Times of Tunbridge Wells 6th November 2019

Wednesday November 6 | 2019

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Bins still not being collected one month into the new service

By Robert Forrester FOUR weeks after the rollout of the waste services contract and around one in 40 bins, around 1,000, are still being missed during kerbside collections which Urbaser claims is ‘usual’ with the launch of any new scheme.

The company took over bin collections for both Tunbridge Wells and Tonbridge & Malling borough councils earlier this year in a joint deal worth around £3million.

Tonbridge & Malling say the ‘rollout has not delivered the services expected’.

BACK WITH A BANG: Thousands braved the weather at the weekend to see the 63rd annual fireworks display at Dunorlan Park

Battle lines drawn as parties name parliamentary hopefuls

By Richard Williams CANDIDATES from all the main political parties have thrown their hats into the ring to become the next Member of Parliament for Tunbridge Wells.

Parliament was officially dissolved shortly after midnight today [Wednesday], triggering the five week campaign period.

The country goes to the polls on December 12, which will be the first winter General Election held in the UK since 1923.

The parliamentary constituency of Tunbridge Wells has been served by Greg Clark since 2005.

Last night, the Executive Council of the local Conservative Association was meeting to readopt Mr Clark as their nominated candidate.

Mr Clark had the party whip restored

following PM Boris Johnson’s call for a December election last week.

The Tunbridge Wells MP was among 21 ‘Tory rebels’ who lost the whip in September, expelling him from the parlia-

‘During the last General Election held in 2017, Mr Clark won a 16,000 seat majority’ mentary party, after they defied Mr Johnson and voted to support a bill seeking to block a no-deal Brexit.

Despite a petition raised in September asking the local Conservative party to de-select Mr Clark because of his stance on no-deal, no other candidate has been proposed for December’s election and it is understood the former Busi-

Contract

ness Secretary will again be standing.

Joining Mr Clark on the ballot paper will be local Lib Dem councillor, Ben Chapelard, who will be hoping to improve on his party’s third place in 2017.

The local Labour Party are also fielding a candidate: Dr Antonio Weiss, a serving councillor from the London borough of Harrow. The party came second in Tunbridge Wells in 2017.

The Green Party’s Trevor Bisdee will also be standing again to represent the constituency, but there will be no Women’s Equality Party candidate this time around with the party fielding only four people nationally.

During the last General Election held in 2017, Mr Clark won a 16,000 seat majority, but Tunbridge Wells, long con-

Urbaser has struggled with the new recycling arrangements introduced by both local authorities.

From September 30, residents in the two boroughs have been able to recycle glass and food waste as well as opt for a paid-for garden waste collection service.

This has involved the distribution of new bins while Urbaser has had to come up with new routes for the kerbside collections.

The Councils provided a six month transition period for the new waste services contract, which they said was to allow Urbaser to finalise the new arrangements.

But one month on, and residents have been complaining that bins are still getting missed, with some people saying they have had neither waste nor recycling collected since the new contract came into force.

Kerry Ward, who lives in an apartment block on Calverley

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NEWS

Local News

Thousands brave the weather for town’s fireworks display PHOTO: Sarah Mott

this week…

FOR EVEN MORE NEWS VISIT: timeslocalnews.co.uk

TIME TO CAST YOUR VOTE: We profile the candidates hoping to become the next Member of Parliament for Tunbridge Wells p6-8 PUMPED UP: Three Elm service station is the first in Kent to be awarded a new gold standard site safety sticker p9

AWARDWINNING: Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust’s Vicki Belton wins Health Play Specialist of the Year award p14 HOT PROPERTY: Don’t miss our comprehensive guide to the best houses currently on the market p19

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BRIGHT SPARKS Fireworks light up Dunorlan Park THOUSANDS turned out on Saturday to see the 63rd annual fireworks display at Dunorlan Park despite ‘horrendous weather conditions’ that saw many displays across the region cancelled.

Around 5,000 people attended the fundraiser on Saturday [November 2], despite fears that gale force winds and wet weather would turn the event into a damp squib. Last year saw a crowd of 12,000.

Despite challenging conditions during the day, the team of volunteers worked hard to make sure the display went ahead while other displays across Kent were called off.

Organisers Royal Tunbridge Wells Round Table said because numbers were ‘significantly down’ on last year, only a small profit for local causes was raised, which will be distributed to the charities who helped on the night.

This will mean the Round Table’s Annual Giveaway will not be able to proceed next year. Last year over £30k was given to local charities in and around Tunbridge Wells at their Giveaway.

Committee member Andrew Mockford said: “The strong wind and heavy rain subsided during the

Wednesday November 6 | 2019

Bins still not collected Continued from page 1 Street, right in the middle of Tunbridge Wells town centre, said tenants there have not had bins emptied for the last four weeks.

She said: “We share all the bins, and since the new system started we haven’t had a single collection, so as you can imagine, the bins are just overflowing.

“We reported it to the Council twice, and even went into the Gateway to complain, and last Sunday the binmen came out and did the buildings opposite but not ours.”

Missed

early evening, so the decision to continue with the display was justified. All our guys worked exceptionally hard to set up, in very challenging conditions.

“Although it is easy to suggest postponing the event, the decision to do so is far from it. The safety of the public is of paramount importance to us and our number one priority. The irrecoverable costs already incurred prior to the evening mean that we will always make every effort to put on the event, as long as it’s safe for everyone.”

Determined

She added that while the apartments have an electric gate, Urbaser has a key and the group of flats had no issue before the new waste contract started on September 30.

Tunbridge Wells Borough Council [TWBC] has admitted that one month on, and 2.3 per cent of bins are still being missed – one in 40 of all collections.

In Tonbridge & Malling the picture is a little better with 1.2 per cent of collections being missed – around one in 80 missed collections.

This is despite Urbaser working weekends and overtime to catch up.

Both Councils Street Scene and Environment Boards have met with the waste management company to discuss the missed collections.

Head of Fireworks Committee Graeme Dewar added: “I’m delighted to say that the horrendous weather conditions on Saturday did not deter us from persevering with our event. We were determined not to let the public down, especially considering the numerous displays cancelled in the local area.”

The Round Table has thanked Buss Murton Law for their sponsorship and Times newspapers, which once again acted as media sponsor.

Aldi opens its doors

A number of issues have been highlighted including IT problems, a lack of training on local geography, more food waste than expected, along with breakdowns and teething issues with the new vehicles.

In a report, Robert Styles, Director of Street Scene for Tonbridge & Malling Borough Council said the transition had ‘clearly been challenging’ and admitted the ‘roll-out has not delivered the services expected, particularly around issues of noncompletion of rounds and missed collections.”

He said: “A number of factors have contributed to these issues including crew familiarisation with new rounds, increased waste tonnages and longer than normal tipping times at disposal sites.”

Urbaser has said it is ‘usual’ to expect higher levels of missed bins in the ‘eight to ten weeks’ after such ‘a significant change to a service’.

Chris Minnis, UK Operations Manager at Urbaser said: “As crews familiarise themselves with the rounds, the number of missed collections is declining day by day and will be back to the usual, minimal levels by the end of November.

“We can confirm that we are recruiting staff but only to reduce reliance on agency staff to build up the permanent work force, as well as cover holidays and sickness.”

OVERFLOWING Some bins in Calverley Street have not been collected

BUDGET supermarket chain, Aldi, has opened its first store in Tunbridge Wells.

As revealed in the Times in April, the German chain has taken over the former Toys R Us site on Great Lodge Retail Park in Longfield Road.

Olympic Bronze Medallist, Anthony Ogogo was joined by Tunbridge Wells Mayor, James Scholes, to cut the all-important, red ribbon on Thursday morning.

The shop was previously due to be opened by Lizzy Yarnold, the Olympic skeleton race gold medallist who grew up in nearby West Kingsdown, but was changed last month due to changes to her schedule.

The boxer gave away complementary bags of fresh fruit and vegetables to shoppers as part of Aldi’s ‘Get Set To Eat Fresh’ campaign, which hopes to inspire more than a million children aged five to 14 to learn more about the benefits of cooking healthy food.

Team GB star, Anthony Ogogo, said: “It’s been an honour to be a part of Aldi’s store opening.

I’ve had a great time talking to both the adults and children of Tunbridge Wells about healthy eating and my experience of the Olympics.”

The Great Lodge Retail Park store is the first Aldi to open in Tunbridge Wells and will be run

by Store Manager, Matt Cook, along with a team of 45 colleagues from the local area.

Aldi will be open Monday to Saturdays, 8.00am to 10.00pm, and Sunday 10.00am to 4.00pm.

Wednesday November 6 | 2019

NEWS IN BRIEF

ROADWORKS at the top of Mount Pleasant have been removed in time for the Remembrance Service.

The Public Realm works are all but finished, although the Council admits there is still some ‘tidying up to do’, but the top of Mount Pleasant is open for the wreath laying at the War Memorial.

The Remembrance Sunday service, which this year marks 101 years since the end of WWI, begins at 10.45 on Sunday.

The service will be conducted by the Mayor’s Chaplain and Vicar of King Charles the Martyr, Reverend Laurence Powell.

Following the service and laying of wreaths there will be a March Past where the Mayor will take the salute.

Launderer loses haul A TUNBRIDGE WELLS money launderer found in a hotel room with nearly a million pounds worth of gold bars, Krugerrand coins, cash and designer watches has had his haul confiscated.

Stephen Burton, 55, was jailed for nearly four years last month after pleading guilty to money laundering and the possession of false identity documents.

Now in a separate hearing, a judge has confiscated £927,725 from Burton under the Proceeds of Crime Act.

Fatal A21 collision A 50-YEAR-OLD lorry driver has died after his truck left the carriageway on the A21.

The man, who was from Essex, was pronounced dead at the scene after his white Scania articulated lorry left the carriageway between Pembury and the Kipping’s Cross roundabout.

Police say they are appealing for witnesses following the incident, which took place at around 1pm on Wednesday, October 30, 2019.

NEWS

5

Strictly injury threatens Will’s 2020 Tokyo gold medal hopes

By Robert Forrester

Roadworks removed for remembrance day

Local News

FOR EVEN MORE NEWS VISIT: timeslocalnews.co.uk

TUNBRIDGE WELLS Paralympian, Will Bayley, spoke this week about the injury that forced him to quit Strictly and now threatens to keep him out of the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics.

The 31-year-old gold medallist landed awkwardly while practising a jive for the BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing and was ruled out of appearing on last weekend’s show.

Now the table tennis star has revealed that his injury has forced him to quit the show altogether, and it could be severe enough to dash hopes of defending his title next year.

“I’m so gutted. I was just in total shock. It has been a traumatic four days for me,” he told newspapers.

“I knew I had felt my knee pop and I was in agony. I’m not going to lie, the second I landed and felt I thought ‘Tokyo’ but thought I’d get some physio, rest it for a day, and be back dancing next week.”

The former pupil from Beacon Academy in Crowborough who began his table tennis career playing at Byng Hall Table Tennis Club in Tunbridge Wells aged 11, is now ranked the sport’s number one Paralympian after winning gold at the 2016 Summer Paralympics in Rio. But he admitted he faces an anxious wait after the fall damaged a ligament in his right knee.

He said: “I have got an ACL [anterior cruciate ligament] tear, so I have to wait six weeks and if it does not improve I may then need surgery, which could be six months out. I can’t believe it.”

He continued: “If I have to miss Tokyo, it would be devastating. I’m at the top of my career. I’ve played four major tournaments this season and I’ve won three gold medals. I’m the best player in the world at the moment. So this is just massively scary to have this injury at the moment. It is only just starting to sink in.”

Revealed Will’s mother, Chrissie Bayley, who runs Mirror Beauty on Nevill Street, says she wept with her son when she heard of his injury.

“I was saying ‘Just the minute you have some happiness in your life – you were having such a wonderful time, showing what can be achieved with hard work and determination. Showing people what I have always known, that it is an asset to be different’.”

Will revealed on Strictly that not only was he born with arthrogryposis, a condition that affects all four of his limbs, but also he had to battle cancer at the age of seven after his mum discovered a lump on his neck, which was diagnosed to be Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma.

His mother recalled: “I was so bloody cross with God. I don’t go to church but I do have this belief inside me. I said to Him, ‘Again, what next?’”

She added: “The next nine months were a time of highs and terrible lows.”

Will’s partner on the hit BBC show, Janette Manrara, said she was ‘absolutely devastated’ the Paralympian would not be able to continue.

ANXIOUS Will faces a long wait following his Strictly injury

Vintage tourist poster goes under the hammer

By Richard Williams A RARE travel poster advertising the ‘romantic charm’ of Tunbridge Wells, is expected to fetch around $1,000 when it is auctioned in New York later this month.

The poster, designed by Kenneth Shoesmith for Southern Railway, dates back to 1939 and depicts an artist’s impression of The Pantiles.

It was created to attract people to the town, which it described as a ‘sunny inland resort of romantic charm in loveliest Kent’.

The pre-war poster is expected to fetch between $700 and $1,000 [£550 - £775] when it is auctioned off by Swann Auction Galleries in New York on November 14.

A number of designs in this Rare & Important Travel Posters auction were originally aimed at American audiences and were conceived by artists who were successful in other fields, making them highly collectable.

But Principal Auctioneer, Nicho Lowry, told the Times: “This is very specifically a case of ‘Location, Location, Location’. This poster would almost exclusively appeal to someone who is in some manner connected to the town of Tunbridge Wells.

“People whose family comes from that town, or people who have vacationed there, will likely find it quite appealing.”

The complete catalogue and bidding information and live online bidding details are available at swanngalleries.com

6

NEWS

Election Special

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Wednesday November 6 | 2019

Candidates hit the election trail as two ‘safe seats’ go to the polls

By Richard Williams AROUND 150,000 people in both Tunbridge Wells and Tonbridge & Malling will be eligible to cast their votes at the General Election election on December 12.

It is the third election in just four years although Brexit will play a central role in both how the electorate votes for as well as how the party’s will be canvassing.

The Conservative governments of both Theresa May and Boris Johnson have tried and failed to get a withdrawal agreement passed by Parliament in order for Britain to leave the EU. All three main parties have a different stance on Brexit with the Conservatives wishing to press ahead with Boris Johnson’s deal and take the UK out of the European Union by January.

The Labour Party are campaigning on a ticket of holding a second EU referendum, with Jeremy Corbyn promising to negotiate a new deal to ‘get Brexit done’ in six months.

The Liberal Democrats say that if they achieve a majority, they will revoke Article 50 to keep the UK in the EU, but since this is unlikely, they are also backing a second referendum.

Both Tunbridge Wells and Tonbridge & Malling are considered safe seats for the Conservatives.

No other party has won in either parliamentary

constituencies since the electoral boundaries were formed in 1974.

But on Brexit, the two constituencies differ.

The Brexit referendum results were counted by Councils based on their borough or district boundaries, and not parliamentary constituencies, but Tunbridge Wells was the only area in Kent where the majority [54.9 per cent] voted Remain as opposed to Leave [45.1 per cent] in the EU referendum of 2016.

be aiming to do, but would sow division and anger and prolonged uncertainty for years to come.”

In Tonbridge & Malling the Brexit situation was reversed with 55.7 per cent of voters choosing Leave over the 44.3 per cent who voted Remain.

Mr Tugendhat was in favour of remaining in the EU in 2016 – his wife Anissia Morel is a

GENERAL ELECTION

2019

supreme court judge in France, but he has persistently voted for the deals offered by both Theresa May and Boris Johnson.

He told the Times: “Since the referendum, in Parliament I have voted to leave the EU at every opportunity, and have never once voted to extend the Article 50 deadline because we’re not short of time, we need to act.”

Ousted Greg Clark voted through both Theresa May’s Brexit deal and Boris Johnson’s, but he was ousted from the party after voting for a bill that blocked a no-deal Brexit.

He told the Times: “On the biggest issue that faces us right now – how we leave the EU – I have argued consistently that we should leave the EU with a good deal that allows us to continue to trade easily with our neighbours, and that we should not accept a no deal Brexit.”

But he has since warned against holding a second referendum.

He said: “My view is that a policy of unilaterally cancelling the result of the referendum and pretending it never happened will not bring our country together as we should

Dr Antonio Weiss Labour Party candidate for Tunbridge Wells LABOUR Today [Wednesday] the Labour Party’s National Executive Committee [NEC] is expected to approve the nomination of Dr Antonio Weiss as their prospective parliamentary candidate for Tunbridge Wells.

Councillor Dr Antonio Weiss is a public service consultant and currently an elected Councillor and Cabinet Member in the London Borough of Harrow.

“I am a businessperson, author and councillor. My aim is to build on our second place in the 2017 election, when

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the Lib Dems came a distant third, and secure a Labour victory in Tunbridge Wells, where my wife and family have their roots.

“Labour will safeguard future generations by tackling the climate emergency.

“It will build genuinely affordable homes. It will stop the unnecessary misery caused by Tory / Lib Dem austerity and give our schools, the NHS, and emergency services the funding they need.

“And it will heal the divisions of Brexit by giving a People’s Vote on any deal.”

Battle lines drawn: Continued from page 1 sidered a Conservative safe seat, could become harder to predict this time around due to Brexit.

Nigel Farage said on Monday that the Brexit Party would be contesting 600 seats in the UK with Tunbridge Wells among them. Christopher Pendleton is their chosen candidate.

Disaffected A majority [54 per cent] of the local electorate chose to vote Remain in the EU referendum, and Conservative voters among them may not like the idea of leaving the EU with Boris Johnson’s withdrawal agreement and may decide to vote for a more Remain-friendly party.

Of the 46 per cent of local people who voted Leave, some former Conservatives could be feeling disaffected with Mr Clark over his stance on no-deal.

Independent candidates may also decide to stand on December 12, with nominations set to close on November 14.

Wednesday November 6 | 2019

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Election Special

NEWS

7

Ben Chapelard: Liberal Democrats candidate for Tunbridge Wells

Greg Clark: Conservative Party candidate for Tunbridge Wells

BEN CHAPELARD is a current serving Councillor at Tunbridge Wells Borough Council. He works full time as a teacher.

“I have successfully campaigned on many issues on behalf of local people such as doorstep recycling and stopping the Tory Town Hall and theatre complex.

“Now I am taking the fight for Tunbridge Wells to the next level, to defend local jobs and businesses by stopping a disastrous Brexit.

“As a teacher, I am also committed to secure better funding for local schools, where parents are having to buy extra textbooks and subject choices are being slashed. As the father of two young boys, I will also fight climate change, by legislating for radical measures to cut harmful carbon emissions and improve public transport.

For the future of our families, we must ensure that we have cleaner air and safer streets locally.”

GREG CLARK was first elected MP for Tunbridge Wells in 2005 and held a number of positions in Government, including Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy.

“We need someone strong, respected and experienced to speak for our community. Someone who is visible, approachable and effective, and is taken seriously by government.

“I work flat out for local people, and I get things done: from dualling the A21, to getting Tunbridge Wells Hospital built. I have helped thousands of people with individual problems.

“There’s much more to do and I will continue to fight for upgraded roads to beat congestion, improved mental health services, faster broadband and a clean and green environment.

“It’s time to reunite our nation – I stand proudly as a sensible, moderate MP in the centre-ground of British politics.”

LIBERAL DEMOCRATS

THE CONSERVATIVE PARTY

Trevor Bisdee: Green Party candidate for Tunbridge Wells TREVOR BISDEE is a retired Metropolitan Police Officer, who now studies and works in horticulture. He enjoys competitive running in his spare time.

“If elected I would introduce a Green New Deal, to address both the Climate Emergency, and the social inequality that the outdated ‘jobs and growth’ economy had left us with.

“We would deploy the new technologies and changes needed, thereby promising a future for our children and their children, whilst creating millions of substantial jobs in green technologies, rather than the low-security, low-wage jobs that the system has recently created.

“We would hold a People’s Vote on the final Brexit deal, and campaign to stay in the European Union, to continue reaping the environmental, social and economic benefits.”

THE GREEN PARTY

8

NEWS

Election Special

FOR EVEN MORE NEWS VISIT: timeslocalnews.co.uk

Wednesday November 6 | 2019

Christopher Pendleton Brexit Party candidate for Tunbridge Wells THE BREXIT PARTY CHRISTOPHER Pendleton lives in Tunbridge Wells with his wife Penny and daughter Sophie. He was an active Councillor at Speldhurst Parish Council for seven years.

“The general consensus in the Brexit Party is that the deal that Boris has presented to parliament is not a proper Brexit. It is just Theresa May’s deal mark two.

“Who presides over the problems within the free trade area? The EU

will. The EU will remain in control.

“Locally, I am passionate about bringing back honesty and openness to politics and representing the requirements of the Tunbridge Wells Electorate and championing their causes.

“These include Gatwick Airport’s expansion, the continual demise of small businesses in the Town Centre due to high business rates, and air pollution – Tunbridge Wells has some of the worst polluted roads in Kent!”

Cllr April Clark Green Party candidate for Tonbridge & Malling THE GREEN PARTY APRIL is an HR Director and former Vice Chair of a national disability charity. A mother of one young daughter, she co-founded the South Tonbridge WI and volunteers to support refugees.

Investment “After campaigning locally on important issues such as air quality, housing and planning, I was elected to Tonbridge & Malling Borough

Council this year – and I have been working hard to hold the Conservative-dominated council to account since.

“The more people who vote Green, the louder the voice for a different kind of politics.

“Westminster politicians have failed us all on Brexit, so we need a Peoples’ Vote to give power back to the people. We also need investment in local communities to tackle the climate crisis and transform Britain into a place that works for everyone.”

Tom Tugendhat Conservative Party candidate for Tonbridge & Malling THE CONSERVATIVE PARTY TOM served as an Army intelligence officer in Afghanistan and the Middle East. He was elected MP in 2015 and was appointed chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee.

“I’m standing to be re-elected to represent Tonbridge & Malling based on my record over the past four years.

“In that time we have achieved a lot together. We have funded flood defences, reduced business rates helping Tonbridge High

Street, and saved Hadlow and West Kent College. I want to continue this good work for our community.

“Tonbridge is thriving because of the efforts so many people put into our community. I want to play my part in that success.

“There is still so much more we can do and I hope to continue working with others to succeed, not least by improving infrastructure and transport.”

As a business newly opened in the High Street, Tunbridge Wells, we are offering what we feel is the best value for money in the watch market today…

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Richard Morris Liberal Democrats candidate for Tonbridge & Malling LIBERAL DEMOCRATS RICHARD a constituency resident RICHARD, for over 30 years, is a lawyer, banker, publisher and educationalist. He is on the board of the European Movement.

“Brexit is the dominant issue in this General Election. The outcome will colour all other areas of policy, including the economy, security, health, environment and education, for years, perhaps decades, to come.

“As Liberal Democrats, we have been wholly consistent in our belief that no Brexit deal can come close to

How they fared last time THE 2019 General Election comes just two and half years since the last national ballot in which Theresa May lost her majority after calling an early election following her succession to Prime Minister from David Cameron.

In 2017, Greg Clark won a 16,465 majority in Tunbridge Wells for the Conservative Party. His 30,865 votes secured 56.9 per cent of the 54,209 ballots cast after a turnout of 72 per cent.

No sooner than the schools go back after half term than Christmas is upon us.

Charles Woodgate’s 14,391 votes won him a firm second place for Labour with 25 per cent of the electorate choosing them over Liberal Democrats’ Rachel Sadler, who managed ten percent of the votes with 5,355.

Trevor Bisdee will be hoping to beat the 1,441 votes he won for the Greens last time, which saw him narrowly lose to Ukip’s Chris Hoare by just 23 votes but did see him beat the Women’s Equality

matching the benefits we currently enjoy as a member of the EU. Both the Conservative and Labour parties have been deeply split and have been motivated far more by party political considerations than by the national interest. Now voters have a choice between real options - rather than the misrepresented fantasies of 2016.

LABOUR

As the Times went to press, the Tonbridge & Malling Labour Party was yet to select a candidate.

Party’s Celine Thomas who secured 702 votes.

In Tonbridge & Malling, Tom Tugendhat won an even bigger majority of 23,734. His 36,218 votes equated to 63 per cent of the 56,907 turnout.

Labour’s Dylan Jones came second with 12,710 votes [22 per cent], while Keith Miller for the Liberal Democrats came third with 3,787 votes [6.1 per cent].

April Clark wasn’t far behind for the Greens, her 2,335 votes was enough to beat Collin Bullen from Ukip, who managed 1,857 votes.

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Wednesday November 6 | 2019

Restructuring and refurbishment blamed as Bill’s records loss

Challenging

BUSINESS

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Pumping out pure gold – Tonbridge M&S hiring 50 service station awarded top honour seasonal workers

By Richard Willliams

RESTAURANT chain Bill’s slid into the red last year after it was weighed down by refurbishment and restructuring costs.

The business, which has a restaurant in Lime Hill Road, just off Fiveways in Tunbridge Wells town centre, recorded a loss after it was hit by more than £10million of ‘exceptional costs’, including refurbishments and management restructuring.

Bill’s Restaurants fell to a £9.1million loss for the 17 months to December 2018, from a £3.5million profit for the year to July 2017.

For the extended accounting period, Bill’s reported sales of £175million, compared with sales of £118.5million for the previous 12-month period.

The company said it saw earnings before tax and interest slide to a disappointing £9.9million, from £13.6million in the prior period, on the back of the challenging economic conditions affecting the casual dining sector.

Bill’s launched a major refurbishment programme, directed by founder Bill Collison, during the year to invigorate the business.

It also made changes among its executive, operations and marketing teams in a restructuring which cost almost £1.2million, according to the recently released Companies House accounts.

Local News

FILLING UP WITH PRIDE Three Elm Service Station sales assistants Lucy Hobbs and Patricia Harvey A LOCAL service station has become the first in Kent to be awarded a new gold standard site safety sticker.

Three Elm Service Station, in Hadlow Road, was awarded the badge of honour after an exemplary health and safety audit this month.

‘With the badge on display, all visitors to the site will know that health and safety is a top consideration’ The new scheme, masterminded by forecourt compliance company Suresite Group, awards petrol stations achieving a score of at least 80 per cent a blue window sticker, while those scoring 95 per cent and above are entitled to display a ‘gold standard’ accreditation.

The forecourt at Three Elm, which also features

a Co-op convenience store, scored 100 per cent, making it the first in the county to receive a perfect score since the window sticker scheme was rolled out during the summer.

Lucy Hobbs, a sales assistant at the service station, said: “Our new window badge is the forecourt equivalent of a five star food hygiene rating sticker for a restaurant or fast food outlet, and it gives our customers the confidence that we are a safe site.

“We are proud of the hard work and achievements of our staff team, who will continue to make a visit to our site a safe and enjoyable one.”

Neil Simms, Compliance Manager at the Suresite Group, added: “Our new window sticker scheme rewards forecourts that achieve good scores on their compliance audits.

“This demonstrates the operator’s commitment to ensuring the safety of staff, contractors and customers that visit that site. With the badge on display, all visitors to the site will know that health and safety is a top consideration.”

MAJOR high street chain Marks & Spencer is seeking 50 people to work over the festive period at their two Tunbridge Wells branches.

The company says a variety of Christmas roles are available in their Royal Victoria Place and Fountain Retail Park stores across clothing, home and food.

Sacha Berendji, Retail Operations and Property Director at Marks & Spencer, said: “The run up to Christmas is one of the busiest times of year and we want to make shopping with us as enjoyable and easy as possible.

“This means we need more great colleagues on hand to offer a brilliant service and help customers get everything they need, from the big gifts right down to the trimmings.

“We have a fantastic team in Tunbridge Wells and, every year, many of the additional colleagues we recruit stay with us, so we very much look forward to welcoming applicants.”

She added that applications were now open and that all new colleagues will have full training, competitive rates of pay, and a 20 per cent discount on M&S products.

To apply, visit: careers.marksandspencer.com

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£ pe 1 rc 0 hi l

SANTA’S GROTTO Make Christmas extra special with a visit to Santa’s Grotto at Salomons Estate

l be open The Grotto wil : 10am - 4pm on th December Thursday 19th ember Friday 20 stDec ember ec Saturday 21nd D ember Sunday 22 rd Dec ecember Monday 23 D

Santa will be bringing some seasonal cheer to Salomons Estate as he opens up his cosy Christmas Grotto! Come and meet him and his hard-working elves as they take up residence in the beautiful grounds of the estate.

To book call 01892 515152 or visit www.salomons-estate.com/events/whats-on/ EST ESTABLISHED

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Local News

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Heavy criticism of Inspector after controversial Local Plan rejected OFF THE MAP Sevenoaks council has said it won’t build almost 2,000 houses

By Andy Tong SEVENOAKS District Council [SDC] has ‘expressed serious concerns’ about the impartiality of the government’s Planning Inspector after she sent back its draft Local Plan.

Council leader Peter Fleming pledged to ‘stand up’ to the ‘huge abuse’ of the process by the Inspector, Karen Baker, and the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.

Ms Baker wrote to SDC calling on it to withdraw the plan because it had failed in its ‘duty to co-operate’ with other councils such as Tunbridge Wells and Tonbridge & Malling to find sites for new homes.

Sevenoaks had defied the government’s quota for housing

‘It is clear to me the way this has been handled calls into question the integrity of the whole plan-making system in this country’ of 11,312 homes by the year 2035, saying it would only provide 9,410 – almost 2,000 fewer than they have been told to build.

It argued that it could not fulfil the target because 93 per cent of the district is wihin the Green Belt – which can only be used in ‘exceptional circumstances’.

After six months perusing the document, Ms Baker said: “My main concern relates to the lack of constructive engagement with neighbouring authorities to resolve the issue of unmet housing need.”

Among several other problem areas she also criticised the ‘assessment of the Green Belt’.

SDC has countered by saying: “Evidence submitted to the Inspector clearly demonstrates the council had worked closely with its eight neighbouring councils since 2015 when it began the new Plan.

“In April, the council met with the Government’s Planning Advisory Service to discuss its neighbours’ ability to assist with unmet housing need. The meeting confirmed neighbouring authorities could not help.

“Before submitting the plan, the council also sought the opinion of a QC and industry experts, including former senior Planning Inspectors, who also advised the council’s approach was sound.”

Ms Baker had noted that the other authorities were not formally contacted ‘until just before the Local Plan was submitted’.

SDC Leader Peter Fleming said: “It is clear to me the way this has been handled calls into question the integrity of the whole plan-making system in this country.

“The inspector had our submission for six months and

asked over 500 questions.

“Had there been a fundamental problem, I would have expected the examination not to have gone ahead from the start.

“As a Council we decided early on that we would follow an evidence-led approach, not prejudging any site and going where our plan-making policy and the evidence took us.

“To call into question an evidence-led approach comes to the root of our concerns with the actions of the Inspector.

“If we are not to follow the evidence to make our plan then the Government may just as well dictate how many homes an area should have and then pick sites.

“We need to put an end to the thinly veiled charade that local plans are in any way locally led.

He added: “But the most damning comment has to be left for the Inspector’s approach, to publish her brief note before allowing the council to either see her full reasoning or have a chance to respond.

“This suggests her mind is far from open and she and her masters have made their minds up.”

Cllr Julia Thornton, Cabinet Member for Development and Conservation, said: “We received more than 235,000 comments and residents told us loud and clear, they wanted us to continue to protect the district while providing new homes and infrastructure for the future.

“Taking the Local Plan off the table puts at risk the new infrastructure, including the schools, medical and leisure facilities, we really need.”

DAMNING COMMENT Cllr Peter Fleming spoke of a ‘thinly veiled charade’

Wednesday November 6 | 2019

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Community News

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Health play specialist rewarded for children’s hospital pathway

Wednesday November 6 | 2019

REFRESHED The VC information plaque in Dunorlan Park

A SPECIALIST at Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust [MTW] has been recognised for her work with children in hospital.

Vicki Belton, a health play specialist who has worked across various departments at both hospitals within the Trust, came second in the Starlight Health Play Specialist of the Year awards.

Starlight Children’s Foundation is a national charity dedicated to promoting the importance of play and distraction in a hospital setting – especially in cases of serious illness.

Vicki, who has worked at the Trust for over a decade, was put forward for the award by colleagues who praised the impact she has on children and the wider medical team.

Victoria Cross Grove improved in time for Remembrance Day

Scans Her nominee stated: “Vicki has been a wellestablished permanent member of staff at MTW, and has been instrumental in the service development of the play team at both hospitals.”

Vicki said: “To win second place out of many fantastic health play specialists being nominated is amazing. I work closely with the radiographers to make sure a child’s MRI experience is the best possible. It is a team effort, so I would like to thank them for supporting me.”

In the MRI department, she has introduced a pathway where all the children come on one day.

She meets them, prepares them and takes them in for their scans.

She was presented with a Starlight Distraction Box containing arts and crafts, a voucher and a children’s play mat from awards sponsor Ryman.

Ryman’s Chairman, Theo Paphitis, said: “It is clear to see the value of health play specialists in making the whole experience of serious illness and treatment much better for children and their families. They really are unsung heroes.”

UNSUNG HERO Vicki Belton has worked at the Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust for over ten years

‘To win second place out of many fantastic health play specialists being nominated is amazing’

THE Victoria Cross Grove in Dunorlan Park has undergone an upgrade ahead of this year’s Remembrance Day. The commemorative area includes a memorial and a plaque describing the heroics of the ‘Ten Brave Men And True’ who lived in Tunbridge Wells and received the Victoria Cross.

The Grove at the Bayhall Road entrance to the park offers a quiet, contemplative place to sit and reflect on their bravery.

With funding from Tunbridge Wells Borough Council and a contribution from the Friends of Dunorlan Park, a path is being constructed from the plaque to the memorial.

The photographs and text on the plaque have also been replaced because they had become cracked and worn.

The sculpture was created by Charles Gurrey

and was unveiled by Princess Anne in 2006. It includes extracts from Andrew Motion’s poem Remembrance.

Recipients The Victoria Cross was instituted by Queen Victoria in 1856 to recognise acts of outstanding bravery by members of the armed forces.

The ten local recipients are Charles Davis Lucas, Matthew Charles Dixon, William Temple, John Duncan Grant, Douglas Walter Belcher, William Robert Fountains Addison, Eric Stuart Dougall, William Hew Clark-Kennedy, Lionel Ernest Queripel and John Henry Cound Brunt.

Their life stories are featured in the book Ten Brave Men And True, written by local historian Richard Snow.

FOR EVEN MORE NEWS VISIT: timeslocalnews.co.uk

Wednesday November 6 | 2019

RTW in Bloom strikes gold ahead of tenth anniversary

By Andy Tong TUNBRIDGE WELLS is celebrating with flowers after winning a gold medal at the Britain in Bloom awards.

Royal Tunbridge Wells in Bloom received the accolade in the Large Town category at a ceremony at the Royal Horticultural Society’s Lindley Hall in London. The overall winner was Biddulph in Staffordshire.

Helen Timms, Tunbridge Wells Borough Council’s Parks and Sports Team Administrator, told the Times: “We were delighted to be awarded gold.

“Feedback from our Britain in Bloom judges Rae Beckwith and Dale Hector was very positive, with helpful suggestions as to how to improve our entry next year.”

She added: “The judges applauded each Friends group for their involvement and were impressed with the membership numbers.

“They were also impressed with the community participation of Sherborne Close and the Hawkenbury Allotments, and they thought the delivery of the teaching at Oakley School was outstanding.

“We would like to thank all our volunteers, Friends groups, supporters and sponsors in help-

ing us to achieve this high standard.”

The award is a step up after the town won a silver gilt award at national level last year. It was chosen to represent the South and South East region after winning gold at regional level.

Cranbrook won a silver gilt for the Small Town section in Britain in Bloom after taking the gold medal at regional level.

Success Among other South and South East entries, Dunorlan Park was overall winner in the Large Park category, while Grosvenor and Hilbert Park also won gold and the Royal Horticultural Society’s Parks and Green Spaces Award.

There was also a gold medal for Tunbridge Wells Cemetery and Crematorium, while Sherborne Close Housing Estate won the Judges’ Award.

RTW in Bloom organiser Katharina MahlerBech said: “Bloom was launched in 2010 as a consequence of the ‘Grot Spot’ campaign to improve derelict and dilapidated properties and brownfield sites in our town.

“It has been aiming to achieve a litter-free, cleaner and greener town, and next year we will celebrate ten years, with hopes for even greater success.”

Community News

GRAND SALE!

£975,000 STOCK FOR IMMEDIATE DISPOSAL At And So To Bed, Tunbridge Wells store

Now, to improve the Tunbridge Wells store for the future we will undertake a major refurbishing & remerchandising project – new décor, signage, displays and ranges. We must clear the stock without delay, so that this major work may commence. The showroom was closedwhile we reduced prices & prepared the displays for the launch of our £975,000 REFURBISHING & UPDATING GRAND SALE. We must urgently sell all our stock including: bedsteads in wood, brass, nickel & forged metal, upholstered bedframes, divan beds & mattresses, wardrobes, chests, dressing tables, bedlinen, duvets, pillows, objet d’art, pictures, mirrors, etc...

Absolutely Everything Must Be Sold Out a.s.a.p!

EVERY SINGLE PRICE WILL BE DRASTICALLY REDUCED! THIS WILL BE OUR BIGGEST EVER SALE!

MASSIVE 3 DAY PUBLIC SALE THIS FRI, SAT & SUN UP TO

JUST A SAMPLE OF THE OFFERS IN STORE...

VI-Spring 9 Offers Herald Superb (see seperate sheet) King size divan set

With 4 drawers 1476 pocket springs mattress RRP £6110

Sixteen companies worked it out at hospice’s first Corporate Quiz

Winners The participating companies included bankers Handelsbanken, Coolings garden centres, Porsche car dealership, publishers Search Press, law firm Cripps Pemberton Greenish and chartered accountants

You Pay £2995

9 OffersMayfair King-size bedstead (see seperate sheet) Low end, upholstered Dark wood finish Solid wood frame Was £6790

Now £2995

Penshurst 9 Offers Wardrobe corner group (see Hanging seperate sheet) and shelf space With drawer set In luxury painted finish Was £11,020

ALL PRESENT AND CORRECT Manak Solicitors organised the quiz Maslins and Hilden Park.

Competition was tight across the six quiz rounds, with the Handelsbanken team eventually emerging as winners.

Ben Frost, Marketing Manager at Manak Solicitors, said: “Congratulations on a wonderful evening.

“It was our pleasure to support Hospice in the Weald and we look forward to doing so again next year.”

Minh Lan Nguyen, Relationship Fundraising

Now £2995 Coordinator at Hospice in the Weald, added: “We pride ourselves in maintaining mutually beneficial relations with our corporate supporters.

“The Corporate Quiz was our way to give back, to offer our business partners a fun networking and team-building night as a thank you for their ongoing support.

“We’ve received great feedback, and I am so pleased our guests enjoyed themselves.”

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REFURBISHING & UPDATING

FLOWER POWER RTW in Bloom wins gold in Westminster

ALMOST 100 representatives of local businesses took part in the inaugural Hospice in the Weald Corporate Quiz.

Sixteen firms took part, with 96 people joining the battle of wits at the hospice’s headquarters in Pembury.

The new event, which included prizes, a raffle and an auction, raised £7,627 to support the hospice.

The quiz aimed to promote existing mutually beneficial partnerships with the hospice and help to create new ones.

The evening, which was sponsored by Manak Solicitors, who have offices in London and Kent, also proved to be a successful forum for networking and team building.

NEWS

9 OffersThyme Brass bedstead (see seperate sheet) With bed base &

Pocket sprung/dual tension King-size mattress Was £7875

Now £2495

Bayswater 9 Offers King-size bedstead (see seperate Upholsteredsheet) with silver leaf frame antique mirrored finish Was £6145

Now £1995

9 OffersMayfair Bedside table (see seperate sheet) With drawer

Solid mahogany wood finish & antique brass handles Was £875

Now £299

7O5% FF

VI-Spring 9 Offers Devonshire (see seperate sheet) King size mattress

1300 pocket springs & Pure Devonshire wool fillings With pocket sprung bed base RRP £4295

You Pay £1999

VI-Spring 9 Offers Bedstead Supreme (see seperate sheet) King-size mattress 1476 pocket springs Medium tension Ideal for slatted bedframes RRP £3345

You Pay £1595

9 OffersPlus….

All bedlinen, lamps (seeMirrors, seperateduvets, sheet) Throws, cushions All priced to go

SPECIAL EVENT HOURS:

Fri 8th / Sat 9th Nov ....10 - 6 Sun 10th Nov ....11 - 4

5, The Pantiles, Tunbridge Wells, Kent. TN2 5TZ Tel: 01892 515099 All offers correct at time of going to press and subject to availability. E & OE

© GR 2019

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National News

NEWS IN BRIEF

Hammond quits after 20 years in Commons FORMER chancellor Philip Hammond is to step down as an MP. Mr Hammond had the whip removed by Boris Johnson after voting to block a no-deal Brexit and he was not one of the 10 Tories to be reinstated before last week’s General Election announcement.

It means he would not have been able to have stand as a Conservative candidate at the upcoming December 12 election.

With Parliament being dissolved for the election campaign just after midnight, Mr Hammond has called time on his two decades in the House of Commons.

Christmas engineering Train journeys over the Christmas period will be hit by engineering work on some of the country’s busiest rail lines.

London Paddington will be closed from December 24-27 and a reduced timetable will be in place over the following four days as Network Rail carries out work as part of the heavily delayed Crossrail project.

This will affect Great Western Railway, Heathrow Express and TfL Rail services.

Ana Kriegel murder TWO boys have been sentenced for the murder of schoolgirl Ana Kriegel.

The 15-year-old boys, known as Boy A and Boy B, were found guilty in June of murdering the 14-year-old. whose naked body was found in an abandoned farmhouse in Lucan, Co Dublin, last May. Boy A was sentenced to life, with a review period after 12 years. Boy B was sentenced to 15 years, with a review after eight years.

FOR EVEN MORE NEWS VISIT: timeslocalnews.co.uk

Wednesday November 6 | 2019

on trial for the Swinson will stop Brexit Man murder of British but she won’t back Corbyn tourist Grace Millane LIBERAL Democrat leader Jo Swinson said her party will stop Brexit and ‘build a brighter future’ as she set out her plan to become the next prime minister.

However, she ruled out propping up a Labour government in the event of a hung parliament.

Launching the Lib Dem General Election campaign in Westminster, Ms Swinson said she was ‘absolutely certain’ she would do a better job than Boris Johnson and Jeremy Corbyn.

Launching her party’s campaign in Westminster, Ms Swinson said she was ‘absolutely categorically ruling out’ putting Mr Corbyn into Number 10.

“On so many grounds, Jeremy Corbyn is not fit for the job of prime minister,” she said.

“On the biggest issue of the day, he has prevaricated and will not give a straight answer.

“Even now if you ask him whether he is Remain or Leave he will not tell you how he

THE trial of a man accused of murdering a British backpacker in New Zealand is expected to begin in Auckland today [Wednesday].

Grace Millane, from Wickford in Essex, was on a round-the-world trip when she arrived in New Zealand last November.

The body of the 22-year-old was found in a forested area near Auckland a week after she was last seen at a hotel in the city centre on December 2.

The 27-year-old man alleged to have killed her pleaded not guilty to the crime in January.

Re-entered would vote.”

Meanwhile, Mr Corbyn set out his Brexit plan during a speech in Harlow.

The Labour leader told supporters his party’s plan was ‘clear and simple’, adding: “It’s time to take the decision out of the hands of politicians and trust the people to decide.”

He re-entered that plea on Monday when the trial began with the selection of seven women and five men to form a jury.

His name cannot be published due to a suppression order.

The trial in Auckland High Court before Justice Simon Moore is expected to last for up to five weeks.

Devon nursery closed after sex offence arrest Lecturers call for strike A NURSERY has been closed after a member of staff was arrested on suspicion of sex offences against children.

Detectives have scoured CCTV from Jack and Jill Childcare in Torquay and identified potential victims as young as two.

The teenaged male employee was held after sexual assault allegations were made in July.

Devon and Cornwall Police immediately launched an inquiry with the suspect arrested and released under

investigation while inquiries continue.

Bail conditions exclude the suspect from the immediate vicinity of the nursery and police said he had since left the Devon and Cornwall force area.

Detectives have contacted over 100 families whose children would have attended the nursery during the investigation period. It is understood around a dozen families may have been directly affected.

Acting Detective Chief Inspector James Stock said: “On July 29 police received an allegation of a serious sexual assault at Jack and Jill Childcare in Torquay.

“A suspect was arrested on the same date and later released on police bail with strict conditions.

“As a result of CCTV inquiries, a number of children aged two years and over have been identified as potential victims of further contact offences.”

UNIVERSITY workers are to strike for eight days in a dispute over pay and pensons.

Members of the University amd College Union [UCU] will walk out on November 25 following votes backing industrial action.

The strikes will affect 60 universities across the country.

UCU General Secretary Jo Grady said: “The first wave of strikes will hit universities later this month unless the employers start taking us seriously about how they are going to deal with rising pension costs and declining pay and conditions.”

Overall 79 per cent of UCU members who voted backed the strike action.

FOR EVEN MORE NEWS VISIT: timeslocalnews.co.uk

Wednesday November 6 | 2019

Reviewers hail the return of The Crown BIG budget Netflix drama The Crown is returning to TV screens with Olivia Colman as the Queen.

The series, popularised by Claire Foy, Matt Smith and Vanessa Kirby has a whole new cast with Oscar-winner Olivia Colman joined by Tobias Menzies who is portraying Prince Philip, and Helena Bonham Carter plays Princess Margaret But for many reviewers it is the supporting cast who in fact elicit the most praise in the lavish series.

Carol Midgley in The Times awards the drama four stars, calling it a ‘class act, luxurious and gorgeous to watch’.

The Daily Telegraph’s Anita Singh says The Crown

‘remains, by far, the best soap opera on television’, giving it five stars.

She said it: “is taking a risk by replacing its cast wholesale at the start of its third innings.

“But it is a relief to report that... the switch is successful,” she writes.

The new series of the Crown will be released on Netflix November 17

UK urges probe into chemical weapons use by Turkish forces THE UK has asked for a ‘swift and thorough’ investigation into claims that Turkey and its allies used chemical weapons against civilians, the Foreign Secretary has said.

Dominic Raab told MPs that reports over the use of white phosphorous in Syria are ‘not yet fully verified’ but he pressed the need for a United Nations investigation.

Turkey has been criticised for launching an offensive in north-eastern Syria to push out Syrian Kurdish fighters, who it considers terrorists for their links to a Kurdish insurgency inside Turkey.

Speaking in the Commons, Conservative former minister Crispin Blunt said: “On the conduct of the Turkish military operation, there is now pretty incontrovertible evidence that certainly white phosphorous has been used as a weapon against civilians - if not other chemical weapons - either by the Turks or by their Syrian auxiliary allies.

“This is a matter of immense seriousness.

“Will the United Kingdom Government now hold Turkey and her allies to account?”

Mr Raab replied that he wanted ‘to see a swift and thorough investigation by the UN commission of investigations’.

New car market down 6.7 percent in October DEMAND for new cars fell 6.7 per cent last month, the automotive industry said.

Some 10,348 fewer cars were registered in October than during the same month in 2018, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).

Decline The figure reflects a tough environment for businesses and consumers as economic and political uncertainty continue to hit confidence, the trade association said.

The decline was driven by a 13.2 per cent drop in demand from private consumers.

Sales of diesel models were down 28.3 per cent, while petrol cars fell by 3.2 per cent.

Alternatively fuelled cars such as hybrids and battery electrics took a market share of 9.9 per

cent, which is the highest on record.

SMMT chief executive Mike Hawes said: “The growth in alternatively fuelled cars is very welcome, showing increasing buyer appetite for these new technologies.

“The overall market remains tough, however, with October now the year’s eighth month of decline.”

NEWS IN BRIEF

Imperial Brands suffers from vaping regulations

Topps Tile chief steps down following share rebound

DAVIDOFF and JPS cigarette-maker Imperial Brands has revealed that sales of its vape products took a severe hit due to a series of regulator crackdowns on vaping in the US. Bosses said sales in the Next Generation Products (NGP) division in its US market fell 26.5 per cent to £111million, compared with tobacco revenues of £2.36billion – up 12.6 per cent.

It comes less than a month after the company unveiled a profit warning.

By comparison, Europeans continued to snap up vapes, including Imperial’s blu and Von Erl, in record numbers, helping NGP sales jump to £131million from just £32million a year ago.

THE boss of Topps Tiles has announced plans to quit at the end of the month.

Matt Williams, who has been chief executive of the tile retailer for 12 years, told investors he will step down from the role when the company publishes its next set of results on November 29.

Topps Tiles has seen its shares rebound in recent months as it has moved forward with a major turnaround plan which has seen sales significantly accelerate throughout the year.

Mr Williams will hand over the reins to current chief financial officer Rob Parker at the end of the month but will stay on as an adviser until May 2020.

National/Business News

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Letters

FOR EVEN MORE NEWS VISIT: timeslocalnews.co.uk

Wednesday November 6 | 2019

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, Times Local News, Salomons Estate, Tunbridge Wells TN3 0TG Hindering drivers with roadworks and charges won’t save high street With regards your front page about half-term roadworks [October 30], businesses have been complaining for some time that roadworks, especially those at the top of Mount Pleasant, are losing them trade, and the misery of last week further conflated that.

Doesn’t this show just what an effect hindering motorists is causing to our high streets? It is no secret that retail is struggling and our shops are feeling the pinch. Nearly every week we see another high street name fall by the wayside as customers shop online or opt for out-of-town centres.

And why do they do this? Convenience. North Farm has free parking. So if the council were really insistent on wanting to help retailers and traders, stop this incessant war on motorists.

If you want the shoppers back, provide them with easy to use free parking.

As other readers of your paper have written to say, a discounted ‘park for £2’ on a Sunday is just woeful. For what possible reason can you justify a parking charge on a Sunday – the town is hardly congested or packed with

We have quite enough drama already The Calverley Square theatre project has now been permanently ditched, thereby saving Tunbridge Wells residents the projected cost of £108million. What I cannot comprehend is how and why the council was allowed to waste £11million on this project without any form of public consultation?

I believe the residents of Tunbridge Wells have the right to know who has benefitted from this £11million? As the town already has two theatres as well as an historic Opera House, which the council gave approval for use as a pub, I hardly think Tunbridge Wells’ priority is for another theatre to be built, especially after they bulldozed the cinema, which could have been converted into a theatre, like the Stag in Sevenoaks, for a fraction of £108million.

Suzanne Rymer Via email

More plastics going down the drain It’s reported that Kent and Surrey County Councils are to trial the use of waste plastic as a filler in road surfacing material, but is this any better than the micro-plastics that are in everything from toothpaste to sunscreen?

When roads wear, they erode into dust; this dust is washed into the drains and much is ultimately washed into the sea where it becomes part of the food chain, starting with the filter feeders.

Not thought through and not much progress then; better to burn it and recover its energy potential.

Edward Baker Via email

Feeling blue with nowhere to turn It’s reported that a pig wearing a blue rosette will get elected in Tunbridge Wells, but it’s not

IN A JAM Retailers are losing trade due to roadworks shoppers come the Sabbath, is it?

The only reason is money, and the council should decide what is a more sustainable income stream going forward – parking fees and fines, or its precept from business rates?

Unfortunately, it won’t be able to have both, and if it continues with its present course it will soon have neither.

Brian Matthews Tunbridge Wells really necessary to go that far because we have a ratter, a bolter.

Greg Clark [MP] has been released from the Naughty Step so he’s back in the frame, but has he apologised and promised to mend his errant ways? Will he abide by the result of the referendum for which he voted, or will he go back to frustrating it? Does he believe in democracy, or does he still think that MPs ‘know best’?

Will I vote for him at the forthcoming election?

Not a chance. Will I vote Labour? Only in a nightmare. Will I vote LibDem? Only in a game of charades. Is there anybody out there?

Ralph Steerpike Tunbridge Wells Ed: Tunbridge Wells voted to Remain

Let’s talk to each other for a while One can only hope that local people, and the nation at large, can put Brexit behind them for a few weeks and concentrate on the issues that really matter. Yes, no doubt we should honour the result of the referendum if we wish to be a true democracy – but since this is something that hardly anyone gave a monkey’s about until five years ago, let’s get back to the things that we really should care about.

An ageing population in need of massive budgets for social care. An NHS in danger of being sold into private hands (don’t mention Trump). An epidemic in diabetes and the inexorable rise in obesity. A hugely alarming proliferation of knife crime among young people.

It’s all very well ignoring these elephants crowding the room, and talking about how much we hate the EU. But eventually they will trample all over us much more than any European bureaucrat has ever done.

Of course, the economy is on the line because of Brexit, and the appalling threat of no deal will

linger with us for a long time while we thrash out trade relations. But it’s time to hold our politicians to account for other matters, at least for a few weeks.

Then, just as Christmas approaches and we are all supposed to come together in peace, we can all get back to arguing about Brexit again like the bitterly divided family that we have inexplicably become.

Geoffrey Hodges Tonbridge

Future looks like back end of a bus Mr McJannett [October 16] persuades me that he and other Leavers must obtain their facts from the writing on the side of a bus. Fake news was formerly the prerogative of Johnson and Trump but it is clearly now a common commodity.

The primary aim of the founding fathers of the EEC was to prevent any more of the wars that had been plaguing Europe for centuries.

As it is, trade rather than war has successfully united European countries for the whole period since 1945. May it long be the case. Anyone who has lived through a war would not want to see a repetition. He can be assured that the EU has no designs on the British Commonwealth or armed forces. Nor will it requisition our oil or gas supplies nor any nuclear facilities.

Such fake news stands alongside the ‘facts’ like all the money that is currently paid to the EU would be sent directly to the NHS if we leave.

The case for leaving is based on false, untried or hopelessly optimistic assumptions.

Already, the propaganda has succeeding in reducing our once highly prized triple A rating to near junk level, devaluing our currency, setting one half of the country against the other half, endangering the solidity of the union of the UK and threatening the wish of foreign manufacturers to remain here.

All this because just 37 per cent of the electorate (26 per cent of ‘The People’) voted to leave the EU. That is scandalous!

Alexander Magnus Tunbridge Wells

I just want to talk to a human being How do computers improve performance?

We need to talk to people!

I wanted to set up a direct debit with Tonbridge & Malling Borough Council. I phoned the appropriate council department at 1.35pm. I kept getting the message ‘All of our operators are busy’ and words to the effect of: It may be quicker to go to our web page.

At 2pm, I gave up on the phone and went to the web page. I entered the necessary details and the web page crashed! I went straight back on the phone, and at 2.41pm I spoke to a real human being, who informed me that she was the sole operator!

We concluded my business. I then sent an email to: revenues@tmbc.gov.uk expressing my frustration politely.

I was still awaiting a reply more than three weeks later.

David Johnson Via email

Calverley

Observations on life and more important things

FOR THE RECORD, this Cllr column is not written Pope

by Alliance councillor Nick Pope. That’s the suggestion that has come from several sources. Calverley is mortified. True, Cllr Pope has featured in this column, but that’s the extent of his connection. He’s the one who switched sides and stopped supporting the new theatre after his wife bought a flat on the doorstep of the proposed site at the edge of Calverley Grounds. The Alliance is also contesting the Culverden by-election after the sad demise of popular Tory councillor Ronen Basu, which is raising eyebrows after Alliance supporters, it is said, were among those who refused to stand for a silent tribute to the former Mayor at a council meeting. Calverley’s identity will always remain ‘unclear’. Even unto Himself.

WATCHING the streaming channel NetflIx is becoming more unsettling after reading about its tax returns. Apparently, its UK revenue was £693million, with a profit of £2.3million, which seems pretty poor. Where did all that dosh disappear to? Punchline, though, is the fact Netflix paid zero UK tax. Nothing. How can that be? Calverley is currently trying to get a number for the person who does the Netflix tax returns.

Anyone help out on this one?

TWENTY FIVE YEARS – that’s how long Calverley has been doing the same five sets of numbers each week in the National Lottery.

And what’s He won? About £8.50. Maybe a tad more. Now Management (Mrs C), who keeps the books, has pointed out it costs £40 a month to play the game and suggests only two sets of numbers are ticked In future.

Calverley, in turn, has suggested Mrs C be the one to decide which numbers to drop. He does not want the responsibility of cutting the numbers knowing what will happen when they come up the following week and hit the jackpot. It’s a lose, lose situation.

FINAL THOUGHT: Calverley was spoilt for choice when it came to picking a horror mask last week to wear on Halloween night. He managed to narrow it down, though, to either former House of Commons Speaker John Bercow or Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn. In the end he wore both, switching halfway through the evening. Both frightened the life out of people.

Chin Chin, dear reader

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

Tunbridge Wells Local Taxis & Airport Transfers

01892 322 322

Wednesday November 6 | 2019

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EDUCATION

Education

NEWS

17

Times

Town primary school celebrates its first ‘Good’ report by Ofsted Temple Grove Academy in Tunbridge Wells has been rated ‘Good’ in all areas of its recent Ofsted inspection for the first time since it opened six years ago

STANDING PROUD Temple Grove pupils

TEMPLE GROVE ACADEMY, in Friar’s Way, was inspected by Ofsted in September in five key areas: Effectiveness of leadership and management; Quality of teaching, learning and assessment; Personal development, behaviour and welfare; Outcomes for pupils; and Early Years provision.

The school, which opened in 2013 and was formerly known as Sherwood Park, last had an Ofsted inspection in April 2017, when it was rated as ‘Requires Improvement’. As a result, a new leadership team was put in place which has, according to a school spokesperson, ‘driven considerable change’ in the school.

The primary’s latest Ofsted report states ‘Leaders are ambitious for their pupils. They work hard to provide a broad and engaging curriculum for everyone’, and that ‘Teachers have high expectations and pupils value the interesting work they are given’.

Mark Dugdale, Chair of the Temple Grove Academy Trust, which operates the 225-pupil school, said: “This is an important milestone in the history of the academy, which has faced significant social and demographic issues for a number of years. The result is testament to

the hard work of all the staff and pupils at the academy, particularly over the period since the last Ofsted inspection.”

He added: “The Senior Leadership Team has a vision to help all children develop lively enquiring minds, good personal relationships, and the knowledge and skills for the everchanging technological and multi-cultural world – we’re delighted that has been recognised.

Progress “The children have also worked hard to achieve self-discipline and tolerance of others, with the Leadership Team emphasising the importance of good home-school links and forming strong partnerships with parents.”

Paul Burton, Chair of Governors and also a parent at the academy, commented: “Great progress has been made by the Senior Leadership Team on working with the parent body. Communication is excellent, there is a consistency of approach and an accessibility to the leaders which is welcomed by all parents.”

Scientific student seating

Local ergonomic seating company SitSmart has supplied the new science centre at Tonbridge School with over 250 Hag Conventio Wing chairs in two different styles, ensuring that both pupils and teachers can sit in comfort.

The chair makes sure the lumbar spine is well supported, providing increased comfort for users to stay more alert and productive.

SitSmart Sales Director Matt Hutchinson said: “We worked closely with Tonbridge School on this project to ensure our products fitted the brief and reflected the interior of this amazing new facility.”

The firm, based in Decimus Park, works with a number of schools in the area.

Tonbridge School’s three-storey, state-ofthe-art new science centre [above] combines classrooms, laboratories and latest technology with many of the architectural features from the public school’s original science building.

It has been named after former Tonbridge pupil Sir Derek Barton, a distinguished organic chemist who was awarded the Nobel Prize in 1959.

18

NEWS

Weekly Comment

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Greg Clark Conservative Party prospective parliamentary candidate for Tunbridge Wells

Wednesday November 6 | 2019

Greg Clark was first elected MP for Tunbridge Wells in 2005 and held a number of positions in Government, including Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy.

GENERAL ELECTION

2019

Tunbridge Wells needs a strong voice in Parliament THE starting gun has been fired for the General Election and, if I am fortunate enough to be the Conservative candidate, I am looking forward to what will be a defining moment for our country and our constituency.

The General Election involves three questions: • Who will be the most effective in getting things done for Tunbridge Wells?

• How shall we resolve the endless division of the Brexit debate?

• Who should be Prime Minister in five weeks’ time?

Over the years, Tunbridge Wells has always benefitted from a strong, respected voice in Parliament. Experience helps you get things done. I always strived to be visible, approachable and effective. At the last count, I have helped more than 25,000 people with personal problems – nearly a third of my constituents.

Having served for nearly a decade as one of the most senior ministers in government means that I know how to have maximum impact for my constituents. Whether it is securing new investment for major road upgrades like the A21 and North Farm, to having the authority to summon the bosses of major utilities to meet with residents and sort out their problems, to getting redress for injustices faced by individual constituents, it helps to have experience and

respect and to have the ear of government.

On Brexit, I believe that most of us are yearning to find a conclusion, put the division behind us and get back to vital issues like investment in our NHS, in new schools and on environmental improvements.

Uncertainty A pragmatic compromise is in our country’s best traditions – our practicality was always part of our admired international reputation.

We should live up to that tradition now. Like many people, during the referendum I said the result would be implemented – whichever way it went. I have always kept my word. But I have also always stood up for an agreement with the EU that allows us to trade freely and have a close relationship with our closest neighbours.

And, as readers know, I have taken an independent-minded approach even when there have been severe personal consequences for me.

My view is that a policy of unilaterally cancelling the result of the referendum and pretending it never happened will not bring our country together as we should be aiming to do, but would sow division and anger and prolonged uncertainty for years to come.

Every General Election poses the question: Who should govern Britain? This time, the

choice will be more crucial than ever. Within five weeks we will either have a Conservative-led government or one led by Jeremy Corbyn and John McDonnell. It is a straightforward choice.

Regular readers will know that I don’t criticise my political opponents personally. Policies GOVERNMENT ‘Not voting Conservative risks having Jeremy Corbyn in Number 10’

should be examined rigorously, of course, but I think we should accept that even those with different views are motivated by a sense of public service and principle.

That certainly applies to my local opponents here in Tunbridge Wells. But I will be frank in my view that Jeremy Corbyn would be a disaster for our prosperity, for our security and our standing in the world, and we must prevent that happening.

The only way to avoid risking Jeremy Corbyn running Britain is to have a Conservative majority. A vote for one of the smaller parties can cost a Conservative seat. That helps put Jeremy Corbyn into Number 10.

I strongly believe that from December 13 we can turn to a long, new, long overdue, chapter in our national life. The bitter divisions of the last four years can be put behind us; the economy and people’s confidence would bounce upwards; we can restore our national reputation for being a place of common sense, pragmatism and civility; and turn to face our focus squarely on the opportunities that are available.

Serving the people of Tunbridge Wells has been an honour and a responsibility that I have never, ever, taken for granted. If I have the honour of being the Conservative candidate I will continue to give my all to fight for the people of this wonderful community.

Wednesday November 6 | 2019

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AN IMMACULATE VICTORIAN HOME

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‘UGLY’ HOUSE WINS A FINE FACELIFT

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Quooker Flex Boiling hot tap water with every new kitchen (Ts&Cs apply*)

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*Quooker Summer Offer Ts&Cs: 1. Offer cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer. 2. Must be with a complete kitchen including appliances, worktops and units. 3. Valid until 31/12/19. 4. Can only be used in the Tunbridge Wells store.

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Best property buys for...

We all love to see homes with the ‘wow’ factor – which could apply to the kitchen, reception room, garden, or something else. Sarah Bond homes in on specific aspects that make these properties well worth a look…

Wednesday November 6 | 2019

The Lodge

Hoath House Chiddingstone Hoath ASKING PRICE

£850,000 CONTACT • Hamptons International, Tunbridge Wells • 01892 516611 • hamptons.co.uk This charming former lodge to Hoath House dates back to the mid 1500s and has pretty diamond leaded light windows among its features. It has been sympathetically extended and is surrounded by countryside with far-reaching views.

MAIN POINTS OF INTEREST

n Long sitting room with a wood burner on a brick hearth

n Delightful dining room with a wood burner within a fine fireplace, plus an engineered oak floor and hidden staircase

n Lovely kitchen/breakfast/family room with French doors to garden

n Cloakroom n Master bedroom with vaulted ceiling, exposed timbers and en-suite shower room

n 2 further bedrooms (one with vaulted ceiling, exposed timbers and study area)

n Family bathroom also with vaulted ceiling and exposed timbers, plus brickwork

n Beautiful landscaped gardens, including a decked terrace, pergola and several areas of lawn

n Timber gates lead to a driveway providing off-street parking

The FAMILY ROOM...

Wednesday November 6 | 2019

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The DINING ROOM…

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The PRICE…

Court Royal Eridge Road, Tunbridge Wells GUIDE PRICE

£425,000 CONTACT • Bracketts, Tunbridge Wells • 01892 533733 • bracketts.co.uk An apartment within a development for the over-55s in the Broadwater Down Conservation Area, close to Hargate Forest.

MAIN POINTS OF INTEREST

Anjax

Bayham Road Bells Yew Green

n Lift and stairs to all floors n Generous living room with large corner box window. Open plan to: n Fitted kitchen n Dining Room/bedroom 3

GUIDE PRICE

£875,000-£900,000 CONTACT Fine & Country, Tunbridge Wells • 01892 701900 • fineandcountry.com

n 2 further bedrooms (one with en-suite) n Shower room n Shared use of communal gardens, which include a seating area n Allocated parking space and visitor parking

A tastefully extended and modernised village home in a superb rural location, yet within easy walking distance of Frant station and the Bells Yew Green shop and pub. The unusual name is derived from the first owners, meaning ‘Aida and Jack’s’ place.

MAIN POINTS OF INTEREST

n Modernised elements include underfloor heating, ethernet connections and TV points throughout, plus a supplementary solar hot water system

n Hallway with study area, including fitted desk n Lounge with wood-burning fire and bi-fold doors to patio

n Dining room with overhead double-glazed panels and bi-fold doors to patio

n Kitchen/breakfast room featuring a range-style cooker, marble work surfaces, central island with breakfast bar, plus door to garage

n Utility room and WC

West Vale Ely Grange Estate, Frant GUIDE PRICE

£795,000 CONTACT • Savills, Tunbridge Wells • 01892 507000 • savills.co.uk A semi-detached home with period features on a prestigious estate just a short distance from the heart of the village.

MAIN POINTS OF INTEREST

n Master bedroom with en-suite bathroom

n Sitting room with cast iron fireplace and French windows to terrace

n 3 further bedrooms, one also with en suite

n Family room with cast iron feature fireplace

n Family bathroom

n Kitchen/breakfast room with a Falcon range and bespoke John Lewis of Hungerford wooden units

n Gardens with sandstone patio, lawn and a strip of woodland giving access to The Woodland Trust’s Rushlye Wood

n Long driveway leading to parking and turning area

n Double-length garage/workshop

n 5 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms, spread over first and second floors n Garden with lawn and shed n Driveway and parking for up to three cars

bracketts est. 1828

When experience counts...

South Tonbridge Guide Price: £490,000 - £510,000 Modern 3 Bedroom (1 en-suite), Detached House, in a cul-de-sac. This end of the town is well served by schools, several are within walking distance. Cloakroom, 2 reception rooms, 16ft kitchen, garage, parking. EPC D

Rural Groombridge £925,000 An extremely bright & spacious single storey detached residence, with outstanding views to the front, within 0.5 mile from village centre. 4 receptions, kitchen, 4 beds, 2 bath/shower rooms. Garage, delightful gardens & paddock – in total .75 acre. EPC: C

Tonbridge Guide Price: £435,000 - £450,000 Older style Semi-Detached House, in a cul-de-sac within walking distance of the High Street and Station. ‘OFFERED CHAIN FREE’. 4 Bedrooms (1 en-suite), 2 reception rooms, fitted kitchen, enclosed rear garden. EPC E

Tunbridge Wells £419,950 Tonbridge £800,000 - £850,000 Priced to allow for some updating and offering potential for extension (STPP) is this Substantial Detached 5 bedroom family house, retaining the charm and features of an semi-detached home located on popular south side of town.

2 receptions, conservatory, Edwardian home. 3 reception rooms, kitchen-breakfast room, utility, cloakroom, store kitchen,garage, 3 bedrooms, garage & level lawned rear garden. EPC: D rooms, cornerbathroom. plot. EPC Attached E

Tonbridge Asking Price: £900,000 Detached Family House in sought after location, convenient for the High Street.

4 Bedrooms, (1 en-suite), 2 reception rooms, study, utility room, cloakroom, double garage, parking, 28ft summer house. EPC C

Southborough £3,500 pcm A beautifully appointed & impressive brand new detached 5 bedroom good sized family home, with lots of natural light & spacious living, located on the Salomon’s Estate. Patio, garden laid to lawn, double garage with ample driveway parking. EPC B

bracketts.co.uk Tunbridge Wells 01892 533733 | tunbridgewells@bracketts.co.uk

Tonbridge 01732 350503 | tonbridge@bracketts.co.uk

Wednesday November 6 | 2019

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St Mary’s Road

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AT A GLANCE ST MARY’S ROAD TONBRIDGE n A beautifully presented, semi-detached, halls-adjoining house in a popular residential area at southern end of town n Victorian tiled path leading to recessed arched entrance and hallway n Stunning open-plan lounge/dining room with dividing arch, oak flooring and feature fireplaces n Fitted kitchen with underfloor heating and door to garden n 3 good-sized bedrooms, one with built-in wardrobes and two with feature fireplaces n First floor contemporary bathroom

Superb bay-fronted Victorian home within walking distance of the high street and station

n Attractive front garden with flower beds and pathways n Pretty fenced rear garden with seating areas, lawn and raised borders n Access to loft with ladder

GUIDE PRICE

£495,000 CONTACT • Bracketts, Tonbridge • 01732 350503 • bracketts.co.uk

Properties to call home

Savills Tunbridge Wells 01892 507 000

Kings Avenue, Tunbridge Wells, TN4

Burwash, East Sussex, TN19

High specification Berkeley Home, convenient for rail, roads and schools, 5 bedrooms, 2 receptions, private garden, garage, 2,288 sq ft, EPC = B

Grade II listed, village centre, views, 3 beds, 2 receptions, period features, Etchingham station 3.7 miles, garden, garage, 1,468 sq ft, EPC exempt

Guide £1.1 million | Freehold

Guide £550,000 | Freehold

No Chain

New Price

Bidborough Village, Kent, TN3

Broadwater Down, Tunbridge Wells, TN2

Detached family home in enviable village centre location, 3 bedrooms, front and rear garden, conservatory, garage, 1,154 sq ft, EPC = D

Immaculate ground floor apartment, 1 bed, external access, town/station within a mile, allocated parking, communal garden, 632 sq ft, EPC = D

Guide £555,000 | Freehold

Guide £300,000 - £320,000 | Share of Freehold

Talk to us today Natasha Selbie Associate Director 01892 507000 nselbie@savills.com

Becky Card Negotiator 01892 507000 bcard@savills.com

savills.co.uk | savills.co.uk Follow us on what can we do for you?

Properties to call home

Savills Tunbridge Wells 01892 507 050

Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN4 Beautifully presented, Five double bedrooms, Wrap around garden, Sought-after private road, EPC = D, Council tax = G

Unfurnished | £4,250 pcm + fees and other charges may apply*

Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN3 Brand new home, situated in exclusive development, five generous bedrooms, double garage, EPC Rating = B, Council tax = TBC

Unfurnished | £3,500 pcm + fees and other charges may apply*

Talk to us today Michael Churchill Negotiator 01892 507057 Michael.churchill@savills.com

savills.co.uk | savills.co.uk Follow us on what can we do for you? * Fees to include drawing up the tenancy agreements and reference change for one tenant - £282 inc VAT one-off fee. £39 inc VAT for each additional tenant/occupant/guarantor reference where required. Inventory check out fee - charged at the end of or early termination of the tenancy and the amount is dependant on the property size and whether furnished/unfurnished. For more details visit savills.co.uk/fees

It’s time to see things differently...

Winkworth Tunbridge Wells is changing... ...we’re under new management!

A brand you can trust, delivering a fresh approach to real estate in Tunbridge Wells.

“Whether you’re looking to buy, sell, rent or let, we’d love to hear from you for all your property needs.”

Natasha Firman MRICS, Director, Winkworth Tunbridge Wells

HIGH STREET, TUNBRIDGE WELLS – FOR SALE – £315,000

SHRUB LANE, BURWASH – FOR SALE – £645,000

THE SLADE, LAMBERHURST – TO LET – £1,750 PCM

MOUNT EPHRAIM, TUNBRIDGE WELLS – TO LET – £1,100 PCM

Immaculately presented, 1 bed flat, on the High Street close to mainline station, restaurants and amenities.

A detached 4 bedroom, 2 storey house with driveway and level gardens adjoining farmland.

TUNBRIDGE WELLS | 01892 519600 twells@winkworth.co.uk @WinkworthTwells

winkworth.co.uk/tunbridge-wells

A modern, 3 bed, family house of considerable charm and character, occupying a secluded, semirural location on the edge of a thriving village.

A generously proportioned, 2 bedroom apartment and private courtyard located opposite The Common.

58100

offices in London

Winkworth Tunbridge Wells

throughout the UK

OFFICES IN LONDON, THE COUNTRY AND OVERSEAS.

TONBRIDGE £1,750,000 A UNIQUE AND INDIVIDUAL DESIGNED FAMILY HOME FINISHED TO A VERY HIGH SPECIFICATION. View inside to appreciate the wealth of accommodation with five bedrooms including master suite and guest suite plus three further double bedrooms and two further bathrooms, drawing room, sitting/TV room, study, utility room, cloakroom plus stunning 40’ kitchen/dining/family room overlooking generous secluded and mature garden with far reaching views across the north downs. Located in convenient and highly sought after position.

Being sold with the benefit of NO CHAIN! EPC: C Apply Tonbridge

PEMBURY £570,000 DECEPTIVELY SPACIOUS! This detached property has been extended and refurbished to a high standard throughout by the current vendors. The accommodation is immaculately presented and has well-proportioned rooms. Comprising: entrance hall, sitting room, bedroom/reception room, utility/shower room, stunning open-plan kitchen/dining/family room, spacious landing/study area, family bathroom, master bedroom with en-suite, 3 further bedrooms. Driveway parking for several cars. Low-maintenance garden. EPC: D Apply Pembury

PEMBURY £348,000 SUNNY SOUTH-FACING GARDEN. Super semi-detached bungalow set in a cul-de-sac in the village centre with driveway parking and garage. Presented in immaculate order throughout the accommodation comprises: sitting/dining room, modern kitchen, modern shower room and 2 double bedrooms. Space to enlarge STPP if desired. Sun-trap patio and wide steps up to a level, lawned garden. NO CHAIN. EPC: D Apply Pembury

Residential Pembury: 01892 822880 Tonbridge: 01732 771616 Sales & Lettings e: pembury@bkea.co.uk e: tonbridge@bkea.co.uk

Lettings: 01732 771616 e: lettings@bkea.co.uk

www.bkestateagents.com

Cosy up this winter in a home from KMJ Property

N PR EW IC E

HAWKENBURY

£325,000

This lovely 2 bedroom end of terrace house is situated in a tucked away position just off the Hawkenbury Road. The accommodation comprises; Lounge with open fire, kitchen/breakfast room, utility room with W.C. , 2 bedrooms, upstairs shower room and 2 bedrooms. The property benefits from double glazing, gas fired heating and gardens to the front and side. EPC D

RUSTHALL

£290,000

This delightful mid terrace cottage is situated within the popular village of Rusthall. The accommodation comprises; Lounge with logburner, dining room, modern kitchen and modern downstairs bathroom. Upstairs the cottage has 2 bedrooms. The property also benefits from double glazing, gas fired heating and a pretty and well maintained rear garden; EPC D

www.kmjproperty.co.uk

RUSTHALL

£265,000

This extremely well presented 2 bedroom end of terrace cottage is situated in the popular Toad Rock area of Rusthall. The accommodation comprises, lounge, kitchen/diner, downstairs bathroom and 2 bedrooms. The property benefits from gas fired heating, double glazing and pretty rear garden.

There is a paved area to the front of the property which is used for parking. EPC E

01892 515188

RUSTHALL

£155,000

This delightful 1 bedroom apartment is situated on the edge of Rusthall village, within easy reach of the shops and public transport. The accommodation comprises; lounge, kitchen, bedroom and bathroom and would suit a first time buyer or buy to let investor alike. EPC E.

sales@kmjproperty.co.uk

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Wednesday November 6 | 2019

Your One Stop Home Shop

Come and see our fabulous range of lighting and indoor furniture at Tonbridge and Tunbridge Wells Lighting and Furniture Centre. With stylish and useful pieces for every room in the house... dining, living, office, bedroom and garden, from classic lines to on-trend products there is something for every space!

We currently have an Indoor Furniture Event

with 20% off all of our furniture that will run right up until Christmas. This includes furniture from stock and special orders and covers small occasional pieces such as coffee tables, nest of tables, television units as well as dining tables, sideboards, sofas and bedroom furniture.

Our showrooms aim to inspire to help find the right look and feel…

Our Oak Kensington collection offers a large range of useful and creative oak furniture. The beautiful oak pieces have a warm glow, rustic tone with metal period handles and oak waxed finish. The Tiverton collection is painted furniture in white or grey with lime-washed oak tops and chrome handles that blend classic and contemporary influences with great design. The Kildavin range is on-trend urban chic, industrial look mixing natural finish with metal that makes a life-style statement in any home.

The perfect lighting scheme can transform a room and freshen up your home. Our 6,000 sq ft showroom has light fittings for every requirement, from statement pieces to budget friendly lights there is an incredible variety. As lighting specialists we offer design-led ideas from timeless classics to innovative new products and our sales-team have a wealth of knowledge to guide and inspire your choices. The showrooms are relaxed and stress-free. Our displays are constantly updated and we’re always on the lookout for new lighting ideas and good quality furniture to fit into perfect spaces.

We offer free delivery on all furniture purchases over £150 within a 20 mile radius of our

showrooms, deliveries are Monday to Friday with a 2 hour time slot. Using our own drivers, we can unpack and assemble your furniture in situ taking away all packaging rubbish for recycling.

Furniture @ Lighting Centre also offer an Interest Free Finance option to purchase lighting, indoor and garden furniture using a simple monthly payment plan with no applied interest.

This is available on all order values over £1,000 with an instalment payment plan over 6 or 12 months. There is a minimum 10% deposit but no set up fees or other costs involved.

Plus free, easy parking just outside our showrooms and experienced friendly sales team ready to offer advice and ideas.

• Furniture @ Tonbridge Lighting Centre, Vale Road Tonbridge, TN9 1SW 01732 363583 (near the fire station) • F urniture @ Tunbridge Wells Lighting Centre, North Farm Industrial Estate, TN2 3BF 01892 527647 (near Topps Tiles) • Open 7 days per week • www.lighting-centres.co.uk

Wednesday November 6 | 2019

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Property Focus

ARCHITECTURE

Architecture

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John Bullock

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

FRESH AND FABULOUS Part of the new look. with more designs below…

THE OLD HOUSE In need of updating

From Ugly Duckling to Fine Swan – how home transformations can be amazing DON’T give up on a house because it’s hideous.

There are many ways to make it more attractive.

Just as in fairy tales, there is no reason why an ugly property cannot be made beautiful. Mind you, with some places, it requires quite a stretch of the imagination!

Our case study this month looks at a project less than a mile outside of Tunbridge Wells.

Our clients fell in love with the property, which is quietly nestled in woods, before they’d even stepped through the front door.

Its privacy and location, including extensive woodlands and a south-facing garden, and being within walking distance of the town and close to a train station, were all perfect.

Only one key element was causing them concern – the house itself.

The original early 1900s cottage had been added to over time with asymmetrical and unsympathetic box extensions.

Some windows had been replaced with oldfashioned double glazing and some remained untouched with single glazing.

There wasn’t very much of the original cottage left to save, and the boxy additions just added soulless space.

Despite their reservations about the house, the location won, and our clients completed the purchase and spent time getting a feel for the space and the light before embarking on the improvement project.

Atrium As experienced renovators, they had a firm idea of the new design they wanted to achieve to create a stunning modern family home.

The proposal included a two-storey extension connecting the existing cottage and garage to create a private courtyard entrance.

The tiled pitched roof and more recent flat roofs were to be removed to create a seamless contemporary design with a modern hidden flat roof.

The exterior walls would feature vertical cedar cladding with render.

The inside featured an open-plan design incorporating a double-height atrium and library, and a new kitchen/diner and expanded drawing room connected with a double-sided wood-burning stove.

With the exception of the extension, the new design stood on the existing footprint, but with the extended roof design and increased volume, the new scheme challenged planning policy.

This is where the clients needed our help.

Our in-house planning team jumped into action and were able to offer invaluable advice, which included suggesting researching the history of the building to put forward a watertight case to the planning department at Tunbridge Wells Borough Council.

Their knowledge and approach were key to securing planning success.

Our Planning Director, Glenda Egerton, explains more about what is involved here: “Part of our client’s brief was to build an extension to provide more bedroom space and to create an internal layout that flowed better, whilst

improving the overall appearance of the house.

“Given that the house is located outside of the Limits to Built Development and within the Metropolitan Green Belt, it was particularly important to thoroughly research the planning history to ascertain how the house had been previously extended.

“Whilst the relevant planning policies for extending a house in the countryside in this location are fairly restrictive, this research into the planning history allowed us to work with our client to achieve their brief, whilst also ensuring that the proposal would comply with the relevant planning policies that the planning officers at Tunbridge Wells Borough Council would assess the proposal against when the planning application was submitted.

“As a result, whilst the extension required by our client was large, it will be built along the same building line as the existing, is of the same height as the existing house, and will not overdominate the site.

“The proposed design will result in a contemporary, modern family home.”

Securing approval was a huge success for our planning team and, with permission granted, our clients face the exciting next step… the build begins!

John Bullock Design is a multi-award-winning architectural design consultants, and the proud winner of the Times Business Awards ‘Best Business 1-25 Employees’ Award 2018.

For further information, call 01892 525732 or visit johnbullockdesign.com

Wednesday November 6 | 2019

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ARTS & CULTURE LIFE & STYLE FOOD & DRINK MOTORING SPORT and MORE...

IN PRINT AND ONLINE SEVEN DAYS A WEEK timeslocalnews.co.uk

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THE BAND WITHOUT BOUNDARIES

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TAMASHA THEATRE IN ACTION

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Grape expectations

VW GOLF GOES GREENER

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James Viner selects the best magnums for the party season

Page 48 ANGELS ARE ON A HIGH

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arts

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Arts & CultureFOR EVEN MORE NEWS VISIT: timeslocalnews.co.uk

Wednesday November 6 | 2019

‘An outstanding example of community music in action’ The innovative ‘Band Without Boundaries’ is performing in The Spirit of Jazz concert at Trinity Theatre this Saturday [November 9]. Based in Kent, it is part of the award-winning charity Arts Without Boundaries, which offers those with disabilities and other social disadvantages access to mainstream activities. Here, its Chief Executive, Sue Marlow, explains more about this inspirational organisation

O

£3 £1 2 c £ 7 hi 65 ch ld p ild ren er re 1 ad n 2a u 5 an nd lt d un un d de er r

IMAGE: Craig Matthews

THE SPIRIT OF JAZZ Will resound through Trinity Theatre

Sit back, relax and enjoy Christmas Day in the stunning surroundings of Bewl Water.

AMUSE BOUCHE SPRING ONION, SMOKED CHEDDAR BEIGNETS Beetroot aioli (GF available) (V) STARTERS MAPLE SMOKED DUCK BREAST Pickled walnuts, clementine, watercress and pistachio salsa verde (GF) (N) SMOKED CHERRY TOMATO AND CREAMY BURRATA TART Crispy basil, pine nut pangrattato (V) (GF available) (N) CHILDREN’S FRUIT STICKS With a strawberry coulis (V) (GF) (DF) 01892 890000 www.bewlwater.co.uk – info.bewlwater.co.uk Bewl Water, Bewlbridge Lane, Lamberhurst, Kent, TN3 8JH

UR charity, Arts Without Boundaries [AwB], was registered a year ago, in December 2018, and our vision is a world where disabled people participate fully in society and are recognised for their talent and diversity.

Our story began in 2011 with a project called Band Without Boundaries [BwB]. This was formed in partnership with a charity that was supporting people with learning disabilities to access mainstream activities and a local group of jazz musicians.

Since then, BwB has met monthly to make music, whether it be their own arrangements of existing music or creating a new composition.

We welcome all instruments, including voice, and all abilities and genres. The result is a fusion

of skills and backgrounds that gives us our unique sound.

As the project grew, membership continued to diversify, and now includes people with mental health challenges and those facing long-term disadvantage and social isolation.

Our sessions are free to attend and we perform to the general public at events and concerts at least once every year.

The aims of Arts Without Boundaries are to support the social inclusion of people with disabilities, and other disadvantaged groups, through mainstream community arts projects, ensuring neither disability nor financial hardship is a barrier to participation.

Through our community projects we develop positive perceptions about disability by enabling disabled and non-

Please call 01892 89000 0 or visit www.bewlwa ter.co.uk for more info rmation or to book

at Bewl Water

MAINS ROASTED FREE RANGE TURKEY Chestnut stuffing, pancetta wrapped chipolata, seasonal vegetables, roast potatoes, turkey jus (GF available) (N) SPINACH, WILD MUSHROOM AND PUMPKIN WELLINGTON Herb and pink peppercorn sauce, seasonal roast vegetables, roast potatoes (GF available) (V) DESSERTS WARM CHRISTMAS PUDDING Brandy butter and crème Anglais (GF available) DARK CHOCOLATE TART Toasted Italian meringue, espresso Anglais (GF available) Tea/coffee with mini mince pies

Wednesday November 6 | 2019

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Arts & Culture

IMAGES: Russell Harper

‘A feelgood performance combining the exuberance of participation with outrageous musicianship’

SAX ENTERTAINMENT! The musicians give it their all disabled people to create, perform and exhibit works together. This approach encourages social interaction and leads to better communication, friendships and stronger communities.

To fulfil our aims, we have developed inclusive and accessible practices in the arts and formed associations with other organisations and with volunteers.

We recognise the Social Model of Disability, which states that a person is not disabled by their condition but by the barriers in society, including physical and access, attitudinal and organisational. We are committed to breaking down those barriers.

Since becoming a charity, we have won two awards: The Sevenoaks District Equalities Champion Award and The Gerald Truly

Now taking Christmas bookings

01892 525830

86 Camden Rd,Tunbridge Wells Kent TN1 2QP

Award for benefits to the community.

We do all we can to make our projects and activities accessible by offering them free of charge and providing suitable venues, accessible information and personal support for our beneficiaries when required. As a result, we are always seeking funding to continue both BwB sessions and for our more recent projects.

Visionary We are grateful to the National Lottery Community Fund for funding our consultation project ‘Connecting Communities’ and to Kent Community Foundation and The Gatwick Foundation Fund for the their support of BwB. We always receive wonderful feedback from

our audiences, with people saying such things as ‘An outstanding example of community music in action’; ‘a feelgood performance combining the exuberance of participation with outrageous musicianship’; ‘a visionary example of what can be achieved’; and ‘I loved it – there was such a great atmosphere and great music’.

The Spirit of Jazz concert, organised by one of our members, will take place this Saturday at Trinity Theatre in aid of Band Without Boundaries and Musicians Without Borders.

Our band will be performing alongside Last Summer’s Tealights and the West Kent Big Band.

We will also be performing with The Invicta Jazz Orchestra on February 22 next year at The Pamoja Hall, Sevenoaks, to raise funding.

Do come along, we would love to see you!

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The Spirit of Jazz is on at Trinity Theatre this Saturday, November 9, at 7.30pm. For tickets and information, visit trinitytheatre.net For information about Arts Without Boundaries, visit facebook.com/ artswithoutboundaries.org.uk

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Going Out

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Wednesday November 6 | 2019

goingout 7 days of activities

By Jerome Bowman

and is bound to have you hanging on every word of his high-speed and dynamic routine. Tickets cost £13 and can be booked at emftheatre.com

WEDNESDAY Popular comedic quartet A Pair of Four are at The Sussex Arms tonight from 8pm. Chris Murphy, Scott Kingsnorth, John Oakley and Dan Smiley will be improvising their entire routine with help from the audience, so expect lots of weird stories, oddball characters and general nonsense. Tickets cost £8 in advance and £9 on the door. To book, go online to twforum.co.uk THURSDAY This is your last chance to see the screening of The Royal Opera House’s new production Concerto/ Enigma/ Variations/ Raymonda Act III at Picture House Uckfield. The concert is a tour-de-force of the versatility and heritage of The Royal Ballet, from the Russian classical ballet of Raymonda Act III to the more contemporary style of Concerto by MacMillan.

The show is roughly three hours and has two intervals. For more setails and to book tickets, which cost £16, go to picturehouseuckfield.com FRIDAY Head to the EM Forster Theatre tonight for a laugh at the Tonbridge Comedy Night.

The show features two acts, starting with Canadian surrealist Tony Law, who combines bizarre improvised routines with an incisive wit. Stephen Grant follows,

SATURDAY Pop into St Alban’s Church Hall in Frant this morning between 10.30am and 12noon for a Coffee Morning with the Royal National Lifeboat Institution. Chat to members of the Royal Tunbridge Wells branch and browse the brica-brac stalls.

A HEAD FOR HIGH-SPEED LAUGHS Stephen Grant is at the EM Forster Theatre

GO COMMANDO! if you dare – at Hever Castle Tea, coffee and cakes will be served, and RNLI Christmas cards will be available.

For more information, visit rnli.org At 7.30pm, a Band Without Boundaries is enjoying The Spirit of Jazz at Trinity Theatre (See our Arts & Culture pages) English weather. The enemy of dog owners, fake tan and especially Operation Overlord in 1944! Pressure is a

tense, slow-cooker drama that tells the story of the days before D-Day. With half a million men poised to launch a massive amphibious invasion, and with meteorological arguments about the rain raging, who should the warlords believe?

This is an amateur production by the Oast Theatre in Tonbridge, starting at 8pm. Tickets cost £11 or £7.50 if you are a member. For details and to book, go to oasttheatre.com The Independent Farmers’ Market is on once again in Market Square from 9am till 4pm. It will feature a range of locally-sourced fresh produce, plants and hot food, as well as artisanal goods and wines. For more information, you can look them up on Facebook or email: tunbridgewellsfarmersmarket@gmail.com Go commando at the Commando Series obstacle course and survival week at Hever Castle. The 6km obstacle course has 24 gruelling

GruB & LIquOr Christmas 2 Courses £22.99 3 Courses £25.99 Includes a glass of fizz

Christmas Lunch from £17.99 Buffet party menu £12.99 Includes a glass of fizz

dj & disco party every weekend in December

Book christmas dinner by the end of october and receive a complimentary bottle of prosecco for every 6 guests

function room Available for large parties

new years Eve Cocktail party 31st december

01892 457899 hello@grubandliquor.co.uk 9 nevill street, tunbridge wells, tn2 5ru

Wednesday November 6 | 2019

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Going Out

MARVEL AT HAYDN’S CREATION Performed by the Royal Tunbridge Wells Choral Society at the Assembly Hall

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PICK OF THE WEEK: I Wanna Be Yours Trinity Theatre Thursday November 7, 8pm Ella is from Yorkshire. Haseeb is from London. They order a pizza. House red for Ella. Hot chocolate for Hasseb. “I think I’m falling in love with you.”

Performed by a cast of two, and supported by characterful sign language performer Rachael Merry, this play tells a story of Christmas and Eid, travel cards and megabuses, and figurative elephants in rooms.

A tender, funny and lyrical play written by Slam poetry champion Zia Ahmed. Tickets cost £15 and can be booked online at trinitytheatre.net GEORGIA ON MY MIND Recreate Georgia O’Keeffe’s tulips the Secret Art Parties

challenges for you to complete, including the D-Day Landings, the Doom Drop and the Slippery Slope. There are plenty of ways to tackle the course from a family route, with support from PTIs, to the Treat Me Like A Commando option, in which the instructors will beast you through the course. For a true experience, you can opt in to carrying 21lbs of marine webbing, a wooden rifle and a 35lb Bergen. You can also take part in survival classes and an overnight survival camp. Prices vary and the event will also be on tomorrow [Sunday], so for more information and to book, go to commandoseries.co.uk SUNDAY Experience Haydn’s choral masterpiece, The Creation, with the Royal Tunbridge Wells Choral Society. Performed at The Assembly Hall Theatre, Haydn’s Creation, is an epic piece of music that

paints an image of the creation of the world as outlined in the Old Testament and Paradise Lost.

Soloists Stefanie Kemball-Read, Greg Tassell and Peter Grevatt join the choir in this performance, which will be conducted by Robyn Sevastos. The concert is dedicated to Derek Wattmough, the choir’s conductor for 30 years and their VicePresident, who sadly passed away earlier this year. The concert starts at 3pm and tickets cost £12.75, but are half price for children. To book, visit assemblyhalltheatre.co.uk MONDAY See David Atkins’ new paintings at The Fairfax Gallery until November 15. Atkins’ main focus in this collection is the Ashdown Forest, as well as Winchelsea, Rye, Dungeness and Camber Sands. Atkins’ wild and wonderful oil paintings capture the scale and beauty of these locations, and all 25 will be well worth seeing. The artist has a strong connection to the Ashdown Forest in particular. Entry to the gallery is free, but opening times vary, so for more information go to fairfaxgallery.com

PIC: © The Other Richard

INTO THE NEARBY WILDS With artist David Atkins at The Fairfax Gallery

FIGHTING FOR LOVE AGAINST THE ODDS Haseeb and Ella

TUESDAY Join the Secret Art Parties at The Trading Post, Culverden Down, for another social painting class. Georgia O’Keeffe’s distinctive and cuttingedge modernist paintings are highly regarded, and this evening from 7pm you can learn to recreate her piece ‘Tulips Pink and Yellow’. The evening will feature wine, food and painting guided by one-to-one support. Tickets cost £40 per head and include a drink and nibbles. For more information and bookings, telephone 01892 871684 or visit secretartparties.co.uk

Midwinter Fair £2.50 OFF on the door ticket

price with CODE TOTW1*

14th, 15th & 16th November 2019

The Hop Farm, Paddock Wood TN12 6PY wealdentimes.co.uk/events

Sponsored by

BURFIELDS HOUSE WEALTH MANAGEMENT LTD www.burfieldshousewm.co.uk

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Going Out

FOR EVEN MORE NEWS VISIT: timeslocalnews.co.uk THE GREY LADY MUSIC LOUNGE The Pantiles Doors 7.15pm, entry £6/£7 Websites pdag.co.uk & thegreylady.co.uk Wednesday Aaric Snook, The Varlies Friday Fiesta Latina, organised by The Grey Lady & YaniFit. Saturday Over The Edge Sunday Jez Harley, David Mumford, The Ackerleys

live music With Paul Dunton

T

here are lots of cracking this Wednesday, with Himalayas at The Forum, The Varlies and Aaric Snook at The Grey Lady and, for blues fans, Tommy Allen & Ray Drury at The Anchor Inn, Sevenoaks.

On Thursday, Queen fans of can catch renowned tribute One Night of Queen at the Assembly Hall.

The Sussex Arms host a rocking show on Friday night with Weekend Recovery and great support from Dirty Orange and All the Above.

Stereo Mc’s are at The Forum. And at St Peter’s Church, Pembury, Cantiaci Vocal Ensemble and Anna Wynne (harp) perform a reflective, thoughtprovoking repertoire especially for Remembrance weekend.

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

Saturday night is busy and jazz fans are in for a treat at Trinity Theatre with The Spirit of Jazz featuring a triad of fantastic acts (see Arts & Culture). Elsewhere, you can see Joyride at The Bedford, Mick Mepham at The Beau Nash, Over The Edge at The Grey Lady, The Damfinos at The Royal Oak, The Pentagon String Ensemble at King Charles The Martyr Church, and up-and-coming singer-songwriter Biddle at The Forum with support from Alex Carroll and Ryan Weeks.

End the weekend in style on Sunday with the Royal Tunbridge Wells Choral Society presenting Haydn’s Creation at the Assembly Hall, and Jade & Peter at Verdigris in Tonbridge.

THE TUNBRIDGE WELLS FORUM The Common Information and tickets at twforum.co.uk Wednesday Himalayas Friday Stereo Mc’s Saturday Biddle, Alex Carroll, Ryan Weeks Band

ST PETER’S UPPER CHURCH Pembury Information at cantiaci.org.uk Friday 7.30pm Remembrance Concert: Cantiaci Vocal Ensemble with Anna Wynne (harp). Tickets £10 THE BEAU NASH TAVERN Mount Ephraim Free entry, music from 8.30pm till late Saturday Mick Mepham Sunday Beau Nash Jazz Jam with Bob Bernard KING CHARLES THE MARTYR CHURCH Nevill Street Information and tickets at kcmtw.org Saturday Pentagon String Ensemble

THE ANCHOR INN London Road, Sevenoaks Free entry, music from 8.30pm Wednesday Blues with Bottle presents: Tommy Allen & Ray Drury

THE BEDFORD PUB 2 High Street Free entry More information at thebedfordtw.co.uk Saturday Joyride

THE ASSEMBLY HALL THEATRE Crescent Road More information and tickets available at assemblyhalltheatre.co.uk Thursday One Night of Queen Friday The Simon & Garfunkel Story Sunday Royal Tunbridge Wells Choral Society presents Haydn’s Creation

THE ROYAL OAK PUB Prospect Road Free entry, music from 8.30pm Saturday The Damfinos

MUSICSTATION Bank Street, Tonbridge Booking essential For information, call 01732 350629 Thursday & Friday 8pm-9.30pm Adult band workshop, all levels welcome THE SUSSEX ARMS BASEMENT Sussex Mews Information and tickets at twforum.co.uk Friday Weekend Recovery, Dirty Orange and All the Above

TRINITY THEATRE Church Road Tickets available at trinitytheatre.net Saturday The Spirit of Jazz, featuring Last Summer’s Tealights, Band Without Boundaries and West Kent Big Band (see Arts & Culture pages) VERDIGRIS High Street, Tonbridge Free entry, music from 6pm

Wednesday November 6 | 2019

The Varlies

More details at verdigris-tonbridge.com Sunday Jade & Peter THE EM FORSTER THEATRE Tonbridge School All event information and tickets at emftheatre.ticketsolve.com/shows Sunday 3.30pm Piano & Chamber Music – Vienna: Tradition & Innovation THE STAG THEATRE Sevenoaks All event information and tickets at stagsevenoaks.co.uk Tuesday Arcelia, Clea Llewellyn (performance in main bar) THE PUNCH & JUDY PUB St Stephens Road, Tonbridge Free entry, music from 8pm Tuesday Lone Ed Arcelia

Wednesday November 6 | 2019

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Advertorial

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Panto guide It wouldn’t be Christmas without a bit of audience participation, so here’s our guide to the best shows around…

Fly off to Neverland at the Assembly Hall Theatre…

FLYING into Tunbridge Wells for Christmas is the swashbuckling adventure Peter Pan. Meet Peter and the Lost Boys, Tiger Lily and Tinker Bell, and get ready for a family show full of fun, fairy dust and pirates galore.

Set sail for Neverland, take on Captain Hook, and prepare for out-of-this-world flying effects, galleons of laughter and the hungriest of crocodiles!

Starring Paul Bradley (Holby City’s Elliot Hope), Quinn Patrick (Tunbridge Wells’ favourite dame), Lloyd Warbey (Disney’s Art Attack), Sarah Jane Buckley (Hollyoaks), Holly Atterton (Nick Junior’s Go Go Go), Jenny Huxley Golden as Wendy and Lacy Jordinson as Tiger Lily.

Audiences are guaranteed spectacular sets, dazzling costumes and side-splitting comedy, produced by Martin Dodd for UK Productions by arrangement with

Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity and Samuel French Ltd, in association with the Assembly Hall Theatre.

Suitable for young ones (and those who never want to grow up), this festive extravaganza is on sale now, so hook your seats today for Tunbridge Wells’ must-see Christmas show in 2019.

Saturday December 7 to Sunday January 5 For more information and all bookings please visit assemblyhalltheatre.co.uk or call Box Office on 01892 530613.

Group rates available on 15+ tickets. Schools rate available on Saver performances. Relaxed performances: Tuesday 10 December 10.30am and Monday 30 December 5pm. Signed performance: Saturday 21 December 7pm.

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Advertorial

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Wednesday November 6 | 2019

See The Snow Queen at Trinity Theatre...

JOIN an exhilarating tale of adventure, friendship and epic bravery as The Snow Queen comes to Trinity Theatre in Tunbridge Wells.

When Kai meets The Snow Queen, she persuades him to leave his home, his grandmother and his best friend, Gerda, to live with her in far away Lapland.

So Gerda sets off all alone, determined to find him – even if she has to search the whole wide world…

Enjoy this classic story as it travels from its ethereal wintertime opening on a vibrant journey through seasonal worlds.

It’s a heart-stopping ride layered with comic characters, original music AND snowball fights.

YES. SNOWBALL FIGHTS! Thursday December 12 to Tuesday December 31.

For tickets and information, call the Box Office on 01892 678678, or visit trinitytheatre.net

Peter Pan at EM Forster BACK for a fourth spellbinding year, Wicked Productions return to the EM Forster Theatre, Tonbridge, with a laugh-out-loud family pantomime, the high-flying Peter Pan. Audiences will be ‘hooked’ this Christmas with this spectacular laugh-out-loud family pantomime, ‘Never Never’ will your swash be more buckled than at this fabulous show!

Dastardly Watch as Peter Pan, Wendy and the children head for the second star to the right and straight on ’til morning to beat the vicious Captain Hook and provide a loving home to the Lost Boys.

But ever lurking in the water is the nasty croc, waiting to get the ‘upper hand’ of anyone who dares to come too close…

Also back by popular demand is the hilarious Tom Swift as Smee and local acting legend

‘BEST PANTO EVER!’ Audience 2018

‘WE ALL LOVED IT!!’

HHHHH Audience 2018

‘PERFECT PANTO RECIPE!’ Audience 2018

Michael Fenton Stevens as Sea Dog Sally.

Joining the pirate crew as the dastardly Captain Hook is another familiar TV face – Chris Ellison (DCI Frank Burnside in The Bill), plus David Young as Peter Pan, and local talent Lauren Brindley as Wendy.

Packed full of fabulous scenery, costumes, special effects, crazy jokes, audience participation and lashings of panto magic, this sensational seasonal favourite will set spirits flying with the adventure of the child who never grew up!

Friday December 13 to Sunday January 5 Times and ticket prices vary – for full details, see emftheatre.com Relaxed performance on Wednesday December 18 at 6pm Box Office 01732 304241 Book online at emftheatre.com

SATURDAY 7 DECEMBER – SUNDAY 5 JANUARY assemblyhalltheatre.co.uk AssemblyHallTheatre

ahttw

AssemblyHallTheatre

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food

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Food & Drink FOR EVEN MORE NEWS VISIT: timeslocalnews.co.uk

Wednesday November 6 | 2019

Magnum opus masterpieces This week, Times Drinks Editor James Viner uncorks a few magnums of wine that are ideal for autumn socialising with family and friends

W

INE is one of those pleasures that’s best enjoyed when shared.

After all, what’s grander than a bottle of fine wine at a family get-together, a celebratory dinner, or just as a gift? The name magnum is

derived from the Latin word for ‘great’.

A magnum holds two standard 750ml bottles or a dozen 125ml glasses of wine, and is generally considered as the optimal size for bottle-ageing fine wine because it matures more slowly and gracefully in bigger bottles. Here are a few of my favourites…

Wednesday November 6 | 2019

1) RIOJA AND ROLL AT ALDI Pata Negra Rioja Reserva 2015, Rioja, Spain, 1.5L (Aldi, £15.99) Aldi’s seasonal run of tasty Riojas in magnum format is worth marauding as they knock spots off other supermarkets’ examples. Rioja’s red Reservas are aged a minimum of three years, of which one year must be spent in 225-litre barrica bordelesa casks (introduced by the French in the mid-19th century). This silky and easy-drinking example is laden with dark plum, red and black cherry fruit, a hint of tobacco and supple tannins, making it smooth, rather elegant and approachable.

It won’t be especially longlived, but for early drinking it’s full of charm. Get in fast as stocks are very limited.

Fragrant, fresh and moreish, this is just the thing for any spread featuring grouse, rack of lamb, roast pork, lamb Rogan Josh, Manchego or quail – and it’s a terrific allround red bet for Christmas turkey as well. A true steal and testament to the keen noses at Aldi who regularly sniff out notable bang-for-the-buck wines like this one. Alc 13.5% 2) CLASSY PARTY PROVENÇAL ROSÉ AIX Rosé Coteaux d’Aix-enProvence 2018, France, 1.5L (£25.99, Majestic) Lower in acidity than many still wines, pale, bone-dry, pink peppercorn and watermelonscented Provençal rosé gets my magnum party wine vote, so nip off to revitalised Majestic before everyone else does.

Just the job for grilled fish, canapés or sushi. Alc 13%

FOR EVEN MORE NEWS VISIT: timeslocalnews.co.uk

3) MUST-TRY GENTLY OAKED WHITE ‘BARGAINDY’ Olivier Leflaive Bourgogne Blanc Les Sétilles 2016, Burgundy, France, 1.5L (Corney & Barrow exclusive, £43) I am always on the hunt for reliably great value white Burgundy. The standard bearer for the regional classification of Bourgogne Blanc, ‘Les Sétilles’ comes from some 60 plots, with the majority in Meursault and around 40% from Puligny-Montrachet.

It’s a joy to drink with a panoply of white peach, grilled almond, poached pear, vanilla, fig, faint flint and grapefruit, with both oak mainly from older barrels (just 12% new oak) and citrusy acidity handmaidens in support.

Enhanced with some aeration, even more so with crab linguine, pumpkin risotto, mushroom omelette, charcuterie or goat’s cheese. Very stylish. Alc 13% 4) WELL-AGED CULT MAGNUM FOR THE FINE WINE CONNOISSEUR Bodegas R López de Heredia Viña Tondonia Tinto Reserva 2006, Rioja, Spain, 1.5L (£65-£74.50, Laithwaites/Berry Bros & Rudd) If you are looking for early Christmas presents for impossible-to-buy-for parties, then this is a small price to pay for an exceedingly impressive gift. Use any yardstick you wish, this is a gorgeous wine from Haro’s oldest bodega (1877), which is still family run and features a Zaha Hadid-designed shop. A ripe blend of 70% Tempranillo, 20% Garnacha, 5% Graciano and 5% Mazuelo, this dream of an elite Rioja spent six years in used oak barriques and will age like a charm. It mingles those lightly toasty oak notes with the taste of red fruits, liquorice, tobacco and a hint of vanilla. Decant (splashily) an hour or three before serving. Jump at this wine if you get the chance. Alc 13%

Follow James on Twitter @QuixoticWine

Food & Drink

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With Halloween and Bonfire Night gone in a flash, pubs and restaurants are now well into planning for Christmas and New Year celebrations. We hear from Kate and Andres, owners at Galapagos, who share the delights of what is on offer in the build up to and over the holiday period.

With a Christmas menu that ranges from authentic Latin American classics to the traditional seasonal favourites, there is something for everyone at Galapagos at the Old Vine this Christmas and New Year.

Christmas Party Menu – just £30!

Our Christmas Party Menu is available from the 1st to the 24th of December at just £30 per head. This includes: • A glass of Cava or non-alcoholic cocktail on arrival • A 3-course meal, featuring some South American classics including either an Argentinian Sirloin with peppercorn sauce, fish or a traditional Turkey dinner.

• Tea or coffee and mince pies to round off your luxurious Christmas meal.

Our warm, cosy environment and friendly, attentive staff will ensure your visit is one to remember.

Christmas Day at Galapagos As a restaurant that enjoys being part of a strong local community, we’re delighted to open our doors on Christmas Day. The festivities on the day will include: • An authentic Christmas welcome with a typical South American cocktail, Pisco Sour, or a non-alcoholic cocktail on arrival.

• This is followed by a sumptuous 4-course dinner starting with a salmon platter, a range of South American and more traditional starters, mains and desserts, including a traditional Christmas dinner with Goose and all the trimmings.

• Tea and coffee and mince pies to finish, if you still have room!

This Christmas Day feast is available at just £80 per head.

Bring in 2020 in style – New Year’s Eve party For the second year running we invite you to join us for our New Year’s Eve party. Enjoy a Caiphiraina, a typical Brazilian party cocktail on arrival, a 3-course dinner, a disco and fireworks at midnight all for £65 per head.

All menus must be booked in advance and pre-orders submitted a week ahead of the event.

For full details, menus and to book please call 01892 782271 or email info@galapagos-restaurant.co.uk Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram and check out the What’s On page on our website here: https://galapagos-restaurant.co.uk/whats-on

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Motors

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Motoring News Seat’s first all-electric car sparks an appealing deal ORDER books have opened for Seat’s first all-electric car, with prices starting below £20,000.

The Seat Mii Electric is priced from £19,300, including the government’s plug-in car grant, and the first 300 customers will receive a wall box home charger, home charge cable, three years’ servicing and roadside assistance free of charge.

It also has a PCP finance offer of £199 pm at 6.9% APR with a £4,399 deposit and a £500 manufacturer deposit contribution.

There is only one trim level, with a choice of five colours.

Equipment includes 16-inch alloy wheels, heated and electrically adjustable door mirrors, and LED daytime running lights.

Inside, there are heated front seats and a chrome-effect dashboard. The technology includes Bluetooth, smartphone integration and rear parking sensors.

The car uses a single-speed transmission linked to a motor that makes 83bhp and 212Nm of torque, with a claimed 0-31mph in 3.9 seconds, hinting at impressive acceleration. The 36.8kWh lithium-ion battery pack should be good for 161 miles between charges, and can be topped up from zero to 80% in about an hour at a 40kW fast charger.

Seat UK MD Richard Harrison said the car is ‘the ideal first step into full electric motoring, and we’ve made it even easier for the first 300 customers’.

CHARGED AND READY TO GO The new Seat

Wednesday November 6 | 2019

This week… n New electric Seat n Honda’s e-plans n Golf goes hi-tech

Golf hybrid boasts tech-heavy cabin

THE NEED FOR SPEED Faster electrification is due to EU emissions regulations

Honda accelerates plan to electrify all of its models HONDA says it will offer electrified versions of all its mainstream models in Europe by 2022 – three years earlier than the car manufacturer had originally planned.

Its electrified models will all wear new ‘e:Technology’ branding, which will be applied to cars, motorbikes and power products.

As part of the acceleration of its ‘Electric Vision’, the firm announced it will launch six electrified models over the next 36 months, led by the all-electric Honda e and hybrid-only Jazz supermini.

This will include another EV, with the rest being hybrids.

In its existing range, only the NSX supercar and CR-V SUV offer hybrid powertrain options.

The move comes from Honda’s need to meet strict EU emissions regulations that require manufacturers to bring their average fleet CO2 emissions below 95g/ km by 2021.

Honda Motor Europe Senior Vice-President Tom Gardner said: “The pace of change in regulation, the market, and consumer behaviour in Europe means that the shift towards electrification is happening faster here than anywhere else in the world.

“We need to act sooner to meet these challenges head-on.”

Honda also announced a partnership with Swedish renewable energy company Vattenfall, which will see the pair work on energy contracts that will allow EVs to be charged at the most cost-effective times.

THE new Volkswagen Golf has been revealed with a lightly updated exterior design and big advancements inside.

There are four powertrain options in the form of petrol, diesel, mild-hybrid and plug-in hybrid, with improved efficiency one of the key advancements.

Volkswagen says it has introduced a new combustion process to its petrol models and used twin AdBlue injectors to reduce emissions in diesels.

For electrified options in the UK, only the more powerful GTE plug-in hybrid model will be available. Promising 242bhp, this latest generation version has a new 13kWh lithium-ion battery for increased electric-only range.

Meanwhile, three mild hybrids will be available with petrol engines, using 48-volt technology to cut consumption by around ten per cent.

Exterior design differences include new, narrower headlights housing LED technology, while panels have been tweaked in a wind tunnel to reduce drag.

Inside, a large, neater twin-screen set-up is standard on all models with numerous controls now digitalised.

The firm’s We Connect Plus is included free for the first three years of ownership, bringing online features to the car.

It also includes voice control and an integrated Alexa system.

COMING SOON www.onewarwickpark.co.uk ONE WARWICK PARK, TUNBRIDGE WELLS, TN2 5TA

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Recruitment

FOR EVEN MORE NEWS VISIT: timeslocalnews.co.uk

Wednesday November 6 | 2019

WITH THE

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

OF TUNBRIDGE WELLS AND TONBRIDGE

PART TIME

DRIVER REQUIRED Part time support van driver required to help when our regular driver is off to deliver our products in the West Kent area.

The job is for 3 to 4 days per month, good rates of pay. Some lifting involved. Would suit retired or semi-retired fit individual with clean driving licence and experience driving a small transit size van.

Contact The Logistics Manager Telephone 07432 001333 or email ehr100@outlook.com

Cartref Homes UK Limited

Full Time Support Worker Vacancies To be part of our team meeting the needs of adults with learning disabilities living within our supported living service in Maidstone.

Ideally applicants will have experience of working with adults with Learning Disabilities and/or mental health issues. However, training will be provided for suitable candidates.

Due to location applicants must be able to drive.

We seek staff with positive attitudes, flexibility and good written and verbal communication.

We offer guaranteed contracted hours and competitive pay.

To request an application form please contact our head office on 01795 477966 or email your CV to care@cartrefhomes.co.uk These posts are subject to an Enhanced Disclosure Application

Pupils aged 3-11 years

KS2 Teacher required for January 2020 Located in the heart of Royal Tunbridge Wells, The Mead educates boys and girls from age 3 to 11.Academic standards are high and the curriculum is broad and challenging with a strong emphasis on the performing arts and sport. Our pastoral care is outstanding and our ethos, entitled The Mindset of a Meadite, aims to embed the core values of Compassion, Ambition and Curiosity throughout our daily routine.

We are seeking to appoint a talented and enthusiastic KS2 class teacher to join a supportive, caring and professional team. The successful candidate will ideally be experienced in teaching KS2 classes, will deliver inspirational lessons and be ambitious in their own personal and professional development. The successful candidate will benefit from small class sizes and a progressive working environment where teachers are given substantial autonomy to develop a creative curriculum.

A job description and application forms are available from the school. Please contact the Business Manager, The Mead School, 16 Frant Road, Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN2 5SN (01892 525837) or manager@themeadschool.co.uk. The closing date for all applications is Monday 18th November at noon.

The successful applicants will be subject to an enhanced DBS check. The Mead School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of its pupils and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

CODEWORD 4

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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.

9 2

9 3 6 2 5

1 6 2

6

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4 8

Codeword:

3

5 7

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3 6

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

9

17

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8 1 4

1

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© 2016 Syndicated Puzzles, Inc.

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DIFFICULTY RATING:★✩✩✩

2

3

9

7 6 3

2 4 9 7 5 9

3 4

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© 2016 Syndicated Puzzles

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LAST WEEK’S SOLUTIONS

SUDOKU & JIGSAW SUDOKU

DIFFICULTY RATING: ★★✩✩

CLASSIFIEDS

Life&Times

Puzzles

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

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

Puzzle solutions will be published in a forthcoming issue

P F T R I L B E A C A L M C I N T H I N G Q U O T U V OO D O R I MU E S L M C

P Y L O N E

J B L A I RWA K I Z A L E X I R L T E L L Y C A I H L O T A N G E L R O R I C E T I P N I MO U L D C E T Y

Y S

S D Y

Sudoku:

4 3 6 9 2 7 1 8 5

2 1 5 8 6 3 4 7 9

8 9 7 1 5 4 2 6 3

1 5 9 7 8 2 6 3 4

7 4 3 6 1 5 9 2 8

6 8 2 3 4 9 7 5 1

9 6 4 2 3 8 5 1 7

3 7 1 5 9 6 8 4 2

5 2 8 4 7 1 3 9 6

3 2 9 4 5 6 8 1 7

6 5 1 7 2 8 9 4 3

4 8 7 9 3 2 5 6 1

2 1 8 3 6 4 7 9 5

9 6 3 5 1 7 4 8 2

Jigsaw Sudoku:

7 3 4 1 8 5 6 2 9

8 9 5 2 4 1 3 7 6

5 4 2 6 7 9 1 3 8

1 7 6 8 9 3 2 5 4

© 2016 Syndicated Puzzles

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Wednesday November 6 | 2019

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FOR EVENstories MOREto: NEWS VISIT: timeslocalnews.co.ukor newsdesk@timesoftonbridge.co.uk sports newsdesk@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk SectionPlease send POOL OF TALENT RTW Monson swimmers won 12 races

Wednesday November 6 | 2019

place in the 10-11 years 50m backstroke whilst Emilia Oliver swam strongly to win the 10-11 years 50m breaststroke.

Eleven year old Aran Bissett clinched first place emphatically in the Under-13s 100m breaststroke, 10-11 years 50m breaststroke and the 10-11years 50m freestyle.

Jemimah Berkeley and Louis Hayes comfortably finished first in the Under-15s 100m breaststroke, Louis also winning the 100m butterfly.

Impressive

RTW Monson show strength in depth to sail into second round SWIMMING: RTW Monson’s young swimmers showed their growing ability when the club hosted the first round of the National Arena League.

With 18 of the best clubs across the south of

second places in the 200m Individual Medley.

Then boys and girls in the nine to 11 age groups both finished their relays comfortably in first place to set the pace for the rest of the team.

Max El-Mokadem secured a well fought first

England taking part overall, Guildford came to St John’s along with Atlantis, Sevenoaks and Sutton & Cheam.

Among the hosts’ 34 competitors, Rose Compton and Andre Strydom started by claiming

After a thrilling 50 races back to back, RTW Monson concluded the evening with 12 first places, 18 runners-up and 11 third places.

Overall they amassed an impressive 225 points to end the evening in second place, just seven behind Guildford A, with Sevenoaks third on 192.

Head Coach Graham Bassi said: “This is the best night’s club swimming I’ve seen in the last 25 years. It’s a strong team going places.

“Two years ago we escaped relegation by one point and now we are challenging the elite in our sport.

“We are obviously delighted with the results, but the execution of our skills and race plans typified our improvement.

Fellow coach Karen Bradbury added: “The swimmers showcased the club’s great depth. We have some really exciting emerging talent from our younger swimmers.”

Powell-Downey double lifts Rustics

LATE SHOW Joe Turner celebrates one of his goals

THUNDERBOLT Tommy Lawrence scored a stunning goal

Rusthall 4 Snodland Town 2

Turner rescues Angels in frantic finish to thriller Tonbridge Angels 4 Oxford City 4

By Jim Rowe FOOTBALL: AN EIGHT-goal thriller kept the crowd entertained despite the driving rain, and a share of the points was probably the right result - if not quite on those terms.

After a competitive opening half-hour Oxford City grabbed the initiative with two goals in the space of eight minutes.

A misplaced header put in Elliot Benyon on the inside right channel and the centre-forward unleashed a fierce shot inside the near post.

It got worse for the Angels on 39 minutes when a corner was allowed to drift into the home net and the visitors went in 2-0 up at the break.

Three minutes into the second half, the Angels pulled one back through a header by Tom Derry from a corner.

A blatant push on winger Khale da Costa resulted in a penalty award on 57 minutes that

was neatly converted by D’Sean Theobalds to put the sides on equal terms.

When Joe Turner put the Angels ahead in the 85th minute with a low, raking shot it seemed likely to secure three points for the home side, but it was only the start of an extraordinary sequence of goals.

Dramatic City equalised two minutes later through Stefan Brown and then managed to restore their lead on 90th minute through the same player.

But it was only to last for two minutes as man of the match Turner grabbed a point for the home side in dramatic fashion from a corner with the entire Angels team in the City penalty area.

However, Tonbridge sunk to the basement of National League South ahead of their trip to third-from-bottom Hungerford Town - the Angels have yet to win away this season - on Saturday (November 9, kick-off 3pm).

PHOTO: David Couldridge

By Rich Smith

KEEPING UP APPEARANCES Sonny Miles played his 400th game for Tonbridge Angels on Saturday, putting him ninth on the all-time list of appearances for the club, having made his debut against Merstham in December 2008.

Most appearances for Tonbridge Angels Apps Debut 1 Geoff Truett 517 1962 2 Mark Gillham 488 1981 3 Peter Lovell 470 1958 4 Danny Tingley 451 1992 5 Phil Stonebridge 440 1970 6 Joe Carolan 420 1962 MILESTONE 7 Bob Hailstones 403 1954 Sonny Miles 8 Bobby Taylor 402 1964 with manager 9 Sonny Miles 400 2008 Steve McKimm 10 Barry Smith 383 1969

FOOTBALL: RUSTHALL got back to winning ways at Jockey Farm after losing at home to the club at the bottom on Southern Counties East League Division One, but they were made to work hard by a resilient Snodland Town side.

Recent signing James Miles linked up with Tommy Lawrence in the heart of the midfield and both players were at the heart of everything.

Snodland were well organised and chances in the first half were few.

Leading scorer Luke Adams broke the deadlock on 43 minutes when he reacted quickest after a free kick on the edge of box came back off the crossbar to score his 13th goal of the season.

Seven minutes into the second half the hosts gifted Snodland an equaliser when a misplaced pass was intercepted by Connor Linton who gratefully accepted the chance.

On 69 minutes Rusthall restored their lead when the tricky Powell-Downey cut inside from the left and unleashed a superb right-foot shot from just inside the area.

Rusthall made it 3-1 on 81 minutes with the goal of the game as good build-up play down the right led to a cross for the onrushing Lawrence who struck a thunderbolt from the edge of the box that flew high into the net.

They made it four with four minutes remaining when Powell-Downey scored from close range for his 13th goal of the season, though Snodland pulled one back before the end.

The win lifts Rusthall up to third in the table ahead of their trip to promotion-chasing Croydon on Saturday (November 9, kick-off 3pm).

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Sevenoaks pose threat in return of A21 derby

By Graham Withers RUGBY: THE ‘A21 derby’ returns to St Marks for the first time in three years as Sevenoaks arrive on Saturday (November 9, kick-off 2.30pm).

The visitors were promoted to the London and South East Premier Division at the end of last season, and only four points separate them in eighth place from Wells in fifth.

The last two contests in Tunbridge Wells, in 2015 and 2016, show the contest could be too close to call. Both were game by just one score with Wells triumphing 11-6 and 10-3 respectively.

It is Tunbridge Wells’ third season in the competitive division and they have cemented their status, but Sevenoaks will be pleased with how they have taken a big step-up.

They had a titanic struggle to secure promotion from London South One last season, winning the title with four strong teams finishing within seven points of each other.

There is a warm relationship between the two neighbours on and off the pitch. At Under-15 level the clubs’ girls sections have joined forces to provide young players with more competitive opportunities.

HOCKEY: AFTER a tentative first half, Wells found their rhythm to secure a convincing win at Tonbridge School and keep up their winning form at home.

There were errors and missed passes in the terrible conditions but James Beck scored with a well placed dragflick from a penalty corner to give the home side an early lead.

The visitors were playing dynamic counterattacking, however, and showed their own abilities from penalty corners by scoring twice to

Tunbridge Wells prop Kamil Wiecaszek won his first international cap for his native Poland as they took on Germany in the European Trophy in Lodz last weekend, coming off the bench in the 15-35 defeat.

The prop was advised to move to Wells from Thanet Wanderers during the summer to play a higher standard rugby in order to further his international aspirations.

HOCKEY: THE Wells Ladies faced a battle at King’s & Alleyn’s in Brockley as both teams were keen to cement their place near the top of the table in East Region Hockey League Division Two South East.

Wells were keen to establish an early lead and kept possession in the attacking third for much of the first half but couldn’t find a way into the circle.

Immy Jenner and Gigi Barker worked relentlessly trying to break through the defence but the opposition held firm.

When the visitors did break into the circle, they managed to upgrade the play to win a few penalty

TAKE A PUNT Max Hayes charges down a kick

Green seals comeback win as TJs go top again Old Albanians 9 Tonbridge Juddians 12

take a 2-1 lead into half-time.

Wells quickly found their stride in the second half and drew level with another success in the Wycombe D, this time by Mitch Hawksbee.

Wycombe were unable to add to their first-half tally thanks to several high-class saves by James Harris, man of the match in the Wells goal.

By now Wells were displayed fine form in open play, and quick hands and sharp composure saw them score two further goals, both by playercoach Ben Allberry.

Tunbridge Wells face another mid-table clash in South Premier League Division One when they travel to Banbury on Saturday (November 9, 12.30pm start).

Loveland secures tough draw Kings Alleyns 1 Tunbridge Wells Ladies 1

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POLE POSITION FOR KAMIL

Two for Allberry keeps up Wells’ home record

by James Barnaby

Life&Times

This friendship will be underlined by the the clubs’ Under-9 teams playing in a ‘curtain raiser’ exhibition match before forming a joint guard of honour for the senior players.

VICTORY IN REACH Charlie Harding scores the winning try for Wells in 2015

Tunbridge Wells Men 4 Wycombe 2

Section

corners but they could not capitalise and find the back of the net.

Both sides were showing equal determination in difficult playing conditions and on a break down the right hand side of the pitch, Alleyns managed to sneak through into the D. They earned another penalty corner and this time scored impressively past keeper Ali Playle, who had made a string of saves up to that point.

As the weather deteriorated, Wells kept pushing and earned a penalty corner. The ball was worked well to find Lily Loveland at the post and she levelled the scores.

Both sides put up a strong fight as they looked for a winner but the draw was a fair result.

The Wells Ladies entertain Folkestone at Hawkenbury on Saturday (November 9, 1pm start).

RUGBY: TONBRIDGE JUDDIANS returned to the top of National Two South with a hard-fought victory in St Albans after being 9-0 down at half-time.

Conditions at the Saracens training facility were impressive despite the heavy rain but TJs fell behind to three penalties.

Keeping the ball was the only option but a greasy ball and chilly temperatures made handling difficult for both sides.

It took some effort to get to the OA line after half-time but eventually Will Colderick went over to narrow the gap to 9-5, Will Robinson missing the conversion. TJs struggled to return the ball into the home 22 and when they finally did the OA left wing dropped the kick just inside his own

PHOTO: Adam Hookway

Wednesday November 6 | 2019

half and knocked on.

From a subsequent penalty TJs kicked to the corner. From the lineout, a series of drives and phase play saw TJs crashed over through Jimmy Green, Robinson converting.

OAs still had their chances but when they got a penalty they went for the points and a draw rather than the corner and a possible winning try.

The kick did not carry and when they had another penalty, they went to the corner this time and TJs snuffed out the attack to secure the narrow win.

Henley Hawks won to sit two points behind TJs in second place, level on points with third-placed Taunton who lost to Esher in fourth.

TJs return to The Slade to entertain Westcliff on Saturday (November 9, kick-off 3pm).