretty tight knit crowd and had huge amounts of fun together – which is what it’s ultimately all about. Whilst we pride ourselves on our strong performances and professional outlook, we are, at the end of the day, a group of people performing unpaid for the love of theatre itself.

Did you find it easy to cast the leads?

So Andrew, please can you tell us why you chose Singin’ in the Rain for your 110th performance?

First and foremost, LAMPS [Local Amateur Musical Players] are excited to perform new and interesting musicals, and whilst Singin’ in the Rain could hardly be described as ‘new’, it is new to us, and that most definitely makes it exciting.

The Players have a long history of bringing comedy musicals to the stage, and with the larger than life characters seen in the show, we have the perfect opportunity to continue that tradition.

What makes this musical such a special piece to perform?

That’s quite an accolade! How will your performance live up to it?

The story is a relatively simple one, the songs are instantly recognisable and the characters – originally played by Gene Kelly (Don Lockwood), Debbie Reynolds (Kathy Selden) and Donald O’Connor (Cosmo Brown) in the 1952 original film – are a lot of fun.

So, we have a wonderful opportunity to relive the golden age of Hollywood on stage and perform our own version of what has been described as ‘the greatest movie musical of all time’.

Although the story is very clearly set in 1927 (the same year LAMPS first performed in Tonbridge), just as the first feature-length talking picture, The Jazz Singer, became an overnight smash, our production is not a slavish recreation of the film.

Instead, we’ve taken inspiration from the movie and also our Director, Adele Ebbage, who has put her own unique twist on it.

We have some truly stunning costumes for our cast, but also some more colourful twists for a

I always describe casting a musical like working on a life-size jigsaw puzzle. You can have lots of colourful and striking pieces, but the job of the director is to make them all fit together into a beautiful picture, and that’s something our Director, Adele, has done with great skill.

Our leads – Ian, Hollie, Abi and Liam – have rung every ounce of fun out of their characters to help get the very best from the script.

What clinched it for them?

Some of the characters are wonderful caricatures, and therefore a lot of fun to play. However, Don and Kathy, the romantic leads in the show –

Arts & Culture

Wednesday April 4 | 2018

How and why do you think it is still relevant for today’s audience?

HERE COMES THE RAIN… Ian Blackmore (Don Lockwood) and Hollie Evans (Kathy Selden, also below)

Audiences are pretty savvy about how movies are made in the 21st century – with directors’ commentaries, behind-the-scenes documentaries, set photos and endless interviews with cast and crew. But there is something mystical about those early days in Hollywood, when everyone did their own stunts and movies were short, fun and unique curiosities. It’s a period that is just on the cusp of living memory for the oldest of our society, and I believe holds a real fascination for the rest of us. So to revisit a period some 90 years ago, set in the same year that LAMPS first performed, is truly magical.

What are you looking forward to about performing Singin’ in the Rain?

played by Ian Blackmore and Hollie Evans – are pretty well fleshed out three-dimensional characters, which is fairly unusual.

They have flaws, they have a sense of humour, passion, drive, dedication, humility and, above all, heart.

Our cast have enjoyed the process of finding those characters, bringing their own ideas to the roles they’re playing and building relationships with each other.

ALL THE RIGHT MOVES The dancers rehearse

How long a period is there from rehearsals to getting on stage?

Most of the cast have been rehearsing two or three times a week since the beginning of January, but the principal characters and dancers have been doing extra sessions to get the mammoth dance routines – one of which is nearly six minutes long – in tip-top shape.

Added to this, a key part of the plot are half a dozen small black and white film ‘recreations’, which help tell the story of the change from silent pictures to ‘talkies’.

After days of planning, and in freezing cold conditions, our hardy troupe of actors, extras and crew recreated some 1920s-style movie magic; shot in full HD and then messed up to look like 100-year-old cine film.

I think every performer looks forward to totally different things. For some it’s the adrenaline buzz of waiting in the wings for the curtain to go up, for others it’s the applause you get at the end of a successful show.

I love the feeling of standing in the almost blinding glare of the lights, hearing the music start and the excitement I get from fellow cast mates as a song and dance routine gets underway.

What do you believe is the secret behind a successful stage show?

Your cast have to buy into it 100 per cent. If they don’t love being in the show, the audience won’t love watching it. Our cast are really enjoying the process of learning and creating something truly momentous.

Usually whilst rehearsing a show, there’s a song which could politely be described as ‘the runt of the litter’.

But I can honestly say I don’t think there’s a single bum note, lyric or line in Abi King the entire piece.

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Yes, there are faster and more modern productions available, but Singin’ in the Rain has a true heart of gold and a real feeling of class.

What will the audiences enjoy most?

Undoubtedly they will leave the theatre with a warm heart full of nostalgia. The show has a wonderful positive spirit; even the nasty characters aren’t really nasty at heart, they’re just looking out for themselves.

The audience will think about all those early movie stars who are forever captured on celluloid in their full living glory, chuckling at their ‘pantomime’ antics.

With two dozen umbrellas open on stage, I guarantee they’ll be humming the title song all the way home… with a smile on their face!

LAMPS perform Singin’ in the Rain every day until Saturday April 7. Tickets cost £15 (£11 concessions) and performances are at 7.30pm each evening, with a 2.30pm matinee on Wednesday and Saturday. Call 01732 304 241 or visit www.emtheatre.com TICKLED (L-R) Liam Clarke (Cosmo) with Ian

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Going Out

Wednesday April 4 | 2018

going ut Seven days of activities at a glance WEDNESDAY

By Eileen Leahy

The Oast Theatre’s youth group starts its run of There will be a nest building activity at Grosvenor the Shakespearean classic The Tempest from this and Hilbert Park today from 10am to 2pm. The idea evening. The tale of betrayal, revenge and the magic arts runs until April 7, and the show is is to help the park’s baby birds feed and flourish directed by Sandra Barfield with Jason Lower. by making them nests from natural materials in Tickets cost £10 and £7.50 for non-members and the park. You can also create a feeder during the students. See www.oastheatre.com 40-minute crafting session. The cost is £2 per child and the event is suitable for those aged four and over. It will be held outdoors, so THURSDAY dress appropriately and all children must be The latest Holiday Happenings crafting session accompanied by an adult. Booking is essential. is on today at the Tunbridge Wells Museum & Art Email: steff.dagorne@ tunbridgewells.gov.uk Gallery, and the theme is Easter bonnet-making.

From 10am until 1pm there will be an Upcycling Visit between 10.30am and 12.30pm and 2pm and Fabric and Paper craft session at Bore Place in 4pm if you’d like your little ones to take part in this Bough Beech near Chiddingstone. It is suitable free event. www.tunbridgewellsmuseum.org for children aged 9 to 14, and budding Bewl Water’s children’s camps are based at the designers will have the chance to picturesque reservoir and boast lots of exciting make lots of clever things, such as activities aimed at keeping youngsters fit a pretty storage basket from an old and entertained over the holidays. shirt. There will be a tour of the Activities include bike riding, nature Bore Place organic dairy farm at hunts, walks and Mini Rover safaris, the end of the session to find out as well as sports and games. Full-day how things are reused there, too. activities run from 8.30am until 5pm, For tickets and timings, visit and half-day activities are also www.boreplace.org available. For further information, see The Tunbridge Wells Tuneless www.bewlwater.co.uk Choir is moving to its new Artspring Gallery on Tonbridge High Street home of St Peter’s Church, is hosting another of its late-night Bayhall Road, from openings tonight from 5.30pm until today, and will meet 8pm. This month they welcome once a fortnight on new member Camilla West, Wednesdays from 7.30pm who will be exhibiting her to 9pm. For more information, silver jewellery. You will also email: tunbridgewells@ see the work of two visiting guest FLOUR-POWER tunelesschoir.com artists – enamellist Anne McArdle Baking at Bore Place

and textile artist Kate Hasted.

Strictly stars Ian Waite and Oti Mabuse sashay into the Assembly Hall this evening with their new show entitled the Rhythm of the Night. As they dance their way through a mix of high energy Latin numbers and elegant ballroom routines, this promises to be a highly entertaining evening.

Tickets cost from £23.50 per person from www.assemblyhalltheatre.co.uk

FRIDAY

Bewl Water’s 2018 trout fishing season is now underway, and an impressive 43,000 rainbow trout weighing 2lbs and over have been ordered, with nearly 8,000 swimming around the reservoir located just off the A21. For more information, see www.bewlwater.co.uk Also located just off the A21 is Go Ape at Bedgebury Pinetum, which has now reopened for spring. This tree top adventure – where you can swing through the trees like Tarzan and fly through the sky on a zip wire – is a perfect activity for children, and adults, to get stuck into this holiday as it’s both exciting and adventurous. Children must be at least ten years old and 1.4m tall in order to participate. For tickets and timings, visit www.goape.co.uk Artist Richard Perry will unveil his latest work: Zephyr a new public art commission of granite pieces at Grosvenor and Hilbert Park today from 11am until noon. The installation is adjacent to the wetland area and there will be a chance to meet the artist. A rubbing trail is available on the day for children to take part in. Suitable for all ages and no booking required.

If you want a taste of history, then make sure you visit Tunbridge Wells Museum & Art Gallery,

where Seasons of Change: The Fegans’ Story is on until June 9. it focuses on the work of the local charity that has been championing childhood and transforming mental health since 1870. Admission is free and the exhibition is on from Tuesdays to Sundays.

SATURDAY Over the Easter holidays, Groombridge Place is hosting its popular production of Alice In Wonderland again. On from 10am until 5pm, there will be regular performances of Lewis Carroll’s classic tale as well as lots of fun-filled activities with a circus-themed twist. For ticket prices and further details, head to www.groombridgeplace.com A new free photographic exhibition entitled Remarkable Characters of Tunbridge Wells is now open from 10am daily at Woods on The Pantiles.

Running until September, it is the brainchild of photographer Mark Wilkinson and writer Anne Wagstaff, who have a ‘curiosity about people and what makes them tick’. There is also a book to accompany the show which costs £18 and is available from www.remarkablecharacterstw.com If you want to do something just a little bit different, why not take your children off to the Four winds farm lambing day*? With a wealth of cute little newborn lambs to ‘ooh’ and ‘aah’ over, plus sheepshearing demonstrations and lots of delicious local produce to savour – all in the beautiful Bidborough countryside – it makes for a great day out. for more information, visit www.facebook.com/farmfourwinds *now on April 14

SUNDAY Don’t forget, there are plenty of attractions for you and your family to enjoy over the Easter holidays.

DANCING INTO TOWN Ian Waite and Oti Mabuse of Strictly fame are at the Assembly Hall

PHOTO: Fiona Whyte

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GO APE At Bedgebury Pinetum Penshurst Place is hosting its Feverishly Fickle Friend event, which includes children’s crafts sessions from 11am to 4pm, and live action storytelling sessions run by Aardvark Productions. For further details, see www.penshurstplace.com Over at Hever Castle you can go on the trail of the Lindt Gold Bunny. Children can follow it around the glorious grounds and earn a chocolate treat. There will be lots of other things for them to do, too, including attending an Easter bonnet craft workshop, and they’ll also have the chance to participate in a traditional parade. For more information on activities and prices, take a look at www.hevercastle.co.uk The National Trust also has a Cadbury’s Easter Egg Hunt happening at some of

its venues, including Scotney and Bodiam Castles, Knole, Bateman’s and Ightham Mote. To find out more, visit www.nationaltrust.org.uk and easter.cadbury.co.uk Another exhibition to catch while you can is Shelved at Tunbridge Wells Museum & Art Gallery. It’s a collaborative project between bookbinder Tracey Rowledge and silversmith David Clarke which has been funded by Arts Council England as part of the second development stage of the Cultural & Learning Hub in Tunbridge Wells. The artists have spent time going through the museum’s collections and library archives as well as various items sourced from charity shops and items reworked by townsfolk to give them new aesthetic value. For more details, see www.tunbridgewellsmuseum.org TEEN ANGST See the acclaimed Lady Bird at Trinity

MONDAY If rain stops your Easter play, then head over to Jump In, Tonbridge, the area’s only trampoline centre, which offers toddlers to teens lots of jumping fun. For more information, visit www.gojumpin.com Alternatively, why not pop along to Bore Place’s Springtime Baking activity taking place this morning from 10am until 1pm? Suitable for children aged seven years and over, it will offer the chance to make some sweet honey bee cookies and also a beeswax candle sourced from Bore Place’s own bees. The event will additionally give visitors the opportunity to see why bees have such an important role to play in our food production, and there will be a chance to visit the onsite dairy farm.

TUESDAY Trinity screens the Greta Gerwig-directed and Oscar-nominated comedy-drama Lady Bird today at 11am, 2pm and 8pm.

Starring Saoirse Ronan, it’s a moving coming of age story. Tickets cost £11.

See www.trinitytheatre.net Every Tuesday at Christ Church on Tonbridge High Street, Les Puces French speaking classes take place. Aimed at pre-schoolers and primary pupils, the lessons are an hour long and held at 9.30am and 4pm. Fees for half a term cost £60 per child. For more information, visit www.lespuces.co.uk

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PICK OF THE WEEK: The Lydian Orchestra’s Spring Concert St Peter and St Paul, Tonbridge, Saturday April 7, 7.30pm

With a performance by clarinet If you enjoy listening to classical soloist Nelson Sinclair-Strong and music being performed, then you conductor Alec Frank-Gemmil have a treat in store courtesy of holding the baton, this promises the Lydian Orchestra, who will be to be a wonderful evening of staging their spring concert on talented musicians playing some Saturday evening at St Peter and th On sublime music.

St Paul’s Church in Tonbridge.

Tickets cost £15 for adults, £6 for the bill will be Strauss’s Serenade Parish Church of St. & St. Paul,and Tonbridge students £1 for under-16s and for Winds, Brahms’ Serenade NoPeter 1 will be available on the door and Finizi’s clarinet concerto.

Spring Concert

Saturday 7 April 2018 7.30pm

Conductor: Alec Frank-Gemmill Soloist: Nelson Sinclair-Strong (clarinet) Tickets £15 adult, £6 student, £1 u16s Available on the door

Programme: Strauss: Serenade for Winds in Eb, Op7 Finzi: Clarinet Concerto Brahms: Serenade No.1

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Going Out

Wednesday April 4 | 2018

THE GREY LADY MUSIC LOUNGE

live music With Paul Dunton

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t’s another busy week across the local music scene and my top recommendations are as follows: For a great midweek outing, I highly recommend The Stable at The Forum this evening (Wednesday), which promises to be a rockin’ night with four up-and-coming local bands – Muffin, Mux, Nocturne Blonde and Rattlesnake.

For something more acoustic, popular local singer-songwriter Katy Virgoe will be at The Grey Lady with Nick Stephens and Milly McCarron also on the bill.

If you are looking for a jazzy night out to remember, then Graham Hughes’ Sunshine Kings will be at The Masonic Hall this Friday night.

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

There are plenty of superb live music events on Saturday evening with many excellent local acts performing, including Woodface at The Beau Nash Tavern, Flawless Carbon at The Bedford, Off The Cuff at The Royal Oak and Dino Baptiste at The Grey Lady.

For fans of classical music, the Royal Tunbridge Wells Symphony Orchestra [RTWSO] return to The Assembly Hall Theatre this Sunday afternoon, joined by renowned cellist Laura Van Der Heijden.

On Monday, the brilliant Rumours of Fleetwood Mac will be at The Assembly Hall, and on Tuesday, popular soloist Mick Mepham will be at the Punch & Judy in Tonbridge.

The Pantiles Doors 7.15pm, entry £6/£7 Websites www.pdag.co.uk & www.thegreylady.co.uk Wednesday Milly McCarron, Nick Stephens, Katy Virgoe Thursday Oscar Roach, Meg Jordan, Jack Burns Friday Jazz Club Night: Bob Bernard, Jezz Owen, James Sunny and special guest pianist Mark Edwards Saturday Dino Baptiste Sunday Steffan James, Chris Pope, Barney Jameson, Cyrano Tuesday Emanuel Fanthome-Hodgson, The Pioneers, Hannah Richards

THE TUNBRIDGE WELLS FORUM Event information at www.twforum.co.uk Wednesday The Stable: Muffin, Mux, Nocturne Blonde, Rattlesnake Friday Breaking Bad(li) Los Nachos Hermanos Cyrano

Katy Virgoe

THE ASSEMBLY HALL THEATRE

THE ROYAL OAK

Crescent Road All concert details and ticket information at www.assemblyhalltheatre.co.uk Sunday RTWSO: Walton’s Cello Concerto with Laura Van Der Heijden Monday Rumours of Fleetwood Mac

Prospect Road Open all day, free entry, music from 8.30pm till late Saturday Off The Cuff

THE BEAU NASH TAVERN Mount Ephraim Open all day, free entry, music from 8.30pm till late Saturday Woodface

THE DUKE OF YORK

THE BLACK HORSE Camden Road Open all day, free entry, music from 8.30pm Thursday Jam Session/ Open Mic Night

THE MASONIC HALL

The Pantiles Open all day, free entry, music from 8.30pm till late Monday Open Mic Night

St John’s Road Jazz Club – full details and tickets at www.twjazzclub.co.uk Friday Graham Hughes’ Sunshine Kings

THE BEDFORD

THE PUNCH & JUDY

2 High Street Open all day, free entry, music from 8.30pm till late Saturday Flawless Carbon

11 St Stephen’s Street, Tonbridge Open all day, free entry, music from 8.30pm Tuesday Mick Mepham

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Food & Drink

Wednesday April 4 | 2018

A taste of history The George & Dragon in Speldhurst is so much more than a village pub dating from the Middle Ages. As Charlie Bond recently discovered, it has also become a foodie favourite thanks to its adventurous menu…

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UCKED just outside of Tunbridge Wells in the village of Speldhurst, The George & Dragon gained new ownership in 2017 and has been making waves on the local foodie scene ever since.

Before I come to do my review, at least three people exclaim how good the food is, so I know I’m in for a treat.

Driving along winding lanes to reach the pub, you feel as though you could be a million miles from the hustle and bustle of the town – picturesque houses and charming scenery greet you at every turn before you eventually reach the George & Dragon – a 13th-century building with dramatic oak beams and plenty of rustic charm.

My guest and I visited during last month’s cold snap, and so our table – situated right next to a roaring open fire – is most welcome. That coupled with a glass of the Tirento Argentinian Malbec (£10), and the evening is pretty much perfect before we’ve even entertained the idea of food.

As we peruse the menu, it becomes apparent that this place is the heart of the village community.

Locals greet each other warmly as they enter and the atmosphere is buzzing. It’s also nice to see so many people eating – some village pubs can gain a reputation for just being a ‘watering hole’ with locals sipping pints around the bar, but not here.

A BEAMING WELCOME The George & Dragon

Food & Drink

Wednesday April 4 | 2018

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‘The prawns taste wonderfully fresh, and although I’m making a terrible mess with the shells, the meat inside is worth it’ As well as a plentiful menu filled with pub classics and seasonal dishes, I note their food is predominantly sourced from local suppliers, including Fuller’s of Tunbridge Wells, who provide most of the meat. and Sankey’s, who supply their fish.

We start our meal with a dish of marinated olives to share (£3.50), and once we’ve demolished those we’re presented with our starters.

For my guest, the chicken liver parfait (£8.50), served with red onion marmalade and wedges of warm toasted ciabatta, and for me, half a pint of shell on prawns, with garlic mayonnaise (£6).

The prawns taste wonderfully fresh, and although I’m aware I’m making a terrible mess with the shells, the meat inside is worth it – they almost don’t need the mayonnaise, they’re that tasty on their own.

My guest’s parfait is equally appetising, and she enthuses over its creaminess and the sweetness of the onions. Our starters couldn’t be more different, but we’re both left impressed and looking forward to the main event.

RUSTIC CHARM The dining room Fish is the dish of the day for both myself and my guest, who chooses the beer battered fish and chips (£13.50), while I opt for the pan-seared fillet of seabass (£19).

If I thought I’d reached my prawn quota for the day, I’d be wrong, as my seabass comes topped with more, plus mussels, samphire and a divine caper butter, and it’s just incredible.

Sitting atop a bed of crushed new potatoes, the fish itself has a crisp skin while being perfectly cooked beneath.

As for the fish and chips, they’re just as good, with a gorgeous golden batter encasing the flaky meat, and chunky, crisp chips with fluffy insides.

The George & Dragon have really excelled here: This British pub classic can be hard to make impressive, but they’ve definitely succeeded.

We have to take quite an extended break before we can consider dessert, but in the name of research I feel it’s only right to sample something

We’re not the only ones who are impressed either; the couple on the table next to us are deliberating over their dessert choices, and on seeing ours they tell us they’ve been inspired.

We leave, very full of food, but also full of praise for The George & Dragon.

It’s a wonderfully homely place where you’re welcomed as if you’re a local. In fact, I wish this was my local – Speldhurst could be gaining a new villager very soon…

sweet. (My jeans on the other hand are certainly protesting by this point!)

Wanting something refreshing, we both order the caramelised lemon tart (£6.50), which is served with blackcurrant sorbet and raspberries and manages to be both creamy and sweet yet sharp and zesty.

The George & Dragon Speldhurst Hill Speldhurst Tunbridge Wells TN3 0NN 01892 863125 www.speldhurst.com

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Food & Drink

Wednesday April 4 | 2018

Spring into action As we cast aside the robust wines of winter, Times drinks editor James Viner says it’s time to raise a glass to fresher, fruitier options…

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1) Must-Try Mediterranean White 2016 Jean-Luc Colombo Les Collines de Laure Blanc, IGP Méditerranée, France The Solent Cellar/The Vineyard Wines/ Islington Wines, £11.99-£13 This beauty is a stylish affair and perfect for a spring dinner party; a lovely tribute to two regions, the Rhône and Provence, with vinous input from rolle (aka vermentino) and viognier. A heavenly white peach, fennel, melon and pear-filled bouquet heralds a totally charming, rounded palate leavened with crisp acidity and a lingering finish that’ll reward every one of your taste buds, one after another. Pour it for a spring spread with grilled and roasted white meats, fritto misto, spaghetti alle vongole or crab linguine. It’s also ideal for solo sipping. Such a prepossessing find for printemps. Alc 13.5% 2) Grab a Light and Exquisite Red Bargain NV Vignobles Roussellet Pinot Noir, France, Aldi, £4.49 It’s a fitting moment for lighter, fruit-driven reds to make their appearance, so embrace springtime with this juicy, jolly, red plum and red berry joy. Easy to enjoy on its own, or open for seared/grilled salmon, roast lamb or beef in oyster and black bean sauce, this is a great pinot with a soupçon of merlot and sensational value. A speedy chill before serving works wonders for this sprightly, vivid and sylphlike rouge. I can’t recommend this everyday quaffing Aldi bargain enough.

Stock up with confidence.

Alc 12.5%

3) Floral and Citrusy Kiwi ‘Anytime’ White 2017 Te Awa, Left Field Albariño, Gisborne, New Zealand Wine Rack, £11.99 Pep up April with this dazzling, bright and refreshing albariño (al-bar-EEN-yo) that’s somewhere between a peach and melon. Some lime zest notes, snappy acidity and a long, crunchy finish seal the deal. Epic with softshell crab, crab sandwiches, fish with beurre blanc, tagine with couscous, grilled lobster, all manner of canapés and shellfish risotto. An extremely polished and credible Kiwi rendition of Spain’s most fashionable white grape variety from North Island’s east coast.

Alc 13.5% 4) High Street Choice: Elite Champers to Toast the Start of Spring Piper Heidsieck Cuvée Brut NV Champagne, France, Co-op/Majestic/Sainsbury’s, £30-£32 There’s a great depth of flavour in this sophisticated wine crafted by masterly Chef de Cave Régis Camus. Made from a majority Pinot Noir, this suave and intellectually stimulating bubbly from a revived historic Champagne house is redolent of pears and apples, with a hint of hazelnut and almond blossom, plus a memory of brioche. Very elegant and truly delicious with sufficient class to charm a fussy connoisseur, it’s a dead cert to ravish your anticipative spring palate. Serve as an aperitif or with fishy canapés, a special brunch or seafood (especially black miso cod or oysters). Alc 12%

Follow James on Twitter @QuixoticWine

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travel

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Travel

Wednesday April 4 | 2018

must seek out 5 secret you on Greek island beaches paradise Alonnisos This quiet Aegean isle is also home to Greece’s first National Marine Park.

Steve White recommends top spots where there’s barely a soul in sight…

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hey may say ‘Beware of Greeks bearing gifts’, but there was nothing but genuine hospitality when the elderly couple living near my Greek island villa sat me down with a generous glass of raki and a smile when I appeared at their door asking for help after locking myself out without my phone.

The island in question – Alonnisos, in the Sporades chain just off Greece’s east coast – is remarkable, in fact, for its relaxed, unpretentious friendliness.

Quiet and uncommercialised (no nightclubs, no loud music), it has the innocence and unassuming charm of a bygone era.

My villa, in contrast, is very of-the-moment, and added to GIC The Villa Collection’s portfolio just two years ago. I love the monogrammed towels and pillowcases and night-lit spiral staircase, not to mention the gadgetry.

Outside, huge grounds include a private pool, shaded area and even resident tortoises. A large sun terrace offers stunning views down to the island’s main town, Patitiri, and the sea beyond.

It’s perfect for magnificent sunrises, and great for watching the rare, elegant Eleonora’s falcon found in this region.

In the other direction is a tantalising view of the picturesque Old Village, reached by a pleasant 15-minute walk along a donkey track.

Partly abandoned after an earthquake in 1965, today it’s a flourishing artists’ haven. Its narrow streets are a charming mix of restored, flowerclad houses, gift shops and tavernas.

From here you can see just how green this tiny, 15 x 3-mile island is – the hilly terrain softened by rich pine and oak woodland, criss-crossed by well-marked trails.

Apparently, if you stayed for two months you could visit a different beach every day and still not see them all. But even more remarkable is the crystal clear sea – the island lies in Greece’s first national marine park, established in 1992 and now offering some of the cleanest water in the Mediterranean.

If you only have a few days to play with, these are the beaches you should try.

1. MEGALI AMMOS Reached via 2.3 miles of rough, single-track unmade road, the drive to this beach is not for the faint-hearted – and be prepared for a steep, ten-minute walk through woodland once you arrive. But the small, sheltered, white-pebbled beach, with vivid green pine trees clinging to the hillside, is pretty and pristine. Megali Ammos means ‘big sand’ in Greek, but all the sand lies underwater, so bring beach shoes to negotiate those pebbles, especially the gentle slope into the sea. The water, however, is great for snorkelling. There are no facilities – it’s just you and the odd bit of driftwood.

2. KOKKINOKASTRO This breathtaking bay is named after the island’s iconic red cliff (the so-called ‘red castle’) at one end of a long sand and pebble beach. Unusually

southerly tip. You’ll spot the word ‘beach’ painted on a telegraph pole just before a makeshift parking area for a handful of cars. The path down is challenging – first, a steep, stony track, then – wait for it – a six-metre drop to the beach, negotiated with the help of a thick black knotted rope tied to a tree. Not a flip-flop day, then, nor for small children, but the small, sheltered, ultra-exclusive, south-facing pebbly beach is worth the effort.

4. AGIOS PETROS There are spectacular sea vistas on the pinescented drive down to this beach, signed off the main road, north of Kokkinokastro. The final walk to the sea, marked at a small pull-in, is down a pretty, flower-strewn path (steep in places). There are no facilities, but the beach – more sand and pebbles – has easy access to clear water. It’s overlooked by the odd villam though, so you may have company. A ten-minute walk leads to the tiny, adjacent fishing port of Steni Vala – an idyllic quayside, with tavernas, a shop and a rescue and rehabilitation centre for wounded and orphaned baby seals.

BREATHTAKING Kokkinokastro Beach for Alonnisos, there’s a car park, basic toilets, steps to the shore, and even a cute changing hut, not to mention sunbeds and a pop-up taverna in high season. The water is shallow and clean, so it’s ideal for children. Just to the south is the island’s most popular beach, Chrisi Milia,

which, with fine, golden sand sloping gently into a turquoise sea, gets packed in high season.

3. CAPE MARPUNTA Hunt out this beach just before the end of the unmade Cape Marpunta road on the island’s

5. GERAKAS A 30-minute drive north from Patitiri along Alonnisos’ occasionally hair-raising ‘main’ road, ends at this tranquil fishing bay. The pebbly beach has sunbeds, but those in the know come

‘Apparently, if you stayed for two months you could visit a different beach every day and still not see them all’ THE RED CLIFF At Kokkinokastro

Travel

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DREAM DESTINATIONS… Go global or stay local with these amazing deals

Cosy cottage Culls Cottage is a Cotswold cottage dating from 1670 that blends the charm of the past with modern fittings and luxurious extras. Its larger sister property, The Chestnuts, is a stylishly furnished traditional stone cottage with original artworks, two lounges and three bathrooms. As an example of this year’s early spring dates, a four-night stay in The Chestnuts for eight guests cost £1,699, saving £276. Or a week’s stay for six in Culls Cottage cost £1,644, saving £331.

For more dates see www.premiercottages.co.uk

Caribbean cool FRESH FISH Gerakas Beach to eat at the tiny kantina run from a Ford Transit van by the wonderful Kostas. After a fisherman’s life travelling the world, Kostas ‘retired’ here in 2008, and calls it his ‘small paradise’. Enjoy his morning’s catch, simply fried, with salad and chips, or Greek staples such as souvlaki (kebabs), washed down with beer or his ownrecipe Tsipouro (the local grape spirit), for around E10/£9.

How to get there GIC The Villa Collection (020 8232 9780; www.gicthevillacollection.com) offers the two-bedroomed Villa Eos from £929pp (based on two sharing) for seven nights, including flights from London Gatwick to Skiathos and the onward ferry to Skopelos

STEEP CHALLENGE Steve using the rope provided to reach Cape Marpunta Beach

Set in a tropical landscape of evergreens, wheat-coloured sand and sparkling sea, combining an AAA Four Diamond award designation with unlimited luxury amenities, Sapphire Riviera Cancun offers the perfect escape. This price is based on two adults sharing on an all-inclusive basis, flying with Thomas Cook Airlines, departing from Glasgow on September 8, 2018. Terms & conditions apply; deal is subject to availability. For more information, please visit: www.mycaribbeanholiday.co.uk

Portuguese paradise

Stay at the 4* Real d’Óbidos Hotel, a charming 14th-century residence with a pool and excellent views of the town’s castle and surrounding countryside, and experience Óbidos’s famous International Chocolate Festival, which has added two extra weekends for visitors. The festival, which has made headlines for displaying the ‘world’s most expensive chocolate’ – a limited edition truffle-filled, edible gold covered bonbon – will now open from 13-15 and 20-22 April.

Departing in April, the price is from £630pp (two sharing), including flights (London), seven nights’ B&B and car hire. Call AITO member Sunvil on 020 8758 4722 www.sunvil.co.uk

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Look Good, Feel Good

Wednesday April 4 | 2018

PUNKY GLITTER Eyes, lips, lashes, nails – there was barely a body part that wasn’t dusted with sparkling particles at the spring shows, from stick-on rhinestones at Jeremy Scott to glitter-encrusted eyelashes at Ryan Lo. But these looks all shared a rebellious edge – it’s about punk not precision – so load up on black kohl liner and top with a fingertip full of loose glitter to get the requisite too-cool-to-care vibe.

MAC 3D Lavender Glitter, £16.50

Glitter, gloss and green eyeshadow These are the 6 biggest trends for spring Katie Wright runs down the season’s best looks Are you ready to hit refresh on your beauty look now that spring has sprung?

Then you’ve come to the right place.

The SS18 catwalks gave us a glut of gorgeous hair and make-up ideas, and there’s something to suit every taste.

Bored with matte lips? Get ready for gloss, 2018 style. Eyeliner addict? You’ll adore the graphic black liner looks.

Love a bit of sparkle? Rhinestones are back with a vengeance.

Suffice to say, there’s a lot to get excited about – and we’ve got the inside scoop on how to recreate these runway looks at home.

EXAGGERATED EYELINER Winged liner has been popular on the catwalks for a few seasons (and with good reason), but now the delicate cat-eye flick takes a back seat in favour of super-bold styles.

The most conceptual example was at Lanvin, where a drinking straw was used to

stamp dashes of liner out from the corner of the eye – which, honestly, seems like a lot of effort – but the mega-wings at Versus Versace and Marc Jacobs just require a steady hand and a bit of practice.

Charlotte Tilbury The Feline Flick Liquid Eye Pen in Panther, £22

Look Good, Feel Good

Wednesday April 4 | 2018

TEA-STAINED EYES If it’s subtlety you’re after, then take your cue from the shows where the make-up was as delicate at the clothes – namely Preen and Alexis Mabille.

Here, a wash of creamy tea-brown across the eyelids complemented perfect skin and nude lips.

It’s important to note that this is a cool brown rather than a warm terracotta – a foundation stick that’s a few shades darker than your skin will give the ideal texture and tone.

LIP GLOSS Fashion is nothing if not fickle, so it was only a matter of time before matte lips were usurped on the catwalks. And, sure enough, wet-look lips ruled at trendsetting SS18 shows like Chanel and Tom Ford.

Blood red and fuchsia were particularly popular, but this is a trend that’s easily adaptable – a slick of clear gloss over your favourite lippie, and you’ve got it.

Hourglass Vanish Seamless Finish Foundation Stick, £42, Space NK

Givenchy Gloss Interdit Vinyl Rouge Thriller, £23.50, Escentual

HAIR ACCESSORIES AQUA EYES From inky blue at Givenchy Couture to bright azure at House of Holland, and chalky turquoise at Missoni, aqua eyeshadows popped up at plenty of shows.

There wasn’t a lot of subtlety to many of these

catwalk designs, but if you choose a shade of blue or green that complements your eye colour, and smoke it out at the edges, this can be a really flattering look.

Barry M Kingfisher Blue Kohl Pencil, £2.99

Hair adornments have been creeping on to the catwalks in recent seasons, but for SS18 they’ve gone global with the likes of Gucci, Miu Miu and Versace getting involved. While at Dries van Noten, crystals were used to line models’ partings.

Designer hair clips will set you back upwards of £100 a pop, but there are lots of inexpensive dupes on the high street, so you can experiment with the hair jewellery trend risk-free.

Accessorize Pearl Cluster Barrette Hair Clip, £5

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Motoring

Wednesday April 4 | 2018

FIRST DRIVE:

The new Range Rover PHEV WHAT IS IT?

The words ‘Range Rover’ conjure up images of opulent interiors, intimidating looks and go-anywhere ability. But scrape under the skin, and the engine choices have remained stubbornly powerful, polluting and thirsty.

Enter the plug-in hybrid, which gives city dwellers an alternative. It combines a fourcylinder petrol engine with an electric motor and battery, capable of travelling up to 31 miles on battery power alone – perfect for cross-city jaunts.

Counting the new Bentley Bentayga hybrid and Porsche Cayenne hybrid as rivals, this engine sits near the top of the existing Range Rover model line-up – undercut by both V6 and V8 diesels plus the V6 petrol, but less expensive than the fire-breathing V8 petrol models.

WHAT’S NEW?

There’s a Velar-inspired grille, new lights, and the tailpipes have been integrated into the rear bumper. Inside, nearly every button on the centre console has gone, replaced by a dual-touchscreen.

Where buttons remain, they’re seamlessly integrated into one another, and light up, too.

Thicker windows and noise-cancelling tech aim to make the car even more eerily silent than before, and there are new seats also. But, of course, the biggest change is the powertrain.

WHAT’S UNDER THE BONNET?

The PHEV debuts the brand’s first plug-in hybrid powertrain. It mates a 296bhp, 2.0-litre petrol engine with an 85kW electric motor for a maximum power figure of 399bhp. That’s good for a 0-60mph sprint of 6.4 seconds and a top speed of 137mph – or 85mph if travelling on electricity alone.

Land Rover claims a combined fuel economy figure of 101mpg. The reality is dependent on how you drive. If you charge the car every night and the majority of your journeys are within the 31-mile electric range, you might hardly need to use the petrol engine. But in solo cruising with a discharged battery, we achieved a more realistic Range Rover economy figure of 24mpg.

The engine is powerful, with a seamless transition between power sources. Push it hard,

MODEL AS TESTED:

MAX SPEED: 137mph

Range Rover P400e PHEV

0-60MPH: 6.4 seconds

POWER: 398bhp TORQUE: 640Nm

WHAT’S IT LIKE TO DRIVE?

Range Rovers are at their best while ‘wafting’ at high speed on smooth roads. Air suspension irons out the bumps and the vast wheels make mincemeat of minor road irritations. What’s surprising is how well the Range Rover hides its size – it’s remarkably easy to drive, aided by peerless visibility and accurate steering.

However, the heavy hybrid model isn’t quite as responsive as its siblings down a twisting road – the retuned suspension doesn’t hide bumps in the same way, and changes of direction are more ponderous. But it’s ideal in the city, with the serene sensation of running on pure electricity, making it feel even more luxurious.

HOW DOES IT LOOK?

The Range Rover is massive, intimidating and unmistakable, and the changes only serve to improve this. The Velar-inspired grille and new headlamps are just the right side of glitzy without being vulgar, and a wide array of colours and trims allow for it to blend in everywhere. Only some subtle badging marks this out as a hybrid, with the electric charging port concealed very neatly behind the Land Rover badge in the front grille.

WHAT’S IT LIKE INSIDE?

Eliminating the buttons looks good but takes some getting used to. The twin central touchscreen setup works quite well, with the upper handling media and navigation, while the lower takes on driving modes, climate and seat controls. But we would have liked a few buttons to save delving into confusing sub-menus to control battery charge and usage.

Everything is incredibly plush, though, and the

interior is a true lesson in duality – after all, how many other cars can wade in water 900mm deep while giving you a hot stone massage?

There’s also plenty of room, especially in long-wheelbase models, with 802 litres of space.

WHAT’S THE SPEC LIKE?

The powertrain is available across all Range Rover trim levels, and even base models are seriously sumptuous – the entry-level Vogue, at £86,965, gets a full Windsor leather interior, triple-zone climate control, a fixed panoramic glass roof, 20-inch alloy wheels, and Matrix LED headlights, to name but a few choice items.

Step up to the £93,465 Vogue SE, and the wheels become 21-inchers, the excellent Terrain Response system comes as standard, and the stereo becomes an excellent Meridian system.

The top-spec Autobiography brings executive rear seating, walnut veneer, 24-way electric seats with heating and cooling and a suede headliner for £105,865. But Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are still disappointing omissions.

VERDICT

The new Range Rover feels as good as ever with the hybrid drivetrain and fresh interior. The hybrid is an impressive achievement, too, but works best in city conditions. Whichever form you buy it in, though, the Range Rover remains a serious rival to the best luxury cars out there.

Going a-roving with both hybrids and diesels RANGE ROVER’S first plug-in hybrid drivetrain is already proving very popular, with the PHEV [plug-in hybrid electric vehicle] accounting for 20% of current orders.

Emitting just 64g/km of CO2 makes it exempt from the London Congestion Charge and liable for a first year’s VED of just £25.

“PHEV is hugely important for Range Rover,” said Wayne Darley, Head of UK Product Marketing for parent company Land Rover. “We see the demand rising over the next few years.”

With governments across the world steadily making life harder for diesel owners, PHEV demand could rise even further.

The German government, for example, has ruled that cities may ban diesel vehicles from their centres in a bid to tackle rising pollution.

UK cities could follow suit, with an extra charge on pre-Euro 4 diesels (the T-Charge) introduced in London last year.

But the rise won’t spell the end of petrol and diesel for Land Rover – far from it, says Darley.

“We believe modern, clean diesels are still part of the answer to the focus on air quality.

Diesels remain vital for Jaguar Land Rover.”

Put the brakes on auto…

Autonomous car firms such as Uber and Tesla are rushing into driverless technology ‘too soon’, according to Noel Sharkey, Professor of AI and Robotics at the University of Sheffield.

He spoke out out after a woman was killed by an Uber vehicle being tested in Arizona.

“Driverless technology is just not ready yet and needs to mature before it goes on the road,” he said. “Autonomous vehicles present us with a great future opportunity to make our roads safer, but Uber, like Tesla, are rushing headlong into this too quickly.”

His warning came as Jaguar Land Rover embarked on autonomous vehicle trials in Milton Keynes on March 22. A statement by the firm said: “Safety is our number one priority.”

SILENCE IS GOLDEN! Electricity makes the Range Rover seem even more luxurious

THE KNOWLEDGE

ENGINE: 2.0-litre petrol with electric motor

though, and the raucous note of the engine penetrates the cabin.

Land Rover has succumbed to environmental pressure and followed Porsche and Bentley by fitting its flagship Range Rover with a plug-in hybrid drivetrain. Tom Wiltshire takes it for a spin…

Motoring News

MPG: 101 combined EMISSIONS: 64g/km PRICE: £86,965

Chinese Lynk to Europe CHINESE car manufacturer Lynk & Co has revealed the 02 SUV, bringing its model line-up to three ahead of its European launch next year.

The vehicle uses the same Volvo XC40 platform as the 01 SUV, but is a smaller crossover.

A saloon car called 03 completes the line-up.

All of the European models will feature electrified powertrains. Lynk & Co Head of Design Andreas Nilsson said: “Sporty, adventurous, dynamic, daring, confident and fun, the 02 sits at the absolute centre of our brand.”

The cars will be available using an innovative ownership model, where buyers pay a monthly subscription for packages that offer a variety of services, such as breakdown cover and maintenance. The firm has indicated that a number of stores will be opened in shopping precincts, with London among the locations.

Wednesday April 4 | 2018

Motoring

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Recruitment

Wednesday April 4 | 2018

WITH THE

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

OF TUNBRIDGE WELLS AND TONBRIDGE

Puzzles

Wednesday April 4 | 2018

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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.

7 9 5 4 4 6 9 3 6 4 5 6 8 6 7 3 7 5 2 5 4 8 1 8 4 3 9 5

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

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9 8 6 4 8 6 4 9 7 4 1 9 6 7 1 4

CLASSIFIEDS

Codeword:

© 2016 Syndicated Puzzles, Inc.

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DIFFICULTY RATING:★★★★

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© 2016 Syndicated Puzzles

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14

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DIFFICULTY RATING: ★★II

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LAST WEEK’S SOLUTIONS

SUDOKU & JIGSAW SUDOKU

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

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

Puzzle solutions will be published in a forthcoming issue

E P L G A T J E A S U A B O T A S I T

I S O D E S H O I R E T H X E E R E A N R S T R V E Y T I R B E S S E T T E A N N E R C A I L E M P R E

B R R A Z H I E H R Q U R A S M I

I F F L Y E D E F T Y OW H U I S N K E E R

N P Y E

Sudoku:

1 6 4 9 2 3 5 7 8

3 2 7 1 8 5 6 9 4

9 8 5 6 4 7 2 3 1

6 4 9 3 1 8 7 2 5

5 3 8 7 6 2 1 4 9

7 1 2 5 9 4 8 6 3

8 7 3 4 5 6 9 1 2

8 2 1 5 4 3 6 9 7

2 3 7 4 5 9 1 8 6

1 8 9 7 2 6 3 5 4

4 5 1 2 7 9 3 8 6

2 9 6 8 3 1 4 5 7

Jigsaw Sudoku:

9 4 5 2 1 8 7 6 3

7 1 3 8 6 4 5 2 9

4 6 8 9 7 1 2 3 5

6 5 2 3 9 7 8 4 1

3 9 6 1 8 5 4 7 2

5 7 4 6 3 2 9 1 8

© 2016 Syndicated Puzzles

CODEWORD

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Sporting Times

Please send sports stories to: newsdesk@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk or newsdesk@timesoftonbridge.co.uk

Wednesday April 4 | 2018

Kent College and Tonbridge Grammar excel at nationals GYMNASTICS: TWO local schools have been highly successful at this year’s British Schools Gymnastics Association (BSGA) Milano competition.

Each team of four at Fenton Manor in Stoke performed three individual floor routines, three vaults and a trio group routine.

Kent College’s Under-19 squad, consisting of Rosie Bignell, Harriet

Fuller, Poppy Morrison and Olivia Secker and coached by Joanne Cox, were crowned BSGA Milano national champions after coming first in their age group.

They were also placed first in the South East regional category alongside Tormead School in Guildford.

The two schools’ scores were then combined with the boys’ and mixed

entries to win the national title for the South-East. The independent school in Pembury also entered the Under-11 category with the quartet of Violet Manser, Francesca Arnell, Evie Ginbey and Scarlett Howard-Stapaj.

The Under-11s came second in their age group behind Tormead and first in the South-East, and they also helped as the region took the national prize.

Tonbridge Grammar School’s elite gymnasts, coached by Tania Catoor, were taking part in the Under-13s and Under-16s after a very successful regional qualifier at St Johns School.

The Under-13 squad of Millie Lipman, Jess Lewis, Flo Wells and Charlotte Ng narrowly missed out on the title, and were placed second just 0.23 points behind Tormead.

Joining forces to represent the South-East, the two schools once again took away the national gold medal, and the region also went on to win the overall title.

The Under-16s, featuring Fleur Jenkins, Maddie Arnell, Adele White and Rebecca Ng, were placed third on the podium representing the SouthEast alongside Tormead.

VAULTING AMBITION: (L-R) Kent College Under-11s: Violet Manser, Francesca Arnell, Evie Ginbey and Scarlett Howard-Stapaj. Kent College Under-19s: Rosie Bignell, Harriet Fuller, Poppy Morrison and Olivia Secker. Tonbridge Grammar Under-13s: Jess Lewis, Flo Wells, Millie Lipman and Charlotte Ng

Gibson and Thompson Girls edged out by Sevenoaks in thriller show good early-season form on slick bike track DUATHLON: PETER GIBSON and Michael Thompson laid down impressive early-season markers at the British Age Group Duathlon Championships.

Racing over standard distance – 10km run, 39km on the bike, then another 5km run – at Bedford Autodrome, the event attracted competitors from across the country

BACK IN THE GROOVE: Peter Gibson came third in the M25 age group

vying to qualify for the national age group team.

Athletes went head to head with the excitement of a mass start, racing over the smooth tarmac of the Autodrome, which now has a racing track designed by former Formula One driver Jonathan Palmer.

The superb venue is at the historic Thurleigh Airfield, which was formerly home to Bomber Command for sorties over Germany in World War II. Gibson excelled to finish third M25 in a time of 1hr55. He led with a strong 36min 10km run, completed the 39km bike in 58min before finishing the race with a 19min 5km final run.

The racing circuit left athletes exposed to a punishing headwind but there was clear visibility as individual battles played out on the track.

Michael Thompson narrowly missed out on a coveted top 10 spot, finishing 11th M45 in 2hr08.

Strong performances over the first run and the bike leg kept the Tunbridge Wells triathlete in contention by T2.

His final run was impeded by cramp but he demonstrated promising form for the season ahead.

NETBALL: TONBRIDGE GRAMMAR’S students were runners-up at the Kent Under-12s county netball tournament at Rainham School after an exciting final against local rivals Sevenoaks.

A 10-player squad of year 7s faced a challenging start to the competition in the group stage and narrowly defeated Sydenham High 4-3.

With a win under their belts, they went from strength to strength, beating Colfe’s 7-1, then Radnor House in a resounding 17-0 victory, as well as MGGS 10-0 and Hayes 8-2.

The final group match against Kings School Rochester proved trickier than anticipated but the girls were determined to finish the group unbeaten, so they worked hard to maintain their lead and held on for a 5-3 victory.

As unbeaten group winners, we were drawn against the third-placed runners-up across all groups for the quarter-finals, and found themselves up against Sydenham High again.

Having had such a close contest earlier, it was important not to be complacent and Tonbridge Grammar won convincingly.

Next they faced Bromley High in the semi-finals, and raced into a 5-1 lead by half-time. Bromley fought back to 5-4 with a minute left on the clock but gritty determination saw Tonbridge score another goal to prevail 6-4.

SILVER LINING: Tonbridge Grammar Under-12s (back row, l-r) Abi Falkous, Charlotte Rollinshaw, Camy Porachia, Sophie Beeton, Mags Bowyer-Sidwell, Sophie Watkins; (front) Sian Bloomfield, Emily Roche, Millie Thompson, Eleanor Thomas The final was against local rivals Sevenoaks, and a scrappy first half saw only one goal scored, Tonbridge taking the lead. Sevenoaks responded with three goals after the restart but Tonbridge clawed one back to make it 3-2 with two minutes remaining.

The grammar had a decent chance to equalise but unforced passing errors and lack of movement on court meant

Sevenoaks intercepted a Tonbridge attack and took the ball down court to score again for a 4-2 winning margin.

Netball coach Julie Cross said: “It was obvious that the girls were slightly disappointed not to have come away with the trophy but they also realised that it was a fantastic achievement to win silver medals at this fiercely contested tournament.”

Sporting Times

Wednesday April 4 | 2018

Bewl Lasers fight off challenge of Hythe and Saltwood’s RS100 SAILING: BEWL WATER’S own Matt Cox held off the challenge of Hythe and Saltwood Sailing Club’s Simon Dodds to claim the Bewl Blaster title.

The fleet consisted of two FFs, three Lasers and Dodds in an RS100. Three back-to-back races were held from the Racebox using a triangular course, giving a good beat across the reservoir and two broad reaches.

Places changed several times during the races but the conditions seemed to favour the Lasers and RS100.

The first race was won by Cox in the Laser with Bewl’s Phil Carter in second place and Martin Dennant in third, also both in Lasers.

Visitor Dodds came in fourth after a

late start, followed by the two FFs of Bewl’s John Wardrop, with Kevin Powley as crew, and Jim Vince, with Peter Ponsford as crew.

In the second race Dodds improved his start and went on to take win it, ­followed by the three Lasers and then the two FFs. In the final race Wardrop withdrew due to spinnaker problems, leaving Vince to carry the banner for the FFs. The five remaining boats had a close tussle with Cox once again taking first place followed by Dodds and Carter, who was also third overall.

Dennant came fourth with the FFs of Wardrop and Vince in fifth and sixth place respectively.

WIND POWER The Bewl Blaster saw a good beat across the water

TRY SAILING AT BEWL WATER Visitors are welcome to try a taster sailing session with an experienced helm at Bewl Water with the Royal Yacht Association’s ‘Push The Boat Out’ scheme on Saturday May 19 from 2-4pm.

A variety of boats will be available free of charge, organised by Bewl Sailing Association. Beginners can

try a Yawl, Lugger or Wayfarer, whilst those with more experience can try crewing in a Flying Fifteen.

It is advisable to bring a waterproof jacket, a spare set of clothes, old shoes and a towel. Changing rooms and buoyancy aids will be provided, and members will be on hand to talk answer any questions.

New Angels Chairman First clean sheet for six in boardroom reshuffle months boosts Rusthall Chatham Town 0 Rusthall 0

FOOTBALL: TONBRIDGE ANGELS have appointed Dave Netherstreet as the new Chairman at a time when the club is struggling financially.

Mr Netherstreet is responsible for infrastructure at Longmead and has spent the past five years ensuring the ground is eligible to stage semiprofessional football.

Last month the Angels had to trim three players from their first-team squad due to ongoing concerns about the club’s budget.

FOOTBALL: A DEPLETED Rusthall side

Community Roger Maddams was chosen to succeed Steve Churcher as Chairman at the start of the year but he had to stand down after three weeks because of work commitments and has now resigned from the board.

Amy Weaver becomes Vice-Chairman after revolutionising the catering on offer at Longmead and bringing the entire operation in-house.

She will continue to oversee catering but will also be in charge of community and charity initiatives, which are increasingly important to the club’s finances.

Long-serving Vice-Chairman Chris Drew has stepped down but will continue to work on sponsorship and take part in post-match presentations.

STREETS AHEAD Dave Netherstreet is responsible for stadium infrastructure A club statement said: “We thank Roger for his valuable initiative in drawing up the Three-Year Plan for the club that has provided a sound template for moving forward.

“Owners are asked to continue to give support to the directors in their new roles and also to the other board members, Dave Couldridge, Peter Elves, Malcolm McLean and Vanessa Yates, as they all continue to lead your club through the various opportunities and challenges that lie ahead as the club enters its platinum season.”

travelled to Chatham looking for their first win this year.

But they had to settle for a muchneeded point in the battle to avoid relegation, and were cheered by their first clean sheet since September 20.

New striker Dan Hanshaw made his debut while the Rustics also welcomed back Danny Powell for the forward’s first appearance since September following a serious ankle injury.

In-form Chatham shaded the first half possession-wise, but Callum Christie was only called upon to make one decent save.

The visitors started the second half by setting the tempo and Steph Harper had an attempt on the home goal from a free-kick, while Chatham shaved the post with a good strike. But both sides were guilty of not finding the final ball when it mattered.

The clean sheet gave the Rustics some comfort and push for a strong finish to the season but their hopes

of avoiding the drop were dampened by a victory for Hollands & Blair, second fro m bottom in the Southern Counties East League Premier Division but now only two points behind.

It is going to be a hectic period with Rusthall having to play eight games between now and April 28 due to a number of postponements.

Saturday’s scheduled home game with Lordswood was a victim of the overnight rain and that will now be played on Monday, April 23.

RING RUSTY Danny Powell returns after six months out

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Wildcats seek female footballers of the future FOOTBALL: AN EXCITING new football venture for girls is starting at Hayesbrook School in Tonbridge.

The Tonbridge and West Kent School Sport Partnership has joined forces with the Football Association to launch the Wildcats FA Football Centre for girls aged eight to 11.

The not-for-profit organisation works with around 80 schools in Tonbridge and Tunbridge Wells helping with the provision of PE, sport and health.

According to the Partnership’s Alex Weston, the course is aiming to ‘increase girls’ participation in football and remove the stigma of it being a sport for boys only’.

Research by the FA shows that only 41 per cent of girls aged 10 play football, compared to 95 per cent of boys of the same age.

Alex works with around 80 schools in Tonbridge and Tunbridge Wells, helping with PE, sport and health.

Training sessions will be held on the 4G pitch at Hayesbrook on Brook Street on Monday evenings from 5-6pm, starting on April 16. The first session is free to allcomers.

The FA teamed up with energy provider SSE, which sponsors the FA Women’s FA Cup, to launch the Wildcats project last year and there are now over 200 participating clubs across England.

Foundations Alex says: “This new initiative is already providing girls with regular opportunities to play football and take part in organised sessions in a fun and engaging environment created exclusively for girls.

“The sessions take place on a weekly basis after school in a safe environment where girls with a little or a lot of football experience can have fun engaging with sport, develop fundamental skills, try a variety of sessions, learn new things and create foundations for a lifelong love of sport.”

As Programme Director for the Wildcats in Tonbridge, she believes all young girls should have access to opportunities to ‘inspire and engage them in something positive and physically active’.

She adds: “In an effort to make the Wildcats centre as inspiring and sustainable as possible, we will teaming up with Tonbridge Angels FC to provide a pathway for girls to join a local community club and hopefully be lifelong participants in team sport.”

For more information, contact Alex Weston by emailing tonbridge. wildcats@gmail.com or calling 07903 550442.