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OF TUNBRIDGE WELLS
TIME IS RUNNING OUT TO ENTER THE TOWN’S HALF MARATHON Pages 68-69
ROCK AND ROLL WEEKEND AS THE FORUM CELEBRATES A BIG BIRTHDAY
WHY VOLUNTEERING IN SCHOOLS BENEFITS PUPILS AND PARENTS
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Wednesday, January 11 | 2017
SHE’S ONLY HERE FOR THE BEER – BRITAIN’ S FIRST BEER SOMMELIER Page 52
Commuters pay one of the highest prices per mile in England By Murray Jones murray@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk
TUNBRIDGE WELLS to London has been named as one of the most expensive commuter routes in the country following the latest rise in annual season tickets. A 12-month standard rail ticket will now set passengers back £4,484 – an £80 (1.8 per cent) increase from last year. Since 2008, the cost of an annual fare on the Southeastern service has increased by £1,484, a 50 per cent rise. And if you go back a further five years to 2003, a year-long season ticket cost £2,412 – almost half of what it is now. At the current rate, a Tunbridge Wells commuter who makes a
IN IT TOGETHER The Cheek family in the proton therapy room
Frankie gets social media boost AT THE age of two, Frankie Cheek from Crowborough, was diagnosed with a rare cancer of the muscle that resulted in the growth of a large tumour in his nose and behind his right eye. But from adversity comes strength, and Frankie’s story has inspired an outpouring of generosity from members of the
general public. More than £20,000 was donated online within 24 hours to fund a ‘superdrug’ which allows Frankie, now aged three, to ‘enjoy a normal life’ while undergoing intensive treatment. His parents Catherine and Andrew, quit their jobs to take Frankie and his six-year-old
sister Layla to America where he received specialist care. Now back in the UK, Frankie entered his penultimate round of chemotherapy last week and his outlook is ‘very positive’. Catherine said the family had been ‘overwhelmed by the response’.
For the full story, see page 7
return journey to London five days a week, excluding 25 days annual leave and bank holidays, would spend 31 pence per mile travelled. That’s the eighth highest rate in England, according to a BBC analysis of the figures. Other Kent stations also feature in the top ten, with Sevenoaks the second dearest (behind Harlow, Essex) at 38 pence per mile and Tonbridge sixth (33 pence per mile).
Held to ransom It is the first year that increases have been capped by the Retail Price Index [RPI] measure of inflation, which this year was 1.9 per cent. But local passenger groups such as Tonbridge Line Com-
muters have called for a limit based on the consumer price index [CPI], which this year was 0.6 per cent. CPI is almost always lower than RPI, mostly due to the different formulae used to calculate the figures. RPI includes housing costs, such as mortgage interest payments and council tax. CPI does not. MP Greg Clark said: “Any increase in fares is unwelcome, especially given the poor service over the past year. I will continue to make the case for reversing the unfairness that resulted in higher fares for us compared to other lines, including the above inflation increases on Kent
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Pupils suspended in drugs crackdown By Adam Hignett adam@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk
THE Headmaster of one of the most prestigious schools in Tunbridge Wells has warned of a ‘prevalence of drugs’ in West Kent after it was disclosed he has been forced to take disciplinary action against a number of his own pupils. Edward Wesson, who has been
head of The Skinners’ School since 2013, said the grammar school is ‘fully committed’ to tackling the problem of drugs. His comments come after it emerged that nine pupils from the school’s Year 10, aged 14 to 15, were suspended for drug use in the weeks preceding the Christmas holidays. One pupil is understood to have been subsequently withdrawn from the school.
The boys were reportedly spotted smoking marijuana on the school’s playing fields, leading a neighbouring resident to call the police, who then proceeded to turn up and talk to the pupils. The boys were later punished by the school. Speaking of the incident, Mr Wesson said: “We did have a drugs incident before Christmas.
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