Chislehurst & Beckenham Life Magazine February 2012

CHISLEHURST & BECKENHAM LIFE

CHISLEHURST LIFE & BECKEN HAM W ES T ER H A M, O X T ED , S EV ENOA K S, TUN BR IDGE WEL L S A ND T H E EX C L U S IV E SUR R OUN DIN G A R EA S

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SPRING BRIDES SPECIAL WWW.THELIFEMAGAZINES.COM

CHARMING CHISLEHURST HISTORICAL HAYES FAIRYTALE HONEYMOONS

THE QUALITY LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE ISSUE 36 FEBRUARY 2012

ANTIQUES WITH JOHN BLY PLUS: weddi ng LiFe t h e

q u a l i t y

w e d d i n g

g u i d e

f e b r u a r y

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Dream weddings

KENT EVENTS

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HISTORY

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FASHION

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HOMES & GARDENS

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HEALTH & BEAUTY

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FOOD & DRINK • TRAVEL

Faye Manning Editor

welcoMe

PublishedPUBLISHED by the FishBY Media THE group Ltd. FISH MEDIA Square, GROUP Hatfield, LTD 2nd Floor, titan Court, 3 Bishop Herts, AL10 9NA

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

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Ken Fleet www.thelifemagazines.com Email: peter@fishmediagroup.co.uk

Hello and welcome to the February issue. no sooner than everyone was saying that this has been the mildest winter for years and that we have been lucky with the weather, along comes a heavy snowfall to remind us that we cant take the weather for granted in england.

So whilst it cold outside what better time to look forward to the Spring with our SPring brideS SuPPleMent in this months issue. if you are getting married or know someone who is about to ‘tie the knot’ then this feature with the very best local wedding specialists offering their expert advice tips and services is a must read for you. despite the cold weather our local life writers have been out visiting more towns and areas of local interest. this month we turn the spotlight on chislehurst, cobham, beckenham, hayes and Keston, whilst John ruler our renowned local historian looks back at the Queen Victoria’s Jubilee in 1897, fascinating stuff indeed. to encourage you and your family to venture out further why not visit these local places of interest. there are also a wide variety of events and shows for you to visit and enjoy in our february whats on guide.

© all Rights Reserved.

St albans Life, Harpenden Life, Radlett Life is copyright and January not be reproduced in any form either in part or whole without written permission from the publishers. Whilst the Fish Media group Ltd takes every reasonable precaution, no responsibility can be accepted for any property, services or products offered in these publications and any loss arising therefrom. Whilst every care editor is taken with all materials submitted to the St albans Life, Harpenden Life & Radlett Life the publisher cannot accept responsibility faye for the loss or damage to such material.Fish Media groupmanning Ltd reserves the right to reject or accept any advertisement, article or material prior to publication.opinions expressed are strictly those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views or policies of Fish Media group Ltd.We accept assistant no liability for any misprints or mistakes and no responsibility can be taken for editor the content of these pages.

katie miller

INNER 070111 LONDON Jan i31.indd 3

sub editor alex lux fashion editor kitty shead Contributors Wendy stevenson john ruler john Bly Bruce edwards jack smith

design & production jules Breckenridge www.breckenridgedesign.co.uk

To encourage you and your family to venture out further why not visit these local places of interest.

photography adam swaine accounts kathy manning ken fleet Business development managers lisa Westerman sinead sheil sales lorna ferrin vanessa lane james marshall direCtors peter smith rory smith patrick smith

19/01/2011 14:08:07

this month our celebrity interview is with berenice bejo who is fast becoming the toast of hollywood thanks to her role as Peppy Miller in the wonderful film The Artist. The interview gives a wonderful insight into this unique award winning movie - don’t miss it. we also preview london fashion week which has now become one of the highest profile fashion events in the world and one of the big four international catwalk influencers. This is a fabulous article about a fabulous event.

As usual our superb team of writers cover a wide range of features for you to enjoy this month. John Bly our resident Antiques expert takes us on another journey into his wonderful world of antiques. bruce edwards reviews more recent book releases. Our Fashion pages help you find the perfect pair of jeans. the beauty section help you get the superstar look with glamour secrets and tricks. the home & garden section looks at kitting out your nursery celebrity style and our food section gives the potato a modern twist. with our usual close look at some local highly recommended, professional businesses including Annabels Luxury Gift Emporium, the Kent fireplace co, Just interiors and Kitchen design of Sevenoaks there is so much for you to read and enjoy. until next month………

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

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

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

front cover photograph courtesy of: waTTers designs at blackburn bridal couture

to advertise contact peter on 077111 43342 or email peter@fishmediagroup.co.uk FEBRUARY2012

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Secondhand Jewellery & Watches Thursday 9th February A gentleman’s 18k gold manual wind Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Night and Day wrist watch, circa 2000.

Estimate £4,000 - £6,000

Pocket Watches

Monday 13th February A 14k gold watch signed Gebr Eppner given by Wilhelm II, German Emperor, to the Head Gamekeeper of the Lowther estate in 1902.

Estimate £1,800 - £2,200

Auction of Antique & Modern Jewellery

Thursday 16th February at 10am

Coins & Medals

Monday 27th February Germany, Imperial, Saxon Duchies, House Order of Ernestine, Military Division, with swords, Knight Grand Cross (1st class) sash Badge, in gold and enamel.

Estimate £800 - £1,200

A pair of Boodles platinum diamond ear pendants, weighing 5.09cts and 5.05cts. With GIA reports.

Estimate £140,000 - £180,000

Visit www.fellows.co.uk/life for a complimentary catalogue Fellows Auctioneers | 19 Augusta Street | Birmingham B18 6JA | 0121 212 2131

KenT evenTs

WHAT’S on...

12 feBruary 20

✱ disCovery for all How sharp are sharks teeth?

How do you wear a sari?

Have you ever played a West African thumb piano, balanced a gourd on your head or stroked a badger?

Drop in to explore thousands of real objects from around the world in our Hands on Base. Our team of Explainers will help you discover more about these fascinating objects. The Hands on Base Suitable for everyone including families with children aged 3+. 2 - 3.30pm. Free, drop in. Horniman Museum and Gardens, 100 London Road, Forest Hill, London, SE23 3PQ. Sunday Sun 12 Feb to Thu 16 Feb, Sun 19 Feb, Sun 26 Feb, Sun 4 Mar. Website: www. horniman.ac.uk/visit/events/ event/discovery-for-all-60 ✱ operation shoe Box at Walnuts shoppinG Centre Once again we are appealing to the generous spirit of Orpington and asking them to take part in the Operation Shoe Box appeal.

From Monday 23rd January, shoppers are being asked to fill an empty shoe box with everyday items such as deodorant, sweets, razors and wet wipes. The boxes can be dropped at Centre Management and will then be sent to the UK’s service men and women around the globe including Afghanistan.

Donators are also encouraged to ensure they tape £2 onto the outside of each box in order to aid with delivery expenses. Operation Shoe Box is an organisation that encourages people to fill shoe boxes with a range of useful and everyday items that mean a great deal to the troops, some of whom have been away for months and are missing basic items that people in the UK take for

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granted. Walnuts Shopping Centre, High Street, Orpington Kent, BR6 0TW. Monday 23 Jan 2012 to Sunday 19 Feb 2012. Website: www. thewalnutsshoppingcentre. com ✱ join up for skydive in aid of Children’s Charity Here is a special challenge for thrill seekers. A sponsored charity skydive is taking place at Hinton Airfield, Brackley, Northamptonshire on Sunday, 18th March, in aid of The Children’s Trust. Hinton Airfield is a small, private airfield in an area that borders Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Warwickshire. The exciting tandem skydives at 10,000 ft can be booked in advance.

For details and bookings email jhart@thechildrenstrust. org.uk or call 01252 375288.

For information about skydives raising money for The Children’s Trust, please visit: www.thechildrenstrust. org.uk/skydive ✱ the lifestyle renault tunBridGe Wells half marathon is a testing, single-lap course through some of Kent’s finest countryside. Enter now to avoid disappointment. Entries are online via www.twharriers. org.uk, and will not be accepted once the entry limit of 2750 is reached. There will be NO entries on the day. St John’s Sports Centre, St John’s Road, Tunbridge Wells Kent TN4 9TX.Sunday 26 Feb 2012 Website: www. twharriers.org.uk ✱ some like it hotter Great movie stars never die – they just sparkle on forever.

Join Oxfordshire Theatre Company and The Watermill Theatre on tour with this brand new, fast moving, fantasy comedy. Munroe,

Curtis and Lemmon forced once again to don heels and stockings and go back to their most beautiful, sexy and hilarious selves – now that’s entertainment. 7:30pm, Adult £12, Conc £10, 01732 304241. E.M.Forster Theatre Kent TN9 1JP.Saturday 3 Mar 2012.Website: www. oxfordshiretheatrecompany. co.uk ✱ yeW tree CottaGe open Garden for nGs Small, romantic, hillside cottage garden with steep entrance. Lots of seats and secret corners, many unusual plants - hellebores, spring bulbs, old roses, many special perennials.

Small pond; something to see in all seasons. Created and maintained by owner, a natural garden full of plants.

Open:Weds, Sats & Suns.

Admission £2, Children free.

Telephone:01892 870689.

Visitors also welcome by appointment. Open for charity.

Yew Tree Cottage, Penshurst Kent TN11 8AD.Saturday 25 Feb 2012, Sun 26 Feb, Wed 29 Feb. Website: www.ngs.org.uk ✱ paul malsom: Guitarist Every Saturday at The Woodman, Sevenoaks: FREE entry. An entertaining set of familiar relaxing tunes on the acoustic guitar every Saturday evening in this atmospheric Pub in a rural woodland setting. FREE to diners and drinkers. Every Saturday 7.30pm - 10.30pm.

FREE entry to drinkers and diners. Table Reservations: 01732 750296.The Woodman Pub, Ide Hill, nr Sevenoaks Kent TN14 6BU.Saturday Sat 18 Feb, Sat 25 Feb, Sat 3 Mar, Sat 10 Mar. Website: www. thewoodman-idehill.co.uk ✱ sax appeal at The SHIP Theatre, Sevenoaks. SAX

APPEAL is an 8 Piece Band, led by Derek Nash, sax player in The Jools Holland Orchestra. Five saxophones plus a wicked rhythm section.

“The bravado of this band is breathtaking. Princes of the horn in thunderous form” - Sunday Times. £12 Box Office: 0844 888 9991.

SHIP Theatre, Hollybush Lane, Sevenoaks, 0844 888 9991, Kent, TN13 3UL. Sunday 4 Mar 2012.Website: www.listeningroom.co.uk ✱ southern Counties drama festival is a first round festival of the AllEngland Theatre Festival taking place from Monday 20th - Saturday 25th February at 7.30pm. Tickets are £8.00 and available from www. barntheatreoxted.co.uk or 01959 561811.Barn Theatre, 25 Bluehouse Lane, Oxted Surrey RH8 0AA. Website: www.barntheatreoxted.co.uk ✱ meet the author; james taylor As part of the ‘Meet the Author’ series visitors are given the chance to hear a talk

by James Taylor at The Home of Charles Darwin, Down House. James will also be on hand to answer questions and sign copies of his book, which will be available for purchase. With its unique place in the history of science, Down House, the home of Charles Darwin, is one of the major visitor attractions in the South East. See the study where Darwin wrote ‘On the Origin of Species’, still as it was when he worked here, and stroll through the extensive gardens that so inspired the great scientist. £20 per person (£15 per person for English Heritage members) Maximum capacity 15 – pre-booking essential 11am - 1pm 0870 333 1181. Down House, Luxted Road, Downe, Kent, BR6 7JT.

Thursday 8 Mar 2012. Website: www.english-heritage.org. uk/daysoutproperties/ home-of-charles-darwindown-house/events ✱ Chinese State Circus at The Churchill. From the land of legends and warrior Shaolin monks the incredible Chinese State Circus presents Yin Yang - the live acrobatic spectacular Yin Yang. The undisputed masters of physical theatre will have you enthralled with a breathtaking fusion of acrobatics, martial arts and dazzling circus skills. From gravity-defying gymnastics to the seemingly impossible body manipulations of the hand-balancer; from the leaping, rolling somersaulting repertoire of the hoop divers to the physical power of the Shaolin Warriors, this brand new production will have the audience on the edge of their seats. Yin Yang is the embodiment of a traditional art form which can trace its history back over 2000 years.

Please check the website for performance times and prices. Running time: 1h 50m.The Churchill, 108 High Street, Bromley, Kent, BR1 1HA. Monday 20 Feb 2012 to Wednesday 22 Feb 2012.

Website: www.atgtickets. com/76/651/Bromley/TheChurchill/Chinese-State-Circus ✱ Tales from the Horniman: A World of Stories Our popular storytellers bring our collections and gardens alive with enchanting stories from around the world. Ask at the Information Desk on the day for the location. Children must be 3+ and accompanied by an adult. 2.15pm and 3.30 pm (45 minutes) Free.Horniman Museum and Gardens, 100 London Road, Forest Hill London, SE23 3PQ. Sun 19 Feb, Sun 26 Feb, Sun 4 Mar. Website: www.horniman. ac.uk/visit/events/event/ tales-from-the-horniman-58 ✱ Make Up Day Bring along your own make up and be shown by our Beauty Expert how to master valuable

techniques to improve the way you apply for best results. Learn about skin types and what suits people with different colouring and skin tones. A great course for you and your friends to master the art of perfect make-up application.

10:00 - 15:00. Cost: £35.

Telephone: 0845 6065 606 to enrol. Course Number: 6110 DAR-11-B. Dartford Adult Education Centre, Summerhill Road, Dartford,.

Kent, DA1 2LP. Saturday 25 Feb 2012. Website: www.kent.gov.uk/adulted ✱ INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY LUNCH A charity fundraising lunch to celebrate International Women’s Day. The guest speaker will be the vivacious actress, LOUISE JAMESON. On arrival at West Heath School there will be a glass of fizz, a two course lunch and entertainment.

The lunch is in aid of two wonderful charities, The New School at West Heath, a specialist independent school for traumatised and vulnerable youngsters. The School rebuilds the youngster’s lives in order that they can access an education. Spring House, a Children’s Centre situated at Sevenoaks Hospital for parents who need help and emotional and practical support. The lunch will be held on Thursday 8th March at 1230pm. Tickets £25.

Tables of 10 available. Tickets from The Stag Box Office Tel: 01732 450 175 www.stagsevenoaks.co.uk ✱ Bromley Comedy Club at the Churchill Studio. See top circuit comedians every Saturday in the Churchill Theatre studio. Perfect for a fun night out with friends and colleagues, or a celebration, club night, birthday, hen night, stag do, or simply a local great evening’s entertainment. Churchill Studio, 108 High Street Bromley Kent BR1 1HA. Until 4 Apr 2012. Website: www. atgtickets.com/1826/856/ Bromley/Churchill-Studio/ Bromley-Comedy-Club

FEBRUARY2012

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T H E H O M E I M P R OV E R S

CONTENTS

PAGE

Contents

EDITOR’S LETTER

3

WHAT’S ON…

6

Editors letter LOCAL LIFE

Eynsford - Well hidden within a secret pocket in Kent

WHATS ON

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10

6

Cranbrook - The capital of the Weald

14

LOCAL Langton Green - A LIFE perfect mix of town and country

18

Cobham A walk into the past 10 22 Greenwich - Drunk for one penny, dead drunk for two Hayes & Keston Putting the Pitts in their place 14 26 Bromley’s Beckenham Freak Weather –Can It’s nowe great deal have our village back 18 Chislehurst Charm Sophistication and Style 20 The KITCHENSl Queens Diamond Jubilee 1897 24 STONEHAMS 29

Fine furnishings win Royal seal of approva

Art With A Smile

SPRING BRIDES SPECIAL LIFE – Supplement WEDDING 20 PAGE SUPPLEMENT

HYPNOTHERPY

Berenice Bejo The toast of Hollywood

COVER STORY - A new era of luxury at the Savoy

Annabels Gift Emporium

ANTIQUES with John Bly FASHION Lose the Winter Blues

FASHION – Put Spring in your Style

26

35 28

48 46

49 48

52 50

54

BEAUTY Get the Superstar Look 54 BEAUTY –Your Foundation Finesse 58 Best Look for 2012 Dr Ariel Haus 56 London Fashion Show Preview

DESIGNER LIGHTING

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60

HOME & GARDEN

HOME - Nurseries Snap up your StyleLife A signature design for Kent Fireplace Keep the Home Fires Burning Just Interiors Mirror Mirror on the Wall QUALITY WINDOWS Antiques with JOHN BLY Kitchen Design Encounter the Kitchen Experience The Dilemma of Divorce and Separation

62 60 62 64 65 66 70 66

FOOD & DRINK Carb Those Cravings

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Books Review

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CoBham

WORDS: MAUREEN COLE

i

first discovered the beauty of Cobham when walking with a friend. This pretty village is on the crest of a hill and is surrounded by woods, fields and open countryside. It lies to the south of (A2) Watling Street and near the western end of the M25. The parish covers 3,061 acres and as a conservation area, it has retained much of its tranquillity and old world charm. The village settlement is surrounded by agricultural land with some isolated farmhouses. There are also some impressive larger properties which stand in their own grounds.

In the early 13th Century during the reign of King John the wealthy family of De Cobham became linked with the history of Cobham. They acquired their lands in Cobham and Shorne during this period and for the next 400 years, along with their heirs the Brookes, they wielded a strong influence and power over village life. The landed gentry had certainly landed in Cobham!

After the Brookes, King James 1 gave Cobham to the Stuarts who were his cousins and then in 1715 the lands passed to the Blighs, who were made the Earls of Darnley in 1725. The Darnleys still have strong links with Cobham and some still reside in the Parish.

The beauty of the area is encapsulated in the village church which, on the day of our walk, was unexpectedly open to the public. The church of St Mary Magdalene dates back to the 1300’s and stands on the highest point in the village. In the period between 1360 -1370, John de Cobham began to rebuild the church. He rebuilt the nave, with its two aisles and raised the roof, as well as adding a porch, parvis and tower. The de Cobhams appear to have regarded the church as their own personal Chapel and burial place and John de Cobham is referred to on the brass plate as “The Founder of this place�.

Many visitors to the church come to see the beautiful collection of Brasses which are over 600 years old and are said to be the finest collection of mediaeval brasses in the world. Many such brasses have been lost by churches over the years. However, in the eighteenth Century, a traveller to the village recorded how these particular brasses were found bundled up in an old chest.

The brasses are available for rubbing by prior appointment.

There are many fine architectural features and church pieces to be seen, both inside and outside the church, some

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Images: Adam Swaine Photography

a walk into the Past in cobham

local life

dating as far back as the 1200 and 1300’s. The Piscina, which was used to wash the water vessels, dates back to 1220 and still retains some of its original colour.

Hanging in the Chancel there are four helmets, which are copies of originals, which can be seen in the Armoury in Leeds. Such helmets would be carried at the funeral of their owners and then hung in the church. The helmets are both rare and of great value.

To the rear of the the church, on the south side, is the quaint and picturesque building which is the Old College. The college, which was also built by John de Cobham, was built to house five priests, so that they could pray for the souls of Sir John and his family. The Old College was voluntarily dissolved in 1537 and the buildings remained empty for about 50-60 years. When the 8th Lord Cobham died in 1596 he willed the college to be converted into almshouses, which became known as the New College. This beautiful building is still used as sheltered accommodation today.

Cobham is a village with a wealth of history and unexpected finds. The grand red brick building, which is Cobham Hall, stands in 150 acres of parkland and is situated to the eastern side of the village. The house which was originally commissioned by the 10th Lord Cobham in 1587 has undergone many changes over the years. The North and South wings were built between 1584 and 1603. The Hall was originally the ancestral home of the de Cobhams , Brookes and Darnley’s. It has been the setting for many films and television productions. Most recently it featured as, “Abbeymount School” in the film, “Wild Child”.

This imposing building is now a girl’s public school and is open to the public during the Easter and summer holidays on Wednesdays and Sundays. Artefacts belonging to some of the noble families who have lived there are on display and visitors can wander around the gardens, which were laid out by the famous landscape artist, Humphrey Repton. The interior of the house features work by James Wyatt, Inigo Jones and the Adams brothers. Parts of the house and its beautiful grounds are also available for Civic Weddings, during the school holidays.

Cobham has several public houses, including, ”The Ship”, “The Darnley Arms” and “The Leather Bottle”. “The Ship” is said to be haunted and “The Leather Bottle”, gained fame as the pub frequented by Charles Dickens when he lived in Gads Hill Place.

Dickens is reputed to have stayed there on several occasions and the pub houses a unique collection of his memorabilia.

Close to the approach to Cobham (from the A2) stands the War Memorial, which was erected in the 1920’s, on a small parcel of farmland, donated by Lord Darnley. The white limestone column was erected to honour those from the village who died in World War 1. Over twenty names are engraved on the base, which shows a fairly heavy toll for such

a small village. Extra names were later added, to commemorate those from the village, who died in World War 11.

Darnley Mausoleum stands in Cobham Park on Williams Hill, the highest point locally, with commanding views over the Thames and Medway Estuaries and the rolling landscape of the Kent Downs.

The Earls of Darnley had, by tradition, been buried in Westminster Abbey but by the late 18th century their vaults became full. As a result, John Bligh, the 3rd Earl, left instructions in his will for a Mausoleum to be built in Cobham Park, so that his descendants could be laid to rest in a suitably grand manner.

The Mausoleum was commissioned by the 4th Earl. However, for reasons unknown, the Mausoleum was never consecrated and therefore never used for burial. Over the years it fell into a state of decline and during the 20th century the Earls of Darnley struggled to maintain the Cobham estate. In the 1930’s they moved out of Cobham Hall and sold off much of the estate.

However, the family retained Darnley Mausoleum and the surrounding woodland. In the following years the Mausoleum became the target for vandals and in 1980 a fire in the crypt did considerable damage. The 11th Earl of Darnley eventually sold the Mausoleum to a property developer but he became bankrupt and the Mausoleum and surrounding woodland passed into the hands of the Official Receiver. Further deterioration of the building took place. However, movements were taking place to restore the magnificent structure and in 2001 the Cobham Ashenbank Management Scheme (CAMS) provided the funding for the Borough Council to purchase the Mausoleum and surrounding woodland on its behalf. This was done for the sum of £150,000, with the understanding that the ownership would eventually transfer to the National Trust. The Heritage Lottery backed this proposal in 2004 with a grant of £4.9 million for a project to restore the framework of the park and Darnley Mausoleum.

Renovation work on the Mausoleum has recently been completed and the National Trust is in the process of taking it over. It is hoped that it will be open to the public to visit sometime this year. This should provide us all with an extra incentive to visit this beautiful village, with its fine buildings and wealth of history.

FEBRUARY2012

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BESPOKE • KITCHENS

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Floors are the obvious starting point – they say so much about your taste and style – and can create the perfect interior design ambience. And there’s no better place to look at the new season’s exciting flooring choices than at Behar Carpets in Pettswood.

Behar, with over 90 years’ of quality, service and value behind them, has so much to offer to excite and stimulate your creative instincts. Massive choices in carpets in natural and man-made fibres – with seemingly limitless options in plain or patterns – understated neutrals to the dazzling funky. Rugs – from all over the world – in traditional or contemporary styles and in just about every size and shape imaginable – the choice at Behar is seemingly endless. And hard floors – real woods and durable laminates in every wood species that you can think of.

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Behar – over 90 years of quality, value and service

JOHN RULER MEETS AN AUTHOR WHO BELIEVES:

it’s time to put the Pitts in their rightful place!

W

hen it comes to local history, Hayes roughly where Sainsbury’s in Station Road now stands. really is the Pitts… Yet remarkably few Another was Elizabeth Montague a one-time leaseholder residents appreciate just how privileged of the original Hayes Place and leader of the Bluestockings the village is to have been home to a discussion group of like-minded men and women keen not one, but two, of Britain’s top prime ministers. on literature, art, fashion and current affairs. It was at the They do now, thanks to Anne Manning, ward councillor former’s home Pitt spent his honeymoon, having proposed for Hayes and Coney Hall, whose book ‘The Journey from to Hester Grenville, sister of his cousin George within a Blandford to Hayes’ traces the lives and times of William Pitt, matter of days while staying at their family home at Wotton House, Buckinghamshire. A whirlwind decision perhaps, later to become Earl of Chatham, and William Pitt the Younger, best known for his role in the abolition of the slave but he was 46 and she was 33 and, as Anne writes hayes ‘William must have concluded that he needed a wife.’ trade. In fact, the old Wilberforce Oak, Keston, where he chatted with William Wilberforce is, I suspect, In the late 1750s Pitt bought Hayes Place, the better known to many locals than Pitt himself. principal property in a rural area of ‘pure air’ Which is why Anne, deeply interested in which, along with farmland and Hayes, Keston politics and history, arranged a small exhibition and West Wickham Commons, was ideal for at Hayes Parish Church in 2006 marking family pursuits. But the house was old and the bi-centenary of Pitt the Younger’s death. the grounds limited. So William set out not Two years later, spotting that the 300th only to build a new house but to buy up land anniversary of the birth of William Pitt the to increase the acreage to 40, using his own Elder and the 250th of Pitt the Younger, who considerable gardening expertise. Planting became Prime Minister at the of 24, were in even often took place at night using torches. close proximity she was persuaded to write her Compliments poured in including one from book which includes their links with Hayes.

Mrs Montague ‘ on how sweet a pastoral scene he It proved a real eye-opener even to a lifelong Hayes has made around him.’ Cabinet meetings, too, were resident like myself, familiar with seeing the pair of them side by held at Hayes Place when William suffered continuing gout side in the memorial plaque unveiled in Hayes Parish Church in from November, 1756, through to February the following year.

September 1929. Other clues lie in road names such Chatham ‘A bedchamber ministry’ was how one author described it.

Avenue and Pittsmead Avenue. But that’s about it, though do He left one other local legacy before his death in May, take time to read the blue plaque above the shops in Old Hayes 1778, aged 69. So as not to disturb his tranquil life, the roughly marking the spot where Hayes Place once stood. closest section of the route linking Hayes to Beckenham Forget the machinations which led to Pitt the Elder was moved further away. It now forms the part of the becoming Prime Minister twice, from 1757 to 1761 and from busy Pickhurst Lane closest to Hayes village 1766–1768; Anne’s book will provide the classic storyline Chief mourner at his funeral, in the absence of his older of, if not quite rags to riches, the family’s rise from gentle brother, John, was William, the second eldest, of five children. and honourable gentry to figures of national importance.

Born after ‘a labour rather severe’, in the best bedroom at What is known is that Pitt the Elder included among his Hayes Place, he spent most of his childhood there. But it was friends Rev Gilbert West, a poet, from The Grove, West Wickham, while riding or looking for bird’s nests, that he stumbled upon 14 F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 2

local life

Wintry scene with Holwood, rebuilt in 1822 and now developed as a luxury housing estate, in the background. (John Ruler). Pitt the Younger: destined to be Prime Minister (Kadwell Portfolio, Bromley Library). Bust of Pitt the Elder © National Portrait Gallery, London.

Anne Manning with her book on the Pitts.

Holwood House, Keston. In November, 1785, beset by sadness over the previous eight years – beginning with the death of his father – William, then in his first term as Prime Minister, bought the house he had long pined for, initially with the idea of extending it. Instead he had another built in its place.

Not everything ran smoothly. In a bid to preserve his

privacy, he levelled the fortifications of what was once thought Roman but what in fact was an Iron Age fort. Fortunately the remains are now well cared for. He also had the then new stretch of the Westerham Road whose slopes were holding up the stagecoaches diverted – the former route becoming the present drive past the lodge at Keston Church cross-roads.

Sadly, like his father, the younger Pitt faced financial ruin following his loss of office in1801. In 1803 he was forced to sell his beloved Holwood, on whose grounds, designed by landscape gardener Humphrey Repton, he had often worked to the point of fatigue. The collection of trees alone are reckoned to among the finest in the London Borough of Bromley.

But what of Pitt the man, a bachelor all his life despite a widely reported fling with Eleanor Eden, daughter of Lord Auckland of Eden Farm – essentially a mansion – in Beckenham. Here was a man who, greatly influenced by his father, was taught how to project his voice while standing on a tree trunk at Hayes Place. At around 14, not unusual at the time, he arrived at Cambridge University where he formed what was to be a lifelong friendship with William Wilberforce.

In 1788 the two of them, during William’s first term as Prime Minister sat beneath what was to become the famous Wilberforce Oak, to discuss the abolition of slavery. It’s no longer there, but a second replacement adjoins the public footpath running from Westerham Road to Shire Lane.

William’s second term in office came when, in 1804, with Napoleon threatening invasion, the king begged him to form a government. Thanks to Pitt’s efforts, Britain joined the Third Coalition against France (made up of Austria, Russia and Sweden). In 1805 the British defeated the French navy at the Battle of Trafalgar. However the Coalition collapsed, imposing an even greater strain on Pitt’s health. He died, aged 46, on January 23,1806. and was buried in Westminster Abbey. Sadly, as with his late father, he was heavily in debt so much so that the House of Commons raised £40,000 to pay off his creditors.

Hardly an auspicious ending to the story, which also saw the end of this particular line in the Pitts’ family progress. There were, however, considerable family ties with famous Kentish families: William the Elder’s cousin, for instance, was the 2nd Earl of Stanhope whose home at Chevening, later became the official country seat of the Foreign Secretary. The current Holwood House, now a private housing estate, was built in 1822 for Earl Stanley.

And Hayes Place? Extending over 62 acres of land and with 14 bedrooms on its first floor alone, it was sold in 1789, eventually to become home to the Hambros, the banking family, hence Hambro Avenue. In 1933, despite a plea to the National Trust to save what was undoubtedly a building of considerable significance it was developed for housing by Henry Boot from Sheffield.

In 2009 Hayes Parish Church held a memorial service, attended by many Pitt family associates, to mark the 250th anniversary of the birth of Pitt the Younger. During this he was described as ‘epitomising the local boy who made good whose enlightened handling of state matters, along with those his father’s, still stand as a blueprint for us today.’ You can’t ask for better proof of the Pitts’ place in Hayes history than that. * Copies of Anne’s book, part of the Bromley Local Histories series, are available at £8 from the Local Studies section of Bromley Central Library High Street, Bromley, BR1 1EX; tel: 020 8461 7170; www.bromley.gov.uk; email:localstudies.library@bromley.gov.uk.

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GARY RHODES CO-HOSTS GOURMET EVENING AT CHAPTER ONE

Internationally acclaimed chef Gary Rhodes joined Chapter One’s own culinary star, Andrew McLeish to host a Gourmet evening in aid of a spinal injury charity set up by fellow chef David Nicholls, director of food and beverage for the worldwide Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group, after his son Daniel was paralysed in a swimming accident.

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guests enjoyed a Champagne and canapés reception before sitting down to a seven-course meal created by Gary and Andrew. Dishes included - game consommé, homemade truffle crumpet, seared foie gras, steamed sea bass and rare breed pork. Specially selected wines were served with each course to complement the dishes.

The dinner raised more than £2,000 for the David Nicholls Spinal Injury Foundation charity and sales of David’s book “Off Duty” which was signed by all three chefs, helped to boost the amount.

The fascinating book includes the favourite home-cooking recipes from 48 of the world’s top chefs and food writers.

“It was a great evening and we raised much-needed funds for a very worthwhile cause,” said Andrew McLeish. “Both Gary and I are friends and Daniel used to work with me at Chapter One, so we were happy to help”.

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can we please have our ‘village’ back!

BeCkenham

PRESSURE TO PERK UP THE HIGH STREET HELPS HIGHLIGHT HISTORIC ROLE SAYS JOHN RULER

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fron top: painted in 1881 by r.e. dawes, this delightful portrayal of st George’s Church shows the famous 13th century lych Gate, thought to be the oldest in the country. though a church has existed in Beckenham since 1100, the present almost cathedral like building was built between 1185 to 1903. in july, 1944, it was badly damaged by two World War two flying bombs.

(Courtesy Bromley museum); a young david Bowie, as a red plaque states, held regular gigs at the three tuns now zizzi’s just below kelsey square; the old Wood house, high street, circa 1900. it dated back to medieval times.

(Courtesy Bromley library) 18 F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 2

ith banner grabbing headlines along the ‘Save Our High Street ‘theme, Beckenham Civic Society has focussed attention on their recommendations to beef up what is an historic route wriggling a serpentine way through two conservation areas. To many it still remains ‘the village.’

Which is just the way the society would like to see it once again.

At least the society and Bromley Council, who have their own, often conflicting, views, agree on one thing: the need to re-establish its distinctive character which, like so many other High Streets, has become lost in a maze of estate agents, charity and betting shops.

A pity, for, in the light of the report by shopping guru Mary Portas, it has every chance to follow not just the likes of Blackheath, but the so-called Crystal Palace triangle in becoming an eclectic collection of independent local outlets.

It already has a number, selling everything from sausages and kitchenware to toys, books, clothes and hardware. To this you can add a diverse array of English and ethnic eateries.

What it is now needed, believes society chairman, David Wood, is the spirit of the old Civic Trust which, now replaced by the Civic Voice, helped regenerate towns during the post war drabness of the ‘fifties and beyond. Many High Streets, he feels, could be revamped in much the same way today.

It did not involve great upheavals, just a tightening up and tidying-up of such aspects as shop frontages, solving conflicts between traffic and pedestrians and, above all, a much more tailor-made local approach, as currently being called for by Prime Minister David Cameron. Themed markets, community events and a regular farmers’ market could also help.

A walk to the shops could also become one through the past if Rod Reed, a former councillor and society member, had his way. He would like to see a heritage trail taking in the town’s historic sites.

But just what are they? I have selected a few in pictorial form from a walk with David on a cold crisp morning last month.

It was, I confess, a real blast from the past – for in the early ‘sixties I was a district reporter at the Beckenham Journal.

What I saw made me realise just how many sites I had taken for granted… and the need for a wary eye to be kept on their well being by the likes of the Civic Society whose members include a chartered architect, a town planner and urban designer as well as a chartered surveyor involved in town planning.

David also chairs Bromley Council’s Advisory Panel for Conservation Areas. All are long time Beckenham residents.

Hopes for a spruced up High Street is also pinned on the new Localism Bill which plans to give local communities more control over housing and planning decisions. Time alone will tell, and time is ticking fast for Beckenham which has just heard it gets nothing in the second round of the Mayor of London’s Outer London Fund. Bromley gets £5m for town centre improvements. * Copies of the recommendations are available from David Wood email: david.wood.j@virgin.net; see also www.Beckenhamtown.us

local life

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: Picture postcard of Church Hill circa 1904 (Courtesy Bromley Library); Buildings in Kelsey Square: once the site of the old fire and police stations; The former office of the Beckenham Journal, by then part of the Kentish Times group. First printed by Thomas W. Thornton in 1876 by a steamdriven press at the rear of his stationers and booksellers business at the Church Hill end of the High Street – still remembered by many as Thornton’s corner – it proved a powerful voice in the community. The last editor was Victor (Vic) Thornton under whom the author learnt many of his journalistic skills.

(Courtesy Bromley Library); In days of yore … the Old Timber

And Another Thing...

Also recommended in the Civic Society blueprint: ✱ A town centre manager to coordinate a Pride in Our Town initiative. ✱ Cash from the Heritage Lottery or the London Mayor’s Town Centre regeneration fund. ✱ Financial contributions from the large supermarket chains. ✱ Street Friends initiative to encourage local youth groups. ✱ Plant more trees and extend hanging baskets to spring and autumn. ✱ Advice centre or an internet café.

House in the High Street.

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local life

Chislehurst

charm, sophistication & style f someone asked me where I would like to live, I might very well answer, “Chislehurst”. For this is a place synonymous with fine houses, manicured gardens, stylish shops and gourmet restaurants. Situated some three miles from Bromley and six miles from Greenwich, it is still one of the richest London suburbs, forming part of the London Borough of Bromley.

The village encompasses two distinctive areas. The first and oldest is the original village area, which includes Royal Parade with its sophisticated shops and restaurants, St Nicholas’s church and the village green. The second area includes the modern High Street with its busy shops and businesses. Separating the two areas there is an expanse of green known as the Common. On one side is the chic and tasteful village and on the other a busy thoroughfare blossoming into a modern town.

The village is first mentioned in 973AD but it is not clear when it was first established. The name Chislehurst suggests that the village began life as a clearing in the wood. Derived from the Anglo Saxon word chisel, meaning a stoney or gravelly place and hurst which indicates woodland. Many such areas of stoney woodland can still be found in Chislehurst today.

The leafy village became popular with Londoners who were looking for property in the country. There are many beautiful Common areas which are integrated within the village and help to preserve the feeling of open space, even in the more developed areas. Over the years the Commons have frequently faced the threat of development. Since the late 19th Century, the Commons Conservators, who are now known as the Trustees of

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Chislehurst Commons, have worked, to protect and manage them.

In Medieval times Chislehurst was a Royal Manor and appears to have originally been part of The Royal Manor of Dartford. In 1611, the wealthy Thomas Walsingham IV, Lord of the Manor of Scadbury, purchased Dartford Manor. He quickly sold most of it but retained Chislehurst. Thomas Walsingham IV was visited twice at Scadbury by Queen Elizabeth 1 and the village sign shows her knighting him Lord of Chislehurst Manor in 1597.

The village changed little over the following years, until the advent of the railway in the 1860’s and the arrival in the 1870’s of the exiled Emperor Napoleon 111 and his family, at Camden Place, which seems to have made Chislehurst more fashionable and attracted many people to the area. A memorial to Napoleon Eugenie stands on Chislehurst Common and many road names bear evidence of the village’s relationship with the imperial family. The stately home is now owned by the golf club and is not open to the general public.

Following these events, development was fairly rapid and both before and after the Second World War many housing estates were built on the farmland to the north of the High Street. There are some fine Victorian and Edwardian houses in the village, many of which have now been converted into flats and apartments.

Chislehurst has some of the finest restaurants and public houses in the south east. I have enjoyed many special celebrations in Chislehurst so it holds fond memories of good food, good wine and good friends. The Rambler’s Rest in Mill Place and the Sydney Arms in Perry Street (continues on page 22)

Images: Adam Swaine Photography

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WORDS: MAUREEN COLE

Children, parental access and divorce – a new law for children?

The Coalition Government has announced plans to shake up the arrangements for contact with children after parents split up. They say that the Children Act should be changed so that it is expressly written into the Act that it is every child’s right to grow up knowing and having contact with both parents and the wider families on both sides, including grandparents.

This announcement was made even though the Government’s own Advisory Committee’s (the Norgrove Report) had advised against changing the Law so as to give both parents “equal access”.

So what are the issues?

When parents split up mum will normally have day-to-day care of the children and dad will usually see the kids at weekends. In most cases this is sorted out direct between the parents and it works well. But in a minority of cases they can’t agree arrangements and that’s when the law gets involved. A lot of dads in these cases have felt that the operation of the legal system is biased against them and that mums can abuse the system to stop any meaningful relationship between dad and the child continuing after the parents separate. Consequently fathers have taken to various publicity stunts to highlight their predicament over the last 10-15 years.

Many lawyers say that the law doesn’t need to be changed though because the courts already take the view that children need contact with both parents. They say that equal time with each parent is not feasible in most cases and that giving dad a legal right to “equal access” might not be in the best interests of the child, and the child’s right should trump dad’s rights. Where they tried

this sort of amendment to the Law in Australia, it produced more cases coming before the courts rather than less, and they are now reconsidering the change.

However, the current way in which courts intervene in disputed contact cases does not work well. Legal Aid rewards litigation rather than settlement. Adversarial court proceedings exacerbate acrimony between the parties.

Verifying safety issues is ineffective and slow. The law’s delay often undermines the father/child relationship to the extent that the court may take the view that it is no longer in the best interests of the child to allow contact.

Court orders are never the best way of regularizing personal relationships, which is what we are talking about here. The Court system is now more directed towards providing both parents with information and guidance, pointing them in the direction of Mediation so that they learn to sort out their own problems. And if the government’s plans to abolish Legal Aid for all Family work are passed into law we may very well see that far fewer parents will feel that the cost of going to court to sort out contact problems is affordable.

Martin Poupard is a solicitor specialising in separation, divorce. For more information telephone 020 8290 0440 or email: martin. poupard@thackraywilliams.com www.thackraywilliams.com Do you need to know where you stand? Thackray Williams offers an initial consultation of one hour, together with written advice for £150 + vat

local life

The Park remains a joy to walk around and a credit to those who maintain and

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are two of the older pubs with plenty of atmosphere.

Both date back to the 1800’s and are listed buildings.

Scadbury Park is a Local Nature Reserve in Chislehurst which extends to some 300 acres and has its main entrance in Old Perry Street. John de Scatherbury built a moated manor house here in 1314 and from 1424 to 1655 it was owned by the Walsinghams. It was here that Queen Elizabeth 1 knighted Sir John Walsingham IV. It is believed that the area once extended to some 1000 acres of woodland and hunting forest.

The Manor remained in private ownership until 1983, when the London Borough of Bromley purchased the site and they opened it to the public in 1985, as Scadbury Nature Reserve. The Park remains a joy to walk around and a credit to those who maintain and manage it. There are many walks which can be followed, including a circular trail, which takes you through meadows and woodland. Along the way you can see, amongst other things, ancient oak trees and ponds and the remains of Scadbury Manor.

Much of the park remains undisturbed grassland and the ponds are home to London’s largest population of Great Crested Newts, which are now a protected species.

Many people also come to Chislehurst to visit the caves. These are not natural caves but are ancient mines which were carved out in search for chalk and flint. There are about 22 miles of passageways which were carved in this way and which are split into three distinct sections, namely Saxon, Druid and Roman.

Mining has taken place at different times and it is therefore difficult to date the caves with any certainty but chalk has been important from early civilisations up to modern times and flint was used by ancient man to make his weapons.

In 1865, with the arrival of the railway, the caves became more accessible and in 1903, when William Nichols (Vice President of the British Archaeological Association) made a claim that the mines were made by the Druids, Romans and Saxons, the caves gained much notoriety and many people came to visit them. With more tourists, the caves were used to house various attractions such as underground concerts.

The caves have played an important role in both World Wars. In World War 1 they became part of Woolwich Arsenal and were used as an ammunitions depot and a narrow gauge railway was used to help transportation in the caves. In the Second World War, with heavy bombing over London, the caves were turned into an enormous air raid shelter. Between 1933 and 1939 the caves were used by the Kent Mushroom Company for growing mushrooms, which proved to be a very lucrative activity, following the depression of the 1930’s. The same company still own the caves today.

Since the war the caves have resounded with noise and activity again, as they have been used for filming and for concerts. Many famous bands and singers have performed in them, among them such famous names as The Rolling Stones and The Beatles. The caves made Chislehurst popular with the younger generation too!

Exquisite, elegant and expensive, Chislehurst has managed to retain its quality and upmarket appeal, despite the pressures of modern life. To reiterate the words of the Chislehurst Society, “Our hope is that new generations of residents will treasure the environment, and ensure that Chislehurst continues to be special for many centuries to come.”

JOHN RULER LOOKS BACK TO THE FUTURE:

Queen celebrates diamond Jubilee - in June 1897!

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Images: John Ruler; Bromley Library

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hough much more restrained than those for her Golden Jubilee, now under threat in our own Queen’s Jubilee Year. celebrations to mark The Queen’s 70 years as monarch in June left For the record, the land originally lay on the larger portion plenty to remember. To start with there was the gift of four more of the field belonging to the late lamented White Hart acres of parkland for public use, while work on an improved and public house, and was once home to Bromley Cricket Club. efficient form of street lighting was started in West Street, Bromley. The remaining proportion provided the site for Phillips And, of course, with the fire brigade now run locally, there Memorial Hospital and Lowndes Avenue, now a car park. was the opening of their new station in the same street.

The layout of the gardens, known originally as Victoria Mind you, the decision on whether the proposed light Garden, was entrusted to the then borough engineer. railway, or tramway, through the borough to Farnborough As for the West Street developments, electricity works came should go ahead was left hanging in the air … as a relief to those who regarded the use of gas as hazardous.

Hold on a moment, you’re probably saying, how can I be Better still, reliable equipment was promised for a new, so certain when June 5th, the official Jubilee date, is still some and permanent, fire station; there was even a new steamer months ahead. But then I am talking not about our engine, basically a horse-pulled cart carrying a the jubilee stone current queen’s big year, but that of Queen Victoria steam boiler, which worked the water pump. showing the granting who celebrated her Diamond Jubilee in 1897, with a The idea of a tramway, incidentally, was of parkland as short service of thanksgiving at St Paul’s on June 22. rejected in 1898 and a similar plan the following Queen’s Garden; This was held outside, as the ageing Queen was too year was also opposed, with a petition for or hail to the Queen: lame to manage the steps. But there are uncanny echoes against signed by only 700 local people. This jubilee decorations of the past, with the gift to Bromley, by businessman showed 324 in favour and 347 against. I wonder in the upper high and Lord of the Manor, Mr Coles Child, of Queen’s what the vote would have been today? street; donkeys carts Garden, the four acres of public park referred to above.

What else was happening at the time? Well, a special drew the crowds at This is now the centre of a clash between the council report in the town’s first ever newspaper the Bromley the Queens mead and conservationists who regard a plan by The Glades Record & Monthly Advertiser – which opened in June celebrations. Queen shopping centre to build five restaurants ‘as a shameful 1, 1858, the year when the railways came to town – victoria as depicted destruction of open space for commercial profit.’ reflected the enormous expansion taking place. This on the Queen’s mead Ironic, indeed, that a row should crop up over is reflected in a comment piece on the many changes drinking fountain. part of the land which, given by Coles Child to during ‘the period covered by the reign of our beloved show his loyalty to the throne, is, in many eyes, sovereign.’ This included ‘an ever increasing amount of

local life

victorian gates close to proposed plans for the Glades terrace, now under fire by conservationists. jubilee flags outside the Whit hart. Winter blooms in Queen’s Garden, a gift to mark victoria’s diamond jubilee

progress in terms of education, national wealth, security of life and property … ‘Bromley has undergone a series of transformations and a succession of expansions,’ trumpeted the writer. Doesn’t it all have a familiar ring to it? Or am I just showing my age?

What is certainly different is that the population had grown since Victoria became queen in 1837 to just over 25,000. (It was around 68,000 in the old pre-1965 borough; the London Borough of Bromley, of which the town is just one part, is 300,000.) The number of houses had likewise increased from 669 to 4,500.

But of even greater importance, stressed the writer, had been the advancement in education and sanitation. These included the Literary Institute, the School of Science and Art, the free library, recreation grounds and hospitals; all remain bones of contention, in some way or another, in the current cost-cutting climate of today. The same can be said of the railways, which though originally easing the town’s increasing traffic congestion, inevitably saw complaints grow over poor service and unpunctuality.

But enough of this… surely there must have been some big difference? Well, the High Street was widened in the 1830s, the old Market Hall mainly made of wood was knocked down and replaced by a posh new Gothic one in 1865 and vast improvements were made in the postal service. Oh yes, and main drainage works began in 1880. Sadly the newspaper’s hope ‘ with the kind support of its numerous readers to live to see many another Jubilee’ never came to fruition.

Elsewhere in education, health and local services, there were rumpuses over everything thing from the need for increase salaries for teachers, beefing up the sewage

system and the increased demand for hospital beds.

At least the Jubilee celebrations went of well, though apparently big-set pieces of Pain’s Fireworks ordered in neighbouring Chislehurst proved a damp squib. They went to the United States by mistake (maybe the post wasn’t that good after all). Orpington’s contribution was a variation of the famous Orpington buff chicken, namely the Jubilee Orpington.

Otherwise Bromley, as with others who now make up the London borough, celebrated in style, accounting for jubilee halls and the like, along with commemorative horse troughs and fountains. This includes the drinking fountain dedicated to the great lady tucked away behind the gates to Queen’s Mead, Shortlands, on what was once former hop land bought by Bromley’s Local board for public use in Victoria’s Golden Jubilee year in 1887.

At nearby Martin’s Hill thousands witnessed a giant bonfire, which climaxed the day’s festivities. With no wind about, it shot up to a great height creating ‘an animated and striking scene.’ Celebrations began with a procession of decorated vehicles and cycles.

In sport, Bromley Football Club – whose gates were so good in 1894 as to allow a seasonal gift of £15 to charity, around £1,500-plus these days – lost in the third round of the 1897-88 London Senior Cup. So badly was morale jolted that the club drifted into debt; it was also in the 1890s that the club found a proper home after giving up playing on Queen’s Mead.

As they say, plus ça change – the more things change, the more they stay the same…

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WEDDING LIFE T H E

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ival Kate Middleton with a dress to wow on your wedding day.

Whether you want to float down the aisle in a fluffy meringue or saunter Pippa Middleton-style in a slinky number, there’s a style to suit every bride.

“A bride is always looking for romance,” says Marguerite Hannah, designer for Alan Hannah (www.alanhannah.co.uk). “They want to be demure but look a million dollars; a dress that transforms them to their very best.”

So forget the husband-to-be momentarily.

With all eyes on you and your frock, say ‘I do’ to the wedding dress of your dreams. the middleton effeCt With copycat versions soon appearing of whatever she wears in public, Kate Middleton’s wedding gown was always guaranteed to inspire every woman marrying their own Prince Charming.

Reminiscent of Grace Kelly’s intricate lace dress, the Sarah Burton creation for Alexander McQueen has set a trend for a bevvy of brides-to-be seeking understated glamour.

“Kate’s dress is a great look for girls to achieve; not only is it very classic and stylish but an easy shape for most to wear,” Hannah suggests.

Forget backless, strapless and side splits, the demure look is the look of the moment.

“There will be a trend towards brides going slightly more formal in their choice of dress, with covered arms and, of course, the use of lace,” suggests bridal designer Ian Stuart (www.ianstuart-bride.com).

But unlike Kate, who slipped into evening gown number two with circle skirt and diamante belt, most brides look for that one elusive dress to impress throughout the big day.

“Brides are moving away from wanting a traditional wedding dress and are choosing instead to invest in more of a unique ‘special’ dress to take them from the ceremony to the last dance,” according to bridal designer Suzannah (www.suzannah.com). neW Bridal BriGade Even before the Duchess of Cambridge wowed her two billion spectators in Alexander McQueen, the mood in bridal fashion was shifting as her dress has undoubtedly boosted the bridal power of lace and covered shoulders “The key trend has moved from the popular strapless look of past seasons to ‘on the shoulder’ with the use of straps, short sleeves and sheer necklines using lace

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Dream weddings

and organza,” explains Hannah.

“The alluring look of showing shoulders and arms is still key, so the use of sheer fabrics is a major look for this summer. There is more use of lace and embossed and textured fabrics.”

Though the floor-sweeping gown is every girl’s princess fantasy, you don’t have to follow tradition to look sensational on your wedding day.

Hannah says: “Long dresses are still far more popular than short, and there is a definite trend for longer trains and veils.

“But for the hip bride and those who are marrying abroad, shorter dresses or even a Sixties-style palazzo pant jumpsuit is a great look.”

For autumn/winter brides, summer silhouettes and texture trends will continue but with the addition of sheer capes, jackets and faux fur throws for extra glamour.

WEDDI

N

G FAYRE

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

NEW INCLUSIVE WEDDING PACKAGES AVAILABLE FROM £75-£110 PER PERSON Enjoy both your ceremony and reception at this stunning Country House Hotel set within a 3000 acre estate with perfectly manicured lawns and beautiful grounds in the heart of the Kent countryside.

- A choice of three oak panelled Manor Rooms or the Walled Maids Garden and Victorian Gazebo for your ceremony - Award winning cuisine and new wedding breakfast menus designed by our Executive Head Chef

- Licensed for Weddings and Civil Ceremonies - 4 red star accommodation and 62 individually styled luxurious bedrooms and suites - Some of the finest Spa and Leisure facilities in England

Tel 01233 213000 Email weddings@eastwellmanor.co.uk Website www.eastwellmanor.co.uk Eastwell Park, Boughton Lees, Ashford, Kent TN25 4HR Applicable to weddings booked after 1st August 2011. Photographs supplied by Alfie & Trish Photography.

wedding special

Beautiful Bridal Boutique

Pictures: Sarah Gowler

BRIDAL FEATURE

experience and knowledge to the business and together we have worked at making sure we offer all our brides a fun and informative experience of choosing their wedding dress.”

Mandi said: “Each bride gets a private consultation which is usually one hour long and will involve working on the silhouette that best suits her shape. Our aim is to help educate our brides into working with shapes lackburn Bridal that flatter their body and Pettibone or Jenny Packham, some the most talented bridal Couture is a in turn compliment their who both design silhouettes designers the world has to offer. sumptuous personalities as every bride based around the 30’s and “My position on the boudoir for brides to be, wants to feel comfortable 40’s as this period epitomises magazine opened many doors in Blackheath Village. whilst looking her most pure glamour at its best”. for me and in turn enabled Offering alackburn selectionBridal of some beautiful day. to pursuehemy passion offer all our Couture is a Russell has worked Duringinhisthe time on theme magazines worked brides aonfunher andwedding informative of the mostsumptuous talented boudoir bridal for brides dresses starting bridal nearlydirector and of opening my own bridal experience With to be,industryasfor fashion built up a great of choosing their wedding dress.” designers, all under oneVillage. roof. Offering £1000bride up togets £5500 18 years, spending 10 years Bridal Mandi from in Blackheath a relationship with bridal boutique designers ‘Blackburn throughout the said: “Each a private Russell Blackburn thewhich choice is amazing and long and working for Britain’s largest Couture’ backheincarrys 2005. Withconsultation selection ofopened some of the most UK, Europe and America, hence why is usually one hour his stunning that, coupled with a friendly my experience andmost contacts will I involve talented bridalboutique designers,nearly all under oneselling roof. bridal magazines such an international selection of some the working on the silhouette that best fiveRussell yearsBlackburn ago and due to itshis stunning and consultative ‘You and Yourtalented Wedding’ was it allowedsuits her shape. opened bridal designers thefortunate world hasthat to offer.

Our aim is toservice help educate our roaring he years has recently forwith a truly wonderful and ‘Cosmopolitan me to secure somemany amazing brides intomakes boutiquesuccess, nearly five ago and due to its “MyBrides’. position on the magazine opened working shapes that flatter their moved larger on moved in finding During on for theme and in turndesigners to showcase roaring into success, he premises has recently into his time doors enabled me to pursue and work body andexperience in turn compliment theiryour personalities Tranquil vale. Russell claims: dreamwants wedding worked as of opening with mebridal in myboutique boutique”. as every bride larger premises on Tranquil vale. Russellmagazines claims: he my passion my own to feeldress. comfortable whilst “Brides lovewhat whatwe wedodoand andtravel from Formost information on her howwedding to fashion and builtBridal Couture’Russell “Brides love as far director ‘Blackburn back inprides 2005. himself With on looking her beautiful on day. travel fromand as Scotland far as Ireland and book anstarting appointment pleaseup to up a great relationship with and contacts his shop’s customer With dresses as Ireland to view our exquisite my experience I was excellent fortunate that from £1000 Scotland toeven viewhave our exquisite or Mandi on coupled bridal designers throughout which he feels is £5500 thecontact designs, we a number of brides it allowed me to secureservice, some amazing choiceRussell is amazing and that, designs, we even have number 020 8297 1188 or email at makes and America, running flying in from Europe for athe designers the we UK, Europe designers to showcase key and to work with mea successful in my with a friendly and consultative service of brides flying Europeglamour hence why he boutique”. carrys such business. Working with him,for a trulyinfo@blackburnbridal.co.uk showcase here”. in Oldfrom Hollywood is the wonderful experience in finding your for the designers we showcase an international selection of himselfsince inspiration behind most of Russell’s collections as Russell prides on hisopening shop’s excellent five years agodream wedding dress. here”.

Oldhas Hollywood glamour Also to find out about how he, himself always been inspired by the customer service, whichishehis feels is keyand to running friend branch is the inspiration behind movie stars of the 30’s, 40’smost and 50’s. to book for a successful business. manager Mandi Markham, For information on our howfabulous to book an know mycollections brides loveasthe idea of a vintage Working with him, since five years of “IRussell’s appointment please contactbelow Russell or Mandi Designer Weekends whoopening came from a retail fashion lookhimself for theirhas gowns andbeen therefore come to us ago is his friend and branch managermanaging Mandi someon 020 8297 1188 or 1188 emailorat he, always call 0208 297 background for designers suchmovie as Claire Markham, who came from a retail inspired by the starsPettibone or Jenny email for an appointment of the highfashion streets biggest info@blackburnbridal.co.uk Packham, who background managing fashion some of stores. the highTogether streets theyAlso to find out about how to book for our of the 30’s, 40’sboth anddesign 50’s. silhouettes based at info@blackburnbridal. around the my 30’sbrides and 40’s this period biggest fashion stores. Together theythe have made dress fabulous co.uk.

Designer Weekends below call “I know loveasthe Designer Weekend have made wedding epitomises pure glamour at their its best”. the wedding dress shopping experience the the dream 0208 297 1188 or email for an appointment idea of a vintage look for appointments are charged at shopping experience Russell hastherefore worked income the bridal dream it should be. it should be. Russell said: at info@blackburnbridal.co.uk. gowns and to industry for £20 but fully redeemableDesigner against nearly 18 years, spending 10 years working for Russell said: “Mandi “Mandi has brought much so much Weekendany appointments charged at £20 us for designers such as Claire purchase on are the day. hassobrought Britain’s largest selling bridal magazines ‘You experience and knowledge to the business and but fully redeemable against any purchase and Your together we have worked at making sure we on the day.

F EBR U A Wedding’ R Y 2 0 1 2 and ‘Cosmopolitan Brides’.

B beautiful bridal boutique

b

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‘The stylish Brides Boutique’ By appointment only Tel 020 8297 1188 Blackheath Village www.blackburnbridal.co.uk

F

or Spring 2012 the National Wedding Show has been given a makeover and unveils a fresh new look. There is an exciting newly designed website to tie in with the launch of inspirational new areas within the National Wedding Show.

In keeping with the growing vintage trend, there is a new area within the show compromising of a collection of authentic vintage and vintage inspired suppliers covering every aspect of weddings from fashion and accessories to stationery and venue styling. This will culminate in a central vintage café area where visitors can relax with a quintessentially British cup of tea and a delicious array of cakes.

Event Director, Alejandra Campos comments: ‘The Vintage area at the show is a reflection of the huge trend for vintage-style weddings that has been so popular in recent years. The National Wedding Show is consistently responsive to the needs of the visitors and exhibitors: brides are always turning their thoughts to the past when it comes to styling their weddings, and we felt that in keeping with the demands of our clientele a dedicated Vintage space at the show would be the best way to

National Wedding Show HAS A SPRING MAKEOVER FOR 2012 24-26th feBruary 2012, london kensinGton olympia

present this. The addition of bridal bloggers Rock My Wedding to the Autumn shows proved immensely popular with visitors, so the RMW team are set to return once more with their insightful seminars on wedding planning and styling. ‘ The cream of the show’s bridal wear designers will be showcased in a stunning catwalk fashion show, where wedding dresses, groomswear, bridesmaid and mother-ofthe-bride looks from some of the country’s leading bridal retailers will take to the stage. Sponsored by Wedding magazine, the inspirational show will take place five times daily, with reserved seating for press and VIP ticket holders.

The fantastically popular How to Look Good Show will return, bringing back its expert big day beauty advice from former Clothes Show host Caryn Franklin and Jane Galpin, producer of How To Look Good Naked. With live step-by-step makeovers it’s not to be missed!

Former Britain’s Next Top Model judge Michele Paradise will be in house with her essential Bridal Coaching which includes indispensible guidance such as how to keep your cool on the big day, how to work the camera and how to walk in wedding heels!

The Designer Flower Zone will once again see some of the UK’s best florists displaying their creative talents, while the ever popular Chambord & Champagne Bar is sure to be a hive of activity, the best way to relax at the end of a long day’s shopping! tiCket GiveaWay for life readers!

We have five pairs of tickets available for Friday & Sunday only – please email competitions@ nationalweddingshow. co.uk to be in with a chance of winning!

Tickets are now on sale 0844 581 1404

flowers by Wedding of my Dreams, cake by Cotton & Crumbs, dress by Vintage Wedding Dress Company at White Mischief, bridesmaid’s dress by Little Bevan

wedding sPecial

The Hayley Elizabeth Bridal Studio

S

ince opening in March 2009 The Hayley Elizabeth Bridal Studio quickly gained a reputation in the South East, not only for styles that suit the more discerning taste but for the unrivalled personal service that each bride continues to receive today.

They proudly feature carefully selected collections by their 7 exclusive, award winning designers. Each line consists of the latest season’s choice gowns; from the contemporary ENZOANI styles, to the natural silk gowns by Canadian designer LeaAnn Belter - as seen in ‘The Time Traveler’s Wife’.

Their handmade accessories are produced in limited numbers and are

crafted using only the finest materials; be it a French laced veil by Malis Henderson or Italian silk satin, vintage style footwear by Diane Hassall at the Rainbow Club, we will find the perfect pieces to compliment your gown.

For bridesmaids and Mothers of the Bride we feature the Love collection

by Enzoani; the unique ‘All Occasion Line’ for brides who are looking for something a little different for their bridesmaids and Love ‘Evening’ designed for the modern Mother of the Bride. The collection focuses on sophisticated elegance and since debuting, the contemporary designs have appeared on red carpets across the UK.

New in the studio for 2012 is the Ellis Bridal collection, established in 1912 it is one of the UK’s most successful and best-loved bridal wear brands that we are proud to feature as one of our collections - see ‘Collections’ for the Ellis gowns.

Please call to arrange your appointment, where the studio will become your private dressing room. We look forward to assisting you in finding the perfect dress for the most memorable day of your life.

Best Wishes, Hayley Elizabeth Hayley Elizabeth Bridal Studio, Tel. 01689 882704, www.hayleyelizabeth.co.uk, 1 Farnborough Way, Farnborough, Kent BR6 7DH

Hayley Elizabeth BRIDAL

STUDIO

At Hayley Elizabeth we are proud to bring you carefully selected collections by our exclusive, award winning designers: Lea - Ann Belter ENZOANI Bridal & Love Bridesmaids Sharon Bowen Sarah Arnett San Patrick by Pronovias Augusta Jones Ellis Malis Henderson and Rainbow Club It will be our pleasure to give you the personal service that we are renowned for and assist you in finding the perfect gown and accessories for the most memorable day of your life.

Appointments 01689 882704 enquiries@hayleyelizabeth.co.uk 1 Farnborough Way, Farnborough, Kent BR6 7DH www.hayleyelizabeth.co.uk

Your wedding day should be perfect, you can be too with the help of The Better Body Shop Rapid Physical Transormation A 2 week intensive programme to kick start you into an exercise and eating programme, average weight loss 4-6 cm off the stomach

Personal Training Bring the bridesmaids, 3 can train together for the same price as 1. You all have the same goal! £44 for the hour (that's less than £15 each)

Plus Training Have a trainer devise your programme which you can follow under your own steam

Shaheen lost 10 stone

In the pictures you see Shaheen is over 20 stone, her starting point.

Her dream was to be 10 stone, to be able to buy clothes off the pegs. She is now and remains at 9 and a half stone, We are proud to have shared this part of Shaheen’s life, been there through the ups and downs and now all we have to do is prepare for a wedding!

No matter what your time frame or budget we can make a difference

Call for a free taster session:

MULTI-AWARD W INNING

01732 451 979

W W W. B E T T E R B O D Y S H O P. C O . U K OPPOSITE BAT & BALL STATION, SEVENOAKS

wedding special

Hotel Du Vin S

ublime. One word to express the greatest of all days. With exquisite private rooms, gorgeous suites, a tranquil terrace and vineyard, heavenly dining and your own dedicated events organiser, there can be no more fitting a stage as you glide elegantly from ceremony to wedding breakfast and beyond. Hotel du Vin & Bistro Tunbridge Wells is set in one of the town’s architectural landmarks, a Grade II-listed sandstone mansion built as a private residence in 1762. Think quintessential British style.

Elegant and unpretentious.

Housing a plethora of features such as unique private spaces with the Speyside Glenlivet, a large versatile room which

has drawn its decorative influences from the famous mirrored room in the palace of Versailles. Add views over the hotel gardens and you have the perfect setting. Havana is a 1950’s Cuban style room which is flooded with natural daylight through its French doors. Mouton Rothschild also benefits from an abundance of natural daylight through French doors and can also be opened out onto its own veranda. The garden terrace with wonderful views out across Calverley Park and access to the hotel’s very own vineyard provides a beautiful setting for your wedding photos or drinks reception.

After the big day rest your head in one 34 timelessly

styled bedrooms or suites all with Egyptian cotton linen, monsoon showers and deep baths, as well as being sensitively converted to retain many of their original features and complemented beautifully with antiques. You can even have the entire hotel exclusively for you. Hotel du Vin Tunbridge Wells is the perfect venue for weddings and civil partnerships. For your Big Day. Think du Vin. Hotel du Vin Crescent Road Tunbridge Wells TN1 2LY 01892 526455 Events.tunbridgewells@ hotelduvin.com www.hotelduvin.com

events.tunbridgewells@hotelduvin.com www.hotelduvin.com FEBrUARY2012

wedding special

dream Your

wedding

By Sarah O’Meara

I

n our day-dreams, the romantic proposal of marriage is effortlessly followed by a Cinderella-style wedding day, and the planning process is carefully edited out.

As lovely as these fantasies are, they’re hardly a blueprint for organising the big day.

Whether you’re planning a modest yet elegant affair or a week’s worth of wild hedonism, every dream wedding needs a strong plan to transform it from an idea into reality.

Don’t panic, just make sure you’re asking the right questions at the right time, says wedding planner and author of Wedding Bible Sarah Haywood.

There’s no point in worrying about the details of the day until you’ve made five key decisions.

Your big five are... how, where, when, who and budget.

Do you want a religious or civil ceremony, in which geographic location, at what time of year, who will you invite and how much can you spend?

People rush out and buy magazines and make decisions about having peonies before they know what month the ceremony’s going to be in. You wouldn’t think about furnishing

34 F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 2

your home, until you’d found the house, would you!

“The Big Five, as I call them in my book, are your road map and until they’ve been agreed upon you can’t get down to the details.”

Follow Haywood’s tips to make sure your wedding day is a success...

TWELVE TO NINE MONTHS TO GO

Having enjoyed the luxury of travelling to venues, perhaps trying on a few gowns and looking at pretty pictures in magazines, now’s the time to firm up those plans.

Imagine that this phase is called ‘Ideas and Decisions’ and that now you’ve got a sense of the key elements which will define the look and style of day, it’s important to hire suppliers who can make sure those are all in place. ✱ Set the date, book the ceremony and venue(s) ✱ Book key suppliers (catering, florist, photography, transport, stationer) ✱ Compile guest list ✱ Book entertainment (band, DJ etc.) ✱ Reserve suits, purchase bridesmaids’ outfits and select wedding gown ✱ Send out ‘Save the Date’ cards/email

NINE TO THREE MONTHS

DON’T FORGET:

Having sketched the outline of your wedding and hired the key players, it’s now the fun part - filling in the details of the day and designing your perfect wedding!

Think about what it’s going to look like - and if you’re not sure, get help. It’s important for all the elements to be coordinated otherwise you’ll end up with something random, like a cake that doesn’t work with the venue.

You need a design overview.

✱ Confirm menu ✱ Mail invitations 12 to 8

DON’T FORGET: ✱ Menu tasting ✱ Choose cake, flowers,

readings and music ✱ Purchase wedding ring(s) ✱ Register for gift list ✱ Choose stationer and agree invitations ✱ Book honeymoon THREE TO ONE MONTHS TO GO

At this point, you’ll hopefully be tying everything together, confirming all your plans and adding those final details.

For those who feel that there’s simply too much left to do, or are worried about being stressed on the day, you might consider bringing someone in to bring it all together.

weeks before wedding ✱ Confirm order of service with officiant ✱ One month to go, chase outstanding RSVPs TEN DAYS BEFORE THE WEDDING

A key point to remember is that if everyone involved has the same expectations of the day, then the day should run smoothly.

If you’ve talked through the Big Five at the beginning, then any last minute controversies should be avoided.

Listen to suggestions from friends and family throughout the process. Some people just want to be heard and by hearing them out, you know they’ll be supportive on the day - even if you’ve ignored what they said!

DON’T FORGET: ✱ Confirm final guest numbers with venue and caterer ✱ Collect Orders of Service, menu and place cards if necessary ✱ Prepare ‘Wedding Day Schedule’ and distribute as required ✱ Confirm shot list with photographer

wedding special

V

ictoria Allinson in Westerham is a treasure trove of gorgeous inspiration for your wedding day. We have experts on hand to turn your wedding dreams into reality.

At Victoria Allinson you will find choosing your wedding dress to be a lavish and exciting experience as the shop unveils it’s offerings of sumptuous silks and French corded lace.

We stock a hand picked collection of exquisite gowns

by British designer Naomi Neoh. The elegant collection is inspired by the glamour of

Victoria Allinson vintage Hollywood – romantic and unique. The gowns are crafted in their London studio, using the finest silks, French laces and traditional couture techniques. All Naomi Neoh dresses are made with internal corsets to flatter and emphasise your waist and create a stunning silhouette.

For the ultimate in couture, why not commission your dream bridal gown. A unique ‘one-off ’ design exquisitely made to your exact measurements and requirements. Victoria will help you design your perfect

gown and bring your vision to life. A Victoria Allinson bridal gown is created with passion and precision by our dedicated team of experts using the finest of fabrics. From the first design appointment to the toile and final fittings, Victoria will oversee every aspect with love and care.

Victoria Allinson design and create beautiful wedding accessories tailored to each Bride. Freshwater pearls teamed with Swarovski crystals are the perfect companion for lace dresses whilst diamante headpieces perfect the vintage

Hollywood glamour look.

We have a great selection of vintage tiaras and jewellery which are all beautifully unique and make wonderful future family heirlooms.

Our pieces are crafted from vintage diamante, fresh water pearls and swarovski crystal.

We can make the perfect headpiece or shoes inspired by your dress to add the finishing touch to your look.

For an appointment please call (01959)564639 or visit www.victoriaallinsoncouture. co.uk for more information.

wedding sPecial

Eastwell Manor e

astwell Manor is a four Red Star Country House Hotel and Spa set within a 3000-acre estate in the heart of the Kent countryside, where couples can enjoy both their Ceremony and Reception at one stunning location.

The historic Manor House sits at the end of a long tree-lined drive, surrounded by perfectly manicured lawns and beautiful grounds and comprises 23 individually styled elegant bedrooms and suites, some with four poster beds in the main house and 39 en suite bedrooms in the luxury Mews Cottages.

The hotel is owned and managed by the Parrett family and has built up a strong reputation for being the ultimate dream wedding venue in Kent.

There are four special areas licensed for Weddings and Civil Ceremonies, which include three beautiful oak panelled Manor House rooms and a beautiful Italian Walled Maids Garden with its own elegant Gazebo, offering couples the option to get married al fresco. This area is filled with an abundance of historic charm, splendid seasonal flower displays and a romantic bridge over the lily pond, which the bride can cross to make a memorable

36 F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 2

entrance in front of her guests.

There are a number of options available for the wedding breakfast to be held within the hotel, with private dining rooms to seat up to 120 guests. These are the Bayeux, Rose Garden and Chaucer rooms. There is also a purpose built evening venue area in the more modern Pavilion

building. The Keston and Chelsfield Suites are joined by an internal staircase and the downstairs Keston Suite benefits from a permanent wooden dance floor, builtin bar, direct access to an outside terrace area and air conditioning, whilst the upstairs Chelsfield Suite can seat up to 120 guests for the evening buffet, providing a quieter area for guests to enjoy the evening Reception.

Overall the two rooms can accommodate evening receptions for up to 180 guests.

The extensive grounds at Eastwell Manor are ideal for marquee weddings, which can be held throughout the year for up to 450 guests and the hotel recommends a reliable, reputable local marquee company who provide an impressive selection of beautifully lined and dressed marquees.

An experienced troupe of professional chefs provide all of the catering for weddings held at Eastwell Manor and our very own Executive Head Chef has carefully put together a selection of mouthwatering menus using the freshest seasonal and locally produced ingredients for the wedding breakfast and evening menus.

Our friendly and experienced team of wedding coordinators takes the time

to show the hotel’s extensive facilities to every couple that comes to Eastwell Manor, as well as discussing the various wedding packages available to them. Our wedding packages offer an affordable option for couples getting married, with all-inclusive packages available from £75 per head. Alternatively a unique tailor-made wedding can be created, according to the couple’s budget and ideas.

With its period charm, award-winning cuisine, regal surroundings, warming log fires and some of the finest spa and leisure facilities in England, Eastwell Manor is a highly esteemed Country House Hotel with a quality of service hard to equal. An English Country House Wedding at Eastwell Manor is impossible to beat and impossible to forget.

A little piece of Eastwell Manor’s charm and magic stays with every couple that gets married here and year after year couples return for anniversary dinners, christenings and other special occasions. Our couples cannot thank us enough for making their wedding one of the best days of their lives and the testimonials we receive make all the hard work that goes into their special day, all worthwhile.

London Golf Club Simply Unforgettable

Your wedding is a unique occasion. At London Golf Club we know how important it is to host this special day in the ideal setting.

Licensed for civil ceremonies and partnerships, our venue, with its peerless elegance provides a stunning backdrop to your celebration.

Matched with the knowledge and passion of our staff, the dining experience you will find is simply first class and is a perfect compliment to your stunning once in a lifetime event.

Welcome to London Golf Club, the perfect stage for your wedding.

To request our wedding brochure call 01474 879899, or email us at weddings@londongolf.co.uk www.londongolf.co.uk

London Golf Club, Stansted Lane, Ash, Nr Brands Hatch, Kent TN15 7EH

wedding sPecial

n

obody wants a bad hair day or a mirror nightmare but if there’s one time in your life when you need to look your beautiful best, it’s your wedding day. With your closest family and friends to hand - and an over-eager photographer snapping at your heels - being a bride should be the happiest day of your life. So the last thing you want to worry about is make-up blunders.

“The best wedding makeup is subtle and unobtrusive, yet reveals and enhances everything that’s most beautiful about a bride’s face,” says make-up artist Jemma Kidd. Whether you’re being made up by your best pal or a team of professionals, ensure you’ve got your look prepared by way of a few trial runs.

make-up musts

“Bridal make-up needs to have enough colour to compensate for the whiteness of the dress,” explains make-up artist Bobbi Brown. “Apply your make-up as if you were going to a formal event - everything should be a bit stronger than the makeup you normally wear.”

To ensure your lip colour lasts throughout the ‘kiss the bride’ peck and beyond, line and fill the lips with a matching lip pencil before applying your lipstick.

Beaming with love, you may have a natural glow on the day but you’ll still need a touch of colour. “When choosing a blush, go for pink if you are fair and rose if you are dark. Apply it to the apples of your cheeks for a healthy glow. For a pop of colour, use a brighter shade just on the apples of your cheeks, Avoid embarrassing make-up blunders during the speeches with tear-proof products.

Look for waterproof and long-wearing formulas in both mascara and eyeliner to avoid smudges and streaks.

Face powder is a must. Set concealer and foundation with a powder puff. And don’t forget to bring pressed powder in your evening bag for touchups throughout the day.”

38 F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 2

Look beautiful

on your wedding day OUR EXPERTS REVEAL THEIR TOP TIPS FOR BRIDAL BEAUTY.

BY LISA HAYNES

romantiC hair.

Forget the debate about summer or winter wedding, one of the biggest decisions for brides is whether to wear hair up or down. If the top of your dress is fussy, an up-do is a good option to keep the focus on your face and gown. ‘This season balanced the hair with the big gowns,’ says Redken session stylist Giovanni Giuntoli.

The avant garde twist has even more height and drama this year and the sleek chignon from years past presents a new view with the croissant shape placed higher atop the head.

An up-do adds instant sophistication and elongates the neck. Ask a bridesmaid to hold on to a mini finishing spray for touch-ups to ensure that your style stays in place all night long and if you have a simple dress and want a more relaxed, modern look, try Giuntoli’s ‘end-of-day waves’. The look

is down and the waves are not tight, they’re fresh, try to get away from the corkscrew for a youthful, casual after-wedding look that’s flattering and flirty. rinG finGers.

As you take your husbandto-be’s hand at the altar, the last thing you want to offer him is chewed nails or a garish set of false talons.

Ensure your ring finger and it’s nine family members are preened to perfection.

Start thinking about the condition of your nails four to six months before the big day, advises Joanna Hansford, director of manicurists at Jo Hansford salon.

It takes six months for a new nail to grow completely, so if they are damaged in any way they have a good chance of recovering in time. Condition and hydrate your hands and nails using a hand cream and

cuticle oil last thing every night for at least a month before the wedding to see happier hands.

If you’re addicted to nail decor, hold off excessive use of coloured nail varnishes in the run-up to your wedding.

Nail polish removal can cause nails to dry out so try not to use it more than once a week and opt for acetone-free ones.

And darker colours can also stain the nail bed if used over a long period. However, if this occurs lemon juice can be used to cleanse them.

As for the big day itself ? Ask your manicurist to assess your nails and see whether long, short, square, oval or rounded most suits your hands and plan the shape in advance. Natural nails always look best if you are going for a traditional wedding but if you are going for a more modern, contemporary look you could have a brighter colour but make sure it doesn’t clash with your dress. i do, and don’t...

“On your wedding day you should look like yourself at your most beautiful.

Don’t: Go to a tanning bed right before your wedding. If you want more colour, use a self tanner. Test the product weeks before the date and apply several days before the wedding in case you need to make corrections.

Do: Complete a make-up trial to avoid any surprises.

Don’t: Use concealer on the eyelids. It causes eye make-up to crease.

Do: Keep your look natural, fresh and modern using colours you have worn before and know they suit your skin tone.

Don’t: Apply shimmer all over the face. One or two accents are enough.

Do: Make sure your foundation is right for your skin tone.

Your colour may have changed since the make-up trial.

Don’t: Wear frosted, shiny or sparkly shadows as it will reflect camera flashes.

Do: Try and put your dress on after you have done everything else. Make-up should be completed beforehand.

R

e-launched in July 2007 after a £6 million refurbishment, the Felbridge Hotel and Spa is one of the most exciting hotels within the South East and is currently rated the joint highest AA black four star hotel in the UK. Presenting an experience like no other and set in the beautiful surroundings of the Sussex countryside, the contemporary design of the hotel and breathtaking elegance within will offer you a truly memorable and enjoyable stay.

The Felbridge Hotel and Spa is the landmark hotel in East Grinstead offering excellent facilities in an ideal location. Located on the A22, the hotel prominently sits at the North of East Grinstead within easy reach of the M25 and M23; a 10 minute drive from London Gatwick Airport where The Gatwick Express takes 30 minutes from London Victoria. The hotel is also just a short distance from the glorious South Coast.

Anise Restaurant The fine dining Anise Restaurant boasts two AA Rosettes and is favoured by residents and locals alike, run by our Executive Head Chef, Kirk Johnson.

In January 2010, Anise was crowned ‘Best Eating Experience in Sussex’ at the glamorous Sussex Food & Drink Awards.

The Bay Tree Restaurant The Bay Tree Restaurant offers high quality, simple food from outstanding local suppliers and

expertly cooked. The Bay Tree Restaurant has a more relaxed atmosphere and is ideal for families with its new children’s menu.

The QUBE Champagne & Cocktail Bar Designed to rival any bar in London, the QUBE Bar boasts a sparkling bar area, lit from behind and hosting some of the world’s premium brands. The bar also boasts bespoke Champagne tables with a removable centre revealing a built in ice bucket for keeping Champagne chilled.

Ideal for drinks events, meeting friends or a romantic rendezvous, The QUBE Bar is one of the region’s most stunning additions.

The Chakra Spa Named after the seven Chakra’s of the body; the Chakra Spa offers Elemis treatments including Hot Stone Massage, The Pro-Quartz Lifting Facial, Oxygen Facial, Men’s Urban Treatments and Frangipani Body Wraps. The spa plays host to five treatment rooms, hair salon and 2 Jessica Nail Bars as well as a luxury pool, steam room, sauna, whirlpool, state-of-the-art Techno gym fitness room, two outdoor tennis courts and a jogging trail.

Weddings The Felbridge Hotel and Spa is a stunningly elegant property: The magnificent Grand Ballroom, beautiful Willow Suite, both with natural daylight, and our perfectly manicured courtyard creates an ideal venue for civil ceremonies and wedding receptions.

To find out more or to request a brochure please telephone

TheHotel Felbridge & Spa

Beautiful Bridal Nails Collection 1 French White, 68 Rose, 67 Crème, 2003 Nude

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

Bio Sculpture Bridal A6R.indd 1

8/23/10 2:23:35 PM

Hints and Tips for

Perfect Bridal Nails from Bio Sculpture Gel

B

io Sculpture gel can be applied a few days before the big day and the bride can be sure that the colour won’t chip or be damaged for up to three weeks, including during her honeymoon. This will ensure that any last minute stress won’t be caused by broken nails.

If the bride has short or bitten nails, and she would like to grow them for the wedding day encourage her to make regular visits to the salon for up to 6 weeks before her wedding. Bio Sculpture Gels will protect and nourish the nails, helping them to grow and strengthen.

Bio Sculpture Gel enables nails to be built and re-shaped in order to create the most perfect nails. If you have a client with damaged or badly shaped nails, a Bio Sculpture treatment will allow them to have perfect nails on their big day.

Some modern brides are moving away from French manicures. Neutral shades 40 F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 2

can provide a subtle elegance and bright colours can create a feature. Encourage your client to think about what colour they’d like to wear beforehand, ask them about their colour scheme and flowers to make sure that all the colours compliment each other.

Nail Art does not need to be overpowering. You can use subtle shades and elegant accessories that do not detract from the main attractions of the day. If your client has requested nail art, encourage them to have a trial treatment, before the day in order for them to wear it for a few days to be sure that they are happy with the design.

For further information please contact Jodie Levy on 0845 331 2347 (option 0) or email jodie@biosculpture.co.uk Bio Sculpture is available at professional salons nationwide. A full range of professional treatments and consumer products are available.

For more information, please visit www. biosculpture.co.uk or call 0845 331 2347

For the Curious Bride....

Your big day is approaching, but is there something you’ve forgotten?

We have a dedicated team who can help create the perfect hair and make-up for your special day!

The Curious Comb Boutique Hair Salon

111 Humber Road • Blackheath • SE3 7LW Open 8-8 weekdays & weekends

020 88538282 www.thecuriouscomb.com

ROSES FLORIST

4 Royal Parade Chislehurst Kent BR7 6NR 020 8467 3203 / 020 8295 5014 e-mail:orders@roses-florist.co.uk www.roses-florist.co.uk

wedding sPecial

HOW TO BE THE

Best-dressed WEDDING GUEST

W

hile the first rule of being a wedding guest is never to outshine the bride, that doesn’t mean dressing down for the occasion.

With an estimated two billion people worldwide watching last week’s royal wedding, the congregation temporarily transformed Westminster Abbey into a rainbow catwalk.

The Queen wore lemon yellow, mother of the bride Carole Middleton opted for sky blue while Prince Harry’s on-off girlfriend Chelsy Davy sported aqua green.

Style leaders Victoria Beckham, Tara Palmer-

Tomkinson and Samantha Cameron chose very different ensembles involving headpiece, hat and hair jewellery respectively.

But their mantra was the same - let Kate Middleton have her ultimate fashion moment.

So, inspired by the glamorous guest list of royalty, celebrities and dignitaries, here’s a guide to how to dress to impress at those ‘I do’ occasions this summer. rules of enGaGement

Royal nuptials aside, unless you’re attending a black tie or cocktail affair, the rules for a daytime wedding are slightly

more relaxed - and you won’t have an audience of billions to scrutinise your choice of hat.

Take note, Princess Beatrice.

“The goal is to create an outfit that’s cheerful and celebratory, ideally something similar to what you’d wear to a daytime religious occasion - but dressier,” explain Hillary Kerr and Katherine Power, authors of new book What to Wear, Where.

“But just because the ceremony and celebration take place in the (hopefully) sunshine, don’t make the mistake of thinking you can turn up in any old thing.”

With photographic evidence aplenty on any average wedding day, your outfit shouldn’t become the talking point over the cutting of the cake.

“The trick to getting your daytime wedding look right is really paying attention to your choice of materials,” Kerr and Power advise.

“Avoid super-casual fabrics at all costs, meaning no jersey, cotton, or polyester. Instead, reach for lightweight dressy fabrics like chiffon or silk, as they will give you the right hint of formality.”

Colour marriaGe

Unless you’ve got the bride’s approval, stay away from white. Pale colours can also cause problems, risking accusations of stepping into the bride’s spotlight, according to Kerr and Power.

“You should never wear a white dress - this includes cream, ecru, and even nude.

Avoiding white-heavy prints is imperative too.

Our rule is the print cannot be 50% white or more.”

Black might be the choice of colour for gothic nuptials and funerals, but keep things lighter for a summer wedding.

If you want a flattering dark shade, take Victoria Beckham’s lead and opt for navy as an alternative.

“Generally speaking, it’s better to stick to cheerful colours for daytime weddings: think light and bright,”

say Kerr and Power.

“That said, you can wear black - especially if the wedding starts early to midafternoon and goes into the evening. Just make sure your fabric is appropriate and add colour via your accessories.” aisle Walk

Tread carefully with your choice of shoes for weddings.

Summer nuptials can involve navigating freshly-mown lawns or sprawling gravel driveways, meaning towering heels could be a no-no.

“Picking the appropriate footwear is of paramount importance, especially if the wedding is taking place outdoors on the grass or sand,” warn Kerr and Power.

“The best way to navigate nature is to go for a wedge.

Stilettos, with their groundpuncturing skinny heels, are a perilous choice. Of course, if the day doesn’t call for such adventures, you’re free to wear a range of shoe styles.”

If you’ve got the height, don’t be afraid to shun the heels and ensure you’ll be the last one standing on the dance floor.

Kerr and Power say: “Nude pumps are always at the top of our list - they’re flattering and will make most party dresses feel more appropriate for daytime.

“An embellished flat sandal can work, too, especially if paired with an exotic-print maxi dress for a beach wedding.”

Dominic Walmsley Jewellery

R

ecognising the significance of wedding rings as the symbolic declaration of an eternal love and bond has always been important to Dominic Walmsley Jewellery. As more and more couples are looking for individuality in all aspects of their wedding day, Dominic and his team provide a bespoke wedding ring service they believe is second to none. Each ring is individually handcrafted using traditional skills to meet a couple’s unique requirements.

Appointments can be made in their Riverhead shop or London studio to discuss your ideas and see some examples of their beautiful work. www.dominicwalmsley.com 01732 779 555 Info@dominicwalmsley.com 3 THE SQUARE, RIVERHEAD, SEVENOAKS, KENT TN13 2AA

Beautiful Bespoke Jewellery Each Dominic Walmsley engagement and wedding ring is created to your individual requirements and crafted using traditional skills with the finest stones.

3 The Square  Riverhead Book an appointment to see sample rings and discuss your requirements at our Riverhead shop or London studio.

01732 779 555

www.dominicwalmsley.com

Chart Hills Golf Club.

Faldo’s dream, your reality.

Nestled between Biddenden, Smarden & Headcorn you will find Chart Hills.

We are open 7 days of the week & our clubhouse is open to everyone.

Chart Hills is fully licensed for weddings & can cater for parties of 100+ Designed by Sir Nick Faldo our golf course is recognised as one of the top 100 golf courses in Ireland & the UK. Come & see for yourself!

Chart Hills Golf Club, Weeks Lane, Biddenden, Kent. TN27 8JX T: +44(0)1580 292222 E: info@charthills.co.uk W: www.charthills.co.uk

wedding sPecial

w

hen it comes to booking your honeymoon, there’s no second chance. It’s the ultimate in escapism and the biggest lifestyle statement after you say, “I do”.

In the rich tapestry of life, no one asks where you got married, but they all want to know where you went on honeymoon.

With a January wedding, we wanted the works - sun, sea, silver sand, plus a shimmering of stardust to prolong our loved-up wedding high. Having flicked through several glossy travel magazines, we couldn’t resist the allure of the Indian Ocean and the emerald isle of Mauritius. Not the built up northern part where the coastline is dominated by large commercial five-star hotels, but the untouched southern tip with five miles of unspoilt beaches, rolling surf and lush vegetation - framed by a wedge of mountains which look like something out of cult TV show Lost.

As newlyweds, privacy and romance were key, and we found both in the relaxed

44 F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 2

A FAIRYTALE MAURITIAN HONEYMOON sam wylie-harris is in honeymoon heaven as the newlyweD samPles DeliCious mauritius. ambience of Shanti Maurice - a luxury lifestyle spa resort.

A little bit Indian, a little bit African, this super chic hideaway nestles between a horseshoe-shaped coral sand cove and 36 acres of tropical gardens, coconut palms and parcels of sugar cane.

At our airy, colonial-style pool villa, with room enough to dance, we enjoyed a panoramic vista of turquoise sea (the wooden telescope made a stylish feature), two sun lounging decks, a private infinity pool, raised dining pavilion with billowing muslin, not to mention a sunken bathtub with inset flat screen TV and an outdoor rain shower - where nothing came between us and the elements but the exotic birds dining on banana trees.

Weddings are exhausting, so we needed to reawaken our senses on the first night.

After watching a magnificent sunset from the hotel’s elegant Red Ginger Terrace, we dined under a canopy of stars in Pebbles - a casual, pretty

courtyard restaurant which overlooks an infinity pool.

With a menu inspired by the spices of India, we dined on juicy giant prawns and a bottle of fresh South African house wine, and reminisced about the best day of our lives.

Serenaded by a live band, we relived some of those precious moments before heading home in one of the hotel’s chauffeur-driven golf buggies.

The warm air was sweet with scented flowers, and a lovely surprise lay in waiting on our return - a rose petal bath had been drawn, with candles and tea lights flickering in the mirror, and rose petals strewn across the bathroom floor. How did housekeeping know what time we’d be back?

Shanti Maurice boasts one of the finest spas in the Indian Ocean (no under-18s) and we overindulged in the Nira Spa with its Ayurveda treatments, fresh seawater Watsu pool (very therapeutic, apparently), ‘quiet’ pool, and yoga pavilion where I experienced 60 minutes of Hatha Yoga - otherwise known

as a lazy Thai massage! The slow breathing and stretching induces emotional calmness, something this bride could have done with pre-wedding.

But best of all was the Intonga Amasatchi in the Kama Suite - the Holy Grail of spa treatments. For 90 minutes we lay side by side while wooden massage sticks were lightly drummed, nurturing our stressed bodies back to wellness.

Finally, after stress-relieving head massages, we were led to an enchanting pagoda where herbal cuppas were not on the menu. Honeymooners are treated to a half-bottle of Veuve Clicquot while they relax and admire the flower gardens, watching Koi carp swim beneath. Surrounded by stone floors, contemporary furnishings and high ceilings, the hotel lobby feels like a floating palace with impressive water features, lily ponds and hibiscus. This is a resort where style seekers pack the holiday wardrobe they’ve always dreamed of and honeymooners are assured of a glamorous

honeymooners are treated to a half-bottle of veuve clicQuoT while they relax and admire the flower gardens

backdrop to the second half of their wedding album.

We spent lazy, hazy days on the beach gazing out to sea, shaded under a coconut palm umbrella. Or for a change of vista, we took 30 paces back and plunged into the vast infinity pool, with its labyrinth of inviting channels and cosy corners under water fountains.

In the bar at the heart of the hotel, a Coco Loco rum-based cocktail with our friendly barman became de rigeur at the start of the evening, followed by a table in Stars.

The hotel’s signature restaurant has seating inside and out, with ocean-front tables and South African Cape-inspired food.

But for holidaymakers thirsty for a slice of island life, the Fish and Rhum Shack dinner on the beach is the bee’s knees. Pitched against an old shipwreck, canopied day beds and pinic-style tables, a huge bonfire and torches light up the magnificent seafood buffet and barbecue. Guests gorge on fresh lobster, shrimp, steak, chicken and salad, while a troupe of colourful Mauritian dancers in traditional costume sing and dance to the sound of beating drums. The circus doesn’t take place every night, but it’s definitely worth

booking when it’s on the menu.

Mauritius is an island of plenty and for active types, there’s something on offer from dawn ‘til dusk. For early risers, the hotel offers the ‘beauty of Mauritian sea life’ with a dolphin watching excursion at 6am and packed breakfast.

Nature lovers can also see the mystical sights of this volcanic island by going on a half-day excursion to the sacred lake of Grand Bassin; witness magical viewpoints from Black River Gorges National Park and marvel at the tumbling waterfalls and coloured sands of Chamarel.

Fashionistas not content with the resort’s gift shop (pricey, but worth it) can head to the small city of Mahebourg where vibrant, open-air markets spill over with spices, fabrics and souvenirs; and there’s plenty to explore in the picturesque capital of Port Louis, famed for its Champ de Mars racecourse, where punters can have a flutter on some of the finest thoroughbreds in the world - from March to December.

But for my husband (my new favourite word!), the nearby Golf du Chateau was a hole-in-one. Designed by Peter Matkovich and rated the best golf resort on the island (Mauritius has 12 in total), this magnificent 18hole championship course is as well groomed as the golfers who frequent it.

Set against sweeping hills, players practise their swing among lakes, streams, tropical trees and escape the midday sun in an impressive, plantation style clubhouse.

All in all, couples can be as busy or quiet as their hearts desire. Looking back, one of my most treasured memories was our pre-booked ‘romantic, unique dining experience’ on the beach, when we ate alone at a candlelit table surrounded by torchlights, the distant sound of retreating waves and the beautiful sight of quartzlike rock pools laid bare, with the moon shining down on us.

FEBRUARY2012

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celebrity i n t e rv i e w

Silence is golden

Berenice Bejo is becoming the toast of Hollywood, thanks to her role as Peppy Miller in The Artist, By Kate Whiting If you haven’t yet heard of Peppy Miller or Berenice Bejo, you soon will. They’re both actresses, but only one of them is real.

French actress Bejo plays Peppy, a young wannabe silent movie star trying to make her way in 1930s Hollywood, in the silent, black and white film The Artist, which is making huge waves and already hotly tipped for awards. Hailed as the feel-good hit of May’s Cannes Film Festival, The Artist has already received Golden Globe nominations for Best Motion Picture, Best Actor for Jean Dujardin (who plays fading screen icon George Valentin) and Best Supporting Actress for Bejo.

With her sparkling eyes, glossy dark hair and classic looks, the actress is every inch the modern screen icon and it’s easy to see why her director husband Michel Hazanavicius wrote the film with her in mind. “Peppy was written for me, so I knew there was a lot of me in her,” says Bejo, 35, looking effortlessly chic in simple jeans, a t-shirt and a black jacket. While George Valentin reigns at the silent movie box office, Peppy is a young ingenue, totally starstruck by their first meeting on the red carpet for one of his premieres.

Peppy by name and by nature, the aspiring actress turns an awkward moment into an opportunity for publicity when she drops a kiss on his cheek. “I enjoyed everything on this movie, but that was a difficult scene to film, because Michel was very far away. There were so many extras, so we were kind of alone.

“When you’re acting and you hear ‘Cut!’ from far away, you don’t know if it’s good. We’d been shooting for so many weeks and suddenly I wasn’t sure of myself, but now I love this scene. She’s so cute on the red carpet, and so funny,” giggles Argentinian-born Bejo in her soft French accent.

Hazanavicius had dreamed of making a silent film for 20 years, but had to wait until he’d made a name for himself with his OSS 117 spy movie parodies, starring both Dujardin and Bejo. And while his stars first laughed at the idea, they soon warmed to it: “We said, ‘If you finance it, we’ll be there’,” recalls Bejo. “He said, ‘I don’t want a pantomime; I’ll show you some movies and you’ll see the acting is very simple, very normal’.

“We all know Charlie Chaplin and Laurel and Hardy, which is over the top, because it was comedy, but [silent] dramas weren’t like that - I was very reassured when I saw them.”

Filming with an English speaking cast and crew - including John Goodman and Malcolm McDowell - had its moments (“You have to eat lunch in just half an hour”) and working so 46 F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 2

closely with her husband wasn’t all plain sailing, either. “We once had an argument and it was so funny, because we went behind a set and were going ‘argh rah rah’ in French, and the crew, who were all American, were like, ‘Are they fighting?’ At one point, we started laughing because it was so stupid,” she giggles.

Bejo grew up watching old films with her mum and dad, and it was seeing the golden age of Hollywood on screen that made her want to be an actress. “My favourite actor was Robert Mitchum when I was 10 years old. So when Michel said, ‘I want to write a movie that’s set in 1930s Hollywood’, it was perfect for me,” Valentin is very much the central character, as the plot revolves around his reluctance to embrace the ‘talkies’, while a smitten Peppy’s star is busily rising - so Bejo made sure her scenes counted. “Sometimes, when you have a lead role and you’re there every day, you’re not going to be ‘on it’ all the time. In this movie, because I have few moments, I worked very hard and I had so much pleasure,” she says, her nose wrinkling sweetly as she giggles again.

All her hard work is paying off as audiences and critics are falling in love with Peppy and The Artist, but the awards season will involve doing many more rounds of publicity. “Can it be any more intense than what I’m doing now?” laughs Bejo, who’s reluctant to comment on her Oscar chances.

“I won’t be crying in my bed if I don’t get nominated, because it’s already so amazing.”

But when more nominations do come, don’t expect Bejo to be walking the red carpet in Peppy Miller’s beautiful flapper dresses: “I don’t think it’s a good idea. I’m not Peppy, I’m Berenice and if I get a nomination, it’s for my work and as an actor,” she says.

Bejo now lives in Paris with Hazanavicius, their three-month-old baby and three-year-old son, plus his two daughters from a previous marriage. So there’s no way she’ll be moving to LA when Hollywood starts calling. “Oh no, I can’t move out of Paris, but as an actor, you don’t need to live there. You’re doing a movie for two months, normally, they never shoot movies in LA, so I’ll be on location. ‘Mummy’s going to work for two months and she’ll be back for weekends’ - great!” she says, smiling. “For me as an actor, I already have all I want. In France, I changed stature. I got so many scripts and have met so many directors. If I have something more, it’s great, but I’m already so thankful to the movie for everything that’s already arrived.”

FEBRUARY2012 february

47

gifTs

ANNABELS GIFT EMPORIUM

T

he founders of Annabels Gift Emporium are a small team who shared a dream to create their own Fortnum and Masons their favourite place to shop.

Annabel’s has employee ownership, a concept they sincerely believe in and hence all the team are passionate and proud about their stores.

When they first started the vision was to promote luxury English designers and English manufacturers. On the whole they have been true to their principles.

They wanted to create an ambience of elegance where Clients can discover that special gift, for someone else or even spoil themselves.

After all, such indulgencies are good for the soul!

Annabels promote and present long established and 48 F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 2

classically English brands such as Charbonnel et Walker the Bond street chocolatiers famous for their scrumptious marc de champagne truffles and decadent violet creams; FOX umbrellas who have been manufacturing in Purley for over 100 years and are presented in the worlds most exclusive department stores; Corgi Cashmere’s Prince of Wales’ 7 stripe socks - all of whom bear the royal crest...

Adjacent to these bastions of English design are the newly successful such as Mitchell and Peach, kent-based lavender growers for over 3 generations, whose wonderful toiletries are now stocked exclusively by the Dorchester hotel; Annie Haak - an exciting silver jewellery designer

favoured by the A-list who adore her guardian angel range; NEOM - Kate Middleton’s favourite - organic scented candles, room mists and diffusers. To name a few.

The team are particularly passionate, some may say obsessed, with handbags!

Finding such beautiful English designers (they spent months researching in Peter Jones, Fenwicks and other lovely stores) was really exciting and they are very proud of our range of English designer brands. Mimi Berry works from her base in East London and whom they were advised by one store was outperforming Mulberry; Loren Taylor, whose bags have insides that

are almost more exquisite that the out; Alison van der Lande’s colourful and elegant collections, as well as the glorious offerings from Milo and Saint and Blondie Mania All of the designers, old and new, we buy from have a wonderful story - its a little bit of what makes England great, are all available in the Chislehurst store - an emporium of quintessentially English gifts and luxuries, wrapped and ready, for all the family.

You really must make time to visit Annabels - you wont be disappointed.

Annabel’s, 3 Royal Parade, Chislehurst, Kent, BR7 6NR Tel: 07714 189674 Email: Clients@Annabelsemporium.co.uk

Luxury Gift Emporium

Promoting English designers Loren Taylor ✦ Mimi berry ✦ Alison van der Lande ✦ Blondie mania ✦ Mungo and Maud Charbonnel et Walker ✦ Fox umbrellas ✦ Dents ✦ Annie Haak ✦ Karen Morrison Mitchell and Peach ✦ Neon ✦ Heyland and Whittle ✦ Milk two bunnies, to name a few...

3 Royal Parade, Chislehurst, Kent, BR7 6NR, England Telephone: 07714 189674 Email: Clients@Annabels-emporium.co.uk

Lose the winter blues Give your denim drawer an update with the new season jean trends. Lisa Haynes shows you how to find your perfect pair.

B

egone January blues, the outlook for spring denim is looking bright, with traditional indigos, navies and stonewash jean hues making way for pastels, prints and eye-popping colour.

The big denim makeover comes at a time when it’s revealed 75% of British women wear less than a quarter of the jeans in their wardrobe regularly. The findings, by fashion advice site Miss High Street (www. misshighstreet.com) indicate an average ownership of 10 pairs of jeans, leaving at least seven pairs lying neglected in the denim drawer.

Time for a new trend-led spree? Hannah Buckley, founder of Miss High Street, recommends a frugal fashion approach: “Don’t splurge on trend jeans because their appeal might be short-lived.

“Coloured skinnies are huge this season but opt for some of the cheaper versions on the high street.”

50 F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 2

Dive into the denim rainbow revolution with our jean-ius guide.

Print parade

Made for exhibitionists, eye-catching prints have made their mark on denim.

“Prints are key to this season’s denim, from floral to tropical and aquatic for the adventurous,” says Thornton.

“Animal print is such a statement, too, which can be worn in faded pastel denim shades of mint, blue or rose, featuring a subtle leopard or snake print for added wow factor.”

How to wear them: Let these show-stopping jeans do all the work by throwing on a plain white tee and flats for daytime, or black vest and heels in the evening.

Bright brigade

The block brights that dazzled throughout 2011 are going nowhere fast.

Red jeans are practically vying with traditional blues as a denim staple.

Thornton says: “There’s no escaping the rainbow of shades which will be hitting the denim boutiques in spring.

“Hot pinks, cobalt blues and aquamarine look stunning in skinny jeans.”

How to wear them: Be brave and complete the colour block look with a top in a similar shade, or contrast with a metallic tee.

Summer stripes

Hello instant leg lengtheners!

Pyjamas are a big catwalk trend for spring/summer but stripy denim is the more wearable way to work stripes on the streets.

“This season anything goes with stripes - contrast colours, thick stripes or pinstripes,” Thornton suggests.

“The ‘pyjama look’ is the fashionista favourite, worn skinny and cropped for a fresh take on nautical.”

How to wear them: Keep the look fresh and maritimeinspired with washed-out colours like creams, pale blues and faded reds.

Avoid denim dilemmas: ✱ Staple jeans aren’t something

to splurge on without a serious test run. Jean sizes can vary between brands and stores, so hit the changing rooms. ✱ Decide if you want to wear your new jeans with heels or flats (or both) and take them with you to get the length just right. ✱ If you’re buying online, look to a site like www.sojeans. co.uk, which has a SoSelect application to find the best brands to suit your shape. ✱ Back pocket placement is all-important for flattering your behind, so check out those mirrors. Pockets set wide apart can add width. Pockets set close can create the illusion of a compact bum and pockets that tilt outward can create curves. ✱ A bootcut hem can balance out big hips and thighs. Pair with towering platforms to create the illusion of supermodel pins. ✱ Opt for a Seventies-style crease if you want to draw attention away from your hips and lengthen your legs.

fa s h i o n beauty

Candy coloured Cropped capers If you can’t bare to be parted from your blues, step into summer with a pair of cropped jeans.

Shoe addicts will adore these for their feet-baring qualities, which make them perfect for teaming with ballet pumps and ankle boots alike.

Thornton says: “If the new denim hue is colour, colour, colour, then the new shape for spring is the crop.

“The look is midrise, straight leg and ankle length.”

Dolly mixture-inspired shades will be difficult to resist this spring.

Whereas last winter was all about leatherlook dark and moody jeans, this season is pale and interesting.

Denim boutique owner, Donna Ida Thornton (www. donnaida.com) says: “As seen on the catwalks, pastels are so fresh for spring.

“From acid colours of sharp lemon to pretty mint shades and soft candy tones, it’s time to embrace a sugary sweet denim palette.”

How to wear them:

How to wear them:

Pair with a crisp shirt for a clean and modern look.

Think chic and team them with blouses and pointed courts.

FEBRUARY2012

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fa s h i o n beauty

h

airdressing is constantly evolving. From dip-dye colour trends to asymmetric cuts and feather hair extensions, the faddy trends may come and go. But an elite stable of hairdressers has stood the test of time.

Charles Worthington is undoubtedly a member of this exclusive club - and this year marks a quarter of a century since he opened his salon doors.

With a client book crammed with A-listers, and blowdrying skills at the ready for his fourth year as official hairdresser at the BAFTAs in February, Worthington is celebrating the occasion with a hair gift for us all - a limited edition BAFTA and CW 25th Anniversary Collection of products.

His mantra is “bouncy, shiny, touchable hair that looks full of life”. With the Oscars and BAFTAs upon us, Worthington reveals how to achieve that red carpet look in the comfort of your home.

Red carpet hair rules

You don’t need an invite to a flashy premiere to feel like a superstar. Follow Worthington’s hair tricks for a big event in your diary and you’ll be fighting off the camera flash bulbs in no time...

54 F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 2

Eat your hair healthy

Get the

s u p e r sta r look Celebrating his 25th anniversary year in hairdressing Charles Worthington reveals his insider secrets and red carpet glamour tricks. By Lisa Haynes

The glossy hair you see on the red carpets isn’t achieved by shine spray alone. Stars spend weeks prepping for their big red carpet moment, according to Worthington, diet included.

“You can’t expect to have shiny hair without a balanced diet with plenty of vitamins, minerals and nutrients,” he says.

“If you want to boost your diet with supplements to help your hair health, then take vitamin B complex, zinc and Omega 3 that will provide essential fatty acids.”

Hold the lather

Ditch grand plans for hair treatments on the day. Styling your tresses when it’s not freshly washed provides better hold for dressed hair.

“Freshly washed hair can be slippery, so dayold hair is always better,” Worthington explains.

“Spritz a volumising spray into dry hair, then rough dry to achieve more texture to work with for dressing your hair. Beware if you have greasy hair, use a dry shampoo first.”

Faux gloss

Hair looking bouncy but lacklustre? Fake that Hollywood shine. Worthington

Celebrity Secrets ✱ Worthington has

coiffured the locks of countless a-listers during his 25 years of blowdrying, snipping and styling. here, he reveals some of his favourite famous encounters in the hairdresser’s chair: ✱ i loved working with sharon stone for the Baftas in 2009 - that lady has star quality! she was breathtakingly beautiful even without any make-up. for the Baftas, her hair was quite short, so we

decided to put it up to give the impression of an up-do. the aim was for an effortlessly chic look that wasn’t too structured or ageing but had a more spontaneous feel. ✱ When sex and the City were filming the very last episode, they did the final scenes in our salon in new york. that was thanks to kim Cattrall who was a client and suggested our salon for the shoot. at the time, kim had blonde shoulderlength, high-maintenance

hair, which needed to look mega-groomed for the part. she loved having polished, bouncy hair - our blow-dry times together were always fun.

recommends ditching the hairspray and using volumising spray and shine serum instead.

“A little trick of mine is to apply a tiny amount of serum to the palm of the hand then, using a large make-up brush, lightly sweep over the hair for subtle glossiness and shine,” he recommends.

You can also try Worthington’s trick of blasting cold air at the end of each blow-dried section to set the style and seal the cuticles with extra shine. seCure the style

Nobody wants to spend half the night constructing an elaborate hairstyle only for it to start falling out as soon as you pick up your first canape.

Matte hair grips are an essential in Charles Worthington’s wardrobe of hair essentials because they have a firmer hold and show up less than shiny ones.

“If you’re dressing hair, my top tip is bending back one corner of a hair pin to form a fish hook - it means that when you put the pin into the hair, it can’t come out.

“Bear in mind you need to allow a little time to take the hair out afterwards!”

Cheat!

Worthington cites a style he created for Emilia Fox at the BAFTAs as a red carpet favourite - a sideon, tousled low bun.

“The one big advantage of this style is that it’s at the side of your head so you can see what you’re doing, which means you’re cheating to start with,” he says.

“Not many people realise that you can use a big bun ring - my favourite secret weapon to create the illusion of plentiful hair.”

Put your hair in a ponytail and pull through the ring, gripping sections of the hair to the ring.

FEBRUARY2012

55

fa s h i o n beauTy

GET YOUR BEST LOOK FOR 2012 WITH

DR. ARIEL HAUS london’s Most Talked about brazilian doctor Before

After

O

ne of London’s most celebrated Harley Street dermatologists is Dr Ariel Haus. Brazilian Dr Ariel Haus is passionate about skin. Helping his patients to feel positive and confident about their skin, is what he does and this year should be the year that all Londoners with increasingly busy schedules do not neglect their skin.

Here is your checklist to get your best look with Dr Haus:

Area

Solution

sun damaged skin

skin peel

Wrinkles & frown lines

Botulinum toxin

facial lines and lack of volume

dermal fillers

lack of rejuvenation

ablative and non-ablative lasers

scars

dermaroller

dark under eye circles

Carboxytherapy

Dr Haus also offers a selection of non-invasive body treatments including semi-permanent laser hair removal and VelaShape to eliminate cellulite. foCus on: dermal fillers (for the faCe/lips/hands)

Dermal Fillers are used for volume replacement and facial 56 F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 2

remodelling to counter the effects of aging. As a woman ages the reduced amount of collagen in her skin means that the skin in the cheeks, chin, jawline and nose will start to lose its structure and sag. This can lead to the appearance of deep lines that are not reversible by the use of other treatments such as botulinum or skin peels. The appearance of the lips will also change as a woman ages, due to the thinning of vermillion and the loss of collagen in the lips. Smoking, alcohol consumption and sun damage all worsen this situation. Through the use of quality dermal fillers such as Restylane and Juvaderm, Dr. Haus can safely add volume to the face and lips to reverse these effects of aging.

The actual treatment that Dr. Haus recommends will depend on the individual circumstances of the patient and the area to be treated, but in each case, the results will be visible immediately.

In Dr. Haus’ experience dermal fillers will achieve excellent results when used to add volume to the lips, the area between the nose and corners of the mouth (nasogenal) and the cheekbones (malar).

Dermal fillers such as Restylane consist of sterile gels that comprise stabilised non-animal based hyaluronic acid.

The products are injected into the skin using a thin needle to correct lines, wrinkles and folds in the face, to sculpt lips and form facial contours. Whilst patients are able to resume their normal activities after treatment with dermal fillers there are some precautions that must be taken and Dr. Haus will advise his patients on the precautions they should take in the 24 hours following treatment.

Time for your best look with Dr Ariel Haus. www.drhausdermatology.com, 10 Harley Street, London W1G 9PF Tel: +44 207 467 1525 Em Portugues/In Portuguese: 07796 235 603

dr haus has regular columns in uK magazines and is often consulted by manufacturers of leading skin products and brands to offer insight and his opinion owing to his extensive experience.

Laban’s Pilates Studio is one of the largest fully equipped Pilates facilities in the UK Open 7 days a week

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07/10/2011 11:36

fa s h i o n beauTy

AUTUMN/WINTER 2012 COLLECTIONS

l

ondon Fashion Week (LFW) is one of the highest profile fashion events in the world and one of the ‘big four’ international catwalk influencers. The event is organised by the British Fashion Council and funded by a number of sponsors (including principal sponsor Vodafone). It is a world of celebrities and famous people, beautiful and expensive clothes and general fashion glitz.

London Fashion Week puts London and British fashion firmly on the global stage; it is estimated that orders of over £100m are placed during LFW each season. Over 5,000 visitors attend: buyers, TV & radio crews, journalists and photographers.

There are 60 catwalk shows on the official schedule as well as a further 45 shows off-schedule. There are also more than 30 on-schedule presentations and salon shows.

LFW visitors have access to many more designers through presentations, multi-brand and individual showrooms .

In February 2010 the British Fashion Council launched the digital schedule as a part of London Fashion Week.

The digital schedule is the first official Fashion Week schedule of its kind, bringing together live streamed shows and a selection of fashion films.

The vibrant and internationally renowned London Fashion Week is always exciting and inspirational, and this month’s event will in no doubt prove to be just that once again, all housed under one roof in the neoclassical surrounds of Somerset House.

The BFC co-ordinate an events schedule to help visitors experience London �the city� as well as the showcase of British fashion design talents at LFW, presenting another unrivalled opportunity for both established designers and newcomers to present their Autumn/Winter 2012 collections.

A constantly buzzing key event for those who haven’t got the patience to wait until the latest fashion designs and stylish fashion trends make it into the fashion magazines.

British Fashion Council have announced the provisional schedule of designers who will be showcasing their Autumn/

london fashion week womenswear: february 17th - 21st menswear: february 22nD somerset house, stranD, lonDon wC2r 1la

Winter 2012 collections at London Fashion Week this month.

Returning to the show on schedule this season, are luxury brands including Aquascutum, Temperley London, Jasper Conran, House of Holland, John Rocha, Issa London, Stella McCartney, Nicole Farhi, David Koma, Paul Smith, Mulberry, Matthew Williamson, Louise Gray, Vivienne Westwood Red Label, Burberry Prorsum, McQ Alexander McQueen, Ozwald Boateng, and Pringle of Scotland.

Gieves & Hawkes, MAN, Martine Rose, Topman Design, James Long, Lou Dalton and RAKE are amongst those designers that will show their collections on Menswear Day. Two more brands are to show for the first time. Belstaff has announced it will present its first men’s and women’s AW12 collections on Sunday February 19th, 3.30pm-5.30pm.

This will be the first collection to be shown since the relaunch of the brand.

Moschino Cheap And Chic will also make its London Fashion Week debut; the AW12 collection will be shown on Saturday 18th February between 1.30pm-3.30pm.

The magic of London Fashion Week is not merely thanks to the fashion designers’ and fashion stylists’ cutting-edge collections but the media excitement that accompanies them. The allure of the show is exceptional and London Fashion Week continues to be the top fashion event pulling visitors from every corner of the globe.

For more information about London Fashion Week at Somerset House, including schedules, location, news, video and much more go to www.londonfashionweek.co.uk

london fashion week is one of the ‘big four’ inTernaTional catwalk influencers

58 F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 2

Matthrew W illiamson

cenes at Behind the s ion week London Fash Paul Smith

Designer Hen ry Halland FEBRUARY2011

59

house garden

A design for

life

Singer Beyonce and her husband Jay-Z have reportedly splashed out £1 million on their new baby’s nursery. Gabrielle Fagan finds out how to kit out a celeb-style room for your little star.

E

very baby is a star in its proud parents’ eyes but celebrities certainly like to give theirs the red-carpet treatment from the moment they’re born.

When it comes to creating a nursery, nothing but the best will do and no luxurious detail is overlooked, whether it’s furniture embellished with glittering crystals, elaborate fantasy murals, or exquisite hand-built furniture.

Singer Beyonce and her husband Jay-Z reportedly spent around £1 million kitting out three nurseries in their various homes for daughter, Blue Ivy Carter, born this month ( January).

As well as a miniature pink bath, studded with 45,000 Swarovski crystals, and a matching high chair (£10,000), they’re also said to have a solid gold rocking horse as one of their daughter’s first toys.

“It’s certainly not unusual for those with wealth and status to opt for the ‘wow’ factor,” says Lizzie Mackey, senior designer at nursery boutique Dragons of Walton Street, which boasts

60 F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 2

many celebrity clients.

“This is a room on which people lavish a huge amount of care, attention and money. And they want it to match the rest of their home and their style.

“They view a nursery as a particularly special space.

After all, it’s their child’s first view of the world and a room they will probably never forget, so getting it right is incredibly important to them.”

On-trend parents are opting for more colour and personality in their rooms, and moving away from neutrals, she says.

There’s a desire to create outof-this-world settings, often featuring hand-painted murals.

“One of my favourite nurseries had a cot upholstered to resemble a fluffy cloud, with drapes hung with crystal droplets to replicate rain drops, and we created a mural to resemble a glowing pink sunrise and sky. It cost around £90,000.”

The company furnished a nursery for singer Lily Allen, whose daughter, Ethel Mary, was born in November. It supplied

pieces hand-decorated with ladybirds and bumble bees.

“She fell in love with a fabric which featured garden insects and we worked around that theme. It was colourful and magical, but very peaceful,” she says.

“People love bespoke details. For Elton John’s baby

“It’s certainly not unusual for those with wealth and status to opt for the ‘wow’ factor,” son we made a miniature chair featuring musical notes. Clients view crafted bespoke pieces as heirlooms which can be handed down through the generations.”

Even if your budget isn’t celebrity-sized, you can be inspired by the style of Beyonce, Victoria

Beckham, Mariah Carey and Christina Aguilera.

Create a knock-out nursery for your VIB (Very Important Baby) with our pick of best buys for baby.

Beyonce’s style

The R&B singer and her rapper husband are not known as the King and Queen of Bling for nothing, and their three nurseries sparkle with style, crystals and chandeliers.

“When my client is someone who ‘models’ nappies and takes naps the majority of the day, a room should be simple but stunning,” says interior designer Lori Gardner who spent months creating the Swarovski crystal-studded baby bath for the couple.

“A neutral palette, soft lighting, quality linens and a few luxurious items combine to create a perfect nursery ensuring baby’s first taste of life is served on a silver spoon!”

Victoria Beckham’s style

The fashion designer and former Spice Girl reportedly

treated her daughter Harper Seven, now seven months old to a £50,000 ‘pink, very girly and OTT’ nursery.

It’s French-inspired handcarved furniture included an £1,800 wardrobe featuring rabbits frolicking around the frame, and a chaise longue.

“A traditional choice of pink for a girl remains popular,” says Mackey. “One particularly glamorous nursery had a centrepiece of a fourposter cot upholstered in pink linen with drapes pinned with huge crystal buttons.”

Mariah Carey’s style

Singer Mariah Carey and her husband, Nick Cannon, created a serene nursery in ivory and pale green for their boy and girl twins, Moroccan and Monroe, now nine months old.

Carey’s aim was to conjure a “beautiful, tranquil, cosy environment” and it was embellished with her signature motif, butterflies and featured a huge toy giraffe, which was a gift from Sharon and Ozzy Osbourne.

“Personalising the space

is essential and those little touches are very important to celebrities,” says Toks Aruoture, owner of specialist nursery company Punkin Patch. “Mel B has hand-painted violet orchids on her nursery wall in Los Angeles, and a Big Ben wall clock to remind her of the UK.” Christina Aguilera

Singer and actress Christina Aguilera made a feature of an 11-foot crescent moon structure, a prop from her 2007 Back to Basics tour, in her son Max’s nursery, which also had a round cot and a mural.

“Safari murals are particularly popular for boys,” says Mackey. “Usually they feature on one wall, but we decorated a whole room with one which spanned four scenes - the African jungle, polar bears in a snowy landscape, geese flying over Canadian mountains, and monkeys in Indonesia.

“It’s all about stimulating the child’s imagination and creating a fantasy setting.”

Murals, from Dragons, start from £5,000.

FEBUARY2012

61

house garden

keep the home fires burning

W

ith the vast array of fireplaces and stoves on the market today it is always easier to make a choice when you have the product in front of you rather than depending on photos in a brochure. The best place to begin your search then is The Kent Fireplace Company which has been located in the heart of Shortlands village in Bromley for over 30 years.

One section of the showroom has been recently refurbished to display the most up-todate modern, high efficiency

62 F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 2

gas appliances and fireplaces available on the market today.

In addition, you’ll find over 40 fireplaces and stoves to choose from, ranging from the traditional, classic designs to the simple, clean lines of minimalistic hole-in-the-wall fireplaces for gas, electric and real coal fires! Whether you’re looking for a limestone, timber, marble or cast iron fireplace there is something for everyone. There is also a very popular bespoke service for customers with very particular requirements and a range of Kent Fireplace designs that

you won’t find anywhere else!

There are Smoke Control Exempt log burners (for legally burning logs in Smoke Control Zones most of London) as well as gas versions for people whose hectic lifestyles mean they need the same heat output and ambience with the convenience of a push of a button.

If you don’t find your heart’s desire in Shortlands Village you can visit their Warehouse approximately 3 minutes away by car (which has recently opened to the public) where you will find in excess of another 40 fireplaces and stoves on display which you can take away with you (if you have a big enough vehicle). It is ideal for those who are decorating and at the last minute decide to change their fireplace and need it immediately. You’ll also find electric fires, stoves, cast iron inserts and mantels and a large range of log burning and multi fuel stoves to take-away! The Warehouse is open weekdays between 9.30 and 3.30pm so a visit during the week affords you the chance to visit both sites and see over 80 displays!

The Kent Fireplace Company have their own

team of installers who are Gas Safe and Hetas registered and can undertake the whole installation from beginning to end. Alternatively their experienced sales staff can help you decide from the vast choice of products the best to suit your requirements for your own builder (or handy hubby) to install.

The Kent Fireplace has also been referred to as a ‘treasure trove’ for gift ideas and wall art with customers becoming loyal repeat visitors after discovering the unique and unusual pieces of artwork and wall art complementing their fireplace displays – ideal when you’re looking for that special present!

So why not make The Kent Fireplace Company your first point of call – there’s so much to choose from!

The Kent Fireplace Company 96-100 Beckenham Lane, Shortlands, Bromley BR2 ODW Tel: 020 8466 5910 www.kentfireplace.co.uk Kent Fireplace Warehouse Unit 1 Ashgrove Trading Estate 56 Ashgrove Road Bromley BR1 4JW Tel: 0208 464 9944 www.kentfireplace.co.uk

LE SA

WE HAVE THE

PERFECT BLEND TRANSFORM OF WORKTOP STYLES TO

YOUR KITCHEN

o r kto p s w e k o p B es o n to p th a t fi t ay w i th d e n o n F i tt e d i s o r d e m o l i ti o n no mes l o u r s to o c 0 6 r Ove r om choose f l e ssi o n a f o r p n O u r o w fi t t e r s e xpert e y l d n e i om Fr d fr e e h n a e c i v ad a ti o n c o n sult w s o fi t n e l a n a c We door s ki tc h e n

Book a free home consultation with our product consultants and we’ll show you how easy it is to transform your kitchen worktops.

Call now 01892 517385 At Granite Transformations we offer a complete package for updating your work surface and appliances. Fitting a new worktop is fast and effective with each top custom made to fit your exact requirements. There is no need to remove old surfaces, we fit directly over your existing surface. We guarantee complete peace of mind from start to finish. Let us show you how we can transform your kitchen with our simply superior surfaces.

Anywhere Showroom: Anywhere Road, Road, Sat Anyplace, Anywhereshire. AN2 3QF Showrooms open: Mon-Fri 9.00-4.30pm 9.00-4.00pm Open:5,Mon-Fri 9-4.30pm 9-4pm Closed Sundays & Bank Holidays Unit Tunbridge Wells Sat Trade Park, Longfield Road, www.granitetransformations.co.uk/anywhere (next to Build Center), Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN2 3QF Anywhere Showroom: Anywhere Road, Road, Anyplace, Anywhereshire. AN2 3QF 5 Sidcup High Street, Sidcup, Kent DA14 6EN Open: Mon-Fri 9-4.30pm Sat 9-4pm Closed Sundays & Bank Holidays

w w w.granitetransformations.co.uk /tunwells www.granitetransformations.co.uk/anywhere

Granite Transformations manufacture and install Granite, Stone, Quartz and Glass worktops

house garden

Mirror, Mirror on the wall ….

J

Venetian Tall Cupboard - £349 H.1220 W.610 D.310mm

Multi Drawer Coffee Table - £315 H.450 L.1250 W.650mm

Mirrored glass furniture has the visual appearance of expanding small rooms by magnifying the light

Console Table £295 H.760 W.1000 D.350mm

ust Interiors has the fairest selection of all the latest contemporary Venetian style furniture around. This includes mirrors, wardrobes, chest of drawers, bedside and coffee tables even jewellery boxes and photo-frames!

Mirrored glass furniture has the visual appearance of expanding small rooms by magnifying the light which contributes to a feeling of space whilst adding a glamorous and chic look.

It’s not a new idea but it works every time. The use of attractive wall mirrors will not only perform the requisite light tricks, but it will add a decorative effect too. So, whether you are looking to update an entire room or just want to add a bit of glamour to your setting, why not take a look at our website to inspire you. We have a wide range and variety of options and can also source a far greater selection.

For more information please contact our Petts Wood store.

For your guidance here is a selection of our most popular range and our personal favourites.

Venetian Tall Plain Mirrored Cupboard

A superb cabinet with vast

storage. It can be used in your bedroom for clothing or towels and linen, your living room or study for books, media storage or other treasures. It features two internal shelves with additional storage space in the bottom of the unit. This gorgeous cabinet has bevelled mirror edges all round and is mitred to give it a high quality appearance.

2 Door Low Cabinet

This practical unit is the ideal solution for media storage.

Hidden within the cabinet is a well proportioned storage space allowing plenty of room for entertainment units including a DVD player, games console or satellite TV box.

There is one internal shelf spanning the width of the unit and the back is made of black plywood which can be easily cut to allow for cabling.

Multi Drawer Coffee Table –

An extremely useful storage unit for the centre of your living room. This lovely piece of furniture features two wide and four small width drawers which are each adorned with a clear ribbed handle. It is the perfect solution for hiding away those unsightly remote controls,

3 Drawer Low Storage Chest - £215

2 Door Low Cabinet - £345

H.660 W.450 D.350mm

H.590 W.920 D.500mm

64 F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 2

console games, magazines etc, whilst providing a stunning reflection for a vase of flowers. All edges are bevelled for a top quality finish.

Console Table

This superb table can be used as an entrance hall table which will provide plenty of additional reflected light and is an ideal spot for all those lost keys. A lamp table etc, or it can be used as a dressing table. The addition of a stunning table top mirror will be sure to impress! The substantial solid legs, unusual for a console table, provide extra stability and enhance its sleekness and two drawers provide storage for those address and notebooks, hairbrushes or other essentials.

3 Drawer Low Storage Unit

Featuring three smooth sliding mirrored drawers which are also adorned with clear ribbed handles. This unit is the perfect bedside table or sofa end table.

At 66cm high it is the ideal size for reaching out for that glass of wine. The mirror edges are bevelled to continue the glamorous high end look.

Whether your style is classic or contemporary we’re confident the Venetian furniture range will provide your room with a definite air of luxury! A stunning selection of furniture and mirrors are available to view in store today, so we look forward to seeing you soon.

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

JUST INTERIORS

Suppliers of fine furniture and home accessories

Mother’s Day Special Offer

Discount off Venetian Wall Mirrors

Discount valid 17th February – 17th March 2012 See in store for full range of options available

www.justinteriorspettswood.co.uk

Tel. 01689 870970

172 Petts Wood Road, Petts Wood BR5 1LG

anTiQues

i

have often said that we should emulate the prudent wealthy people of Tudor times who invested their money in tangible things like land, property, decorative arts and items of intrinsic value such as gold and silver.

The production of artefacts made of the latter was, by the middle of the 16th century, strictly controlled and as proof of this the Goldsmiths’ Company had instituted a system of marking all items so made which revealed with individual stamps on the surface the quality of the material, the identity of the maker, the place where it was tested and the officer in charge of the testing. As it was an annual office this mark changed each year and, taking its form as a letter of the alphabet, became known as the Letter of the Year Mark or more recently simply the ‘Date Letter’. Originally it was called the Assay Mark - from the French word assai meaning examination introduced under a statute of 1478 wherein the Goldsmiths’ Company was made liable to a fine if it marked any substandard silver. (A point here is that in this context the term goldsmith applies to silversmiths as well.)

In 1545 the fourth mark was added, depicting a lion walking to the left with its right paw raised and known as the Lion Passant. It became known as the Sterling Mark as it took the place of the earlier King’s Mark to denote quality while

66 F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 2

John Bly an important set of four reGenCy salt Cellars silver-gilt, london 1819 maker’s mark robert Garrard silver-gilt. length: 5”. (14 cm).

Weight: 120 oz. 10 dwt.

(3,759 g) each on rockwork base with shells and coral, applied with a crayfish. these salt cellars are based on a pair in the celebrated “marine service” of the royal Collection. made by nicholas sprimont in 1742, the royal pair is illustrated in e. alfred jones, the Gold and silver of Windsor Castle, 1911, illus. pl. 50. provenance: ralph francis julian stonor, 5th lord Camoys (18841968), one pair 1819 acquired in 1949, one pair acquired in 1956; by descent to lord Camoys, sold Christie’s london, 21 march 1979, lot 24, Garrard & Co. ltd.

until the reiGn of Charles ii all our CoinaGe Was made By hand, stamped By hammer and die.

the latter became recognised as the mark of the London Goldsmiths’ Company and Assay Office. The reason for the change was two-fold.

Firstly by the mid 1500’s the coinage had become debased by approximately 50% which meant that a silver crown (5 shillings) had only half a crown’s worth of silver content.

To prove the maintained sterling value and quality of wrought plate, that is items made of silver, the Lion Passant mark was introduced.

Secondly, by this time and starting as early as 1378, Assay Offices had been established in various parts of the country, particularly at York, Newcastle, Lincoln, Norwich, Bristol, Salisbury and Coventry.

While it was imperative that all silver should be guaranteed to be of the sterling standard and marked as such it was impractical to expect silversmiths from these disparate places to travel to London to have their wares marked and so each adopted a different emblem to equate with the Leopard’s Head of London. All these towns and cities used a letter of the alphabet to identify the Assay Master but they did not all use the same sequence of letters. London used the first twenty letters in the alphabet excluding ‘J’ and when the run was exhausted the typeface or the shape of the background ‘shield’ was changed. In 1560 Queen Elizabeth I restored the value of the coin, a move which set Britain on a steady

course to recovery for the best part of 100 years only to be decimated by our civil war (1642 – 1649.) Among the results of this were vast amounts of earlier wrought plate being melted down to pay for it, which in turn caused a shortage of silver for manufacture. Over time this affected the monetary supply to such an extent that by the 1690’s further legislation was necessary.

Until the reign of Charles II all our coinage was made by hand, stamped by hammer and die and the edges trimmed with shears.

Although trade was often conducted through barter or credit, cash transactions were common enough and so, before parting with your coins it was only human nature to snip a little bit of the edge of each one. These little snippets all mounted up - the original ‘every little counts’ – but it had already become a capital offence to clip coins and, with a fake die, forge your own money. However with an increased demand from working silversmiths these scraps could command as high a price as the coins they had been cut from, and with less risk of detection of the crime.

So a new type of coinage was called for and a mill was set up in the Tower of London and powered by horses to produce perfectly circular coins.As a belt-and-braces measure an inscription or legend was engraved around the outer edge thereby

A PAIR OF QUEEN ANNE WINE COOLERS, Silver, London 1714.

Maker’s mark of Lewis Mettayer; Height: 23 cm Diameter: 22.5 cm Length over handles: 29 cm Weight: 7,160 g Provenance: Paul Meuthen (1672 – 1757) Bibliography: Michael Clayton, The Collector’s Dictionary of the Silver and Gold of Great Britain and North America. Pl 723. A pair of identical silver wine coolers, hallmarked London 1711 by David Willaume I, from the collection of Diethelm Höner, were sold at Sotheby’s New York, 18 October 2001, lot 123. They were made for Thomas Wentworth, 1st Count of Strafford.

Louis Mettayer was a famed Huguenot silversmith, who worked from 1700 – 1735, dying in 1740. He apprenticed under David Willaume I, who was his brother-in-law.

The arms are those of Paul Meuthen (1672 – 1757), a family of German origin. Sir Paul Meuthen was the son of John Meuthen (1650-1706), an English diplomat who negotiated an important trade treaty between England and Portugal in 1703.

making illegal clipping virtually impossible. But the authorities failed to see the problem with having both old and new currency in circulation at the same time.

Obviously people hung on to the new with its full face value money’s worth, while spending - and clipping - the old. Clearly the old coinage had to be withdrawn and the 2nd, 3rd and 4th of May 1697 were the final days for collection at the ten furnaces specially built behind the Treasury, which was then at Whitehall between the Banqueting House and the river. For weeks great piles of coins, mostly half face value and barely recognisable had been collected, melted down and cast into ingots. In one

instance some £52,000 of face value coins were melted to produce just over half that amount of silver worth.

But distribution of the new coins was slow and while all this was going on another factor became evident; the value of coin clippings to silversmiths had to betaken out of the equation. This was done by raising the silver content of wrought plate to a level above that of coin.

Not by so much as to make the material too soft for use and durability but sufficient to be detected by the assay.

The figures were a raise from 92.5% pure to 95.84% pure.

It was known at first as the New Sterling Standard but – as it was denoted by a stamp showing the figure of

Britannia – it soon became known as the Britannia Standard. This mark replaced the Lion Passant mark and in London the Leopard’s Head was replaced by a mark showing a Lion’s Head in profile, facing to the left with a jagged neckline as if torn from its body. Heraldically this is called ‘erased’ and so the Britannia Standard in London is denoted by the Britannia mark and the Lion’s Head Erased. In all other towns and cities the Lion’s Head Erased is used in addition to their town mark. From 1697 until 1720 the Britannia Standard was obligatory but in the latter year the economy in England had recovered sufficiently for the government to restore the old Sterling Standard

while retaining the Britannia Standard as an option which it remains to the present day.

In the early days of the maker’s mark, people were less literate and initials meant little or nothing to most, so symbols were commonly used.

These might be a miniature image of the shop or tavern sign where the silversmith had his workshop, such as leathern bottle or a swan, a star or crescent moon. By the 17th century we see the first two letters of the surname being used and by the beginning of the 18th century the silversmith’s initials gradually became the norm.

From the 1720’s it can be said without question that the manufacture and sale of English silver was the most proficiently run and tightly controlled of all industries, with the welfare and benefit of manufacturer, supplier and purchaser held in equal esteem.

The four marks as described filled every requirement and would surely have survived unaided save for a change in taxation in the 1780’s and the Convention Hallmarks introduced in the 1970’s, nearly two hundred years later.

When we’ve dealt with them we really will get onto the silver from the Channel Isles, Scotland, Ireland and other desirable categories where the present day equivalent of the prudent Tudor person should still be putting their money.

John Bly Est Antiques 1891.

Tel: 01442 823030 Mobile: 07831 888826.

Website: www.johnbly.com Email:john@johnbly.com FEBRUARY2012

67

No 1

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ENCOUNTER THE COMPLETE KITCHEN EXPERIENCE TheYou displays at Kitchen of Sevenoaks can’t miss Design the Black, Greydemonstrate and Orange façade their capability to offer styles and designs across the of Kitchen Design of Sevenoaks located on the busy spectrum - from beautiful in-frame traditional kitchens to contemporary flowing designs using latest vogue Kent commuter London Road leading intothe the bustling timbers. Also on display are designs from the factory town.

With parking in front of the studio, the painted Fusion range as well asright avant garde combinations of wood and modern surface materials. even aspirant kitchen buyer willBefore cross the threshold to sitting down to plan the kitchen customers are shown the kitchen experience. theencounter important detail of complete the designs – what’s behind the doors and in the drawers of the kitchens – state-of-theart interiors geared to maximising storage and using the This starts with senior partner Gary Bullen whose 31 years of latest technologies for effortless motion and function.

experience in the trade follow on from a quantity surveying background making his advice and insight into individual kitchen requirements invaluable.

Especially when dealing with clients builders, Architects or alternatively undertaking building works in-house as part of a project.

70 F E B r U A R Y 2 0 1 2

Wide ranging displays

Everyone starts looking for a new kitchen with an idea in their mind of what they want it to look like. So the first impact of any visit is the visual one. At Kitchen Design of Sevenoaks this is impressive - eleven immaculate displays from their principal furniture partner Stoneham Plc. The displays are of the very highest quality and reflect the diversity of design and scope of imagination and innovation on offer. Stoneham is a 5th generation familyowned English kitchen furniture manufacturer, established in 1864 and holders of The Royal Warrant to HM The Queen. The inherent craftsmanship and attention to fine detail put Stoneham kitchens at the highest level of international kitchen furniture makers.

You can’t miss the Black, Grey and Or of Kitchen Design of Sevenoaks locate London Road leading into the bustling town. With parking right in front of th aspirant kitchen buyer will cross the t encounter the complete kitchen expe

The displays at Kitchen Design of Sevenoaks demonstrate their capability to offer styles and designs across the spectrum - from beautiful in-frame traditional kitchens The displays at Kitchen Design of Sevenoaks demonstrate to contemporary their flowing designs using the vogue capability to offer styles andlatest designs across the timbers. Also on display designs from the factory spectrumare - from beautiful in-frame traditional kitchens The displays at Kitchen of Sevenoaks demonstrate to Design contemporary designs combinations using the latest vogue painted Fusion range as well as flowing avant garde their capability to offer styles and across timbers.

Alsodesigns on display arethe designs from the factory ofspectrum wood and surfacetraditional materials.

Before even - frommodern beautiful in-frame kitchens painted Fusion range as well as avant garde combinations to contemporary flowing designs using the latest vogue sitting down to plan the kitchen customers are shown of wood and modern timbers. Also on display are designs from thesurface factorymaterials. Before even the important detail ofdown the designs – kitchen what’scustomers behind the painted Fusion range as well as avant combinations sitting to garde plan the are shown of wood and modernthe surface materials.

Before evendesigns – what’s behind the important detail of the doors and in the drawers of the kitchens – state-of-thesitting down to plan the kitchen customers are shown doors designs in the drawers of the kitchens – state-of-thethe important detail of the – what’s behind the and using the art interiors geared to and maximising storage art interiors geared to maximising doors and in the drawers of the kitchens – state-of-theart storage and using the latest technologies fortechnologies effortless function. interiors geared to maximising storage andmotion using theand latest for effortless motion and function.

This starts w Gary Bullen experience on from a q background and insight kitchen req Especially w clients build alternativel building wo part of a pr

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71

Celebrate Mother’s Day!

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Carb those cravings We’ll all be going back to basic comfort foods this year say trendsetters. So it’s time to revisit the potato and give it a modern twist. By Sarah O’Meara

U

nless you’re involved in planning the opening ceremony at the Olympics, it’s likely you’ll be thrifty in 2012.

Shopping lists may take on a more carb-friendly tone, as we swap Atkins-style dinners, for filling, economical meals made with cheaper, less fashionable ingredients.

Leading this starchy charge is our newly-crowned Mr Potato Head, James Martin, who’s heading up the Many Faces Of Potatoes campaign and responsible for finding a winning potato recipe to feature in a national TV advert this summer.

“Potatoes are such an important part of British life.

They’re healthy, delicious, and extremely quick and easy to cook,” says the Saturday Kitchen presenter.

“This competition not only offers budding chefs up and down the country the chance to show off their culinary skills, but it will also hopefully inspire more people to cook with the great British spud.

I bet there are hundreds of people with a family favourite potato recipe - and I, for one, can’t wait to taste them.”

So if you fancy being on TV, or just need some hints to push you in the right direction, here are some tantalising potato facts, plus five recipes to get you going.

74 F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 2

Did you know?

13% of Britain’s entire Vitamin C intake comes from the potato.

✱

✱ There

is more Vitamin C in a portion of new potatoes than in an apple.

✱ There’s more fibre in a jacket potato than in a bowl of bran flakes. ✱ You’ll

find more iron in a serving of new potatoes than in a portion of steamed spinach or a pint of Guinness.

Potato and chorizo bake

(Serves 4) 100g chorizo sausage, sliced thickly 4 medium potatoes, cut into thin small wedges 2tbspolive oil 2 red peppers, deseeded and cut into chunks 1 red onion, peeled and thickly sliced 3 tomatoes, roughly chopped 1tbsp paprika Sour cream and chive dip to serve ✱ Preheat oven to Gas mark 6/200C. ✱ Place all the ingredients (except paprika, tomatoes and dip) on one or two baking trays and combine ingredients together to coat in the oil. ✱ Spread out into a single layer on the baking tray(s).

Sprinkle with the paprika and place in preheated oven for about 25 minutes, until tender and golden. ✱ Scatter with tomatoes and serve as a pile with a dollop of sour cream and chive dip.

food drinK

Chinese ChiCken and potatoes

(Serves 4) 4 medium potatoes, cut into small chunks 4 chicken breasts, cut into chunks 2tbsphoisin sauce 100g baby sweetcorns, cut in half lengthways 1 red pepper, deseeded and cut into large cubes 3 spring onions, finely sliced Preheat oven to Gas mark 6/200C. ✱ Place all ingredients (except spring onions) onto a large baking tray - you can use two smaller ones if you need to.

Toss together to coat all the ingredients in the sauce. ✱ Spread out into one single layer on the tray(s).

Place in oven and cook for 25-30 minutes until browned and tender. ✱ Serve scattered with spring onions.

BomBay spiCy potatoes

(Serves 4) 1tbspolive oil 4 medium potatoes, skin on and cut into small cubes 1 onion, sliced 2 cloves garlic, crushed ¼ cauliflower, cut into small florets (about 200g) 2tbsp medium curry paste or 1tbsp medium curry powder 1 x 400g can chopped tomatoes 300ml beef stock 1tbsp fresh coriander, roughly chopped Large handful baby spinach ✱ Heat

the oil in a large saucepan. Add the onion and garlic and cook for one to two minutes. Add the potatoes and cauliflower, followed by the curry paste or powder and combine well for one to two minutes ✱ Add the tomatoes and stock.

Bring to the boil, cover with lid and simmer for about 15-20 minutes until the potatoes are soft. Stir through coriander and spinach and serve.

ChiCken and potato pot

(Serves 4) 4 medium potatoes, cut into small cubes 1tbspolive oil 1 onion, finely chopped 1 clove garlic, crushed 2 small courgettes, thickly sliced 4 skinless chicken breasts, cut into small chunks 6 mini carrots, peeled and cut in half lengthways 6 mini sweetcorns, cut in half lengthways 300mlchicken stock 50gtender-stem broccoli Handful of fresh herbs - thyme, coriander and parsley (or you could use 1tsp dried mixed herbs) ✱ In a large pan, heat the oil and add onion, garlic, courgettes and chicken.

Cook for three to four minutes before adding the carrots, corn, potatoes, stock and herbs. ✱ Bring to the boil and fast simmer for 15-20 minutes with the lid on the pan.

Three minutes before the end of cooking, add the broccoli to the top of the pan to lightly steam. ✱ Serve in deep bowls.

FEBRUARY2012

75

booK reviews

The Bookshelf

Cooler crisp weather, log fires, crumpets for tea, a captivating book to read, what could be better while spring draws ever closer. enjoy!

WORDS BY BRUCE EDWARDS

de

the Child insi

THE CHILD INSIDE suZanne buGler ✱ PublisheD by Pan, PaPerbaCK £7.99

There’s an all too familiar ring to this tale of our times; the tired marriage, the unfulfilled wife, the absence of essential components for a loving relationship. And the ever-cross child, victim of mis-placed enthusiasm, the only child because Rachel’s second was a still birth, precipitating the constant agonies that drive her to seek an unforgiving solace. A taut, believable, story, possibly with the thought it could be someone you know in an affaire, taking a sad descent into the past in an attempt to find answers.

Vanessa, the girl friend whose early death left such scars, had a brother, a successful, well-groomed City business man with a London pied-à-terre, and guess what happens next? The agony - with some ecstasy - builds, grips, festers into an inevitable eruption of potential disaster.

But is it a disaster? Can relationships built on early, solid love survive and turn perceived failure into success? Is the child inside a true love-child? So, so familiar a ring . . .

little ern LITTLE ERN sellars & hoGG ✱ PublisheD by siDGwiCK & JaCKson

With Christmas and the New Year behind us, the rash of ‘misery memoirs’ as the book selling trade tend to call celebrity ‘auto’ biographies (though some will be written by third parties) will have died away. How many copies then disappear from the excessively high piles just inside the doors of chain sellers into the maw of pulping machines, or re-appear in charity shops? Who knows - it is a sad fact of commerciality in a publishing world where celebrity status may financially outweigh any literary merit. Only transient interest may exist in some titles, but happily others will stay longer in mind, their characters larger than life and even part of our upbringing. Who will not have chuckled over the antics of Morecombe & Wise?

Here is a wonderful and very readable story of ‘Little Ern’, pictures included, to bring back those memories time and time again. It’ll stay on the bookshelf long after others may have gone.

seekinG SEEKING Jon beattiey ✱ PublisheD by mataDor, PaPerbaCK £13.99

Wonderfully written in an unique style, ‘Seeking’ perfectly portrays a number of different characters. It is easy to ‘get into’ and flows beautifully - often poetically throughout. It’s suitable for a wide age range and threading music and poetry throughout enriches the story. Lucy - the character could well suit Keira Knightly develops a virtual affinity for Jones (is he a Hugh Grant, his life revolving around second-hand bookshops?). The pair spar with each other’s affections over a late 1960’s book-span of five years. From quiet market towns in Lincolnshire to an evocative scene in twilight Salzburg, from a naughty revealing Christmas with Clare in Buxton to a denouement in Kensington, this mystical tale could appeal to fantasy fiction fans and lovers of a warm-blooded young romance alike.

You may have to visit the web site to purchase (www.jonbeattiey.info) what is a well crafted book in every respect. It’s even illustrated - pen and ink sketches set the scenes. (Words by Annabelle Walker)

Your comments on any reviewed title are always welcome: writerselect@gmail.com 78 F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 2

It looks even better with the price on.

Bathstore

Bathstore

Riverhead, Sevenoaks

Tunbridge Wells

Tel: 01732 454112

Tel: 01892 557744

Now everyone can have a beautiful bathroom

BY APPOINTMENT TO HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN FURNITURE MANUFACTURERS STONEHAM PLC. SIDCUP, KENT.

STONEHAM FINE

FURNITURE

SINCE

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Designed for living Achieving simplicity can be the most complex of challenges, yet every hand-built Stoneham kitchen fulfils its own streamlined elegance both effortlessly and exquisitely. It’s about making the very best of the best – the finest woods and natural materials, the most innovative features and latest technology, supremely crafted by the most knowing and capable hands.

Appointed kitchen centres available locally and nationwide. For a colour brochure and details of the Centre most convenient to you call 020 8300 8181 or visit

www.stoneham-kitchens.co.uk Stoneham plc, Powerscroft Road, Sidcup, Kent DA14 5DZ.

Factory Showroom Opening: Monday - Friday 8am - 5pm, Saturday 9am - 12 midday.