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inside:

Civic Complexspecial

Volunteering

News, features

and loads more…

LOCALTunbridge Wells Borough Council magazine

tunbridgewells.gov.uk

Spring 2016

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 4Pay-as-you-go car club

This winter has been the mildest I can remember,but it’s still lovely to be entering springtime andseeing the early owers appearing. That splashof colour can’t help but put a smile on your face!Talking of owers and colour, the ‘Bloom 16’campaign has started… get all the details onp18-19. Whether you’re interested in museums,art, things to do… or generally what’s happeningin the area, the magazine has information tokeep you up-to-date.

Happy reading!

Lizzie GoodwinEditor 

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

Council services and news. If you have any

comments about the magazine, we’d love to

hear from you. Contact us by:

E-mail Localemail@tunbridgewells.gov.uk

Phone 01892 526121

Post Lizzie Goodwin, Communications Manager,

Tunbridge Wells Borough Council, Town Hall,

Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN1 1RS

 TWellsCouncil TWBC_Comms

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 servicesadvertised 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.

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

Local costs less than 9p a copy to

produce and deliver to your home.

 11 WycinankiThe Art of Polish Paper Cuts

21Mayor & Mayoress

highlights

12 to13Civic Complex

8Hubreceivestwo grants…

18to

19RTW in Bloom

TW783   3

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Your pay-as-you-go car club is

now even bigger and better.Three new vehicles have been addedto the Co-wheels car club eet to meetincreasing demand and extend access tothe vehicles beyond the town centre.

Where are the cars?

New hybrid and low

emission cars, plus afully electric car are nowavailable in dedicated baysacross the town as shownin the map, from just £4.50per hour.

Why join the carclub?

For many people, usingthe car club is a greatalternative to owning avehicle, offering all theconvenience of a carwithout the inconvenienceof all the costs associatedwith ownership. Car club

members pay a one-off registration fee andbook the vehicles online; journeys are charged eitherby the hour or at a dayrate.

Co-wheels is a socialenterprise company thatinvests all prots back into

the scheme and there isno cost to the borough’sCouncil Tax payers.

The Co-wheels car club expandsin Royal Tunbridge Wells

Find out more and claim your code for £20 free driving credit:

co-wheels.org.uk/tunbridge-wells

 Greener

Cleaner 

 C h e a p e r

Smar t er 

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‘Before you finish eatingbreakfast in the morningyou’ve depended on morethan half the world’

Martin Luther King Jr 1967

We are dependent on farmers every

day for the food we eat, not only thoselocally but from across the world. Almost 50 years after Martin LutherKing Jr made this famous speech,our lives are more closely entwinedthan ever before. Your breakfast mayhave included coffee from Kenyaor tea from India, cocoa from Coted’Ivoire or sugar from Malawi. Local

farms produce milk and meat, cheese,eggs, fruit and grain. Without farmersproducing our food, our lives would bevery different.

It is a sad truth that millions ofsmallholder farmers and workers toilhard every day to grow 70 per cent ofthe food we eat. Ironically, they alsocomprise half of the world’s hungriest

people. If we all started our day withFairtrade and local produce, many morefarmers could feed their own familiesand communities all year round.

No Use Empty celebrates ten yearsThe initiative to bring long-term empty properties backinto use recently celebratedits 10th anniversary.

Launched in 2005, No Use Empty(NUE), a collaboration between Kent

County Council and the twelve districtcouncils, has helped to bring 4,100empty homes back into use. NUE canprovide nancial assistance to ownersof empty properties towards the cost ofrenovation or conversion of a property.

Tunbridge Wells Borough Council alsohas an empty property assistancescheme. Subject to availability of funds,interest-free nancial assistance canbe provided to renovate, improve orconvert long- term empty propertiesand return them to use. Since 2012Tunbridge Wells Borough Council

and NUE have provided £475,000 innancial assistance bringing 12 emptyhomes back into use.

Financial assistance is only one of themeasures used to tackle empty homes.

 A further 80 properties have been

brought back into use since 2012 as a

result of advice, discussion of options

available and information provided to

property owners.

For more information please contact

the Private Sector Housing team on

01892 554241.

Further information on No Use Empty

is available at: no-use-empty.org.

During Fairtrade Fortnight (29

February – 13 March), many differentgroups took part in the ‘Fairtrade andLocal Breakfast Campaign’. TunbridgeWells Borough Council held their ownbreakfast in the Town Hall with theMayor, Councillors, local businessesand children from secondary schools.Community groups, schools andchurches also held their own breakfast.

 All they had to do was ensure thatthe breakfast included at least oneFairtrade drink and one Fairtrade foodfor the breakfast to count as Fairtrade.

Local chefs also got involvedproducing their own signature‘Fairtrade and Local’ breakfast dish. Tond out more go to twfairtrade.org.uk/

index.html and watch the chefs bringtheir recipes to life.

Breakfast is the most important mealof the day, providing us with nutrientsincluding the carbohydrates, vitaminsand minerals we need to keep healthyand start the day well. Researchshows that eating breakfast is a goodway to help people control their weight.

People who do eat breakfast, even alight meal such as fruit and yogurt, areslimmer because they tend to eat lessduring the day, especially high-calorie

Sit down for breakfast,stand up for farmers

snacks.

 As Easter approaches, perhaps youcould think of making your breakfasthot cross buns with Fairtrade sugarand fruit and have Fairtrade orange

 juice and fruit on the table. All thesupport we give our farmers willensure that they keep producing thefood we all need to stay healthy.

There is lots of information on healthylow-fat breakfasts on the NHSwebsite, including lots of recipes nhs.

uk/Livewell/loseweight/Pages/Healthybreakfasts.aspx and healthadvice on twfairtrade.org.uk.

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A greattime to beoutside!The conservationvolunteer team atGrosvenor and HilbertPark are looking fornew volunteers, sonow that spring is uponus, why not get fit and

healthy in the greatoutdoors? You’ll meetnew friends and helpto protect your localwildlife too!

They meet every Thursdayand carry out large-scalegardening works and

conservation tasks in thepark to improve the area

for wildlife and people.Volunteer tasks helpto maintain the variedhabitats within the park,from the wetlands to themeadows and the ancient

woodland.Tasks start at 10amand nish at 3pm, butvolunteers are welcomeat any time during thesehours for whatever timethey can give. All tools,training and refreshmentsare provided so no

gardening or DIY priorknowledge is needed.Regular volunteers areoffered training coursesfunded through the park’sHeritage Lottery Fundrestoration project.

 Anyone interested pleasecontact Steff D’Agorneat steff.dagorne@tunbridgewells.gov.uk orcall 07917 643961.

The project and volunteertraining is part of theHeritage Lottery-fundedrestoration project inGrosvenor and Hilbert Park.

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Hub receives not one,but two grants…The prospect of a Heritage, Cultural & LearningHub in the centre of Royal Tunbridge Wells is astep closer following the recent announcementthat Tunbridge Wells Borough Council (TWBC)and Kent County Council (KCC) have beensuccessful in securing support from the HeritageLottery Fund (HLF) of £4.3 million, including a

development grant of £178,000.Shortly afterwards, Tunbridge Wells Museum & Art Gallerygot more good news, this time from The Arts Council toensure arts remain at the heart of the hub, potential fundingof up to £1 million has been earmarked.

Work can now progress to select and appoint externalprofessionals to develop what will be one of the best culturalcentres in the region. This stage of the project will include

drawing up the building designs. To meet HLF timescales thesecond-round application must be submitted within two yearsand, subject to funding, construction could begin as early asJanuary 2018.

ONE VISION

ONE BUILDING

ONE EXPERIENCE

 Artist's impression of the future hub

Tunbridge Wells Borough Council and KentCounty Council are working in partnership todeliver the project that brings together – in oneorganisation and one service – the museum,art gallery, library and adult education. This willcreate a new Heritage, Cultural & Learning Hubin the centre of Royal Tunbridge Wells. Theproposed hub is viewed as something which will

be at the heart of the community and somethingwhich will strengthen the cultural, heritage andleisure offer of the town centre, borough andwider area.

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Local Plan progressThe hearing sessions concerning theSite Allocations Development PlanDocument were completed in Decemberand we now await a final report fromthe independent Planning Inspector as towhether the document can proceed andbe formally adopted.During the hearings a number of changes to the

document were proposed by respondents, the

Inspector and the Council. A consultation on these

changes was held recently.

Our primary focus is now to progress work on a new

Local Plan. The new plan will look at growth anddevelopment in the borough up to 2035. As part of this

a 'Call for Sites' has gone out; this process provides

an early opportunity for developers, landowners, town

and parish councils, and other interested bodies toput forward potential development sites to the Council

for consideration. The sites will be assessed for theirsuitability for development under a process known as

a Strategic Housing and Economic Land Availability Assessment (SHELAA).

Work will also soon be under way on updating anumber of the Council’s evidence based studies,

including

Employment Land and Recreation/Open Space. Thendings from these studies will identify surpluses/

decits, with the new Local Plan allocating additionalland to meet any identied needs.

Up-to-date information can be found on our website:tunbridgewells.gov.uk/allocations.

If you wish to be informed of further consultation

events on the Local Plan, please e-mail your contactdetails to planning.policy@tunbridgewells.gov.uk.

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Weight For It! H a v e f un, be mot iv a t ed , be su p  p or t ed  a nd  be hea lt hier 

St John's Recr eation Ground, Beltring Road, Royal Tunbridge Wells  TN4 9UA

Tuesdays, starting 12 April 2016 for10 weeks, 10.30am – 12pm

Horsmonden Village Hall, Back Lane,

Horsmonden TN12 8NJ

Tuesdays, starting 12 April 2016 for

10 weeks, 1.30 – 3pm

Grosvenor Pavilion, Grosvenor andHilbert Park, Auckland Road, Royal

Tunbridge Wells TN1 2HU

Wednesdays, starting 13 April 2016

for 10 weeks, 10.30am – 12pm

The Camden Centre, Market Square,

Royal Victoria Place, Royal Tunbridge

Wells TN1 2SW

Wednesdays, starting 13 Apr il 2016

for 10 weeks, 1.30 – 3pm

The Camden Centre, Market Square,

Royal Victoria Place, Royal Tunbridge

Wells TN1 2SW

Thursdays, starting 7 July 2016 for

10 weeks, 6.30 – 8pm

Free weight loss group coming to a venuenear you. Help and advice available fromqualified and experienced professionals.

Booking is essential. If you have a BMI of 28 or more contact the

Health team on 01892 554201 or e-mail health@tunbridgewells.gov.uk 

For more details visit our website

www.tunbridgewells.gov.uk/choosing health

or follow us on twitter @ TWBC_Health

Please note – sessions will not take place during half-term.

c oo  a e

 

 b  r

 9   u a  c 

 b s

Let’s get

sugar smart…

… we probablyall eat too muchsugar – it’s lurkingeverywhere! If you

have a smartphonedownload theChange4life SugarSmart App for freeand see for yourselfhow much sugar isin everyday food

and drinks.

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Future exhibition: Small Tales

28 April – 3 September 2016In this exhibition a tall tale will unfold in a miniature world.The gallery space will present a new story from a small-scale realm, told through an installation of dolls' housefurniture. The curators at the museum are working with awriter and artist to reimagine the large treasure trove oftiny furniture in the museum store. This will result in anexhibition showcasing a new written and visual narrativeto be explored.

Tunbridge Wells Museum& Art GalleryCurrent exhibition: Wycinanki –

The Art of Polish Paper Cuts

Until 17 April 2016This exhibition, curated by Justyna Pyz, brings togetherexamples of the Polish folk art, Wycinanki, from the HornimanMuseum and Gardens. Perhaps modelled on traditional Jewishpapercuts, Wycinanki originated as an inexpensive means ofdecorating the homes of rural labourers. They were often made

for religious festivals and family celebrations and have distinctsymbolic designs cut from paper.

The exhibition will show extraordinary papercuts commissioned bythe Horniman in 2010 including pieces by renowned artists such as Apolonia Nowaka from Kurpie region and Helena Miazek from Łowicz,together with contemporary responses from Tunbridge Wells.

Hospice in the WealdForget-Me-Not AppealOften the small things mean the mostand a long lasting memento of aloved one can mean the world.

Dunorlan Park is proud to be part of the Forget-Me-Not Appeal – a display of beautiful hand-paintedceramic owers against the backdrop of ourstunning park, visit from 1 – 14 May. 

Designed by local ceramicist Liz Blande, for aminimum donation of £25 you can keep one of theowers – a special way to remember a loved one.

Hospice in the Weald delivers care and supportto patients with terminal illnesses, their familiesand carers across West Kent and East Sussex.Please contact Caroline Clark for more details – 01892 820506 or e-mail: caroline.clark@hospiceintheweald.org.uk .

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There are ambitious plansfor the centre of RoyalTunbridge Wells whichmean a new theatre andnew council offices couldbe additions to the town’slandscape. On these pageswe’d like to bring youup-to-date with what’shappening now and whatmight happen in the future.Council Leader David Jukes made hisaims for the town centre clear in 'OurFive Year Plan' (2014), the documentthat sets out what we want to achieve

in the coming years. He wants the townto be a cultural centre for the area anda new theatre is important if this is tohappen. The current theatre and the

A new look for the centre ofRoyal Tunbridge Wells

civic complex are both mentioned as

areas of change in 'Our Five Year Plan'.

Independent specialists have alreadysaid that to refurbish the Town Hallto a standard required for use wellinto the 21st century will cost around£10 million; it’s a similar story for the

 Assembly Hall Theatre. During summer2015 the theatre was given a mini-facelift that cost around £1.5 million.This meant that immediate problemswere addressed and the theatre couldcontinue to operate, but the longer termissues with the building remain.

What’s been agreed so far 

Last October the Council’s Cabinetmembers agreed that work should

commence to look at the design ofnew ofces on the Council’s car parkon Mount Pleasant Avenue and to lookat the ongoing ofce accommodationneeds of the Council.

Following this, at the Full Councilmeeting in December councillorsagreed, in principle, to the developmentof a new theatre to replace the

 Assembly Hall. They gave approval forwork to start to look at all the optionsso that in the future a full and informeddecision can be made.

 At the same meeting in Decembercouncillors agreed, again in principle,to vacate the Town Hall and move tonew ofces on Mount Pleasant Avenue.

What’s happening now

Specialists are looking at what space

the Council might need in a newbuilding and whether other tenantswould be interested in sharing thebuilding.

Options are being explored for thenew theatre to identify where it mightgo, whilst still keeping the AssemblyHall open for business during the

development period; this includes theoption of locating a new theatre on theGreat Hall car park site.

Conversations have already takenplace with some local groups and thesewill continue as we move forward withthe project.New Council building with a main entrance from

the new public space and an elevated councilchamber overlooking the park 

Remodelled Mount Pleasant Avenue to establish a new civicspace and improve the settingand approach to the park 

New theatre with a principal frontage on tothe new civic space and a raised terraceoverlooking the park 

The building can include a variety ofcomplementary uses to maintain activitythroughout the day 

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Developing a cultural and learning

hub is a separate project, but weare making sure that all the work weare doing is integrated.

How new car parking could beprovided in the town is also beingconsidered, and nally we need toget an accurate assessment of howmuch this would all cost.

It’s too early to say what the futureof the Town Hall will be. We respectthe heritage and signicance ofthe existing buildings on the civic

 Artist's impression

showing the potentialfor new civic buildingsand space at theGreat Hall site

people and involve them in this process

so we can be sure the decisions thatare nally made are the best for ourresidents, theatre users and visitors.

 A new Heritage, Cultural & LearningHub and the prospect of a newtheatre, alongside other developmentsin the town like the expansion ofRoyal Victoria Place and UnionSquare, shout loudly about growth in

the town. Royal Tunbridge Wells isdenitely open for business!

site and there’s no plan to demolish

the Town Hall. However, the workthat’s being done now will set out adevelopment framework for the civiccomplex.

What happens next

We will continue to move forward withdesigning a new ofce building to go onthe Mount Pleasant Avenue site.

We will do more studies around theoptions for the theatre and the futureof the civic site. We will talk to more

 Artist's impressionshowing the

 potential newapproachto CalverleyGrounds, framedby the new Councilofce and theatre

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Seven weeks left until the Police and Crime CommissionerElection and Local Elections on 5 May

On Thursday 5 Maythere will be thePolice and CrimeCommissionerElection and LocalElections in ourarea. Everyone will

be voting for thePolice and CrimeCommissioner forKent, and somepeople will alsovote for theirborough and parish

Councillors.

In order to vote you mustbe on the electoral register.The deadline to be addedto the electoral register isMonday 18 April and youcan register online atgov.uk/register-to-vote.If you do not have access tothe internet, please contactthe elections ofce to ndout how you can register.

Due to the change to theregistration system backin 2014, applications nowhave to be veried by theDepartment for Work andPensions before we canadd them to the electoral

register. This can take

several days, so if youneed to register please llin the online form as soonas possible. If you applyafter 4 April, please supplyevidence of your identityto help us process yourapplication quicker. To ndout what identication weneed, please contact theelections ofce.

If you are unable to vote inperson on Thursday 5 May,you can apply for a postal orproxy vote. Please contactthe elections ofce for anapplication form. Completedpostal vote applications

need to be with us by

5pm on Tuesday 19 April,and completed proxy voteapplications need to be withus by 5pm on Tuesday 26 April. However, you must beregistered to apply.

You can nd moreinformation on our websiteat tunbridgewells.gov.uk. 

In addition you cancontact the electionsofce on elections@tunbridgewells.gov.uk or01892 554024.

Chocolate anyone?With Easter on the horizon, it’s interesting to

note that many Easter egg manufacturers

are now trying to reduce the amount ofpackaging they use.That’s good news for everyone wanting to

protect the environment, as we look to buyeggs with the least amount of packaging.

 After the egg has been eaten, if thepackaging hasn’t been turned into a

creative masterpiece, remember that

cardboard containers can go into therelevant green box (please atten rst). Thefoil surrounding the egg can go into the box

with the plastics and cans, although any rigidplastic packaging still needs to go into the

green rubbish bin.

Please keep using your

brown bin for any foodwaste so that it can be

turned into compost for

farmers to use ontheir land.

We will be improving

crops and cutting down onarticial fertilizers used.

Thank you for recycling

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In January, Royal Tunbridge WellsTogether was formally launched at anevent in the Assembly Hall Theatre.Royal Tunbridge Wells Together is a group ofbusinesses who’ve joined up with the aim ofpromoting the vitality of the town and making it

an even better place for businesses and visitors.

Royal Tunbridge Wells Together will be fundedthrough the support of larger businesses andsubscriptions from smaller organisations, witha contribution from the Council. Having alreadyraised £250,000 towards its costs for the rst

three years, the group ismoving ahead with plansto appoint a manager whowill take the group’s ideasforward and make them areality. Watch this space!

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Volunteer outdoors, havefun, make a difference,

and get fit!We run practical conservation task days inthe Tunbridge Wells area every week onWednesday and Thursday.We need volunteers to help us look after the local naturereserves and green spaces, to make sure they remainvaluable for wildlife and the local community.

If you can spare a day or just a few hours in your week,we would love to have you. No experience is needed; weprovide the tools and instruction, and you can come asoften as you wish for as long as you wish.

What are the benets?

  Learn new skills

 

Gain experience  Meet new people

  Discover hidden gems

  Get fresh air and exercise

  Do something worthwhile

  Have fun

 

Free biscuits, tea and coffee!

To nd out what is

happening near youvisit khwp.org.uk, callthe Kent High WealdPartnership on01580 212972, or e-mailinfo@khwp.org.uk.

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2016Following our success inretaining the Gold award forTunbridge Wells in the LargeTown category, and numerousindividual awards for ourparks and open spaces, the

Bloom team is getting readyfor flowering season 2016.We plan to install more oral displaysacross the town and to continueworking with local residents, friends'groups, schools and businesses tomake our town more beautiful.

Since the launch in 2010, our localBloom competition keeps growing. Lastyear we received a record number of

146 competition entries and we hope todo even better this summer! So pleaseenter our competition and go colourfuland creative with your gardens,baskets, allotments and planters.Closing date for competition entry is30 June (1 June for allotments).

Don’t worry if you don’t have a garden

or a space for hanging baskets – youcan get involved in the Bloom campaignby joining a ‘Friends’ group volunteeringin a park near you, or signing up to alocal conservation project led by KentHigh Weald Partnership. You can also

 join our friends at Love Where We Livecampaign and organise a Big Clean Upin your area.

Royal Tunbridge Wells in Bloom isa great opportunity to promote your

business while helping to keepthe town blooming – so pleaseconsider sponsoring our campaign.

 All donations will help us to installmore seasonal ower displays and tobeautify the town. 

Come along to Royal Tunbridge Wellsin Bloom launch days on 8 and 9 April,

at Calverley Precinct from 10am until3pm. Meet the Bloom team and oursponsors and partners, give us yourideas and ll in the competition form!

Blooming SchoolsThe Garden and the Bee Art Postercompetitions are still open to all schools

in Royal Tunbridge Wells. The deadlinefor entry is 1 June. Contact us fordetails!

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Do you want to get involved?

Contact us: TWBC Parks tel: 01892 554031  e-mail: parks@tunbridgewells.gov.uk

  RTWiB website: royaltunbridgewellsinbloom.org.uk

  e-mail: competition@royaltunbridgewellsinbloom.org.uk

COMPETITION ENTRYFORM

Closing date: 30 June 2016

(1 June for allotments)

On receipt of your entry form you will be senta £5 voucher to spend at Coolings Nurseries,

our main sponsor.

Please tick which category you will be entering(You can tick more than one category)

 Best Basket Best Street

 Planter/Tub/Container Best Front Garden

 Best Community Best Front Patio/ 

 Allotment/Garden Balcony

 Best Wildlife Garden Best Café/Pub/Club 

Best Business Ground Best Shop Front

 Best Allotments Best Flats

 Best Commercial Basket/Planter

Entrant’s name _____________________________ 

 Address __________________________________ 

 _________________________________________ 

 _________________________________________ 

 _________________________________________ 

 Postcode___________ 

E-mail ____________________________________ 

Phone number _____________________________

Leave at Gateway, 8 Grosvenor Road or post to:

Royal Tunbridge Wells in Bloom, Town Hall,

Royal Tunbridge Wells TN1 1RS

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Cranbrook MuseumOne of the mostpopular paintingsof the Victorian era

was ‘The Sweep' byFrederick DanielHardy, a memberof the CranbrookColony of artists.The group lived, workedand socialised in Cranbrook

during the mid to late 19thcentury and all exhibitedtheir work regularly at theRoyal Academy (RA). JCHorsley was responsible fordesigning the rst Christmascard in 1843.

Cranbrook Museum has a

room dedicated to the worksof these artists and has over400 reproduction copiesof their pictures. Until veyears ago, however, theyhad no original paintingsin the collection. Now theypossess one by each ofthe six artists, courtesy of a

generous benefactor whohad no previous connectionwith the town. His generositystemmed from his admirationof the Colony artists andthe museum's work inestablishing a study centrefor their pictures.

This gentleman hadparticularly wanted topurchase a version of'The Sweep', which

depicts a group ofchildren watching asweep at work in whatis now room nine of themuseum. The curatorand another dedicatedvolunteer had cooperatedwith their patron (a veryprivate man) at every

stage of his searchesfor suitable paintings todonate and to join himin viewing days at theLondon auction houses.Then, in September 2015,he located an oil painting inthe Lake District which hadbeen with the same family

for over 100 years. 'TheLittle Chimney Sweep' asit was titled was purchasedand donated to CranbrookMuseum. lt now hangsabove the very doorwayshown in the painting, andnext to the same chimney.

Nine versions of ‘The

Sweep' have now beendiscovered, though eachdiffers in size and detail.The rst was exhibited atthe RA in 1862 and sold for£210. The image proved sopopular that an engraving

was published in 1865,with copies sold throughoutthe land. The nal versionwas painted in 1896, butthe artist who exhibited 93

pictures at the RA duringhis lifetime, painted a smallversion in 1885 – 'The LittleSweep' – and wrote on theback 'A present to myself’.That is now in a private

 American collection.

Cranbrook Museum, whichhas wonderful collections on

display, is open 2–4.30pmMonday to Saturday (andBank Holidays) from April toOctober.

Paul Donovan

The artist FD Hardy with Thos Webster at the Old Studio c1884

The benefactor, Mr GeorgeBednar 

They’re back for the fourth consecutive year, so if you didn’t nominatepreviously, and wanted to, you’ll have a chance this year. As before, therewill be many categories to choose from and the closing date is 29 July 2016 – so plenty of time to be thinking of those worthy of recognition.

The lucky nalists will be invited to an awards ceremony on Tuesday11 October 2016 in the Assembly Hall Theatre. Full details will be in thenext edition of Local magazine.

Love Where We Live Awards 2016

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Some highlights from the busy and varied life of

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G r o u p  p h o t o  o f  t h e  S t   J o h n  Am b u l an c e  C ad e t s  at  t h e i r  aw ar d s  e v e n i n g 

Lots of smiles from our guestsvisiting from the Kerala areaof India

We lco ming  partici pants fr o m t heWal king  wi t h the W ounded  Walko f Br itain wi t h lo cal ATC  and  TS  B r illiant c ade t s 

 C  e l   e b  r  a t   i   n g a s  p e c i   a l   b  i   r  t   h  d  a y

 w i   t   h  a r  e s  i   d  e n t   o f   a l   o c a l  

 T  u n b  r  i   d  g e W e l   l   s  c a r  e h  o m e

Much joy at t

he Little Rasc

als Nurseries

 

of f icial op

ening and f un

 day

With ourguests the goldaward juniorEuropeangymnastchampions onthe Town Hallstairs Li

ned  up in f r ont  of  t he 

W ar  Memor ial at  t he Remembr anc e D

ay  P ar ad e

M a y o r  w i t h  h i s  e l e c t r i c  b i k e  

 p r o m o t i n  g  e n e r  g y  s a v i n  g  , e n v i r o n m e n t  a n d  h e a l t h 

In front of the Big Buspromoting Healthwatch Kent 

With the Mayor’s localpostman at the busy sortingoffice just before Christmas 

g g ythe Mayor & Mayoress of Tunbridge Wells, 

Councillor David Elliott and Mrs June Crowhurst

In full regalia with someItalian students visitingthe Council Chamber 

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There’s nothing like a new

theatre season to put a littlespring in your step. Here arejust six shows at the AssemblyHall Theatre in the comingmonths that you are sure tolove. In a season rich with livemusic, dance, theatre, comedyand much more,

there’s plentyto be excitedabout.

TORTOISE ANDTHE HARE is thelatest in NorthernBallet’s award-winning series of

Short Ballets forSmall People whichalready includes thehugely popular UglyDuckling, Three LittlePigs and Elves & The Shoemaker . Theballet has been created to introducefamilies and young children to livedance, music and theatre.

Recommended for children aged4–7years, this adorable and heart-warming production retells the much-loved Aesop’s fable about a Tortoisewho, tired of being teased for hisslowness, challenges a speedy Hare toa race.  ‘delightfully performedand expertly staged new short balletfor young people’ The Stage (Fri 25March).

If you liked Jersey Boys, you’ll loveLET’S HANG ON! A group of 10seasoned entertainers pay tribute toFrankie Valli and The Four Seasons'classics while also paying tribute tothe Broadway show, The Jersey Boys.Let’s Hang On! captures the trademarkvocal virtuosity, tight harmonies, andcrisp choreography that made The

Four Seasons one of the greatest

vocal groups of all time. This full

blown stage show includes all thegreat Four Seasons’ mega hits likeSherry, Big Girls Don’t Cry, WalkLike A Man, Can’t Take My Eyes OffOf You, December ’63, Who LovesYou, and many more mega hits of the60s; all presented in a high-energyand polished production (Sun 27

March).

TAP FACTORY is where ‘Stompmeets Tap Dogs!’  and the rhythmnever stops. Onan industrialset composedof a two-tierscaffoldingrig and sixdrummingstations; onewith a regular

drum kit and congas and the other,with two oil drums apiece, the tappers,who are also the drummers, let rip. Atremendously visual and highly excitingshow, the world’s best tap dancers andinternational musicians blend urban, tap

dance, hip hop, percussion, comedy,and cirque acrobatics (Wed 6 April).

Following her acclaimed performancein Calamity Jane, Jodie Prenger nowsteps into Andrew Lloyd Webber andDon Black’s classic musical, TELLME ON A SUNDAY. The show chartsthe romantic misadventures of ayoung English girl in New York in the

heady daysof the 1980s.Brimming withoptimism, sheseeks successand love.But as sheweaves herway throughthe mazeof the city

and her own anxieties, frustrationsand heartaches she begins to wonderwhether she's been looking for lovein all the wrong places. This iconicmusical, with a wonderful original score,features the chart-topping Take ThatLook Off Your Face and title track TellMe On A Sunday  (Fri 15 April).

Pop darling of the 60s who relit her rein the 90s with Take That, LULU thesinger is still the only British femalesolo artist to appear in the charts forve straight decades – and still be aship and full of energy today as when

she rst hit the charts as a 15 year-old in 1964. The Grammy-nominatedsinger will be performing hits from her50 year career, such as 'To Sir WithLove', 'The Man Who Sold The World ','Relight My Fire', and of course ‘Shout ’.

 As well as performing songs from someof her musical heroes, such as soullegends Ray Charles and Otis Redding,she will also be taking us on a musical

 journey recalling personal anecdotes,song-writing experiences, and otherentertaining stories (Mon 18 April).

Elephant conservationist SABADOUGLAS-HAMILTON grew up closeto crocodiles. Also a TV presenter ofBBC series This Wild Life and Big CatDiaries, she will take you on an eveningof exciting animal stories and intimate

behind the scenes tales of life in Kenyawith your young family. (Wed 20

 April).

'The more you watch elephants,the more you begin to see the worldthrough their eyes.' 

 Assembly Hall Theatre,

Tunbridge Wells 01892 530613assemblyhalltheatre.co.uk

BEST THEATRE SHOWSin 2016

LU LU AN E V E NI NG W I T H

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WHAT’S ON

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WHAT S ON

Assembly Hall Theatre

Box ofce 01892 530613 / 532072

assemblyhalltheatre.co.uk

For accessibiity information please visit

MARCH Thu 17 Mar  Rumours of Fleetwood Mac

Fri 18 Mar  Think Floyd

Sat 19 Mar  Purple Zeppelin

Tue 22 Mar  Mark Beaumont

Fri 25 Mar The Tortoise and the Hare(ballet)

Sat 26 Mar  Champions of Magic

Sun 27 Mar  Let’s Hang On

APRIL

Sat 2 Apr Liza Pulman SingsHollywood

Sun 3 Apr  RTWSO - Kempf 

Wed 6 Apr  Tap Factory

Thu 7 Apr  Banff Film Festival

Fri 8 Apr  Tosca

Sat 9 Apr  The Royal Rumble

Wed 13 –Thu 14 Apr  Peppa Pig's Surprise

Fri 15 Apr  Tell Me on a Sunday

Sat 16 Apr  A Night of Dirty Dancing

Sun 17 Apr  All Star Stand Up Tour 

Mon 18 Apr  Lulu

Tue 19 Apr  Pasha Kovalev

Wed 20 Apr  Saba Douglas-Hamilton

Thu 21 Apr  Soul Legends

Fri 22 Apr  Julian Clary

Sat 23 Apr  Sea Symphony: Vaughan-Williams (RTWCS)

Tue 26 –Sat 30 Apr  Carousel (TWODS)

MAYSun 1 May  Eric Bibb

Sat 7 May  Keith Barry, Brain Hacker 

Wed 11 May  Otis Redding Jnr 

Fri 13 May  Russell Watson

Sat 14 May  Mister Maker and theShapes

Thu 19 May  Jools Holland

Fri 20 May  Roy Ayres and His Band

Sat 21 May  Counterfeit Stones

Sat 28 May  Clare Teal and her Mini BigBand

Sun 29 May  Pinocchio Ballet

 

January 9 23

February 13 27

March 12 26

 April 9 23

May 14 28

June 11 25

July 9 23

 August 13 27September 10 24

October  8 22

November  12 26

December 10

No Market 4th weekendin Dec

For more informationplease contact the

Farmers Market

Manager on 01892

554244 or e-mail

farmersmarket@

tunbridgewells.gov.uk

TWBC Farmers Market

@TWBCFrmrsMkt

 

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