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Good Morning! This week brings a mix of music, community, and big local debates. From Chloe Marie Aston’s piano-bike rolling into Kent towns, to 11-year-old Laila Fitzgerald racing her way into karting history, there’s plenty of inspiration on our doorstep. Looking for plans? Don’t miss Local & Live 2025, four days of grassroots music and festival spirit, or the Kent Gin Train on Saturday.

WEATHER

Monday: 13°C 🌡️ 23°C | 🌤️

Tuesday: 13°C 🌡️ 23°C | ☀️

Wednesday: 11°C 🌡️ 20°C | 🌤️

A MESSAGE FROM KENT RELIEF

KentRelief (Charity number 1204501) are planning our next truck of humanitarian aid to Ukraine in September/October. This includes life saving firefighting equipment given to us by our partner charity FireAid, as well as food, medical supplies and other key aid. We are low on funds to cover the costs of the truck to Lviv, and the onward delivery from there to our beneficiaries in the East and South of Ukraine. Our last consignment costs were £3,900. If anyone is able to help towards these costs, you can donate in various ways:

By bank transfer:

Account Name: KentRelief

Account Number: 44520968

Sort code: 30-99-50

You can also donate to us via the Charities Aid Foundation:

https://www.cafonline.org/home/donate

Or via our PayPal or GoFundMe page:

Details of how to do this can be found on our website www.kentrelief.org.uk by clicking the donate button.

To see our previous humanitarian aid deliveries please visit our website www.kentrelief.org.uk​

Thank you for your support.

THE BRIEF

🎹Piano-Bike Busker: Chloe Marie Aston has taken her unusual "piano bike" to more than 200 towns since 2019 and is now touring Kent. The north Devon musician, who swapped a guitar for piano lessons after her father built the bike, says she feels proud of their creation. Her stops include Tunbridge Wells, Margate and Maidstone, where she’ll perform both covers and her own songs. Aston’s father calls the project his “crowning glory” and admits he often gets emotional watching her play. Read more here from Daniel Sexton & Hsin-Yi Lo.

🏎️Local Carting Success: Laila Fitzgerald from Tunbridge Wells is making history in Club100 karting, leading the northern championship cadet class and becoming the first female to take a front-row spot in the finals. The 11-year-old, a winner of a Motorsport UK Girls Karting Academy Scholarship, began racing through the ‘Discover Your Drive’ programme. Supported by Charlotte Tilbury, the scheme encourages young girls into motorsport. Fitzgerald says she’s loving the speed and is determined to pursue a future career in racing. Read more here.

🧭KCC's Replacement: Medway Council has unveiled plans for four new unitary authorities to replace Kent County Council and the 12 district and borough councils. Leader Cllr Vince Maple says the model would better reflect local communities. Critics, including Tonbridge and Malling’s Cllr Matt Boughton and Medway Conservatives, have called it “disrespectful” and “gerrymandering.” The proposals set out North, West, Mid and East authorities, with submissions due by November. Residents are being urged to share their views at upcoming events. Read more here from Robert Boddy.

❎Tonbridge Council?: A consultation on creating a town council for Tonbridge has shown strong support, with 72% of over 3,000 respondents in favour. Supporters say it would give residents a stronger voice and improve local facilities, while opponents raised concerns about added costs and bureaucracy. Tonbridge is the only part of the borough without a parish or town council. Councillors will decide in October whether to move to the next stage, with elections possible in 2027. Read more here.

🛩️Explosion Heard in Kent: A loud “sonic boom” startled residents across Kent on 15th August, leaving some saying their homes “shook.” The RAF confirmed Typhoon jets were scrambled from RAF Coningsby after a civilian aircraft lost contact with air traffic control. Communications were later restored and the plane escorted to Stansted. Though likened to an explosion, studies show such booms don’t cause structural damage, despite the shock to many in Gravesend, Sevenoaks and beyond. Read more here from Joseph Bickle.

TW LIFE COMMUNITY BOARD

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ADVERTISE ON THE BOARD

THIS WEEK

The Kent Gin Train | Spa Valley Railway | Sat | Gin tasting on a vintage train with cake included | £30​

Toad Fest | Toad Rock Retreat | Sun, 12:30pm | All-day music, hog roast, drinks, and summer party vibes | Free Entry​

Local & Live 2025 | Various | Fri to Mon | Four days of grassroots music, community spirit, and festival energy | Details​

Into The Woods | Trinity Theatre | Fri & Sat | Fairy tales collide in a magical, witty, and haunting musical | £14​

Summer Holidays Storytelling Performances | Penshurst Place | Sun | Follow Alice through garden mini-shows | With Admission​

A Mid Summer Night's Dream | Chiddingstone Castle | Sun, 2pm | Shakespeare’s mischievous forest comedy performed outdoors with playful chaos | £26.25​

Heads South | The Pantiles | Thurs, 7pm | Latin jazz and salsa rhythms for dancing and pure joy | £7.50​

A Night at The Ivy Musicals | The Ivy | Wed, 7pm | Dinner meets West End magic with live musical performances | Details​

Art On The Common and Craft Fair | Southborough Common | 23rd to 25th Aug | Head down to see local artists showing & selling paintings, crafts and photos! | Details​

For more events head to Plan My Event App (iPhone / Android)

FURTHER OUT

The Wit & Wisdom of Miriam Margolyes | Assembly Hall | 20th Sep | Miriam Margolyes shares hilarious, heartfelt stories with unfiltered charm | £39.75+​

Tim Peake Astronauts: The Quest to Explore Space | Assembly Hall | 21st Sep | Tim Peake shares awe-inspiring astronaut stories and space exploration adventures | £40.75​

The Last Night of the Hever Proms | Hever Castle | 13th Sep | Patriotic proms night with orchestra, singalongs, and Union Jack flair | £39.75​

JOBS

• Mobile Colleague A27 | Timpson | More Info​
• Quality Excellence Leader | BarthHaas UK | More Info​
• Kitchen Porter | Royal Wells Hotel | More Info​

Check out all the listings on TW Jobs​

(Use discount code TWLIFE30 for 30% off your first listing)

SPORT

⚽ FOOTBALL

12th Aug:

Tunbridge Wells 3 - 2 Erith & Belvedere

Larkfield & New Hythe 1 - 1 Rusthall

23rd Aug:

Snodland Town vs. Tunbridge Wells

24th Aug:

Stansfeld vs. Rusthall

🏏 CRICKET

16th Aug:

Blackheath beat Tunbridge Wells by 110 runs

23rd Aug:

Tunbridge Wells vs. Bromley

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THANK YOU

Hope you enjoyed this week's letter!

Jamie

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