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Wednesday April 20 | 2022

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All the news that matters Local, National and International

LO
FR L P
UR E ER
CA
OF TUNBRIDGE WELLS

BBC REPORTER school status

Nursery & Prep School
St Leonards, East Sussex TN37 7PW . 01424 751555
Green Flag
status! [email protected] . claremontschool.co.uk

TOTW 35x264 PS 0322.indd 1 25/03/2022 09:56

Jazz is to make its
OR
OU GH return to Pantiles
M A R LB

TUNBRIDGE WELLS’ most popular

HO

weekly event returns next month but

USE

changes implemented during Covid

are set to stay.
SC
HOOL Jazz on the Pantiles, which takes
place on Thursdays throughout the
summer returns on May 5, and will
run until the end of the summer IT Support
season in September.
Cloud Solutions
The new system means that to
attend the Thursday night Jazz event
you will need to book a table at one
of the participating venues, Hosted Desktop
including The Tunbridge Wells Hotel,
The Kirthon or Casa Vecchia.
There is also a £5 entry fee. Data Back-Up
Full details on the return of Jazz and File Sharing
on the Pantiles see page 26.
Cyber Security
Businessmen that mis-sold pensions
linked to councils’ homeless scheme 01892 267200
EXCLUSIVE TIMES INVESTIGATON finance firm last month after its clients register of UK companies earlier this
saw their pensions wiped out after they month had the move not been blocked [email protected]
By Richard Williams www.hostmyoffice.co.uk
pumped money into a high-risk scheme by anxious investors trying to claw
TWO businessmen who mis-sold run by a business called Cherish Wealth money back.
investments wiping out people’s pensions Management – a business that has If the company collapses, the only
are linked to a firm making millions of collapsed after a separate High Court redress for those that have lost pensions David Salomons Estate,
NURSERY, PRE-PREP & PREP pounds from providing emergency action for mis-selling investments is to appeal to the Financial Services Broomhill Road, Tunbridge
BOYS & GIRLS 2.5-13 YEARS accommodation for the homeless – totalling more than £30million. Compensation Scheme. Wells, TN3 0TG
including those in Tunbridge Wells. The decision now opens the door to Yet through an interconnected web of

OPEN DAYS The Times can today disclose the

connection following an investigation ‘For the Council to pay a
businesses, Portal Financial Services is
run by the same people as a lucrative
into a complex web of companies and property business making millions from
Thursday 5th their directors. company to cream off a housing the homeless in Kent.
& Friday 6th May Paramount Independent Property profit from that contract Portal has a sole ‘designated member’,
Services makes more than £5million a which operates in a similar fashion as a
year from providing emergency
seems like madness’ company director, and that is a business
ENJOYING TODAY accommodation for the homeless in Kent called Galahad Advisory, run by
EDUCATING FOR but the firm has links with investment claims from all the investors who Gillingham businessman Andrew Moore.
firm Portal Financial Services. ploughed money into the scheme Until recently, Agravain Advisory, run
TOMORROW Portal has just lost an appeal after the through Portal and lost their money, by Rochester-based Jamie Smith-
Discover more and Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) which is likely to be in the millions of Thompson, also acted as a ‘designated
register on our website found it has been mis-selling pension pounds. member’ to Portal.
schemes and claims against the business According to Companies House, Portal The business resigned its position just
Marlborough House School, could now run into the millions. has not filed its accounts since May 2020
Hawkhurst, Kent, TN18 4PY The High Court found against the and would have been struck-off the See more on page 2
2 NEWS Local News FOR EVEN MORE NEWS VISIT: timeslocalnews.co.uk Wednesday April 20 | 2022

Councils’ homeless scheme linked to company that mis-sold pensions

this week… Continued from front page Paramount was still used for ‘nightly paid’ any money from Paramount, despite the same
accommodation for the homeless, people being behind both companies.
TRADING UP Teens turn 1p into £100 for before the High Court ruling. although the authority says it Hugo Pound, leader of the Labour group at
cancer charity in ‘penny challenge’ P10 Both these businesses are also ‘designated is now using the company’s Tunbridge Wells Borough Council told the Times
members’ to Paramount Independent Property services less frequently as that paying a company that ‘cream off a profit’
Services. it is utilising its own stock from homelessness, was ‘madness’.
The housing firm provides emergency, of temporary He added: “Until the Council commits to
nightly accommodation to nearly all the accommodation. building more genuinely affordable housing for
district and borough authorities in the county, But a number of Kent rent, we will have individuals and families
including Tunbridge Wells Borough Council councils are still heavily unable to find the money to rent, let alone buy, a
(TWBC). reliant on the services of property.
Paramount, whose Managing Director Grant Andrew Moore Paramount, with “And for the Council to pay a company
D-Negri is a former a Tonbridge & authorities such as – who then cream off a profit from
Malling Housing Officer, Thanet having spent up to that contract – rather than
received more than £2million on one year alone to house managing a relatively small
£5million of taxpayers’ homeless people with them. operation itself, seems like
SMUGGLERS’ money from Kent’s A spokesman for Thanet District madness when our budgets are
STAND The Times authorities in one year Council confirmed this week that being constantly squeezed by
commemorates the alone, including Paramount was still ‘a significant this Conservative Government.”
£86,000 from TWBC, source of temporary accommodation’ Portal, Paramount, Andrew
‘Battle of
according to figures for the council. Moore, Jamie Smith-Thompson
Goudhurst’ 275 Jamie seen by the Times. Despite this, as it is a separate Grant D’Negri and Grant D’Negri were all
years ago P12 Smith- A spokesperson for business entity, investors who lost money approached for comment but did not
Thompson TWBC confirmed that through Portal will be unable to claw back respond.

MIS-SELLING CLAIMS LED TO COLLAPSE OF MINI-BOND FIRM

A TUNBRIDGE WELLS minibond company that investors, many of them having had ploughed in
DEPARTURE collapsed owing more than £237million to more their life savings and pension funds, lose more
POINTE than 11,500 investors had also been found to than £237million.
Crowborough have mis-sold its investments. The collapse of LCF, which is currently at the
dancer Eleanor London Capital & Finance, which was set up by centre of a Serious Fraud Office investigation,
Lewis takes off former Tunbridge Wells Conservative party has been one of the biggest financial investment
on a four-month chairman, Simon Hume-Kendall, went bust in scandals in recent years.
tour with Ballet January 2019 after the city watchdog – the There is no suggestion that either Portal
Central P22 Financial Conduct Authority – froze its bank Financial Services or Paramount Independent
accounts after it was found to have mis-sold its Property Services have acted unlawfully or that
products. the amount of money lost to investors is on the
It led to a collapse of the company that saw same scale as the LCF collapse. SIMON HUME-KENDALL AND WIFE HELEN

FESTIVAL FLOURISH The Black Deer

Festival is back with a ‘sit down’
performer this summer P26
MP wants to wait for full report before
voicing opinion on partygate scandal
By Richard Williams
GREG Clark says that he will wait for the
publication of the full Sue Gray report into
parties at Downing Street, despite Boris
Johnson, the PM’s wife and Rishi Sunak having
all been fined for breaking Covid rules.
When the ‘partygate’ scandal broke earlier this
year, the Tunbridge Wells MP had declined to
CONTACTS comment on the allegations, telling the Times
that while he understood ‘the anger that people FINED
EDITOR feel about the revelations about what happened Mr Sunak and the PM
RICHARD WILLIAMS in Downing Street in 2020’ he wanted to wait until both broke Covid rules
[email protected] | 01892 240626 ‘all the information is known’ before commenting.
DEPUTY EDITOR Despite the PM admitting breaching his own speeding fine. criticise his conduct, came as MPs
EILEEN LEAHY Covid rules and paying a fine to the Met Police But around 280 Tory MPs have returned to Westminster yesterday
[email protected] | 01892 576037 last week, Mr Clark has still declined to comment refused to publicly back the PM. (Tuesday) to hear from the PM who
GREG CLARK
CHIEF REPORTER on the scandal. Conservatives in Tunbridge Wells had promised to ‘set out his position’ after
VICTORIA ROBERTS voiced their ‘disgust’ at the allegations, being fined for breaching Covid rules on his
[email protected] | 01892 779615 when the story broke earlier this year. birthday by the Met.
DESIGN/PRODUCTION
Investigation It led to former Tunbridge Wells Council leader Mr Johnson apologised for being in breach of
JASON STUBBS He told the Times yesterday: “I have said from David Jukes quitting the Conservative Party after the rules but now faces a vote on whether he
[email protected]
the outset I will consider my views on the events more than 50 years a member and saying the misled parliament.
ADVERTISING 07757 847841 at Downing Street and the conduct of the Prime scandal will result in a ‘bloodbath’ at the local For more on partygate and what Boris Johnson
[email protected]
Minister once all of the information is known – elections scheduled for May. said to MPs yesterday (Tuesday), see national
FIND US ONLINE including the end of the police investigation and Mr Clark’s refusal to either back Mr Johnson or news page 14.
facebook.com/timeslocalnews
www.timeslocalnews.co.uk publication of the Gray report.
twitter.com/timeslocalnews “At that point I will set out to constituents the
conclusions I have reached comprehensively.”
TONBRIDGE MP NOW SECOND FAVOURITE FOR TOP JOB
Salomons Estate, Broomhill Road, His words come after the prime minister, his THE MP for Tonbridge & Malling is now tipped admit he wanted the PM’s job earlier this year.
Tunbridge Wells, TN3 0TF wife Carrie and Chancellor Rishi Sunak paid £50 by the bookies to be the second favourite to be He had told reporters it would be a ‘huge
CLARIFICATIONS AND CORRECTIONS each for attending a birthday party for Mr the next leader of the Conservative party if privilege’ to be PM when asked if he wanted
HERE at the Times Local News we strive to deliver fair, accurate and Johnson in June 2020 when the rest of the Boris Johnson steps down. the role.
balanced reports. When we don’t meet our own high standards we will country was banned from gatherings, including Tom Tugendhat had been just 33/1 to land the Yet the Tonbridge MP remained behind Rishi
accept the responsibility and publish clarifications and corrections.
If you would like to make a comment on any aspect of the newspaper,
funerals. top job before the Downing Sunak and Liz Truss as the bookies’ favourite
please write to the editor. Following the revelations, more than 80 Street partygate scandal until the latest revelations that saw the
One Media and Creative UK Limited is
registered in England and Wales under
Conservative MPs have expressed their support emerged. Chancellor fined for rule breaking.
company number 5398960 with registered for Mr Johnson and said he should keep his job, Bookies shortened the Mr Tugendhat is now 8/1 to be next PM
office at 45 Westerham Road, Sevenoaks, Kent
TN13 2QB.
despite widespread anger across the country odds on the current Chair of trailing Liz Truss at 6/1.
over the double standards of ministers not the foreign Affairs Select Former Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt is third
PRINTED BY MORTONS PRINT LTD
abiding by their own rules. Committee to 7/1 after he favourite at 9/1, while the odds on Rishi Sunak
Media Centre, Morton Way, Horncastle,
Lincolnshire LN9 6JR
Northern Ireland Secretary Brandon Lewis became the first Tory MP to have fallen to 12/1.
yesterday (Tuesday) compared the offence to a
Wednesday April 20 | 2022 FOR EVEN MORE NEWS VISIT: timeslocalnews.co.uk Local News NEWS 3
NEWS IN BRIEF

Eleven charged with

Tunbridge Wells and German double
Sherwood murder
ELEVEN people have now been charged
celebrate 33 years of being twinned
following the death of a man in Tunbridge By Victoria Roberts
Wells. DOPPELGANGER
Xhovan Pepaj, aged 25, was found stabbed TUNBRIDGE WELLS and a spa town in Germany Wiesbaden civic centre
in Caley Road in the Sherwood area of the are celebrating 33 years of forging closer ties this
town, at around 3.15am on December 4, 2021. week on the anniversary they were twinned.
Since then, an investigation by the Kent and On April 22, 1989, Tunbridge Wells Borough
Essex Serious Crime Directorate has led to the Council and Wiesbaden City Council in
arrests of 13 people. Germany, signed a formal friendship and
Fabian Szymula, of Essex, aged 20, was twinning agreement.
arrested on April 8, 2022 and charged with Twinning agreements are civic agreements
conspiracy to commit robbery. He was between two towns or cities to promote trade,
remanded to a hearing on April 29. tourism and culture.
He joins ten others from the Essex area all
charged with Mr Pepaj’s murder.
The 10 suspects pleaded not guilty and are
Agreement
remanded to the hearing on 29 April. Close links with Wiesbaden, which is in the
A 33-year-old woman and a 27-year-old man, western German state of Hesse, were first forged
who were also arrested in connection with the by local ex-servicemen in 1960 who visited the
investigation, remain on police bail pending city to meet German soldiers that had fought in
further enquires. the war.
A formal agreement twining Tunbridge Wells Some of Tunbridge Wells’ attractions have

Primary school places and Wiesbaden was signed almost 20 years later.
A number of international companies have
direct links with Wiesbaden, such as the
bicycle-shaped cycle-stands, made by a
NINE out of ten children have bene offered their German or European headquarters in blacksmith from the German town, and the
their chosen primary school after figures were Wiesbaden, including Porsche and Ferrari and it Wiesbaden plaque incorporated into the water
released. is also one of Germany's wine-growing regions. feature at The Pantiles' 1887 building –
Families in Kent found out yesterday Wisebaden is located near to Frankfurt, around referencing the fact that both towns were
(Tuesday) what primary schools their children 700 km from its Kent twin, and like Tunbridge founded on springs.
have been offered to join in September 2022, Wells it is a spa town, boasting thermal springs, Over the years, schoolchildren have enjoyed
with 15,486 (90.07 per cent) of the 17,175 Kent first documented in Roman times. sporting exchanges, musical co-operation and
applicants were offered their first preference. Michael Holman, president and former even work experience exchanges.
Around 16,787 (97.74 per cent) will receive chairman of the Tunbridge Wells Twinning and During the pandemic, the twinning association
one of their three named schools. Friendship Association, said although both has worked to keep up the rapport, relying on all
Shellina Prendergast, KCC’s Cabinet places were spa towns, the 'twins' were far from the hallmarks of a long-distance relationship: wine festival.”
Member for Education and Skills, said: “The identical. correspondence, Zoom calls, and newsletters. A spokesperson for Wiesbaden’s city
number of children who did not receive any of “It was hard work, I am sure, to convince Now that the 'twins' can finally travel after two administration's international relations and town
their preferences is under 2.5 per cent and, in Wiesbaden, a town of now, 300,000 people, to years of pandemic restrictions, the twinning department said the city was looking
many cases, this is because parents named twin with a little tiddler like Tunbridge Wells,” complications of Brexit remain, which have forward to celebrating the anniversary of being
fewer than three schools, which limited the he recalled. made arranging paid student work placements twinned with Tunbridge Wells, adding: "Many
options KCC could consider before assigning “Our population of the Borough is only about even more complicated than the paperwork for activities are planned by our partnership
them an alternative. 120,000. At the time, it would have been much dutiable goods such as wine, Mr Holman said. association in this year."
“We appreciate this will be a disappointing less. He then added: “In August this year, unable to She added a visit by the new Chairman of
and concerning time for those pupils and “It's a town on a grand scale, compared with take part in the Wiesbaden Wine Festival, we Wiesbaden’s twinning assocation, Dr Friedrich
their families, but we would urge them not to Tunbridge Wells. But Tunbridge Wells has its sent 100 bottles of wine from Biddenden to Schrecker is taking place in Tunbirdge Wells this
be discouraged as this is only the first stage attractions and is a lovely town to visit.” Wiesbaden for their celebration of a twin town week.
in the applications process.”

Foodbank donations fall

THE foodbank that serves Tunbridge Wells has
Van driver tried to kill Cranbrook neighbour
issued a plea for food donations, following
record referrals in the week before Easter.
Nourish Community Foodbank has seen the
following a feud over a shared driveway
number of people needing its service in the By Robert Forrester trial at Maidstone Crown Court Wood claimed he
2020/2021 financial year rocket to 16,238, up had no recollection of the collision, having
from 10,141 the year before. A 59-YEAR-OLD man has been jailed for 15 years previously sustained a head injury after falling
And referrals are continuing to rise. after attempting to murder a pensioner in from a ladder.
Operations Manager Dawn Stanford said: Cranbrook by mowing him down in his van But a jury found him guilty of attempted
“We have had more referrals this week than following a dispute over land. murder.
any other week so far this year, and we are Charles Wood of Rye Road, Sandhurst, used his
expecting this rise to continue. vehicle to mount a pavement and deliberately
“However, our food donations are at the drove at the victim, who has not been named by
Sentenced
lowest they have been all year.” Kent Police, at high speed. He was sentenced to 15 years at Southwark
Contributors can drop food and sanitary An investigation later revealed he lived close to Crown Court last week (Wednesday, April 13) and
supplies in Nourish’s boxes in supermarkets, the victim, and had previously been involved in a was told he will have to serve a minimum of ten
and can now make donations directly long running dispute over a strip of land used to years (two thirds of his sentence) and will also be
at its warehouse in Kingstanding Way access both Wood and the victim’s homes, and disqualified from driving for 12 years and six
(Unit 5). Collection points can be found at which was also used by people to park their cars. months on his release.
nourishcommunityfoodbank.org.uk Wood had been traveling in the Sandhurst area Lead investigator, Detective Chief Inspector
on March 2, 2020, when around 1.20pm he saw Garry Cook, of the Kent and Essex Serious Crime

Burglar arrested in pub the victim, a man in his 60s, walking on a

pavement in Rye Road.
Directorate, said that Wood used his van as an
offence weapon.
A BURGLAR who stole cash from a house in After driving his vehicle at him Wood then sped He added: “Wood used his van as a weapon
Tunbridge Wells was caught spending his from the scene. and his actions left his elderly victim suffering a
ill-gotten gains in a pub near to the house he number of appalling injuries.
had targeted. JAILED “It is only by chance that the victim survived
On February 15, Scott Parker cycled to a
Collision Charles Wood this unprovoked assault, although there is little
house in Birch Close, Sherwood and kicked Police and ambulance crews attended, and the doubt these serious injuries will have a profound
open the front door before stealing around victim was taken to hospital with injuries and long-lasting effect.
£250 in cash from a distinctive money tin. including a bleed to the brain, a bruised aorta, as as the suspect and when officers attended his “As well as the lasting physical scars the impact
But police caught the inept thief after CCTV well as a broken back and ribs. He spent a home address, a short distance away in Rye of this crime will likely have a significant
captured him cycling to a nearby pub and number of months in hospital. Road, the van was found parked outside with psychological impact on the victim for the rest of
emptying the stolen cash tin on the bar. Witnesses described seeing a silver panel van damage to its windscreen and bonnet. their life.”
The 46-year-old was arrested and Parker being driven in the area moments before the Wood was located on the following day and He added: “I only hope today’s sentence will
was sentenced to one year and two months’ collision. arrested. provide some closure and reassurance that at
imprisonment. Enquiries quickly led to Wood being identified He later denied any wrongdoing and during his least justice has now been served.”
4 NEWS Local News FOR EVEN MORE NEWS VISIT: timeslocalnews.co.uk Wednesday April 20 | 2022

Hospital waiting list begins to shrink

as Trust recovers from the pandemic
By Victoria Roberts The figures come against a backdrop of a new
number of record of patients in England waiting
WAITING lists at the NHS Trust that runs to start routine hospital treatment – rising to
Tunbridge Wells Hospital are bucking the 6.2million at the end of February.
national trend and declining following record This was up from 6.1million in January and is
levels reached after the pandemic. the highest number since records began in
The latest figures from NHS England show a August 2007.
nearly 2 per cent fall in February of people
waiting for hip operations and other non-
emergency care at Maidstone and Tunbridge
Conditions
Wells NHS Trust (MTW). Although the waiting list has continued to
It follows record levels of people waiting for grow in England, the figures also show the
treatments and surgeries as a result of the number of people waiting more than a year, and
pandemic. more than two years, have fallen.
NHS England said that despite record volumes
of 999 calls and ambulance callouts for
Longest life-threatening conditions over the winter
Back in November, MTW, which runs both the period of December to March, the service had
hospital in Pembury and the hospital in managed to cut the numbers waiting the longest
Maidstone, saw its waiting list peak at 39,341 – for hospital treatments.
the highest levels ever recorded. A total of 23,281 people in England were
In figures published last Thursday [April 14], RECOVERING waiting more than two years to start routine
MTW had 37,775 patients on the waiting list as of Tunbridge Wells Hospital hospital treatment at the end of February, down
February 2022, down 1.73 per cent from January slightly from 23,778 at the end of January.
2022. But it is around nine times the 2,608 people who
Despite the fall to waiting lists, only 70.1 per or 6.7 per cent, month-on-month, down from standard in cardiothoracic surgery and the were waiting longer than two years in April 2021.
cent of patients are being seen within 18 weeks, 8,421 patients waiting in January. general internal medicine service, both seeing The number of people having to wait more
compared to the target of 92 per cent, but that General surgery and the gynaecology service 100 per cent of patients within 18 weeks. than a year to start hospital treatment also fell
target has not been hit since the pandemic began. have the next-biggest waiting lists, with 4,163 Meanwhile, in elderly medicine, 96.2 per cent from 311,528 in January to 299,478 in February.
The longest waiting list at MTW is for and 4,131 waiting, respectively. are seen within this period. The NHS elective recovery plan sets the
ophthalmology, with 7,854 waiting for eye-related The gynaecology waiting list actually increased The average wait time for non-emergency ambitions of eliminating all waits of more than
treatment, 35 per cent for more than 18 weeks. by 50 patients over the month – or 1.22 per cent, treatment at MTW currently stands at 11.4 weeks. two years, except when it is the patient’s choice,
However, the figures show that MTW had with 39.4 per cent waiting longer than 18 weeks. Only one patient was listed as waiting for more by July and all waits of more than a year by
managed to reduce this number by 567 patients, However, MTW is beating the 92 per cent than 52 weeks, in the ‘general surgery’ category. March 2025.

MTW EMBARKS ON A RECRUITMENT DRIVE

MAIDSTONE and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust services and facilities and our people can really committed to providing the very best patient attachments in September.
(MTW) is conducting a recruitment drive as the help play a part in shaping our future. care and they live and breathe the Trust’s values “Staff at MTW can enjoy living in one of the
service attempts to return to normality “We invest in training to support all staff to of patient first, respect, innovation, delivery most beautiful areas in the UK where it’s easy to
following the Covid-19 pandemic. help them excel in their careers and take up and excellence. have a night out in London or visit the coast for
The recruitment campaign will promote MTW opportunities in areas that interest them as they the afternoon.
as a leading hospital Trust, offering various job develop their skills. We have a fantastic team of Boost “Many have relocated from London or
opportunities and multi-disciplinary roles, as friendly people at MTW who really support each commute from the capital. I trained here and
well as training and development opportunities, other. We encourage health professionals “We offer excellent career progression. We’re a have returned to work here. It is such a
including management, education and research looking for a new role to join us on the next teaching hospital for doctors and have supportive, modern and forward-thinking
positions. Miles Scott, Chief Executive at MTW stage of our journey.” relationships with universities that train nurses organisation and I would highly recommend it.”
said: “We are offering new roles in many areas Dr Peter Maskell, Medical Director, MTW and other health professionals, which boost our The recruitment drive, focused on clinical
to support our expanding services and added: “We are a clinically-led organisation talent pipeline. roles, comes at an exciting time for MTW as it
recruiting staff right across the board, with a where decisions are informed by our clinicians, “We work with the Kent and Medway Medical has invested in a range of new facilities, service
focus on clinical posts. It’s a great time to join which means staff can have a big impact on School, and we are currently preparing to take developments, training centres and digital
the Trust as we continue developing our how we operate. Everyone working here is 40 medical students for their clinical transformation.

Fraudster awaiting extradition after selling

fake wine in $100million US ‘Ponzi scheme’
By Richard Williams does not exist and instead use the money to pay In papers lodged with the eastern district court
off interest to earlier investors to claim the of New York, US district attorney Breon Peace
A TUNBRIDGE WELLS man is awaiting scheme is working. said: “Unlike the fine wine they purported to
extradition after allegedly defrauded wine According to New York attorneys, both Fuller possess, the defendants’ repeated lies to
collectors in an alleged £76million Ponzi and Burton used aliases to con investors out of investors did not age well.
scheme. more than $99million (£76million) and used the “These defendants duped investors by offering
Convicted fraudster, Andrew Fuller, 55, who is proceeds to make fraudulent interest payments them an intoxicating investment opportunity
from the Kent town, and his business partner to other investors in a scheme, which ran from collateralised by valuable bottles of fine wine
Stephen Burton, 57, also believed to be from the June 2017 to February 2019. that turned out to be too good to be true.”
county, are said to have offered investors huge The two men both have previous convictions
returns by investing in cellars that included for fraud.
costly wines but many of the expensive vintages
Conspiracy Fuller, from Tunbridge Wells, was sentenced to
did not actually exist, according to court papers Fuller even changed his name to James six years in prison in 2013 after admitting
filed in New York. ‘FRAUDSTERS’ Wellesley – the surname of the Dukes of charges including fraud and forgery over a
Stephen Burton Wellington – for the scheme. property scheme.
posing with a Burton and Fuller are charged with wire fraud Burton was arrested at a hotel in Kent on
Notorious vintage wine and conspiracy, wire fraud and money laundering Valentine’s Day 2019. He later pleaded guilty to
Instead, the pair were taking money from (inset) Andrew conspiracy, which carry a maximum sentence of possession of false identity documents and
investors to pay off interest from other investors’ Fuller 20 years. money laundering and was sentenced to four
loans in what has been dubbed by US Fuller is now in custody awaiting extradition to years’ imprisonment.
prosecutors as a ‘Ponzi scheme’. a Ponzi scheme is when fraudsters take money the USA, while Burton is alleged to be on the run He has since been released and is understood
Named after notorious US crook Charles Ponzi, from clients for an investment opportunity that after leaving prison for another offence. to have fled the country.
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6 NEWS Local Elections FOR EVEN MORE NEWS VISIT: timeslocalnews.co.uk Wednesday April 20 | 2022

Local elections 2022: 2022

Housing plan puts ward on a knife edge
The controversial decision to put 120 homes in

battle for the Town Hall

the Spratsbrook Farm and Ramslye Field area of
the ward has made it one of the most hotly
contested seats in the local elections this year.
The houses, which were part of the Council’s
MAY sees one of the closest fought local Local Plan were agreed by an all-party group at
elections for nearly two decades taking place at the authority consisting of Labour, Lib Dem,
Tunbridge Wells Borough Council. Alliance, and Conservatives.
The authority has been run by the But both the Green Party and Ukip have
Conservatives as a minority party since it fell to targeted the area due to the strong opposition in
No Overall Control for the first time in two the area to the housing plans.
decades in 2021. GREEN FIELDS
Alternative Spratsbrook Farm is a site for new homes
Balanced can currently muster 26 seats between them – 12 However with not enough brown field sites in
The Conservatives are not fighting to keep Lib Dems, 6 Alliance, 5 Labour and 3 the town to build homes on, and the government Tunbridge Wells Cllr Chris Woodward.
control of the 48-seat chamber at the Town Hall. independents. insisting that 13,500 homes have to be built in We approached all the candidates and asked
The election on May 5 could see control of the These are the penultimate local elections Tunbridge Wells over the next 15 years, is there what their views are on the housing plans for
authority fall from the Conservatives for the first before the current boundary system changes in an alternative? Broadwater.
time in 20 years if they fail to return enough May 2024 that will see a reduction of councillors Six candidates are all vying for the Broadwater We also asked what other issues they are
councillors. from 48 to 39. seat that is currently held by the current Mayor of fighting this local election on (see opposite):
There are 60 prospective councillors vying for To retain power, the Conservatives have to
one of 16 available seats at Tunbridge Wells avoid losing more than five of the seats they
Borough Council (TWBC). currently hold, but they would need to win all SEATS BEING CONTESTED CURRENT HOLDER PARTY
Just Labour and the Conservative party have a ten they are defending plus a further four if they
Benenden & Cranbrook Cllr Sean Holden Conservative
full slate of candidates in all available wards, are to regain the majority they lost in 2021.
despite the Town Hall being balanced on a knife Over the next few weeks, we will be looking at Brenchley & Horsmonden Cllr Alan McDermott Conservative
edge. some of the key battle grounds for the political Broadwater Cllr Chris Woodward Conservative
The Conservatives currently have 21 councillors parties. This week we will be looking at Culverden Cllr David Scott Conservative
in the Town Hall, while the opposition groups Broadwater. Hawkhurst & Sandhurst Cllr Patrick Thomson Conservative
Paddock Wood East Cllr Sarah Hamilton Conservative
CURRENT MAKE-UP OF TUNBRIDGE WELLS BOROUGH COUNCIL Paddock Wood West Vacant (previously held by Conservative)
Pantiles & St Marks Cllr James Scholes Conservative
CONSERVATIVE PARTY 21 LIBERAL DEMOCRATS 12 Park Cllr Nicholas Pope Alliance
Pembury Cllr Barrington-King Conservative
Sherwood Cllr Bob Backhouse Conservative
S’borough & High Brooms Cllr Alain Lewis Labour
Southborough North Cllr Joe Simmons Conservative
ALLIANCE 6 LABOUR PARTY 5 INDEPENDENT/VACANT 4 Speldhurst & Bidborough Cllr Matthew Sankey Alliance
St James’ Cllr Rob Wormington Lib Dem
St John’s Cllr Mark Ellis Lib Dem
Wednesday April 20 | 2022 FOR EVEN MORE NEWS VISIT: timeslocalnews.co.uk Local Elections NEWS 7

The candidates fighting it out in Broadwater

CLLR CHRIS ANNE
WOODWARD MUSKER JAMIE ADRIAN
JOHNSON THORNE
‘Housing plan is balanced ‘We need more affordable ‘We draw the line at ‘No to any building on
as other areas taking more’ homes and social rents’ building on green space’
What do you say to the people of the ward
non-brownfield sites’
unhappy with the housing proposed in the What is your position on the housing Considering that the Lib Dems have If houses are not built in Broadwater,
Local Plan? outlined for Broadwater in the Local backed the Council’s Local Plan, what where should they be built?
Plan? are your views on the proposed housing?
Considering the government-imposed We want new houses on old, disused sites
requirement to deliver about 750 new homes Children of local people can't afford to live When the Plan was approved, Broadwater like the factory in Showfields – good
per year over the period of the new Local Plan, here. ward was represented only by the quality, eco-friendly houses.
on balance I felt that there was little The Council should build its own houses Conservatives. There is fierce opposition amongst locals
justification for rejecting this properly at social rents for local people and buy The plan that the Conservatives approved to losing precious green spaces like
considered allocation of 120 homes for back sold-off council houses when they included the greenbelt land of Ramslye Ramslye farm fields, and once we lose
Broadwater – other areas of the Borough are become available. Better insulation, Fields—against the wishes of local those spaces, we will never get them back.
having to absorb a lot more. building to high modern standards, and residents. Our position is that brownfield We are the only party to represent those
rapid repairs will help people and the development is to be welcomed, but we feelings.
What are other issues in Broadwater are planet. draw the line at building on much-loved
you campaigning on? green space. What other issues in Broadwater are you
What are other issues in Broadwater are campaigning on that you feel are
I would identify three principal concerns: you campaigning on that you feel are What are other issues in Broadwater are important to residents there?
Redevelopment of Town & Country dwellings important to residents there? you campaigning on that you feel are
looms; I want to be sure that vacating tenants important to residents there? Repairing years of Conservative neglect; we
get the support they need in transitioning to We need more - and cheaper - local buses. need our doctors' surgery back, we need
alternate homes. There is too much fly-tipping and anti- Having lived here most of my life, I feel that the Showfields regeneration to move faster.
With the upward creep in numbers of local social behaviour. it is important that we make our streets We need green schemes like safe
homes, I constantly pursue the case for a local We need a better police presence on the safer - we must enforce speeding limits. pavements, car clubs, bike lanes and
medical centre. streets, better protection for women, and Coupled with this, we must maintain our regular litter-clearing.
As a TWBC Commons Conservator, I will activities for young people. We need to fix beautiful countryside and improve We need Councillors in the community
pursue the need for more funding to help the bin contracts. And encourage better accessibility on our footpaths. Borough- who listen to residents and act!
address a significant backlog of necessary disabled access to shops and public wide the Liberal Democrats have a plan for
improvements. buildings. a town centre that we’re all proud of. * The Alliance and Ukip candidates were
contacted but were unavailable to comment

Antique & Fine Art Auctioneers

Textiles, Vintage Fashion, Handbags

& Luxury Luggage Valuation Days
Monday 3rd May - Lewes
Friday 6th May - Tunbridge Wells
The market for designer items and textiles is ever-growing. With
the power of the internet, our sale platform reaches clients across
the world, yet our attractive galleries set a demand on a more
local scale.

Regardless of age, names like Mulberry, Chanel and Hermés

attract impressive results through the expertise of our experts.
Our own Annie Hartnett, a former specialist dealer in antique and
Chinese textiles, costume and lace, has lifelong experience within
the industry. Alongside her is Emily Bearn; a recent graduate who
has extensive knowledge of vintage and modern design. Both fuse
together in leading the impressive
im textiles department with us
here at Gorringe’s.

To book an appointment for a free appraisal

email [email protected]
or telephone 01892 556860
A Chinese apricot embroidered silk ‘dragon’ formal court robe. Sold by
Gorringe’s in 2021 for £24,000
Two graduated Louis Vuitton Alzer suitcase trunks. Sold by Gorringe’s in
2022 for £3,200 www.gorringes.co.uk
 The Amelia Scott building will open its doors on
Thursday 28th April and we can’t wait to welcome you!

Why not pop in to look around, or plan a visit to experience all that The Amelia
has to offer. Cultural events, exhibitions, activities and more, you’ll never run
out of things to do.

If you need to talk to an advisor, pay a bill or access Council services,

this is the place to go.

Everyone’s welcome to explore the library, pick up their next best read or fall
in love with reading all over again! You can also relax and enjoy a treat in our
new café, run by local coffee experts, Fine Grind.

There’s so much to discover.

OPEN SEVEN DAYS A WEEK

For more information and to sign up to our

newsletter visit theamelia.co.uk

There’s something for One of Britain’s most beloved Kate Humble has been a cornerstone of A pioneer of UK alternative comedy,
everyone at the Tunbridge comedians and authors, David BBC programming for over twenty years, Jo Brand has been tickling the
Baddiel is headlining the opening and has been instrumental in fostering country’s collective funny bone for
Wells Literary Festival!
night of the Festival where he will be her viewers’ relationship with the natural decades! Join us at the Assembly
discussing his most recent authorial world around them. Kate will introduce Hall Theatre as the Saturday
Bank Holiday venture, Jews Don’t Count. her new recipe book, Home Cooked, a evening headliner, Jo will be talking
Weekend | Friday Assembly Hall Theatre
stunning collection of simple, seasonal about her most recent book, Born
dishes designed to help reinvigorate Lippy: How to Do Female.
29 April – Monday Friday 29 April, 8pm every meal.
Assembly Hall Theatre
2 May 2022 Assembly Hall Theatre Saturday 30 April, 8pm
Saturday 30 April 2.30pm

Coinciding with the opening of The Amelia Scott, this packed programme of events across the whole town will bring together some of the nation’s
favourite writers, covering both adult and children’s literature. Fact or fiction, popular or niche, there will be something for everyone!

Tickets available on-line or via the booking hotline 01892 530613.

theamelia.co.uk
Wednesday April 20 | 2022 FOR EVEN MORE NEWS VISIT: timeslocalnews.co.uk Local News BUSINESS 9

Falling jobless figures stutter but Solid ground for

property investors
local employers struggling to hire PROPERTY investment is just the first item on the
agenda for The Finance Hub’s new business area
of financial literacy events and business
By Victoria Roberts networking tomorrow (Thursday).
The business network, which opened in March
UNEMPLOYMENT figures have remained stable as a one-stop-shop for financial planning, with
for the second month in a row, with just five customers choosing whether to pay for advice
fewer unemployed claimants in Tunbridge Wells through commissions or fees, told the Times at
and the surrounding area. the time that it was planning to offer ‘themed’
According to figures released by the Office of events sponsored by local businesses.
National Statistics (ONS) last week, 1,890 people Speakers at its first event tomorrow [April 21] will
were claiming some form of out of work benefits explain the groundwork needed to use property as
during March 2022. an investment, and how investors can set targets
for their returns, in order to maximise results.
Flat
This was broadly flat compared to the February
Currencies
figure of 1,895, but it remains nearly double the Topics will include using a pension to invest in
number who were unemployed before the Covid property, structuring a property business and
pandemic began. navigating taxation, and financing projects from
It is now exactly two years since the last bridging and development to refinancing.
pre-pandemic month of March 2020, when just However, with the event already oversubscribed,
1,130 people were claiming out-of-work benefits. and with a waiting list, the networking business
It was April 2020 which saw the level soar to years as the cost-of-living squeeze tightened, take a drop for a locally based role. on The Pantiles has drawn up a slate of future
2,325 claimants in the area. according to the ONS. “The rise in living has clearly a knock-on effect events, The Finance Hub director Gillian Palmer
“I am surprised that it is still higher than it The government body said regular pay with our candidates, although living in a told the Times.
was pre-pandemic, as we are seeing excluding bonuses tumbled 1.8 per cent ‘candidate market’ they are faced with a decision “On the 19th of May, we are running a joint event
such a shortage of candidates in all in the three months to February when to either invest in a new role to increase salary or with Office Tribe for their clients and any small
areas that I would have expected taking soaring inflation into sit securely in what they know. businesses to talk about the wellbeing effects of
the number of unemployed to be account, as measured by the co-working and collaboration,” she said, adding
very low at the moment,” Neil Consumer Prices Index (CPI) – the that she would lead the event.
Simmons, of local recruitment steepest fall since August to
Vacancies Later, on June 9, Currency UK, which is an
agency TN Recruits, told the October 2013. “We [as recruiters] are aware of the affiliate member of The Finance Hub, will run a
Times. But Tunbridge Wells is bucking unemployment changes and the increase in job currency event, which will welcome anyone
“With regards to the that trend. roles where local companies are expanding and working across currencies, including those
unemployment figures, I would Mr Simmons said: “Salaries are now able to deliver business plans that had to be buying, owning or selling property abroad.
expect that number to drop given creeping up at the moment, but frozen due to the pandemic.” The June 23 event, by Pam Loch of Loch
the continued strength in the job this is also partly due to the The news comes as the Times reported last Associates and Larry Hardcastle of Studio 44,
market – across all sectors.” NEIL SIMMONS pressure coming from candidates week of a shortage of trained chefs in the town focuses on company websites as a means of
Across the UK workers suffered the who are working from home but still on that has seen nearly 100 vacancies for the role attracting customers and staff while remaining
biggest fall in their real pay for nearly nine London salaries, so they are not willing to posted on a leading job search website. legally compliant.

Flying Entertainment presents

DREAMBOATS & PETTICOATS

EDEN MARK
®
VERY SPECIAL GUEST

MUSIC THAT LIVES FOREVER

MARTY WILDE A TEENAGER IN LOVE

KANE WYNTER
I DON’T KNOW WHY
FORGET ME NOT
WELL I ASK YOU
BOYS CRY
VENUS IN BLUE JEANS
GO AWAY • LITTLE GIRL
IT’S ALMOST TOMORROW

NANCY ANN LEE

RUBBER BALL
SEA OF LOVE FEATURING
BAD BOY • DONNA SPECIAL GUEST

AND
THE WILDCATS CONCERT
IN

Tuesday 3 May, 7:30pm

Tunbridge Wells Assembly Hall Theatre
assemblyhalltheatre.co.uk 01892 530613
10 NEWS Community News FOR EVEN MORE NEWS VISIT: timeslocalnews.co.uk Wednesday April 20 | 2022

Teen friends trade up from a penny Cross-fitters raise money

and donate £100 to cancer charity
for rare childhood disease illness, Joel explained.
By Sarah Carter
“Because it’s rare and wide ranging; there’s
A TONBRIDGE couple are raising money for the hardly any info out there in digestible format for
charity which has helped them since their families like us. They’re solving that problem,”
daughter was diagnosed with an almost unique he said, adding that the charity had written
chromosomal condition nearly a year ago. useful guides to life stages such as teething,
Crossfit Tonbridge and Crossfit TAG in the schooling, adolescence, travel insurance and
Sevenoaks Weald, run by Joel St John and wife more.
Emma, will challenge everyone, from five years At the event on May 14, entrants will start with
and up, to compete in CrossFit challenges – or small CrossFit-based challenges, followed by a
even test how long they can hold a plank – to competition in which the four owners will take
win donated prizes and celebrate Ophelia St on teams of four coaches, and teams of four
John’s first birthday in May. members.
“The day is designed to be very inclusive, so
FUNDRAISERS our members from age five up to 65 can all take
(L-R) Basil, Sammy, Emily Care part,” stressed Joel.
and Elvis with Polly Taylor Due to a very rare condition affecting her Raffle prizes at the event include a month’s
chromosome 10, the little girl was born with supply of micro-greens, a 30-minute massage, a
By Richard Williams your target.” multiple complications including club feet, a personal trainer session, afternoon tea for two at
Along with pals Emily Hitchell, Sammy missing kidney, kidney dysplasia, cleft palate, Salomons Estate and more.
A GROUP of teenage friends from Tunbridge Lampitt and Basil Aramankuzhy, the quartet differences in her brain shape and other There is a pay-what-you-want barbecue and
Wells walked into a cancer charity in the town made their first trade by swapping the penny for problems, including a collapsed lung and heart cake sale. This is not the gym’s first foray into
and handed over £100 that they earnt after a pen. issues, said father Joel. charity, said Joel.
starting out with just 1p. “We went to Southborough Library, and they Ophelia’s mother “We recently raised
Polly Taylor from the Pickering Cancer Drop-in gave us a pen for the penny after we told them Emma continues to money for Cancer
Centre in Monson Road says she was what we are doing,” Emily explained. coach part-time, having Research over
‘overwhelmed’ when the four youngsters walked “We then traded that with people we came been the children’s November and
in with the money earlier this month. across and the local shops, until we had enough coach before the little December last year.
The penny challenge was the brainchild of money to buy some cornflakes and chocolate, girl was born, Joel told Earlier in the year, we
14-year-old Elvis Dunjohn, a Tunbridge Wells which we made some cakes that we sold for the Times. raised money for a
Boys Grammar School pupil, who got the idea £1.50 each. Although it was the community- accessible
from a class project. “We also received a lot of cash donations.” Guy’s Hospital genetics defibrillator and more.”
He said: “We were on our Easter holidays and I Following their day of trades on April 4, the team which diagnosed
wanted to do something to help small local four friends walked into Pickering and handed Ophelia, and she Contact
charities that are trying to make a difference, over their profits - £100. remains under the care CrossFitTonbridge.
and as we had done the penny challenge at “I was overwhelmed with emotion when they of specialist services in co.uk or find more
school I thought it would be a good way to raise walked in,” Polly Taylor at the charity said. the NHS, the charity FAMILY information about
money. “They were on their school holidays and to put Unique provided Emma and Joel with Unique at
“The idea is you start with a penny and trade themselves out like this for us is truly practical advice for life baby Ophelia RareChromo.org
up, buying and selling things until you reach inspirational. with such an unusual
 Wednesday April 20 | 2022 FOR EVEN MORE NEWS VISIT: timeslocalnews.co.uk Community News NEWS 11

The sun is not setting on the town’s Paddock Wood

twirlers after they win major victory residents throw
By Victoria Roberts lifeline to RNLI
TUNBRIDGE Wells’ only majorette troupe A ONE-day charity appeal for lifeboats in Paddock
came back from the postponed 2020 national Wood earlier this month raised 11 per cent more
festival with trophies galore, after not only than the last time a collection was held in the
keeping their batons up throughout the town, in 2019.
pandemic but also persisting in competition. The Pembury, Paddock Wood & Tonbridge
Started in 1999 by Brenda Kitchenham with Branch of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution
her twin daughters Faye and Zoe, who have [RNLI] raised £557 on April 9, from collectors in
since become co-leaders, the Sunset Twirlers the town centre, local chairman Peter Chartres
take have been taking in girls from four years told the Times.
old ever since. “This time we had 12 collectors, spaced apart,
whereas in 2019 we had 15 collectors, and the
take per bucket was also up – from an average of
Members £33 per bucket in 2019, while this year it was
“We gradually got girls coming to us from £46.
Oakley School and went from there,” Brenda
told the Times.
The troupe now has over a dozen members,
Donating
ranging from 25 to seven years old, including “Some of the people donating did mention that
eight who have special needs. they were up against it financially, but considered
“We’re the only troupe left in Tunbridge the Lifeboats were doing a superb job,” he
Wells now, but there used to be four or five added.
groups in the area. It has fallen off a bit, but The local RNLI branch ran plenty of outreach
we’re not sure whether that is because the events, he said, but the BBC’s ‘Saving Lives at
parents don’t want to drive,” Brenda added. Sea’ series had also helped, he said.
Having started in 1999, the Sunset Twirlers However, he also attributed the increased
have now seen off other troupes, rival hobbies takings to a combination of Paddock Wood’s
and the pandemic to win the ‘Ambassadors’ rising population and increasing ‘localism’.
prize at the UK Federation of Majorettes’ much of the competition, but she said: “We about.” The town is rapidly expanding with thousands
(UKFM) Bubble Nationals, held at Pontins got to the end of the presentations at Pontins, The competition this year had not included of new homes earmarked for the area.
Camber Sands on March 18-21. and I was just thinking ‘oh, good, we can go as many troupes as normal – around thirty “I think the population is increasing. There is a
“This was classed as the 2020 nationals soon’, but then they called them out. Well, we compared to 50-60 normally – but Brenda said lot of building going on.”
because of the pandemic. That competition all know that the most important prize comes they were proud to have kept going. And, with increased fuel and bus costs,
was cancelled the week before we were due to last. “A lot of troupes haven’t been able to get combined with shops and facilities in the town,
go, and we’ve gone two years without it,” said back into schools to practice, because of the ‘the footfall is quite a bit higher.’
Brenda. pandemic. He added: “Why would you want to go to
Some of the troupe also received ‘Ian’s
Included “But we practice weekly – every Monday Maidstone or Tunbridge Wells with all the factors
trophy’ for those who could not join in with so “I did try not to cry, and managed it – just night at 6pm-8pm,” she added. you’ve got here?”
12 NEWS Community News FOR EVEN MORE NEWS VISIT: timeslocalnews.co.uk Wednesday April 20 | 2022

The Hawkhurst Gang’s last stand...

It may not be as famous as the Battle of Hastings or Bosworth

Field, but today (April 20) marks the 275th anniversary of the
Weald’s own medieval skirmish, and as Paul Harvey discovers,
scars from the Battle of Goudhurst are still visible to this day….
BLACKTOOTH, Nasty Face, Staymaker, Pain, its church and churchyard which was the Sturt was well prepared. The women and fellow smuggling friend Fairall were eventually
Poison, Shepherd, Red Mist, Trip, The Kentish location of the ferocious pitched battle that took children of the village had already been sent found guilty and sentenced to death by hanging
Giant – characters out of a Disney Production or place on the 20th April 1747. It really is quite away as a precaution. at the gallows in Tyburn.
a kid’s comic perhaps? hard to imagine... After the hanging in front of a sizable crowd,
These were in fact aliases of 18th century Thomas Kingsmill was now leader of The their bodies were put into iron chains, then
smugglers who for sure would have given small Hawkhurst Gang at just 27 years of age.
Stationed transported in plain wooden boxes back to Kent.
children nightmares at that time! Especially those His arrogance and determination to prove to Sturt had trained his men well, trenches had At least 75 of the gang members were hanged or
that lived in Goudhurst almost 300 years ago… his fellow Gang members that he was worthy of already been dug, barricades erected, and transported at that time and as many as 14
The Hawkhurst Gang’s exploits became manned snipers were stationed on the Church gibbets could be seen dotted across the Kent and
legendary and were virtually unchallenged for tower. They gathered as many firearms as Sussex skyline.
almost 15 years from around 1735. They became possible and made up cartridges and cast many Kingsmill’s body was hoisted up into an iron
established as one of the more infamous Gangs balls for muskets. Gibbet in Goudhurst and left to rot in full display
of Smugglers through the South. The Gang opened the attack, 50 horsemen for all to see as the black crows and magpies
“They feared neither Customs Officers nor dismounted and aimed their fire at the Church squabbled and squaked over the carcass.
Soldiery, they respected neither God nor Man, tower and windows. But the Militia fought back Fairall’s body was taken to Horsmonden and
and into the course of attaining their aims they with volleys of musket fire from many directions, was also gibbeted.
stopped at no atrocity nor brooked any with long range weapons and being under cover So, next time you are in Goudhurst, reflect on
interference from anyone”, so it was written at proved to work the defeat of the Gang. this incredible period in our social history and
the time. The gang quickly broke up and fled in all wonder how William Sturt must have felt when
directions once they realised that they had looking up to the gibbet with Kingsmill’s
completely underestimated the skill that Sturt rotting body on display, holding his young
Wars had brought with him to defend Goudhurst. son’s hand, proudly knowing that he directly
The Smuggling Gangs of the 18th Century When the smoke cleared – three of the contributed to Kingsmill’s eventual downfall
emerged from the preceding centuries of smugglers were lying dead in the churchyard. and put an end to the Hawkhurst Gang’s Reign
sufferance with severe customs duties being Things weren’t good for Kingsmill. of Terror!
imposed on Imported Commodities to pay for a He knew he couldn’t return to Goudhurst, his If you are interested in hearing a studio
series of expensive wars. Gang had been depleted, he had also lost his production audio story about The Hawkhurst
Two key protagonists emerged at this time: brother in the process. Gang and The Battle of Goudhurst please email
Thomas Kingsmill and William Sturt who as It was in April 1749 that Kingsmill and his [email protected].
young men played significant roles in shaping the role became a real opportunity to now test
the social history of the South East in the himself as Captain. He threatened to ride into CURRENT EVIDENCE OF THE DAYS OF SMUGGLING
mid-18th Century. Goudhurst, kill the residents and burn the place
They were both natives of Goudhurst, a similar down. He named the day: April 20. It was 1747 • The gibbet was an iron cage into which the • Smugley Farm exists in Goudhurst; Tubs
age, but chose very different career paths. and that arrogance was going to be his hung smugglers were placed wrapped in iron Lake between Hawkhurst and Cranbrook was a
Thomas Kingsmill, born in 1720, became a downfall. chains and left to rot. The gibbet with staging post for contraband on its way to
prominent member of the Hawkhurst Gang who The day arrived and sure enough Kingsmill Kingsmill’s body was at Goudhurst Gore, still London.
later became their leader. and the Gang galloped into sight of the showing as a place name near Goudhurst and
William Sturt – born in 1717, his name is still Goudhurst Church, stripped to the waist, faces the gibbet holding William Fairhall was at • Section of Goudhurst’s Oak Church Door
recalled by local Historians as the Hero of painted, head bands in place and armed to the Horsmonden, with Gibbet Lane still named. from 1747 has been framed showing lead shot
Goudhurst, who stood up to Kingsmill and the teeth with carbines, pistols and swords. Their embedded in it from the Battle of Goudhurst.
Hawkhurst Gang by organising the Goudhurst familiar battle cry piercing the springlike air. • Spyways is the name of a house in
Militia and defeated the Gang at the Battle of Kingsmill left the main group and standing Goudhurst High Street, used by the smugglers • You can still find musket balls in the earth
Goudhurst on the 20th April 1747. high in his stirrups made a blood thirsty speech as a look out post for Dragoons and Customs close to the hedge rows around the playing
In a beautiful tranquil spot in the glorious – brandishing his sword, he then re-joined the Officers and was also the village jail. field near the church – evidence of The Battle.
Weald of Kent you can discover Goudhurst with Gang.
 ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE

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14 NEWS National News FOR EVEN MORE NEWS VISIT: timeslocalnews.co.uk Wednesday April 20 | 2022

PM apologises for partygate fine as he

faces a vote on whether he misled MPs
BORIS Johnson has made a ‘wholehearted Sir Lindsay Hoyle said he had approved an
apology’ to the House of Commons after he was application from Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer
fined for breaching Covid rules. and other opposition MPs allowing them to table
The PM attended Parliament to explain his a motion for debate on Thursday.
actions in the Commons yestertday, as MPs return
to Westminster following the Easter recess.
Mr Johnson told MPs: “Let me begin in all
Guidance
humility by saying that on April 12 I received a It comes after the Prime Minister, along with
fixed penalty notice relating to an event in his wife Carrie Johnson and Chancellor Rishi
Downing Street on June 19 2020. Sunak, were last week issued with fixed-penalty
notices (FPN) by police investigating claims of
coronavirus lockdown breaches in No 10.
‘Resign’ Mr Johnson has apologised for his part in
“I paid the fine immediately and I offered the attending his own birthday bash, held in June
British people a full apology, and I take this 2020 in the Cabinet room, and paid the fine
opportunity on the first available sitting day to despite telling the Commons previously that all
repeat my wholehearted apology to the House.” FACING THE MUSIC Covid guidance was followed at the heart of
Shouts of ‘resign’ could be heard in the Mr Johnson leaving for Government.
Commons. the Commons yesterday Labour is understood to be wording the motion
But Mr Johnson added: “As soon as I received to make Thursday’s vote about whether to refer
the notice, I acknowledged the hurt and anger meeting on Covid strategy could amount to a steps” to change the way things work in No 10. Mr Johnson to the Committee of Privileges,
and I said that people had a right to expect breach of the rules. Labour leader Keir Starmer called the PM’s which examines issues relating to contempt of
better of their Prime Minister – and I repeat that, “I repeat that was my mistake and I apologise apology ‘a joke’. Parliament. The committee has the power to
Mr Speaker, again in the House now. for it unreservedly. Mr Johnson’s words came after the Commons summon reports and documents.
“Let me also say, not by way of mitigation or “I respect the outcome of the police Speaker announced that MPs will get the chance It means that MPs could request to see the full
excuse but purely because it explains my investigation, which is still under way, and I can to vote on whether Boris Johnson misled version of senior civil servant Sue Gray’s inquiry
previous words in this House, that it did not only say that I will respect their decision-making Parliament over his assurances Covid rules were into the Downing Street lockdown gatherings
occur to me then or subsequently that a and always take the appropriate steps.” followed in Downing Street before the news of and any potential photographic evidence that
gathering in the Cabinet Room just before a vital Mr Johnson said he has taken “significant the fines broke. exists.

Unions hit out at Rees-Mogg after he Russia steps up Donbas offensive

tells civil servants to go back to work with assaults on cities and towns
RUSSIA has ratcheted up its battle for control The US believes Russian forces are “continuing
MESSAGE of Ukraine’s eastern industrial heartland, to set the conditions for what they believe will
Mr Rees-Mogg in a intensifying assaults on cities and towns along a be eventual success on the ground by putting in
radio interview front hundreds of miles long in what officials on more forces, putting in more enablers, putting in
both sides described as a new phase of the war. more command and control capability for
After a Russian push to Kyiv failed to overrun operations yet to come”, Pentagon press
the capital, the Kremlin declared that its main secretary John Kirby said.
goal was the capture of the eastern Donbas The assaults began along a boomerang-shaped
region. front that stretches more than 300 miles from
That would give President Vladimir Putin a north-eastern Ukraine to the country’s south
vital piece of Ukraine and a badly needed victory east.
to present to the Russian people amid the war’s Russia said it struck several areas with
mounting casualties and the economic hardship missiles, including the north-eastern city of
caused by the West’s sanctions. Kharkiv as well as areas around Zaporizhzhia
In recent weeks, Russian forces that withdrew and Dnipro, west of the Donbas.
from Kyiv have regrouped in preparation for an Five civilians were killed in a barrage on
all-out offensive in the Donbas, where Moscow- Kharkiv, governor Oleh Synyehubov said on
backed separatists have been fighting Ukrainian Tuesday.
forces for the past eight years and have declared Moscow’s troops seized control of one town in
UNIONS have reacted with anger after servants to office buildings to realise the benefits two independent republics that have been the Donbas on Monday.
Government Efficiency Minister Jacob Rees-Mogg of face-to-face, collaborative working and the recognised by Russia.
Your Local Funeral Services
issued a call for the ‘rapid return’ of civil servants wider benefits for the economy,” Mr Rees-Mogg Your Local Funeral Services
to their Whitehall desks. added in his letter.
In a letter to Cabinet ministers, Mr Rees-Mogg “To deliver this, the Chancellor of the Duchy of
Onslaught Our Funeral Directors are here to
said they needed to issue a ‘clear message’ to Lancaster, Steve Barclay, and I, urge you to issue While Ukraine’s president and other officials Our Funeral
support Directors
and guide you.are
Wehere
offerto
a
their departments that with the end of Covid a clear message to civil servants in your said the offensive had started, observers noted support and guide you. We
friendly and professionaloffer a
restrictions in England, officials should be back in department to ensure a rapid return to the that it was just the beginning of a massive friendly and
service toprofessional
families.
the office. office.” onslaught. service to families.
He argued that ending working from home Mr Rees-Mogg was backed by the Northern Ukraine’s military said early on Tuesday that a T W Boorman Funeral Services
would bring the benefits of ‘face-to-face, Ireland Secretary Brandon Lewis who said it was “new phase of war” began a day earlier when T W Boorman Funeral Services
www.tw-boorman.co.uk
collaborative working’ as well as delivering wider ‘a very good thing’ for people to be back in the “the occupiers made an attempt to break www.tw-boorman.co.uk
benefits for the economy. workplace. through our defences along nearly the entire Tunbridge Wells
Tunbridge Wells
But the move was branded ‘vindictive’ by Dave “There’s something different about that
01892 884
884 195
front line”.
Penman, the general secretary of the FDA
representing senior civil servants, who said
face-to-face interaction,” he told Times Radio
yesterday [Tuesday]. “I think anybody who’s been
Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov said in
an interview that “another phase of this
01892 195
31 Mount Ephraim TN4 8AA
31 Mount Ephraim TN4 8AA
ministers were out of step with practice in the missing that recognises that, but there’s also the operation is starting now”.
private sector. issue, particularly for new staff and younger staff, Defence Ministry spokesman Major General W F Groombridge Funeral Directors
W F Groombridge Funeral Directors
about being able to become part of a team and Igor Konashenkov said air-launched Russian www.wfgroombridge.co.uk
get to know their colleagues. missiles destroyed 13 Ukrainian troop and www.wfgroombridge.co.uk
Department “Actually, that doesn’t work in a virtual world. weapons locations while the air force struck 60 Tunbridge Wells
Tunbridge Wells
01892 884
884 224
With up to three-quarters of staff still reportedly “You need to be in an office to be able to learn other military facilities, including missile
working from home, Mr Rees-Mogg accompanied
his letter with a league table showing how many
from others to work with others and get to know
each other, so I think people being back in the
warhead storage depots, while Russian artillery
hit 1,260 Ukrainian military facilities and 1,214
01892 224
49 St John’s Road TN4 9TP
49 St John’s Road TN4 9TP
staff in each Government department were workplace is a very good thing.” troops concentrations over the last 24 hours.
Call us for immediate support, advice or
attending the office on an average day. A Government spokesman said: “Ministers have The Pentagon cast the stepped-up campaign as Call us for immediate
to arrange support,
a home visit. We areadvice or
here to
“Now that we are learning to live with Covid and been clear that departments should make “shaping operations” setting the stage for a to arrangehelp
a home visit. We are here to
have lifted all legal restrictions in England, we maximum use of office space and progress is broader offensive in the mostly Russian- 24 hours a day.
help 24 hours a day.
must continue to accelerate the return of civil being monitored.” speaking Donbas region.
 Wednesday
Wednesday April
August20 4| |2022
2021 FOR EVEN MORE NEWS VISIT: timeslocalnews.co.uk National News NEWS 15
13

Four in ten people to face fuel

poverty energy bosses warn

Sausage rolls back on the menu

AS MANY as four in 10 people in Britain could it a long-term measure.
fall into fuel poverty in October, energy bosses He said that between 30% and 40% of people
warned as they called for more support from the in Britain might go into fuel poverty from

as Greggs plans 100 new stores

Treasury for vulnerable households.
Scottish Power chief executive Keith Anderson
said the Government should take £1,000 off the
October when the price cap is likely to rise
significantly again.
EDF estimates that its most vulnerable tenth of
bills
GREGGSof the poorest
has said itpeople
plans to in open
the UK in October.
around 100 customers
The group will
saw golike-for-like
from payingsales £1 indrop
every9.2£12
per
Thestores
new Government
by the end or billpayers
of the year would
after then
it pay they
cent have
againston 2019
energy bills
after thetoimpact
£1 in everyof the£6.third
this off over a10rebound
announced years, heinsuggested.
sales that have helped Centricalockdown
national boss Chrisbut O’Shea
it wassaidliftedprepayment
by the
return it to profit. customers
opening ofwill startsites.
48 new seeing a real increase in
The bakery chain told investors that its October.
Greggs had 2,115 locations at the start of July
Tariff
recovery in trade in recent months was ‘stronger and said it is targeting 100 net openings for the
“I think
than we hadthe anticipated’
problem’s got astoit the
sawsize and in
growth scale current year to continue its strong growth plans.
that it requires
suburban areassomething
and local high significant
streets.of that
Drop
It said this is expected to create around 500
nature where those
The business saidpeople
it has an who are deemed
opportunity to to be new At thejobsstart
in the second
of April thehalf of of
price theenergy
year. soared
in fueltopoverty
grow or vulnerable
3,000 stores as it struck need ansomething
ambitiousof by around 54% for the average household, but
the
tonesize
afterand scale that puts
withstanding thetheir
impact bills
of back
the to meanwhile the weather is getting warmer, so
where
pandemic.it used to be before the gas crisis,” he told
Expansion
consumption is likely to drop.
MPsTheongroup
the Business, Energy and
has also targeted Industrial
growth areas such Those
However, whothe arebusiness
paying their energy bill
highlighted even bymore
direct
Strategy
as delivery Committee.
and drive-thru sales after the debit
ambitiouswill see prices
growth go up
plans asthis
it saidsummer
it ‘hastothebuild
Mr Anderson
pandemic weighedcalled onthat
some ‘stage
coreone’,
tradewhichsuch as up credit for to
opportunity theexpand
winter,its butUKprepayment
estate to at least
should
its travelbesites.
followed up with a social tariff that customers
3,000 shops’. will not do that so will see an even
gives
Greggspoorer
saidhouseholds
its like-for-likediscounted
sales forenergy.
the four This bigger
Rogerrise in October.
Whiteside, the chief executive of Greggs
should
weeks to replace
the end theofcurrent
July were price0.4cap,
per hecent said.
above Twoturned
who months ago the
vegan Government
in 2019, said he saw announced
more a
Helevels
the addedititsaw is “perverse”
in the same that customers
period in 2019,with £200
growth rebate to be through
potential applied to energyinnovation,
product bills in
prepayment meters – struck.
before the pandemic who are likely to be more October,
such as its which
vegan will need to
sausage be paid back over
rolls.
vulnerable – pay more for
The Newcastle-based their energy
business said itthannow the next few
“Greggs onceyears.
again showed its resilience in a
those
expects who pay byprofits
full-year direct debit.
to be ‘slightly ahead’ of Mr Lewis called
challenging for the
first half, £200 to be
emerging fromincreased
the if
E.ON UKpredictions
previous chief executive Michael Lewis said his
as a result. bills
lockdowngo up months
significantly again in
in a strong October,
position and for
and
company
New openingswould support
have also a helped
social tariff,
to buoy butits
called the repayment
rebuilding sales period to berestrictions
as social extended ifwere necessary.
total sales over the half-year to June to progressively relaxed,” he said, adding the
£546.2million, to just short BULB of the BOSS STILL BEING
£546.3million company £250,000
PAID expects its full-year profit to be slightly
it posted in the same period in 2019. ahead of Greggs’ own expectations.
THE boss of bailed-out energy supplier Bulb is the normal running of the firm until a buyer
still being paid the same £250,000 salary that could be found.
he was collecting before the business wentNEWS into INMr Wood refused to say whether that is
BRIEF
administration. imminent when he was quizzed by MPs on the
Hayden Wood, who set up the company, was future of the company.
Belarus activist Drug deaths hit Student killed
asked by administrators to stay on in his role as Speaking to the Business, Energy and
found dead in a 25-year high after botched
chief executive after it failed in November and
continues to receive nearly £21,000 a month.
Industrial Strategy Committee, he said: “I don’t
think it responsible for me to share details of an
‘fake hanging’ across England drive-by killing
Bulb was bailed out by the Government last
year and ministers set aside £1.7billion to cover
active sales process that is ongoing right now in
a public forum.”
A BELARUSIAN activist who DEATHS from drugs have SEVEN men have been found

Biggest rise in ISAs rates in a decade

ran a group helping his
countrymen flee persecution
has been found dead in Kiev.
risen for the eighth year in a
row and remain at their
highest level in more than a
guilty of murdering a law
student who was mistakenly
gunned down in a botched
SAVERS scouring
Vitaly Shishov, theleader
marketoffor thea cash ISA will
quarter Thefigures
of a century, average easy accessshooting.
drive-by cash Isa rate is the
findKyiv-based
the biggestBelarusian
month-on-monthHouse jump show.in the best it has been since TyreJunefirm2020,
boss Ferozwhen it was
ratesin on offer inwas
Ukraine, a decade, according toThere
found hanged analysis.
were 4,5610.45%,
deathsMoneyfacts said. 40, arranged the
Suleman,
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in one Savings
of the city’s parks Accounts)
not offer
related taxtofree The average one-year
drug poisoning execution fixed ofIsa meanwhile
a rival
savings
far fromon interest
his home, up police
to a threshold of £20,000in England
said registered recorded andthe biggest month-on-month
businessman in broadrate
a year.
in a statement. Wales in 2020, the increase
Office since
for August daylight 2011,butrising to 0.87%,
the gunman heits
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investigation rate in National
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hired 2020 whenshot deadit stood at
0.38%been – up from 0.30%
launched, with in March – Moneyfacts.
a focus said. 0.91%. innocent passer-by Aya
co.ukonfound.
the death apparently This is the highest Longer-term
number fixed Isa rates, with terms of more
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to look like website said since therecords
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the statement is the biggest up 3.8% fromThe
andmonthly the average long-term
Prestonfixed Crown IsaCourt
rate took
is nowless
rise for this type of president
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previous a 1.30%, up from 1.12% in March.
than four hours to find
decade ago. Lukashenko has
Alexander Separate figuresItreleased
marked the biggestSuleman, month-on-month
from Blackburn, rise
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vowed tosaving continue £5,000
whatinto he an easy lastaccess
week showed since
thatJuly 2008 and
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cashcalled
Isa could typically make £15 in interest
a ‘mopping-up were 1,339 overdrug this
relatedtype of accountSix since February were
accomplices 2020,also when it
a year if they do
operation’ not dipcivil
against into the pot based deathson registeredwas 1.34%.
in Scotland convicted of killing the
March’s
society average annual
activists, whom rate,heincreasing last to £19the worstThe
year, druganalysis was based on someone
businessman. All will having
be a
based on April’sasaverage
denounced ‘bandits’. rate. death rate in Europe.£5,000 savings deposit. sentenced at a later date.
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 17

EDUCATION Times
Wednesday April 20 | 2022 FOR EVEN MORE NEWS VISIT: timeslocalnews.co.uk Education NEWS

Students teach valuable lessons in the appreciation of the arts...

Until May 4, Royal Victoria Place will be hosting Tonbridge Grammar School’s Visual Arts
Exhibition to showcase the artistic talents of 15 Year 13 students who are currently completing their
International Baccalaureate Diplomas. The Times finds out more about this annual creative show
ROYAL Victoria Place (RVP) has opened its doors
to Tonbridge Grammar School’s Visual Arts
Exhibition, providing a former retail unit to
showcase the artistic talents of 15 Year 13
students who are currently completing their
International Baccalaureate Diplomas.
Located on the first floor, the exhibition
includes fine art, perspective drawings and
watercolour paintings, as well as sculptures and
pottery for the local Tunbridge Wells community
to enjoy.
“Running until Wednesday May 4, visitors to
the RVP can be enthralled and inspired by the
host of material created by the students, which
capture their personal interests and the wider
world around them,” a spokesperson for British
Land who own the RVP told the Times.

“Visitors to Royal Victoria Place

can be enthralled and inspired
by the host of material created their creative expression and analytical thinking. Grammar to show off their artistic talents.
Often, those who complete the International “The work they’ve produced is truly unique
by the art students” Baccalaureate Diploma go on to study visual arts and will no doubt inspire the local community to
in higher education. get creative.”
Guided through a series of taught workshops, Nicky Blanchard, centre manager at Royal The Visual Arts Exhibition is open seven days a
each student has explored individual ideas which Victoria Place, added: “We’re delighted to be week at Royal Victoria Place from 9.00am -
have been inspired by personally chosen artwork able to host the Visual Arts Exhibition and 6.00pm Monday to Saturday, and 10.30am –
and artefacts, with the aim to help them develop provide a space for the students of Tonbridge 4.30pm on Sundays.

ready for
reception
Join us for an introduction to Reception
to find out about the approach we take to
ensure children develop the fundamental
skills of learning.
Nursery, Reception and Year 1 2022 are
for boys and girls. Boys can join Year 2
from September 2023.
9 MAY 8.30AM-9.30AM OR 10 MAY 9.00AM-10.00AM
kent-college.co.uk to Book
18 NEWS Weekly Comment FOR EVEN MORE NEWS VISIT: timeslocalnews.co.uk Wednesday April 20 | 2022

Mothers Day Afternoon Tea at Salomons

Cllr Tom Dawlings Cllr Tom Dawlings has represented Benenden & Cranbrook at Tunbridge
Wells Borough Council since 2014. Before entering local politics his
Conservative Council Leader for career was spent with the Bank of England. He was elected Leader of the
Council in May 2021.
Tunbridge Wells Borough Council

Tunbridge Wells has a bright post-Covid future

THESE are exciting times for Tunbridge Wells with the local throughout the Covid pandemic. At times during Covid
economy showing welcome signs of buoyancy. lockdowns, monthly shortfalls were exceeding £1 million.
Businesses have been supported during the Covid pandemic by Nevertheless, with Government financial assistance and
Government with the furlough scheme and business loans and, prudent management, we have not drawn on reserves and have
administered through TWBC, with some £54 million of grants to remained debt free and balanced the revenue budget in the years
businesses in the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors. to 31stEnjoy a delicious
March 2020, 2021 and 2022.afternoon
We are, however, tea,
all too
Encouragingly, there is now a positive investment environment overlooking
painfully aware of our breath-taking
the inflationary grounds
and cost of living pressures on
in the town with many of the empty retail premises ‘under offer’ that we are all now encountering. For residents in financial
and with the acquisition (subject to planning) of the old cinema difficulty,Saturday 26th
TWBC has schemes withMarch
up to 80%2022.
Council Tax relief
site and the former BHS store by, respectively, AXA and Elite and a hardship fund.
Leisure Collection, two businesses with extensive interests in the Just £22.50
On Housing, TWBCper person,
has prepared and
a Local Planall Mums
to deliver the
town. receive
Objectivelya Assessed
complimentary
Housing Need forglass of bubbles.
the Borough set by
Government. The Local Plan is presently the subject of
Determining Tables examination
Government available andmidday toto 4.30pm
is continuing the second stage
– that is a stage further than achieved by 3 of our neighbouring
TWBC is also playing a part and has appointed a partner to THE ABANDONED ABC CINEMA authoritiesCall
whose01892515152
plans were rejected.or email
manage co-working arrangements for 20,000 square feet of space Last year planning policies delivered 662 new homes, including
[email protected]
in the Town Hall. There is, of course, more for TWBC to do in will be an environmentally efficient building exporting power to 272 homes allocated to social housing providers (building on the
assessing its property assets and determining if these are the grid from solar panels, significant insulation improvements 7,935 social housing units towebook.
have in the borough).
delivering what residents need. That work is underway. are being made to the Town Hall and Government funding Helping Ukrainian refugees is a recent priority. The offers to
Footfall in the Town Centre will also be increased with the secured to make improvements to other Council buildings. A help with accommodation have been heart-warming. We are able

01892 51 51 52 | www.salomons-estate.com
opening next week of the Amelia Scott. The enhancement of the carbon descent plan to achieve net zero by 2030 has been to provide practical help and advice from sharing difficulties
Library, Museum and Adult Education facilities has been planned established. overcome (eg on how to open bank accounts).
for some years and the outcome is a stunning building which TWBC is continuing to install EV charging points in Council- There are arrangements being co-ordinated with KCC (eg
should be a real draw for the Town. owned car parks. We are lobbying for more powers as the safeguarding checks and schooling). We are appalled by what is
ESTABLISHED

The Climate Emergency is a key priority for TWBC. Carbon

emissions have been reduced by 50% mainly through using Salomons Estate, Broomhill road, Southborough, Tunbridge Wells, Kent, TN3 0TG
planning authority to require higher environmental standards for
new developments and we are increasing engagement with
happening in Ukraine and want all refugees to feel safe and
welcome in our borough.
electricity from renewable sources. residents and schools to raise climate awareness. A great deal is being achieved heralding a bright post-Covid
Significant savings are also being achieved – the Amelia Scott The Council’s finances have been very difficult to manage future for the town and borough.

Weddings at Salomons Estate

AWARD WINNING
WEDDING VENUE
set in 36 acres of
picturesque grounds
Please email
[email protected]
to book your viewing.

ESTABLISHED
01892 51 51 52 | www.salomons-estate.com
Salomons Estate, Broomhill road, Southborough, Tunbridge Wells, Kent, TN3 0TG
 Wednesday April 20 | 2022 FOR EVEN MORE NEWS VISIT: timeslocalnews.co.uk Letters NEWS 19

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 [email protected]
or you can write to the Editor, Times of Tunbridge Wells, Salomons Estate, Tunbridge Wells TN3 0TG

Walkout was astonishing and shameful

worked hard on these proposals. Of course, they
are, or have been, subject to planning approval
for the rights to develop. The planning system
can stop projects by applying arguments based
How petty and adolescent for a counsellor to I was astonished to read about this in the We vote for these people to represent us and on the National Planning Policy Framework.
lead a boycott of a meeting to which a visiting Times (April 06). they should be mature enough to put aside this Legal agreements to proceed are rights
police officer had been invited. In the same edition we heard that the same childishness and get on with the business. purchased before planning permission can be
This resulted in a small group turning their Councillor, Hugo Pound, wants to work I don’t care whether they like each other but I applied for by the company or person
nose up at the business they have been elected collaboratively after the next election. just expect them to be civil and carry out their developing a site.
to do! They deliberately snubbed colleagues He wrote: “It's all about working cross party, function. We shouldn't be surprised though, In addition, the Leader and I have advance
and the police officer. This was shameful building a consensus…” because after all this seems to be how politics is planning fora bus/taxi system using light
particularly, in the light of the subject: violence I think Councillor Pound falls more than a done these days. electric vehicles in the town.
against women. few ounces short of his own ambitions there. Martin Coleman, Tunbridge Wells For clarity, relative to the opposition letter last
week, these are Conservative supported
initiatives in which we have played a significant
role in enabling and encouraging.
Cllr David Scott
Tunbridge Wells Borough Council

We want affordable houses too

I can assure Dariel Francis that providing
genuinely affordable housing is one of
Tunbridge Wells Liberal Democrats six to fix in
our election manifesto.
When the Liberal Democrats ran Tunbridge
Wells Borough Council from 1995-1998, around
200 affordable dwellings were built in
Southborough alone. The Council’s housing
policy was one of only six in the country to be
rated ‘excellent’.
I think Cllr Francis is being unfair in
Planning comments unwarranted Accident was a matter of time In response to Cllr Rands expecting Brendon Le Page to find the hopes of
Councillor David Scott was in contravention of a It was surely only a matter of time before an With regards to Cllr Rand’s letter last week Southborough Town Council to have social
clear. instruction by the Legal Officer, at TWBC, to accident occurred on Mount Pleasant Road (Times, April 13), signed legal agreements to housing on the former Library site in the
apologise for his conduct in relation to his outside the Town Hall (see Times, April 13). This is develop major sites in RTW inlcude: minutes of its meetings.
unwarranted comments towards the Planning a botched mixed-use thoroughfare with neither 1. The Town Hall 2/3rd to use as coworking This was only placed on two agendas last
Committee, He disregarded this instruction and pedestrians nor traffic clear who has right of way. space for businesses, innovation, and home month and because of reasons beyond anyone’s
attempted to carry on regardless. Among others I have predicted accidents and working support. control the meetings were cancelled. In other
They say a leopard never changes its spots and called for Tunbridge Wells Borough Council to 2. The ABC Cinema site for apartments for active words, the hopes have yet to be discussed in a
this seems to be the case with Councillor Scott ! He bring clarity: to either enforce the restrictions or 60+ with health-spa, restaurant, shops for all. motion for that purpose, decided upon or
refers to ‘things used to readily get done in the declare this expensive enterprise a mistake. 3. The BHS store for entertainment including recorded in the minutes.
past’, presumably when the Conservatives had a Fines were imposed at the scheme’s inception electric go-carts, cinema, and a host of other If the former Library site is used for housing,
stranglehold at TWBC and, it seems, he has a but following protests the council waived these to exciting venues. affordable or otherwise, rather than a
grudge against working with the new composition allow a period of customisation. It’s clearly 4. The Amelia Scott, opening end of this month community use then the environment of the
of our council. turned into a pedestrian chicken-run. with ongoing exhibits, library, museum, future residents is important.
Perhaps he should be reminded that the previous Calls to TWBC elicit no response neither from education, and social space. Congestion on the A26 through Southborough
Tory led administration managed to lose £10m of councillors, nor officials. Does the signage mean 5. The Chalybeate Spring, enhancing its heritage does nothing to improve the air quality for our
tax payers’ money on the unwanted Calverley anything because, witnessing the volume of with a fountain, exhibits and refreshing its appeal. residents and as a priority should not be sniffed
Square vanity project traffic that breaches it, it does not. 6. Many of the Covid induced loss of stores at.
Martin Dawes Sam Goodenough – most under offer or being developed. Cllr Trevor Poile (Lib Dem)
Tunbridge Wells Tunbridge Wells Developers have invested time and money and Tunbridge Wells Borough Council

Advertising feature

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In the most competitive and candidate short recruitment market
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to candidates dropping out of the process between first • Talk about the role’s USP’s
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Remember, it’s a two-way street and they are deciding whether
they’d like to work with you, in your company, doing the role on • Show them the offices to help them visualise themselves
offer over and above the other opportunities they are being there
considering. Here’s a few tips to maximise your chance of • Introduce them to relevant team members but ensure the
getting the person on board; team members have read this brief
• Offer a drink • Don’t offer the role on the spot, this may appear desperate
• Be warm, smile, make them feel welcome and relaxed, you and can open itself up to mistakes, if you are working with
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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
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 Wednesday April 20 | 2022

Life&Times
ARTS • BOOKS • GOING OUT •
FOOD • EVENTS • ANTIQUES •
TRAVEL • PROPERTY • LIVE
MUSIC and MORE...

Going out - Page 25

Food- Page 30

Antiques - Page 36

The shape of things to come

Ballet Central perform at the EM Forster theatre P22
 22 Arts Wednesday April 20 | 2022

“I want to inspire
audiences on my
arts

new ballet tour”

Eleanor Lewis is a local student dancer. Here
she tells Eileen Leahy why she is so excited to
be taking part in a four-month tour with Ballet
Central which includes a special performance at
the EM Forster theatre at the end of this month

O
N APRIL 27 Eleanor Lewis, a final Ballet Central Eleanor adds: “At Central as part
year dance student from of the degree course we train in Flamenco, jazz,
Crowborough, will be performing contemporary and choreography as well as pas
with the renowned dance company de deux skills. This is really important for future
Ballet Central on their welcome careers – being able to dance in different styles
return which starts touring this spring. and disciplines makes us versatile dancers and
Eleanor, a former pupil at Bennett Memorial this is often what employers want in the dance
Diocesan School will be joining the company on
a four-month, 11 venue tour across England,
arriving in Tonbridge at the EM Forster Theatre
“I am looking forward to
on the third date of the tour. showing the EM Forster
“I’ve been dancing since I was four,” Eleanor audience – and the country -the
said. “I had an amazing teacher who really
inspired me to take dancing more seriously. hard work required to become a
“Ballet has always been my main passion. it is professional dancer”
more fulfilling for me personally because it takes
so much effort, hard work and time to achieve
the precision needed in classical ballet so the industry, alongside classical ballet training.”
outcomes are more rewarding.” Ballet Central was formed in 1984 as a touring
Reflecting on what she has learnt so far at company to give final year BA students first-

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 Wednesday April 20 | 2022 Arts 23
hand experience of professional dance. Its July,” continues the Ballet Central spokesperson. of her degree wasn’t ‘ideal’ but she has learnt
unique touring experience forms part of the Under the artistic direction of Artist-in- valuable lessons from her experience.
degree course and provides students with Residence Mikaela Polley and Artistic Director “We were unlucky as a year group as we were
valuable skills making them particularly Kate Coyne, Ballet Central will present three new really affected by the lockdowns at the start of
versatile, mature and professional. pieces this year created on Central’s dancers. the Covid pandemic. We were sent home two
“The company presents a new cast of Mikaela Polley’s new piece Unbound involves years ago to train in bedrooms and kitchens
exceptional dancers performing a mixture of the entire company, created as a celebration of while watching classes on Zoom. It wasn’t ideal
original pieces from distinguished the dynamism of the ensemble bringing classical but you need to be resilient to thrive. By the end
choreographers and a restaging of an existing of my Second Year we were in Central’s new
contemporary work,” a Ballet Central “The experience of working studios in Southwark where the facilities are
spokesperson tells the Times. fantastic and all training together.”
Eleanor began her dance training at Lisa with renowned choreographers And now Eleanor is really looking forward to
Maybank School of Dance in Brasted, near in the creative process is performing at the EM Forster Theatre on April 27.
Westerham. She later trained with Royal Ballet “It’s really great to have the chance to perform in
Associates and London Senior and Junior Ballet.
invaluable for student dancers” my home town.
Eleanor is now in the final year of a three-year “When I was at school, I went to see Ballet
BA (Hons) Professional Dance & Performance ballet and contemporary dance together. New Central perform in Tonbridge three times so it
degree at the Central School of Ballet in London. choreography from the dance industry will be wonderful to be doing the same as those
“Students join the touring company Ballet influencer Ashley Page, Twice Removed, is to dancers before me. Seeing the Ballet Central
Central in their final year of the degree course to music by the composer John Adams. Ballet tour in Tonbridge was the reason I applied to the
gain professional performance experience and Black’s Mthuthuzeli November, also a former degree course at Central.
the opportunity to work with leading dancer on the Ballet Central tour, has created a “It will be my first time on stage there, but I
choreographers leading up to graduation in new piece Sunset in Cape Town that demonstrates his distinctive choreographic will have family and friends in the audience so
voice. Cathy Marston’s piece Moving, Still is it’s very special for me personally.”
being restaged especially for this year’s Ballet
Central tour. Tickets are £16 (£11 dance school groups) and
Eleanor says she can’t wait to get on stage: “I available from www.emftheatre.com
am looking forward to performing in front of live For more info visit balletcentral.co.uk
audiences and showing the country the hard
work required to become a professional dancer.
I want to inspire audiences in the Ballet Central
tour. I can’t wait to feel the rewarding thrill and
exhilaration after a performance. Dancers live to
dance and this is one of the main reasons I want
to become a professional dancer.”
Mikaela Polley, Artist-in-Residence says: “The
experience of working with renowned
choreographers in the creative process is
invaluable for student dancers. They learn to
absorb, understand, and interpret the story of
each piece and the choreographers’ different
ways of working. This accelerates their growth
as future professionals and helps to prepare for
the transition into company life when they
graduate in July.”
Due to Covid restrictions Eleanor says the start

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 24 Books Wednesday April 20 | 2022

Times book reviewer ONE YOU MAY HAVE MISSED

The Promise by Damon Galgut
MULTI-GENERATIONAL EPIC
Peach Blossom Spring by Melissa Fu
HANNAH KIRSOP (published by Vintage, priced £8.99) (published in hardback by Wildfire, priced £16.99)

As the winner of the 2021 Booker Prize, it would be easy to think This debut novel charts three generations of a Chinese family,
this might be a demanding read but, whilst thought-provoking and starting in 1938 during Japan’s invasion of China in WW2, and
stimulating, this is a hugely readable book. The opening sees lead spanning 70 years and many geographies from Changsha in China to
character Amor Swart taken out of school to return to the family farm Taiwan in Taipei to Los Alamos in the US.
outside Pretoria following her mother’s death. Reunited with family Following the death of her husband, Meilin and son Renshu flee
and their black housekeeper, Salome, Amor demands that her Pa’s the burning city of Changsha with her brother-in-law’s family and
deathbed promise to her embark on a perilous journey to safety and security. Suffering
Ma be kept and Salome further losses and with their
be gifted her house wellbeing permanently
and land, a promise hanging on by a slender
that overshadows the thread, the potential for
family throughout the melancholy is offset by
book, from the end of Meilin’s tenacity and
the apartheid era to the resilience, and the
present day. wonderful Chinese folk
Told in just four 9/10 tales she tells Renshu -
chapters – each of which both offer hope during
is named after the their dark times and
family members act as a moral backdrop
other than for Renshu’s character in
Amor – what 9/10 the book as he, along with
struck me most Meilin and later daughter
was the skill that Lily, navigates life’s delicate
Galgut showed in balance of blessing and
maintaining a single, misfortune in the search for
continuous narrative contentment.
during each chapter, Inspired by her father’s
Hannah Kirsop grew up in Kent and now subtly redirecting the background, Fu’s story is a blend of family history and fiction. Filled
lives in Horsmonden with her family. She focus of the prose with interesting history, an engaging story and compelling, flawed
loves to read and share recommendations without relying as others and honest characters, this is an epic family saga which I strongly
and runs Bainden Book Club for a group of might do on syntax recommend.
local women to discuss interesting fiction or layout to signify a Melissa Fu – author of Peach Blossom Spring – will be attending the
and non-fiction in a range of genres. You can change in direction. inaugural Tunbridge Wells Literary Festival and discussing her book & the
find www.baindenbookshelf.com online or on Hugely impressive as a writing style, and strongly recommended for power of storytelling in the Upper Atrium at The Amelia Scott at 10.30am
Instagram: @baindenbookshelf both this and the underlying story. on 1st May. Please see theamelia.co.uk/tw-lit-fest for more details.

The bookcase… Lessons In Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus

Published in in hardback by Doubleday, priced £14.99 (ebook £7.99)
Here are some more reads to
Named as one of the must- nominated Calvin Evans.
inspire you this week … reads of 2022, it’s easy to see Elizabeth finds herself tossed
why Apple TV has snapped up out of university for not
the rights to Lessons In toeing the line, and somehow
Chemistry. Original and finds herself the star of a TV
refreshing, Elizabeth Zott is cooking show where she
one of those singular teaches her mostly female
unforgettable characters you audience about the chemistry
don’t come across often of food and self-
determination – not settling
Elizabeth Finch by Julian Barnes
enough in fiction. She’s a
1960s woman who wants to for the status quo where
Published by Jonathan Cape, priced £16.99 (ebook £9.99) unlock the secrets of life women are underpaid,
through chemistry. While she undervalued and
Julian Barnes’ novels often can understand chemical underappreciated. Witty 9/10
centre on the recollection reactions, she hasn’t a clue and dark, it’s both a breath
of past events and about office politics or why of fresh air and a reminder
relationships, and he is people react the way they do of how much still has to
second to none at to her – yet she finds a change for true equality.
exploring the frailty kindred spirit in Nobel- Review by Bridie Pritchard
of memory and the
inability of one 9/10
person to give a full The No-Show by Beth O’Leary
account of another, Published in hardback by Quercus, priced £14.99
however intimate they
(ebook £8.99)
were. Academic Neil
reflects on his former
teacher and friend Beth O’Leary’s that bond seems harder to
Elizabeth Finch, pouring latest novel marks form in this novel. Initially,
over her eccentricities and a move away from the women’s decision-
work, attempting to her previous making and willingness to
understand the efforts, which have forgive can feel frustrating.
inspirational effect ‘EF’ had focused on two As in her previous books,
on him. However, his main characters. individual chapters are told
biographical vision blurs This opens with from different perspectives
and repeatedly refocuses three women – – on this occasion adding
on himself. Neil’s shifting Siobhan, Miranda an element of confusion in
emotions engage the reader and Jane – who places. But as the story
as fully as any plot, and have all been unfolds, the lives of the
EF’s academic interests are stood up by the main players draw the
explored with the same 7/10 same man. The reader in until the tale
lightness that characterises question is, builds to its unexpected,
Barnes’ art criticism. why? O’Leary’s but ultimately satisfying
Elizabeth Finch ranks characters are ending. Overall, an
alongside Barnes’ best. usually easy to enjoyable read.
Review by Pugh Ginn connect with, but Review by Alison Kershaw
 Wednesday April 20 | 2022 Going out 25

The Times’ Victoria Roberts provides a round-up

of local events and activities…

T
HIS YEAR’S Music at Malling festival place in the 1960s chapel – built into the fabric of
features a symbolic fusion of the 900-year-old abbey – the setting is a feature
traditional and brand new, with the of the programme which does not depend on an
premiere of six ‘companion’ pieces to anniversary.
J.S. Bach’s six Brandenburg Concertos. “The combination of old and new in both the
Commissioned by festival director Thomas abbey buildings and between the Six
Kemp and played alongside the ‘original’ Brandenburgs and Six Commissions makes for a
concertos, each new piece is a ‘response’ to one really fascinating and thought-provoking
of Bach’s by a UK composer. programme,” he said.
“It is fantastic that we can bring people “The new works are written by a fascinating
together again in the iconic setting of Malling cross-section of composers working in the UK.”
Abbey to hear the Brandenburg Concertos – The new pieces are ‘Sequel’ by Brian Elias, ‘The
some of the most celebrated and influential Malling Diamond’ by Michael Price,
music ever written - alongside new companion ‘Illumination’ by Deborah Pritchard, ‘Concerto
pieces,” said Mr Kemp. Grosso’ by Daniel Kidane, ‘Bach Shadows’ by
The project had been meant as a contribution Joseph Phibbs and ‘Gold and Precious Silver’ by
to the 300th anniversary of the Brandenburg Stevie Wishart.
Concertos, in 2021, but was postponed due to the Tickets from Eventbrite for the three concerts
pandemic. on Saturday, April 23, at midday, 2:30pm and Chapel at Malling Abbey
However, with the festival performances taking 4:30pm.

LOOKING at screens and stages big and small, The Times of WITH one of the best live music scenes in the South East, here is a WHETHER your family is young or old, big or small, there’s plenty
Tunbridge Wells presents a selected guide to the week ahead. round-up of some of the best bands and acts performing this to do both indoors and outdoors over the coming week, along with
Experience climate change, mass unemployment, ‘economic week some active ideas.
pandemics’ and ‘the rise of global fascism’ through comic You might Wish You Were Here (that is: at The Assembly Hall) Mindfulness and yoga coach Lisa Whitehouse is starting weekly
Reginald D Hunter’s deceptively slow but inexorable pace of tomorrow night [Thursday, April 21] at 7:30pm, for Pink-Floyd- parent/carer and baby guided mindful walks at Bedgbury
delivery… and shudder – or laugh. On at The Assembly Hall endorsed tribute group ‘Think Floyd’, whose show will feature Pinetum, starting next Tuesday, April 26. Not suitable for toddlers
Theatre tonight [Wednesday, April 20], at 8pm. Ages 18 and over the rock band’s classic back catalogue, including ‘Dark Side of or older children. Tickets £10 from Eventbrite, which includes
only. the Moon’, ‘Wish You Were Here’, ‘The Wall’, ‘Meddle’ and more. parking at Bedgbury.
The next ‘live screening’ from the National Theatre is After breakdown which led to experimentation and, finally, Comedy Club 4 Kids is a child- and family-friendly afternoon out,
Shakespeare’s ‘Henry V’, starring Kit Harington as the freshly- creation, Tunbridge Wells musician Isaac Holman’s new music enjoying circuit comedians pitching their work to the over-sixes.
anointed king, taking England into a bloody war with France. arrives at The Forum, whose picture he had on his wall while No line-up was available at the time of writing. At Trinity Theatre
Trinity Theatre on Thursday, April 21 at 7pm. composing. Solo act Baby INTO THE BLUE on Saturday, April 23 at 2pm.
Trinity Theatre has ‘An Evening with Gill Sims’ this Friday Dave, on Friday, April 22 at The Spa Valley Railway is running this weekend, with
[April 22] at 8pm. [See the Times interview with Gill, on page 28.] 7:30pm. Age 16 and older departures from Tunbridge Wells West (April 23-24). Family and
At The E.M. Forster Theatre unless accompanied by an children’s all-day tickets from spavalleyrailway.co.uk. The Murder
(Tonbridge School), Comedy Nights NISH KUMAR adult. Mystery and Fish ‘n’ Chip Supper service departs at 6:15pm on
are on again, featuring UK Comedy If you’ve had a hard week Saturday.
Awards, Edinburgh Fringe and and want to spend your
University of Kent alumna Laura Friday night Lost in Music,
Lexx, who has appeared ‘Live at the that’s exactly the show on at
Apollo’ and on ‘Mock the Week’. The Assembly Hall, music
Supporting her is Michael Odewale, straight from the heart of 1970s disco, featuring Donna Summer,
who has appeared on ‘Mock the Gloria Gaynor, Earth, Wind & Fire, Sister Sledge, Chic and more.
Week’. Friday, April 22 at 7:30pm. April 22 at 7:30pm.
Ages 16 and older. On at The Grey Lady is the five-piece group Into the Blue,
Riffing on the slogan ‘Take back performing the gamut of genres, from disco and pop, to rock,
control’ political comedian Nish reggae and ballads, with professional power and polish. Friday,
Kumar brings his show ‘Your Power, April 22 at 7:30pm.
Your Control’ to The Assembly Hall The Vestry Hall, Cranbrook, will thrum to the siren sounds of
on Sunday [April 24]. Hopefully, no-one will throw any bread The People Versus, a singer-songwriter duo from Exeter,
rolls, but if you want to hear what happened when someone did, promising an ABC of anthems, ballads and charm. Friday, April
you can read the Times’ interview with Nish on February 9. 22. Doors open 7pm.
TULIP CELEBRATIONS AT HEVER
Meanwhile, the character of Dr Watson takes to the stage at This Saturday [April 23] at 7:30pm comes the delayed
Trinity Theatre on Sunday night, telling of ancient intrigues – appearance of Beardyman, a composer and multi-instrumentalist Groombridge Place’s Enchanted Forest is now open for general
oh, a long game indeed – which still shadows London in 1894. of the beatbox and of live looping. Originally scheduled to appear admission Wednesday-Sunday (10am-5pm), featuring Crusoe’s
Trinity Theatre on Sunday, April 24 at 7pm. in October, festival season favourite Beardyman heralds the World, the board walk, fort, tepees, canal walk and canal boat.
‘Cyrano’ de Bergerac lends his inner beauty and poetry to a more warmer weather at The Forum on the edge of the Common. Age The giant chess set is open, but gardens are being renovated. Birds
handsome man in the wooing of Roxanne, in this 2021 film 16 and older. of Prey displays at 12noon and 3:30pm. The treetop walkway and
starring Peter Dinklage of ‘Game of Thrones’. Trinity Theatre Grammy Award-winning American hiphop stars Arrested swings on swing walk have been removed following a winter
tonight [Wednesday, April 20] at 8pm. Development finally safety check.
ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT
Pine Grove Pictures present the feel-good musical film ‘Mamma play their delayed gig at Hever Castle’s ‘tulip celebrations’ continue until this Sunday
Mia: Here We Go Again’ this Friday [April 22] at Crowborough The Forum this Friday [April 24], with garden tours at 11:30am, and a special opening of
Community Centre. Bar opens at 7pm, and film starts at 8pm. [April 22] at 7:30pm. the 25-acre Woodland Walk.
Inspiration is life-changing for the boys of a fictional 1950s New New tickets released for West Kent Social Circle meets at Hollywood Bowl this Sunday
England boarding school, and for their teacher John Keating – this date. Supported by [April 24], to gather new members for seaside trips, escape room
played by Robin Williams in tragic mode. ‘Dead Poets Society’ at Lees. Age 16 and older challenges, quizzes, eating out, walks, crazy golf and more.
Rusthall Community Cinema on Saturday [April 23]. Doors open unless accompanied by Meet-ups are at weekends and on the second and fourth Tuesday
at 7pm. an adult. of the month. Schedule on Facebook.
 26 Events Wednesday April 20 | 2022

Black Deer announces its full 2022 line-up

as Americana music returns to Eridge Park
T
HE AWARD winning Black Deer
festival returns in June after a
three-year hiatus with a star studded
line-up heading to the Eridge Park
event in East Sussex.
Indie giants James have just been announced
they’ll be on the bill. They’ll be joining Van
Morrison, Wilco, The Waterboys, Jake Bugg,
Imelda May and Drive-By Truckers at ‘Europe's
premier Americana playground’ in June.
James will get the party started for the event
which was last staged in 2019 following
successive postponements due to the pandemic,
completing an impressive three day lineup.
The much-loved British band, whose career
has spanned a staggering five decades and have
sold more than 25 million albums worldwide,
will be bringing their charismatic live show to
the deer park.
Other new additions to the line-up include
Orange Goblin, Israel Nash, Amy Helm, Noble
Jacks, Blue Rose Code, Josh Okeefe, ASG,
William Crighton, Madison Violet, Black Water
County, The Admiral Sir Cloudesley Shovell,
Kezia Gill, Powerhouse Gospel Choir, The Outlaw
Orchestra, Josiah, The Jonny Halifax Invocation,
Black Orchids, Hannah White, Willi Carlisle,
Dylan Earl, Eddy Smith & the 507, Franky Perez,
Bonnie Montgomery, Misty River, Chris Fox, My
Fine Companions, Hayley Ross, The County
Affair, Ruby Dew, Jessie Reid and Thomas Jay.
Back for its third year, The Black Deer
on Saturday night and be joined by a range of chilli-eating competition. The acclaimed Gospel Kin on their respective stages, while Black Deer
“Black Deer isn’t just about artists from the Black Deer line-up to perform a Brunch will also make a comeback - famous for partners Harley-Davidson will also be on-site
set of Americana standards. The theme for 2022 bringing a congregation together on festival amongst the custom motorcycles and vintage
hearing the music you love, it’s is The Band's seminal 'The Last Waltz'. Sunday for free food, communal gathering and vehicles, with their revolutionary JumpStart
about discovering music you’re Though still in its infancy, Black Deer has old time sing-a-longs to the likes of 'Amazing Motorcycle Experience.
going to love and experiencing already won a string of awards for its authentic Grace' with the Powerhouse Gospel Choir and Black Deer’s co-founders Gill Tee and Deb
celebration of Americana culture, showcasing very special guests. Shilling, said: “Black Deer is not just about
the unique cultural richness some of the genre’s greatest acts. But the hearing the music you love, it’s about
that surrounds this popular festival is more than an appreciation of a
Adventure discovering music you’re going to love and
musical genre. Black Deer is a celebration of a experiencing the unique cultural richness that
way of life we call Americana” way of life. The Young Folk area, a partnership with surrounds this popular way of life we call
Alongside the musical program, the festival not-for-profit Community Interest Company Americana.
Songwriter Sessions bring artists together for a has built a strong allegiance with quality fodder, Woodland Tribe, has been a major attraction for “The natural ingredients that complete this
Nashville-style 'in the round' performance you cooking up a storm in their Live Fire Arena festival-going families since day one. Promoting simple melting pot can all be found at Black
won't see anywhere else. Other acts confirmed thanks to the skills and associates of Grillstock the best kind of adventure play, allowing Deer – from authentic smokehouse BBQ cooking
this year for these intimate and must-see founders Jon Finch and Ben Merrington. Chefs children to safely use hammers, screws and and a righteous Sunday gospel brunch to the
gatherings are Imelda May, Hiss Golden appearing this year include BBC stars Hang Fire, rope, the youngsters at Black Deer get to build thrill of custom motorcycle culture and a
Messenger, Cam and many more. Southern Kitchen’s Sam Evans & Shauna Guinn, the playground of their dreams. connection with nature to inspire the young
Another unmissable musical offering in the Twe12ve Fires fire-cooking hero John Relihan And last but not least, hear the growl of the folk, the festival is a community gathering for
deer park in 2022 will be the inaugural Great and acclaimed best-selling author Genevieve counterculture at The Roadhouse, Black Deer's those who love to get it together in the
Americana Songbook. A house band, led by Taylor. heavier space. Curators Desertscene and Clash country…”
AMA-UK award-winner Robert Vincent, will Black Deer's hugely popular cookout will also Magazine will present performances from artists See the full Black Deer line up at:
headline the festival's party central Haley's Bar return, alongside the new and highly anticipated as diverse as The Picturebooks and Wildwood blackdeerfestival.com/line-up

Jazz On The Pantiles is back but changes to format set to stay

Tunbridge Wells’ most popular weekly event Dandara together with Brooks McDonald,
returns next month. Thomson Snell and Passmore and the supportive
Jazz on The Pantiles starts another season on Royal Tunbridge Wells Together.
Thursday, May 5. “My thanks must also go out to two new
Julian Leefe-Griffiths who runs the summer-long sponsors this year. Batcheller Monkhouse and
jazz season said: “We are really looking forward AXA Health.”
to bringing The Pantiles alive again with some However, he added that the format of the
excellent Jazz nights, we have a really exciting Thursday night event will be the same as in the
season coming up. last two years.
“It's been one of the unintentional benefits of
Covid, before we used to run the Jazz in a fairly
Organise relaxed and open way. As time went on, this
“I work with the jazz impresario Lionel Shell, became more difficult with the rising number of
who many in the town know from his smart suits people attending,” explained Julian.
and colourful shoes, This year Lionel has booked “We needed to do something to reduce the
a great line up with regulars such as Derek Nash, crowd numbers, as the whole Pantiles was
Dave Ital and Vince Dunn, plus some new and getting quite swamped. We also did have a few
emerging acts for the stage. issues with people bringing in alcohol, which
“It's quite a labour of love to organise the Jazz benefited no one who operated at or contributed
which has been running in its current format for to the Jazz.”
over 10 years. Jazz on The Pantiles has really The new system means that to attend Jazz on
become an iconic summer event in the town, The Pantiles you will need to book a table at one
which everyone seems to love attending. of the participating venues. These include The
“This year has been particularly challenging, Tunbridge Wells Hotel, The Kirthon or Casa
getting the show back on the road again, but we Vecchia.
have help from our excellent headline sponsor There is also a £5 entry fee.
34 Food & Culture Wednesday April 13 | 2022

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Blogger mum raises a glass to her comedy show at Trinity theatre

Gill Sims is the author of the parenting blog Peter
and Jane and of four novels, starting with ‘Why
Mummy Drinks’. Victoria Roberts caught up with
her before her show at Trinity Theatre this Friday...

A
S A STORYTELLER who seems more The famous part of her social media persona is
comfortable with conversation than the application of wine to metaphorical cuts and
performing a scripted narration to a bruises, but she also swears by time, distance
passive audience, Gill Sims has an and telling, which is where an audience comes in.
‘interviewer’ to start things off when “Nine times out of ten, if you tell someone
she appears on stage at the Trinity Theatre this about something, they’ll say ‘that happened to
Friday. me, too’. Or ‘you think that was bad? Well, this
“It’s ‘in conversation with’ It’s not really a happened to me.’ Sharing your problems does
routine, but an interview. More of a chat not minimise them, but definitely helps keep
between friends,” Gill tells the Times. them in perspective.
“There’s a bit at the end when people can ask “What seems at the time to be the worst day
their questions. That’s always a lovely bit, to
hear people’s thoughts and ideas. I always really “I did have one lovely lady who
enjoy that part.”
Introducing her ‘interviewer’ – Jo Middleton, asked whether I had any parenting like-minded people and everything, but (there wrong child from the playground, she says
of the ‘Slummy Single Mummy’ blog, and author advice for her, which was very kind can be) massive pressure on you that you’re airily: “We’ve all done that, I think – tried to
of ‘Playgroups and Prosecco’ – Gill says: “We putting a white-bread ham sandwich in your take the wrong child out of the park – and then
shouldn’t really be allowed out together because of her really, having just heard son’s lunch as that’s all he’ll eat – while someone realised ‘oh, no you’re not my one.’ I will try to
we tend to have a bit of a rampage when we do. about my parenting fails for an in... I don’t know… Canada is creating a bento box pick the cleanest looking one, which is never
I’m really looking forward to it.” hour or so!” every day with tableaux of Shakespearean mine.
However, having an ‘interviewer’ is really just tragedies out of carrot sticks, and you’re thinking “Not you – that one. The one rolling in the
a starting ingredient for her uncannily inviting – ‘Okay… [expletive]. I can’t do that because they puddle. That’s my one. That’s always my one.’”
manner which can turn almost all everyday ever. You see other aspects of it that you wouldn’t eat that... Would they eat it if I did that? In response to a question about her trip to
misfortune into a story which not only soothes wouldn’t have seen in it if you sat at home and I don’t know how to do that. Trinity Theatre for her appearance, she turns
the teller, but prompts listeners to make their cried to yourself.” “You can kind of fall down a rabbit hole, on this disarming charm on Tunbridge Wells itself,
own confessions. That loneliness is something many parents – the internet, of things you ‘should’ be doing and saying: “This is my first time. I’m really looking
Even without their own stories, people seem to especially mothers – will recognise, but social you just end up not doing all these things, and forward to it. It would be nice to have a little
want to connect with her, as in Gill’s anecdote media is a ‘double-edged bread-knife’, Gill it’s just nine times out of ten, children don’t time there.”
about a woman who got a chance to say acknowledges. actually know, or require any of it. It’s other Then, asked whether she was expecting to
something at the end of an event and blurted “I think social medial has put so many more parents you’re trying to impress with these sort wander around the town and see if the
out a request for ‘advice’. expectations on parents, and on mothers in of things.” schoolchildren are ‘terribly clean’, she laughs.
“I did have one lovely lady who asked whether particular. There are so many more opportunities In contrast to these competitive parents, Gill “I’m sure they’ll be clean. I’m sure they’ll be
I had any parenting advice for her, which was to compare yourself to millions of parents, as disarms any opposition by performing her clean. The children wouldn’t dare be dirty.”
very kind of her, really, having just heard about opposed to just the ones in your circle. ‘parenting fails’. An Evening with Gill Sims is at Trinity
my parenting fails for an hour or so.” “Sometimes that’s great, if you can find Telling a story about almost collecting the Theatre on Friday, April 22 at 8pm.

Soundss

D I S C O
Sunday 1st May, 7.30pm
UNT*
*GROUP ABLE
AVAIL
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 30 Food & Drink Wednesday April 20 | 2022

“My new book takes you from pregnancy

to parenthood one dish at a time...”
food & drink

EMILY BUTTERS PHOTOGRAPHY

Adam Shaw is a specialist local food blogger and writer. His At Dad’s Table Instagram
account has 48K plus followers who he inspires every day courtesy of delicious recipes
and top tips on eating well – from pregnancy to weaning and beyond. Recently the
father of two - with another on the way - published his first book How To Grow Your
Family. Eileen Leahy caught up with Adam to find out why it’s a recipe for success
So Adam, for those not familiar with a challenge and we have our ups and enjoyable place to be. one dish at a time. There are six chapters,
your Instagram account can you briefly downs…However as my eldest (4) is getting How did the book deal for How To Grow 20 recipes in each covering the first three
sum it up for us please? older he’s able to tell me more about what Your Family come about? trimesters of pregnancy, the fog of new
I run @At_Dads_Table where I share he wants to eat and I think it’s important to It’s with Nourish Books who are an parenthood, weaning and finger food and
food-positive, fun and easy to make give him that independence (within imprint of Watkins Publishing. I’d always finally family meals. As well as the recipes
pregnancy, weaning and family recipes reason). wanted to publish a book - and with Covid there’s information on the best foods to eat
with my 48k+ followers. My debut What are your top tips for getting kids to wreaking havoc on the conference and at different times, in-depth food hacks, a
cookbook How to Grow your Family is eat more fruit and veg - and do you events industry which I had worked in for guide to the nutritional make up of the best
based on my page and was published in believe in 'hiding' them in other foods or foods to eat and lots more!
March. are you more transparent? “I firmly believe in giving Did you find it easy to write or was it
When and why did you get into running I try to be transparent with my kids when more of a challenge given you have your
At Dad's Table? it comes to food. I’ll chop and blend veg children the confidence to hands full with toddlers?
When my wife first became pregnant we into sauces to improve taste and texture but try new foods and that comes Well my publishers asked me to also
were both surprised at how official food I’ll never lie to them about what they’re photograph the food too as it all took place
advice focused so much on what you can’t eating. I’m not really a fan of carving fruit from involving them in all over lockdown, which was quite a
have, not what you can. We both felt like into animal shapes or hiding strong tasting aspects of it” challenge! I could write the recipes in the
we’d failed as parents before we’d even food in something sweeter, I don’t see the evening when the kids were in bed, but
started! So instead I started designing point! obviously you need natural light for the
food-positive recipes for each trimester to What’s your USP as a kids’ food blogger over a decade, I decided to put all of my best food pictures so I’d have to make and
make my wife and baby feel good and it and author? effort in the first lockdown into making At photograph the food with a then 1 and
grew from there…. I firmly believe in giving your children the Dad’s Table a success with the goal of 3-year-old around, which was quite testing!
You have two toddlers now; would you confidence to try new foods and that comes securing a book deal. My wife helped me enormously in trying to
say getting them to eat the good stuff is from involving them in all aspects, be it Can you tell us what readers can expect keep them out of the way - but there are
getting easier - or is it still a challenge? going around a supermarket together, to find in it? some funny outtakes on my Instagram feed!
And we have a third on the way any day prepping food, talking about what you’re I like to call it a ‘cookery bible’ taking you Where did you get inspiration from for
now! Like all aspects of parenting, it’s still eating and making the dinner table a safe, from pregnancy through to new parents the recipes?
 Wednesday April 20 | 2022 Food & Drink 31
I’m not much of a meal planner. I tend to make
sure my fridge is full of fresh fruit and vegetables NOW TRY ONE OF ADAM’S TASTY TREATS FOR ALL THE FAMILY: SALMON BIRYANI
and then go from there, always thinking about
what extra twists I can add to a dish to get more You can pack lots of spices and veg into this dish. It’s a delicious and 5. When almost all of the liquid has been absorbed in the biryani pan and
nutrients in. easy-to-make fakeaway to reward yourself at the end of a long day. the rice is cooked, add the spinach and stir it in, allowing it to wilt.
What do you think parents (and their 6. Flake the salmon into chunks and place on top of the biryani. Finally,
children) will enjoy most about your new SERVES 2 sprinkle over the chopped spring onion/scallion and coriander/cilantro
book? Prep time: 15 minutes - Cook time: 30 minutes and serve.
I hope they’ll appreciate the positive nature of
it. I can’t stand how during these first few years INGREDIENTS MIX IT UP:
of parenting we are expected to totally change A knob of butter (or a vegan alternative) • Try crumbling some paneer on top of the biryani while it’s cooking for
our view of food. Be it strict, unnecessarily 1 onion, diced extra calcium.
boring diets in pregnancy or labelling a baby as 2 garlic cloves, finely chopped • Combine half a teaspoon of each of the spices with a splash of oil and
a ‘fussy eater’ when they’re not even a year old, 5cm/2in piece of fresh root ginger, peeled and grated use it as a marinade for the salmon, or alternatively use chicken or lamb,
it’s all wrong in my opinion. Food is a pleasure, 1 teaspoon ground coriander or an entire roasted cauliflower for a vegan option.
it’s fun and should be enjoyed. I hope people 1 teaspoon garam masala
will see this book as a gateway to making them 1 teaspoon ground cumin
feel good (and reassured!). 1 teaspoon ground turmeric
Will you be doing any local promotion for it 1 teaspoon mustard seeds
such as book signings people can come along 1 aubergine/eggplant, diced
to? 1 carrot, diced
As we get closer to summer I’ll be doing a few A few cauliflower florets
local appearances around town so keep an eye 300g/10½oz/1½ cups long grain brown rice
on my @At_Dads_Table on Instagram account 600ml/21fl oz/2½ cups vegetable stock
for details. 1 teaspoon tomato purée/paste
12 new potatoes
100g/3½oz/½ cup frozen peas
“My new book is a ‘cookery 2 salmon fillets, about 150g/5½oz each
bible’. As well as recipes there’s Large handful of spinach, chopped
info on the best foods to eat at 1 spring onion/scallion, chopped
A few coriander/cilantro sprigs, leaves chopped
different times and food hacks” Salt

INSTRUCTIONS:
And finally, which cooks inspire you and 1. Preheat the oven to 180°C/350°F/Gas 4.
why? 2. Melt the butter in a saucepan over a medium heat. Add the onion along
From a food mentality perspective, it has with a pinch of salt and cook for 2–3 minutes. Add the garlic, ginger and
always been Jamie Oliver. I love how he makes spices, then stir well so they coat the diced onion.
delicious dishes with simple ingredients and I 3. Add the aubergine/eggplant, carrot and cauliflower florets. Pour the rice
think my food-positive outlook as probably into the pan along with the stock and stir in the tomato purée/paste. Bring
kickstarted by him when I was a teenager. Closer to the boil, mix well, then reduce the heat to a simmer. Add the potatoes
to home I love the food prepared by the Tanner and stir in the peas. Cover the pan and cook for around 20 minutes. If the
Brothers at The Kentish Hare and Will Devlin at pan gets too dry, add some more stock.
The Small Holding and I’m really looking 4. While the biryani is cooking, place the salmon fillets in an ovenproof
forward to Atul Kochhar opening up on The dish, season and bake for 10 minutes. Remove and keep warm.
Pantiles.

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 32 Food & drink Wednesday April 20 | 2022

Cheers to the spears!

Spring has well and truly arrived. In the vineyard, tender green shoots are emerging on
the vines – but it’s also British asparagus season. To celebrate this delicious crop, Times
Drinks Editor James Viner gives us his tips on the best crisp, dry, unoaked and aromatic
whites wines to drink with the fresh, locally-sourced deep green spears. And as this
coming Saturday is St George’s Day he also suggests an excellent Cornish cracker to enjoy
THOUGH prized as a delicacy since ancient from the calcium-carbonate-rich, ‘albariza’ well-loved wine style and the perfect bottle to
times, asparagus is quite easy to grow, provided CELEBRATE ST GEORGE’S DAY white soils of the celebrated Macharnudo drink with asparagus and prawns/goat’s cheese
you’re forbearing since it typically takes three THIS SATURDAY vineyard. Light bodied with low acidity, fino or asparagus slathered in butter/a rich
years from sowing to harvest. Traditionally the sherries have been ‘biologically’ aged in hollandaise sauce or with parmesan shavings.
season runs from 23 April (this Saturday), St IF YOU like New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc try partially filled casks under a film of flor yeast 4.Bonjour to this refreshing organically
George’s Day, and runs through to the Summer early-ripening Bacchus, which is redolent of which shields the wine from oxidation, whilst produced dry Bordeaux white
Solstice on 21 June. This year, however, the first hedgerows and nettles. Try a bottle of reducing glycerol levels (and thus body). This Château Rioublanc Bordeaux Blanc 2021,
perky spears arrived around eight weeks earlier Cornwall’s Camel Valley 2021 (£15.50, The Wine one’s super-refined, tangy, crisp, texturally France (£10.99, Vinceremos, 12%)
than usual. Society) with asparagus served with white delicate but also complex, with an average age Situated in St Ciers d’Abzac, some 15 km north
1. Must-try supermarket unoaked Austrian fish/goat’s cheese of 10 years: think almonds, moss, sea salt, green of Libourne in north-eastern Bordeaux, Château
white apples and toasty yeast. A ludicrously low price Rioublanc is an organically certified family
Specially Selected Grüner Veltliner 2020, tag for the wine world’s best-kept secret. Relish estate dating back to the nineteenth century.
Niederösterreich, Austria (£8.50-£8.95, Lea & Sandeman & The Wine as soon as possible. One for white asparagus, Inherited from his father Edouard, who began
(£6.99, Aldi, 12.5%) Society, 15%, 37.5cl) griddled/steamed green asparagus with aioli/ working on the estate in 1963, it’s now run by
Two-thirds of Austria’s vineyards are planted Cracking value here for an outstanding 100% hollandaise or grilled asparagus with romesco engineer and oenologist Philippe Carretero and
with white grapes and it’s especially famous for Palomino, single-vineyard fino sherry rarity sauce/poached eggs. Of course, it’s his son, Paul. Grab its delicious medium-bodied,
dry, medium-plus acid white wines made also dreamy with a plate of organic, zesty, pear, floral, grassy and citrus-
from the loess-and-water-loving, ambrosial jamón ibérico! An open spiked Bordeaux Blanc, which is a blend of
thick-skinned Grüner Veltliner (GV), bottle should be drunk within two Sauvignon Blanc (70%) and Sémillon (22%),
which accounts for around 30 per cent of to three days. Gently chill and serve topped up with Colombard. It’s fresh and
all plantings, and Riesling. Nab this at 8°- 9°C (I recommend taking the instantaneously engages all the senses,
smart, unoaked and versatile – GV’s a bottle out of the fridge about ten presenting both decent length and a snappy,
great ‘sling it with everything’ option – 3 minutes before serving). crisp finish. One for asparagus with fish,
rendition from Niederösterreich, the
largest of Austria’s wine regions for 1 4
3. An intense New Zealand
Sauvignon Blanc to sip with
primavera risotto, grilled asparagus salad with
lemon and feta or steamed/boiled asparagus
both production and exports, in the NE the spears served with a slick of melted butter/a lemony
of the country, while you can. Great Vavasour Sauvignon Blanc dressing. You could easily tuck this bright
value from the Aldi buying team for a
pure cocktail of white pepper,
2 2021 (£10, Co-op, 13.5%)
Echoing its green,
organic Bordeaux white under your arm and
walk into any BYO restaurant (hello again Kitsu
flowers (think orris root), asparagus herbaceous flavours, Sushi & Noodle Bar) and depart very content. À
and pears. The tell-tale peppery/ Sauvignon Blanc is votre santé!
spicy aromatics come from astounding with asparagus Follow James on Twitter @QuixoticWine
rotundone, a key aroma and ideal for spring. New
compound found in the grape Zealand has many world-
skins. It’s terrific with both white class examples such as this AND A BEER FOR ASPARAGUS?
and green asparagus. I especially classy offering from
loved it with asparagus risotto Marlborough, the largest
and also lemony roasted producing region at around I’D PLUMP for Belgian tripel having recently
asparagus with new potatoes and 30,000 ha (around 70% of enjoyed a saintly swallow of Brussels’
a pea salad. Prost! Not for the the total producing area). Brasserie de la Senne’s dry and muscular
cellar. Fresh and bright-fruited with ‘Jambe-de-Bois’ with local asparagus bought
2. Say ‘Salud’ to this pale, spot-on green pepper, from Locality on Tunbridge Wells’ Camden
bone-dry, refined and complex tropical fruit, tomato leaf Road (£4, Fuggles Bottle Shop/10% off 12+
single-vineyard fino sherry and passionfruit pizzazz, units, 8%, 330ml). A treat for asparagus and
Valdespino ‘Inocente’ Pago de this starry Sauvignon is a Pommes Parisienne.
Macharnudo NV Fino sherry, Spain high-class account of a
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 34 Property Wednesday April 20 | 2022

Pedal power is beginning to push

property prices into a higher gear
property news
HOUSES near to cycle lanes and bike routes are now
demanding hefty premiums, research has shown, as more
people have got on their bike following the Covid-19
pandemic.
According to analysis by property platform Boomin, the
cost of buying along one of London’s main cycle routes is as
much as £102,204 higher than the wider surrounding area,
while some tenants are paying up to £619 more per month
in rent.
During the pandemic, public transport restrictions
emptied the capital’s tubes, trains and buses. Instead, half
of Londoners (52%) looked to greener alternative methods
of travel such as walking or cycling.
When workplace restrictions were lifted, they (53%)
continued to avoid tubes and buses in favour of walking or
cycling and now that Covid restrictions have lifted entirely,
40% have maintained this travel trend, with 39% only using
public transport when commuting to and from work.

Demand
This has spurred an increase in demand for homes within
reaching distance of a cycle route and Boomin’s research
found that 73% of London homebuyers and tenants would
prioritise this transport link, with just 27% more inclined to
choose a property close to a tube station.
Previously coined as cycle superhighways, London has six
main cycle routes that provide safer passage for cyclists
heading into the city from each corner of the capital. In in the areas it passes through. per month - £619 (35%) higher per month.
total, these arterial routes for two-wheeled commuters pass A property along the routes of Kentish Town to Elephant The route between Tower Hill and Lancaster Gate is home
through no less than 14 London boroughs and a total of 43 and Castle (£70,627), Merton to the City (£70,627), Tower to the next highest rental price premium at £465 per month,
different postcodes. Hill to Lancaster Gate (£64,504) and Stratford to Aldgate followed by Wandsworth to Westminster (£379), Stratford to
Boomin analysed both the average house price and the (£26,337) also carry a sizeable house price premium on Aldgate (£246), Merton to the City (£228) and finally
average rent across all 43 postcodes to find the current cost average. Tottenham to the City (£227).
of living within arm’s reach of a major London cycle route. However, there is one route that offers relative Michael Bruce, CEO and Founder of Boomin, said:
Boomin then compared this to the wider average house affordability for those keen to get on their bike. Buying “Cycling is perhaps the best way to traverse the capital,
price and rent for the boroughs that these routes pass along the cycle route between Tottenham and the City will particularly for those heading to and from work, as it not
through, to see just how much more it costs to live close to a set you back £643,439 on average, almost £50,000 less than only allows them to avoid the dreaded tube, but it’s great
major cycle route. the wider cost of buying along the four areas it passes exercise and it can save you a considerable amount on
The research shows that, on average, buying a home through (£691,504). public transport costs.
along one of London’s main cycle routes will set you back Unfortunately, those looking to rent within arm’s reach of “Of course, the downside is that London’s roads can be
just shy of £700,000. The wider cost of buying within the a major cycle route into the city are facing a rental price perilous, as we are unfortunately all too aware of, so
areas these routes pass through is £653,516, making a cycle premium regardless of which route they opt for. On average, utilising one of the capital’s major cycle routes is a great
route accessible property purchase 7%, or £46,249, more the cost of renting close to a cycle superhighway into the way to minimise the dangers of commuting by bike.
expensive on average. city sits at £2,157 per month, £353 (20%) higher than the “However, renting or buying close to one of these major
Those buying along the route from Wandsworth to current London average of £1,804 per month. routes will come at a greater cost, but while this may
Westminster face the highest property price premium, with The route between Kentish Town and Elephant and Castle eradicate the money saved on a travel card, you can still
homes along this cycle route selling for £886,846 on is home to the highest rental price premium, with the reap the other rewards that a more active lifestyle will
average - £102,204 (13%) more than the wider average found average rent across postcosts on the route sitting at £2,413 bring.”

Seaside towns see strongest post Covid house price growth

RESEARCH by an online comparison site, has
found that when it comes to house price
appreciation, seaside towns are
outperforming the rest of the market both on
an annual basis and throughout the
pandemic.
GetAgent analysed house price data across
60 UK towns that fall within six distinctive
categories - seaside, new, market, historic,
university and manufacturing.
The research shows that seaside towns
have posted the strongest performance on
all fronts. With a current average of
£340,339, they are home to the highest
current property values. They’ve also seen
the largest annual increase at 13.2%, as well
as the largest increase during the pandemic,
up by 21.2%.
It’s a far more mixed picture when it comes
to the house price performance of other
town categories.
On an annual basis, new towns, market 20.6%, with only seaside towns posting a has been less impressive. rural and coastal locations.
towns and historic towns have all performed better pandemic house price performance. Founder of GetAgent.co.uk, Colby Short, “Of course, this popularity has resulted
well with an uplift of 11.4%, 11.2% and 10.9% said: “While the worst of the pandemic is in a sustained level of house price
respectively, while university (8.8%) and hopefully behind us, its influence on the appreciation across these areas of the
manufacturing towns (8.6%) have trailed the
Impressive property market still remains, with seaside property market and so those looking to
rest. Again, market (19.4%) and historic (19.3%) and market towns, in particular, remaining buy in such an area will now pay between
However, when looking at pandemic house towns have also performed well during the incredibly popular amongst homebuyers £50,000 to £60,000 more on average
price performance, manufacturing towns pandemic, while house price growth across who have come to value the slower pace of when compared to pre-pandemic market
have seen house prices climb by a notable university (16.2%) and new towns (15.9%) life and benefits associated with more values.”
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 36 Antiques Wednesday April 20 | 2022

A look at the work of a great Dane...

This week, Alexander Pushkin talks about Scandinavian designer Arne Jacobsen
architect. The buildings he constructed
were included in Denmark’s national
antiques
heritage list and in the Danish cultural
canon. There is no surprise that the name
of Jacobsen stands in the line with other
iconic Danish makers, such as Georg
Jensen and Henning Nørgaard. Many of
Jacobsen’s ideas received a logical
continuation in the design of IKEA
products.

Gallery
Jacobsen's remarkable inventions are still
Alexander Pushkin
in incredible demand today: a typographic

A
font specially designed by Jacobsen for
RNE EMIL Jacobsen (1902-1971) signs in the municipality of Aarhus, is used
was an iconic Danish architect by Danish studio ”Design Letters” to
and furniture designer. He is decorate tableware, bed linen and all kinds
remembered for his of interior items. In addition, Louis Poulsen
contribution to the Danish of the chair. When World War II broke out, created as such: Jacobsen sculpted now produces lamps, beautiful in their
functionalism design philosopy. Together because of his jewish heritage, had to flee numerous prototypes from clay, and only laconicism, under the name AJ. As for the
with Alvar Aalto, he is the most famous from Denmark to Sweden, where he was after the ideal shape was found, the Fritz unique silver-plated cutlery, that looks
representative of Scandinavian design. In forbidden to work as an architect, Hansen factory recreated them from more like art objects than eating utensils,
addition to architectural constructions, he becoming a textile artist instead. In fiberglass-reinforced plastic. the original pieces are now a part of the
created numerous original chairs designs addition to elegant geometric ornaments, Arne Jacobsen never limited himself only collection of the New York Museum of
and other pieces of furniture. He received Jacobsen created picturesque floral motifs to the architecture of buildings: he Modern Art MoMA. The replica is produced
several international diplomas and medals that reflected his passion for botany. Today, considered his buildings as a single piece by the Danish company Georg Jensen.
for his splendid design solutions and the Swedish factory Boras Tapeter produces of art, indivisible into disparate Nowadays splendid pieces designed by
remains the most recognizable. wallpaper based on some of the sketches components, in which the creator was Jacobsen are in unprecedented demand
Gifted child, Arne Jacobsen had always created during the exile years. It was only responsible for everything: from small and have not lost their relevance. Antique
had a talent for art. Jacobsen's first after World War II that Arne Jacobsen details in the interior decor to the materials vintage models are especially popular at
profession was a bricklayer. Then in 1924 decided to take up furniture design. with which the facades would be covered. auctions: they keep the spirit of the era and
he entered the Royal Academy of Fine Arts Many of Jacobsen's works have become He carefully chose textiles, designed are therefore of the greatest value.
in Copenhagen. Still a student, in 1925 classics, among which such iconic pieces furniture and lamps, as well as elaborated Such luxury pieces can be found in our
Jacobsen took part in the World's Fair, The as Drop, Egg and Swan chairs, as well as the decoration of walls, floors and ceilings. extensive collection of Luxury Interior and
International Exhibition of Modern the Ant chair and the Giraffe chair can be Highly prolific, Jacobsen received countless can be viewed on our website
Decorative and Industrial Arts in Paris, mentioned. The famous chairs look like prizes and awards during his long-lasting pushkinantiques.com or viewed in our
where he won a silver medal for the design sculptures because they initially were career, both as a furniture designer and an High street gallery.

A suprising find is a pick of the lot

Auctioneer Joseph Trinder discusses his latest interesting and sublime discoveries...

D
URING a routine valuation Days enamel boxes. I valued the group at Joseph
visit to a rather beautiful £100-150. Trinder
home in rural Kent recently, a Yet unwrapping each from its cocoon of
client and I examined all paper and tape back at the saleroom, I was
manor of objects they had surprised and rather delighted to find a
inherited to include a collection of gorgeous and rather valuable hitchhiker
decorative glassware, Chinese porcelain amongst their number…
and apothecary jars, as we busily A beautifully enamelled early 19th
unwrapped each from the newspaper they century French gold box, an object of sheer
had been safely stored in likely for decades. opulence and quality - vivid in its colour
It was towards the end of my visit, around and sublimely detailed.
5pm on a Friday afternoon when I spotted I later called my vendor to let them know
the unmistakable dots of a micro mosaic over will compete to own this fabulous little of the discovery to their delight. This single
shining through from the bottom of a box of object in our upcoming June 28th summer piece will likely make over £1,000 - over ten
mixed silver and ceramics. fine sale at Gorringe’s. times the value placed on the group of
Yet this wasn’t the only surprise this other enamels! Second World War daggers - it wasn’t until I
property would have for me. Included in Finally - during a visit to a charming was leaving that I enquired as to the image
Humbling the mixed contents, we found a collection apartment in Tunbridge Wells which of a trio of charismatic cats hanging above
Removing the paper, I revealed this of individually wrapped modern Halcyon yielded amongst other finds bronzes and the door in the kitchen - unmistakably the
sublime 19th century box, lined in gold and work of Louis Wain (1860-1939) I remarked
pressed horn externally, the cover “I don’t suppose that’s an original?” As so
painstaking capturing a finely detailed often one sees prints or works completed in
scene from thousands of hand-cut and the ever-popular style of Wain. To which,
placed tesserae - in a sublime range of my client replied “Oh yes, it’s certainly a
colours and tones. Rather humbling to genuine Wain” and proceeded to present a
think of this being completed painstakingly historic invoice and statement of
by hand and naked eye. authenticity from the leading gallery
As new to my client as myself, I explained specialising in Wain’s work, from several
that this, the last piece unearthed on a decades ago.
Friday was my favourite find of the week - Delighted at its originality, I estimated the
not because it was necessarily the most feline trio (wonderfully titled ‘All Dressed
valuable, but because of the beauty and Up And Nowhere To Go) at £2,000 - £3,000
skill it represents. A souvenir of exceptional - this too will be featured in our June 28th
quality retrieved from a Grand Tour of Italy summer Fine sale at Gorringe’s.
the early 19th century. Could your items at home be my next
Estimated at £800 - £1,200, it is likely to exciting find? Contact me today for a
surpass this (as the last piece of micro valuation visit and advice, free of charge or
mosaic work featured in a previous article obligation - via [email protected]
went on to do) as collectors from the world or call me directly on 07789979396.
 Wednesday April 20 | 2022 Antiques 37

Dancing cows and demure milkmaids

Eric Knowles on the cheeky antiques inspired by workers from the 18th century dairy industry

H
ELLO everyone. I saw a marvellous delicious dichotomy of a fascination with Eric Knowles
article last week about how the everything earthy, libidinous and licentious
Danes – for the first time since alongside the absolute necessity to remain
their Covid restrictions were outwardly seemly and proper at all times. It was
loosened – were celebrating perfectly ok – in song and verse, in theatres or in
Dancing Cow Day ! This, it transpires, is a the decorative arts – to infer all manner of
national event – albeit of somewhat recent lewdness, as long as you did so indirectly.
vintage – marking the day on which the nation’s Step forward the milkmaid who – alongside her
cows are ‘turned out’ in to the lush, verdant constant companion, the ploughman – were used
spring fields after a winter of confinement in
their stalls and barns.
Unlike this country, where this happens on
different days, varying from farm to farm, it’s part
of the Danish organic dairy licensing procedure
that the period of outdoor liberation for the
bovine horde must conform to a regulated length,
and hence they are all released on a specific inhabiting the same environment – but never
date. actually in any sort of contact which could be
The Danes have embraced this new regulation, deemed too intimate. They danced and feasted
and – in their droves – go to watch the turn-out. and worked together – but that was as much as
It’s a splendid occasion – the cows are overjoyed the common decency of the day would allow. Of
to find their feet on soft earth rather than course, it was all about the none too deeply-
hidden meanings, which were pretty near the
knuckle; the milkmaid – young, fresh, engaging
"These images, laden with with engorged udders, expressing milk; the
ploughman – vigorous, lusty, engaged very
innuendo, appeared most often physically in the sowing of seed. It hardly
on porcelain dinner services" required a paradigm shift in understanding to
know what these outwardly simplistic characters
were really supposed to infer !
concrete and to have access to fresh fodder and It amuses me greatly that these images, laden
room to roam; they do quite literally run and constantly as a means of referring to the general with innuendo, appeared so often on porcelain
gambol about in glee – it’s quite a sight. fecundity and ribaldry of rural life, and all acts dinner services, tea sets and other pieces which
In the UK of course we have a long history of pertaining thereto. These characters appeared in were all intended for the more well-to-do folk of
dairy farming which has long since made many places, and really came to my attention on polite Georgian society, who perhaps had a
numerous contributions to our folklore by way of Worcester porcelain pieces – several of which we yearning for the less-restrictive theatre of country
allusory foibles and tropes. These were have for sale down at The Pantiles Arcade. life – there’s something to consider over your
particularly popular in Georgian times They were often pictured, on either side of a next cuppa, while you’re dunking your digestive,
(essentially, the 18th century) when there was a tankard or pitcher or jug, in close proximity and and no mistake !

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 38 Motoring Wednesday April 20 | 2022

Motoring News
This week…
Mercedes’ 2.0 litre SL n

Transit EV n
Range of tunes n

Mercedes adds new entry- The first electric Ford

Transits have rolled

level engine to its SL range

off the production line

FORD has begun shipping the first production

versions of the E-Transit, the fully electric version
of the firm’s popular cargo van.
At a celebratory event at the firm’s Gölcük plant
in Kocaeli, Turkey, where the vehicle is being
built, the first models rolled off the production
ahead of delivery to European customers.

Production
The firm says it has already received more than
5,000 orders for the electric van, despite
production only just beginning.
Hans Schep, general manager of Ford Pro,
Europe, said: “Ford Otosan’s Kocaeli plant is the
heart of Transit production in Europe, and this
POWERTRAIN The SL celebration of E-Transit manufacturing starts the
now has a 2.0 litre electrified next chapter in our already strong
engine option partnership.
“This is the first step in a transformation of the
MERCEDES has expanded its SL range with a according to Mercedes. The firm says that the technology, the SL also has an outstanding Kocaeli site which will see it become a major
new 2.0-litre petrol option. performance range in its entry-level version. centre for electric commercial vehicle
Sitting alongside two V8-powered variants, the This means that our seemingly smallest SL manufacturing in Europe.”
SL 43 is said to use turbocharger technology By electronically controlling combines the typical AMG Driving Performance The E-Transit is the first of two electric
taken directly from Formula 1. This electric this motor, the response from with luxury and comfort at the absolute top commercial vehicles coming from Ford this year,
exhaust gas turbocharger is a world-first for a level. What’s more, with this innovative engine and falls under the Ford Pro ecosystem of
production car, according to Mercedes.
idle speed is improved, as is the we are undoubtedly also appealing to a wider end-to-end charging, telematics, service and
Overall, the 2.0-litre four-cylinder unit response across the ‘entire clientèle.” financing.
produces 375bhp and 480Nm of torque, while a speed range’ The SL 43 gets a series of details to distinguish It is the only mainstream electric van available
48-volt electrical system with a belt-driven it from the other models in the line-up, in eight configurations, with three roof heights
starter-generator brings a 12bhp boost in certain including round tailpipes – different to the and three body lengths available, as well as
circumstances, too. engine responds ‘even more spontaneously to angular ones fitted to V8-powered versions – cutaway and chassis cab versions.
Essentially, the technology sees an electric the accelerator pedal’, in fact. and differentiated front and rear aprons. All cars In August last year, Ford began trials of the
motor integrated into the turbocharger shaft Linked to a nine-speed automatic gearbox get 19-inch alloy wheels as standard, though E-Transit in Germany, Norway and the UK, with
between the turbine wheel on the exhaust side sending drive to the rear wheels, the SL 43 can these can be upgraded to 20 or 21-inch versions various partners in industries such as postal,
and the compressor wheel on the intake side. manage the 0-60mph sprint in 4.7 seconds and as optional extras. The same fabric folding soft utilities and grocery delivery. Ten prototype
By electronically controlling this motor, the hit a top speed of 170mph. top is used on this model, too. vehicles with different configurations were put to
response from idle speed is improved, as is the Philipp Schiemer, chairman of the board of Prices for the SL 43 have yet to be announced the test in real world conditions, helping to
response across the ‘entire speed range’, management of Mercedes-AMG, said: “With this but are likely to be revealed soon. inform the final development of the vehicle.

Listening to relaxing music can make you go further in your electric vehicle
THE TYPE of music you listen to can affect how were played through the car’s sound system,
far your electric vehicle travels between charges, with a wearable biometric measuring device
according to new research. recording information such as shifting skin
A study found that drivers who listened to temperature.
ambient classical pieces and famous symphonic- Dr Williams said: “What we found from only
form compositions from the likes of Beethoven two days of testing was that music really can
would see their EV battery go further between have a dramatic influence on the real-world
charges than those who listened to artists such driving range of an electric vehicle.
as The Weeknd, Kanye West and Adele. “Different songs resulted in varying
electrodermal activity and blood volume
increase for each of the participants.
Genre “This had a knock-on effect on driving style,
Kia teamed up with Dr Duncan Williams, a and ultimately influenced the real-world driving
leading authority in acoustics, noise, range of the EV6.”
psychoacoustics and sounds science to see if the Classical music created a calm, focused
type of music being played to the driver could environment for the driver, which resulted in a
have an effect on real-world range. more relaxed driving style. This had a knock-on
The test was carried out in the Kia EV6, which effect of making the vehicle’s range go further
has a real-world range of 328 miles. because speeds were lower and acceleration/
Participants were put behind the wheel of the deceleration was less severe.
EV – with none having driven an electric Meanwhile, up-tempo pop songs had the
vehicle before – and asked to drive a long a opposite effect, inspiring more spirited driving
predetermined route. that made them twice as inefficient as when
On the 18-mile route, different types of music listening to the classical genre.
Wednesday November 10 | 2021 39

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