Autumn 2014
News, views and inspiration from the Anne Furbank Group Autumn 2015
Foodie Fashion ÂŁ13,500 for MDD Champagne Evening
COMPLIMENTARY GIFT
COLLECT YOURS during our Autumn Fashion Week
Autumn 2015
Welcome...
News, views and inspiration from the Anne Furbank Group Autumn 2015
I’ve had my shop now for over 34 years and over those years things have changed quite dramatically. For the first 15 years it was me, with my very little team, doing everything buying, merchandising, selling and cleaning. I did have the help of my husband Richard, who looked after the books, but my name was above the door and I felt an incredible amount of responsibility.
Foodie Fashion £13,500 for MDD Champagne Evening
COMPLIMENTARY GIFT
COLLECT YOURS during our Autumn Fashion Week
Front cover by Joseph Ribkoff Editor: Rebecca Furbank Design & Print: Right Click Creative Tel: 01767 262858 www.rightclickcreative.co.uk
As the business grew I knew I needed help but it wasn’t so easy to delegate, or let go, as for so many years it had been my baby. However, the team grew bigger, the building expanded and there was the need for a lot more structure to be put in place. I could no longer run the business by gut feel alone. It took a long while for me to take a step back and let other people get on with the business. 34 years on I am lucky enough to have a great work/life balance. I love my job, I love the buying, I love being on the shop floor and helping you lovely ladies choose your clothes but now with a structure and team in place I feel very comfortable about taking time away from the business. It doesn’t make me any less passionate, it doesn’t mean I have less interest in what is going on, it just means I can live my life to the full and enjoy it.
Richard Furbank
I am now looking forward to the rest of 2015 with a busy autumn season in the shop and the buzz of the festive season in the hotel. I look forward to seeing many of you at some point over the next few months.
Rebecca Furbank
Anne Furbank Group 41 High Street, Buckden, St Neots, Cambs PE19 5WZ Telephone: 01480 811321 E-mail: mail@annefurbank.co.uk
Director
Managing Director
Debbie Daniels Sales Director
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Anne Furbank Fashion
Autumn
Fashion Week
Monday 7th – Saturday 12th September I hate to tell you but summer is leaving us, the nights are drawing in, and the fire and slippers are calling. Actually it is not all bad news! With autumn you know exactly what you are going to get. One’s expectation of what is to come over the next few weeks will be realised unlike our usual disappointment with spring. Autumn makes us lively again, gives us new energy, leaving behind the laziness that summer can envelope us in. The colours of the landscape are wonderful and rich and even the skies bring us interest with dramatic light and shade. It is a long time since the autumn fashion colours were predominantly black. Designers have cottoned on to the fact that we all like a little bit of colour and this autumn it is certainly not dull, just full of richness.
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Autumn 2015 Fashion this season has an element of fun, with animals, architecture and even food featuring in prints. Sequins and jewels are for day as well as evening. And, joy of joy, coats that have functionality as well as style so that we can enjoy the great outdoors in more inclement weather and still look fabulous. To see our autumn collections in all their glory join us at our Autumn Fashion Week, Monday 7th – Saturday 12th September. We have models in the shop every day to help you see how the new collections work together. Corks will be popping with your favourite fizz from Castillo Perelada in Spain. And, as a thank you for coming we have a gift, with purchase, during the week, which you will love and won’t be able to put down.
Monday 7th – Saturday 12th September 2015
A bit of
fluff
Autumn wouldn’t be the same in the fashion world without a bit of fluff. We don’t want you to miss out so we have our own little bit of fluff as a gift for you. Come and visit us during our Autumn Fashion Week and get your very own faux fur key ring/handbag adornment with your purchase. It’s perfectly tactile, elegantly pretty and a little bit of fun. The faux fur is from one of our favourite brands, Helen Moore. It is so incredibly soft you will think it is real. Her selection of scarfs, wraps and wrist warmers add a touch of glamour and warmth to jackets, jumpers and coats. You can keep it neutral in colour or opt for a fashion colour in the brighter tones. To get you started don’t forget to come in during the week of Monday 7th – Saturday 12th September.
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Anne Furbank Fashion
Foodie Fashion I’m sure we have all, at one stage in our lives, followed foodie fashion trends, whether it is spinach in smoothies, eating plenty of nutrient dense kale, quinoa (not a favourite among men) or foam on food (definitely not a favourite of Becky’s). This season, designers have taken this renewed interest in foodie fashion to a new level and added it to their ready to wear collections. No, you can’t eat your clothes, but they could certainly make you hungry, with dreamy macaroons printed on skirts, cupcakes on blouses and fruit on sweaters. Marc Cain is a leader in this foodie fashion arena and, if you have a sweet tooth, it is a great way to satisfy your cravings or tempt you into breaking any dieting promise. Don’t believe me? Come and see for yourself! With designers travelling the world and scouring the internet for the new trends in fashion, this autumn’s inspiration came from closer to home. It is a fusion of the Great British Bake Off and Sewing Bee! All this food makes for some great colours which, for autumn, is deliciously refreshing and doesn’t throw us immediately into the winter blues.
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Autumn 2015
Abro
Marc Cain Sense
Complete the look
Marc Cain
Marc Cain
Peter Kaiser
Peter Kaiser Marc Cain 7
Anne Furbank Fashion
Rock Chick Black It’s autumn and then it will be winter so black will be back! It is a colour that we all think we will try and avoid but open your wardrobe and I am pretty sure that 80% of you will find a lot of black staring back. Because it is a colour that returns year on year it does force the designers to be more creative with it. Dust off your Doc Martins and bring out your inner rock chick because black has gone hard core. Actually, soften that to glam rock and, if you don’t have the Doc Martins, any boots or killer heels will do. Fabrics have been jazzed up with texture and lurex and leather has made a return, not only in jackets but skirts and dresses as well, to help you bring out your inner diva. Marc Aurel has introduced some great pieces which work through from day to evening, Oui has put flashes of red in their black story to make it more fiery and Basler has glammed it up with vibrant silky purple. 8
Autumn 2015
Echo
Complete the look Marc Aurel Bulaggi
Marc Aurel
Peter Kaiser
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Anne Furbank Fashion
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Autumn 2015
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Anne Furbank Fashion
Enchanted forest Green is a colour that dips in and out of fashion depending on the decade. It is not a staple colour in the wardrobe and yet it is a colour that suits a lot of complexions and has such a broad tonal spectrum that it should be a ‘go to’ colour for designers. In some ways its absence makes its return to fashion all the more appealing and this season is no exception. There are three distinct green shades for autumn. Apple green - as bright and refreshing as always; bottle green - solid and deep in colour; and finally forest green rich and earthy. Both the apple and bottle greens look clean and sharp teamed with navy. Throw in a check or stripe but don’t over complicate things. Both Eugen Klein and Gerry Weber cover this combination with great style. Forest greens need a more rustic approach. Lauren Vidal blends the earth colours with the forest green and takes you one step closer to mother nature. Repeat has also used the deep forest greens in their knitwear, and their silk blouses take on a real luxury in this rich colour.
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Autumn 2015
K&S
Echo
K&S
Bulaggi
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Anne Furbank Fashion
Baby it’s cold outside You will be praying for a cold, cold winter this year with a few thunderstorms and rainy days thrown in. Yes, really! All for the sake of fashion! The coats this season are AMAZING. Some frivolous and some with functional duties, like keeping you bone dry. Firstly let’s deal with the frivolous. If you like shaggy dogs and curly sheep you are going to love what the fashionistas have thrown at us this winter. Your inner hippy will emerge (or re-emerge) as you get lured to those fluffy coats and furry finishes. Marc Aurel and Oui have definitely led the way with this one. These coats will keep you warm but you may want to avoid those soggy, wet days for fear of smelling like a damp dog! If practicality is more your style then look no further than the collection of coats from Ilse Jacobsen. These combine style with function – water resistant (we can’t say waterproof as the seams aren’t sealed but it is damn close) and windproof and, at prices from £169, you can’t go wrong. Christina Felix from Portugal, a new brand to Anne Furbank, sits somewhere in between with their amazing ¾ length wool coats in some great colours. Prices from an incredible £209. 14
Ilse Jacobsen
Autumn 2015
Gerry Weber
Ilse Jacobsen
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Anne Furbank Fashion
Six marathons in six days – the story In our Spring Magazine, we told you about Medical Detection Dogs and my decision to raise funds for this amazing charity by running 6 marathons in 6 days – a total distance of 156 miles along the canal towpath from Oxford to London. My ambition was to raise £11,000 for the purchase, training and upkeep of a Cancer Detection Dog. On Friday 1st May. Richard and I packed up all our gear and son Tim drove us to Oxford where we stayed overnight in a small hotel close to my starting point at Osney Lock on the River Thames. We had a meal in the local pub then took Richard’s bike up to our room for safe keeping!
Day 1 - Saturday 2nd May. We packed everything into a 70 litre rucksack and walked together to Osney Lock for our start on the 26 miles to Banbury. I kept a nice steady pace with Rich following behind on his bike. There were a few low bridges which forced him to dismount or the rucksack would have hit the arches! As we left Oxford the canal became more rural and the path very uneven and overgrown and there were some bad ankle moments. The last 2 miles were extremely tough underfoot but we arrived in Banbury at about 12.30 and then had to 16 walk another couple of miles uphill to our B&B!
Autumn 2015
Day 2 - Sunday 3rd May. Woke to steady rain. Started my run prompt at 8am on a slightly shorter stretch of the Oxford Canal to Napton on the Hill. At 18 miles the rain eased off and I had a surprise visit from my running pal Darren who accompanied me for the last five miles to our accommodation in Napton. Steak and chips, a large glass of red wine and an early night was the order of the day!
Day 3 - Monday 4th May. A bright and sunny morning but very windy. Set off for Blisworth. Climbed over Braunston tunnel and followed the Grand Union Canal to Blisworth – a true 26 miles. There were lots of trees down over the towpath and challenging heat so arrived pretty exhausted to our B&B and had a glorious soak in a hot bath. My ankles were swollen, but I had no blisters! Ibrufen consumed. Helen Galer, my sister Chris and my mum arrived in the afternoon to give me some much needed TLC.
Darren and Annie
Day 5 - Wednesday 6th May. My 67th birthday! More ibrufen and bananas and time to open some wonderful cards which Richard had brought with him. There was an even lovelier surprise when two of ‘my girls’ from work arrived with their husbands and their bikes and rode all the way to Kings Langley in support. As further encouragement, another running pal, Steve, joined me for the last 12 miles so it was quite a large group who partook in large amounts of food at the end of the run.
Day 4 - Tuesday 5th May. Set off before 8am. Normal breakfast of 2 bananas and ran over the top of Blisworth Tunnel in the rain, on a very busy road full of impatient commuters for 2 miles before descending again to the canal at Stoke Bruerne. Continued through Milton Keynes towards Leighton Buzzard. Unfortunately when my GPS said I had run 26 miles I saw a sign which said Leighton Buzzard 4 miles. Tears and bad language flowed freely as Richard kept apologising for missing a page in his calculations. So, 30 miles that day and the worst B&B – no bath, no hot water and bri-nylon sheets! More tears!
Steve an
d Annie
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Anne Furbank Fashion
Day 6 - Thursday 7th May. Last day (and Election day). Having iced my badly bruised ankle overnight, I strapped my achilles, dosed up with more painkillers and set off on the final marathon to Brentford Lock. Under the M25, Watford, Rickmansworth, Denham, Uxbridge – it seemed endless! As my legs were crumpling on the final two mile stretch to Brentford I saw hands waving and heard Becky and Alex, my granddaughter, cheering me on. Instant adrenalin, fresh legs and laughter kept me going as Alex ran alongside me into Brentford harbour to be met by Helen, my sister and a further group of friends and family. Champagne all round and lots of emotion before loading up the van for the trip home. Exhausted but happy. Donations on and offline have now totalled over £13,500 which has all been given to Medical Detection Dogs for further investment, research and training into early detection of Cancer. In July Helen, Richard and I visited the HQ of Medical Detection Dogs and watched a wonderful demonstration of the ability of the dogs to detect cancer. We were also introduced to ‘Furby’ a 16-week old Springer Spaniel who will start his training when he is 18 months old. A huge thank you to all of you for your donations, your kind words and encouragement.
Annie with Medical Detection Puppy ‘Furby’ 18
Autumn 2014
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Anne Furbank Fashion
Occasional buying Buying is always an exciting time. It is like going into the biggest fashion store in the world and being able to select the best of the best. Collections that inspire, colours that catch your eye and prints that make you go wow, all help to build a gigantic wardrobe for our shop. It can sometimes be disappointing when collections don’t quite hit the mark, or terrifying when collections are so wonderful you don’t know when to stop but by the end of each season the jigsaw pieces come together and we hopefully get it right for most of you. The team first catch sight of it all when it is delivered into the shop around 8 months after it has been bought, so when a rare opportunity arose to take two of the team on one of the buys we couldn’t say no. Gill and Sonia joined Anne for the Ian Stuart occasionwear buy in June this year. ‘It was great to be able to give them an insight into how the buying works,’ said Anne. ‘Giving them the chance to see why we buy some things and don’t buy others.’ The added bonus was that Ian himself was there so they got to meet the man who designs the collection.
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Anne Furbank Fashion
to Canada Flying visit Flying 3,242 miles across the North Atlantic for a three day trip seemed slightly mad but when you get an invite to visit the HQ of Joseph Ribkoff you simply have to go. We met up with Mark Rowe, UK Brand Manager, at Heathrow Terminal 5 and knew the trip was going to go well as we toasted the brand with a glass of rosĂŠ before heading to the gate. We arrived at night in Montreal so checked into our hotel and went straight to bed. With a more than hearty breakfast of fruit, pancakes, bacon and obligatory maple syrup, we set off into old town Montreal. It was a National Holiday so we made the most of seeing some of the cultural sites before meeting up with the President of Joseph Ribkoff, John Ferraro. Over lunch we had the opportunity to find out more about the company, how it started, the philosophy and the drive.
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Autumn 2015
from left Barbara (Australia/NZ rep), Joseph Ribkoff, Becky, Annie
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Anne Furbank Fashion Joseph Ribkoff is still privately owned and although it has a worldwide market the principles from when it started remain the same - make sure the product is great and look after your customers. In the evening we met up with many of the sales team from Canada, North America, Mexico and Australia. It was a team of various ages but all with the same passion for the product. On our second day we were treated to a private tour of HQ. All of the production happens in Montreal so we saw everything from the design, through to the fabric room, where
every roll of fabric is inspected by hand to ensure there are no quality issues, to the production lines and the packing and distribution area. The new distribution area was very high tech with cameras detecting each individual garment and sending them along different routes depending on where in the world it was to be sent. From design through to accounts the key focus was on product and service. Joseph Ribkoff ’s seasonal presentation is no small affair. The company had hired out a vast room in one of the most beautiful buildings in old Montreal, the Bonsecours Market. We were welcomed with a glass of fizz and then ushered through to a ‘catwalk in the round’ which was dressed in a spectacular birdcage theme. Fifteen models took it in turn to show us around a third of the Spring/Summer' 16 collection, which looked great. This was then followed by a three course dinner and washed down with some great wines. It was the first time that buyers had been part of the occasion and we felt truly honoured to be there.
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Autumn 2015 After such an amazing day and night our final day was spent visiting some of the retailers in Montreal that stock Joseph Ribkoff, which varied from small boutiques with multiple brands to vast stores that only stocked Ribkoff. We headed for the airport and once again got the opportunity to chat to the President, John Ferraro, as he was heading to Brussels to do it all again with the European sales team.
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Anne Furbank Fashion
Meet the window team With five windows at the front of the shop it takes a creative pool of minds to draw you in to our window stories. Jacky Maskell, Emma Ankers and Julie Bevan are a trio of pure inspiration, creating displays that make the clothes come alive and tell a story in each month of the year.
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Autumn 2015
‘Our windows are important as they reflect what we have in the shop but when it comes to the displays we want to keep it fun,’ said Jacky. ‘We draw our inspiration from magazines, things we see when we are out and about, lookbooks from our brands, all sorts of areas.’ ‘Our window displays are most often planned along a colour theme or story line,’ said Julie. ‘Twice a year we go out to buy props for the coming season. Sometimes the props can seem quite obscure but there is always a plan in mind.’ From garden themes, chequer board looks and a tropical paradise, the team can build a look around the clothes on display. ‘We’ve used fascinators and scarves to create the illusion of flowers in pots,’ said Emma. ‘One of my favourite window displays, in terms of getting everyone in the spirit of the time of year, was the Wimbledon window but there have been so many it has been hard to choose.’ The Christmas windows are always the finale to the year and can takes months of planning. The theme is kept top secret, even to the rest of the team who are all eager to see the finished product on the Monday after the Buckden light switch on. ‘We have a small room in the shop which is kept locked so that the theme comes as a total surprise,’ said Jacky. ‘The only thing that gives us away is the amount of glitter we seem to cover ourselves in!’ As to the theme this Christmas, now that would be telling! You will have to wait until December to find out!
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Bernshaw Aideen Bodkin
Party Frocks 28
Autumn 2015
New room It’s amazing what space you find when you really look and, out of nowhere, we have created a brand spanking new room, making the total number of showrooms in the shop 12. As we have all become more casual in our dress, separates in clothing are the essentials of our wardrobe. Our new garden room will house everything for those basics - trousers, shirts and skirts. And, being situated right next to the Repeat room, it is easy to add a piece of knitwear to your selection.
Bernshaw
‘It feels like it has been there for years,’ said Rebecca Furbank. ‘It completes the circuit on the ground floor nicely and has opened up some new space for our shoes and bags as well which is just perfect.’
Winter evenings are made for party nights, whether it is a way of shaking off the winter blues or just an excuse to enjoy the indoors without spending all the time curled up on the sofa. Black does tend to rule, despite all our efforts to avoid it. Somehow we are drawn to the simplicity of a little black dress. However, this season vibrant jewel colours are around to lift our spirits. Aideen Bodkin has opted for magenta, coral and royal blue, which look fabulous and the styling purely ladylike. For those of you slightly more feline, you won’t be disappointed as leopard is hot this season and, in a dress, it can look absolutely stunning. Joseph Ribkoff and Bernshaw have gone to town with animal print. 29
Anne Furbank Fashion
Anne Furbank diary events 30
for your diary Marc Cain Saturday 5th September It’s a whole new season of Marc Cain. Fashion Show at 11am. Gift with purchase. To reserve a seat email becky@annefurbank.com or call the shop on 01480 811333.
Fashion week Monday 7th – Saturday 12th September All the new collections for the autumn filling the shop. We will have bubbly, models and a little furry friend as a free gift with purchase.
Trouser Day Saturday 3rd October We love the challenge of helping you find your perfect bottom and, with our new room dedicated to trousers, we have plenty for you to choose.
Countdown to Christmas Throughout December. From gift days, one off special offers, foodie samples and creative classes, this is our countdown to Christmas. Keep in touch via our website or e-news and we will let you know what each day will bring.
Autumn 2015
Danube Cruising
“I was completely fascinated by the history and blown away by some of the breath-taking views.”
Stunning scenery and a wealth of history made the week fly by for Anne, husband Richard, sister Christine and mum Barbara as they cruised along the Danube from Budapest to Nuremberg. ‘I didn’t really know much about the areas we visited,’ said Anne. ‘I was completely fascinated by the history and blown away by some of the breath-taking views.’ ‘It was great to get mum off the boat as well so that she could enjoy some of the cities and, of course, we had to check out some of the shops.’
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New for
Autumn
2015
Christina Felix
Christina Felix is a coat collection from Portugal. Established in 1980 and still a family owned business, it launched in the UK at the end of 2014 and will be in store this autumn.
‘The coats are amazing,’ said Rebecca Furbank. ‘They are stylish wool coats that will last in your wardrobe for years to come and in some great colours, red, teal, purple, rust and black.’ Most of the coats are plain wool but with stylish detailing, whether in the shape or the colour, the cut at the waist or discreet embellishment on the lapel. There are also some tweed coats.
‘These are perfect for an everyday wool coat or to finish off an occasion outfit when you don’t want to spoil what you have on by throwing any old coat over it,’ said Rebecca. Prices range from £209 - £239 and we have sizes from 8 – 18. 32
New for
Autumn 2015
Logo 33
Anne Furbank Fashion
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Autumn 2015
Graduation Karen and Jacqui enjoyed celebrating their sons' graduations while Beth Thomas, who recently joined our team, enjoyed her own graduation.
Approval from Gok We dress many ladies for Royal Ascot and at such a fashion parade the television is on all day in the shop, in the hope that we catch some of you walking past the TV cameras. So with our very own Carolyn heading there this year, she was under strict instructions to do her best to get spotted and walk past as many TV cameras as she could. Carolyn wore a gorgeous, blue printed dress with peplum detail from Gina Bacconi and a bespoke hat made for her by Darcie Mae – she looked stunning. And not only did she strut her stuff well, she caught the eye of fashion guru himself, Gok Wan. The man more than approved and gave up his time to have his photograph taken with Carolyn.
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Children in Need It is with great sadness that we have to inform you that we will not be holding our annual Children In Need event in the shop this year. Over the years it has become more and more popular, with customers queueing down the High Street in the hope of getting a bargain and supporting the BBC Children in Need Appeal at the same time. Unfortunately last year the spirit of the event seemed to have been lost. We received several complaints because people couldn’t get to the rails and had items snatched from their hands. We have concerns over the numbers in the shop and potential overcrowding and we therefore feel it is best to call it a day. With your support we have raised over £92,000 for the appeal and hope that in some way we will be able to continue to offer our support in an environment that is a little calmer. When we have a plan as to what we will do we will let you know.
Virtual reality There is a whole new world out there and it is brought to us not by means of a rocket ship but by technology right at our fingertips. Our virtual world means you can do, well, virtually anything. See someone’s face while you talk to them on the phone, run your own virtual farm, buy a table from the comfort of your bed. You can even track international flights around the world on your phone. We don’t want to lose sight of what we do at Anne Furbank but we also want to embrace this new technology and make it as easy as possible to keep you right up to date with what is happening in the shop. Here are a few ways to keep in touch: Our website – www.annefurbank.co.uk is worth checking out. All our events are posted on the website as well as some insider gossip, our buyer’s blog and up to date information on new collections. You can add your comments and photos of you and your events on facebook, twitter or instagram as we would love to see them. facebook.com/annefurbank twitter.com/annefurbank Instagram.com/annefurbank #myannefurbank
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Autumn 2015
Thoughts from a something… June saw the bicentenary celebrations of the Battle of Waterloo. This event was never going to pass me by for three reasons - firstly my husband, Tim, is a Waterloo historian, not as a career I might add, purely for his own personal fascination. He has read so many books about the battles fought by the Duke of Wellington but is always delighted to receive another one as a birthday present (which he has for the last 20 years!). Field Marshal Arthur Wellesley, the 1st Duke of Wellington is his hero and he knows every detail about one of the greatest military commanders of all time. Secondly my father lives in Braine L’Alleud, about 5 miles from Waterloo, so was hosting a number of guests who travelled over to watch the re-enactment – sadly I couldn’t make it. Lastly, my neighbours, the Angels, who are great supporters of the British Red Cross, decided to hold a Waterloo Ball in aid of the Red Cross. Their house, Stirtloe House, has links to the Duchess of Richmond who famously held the most fabulous ball on the eve of the battle. They did indeed re-create the Duchess of Richmond’s Ball in splendid style. The first priority for all guests was to find appropriate dress for the period. Luckily for me my mother is a dab hand with the needle and after a sweet call from her daughter, how could she resist? I have to say I was blown away with what she made, I felt very special indeed. Everyone, men and women, made a real effort on the evening to ‘dress-up’ in Regency costume and there was a real sense of occasion. Fashion today is mightily different as there aren’t many people who waft around country gardens, intoxicated by the scent of roses, waiting for a dashing Mr Darcy to come charging in. However it did bring home the joy of making an effort to dress up. My grandmother-in-law, aged 94, still won’t open her front door without being fully made up and I don’t think that is a bad thing.
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Anne Furbank Fashion
Wine passion ignited in Italy Assistant Manager, Ryan, made his first trip to the wine regions of Italy in June. He tasted over 40 wines in just three days, visited both large and small wineries and learnt the intricacies of wine production from the experts with years of experience. ‘It was the first time I had done anything like this,’ said Ryan. ‘My passion for wines came alive when I started work at The George and to see the scale of commitment from the people that make wine was incredible.’ Ryan’s first port of call was Ferghettina, Franciacorta just west of Milan, the home of the sparkling wine we featured at Christmas in the unique square-shaped bottle. ‘It is Italy’s special vintages it was a two hour drive west to Il Casinone answer to Champagne,’ said Ryan. ‘The delicate flavours and high in the Piemonte Mountains, home for the next two crisp dryness left you wanting more. This wasn’t a problem nights. as we tasted 9 different wines in only a few hours.’ ‘The first evening we enjoyed some delicious wines made After finishing with a tour of the winery and enjoying some with the Barbera grape grown less than 100 metres from the restaurant where we ate including the fabulous Rive Barbera that we sell at The George.' ‘The next day we visited a winery which was about 6 times as large at Franciacorta, here they have 1.5 million bottles in storage that will last them around 6 weeks! It was then
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Autumn 2015 time for a light lunch and formal wine tasting.’ Wine tasting on a work trip does sound like a jolly but this is not for the faint hearted as Ryan tasted 30 different wines! John, Development Manager for Aralica, the company that manages the winery guided them through each wine and was even able to point out of the window to each vineyard where the grapes came from. ‘One of my favourites was Moscato d’Asti Alasia, a gentle, sparkling wine with sweet apricot and grape flavours. It makes an excellent alternative to a dessert wine or as an aperitif instead of Prosecco.’ Look out for some new wines on the menu from Italy.
“The delicate flavours and crisp dryness left you wanting more”
To book call 01480 812300 or visit www.thegeorgebuckden.com
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Head Chef in print Head Chef, Akil, has made it in print as well as in the kitchen. He, and The George, were picked to feature in the newly released Cambridgeshire Cookbook. The book is available for sale at The George and the shop priced at £14.95 so don’t forget to pick yours up on your next visit.
The book features skilled chefs and their places of work, from around Cambridgeshire, divulging their recipes for you to recreate at home. Akil’s roasted fillet of wild sea bass looks deliciously tempting and, if you like cooking is definitely one to try at home. From Michelin starred restaurants to top notch bakeries and street food cafés there is something in the book for everyone. If you are not the cooking type it is a fantastic shortlist of places to try out around Cambridgeshire.
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Autumn 2015
Harry at the helm Hi my name is Harry O’Driscoll, I am 15 years old and go to Hinchingbrooke School in Huntingdon. My favourite subject is GCSE catering, so I wanted to find work experience that I knew I would enjoy. I have just completed 2 weeks of work experience in the kitchen of The George Hotel, Buckden. On my first day I was a little nervous but I didn’t need to be as everyone made me feel like I had been there for ever. While I was there I experienced how a professional kitchen runs. I saw how the food was delivered to the kitchen, including a van just for cheese - loads of cheese! Also collecting meat from the local butchers. My morning jobs were to prep the food for lunch which included washing all the different salads and peeling potatoes! My favourite job was making the biscuits that we serve with tea & coffee. We then made customers lunches, which I was allowed to help with, even doing sandwiches and salads on my own. During the time I spent in the kitchen with Akil and all the staff they made me feel very welcome, we had a lot of fun and they were always joking around. Because of this my work experience was very interesting and enjoyable. There is one job I don’t miss and that’s peeling all those potatoes!!
To book call 01480 812300 or visit www.thegeorgebuckden.com
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Christmas at The George Our December menu and party nights will put you in the festive mood. We have a warming fire to welcome you, mulled wine to stir the senses and some delicious food to satisfy you. Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve are the highlights of the season and you can indulge in the multiple courses and joyous atmosphere knowing that the effort of preparation and clearing away can be left to someone else. All you need to do is enjoy being looked after. Our December lunch and dinner menu offers great value and is a wonderful way to enjoy some time with colleagues, friends and family. Do remember to pre-book so you don’t get disappointed. Here are some dates to remember, for full details of menus and entertainment contact the hotel on 01480 812300 or look at the website www.thegeorgebuckden.com
Decembe r lunch m enu 1st – two cour s 24th, es £19, 3 c our ses £2 3 Decembe r dinner m enu 1st – 24th, 3 cour ses £35 Christmas Party Nigh ts 11th, 12 18th Dece th, 17th, mber £39 , p re -booking e as they ge ssential t booked ver y quick ly. Christmas Day lunch , 6 cour ses £95 Boxing Da y lunch, 2 cour ses £30, 3 cou r ses £35 New Year ’s Eve, 7 cour ses £95 42
New Year ’s Day lun ch, 3 cour ses £30
Autumn 2015
Champagne Evening How could anyone resist the chance to taste 12 champagnes in one night? And you didn’t! Tickets sold like hot cakes to our Fizz and Chips evening. The chance to taste 12 champagnes from the Grande Marque houses of Champagne followed by fish and chips - what more could anyone want? ‘It was a great fun evening – I never thought fizz and chips would go together so well but they definitely did,’ said Matt Oakley, who was lucky enough to book his ticket early. ‘Champagne is not normally my thing but having had very knowledgeable experts talk me through 12 different varieties opened my eyes. I have a very jealous wife now which means we will have to go again.’ With a Gin evening planned for September and a Whisky evening in November we will open your eyes to some fabulous drink and food pairings. Look out on our website and facebook page for more information.
“It was a great fun evening – I never thought fizz and chips would go together so well but they definitely did,” said Matt Oakley
To book call 01480 812300 or visit www.thegeorgebuckden.com
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Anne Furbank Fashion
Martial Artist Behind the grey shirt of the uniform at The George lurks a life away from the polite and friendly service you receive from her. By day you have the mild-mannered Wendy, whom many of you will recognise from the breakfast and lunch time service at the hotel. By night you have Tang Soo Do Wendy who can break a breeze block with one swipe of her bare hand!
Sixty seconds with General Manager, Richard Cooked breakfast or cereal? Definitely cooked breakfast although my normal breakfast is avocado and tuna or waffles with Greek yoghurt and fruit. City or Country? Depends on who I am with. I do like city breaks but it is also good to get a blast of fresh air. Wine or Whisky? Preferred choice is Guinness and I am partial to a lovely Scotch single malt. My Dad’s Irish so maybe it comes from that, although strangely enough he doesn’t drink Guinness. Greek Island or Iceland? I’ve been to the Greek Islands and never been to Iceland and I like to go to new places so it would have to be Iceland. One place I would love to go is Reunion Island in the Indian Ocean. Shirt and tie or joggers? Shirt no tie. Italian or Indian food? I love all food but would probably go for an Indian. What do you like most about your job? Interacting with people they make it. 44
Bradley
Cooper
‘shirt no
tie’
This is one lady you want on your side at all times. Wendy has been training at the St Neots Tang Soo Do club for several years and lives by the five codes of one of the oldest martial arts. Loyalty to country (faithful commitment); obedience to parents (dutiful compliance); honor of friendship (honesty, fairness, integrity); no retreat in battle (never withdraw or give up), in fighting choose with sense and honor. So the next time you order your cappuccino and croissant remember to smile back at the nice lady who is serving you!
Autumn 2015
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Anne Furbank Fashion
The Collections
The clothing Aideen Bodkin
Didier Parakian
Luis Civit
Olvi The Lace Collection
Armani Jeans
Eugen Klein
Lysse Leggings
Oska
Basler
Gerry Weber
Marc Aurel
Oui
Bernshaw
Ilse Jacobsen
Marc Cain
Paule Ka
Betty Barclay
James Lakeland
Michele
Repeat
Christina Felix
John Charles
Monari
Rosso 35
Condici
Joseph Ribkoff
NYDJ
Crea
Just White
D’Exterior
Lauren Vidal
The Accessories Abro Armani Jeans Bulaggi Darcie Mae Echo Gaby Ilse Jacobsen K&S Majique Nour Peter Kaiser Sense Vivienne Sheriff
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Autumn 2015
Meet the staff The Group Team
Julia Fysh Norma Leckie
Melissa Ramply
Bernadette Skerritt
Purchase Ledger Clerk
Online Manager
Accountant
Admin Assistant
Shop
Hotel
Emma Ankers
Sonia Beal
Julie Bevan
Richard O’Leary
Akil Benaissa
Wendy Donald
Jan Farr
Alterationist/Sales Consultant
Sales Consultant
Sales Consultant
General Manager
Head Chef
Front of House Assistant
Housekeeping
Julie Chelsom-Pil
Helen Galer
Gill Hepworth
Angelika Gianoulaki Margaret Hillson
Charlotte Huggins
Ashley Humphrey
Accessory buyer/Sales Consultant
Saturday Assistant
Sales Consultant
Breakfast Chef
Receptionist
Front of House Assistant
Front of House Assistant
Carolyn Hodgson
Karen Hutchcraft
Clare Jewers
Sue McGrath
Alexandra Movileanu Lorela Movileanu
Jordan Picking
Sales Consultant
Sales Consultant
Sales Consultant
Commis Chef
Front of House Assistant
Front of House Manager
Front of House Assistant
Sue Lindsey
Jacky Maskell
Jacqui Moore
Amina Rafi
Ryan Seaman
Felipe Teodoslo
Glen White
Sales Consultant
Assistant Manager
Sales Consultant
Pastry Chef
Assistant Manager
Front of House Assistant
Maintenance
Ann Storey
Beth Thomas
Debbie Tomlin
Amanda Wright
Sales Consultant
Trainee sales/social media
Sales Consultant
Operations Manager
How to find us Anne Furbank 41 High Street, Buckden, St Neots, Cambs PE19 5WZ Telephone: Shop 01480 811333 Office: 01480 811321 www.annefurbank.co.uk The George Hotel and Brasserie High Street, Buckden, St Neots, Cambs PE19 5XA Telephone: 01480 812300 www.thegeorgebuckden.com
A141
A10
A142
A1(M)
A141
A14
A14 A10
Huntingdon A1 Godmanchester A142
Buckden
A14
A1198
George Lane
St Neots
A14
Churc Bar Hill h St
Newmarket A14
A428
CAMBRIDGE
A428 A1
A11
BUCKDEN
High
A1198
Sandy
M11
Sree t
A1
May
field
Sawston A10
Duxford Biggleswade
A11
A1198 A505
A1
A505
A142
Royston M11