St Albans Life Magazine April 2013

ST ALBANS LIFE

ST ALBANS LIFE W I T H D E S I R A B L E A R E A S A C R O S S B E A U T I F U L H E RT F O R D S H I R E ISSUE 79

APRIL 2013

Pennywell Manor

w w w. t h e l i f e m a g a z i n e s . c o m

THE PERFECT WEDDING GIFT WITH GALLERY ROUGE WEDDINGS AT HANBURY MANOR MARRIOTT LONDON SEVENS 11th & 12th MAY 2013

...and this is just the staircase!

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Fusion’s Pennywell Manor in Elstree, Hertfordshire sets the standard

THE QUALITY LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE APRIL 2013

PLUS

16 PAGE SUPPLEMENT

LOCAL LIFE | HISTORY | EVENTS | BEAUTY | HOME & GARDEN | PROPERTY

Welcome to our April issue With more couples living together longer before marriage, the traditional wedding list is now out dated. Likewise, when your celebrating an anniversary or birthday you will invariably desire a gift which has lasting appeal. Recognising this situation, Gallery Rouge has worked hard to bring you something special within the art world, and is pleased to bring you their unique online Gift List service.

The historic London Polo Club is once again gearing up for the summer season. 2013 is looking to be a busy year with several new fixtures. This year will see the return of the home edition of the Ham vs Cowdray Park games, a fantastic match with a huge amount of rivalry between the two clubs. Also particularly worth looking out for is the Access Bank high goal day in June, the worlds greatest polo player Adolfo Cambiaso will be on the field with his team mates dazzling the crowd with their playing skills.

The independent school system in the UK is one of the finest in the world and you are fortunate to have some of the best schools in the country right on your doorstep. In today’s economic climate, making the right choice for your child’s education is of paramount importance.

Our Education Life series is an invaluable resource for any parent considering private education within Hertfordshire.

This gives you just a small taste of exciting events and articles featured in this month’s issue...

GET THIS EDITION ONLINE

Faye Manning Editor

PUBLISHED BY THE FISH MEDIA GROUP LTD, THE RIDINGS, WOODFIELD LANE, ESSENDON, HERTS , AL9 6JJ.

0844 800 8439 www.lifemagazines.com

Editor Faye Manning Editor Assistant Katie Miller Sub Editor Alex Lux Fashion Editor Hazel Englander Education Development Manager Corinne Sugar Design & Production Toni Perry Sales James Marshall Directors Rory Smith, Patrick Smith

F E AT U R E

1812

1826

1874

St Albans Clock Tower

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he site of the Eleanor cross which once stood in St Albans lies opposite Waxhouse Gate. This was one of the entrances to the medieval Abbey. In 1290, the funeral procession of Queen Eleanor, wife of Edward I rested here on its slow journey to Westminster.

Neglected, the cross was pulled down in 1703 to be replaced by the town pump. Later, in 1874 a fountain was put in its place. This is now in Victoria Place, where the gaol used to be.

Behind the cross and built between 1403 and 1412, is the Clock Tower, the only medieval example in the country. The map on the right shows the centre of St Albans around 1700 including the Clock Tower. From the beginning it had a mechanical clock, a great rarity at that time. As the Abbey also had one, this was probably the reason for having the same. Indeed, the Clock Tower itself seems to have been intended as a visible statement of St. Albans’ civic ambitions against the power of the Abbot. It was both a look out as well as a curfew, ringing out the times when people had to be indoors “covering the fire”.

floor were let together until roughly 1900. Progressing onto the second floor, you will discover the clock keeper’s living room, where he and his family would have lived between 1412 and 1866. The third floor boasts the Victorian clock, which was added when the tower was restored in 1866. It was designed by Lord Grimthorpe, who was the leading Victorian authority on clocks – he also designed the mechanism of Big Ben. The fourth floor houses the original bell itself, still in place and weighing one tonne.

From 1808-1814 during the Napoleonic war, it was used by the Admiralty as a semaphore station.

This was operated by a shutter system and could help relay a message to or from Yarmouth in 5 minutes.

By the 1860’s the Tower was in a bad way and was nearly demolished. The restoration in 1864 was supervised

by Sir Gilbert Scott. In 2004, the roof was rebuilt with improved public safety and access. It is planned to re-display the exhibition in the near future.

However, as you start your journey up the 93 steps of the tower’s spiral staircase, you will discover that each of its five floors reveals a snapshot of the tower’s varied historical past.

You can now access the roof of the clock tower, which not only offers beautiful views of the abbey of St Albans and the historical Roman town of Verulamium below, but is also the site of the shutter telegraph. This was used as one of 16 stations linking Whitehall and the North Sea Fleet in Great Yarmouth (within just five minutes) during the Napoleonic Wars.

The shop on the ground floor and the shopkeeper’s lodgings on the first

www.stalbansmuseums.org.uk

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F E AT U R E

Harrods launches luxury wedding planner service

‘Weddings by Harrods’

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ondon’s leading luxury store has launched a brand new service, Weddings by Harrods, a deluxe addition to Bespoke Events - Designed & Delivered by Harrods, a service specialising in custom-created occasions. Weddings by Harrods offers a complete bridal planning service, to ensure that every aspect of the wedding is executed with the style and elegance for which Harrods is renowned around the world. The team of wedding planners will see that each couple’s special day runs seamlessly, providing the bride and groom with peace of mind so that they can relax and enjoy the happiest day of their lives.

The beauty of this resource lies in the extensive range of departments and services available at Harrods, which provide everything required when organising a wedding, from stunning bespoke wedding dresses and tailored suits, to beautiful tiered wedding cakes and a team of beauty experts from Urban Retreat spa to ensure the bride enjoys the ultimate pampering in preparation for the day. Roja Dove haute parfumerie, Smythson stationery, Moyses Stevens Flowers and luxurious wedding gowns

by J Mendel are just some of the exclusive brands available to each couple through this service. Other departments include the Harrods Gift Bureau, the renowned Fine Jewellery Rooms and the store’s own range of elegant personalised stationery to use for invitations and

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place cards. Weddings by Harrods ensures the bride and groom have full use of these luxurious services and products wherever possible; making their wedding a truly unique and memorable day.

Each wedding consultant provides a personalised ‘handholding’ wedding package that is tailor-made to each couple.

Taking care of every element, the consultant will find the venue of their dreams, organise the showstopping design and catering with Bespoke Events and oversee all the finer details including favours for guests. Their passion and expertise does not just apply to the wedding day; the dedicated consultant will also organise the honeymoon in partnership with luxury travel specialist Abercrombie & Kent, ensuring that the newly-weds are whisked off on the most romantic of getaways.

Couples wishing to make an appointment can do so by contacting Weddings by Harrods on +44(0)20 7225 5805 or email bespokeevents@harrods.com.

Harrods, 87-135 Brompton Road, Knightsbridge, London SW1X 7XL www.harrods.com

An auction of Vintage & Modern Wrist Watches

Monday 15th April at 11am

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

London Office (Valuations By Appointment Only) | 2nd Floor |3 Queen Street | London W1J 5PA | 020 7127 4198

A RT

Celebrate in Style Trying to find a personal gift for a special occasion can often prove challenging. What do you get someone who has everything?!

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ith more couples living together longer before marriage, the traditional wedding list is now outdated. Likewise, when your celebrating an anniversary or birthday you will invariably desire a gift which has lasting appeal.

Recognising this situation, Gallery Rouge has worked hard to bring you something special within the art world, and is pleased to bring you their unique online Gift List service. So whether your; lanning a wedding list P Looking for an anniversary present Want something unique for a special birthday Desire a commemorative piece for a birth or christening All you need to do is contact Gallery Rouge. Setting up a gift list is easy,

10 APRIL2013

quick and hassle free. Receiving contributions to your Gift List couldn’t be simpler – your family and friends can make their contributions safely and securely via the Gallery Rouge website at a time that’s convenient for them.

Likewise you can readily login to view the status of your Gift List at any time. It is a truly simply and practical system which takes away the stress of managing your Gift List requirements, providing you with a present you will cherish for years.

For more information call St Albans Gallery on 01727 860401 or Harpenden Gallery on 01582 760332 email info@galleryrouge.co.uk www. galleryrouge.co.uk

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EXCLUSIVE EXHIBITION 20th Century Masters

Chagall

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allery Rouge Harpenden are delighted to showcase work from renowned Russian Modernist painter Marc Chagall.

Chagall became one of the leading Master painters of 20th Century where his works will be exhibited alongside those of his contemporaries Picasso, Miro and Dali to name but a few.

and his contemporaries The selection will include Original Lithographs, Etchings and Drawings, many of which are signed by the artists themselves. With prices from ÂŁ700 to ÂŁ20,000 this is an ideal opportunity to acquire works for your art collection.

To receive an invitation please email Harpenden@galleryrouge.co.uk

For more information

Call Gallery Rouge Harpenden on 01582 760332 email harpenden@galleryrouge.co.uk

www.galleryrouge.co.uk

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F E AT U R E

All good things come in small packages Smaller weddings are becoming a more popular option with numbers of 15 to 30 people being a preferable amount of guests for the day.

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eople spend too much time worrying about other people that they do not concentrate on what they want from their wedding day. Opting for a small wedding not only saves on your budget but gives you the opportunity to not have to tell people they are not invited without feeling bad. You can dance the night away with friends and family you feel comfortable with rather than spend the day catching up with acquaintances and most importantly you can soak up being a newlywed with your new spouse.

One of the biggest wedding decisions you need to make is picking the venue, so why choose a bigger venue just to accommodate more guests when you can go for the first option you instantly fell in love with.

Hanbury Manor, a Marriott Hotel & Country Club in Ware, Hertfordshire offers Intimate wedding packages with smaller room options including the Drawing Room and Conservatory that can be opened to join into each other if you wish you utilise the two rooms through the day or the period library setting with all options overlooking the 200 acres of stunning parkland.

The hotels Intimate Wedding Packages are licensed for civil ceremonies with a minimum number of 15 people required starting from £75

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per person that typically includes a three course sit down meal with tea and coffee, half a bottle of house wine, half a bottle of mineral water, hire of banqueting suite, dedicated banqueting manager and personalised menu cards. Bespoke packages are also available on request with options of canapés, sparkling wine and celebration cakes to be included.

For further information on any of our Intimate Wedding Packages at Hanbury Manor please contact one of the dedicated Wedding Organiser’s on: 01920 487 722 Terms & conditions apply. Subject to availability.

Ware, Hertfordshire, SG12 0SD Telephone: 01920 487 722 MarriottHanburyManor.co.uk

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Star Grazing Phil Thompson Executive Head Chef of Auberge du Lac, Brocket Hall at the London Capital Club

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o continue to mark 100 years of excellence, the Club will be “Star Grazing” as of May with several Michelin Star Chefs providing their very own culinary delights in The Grill. Phil, our first Chef will personally be present on Tuesday 7th May, Monday 13th May and 20th May and a three course set lunch menu will be available throughout at £29.50 pp. Phil will be showcasing Auberge du Lac’s 5 course tasting menu at £49.00 pp on 20th May from 7pm onwards.

For further details and reservations, please contact melanie.miotti@londoncapitalclub.com.

Phil Thompson worked at the Lanesborough, the Orrery and L’escargot prior to joining Auberge du Lac in 2002 where he was promoted to Executive Chef in 2006. He gained a Michelin Star as well as a third AA Rosette in 2009.

The line up will continue with another Michelin Star Chef in July. Further details will follow.

Menus Lunch Menu £29.50 pp

Starter Poached sea trout, smoked apple oil, spring onion, cucumber and pink grapefruit ~ Foie gras and chicken liver parfait, pickled peach, peanut and coriander

Main Slow roast rump of lamb, tandoori spiced shoulder, wild garlic leaf and butter milk ~ Pan roast fillet of plaice, jersey royals, new season asparagus, radish and oyster velouté

Dessert White chocolate and raspberry parfait, bitter chocolate and poached raspberries ~ Compressed pineapple, coconut sponge, mango sorbet and passion fruit

5 course tasting menu £49.00 pp Poached Pheasant egg, St George mushrooms and parmesan. ~ Pan seared foie gras, compressed strawberry, miso and pistachio 15 Abchurch Lane London EC4N 7BW Tel: 0207 717 0088 www.londoncapitalclub.com 14 APRIL2013

~ Roast fillet of John Dory, jersey royals, asparagus and oyster emulsion ~ Slow roast loin of lamb, confit shoulder, peas, feta and black olive

F E AT U R E

MAGNIFICENT MUSEUMS IN HERTFORDSHIRE Ashwell Village Museum A fascinating collection covering every aspect of village life, housed in a 16th century timber-framed building.

contains the original forge and bellows.

De Havilland Aircraft Heritage Centre

New museum bringing to life the rich history of the town and its unique links with the history of empire and Africa through the Cecil Rhodes collection

Situated on the historic site of Salisbury Hall, the museum has on display 18 types of de Havilland aircraft and sections ranging from DH Moths, modern military and civilian jets and the prototype Mosquito.

British Schools Museum, Hitchin

Elstree Film and Television Heritage Group

A collection of elementary school buildings, including the only surviving example of a monitorial schoolroom in the world. The museum also contains an intriguing collection of Victorian school and home artefacts.

This museum regularly create displays on the growth of the film and television industry in Elstree and Borehamwood, covering key events in the history of the film and television studios as well as current productions.

Buntingford Heritage Centre

First Garden City Heritage Museum

Bishops Stortford Museum

Provides a regular programme of temporary exhibitions about the history of Buntingford and the surrounding area.

Bushey Museum The collections tell the story of Bushey with an emphasis on the unique artistic history of the village, including works by the Monro Circle and Sir Hubert von Herkomer RA and his famous school of art.

Cromer Windmill Hertfordshire’s sole surviving post mill, Cromer Windmill dates from 1679/81 and was in use until 1923.

After many years of restoration work, the mill is now open to the public.

Dacorum Heritage Trust The Trust acts as the museum organisation for the Borough of Dacorum and operates a museum store in Berkhamsted. The Trust organises displays drawn from its collections at different venues around Dacorum.

Datchworth Museum Displays about the history of the village housed in a former blacksmith’s shop, which

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Housed in a building designed by Harry Parker the museum tells the story of the Garden City Movement from it origins to the present day. The Temporary Exhibiition Programme explores the social history of Letchworth Garden City from 1903.

The Forge Museum, Much Hadham There is a working blacksmith on site and a beautiful Victorian Cottage Garden behind the museum, which was the village forge from 1811 to 1983.

Hertford Museum Located in a 17th century town house with a recreated Jacobean knot garden.

There are extensive century-old collections, mainly local history, as well as temporary exhibitions and resources for schools.

Hitchin Museum and Art Gallery Displays include a reconstructed Victorian chemist’s shop and a costume gallery. The museum has a changing temporary exhibition programme and holds regular events. There is also a garden of medicinal plants.

Knebworth House This has been the home of the Lytton family since 1490 and successive generations have contributed to the building, décor and contents. It has also been used as a film location, including Wayne Manor in the first Batman film.

Letchworth Museum and Art Gallery Includes displays on natural history and archaeology, particularly the Iron Age and Roman period. The fine art collection concentrates on local artists and contains many works by William Ratcliffe. There is a regular programme of temporary exhibitions.

Lowewood Museum, Hoddesdon Displays include artefacts, photographs and pictures relating to the history of the Borough of Broxbourne.

Mill Green Museum A working 18th century watermill, situated in an attractive riverside setting.

The adjoining museum has displays on local history and archaeology.

Museum of St. Albans The story of historic St. Albans from the departure of the Romans to the present day. There is a special exhibition programme and a wildlife garden.

Potters Bar Museum The museum tells the story of Potters Bar from prehistory to the 1950s. A new exhibition on an aspect of local history is displayed twice a year.

Royston and District Museum & Art Gallery The museum includes displays of local history from the Stone Age to the present day. It also exhibits an excellent collection of 20th century ceramics, the Royston Tapestry and work by local artists.

Scott’s Grotto, Ware An enchanting 18th century grotto built

by the Quaker poet John Scott. The Grotto was visited by many famous people of the time, including Dr. Johnson. There is also an octagonal summerhouse on the hill above the grotto.

Shaw’s Corner, Ayot St. Lawrence The home of George Bernard Shaw from 1906 until his death in 1950. The atmospheric rooms remain much as he left them and contain many of his literary and personal effects.

Stevenage Museum The story of Stevenage and its people.

Displays include a Roman coin hoard and a computer challenge about the New Town.

Three Rivers Museum, Rickmansworth A collection from the Three Rivers District, including archaeology, Second World War memorabilia and local photographs.

Veni Vidi Verulamium, St. Albans Discover the secrets of Roman Verulamium with Veni Vidi Verulamium.

Roman Britains, archaeologists & modern school children take you for a walk in the park, telling stories of daily life in Roman times, the excavations and artefacts in the Museum. Based in Verulamium Park, the tours are available throughout the year.

Verulamium Museum, St. Albans The museum of everyday life in Roman Britain. Discover the life and times of a major Roman city through awardwinning displays of mosaics, room settings, interactives and computer touch-screens.

Natural History Museum, Tring Once the private collection of Walter Rothschild, the museum holds more than four thousand species of animals in a unique Victorian setting.

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www.motability.co.uk Not sure if you qualify for a Motability car?

Call 0800 953 4002

Visit www.brayley-mazda.co.uk for a chat with our Mazda Motability Specialist for more information.

Brayley Mazda 17 Luton Road, Harpenden, Hertfordshire AL5 2UA 01582 447378 www.brayley-mazda.co.uk

Motability sales only. Subject to availability at participating dealers only on vehicles ordered between 01.04.2013 up to and including 30.06.2013. ^NIL Advance Payment is available on specific Mazda2 and Mazda3 models. £199 Advance Payment is available on specific Mazda MX-5 models. Advance payments on the Motability Car Scheme for those individuals receiving the higher rate mobility component of the Disability Living Allowance. Subsequent rental payments are made by the diversion of this component of the living allowance. Additional charges may be payable, including excess mileage, damage excess and early termination charges. *Not all Mazda models are available on the Motability scheme, please ask your specialist dealer for more details. Models shown: Mazda2 1.3 3dr TS Air Con, OTR from £10,495. Mazda3 1.6 5dr Tamura, OTR from £15,995. Mazda MX-5 1.8i SE Air Con, OTR from £18,495. Mazda3 model shown features optional Pearlescent paint (£500). On the road prices include number plates, delivery, 1st registration fee, 3 year or 60,000 mile warranty and 3 years European Roadside Assistance. Advance payment prices are correct at the time of publication and subject to change without notice.

DEFY CONVENTION

The official fuel consumption figures in mpg (l/100km) for the Mazda Range: Urban 21.9 (12.9) - 55.4 (5.1). Extra Urban 38.7 (7.3) - 78.5 (3.6). Combined 30.1 (9.4) - 67.3 (4.2). CO 2 emissions (g/km) 219 - 108.

Adverts in newspapers. Noone really reads them. So we may as well get straight to the offers on the Civic and the Jazz.

That’s The Honda Way of doing things – to make things simpler.

What’s that, you’re still reading?

Well, what can we say, we’re flattered.

Jazz 1.2 SE Manual and Civic 1.4 i-VTEC SE Manual with NIL advance payment

BRAYLEY HONDA

St. Albans Lyon Way, Hatfield Road, St Albans, Hertfordshire AL4 0LQ Call 01727 789416 Hemel Hempstead Two Waters Road, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire HP3 9BX Call 01442 353088 Enfield 660 Great Cambridge Road, Enfield EN1 3WX Call 0208 454 7700 visit www.brayley-honda.co.uk

Fuel consumption fi gures for the Civic 1.4 i-VTEC SE Manual / Jazz 1.2 i-VTEC SE Manual in mpg (l/100km): Urban 42.2 (6.7) / 45.6 (6.2), Extra Urban 60.1 (4.7) / 61.4 (4.6), Combined 52.3 (5.4) / 54.3 (5.2).

CO2 emissions: 129 / 120 g/km.

Models shown: Civic 1.4 i-VTEC SE Manual in Milano Red and Jazz 1.2 i-VTEC SE Manual in Azure Blue Metallic. Terms and Conditions: Nil Advanced payment offer on Civic 1.4 i-VTEC SE Manual and Jazz 1.2 i-VTEC SE Manual. All offers are correct at the time of going to print however Honda (UK) reserves the right to change this offer at any time. Models subject to availability. Written details available on request. The facilities offered are for the hire of goods. The scheme is available to recipients of the Higher Rate Mobility Component of the Disability Living Allowance or War Pensioners Mobility Supplement. To qualify for this offer you must be in receipt of a minimum of 12 months allowance. Valid for applications between 1 April 2013 to 30 June 2013 to Motability Operations Limited (Registered Company No. 1373876), City Gate House, 22 Southwark Bridge Road, London SE1 9HB. Promoter is Honda Motor Europe Limited trading as Honda (UK) at 470 London Road, Slough, Berkshire SL3 8QY.

F E AT U R E

The de Havilland Aircraft Heritage Centre - the best kept secret in Hertfordshire A Brief History of Salisbury Hall and the Site of The de Havilland Aircraft Heritage Collection.

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he site of the Hall and the Museum is, without doubt, a very old one. It is close to the first century BC settlement of Wheathamstead, the major Roman town of Verulanium and St. Albans which is of late Saxon foundation. Early notable (but unwelcome!) visitors to the area were probably Julius Caesar in 54BC, and Boadicea of the Iceni in 61AD. During the early 9th century the site was part of the Manor of Shenleybury. It was held by Asgar the Stallar, who was probably a high official to the Wessex King Egbert. After the Norman Conquest the Manor passed to the de Mandeville family who held it when the Doomsday Book was written in 1086. In 1380 the Hall passed in marriage to Sir John Montague, later Earl of Salisbury. It is perhaps at this time that the Manor acquired its now familiar name of Salisbury Hall.

About 1420 Alice, Countess of Salisbury, married Sir Richard Neville, who became Earl of Warwick. He had two sons, Richard Neville (better known as Warwick the Kingmaker) and John, Marquis of Montagu, who were both killed at the Battle of Barnet in April 1471.

A new house was built about 1507

by Sir John Cutte, Treasurer to King Henry VII and Henry VIII. The house was purchased in 1668 by James Hoare, a London banker. At this time the present house was built, bringing with it associations with Charles II and Nell Gwynne, who lived in a cottage by the bridge to the Hall. Her ghost is one that is said to have been seen in the Hall. The Hall passed to Sir Jeremy Snow’s nephew, John Snell, and from then through various hands, and during the latter

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part of the 19th century was occupied by a succession of farmers. However, about 1905 Lady Randolph Churchill, as Mrs. Cornwallis West, came here to live. Her son, Winston Churchill, became a regular visitor. During the 1930s Sir Nigel Gresley, of the London and North Eastern Railway, was in residence.

He was responsible for the A4 Pacific Steam Locomotives one of which, Mallard, holds the world speed record for steam locomotives of 126.5 mph.

Rumour has it that the name came from the ducks in the moat.

In September 1939 the de Havilland Aircraft Company established the Mosquito design team in the Hall, the Prototype Mosquito, E0234/W4050, subsequently being built in the adjacent buildings. Nell Gwynne’s cottage was the centre of a silk worm farm, which supplied the silk for Her Majesty the Queen’s wedding and Coronation robes. Yet another royal connection.

De Havillands left in 1947 and the Hall slipped into a derelict condition. However, in 1955 the Hall was taken in hand by an ex Royal Marine Major named Walter Goldsmith who restored it and opened it up to the public.

He brought back the prototype Mosquito, E0234/W4050, as one of the attractions in 1959, an action which led to the establishment of the Mosquito Aircraft Museum. Walter Goldsmith sold the Hall in 1981 and since then it has been restored to a very high standard and remains in private ownership to this day.

For more information Call 01727 826400 or visit www.dehavillandmuseum.co.uk

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Dive into Sequoia Enjoy a complimentary Jessica manicure or pedicure, worth ÂŁ50 when booking a full spa day in Sequoia this May. Quote: Life Magazine

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Follow the Master Play The Grove like the world’s very best in two exciting tournaments.

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F E AT U R E

LONDON POLO CLUB 2013 FIXTURES LIST

The London Polo Club is once again gearing up for the summer season. 2013 is looking to be a busy year with several new fixtures. This year will see the return of the home edition of the Ham vs Cowdray Park games, a fantastic match with a huge amount of rivalry between the two clubs. Also particularly worth looking out for is the Access Bank high goal day in June, the worlds greatest polo player Adolfo Cambiaso will be on the field with his team mates dazzling the crowd with their playing skills.

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nly eight miles from Hyde Park Corner, Ham Polo Club is the last remaining polo club in Greater London.

Founded in 1926, the club has an established and distinguished reputation at over 85 years old. HPC was the first club to restart the game of polo in the UK following the second world war, this was largely due to the efforts of Billy Walsh who was honoured by HM the Queen in 1985 for his efforts reviving the club and the sport. Billy’s career in the game brought a great deal to Ham, he had a huge knowledge of horses and was for many years the Duke of Edinburgh’s team mate.

He captained the Ham team that won the Roehampton Cup in 1947, the first post war edition of the competition. The tournament for the Roehampton is now held at Ham and the finals sponsored by Bang & Olufsen of Kingston are held in late August.

Ham has had many royal visits over its history. Prince Charles played at the club in several high profile events during the 1980s and 90s.

Since 2000 Princes William and Harry have been on the field for a number of charity fundraisers. Charity days like these at Ham have raised around £2 million over the last 15 years.

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Ham Polo Club has become one of the most idyllic settings in the capital city and goes from strength to strength. Upon arrival, players and spectators find themselves nestled between the leafy cover of Richmond Park and the River Thames, overlooked by the stunning Jacobean Ham House. The club now boasts one of the busiest schedules of competitive polo and charity events, and known for excellent playing and social facilities combined with a relaxed family atmosphere.

As well as these big events there is a full programme of polo every Sunday at Ham Polo Club. Spectators are always welcome and there is plenty of pitch side parking and picnic space. A day at Ham Polo Club is a truly British day out as well as being one of the most inexpensive ways to entertain family and friends. The club also offers social membership which allows you to use the fantastic clubhouse restaurant and bar.

If you cant wait to come and enjoy the atmosphere at Ham then you’ll be pleased to know that polo starts on Sunday 5th May. The first big finals day will be May 19th and will be combined with a visit from the MG car club. An action packed final will be followed by a concourse d’elegance

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featuring 50 stunning MG classics dating from 1926 till present.

Set in more than 21 acres, the Club has 3 polo fields, all suitable for helicopter landings by arrangement.

There is ample parking for quick and easy limo access to nearby central London and the surrounding area. Its close proximity to the River Thames means the nearby River Boat service at Richmond can be accessed for trips into and out of London. Twickenham Rugby stadium is just 3 miles away.

Agreed and paid for in advance, we welcome helicopter landings from all over the country, and are happy to offer 30 minutes parking included free of charge within the landing fee.

For advance bookings, please contact helicopters@hampoloclub.com

Ham Polo Club

Petersham Road, Richmond, Surrey, TW10 7AH www.hampoloclub.com

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Fixtures list 2013 MARCH Saturday 9th Accra PC vs Ham (away) Saturday 23rd Polo Liveries Open

APRIL Friday 19th Cocktail Party Thursday 25th Chukkas (Weather Permitting)

MAY

Sunday 16th Tiger Tops

Tiger Mountain I

Tiger MountaIn II Sunday 23rd Petersham Bowl

John Player Friday 28th Gaucho Sundown Polo Saturday 29th Spring League Games

CST Polo Classic Sunday 30th Tiger Stream

Ventura Pauly

JULY

Sunday 7th Summer Tournament Saturday 4th Spring League Games

Rosie Adams Sunday 5th Club Matches

Rerrison Monday 6th Chukkas

Edward Tauchert Bow Saturday 11th Spring League Games Saturday 13th Spring League Games Sunday 12th Anthony Cup Sunday 14th Invitational Day

Double Bet

Cowdray vs Ham Sunday 19th Ham House

Peter Pitts I

MG Owners Club display

Peter Pitts II

Hine Cognac

Visitors Cup (Leadenham vs Ham) Saturday 25th Spring League Games Saturday 20th Spring League Final Sunday 26th June Bamberg Sunday 21st Gold Cup

HR Owen

Club Matches (morning) Monday 27th Open Day Friday 26th Summer Ball Saturday 27th Accra PC vs Ham JUNE

Newport PC vs Ham

Quatro Amigos Cup Sunday 2nd Mixed Doubles Sunday 28th International Day

Social Committee

NO POLO AT HAM Saturday 8th Spring League Games Sunday 9th Moscow PC vs Ham AUGUST

Richmond Park

Doug Brown Saturday 3rd Summer League Games Saturday 15th Spring League Games Sunday 4th Godbold Trophy

Don Zoilo Saturday 10th Summer League Games

Dubai Trophy Sunday 11th Kingfisher

Indian Army Saturday 17th Summer League Games Sunday 18th Stagshead

Cheval Trophy Saturday 24th Summer League Games Sunday 25th Roehampton Cup

Critchley Trophy

Leadenham vs Ham (away) Monday 26th Cowdray vs Ham (away) Saturday 31st Summer League Games

SEPTEMBER

Sunday 1st Candilio Cup

Jimmy Edwards Saturday 7th Summer League Games

Newport PC vs Ham (away)

HAC 105 Cup Day Sunday 8th Polo Challenge

Hunt Kendall Saturday 14th Summer League Games Sunday 15th Autumn Cup

David Brown Friday 20th Players Dinner Sunday 22nd Billy Walsh Saturday 28th Summer League Final Sunday 29th Farewell Cup

Asprey Red Cross Tournament Final Visiting Team Saturday League Day

Social Away Match

APRIL2013 23

F E AT U R E

The Polo Event of the Summer

HPA GAUCHO INTERNATIONAL AT THE 02 TUESDAY 21st MAY 2013 Event organisers have announced that tickets are now on sale for the third annual HPA Gaucho International Polo event at The O2 in London.

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he world’s greatest polo players will fly in from around the globe to compete in this prestigious tournament in three international matches – all vying for the honour of taking home the championship. It is confirmed that England will take on the mighty Argentina, with England Captain Jamie Morrison going mallet-to-mallet with Argentinian rival Nacho Figueras.

The event kicks off Britain’s famous summer season in style offering delicious South American fayre

by Gaucho, live music and DJ’s alongside the Polo.

The venue will also be host to the largest consumer tasting of Argentina’s wines ever staged in Europe – 40 of Argentina’s best wineries will fly over especially for the occasion, presenting over 200 wines.

Guests will enjoy sets of live music and DJ’s in addition to a VIP after-party at Indigo2. Veuve Clicquot will be creating a unique Champagne garden for the evening and Tanqueray gin will be hosting a ring-side party and hospitality

24 APRIL2013

package. The Club Gaucho premium hospitality package includes meeting the players, Veuve Clicquot reception, VIP access to the arena and after-party and more.

Spectators can opt to arrive in style and enjoy Thames-side views on board the ‘Polo Express Clipper’ a 150 seated Catamaran.

Martin Williams, Operations Director for Gaucho said: “The event will be our biggest and most spectacular yet. We’ve added our own South American Festival twist- bringing in wine and live music alongside our partner The Hurlingham Polo Association who will be partnering us in delivering another World Class sporting event.”

David Woodd, Chief Executive of HPA Polo comments: “Congratulations to Gaucho for once again bringing the game of polo to The 02 arena and thus providing the opportunity for people to experience the skill of these top players and the athleticism of their ponies.”

F E AT U R E

Michael Amoore, Chairman of the Hurlingham Polo Association Arena Polo Committee and the Arena International Committee said: “This year Argentina will be seeking revenge for last year’s penalty shoot-out defeat by England. Scotland meanwhile waits confidently in the wings for the opposition to come forward after sending Ireland back with a defeat in their hearts in 2012.

“The polo action promises to be fast, furious and electrically exciting so should not be missed. For those who wish for more of the same after the polo do not forget the legendary after party held at the venue.”

doubled in a decade, in an action packed sport where players travel up to 70mph on their ponies. There has also been a dramatic increase in young enthusiasts, with more than 1,500 school and university players registered nationwide.

Polo can be played in outdoors (on the field) or in an arena which is more thrilling to watch due to the close proximity to the players and ponies.

Jamie Morrison

The remaining two match line-ups and musicians playing at the event will be announced shortly.

IG will continue their sponsorship of Team England and are joined by Cheval des Andes a LVMH winery in Mendoza who will sponsor Team Argentina. La Martina and HR OWEN Maserati are also taking roles as official merchandising and official car partners.

Royal Salute will be sponsoring team Scotland, and sponsors of the opening match – between two patron led teams by Thomas Kato and Yevgeny Chichvarkin - will be Merchant Hub and Hedonism Wines.

There are now more than 70/80 polo clubs in the UK, a figure that has

Polo Superstar and England Captain A brief biography Jamie began playing polo when he was 14 on many tournaments including 2 gold W medals at the FIP European championships Represents England over the world Introduced to polo by his father Bryan Morrison [former music mogul, manager of Pink Floyd and publisher of music

by Elton John, the Bee Gees and Wham] who founded the Royal Berkshire Polo Club with Prince Charles as the first member.

In 1862 the first polo club, Calcutta Polo Glub, was established by two British soldiers Captain Robert Stewart and Major General Joe Shearer. The British are credited with spreading polo worldwide in the late 19th century and the early 20th century.

The establishment of polo clubs throughout England and western Europe followed, and the Hurlingham Polo Association drew up the first set of formal British rules in 1874, many of which are still in existence.

Follow the latest news on Gaucho Polo via social media: @gauchopolo @gauchogroup Facebook http://www.facebook.com/ Gauchointernationalpolo For tickets visit www.gauchopolo.com APRIL2013 25

F E AT U R E

BRITISH BEACH POLO CHAMPIONSHIP 2013

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he highlight of the South Coast’s summer season, the Asahi British Beach Polo Championship to be held at Sandbanks, Poole for its sixth year on the 12/13thJuly 2013 is now only 2 months way. Supported by some of the best arena polo players, including Jamie Morrison, the hotly anticipated beach festival promises excitement and glamour both on and off the pitch. England, Ireland, Scotland (sponsored by our sister publication Sandbanks Life) and Wales will be competing with Ireland keen to retain the title after a gripping final against Wales last year. There is floodlit night beach polo on the Friday evening, visiting international polo teams and of course the ‘bonkers’ beach polo after parties.

Arena polo is a spectacular spectator sport and played on a

26 APRIL2013

stunning Blue Flag beach (preferable sundrenched!) brings the very best out of the players and guests. The thorough bred ponies and high goal players love playing on the beach in front of a large and enthusiastic crowd. Jack Kidd who is a regular for England at the Championships says ‘I have been lucky enough to play polo all round the world – Sandbanks is still one of my favourite weekends of the year. The polo is insanely competitive, the guests are always on great form and the beach party’s well – they are simply the best!’

Whether visitors are eating lobster and drinking Champagne and Chablis in the waterfront Sandpolo Hospitality marquee, enjoying the exclusive VIP experience, soaking up the atmosphere with General Admission Tickets, or just choosing to sit outside the fence on the purpose built beach viewing area it is a chance

F E AT U R E

for polo and Sandbanks to show off its attributes to about 5000 seasoned and new supporters each year. To complement the polo The Asahi British Beach Polo Championship offers a host of other activities such as ‘have a go’ polo, the Oakley Ladies Beach Volleyball, fashion shows, the charity Audi V Polo Pony race and the vibrant retail village. The polo is an excuse to dress up (or strip off for a quick swim), stay up late and indulge.

Founded by Johnny Wheeler and David Heaton-Ellis the publicity for the inaugural Championships in 2008 was kick started by Piers Morgan drawing people’s attention to Sandbanks as ‘Britain’s Monte Carlo’ . Despite the onset of the recession a growing number of businesses use this ‘boutique’ event to entertain clients, reward their staff and promote their brands. Whilst sponsorship is still an important revenue stream new ideas such as camel polo (stand by for the elephants!), floodlit beach polo, equine displays and the appearance of the odd celebrity has kept people talking about the event and coming back year on year.

So why does the Championships keep returning to Poole. Johnny Wheeler says ‘a cooperative council and a large stunning easily accessible beach are the vital ingredients for us as event organisers.

Some good weather, the best polo players and an enthusiastic crowd is pretty important too’. The beach polo continues to add massive value to Sandbanks and continues to go from strength

to strength. So what of the future of Beach Polo? It is definitely growing in popularity. The Chairman of the International Beach Polo Association (IBPA) – Alex Webbe says ‘beach polo is different to conventional grass polo – it needs an adjusted handicap system and slight variations to the rules. The British Beach Polo Championships and its organisers Sandpolo Ltd are working hard with the IBPA to regulate Beach Polo and introduce it in a more structured way to other venues around the world.

After Dark At Sandbanks Polo players and supporters have something of a reputation for letting their hair down. The polo ‘beach after parties’ at Sandbanks provides seasoned and new comers to the sport with a very cool but exciting place to relax, socialise and dance until the small hours of the morning. On the Friday evening live music will increase in tempo after the floodlit beach polo match with the most original DJs connecting with the mixed generation audience.

The closing party on Saturday night brings an unmissable eclectic mix of sounds to rock the Jurassic coast. With the title sponsors Asahi beer providing a refreshing balance to the flowing champagne and excellent food to fuel the dancing it is rare to see people leave the beach before the 1am survivors photo. www.sandpolo.com

APRIL2013 27

F E AT U R E

Butterfly World

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ST ALBANS

utterfly World Project re-opens on 25th March, the focus for the season is on educating our visitors about the life cycle of the butterfly and its extraordinary fragility and also about how to grow butterfly-attracting plants to encourage the return of native butterflies into our gardens and general outdoor spaces.

What you can see at Butterfly World Project Tropical Butterfly House Come and see our butterflies in their tropical habitat. At any one time you will be able to see between 500-800 butterflies, from 15-20 species. Look carefully and you will see eggs and caterpillars on the plants, and even some pupae.

Ant World- The life of leaf Cutter Ants Visit our colonies of leaf cutter ants. This species invented farming and living in a ‘city’. They each have their own jobs and work together to support their Queen. Don’t miss this fascinating attraction.

Insect Study Centre View our collection of Creepy Crawly Insects. Study our Stick insects,

28 APRIL2013

Cockroaches, Snails, locust, Mantis and lots more and you even get a chance to hold some of these insects during our regular Insect Handling Session.

Nectar House Cafe Enjoy a selection of hot and cold food, drinks and cakes, ice creams, etc., in a comfortable and relaxed setting Designer Gardens Our nineteen Designer gardens are a pleasure to take a relaxed walk through.

Including three newly planted gardens this season they have been planted to attract native butterflies back into the Hertfordshire countryside.

Play Area Let the children run wild in our fantastic Natural Play area. They can run through willow tunnels, climb on the huge, wooden climbing frame, and zoom down the giant slides! The perfect place for kids to let off steam!

For more information about Butterfly World Project Ltd, Chiswell Green, Herts, AL2 3NY call 01727 869 203 or email info@butterflyworldproject.com www.butterflyworldproject.com

F E AT U R E

Explore the magic of Harry Potter with the first ever Wand Week

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arner Bros. Studio Tour London provides an amazing new opportunity to explore the magic of the Harry Potter™ films – the most successful film series of all time. This unique walking tour takes you behind-the-scenes and showcases a huge array of beautiful sets, costumes and props. It also reveals some closely guarded secrets, including facts about the special effects and animatronics that made these films so hugely popular all over the world.

Delve into the world of wand making, spell casting and wizarding duels this February, during our first ever Wand Week.

Special effects and choreography experts from the Harry Potter film series will be involved in creating the activities for Wand Week.

Discover how fight scenes were developed and the incredible amount of planning that went into each wand movement.

Original moulds, concept art and wand designs will be showcased in the attraction.

For the first time, Ollivander’s authentic costume (as worn by John Hurt) will be on display at the entrance of his famous wand shop.

30 APRIL2013

Our knowledgeable staff members will be on hand to share many of the behind-the-scenes secrets of the most successful film series of all time.

Here are just some of the things you can expect to see and do: Step inside and discover the actual Great Hall.

Explore Dumbledore’s office and discover never-before-seen treasures.

Step onto the famous cobbles of Diagon Alley, featuring the shop fronts of Ollivanders wand shop, Flourish and Blotts, the Weasleys’ Wizard Wheezes, Gringotts Wizarding Bank and Eeylops Owl Emporium.

See iconic props from the films, including Harry’s Nimbus 2000 and Hagrid’s motorcycle.

Learn how creatures were brought to life with green screen effects, animatronics and life-sized models.

Rediscover other memorable sets from the film series, including the Gryffindor common room, the boys’ dormitory, Hagrid’s hut, Potion’s classroom and Professor Umbridge’s office at the Ministry of Magic.

For more information about Warner Bros Studio Tour call 08450 840 900 or visit www.wbstudiotour.co.uk

Sophie is in love with Ray and Contemporary Art. Ray is designed by Antonio Citterio. www.bebitalia.com

Three Perfect Locations

On Par Rates

OV E R S E A S E DUCAT I O N

Across the pond: Study in the US MyUniApplication.com

Top tips for applying to US colleges 1. Research the US colleges thoroughly and create a shortlist.

2. Allow plenty of time to draft and redraft your application essays and show it to your family, your teachers, and, if possible, a specialist.

3. Practise taking the standardised tests (SATs or ACTs), an important part of your application.

4. Calculate the net cost of your education, taking account of tuition fees, living costs and financial aid.

5. Investigate if there are any scholarships for which you can apply, for example, in music or sport.

6. Talk to a professional adviser such as Natalie Lancer, for guidance in putting together a successful application.

A

pplying to ‘college’ (university) in the USA used to be rare amongst British students – perhaps the preserve of students with sports scholarships or parents with deep pockets. However, the recent rise of tuition fees in the UK, combined with the financial aid packages available at some US colleges, mean that the difference in cost between studying in the UK and USA is becoming much smaller. In some cases, crossing the pond will enable a student to emerge after four years with a good Bachelors degree, an international CV and little or no debt.

While tuition fees in the USA can be even higher than the UK – £9,000 per year is about average – tuition and living costs can be offset by grants provided by many colleges, some of which are available to British students. Harvard, Yale, Princeton, MIT, Dartmouth and Amherst are the most generous to international students. In practice, families with incomes of less than £40,000 per annum will often get all costs paid by these colleges, including tuition, food, accommodation, books and a travel allowance for two trips home a year.

Families with higher incomes also receive means-tested grants, and even a salary of £110,000 will attract aid. In addition, about 60 other US colleges also provide at least some financial aid to international applicants. As the aid is usually in the form of grants, not loans, the money does not have to be paid back in most cases. But there are many other good reasons to study in the USA besides finance. By far the most important factor to UK students is the broad ‘liberal arts’ curriculum that is followed in most US colleges. Unlike in the UK, there is no need to commit to one or two subjects to study when you apply. In the USA, apart from a small core curriculum, you can study whatever you like for the first 18 months. This is ideal for those students who are keen to explore new interests before choosing which subjects to study in more depth.

American universities also seek to educate the ‘whole person’. As such, extracurricular activities are considered an integral part of a student’s experience, rather than ancillary to the main business of education, as they are often viewed in the UK. A large US college will have around 400 recognised student clubs, including sports teams, performing arts groups, international groups, religious groups, community service groups, and newspaper and magazine publications. The emphasis on holistic education is reflected in the application process, where extracurricular achievement is valued just as much as academic ability and you will be asked to explain how you intend to contribute to college life.

Finally, an important reason to study in the USA is that you will acquire a more global outlook. Students from all over the world study in the USA and your multicultural experience will be valued by future employers. Global companies look to hire graduates who can communicate in a variety of 34 APRIL2013

contexts and with different people. What better way to demonstrate an understanding that the world really is getting smaller than by studying abroad? You will also build up a global network of contacts, useful in anything you go on to do later in your career.

Natalie is the founder of MyUniApplication.com. She can guide you with all aspects of both US and UK university applications and give you expert guidance on your application essays and personal statement. She also offers interview preparation and SAT/ACT preparation classes.

For more information, contact Natalie Lancer on 07747 612 513 or at info@myuniapplication.com. www.myuniapplication.com

MyUniApplication.com Expert UK and US university application advice

We offer help with: • The UK and US university application process • Personal statements and essays • Interview preparation • Practicing to take admissions tests • Career and course choices • Choosing A-level and GCSE subjects

Email info@myuniapplication.com or call 07747 612 513 Visit www.myuniapplication.com for more information

EDUCATION LIFE T H E

Q U A L I T Y

E D U C AT I O N

S U P P L E M E N T

A P R I L

2 0 1 3

Welcome...

The independent school system in the UK is one of the finest in the world and you are fortunate to have some of the best schools in the country right on your doorstep. In today’s economic climate, making the right choice for your child’s education is of paramount importance.

Sometimes every parent needs a helping hand in deciding what is best for their children.

Our Education Life series is an invaluable resource for any parent considering private education.

Encourage your children to come with you and get their feedback after each visit. It also provides an insight into the way a child sees a prospective future school.

Please feel free to contact me Corinne Sugar at corinne@fishmediagroup.co.uk or call 0844 800 8439 if you would like any further information.

THE FINEST SCHOOLS IN HERTFORDSHIRE & LONDON

E DUCAT I O N

Extra Curricular Activities words by Jill Bennett, Schools’ Marketing Specialist, Orchid Creative

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ll schools recognise the wider educational value of pupil involvement in activities beyond the classroom: it encourages them to learn new skills, to pursue special interests and to grow into well-rounded individuals. It also encourages pupils to meet other children with similar interests across a range of ages, provides opportunities for leadership and responsibility and can be enormous fun. Involvement in such activities broadens pupil horizons and experiences and gives them a more balanced perspective on their work inside the classroom.

Independent schools are in a strong position to put resources into this crucial area of school life and child development, offering an impressive range of extra curricular activities; this is undoubtedly one of the reasons many parents choose to educate their children privately.

DRAMA AT HABERDASHERS’ ASKE’S SCHOOL FOR GIRLS

CANOE POLO AT HABERDASHERS’ ASKE’S BOYS’ SCHOOL

ABSEILING AT HABERDASHERS’ ASKE’S SCHOOL FOR GIRLS

2 APRIL2013

There is such a vast wealth of opportunities available outside lessons, as well as creative outlets in subjects such as Music, Art, Design Technology and Drama. There are many other types of activity such as sport, the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, academic clubs and societies and community service, Adventurous Training and, of course, the CCF (Combined Cadet Force). Pupils on expeditions quickly become aware that one person cannot successfully carry the rest of the team and if the role they assign themselves are not taken seriously by the designated member of the group, problems quickly emerge. Such schemes are extremely popular and widely promoted in independent schools as they combine service and self-development. Although these opportunities lie outside the normal curriculum, they still reflect the importance of school values: community, teamwork, balance, leadership and above all a sense of fun.

With all of us so conscious of worries about childhood obesity, involvement in extra curricular sport, whether recreational or competitively, is something that parents and schools themselves are very keen to promote. Again, independent schools often are very well placed to provide the facilities and staffing time and expertise to support exciting and varied sporting opportunities beyond the curriculum.

A school’s extra-curricular activities programme provides excitement not only through academic as well as physical and emotional challenge; there is something for everyone to experiment with until they find their own niche. The key point is that pupils should discover what they enjoy, and then participate; in doing so, the broader skills that they master during the course of these activities will contribute to building the rounded individuals that schools and parents hope children will become at the end of their school career. As Peter Hamilton, Headmaster of the Haberdashers’ Aske’s Boys’ School, notes: “The huge range of extra-curricular activities available at my school ensures that every boy finds something at which he excels, and as a result develops a self-assurance that will equip him for life.”

Haberdashers’ Aske’s School for Girls

learning & independence Junior Open Morning 6 July 2013, 10am-12.30pm

Open Day 5 October 2013 Juniors 10am-12.30pm, Seniors 2pm-5pm Scholarships and Financial Assistance available from 11+ Independent Day School for Girls aged 4-18 Aldenham Road, Elstree, Herts, WD6 3BT e: admissions@habsgirls.org.uk t: 020 8266 2300 www.habsgirls.org.uk Registered Charity No. 313996

The Haberdashers’ Aske’s Boys’ School Nurturing Excellence

An outstanding independent day school for boys aged between 5 and 18.

Open Day Saturday 5th October 2013, 1–4pm (no appointment necessary)

Headmaster Peter B Hamilton MA Butterfly Lane, Elstree, Hertfordshire WD6 3AF Tel: 020 8266 1700 office@habsboys.org.uk

www.habsboys.org.uk

registered charity no: 313996

Open Morning Wednesday 19th June 2013 9.30am - 12.00pm Our staff and pupils are delighted to welcome all prospective pupils and parents.

By appointment only - please contact the Admissions Secretary

• Focus on the individual • Excellent academic record • Impressive range of extra curricular activities • Scholarships offered: academic, art, music and sport at 11+ • Bursaries available • 20 acre parkland site

St. Helen’s is adjacent to Northwood station (Metropolitan Line), 30 minutes from Baker Street, and coaches are available from many locations, including Barnet, Radlett, Mill Hill and Stanmore.

An independent day school for girls aged 3 to 18

St. Helen’s School Eastbury Road Northwood Middlesex HA6 3AS Tel: 01923 843230 admissions@sthn.co.uk

www.sthn.co.uk

E DUCAT I O N

Encouraging Curiosity in the Classroom words by Dr Mary Short, Headmistress, St. Helen’s School

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uriosity is something which lies at the heart of all education and is what drives us to seek answers to some of the most extraordinary questions that can be asked. It is something which should be encouraged and nurtured through education so that children retain their capacity to ask ‘why’ throughout their lives and develop into the people who will ask and answer questions of the greatest importance to human wellbeing and to the future of the planet.

Intellectual curiosity is evident in very young children when they start to ask ‘why’ and begin to show the great desire that human beings have for knowledge. Every time a child says ‘why’ they are opening themselves up to the vast resource of human understanding.

As adults, we answer them with straightforward explanations and these explanations become the bookshelves in the child’s own mental library. They become the means of organising and cataloguing all future knowledge. Children thrive in an environment where they receive the stimulation of answers which enable them to start to become individuals with their own internal mental structures.

This desire for knowledge and to ask ‘why’ remains with us as we grow older and move through formal education but we become more self-conscious about what we know and what we think we should know, but don’t. We start to become aware that other people appear to know than more than us and we become concerned that we will reveal ourselves as being stupid if we ask ‘why’ and we therefore start to ask it less often. If children are to thrive, we must overcome this self-consciousness and encourage intellectual curiosity and a willingness to continue to be inquisitive about the world we live in, and to develop an appetite for new knowledge and understanding.

Education is the formal means through which we satisfy the human desire to know and to understand and a well-balanced, stimulating

education should focus on the pursuit of academic excellence through the acquisition of intellectual curiosity and independent learning skills. It is these skills which will enable students to make the very best of all the opportunities that are available to them both at school and outside the school gates.

The curriculum at St. Helen’s offers countless opportunities for the girls to do this through activities which start with the very youngest children in our pre-prep department, Little St. Helen’s, with, childinitiated learning days, for example. This continues throughout the school with a curriculum that encourages students not just to complete tasks but to research, present, debate, guess and prove, with classroom learning punctuated by independent learning tasks that encourage students to explore new ideas, to think outside the box and to discover the joys of learning. Girls in Junior School enjoy the opportunity to take part in active learning weeks whilst pupils further up the school participate in activities such as the Year 9 Enquiry project in which girls undertake individual student-led research on a topic of their choice. By becoming actively involved, having control of their own learning and being given the scope to follow their own lines of enquiry, pupils develop a real sense of curiosity and excitement, resulting in an education environment where students strive to do their best and to reach their intellectual potential. In the Sixth Form, students benefit from an academic programme that extends their intellectual understanding and that develops professional and life skills, critical thinking and creative and cultural interests.

By creating an educational experience which ensures that pupils enjoy their learning experiences and discover their personal talents and interests, both academically and outside their studies, schools can foster children’s natural curiosity and develop lifelong learners who will be ready to shine at university and in the world beyond, with confidence, self-reliance and independence.

APRIL2013 5

E DUCAT I O N IZ AHMED AT SHARD R BEFORE SCREENING OF THE RELUCTANT FUNDAMENTALIST. RIZ READ PPE AT OXFORD.

MAN-MADE APOCALYPSE RISHI SODHA MTS ART EXHIBITION 2006

A CREATIVE APOCALYPSE

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words Chris Roseblade, Deputy Head (Communications), Merchant Taylors’ School

ducational changes in the pipeline will see the introduction of an English Baccalaureate (EBacc) to measure performance at 16. Alarmed by graduate shortages in science, technology, engineering, and maths; by the dumbing-down of examination standards; and by the soft option trendiness it associates with arts, coursework, and media-related subjects, the government is signalling a return to “basics”. The EBacc is based on ‘Five Pillars’: English, Maths, Science, Modern Foreign Languages and Humanities (History and Geography), coincidentally the same subjects that the Russell Group of universities lists as ‘Facilitating Subjects’ - that supposedly give youngsters a better chance of gaining a place at a top university.

of the band ‘Nero’; Riz Ahmed read PPE at Oxford but achieved fame as the star of ‘The Reluctant Fundamentalist’ and ‘Four Lions’. If the pressure is on state schools to become cultural wastelands, it will fall yet again to Britain’s independent sector to mitigate the consequences of government faddery. Only independent schools will nurture that exceptional breadth of interest and achievement that surpasses a narrowly academic curriculum and develops a culture of creativity – whether scientific, artistic, or a fusion of the two. Rishi Sodha’s huge canvases ‘Man-made apocalypse’, exhibited at MTS in 2006, were his gateway into the design profession. Independent schools must preserve the space and resources for creativity that put Riz Ahmed on the stage in ‘South Pacific’ aged 11, encouraged Joe Ray to experiment with keyboards as well as language, and allowed Rishi Sodha to work on large-scale projects.

The massive collateral damage here is to creativity, particularly the arts. In 2012, 15% of schools withdrew an arts subject because C P Snow famously bemoaned of the introduction of the EBacc. the chasm between the arts and The majority of schools have seen a sciences in the British educational decline in the number of students tradition. The world of the ‘Arts’ choosing Music, Art, Drama, and today has never been more scientific: Dance for A Level. Parents have almost all arts events incorporate taken the Russell Group’s report multi-media elements of digitally to mean that students must only controlled and manipulated film, choose facilitating subjects to imagery, music, and dance. Eric qualify for top universities. Actually, Schmidt (CEO, Google) remarked, its purpose was to eliminate the “You need to bring art and science specious padding out of applications back together: Lewis Carroll didn’t with ‘soft option’ A grades in just write ‘Alice’. He was also a JOE RAY (LEFT) READ PHILOSOPHY AT OXFORD. NOW ACCEPTING subjects irrelevant to the intended mathematics tutor at Oxford”. At this HIS GRAMMY IN LOS ANGELES WITH THE OTHER MEMBERS OF NERO course. Politics is perception, and moment of natural confluence between although not intended as a knife to the heart of the creative arts, the Group’s the arts and sciences, politicians should heed the old rabbinical saying, report has become one. At Key Stages 1-3 (i.e. until 14) the government has “Don’t limit a child to your own learning, for he was born in another time”. effectively: removed drama from the English curriculum; bracketed dance with PE, not recognizing it as an art form; and based its Art and Design Combined with massive cuts in Arts subsidies, this educational curriculum on principles the Design Council brands as ‘retrograde’. disenfranchisement of the creative arts threatens the UK’s creative industries that generate £60 billion a year. The arts represent an Yet the creative arts are one of the great pillars of a traditional education. emotionally and financially rewarding world of work for your creative At Merchant Taylors’, in the last decade alone, we have produced boys who child. Einstein remarked, that, “Imagination is more important than now run major design houses, film post-production companies, produce knowledge. Knowledge is limited. Imagination encircles the world”. A Brad Pitt movies or are writers for stage and screen. Joseph Ray went up government posturing about academic standards should know its Book to read Philosophy Oxford, but is now clutching his Grammy as one half of Proverbs better: there were seven pillars of wisdom, not five.

6 APRIL2013

MTS

Merchant Taylors’ School Excellence, integrity and distinction since 1561 1561

Open Morning

May 11th 2013 10.00 - 12.30

Why not choose the best for your son?

• A ‘Top Ten’ boys’ school • ‘Outstanding’ - 2008 School Inspection • Inspirational teaching • Unique tutorial system • Civilized, friendly & unpressured • Small class sizes • Magnificent sports fields • Superb facilities set in 250 acres

• 2014 Registration: 13+ June 30 2013 11+ November 30 2013 16+ December 31 2013 • Bursaries • Academic, Art, Drama, Music and Sport Scholarships

Getting here • Car MTS is 15 minutes from the M1, the M25 and the A40 • Coaches Beaconsfield, Ealing, Harpenden, Harrow, Highgate, Mill Hill, Radlett, Stanmore • Transit MTS is adjacent to Moor Park (Metropolitan Line)

Chiltern line trains change at Rickmansworth

Guided tours (last tour 11.30) The Head Master speaks at 11.15 and 12.15

www.mtsn.org.uk

Please contact Penny Wright, Admissions Secretary admissions@mtsn.org.uk +44(0)1923 845514 Merchant Taylors’ School Northwood Middlesex HA6 2HT

Excellence, integrity and distinction since 1561.

For boys 11 - 18

E DUCAT I O N

Maintained State or Independent to inspire a love of learning

– that is the question? words by Patrick Atkinson, Headmaster, Beechwood Park School

O

nce the thrills and spills of having a new born babe have been adjusted to, many parents’ thoughts turn to their child’s education. This often begins with researching toddler and playgroups and then quickly becomes an investigation into local nursery schools and options for the next stage. It presents many with a real conundrum; should we spend our money on the child’s education when they are of primary school age or should we wait and spend it on sending the child to an independent secondary school?

The power of the argument seems to be in favour of the independent secondary school; after all it is these schools that are often able to demonstrate significantly better performance at GCSE, A Level and University Entrance and it would be naïve if we didn’t also accept that the flashy facilities many of them provide are a serious attraction.

Parents are also influenced by the fact that independent education at any stage is a real financial commitment and it seems tempting to put it off until careers are underway, salaries are higher and the family is well established in its home. There are, however, more fundamental considerations for parents and they should not be embarrassed about the fact that part of this is a ‘value for money’ argument.

The first point to note is that by and large a good preparatory school (nursery, infant and middle independent school all rolled into one) is often a great deal cheaper than an independent secondary school.

At good prep schools children are taught by subject specialists from a young age, not just in English and Mathematics but also in science, languages and the performing arts. Children are also being taught IT skills throughout their lessons and more and more preparatory schools are offering Computer Science lessons (this is where the future lies). At my school, in common with many other prep schools, the Sports facilities are superb with visiting coaches who offer a tempting variety of sports to ensure there really is something for everyone and every child enjoys physical activity.

Some prep schools are able to offer children the opportunity to board, maybe on a flexi basis, and this can have a positive impact on a child’s development with significant benefits when they go on to their next school, particularly if it is a maintained school.

EECHWOOD PARK SCHOOL’S HEADMASTER, B PATRICK ATKINSON, ADDRESSING A SEMINAR ON ADVISING PARENTS HOW TO CHOOSE THEIR CHILD’S SCHOOL

The other relevant, and probably the most important fact, is that children develop more in the first three years of their education than at any other time of their lives.

The potential for learning and establishing all the necessary attitudes for maximising learning decreases the older a child gets. It is not uncommon to hear parents and teachers of 16 year olds saying that the progress of their adolescent charges has come to a halt. Therefore it seems sensible to consider how a good preparatory school can utilise this very important time to the maximum benefit of the child, inspiring a love of learning, enhancing development and stimulating the child, well beyond what might be expected.

Small classes, generally no more than 20, and fewer in setted subjects, are the norm in preparatory schools. It is usual to find classes of 24 or 8 APRIL2013

so in the senior independent schools and many more in the maintained sector. The prep schools are therefore able to offer children a much more individualised programme. The sooner positive attitudes to learning are established, as well as understanding that it requires focus and effort, as well as a real joy and interest in acquiring knowledge and skills, the better. These attributes can be instilled by the time a child leaves their prep school and are rarely forgotten. Indeed should that child then move on to a maintained school, perhaps because the money has run out, then these well-established habits will be useful for life.

So parents have a really profound choice to make and if they get it right then actually the cost of providing their child with the benefits of an independent education might be less expensive than they expect.

More and more families are seeing the value of this and move their children from the independent sector into the maintained sector once their child has established a love of learning, great self-esteem and social skills, a really good moral code and a deep interest in active involvement in cultural and physical activities. All of which will be useful for life and form the basis of an impressive CV. Beechwood Park School is a preparatory day, weekly and flexi-boarding school for girls and boys aged 4 to 13 situated in Markyate, near St Albans, with a Montessori Nursery close by at Little Cheverells.

E DUCAT I O N

Beechwood Park School celebrates “Outstanding” rating for Early Years provision Beechwood Park School, the co-educational preparatory school in Markyate, near St Albans, with a Montessori Nursery close by at Little Cheverells is celebrating the results of its recent Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) inspection that described its provision for the youngest children as “outstanding”.

The inspectors awarded this highest accolade and judged the overall quality and standards of the provision for the children at the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) to be outstandingly effective in all areas. They also noted the safe and welcoming environment as well as the high level of parental satisfaction.

The report gives an important external assessment of the quality of education offered at Beechwood Park and provides an in-depth review of the School’s performance. The eight-strong inspection team scrutinised all aspects of the school and found excellence in the quality of the learning environment, the achievements of the children, the way they are cared for and develop, the quality of the curricular and extra-curricular provision and the arrangements for pastoral care.

Some pupils in Years 5 to 8 opt for weekly or flexi-boarding at Beechwood Park and the quality of boarding is described in the report as “excellent…. boarders thoroughly enjoy their boarding experience and speak highly of it.”

Patrick Atkinson, Beechwood Park School’s headmaster commented “My colleagues and I strive for excellence in everything that we provide and we are naturally very pleased that so much of what teachers and children achieve is described as “excellent.” It is gratifying that the inspectors concluded that our pupils have access to the highest standards of care and provision. The inspection report is a reminder of the fantastic opportunities available to children at Beechwood Park.”

At the recently refurbished Beechwood Park Montessori Nursery, which welcomes children from three years old, opening hours have been extended this term.

Regular Open Mornings are held at Beechwood Park and the Headmaster is always happy to talk individually to prospective parents who are interested in seeing the School for themselves.

For boys and girls aged 4 to 13 Day, weekly and flexi-boarding with a Montessori Nursery Department Next Open Mornings 24 May and 18 October 2013 Telephone 01582 840333 www.beechwoodpark.net

E DUCAT I O N

One of Hertfordshire’s best kept secrets

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idden in 23 acres of parkland, Lockers Park is one of Hertfordshire’s best kept secrets - a small and excellent day and boarding prep school for 145 boys. Educating boys since 1874, Lockers Park promotes academic excellence with an impressive range of scholarships attained each year and outstanding Common Entrance results. A closer examination reveals a school that delivers an environment of encouragement and support combined with well-loved customs and traditional values of respect, tolerance and fair play.

Lockers Park boys are happy, energetic and well-motivated and, as a school for boys only, their particular needs are well catered for. The welfare and happiness of the boys is at the heart of all we do.

Academic excellence We are proud of our academic record. Experienced teachers expect and encourage the best from every pupil. Class sizes are small, with an average of 14 and a staff:pupil ratio of 1:8. Our recent ISI inspection noted that the boys are very thoroughly prepared for all external exams and, each year, the leavers pass onto their chosen senior schools, from the country’s best public schools to top independent day schools and prestigious grammar schools.

Sport for all Boys at Lockers Park have the opportunity to take part in sports or physical activities every day either in teams games such as rugby, football, cricket and hockey or individual sports including squash, athletics and fencing. In addition to our fully equipped sports hall, we also have an astroturf pitch, heated swimming pool, croquet lawn and .22 shooting range. The standard of sports

performance is high as our record against other, often much larger schools, demonstrates. More importantly, every boy has the opportunity to represent the school and we work hard to allow the less confident sportsman to flourish. We also run regular sports tours and the 1st XI Cricket team has just returned from a hugely successful tour of South Africa Music and the arts Music is an important part of life at Lockers.

Most boys learn a musical instrument and many learn several. The boys play in our orchestras and chamber groups or sing in one of our choirs, including the excellent Chapel Choir.

Our musicians perform regularly, both in our beautiful Chapel and in prestigious venues in London or abroad. Lockers Park boys frequently win music scholarships to senior schools. Drama is also popular.

Every year, we put on at least two plays or musicals and many boys enter LAMDA speech and drama examinations. There are also plenty of opportunities to perform at school assemblies, debates, inter-set competitions and traditional Christmas charades.

Our ethos Nurturing boys as individuals is central to the ethos of the school.

We value our small, family atmosphere, which means that every boy is well known to all staff, as well as to each other. Our parents often reward us with the greatest compliment and tell us that we not only understand their son’s character but also encourage his unique talents, commenting on our ability to find brilliance in every boy.

LOCKERS PARK Bene agere ac Laetari: good results, good manners, good fun “Provides a very happy learning environment through an excellent wide-ranging curriculum and programme of activities.”

Independent Schools Inspectorate - November 2011

Day & Boarding Preparatory School for boys aged 5 - 13 years

OPEN MORNING Saturday 11th May 2013 at 11.00am www.lockerspark.herts.sch.uk Bursaries are available to boys Years 3 to 6

Telephone: 01442 251712 Registered Charity Number 311061

E DUCAT I O N

SHAPING THE FUTURE

It has been a typically busy start to 2013 with the new Headmaster, Ben Evans, now settled in and his exciting vision and ideas are already shaping the future at Edge Grove.

The ‘After School Activities Programme’ continues to be a success offering pupils a wide range of after school activities every day and on Saturday mornings, such as Chamber Choir, Mandarin, Squash, Fencing, Lego Robotics, Girls Hockey, Street Dance, LAMDA, Spanish Club, Golf and Taekwondo.

With class sizes of approximately 16, all children enjoy a full and varied curriculum. Edge Grove offers academic excellence to the brightest and support to the less able. Pupils go onto a wide range of senior schools and over 68 scholarships were awarded in the last five years to top senior schools such as Harrow, Eton, Merchant Taylors’ and North London Collegiate.

Sport remains popular and for the 2nd successive year Edge Grove became the IAPS National Soccer Sixes 6-a-side Champions. In Archery they were 2nd place at the Herts Indoor County U18 Team Championships. In TableTennis, the U11 boys and girls are the 2012 Herts county team champions.

Edge Grove participated in the Young Voices concert at the O2 Arena and were finalists at the Barnardo’s National Choir Competition.

Edge Grove ran an ‘Inspire and Challenge’ workshop for Year 5 and 6 pupils and 21 high-achieving children from local primary schools. They all enjoyed a fun, interactive and challenging morning of Maths, Science and English designed specifically for ‘gifted and talented’ children. The school will build on this initiative to establish Edge Grove as a centre of excellence in the community for teaching and learning.

Edge Grove is a leading independent day/boarding preparatory school for boys and girls aged 3 -13 set in 28 acres of beautiful Hertfordshire countryside • Excellent academic performance.

• Superb facilities including two science labs, outdoor swimming pool, hockey pitch, tennis courts and outdoor cricket nets.

• Full, weekly or flexi boarding available from age 7.

• After-school Activities Programme every day until 6pm.

“

At Edge Grove life is never dull and in their busy day our children share a wealth of opportunity.

Ben Evans, Headmaster

”

Edge Grove, Aldenham Village, Hertfordshire WD25 8NL 01923 855724 admissions@edgegrove.com www.edgegrove.com

ak ill spe ster w el. a m d ap Hea in Ch n twice 12.00 noo r u to t s La

Open Morning 15 June 2013 10.00am-12.30pm Aldenham School

(ages 11-18)

Entry for Boys & Girls at 11+, 13+, 16+

Aldenham Preparatory School

(ages 3-11)

Entry for Boys & Girls at 3+, 4+, 7+

An excellent all round education Aldenham School, Elstree, Herts WD6 3AJ

T 01923 858122

www.aldenham.com

WESTMINSTER SCHOOL www.westminster.org.uk ‘For the right girl or boy, simply the best.’

Good Schools Guide

16+ ENTRY FOR GIRLS & BOYS To find out about Open Days and online registration please look at our website.

13+ BOYS ENTRY Registration for 2016 is now open. To request a prospectus or to arrange a tour of the school, please call 020 7963 1003 or email registrar@westminster.org.uk For information about 7+, 8+ and 11+ entry to Westminster Under School please go to www.westminsterunder.org.uk

Westminster School is a charity (No. 312728) established to provide education.

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E DUCAT I O N

STABILITY IN A CHANGING WORLD

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words by Andy Williams, Deputy Head, Aldenham School

eraclitus’ claim in 500 BC that ‘the only constant is change’ appears entirely apposite in the world of education where change seems ubiquitous. It’s certainly an exciting time to be in education, especially if you thrive on change. The abandoning of the English Baccalaureate, the planned overhaul of GCSEs and A Levels for 2015, the focus on more traditional core aspects of learning and the introduction of linear exams with terminal assessment is enough to keep most teachers very busy, but will also lead to uncertainty and anxiety amongst parents.

As each new initiative is debated in the media and around the dinner tables of parents with school age children, the good schools and good teachers across the country are continuing to do what they already do well. They continue to offer stability in an uncertain world, educating children in the broadest sense of the word by providing the skills to pass exams but also inculcating skills for life.

A good school should provide the right working environment for both staff and pupils, allowing a balance between structure and experimentation, risk and consequence, security and challenge.

Couple this with aesthetic surroundings and a stimulating curriculum and you create conditions for success in which learning is a productive, positive and engaging experience.

Perhaps top of the list of Life Skills is to direct pupils to develop independence; academically, socially and emotionally. Encouraging self-directed learning and extending intellectual curiosity can happen both in and out of the classroom, by providing opportunities for public speaking, debate, community service and charity work both at home and overseas.

The concept of a holistic education is not a new one, but is perhaps one that is increasingly coming to fruition, as employers recognise and value the importance of emotional intelligence alongside academic achievement as a fundamental attribute for success.

The world beyond school is a competitive one and competition should not be ignored. It can be used to build self-esteem, to promote the importance of humility in victory, help pupils to understand where their specific strengths lie and also help children learn to manage failure. Schools should provide many and varied opportunities for pupils to taste success in school and beyond or on a personal level through appropriate target setting.

Schools such as Aldenham are well known for providing rich opportunities to allow every pupil the chance to excel both academically and through a broad range of extra-curricular and sporting facilities. By allowing children to feel valued and safe, yet challenged, in a structured, disciplined and supportive environment which recognises success, helps them build some of the fundamental skills for life that are so essential in the world beyond the school gates.

While politicians and policies change, so too do family circumstances and therein lies the oxymoron that flexibility provides stability. A school that offers the option of continuity of education from 3-18, provision of day or flexible boarding arrangements and which can educate boys and girls on the same site allows parents and pupils to be secure in the knowledge that the stability in their educational environment is helping build a cornerstone for future success.

One of the key roles of schools is to find a way in which all pupils feel understood and valued and this is best achieved by building relationships and a sense of community. Encouraging pupils to develop an emotional engagement with the school and the teachers will help them build self-esteem and self-confidence, which in turn helps optimise learning. From a neurological perspective, it is widely recognised that students perform more effectively when they make a connection with their teachers and make greater progress when they are in a nurturing environment with high expectations, excitement, challenge and reward.

Schools must help children learn to respond to a rapidly changing environment, but in a way that minimises anxiety and maximises opportunities for success. As Sir Winston Churchill commented ‘there is nothing wrong with change if is in the right direction.’ While education can change the world, the world of education is ever changing. The educational storm may rage in parliament but at least parents can feel confident that good schools will continue to do what they do best and provide an education that lasts a lifetime. www.aldenham.com APRIL2013 13

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Courage, Courtesy, Compassion

Inspiring and challenging boys

OPEN SCHOOL WORKING DAY Senior School (11–18 years) Friday 7th June

For further information and to book your tour, please visit our website King Harry Lane St Albans Hertfordshire AL3 4AW T: (Senior) 01727 855185 (Prep) 01727 862616 E: admissions@stcolumbascollege.org www.stcolumbascollege.org

E DUCAT I O N

DAVID BUXTON, LEFT, SPEAKING WITH HRH THE PRINCESS ROYAL AT THE SOCIETY OF HEADS ANNUAL CONFERENCE

More Heads are better than one... words David Buxton, Headmaster, St Columbas

B

ecoming the head of a school can be a rather daunting prospect, for in the eyes of your pupils, most of their parents and probably the entire locality you are seen as the fount of all discipline, the embodiment of the school, and the one person responsible for everything that goes on! In reality, of course, these are all shared: on the one hand with a Senior Leadership Team (SLT), drawn from the most experienced members of the school’s staff, and on the other with (certainly in my case) a supportive governing body.

Loneliness also can come with the territory, and there’s always the danger that people will tell you only what you want to hear. While new heads will have come through the usual route of housemaster, deputy head or SLT, the chances are that their first headship will be at a school new to them - and the first-time head hasn’t always accumulated the experience necessary to discern what’s really happening and when and how to take action … or when not to.

Fortunately, as Headmaster of an independent day school for boys aged 4-18, I can access a friendly ear and wise words from experienced heads who face some or many of the same issues as I occasionally do. This is done through membership of a number of associations, open by election and selection. These are also sources of specialised personal development and skills training, professional advice, and mentoring for both new and experienced heads.

There are organisations for single-sex schools, the International Boys’ Schools Coalition and the Girls’ Schools Association are examples.

Heads of schools who take boarders can gather together and discuss issues relevant to them by becoming members of the Boarding Schools’ Association.

Paulo Durán, Headmaster of St Edmund’s College, Ware, and James Sheridan, Headmaster of St Martha’s School, Hadley Wood, and I are all members of CISC, the relatively small and very friendly Catholic Independent Schools’ Conference. CISC, like all the associations mentioned in this article, organises study days and an annual

conference, allowing member heads the chance to listen to high-level speakers, be inspired and uplifted and make useful contacts and friends among the membership. I recently attended the conference of The Society of Heads, and was impressed by the annual conference it holds each August for new senior prefects for the following academic year.

While CISC was founded as recently as 1990, the oldest – and the ‘gold standard’ – organisation is the Headmaster’s and Headmistresses’ Conference. HMC held its first meeting in 1869 with just 13 headmasters (they were all headmasters then!) attending, now there are over 250 members on the UK and Ireland, and an increasing number of overseas associate members. HMC members are the heads of ‘the world’s leading independent schools’, subscribe to shared educational values, and are committed to the highest quality, innovation and excellence. Membership criteria include high academic standards; the school must have a minimum roll, a good-sized Sixth Form, and must be in good financial health. And it’s not all about results, either: other criteria counted include the school’s ethos, a good level of discipline, an extensive and balanced curriculum, high-level classroom teaching and plenty of extracurricular activities. Together with pastoral care and university and careers guidance these are the principal reasons stated by parents when they say why they choose independent education.

I have always found attending the HMC annual conference exciting and stimulating. Each year it is held in a different place, last year in Belfast, and it attracts around 400 delegates from around the world.

We have the opportunity to share best practice, listen to top-level speakers, take part in smaller, more focused groups and visit an extensive exhibition of school-related wares. HMC represents the interests of independent schools at national level, making its views felt in the Department for Education and in the press.

While a headmaster or headmistress is, by definition, the person at the top, he or she needs to be wired in to a network of supportive peers. Two – or more – heads together are better than one.

APRIL2013 15

50

E DUCAT I O N

YEARS

T

his year Westbrook Hay Prep School is celebrating its move 50 years ago from Gadebridge Park in Hemel Hempstead to its wonderful location today between Berkhamsted and Hemel Hempstead. The celebrations began on Friday 25th January with a Commemorative Evensong Service for the parents and children, with some VIPs for the occasion - former pupils, former staff, former governors and the Headmaster at the time, 87 year old Trafford Allen who gave a wonderful address describing the move in 1963 during the coldest winter of the century, with snow on the ground until 15th March.

AT WESTBROOK HAY The children sang the Gadebridge Park school song, recited the original school prayer and finished the Evensong with a question and answer session, where the children asked the former pupils about life at Gadebridge Park before the move – the food, the discipline, the termly boarding and life without television!

It appears that much of life has changed at the modern Westbrook Hay, where stale bread isn’t on the menu, the writing of lines certainly doesn’t feature anymore but the climbing of trees and building of dens is still enjoyed by the pupils today.

On Saturday the Westbrook Hay Associate organised a walk for the children, their families and staff from the site at Gadebridge Park to Westbrook Hay. The three and a half miles was walked by over 80 people, taking around 2 hours to complete.

Since the school’s foundation in 1892 Westbrook Hay has occupied four different sites and changed a great deal from a school with just two boys, to a flourishing Prep school with 300 boys and girls. It is hoped that the school will not have to move locations again!

Enabling every girl to shine

at Abbot’s Hill School Abbot’s Hill School is an independent day school for girls aged 3-16 and boys aged 3-5 situated in seventy acres of parkland on the outskirts of Hemel Hempstead.

T

he School has a strong record of academic success and its aim is to educate, challenge and develop confident and independent girls. The recent Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) report (January 2012) noted that “small classes, in which pupils feel well-known and supported, enable them to fulfil their potential.” In 2012 98.8% of GCSE passes were at A*-C with 69.8% at A*-A. The school is also renowned for its excellent pastoral care. It is a happy and united community which values the contributions and achievements of each individual and enables girls to discover and develop their talents so that everyone has the opportunity to shine. The ISI report stated that “the quality of pupils’ personal development is outstanding.”

16 APRIL2013

Abbot’s Hill offers a wide range of extracurricular activities. Last term pupils staged a highly successful production of ‘Oliver’ which included girls from Year 3 to Year 11, created a news broadcast for BBC School Report, participated in a ‘Big Art Week’ and became U16 District Netball Champions.

The school offers before and after school care and transport from a variety of locations.

There will be a Working Open Morning for our Nursery, pre-Prep and Prep on Wednesday 1 May 2013.

To arrange a visit to the school contact registrar@abbotshill.herts.sch.uk or call 01442 240333. For more information visit our website: www.abbotshill.herts.sch.uk

Fish Media Feb 2013 ad:Alleyn's

11/2/13

An Independent Prep School for boys and girls aged 3-13 years

Happiness | Confidence | Success

WEDNESDAY 1 MAY 2013

Come and see our Nursery and Junior department in action.

Please telephone to book your place.

• Excellent academic standards & results • Inspirational & happy learning environment • Wide range of extra-curricular activities

• Breakfast/after school care & school buses • Childcare vouchers accepted • Nursery offering flexible sessions 8am - 6pm

“Small classes, in which pupils feel well-known and supported, enable them to fulfil their potential” “The quality of pupils’ personal development is outstanding” ISI report January 2012

Bunkers Lane, Hemel Hempstead, HP3 8RP To find out more or arrange a visit E: registrar@abbotshill.herts.sch.uk

T: 01442 240 333

For more information visit our website alleyns.org.uk Tel: 020 8557 1478

Westminster 3 miles

Surrey Quays 4 miles

Notting Hill 6 miles

Marble Arch 5 miles

Knightsbridge 6 miles

Greenwich 4 miles

WORKING OPEN MORNING

Fulham 6 miles

Independent Day School for Girls 3-16 & Boys 3-5

Independent day school for boys and girls aged 4–18.

Dedicated daily coaches serving inner and outer London.

Clapham 3 miles

email admin@westbrookhay.co.uk www.westbrookhay.co.uk London Road, Hemel Hempstead HP1 2RF

The City 5 miles

To view, contact:

01442 256143

Chelsea 6 miles

‘‘

Independent Schools Inspectorate, 2011

Alleyn’s School, Dulwich: 14 minutes from London Bridge; 12 minutes from Victoria.

Borough 5 Miles

‘‘

The pupils’ overall achievement is excellent, well supported by a broad and very well planned curriculum.

Battersea 5 Miles

Friday 17th May, 2013 10.00am – 12.00pm

Co-educational academic excellence is closer than you think.

Balham 3 Miles

OPEN MORNING

11:36

P

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F E AT U R E

Marriott London Sevens invites you on Safari The England Rugby Sevens team is calling fans to join them on Safari and roar them on at this year’s Marriott London Sevens on the 11th-12th May at Twickenham.

W

ith the HSBC Sevens World Series coming to a close, London promises to be full of drama, action and excitement as the series builds to a spectacular finale.

After the hugely successful London 2012 games, Rugby Sevens is now part of the Olympic family and the road to Rio has already started.

spectators in the stands. There is always an incredible atmosphere in London and we can’t wait to play in front of the home crowd.”

Last year’s 70s Disco themed Marriott London Sevens was a glorious weekend of non-stop rugby action, disco moves, wig waving and flying flares. With a record breaking crowd of 103,000 passing through the turnstiles, surpassing the records set at the 2011 event, 2013 promises to be bigger, better and louder!

The Marriott London Sevens pits the finest national sevens sides against each other in the 9th and final round of the HSBC Sevens World Series. National Sevens teams compete for points at each round of the Series and the overall champion is crowned in London based on points accumulated throughout the nine events.

England Sevens Dan Norton is encouraging everyone to join the pack and go wild with this year’s theme: “Safari is a great theme, there are so many fancy dress options and ways to be creative with outfits.

I’m looking forward to seeing lots of painted faces and dressed up

54 APRIL2013

For more information, including details on the entertainment, and to book your Marriott London Sevens tickets please visit RFU.com/ londonsevens

We’d love to hear from you on your favourite things about the London Sevens so join the conversation at #London7s or like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/londonsevens.

MARRIOTT LONDON SEVENS TWICKENHAM STADIUM £5.

WEEKEND TICKETS £45, DAY TICKETS - ADULTS £25 AND KIDS For tickets check out rfu.com/londonsevens Booking fees apply. Tickets are subject to availability.

Send us your tweets and join the sevens conversation at #london7s

H E A LT H & B E AU T Y

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Bring out your inner van Gogh with your nail polish. Lisa Haynes reveals DIY techniques to create mini-masterpieces for your talons

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ude nails are a big trend this season, but if you want an antidote to the sea of bland talons then it’s time to get flamboyant. Nail art has taken the beauty industry by storm with a palette of paints and endless tools to create modern masterpieces. “It’s OK if you weren’t

56 APRIL2013

the most talented student in your school art classes, and you don’t have the steadiest of hands,” assures Danielle Black, co-author of new book Polish You Pretty. “All you need is a little practice and the right tools.” Forget jewellery, shoes and bags, and make nail art your show-stopping accessory.

H E A LT H & B E AU T Y Talon tricks Transform your coffee table into a DIY nail bar and don’t panic if you’re lacking a rainbow spectrum of enamel colours.“You can achieve great nail art designs with a few simple colours but essential shades include a neutral, a white and a black,” says Black. “When buying polishes, look for flat, creamy, opaque colours rather than sheer shades.” Start off simple and if you want to create more elaborate designs, invest in nail art brushes to achieve a more technical finish.

Topshop has a full set for £7 (www.topshop. com). Dotting tools give you professional results if you’re looking to create small circles.

Amazon.co.uk has a great, affordable selection but filed-down cocktail sticks/toothpicks or the end of a hairpin also work. One thing you need on your side with nail art is time. Before you even start on your design, you need to apply a base coat to give the nail polish a good foundation and avoid chips. Once your art attack is complete, allow to dry and then seal your design with a top coat for extra longevity.

Beauty bulletin Just brow-sing Put down the tweezers and cancel that threading appointment. Big brows are back. Thanks to caterpillar brow coverage of Fashion Week’s busiest model, Cara Delevingne, and fellow bushy brigade celebs, emphasising your arches has never been more in vogue, and sales of eyebrow make-up at John Lewis are up 34% compared to this time last year.

Recessionista alert Guard against pesky April showers with Estee Lauder’s umbrella offer. Get a glam striped brolly free with the purchase of any Estee Lauder women’s fragrance, 50ml or larger (excluding gift sets), priced from £36.50 at The Perfume Shop while stocks last (www.theperfumeshop.com).

Polish You Pretty by Jenny Stencel and Danielle Black is published by Ryland Peters & Small, priced £9.99 in hardback.

Available now.

Arty Nails Polishyoupretty.com nail bloggers Jenny Stencel and Danielle Black guide you through five of their finger master strokes.

1. Ode to ombre

If you’re new to nail art, impress with an ombre affair. This simple graduated two-tone look works well with a variety of shades but contrasting neutral and black is uber-chic.

• Paint your nails with two coats of neutral polish.

• Once dry, put sticky tape around your nails to allow for an easy clean-up.

• Cut a make-up sponge into thin slices. Dip the sponge into a dark nail polish, then dab the sponge on a piece of scrap paper to remove excess polish.

• Dab your sponge onto the tip of each nail, starting with a heavier pressure and getting lighter as you get closer to the base.

• Repeat with all your nails, making sure all the tips are a solid colour.

2. Half moon

Otherwise known as the reverse mani, this dramatic look puts the focus on your cuticles.

While the traditional French flaunts white nail tips, the half moon uses contrasting colours with a darker shade at the cuticles.

• Paint your nails with one coat of a light or metallic shade.

• Using a nail art brush dipped in your chosen dark polish, paint a ‘U’ shape around the base of each of your nails.

• Using the brush from the polish bottle, fill in the rest of all your nails with the dark polish, leaving the pale half moons at the base of each nail.

3. Spotty chic

Go dotty for a playful spot print manicure. Experiment with different colour combinations but pure white makes a fresh spring backdrop.

• Paint your nails with two coats of white polish and allow to dry.

• Using a large dotting tool, dip in a bright shade and dot four large polka dots down the middle of each nail.

• Using a medium dotting tool, dip in a contrasting bright polish and dot six medium polka dots on either side of the large middle row.

• Using a small dotting tool, dip in a third contrasting bright polish and dot a tiny row of red spots on both outer edges of each of your nails.

• Finish by placing a tiny dot in the middle of each of the large dots and allow to dry.

4. Flower power

Floral prints are blooming in fashion so don’t neglect your nails from the fauna trend.

Demonstrate green-fingered qualities with a pretty peony design.

• Paint your nails with two base coats of light green polish, such as teal.

• Dip a nail art brush into the pink polish and paint four large, slightly imperfect dots on each of your nails. Allow to dry and clean the brush with nail polish remover.

• Dip the nail art brush into a red polish and paint small semi-circles around three sides of the dots, dragging one line into the middle of each dot and dry.

• Dip the nail art brush into a dark green polish and paint small leaves around the peonies (in the spaces surrounding the flowers).

5. Monochrome mode

Accessorise your party frock with well-dressed fingertips. The tuxedo look works this season’s black and white craze, as sported by Zooey Deschanel on last year’s Golden Globes red carpet.

• Paint your nails all over with two coats of white polish and allow to dry.

• Take the black polish and, using a nail art brush, start two-thirds of the way up one side of each nail and paint a thin diagonal line up to the centre tip.

• Repeat the process on the opposite side of the nail to create a ‘V’ shape.

• Using the brush from the polish bottle, fill in the triangle to create the jacket of the tuxedo.

• Using a dotting tool, make three dots down the centre of each nail to create buttons.

• Take a very fine nail art brush and create a figure of eight shape at the base middle of each nail to make a bow tie shape.

APRIL2013 57

H E A LT H & B E AU T Y

1

Freeze that Fat away

...in hour!

Cooltech Before

Cooltech After

Cooltech Before

Cooltech After

When you’ve spent months in the gym trying to smooth out those annoying little areas where the fat simply won’t budge, it can be frustrating. You’ve put in plenty of effort, you’ve been watching the calories, but nothing seems to shift the pockets of fat. So what is the answer?

Y

ou could go under the knife, but it’s a bit extreme for small areas and surgery not only carries risks, but also leaves scars. Vaser is an excellent way of removing localised fat deposits, however, although the incisions are tiny so scarring isn’t an issue, you will need to wear a compression garment for several weeks after treatment and take things easy with regard to exercise for a while.

It’s not sounding too good yet, is it? But now there is another solution – and one that involves no surgery, no anaesthetic or sedation, no scars, no compression garments, no downtime – and great results. It’s called CoolTech® Fat Freezing Technology and it is getting fantastic outcomes for people who just want to spot reduce stubborn areas.

How does it work?

You simply relax and read, listen to music or watch a movie and one or two suction cups are applied to the areas that are to be treated. It’s not painful so no anaesthetic is required. The fatty area is sucked into the cup and then the temperature is reduced gradually to -8°C. This won’t harm your skin, but will freeze the fat cells. The treatment lasts an hour and then your therapist will massage the area gently to smooth the contours out and you can drive home and carry on as normal.

Firstly, let’s get things straight, it’s not a magical cure for obesity, it works on localised pockets of stubborn fat that won’t go away, so love handles, chubby abdomens (hiding your six pack that you’ve worked so hard on), flanks and thighs. You’ll need to be within 10-15% of your ideal weight and have reasonable skin tone.

Secondly, it requires patience! There are no instant results as the fat cells will be emptied and your body’s natural system flushes the waste material away over time. Realistically it will be 4-6 weeks before you’ll see a difference,

58 APRIL2013

although this can be speeded up by lymphatic massage during the weeks following the treatment.

On the plus side the reduction is at a similar rate to that achieved by dedicated diet and exercise so all you friends won’t see a sudden difference.

The results are gradual and nobody need know you’ve had treatment to help you achieve that buff body! The effects will continue to work for up to six months so you’ll see your troublesome bulges smooth out to create the streamlined silhouette you want.

Is there a downside?

You’ll be a bit sore – like you’ve overdone things at the gym for a few hours afterwards, but otherwise the only downside is that it will take time to see the results. It won’t stop you regaining weight if you don’t eat sensibly and keep in shape. Even though some fat cells will be destroyed, nearby cells will still be active and can increase in size, so you will need to stick with your nutrition and exercise routine.

You’ll need to have reasonably good skin tone. For people who have lost a lot of weight and have loose skin, this isn’t the right treatment. To remove loose skin a tummy tuck is probably the only option, or for larger areas of fat removal, liposuction may be required.

There are some things it doesn’t do – it isn’t a cure for cellulite, so if you were hoping that this could get rid of that dimpled look – you should consider the Med Contour treatment already available at Riverbanks.

For more information call 01582 762 877 or visit www.riverbanksclinic.co.uk

FREEZE away your fat in just one hour!

Totally non-invasive with GREAT results!

BEFORE

AFTER

For a consultation in Hertfordshire or Harley Street call 0800 0325415 or visit www.riverbanksclinic.co.uk for more information.

Lower Harpenden Road, East Hyde Bedfordshire LU2 9QS • 100 Harley Street, London W1G 7JA

H E A LT H & B E AU T Y

GetwithFuzz-Free NEW Pain-Free Motif laser hair removal

Brazilian Dermatologist Dr Ariel Haus introduces new Motif laser hair removal into his Harley Street clinic.

Pain-Free... Proven, Effective, Predictable Results...

Treats any Skin Colour... Combines Laser with Radio Frequency

O

ffering a new gold standard in Hair Removal, Dr Haus is proud to unveil the launch of the new pain-free laser hair removal system powered by elos® from aesthetic leaders Syneron Candela. This new laser features the combined energy technology of laser diode light (810nm) and Radio Frequency treating all skin types and colours, resulting in long term hair removal in little as 4-6 treatments!

Motif’s Deep Dermal Penetration means longer lasting results and all hair types and most hair colours including fine facial hair, can be treated! Ladies across the country can now breathe a sigh of relief when discovering that Motif uses a fast-acting, Contact Cooling Device which makes the treatment comfortable! The laser head gently glides over skin offering a warm massage sensation, with very little sensation of hair being zapped.

Why choose Motif over traditional hair removal treatments?

Because Motif harnesses Radio Frequency to boost the light energy, it is highly effective, extremely fast and very comfortable compared to traditional laser hair removal.

60 APRIL2013

The ‘ouch’ factor For maximum comfort, the special Dynamic Cooling Device cools and protects the skin’s surface.

Dr Haus’ Fuzz Free Fact File 6 Weeks = the time between body hair treatments 6 = average number of treatments needed for the body 5 Minutes = average time to treat the underarm area 11,540 = times women shave their legs during their lifetime £12,000 = studies show that the average woman spends this much in her lifetime on shaving and hair removal products 9 Months = ahead of when you want to be fuzz free by to get started on laser hair removal treatment 72 Hours = before your first treatment have a patch test Don’t wax between laser treatments – only shave

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Dr Ariel Haus, Dr Haus Dermatology, 10 Harley Street, London W1G 9PF Telephone 020 7323 6559 www.drhausdermatology.com

H E A LT H & B E AU T Y

ELSTREE CANCER CENTRE, RUN BY SPIRE BUSHEY HOSPITAL IN PARTNERSHIP WITH CANCER PARTNERS UK

Latest Spire hospital developments for 2013 Spire Bushey Hospital continues to provide comprehensive private hospital services in North London, Hertfordshire and the surrounding area, including some of the latest techniques in cancer diagnosis, neurological diagnostics and minimal access surgery.

S

pire Bushey Hospital was one of the first private hospitals in the UK to form an on-site multi-disciplinary team of consultant breast surgeons, radiologists, oncologists, histopathologists and specialist nurses for its breast clinic, and remains as one of the only private hospitals in the region to offer this service. The specialist team, which also extends to include consultant plastic and reconstructive surgeons, meets at the hospital weekly to discuss individual patient cases

62 APRIL2013

and works together to create a dedicated treatment plan for each patient; this process is widely recognised as the most effective way to provide the very best care plan for the patient.

Patients are cared for by this highly experienced team from the moment of diagnosis, throughout treatment and ongoing after-care.

SPIRE BUSHEY HOSPITAL

Along with breast cancer, prostate cancer is one of the most common cancers in the UK. Patients at Spire Bushey Hospital can benefit from stateof-the-art diagnostics, following

H E A LT H & B E AU T Y

NEUROPHYSIOLOGY TESTING

a raised PSA test and examination of the prostate. The traditional (painful stiff toe) and other lesser toe conditions. The minimally method of biopsying the prostate is to perform an ultrasound-guided invasive method allows the specialist surgeon to perform the surgery prostate biopsy. This process carries a significant risk of septicaemia through tiny incisions using keyhole surgery, reducing soft tissue (1:50), rectal and urinary bleeding. The extent of cancer, if found, injury and scarring, and allowing correction of the deformity with is estimated by the number of cores that show cancer. This biopsy minimal surgical intervention. Recovery is faster and less painful than strategy often fails to sample the prostate fully as the front part of traditional surgical methods. the prostate is not reached by SPIRE BUSHEY HOSPITAL’S CHEMOTHERAPY TEAM the biopsy needles, resulting in The North London and missed diagnoses and potentially Hertfordshire Neurology under or over estimation of the Centre at Spire Bushey provides volume of cancer depending on complete neurological services how systematically the biopsy is spanning the breadth of performed. neurological conditions, from simple headache to complex Spire Bushey has invested in peripheral nerve problems. A equipment to fully sample the recent addition to the centre is prostate. With this technique the the creation of a highly specialist patient first undergoes an MRI neurophysiology department scan to look for suspicious areas which provides a complete of the prostate. Then the surgeon range of diagnostic procedures uses a template guided prostate specifically for neurological biopsy system while the patient disorders. The addition of this is under general anaesthetic, department to the hospital which significantly reduces the provides a complete diagnostic risk of septicaemia. The prostate service to patients on site, is sampled through a grid in every without the need to go elsewhere, 0.5cm top to bottom, front to which is rare in private hospitals. back. This effectively means that all the prostate is sampled with These new developments are part no missed areas, and should cancer be found, the extent of disease is of Spire Bushey Hospital’s ongoing commitment to provide patients accurately measured which hugely helps the patient and doctor decide with cutting-edge diagnostics and treatment, all in a caring, safe and what treatment should be given. clean environment.

Minimal access surgery at Spire Bushey Hospital now extends to forefoot surgery. This type of surgery is suitable for patients who require correction of hallux valgus (bunions) and hallux rigidus

For more information on the treatments available at Spire Bushey Hospital, call 020 8901 5505 or visit www.spirebushey.com APRIL2013 63

H OUS E & GA R D E N

R

All natural

Create a relaxed welcoming look at home with a little help from Raft.

aft is a brand with a pared back, easy-to-live-with look, which is just part of the reason why it’s grown in popularity since its inception. With a new furniture showroom having recently opened in the heart of St Albans, shoppers will be able to create their own interior aesthetic from a host of furniture and upholstery pieces that have been designed to compliment each other perfectly.

With an extensive collection of lifestyle products including sofas, beds, tables, storage units and a host of coordinating accessories, Raft really is a contemporary one-stop-shop for those wanting to inject some real style with substance into their interior schemes.

“After what’s been an unbelievably successful year, we are thrilled to have finally found the perfect showroom space in St Albans. We look forward to establishing Raft as one of the leading lifestyle stores in the area. I think St Albans residents will really ‘get’ the Raft look and also fully embrace our responsible approach to retailing,” says Mick Quinn, Raft founder.

Having worked hard over the past five years to secure a special ‘Chain of Custody’ on its reclaimed teak products, customers will also have peace of mind that any hardwood products on sale come with an added endorsement from the FSC (Forest Stewardship Council), for products that have been sourced and shipped in an ethical manner. Full traceability is assured on any of Raft’s reclaimed teak products, bringing customers peace of mind that they have bought from an independently certified source.

Raft’s distinctive style has proved hugely popular with homeowners and interior designers alike, who love furniture that has been built to last. RAFT prefers to let its wood do the talking, by creating shapes and designs that show off to best advantage the inherent and natural characteristics of reclaimed teak.

64 APRIL2013

The company has also recently moved its entire sofa production to London, meaning that all Raft designs are hand crafted here in the UK, allowing greater flexibility and custom made options for customers, as well as of course, keeping production British.

Choose any shape, size and upholstery option from Raft’s extensive in store fabric library and have it made to order, just the way you want it. Chose from over twenty-three sofa designs each of which can be modified or reshaped to suit even the most unusual space. There are several sofa bed options available too.

Part of Raft’s success is that the brand prides itself on helping the customer find the scheme that compliments perfectly their individual lifestyles.

The impressive 3,500 sq ft St Albans store will house hundreds of new furniture designs, allowing visitors to see and feel the quality of Raft’s products. The popular Lincoln sofa, and striking Teak Root Table, will take centre stage as well as a brand new furniture collection ‘Hudson’, a mid century styled collection designed for bedrooms and living rooms.

Mick Quinn, Co Founder of Raft concludes; “I think Raft’s secret of success is that we don’t profess to ‘preach’ to our clients and customers overly about what they should buy, after all they usually know best. Our business is a sustainable one, our products are built for longevity and our customers add to their collection season after season to build up a look that will last a lifetime.”

For further information log onto www.raftfurniture.co.uk Raft 2 Chequer Street, St. Albans, Hertfordshire, AL1 3XZ Telephone 01727 224224

Furniture, upholstery & lifestyle accessories

St. Albans

now open!

Tottenham Court Road - Islington Edgware Road - Bromley St Albans - Harrogate

www.raftfurniture.co.uk

01727 224 224

15/04/2013 1

www.bowdenmoss.co.uk info@bowdenmoss.co.uk 01438 714591

bowden moss

construction

St. Albans Life magazine.indd 1

loft conversions extensions new build alterations design

quality - integrity - professionalism

H OUS E & GA R D E N

Design that echoes your desire Simple, elegant and sophisticated are all phases that epitomise the Mossini brand. Perfect in proportion and manufactured by craftsmen, our designs echo the European desire for minimalistic bathroom furniture.

T

he use of unique construction materials enhances the desirability of our bathroom furniture which embodies traditional construction techniques fused with modern design flair. The Mossini bathroom collection now exemplifies all that is desirable in a brand.

Why use us?

One Design... Choose exceptional style and explore innovative designs.

Created using the finest materials and superior production techniques, Mossini bathroom cabinetry offers you the very best value and quality for your unique bathroom designs One Quality... Coated Plywood is the ideal material for the base construction of a bathroom cabinet. Strong, robust, durable, and by far the best material for bathroom cabinets, we do not believe you should compromise on quality by using inferior chipboard or MDF cabinets.

One For Detail... All our cabinets come with the added benefit of soft close hinges and soft close drawers. This combination of material and construction puts our plywood range in front as a market leader in quality, design and construction.

One Planet... Our products are all checked and have FSC accreditation. Along with exceptional value and design, we can assure you, that you are helping the environment too.

The Plywood Collection When choosing quality furniture there can be no better choice than our Plywood collection. As the name implies the quality is built in to the furniture. Plywood is the perfect choice for the client looking for quality, durability, strength, with an interest in eco-friendly products and sources.

66 APRIL2013

Plywood is made from solid wood and far stronger than alterna-tives such as MDF or particle boards.

By cross laminating, plywood is even stronger than solid wood and does not show signs of shrinkage, swelling or splitting with a much higher strength to weight ratio. This makes the use of plywood the first choice where strength, flexibility, durability are key elements in the choice of material. During its manufacture, plywood creates far less wastage than the sawing of solid wood for furniture construction resulting in the conservation of timber.

Why Plywood ?

Less wastage Environment friendly Stronger than MDF or particle board Quality alternative to traditional products Ideally suited for a bathroom environment All our sources hold FSC certification. By choosing FSC products you can be assured our timber products come from managed sources and comply with environmental social and economic standards. FSC labels guarantee that trees are harvested and are replaced or allowed to regenerate naturally and parts of the forest are protected entirely.

For more information about Mossini Bathrooms Call on 0845 4599300 or email sales@mossinibathrooms.com Head Office Bridge house, 25 Fiddlebridge Lane, Hatfield, Hertfordshire AL10 0SP Showroom Unit 4, Spring Valley Business Centre, Potters Wood, St Albans, AL3 6PD www.mossinibathrooms.com

H OUS E & GA R D E N

Based near you, and currently building in your area this Summer…

Britain’s oldest established indoor pool company F or more than thirty years Origin has been designing and building indoor pool houses, making it the longest established UK company in its field. Over these years the products have become ever more complex, sophisticated and stylish. Origin’s clientele has become more sophisticated too. Today’s potential owner takes full advantage of the totally open book that the company has to offer, and is encouraged to dictate special finishes and textures, unusual layouts and sizes, interesting add-ons such as games rooms, saunas and fitness suites. The pool industry, and pool technology, has changed considerably in thirty years - but the team at Origin hasn’t. Many of the directors, architects, designers and building teams have remained unchanged – so the continuity is strong, and that makes for constantly improving ways of thinking, and for exciting results. Today’s Origin is at the forefront of its specialist area, and delivers ultimate pieces of luxury, designed to grace a property and its gardens – and bring healthy fun, and pure relaxation to its owners.

The first step is for one of the company’s directors to meet you for an on-site visit, and talk over the project you have in mind. The wealth of experience gained over the years comes to bear, and you soon get to realise that the design is only as big as your imagination. The designers relish a challenge, a chance to extend their creativity even further. And then the company builds exclusively to the clients wishes, all added to and perfected by the Origin’s knowledge and imagination. After the first concept sketches computer visuals are made, plans drawn up, and fine details discussed.

Planning permission has never been easier to arrange. Many of Origin’s clients have homes in areas of outstanding natural beauty, or in conservation areas, and have previously found it difficult or impossible to get planning permission for the size and style of pool house they wanted for their homes and families. All this has now changed. Many of the difficulties have simply been removed, so many of these clients could reconsider their plans, and have a far better chance of getting an unqualified go-ahead. Origin’s builders, many of whom have been with the company for many years, then complete the process – with as much care and attention as the rest of the team. And there is the result – making your home and garden more beautiful, ready to entertain family and friends, every single day of the year!

Origin’s Olympic range…

Inspired by London’s golden moment in 2012, Origin’s designers created the unique state-of-the-art Olympic range.With an accent on healthy living, they added fitness must-haves such as a gym, swim jets and an exciting alfresco feel. Through the use of cutting edge technology and the finest new materials the Olympic packages are available at record breaking prices - and many of the most interesting advances available to today’s swimming pool buyer are included - temperature controlled pool and surroundings, an exterior finish engineered timber construction, and a wide choice of exterior and interior finishes and colours. So a new Olympic pool would harmonise perfectly with the colour, surroundings and fabric of your home. The range starts with the entry level Arena, a compact well appointed design. The mid-level package is the Marathon, an 11.5 x 5.5m building, housing a 9.2 x 3.3m pool, perfectly equipped for the most demanding fitness session or plenty of room to relax!

The more spacious and flexible Challenger and Olympiad feature a gym and 68 APRIL2013

sauna for those who want to unwind big time after a healthy workout.

And for a limited period we will pay half the VAT on your Olympic Package…

The Chancellor won’t do that but we will! As a price example, choose the Marathon at £189,000 standard price and receive a 10% VAT discount of £15,750.

You will only pay £173,250. A great incentive to keep the Olympic spirit going!

Custom-made exclusively for you…

Origin’s project delivery service proves how the company has developed this custom-made side of the business, and how the design team has matured into their role, as design and build gradually became a natural progression of the company’s skills. Origin starts from scratch and designs to blend in with your home exactly. A perfectly matching extension perhaps, or a garden building that echoes the colours, materials and textures of its surroundings. The results not only look stunning, but add considerably to the value of your property and your life.

Origin’s Outdoor Pools…

Origin is famous for creating pool houses, but the company is all too aware that many people prefer to swim in the sun (or under the stars) and an outdoor pool can be one of the most aspirational features a home can have. Origin’s Outdoor Pool brochure tells the whole story.

Origin - new on YouTube…

You can see the animated film Concept to Completion on Origin’s new YouTube channel. There is also a speedy film that gives a good overview of the breadth of the company’s output, and a demonstration of how effective swimming against a swim jet can be. More to follow, but for now go to this link to see our first YouTube offerings: http://www.youtube.com/user/originleisure All the information…

For full details of all Origin’s pool houses the very best way to start things off is to get in touch with us. Phone 01895 823366 or email info@originleisure.com.

We will send you brochures, fill you in with all the details, and arrange for you to meet one of our directors on site to get the whole process going. Or visit www. originleisure.com to see our constantly changing and updating website.

It’s a great introduction to an exciting new way of life…

Origin leisure

the original indoor outdoor pool company

&

Origin Leisure Limited Summerhouse Business Park, Harefield Middlesex UB9 6TH Telephone 01895 823366 Email info@originleisure.com www.originleisure.com

ST. GEORGE’S DAY AFTERNOON TEA Tuesday 23rd April 2013 Enjoy a St. George’s Day themed traditional afternoon tea feast with a glass of bubbly, finely cut sandwiches, freshly baked scones and dainty pastries along with live entertainment.

MAY DAY CELEBRATIONS—Monday 6th May 2013 Celebrate the beginning of Summer with Hanbury Manor's May Day event from 1pm with a traditional afternoon tea and glass of bubbly and enjoy the traditional May pole and folk dancing from the Morris men on the front lawn.£30 per person Opt for a hog roast and drink for £7.50 per person* Terms & conditions apply. Subject to availability. Pre-booking required. *Ticket Required.

To make a booking please call on: 01920 487 722

HANBURY MANOR, A MARRIOTT HOTEL & COUNTRY CLUB Ware, Hertfordshire, SG12 0SD; Telephone: 01920 487 722; Website: MarriottHanburyManor.co.uk

Your family wealth matters

For expert advice on conveyancing & everything you need to keep moving house simple

Our experience in the use of wills and trusts can help protect your family wealth for future generations.

Effective Solutions for Individuals Call 01727 845245 or visit www.taylorwalton.co.uk Offices at: Luton, Harpenden & St Albans

Uniquely designed to fit into existing timber frames or direct to brick or stone Accurately replicate your traditional style windows Available in over 200 RAL colours

See us at:

STAND B104

Installed by our own craftsmen Full consultation service

Conservation by design 01494 730 400 www.thwc.co.uk 15 Gregories Road, Beaconsfield, Bucks HP9 1HH

Bartlett Tree Experts A Complete and Comprehensive Tree Care Service since 1907 For over 100 years, Bartlett Tree Experts has led both the science and services that make your landscape thrive. No matter the size or scope of your needs, our arborists bring a rare mix of groundbreaking research, global resources and a local service approach to every task at hand. Trees add so much value to our lives; Bartlett adds even more value to your trees.

Tree & Shrub Pruning . Planting . Tree Removal Tree Stock Surveys . Woodland Management Health & Safety Reports . Disease & Insect Control

For a free quotation please call your local arborists, Mark Davis & Kevin Woodham

01707 649 018 radlett@bartlettuk.com www.bartlett.com

M OTO R I NG

FIRST DRIVE

Audi R8 V10 Spyder

The latest set of wheels are taken for a spin.

This week: Audi R8 V10 Spyder. By Matt Joy

T

he R8 has been the figurehead of the Audi range since it first rolled into town in 2006 and it’s been working wonders for the brand ever since. In that time it’s had its roof cut off, a bigger engine stuffed in it and in GT form pumped up and pared back even further. Not many cars could go so long effectively unmolested but for 2013 the surgeon’s scalpel has come out - in a very modest way and a few tweaks have been made to four-ringed supercar.

presence, still turns heads and has no trouble of raising the pulse of the lucky person holding the keys.

Spot one in your rear view mirror and it will be the piercing all-LED headlights that catch your attention first, now standard on all R8 models. The front grille has been subtly tweaked and now wears chromed horizontal details on V10 versions, the side blades are also a little bigger on ten-cylinder models and there is a new front bumper to boot. Massive changes they are not, and with good reason; this is still a fantastic looking car, both in coupé and Spyder forms. It has immense

But the biggest change is in the engine room (well, next to it), as alongside the standard six-speed manual Audi has introduced an S tronic seven-speed gearbox to replace the previous R tronic version.

What does that mean? Well the old R tronic box was essentially an oldschool automatic, whereas S tronic means that same as elsewhere in the Audi range - dual-clutch wizardry, rapid and seamless full-bore up shifts and much less grief in traffic.

72 APRIL2013

There’s a new model in the range too, the V10 plus Coupé which has a tweaked version of the 5.2-litre V10 engine producing 550PS, and gets some extra bits thrown in; unique alloy wheels, exterior detailing plus LED lighting and carbon trim in the engine bay.

M OTO R I NG

The reality is just the same.

Piloting this V10 Spyder out through the centre of London is exactly the kind of challenge that everyday supercars have to take in their stride, and despite it being the middle of the lunchtime rush hour the R8 copes perfectly well. Leave the transmission in automatic mode (you still get a chunky alloy level to select the gearbox’s actions) and you can pedal the R8 along without expending much more effort than you would in a regular car. Not that this spoils the sense of occasion however, because sitting snugly in the R8’s cockpit you are down low compared to other cars, and grasping the small but chunky flat-bottomed steering wheel reminds you of what it is capable of.

Leave it in automatic and stick to the first few centimetres of throttle travel and you could almost forget you’re in a supercar, especially if you leave the button marked ‘Sport’ alone. But that would be a waste, and it takes only a moment to access the more dynamic side of the R8’s personality. Punch that button and the revs flare instantly as the throttle response is sharpened and the gearbox switches into a more aggressive programme. The thing you’ll notice first however is the howl from the exhaust as it opens out completely to give the engine its full voice.

Frankly why you’d have the switch in any other position is beyond me; that V10 delivers such a fantastic range of noises it encourages you to change down very early and hold on to gears for longer just to hear it sing. Squeeze on the throttle in any gear and there’s a hardening of the exhaust note as it begins to accelerate hard. Pin the pedal to the floor and the response is dramatic and instant; third gear is the one to go for, because at first you can’t believe how hard it pulls in a relatively tall gear and then as you reach the red line it’s even

more amazing how it keeps on pulling hard way into big speeds. Whatever you ask of it, the V10 Spyder responds emphatically with a mighty push in the back.

Crucially it is friendly and entertaining when you start to push on too. The Quattro drivetrain provides reassurance rather than nannying interference and even if the surface is only fractionally damp you can use the power with much greater freedom. The steering is sharp and responsive but not nervous, although the flat-bottomed wheel takes a little getting used to. No car this fast has a right to be so friendly, but you can lean on the R8 a great deal and forget how much it costs and just revel in the grip, the balance and the knowledge that even if you are a little cackhanded it is on your side.

That the R8 is so responsive and accessible when you press on yet comfortable and unobtrusive when you’re just burbling through town is exactly why you’d buy one. If such all-round brilliance sounds dull, it isn’t; you just get all the thrills but without the headache when you just want to get home. There are younger cars and there are outright faster cars (just), but the one you’ll want to see out of your bedroom window every night is the R8.

Facts at a glance Audi R8 V10 Spyder, £124,225

Engine: 5.2-litre petrol unit producing 518bhp and

390lb.ft of torque Transmission: Seven-speed DSG gearbox driving all four wheels Performance: Top speed 193mph, 0-62mph in 3.8 seconds Economy: 21.2mpg combined Emissions: 310g/km of CO2

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PROPERTY LIFE T H E

L A T E S T

A N D

B E S T

S P O N S O R E D

P R O P E R T I E S

O N

T H E

M A R K E T

B Y

WEST LODGE NORTHAW, HERTFORDSHIRE

West Lodge was conceived and built as a Gentlemen’s Villa, set within an acre of carefully designed grounds, amidst rolling greenbelt, within the environs of Northaw, Hertfordshire’s best kept village.

Guide price £4.95m APRIL2013 75

TrULY EXCEPTIONAL PENTHOUSE LIvINg IN AN UNBEATABLE LOCATION SHOW HOME OPEN fOr vIEWINgS BOLINgBrOKE HOUSE, HADLEY WOOD, EN4 9HN This breathtaking penthouse offers 1,800 square feet of luxury living with unique features including two expansive terraces, a premier bespoke kitchen, sumptuous en suites and lift access. All this, perfectly placed within an exclusive gated development in desirable, leafy Hadley Wood, with easy access to two train stations providing excellent links to the City.

Spacious two bedroom Penthouse apartment with study.

Priced at £1,200,000. Two bedroom apartments available from £930,000.

Call now to book your viewing appointment

Selling agent

Show home open Thursday to Monday, 10am to 5pm.

Take a closer look. 0845 899 7287 or visit bolingbrokehouse.co.uk Internal photography shows the Penthouse apartment, Plot 5. Exterior image shows The Apartments and The Coach House. Prices correct at time of going to print.

bannerhomes.co.uk

From Cottages to Country Estates

FOR OUR EXTENSIVE RANGE OF PROPERTIES WE ARE PROUD TO HAVE, PLEASE VISIT WWW.STATONS.COM

RADLETT

£6,000,000

6 Bedrooms 5 Receptions 34ft Handmade kitchen 7 Bathrooms State of the art home technology system Approx 7,000 sq ft Carriage driveway Grounds Approx 0.5 Acre

RADLETT OFFICE 01923 604 321

HADLEY WOOD

£2,400,000

6 Bedrooms 3 Receptions 4 Bathrooms Arranged Over 3 Floors Integral Double Garage 155ft Landscaped Rear Garden

HADLEY WOOD OFFICE 020 8440 9797

ARKLEY

£875,000

4 Bedrooms 3 Receptions 3 Bathrooms Off Street Parking Integral Garage Balcony Overlooking Garden Chain Free

BARNET OFFICE 020 8449 3383

CUFFLEY

£2,750,000

6 Bedrooms 6 Receptions 4 Bathrooms Approx.

5679 Sq Ft 2 Acres of Formal Gardens and Wood Outdoor Swimming Pool Carriage Driveway

BROOKMANS PARK OFFICE 01707 661144

MILL HILL

£1,595,000

HADLEY WOOD

£2,450,000

5 Bedrooms 4 Receptions 2 Bathrooms Carriage Driveway 175ft South Facing Garden Scope To Extend STPP.

HADLEY WOOD OFFICE 020 8440 9797

NORTHAW

£1,150,000

Chalet Style Bungalow 3 Bedrooms 3 Receptions 2 Bathrooms South Facing Rear Garden Double Garage Ample Off Street Parking

Detached Family Home 3 Bedrooms 4 Receptions Completely Refurbished Potential To Extend STPP Garden In Excess Of 150ft

TOTTERIDGE OFFICE 020 8445 3694

BROOKMANS PARK OFFICE 01707 661144

ARKLEY

£749,950

Detached Bungalow Situated on a Quiet Cul-De-Sac 3 Bedrooms 2 Receptions 2 Bathrooms Garage Off Street Parking In Need of Some Modernisation

BARNET OFFICE 020 8449 3383

MILL HILL

£545,000

Double Fronted End of Terrace Period Cottage 2 Double Bedrooms Through Lounge Period Features Courtyard Garden

TOTTERIDGE OFFICE 020 8445 3694

SALES OFFICES AT: BARNET 020 8449 3383 TOTTERIDGE 020 8445 3694 HADLEY WOOD 020 8440 9797 BROOKMANS PARK 01707 661144 RADLETT 01923 604321 NEW HOMES SHOWCASE HADLEY GREEN 020 8441 9555 PREMIER LETTINGS HADLEY GREEN 020 8441 9796

www.statons.com Associated Offices in Mayfair & Moscow

P R O P E RT Y

CHAIN LINK

When is a property chain a daunting property chain?

Answer: when there are three properties involved.

r so one would normally think…however, Stephen Barnett and Oliver Ross together with the team at Real Estates are actually congratulating three vendors right now, being solely responsible for introducing each to their prospective new home – one of whom was not even actively looking to move!

O

no longer house-hunting, had shown deep interest in another of the apartments at the mansion when it was first converted by Octagon.

A phone call later ensured that the couple viewed this beautifully refurbished apartment with a price tag of £2.75m, and only a matter of time before contracts were also exchanged.

The story begins when Octagon Developments Ltd launched their stunning new build property with an asking price of £7.5m in Loom Lane, Radlett – arranged over four floors with spectacular ‘entertainment basement’ featuring swimming pool, cellar and cinema - attracting a huge amount of interest from all types of high profile individuals.

In the meantime, back at the Totteridge office, the team quickly contacted a serious potential purchaser who was looking to buy specifically in a premier road in Totteridge. So our purchasers of the mansion apartment were only too happy to accommodate this initiative, agreeing terms at the asking price and a rapid exchange of contracts took place.

Both Stephen and Oliver thought it would be ideal for the purchasers who bought an apartment in Wall Hall’s iconic mansion some three years ago through Real Estates. With this pertinent suggestion to view eagerly accepted by the couple, it was only a matter of time before contracts were subsequently exchanged at Loom Lane.

In conclusion - No chain is too overwhelming, as long as it is dealt with by professionals.

A further stroke of brilliance by the team followed as they contacted another couple from Grange Avenue, Totteridge who although were

80 APRIL2013

Please contact Real Estates on 020 8445 6387 (Woodside Park office) or 0208 445 3132 (Totteridge office) if you are looking to move. www. realestates-wsp.co.uk

M I S

F O R

M A R V E L L O U S

M A G N I F I C I E N T M U S T

H A V E

M U R A N O

H O U S E

A N E X C L U S I V E C O L L E C T I O N O F L U X U RY A PA RT M E N T S O V E R L O O K I N G H A D L E Y W O O D G O L F C O U R S E W I T H C O N C I E R G E

UK

COCKFOSTERS ROAD – HADLEY WOOD

A L L E N Q U I R I E S P L E A S E C O N TA C T DEBBIE WILLIAMS - 01923 216 535

S TAT O N S - 0 2 0 8 4 4 0 9 7 9 7

fusionresidential.co.uk

HAVE YOU GOT LAND WITH DEVELOPMENT POTENTIAL? We’ve Got Buyers Land is in huge demand so we can find the right buyer for your site quickly, discretely and advise you on the best method of sale.

We’ll get you the best price and terms that suit your needs and timescale.

Call us today for a free initial consultation or book an appointment at your local May LAND CLINIC 01582 461581 LAND Unlock your potential

INDEPENDENT LAND OFFICE

As specialists, we have a proven track record so we can help you maximise and unlock the value of your land.

Lance Trendall heads up The Land Office and is described at “one of the most experienced agents around”.

We specialise in residential development land in prime locations.

Call us quickly before the new Community Infrastructure Levy is introduced as this may damage the value of your land.

THE LAND OFFICE

lance@thelandoffice.co.uk

01582 461581 www.thelandoffice.co.uk

WE CAN HELP YOU BUY A NEW HOME

FRESH, EXCITING AND NEW CENTRAL HARPENDEN

Special Off-Plan Price Available

Close to shops, schools and station. Buy off-plan and choose your dream kitchen and other fittings. EPC Rating B (88)

HARPENDEN

Price On Application

Four bedroom semis with bathroom plus 2 en-suites. EPC Rating B (84)

AMERSHAM

Price On Application

NORTHWOOD

Luxury new home on four floors with natural light to lower ground floor.

4000sq ft EPC Rating B (88)

Price ÂŁ1.95m

Large new home ready for occupation even the broadband is live so you have everything you need. EPC Rating B (88)

Find out about buying an energy efficient new home

NEW HOMES OFFICE

info@newhomesoffice.co.uk

01582 461581 www.newhomesoffice.co.uk

The award-winning agency . . . where integrity counts. www.martyngerrard.co.uk

SALES

RUSSELL GROVE, MILL HILL, NW7.

A detached four bedroom, two bathroom family home located close to Mill Hill Broadway.

THE OWNERS LOVE...

“We love the fact that we are so close to the shops, cafes and restaurants on the Broadway” “It’s a short walk to the station which is fantastic as our son commutes to Farringdon every day” “The house is extremely bright, the natural light that comes in to all of the rooms has made it a pleasure to live here” WE’VE NOTICED...

The current owners have planning permission to carry out a double storey side extension.

The loft is huge and could easily be converted subject to the usual planning consents.

EPC rating C Please contact Jamie McIver at the MILL HILL OFFICE on 020 8906 0660

£1,295,000 FREEHOLD

The award-winning agency . . . where integrity counts. www.martyngerrard.co.uk

SALES

HOME FARM ROAD, AL9.

A secluded fully detached five bedroom one reception bungalow set in extensive grounds.

THE OWNERS LOVE...

“Having the property all on one level has converted me to this style of living” “The views are to die for, this is what this house is all about” “Fantastic neighbours - A real community” WE’VE NOTICED...

Ideal location for privacy and commuting links to A1 & M25.

Potential to extend upwards (STPP).

EPC rating D Please contact Susan Bradford at the HIGH BARNET on 020 8440 2444

£1.6 MILLION FREEHOLD

P R O P E RT Y

WEST LODGE

W

NORTHAW, HERTFORDSHIRE

est Lodge was conceived and built as a Gentlemen’s Villa, set within an acre of carefully designed grounds, amidst rolling greenbelt, within the environs of Northaw, Hertfordshire’s best kept village. Carefully designed by Robert Adam Architects, and built by one of the country’s leading specialist developers of prestigous luxury homes, Domus London, West Lodge is imbued with the ultimate specification.

Characterised by a handsome, elegantly proportioned stucco facade, almost 90ft in width, this stunning home of almost 6500sq ft is approached along its own private drive, and benefits from private gates affording biometric entry. The gardens were designed and concieved

by Luciano Giubbelei – Chelsea Gold awarding winning landscape and garden designer - affording distant views across greenbelt and the London Basin beyond.

Northaw Village is close by and has the advantage of a variety of leading private schools. The property also benefits from convenient access to the motorway network and airports, and St Pancras/London Kings Cross is accessed from within 18 minutes from Potters Bar Station.

Northaw is a delightful ancient village surrounded by fields and

86 APRIL2013

woodland yet close to the shops and amenities of Cuffley and Potters Bar. There are direct rail links into Moorgate and Kings Cross nearby and an excellent choice of schools including Stormont, Lochinver House, Queenswood and Dame Alice Owen’s.

Accommodation Galleried reception hall 4 reception rooms kitchen 5 en suite bedrooms utility room guest powder room plant room underground garage with space for 4 cars gardens and grounds of approximately 1 acre EPC rating = B Guide price £4.95m

For further information or if you would like to arrangean appointment to view please call Savills Barnet on 020 8447 4400 or email barnet@savills.com. Alternatively you can visit the website at www.savills.com.

Savills Barnet 143 High Street Barnet EN5 5UZ

020 8447 4400 barnet@savills.com

savills.co.uk

MILL HILL, london

HADLEY WOOD, barnet

3 receptions ø kitchen/breakfast room ø 4 bedrooms ø 2 bathrooms (1 en suite) ø annexe with living room, kitchen, bedroom & en suite ø utility ø 2 terraces ø garaging ø south facing garden ø EPC rating = D

2 reception rooms ø kitchen/breakfast room ø 7 bedrooms ø 4 bath/shower rooms (2 en suite) ø separate w.c. ø utility room ø garaging ø gardens ø EPC rating = D

Guide £1.795 million Freehold

Guide £1.65 million Freehold

HADLEY COMMON, hertfordshire

BARNET, hertfordshire

4 reception rooms ø kitchen/breakfast room ø 5 bedrooms ø 3 bath/shower rooms (1 en suite) ø utility room ø terrace ø garaging ø gardens ø EPC rating = E

Living/dining room ø kitchen/breakfast room ø 2/3 bedrooms ø 2 bath/shower rooms (1 en suite) ø utility room ø carport ø gardens ø EPC rating = D

Guide £1.495 million Freehold

Guide £499,950 Freehold

Savills only concentrates on one type of house. Yours.

If it's time to sell, talk to Savills.

P R O P E RT Y

The magnificent Pennywell Manor Elstree

Pennywell Manor

The perfect party house come rain or shine

I

t’s going to be a fabulous summer for the lucky person who puts pen to paper to secure the picture postcard cottage of Pennywell Manor in leafy Fortune Lane, Elstree. But sunshine will be the last concern of the discerning new owner of this home, which is just a stone’s throw from the motorway network and 20 minutes from the centre of London, because it has so much going for it.

Developed by Fusion Residential, winners of the UK Property Awards, the manor takes The sublime kitchen experience at Pennywell Manor

88 APRIL2013

its name from the tiny National Heritagelisted well nestled within in the electronically gated front garden. But the perfect chocolate box image of dark beams and white washed exterior is brought to life with a myriad of technological delights, bespoke design and imaginative use of space, light and glass inside.

Pennywell is bright and expansive by virtue of folding glass doors to the rear and side offering a colourful country vista – you can sip

cocktails in a reception lounge while watching alpaca grazing peacefully on the Green Belt farmland to the rear. (Yes, the Manor really is just 20 minutes from the centre of London).

And when the summer does come, it will be time to party. The cottage has a wrap-around sun terrace of red cedar deck and giant Italian porcelain tiles allowing you to make the most of the stunning south facing garden, sunken water feature and Amir Schlezinger-inspired landscaping.

A spectacular lounge at Pennywell Manor

P R O P E RT Y

The breathtaking entrance at Pennywell Manor

On the first floor you can’t fail to be impressed by the glass galleried staircase. And once you’ve made it to the top you will find five double bedrooms, three boasting hand crafted en suites. From the waterproof plasma at the foot of the bath to the walk in showers, you will be left in no doubt that this will have been a pretty penny well spent.

From the master bedroom you can make out the famous arch of Wembley Stadium in the far distance, and the alpacas closer to hand. And even closer is the pop up plasma which emerges from a hand-built cabinet at the foot of the bed.

When the weather is not so good, below ground the basement boasts a gym, steam room and magnificent cinema and entertainment room with giant screen and Dolby surround sound. There’s also a bar with wine cooler, sink and fridge, in yet another hand crafted cabinet. Party on.

A true cinema experience at Pennywell Manor

If a tour of the manor leaves you breathless with excitement, you had best sit down when you get to the kitchen. Poggenpohl fitted, it has a range of Miele integrated appliances including two multifunction ovens, combination microwave, coffee machine, dishwasher, induction hob and integrated full height fridge.

Some say a well-planned and well-stocked kitchen is the secret to a happy home – if that is the case, get set to be delighted.

And bringing this incredible home together is Fusion’s trademark “Smart Home” technology delivered via wall inset iPads allowing remote programming and control of lighting, heating, sound, vision and security throughout the house and outside too.

The precision, practical use of the very latest technology and, above all, the unscrupulous attention to detail, will combine to leave you absolutely astonished by Pennywell Manor.

But the story doesn’t finish there because this fine home comes with almost an acre of land and permission to develop – perhaps a home office, games room or complete leisure complex - has been pre-agreed enabling you to put your own mark on the property.

Pennywell Manor, Fortune Lane, Elstree, is destined to become one of the most sought after addresses in Hertfordshire and north London and it could be yours with offers being considered in the region of £3.95 million.

Contact Debbie Williams on 01923 216535 to request a brochure or arrange viewing.

An unforgettable visage of perfection at Pennywell Manor

APRIL2013 89

MILL HILL’S LEADING ESTATE AGENT

020 8959 0011 info@cosway.co.uk www.cosway.co.uk

Wise Lane, Mill Hill, NW7

£4,500,000

In the most discreet of locations yet within approximately 1/4 of a mile of the amenities at Mill Hill Broadway lies this magnificent property in over an acre of grounds. This splendid home provides a square footage totalling 9332 sq.ft comprising five/six Bedrooms, five Reception Rooms, five Bathrooms, two shower rooms, magnificent Gardens, spacious garage for at least four cars and additional Parking.

The property comprises of a delightful open porch with a solid wood entrance door opens onto a spacious reception hall entrance with a central archway and a feature staircase with a galleried landing above. All principal rooms lead from the reception hall, and include; drawing room, dining room, family room/television room, sitting room, study, guest cloakroom, hand built fitted kitchen/ breakfast room, utility room, gym and shower room.

The delightful sweeping staircase leads to the galleried first floor landing which has a balcony to the front. This floor affords the master bedroom with en suite dressing room, en suite bathroom and en suite shower room, a second suite comprising bedroom, lounge area and en suite bathroom, bedroom three with en-suite bathroom, bedroom four, family bathroom and snooker room.

On the second floor consists of bedroom five with en-suite shower room and dressing room followed by playroom/bedroom six and WC. The property also benefits from magnificent Gardens with Heated Swimming Pool. Sole Agents.

Edgwarebury Lane, Elstree, WD6 £4,500,000 An outstanding Character Detached Residence set behind a gated entrance in a south facing grounds of approximately 2 acres.

The Property has recently undergone a substantial extension and a high quality renovation and boasts a double height oak and glass reception room overlooking spectacular grounds.

The property comprises 7 double bedrooms,5 bathrooms ( 4 en suite ) and has fantastic living and entertaining accommodation.

135/137 The Broadway, Mill Hill Circus, NW7 4TD

Courtgate Close, Mill Hill, NW7

POA

Bramley Close, Mill Hill, NW7

£1,595,000

Situated within this exclusive gated development off Flower Lane. Stunning 7 bedroom detached family house. Comprising four reception rooms, five bathrooms, a kitchen/breakfast room, secluded rear gardens and a double garage. Moments from Mill Hill Broadway shops and Thameslink Station.

A beautifully presented, rarely available seven bedroom detached family house built by luxury developer Banner Homes approximately three years ago. The property is situated in a secure exclusive gated development close to excellent transport, schooling and local amenities. Benefits include professionally designed open plan kitchen, Utility room, extremely spacious through lounge, Seven Bedrooms, Five bathrooms (four en-suite), pretty rear garden, double garage.

Milespit Hill, Mill Hill, NW7

Wise Lane, Mill Hill, NW7

£1,749,999

POA

A lovely characterful six bedroom detached home situated in a highly regarded road in the heart of Mill Hill Village. The house offers spacious accommodation over three floors with a stunning garden backing onto Arrandene Open Space. Milespit Hill is located within the catchment area for various local private and public schools. Mill Hill Broadway Thameslink station and Mill Hill East Underground stations are also close by offering easy access to Central London. Viewing Recommended. Sole Agents.

An impressive five bedroom detached property which has been refurbished to an extremely high standing offering great living space. The property is located in a prominent location with gated access and a fabulous rear garden overlooking Arrandene Green Space. The property is situated in a highly sought after location close to Mill Hill Park, within easy access to Mill Hill Broadway and close to many top class local schools. Viewing highly recommended. Sole Agent.

Uphill Road, Mill Hill, NW7

Highwood Hill, Mill Hill, NW7

POA

An imposing detached home situated in one of Mill Hill’s most premier addresses. The house has been maintained to a high and exacting standard throughout offering in excess of 10,000 sq ft of superb, well-proportioned accommodation ideal for both family living and entertaining on a grand scale. Uphill Road is a highly sought after location offering convenient access to the wide choice of amenities in Mill Hill Broadway, transport links and some first class schooling.

020 8959 0011 www.cosway.co.uk

£1,195,000

A modern traditionally styled five bedroom family detached house. It offers just under 3,000 sq.ft of accommodation on three floors and is positioned in a semi-rural location in one of Mill Hill’s most desirable areas. The Orangery was designed and built by ‘Glasshouse’ and the bespoke kitchen and bathrooms by ‘Clive Christian’ with ‘CP Hart’ fittings.

godfreyandbarr.com

Laurel Way Totteridge • N20

ÂŁ1,300,000

A stunning four bedroom detached family home (2253 sq ft) in this sought after location close to Totteridge Green. Arranged over three floors the house has been designed and refurbished to a high standard throughout. This stunning home benefits from a number of features including a gorgeous master suite with mahogany and glass staircase leading to mezzanine dressing area with en-suite bathroom, Kitchen Breakfast Room opening to home cinema / large reception with exposed brick walls and timber vaulted ceiling, landscaped garden with water feature, underfloor heating to bathrooms and morning room, wired for sound, garage and off street parking.

Hampstead Garden Suburb Office 20 Market Place, Hampstead Garden Suburb London NW11 6JJ

T +44 (0) 20 8458 9119

enquire@godfreyandbarr.com godfreyandbarr.com

godfreyandbarr.com

Flower Lane Mill Hill • NW7

£1,649,000

An imposing, large 5 bedroom double fronted detached family house (3432 sq ft) situated in a fantastic location within moments of Mill Hill Broadway’s excellent shopping facilities and Thameslink station. The property offers spacious and flexible family accommodation arranged over 3 floors, including a large master suite, 4 reception rooms as well as a large kitchen/ breakfast room, detached double length garage, carriage drive with off street parking for several cars and 100ft x 50ft rear garden.

Mill Hill Office

59 Daws Lane,Mill Hill London NW7 4SE

T +44 (0) 20 8959 9000

enquire@godfreyandbarr.com godfreyandbarr.com

godfreyandbarr.com

Parkside Mill Hill • NW7

ÂŁ1,795,000

First time on the market in over 30 years, a very rare opportunity to purchase this imposing family house. Set back from the road behind a carriage driveway, with off street parking for numerous cars; the property has incredible potential and many features, including 4 reception rooms, a double garage and large rear garden, backing directly onto Mill Hill Park.

Hampstead Garden Suburb Office 20 Market Place, Hampstead Garden Suburb London NW11 6JJ

T +44 (0) 20 8458 9119

enquire@godfreyandbarr.com godfreyandbarr.com

godfreyandbarr.com

Bramley Close Mill Hill • NW7

ÂŁ1,595,000

A stunning large 7 bedroom detached family house offering just over 3500 sq ft of accommodation over 3 floors. The house is located in a fantastic location behind security gates in a small development of only 8 houses built by Banner Homes approximately three years ago. The property benefits from well planned accommodation including a fantastic large open plan kitchen / family room, Utility room, Seven Bedrooms, Five bathrooms (four en-suite), pretty rear garden, double garage and further off street parking for 2 cars.

Mill Hill Office

59 Daws Lane,Mill Hill London NW7 4SE

T +44 (0) 20 8959 9000

enquire@godfreyandbarr.com godfreyandbarr.com

godfreyandbarr.com

Hendon Wood Lane Mill Hill • NW7

£1,250,000

Situated in one of Mill Hill’s desirable locations, an attractive spacious 5 bedroom, 2 bathroom Neo Georgian detached house with 31ft lounge, good size garden, garage and off street parking. This delightful family house is well set back from the road and offers excellent scope for further extension (SPP) should this be required.

Hampstead Garden Suburb Office 20 Market Place, Hampstead Garden Suburb London NW11 6JJ

T +44 (0) 20 8458 9119

enquire@godfreyandbarr.com godfreyandbarr.com

COMING SOON LONDON HOUSE, CANNON’S CORNER, STANMORE A selection of 3 magnificent newly built penthouse apartments, all offering fantastic living space with dressing rooms, parking & very large terraces offering incredible views.

Asking prices £699,950 - £799,950 Please call for more information.

Mill Hill Office

59 Daws Lane,Mill Hill, London NW7 4SE T +44 (0) 20 8959 9000 enquire@godfreyandbarr.com

godfreyandbarr.com

Final 4 Bedroom detached home now releaSed

Greenleas

Braugh

ing

Hertfo rd Village shire of the Year

Braughing • green end • Sg11 2Pg

Linden Homes Housebuilder of the Year 2012

Part exchange availaBle PluS StamP duty Paid**

Plot 9

An exclusive collection of just seventeen 4 and 5 bedroom detached family homes in the picturesque village of Braughing.

Plot 9 Cambridge

A10 A1 Royston

M11 A10

A1(M)

Buntingford

STEVENAGE

M11

• Only 28 Minutes from Bishops Stortford to Cambridge and 45 minutes to London Liverpool Street by rail.* • Close to the A10 and only 24 miles to Cambridge.

• Great family living with excellent local and independent schools.

BISHOP’S STORTFORD

A10

ReseRved Plot 11 (show home)R£825,000 eseRved Plot 7 £575,000

Plot 9 £649,950

ReseRved Plot 17 £995,000

ReseRved Plot 10 £795,000

Come and see why they are selling so well!

To arrange to view show home please call Gill Austin on:

01992 526753 lanesnewhomes.co.uk

or email: gill.austin@lanesnewhomes.co.uk Selling agents: Lanes 2 Market Street Hertford SG14 1BD

*Source: National Rail Enquiries. **Terms and conditions apply. On selected homes only. Offer not in conjunction with any other offer. Price correct at time of going to press. Photographs show a typical Linden Homes interior.

OVER 75% NO W OCCUP IED!

HERTFORD SG13 8FE

Magnificent Set in 63 acres, join the most exclusive address in Hertford • High specification • Lifts to all levels • Secure car parking • Great commuter links 1 bedroom apartments from £249,995 • 2 bedroom apartments from £299,995

LEGAL FEES PAID

WE’LL HELP SELL YOUR HOME! AGENTS FEES PAID MANAGED PROPERTY MARKETING

Marketing Suite & Show Homes open 7 days a week 10am - 5.00pm Selling Agent

2 Market Street, Hertford SG14 1BD

Please call:

0845 241 7758

Email: ballspark@exploreliving.co.uk or visit www.exploreliving.co.uk Photography of Balls Park. Prices correct at time of going to print.

A development by

P R O P E RT Y

ESSENDON MANOR ESSENDON, HERTFORDSHIRE AL9 6HT

E

ssendon Manor is a unique and immaculately presented Grade II listed residence set in approx 9 acres, with magnificent indoor pool complex and with origins believed to date back to circa 1620.

The house is set behind a high boundary wall with an electrically operated gated entrance on the edge of the much sought after Essendon Village. Essendon Manor has unbridled views with substantial gardens and grounds that provide a wonderful parkland setting of approximately 9 acres. There are many fine and mature specimen trees, a large area of rhododendrons, a small lake and a golf green. One of the many prominent features of this home is the magnificent indoor pool complex.

Essendon is a delightful village in one of the areas most desirable locations in Hertfordshire. The A1(M) and junction 24 on the M25 provide access to London. There are nearby direct rail links to London’s Kings Cross and Moorgate Stations from Brookmans Park and Potters Bar and Liverpool Street from Broxbourne Station. Educational facilities in the area include Stormont, Lochinver, Dame Alice Owen, Haileybury, Queenswood, Haberdashers Askes, St Albans Abbey School as well as many others.

Guide Price £5,950,000. Freehold

Features R eception hall entrance G allery D rawing room D ining room S itting room S tudy F itted kitchen/breakfast room U tility room First Floor M aster bedroom suite with ensuite dressing room, bathroom and terrace with spiral staircase to gardens G uest bedroom suite with ensuite dressing room, bathroom and balcony F our additional bedrooms F amily bathroom

Exterior F our/five car garage block with self contained accommodation I ndoor Pool Complex: H eated pool with swim jet B ar area Cat Cottage S tudio room with kitchen C ategory five cabling to garage block Outbuildings S ummer House T imber stable/Tractor garage S ingle timber garage Grounds L andscaped gardens G round approx. 9 acres S ecurity gated entrance C CTV and intercom system

The Russian connection...

Contact details: For more information about this property please contact Statons Totteridge office on 020 8445 3694 or email totteridge@statons.com.

100 APRIL2013

The Dimsdales live at Essendon Place and Thomas Dimsdale was invited to inoculate Empress Catherine and her Gentry against small pox in the 1800s. She declared Thomas Dimsdale a Baron of the Empire, a Councillor of State, and Physician to Her Majesty.

Nathaniel Dimsdale was also made a Baron of the Empire. Both received money and lavish gifts, including gold snuff boxes set with diamonds. Although he declined Catherine’s request to stay in Russia permanently, Thomas Dimsdale inoculated dozens of Russian gentry in St Petersburg and Moscow before returning to England. He travelled to Russia again in 1784 to inoculate the Grand Duke Alexander and his brother Constantine.

P R O P E RT Y

CHANDOS AVENUE WHETSTONE, LONDON N20 9ED I

n one of Whetstones most premier roads and in a sought after location is this beautiful five bedroom detached family home within close proximity of Whetstone High Road and transport facilities at both Oakleigh Park and Totteridge & Whetstone Station.

Downstairs the property benefits from five reception rooms including a conservatory with doors leading out to the well maintained rear garden. There is also a kitchen/breakfast room which leads into a utility room.

On the first floor you will find four double bedrooms and two bathrooms with a further bedroom located on the second floor with an en-suite shower room. To the front of the property is off street parking for numerous cars with sliding electric gates.

Guide Price ÂŁ1,650,000. Freehold

Features E ntrance Hall G uest Cloakroom L ounge D ining Room M orning Room K itchen/Breakfast Room U tility Room C onservatory F amily Room

First Floor Landing F our Double Bedrooms T wo Bathrooms Second Floor Landing: G uest Bedroom E n Suite Shower Room Exterior R ear Garden O ff Street Parking

For more information about this property please contact Statons Totteridge office on 020 8445 3694 or email totteridge@statons.com.

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THE VERY BEST OF MODERN LIVING A MOST PRESTIGIOUS COLLECTION OF JUST 8 HIGHLY SPECIFIED 2 AND 3 BEDROOM LUXURY APARTMENTS AND PENTHOUSES NESTLED IN THE LEAFY SUBURB OF ENFIELD

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FEATURES INCLUDE: GATED UNDERGROUND PARKING, CONCIERGE SERVICE, UNDERFLOOR HEATING, INDIVIDUAL PRIVATE GARDENS / LARGE TERRACES, BESPOKE DESIGNED LIFT TO ALL FLOORS.

Prices from £895,000 S O L E S E L L I N G AG E N T S

B AY V I E W HOUSE

WINNER

www.yogogroup.com

0800 500 3050 B AY V I E W H O U S E

020 8441 9555 2 0 U P L A N D S P A R K RO A D

ENFIELD

EN2 7PG

Setting new Standards

Excelsior have one pure and simple vision; to bring the very best residential developments to the most prestigious locations.

Offering every home buyer access to quality once reserved for the few. Their elegant designs and uncompromising choices of materials result in a quality you can see and feel. Their Slogan “Excelsior Homes No Compromises” means exactly what it says.

The team at Excelsior Homes believe in working with pride, passion and dedication. This is evident at their latest development “53 Uphill Road” consisting of five magnificent houses set in secluded gardens behind electric gates on Mill Hill's premier road. No other location in NW7 holds greater prestige.

“Excelsior Homes continually seek to push design boundaries and set new standards” From the moment you drive into the private road the commitment to detail and specification are wholly apparent. At the entrance you are greeted by magnificent stone piers.

The gated road passes through beautiful landscaping and leads you to a grand oak tree that illuminates at dusk with artificial moon light. All the exterior lighting including the gardens, columns and

the road are designed and supplied by the lighting specialists John Cullen.

The development also has the benefit of CCTV for added security.

Excelsior Homes have spent thousands of man hours designing the myriad of features within the houses. All homes have under floor heating and comfort cooling. The latter is ducted through architectural slits either in the cornice or in the case of the study and kitchen through the coffered ceilings which are constructed using traditional Plaster of Paris. The houses also boast exquisite English handmade kitchens, doors, wardrobes and vanity units. All the stairs have stone with stair lights and luxurious carpets with runners.

Excelsior Homes continually seek to push design boundaries and set new standards, priding themselves in delivering a combination of elegant design, traditional build techniques and contemporary home comforts.

With an impressive and ever growing portfolio of developments there can be no doubt Excelsior Homes demonstrate their commitment to provide quality homes that exceed all expectations.

AWARDS Excelsior is proud to have received numerous awards which reflect their commitment, success and quality in the key areas of the business.

NEW HOME GARDEN AWARDS 2006 Silver Gilt (Best Garden) 2007 Silver Gilt (House Builder of the Year) 2011 Silver Gilt (Best Communal Garden) 2011 Silver Gilt (Best Roof/Terrace/ Penthouse Garden) WHAT HOUSE 2008 Bronze Award (Best Interior Layout) PREMIER GUARANTEE 2012 Building Excellence Award for 53 Uphill Road

This magnificent development must be seen to be believed. For your own personal tour call Debbie Ingram 0208 458 7040.

Uphill Road London NW7

Nestled behind gates lies a magnificent new development of four ambassadorial houses built with passion, tradition and pride to the highest possible specification.

At Excelsior, we pride ourselves not only in the elegance and character of our buildings, but also on providing excellent craftsmanship and traditional construction. Our attention to detail and use of only the finest quality natural materials is the hallmark of Excelsior Homes.

Excelsior Homes™.

No compromises.

For all enquiries contact sole agent:

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