Young people make the news in Sevenoaks

Published: 27 November 2025

In the last two weeks of November I’ve met some impressive young people in Sevenoaks.

First, three school students - Willow at Weald of Kent, and Bonnie and Emma at Lady Boswell’s - won national Royal Horticultural Society prizes for their contribution to Sevenoaks in Bloom over the summer. Willow crocheted the amazing pillar box tops you saw in our High Street, while Bonnie and Emma did a sponsored litter pick, and used the money to create planters to The Vine which attracted hundreds of bees. As they couldn’t make the national awards ceremony last month, I had the privilege of presenting them in school assemblies. 

 

 

Second, Sevenoaks Symphony Orchestra last week put on one of the most impressive concerts I've heard them perform. The highlight was Sibelius’ violin concerto, played by 13 year old soloist Mikhail Andreev. He was brilliant - playing with great maturity, range and catching every note in what is a very complex piece, all from memory. Even more impressive, he told me afterwards that it was the first time he had ever played the piece with an orchestra. 

 

 Image of Mikhail Andreev from www.sevenoakssymphonyorchestra.org.uk/event-orchestral_concert.html

That evening, we were invited to the Sevenoaks Bangladeshi Community Gathering at Bat & Ball community centre. This was a joyous event, where the local Bangladeshi community came together to celebrate the successes of their children - in school exams, at university and at work. The majority of the speeches were by the young people themselves, explaining how their supportive community, and the local schools, had helped them give something back to the local community, working in technology, medicine and the City. I was delighted to present the community awards to them - and we really enjoyed the great food on offer. 

 

 

This week, I welcomed the largest ever set of new members to Sevenoaks Youth Council. After the success of last year’s Youth Council and their impressive work on mental health, this year has seen even more applicants keen to get involved. The Youth Council has its own budget, and helps to determine how the House In The Basement youth café is run. It can also recommend projects to Sevenoaks Town Council which it thinks would improve life in the town. We’re looking forward to an exciting year!

 

 

 Tony Clayton 

Mayor of Sevenoaks