Sign up to our daily newsletter for all the latest Kent stories and breaking news delivered straight to your inbox Thank you for subscribing!We have more newsletters five grandchildren and a well-loved member of the her local community is among those being remembered in the latest death and funeral notices for Kent Brenda Burkin was described as a "familiar face" around Tonbridge and will be sorely missed by all who knew her Announcing the passing of a loved one in local news media is a long-standing tradition. KentLive is proud to have the trust placed in us to make these important announcements Every notice published in our newspaper and news site also appears on funeral-notices.co.uk - the UK’s number-one site for death notices and memorials Every notice remains online forever providing friends and families with a lifelong tribute to their loved one you can create a notice by calling our helpful team on 01482 908084 Here are a selection of notices published earlier this week Patricia 'Pat' Bromfield peacefully passed away at St Michaels Care Home in Westgate on Sea Pat will be deeply missed by all her family and all who knew her donations if desired to the Pilgrims Hospice or Cross Roads Care Kent c/o Gore Brothers Ltd A familiar face around Tonbridge will be sadly missed having died peacefully on Wednesday Brenda Elizabeth Myhill was born in Paston the youngest child of Dora & Cyril Myhill Jean (Giddy) who died when a young girl in 1935 and a brother Eric who died in 2010 Norfolk where Brenda attended the secondary school when he was on National Service in the Royal Air Force in Norfolk 1957 in North Walsham before setting up home in Tonbridge Gary and Robin and five grandchildren Sarah The family lived in Barden Road for 40 years before moving to Longmead Way They did many things they had always planned to do including returning to the Isle of Wight where they had spent their honeymoon a holiday to the Channel Islands and other holidays with family and friends John sadly died in 2002 but since then Brenda has had numerous trips abroad to Egypt Malta and Trinidad & Tobago to name a few One of her favourite memories was a flight in a Spitfire at the age of 81 Brenda was a well-loved member of the community and will be sorely missed by all who knew her She was a wonderful mother and grandmother and a good friend to so many The funeral service will be held at Tunbridge Wells crematorium on Monday, April 28 at 3.15pm. Family flowers only. If anyone would like to give a donation to either of her chosen charities, please visit wttp://brendaelizabethburkin.muchloved.com/ It is with great sadness that Ruby's family announces her passing Ruby was a much loved mum to Rob and grandmother to Jamie Ruby is now reunited with her beloved husband Peter Robert Burt and she will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved her The Funeral Service will take place on Friday, May 16 at the Tunbridge Wells Crematorium Chapel at 11am. Donations in memory of Ruby are being collected on behalf of the Kent, Surrey, Sussex Air Ambulance. www.abbeyfs.co.uk Cyril passed away peacefully at home in Sevenoaks on April 8 at the age of 86 with his beloved wife Pat by his side The funeral will be held at Tunbridge Wells Crematorium on May 6 at 3.15pm He will be greatly missed by all his family and friends and remembered for being such a lovely gentleman. Family flowers only. Donations to Hospice in the Weald via Doves Funeral Directors, Sevenoaks. https://www.dovesfunerals.co.uk/ Ann Cracknell peacefully passed away on April 4 Ann will be very much missed by all of her family and friends Funeral service will be held at Kent & Sussex Crematorium, Tunbridge Wells on Wednesday, May 7 at 10.45am. Family flowers only please. Donations, if desired, to Friends of Crowborough Hospital c/o Tester and Jones Funeral Services, London Road, Crowborough. TN6 2TT or via the website www.testerandjones.co.uk Wendy Davy passed away peacefully at the Hospice in The Weald on April 10 Wendy will be greatly missed by all of her family and friends Anthony sadly passed away peacefully in the wonderful care of The William Harvey Hospital on April 9 He is deeply mourned by his family and friends a Thanksgiving Service for Anthony's life will be held at St Michael's Methodist Church in Hythe at 12.30pm on Thursday May 8 with refreshments afterwards at The Red Lion All friends and family welcome. No flowers please, but donations if desired to the Romney Hythe and Dymchurch Railway Supporters Association where Anthony spent so many happy days Any enquiries to Chittendens Funeral Services on 01303 262762 Janet Hayes sadly died at home on March 15 Donations in lieu of flowers to Demelza Children's Hospice, a charity close to Janet's heart- Demelza.org.uk W Hodges 48 London Road Terry Kelly passed away on March 18, 2025 aged 91 years. Donations in his memory are going to Prostate Cancer Jean Martin died peacefully at home on Wednesday, March 26, 2025, aged 92 years. She will be sadly missed by all her family. Funeral Service will be held at St Michael & All Angels Church, Jarvis Brook on Thursday, May 8, 2025 at 10.45am. Family flowers only. Donations, if desired, to RNLI & RSPB Previously Landlord of The Old Fire House Exeter The family of Ronald 'Ron' Alfred Rowe who was the owner and founder of Herne-Bay Snooker Club he died peacefully surrounded by loved ones on April 13 The celebration of his life and funeral will be held on May 13 there will be refreshments and a reception to be held at The Constitutional Club we would love for anyone who knew him to join us in celebrating his life Terence Rutt sadly passed away on the April 3 Funeral to take place at Herne Bay Crematorium on Friday Donations if desired can be made to British Heart Foundation at www.awelchandsons.co.uk. Enquiries to A Welch & Sons Funeral Services Dearly loved and deeply missed by all her family and friends Jean's cremation service is to take place at Herne Bay Crematorium on Wednesday Family flowers only by request. Donations if desired can be made to Macmillan Cancer Support and Pilgrims Hospices In East Kent at www.awelchandsons.co.uk Enquiries to A Welch & Sons Funeral Services John Whittaker has died aged 93 on March 29 A chartered accountant who travelled widely during his career he settled in Folkestone and was an active Rotarian He will be remembered especially for his love of the piano and his garden Proprietor of The Sion Hill Hotel & The Eagle Cafe To add your own tributes to the loved ones from our area, or to publish a notice for your loved one, visit funeral-notices.co.uk Our thoughts are with the family and friends of those we have lost Story SavedYou can find this story in  My Bookmarks.Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right The Conservative leader of Kent County Council was one of four Tories to lose their seats to Reform UK in the 2025 Local Elections Roger Gough has led Kent County Council since 2021 but is now not even a councillor As well as his Sevenoaks North and Darent Valley seat the Tories also lost Sevenoaks Rural North East Sevenoaks Rural South and Swanley to Reform UK the Conservatives did hold on to their Sevenoaks West seat while the Lib Dems held their Sevenoaks Town seat Overall on Kent County Council Reform UK now has overall control and holds 57 out of the 81 seats the Lib Dems are the second largest party with 12 councillors The final two seats are taken by Labour councillors down from the five the party held before the election Full results for Sevenoaks district are listed below: Sevenoaks North and Darent Valley - REFORM GAIN FROM CON Sevenoaks Rural North East -REFORM GAIN FROM CON Sevenoaks Rural South -REFORM GAIN FROM CON Richard Streatfeild (Lib Dem) - 2510 ELECTED For a full list of results from across Kent click here: Kent Local Election results full list For detailed results from the other 11 Kent County Council areas Ashford Canterbury Dartford Dover Folkestone and Hythe Gravesham Maidstone Swale Thanet Tonbridge and Malling Tunbridge Wells For best viewing experience of this website Please enter a place name in the search bar After provisionally the warmest May Day on record in the UK higher than average temperatures will subside over the weekend Environment Agency Updated: 11:36 (UTC+1) on Tue 6 May 2025 it will turn increasingly cloudy from off the North Sea Some bright or sunny spells developing by evening Staying dry with some lengthy clear skies overnight Turning chilly with a touch of grass frost in places Largely dry with variable amounts of cloud and bright or sunny spells on Wednesday with variable amounts of cloud and bright or sunny spells throughout the period Dry across the vast majority of the UK with clear or sunny spells but also some patchy cloud Cloud will likely thicken across the far north and northwest during the weekend with some outbreaks of rain for a time There is also a small risk of some heavy showers in the far south or southwest high pressure will be dominant across the UK This will bring predominantly fine and dry weather for the majority of places Temperatures are likely to be slightly above normal for the time of year although there is a chance of some cold nights Fairly typical weather for the time of year is most likely through this period fine and dry weather is more likely to dominate although this will be interspersed with occasional spells of rain and showers with a risk of heavy rain and thunderstorms in places temperatures will most likely be near to or slightly above average It looks like nothing was found at this location Become a member to take advantage of all the features Become a member to access over 400 hand-picked industry offers DON\u2019T MISS THIS YEARS ALTERNATIVE GIFT GUIDE Get the \u2018cene CULTURE SHOT straight to your inbox on each release By using this website, you agree to our T&C\u2019s, privacy policy & use of cookies. We use analytical data to provide you with an enjoyable experience and to help our website run effectively Kit Conway’s Cat Fight has got Reece Witherspoon’s Book Club vibes all over it the novel has already been compared to Liane Moriarity’s Big Little Lies which Witherspoon adapted into an HBO series.  Conway chooses a far more picturesque location Move over the Californian West and the HBO Hollywood Hills and welcome west Kent and For this is both where Conway is from and where she tells her tale A tale that after reading I’d describe as a darker version of Motherland – a kind of Kent rendition of Desperate Housewives.  how Conway uses the Sevenoaks landscape to depict implications about the seemingly serene suburbs is akin to the way Heathcliff uses the wildness of the moors to depict the wildness of Heathcliff’s character I just quoted Phoebe from Friends for that Cat Fight uses its geography to make eco-critical literary statements As it ruminates between the rural charm and urbanity of its commuter-town setting the characters who inhabit the Sevenoaks estate become obsessed about rumours of a panther-like cat running wild in the community.  Conway shrewdly uses this as a metaphor for us to analyse whether underneath the perfectly controlled and contrived veneer of suburbia although pulled into the colloquial conventionalities of the neighbourhood are deep down just like the alleged cat – bloodthirsty Their fingernails may be perfectly manicured they are not afraid to get their claws out!  Conway’s style also reflects this collision between perfection and pandemonium She effortlessly weaves light or humorous prose into darker subjects such as the dangers of gossip ego and cancer and – perhaps as a result of her past experience as a lawyer – domestic abuse have you based any of the catty characters on mums and dads you’ve met in the school playground Or as a former lawyer are you legally obligated not to say I’m legally obliged to confirm that none of the characters are based on anyone in real life But I wouldn’t base a character on someone I knew – I think I would find that too restrictive and a lot less fun than creating my own cast of characters from scratch while I’m fortunate to know some lovely local parents the playground can be a Petri dish of possibility when it comes to catty comments so I do – like most writers – have an ear cocked for something juicy There’s very much a sense of the superficialities of daily life covering a more sinister and primal existence what are you trying to say about suburban life in particular A friend noted to me once how interesting it is that as humans we strive to be ‘civilised’ to cultivate a sophisticated veneer that separates us from the animal kingdom – cultured natural birth reduces us back to an animal state that for all our knowledge and technology can’t be avoided Parenthood follows the same lines: a blinding deep love This conflict – between how we desire to be and our natural instincts – fascinates me and suburbia is the perfect setting to amplify it As a society we carve out these secure-seeming suburban bubbles when often our safety – whether by natural forces such as the weather There’s something captivating about these communities that can seem so manicured and genteel but scratch the surface and a dark underbelly is exposed I’m not trying to say anything about suburban life itself in particular –it’s more an acknowledgement that humans are essentially all the same and money and privilege can only go so far to mask that And as a writer it can be fun and lend itself to some satisfying satire What were your artistic influences writing this novel I love community-based novels that explore the ripple effect of trauma such as Liane Moriarty’s Big Little Lies and Celeste Ng’s Little Fires Everywhere (and I thought both TV adaptations were excellent too) and novels that deal with serious issues but with a darkly humorous touch Marian Keyes and Holly Bourne are particularly good at this I always seek to include a splash of glamour and where possible satire as is achieved so brilliantly in The White Lotus I had the idea for Cat Fight before watching Tiger King but when I watched it – and witnessed the obsessive addictive personalities at play or some of the people entrenched in big-cat communities – I knew I was on to something Cat Fight is set on ‘the Briars Heart Estate’ – is this a real place?  There is no real Briar Heart Estate (that I am aware of) while the Jutland Estate is geographically similar to the Montreal Estate I renamed them (and the general area of Riverhead to Puddleford) so I wouldn’t feel tied but having a rough idea of the area did help when visualising the action What made you decide to write in the third person multi-perspective rather than the more intimate first person?  I tried writing some parts in first person but ultimately I wanted an almost voyeuristic experience for the reader of peeking through the curtains of these different households and indeed the Puddleford community as a whole The third person seemed the best fit to achieve this Sevenoaks Bookshop I feel so extremely lucky to have had the opportunity to see some amazing authors – Lemn Sissay for example – all speaking live around five minutes from my house And their children’s section is truly excellent – my sons love to visit and we always leave with armfuls of books Cat Fight is published by Transworld / Penguin Random House and is out 15th May Zahra’s novel Daughters of the Nile is published by Boundless and is available here: https://unbound.com/products/daughters-of-the-nile Subscribe to Zahra’s Substack Daughter of the Nile here:  https://substack.com/@zahrabarri independent and multi-award winning magazine which focuses on sub-cultures in-and-around the county of Kent ‘cene endorses those who use their ideas and originality to revive the creative landscape of the South-East high-quality content and an approachable tone ‘cene 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WEBSITE Get the latest property market news straight to your inbox Councillors in Kent want the name of a hotel converted into six flats to be reinstated saying otherwise 300 years of the town's history would be erased The Royal Oak Hotel in the High Street in Sevenoaks is a "prominent and historic feature of the town" explained the reasons behind rejecting the name including for post delivery and emergency services' response It said the Royal Oak Hotel was an important "landmark and reminder of the town's heritage" Councillors were "surprised and deeply disappointed" on learning the flats would be called Flats 1-6 thus "erasing over 300 years of the town’s history" the hotel was a "grand and important building" in the heart of the town and was once known as The Black Bull Built in the 18th century as a coaching inn, Queen Victoria once stayed there during her visit to Knole one person who worked there said it was "always busy with the bar and restaurant always popular" Strangely, the hotel's website is still live, and it says it had 41 rooms, and was just 250m from the Church of Saint Nicholas. As we reported in February, 2022 The Grade II-listed building was sold in 2015 for £2.65million The council has fired off a letter to Sevenoaks District Council to urge reconsideration of the new name and for Royal Oak to be "reinstated" the council said: "Councillors remain unsatisfied with the justification provided by the District Council as to why the name has been lost – the summary of which is that the adjacent location of properties which are similarly named “Royal Oak Mews” and “Royal Oak House 5 High Street” could cause confusion and delays to deliveries and emergency services "Given the origins of the moniker having derived from the Royal Oak Hotel however with the adjacent properties having been named in deference to its historic significance the Town Councillors remain determined to contest the loss and pursue its reinstatement." The town council listed the reasons given by Sevenoaks District Council for why "Royal Oak" was not suitable KentLive has contacted developer Mopdev Ltd for comment A spokesman for Sevenoaks District Council said: “With new housing developments the owners are invited to put forward their preferred names The owner’s initial name included ‘Royal Oak’ for the former hotel and new building to the rear the neighbouring property is already called ‘Royal Oak House’ “While we acknowledge the historical significance of the site current national naming standards advise against giving properties in such close proximity the same name This could cause problems for the emergency services the Royal Mail and other delivery companies." “The owner came back with the alternative name of ‘Hanover House’ as Queen Victoria (the last monarch of the House of Hanover) once stayed at the hotel The owner can ask to change the name of the development.” Click this link to receive your daily dose of KentLive content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice Get more news from KentLive straight to your inbox for free HERE. Voters across Sevenoaks borough will head to the polls on Thursday (May 1) to elect six councillors to represent them on Kent County Council Residents in Sevenoaks as well as surrounding towns and villages such as Swanley have the chance to use their vote to influence policies on issues such as roads Sevenoaks borough has 30 candidates standing across six wards with each ward electing one councillor to county hall the six Sevenoaks seats are held by five Conservatives and one Lib Dem councillor 425 candidates are standing for your votes in 72 wards across the 12 boroughs and districts that make up the Kent County Council region Medway Council does not have elections scheduled in 2025 Kent County Council currently has a Conservative majority with the Lib Dems as the next largest party on six Labour and the Green Party hold five seats each three members for Reform and one each for the Heritage Party and the Swale Independents Elections in Kent are going ahead this year despite the ongoing devolution process that is set to see the county’s current councils abolished to be replaced with a smaller number of unitary authorities A full list of candidates for all of the Sevenoaks borough seats in the 2025 Kent County Council elections are listed below: For a full list of candidates standing in ever area of Kent in the 2025 Local Elections click here. For a detailed list of Ashford candidates click here For a detailed list of Canterbury candidates click here For a detailed list of Dartford candidates click here For a detailed list of Dover candidates click here For a detailed list of Folkestone and Hythe candidates click here For a detailed list of Gravesham candidates click here For a detailed list of Maidstone candidates click here For a detailed list of Swale candidates click here For a detailed list of Thanet candidates click here For a detailed list of Tonbridge and Malling candidates click here For a detailed list of Tunbridge Wells candidates click here ‘Garden Centre by Homebase’ is a new addition to the store fitted with everything that they need to build their garden From outdoor plants to compost this extra area of the store means that shoppers will not miss out after the closure of the old Homebase The Range store is also dog friendly meaning that well behaved pets (on leads) can come in with their owners It was a busy store opening as customers explored the aisles and took advantage of prize giveaways The grand prize was a Lay-Z-Spa Singapore AirJet Plus Hot Tub valued at over £599 and the first 50 customers in line were rewarded with goodie bags packed with The Range’s most-loved products including Burts were on hand to offer expert advice live demonstrations and promotions and giveaways to shoppers throughout the day The opening of The Range in Sevenoaks marks another milestone for the retailer, which has also recently opened a location in the Sittingbourne Retail Park Alex Simpkin said: “We’re excited to have opened our new-format store in Sevenoaks and see so many locals and visitors join us for the grand opening “The addition of the Garden Centre by Homebase allows us to offer a complete shopping experience for customers from stylish homeware to quality outdoor living solutions "The team can’t wait to serve the Sevenoaks community with great value products.” This newly opened store also features the free Click & Collect service, allowing customers to shop either online and grab their purchases in-store within 60 minutes ***This was issued by the Department for Transport on 20th January 2025 and can also be viewed, here: *** passengers across the South East will be able to use tap-in and tap-out ticketing at 47 more stations for the first time guaranteeing they get the best value ticket available on the day which will be rolled out at these stations from 2 February 2025 will turn dozens of key commuter lines such as Sevenoaks to London Bridge into fully contactless journeys making train travel simpler The following Southeastern stations are included in the roll out: Building on our core principle to always put passenger experience at the heart of our railways, everyone using tap-in tap-out will be guaranteed the best value ticket available on the day saving both time and money on every journey taken, helping to improve living standards and making working people better off – delivering on our Plan for Change Contactless ticketing will be rolled out at a further 49 stations throughout 2025 including London Stansted Airport – meaning all London airports will be accessible by tap-in tap-out ticketing for the first time ever – ensuring seamless connections from train to plane across our capital This will include 4 stations in the South East being announced for the first time today (20 January 2025): delivering better value fares and improving passenger experiences to drive more passengers back to the railway is at the heart of the government’s mission to deliver growth and make working people better off Untangling the complex web of ticketing is just one of the ways in which the government is fulfilling its commitment to modernise Britain’s transport system and it comes as part of the government’s plan to deliver the biggest overhaul of our rail network in a generation putting passengers at the heart of every journey and encouraging more people to choose rail "The ticketing system is far too complicated so we’re taking the stress out of navigating the labyrinth of fares and replacing it with new technology so passengers can simply tap-in tap-out while being guaranteed the best fare available at the time on the day This hassle-free technology will simplify thousands of journeys every day for passengers across the South East and it’s something we will roll out to other cities as soon as we can unlocking growth across the country as part of our Plan for Change We are delivering the biggest overhaul of our rail network in a generation putting passengers at the heart of every journey and encouraging more people to choose rail." These rail routes provide vital connections across the South East the seaside and the countryside whether it’s for work education or connecting with friends and family.  The department is working closely with Greater Manchester and the West Midlands to develop their proposals for rolling out contactless ticketing even further "We want our customers to travel with ease with fares that reflect travellers’ needs post-pandemic We’re delighted that pay as you go technology is being expanded to 47 stations which will provide convenience making it easier than ever for customers to pay and travel seamlessly We are committed to developing a simpler and better-value fare system that not only meets our customers’ expectations but also supports the long-term growth of rail travel and enhances the overall customer experience." Tap-in tap-out technology launched at 6 Chiltern stations last summer as the first stations to benefit as part of this rollout In the first 6 months of contactless ticketing being available at those 6 stations more than 268,000 entries and exits were made using contactless cards or mobile devices – showing how popular the system is with customers using those stations already.  Chief Customer and Strategy Officer at Transport for London (TfL) The popularity of convenient travel via pay as you go with contactless has seen it grow and become increasingly popular across London and the surrounding areas in the ten years since it launched in London We are delighted to be extending pay as you go with contactless to a further 47 stations on the 2 February This will further help those travelling by rail outside London do so more flexibly and conveniently avoid the need to pre-purchase tickets or paper Travelcards when heading into the capital and support the wider UK economic recovery through easier access to rail travel Great British Railways will bring track and train together under one directing mind with a relentless focus on improving services for passengers and customers modernising the network through expanding technologies such as contactless ticketing andrew.commons@southeasternrailway.co.uk The following stations will be introducing contactless ticketing from 2nd February: Southeastern is the trading name of SE Trains Limited Registered in England under company number 03266762 Breaking crime updates and news from the courts Two Sevenoaks shops have been targeted in a theft spree that focussed on alcohol and power tools Suspected thieves armed with hammers have been arrested following reports of break-ins at two shops near Sevenoaks Police said the two men were detained by responding patrols in connection with attempts to steal items including alcohol and power tools It is reported they first forced their way into a Tesco in Riverhead at around 5.10am on Tuesday (April 22) where they tried to steal bottles of spirits The men are said to have threatened staff with a hammer before they left empty handed Attending officers were then quickly alerted to another break-in after an alarm activated at a nearby Topps Tiles store It is reported a door was forced open before attempts were made to steal tools as well as confectionary items from a fridge were arrested at the scene and taken into custody They are currently bailed to return to a police station 2 MAY 2025BookmarkVoters across Kent are heading to the polls for the county council elections (Image: © 2024 PA Media All Rights Reserved)Voters across Kent are heading to the polls today to have their say on how the county is run in the future However this means there are contests to be decided in the districts and boroughs of Ashford READ MORE: Kent Local Election results 2025 as votes set to be counted for county council seats - live updates The authority currently has a Conservative majority However the makeup of the council could look very different once all votes are counted which is expected to be at around 7pm on Friday (May 2) The county is a major target for Reform while the Lib Dems Greens and independent candidates will all be hopeful of picking up more seats meaning a change of governance is possible Polls opened at 7am this morning and will remain open until 10pm for residents to cast their votes For a full list of candidates standing in ever area of Kent in the 2025 Local Elections click here. For a detailed list of Ashford candidates click here For a detailed list of Canterbury candidates click here For a detailed list of Dartford candidates click here For a detailed list of Dover candidates click here For a detailed list of Folkestone and Hythe candidates click here For a detailed list of Gravesham candidates click here For a detailed list of Maidstone candidates click here For a detailed list of Sevenoaks candidates click here For a detailed list of Swale candidates click here For a detailed list of Thanet candidates click here For a detailed list of Tonbridge and Malling candidates click here For a detailed list of Tunbridge Wells candidates click here We have now switched over to our results blog which you can find here. Tomorrow, KentLive will be providing live updates from across the county as the results come in. Wherever you have been voting in Kent you will find the results here. Ballot verification and counting is expected to take please throughout the morning and results should begin to come in in the afternoon. The final decleration of results is expected at around 7pm on Friday (May 2) After polls close counting will not begin across Kent until the next morning. Each district or borough will be counting the votes from there area and reporting back the winners. It is not until 7pm tomorrow that Kent County Council is expecting to be able to announce the full results and we will know who is set to control the authority. Polls across Kent will remain open until 10pm. That means residents have just over six hours left to cast their ballots and have their say on the future of Kent County Council. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Kent County Council (@kcc_kent) The only area of Kent where there are no elections going on today is Medway is a unitary authority meaning it operates seperately from Kent County Council The area last held elections in 2023 as is next due to hold elections in 2027 The state of Kent's roads is onew of the major issues facing the county council. The major parties have had their say on how they would go about improving the situation here. You do not need your polling card to cast a vote but you will need photo ID if you want to vote in person A full list of accepted photo ID can be found here: https://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/voting-and-elections/voter-id/accepted-forms-photo-id There are 800 polling stations across the county open today for the county council elections Which one you need to visit will be on your polling card or you can put your postcode in here to find where you need to go: https://wheredoivote.co.uk/ and polls will remain open until 10pm this evening There is no overnight counting planned for this election in Kent instead ballots will begin to be counted across the county's districts and boroughs tomorrow (Friday) morning Kent is expected to be one of the last places to fully declare results with the final ones hoping to be in at around 7pm however results will start trickling in from across the afternoon KentLive has provided full candidate lists for every area of Kent see below for the people who are after your vote: For a detailed list of Ashford candidates click here For a detailed list of Canterbury candidates click here For a detailed list of Dartford candidates click here For a detailed list of Dover candidates click here For a detailed list of Folkestone and Hythe candidates click here For a detailed list of Gravesham candidates click here For a detailed list of Maidstone candidates click here For a detailed list of Sevenoaks candidates click here For a detailed list of Swale candidates click here For a detailed list of Thanet candidates click here For a detailed list of Tonbridge and Malling candidates click here For a detailed list of Tunbridge Wells candidates click here News service PA has provided this helpful round-up of how things stand on Kent County Council heading into the 2025 elections The PA news service said: "Kent is another council where the Conservatives are heading into the elections with a healthy majority (55 of 81 seats) but where they face challenges from more than one party "Reform has three councillors here and hopes to gain more "If the Greens or independent candidates also do well the Tories could lose overall control." Good morning and welcome to KentLive's coverage of the 2025 Kent County Council Elections KCC has been a Conservative stronghold almost since its creation in 1974 with only a brief gap of no overall control in the 1990s Decades of near-unbroken Tory hegemony have been shattered by Reform UK KCC has been a Conservative stronghold almost since its creation in 1974 Decades of near-unbroken Tory hegemony have been shattered by Reform UK... like each of Nigel Farage’s outfits before it depends on capturing an anti-system energy: being seen to be the party against all the established ones This is a viable strategy for an insurgent opposition – but is it one for governing ...The risk of being unable to deliver on their priorities or solve KCC’s financial woes may not bode well for their general election prospects Recent polling suggests Reform would be the largest party in a general election if held now – perhaps not so if they have to govern parts of the country for the next several years.. They will soon have to vote on a leader of their group who will become leader of KCC and no doubt any number of the first-time councillors wearing Reform rosettes today see themselves potentially at the helm results have been confirmed in from up and down the county Heading into the 2025 elections Kent County Council had a Conservative majority The Conservatives suffered a terrible set of Kent results They began as the largest party and were in control of 55 of Kent County Council's 81 seats but end the election with just five councillors the Lib Dems had a positive outcome as they increased their number of councillors from six to 12 after picking up seats in Tunbridge Wells The Greens started and ended the results on five seats while the Labour party saw its number of councillors reduced from five to just two It was also bad news for independents who have been wiped off Kent County Council Follow along the blog to read every update The Kent County Council Local Elections 2025 have now come to an end It was a fabulous set of results for Reform UK who now hold a sizeable majority The Lib Dems also picked up seats and will become the main opposition party while the Greens maintained what they had they were very bad results for the Conservatives and Labour who now only have five and two seats respectively Full list of Kent County Council Local Election results 2025 For detailed results from each of the 12 Kent County Council areas click below: Ashford Canterbury Dartford Dover Folkestone and Hythe Gravesham Maidstone Sevenoaks Swale Thanet Tonbridge and Malling Tunbridge Wells Nigel Farage took aim at leaders who want to “please everybody” in favour of having opinions He told the PA news agency: “Politics is about choices you like an individual you like what they stand for and over the last few years it’s become about leaders who want to please everybody and stand for nothing in particular.” “It’s pretty straight forward where I am on nearly all issues and if people like it that’s great and if they don’t it’s called democracy.” The Reform UK leader also suggested that councils under his party’s control would look to scrap “crackpot” clean energy initiatives Mr Farage said: “We produce less than 1% of the world’s carbon dioxide consumption of coal oil and gas is going up every single year globally and will continue to do so “All we’ve done actually by crackpot policies and Kent’s got it’s issues of course with solar farms particularly which I think our chaps will deal with here in Kent don’t worry about that “All we’re doing is giving ourselves the most expensive energy in the world all I’ve ever said about this is it makes no sense.” The final results for the Kent County Council elections 2025 are in Of the 81 seats available Reform now control 57 giving them a sizeable majority at county hall The Lib Dems have also made gains and now have 12 seats twice the number they went into the election with The Greens and the Conservatives both have five seats meaning the Tories have lost 50 seats while the Greens have stayed even three fewer then it started with while independent councillors have suffered a wipe out All votes have been counted and the people of Kent have elected their new local leaders and representatives for the county council Read the full results here: Kent Local Election results full list as Reform takes control of county council and Lib Dems make gains Reform UK have won full control of Kent County Council! pic.twitter.com/wW0ZipNboG The final ballots have been counted and re-counted the results are in: it's dramatic close to a long day as Green Party candidate Stuart Jeffrey wins by just one vote ahead of Reform in Maidstone Central Reform UK's Oliver Bradshaw takes the other seat- creating an unlikely pair to represent the county ward The final result of the Kent County Council elections is in and no wonder it took a while Reform's Oliver Bradshaw took the first seat with 2,477 votes However there was just one vote seperating the Green Party's Stuart Jeffery (2,373 votes) and Reform's Peter Jarvis (2,372 votes) who just misses out in third Reports from the ground suggest there is a re-count in Maidstone central The final results have been trickling in with some last-minute wins for the Green Party Tonbridge has re-elected Mark Hood and Paul Stepto back into their seats on the county council Tonbridge. Elected: HOOD Mark Antony James. Green. & STEPTO Paul Andrew. Green. https://t.co/0mKvuTFolA #kccelection pic.twitter.com/9cq9hLbFxK Have you enjoyed KentLive's coverage of the local elections? If you want to hear more from us you can get more news from KentLive straight to your inbox for freeHERE. Local Democracy Reporter Daniel Essen writes: Reform UK are ready to celebrate a historic takeover of a Conservative heartland All 5 Ashford seats won + the Weald of Kent.Thanks to all who voted for us There might be some sore heads tomorrow as the local Reform UK reps say they have "smashed" the local elections Hopefully all the pubs in Kent have stocked up on booze We smashed it. pic.twitter.com/f5MmGRcKjs Although not all the votes are in yet- Reform has at least 53 seats on KCC it is likely to be easier for councillors to make decisions and the change they want to see in Kent Reform's success in Kent builds a bigger picture in the UK where the party has gained around 282 seats in the local council and mayoral elections The results confirm what has been shown in the national polls for quite some time: Reform is more popular than Labour Will it shake Prime Minbister Kier Starmer to calling an election Will he step down over Reform's success With the next general election potentially four years away Not long left to go until all the votes have been counted and the full makeup of the council is shown You can find out the results here: Kent Local Election results full list as Reform takes control of county council and Lib Dems make gains Marc Logan hoovered up the votes in Sevenoaks North and Darent Valley and has ousted the former head of the tories in Kent Perhaps one of the worst local election cycles for the Tories in Kent so far the Conservatives only have retained 2 seats out of their previous 55 From a party that did not even exist until 2021 Reform UK has taken control over Kent County Council As the votes still trickle in- keep watch and see just how many councillors Reform UK can get A Kent lottery winner is yet to claim their incredible prize of £10,000 every month for 30 years The National Lottery has launched a search to find the missing winner who has just over a month to come forward Players are being urged to check tickets bought in Sevenoaks The missing ticketholder matched all five main numbers and the Life Ball in the Set for Life draw and the all-important winning numbers drawn on October 24 were: 2 while a unique platform announcement has also been made The guest platform announcer was James Evans who won the same incredible prize which is still waiting to be claimed He took time off from his post-winning ‘commute’ on the ski-slopes where he is now retraining as a ski instructor to remind passengers to check their tickets Joining commuters and the Southeastern team at Sevenoaks station earlier this week was Patrick Lisoire He said: “Sevenoaks station is one of the busiest transport hubs in the district so it’s possible the lucky ticketholder hopefully we will have reminded them to check that ticket and they can make a claim Wouldn’t it be incredible to be able to swap a season ticket for a winning National Lottery ticket “We’ve had similar situations when prizes have been claimed a long while after a draw has taken place so there’s every reason to hope the activity today will bring forward that lucky ticketholder the sooner they can start to enjoy £10,000 paid into their bank account this month and for the next 359 months after that so the message is simple – check your tickets if you bought a Set For Life ticket in the Sevenoaks District for the draw on October 24 Helping spread the word at the station was Jack Heidrey who said: “It’s exciting to think that one of our commuters could be the winning ticketholder but maybe doesn’t actually know it yet We hope that by lending our support to The National Lottery in this life-changing search someone from Sevenoaks will soon have 10,000 reasons a month to enjoy life’s journey.. Jack added: “I thought we had already seen everything here at Sevenoaks station but I can safely say this is the first time we’ve had a National Lottery winner making announcements about life-changing amounts of money.” If no-one comes forward with the winning ticket before the prize claim deadline will go to help National Lottery-funded projects across the UK Get more news from KentLive straight to your inbox for free HERE Kent Fire and Rescue Service was called to reports of a vehicle on fire on the A21 All lanes have reopened on the A21 southbound between the A225 (Sevenoaks Weald) and the A26 (Tonbridge) following an earlier vehicle fire The incident took place on the southbound carriageway between the A225 at the Hildenborough and Sevenoaks turnoff All traffic was held from 8am for around half-an-hour resulting in heavy congestion along this stretch of the A21 National Highways soon reported that one lane had been re-opened though long queues of slow moving traffic remained on approach Traffic built back four miles towards Junction 5 of the M25 as a result drivers faced delays of approximately 40 minutes along the A21 southbound A spokesperson for Kent Fire and Rescue Service said: "Two fire engines attended and crews Find our live blog of this incident as it unfolded below For more news follow KentLive to stay in the know To get the latest headlines direct to your email inbox every day, put your email in the box at the top and hit subscribe or visit here Follow KentLive on Facebook - Like our Facebook page to get the latest news in your feed and join in the lively discussions in the comments. Click here to like and follow. Follow us on X - For breaking news and the latest stories. Click here to follow us on X (formerly Twitter). Sign up to our free Kent Traffic and Travel newsletter for the latest on the roads or join our Facebook group Kent Traffic and Travel Kent Fire and Rescue Service (KFRS) has confirmed that the vehicle fire on the A21 near Sevenoaks has now been successfully extinguished and the road fully re-opened Two fire engines were called to the scene and there were no reported injuries National Highways has now confirmed that all lanes have been re-opened on the A21 southbound following the earlier vehicle fire A spokesperson for National Highways said: National Highways has confirmed that there is one mile of traffic on the A21 southbound this morning following a vehicle fire Recovery are waiting for the vehicle to cool before it can be removed from the road Delays of around 10 minutes remain on approach as one lane of two is still shut KentLive has approached emergency services for further information Current National Highways traffic maps show that queues are easing along the A21 southbound near Sevenoaks this morning One lane remains closed as emergency responders attend a reported vehicle fire on the carriageway There are now delays of at least 10 minutes on the approach National Highways anticipates normal travel conditions to resume between 10.30am and 10.45am Kent County Council's (KCC) Highways department has advised that there is slow moving traffic on the A21 southbound between the areas of Sevenoaks Weald and Hildenborough Road users have been advised to "expect delays in the area" KCC Highways has branded this a "high severity" incident Hildenborough, A21 Southbound. Slow moving traffic between the areas of Sevenoaks Weald & Hildenborough. Expect delays in the area: https://t.co/oDx34Ld6L7 The earlier reported collision on the A21 is now believed to be a vehicle fire Lengthy traffic has built on approach to the incident which took place between the A225 The latest Inrix update states: "Queueing traffic for four miles and one lane closed due to vehicle fire on A21 Tonbridge Bypass Southbound from A225 (Hildenborough / Sevenoaks Turn Off Sevenoaks Weald) to A26 Quarry Hill Road (Tonbridge) Inrix has reported a collision on the A21 southbound near Sevenoaks this morning (April 22) The incident has taken place between the A225 All traffic had been stopped along this stretch of the A21 for around half-an-hour though four miles of traffic stretching back to the M25 Junction 5 remains on approach Welcome to our live coverage of this breaking incident We will be bringing you all the latest updates relating to the ongoing incident on the A21 near Sevenoaks as we get them Do you have any information or photos? Email kentlivenewsdesk@reachplc.com Don't miss out on the biggest local stories.Sign up to our KentLive newsletter HERE for all the latest daily news and more. Two schools in Kent have merged and are promising "world class" education for pupils aged three to 18 will be called Sevenoaks Family of Schools One of the aims is to make the schools "more resilient" The schools are neighbours and said their close links and long-standing relationship made the merger a "natural partnership" But the schools will keep their respective uniforms and leadership teams And this will not affect Sevenoaks School's connections with other schools including hosting sports events and the use of its facilities for swimming and other activities Sevenoaks School offers the International Baccalaureate programme Sevenoaks School is an independent day and boarding school There is a range of fees for different attendance but for years one and two it is £5,280 per term and for years seven and eight it is £6,570 Sevenoaks School headmaster Jesse Elzinga said: "In an era where educational choice is more important than ever this merger is designed to offer a broader and more resilient approach to independent schooling we are uniting two leading independent schools with a shared vision of providing the highest standard of education with the flexibility to meet the needs of all our students." added: "Collaboration between our schools means a blending of the best practices from each institution This includes sharing expertise in areas such as teaching more diverse learning environment for everyone involved we will continue to uphold the values that have defined our schools - academic rigour and a commitment to nurturing the individual needs of every child." The schools jointly said: "The combined resources and expertise will enhance educational opportunities and ensure continuity of progress for pupils so that children are even better prepared for the move from prep school through to senior school They said the merger would give parents "reassurance of a consistent high-quality education for their children at every stage of their academic journey" They also said from early years through to senior school the merger would ensure every child’s needs were met giving parents "choice in independent education peace of mind and long-term stability" "Sevenoaks (founded in 1432) is a co-educational day and boarding school for students aged 11 to 18 Just half an hour from Central London and Gatwick International Airport our superb 100-acre campus is set in the Kent countryside "Sevenoaks is one of the world’s leading IB schools having taught the International Baccalaureate since 1978 Sevenoaks students have access to world class-facilities for co-curricular pursuits and a well-established community service programme "Sevenoaks is one of the leading UK independent schools and among the world’s top ten IB schools It was the Sunday Times Independent Co-educational School of the Year 2023 and was awarded the UK Independent School Inspectorate’s rare accolade of ‘Exceptional’ for its pupils’ achievements ‘Tough for any university not to be an anti-climax after Sevenoaks.’ Good Schools Guide." "Solefield School is an academic day preparatory school in the heart of Sevenoaks for around 200 children aged 3 to 13 years following the successful opening of ‘Little Acorns’ co-ed pre-school "Both boys and girls benefit from Solefield’s very small classes a personalised curriculum and a 100% pass rate at 13+ exceptional 11+ results and scholarships to senior schools "Pupils enjoy a curriculum full of chess All this whilst benefiting from the very best pastoral care including bespoke wellbeing lessons Art and Drama feature heavily and Solefield holds national titles in a number of sports "Most recent inspection report stated that 'pupils develop skills for lifelong learning'." The Sevenoaks Adult Education Centre is available for purchase by community groups following its listing as an Asset of Community Value By Powered by InYourArea and AI · 21 March 2025 the Sevenoaks District Council has announced that the Sevenoaks Adult Education Centre This property is officially listed as an Asset of Community Value making it eligible for purchase by community groups with a local connection Community groups interested in acquiring the centre must express their intention to bid by April 24 This move offers a valuable opportunity for local organisations to secure a site that holds significant potential for community benefit and engagement Intention to bid must be submitted in writing Groups can send their proposals via email to community.rights@sevenoaks.gov.uk or deliver them in writing to Community Rights community groups will have additional time to prepare a full proposal and funding arrangements necessary for the acquisition Properties listed as Assets of Community Value are identified as having importance to the social well-being or cultural interests of the local community This designation allows local communities more time to prepare bids and potentially purchase such assets For more detailed information regarding the bidding process and requirements interested parties are encouraged to visit www.sevenoaks.gov.uk/righttobid or contact Lee Banks at Sevenoaks District Council through communityrights@sevenoaks.gov.uk For further details on this public notice, please refer to the original publication in the Sevenoaks Chronicle or visit Public Notice Portal save and share Public Notices that affect you in your local area LoadingDaily Email Updates {{contentTitle}} There’s often a lot of chatter online about some of the ruder place names in the UK because Google doesn’t like that kind of thing and lord forbid we upset our masters in Silicon Valley but I’m sure you know the ones I’m talking about Things related to genitalia and bowel movements How pleasing, then, to see the exact opposite. Here, we have a property on a road known as Gracious Lane, near Sevenoaks in Kent. The home is known as Beechmont Hall. It is for sale with Savills for, and I’m annoyed I have to type this out, £4,999,999. That’s a whole other article in itself and get a load of that bench under the sculpture but is extremely elegant and has been tastefully modernised A ‘superbly appointed detached home’ the property boasts some 7,500sq ft of living space over three floors You might be saying ‘three reception rooms doesn’t sound like a lot’ The open-plan kitchen/family/dining room is vast As is the drawing room at the centre of the house Does an indoor swimming pool count as a reception room it has one.There’s also a cinema room and the sweeping glass-fronted library on the first floor looks pretty special too and have provided plenty of windows and balconies from which to enjoy it.  The situation is nothing short of exquisite the property benefits from excellent proximity to Knole park (0.5 miles away on foot) while Sevenoaks itself is 1.5 miles away on foot.  And if for some reason you don’t like the house there’s planning permission for a brand new house Beechmont Hall is for sale for £4.999999 million. For more information and pictures, click here James FisherDeputy Digital EditorJames Fisher is the Deputy Digital Editor of Country Life. He writes about property, travel, motoring and things that upset him. He lives in London. and dashcam footage following a serious collision in Riverhead has been taken to hospital with serious injuries after crashing into another vehicle in Sevenoaks The incident occurred just before 8.30pm on Saturday (19 April) on Westerham Road near to the junction of Larkfield Road in Riverhead A silver Ford Fiesta collided with a black Land Rover Defender the silver Ford Fiesta was involved in a pursuit involving Kent Police officers Paramedics from the South East Coast Ambulance Service attended and the male driver of the Ford Fiesta was taken to a London hospital with serious injuries A mandatory referral has been made to the Independent Office for Police Conduct Investigating officers are now seeking witnesses to the incident Anyone with information is urged to contact the Serious Collision Investigation Unit Local residents with private CCTV and drivers with dashcam who may have been in the area around the time of the incident Want a quick and expert briefing on the biggest news stories Listen to our latest podcasts to find out What You Need To Know.. by | Mar 3, 2025 | Front Page, Women's Match Day Reports Sevenoaks Town Women v Cray Wanderers Women SECWFL Premier – Sunday 2nd March – Match Report Sevenoaks Town Women made it back to back SECWFL Premier titles after victory against the Wands at Greatness Park but were given a stern test of their Championship credentials with Dean Jarman’s side putting in a fine second half performance which nearly turned around a two-nil half time deficit Sevenoaks scored two in six minutes before the half hour through Chloe Jardin and Hannah Cleary but Cray fought back in the second half and replied with a Millie Main penalty Cray started the game 13 points behind the hosts but had three games in hand but even so were long shots to win the title but were only two points behind Maidstone in second which is perhaps a more realistic proposition for a first season at this level Sevenoaks were the only side to beat Cray in the league winning 4-1 at Flamingo Park in October and also a 2-0 win in the League Cup in November The match itself was an entertaining affair with Sevenoaks having the bulk of possession but the first twenty five minutes saw Cray give as good as they got and perhaps came closest to scoring For the Oaks Nancy Housego saw the first opportunity to shoot from outside the area but her shot took a deflection and went over for a corner Cray though threatened when Hannah Gilmour played a ball into the box from the left and keeper Sophie Pourdo flicked the ball away and fell to Olivia Gregory who volleyed wide Sevenoaks came close when Clemmie Young was played in down the left of the area but Sam Sharp did well to block her near post shot and the ball came back off Young and behind for a goal kick For a few minutes after Sevenoaks upped the tempo but were resorting to shooting from distance with Ellie George seeing an effort from 30 yards held by Sharp and then Housego also shooting wide from outside the box Cray though had perhaps the biggest moment when down the left Grace Lawrence’s cross shot caused consternation in the Oaks box and the ball had to be frantically cleared away almost off the line by two defenders However in the 24th minute Sevenoaks took the lead with a quality piece of finishing when Young found space and played a pass to Chloe Jardin down the right and from 20 yards lofted a chipped shot over Sharp and into the net Six minutes later it looked like it was going to be a long way back for Cray when Young was again the provider with a neat pass through to Hannah Cleary who tucked away a composed finish from the edge of the area From here Cray stayed in the game with Sevenoaks threatening with a free kick from 30 yards from Cleary that was held and Lauren Parsons shot wide The second half with nothing to lose saw Cray attempt a gutsy fight back with maybe Sevenoaks taking a bit of a breather Gregory showed great improvisation to hook a similar chipped shot to Sevenoaks’ first goal with an audacious effort that clipped the top of the crossbar Then Cray won a rare corner down the right and Ellie Cole’s ball to the far post was headed wide of the right post by Jess Pooley This was followed by Cole having a shot from 25 yards that was held by Pourdo and were good value to at least get a goal back Cray were presented with that opportunity when Lawrence who had a fine game down the left was clipped inside the area for the award of a penalty from which Millie Main confidently stroked home the spot kick Sevenoaks looked to respond and Cleary saw a shot from 30 yards well claimed by Sharp while for Cray substitute Chloe Ashdown worked an opening down the left but shot wide Towards the end there was a late flurry of activity with Sarah White for Sevenoaks seeing first a shot go over and then curled an effort wide Cray had the final chance of the game with the last kick and from just outside the area down the right Emily Symonds shot was saved by Pourdo but in the end Sevenoaks had done enough to hold on and claim the points needed to win the title once again Cray though can be well pleased with their efforts and 2-1 was about the right result but it would be fitting if Dean Jarman’s side who have been without Katie Jackson all key players for much of or near the end of the season and if Cray can come second that will be a remarkable performance and one to build on for next season The Wands’s next game will be key in determining the position behind Sevenoaks with Maidstone United the visitors to Flamingo Park on Sunday 9th March 4.30 pm and should be a great occasion especially if in warm and sunny conditions like this match New Stadium First Team Tickets Club News Contact Us Instagram YouTube Twitter Our club sponsor page by | Mar 2, 2025 | Front Page Broomsleigh Park is a seven-bedroom delight that has just undergone an extensive restoration demolition and world-class showjumping come together in a property story but that's the strange combination in play with Broomsleigh Park The sellers are Justin Widdowson and his wife As the dynamic CEO of an Essex-based recycling Justin is accustomed to juggling a demanding work schedule with a passion for showjumping at the highest level Equestrian prowess runs in the family; his father was an international showjumper in his youth and later the owner the winner of both a team GB gold medal at the London Games in 2012 and an individual gold medal in Rio in 2016 were looking for a country property within easy reach of London and with enough land on which to create a proper family sporting set-up They place they settled on is the secluded and picturesque Broomsleigh Park which they have transformed over the past few years Broomsleigh House (later Broomsleigh Park) was the focal point of the Broomsleigh Park residential and farming estate offered for sale ‘by order of the executors’ at Harrods auction rooms in November 1945 The estate was described as comprising ‘Broomsleigh House with Four reception rooms London book publisher and dealer William Kingston Fudge bought Broomsleigh Park with 40 acres of land ‘to give greater scope for his passion for gardening and Fudge’s obituary in his trade paper The Bookseller further reveals that ‘there-after he was to divide his seven-day working week in two — half at Broomsleigh having completed the purchase of Broomsleigh Park the Widdowsons commissioned local designers Chambers Furniture of Halstead to completely refurbish the interior The result is a seamless mix of period features and contemporary finishes throughout Broomsleigh’s nearly 13,000sq ft of bright and airy living space six main bedrooms and four luxurious bathrooms Further accommodation is provided in a stylish new two-bedroom annexe the new owners lost no time in demolishing a former squash court and reviving a redundant swimming pool to create a spectacular sports facility An enclosed walkway leads from the main house to a versatile sports hall gym and games area; the adjoining leisure complex overlooks the grounds and comprises a swimming pool with a fully retractable glass roof next to a pukka bowling alley Also within the grounds are a flood-lit tennis court/football pitch with an adjoining tennis house and a newly built treehouse with power and Wi-Fi laid on The impressive equestrian facilities currently comprise a stable block with six loose boxes with immaculate post-and-rail paddocks laid out within the grounds Planning permission has been granted to enlarge the existing sand school and build a covered horse-walker although these facilities may not be sold away from the rest of the property Building and refurbishment took more than two years to complete during which time Mr Widdowson reinforced his links with the Bunn family’s famed All England Jumping Course at Hickstead British showjumping saw the emergence of a new young star when his eight-year-old daughter became the youngest ever rider to win a major series in Hickstead’s formidable international arena 22-year-old Bunbury Quest to success in the Pro Ponies UK British Showjumping Winter 128cm Championship The pair continued their winning ways throughout 2024 taking the Agria 128cm championship at London International Show six seconds faster than their nearest rival’ she’ll have a Big Star foal to compete on With long-term showjumping success in mind Mr Widdowson has decided to sell his pristine Kent operation and move closer to Hickstead where his team can avail of the centre’s world-class training and competition facilities Broomsleigh Park is for sale with Savills and Knight Frank for £9.95 million Kent Police have found a missing teenager, who disappeared on Tuesday, April 1. Officers appealed for the public’s help in trying to locate the teen from Sevenoaks The 19-year-old was last seen in the Pilgrims Way area of Otford, near Sevenoaks at about 10am on Tuesday He was described as being about 6ft with dark brown shoulder length hair and has stubble on his face He was thought to be wearing grey jogging bottoms black Nike trainers with the laces undone and wearing a black waterproof coat He may also have a grey backpack with blue lining On Wednesday (April 2) morning Kent Police announced that the 19-year-old had been found safe and well Officers wish to thank everyone who assisted in the search to find him You are using an outdated browser. Please upgrade your browser to improve your experience and security Article by Index Digital Team | 3rd February 2025 Partnership will offer a world-class independent education in the Sevenoaks area for children from age 3 through to 18 Image Cross country at Solefield School This exciting partnership will offer a world-class independent education in the Sevenoaks area for children from age 3 through to 18 This will enrich opportunities for pupils and ensure confidence and choice in independent education for local families The Sevenoaks Family of Schools aims to create an environment where every child can flourish Both schools will continue to foster a love of learning while embracing the future of education with innovation and flexibility Sevenoaks School and Solefield School are neighbours and their close links and long-standing relationship make this a natural partnership commitment to academic excellence and outstanding pastoral care will ensure ongoing educational innovation The combined resources and expertise will enhance educational opportunities and ensure continuity of progress for pupils so that children are even better prepared for the move from prep school through to senior school The Family will give parents the reassurance of a consistent high-quality education for their children at every stage of their academic journey it ensures that every child’s needs are met providing parents with choice in independent education Solefield School joins the new Sevenoaks Family of Schools from a position of strength with record pupil numbers and healthy waiting lists Both schools will continue to operate independently and retaining their own individual identity Sevenoaks School will continue to run its well-established Service and Partnership programme with other schools and in the local community This includes hosting sporting events and the Schools Triathlon running the annual Science Week and welcoming schools to use Sevenoaks’ state-of-the-art facilities for swimming and many other activities says: “In an era where educational choice is more important than ever with the flexibility to meet the needs of all our students.” comments: “Collaboration between our schools means a blending of the best practices from each institution we will continue to uphold the values that have defined our schools – academic rigour and a commitment to nurturing the individual needs of every child.” • You can read more about the new Sevenoaks Family of Schools here.  #SevenoaksFamilyofSchools #FamilyMattersKent #IndexDigital Index Digital is a lifestyle informative web site covering the needs of online visitors in Kent and Sussex The items stolen include high value pieces of jewellery and watches CCTV images show a potential suspect travelling by train between Staplehurst and Sevenoaks on the morning of the attack After the burglary he was seen on trains between Hildenborough finally cycling in Staplehurst shortly after 6.00 pm said the man in the image should not be approached Read more:Kent paedophile jailed after police found him on dating apps Read more: Kent roadworks drama continues as Government asks county council to explain disruption While he could have connections with the Staplehurst area The crime will be featured on the BBC’s Crimewatch Live programme on 18 March 2025 Crimestoppers Regional Manager for Kent Phil Breckon said: “This was a shocking and violent burglary and those involved could strike again There will be people who know what happened and who did it but they might be unwilling to tell the police “We are an independent charity separate to the police and we guarantee you will stay 100% anonymous you can help prevent whoever did this from attacking again and can help keep the community safe.” Only information passed to Crimestoppers will qualify for a reward The reward will be available from March 18 2025 until June 18 The reward will only be payable for information passed directly to Crimestoppers and not to the police A reward code must be asked for when calling the charity on 0800 555 111 Those contacting Crimestoppers via the online form anonymously the 'keeping in contact’ facility must be used and a reward code must be requested on your initial contact with the charity You can see the latest crime and court news from Kent in our free newsletter here Story SavedYou can find this story in  My Bookmarks.Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right.