Tunbridge Wells Borough Council magazine

tunbridgewells.gov.uk
Winter 2016

inside:

Christmas time!
Events and awards
News, features
and loads more

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2 27019 Local Ad 195w x 114d STG2.indd

19/10/2016 09:14

Welcome to
Winter Local!
We're coming to the end of 2016, and if you're
like me you'll be asking that good old question 'where
has the year gone?' It seemed only last month that I
was writing the intro for last year's winter magazine!
Well, this year's edition is packed with all our festive
favourites... the ice rink is back in Calverley Grounds,
and panto is here for all the family oh yes it is! I
particularly like the sound of the tasty stuffing on page
13, and don't miss the competition to win a Farmers'
Market hamper, plus other prizes up for grabs.
We've got results from two successful campaigns
this year Bloom on pages 67 and our community
awards, Love Where We Live, that we arrange to
recognise the wonderful people and organisations that
do so much for our borough... lots of smiling and happy
people on pages 89.

Local costs less than 9p a copy to

produce and deliver to your home

RTW in Bloom

4to5

Ice skating in
the park

Cultural &
Learning
Hub news

Read what else is happening...

8to 9

Happy Christmas and all the best for 2017.

Lizzie Goodwin, Editor

Love Where We Live

awards ceremony

We produce Local to keep you up-to-date about

Council services and news. If you have any
comments about the magazine, wed love to
hear from you. Contact us by:
E-mail Localemail@tunbridgewells.gov.uk

Q: You came to Tunbridge Wells for the press launch for Snow White and the
Seven Dwarfs. What was your impression of the town and its people?
It offers a very flavoursome atmosphere because of all its lovely cafes
and almost village like quality. The people are extremely welcoming.

Q: Youre no stranger to the panto season what are the highlights for you
that keep you coming back for more?

Farmers' Market

Phone 01892 526121

We first spoke to Su, who will be playing the Wicked

Queen in this years fantastic family pantomime Snow
White and the Seven Dwarfs

Post Lizzie Goodwin, Communications Manager,

Tunbridge Wells Borough Council, Town Hall,
Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN1 1RS
TWellsCouncil

12to13

When the Assembly Hall Theatre team sat down for a

cuppa with the legendary star Su Pollard and King of
Panto Jamie Steen we were understandably very excited
and a little bit nervous. After all, its not every day you get
to meet one of your TV heroes and a panto institution!

I just so enjoy the tradition of it. The corny jokes, the fabulous
costumes, the way that the audience can join in and that there is always
a happy ending with everybody going home having had a marvellous
time. One of the wonderful things about panto is that it brings
generations together. Its a great connection between mother and father,
daughter and son. They can go home and say do you remember when
we went to see?.

Q: Hello Su, this year youre playing the Wicked Queen should we expect an
all-out villain or does she have a secret bit of goodness in her heart?
Shes definitely evil. After all, she is called the Wicked Queen, but she
is also mischievous and loves to flirt with the Prince. I like her to have
a mix of everything.

Q: What do you love best about pantomime?

I always love the joining in bit. Thats what the audiences still want.
The participation, knowing that is half the fun. Its nice for us all to
witness the whole fantasy.
Q: Do you have any theatre traditions that you hold dear?
I have to be in my dressing room about an hour before the performance.
I wont allow whistling in the dressing room as its considered very
superstitious and I wont have real flowers on the stage simply because
its considered bad luck, but all actors adhere to this rule.

TWBC_Comms

21

Q: I hear you are crazy about tomatoes our Press Officer is too, she has
to eat them every day! Whats with that?
I will even have them in porridge. I hope to chat to Heston Blumenthal
so we can put tomatoes in his next recipe!

Q: You are known for your flamboyant fashion? Do you have any fashion rules?

To advertise, contact Space Marketing Ltd,

01892 677721
or e-mail antoinettem@spacemarketing.co.uk
Advertising helps to keep our costs down. We do
not endorse the external products and services
advertised in Local.
The information in this publication was correct at the time of going to print. Tunbridge
Wells Borough Council cannot accept responsibility for any errors, omissions or
subsequent changes.

No, as long as I feel good in what Im wearing.

Q: What can we expect from this panto?

Our Snow White has a great story with beautiful frocks, marvellous special
effects, songs and of course, everyones favourite seven terrific dwarfs!

Christmas bin
collections

Q: Youve played a whole host of amazing characters over your career

which has stuck with you?

Ive been fortunate to enjoy all the characters Ive played so its hard to just
embrace one but theres no doubt Peggy in Hi-de-Hi! was a special one.
Q: What is most important to you?
Health and happiness!
Su Pollard thank you!

18to19
Snow White panto
AHT Pollard Steen Q&A DPS.indd 2

12/10/2016 14:33

If you require Local magazine in large print or audio CD please phone 01892 554273
TW1101

Ice Skating In The Park

18 November 2016 to 2 January 2017
A favourite festive
destination, ice skating
in Royal Tunbridge Wells
offers something for
skaters, shoppers and
spectators across the
season.
From 18 November, Calverley
Grounds will be transformed into a
beautiful winter ice rink signalling the
start of the festive season. Ice skating
in Tunbridge Wells returns for 2016
with stylish skating, festive food and
drink, music and Christmas cheer.
By day or night, visitors can skate in
the beautiful splendour of Calverley
Grounds amphitheatre, bathed in
twinkling festive lights.

Supported by Tunbridge Wells

Borough Council, the 35 x 20 metres
ice rink, with a capacity of up to 250
skaters, will be open seven days a
week (closed Christmas Day). The
ice rink welcomes skaters of all ages
and abilities and is perfect for a family
day out, a romantic first date, a festive
office party or just a great fun night out
with friends.
For those wishing to watch friends
and family enjoying themselves, the
spectators' area is back. It is around
the ice rink and inside the skate
marquee and there is a wide selection
of drinks and food available.
Councillor Jane March, Cabinet
Member with responsibility for
Tourism, Leisure and Economic
Development says: 'When the ice rink
opens in Royal Tunbridge Wells, its a

sign that Christmas is coming! If you

havent visited the rink in Calverley
Grounds you really should; its a lovely
thing to do with a truly festive feel.'

Opening Times
Friday 18 November 2016 to Monday
2 January 2017 (closed Christmas
Day).

Main Skating Sessions

Every day 11am9pm last skating
session 8pm. Sessions last for one
hour including time to fit your skates,
so expect to have approximately
45 minutes on ice. The last skating
session will be 5pm on Christmas Eve,
Boxing Day, New Years Eve and New
Years Day.

Parent & Toddler Sessions

(aged 2 under 4 years)

Dedicated parent and toddler sessions

last for 30 minutes every day at
9.45am10.15am and 10.15am
10.45am and midweek Monday
Friday at 2pm (from Monday 21
November Friday 16 December).
Seal skating aid hire is included in the
Parent & Toddler session price.

Seal Skating Aids

Skating aids cannot be pre-booked.
They can be hired from the on-site box
office in Calverley Grounds on a first
come, first served basis from half an
hour before your session starts. Seal
hire for a session is 4.

Wheelchairs
Both motorised and non-motorised
wheelchairs are welcome on the
ice. Wheelchair users must be
accompanied by a competent
skater. Please ensure at the time of
booking you tell us you will be using a
wheelchair.

Ticket Prices
Skating tickets: Adults from 10.50
Children from 7 (aged 4 years +).
Family tickets, concessions and Go!
Card tickets are also available. New
this year is the Season Ticket, priced

at 150 which allows

unlimited skating across the
whole six weeks subject to
availability.

Booking
Tickets are available
to buy online at
tunbridgewellsatchristmas.com
or via the Assembly Hall box office
on 01892 554645 and at the ice rink
box office in Calverley Grounds.

Transport
There is a car park situated next to
Calverley Grounds and parking is
also available in the Torrington Car
Park located next to Tunbridge Wells
Station, as well as in the multi-storey
car park by the Assembly Hall Theatre
in Crescent Road.

Food & Drink

Christmas wouldnt be Christmas
without food and drink in abundance
and weve plenty to choose from.
Fuggles Beer Caf and the Basil Caf
return inside the skate marquee, and
Apple & Cor! are situated outside
the marquee. The popular Calverley
Grounds Caf will also be open and
our friends from Wiesbaden return in
December with their Bratwurst and
Gluhwein.

Father Christmas
Why not add to your ice skating fun
and come and see Father Christmas
in his cosy, warm log cabin set in the
trees and snow! Father Christmas will
only be visiting on certain days so its
best to book your tickets in advance.
For further information and reviews go
to fatherchristmasinkent.co.uk.
Once the ice rink is open tickets can
be purchased from the on-site box
office.

TunbridgeWellsChristmas
RTW_XMAS #twskateson
RTW_XMAS

The Tunbridge Wells Borough Council Ice Rink is supported by

Royal Tunbridge
Wells in Bloom would
like to thank all the
participants, volunteers,
contractors and
sponsors for yet another
successful year of our
horticultural campaign.

In summer 2016 we entered

even more Tunbridge Wells
parks and open spaces to the
South & South East in Bloom
and we are happy to announce
fantastic results for all our sites.
Our local Bloom competition has
grown as well, as this year we
received and judged a record
number of 172 competition
entries, including residential,
business, school, allotment and
Town Hall entries.

Best Residential Planter

Tunbridge Wells results in
South & South East in Bloom
Competition 2016:
Large Town category:
Royal Tunbridge Wells Gold Award

Large Park category:

Dunorlan Park Gold Award
Grosvenor & Hilbert Park Silver Gilt Award
Calverley Grounds Silver Gilt Award

Common / Open Space category:

Tunbridge Wells Common Silver Award

Large Cemetery category:

Tunbridge Wells Cemetery and Crematorium
Silver Gilt Award

Churchyard category:
Woodbury Park Cemetery Silver Award

Conservation category:
Barnetts Wood Nature Reserve Bronze Award

Best Community Allotment

6

Royal Tunbridge Wells

in Bloom doesnt
shut for the winter
please check park
noticeboards, our
website, Twitter and
Facebook accounts
for updates on our gardening
projects and volunteering days.
We plan to launch 2017's
campaign in April. Please join us!

Winners of the Royal Tunbridge Wells

in Bloom 2016:
Best School: Southborough Pre-School
Best Street Flats:
Calverley Park Crescent Residents' Association
Best Basket: Sue Ashworth
Best Planter/Tub/Container:
Sandra & John O'Callaghan
Best Patio/Balcony: Andrew Pratt
Best Front Garden: Grant & Cherry Whytock
Best Wildlife Garden: Claudia Sermbezis
Best Allotment: Ray Copper
Best Commercial Basket/Planter: W A Turner
Best Community Allotment/Garden: Crossways
Community
Best Shop Front: Love Inc
Best Pub/Club/Caf: The Bedford
Best Business Grounds: The Barn
Best Town Hall Windowsill: Parking Services

Exciting developments
for new Cultural &
Learning Hub
Tunbridge Wells Borough Council and Kent
County Council are working in partnership to
bring together the Tunbridge Wells museum, art
gallery, library, adult education centre, tourist
information centre and Gateway into one
shared, modernised and inspiring new building.
Both councils, with support from Heritage Lottery Fund and
Arts Council England, are committed to working together to
deliver this exciting 12.3m project for residents and visitors
to the borough.
We've recently had some exciting developments take place.
Purcell, an award-winning firm of architects and historic
building consultants, were announced as lead architects for
the project following a competitive process.
Metaphor were announced as Interpretation Designers to
work with Purcell and bring the proposed new hub to life,
ensuring that the building tells the stories of Tunbridge
Wells, and has the right flow, look and feel.
Find out more about them at purcelluk.com and metaphor.eu
At the time of the announcement in October, Kent County
Councils Cabinet Member for Communities Cllr Mike Hill
said: 'Were delighted to announce the appointment of
Purcell as lead architects and Metaphor as the interpretation
designers for this exciting project. Together they will
consult the public and listen to their feedback to deliver a
shared space for the people of Tunbridge Wells and future
generations.'
Tunbridge Wells Borough Council Cabinet member
Councillor Jane March said: 'The appointment of the lead
architects is an exciting milestone that marks the start of the
next phase in this transformational project.'

Get involved
The project team is looking for friendly and enthusiastic
volunteers to join the Cultural & Learning Hub team. To find
out more about volunteer opportunities and download an
application form visit tunbridgewellsmuseum.org
Dont forget to sign up to the mailing list to receive the latest
updates straight to your inbox tunbridgewellsmuseum.org/
cultural-hub

Best Pub
royaltunbridgewellsinbloom.org.uk

Love Where We Live Awards 2016

Nourish Community Foodbank was
crowned the overall 2016 Love Where
We Live winner and also won this years
Charity of the Year award. Nourish were
commended by the judges for their huge
contribution to the local community.
Since being established in 2012 they
have helped over 4,500 people in crisis
and work with over 90 partner teams
who refer clients for emergency help
when needed.
At the ceremony Will, who brought
along his recently-won gold and bronze
Olympic medals in a pair of socks (!),
was presented with a gold postbox
made by Kent-based carpenter Terry
Malone to honour his achievements
in Rio.
Other winners on the night were:

Ethical Business
Heath Stores

he annual awards
ceremony for the
Councils Love Where We
Live community awards was
attended by 140 guests at
the Assembly Hall Theatre
on 11 October.
This years ceremony was made
extra special by the attendance of
none other than gold medal winning
Paralympian Will Bayley! It was a truly
inspirational evening, greatly enjoyed
by all, which enabled those present
to celebrate the finalists across the
seven award categories for making
our borough such a great place to live
and work.
8

A village shop at the heart of the

Horsmonden community that provides
employment for local young people
and supports local suppliers, as well
as organising community events and
sponsoring the primary school football
team.

Young Sports Achiever

Olivia Wittenberg
11 year old Olivia is an excellent
cross-country runner with talent and a
steely determination. She is currently
the holder of the Tunbridge Wells
Cross-Country League Year 5 Girls
Trophy and came ninth in this years
National Cross-Country Finals. She
also organised a sponsored run at her
primary school raising nearly 1,000 for
charity.

Individual Hero
Heather Cullingworth

A friendly, non-competitive run, with

emphasis on self-improvement that sees
an average of 130 runners participating
in Dunorlan Park each Saturday.

Heather works tirelessly and

enthusiastically for the community of
Frittenden. She makes events happen
that are fun, inclusive and joyous. She
is also the village lollipop lady and
serves on the Parish Council. She
always lends a hand and makes any
occasion brighter and more communityoriented.

Sports Achiever
Zane Cheeseman

Young Volunteer
George Milham

Best Group Royal

Tunbridge Wells parkrun

Zane has been an outstanding coach

at Horsmonden Tennis Club for 14
years, inspiring many youngsters to
become competent players. He has
been instrumental in the development
of the club and is totally committed to
helping it move forward, encouraging
new members and organising many
tournaments.

17 year old George has been attending

Sherwood Mens Shed since last year,
finding a niche where he can make a
positive contribution to the community
and learn new skills. Through
volunteering George has been exposed
to activities he would not normally have
come into contact with.

6 Who has been your greatest

inspiration?

'My step-dad was really sporty and

that first inspired me to get into
sport. He managed Tunbridge Wells
United and I used to go to games
with him. Now my GB team mates
inspire me as they work so hard
and they are always pushing me to
improve.'

7 We have a few young aspiring

athletes in the audience tonight,
what words of wisdom would you
pass on to them?

Interview with Will Bayley

1 Youve travelled to some amazing
places, competed in the best
competitions has Rio trumped
them all?

'Its difficult to compare them really.

London was the best Paralympics
Ive ever been to but Rio personally
was the highlight for obvious
reasons. The atmosphere was
amazing and the Brazilian people
really got behind their athletes which
made it extra special and created a
great atmosphere.'

4 So, youve got gold youre No 1 in

the world, whats your next goal?

2 What was the best thing and worst

thing about Rio? (outside of
the Paralympics)

'I didnt really have time to see much

of Rio as we were playing pretty
much every day of the Games, but
I would say that the best thing was
the iconic sights such as Christ The
Redeemer. The worst thing was the
traffic.'

3 Flying homeWhat was the party

atmosphere like on the plane? And
how about landing in the UK (apart
from your missing luggage!!!), how
did it feel with media and fans there
to welcome you home?

'The flight home was amazing everyone was really relaxed and
it was a great atmosphere. I was
in first class which felt a bit surreal
and very special I even got to play
beer pong with one of the pilots and
managed to get the ball in the cup.

'The reception when we landed was

incredible and it was a massive
buzz to see the support from the
public as we didnt really know what
the reaction had been in the UK
while we were in Rio.'

'Im having some time off at the

moment, but in January Ill get back
into training and focus on my fitness
and preparation for next season
which starts with the Italian Open in
March. My main target for next year
is the European Championships
and it would be nice to win that
again and hold the Paralympic,
World and European titles at the
same time.'

5 You had more than your share of

illness to overcome as a child,
do you think that gave you your
fighting spirit and desire
to succeed?

'I think so when

you have to
overcome things like
that it puts things
into perspective. It
gave me the desire
to make the most of
my ability and drove
me to become the
player I am now.'

'You have to be dedicated and work

really hard and the more you enjoy
your sport the better you will be. It
doesnt matter how talented you
are, you wont succeed if you dont
work hard.'

Thats the serious stuff, we also asked

Will a few questions for fun
Tea or coffee?
coffee
Chocolate or vanilla? chocolate
Cats or dogs?
dogs
Starter or pudding?
pudding
Honey G or R&B?
R&B
Morning bird or night owl?
Have to be up early when Im training
so cant be a night owl!
Twitter or Facebook? Twitter
Table tennis bat or your phone?

table tennis bat

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Peace of mind for your

building projects
Following the focus on Development
Management in the autumn edition of
Local, were now taking a closer look at
Building Control.
In addition to usually requiring planning permission for an
extension or other works, youll normally also require consent
under the Building Regulations, to make sure that works
are undertaken to the correct level of workmanship and are
structurally sound. TWBC Building Control Service oversees
a diverse range of building projects within the community.
Whether you are having an extension, loft conversion
or a garage conversion at your property, we will undertake
periodic inspections during the construction phase of
your project.
As part of our friendly service we offer pre-application
meetings at your home completely free of charge. We will
provide guidance on your proposed project and also valuable
information on how you can steer clear of 'cowboy builders'.
We will also keep in touch during the construction phase
of your project. Whenever we undertake an inspection you
will be notified by e-mail of our attendance. Our experience
has shown that regular inspections reduce the possibility of
defective works.
Furthermore, many builders and building contractors in
the area have developed great working relationships with
our surveyors. To ensure this continues, either you or your
builder can decide which of our surveyors you would like
allocated to your project.
If you would like to discuss anything or would like a
pre-application meeting, then simply give us a call on
01892 554116.

Use DisabledGo to check

access over the festive season

If you are planning a trip to the shops or dining out over the
festive season, you can check the access into and around
the venue by using our free online access guide for disabled
people and carers.
The guide provides information
on a huge range of venues
across the borough and is
available at disabledgo.com

Dial 2 Drive is a service provided by

Imago, a social action charity based in
Tunbridge Wells.
Its a volunteer community transport scheme for people
unable to access public transport due to older age,
illness, disability or rural isolation, living in Tunbridge
Wells and the surrounding areas. Volunteer drivers
use their own cars to take clients to medical and social
appointments. The support clients receive enables them
to stay active and independent in their local community
for longer, and helps to reduce social isolation.

Can you volunteer for an hour or

two a week?
Imago are very keen to expand the service into the more
rural areas of the borough, and particularly want to hear
from anyone who drives and has their own car who
could spare a couple of hours each week and would like
to volunteer as a driver (they pay drivers' expenses). It
is a great way to volunteer and makes a really positive
difference to those who use the service.
More details of the scheme can be found at
imago.community/Community-Services/
Dial-2-Drive
or please ring 0300 777 1200

11

Enjoy
Christmas
with your
farmers
market
produce
The misty mornings and
chilly evenings of winter are
colourfully lit by Christmas
lights, with thoughts turning
towards the festive feast of
25 December.
The changing seasons bring us a
desire to cook and eat flavourful foods
such as fresh, creamy Kentish cobnuts,
game from wild boar sausages to
pheasant pie, deliciously paired with
local fruits. And of course turkey, which
many of us only eat once a year, so its
a special meal in many ways.
Planning for the big day is important,
so lots of us order turkeys in the
weeks leading up to Christmas. You
can do this from your local butcher,
farmers market or farm shop ready
for collection just before the big day!
We all love traditions, so how about
starting a new one this year and bring
your family to the local farmers market
to buy delicious fresh produce grown
locally, meet friends and share a hot
drink too.
Christmas trees are often available
from the Christmas market to buy
and take away, or you can order one
and pick it up at markets throughout
November and December.

12

First Stop Farm Shop

Competition
Our fabulous stallholders have
gathered together and are contributing
delicious food, drink, plants and crafts,
all available at your regular Tunbridge
Wells Farmers Market, to create two
fantastic prizes of Christmas-themed
hampers.
For example, Avril from Quality Cakes
is kindly contributing some delicious
pastries; Paul from Arcade Fisheries
has promised some fantastic fresh

fish to liven up your seasonal food; and

Steve from Love Chillis is contributing a
bottle of his spicy chilli sauce that will
help liven up your Boxing Day turkey
leftovers. While Andrew from Low Wood
Nurseries has also kindly promised a
winter plant for the hamper.
We also have tickets for the ice rink
and panto up for grabs, courtesy of
the Assembly Hall Theatre.
The winning names will be drawn at
the market on Thursday 22 December
2016 by our Mayor, Cllr David Neve.

with
l hamper, filled
To win a specia r, all you have to do
Christmas chee llowing question:
is answer the fo

aw
year s prize dr
When will this Tunbridge Wells
e
take place at th
t?
ke
ar
M
s
er
rm
Fa
1
2
3

vember
Thursday 17 No
vember
Saturday 26 No
cember
Thursday 22 De

Please e-mail your answer to farmersmarket@tunbridgewells.gov.uk or post

them to Farmers Market Manager, Economic Development, Town Hall, Royal
Tunbridge Wells TN1 1RS, by 12 noon, Monday 19 December, with your name and
contact details (e-mail/telephone). The correct answers will be entered into the prize
draw, to be selected at random on 22 December 2016 by Mayor, Cllr David Neve.
Prizewinners must collect their prize from the market on 22 December or from the
Town Hall reception on Friday 23 December, before 4pm. Any prize not collected
by 4pm on Friday will be donated to the local Tunbridge Wells charity for vulnerable
young people, Chapter 1 (chapter1.org.uk). No correspondence can be entered into
after the draw.

New Benefit Cap to

affect household
incomes

Recipe
Roast Turkey with
Christmas Pudding &
Cherry Stuffing

The Government has said that from

November 2016 the Benefit Cap
for households receiving housing
benefit and other state benefits will be
reduced to 20,000 per year. This is
384 per week.

Is your festive table one of the

thousands across the county that
has turkey as the central attraction
of a beautifully decorated Christmas
table? Well, heres a lovely recipe
from celebrity chef Phil Vickery which
is all about adding a new twist to the
traditional feast.
Serves: 12
Preparation time: 30 minutes
Cooking time: 3 hours 22 minutes
approx
Ingredients:
For the stuffing:
2 tbsp vegetable oil
2 small onions, peeled and finely
chopped
2 cloves of garlic, peeled and chopped
450g good quality sausagemeat
46 tbsp dried breadcrumbs
1 medium egg
150g crumbled Christmas pudding
150g semi dried cherries
Salt and freshly ground pepper
For the turkey:
5.6kg British turkey, thawed if frozen,
giblets removed

If the total weekly benefit income from

any of the following is more than 384
the Council will have to reduce the
amount of housing benefit paid.

4 Preheat the oven to 190C/Gas

mark 5.
5 Push some of the stuffing into the
neck end of the bird, packing it right
up to the breast meat. Secure the
neck skin with cocktail sticks. Roll
the remaining stuffing into balls
[these can be cooked separately for
30 minutes].

3 Finally add the Christmas pudding

and cherries and some salt and
pepper.

Bereavement Allowance
Child Benefit
Child Tax Credit
Employment and Support
Allowance except where it is paid
with the support component
Guardian's Allowance
Housing Benefit unless you are
living in supported accommodation
Incapacity Benefit
Income Support
Jobseeker's Allowance
Maternity Allowance
Severe Disablement Allowance
Widowed Parent's Allowance

6 Weigh the turkey and calculate the

cooking time at 20 minutes per kg +
90 minutes at the end.

7 Cover with foil and roast. Remove

the foil and baste with the juice - a
little oil is also good here - and
roast uncovered for the last hour of
cooking time.

For example, if the total weekly income

from any of these benefits was 400
we would reduce the housing benefit by
16. The tenant would need to pay this
extra 16 to their landlord.

8
Method:
1 Heat the oil in a saucepan, add the
onions and garlic and cook for a few
minutes until soft and translucent.
Add the sausagemeat and stir well
just breaking down the sausagemeat but do not actually cook it
9
through.
2 Cool slightly and add just enough
breadcrumbs to stiffen up the
mixture, but remember that they
will continue to thicken as they
reconstitute themselves so take
care not to add too many. Stir in
the whole egg and beat the whole
mixture well.

Check to see if the turkey is cooked

by pushing a metal skewer into the
thickest part of the leg if the juices
run clear the turkey is cooked. If the
juices are slightly pink pop back into
the oven for a further 15 minutes
before checking again.
Cover with foil and allow to rest for
2030 minutes before carving.

Phil Vickery, www.britishturkey.co.uk

If you enjoy this meal, please tweet us

your photos @TWBCFarmers

Christmas Farmers Market

Thursday, 22 December
9am 2pm

To help those affected prepare for this

drop in their weekly income we have
invited local partner organisations, who
can offer advice and assistance with
budgeting and debt problems, to work
with us to provide support. Anyone
affected can make contact with them
directly.
Tunbridge Wells CAB Tunbridge
Wells 01892 533880 or Cranbrook
01580 714936
twcab.org.uk
KCC Children's Centres
03000 41 23 23
e-mail kentcfis@kent.gov.uk
Town and Country Housing
01892 501480
If you have any immediate questions
please call us on 01892 526121.

13

Please bring your as new gifts

between Saturday 12 November and
Saturday 15 December to any of the
collection points:
Baldwins Travel Agency
Barsleys Department Store, Paddock Wood
Big Yellow Self Storage, L
 ongfield Road
Bowlplex, K
 nights Park
Kent & Sussex Courier
Notcutts Garden Centre, Pembury
Pembury Library (Closed Mondays)
Sainsbury's Local, Mount Pleasant Road
Southborough Library(Closed Thursdays)
The Camden Centre
The Town Hall
Town & Country Housing
Tunbridge Wells Museum & Art Gallery
Tunbridge Wells Sports Centre
Weald Information Centre, Cranbrook
Weald Sports Centre, Cranbrook

14

Over 65?

Diagnosed with a
medical condition?
You may be eligible
for support...

uring the recent regeneration of

the Sherwood estate, Town and
Country Housing Group converted an
area of garages and car park into an
allotment site for the local community.
Take up was a little slow, so Kent
High Weald Partnership was asked if
they could look at a different approach
to using the site, making vegetable
growing more accessible for all.
They were successful in applying for
Tesco 'Bags of Help' funding, and
launched the 'I Dig Sherwood' project
in August 2016 with a Taster Day,
Councillor Julia Soyke planting an
apple tree to mark the occasion.

The aim of I Dig Sherwood is to

create a wildlife-friendly shared
growing space for both existing
and new residents of the Sherwood
estate, with small manageable plots,
and ongoing tuition and support for
participants interested in growing their
own. Raised beds for easier access
will also be included.
If you are interested in getting
involved, even if its only to take on
a single bed, or to find out about
upcoming events and workshops, visit
their Facebook page or contact Kelly
on 01580 212972
I Dig Sherwood

Weight for it!

Funding for works to make

your home more energyefficient and easier to
keep warm.
From simple measures
such as draughtproofing, to boiler
replacement
and central
heating
systems.

January 2017

Is our free adult weight loss group. It runs for

10 weeks across the borough.
The Ark Childrens Centre, Broadwater Lane
Royal Tunbridge Wells, TN2 5RP

Mondays starting 9 January 2017 for 10 weeks, 12.30pm

Langton Green Village Hall, Langton Green,

Royal Tunbridge Wells, TN3 0JJ

Thursdays starting 12 January 2017 for 10 weeks, 6.308pmPlease

Please note sessions will not take place during half-term or bank holidays.
To register for our weight loss programme please complete our online
booking form:
tunbridgewells.gov.uk/residents/improving-health/choose-health

Qualifying criteria are based around

medical conditions that are made
worse by the cold such as:

Cardiovascular disease
Respiratory disease
Pulmonary disease
Mental health issues
Other multiple long-term conditions
and disability

If you think you are eligible, then call:

Warm Homes Call Centre on

0800 170 1174 or Private Sector
Housing team (Twbc) on 01892
554241.
Condition of financial assistance is
that a charge is placed on the property
(interest free) and if the property is sold
or transferred within 10 years it will be
repayable. After 10 years there is no
obligation to repay.
15

16

A crackdown on the
misuse of Blue Badges...
has been welcomed by badge holders
whove told the Councils enforcement officers
theyre fed up with seeing people abuse the
system that was introduced to help those with
mobility issues.
It seems that everyone
weve spoken to has
a tale to tell about the
Blue Badge system'
says Parking Manager
Rosemarie Bennett. They
have a story or know
someone whos misusing
a badge and they think its
wrong, so theyre happy to
allow us to make checks.
In the period May 2016 until the beginning of October 2016,
18 expired badges have been retrieved and five badges
confiscated where they were being misused in such a
way it was felt a warning would not have prevented it from
happening again.
Council Cabinet Member Alan McDermott said: I know
many people will be pleased were checking on Blue
Badges. Abuse of the system is wrong and is very unfair to
those who have genuine reasons to use a Blue Badge and
always do so in accordance with the rules.
Blue Badges are issued by Kent County Council and they
have been working with our parking department as the
checks are carried out. Its not all about penalties though;
the checks are a good way to remind people about the right
way to use the badge. For example, you shouldnt use your
badge to park if youre not planning to leave the car. And its
always worth remembering that if someone else is driving
you and they dont follow the rules you risk the badge being
confiscated, and both driver and badge holder could be
subject to prosecution and fine.
You may park free in any of the Councils car parks in
the borough with no time limit if youre a badge holder.
Reserved disabled bays are available in a number of the
car parks, but you may use any bay as long as your Blue
Badge is correctly displayed.
Misuse of a Blue Badge could lead to confiscation and
cancellation of the badge, prosecution and a 1,000 fine.
If you have information about badge misuse please report
it to us, through Kent County Council online at
kent.gov.uk
17

18

19

40 per cent of people that

go to A&E come away
without treatment
Many of the visits that are made to
local emergency departments are for
conditions that could be easily treated
at home or by a pharmacist.
Knowing where to get advice on how
to treat health conditions can be
confusing, but now an easy-to-use
free app and website called Health

20

Help Now has been developed to do

just that.
Health Help Now, which works on
smartphones, tablets and computers,
lists common symptoms such
as breathing problems, injury, and
sickness and offers suggestions
for treatment for them based on five
different age groups: baby, child,
teenager, adult and older adult.
It lists the most suitable option
for most people first, with other

suggestions following in order. It

shows the nearest services, indicates
whether services are open or closed
and provides a map of their location.
Web: healthhelpnow-nhs.uk
@NHSHealthHelp /
#healthhelpnow
facebook.com/nhshealthhelpnow
For urgent health advice 24 hours
a day, or if you dont have internet
access, phone 111.

A Winter Wonderland in
Grosvenor and Hilbert Park
We have an exciting
choice of Christmas
events for you to attend
over the next few weeks
in Grosvenor and Hilbert
Park, with something
suitable for everyone.
Join the parks engagement team
and learn how to make a wreath
on 14 December, Deck Your Halls
on 20 December, or join Kent
High Weald Partnership in the
woodland and make a festive treat
on 22 December.
The Winter Wreaths Workshop will
be in the Hub in Grosvenor and
Hilbert Park from 6.30pm onwards
on Wednesday 14 December.
During this event you will learn
how to make your own winter
wreath from natural materials,
for only 5 per adult. Booking is
required as spaces are limited.

To book a space, please e-mail:

steff.dagorne@tunbridgewells.gov.uk
For those of you with young
ones to look after over the
Christmas period, come along to
our Deck Your Halls event on
20 December from 3.30pm
5.30pm in the Hub in the Park.
This is a free event where you
can learn to make a range of
Christmas decorations from
reindeers to trees and baubles.
This event is suitable for all ages,
and no booking is required.
On 22 December join Kent High
Weald Partnership in Hilbert
Woods (in the park), from 11am
1pm at their free Christmas Wildchild event, where you can make
even more Christmas goodies to
take home with you.
If you want to find out more about
any of the events in Grosvenor
and Hilbert Park, visit our events
page on our website at:
tunbridgewells.gov.uk/ghpark

a simpler, quicker and

convenient way to pay
your Council Tax help keep
the costs down

Set up a direct debit and youll never

miss a payment you can do this on
our website at
tunbridgewells.gov.uk/direct or
pop into the Gateway, Royal Tunbridge
Wells next time youre passing and one
of our team will help you.

Five Year Plan

Review
The Councils corporate strategy, known
as the Five Year Plan, is currently being
reviewed to make sure it stays up-to-date
and relevant for the borough. Wed really
like to hear your views about what you
think should be in our plan for the next five
years, and you can take part in a public
consultation taking place between 20
January and 3 March 2017. The draft of the
reviewed Five Year Plan will be available at
tunbridgewells.gov.uk/fiveyearplan from
Monday 5 December.

Corporate Priorities
for 2017/18
Each year the Council sets out a list of
priority projects, known as Corporate
Priorities, which we want to achieve, to
bring us closer to our vision of the borough
as a key destination to live, work and
visit. The proposed projects, or Corporate
Priorities, for 2017/18, will be available for
public consultation at tunbridgewells.gov.
uk/priorities from Monday 5 December,
and wed love to hear your views on these
projects.
21

A Winter offer you Will not

want to miss out on
Call Thy Will Be Done during
December, January or February
and you will be able to arrange:
A SINGLE OR PAIR OF WILLS
to protect your partner and your children for just
99 + VAT (118.80) usual price (222 inc)
A WILL BASED TRUST (FOR COUPLES)

to help prevent your home being sold to pay for your care
and protect your children when the first partner dies for just
99 + VAT (118.80) usual price (479 inc)
AN IMMEDIATE PROPERTY TRUST
(FOR COUPLES OR SINGLES)

to help prevent your home being sold to pay for your

care and protect your children with immediate effect*
(includes all conveyancing and legal fees) for just
995 + VAT (1194) usual price (1908 inc)
And all severance of tenancy work
during winter will be provided
FREE OF CHARGE

Call us now on:

01892 278171
*For this strategy to be legal and work effectively, avoiding care home fees MUST NOT be the sole motivating reason for setting up the Trust
(its perfectly legal for it to be a subsequent benefit after the fact) - protecting your children against losing half their inheritance through divorce,
your partner remarrying after your death or ensuring your childrens inheritance does not add to their estate for inheritance tax purposes
for example must be some of the primary reasons stated to name but a few. Also it must be done at a time when you have not been
diagnosed with any condition that would give you reasonable cause to believe that going forward you would be likely to need to go into care.

www.thywill.co.uk
22

Whats on at Tunbridge Wells Museum & Art Gallery

Curated by design historian Kerry William Purcell,

If you havent been able
Grunts & Grapples profiles the golden age of British
wrestling from the 1950s until the 1990s. Wrestling
to see the current Grunts
was a central part of British national life in this
period with iconic figures such as Giant Haystacks
s Grapple Fans! Kent Walton, wrestling
&
Grapples
exhibition,
and Big Daddy appearing in hundreds of UK town
or from1955 to1988.
halls and theatres (including the Assembly Hall
showcasing
wrestling
from
Theatre in Tunbridge Wells) night after night as well
of a certain age, Kent Waltons welcome
as featuring on TV. The exhibition explores how the
he routine of Saturday teatimes in front
1950s1990s,
theres
still
showmanship of wrestling drew on earlier traditions
nticipating an exciting 45 minutes of
of public entertainment such as music hall and circus
runts, and time
the ubiquitous
granny
scolding until 14 January

it
runs
and how this informed the development of the cast
Wrestling was first broadcast on the new
of characters, storylines and audience participation
in 1955 but2017.
a decade later See
its established
information
below
unique to the sport.
e 4pm 4.45pm (just before the football
Through posters, photographs, souvenirs
ITVs Worldabout
of Sport.
our new exhibition and costumes,
the exhibition reveals the origins of
port, part entertainment, wrestling
wrestlings
interplay of sport and spectacle and the
udiences ofstarting
over 12 million atat
its peak,
the
end
of
January.
development of personas. The portrayal of wrestlers
emed like a fitting home for a pastime
as baddies (heels) or goodies (blue eyes) would
merged fromIt's
the traditions
of not
the music
one
to
miss!
be combined with prevailing social narratives of
ny ways, the balance between sport and

With the arrival of Sky TV and the import of World

Wrestling Federation (WWF) from America, TV
audiences for British wrestling fell. Wrestling
continued in town halls, seaside piers and theatres
well into the 1990s, but it never loomed as large in
the public consciousness as it had throughout the
1960s, 70s and 80s.
The exhibition features the original costumes of
the legendary wrestlers Big Daddy and Adrian Street
together with a mask from the mysterious Kendo
Nagasaki. Also featuring in the exhibition is So Many
Ways To Hurt You, The Life and Times of Adrian
Street, 2010; a film by Turner prize-winning artist
Jeremy Deller.

rapples
at Tunbridge Wells Museum & Art Gallery
ber 2016 14 January 2017

ent that wrestling presented was always

n one. The pull towards celebrity and
hat the commercial element of the sport
would eventually be wrestlings downfall in
presence on British TVs would last for 34
key part of ITVs sports programming until
d in 1989 due to falls in audience numbers.

otherness and racial and sexual stereotypes. This

play of characters across the hundreds of venues
that hosted the wrestling and TV screens across the
country was a carefully choreographed storyline with
long running grudges, feuds, and resentments. They
were all stage managed by the wrestling promoter
Joint Promotions, who held a near monopoly on the
management of the wrestlers, the bouts and their
presentation during the heyday of British wrestling.
ITVs broadcasting of wrestling was cancelled
in 1989 and many argued this was because the
contrived storylines, larger than life characters, and
manufactured bouts the entertainment side of
wrestlings heritage had overshadowed the sporting
aspect. For many, the protracted battle between
Big Daddy and Giant Haystacks throughout the
1980s confirmed this. Judged as a mockery of real
wrestling, many fans and wrestlers considered the
absence of skill and technique a step too far.

Kendo Nagasaki

Top Unmasking Kendo

Left Adrian Street in
the ring
Right Adrian Street
in costume

Big Daddy

Capturing on Collodian

Photographer Sean Hawkey has worked across the world documenting

lives and diverse communities. His work as a photojournalist has led him
to evaluate the impact of the photograph on the story of peoples lives, and
for this exhibition Hawkey has chosen to work with the Victorian wet plate
collodian process to make his images. Using an original camera and lens
Images left to right
Clayton from
Thomson the 1870s Hawkey captures portraits of people which have an intense,
atthews Baths, Ipswich
Billy Two Rivers
ethereal beauty to them.
Baths Hall, Rotherham
The photographic process
involves a complex layering
of chemicals, including silver
nitrate, on a tin plate which is
exposed to light through the
camera lens and developed,
producing a single image.
This technique does
not produce a perfect
image but instead each
imperfection on the plate
becomes a feature within
the portrait, enabling the
essence of the sitter to
emerge.
Capturing on Collodian will be on display at Tunbridge Wells Museum
& Art Gallery from 27 January 2017 20 May 2017.

23

Whats On

Assembly Hall Theatre

DEC

Fri 9 DecMon
2 Jan
Mon 12 Dec

JAN

Sun 8 Jan
Sat 14 Jan
Sun 15 Jan
Tue 24 Jan
Fri 27 Jan

Tue 7 Feb
Thu 9 Feb
Fri 10 Feb

Snow White and the Seven

Dwarfs
Santa Saves Christmas

March
Rumours of Fleetwood Mac
T.Rextasy
The Simon & Garfunkel Story
Jimmy Carr extra date
Bowie Experience

February
Thu 2 Feb
Fri 3 Feb
Sat 4 Feb
Sun 5 Feb

Nabucco
Jamie Raven
Sweet Illusion Valentines
Dance

Seriously Dead
Fairport Convention
The King is Back
RTWSO Peter Donohoe

Box Office 01892 530613/532072

assemblyhalltheatre.co.uk

Christmas
and New Year
closing
at the Town Hall, Gateway,
Weald Information Centre and
Museum & Art Gallery.
We are closed from
Christmas Eve until Thursday
29 December.

Fri 3 Mar

Sat 4 Mar
Sun 5 Mar
Tue 7 Mar
Wed 8 Mar
Thu 9 Mar
Sat 11 Mar
Thu 16 Mar
Fri 17 Mar
Fri 24 Mar
Thu 30 Mar

David Gower & Chris

Cowdrey
Lee Hurst
RTWSO Wind Ensemble
Seth Lakeman Band
G4
Derek Acorah
Ian Waite & Natalie Lowe
Sing-A-Long-A Rocky Horror
Abbamania
Stand By Me
Sensational 60s Experience

Christmas Parking
Concessions 2016
All chargeable car parks in the borough
will benefit from the offer below:

Free parking from 4pm until the start

of charging time the following day
19 December
20 December
21 December
22 December
23 December
24 December

We are also closed on

Monday 2 January.

Parking concessions on Monday 26

December (Boxing Day)

Other days around the festive

period we will be open for
business as usual.

Pay for two hours at the machine or

by phone and you can stay all day until
8am the following day.
(Those wishing to stay for just one hour
on Boxing Day will need to pay the
standard tariff rate.)

24

The green and brown bin

collections (where applicable) along
with the recycling collections will
continue over the festive period.
Collection due on Collection Date

For accessibiity
information
please visit

Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday

Christmas
Collections

Mon 26 Dec 2016

Tue 27 Dec 2016

Tue 27 Dec 2016

Wed 28 Dec 2016

Wed 28 Dec 2016 Thu 29 Dec 2016

Thu 29 Dec 2016

Fri 30 Dec 2016

Fri 30 Dec 2016

Sat 31 Dec 2016

Collection due on Collection Date

Mon 2 Jan 2017

Tue 3 Jan 2017

Tue 3 Jan 2017

Wed 4 Jan 2017

Wed 4 Jan 2017

Thu 5 Jan 2017

Thu 5 Jan 2017

Fri 6 Jan 2017

Fri 6 Jan 2017

Sat 7 Jan 2017

Collections both Christmas and

new year week one day later than
normal.
NO Civic Amenity Service weekends
24, 25 December and 31 December/
1 January

Need cold weather

information? Get texting

...with our text alert service. We are

continuing to give residents the opportunity
to sign up. We will provide the latest
updates about Tunbridge Wells Borough
Council services affected by the weather.
Text the word SNOW to 07537 401900
to register.
For full terms and conditions see
tunbridgewells.gov.uk/
severeweathertextalerts
The text you send to register for the service
will be charged at your operators standard
rate. There is no charge to receive texts
from Tunbridge Wells Borough Council.