INDEX – CELEBRATING 25 YEARS AT THE HEART OF TUNBRIDGE WELLS 015


THE AREA REMAINS A FIRM FAVOURITE WITH COMMUTERS AND FAMILIES SEEKING A LIFESTYLE WITH EASY ACCESS TO SOME OF THE FINEST COUNTRYSIDE IN THE REGION


optimistic of an upturn in economic fortunes. “We have been going for 25 years now and it seems that people still want to read magazines as well as digital editions, which is good news for us. The development of the internet has brought many changes for businesses in the town over the past couple of decades. They have had to become a lot more lean to survive and compete. “There are some fantastic businesses and


organisations in the area, some of which have been supporting us since our earliest editions, including the likes of Wells Bedding, the Assembly Hall Theatre, and West Kent College, who have all featured in the magazine,” explained the publisher, who revealed it has been heartening to see so many companies support INDEX Magazine. He added: “I’ve found publishing over the years to be exciting and challenging. Though it can be tough at times, it is also rewarding. I think there are some good things happening in the town including the former cinema site being redeveloped, so in a few years’ time, I think this will be an amazing place to live and work.”


THE TIMES THEY ARE A CHANGIN’


There have been many environmental changes to the Tunbridge Wells area over the past few decades that have left their mark. Not least of these has been the significant amount of residential development in the area and neighbouring towns. In terms of housing prices, there have been huge increases over the past two decades. According to a Savills survey, national average property values were just £66,000 for England and Wales in 1995, compared to well over £200,000 today (and over £400,000 in the Tunbridge Wells area) for an average three-bedroom family home. Commuting has also become far more expensive as well, with season tickets to London costing around £5,000 a year from Tunbridge Wells. But under the era of privatisation that began in the mid 90’s, rail fares were comparatively cheaper with the annual


© Damien Wells


season ticket roughly £2,000. As for other costs, the average price of a pint of lager in Kent is presently around the £3.90 mark, which compares to a national average of just £1.60 in the 90’s.


JOIN THE PARTY!


This October the Fairtrade Foundation turns 25. For most of us, Fairtrade means the distinctive circular Fairtrade logo on bananas we buy at the supermarket, but did you know that both Tunbridge Wells and more recently Tonbridge have Fairtrade Town status? The purpose of a Fairtrade Town is to contribute to the Foundation’s aim of tackling poverty by enabling disadvantaged producers from poor countries to receive a better deal, through encouraging support for the Fairtrade Mark. • Visit fairtrade.org.uk


MARKING 30TH OF TOWN TWINNING


2019 sees Tunbridge Wells celebrating the 30th


anniversary of its formal partnership link with Wiesbaden in Germany. When British and German ex-servicemen first made contact in 1960, they quickly found that they spoke a common language of active reconciliation. The subsequent exchanges they organised led to the formal signing of a Twinning Charter in 1989. To mark this 30th anniversary, a celebratory concert is taking place on Saturday 28th September at 7.30pm, at the Trinity Theatre. The Tunbridge Wells Twinning & Friendship Association has teamed up with the town’s annual International Music Festival to offer you a concert featuring two world-class performers: Michael Collins, one of the world’s great clarinettists, and star international pianist, Michael McHale. They will perform a selection from their acclaimed Wigmore Hall concerts, providing an evening of top-quality classical music with works by famous German, French and British composers and featuring the dazzling virtuosity of two world-class musicians. • Tickets can be booked through the Trinity Theatre Box Office at trinitytheatre.net, by phone on 01892 678678 or in person. The full price is £19, with some concessions available.


© David Bartholomew (www.davidbartholomew.co.uk)


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