Groombridge author’s debut ‘Starling’ creates a murmuring in the book world
SARAH Jane Butler is an author to watch. She has previously published short stories and poems in numerous literary journals and anthologies, and her story ‘The Swimmer’ was included in Best British Short Stories 2011. She has also twice won the 26 Project Writer’s Award, most recently in 2021 for her poem ‘Flow’. She has […]
The stage is set for a magnificent new performance venue in Benenden
Last month the prestigious independent girls’ school Benenden revealed its new Centenary Buildings development, which is now able to host touring theatre companies and external events for the first time. Bookings are now being taken for the first public events in a new performing arts venue at Benenden School. The completion of the stunning new […]
Council’s cost of living fund has no money in it
A FUND setup by the Council’s new ‘Borough Partnership’ to help Tunbridge Wells’ ‘neediest and poorest’ through the cost-of-living crisis has no money in it, the Times can reveal. Back in July, the coalition Cabinet at Tunbridge Wells Borough Council (TWBC), which is made up of Lib Dem, Labour and Alliance councillors, announced that it […]
Fireworks display ready to go off with a bang with cut-price tickets
TICKETS have gone on sale for the town’s largest annual event, with discount family tickets available for the first time to help affordability during the cost-of-living crisis. The Dunorlan Park Fireworks have been illuminating the skies of Tunbridge Wells since 1957 and each year are organised by the Royal Tunbridge Wells Round Table. The men’s […]
Hospital waiting list reaches new milestone
WAITING lists for treatment at the Trust that runs Tunbridge Wells Hospital are now almost 50 per cent longer than before the Covid pandemic struck, figures have shown. The record numbers of people waiting for elective procedures and non-emergency surgery such as knee and hip operations at Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust (MTW) reached […]
Scouts raise £4,000 for homeless charity
SCOUT groups across Tunbridge Wells raised more than £4,000 for homeless charity Porchlight, by sleeping in cardboard boxes. The 200 scouts, aged between eight and 15, constructed their cardboard shelters and slept in them overnight on Friday October 7, at the Adamswell campsite in Langton Green. Nick Burgess, the District Scout Commissioner said: “From the […]
Spend your half term making the most of the great outdoors
SCHOOL’S out for half term this Friday afternoon (October 21), and the great outdoors awaits. With gardens across the South East, the National Trust is leading the charge outdoors, starting with the Fungi Festival at Emmetts Garden, near Sevenoaks. Running throughout October, the festival encourages children to explore the artworks and giant wicker mushrooms which […]
St Gregory’s Catholic School has welcomed new Academy Principal
Phil Byrne has started his new role at the secondary school, which is rated as ‘outstanding’ by Ofsted and located in Reynolds Lane in Tunbridge Wells… St Gregory’s Catholic School says it is ‘delighted’ to welcome Phil Byrne as its new Academy Principal. Mr Byrne replaces Sean McQuillan, who retired at the end of […]
MP is back in the chair of Science Committee
GREG Clark has been re-elected by fellow MPs to role of the Chairman of the Commons’ Science and Technology Committee – a role he had to earlier in the year when he was asked to serve in Boris Johnson’s cabinet. The Tunbridge Wells MP had chaired the committee since 2019, when he was offered a […]
Police vow to attend more burglaries following Chief Constables’ pledge
KENT Police have told the Times they are to review their attendance rate to burglaries as a ‘matter of priority’ – despite the force already having one of the country’s highest attendance rates. The review follows a pledge by The National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) last week (Wednesday October 5) that every home break-in recorded […]
