Good morning, Tunbridge Wells!

There’s plenty happening across town this week. Royal Tunbridge Wells is set to get its own Town Council, but there are already questions over how much power it will have. We also look at the North Farm wildfire, where crews spent more than 12 hours tackling the blaze.

On a lighter note, SIX brings its pop-powered Tudor queens to the Assembly Hall. Families can also head to Tunbridge Wells Common for a bug-filled Park Safari on Thursday.

WEATHER

Monday: 14°C 🌡️ 26°C | ☁️

Tuesday: 13°C 🌡️ 24°C | 🌦️

Wednesday: 11°C 🌡️ 22°C | 🌧️

THE BRIEF

🆕 New Council Coming: Royal Tunbridge Wells will get its own Town Council as part of major local government changes in Kent. Tunbridge Wells Borough Council will be abolished in April 2028, with powers moving to a new West Kent Unitary Authority. The new Town Council is meant to give residents a stronger local voice. However, critics say it may receive few important assets. Parks, the Amelia centre, the library and the Town Hall could instead pass to West Kent. Former borough deputy leader David Scott says this would weaken local control. Work will now begin on staffing, governance and the council’s first budget. Read more here.​

🚸 A+ Results: Sixth formers across the borough collected their A-level results on Thursday morning. Staff at Tunbridge Wells Girls' Grammar School said twelve pupils achieved three or more A* grades. Two pupils got four A*s. Head teacher Katie Marchant said leavers are going on to study classical archaeology and ancient history at Oxford, and computer science and artificial intelligence at Bath.

One pupil will read Spanish at Oxford. Another heads to Bristol for sociology. Nearby, Beechwood School said 95% of its pupils passed, up from 85% last year. It also said 87% got their first-choice university. Nationally, 262,820 students secured an undergraduate place, up 3% on last year. The overall pass rate stayed at 97.5%. GCSE results follow on Thursday 20th August. Read more here.​

🔥 North Farm Wildfire: Firefighters spent more than twelve hours at a wildfire in North Farm Lane on Friday evening. Ten engines attended at the height of the blaze. A bulk water carrier and two utility terrain vehicles also went to the scene. Crews used beaters to put out the flames. The cause is not yet known. The fire came as the government sent an emergency alert to millions of phones shortly after 7pm the same evening.

The warning said there was a very high risk of wildfires across the country. It told people not to use disposable barbecues, firepits, garden incinerators or fireworks. Kent Fire and Rescue Service attended 130 accidental grass fires in July alone. Crews also tackled two grass fires in the Weald on Thursday. Read more here.​

🚒 Another Fire: A faulty firework started a garden fire in Sherwood Road on Wednesday evening. Flames spread from a tree to nearby fences. One fire engine arrived at around 9pm. By then neighbours had largely put the blaze out. Crews damped down the area and left shortly before 9.30pm. One person suffered minor burns. Neighbours filmed large flames and orange light coming from the back garden. Plumes of black smoke drifted across the sky as the fire spread. Fire officers believe the fire started by accident. Read more here.​

🐏 Sheep Blockade: A flock of sheep got onto the railway line near Robertsbridge last Sunday morning. Trains between Robertsbridge and Tunbridge Wells ran late as a result. National Rail said a response team went to the site and worked with a local farmer to clear the animals. Trains were held while staff carried out safety checks. Disruption was expected to last until about 9.45am. Passengers were told to allow extra time for their journeys. Read more here.​

TW LIFE COMMUNITY BOARD

Help KentRelief Get Aid to Ukraine 🇺🇦

KentRelief is preparing its next humanitarian aid truck to Ukraine for late August or early September.

The truck will carry food, medical supplies and hygiene items to people living in frontline villages. It will also deliver lifesaving firefighting equipment to fire stations in eastern Ukraine.

We need to raise £5,000 to cover transport costs. Any donation, large or small, will help us get vital aid to people who need it.

Bank transfer​
Account: KentRelief
Sort code: 30-99-50
Account number: 44520968

You can also donate through CAF, GoFundMe or PayPal via kentrelief.org.uk.

Questions? Email enquiries@kentrelief.org.uk​

Charity number: 1204501

---

Want to spread the good word about your business, a project you’re working on, a hire, or just want to say hi to 5,000 friends?

ADVERTISE ON THE BOARD

THIS WEEK

SIX | Assembly Hall | Tue 18 – Sat 22 Aug, 8pm, 6pm & 8:30pm, 4pm | Tudor queens retell their stories as pop stars | From £29.00​

Glenrothan (12A) | Trinity Theatre | Mon 17 Aug, 2:30pm & 7:30pm | Alan Cumming returns to a Highland family distillery | From £7.00​

Circus Skills Drop-in Workshop | Scotney Castle | Mon 17 Aug, 11am – 3pm | Learn juggling and circus tricks with expert instructors | See details​

Tuner (15) | Trinity Theatre | Tue 18 Aug, 2:30pm & 7:30pm | Piano tuner turned safecracker in New York thriller | From £7.00​

Virginia Woolf's Night & Day (12A) | Trinity Theatre | Wed 19 Aug, 2:30pm & 7:30pm | Un-romantic comedy set in Edwardian London | From £7.00​

Park Safaris – Tunbridge Wells Common | Wellington Rocks, TW Common | Thu 20 Aug, 10:30am & 2pm | Family bug hunt led by Dr Ian Beavis | From £3.00​

Köln 75 (15) | Trinity Theatre | Fri 21 Aug, 7:30pm | True story behind the best-selling jazz album | From £8.00​

The Polygons: 10th Anniversary Show | The Forum | Fri 21 Aug, 7:30pm | Local band marks ten years with live show | See details​

History Detectives: Finding Your Roots | The Amelia Scott | Sat 22 Aug, 10:30am – 12pm | Beginner's workshop on tracing your family tree | From £5.00​

Toy Story 5 (PG) | Trinity Theatre | Sat 22 Aug, 2:30pm | Buzz and Woody take on a new tech threat | From £7.00​

Outdoor Theatre: Treasure Island | Scotney Castle | Sat 22 Aug, 6pm – 7:30pm | Swashbuckling open-air adaptation of the pirate classic | See details​

The Skatonics: Ska & 2-Tone Party | The Forum | Sat 22 Aug, 7:30pm | Ska and 2-Tone covers night | See details​

David Byrne's American Utopia (12A) | Trinity Theatre | Sat 22 Aug, 7:30pm | Spike Lee films the Talking Heads frontman's Broadway show | From £8.00​

A Summer of Adventure | Penshurst Place | Mon 17 – Sun 23 Aug | Crafts, safaris, bushcraft and a garden bee trail | See details​

Summer Holiday Trail | Chiddingstone Castle | Mon 17 – Sun 23 Aug, grounds open 7am – 6:30pm | Treasure map hunt through the castle grounds | From £2.00​

Pokémon: Summer of Play | Scotney Castle | Mon 17 – Sun 23 Aug, 10am – 5pm | Outdoor games and activities for younger visitors | See details​

Discovery Days: Discover, Explore, Create | The Amelia Scott | Mon 17 – Sat 22 Aug | Drop-in creative sessions for children | See details​

Table Tennis | Sunnyside Hall | Mon & Sun | Play table tennis every week (1st session is free) | £4​

Badminton & Pickleball | Sunnyside Hall | Fri, 6pm | Play badminton & pickleball every week (1st session is free) | £5​

FURTHER OUT

The English Patient (1996) | Sunnyside Hall, Rusthall | Sat 29 Aug, doors 6:30pm | Minghella's wartime romance, screened with subtitles | See details​

Dragon Boat Festival | Bewl Water | Sat 29 Aug | Team paddling races with training on the day | See details​

Open Air Theatre: As You Like It | Chiddingstone Castle | Mon 31 Aug | Illyria perform Shakespeare's romantic comedy outdoors | See details​

John Cleese and The Holy Grail | Assembly Hall | Wed 2 Sep | Cleese introduces and discusses the Python classic | See details​

Tunbridge Wells Repair Café | Trinity Theatre | Sat 26 Sep, 10am – 1pm | Volunteers fix household and garden items free | Free entry​

SPORT

Results:

🏏 15th Aug - Minster 249 - 268 Tunbridge Wells (Men) - TW won by 19 runs

🏏 16th Aug - Tunbridge Wells (Women) 162 - 161 Beckenham - TW won by 6 wickets

Fixtures:

🏏 22nd Aug - Tunbridge Wells (Men) vs. Blackheath

THANK YOU

Hope you enjoyed this week's letter!

Jamie

Are you a local business looking to reach people in and around Tunbridge Wells? Contact us today about our ad options that reach thousands of local people.

Was this email forwarded to you? Sign up here to get it!​