Cambridge Edition September

Cambridge SEPTEMBER 2015

Your monthly fix of local life www.cambsedition.co.uk

INSIDE THIS ISSUE...

ARTS

MAGAZINE

CULTURE

NIGHTLIFE

Cambridge

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CONTENTS

Welcome

Lots of people love September and its ‘back to school’ buzz, but I’m not much of a fan, chiefly because it signals the end of summer for another year. Yes, I know Cambridge is ridiculously pretty in the autumn, but if I’m honest, you can take your crunchy leaves and cosy bowls of soup and give me lazy days with beers by the Mill Pond, a dip in the lido and a scoop of Jack’s Gelato in the sunshine any day of the week. But here we are, the end of summer is officially nigh, and that means our thoughts are inevitably turning to hibernating.

Thankfully, before we do, there are a few opportunities to have a final hurrah, and I urge you to welcome them with open arms and eek every last drop out of summer before it disappears.

Try Lodestar, the family-friendly festival which takes place from 4-6 September – they’ve scored none other than Razorlight as headliners this year (Johnny Borrell belting out Golden Touch in a field in the Fens? Has to be worth a look). At the more experimental end of the spectrum, check out Wysing Arts’ boundary-pushing annual music festival – an event which Vogue magazine named as one of the best independent festivals in the UK. One very good reason to welcome September is Cambridge Film Festival; a true gem in our city’s calendar, and one which never fails to dazzle with its inspired programming (I can’t wait for the 24-hour BBC Arena marathon – more details on page 41). Open Cambridge, a chance to discover parts of the city normally out of bounds to the public, always yields some treasures too, and the colourful Romsey Art Festival is back this month as well, with a host of community-based arts events around the East of the city. Enjoy your month!

© Waitrose

NICOLA FOLEY, EDITOR © Louise Shotter

EDITORIAL 5 • FIVE THINGS TO DO Our pick of the best Cambridge has to offer this month

46-47 • DRAGONBOAT FESTIVAL Watch the city’s colourful river race at Fen Ditton

7-10 • NIGHTLIFE Your guide to after-dark entertainment

49 • FAMILY Weekend fun for one and all

12-13 • CAMBRIDGE SOUND Discover Sofar Sounds and their secret living room gigs

53-69 • FOOD & DRINK New openings, foodie events and the final instalment of our quest to find the best mac ’n’ cheese in town

15 • MUSIC BLOG The best live gigs to see this month 17-27 • ARTS & CULTURE The latest shows, exhibitions and concerts, plus our preview of the new theatre season 29-32• CAMBRIDGE ART FAIR An exceptional fair for artists and collectors 34-35 • OPEN CAMBRIDGE Explore our beautiful city’s history and culture 37 • ROMSEY ART FESTIVAL What’s in store at this fabulous community arts festival 41-43 • CAMBRIDGE FILM FESTIVAL Dr Brian May, world premieres and a 24-hour movie marathon: Cambridge Film Festival is back!

45 • LODESTAR What to expect from Cambridge’s family-friendly festival

Cover Art

The artwork featured on this month’s cover is The Red Punts and the Spotty Shirt by Vanessa Stone. See more of her work at www. vanessastoneartist.com

71 • RESTAURANT REVIEW Cambridge Canteen serves up seriously creative burgers 73 • FOOD COLUMN Alex Rushmer of The Hole in the Wall explains why in cooking contrasts are king 77 • INDEPENDENT OF THE MONTH Radmore Farm Shop: a traditional store with 21st century ideals 78-79 • HORSING AROUND Jenny Shelton takes the reins at Wimpole Hall 81 • COMMUNITY NEWS Charitable events and news from your neighbourhood 82-83 • LISTINGS A quick look at what’s on around Cambridge this month 85-88 • FASHION Striking style picks for him and for her

Editor Nicola Foley 01223 499459 nicolafoley@bright-publishing.com Features editor Jenny Shelton 01223 499463 jennifershelton@bright-publishing.com Sub editors Lisa Clatworthy & Catherine Brodie

ADVERTISING Senior sales executive Natalie Robinson 01223 499451 natalierobinson@bright-publishing.com Key accounts Maria Francis 01223 499461 mariafrancis@bright-publishing.com

CONTRIBUTORS

Alex Rushmer, Angelina Villa-Clarke, Charlotte Griffiths, Daisy Dickinson, Jordan Worland, Ruthie Collins, Stella Pereira, Wesley Freeman-Smith, Helen Underwood, Charlotte Phillips

DESIGN & PRODUCTION Designer Emily Stowe 01223 499450 emilystowe@bright-publishing.com Ad production Lucy Woolcomb 01223 499468 lucywoolcomb@bright-publishing.com

MANAGING DIRECTORS Andy Brogden & Matt Pluck 01223 499450

90-91 • BEAUTY Smart time- and budget-saving beauty tricks

LIKE US ON FACEBOOK: www.facebook.com/CambsEdition

93 • COMPETITION Win four months’ gym membership worth over £550

FOLLOW US ON TWITTER: @cambsedition

95-97 • SPA TIME Edition rounds up the best places for pampering

www.bright-publishing.com

101 • BUSINESS NEWS Networking events and opportunities around the city 103-121 • EDUCATION A schools special for September

CAMBRIDGE EDITION MAGAZINE • Bright Publishing Ltd, Bright House, 82 High Street, Sawston, Cambridgeshire CB22 3HJ, 01223 499450, www.cambsedition.co.uk • All rights reserved. Material contained in this publication may not be reproduced, in whole or in part, without prior permission of the publishers. • Views expressed in this magazine are not necessarily those of Cambridge Edition or Bright Publishing Ltd, which do not accept any liability for loss or damage. • Every effort has been made to ensure all information is correct. • Cambridge Edition is a free publication that is distributed in Cambridge and the surrounding area

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5 THINGS TO DO

this month...

1. Duxford Sundown Cinema Watch your choice of four classic films in the impressive setting of IWM Duxford. Screenings take place from 10 to 13 September, each with an aircraft-themed flavour. On the 10th, it’s Battle of Britain; 11th is Good Morning Vietnam; 12th is Top Gun; finishing with Memphis Belle on 13 September. Tickets are £13 (£6 children) and films start at 8pm. www.iwm.org.uk

2. Mill Road Feast

4. Onam at The Rice Boat

Indian dining has come a long way from anglicised tikka masalas and chicken kormas in recent years, with our more diverse, savvy population crying out instead for a real taste of the subcontinent. On 26-27 September, experience The Rice Boat’s Onam feast, with traditional costumes, dancing and as much delicious Keralan food as you want, served on a banana leaf.

The restaurant is at 37 Newnham Road, and it’s one of our faves. www.riceboat.co.uk

5. Hide-and-seek at Milton Country Park

Treat your taste buds to a trip down Mill Road on 6 September for the Mill Road Feast. This eclectic pop-up market takes place at Gwydir Street carpark, offering a range of top-quality street food – something Cambridge does pretty darn well these days. On the bill are: Fired Up Pizza, Goulash Valley, Holy Schnitzels, Rocking Raw and The Lick, plus many more old favourites and new additions to discover.

Takes place from 11am to 4pm, free entry. www.millroadfeast.com

3. Upstairs downstairs

If you thought you’d grown out of hideand-seek, think again, dear readers. At Milton Country Park on 13 September, people of all ages are invited to take part in a world record attempt at the biggest ever game of hide and seek. It’s organised by Cambridgeshire Search and Rescue and there’s an excellent video of last year’s attempt online. www.largesthideandseek.org

Find out about life above and below stairs at Audley End House this month. Every weekend in September, there’ll be events, characters in costume and fun things to try out at the magnificent English Heritage stately house and grounds. Join the family’s cook as she prepares a meal in the vast Victorian kitchen, meet the stable hand as he grooms the horses, and explore the new nursery. Takes place from 11am to 4pm; admission is £16 (£9.60 children). And don’t miss their Apple Festival, 26-27 September. www.english-heritage.org.uk

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NIGHTLIFE

R E B M E T P E S CHECK OUT LOCAL EVENTS ONLINE cambsedition.co.uk

JUNCTION SEASON LAUNCH NIGHT Enjoy a night of music, theatre and dance on 10 September as Cambridge Junction launches its autumn programme with an evening of inspiring entertainment. As always, the event will be free to attend and will showcase a selection of taster performances from the acts set to appear at the venue over the coming months.

Among their number is innovative dance troupe Still House, who will take to the roof of the Leisure Park’s multistorey car park (located behind the Junction), for a footstomping performance with the skyline of Cambridge as their backdrop.

Cambridge band The Staycations will also be making an appearance. Their Mumford and Sons-esque brand of indiefolk has been winning them acclaim in Cambridge and beyond (the five-piece recently won the Junction’s battle of the bands competition Fiver Fest, as well as appearing at Secret Garden Party).

A FUN NIGHT WHEN YOU GET TO SAMPLE THE PROGRAMME AND CHAT TO STAFF As well as more acts to enjoy, there will also be a chance to have your say in shaping the Junction’s future programming in the Diagnosis Session. Bring along your most imaginative ideas and questions, and grill the venue’s team to help them bring events tailored to your taste! You’ll even get a free drink for your trouble.

“It’s always great to launch a season and celebrate all the great artists we have coming up at Cambridge Junction over the next few months,” says Daniel Brine, director of Cambridge Junction. “It’ll be a fun night when you get to sample bits from

the programme, chat to staff about what’s on and share a drink with some friends.

I’m really looking forward to Still House’s Of Riders and Running Horses, a new dance work performed on the roof of the Cambridge Leisure car park. It’s the vision of local choreographer Dan Canham and is sure to be great fun with a live band and fantastic dancing.”

The event, which begins at 6.30pm, is free to attend but ticketed. Visit Cambridge Junction’s website for more details. www.junction.co.uk

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NIGHTLIFE

GOGS GIANT SUNDOWNER Looking for a last hurrah to celebrate the end of the great British summer? We wholeheartedly recommend checking out the Giant Sundowner, which returns to the Magog Hills Farm Shop for its second outing on 19 September. A mini festival in a glorious rural setting, this open-air event will offer an irresistible combination of great live music, delicious food and drinks, and plenty of dancing under the stars – as well as a showstopping Gog Magog Hills sunset of course.

After a triumphant Cambridge gig last year, we’re delighted to see that the Hackney Colliery Band are back in town and headlining the Giant Sundowner bill. Founded in an abandoned pub in the London borough from which they take their name, the group take all the elements of a traditional marching brass

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band – trumpets, trombones, saxes and a sousaphone – and combine them with their love of hip hop, funk, ska and pop music. The result? Energetic, tongue-incheek takes on classic tunes by the likes of The Prodigy, Blackstreet and the Red Hot Chilli Peppers, as well as uplifting original songs. It’s a winning formula that the crowd always goes wild for.

They’ll be joined by CC Smugglers, who will bring their good-time tunes inspired by American and world folk, swing, jazz and blues. There will also be live comedy (in a camper van!) courtesy of funny girls Hakbrayne, whilst the Secret Garden Party All Star DJs will be rocking the decks and keeping the party going right the way through until 1am.

As you’d expect from such a renowned foodie hotspot, Gogs is more than delivering on the feasting front too.

There will be steamed buns loaded with deliciousness from Guerilla Kitchen,

South East Asian street food from Jalan Jalan and gourmet burgers from Steak & Honour. You’ll also be able to tuck in to the top-notch dishes served up by mobile-dining outfit Provenance Kitchen and sweet treats from Churros Bar, and there will be plenty of booze at the fully stocked bar to wash it all down with.

The event kicks off at 5pm. Tickets are £30 and can be purchased via the Gog Magog Hills website. gogmagoghills.com

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NIGHTLIFE

THE VACCINES 25 Nov, Corn Exchange, £27.50 Following a triumphant festival run and sold-out UK tour, indie rock band The Vaccines play the Corn Exchange in November, when they’ll be showcasing tracks from their latest album English Graffiti. www.cambridgelivetrust.co.uk

AN EVENING WITH NOEL FIELDING 4 Dec, Corn Exchange, £27.50 Expect a magical mix of Noel’s unique brand of stand-up comedy, live animation, music and appearances from some Mighty Boosh favourites like The Moon. www.cambridgelivetrust.co.uk

HAPPY MONDAYS

MALLORY KNOX It’s always good to see a local band storming it, and Mallory Knox are definitely the current hottest contender for the ‘biggest thing to come out of Cambridge since alt-J’ award. Named after the murderous heroine from Natural Born Killers, the band started life in the summer of 2009, formed by lead guitarist Joe Savins. After a few months of songwriting, they began gigging around Cambridge, quickly generating a buzz which eventually led to them signing a record deal and releasing their first EP in July the following year.

Since then, they’ve achieved huge commercial and critical acclaim, enjoy a rapidly expanding fan base and are performing a whirlwind of tour dates across the globe.

“When you sit back and take it in, it’s been an unbelievable journey. We are very thankful,” Knox’s bassist Sam Douglas recently told Cambridge Edition.

“The best things are without a doubt the shows and seeing how much the songs you have written mean to someone else. We are getting to play places we never thought we would even visit and venues in the UK on our upcoming tour that we never imagined we would play, let alone headline.”

This homecoming gig (on 30 September) at Cambridge Junction promises to be an absolute corker, grab your ticket for £15 in advance, and head to www.cambsedition.co.uk to read the full interview with the band. www.junction.co.uk

5 Dec, Corn Exchange, £31 The legendary ‘Madchester’ boys stop by in Cambridge as part of a UK-wide tour to celebrate the 25th anniversary of their third album, Pills ’N’ Thrills and Bellyaches. www.cambridgelivetrust.co.uk

REBECCA FERGUSON 28 Jan 2016, Corn Exchange, £37.50 X Factor runner-up Rebecca Ferguson brings her smouldering, smoky vocals to the Corn Exchange in the new year. www.cambridgelivetrust.co.uk

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NIGHTLIFE

FROM THE JAM A seminal force in British music and one of the biggest-selling bands the country has ever seen, The Jam were frontrunners of the UK’s punk/ mod revival scene in the late 70s and early 80s. Sharply dressed angry young men, they brought us iconic tunes like That’s Entertainment, Going Underground and Town Called Malice, becoming the voice of a disenchanted generation and leaving an indelible imprint in the history of British rock.

There’s a special treat in store for fans of the band this month as From The Jam, which features original band member Bruce Foxton (joined

by Russell Hastings and ‘Smiley’ on drums) play Cambridge Junction on 19 September.

35 years after the release of Sound Affects, From The Jam will play this classic album in its entirety, as well as a selection of The Jam’s finest singles and album tracks.

Tickets are £21 in advance. www.junction.co.uk

SPACE-TIME: THE MULTIVERSE Named last year as one of Vogue magazine’s best independent festivals, Wysing Arts annual music and arts extravaganza is forging a reputation for itself as the hottest ticket in town.

Now entering its sixth year, the event aims to celebrate the intersection of art and music, featuring just under 12 hours of performances, screenings and live music across the multiple stages at Wysing’s rural site in Bourn.

This year’s festival, which takes place on 5 September, will once again seek to showcase the best new music by women, queer and trans musicians and bands – this time exploring a theme of altered states and multiple identities.

On the bill you’ll find a diverse range of musical entertainment, which ranges from the post-pop-punky stylings of girl group Ravioli Me Away to the dense psychedelic sounds of DJ and producer James Holden. There will also be spellbinding visual art from Laura Buckley, who creates dazzling light installations, as well as a market place selling art and merchandise from experimental galleries, record labels and independent publishers.

The event runs from 12pm to 11.30pm, with space for camping available. Tickets cost £40 per person. www.wysingartscentre.org

ULTIMATE EAGLES One of the bestselling bands in history, The Eagles hold a special place in the heart of many a rocker, old and young, well loved for legendary hits like Hotel California, Take it Easy and Desperado. They may have parted ways back in the summer of 1980, but this month you can catch the next best thing, live in Cambridge.

Ultimate Eagles, who play the Corn Exchange on 18 September, are more than your average tribute band. Starring Grammy-nominated musicians, the group deftly recreate the timeless magic of The Eagles’ biggest hits with reverence and flair. Close your eyes, be transported to the golden era of the sizzling West Coast music scene and enjoy what Chris Evans describes as ‘The Best Eagles show in the world...’

Tickets are £25 and the show starts at 7.30pm. www.cambridgelivetrust.co.uk

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CAMBRIDGE SOUND WORDS WESLEY FREEMAN-SMITH

THE CAMBRIDGE

SOUND

#12 sofar sounds

ofar Sounds is one of those special, perfectly formed ideas that only come along every so often: intimate, secret concerts in living rooms across the world featuring stripped-down performances from unknown artists that have been chosen for their uniqueness.

It works like this: sign your name up to the list, and if you’re one of the lucky ones hey presto, you’re in. No one knows whether they’ve got a ticket or whereabouts that ticket will lead them until a week before the show. Nor do they know who these mystery performers will be until they arrive. By design, Sofar

events are made for people to seek them out – private concerts for dedicated, attentive listeners. There are no headliners and there is no door charge – what’s important is that people come, they listen, and give musicians the love that they deserve. Each city’s Sofar is run by local people, so each one bears its own distinct fingerprint. The idea started in London and has been so successful it has spread as far as Athens and Amsterdam, Bratislava and Brighton.

Launched at Romsey’s inaugural Art Festival, Cambridge’s Sofar is a year in now and comfortably peopled with happy revellers, a rotating cast of music-lovers

made for people to seek them out - private concerts for dedicated, attentive listeners 12 | Cambridge Edition | September 2015

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coming together for the same reasons and who are pleased to meet you while they’re at it. Attendees are a pick ’n’ mix of people drawn from the mailing list like names from a hat. First come, first served is the general rule, but they like to give newcomers a chance to check it out. As a consequence, the night manages to avoid the problem a lot of subcultures encounter in a town Cambridge’s size in that you’re always seeing the same faces.

There are fans and regulars of course, but the ebb and flow of new people discovering keeps the nights exciting.

Never knowing who’s performing or where they’ll be is all part of the appeal; it’s for a love of music and a love of music alone that people come.

Though traditionally held in living rooms, Cambridge’s shows have

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CAMBRIDGE SOUND

expanded their reach to include places like St Barnabas Press, Rock Road Library and The Leper Chapel – so as well as the venue being a surprise, it’s very often a pleasant one. The heart of the brand is that it’s about communities. Have you ever wanted to host a house full of beautiful music and respectful guests? You can. All you need to do is get in touch and Sofar will do the rest.

For musicians, the nights are valuable for many reasons. Imagine playing an intimate living-room gig to a roomful of friends you’ve not met yet and you may not be far off. The express purpose of the brand is to cultivate dedicated, attentive audiences in each of its locations, which contrary to what you’d expect is something of an elusive quality. Of equal import to any independent musician, Sofar Sounds is a respected brand, widely recognised for

have you ever wanted to host a house full of beautiful music and respectful guests? the quality of its performers. It’s built upon very pure ideals, and the idea has proved popular in countless countries. To say it’s a global phenomenon is no understatement.

The network is broad, and you’d be hard-pressed to find an online community more open to new music. What’s more, you get a nice film at the end of it.

If you’re curious, the fruits of these cinematic labours can all be found on the Sofar Sounds YouTube channel, but to get a real feel for the shows it’s best to attend

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in person. After all, there is something magic about live music, and little pockets like Sofar Sounds are where these magic moments live.

The next date for Sofar Cambridge is 20 September. If you’re interested in signing up, either as a host, a performer, a volunteer or an attendee, visit the website. Chances are you’ll make some great new friends. www.sofarsounds.com

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MUSIC

Jordan Worland from local music website Slate the Disco selects his must-see gigs in Cambridge this month reat live music is plentiful in Cambridge this autumn and September sets the bar for what to expect before the year is over.

We start at the Cambridge Junction where the Mark Lanegan Band on the 3rd is our top tip. Mark Lanegan focused his latest album around his love of Krautrock and British post-punk. With compelling and brilliantly realised tracks, Lanegan’s latest release proves that at 50 there’s not just mileage left in him still but that he’s going to lead us to many more places yet.

Sweet Billy Pilgrim set out on a UK tour this September following the release of their fourth album – the critically acclaimed masterpiece Motorcade Amnesiacs. They play Cambridge Junction J2 on the 17th. The new album sees the band stepping away from their previous electronic and acoustic experimentalism into a thriving, accessible record that many consider the best of their career to date.

Other highlights across the Cambridge Junction site this month include Martin Simpson, Andy Cutting and Nancy Kerr at J2 (24th), Stereo MCs at J1 (25th) and From The Jam also at J1 (19th). The biggest night of the month at the Junction however belongs to Mallory Knox who play a homecoming show on the 30th. The band are flying high on the back of their top 20 album Asymmetry and the show is a part of their largest UK tour to date.

There’s also a quartet of Corner House shows that catch our eye this month. First

up is the authentic delta blues stylings of Tim Holehouse who plays on the 1st. Secondly prog/pop/psych band Gurgles headline the following night (2nd). Expect totally far-out pop tunes driven by cosmic organ, jazzy drums and swell harmonies. Support comes from Cambridge adult-orientated pop outfit Model Village.

Manchester’s sextet Desmadrados Soldados De Ventura, consisting of three guitarists, two bassists and a drummer, specialise in free improvised acid rock, they bring their instrumental hurricanes to The Corner House on the Friday 11th.

The other show catching our eye at The Corner House this month is the debut Cambridge appearance of Bruising on Sunday 6th. Fuzzy and laden with pop hooks, the Leeds-based duo of Naomi Baguley and Ben Lewis create tunes that are both grizzly and infectious all at once.

The Portland Arms September schedule is heaving with must-sees. Teleman at the same venue last year was one of our favourite shows of 2014, so needless to

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say we’re excited to see them back this month (3rd). Expect charming melodies complemented with curvy aural tunnels of psychedelic, swooning pop.

Down Mill Road at Relevant Records this month there’s a varied choice of live music going on. Prog-rock outfit 4th Labyrinth strip their sound back to perform a semi-acoustic show on the 4th and the following night sees folk and country band the Garance’s Trio perform. Heartwork takes over on the 11th, performing tracks from his new EP, which launches that night.

Meanwhile at the Vaults their unplugged series continues this month with three shows planned. Thursday 3rd hosts power pop outfit The Hot Lights playing an acoustic set, the 10th sees Jack Burrell perform his moving, traditional take on folk, and B-Sydes headlines on the 17th.

Belgian indie-pop outfit Balthazar make their Cambridge debut this month at The Portland Arms, on the 15th. With three quality albums under their belts, this quintet have evolved from their catchy, angular indie-pop of 2010 to the more sophisticated classic feel of their last album Thin Walls, which came out in March and is full of nocturnal grooves and mesmeric melodies.

Still at The Portland Arms, Manchester garage quintet PINS finally make a headline appearance in Cambridge on the 17th.

Accumulating high praise and a growing fan base for their debut album Girls Like Us, tight-knit girl gang PINS with their unique dark pop, post-punk, fuzzed up garage sound and alluringly abrasive chant-like vocals have had quite a two years.

Our final Portland Arms tip this month is Kid Wave on Monday 21st. London-based quartet Kid Wave make an appealing style of guitar pop, fuzzy and warm, not really adhering to any particular trend. Their sultry, melodic pop is pretty addictive, one to catch for sure.

Tell us about your gig at www.slatethedisco.com

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ARTS & CULTURE

We explore the arts and culture scene in Cambridge, showcasing some of the many exciting exhibitions and shows taking place around the city

WEST ROAD CONCERT HALL 30 SEPT

AID & ABET

IMS PRUSSIA COVE AUTUMN TOUR Witness some of the world’s finest musicians as they take up residence at Cambridge’s superb West Road Concert Hall. The IMS Prussia Cove Autumn Tour comes our way on 30 September, bringing us the results of work created at an intensive retreat in Cornwall. Artistic director Steven Isserlis leads the talented ensemble, which includes Erich Höbath on violin, Vashti Hunter on cello and Susan Tomes on piano. They will perform works by Mozart, Brahms, Schubert and Dvořák.

The concert starts at 7.30pm; tickets £17.50 (£15 concessions). www.westroad.org

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Aid & Abet are launching a new project in the centre of Cambridge, which will blur the lines between art and science. ELAN is a hybrid space that overlaps studio, research lab and presentation space, and is designed to share both the process and the results of artistic experiments with the public.

Workshops, discussions, performances, screenings and more are planned over the course of the next three years, with the aim of providing an everchanging offering for its audience and stimulation and inspiration for artists.

ELAN stands for ‘experimental local area network’ and will explore each of these four branches. Aid & Abet have introduced this framework as a starting point for the project and envisage that they will evolve and develop over the three years in surprising and unexpected ways. Its warehouse location is situated at the centre of the CB1 development of Cambridge station. www.aidandabet.co.uk

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PR THE IN FR CE E (T SH ON )

ARTS & CULTURE

AVENUE Q INTERVIEW BY JENNY SHELTON Best described as an X-rated Sesame Street, Avenue Q returns to the Arts Theatre this month. Jenny Shelton speaks to the show’s star, college graduate Princeton, about life as a furry, four-digited twenty-something in search of his purpose in life.

Q: Firstly, please describe yourself in three words.

A: Ambitious, romantic, handsome!

Q: What is your aim in life?

A: At the start of the show, I arrive in New York to find my purpose in life! I’ve just graduated from college and now I’m trying to work out what to do with a BA in English… if any of your readers have a clue, let me know!

I started off looking at apartments in the middle of Manhattan, but with my budget I ended up way out on Avenue Q. It’s not the smartest neighbourhood, but everyone is super friendly!

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Q: What do you like to do for fun?

A: I like to hang out at a bar near Avenue Q called the Around The Clock Café. It’s local, cheap, and there’s always some entertainment going on! Sometimes my neighbour Brian does stand-up comedy there, although he’s pretty awful. He sings

CAMBRIDGE ARTS THEATRE UNTIL 5 SEPT

a song called I’m not wearing underwear today. Nobody laughs.

Q: Singing without a larynx must present some problems. Can you enlighten us?

A: I think you need to take a lesson in puppet biology! I do actually have a larynx – it just happens to be made out of felt and cotton wool.

Q: Do you ever struggle with chopsticks?

A: My neighbour Christmas Eve is Japanese so has helped me learn how to use them, but it’s not easy with no thumbs!

The biggest problem is getting soy sauce in my fur, it’s a nightmare to get out.

Q: Do you have a favourite musical?

A: The Book of Mormon is one of my favourite musicals, it’s totally hilarious!

It’s co-created by Robert Lopez, who also co-created Avenue Q. He also co-wrote the songs for Disney’s Frozen, so he’s to blame for every five-year-old screaming Let It Go over and over again.

Q: How would you describe your sense of style?

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ARTS & CULTURE

A: I would say my style is ‘golfer chic’. Think sleeveless knitted jumpers with diamond patterns on. I try to find colours that match my natural fur tone.

Q: I’m sure you were orange last time you were in Cambridge. Is yellow ‘in’ this season? Or have you just lost your tan?

A: Well, I’ve been in England for a little while now, and I think I’m a little sun deprived. I’m definitely more of a buttercup-yellow colour these days.

Q: You’ll be visiting Cambridge again soon – what are you looking forward to doing while you’re here?

A: I’ve never been punting so I think we’re all going to give that a go! I also hear there’s a delightful fudge shop near the theatre, which I will most definitely be checking out.

Q: What is your biggest weakness?

A: Being around the Bad Idea Bears. It’s just a recipe for disaster! If you don’t know them, they are the cutest little bears you have ever seen, but they really like to convince you that it’s a good idea to do some bad things…

Q: What about your greatest strength?

A: My greatest strength is my ability to sleep with my eyes open, owing to the fact

I don’t have any eyelids. I haven’t exactly found a use for it yet, but it sure as hell scared my roommates at college!

Q: Do you have any body confidence issues?

A: For a while, having no legs made me kind of self-conscious, but I’ve learnt to embrace it! My favourite body part would probably be my round, fuzzy yellow nose.

Q: Who’s your biggest hero?

A: Kermit the Frog is a huge inspiration to me. He is by far the biggest puppet star of all time and has put puppets on the map.

He has duetted with Kylie Minogue, met Johnny Depp... He’s pretty much my idol!

Q: What’s your life motto?

A: If Plan A doesn’t work, the alphabet has 25 more letters!

Q: Finally, tell us a secret…

A: Okay, don’t tell anyone, but there is one scene in the show where I get completely naked! So if anyone has an unsettling desire to see what puppet nudity looks like, get yourself down to the Arts Theatre!

Avenue Q continues at Cambridge Arts Theatre until 5 September; tickets from £15.

Show times differ, see online. www.cambridgeartstheatre.com

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THE CAMBRIDGE CONNECTION BBC Concert Orchestra violinist Peter Bussereau joins internationally acclaimed pianist Tim Carey on 18 September for a classical concert in celebration of Cambridge. Taking place at the Stapleford Granary, the programme includes the beautiful Lark Ascending, by former Cambridge student Ralph Vaughan-Williams; Sonata in A Major by George Frederick Handel – the manuscript of which can be viewed in the Fitzwilliam Museum; Return by rising star Alex Woolf, a composer who is currently studying at Cambridge; and an overlooked gem, the Sonata for Violin and Piano, by former Cambridge resident, Howard Ferguson.

Peter and Tim will introduce each of these pieces and provide some background on their connections to our city.

It takes place 7.30pm; tickets £12 (£6 for under 16s). www.staplefordgranary.org.uk

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ARTS & CULTURE

GHOSTS TO GURUS

DRESDEN PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA Book now for a chance to hear world-class music at the Corn Exchange, as part of the Cambridge Classical Concert Series. On 1 October, conductor Michael Sanderling will lead the Dresden Philharmonic Orchestra in performing works by some of Europe’s finest composers.

The concert opens with the Overture to Wagner’s only comic opera, Meistersinger. Also on the bill, award-winning pianist Peter Donohoe plays Schumann’s dramatic Piano Concerto and the evening ends with Brahms’ intense Symphony No.4.

The concert starts 7.30pm; tickets from £28.50. A pre-concert talk takes place at Cambridge City Hotel, and it’s free to all ticket holders. www.cambridgelivetrust.co.uk

Down Newmarket Road there is a secret theatre. Tucked away within what is now the Cambridge Buddhist Centre, The Festival Theatre is one of only four Georgian theatres surviving in Britain today.

Built in 1815 (designed by William Wilkins, the same architect behind the Theatre Royal in Bury), it celebrates its bicentenary this year with a production of Ghosts to Gurus Gurus. The play, created by a team of enthusiastic writers from Combined Actors of Cambridge and Bawds, is a series of linked scenes describing the history of the theatre. Be transported back to opening night in 1815 and discover its role in the First World War. The Second World War era features lindy hop dancers and a glamorous nightclub sequence.

Ghosts to Gurus runs 25 to 27 September; various times. www.combinedactors.org

MURDER AT A FUNERAL

DESIGN THE COVER OF CAMBRIDGE EDITION Calling all artists, amateur scribblers and budding creatives of all ages and abilities!

In conjunction with Cambridge Art Fair, we’re launching a competition to find our next cover artist. Here at Cambridge Edition, we love celebrating local people and local talent.

Cambridge is a hotbed of creative energy – and with such inspiring architecture and scenery on our doorstep, it’s easy to see why. We’re looking for someone who can capture what Cambridge means to them, whether that’s a favourite place or landmark, the ‘feel’ of the city or a culmination of lots of different impressions and ideas. This could be a painting, print, collage… anything. Surprise us!

The only limitation is the size of your canvas: we can only accept submissions scaled to 145x303mm (our main cover image dimensions). And if you can design something with a bit of space/sky at the top where we can lay the masthead (ie. the words Cambridge Edition)) that would help us out a lot.

The deadline for entries is 15 September 2015. Please email us if you’d like more information: nicolafoley@bright-publishing.com.

The winner will be announced as part of Cambridge Art Fair, which runs 2-4 October 2015 and pulls together the best bits of today’s art scene from the UK and around the world. www.cambridgeartfair.com

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Agatha Christie’s classic whodunnit formula gets a shake-up in this humorous parody, performed at the ADC Theatre by Break An Egg Theatre Company.

You know how it goes: an old house, a dead body, an investigating sleuth. But what if all the suspects murdered the victim?

Murder at a Funeral invites us to London, 1930s, where Lady Cora Flange has been mysteriously bumped off. Tensions mount at her funeral as Inspector Trout arrives to solve the crime. Could there be a double murder?

It takes place 17-19 September, 7.45pm; tickets £7/£12. www.adctheatre.com

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ARTS & CULTURE

NEW SEASON

THEATRE PREVIEW CAMBRIDGE JUNCTION Of Riders and Running Horses, a unique show at Cambridge Junction, is generating much interest – certainly one for your diary. Taking place on 10-11 September, it’s an exciting new dance event taking place outside at dusk. Come and celebrate urban spaces and be inspired by this all-female dance troupe.

A beguiling double bill takes place on 14 October. Portraying two sides of a tender love story, Without Stars/There We Have Been is based on the bestselling novel Norwegian Wood.

Bromance is the debut show from hot young acrobats Barely Methodical Troupe. They won the Total Theatre and Jackson’s Lane Award for Circus at the Edinburgh Festival, and

use parkour, humour and tricks to bring you something rather special. Catch them if you can on 28 October.

Hard-hitting monologue Men in the Cities, 4 November, offers up a ‘fractious, emotive exploration of what it means to be a man in Britain today’ (The Telegraph), then Disco Pigs, 11 November, draws us into the obsessive friendship of ‘Pig’ and ‘Runt’ and their turbulent fantasy world.

For something with an Eastern flavour, watch Chotto Desh on 22 November. It’s a poignant dance-theatre experience for families, using sound and visuals to tell a compelling tale of a young man’s memories of Bangladesh.

Find out more at the Junction’s Season Launch Night, Thursday 10 September. www.junction.co.uk

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ARTS THEATRE Always bound to draw a crowd, J B Priestley’s An Inspector Calls returns to Cambridge, 6-10 October, ready to thrill and surprise. It’s worth seeing for the impressive set alone, while the story – an inspector turns up unexpectedly at a prosperous family’s home with chilling news – is a true modern classic and a masterclass in suspense.

A critically acclaimed new play by Moira Buffini, Handbagged imagines how the fractious relationship between the Queen and Margaret Thatcher played out behind closed palace doors. Two strong women, two enduring icons, born within a year of each other in the 1920s.

But what about when the gloves were off? Handbagged has played to packed houses at the West End where it was hailed as ‘witty and confident’ by the Evening Standard and ‘sensational’ by The Times. It’s with us 12-17 October.

Continuing the monarchy theme is Mike Bartlett’s King Charles III, running 19-24 October.

Written in blank verse, the play looks at the unwritten rules of democracy and the people beneath the crowns.

There’s a double bill of Horrible Histories shows scheduled this autumn. Groovy Greeks is joined by a brand-new show, Incredible Invaders, 27-31 October; both by Birmingham Stage Company. See online for times.

Another one direct from the West End, Bad Jews arrives in town 2-7 November. This critically acclaimed comedy takes us to Manhattan, where family tensions are running high.

Cambridge Operatic Society make a welcome return with the magnificent Sister Act, 2428 November. Made famous by the film starring Whoopi Goldberg, it’s a sensational journey of self-discovery with singing nuns – what more could you want? www.cambridgeartstheatre.com

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ADC Cambridge University’s student theatre, the ADC, has announced its autumn programme to coincide with the new term – and it looks like a corker. It makes a strong start with Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew, always a promising, vivacious play with plenty to explore. It’s on 6-10 October.

We’re big fans of Peter Schaffer’s Amadeus Amadeus, so are looking forward to seeing the cream of Cambridge’s acting crop put their spin on this rollicking tale of infamy, music, madness and 18th century decadence and decay (13-17 October). The classics continue with Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein (27-31 October), then Coram Boy will be worth a watch in November. It’s the fascinating adventure story of two young boys: one saved from an African slave ship, the other an heir to a large fortune.

As ever, there’s a host of late shows and comedy at 11pm, and don’t forget to check out their sister theatre, the Corpus Playroom, for performances in a more intimate space. www.adctheatre.com

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LOCAL READS: THE VERSIONS OF US Jenny Shelton talks to journalist and novelist Laura Barnett about her multiverse novel, in which a chance encounter in Cambridge determines the course of two lives

“That we could take one path or another is something that fascinates me,” says Laura Barnett, author of the widely praised The Versions Of Us. It’s her first novel, and follows three versions of a story which begins with a couple meeting in Cambridge in the 1950s. In one, they go for a drink, in the second, they miss each other, and in the third, everything gets rather complicated. It was described by The Guardian as ‘Sliding Doors, except with three stories instead of two; Life After Life, without all the messy deaths’.

THE CITY MEANS A LOT TO ME; IT’S THE PLACE WHERE I BECAME AN ADULT “I loved Life After Life,” laughs Laura. “I was about halfway through The Versions Of Us when it came out, and I had initial worries about them being too similar. So I didn’t read it until I’d finished mine. And I loved Sliding Doors as a teenager: that idea of this crossroads where we could become one of so many people.”

Does she believe in fate? She pauses. “I don’t… in the classic sense of

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predestination. The idea that our lives are already mapped out is so depressing.

I believe in us being self-determining, but I also believe in things working out as they should. Perhaps I just want to have my cake and eat it.

“My husband does believe in fate, so it’s difficult for me to say I don’t believe in it because it sounds like I’m saying I don’t think we should be together!”

Laura met her husband at a party in Edinburgh. “There were a million reasons why either of us might not have gone,” she reflects. “It was a massive ‘what if’ moment. He walked in, I said hello, and we began a conversation which we’re still having now. We clicked straight away.”

Cambridge is the launchpad for the story, and where Laura spent her student years, reading modern languages and “spending far too much time and money in La Raza, drinking strawberry margaritas”.

“The city means a lot to me; it’s the place where I became an adult. Cambridge sprung to mind immediately for the setting, because, like any university city, it’s a place where lots of people are brought together and hugely important relationships can be formed. I have very fond memories of it.”

Laura spent time researching Cambridge in the 50s, 60s and 70s,

imagining the city as her characters would have known it.

“There’s an important moment when Eva and Jim see each other outside Heffers, which I imagined as being on Trinity Street. But it used to be on Petty Cury in the 70s, when it was still a medieval street. I’m glad I checked, because that would’ve been a massive error!

“I also got a copy of the Newnham College rule book from 1957 because I needed to know what the reaction would’ve been if a student fell pregnant in the 50s. Back then, it would have been the end of your time as a student.”

Publishing her first novel, says Laura, is “the fulfilment of a lifelong ambition”.

She adds: “One of the questions I always ask as a journalist is whether people read their reviews, and I do read mine. They’ve been wonderful, with the odd exception – I don’t expect everyone to love what I do.

But it’s the most wonderful feeling knowing everything you wanted to communicate has been understood.”

Keep a look out for this budding new talent: you might be seeing her work on the small screen soon.

“I’m working on my next novel, Greatest Hits, and The Versions Of Us has been optioned for television, so I’m working with Trademark Films who made Shakespeare in Love and Parade’s End. We’re talking to screenwriters and hoping that’ll get off the ground soon.”

The Versions of Us, by Laura Barnett, is out now in hardback, £12.99.

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ARTS & CULTURE

eptember is one of my favourite times of the year. Many of you will have just survived the school holidays; the first few days of September marking a frantic race to get all manner of back-to-school paraphernalia sorted in an ever shrinking window of time.

Antidote to the stress? Get down to Wysing Arts’ festival Space Time: The Multiverse on the 5th, exploring themes of altered states and multiple identities (which most parents can probably relate to!). I loved their festival last summer; my then two-year old interrupted a punky, energetic Dada-esque performance, which was as baffling as it was inspiring to most of the adults squeezed into the room, with a comically timed: ‘what are you doing?’ The crowd and the artist both burst out laughing.

There’s also the chance to see Razorlight at Lodestar festival, which goes from strength to strength each year. Held just outside the city, it’s this weekend (4-6 September, www.lodestarfestival.com).

Because I fell in love with my husband to Razorlight, this poses a bit of a dilemma – as in addition to these two festivals, also happening this weekend is Cambridge’s first ever Baby Rave at Cambridge Junction.

The team behind Baby Rave has held them in Camden already and now it’s our turn to enjoy one of the first ever electronica events for parents. A rave? For babies? I hear you cry. Yep, really and for parents, too.

Images: Main picture, Of Riders and Running Horses is a unique dance show held outside Cambridge Junction.

Immediately above, Space Time: The Multiverse at Wysing Arts explores the idea of multiple identities.

Dance to decent tunes, admire the colourful lights and just generally chill out, recapturing those summer festival vibes.

Cambridge Art Salon will also be there, helping to make art for our new programme, Eastside Creates, as part of the Romsey Art Festival that starts this month. The third year we’ve run the festival, it’s evolving into Eastside Creates, a programme that spans the whole of East Cambridge.

Watch out for a treasure hunt fusing local history for kids, part of a public art project, from artist Zoë Chamberlain in the Barnwell Road area; a design exhibition at Espresso Library; the launch of a new regular night from SHINDIG; contemporary art exploring community from artist Daisy Zoll; exhibitions, installations and performances – from poetry popping up in wine shops and a food/art event with FoodCycle to a fashion show against body fascism. Sofar Sounds, that launched through the festival last year, are also back with two secret gigs in East Cambridge, for your chance to hear fabulous music in quirky, secret locations.

Check www.romseyartfestival.org.uk for the full programme and sign up for Sofar Sounds’ secret gigs at www.facebook.com/ SofarSoundCambridge.

I’m off to the mountains of France to work on my novel this month. I’ve been

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glued to the dazzling work of Cambridge author Ali Smith all summer long, plus dreaming of taking off in the manner of Esther Freud’s Hideous Kinky, which I’ve also been hoovering up in between satisfying my toddler’s every demand for bits of cardboard/handmade aeroplanes/dragons.

So these ten days of bliss at La Muse in the Midi-Pyrénées will be the fulfilment of a long-awaited form of heaven.

But if it’s a hankering for a dance under the open sky, rave culture, horses or, um, car parks you have, then go check out a ‘communal animation of urban spaces’ on top of a car park roof on the 10th. Yes, you read that right. Cambridge Junction’s Daniel Pitt, arts programmer extraordinaire, has hit the ball out of the park with this one. It looks like a really quite brilliant piece from Still House, the company of choreographer and former Hills Roader Dan Canham.

Of Riders And Running Horses is staged on top of Cambridge Leisure Centre’s car park. Dance in the face of yet another summer ending with this performance, which fuses Scottish dancing, American jive and Balinese shamans, and promises to have the whole audience raving under the stars. On a rooftop. Right here, in Cambridge.

Fabulous. No need to organise that illegal rave in Burwell, after all, now.

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© Banksy

CAMBRIDGE ART FAIR

WORDS NICOLA FOLEY

IS A PROUD PARTNER OF CAMBRIDGE ART FAIR

Cambridge Art Fair hits the city next month, bringing a selection of world-class fine art. We speak to the event’s director to find out what’s in store and highlight some not-to-be missed exhibitors f you’re an art lover, chances are you’ve already got Cambridge Art Fair firmly penned in your diary.

Taking place from 2 to 4 October, it’s the third outing for this buzzing boutique art fair, which is poised to once again bring a dazzling array of world-

THE FAIR OFFERS A CAREFULLY CURATED SELECTION OF HIGHLY COLLECTABLE WORK

class traditional and contemporary fine art right to our doorstep.

Taking place at the Guildhall – in the heart of the city centre – the fair offers a carefully curated selection of highly collectable work that ranges from pre19th century traditional pieces to modern art from the 19th and 20th centuries, right the way through to artworks by some of today’s most highly regarded contemporary artists.

Both international and UK-based galleries will exhibit the work of hundreds of artists from across the globe, providing

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a rich diversity of top-quality artworks to view and buy. Visitors will be treated to pieces by leading British artists such as Sir Peter Blake, Henrietta Dubrey and Maggi Hambling, whose work will sit alongside that of modern masters including Picasso, Chagall, Dali and Miró.

Launched in 2013 by the St Ives-based Red Dot Events, Cambridge Art Fair was initially created to give Cambridge, a city so rich in cultural and artistic activity, the kind of good-quality art fair it deserved.

“Our event brings thousands of art collectors into the city centre from all

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CAMBRIDGE ART FAIR

One Church Street One Church Street, which specialises in sourcing intriguing contemporary artworks, is definitely one to check out at this year’s event. It’s the gallery’s second time exhibiting at the Cambridge Art Fair, after a successful debut last year.

“We did well at the fair last year and met some lovely people in Cambridge who seemed to enjoy the type of work we show,” says Joanna Bryant, director of One Church Street. “Our gallery is based in Great Missenden in Buckinghamshire and we also take part in a wide selection of art fairs in London.”

This year One Church Street will be exhibiting the work of around eight of the artists that they represent, including painters Chris Sims and Ian Robinson, as well as Gareth Newman and Martin Smith, both sculptors.

“It is difficult to explain how we select artists to nurture and exhibit, but we always believe wholeheartedly in their work and would want to have it in our own homes if we could,” says Joanna. “We are particularly excited about a painting by Chris Sims, called Constant Chord, which is truly stunning and very big (1.3x2m), and would make an amazing focus in a home or reception area. We are looking forward to spending a few days in this beautiful town, meeting the Cambridge audience again and showing them the brand new work we have for sale.” www.onechurchstreet.com

© Magdalena Morey

over the region (and even London) and introduces them to the local galleries who participate, which benefits the local art industry greatly,” says festival co-director Craig Kerrecoe. “It’s important to remember that Cambridge Art Fair is an independent event run by a local company and the fair is filled with independent businesses who work incredibly hard for the artists that they represent.”

There will be plenty to explore, but what are the festival organisers themselves most looking forward to seeing at the fair?

“There are so many fantastic pieces of original art coming to the fair that it’s difficult to pick out a few,” says Craig.

“We love the contemporary work that our exhibitors bring every year because it gives us a snapshot of what is happening in the art world outside of Cambridge.

We know that there will be Damien Hirst and Banksy prints at the fair this year, and hopefully a Hockney or two!”

Elsewhere, you will find a great selection of original prints, including pieces by several of the Great Bardfield Artists; a community of acclaimed modernist artists that lived in the sleepy Essex village during the mid-20th century.

The group put on large open house exhibitions during the period, which attracted national and international

© Chris Sims

IT GIVES US A SNAPSHOT OF WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THE ART WORLD OUTSIDE OF CAMBRIDGE

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CAMBRIDGE ART FAIR

WITH SUCH A RANGE ON OFFER YOU’RE IN WITH A GREAT SHOT OF FINDING THAT DREAM PIECE experienced gallerists and dealers who have spent years, decades even, developing their portfolios and looking after their artists,” he says. “We have a buying advice page on our website which is a good place to start, and the great thing about buying art at good-quality fairs like Cambridge Art Fair is that it is all pre-approved by the gallerists and dealers so you can be confident that the work is of a high standard and is collectable.”

If you’re worried about the cost being prohibitive, it’s worth knowing too that

Byard Art Byard Art, located opposite King’s College Chapel, is an independent gallery which hosts an innovative programme of exhibitions throughout the year. Stop by at this welcoming gallery and you’ll find a diverse array of contemporary art which ranges from illustrations and collages to ceramics, jewellery and sculpture. “The Cambridge Art Fair is an exciting event that brings a wide variety of galleries from around the country together with a strong selection of East Anglia galleries. It is another dynamic event in the Cambridge arts scene’s calendar,” says Ros Cleevely, owner of Byard Art. The gallery will present the work of around ten of its artists at this year’s Fair, showcasing a combination of eye-catching prints, paintings and more to tempt buyers.

“Art fairs are a great way for people to see a large variety of paintings in one place at one time,” continues Ros. “Cambridge Art Fair is a fab introduction to the world of buying original artwork from knowledgeable gallerists, and local buyers are encouraged to start or to extend their collections in this exciting environment.” www.byardart.co.uk

© Alison Pullen

attention and drew in thousands of visitors. Often drawing comparisons to Cornwall’s St Ives School of artists, the work created by this talented collective is now the subject of an exhibition at Saffron Walden’s Fry Gallery.

With such a range on offer, whether you’re an avid collector or a complete novice looking to take your first foray into the world of art ownership, you’re in with a great shot at finding that dream piece. Works on sale will start under the £100 mark, but nonetheless if you are new to buying art, the idea of spending a significant amount of money on a piece can be a little daunting (what if it’s a dud?

What if I hate it after a fortnight? etc), but help is on hand if you need a little advice.

“Don’t be afraid to talk to the exhibitors,” says Craig. “They are highly

© Louise Shotter

© Relton Marine

Colourbox Listed in Who’s Who In Art and with paintings in the permanent collection at the House of Lords, Relton Marine is run by Christine Relton and Tom Marine.

They have been painting collaboratively under the Relton Marine name since 1996 and have become known for their original style. Christine studied fine art at Leeds and Lancaster and Tom at Byam Shaw and Chelsea School of Art, and both have been involved in painting and printmaking for over 30 years. They also run their gallery Colourbox to showcase their own and other artists’ work at art fairs throughout the UK. Says Tom: “Colourbox will show new works by Relton Marine and also by painter Colleen Vaux, who will show her lovely colourful semi-abstract work, and we will have a small selection of Alan Flood’s brilliant Citrus Tree paintings.”

He adds: “It’s five years since we participated in an art fair there so we are hoping to catch up with everyone, and also meet new visitors to the fair.” www.reltonmarine.com © Relton Marine

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CAMBRIDGE ART FAIR © Charles Bartlett

many of the Fair’s exhibitors participate in the Arts Council Own Art scheme, which allows you to pay for a piece in instalments, and some offer leasing packages for businesses too.

Fundamentally, Cambridge Art Fair is geared towards being accessible, and suitable for art collectors of all levels.

“We always have a fantastic selection of high-quality original art and prints which appeals to confident, seasoned collectors who know what they are looking for. But the great thing about our event is that the halls are filled with experienced dealers and gallerists who can help and advise those attendees who are just starting their collection or are looking for one special piece for their home or office.

I think we all have the capacity or desire to be art collectors and we are proud that so many new collectors have chosen to buy their first piece of original art at Cambridge Art Fair.”

© Nick Poullis

Cambridge Art Fair runs from 2-4 October at the Guildhall. www.cambridgeartfair.com

Emma Mason

Based on the seafront at Eastbourne, the Emma Mason gallery specialises in original prints by British printmakers from the post-war years to the present day. Says Emma: “The printmakers we represent use traditional skills to make their prints, and we have a mix of work from the 1950s onwards. We hold the archives of a number of important printmakers and write about their work and hold regular exhibitions, too.”

It began in 2004, when Emma bought a linocut – the start of a new direction.

The artist, Robert Tavener, encouraged Emma to set up a seafront gallery. This now represents more than 40 printmakers including Walter Hoyle, and contemporary printmakers Chloe Cheese and Michael Kirkman.

“This year we’re bringing a selection of prints in a range of styles and prices,” says Emma. “We’re excited to bring work by Walter Hoyle, who taught printmaking at the Cambridge School of Art and was part of the Great Bardfield Artists. We also have some ceramics made by Hoyle’s wife, Denise, which she made in Cambridgeshire.”

Of the Cambridge art scene, she says: “We’re regular visitors to the area, visiting Curwen in Linton and Saffron Walden’s Fry Gallery: both are great for lovers of prints and printmaking. We are not so familiar with Cambridge itself so we’re looking forward to exhibiting at the Fair and meeting a new group of exhibitors and visitors.” www.emmamason.co.uk

FREE ADMISSION FOR 2 ADULTS

with this voucher to the third edition of the Cambridge Art Fair Please validate this ticket by filling in your details below and handing it in at the Welcome Desk when you first arrive at the fair. Please write clearly using block capitals.

Name: ________________________________________________________ Email address: __________________________________________________ We will not sell or pass your details onto another company but we would like to add you to our mailing list so that we can send you offers, information and free tickets for future events. All personal data supplied is subject to the Data Protection Act 1998. If you do not wish to join our mailing list please tick

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The Guildhall, Market Square, Cambridge 2-4 October. Under 16’s Free. For more information visit www.cambridgeartfair.com

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OPEN CAMBRIDGE

WORDS JENNY SHELTON

Open Cambridge Ever wondered what treasures hide behind the gilded gates of our city's most impressive buildings? Find out this month when museums, mosques and more open their doors ocals with an inquisitive streak will get the opportunity to discover hitherto unexplored nooks, crannies and corners of Cambridge this month as part of the annual Open Cambridge event.

For one weekend only, the gates and gardens of the University will be thrown open to admit everyone, offering a chance to glimpse behind the scenes at one of the world’s oldest seats of learning. Open Cambridge comprises more than 80 free talks, walks, events and exhibitions covering a range of subjects, encompassing both the University and the city.

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The rich history of the city will be brought to life through a series of walks, tours and displays, introducing visitors to some of the people and places that have made Cambridge the powerhouse it is today. Visitors will be able to learn about

THE RICH HISTORY OF THE CITY IS BROUGHT TO LIFE THROUGH WALKS AND TOURS Cambridge’s contribution to the world of espionage, journey through the city’s

religious history, uncover the architectural significance of Cambridge’s buildings and discover intimate aspects of the Bloomsbury Group. You’ll also be able to find out about the role of American servicemen in Cambridge during the Second World War, and take a tour of the student theatre, the ADC, home to the famous Footlights.

Seen the BBC’s The Paradise? Then join the behind-the-scenes tour of John Lewis, a listed building. You can also look inside a Cold War bunker, or why not join in a PreRaphaelite feast at Jesus College.

Mill Road – a thriving, multicultural area of the city – has a fascinating past, which will

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OPEN CAMBRIDGE

be explored at an event at Ditchburn Place, a former workhouse and Mill Road’s oldest surviving building. Go back to medieval times with Dr Rosemary Horrox’s talk, A cuckoo in the nest?, discussing the origins of the tensions between town and gown.

Rowing is such a huge part of both University and city life in Cambridge, so don’t miss The history of rowing in Cambridge by Chris Dalley.

Cambridge is a city of contrasts; medieval spires intermingle with fresh, new architecture; tradition, legacy and heritage complement the cutting-edge research and technological advances that the city is internationally renowned for. Though synonymous with science and technology, the city also has its fair share of art and a range of arty events will showcase examples of artistic expression in Cambridge.

This year, Wolfson College celebrates its 50th anniversary and launches a worldclass exhibition, This is where ideas come from, in celebration. It highlights the artistic process of one of the most important British sculptors of the 21st century, Turner Prize winner Richard Deacon. Stay with the sculpture theme and take a guided tour through Jesus College’s sculpture collection.

Cambridge’s colleges are a constant attraction for visitors, and many are regularly open to the public (for a small fee). However, during Open Cambridge there will be a series of extra special events, opening up normally

unseen areas. Highlights include the opening of the famous Great Court and Chapel of Trinity College, which has taught princes, spies, poets and prime ministers since 1546.

Sidney Sussex College will also offer a tour of its courts and gardens, including an opportunity to view the fine plaster ceiling in the historic hall and the splendid neoBaroque chapel where Oliver Cromwell’s head is thought to be buried.

Oliver Cromwell is the star of another event, Warts and all, at Great St Mary’s. This event brings the Lord Protector gloriously

and uproariously to life. Visitors will learn more about the revolution that divided the country in the 1640s and Cromwell’s role in one of the most troubled periods of British history.

Coordinator Sue Long says: “For residents and visitors alike, there is a particular magic about Cambridge that is sometimes impossible to describe. The Open Cambridge weekend is a fantastic opportunity for the community and visitors to enjoy this magic; the ancient colleges, the picturesque Backs leading to the tranquillity of the river and the exquisite architecture all combine to create an extraordinary city we are very proud of.

“Alongside the events taking place throughout the city, such as the open day at the Abu Bakr Mosque and a backstage tour of the ADC, there is a range of fantastic events at the various libraries and museums,” she continues. “These include the treasures of the Queens’ College Old Library and St John’s College Library, the remarkable collections at the world-famous Pepys Library and Wren Library, as well as the Cabinet of Curiosities at the Museum of Cambridge.

There’s just so much to see and do at this year’s Open Cambridge, people will be spoilt for choice.”

Open Cambridge, 11-13 September www.opencambridge.cam.ac.uk

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ROMSEY ARTS WORDS JENNY SHELTON

IS A PROUD PARTNER OF ROMSEY ART FESTIVAL

Colour, magic and community are the themes of this year’s Romsey Art Festival – East Cambridge’s only festival of the arts. From its beginnings in Romsey Town, the annual Festival is expanding for 2015, embracing Petersfield, Abbey and Coleridge’s communities for its new programme, Eastside Creates. From 5 September until 10 October, expect to find a range of events taking place, including children’s art, discussions and even an Enchanted Tea Dance.

“Art space plays a vital role in giving back to the surrounding community and making art accessible to those who may normally miss it. The new programme, Eastside Creates, includes more activity in Abbey, where Cambridge Art Salon’s new studios are now,” says creative director of Cambridge Art Salon, Ruthie Collins. “We started in Romsey Town as an arts space, so there’s still heaps happening there, plus the whole Mill Road area, too,” she adds. “And watch out for the pink herons!” romseyartfestival.org.uk

Don’t miss:

BABY RAVE 6 SEPTEMBER Having a family doesn’t mean leaving your dancing days behind you… Cambridge

Junction hosts this first-ever daytime ‘club’ event for parents with babies, toddlers and young children (0-6 recommended). Dance to festival vibes with your family. Produced by the team behind the Camden Baby Rave.

WE ARE ALL BEAUTIFUL, 9 OCTOBER A fashion show opposed to body fascism, hosted by Rebel Arts using upcycled and recycled textiles, with students from King’s Hedges. At Bharat Bhavan, Mill Road.

BARNWELL ART CAFÉ, 5 SEPTEMBER A festival edition of the regular Saturday morning arts workshop at the Baptist Church.

AN ENCHANTED TEA DANCE, 10 OCTOBER Artwork from children and families will decorate the venue, celebrating pearls of wisdom passed down through generations.

With live music, dance and a pop-up café, this event also marks the launch of the nationwide BBC Get Creative Family Arts Festival. At Ditchburn Place.

MINEHEART IN RETROSPECT 5-17 SEPTEMBER As part of the exhibition of work from local design gurus Mineheart, Espresso Library are also running a photography competition on Instagram (5-13 September).

MANUELA HÜBNER, 5-19 SEPTEMBER An exhibition of mixed-media works inspired by randomness, combining collage, spraypainting and painting, at The Geldart pub.

PINK HERON SPOTTING This year’s festival mascot creator, the city’s anonymous street artist Heron Heron will be placing pink herons in unusual locations in Romsey Town, Petersfield and Abbey.

QUARTET IN COLOUR, 5-19 SEPTEMBER An exhibition of photographs by the celebrated Indian photographer Mala Mukerjee, at The Six Bells. All profits go to support the NSPCC, Cambridgeshire.

SOFAR SOUNDS Bringing live music to a living room near you, the phenomenon that was so popular during last year’s festival is back with secret gigs.

FUNKI, 19 SEPTEMBER Sing like Sam Smith! Dance like Kylie Minogue! Act like Tom Hiddleston! Funki is a one-day event at Covent Garden Drama Centre of workshops followed by a performance at the end of the day.

FIVE TREASURE KEYS OF BARNWELL Explore Barnwell and Abbey in this fun, inspiring game for all ages. Discover fascinating facts about the neighbourhoods and win prizes. Find out how to get started at www.barnwelltreasurekeys.org

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Throughout the festival:

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FILM FESTIVAL

WORDS JENNY SHELTON

CAMBRIDGE

Film Festival

Whether you fancy a quirky art house flick or a Hollywood blockbuster, grab your popcorn and get set for a feast of cinematic delights this month Brian May, a 24-hour movie marathon and a focus on space are just some of the treats that are in store for film lovers in Cambridge this month.

The third longest-running film festival in the UK returns to Cambridge for another eclectic programme of films this September. Cambridge Film Festival, which champions independent films and documentaries as well as more mainstream new releases, takes place across several venues, including the Arts Picturehouse and The Light Cinema, 3-13 September.

One of the UK’s most prestigious and well-respected film festivals, 2015 will celebrate festival director Tony Jones’s

30th anniversary with the festival which has been shaped by his passion and exceptional knowledge of cinema.

Over the ten-day period, expect more than 150 films for everyone, from babies to retirees, arthouse film buffs to occasional cinemagoers. There are 55 UK premieres and seven world premieres planned, plus

More than 150 films for everyone, from film buffs to occasional cinemagoers

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workshops, competitions and talks from directors and stars of the movie world.

This year’s festival welcomes legendary Queen guitarist Brian May, who will be talking about his interest in astronomy and all things 3D. GALA NIGHT The space theme prevails at this year’s Opening Gala Night on 3 September, with a screening of Star*Men. The film features four exceptional UK astronomers, two of which, Donald Lynden-Bell FRS and Roger Griffin, were Cambridge educated.

Celebrating 50 years of work and friendship, the film follows them on a road

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FILM FESTIVAL

trip to the Southwest States where they worked during some of the most exciting and productive periods in astronomy’s history. It has been billed as ‘insightful, funny and humbling’, and recaptures youthful adventures, which led to some of the most important discoveries about our evolving universe.

MAIN FEATURES Highlights of this year’s festival include the UK premiere of Robert Redford’s The Company You Keep. Redford stars and directs in this tense and intelligent political thriller about an anti-Vietnam War militant attempting to escape his radical past.

Redford also stars in A Walk In The Woods, an adaptation of Bill Bryson’s 1998 travel memoir about his return to the US. He decides the best way to reacquaint himself with his homeland is by undertaking a gruelling 2200-mile hike with one of his oldest friends.

Taking inspiration from Iranian filmmakers Abbas Kiarostami and Jafar Panahi, the world premiere of Dance Iranian Style blends documentary and fiction.

A young Iranian girl is denied refuge by Dutch immigration. Living on the streets of Amsterdam she strives to make a new life, while the camera crew following her must

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make a decision over whether or not they should intervene.

There’s also a chance to see the UK Bear the funny premiere of Infinitely Polar Bear, and heartbreaking semi-autobiographical directorial debut by screenwriter Maya Forbes (Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days). It stars Mark Ruffalo as Cameron, a man with bipolar disorder, who is left to manage his kids when his wife goes to business school.

There are also a number of fictional portraits of real figures from history, including By Our Selves, retracing a journey by 19th century poet John Clare, and Eisenstein in Guanajuato, by Peter Greenaway. The team behind Horrible Histories present family drama, Bill, about William Shakespeare’s ‘lost years’, and Abel Ferrara’s Pasolini stars Willem Defoe as the great Italian poet and film-maker Pier Paolo Pasolini, reconstructing the last day before his brutal murder.

Organisers are expecting lots of interest in Legend, starring Tom Hardy in a double role as the Kray Twins, and Woody Allen’s philosophical thriller, Irrational Man, starring Joaquin Phoenix.

Dr Brian May is also recognised for his interest in astronomy and has a passion for stereoscopic photography.

On 4 September, he will be talking to Denis Pellerin, co-author of Diableries: Hell, to Stereoscopic Adventures in Hell, present their stereoscopic short film One Night in Hell and a curated compilation of restored 3D rarities. One Night in Hell is a spectacular animated story about a skeleton’s journey into hell.

Cambridge will see the UK premiere of even more 3D rarities, with material assembled and restored by the 3-D

3D EVENING Best known as a guitarist and co-composer,

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FILM FESTIVAL

Film Archive over the last 25 years. The screening features rare footage from the 20s; full-colour 3D New Dimensions, first shown at New York World’s Fair in 1940; and lost movies from the 50s, including Doom Town, a controversial anti-atomic testing film mysteriously pulled from its release in 1953. It all takes place at The Light Cinema on Cambridge Leisure Park.

BBC ARENA AT 40 We all love a movie marathon, but could you last 24 hours? On closing night, the Film Festival will exclusively present BBC Arena at 40: Night and Day – The Arena Time Machine. 2015 marks 40 years of the iconic, multi-award winning BBC documentary series, Arena. Established in 1975, Arena has won nine BAFTA Awards and was voted by TV executives in Broadcast magazine one of the top 50 most influential programmes of all time.

Night and Day is Arena’s most ambitious project to date: a 24-hour continuous film marking the passage of day to night to day, exactly in sync with British summertime on 13-14 September, made entirely from material from the Arena archive. It aims to present a picture of the planet and its history since the dawn of film, featuring the most significant figures of our time in

art and culture including Nelson Mandela, Bob Dylan, The Beatles, Harold Pinter, Luis Buñuel and Andy Warhol.

The Picturehouse bar will be open all night, if you need a 3am pick-me-up as part of this unique, sleep-depriving experience.

Festivals are a place where smaller-budget films find a home OTHER HIGHLIGHTS Spanish directorial talent is explored in Camera Catalonia, and there’s plenty of classic Swedish and contemporary German to indulge in if that’s your bag.

This year, the Picturehouse is teaming up with The Light Cinema on Cambridge Leisure Park, where Lates@TheLight will offer late-night screenings of top horror films. No film festival would be complete without a nod to Hitchcock, and The Hitchcock Trilogy brings to life scenes recreated from The Birds, Rear Window and Psycho, presented at exciting locations.

The Cambridge Family Film Festival is back once again this year promising

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delights including Mr Men, The Gruffalo, Looney Tunes, Harry Potter and the original TV series of Paddington.

CLOSING GALA See out the festival with the UK premiere of Palio, Cosima Spender’s enthralling documentary capturing the intensity of the world’s oldest horse race, the Palio, in Siena. The story of a young rider – an outsider – and the reigning champ, it’s been billed as ‘Rocky on horseback’.

Owen Baker, marketing and communications manager of the Cambridge Film Trust which organises the festival, says: “We’re really excited about this year’s programme; we really are catering for everyone. Festivals are a place where smaller-budget films find a home, so there’s plenty at the esoteric end of the spectrum. But we’re also showing films like Legend, which we know will be popular with the masses.

“I truly believe that, if people challenge themselves to step just a little out of their comfort zone, then they won’t be disappointed. Plus, the festival atmosphere is really fantastic.”

For the full brochure and to book visit: www.cambridgefilmfestival.org.uk

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LODESTAR

WORDS JENNY SHELTON

hey dominated the charts in the mid 00s, leading the British indie revival along with the likes of Franz Ferdinand, Arctic Monkeys and Kaiser Chiefs: a welcome antidote to the flood of anodyne X Factor hits threatening to soundtrack the new millennium.

This month, Razorlight – fronted by guitarist Johnny Borrell – headline Cambridge’s Fenland festival, Lodestar.

Taking place on a farm in Lode, just east of the city, Lodestar, run by Doug Durrant, whose family have lived and worked the land for generations, is in its seventh year. The family-friendly festival features three stages of live music, comedy, crafts, food and entertainment, with the aim of bringing local people together

to experience established artists and celebrate up-and-coming talent.

Friday night welcomes Kitten, The Primitives and The Sherlocks to the main stage; with Decades of Disco and Music of Motown DJ’ing on the Lady Jane Stage.

There’s an Open Mic night, meanwhile, on the Village Green stage, along with other local artists. Razorlight headline on Saturday, with The Sunshine Underground and The Hearts; Ellie Rose is on the Lady Jane Stage and don’t miss Sigma Collective on the Village Green. We’re also

EXPERIENCE ESTABLISHED ARTISTS AND CELEBRATE UP-AND-COMING TALENT

liking the sound of the ‘Cabaret into the late night’ on the Lady Jane Stage. On Sunday, enjoy tunes from Lùisa and My Baby, The Ouse Valley Singles Club and local rising singer-songwriter Rachel Clark.

We’re hoping for all the classics from Razorlight like Golden Touch, Vice, In The Morning, Somewhere Else and America.

Despite a line-up change in 2008-9 and a 2010-15 hiatus, it’s now rumoured the group are working on new material – hopefully we’ll get to hear some of it at Lodestar.

Tickets are £105 (adult weekend), day passes are available. It’s an extra £10 per person for three days’ camping. Further details online, and follow @lodestarfest. www.lodestarfestival.com

SEPT

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ORGANISER

SUPPORTERS

IS A PROUD PARTNER OF THE DRAGON BOAT FESTIVAL

CHARITY

DRAGON BOAT

Get set for this year's Cambridge Dragon Boat Festival: an action-packed day of fun on the River Cam, in aid of a fantastic local cause. Here's what's in store More than 40 teams, drawn from local companies, clubs and organisations, have already signed up for this year’s Cambridge Dragon Boat Festival, which takes place on Saturday 12 September. Now entering its 11th year, the spectacular event sees enthusiastic crews battling it out on a 200-metre stretch of the River Cam in Fen Ditton, racing in brightly coloured Chinese dragon boats and cheered on by hundreds of spectators.

Whether it’s treatment for an emergency, acute condition, pregnancy or long-term illness, they believe that every patient deserves the highest quality of care available. Their aim is to continue to support the hospitals, as they have been doing for the past ten years, by raising funds for cutting-edge technology,

additional specialist services, vital research and extra comforts for patients over and above what would be possible through NHS funding alone.

THE ENTRANTS SO FAR The teams entered so far represent a complete mix of returning teams and new

A FUN-FILLED DAY OUT TO RAISE MONEY FOR A BRILLIANT LOCAL CAUSE As well as offering a fun-filled day out, this year’s Dragon Boat Festival will help to raise money for a brilliant local cause, the Addenbrooke’s Charitable Trust.

ACT is the only charity dedicated to making a difference for patients at Addenbrooke’s and the Rosie Hospitals.

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DRAGON BOAT

teams from all corners of the region, and the beauty of dragon boat racing is that everyone has an equal chance of winning!

As well as the Standard entries, eight Gold and Silver entry packages are available, which include marketing benefits as well as a significant donation to Addenbrooke’s Charitable Trust.

Keith McNeil, chief executive of Cambridge University Hospitals, has been confirmed as one of 12 crew members in the ACTion Heroes crew, as well as ACT’s chief

ALL THE CREWS SEEM REALLY UP FOR THE CHALLENGE OF RACING EACH OTHER executive Stephen Davies and consultant neurosurgeon, Rikin Trivedi.

Crew manager and ACT’s head of marketing and communications, Samantha Sherratt, said: “The ACT team is really excited about going head to head with Cambridgeshire businesses this year. Not only do all the crews seem really up for the challenge of racing each other, but they are all making a tremendous effort to fundraise for the hospitals!”

The Red Lion at Whittlesford Bridge has kindly donated a dinner for the team that raises the most money this year. Dawn Wightman, marketing manager at the 13th century coaching inn, said: “The team at The Red Lion is proud to be supporting ACT as the charity for the 2015 Dragon Boat Festival. Good luck to all the competitors.

We are looking forward to welcoming the team who fundraises the largest amount of cash for ACT!”

Join us!

HOW TO JOIN IN To take part in the dragon boat racing and help raise money for Addenbrooke’s Charitable Trust, no previous experience is required, just plenty of team spirit and enthusiasm! The dragon boats, qualified helms and all racing equipment are provided and each crew is guaranteed a minimum of three races. Medals and trophies are presented to the winners and the top fundraising crew for ACT will also receive a delicious prize meal courtesy of The Red Lion at Whittlesford Bridge.

12 SEPT

ENTERTAINMENT Between races, teams and spectators will be able to enjoy a variety of bankside entertainment such as funfair rides, children’s activities, Chinese lion dancing, food stalls and a bar. There will also be a spectacular memorial fly-past from a Battle of Britain Spitfire.

The Festival is supported by Cambridge Edition and Heart.

For Festival details and entry, visit www. dragonboatfestivals.co.uk/cambridge or call Gable Events on 01780 470718.

For Addenbrooke’s Charitable Trust details, visit www.act4addenbrookes.org.uk or call Carla Brown, corporate fundraising manager on 01223 348531.

Photos courtesy of Ann Miles Photography and Gable Events picture library

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FAMILY

GLOW

TABLE TOP ROCKET Want to see someone setting off gunpowder indoors? At Cambridge Science Centre this month, Jon London will be leading an event exploring the mayhem of rockets. Join him at midday on 3 September to discover the history and science behind rockets, from Ancient Greece to the Space Race of the 60s.

Part of Summer at the Museums; normal admission charges apply. www.cambridgesciencecentre.org

HINXTON WATERMILL OPEN DAY Keep your fingers crossed for a day of late summer sunshine on 6 September when the historic Hinxton Mill opens to the public.

Dating from the 17th century, on a site mentioned in the Domesday Book, Hinxton Watermill is a fascinating and beautiful example of a working watermill, which would have served the surrounding community in times gone by. Much of the machinery inside remains in working order, and the setting, on the banks of the Cam just outside Hinxton village, is worth a visit in itself. During the day, there’ll be tea and cake served at the Village Hall, plus a Where’s Ratty? competition for the kids. Takes place from 2.30pm to 5pm, entry £3 (£1 children). www.cambridgeppf.org

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Developed especially for babies and toddlers, Glow is a multisensory adventure taking place at Cambridge Junction this September. Glowing orbs, live music and a dancer in the sky all help create a magical, playful show, inspired by the dreamy language of Japanese haiku poetry.

The Argus called it ‘charming, playful, beautifully executed and totally full of joy’. Glow was commissioned by Brighton Festival and Brighton Dome, and is supported by the Arts Council of England, with Sussex Baby Lab. Takes place 13 September, various times. Tickets are £16 for one child and an accompanying adult. www.junction.co.uk

CROCODILES IN CREAM Enter the surreal, magical world of Lewis Carroll at the Mumford Theatre this month. Crocodiles in Cream is a moving one-man show centred on the many-sided Alice in Wonderland author. Mathematician, photographer, poet and storyteller, Carroll continues to beguile us to this day, while his works remain a staple of any child’s bookshelf. The play celebrates the 150th anniversary of the publication of Alice in Wonderland.

Takes place on 17 September, 7.30pm; tickets £12.50 (£10 concessions, £8.50 student/child). www.anglia.ac.uk

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FOOD DRINK A N D

GET THE INSIDE TRACK ON CAMBRIDGE’S FOODIE SCENE WITH EDITION’S MONTHLY SUPPLEMENT

How do you like your eggs in the morning?

© Waitrose

ASK THE FOODIE

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FOOD

YOUR E K I L YOU O D W HO

IN THE MORNING?

AFTERNOON TEASE'S SCRAMBLED EGGS WITH SMOKED SALMON ON SOURDOUGH TOAST JO KRUCZYNSKA OWNER OF AFTERNOON TEASE CAFE LIKES HERS SCRAMBLED , , IN A BRUNCH CLASSIC PACKED WITH LOCALLY SOURCED INGREDIENTS , "Sometimes it’s about the simple things done well. I don’t think you can go wrong when you’re using really lovely, fresh ingredients.

At Afternoon Tease, we use smoked salmon from Chapel & Swan, free range eggs from Rattlesden Farm Foods and sourdough bread from Dovecote Bakery."

METHOD To make the perfect scrambled eggs you need patience! First, vigorously whisk your eggs (two per person) with a generous splash of milk and salt (don’t worry if it starts to look like orange juice!). The salt helps break down the protein in the eggs and, as well as making them taste better, gives them a nicer texture.

Put a non-stick frying pan onto a low/ medium heat and add a generous knob of salted butter. Once the butter has melted, add the eggs. Now, this is when patience is your friend: keep your hands to yourself. Don’t be tempted to turn up the heat and definitely don’t stir the eggs. Occasionally push the eggs from the front to the back of the pan with a rubber spatula to make sure they’re not sticking or turning into an omelette.

Just before your eggs are set, and no longer runny, remove the pan from the heat and season with pepper. Trust me: the heat of the pan will cook them to perfection by the time you’ve sorted out your toast.

Then simply pile them on the toast, put the salmon on top and tuck in.

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FOOD

HOW TO MAKE THE PERFECT …

NEED TO DIAL IT BACK AND MASTER THE BASICS? ALLOW RHODE ISLAND'S CHEF CARLOS RIBEIRO TO SHOW YOU HOW

BOILED EGGS 1. Place the eggs in a saucepan/pot, add water – the eggs should be covered with around 2-3cm water.

2. Place the pot over a high heat and when the water starts to boil (bubble), turn off the stove.

3. Set the timer to your preference: 3-4 mins: whites soft, yolk still completely liquid 6-7 mins: whites lightly firm, yolk nice and smooth 10 mins: whites totally firm, yolk still smooth 15 mins: hard-boiled egg Tip: To make the egg shell easier to peel add a drizzle of vinegar to the cooking water and/or once the egg is boiled, transfer it to a bowl of iced water for a few minutes.

POACHED EGGS The trick for making perfectly poached eggs is simple: a fine mesh sieve.

1. Place the sieve over a bowl, at an angle so that the egg won’t be in the middle of the sieve, but instead to one edge of it.

2. Crack the egg into the sieve. Some of the white may get through the sieve at this stage – do not panic, this is normal – the egg yolk and the tighter whites will remain in it.

3. Lower the sieve into simmering water, and shake it lightly to transfer the egg into the pot.

4. Simmer for approximately 4-5 mins.

Use a slotted spoon to lift the egg out of the water.

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SCRAMBLED EGGS For those wanting to play it safe, scrambled eggs are one of the simplest forms of egg to cook. This is a great recipe for basic scrambled eggs – add whatever ingredients you like to make your own signature eggs!

INGREDIENTS

(FOR APPROX 6 PEOPLE)

• 8 eggs • butter for cooking • 80ml double cream • 120g cream cheese (small pieces) • 1 cup grated cheddar • salt and pepper to taste

EGG TEST

1. Crack the eggs into a bowl and whisk until blended.

2. Melt the butter in a pan over medium/low heat, add the eggs, cream and the cream cheese (use a fork or whisk to spread the cream cheese). Cook for 1-2 mins.

3. Stir the eggs just once.

4. After another minute, stir once more and add the cheddar. Cook for a further 2-3 mins.

Add salt and pepper to taste.

Fill a bowl with water at room temperature, if the egg…

Tip: The less you stir the eggs around, the fluffier they will be.

For those who have ever wondered how to check the freshness of an egg, wonder no more.

SINKS TO THE BOTTOM:

it is very fresh.

LIFTS AT ONE SIDE:

it is approximately one week old.

STANDS ON ONE POINT:

it is a few weeks old.

FLOATS COMPLETELY:

it is very old. Do not eat it.

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FOOD

RHODE ISLAND'S FIERY TOMATO EGGS RHODE ISLAND'S HEAD CHEF CARLOS TURNS UP THE TEMPERATURE WITH THIS SPICY BRUNCH DISH "Steamed tomato eggs, or Fiery Tomato Eggs as we call them, are the best eggs I’ve ever had and what’s great is that they’re veggie friendly too! This is one of my favourite family recipes to make – mind you I have tweaked it here and there over the years to my personal preference. We used to serve these eggs on our breakfast menu."

INGREDIENTS (FOR APPROX 2-3 PEOPLE)

• 1tbsp extra virgin olive oil • 2 medium-sized tomatoes, 0.5/1cm slices • 1/2tbsp turmeric powder, optional – but really good!

• Garlic bulb • 1 small green chilli, thinly sliced • spring onion • coriander to taste • 4-5 medium to large eggs • Maldon salt and coarse black pepper to taste

METHOD 1. Put a 20cm/8” pan over a low heat and add the extra virgin olive oil.

2. Once the oil has warmed a little, add the sliced tomatoes. Cover the entire bottom of the pan with the tomatoes – overlapping is fine.

3. Cook the tomatoes for 3-4 mins and then turn over to allow the other side to cook. Add turmeric and cover with a lid.

4. Cook for a further 3-4 mins. Meanwhile peel the garlic, cut it in half and remove the centre, then slice the remainder into thin slices or crush it completely.

5. Once the tomatoes are softened and juicy, add the garlic, green chilli, spring onion and coriander.

6. Now break the eggs straight into the pan. Distribute them evenly to cover all the tomatoes and place the lid back on the pan.

7. Wait 5 mins and take off the lid.

The eggs should be cooked all the way through; the top layer should be completely firm, without any runny egg.

8. Remove from the heat and garnish with more coriander if you wish. Add salt and pepper to taste.

Tip: If you’re feeling daring add some smoked paprika or red chilli powder too.

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NANNA MEXICO'S HUEVOS RANCHEROS LUIS NAVARRO OWNER OF NANNA , MEXICO SHARES HIS RECIPE FOR A , MEXICAN BREAKFAST CLASSIC

© Daisy Dickinson

"I like my breakfast to set me up for the day ahead. Huevos rancheros (cowboy’s eggs) are just the thing to perk me up in the morning. In Mexico we make them with salsa roja on one fried egg and salsa verde on the other. This resembles the national colours but more importantly brings the palate to life with the flavours of freshly made salsas. The eggs are served on a bed of briefly fired corn tortillas and provide the perfect contrast to the eggs and salsa texture and consistency."

© Daisy Dickinson

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SALSA

HUEVOS RANCHEROS

• 2 or 3 chillies. I prefer fresh green chillies (chile de árbol), but use whatever you like • A couple of tomatoes or tomatillos, roasted in the pan or under the grill • 1tsp salt • Couple of fresh garlic cloves • A few stalks of coriander • A small onion, chopped

• 2 corn tortillas per person, lightly fried or grilled over a naked flame • 2 good quality free range eggs fried the way you like them • salsa

Blend the whole thing together and fry it slightly for extra flavour.

Try serving with extra fried tortilla chips and black or pinto beans.

Down it all with a glass of fresh orange juice and enjoy your day!

Use tomatoes for salsa roja and tomatillos for salsa verde; if you can get tomatillos you are a lucky person!

Place the eggs on top of the tortillas.

Add the salsa (salsas) on top.

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FOOD NEWS A MONTHLY ROUND-UP OF GASTRONOMIC GOINGS-ON IN CAMBRIDGE AND THE SURROUNDING AREA

THIS AUTUMN AT FOODPARK

MITCHAM’S & MORE FEST If you’re a fan of the Mitcham’s Triangle Beer Festival, which has run for the last couple of years, you’ll be pleased to hear that this event is being souped up in a big way for 2015, morphing into the Mitcham’s & More Festival, which will take place across multiple venues over the weekend of 4-7 September. Geared towards raising funds for the Mitcham’s Corner Christmas lights, the event will feature a pop-up street food market on Saturday 5 September where you can pick up treats from Jack’s Gelato, The Lick, Tapas Azahar and more, as well as bites from local eateries including Klub Polonia. On Sunday 6 September, pop along to the Family Day and stave off those back to school blues with entertainment including circus skills and pedal-powered haircuts (!) with Oblique Arts.

At the beer festival running 4-7 September, you can drink your way around local venues, choosing from more than 140 ales, bottled beers and cider, as well as enjoying live music.

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Our city’s street food collective foodPark will host another night market on Saturday 3 October at Gravel Hill Farm. You can expect fantastic food from the some of the best traders in town, plus hot drinks and sweet treats. If you’ve not yet made it along to one of these nighttime feasts, it’s well worth the trip, offering an opportunity to taste your way around the cream of the local street food scene, enjoy a drink or two and some great music at what’s always a buzzing event.

Rather excitingly, foodPark has also recently announced that they will now be at their CB1 pitch Tuesday to Friday each and every week (as opposed to just Fridays). From 12pm till 2pm, you’ll be able to get your mitts on lunchtime deliciousness from the likes of Buffalo Joe’s, Guerilla Kitchen, Fired Up Pizza and Steak & Honour. The lovely Warming Your Cockles Coffee Co will also be serving from 7am if you need an early morning fix. Stay tuned to the foodPark website and social media pages for updates. foodparkcam.com

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ASK THE FOODIE

RED COW CASINO NIGHT Chrishall’s picturesque gastro pub, The Red Cow will be transformed into a casino for one night only this month, complete with blackjack tables and more. As well as chancing your luck, you’ll be able to enjoy cocktails and freshly baked wood-fired pizzas. Guests are encouraged to ‘dress to impress’ for the event, which takes place on Friday 18 September (from 7.30pm) and will raise money for MIND and the local school.

Once you’ve had a flutter and enjoyed some tasty food and drink, you can dance the night away to tribute act Wrong Stewart and The Farces, who will be offering up their take on timeless classics by Rod Stewart and The Faces. Tickets for the event are £25 (pizza and a cocktail included). www.theredcow.com

BOURN BEER & MUSIC FESTIVAL Head over to Manor Farm on Saturday 19 September for the annual Bourn Beer & Music Festival, where you can enjoy great food and drink, plus live entertainment, all in a picturesque farm setting.

This family friendly event will have a bouncy castle and soft play area for the little ones, plus a huge selection of tasty local beers, ciders and wines for the grown-ups. Food-wise, Fired Up Pizza and the Wandering Yak will be on hand with their usual treats, whilst on the music bill you’ll find the Junkyard Preachers, The Sound of Pop Art, Chloe Turner, GraceSarah and more.

There’s plenty more fun in store too, and it’ll all help raise funds for NSPCC Cambridgeshire.

Open from 12 noon until 11pm. Entry is £5 per adult and under 16s go free. manorfarmbourn.com

HEIDI WHITE AKA THE MOVING FOODIE ANSWERS YOUR BURNING ' ' QUESTIONS ON THE CAMBRIDGE FOOD SCENE

Q. WHERE CAN I FIND THE BEST AL FRESCO DINING SPOTS IN CAMBRIDGE? It sounds like you’re holding out for an Indian summer – me too. Aren’t they the best? In the month of September, everyone wants to savour those last few precious sunny evenings and weekends, best spent dining outside while basking in golden sunshine, sipping the final cocktails of the summer. I recommend skipping the usual hotspots, often packed out at the slightest hint of warm temperatures, and seeking out some solace and good food in your own little suntrap.

The small courtyard at the back of St John’s Chop House is a delightful place to while away a sunny afternoon.

It’s secluded, sheltered by leafy vines and bathed in pools of sunlight. The restaurant’s full food menu can be enjoyed in the garden, and the Sunday roasts are fantastic (voted the best in Cambridge by yours truly a while back).

Another hidden gem is the tiny beer garden at The Clarendon Arms

– a surprisingly serene spot for a city centre pub. It’s a sweet and sunny space, decked out with pretty patio furniture, floral tablecloths and filled with heady aromas from the beautiful flowers, herbs and tomato plants. The pub’s home-cooked food is always a treat too.

Often overlooked where dining is concerned is The Garden Café at the Cambridge University Botanic Garden.

Local, seasonal food is served in the light and airy glass-fronted café in the heart of the beautiful gardens. The huge terrace provides a peaceful spot to enjoy the surroundings and tuck into light lunches, sweet treats and the café’s delicious weekend brunch (served on Saturday and Sunday on the first weekend of each month).

If it’s those al fresco summer cocktails you’re after however, rumour has it that newbie restaurant/bar NOVI’s roof terrace is due to open any day now. Already popular for its vast open-window seating on the ground floor – perfect for relaxing while watching the world wander by on Regent Street – NOVI also boasts a swish cocktail bar and a trendy tapasstyle food menu, as well as the promise of that all-important terrace.

For more top tips on eating and drinking in Cambridge, visit Heidi’s blog www.movingfoodie.com Got a question for the Moving Foodie? Tweet us at @cambsedition or @TheMovingFoodie using the tag: #askthefoodie

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BAKER BOY JENNY SHELTON CHATS WITH IAN CUMMING FROM GREAT WILBRAHAM STAR OF , , THIS YEAR’S GREAT BRITISH BAKE OFF As of last month, Wednesday nights are officially reserved for tea, a slice of cake and The Great British Bake Off. A whopping 9.3 million of us joined Paul Hollywood and Mary Berry for the first episode of series six, which got off to a rollicking start, serving up more drama (collapsing cakes! absent frosting!) and outrageous innuendo than ever before.

One of the dozen bakers in the tent this year is local photographer Ian Cumming, a dad of two based in Great Wilbraham. His first task in Week One – a simple Madeira cake, with visible crack (*giggles*) – didn’t go well, with Paul likening its consistency to ‘wallpaper paste’. Ouch.

But things took an upward turn for Ian in the showstopper challenge. Asked to present a Black Forest gateau to the

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gingham altar, Ian’s rendering of small, chocolate animals earned him a place in Week Two of the show.

“The first weekend in the tent was obviously a bit of a rocky start!” Ian told us.

“I would love to be able to take away many things from it but unfortunately ‘wallpaper paste’ is always going to be at the forefront of my mind!

“The technical was OK… however, it was the showstopper that pulled me up. I think if you’re going to do one thing right then that is the one to do.”

Ian’s edible, inhabited woodland – with incongruous chocolate elephant – caught the imagination of Mel and Sue. “I can’t wait to romp in your forest, Ian,” proclaimed Mel. “You promised we’d get the odd animal,” appraised judge Mary. “An elephant is

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FOOD

an odd animal, for the Black Forest,” observed Sue. Ian explains his elephant: “It was partly due to having young children who appreciate daft things like that and partly down to the practical issues of piping tiny chocolate shapes – intricate animals like deer wouldn’t have worked with their antlers.” Wise words.

It appears Ian owes his place in the Bake Off tent to his wife, who fancied going along to the party at the final, held for all contestants and their families.

“My wife watched the final last year and said how much she liked the look of the tea party, and asked if I could sort it out for her to go… neither of us ever expected that I really would! I was totally amazed to get on as I had never thought of myself as one of the country’s top amateur bakers. I didn’t let the extraordinary popularity of the show get to me – I just wanted to do a good job and make some tasty, interesting bakes.”

Speaking about the presenters, he says: “Paul and Mary were as expected – firm but fair would sum them up. Mel and Sue were fantastic though, I can’t praise them highly enough. What could be a terribly nerve-racking experience they made into something fun and light.”

At time of writing, Ian looks a strong contender for the final, having twice bagged star baker; the second with his crusty breads. Unperturbed by Paul’s icy stare, he has delivered consistently confident, creative bakes. We’re all behind you, Ian. Do it for Great Wilbraham!

The Great British Bake Off continues Wednesdays 8pm, BBC One.

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MICROBREWERY OPENS IN CAMBRIDGE If you like your ales well crafted and served up by fellow enthusiasts, make your way to Hooper Street for an excellent pint and a glimpse into the brewing process. Calverley’s Brewery is run by brothers Sam and Tom Calverley, born out of a passion for home brewing. Their recipes use only top-quality ingredients and their Calverley’s Best Bitter has been championed by CAMRA. Explains Sam: “My inspiration came when I was travelling in Australia. I went on a brewery tour and decided that brewing was what I wanted to do! All I had to do was teach myself to brew, write a business plan and save up the money. My wife thought I was mad, but my determination has helped me see it through. It’s been a long journey to get here, but I am still just as passionate about it as I was on that brewery tour all those years ago.”

He adds: “My brother Tom has been working with me for a while and is just starting to lead some of the brews. It’s a family affair; sometimes other friends and family help out in the shop. I owe a lot of people a lot of beer!”

The brothers started brewing in early 2014 – around the same time Sam’s daughter came into the world. They opened the brewery to the public in May this year, where customers can buy fresh cask ale to take away (from two to 36 pints); and they supply to various pubs in the city centre.

Describing his ales, Sam says: “If you want something with more contemporary flavours I would recommend our Citra and Simcoe Pale Ale (4.5%). But if you want something more traditional with a lot of malt flavours then I would recommend our Best Bitter (4.8%). We want people to try the beer before buying it so that they’re getting something that suits their taste.”

What does he make of the current ‘real ale Renaissance’?

“I think it’s a desire to enjoy a great quality of beer. I think that people are keen to become more connected to the food and drink that they enjoy so take an interest in the provenance and craft that goes into producing it.”

Calverley’s is open every Saturday, 11am to 4pm. www.calverleys.com

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IMAGES DAISY DICKINSON

THE SCORES ON THE DOORS

A MAC ’N’ CHEESE

1. GRAIN STORE: 18/20

2. SALISBURY ARMS: 16/20

CRAWL PART II

3. BYRON BURGER: 14.5/20 4. CAU: 13/20

5. RIVER BAR: 10/20

Bloggers and mac ’n’ cheese aficionados Charlotte Griffiths and Daisy Dickinson are on a hunt to find the best mac ’n’ cheese in Cambridge. This month, they conclude their quest by sampling the cheesy delights at Bill’s, The Grain Store and The River Bar – here’s the verdict…

6. BILL’S: 10/20

#ReturnoftheMac

THE GRAIN STORE

BILL’S

THE RIVER BAR

DAISY SAYS: “It was my first time eating at The Grain Store, our first stop of the evening. The baked mac ’n’ cheese with vintage cheddar came complete with house salad for £7. Served in a hipster tin oven dish it’s top marks for this mac from me, with a Quaver-esque taste – in a really good way! – and perfect consistency, I was thanking Chesus for this delight.”

DAISY SAYS: “Next we headed to Bill’s.

I’d tried (and really liked) their mac ’n' cheese with leeks before, and this time it was served with added grilled asparagus for £9.50. A cheerful sprinkling of panko breadcrumbs topped this dish, which had a delightfully creamy sauce but was lacking in the smoky flavour I was expecting from the description and could’ve benefitted from a little longer in the oven.”

DAISY SAYS: “Our final stop of the night, and one we’d heard rave reviews of was The River Bar. The attentive bar staff set us up with a G&T and I ordered the vegetarian mac ’n’ cheese with porcini and spinach for a whopping £14. For those looking to go all out and indulge, this is the place to go.

I daren’t guess how many packets of butter were used to create this masterpiece, which came with twice-cooked chips and a big side of mayo!”

CHARLOTTE SAYS: “Bill’s was busy when we visited, yet the attentive waiter was happy to sit us in the window to watch the world go by. He expressed surprise that we were sharing just one main, then promptly returned with the establishment’s cheesiest offering. Sadly, it was a little too promptly: a little longer in the oven would have pushed this leekstrewn mac to the front of the pack. A good effort though: and who doesn’t love asparagus?”

CHARLOTTE SAYS: “This legendary dish came so highly recommended that one friend ran down the street to make sure we visited this culinary hotspot. The bar’s better known for the steaks and cocktails, yet the mac deserves more than a mention. The word epic is overused, yet well applied to all aspects of this dining experience. If you want rich, unctuous, flavourful mac ’n’ cheese and like lobster, then I recommend this. Just don’t eat two other main courses beforehand.”

CHARLOTTE SAYS: “This newish eatery had been on my hit list for some time, mainly due to it being a tankovna bar – serving super-fresh Pilsner Urquell to thirsty Cambridge-ites. The beer did not disappoint, and nor did their take on mac ’n’ cheese: accompanied by an unheralded leafy salad that was studded with minuscule fiery, sweet peppers, the crispy, onion-topped mac was piping hot, well cooked and smothered in a perfectly cheesy sauce. A classic take and a very strong contender for the crown…”

BILL’S

CHARLOTTE: 5/10 DAISY: 5/10

THE GRAIN STORE

THE RIVER BAR

CHARLOTTE: 8/10

CHARLOTTE:6/10

DAISY: 10/10

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DAISY: 4/10

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RECIPES

WORDS & IMAGES STELLA PEREIRA

Olive oil flat bread Ingredients • 260g warm water • 8g fresh yeast • 5g salt • 400g strong white flour • 40g olive oil, plus 20g for the spatula and drizzle • 5 sprigs of rosemary or thyme • 2tsp dried oregano • 100g cherry tomatoes, halved • 50g pitted olives • 2 small sweet peppers, roasted

Step by step: In a large bowl, mix lukewarm water, yeast, salt and 200g flour.

Cover and let sit for three to four hours in a warm environment or until it has doubled.

Add remaining flour and olive oil. Mix into a soft dough. Knead for about ten minutes and allow to rise for 30 minutes. With the help of an oiled spatula, stretch dough from opposite ends and fold into centre. Cover and let rise until it has doubled in size. Repeat the process a second time. Allow to rest for 15 minutes. Divide dough into four portions. Gently flatten dough onto a baking tray, poke and sprinkle with rosemary or thyme and oregano. Stud with tomatoes, olives and roast peppers or a mix of your own favourites, and drizzle with olive oil. Allow to prove for 1 hour.

Preheat fan oven to 220°C (240°C conventional oven, gas mark 8). Bake for 20 minutes. Remove from the oven and drizzle with a little extra olive oil, serve warm.

is a cook, cake designer and artist, originally from Portugal and now living in Cambridge.

Visit her website at www.littlecakepot.com

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RECIPES

www.littlecakepot.com

Portuguese orange flans Ingredients • 200g sugar • 6 eggs • 400ml milk • zest of an orange • 1tsp plain flour

Caramel lining: Place 100g of sugar in a saucepan on medium heat. Stir occasionally to prevent from burning. When the caramel turns a honey tone, remove from heat and line the flan tins or ramekins; you’ll need about 15. Set aside to cool or until caramel surface begins to crack.

For the flan: In a medium-sized bowl mix eggs, 350ml of milk, orange zest and 100g sugar. Whisk gently to prevent bubbles from forming. Dissolve flour in the remaining 50ml of milk. Add to bowl and whisk gently, but thoroughly. Add flan mix to caramel coated flan tins and place in the fridge to allow mixture to rest.

Preheat fan oven to 150°C (170°C conventional oven, gas mark 3 or 4). Place flan tins in a deep oven tray. Carefully add boiling water to oven tray and bake for 15 minutes or until flan surface is firm to touch. Allow to cool completely. Once cool, use a sharp knife to tease out the edges. Serve chilled.

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RECIPES WORDS HELEN UNDERWOOD

Make your own

IN CELEBRATION OF SOURDOUGH SEPTEMBER HELEN FROM WHITE COTTAGE ’ BAKERY SHARES TIPS AND A FOOLPROOF RECIPE

Helen Underwood

runs White Cottage Bakery in Kingston, just south-west of Cambridge. She gives monthly bread-making courses from her farmhouse kitchen. Her dehydrated sourdough starter is available from the website www.whitecottagebakery.com

September sees a month of celebration for real bread enthusiasts. For an entire month we have the perfect excuse to try out a number of delicious new breads as we join in with ‘Sourdough September’!

For the uninitiated, sourdough is the magic resulting when water and flour are left to do their own thing for a few days. Wild yeasts are captured, feeding on the carbohydrate in the flour and growing until you have a bubbling ferment, capable of leavening a loaf of bread without the need for added yeast. Pure alchemy!

Delicious, nutritious and easier to digest than regular bread – what’s not to love? Simply follow this step-by-step recipe and experiment with making your very own at home.

If you can’t beg or borrow a sourdough starter from a friendly baker, you can buy dehydrated starters that are quick and easy to use. But why not try making your own?

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Making your own sourdough starter: Ingredients: • 250ml tepid water • 350g strong bread flour • a few raisins or grapes, or 1tsp honey

appearing and your ferment has visibly increased in volume, take 100g of the mix (discarding the rest and your added ‘boosters’) and feed with 150g flour and 50ml water. The resulting dough will be quite stiff. Leave for at least eight hours before using for the following recipe.

To keep your starter going, take 100g of starter (discard the rest), add 200g flour and 100ml water. Keep it in the fridge if not using and feed every seven to ten days.

1. Mix 100g strong bread flour with 100ml tepid water in a large glass jar or plastic container. Add your fermentation booster (perhaps a few organic raisins or grapes, even a generous teaspoon of organic honey will work), cover and leave in a warm room for 24 hours.

2. Add another 100g flour and 100ml tepid water and leave for up to three days, checking daily for signs of life.

3. Once you have lots of bubbles

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RECIPES

Classic French sourdough recipe (pain de campagne)

Ingredients: • 100g sourdough starter • 320ml tepid water • 350g strong white flour • 50g rye flour • 8g salt • semolina for dusting the peel

To make your sourdough: 1. Loosely mix your starter and tepid water in a large bowl, add your flour and, finally, your salt. Combine together in the bowl until you have a rough dough.

2. Tip out the dough onto your work surface and knead for ten to 15 minutes. Be warned – it will be sticky! Don’t be tempted to add more flour. After 15 minutes the dough will be elastic and less inclined to stick to either you or your work surface.

all four sides are folded. Cover and rest for another hour.

5. Fold again and rest for an hour.

6. Turn your dough carefully out onto a floured surface. Pinch a piece of the dough furthest from you, stretch it away and then fold it back into the middle. Turn a quarter turn then repeat. Continue around your dough until all four ‘corners’ have been stretched and folded back into the middle.

Now flip your dough over and, ensuring the surface below is free from flour, gently cup your ball and drag towards you, tightening the surface of the dough as you do so. Turn and repeat a few times until you have a nice tight ball.

7. Place your ball upside down into your floured proving basket (or bowl, lined with a floured linen cloth), cover and leave to prove at room temperature for three to four hours.

When fully proved the dough will look nicely rounded and bounce gently back when depressed with a floured finger.

3. Shape the dough into a ball, using a dough scraper to gather your dough, then cupping your hands around the dough to gently shape it. Return your dough to your lightly floured bowl, then leave to rest for an hour.

4. Now it’s time to fold your dough. Using a dough scraper dipped in flour, gently release the dough all the way around the bowl. Wet your hands and, sliding your hands between the side of the bowl and the dough, fold the dough under itself. Turn your bowl a quarter turn and repeat until

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8. Preheat your oven to 240°C (gas mark 9) at least 30 minutes before you wish to bake, placing a baking stone or tray inside the oven to heat up.

9. Tip your dough onto a peel, lightly dusted with semolina. Score the top of the loaf with a sharp knife or lame – a simple cross will do. This will allow the bread to expand in the oven.

10. Turn the oven down to 220°C (gas mark 7), then slide the loaf into the oven.

Throw or spray some water onto the floor of the oven to create some steam, then quickly shut the oven door.

Bake for 30-40 minutes.

11. Leave on a wire rack to cool. When it’s cool, take a sharp bread knife, some of your finest butter, a nice cup of Darjeeling and put your feet up. Consider sharing… and enjoy!

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EATING OUT

WORDS JENNY SHELTON

C AMBRIDGE C ANTEEN IT’S ALL ABOUT INDIVIDUALITY AT CAMBRIDGE CANTEEN THE NEW OUT-OF-TOWN EATERY , SERVING BURGERS YOUR WAY WRITES JENNY SHELTON , e’re always on the lookout for a really good burger here at Cambridge Edition, so when we heard about a new burger joint springing up just minutes from our offices, a post-work dinner was duly planned.

Cambridge Canteen opened earlier this year in Whittlesford, offering a princely selection of ‘build-your-own’ burgers, each named after a Cambridge college.

We’re used to reading about ‘hidden gems’ and ‘best-kept secrets’, but Cambridge Canteen really is quite hidden. Find it by the Duxford Junction for the M11, within an unassuming 60s building. Inside, however, it’s all clean lines, wood and candles, with a fresh, modern Scandinavian vibe. Tables

THE CONCEPT IS NOVEL AND THE

© Daisy Dickinson

PORTIONS ARE HUGE

are long, designed for communal, sociable eating, and it’s possible to peek into the kitchen and watch your burger being assembled.

Creativity is key to Cambridge Canteen.

The menu invites diners to select the patty of their choice – chilli beef, venison, lamb or lentil and mushroom to name a few – then a bun, chips (sweet potato fries or rustic chips) and type of cheese. I went for the venison burger – the Wolfson – with rustic chips, Dapple cheese (a mild, Norfolk variety) and a Yorkshire pudding bun. This may be a first for Cambridge, and is certainly the only time I’ve combined a Yorkshire pud with a burger.

Fortunately, it came with gravy, staving away any dryness, as well as a selection of sauces, including a sweet, homemade onion relish, and separate colourful side salad, justifying the £15 all-in price tag. The concept is novel, and the portions are huge, making for certainly the most toweringly impressive burger I’ve ever had the pleasure of devouring.

The meaty options went down well within our group, and the veggie option, featuring a generous lentil patty with Portobello mushroom on top, served with cheese, caramelised onions and baby mushrooms, certainly had all bases covered.

The staff were attentive and friendly, and

quick to oblige a request to give the skinny sweet potato fries a little longer in the heat, ensuring they came back deliciously crispy outside and fluffy within. They also provide a little theatre when it comes to the daily Chef’s Special, adding a sparkler to each order as it is presented to your table. There’s also the option to substitute your bun for a side of mixed grilled vegetables.

Groaning from the effort of devouring (most of) my enormous burger, I steeled myself to order a pavlova to finish. This proved an excellent move; the dessert arrived in a glory of fresh, whipped cream and crunchy meringue, piled high with fresh summer berries and bright sprigs of mint. And it wasn’t hard to persuade my colleagues to help me finish what was another substantial portion.

Cambridge Canteen is certainly one to seek out if you like your burgers big, bold and a bit more interesting.

Cambridge Canteen, Hill Farm Road, Whittlesford CB22 4AN www.cambridgecanteen.com

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FOOD

WORDS ALEX RUSHMER

BALANCING ACT he first time I visited Thailand, and Bangkok in particular, I was dazzled by the contrasts that were so prominent. The incessant chaos of the city itself was a significant departure from the tranquillity of the private, personal and religious lives of the population where peace, serenity and order were the pervading influences.

This only served to create more of a psychological and sensory shock when stepping from one world into the other: the speed and hubbub of the streets in comparison to the calm of a Buddhist temple was marked and wonderful in its clarity, but also kept the senses awakened and fresh with a heightened perception and appreciation of each. I noticed the same approach to the food of Thailand and even more so when I spent the day in the kitchens of a Thai restaurant. Here I learned one of the most crucial lessons in cooking: the importance of creating contrast.

If we take a more familiar example, fish and chips, for instance, we can see how this principle works in practice and how it serves to further the enjoyment of the dish throughout the dining experience. The batter on the fish provides a crispy texture with a direct contrast to the soft chips, which also offer a rich counterpoint to the

HERE I LEARNED ONE OF THE MOST CRUCIAL LESSONS IN COOKING: THE IMPORTANCE OF CREATING CONTRAST cleanliness of the flavour of the steamed fish inside the batter. Further freshness – this time of an acidic nature – comes in the form of, at the very least, a healthy sluice of malt vinegar and ideally the addition of a pickle of some sort: a fiery onion or a sweet/sour gherkin is a near essential extra for me. Pickles also act as thermal relief, especially if they are fridge cold. A little sweetness can be added with tomato

© Waitrose

WHETHER FINE DINING OR CASUAL COMFORT FOOD THE SECRET TO TRULY GREAT COOKING IS , FINDING THE PERFECT LEVEL OF CONTRASTS IN YOUR DISH SAYS ALEX RUSHMER ,

ketchup and maybe some spice with brown sauce. A further happy counterpoint could be a spoonful of mushy peas on the side or even a slick of dark brown gravy for a meaty, savoury note.

I try to work this principle into all the dishes on the menu at The Hole in the Wall and am constantly asking myself the question: where are the contrasts?

I could be thinking about hot against cold, sweet pitched opposite sour, textured next to creamy, crunchy interplaying with something soft – all these things serve to keep the dish in question interesting and help to diminish against palate fatigue, which can lessen the enjoyment of a particular dish.

This is a simple way to improve your own cooking at home, and something you probably already do without even thinking about it. Tossing a handful of nuts or a few croutons through a salad which already has cleanliness (fresh leaves), richness (oil) and acidity (vinegar) is a good example, but there is no reason not to push the

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boundaries a little further. The addition of a pickled vegetable or two can really lift a dish, as can the interplay between hot and cold (just think of the wonderful meeting of warm apple crumble and ice cream) or the use of a few shards of crispy elements such as chicken skin or tuile-style biscuits. And with September being a month famous for its contrasts, what better time to start trying this out?

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NEWS

Welcome As summer turns to autumn, our city is as busy and bustling as ever, with plenty to see and do. So why not join in? Take a stroll down Trumpington Street, explore the secret nooks and crannies of Cambridge with Open Cambridge, start sketching or get running or walking for charity with Bridge the Gap and Chariots of Fire.

What is the

Cambridge BID? Launched in April 2013, Cambridge Business Improvement District (BID) is funded by businesses and organisations in the city to deliver a range of projects and events that enhance and promote Cambridge, encouraging people to visit and enjoy our fabulous city.

Find out more at www.cambridgebid.co.uk Follow us on Twitter at @cambridgebid

The Big Draw Next month, sketchers of the world will unite for the annual Big Draw, taking place all through October. The Big Draw is the world’s biggest drawing festival and aims to connect and inspire artists of all ages and abilities. This year’s theme is Every Drawing Tells A Story, and once you’ve registered you’ll have access to lots of resources and ideas. You can join an organised event, organise one yourself or work with Cambridge BID, who are putting on events in the city centre and looking for people to help them. Or, simply add your drawing to The Big Draw Gallery online. www.thebigdraw.org

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21/08/2015 08:24

NEWS

Open Cambridge & Bridge The Gap

Trumpington Street Lorded over by four lions, home to four colleges and the original site of Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Trumpington Street is one of Cambridge’s most interesting and impressive streets to explore. Start at the north end where the grasshopper atop the Corpus Clock steadily devours time and make your way past tall, sandstone colleges; ancient doorways giving glimpses of the bustling, secret quads within. Stop by Fitzbillies bakery and café, which has been fuelling hungry students for nearly 100 years, for the stickiest of Chelsea buns.

The lions guard the entrance to the Fitzwilliam Museum, whose classical facade could be straight out of Ancient Greece. Opposite, you’ll find Browns brasserie, serving smart dishes and drinks in its 1930s-style restaurant; a popular spot for students taking visiting parents to lunch (or the other way around). Top quality restaurants are in good supply in this neck of the woods, with Hotel du Vin another favourite for locals and tourists alike, serving modern French and British cuisine from its tasteful brasserie. You may even spy a visiting celebrity: past guests at the hotel have included Brad Pitt and George Clooney.

Trumpington Street is also the setting for many a local myth. Ghostly encounters have been recorded in the Combination Room at Peterhouse, the oldest of Cambridge’s colleges, and in one of the gloomy, Victorian houses opposite. Meanwhile the Fitzwilliam Lions are said to come alive when the nearby church strikes midnight, take a drink from Hobson’s Conduit, then return to their sleeping positions.

A major arterial road, Trumpington Street eventually takes you out of town, onto Trumpington Road and the village of Trumpington itself. A gateway to the wider world, lined by historic buildings and steeped in stories, it’s pretty much Cambridge in a nutshell.

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September is the month when Cambridge opens its ancient oak doors and ornate wrought-iron gates to the public, inviting us to explore areas which are normally off limits. There are walking tours and talks covering all manner of topics, from the history of Mill Road to Oliver Cromwell’s legacy, and even a tour of Cambridge Fire Station.

Open Cambridge runs 11-13 September, culminating in the popular Bridge The Gap Walk on Sunday 13th, 9.30am-2pm. This charity walk in aid of Arthur Rank Hospice takes participants through the picturesque colleges of the city, starting and finishing on Parker’s Piece. Register before 10 September for £18, or £20 on the day.

Cambridge BID is an official sponsor of Open Cambridge. www.opencambridge.cam.ac.uk

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NEWS

20

Sept

Chariots of Fire Another charity event taking in the scenic Cambridge colleges, Chariots of Fire is a relay race for teams of six, inspired by the film of the same name. Racers can run or walk the gentle 1.7 mile route, in the knowledge that all sponsorship money raised will go to supporting charity EACH (East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices). It takes place on 20 September, starting at 9.30am from Queens’ Green. All teams must be registered between 7.30am and 9am that morning. Pick a good team name, bring some supporters to cheer you on and have fun!

Cambridge BID are entering a team this year, and Adam the Ambassador Mascot will be there on the day (not running, mind). www.chariots-of-fire.co.uk

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INDIE OF THE MONTH

Radmore Farm Shop A one-stop farm shop on Chesterton Road, Radmore Farm Shop is all about down-to-earth, quality produce ately, farm shops have developed a reputation as fancy foodie hotspots; yummy mummies lunching in their shabby-chic cafés and unpronounceable biscuits in cellophane adorning the counters.

Radmore Farm Shop on Chesterton Road does things differently, offering quality, down-to-earth food without the flounces.

“It started in 2006 when we opened a shop on Victoria Road,” explains owner Ben Aveling. It was something that he and wife Vicky Rogers wanted to do for a long time.

“We started off with just one fridge for meats, now we’ve got four; and where Vicky used to make a few cakes, now she makes about 100 a week. Lemon drizzle is her

speciality. That’s the one people go crazy for.

It’s made with proper butter, all by hand.”

Since 2010 the pair have operated from a small but packed-out shop on Chesterton Road, and they are rapidly making their mark within the community. In July this year they won Theo Paphitis’ Small Business Sunday (#SBS), an initiative designed to champion outstanding small businesses on Twitter.

“You’re faced with lots of fresh produce,” Ben describes. “We sell fresh eggs, bread,

cheese, sausages, cakes, there’s a mini supermarket for things like pasta and olives… we do logs and animal feed too. We have customers who do all their shopping with us.

“Everything is made on our farm in Northamptonshire. It’s actually Vicky’s family

We're a shop for people that cook. We're all about quality food and ingredients farm: I’m originally from Cambridge and she was studying at Anglia Ruskin when we met.

I started off in the pub trade – I used to work at The Green Dragon in Chesterton – and we knew this would be a good area for what we wanted to do.”

Ben puts their success down to a marriage of traditional values (customer service, quality food) and a knowledge of modern expectations.

“We’re like an old-fashioned shop but with a 21st century approach.

A lot of traditional butchers and greengrocers are stuck in the past and don’t open on Sundays, whereas we do, and we’re open late until 6.30pm the rest of the week. Another thing we have that not many farm shops do is an online store, so people can shop online and have their goods delivered within hourly time slots. We want to be reliable, and to be people’s local shop.

We have lots of regulars, and we get really busy in the run-up to Christmas.”

Of all his meats, reared on their own farm, Ben particularly recommends his sausages: “We do lots of lovely

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flavours but the sage and red onion are my favourite. They’re very popular in winter.”

There’s no doubt farm shops are on more people’s radar now, as shoppers look to local stores and shop little and often to avoid the wastage associated with the weekly supermarket ‘big shop’. It’s good news for Ben, but there are still people to be reached.

“Farm shops can come across expensive and exclusive. It can put people off, and they’ll only go there for a treat. Our prices are competitive; we’re a shop for people that cook. We’re all about quality food and ingredients – there’s nothing tied up with a bow here. We get to know our customers and can give them expert advice.”

Says Ben: “I work seven days a week, 365 days a year, and have about three days off a year. But I love what I do and I’m really proud of our products. The shop has a real family feel, and we’re hoping to expand and open a few more shops in Cambridge.”

Radmore Farm Shop, 30 Chesterton Road, Cambridge, 01223 361155 www.radmorefarmshop.co.uk

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RURAL LIFE

Horses

WORDS JENNY SHELTON

for courses

Jenny Shelton spends a day with the magnificent Shires at Wimpole Hall

’m facing four large bottoms.

There is some stamping and the swish of a tail as head groom Emma Warner introduces us, confident we aren’t in any danger: “They won’t kick; the worst they’ll do if you walk behind them is break wind.”

We’re in the 18th century stables at Wimpole Hall meeting the farm’s magnificent Shire horses before spending a day working with them out in the fields, something that has been done on farms for centuries. I’m paired up with Jasper, a beautiful black gelding who stands at an impressive 17.3 hands. His feathered feet are the size of dinner plates, his body sturdy and muscular, but his long face is gentle; he seems too intent on making short work of his breakfast to bother about me as I begin brushing his smooth, dusty back (standing on tiptoe on a milk crate to reach).

Emma has been in charge of the heavy horses at Wimpole for eight years and leads their Heavy Horse Driving courses, taking place throughout September. It’s a chance

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to get up close to these gentle one-tonne giants and spend a day as a VIP on the farm. You don’t need horsey experience; just curiosity (and perhaps a secret desire to drive a carriage, Jane Austen style, which you’ll get to do later in the afternoon).

“We offer driving courses to give people the opportunity to learn about and get hands-on with the horses,” says Emma.

“Encouraging and increasing interest in the breed helps to protect and preserve it while passing on the knowledge and skills related to the traditional working of these horses.”

I'm paired up withJasper, a beautiful gelding who stands at an impressive 17.3 hands There are just three of us on today’s course, and as we groom and get to know our new companions, Emma tells us more: “Shires typically come in block colours –

bay, black or grey – and stand at around 18 hands. They’re called Shire horses because they originally came from the Shire counties and were bred to work on the land as they’re so big and strong; though there’s less need for that nowadays.”

Shires were traditionally employed for ploughing and, because they create less damage to the habitat than machinery, for logging and forestry. They were also used in battle because of their strength and stature.

“Our Shires at Wimpole pull the carriages and do a little bit of harrowing and rolling, and we’d like to move on to ploughing and cultivating,” says Emma.

After the horses are brushed and fed, we learn how to tack them up in Old English collars and shining bridles, before leading them out into the field. Here, we’re taught how to ‘drive’ our steeds, walking behind them using ropes to steer. They’re wonderfully obliging and respond easily to our voice commands (‘come over’ to go left and ‘weesh’ to go right). “They love to work,” says Emma.

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GREAT DAYS OUT

Also at Wimpole this month: SHIRE HORSE CARRIAGE RIDES until 1 October. £50 per group of four WIMPOLE AT WAR 1940s weekend, 19-20 September. Entry £17.50 (adult) WIMPOLE PARKRUN 9am every Saturday. Free. All year round

“They are very accepting of new jobs and skills, they like to have a job to do and build strong bonds with the people who handle them. They’re happy being ridden as well as driven, and going from carriage work to agricultural work. They have fantastic characters and are just so impressive in their size, power and beauty.”

Interestingly, though they’re known for their gentle natures, this isn’t a natural characteristic. Shire horses today are docile because only good-natured individuals were chosen in the past for breeding, meaning any aggression was bred out of them, making them easier to handle.

As well as driving, we get to jump on a wooden sledge and have the horses pull us along. It’s all good practice for pulling ploughs (not sure I’m happy being compared to a plough…) and working with people.

“When Jasper came to us he was terrified of people,” admits Emma. “He wouldn’t let anyone go near him, but after six months slowly building up that trust he was happy to be ridden and driven.”

Another of the Shires, Lady, was born here on the farm, an event that Emma was there to witness. “Queenie has bred six foals in all, her most recent foal, Lady, was born

It's a unique and enriching experience, perfect for anyone with an interest in animals in June 2013; we still have Lady and plan to train her to work alongside the other Shires at Wimpole when she is old enough. I was there at the birth, it was very calm and quite quick, and Queenie is a fantastic mother to her foals.”

Lastly, after lunch in the tea room (and a nose around the rest of the farm, where Florence the pig is also imminently due to give birth), the Shires are fixed up to the carriage for us to drive to the main house.

Seated up high, directing these noble animals up the long, tree-lined drive to Wimpole’s

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imposing facade, is a magnificent feeling, and we attract admiring glances from visitors.

The whole day has been a unique and enriching experience, perfect for anyone with even a passing interest in animals, history, farming – or all three. Getting more connected to our rural heritage can’t be a bad thing, and I’ll certainly be back to visit my handsome new chum Jasper, who I leave in his stable, happily munching after another day’s work, just as his ancestors have done for hundreds of years.

Heavy Horse Driving for Beginners costs £120, 10am-4pm until 1 October. Bring a packed lunch and dress for the outdoors. www.nationaltrust.org.uk/wimpole-estate

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COMMUNITY

Community news Charity gains celebrity patron Andy Bell, singer-songwriter and one half of synth-pop duo, Erasure, is the new patron of Cambridgeshirebased charity Dhiverse.

Established 30 years ago to provide support for people affected

by HIV and Aids, Dhiverse now works to reduce the spread of all sexually transmitted infections through increasing public awareness and challenging the stigmas often attached to certain diseases.

Dhiverse also helps educate young people in schools, provides education and support to people with learning difficulties and reaches out to all communities at risk.

Peterborough-born Andy announced he was HIV positive in 2004 and has spoken widely on the subject. Speaking about becoming patron, he said: “I had been feeling a bit lost and felt like I wanted someone to help me find my way through the maze that is HIV. I was also thinking that I really want to put something back into the area that made me. I look forward very much to seeing what we can achieve.”

Rob Turner, chairman of Dhiverse said: “We are honoured and excited to have Andy as our patron. With Andy’s help we will raise the profile of Dhiverse and continue raising funds to support our vital work.” www.dhiverse.org.uk

Cambridge Eco Homes Stourbridge Fair For an afternoon of medieval merriment, make a pilgrimage to The Leper Chapel on 5 September for the annual Stourbridge Fair. The Leper Chapel is Cambridge’s oldest complete building, dating from the 12th century. In 1199, it was given royal permission by King John to hold a threeday fair in order to raise money for lepers, and grew to become the largest medieval fair in Europe.

Today, visitors can browse stalls and enjoy historical re-enactments, meet alchemists and pedlars and be entertained by medieval music and dancing. It’s also a wonderful opportunity to see inside this historic building.

The event is free, but donations will go towards the chapel’s upkeep. You’ll find it on Newmarket Road, at Barnwell Junction, near the Cambridge United ground. www.cambridgeppf.org/whats-on

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How ‘green’ is your home? On 19 and 27 September, 15 Cambridge Eco Homes will be open for public viewing as part of a project launched by Cambridge Carbon Footprint.

Contrary to popular belief, energy efficient homes don’t have to be the sort of high-tech, futuristic dwellings we’re used to seeing on Grand Designs; indeed, many of the properties taking part are traditional homes (Victorian to 1930s), which have been cleverly adapted. Be inspired by how the owners make use of solar panels, heat pumps, micro combined heat and power and many low-cost methods, plus discover Cambridge’s first PassivHaus – which is so well insulated it requires virtually no heating. There’s also a chance to meet the Cambridge family trialling ‘zero carbon’ living for a year.

For more information call 01223 301842 or go online. www.openecohomes.org

The Castle WI needs you!

If you want to make jam and sing Jerusalem, don’t read on, because the 21st century WIs are not for you. However, if topics as diverse as spinning wool, curating the environment, Book Night and pilates interest you, then the WI is for you – as long as you’re female, sorry chaps! And you’re in luck, because Castle WI is recruiting.

Castle WI, which meets the third Tuesday of every month at the Castle Street Methodist Church, is looking for new members to join its small, friendly band of merrymakers. Their next meeting is 15 September, so pop along at 7.30pm. No need to book, just pitch up – they’ll even offer you a brew and a piece of cake. Find them on Facebook and follow @castlewi on Twitter.

Fancy the WI, but not scaling the city’s only hill (yes, Castle Hill is a hill!)? Then visit cfwi.org.uk to look for other local WIs. www.castlewi.wordpress.com

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LISTINGS CHECK OUT LOCAL EVENTS ONLINE

cambsedition.co.uk

A ROUND-UP OF EVENTS IN AND AROUND CAMBRIDGESHIRE THIS SEPTEMBER 12 SEPTEMBER CAMBRIDGE DRAGON BOAT FESTIVAL Time: 10am-5.15pm Location: Ditton Common Price: Free entry Description: A colourful day on the river with races taking place throughout the day, plus plenty of food, entertainment and more.

Watch local teams and businesses compete while raising money for Addenbrooke’s Charitable Trust. dragonboatfestivals.co.uk 15-26 SEPTEMBER THE FATHER Time: 7.45pm Location: Cambridge Arts Theatre Price: From £15 Description: A sharp and surprising play which centres on former dancer Andre, now 80-years old and starting to lose control. Hailed as one of the best new plays of the decade, it has earned five stars across the board.

Starring Kenneth Cranham and Claire Skinner. cambridgeartstheatre.com

4 SEPTEMBER HAMMER & TONGUE Time: 7.45pm Location: Cambridge Junction Price: £6/£7.50 Description: Join the spoken word phenomenon’s regional final and become a judge or just enjoy the ambience. Hosted by Fay Roberts. junction.co.uk 5-6 SEPTEMBER AZTEC ANTIQUES FAIR Time: 10am-5pm Location: Wood Green, Godmanchester Price: £5 entry (children free) Description: One of the largest antique fairs in the region, 200 stands offer a broad spectrum of antiques and collectables. woodgreen.co.uk 6 SEPTEMBER BABY RAVE Time: 2pm Location: Cambridge Junction Price: £5/£7 Description: Having a baby doesn’t mean giving up your raving days! Bring your little munchkin to the Baby Rave and rekindle that festival spirit in a safe, well-lit space. junction.co.uk 8 SEPTEMBER THE DRESS SHOP OF DREAMS Time: 6.30pm

18 SEPTEMBER IAIN LEE VS THE RADIO Time: 8pm Location: Cambridge Junction Price: £14/£16 Description: The awardwinning presenter picks his top most-hilarious moments from the history of the wireless. Expect nuggets from Boris Johnson, Nicky Campbell and stories from his early days on local radio. junction.co.uk

17 September Location: Heffers Price: Free Description: Join local author Menna Van Praag for the launch of her latest magical novel, set in an enchanted dress shop in Cambridge. It’s free but you need to reserve your spot. bookshop.blackwell.co.uk

TRAILER PARK BOYS Time: 8pm Location: Cambridge Junction Price: £27.50 Description: The Canadian cult icons go on tour ahead of their ninth Netflix season, featuring Ricky, Julian and Bubbles. Anything could happen in this uncensored show. junction.co.uk

10-11 SEPTEMBER OF RIDERS AND RUNNING HORSES Time: 8pm Location: Cambridge Junction Price: £8/£12 Description: A visceral new dance event celebrating urban spaces.

Five female performers dance under an open sky. junction.co.uk

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18 SEPTEMBER ULTIMATE EAGLES Time: 7.30pm Location: Corn Exchange Price: £25 Description: Second only to seeing the original Eagles live in concert, Ultimate Eagles have made a name for themselves worldwide for their top-notch tribute act. cambridgelivetrust.co.uk

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LISTINGS

25 SEPTEMBER WITTANK Time: 8pm Location: Cambridge Junction Price: £11 Description: A sketch show performed by a daft, likeable, accomplished trio of writers and performers. Join them for Old School Secrets. junction.co.uk

19 September RICHARD THOMPSON Time: 7.30pm Location: Corn Exchange Price: £27.50/£31 Description: The folk troubadour and multitalented singer, songwriter and guitarist presents work from his latest album, Still. cambridgelivetrust.co.uk 19 SEPTEMBER JUSTIN MOORHOUSE Time: 8pm Location: Cambridge Junction Price: £15 Description: Destiny Calling is the new show from comedian Justin Moorhouse, known for his appearances in Phoenix Nights and Live at The Apollo. junction.co.uk

23-26 SEPTEMBER ORDINARY DAYS Time: 7.45pm Location: ADC Theatre Price: £9/£12 Description: New York – the city that never sleeps (but probably should). This refreshingly honest musical follows four young people searching for fulfilment and happiness in the Big Apple. adctheatre.com

20 SEPTEMBER CHARIOTS OF FIRE Time: 9.30am Location: Queens’ Green Price: Free to watch Description: A manageable charity relay run of just 1.7 miles around the most scenic quads and greens in the city.

Come and cheer on your friends and colleagues. This year’s charity is EACH. chariots-of-fire.co.uk

24 SEPTEMBER AUTUMN TEA AND TALK Time: 2pm Location: Burwell Museum Price: Standard admission applies Description: Enjoy a brew while listening to a talk on Fenland botany with Corrin Doran. burwellmuseum.org.uk

23 SEPTEMBER ONCE UPON A TIME Time: 7.30pm Location: Cambridge Junction Price: £8/£12 Description: A powerful and poetic piece about our relationship with the ageing process. This dance-theatre show is performed by two dancers and a trapeze artist, all aged over 65. junction.co.uk

26-27 September APPLE FESTIVAL Time: 11am-5pm Location: Audley End House Price: Standard admission Description: Eat, press, pick and bob for apples at this festival of England’s favourite fruit. See how the Victorians would have cooked them in the service wing and unleash the kids on a range of games in the garden. english-heritage.org.uk

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25-27 SEPTEMBER OLD RIVERPORT FESTIVAL Time: Various Location: St Ives Price: Free entry Description: A three-day festival of jazz and blues held in local cafés, hotels and restaurants and covering a range of different styles. Runs 5pm to midnight on Friday; midday to midnight on Saturday; midday to 10pm Sunday. visitcambridge.org

27 SEPTEMBER AUTUMN FESTIVAL Time: 11am-4pm Location: Milton Country Park Price: Free (£3 car park) Description: A showcase of local food and crafts, campfire cookery, den building and apples galore, plus children’s activities and competitions. Always a popular family day out! miltoncountrypark.org 28 SEPTEMBER-3 OCTOBER FLARE PATH Time: 7.45pm Location: Cambridge Arts Theatre Price: From £15 Description: From the producers of Birdsong comes a story of wartime romance and bomber crews set during the Second World War, by playwright Terence Rattigan. cambridgeartstheatre.com

28 September CHRIS RAMSEY Time: 8pm Location: Cambridge Junction Price: £18.50 Description: The Celebrity Juice regular returns with his new show, following sell-out runs of his last three UK tours. And this time, he’s All Growed Up. junction.co.uk

30 SEPTEMBER THE FURROW COLLECTIVE Time: 8pm Location: Cambridge Junction Price: £14 Description: Innovators, improvisers and purveyors of quirky folk ballads, The Furrow Collective is a unique quartet of award-winning musicians, with an eclectic selection of instruments, from harp and banjo to viola. junction.co.uk

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FASHION NEWS

JAMES PERSE TUNIC DRESS £219 ANNA, HIGH STREET, SAFFRON WALDEN

FOR HIM

PURPLE AND GREEN FLOWER SCARF £15 PODAROK, BENE’T STREET

EDWIN BIG SIGN T-SHIRT £35 DOGFISH, TRINITY STREET

PICKS FROM THE New season style picks from some of our favourite local independent fashion stores MEDIUM COIN PURSE £15 ARK, PEAS HILL

BECKSONDERGAARD SILK ‘ROOFTOPS’ SCARF £85 CUCKOO, ST MARY’S PASSAGE & BURWASH MANOR

CYCLISTS AND THEIR SHADOWS T-SHIRT FROM £18 STABO, WWW.STABO.CO.UK

ASTRID DRESS BY DARLING £59 LILAC ROSE, BRIDGE STREET

ADIDAS SUPERSTAR SUPERCOLOUR SHOE £67 DOGFISH, TRINITY STREET Cambridge Edition | September 2015 | 85

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FASHION

M&S COLLECTION SHIRT £28 M&S, SIDNEY STREET

MAX MARA WEEKEND ACID YELLOW SKIRT £235 HOUSE OF FRASER

MOTO TIE-WAIST JUMPSUIT £65 TOPSHOP, GRAFTON CENTRE & GRAND ARCADE

METALLIC SLIPPERS £29.99 ZARA, ST ANDREW’S STREET

TRANSITIONAL STYLE ESSENTIALS

Fashion-wise, we’re heading into that tricky time of year when you could leave the house in blazing sunshine only to get caught in a monsoon. You don’t have to abandon your summer threads just yet (a scarf or blazer will protect you from the elements), but it pays to think about buying only pieces to see you into the colder months. Our high-street faves are these metallic slippers from Zara, Max Mara’s acid-yellow flippy skirt and Topshop’s denim jumpsuit. Inter-season chic perfection.

ELLIE FEDORA £29 ACCESSORIZE, PETTY CURY

GOLD LEATHER BLAZER £269 BIBA HERITAGE BY BARBARA HULANICKI ‘1963’ SLOGAN T-SHIRT £30 LEGGINGS £49 HOUSE OF FRASER

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FASHION

PER UNA SPEZIALE COAT £159 M&S COLLECTION JUMPER £69 M&S COLLECTION TOP £25 M&S COLLECTION SKIRT £25 LIMITED EDITION BAG £39.50 LIMITED EDITION BAG CHARMS £8 ALL M&S, SIDNEY STREET

TAILORED JACKET £39 LA REDOUTE

WHITE SOLE BLACK PRINTED POINTED FLAT SHOE £12 MATALAN

KNITTED TASSEL PONCHO £35 ACCESSORIZE, PETTY CURY

BERLIN HIKER BOOT £45 TOPSHOP, GRAFTON CENTRE & GRAND ARCADE

HAIRY FLUFFY OLIVE JUMPER £14 PRIMARK, BURLEIGH STREET

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FASHION

QUILTED JACKET £39.99 ZARA, ST ANDREW’S STREET

LTD CORE MARL SWEATSHIRT £34 TOPMAN, GRAND ARCADE

BEAR T-SHIRT £30 SUPREME BEING AT HOUSE OF FRASER

TRANSITIONAL STYLE ESSENTIALS: FOR HIM Inter-season dressing needn’t be a fashion no man’s land with these stylish high street buys

ASK THE MISSUS BROGUE £59.99 OFFICE, MARKET PASSAGE

RED HERRING SHIRT £28 DEBENHAMS, GRAFTON CENTRE

NATIVE YOUTH PATTERN KNITTED CREW NECK JUMPER £45 ASOS JOGGING PANTS £29.99 ZARA, ST ANDREW’S STREET RJR SHIRT £40 DEBENHAMS, GRAFTON CENTRE

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BEAUTY

nottheninetofive.com

WORDS DAISY DICKINSON

The Internet is chock full to bursting with life hacks – easy tips that neatly solve an everyday problem. You know the sort: tie a piece of bright fabric to your suitcase handle before checking it in at an airport, so you can easily spot it on the luggage carousel; or use the sticky part of old Post-it notes to clean between your keyboard’s keys.

Life hacks are great, but we’re much more interested in beauty hacks: quick, efficient fixes for cosmetic challenges, or time – and money – saving speedy tips for lazy lads and ladies. Here are our favourites: share yours with us on Twitter! @cambsedition

Baby powder is a beauty fan’s best friend.

Not only can you apply it to your hairline for emergency dry shampoo, you can gently and carefully add a brushed-on layer to your justmascaraed eyelashes for thicker, fuller lashes. Add a final layer of your favourite mascara over the top, and you’ll be amazed at the difference.

Love glittery nail varnish, but can’t bear the tiresome removal process?

Add a base coat of PVA glue before your layers of sparkles, and when the time comes to change your look, your polish will peel right off. Just like being at primary school, but more fabulous.

Having trouble with your roots, but no time or dosh to get to the hairdressers?

An eyeshadow in your hair’s shade will work just as well as expensive hair root powders: simply brush it into your parting to conceal regrowth and give the appearance of thicker hair.

A heat-free trick for curling hair: while getting ready, separate your barnet into two sections, then twist each up into two low buns on either side of your head, below your ears. Spray generously with hairspray and carry on getting ready, then release after about 20 minutes or so for relaxed, wavy curls.

Twist the buns in matching directions, away from your face, for even waves, and add extra buns for tighter twists.

Hanging your head over a bowl of hot water and gently steaming your face won’t just give you a sauna glow, it’ll help remove eyelash extensions without a trip to the salon.

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Got an unwanted electrified look?

If you suffer from static hair, simply take a tumble dryer sheet, and run it over your hair to calm and flatten those flyaways.

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BEAUTY

Vaseline isn’t just a fantastic lip balm: add a thin layer to your eyelids for a polished, glossy look that makes you look more made up in seconds. You can also sweep it gently over your teeth (don’t laugh) for a dazzling smile and to help protect against lipstick marks. And a cotton bud dipped in the stuff can help correct wonky-winged eyeliner, and remove foundation from your lips for a natural pout.

If you’re stranded without eyeliner but you have access to mascara, good news! Grab a brush or other bluntly pointed object and run through a loaded mascara wand, then apply as you would gel eyeliner.

Got a glittered eyeshadow that you rarely wear?

Mix it with clear nail varnish for a unique polish and a more subtle sparkle.

Manicures look beautiful but can grow out quickly. If

you’re faced with a gap between your nail bed and

your colour, add a layer of glitter at the base of your nail for an ombré effect – it’ll keep you going until you’re able to get back to the nail spa.

Credit cards: not just useful for splurging. Hold one above your eyelid, pressed to the base of your lashes, and you’ll be able to apply a thick coat of mascara without worrying about marking your eyeshadow. You can also hold one to the outer edge of your eye and use it as a template for liquid or gel eyeliner – just remember to keep a cotton bud on hand for mistakes!

Hold onto your expensive mascara brushes: most of the time you’re forking out for the brush technology, not the paste itself.

Wash and dry them, then use them with cheaper mascaras for a budget-friendly flutter.

Woken up with a wonky fringe, and no straighteners in sight? Head back to bed with an eye mask holding your bangs to your forehead: another cosy forty winks, and your fringe will be right as rain. We’ve fallen head over heels for the Bucky brand of eye mask. The Rolls-Royce of sleeping aids, you can often grab them at a discount from TK Maxx.

Keep your (tired) eyes peeled.

Stuck for a scrub? Head to the kitchen.

Brown sugar, mixed with olive oil and a little lemon juice, makes the perfect body scrub for sloughing off dead skin or maintaining a tan.

Brown sugar’s also useful as a treat for your hands: mix a teaspoon with a squirt of your favourite hand moisturiser, then rub the two together all over your hands before rinsing with warm water. It’ll leave your hands feeling absolutely glorious.

Add a few drops of peppermint oil to your favourite lip gloss or balm for a plumping, tingling effect that tastes delightfully delicious.

Bags under your eyes that Hermès would be proud of? Use a bright red lipstick as a base coat for your under-eye concealer: the red balances out the blue tones and leaves you with neutral skin – plus you get to take a crazy selfie halfway through the process.

Remember with this one that less is more, and blend, blend, blend!

Fake tan hands are a telltale sign that you’ve not been sunning yourself in the South of France: you’ve been at the bottom of a bottle of St Tropez. Fix them by crumbling a dishwasher tablet with a little lemon juice, then rubbing your hands together until the colour lifts. Wash your hands thoroughly after and remember to moisturise again.

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COMPETITION

WORTH OVER £550

WIN! GLASSWORKS GYM MEMBERSHIP AND SPA TREATMENTS Edition has teamed up with the luxury city centre gym and health club to offer one lucky reader a four month membership, plus four facials (recommended one per month) and an ELEMIS product starter pack. The prize comes to a total value of more than £550.

Situated in the historic centre of Cambridge, this stylish centre for fitness and well-being has everything: an airconditioned gym under high timber rafters, a Jacuzzi with views of the River Cam, plus a sauna and steam room and a range of exercise classes. The spa uses products by ELEMIS, an award-winning British skincare range, and a world leader in scientific and natural hands-on beauty care, providing anti-aging and body soothing treatments and products for 25 years. Here, find a variety of treatments, including specialised facials: one per month is recommended to nourish skin and keep you looking at your radiant best. Our faces go through a lot after all, especially when the harsher weather sets in. Product is applied using a combination of ancient and modern massage techniques from around the world. The hands of a highly trained ELEMIS Elite therapist are profoundly effective antiageing tools. This is where intuition meets expertise with clinically proven results.

Membership gives full access to the gym, sauna, Jacuzzi and all well-being and fitness classes including 'Ab Attack', pilates, spin, yoga, and everything in between. The lucky winner will also receive an ELEMIS goodie bag, packed with top products to take home.

Get in shape and be your radiant best this autumn, with four months’ membership at Glassworks and four facials at the ELEMIS spa.

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To be in with a chance of winning this fantastic prize, visit www.cambsedition.co.uk.

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WELLNESS

spa special

WELLNESS

Enjoy a relaxing retreat with a trip to one of these indulgent escapes…

GLASSWORKS HEALTH CLUB & ELEMIS SPA This sleek and shimmering spa more than adequately serves the city centre, offering a range of facials, massages and full and half-day packages. Find it along Thompson’s Lane, part of Glassworks Health Club and The Varsity Hotel. Inside, the decor is luxurious and modern: exposed brickwork, natural woods and clean lines, with smatterings of purples and reds, all expertly lit to create the sense of escaping into a quiet haven beyond the bustle of the streets outside.

Their products of choice come from Elemis, and while spa packages like their bestselling Absolute Spa Ritual (full body massage, facial and use of the thermal facilities) will set you back £130-£140, you can pick up a manicure for £29 or back, neck and shoulder massage from £36. Then relax in their unique Jacuzzi, with oneway views of the river. www.theglassworksgym.co.uk

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WELLNESS

Y SPA AT WYBOSTON LAKES HOTEL With its stylish design and innovative facilities, the Y Spa at Wyboston Lakes Hotel is a cool and contemporary hidden-away gem that any spa fan would do well to seek out. They’re big on creating opulent retreats, tailored for the individual, and offer a fabulous range of holistic and beauty therapy treatments. There’s a spacious outdoor hydrotherapy pool, numerous saunas and steam rooms, a ‘frost wall’, and mist and glacier showers to explore, as well as an awesome array of relaxation rooms, in which you can read a book in an egg shaped pod, or even take a snooze on a waterbed if all the spa-ing takes it out of you (we approve!).

The café offers hot drinks, smoothies and fizz, and the on-site restaurant serves up great food, too. Go online to take a look at some of the packages on offer – Y Spa is known for offering some excellent value-for-money packages. www.yspa.co.uk

THE SPA AT BEDFORD LODGE HOTEL Blissful boltholes don’t come much more perfect than the spa at Bedford Lodge Hotel. A grand Georgian building nestled in the Suffolk countryside, this luxury spa offers a host of treatments including ESPA facials, massage treatments, manicures and pedicures. Meander around and enjoy the thermal area and its steam room, sauna and hammam, then cool off with the experiential showers and ‘ice fountain’, take a dip in the hydrotherapy pool and recline in the outdoor hot tub (then repeat as desired until Zen-like state of relaxation is achieved). The spa lounge serves up tasty lunches, sweet treats and drinks, and the staff will bend over backwards to make sure you have a completely dreamy day of indulgence.

If you’re really pushing the boat out, you can of course turn your spa day into a spa break and stay overnight at the four star Bedford Lodge Hotel, equally luxurious and boasting a fantastic restaurant (Squires). There are often special deals available for treatment packages and spa stays, so check the website. www.bedfordlodgehotelspa.co.uk

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WELLNESS

PREMIER TRAVEL ESCAPES Sometimes you need to really get away from it all to properly relax, in which case you might like to opt for a spa break a little further afield.

Some of the best spas for well-being and relaxation can be found on the beautiful island of Jersey, just an hour’s flight from Cambridge Airport. The biggest of all the Channel Islands, Jersey offers the perfect spa retreat with a range of excellent accommodation and health facilities to choose from.

A firm favourite with Premier Travel customers is the awardwinning four star Hotel De France, recently fitted with a brand-new Healthhaus well-being centre and offering a comprehensive programme of treatments at its Ayush Wellness Spa. For more details, speak to the Premier Travel team. www.premier-travel.co.uk

WEAVERS’ HOUSE SPA, LAVENHAM Set within the beautiful Swan Hotel, just one of Lavenham’s wonderful jumble of listed medieval and Tudor buildings, there’s nothing antique about the newly opened Weavers’ Spa. This sleek, stylish space exudes relaxation and offers more than 30 feel-good treatments for mind and body.

Facilities include six treatment rooms, one of which is a couple’s room, with two relaxation suites; a manicure and pedicure area; aromatic steam room; hot stone sauna and a vitality pool; plus a retail boutique offering Temple Spa products to take home. Inspired by the Mediterranean, Temple Spa products are all about natural, luxurious ingredients like black truffle, champagne, diamonds and gold.

Treat yourself to a Weavers’ House Hug, a two-hour signature treatment which begins with a Repose facial, then a deep tissue massage using lovely warm oils and hot stones. www.theswanatlavenham.co.uk

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BUSINESS

BUSINESS NEWS PITCH PERFECT Head to St John’s Innovation Centre near Milton for a Business Insights collaboration with Enterprise Europe Network this month. On 15 September, learn how to grow your business in Europe and make the perfect pitch. The workshop will cover how to select the right information for your pitch, the recipe for pitching for contracts, a live demonstration and information about business support available through Enterprise Europe Network.

The speaker will be Adelina Chalmers, an award-winning professional speaker who helps her clients secure millions of pounds of investment and generate invaluable leads.

Runs from 4pm to 6pm; free to attend. www.eventbrite.co.uk

CBL SUMMER BBQ Business owners and professionals working in Cambridge are invited to Cambridge Business Lounge’s Summer Networking BBQ, taking place on 9 September at Cambridge Union Society.

Cambridge Business Lounge aims to bring businesses together to share ideas and develop in a relaxed setting. This event will take place in the beautiful grounds of the historic Cambridge Union Society, in the heart of the city. It starts with cocktails at 6pm and costs £20 per person, including welcome drink, food and a goody bag. www.cambridgebusinesslounge.com

BUSINESS NEWS On 22 September, as part of British Food Fortnight and to mark their first birthday, Cambridge Grub Club is hosting an event at The Larder, Burwash Manor. Come and enjoy a thoroughly British two-course meal of Burwash bangers and mash, seasonal veg and lashings of The Foraging Fox’s beetroot ketchup, followed by Eton mess. A glass of wine is also included.

Grub Club is a chance for local people in the food industry to get together and network over quarterly delicious dinners. They also organise outings and speakers. Tickets for the September dinner cost £28. Starts 6.30pm at The Larder, Burwash Manor, Barton. www.grubclubcambridge.co.uk

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EDUCATION EDITION As the new school year starts, discover what our local schools offer for your children and find out how learning in later life can enhance your opportunities

Š M&S

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ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE

OPEN DAYS AND EVENTS JUNIOR SCHOOL OPEN MORNING Saturday 3 October 9.30am to 12.30pm SENIOR SCHOOL OPEN MORNING Saturday 10 October 9.30am to 12.30pm SIXTH FORM OPEN EVENING Tuesday 3 November 6.30pm to 9pm JUNIOR SCHOOL TASTER WORKSHOP Saturday 21 November 10am to 12 noon SENIOR SCHOOL TASTER WORKSHOP for Year 7 entry (11+) Saturday 21 November 9am to 12 noon

ST MARY’S SCHOOL,

JUNIOR SCHOOL IN ACTION DAY Friday 12 February 2016 11am to 12.30pm and 2pm to 3.30pm

CAMBRIDGE

We have so much to be proud of at St Mary’s School, Cambridge; we are committed to supporting the academic progress of every student so that we enhance the learning and achievements of all girls, irrespective of their individual abilities. Our small class sizes ensure that each girl is known – to her peers as well as her teachers. We encourage our girls to pursue their passions, broaden their characters and develop transferable skills, equipping them for fulfilling futures.

But what we’re most proud of is our people. We place the utmost importance on emotional support and providing a caring environment in which our students can truly learn, develop and grow. Teachers and students alike play a valuable role in this endeavour and, time and again, our students can be heard claiming that the best thing about our school is the people; firm friends supported by exceptional teachers. A level student Yi Ling Y. said: “the most special thing about the school is the people – the teachers are so caring; not only do they care about students’ academic concerns, but pastoral too. I’ve also made so many friendships here that I know will last a lifetime.”

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FUSING CREATIVITY AND CURRICULUM At our Junior School we have made a conscious decision to opt out of the Early Years Foundation Stage, enabling our pupils to benefit from a curriculum that works in harmony with the learning approach they will encounter throughout the rest of their school career. Our core Creative Curriculum merges traditional elements of independent learning with creativity, challenge and discovery, as we seek to deliver a 21st century education to equip our pupils with essential skills, while also fostering a lifelong love of learning.

The approach is practical, encouraging the girls to get hands-on, whilst also naturally incorporating academic subjects through our cross-curricular approach.

For instance, when our Year 6 pupils study the Titanic, they develop their understanding of the topic through experimenting with floating and sinking, applying the historical context of migration, class and social structure of Edwardian England, and investigating glacier formations, to name just a few of the topic’s applications. As a school we believe a balance has to be achieved between what is being learned, and the learning

SENIOR SCHOOL IN ACTION DAY Friday 12 February 2016 11am to 12.30pm and 2pm to 3.30pm JUNIOR SCHOOL IN ACTION DAY Friday 22 April 2016 11am to 12.30pm and 2pm to 3.30pm SENIOR SCHOOL IN ACTION DAY Friday 22 April 2016 11am to 12.30pm and 2pm to 3.30pm JUNIOR SCHOOL TASTER WORKSHOP Saturday 11 June 2016 10am to 12 noon SENIOR SCHOOL TASTER WORKSHOP for Year 7 entry (11+) Saturday 11 June 2016 9am to 12 noon Visit our website for more details or to book a place at any of our events: stmaryscambridge.co.uk

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process itself. We encourage our pupils to ask the question: ‘how might we use this in our daily lives?’

GIRLS EXCEL IN EVERY AREA Our Senior School continues to recognise the importance of understanding and a warm relationship between parents and teachers in enhancing each student’s education. This is evidenced in a parental satisfaction rate of 97% in the 2014 school inspection by the Independent Schools Inspectorate, which also recognised the school’s “excellence in every possible area of educational provision”.

We are now the only all-girls school in Cambridgeshire and uniquely placed to respond to the sometimes high expectations placed on girls, which can make life seem very complex. Free from these pressures, and in an academically rigorous environment, our students excel across the board. Success for our girls comes as much from confidence-building as from academic learning.

Research confirms that girls not only perform better academically at single-sex schools (with UK school league tables dominated by girls’ schools) but are also less likely to be restricted by gender stereotypes, instead choosing subjects according to ability and interest and not self-image based on assumed gender expectations. Girls’ Schools Association research also shows that girls at singlesex private schools are more likely to take physics, mathematics and chemistry at A level than girls who study with boys and the same picture is painted at our school. Our girls are confident in choosing physics alongside photography, chemistry alongside classical civilisation, and mathematics alongside Mandarin.

other senior schools locally, nationally and internationally. Confidence and self-belief, coupled with exceptional teaching in a very supportive environment produces consistently strong A level examination results, ensuring each girl achieves her potential.

Our location in central Cambridge allows our Careers and Work Experience department to foster working relationships with both businesses and universities

CONTACT INFORMATION

CAMBRIDGE PRESTIGE Our Sixth Form welcomes students from our own Senior School as well as from

A WORD FROM CHARLOTTE AVERY, HEADMISTRESS Girls at girls’ schools learn to be leaders. There is nowhere to hide: each individual taking on the positions of responsibility and leading their community is a girl!

A single-sex environment also helps girls learn to both succeed and accept failure with grace and compassion. We encourage our girls to push the boundaries across the board and to take risks through outdoor pursuits and extracurricular activities.

Our students do not view any career as being closed to them. By the time girls are ready to leave us, we observe that they have acquired higher self-esteem, greater self-confidence, better examination results, more genuine subject choices and more opportunities for leadership – all important ingredients to succeed in the real world.

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in and around the city, which is often referred to as the ‘Silicon valley of the East’, enhancing our extensive Work Experience programme.

We offer our students opportunities both in and outside school for enterprise and entrepreneurial endeavour, and leadership and public speaking roles to support them in moving confidently into the work place and, ultimately, passing graciously beyond glass ceilings.

We would like the opportunity to show you around our school so that you can see for yourself the unique environment in which our students thrive. Visit our dynamic Junior School, take in our exceptional Art Centre, tour our music and performing arts wing and hear about our sporting achievements.

St Mary’s School, Cambridge | Bateman Street, Cambridge CB2 1LY For more information about St Mary’s School, Cambridge, please visit: stmaryscambridge.co.uk To book a place at any of our events or to arrange an individual tour of the school please contact the admissions team: admissions@stmaryscambridge.co.uk Admissions: 01223 224167 | Reception: 01223 353253

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EDUCATION

WORDS CHARLOTTE PHILLIPS

© St Mary’s School, Cambridge

CHOOSING With so much choice and so many considerations to take into account, selecting the right school for your child can be a daunting prospect. Charlotte Phillips finds out more about what's on offer locally and offers tips and advice

Ask parents what makes the perfect school and then stand well back as their confections spring into mirage-like existence and swamp the conversational space.

Constructed of a combination of nostalgia (that is if they enjoyed their own schooldays) and wishful thinking (if they didn’t) parents’ ideal schools will also be shaped by their own interests.

Parents with their eyes set on the end goal – a place at a top university – may be inclined to prioritise exam results above all

else. Others, of a more active disposition, will be in search of gleaming grounds – and an array of trophies to match. For the arty, apply the same prize-winning sparkle to orchestras, bands, drama or jaw-dropping paintings and sculptures.

Oh, and don’t just have all this happening during conventional school hours. Take it above and beyond – with stuff to do from early in the morning to well after the final lesson bell has gone. For boarding schools, extend it into the weekends, as well.

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And holding all this together should be, naturally, the teachers; experts every one, helping to ignite the lifelong passion that’s there, somewhere, in every child.

Combining a passion for their subject that will excite the interest of the keen without discouraging the less avid, they’re also, of course, compassionate, patient and firstclass communicators.

In addition they’ll need to offer children the right support in bad times – realistic parents know that while some children

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EDUCATION

sail through school, course untrammelled by rocks, gales or navigational error, others can go seriously off course. So in the background there will naturally be an eye-on-the-ball, ear-for-the-detail team, manning the lifeboats and ready to provide early and effective intervention.

At the helm of the whole shebang is the head – who is all these things but, additionally, a first-class leader who expertly juggles the needs of his highly skilled teaching team. They would have the confidence of parents and governors and ideally know every pupil – not just the few tricky ones who take up more of their time than the rest put together – by name.

An impossible dream? Funnily enough, no – at least, not in our area. As schools here point out, there’s one that’s right for just about every child. It’s education any way you want it. You just need to know what it is that, to over quote a well-known song, you really, really want.

Starting at the top, Charlotte Avery – as head of St Mary’s School, Cambridge – knows a thing or two about spotting successful leadership in action. When you visit a school, she urges, see if the head can articulate a clear vision of their school’s ethos and explain what makes it unique from other local competitors. “Compare

© The Perse School

Quizzing the pupils can also yield a mine of information about school leaders

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these with your own family values and the ones that you wish for for your child – is there a happy match?” she asks.

Heads should also not shirk away from trickier areas. “It can be enlightening to ask which areas his or her school could improve on in the next five years,” she says. You’ll learn as much from a slightly defensive answer as an open and transparent one.

Ed Elliott, head of The Perse, also suggests quizzing schools on how they deal with problems. “Nothing goes right absolutely all of the time but good schools are open and committed to continuous improvement.” He also recommends attending the head’s talk at open day. “You should find yourself nodding at the points he or she makes – if the remarks resonate there’s a good chance this is the right school for your child.”

Not that today’s educational priorities are enough. A good head, he says, will also have a sound grasp of the changing political,

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EDUCATION

economical and educational landscape.

Quizzing the pupils can also yield a mine of information about school leaders, says Elizabeth Andrews at UTC Cambridge. While very loyal, they’re also honest and you’ll soon find out what sort of presence a head has in their school. “I’d expect the head to interact, ask questions and converse with them,” she says. “It’s about making the connection, the head knowing the cohort of students, not just being a brilliant business manager and nothing else.”

Check the headline list of activities carefully to ensure there’s sufficient breadth

© St Faiths School

© Friends School

Without good teachers delivering daily doses of educational inspiration, of course, even the greatest heads would be sunk.

Visiting a school on a normal working day should give you a good idea of overall feel – but there are other things you can do.

Asking if school staff are examiners at A level or GCSE is a great way to prove enthusiasm and expertise, says Charlotte Avery, who also urges asking what’s on offer beyond the curriculum. The more there is, the more evidence there is that teachers have a real passion for their subjects. At St Mary’s School, Cambridge, for example, the A Level physics students go to CERN and the biologists are encouraged to apply for research scholarships at Babraham Institute.

It proves the point that schools these

days are such buzzing places, in and out of lesson time, that it’s almost easier to ask what they don’t offer than what they do.

Sparking pupils’ interests, whether cultural, sporty or technological, is something schools make it their mission to accomplish, explains Kirsten Batcheler, marketing manager at Friends’ School in Saffron Walden.

Parents should therefore be looking for activities that do more than just keep children occupied. They should also stretch them, says Charlotte Avery at St Mary’s School, Cambridge – and that should apply to children of all abilities and inclinations.

“Parents ought to ask questions about availability for all,” she stresses. And that means reluctant teenagers, not just the super keen, she explains. “Can every child take part in the trip or be involved in school sport and music and not just the top third who are the most keen and vocal?”

It’s easy to be carried away by gorgeous pitches or dazzling drama studios, confirms

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Kirsten Batcheler – but check the headline list of activities carefully to ensure that there’s sufficient breadth. “As a small school we are able to make sure that if a child wants to join the annual production cast they can, and likewise, if they are keen to represent the school in the football team, they will most likely be given the opportunity.”

While the academic and extracurricular side of school life is of course vitally important, families also need to ensure that the learning is tempered with humanity. This is particularly important now, at a time when children are acknowledged to be under pressure as never before.

Charlotte Avery suggests asking pupils directly if they have a good relationship with their tutor and how concerns that are raised are dealt with. “Parents can draw their own conclusions from the answers they’re given,” she says.

They should also ensure that the basics are in place, says Elizabeth Andrews

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EDUCATION

says Kirsten Batcheler. For some, small really can be beautiful. Friends’ School has small tutor groups so that form teachers can get to know their students well and be that first port of call if things go wrong, while heads of year are there to keep an eye and ear out for students who need a push, lift or encouraging chat.

Also vital, she says, is checking out the systems in place to pick up problems. “Even those who find school easy may need a helping hand or a listening ear.”

Overseeing the whole process is the deputy head who is also head of pastoral care. “It works well and ensures no one goes under the radar,” says Kirsten.

It’s a lot to consider. But there’s one key point to bear in mind, stresses Ed Elliott, at

We offer girls a ‘futureready’ education rather than a 'futuristic' one

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© St Faiths School

Never compromise on the extracurricular experience for academic results

© Friends’ School

at UTC Cambridge. “I’d always ask if there’s someone in charge of pastoral care,” she advises. She also highlights the burgeoning importance of the EWO – or the educational welfare officer. “They are someone who can really understand the welfare of children, so they would be a liaison between home and school.” If homework isn’t being completed, for example, the EWO would know that a child might be struggling with family difficulties, make sure the teacher knows, and support the pupil through the process.

Size of school can make a huge difference,

The Perse. And that’s that however fantastic the academic results, they should never come at the expense of a good all-round experience – which means looking behind league tables to the school environment as a whole.

“Public exams only directly measure the outcome of curricular learning,” he says.

And he urges parents to ask questions.

“Find out how intellectual curiosity is nurtured; ask how the school goes beyond the curriculum – does it offer opportunities for independent research, are there lots of academic clubs to join or lectures to attend?

But never compromise on the extracurricular experience for academic results.”

The goal is for children to develop important life skills such as resilience, teamwork and communication, together with a sense of perspective and new interests that will enrich their lives.

“A happy child is a successful child,” says Ed Elliott. “The values of the school, its pastoral care, whether it invites input from parents and students – all of these cultural elements are harder to gauge than exam results, yet they have a huge impact on whether your child will do well and whether you, too, will be happy with the school.”

It reads like a mighty to-do list – but parents shouldn’t be discouraged. When you’re looking for schools, you’ll hear a fair amount about listening to your inner voice.

In our area where excellence in education comes as standard, it’s quite likely to end up hoarse with approval.

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OPEN DAYS AND KEY DATES OPEN MORNING Saturday 17 October 10am to 12.30pm WORKING OPEN MORNING Thursday 10 March 2016 Wednesday 11 May 2016 ENTRANCE EXAM Saturday 30 January 2016

Friends’ School SAFFRON WALDEN

FRIENDS’ SCHOOL, Friends’ School is a school with a difference. Small, vibrant and located in the heart of Saffron Walden, just 20 minutes from Cambridge. The school welcomes students of all faiths, offering education for students aged 3-18 with boarding from age 11.

There are Senior and Junior schools on the same site, which allows for a seamless transition between Year 6 and 7, and also Nursery and Reception. Moreover, sharing the site means that Senior pupils have opportunities to help out in the Junior School, and Junior pupils have access to specialist teaching in certain areas of the curriculum, such as modern languages and design technology, using the staff and facilities at the Senior School.

The Junior School buildings are modern, light and airy with fantastic facilities for children throughout the school giving Friends’ youngest learners the best possible start to their education. Pupils enjoy a wide range of subjects, always being encouraged to produce their very best results. Swimming lessons start when children join the Nursery and all year groups make the most of the on-site Forest School. The spacious grounds allow

for teaching, games and tournaments of a wide range of sports and the facilities such as the Junior School kitchen, art room and ICT suite ensure the activities programme is varied and interesting. There is late stay provision until 6pm for both Nursery and pupils in the Junior School.

Pastoral care throughout the school is excellent because the staff really do get to know each pupil well and there is always a listening ear or a helping hand in both the day and boarding schools. There is also a medical centre, staffed by two qualified nurses.

The school has an excellent record of achievement at both GCSE and A level, with a wide choice of subjects available. There is an extensive programme of extracurricular and weekend activities for boarders and day pupils in the Senior School and a full timetable of fixtures for those who enjoy playing team sports, as well as many popular clubs for younger pupils.

The School has a number of minibuses, two of which serve the Cambridge area, with another taking students to and from Audley End station, Saffron Walden’s closest train station.

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CONTACT INFORMATION

SAFFRON WALDEN

Visit Friends’ on their next Open Morning or call Alison Stanbury on 01799 525351 or email admissions@friends.org.uk for further information. You can be assured of a warm welcome.

Friends’ School, Mount Pleasant Road, Saffron Walden, Essex CB11 3EB www.friends.org.uk

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OPEN DAYS AND KEY DATES OPEN MORNING Saturday 3 October DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS Monday 30 November ASSESSMENT DAY Saturday 23 January 2016

ST FAITH’S, CAMBRIDGE

EXCELLENCE AND INNOVATION St Faith’s pre-eminent teachers bring out the best in pupils. Our latest ISI inspection report commended our excellent and innovative teaching. The Good School Guide reported “a childcentred educational philosophy, turning out sparky individuals with high all-round expectations and the skills to meet them.

St Faith’s does well for all but can really extend those at the top, encouraging them to achieve at a national level.” Most

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recently this involved our maths team reaching the UKMT National Finals after winning the Eastern Region competition.

Recognised particularly for our excellent teaching of Spanish, science, maths and computer science, we are an associate school of the Spanish Embassy as well as the Royal Society and a lead school in the Department for Education’s Network of Teaching Excellence for Computer Science. The introduction of engineering to the curriculum in 2015 is another groundbreaking initiative which will further enhance our future-focused curriculum.

BROAD OPPORTUNITIES St Faith’s offers a diverse curriculum, regular use of local facilities, expertise and links with Cambridge University. Ten offtimetable enrichment days a year, a wide range of trips plus more than 90 activities each week are offered.

EXCEPTIONAL FACILITIES As the largest prep school in Cambridge we have the best range of specialist teaching facilities, extensive sports facilities and wide open spaces to enjoy.

Our foundation with The Leys also provides access to more than 20 acres of sports playing fields, an indoor swimming pool and the wonderful new performance facilities in Great Hall.

CONTACT INFORMATION

St Faith’s has a reputation for outstanding academic standards; enabling each individual to achieve their best across a staggering breadth of subjects and activities. Academic excellence and Christian values shape our ethos. St Faith’s is part of The Leys and St Faith’s education foundation. Inclusive in nature, valuing diversity, we welcome children from all religious and cultural backgrounds. St Faith’s offers small classes and teaching by subject specialists. Over a third of our pupils gain one or more scholarships to their senior schools of choice, 24 scholarships were awarded in 2015.

We would be delighted to show you in person why we believe your child will thrive at St Faith’s. Please call Anna Cornell, Registrar, 01223 352073 to arrange a tour.

Follow us on Twitter @ st_faiths St Faith’s, Trumpington Road, Cambridge CB2 8AG www.stfaiths.co.uk

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SANCTON WOOD SCHOOL

SANCTON WOOD SCHOOL country to after-school orchestra, there’s something for everyone. We also compete with other schools in a variety of sports and offer trips to a whole host of locations including Malaga, the battlefields of Northern France and New York – never a dull moment!

2015/16 is an exciting year for Sancton Wood as we look to the future and prepare for our expansion in September 2016. We are acquiring three new properties, all within a five-minute walk of our current site, so we will be able to offer more opportunities for our students than ever before.

We will have new science laboratories, a purpose-built cafeteria and a specialist site for our youngest pupils, with a large, safe outdoor space. More space will mean we will be able to welcome more pupils, and we intend to double in size to a two-form entry school, while still maintaining the small class sizes and individual attention that makes Sancton Wood so unique.

Our next open morning is 10 October, but don’t wait until then to visit, contact our registrar today to arrange a tour and see for yourself what makes Sancton Wood an incredible school.

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OPEN MORNING Saturday 10 October

CONTACT INFORMATION

Sancton Wood is a small, family-oriented school, which has seen hundreds of happy and successful children pass through its doors since the school was founded in 1976. Sancton Wood has grown into an all‑through school, educating boys and girls from the age of one in the baby unicorns, all the way through to GCSE at 16.

The school is known for its excellent academic results. This is reflected in our regular position at the top of the league tables for GCSEs for Cambridgeshire and our high GCSE pass rate. In 2012 we won the Independent Schools Association’s Whitbread Memorial Prize for best individual results and last year we were second in the GCSE League Table points per candidate in Cambridgeshire.

An equally important pastoral programme supports our academic excellence. We have small class sizes of approximately 16 across the school and this excellent pupil:teacher ratio is the key to our philosophy that focuses on the provision of a tailored education for each pupil.

At Sancton Wood, small certainly does not mean limited. With a full and varied programme of enrichment activities from early morning yoga, lunchtime cross

Individual tours by appointment.

01223 471703 admissions@sanctonwood.co.uk www.sanctonwood.co.uk Sancton Wood, 2 St Paul’s Road, Cambridge CB1 2EZ

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EDUCATION CHILDREN’S MINI NOTEBOOKS BY HALFPINTHOME £1.50 EACH NOT ON THE HIGH STREET

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ADULT EDUCATION

WORDS CHARLOTTE PHILLIPS

LATER IN LIFE For those looking to enhance their careers, develop new skills or simply indulge a hobby, Cambridge is a hotbed of adult education opportunities. We take a look at what's on offer hink of two little words that help make the world a better place and it’s possible that ‘adult education’ won’t be the first to pop into your brain, but they probably should be.

For some of the thousands of local residents currently taking advantage of the myriad courses available in our area, they could well be associated with life-changing experiences.

It may sound dramatic, but those who have embarked on a new career or turned a hidden interest into a life-enhancing hobby, for profit or pleasure, will testify to the transformative power of learning in later life.

Courses range from Westminster College’s summer school in theology to Parkside Federation’s Crochet Improvers sessions. Short, long, generated by a leisure activity or designed to help gain promotion, adult education courses are designed to suit anyone – and we do mean anyone.

Many lead to a mainstream qualification or sought-after skill (accountancy or languages, for example). Others are so niche that it’s hard to imagine who came up with the titles, let alone had the confidence to know that they were the very subject that a

bunch of enthusiasts had been waiting for all their lives. It’s just as well that it’s now ultrafashionable to find your inner nerd…

But while reasons to be cheerful aren’t hard to find among adult learners in our area, NIACE – the voice for national lifelong learning – does inject a note of caution.

Investing in educating our adult population isn’t all about catering for the high end, turning us all into wealth-generating units and adding a bit of gloss to an already well-qualified bunch of people. More fundamentally, it’s also about ensuring © Hills Road Sixth Form College that as many people

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as possible are equipped with basic skills, helping individuals develop greater confidence and build self-esteem.

We’re still some way off this. One in four adults, reports NIACE, struggle with maths; one in six with literacy. And a fairly staggering 50% of adults don’t yet have sufficient computer know-how to use one at work.

Given that 90% of jobs now require some digital literacy, that’s an awful lot of the population who are putting themselves beyond reach of potentially well-paid and rewarding careers.

NIACE also points to the impact of reduced government funding for adult education. Data published in June 2015 by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills shows that the total number of adult learners participating in government-funded further education dropped by over 10% in

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2013 compared with the previous year.

Even so, Hills Road Sixth Form College reports increasing numbers of more mature students coming from further afield to take advantage of the 24+ Advanced Learning Loans on offer for level three and four courses which, they say, ‘cover the vast majority of the cost’.

And in among the reality checks, our area is still rich in initiatives that can make a real difference. A leading example is the free Saturday literacy and numeracy sessions for adults that are offered by Cambridge Regional College (CRC).

Running for a year, the courses attract everyone from parents wanting to provide more hands-on help with their children’s homework to job hunters seeking to hone their skills.

They’re increasingly popular largely because of the nurturing and supportive ethos, which ensures that everyone is treated as an equal. “We’re getting wonderful feedback,” reports the college,

© Cambridge Flower School

ADULT EDUCATION

pointing to employers’ testimonials to the enhanced confidence and skills that their new employees – some in their first-ever job – bring to their businesses.

And if it’s not the three Rs you’re after, you can frisk through the rest of the alphabet – or at least, in CRC’s case, go from A (art) to T (travel and tourism).

There’s an emphasis on professional and technical training with the part-time course on offer, and the college works with the country’s top awarding bodies to

© Cambridge Regional College

Adult courses reflect the creative, can-do vibe that permeates our area

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deliver its qualifications, including CIPS, the Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply, and CIPD, the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development.

“Training helps you progress in your career and most individuals realise how important it is and often pay for their own training themselves – particularly now when there is more confidence in the jobs market,” says Kay Gibson, one of the college’s industry-specialist training team, who reports that more and more people are investing in their own careers to make sure that they stay ahead in the workplace.

“The right qualifications are essential for climbing the next rung on the ladder and continuing professional development

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ADULT EDUCATION

is really important,” she continues.

“Training builds your confidence, helps you to become better at your job and opens up new opportunities.”

“Career opportunities in Cambridge and the surrounding area are booming but you need the right qualifications to succeed,” she adds. “Employers want to know that you have those qualifications as well as the skills

A gateway to so many different industries that will be lining up to hire you

© Madingley Hall

to do the job.”

In all their diversity adult courses reflect the creative, can-do vibe that permeates our area, and it’s really not hard to understand the appeal.

The Cambridge Flower School offers a selection of floristry courses that draw in a wide range of students, from those with a general interest in flower arranging to others seeking a complete career change.

At Hills Road, so popular is the adult education menu that enrolments on art and design courses were up by 20% in 2014-15 compared with the previous year – and the college is laying on extra classes in some subjects like dressmaking.

With five classes, portraiture and painting also exercise a similar lure while ceramics sessions, even with four groups during the week and another on Saturdays, are at maximum capacity. “If we could run another ceramics course we would,” says the college.

Quality kiln time is the problem, however.

“If we ran any more,” they point out, “we wouldn’t be able to fire all the pieces.”

Given the scale of high-tech firms flooding into our town, it’s no surprise that in addition to courses in more traditional subjects, classes offered by our area’s local colleges in every aspect of online life are also pulling in the crowds.

The D-word is gaining ground, from digital film-making and digital photography at Hills Road to Business and IT at Cambridge Regional College. At Madingley Hall, home to the Institute of Continuing Education, you can even study ‘Cyberpsychology: understanding life in the digital era’ to help you make sense of its impact on the mind.

But, perhaps surprisingly, the most popular courses aren’t necessarily those with a cyber link. Languages are perennial favourites – Spanish in particular at Hills Road. Not surprising, perhaps, when the experience can be such a vibrant one. For example, La Dante in Cambridge organises a range of cultural and social events that bring the experience of learning Italian out of the classroom and into the real world – a great incentive for its students. Find out for yourself at one of their open days this month, which take place over the weekend of 3 to 5 September (9.30am-5.30pm each day) and offer a chance to discover more about what goes on at La Dante and how learning Italian could benefit you in all manner of ways.

Did you know, for example, that learning a language can improve brain function and assist with mental acuity and memory retention, even helping to stave off dementia? That’s aside from languagelearning benefits such as being able to converse confidently when you travel, boosting your career prospects and a feeling

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of personal accomplishment, of course.

Other year in, year out top sellers include the AAT accountancy course on offer at CRC. Canny students know full well that it’s a qualification with universal appeal, a gateway to so many different industries that will be lining up to hire you.

Hills Road reports similarly flourishing levels of interest in career-related qualifications. “Our Adult Education Skills for Employment and Development courses in 2014-15 have been very popular, indicating that people are looking to further their education to help their careers by getting nationally recognised qualifications,” they say. Courses offering City and Guilds bookkeeping and accounts levels one and two, as well as the build your own website course, have also been well received.

But while the list of professional qualifications in sturdily worthwhile subjects rightly takes centre stage on many a college prospectus, those in search of topics with a more rarified edge won’t be disappointed.

Hills Road has built up a reputation for its range of counselling courses. “We continue to be amazed at the number of talented people who work so hard to gain these challenging qualifications,” they say.

Madingley Hall, meanwhile, has long had a reputation for courses on dazzlingly unusual topics. It’s the reason enthusiasts return year after year to follow up a passion or get going on something completely new.

Next year’s course list is well up to expectations. And one thing’s for sure. If titles like ‘Jewish humour in the films of Mel Brooks and Woody Allen’ and ‘Why are the Americans more religious than the British?’ don’t spark a desire to sign up there and then, there’s bound to be one that will.

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