Good morning!

Royal Tunbridge Wells in Bloom won Gold at the regional awards and took the Small City title. Dunorlan Park, Calverley Grounds and the Common all earned Gold. There is sad news from Paddock Wood. Compaid will close its transport and training services in December after 40 years of help for local people.

On Thursday, Harry Enfield brings Kevin the Teenager and friends to the Assembly Hall for a night of stories and questions. On Saturday and Sunday, Penshurst Place hosts its first Apple Weekend, with apple pressing, cakes and games for all ages.

WEATHER

Monday: 15°C 🌡️ 17°C | 🌧️

Tuesday: 7°C 🌡️ 20°C | 🌧️

Wednesday: 12°C 🌡️ 18°C | ⛅

THE BRIEF

🏅 TW Wins Gold: Royal Tunbridge Wells in Bloom has won Gold at the South & South East in Bloom Awards 2026. The town also won the Small City category. Several parks and open spaces earned awards of their own. Tunbridge Wells Commons won Gold and topped the Commons category. Grosvenor & Hilbert Park won Gold and topped the Large Park category. Dunorlan Park, Calverley Grounds, Woodbury Park Cemetery and Tunbridge Wells Cemetery & Crematorium all won Gold.

Barnetts Wood Nature Reserve received a Silver Gilt award. The borough council thanked the many people behind the result. These include volunteers, Friends groups, businesses, schools and residents. It also thanked partners such as Tivoli, FCC Environment, Kent High Weald Partnership and its own Street Scene team.

​Read more here.​

🏅 Southborough SOS Wins: Tunbridge Wells Borough Council has named the winners of its Love Where We Live awards for 2026. The awards celebrate the people and groups who make the borough a great place to live and work. The ceremony took place on Tuesday 6 October. Southborough SOS won the community group award. Baby Umbrella won the charity award. Lizzie Penman-Green won the volunteer award.

She also took the overall Love Where We Live award. Harry Gripper won the sportsperson award. Saskia D’arcy was named Young Volunteer. Matt Knoeson won Young Sports Achiever. Charlie’s Angels Kitchens won Green Business. Kent Young Carers won Youth Organisation. Julie Goff was named Good Neighbour. The council said the evening was full of tears and laughter.

​Read more here.​

🤑 £27m for RVP?: Tunbridge Wells Borough Council is progressing plans for a £27 million revamp of Royal Victoria Place, including new leisure facilities and improved retail space. The council expects the investment to generate £1.8 million in additional annual revenue, but critics question whether these forecasts are realistic, warning taxpayers could face the bill. A further £30 million redevelopment phase is also planned.

​Read more here.​

🚌 Community Transport to Close: Paddock Wood charity Compaid will close its community transport and training services by 17th December 2026. The charity says growing financial pressure is the reason. For 40 years, Compaid has helped disabled, disadvantaged and elderly people across West Kent. It takes people to medical and other appointments. It also offers training in computing and digital skills, and works to tackle loneliness.

The trustees looked for extra funding to keep the services going. They could not secure it. Chief executive Michelle Ford called it an incredibly sad decision for everyone connected to the charity. Lisa Beaumont founded the West Kent Different Strokes support group. She said members of her stroke group used Compaid for both transport and computer skills. She called the closure a big loss.

​Read more here.​

🟦 Local MP in Shadow Cabinet: Weald of Kent MP Katie Lam has set out her priorities after joining the Shadow Cabinet. In September, Kemi Badenoch made her Shadow Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government. The role covers housing, local government and elections. In a column this week, Ms Lam said the country needs to build more homes. She argued they should go where people want to live, with the right roads and water supplies in place.

She said too much of London’s housing need is being pushed onto towns and villages in the South East. She pointed to this summer’s water outages across Kent. She said ageing infrastructure and poor management by South East Water were to blame. She also criticised the government’s handling of local government reorganisation, which is now on pause. Ms Lam invited Weald residents to contact her with their views.

​Read more here.​

TW LIFE COMMUNITY BOARD

A Helping Hand From Tunbridge Wells

Times are hard for many families across Kent. KentRelief, a Tunbridge Wells charity, steps in with practical help. It sends food, medical supplies and other essential aid to people affected by the war in Ukraine. It also helps Ukrainian families settle into life in the UK. It relies on the generosity of local people. A donation, a purchase or an hour of your time makes a real difference.

​Find out more and donate to KentRelief today.​

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Help Celebrate Hospice in the Weald’s History

Hospice in the Weald is seeking memories, stories and photographs from its early years, dating back to 1980. Were you a volunteer, fundraiser or supported by the Hospice? Help preserve its history ahead of next year’s refurbishment.

Email ourhistory@hospiceintheweald.org.uk by 30 November to share your memories.

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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

Jeremy Bowen: Truth Under Fire | Assembly Hall | Mon 12 Oct, 7:30pm | BBC war reporter on the battle for truth | Sold out – see details​

Skinners Kent Academy & St Gregory’s Student Art Showcase | Trinity Theatre | Mon 12 Oct – Sat 17 Oct, 10:00am | Exam paintings and drawings by local school students | Free entry

Trinity Clocktower Tours | Trinity Theatre | Tue 13 Oct, 10:30am & 11:15am | Climb 118 steps for history and town views | Free entry

Bootleg Beatles | Assembly Hall | Tue 13 Oct, 7:30pm | Tribute band plays the Beatles’ five best-selling albums | From £38.75​

STABLE: New Music Showcase | The Forum | Wed 14 Oct, 7:00pm | Live showcase of new bands and artists | See details​

Nigel Havers: Talking B*ll*cks | Assembly Hall | Wed 14 Oct, 7:30pm | Actor shares five decades of showbiz stories | From £39.25​

Escapulario Workshop with Aitor Saraiba | The Amelia Scott | Thu 15 Oct, 10:00am | Embroidery workshop with acclaimed textile artist | From £45.00​

Aitor Saraiba – Artist Author Talk | The Amelia Scott | Thu 15 Oct, 2:00pm | Artist talks about his new embroidery book | From £5.00​

Harry Enfield: And No Chums! | Assembly Hall | Thu 15 Oct, 7:30pm | Comedy legend revisits his characters, then takes questions | From £54.25​

Sword in the Lake Viewing Session | Chiddingstone Castle | Fri 16 Oct, 3:00pm | Drop in to see the recent lake sword find | Included with admission – see details​

911 | Assembly Hall | Fri 16 Oct, 7:30pm | Nineties boyband marks its 30th anniversary | From £34.00​

Tunbridge Wells Repair Café | Trinity Theatre | Sat 17 Oct, 10:00am | Free repairs for household items, run by volunteers | Free entry

Apple Weekend | Penshurst Place | Sat 17 Oct – Sun 18 Oct, 10:00am | Apple pressing, apple treats and family games | Included with admission – see details​

Halloween Trail | Chiddingstone Castle | Sat 17 Oct – Sat 31 Oct | Pick up a trail map at the front desk | Included with admission – see details​

Halloween Half Term | Hever Castle | Sat 17 Oct – Sun 1 Nov | Halloween half-term family fun at the castle | Included with admission – see details​

An Evening with Jonny Hincks | The Amelia Scott | Sat 17 Oct, 7:00pm | Talk from popular gardening creator GardenWithJonny | From £15.00​

Illusion Impossible | Assembly Hall | Sat 17 Oct, 7:30pm | Magic, mind reading and daring escapes for families | From £27.25​

Autumn Amble Walk and Lunch | Penshurst Place | Sun 18 Oct, 10:30am | Guided estate walk, roast lunch, house and gardens | From £49.00​

Halloween Spooktacular: A Fangtastic Family Show! | Assembly Hall | Sun 18 Oct, 2:00pm | Comedy, music, magic and UV puppets for families | From £18.25​

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

Howard Hodgkin: In a Public Garden | The Amelia Scott | Fri 23 Oct – Sun 21 Feb | Major print retrospective of a celebrated British artist | Free entry

Brassed Off | Rusthall Community Cinema | Sat 24 Oct, 6:30pm | Ewan McGregor and Pete Postlethwaite in brass band classic | See details​

Beware the Bad Apple! Halloween Trail | Penshurst Place | Sat 24 Oct – Sun 1 Nov, 10:00am | Hunt the grounds for potion ingredients | Included with admission – see details​

Chiddingstone Castle Christmas Fair | Chiddingstone Castle | Sat 21 Nov, 10:00am | Over 60 artisan, vintage and gift stalls | From £4.00​

A Fairytale Christmas at Scotney Castle | Scotney Castle | Sat 21 Nov – Sun 3 Jan | Fairytale-themed mansion, twinkling lights and gingerbread trail | Admission applies – see details​

SPORT

Results

CORRECTION 🏑 3 Oct Burnt Ash 2 - 2 Tunbridge Wells Women

⚽ 10 Oct Tunbridge Wells 0–0 Stansfeld (Tunbridge Wells won on penalties)

⚽ 10 Oct Fleet Town 3–3 Rusthall (Rusthall won on penalties)

🏉 10 Oct Wimbledon 22–26 Tunbridge Wells

🏑 Tunbridge Wells Men 0 - 5 East Grinstead

🏑 10 Oct Tunbridge Wells Women 3–1 Maidstone

Fixtures

⚽ 17 Oct Tunbridge Wells v Kennington

⚽ 17 Oct Rusthall v Phoenix Sports

🏉 17 Oct Bracknell v Tunbridge Wells

🏑 17 Oct Tunbridge Wells Men v Brighton & Hove

🏑 17 Oct Tunbridge Wells Women v Ashford

THANK YOU

Hope you enjoyed this week's letter!

Jamie

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