Alaris specialise in providing unique design solutions for luxury fitted kitchens. Every kitchen is designed with your lifestyle in mind to ensure that your new kitchen is just not just a thing of beauty, but that it will be a joy to live with. Alaris designers work with the best kitchen products available from Germany and the UK enabling them to provide you with the best solution at the most competitive price.
Alaris Dartford: Unit 3 Schooner Park, Crossways Business Park, Dartford, Kent DA2 6NW. T: 01322 275 511 E: sales@alarisavenue.co.uk Alaris Bromley: 116 High Street, Bromley, Kent BR1 1HG. T: 0203 771 4040 www.alariskitchens.co.uk
The Ridings Woodfield Lane Essendon, Herts AL9 6JJ Tel : 0844 800 8439 Fax : 01707 655 718 www.thelifemagazines.com Email: peter@fishmediagroup.co.uk Editor Faye Manning Assistant Editor Katie Miller Sub Editor Alex Lux Fashion Editor Kitty Shead Contributors Maureen Cole John Ruler John Bly Bruce Edwards Jack Smith Regan Maloney Design & Production Creative Bonfire hello@creativebonfire.co.uk Photography Adam Swaine Accounts Kathy Manning Ken Fleet
EDITORS LETTER Spring has Sprung……….
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he daffodils are out, the weather is getting warmer, everyone here at the Fish Media Group has a definite spring in their step and we sincerely hope that all of our readers are feeling healthy and ready for Spring.
This month we are featuring the second in our 2016 series of Independent Schools Guides and are pleased to feature the Mayfield School for Girls on our front cover. This informative guide is aimed at helping parents choose the right school for their children, it is an invaluable resource for any parent considering private education and we are sure that this definitive local guide will help you make the right choice for your children.
In the April issue we are, once again, encouraging you and your family to get out and about more this Spring. We have highlighted a wide variety of local events including: The real ale steam train at Tenterden. A range of Father’s Day events at the National Trust. Elvis and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra at the O2. A variety of interesting National Trust events in May. Spring walks in the Weald, plus our usual comprehensive What’s On guide. We hope that you enjoy the April issue
Until next month……….
Business Development Managers Tim Lees Lisa Westerman SALES Vanessa Lane Anita Hill DIRECTORS Peter Smith Rory Smith Patrick Smith
You will be pleased to know that you and your friends can now read our magazines online at
www.thelifemagazines.com 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 repr sent 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.
To advertise contact:
Tim Lees on 07944 129393 or Peter on 077111 43342 or email Tim on tim@fishmediagroup.co.uk
LOCAL EVENTS
Whats On... APRIL 2016
Sidcup Symphony Orchestra Orchestral Concert Join Conductor James Ross in partnership with Sidcup Rotary Club who are raising money for local charities including Rotary Children’s Hospice Holidays. Soloist Chris Richards from the London Symphony Orchestra in Debussy’s Clarinet Rhapsody and Weber’s Clarinet Concertino. Programme:Ambroise Thomas Overture to ‘Mignon’ Claude Debussy Clarinet Rhapsody Carl Maria von Weber Clarinet Concertino Antonin Dvorák Symphony No.9, ‘From The New World’ . Starts 7.30 p.m. Tickets at £12 & £10, children & students half price. St. John’s Church, Church Road, Sidcup, Kent, DA14 6BX. Sat 14 May 2016. Tel: 020 8300 3268 or 01322 557458. www.sidcupsymphony.org.uk/ Beckenham Folk Dance Club Come and join the revival of the English Folk Dance. A lively evening of English and Contra Folk dance. Come alone or with a partner. New members always welcome. A selection of recorded or live music. Don’t sit at home on a Friday night, come out and enjoy yourself make new friends, age is unimportant a good sense of fun is. 8.00 - 10.30. Tickets £3.00. St Barnabas Church Hall, Perth Rd, Beckenham, Kent, BR3 6PP. Fri 22 and 29 April. Tel: Beryl 0208 462 4071 Kentish Opera proudly presents a new production of Verdi’s Macbeth This production marks the 400th anniversary of the death of Shakespeare whose play was a great inspiration to Verdi in the composition of the opera. It will be traditionally staged and sung in English with a fine professional cast supported by a professional production team and orchestra. 25th to the 28th May. Tickets from £12 to £28 from the KO Box Office 08456 432 987 or from the Stag Theatre Box Office 01732 450175 Oxted Operatic Society – The King and I Travelling to the exotic kingdom of Siam, English schoolteacher Anna Leonowens soon discovers her most difficult challenge is the King himself. Tues 12th – Sat 16th April. 2.30 Sat. & 7.30pm. Tickets £12.00 £15.00. www.barntheatreoxted.co.uk or 01883 331400.
NOT TO BE
MISSED!!! Oxted Operatyic– Societ The King and I
Commedia Productions – Carmen With a roar from the bullring, Bizet sets the stage alight with the story of opera’s most notorious femme fatale. Sung in English. Fri 22 and Sat 23rd April. 7.30pm. Tickets £16.00 - £20.00. www.barntheatreoxted.co.uk. Tel: 01959 561811.
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The Oxted Players – Murder on the Nile One of Agatha Christie’s classic murder mysteries involving death, conspiracy and intrigue. Wed 18 – Sat 21 May. 2.30 Sat & 7.45. Tickets £8.00 - £10.00. www.barntheatreoxted.co.uk or 01883 724852. West Wickham Wednesday Market Small indoor market 9.00 – 1.00pm. Selling greeting cards, gift wrap, collectable die-cast model cars, handbags, tools, jewellery, bric-a-brac, homemade pies and lots more. 9.00 -1.00pm. Free Entry. St Francis’ Church Hall, Ravenswood Ave, West Wickham, Kent, BR4 OPW. Wed 20, 27 Apr and Wed 4 May. Tel: 07702 077536 Écoutez! Concert of French choral music with Temenos Chamber Choir, conducted by Charles Vignoles. French Chansons, including Jannequin’s “La Guerre”, Poulenc’s “Soir de neige” and a Mass by Guerrero. Instrumental items for Flute and Piano. Starts 7.30pm. Tickets £10 and £5 students from Sevenoaks Bookshop. Tel: 01959 523765 or on the door. St Luke’s Church, Eardley Road, Sevenoaks, Kent, TN13 1XT. Sat 7 May 2016. Tel: 01959 523765. www.temenos-chamberchoir.org.uk Exhibition of Watercolours by Eugen Gorean at Portico Gallery This talented young Moldovan artist has been dazzling audiences at exhibitions across Europe, Russia, US and most recently China. When he is not preparing for competitions and exhibitions, he runs workshops for students where he explores the importance of composition, drawing and develops techniques for achieving transparency and luminosity in painting. Paintings in the exhibition feature striking urban scenes from iconic European cities including London, Venice and Paris as well as rural scenes and animal studies. Open from 10.00 – 5.00pm. Tues – Sat. Free entry. Portico Gallery, 25 London Road, Riverhead, Kent, TN13 2BU. From Sat 5 Mar 2016. Tel: 01732 456655. www.porticogallery.co.uk Beating the Bounds of Westerham Parish The Westerham Society invites families, groups, friends and visitors to join the residents of Westerham in checking our boundaries are still in place! Come along and explore our wonderful countryside, enjoy the views and join the community for burgers, music, entertainment and refreshments on The Green in the afternoon. Beating the Bounds of a parish is an ancient tradition, based on the need for inhabitants to know the extent of their land, before the days of maps. Trek as much, or as little, as you like - Family Section ‘Elizabeth’s Trail’ & Quiz BBQ, Music, Children’s Entertainment on The Green from 12.30pm . For full details, visit the website: www. visitwesterham.org.uk/whats-on/w-beating-the-bounds From 8am - Free Entry. For info call Gordon Rodgers on 01959 564140 or email: gordonrodgers@btinternet.com Westerham, Kent, TN16 1TD. Bank Holiday Sun 1 May 2016.
Westerham Rotary Fair The Dignity Fairground Organ, Sea Cadets Band and Simpletones duo set just the right musical background for our homespun event and the Phoenix Sahar Bellydancers. Slide and Rotary Games, Hook-a-duck and Punch and Judy and other attractions on the stalls, the kids will have fun and it will be a lovely traditional Fair on The Green. 10am - 3.30pm. Free entry. The Green, Westerham, Kent, TN16 1AS. Sat 14 May 2016. Tel: 07885 301590. www.visitwesterham.org.uk/whats-on/w-rotary-fair-2012 Bluebell Fundraising Walk Join St Christopher’s Hospice for our popular Bluebell Fundraising Walk. The walks start and finish at Cudham Recreation Ground. Kids’ entertainment, live music and a BBQ to keep walkers and families refreshed. Explore the beautiful Kent countryside with a choice of a gentle three mile stroll, five or seven mile walk or a more ambitious nine mile ramble, with refreshment stops en-route at Downe and Halstead village halls. We ask that you raise sponsorship to support the hospice’s work. All funds raised from this event will help St Christopher’s provide care and support for patients and their families across the Bromley, Croydon, Lambeth, Lewisham and Southwark boroughs. The hospice only receives around one third of our funding from the NHS. 9am 2pm. FREE to register before the day. Cudham Recreation Ground, Cudham Lane South, Kent, TN14 7QB. Sunday 8 May 2016. TeL: 020 8768 4570. www.stchristophers.org.uk/bluebell The King and I with the Oxted Operatic Society This popular Rodgers and Hammerstein musical, based on the 1944 novel ‘Anna and the King of Siam’ by Margaret Landon, relates the experiences of Anna, a British schoolteacher hired as part of the King’s drive to modernise his country. The relationship between the King and Anna is marked by conflict, as well as by a love that neither can admit. With songs such as ‘Shall We Dance’ and ‘Getting to Know You’. Starts 7.45pm. £12.00 - £15.00. Tickets www.barntheatreoxted.co.uk or 07530 528094. Barn Theatre, 25 Bluehouse Lane, Oxted, Surrey, RH8 0AA. Tues 12 - Sat 16 Apr 2016. www.barntheatreoxted.co.uk Oxted Band Stars of Brass Concert ‘Stars of Brass’ concert The soloist this year is Ben Dixon, principal E-flat tuba of the World Famous Black Dyke Band. Ben joined Black Dyke in 2013, and following 3 years studying performance at Salford, he received the Harry Mortimer Brass Performance Prize and the Roy Newsome Conducting Prize. This will be another evening of sparkling brass fare from Oxted Band and our special guest soloist. 7.30pm. £10 adults, £5 children. St John’s Church, Hurst Green, Surrey, RH8 9EA. Sat 16 Apr 2016. Tel: 07584 246501. www.oxtedband.co.uk RTWCS Spring Concert: Royal Tunbridge Wells Choral Society (RTWCS) with the Salomon Orchestra present Vaughan-Williams Sea Symphony and William Alwyn’s Elizabethan Dances. 7.30pm. Tickets £10, £18 or £22. Assembly Hall Theatre, Crescent Road, Tunbridge Wells, Kent, TN1 2LU. Sat 23 Apr 2016. www.rtwcs.org.uk Spring Art Exhibition There will be a variety of paintings covering all subject themes including local scenes, landscapes, flowers and wildlife painted in a range of mediums including watercolour, oil, pastel and acrylics. Sidcup Art Club is a well-respected group of artists who exhibit twice annually at Sidcup Library and hugely support the libraries as an important part of the community. Come along and browse up to 30 exhibits and have the opportunity to purchase original works of art at very affordable prices. Free entry. 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Mon – Sat. Thurs until 1.00 pm. Sidcup Library, Hadlow Road, Sidcup, Kent, DA14 4AQ. Until Fri 22 Apr 2016. Tel: 0208 302 5390
CONTENTS 86 58
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EDITORS LETTER
3
WHATS ON
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LOCAL LIFE Real ale steam train event Elvis and the Philharmonic Orchestra Beating the bounds in Westerham Local National Trust events in May Father’s Day with the National Trust Danger on the high seas
12 14 16 18 20 22
BBC Good Food Shows
24
Focus on the Kent Weald with Adam Swaine
26
Rebellious local authors
28
Jackie the musical at the Orchard Theatre
30
Designs on Diamonds
32
Hairspray at the Churchill Theatre
34
INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS GUIDE
36
Meet the Overtones at the Orchard Theatre
50
Health & Beauty Get the Blues 52 Transforming the way we look with Appearances Aesthetics 56 Fashion – Spring in their step
58
HOME AND GARDEN …and so to bed Stylish outdoor living with Amity Chaplins – Outdoor Living Carpentry with a personal approach Morso Fires make the difference Origin – Dreams come true Creative Interior Designs Christopher Peacock – Outstanding Craftsmanship Neptune – A space that works Dubai Property Show
62 66 68 70 72 74 76 78 80 84
TRAVEL - Western Australia
86
BOOKS REVIEW with Bruce Edwards
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FOOD AND DRINK Californian dream recipes Riverford Organic Foods Bulls Head – A new garden Wine and Cheese club at the Cow and Pig
90 94 96 98
LOCAL LIFE
New for 2016:
Real Ale Steam Train Evening Event at the Kent & East Sussex Railway Three specially timetabled Steam Trains will run between Tenterden and Bodiam on 3 June, 29 July and 12 August 2016.
3 june, 29 july & 12 august 2016
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he Real Ale Trains journeys will depart from Tenterden at 6.30pm and return at 9.45pm. The fare of £17per person includes the train journey and a branded pint glass. All ales will be £2.50 a pint. Everyone can enjoy live music at Bodiam station until the train departs again for Tenterden Station. It is also possible to pre-book food to enjoy on the train for £7pp. Choose from Homemade Chicken Curry & Rice; Homemade Vegetable Curry & Rice; Local Sausages and Mash with a rich onion gravy; Vegetarian Sausages, Mash & rich onion gravy.
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THE DETAILS For further information visit www.kesr.org.uk or call 01580 765155.
: is v El LOCAL LIFE
If I Can Dream, the million-selling album, comes to stage with The Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra It is announced today that the world exclusive live concert experience featuring the most recognisable voice of all time, Elvis Presley, backed by the legendary Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra, is coming to The O2 on 23 November.
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ickets go on sale Friday 18 March at 9am and are available from AXS.com or by calling 08448 24 48 24. The critically acclaimed album, If I Can Dream, uses archive recordings of “The King’s” voice featuring new orchestral arrangements of some of his biggest hits, to create an overwhelmingly encapsulating and enthralling album. The album is Elvis’ twelfth UK number one album and his fiftieth to hit the UK top-ten. Now fans will have a chance that many have never had before – to experience the man who changed the course of popular music – the biggest selling solo artist in history (having sold an astonishing one billion records worldwide), live on screen, with the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra live on stage performing the King of Rock and Roll’s most well-known rocking songs and his tender, heartwrenching ballads. If I Can Dream was produced by Executive Producer, Don Reedman, Priscilla Presley and Elvis Presley Enterprises. Priscilla Presley will be also be making a very
23rd november
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special appearance at the concert. This performance will be a musical celebration of the legend for whom superlatives weren’t enough and who continues to break records. THE DETAILS Tickets go on sale Friday 18 March at 9am and are available from AXS.com or by calling 08448 24 48 24.
LOCAL LIFE
Maypole dancing returns to Westerham ‘Beating the Bounds’ Sunday 1 May 2016 - free The historic town of Westerham will be ‘Beating the Bounds’ on Sunday 1 May 2016 - complete with dancing around a newly re-instated Maypole. A variety of walking trails are available from a gentle 2-mile stroll to a more energetic 12-mile trek. The walks take in part of the Greensand Way and the North Downs Way and pass through Hosey Common, the Squerryes Estate and High Chart. Walkers are invited to start from 8am.
Sunday 1 May 2016
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ordon Rodgers, Chair of the Westerham Society, which organises the event, said: “We don’t know when there was last Maypole dancing in Westerham, but we are delighted to reinstate this long-standing tradition. The children of Churchill School have been practising enthusiastically and we would like to invite everyone to come to watch and to join in walking around the parish boundaries.” This year the Family Section of the walk will be run by Westerham Scouts who have created ‘Elizabeth’s Trail’ through the surrounding woods, in homage to Her Majesty’s 90th birthday. The section of the walk from Westerham Hill to Westerham Valley Farm (shortly to be site of the new Squerryes Winery and Brewery) features wonderful views over the North Downs. Local voluntary groups including the Ramblers and Westerham U3A will be helping by guiding walkers from the bus stop starting point from 10am. There will also be the regular Farmer’s Market on the Green, and in the afternoon, BBQ, children’s entertainment and live music from The Penny Payne Band, Lucy and John Kitt, Orfila and Westerham Local Vocals.
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THE DETAILS more details and downloadable route cards are available at www.visitwesterham.org.uk/ whats-on/w-beating-the-bounds Westerham is located on the A25 between Sevenoaks (M25 J5) and Oxted (M25 J6) – there is car parking in the town and at four points on/close to the route. The town is accessible via the 246, the 594 and 401 bus routes – see www.visitwesterham.org.uk/ visitors/v-useful-information
LOCAL LIFE
Make the most of May in Kent
with the National Trust With spring flowers in full bloom, warmer weather on the way, Bank Holiday weekends and half-term school holidays to look forward to, May is the ideal time to explore the outdoors and try new things.
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his May there are a raft of activities for all the family with the National Trust as well as plenty of 50 things to do before you’re 11¾ adventures like kite flying, den building and rock pooling. Find out more and take the 50 Things challenge at www.50things.org.uk Spend the long Bank Holiday weekends and half-term with us by exploring some unforgettable places. What’s more, every single visit helps support the National Trust’s charitable cause to look after special places for ever, for everyone. Some of our favourite May activities in Kent are:
May Half term and second Bank Holiday weekend Chartwell – nature trail Daily from Saturday 28 May to Sunday 5 June, 10am-4pm Find out about Sir Winston Churchill’s love of nature and the outdoors on this self-led family trail around the garden and woodland. Explore the golden orfe pond and the butterfly house, see what other nature you can spot and complete some 50 things activities along the way. Don’t miss the swings and the natural play areas in the woodland as you explore. Pick up the nature trail sheet from visitor reception
you dress in historical costumes and pose for a family portrait in the Orangery.
Early May Bank Holiday weekend Ightham Mote – spring activity pack Daily from Saturday 30 April to Monday 2 May, 10am-4pm Explore the wider Ightham Mote estate and complete some of your 50 things challenges as you go. Pick up an activity pack from visitor reception and don’t forget to let the kids run off steam in the natural play area
Emmetts Garden – nature trail Daily from Saturday 28 May to Sunday 5 June, 10am-4pm Tick off some 50 things activities as you discover the plant collections at Emmetts Garden and the wildlife in the woodland. Along the way, play in the wild play area in the Pinetum, or borrow toys and games from the Discovery Cabin – including toy lawn mowers, colouring sheets and kites. Pick up the self-led nature trail sheet from visitor reception
Scotney Castle – murder mystery house trail Daily from Saturday 28 May to Sunday 5 June, 10am-4pm We need your help to solve a crime! Grab a map of the house and be ready to ask the suspects some questions. With their answers see if you can find out who committed the crime and which object from our collection they used
om
Knole – spring bluebell family walk Monday 2 May, 2pm-5pm Join us for a six mile guided walk, from Knole park to One Tree Hill and discover the joys of spring. Walk along a pre-historic river bed through Knole’s 1,000 acre ancient deer park to One Tree Hill with Knole Kin its profusion of bluebells. gs Be Weather permitting there dr o will be some great views over the Weald. Return through bluebell woods and rural communities to Knole. TA ©N
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Ightham Mote – spring activity pack Daily from Saturday 28 May to Sunday 5 June, 10am-5pm Explore the wider Ightham Mote estate and complete some of your 50 things challenges as you go. Pick up an activity pack from visitor reception and don’t forget to let the kids run off steam in the natural play area. Plus on Saturday 28 May create some creatures in our drop in watercolour art workshops between 11am and 4pm!
l na io at
Knole – picture frames trail Daily from Monday 30 May to Sunday 5 June, 12pm-4pm Explore the house and take part in a quiz to discover the details and craftsmanship of Knole’s extraordinary picture frames.
us Tr t
Tudor costume demonstrations Monday 30 May, 11.45am, 12.30pm, 1.30pm, 2.30pm See how a Tudor lady dressed in many layers of costume for a visit to court, including replica handling items, during these 20 minute demonstrations. Smallhythe Plac e©
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Tudor dressing up Friday 3 June, 11am-3pm Step back in time as
Scotney Castle – 50 things adventure week Daily from Saturday 28 May to Sunday 5 June, 10am-4pm Take your whole family on an adventure this half term - make a kite, roll down a really big hill, go bird watching, hunt for bugs or see if you find your way with a map and compass. Follow the woodland paths to the wilderness camp and you can also make your own den building masterpiece
Smallhythe Place – Shakespeare trail Daily from Saturday 28 May to Sunday 5 June, 11am-5pm Follow the trail around the garden and the outdoor theatre to discover more about England’s most famous playwright, or pick up a puzzle sheet to complete themed word searches, crosswords, quizzes and colouring. Don’t miss the Venetian-style mask making in the garden so your budding actor or actress can take home their own Shakespearean style prop, made using paints, sticker gems and feathers! There’s also plenty to see and do in the house, with costumes and props on display, once used by famous Victorian actress Ellen Terry when she played many of Shakespeare’s leading ladies. White Cliffs and South Foreland Lighthouse – family walks and kite flying Daily from Saturday 28 May to Sunday 5 June, 10am-5pm Enjoy a cliff top walk along one of the UK’s most iconic landmarks spotting the summer orchids, wild flowers and ferries in the English Channel as you go. Pick up a map and head towards South Foreland Lighthouse – with its traditional 1950s style tea room, a Victorian lighthouse to climb as well as kite flying and games on the enclosed lawn.
LOCAL LIFE
Father’s Day © NT - John Millar
with the National Trust in Kent
This Father’s Day on 19 June, the National Trust offers you the chance to treat your Dad to a day out he will love, be that walking with his family in the countryside, enjoying a hearty meal or re-living his childhood with a picnic and playing outdoors with the kids.
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hether he enjoys home-cooked food and real ale, fishing in a moat, strolling through captivating gardens, exploring historic houses or simply getting out and about and closer to nature, the National Trust has everything you need to help Dad and the rest of the family have a Father’s Day to remember. A day out with the National Trust places also helps the charity conserve and look after its special places for you and the next generation to enjoy. Entry to all places for National Trust members is free, otherwise normal admission prices apply. Here are just some of our Father’s Day favourites:
father’s day 19 june
Father’s Day lunch
Chartwell – The beloved family home of Sir Winston Churchill near Westerham, Chartwell is a fascinating place for a day out with your Dad. Join us for a two course Best of British lunch followed by coffee. Lunch: Adult £16.95 Child age 5-12 £8.95 Booking essential on 01732 861161 Normal admission prices apply to the house and garden.
Beer tasting and Fishing
© NT - John Millar
Ightham Mote – This picturesque medieval house near Sevenoaks is surrounded by a moat and glorious gardens with a trickling stream and lake. On Father’s Day there are games in the garden, beer-tasting and a chance to try fishing in the moat.
Real ale in a fairy-tale setting
Scotney Castle – A ruined castle near Lamberhurst with rose-clad walls and colourful gardens, Scotney Castle is like something out of a fairy tale. You could treat Dad to a bottle of award-winning Scotney Ale while you’re there.
Early morning roses
Sissinghurst Castle Garden – If your father is a keen gardener, why not treat him to a rare chance to see roses in the early morning light at Sissinghurst Castle Garden near Cranbrook on Sunday 19 June, 7-9am with Michael Marriot of David Austin Roses and Troy Scott-Smith, Head Gardener. Breakfast included. £35 Booking essential on 0344 249 1895
© NT - Stuart Cox
Outdoor theatre
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Smallhythe Place – The home of the acclaimed Victorian actress, Ellen Terry, is a treasure trove near Tenterden, waiting to be explored. You could also treat your Dad to a very special outdoor performance in the enchanting gardens of this picture-book place: Much Ado About Nothing, 19 June, 6pm Bring a chair and a picnic and spend the evening at Smallhythe Place watching a funny, moving and fast-paced production of one of Shakespeare’s best-loved comedies. Performed in the open air, by an allmale cast with Elizabethan costume, music and dance. – Adult £15 child £10. Booking essential on 0344 249 1895
LOCAL LIFE
How Chatham’s shipwrights prepared for dangers on the high seas Insights into the lives of Chatham Royal Dockyard’s most highly-paid artisans in the 17th and 18th centuries - its shipwrights - can be gleaned from transcriptions of their Wills, nearly one hundred of which can now be downloaded free of charge from the Kent Archaeological Society’s website.
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he shipwrights earned up to two shillings per 12hour day (equal to about £150 in today’s money) and were an elite workforce, wealthy enough to make provision for their families and dependents and leave generous bequests to others in need. They had good reasons for such foresight. Not only did they work in hazardous conditions, they often embarked on dangerous voyages in the ships they built and repaired, while completing unfinished work and carrying out urgent repairs and maintenance on the high seas. The Wills were registered with the Prerogative Court of Canterbury and are an invaluable resource for family historians seeking their shipwright ancestors, and for researchers wishing to learn more about the lives of the men who helped Britannia rule the waves. Until the Wills were transcribed and posted on-line by
KAS volunteers they could be read only by visiting the National Archives at Kew or by subscribing to specialist websites. With the transcripts there are indexes and cross-referenced links to useful additional information, including names of executors and witnesses; place names; trades and occupations; and lists of ships on which the testifiers named in the Wills worked. Some of the Wills were made by men who worked at Chatham before and during the days when Samuel Pepys visited the shipyard as Chief Secretary to the Admiralty. Some of them would have witnessed Chatham’s very own ‘Day of Infamy’ in 1667, when the Dutch navy destroyed much of King Charles’s fleet at anchor in the Medway and captured his flagship, the Royal Charles. Among the 18th century Wills are those of shipwrights who worked at Chatham when HMS Victory (launched in 1765) and other warships were built for fleets commanded by Lord Nelson and his predecessors. THE DETAILS Website links: 17th century Wills: www.kentarchaeology.org.uk/14/02/00.htm 18th century Wills: www.kentarchaeology.org.uk/14/00.htm or type shipwrights site:kentarchaeology.org.uk into Google’s search window.
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BBC Good Food Shows
bring summer to the City!
The BBC Good Food Shows are pleased to announce the brand new BBC Good Food Show Summer in the City, this May…
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et a taste of summer this May as the brand new BBC Good Food Show Summer in the City comes to ExCeL London. This exciting new Show takes place from 20 – 22 May and will focus on delicious and seasonal foods, with an emphasis on vitality and health. This event also features the BBC Good Food Eat Well Show, where you’ll find inspiration for healthier summer delights, recipes and brands as well as first-hand dietary advice, at the Dietitians Clinic supported by the BDA. Visitors can enjoy an inspirational line up of chefs and experts, including Tom Kerridge, Paul Hollywood, James Martin and John Torode, as well as eat well gurus Hemsley + Hemsley and Davina McCall. See them all cooking tasty summer dishes live in the Supertheatre†, and appearing around the Show in live interviews and book signing sessions. The Show also features fantastic shopping from an array of food and drink exhibitors, so you can taste, experience, discover and shop for the flavours of summer. This Show will be the first of the season to unveil a brand
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Being part of the first ever BBC Good Food Eat Well Show last year was great fun so we’re thrilled to be back for round 2 Hemsley + Hemsley
new feature - the BBC Good Food Stage sponsored by Lakeland. Hosted by Barney Desmazery and Cassie Best from the BBC Good Food cookery team, the Stage will feature a combination of celebrity interviews, recipe demonstrations and panel discussions on diverse health topics and the latest food trends. Other guests include magazine contributors Sabrina Ghayour and Jose Pizarro and newcomer Olivia Wollenberg of Livia’s Kitchen. Hemsley + Hemsley commented, “Being part of the first ever BBC Good Food Eat Well Show last year was great fun, so we’re thrilled to be back for round 2. We love that wellness and delicious cooking what we’re all about - go hand in hand at this brand new show, and we’re looking forward to sharing some of our favourite recipes live on stage.” THE DETAILS Find out more at bbcgoodfoodshow.com. Readers save 20%* on tickets quote GF20.
LOCAL FOCUS
Spring on the
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Kent Weald Pictures: Adam Swaine
1. Fordcombe Village Inn Kent | 2. Spring Woodland @ Chiddingstone Castle 3. Groombridge Place Kent | 4. Crockham Hill Kent 5. Penshurst Village Kent | 6. Woodland on the Weald 7. Westerham Village Kent
Adam Swaine Photography www.adamswaine.co.uk adamswaine@rocketmail.com | 07798 526 569
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atomizer to a certain temperature, activated by a battery. What is e liquid? E Liquid is a viscous flavoured liquid containing nicotine, but is also available nicotine free, and is used with a wide variety of vape kits and vaping devices.
What is vaping? Simply put, Vaping is the act of inhaling vapour from a battery powered device, usually called a Vape Kit or Box Mod. The vapour is created by a heating element (called a coil) inside an atomizer. These Vape kits use a viscous liquid called E Liquid or E Juice as the ‘fuel’. Pressing the fire button will heat the coil to a certain temperature and turn the e liquid into Vapour which is then inhaled. How do I vape? Vaping is the act of inhaling vapour. The Vapour is produced by the quick heating of e liquid through a coil inside an
Reasons to Vape! Health Benefits in comparison to smoking tobacco Additional chemicals are present in normal cigarette smoking. Vape kits don’t produce carbon monoxide, tar, arsenic, ammonia, cyanide and acetone. Save Money by Vaping! If you decided to change from smoking cigarettes to e cigs then you would save money. The cost to continue smoking e cigarettes is less that the cost of normal cigarettes. Vaping is safer for the people around you The reduced number of chemicals means that vaping is less dangerous for the people around you too. Also, the smell alone is less offensive to others.
Vaping is the act of inhaling vapour from a battery powered device, usually called a Vape Kit or Box Mod.
LOCAL HISTORY
Famous faces with a streak of rebellion ! JOHN RULER looks at the surprisingly lively lives of two best-selling authors
F
rom the saucy tales of Chaucer to the schoolboy pranks of Richmal Crompton’s Just William, Kent has provided Rebecca West a plethora of by George Charles writers of all Beresford (Courtesy kinds. Some were National Portrait Gallery) She had a ten born there, others year relationship like Ian Fleming with Wells of James Bond fame and Noel Coward, the darling of 1920s drawing room dramas and comedies, were drawn there in later life. Charles Dickens darted between London and Kent while Christopher Marlowe made a good stab at being the county’s answer to Shakespeare. This month we look at two from the Bromley area. Next time: Enid Blyton and E. Nesbit. Free love shocker from The Time Machine man Early life for the young H.G. (Herbert George) Wells, born at 47 High Street, Bromley, in 1866, was hardly a happy one. When his sister died at a young age, his working class parents feared
H.G. Wells
win a scholarship studying physics, chemistry, astronomy and biology. He also devoted much of his time to writing, following up Chronic Argonauts, a short story about time with The Time Machine which, continuing Wells’ social and scientific themes, became an overnight literary sensation in 1895. Though he mainly recalled his childhood days with pleasure, the famed War of the Worlds author became miffed at the way suburban Bromley was developing. In 1934 he went so far as to refuse the freedom of the town of which he later harboured many miserable memories. His love life, too, was in sharp contrast to the ultra-respectability of his birthplace which, apart from a blue plaque over the porch of Primark’s, has little left to link Bromley with its literary giant. Not only didn’t his marriage to his cousin, Isabel Mary Wells, last, but soon after Wells took up with Amy Catherine ‘Jane’ Robbins whom he married in 1895. In 1896 the couple moved to Sandgate, A young Wells as a pupil at Morley’s Academy, Bromley near Folkestone. It was here their sons, George, the worse; instead, at the Philip and Frank were tender age of seven, an born at Wells’ dream house accident left Wells not dead designed by C.F Voysey, the but bedridden for several leading architect of the day. months – sufficient time It was at Sandgate, too, for him to avidly devour that Wells not just published a the literary genius of Charles shocker of a book in what were Dickens’ books among similar prudish times advocating free, as such luminaries. opposed to indiscriminate, love Worse still his father Joseph’s but put his views into practise by Blue plaque to Wells outside Primark’s devotion to playing professional having numerous affairs. cricket rather than running All told, it is believed he the family’s hardware and china shop, left the fathered up to five children out of wedlock; one business in ruins and the family forced to take up of them Anthony West, the son from a ten year the financial reins. relationship with the feminist writer Rebecca Along with his two older brothers, Wells West, went on to write a book on his parents’ was apprenticed to a draper, while his mother difficult relationship. worked as a housekeeper. And it was while at Despite his philandering, he and Jane spent her workplace that a teenage Wells discovered 13 years in Sandgate, during which time Wells the owner’s extensive library where he studied produced many of his popular novels. He also the works of Jonathan Swift and Voltaire among socialised with the likes of Joseph Conrad with others. whom he fell out spectacularly in 1909, leaving in Despite his mother’s opposition, he quit a huff with his family for London. Jane died of his job, which he hated anyway, going on to cancer in 1927 and Wells in August 1946.
Despite his mother’s opposition, he quit his job, which he hated anyway, going on to win a scholarship studying physics, chemistry, astronomy and biology 28 APRIL 2016
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Just William takes a swipe at middle-class posturing Richmal in her younger days
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robably as well known locally as a former teacher at Bromley High School for Girls as she was as a best selling author, Richmal Crompton used her Just William stories to poke gentle fun at the middle–class
mores of the time. Not that this distracted the thousands who found – and still find – a champion in 11 year old William whose crazy behaviour comes over as really quite sensible compared to the pettiness of the adults around him. It certainly set Richmal on the path to fame. The first William story was published in 1922 when she was 31 years old. The last, her 38th, was published in 1970, the year after her death. Born Richmal Crompton Lamburn in Bury, Lancashire, on November 15, 1890, she won a scholarship to the Royal Holloway College, London, graduating in 1914 with a degree in Classics. Following four years teaching in Lancashire, she taught classics for five years at the then Elmfield Road based Bromley High, proving a talented and much loved teacher. Living in Cherry Orchard Road, Bromley Common, Richmal was joined by her mother – her father having died in 1915 – who nursed
her when, in 1923, she was struck down by polo, costing the use of her right leg. Though she wanted to continue teaching she was advised not to by her doctor. Instead she concentrated on writing, having already written short stories under the name Richmal Crompton; initially published in Happy Mag, these were published in a book called Just William published in 1922. Later with the financial success of the William books enabling her to buy an acre of land in nearby Oakley Road, Richmal had a larger house, The Glebe, built for herself and her mother who lived with her until her death in 1939, after which Richmal’s sister moved in. What’s far less known is that Richmal wrote four other published children’s books, and 50 novels or collections of short stories, intended for adults. None, says Mary Cadogan in her excellent book Richmal Crompton: The Woman Behind Just William, reached the dizzy heights of the William stories. What they did, however, she writes, was to provide a clue to her character and beliefs. While not laugh-out-loud like the William stories, they retained much of her light hearted ability ‘ to pillory the behaviour of conventional middleclass people’. Though she never joined the suffragettes, Rachel’s A Monstrous Regiment, published in 1927, expresses both here and in her other novels, not the stridency of the feminist movement, but more the concerns of women seeking professional careers
William the Lawless was her last book written from Beechworth: It was published posthumously by her fans
rd Richmal with her great nephew Edwa , worth Albee taken in thegarden of Beech Chislehurst (Chislehurst Society)
independent of families and husbands. Another Narcissa written back in 1941, concerning the ups and downs of family life and relationships between children and parents, has a contemporary TV drama ring to it. The Holiday, written in 1933, likewise rests on personal experience, the plot revolving round a family who have tea with the parents of a very severely disabled daughter.. While living in Bromley, her fame enabled her both to travel widely, despite her disability, and maintain an interest in local matters, joining the Auxiliary Fire Service during WWII. In the early 1950s she looked for a smaller house, and in 1954 moved to Beechworth, on Orpington Road, near Leesons Hill, Chislehurst, where she continued her writing. Very much involved in the local community, she was a churchgoer and Conservative party supporter; she was also intrigued by reincarnation, mysticism and the occult. Richmal never married and had no children although she was aunt and great-aunt to other family members. She died on 11 January,1969 aged 78.
Richmal’s writing desk, spectacles and a letter addressed to her form part of the unique Richmal Crompton collection deposited at Roehampton University’s Archives and Special Collections by the author’s heirs and executors in 2008.
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LOCAL theatre
Meet Nina Myskow,
writer and first female editor of teenage magazine, Jackie. We interviewed Nina about the part she played in the creation of Jackie the Musical. Tell us how you got involved with Jackie the Musical? By chance and coincidence! I bumped into John Reid, Elton John’s ex-manager at a Radio 2 event. I’d met Elton himself in 1967, hadn’t seen John in decades. He’s now in theatre, and a week later he played matchmaker for Douglas, Jackie’s producer, and me. So, very indirectly through Elton! You worked on Jackie for some years before becoming the first female editor in 1974. What were the highlights for you? Professionally I was thrilled that I’d broken that barrier, loved working on the magazine and had a wonderful time: I went on tour with the Osmonds in France, spent time with Donny, David Cassidy, David Essex and Marc Bolan, all the heartthrobs, living our readers’ dreams (although being a decade older, not mine). My first visit to the States was on Elton’s private jet. I once ticked off Bowie: “If a man is going to wear nail varnish, David, it should at least not be chipped!” He laughed, thank God! Cathy and Claire were the original agony aunts. How many letters did they get a week? About 4 or 500 letters a week, which is a huge amount when you consider that it was aimed at 12 to 16 year old girls. But of course life was very different back then. There were no mobiles, no computers, no internet, and girls led a solitary
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existence by comparison with today. We tried to be a kind of big sister, and made sure that everyone got a personal reply. Is Jackie the Musical set in the 70s? No, it’s set in present day, but our heroine, Jackie, a fifty-something woman at a crossroads in her life, comes across a box of her old Jackies and is transported back to the 70s and her younger self and those days when she had the famed Cathy and Claire, the agony aunts, to give her muchneeded advice. But the music is all the best of the 70s, a fantastic soundtrack to the era. The dancing is superb, with choreography by Arlene Phillips. What can audiences expect from the show? A fabulous, fun night out! Like Mamma Mia, it is hopes, tears, laughter, fears - a proper story - and you really care about Jackie and what happens to her. Every woman will identify with Jackie, but men will recognise exactly what it’s all about too. It’s a fabulous, feel-good high-energy night that will transport you back to those fun days of when we were all young and not just young at heart. What more could you want? THE DETAILS Jackie the Musical comes to The Orchard Theatre Dartford from Tue 14 – Sat 18 June. Book online at orchardtheatre.co.uk or call the Ticket Office on 01322 220000.
jewellery
DESIGNS ON DIAMONDS
Have you ever wanted to buy a special diamond or piece of diamond jewellery, but have been put off by the high prices? We at DesignsOnDiamonds want to make it possible for you to purchase high quality diamonds at affordable and competitive prices.
W
e believe diamond jewellery should be attainable for as many people as possible. We are thinking of the couple wanting to get engaged but cannot afford a good diamond ring. Or the landmark anniversary or birthday gift. DesignsOnDiamonds is an Online Jewellery Store that aim to bring to you high quality certified diamond jewellery. We want you to shop with us, confident that the pieces you are buying are genuine and of exceptional quality. We believe it is important to sell diamonds with certification or some form of certificate of authenticity. This will give you, the customer, piece of mind and a guarantee that you are buying exactly what is described to you. We buy and source diamonds and gemstones purely for their quality. Some of our jewellery pieces are pre-owned, but have been inspected to make sure they are presented to the highest standard. Before you start the process of buying that special piece of diamond jewellery, we would like to give you some information that will help you make an informed decision as to the right diamond for you. Unless a diamond is graded Flawless or Internally Flawless, there will be some type of inclusion within the stone. These inclusions make a diamond unique in its makeup, no other diamond will be exactly the same. Inclusions do not necesssarily affect how bright and scintillating a diamond looks to the human eye, but an experienced cutter will try to cut the diamond so that the inclusion does not diminish the stone’s beauty. Back in the 1940’s an institution called the Gemmological Institute of America (GIA) devised a grading system to bring some regularity to diamond grading. The GIA grading system is recognised worldwide today and is known as the Four C’s,
which stand for Cut, Colour, Clarity and Carat. Cut:
his gives the diamond its sparkle, the better the T cut, the more sparkle there is Colour: Grades from D through to Z. D is the absolute best being colourless. Z would be light yellow Clarity: From Flawless to I3. I3 being heavily included Carat: Weight i.e. 0.70 ct, 1.50 ct etc As GIA Diamond Graduates, we have studied, in depth, the technical make up and qualities of diamonds and believe that colour is the more important “C” to start with. A beautiful colourless diamond that has a couple of noticeable inclusions will definitely outshine a poor colour diamond that is without inclusions. It is so very important to work out what is important to you, beside budget of course, when looking to buy. Size of the diamond or the beautiful dazzling white of a near colourless one? It is very satisfying to be able to give a sizeable ‘rock’ as a token of love, but if the diamond doesn’t come alive with rainbow colours, it could be a huge disappointment to all. We also offer a bespoke service where we will source that special diamond or piece of jewellery for you, just let us know. We have contacts with Diamond Traders in Hatton Garden and are confident that we will be able to offer you the best possible price.
We believe diamond jewellery should be attainable for as many people as possible.
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THE DETAILS www.DesignsOnDiamonds.co.uk Jacqui@DesignsOnDiamonds.co.uk 07747 824898
DESIGNS ON DIAMONDS We offer high quality certified diamond jewellery at competitive prices. Compare our prices to High Street Jewellery Stores. Our Diamonds are certified, GIA, IGI, IGL Bespoke service for sourcing that special diamond or piece jewellery. The gift of a diamond is not just about romance, it is also a gift to show love for a mother, sister or daughter. A pair of diamond earrings or a beautiful diamond pendant would make a wonderful gift to celebrate a special Birthday, an Anniversary, Graduation or for a bride on her Wedding day.
www.DesignsOnDiamonds.co.uk
Jacqui@DesignsOnDiamonds.co.uk
LOCAL theatre
HAIRSPRAY
The smash hit musical comedy Hairspray is coming to Bromley with a brand new production, guaranteed to have you dancing the night away!
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t’s Baltimore, 1962 where Tracy Turnblad, a big girl with big hair and an even bigger heart, is on a mission to follow her dreams and dance her way onto national TV. Tracy’s audition makes her a local star and soon she is using her new-found fame to fight for equality, bagging local heartthrob Link Larkin along the way! Starring Claire Sweeney (Educating Rita, Chicago) as Velma Von Tussle, Peter Duncan (BBC1’s Tumble) as Wilbur Turnblad and Brenda Edwards (Chicago, We Will Rock You, X Factor) as Motormouth Maybelle. Freya Sutton will reprise the role of Tracy Turnblad alongside Jon Tsouras as Corny Collins, Dex Lee as Seaweed, Ashley Gilmour as Link Larkin and Layton Williams (Bad Education, Billy Elliot) as Duane. Featuring the hit songs Welcome To The 60s, You Can’t Stop The Beat, The Nicest Kids in Town and many more.
THE DETAILS Book by Mark O’Donnell and Thomas Meehan Music by Mark Shaiman Lyrics by Scott Wittman and Marc Shaiman Presented in arrangement with Josef Weinberger Limited on behalf of Music Theatre international of New York
Don’t miss this all-star cast in an irresistible feel-good show that will have you smiling for days - let your hair down and book now! 34 APRIL 2016 | www.thelifemagazines.com
EDUCATION
“Educating Mind, Body, Heart and Soul” Mayfield is a leading independent boarding and day school for girls aged 11 to 18, set in the beautiful, yet easily accessible Sussex countryside.
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t has an enviable academic record, exceptional pastoral care and extensive extracurricular activities. Mayfield girls learn how to combine rigorous academic study together with a diverse range of activities beyond the classroom. From dance to top class equestrian facilities fencing to debating, Mayfield challenges its girls to realise their full potential, providing them with a lifelong love of learning in order that they leave mature, educated and independent young women, confident in their beliefs and prepared to make a positive difference in the world. Described by the ISI as “outstanding” and by Country Life as “one of the finest schools in the land”, a Mayfield education combines academic rigour, breadth of opportunity and a strong sense of community embodying our motto “Actions not Words”. At Mayfield, each girl is accepted for who she is and we instil in her the confidence to find her strengths and build on them. We will give her the time, space and emotional
At Mayfield, each girl is accepted for who she is and we instil in her the confidence to find her strengths and build on them. 38 APRIL 2016 | www.thelifemagazines.com
support she needs to flourish. We will expect her to think independently and our enthusiastic teachers will inspire in her a lifelong love of learning. We will stimulate her imagination and nurture her creativity in every subject she studies. A Mayfield girl is challenged to set herself demanding targets and helped to find strategies to achieve them. She will learn to question her own and other people’s ideas and we expect her to make informed decisions. Her actions will be inspired by a sense of justice and integrity, sustained by her respect for others. Overall, she will have the chance to grow to be herself. Mayfield is a vibrant community. Traditionally, we have attracted pupils from all round the world, as well as locally. We are able to offer a very supportive boarding structure, which ensures us to support what best suits your daughter’s requirements. From day to full boarding, there is an opportunity to flexi-board and weekly board too. We have day pupil transport which covers a large area of Sussex and Kent, as well as a weekly bus service available to and from Central London which leaves at 4pm on a Friday and returns on Sunday evening, giving your daughter time at home over the weekend. For our full boarders we have a wonder array of activities and trips so there is never a dull moment! Such a cosmopolitan ethos helps the girls to understand and appreciate different cultures and perspectives and to value diversity. Friendships are forged here which sustain and support not only through School, but on into the future and we are proud to welcome successive generations of girls back to Mayfield. THE DETAILS 01435 874642 | registrar@mayfieldgirls.org The Old Palace, Mayfield, East Sussex TN20 6PH www.mayfieldgirls.org
EDUCATION
‘Independent Schools
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Top employers attend school careers event Deciding on the next steps to take after school can be a daunting prospect for young people so sourcing good quality employment information is an important aspect of career planning.
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ackville School in Hildenborough recognises this and recently hosted a Careers Fair with over forty exhibitors including a wide range of employers, training and apprenticeship providers and higher education institutions. The event was aimed at students and their parents and gave access to information on careers in the finance sector, publishing, the music business, medicine and working with animals to name but a few. Prestigious employers that took part include Fidelity Investments, AXA PPP, A J Bell, Markerstudy, the NHS and Pennard Vets. Some of the exhibitors were Sackville Alumni from areas as diverse as Technical Theatre, Teaching and 3D Architectural Design. Sackville School was recently confirmed as one of the top mixed ability schools in Kent by Department for Education annual performance tables
which rank schools across the country according to last summer’s GCSE results. The school’s results were the best for a non-grammar school in Sevenoaks, Tonbridge and Maidstone and were matched by only one other school in the entire County. Sackville believes this success is testament to small classes and experienced and dedicated teaching. These, combined with close personal support, advice and guidance, ensure that students receive excellent preparation for examinations, indeed for life in general. THE DETAILS To find out more book a tour on the school’s Open Morning on 19th April or arrange a private visit at a time convenient to you. www.sackvilleschool.co.uk | 01732 836401
EDUCATION
Bethany School Currently celebrating its 150th year, 2016 is proving to be one of the best yet for Bethany School in Goudhurst, with the completion of several projects that form part of an ongoing development of the School.
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he spring term saw the opening of a new extension to the dedicated Sixth Form Centre, The Orchard, and Sixth Formers are happily enjoying their new facilities. The project, which has been several years from planning to completion, gives pupils modern and elegant facilities in which to socialise and study, including a brand new kitchen, expansive common room and new dedicated study rooms. The summer term too will see some impressive changes for Bethany. As part of the Sixth Form curriculum at Bethany, all pupils are taught the importance of fitness with the School’s bespoke ‘Body for Life’ programme, and the opening of a spacious, state of the art
fitness room will elevate the scheme. Most exciting of all is the completion of the School’s brand new 25 metre, six lane indoor swimming pool. All at Bethany are delighted that Olympic Gold medal winner Rebecca Adlington, OBE will be officially cutting the ribbon at Bethany’s Speech Day on 25th June. Swimming is an important skill and is accessible to pupils of all abilities. The new pool will enable pupils to use the facilities year-round, boosting potential within the sports and PE curriculum and broadening the variety of activities for pupils to enjoy.
Sevenoaks T Prep “
Luke Harrison, Head of Sevenoaks Prep, discusses the importance of a Prep School ethos in Years 7 and 8.
The academic curriculum stimulates our students, preparing them for entrance examinations and scholarships.
he first years of secondary education are crucial; pupils should thrive in an environment where they feel challenged, nurtured and respected. Sevenoaks Prep is the perfect setting for this to happen. The academic curriculum stimulates our students, preparing them for entrance examinations and scholarships. There are many opportunities to take responsibility and lead; our students are our ambassadors and our prefects help us to run the school. Our Oak Award encourages our young people to consider their role in the wider world, inspiring them to challenge themselves, make the most of their creativity, and contribute to their community. Years 7 and 8 are a period of physical and emotional change; it is a sensitive time and the value of being in a caring environment where class sizes are small and every teacher knows every child extremely well is key to ensuring that our students feel supported. Our students go on to attend a wide variety of independent secondary schools at 13. Through working closely with parents and understanding each individual student’s needs, we ensure the chosen secondary school is the most appropriate setting for them to succeed academically and thrive personally. We want our pupils to leave us as individuals who are confident in their own abilities, who cherish friendships, welcome responsibility, understand their place in community and who know the value of teamwork. One only has to look at the accomplishments of our former students to know that we achieve our aims.� THE DETAILS For further information about opportunities at Sevenoaks Prep, please visit www.theprep.org.uk
EDUCATION
Science Expo brings the cutting edge of STEM to Sydenham High “It’s science, Jim, but not as we know it”. Sydenham High students might well have uttered this famous Star Trek line at the school’s #FutureProof Science Week Expo last month.
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he event gave them the exciting opportunity to work alongside some of the UK’s top STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) innovators. Through a series of classroom workshops they discovered how some of the biggest challenges of the modern world are being answered. Jonathan O’Halloran, microbiologist and inventor of a revolutionary hand-held device (resembling the famous Star Trek Tricorder) that can identify a disease profile in just 15 minutes, showed the students how his device is helping tackle the treatment of drug-resistant infections. The
2015 Chief Technical Officer of the Year, whose idea gained his company, QuantuMDx, funding from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, then helped the students to isolate their own DNA using everyday materials (photo bottom right). A post-doctoral team from Imperial College explained the amazing properties of ionic liquids, currently attracting worldwide attention as the next generation of industrial solvents. Dr Chris Sinclair, from UCL’s Institute of Neurology at UCL, demonstrated how the latest MRI scanners provide a better understanding of the brain and identify neurological problems. Finally, James Veness from The International Antarctic Expedition talked climate change, energy waste and how to find a more efficient system for powering the planet. The workshops were followed by an evening exhibition of curricular and extra-curricular work, plus practical demonstrations by both students and outside experts, attended by pupils and parents from Year 5 upwards. Subjects ranged from an investigation of the properties of hydrogels by the Science Club to examples of future sustainable foods. Science Week continued with a trip to CERN for Year 12 physicists, a food demo day and a science fair (Photo bottom left), organised by Year 8, which was attended by Junior School students.
Why an all-through education works at Bishop Challoner School, Shortlands.
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Bishop Challoner, a Catholic co-educational independent school, offers the entire educational journey from 3 to 18 with excellent retention from junior to senior school.
n our positive learning environment, high standards and expectations are set at every level.
Staff work closely with the pupils within one establishment, ensuring a successful transition between the different stages in their education. Pupils are able to be challenged, take risks and feel comfortable through consistent, well-planned teaching by staff who know them. We are able to track and monitor their progress and provide on-going support to ensure each pupil reaches their full potential. In our all through school, high quality relationships exist between staff and pupils embodying mutual respect, care, freedom to communicate and support in a school with a strong caring ethos. We encourage pupil interaction through collaborative activities across the key stages and providing opportunity for sixth form students to take responsibility for younger children as role models. This enables them to relate well to others and allows them to observe patterns
of behaviour to which they can aspire. Our excellent pastoral care and discipline allows the pupils to be nurtured enabling qualities of trust, empathy and resilience to develop. Our well established Able Gifted and Talented programme spans both the junior and senior school accommodating a wider breadth of activities for the Gifted and Talented pupils. Whole school activities involve fund-raising events and House activities from nursery through to sixth form. Our seamless journey from nursery to sixth form is a special one and something that is unique to Bishop Challoner. Our family community is something you will experience when you visit us. THE DETAILS www.bishopchallonerschool.com, admissoins@bishopchallonerschool.com 020 82909540
EDUCATION
Private schools achieve
greater A-level success
Pupils from fee-paying schools achieve almost 30 per cent of all A* grades despite forming just 13.6 per cent of all A-level entries, raising questions over the education opportunities on offer to the vast majority of children.
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rivate school pupils are continuing to outshine their state sector counterparts by a wide margin when it comes to A-level results, new figures show. A new analysis based on figures released by the Joint Council for Qualifications (JCQ) also shows that nearly half (48.2 per cent) of private school pupils achieve an A* or A grade, while just 22.5 per cent of A-level entries made from other exam centres – usually schools – achieve an A* or A grade. The figures show a disturbingly wide gap between the results achieved by independent and state school pupils. Tracy Cook, of the Independent Schools Council (ISC), which carried out the study, said: “The surprise is how big the gap is between independent and state sector pupils’ results. It is indicative of the significant added value provided by independent schools, due to factors such as intensive, focused teaching and smaller class sizes.” The study found that the performance of independent school pupils is particularly strong in sciences, maths and modern foreign languages, where they score high proportions of the top A* grade, compared with the percentage of pupils taking these exams. These are key subjects that are deemed strategically important
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to our economic future, but which are less popular with pupils and attract fewer students. The gulf between private and state sector results was particularly stark in the sciences. In physics A-level, independent schools supply 18.3 per cent of all candidates, yet because of the strength of their performance they account for 34.0 per cent of the A* grades awarded in the subject and make up 28.5 per cent of all entries in physics that achieve an A grade or higher. In biology, independent schools supply just over 14 per cent of all candidates for A-level, but account for 28.7 per cent of the A* grades. Private school pupils also account for 24.1 per cent of all entries in biology that achieve an A grade or higher. And in chemistry, independent schools supply 16.6 per cent of all candidates for A-level, but account for more than 31 per cent of A* grades awarded. They account for 26.6 per cent of all entries in chemistry that achieve an A grade or higher. According to a report by Oxford Economics consultancy group last year, the higher academic attainment of pupils at independent schools contributes an estimated £1.3 billion per year to the UK’s GDP, once those pupils enter the job market.
HOME ENTERTAINMENT
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LOCAL theatre
Meet Britain’s number 1 vocal harmony group, guest starring in That’s Entertainment at The Orchard Theatre.
The Overtones, Timmy Matley, Lachie Chapman, Mark Franks, Darren Everest and Mike Crawshaw have celebrated their 5th consecutive Top 10 UK Album, A Good Ol’ Fashioned Christmas. Combined their albums have sold over 1,000,000 copies and 2016 will see The Overtones back in the studio working on their 6th album! We asked the boys about their guest appearance in the song and dance extravaganza, That’s Entertainment. Tell us a bit about the band and your style of music? We have been together for nine years and have been releasing music for five years. We were overheard singing and a girl who works at a record label got us an audition with the big bosses at Warner music! All the pub gigs and opened mic nights paid off, because we secured a five album deal. It was the stuff of fairy tales really and we worked very hard to get where we are today, which makes it all taste a bit sweeter. Do any of the band members have a background in performing arts? Mark trained at the Royal Ballet School, Lachie trained as an actor in Australia and Timmy trained in musical theatre at Laine Theatre Arts. Mike is a massive theatre fan, as is Darren. What’s your favourite song number in the show? Why do fools fall in love; it’s a song that’s so full with sound and energy it always gets people up on their feet.
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What do you enjoy about the music from the 30s, 40s and 50s? It’s classy and always lives on. It’s such a joy singing songs like this and writing original material that has that sound is a blast! As That’s Entertainment is a dance extravaganza, can we expect to see any of you dancing in the show? Of course we are hoping to get involved, as we dance in our numbers anyway. As long as we can still belt out the high notes and low notes we’re up for a move or two. Do any of you plan on venturing further into the world of Musical Theatre? Watch out for sure! As a group and as individuals we have lots of goals and dreams. Timmy would love to do an old-school musical like Singing In The Rain or Guys And Dolls. Are you looking forward to coming to The Orchard Theatre, Dartford? Timmy cannot wait; it’s his local gig, as he lives in south east London. See you all soon! THE DETAILS See The Overtones perform at The Orchard Theatre, Dartford in That’s Entertainment from Tue 24 – Sat 28 May. Book online at orchardtheatre.co.uk or call the Ticket Office on 01322 220000.
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Health & BEAUTY
Get the
BLUES
While warm, sunny shades dominated fashion-wise for SS16, on the beauty front, blue in all its guises came to the fore and it didn’t stop at a gentle wash of periwinkle on the eyelids.
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t Roksanda, dense turquoise halos ringed eyes, while Toga saw masses of cobalt powder pushed to the eyebrows and beyond, and at Issey Miyake, drinking straws were used to splatter liquid pigment onto models’ temples - which begs the question, is any of this attainable for us?
Actually, it is, you just need to know how to translate these techniques from fashion world to the real world. This season, you’ll be happy you’ve got the blues... COBALT FROM THE BLUE At Jonathan Saunders, a thin ring of cobalt liner was applied
It’s a look that’s really easy to copy, with a well-sharpened eye pencil and carefully chosen shade. Cobalt looks great if you have dark brown or light blue eyes, while greenish-blue tones are better for hazel eyes. very close to the lash line and on the waterline, and then smudged slightly for what MAC make-up artist Lucia Pieroni described as “a sensual, slightly punk, Nineties” vibe. It’s a look that’s really easy to copy, with a wellsharpened eye pencil and carefully chosen shade. Cobalt looks great if you have dark brown or light blue eyes, while greenish-blue tones are better for hazel eyes. Go easy on the smudging if you want to dial down the grunge factor, and finish with a matching blue mascara to get that full-on electric glow.
w MAC Chromagraphic Pencil in Marine Ultra, £14 (www.maccosmetics.co.uk) w By Terry Terrybly Growth Booster Mascara in Terryfic Blue, £33.50 (www.spacenk.com) w Bourjois Smoky Stories Quad Eyeshadow Palette in Eblueissant, £7.99 (www.superdrug.com)
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Beauty B
lu letin
PICK UP A LIPPY
Ever wondered why red lipstick has seen off thousands of fads, remaining a firm beauty favourite for decades? According to a new survey by Listerine, 55% of women think red lippy makes their smile stand out more, 47% believe it makes their teeth look whiter, and 42% confess they feel more powerful with a scarlet pout. To celebrate, the brand is giving away a red Maybelline New York Color Sensational Lipstick.
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| APRIL 2016 53
Health & BEAUTY
&
TRIED TESTED
Designed to go on before moisturiser, serums are full of skin-boosting ingredients. Our testers try the latest releases... Philosophy When Hope Is Not Enough Hydrating Antioxidant Serum, £34.50 (www.johnlewis.com) “A small amount of this light serum, designed to wage war on the pallor-inducing effects of daily stress, goes a long way, helping to minimize puffiness around the under-eye area. Results aren’t evident overnight, but used in conjunction with a hydrating moisturiser, it is effective.”
3/5 Manuka Doctor ApiRefine Gold Dust Firming Serum, £29.99 (www.manukadoctor.co.uk) “Infused with colloidal gold, purified bee venom and manuka honey, this light, nongreasy formula glides on with ease. Used daily, I noticed increased hydration and elasticity where my skin usually flails. The illuminating effect was a nice touch too.”
5/5 La Roche-Posay Hydraphase Intense Serum, £19 (www.boots.com) “This cooling gel-like formula feels like a splash of cold water to wake up my skin, and worked rehydrating wonders on dry, sensitive areas. Easy to apply, it absorbed in super-quick BUY ITno NamOW time, leaving a fresh, smooth ount of Sometimes, can send ics et base for my moisturiser.” sm co expensive ing, and
4/5
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ICE ICE BABY At Chanel, the eye make-up mirrored the huge polarised sunglasses: ice blue was daubed ski-mask style across models’ faces. Clearly, this is a look that needs toning down considerably, but colourwise it’s a great option for those with grey or very dark brown eyes. To ensure an even wash of colour, start with an eye primer to create a smooth canvas for the shadow will cling to. The Chanel models went mascara-free, but a layer of your usual black is best to offset the pale tones.
LIQUID DREAMS “It’s the East Village girl who’s been out all night,” said Nars creative directors Francois Nars of the Marc Jacobs SS16 look, which included mussed up hair, shiny skin, clumpy mascara and a haphazard slick of cerulean liquid eye paint. Sounds kind of a mess, doesn’t it? But neatened up a bit, it totally works. If you’ve got hazel eyes, use your fingertip to apply a green-blue cream eyeshadow in the corner of the eye and smudge towards the centre (for green eyes, a more purply-blue is
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best), topping off with lashings of volumising mascara. BLUNT FORCE In contrast to the winged liner that’s been ubiquitous for seasons, at Monique Lhuillier in New York, thick bands of cyan ended bluntly at the corner of the eye, what make-up artist Val Garland calls ‘colour bolts’. A dense, chalky eye pencil is best for achieving the optimum opacity here; start by drawing the square-edged outline then filling in underneath. The cyan shade suits most eye colours, including darker blues, but if you’ve got pale blue peepers, opt for a richer royal blue.
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Health & BEAUTY
Appearances Aesthetics
Transforming the way we look
I’m often surprised at the new things I learn when I speak to business people on a more in-depth basis and meeting up with Aesthetic Practitioner Gillian Huntley, owner of award winning Appearances Aesthetics, was no exception. I was amazed to hear just why she can transform people’s lives through her treatments.
G
illian started appearances in 1986 and while she mainly treats clients at her home clinic based in Chiselhurst, she also works out of Edenbridge, BMI The Sloane and Chelsfield Park Hospitals. She keeps herself up-todate with all the latest technology and training required to conduct treatments and is often recommended by GPs (including Harley Street ones) as the ‘Go To’ person in her line of work. She is also award winning: 2015 Kent Aesthetic Practitioner of the Year; Kent Women in Business Awards 2016 Finalist and BABTAC & CIBTAC 2016 Awards Finalist. There are many different types of treatments Gillian can carry out - skins peels, scar relaxation, specialist waxing, thread vein/pigmentation/ skin tag removals. So what is the difference in the equipment that Gillian uses for semi-permanent tattoos compared to what you would find at your local tattoo parlour? Semi-permanent tattooing does not penetrate the skin as deeply as a normal tattoo needle would, therefore it can be used on delicate areas of our bodies such as eyelids. The reason they are semi-permanent is because the colour will start to fade over a year and topups are required to maintain perfect effect and colour. w Semi-Permanent Eyeliner Imagine not having to worry about your eyeliner smudging anymore or going for a swim and coming out of the pool with your eyes looking as great as when you got in? This treatment is perfect for those with allergies, contact lenses,
eye problems or simply to save you time. With her semipermanent tattooing machine Gillian can give you either top or top and bottom eyeliner in your choice of colour, in a thickness you desire that will last for 1-3 years. I bet there are a number of you thinking it must be painful having your eyelids tattooed. So how painful is it? Well, the only way for me to find out was to undergo treatment myself and let you know personally. Gillian first applies a special numbing cream to the eyelids which takes a short while to take effect, so while this was working its magic Gillian was preparing the colour for my eyeliner. I had originally thought of having black for maximum effect but Gillian pointed out that I might look like I’m ready for a night out every morning when I wake up. We decided upon grey with a hint of blue/black for a slightly more subtle look. I would be lying if I said that you couldn’t feel a thing but it was not actually painful as such, more of an uncomfortable feeling. Gillian also makes it clear that if you need her to stop at any time to take a break then all you need to do is say. Of course you have to remain extremely still during the process otherwise the liner might end up in places other than your eyelids! About half an hour later and it was all finished. When having it done for the first time you will generally need 2-3 visits but after that an annual top up will be all that is needed to keep the colour looking great all the time. I think semi-permanent eyeliner is one of the best things ever and since I’ve had my eyes done I’ve been absolutely delighted with them. Feel free to stop me in the street if you want to check them out for yourself! w Semi-Permanent Eyebrows If your eyebrows are starting to thin, perhaps due to age or over-plucking in years gone by, Gillian is able to give you your eyebrows back. She does this by tattooing on each individual hair stroke with machine, leaving you with very natural looking eyebrows. She calls these ‘WoW Brows’ and you can see in the picture just how
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natural the finish looks. The brow is numbed first before Gillian sets to work tattooing the individual brow hairs. I’ve come across a number of ladies around the local area who when I mention Gillian’s name are proud to show off their ‘WoW Brows’ as it has given them back confidence in their appearance. w Medical Tattooing This is an advanced level of semipermanent make-up, treating other areas of the body. The work is mainly creating areolas for breast cancer patients but also can help scars (burn’s victims), scalps (alopecia and hair loss), and even ‘fixing’ webbed toes. This treatment basically replaces what is not there or transforms what is there. Written with thanks and kind experience of her treatments by Laura Burton Lawrence
I bet there are a number of you thinking it must be painful having your eyelids tattooed. THE DETAILS To find out more about these or the other treatments Gillian offers, or to book an appointment, contact her on 07711 067 789 or email appearances4u@me.com. You can also find lots more information on her website at www.appearancesaesthetics.co.uk or find her on facebook, twitter and YouTube.
FASHION
Sp r
ni
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. . n ig
THEIR STEP Spring has sprung and it’s finally time to freshen up fashion and embrace the new season trends.
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or the small people in our world, exactly the same applies. Kids love nothing more than running around outdoors wearing fewer t layers - and there’s something so rints a p y t r ibe ’re appealing about brighter springy g for L price? You Lookin iqlo f the n o U togs. n r io fo . w a fract he Liberty w This season, there’s an .T ne at w on k li c n o lu in es now in stor eclectic mix of trends for tion is collec om (landing s items for e .c toddlers, teens and everything uniqlo ) and includ hildren, c 18 d h n c r in between, and if you’re a a n M e m o m fr o w g men, tartin looking for Easter rices s em with p .90 - get th treats containing 7 ! n a just £ c you less sugar, this sweet while selection is just what you need.
STYLEL
STEA
GET THE BLUES ‘China blues’ is a key trend for girls this season, inspired by the intricate prints and patterns found on bone china, says
Maria Kumar, House of Fraser childrenswear designer. “We’ve seen this look on the womenswear catwalk shows from brands like Valentino, and this has now filtered down to childrenswear. In terms of colour, there will be lots of tones and shades of blue, mostly onto porcelain whites and soft cream backdrops.” All-over prints will follow a theme of spring for inspiration - think florals, butterflies, fruits and birds. GO WILD Jungle imagery, bright colours and tonal greens are big for boys this season. “This trend has filtered down from the menswear collections which focus on foliage prints, but brighter tones and animal graphics keep the trend young and fun,” says Kumar. “Green and yellow are key colours for this season,” agrees Taffeta Gray,
w Twist Sandals, £42, Bobux (www.bobux.co.uk) w T-shirt, from £9; Crop Jeans, from £14, and High Tops, from £14, all Marks & Spencer (www.marksandspencer.com; available June) w Little Dickins & Jones Daisy Print Dress, from £34, House of Fraser (www.houseoffraser.co.uk)
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director of Five Boys Clothing, “but in softer, subtle tones, moving away from the dreaded soft play primary colours which can give you a headache.” FABULOUS FLORALS Pretty prints are always a safe bet when it comes to spring and summer clothing, and this year is no different. Florals are as big as ever, varying between big, bold and tropical to dainty and ditsy - and suitable for both boys and girls. COOL COLOURS Boyswear is characterised by a bold use of colour this season, as well as abstract shapes and graphics, as seen on the menswear catwalks, adds Kumar. “There’s a fun, vibrant, sportswear look, with the colour focus on brights and darker tones of navy and indigo. Large scale graphics and all over prints are also key.” BY THE SEA “Another key trend for girls this season is the exotic riviera look - inspired by warm summers by the sea,” continues Kumar. “The trend is characterised by luxury, elegance and a rich colour palette. We’ll see 3D floral embellishments and sequins, as well as exotic themed graphics.”
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Get the look
talk of p with r Ashley u t li media nd blogge ing Social la mode ed to be dat at r, e t n e gy ur g o pres le m u g r ( in James lliams) look acha Baron fS Wa t David t premiere o shoes migh e gh cen le T e r . d y n e b a h s t ’s Grim eal her style e Nine n e h o C - st hes elped with t , have h ning tricks eel Sandals e H h t h ig H leng r e a an ras West M , House of F co.uk). £85 aser. r ff o e .hous (www
Looking forward to SPRING
La Belle Femme specializes in exclusive collections to suit every woman for all occasions. LA BELLE FEMME specialises in stunning collections to suit every women for all occasions. Shine out in one of LBF’s glamorous short or long evening dresses. For your special events Mother of the bride or groom , race days, Wimbledon or Henley, LBF has it all. Rosemary and daughter Joanna understand how important individuality and style is to today’s modern women, which reflects in their trendy designer separates. They travel worldwide to find original collections which you will not find on the High Street. Some of the exciting brands are as follows Carla Ruiz (Spain), Kevan Jon (UK), Paola (Warsaw), Xenia Designs (Croatia), Isabel Garcia (Italy) Bleu Blanc Rouge (Paris), to name but a few. Their friendly and experienced staff will help you to create the perfect look. Sizes 8 to 20.
14 Royal Parade, Chislehurst BR7 6NR
| 020 8467 6661
HOME & GARDEN
. .and so to
BED When it comes to creating the perfect environment for a good night’s sleep, your style is as important as the bed you choose.
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long with the right mattress, your bedstead or divan is the perfect platform to express your personality. And with March marking National Bed Month, there couldn’t be a better time to drift into comfortable slumber and design the bed (room) of your dreams. We spend a third of our lives in bed, so having fun with fabrics and bedlinen will not only enhance your sleep experience, but help you unwind and relax in style - with the help of ornate headboards, luxurious thread counts, cosy throws or contemporary furnishings.
MODERN “A busy life doesn’t equal busy bedroom decor,” says Samantha Parish, interior design account manager at Hypnos beds. “If you’re someone that has a hectic work schedule or social life, then your bedroom space should be a sanctuary of clean lines, light colours and soft shades, and completely free from clutter. This bedroom style will help a busy mind to relax, and begin to calmly process the day’s thoughts before it’s time to sleep.” Parish suggests a mattress with intuitive pocket springs that offer maximum support and helps to relieve pressure in the spine and muscles, allowing your body to fully relax and your mind to unwind. Contemporary, clean lines complete the look and neutral tones will add a designer hotel bedroom vibe. CLASSIC “A timeless, classic style has a regal feel and is subtle, formal and elegant,” says Parish. “It’s suited to the sleeper who likes to
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drift off to sleep in a calming environment without any form of chaos. “Incorporate curved, French furnishings and soft feminine touches into the bedroom for a space that is both soothing and beautiful.” Although more expensive than cotton, linen and velvets are on-trend - and a sumptuous satin throw, ornate chandelier and a boudoir cushion will create a feeling of timeless elegance. A grand, curved or winged headboard always looks lavish, or you can recline in comfort against a headboard dressed in silk satin with gorgeous button details. “For more traditional bedrooms, look towards more ornate headboards with an interesting shape or luxurious detailing such as stud work,” says Adam Black, co-founder Button & Sprung. “Divans work well in these environments and offer the luxury of extra storage.” Try opting for a handmade, bespoke mattress, filled with organic cotton, British wool and silk, and tailored with genuine hand side stitching for additional edge-to-edge support. COUNTRY Taking inspiration from her Scottish heritage, Lorraine Kelly has launched a Coast to Glen bedroom collection which features an array of checked fabrics alongside a grey, taupe and plum colour palette influenced by the rugged Highlands and Celtic shores. Knitted throws and cushions are easily layered to team with the cool natural textures, such as stone and cottons found on lighting, bedding and soft furnishings. “These are all pieces I would have in my own home and a lot of the collection is very much a reflection of the beautiful landscape, colours and atmosphere of the Outer Hebrides, which is a place I love,” says Kelly. “I wanted bring elements of the Scottish outdoors into the home.”
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Hypnos advises using a storage divan for this type of look, as it provides space to stash away Wellington boots, travel cases and woolly throws before spring. “For the type of sleeper who likes to have all the comforts of home, but is a fan of the great outdoors, then a rustic country style can work well, says Parish. “Its rich, warm textured fabrics and eclectic collections of furniture, nicknacks and accessories that hold special memories, mean the bedroom becomes a personal haven from the outside world.”
A timeless, classic style has a regal feel and is subtle, formal and elegant
BOTANICAL Textile designer Clarissa Hulse has launched a Boston Ivy range for the spring which combines ditsy vine and flowing tendril prints inspired by nature, with throws and cushions to complement the bed linen in Sulphur - a cheerful yellow that pairs well with leaf motifs and trailing plants to bring the outdoors into your bedroom. “By opening the doors to all the lush greens of the English garden and the beautiful burnt oranges of the sunset, try using bold, natural prints with a heavy focus on leaves, which will act as a canopy to surround the bed and create the perfect tranquil environment for a day dreamer,” suggests Parish.
“If you’re after a bed for lounging on in the day, while offering the perfect conditions for sleep at night, then opt for a mattress with naturally soft and breathable layers of organic wool and camel hair, which help to regulate body temperature and ensure a fresh and hygienic night’s sleep,” says Parish. “Finish it off with an upholstered fabric headboard, which you can sit and read against in the day.”
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kedleston
fairmont
HOME & GARDEN
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HOME & GARDEN
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HOME & GARDEN
They pride themselves on their honesty and reliability – the foundation on which the business is built upon
Carpentry with a personal approach The Kent-based carpentry firm James Blunt Carpentry goes from strength to strength as it celebrates 10 years in business
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stablished for ten years, James Blunt Carpentry is a thriving local, family run business going from strength to strength. Taking on all aspects of carpentry in the commercial sector as well as domestic projects and have built a solid reputation within the industry to produce high standards of workmanship. They pride themselves on their honesty and reliability – the foundation on which the business is built upon. Along side the standard first and second fix carpentry, they specialize in bespoke wardrobes, flooring and kitchen fitting. They pride themselves on their personal approach to every new project and each client deals directly with business owner James Blunt.
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With the recent trends in garden design, there has been a significant increase in the need for contractors who specialize in installing decking. This is an area in which James Blunt Carpentry’s creative designs are flourishing and they are proving increasingly popular. THE DETAILS
Visit www.jamesbluntcarpentry.co.uk to have a look at some of the other projects undertaken. Get in touch by calling 07709436 674, or email jbcarpentry@talktalk.net Like us on facebook (www.facebook.com/jamesbluntcarpentry).
HOME & GARDEN
Morso Fires
Make the difference to your home! Newly open in the heart of Petts Wood, Morso Fires is a wood-burning stove showroom.
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Morso stove is so much more than simply a stove, it quickly becomes the heart of your home. Combing timeless elegance with traditional craftsmanship and quality, it cannot be beaten. As a family business in the trade for many years we decided to move away from the standard ‘stove showroom’, with rows and rows of black boxes to choose from, restricted brand knowledge and drastic differences in quality we believe that Morso stoves need and deserve to stand centre stage. Our small but well equipped showroom
displays everything from a small but mighty inset model that can fit a standard sized opening in your property to a beautiful free-standing cylinder model with side glass to view from every angle, perfect for kitchen diners. With gas and oil prices steadily rising wood burning stoves are becoming essential for home owners, and aside from purchase and installation costs they will begin saving you money right away. It is encouraged to heat the room you are in, many of us waste money on the central heating to warm a house when in reality we spend most of our time in only a one or two rooms. And what could be better on a cold, dull day than the crackle of a real log fire, flickering flames and a warm cosy room? We pride ourselves on good customer service and installations tailored to your specific requirements, with a free survey we can assess the condition and suitability of your existing chimney or design a bespoke flue system if you do not have one, there is almost always an option for a wood burning stove, sometimes where you would have never imagined it.
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We have a large selection of ‘Defra Approved’ models, this means even in a smoke controlled area you can burn logs on one of the approved models. Morso have been making cast iron wood burning stoves for a very long time, over 150 years now. Danish technology and design producing modern yet timeless models that are loved as a piece of furniture rather than just an appliance. When you choose a Morso wood-burner, you make a choice for life. We truly believe the brand speaks for itself and we are proud to provide these superbly manufactured, elegant, fuel efficient and environmentally friendly cast-iron stoves. Come and visit our showroom today, let Morso make the difference in your home. THE DETAILS To find out more: Morso Fires Ltd, 180 Petts Wood Road, Greater London, BR5 1LG 01689 872745 www.morsofires.co.uk sales@morsofires.co.uk
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HOME & GARDEN
Creative Interior Designs
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e specialise in the supply and if required the installation of quality German kitchens. Our handless kitchens have been a huge success with a large choice of door fronts including glass, 3 internal carcass colours and many different internal storage solutions, all of course soft closing. We have several options for the led intergrated lighting, with some ranges able to change fromm cool white to warm white to combine perfectly with other lighting systems. Our designers will work with you either from architects drawings or a home visit to take measurements and then produce a design and quote based on your specifications. We are able to supply all types of worktops and appliances. We partner to Neff and Siemens and many of their models can be seen on display along with sinks and taps from various manufacturers includings Blanco, Quooker and Franke. As well as quoting for the supply of your new kitchen we can also offer full project management with all aspects of the installation taken care of. THE DETAILS
Creative Interior Designs are based in Kent with showrooms in Beckenham and central London
If you would like some more information on our products and services please call or email: Creative Interior Designs, 71 High Street, Beckenham, Kent BR3 1AW 020 8663 3393 | info@creative-iduk.co.uk
Hamiltons International IS back! Designing interiors for over 30 years
At home or virtual interior design consultancies available. Visit the website www.hamiltons-international.co.uk Contact Denise for more information on 07774 701381
Find us on social media
HOME & GARDEN
CHRISTOPHER PEACOCK TO LAUNCH FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THE UK
Christopher Peacock
Founder and Creative Director Christopher Peacock began his career in London during the early eighties, working at Terence Conran’s furniture store in London. After accepting an offer to work in the US he traveled first to Boston MA, where he worked as a designer at the Boston Design Center and then continued his career in New York City working as a kitchen designer at the Architects and Designer’s building. He launched Christopher Peacock Cabinetry in 1992, beginning with a single kitchen display inside a small store in Greenwich, CT. The vignette drew the attention of architects, designers and a discerning clientele. The Christopher Peacock cabinetry brand soon proved its worth, quickly establishing itself as the paradigm of beautiful hand-crafted classic British cabinetry, but made to order in the USA. By owning and operating the showrooms and production facility the quality control and high standards were always under his control. Since those early days many distinctive showrooms have been opened throughout the USA and Europe, with locations in Greenwich, Chicago, Boston, San Francisco, New York City, Short Hills, and in Cannes, Cote D’Azur, France and in London, England. Additionally, 2016 will see the launch of a new location in Dallas, Texas.
Global leader in luxury lifestyle interiors, Christopher Peacock launched its London showroom in November 2015, bringing the brand to the UK for the first time. Founded in 1992, Christopher Peacock remains the benchmark of taste and understated elegance, which has graced many of the world’s most luxurious private estates and residential developments across the globe. Christopher Peacock, Founder and Creative Director, comments: “The launch of our first UK showroom in London’s thriving Design Centre Chelsea Harbour, Europe’s flagship for design and decoration, represents the next chapter for Christopher Peacock as an international brand. Drawing back to my roots, the collection has always been inspired by English architecture and design.” Specialising in outstanding craftsmanship, Christopher Peacock represents unique bespoke and handcrafted cabinetry, hardware adornments and fitted furniture for the entire home. The collection includes spectacular kitchens, libraries, dressing rooms, bathroom suites, wine tasting rooms and butler’s pantries. The highly-skilled interior designers provide incomparable personal service and consultation, tailoring each room individually, creating functional spaces that meet the demands of today’s lifestyle. The London showroom features signature displays including the recently launched Motra™ Collection of cabinetry that offers a modern and traditional line available in a wide-variety of finishes such as Quarter Sawn oak, American walnut and the Christopher Peacock Paint. The Refectory Collection, also on view, embodies understated elegance of New Hampton Style that conveys a blend of English Georgian and American Colonial architectural elements.
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The company philosophy has always been to produce handcrafted cabinetry of the highest quality, using the finest materials and offering an unparalleled level of professional service to its clientele. Unique in its approach to the marketplace, the company is driven by a youthful enthusiasm and a fervent desire to create the most beautiful and lasting products. There is a dedicated partnership between the management, the design team, and the master carpenters and decorative artists who stake their reputations and take great pride in the brand. Today, his company and brand is recognized as the ultimate in luxury cabinetry design and there are many hundreds of rooms of beautiful cabinetry gracing homes in the United States and internationally. The classic understated elegance that has become the mark of his work has allowed the company some very special opportunities. Christopher has been invited to take part in the New York City Kips Bay Show House on seven occasions and has participated in the most prestigious designer show houses across the United States. He has appeared on national television and he has been featured in many of the national newspapers as well as having his work regularly published. His portfolio of work includes numerous projects for many high profile clients, from the world of arts, sports, and business. Included in this list are nine rooms of cabinetry designed for President William Jefferson Clinton, and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton at their Chappaqua, NY private residence. www.peacockhome.com
HOME & GARDEN
property show
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Fiveways
Fires & Stoves
O
pened in November 2013, Lee and Sharon Humm took over the lease of an old fancy dress shop on Sidcup Road and after much hard work, Fiveways Fires and Stoves was born. More of a prized showroom than a shop, this retail venture boasts impressive product displays that include fire accessories, live wood burners, beautiful mirrors, gas and electric fires, stoves, multifuel stoves, beams made to measure hearths and much more. However although this flourishing family run business may be a young business, this duo maintain decades of experience to lend to the trade. Lee first got into the fireplace installing business by fluke, after having had a fireplace fitted in the family home, after labouring for the installer, Lee eventually became Gas Safe registered and in 1998 along with Sharon, set up a reputable fitting business. This company is Magnilees (www.maginlees. co.uk) a fitting company that specialises in fireplace and stove installation across London and the South East. Having built up a repertoire of clientele, including many well-respected building contractors, property developers and celebrities, the couple were finding they were frequently asked as to whether they could supply a supply and fit service. Realising many customers prefer the entire job to be completed by one person or company, Lee and Sharon decided to (literally) set up shop on the retail side-hence Fiveways Fires and Stoves.
Gas Safe registered and a Hetas registered installer, Fiveways Fires and Stoves prides itself on its friendly and helpful team, while upholding a high level of customer satisfaction. Competitively priced, all clients are offered a full service, from an initial free site survey , through to installation, often with a supply and fit deal. In June 2015, Fiveways fires & stoves successfully met the professional assessment standard to become a which? Trusted trader and is committed to abide by the which? Trusted trader code of conduct Fiveways Fires & Stoves is open Monday to Saturday, 10am-6pm THE DETAILS
Fiveways Fires & Stoves 743-745 Sidcup Road, New Eltham, SE9 3SA Tel: 020 8127 4747 www.fivewaysfires.co.uk
Fiveways Fires & Stoves Experienced, Friendly. Family Run Showroom. Hetas and Gas Safe engineers. Multi fuel stoves all Defra approved, Gas Fires and Mantles, The New Optimist range of Electric Fires and Stoves. Open 6 days a week: 10 until 6.
743-745 Sidcup Rd, New Eltham, SE9 3SA (located along Sidcup Bypass)
Tel: 0208
127 4747
TRAVEL
WESTERN AUSTRALIA’S re
su a e r T d e ck e r w ip h S
Listening to calcified coral cracking underfoot, I can almost hear the fragile cries of lost souls buried metres below me.
N
early four centuries ago, 126 men, women and children were massacred during one of the most blood-thirsty episodes in Australia’s maritime history, and many of their bodies were laid to rest here, on Beacon Island. A local fisherman, Chook, tells me he once spent the night on this “island of angry ghosts”, awaking to the sound of panic-stricken, squawking seabirds. For now, the windswept, barren coral mound is calm, although a fringe of blood-red fish spawn along the shoreline unintentionally nods to a sinister past. It’s not an obvious sightseeing attraction, or even one that’s easy to reach, but I’m visiting as part of a small cruise through the relatively unknown Abrolhos Islands. This archipelago of 122 coral and limestone islands strung along the world’s most southerly reef system, 60km offshore from west coast town Geraldton, welcomes only a handful of tourists each year, yet it occupies an important place in Australia’s history. In 1629, the Dutch merchant vessel Batavia shipwrecked after hitting Morning Reef, which sailors had mistaken for “moonshine on the water”. Of the 322 passengers on board, most managed to swim to shore, although a mutiny reminiscent of Lord Of The Flies ensued. Hero Wiebbe Hayes eventually reclaimed peace, and the stone forts he erected on West Wallabi Island are considered to be the first European buildings on Australian soil. Providing tidal conditions are favourable, tourists can snorkel or dive the Batavia shipwreck, although up until recently, it’s only been possible to reach with expensive charters or by hitching a ride with a fisherman. A crayfishing industry developed here in the 1920s, with settlements springing up over the course of subsequent decades. But communities collapsed when a quota system was introduced in 2010, meaning it was no longer feasible to fish for more than a few months a year. Jay Cox, 54, lived on Rat Island for 14 years with his wife, Sonia, and their children. He’s since swapped crayfishing for tourism, and purchased the Eco Abrolhos six years ago, after seeing it for sale in a magazine. The 38-passenger ship, which formerly operated in the Whitsundays, becomes my cosy home for the next five days. I’m joined on board by a group of 15 hardy, nature-loving
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Australians, mainly retirees escaping the east coast winter on long caravanning trips. During our bumpy four-hour sailing from Geraldton, I hear about a 70-year-old vet’s attempts to reintroduce a rare breed of pheasant to New South Wales, and learn how one couple manage to survive for six months a year camping on a beach with just a couple of fishing rods and a biodegradable toilet. All the while, I’m distracted by migratory humpbacks breaching on the horizon. Lying in the stream of the Leeuwin Current, the Abrolhos Islands are surrounded by a mixture of tropical and temperate waters making conditions extremely favourable for marine wildlife and a healthy coral reef. Belts of turquoise and indigo wrap around the islands, melting into each other like butter in a pan. Using the gentle current to carry me, I drift snorkel off the shores of Wooded Island, admiring some of the 100 different types of coral found here. Clownfish eyeball me suspiciously from beneath the writhing tendrils of bluetipped anemones, as I float below a rooftop of large plate corals. Those who prefer not to get wet take a scenic trip in glass bottom boat, the King Diver, while others fish for squid. That evening, Chook and Jay’s son, Bronson, fillet snapper and coral trout for dinner as the watery silhouettes of salivating reef sharks gather around the boat. While sitting at the top deck bar built by Jay, I learn more about the local fishing community’s opposition to tourism in the Abrolhos. A story emerges, almost as cut-throat as the Batavia mutiny 400 years ago. Three days before we’d set off, Jay had received a phone call warning him not to visit any inhabited islands as part of the ship’s itinerary. Local fishermen, it appears, would prefer to keep their idyllic kingdoms to themselves. It would probably be much easier and more profitable for Jay and Sonia to spend more time in Western Australia’s Kimberley region, where Eco Abrolhos also operates itineraries. “We put the Kimberleys into a Google algorithms search
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TRAVEL
“They said, just keep doing what you’re doing; this could be the next Great Barrier Reef.” engine and in a month there were 122,000 searches,” explains Jay. “In the same period there were just 80 for the Abrolhos.” But a combination of passion and anger spurs them on. Defying threats, we land on Pigeon Island where one of the few receptive fishermen, Al, has been living since he was 15. At one time, the population swelled to 70. Faded artwork decorates a schoolroom which closed in 2008, and freshly chalked cues still lie across a pool table in the community centre. I tiptoe into a corrugated iron “museum piece” house, where a vintage TV set glares at a ripped, monochrome art deco sofa and dirty tea cups sit on a Formica table imprinted with an image of the Venetian lagoon. Jay reminisces about a care-free past, and I wonder if an element of his determination to set foot on these forgotten islands is bound-up with personal nostalgia. In reality, he shouldn’t be so concerned. While dwindling communities are a point of interest, their rundown shacks, strangled in a mass of electrical cables, are, for the most part, depressingly ugly. For me, it’s the remote, unsullied spots that prove to be the biggest draw. More than 90 different species of seabird can be found here, including the threatened Australian Lesser Noddy. We go in search of the diminutive birds (which weigh just 100g) on Leos Island, although after lifting up a few bushes, Jay shrugs his shoulders and concludes “they’re not here today”. Instead, we sit on the banks of a lagoon and watch cormorants skim the water as osprey flit back and forth to their nest. On East Wallabi Island, one of the few limestone islands with access to fresh water, I spend an afternoon trying to spot timid Tammar wallabies in the dense thickets, while other members of our group attempt to prize free oysters clinging tightly to rocks at Turtle Bay. Not a single - even lost - soul could disturb the peace. Tourism in the Abrolhos Islands is admittedly in its early stages, and there’s no denying the Cox’s have a challenging ride ahead. “Sometimes I think this is too hard,” admits Sonia, during a low point. But their love for the destination is too great to ignore. Jay recalls a group of visiting scientists who he guided 10 years ago as part of a charter tour. “They were visiting 40 reef systems around Australia and claimed this was one of the best,” he says proudly. “They said, just keep doing what you’re doing; this could be the next Great Barrier Reef.”
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BOOK REVIEWS
The
BookShelf
“Is this ladies month? Chocolate, Maids, Weddings - so is romance still in the air?” WORDS by Bruce Edwards
The Legend of the Gypsy Hawk Sally Malcolm Pub. by: P/b:
The Maid of Oaklands Manor Terri Nixon Pub. by: P/b:
Piatkus £8.99
Not the first outing for the Maid. She appeared in hardback a while back, but a second airing is no bad thing. We’ve been rather inoculated with Country House family drama ever since Julian Fellows first introduced us to Gostwick Park on the big screen then Downton Abbey with its miscellaneous assortment of characters on Sunday night TV ad nauseum. I rather think Terri should have had a chance with Downton, for here, as in the historical soap, the story lines twist around upstairs and twirl around below stairs but in far more likely a manner. Romantical aspirations meld with moments of high drama based on family fortunes and potential heirs. So, it is unsurprising that the maid - Lizzy, aka Mary - becomes involved with Evie, the rather delightful heiress, and develops a ‘thing’ for the mysterious Jack Carlisle. She gets herself into all sorts of scrapes but happily emerges complete with her conquest but minus the jewel over which everyone is so concerned. Jewel or girl? I know which I prefer. ISBN:
978-0-349-40103-4
Choc Lit £7.99
If you’re stifled by the 1800’s social scene, let’s step back a few years and into the world of the Pirate Kings. There’s much to be said about the legends surrounding the West Indies and the haunts of privateers; a whole collection of films - ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ - has tantalised cinema goers in the past decade. Feisty women, handsome pirate captains, scheming aristocrats, they’re all here in print, rampaging away in a tale of ‘derring do’ which doesn’t stop still for an instant - in fact it may leave one breathless at times. Amy - or Amelia, a continuous and confusing juxtaposition of names for the same hot-blooded pirate gal, is also left breathless on more than one occasion as her hero Zach tempts her over one edge or another. She’s taken prisoner a few times, is rescued a few times, does nasty things to those who’d wish her ill and survives. Ultimately the ‘Gypsy Hawk’ sails off into the sunset - but who with? Ah, that’d be telling . . . ISBN:
978-1-761892-7
The Chocolate Lovers Wedding Carole Matthews Pub. by: H/b:
Sphere £7.99
After all the shenanigans of pirate life, maybe it’ll be a pleasant relief to come back to the sanity - if that’s what it is - of a Londonbased Chocolate Heaven. Oooh, lots of it. The posse of four Chocolate Lovers Club girls have that addictive love in common; however this commonality does not extend to their love lives. Chaos, dubious morals, together with all the little traumas that surround life in town can, sadly, assume a series of worrying scenarios. One wonders what pirate girl Amy would have done, attacked by a mugger or caught in flagrante by a maliciously triggered police raid. What she would not have understood was the challenge posed by the discovery of breast cancer. Chantel suffers but the girls rally round. There are two weddings, maybe another two pending. Here are indomitable spirits, who despite the underlying frivolity, manage to cope even when faced with a fascinating collection of mini-disasters. Is the trip to the Lakes a disaster or not? Is this one of Matthews’s better stories? ISBN:
978-0-7515-6023-7
“We hope you enjoy this month’s selection, but do feel free to comment or suggest new titles via writerselect@gmail.com. Any contact addresses given remain confidential.”
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FOOD & DRINK
Calgary out a Californian dream Dishes...
With her trim figure, long blonde hair and blue eyes, Calgary Avansino looks the epitome of a healthy Californian.
B
ut she’s made Britain her home for the past 16 years, where, as part of the burgeoning clean-eating brigade, she’s transforming our daily diets. New cookbook Keep It Real is packed full of wholesome advice from the mum-of-three (to Ava, Margot and Remy), who arrived here in the winter of 2000, to discover coconut water and quinoa were unheard of, let alone available in local supermarkets. Now, of course, they’re ubiquitous, but we’re still making bad decisions about what we put in the trolley. “I think we’ve lost a reality check about what real food is, because we’re so used to going down the grocery store aisles and seeing 50 cereals and 20 salad dressings and actually, none of that is real food,” says the journalist, who, unsurprisingly, looks much younger than her 40 years. “So, what you’re used to doing - you have to stop that habit. Think about food in terms of where it comes from, what it’s made from, what goes into it, and start caring about what we put in our bodies in a different way.” Avansino, who started her career in journalism as the assistant to British Vogue’s editor-in-chief Alexandra Shulman and is now a contributing editor, has a simple set of rules for how to ‘keep it real’, which include: ditching diets, embracing plants, and eliminating sugar. “When I talk about a plant-based diet, it doesn’t mean you have to be a vegan or veggie at all; if you want to eat lean, good cuts of meat, that’s fine. You just have to look at what else you’re eating,” she says. “I’m not saying make threestarred Michelin meals, I’m just saying chop some spinach.” It was really important for Avansino that her book be published postJanuary, so it wouldn’t be part of the “detox, diet mentality”. “This is forever. You have to decide if you want to change how you think about cooking and the food you put in your kitchen. It should be a great thing not a deprivation thing.” Diets are off the menu completely. “Diet is such a negative concept. It causes this cycle of, ‘I’m not good enough, I’m a failure and I can’t do this - and now I weigh more than I did before’. Because that’s what happens - every time. “I think there’s a huge movement against dieting and that’s what I want to see - because I don’t want anything I write to be thought of as a diet.” So that means you can indulge in your favourite food, be that pizza or brownies, but she says: “You just can’t have it all the time”. “Especially with women, there’s this mentality where if I eat something naughty for breakfast then I think, ‘Oh well, this day is shot, I might as well eat crap all day’. But think of every meal as a fresh start. Don’t ever beat yourself up about something you ate before - just move on and start with the next meal, day or whatever it is. Don’t make food the enemy.” Exercise is also really important - a self-confessed yoga bunny, when she started at Vogue, she would arrive fresh-faced from a morning workout to find her colleagues nursing coffees and giving her odd looks. In her book, she says we must make an effort to move our bodies every day. “I don’t find exercise a burden - it just makes me feel more levelled, calm and less stressed. I have really good ideas when I’m working out.” The whole family go hiking when they’re back in California - or walk around the parks in London. She’s bringing up her children to make healthy choices, but she’s careful not to micromanage them so much that they can’t indulge at birthday parties. “I always try to teach them moderation - just choose what you want most and enjoy it.” And that sounds like good advice for us all. Try some of Calgary’s healthy and nutritious dishes for yourself...
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BROCCOLI ‘MEATBALLS’ n 275g broccoli florets (about one large head) n 125g plain almonds (not roasted, salted or sweetened) n 1 large egg n 10g basil leaves, finely chopped n 10g flat-leaf parsley, finely chopped n 5g coriander leaves, finely chopped (optional) Makes n 10g finely grated Parmesan cheese , serves 12 n 2 garlic cloves, finely chopped 3-4 n 1/8tsp cayenne pepper, or to taste n Salt and pepper Preheat the oven to 180C/Gas 4 and line a baking sheet with baking parchment.
Serves 4 as a main or 6-8 as a side
CALGARY’S CAULIFLOWER COUSCOUS n 1 large cauliflower (about 750g after trimming) n 3tbsp extra virgin olive oil n 1/2tsp ground turmeric n 1/2tsp ground cinnamon n 1/2tsp ground nutmeg n Grated zest of 1 lemon n Juice of 1/2 lemon n 15 mint leaves, roughly chopped n 60g pistachios, toasted and roughly chopped n 4 spring onions, chopped n 100g goats’ cheese, crumbled n 1 x 400g can chickpeas, drained and rinsed n 1/2 pomegranate, seeds removed (optional) n Juice of 1 lime n Salt and pepper
Place your broccoli florets in a steamer and steam for approximately 10 minutes, until tender and still bright green, rather than mushy and going grey; keep checking them with a knife to ensure they don’t overcook. Once steamed, refresh in cold water to stop the cooking and leave in a colander to drain. In a food processor or high-powered blender, grind the almonds into a fine powder and place in a mixing bowl. Then pulse the steamed broccoli in the food processor or blender until finely chopped (not pureed) and place in the bowl with the almonds. Whisk the egg in a separate small bowl, then add to the mixing bowl along with the basil, parsley, coriander - if using, Parmesan, garlic and cayenne pepper, and season with salt and pepper. Mix everything well, until thoroughly combined, then using your hands, make approximately 12 ‘meatballs’, pressing them firmly together to be sure they retain their shape. Place the balls on the baking sheet, making sure they are not touching. Pop in the oven for 25 minutes or until they are just turning golden brown.
Core and cut the cauliflower into medium florets. Blitz the florets in a food processor until they resemble couscous. Do it in two batches if the food processor is more than three-quarters full. Don’t over-blend, otherwise it will become pureed - that’s baby food, not couscous. Add two tablespoons of olive oil and fluff with a fork, then season with the salt, pepper, turmeric, cinnamon and nutmeg. Then add all the remaining ingredients except the lime juice and toss together. Add additional olive oil, salt and pepper if necessary. Pour the lime juice over the top.
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FOOD & DRINK
3BEST... of the
Olive tapenades Kalamata Olive And Sun-dried Tomato Tapenade, £2.48 for 165g Waitrose
CHOCOLATE, CRANBERRY AND BUCKWH
EAT COOKIES
For anyone who finds olives a little too bitter, this tapenade also contains sun-dried tomatoes - a perfect companion to a mezze of meat and veg.
n 125g buckwheat flour (available from Sainsbury’s) n 25g cacao powder n 1/2tsp Himalayan salt (pink crystal rock salt) n 1/2tsp baking soda n 120g dark chocolate (70 per cent cocoa solids), roughly chopped n 150g coconut sugar n 4tbsp coconut oil, melted n 2 medium eggs n 1tsp vanilla extract Makes n 80g dried cranberries about 15 n Shelled hemp seeds, to sprinkle Combine the buckwheat flour, cacao, salt and baking soda in a medium bowl and mix thoroughly. Set aside. Put the chocolate in a small heatproof bowl and sit it above a pan of simmering water without letting the bottom of the bowl touch the water. Allow it to melt, stirring occasionally. In a food processor, blend the coconut sugar with the coconut oil. Add the eggs one by one, then add the vanilla extract and finally the melted chocolate. Mix until just combined. Add the chocolate mix to the dry ingredients and mix with a rubber spatula. Then fold in the dried cranberries and mix until combined.
Black Olive Tapenade, £2.50 for 130g M&S Delicious spread on bruschetta and topped with buffalo mozzarella, or plop some in a dish and use it as a dip with salted crisps and breadsticks.
Kalamata Olive Tapenade, £1.50 for 100g Sainsbury’s A must-buy for any olive lovers, this soft, rich tapenade is ideal atop warm, griddled bread - or delicious served as a dip.
Preheat the oven to 180C/Gas 4 and line a baking sheet with baking parchment. Place the mixture in the fridge for 20 minutes to cool down.
THE DETAILS
Once the dough has cooled a little, you are ready to bake. Drop tablespoons of the sticky chocolate mix on the prepared baking sheet, leaving 5cm between each cookie, then sprinkle with hemp seeds. Bake for 10 minutes, then remove from the oven and let them cool on the baking sheet for five to eight minutes before transferring to a wire rack. The cookies will feel quite soft when they first come out of the oven but will firm up when they cool down. Once cooled, the cookies can be kept in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.
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Keep It Real by Calgary Avansino is published in hardback by Yellow Kite, priced £25. Available now
FOOD & DRINK
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FOOD & DRINK
THE BULLS HEAD The Bulls head have just finished refurbishing the garden.
A
ll families are welcome. We have a bouncy castle and a children’s play area. The garden has now got tiered decked seating areas so you can enjoy our new brick BBQ in the sun. The BBQ area will also be serving cold drinks and ice creams for the children, so this is perfect for a lovely sunny day. Our restaurant is going from strength to strength. Delicious home cooked food served every day. We cater for special occasions such as weddings, birthdays, anniversaries and engagement parties. Why not come and join one of our darts teams we have two ladies teams and two men’s teams. During the summer we have Bat and Trap which is an enjoyable game to either play or watch. We hope to see you all enjoying our garden through out the summer. THE DETAILS 01689 852 553 www.thebullsheadpub.net info@thebullsheadpub.net
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17th CENTURY PUBLIC HOUSE
The hidden jewel in North Kent’s crown APRIL 2016
MAY 2016
FRIDAY 15TH
SUNDAY 1ST
FRANK STATESBRO
QUIZ NIGHT
SUNDAY 17TH QUIZ NIGHT
MONDAY 2ND BANK HOLIDAY BBQ
FRIDAY 22ND
FRIDAY 6TH
ED HARVEY
SATURDAY 23RD ST GEORGES DAY RACE NIGHT FRIDAY 29TH
GOLF DAY ENTERTAINMENT TO BE CONFIRMED
MAN V FOOD
HD EVENTS - £10 entry goes to our charity of the year Air Ambulance
SATURDAY 7TH FETE DAY, fake that FRIDAY 13TH KARAOKE SUNDAY 15TH QUIZ NIGHT
THE BULLS HEAD Rushmore Hill Pratts Bottom Kent BR6 7NQ 01689 852 553 | www.thebullsheadpub.net | info@thebullsheadpub.net