Bath Life - Issue 437

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ISSUE 437 / 12 – 25 FEBRUARY 2021 / £3

ISSUE 437 / 12 – 25 FEBRUARY 2021 / WATCH THE BIRDIE

PHOTOGRAPHERS ON CAPTURING OUR CITY’S BEAUTY

PANTONE 2021

SHOP THIS YEAR’S STRIKING YELLOW AND GREY COMBO

BY GEORGE

INSIDE A GORGEOUS BATHWICK GEORGIAN TOWNHOUSE

VIRTUAL REALITY

HOW SCHOOLS ARE ACING ONLINE LESSONS

THE RESTORATION PERIOD

STUNNING HISTORICAL BUILDING PROJECTS

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SOMETHING EXCITING IS COMING SOON!

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For all your home appliance needs we are still here to help. We are delivering and installing whilst keeping to all government guidelines to keep you and our staff safe.

We look forward to welcoming customers back in to the store soon.

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EDITOR’S LETTER

above: Project by Stonewood Builders, page 66 below: Food by Plate, The Bird, page 32

A

bout five years ago we moved house and decided to buy a doer upper. Then about four years ago I vowed would never, ever to do that again.

And then, about two years ago, I realised I pretty much loved our house. Once the trauma of living in a building site (for six months our kitchen was a trestle table in the front room), soaring bills, and delays to the end date, finally faded, I could see it was worth it. It’s still aesthetically a work in progress but the noise, the mess, the time, the knocking down of walls, has hopefully given us the framework of our forever home. There was still an element of flashback anguish compiling the restoration and renovation feature on page 66 – issues for these homes ranged from bats in the belfry to Grade I building regs – but the results, thanks to the Bath specialists and experts, are utterly astounding.

Also astounding is the work Bath photographers and our Instagrammers are doing on a daily basis, like that of Ellis Reed as seen on our cover. We have gathered a gallery together of some beautiful Bath shots on page 12 and also picked the brains of those behind the lens so we too can be shooting and snapping with the best of them.

On page 35, there’s an indie shopping celebration of the Pantone colours of 2021, a steely grey and a buttercup yellow combo, which looks better than it sounds. We also catch up with some local schools on page 38 and discover the enterprising and impressive ways in which they’ve been embracing technology to ensure their pupils stay connected and learning. Over on page 11, you’ll find homeschool teacher David Flatman also has some enterprising tricks up his sleeve to keep his daughter-pupils actively engaged in lessons. Who knew scrolling RightMove could be so educational?

Enjoy and see you in two weeks

SARAH MOOLLA

Follow us on Twitter @BathLifeMag Instagram @bathlifemag

www.mediaclash.co.uk I BATH LIFE I 3

Issue 437 / 12 – 25 February 2021 COVER A magical Bath sunrise as captured by the photographer and videographer Ellis Reed (page 12)

THE ARTS

12 PHOTOGRAPHY Our beautiful city as seen

through the lens, and tips on achieving the same

25 ARTS INTRO The detailed work of Sarah Hawkins 26 WHAT’S ON Lockdown loveliness to keep you

entertained from animal watching to Zumba classes

29 BOOKS Literary works delving into closed

communities and their hidden secrets

FOOD&DRINK

12

35

31 FOOD & DRINK NEWS Celebrating Chinese New

Year, and the Olive Tree retains its Michelin Star

32 HOME DINING Pies by Plate from The Bird and

Giggling Squid provide some home food yumminess

SHOPPING

35 INTRO We’re loving this striking Audrey Hepburn

mural from Graham & Brown

36 EDITOR’S CHOICE Celebrating the Pantone 2021

dynamic duo of yellow and grey

EDUCATION

38 LOCKDOWN LEARNING How schools are

adapting their lessons and taking it online

BUSINESS

47 BIZ LEAD University of Bath launches Target Bath 47 BATHWORKS News, views and the local business

successes making the headlines

© PICTURE BY CHLOE MOORE; W W W.PRINTSOFBATH.COM

50 BIZ Q&A Wild Fig’s Emma Draper

PROPERTY

55 PROPERTY LEAD Curo’s showhouse launches at

Mulberry Park

56 NEWS Laura Place properties go to auction and news

from the Bath Property Awards

62 SHOWCASE A six-bed, city centre dream home 66 RESTORATION 10 fascinating building projects

that help to preserve Bath’s history

DEPARTMENTS

7 SPOTLIGHT In praise of Bath snow days 11 FLATLINE David Flatman finds ingenious ways to

cope with home schooling

77 STYLE COUNSEL Philippa on the pain of, and her

love for, renovating

82 BATH LIVES Meet Katie Brindle, who retrained in

Chinese medicine following a car accident

Editor Sarah Moolla sarah.moolla@mediaclash.co.uk Deputy editor Lydia Tewkesbury lydia.tewkesbury@mediaclash.co.uk Managing editor Deri Robins deri.robins@mediaclash. co.uk Senior art editor Andrew Richmond Graphic design Megan Allison Cover design Trevor Gilham Contributors Nic Bottomley, David Flatman, Philippa May, Matilda Walton, and John Mather Group advertising manager Pat White pat.white@mediaclash.co.uk Deputy advertising manager Justine Walker justine.walker@mediaclash.co.uk Account manager Annabel North annabel.north@mediaclash.co.uk Account manager Dan Nichols dan.nichols@mediaclash.co.uk Production/Distribution manager Sarah Kingston sarah. kingston@mediaclash.co.uk Deputy production manager Kirstie Howe kirstie.howe@mediaclash.co.uk Production designer Matt Gynn matt.gynn@mediaclash.co.uk Chief executive Jane Ingham jane.ingham@mediaclash.co.uk Chief executive Greg Ingham greg.ingham@mediaclash.co.uk Bath Life MediaClash, Circus Mews House, Circus Mews, Bath BA1 2PW 01225 475800 www.mediaclash.co.uk @The MediaClash © All rights reserved. May not be reproduced without written permission of MediaClash.

We’re a Bath-based publisher, creative agency and event organiser Magazines Our portfolio of regional magazines celebrates the best of local living: Bath, Bristol, Cardiff and Exeter. Agency From the design and build of websites to digital marketing and creating company magazines, we can help. Events We create, market, promote and operate a wide variety of events both for MediaClash and our clients Contact: info@mediaclash.co.uk

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IG @TOBYPENTREATHPHOTOGRAPHY

SPOTLIGHT Snow day

WALKING IN THE AIR

MAISIE LEE-WALKER / IH+G @MAISIE_WALKER

IG @JOANNACPETERS

© JAMES WHITLOCK/IG WHITLOCK2011

IG @RUI _ 21

CRAIGBL ACKLEY1.WIXSITE.COM/MYSITE/ IG @ PHOTOGRAPHYBYCRAIGBL ACKLEY

“They always say it’ll snow but it never does,” the cynical among us announced after a cursory glance at the weather forecast.

The next morning we all opened our curtains to a city covered in a fresh blanket of snow.

It was exactly what we needed.

The sudden flurry that appeared with a magical snap of the fingers was a shot of joy into these long grey days of life in suspension. The quiet peace of the morning and the first crunch of boots into the fresh carpet of white soon gave way to the sounds of kids laughing, dogs barking, and sleds skidding down increasingly slushy hills.

There’s nothing like snow to find your inner child, and perhaps raise a smile, even during the most difficult of times.

www.mediaclash.co.uk I BATH LIFE I 7

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FLAT LINE DAVID FLATMAN

Teacher training

© TAKING PICTURES

Why old episodes of Grand Designs and RightMove scrolling are proving to be valuable teaching resources

“Home schooling has taught me many things, and it has taught me that I need a bigger house”

I

honestly don’t know how teachers do it.

As well as the lesson prep, the marking, the constant, unrelenting need to be original and inspiring and bouncy and fun, it’s the patience.

I used to think this about the amazing people who worked at my brother’s day centre (he has learning disabilities) as I watched them getting bear hugged, chinned, or choked by my brother’s mates. They just seemed endlessly patient, and they were always – always – smiling. Heroes.

In truth, it never crossed my mind that school teachers’ jobs were similarly challenging.

I mean, as far as I know my daughters haven’t yet been pulled up for hugging the lungs off any staff members, but still, it’s an incredibly tough job, especially at the moment. Many of us always loved our kids’ teachers and we always respected them, but that respect soars by the day here, as I battle to get my girls to concentrate on something other than Minecraft or makeup tutorials on YouTube. I simply can’t do teaching. I’m too short of concentration, and I’m too keen to make coffee and look at Rightmove on the sofa (research).

That’s why I’m not a teacher.

I’ve tried to manifest a merging of our respective interests, though, and I think it’s working.

They like Minecraft which is, as far as I can tell, a computer game where you build houses and hotels and stables. I love restoring and renovating houses. Cue an old episode of Grand Designs after supper and whammo, they’re in. Admittedly they are a little precocious: “Oh my goodness, her taste is terrible!” “Ew, what is that coat she’s wearing?” “That indoor pool is pathetically small!” But I like not to focus on that, instead feeling glad that there’s actually something we can watch together

that one of us doesn’t hate more than the idea of a pneumatic drill to the temple.

To this end, I’ve tried gently to introduce the children to my current house hunt. Home schooling has taught me many things, and it has taught me that I need a bigger house. So my filters on Rightmove have been adjusted a little, and I’m now in the mood to get something with a bit more space but that, hence its potential affordability, needs more work post-purchase. To some this will sound like hell, and I may well be regretting it all a year from now, but I now really want something old, something pretty, and maybe even something a little crumbly.

My girls want a new build with two pools – one each – so there’s work to be done there...Also, I think they think of swimming pools basically as clean puddles, i.e. free of charge.

A nice idea would be to have some gorgeous plans drawn up, and to hand them over to a Stonewood or a Flying Pig and come back a while later with it all done and immaculate. I’ll have to do it the other way, though, researching every purchase.

Agonising over what to prioritise and what to delete or delay. The reality is that the process sounds fun but is actually deeply stressful.

It always takes longer and costs more. Always. You’ve seen the TV shows... But I’m up for the challenge, and now it seems I have two mustard-keen pupils ready to lend a hand.

Now, would a dedicated Minecraft studio make me a good daddy or an awful one?

David Flatman used to play rugby for England and Bath, now he talks and writes. Follow him on Twitter @ davidflatman and Instagram @dflatman

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Lloyd Evans favours golden hour and blue hour – sunrise and sunset – to shoot images like this of the Roman Baths

THROUGH THE APERTURE Bath’s photographers share their unique view on the city Compiled by Lydia Tewkesbury

PHOTOGRAPHY

I

t’s not surprising that a postcard perfect city like Bath would attract the aesthetically driven in their hoards. Even those who don’t consider themselves photographers feel the pull to grab a snap on a sunny day at Pulteney Bridge, to capture some of that beauty and take it home with them. Then there are those who dedicate their lives to the art, those among us driven out again and again, camera in hand, determined to return with the perfect image – the city in its truest light. We chatted with a few of Bath’s photographers to learn what inspired them for a life behind the camera.

Lloyd Evans

What camera do you use?

I’m currently using the Sony a7iii mirrorless camera. I’ve been using Sony since 2018 after making the switch to full frame. The things I like the most about the camera are the eye autofocus, enabling me to get tack sharp images of people and animals, and the electronic view finder is a game changer – you’re able to compose your image no matter how dark it is.

What are your top tips for capturing the perfect photo?

My favourite time to shoot is sunrise. I tend to shoot more in golden hour or blue hour more than any other time. For me, the mix of artificial light from street lamps with the ambient light of the day can truly create some incredible moments. I find that golden hour period provides the most beautiful natural light, which brings out the conditions needed to achieve the cinematic, atmospheric images that I’m drawn to.

Why did you start @IGersBath on Instagram?

I took over the IGersBath account along with two others in late 2015 to show off the abundance of talented photographers here. IGersBath is part of the worldwide IGers network set up by Phil Gonzalez. It’s more than an Instagram page – IGersBath is a community. When we’re able to, we organise walks, talks and competitions throughout the year. It’s completely free and we encourage people from all backgrounds and skillsets to get involved with our meet ups.

Lloyd is a commercial and outdoor photographer; Instagram @lloydevansphoto; www.lloydevansphotography.com

LEFT AND RIGHT: Casper Farrell’s work demonstrates his attraction to places of architectural beauty

Casper Farrell

Tell us about your camera

My main camera is a Canon 6D, it’s been my go-to piece of kit for many years purely for its robustness and intuitive controls. My main joy from using it is the low light capabilities – this camera captures an evening scene beautifully and renders colours faithfully when coupled with a decent lens.

What’s your creative process?

For my personal work, I’m attracted to places of architectural beauty, especially those that have interesting stories attached or intriguing historic details. This sparks my curiosity enough to plan a ‘recce’ trip to see if it’s possible to capture a compelling photo, where I’ll try out some test shots and to see if there’s other interesting places to photograph nearby. I’ll often then put a location aside and wait for different weather or available sunlight, using a range of apps to check conditions and angle of light. It can sometimes be many months before I return to a spot.

What are your favourite spots around the city to photograph?

My favourite places are not always the most obvious honey pot locations – more often I’m drawn to places where the sunlight falls beautifully across the city, usually from a side angle. This could be a simple row of townhouses or an isolated shop front.

Casper Farrell is a professional photographer; Instagram @brilliantbath; www.brilliantbath.co.uk

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PHOTOGRAPHY

“There is a sweet spot when the person in front of the camera has gotten used to the process and is starting to own the space” above: Betty Bhandari’s shoot with Edward Bayntun-Coward of Bayntun’s bookshop appeared in Bath Life; below: Rhian Wirtz’s work uses colour to evoke mood

Betty Bhandari

What are the features of a great photo?

For me, the perfect photo is an authentic portrait. It consists of the usual: good light and composition, technically done well. But then there is a sweet spot when the person in front of the camera has gotten used to the process and is starting to own the space. That is when the magic happens, a collaboration between the photographer and the model starts, and authentic, creative portraits are created.

Why do you love photography?

I am very interested in people, their characters and their stories. I have never been much of a landscape photographer – it has always been people for me. Life flies by so quickly and photographs capture moments in time you can go back to. People change, kids grow and businesses develop. I find it so interesting when I get to photograph the same family or business over and over, as I get to witness that and capture it.

Betty is a professional wedding and brand photographer; Instagram @ bettybhandariweddings, @thecreativecollaboration_; www.bettybhandari.com

Rhian Wirtz

Where in Bath are your favourite photo spots?

My favourite spots in the city have got to be the little pockets of greenery.

What I love about Bath is that one minute you’re walking through the bustling high streets, and the next minute you’re surrounded by trees and ponds, listening to the wildlife. That contrast will never get boring. I love the Georgian architecture in Bath – who doesn’t? – even in the rain, the Bath Stone glows.

What do you need to take a great photo?

Make sure the subject is one meaningful to you. Whether you are taking a photo of a leaf on the ground or a vast landscape, it’ll be apparent if you resonate with the image.

What’s the process of creating an image?

As the majority of the photos I take are not pre-planned, the creative process, for me, mainly begins in the actual editing of the image. I try to edit according to either how I was feeling, or the mood the subject seems to be expressing. For example, taking a dull grey sky and making it moodier and slightly more intense, not drastically changing it, but homing in on the details and texture of the clouds.

Instagram @rhianwirtz

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PHOTOGRAPHY Chloe Moore

When did you start taking photos seriously?

After having my two boys, Zac and Dexter, I became a stay-at-home mum, which gave me more freedom to experiment with photography. I set up social media pages for my images, and after I received a number of messages from people asking to buy prints, I wondered if I could turn my hobby into a business. I eventually took the plunge in 2017 and opened up shop through my website, Prints of Bath and later went on to have a stall at the Bath Christmas Market.

Where do you love to take photos in Bath?

Bath has so many great spots but the one place I always get drawn back to is Sydney Gardens. Being one of the few remaining 18th century pleasure gardens in the UK, it’s steeped in history and beautiful backdrops.

Another spot worth a mention is Waterfront House. The building stands across the water from Bath Quays and is the perfect subject to shoot still reflections. I love it there.

What is it about photography that keeps you coming back?

I find it therapeutic. I love to go out in the early morning before the city wakes, and wander with my camera – there is a sense of calm in those early hours. Another thing that fascinates me about photography is how differently we all see the world. You can have a group of photographers all shoot the same subject but every image has its own interpretation.

Chloe’s prints are available to buy on her website; Instagram @chloemoore_photography; www.chloemoorephotography.co.uk

“I’m attracted to places of architectural beauty, especially those that have interesting stories attached” above: Chloe Moore’s shots of Waterfront House are among her most popular; left: Pulteney Bridge is Chris Wakefield’s favourite spot in the city to photograph

Chris Wakefield

Where are your go-to spots for great photos?

The weir was always my go-to spot in Bath but I was also intrigued by the backs of the crescents, which are a distinct contrast to the smart uniform and well-known façades. Just outside of Bath, Heaven’s Gate and Cley Hill, are great spots for landscapes.

What are your top tips for great photos?

Get low. It instantly makes pictures more dramatic, especially when shooting people. And always pay attention to light, both natural and artificial.

What do you consider is the best part of being a professional photographer?

I’m an architectural and interior photographer by trade, so the best part of my job is working with and seeing the work of talented architects and designers.

Photographing buildings also appeals to my inner geek.

I like finding the angles, getting the verticles – and I love a Photoshop challenge.

Chris is an architectural and interiors photographer; Instagram @chriswakefield.photography; www.chriswakefield.photography

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PHOTOGRAPHY

above: Gareth Hoskins’ work is about capturing perfect moments of alignment, as seen in the image above;

below: Our cover star Ellis Reed uses the hoop in the botanical gardens to create magical portals through the city

Ellis Reed

How did you end up a photographer?

Originally, I wanted to be a musician and so I studied Music Business and Media at college. While studying, I discovered that a lot of the musicians needed posters and marketing material, so I took it upon myself to learn graphic design and photography in my spare time with no intention of it leading anywhere – but here we are.

My grandfather was a photographer as well so I guess you could say it runs in the family.

Where in Bath do you find yourself photographing over and over?

It has to be the Pulteney Bridge and the weir. I love the way the look of it can drastically change based on weather conditions and seasons. Other than that, there’s lots of little streets in Bath which aren’t typical photography spots but are quite unique, like the side street just off of St Andrews Terrace, to the right of The Bertinet Kitchen. There’s an old lamp post which looks amazing when the sun has almost gone and the light comes on.

What do you love about being a photographer?

The community. If it wasn’t for the photography and Instagram community, I probably wouldn’t be doing it. A lot of people say that photography can be a competitive industry, but I don’t think it has to be at all. Everyone I know in photography or videography is so nice and incredibly supportive. Being able to just message friends and say “hey, fancy getting up for sunrise to go and photograph the city at Alexandra Park?” is so nice.

Ellis is a photographer and content creator; Instagram @ellisreed

Gareth Hoskins

Where are your favourite spots?

The classic Bath areas like the Royal Crescent and the Circus are always worth visiting to shoot. There are many great spots thanks to the light given off the Bath Stone when the sun hits it.

Why do you love photography?

I love capturing a moment when all the elements align.

Gareth is a photographer and videographer; Instagram @garethhoskinsphotography; www.garethhoskinsphotography.com

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Senjuti Sengupta

How did you get started?

My introduction to cameras was through my father, who was extremely passionate about photography and he spent a lot of his time perfecting his art. His dedication to a skill which he did not pursue professionally left a mark on me. Being passionate about art myself, I started taking a lot of photographs on my phone, initially for painting. I took pictures on automode for a while, but that changed in lockdown. In the first months of the lockdown, Bath was full of sunshine and hauntingly beautiful against a backdrop of worldwide panic. Pairing that with quarantine isolation gave me the motivation to explore some of the local spots and capture the times we were living in.

What camera are you using and why do you like it?

I am using the Nikon D3500 (with Nikon 70-300mm zoom lens) and it is my first DSLR (digital single-lens reflex camera). If you’re a trying to learn, like me, this is a great beginner-level camera. Unlike some entry-level DSLRs, it does not have an AA filter and produces sharper images, and the zoom lens produces great quality photographs even at higher ISOs (ISO settings will brighten or darken images). Also, it comes with a guide-mode that really helped me while I was starting out.

Instagram @myphotojournal.ss

Nick Cole

Tell us about yourself

I grew up in the Midlands and studied in London for a degree in food science. After travelling in Asia for a year in my late 20s, I moved to Wiltshire with my wife Gaynor and our young children. Following a sales and marketing career in food and drink, I retrained with the Open University and the Royal Photographic Society, and launched my photography business in 2016. I’ve always been creative, so combining my business and photography skills made sense. Now I help my clients bring their business to life, with photography that builds a connection with their audience.

Senjuti Sungupta started taking striking images like this during the first lockdown to help ease the transition into the disconcerting post-pandemic day-to-day

What is the creative process for you and your clients?

When it comes to my professional photography, it all starts with the client. I offer every client a consultation call, so they have a chance to get to know me and decide if we’d be a good fit. Portrait photography of any kind is a very personal experience, so they need to feel comfortable with my approach. If a client decides to move forwards, I guide them through a briefing process – this is where we find out a little more about the reasons for the photography, how they feel about being photographed and where the photos will be used.

When it comes to the photo shoot, I like to keep my camera in the bag for a while and just chat about something we both find interesting. This getting to know each other stage helps to calm any last-minute nerves and gives them an opportunity to ask any questions. I’ll give direction where it’s needed – I think this helps put clients at ease – but normally I find they relax into the session pretty quickly and by the end they’re really enjoying the whole process.

Nick is a brand and portrait photographer; Instagram @nickcolephotography; www.nickcolephotography.co.uk

Pete Helm

What type of camera do you use?

It honestly depends what I’m going to photograph. If I’m on an interior/ architectural shoot I use my Nikon D850 with a Nikon D810 as my backup.

If I’m out and about, I like to keep things simple and lightweight. My travel

A keen photographer always has their eyes peeled, as shown in this candid moment captured by Nick Cole

“His dedication to a skill which he did not pursue professionally left a mark on me” www.mediaclash.co.uk I BATH LIFE I 19

PHOTOGRAPHY companion has been the mirrorless Fuji XT2. We’re at a tipping point at the moment in photography, which is moving towards mirrorless technology (cameras that rely on sensor-based autofocus). Mirrorless lenses and highquality video have improved dramatically over the past few years and I suppose it is only a matter of time before I jump ship. I’m in the middle of doing my drone course, which is exciting to get a different perspective on things. I will be offering drone photography and video very soon.

Where in Bath do you like to go to shoot?

I love those intimate locations that take some effort to find, like the old worn signage on crumbling wall façades. However, you always know that wherever dusk falls on the city you’re guaranteed a great image. I’m always on the lookout for interesting light shapes and patterns around the city.

The canal is an excellent spot to give you some very atmospheric images, especially when there is fog and mist around.

Pete is an architecture, interiors and travel photographer; Instagram @pete.helm; www.petehelme.co.uk

Tristan Buckland

How did you end up a Bath photographer?

As a final year student of Graphic and Media Design, my life was flipped upside down when my dear mum was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease in 2017. Life as I knew it had been changed forever. I left London and returned to Bath to devote my life and time to caring for my mum to the best of my ability. I helplessly watched this wicked disease slowly take her from this world in 2019. While this was the most trying time of my life, in the small windows to myself, I turned to photography as my creative

Pete Helm likes to head out early to capture the fog and the mist

outlet, freedom from my current circumstances. Using the photographs taken through this challenging time I have now self-published my first photography book, Fragments, giving a small window into the world I saw through that time. I am now working from the Bath Artist Studios alongside my friend and very talented artist Callum Eaton as we both pursue and develop our creative career.

Fragments is available to pre-order on Tristan’s website www.tristanbuckland.com

Tuğba Türkcan

How did you get into photography?

I have always been interested in photographs. When I was little, I always looked at my family’s photo albums and enjoyed witnessing a time before I existed. My parents had a Kodak analog point and shoot camera, which we used to take pictures on special days and I can still feel the excitement I felt then, waiting for my dad to get the film developed and bring the printed photos home.

When did you start to get more serious about your photos?

Before my first arrival to the UK in 2018, the Fujifilm X-T20 was gifted by my sister – that was the moment photography became serious for me. I was living in Oxford at the time, and had a chance to travel around the UK – I was trying to capture every single moment of my time there as it was an incredible experience.

Where’s your favourite spot in Bath?

I love every street in the city! It makes me feel like I am living in a different century. However, there are a few points that I always find myself at the end of the day. The first is Kingsmead Square, which has a very special meaning to me. When I first visited Bath for two days in 2018, I fell in love with the city. On the day I left, I sat under that big tree for a long time and promised myself that I would come back to live here one day. About a year and a half later, I was here.

Instagram @turkantugba

For Tristan Buckland, the camera was a source of solace during a time of grief.

This image and others like it, appear in his subsequent book, Fragments, which documents his experiences

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“I turned to photography as my creative outlet, freedom from my current circumstances”

PHOTOGRAPHY Charlie Pinder

Tell us about the Penn Lea Road book and project

Back in May 2020 I put a flyer through a number of doors of people on Penn Lea Road saying I would set up a studio on the street, and if they would like their photos taken then they should come along. Setting it up to give almost the same view each time, I had the family stand in front of the white backdrop which in turn revealed their house behind it.

After most of the families purchased a print of these images, I was discussing the idea of creating something more with a designer friend, Deborah Ranzetta. As I am a photo book lover (and had published one earlier in the year, Oddservations), we settled on designing a book together.

This gave me a great opportunity to shoot the street and peoples’ houses in more depth – and realised what fantastic door knockers each house had!

A resident of Penn Lea Road also has a collection of historical documents from when the houses were built in 1845. I took these for a few days and photographed them for inclusion in the book too.

We made sure every family who participated had a copy of the book under their tree come Christmas day.

Since then I have had a number of orders from people around the world who want a copy for their coffee table, and I am looking to roll it out to other streets, as well as offering the idea to businesses. n Charlie is a professional photographer. You can order his books via www.blurb.co.uk/user/ Chaseroonie; Instagram @charliepinphoto; www.charliepinphoto.co.uk

clockwise from top; Tugba Türkcan’s images reflect the timelessness of the city; Charlie Pinder’s Penn Lea Road project started out as a bit of lockdown fun – now it has been turned into a book; Charlie also, like many, took advantage of the lockdown quiet to capture this tranquil shot of Walcot Street

22 I BATH LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

Charles Hart Jewellers since 1820

Cheap Street - Frome - Somerset Antique & Vintage Jewellery

For a huge range of Antique Jewellery, Rings, and pre-owned prestige watches including Rolex, Omega & Cartier visit our fabulous website:

www.vintagetom.co.uk Let us sell your unwanted jewellery by using our commission based system.

Fully insured. Details on our website.

Can't get to Frome?

Use our free postage service both to you and back if your purchase is not suitable.

Tel: 01373 462089 | Email: contact@vintagetom.co.uk

Family run and providing quality food and service since 1985 TAKEAWAY SERVICE NOW AVAILABLE WITH UP TO 15% OFF Currently open evenings only, from 6pm.

1-2 New Street, Kingsmead Square, Bath BA1 2AF Tel: 01225 466377 www.pekingrestaurantbath.co.uk a @PekingBath f pekingrestaurant Opening Hours: Monday – Saturday 12 noon – 2.00pm and 6.00pm – 10.30pm | Closed Sundays.

THE ARTS S N A P S H O T S O F B AT H ’ S C U LT U R A L L I F E

THE FINE LINE

It’s hardly surprising a beautiful city like this is jam-packed with creatives; how could you not feel inspired to make art when you step out into our picturesque, honey-hued streets? Sarah Hawkins’ whimsical renderings of Bath’s streets and landmarks are but one example. The illustrator and designer believes we were all created to create, and expresses her art via her passion for line and detail – a form that especially complements the distinct lines of the city, as you can you see in this example of her reimagining of The Holburne.

“Illustrating architecture makes me think about people,” Sarah says. “I think that’s why I love the detail of buildings, it’s not only the detail that we see when looking at a building – there’s so much more involved behind the scenes. I think about the people who have dreamt up buildings, who have sketched out how they envision them to look, the people who will travel to visit buildings, the memories that buildings hold and the generations of people to come who will appreciate these buildings.”

For more: www.sarahhawkins.co.uk www.mediaclash.co.uk I BATH LIFE I 25

WHAT’S ON February 2021

17 February

THE CITY OF BATH IN ENGLISH LITERATURE This lecture from Sabine Purshouse is all about Bath’s appearance in literature. This talk will take you beyond Austen and through the poets, playwrights and novelists who have sought literary inspiration from Bath’s golden skyline throughout the centuries. 7.30pm; £5; www.brlsi.org

18 February

BATH LIFE BUSINESS SURGERY In conjunction with Creative Bath, we’re thrilled to present this conversation with Bath Spa University. We’ll be hearing all about their I-START and RESTART programmes, which have been created to help local people gain new skills and re-train for new roles in the creative and digital sectors.

Contact events@mediaclash.co.uk or see @ BathLifeMag social media for registration

19 & 20 February

BATH BACHFEST You can still get your taste of live Bach this year with this shortened virtual minifest, streamed by the Wiltshire Music Centre. The four

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concerts will feature an inspiring programme of artists playing the glorious music of Bach. Performers include Baroque violinist Rachel Podger, who has been described as ‘unsurpassed’ by The Times.

After the concert she will appear in conversation with writer and broadcaster Katy Hamilton. www.bathbachfest.co.uk

12 March

BATH PROPERTY AWARDS & SYMPOSIUM The event to be at for Bath’s property professional sectors, this year the awards are happening virtually.

Along with a good old-fashioned celebration of the best the industry has to offer, this year’s awards will feature the brand new Bath Property Symposium in three stages: thought leadership, networking and, finally, the Awards themselves. www.bathpropertyawards.co.uk LIVE ANIMAL FEEDING AT BATH CITY FARM Did you know Bath City Farm runs a livestream featuring their furry friends every Saturday morning?

Starting at 10.30am via their

Catch up with the animals at Bath City Farm on their Saturday morning livestreams

Facebook page, you can join livestock coordinator Joe Keppie-Bray giving a virtual tour of the farm as he visits its residents for their morning feed.

Along the way he checks in with the chickens, rabbits Thumper and Pumpkin, Pam the pig, Shetland ponies Dougie and Dougal, and goats Orio, Rotork and Strawberry.

Viewers are able to ask questions about life on the farm throughout.

Search Bath City Farm on Facebook THE HIVE YOGA STUDIO ONLINE CLASSES During lockdown it is more important than ever to prioritise self care. Signing up for a few online classes with The Hive Yoga Studio is one great way to take a moment for yourself during anxious times. As well as teaching a range of styles of yoga, they also offer HIIT classes with Olympian Amy Williams, stretching sessions and Pilates among other options, seven days a week. www.jointhehive.co.uk DANCE FIT & ZUMBA There’s no better spiritual lift than shaking it out to great music.

Fortunately. Dance Fit Bath has

shifted online for lockdown, with a range of classes in their unique and joyful fusion of dance, aerobics and Zumba. Live work outs are streaming most days, with a bumper weekly work out on demand with extra tracks if you want to practise and perfect those routines ready for the IRL Green Park gatherings. www.dancefitbath.co.uk ONLINE EMBROIDERY WORKSHOPS The Art Cohort is hosting a series of online embroidery workshops throughout February. Marion Bedford will lead the classes on Zoom, demonstrating basic embroidery stitches as well as giving even the shyest stitcher the chance to really embrace their creative soul.

Workshops run twice daily at 10am and 6.30pm on selected dates. £30 for four sessions, starter kit available – £10 postage included. www.theartcohort.co.uk READING IS MAGIC Last year, Bath Festivals collaborated with book festivals from all over the country to create Reading Is Magic, the online festival of 25 events with

WHAT’S ON

It is LGBTQ+ History Month.

First celebrated in the US in 1994, we claimed it for our own back in 2005, when Sue Sanders and Paul Patrick launched the Schools OUT campaign to educate children about LGBTQ+ inclusion. The month is celebrated in February to mark the 2003 abolition of Section 28 of the 1998 Local Government Act, which until that point had prevented any kind of LGBTQ+ education. The theme for this year is body, mind, and spirit.

CELEBRATE LGBTQ+ HISTORY MONTH IN BATH

25 February

above: Baroque violinist Rachel Podger will perform at the Bath Bachfest left: Learn to embroider this lockdown with a virtual class from The Art Cohort

bestselling children’s authors and illustrators including children’s laureates from the UK and USA, Cressida Cowell and Jason Reynolds. Specially for lockdown while so many kids are stuck at home, Bath Festivals have extended free access to the festival. With videos and podcasts for primary and secondary school ages available, it’s a wholesome and educational means to while away a few lockdown hours. You can access the free library of events using promo code FREEMAGICBCLF. www.readingismagicfestival.com BATH RUGBY X BATHFITFAM BathFitFam and Bath Rugby have joined forces to keep us fit and healthy through lockdown.

BathFitFam is a unique organisation in the city that brings together fitness instructors and personal trainers with a wide range of expertise to promote Bathonian wellness. The weekly timetable is diverse enough that there is something on the schedule for all ages and abilities, from high intensity impact workouts

to exercise classes for the whole family to get fit together. www.bathrugby.com WE GET IT GET TOGETHERS In a time where many have been shielding at home for months, organisations like We Get It, Bath’s support community for those dealing with cancer, have become absolutely vital. Every Friday at 10.30am they host the Get Together on Zoom – a chance to grab your beverage of choice and touch base with a community that knows what you’re going through better than any other.

The first Thursday of every month at 8pm they also host The Friends & Family Hang Out, a supportive monthly meet up for the family members and loved ones who look after, listen to and lift the spirits of people dealing with cancer. www.wegetit.org.uk TOP TEN TREASURES The Victoria Art Gallery has produced a new YouTube series to keep us entertained while we wait for the city’s cultural life to restart.

LGBTQ+ HISTORY OF BATH: A VIRTUAL TOUR Robert Howes of Gay West is hosting a virtual tour of Bath’s LGBTQ+ history. He’ll lead the online gathering through the stories of some of the city’s notable LGBTQ+ community and campaigners, as well as the organisations that have offered support and services over the decades. www.bathnes.gov.uk

Top Ten Treasures is hosted by gallery manager Jon Benington and museum assistant Jim Riseley and is released weekly. The ten selected pieces offer just a glimpse of the breadth of work in the gallery’s extensive permanent collection.

The fascinating videos dive into the history of works like Hugo Van Der Goes’ Adoration of the Magi, one of the oldest pieces on display in the museum. We’ve all got a bit more time on our hands right now – why not use it to up your art history knowledge? Search for the Victoria Art Gallery on YouTube REACHING FOR RAINBOWS Somerset photographer Jason Bryant’s online exhibition of photographs with South West Heritage Trust offer one man’s take on life since March 2020. From winding shopping trolley queues to roped off playgrounds, children laughing in rope swings with their adults, rediscovering the joy of long hours spent outside, and sombre moments of reflection, the array of images capture the gamut of

LOGO COMPETITION FOR YOUNG PEOPLE Do you want your artwork to be the face of LGBTQ+ events in Bath? B&NES Council has launched a competition for young people to design a logo that’ll be used to publicise future LGBTQ+ news and events in B&NES, as well as for future LGBTQ+ History Month events. www.bathnes.gov.uk LGBTQ+ EXPERIENCES IN THE PANDEMIC A panel event with IBM and the Bath School of Management, this talk will cover the ways the LGBTQ+ community have been impacted by Covid. www.bath.ac.uk LGBTQ+ ICONS Over on Facebook, Bathnes Libraries are celebrating with a daily post about an LGBTQ+ icon. So far features have included Nicola Adams, a boxer with an undefeated record. At the Olympic games in 2012, she became the first out lesbian boxer to win a gold medal. Search for Bathnes Libraries on Facebook

when it was first announced that we would be entering lockdown.

Shepton Mallet-based photographer Jason has been working in the press going on two decades, with his shots gracing the pages of many publications including The Times and The Daily Telegraph. But, for Jason, it is that which he sees on his own door step that inspires him most of all. www.swheritage.org.uk STORYTELLING Every week, bookshop Mr B’s Emporium invites its youngest devotees to take a seat and fire up YouTube for a story, engagingly read

by Gemma Dunnell – who adds in the occasional aside of her own for good measure. Yes, it’s technically for the kids, but even grown-ups will find themselves drawn into the happy, colourful worlds Gemma guides us through. Embrace magical beings, other worldly explorations and animal and dinosaur friends with the little ones – and grant yourself some easy homeschooling peace in the process. Search Mr Bs Emporium of Reading Delights on YouTube n

www.mediaclash.co.uk I BATH LIFE I 27

Successful, well-established year-round language school in the centre of Bath requires

HOMESTAY HOSTS IN BATH to host both short-term and long-term students.

We teach adults and teenagers, and need both single and twin-room accommodation.

For further details, including rates of payment, please contact our Accommodation Manager: Sarah Wringer, Kaplan International Languages Bath, 5 Trim Street, Bath, BA1 1HB Direct Line (01225) 473502, Email: sarah.wringer@kaplan.com

BOOKS NIC BOTTOMLEY

Closed society A baby thrown from a train, gruesome deaths in a village, and the wilful exclusion of immigrants – journeys into the occasional brutality of communities

“Three tales of light and dark intertwined”

I

f you’re feeling a little stir-crazy at not having properly left your community for the past several months, then a trio of novels in tight communities might make you feel better.

Sort of. Even if it’s only because reading about others suffering greater misfortune, and living in even more strained circumstances, can sometimes give you a warm glow despite your best intentions.

Who Was Changed and Who Was Dead by Barbara Comyns (Daunt Books, £9.99) is set in a small English village outside London just after the turn of the 20th century. The focus of the story is the bucolically named Willoweed household, which consists of three young siblings Emma, Hattie and Dennis, their eccentric father Ebin and their mean (but entertainingly so) grandmother.

In character terms grandma is certainly the star of the show – she is relentlessly objectionable to everyone and a grand master at the art of working up people’s emotions and stirring gossip and general discontent.

And so it is with barely suppressed glee that she greets the tantalising and scandalous news that the local miller has, out of the clear blue sky, upped and drowned himself. No sooner is word out than she’s insisting that Ebin rows her down to the spot where it happened – her morbid curiosity immediately getting the better of her.

As it turns out though, the miller’s demise is just the first of a series of unexplained deaths that sweep through the village like a...well, like a pandemic really. Just a day later the butcher turns his knife’s attention away from chops and steaks to his own throat. Soon enough the villagers are riddled with a paranoia that this malaise is spreading, with Ebin doing his part to fan the flames of the growing hysteria as he writes articles sensationalising the deaths and further stirring the disquiet.

Though the situation keeps darkening, somehow Comyns counterbalances the mood with her trademark dark humour to make a disquieting but still entertaining and mischievous novel.

The Most Precious of Cargoes by JeanClaude Grumberg (Pan Macmillan, £12.99) is also set in a detached and troubled rural community. This fabulistic novella centres on two families. The first is an impoverished woodcutter and his wife who mourns her inability to conceive.

Their home is deep in a forest whose peace has recently been disturbed by the building of train tracks, which, unbeknownst to the woodlanders,

will carry Jewish people to the death-camps.

The second family are rounded onto one such train and are doing anything they can to survive.

The doctor patriarch pretends to be a barber just to stay relevant. Shockingly, when it becomes apparent that his wife can’t sustain their twin babies, he casts one from the train as it rumbles through the forest.

Finding the child, the woodcutter’s wife raises it as her own regarding its arrival as a divine gift to the distaste of others in her community who, with an anger informed by poverty, assume that this train line is a plaything of the wealthy and cannot comprehend a child being discarded from a passing window. Her initially sceptical husband soon grows to understand that this child of the train people is not a heartless being as the other woodcutters claim, putting him on a collision course with his neighbours but pointing us towards the story’s ultimate message of empathy and compassion.

Like the Jewish doctor in The Most Precious of Cargoes, two of the main characters in America is not the Heart by Elaine Castillo (Atlantic, £8.99) also have to shift away from their medical profession, this time because their qualifications are worthless once they have moved from the Philippines to San Francisco.

Pol and Paz initially take on jobs as a security guard and an undocumented care home worker after arriving in America. They begin building their life in a tight-knit community of migrants from the Philippines and are soon joined by the novel’s real heroine, their appropriately named niece, Hero.

The novel follows Hero adjusting to her new American life, which is quite the adjustment given that her recent past in the Philippines saw her fighting with the communist insurgency – the New People’s Army – before being incarcerated and tortured in a prison camp. We learn of these past trials, and the back story of her aunt and uncle, in flashbacks that are interspersed with Hero’s current journey of love and recovery set against the richly-described atmospheric backdrop of their migrant community in the Bay Area.

Three tales of light and dark intertwined that, at the very least, can transport us away from our own worries for a while.

Nic Bottomley is the general manager of Mr B’s Emporium of Reading Delights, 14/15 John Street, Bath; tel: 01225 331155; www.mrbsemporium.com

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FOOD & DRINK S N A P S H O T S O F B AT H ’ S F O O D S C E N E

AMAZING GRAZE

Our options for dining in style during lockdown are ever expanding. DF Lockdown Dinners are meal kits by Chef Dionas Frank, the senior sous chef at Babington House, and Charlotte Manns, pastry chef.

Every week they release a fresh, luxurious menu, with the option to opt for two or three courses.

“Despite lockdown, we wanted to keep Saturday nights alive and bring some joy back by not only continuing to bring delicious food to people, but also making it more of an event by having them put each dish together and have fun plating,” say Charlotte and Dionas.

This isn’t the only treat to emerge from the creative foodies at Babington House. Just last month, executive chef Neil Smith launched his own lockdown project – a weekly pie and grazing box filled with Neil’s sumptuous pie and a few other select goodies. “Eat, Drink, Share by Chef Neil Smith is providing true artisan food to enjoy at home,” Neil explains. “I love to cook family favourites for both family and friends, hearty dishes such as pies accompanied by seasonal sides and plenty of pastry.

The pies have proved so popular that I have now launched my new Hog Box, which includes best loved fare such as Scotch eggs, pork pies and sausage rolls with homemade piccalilli and also local cheese and homemade crackers and a sweet pastry.”

You can order from both via their Instagram pages @df_lockdowndinners and @chefneilsmith

STRONG AS AN OX The 16 days of Chinese New Year kick off on 12 February. 2021 is Year of

the Ox, which is associated with characteristics like being hard working and honest. While any local Chinese New Year celebrations are put on hold this year because of the pandemic, you can still celebrate at home. Peking Restaurant says it is the longest established takeaway in Bath, having opened back in 1985 – and offers dishes from Cantonese, Szechuan and Peking traditions. Make sure not to skip the spring rolls – they symbolise wealth and are a New Year favourite in China as a result.

For more: www.pekingrestaurantbath.co.uk

Mark the Chinese New Year with a tasty takeaway

LUCKY STARS ABOVE: Chef Neil Smith wants

us to eat more pies; BELOW: Give yourself the gift of a DF Lockdown Dinner

Chris Cleghorn is thrilled to keep his Michelin Star

Restaurant Hywel Jones at Lucknam Park Hotel & Spa, and Olive Tree at The Queensberry Hotel, have kept their Michelin stars.

“It is almost impossible to put into words what it means to me as a chef to be recognised

by Michelin yet again with a star for the Olive Tree,” says Chris Cleghorn, head chef. “The last 12 months have been incredibly difficult for the industry all round, we have had to close three times, furlough staff, and continually adapt to the ever-changing Covid requirements, so this feels even more significant.”

Hywel Jones was also thrilled to keep his restaurant’s star for the 16th year in a row: “I am so proud of the entire team and of the way they have continued to deliver the standards required to achieve such recognition in what has been a challenging time.”

For more: www.olivetreebath.co.uk / www.lucknampark.co.uk

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“Leon’s pies are exquisitely light and desperately more-ish”

PIES BY PLATE

Sarah Moolla gets her groove on to a No 1 pie from The Bird

O

ne of the best things about picking up my Pies by Plates from The Bird was the actual picking up of the pies. It’s another boring Friday, like most other days, nothing to mark it out from the rest. Except today I’m picking up some pies.

It’s a cold, crisp and clear January evening and as I pull up to the Bird Hotel on Pulteney Road, I’m immediately enchanted. The hotel, always an impressive and statuesque sight, is shimmering with multi-coloured lights, there’s two fire pits flickering their welcome either side of the table set up in the courtyard for deliveries, and best of all there’s some ambient house music wafting out. The staff are so friendly – it’s like meeting the nicest people in the club. Forget the takeaway – I want to stay here and boogie, and chat, albeit through a mask, and pretend there’s no such thing as lockdown.

Luckily for the staff, I have some pies to coax me home. The chicken and tarragon pie is in a buttery shortcrust pastry that is so delicate it has the lightness of its flaky pastry cousin. The mash is comfortingly creamy, with the accompanying cabbage adding the textured crunch – all smothered in an aromatic and seasoned chicken gravy. My one whinge – it’s too small. Normally pies are heavy, cumbersome carby things to plough through but Leon’s pies are exquisitely light, and desperately more-ish. I definitely wanted more.

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The fish pie is slightly more hearty and filling, but no less divine. Hefty chunks of smoked haddock, white cod, salmon, with leeks, in a velvety sauce and topped with glazed Godminster cheesy mash. To finish it’s a rich, sweet, fluffy and luscious winter berry cheesecake, with a generous dollop of Chantilly cream.

Leon is conjuring up these marvels twice a week, all created from the very best of local suppliers and, with options like sweet potato and spiced lentil pie, glazed Creedy Carver duck leg, Bath Gem battered haddock, Leon’s Welsh lamb stew and dumplings, I see no reason why I shouldn’t be heading back for more. This time I may even arrive a little too early wearing my very best disco dancing coat and sequinned mask.

DINING DETAILS The Bird, 18-19 Pulteney Road, Bath; www.thebirdbath.co.uk When: Meals are every Wednesday and Fridays.

Pre-order: By 5pm the day before and collect between 5-8pm on the day. Call 01225 580 438 or email plateathome @platebathwick.co.uk

Prices Pies by Plate is £15 per person or two courses for £20 Valentine’s special Available Saturday and Sunday, three courses for two people costs £80 and includes Dorset charcuterie selection, Loch Duart smoked salmon blinis with chive cream, homespun pappardelle, Beeswax Farm beef ragu, and glazed chocolate mousse to share served with raspberries.

RESTAURANT

GIGGLING SQUID

Deri Robins learns the much-loved Thai restaurant continues to wok and roll during lockdown

G

iggling Squid was set up with the aim of serving simple, rustic food, to be shared tapas-style in the Thai tradition. Despite, or because of, its slightly strange name, it’s become a huge success; the first restaurant opened in Hove in 2002, and has since grown into a chain running into double figures.

To reassure you that real people still lie at its heart, though, the menu is peppered with little personal asides. “I made this for my husband after we picked fresh tamarind along the Mekong River.

Very romantic!”, for example. Or, “Made for me by an old friend on the Khwae River in Kanchanaburi.” Oddly, rather like the second Mrs de Winter and Margaret Atwood’s handmaid, this confiding first-person narrator is never named, but a quick hop to the ‘Our Story’ section on the website reveals that this must be Pranee Laurillard, who owns the biz with husband Andrew.

Thai cuisine is known for balancing sweet, sour and salty flavours with chilli-infused heat, and each dish on the menu bears a number of chilli icons to give an idea of the spiciness levels. We’re not sure whether there was an unusually heavy hand with the chillis on the day we placed our order, but the correlation was a little inexact. A Glorious Morning (no chilli rating), an aromatic wok-fry of ‘ong choi’ (leafy greens) turned out to be very hot indeed, while a Golden Bamboo and Chicken Bowl (one chilli) was far too scorchio for our delicate Western palates. The turmericflavoured chicken was tender, though, the bamboo shoots crunchy, and the coconut tips and fresh green peppercorns lending the dish a very distinctive character. We were intrigued by some little twisty veggie things in the sauce; despite Googling, we still don’t quite know what they were.

That’s the downside of takeaways; you can’t grill the staff.

The soft-shell Pranee Prawns, on the other hand (one chilli) was just as we’d hoped, with a mere a delicate kick to proceedings. The flavour was a delight, but ultimately we felt that those soft shells, unlike the texture of soft-shelled crabs, weren’t quite soft enough for maximum enjoyment.

A Pad Thai, one of the mainstays of the country’s street food was excellent and huge: a perfect pile of stir-fried rice noodles, fish sauce, chillis and tamarind, topped by a latticework of fried egg.

The two standout dishes for us were the Duck Confit: crispy-skinned on the outside, succulent and tender inside. It tasted authentic and was stickily delicious, and may just be our new favourite way to eat duck.

The salt and pepper squid was also perfect, with none of the telltale rubberiness of a cephalopod that’s been kept too long in the fridge and then over-fried. The sweetness in the sauce contrasted beautifully with the salt and pepper in the light crispy coating. It probably wouldn’t be possible to live on this dish alone, but it would be fun trying.

The cost of our meal came to around £75, but we’d over-ordered, as you always do when faced with a menu of Asian food; we could easily have managed with far less. ■

DINING DETAILS The Giggling Squid, Bluecoat House, Saw Close, Bath; tel: 01225 331486; www.gigglingsquid.com Order from www.gigglingsquid.orderswift.com Prices Start from £3 through to £16.95

Options There’s lunchtime tapas options and dinky kids’ portions Drinks Along with wines and beers, there’s a selection of delicious cocktails including the Coconut Espresso Martini Vegan choices Lots including the Big Flavour Mushroom Larb and Massaman vegetable curry

www.mediaclash.co.uk I BATH LIFE I 33

SHOPPING LIVE WELL, BUY BETTER

A JOLLY GOOD YELLOW It must have been one heck of a meeting when Pantone sat around trying to come up with a colour that would lead us into 2021. No wonder they hedged their bets with two. The bright yellow shade, called Illuminating, is meant to evoke the ‘optimistic promise of a sunshine-filled day’, while Ultimate Gray is a much quieter hue that speaks more of ‘composure, steadiness and resilience’.

Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute, explains, “The selection of two independent colours highlight how different elements come together to express a message of strength and hopefulness that is both enduring and uplifting. Practical and rock-solid but at the same time warming and optimistic, this is a colour combination that gives us resilience and hope.

We need to feel encouraged and uplifted, this is essential to the human spirit.”

Hepburn mural from Graham & Brown as part of the National Portrait Gallery designed collection, available through Brewers Decorator Centre, Westmoreland Station Road, Bath; www.brewers.co.uk

www.mediaclash.co.uk I BATH LIFE I 35

GOLD PEAR, CITRINE AND OXIDISED RING, £1,500 The artist was born in London and grew up in Barbados, and it’s this combination she cites as an influence on her work, like this oxidised ring offset by the golden citrine pear shape stone.

From www.galleryninebath.com SACRED GEOMETRY DRUM SHADE, £125 Make a home interior style statement with a celestial Sacred Geometry drum shade in pearlescent golden jade by the award-winning artist-designer Sonya Rothwell From Gallery Beautiful, The Courts, The Walk, Holt, Bradford On Avon; www.gallerybeautiful.com

LEMON DROPS

The rays of Pantone’s Colours of 2021 bring strength, hope and a little bit of sunshine into our lives

SET OF 4 LINEN NAPKINS, £35 Dress your table with just the right shade of pebble grey napkin and then enhance with touches of soft yellow flowers.

From Salcombe Trading, 9 Broad Street, Bath; www.salcombetrading.co.uk

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POLKA DOT DRAWER KNOB, £3.95 Join the upcycling revolution.The white polka dot print design on a grey smooth ceramic drawer knob with a gold top makes it perfect for perking up an old chest of drawers, dresser, or cabinet.

From French Grey Interiors,1 Burton Street, Bath, www.frenchgreyinteriors.co.uk

ALPANA YELLOW VELVET COCKTAIL CHAIR, £395 Luxuriously upholstered in rich yellow velvet, from the front this chair is simply traditional, but turn it around and discover a vivid molecule design. African inspired, this intriguing pattern guarantees this chair will not go unnoticed From Graham and Green, 92 Walcot Street, Bath; www.grahamandgreen.co.uk

ED’S CHOICE CATCHING STARS, £28 This black, white and yellow art print

by Ruth Thorp Studio is just one of her beautiful illustrations that form part of the series of Wilderness prints.

From Homefront Interiors, 10 Margaret’s Buildings, Bath; www.homefrontinteriors.co.uk

ANNIE SOUDAIN PENCIL BOX, £6 A set of six pencils designed exclusively for the National Trust, the print has been inspired by a flock of goldfinches flying over woods at dusk.

From Bath Assembly Rooms, Bennett Street, Bath; www.nationaltrust.org.uk

LARGE MATCHES BY ARCHIVIST, £5.50 Luxury long matches by Archivist in a square box adorned with a soft fern design.

From Julia Davey, 20 Wellsway, Bear Flat, Bath; www.juliadavey.com ELEPHANT BAMBOO TRAVEL MUG, £10 Sip your coffee on the go in style with this pretty travel mug, which is covered in Sophie Allport elephants and features a beautiful mustard yellow silicone band with lid and closure.

Stockists Rossiters of Bath, 38-41 Broad Street, Bath; www.rossitersofbath.com

ANNIE SLOAN CHALK PAINT, £21.95 Bring together Chicago Grey and English Yellow paint, in a small space to deliver a big statement.

Stockists Rossiters of Bath, 38-41 Broad Street, Bath; www.rossitersofbath.com

www.mediaclash.co.uk I BATH LIFE I 37

Students of Kingswood have benefitted from the collaborative tools offered by Microsoft Teams

COMPUTER STUDIES How Bath’s schools are embracing a new style of education

By Lydia Tewkesbury

38 I BATH LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

P

resented with the complex and changing demands of providing a full and comprehensive education under lockdown, our schools have been pushed to uncover new approaches and dig deep into their creative reserves to keep delivering for their students. It’s been tough. But it’s also been a time of growth, with teachers – and their students – getting to grips with new technology, and building in real time a picture of what the future of education might look like. Here, schools share the lessons lockdown is teaching.

LESSON 1: Embrace what you can’t change In the past year, teachers have been pushed to take a crash course in an entirely new way of working, and a bunch of new tech – and have thrown themselves in whole heartedly.

Schools have embraced experimentation, finding tailored solutions since the first lockdown hit in March 2020 to provide the best they can for their students. In some cases this hasn’t meant embracing only one new programme, but many. Bath Academy’s virtual school day utilises a range of different platforms: Showbie, which, among other things, allows teachers to attach written and audio feedback on student work; Socrative, a platform that allows for real time assessments like quizzes and polls; and Microsoft Teams – probably the

EDUCATION most popular tool among our local schools.

“Like many senior schools, we have found the Microsoft Teams platform to be powerful,” says John Davies, deputy head academic at Kingswood School. “We chose Teams over something like Zoom because we wanted more than just video calls; we wanted to encourage collaboration and creativity. The sharing functions on Teams proved perfect for this.”

Seeing the direction the tide was turning, some schools even went as far as to purchase technology for students in advance of another lockdown – and use it even when they were physically still in school to ease the transition.

This was the case at Prior Park School, as deputy head academic Laura Stotesbury explains, “We were already implementing a digital strategy and the roll out of Personal Learning Devices (PLDs) to all students this past September means that during this lockdown, all students are working on the same device. Our staff have been working in Office365, Microsoft Teams and OneNote during teaching in the physical classroom so the switch to remote teaching in this way was relatively seamless.”

LESSON 2: Community is everything When it comes to community, we are all learning the same hard lesson: we didn’t realise what we had until it was gone. Maintaining the school community and teacher-student relationships has been one of the greatest challenges presented by lockdown.

“Academics is only one part of school” CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: At The Paragon School, governers invested in devices for students; St Margaret’s pupils are given one-to-one mentoring when they need extra support; Students at Bath Academy and Prior Park have embraced Microsoft Teams for learning

“Replicating the small and very meaningful interactions that can only happen in the classroom between teachers and pupils is a challenge,” says Luke Bromwich, headmaster of St Margaret’s Prep. “The pastoral element is tough to replicate, so we have had to work hard to support pupils having problems with engagement and motivation using methods including mentoring sessions with our wider teaching team.”

But it’s not just the staff-student relationship schools have found ways to maintain, mentorship schemes have also been utilised to keep that sense of being part of the entire school community – those invaluable connections between older students and younger. Laura Stotesbury says this is a big part of life at Prior Park. “I’ve seen plenty of peer working with students in the Sixth Form reaching out and supporting those in younger years academically through our Highly Able and Talented Students programme, but also pastorally with our Peer Mentoring Scheme.”

Assemblies have not been lost either, with many viewing that collective experience as essential to school spirit. “I do a weekly recorded assembly and weekly Zoom sessions with every class, and Revd Andrew Avramenko, the curate at St Mary’s and one of our governors also provides remote assemblies for the children to access,” says Vicky Dupras, head teacher of Abbot Alphege Academy.

www.mediaclash.co.uk I BATH LIFE I 39

EDUCATION top: Bath Academy use a multitude of different software for their online school days; middle: students at St Margaret’s are encouraged to take time away from screens; bottom: At Downside, a full education means encouraging creativity and hobbies as well as academics

LESSON 3: Even the young experience screen fatigue Before 2020, it was an impossible task to pry a kid away from their electronic device, but even amongst young people, in pandemic times, screen fatigue has set in. “We are committed to ensuring that our children and staff do not spend too much time on screens,” says Rosie Allen, head of The Paragon School. “So, we have focused on the live teaching being fun, interactive and time limited, followed by a period of independent ‘screen-free’ work, which is then photographed and uploaded by the child at the end of the learning period.”

But it’s not just making sure that young people are taking time away from screens, but going outside. Setting challenges has proved perfect for this at Downside, as Mike Randall, deputy head of Downside School explains, “We have had several off-timetable days where pupils have had a chance to get away from the screens. We ‘ran to Rome’ and now are ‘running to Africa’. Pupils really enjoy the variety of co-curricular activities that are very different to their academic lessons.”

LESSON 4: There’s more to an education than getting to class on time Which brings us neatly to the next point – for any full school experience, extracurricular activities are a must.

“Academics is only one part of school,” Downside’s Mike Randall says. “We needed to find ways to maintain our other equally important strands: pastoral care, co-curricular options and community events. These pillars stand on the firm foundations of a Catholic and Benedictine education. The communities are what make our school special and unique, not just our taught lessons. Communities, whether that be Houses, Chaplaincy, Sporting, Musical or the Chess Club are all vital parts of maintaining a virtual Downside.”

Tim Naylor, principal of Bath Academy, agrees, “Bath Academy provides weekly oneto-one sessions online for students with their personal tutors, as well as an online Debating Club, a Political Film Club and many different personal development sessions including mindfulness and career talks, as well as online work experience opportunities.”

King Edward’s Junior School head, Greg Taylor has found that a bit of competitive spirit has been key to engaging students outside of the classroom: “We’ve had online music competitions, choir concerts, talent shows, charity fun runs and bake offs – all ways to keep the community connected and engaged, maintain learning and encourage the children’s interests and hobbies.”

www.mediaclash.co.uk I BATH LIFE I 41

EDUCATION

And often it’s not just the teachers getting on board with the fun, at Abbot Alphege, school chef Annie has started making ‘Cooking With Chef Annie’ videos for the children to do with their parents at home.

LESSON 5: Disruption isn’t always bad The interrupted education and the numbers of children whose futures have been negatively impacted are tragedies of the pandemic. But the creativity, flexibility and embrace of technology it has forced may see a positive change to education yet. For many teachers, how technology might better be utilised has been the goal of the last several years – the pandemic has simply expedited the process.

“I think our remote learning experiences during these lockdowns will profoundly shape the way we think about education in the years to come,” says John Davies of Kingswood.

“I don’t think this is just about style, but rather the structure and form of the learning process itself. Technology has the power to democratise knowledge and enhance connection, giving students more autonomy and agency over their learning. I hope that one product of this difficult period is that educators will emerge with new confidence to rethink curriculum design and learner engagement; I believe the future use of these tools and skills could lead to a real revolution in how we educate young people in our society.”

For many students, the opportunity to manage their own learning has been a relished challenge. Luke Bromwich, headmaster of St Margaret’s also thinks the use of technology is here to stay – especially when it comes to the older children who are leaning more into independent learning anyway. He says, “I can see how a ‘flipped’ approach to learning in some curriculum areas could continue using

42 I BATH LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

Students at Wells Cathedral School have performed in a number of virtual concerts

“Technology has the power to democratise knowledge” YOU HAVE BEEN READING…

Bath Academy, 27 Queen Square; tel: 01225 334577; www.bathacademy.co.uk Downside School, Stratton-on-theFosse, Radstock; tel: 01761 235100; www.downside.co.uk King Edward’s School, North Road, Claverton Down; tel: 01225 464313; www.kesbath.com Kingswood School, Lansdown Road; tel: 01225 734200; www.kingswood.bath.sch.uk The Paragon School, Lyncombe House, Lyncombe Vale; tel: 01225 310837; www.paragonschool.co.uk Abbot Alphege Academy, Beckford Drive; tel: 01225 580281; www.abbot-alphege.org.uk St Margaret’s Prep, 62 Curzon Street, Calne; tel: 01249 857220; www.stmargaretsprep.org.uk Wells Cathedral School, 15 The Liberty, Wells; tel: 01749 834200; www.wells.cathedral.school

Microsoft Teams. For instance, in Upper Prep, pupils engaging with pre-lesson content such as video and extracts that the teachers have created before a lesson would undoubtedly aid their learning and knowledge retention.”

Some of the creative projects that have been borne of the digital tools available to students as a result of the lockdowns have also been remarkable. At Wells Cathedral School, students regularly participate in remote group performances. “Our pupils have learned how to record their individual parts in isolation to a click-track and then send to our technical team for editing,” explains Mark Stringer, director of music and managing director of Cedars Hall at the school. “Some of the results have been quite remarkable, including a choral performance of Let The River Run by Carly Simon, and a really fun percussion version of Happy by Pharrell Williams. What is great is that the pupils have now gained skills that will sustain them for a lifetime.” The use of technology has also allowed them to expand their school community, bringing in parents further afield.

“One thing we have loved is that parents and guardians of pupils who live far away from Wells here in the UK and even those living overseas have now been able to ‘attend’ all concerts which we have live-streamed and recorded.

This has been a major bonus for all families, and something we’d like to continue.”

Despite the huge challenges, there is a bright future for education, according to Bath Academy’s Tim Naylor. “Remote learning provides the most flexibility for our students in a modern world in flux, and though we are eager to go back to our face-to-face teaching which works so well for most students, we recognise that teaching and learning online is possible, with the right technology and the right teachers – and the right mindset of course.” n

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BATHWORKS THIS ISSUE >>JOIN THE CHSW BUSINESS CLUB (48) >>NEW BIZ THE BELMONT COLLECTIVE (49) >>Q&A WITH EMMA DRAPER (50)

Support for success

T

he University of Bath has launched a brand-new programme that will see 50 Black British students receive free and personalised support to apply. The programme, Target Bath, is in partnership with diversity recruitment specialist Rare, which runs a similar successful programme for Oxbridge.

“I am very excited to be working with the University of Bath to launch Target Bath,” says Naomi Kellman, Rare’s senior manager for schools and universities. “Rare has been working since 2012 to improve the representation of Black British students at the UK’s top universities. It is brilliant to be able to expand this work further and to have the opportunity

BUSINESS CLUB

50 Black British students will receive one-on-one support with their university applications

to showcase all that Bath has to offer to the students we work with. I hope to see an increase in the number of Black British students studying at the University of Bath over the coming years.”

Target Bath is free of charge and open to Black British students in Year 12 (ages 16-17). Students on the programme will receive one-on-one support from Rare throughout Years 12 and 13, including help choosing a degree course best for them and further support with their UCAS application and personal statement. The scheme is funded by the University of Bath, who will connect Target Bath participants with its current Black students – as well as promote access to a multitude of internship and placement opportunities.

For more: www.bath.ac.uk

Virtual one hour sessions, all free to attend Search Bath Life on LinkedIn for upcoming dates and registration If you would like to get involved, please email events@mediaclash.co.uk MEDIACLASH.CO.UK 115

BATHWORKS

MOVERS AND SHAKERS ETC

JOIN THE CLUB Second Mountain Communications has joined the Children’s Hospice South West’s (CHSW) brandnew Business Club. The first business in Bath to join, they’re urging other local companies to do the same and help make a difference for local children with life-limiting illnesses and their families.

“The events of the last 12 months have shown us all, without question, how precious life is and what’s truly important,” says Ben Veal, founder of Second Mountain Communications. “Children’s Hospice South West is such a truly special organisation that provides care, friendship and support to children and families across the region, and so it’s a real privilege to have become one of the first companies to have joined the brand new CHSW Business Club. By coming together as a community of like-minded businesses, we can collectively help the charity to reach its fundraising target of £30,000 for its 30th anniversary year; an incredible milestone and one that should be celebrated. I'm very proud to be part of this newly-launched Business Club with a purpose and encourage others to get involved too.”

For more: www.chsw.org.uk

It's all smiles at Clearly PR after a successful start to the year

RARING TO GO Ben Veal wants to see more businesses join the CHSW Business Club

Mentoring Plus has been awarded a commission that will allow them to continue their work with Bath's young people

Clearly PR is having a great start to the year with a trio of new clients, new job creation, and a new pledge to support sustainable and social impact programmes. The corporate communications, content and creative agency has recorded a 59 per cent increase in revenue over the last six months, leading to the creation of four new positions across all levels of the business. They have also launched a paid internship scheme for undergraduates and registered for the government funded Kickstart Scheme which supports unemployed young people into work. On top that that, over the next seven years the company has pledged two per cent of every penny earned to the environment and social impact initiatives including homelessness, child literacy, youth unemployment and water poverty. They hope to give at least £500,000.

For more: www.clearlypr.co.uk

MAKE THE PLEDGE

HELPING HANDS Mentoring Plus has been awarded another three-year commission to deliver early help volunteer mentoring to young people across the county. The commission from B&NES Council means that the charity can continue to work with service users uninterrupted.

“We are fortunate to live in a county where the local authority is still funding preventative work – it’s not the case everywhere,” says Ruth Reily, executive director of Mentoring Plus.

B&NES Council has consistently done so, 48 I BATH LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

including by commissioning us to train, support and safeguard adult volunteers to mentor young people since 2005.

“As a charity we’re able to fundraise to co-fund this work, to more than double the reach and impact of council taxpayers’ money.

It’s also great to help build knowledge and confidence in our local community, giving our young people their best chance of hope and happiness.”

For more: www.mentoringplus.net

Bath-based law firm Stone King has signed the Race Fairness Commitment. An initiative from diversity recruitment specialists Rare [see page 47 for more on them], signing up means Stone King has made a pledge to tackle racial inequality in the workplace by analysing recruitment, staff retention, pay, and promotion data to identify and address obstacles faced by staff of Black, Asian and minority ethnic heritage.

Steven Greenwood, Stone King’s manager partner says, “Signing up to the Race Fairness Commitment reflects our values and zero-tolerance approach at Stone King to racial injustice. It strengthens our ongoing work and plans to make absolutely sure that all our team members, now and to come, can be confident that their rights and expectations to be treated fairly and with respect will be met.”

In addition to the pledge, Stone King is implementing regular round table staff discussions on workplace racial equality, developing schools’ mentorship programmes, and has established the Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic Headteachers’ Forum to look at the lack of diversity, inclusion and representation in the legal sector.

For more: www.stoneking.co.uk

SPONSORED BY:

FOR THE COLLECTIVE

A group of creative women in Bath have come together to launch The Belmont Collective, a new online shop.

“There are three of us behind the project: myself – Rachael Hutchinson of Rachael Caitlin Photography, Jenn Bailey of Frances & Rose, and Katie Walton of KW Textiles,” explains Rachael Hutchinson, one of the Collective’s founders. “Prior to Covid, we were all working professionals with creative side hobbies. Katie and myself have been furloughed from our jobs for most of the pandemic, and Jenn had a baby in May last year so is still on maternity leave.” For the Collective, the pandemic represented a chance to realise their artistic goals.

“We are creative and artistic women who, as a group, help support each other in our

businesses journeys, sharing our skills and passions with one another,” Rachael continues.

“I handle the graphic design, website, social media and photography, along with selling my photography prints – and working on my own range of scented candles; Katie is an experienced weaver and creates a range of hand-made woven homewares, including wall hangings and cushions, using all-natural fibres such as wool, linen and cotton; and Jenn is an artist who creates her work using a woodburning technique called pyrography. Most of her work is created using reclaimed timbers.”

As the project develops, in addition to selling their own work, they aim for The Belmont Collective to act as a platform for other local artists to promote their work.

For more: www.thebelmontcollective.com

Rachael has recently launched a new range of scented candles

Rachael sells her photography prints as well as creating the product imagery

Frances & Rose wooden piece are created using pyrography

KW Textiles woven homewares are made from natural fibres

www.mediaclash.co.uk I BATH LIFE I 49

SPONSORED BY:

BATHWORKS

Emma Draper creates beautiful platters with a combination of cheeses

BIZ Q&A

Emma Draper, Wild Fig Emma talks artisan cheese, fresh foliage, and launching her grazing table business

W

ild Fig provide beautifully crafted sharing platters and grazing boxes curated by Emma. Each box comes with four mouth-watering artisan cheeses, a charcuterie selection and chutney and crackers to complement them. For a little extra you can even throw in a bottle of something – Emma partners with Scout and Sage Gin and the Beckford Bottle shop for that. Wild Fig has been a lockdown saviour for many, providing a gourmet experience from home.

Tell us about your career so far. How did you get to where you are?

Since the age of 15, I’ve worked in the hospitality industry. I took a couple of years out to travel Thailand and Australia, and then on my return to Bath around 10 years ago I began my journey with The Fine Cheese Co.

50 I BATH LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

What inspired you to start Wild Fig? Anne-Marie Dyas, the founder of The Fine Cheese Co. was my true inspiration. An incredible woman, she taught me so much and gave me the drive and ambition to create my own business.

How would you describe the Wild Fig experience?

A Wild Fig experience brings people together to indulge in new adventurous flavours. We specialise in exquisite sharing platters and grazing boxes. The grazing boxes come to your door and, when restrictions allow, sharing platters can be tailored for any event.

In the last few years the ‘grazing’ experience has become really popular. What are you doing differently from the traditional buffet?

I use a combination of artisan cheeses, charcuterie and locally-sourced

produce with an abundance of fresh foliage, bringing a touch of food artistry to any occasion.

Let’s talk suppliers! What do you look for in your stock?

I’ve been lucky enough to have worked alongside an amazing team of suppliers and cheese experts during my time at The Fine Cheese Co., which helped me develop a passion for using only the finest produce. I also believe it is incredibly important to source locally wherever possible, to support the local economy and build lasting, trustworthy partnerships with other small business owners.

Your table spreads are quite something to behold. What’s the process of creating them?

My goal is always to wow my clients!

The cheese comes first, then I go on to pair with charcuterie and various partners to the cheese. Finally, I hand select seasonal fruits and fresh foliage

or floristry to complete the experience – I focus on using a variety of colour and textures to create a spread that really ‘pops’. I work on an extremely flexible basis and am happy to meet any dietary requirements or special requests to cater for all a client’s needs.

What have some of the challenges been?

When I began Wild Fig, I concentrated on grazing tables for events, but with the onset of Covid19, like many businesses, I had to adapt the way in which I was working to meet the needs of my clients. I introduced a range of unique grazing boxes filled with the highest quality products my clients were used to, delivered to their door – removing the stress of venturing out for food and providing a touch of culinary luxury during these tough times.

I’m a single mama, which also has its challenges – but I’ve always known I wanted my own business to build a future for my daughter, Marley.

What do you love about running your own business?

It’s definitely not as easy as it seems, but it’s totally worth it for the ability to be as creative as you like with no barriers. And of course, the flexibility to work around being a mum is invaluable!

How are you feeling going into 2021?

I like to remain positive, so I have nothing but high hopes for 2021 and a bright future for Wild Fig. Fore more: www.wildfig.co.uk

BATHWORKS “SEPTEMBER 9: CELEBRATE THE BEST OF BATH”

Awards returning in September We can’t wait to be back in the The Assembly Rooms for Bath’s biggest business event

The Bath Life Awards will return in September, with value on much greater certainty on our return to normality. Dig out your 2021 diary and book off 9 September, when Bath’s best will gather to celebrate all things great about the city – and hand out a few awards, too

A Anybody can win

From the coolest of the indies to the largest of the corporates: everyone playing their part in this city, everyone coming together once more. It’s never been more important.

TESTIMONIAL

“Something the past year has taught us is the value of celebrating achievements and meeting friends, colleagues and people you can be inspired by in person.

That’s what I’m looking forward and clinging onto, seeing the fantastic community we have in Bath coming together once again.”

Ben Danielsen, general manager The Royal Crescent Hotel & Spa

ll was revealed at a special online Bath Life Awards Launch. The 30-minute uplifting session featured exclusive updates on the new date, nominations and sponsorship opportunities.

Some of the Awards’ familiar faces also spoke including Ben Danielsen, general manager with headline sponsor, The Royal Crescent Hotel & Spa; past winners; our irrepressible host and columnist, David Flatman; Bath’s MP Wera Hobhouse; and many more.

The video of the launch can be found by searching for Bath Life Awards on YouTube.

Sponsorships are available for Bath’s most prestigious Awards ceremony, backed by even more months of marketing than in normal years. Several sponsors are already on board, led by headline sponsor The Royal Crescent Hotel & Spa, with category sponsors including Apex City of Bath Hotel, Audi Bath, Clearly PR, Enlightened, Hotel Indigo, Marsh Commercial,

Minuteman Press, Novia, Savills, Spaces, Stone King, Truespeed; and of course, Bath Life itself.

Feature sponsors are Freestyle Designs, Sub13 and Triangle Networks.

MediaClash events and brand manager Annie Miekus says, “After this past year, we can all do with buoying up – business owners perhaps more than almost anyone. Imagine how good it will feel to be on the shortlist of the Bath Life Awards, to have all the marketing benefits of being a finalist.”

Nominations are now open for all businesses in the Bath area. They’re free to enter, and offer great opportunity to share your successes. Nominate for your teams, find good things to praise, and acknowledge their contribution.

For remaining sponsorship opportunities, please contact annie.kelly@mediaclash.co.uk For more: www.bathlifeawards.co.uk @BathLifeAwards

SPONSORSHIPS For remaining options, please contact annie.kelly@ mediaclash.co.uk or pat.white@mediaclash.co.uk

LAUNCH & TICKETS See the official launch in full on the Bath Life YouTube channel.

Simply head to YouTube and search for Bath Life

NOMINATIONS Open via website www.bathlifeawards.co.uk

SOCIAL MEDIA Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and Twitter for all updates.

AWARDS The uberglam Bath Life Awards are held on 9 September 2021 at Bath Assembly Rooms.

Nothing beats being there…

www.mediaclash.co.uk I BATH LIFE I 51

ADVERTISING FEATURE

MEET THE TECH EXPERT Up your game and join the tech revolution models to make them happen; and craft award-winning websites, apps and software that enables them to do more, engage better, and get there faster.

01225 220155; www.digitalwonderlab.com

What sets you apart from others in your sector?

We strive to help organisations across various sectors, especially those with a social purpose, to create and manage change that matters through digital evolution which works for them. We are fairly unique as we start with the ‘why’ and work through where our clients see themselves in the future – their vision. Helping them see things differently and gain clarity in what can be achieved enables us to turn their ambitious goals into reality through well thought through software solutions.

What does your business specialise in?

We are experts in solving problems by helping organisations to focus upon their purpose and outcomes, and to digitally transform by seeing new possibilities and making change happen through beautifully crafted technology. Our role is to help the people we work with to realise their digital potential, to provide unique user experiences and gain a competitive edge. We develop digital strategies that realise their vision and make their dreams a reality, create roadmaps and maturity

How has your industry changed in the last few years?

So much has changed in the last decade for our industry. Aside from the fact that 10 years ago we’d only just seen the launch of the iPhone 4, the Oculus Rift hadn’t been invented and you were doing very well if your broadband speeds were above 5mbps. As predicted, smartphone usage and availability has soared globally and has overtaken desktop as the primary source of web traffic, not just for consumer but also B2B. The most noticeable

KEVIN TRIGGLE

CREATIVE DIRECTOR, DIGITAL WONDERLAB

WILL WOOD

HEAD OF PRE-SALES, DATASHARP INTEGRATED COMMUNICATIONS

company meeting room, those who join remotely are entitled to the same audio quality as everyone else.

0800 032 8274; www.datasharp-ic.co.uk What does your business specialise in?

We’re a business communications company based in Bath – now celebrating our 21st year!

Our areas of expertise are Microsoft Teams, business phone systems, video conferencing, data networking, network security and business mobile phones. We have the in-house consultancy, design and deployment capability to bring these technologies together and create the best solutions for our clients.

How has the pandemic affected the way businesses communicate?

Throughout 2020, we focused on helping businesses adopt technologies that enable flexible working. In 2021, as the lockdown eases, we expect many firms to move to ‘hybrid working’ meaning some proportion of employees will continue to work remotely. This will, for example, impact the video meetings experience.

Up until now, participants have all joined remotely. But when some colleagues are in a

52 I BATH LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

What do your clients need the most at this moment in time?

In such challenging times, they need a trusted partner to offer advice, help navigate the myriad solutions in the marketplace, and provide support. Our focus has been on helping people to do their jobs better. The impact of remote working means that company IT policy is now shaped based on the end user’s needs. This is what’s driving the technology to evolve. A single app on desktops and smartphones (like Microsoft Teams), that’s powerful yet simple to use, is the ultimate goal!

What sets you apart from others in your sector?

When talking to a prospective customer, we take a holistic view of their business and work hard to understand what they want to achieve. Because we work with a range of best-in-class vendors, we can tailor a solution that exactly meets the customer’s need. We’re incredibly proud of the long-term customer relationships we’ve built over the last 21 years.

thing from a design perspective, especially in the last few years, is we’ve seen a real change in the understanding of the term ‘user experience’ (UX). Over time real experts have emerged in the industry who understand the importance of focusing on the end-to-end experience the user has when dealing with your organisation and why neglecting proper UX is such a mistake.

Which clients are you working with currently?

We do a lot of work with charities and one of the most recent ones we’ve had the pleasure of working with are Cerebral Palsy Cymru. Amongst other things, some of the common challenges we see are the need to create a stable and secure fundraising platform, integrations to maintain and improve the relationships they have with their donors and a system which puts them back in control of their future and empowers them with the tools they need. In addition, we helped them navigate through a much needed rebrand whilst making sure all relevant stakeholders felt involved and listened to throughout the process. We have also been working on a digital transformation including a new website build with The Charlie Waller Trust, a charity really making a huge impact in mental health awareness and support, particularly with younger audiences.

ADVERTISING FEATURE

EMILY HILL

STEPHEN JONES

What is your favourite part of the job?

Getting to know our clients. I find it fascinating to learn about how different businesses operate, and I love to be creative about how we can solve problems using technology.

Technology is constantly changing the world around us; how can businesses adapt to stay relevant?

Technology can help a business in so many ways that it can be bewildering to know where to start.

It’s important for a business to understand where their customers are right now, how their worlds have changed, and how to adapt in order to serve them. But I suspect there are also many businesses that could be using technologies in ways they’ve not even thought of, and reap huge rewards as a result. It’s exciting to help a client build up a roadmap of changes they can implement and to see the impact of that over time.

What does your business specialise in?

Ghyston specialises in writing bespoke software that is designed around the goals of the business and has a measurable return on investment. We rarely write a piece of software and say goodbye – instead we build long-term partnerships with our clients and love to see their businesses flourish.

What is your favourite part of the job?

It’s a real privilege to produce award-winning cloud software that helps growing businesses all over the world be more productive when making, managing and moving their products. I also love the people, we’re a fun bunch. When we’re not at home, we’re in Beacon Tower... or Spain - the location for our winter party last year.

What sets you apart from others in your sector?

An obsession around user experience and using a shedload of tech helping our SMB underdogs punch above their weight.

How has Covid-19 affected the business you work for?

We poured our focus into efforts to help our struggling customers. We offered subscription relief, free live chat support and set up a global online marketplace in seven days to help our customers find new customers www. goodproductsmatter.com The pandemic has changed a lot of things, but what tool have you found most useful that you didn’t use before?

At Unleashed our business is solving problems and we lost the ability to troubleshoot problems face to face.

Loom www.loom.com enables our teams to share their challenges visually, on demand.

GHYSTON 0117 325 7500 www.ghyston.com

DAVID KELLY

STORM CONSULTANCY 01225 580500 www.stormconsultancy.co.uk What is your favourite part of the job?

I enjoy working with business leaders and entrepreneurs to unpack their digital/ technical business ideas. I get excited by opportunities that others bring to us to collaborate on. Usually people who have spotted an opportunity have a lot of energy and it’s fun working with them.

What professional accomplishment has made you most proud?

UNLEASHED www.unleashedsoftware.com

Emily Hill

Stephen Jones

Storm has invested and partnered in a portfolio of businesses. We are proud of our work with the life science data company. Our technology saves its industry $1bn per year.

We also helped create one of the UK’s fastest growing e-learning platforms. Recently, I am most proud of Co-forest. It’s our first notfor-profit, and it helps like minded businesses and individuals to offset their carbon footprint.

How has Covid altered the way you work, professionally and personally?

Working remotely has been a relatively easy transition as we’re a digitally capable team.

However, the team at Storm like to be handson and face-to-face with clients, so we’ve had to get creative in how we bring that ‘in person experience’ during a lockdown. We sent our clients pies to enjoy as they would if they were visiting us. We’ve also managed to do some Zoom socials, and even sent pizza to the team to enjoy.

How has Covid affected your business?

We are really fortunate to work in tech because everything has had to go online, making us very busy. Lots of people are spotting new gaps in the market, or they need to adapt to these times with their current business. We’re helping them take advantage of the Covid era, and become more resilient.

The pandemic has changed a lot of things, but what tool have you found most useful that you didn’t use before?

We were already highly flexible and digital, so we’ve not added much to our arsenal. However,

as for most people, Zoom is the tool that has been used far more than before – generally we’re a face-to-face sort of company.

Technology is constantly changing the world around us; how does your business adapt to stay relevant?

We’re the ones building that change in tech!

We always try to stay a step or two ahead of the leading edge, so that we can pass that knowledge onto our clients and partners. Nothing gives us more joy than seeing others take a big leap forward and be there to support them.

What does your business specialise in?

Working with startups and scaleups to design and develop digital and technology, which helps their businesses to grow and thrive.

What sets you apart from others in your sector?

We don’t just build digital technology for our clients. We are there from an initial idea, which we help them develop and solidify, right through to watching their company launch and thrive. We don’t like to be seen as a company you outsource your tech to, but rather a partner where we are invested in your success and celebrate your milestones.

What is your main goal for 2021, professionally?

Growing Co-forest (no pun intended) is something I’m really looking forward to doing.

We aim to start planting in autumn 2021 and we’ve had some great traction to date. We’d also like to add 20% to the Storm team to meet demands for upcoming projects.

www.mediaclash.co.uk I BATH LIFE I 53

PROPERTY P L A C E S T O L I V E , W O R K A N D P L AY

The new three-storey townhouse by Curo

ON SHOW

The first of 12 townhouses launches at Mulberry Park

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The Bathwick showhome is one of 12 properties available

new three-storey show home designed for city living has just been launched at the Mulberry Park development in Bath. The Bathwick show home is one of 12 townhouses which will look over the development’s park, due to be fully open in 2023.

The properties, built by the housing association and housebuilder Curo and which cost from £499,995, feature an open plan living and kitchen/dining area with a balcony overlooking the future park on the first floor, and a master bedroom with en suite, two further bedrooms and a family bathroom on

the top floor. The ground floor is occupied by the integrated garage, entrance lobby, a utility room, WC and plenty of storage space.

Jodie Winter, Curo sales manager, says, “These unique homes which span 1,536sqft over three storeys, certainly have the wow factor. We’ve used Bath stone, complementary cream brick and wood panelling to create gorgeous frontages, while the large windows at the front of the properties will maximise the beautiful views over the future park and allow lots of natural light in.”

The property at Mulberry Park is available to see by pre-arranged appointment only.

For more: www.curo-group.co.uk www.mediaclash.co.uk I BATH LIFE I 55

PROPERTY

Auction

THE ART OF PERSUASION

Three Grade I listed buildings in Laura Place – one of the main settings in Jane Austen’s final book Persuasion – have been sold at auction.

The office and residential properties at 10, 11 and 12 Laura Place had a guide price of £4m+ and were acquired by the previous owner between the 1960s and 1980s. They comprise 16,877 sq ft of space and produce current annual income of £226,773. At the time of selling, end of 2020, there were two vacant flats and two vacant offices in the properties.

Laura Place was built for Sir William Johnstone Pulteney in 1788, and was named after Henrietta Laura Pulteney who inherited the estate in 1792. Jane Austen wrote Persuasion in 1815-1816 and one of the main characters – the wealthy Lady Dalrymple – lives ‘in style’ in Laura Place.

Peter Mayo of Acuitus Bespoke, who sold the properties via online auction, says, “These properties are genuinely unique and occupy a prominent position in a beautiful part of Bath.

We expected there to be interest not least because of the location’s associations with Austen and the opportunity to own a landmark in the city.”

For more: www.acuitus.co.uk

Laura Place features in Persuasion by Jane Austen

Bath Property Awards

as part of a never-seen-before live streamed virtual symposium. The prestigious event will feature thought leadership seminars, structured networking for delegates, and will culminate in the Awards ceremony.

Tickets cost from £35, but finalists of the Bath Property Awards get two tickets for free which can be claimed via the Awards website.

Leading Bath property companies will be hosting unique networking sessions at the symposium exclusively for delegates. Companies can benefit from their own marketed hub at the event with access to many of Bath’s top property figures or by associating their brand through sponsorship.

Interaction is the latest on board as a sponsor of the Bath Property Symposium, joining headline sponsor Mogers Drewett plus category and feature sponsors Hawker Joinery, London & Country Mortgages, Spaces, South West Business Finance, Triangle Networks and Bath Life.

For more: annie.kelly@mediaclash.co.uk /www.bathpropertyawards.co.uk

56 I BATH LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

The BPA symposium ensures great contacts can still be made

© ADAM CARTER

FREE FOR BPA FINALISTS The Bath Property Awards are back in a month’s time on 12 March

“Let’s have a chat about your move”

Deanery Walk, Avonpark, Limpley Stoke. £560,000.

Impressive penthouse - Two bedroom retirement apartment, bathroom & ensuite - Large lounge dining room, kitchen & study - Private lift access, Juliet balconies - Lovely grounds & views - Leasehold.

Alexander Hall, Avonpark, Limpley Stoke. £260,000.

Comfortably proportioned retirement apartment Good lounge dining room, large double bedroom Separate kitchen & shower room - Wonderful views, large gardens & communal facilities - Leasehold.

Substantial retirement apartment enjoying natural light & views to three sides - Two double bedrooms, shower room & ensuite - Lounge/dining room & kitchen breakfast room - Lovely grounds.

LD 20 SO 20 in

LD 20 SO 20 in

Kingfisher Court, Avonpark, Limpley Stoke.

Alexander Place, Avonpark, Limpley Stoke.

Rarely available a refurbished retirement bungalow with private patio garden - Two bedrooms - Set in a superb location high above the stunning Limpley Stoke valley between Bath & Bradford-on-Avon.

Tel: 01225 866747

27 Market Street, Bradford-on-Avon, Wiltshire, BA15 1LL email: info@jeremyjenkins.co.uk • www.jeremyjenkins.co.uk

ADVERTISING FEATURE

Are you looking forward to your future – or worried about it?

Award-winning chartered financial planner Jonothan McColgan from COMBINED FINANCIAL STRATEGIES considers how the past year has changed people’s hopes and fears for the future, and what they can do about it

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hat does retirement mean to you? Being ready to take advantage of life once it returns to normal? More time with the grandchildren?

The freedom to travel further and longer?

Or just a series of worries?

The last 12 months have been extremely difficult for everyone. Even if those we love have avoided health problems, we have been denied our usual choices and escapes to look forward to. And now we are faced with a whole new set of concerns.

This is reflected in the main reasons we are initially approached by new clients. Most have been worried about the potential impact of getting ill on their family and their own future.

They are concerned about their job security, uncertain about the security of the money, investments and pensions that they have built up over their whole lifetime, anxious about the impact this could have on the next stage of their lives.

Our role at Combined Financial Strategies is to pull together all of our clients’ financial affairs, including not only your investments, your retirement and your tax planning but also ensuring that you and your family have plans in place to protect against the unthinkable happening.

The aim is to help you to understand what you will need, when you will need it and what you need to do now.

So, when this pandemic is behind us and the time for retirement arrives, you will have a clear plan – one that will allow you to get on with living your life knowing that you have made the right financial decisions for you and your family’s future, just like Geoff and Louise, two recent clients of ours.

RETIREMENT CASE STUDY:

Our clients’ needs: what can we afford?

As Geoff and Louise were only a few years off retirement, they decided to take advantage of their time on furlough to start planning for their future. They were keen to ensure they had enough income to live the life they wanted and make the most tax-efficient use of the assets they had accumulated.

They held a number of pensions, assets and a buy-to-let property they planned to use to fund 58 I BATH LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

their retirement. The problem was they weren’t sure what all their assets could deliver in terms of income and how long it would fund their retirement for.

The approach we took: what is important to you?

After our initial meeting, we sat down with Geoff and Louise and agreed some goals around their lifestyle in retirement. What really mattered to them? What did they want to achieve? We talked specifics, not vague hopes. Next, we drew up a cash flow forecast that focused on their long-term retirement plans. This helped demonstrate how different levels of income impacted the amount of legacy they may leave their family.

The outcome: plan for yourself and your children.

The result was that Geoff and Louise could start planning for a dream cruise to the Galapagos – a place they had always longed to visit. They were able to use some of Geoff’s tax-free cash from his pension plans. What is more, by reassigning some of their assets, they could each take a retirement income of over £30,000 and remain basic rate taxpayers.

With their immediate and long-term needs taken care of, we were also able to demonstrate how much they could afford to earmark for

helping their children out financially. By working with their solicitor, we were able to restructure their wills, pensions and investments, which could save the family up to £400,000 in inheritance tax.

Geoff and Louise now have annual meetings with us where we update and review their lifetime cash flow forecast and financial plan.

This gives them financial peace of mind to live the life they want, secure in the knowledge that they will not run out of money, no matter what the pandemic or anything else throws at them. ■

Jonothan McColgan, Director & Chartered Financial Planner; 38 Gay Street, Bath, BA1 2NT; 01225 471 462; jonothan@cfsorg.com; www.cfsorg.com “Combined Financial Strategies Ltd is an appointed representative of The Whitechurch Network Limited which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). Tax Strategies, Will Writing & Buy to Lets are not regulated by the FCA. Investments & Pensions are long term investments that will fluctuate and can go down in value. Your eventual returns or income will depend upon the value of the fund, future interest rates and tax legislation at retirement.”

ADVERTISING FEATURE

Nineteeth century style

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Bath’s top again, could this be because of the new Regencycore trend?

Peter Greatorex from THE APARTMENT COMPANY takes a look...

e did it again. Bath has come out top of a list of fifteen of the most desirable places in England and Wales to live post-Covid, due to quality of life. There was particular emphasis too on the city’s architecture and proximity to Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty. But it isn’t only this new accolade that has sparked people’s interest in our fair city again, but a certain Netflix binge watch known as Bridgerton.

The exquisite selection of period properties we are blessed with were on display for all to see for those who indulged in the show. Reaching over 63 million households, and based on Julia Quinn’s romance novels, Bridgerton is a Regency-era romance-drama and has spiked a new trend known as ‘Regencycore.’ Filmed in Bath, the series features many of our well-known and loved buildings.

The Holbourne Museum was one such property.

In the show it became Lady Danbury’s residence,

which we are sure you eagle-eyed local viewers would have noticed – and of course, you will have also spotted the Royal Crescent. But what you may not be aware of is that we have just sold (sstc) a property that featured in the production, set within one of Bath’s ever-popular Georgian streets, Abbey Street. One lucky buyer will soon be living their own Bridgerton life enjoying their new homes’ fine Georgian architecture and an array of period features including stunning high ceilings, large sash windows and original fireplaces.

As stunning as the exteriors of these properties are, it is interiors where Regencycore seems to be gaining momentum locally. But what can you do to add a touch of Bridgerton-inspired Regency style to your apartment?

Your home doesn’t need to have period heritage to take advantage of this new and decadent trend.

Think grand, statement pieces such as a luxurious boudoir-style bed. It of course needs to work with the room, but adding this kind of bed will bring

a touch of elegance, especially when dressed with opulent bedding and accessories. How about creating a space to relax in whilst you are elegantly reclining, enjoying the pages of a new novel? Maybe you are even working your way through the Bridgerton books!

Of course, the perfect seating and reading nook accessory is a chaise longue, and now they are back in fashion.

If you’re thinking of moving to or within Bath and are unsure where your next move should be, contact our beau monde team as, when it comes to Bath society and apartments, we know where to find the right home to meet your needs.

For more advice visit our blog at www.theapartmentcompany.co.uk Sales: 01225 471144 Lettings: 01225 303870

PROPERTY

5 JOHNSTONE STREET Matilda Walton explores a city centre townhouse of dreams

62 I BATH LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

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n this year of pandemic and stay at home orders, we have come anew to realisations like the necessity of community, the joy of creating something by hand – sourdough, anyone? – and the instant wellbeing benefits of a walk around the block. We have also become more intimately acquainted than ever before with the four walls that surround us, our homes, and how they might or might not be serving our needs. We’re still in it right now, but as the dust settles on the pandemic and we go forth into an uncertain future, one thing is for sure: nothing is ever going to be the same. For some of us, it’s time for a new start – and a fresh space. 5 Johnstone Street, the sprawling six-floor late 18 th century property on the Bathwick Estate has all the building blocks required.

The vastness of the property presents an abundance of possibilities, and offers the gift of flexibility – that most desired quantity following a year spent, for the most part, inside. At almost 6,000 square feet, 5 Johnstone

HOUSE NUMBERS Guide Price 2.85 million Square foot approx 6,000 Bedrooms 6 Bathrooms 5 Joint agents Crisp Cowley, 1 Wood Street, Bath; tel: 01225 789333; www.crispcowley.co.uk Sotheby’s, 34-35 New Bond Street, Mayfair, London; tel: 020 7293 5000; www.sothebys.com

Street is utterly accommodating to the needs of a busy family, with a multitude of options for treasured time spent together – and treasured time spent apart – in addition to the potential for home office space, and whatever else a hectic life requires. It’s been standing over 300 years – clearly, this was a space built to evolve.

Beautifully decorated by the current owners, the house has a distinct flow. Double doors feature

throughout, creating an ease of movement between spaces. The house chef for the night, for example, needn’t be sequestered away in the kitchen but can instead still be part of the action as it opens into the airy and inviting dining room – perfect for catching up with the family at the end of the day, and, when restrictions on such things lift, guests.

Yes, its six bedrooms, two kitchens, multiple reception rooms – including a cosy west facing drawing room complete with another set of double doors leading to a withdrawing room – and enclosed garden make 5 Johnstone Street an attractive prospect, but additional features like the home gym (ideal for lockdown times) on the garden level and, best of all, the large double mews garage accessed via the garden, elevate this property to truly special status.

At the edge of the city centre in an area of renowned architectural magnificence, 5 Johnstone Street is a dream of a property, ready and waiting for its next evolution to come.

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RESTORATION

HISTORY PROJECTS From priest holes to roosting bats, the true life tales of restoring, renovating and redesigning older properties

By Sarah Moolla 66 I BATH LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

“There was evidence of an occasional summer roost for Greater Horseshoe Bats”

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uilding work in older homes, like the elegant ageing Georgian and Victorian properties found in Bath, need specialist care and attention. From the daintiest of ceiling roses to the largest tumbling barn conversions, restoration and renovation work, as well as often being subject to stringent building rules, definitely requires expert care and guidance. Here we ask 10 local historical home professionals to talk us through some of their recent revival and renewal projects.

Stuart Thompson, architect at Aaron Evans Architects, who are renowned for delivering imaginative, sustainable and financially viable solutions. 3 Gay Street, Bath. tel: 01225 466234; www.aaronevans.com PROJECT: the restoration and conversion of the Coach House in Newton St. Loe into a new three-bedroom residential unit

“The client, The Duchy of Cornwall’s, brief required design proposals to create a characterful three-bedroomed dwelling that was sympathetic to, and respected, the character of this historic building.

Aside from requiring partial reconstruction of the existing structure, the conversion and redevelopment of the coach house presented numerous challenges: an early ecology survey revealed there was evidence of an occasional summer roost for Greater Horseshoe Bats, which required rehoming under a licence within the proposed alterations. The ground floor of the property sits buried into a steep hillside, requiring extensive waterproofing measures.

Lastly, the location of the building, which lies adjacent to a public bridleway and a narrow site access, required the careful planning of construction traffic and operations.

As a former functioning coach house and stables, there are several interesting features that reference the building’s previous use – large openings feature at ground floor where carts were garaged and horses were stabled. A circular window has now been installed in the former pitching eye, where hay would have been transferred for storage.

Finally, a hearth and woodburning stove have been installed over the former cart garage (now the master bedroom) at first floor level – you can almost imagine the cart drivers warming themselves in the colder evenings. I feel it is of utmost importance to preserve this evocative spirit of a historic building during the renovation process, allowing the building to speak of its heritage whilst making it relevant to the way we live today.”

The circular window is where hay would have been transferred for storage

The Duchy of Cornwall’s brief was for Aaron Evans Architects to design a dwelling sympathetic to the building’s history

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JAS Building Services

Quality First

Residential & Commercial Extensions – Renovations – Refurbishments

Call us today on: 01454 877520

www.jasbuildingservices.co.uk

RESTORATION

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Natasha Townsend, design consultant from Hobson’s Choice who have more than 40 years of kitchen design and installation experience. London Road, Bath. tel: 01225 433511; www.hobsonschoice.uk.com

PROJECT: To create a multi-functional dining, entertainment, and utility space in a 400-year-old listed Jacobean manor house

“Owners Mette and Chris Lowe wanted to create a Scandinavian-style sleek and minimalist space in their 17th-century home. The project had its fair share of challenges, involving planning permissions, plumbing, heating, lighting, and electrical work. As the project evolved, new challenges emerged, such as the complete restoration of the floor from the soil upwards, and removing a bulky water tank suspended from the kitchen ceiling.

Using the bulthaup b3 kitchen system means there are many options to style the kitchen to

The Hobson’s Choice team team moved walls and re-laid floor to create a sleek and minimalist space in the Jacobean manor house

perfectly suit the client’s taste, requirements and property. Everything is exact and well-made; for example, the 4mm shadow gaps between every single door and drawer front are something of a bulthaup signature.

Flint coloured tall units provide a warm contrast against the Alpine white of the island and lower units. Wall panelling in the same colour on the opposite side of the chimney breast balances the design. A natural oak breakfast bar, dining furniture and door frames complete the look.

Our team moved walls, re-laid floors, and plumbed in new water and electrical services to create a boot room and utility space in addition to the kitchen installation.

Although the finished kitchen appears to be relatively simple, it is what you can’t see that makes this project stand out. To make a room look effortless whilst working within listed property guidelines requires enormous attention to detail, expertise and immaculate finishing.”

“To make a room look effortless whilst working within listed property guidelines requires enormous attention to detail” www.mediaclash.co.uk I BATH LIFE I 69

RESTORATION Modernisation in this project

by Stonewood Builders sits seamlessly in this medieval setting without compromising its aesthetic

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Sarah Turner and Alec Webb of Stonewood Builders, award-winning builders of high specification projects.

West Yatton Lane, Castle Combe. tel: 01249 782293; www.stonewoodbuilders.co.uk PROJECT: Restoration of large medieval house creating a comfortable, practical, and contemporary family home

“One of the main difficulties with this project in Codrington, South Gloucestershire was the removal of more recent modernisation works.

There was a full replacement of the staircase, removal of damaged beams and historic ceilings, replacement of traditional materials with similar throughout the property and fitting underfloor heating without damaging the ancient parts of the house. The work uncovered some historical gems such as a hidden priest hole and an escape tunnel, Tudor strapwork ceiling, and the discovery of a medieval arch.

The work took around 12 months and this is now a beautiful and comfortable family home with modern conveniences such as underfloor heating, contemporary plumbing and electrical work, fibre optic broadband and other comms technology, seamlessly sitting into this medieval setting without compromising its aesthetic.”

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Jonathan Hetreed of Hetreed Ross Architects who specialise in bespoke, sustainable and contemporary design. tel: 01225 851860; www.hetreedross.com

PROJECT: Conserving and celebrating the surviving original features of a 16th century farmhouse (see picture page 74)

“Mill House was a fairly typical South Gloucestershire farmhouse, thought to be of 16th century origins and with lucrative connections with the wool trade. It had been patched and repaired over the generations, cement rendered, various windows installed, and minor

70 I BATH LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

alterations done internally, until the stripping out by some previous owners in pursuit of ‘modernisation’ prompted ‘spot listing’ [process by which buildings are listed on an individual basis] to protect what then remained of its historic interior features.

Since so few of these features had survived the recent strip out, it was vital to conserve and celebrate the historic building fabric that remained. This included decorative plaster features, inglenook fireplaces and an undulating elm floor originally used as a weaving loft by a 17th century textile merchant.

Our clients bought it at this point with the ambitious goal of combining a sympathetic restoration with advanced eco-refurbishment.

Working closely with them, we established a brief and overarching concept of retaining the house’s character whilst achieving low energy consumption, lower than buildings of more recent construction.

This was in part achieved by an air-source heat pump that feeds the underfloor heating backed up by wood stoves in carefully upgraded fireplaces and stacks, with individual heat reclaim extract ventilation units in kitchen and bathrooms. A high local water table warranted new land drains to minimise damp in existing walls with all internal masonry finished in damp tolerant lime plaster.

Also replacing the existing windows are high performance doubleglazed timber mullioned windows and there is full external wall insulation using breathable cork slabs and lime render to replace the modern cement render. The property was completely re-roofed using the original clay tiles over high performance insulation and plywood ceilings, and the historic roof structures are fully exposed to view.

The result is an unusually comprehensive eco-refurbishment of a listed building to provide a generously comfortable 21st century home with its historic future assured.”

ELITISTS IN BESPOKE JOINERY INCLUDING TRADITIONAL SLIDING SASHES, CASEMENTS AND HIGH PERFORMANCE WINDOWS, ENTRANCE DOORS, STAIRS AND INTERNAL CABINETRY. MONARCH ALSO OFFER A FULL RENOVATION SERVICE WITH A GREAT TEAM OF CONTRACTORS WITH A WEALTH OF KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE. UNIT 4, ASHTON PARK, HANDLEMAKER ROAD, FROME BA114RW WORKSHOP TELEPHONE: 07813 950659 | EMAIL: INFO@MONARCH-JOINERY.CO.UK

WallerandWood created architectural art glass panels for the Georgian hotel, No 15 Great Pulteney

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Carole Waller and Gary Wood who make up WallerandWood, are artists creating architectural glass, ceramics, and textiles for interior and exterior.

One two five Box Road, Bath. tel: 07803 033629; www.wallerandwood.co.uk

PROJECT: A set of replacement decorative windows and doors for the health spa at the No 15 Great Pulteney hotel

“Carole makes paintings on cloth which can hang in space or against walls like tapestries. They are also laminated between toughened glass as free-standing artworks in homes and gardens – or incorporated into architecture as windows, doors, balustrades, and screens.

For No 15 the project was the incorporation of contemporary glass art in a Georgian building, which cost around £30,000 and took about three months to complete. The translucent colour in the paintings, which are on textured cloth, imparts a soft beautiful light and atmosphere into the rooms – shielding the occupier from visibility from the outside whilst allowing light to come in. This is similar to the effect of stained glass but with the additional characteristic of being slightly opaque. The panels are UV protected by the resin in the lamination process.”

“Grade I listed buildings come with the most stringent rules and restrictions”

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John Law, creative director of interiors at Woodhouse & Law, which specialises in interior and garden design, 4 Georges Place, Bath; tel: 01225 428 072; www.woodhouseandlaw.co.uk

PROJECT: The complete interior redesign of a Frome detached cottage built around 1730

“This was a second home for our clients Chris and James, who had fallen in love with the area and were keen to spend more time there.

One of their favourite places to visit was Babington House; they love how it feels crisp and clean, yet warm and welcoming at the same time and they wanted that same cosy, country feeling in their cottage.

As the client lived outside the area, much of the design process was done from a distance. Thankfully technology helped ensure this was stress-free and seamless, something that we are all of course getting used to more than ever at the minute. Presentations and meetings were often held remotely, from the early design stages to share our ideas, through to the build to ensure that the clients were fully updated at all stages of the process.

The property has two main entrances, one of which was in the living room; this would be rarely used apart when access was needed for the delivery of larger items. We were keen to avoid the space

72 I BATH LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

Woodhouse & Law worked on the renovations design of this Frome cottage, which dates from 1730

RESTORATION

Etons of Bath have extensive experience in project managing the renovation of Georgian Bath properties

feeling like a thoroughfare, with too many windows and doors, so introduced a bespoke bookcase here. Sitting within the front door frame, the bookcase allowed us to add greater flexibility and interest to the room, whilst being fully removable for those occasional times when access is required.

As can often be found in period cottages, some of the corridors here risked feeling a little narrow, so we introduced wallpaper to certain ceilings, injecting greater interest and character to a space that can sometimes get overlooked.”

7

Sarah Latham, creative director of Etons of Bath, the interior designers who provide specialist expert advice, design, sourcing and project management for Georgian properties. 108 Walcot St, Bath; tel: www.etonsofbath.com

Artistic Plastercraft have been tasked with restoring the seriously neglected ceiling roses to their former glory

PROJECT: Restoration of a Grade 1 listed house in Great Pulteney Street, Bath.

“The house is 6,000 square feet and had previously been rented out for 12 years so it was in a sorry state. The clients had a budget of £1 million to restore the house to its former glory whilst redesigning the interiors and layout for their tastes and lifestyle.

Grade I listed buildings come with the most stringent rules and restrictions. The balance we have to find is between the restoration of the building’s exterior and interior features, the modernisation of the building for current family lifestyle, and the constraints of listing building consents.

The interior features, windows, original Georgian floors were first restored before we then layered interior architecture and designs for each room. We managed the restoration of the external façades as well as new heating systems.

With such high ceilings in much of the house apart from the top floor, lighting is key for the renovation. We banish recessed pot lights and use a combination of pendants, wall lights and lamps on 5 amp circuits and control dimmers to create the right lighting and mood settings per room.

We restored all the rooms of the house whilst creating a classic contemporary feel throughout. This included a kitchen, bathrooms, gym, media room and conservatory to create a modern, stunning family home within a deeply historical setting.”

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David Collins, managing director of the specialist ornamental plasterers Artistic Plastercraft. 4 Lyndhurst Mews, Oldfield Park, Bath. tel: 01225 315404; www.artisticplastercraft.co.uk

PROJECT: Restoration of the moulding in a Grade II listed country villa in Bitton, near Bath

“The house has been quite neglected and there are various mouldings missing or in some cases, half missing. Our task is to copy the moulding exactly in our workshops and re-create them on site. This is always more challenging than creating something from scratch.

We had to copy the large 1.8 metre diameter ceiling rose from the billiard room into the main hallway and a simplified version into the breakfast room. A new vaulted ceiling has been formed and we are adding the new enriched moulding to the shapes. We have also added plain ceiling bands around the roses and existing cornices in most rooms to allow for the new lime plastering to finish against.

“The existing mouldings in this property are not just large, they are of a very high standard and beautifully ornate. Also the staff bead mouldings quirks in the billiard room, which cut off the right angle in the bay, was quite a tricky process due to the different angles.”

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RESTORATION

Broadleaf Timber suggested vintage style parquet to complement the architecture of the property From page 70 : Hetreed Ross Architects designed a sympathetic eco-refurbishment with this 16th century farmhouse that had been previously stripped of its original features

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Vanessa Garrett of Broadleaf Timber, specialists in wood flooring, 134-136 Walcot Street, Bath; tel: 01255 463 464; www.broadleaftimber.com

PROJECT: Installing a new floor in a 1960s property

“Our clients Paul and Shelley Allen wanted wood flooring because it was hard-wearing and would look better with age and was in keeping with their home.

For the wood we suggested our worn oak fi nish, whose beautiful mix of deep grey and warm bronze tones is dark enough to create a contrast against lighter shades but doesn’t mask the grain of the timber beneath or show up every speck of dust.

They wanted the floors to be the same throughout the home and the traditionally sized parquet laid in a classic herringbone pattern was the perfect solution for this as it works in larger and smaller space.

We recommended our gently distressed vintage style parquet so that the floor would look like part of the original architecture of the house.

The elegant yet informal style also created the timeless look that they were after and it was also much easier to fit than a traditional parquet floor that needs specialist sanding – this was another key criteria as Paul, who is an accountant not a carpenter, fitted the floor himself and the family were living in the property throughout the renovation.”

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Andrew Speering, managing director of the familyrun construction company JAS Building Services. tel:01454 877520; www.jasbuildingservices.co.uk

PROJECT: The creation of an open-plan kitchen-diner space

“The original kitchen and dining rooms felt dark and cluttered with furniture which partially blocked access between the main house and the rear annex extension. The two areas had different floor levels. We needed to raise the floor in the kitchen area to enable the two rooms to become one space. We then had to reconstruct the steps and raise the floor to the new kitchen floor level.

To create the continuous worktop to the window sill behind the sink area, we replaced the window and altered the Bath Stone structural opening in order to get the worktop level perfect with the new window.

By making these structural changes to the space, the house is more connected with the rear annex making the area feel like the centre of the home. The improvement of kitchen storage has created a simple and uncluttered space and the open-plan kitchen-diner has created the feeling of extra space, which overall appears lighter, brighter and cleaner.” ■

74 I BATH LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

“It was vital to conserve and celebrate the historic building fabric that remained” JAS Building Services raised floor levels to open up the kitchen in this Bath home

Producing only the finest architectural joinery, furniture and kitchens.

T: 01225 459247 | M: 07896 809349 | clayton@claytondavidson.co.uk | www.claytondavidson.co.uk

The Flying Pig Renovation Company w w w. f l y i n g p i g i n b a t h . c o. u k

oak flooring – carpets – luxury vinyl

5 Chelsea Road, Bath BA1 3DU www.interiorharmony.co.uk

01225 483818 info@interiorharmony.co.uk

STYLE COUNSEL PHILIPPA MAY

BUILDING SIGHTS Why renovating is painful, costly, messy, addictive, and thoroughly worth it

T

his lockdown I’ve found myself scrolling through more inspirational Instagram and Pinterest boards than ever before.

The escapism achieved through endlessly trawling beautiful home décor images has, at times, been motivational as well as stressful.

When you’re confined to your home, it appears that you begin to constantly notice and lament areas that need improvement.

But I’ve become very aware that social media is often not what it seems too.

Just like we do with fashion or fitness, we aspire to create spaces and interiors akin to those that we see strewn across the internet, forgetting that with every image there’s probably at least one edit of the truth.

This week I was asked what the

reality of a renovation was, and it dawned on me that it’s not as glamorous as I fear I sometimes make it out to be. Often, it’s more like you’re living in a building site, scraping the bottom of your wallet to then compromise on your designs because, well, there’s not endless time nor money. But, there I am editing out unsightly plug sockets and hiding all the children’s toys in a big unsightly trunk like everyone else. Behind every beautiful corner is a hectic mess and these endless questions about how to keep the house looking pristine led me to post the real pandemic picture – interiors that had truly been lived in – the living room that doubles up as a soft play, the kitchen that has to host endless meal times as well as working from home sessions, and the forgotten rooms that are piled high with forgotten jobs.

The reaction – a gigantic sigh of relief, I think. The ‘oh I’m

“Behind every beautiful corner is a hectic mess”

The beautiful happy ever after

so glad that your house looks as much of a state as mine’ was echoed in every message I received. I have loved living in a renovation, it gives you access to every single angle of your house before you embark on perfecting it into a home. It makes you appreciate the little adjustments that you think of last minute, those that will make your life that much easier in the future, like having a light switch perfectly positioned as you move through every corridor so you never have to go back down the stairs as you’ve forgotten a light was on.

And then before you know it, you’ve caught it, the renovation bug. Whether you’re moving from house to house or slowly overhauling each room in one abode to keep up with your changing tastes and the shifting dynamics of your family life, it can become an addiction.

If you’re thinking about renovating and can’t even bring yourself to open a colour chart, there are plenty of Instagram and Pinterest accounts to get your dose of inspiration from, so don’t be put off by their ‘perfection’.

Whether you’re restoring a

The early ugly truth

Georgian townhouse, creating an eco home from scratch or you just fancy giving your kitchen a lick of paint, there’s someone who’s been there and done it so don’t be afraid to get lost in a scroll of perpetual motivation to finally do it yourself.

Philippa May is an interiors enthusiast and is director of a branding and marketing company Mayd Studio.

Follow her on Instagram @_philippamay_ www.mediaclash.co.uk I BATH LIFE I 77

Original cast iron radiators, lovingly restored and ready to plumb straight into your exisiting central heating system.

Nicholas Curtis is a master stonemason and has been working with stone and making fire surrounds for 25 years.

Each surround is hand carved by Nicholas using traditional skills.

You can have any style made in your own size specifications and they're suitable for solid fuel, wood burners, gas and electric fires. ♦ Nicholas also carves bespoke Bath Stone Porticos ♦ ALL FIREPLACES ARE DELIVERED NATIONWIDE. Unit Q1/Q2 Fiveways Industrial Estate, Westwells Road, Corsham SN13 9RG Tel: 07974076170 or 01225 819600 nicholasbathstonefireplaces@hotmail.co.uk | www.curtisfireplaces.co.uk

We are a local Bath-based business with a huge choice of stock available now.

Call David Lucas on 07540 978 408

www.reclaimedradiators.co.uk

Repairs, Restoration Alteration of Stone Buildings New Build Stone Cleaning Stone Carving Fireplaces

Tel: 01225 462688 / 07968 697091 Email: Julian@bathstonemasons.co.uk

www.bathstonemasons.co.uk

NORTON MASONRY LTD Stonework Specialists & General Builders 38 LONG BARNABY, MIDSOMER NORTON, RADSTOCK BA3 2TZ

Tel/Fax: 01761 419422 Fax: 01761 232480 Mobile: 07901 712232

Email: nortonmasonryltd@hotmail.co.uk

www.nortonmasonryltd.co.uk Over 30 Years Experience

SOVEREIGN DAMP & TIMBER LTD We offer a comprehensive service for all kinds of damp proofing, basement waterproofing, timber treatment and specialist replastering.

• Domestic and commercial roofing specialists • Covering Bath, Bristol and the South West • Trading since 1985 Tel: 01225 421499 Email: mail@youngsroofing.co.uk www.youngsroofingbath.co.uk Braysdown Lodge, Woodborough, Peasedown St John, Bath BA2 8LN Tel: 01249 716161 | Tel: 01225 811222 1 Ingoldmells Court, Edinburgh Way, Corsham, Wiltshire SN13 9XN www.sovereigndpc.co.uk | info@sovereigndpc.co.uk

ADVERTISING FEATURE

FOR THE HOME Our local businesses are poised and ready to help with all your home needs for winter

CLAIR STRONG INTERIOR DESIGN

Clair Strong Interior Design is a small, creative company based in Bath, providing a wide range of services for both residential and commercial clients. Her portfolio of projects includes the design, project coordination and sourcing for some of Bath’s most beautiful residences, as well as sports clubs, offices and other commercial venues.

Contact Clair on 01225 426906 or 07855 79731 www.clairstrong.co.uk

ETONS OF BATH

KUTCHENHAUS

Bath’s leading fireplace, wood burner, gas fire, chimney and flue specialist. From classic to contemporary, concept to completion, their team of experts can work with you to achieve your perfect interior. Brands include Chesney’s, Barbas Belfires, Hwam, Stuv and Jetmaster. Get in touch or visit the showroom. Mendip Fireplaces, Monkton Combe, Bath BA2 7HD. info@mendipfireplacesbath.co.uk, Tel: 01225 722706; www.mendipfireplacesbath.co.uk

BATH KITCHEN COMPANY

FLOORING BATH LTD

Founded in 2006, Etons of Bath is the UK’s only specialist interior design practice focussed on refurbishing, renovating and reinvigorating Georgian and Regency homes and hotels. Their team of 12 interior designers, planners and project managers can help you design and deliver classically inspired interiors that add value, turn heads and improve the use of space.

Tel: 01225 639002; www.etonsofbath.com

Based in the heart of Bath and specialising in bespoke, handmade kitchens, Bath Kitchen Company become personally invested in every kitchen they design and build. It’s about attention to detail at every stage – creating a beautiful space that enhances the way you live. 7-9 North Parade Buildings, Bath BA1 1NS; Tel: 01225 312003

WESTSIDE DESIGN

CHEVERELL

www.westsidedesign.co.uk

www.cheverell.co.uk

Westside Design is a family-run Bath based company offering a tailored design, manufacturing and installation service for all aspects of cabinet making and joinery. Specialising in contemporary bespoke kitchens and interiors.

Contact Michael on 01225 330843 or 07976 268458 or email info@westsidedesign.co.uk

MENDIP FIREPLACES

Kutchenhaus have opened a brand new showroom in the heart of Bath bringing their beautifully designed and highly engineered German kitchens to the city. Owner Rob Cash and his experienced and talented team look after every customer through the journey from enquiry to completion, creating kitchens of the highest standard at affordable prices. 5 Saracen St, Bath BA1 5BR; Tel: 01225 634025; www.kutchenhaus.co.uk/showroom/bath

www.bathkitchencompany.co.uk

Cheverell is set in the heart of Wiltshire with a stunning showroom and workshop, offering a full bespoke design, manufacturing and installation service in kitchens, bedrooms, and interiors. Established in 1989 it has over 30 years of experience to guide you through the whole process. Cheverell, Waller Road, Hopton Park, Devizes, Wiltshire SN10 2GH; Tel: 01380 722722;

Flooring Bath Ltd has decided to bring a flooring show home to you. They will visit the space that requires flooring (commercial or residential), measure it, go through samples and work out your best option. They pride themselves on sourcing quality products and the ability to work with all trades and conditions with a can-do attitude.

Call James or Nick on 07761 663492 /07704 062181 info@flooring-bath.com; www.flooring-bath.com

BONITI

Boniti is based on the outskirts of Bath and offers a wide range of quality interior and exterior products: natural stone and timber flooring, Everhot range cookers, garden furniture and Kadai firebowls. As well as the vast selection of products on offer, a friendly and personal service is at the heart of all that they do.

Dunsdon Barn, West Littleton,Wiltshire SN14 8JA; Tel: 01225 892 200; www.boniti.com www.mediaclash.co.uk I BATH LIFE I 81

BATH LIVES

© PHOTO BY AMY LAWSON; WWW.AMYLAWSONPHOTOGRAPHY.CO.UK

“I have five children – one fostered, one adopted, two from donor eggs, and one natural conception”

I was healed by Chinese medicine. It was a Chinese doctor

in a humble traditional Chinese medicine clinic on Edgeware High Street, London – he just happened to be the most incredible doctor.

After finding the solution after years of agony, I fell in

KATIE BRINDLE A serious car crash may have ended her dreams of being an opera singer, but it led to a fulfilling career in Chinese medicine Katie has been working in Chinese medicine since 2002. She discovered this path following a serious car crash in which she consulted a Chinese doctor to help her heal from her injuries.

Alongside practising massage and reflexology, she studied Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and qualified as a Five Elements Chinese medical practitioner, graduating from the UK’s Integrated College of Chinese Medicine. She has since founded Hayo’u and Hayo’uFit brand, which incorporates an integrated approach to wellness such as the award-winning crystal facial massage tools.

I hated school and was really unhappy, I had severe, 82 I BATH LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

undiagnosed dyslexia. I attended a very academic school, which was great but totally unsuited to me. I had a brilliant sister, and she aced everything – I was like a runt in comparison. The only thing I had that I was good at was music.

I grew up wanting to be an opera singer but a car accident

when I was 22 ended that dream.

I had serious whiplash which impacted my vocal chords and ultimately meant I was unable to sing again.

The worst job I’ve ever had was my first job after my car crash. as a part time

receptionist. I was ill, unhappy, over qualified for the work and it was soul destroying. I was beside myself.

love with Chinese medicine with such a passion I immediately embarked on a course and re-trained. Alongside practising massage and reflexology, I studied Traditional Chinese Medicine.

During my time as a Chinese medicine practitioner, I quickly

realised that the prevention and self-treatment of illness was the secret of longevity in ancient China. I could see when my patients practiced the self-care techniques I suggested in between treatments, they would get better so much more quickly.

Whilst Western medicine has transformed health care as we know it, there’s a gap that

it doesn’t address and that’s the ‘almost-well’, the ‘not feeling so good’, the tired out and overstressed. It is about encouraging people to master their own health using the remarkable healing system of yang sheng, the self-care part of Chinese medicine, and I am committed to increasing people’s awareness of yang sheng.

I have five children – one fostered, one adopted, two from donor eggs, and one natural conception. They are all

amazing in their own ways. I think it’s one of the reasons that people like to talk to me about fertility, because I have been through the struggles myself.

I had a very difficult time giving birth to my twins.

I have this surreal memory that I just wasn’t in my body. I remember thinking, ‘Why I am looking at my twins from above?’ It was this weird state of dysmorphia which lasted forever and also, no time at all. Machines were bleeping, there were people and blood everywhere.

The next thing I’m waking up in ICU. I remember it all vividly.

Qigong translates as `life force practice’ and it is quite simply the most incredible exercise. I practice

every day without fail, and it has honed my body in a way that hours in the gym never did.

By strengthening your life force on the inside, you will see the results on the outside. Life force is the very thing that makes you feel alive and energised and healthy – and the minute you start to practice you’ll feel the difference.

I really don’t have any prized possessions. I value living things,

and pretty much anything of monetary value I’ve sold to fund my business.

I live just outside Frome. I love the fact I have access to nature and it’s beautiful and unspoiled. Frome is the most incredible town, I love the creativity and its proximity to Bath.

I love the sophistication of this area, and the diversity. I can get my wellies on and go for a stomp – and then don my heels and dine at Babington House.

One of my favourite places in Bath is the Roman Baths.

The power of bathing is something I am very invested in, there are a lot of parallels with Chinese bathing practices and rituals. n For more: www.hayoumethod.com / www.katiebrindle.com