Chislehurst and Beckenham Life December 2011

chislehurst & beckenham life

chislehurst LIFE & Beckenham W E S TE R H Am , Ox TE D, D U LW I C H, B L AC K H EAT H, S EVENOAKS, green wich, T U N B R I D gE W E L L S AND T H E E xC LU S I VE SURROUNDINg AREAS

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LOCAL VILLAGE QUIZ PICTURE PERFECT CHILHAM WESTERHAM CHRISTMAS LIGHTS www.thelifemagazines.com

EDIBLE CHRISTMAS GIFTS

the quality LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE ISSUE 34 DECEMBER 2011

johnny depp A Passionate Project kent EVENTS

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HISTORY

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fashion

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HOMES & GARDENS

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HEALTH & BEAUTY

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FOOD & DRINK • travel

A gentleman’s manual wind bi-metal Rolex Chronograph wrist watch, circa 1948.

Estimate £10,000 - £15,000

Auction of Vintage & Modern Wrist Watches Monday 23rd January 2012 at 10am

Visit www.fellows.co.uk/life for a complimentary catalogue Augusta House | 19 Augusta Street | Birmingham | B18 6JA | Tel: 0121 212 2131 | Email: info@fellows.co.uk

Faye Manning Editor

welcome

Hello and a very warm welcome to the Published by the Fish Media group Ltd. 2nd Floor, titan Court, 3 Bishop Square, Hatfield, Herts, AL10 9NA December issue…

PUBLISHED BY THE FISH MEDIA GROUP LTD

0844 800 8439

email: rory@fishmediagroup.co.uk EDITOR Faye Manning EDITOR ASSISTANT Katie Miller SUB EDITOR Alex Lux FASHION EDITOR Hazel Englander

The Ridings, Woodfield Lane, BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT Essendon, Herts, MANAGER AL9 6JJ Vanessa Lane DESIGN & PRODUCTION

Tel : 0844 Toni Perry 800 8439 Fax : 01707 655 718.

ACCOUNTS/ADMIN Kathy Manning

SALES Jason Trotman Barry John James Marshall DIRECTORS Rory Smith Patrick Smith Peter Smith

Is it just me or has 2011 disappeared very quickly?

I can’t quite believe that I am writing this letter for the December issue and the team at Fish Media are already working on the January 2012 magazine.

Please let me take this opportunity to wish you and your families a very merry Christmas and a really successful new year.

Also I want to send a really big thank you to all of our readers for your very warm, positive comments over the past 12 months.

The December front cover and main story features the Hollywood heart throb Johnny Depp. Johnny opens up about his latest passion project, his friendship with © all Rights Reserved. the late writer Hunter S Thompson and why he remains uncomfortable with his St albans Life, Harpenden Life, Radlett Life is copyright and January not be reproduced in any form either in part or whole without celebrity status. Johnny rarely gives interviews so it makes fascinating reading. written permission from the publishers. Whilst the Fish Media group Ltd takes every reasonable precaution, no responsibility can Ken Fleet www.thelifemagazines.com Email: peter@fishmediagroup.co.uk

be accepted for any property, services or products offered in these publications and any loss arising therefrom. Whilst every care Editor is taken with all materials submitted to the St albans Life, Harpenden Life & Radlett Life the publisher cannot accept responsibility Faye for the loss or damage to such material.Fish Media groupManning Ltd reserves the right to reject or accept any advertisement, article or material prior to publication.opinions expressed are strictly those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views or policies of Fish Media group Ltd.We accept Assistant no liability for any misprints or mistakes and no responsibility can be taken for Editor the content of these pages.

Katie Miller

INNER 070111 LONDON Jan i31.indd 3

Sub Editor Alex Lux Fashion Editor Kitty Shead Contributors Wendy Stevenson John Ruler John Bly Bruce Edwards Jack Smith

Design & Production Jules Breckenridge www.breckenridgedesign.co.uk Photography Adam Swaine Accounts Kathy Manning Ken Fleet Business Development Managers Lisa Westerman Sinead Sheil SALES Lorna Ferrin Vanessa Lane James Marshall DIRECTORS Peter Smith Rory Smith Patrick Smith

All Rights reserved. All Fish Media Group Ltd magazines are copyright and cannot be reproduced in any form either in part or whole without written permission from the publishers. Whilst Fish Media Group Ltd takes every reasonable precaution, no responsibility can be accepted for any property, services or products offered in any of our publications and any loss arising.

Whilst every care is taken with all materials submitted to all of our magazines the publisher cannot accept the loss or damage to such material. The Fish Media Group Ltd reserves the right to reject or accept any advertisement, article or material prior to publication.

Opinions expressed are strictly those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views or policies of Fish Media Group Ltd. We accept no liability for any misprints or mistakes and no responsibility can be accepted for the content of these pages.

Our Local Life team visit three more local towns, this month we turn the spotlight on Wilmington, Edenbridge and Chilham, whilst our renowned local writer and historian, John Ruler takes an affectionate look at the Panto at the Barn Theatre Oxted, has a seasonal look at some of the places he has visited this year and offers you 19/01/2011 a historical photographic quiz, all great stuff.

what could be more original than edible Christmas presents?

As usual our excellent team of writers serve up a feast of articles and features for you to enjoy on these long, cold winter days.

Regan Maloney our Food Editor reviews several more local restaurants and offers you some recipes to help with your gifts this Christmas – what could be more original than edible Christmas presents?

John Bly from the Antiques Roadshow takes us on another journey through his wonderful world of Antiques.

Bruce Edwards reviews a wide variety of recent books. Adam Swaine our superb resident photographer visited Westerham for the official ‘turning on’ of the Christmas lights.

Our Whats On guide offers you and the family a host of events to get you out and about. We cruise around the Greek Islands in our Travel section. Our Fashion pages help you escape to the Country with Countryside chic. The Beauty column helps you make the very most of your nails for the party season this Christmas and the Home and Garden encourages you to switch on the Light fantastic.

Finally we feature a selection of articles on some very highly recommended local professional Companies including - shutter and blinds experts, beauty therapists, swimming pool and spa specialists, a must visit Pilates Studio, bespoke kitchen and furniture makers and the superb Alexander Hotel.

So as you can see there is so much for you to enjoy this month.

Until next month and next year………

You will be pleased to know that you and your friends can now read our magazines online at www.thelifemagazines.com

To advertise contact Peter on 077111 43342 or email peter@fishmediagroup.co.uk november2011

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Designers and makers of handmade solid wood kitchens and furniture for every room Please visit one of our showrooms or call for a brochure

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81 Calverley Road Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN1 2UY Tel: 01892 520730

kent events

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11 december 20

✱ The UK’s first Champagne Bar and Gelateria is opening in the heart of Greenwich. A wide selection of champagnes and a full selection of alcoholic beverages plus a gelato selection which includes some sophisticated alcoholic sorbetti including Ruinart Rose, Hennessey XO, Mojito and Caipirinha. And just in time for Christmas there will be some seasonal sensations including Mince Pie, Egg Nog, Cinnamon and Apple, Christmas Pudding, Mulled Wine, Brandy Butter and Cranberry Ripple. We will offer a touch of ice-cream theatre in which customers can come up with their very own unique gelato creation.

This unbeatable Ice-Cream Parlour experience should be a great hit with all ages. 5 College Approach, Greenwich, London, SE10 9HY. www.black-vanilla.com ✱ A real, picturesque ice rink at Calverley Grounds, Tunbridge Wells this Christmas. The real ice rink promises to be an essential winter experience and great fun for all ages and abilities and will include parent and toddler sessions, entertainment in the form of themed nights, sponsors’ evenings, spot prizes for the best skater and the best ‘Bambi’ on the ice. £7 for children and £9 for adults including skate hire. Open from 9.30am till 9.30pm.

Booking for peak times is essential – Thursday and Friday evenings and all day Saturday and Sunday.

Calverley Park Gardens, Tunbridge Wells, Kent, TN1 1BT Until Mon 2 Jan 2012. www. tunbridgewellsatchristmas. com ✱ Snow White And The

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Seven Dwarfs Starring Children TV’s favourite Barney Harwood, Patsy Kensit and I’d Do Anything finalist Sarah Lark as our beautiful Snow White. Churchill Theatre Bromley High Street, Bromley, Kent, BR1 1HA. Selected dates until Sun 8 Jan 2012. www.ambassdortickes. com/Bromley ✱ The Sky Tonight: Christmas Stars See what the night sky has to offer over the festive period and explore new ideas about what the Christmas star might have been. Tickets: £6.50 adults, £3.50 children/concessions, £17.50 family ticket. For performance times call box office: 020 8312 6608. The Royal Observatory Greenwich, Blackheath Avenue, Greenwich London, SE10 8XJ. Until Fri 23 Dec 2011. Website: www.visitgreenwich.org.uk ✱ Aladdin With plenty of comedy and romance this magical musical family show is set to be one of the high-flying highlights of the festive season. Various performance times. £18, £25 Concessions £16, £23. ALL CHILDREN’S TICKETS HALF PRICE! Family ticket £56 (Not available online) Box Office: 020 8858 7755.The Greenwich Theatre, Crooms Hill, London, SE10 8ES.Until Sun 8 Jan 2012. Website: www.visitgreenwich.org.uk ✱ A Kent Christmas Festive Midwinter entertainment inc a Mummers’ Play, a Hooden Horse and a range of delightful and unusual traditional seasonal songs presented by Geoff Doel and Mick Lynn with the Tonbridge Mummers and Hoodeners. In aid of the Kent Association for the Blind. Ticket includes mulled wine and mince pies.

2.30 pm Ticket price £10 Telephone Phyllis Styles 01732 461623. Red Cross Centre, A25, Sevenoaks, Kent, TN13 3QG. Mon 12 Dec 2011. ✱ The Lion The Witch and The Wardrobe From the ‘Acting Up’ student Theatre Company. Join evacuees Lucy, Edmond, Susan and Peter playing hide-and-seek and stepping through an old enchanted wardrobe in to the mysterious land of Narnia.

With the help of mythical creatures and talking animals, the children join forces to defeat the White Witch and bring back happiness and Christmas to Narnia again!

Proceeds go to ’Acting Up’ the student Theatre Company, part of WestHeath2000 registered charity 1069677.For details of times and prices call 01732 460553 or email:laura. christmas@westheathschool. com. The New School at West Heath, Ashgrove Road, Sevenoaks, Kent, TN13 1SR. Mon 12 Dec 2011 to Wed 14 Dec 2011. Website: www. westheathchool.com ✱ Afternoon Tea Special A National Trust Event: Enjoy a delicious afternoon tea - sandwich, fresh scone with jam and cream, victoria sponge cake with tea or coffee - only £6.50 pp. Chartwell Restaurant.

Children welcome. Times: 14:00 to 16:00. Tickets: All: £6.50. Booking Not Needed. Chartwell, Mapleton Road, Westerham, Kent, TN16 1PS. Wed 7 Dec to Sun 11 Dec. Website: www. nationaltrust.org.uk ✱ Santa’s Grotto Santa has arrived at our Garden Centres in a horse-drawn carriage. Santa will be in his cosy grotto right up until Christmas Eve. The grotto is

traditional and magical - a real feature of the festive season. Suitable for all ages.

Every Day from now until Christmas. Tonbridge Road, Pembury, Tunbridge Wells, Kent, TN2 4QN. Website: www.notcutts.co.uk ✱ Christmas Marquee Party Bickley Manor Hotel.

Stay local for your Christmas lunch or excellent night out with Friends, Family, your Team or Group? Top quality food, Live Entertainment, Disco and even Dodgems!

Heated Marquee spectacularly decorated in a festive theme, with Christmas trees, Santa’s grotto and sparkling skylight. Prices from £29.95 for afternoons and £74.95 for evenings. Bickley Manor Hotel Grounds, Thornet Wood Road, Bickley, Bromley, Kent, BR1 2LW. Wed 14 Dec 2011 to Sat 17 Dec. Website: www.bickleyevents.com ✱ Beach Boys SMiLE are a tribute band who dedicate themselves to the vocal sound and compositions of The Beach Boys. 7.45pm, £15.00. Tickets are available from www.barntheatreoxted. co.uk or 01959 561811. Barn Theatre, 25 Bluehouse Lane, Oxted, Surrey, RH8 0AA. Sat 10 Dec 2011 ✱ Oxted Community Market The friendly alternative to the High St. Traders selling plants, beads, costume jewellery, handbags, ladies fashion, accessories, collectables, hand-made greetings cards. Also an award winning pencil artist, picture framing, photographic restoration and alterations.

Enjoy our lovely modern hall and refreshments. Disabled & Child Friendly. Free Admission and Parking. 9.30am - 1.00pm.

Free admission. Contact

John on 01883 716056.

Oxted Community Hall, 53 Church Lane, Oxted, Surrey.

Until Mon 19 Dec 2011. ✱ English Folk Dancing.

Feel like you want to get out and do something interesting on a Friday night? Why not come on down to Beckenham Folk dance club for a night of fun and laughter. You don’t need to bring a partner, there is always someone willing to dance with you. There’s a good balance of men and women. Don’t worry if you’ve never danced English folk dances as we will teach you.

Age range at the club 40 to 90 but open to all. Live and recorded music. 8.00 10.30. Members £2.00 non members £2.50. St Barnabas Church Hall, Perth Rd, off Oakwood Ave, Beckenham, Kent, BR3 6PP. Until Wed 11 Jan 2012. Contact Beryl 0208 462 4071 or email caroled@blueyonder.co.uk ✱ Marian Vian Primary School Beckenham PTA Christmas Fair £1 Entry - accompanied children go free. Attractions include: Santa’s Grotto, Raffle, BBQ, Stalls, Gifts, Refreshments, Face-Painting, Fairground Rides (weather permitting) and much much more. Marian Vian Primary School, Shirley Crescent, off Goddard Road, Elmers End, Beckenham Kent, BR3 4AZ. Sat 10th Dec 2011, 12 - 3pm. Website: www/mvpta.org.uk ✱ ALADDIN Greenwich Theatre’s pantomime has become one of London’s most popular Christmas shows. This year’s production of Aladdin, complete with a genie, a magic lamp, a flying carpet and the most laughs you’re likely to find anywhere, does not disappoint. Until 8 January.

Box Office 020 8858 7755. www.greenwichtheatre.org.uk ✱ WOODLAND If you are looking for the perfect Christmas show for younger children, head for Greenwich Theatre. Having created a real

forest glade in the theatre, WOODLAND will tell the story of a tiny new arrival and his search for adventure.

For ages 2+.16-31 December.

Box Office 020 8858 7755 www.greenwichtheatre.org.uk ✱ Meet John Deman a black Greenwich Pensioner in the early 19th century.

12.00, 13.00, 14.30 & 15.30.

The Painted Hall, Old Royal Naval College, King William Walk, Greenwich, London, SE10 9LW. Sun 18 Dec 2011.

Website: www.ornc.org ✱ CLIC Sargent’s Big Bucket Collection. This December, during Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, CLIC Sargent will be holding its Big Bucket Collection across the UK. Please join us as a Collection Coordinator and simply ask your friends and family to help you collect for one day at this venue near you, helping us raise over £100,000 for children with cancer. Sign up and we will give you all the support and materials you will need. For more information contact us on: 0117 314 8602. Asda, Old Kent Road, London, SE1 5AG.Fri 9 Dec 2011 and Sat 10 Dec 2011. Website: www.clicsargent.org.uk/ bigbucketcollection ✱ Crisis Carol Service This year marks the 40th anniversary of Crisis at Christmas. Please join us for what is always a beautiful evening. The Service will be in the presence of Her Royal Highness Princess Alexandra, our Patron and will be led by Canon Bruce Saunders. There will be performances by The Merbecke Choir and The Choir With No Name and readings

by Timothy West and Crisis Skylight members. The service will be followed by mince pies and wine in the Cathedral.

Free but please reserve online in advance https://community. crisis.org.uk/sslpage. aspx?pid=749. Southwark Cathedral, Chapter House, Montague Close, London E1 6LT. Sat 10 Dec 2011.

Website: www.crisis.org.uk

CONTENTS

PAGE

Contents

EDITOR’S LETTER

3

WHAT’S ON…

6

Editors letter

LOCAL LIFE

WHATS ON

Eynsford - Well hidden within a secret pocket in Kent LOCAL LIFE of the Weald Cranbrook - The capital

3 6

10

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Wilmington A Village in Time Langton Quiz Green Spot - A perfect of town and country the mix Village Edenbridge Idyllic Spot Greenwich - Drunk for oneAn penny, dead drunk for two Chilham A Picture Perfect Film set Bromley’s Freak Weather – It’s no great deal A Seasonal Look Back with John Ruler

10 18 14 18 22 22 26 26

Alexander Hotel The Utopia Spa STONEHAMS KITCHENSl

28 29

Fine furnishings win Royal seal ofBlinds approva Heritage Quality Awnings and Shutters 30 Westerham Christmas Lights

WEDDING LIFE – Supplement

Ian Dunn Woodwork and Design

HYPNOTHERPY COVER STORY

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35

36

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Johnny Depp’s passionate project

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COVER STORY - A new era of luxury at the Savoy

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BEAUTY Nail ANTIQUES with John BlyThose Seasonal Trends

50 52

Regan Maloney’s Restaurant Review

Bio Sculpture Beauty at your Fingertips

FASHION – Put Spring in your Style

McQue Beauty Personalised Treatments

Pilates – Foundation FinesseStudio BEAUTYLaban

Perfect Handbags Bagging a Success

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54

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56 58 58

DESIGNER LIGHTING

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HOME HOME - Snap up yourGARDEN signature Style AND

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Rencraft Quality Solid Wood Furniture Home Switch on the Light Fantastic QUALITYHyland WINDOWS Furniture Quality Throughout.

62 64 65 66

ANTIQUES with JOHN BLY

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Experience Luxury Bed Linen

70

Chocolate Luxury

72

Travel Cruise around the Greek Islands

74

Books Review

76

Panto on the Wane? Oh No It Isn’t.

78

FASHION Escape to the Country

The Dilemma of Divorce and Separation

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66

LOC A L LIFE

A Village in Time Wilmington

T

he place in which you raise your children is usually regarded with some affection and for this reason Wilmington has always been special to me. The village lies 1.5 miles directly south of Dartford and is one of the largest parishes in the country, with a population which has grown steadily over the years and now numbers some eight thousand people. Its borders stretch to The London Borough of Bexley and Sevenoaks District.

A major landmark of the village must be the beautiful church of St Michael and All Angels which dates back to Saxon time. A warm and inviting place of worship, the base of the tower with its two Saxon windows is the only part of the original church which still remains. In the churchyard one can see the family grave of Sir James and Lady Whitehead. Sir James Whitehead was born on 1834 and was a wealthy man who had made his fortune in London and retired to Wilmington when he was 47 years old. There is also a memorial to Sir Edward Hulse (1682-1759) who was a royal physician.

The pretty lynch gate, which leads into the church grounds, was erected in commemoration of Queen Victoria’s, Diamond Jubilee in 1897 and the imposing yew tree which stands in front of the church entrance was planted in 1731 and bought as a sapling from the neighbouring village of Horton Kirby.

If you take the footpath leading through the church grounds you will arrive at Oakfield Park, which formed part of the Oakfield Lodge Estate until 1930, when part of the

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estate was sold for housing and the local Primary school was built. The park is a relatively small but popular area, which can also be reached from Oakfield Park Road.

The park houses the Pavilion, which is home to the Parish Council offices and it is also the home ground for Wilmington Cricket Club. The club had many successes in the 1970’s and 1980’s and even played twice at Lords! Wilmington once had a successful football team too and their trophies and shields can be seen in the Pavilion. Within the park there is a small fenced area for children with swings and slides etc.

In 1886 the park was the site for an important event in the history of Wilmington when Sir Randolph Churchill made his speech to a crowd, reported to total nearly 2000. Standing above the crowd on a dais, he proclaimed the need for wide spread reforms and for the need to reduce public expenditure, which was felt to be greater than the country could afford.

It seems amazing that some 125 years later we are hearing the same cry from our politicians!

Leaving the church by the lynch gate and turning right you cross the bridge over the A2. The dual carriageway was opened in the early 1970’s and divided the village into two, with Oakfield Lane to one side and the High Road the other. When living beside the A2 in those days, the traffic was light and only a few cars travelled the road at night. How things have changed!

The High Road leads downhill and passes The Close on the right. This was the road in which one of Wilmington’s

Images: Adam Swaine Photography

Words: MAUREEN COLE

most famous residents, Mick Jagger, lead singer with the Rolling Stones, lived in his youth and where he and his friends would meet to practise in the garage. I wonder if the neighbours ever realised how successful Mick was to become! My family moved into Mick’s old home when his parents left. It was a lovely home to raise my children in but unfortunately Mick’s talent and wealth never rubbed off on us!

The old village green still exists and can be found at the junction of the High Road and Barn End Lane. There is an old horse trough here, which is inscribed on the side with the words, “To commemorate the Coronation of King George the fifth. This trough was erected in 1911 by Mercy Lady Whitehead.” No longer used as a watering hole for horses, the trough is now planted with a beautiful selection of flowers.

The village sign is also located on the green along with a map of the village, which highlights some places of interest.

To the side of the green is the Memorial Hall which houses the Village Memorial to those who lost their lives in World War 2. This area was once a vital part of village life, as can be seen from the plaque on the front of the hall, which reads, “Former site of the Village Fire Station and adjacent Police House.” The Police House was recently demolished and two new houses built in its place. Like most villages these services have been moved to local towns and outlying areas, much to the detriment of village life as it once was.

An integral part of village life still remains however, in its four Public Houses, namely The Plough, The Foresters(1932), The Horse and Groom and The Orange Tree. The oldest of these is probably the Plough which appears in the 1851 directory.

Interestingly enough, in 1874 Wilmington had its own brewery.

This was situated in Barn End Lane and was later converted to a laundry. It is now the site of a housing development-Brewers Field.

The village is well endowed with schools and is part of the selective system in Kent. There are three Secondary schools,

namely Wilmington Grammar School for Boys, Wilmington Grammar School for Girls and Wilmington Academy.

There is also a Primary School in the village, Wilmington Primary School which was built in 1970 to replace the old National school built in 1850. The old school stands in The High Road almost opposite the village green and to the front of it stands the War Memorial, dedicated to the men from Wilmington who lost their lives in World War 1.

Wilmington Boys Grammar School and Wilmington Academy stand in the grounds of what was Common House, later changed to Wilmington Hall. Edward Bathurst built the house in 1734 and it was purchased by Sir James Whitehead in the late c19th. Sir James also purchased Wilmington Manor, (formerly Hearthside) on the opposite side of Common Lane.

He and his wife Lady Mercy Whitehead lived in the Manor and their son George Whitehead lived in Wilmington Hall.

Sir James built a footbridge over Common Lane to allow access between the Hall and the Manor for his family. The brick supports for this bridge can still be seen but are all that remain of the bridge. Sadly Wilmington Hall, with its grand marble staircases and fireplaces, was demolished in 1971, to make way for extensions to the school which were never built.

Opposite these two schools is Wilmington Common, which connects to Dartford Heath via a narrow lane between the houses, named Peep Bo Alley. The Common is lined with some magnificent Lime Trees and is home to the village Summer Fete.

It has also been the site for the local pancake races! Wilmington Primary School lies adjacent to the Common and opposite is a drinking fountain, erected in 1906 in memory of Emily Martha Lamb, a Governess at Wilmington Hall and well known resident.

Wilmington is a mix of old and new. A village which celebrates its past and its links to the gentry and simple village life and yet has managed to move forward and now exists alongside the A2 and the world of pop stars.

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local l if e

Clue 2: This Clue 1: Fruits

old village inn

of success in the

still has plenty to

fields, but better

crow about

known for its aerial successes.

Clue 3: Hardly the main road we know today.

Clue 4: Mark my word, a pub was here until quite recently

In days T of yore‌ e teaser John Ruler sets a yuletid s taken. wa nt pri h eac ere to see wh Pratts m, rha Was it Keston, Weste or yes Ha ll, Hi gin Bottom, Big scene at wh ter bet en Ev ad?

Halste ries car nt pri ch does each show. Ea wn sho rs we ans the h a clue, wit es on the bottom of the pag

Clue 5: Did someone mention Croydon?

Clue 6: These works proved a pioneer of the Kent car industry Clue 7: Climb up to see the clergy

Clue 8: This Post Office was located at the bottom of a hill.

The lady was apparently quite an imposing bird‌

14 D E C EMBER 2 0 1 1

My thanks to Sheila and Mike Blundell (Biggin Hill); Bromley Library (Biggin Hill & Hayes); Geoffrey Kitchener (Halstead); Edward Williams (Keston); Sue Short (Pratts Bottom) and Peter Finch (Westerham) for loan of pictures.

spot the villages in these old prints!

D E C EMBER 2 0 1 1

15

Clue 1: Lady workers picking strawberries in Biggin Hill, at one time a major supplier for the London markets. Clue 2: The Cock Inn, Halstead: the restaurant has its own display of old village prints. Clue 3: Formerly known as Main Road, Biggin Hill, boundary of the old RAF married quarters. Clue 4: Keston Mark, looking towards Bromley sometime before the end of the 19th century. Clue 5: This sylvan scene was shot on the Croydon Road, Westerham. Clue 6: Workers outside Osgood’s Carriage and Motor Body Works, Pratts Bottom, famed for their skill with carriages and cars. Clue 7: Vicarage Hill, Westerham. Clue 8: Mrs Bird, subpostmistress in Pratts Bottom in 1932 and 1935. It was also a grocer’s shop

selling a variety of items. The picture was taken in the early 20th century.

Clue 9: The village green, Pratts Bottom, with the flint and brick walls of Chapel Cottages and the Bulls’ Head Inn. Clue 10: Pear Tree Cottage, far right; Pratts Bottom in the late 1800s to early 1900s. Clue 11: Baston Road, Hayes, with what was once the old post office in the middle. Clue 12: Church Road, Halstead, much the same as today. Clue 13: Croydon Road, Keston, with the cottages easily recognisable even today. Clue 14: Salt Box café, Biggin Hill, a pre – and post-war – mecca for walkers and cyclists alike. Clue 15: The Crown and Westerham railway station, closed

by Dr Beeching 50 years ago this year.

Answers Dunton Green. right track for would be on the Clue 15: You far and wide. for cyclists from Clue 14: Hub today! congested than it is certainly far less parish boundary and Clue 13: On the today. the same church. Virtually keep going for the Clue 12: Just named after it with a school Now a busy road Clue 11: bears the name? cottage that still or is it just the looking for pears, children are Perhaps the

today.

Clue 10:

virtually the same but the village looks may sound silly, Clue 9: It

H OT E L AN D S PA

WILMINGTON, KENT, NR DARTFORD, DA2 7QH

local Lif e

Edenbridge Words by Wendy stevenson

De Ec Ce EMBER mber2011 18 d

Images: Adam Swaine Photography

T

he nights are drawing in and we are rapidly moving to the end of the year and with it comes Christmas.

Whatever your religion or views the Christmas holiday is a very special time in the social calendar, it is a time spent with friends and family or just simply relaxing!

At this time of year the English countryside with its peace and tranquillity becomes almost mystical, a place to reflect on our lives, reminding us of simpler less hurried times in the past. The sights, sounds and colours can be intoxicating and are the ideal tonic for an ailing spirit! One of the most idyllic spots to visit is just a stone’s throw from London in the county of Kent. In fact it is less than twenty five miles from the countries capital and is known as the Eden Valley. Which lies undisturbed by the 21st century, covered in ancient woodland and meadows intersected by the gently meandering river Eden it couldn’t be more picture perfect.

This part of the county is known as the Weald and is bordered

by Surrey and East Sussex to the west. The whole landscape is an area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and set within this Arcadian environment is a town with the biblical name of Edenbridge The town sits on a bend of its namesake river and is seemingly as ancient as the landscape that surrounds it. Edenbridge is a small, quaint town serving as a commercial centre for a number of small picturesque outlying villages as it has done since Henry III issued a charter in the 13th century enabling the locals to hold a market every Saturday. These days there are two markets, a general market held every Thursday and a farmers market held every other Friday.

Don’t for one minute imagine a place that is monotonously mundane with a street scene similar to other high streets up and down the country. In appearance Edenbridge is detached from everything associated with commerce, it has more in common with a Dickensian novel. Edenbridge town centre is home to a delightful collection of historic buildings, a large proportion of which are medieval timber framed buildings; these sit alongside other equally ancient properties built of mellow brick. This medley of architecture that spans centuries is of immense value as it is a magnate for visitors attracted by such an unusual site – a high street that has been protected from the excesses of developers and council planning departments!

The high street provides a wondrous opportunity to buy unusual Christmas gifts and other luxuries that you are unlikely to find elsewhere. It isn’t often that you have the opportunity to shop in such a Dickensian environment and it really does impart a festive air. When the thought of more shopping becomes wearying you can relax in the knowledge that you can enjoy a relaxing lunch in one of the scenic inns in front of a roaring log fire or have tea in a quaint tea room the choice is yours!

Historic Edenbridge is far older than it outwardly appears, one could almost say prehistoric; it can trace its development back to the Romans and beyond. The settlement developed at one of the easiest crossing points of the river and was used by the Romans for the transportation of wood and other building materials to London. It is believed however that the whole area had been settled for much longer as there are plenty of remnants of ancient structures built by the Cantii or Cantiaci people. These tribesmen lived in the area long before the Romans invaded and were originally from Belgium, they spoke in a dialect similar to other Celtic tribes living across the channel Unfortunately the Romans eventually abandoned the country and the area was soon settled by Saxons, a race of people initially employed as mercenaries by the native Celts to protect the country from marauders. The Saxons unfortunately outstayed their welcome and their hosts were unable to remove them. These new settlers were ultimately responsible for the name of the town. A Saxon by the name of Eadhelm was a local chieftain and

I

he built the first wooden bridge; it was called Eadhelm’s bridge which was eventually shortened to Edenbridge. The town has had a number of bridges over the years, each a replacement for an earlier one and built on the same spot. The wooden bridges were eventually replaced by a permanent Tudor five arched construction that was built of stone. This was eventually replaced in 1834 by the single arched bridge that can still be seen today.

It was after the Black Death in the 14th century that the area began to thrive. It became a centre for industry the most important being iron, an enterprise that we would normally associate with the Midlands. It was the wealth created by this business that enabled the town to flourish during the 15th, 16th and 17th centuries hence the number of wonderful buildings that we can still see today.

As with other places the town’s income ebbed and flowed over the course of a couple of centuries, but with the arrival of the railway local farmers and businesses were able to compete for the London markets and this meant an increase in employment and wages for the locals. This single factor still continues to this day and enables people who work in the city to reside in this idyllic environment.

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19

house garden

Making waves in the swimming pool world Origin celebrate thirty years in the swim...

O

rigin Leisure has been at the top of the swimming pool industry for thirty years. To celebrate this milestone the company has rebranded their entire look, with a bright new logo, an all-new website, and redesigned vans.

But the ethic of the company remains unchanged. They are still adopting their programme of constant improvement, and their products are more adventurous, more imaginatively designed and more perfectly built than ever.

Reflecting on the early days, when the company started out life as Leisureland, the directors searched the archives for photographic evidence of the pool houses they were building in the eighties.

Simplicity seemed to be the keyword in those distant days - when a simple pine building housed a small heated swimming pool. In further research they found that the majority of these buildings are still in daily use today, giving new generations the pleasure of swimming at home

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throughout the year.

Many of these early masterpieces have been refurbished by the Origin maintenance team, to bring the look and the pool technology up to date.

To celebrate this burst of nostalgia, the directors also gathered a collection of early advertisements and brochures, and featured them in the Origin newsletter NewsWave. Also featured is an article on Britain’s brightest swimming talent Francesca Halsall. Origin is delighted to be one of Fran’s sponsors, especially as she has just clocked a world-leading time in the 100 metres freestyle!

Generally the buildings have become bigger, better, far more complex and far more stylish over the years - you can see the evidence of this in the photographs on these pages.

Lovely pool houses that are

designed to co-ordinate with their surroundings, to actually improve the vista from the owner’s home, and match in with the materials and fabrics of the existing building.

Constancy has been a key feature in Origin’s development. The client always meets a representative at director level, and has the opportunity to discuss his ideas and requirements with someone who has a total understanding of the swimming pool world. The architects and designers are seasoned players in their fields, and bring a wealth of experience to every aspect of this complex and demanding business. Even the teams who build the final pool houses are eminently professional, many having been involved since the very early days of the company.

Within Origin’s range of expertise is a long standing commitment to the supply of hydrotherapy pools. Realising

the benefits of swimming as a health giving pursuit as well as for pure fun, the company has made sure it has become recognised as the most important player in this exacting field.

It was accepted as a natural progression to build outdoor pools too. The level of skill and the company’s unique understanding of pool technology stood them in good stead to become one of the country’s foremost outdoor pool providers. A pool house is a beautiful and stylish addition to your family life, but for pure aesthetics an outdoor pool twinkling welcomingly in an English garden cannot be beaten!

A question that is asked again and again is “Do you do the whole project yourself?”

The answer is a resounding yes. From the very first sketch, maybe produced whilst standing in the client’s garden, to standing in that same garden admiring the pure craftsmanship, no other company apart from Origin has been involved. From architectural design, through the rigours of planning consent, to the creation of the pool, the building, the heating, the glazing, it is a complete job, monitored and run by a team of committed experts.

Origin is Britain’s longest established pool company. And the new look and logo underlines that fact. The strapline reads ‘The original indoor & outdoor pool company.’

And that just about says it all.

Origin Leisure Harefield Middlesex UB9 6TH For a copy of our pool book, newsletter, to subscribe to Origin eNews or if you would like a complimentary copy of the Origin 2012 calendar, phone us on 01895 823366 or email info@originleisure.com www.originleisure.com

Origin leisure

the original indoor outdoor pool company

&

Your project.

From beginning to end...

Building perfect pools for over thirty years.

Ring Origin on 01895 823366 or email for our brand new brochure info@originleisure.com www.originleisure.com

A Picture Perfect Filmset!

Chilham

C

words: wendy stevenson

hilham is a quintessential English village which is renown worldwide for its charm and antiquity. Its setting on a promontory high above the valley of the river Stour within the picturesque Kent Downs further enhances its appeal and yet strangely enough makes it seem remote and cut off from the outside world despite its close proximity to one of the most famous cities in the world – Canterbury!

The parish of Chilham lies just within the protection of the Kent Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, an area of countryside that is recognised for its diverse landscape of chalk uplands, ancient woods and hedgerows not to mention the historic villages scattered round about! However the lure of Chilham isn’t just the surrounding landscape with its breath taking vistas, it is the other worldliness of a seemingly untouched village. A visit to Chilham really is a step back in time!

Chilham evolved at the junction of the A28 Ashford to Canterbury road and the A252 Maidstone Canterbury road both of which were major arteries for traffic in earlier years.

Another ancient highway , the North Downs Way runs through Chilham and according to archaeologists this was one of the most important highways in Britain because it was the main route that

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ancient man used to gain entry to the country, it also coincides with the Pilgrims Way, a conduit used by pilgrims on their way to the holy shrine of Thomas a Becket in Canterbury Cathedral.

The site has been occupied for thousands of years, with evidence of Roman occupation as well as a Neolithic long barrow acting as confirmation of its antiquity. The village that we see today grew up around the castle which provided protection and employment for the residents. It is still a focal point for the village but no longer resembles a castle. What you see today is completely different from the old practical Norman building; it was remodelled into a Jacobean luxury home in 1616 and is nowadays considered to be one of the finest mansions in the South East. In the past previous occupants of the castle met with traitorous deaths, one of the most notorious was Bartholomew, Lord Badlesmere. He was executed in part because of the belligerent behaviour of his wife. He was the steward of King Edward II household which was quite an important role at court. The king was believed to be a homosexual and one of his many favourites was Piers Gaveston who was given vast amounts of land and other privileges. Edward II was not a popular or a particularly strong king, because of this there were many factions at court and Badlesmere happened

Images: Adam Swaine Photography

local l if e to be in the middle group torn between the two other powerful factions led by the Despencers and the Earl of Lancaster.

Unfortunately Bartholomew’s wife Margaret became the catalyst for what was eventually to become known as the insurrection of the Marcher Lords. She refused Queen Isabella entry to Leeds Castle which by rights belonged to the queen; she even went as far as having her archer’s fire on the queen’s escort killing a number of them. King Edward was incensed and had Margaret and her children imprisoned in the Tower of London. Lord Baldesmere joined the Duke of Lancaster’s rebellion and he was captured after the Battle of Borough Bridge. The Duke of Lancaster was beheaded for his insurrection whereas Badlesmere was hung, drawn and quartered at Blean and his head was placed upon a spike at Burgate, one of the entrances to Canterbury.

Surrounding the church and castle, both major focal points in their own right is a huddle of old properties with steeply pitched peg tiled roofs. As the population increase some of the larger dwellings were subdivided into smaller homes and infill between the properties has given rise to the compact village that we see today Within the centre of these buildings lies the square, a place that features in many films, period dramas and documentaries. It

is considered to be one of the most perfectly preserved medieval settings in the country.

Surrounded by a wealth of timber framed properties built of locally sourced oak which was once in plentiful supply, the only building that uses another natural resource, flint is the church. The colours of the buildings, the reds of the bricks and orange hue of the tiles have mellowed with age and now look restrained in comparison to how they once appeared. It is easy to understand why it is so popular with film directors as it requires little magic on the part of the film crew – just a few bales of straw to cover any road markings and “voila” a readymade film set full of original features. It was recently the setting for the BBC’s serialisation of Jane Austen’s Emma, a romantic comedy of matchmaking that went awry!

The village has two public houses, the White Horse Inn and the Woolpack Inn and it has still retained some shops, quite unusual these days as many other village stores have suffered from the competition with supermarkets.

For both residents and visitors alike Chilham has plenty to offer; traditional hospitality in one of the cosy public houses or an old fashioned tea in the tea shop if this isn’t enough it is also the perfect base for exploring this particular part of rural England.

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fa s h i o n beauty

Ho Ho Hot

Festive fashion at the Glades!

C

hristmas has arrived and whilst you’re rushed off your feet with last minute shopping for everyone else, the Glades is on hand as your very own personal stylist with on trend, festive fashion to style you all the way through to New Year! With top brands including Karen Millen, Mango and New Look to grab your attention, its party wear shopping made easy! From the perfect LBD for your work Christmas party to sexy suits even Bond Girls would envythe Glades has the perfect outfit to suit every shape and style!

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The foundation for any show stopping outfit is well fitted, confident boosting underwear. Head to La Senza for the latest in shape wear underwear to compliment your shape, hide any lumps or bumps and create a flawless silhouette. And whilst you’re there, why not treat yourself to a gorgeously flattering baby doll for bedtime chic? Opt for sheer black with pretty pink bows giving a playful touch!

If you want to pull off a sexy look, yet still feel comfortable then choose beautiful French knickers to complete the look.

For all out style, select this seasons must-have trend; metallic! For a vintage edge choose a bronze shaded shift dress with smoky eyes for a flapper inspired ensemble as seen in Marks & Spencer. If its more red carpet glamour that you are after then dazzling gold platform heels from Dune should be at the top of your Christmas list! Team with a simple LBD for an understated look with a twist.

Colour blocking was a winning trend for 2011; vibrant yellows, fiery reds and electric blues all equal

eye popping fashion! Visit River Island at the Glades for hot, vivacious block colour dresses and finish with faux fur accessories for a luxe look.

If accessories have your eyes gleaming, look out for all things feathered, crystallised and studded! Whether it’s an oversized rock chick purse or an elegant diamante brooch, accessories have the ability to transform your outfit and define your style. The undeniable champion store for accessories, Accessorize has everything you need to complete your look and stylise your festive fashion. Think statement with an oversized feather necklace for jewellery with an attitude! Team with subtle stud earrings and an oversized ring for extra punch.

For the boys, Republic is your one stop shop for winter wardrobe must-haves; offering burgundy chinos to metallic blazers, smart casual has never looked so cool! Ripped rugged trousers finished with a skinny tie and patent shoes scream metropolitan style. If leisure wear is more your cup of tea, think indie chic with casual jeans and a retro, printed t-shirts for fashionably laid back style!

The epitome of British high street fashion; Debenhams fabulous range of suits will have you spoilt for choice. From double breasted navy blue evening blazers to sleek grey slim fit suits, the perfect suit has the ability to boost your confidence and enhance your body shape.

Add some character to your look with a retro handkerchief or a pocket square for vintage flair.

With the outfit and accessories ready, feel like a million dollars with a spritz of your favourite scent before you walk out the door! Head to The Perfume Shop for great deals on all your favourite sprays! From Prada Candy and CK Euphoria for her to Paco Rabanne’s One Million and Gucci Guilty for him; it makes scents!

For a great range of Christmas party wear and gift ideas, visit the Glades for all your shopping and styling needs!

To book your very own personal styling session with the Glades resident stylist, contact gladesstylist@capshop.co.uk.

My First Bracelet

PANDORA is delighted to offer, for a limited time only, “My First Bracelet”. The piece consists of a barrel clasped silver moments bracelet, two clips and a murano glass charm.

The total RRP is £145.00, however, we are selling it for £99.00 while stocks last.

PANDORA LONDON STORES Covent Garden, Canary Wharf, Oxford Street, Westfield London and Westfield Stratford City SOUTH EAST Bluewater, Guildford, Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells Be inspired at pandora.net

There’s no better way to showcase their charms !

John Ruler takes a seasonal look at some of the places he’s visited this year

Scent of winter You’ll have to wait until summer for these snow covered lavender fields at the Hop Shop in the Darenth Valley, Shoreham, Kent, to bring forth their purple hue (JUNE ISSUE) Their annual lavender festival will be held again in early July with vouchers for the aromatherapy massages already on sale at www.hopshop.co.uk tel:01959 523219.

(Image www.thomasalexanderphotography.co.uk)

Prickly situation Like many others, this plant survived last winter’s icy grip which saw temperatures plummet to minus 1C at Tom Hart Dyke’s award-winning World Garden (JUNE issue) at his family home at Lullingstone Castle, Kent. Tom, whose world travels and kidnap in Colombia hit the headlines in 2000 remained as optimistic as ever; after all, a garden of sorts had been there for some 650 years! This unique garden and castle reopen on April 1 (www.lullingstonecastle.co.uk; tel: 01322 862114)

Spitfire corner: Don’t miss out on Shoreham Aircraft Museum (MAY issue), a unique look at the Battle of Britain, much of it fought in the skies in, and around, the famous Biggin Hill Spitfire fighter station. There was even a chance to Sit in a Spit only last month. The museum, and its popular tearooms, will reopen in April next year with more to come on the cards. (www.shoreham-aircraft-museum.co.uk; tel: 01959 524416 (Image Adam Swaine Photography) 26 d e c e m b e r 2 0 1 1

local l if e

Beastly weather: Perhaps, but the superb green topiary of the Queen’s Beasts look as spruce as ever in their snowy setting at Hall Place & Gardens, Bexley, featured in AUGUST. A melting pot of historical styles dating back to the 16th century, along with special family events and school visits, has helped this major slice of suburban Kent history maintain a year round appeal. There is also a café and restaurant (www.hallplace.org.uk; tel: 01322 526574. Image: Courtesy Bexley Heritage Trust)

Winter canvas With its regularly changing as well as permanent galleries the seasons make little difference to Dulwich Picture Gallery (JULY ISSUE) which with its special events, lectures and public courses holds year-round appeal to art and non-art fans alike. Celebrating its 200th anniversary in January this year, it was England’s first purposebuilt public art gallery. It remains as such today, unlocking the world of Rembrandt and Rubens along with contemporary artists to an audience of all ages. (www.dulwichpicturegallery.org.uk; tel: 020 8693 5254. Image Adam Swaine Photography)

Winter palace a seasonal view of Eltham Palace’s copper plated- loggia as seen from the garden.

Featured in NOVEMBER,

Talk about a dog’s life …

this is one of the few medieval royal palaces to survive with

though it’s not so bad

substantial remains

when you are dressed

intact. It is probably best

for the occasion – in

known, however, as the

much the same way

1930s’ art deco style

as the dancer from

home of the Courtaulds.

the Ravensbourne

(www. english-heritage.

Morris Men (MARCH issue). They will be dancing at The Greyhound, Keston, Kent, for their Boxing Day programme at 12.30.

org.uk/daysout/ properties/elthampalace-and-gardens/ visitor-information; tel: 0870 333 1181. Image Courtesy English Heritage) D E C EMBER 2 0 1 1

27

health beauty

The Utopia Spa The perfect gift for Christmas – A relaxing spa day At Rowhill Grange from £99

a

s Christmas and the New Year approaches are you looking for a great present for someone you love? Then look no further!

Treat that special person to a few hours or a day at the Utopia Spa, at Rowhill Grange Hotel. The beautiful 18th Century Hotel is set in nine acres of spectacular gardens within the Kent countryside

28 d e c e m b e r 2 0 1 1

and the Utopia Spa offers the ultimate in luxury for the tired body and soul. It is too good to miss out on so why not book for two and indulge yourself?

During your time at the Spa you can enjoy the stunning therapy pool with its high pressure jets and waterfall, the bubble tubs, the steam room and the sauna. If you are of

more energetic nature, you may also visit the fitness suite and be advised by the qualified and friendly instructor on how to use the equipment and get the best from it. You may even decide to join one of the many exercise classes. On the other hand, if you just want to take it easy and relax, then pull up a lounger, order a drink

and just relax by the pool!

‘The Time for Me’ at the Spa includes a choice of My Kinda Skin Facial, 55 Minute Massage, Luxury Manicure or Luxury Pedicure. All this, together with a healthy two course lunch in the hotel restaurant, where you and your partner can relax and enjoy the ambience. So, if you want to indulge someone and show them how much you appreciate them; why not include this fabulous gift in their Christmas stocking?

The hotel with its acres of immaculate gardens and picturesque lake with resident ducks offers stylish and beautifully appointed rooms.

Here you can truly relax and wind down away from the busy world outside. So if you want to extend your generosity why not include an overnight stay and make this a gift to remember?

Rowhill Grange Hotel and Spa, Wilmington, Kent, DA2 7QH, www.rowhillgrange.co.uk, Tel: 01322 615 136

house garden

and finishes together with an offering of friendly helpful advice from experienced advisors. Heritage blinds also offer a free no obligation home consultation service where you can shop from the comfort of your home.

Heritage are specialists in conservatory blinds, awnings and shutters, with a large dedicated team of in house technical advisors, surveyors and installers. Conservatory blinds, window shutters and awnings offer a host of extensive options which require careful consideration.

Why not arrange for a free no obligation home consultation and let Heritage’s advisors guide you through the options.

Both homeowners and commercial companies alike have come to expect an excellent service from Heritage Blinds, from enquiry through to installation all clients are provided with the same level of service from Heritage’s own team of advisors, surveyors and installers. Quality products and components, where possible, are sourced from British suppliers with finished products manufactured at Heritage’s own large production facilities in Wrotham. Attention to detail and a speedy turnaround has led to Heritage featuring on ITV’s 60 Minute makeover and has led to an array of large commercial contracts including installations at BHS head offices, Arcadia Group head offices, Asda and George head offices plus many other schools, colleges, health centres and national care homes.

Why not visit one of Heritage’s showrooms and view their ranges of blinds, awnings and shutters.

Alternatively why not arrange a free no obligation home survey by calling 0800 525 127 or alternatively emailing sales@heritageblinds.net

Heritage blinds H

eritage Blinds have been manufacturing and installing quality blinds, awnings and shutters since 1997. A family run business that has an ethos to offer quality products together with exceptional customer services at affordable prices is behind the success of this company. Excellent Showrooms at London Road Wrotham and Sidcup Road New Eltham showcase a wide range of quality products 30 D E C EMBER 2 0 1 1

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fa s h i o n beauty

For the moments to come P

andora unveils an exciting option for women to design uniquely personal jewellery: two elegant sterling silver bracelets that hold any decorative clip in the brand’s entire line. One of the bracelets holds a single clip, the other as many as five, providing beautiful showcases for clips signifying women’s

unforgettable moments and their dreams for wonderful experiences yet to come.

The bracelets epitomise the brand’s design concept: exquisite jewellery designed for styling as unique as each and every woman who wears Pandora.

Inspired by the Pandora charm bracelet The versatile design of the new bracelets is inspired by Pandora’s popular charm bracelet, which women customise by selecting interchangeable charms and clips. As with the charm bracelets, each fine 32 D E C EMBER 2 0 1 1

piece that women add to the sterling silver bracelets creates a lasting, deeply personal symbol of life’s unforgettable moments and precious dreams.

The latest clips from Pandora have edgy shapes and finishes evoking this season’s Nostalgic Rock theme, including one, in both sterling silver and black rhodium sterling silver, which playfully mimics studs on a leather jacket. Women mix and match their clips on the new bracelets to design uniquely personal looks to fit any mood or occasion.

Pandora’s new necklace concept is a great way to create and combine distinctive looks to match your every mood. It’s a patented Pandora design that enables you to layer up and

switch out as many as eight beautiful necklace chains to create the looks that you want.

Let your mood carry you

There are 20 sterling silver necklace styles to choose from, including lustrous and shiny; oxidized and edgy; multitextured or simple. All of them are beautifully feminine, superbly hand-finished from genuine materials, and ready for your own unique styling.

Create looks that are classic, adventurous or elegant. You can layer up several similar chains for a classic look just right for a formal event, or combine different styles of chains to create eclectic looks for your nights out on the town.

Exciting options

One of the new chains features anchor points that hold any of the beautiful decorative clips in Pandora ’s wide range.

It is an opportunity to bring forward favourite clips in your collection or to add a glamorous edge with geometric clips from the latest collection.

Then, combine your necklace with one of Pandora ’s new sterling silver bracelets, which holds one or five clips, for a distinctive, coordinated look that’s the height of fashion.

Such elegant versatility creates a world of exciting choices for diverse and unique women. In fact, that’s what inspires this necklace innovation by Pandora: your unique life, your individuality and your many moods.

WEDDI

N

G FAYRE

Sunday 19th February 2012 10am - 4pm Quality Exhibitors Free Admission Free & Ample Parking

NEW INCLUSIVE WEDDING PACKAGES AVAILABLE FROM £75-£110 PER PERSON - Licensed for Weddings & Civil Ceremonies - A choice of three oak panelled Manor Rooms or the Walled Maids Garden and Victorian Gazebo for your ceremony - Award winning cuisine and new wedding breakfast menus designed by our Executive Head Chef - 4 red star accommodation and 62 individually styled luxurious bedrooms and suites - Some of the finest Spa & Leisure facilities in England Applicable to weddings booked after 1st August 2011.

Photographs supplied by Alfie & Trish Photography.

Telephone 01233 213000 Email weddings@ eastwellmanor.co.uk www.eastwellmanor.co.uk Eastwell Park, Boughton Lees, Ashford, Kent TN25 4HR

BESPOKE KITCHENS & FURNITURE Designed and built in East Dulwich Ian Dunn Woodwork & Design 4 Goose Green Trading Estate, 47 East Dulwich Road, London, SE22 9BN Tel: 0208 613 1781 info@iandunn.com www.iandunn.com Wood Awards Winner 2009: Private/ Best Small Project Wood Awards Winner 2010: Outstanding Craftsmanship

Christmas in

Westerham Pianist in Ninety Six Degrees CafĂŠ Westerham

This year the Westerham Christmas lights were switched on by GMTV’s Dr. Hilary Jones. Also appearing were the cast of the Stag Theatre Production, Mother Goose and to make the evening even more special there were performances by The Oxted Rock Choir, Carol Singers and a visit from Father Christmas.

Why not visit Westerham Village to see the lights for yourself, there are shops, cafes and even an art gallery to visit.

Images: Adam Swaine Photography

Tanya Orpen (artist exhibiting her paintings at Ninety Six Degrees, Westerham)

Interior of Vintage Home Company

Dr. Hilary and his family

34 d e c e m b e r 2 0 1 1

local l if e

Stag Theatre Cast Members Victoria Allinson Shop front

december2011

35

house garden

I

an Dunn Woodwork and Design is a cabinet making business located in East Dulwich with over 30 years experience working alongside architects, interior designers and many of the specialist trades to create bespoke furniture which combines unique design with exceptional quality. Every project, both large and small, is hand crafted to the highest possible standard in their fully equipped East Dulwich workshop. They are always happy to discuss and find new solutions to a client’s requirements in line with their individual budget.

Their experienced craftsmen marry traditional techniques with the latest technology to create furniture which delivers on style as well as functionality and durability, using only responsibly sourced timber from suppliers with FSC, PEFC or SFI certifications.

Ian Dunn, who founded the company in 1981, has extensive knowledge of design and a wealth of experience ensuring that he is able to realise and create the very latest contemporary furniture as well as more traditional styles.

Projects are reliably and professionally managed from start to finish, from the initial design stages through to manufacture and installation.

Ian Dunn is ready to liaise with other contractors, architects and interior designers to refine and perfect detailed designs and ensure project requirements are met.

The staff pride themselves on their ability to listen and respond to ideas, collaborating with clients and taking time to understand personal style 36 D E C EMBER 2 0 1 1

IAN DUNN woodwork & design

Each project is bespoke and each creation is a one off and truly unique.

and space before realising ideas into unique pieces of furniture which can be enjoyed for years to come, becoming the focal point of any space in which they are placed.

Ian Dunn and his team are experienced in working in both domestic and commercial environments, providing a high level of expertise and an individually tailored service to all their clients. Their projects include a wide variety of bespoke cabinets, fitted and free-standing furniture and kitchens including sourcing and supplying the best appliances, work surfaces, glass and lighting for their clients.

They have worked in a wide range of settings including Historic Palaces, West End Restaurants, listed buildings, award winning new build properties and numerous private houses. Each project is bespoke and each creation is a one off and truly unique.

As a testament to Ian Dunn Woodwork and Design’s ability to supply exactly what their clients want, much of their work comes from existing or previous clients or personal recommendations by clients, interior designers or architects they have previously worked with. Their excellent standards were confirmed and recognised at the Wood Awards in 2009 in the Private/ Best Small Project category and in 2010 for Outstanding Craftsmanship. They are also long-standing members of the Guild of Master Craftsmen.

Ian Dunn Woodwork & Design 4 Goose Green Trading Estate 47 East Dulwich Road, London SE22 9BN, 0208 613 1781 info@iandunn.com, www.iandunn.com

              

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          

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                

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                    

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         

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           

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         

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Johnny be good

f In a rare face-toface interview, the Hollywood heartthrob opens up about his latest passion project, his friendship with the late writer and why he remains uncomfortable with his celebrity status.

By Shereen Low

or every big budget Pirates Of The Caribbean-style blockbuster, Johnny Depp switches it up with a smaller movie that’s close to his heart.

With the fourth swashbuckling instalment, On Stranger Tides, still fresh in minds from its May release, one of Hollywood’s finest talents has chosen to follow it up with a role that may not be as instantly recognisable as Captain Jack Sparrow or the Mad Hatter, but still has that power to grab attentions on the big screen.

The Rum Diary, adapted from Hunter S Thompson’s debut novel, holds a special place in Depp’s heart, because he was close friends with the author and gonzo journalist before his suicide in 2005.

“Johnny probably knew Hunter better than anyone else alive,” acknowledges the film’s director Bruce Robinson.

His intimate connection to the film is probably the reason why Depp - who stars in and co-produces the film - is giving rare one-to-one interviews today. Dressed casually in an unbuttoned checked shirt, with a polo shirt underneath and black jeans, various chains around his neck, blue nail varnish on his fingernails, while a big woolly hat rests on his head, covering his famous barnet.

“It’s been a long road, you know,” says the 48-yearold, stroking his goatee.

“This whole thing commenced around 1997 with me and Hunter, and here we are in 2011 and it’s actually happening.”

Depp has been the driving force behind the film, since his discovery of the book “by accident”.

“We were in Hunter’s house and there were these endless boxes of stuff. I started pulling things out and stumbled upon The Rum Diary,” he recalls.

“We started reading it and I told him to publish it. Within about 20 minutes we were already talking about the movie rights and how we should

produce this film together.”

Tragically, that wasn’t to happen with Thompson’s passing - but Depp ensured his posthumous presence was felt constantly on set.

“One of my last efforts to salute the man was to continue in our venture, forcing him - even in death - to be a producer,” he says, giving a little chuckle.

A chair with Thompson’s name on it was on set each day, along with a script cover, ashtray, cigarettes, empty glass and a bottle of Chivas Regal whisky.

“We had to utilise all these elements to recognise Hunter, to salute him,” he explains.

“Bruce and I would arrive on set every morning, pour the glass full with Chivas Regal, dunk our fingers in, maybe take a sip and get on with the day - just to make sure Hunter was there. And he was - every day, every second, every moment - for us.”

In the film loosely based on Thompson’s own experiences as a young journalist, Depp plays itinerant journalist Paul Kemp, who decides to swap the hustle and bustle of New York for Puerto Rico, in the film which also stars Aaron Eckhart, Giovanni Ribisi and Amber Heard.

It’s the second time he’s portrayed an incarnation of the writer as a young man, following his portrayal of Raoul Duke in 1998’s Fear And Loathing In Las Vegas.

“There’s more responsibility, but there’s also more comfort in playing someone you know,” he says.

“The challenge was trying to find the [version of ] Hunter before he found the avenue for the rage. It was like playing the same character, only 15 years before. This guy’s got something; there’s an energy burning underneath, it’s just ready to shoot out.”

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writer’s last book tours.

“The thing I initially connected with, in regard to Hunter’s work, was his honesty,” he reveals.

“You read about these amazing experiences and you think, ‘That’s b******t, it’s his imagination’ but when you’ve lived with and really spent time with him, as I have on the road, you realise it’s all true. You end up living the books.”

Depp’s life could also read like a book.

Now a father-of-two and happily settled with French actress Vanessa Paradis, he had previously been engaged to Winona Ryder and dated Kate Moss.

Following an early role in TV series 21 Jump Street before making the leap to films like Cry-Baby and Tim Burton’s Edward Scissorhands, he readily admits he was “box office poison” for a decade, before he was offered the life-changing role of Captain Jack Sparrow.

Since then, he’s switched to being a box office magnet, drawing crowds with performances of Willy Wonka and murderous barber Sweeney Todd, a part which won him his first Golden Globe award.

For someone who has been in the public eye for more than half his life, Depp, who lives with his family at their four homes around the world, including a French vineyard and an island in the Bahamas, should be somewhat comfortable in the spotlight - but isn’t and says he never will be.

Ever the devoted dad, he still takes his kids to school each day when he can, but says he “prefers to stay in the background” so he isn’t too embarrassing.

In a recent interview, he compared being photographed to being “raped”, comments 40 D E C EMBER 2 0 1 1

Extra Time: Johnny Depp

✱ John Christopher

Depp II was born in Kentucky on June 9, 1963. ✱ There was little rum drinking on the set of The Rum Diary: “I wish I could say that there was, but Bruce and I had made a pact to take a couple of months off.” ✱ His 12-year-old daughter Lily-Rose is a big fan of Justin Bieber.

he has since apologised for after angering antisexual violence groups.

“I used the wrong word, but I meant the violation you feel when you’re hit by the paparazzi, and all those cameras and people screaming your name,” he explains.

“It’s a very strange and surreal moment you never get used to. I’ve been running that gauntlet for more than 25 years now and it’s stranger and worse than it ever was.”

The release of The Rum Diary marks the fulfilment of Thompson’s final two wishes. One was to shoot his cremated ashes out of a cannon, while the other was to get the film made.

“When Hunter made his exit back in 2005, I had to focus my attention on getting his last wish ready to load him into a bunch of giant bullets and shoot him into the sky out of a 153ft cannon,” says Depp.

“His other wish was to get The Rum Diary made and to get it out there.

We’ve done that now and I feel all my commitments to Hunter are done.”

And he reckons his friend would give the film his thumbs up: “I believe Hunter would be very proud, yeah. If he’d seen the finished film, he’d be whooping.”

Thompson’s influence continues to spur Depp on each day.

“If Hunter was here today, we wouldn’t be in this room. Most likely, we’d be in a bar and he would be holding court. It would be on his terms,” he quips.

“I still have him with me every day. He’s there when I plop my noggin down on the pillow at night. I don’t get those phone calls at three in the morning suggesting whatever kind of weirdness we could get up to, but I still have him in my head.”

your home. There is also a “personal welfare” LPA which allows the person you have chosen to make welfare decisions on your behalf, relating for example to consent for medication or life sustaining treatment.

Testing for Dementia Scientists have developed a test that can identify those with a higher than average chance of developing dementia in later life. The test can be carried out for those in their 40’s. Would you want to know? We could easily be forgiven for ignoring the possibility that it could happen to us.

According to latest figures from the Alzheimer’s Society there are over 700,000 people in the UK suffering from dementia and this is set to hit 1,000,000by 2025.

A sad consequence of dementia is that in many cases there is a loss of mental capacity and an inability to manage every day, routine tasks.

Despite this, research shows that 3 out of 4 people have made no arrangements to enable someone to manage their affairs should mental health make it impossible for them to do so. It can be difficult and time consuming to unfreeze the assets of a family member who suddenly becomes mentally incapable. Fortunately the law has been changed to make it easier for people to prepare for this eventuality.

The Mental Capacity Act

The Mental Capacity Act 2005 made provision for an individual to choose someone to manage their affairs should they become incapable of doing so themselves, through a document called a Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA). Lasting Powers of Attorney replaced Enduring Powers of Attorney (EPAs) in October 2007 although EPAs made before this date are still valid.

Lasting Powers of Attorney

There are two forms of Lasting Powers of Attorney which are separate documents. Firstly there is one for “property and affairs” which enables someone you trust to make decisions on your behalf in relation to the management of your financial affairs, which may include paying your bills, collecting your income and selling

The LPA has to be registered with the Office of the Public Guardian before it can be acted upon which makes it more secure and less open to abuse. It also needs to be accompanied by a certificate signed by someone such as a solicitor or doctor confirming that you understand what it means to grant someone power of attorney over your affairs and that you are entering it freely.

Court of Protection

If someone does become mentally incapable and there is no provision in place for an LPA or EPA then the Court of Protection may appoint a deputy to make decisions on your behalf but this is more expensive, time consuming and uncertain. There is a court application fee of £400, a requirement for a medical report and an insurance bond to cover the possibility of mismanagement of funds.

It is payable annually and could run up thousands of pounds unnecessarily.

Long Term Care

A further consequence of dementia is that many sufferers at some point may need to enter long term care. Whilst the sufferer continues to live with their partner or family, this might not be an urgent concern. However if the dementia sufferer is the survivor of the partnership, long term care may be required. Broadly speaking if someone goes into care and has assets worth more than £23,250 then care must be paid for privately. Nursing care can be £700 to £800 per week. Accordingly before dementia becomes too advanced, it is important to consider protection of assets to prevent these assets being sold or used to pay for what may be many years in long term care.

Carol Snazell is a solicitor at Thackray Williams LLP and a member of Solicitors for the Elderly. For more information email: carol.snazell@thackraywilliams.com or telephone 020 8290 0440 www.thackraywilliams.com

food drink

Restaurant Reviews

This month, Food Editor Regan Maloney has visited three restaurants in Kent and SE London, to give you her verdict. Full reviews of all restaurants can be found at www.whatiatelastnight.com , Royal Bengal Lancer hurst isle Ch Parade,

Chapter One Locksbottom

Dulwich Tandoori Lordship Lane

If you own or have a local restaurant that you’d like to recommend for review, please email regan@whatiatelastnight.com

Ambiance

Service

Food

Even on a Wednesday night there was a good atmosphere and plenty of customers.

Tables situated in nooks, and a great décor make the Bengal Lancer feel sophisticated, yet still comfortable.

We visited on a Wednesday evening and the restaurant had a very relaxed feel with people celebrating special occasions or just indulging in a mid-week treat.

Service was very efficient and professional. Glasses were constantly topped up, and some great recommendations on the menu were made.

Service was perfect with knowledgeable and friendly staff recommending wines, seasonal dishes and annotating the delivery of courses with stories from where the produce had come from.

A strong front of house team led by a genuinely lovely and enthusiastic owner. Service was slick, professional and helpful.

A very large menu with so many great choices from traditional Indian dishes, to some slightly more modern twists. A favourite of the house, and a favourite of mine was the Hyderabadi Raan Gosht – baby lamb leg marinated in red wine and spices, cooked in a slowfired oven. The king prawns were amazing, absolutely huge and really meaty.

The food was exquisite.

Favourites were the Venison, which had been shot, butchered and prepared by the chef and was melt in the mouth, and the organic lemon tart - a suitable level of tang refreshed and satisfied as a perfect end to the meal.

Portions were overly generous, and the food full of flavour.

Favourites were the Tandoori garlic chicken chilli massala, and the Bengal fried fish.

Both were succulent, perfectly cooked and offered something slightly different to a standard curry dish.

A nice selection of wines, with a good Chilean Merlot being served by the glass.

Chapter One has a very decadent looking bar, with a great cocktail list and an extensive wine menu featuring a selection of wines from their ‘private wine cellar’. We had the Baciale, Monferrato Rosso – a full-bodied red that went really well with the venison.

Not a huge wine list, but a very drinkable French house red, and a refreshing and fruity Bengala beer. There is also a bar next door called Boho, serving cocktails for pre and post dinner drinks.

A long-standing, sophisticated Bangladeshi restaurant with great food and a modern twist.

Central London sophistication without the extortionate price tag, and exceptional chefs.

A buzzy little local serving great quality, traditional Indian food.

Drink

Overview

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We visited on a Tuesday night, and the restaurant was almost full. There was a great relaxed atmosphere with customers being greeted as best friends.

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Buon Natale!

Christmas Party Menu 1

Christmas Party Menu 2 Christmas Novelties

PROSECCO ON ARRIVAL & Christmas Novelties

ZUPPA DEL GIORNO INSALATA CAPRESE CALAMARI FRITTI

ZUPPA DEL GIORNO INSALATA CAPRESE CALAMARI FRITTI RANA PESCATRICE

ZUPPA DEL GIORNO INSALATA CAPRESE ANTIPASTO DELLA CASA RANA PESCATRICE

PIZZA CAPRICCIOSA POLLO AL TALEGGIO SPAGHETTI ALLE VONGOLE VERACI

PASTA ALLA NAPOLETANA MERLUZZO ALLA MILANESE GNOCCHI AL CINGHIALE FORMAGGIO DI CAPRA

TAGLIOLINI AL ASTICE E COZZE TAGLIATA DI MANZO ALLA SIENESE GNOCCHI AL CINGHIALE RAVIOLI DI ZUCCA

TIRAMISÚ GELATO PANNA COTTA

TIRAMISÚ CIOCCOLATO FONDENTE GELATO BUDINO DI PANETTONE

TIRAMISÚ CIOCCOLATO FONDENTE FORMAGGI MISTI GELATO

Shot of Limoncello

Shot of Limoncello or Sambuca

Shot of Limoncello or Sambuca

£19.95 per person

£24.95 per person

£29.95 per person

party menus for eight or more people

party menus for eight or more people

party menus for eight or more people

Christmas Novelties

Christmas Party Menu 3

New Years Eve Menu Novelties

INSALATA DI POLIPO Steamed Octopus marinated in extra virgin lemon oil served on a mixed leaf, celery and pomegranite salad ANTIPASTO DELLA CASA An assortment of a small mozzarella ball, ceringnola olive, thinly sliced parma ham, mortadella, provolone Piccante cheese, Milano & Napoli salame, pickled vegetables served with music paper bread TAGLIOLINI AL ASTICE E COZZE Fresh egg Tagliolini pasta cooked with half lobster and mussels with a garlic and white wine cherry tomato sauce

VALENTINA SHEEN

VALENTINA PUTNEY

VALENTINA SEVENOAKS

VALENTINA NOTTING HILL

210 Upper Richmond Road West, East Sheen, SW14 8AH Telephone: 020 8392 9127

75 Upper Richmond Road, Putney, SW15 2SR Telephone: 020 8877 9906

SORBETTO Blood orange sorbet served in a shot glass, accompanied by red berries, honey and mint FILETTO AL PEPE NERO Pan fried Fillet steak cooked to your liking with a black peppercorn and Chiodini mushroom sauce served on a bed of triple cooked chips PANNA COTTA Homemade vanilla panna cotta served with red currents, crumbled amaretti biscuits and a shot glass of Pistacchio ice cream Shot of Limoncello or Sambuca

£45.00 per person Please visit our website for entertainment details ONLY AVAILABLE AT PUTNEY AND SEVENOAKS, WITH LIVE ENTERTAINMENT

143 High Street, Sevenoaks, TN13 1UX Telephone: 01732 469 349

145 Notting Hill Gate, London, W11 3LB Telephone: 020 7702 1181

Opening Times: Monday - Saturday: 8am - 10.30pm, Sunday: 9am - 10.30pm Closed: Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Years Day

For full menu descriptions and details of our seasonal in-store events, please visit our website

www.valentinafinefoods.com

CHRISTMAS AT VALENTINA The festive season is a magical time of year when some of our favourite specialities come into season, such as white truffles, wild boar salami, mostarda di fruta and marron glace - Italian Christmas food is as varied as it gets. Every region, every province, every village has its own specialities for both Cena della Vigilia (Christmas Eve dinner) and Pranzo di Natale (Christmas lunch).

A lifetime would not be enough to try all the regional Christmas food worth savouring, but here at Valentina, we’ve put together a taster of some of the things you can find in store and online:

Valentina honey & jam from £7.95

Valentina antipasti from £5.95

Store Cupboard Essentials For those moments when you have unexpected visitors, or simply need to put together a quick and tasty meal in minutes, the Valentina own label range harks back to our pastoral roots, with most of the collection carefully sourced from the fertile lands around Southern Italy. Olive oil, for example, is from our family’s own olive groves in Saint Elia.

Valentina spray oils from £8.95

Hampers from £25

Panettone & Pandoro During the Christmas season, these are the two most popular yeast cakes served. Originally, Panettone, the dome shaped cake made with butter, eggs, raisins and candied peel was invented and produced in Milan, while Pandoro was baked in a special star shaped mould & dusted with powdered sugar and came from Verona. Traditionally Italians eat panettone at breakfast with coffee, between meals with Marsala wine, and after dinner with spumante.

Pandoro is more often sliced and served with a sauce.

Both are an ideal treat for Christmas.

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Stella Di Natale from £17.50 CM MY

We offer a number of different brands, each one with its own unique story some are flavoured, some are stuffed with custard or chocolate and others are alcohol infused - but all are simply delicious!

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Confectionery Sweetmeats are always a must have at any Italian Christmas feast. The following selections are perfect for after dinner, for hostess gifts or simply a self indulgent treat!

Alberti Strega collection from £5.95

Masoni Panforte Fig And Walnut £11.95 (450g) £4.95 (100g)

Caffarel Marron Glace Box 240g Box £19.95

Exclusive to Valentina for this year, we have the wonderful products from Alberti. Producer of the famous ‘Liquore Strega’, a saffron infused herbal digestif, the company also produces chocolates and torrone using the finest millefiori honey, bari almond and hazelnuts from Campania.

Wines & Spirits At Valentina, we offer over 160 wines from every region of Italy.

Our Sommelier has chosen a selection of spirits and wines that can fill any party or get together with Christmas cheer. Prosecco, Italy's answer to Champagne is the perfect aperitif, while the Barolo from Villadoria is full-bodied, tannic, with a characteristic note of roses and tar, and designed to complement rich meaty dishes. Gavi is one of the most fashionable white regions in Italy and the La Minaia has notes of stoned and spiced fruits yet dry and big. A great wine indeed. Or for something a little different why not ask us for our current favourite wines?

Salute E Buon Natale!

The Valentina Team

Vin Gentile And Cantuccini £13.95

Olive Wood collection from £4.75

Limoncello Villa Massa from £24.50

Alessi gifts from £10.50

Tenuta Ca’ Bolani Prosecco £15.55

Amaretti Liquer £14.95

Black Cherry & Amaretto Christmas Pudding £8.95

Valentina pasta selection from £2.75

Gift

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Valentina sauces from £2.95

her Valentina flavoured oils from £7.95

Valentina Gift Card (Prices Start From £5)

Hampers are a great alternative to traditional gifts - a unique hamper crammed full of tasty Italian favourites will really show that personal touch.

We provide a bespoke hamper service and also stock some pre-made hampers - all available for mail order nationwide. Visit us in store or view a wider range online at:

Bauli collection from £6.95

Fiasconaro collection from £18.95

Strega Goccionlini from £10.95

Sapori Ricciarelli from £6.50

Sommelier’s Selection £342.35

Silver Spoon Cookbook £24.95

Baci Panettone £14.95

Seggiano collection from £12.50

Regional Italian wines selection from £8.95

Francis Francis X7 Iper Espresso Machine £199.00

Nudo olive oil gifts from £6.50

www.valentinafinefoods.com/shop

Celebrate with exotic Thai food this Festive Season Enjoy the elegant surroundingsthatThaiMoom has to offer. This spacious restaurant can comfortably seat upto 110 people, perfect for dining out with friends and family.

Experience the distinctive flavour of Thai cuisine, with a hint of fresh spices, chilli, lemon grass, coconut and fish sauce, fused together to create exotic dishes.

Christmas Set Menu (5 courses) Available all December £25 per person Family Sunday Buffet

(Eat as much as you like from our selection)

12 noon- 10p.m.

Adults £13.95 £6.95 children under 10

Express Lunch Menu £7.95 (2 courses) (Monday-Saturday) Take away service available

131 Queensway Petts Wood Kent BR5 1DG Reservations: 01689 872737

www.thaimoom.co.uk email: booking@thaimoom.co.uk

Large car park opposite

Bengal Lancer offers superb Indian Cuisine that makes you want to come back again, and again.

The stylish décor and exquisite food makes this an Indian Restaurant that stands out from the rest.

Using the best quality ingredientswithauthentic Indian spices, each dish has a unique flavour of its own.

The extensive menu includes some of the most loved favourites to the more exotic dishes especially prepared exclusive to The Bengal Lancer, so there is something for everyone.

“Passionate about Indian Food”

Christmas Set Menu (Four courses) £20.00 per person Live piano music Tuesday to Saturday Evenings

15 ROYAL PARADE CHISLEHURST BR7 6NR 020 8467 7088 www.bengallancer.co.uk email info@bengallancer.co.uk

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Lisa Haynes reveals why dressing your fingers has become everybody’s favourite party trick.

Nail those seasonal trends

ne oc veem mb beer r220 01111 50 d

A

ll hail the Year Of The Nail.

Talon preening products are outselling lipsticks for the first time, according to recent figures from Superdrug.

So far, nail beauty buys have clawed their way 37% higher on sales over this time last year, with no signs of slowing down.

“Nail varnish is the new lipstick,” says Sara Wolverson, Superdrug’s director of beauty.

“This year we’ve seen nail glitters and tattoos become must-haves, as well as nail art pens and crystal nail gems.

Previously, to get this high fashion look you would have to visit a manicurist. Now it’s easy to get the look at home for a fraction of the price.”

With DIY manicures becoming the nation’s top beauty pleasure, the news means the competition for best dressed nails is on! Party season is approaching and nude nails just won’t cut it.

It’s time to get festively flamboyant with the latest trends. From metallic sparkle to matte black, there’s a look for your fingertips to flaunt this season.

Matchy-matchy

Goodbye clash tactics. The backlash against matching your accessories together is over - and the same applies to your nails.

Sparked by the prim Forties trend, it’s all the rage for your nail polish to mirror your lip colour - especially in classic shades like pillar box red. Take the trend one step further with your wardrobe.

“There’s a return to ladylike styling achieved by matching your nail colour to your clothing and accessories,” explains Louise Brown, nail expert for John Carne salon.

“No longer the reserve of the pearls and twinset crowd - it was a hot new micro-trend at Gucci.”

Special effects

Time to channel Doctor Who. From crackle effect to mockcroc patterns, this season is all about special effects with

or tip on the ends for the ultimate updated Christmas French manicure.”

Festive theme

Ramp up the glamour by choosing jewel tones in shimmering metallics.

the new wave of magnetic polishes exterminating the bland competition.

Infused with iron powder particles, you simply paint on the polish and hover the lid magnet over each freshly-polished nail. And voila, the iron gravitates towards the magnet, giving an iridescent effect that’s sure to be a crowd pleaser.

“Magnetic polish is the biggest and most exciting product launch in Nails Inc’s

history and a fantastic trend for the party season - you can create an amazing nail effect in minutes,” explains Nails Inc’s Thea Green.

Meanwhile, Andrea Fulerton is the queen of talking-point talons with her range of For Your Nails Only Flick Stripe and Glitter, Gold Nail Studs and Nail Tattoos.

Jewellery box

A trend-led nail colour is still the must-have accessory, and rich jewel tones are the sumptuous shades to plump for.

Take your lead from the catwalks, awash with deep emerald, ruby and amethyst hues. Avoid the pointy claw look and give your colour statement appeal by keeping your nails short and richly pigmented.

Ramp up the glamour by choosing jewel tones in shimmering metallics.

“Gorgeous antiqued hues in metallics are the easiest way to add a party feel to your look,” says Lizzie Dawson, Topshop make-up senior designer.

“Paint two coats for an intense metal look finish

Forget the costume jewellery and sequin dress overdose.

A sparkly little number in your nail polish pot has the potential to glam up all your party outfits.

Nails combining metallics, glitter and gemstones are a popular twinkling trend.

Superdrug’s winter bestseller is Barry M’s Nail Effects Foil (£3.99), which bestows its users with an opulent metallic leaf effect in gold, silver or purple.

You can also vamp up your favourite shade with a sparkle makeover via a top coat.

“Nothing says Christmas quite like glitter,” says Adam Slee, Rimmel London’s nail expert.

“Add some sparkle to your nails with a glitter top coat.

You can wear one layer for a hint of glamour or build it up for a more dramatic look.”

Don’t forget to bling up your toes too. Nails Inc is offering a Ruby Crystal Pedicure using around 500 Swarovski crystals, expertly applied for £120!

Matte attack

It’s a case of beauty imitating fashion this season with a mix-and-match of textures on nails as well as in wardrobes.

This trend is all about contrasts, playing one type of finish off another, like glossy lips versus matte nails or shimmering talons against velvety stained lips.

To go one step further, clash textures on your nails.

Mavala nail ambassador Jenni Draper suggests: “Create statement nails by using a matte top coat such as Mavala Color-Matt (£10.25) to create different textures and effects.

“Use over a glossy painted nail on the free edge or on the half moons to create a two-texture French manicure, or paint the nail half matte to create a 2D effect on the nail.”

December2011

51

Laban’s Pilates Studio is one of the largest fully equipped Pilates facilities in the UK Open 7 days a week *New* classes and 20% offReformer selected Pilates packages/ Health treatments 5-16 January 2012!

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health beauty

Beauty At Your

Fingertips…

Every Woman deserves beautiful nails

W

hen times are tough, money is short and life is not easy, we all need a little “pick me up” and what better than treating ourselves to a lovely set of beautiful nails that will cheer us up, make us feel good and put a smile back on our faces!

Women will always find the extra pennies for that little treat, and nails are top of the list, because they are visible and we feel great when people notice and comment on our lovely nails.

Nails are one of the few parts of a person where it is not required to look in a mirror to see what they look like, nails allow women to see beauty at their fingertips.

How do you choose a nail product with so many now on offer?

Choose a product that you are 100% sure will be good for the nail plate. Don’t just select the cheapest product or the most convenient, make sure the product you choose is well investigated and that the company is well established and has a good reputation.

Unlike other nail finishes, Bio Sculpture Gel is a nail treatment applied as a coating

Your hands are your calling card in life your nails their focal point

onto your own natural nails to strengthen and condition them with no damage. Also fantastic on toe nails and will last for weeks. Clients will enjoy seeing their nails transformed to their exceptional potential, with no fumes, no odours and minimal buffing. No more waiting around for nail polish to dry as the Gel dries instantly under a UVA Curing Lamp in a choice of over 140 different colours, French or natural finish. The gel is easily removed without any damage to your natural nails.

No more chipped nail polish as your gel nail colour will be long wearing and chip proof and your nails will keep their well manicured look long after

application. Matching colour varnishes allow flexibility of Permanent Colour Gels – simply apply one of our 140 different coloured varnishes over the Colour Gel. This can be removed easily with our specially formulated “Non Acetone Cleanser” and you are back to your Permanent Colour Gel. “Your hands are your calling card in life – your nails their focal point” For your nearest salon or information on training courses for beginners or experienced nail technicians: Tel: 0845 331 2347 www.biosculpture.co.uk

Festive Fun! Nail Collection Bio Sculpture Gel is the latest must have nail care product. Unlike varnish that chips and peels, this durable Gel is applied as an overlay onto natural nails by a qualified nail technician. The Gel is set under a UV Lamp giving it that strong, flexible, glossy finish which lasts for three weeks. Easy removal without damage to nails. For your nearest salon or information on training courses for beginners and experienced nail technicians, call 0845 331 2347.

80 Starry Night 63 Moulin Rouge 2022 Emerald Touch 2043 Solid Silver 117 Breaking Dawn

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2011/11/13 2:59 PM

health beauty

PATIENTS ANALYSIS OF TREATMENT

Medifacio

Personalised treatments that help you to look fresher younger and rejuvenated BACKGROUND

Dr Siva Tharshini Ram graduated from University College London Medical School in 2001. She went on to train extensively in medicine and became a Member of the Prestigious Royal College of Physicians in 2007 and subsequently a Member of the Royal College of General Practice thereafter.

She works in the NHS as a General Practitioner also as an aesthetic doctor at the Harrods Urban Retreat Spa in Knightsbridge and at McQueBeauty in Westerham Surrey.

In addition to her extensive 54 D ECEMBER 2 0 1 1

medical experience, Dr Ram has trained and engaged in the art of Aesthetic Medicine specialising in facial rejuvenation using dermal fillers, boutlinum toxin injections, medical peels and the dermaroller.

As an associate member of the British Association of Cosmetic doctors – a body of medical professionals working to safely regulate the aesthetic industry, she is able to deliver a comprehensive aesthetic medicine service.

You can have your treatments safe in the knowledge that you are in the hands of a fully trained medical physician.

One of Dr Siva’s patients informs us of her experience after having a treatment carried out:The consultation started with an in-depth medical history, a comprehensive skin analysis, advice on how to care and protect for my skin and then an explanation of how wrinkle relaxing treatments work. I was clearly told of all the possible side effects and at this point, I was impressed that Dr Siva asked me if I had any concerns, if I wanted to think further about the treatment or whether I was happy to proceed.I was very clear - I did not want to look frozen. Dr Siva reassured me that the frozen look was very much out of mode with the needs of the modern woman.

She explained that very small amounts of botulinum would be used to produce a natural, fresh looking result.

Despite being nervous about my first ever botulinum toxin injection, Dr Siva quickly put me at ease and once the first needle had gone in, I relaxed.

There was hardly any pain, only a little pinching sensation – similar to the discomfort of having my eyebrows tweezed.

I could not believe how simple a procedure is. I went straight back to work once I had finished the treatment – there was absolutely no down time and 3 days later I began to feel the effects of the injections. 2 weeks later I after

returned for a follow up and I was absolutely delighted with the effects – Dr Siva showed me my before and after photos and I could hardly believe my eyes. I feel happier because I feel I look better. Critics may say that this is an expensive treatment but the cost per month works out cheaper than my waxing.

What is clear is that Dr Siva is able to draw on her medical knowledge of facial anatomy and skin physiology to highlight your natural features as she combines science with her eye for beauty and facial symmetry to deliver an absolutely fabulous result.

With excellent attention to facial detail and precision in the art of facial rejuvenation, I can understand how she has earned a flawless reputation as one of the best aesthetic doctors in London.

TRANSFORM YOURSELF

The main aim is to give you a discrete, personalised treatment that nobody will notice that you have had, people may comment that you look younger, fresher and rejuvenated.

If you would like to find out more information or book a treatment with Dr Siva please call or e-mail Penny who will be able to discuss your requirements and arrange an appointment for you. penny@mcque-beauty.com Hillside, Hosey Hill, Westerham Kent, TN16 1TB, Tel: 01959 564222 before

c M QUE Beauty & Skin Clinic Beauty Therapy

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fresher, younger and rejuvenated.

Call or email Penny to arrange a free consultation.

Tel: 01959 564222

Email: penny@mcque-beauty.com HILLSIDE | HOSEY HILL WESTERHAM | KENT | TN16 1TB

10% off ďŹ rst treatment

Terms and conditions apply

P

ilates at Laban Health offers an extensive range of classes within one of the biggest Pilates Studios in the UK. Our studio is housed in an environment which focuses on the training of professional contemporary dance artists. Our Pilates teachers are experienced in treating both dance professionals and members of the public. Our teachers share a specific interest in dance and musician health and medicine which they use to deliver an additional quality to their teaching. Both our practitioners and teachers work closely with our health and dance science team to bring you the highest standards in health and wellbeing.

The Laban Pilates studio offers both private and group classes for a wide range of clients aiming to meet your specific needs ranging from injury rehabilitation to helping to improve general fitness and core strength. Our Pilates team at Laban Health offer a unique service, Pilates sessions are tailored to your specific needs, sessions are devised by a team of highly qualified teachers and combine both mat work and machine based exercises. We offer one hour private sessions, 60 minute group classes and 90 minute group classes where you will work on your individual programme aimed to facilitate efficient movement patterns and align body and mind. We also offer a range of mat-work classes ranging from general matwork sessions, antenatal and postnatal to Yoga and Gyrokinesis.

Pilates at Laban Health donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t simply take you through a range of mindless exercises, we show you how to apply what you have learned in the studio to your everyday life to enable you to make positive changes. We work with a holistic approach, re-educating posture and changing poor movement to help support you in leading a healthier, more fulfilled life. Some of the benefits of taking up Pilates include improving posture and alleviating aches and pains, promoting core strength and efficient movement patterns, enhancing pre and post natal care and helping to relieve stress and tension while promoting a feeling of wellbeing. This is by no means an exhaustive list, Pilates is a form of exercise suitable for everyone of all ages. Pilates at Laban Health provides a comfortable, friendly environment aimed to make your experience as enjoyable as possible. Our Studio is open to both male and female clients of all fitness abilities.

Our Pilates studio sits alongside the Laban Health therapy rooms, creating the advantage of an integrated referral system where health professionals and Pilates teachers can fully support a client. With three state-of-the-art treatment rooms for physical therapy and a team of highly skilled therapists you are guaranteed to leave feeling relaxed and revived. We provide a wide-range of complementary therapies including: Acupuncture, Tui Na Massage, Craniosacral Therapy, Reiki, Feldenkrais, Podiatry, Massage, Bowen and Physiotherapy. We are constantly expanding our range of therapies, this month we are introducing Alexander Technique. This new technique shows us how to use our bodies without undue tension and stress to allow our natural springiness in movement emerge as part of a general move toward more coherent and less muddled thinking.

All our therapies can treat a wide range of conditions from problems such as stress and anxiety to muscular and neurological problems. Our treatments aim to target the specific symptoms as well as help to promote a feeling of well-being. Whether

Laban Pilates Studio

56 D ECEMBER 2 0 1 1

you are a student, a professional artist or a member of the wider public, our wide-range of treatments can benefit you.

Laban Health is housed within Labanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Stirling Prize-winning state-of-the-art building in Deptford, in South-East London. The building was designed by Herzog and de Meuron, the Pritzker Prize winning (2001) Swiss architects who also designed the Tate Modern and the National Stadium in Beijing (2008 Olympic Games). Situated beside Deptford Creek, the building creates a powerful, highly visible focus for the ongoing physical and social regeneration of Deptford and the surrounding area.

By day the buildingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s semi-translucent cladding allows traces of dance and movement to be visible through the walls. By night, the building becomes a coloured beacon with light and movement spilling out illuminating the surrounding area.

New to the Pilates Studio, we are offering reformer classes.

Despite its somewhat intimidating name and appearance, the reformer provides finely tuned exercise resistance that allows one to work very precisely to their abilities. Resistance is provided by springs, and the carriage slides back and forth inside the frame, responding to the effort you exert. The reformer is designed to allow the gradual increase of spring tension as you progress and gain strength. Reformer exercises can be done lying down, sitting, kneeling or standing on the carriage offering multidimensional movement and varied programming possibilities. The reformer provides a comprehensive workout to develop proper alignment, core strength, and flexibility. Our reformer classes are taught in small groups of four to provide maximum attention to each client.

New this year we are now offering Antenatal and Postnatal

Matwork Classes. Pilates is one of the best forms of exercise to do before and after the birth of your baby. Through a gentle approach, this class will help you to build strength throughout the body; particular focus will be given to the deep core muscles-Pelvic Floor & Abdominals, which are vital both pre and post natally. This class is suitable for all levels, class numbers are small to allow for individual attention and babies are welcome in the class but no childcare is provided.

On Monday January 16th we will be holding 2 FREE TASTER CLASSES for Postnatal and Antenatal Pilates, so why not come along and try it out.

2-3pm Postnatal Pilates Taster 3-4pm Antenatal Pilates Taster Contact us to book your FREE space now pilates@ trinitylaban.ac.uk or telephone: 020 8469 9479 Laban Health, within Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music & Dance, Creekside, Deptford, London, SE8 3DZ Telephone: 0208 469 9482

december2011

57

f e at u r e

Bagging a Success M

any of us now choose to shop online rather than the high street.

It can be a good place to bag a bargain but all too often you sacrifice the personal touch. Perfect Handbags is the exception to the rule. Run by entrepreneur Julie Ireland, this website not only stocks a wide range of handbags, it offers a level of customer service not always found with online retailers. So who is the lady behind the bags?

IT consultant Julie Ireland sold her first handbag in 2006. A single mother of two children, she wanted something to supplement her income. “I was sick of always being in the red,” she says. With retail moving increasingly online, and Julie’s background in IT, selling via the web was the perfect solution. After initially trading through online auction site, e-bay, Julie set up her own online company and now turns over in excess of £500,000 a year.

Perfect Handbags, sells a wide range of bags, from prom bags for teenagers to designer collections, including Olga Berg, Penelope & Parker, Red or Dead and Zandra Rhodes: “I have a real passion for handbags,” says Julie. But whilst handbags may have

58 D ECEMBER 2 0 1 1

been the beginning, over the years the company’s range has expanded to include men’s satchels, suitcases and even bags for children.

“I’ve had to work hard to get where I am today, but it’s been worth it,” she says.

“It doesn’t seem long ago we were packing bags in my back bedroom, and now I have a whole team of pickers, packers and distributors; and the infrastructure to sell bags worldwide.”

It was not always so simple, however, Julie has come a long way to get to where she is, and she’s had her fair share of ups and downs along the way.

After all, it was never going to be simple setting-up a business just as the recession kicked in.

Perfect handbags faced its toughest period at the end of last year. As Christmas approached, technical issues with the website coupled with the heavy December snowfall had a devastating impact on the business, at what is usually its busiest time of the year.

The bad weather, however, did not deter Julie. In her resolve to get orders delivered on time, she even delivered some herself. “One night I drove for 4 hours to make sure my customer got their bag in time for their big party.”

It was this determination

that saw Julie through the toughest of times when the business nearly collapsed, “Cash flow plummeted and I was up to my eyeballs in debt – I had to extend my mortgage and max out my credit cards. It was awful”.

Today, all debts are repaid and Perfect Handbags is going from strength to strength, in no small part due to Julie’s

work ethic. She continues to balance working as an IT consultant, with the smooth running of Perfect Handbags, whilst doing the school run and spending time with her children in the evenings.

Those are just the weekdays.

Saturday is spent working on the website: posting new stock and arranging promos. Then, on a Sunday, Julie studies for her Open University course in IT – she’s in her 8th and final year.

Julie attributes the success of the business to competitive pricing and customer service.

Indeed, excellent customer service is something Perfect Handbags is becoming renowned for. Amazon boasts plenty of happy customers.

One wrote: “A company with excellent customer service - Perfect handbags, Perfect company!!!”

Julie’s commitment to her customers has helped Perfect Handbags to sell bags not just within the UK, but to customers all over the world, including the US, Far East and Australia. Bags that once spilled from her bedroom blocking the door have now been relocated to a dedicated fulfillment centre in Birmingham Julie’s story proves that whatever your background may be, as long as you have the drive to make your business succeed, it will. Her drive and determination is something all budding entrepreneurs should aspire to. “Profit, is important of course, but it’s the business I love, and I get a real kick from success. When you see orders and positive feedback coming through it’s so rewarding.”

So, if you are thinking about starting your own business, what does she advise? “You have to keep your head screwed on, keep checking the figures to make sure it’s viable, and if it is you have to really believe in yourself, even when things get tough.

You just have to dig in, work hard and stick with it.” www.perfecthandbags.co.uk info@perfecthandbags.co.uk 020 8249 4159

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fa s h i o n beauty

Escape to the country Embrace a quintessential British look with the hottest trend for all things heritage. Lisa Haynes unveils countryside chic.

W

hen the hustle and bustle of city life feels too much, seek solace in the fashion gang’s latest rural pursuit.

And with this year’s fashion focus on the Royal Family, it was only a matter of time before designers took their cue from the Queen and co.

From equestrian show ponies to tartan armies, the heritage look stalked the catwalks this year as Chanel, Yves Saint Laurent and Fendi all worked countryside glamour, turning 60 d e c e m b e r 2 0 1 1

traditional plaids and checks into today’s top trend.

Both relaxed and formal, this rustic look, with its focus on traditional plaids and checks, is all about cosy, winter-friendly daywear. And whether you want to channel traditional heritage or an urban edge, there’s more than one way to mount the trend.

Highland fling

You don’t need a country pile - or a palace - to dress up in heritage checks.

Become the baroness of

your own front garden with tartan, houndstooth and Prince of Wales checks.

These plaids can look subtle and serious in a neutral or earthy colour palette, or fun and irreverent in bright shades and bolder prints.

Checks are adorning just about every separate this season, so either smarten up in a tailored suit or keep things light-hearted with a flippy kilt-inspired skirt or minimalist shift dress.

If you really want to play on the posh totty look,

accessorise with pearls and heeled loafers. Avoid stick-inthe-mud stilettos at all costs.

Equestrian adventure

From stables to streetwear, the equestrian look has galloped ahead of autumnal trends. Even horsey prints and accessories are riding high in the style stakes.

This look is all about the legs - if they’re one of your best assets, swap the leggings for skinny jodhpur trousers. Opt for camel for a true stable girl

look or, for a more flattering effect, stick to deep wine tones.

For a head-to-toe horsey effect, team your jodhpurs with a fitted blazer in navy or tweed. Cord and velvet trims will really boost your dressage skills.

Whether you want to go all out or simply add an equestrian edge, riding boots are your key accessory to instantly make everything countrified. They should always be flat, leather and black or brown - just add muck for authenticity. Just

remember a riding hat is going a touch too far...

Local yokel

If you’re a great outdoors addict, an overcoat is an essential purchase. Think Barbour-inspired styles with quilted fabric, contrast trims and even elbow patches.

An instantly recognisable heritage cover-up is the easiest way to nail this trend. There’s no shortage of options for the outerwear-inclined and with woolly tartan, wax jackets and padded coats on the country

market, one thing you won’t be is cold or wet this winter.

Farmer Giles may be your fashion inspiration but tweed flat caps are a no-go scarecrow area. Keep things glam by teaming your country coat with a felt fedora in a statement autumnal hue such as claret, berry or rust.

Your look should say British style icon rather than Emmerdale old timer.

If wellies are your footwear of choice, invest in a plain, versatile pair that will work with dresses and trousers alike.

Made in Chelsea

If you’re a city girl through and through, you don’t have to get your feet muddy to put

your stamp on this look.

No longer reserved for farmers and OAPs, fabulous tweeds should be your country uniform of choice.

Aim for a preppy look by working tweed into heritage style separates such as skirts, blazers and dresses in the classic earthy beige colourway.

As a country fraud, go wild pulling together mixed fabrics. A combination of tweeds, vintage florals, lace and velvet will give your look a modern eclectic touch.

For footwear fanatics, Chelsea boots should be ideal for your stomping ground (the shops). Pick a pair of classic ankle flats for maximum comfort. december2011

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house garden

Rencraft R

encraft have been manufacturing solid wood furniture at Chart Farm near Sevenoaks for over 30 years. Over this time they have witnessed fashions and tastes change from the simple country charm of pine kitchens to the sophisticated and sleek modern kitchen. However one thing that hasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t changed is their commitment to designing and producing made to measure fitted furniture which fulfils the requirements of each individual client. The solid wood, handmade kitchens are unique; each is designed to suit individual requirements.

Every piece of furniture is hand made in their extensively equipped 12,000 sq ft workshops which allows freedom and flexibility in planning and design, full control of material and production quality all delivered at a sensible cost. The end result is hand crafted furniture which is fitted to achieve maximum practicality and functionality whilst retaining aesthetic integrity and charm.

62 D ECEMBER 2 0 1 1

Rencraft have extensive showrooms both at Chart Farm, Seal Chart, Sevenoaks and Calverley Road, Tunbridge Wells. Both of these showrooms give clients the opportunity to view the range of design possibilities and to appreciate the inherent quality of their solid wood furniture. On display you will find hand painted, solid oak, walnut, and maple kitchens together with combinations of these materials.

The choice of materials for the exterior surface is a matter of prime importance.

Where a painted finish is preferred a tulipwood frame is recommended. The â&#x20AC;&#x153;Painted Kitchenâ&#x20AC;? has become one of the most enduring, stylish and practical finishes for a modern kitchen. The furniture is delivered for installation with two coats of white primer, ready for hand painting on site after installation. This allows the full befit of colour, nuance and surface texture to

be matched to the specific room and desired style. Rencraft also offer Oak , the appearance and properties of which have made it one of the most enduring and popular timbers for the production of high quality furniture for centuries. Rencraft offer clients the choice of knot content and finish; either oiled to give a more modern feel or waxed to give a more mature appearance. Since the furniture is made specifically for your project, the choice is entirely yours and can further enhance the overall effect, from an oak barn conversion to a modern new build or a style to complement the architecture of the property.

You can also specify the interior fittings to match or contrast with the exterior.

You can chose the basic structure to be made with solid pine, oak, walnut, maple or engineered birch ply.

Oak and walnut veneered MDF is also an option.

Rencraft invite you to visit the showrooms where their experienced and enthusiastic design staff will offer a relaxed and sensible approach to the often complex looking process of choosing, designing and specifying a modern kitchen. They are available to work closely with you to interpret your plans and ideas and progress your project from initial concept through overall and detail design to manufacture and final installation. Rencraft are happy to work on projects of any size from a single piece of freestanding furniture to multi room schemes in both new build and refurbishments.

The furniture is not defined by pre-determined ranges but is drawn from the best of traditional and contemporary patterns and styles as required to produce an exceptional and individual overall effect.

Rencraft.co.uk, 01732 762682 Unit 9 Chart Farm, Seal Chart, Sevenoaks, Kent, TN15 0ES. 01892 520730, 81 Calverley Road, Tunbridge Wells, Kent, TN1 2UY

No 2

No 1

SBI Verandas & Security Shutters

SBI Verandas & Security Shutters Lordship Lane Carpets

Illustration: Richard Morrison Design: Dean Wares

Contemporary Flooring Specialists

Visit sbiproducts.co.uk for more information

Happy New Year from all at interior design

129-131 Lordship Lane East Dulwich London SE22 8HU

Stair Runners

Tel: 0208 693 8728

Rugs and Rug Design

Email: info@lordshiplanecarpets .co.uk

Amtico (using only Amtico registered ďŹ tters)

Website: www.lordshiplanecarpets.co.uk

Tel: 01892 532003 Email: info@skinnersoftunbridgewells.co.uk 6 Castle Street, Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN1 1XJ

Free call SBI on 0800 0742 721 www.skinnersoftunbridgewells.co.uk

Visit sbiproducts.co.uk for more information

No 3

Opening Hours Sat and Mon 9am-5pm Tues-Fri 9am-5.30pm Sun and Bank Holidays Closed

Carpets

Wooden Floors Rubber Marmoleum Cork Sisal, Seagrass,Coir and Jute

Free call SBI on 0800 0742 721

p34_KENT_AD_VARIOUS__ 04/02/2011 14:29Vinyl Pageand 1 Woven Vinyl

SBI Carports & Garage Doors

Free call SBI on 0800 0742 721

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Visit sbiproducts.co.uk for more information

house garden splurge

The new kid on the block is the Shadelier: a shade incorporating delicate

Switch on to the

light fantastic

hanging crystals. It could suit any setting. Splurge: A Leo Black Easy-fit ceiling beaded pendant, with frosted glass droplets and a metallic gold lining, available in black or white, £80 from Laura Ashley (currently on offer from £56). Save: A Shadelier, £39.50, with a tiered droplet display handing from a black or red shade, Marks & Spencer.

save

Trip the light fantastic with a selection of lights to suit every setting. Gabrielle Fagan finds out how to banish the gloom.

Lights, camera, action - the new focus for interiors is on winter lighting which transforms rooms into stunning settings.

In recent years, designers have turned the spotlight on everything from pendants to the humble table lamp - and the effects are magical.

Myriad influences have inspired designs, including flights of fancy featuring pets and jungle creatures, the equipment used on film sets and in photographers’ studios, and, naturally, glamour with crystal and bling adorning even simple shades.

While designers set the trend, it comes at a price. But these days the high street is quick to follow with affordable replicas so there’s no need to feel left in the dark if your budget’s tight.

Follow the lighting lead of the Prime Minister’s wife, Samantha Cameron, 64 D ECEMBER 2 0 1 1

who recently paid only a couple of hundred pounds for a reproduction of a classic Arco floor lamp, shunning the £1,600 price tag for an original.

“Samantha Cameron’s not alone in choosing a reproduction of a classic,” says David Gutfreund, managing director of Iconic Lights which sells the reproduction version.

“Many interior designers and architects specify reproduction products, particularly during the current challenging economic times.

“Only people with more money than sense would pay as much as six times more for the same thing.

I believe if the designer Castiglioni was alive today, he would approve of our reproduction, and find it hard to tell the difference.”

Here’s my guide to the best designer buys and their money-saving equivalents on the high street.

splurge

Floor lamps languished in the shade for years, but they’re enjoying huge popularity again because they’re so versatile and decorative. Splurge: A design classic, the dramatic Flos Arco Silver Floor Light, with its white marble base, designed by Achille Castiglioni in 1962, is £1,615 from Heal’s. Save: Samantha Cameron bought the Arco Floor lamp, £250 from Iconic Lights.

save

splurge For full-on glamour, nothing beats a chandelier as a focal point in a room. A glittering vintage-style crystal or glass creation does not have to be confined to a period setting - it can add a touch of decadence in a cool, contemporary space.

Splurge: The Helena large ceiling spiral pendant, £850 (currently on offer at £595), is a stunner from Laura Ashley. Save: Mimic the sparkle with a mini Astoria easy-fit pendant, £39.99, from Homebase.

save

splurge

Oversized ‘Anglepoise-style’ floor lamps are also ultra-fashionable. Splurge: Autograph Extra Large Task Light Floor lamp, £199 from Marks & Spencer. Save: Orlando

save

Adjustable floor lamp, £39.99 from Homebase.

save

Poseurs and movie buffs won’t be able to resist lights which could have come straight off a film set.

Splurge: Authentic Models Marconi spotlight, on a tripod, £1,011 from Occa-Home.

splurge

For those who like their style more elegant than studio, sleek tripod lamps with shades could be winners. Save: Gunmetal Chrome Tripod floor lamp, £125, Marks & Spencer.

D ECEMBER 2 0 1 1

65

house garden

â&#x20AC;&#x153;best bespoke furniture in Londonâ&#x20AC;?

I

Hyland Furniture

f youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re considering creating a unique feel for your home, with a new kitchen, bedroom or office you will be interested in Hyland Furniture, a local artisan company, who produce classic and contemporary furniture at a reasonable cost.

Hyland Furniture tailors the design to your specific requirements and can project manage the job from start to finish, taking away any hassle and giving you a smooth experience, perfect for busy people. They also offer an overall project management service.

They will source, coordinate and manage other professionals, planners and builders to save you time and relieve you from the stress of dealing with multiple trades people. The advantage is they can be your single point of contact and oversee your project from start

66 d e c e m b e r 2 0 1 1

to finish ensuring that it runs as smoothly, and on time, as possible whilst achieving best value and quality throughout.

The company works to ensure that you are entirely satisfied with your furniture, giving attention to detail from the initial design to the final stages of building and installation.

The company also produces furniture for commercial clients, either classic or contemporary items, such as conference tables and chairs. Hyland Furniture has a team of craftsmen and women in their Herne Hill Studio, and Seamus Hyland will happily work with you to achieve your ideas to add value to your home, making your living spaces work best for you.

The company has been trading for 25 years and works with private clients, architects and interior

designers, and is well known as reliable, trustworthy and innovative. Seamus honed his skills as a designer maker at Parnham House, Dorset under the founder and craftsman John Makepeace Should you require references they are available on request, but why not take a look at

some design projects for yourself on their website.

If you would like a free estimate, to discuss your ideas or an exploratory chat please call the numbers below.

Seamus and Dermot Hyland can be contacted on 020 7978 8988 or 07958 380711 www.hylandfurniture.co.uk

le ts n saar Ja2 strd 01 3 2

NEW BECKENHAM SHOP JUST OPENED! Tel: 020 8659 6609

The Lighting Branch

105-107 Elmers End Road Beckenham BR3 4SY

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Christmas Lights & Gifts

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HAPPY CHRISTMAS TO ALL OUR PATRONS FREE PRIZE DRAW – £100 Gift Voucher See in store for details – Drawn Christmas Eve

172 Petts Wood Road, Kent, BR5 1LG Tel. 01689 870970 www.justinteriorspettswood.co.uk

Open Mon-Sat 10-5pm & Sun 11-3pm

antiques

o

ne redeeming feature of the antiques trade is that every so often something turns up that at first glance, which is usually enough for a hardened old pro, appears to be one thing but on closer inspection has so many different features that it is difficult to evaluate precisely. One such piece is the small upright chest of drawers decorated with Wedgwood ceramic plaques, illustrated here. It has a distinctly French feel to it and it is indeed an English version of the French original, which would have seven drawers rather than six. It came into being during the mid-18th century, a luxury item for a luxurious age. Essentially an item for the boudoir its seven drawers held clean lingerie for each day of the week. That begs the question why the English version only had six drawers; did we all go grubby for a day?

The form was quickly adopted in late Regency and Victorian England on a commercial scale after The Duke of Wellington is reputed to have favoured it as being most compact and convenient while on campaign.

From then on and still today the English model is known as a Wellington chest and usually made of good old mahogany.

Sometimes the drawers are flanked by two columns, one of which is hinged and lockable when closed thus serving to secure all the drawers. But the one illustrated is very different. My first thoughts were that it might be to a design by Henry Holland, 1745 – 1806 the architect and iconic designer to the Prince of Wales. Irrespective of our being at war we maintained a strong artistic link with France and one of Holland’s favourite themes was the

68 d e c e m b e r 2 0 1 1

John Bly its seven drawers held clean lingerie for each day of the week. classic French style of which this could be a fine example.

However, on closer inspection it crosses the boundaries of several collecting fields and manufacturing details. The silver beaded mounts were a novelty that became a most fashionable motif during the late 18th and early 19th centuries. The inlay of once bright coloured leaves on thin threads hang from faux bamboo style tubes inlaid onto harewood – sycamore dyed with oxide of iron - are reversed on the lower section.

The use of ivory for the John Linnell (cabinet maker 1729 – 96) shape feet was ahead of its time and all the timbers, the marquetry and the form of extended front columns are all elements attributable to Henry Holland. But now it starts to get complicated.

The backboard is secured with traditional hand cut screws, while the back edge of each drawer bottom is secured with machine cut screws.

Now the immediate reaction to that is that it must be 19th century, because it is generally accepted that machine made screws were not introduced until the 1830’s. However we now know that the first truly modern screw-cutting lathe was likely constructed by J. Ramsden in 1775. Twenty

years later in France, M. Senot created a screw-cutting lathe capable of industrial-level production, and in 1800 Henry Maudslay created a screwcutting lathe that became the international standard machine. These late-18thcentury screw-cutting lathes represented the breakthrough development of the technology but cabinetmakers used them with caution to begin with, combining the use of hand made where they might be seen and the new machine made where not. Another guide to 18th or 19th century is the thickness of the veneers.

Prior to the early 1800s all veneers were cut by hand and were rarely less than 1/16th of an inch thick. The development of machinery capable of cutting veneer to a paper thickness by the 1830’s revolutionised the furniture industry and gives us strong evidence for dating.

The veneers on this chest are both thick and thin. Thus far we are in mind to say a date for this circa 1830, but a pair of almost identical form and decoration with seven drawers and unquestionably French are housed in the Victoria and Albert Museum and are dated at circa1870. We shall now begin to examine the silver mounts and the Wedgwood

plaques. I will let you know.

Another nice surprise recently was the discovery of two miniature portraits, or rather the discovery that one of them was of General Robert Monckton (1726 – 82).

We don’t know who the other one is…yet. They are monochrome in a medium known as plumbago. This describes a particular method of drawing with finely pointed pieces of graphite onto vellum, and although it was first developed in the 17th century examples from this period are rare, and it is from the 18th century that most are found today. The fact that there is a name of a famous person on the back of a picture can mean nothing at all, but in this case there are sufficient portraits of General Monckton to be able to identify him as the subject of this miniature. He was an officer of considerable note in the British Army and a colonial administrator in British North America. He established a most distinguished military and political career and was responsible for organising the deportation of the Arcadians from the then British controlled Nova Scotia in the early part of the Seven Years War. In 1759 General James Wolfe chose Monckton to be his 2nd I.C. for the assault on Quebec and so significant was his military role during this part of his life that the city of Moncton, New Jersey is so named in his honour. So what at first glance looked like just another 18th century miniature portrait of an officer turned out to be a history lesson, for me anyway. Always good.

John Bly Est Antiques 1891.

Tel: 01442 823030 Mobile: 07831 888826.

Website: www.johnbly.com

house garden

70 D ECEMBER 2 0 1 1

Experience

luxury bed linen D

rawing on over 160 years of history, Yves Delorme has become an international reference in luxury bed linen and today is a true lifestyle brand. The Yves Delorme style is a blend of tradition and creativity, draws from the French cultural heritage. The passion and know-how of five generations are woven in every sheet and every towel. When you buy linen from Yves Delorme you take home with you the whole wealth of this tradition.

Product creation is our major asset: the Yves Delorme collection stands out through its creativity, its exceptional quality and the attention devoted to the slightest detail, a characteristic inherited from French haute couture.

In addition,Yves Delorme has created a global decoration concept by adding home fragrances, accessories and occasional furniture to its renowned ranges of textiles for bed and bath.

LONDON, 54 Duke of York Square SW3 4LY, 020 7730 3435 KENT, 6 Royal Parade, Chislehurst BR7 6NR, 020 8467 3347 yvesdelorme.com

The Yves Delorme style is a blend of tradition and creativity, draws from the French cultural heritage.

DECEMBER2011

71

food drink

Chocolate

In Search Of The Ultimate Gift

luxury

72 december 2 0 1 1

W

hat do you do if you really want something special and just can’t find it? When all you yearn for is just the best of its kind in the world - and no-one seems to have produced it; at least not to the standard you desire?

If you are Roy and Tracey Jones you initially scour the earth for a key ingredient and, when you have finally tracked it down, you create what you were looking for in the first place - the world’s finest luxury chocolate experience.

“I wanted to buy a very special present for a very special person on a very special day - her 40th birthday,” explains Tracey. “Like me she is a chocoholic! I went to the top-end departments stores and even some of the little luxury chocolate boutiques but just could not find what I wanted. There is a lot of nice chocolate about, of course, but, I don’t know, there was always something missing. It was very frustrating and in the end I bought her something else entirely.”That was the beginning but by no means the end of a two year journey which has reached a triumphant conclusion with the launch of ‘the Chocolate’ Roy and Tracey’s new business dedicated to producing ‘the best luxury chocolate experience in the world.’

What is it?

In its simplest form we are talking about an amazing ‘experience’.

Handmade truffles using an award winning, secret recipe Italian chocolate, filled with champagne, flaked with edible 24-carat gold all enclosed within a bespoke handcrafted boutique box encrusted with more than 450 Swarovski Crystals inside and out. Also made by hand no two of these boxes will ever be the same. The chocolate itself is 63% Toscano Black sourced from a tiny artisan chocolate maker based just outside historic Pisa. The cocoa beans are refined using a traditional granite stone mill and the result has been judged by the Academy of Chocolate as officially the best in the world.

What experts call the ganache - basically the mixture of cocoa, cream and a variety of other ingredients to form what consumers think of as, well, the chocolate - that

forms ‘the Chocolate’ is a closely guarded secret but Roy and Tracey are happy to confirm that there are several glasses of champagne added to the normal recipe. “As we make everything ourselves we can, of course, produce ‘the Chocolate’ without alcohol if required,” commented Tracey.

You Eat the Gold?

It’s the world’s most expensive foodstuff and has been eaten for millennia. Although the Ancient Egyptians believed it gave them immortality no such claims are made for ‘the Chocolate.’ (yet). However other authorities do claim that gold has many attributes when eaten, including generating a higher IQ, managing rheumatoid arthritis, developing mystic power and contributing to a long and healthy life. More seriously it is authorised for use in food products in both Europe and the USA. High quality chocolate also has its enthusiasts. They claim that chocolate with over 60% cocoa content (‘the Chocolate’ has 63%) reduces blood pressure, decreases the chance of both diabetes and heart attack, improves the memory and even eases a persistent cough amongst a plethora of other attributes.

Be that as it may the fact remains that ‘the Chocolate’ has a fantastic taste that will exceed the expectations of the wildest choccie enthusiast. And the memory of the experience will last and last.

The Products:

Available online at the-chocolate.com and exclusively at Harrods, the Boutique Box contains 15 chocolates minimum and a weight of 200 grammes. It retails at £190 including postage and packing. Delivery of this unique hand-made product is within five days or can be expressed for specific delivery date. The Bambina is a one chocolate box experience, which retails at £50 including postage and packing.

Available online and exclusively at Harrods For more information on the Chocolate visit: www.the-chocolate.com december 2 0 1 1

73

Spoiled for choice on a

Greek odyssey

A

s I reclined in a hot spring pool on the island of Kos, I realised there is only one way to explore the Greek islands: catch the boat.

Preferably one as grand as Azamara Quest, a sleek 30,000-tonner with an elegant interior decor so strongly reminiscent of the 1930s that you expect to bump into Noel Coward on the promenade deck. The two ships in the Azamara fleet both reflect the commitment of Larry Pimentel, the Azamara president, to ‘boatique cruising’- which means getting into small ports that the superliners cannot reach.

That was how, en route from Istanbul to Athens, we slipped into Kos, arranged cycle hire in the main town and headed for the cauldron-like springs of Thermes. The springs were a welcome contrast to the tourist tat of the busier parts of the island, with simply a few rocks to change behind and a handful of thatched shacks selling hot and cold drinks for bathers who venture down a steep and rocky path to one of the island’s greatest charms. The baths are also easily accessed from Kos by bus along a coastline

74 D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 1

Michael McHugh takes to sea as he cruises around the beautiful Greek islands.

with wonderful sea views if you don’t trust pedal power.

A rather back-breaking piece of cycling took us on to Zia, where landmarks include an old watermill, and shops selling thyme-scented honey and hand-made soaps. Kos blends stunning views with sites of historic significance. On one hilltop, the Asklepion archaeological site reveals the school of medicine where Hippocrates studied. Casa Romana, Greece’s largest Roman villa, dating from the third century AD, features mosaics, frescoes and marble floors in its 37 rooms.

Amongst the Greek islands, however, the best views are often found back on board. One night, we watched the sun set over Santorini’s black volcanic rock cliffs while we sipped cocktails and nibbled Greek hors d’oeuvres laden with juicy olives. As we cast off, the shadows lengthened and the rays turned the rocks pink, while pinprick lights from tourists on the island’s volcano rim were clearly visible.

Created by volcanic eruption, Santorini has a natural beauty

travel unspoiled by pockets of development. To reach Fira town, perched on dramatic cliff tops high above the compact port, you take a donkey ride up a narrow cobble-stoned path or step into a five-euro cable car. From the peak, a partly paved clifftop path with picture-postcard views of the Aegean took us to the town of Oia, which appears like an incongruous snowfall of white-painted buildings against the black earth of the island.

A quick lunch of chicken-filled bread in a local bakery was a relief after several hours walking. Truffles, cakes and succulent-looking banana bread also tempted the weary rambler, but we caught the bus back to Fira.

Beaches are another essential part of a Greek islands odyssey, the golden sands of Mykonos providing some of the best. Wandering around the palm-lined Mykonos town, with narrow streets of whitewashed houses and large bluepainted windows festooned with flowers is a charming experience, with the smell of Greek cooking wafting in the air. Little Venice nearby is an area of tall Venetian-style houses built in water with waves breaking beneath them.

There was a more sombre feeling when Gallipoli’s Suvla Bay hove into view. This was the setting for massive British, New Zealand and Australian losses as the Allies tried to secure the Dardanelles from Turkey in 1915. Simple gravestones and memorials bear silent testimony to the bloodshed at that access point from the Mediterranean to Istanbul, the Black Sea and Asia.

Turkey has enjoyed an uneasy relationship with its Greek neighbours, a former colony in Ottoman times, and nowhere is that more apparent than at the Parthenon. The structure became the symbol of modern democracy from its perch high on a hill overlooking Athens, even though it was built using slaves.

Dedicated to the Greek god Athena, it was mortared in

money-making wheezes by local cabbies. As the scenery changed, each day felt like the first day of our holiday. Some guests were Azamara veterans, happy to pay more for the privilege of being among fewer passengers (694 in all) enjoying personalised service.

Three a la carte restaurants, a buffet with culinary themes from around the world and quaintly English features, like afternoon tea with scones smothered in strawberry jam and clotted cream, defined the cruise. Our cabin, or stateroom, offered a welcome of scattered rose petals, red and white balloons and an attentive “butler”. With champagne on ice, a welcome flow of goodies was maintained throughout the voyage, with dark chocolatecoated strawberries a special favourite. Though our cabin lacked a bath, the bed was large and we had plenty of room. The balcony was a huge plus, perfect for leaning on the rail by moonlight.

Azamara captures the comforts of a larger ship, without the crowds and impersonality of a superliner. Port lectures focus on history and archaeology, and deck parties reflect local food and culture. From the moment he invited us to the bridge for the sailaway from Istanbul, with the minarets of the Blue Mosque diminishing into the distance, Captain Carl Smith, an unassuming 30-something from the Isle of Man, hardly put a foot wrong.

Fellow passengers, mostly retired, came from the US, Australia, Britain and mainland Europe, and music and entertainment on board largely reflected that. A violin duo, Laszlo and Claudia, played tango, jazz, classical, folk and favourites from films, while other entertainment included an Abba night and a Beatles evening. Wine is included with lunch and dinner, other alcohol is extra and a variety of cocktails always available. Onboard gratuities are also inclusive. To eat in some restaurants, like top steakhouse Prime C, passengers happily pay extra, but there is no need to do so. Discoveries, open to all at no extra cost, offers superb New

Truffles, cakes and succulent-looking banana bread also tempted the weary rambler 1687 by the Venetians after Ottoman rulers used it to store gunpowder. Now under scaffolding, it remains an enduring symbol of Greece’s immense contribution to western philosophy.

Between their discoveries on shore, Azamara passengers drift from one magnificent meal to the next. There were candlelit dinners in corner tables with attentive waiters and, with elegant armchairs everywhere, you can rest at any time, rarely far in time or space from tasty morsels. Somehow, the feeling of being pampered and spoiled never seemed to end. The red carpet and ropes and plants on the gangway suggested elegance while staff were ever-helpful. The guest whose umbrella perished in Gallipoli’s stiff breezes was swiftly handed another.

Each morning, at each new stop, local tourist information representatives came on board to detail local sights and to warn of

York strip steak, salmon and perennial favourites, with the menu changing each day. In Windows Cafe, a smorgasbord of offerings was themed each evening around a different country, from Indian tikka masala to delicately-flavoured Moroccan couscous.

Elaborate breakfasts ran to pancakes, waffles and unusual egg dishes on potatoes jostling with fresh honeydew melon.

Of course, there’s a premium to be paid for an upmarket cruise. Some customers said they felt obliged to eat more to get value for money. Our only worry was finding a sunlounger on days spent entirely at sea. Competition could be fierce, and the battle for running machines even tighter.

But the sound of the waves on a moonlit night, languid with hot air, was a special thrill. The only snag with our Azamara voyage was that after seven days we had to get off.

DECEMBER2011

75

book reviews

The Bookshelf Words by bruce edwards

The Bees

Tyger Tyger t h Burning Brig

The Language of Flowers

The Bees Carol Ann Duffy ✱ Published by Picador, hardback £14.99

Tyger Tyger Burning Bright Compiled: Ana Sampson ✱ Publisher: Michael O’Mara hardback £9.99

The Language of Flowers Vanessa Diffenbaugh ✱ Published by Macmillan, hardback £12.99

A small volume to speak volumes.

The art of successfully transmitting emotion through prose or poetry being the mark of a good writer, there will be a verse, a line, a page within which will stir some thought, and Duffy’s collection has a fair span.

I think I was searching for treasures . . .

Here be treasures. Roaming around a Waterstones recently whilst signing copies of my own work, I was struck by the interesting cross section of browsers who dipped into this Anthology and took advantage of a small reduction to purchase. Poetry has more followers than one may imagine and if you are not yet one of them, try ‘The Bees’. Nectar? Though relatively expensive it is a worthy present or keepsake, especially if the words - ‘the loving litany’ - ‘keeps things living in a written line . . .’

Continuing the poetry theme - National Poetry Day was October 6th - here is a skilful compilation of ‘half-remembered’ poems. Those who revel in the use of verse, be it for fun, for mood, for nostalgia or emotion need to have such a compendium by their side. Of course there are many anthologies - and ‘The Bees’ is but one from today’s Poet Laureate - however, not all will succeed in what is a most daunting of tasks, the ‘trying to please all of the people’ all the time. From Pope’s ‘Happy is the man’ through Kipling’s ‘Our England is a garden’ or Shelley’s ‘Stand ye calm and resolute’ towards Clare’s ‘I hid my love’, to reach Wordsworth’s ‘Oh! Pleasant exercise of hope and joy’, it is fascinating journey throughout and does not neglect the modern poet either.

For the more studious (or curious) the additional notes on poems and poets is a bonus. Another one for the poetry shelf.

Any confusion in one’s mind, a suggestion the title has been used before is correct. There’s a Penhaligon version (cased, hardback, scented!) which is definitive as far as it can be, but Diffenbaugh’s is a novel. Yes, it is based on what flowers can say, which is far more than you may imagine.

Victoria - 1st person, narrator - is a wayward girl with no past other than a constant move between foster homes and, at the start, no apparent future.

Her saving grace is a deep love for flowers, and an instinctive knowledge of their inspirational use. How this talent gives her a life worth living is inspirational in itself, a story to treasure.

With a gritty yet rewarding storyline involving foster care and determination, its tight and effective prose, its inclusive Dictionary of Flowers and nicely produced, this is a book to treasure.

Your comments on any reviewed title are always welcome: writerselect@gmail.com 76 december 2 0 1 1

With winter almost upon us we might like reminders of summer - Bees, Flowers, Poetry, Interesting people . . . and what better present for Christmas than a well-chosen book.

London Unfurled London Unfurled Matteo Pericoli ✱ Published by Picador Slipcased £25

Christmas at Tiffany’s Christmas at Tiffany’s Karen Swan ✱ Published by Pan in paperback

Christmas - a good a time to give - or receive - books, real books as presents. It’s a shame this is a lowcost paperback when it’ll stand being a hardback. And who wants to wrap up a virtual e-book and put it under a tree? Cassie doesn’t, she wants the key to her life, a new life.

A premature marriage is dissolving and she needs to discover what life is really like. First in New York with the friend who’s in advertising, then to Paris with another who is in fashion, before it’s back to London and the foody world. This story’s charm is in the detail, the carefully orchestrated De Vinci style moves by adventurer Henry to show Cassie a more meaningful aspect of the symbolism of flowers. Though it dances through the frothy side beloved of chicklitters, hidden in the depths is the key - a Tiffany key - to a last page decision and that’s where it scores above many another.

Not a book in the strictest sense, but certainly one for the bookshelf - or the coffee table.

Pericoli, a native of Milan and a graduate of the Polytechnic School of Architecture, spent two years on this project. The result is a unique and absorbing study of the Thames landscape - a bankscape one may call it - where the buildings which form part of the Londoner’s everyday life become uniquely detailed in manner probably never seen before. A fascinating revelation of - as Pericoli calls the riverbanks - magnets, a push and pull of energies, an imagery of effect. Here in magnificent accurate detail, are your own private glimpse of London’s Thameside skyline.

And if you haven’t worked it out - it’s a very long piece of accordion folded paper, stretching from Hammersmith to the Millennium Dome with a Thames bank on either side. Buy one for Christmas, it’ll keep you intrigued and involved for hours.

Vanishing Ireland Vanishing Ireland Fennell & Bunbury ✱ Published

by Hachette, HARDBACK £27.99

As a contrast but with no excuses, this volume is included for the cognoscenti to indulge their whims within, for here be treasures of a fascination. When faced with all the pace and pressure of suburbia, subways and subsidiarity encountered around built-up London, take ten minutes to discover the philosophy of a slower life style from an ancient countryside. Dip into the chest full of reminiscences to discover gems of different ways of living in the generation slowly ‘vanishing’ from the remoter parts of the British Isles. The character portrayal is excellently scripted and admirably photographed; pages beneath whose surface one can submerge into nostalgia and reminiscence yet gain a clear understanding of human spirit and endeavour which may be less evident in our current times. Such a volume so beautifully produced and so full of life it well deserves a place on the Christmas list. december 2 0 1 1

77

C h r i st m a s M i sce l l a n y

S Panto on the wane?

Oh no it isn’t!

t

Says historian and ex-Dame Martin Patrick. “Just keep the plot simple and the laughs will follow”. Words: JOHN RULER he seasonal sound of a chorus line being put through their panto paces greeted me at the Community Hall, Hurst Green, Oxted.

That and the bizarre sight of… perhaps I’d better not say. It’s all part of a big surprise for the January performances of Jack and the Beanstalk by The Oxted Players at the nearby Barn Theatre.

Martin Patrick, an expert on panto and a trustee of the theatre would no doubt agree. After all, he’s been a pantomime dame himself and knows there’s nothing worse than ruining a good plot.

And that, he stresses, must not be complicated. ‘What people really like about panto is knowing the story. Get this right and everyone is happy. This is why Cinderella is so popular. The others in the big four include Jack and the Beanstalk, Aladdin and Dick Whittington. It’s not easy with Sleeping Beauty: what do you do when a principal character goes to sleep half way through?’ Mixing Robin Hood and the Babes in the Wood, however, seemed to work.

All of which go back to the days of Punch and Judy, Harlequinade and traditional French mime. By the 16th and 17th century Commedia Dell’Arte, a comedy routine from Italy, was all the rage in Europe – but not in England, suspicious of anything foreign. As for women appearing on stage. Well, I ask you…

But, with comedy characters increasingly popping up in English drama, the early years of the 18th century saw the first silent pantomime. Such was its success that John Weaver a dancing master from Shrewsbury and actor manager John Rich staged

78 december 2 0 1 1

43 more such pantos at London’s Lincoln’s Inn Fields, Covent Garden and lastly Drury Lane. It was here in Victorian times the great Dan Leno became famous for playing the Dame. This role, along with similar comedy characters, remains at the core of panto today. ‘Pantomime is a very British tradition,’ said Martin. ‘ They tried to take it to America but it just didn’t work. ‘ Thanks, too, should go to Joseph Grimaldi, born in 1778, on stage by three and credited with being the first whiteface clown. He regularly appeared playing dwarves or old hags; in 1806 such was his success in Harlequin and Mother Goose that he earned £20,000 for Covent Garden.

Big money, in fact, continued to play a major role from the Crazy Gang days of the 1930s right up the 1960s when Cliff Richard was among pop stars to grace the West End stage.

Danny La Rue and Ronnie Corbett made up famous double acts as the Dame and her sidekick; Mike and Bernie Winters likewise introduced a cabaret-style scene as the bo’sun and his mate or a corresponding comedy scene.

Sadly, said Martin, the expense of staging West End spectaculars, featuring film and TV stars, sportsmen and women along with a show stealing scene involving animals, waterfalls and even ice proved far too expensive even for the likes of the Victoria Palace and the London Palladium. It also marked the end of the summer season when top stars were barely off the stage.

Nowadays, said Martin, it is left to the regional theatres to

keep the tradition going. A fine example is the Birmingham Hippodrome where Brian Conley is back for 2012 after four record-breaking panto performances. The Churchill Theatre, Bromley, part of the Ambassador group, is another example; so, too, are the Ashcroft, Croydon, and the Wimbledon Theatre.

But whether at Birmingham or the The Barn, Oxted, panto still wins hands down for its immediacy and audience participation. Yet the formula, going back to the big spectaculars, remains roughly the same.

The song-sheet allows time for the entire cast to change costume for the colour co-ordinated finale when goodies – and baddies – get together for the big wedding scene. It’s the same with the ‘on the road to the village/wood/castle’ running gag when the comedy duo haunted by ghosts and the like, are continually told ‘It’s behind you!’ It all gives time for a smart switch of scenery.

Martin regrets the occasional use of recorded music. ‘You need to inter-act with the orchestra,’ he declared. ‘You need to be able to talk to them, to stop them in the middle of a song and tell them to play it again.’ It was all part of pantomime in the same way that children can alter the whole tone of a performance. There was nothing so funny as seeing a Dame lose ‘her’ wig, revealing a large bald patch. His favourite dames? Arthur Askey for one, also Terry Scott, John Inman, Ronnie Corbett, Danny La Rue and Croydon born Roy Hudd. Surprisingly Ronnie Barker and Jimmy Tarbuck are among entertainers who never took to pantomime.

Though panto has flagged occasionally, Martin believes it is currently enjoying a renaissance. Dads still go to see the girls in tights, the kids to laugh at the comics and mums to relax. ‘Each show is unique to someone’ believes Martin, citing an on-stage banter with a lady with a white turban type hat during which he hoped she would soon get better. She didn’t wear the hat next year and chided him for not spotting her!

Which recalls the time when Russ Abbot, famous for his stunts, rolled off the stage at the Churchill, Bromley, where he was playing Humpty Dumpty straight on to my grand-daughter’s lap. It’s a memory both of us treasure.

Which is what panto is all about. Oh yes it is … !

Scenes are from Cinderella, January 2011

Festive Firs

Some traditions stretch back 100 years, others even further. A few have barely started, though after ten highly successful years the annual charity Christmas Tree Festival at Hayes Free Church looks set to stay. For what began with a mere 17 trees and a bit of impromptu carol-singing has grown to a fully-fledged festival, complete this year with 32 trees. These bring not just a festive sparkle to the Pickhurst Lane church through to Twelfth Night but provide the perfect backdrop to the week– long feast of family fun held earlier this month.

The trees are sponsored by the likes of Hayes Village Association and Hayes Horticultural Society, through to churches, women’s institutes, scouts, schools and sporting clubs. This year’s charity is Bromley branch of Parkinson’s UK.

Mini Christmas

Author and local historian Sue Short, from Pratts Bottom, whose creative talents featured in the October edition, puts up the Christmas decorations in the doll’s house made for her by her father.

‘He made all my toys as he was talented carpenter, ‘ she said. ‘I renovated the miniature house recently and enjoyed remembering his carpentry skills.

‘A few years ago I started putting together miniature rooms, garden sheds and greenhouses.

I also bought and decorated a large dolls’ house which is an inn called Prince Albert.

A couple of years ago I added a garden that included a walled kitchen garden, an ornamental pond, flower beds and pet areas. Other dolls’ house projects include a miniature dog show, in memory of my dog Smudge, and a patisserie.’

(Photo: John Ruler)

Need to know….

✱ The Oxted Players present Jack and the Beanstalk

at the Barn Theatre, Oxted, from January 13–21. Box Office: 01883 724852; also www.barntheatreoxted. co.uk Times: 7.30 or 1.30 & 5.30 (14–15) and 2.30 & 7.30 (21) No performances on January 16–17. Adults/children £10/8. december 2 0 1 1

79

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