The Bath Magazine August 2023

FROM THE EDITOR

Looking back to the past and looking forward to the future at the same time gives us a dynamic present. We’re doing both this month. Our historic city always likes a good bit of backwards enrichment, in this case with the publication of Oliver Taylor’s new book, Bath Abbey’s Monuments. The Abbey has over 1500 monuments –including wall tablets, ledgerstones and memorial stones –and they are a unique collection through which we can read the story of the parish church building and the rise of Bath as a spa (see page 32), a subject of which we are rather fond.

Looking forward can be more challenging, but one person who does this *really* well is engineer and artist Edward Chudleigh MBE. And he takes the concept further, because he is experimenting with creating the sustainable materials of the future, called bioplastics, with the help of a basement full of computers and self-built robots. It’s awesome –turn to page 36.

When it comes to protecting nature we need to be present in both camps of past and future. We have a responsibility to ensure that our precious nature reserves –including ancient woodlands, wildflower meadows and wetlands –continue to support the host of natural life within them, from dragonflies and orchids to badgers and water birds. Fortunately the Avon Wildlife Trust cares for over 27 nature reserves across the south west region, including Folly Farm and Chew Valley Lake, which George Cook tells us about on page 58.

Buddha is reported to have once said, “The secret of health for both mind and body is not to mourn for the past, worry about the future, or anticipate troubles, but to live in the present moment wisely and earnestly.”

Fair enough. Let’s do that, and you can start by reading our magazine, right now.

People making a difference

Individuals whose contributions have made a significant and lasting difference to the university, the City of Bath and the wider region were recognised recently at the University of Bath President's Awards dinner attended by HRH, The Duke of Edinburgh our Chancellor. At a packed event at the Guildhall, individuals spanning local and regional media, sport, as well as a student and prominent alumni were recognised by Vice-Chancellor Professor Ian White. The University of Bath President's Award is a new mark of distinction conferred upon individuals who have made a sustained or distinctive contribution. This year's recipients were BBC TV and radio presenter Ali Vowles; former Bath Rugby captain and current Club President John Hall; University Gold Scholar, Ciara Sherlock; University alumnus and co-founder and CEO of Bath-based Storm Consultancy, David Kelly; and New York alumna and member of the University's US Charitable Foundation, Hollis (Holly) Anzani.

Emma Clegg, Editor

The Bath Magazine

2 Princes Buildings, George Street, Bath BA1 2ED; 01225 424499 www.thebathmag.co.uk

Editor Emma Clegg 01225 424592; emma@thebathmagazine.co.uk

Financial DirectorJane Miklos jane@thebathmagazine.co.uk

Assistant Editor/Web Editor Isabelle Blakeney isabelle@thebathmagazine.co.uk

Production Manager Jeff Osborne production@thebathmagazine.co.uk

Advertising Sales Liz Grey liz@thebathmagazine.co.uk

To advertise tel: 01225 424499

Publisher Steve Miklos steve@thebathmagazine.co.uk

Contact us at thebathmag.co.uk

Follow us on Twitter @thebathmagazine and Instagram @thebathmagazine

The Bath Magazine and The Bristol Magazineare published by MC Publishing Ltd.

We are independent of all other local publications.

The Bath Magazine is delivered free, every month, to more than 15,000 residential addresses as well as businesses throughout Bath and the surrounding area. We also have special distribution units in many of Bath’s supermarkets.

© MC Publishing Ltd 2023

Disclaimer: Whilst every reasonable care is taken with all material submitted to The Bath Magazine, the publisher cannot accept responsibility for loss or damage to such material. Opinions expressed in articles are strictly those of the authors. This publication is copyright and may not be reproduced in any form either in part or whole without written permission from the publishers.

ON THE COVER

All paper used to make this magazine is taken from good sustainable sources and we encourage our suppliers to join an accredited green scheme. Magazines are now fully recyclable. By recycling magazines, you can help to reduce waste and contribute to the six million tonnes of paper already recycled by the UK paper industry each year. Please recycle this magazine, but if you are not able to participate in a recycling scheme, then why not pass your magazine on to a friend or colleague.

A sculpture by Edward Chudleigh using polylactic acids. See page 36 for our interview with Edward.

Ali Vowles, John Hall and Ciara Sherlock with Prof Ian White, University of Bath Vice-Chancellor and President

Wool is…

• Naturally insulating

• Hard-wearing

• Easy to care for

• Sustainable

• Hypoallergenic

• Fire resistant

• Available in a wide variety of colours and patterns

THINGS TO DO IN AUGUST 5

Listen to the classics

Relax and recentre

From 24–27 August, The Heart of Living Yoga Foundation presents the first annual Heart Festival, set in the glorious countryside near Bath. This uniquely heart-centered, family-friendly, retreat-style gathering offers something for everyone, from devotion to laughter yoga, from face painting to healing, from deep rest to ecstatic dance, from wild yoga classes to silent meditation. Expect world-class artists, musicians, and DJs, inspiring yoga teachers, uplifting workshops, a kids area and delicious food. Heart Field, Englishcombe, Bath BA2 9DZ. Adult day festival pass from £50, children from £15. heartfestival.co.uk

Experience the country

The Wiltshire Game & Country Fair returns to the Bowood Estate over the weekend of 12–13 August, from 10am–6pm. The event is chock-a-block with country sports and pursuits, and there’s also arena entertainment running throughout the day. Watch falconry, gundogs, horse boarding, scurry driving and sheepdog displays, and so much more!

Enjoy a number of demonstrations and Give it a Go events, specialist street food and drinks, and children’s entertainment that all make for a great family day out. Bowood House, near Calne SN11 OLZ. Admission £6/£15/£16. livingheritagecountryshows.com

Concert pianist Nurry Lee will perform at The Guildhall in Bath on 20 August in aid of the Motor Neurone Disease Association. Nurry Lee is one of the most dynamic young pianists of the generation. An international concert pianist, she returns to Bath to perform her debut concert in her home town where she will be playing some of the greatest works ever written for solo piano. From orchestral transcriptions of Franz Liszt to the beautifully intimate nocturnes of Chopin, this is an opportunity to experience the timeless classics of piano music. 7.30pm bathboxoffice.org

Watch the action

From 19–28 August, the UIPM Modern Pentathlon and Laser Run Championships will be taking place at the University of Bath. Watch international athletes compete in horse-riding, fencing, swimming, and laser run (running and shooting) as they are tested in every aspect of their sporting prowess. The competition will be held in a new action-packed 90-minute format, with the BBC covering the finals through a live feed. Tickets are on sale now at wch2023.org and start at £5 per day. Entry to the Pentathlon Finals costs £15 for adults and £5 concessions, with all tickets in the accessible stand at £5 throughout the event. University of Bath, Claverton Down, Bath BA2 7AY.

Feel rejuvenated

Thermae Bath Spa will host Aquasana in the Rooftop Pool on 23 August, from 8am–8.45pm. Aquasana includes classic yoga postures combined with gentle tai chi and invigorating karate moves in the spa’s mineral-enriched waters. It works through flowing sequences that stretch and tone the body, increasing flexibility while relieving tension in an energetic and balanced full-body workout. This class harnesses the healing properties of the waters, leaving you feeling cleansed, rejuvenated and grounded. £50. Thermae Bath Spa, Hot Bath Street, Bath BA1 1SJ. Visit thermaebathspa.com for more information and eventbrite.co.uk to buy tickets.

The cityist

Insect of the month

by Marian Hill

MY

BATH

King Bladud

Length 8–12mm

This beetle helps to recycle and decompose dead matter. The male and female beetles work as a pair, burying small, dead animals and feeding the rotting flesh to their babies. It is very unusual for both male and female beetles to care for their offspring, so the Sexton beetle is a remarkably caring parent.

See more of Marian’s insects at buzzandscuttle.com

Looking for young inventors

You have a mythical status in Bath, but there is no historical evidence for your existence, so we’re hoping you can nail down some facts. Look, anyone who was a king in the 9th century BC is going to have myths surrounding them. I’ll try and clarify where I can but remember that rhetoric, logic and spirituality can be just as powerful as facts.

You have impressive family connections: your father Rud Hud Hudibras was another legendary king of the Britons and King Lear was your son.

Yes my father ended the civil war and restored peace to Briton. And founded Kaerreint, which you call Canterbury. My son’s name was Leir actually. And Goneril, Regan and Cordelia were my grandchildren. Goneril and Regan were brats, but I was fond of Cordelia.

What is it with the pigs?

because no-one wanted to spend time with me in case they caught my illness. I spent time observing nature, contemplating the mysteries of the universe, and experimenting with plants to find a cure. I gave the skin condition to my pigs but then I noticed that the sores on the pigs – who loved taking mud baths – were healing and their skin became smooth. So I joined in with the mud baths, and hey presto I was cured, the elephantitis had gone. It was a kind of magic. “This is, indeed, a holy place,” I shouted to my pigs.

Wasn’t there a Greek God of Pigs? Do you think Geoffrey of Monmouth stole the idea for his Historia Regum Britanniae which tells some of your mythical story?

The Bath Young Inventor of the Year competition is looking for the most innovative and imaginative inventions proposed by young people from 8–17. The Museum of Bath at Work is working with 44AD Gallery to collect the best ideas and will award a trophy, created by local engineering company Cross Manufacturing, to the most interesting. In the past these have included an umbrella that catches water to make tea, a coffee pot which tells you when the coffee has brewed and a hearing aid that can tune into radio stations and podcasts. As well as an overall winner, there are awards for 8–11 year olds and 12–17 year olds. Entrants can invent anything they want, but are encouraged to think about describing the invention, drawing a sketch, explaining its purpose and how it can be made. The deadline is Friday 8 September. 44ad.net/invent-it-award-2023.html

I do have an association with pigs and much has been made of this. But to be fair this was just one phase of my life. I’ll have you know that I was educated in the Liberal Arts in Athena studying with the great teachers and philosophers where I learnt to question my own assumptions and became aware of the steps you take when thinking and making judgements. I never lost my love of learning.

We understand you caught a nasty case of leprosy when you were in Athens. Yes, but it was called elephantiasis. Pliny said it was introduced to Hellas by the armies of Alexander and Pompey. It wasn’t much fun. My eyebrows swelled, I lost lots of hair and my knees and elbows were so painful. My sores were treated with cobra venom, and also with the internal organs of snakes and scorpions. None of this worked so I went back to Briton, then called the Tin Islands, down the Atlantic Coast, via Scandinavia.

Weren’t you still feeling poorly? Too right. And when I got there I was banished because of the elephantiasis, but being a legend I escaped and went into hiding.

So when did the pigs happen?

I got a job as a swineherd in Swineswick (you call it Swainswick) in 863 BC

An outrageous question! Yes Eubuleus was the demi-god or hero of the sacred swine of the Eleusinian Mysteries. Geoffrey might have taken some liberties with his stories, but pigs were special in Hellas, sacrificed for the purification of the sacred field, the sanctuary, and the house of the priestess. This was done because of their association with dirt and therefore evil spirits, and with fertility. And those mud baths meant that I magicked up the hot springs and built a temple at Kaerbadum (Bath) around them after I became King! Pigs…dirt…mud… healing in the hot springs... It’s quite logical. And I’m not a God of Pigs. I am a King who built the great city that you are constantly talking about.

But wasn’t that the Romans?

No. They profited from my discovery.

The story goes that you dedicated Kaerbadum to the goddess Athena. Yes it does.

Did you ever manage to fly?

Absolutely. I consulted with the spirits, made feathered wings, took flight from the Temple of Apollo in Trinovantum (London) and soared through the air… for a while. It didn’t end well unfortunately and was the end of my earthly life. But my myth has lived on. My spirit looks kindly on the stories that have flourished around my name.

Favourite person of Bath?

John Wood the Elder was a modern, visionary designer who recognised my worth.

Name: Nicrophorus investigator or Sexton Beetle

City updates

The Duke of Edinburgh visits BRLSI

25 years of impact for youth charity

Bath-based youth charity Mentoring Plus marked its 25th anniversary recently with a rallying call for more adult volunteer mentors and community fundraising.

The charity, which supports around 180 children and young people every week with mentoring, activities and youth clubs, welcomed over 80 supporters, partners, volunteers and young people to its Riverside Youth Hub HQ for the celebration. The event included the premiere of a short film, Shoulder to Shoulder, made by young people in collaboration with the egg, Theatre Royal Bath. Mentees talked about how it feels to have a trusted adult stand shoulder to shoulder with them, and collaborated on creative stop-motion animations to express the impact of mentoring.

“When I’m shoulder to shoulder with my mentor I feel happy and relieved of stress,” says one young mentee in the film. “It’s just like she’s my best friend.” Another mentee adds: “I feel like I have someone I can trust who can help me achieve my goals.”

Adults wanting to find out about volunteering and fundraising can visit mentoringplus.net/getinvolved or call Mentoring Plus on 01225 429694.

Artistic swimming award

University of Bath

sporting scholar Kate Shortman secured Great Britain’s firstever Artistic Swimming World Championship medal with a historymaking performance in Fukuoka, Japan.

The Bill Whiteley Scholar won bronze in the Women’s Solo Free competition with a superbly executed routine which earned her 219.9542 points, only beaten by home favourite Yukiko Inui and Austria’s Vasiliki Alexandri.

Shortman, who studies International Management and Modern Languages (French), told British Swimming: “I can’t even put it into words, I am so excited. This is just a crazy step in the right direction for Great Britain, hopefully putting us on the map a bit more.”

It is a second international medal of the season for Shortman, who won Women’s Duet bronze with Izzy Thorpe at June’s European Games, and comes as the British squad – who train in Bristol – make a successful transition to a new scoring system designed to be less subjective. bath.ac.uk

The Bath Royal Literary and Scientific Institution has hosted its first royal visit in 199 years. His Royal Highness, the Duke of Edinburgh, visited the Institution after a University of Bath graduation ceremony at Bath Abbey. He was met by Professor Ian Gadd, the current Chair of the Board. Along the way he learned about BRLSI’s history, activities, and ambitions as well as its plans for its bicentenary next year.

BRLSI is an educational charity founded by Georgian scientists, naturalists, and intellectuals in 1824. It holds over 120 talks each year, covering science, literature, the arts, and world affairs, and hosts exhibitions, drawing on its extensive palaeontological, geological, and ethnographic collections. Royal patronage was conferred on the Institution by King William IV in the 1830s and continued under Queen Victoria but this is the first formal visit by a member of the Royal Family since its foundation.

The Duke was treated to a tour of the BRLSI exhibition Riches of the Earth. The Duke then took a tour of the BRLSI vaults where he saw many things including antiquities from the Monmouth Rebellion of 1685 and an ostrich feather from the Duke of Monmouth’s plume. There followed tea and cake where the Duke talked to volunteers and past and current members of the Board of Directors. The Duke heard more about the exciting plans for the Institution’s future, including a series of activities and events to mark its bicentenary. brlsi.org

Face to face at work

In the current exhibition at the Museum of Bath at Work – Face to Face: Victorian and Edwardian Portraits of Working People in Bath –you can meet people ‘face to face’ from 130 years ago. The photographs were taken of people in Bath in the 1890s and 1900s in the studio of Tom Carlyle Leaman at number 7, The Corridor, off Union Street.

These amazing pictures give us a real window on the past, especially the clothes that were then in fashion, accessories, and the way people styled their hair. The photographs are glass plate negatives and have been digitised.

Many of the plates have a surname written on the back, and volunteers at the Museum spent a year researching some of them. In the exhibition you can meet Mr David Press who ran a confectioners and bakery in Broad Street; the girls of the Candy family whose parents were farmers at Bathampton; Mr Charles Moutrie the General Manager at Bath Racecourse; and Miss Daisy Fentiman who worked stitching corsets. The exhibition is in the Hudson Gallery and is included in the museum’s admission ticket (£10/£9/£5).

The Museum of Bath at Work, Julian Road, Bath BA1 2RH. bath-at-work.org.uk

People’s Choice Award

Prior Park Landscape Gardenhas been shortlisted for the ICE South West People's Choice Award 2023 with the public encouraged to get involved by voting for their favourite civil engineering scheme.

The scheme to restore key features at the National Trust’s 18thcentury Prior Park Landscape Garden included crucial civil engineering works to the Middle Dam, Lower Dam, the stilling pond, and the historic landscape grounds. Prior Park is one of 14 projects from the south west shortlisted by a panel of civil engineers to reflect outstanding engineering achievement, innovation, and ingenuity. Shortlisted schemes must show how they improve life for people, whether through growth and economic development, climate resilience and carbon reduction or enriching communities and delivering social value.

The public is in control of choosing the winner of the People’s Choice Award through a free online vote at ice.org.uk/sw/award closing at 5pm on Tuesday 29 August 2023.

Raising the roof

An orchestra of Young Carers from B&NES travelled to Westminster to perform music created with Bath Philharmonia to an audience of MPs, Peers and music industry professionals at the House of Commons. The performance was part of an event, organised at the invitation of Wera Hobhouse MP, to celebrate the work of Bath Philharmonia and the incredible impact of music-making on young carers. The event was attended by Shadow Minister for the Arts Barbara Keeley MP, Baroness BonhamCarter, and Liberal Democrat carers’ champions Wendy Chamberlain MP and Munira Wilson MP.

Bath Philharmonia is the only professional orchestra in the UK that delivers a yearround programme of creative musicmaking residencies for Young Carers. Since 2009, it has enabled over 1500 Young Carers from the south west and beyond to cocreate and perform their own music. bathphil.co.uk

The art of capturing light

The recently published book Capturing Light is Bath-based painter Catherine Beale’s first art book. Launched in May by Search Press, it recently reached a top-ten bestseller list on Amazon. Catherine has painted for nearly 30 years full-time, 20 of these in watercolour.

In the book Catherine uses the landscape around Bath to talk about her innovative painting methods. “I want to share watercolours’ behaviours and how I manipulate them through experimentation,” she explains. Catherine has won awards for her oil portraits but moved towards watercolours in recent years and now paints family portrait commissions. Catherine’s artistic practice is “all about capturing light”, she says, “from the drama of a face shrouded in shadow to the fleeting dart of sunbeams through trees or the flicker of sunlight on the surface of a river.”

Catherine works from her hillside studio in Bath but travels widely as well as teaching, from sunny Mediterranean art holidays to the Drawing School at Bristol’s Royal West of England Academy. Her book contains nine painting projects of subjects within the UK to help painters create light-filled watercolour landscapes. Catherine says, “My methods aim to free up painting styles, embolden colour choices and help painters enjoy creating vibrant pictures full of dramatic light.”

Capturing Light is available from online bookstores and shops. catherinebeale.com

‘Art on the Street’ project

Two public spaces in Bath have been dressed with bespoke artwork to celebrate the city as part of a summer events programme. The Art on the Street project has been installed at Milsom Quarter and Kingsmead Square, created by local artist Zoë Power. It features overhead flags, decorated planters, contemporary bunting and window designs.

Gaia artwork at the Abbey

Bath Abbey is hosting Luke Jerram’s touring Gaia artwork from 18 September –29 October, as part of the Treasuring Creation Festival, which focuses on appreciating and caring for our planet. Measuring seven metres in diameter, Gaia features detailed NASA imagery of the Earth’s surface and provides the opportunity to see our planet floating in three-dimensions.

Gaia will be suspended underneath the tower in the centre of the Abbey, providing an awe-inspiring view as people enter the building. Gaia creates a sense of the Overview Effect, first described by author Frank White in 1987. Common features of the experience for astronauts are a feeling of awe for the planet, a profound understanding of the interconnection of all life, and a renewed sense of responsibility for taking care of the environment. A specially made surround sound composition by composer Dan Jones will be played alongside the sculpture. bathabbey.org

The project is funded by the West of England Combined Authority’s Love Our High Streets programme and is part of a wider High Streets Renewal project for Bath city centre, which in part aims to support the Milsom Quarter and Kingsmead Square with improvements to the high street and a programme of animation and events to increase footfall and support local businesses. The programme will also support the Great Bath Feast which runs from 22–24 September with a buzzing market across Milsom Street, Quiet Street, Green Street and New Bond Street.

beta.bathnes.gov.uk/regeneration

Photograph by Colin Hawkins, courtesy of Visit Bath

NOTES ON A SMALL CITY

Richard Wyatt

Columnist Richard Wyatt loves a bright moonlit night. This month he talks to Isabelle Ficker of Bath Starlit Skies who says that LED street lighting negatively affects nocturnal vertebrates and invertebrates who rely on lunar and seasonal rhythms of light for their survival.

Robbie Burns didn’t only write about a mouse. His ‘wee timorous beastie’ might be a famous poetic phrase but so is ‘it’s a braw bricht moonlit nicht’ which –to us living south of the border –means ‘it’s a lovely bright moonlit night’.

Back in Burns’ day, the moon would certainly have been the brightest object in the 18th century star-lit sky and the only light to guide all living things through the darkness.

The natural alternation of night and day, light and dark is essential to the continued existence of many life forms. But for us humans, since Victorian times, when the population shifted to town from country, working people had gas and then electric street lighting to guide them to the factory or shop floor.

We take it for granted now that, as the sun sets, its rays are replaced by humankind’s artificial lighting to extend the commercial and social day and banish the darkness. But why are we now continually hearing about ‘light pollution’ and why did a worried deputation of local experts recently seek an urgent meeting with Bath and North East Somerset Council?

It seems our local authority, like many others in the UK, has been busy replacing sodium lamps, used in street lighting, with LEDs. These more compact devices were regarded as ‘eco-friendly’ as they use less power and last longer but, it seems, at what cost to the biosphere?

Our deputation came armed with details of recent research on the subject and had also all signed a ‘joint letter’ which pointed out that the most commonly used LED lamps to be installed by local authorities emit a blue-rich spectrum light which is apparently having a devastating impact on nocturnal insects and mammals.

It’s said the light from these devices works like a vacuum cleaner –drawing insects from their natural environment to die of exhaustion or be eaten by predators. It creates confusion, taking away their natural sense of direction, and can also interfere with their mating. Our dusk ’til dawn illumination –as well as being unnecessary and excessive –seems to be a real ‘no-no’ for many species of insects, causing populations to crash and upsetting the natural balance of important ecosystems in our environment.

One of those attending the B&NES meeting was local resident Isabelle Ficker who as a member of Bath Starlit Skies has written her

own well-researched report.

She told me: “The natural lightdark rhythm is important for flora and fauna, including humans. Many vertebrates and invertebrates, such as vital pollinating insects, are nocturnal. Darkness at night is essential for them to thrive: they rely on circadian, lunar and seasonal rhythms of light for foraging, migration, pairing and reproduction.

“Artificial light overrides these natural rhythms and blue rich light (i.e. over 3000k) is particularly disruptive. Its effects cascade through the eco system, affecting day-time organisms and their ecological function. Artificial light at night is an additional, but avoidable stressor, on already stressed biosystems. It should properly be considered a form of pollution but it is one that fortunately is easy to address.”

Unlike other pollutants such as Carbon Dioxide, you can deal with it quickly by turning lights off or reducing their intensity. You can also get LED’s emitting red spectrum light which is less disruptive or you can buy filters to fit over the blue-spectrum type.

Following the meeting, Councillor Sarah Warren, Deputy Leader and cabinet member for Climate and Sustainable Travel, told me: “In 2020 the council began a five-year lighting maintenance programme which included upgrading 2,000 street lights to LED as part of our commitment to addressing the climate and ecological emergency and reducing energy use. We are aware of research into the impacts of lighting on natural organisms –in particular the benefits of warmer light on animals and plants –and we will look to replace lights as we need to, when they get to end of their life.”

Not maybe the quick response the deputation was hoping for, but Bath Preservation Trust also has some practical lighting advice for ‘Rewilding the Night’ that we could all follow Darker skies over our World Heritage city would mean a happier ecosystem and more of a chance for us to see the stars! n

Rewilding the Night light advice

• Install outside lights at lower levels, directing fittings only where needed and angled downwards.

• When buying bulbs look at the colour scale on the side of the box and go for warm red and yellows below 3,000 Kelvin.

• Switch external lights off when not needed, avoid the use of illuminated signs and adverts, and close your curtains and shutters at night.

Richard Wyatt runs the Bath Newseum: bathnewseum.com

Isabelle Ficker

WE BUY Gold, Silver & Platinum in any form or condition.

11 Pulteney Bridge, Bath BA2 4AY

Wed-Fri 10.00 - 4.30pm | Sat 10.00 - 1.00pm (by appointment only)

Tel/Fax: 01225 464013 www.nigeldando.co.uk

Honey Willow is a Bath family run jewellery business. We make meaningful, personalised jewellery celebrating loved ones and life’s milestones. Jewellery that customers love to give and receive. All handmade to order in our Bath workshop.

Visit us on Pulteney Bridge or find the full range online: www.honeywillow.com

Handmade Bespoke Jewellery

YarrelCanvasJacket inSable,£1350

HaleLinenc Playsuit,£950

EshTop,£45c

Walker Hybrid Shorts0 in Black, £650

Swimsuit,Sulac£85c

Fawkes Linen Trouser in Dark Olive, £75c

Cove Linen Shirt in Camo Print, £85c

VeanChangingx RobeinFlame,£55x

Otis Towelling Poloc Shirt in Sky, £50c

Atlas Short Sleevec Shirt, £85c

Tonkin Workc cShirt in Birch, £110c

Walker Hybrid Shorts inc Deep Sea / Navy, £75c

Jetty Cord Shorts inc Deep Sea, £75c Hunros Jornac T-Shirt in Clay, £35c

WHAT’S ON

MUSIC AT GREEN PARK BRASSERIE

n Green Park Brasserie, Green Park

Enjoy live jazz/funk/soul/swing at Green Park Brasserie on Weds and Thurs from 6.30–8.45pm and Fri and Sat from 6.30–9.45pm. Music includes dynamic duos, modern trios and a Hot Club style quintet. greenparkbrasserie.com

TORCHLIT SUMMER EVENINGS AT THE ROMAN BATHS

n Roman Baths

Until 31 August, open until 10pm Torchlit Summer Evenings are returning to the Roman Baths, offering visitors a chance to soak up the special atmosphere around the Great Bath and explore the museum long after the usual closing time. There will be a pop-up bar beside the Great Bath from 11.30am each day, selling Champagne, prosecco and soft drinks. romanbaths.co.uk

SUMMER SUNDAYS IN BATH

6, 13, 20, 27 August

n Around the city

For the 3rd year running, Bath Business Improvement District (BID) are running Summer Sundays, inviting local families into the city centre with free family-friendly outdoor activities and events. August events include Free Face Painting on 6 and 20 August, the Jane Austen Dancers on 13 August and an Urban Treescape Riverside Ramble on 27 August. See the full range of events at welcometobath.co.uk/summersundays

BATH ABBEY SUMMER LATES

Abbey open Tuesdays and Wednesdays throughout August, 5pm–7pm and live music in the Abbey on Thursdays, 6.30pm–8.45pm

n Bath Abbey

Bath Abbey is hosting a series of late-night summer events in August, allowing visitors to soak up the atmosphere of the building like

never before. If visiting the Abbey, Step it Up Tower Tours are available to purchase on the day or evening. If coming for the live music, booked performers include Charlie Limm on 3 August, Nancy Tapernoux on 10 August, Jools Scott on 24 August and Edward Cross and Jake Gauntlett on 31 August. bathabbey.org/bath-abbey-summer-lates/

CORSHAM’S BACK TO SCHOOL TRAIL

Until 31 August

n At participating businesses and Town Hall, High Street, Corsham Pick up a Parent Passport from participating businesses displaying the Back to School Trail window sticker, get it stamped in at least six of the participating businesses, and return it to the Town Hall to be in with a chance of winning a hamper of goodies – a special treat for the grown-ups after spending out on the kids! The Trail, a first for Corsham, was the brainchild of local shoe shop owner Kate Whittingham-Jones, of If the Shoe Fits, encouraging families to shop local. Some of the things families can do is sort out school shoes, get haircuts done and get lunch boxes and water bottles. corsham.gov.uk

RICHES OF THE EARTH: THE BEAUTY OF MINERALS

Until 7 October

n Bath Royal and Literary and Scientific Institution, 16–18 Queens Square, Bath Riches of the Earth reveals the beauty of minerals through the astounding forms and vibrant colours of more than a hundred carefully selected specimens from the BRLSI collection. Free to attend. brlsi.org

THE WORLD IN 2050: AI AND THE FUTURE OF HUMANITY

4 August, 7.30pm–9pm

n BRLSI, 16 Queen Square, Bath

You don’t have to be a computer scientist to understand the importance of the discussion about where artificial intelligence and technology are going. In the final talk of BRLSI’S World in 2050 series, scientist and philosopher John Lennox introduces a kaleidoscope of ideas, taking in the key developments in technological enhancement, bioengineering, and artificial intelligence. £4–£8. brlsi.org

RUM AND REGGAE RACENIGHT

4 August, 7.30pm

n Bath Racecourse

The Rum and Reggae racenight will be a unique Caribbean night with the food, drink and music from Jamaica alongside seven exciting horse races; all offering you the chance to experience the thrill of watching live horse racing. Gates open 3.55pm; first race 5.55pm; last race 8.35pm. Tickets £21, with access to public bars, eateries, and betting outlets along with the best views of the racing action.

bath-racecourse.co.uk

VIRTUOSO MUSICAL GEMS

6 August, 6.30pm

n Holburne Museum, Great Pulteney Street

Two accomplished musicians bring a sparkling programme of pieces written for the beloved instruments of the 19th century salon: the fortepiano and romantic guitar. The programme will feature virtuoso and chamber music by Schubert, Rossini, Giuliani and others. £20. holburne.org

ALDRIDGE’S OF BATH AUCTION

8 August, 9am–12pm

n Online

Decorative and household sale, including

Bath Abbey Summer Lates

Aldridge’s of Bath auction

Victorian, Edwardian, 20th-century and modern household furniture and furnishings, decorative china and glass, pictures and prints, mirrors, rugs, etc.; also garden furniture, tools and general household goods. aldridgesofbath.com

HEY DUGGEE

9–12 August, Weds, Thurs and Friday 10am and 1pm; Sat 10am, 1pm and 3.30pm

n Egg Theatre, Theatre Royal, Saw Close Hey Duggee – named Best Family Show at the 2023 Olivier Awards –features Duggee and the Squirrels plus many more of your favourite characters. Betty wants to make costumes, Happy wants to sing, Tag wants to make music, Norrie wants to dance, Roly wants jelly and they all want you to join them at the Clubhouse. There is so much to do, but luckily Duggee has his theatre badge. Tickets £22 /£20. theatreroyal.org.uk

BRICK SHOW

12–13 August, 10am–5pm

n American Museum & Gardens, Claverton Down

A special LEGO themed weekend for all the family. Visit the special exhibition Brick America: An Adventure in LEGO® Bricks, and have fun at the inspiring brick show organised by GertLUG, a Bristol based group of LEGO enthusiasts. This will include even more LEGO displays and activities for all ages. americanmuseum.org

BILLY MAGERISON LIVE IN SESSION AT THE ELECTRIC BAR

13 August, 2–4pm

n Komedia, 22–23 Westgate Street

The son of two accomplished jazz musicians, Billy Magerison is a singer songwriter and multi instrumentalist, who honed his craft in and around South London, Bristol and the south west playing a mix of blues, reggae and soul. Taking inspiration from these along with elements of his Celtic heritage, he has developed his own unique sound. Tight grooves, soulful vocals and experimental effects bordering on the psychedelic. Free. komedia.co.uk

CALF2COW: LEWIS CARROLL’S JABBERWOCKY & OTHER NONSENSE

19 August, 7.30pm

n Corsham Almshouses, Pound Pill, Corsham The village of Pokeytin is under threat. Their crops and cows disappear in the night. Mrs Dodos’ washing has been pinched and Mr Walrus can’t find a single oyster! The Jabberwocky is to blame! Join a young hero to take on the fierce Jabberwock in this hilarious new adaptation of Lewis Carroll’s poem. Expect the Calf 2 Cow treatment of silly multi-rolling, kicks and trips, live floorstamping rock ’n’ roll, water buckets, sweaty actors and a giant dragon puppet. Outdoor performance so bring chairs. Adult £16, Child £10, Family £40. poundarts.org.uk

A TOKEN OF LOVE

22 August, 10.30pm–12.30pm

n Holburne Museum, Great Pulteney Street Drawing on Painted Love: Renaissance Marriage Portraits, design your own love token in clay. Learn about relief building techniques, mark-making and more. Make one for yourself, for a special someone or even your four-legged friend! No need to book, just drop in on the day. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Free. holburne.org

POTTY PRINTS

23 August, 10am–11am or 11.45am–12.45pm

n Holburne Museum, Great Pulteney Street

Inspired by Lucie Rie The Adventure of Pottery create an exciting repeat pattern print. Use the unique profiles of Rie’s vessels to design an artwork. Places are limited per session and will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis. 6+ years. Children must be accompanied by an adult. holburne.org

IAGO BANET – THE GALICIAN KING OF ACOUSTIC GUITAR

23 August, 8pm

n Chapel Arts, St James’s Memorial Hall, Lower Borough Walls

SUMMER HOLIDAY FUN AT THE ROMAN BATHS AND VICTORIA ART GALLERY

Various dates in August

n Roman Baths and Victoria Art Gallery

From arts and crafts to adventures into Bath’s past, there’s lots going on for families at the Roman Baths and Victoria Art Gallery this summer. Young history hunters can join in with different activities inspired by the museum collections and exhibitions each week of the holidays.

You can also explore the Roman Baths and have a go at crafts inspired by objects in the museum. Sessions run from 10am–12.30pm and 1.30pm–4pm. For children aged 3+. romanbaths.co.uk; victoriagal.org.uk

Iago was born in Galicia in north west Spain. As a teenager, he found a classical guitar at home and set about learning to master it. From that moment, there was no going back: guitar became his passion. Banet has been building an impressive career as a solo fingerstyle acoustic guitarist, showcasing his immense talent and receiving rave reviews along the way. With two studio albums and a live album under his belt, Banet redefines the boundaries of the instrument; creating stories without words and enthralling audiences as he does so. £12/£14. chapelarts.org

SUMMER SCREENINGS: LA LA LAND, TOP GUN AND THE GREAT SHOWMAN

25–27 August, doors 6pm, films start at 8pm n American Museum & Gardens, Claverton Down

Experience a thrilling blockbuster in the garden cinema, with an evening of classic American-style entertainment and valley views. La La Land (25 Aug) is a lyrical tale of the intertwining lives of two dreamers as they navigate the highs and lows of life in Los Angeles. In Top Gun Maverick (26 Aug), Maverick must confront ghosts of his past when he leads the elite TOP GUN graduates on a mission. Finally celebrate the sense of wonder when dreams come to life with The Greatest Showman (27 Aug). americanmuseum.org

Summer fun at the Roman Baths and Victoria Art Gallery

La La Land at the American Museum & Gardens

IF OPERA: FROM 24 AUGUST

FEDORA

24, 26, 31 August, 1 September

n Belcombe Court, Bradford on Avon An opera that encompasses love, murder, betrayal and tragedy. When Princess Fedora seeks revenge on the man she believes murdered her betrothed, she sets in motion a train of tragic events that will cost her everything. Here are beautiful sweeping melodies, febrile emotion and glorious orchestral colours. Tickets from £30; unders 18s free.

ALICE’S ADVENTURES IN WONDERLAND

27 August, 1.30pm and 5pm

n Belcombe Court, Bradford on Avon Alice is jolted out of her daydreams when she meets a talking rabbit who she follows to Wonderland. Alice comes across a number of peculiar characters, including a

LOOKING AHEAD

WAG WALK

3 September, 9am

n Bath Cats and Dogs Home, Claverton

Join in this sponsored dog walk with (or without) your four-legged friends to raise funds to support rescue animals in need. Two walking routes of 2 miles and 5 miles start and finish from the home and take in the stunning National Trust Bath Skyline. Refreshments and stalls available. Sign up at bathcatsanddogshome.org.uk/events

THE GOOD LIFE

n BRLSI, 16 Queen Square, Bath, or online

5 September, 7.30pm–9pm

Are you living the best life you could be? If not, an upcoming talk from the philosophy programme at BRLSI suggests you do it with a little help from Socrates.

Join Dr Don Cameron to discover how the great philosophers can begin to help you find happiness. Could it be that the results of research unavailable to the ancients means you might even be one step ahead of the game when it comes to answering the great Socratic question, ‘How should I live my best life?’ £3–£6. brlsi.org

U3A LECTURE: BRISTOL PORT: PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE

n The Pavilion, North Parade Road, Bath

7 September, 9.45am coffee, 10.30am talk Bristol Port has developed to be a successful business enterprise and strategically important national asset. The Port deals with deep-sea, short-sea and coastal shipping and provides a multimodal hub linked to the national strategic road and rail networks. The presentation by John C Chaplin will briefly outline the history of the Bristol Port before describing current operations and associated activities.

relaxed caterpillar, a happy cat, a depressive hare, a white knight, a romantic duchess, a mad hatter and a sleepy dormouse. Will Todd’s music for is an eclectic mix of jazz, musical theatre and opera. £10 children, £25 adults, £5 Mad Hatter’s Tea Party.

THE MIKADO

29 and 30 August, 7pm

n Belcombe Court, Bradford on Avon Behind the closed doors at the British Consulate, the scheming, slippery Lord High Executioner is about to hatch one plot too far, with far-reaching and hilarious consequences for everyone involved, especially when the ruler himself arrives… This punchy and hilarious satire promises to be a treat. From £27; unders 18s free.

Bring a picnic and take in the enchanting 18th-century gardens of Belcombe Court. ifopera.com

BATH FILM SOCIETY PROGRAMME

Bath Film Society has launched its autumn programme of films. Ones to look forward to in September are 7 Boxes (2012) on 15 September directed by Juan Carlos Maneglia where teenage porter Victor jumps at the chance to earn $100 simply by transporting seven boxes across a busy street market. Soon it seems that all eyes are on him. But is the prize worth the price? Then on 22 September comes Five Easy Pieces (1970) directed by Bob Rafelson, a powerful meditation on families, alienation, loss and a picture that announced Jack Nicholson’s arrival as an actor of complexity and depth.

It will conclude with a discussion addressing future challenges, threats and opportunities. Admission free for members and a donation of £2 for non-members. u3ainbath.uk

PHENOMENAL WOMEN: BELINDA BROWN

n Gainsborough Bath Spa, Beau Street, Bath

14 September, 5.30pm–7.30pm

The next in the Gainsborough Bath Spa’s 2023 series features Belinda Brown, the Global ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) Performance Director at Diageo Plc, based out of London. Diageo is the leader in beverage alcohol –operating in around 180 countries with over 200 brands. Belinda is a role model who uses her platform to listen to and amplify marginalised voices, taking action to use her influence and her privilege to help break down barriers. £15. eventbrite.co.uk

Bath Film Society Screenings are held at Bath Royal Literary and Scientific Institution, 16–18 Queen Square, 7.30pm on Fridays.

Visit The Bath Film Society website for more information: bathfilmsociety.org.uk; membership secretary: mail@bathfilmsociety.org.uk

Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by If Opera

Wag Walk, Bath Cats and Dogs Home

2023/24 SEASON

All screenings will take place at BRLSI

16-18 Queen Square Bath BA1 2HN at 7.30pm on Fridays

Please join us at 7.00pm for a glass of wine. Films screened fortnightly, with a few exceptions (see list below).

Season starts 15 September 2023

For more information check our website: www.bathfilmsociety.org.uk or contact our membership secretary on mail@bathfilmsociety.org.uk

We are a sociable club that has run for 40 years, screening films for members and their guests.

Our season offers 14 films for only £50 a year. These include a wide range from well-loved classics to modern dramas and documentaries by prize-winning directors from around the world.

Part membership £40 (£1 admittance) Concessions £40 (free admittance)

Film Screenings 23/24 Season

15 September 7 Boxes (Paraguay)

22 September 5 Easy Pieces (USA)

20 October Petite Maman (France) AGM

27 October The Maltese Falcon (USA)

10 November A Season in France (France

24 November Murina (Croatia)

8 December Mr Hulot’s Holiday (France)

12 January I’m Your Man (Germany)

26 January The Quiet Girl (Ireland)

9 February Ae Fond Kiss (UK)

23 February Summer of Soul (USA)

8 March Jean de Florette (France)

22 March Balloon (China)

5 April All About My Mother (Spain)

The power of the clown

Performer Riss Obolensky is a clown and drag king. They were a finalist in the UK’s largest Drag King competition, Man Up. They believe in the power of clowning in the wider community. Riss is performing at the Edinburgh Fringe this month

Iwas born in Bath and went to Prior Park College. Bath was a great place to grow up –big enough to have plenty of opportunity, and small enough that it didn’t swallow you up. My ‘youth’ brings about many mixed feelings, as life at home was very unstable. Despite this, Bath felt like a good container for all of that –I made lifelong friends through the Egg’s YPT youth theatre who became my rocks and later my queer community there, which was essential. There was a lot of partying. I found something quite delicious in finding a bit of a grungy underbelly to Bath, despite its quaint veneer. The music scene was especially good, and I went to a lot of gigs. I was privileged to be schooled at Prior, and the standard of education there was fantastic. They had a wonderful drama department which set me up to pursue performance.

Bath has a lot of culture for such a small city I loved the social potential of the city growing up; there was a massive crosspollination of people from different places coming together, so I never felt constricted. I’d say it’s a community-minded city. My big association with Bath was a place called The Porter., a slightly grimy pub/live music venue at the top of Milsom Street which no longer exists… This was the watering hole for myself and all my friends –we danced a lot.

After leaving school, I went to Cambridge University to study Education with English and Drama. At the time it felt like a fluke –I applied very last minute and it was the only place I applied to. When I got there, I loved it. The theatre scene was incredible and I got into comedy in my first year, joining the Cambridge Footlights and taking shows to the Fringe. I then moved to Bristol and then London. I’ve only just left Bristol again to scope out the scene in London.

Comedy has always been part of my life and my identity. Some of my earliest memories consist of me whacking on a moustache, doing a ridiculous voice and pranking family members. Being a class clown at school can be a bit of a mask, but it also brought me so much joy to make people laugh. I think stupidity is a divine act of service to the world.

I perform as a Drag King. The drag king scene is much more radical than mainstream drag. It attempts to disentangle patriarchal power structures and operates in a slightly different realm, as it tends to be performed

by AFAB/gender non-conforming people. Because patriarchy, inaccessibility and exclusion still dominate the world (even the queer scene *shock horror*), there hasn’t been as much space carved out for drag kings. I have friends who have had such negative experiences as Kings when they have stepped into more heteronormative audiences. The mainstream drag ‘market’ tends to just want queens because it is deemed more palatable. While drag kings may be less palatable and more radical, their work tends to be boundary pushing and exciting. The question remains as to whether the drag king community want to be more visible, or if there is more valuable work to be done in staying underground. I tend to change my mind on this on a daily basis.

Hester Welch decided to start the night in Bristol at the Wardrobe Theatre, which has been instrumental in developing my craft. It has seen tonnes of experimental comedy nights, pulls in a generous audience and is a fantastic place to try stuff out. The Lost Cabaret is such a playful evening and the audience are game for anything. It’s the best training –stick on a wig, drop any plans, find something playful and live in the moment. It usually ends in a lot of mess and me ruining my favourite suit with raw eggs.

I have worked on five Arts Council funded projects, focused around queer experiences. The themes have been around belonging, community, queer history, archival work, queer adaptions, queer healing and transformation, drag, dramaturgy, even the relationship between queerness and witchcraft. I’ve been blessed with working with some pioneering artists over the years.

My drag-clown one-man show, Healing King Herod, is going to the Edinburgh Festival. I am so excited to take the newest version of the show up to the Fringe, alongside director and co-creator Eloïse Poulton. We’ve been working on the show for the past year and this iteration is the wildest version yet, with some experimental tech elements and film. It’s feeling more like a full-scale production, rather than a show in a suitcase. It will be an 11-day run between 16–27 August. We are stoked by the 9.40pm slot, as we’ll likely pull in an audience looking for alternative cabaret comedy shows.

I perform at The Lost Cabaret in Bristol. This is a night started by my clown teacher and dear friend Zuma Puma after she graduated from Ecole Philippe Gualier (a prestigious clowning school in Paris). Myself and fellow clowns Robyn Hambrook and

I believe in the power of clowning in the wider community. Clowning has brought me into closer connection with myself, because my inner clown is a playful, present, connected and inspired force. Everybody has one. In clowning, there is a softness and a truth that underpins it all. The vulnerability to get up on stage, connect with an audience, be fully witnessed in finding play is no small thing. Someone once described it as the ‘extreme sport’ of performance art. For me, this tool in connection, play, stupidity and truth is a sort of crazy wisdom the world needs.

I’m feeling in a great place. The pandemic was a big knock to the industry, and coming out of it has been pretty rocky. The process of creativity and being an artist is non-linear, and usually doesn’t make much sense. I’ve found a lot of resilience in celebrating the achievements of the last year or two. My ambitions for the future probably involve lots of academy awards, fabulous meals, and some sort of clown cult takeover of the world (followed by a Netflix documentary of how it all went wrong of course). n

Riss Obolensky is performing at the Edinburgh Fringe from 16–27 August, at Underbelly Cowgate at 9.40pm. Instagram: @rissobolensky

In clowning there is a softness and a truth that underpins it all

The man who makes music happen

Zac Ware is never happier than when he is playing a guitar and singing a song. He does this in many ways, Melissa Blease discovers, including playing guitar with The Proclaimers, putting songs together with other musicians in his state of the art studio and entertaining others by playing his Guitar Jukebox of across-the-decades greatest hits

It’s like, y’know, when you’re at a really good party, and there’s a guy in the kitchen, jamming on his guitar, and everybody’s singing their hearts out? Well that’s me; I’m that guy!”

That’s multi-tasking Bath-born musician, songwriter and producer Zac Ware talking about his Guitar Jukebox: a live, ‘one-man guitar plug-in’ on hand to provide a soundtrack/backdrop of bespoke, across-the-decades greatest hits for one night only several nights a year in Bath’s best live music venues. Sounds like fun? Oh, and then some! But there are many, many more strings to Zac’s bow; we’re talking to a man who literally makes music happen, in multiple ways.

The evening before Zac and I spoke, he’d been ensconced in his Bath studio (in Kensington Place) “Doing a songwriting thing on Zoom”, as he puts it. “One of us was in in New York, somebody else was in Ireland, and another Zoomed in from Devon. International songwriting – it’s very interesting!”, says Zac. Interesting indeed –and we’ll be investigating just how interesting later on; right now, there’s another point of interest to explore immediately.

While Zac was doing his “international songwriting” thing, he was on a rare break from taking his guitar on tour with the enduringly popular Scottish pop-rock duo The Proclaimers, which started in Bristol in May and trundles all the way through to Tunbridge Wells

in September, taking in Blackpool, Leeds and Swansea along the way. But Zac isn’t the support act; he’s actually in the band... well, sort of.

“I’ve been playing guitar with The Proclaimers for 18 years this year,” says Zac. “But no, I’m not a Proclaimer! If I left the lineup, nobody other than the people who follow the band live would actually know – they’d still be The Proclaimers, doing their thing. But you could say I’m a big part of that thing; we all are – the current drummer is the newest member, and he joined 16 years ago! We’re a very tight unit, and we played on the last four records as a band, but it’s very much The Proclaimers – as in, Craig and Charlie Reid –making the music.”

Ah, okay – I think? As we’ve established, Zac’s been making music happen around him all the time, with all kinds of people, for a long time. But where did his very own, very fascinating soundtrack begin?

Zac was born in London in 1971 and brought up in Bath. “My dad Charles had been involved in the music business throughout the late 1960s and early 1970s, so I grew up with music around me, and I always had this idea that I could be a musician, an artist, too. There was never that awful thing about ‘go and get a proper job’ from my dad; I always knew that there were real possibilities in music as a career, and real opportunities, not just fantasies. So yes, I was into music from an early age. And then my uncle, who had been involved

Photograph by Andy Mann

in theatre world too – he’d worked for bands like Queen and Led Zeppelin, putting stage sets together and stuff like that – bought me a guitar and again, there was that sense of making music possible. Then my friend Hollis taught me to play Pretty Vacant by the Sex Pistols on that guitar, and I never looked back”.

But hang on, Zac; before we start to move forward on how and why you never looked back, can we just rewind on your family connections? After all, to say that Zac’s father was a very interesting man would be a bit of an understatement.

“Indeed he was!” Zac concurs. “Dad was Bryan Ferry’s benefactor, back in the very early days of Ferry’s career. He had some money from properties and stuff that he was doing in Bath in the 1960s, and my aunt went out with Andy McKay, Roxy Music’s sax player. They all went to art school, so there was that whole art school thing going on with all of them. It’s a great backstory for a contemporary musician for sure, but I was only tiny at the time – only just at the bouncing around on their knee type age! So I missed out on some great parties, apparently: all that 1960s stuff, naked women and the Bath arties from The Natural Theatre Company and Bath Arts Workshop taking over Pulteney Street. But whatever went on, it all definitely gave me my own sense of where I come from, connected with that world in some way, you know?”

that’s been cut back, and so has Lottery funding; loads of people are chasing the same pots of money. But in order to succeed, you’ve really got to recognise where you stop and where other people’s work begins – my work, if you like!”

Zac’s fully professional, state-of-the-art studio (which he built in his garden, in lockdown) is, today, a one-stop shop for musicians who want to get serious about their craft. “Basically, we can put songs together, together” says Zac. “It’s not just production that people need; they need arrangement, and help with making a particular song work: is the song right, for them; do the words make sense; is the intention of the story within that song told correctly? In terms of development, we do a monthly, fortnight-long song challenge with groups of people who may not have worked together before; I’m now on my 14th month of doing that and I’ve met a really strong core of people who want to be songwriters. When the quality is high enough, I can help get songs release-ready, and we all work out how to help each other, and contact management, agencies, publishers – it’s all about support”. Want to learn to play guitar properly? Zac can teach you how to that, too! He has even been doing one minute lessons from backstage before each Proclaimers gig on Instagram, Facebook and TikTok!

And all the time, throughout it all, Zac’s doing what he knows and loves best.

“I'm happiest when I’m just playing a guitar, and singing a song. And when the studio’s all plugged in and I’ve got local songwriters in, that’s really exciting stuff!” he says. “And think of this: a great song goes way beyond the songwriter; it has a life of its own. Think of The Proclaimers song Sunshine on Leith; I’ve met people whose lives that song, quite literally, saved. A song really can have power.”

‘Those’ parties aside, bouncing around on stars such as Brian Eno’s knee must indeed embed rock roots. But again, before we follow those roots through to their contemporary flourish, we need to pay further tribute to Zac’s dad Charles, who not only established the renowned Morris Minor Centre on Lower Bristol Road in Bath in 1976, but established himself as one of the prime movers and shakers in the preservation of Kingsmead Square, various Victorian terraces around Combe Down, suported the Natural Theatre Company and the Bath Arts Workshop as well as the regeneration of Camden in London. “Saving Kingsmead Square from the developers: apparently dad walked in on a meeting and said, I’ve got some money, I’ll back it!,” says Zac. “It was a bit like how he thought about about Bryan Ferry: that seems like a good idea!”

When Charles fell ill in 2010, Zac and his partner Lucy relocated back to Bath from their then-home in Glasgow to take care of him and the Morris Minor Centre, eventually turning, in Zac’s own words, “the home of everybody’s favourite old banger into a beacon in the world of classic cars”. Charles passed away in 2016 and although the Morris Minor Centre didn’t survive Brexit and Covid, it’s clear that Zac and Lucy did Charles proud in their management of it, and he’d no doubt be even prouder of where Zac’s at today.

“Working in the music business – or in the arts in general – is, today, very different to how it was back in dad’s day,” says Zac. “There’s huge pressure to do everything yourself, way beyond just ‘creating’: producing your own work, promoting yourself, arranging gigs, getting a website together, managing your social media – and cashflow! Nobody gets any funding from record labels anymore. Arts Council funding was quite strong for a while but

And so too, it seems, can the universe. On the day we contacted Zac to arrange this interview, he was considering how to manage his time – and all his various initiatives – after the current Proclaimers tour finishes in the autumn. “It was the anniversary of dad’s death, on 4 July,” says Zac. “And then, your email popped up. I thought to myself, this is something lovely; dad must still be watching out for me!”

Ah, there’s surely a song in there somewhere? Cheers, Charles! And cheers to Zac, too: the man who makes music happen. n

Zac Ware Music: zacware.co.uk; zacwaremusic on Instagram, TikTok and YouTube. Zac’s Guitar Jukebox, Flan O’Briens, 21 Westgate Street, Bath, Friday 29 September, 8.30pm–11pm

Zac Ware on stage with The Proclaimers (Charlie and Craig Reid) at T In The Park. Photo credit Colin Usher

Think of this: a great song goes way beyond the songwriter; it has a life of its own.

ARTS & EXHIBITIONS

Sculpture, Painting, Ceramics, until 2 September, Beaux Arts Bath, 12-13 York Street

You can shelter from the rain, the sun and the visiting hoards in the balmy calm of Beaux Arts Bath during August, as the gallery has on show a selection of favourites. These include established artists such as Anna Gillespie, Beth Carter, Nick Mackman, Nathan Ford and Helen Simmonds, exhibiting alongside new faces such as painter Melanie Goemans. beauxartsbath.co.uk Susan McDonald at sandrahiggins.art

Sandra Higgins Art is delighted to exhibit work by Susan McDonald, whose painting is born out of an acute love of nature and keen observation of its seasons and life cycles. Visit the online gallery to see more or email sandra@sandrahiggins.com to view, in person, by appointment.

sandrahiggins.art; sandra@sandrahiggins.com

World of Interiors

David Simon Contemporary, 37 High Street, Castle Cary BA7 7AW

Until 18 August

Work from Hugh Buchanan, Hugo Grenville, Victoria Jinivizian, Peter LloydJones, Alex Lowery, Mungo Powney and ceramics by The Chelsea Potter. Whether depicting an artist’s studio or home or the stately rooms of a country house, these compositions give a snapshot into the private lives of others. The subject of domestic interiors lends itself as an endless source of inspiration for the painter to include still life, portraiture, windowsill landscapes and a vehicle for exploring colour, form and pattern. Open Monday –Saturday (except Wednesday), 10am–5.30pm.

davidsimoncontemporary.com

Immersion – an exhibition of contemporary photography by Shay Parsons, Burdall’s Yard, 7a Anglo Terrace, Bath, until 25 August

Bath Contemporary Artists’ Fair, Sunday 13 August, 10am–5pm Green Park Station, Green Park Road, Bath

The award-winning monthly Bath Contemporary Artists’ Fair (BCAF) is back on Sunday 13 August. Committed to bringing the best of contemporary art from the city and beyond to the heart of Bath, the fair has created a regular space where artists can network, share ideas, connect with the public, and where the public can connect with art. Visitors can browse the works of local artists and admire fine art, photography, sculpture, textiles, ceramics and much more, all under the vaulted glass roof of Green Park Station. For updates and exhibiting artists visit the website: bcaf.co.uk

Shay Parsons is a Bath-based contemporary photographer. She uses camera movement, abstraction and multiple exposure to bring a painterly and impressionistic style to her photographs. The images are her response to the landscape and nature. All images are framed, signed limited editions. This solo exhibition follows on from successful showings during May in central Bath at a pop-up gallery and as part of Bear Flat Artists’ Open Studios. Open Tues–Sat 11am – 6pm. shayparsons.com

LEFT: Exploration III by Susan McDonald, mixed media, 31.4 x 40cm

Image: Gillian Cox

Tidal Crossing by Shay Parsons

Delft II by Melanie Goeman, oil and charcoal on gessoed linen

The Holburne Museum, Great Pulteney Street, Bath

Painted Love: Renaissance Marriage Portraits, until 1 October

This lavish exhibition explores the role of portraiture in the process of marriage in Renaissance Europe. Marriage portraits not only documented the legal union of spouses, capturing that key moment in the sitters’ lives, intimate and personal as well as public and formal, but also celebrated the union of families, their wealth, power, land, and the forging of political alliances. The exhibition includes prestigious loans from the National Gallery, the British Museum, the Royal Collection Trust, the Ashmolean and the V&A, alongside numerous works from important private collections.

Lucie Rie: The Adventure of Pottery, until 7 January

This major exhibition celebrates Lucie Rie (1902–1995), one of the most accomplished and influential potters of the 20th century. Featuring work produced across six decades, this display follows the evolution of Rie’s distinguished career, from some of her earliest ceramics made in her native Vienna to striking pieces from the last years of her life. holburne.org

Summer Exhibition

Gallery Nine, 9B Margaret's Buildings, Bath, 1 July –31 August

Anna Silverton’s wheel-thrown colourful porcelain vases and bowls balance refined elegance and swooping curves while Liz O’Dwyer creates simple, unglazed, polished porcelain pieces with modern, crisp lines. Jewellery by Alison Boyce inspired by the Portuguese coastline uses silver, enamel, found objects, wood, textiles and semi-precious beads. Ulli Kaiser combines traditional crafts like bead crochet with unusual materials such as cut glass and antique metal beads. Barbara Peirson’s figurative and landscape paintings capture subjects including dawn light mirrored in the water and wet mud, summer grazing cows and small fishing vessels. galleryninebath.com

Kaffe Fassett: Timeless Themes –New Quilts, until 1 October

This vibrant exhibition showcases 23 large new quilts and ties in with Kaffe's forthcoming book, Timeless Themes. Kaffe has searched through his print archives to demonstrate the different motifs that people love to return to in patchwork designs which delight and intrigue.

Candace Bahouth: Enchanted Visions, until 1 October

Candace Bahouth, celebrated fine artist and longterm collaborator with Kaffe, creates grand rococo mirrors decorated with porcelain and china pieces. victoriagal.org.uk

Connecting Threads: Fashion Inspired by the MEAA Collection, Museum of East Asian Art, 12 Bennett Street, Bath; meaa.org.uk, until 22 December

Working in partnership with the Museum, and taking inspiration from objects in the Museum’s collection, students from the Art & Design department of Bath College were challenged to create garments which would appeal to their generation. The exhibition features a selection of four of the fashion students’ designs alongside the objects which caught their imagination. These objects, along with other treasures in the Museum’s extensive collection, provided the starting point for these young aspiring designers to follow their own curiosity and learn more about the objects’ cultures of origin. Their designs reflect this journey of discovery and highlight the themes, techniques, and cultural aspects that most inspired them. meaa.org.uk

Necklace by Ulli Kaiser

Victoria Art Gallery, Bridge Street, Bath

Quilt by Kaffe Fassett

Mosaic detail by Candace Bahouth

Group of ledgerstones to members of the Harvey family of sculptors, including ‘The Very Ingenious’ John Harvey (d. 1742) and his sisters, Sarah (d. 1691/2) and Ann (d. 1696) to the left of it. © Bath Abbey.

In memoriam at the Abbey

Bath Abbey’s collection of monuments is on a par with those in Westminster Abbey, and its wall tablets and ledgerstones outnumber those in Westminster. Dr Oliver Taylor, Bath Abbey's Head of Interpretation and Engagement, has written a book about the monuments –here are some selected excerpts.

There are 635 tablets on the walls of Bath Abbey... The ones that have attracted comment have traditionally been those by celebrated sculptors whose work has commemorated celebrities of local or national life. But the Abbey’s monuments are not simply monuments to those whose rank or income meant they were buried in Bath rather than Westminster Abbey. True, Bath Abbey contains monuments to some who might have been buried and commemorated in Westminster. However, Bath Abbey’s monuments are also uniquely a collection through which can be read the story of the parish church building itself and the rise of Bath as a spa. They are a sorely underappreciated aspect of the city’s famous Georgian heyday.

The Royal Crescent, Circus, Baths, Pump Room, and Assembly Rooms are rightly appreciated as the places frequented by Bath’s fashionable 18th-century visitors. However, the Abbey, as the church attended by those visitors, is rarely mentioned, and nowhere is it addressed that during the Georgian period the Abbey was a ‘gallery of sculpture’ that attracted numerous visitors and citizens who wanted to admire the latest works of art by artists working in a serious and respected artform: the English church monument. Certainly monuments to the first rank of politicians, admirals, doctors, philosophers, bishops, soldiers, merchants and others can be found. But so too can those of Bath’s teachers, socialites, cloth merchants, poulterers, booksellers, mayors, sculptors, plumbers and publicans, to name but a few. Hidden in the lines of their monuments is an unwritten social history of Bath.

Until now, writers have largely reduced thinking on the Abbey’s monuments to two quotable but questionable phrases conceived in the early 19th century. Henry Harington’s description of the Abbey: ‘These ancient walls, with many a mouldering bust, / But show how well Bath waters lay the dust’ – and John Britton’s statement that ‘Perhaps there is not a Church in England, not excepting that national mausoleum, Westminster Abbey, so crowded with sepulchral memorials.’

Britton was right to identify Bath Abbey’s monuments as on a par with those in Westminster Abbey in 1825. Bath Abbey’s over 1,500 monuments are a nationally significant collection. Bath’s 635 wall tablets are comparable in number with the ‘just over 600 tombs and other substantial monuments’ in Westminster Abbey. Add to that number Bath Abbey’s 891 ledgerstones (flat inscribed gravestones), almost three times as many as the ‘more than 300 memorial stones and stained glass windows’ at Westminster, and one could easily correct Britton’s statement to say that Bath Abbey has the largest collection of monuments of any church in England.

However, the combination of the English church monument’s fall out of fashion in the mid-19th century and the extent of the alterations to Bath Abbey’s monuments in the 1830s and 1860s has led them to be all but forgotten. A fact all the more surprising given their importance in Georgian Bath. Whilst the Abbey’s spectacular medieval architecture, rather than its monuments, contributes to the Outstanding Universal Value of the UNESCO World Heritage City of Bath, the importance of the Abbey’s monuments is acknowledged three times in Historic England’s Grade I listing of Bath Abbey. The ‘exceptionally high concentration of memorial tablets (some 640 in all) from the C17 onwards attests to the church’s central place in Bath society’.

This book tells the story of the monuments. How did a ruined Tudor abbey come to have the largest collection of church monuments in the country by 1845? How has this collection been seen by those who have visited the Abbey, and how has it been cared for and added to by the generations who have looked after the Abbey?

What do we encounter today when we look around the Abbey, walk across its floor, and read the monuments? This book argues that the monuments played an important role in the rebuilding of the Abbey as a parish church in the late 16th and 17th centuries, helped to create a new identity for it in the 18th and 19th centuries, and that what we encounter of them today is the result of major renovation and conservation work in the 19th and 21 centuries, respectively. All illustrative of the way in which the Abbey has invited, benefited from, cared for, and managed its monuments for over 400 years. n

Bath Abbey’s Monuments by Dr Oliver Taylor (The History Press), £22, is published on 17 August.

James Quin was ‘privately interred’ in the Abbey on 25 January 1766. His tablet was erected three years later on ‘a pillar at the south-eastern end of the nave’’.

The 1778 survey describes it as follows:

‘On the pyramid of Sienna marble is a medallion of Namur black marble, with a

striking Likeness of the deceased, and Cyprus branches on each side; underneath is a sarcophagus, of statuary marble, on which is a table, with an epitaph, wrote by MR. GARRICK, under which is a mask and a dagger, representing Tragedy and Comedy.’

Photograph by Michael Wharley

James Quin’s monument

Bloomsbury Beauty in 1500-lot Summer Sale

A beautiful still life painting caught bidders’ eyes at Lawrences Crewkerne on July 10th. It had been painted in 1929 by the celebrated Bloomsbury School artist Duncan Grant (1885-1978) and depicts a cluttered mantelpiece with a lidded urn, books and a clock (or jardiniere) alongside.

That brief description of its composition suggests a rather quotidian subject but, often, a picture can exceed the sum of its parts and – just as crucially –incidental details can enhance the price. This picture was appealing early in date (Grant worked tirelessly for another half century after he had completed this work); it had been exhibited at the London Artists’ Association; it had been owned by the writer and keen Grant collector Sir Hugh Walpole (1884-1941); and it was sold by his executors at the prestigious Leicester Galleries in London during the period of almost reckless joie de vivre after VE day in May 1945. In addition, it was in flawless condition, presented in a period frame and appearing on the market for the first time in over 75 years.

But admiring a picture for its provenance is similar to admiring a country house for its former inhabitants. What’s it like to live with? This picture had a technique that showed the swift accomplishment of a highly skilled artist; the varied palette balanced subtle shadows with bright daylight from the left; and the almost humble arrangement ennobled the simpler aesthetic appeal of the objects depicted within. The whole picture had an air of studied informality: it was casual but careful, exacting but informal, and the whole design was as well observed as a Spanish ‘bodegón’ still life of the 17th Century.

Measuring 32 x 42cm (12.5 x 16.5”), its modest scale belied an irresistible allure. It caught browsers’ eye from across a crowded saleroom and its numerous blends of brilliance helped it to a price of £11250 against hopes of £8000-10000. Lawrences welcomes enquiries for all forthcoming sales at enquiries@lawrences.co.uk (Tel 01460 73041)

FREE Valuations are available with specialists at the Crewkerne and Wessex salerooms. Also available Online | Email | WhatsApp

Home visits are also available without charge or obligation.

Entries are invited for our Autumn auctions to include:

Silver | Vertu | Pictures | 19th/20th Century Design | Ceramics

Oriental Works of Art | Jewellery | Watches | Furniture | Clocks | Rugs

Militaria | Coins | Medals | Collectors | Sporting | Textiles | Wine | Spirits

Books | Maps | Manuscripts | Photography

Lawrences AUCTIONEERS

South Street, Crewkerne, Somerset TA18 8AB. T: 01460 73041

E: enquiries@lawrences.co.uk

Antiques are Green

CYNTHIA WIHARDJA Partner, Beau Nash Bath

Despite fast-paced consumerism, there has been a resurgence of interest in antiques in recent years, not only for their historical value but also for their positive impact on the environment.

The mahogany used to make a chest of drawers came across the Atlantic by wind, was picked up by horse and cart, and taken to the cabinet maker to make a piece which is still in use 300 years later. Clearly, embracing antiques is not just about preserving our heritage but also about making sustainable choices in a throwaway culture.

Antiques are durable. Unlike mass-produced items, antiques were made to last for generations and made with a level of craftsmanship that is often lacking in today's disposable goods. By investing in antiques, we can contribute to the depletion of natural resources and the generation of waste.

Antiques promote recycling. The energy consumption and carbon emissions involved in producing and transporting new items are staggering. Choosing to buy antiques means recycling and reusing resources already in circulation, promoting a circular economy.

Antiques connect us to our heritage. Each antique piece tell a story of time and history. By cherishing and passing down these artifacts, we cultivate a sense of appreciation for the wisdom of past generations.

Buying antiques can bring financial incentives. The cost of many modern products has risen while their durability has not. Replacing furniture every few years can prove costly. Many people including the young generation now realise that antiques are “forever pieces” and favour them over modern options.

Embracing antiques is not only a tribute to our ancestors but also a responsible step towards a more sustainable future. Let’s celebrate the charm of antiques while preserving the planet for generations to come. n

beaunashbath.com; info@beaunashbath.com; 01225 334234 @beaunashbath

Captain Fanplastic

Edward Chudleigh is a commercial pilot, an engineer, an artist and an inventor and he has a self-built, state-of-the-art computer and robotics lab in his basement in Bath. And being of an inventive mind, his work designing and building face shields for the pandemic –for which he received his MBE in 2021 –is just the beginning...

It all started with me in the basement, and it ended with me in the basement”, says Edward Chudleigh, referring to a period of time and intense activity in 2020 that resulted in him receiving an MBE.

Edward is a corporate pilot, an engineer skilled in innovation, and a sculptor. In the early part of 2020 his wife Rachel was in China, well before the first Coronavirus cases in the UK. “She told me what was going to hit us. She saw the level of control and rules in China; you were only allowed to enter a park wearing a face mask, showing how quickly the administration was clamping down on it.”

“I rang a few friends who were doctors, nurses and surgeons and they said they were hearing the same. One medic said to me, ‘We are very worried because if it does happen we don’t have the PPE for it.’ And I said ‘what is PPE?’ They explained that a face shield is the most important element of PPE because it protects your eyes, mouth and nose, all the sensitive areas where you could absorb any aspiration from anyone affected. So I started designing and making some at home.”

Perhaps a resolution that could only be made by a fraction of the population. But Edward is different. He has a Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Design/Engineering from Brunel University London. He worked for Dyson for 11 years as a design manager and engineering optimisation manager, then became a commercial pilot flying a variety of Single Engine, and Multi Engine Aircraft. In between flying he has a basement with seven robots and 12 computers, and he builds sculptures from polylactic acids. More of that later.

“So I built a machine called Dorothy,” says Edward. When I looked askance, he explains, “She is named after Dorothy Vaughan, the pioneering black female scientist who helped NASA with the space programme and introduced them to computer programming.”

Fair enough. “I started to programme them to make prototype face shields and I knew I could make a lot of them. I was using 3D printers, laser cutters and robotic knife cutters – you make a prototype and then ask the computer (Dorothy) to make loads of them. A few friends and local businesses got involved. It was a standard design, but it got more complex and I started to talk to surgeons around the country, about how it could be adapted. It was incredible the amount of learning that took place in such a short period.

“The first pieces I made were with plumbing installation pipes because materials were so scarce then. It then got more advanced and we started building them in St Michael’s Without Church. At the peak we [the company was called Foldall] had 365 volunteers and a core team who were instrumental to its success. Some local cafés and grocers –such as Green Bird Café in Margaret’s Buildings, Larkhall Greengrocers, and many more –got involved to provide the muchneeded lunches and refreshments for our volunteers. It couldn’t have been done without everyone who contributed. King Edward’s School very kindly loaned us their sports hall to use. The volunteers would come every day, socially distanced. We were selling the face shields to the NHS to cover the cost of materials, and local businesses were employed to help work on the project. Other companies were selling shields at great profit whereas we sold them purely to cover costs.

“I’d never done anything like that before. We were producing them for hospitals, care homes, schools, funeral directors. We used about four companies including local signmaker Freestyle who had machines that would cut out the clear ‘screen’ component of the shield. They were working 24/7 cutting the clear screens to then be picked up and assembled in the church or sports hall by volunteers to make the final products. By working with these businesses we helped them to bring their employees out of furlough. We produced a total of 82,300 face shields, and at its height we were making almost 5000 a day. At one point we overtook the Royal Mint in making PPE. It was quite a good way to detach yourself from the horror of what was really happening.”

Photograph by Andy Lloyd

“The robots cut the shape of the shield and the jigs put the elements together. The jigs were designed and built in my house and then when more were needed we used our suppliers to make exact copies. When I was designing them I thought ‘how can I build a jig so nobody can get it wrong?’ At Dyson we used to build jigs and prototypes, so I just did it the same way.

Seeing the volunteers working was like a scene from World War II of making munitions – quite nostalgic. Dorothy would be working 24/7 in my house making components, and suppliers did the same for other components. The volunteers would then be assembling all the components with the jigs. At the end of every day DPD would collect the shields and deliver them to hospitals the next day.”

It wasn’t all a smooth ride with Dorothy however, because she once cut the top of Edward’s finger off. “It was really late, about 1am or 2am. I was tired and my wife Rachel told me I should go to bed.” He didn’t, lost focus briefly and found his finger in the firing line as Dorothy was operating her pneumatic ramps at very high pressure.

“I said to Rachel, ‘I am in the process of having my finger cut off’. You can’t interrupt Dorothy; there was no way of stopping her when she is working.”

The upper part of his finger gone, Edward went to the RUH. “I sat there with my hand in the air. The doctor came along and I went to see the surgeon who said, ‘Hey it’s the face shield guy. Why are you here?’ And I said, ‘Because I cut my finger off making your bloody shields’.” Once Edward had his finger sewn back he went home and carried on working.

“This really enthused my love of using artificial intelligence in the right way. I put Dorothy down to helping save quite a few hundred lives. The beauty of it, because we were using robotics, was that we could change the footprint of how it was made in two dimensions before it became three dimensions.

“A newspaper at the time said that I was following in the steps of James Dyson, but I’m just a person who likes playing with large bits of Lego. And when you run out you go and make it up. I’m a geek and I love making things. During those few months, I’ve never worked so hard in my life to be honest. When lockdown finished and everyone was allowed out, I think we were the only people who went to bed and slept!”

Edward built his basement robotics lab, before Dorothy was created, just out of interest. “I didn’t really know what I was going to do. I just wanted to look at the elements of how to build robotics and computers. So I started to build machines and robots, I bought several, with the idea of trying to make different structures out of different materials – because plastic was already getting a bad name for itself. The machines were integral in teaching me what they could do and what they could make.”

The result was Genesis2™, another robot designed and built by Edward. “Genesis2™ is the love of my life and she is also a pain in the ass. She makes what’s called an engineering billet, meaning material test samples. She is the only machine in the world that can take all manner of combined/mixed plastics –including all the things you have in your bins including black plastics, film and crisp packets. These go into a hopper and the robot combines all the plastics to make a new material.”

ABOVE, top: Edward explaining his latest invention to his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales. “Such a great day to discuss the use of #artificialintelligence and its impact on reducing #plasticwaste”, he commented on his Instagram account in June this year.

ABOVE: Volunteers in 2020 coordinated by production manager Laura Durrant, working to assemble the protective face masks in the sports hall at King Edward’s School, Bath

PREVIOUS PAGE, bottom: Glance, exhibited at Victoria Art Gallery in 2019, consists of two heads that are around three times the size of an original head, standing nearly half a metre tall. It is now on permanent display at The Bird Hotel, Bath

It wasn’t all a smooth ride with Dorothy because she once cut the top of Edward’s finger off

The computers and robots work collaboratively. “There are several computers that analyse the process. They are created as twins, two machines that sit next to each other and learn from each other. So one follows a process and makes a material out of it. While it’s doing this it is programmed to be transparent – as her sister is getting ready to do the next lot, she turns round and says ‘Before you get started don’t do this, do it this way and check this part of your code.’

“They talk in 1s and 0s; it’s digital. I can’t understand what they are saying –it’s too fast and complex most of the time. But I can translate what their commands are. There is also a mother computer that looks at how they behave. They are very long and very quiet. When they work it’s like the sound of a creaking galleon as they manipulate all the bits and pieces such as the molecular structures, and the Van der Waal forces (attraction and repulsions between atoms and molecules).”

Edward returns to Dorothy’s namesake: “Back in the day Dorothy Vaughan was doing hand calculations for NASA during the space race, and she was instrumental to the success of many space missions. Computers can do this in seconds now. You build them and they educate you and give you a path of where you need to go. Dorothy Vaughan went on to teach herself, her team and indeed NASA early computer programming; she’s a huge inspiration.”

starch and sugar. “It is quite a strong material – potato starch and sugar is a biodegradable material but you can also give it a coating to protect it. I have one at the Bishopstrow Hotel and Spa that is in their grounds and another one is about to go in.

The idea behind these sculptures came from observing Edward’s parents’ beehives. “I looked at the way the honeycomb in the hives is made and then programmed machines to make that same structure. It is a very strong structure, 100% plant based, and 100% biodegradable. I give the machine the shape and it pulls the code itself and you structure and manipulate part of the code to perfect it.

The resulting material is called Plastain™ and Edward has been trialling it in Bath with companies such as Corkage in Chapel Row. It’s a simple business model – Edward takes their plastic rubbish away and charges less than they would have paid. “I tell them ‘I’ll turn your rubbish into a product you can use’. Then they buy that product from me based on what they would pay online and it becomes a part of their business. The products will also eventually be available to the public. The Plastain™ material looks a bit like marble, it’s incredibly tough and it can be recycled around nine times and even beyond that, if combined with a higher-grade virgin material that gives it its strength. Edward met with the Prince of Wales at Windsor Castle in June to introduce the project whilst visiting for his investiture.

Edward’s sculptures are also a demonstration of the right way to use plastics and to see the capability of the machines he has built. Many of his sculptures are created with polylactic acids, essentially potato

“I remember being fascinated by the wax and the structure of honeycomb. It is frequently used in engineering and can be found in the engineering of aircraft and space equipment. I wanted to build a robot that can make that at 1000 times the speed a bee can. There is a moment when the sculpture is in the garden and you see a honey bee land on it, and I know the honey bee is essentially landing on a plant that it helped pollinate – there’s a key message there. It might look like copper and be made from industrial materials, but it’s 100% plant.

Edward is a pretty amazing individual, and someone who uses his knowledge to make a difference. “It’s busy, but everything I do has an intrinsic link, with robotics and how computers work. People are worried about AI taking over the world. But it can be used to help all manner of things. What fascinates me is how it can move towards solving illnesses like Alzheimers and cancer, and so on. The more we learn, the better the knowledge can be used to make a difference.” n

People are worried about AI taking over the world. But it can be used to help all manner of things

Edward Chudleigh in his basement as he was building the robot Dorothy

A sculpture using polylactic acids, a biodegradable material that uses the structure of a honeycomb

Photographs by Pete Helme

instagram @edwardchudleigh; edwardchudleigh.com

FOOD NEWS

New vegan café

Plant.Eat.Licious, a new vegan cafe, has just opened at the Chapel Arts Centre in Bath. The independent, family-owned business offers a variety of delicious plant-based vegan dishes using locally sourced ingredients. It's open every day from 8am–5pm, and serves breakfast, brunch and sharing platters.

Vegan Café, basement of Chapel Arts Centre, St James Memorial Hall Avon, Lower Borough Walls, Bath BA1 1QR planteatlicious.com

Meze in Walcot Street

Pomegranate Meze has opened on Walcot Street and would like to invite you to experience the delicious cuisine and warm hospitality. Get ready to savour delectable flavours, create lasting memories, and become a part of its vibrant restaurant community. Immerse yourself in the essence of Greek and Turkish cuisine, where every dish tells a story of tradition and taste, from succulent kebabs to aromatic moussaka. With an offer of 2 courses for £15.95 or 3 courses for £18.95, come and immerse yourself in Greek and Turkish cuisine. Pomegranate Meze, 88 Walcot Street, Bath; pomegranatebath.co.uk

The Gainsborough Brasserie at the Gainsborough Bath Spa Hotel will be open from 1 August for dinner. The Brasserie will serve a perfectly executed, informal brasserie menu complemented by an excellent selection of world wines. The dinner menu will feature the best produce from local farmers and artisan producers cooked to perfection in a contemporary British style to enjoy in a fun and vibrant atmosphere. thegainsboroughbathspa.co.uk

Robun special offer terms & conditions apply Quote BBH2023 for a complimentary glass of champagne on arrival when dining in Cloisters Restaurant choosing 3 course dinner.

FOOD REVIEW

Cloisters at Bailbrook House Hotel

Eveleigh Avenue, London Road West, Bath BA1 7JD; Tel: 01225 855100; handpickedhotels.co.uk/bailbrookhouse

Emma Clegg finds a gastronomic experience at Cloisters restaurant at Bailbrook House Hotel; the building is on a hill and the food and wine combine to form high-level dining

AGrade II architectural listing brings all sorts of wonders – and the Bailbrook House Hotel on Eveleigh Avenue off the London Road West doesn’t disappoint with its modillion cornices, stepped friezes, Ionic pilasters, bellied balconettes, and chamfered rusticated arcades. It was Bath architect John Eveleigh – of Camden Crescent and Somerset Place fame – who designed the building which was started in 1710, although because the Napoleonic War interrupted progress it wasn’t finished until the early 1800s.

Until Hand Picked Hotels purchased the property in 2012 – along with another property Bailbrook Court and 20 acres of grounds – and converted it into a hotel, the building had already assumed many roles. It had moved from a lavish 18th-century home to being taken by the Crown as reparation for the owner’s corrupt dealings and from providing a home for the Ladies Association – patronised by bishops, duchesses and Queen Charlotte, the wife of King George III – to becoming a nursing home and then a training college.

The Bailbrook House Hotel, located on the eastern side of the city and at the top of a long, winding drive, has expansive views over smooth downward sloping lawns and clusters of trees along the Avon Valley and this setting defines the experience – it’s a refreshing, green, peaceful escape from the bustle of central Bath that’s just a few minutes drive away. The Georgian building, also accommodating a modern wing from the 1970s, has a grand entrance with Bath stone floor slabs, fluted cabled Ionic columns and a semi-elliptical cobweb fanlight. There’s the option for drinks in the bar before heading to Cloisters, the fine-dining vaulted restaurant set within the original basement of the mansion house, with its original (cloistered) archways made from Bath stone.

We had a table overlooking a secluded woodland scene, which set up the digestion well, as we enjoyed cheese gougères and mini lamb croquettes served with a glass of Bruno Paillard Brut Champagne. The menus at Cloisters – which has a 2AA Rosette – are extensive. Head chef Michael Ball likes to use big, bold flavour combinations as well as subtle tones harnessing the naturallarder on our doorstep and

he has a penchant for venison, rhubarb and wild garlic, the latter picked daily just outside the kitchen when in season. The bold flavours were apparent as we considered starters such as Rabbit Cannelloni and Glazed Dingley Dell Pork Belly with shellfish bisque. We chose Lamb Shoulder Croquettes with smoked aubergine purée and salsa verde and Chalk Stream Trout and Herring Roe nestled inside a crème fraiche boat next to a grass-green puddle of lovage vichyssoise.

... Chalk Stream Trout and Herring Roe nestled inside a creme fraiche boat next to a grass-green puddle of lovage vichyssoise

Mains had a selection of eight dishes – plus grill options with sirloin steak, spatchcock poussin and chateaubriand – and we covered vegetarian and fish, with Roasted Cod Loin with saffron potato, lovage, new season peas and beer onions with a side of fries, to Plantbased Pea Risotto with beer-pickled onion, vegan feta and crispy onions and a side of fine beans and confit shallots, with all kcals specified (if you are counting).

With our respective meals we sampled glasses of Villa Saletta Raccolto a Mano Rosso from Tuscany for the risotto and Validivieso Sauvignon for the fish, both high-flyers; the red was smoothly soft and the white herbal with citrus elements. Julia Hands, owner of Hand Picked Wine, a wine aficionado and lay judge for the International Wine and Spirits Competition, initiated a programme of seeking out young wines from the finest producers and laying them down to mature. This has resulted in a range of Hand Picked wines available on the menu. There is also a wide selection of cocktails, cognacs and liqueurs. A range of price points and knowledgeable waiting staff (in our case, Bogdan) makes the whole drinks menu delightfully textured for lay drinkers and aspiring sommeliers alike.

It was hard to nail the best choice from Dulce de Leche Mousse, White Chocolate Parfait or Brown Sugar Tart, so we instead chose Plant-Based Mango Pannacotta with mango salsa, cardamom and lime sorbet, and Lemon and Lime Set Custard with sable, lime macaroon and milk ice cream. We didn’t opt for the cheese course but this is undoubtedly a good after-dinner option, with cheese including Bath Soft Organic, Solstice semi-soft cow’s milk cheese, Wyfe of Bath semi-hard cheese, and Bath Blue, served with grapes, celery, quince jelly, chutney and crackers.

Take a journey to Bailbrook House Hotel to escape the crowds; get out of the city without going far; be dazzled by cobweb fanlights and balconettes; find some peace in the cloisters; and treat yourself to some fine food and wines. n

This meal for two at Cloisters, without drinks, totalled £82. The Cloisters is open Mon–Sun 6.30–9.30pm and for Sunday lunch from 12.30–2.30pm.

Wild Garlic Stuffed Canon of Grass-fed Lamb

SECOND BIRTHDAY CELEBRATORY OFFER

To mark our second anniversary, we would like to invite you to enjoy 50% off your food bill throughout August. Join us for a month-long celebration of authentic Japanese food and drink, in the heart of Bath.

PRINCES BUILDINGS, GEORGE STREET, BATH BA1 3ED | ROBUN.CO.UK

In pursuit of learning

It may be a long time since you last set foot in a classroom, but it’s never too late to pick up a new hobby or interest. Open up the possibilities with some of these ideas for adult courses, clubs and activities

PENLAN CRAFTS

MECHANICAL TOY MAKIN G

Freestone Road, Bristol BS2 0QN; penlancrafts@gmail.com

Would you like to build a wooden mechanical toy from scratch? Welcome to the magical world of automata, the perfect synthesis of craftsmanship, engineering and artistic expression. On this one-day, face-to-face course, each student (maximum two participants) will design and build a one-shaft toy, drawing and cutting cams and cranks, using different types of wood and a vast range of tools available in Penlan Crafts’ workshop based near Temple Meads.

Participants can expect to finish the day with a lovely, fully functioning one-shaft mechanical toy. Suitable for absolute beginners as well as experienced woodworkers.

See Penlan Crafts’ creations on Etsy at: PenlanCrafts. Get in touch for more information via the email address above.

TRADITIONAL UPHOLSTERY SCHOOL

traditionalupholsteryschool.co.uk

The Traditional Upholstery School was founded in 2016 by Joanna Heptinstall to teach upholstery skills and lampshade making. Courses and workshops are designed to suit those looking to re-train and learn to upholster to a professional standard, and also those who just want a creative and rewarding hobby. The characterful, light and spacious workroom in a Wiltshire village provides a creative and sociable teaching space. Joanna offers a friendly and supportive environment which allows students to flourish. Small class sizes allow all students to thrive and produce high quality work, whether enjoying a satisfying hobby or working towards a new career.

ALLIANCE FRANÇAISE DE BRISTOL-BATH

afbristol.org.uk; 07903 821655; info@afbristol.org.uk

Have you ever dreamed of strolling along the charming streets of Paris, sipping café au lait at a quaint café, or exploring the stunning landscapes of the French countryside? Now is your chance to make those dreams a reality. Alliance Française, the leading provider of French language courses, is offering a unique opportunity for adults to learn French and immerse themselves in the rich French culture. The highly qualified and experienced teachers will guide you through the intricacies of the French language, from basic greetings to advanced conversation skills. From gastronomy to art, music to cinema, you’ll explore the diverse facets of French life and gain a true appreciation for its beauty and sophistication.

Whether you’re a complete beginner or looking to brush up on your existing skills, the classes cater to all levels. With flexible schedules and small class sizes, you’ll receive personalised attention and ample opportunity to practise your newfound language skills with fellow enthusiasts. For more information, visit the website above and get in touch to reserve your spot. À bientôt!

LOVE2 LEARN AT BATH COLLEGE

If you have always wanted to learn a new skill but haven’t had the opportunity, a Love2Learn parttime leisure course at Bath College is just what you need. All courses are timetabled to fit around your existing commitments, so you can learn in the evenings, at the weekend or even for a week in the school holidays. The college offers a wide range of art and design courses in traditional disciplines such as creative writing, printmaking, printed textiles, ceramics and sculpture as well as creativity courses in jewellery and silversmithing, floristry, creative writing. If you would like to brush up on your language skills or learn a new language from scratch, there are courses at different levels in French, German, Italian and Spanish.

• All courses and many more can be found at bathcollege.ac.uk; for all enquiries call 01225 328720

Holiday reads

It’s August, the time-out month. Whether you are travelling far or staying put, there’s always value in a good book that you can lose yourself in. Isabelle Blakeney has done the work for you with a list of some of the top holiday reads for 2023.

Happy Place by Emily Henry

The romance novel tends to be labelled as the classic holiday read, and since the release of her debut in 2020, Emily Henry has been at the front and centre of the genre. Happy Place, her latest novel released earlier this year, refuses to falter in its illustration of the messy complexities of love and relationships.

The plot follows a separated couple who fake their relationship for the sake of a final holiday with their friends at their annual holiday home. As the house is being sold, they don’t want to ruin the holiday - but as the story unfolds, the intricacies of love - fake, real, platonic, romantic - are revealed.

Happy Place’s depiction of love impressively maintains a sense of realism through the polyphony of relationships and dynamics that it navigates. By presenting a more lifelike demonstration of love, Henry takes you on a journey that is utterly charming and compelling, but still feels meaningful, making for a satisfying summer read. Penguin, £14.99

The Paper Palace by Miranda Cowley Heller

If you fancy something a little weightier, Miranda Cowley Heller’s debut novel The Paper Palace is an arresting and heart-wrenching entry into the world of adult fiction. Though in essence a romance story, the book uses the genre to illuminate the tension between desire, safety, and morality.

When wife and mother Elle Bishop finds herself having had a brief moment of passion with an ex-lover whilst on holiday with her family, she must decide the course of her life that could change it forever. Alternating between past and present, the book explores themes of legacies of abuse and family trauma and tragedy, and the idea of navigating the ‘right thing’.

The No. 1 New York Times bestseller is a text-book page-turner, and the Dalloway-esque narrative style immerses you in the sensory surroundings of Cape Cod. Penguin, Waterstones, £8.99

An absolute must-read this summer is Jaqueline Crook’s storming 2023 debut, Fire Rush. It’s a historical, semi-autobiographical novel detailing the experiences of second-generation Caribbean migrants in London, Bristol, and Jamaica. The novel is a beautiful, painful illustration of the lives of teenagers in the Thatcher years as they battle with the brutality of the state police, underscored by the sound of identity-forming dub and dancehall. The story follows the protagonist, Yamaye, through her teenage years in industrial London and her time at dancehall club The

Crypt. There she meets Moose, a soulful carpenter who moved to London from Jamaica, and her life seems to be on the brink of transformation. However, as the couple are hit with a cascade of violence, Yamaye finds herself entirely alone. She escapes to Bristol, and eventually Jamaica, on a journey of tragedy, transformation, and self-discovery.

Fire Rush is a story of passion and anger, but also of hope and the pursuit of pleasure in a world wrought with oppression. Whilst perhaps not a typically light beach-read, Fire Rush demands your time and attention, and will reward you in a totally gripping and mesmerising experience that will stay with you long after you turn the last page.

Johnathon Cape, £16.99

Wild Isles: The book of the BBC TV series presented by David Attenborough, by Patrick Barkham

If your prefered holiday reading is nonfiction, Patrick Barkham’s Wild Isles, released earlier this year, provides the perfect dose of educational escapism. The Amazon No.1 bestseller is the book adaptation of the extraordinary eponymous BBC docu-series, and explores the natural world of the British Isles. The beautifully illustrated book is completely absorbing and presents the fascinating relationships within and between species who make their home on our tiny islands. Divided into five sections, the book traverses land, sea and sky, showcasing the glorious richness of the archipelago. Wild Isles is a familyfriendly holiday read, captivating to adults and children alike.

HarperCollins, £17.99

The Half Known Life: Finding Paradise in a Divided World by Pico Iyer

Whether you’re abroad and experiencing the pursuit of paradise, or at home and needing to live vicariously, Pico Iyer’s 2023 book is the ultimate summer read.

The Half Known Life beautifully details Iyer’s travels and his search for paradise in the conflict-ridden world that we inhabit. His unwavering message of hope as he merges past, present and future is something of a comfort in times of uncertainty. The mesmerising, soulful and perceptive reflection of life and paradise has the power to revitalise, making for the perfect holiday accompaniment.

Riverhead Books, £13.99

Fire Rush by Jaqueline Crooks

ASPIRING LEADERS

Across the private, public and not-for-profit sectors, today’s leaders are facing the most challenging operating circumstances for generations. In this landscape of global uncertainty, leaner workforces, budget cuts, and reliance upon digital communications and the competencies needed to lead organisations successfully have shifted. Leaders now need to be skilled at crisis management, dealing with uncertainty and highlevel strategic leadership. Due to the continued success of the University of Bristol's part-time Executive Masters in Strategy, Change and Leadership, applications are now open for the eleventh cohort commencing in September 2023. This challenging and rewarding programme is designed for those aspiring to, or holding senior manager and leadership positions and will fit around the demands of a busy, professional leadership role. This bespoke master's degree in Strategy, Change and Leadership is aimed at providing senior managers with the tools and techniques they need to navigate their organisations through demanding times. By attending the programme, you will learn how to improve your ability to manage change and uncertainty; increase your leadership impact; understand organisational complexity and issues affecting success; make better choices about growth and strategic direction. Programme Manager, Cheralyn Baines-Dark says: “We are delighted to be recruiting our eleventh cohort of executive students to this successful and practical master’s programme. Excellent leadership is vital when facing a challenging and uncertain future, and organisations from all industries recognise the importance of investing in their future Leaders and Managers by developing their management and leadership teams in unpredictable times. This practical master's degree offers value for money and will offer a return on investment from day one.”

If you would like to have a chat about the programme please contact Cheralyn Baines-Dark, Programme Manager by phone 01179546694; or email: mgmt-scl@bristol.ac.uk

We deliver to over 15,000 addresses every month. But if you live outside our distribution area or would like us to send a copy to friends or family, we offer a magazine mailing service.

Nesting Arrangements

What is nesting?

Nesting (also known as ‘bird-nesting’) has become an increasingly popular way to co-parent following separation.

A nesting arrangement involves the children remaining in one home (usually the marital family home) and the separated parents taking it in turns living with the children in that home, rather than the children moving between two separate homes.

The concept gets its name from birds nesting, whereby they keep their chicks safe in a nest and take turns to fly in and out to care for them.

Generally, this is a short-term option at the early stages of a septation and reserved for parents where there is a great deal of trust and co-operation.

It can create a smoother transition period for the children and reduces the disruption to their lives, retaining routine and familiarity in the initial stages whilst coming to terms with and adapting to their parents’ separation.

Is nesting right for our family?

No ‘one size fits all’ when it comes to families. For this to be a viable option, parents must be amicable as parental conflict is likely to unhinge any prospect of the arrangement working. Both parents must fully buy in to pursuing this as an option.

Nesting is a very child-focussed concept and parents will need to consider all the implications of what this entails. For example – are there any concerns about privacy and personal belongings remaining at the family home.

There also needs to be consideration of financial implications of nesting. For example, renting or buying an albeit smaller second property as well as retaining the family home may not be an option. Equally being able to stay with friends/relatives when not caring for the children at the family home may not be feasible.

I am interested in nesting, what should I do?

We would always recommend speaking with a legal professional to help you decide if nesting is the right option for you and your family. Assuming you do wish to pursue this option, it is advisable for an agreement to be drawn up to set out clear ground rules and responsibilities from the beginning - from new partners staying over to who stocks the fridge.

If you have any questions please get in touch with Family Solicitor Simon Walker on 01225 750000 or email simon.walker@mogersdrewett.com

We are here to help.

Cash flow Management

Poor cash flow is the number one reason businesses fail.

Following on from last month’s article on how cash flow planning is best practice in any business and critical to survival and growth. Setting targets and monitoring your actual cashflow against your forecast will enable you to predict large cash outflows and respond to changes in your business.

A proactive business owner needs an understanding of cash and liquidity for better decision making. All businesses should have a Cash Flow Forecast in place at the beginning of the new financial year. Having said that, we can prepare one at any time.

Cash Flow Management Coaching

Helping our clients look ahead with confidence is core to our purpose as your accountants. We want to work with you beyond preparing a Cash Flow Forecast. Our Cashflow Management Coaching service has been designed to treat the underlying causes of poor cash flow - starting with your Cash Conversion Cycle. Together we’ll conduct a thorough review of the potential causes of your cash flow challenges. We will set annual goals and devise an action plan for improvement and hold you accountable to implementing simple strategies to maximise cash flow.

Inadequate cash flow is a symptom of management problems in a business, NOT the cause. We must fix the underlying issues.

Benefits of Cash Flow Management Coaching:

•Monitor actual cash flow against forecast in your accounting or reporting software

•Allows you to predict and plan for large cash outflows

•Understand key cash flow drivers and your business’s Cash Conversion Cycle

•Identify ways to avoid late payment penalties and interest

•Improve your relationships with financiers and suppliers

•Peace of mind that your cash flow needs are known and properly funded

•Improve business processes to boost cashflow, profit and business value

Profitable businesses can experience extreme cashflow problems, just as unprofitable businesses can survive if they’re well-funded. Understanding the difference between profit and cash and your business’s Cash Conversion Cycle is essential for your business to be viable in the long-term.

OCL Accountancy are here to make a real difference to you and your business. Delivering a high-quality, efficient compliance service is just part of that. Helping you develop, improve, and grow your business is the next step.

Our Business Development offerings are practical and tangible services to create long-term value for you and your business.

For more information contact us – call

Tristan Wilcox-Jones, Matt Bryant or Lucas Knight on 01225 445507

Call Tristan Wilcox-Jones, Matt Bryant or Lucas Knight on 01225 445507 to arrange a

CITY NEWS

Investing in people

South west legal and financial planning firm Mogers Drewett has announced several new appointments and created a new people development role following a year of record growth. The firm, which has offices in Bath, Wells, Sherborne and Frome, has seen turnover increase by 10 per cent across its teams during the last year.

Bath Academy expands

Students at Bath Academy have always thrived in the small school environment and the academy has seen a demand in students preferring this more personal approach at secondary level. To further accommodate these students and stay true to the idea of personal attention to individual students, the college will be taking on another building in the historic city centre.

With three college buildings all located on Queen Square, students will retain the benefits of studying in smaller classes and reap the rewards of having more space to receive individual student support, as well as more room to assist SEND students. There will be more areas for individualised tutor sessions as well as ‘safe spaces’ where students can go to feel safe and secure. By providing a quiet area and a sensory corner within these safe spaces, the children will have a place to reduce their anxieties and feel ready to tackle the academic world. bathacademy.co.uk

Quiz and dinner at Mint Room

This has allowed Mogers Drewett to invest further in its people with the appointment of experienced employee development and coaching specialist Ben Morris as head of people and performance. This is a new role created to develop the diverse range of talent within the firm. Also joining Mogers Drewett as a partner is experienced residential property lawyer Robin Phillips who previously

Silver success

spent 28 years at Mowbray Woodwards and then Stone King following the merger of the two firms.

Mogers Drewett has also recruited four trainee solicitors across the firm: Scarlet Clemens, Harry Durston, Charlotte Padfield and Daniel Cockhead. Mogers Drewett is partfunding their law school studies as part of an initiative to attract and develop young talent. mogersdrewett.com

Stone King paralegal Chris McIntosh has returned from the Central American and Caribbean Games (CACG) with a silver medal for Jamaica after competing in the Rugby Sevens (men’s). Chris, who works in the firm’s commercial property team in Bath has represented the Caribbean island since 2018, travelling around the world to play for the team affectionately known as the Crocs. This CACG saw the team going one better and improving on the bronze medal they secured in 2018.

This year’s final took place in El Salvador and saw the Crocs score an early try before being beaten into second place by the favourites Colombia. The silver medal puts Jamaica in contention for what could be the team’s Olympic debut in Paris 2024.

“Representing Jamaica is a privilege, and I am so lucky to be able to compete in a sport I love while seeing new countries and gaining new experiences,” said Chris.

High standards for Sulis Hospital

Bathavon Rotary Club organised a highly successful quiz and dinner at the wonderful Mint Room Restaurant, Bath. Members and their guests enjoyed a delicious 4-course meal, interspersed with a fiendishly difficult 4-part quiz –set by quizmaster Ken Jefferies. Much fun was had by all and well over £2000 was raised for Rotary charities such as Julian House. Bathavon President Hendrik Bebber praised the generosity and professionalism of Moe Rahman and his team at the Mint Room. rotary-ribi.org

stoneking.co.uk

Sulis Hospital has achieved accreditation as an elective surgical hub delivering high standards in clinical and operational practice. The scheme, run by NHS England’s Getting It Right First Time programme in collaboration with the Royal College of Surgeons of England, assesses hubs against a framework of standards to help deliver faster access to some of the most common surgical procedures. This status also seeks to assure patients about the high standards of clinical care.

The purpose of surgical hubs is to provide additional dedicated operating theatres and beds, aiming to improve the availability of planned surgeries. These hubs are exclusively dedicated to performing scheduled surgeries and mainly focus on high volume, low complexity procedures across a range of specialties such as ophthalmology, general surgery, orthopaedics, gynaecology, ear, nose, and throat, as well as urology.

Sulis Hospital was acquired by the Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust in June 2021 and continues as an independent hospital treating both NHS and private patients. sulishospital.com

From left, Ben Morris, Mogers Drewett’s managing partner Sean McDonough and new partner Robin Phillips

The local company bringing Bath the

Some of you may know Truespeed as the broadband provider that strives to do things differently; the one bringing guaranteed speeds and ultrafast broadband to homes and businesses across the South West.

Maybe you know Truespeed as the provider that ¬(unlike some of the others) installs a full-fibre connection directly to your router. Or maybe you know us simply as “the broadband company with the bright pink vans”.

We’re a mixture of all those things – but we’re also a whole lot more.

Who we are…

Truespeed is a growing (and award-winning) Bath-based business with a community-focused ethos at the heart of everything we do.

Since our foundation in 2014 we’ve been on a mission to do things differently, and provide the hard-working people of the South West with the ultrafast broadband they deserve.

Nine years on, we’ve now passed more than 80,000 properties with our network (meaning each can connect to our services) and connected over 16,000 customers (and counting) to our full-fibre broadband.

Who we are…

Doing things differently doesn’t just mean going the extra mile for our customers, providing them

with guaranteed speeds and ultrafast connectivity, we proudly provide our customers with a broadband experience like no other.

For us, it’s also about giving entire communities the opportunity to enjoy all the brilliant benefits of full-fibre connectivity. How? By providing local schools and community hubs passed by our network with free, broadband for life. We’ve provided over 150 free connections to date, meaning over 5,700 pupils now have access to ultrafast broadband.

As a local business, we also support the many causes and initiatives that form the backbone of the communities we live in, love, and connect to our network – all to help secure the future of the South West for generations to come.

How we do it

We’re building our very own full-fibre network. A huge step away from the outdated, existing copper-networks other providers use, Truespeed’s network is entirely our own. So whenever you see our teams out on the road building the network, know that the very best broadband technology is being installed.

In fact, 2022 alone saw us build more of our network than we did between 2016 and 2020, bringing ultrafast connectivity to tens of thousands of new homes and businesses throughout the South West. A huge step forward in bringing the region out of the digital slow lane!

And when it comes to building the network in new areas, we look to use existing infrastructure (such as telephone poles and underground ducts) whenever we can – maximising the efficiency of our builds and minimising any temporary disruption.

What this means for you

Unlike other providers – who run your fibre broadband to a box up the road and leave the rest to an old and slow copper cable – we connect our full-fibre lines directly to your home. That’s why you’ll always receive the speeds you pay for. Our ultrafast speeds are supported by ultrareliability, so you can say goodbye to loading wheels and peak time congestion, while our Whole Home Wi-Fi ensures you can enjoy a consistently fast connection throughout your home. And, with our 30-day money-back guarantee, you can cancel your contract and receive your money back – no questions asked – if our broadband isn’t truly better.

How you can discover truly better broadband

Fancy switching to a local broadband provider with a passion for supporting the community you call home?

Head to our Home Broadband page and check your postcode to see if we’re in your area, and discover truly better broadband today.

Shakeup Cosmetics at Boots

Shakeup Cosmetics, the Bathbased indie brand, have expanded their UK high-street presence to over 350 stores. Shakeup Cosmetics was founded by twin brothers Jake Xu and Shane CarnellXu, after they suffered from Rosacea and struggled to find cosmetic products designed specifically for men’s skin.

The duo believe that the pursuit of beauty is no longer exclusive to women. And it’s become the embodiment of self-care, directly affecting the self-esteem and mental wellbeing of today’s modern man. Boots is set to ‘shake up’ their men’s beauty offering in their biggest category rebuild in years. Shakeup, being one of the fastest-growing brands in this space, has secured a multi-store listing which has seen them launch their innovative and multi-purpose range of products in over 170 Boots stores nationwide.

shakeupcosmetics.com

Chanel Codes Couleur Collection

Chanel Codes Couleur Collection, which launched in July, brings to the market the limited-edition Mirror, Brush Set and Nail Files. These have been created in the Chanel Nail Polish, Le Vernis Colours: Ballerina, Immortelle, Ovni, Incendiare, Cavalier Seul Première Dame, Fugueuse, Diva and Rouge Noir.

Chanel say, “These are colors that do not hide. They are colors that reveal, that enhance. That make contrasts more distinct. They establish relationships of brightness and of saturation. They elude all that is anecdotal. That is how they became codes.”

The Mirror £40, The Nail File £30, The Brush Set £144. chanel.com

AESTHETICS

• Dermal fillers

• Lip enhancement

• Wrinkle treatments

• Profhilo

• Non surgical skin tightening & lifting treatments for face, eyes & neck

EYE TREATMENTS

• Micro-pigmentation for brows, eyes & lips

• HD Brows

• HD Brow lamination

• LVL Lash lift

IPL PERMANENT HAIR REDUCTION TREATMENT

• Suitable for face & body

• Offers permanent hair reduction for men and women

FACIALS

• Environ skin care & facials

• Bespoke facials to treat all skin concerns

• Scientific skincare that really makes a difference, outstanding results for all skin types and ages

• Skin peels

• Microdermabrasion

• Wow facial

• Guinot Hydradermie facials

IPL SKIN REJUVENATION

• Reverse skin damage, tighten pores & skin

• Boost collagen & elastin production

• Reduce the appearance of fine lines & wrinkles

• Treat vascular lesions (broken capillaries, blood vessels & rosacea

Find your metabolic journey

Combe Grove is a centre for integrated health and wellness overlooking the Limpley Stoke Valley. Dr Rebecca Hiscutt PhD tells us about its metabolic health programme, a transformative process for mind and body.

What is metabolic health?

Metabolic health underpins how we feel, how our body responds to the day and is fundamental to our mental and physical health. When metabolic health starts to deteriorate our body has to work harder to maintain balance so our body is in a state of ‘fight’ more often. Glucose levels might rise further and stay high for longer for example. This can impact our everyday wellbeing leading to fatigue and sluggishness, poor sleep, aches and pains, affect mood and cause weight gain, especially around the abdomen. It can also affect our health over time.

Combe Grove is the UK’s first metabolic health retreat. Why is this centre important?

There has been a growing understanding of how central metabolic health is to being able to lead healthy lives and minimise our risk of chronic diseases such as Type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and cancer.

The wonderful thing about metabolic health is that it can be pushed in either direction. So every individual is able to improve their metabolic health, sometimes a little and often dramatically. But this requires making lifestyle changes, and to do this you need to understand what impacts metabolic health and how to make these changes.

Many people want to be able to take control of their health, to learn about the core root of the health challenges they are facing and have the option of moving away from needing medications for each individual health issue. It’s this need that Combe Grove is addressing. Helping empower people to take charge of their health journey and feel confident and excited about makes changes to improve how they feel and how their future looks.

You offer a one-year support programme. How easy is it to maintain the regime once back at home?

The challenge is translating what you have done on a retreat to your home environment and continuing when life gets busy or stressful. We are very aware that many people have been on a long journey working on their health or weight. This is exhausting, expensive and demoralising. Therefore, once a client joins the Combe Grove Community our team of health professionals supports them for a year, coaching and guiding them through the challenges and successes. This support programme includes one year’s membership to The Club at Combe Grove so clients can come and use our pools, classes and gym as often as they wish throughout the year.

When you have good metabolic health

You wake up feeling well rested, alert and excited for the day. You have plenty of energy throughout the day, have a stable mood and feel able to handle life stresses. Your body is able to heal easily and has infrequent aches and pain. You can easily maintain your weight and feel strong with a high muscle mass.

The Five Roots of Metabolic Health

Central to the journey advocated at Combe Grove is the intention and ability to refresh and rebalance the Five Roots of Metabolic Health. In recalibrating your relationship with these key aspects of the human experience, you present your mind and body with the optimum conditions to thrive.

The five roots of metabolic health that underpin visitors’ experiences at Combe Grove are nutrition, movement, sleep, mindset and environment.

You deal with the risk of diabetes, high blood pressure and obesity. How does the retreat encompass all these issues?

The root cause of each of these is poor metabolic health with insulin resistance being a core feature. By helping clients discover how to rebalance their metabolic health they can start working towards reducing their blood sugar levels, blood pressure and body fat. Some of these changes are seen very quickly with blood pressure often decreasing significantly over the course of the week clients are with us.

What are the principles that the meals at Combe Grove follow?

The food is based around our healthy eating plate. We design meals to be 25% protein, 60% non-starchy vegetables and 15% or less starchy vegetables. Natural fats are an important part of each dish, adding amazing textures as well as nutrients and satiety.

We encourage clients to base meals around protein which helps to build muscle mass, supports blood sugar management and helps reduce cravings and hunger. Then to make use of non-starchy vegetables such as green leafy vegetables, green beans, fennel, green beans, courgettes and mushrooms to add colour, diversity and flavour. We help clients to individualise their carbohydrate and fat intake according to their health goals. Our meals are all low carbohydrate (130g total carbohydrate /day compared to the average of 200–250g).

We use whole, unprocessed foods with much of our produce coming from our kitchen garden and Combe Grove is alcohol free. Clients are offered a Pentire drink before dinner, a non-alcoholic botanical drink served in large glasses with grapefruit and rosemary.

Tell us about the health screenings and body composition analysis...

Our health checks give clients an indication of their metabolic health at baseline and at five points through their one-year journey. Insulin resistance is a core feature of poor metabolic health so we take measurements which provide an indication of insulin resistance. These include glucose (HbA1c) and cholesterol measurements which we use alongside waist circumference and blood pressure.

We have an Accuniq body composition analyser which provides very accurate measurements including skeletal muscle mass and visceral fat. These can be improved significantly through changes to the five roots.

Tell us about the choice of workshops, treatments and classes... We encourage clients to immerse themselves in the programme as much as they can following what feels right to them. Before clients arrive, we ask them to reflect on where they are with each of the five roots and to let us know which they feel needs most attention at that point. We are then able to direct clients to the workshops and activities which will be of most benefit to them. If sleep is the root which needs the most attention then we’ll highlight the relaxation sessions, morning walks to reset circadian rhythm, meditation and the sleep workshop. But as all the roots interlink and impact each other, most clients attend most or all of the programme.

Our core root is nutrition as this is central to metabolic health. We have three nutrition workshops over the week: ‘Build a plate’ where we focus on how to build meals and snacks to help optimise metabolic health and move people towards their goals, ‘When and how to eat’ and a cooking demonstration.

We also have a sleep, mindset and environment workshop which are highly practical with lots of interaction and tools provided. We finish the week with a ‘personalise your plan’ session where each client brings together what they have learnt over the week to create a plan to take home with them.

These sessions are supported by talks by experts such as Dr Campbell Murdoch and guest speakers with an interest in metabolic health and menopause, inspirational talks by people who have been through similar experiences and relaxation activities such as the badger walk, flower wreath-making and live guitar music.

What are the other wellness facilities?

The Club at Combe Grove has an indoor and outdoor swimming pool, a sauna, over 60 classes a week and a gym. We also have 70 acres of ancient woodland to explore. Many of our clients make use of our highly knowledgeable PT team (many of whom are nutritionists) to guide them with a personalised gym session to use at home.

How many visitors do you have for a stay?

We have up to 17 clients staying with us for each retreat. Clients have their own individual reasons for joining the retreat but share the common desire to reset their health and change how they feel. So we see very strong bonds and friendships form over the course of the week.

What sort of feedback have you had?

This is the closing statement by Fiona Duncan in her recent article in The Telegraph: “I can honestly say that my stay at Combe Grove was one of the most instructive, life-changing, and in many ways, enjoyable weeks of my life. It has now been three months since I left. I have exercised more, eaten healthily, dropped breakfast and (mostly) cut out alcohol. I am no longer pre-diabetic, my blood pressure is normal, I have lost 1.5 stone by eating sensibly; and I am full of energy. I’m no longer going to medicate my way out of ill health. I’m back in business.” n

A typical day at Combe Grove

A day starts with a morning walk, perhaps dipping into the woodland or up to the kitchen garden. This is followed by a meditation class tailored to the needs of the group. Clients then make themselves comfortable on giant bean bags in our Oak Room for a nutrition workshop with lots of discussion about food ideas. Mid-morning is time for brunch served in The Orangery. Clients are surprised and delighted by the abundance of food served at Combe Grove and by how satisfying it is. After a chance for a stroll clients will have a second workshop followed by time in the afternoon for their appointments, to make use of the facilities or relax and reflect. Dinner is served early to enable time restricted eating and clients can choose to take part in an activity after dinner such as yoga or a walk along the skyline.

Combe Grove, Brassknocker Hill, Bath BA2 7HS; 01225 834644; combegrove.com

At 100ml or under, meet your beauty favourites made miniature – from pint-sized perfumes to travel-friendly makeup...

Shop at: Harvey Nichols Bristol; harveynichols.com

Discovering Corsham

This month’s walk by Andrew Swift offers a combination of town and country and a chance to discover one of Wiltshire’s proudest secrets, the market town of Corsham, known for its exotic peacocks and picturesque countryside

Corsham is one of Wiltshire’s best-kept secrets. That doyen of architectural historians, Nikolaus Pevsner, declared it had “no match in Wiltshire for its wealth of good houses”, John Betjeman thought its High Street “one of the best left in England”, and, in the most recent BBC production of Poldark, it stood in – very convincingly – for 18thcentury Truro. Yet it remains overshadowed by honeypots such as Lacock and Castle Combe.

To get to the starting point for this 5.5 mile walk, drive east along the A4 and, as you enter Corsham, turn right at a miniroundabout along the B3353. Carry straight on, ignoring turnings to left or right, and as you leave the town head straight on at a mini-roundabout towards Lacock. After half a mile, just past a sign warning of pedestrians crossing, turn into a car park on the right (ST880702).

Follow a path out of the car park, cross the road, go through two gates into Corsham Park and turn right along a path. Just before a gate, bear left to follow a fence as it curves round to the lake. Head west along the lake, and when it ends carry on in the same direction. When the spire of St Bartholomew’s church emerges from behind a mighty oak, head towards it and go through a kissing gate into the churchyard (ST874704). The church is partNorman and well worth a visit if only to see the memorials in the Methuen Chapel.

As you go through a gateway into Church Square, Corsham Court – open afternoons except on Monday and Friday – is on the right. Ahead lies Church Street, with Corsham’s most bizarre building on the right. It could easily be taken for a ruinous fragment of a medieval hall or monastery, but it was actually built in 1797 so that the court’s residents didn’t have to look at the back of the imposing three-storey building in front of it.

The other buildings in Church Street are more modest and typical of the many weavers’ cottages still to be found in the town. At the end of Church Street, you come to the High Street, where much of the filming for Poldark was done. The town hall was built as a

market hall, with open arches, in 1784. After they were filled in, the upper storey was added in 1882.

Looking to your left, you can understand why John Betjeman was so taken with the High Street. For now, though, we are heading right, past a row known as the Flemish Cottages after the weavers from the Low Countries who settled here in the 17th century. If you look to the left up Priory Street, you will see, opposite 18th-century Ivy House, an older building once used as a fire station, and still with its bell for summoning the firemen.

At the end of the High Street, the road curves left past the sculpted hedges of Corsham Court. Keep to the left-hand pavement and, at the main road, cross and carry on along Bence’s Lane. Just after passing the end of Ivy Field, turn left along a footpath. At the end, cross the road and turn right past the old Duke of Cumberland Inn and the Baptist Church of 1828.

At the end, turn left along the A4 through Pickwick, once a separate hamlet, but now absorbed into Corsham. Pickwick is a fascinating place, despite the constant stream of traffic flowing past, with old cottages rubbing shoulders with grander buildings. The windowless building you pass on the left, its high arches filled with grey stone, was part of the Pickwick Brewery, which closed in 1896. A little further on, cross the main road and turn right along Middlewick Lane, which leads into open country (ST863706). After 900m, turn left at a T junction, and, after passing a row of 17thcentury cottages, carry on through a gate. After another 400m, follow the stony track as it curves up to the left, go through a gate and follow a lane through Upper Pickwick. After 300m, when the lane curves right, take the footpath carrying straight on across a field (ST854710). After going through three kissing gates, carry on across another field and turn left along the main road.

After 325m, cross at a traffic island to the Hare and Hounds and head along Pickwick Road to the right of it. Modern buildings predominate for a while, but older houses soon start to appear. After 700m look out on the right for the old White Lion Inn on the corner of Paul Road, still with its elaborate sign bracket.

Hungerford Almshouses

Corsham Court from the lake

Corsham High Street

Distance: 5.5 miles

Time: 3 hours plus

Map OS Explorer: 156

Corsham Court is open from 2pm–5.30pm daily except Mondays and Fridays; corsham-court.co.uk

At the mini-roundabout cross at the pedestrian lights, carry on in the same direction and turn right over the zebra crossing. After passing The Grove, a stately house of 1737, turn right along Station Road. Carry on beside the cricket ground before turning left along a footpath leading past the Pound Arts Centre. At the end, cross and turn left past the Grade I-listed Hungerford Almshouses, built in 1668 to accommodate six elderly people and educate ten scholars.

Cross ahead at the end, turn left and after passing the Methuen Arms, turn right into the High Street. This is the heart of the old town, packed with extraordinary buildings and worth taking at a leisurely pace. It is also a very vibrant and welcoming place, where you can find cafés, pubs, galleries and a

range of other interesting shops, including an excellent bookshop.

Turn right at the end along Church Street, and, when you enter Church Square, turn right through a kissing gate to walk along an avenue of limes. After 100m, when a path crosses the avenue, turn left through a gate to head back across the park to the car park. n

Many more walks can be found in Andrew Swift’s Country Walks from Bath published by Akeman Press; akemanpress.com

Church Street Folly

Days out with nature

As the summer days stretch out ahead, why not visit one of our local wildlife sites to get that Swallows and Amazons vibe? George Cook of the Avon Wildlife Trust waxes lyrical about Folly Farm and Chew Valley Lake and those who live there...

Avon Wildlife Trust is your largest local charity protecting nature in the west of England. Our work involves caring for over 27 nature reserves across the region, including ancient woodlands that turn purple with bluebells in the spring, wildflower meadows that buzz with life each summer and nationally important wetlands.

These reserves are home to all sorts of wildlife and they also provide a valuable place for people to go explore, relax and connect with nature. Close to Bath, we have reserves such as Browne’s Folly. This old quarry of Bath Stone is now a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) home to many species of rare orchid and the abandoned mines are now safe havens for the threatened greater horseshoe bat.

Another local reserve is the magical Bathampton Meadows, a beautiful sanctuary for many species that was born out of the creation of the bypass. This clever flood defence is owned by the Highway Authority and flourishes peacefully without human visitors.

There are some great reserves that you can explore this summer all within day-tripping distance of Bath. Folly Farm and Chew Valley Lake are two reserves near each other and would make an excellent day out enjoying nature.

MarbledWhite Butterfly at Folly Farm

Reed Warbler at Chew Valley Lake

Bee at Folly Farm

Photographs by George Cook

Folly Farm

Sitting on a bench at Folly Farm, looking out over the valley you can forget that you are so close to the cities of Bath and Bristol. Sunlight dances off Chew Valley lake in the distance, the Mendip hills rise away to the left, buzzards glide effortlessly overhead and the wildflower meadows around you hum with the steady buzz of insects. With stunning views like this, the variety of different habitats and the chance of seeing some incredible wildlife, Folly Farm is one of my favourite nature reserves.

This 250-acre site was historically a medieval deer park but is now home to Folly Farm Centre, an education centre, conference and wedding venue and beautiful nature reserve. A landscape survey revealed remains of a 1780s ferme ornée, a French term which means ‘ornamental farm’. This showed the site would have contained aesthetic features such as pools, cascades and gullies as well as traditional farm features. The restored 18thcentury farm buildings are now a beautiful venue for many weddings, conferences and provide accommodation for hundreds of visiting students each year.

The nature reserve surrounding the centre can be explored through different walking routes, including an accessible trail. These offer glimpses of many varied habitats including wildflower meadows, new and ancient woodlands and scrub. The ancient woodland, Dowling’s Wood, and some of the grasslands at Folly have been labelled as SSSI.

As you wander you might see some of the large ant hills, evidence the ground has not been ploughed for a very long time, many bird and bat boxes, badger sets and our herd of six Exmoor ponies. Exmoors are brilliant at navigating rough and uneven terrain and are hardy enough to handle the cold, wet winters. This native breed helps us manage the reserve and maintain its high biodiversity. By eating some of the rough foliage such as thistles and brambles, the horses create more space and let more light in for the wildflowers. The flowers support a wide variety of insects which in turn support the birds, mammals and other wildlife that call Folly Farm home.

Some of the most charismatic species that we have in the UK live here such as badgers, foxes, tawny owls and, my favourite, barn owls. I’ve been lucky enough to enjoy these beautiful birds several times here, watching them gliding silently over the meadows hunting for voles and small mammals. Once, when guiding a corporate group around the reserve, we saw a barn owl sitting in a tree in the middle of the afternoon! Lots of the group had never seen a live owl before and it was great to share that moment with them. During another walk, a slender, brown, furry animal darted across our path. The black tip at the end of its tail gave away its identity – a stoat!

The meadows at this time of year are also a joy to walk through.

...buzzards glide

effortlessly

overhead and the wildflower meadows around you hum with the steady buzz of insects

Splashes of purple, yellow and white from the flowers and from the various butterflies that visit them. My favourite, the marbled white, is an unmistakable white and black butterfly that resembles a chess board. One butterfly that used to be found on the reserve is the marsh fritillary, a beautiful chequered mix of orange, yellow and brown and is now unfortunately one of the rarest butterflies in the country. Populations of these butterflies can fluctuate greatly due to weather conditions and food availability and we haven’t seen one on site since 2021.

Unfortunately, meadows like the ones at Folly Farm are now rare, as across the country we have lost 97% of our wildflower meadows since the 1930s. One nature reserve is not enough to support some of these butterflies and this highlights the importance of wildlife corridors connecting reserves, gardens and wildlife sites together. This summer, if you want to explore a nature reserve that can provide lovely walks, spectacular views and wildlife, then I highly recommend Folly Farm. Perhaps you will like it so much you’ll want to get married here! Visit our website to for more information and to plan your visit.

Badger

These charismatic nocturnal mammals are a big hit with all the children that stay overnight at Folly Farm. Sit quietly enough and you too might be fortunate enough to spot one of these creatures foraging around the reserve. Badgers’ digging, foraging and sett building is fantastic for good soil health and they are natural seed dispersers, making them perfect meadow companions.

Species profile at Folly Farm

Ponies at Folly Farm

Meadows at Folly Farm

Chew Valley Lake

Perhaps more well-known for its scenic lakeside walks or award-winning fish and chips, Chew Valley Lake is also home to one of our nature reserves, Herriots Pool, a perfect place to go and enjoy some relaxing birdwatching. Bird fans of all ages visit the lake, from tiny toddlers spotting their first teal to enthusiastic elders who come to watch the egrets. Ducks, geese and swans enjoy bobbing on the lake while the summer sky above them is filled with flocks of swifts, swallows, sand martins and house martins catching small insects to feed their young.

Chew Valley Lake is actually an artificial, man-made lake created in the 1950s to act as a reservoir, gathering water from off the Mendip Hills to provide drinking water for the city of Bristol. Before then, the area was farmland and home to the village of Moreton which had to be abandoned for the creation of the lake. It is said that on dry summers when the water level of the lake falls, some of the roads and trees of the sunken village begin to re-emerge from beneath the surface. The lake itself, owned by Bristol Water, is now listed as a SSSI due to it being such an important site for wildlife. It’s a particularly good site for birds and the lake attracts birdwatchers from all over the country.

Our reserve is at the southernmost end of the lake and from the road side you can look out in both directions and see Herriots Pool to the south and the rest of the lake to the north. Herriots Pool is fed from the River Chew so, unlike the rest of the lake, it maintains a consistent water level throughout the year which is great for the wildlife that live there. There are over 11 islands in the pool alongside many channels, lagoons and bays that all provide safe areas for birds to roost, nest and feed. Over 260 species of bird have been recorded on the reserve including familiar faces such as Canada geese, mallards, mute swans, large flocks of black-headed gulls and herring gulls alongside plenty of other birds such as shoveler, pochard, gadwall, little grebes, great crested grebes and reed warblers.

Rarer birds are also spotted in and around the lake. Each year during their spring and autumn migration, ospreys are often spotted at the lake, snatching fish from the water and, although they have always evaded my binoculars, bearded tits can be sighted from the reed beads. In the summer, you might also be able to see a hobby, a small bird of prey that is agile enough to catch and eat dragonflies while flying! My favourite time of day to visit is in the mornings when the roads are quieter and the sounds of the various water fowl fill the air with their quacks and honks.

The lake remains a great place to visit throughout the year. In the winter, over 50,000 gulls roost out on the lake each evening including herring, black-headed, common and Mediterranean gulls. More ducks, geese and swans also come to the UK for our milder winters so the lake can fill up with a greater number of birds and of a greater variety in the winter! If you want to make it a day out, you can apply for birdwatching permits from Bristol Water that allow you access to various bird hides situated all around the lake for some unique views of the lake and its inhabitants. n

For Avon Wildlife Trust’s full list of nature reserves, visit avonwildlifetrust.org.uk/nature-reserves

Great white egret

Just a couple of decades ago, a sighting would have had birdwatchers coming from far and wide but these large white birds have started to become more common as they expand their range with rising temperatures. They are roughly similar in size to a grey heron but with longer neck and legs and have a long yellow beak and, unlike the little egret, black feet.

Species profile at Chew Valley Lake

Reed Bunting at Chew Valley Lake

Chew Valley Lake

Great Crested Grebes at Chew Valley Lake

Quality care in Bath you can trust

When a family is thinking about care for a loved one, they want the best - they want to know that the care home they choose will put their loved one’s safety, happiness and wellbeing first.

with an activity they’ve enjoyed in the past, or even discovering new hobbies with our daily activities.

The purpose-built home is designed for enjoying a luxury lifestyle, with en-suite rooms and facilities including a cinema, café, hair and beauty salon, and comfortable lounges and dining rooms. The home also boasts stunning gardens with wheelchair friendly pathways – the perfect place to spend some time when the weather allows.

Whether your loved one enjoys a quiet cup of tea in bed before starting the day, loves going for strolls in the landscaped grounds, or enjoys a chat over a glass of wine, the team at Rush Hill Mews will spend time to enable them to continue living life the way they want to.

Rush Hill Mews is managed by award-winning provider Care UKone of the UK's most highly successful care home operators* with over 40 years' experience of delivering high quality care to older people.

Living at Rush Hill Mews is all about quality of life. Every colleague in the home is passionate about enabling residents to enjoy a fulfilling lifestyle, tailored around their unique needs and preferences. The lifestyle team organises a huge variety of group and one-to-one activities, with plenty going on each day.

With the extra support that our care home offers, new residents are often surprised at what they can do, whether that’s being able to continue

A kitchen with industrial style

Ben Gregory, design consultant for Kütchenhaus Bath, reveals how he set about creating a kitchen with a contemporary, industrial vibe for the owners of a Grade II listed building.

Q: What type of property was the project in and what was the brief?

A: The location was a detached, Grade II listed property which was built in the mid to late 19th century. Our clients, Claire and Darren, had a brief that was very clear. With the kitchen set to be the hub of their new home, they wanted a really industrial style, to pair with the Crittallstyle glazing being installed at the same time.

Q: What type of cabinetry was used?

A: The client chose our Nobilia LINE N (true handleless) cabinetry with the Easytouch Graphite Black ultra matt door finish. Paired with black and stainless steel appliances, this helped create the cool, industrial look the client was after.

Q: What materials did you use? Was there anything different or unusual?

A: A must for the client was a very durable work surface. After debating whether or not to go with a concrete finish, they fell in love with Dekton Trilium by Cosentino, Blanco Silgranit sink in the recently launched Black finish and Extra-wide (120cm) range cooker and extractor hood, both in stainless steel.

Q: Can you tell us what was used for the floor?

The flooring consists of a natural sandstone tile. The same flooring is present in the kitchen, utility and snug area in front of the bi-fold doors.

Q: What were some of the challenges?

A: Becuse this property is over 150 years old, there were aspects of the room that required attention. Having the work surface templated meant we could keep the cabinetry along straight lines and provide extra depth for services. Located in the utility was a tailor-made heating system for the whole property, so being able to order cabinetry with bespoke depths meant the overall look was not compromised.

Q: What would your advice be to a designer who is just setting out on a similar project?

A: Look past the ultra-traditional exterior and façade of a property – introducing a contrasting style can actually elevate the period features that are being kept. I believed that less was more with this particular project, and fortunately this was in-line with the client’s brief. And don’t be afraid to go for darker finishes because when they’re paired with incredible glazing and lighting, they create a ‘wow’ factor in any home.

Q: When it comes to the finished project, are there any design elements that you’re particularly proud of?

A: My favourite part has to be the island size and positioning in the room. The positioning meant the island was centred when viewing the kitchen from the dining room and didn’t distract from the view to the rear garden.

Q: What are your clients' favourite parts of the finished project?

A: For Claire it was the Dekton worktop and the drawer space that was provided, and for Darren the element that stood out most was the built-in wine cabinet.

Q: Was the kitchen space newly created before the kitchen was installed?

The new kitchen and the utility furniture were installed within the existing kitchen space. The dated glazing was all removed and replaced with Crittall-style glazing to complement the style of the new kitchen. The roof light floods the space with plenty of natural light, which works well with the kitchen furniture and worktop finishes. The introduction of the bi-fold doors which look over the garden enables the outdoor space to be enjoyed during the summer months, even when spending time in the kitchen.

Q: Is this industrial style a popular one for your customers?

The industrial look for a new kitchen is very bold and works very well in certain spaces. The signature German look is very sought after, with clean lines and no handles. Our range of door fronts provides considerable choice for clients, and there are plenty of matt, gloss and textured fronts to choose from. n

Kütchenhaus, 5 Saracen Street, Bath; 01225 634025; uk.kutchenhaus.com/store-finder/bath

Line N Nobilia Kitchen range

Dekton Trilium by Cosentino

Dekton Trilium offers a mixture of colours inspired by volcanic stones and intense grey and black touches and is created with up to 80% recycled material. This series was created to pay tribute to the beautiful imperfections of the metals and stone in all their different stages of ageing.

The handleless design of the Line N Nobilia Kitchen range is defined by the reduced focus on the lines. The integrated recessed handles take the lead as the horizontal stylistic element that sets the tone for the kitchen. Line N kitchens are available in 57 colours.

New models for living

Compare the cost of a Garden Living Annexe in your garden with a loft conversion or a single storey extension and you’ll find the former has simple planning requirements, happens more swiftly and brings financial benefits, says Richard Squire of Garden Affairs

Since 2020, families everywhere have been forced to consider the best way to arrange living space within homes due to several common considerations. Firstly, the rise in working from home has put pressure on the use of spare bedrooms and other living areas to be used as office spaces. Secondly, the number of adult children returning to live in the family due to a lack of financial resources and difficulty in finding rental properties is rising.

Richard Squire, founder of Garden Affairs says, “Rented properties are both expensive and scarce, leaving many young adults unable to leave home. For the older generation the prospect of moving in with family members offers security and companionship.

“Furthermore, we see many families with parents who are selling the family home and taking the opportunity to reap the rewards of substantial gains over time and reinvesting those funds into a property with a larger garden, in which a mobile home can provide for multigenerational living without the need for both generations to share the same physical space.”

A standalone Garden Living Annexe, legally known as a mobile home, can provide a very affordable and effective solution for generating extra living accommodation for family groups. There can be significant benefits too: potential savings on care costs for both the younger and older generation; and significant financial savings given the scope for efficient tax planning. One of the factors that most people are surprised to learn is that there is no need for complicated planning.

Jamie Wright, of Complete Building Regs Service says, “Because a mobile home is classed as ‘use of land’, rather than ‘developments’, all homes (including listed buildings and conservation areas), already have permission to site a mobile home, or caravan, as long as the use is directly connected to the main house – such as as an annexe for an elderly parent.

“A Lawful Development Certificate can be provided if the essential requirements are met; that the unit will be within the curtilage of the

A standalone garden living annexe ... can provide a very affordable and effective solution for generating extra living accommodation for family groups

E_pbcl?dd_gpqJgtgle?llcvc &_bbgrgml_jqn_ac1.qok'

Jmdramltcpqgmlugrftcpw`_qga clqsgrcugrfafckga_jrmgjcr &_bbgrgml_jqn_ac0.qok'

Qglejcqrmpcwcvrclqgml glajsbgleigrafcl &_bbgrgml_jqn_ac1.qok'

Bms`jcqrmpcwcvrclqgmlglajsbgle igrafcl_lb`_rfpmmk &_bbgrgml_jqn_ac4.qok'

• sources: checkatrade.com / homebuilding.co.uk / myjobquote.co.uk / gardenaffairs.co.uk. Prices can vary especially in London and the south east.

building; that it is constructed in the right way and that the use is connected to the main house”.

Financially, the cost of a mobile unit is most compelling compared to a traditional building extension, which has now become extremely cost prohibitive both in financial terms and in time.

There are practical considerations to take into account. Installing a

prefabricated building in the garden is considerably faster and less disruptive than general building work within a residential home. All time and costs required for the build are highly predictable and there are rarely any surprises.

In addition, a Garden Living Annexe can increase the value of the house by more than its cost, if it is sold with the property. The annexe, as a mobile unit, may also be removed before a property is sold, if the owners wish to take it somewhere else.

Garden Affairs can design and configure a bespoke mobile home to suit your needs. Visit their Trowbridge show site to sit down with a designer to start planning your new garden living annexe. n

Garden Affairs, 288 Frome Road, Trowbridge BA14 ODT Tel: 01225 774566; gardenaffairs.co.uk

Table of cost equivalence analysis of 2023 building works costs: in house versus garden

Boost the butterflies

“One of the best ways we can help these beautiful creatures is to plant nectar-rich flowers in our garden,” says Elly West, who, this month, looks at ways we can help Britain’s butterfly population...

Who doesn’t love seeing a butterfly in the garden, flitting and dancing through the border, before landing on a flower and spreading its colourful wings? The sight takes me right to my childhood and the big buddleia bush in our front garden that provided hours of fun, catching butterflies in fishing nets and trying – usually unsuccessfully –to get them to crawl about on my hand for as long as possible before they opened their wings to fly away.

At that time in the early 1980s, I remember the tortoiseshells and peacocks in abundance, while red admirals and painted ladies were more coveted, and a bright yellow brimstone would be worthy of a shout indoors to show another family member. Caterpillars were another source of fascination, my favourite being the elephant hawkmoth caterpillar – big, dark and velvety with those fake ‘eyes’ to scare off predators. I was also happy to ‘collect’ cabbage-white caterpillars from the veg plot, and keep them as pets in various boxes and tins.

Local butterfly populations are constantly in a state of flux, with some sadly in decline and others on the up, but they all need help from us gardeners, who can play a vital part in providing nectar-rich plants for the adults and food for the caterpillars. According to Butterfly Conservation – a UK charity dedicated to butterflies and moths – nearly half of our 59 British butterfly species are threatened or near-threatened with extinction, among them the rare and beautiful swallowtail. It’s illegal to catch handle or harm this butterfly, along with a handful of other ‘fully protected’ species, without a licence, under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. Many others are ‘partially protected’ meaning they can’t be sold, dead or alive.

One of the best ways we can help these beautiful creatures is to plant nectar-rich flowers in our garden. Buddleia, also known

as the butterfly bush, is the number one recommended plant for attracting them, with its long racemes of purple flowers providing an abundance of summer nectar. These plants are easy to grow to the extent that they will grow just about anywhere – in cracks in a wall or on railway embankments, and also tolerate hard pruning if they get too large. Lots of varieties are available, including smaller ones suitable for containers. Deadhead regularly so the flowers keep coming, and so will the butterflies.

The flat pink flowerheads of Sedum spectabile provide a good landing spot and all-important autumn nectar, which helps butterflies build up their reserves for over-wintering. Spring is also an important time, when they come out of hibernation, and will appreciate wallflowers, apple blossom and grape hyacinths.

Naturally occurring wild flowers and plants are also important, as they’ll provide a succession of nectar through the year. If you have the space, then strips of meadow will help to provide nectarrich plants. Think too about breeding grounds and food for caterpillars. A patch of nettles will do the job, along with holly, ivy, thistles, docks and sorrels. Avoid using insecticides and pesticides, which kill many pollinating insects, including butterflies and their larvae. Allow fallen fruit to remain on the ground for late-summer butterflies such as the red admiral and painted lady, who enjoy feeding on rotting pears, apples and plums.

Butterflies have always embodied transformation and change, because of their mysterious and miraculous life cycle of metamorphosis, and as such have long been the subject of folklore and legend. Many ancient civilisations have linked the butterfly to the human soul. Irish folklore considers it bad luck to kill a white butterfly, because it holds the soul of a child. Native Americans believed they would carry wishes and prayers on their wings to the Great Spirit. Catch a butterfly and whisper it a wish, and your

wish will come true, as long as the butterfly is not harmed in the process. In the Appalachian mountains of the United States, if you are able to count the spots on a fritillary’s wings, this will tell you how much money is coming your way. In ancient Greece, Aristotle gave the butterfly the name Psyche, after the beautiful Greek goddess of the soul, who was often portrayed as having butterfly wings.

Collective nouns for groups of butterflies include ‘kaleidoscope’, ‘flutter’ and ‘bivouac’, the latter referring to a group that is resting together. Another interesting fact is that many butterflies can taste with their feet, to check whether the leaf they sit on is a good place to lay eggs.

The State of the UK’s Butterflies 2022 report revealed the alarming news that 80% of butterflies in the UK have declined since the 1970s. Decreases in butterfly populations on this scale are a huge cause for concern as butterflies are an integral part of the UK ecosystem and their precipitous decline is a clear warning signal of the wider biodiversity crisis. But it is not all bad news – the report also shows that targeted conservation work is very effective at halting declines.

Butterfly Conservation is running a campaign to transform the UK into a butterfly and moth-friendly haven. You can help by registering your wild spaces to show that you’re doing your bit for butterflies and moths. Alternatively you can sign up to pledge to create new wild spaces (butterfly-conservation.org).

The Somerset and Bristol branch of Butterfly Conservation is a local point of contact, which is organising guided butterfly walks through August. Visit somersetbristolbutterflies.org.uk for details, and to find other ways to get involved. n

ellyswellies.co.uk

Plant of the Month: Verbena bonariensis

Verbena bonariensis is known for its tall, slender stems and clusters of small purple flowers from mid-summer to autumn. It is airy in habit with a see-through, transparent effect, so won’t block the plants behind, making it great for adding height to mixed borders. The nectar-rich flowers are highly attractive to pollinators, including butterflies and bees, and it is low maintenance, growing well in most soil types, and in sun or partial shade. Once established, Verbena bonariensis is tolerant to drought, but will benefit from watering during dry spells in its first year or so. Plants die back in winter and emerge from the base again the following spring, although it may not survive in particularly cold spells, so a layer of straw or mulch in winter over the roots will help it surive. Don’t cut back the old dead stalks until new ones have emerged in spring, as they will also provide protection. It’s well suited to gravel gardens, cottage-style gardens or meadow planting, alongside ornamental grasses, and other late-summer bloomers such as rudbeckia, echinacea and salvias. Plants selfseed readily but are easy to pull out if they become a nuisance. The rigid stems are long-lasting, making it a great cut flower as well.

Holidays

Contact: 01225 482 225 alexa@bathholidayrentals.com www.bathholidayrentals.com Providing

An attractive 2/3 bedroom Grade II listed Georgian artisan townhouse located centrally on Bath’s sought after lower Lansdown slopes, within 5 minutes walk of Bath city centre.

Wyatt House is a pretty deceptive proportions with beautifully presented, stylish accommodation arranged over 4 floors.

On the ground floor the accommodation is entered through a beautiful stained glass door into a well equipped hand painted Shaker style kitchen and open plan dining room with an open staircase that leads to the lower ground floor. From the lower ground floor hallway there are glazed double doors leading to the pretty, secluded courtyard garden. At this level there is an attractive master double bedroom and an impressive shower room.

The charming double aspect drawing room spans the first floor and has plenty of bespoke built in storage and a lovely double aspect. On the top floor there is a further double bedroom and a spacious bathroom with a feature claw foot bath.

Externally there is a pretty, secluded walled ornamental courtyard garden with access to a vaulted stone outbuilding that offers the potential to convert in an office space or further occasional accommodation.

Cobb Farr, 35 Brock Street, The Circus, Bath; Tel: 01225 333332

Belvedere, Bath

•2 generous double bedrooms

•3rd occasional bedroom

•Large double aspect open plan kitchen and dining room

•Lovely double aspect drawing room

•2 spacious bathrooms

•Pretty ornamental courtyard garden

•Vaulted out building

OIEO £600,000

Dormer Cottage, Upper South Wraxall

£750,000

An attractive, detached stone built property comprising 4 bedrooms, 3 reception rooms, ample off street parking and private garden.

• 4 bedrooms

• En suite facilities

• Open plan kitchen/dining/living room

• 2 Further reception rooms

• Private, level garden

• Parking and store

Henrietta Street, Bath

£325,000

An attractive and well-proportioned laterally converted 1 bedroom, lower ground floor, city apartment boasting light rooms with the use of the front courtyard area. The apartment is ideally situated for the city centre; internally there is a well-appointed kitchen and refitted bathroom.

• Large living room

• 1 bedroom

• Well fitted internal kitchen

• Well appointed bathroom

Bennett Street, Bath

Guide Price £550,000

A particularly light example of a beautifully presented 2 bedroom apartment set in the heart of Georgian Bath with open plan living/kitchen/dining room, well proportioned rooms and private courtyard.

• Generous 2 bedroom apartment

• Two built in office spaces for home working

• Beautiful, light space

• Open plan living/kitchen/dining room

• Refitted bathroom with a bath and walk in shower

The ripple effect: exploring the link between interest rate rises and the sales and lettings markets

Impact on the sales market

When interest rates rise, it often has a direct effect on the sales market, especially for those looking to buy property. This is because an increase in interest rates often leads to an increase in mortgage rates, making it more expensive for potential buyers to secure a mortgage.

This can lead to a decrease in demand for properties, which in turn leads to a decrease in sales activity and, ultimately, a drop in property prices. Those who have already taken out a mortgage and are locked into a fixed interest rate will not be affected by this, but for those who are still in the process of buying or looking to enter the market, an interest rate rise can have significant consequences.

It's important to note that a small increase in interest rates is unlikely to have a significant impact on the sales market. However, if interest rates continue to rise, this could lead to a greater impact on property prices and the sales market overall.

Impact on the lettings market

s interest rates continue to climb, the ripple effect on the sales and lettings markets is becoming more and more evident. With an increased cost of borrowing for both consumers and businesses, the impact of higher rates can be felt throughout the housing industry. What is the link between interest rate rises and the sales and lettings markets, and what it could mean for buyers, sellers, landlords and tenants? From the impact on affordability to what this could mean for house prices, let's look at how rising interest rates can affect the property market.

What is an interest rate rise?

An interest rate rise occurs when a central bank, like the Bank of England, increases the cost of borrowing money. This means that banks will have to pay more to borrow from the central bank, and they may pass on this increased cost to their customers through higher interest rates on loans and mortgages. Higher interest rates can also affect savers, who may receive more interest on their savings accounts, but this is less common.

An interest rate rise is typically used to control inflation by making it more expensive to borrow money, thereby reducing the amount of money in circulation. It can also be used to stabilise the economy during times of economic uncertainty.

How do interest rates impact the economy?

Economists have warned that Britain is now on course for recession – predicting the bigger-than-expected interest rate rise by the Bank of England will hit the economy hard.

The latest rate hike makes the cost of paying back mortgages, other loans and credit cards more expensive but should mean people get a better return on their savings.

When interest rates rise, it has a direct impact on the overall economy. One of the main effects is that it becomes more expensive for businesses and individuals to borrow money. This can lead to a decrease in consumer spending and investment, which in turn can slow down economic growth.

Higher interest rates also affect the housing market. With mortgage rates increasing, it becomes more expensive for potential homebuyers to finance their purchases.

An interest rate rise can have a direct impact on the lettings market. When interest rates increase, landlords may find themselves struggling to keep up with their mortgage payments. As a result, some landlords may decide to sell their properties, reducing the overall supply of rental properties available.

Furthermore, with higher mortgage rates, landlords may also be less inclined to invest in additional properties, causing a slowdown in new buy-to-let investments. This could result in a reduction in rental property supply, causing rental prices to rise, which could lead to tenants struggling to afford rent.

To combat the potential effects of an interest rate rise, landlords need to consider financing options to ensure that they can continue to make mortgage payments and maintain their property portfolios. This may include seeking advice from mortgage advisors or exploring different financing options to find a better deal. At The Apartment Company, many of our clients have had success using mortgage advisors Willowbrook.

Looking for calmer waters

We are here to support our clients through whatever the property market brings. If you are a buyer, seller, landlord or tenant, we work with you to ensure a smoother experience.

Peter Greatorex. Managine Director of The Apartment Company and Peter Greatorex Unitue Homes

A collection of 12 beautiful homes in an eclectic mix of designs.

Church Farm, Hilperton, Wiltshire

Available 1st July 2023 · Fully furnished with everything · Georgian apartment · Two double bedrooms · Flexible tenancy length 6 or 12 months · Council Tax Band D · EPC Rating E

Fully furnished · Available 1st July 2023 · Open plan living room/kitchen · Two double bedrooms · Minimum Tenancy 12 months · Suitable Two professional sharers · Council Tax Band C · EPC Rating C

Available now · Redecorated and new carpets throughout · Three bedrooms · Unfurnished 1100sq.ft · Stunning views from bay windows · Luxury Bathroom · Council Tax Band E · EPC Rating D

pcm

Available 12th August 2023 · Unfurnished · Open plan living room/kitchen · Appliances in kitchen · Two double bedrooms · Community heating scheme · Suitable for 2 sharers · Council Tax Band B · EPC Rating B

Sorry no students · First floor apartment · Two double bedrooms · Newly fitted shower room · 12 month tenancy (minimum) · Suitable professionals · Council Tax Band B · EPC Rating D

pcm

Furnished · Two double bedrooms · Stunning views · Luxury bathroom · Sorry no student applications · Available 14th July 2023 · Council Tax Band A · EPC Rating C

Two bedrooms · One allocated parking space · Sorry no students · Close to City Centre · Part furnished · Council Tax Band D · EPC Rating E

Unfurnished · Two double bedrooms ·

Ground floor · Central location · Sorry no students · Permit parking · Council Tax Band D · EPC Rating C

Two bedrooms · Two bathrooms ·

Suitable professionals · Ground floor · Allocated secure parking · Courtyard · Council Tax Band D · EPC Rating C

Queens Parade £1,750 pcm

Palladian, Riverside £1,500

Lower Bristol Road £1,600 pcm

Palladian, Riverside £1,895 pcm

Lower Oldfield Park £1,400 pcm Bennett Street £1,500 pcm

Camden Crescent £2,250 pcm

Bladud Buildings £1,300

Victoria Bridge Road £1,500 pcm