This week in Tunbridge Wells, a new lung screening programme offers free checks to eligible residents. Two Armistice Day ceremonies take place on Wednesday. The Nutcracker brings ballet and a live orchestra to the Assembly Hall on Saturday. Sunday’s Repair Café offers help with broken household items at Trinity.

WEATHER

Monday: 9°C 🌡️ 19°C | 🌧️

Tuesday: 8°C 🌡️ 17°C | ⛅

Wednesday: 5°C 🌡️ 14°C | 🌧️

SPONSORED BY 1440

THE BRIEF

⏸️ Pause To Council Plans: Council minutes record an 18–15 vote to pause plans for a Royal Tunbridge Wells Town Council, with two abstentions. Councillors took the decision on 14 October. The new council had been due to start in April 2027, with elections in May.

Supporters of the pause raised costs and uncertainty over changes to Kent’s councils. Opponents argued that the town needed its own local voice. A government announcement on 30 October confirmed that Kent’s council reorganisation would proceed, with new councils expected in 2029. The boundaries remain under review. Read more here.​

💳 House Prices Flat: The average home in Tunbridge Wells borough cost £452,845 in August, according to the latest house price figures. That was 0.1% below a year earlier.

Prices for flats fell by 2.1%, while semi-detached homes rose by 1.2% and terraces by 0.8%. A revision to July’s figures removed a reported annual increase. July now shows a 0.5% fall against the previous year. These figures can change as sales registrations arrive. Read more here.​

🏥 Lung Cancer Screening Launched: A new NHS lung cancer screening programme has launched in Tunbridge Wells. The scheme will invite current and former smokers aged 55–74 for free lung health checks.

Nurses will ask about breathing, lifestyle and medical history, then measure height, weight and blood pressure. People who need more tests will be offered a low-dose CT scan close to home. The programme launched at Royal Victoria Place on 30th October and aims to detect lung cancer at an earlier stage. Read more here.​

🌸 Armistice Day: Tunbridge Wells will hold two Armistice Day ceremonies on Wednesday 11th November.

The first begins at 10:50am at the War Memorial on Mount Pleasant Road. Tunbridge Wells Sea Cadets buglers will sound the Last Post, followed by a wreath laying.

A second ceremony follows at about 11:40am at Victoria Cross Grove in Dunorlan Park, near the Bayhall Road entrance. Read more here.​

🎅 Christmas Is Here: Tunbridge Wells’ Christmas Kick Off takes place on Saturday 14 November. The Festive Fair runs from 11am to 7pm, with rides, community stands and entertainment stages in the town centre. Gift stalls will fill Calverley Precinct.

Royal Victoria Place’s lights will switch on between 4:30pm and 5pm. A parade follows from 5:15pm to 6:15pm, before fireworks at 7pm. Entry is free, with tickets sold for the rides. Read more here.​

TW LIFE COMMUNITY BOARD

KentRelief turns community support into practical help for people facing difficult times. Based in Tunbridge Wells, the charity provides food, medical supplies and other essential aid to those affected by the war in Ukraine. It helps Ukrainian families settle in the UK and supports people in need across Kent through community initiatives. Every donation, purchase and hour spent volunteering helps the charity continue this work. Local people make this possible.

​Find out more and donate.​

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

Howard Hodgkin: In a Public Garden | The Amelia Scott | Mon 9 Nov – Sat 14 Nov, 9:00am & Sun 15 Nov, 10:00am | Explore five decades of prints by Howard Hodgkin | Free entry​

Silent Book Club | The Amelia Scott | Mon 9 Nov, 10:00am | Bring a book and read in company | Free entry​

Mae Stephens | The Forum | Mon 9 Nov, 7:00pm | Pop singer with Mimi Greene and Matt Wright | See details​

Home Education at The Amelia – Primary | The Amelia Scott | Tue 10 Nov, 10:00am & 1:00pm | Explore dinosaurs and fossils with children aged 4–11 | From £3.00​

Old Castle Tours | Scotney Castle | Wed 11 Nov, 11:00am & 1:00pm | Discover rooms and stories behind the castle ruins | From £7.00, plus admission​

Sense and Sensibility (U) | Trinity Theatre | Wed 11 Nov, 2:30pm & 7:30pm | Film adaptation of Jane Austen’s novel | From £7.00​

Christmas Fused Glass Workshop | Penshurst Place | Wed 11 Nov, 6:00pm | Make festive glass decorations with tutor Jane Padgham | From £80.00​

Ben Poole | The Forum | Wed 11 Nov, 7:00pm | Blues rock with support from The Danny Giles Band | See details​

Botanical Lino Printing Workshop with Susan Yeates | The Amelia Scott | Thu 12 Nov, 10:00am | Carve and print botanical designs; materials provided | From £45.00​

Falconry Experience | Hever Castle | Thu 12 Nov & Sun 15 Nov, 1:00pm | Meet, handle and fly birds of prey | From £66.95, plus booking fee​

Hadestown: The Musical | Trinity Theatre | Thu 12 Nov, 4:00pm & 8:00pm | West End musical recorded for the cinema screen | From £16.00​

The Music of Queen by Candlelight | Assembly Hall | Thu 12 Nov, 7:30pm | Queen hits performed by singers and a live band | See details​

Natalie Shay | The Sussex Arms | Thu 12 Nov, 7:30pm | Indie pop with support from Isabella Coulstock | From £11.00​

Story Time | Trinity Theatre | Fri 13 Nov, 9:30am | Interactive stories and songs for children and their grown-ups | From £1.00 children; £5.00 adults​

Scott Bennett: Blood Sugar Baby | Trinity Theatre | Fri 13 Nov, 7:30pm | Stand-up about his family’s experience of a rare condition | From £24.00​

Rhythm of the Dance | Assembly Hall | Fri 13 Nov, 7:30pm | Irish dance, live music and festive songs | From £31.75​

A Celebration of Metallica | The Forum | Fri 13 Nov, 7:30pm | Metallica Reloaded marks 40 years of Master of Puppets | See details​

Christmas Kick Off at The Amelia Scott | The Amelia Scott | Sat 14 Nov, 9:00am | Festive crafts, collections and activities for all ages | Free entry​

Wreath Making Workshop | Trinity Theatre | Sat 14 Nov, 10:00am | Make a winter wreath with materials provided | From £35.00​

The Nutcracker | Assembly Hall | Sat 14 Nov, 2:30pm & 7:30pm | Classical ballet with a live orchestra | From £29.00; adults £49.00​

Now That’s What I Call an 80s Night | Trinity Theatre | Sat 14 Nov, 7:30pm | Cinnamon Street performs pop hits from the 1980s | From £28.00​

The Rosadocs | The Forum | Sat 14 Nov, 7:30pm | Indie rock with Harriet Rose and Wildhorse | See details​

Make Friends | The Sussex Arms | Sat 14 Nov, 7:30pm | Bristol indie band with support from Polo Lounge | See details​

Tunbridge Wells Repair Café | Trinity Theatre | Sun 15 Nov, 10:00am | Volunteers help repair household items; November date has changed | Free entry​

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

It’s a Real Job Fair – Evening Youth Event | The Forum | Tue 17 Nov, 4:30pm | Explore careers in music, production and event organising | Free entry​

Christmas Artisan Fair | Chiddingstone Castle | Sat 21 Nov, 10:00am | Browse craft, vintage, gift and food stalls | From £4.00 children; £8.00 adults​

The Christmas Cavity Calamity Mini Panto | Penshurst Place | Sat 5 Dec – Sun 6 Dec, Sat 12 Dec – Sun 13 Dec & Fri 18 Dec – Wed 23 Dec, times vary | Family mini panto with a Father Christmas photo opportunity | From £9.50, plus booking fee​

Bewl New Year 10k & 5k | Bewl Water | Sun 10 Jan, 10:00am | Trail races beside the reservoir, with a junior run | See details​

Banff Mountain Film Festival World Tour | Assembly Hall | Thu 4 Feb, 7:00pm | Adventure films featuring climbing, skiing, paddling and wild places | From £18.50​

SPORT

Results

⚽ 3 Nov Corinthian 2–4 Rusthall

⚽ 7 Nov Tunbridge Wells 4–5 SE Dons

⚽ 7 Nov Faversham Strike Force 0–2 Rusthall

🏑 7 Nov Tunbridge Wells Men 3–4 Guildford 2

🏑 7 Nov Tunbridge Wells Women 2–1 Sevenoaks 3

Fixtures

⚽ 14 Nov Fisher v Tunbridge Wells

⚽ 14 Nov Rusthall v Snodland Town

🏉 14 Nov Tunbridge Wells v London Scottish Lions

🏑 14 Nov Old Georgians 2 v Tunbridge Wells Men

🏑 14 Nov Canterbury 2 v Tunbridge Wells Women

THANK YOU

Hope you enjoyed this week's letter!

Jamie

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