March 2015 (Issue 30)

Birmingham g n i liv

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March 2015

HOME SPRING HOME

NEW SEASON COLOURS & TRENDS

FAKING IT

PORTRAIT OF AN ART FORGER

FINE DINING

AT VILLA

EMMA WILLIS

BIRMINGHAM ROYAL BALLET

Big Brother, McBusted & Birmingham Children’s Hospital

+

LUCY SHAW, SIMON HELLIER, GEORGIE MOSELEY... AND MORE

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EDITOR’S VIEW Birmingham’s greatest bring vibrancy and diversity to our communities in often unseen and unsung ways

ur Birmingham’s Greatest feature has become one of the most popular since we launched it in the magazine exactly a year ago this month. In that time we’ve reported on some of the city’s greatest arts and cultural organisations and centres – and revealed the vibrancy and diversity they bring to Birmingham and its communities, very often in largely unseen and unsung ways.

This month, we’ve homed in on Birmingham Royal Ballet and gone behind the scenes with its artistic director David Bintley. One of the amazing facts about this world-class company is its involvement in bringing dance to the city’s youth. I was astonished to learn from David that BRB has taken dance to more than 40,000 schoolchildren over the past two years. Think about it – that’s some number!

Involvement with the young is a theme that runs through all those that have featured in Birmingham’s Greatest over the past year. Last month, we looked at the incredible work of the doctors, nurses, carers and fundraisers at Birmingham Children’s Hospital.

When Big Brother TV presenter and Brummie-born Emma Willis heard about our piece she was keen to add her own voice to celebrate the hospital’s wonderful work. Emma is one of the hospital’s biggest supporters after surgeons saved the life of the baby of one of her closest friends. Emma speaks up for the hospital in this month’s cover story, and we join her in saluting all those who make a difference – and make Birmingham Great!

O

David Johns

”

Editor: David Johns david@brumliving.co.uk

Features editor: Shelley Carter shelley@brumliving.co.uk Designer: Tracy Duffy

Contributors: Rob Price, Sue Cooke, Lisa Melvin, Rose Gallagher, Nick Davies

Account manager: Jane Morris jane@brumliving.co.uk Photography: David Morphew, Andrew Llewellyn Publishing director: Jonathan Carter

Rock Hopper Media Limited Burleigh House, 23 Tagwell Road, Droitwich WR9 7BN tel 01905 771110 © Rock Hopper Media Ltd. Birmingham Living is published monthly by Rock Hopper Media Ltd and printed by Buxton Press. Views and opinions expressed by authors and services and products offered by advertisers are not specifically endorsed by Rock Hopper Media Ltd. Reproduction in whole or in part of the contents of Birmingham Living without written permission is strictly prohibited.

SUBSCRIPTIONS: The subscription rate (post paid) is £24 for one year (12 issues). Subscriptions 01905 771110 ISSN 2051-8560

Cover image: Emma Willis courtesy of Big Brother & Celebrity Big Brother, Channel 5

visit www.brumliving.co.uk @brum_living

march 2015

/bhamliving

When you have finished with this magazine please recycle it

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INSIDE

Highlights

12 18 22 26 40 54

Emma Willis Celebrity Big Brother presenter on her passion for Birmingham Children’s Hospital John Myatt The amazing story of the art forger who’s gone straight and become a TV star Birmingham’s Greatest Behind the scenes and out in the community with the Birmingham Royal Ballet Food and Drink Celebrating an anniversary in style at Fumo and San Carlo, plus fine dining at Villa Style – Jeanius Denim Exciting new season twists on a timeless fashion staple for girls – and guys Homes How to spruce up your pad with the hottest spring trends and colours

40

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CONTENTS

22

Best of the Rest

28 50 68 70 76 83 94 march 2015

Simon Hellier Executive chef of Amadeus at the ICC talks fabulous food – and fry ups!

Health and Beauty Why more men are turning to tanning, plus Rose Gallagher’s beauty tips All-new TT Audi has loaded up its coupé with technology from its Le Mans racers Young, Gifted and Brummie Cyclist Lucy Shaw, plus news from local schools and colleges Spotlight on Business Company To Watch – Aidem Digital, plus news and views from the business community People, Places, Events Our social pages picture who’s been out and about networking in Birmingham this month Shows, Arts, Gigs and More What’s on, where and when – all you need to know about the arts and entertainment scene

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NEWS

BIRTHDAY BOY MARCO SIGNS IN

ing vliTODAY

Celebrity chef Marco Pierre White marked the launch of a 25th anniversary edition of his cookbook White Heat with a special signing at The Cube. Held at his steakhouse, bar and grill, on the 25th floor, it was the only signing session

by Marco outside London.

Bringing you the brightest and most colourful stories from across the city each month

SMILE, YOU’RE ON INSTA-BRUM Creative local talent gathered to share pictures of city landmarks on Instagram in the first of a series of ‘Instameets’ organised

by Visit Birmingham. A collection of the 300 images will be showcased later in the year at Ikon Gallery in a pop-up exhibition entitled More Birmingham Instagram Showcase.

MATT’S HOOT SWOOP

STRICTLY STAR HAILS NEW CENTRE Darcey Bussell opened Birmingham Royal Ballet’s £2.7million new-look complex at Birmingham Hippodrome. The Strictly Come Dancing star who is president of BRB’s Campaign for the Future said: “A company close to my heart has a first-class facility for its dancers, staff and the public.”

Local artist Matt Sewell is one of the first chosen to design an owl for The Big Hoot, the massive art trail set to sweep into Birmingham this summer.

Formerly an artist in residence on BBC Two’s hit show Spring Watch, Matt has showcased his love of painting birds on a 165cm tall owl statue to raise funds for Birmingham Children’s Hospital. The Big Hoot will see over 100 owl statues appear in the city.

See Birmingham’s Greatest, page 22

march 2015

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NEWS

MEMORIES OF BRINDLEYPLACE Do you love Brindleyplace and have a special memory of the canal-side development? If so, you can help it mark its 20th anniversary in style by

LIKE US – OR YOUR MONEY BACK! The world’s biggest-selling opera debut act of 2014, vocal trio Sol3 Mio, are the first classical artists to offer a ‘Good Time Guaranteed or Your Money Back’ pledge with every ticket sold for their UK Tour – which arrives at the Town Hall on Friday 13 March. Brothers Pene and Amitai Pati and cousin Moses Mackay have performed for the Queen and appeared on ITV's Live from the Palladium.

submitting your ‘favourite memories of Brindleyplace’ into their birthday competition.

There’s a basket of 20 great prizes for the winner.

More details at www.brindleyplace.com

WHY RYAN’S THE TALK OF THE TOWN This isn’t your average

3

RED NOSE HIGHLIGHTS

Red Nose Day is Friday 13 March – here’s our most memorable moments since Comic Relief

portrait of a top chef – but then Ryan Swift is no ordinary foodie. He’s the new head chef of The Restaurant at the Edgbaston Hotel, a sophisticated art decoinspired dining experience featuring a new food and cocktail tasting menu. Ryan was previously head chef at Peels Restaurant at Hampton Manor.

launched in 1988. What’s yours?

1999: Alan Partridge sings Kate Bush. Steve Coogan’s alter ego attempts Bush’s multi-octave warbling, including the hilarious ‘Wowowowowowow’.

2001: Ali G interviews Posh & Becks. With the immortal line: “Every boy wants to be in his boots and every man wants to be in his missus!”

2005 Tony Christie & Peter Kay ‘Is This The Way to Amarillo’. Ronnie Corbett famously falls off a treadmill as he jogs along to the music.

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COOMBE’S BRIDAL APPEAL Brides and bridegrooms married at Coombe Abbey during the past two decades are being asked to share the memories of their big day as part of the hotel’s 20-year anniversary celebrations. It aims to create a ‘montage of marital memories’ on the hotel website and social media.

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NEWS

‘FOGGY’ LEADS AIR AMBULANCE RIDE Former World Superbike champion and TV’s I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here winner Carl Fogarty is calling on Brummies to get on their bikes to support Midlands Air Ambulance.

He’s leading this year’s Bike4Life Fest money-raiser for the life-saving charity at RAF Museum Cosford, near Wolverhampton on Sunday 26 April.

HELP HARRY HITS LANDMARK IN BRIEF Birmingham-based charity, Help Harry Help Others has donated more than £540,000 to families and charities in just over a year. It achieved the landmark through donations, business sponsorship and fundraising including its beaded bracelet campaign. Notable donations from the charity included £67,000 to help 270 families under the Help Cope fund.

See In The City, page 98

YOUNG GENIUS STRIKES A CHORD One of the world’s greatest – and youngest – pianists will thrill audiences in Birmingham next month. Yundi is a sensation in his native China with the fan base of a rock star. He’s one of his generation’s best interpreters of Chopin and he’ll be playing the composer’s work at Symphony Hall on 15 April.

See What’s On, page 94

NEW MEDIA FIRST Birmingham social media company Beatfreeks is launching a new mixed media festival from 16 to 20 March culminating in the West Midlands Mixed Media Awards which will acknowledge the leading lights of the region’s media scene. Award categories include Young Media Professional of the Year.

march 2015

CHEERS CHAMP! Birmingham Wine School student Mathew Smith won the Oddbins Scholarship Award at the annual WSET industry awards. Mathew received a £1,000 bursary towards a study tour of Spain.

CBSO GIFT The City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra has announced the Osborn Chamber Music Programme will be funded by a £100,000 endowment gift from philanthropist and CBSO board member John Osborn.

VILLA MOVE BNI Sunrise, a business networking group in Birmingham which is the UK’s most profitable in the BNI organisation, has moved to a prestigious new venue at Villa Park.

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NEWS

TOP TWEETS FOR BRUM Our pick of what’s been said about Brum this month

CATHEDRAL CELEBRATES WITH PHOTO FINISH St Philip’s Cathedral is launching a photography competition as part of its 300th anniversary. The Very Reverend

Richard McComb @mccomb According to the Sunday Times, Birmingham is home to the Walker Art Gallery. Which is in Liverpool. So it’s near. If you live in London.

Catherine Ogle, Dean of Birmingham,

@NewAlex_Theatre Who needs Christian Grey for Valentine’s when you can see @DannyO & @TheDreamboys in June.

people together during such a special

said: “We are asking all ages to capture images in different and imaginative ways. It is a lovely way of bringing year.” The best images will go on display in Birmingham Library.

@BoyGeorge Lovely sunday lunch at @simpsons_rest with the family today! @WayneElcock Exciting times ahead for @BoxClever2 creating jobs, opportunities and a positive difference to more young lives through #Boxing #GivingBack

POP-UP LAB LAUNCHES Birmingham’s newest creative collaborative workspace will be turned into a pop-up laboratory this spring as BOM (Birmingham Open Media) launches Live: R&D. From 9 March to 30 April BOM’s Gallery & Events Space in Southside will become a hub of DIY-biology and adventures with creative technologies, testing out ideas in development in front of a public Want to know what gives the world’s fastest man the audience and via live edge? Research by a team from Birmingham University has Skype sessions. revealed that our internal body clocks have an impact on sporting ability that could alter the chances of Olympic gold. In a series of test sprints they showed performance times varied by 26 per cent depending on what time of day they took place.

SO, THAT’S WHY HE’S LIGHTNING FAST

BRAINY RACHEL PULLS THEM IN

TV Countdown presenter Rachel Riley turned her hand to pulling pints in a Birmingham pub to launch the #ReadyWhenUAre campaign. The Victoria pub in John Bright Street was renamed the ‘Prosperous Arms’ for the day as Rachel helped Standard Life provide facts and figures on new Government pension reforms and host a pub quiz.

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BUBBLY DRINKERS ARE TOP OF THE GLASS Brummies love their bubbly. The Balcony restaurant on level 4 of Selfridges reports it sold 22,967 glasses of champagne in the past year – and if you lined them up they’d reach the top of the BT Tower 18 times! That fascinating fact was revealed as the restaurant celebrated its first birthday.

See Social Scene pages

march 2015

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NEWS

LAURA GETS A WIGGLE ON… TV presenter Laura Hamilton, star of A Place in the Sun and Fort Boyard, is setting Midlands children a wiggly challenge – to raise money for charity by forming giant caterpillar conga lines at their children’s centre or nursery. The Giant Wiggle on 19 March aims to help Action for Children while also celebrating Eric Carle’s best-selling children’s book The Very Hungry Caterpillar. Details at www.actionforchildren.org.uk/giantwiggle

MARILYN AS YOU’VE NEVER SEEN HER Birmingham’s ICC Castle Fine Art Gallery has unveiled a new collection of prints showcasing movie icon Marilyn Monroe.

Based on photographs from Twentieth Century Fox archives, artist Simon Claridge created the six-piece collection of silkscreen images handembellished with diamond dust.

RACY EMMA PICKS HER FAVOURITES Meet Channel 4 Racing’s Emma Spencer and her two top gents!

Emma was asked to pick the bestdressed punters at Warwick Racecourse’s Gentlemen’s Kingmaker Chase Day. Adam Chapman, left, from Sutton Coldfield, stole the show and the £500 first prize, while Benny Ward was runner-up.

LOOK OUT FRANKFURT, WE’RE COMING FOR YOU! A £600million plan has been unveiled to redevelop the Snow Hill and Colmore Row area in a bid to rival the business districts of some of the world’s leading cities. The aim is to turn the area – already part of the central business district – into a rival to London, Frankfurt and Zurich, attracting global financial and professional services firms, and creating up to 10,000 new jobs.

GOT ANY NEWS? Email your news and pictures to editor@brumliving.co.uk march 2015

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COVER STORY

EMMA:

FROM THE HEART

Birmingham-born TV star Emma Willis on Big Brother, McBusted and the amazing doctors and nurses who saved the life of her close friend’s baby mma Willis remembers the moment all too clearly when one of her dearest friend’s discovered that her new-born baby had a life-threatening heart condition.

Three years on, the plight of little Rudy Maxwell-Jones feels like it was just yesterday to the star presenter of the hit TV shows Big Brother and The Voice.

It’s something Emma will never forget, and what the doctors and nurses did for Rudy at Birmingham Children’s Hospital was just incredible. "The hospital has been close to my heart and something I am proud to support whenever I can,” she says.

E

Story by David Johns

LOUDEST VOICE The surgical team operated on Rudy when he was just 36 hours old. He had a narrowing of the aortic valve, a condition called Critical Aortic Stenosis, and the op was his only hope. While his mum Jeanette and Emma feared the worse, the doctors worked their magic, and today Rudy is a thriving toddler.

As we revealed in last month’s Birmingham’s Greatest feature, many thousands of parents and children have reason to thank the hospital for its wonderful work, and Emma is among the loudest voices to sing its praises. She tries to give her support whenever she can despite a crazily busy workload on the film set and in the TV studio Born in Sutton Coldfield, it would be all too easy for Emma to forget her roots, after all she is one of the most talked about celebrities on TV, featuring regularly in the gossip columns of the national press and being frequently ‘papped’ when she’s out and about whether with her husband Matt Willis of the band McBusted or on her own. But her love for Birmingham and its people is undimmed despite all the success and bright lights.

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COVER STORY

“

”

The doctors worked their magic and today he’s a thriving toddler

Emma Willis courtesy of Big Brother & Celebrity Big Brother, Channel 5

march 2015

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COVER STORY

>>EMMA FACTFILE I I I I I

“

When she was younger, Emma thought she would follow her parents into medicine and work in a hospital Her modelling career started after her mum sent photos to various modelling agencies, and one of them signed her up Emma is known for setting the trend with her sleek hairstyles – yet she is naturally curly-haired and spends ages with the straighteners to get that glossy look She first met Matt when she interviewed him on MTV in 2005. He proposed on a trip to Venice A true Villain, Emma continues to be an avid supporter of her life-long football club Aston Villa

”

What Birmingham Children’s

Hospital did for Rudy – it’s

something I will never forget

Emma is a real role model and inspiration to the kids who attend her old school, John Wilmott in Sutton Coldfield. After leaving school at 17, she began modelling and quickly featured in photoshoots for leading brands such as Chanel and GAP and fashion magazines including Vogue, Elle and Marie Claire.

Her break into TV came as a presenter on MTV and after stints on various other shows she joined ITV’s This Morning programme in 2012.

SPECIAL MOMENT She’s since become what’s seems like an everpresent on the nation’s screens with appearances including fronting Loose Women and The Paul O’Grady Show and I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here. Emma is best known though as the presenter of Big Brother and Celebrity Big Brother as well as talent show The Voice.

These days she lives in the countryside outside London with Matt and their two young children, Isabelle, five, and Ace, three, yet she comes back to Birmingham as often as she can – the last time at Christmas when she thrilled staff and their young patients by switching on the festive lights

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COVER STORY

“

The hospital is close to my

”

heart and I am proud to be able to support it whenever I can

at the hospital she so admires. “The hospital means so much to me that I was honoured to be invited to switch them on,” she says. “It was a very special moment.”

It’s not easy fitting in personal appearances such as this to her non-stop schedule, but Emma, who is also an ambassador for the Prince’s Trust, makes sure she finds the time because as she says: “Times like Christmas bring happiness and joy to the children and are especially important to the brave young patients and their families. The staff at the hospital are just so amazing and work so hard. It’s very humbling to be part of being able to help them.

When you see the little ones running around with excitement, I just get swept away by it all.”

FUND-RAISING Star names such as Emma are a major factor in helping the hospital’s inhouse fund-raising team realise the hundreds of thousands of pounds each year that pay for improving facilities.

Emma’s infectious personality has won her legions of TV fans – she has been nominated as the most popular entertainment presenter at the National Television Awards for the last two years.

That, together with her empathy for the young patients and their families, makes her a real winner with everyone at Birmingham Children’s Hospital. I

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Planning on getting hitched?

Looking for inspiration?

The REP’s Wedding Fair 2015 Sunday 12 April, 10am - 4pm FREE ENTRY

Join us and a wide variety of local suppliers and creative people who can help to make organising your wedding fun and easy. You will be able to see the many ways in which The REP can make your day truly special and take away a goody bag of ideas.

For more information about the wedding fair, please contact

Suzanna on 0121 245 2076 email thespaces@birmingham-rep.co.uk or visit www.birmingham-rep.co.uk/weddingfair

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FEATURE

PORTRAIT OF A

COLOURFUL LIFE

Songwriter, musician, artist, forger, inmate… John Myatt tells Shelley Carter how his mind-boggling story unfolded

J

ohn Myatt’s story sounds fantastical and farfetched. The idea that one man could have lurched from a number one hit single to supply teaching to art forgery, followed by a stint in Brixton prison and then legitimate critical acclaim from the art world with his own TV series is absurd, but true.

John grew up in Staffordshire with his staunch socialist father and not-so socialist mother – “she tolerated his leftness” – and gained a scholarship to a cathedral school in Worcester boarding from the age of eight. Born pitch perfect, John was destined to be musical and pursued a career in song writing in London enjoying a number one hit, Silly Games, in 1979. Earning a nice living through advances and royalties, John decided he’d had enough of life in the

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capital and returned home to the Midlands where life began to unravel dramatically.

PRIVATE EYE John’s record company went bankrupt and his wife left him with their two babies. “It was tough. A friend in the village offered to care for the children while I started teaching art at a local school. It was a bit basic, but I enjoyed it and being a supply teacher I never had to do any of the planning – generally you’re covering for someone who has already done that. So at 3.30pm I was out of the door.” The money wasn’t great though and John was eager to do more.

He placed an advertisement in Private Eye offering genuine fakes for £150 to £200 which

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FEATURE

provided a welcome extra income. One of his regular customers, Professor John Drewe bought 14 paintings over the next two years which boosted the finances. In 1986 John created a piece in the style of cubist painter Albert Glazes for Drewe which prompted a surprising chain of events. “I got a phone call saying the painting had been valued by Sotheby’s at £25,000 and would I like to go halves.” Half was almost the same as John’s teaching salary and he accepted.

Myatt began crafting actual forgeries rather than legitimate fakes while the seller of that first ‘forgery’, Prof Drewe, dealt with the sales operation. John was used to working in acrylics but started to use all kinds of unorthodox materials such as household emulsion and KY jelly to get the paintings looking authentic, paying

march 2015

GENUINE FAKES: John with his work In the style of Roy Lichtenstein, above, and The Astronomer's Love Song in the style of Joan Miro, left

as much attention to the back as the front of the ‘masterpieces.’ “You can tell more about the authenticity of a painting from the back than the front often.”

Drewe proved to be a slippery associate though keeping much of the money for him and in 1993 with 200 successful forgeries under his belt John put an end to the fraud that Scotland Yard named ‘the biggest art fraud of the 20th Century’.

In 1995, one of Drewe’s exes blew the whistle and the police caught up with them launching what was to be a four-year investigation. Myatt helped the police with their investigation which saw his 12-month

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FEATURE

>> CELEBRITY FANS John has painted a number of portraits of famous stars in the style of some of the world's greatest artists:

Without an agent he managed to pull off a successful show that sold out.

I John Cleese – in the style of Henri Matisse “I was lucky to find an empty gallery in I Paul O'Grady – Grant Wood's 1930 painting American Gothic Dover Street that was perfect, but it’s I Frank Skinner – Vincent van Gogh's 1888 Self Portrait with Felt Hat hard without an agent.” At the I Stephen Fry – Diego Velazquez's 17th-century Pope Innocent X I Ronnie Wood – Manet's Le Dejeuner sur l'Herbe exhibition John met Brummie art buff and gallery owner Glynn Washington sentence reduced to just four for good behaviour. Of who liked what he saw. That relationship blossomed and prison life John said: “The first 48 hours were horrible, John is now signed to Washington Green. but once I’d settled in it wasn’t so bad. It’s the bit when I was sentenced and led away that was the worst part.

PRETTY PEACHY There were people coming off drugs and screaming.”

“They’re great because they love art – they are not just John drew portraits in prison and helped other suits. I come to them with an idea and they say yes inmates write letters of appeal. “I made some good sounds great let’s do it.” Through Washington Green friends. It’s the noisy people – the ones who complain John exhibited at the Waterhall Gallery at BMAG which that get into trouble. I just kept my head down.” And of was a particular highlight. In fact life is pretty peachy all Drewe? “He went to prison too, in fact I think he’s round. A rural farm house, a studio in the garden, his back inside now.” ‘lovely’ wife Rosemary, an exciting project in Mallorca, Having vowed never to paint again, John left prison TV work (he’s already had a series on Sky painting and began planning an exhibition in London. portraits of famous people like Stephen Fry and Myleene Klass in the style of the great masters such as Velázquez and Vermeer)… , a book…..what next? Hollywood? You John's work is exhibited at Castle Fine Art in the ICC www.castlefineart.com think I’m kidding! I

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BIRMINGHAM’S GREATEST

KEEPING US

ON OUR TOES

BIRMINGHAM’S

GREATEST

Over the past two years Birmingham Royal Ballet has taken the magic of dance to more than 40,000 local schoolchildren avid Bintley has waited right until the end of our interview to make what he calls “a most important” point. While it addresses an issue which he kind of dismisses with a smile and a laugh, it clearly touches a nerve which has been tweaked once too often for his liking…

“Please, don’t call us the Royal Ballet,” he says. “We are not the Royal Ballet. We are Birmingham Royal Ballet. There are still people who think we all live in London and just pop into Birmingham once in a while to dance and then go back again. But we are here – we live here. It’s who we are.”

D

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Not that David has anything against the ‘other lot’ at Covent Garden – he was resident choreographer there before becoming artistic director of Birmingham Royal Ballet in 1995. It’s just as he says: “We are part of the community and fabric of Birmingham and we are very proud indeed to be so.

It’s what makes us unique and different.”

SUPPORTERS Based at Birmingham Hippodrome, BRB recently unveiled its £2.7million new-look complex, delivered by its own Campaign for the Future fundraising

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BIRMINGHAM’S GREATEST

“

We are very proud to be part of this community. We live here – it’s who we are

project, headed by its president Darcey Bussell, and an Arts Council grant. Donations towards the state-ofthe-art complex came from all walks of Birmingham life, including leading businesses, well-known local families such as the Cadburys and everyday ‘small’ supporters who just love their ballet, and in particular their Birmingham ballet!

BRB’s chief executive Christopher Barron said: “The refurbished facilities will allow us to increase delivery of our community work in-house, offering unique, firsthand experience of dance and Birmingham Royal Ballet. It also enables the enhancement of the Company’s scope for rehearsing and tagging large-scale ballet and provide outstanding facilities to attract, retain and care for our elite dancers.”

Based at the Hippodrome since 1990, BRB is the UK’s leading classical ballet touring company. An evermore hectic schedule takes it around the country and overseas but its roots are firmly in Brum with around 200 people working out of its base, including nearly 70

march 2015

” dancers and teachers, an orchestra of 45 and services and admin departments. And each year BRB devotes two seasons of performances spanning 10 to 12 weeks right here in the city.

As we spoke, David Bintley was preparing the company to perform in Edinburgh, before heading to London’s Coliseum and then a little later off on tour to Japan. “They seem to love us in Japan,” he says. “We are regulars there.” While the public face of BRB is massively impressive, the huge activity which goes on unseen behind the scenes is equally jaw-dropping – especially the largely unsung work in the community.

“I would estimate that through our Learning Department we have seen 40,000 local children in the past two years across our various projects,” says David. “These would be both schools and one-off projects.” Among the most significant is Dancetrack, an initiative which offers children from the age of seven the opportunity to train in ballet for three years.

“Dancetrack sees us go out to 50 inner city primary schools in the area – schools with children that wouldn’t normally come across us,” explains David. “We have auditions and pick 50 or so kids who we think show promise. We give them free shoes and

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BIRMINGHAM’S GREATEST

TAKE 5 ABOUT BRB

1 BRB never dances to recorded music and are always accompanied by the Royal Ballet Sinfonia.

2 The company will spend three weeks next month in Japan performing and promoting the Birmingham brand globally.

3 In today’s testing economic times BRB is rare in that it continues to create new ballets. Over the past 10 years it has created 24 new works.

4 David Bintley is currently working on a brand new ballet, The King of Dances, which will premiere in June.

5 The Campaign for the Future was launched to raise £15million for BRB three years ago. It is within £2.5million of reaching that target.

lessons over a three-year course which gives them a basic platform.” At the end of the three years, there’s the opportunity for budding ballet stars of the future to progress to Elmhurst School for Dance – BRB’s associated ballet school.

BRB also operates Freefall Dance Company, set up with Fox Hollies Performing Arts College, for young people of school-leaving age with severe learning disabilities. “This is a project that’s the first of its kind not just in the UK but in the world, and is very close to our hearts,” says David. Run by ballet staff, freelance artists, teachers and a group of gifted dancers with severe learning difficulties, Freefall meets every week at the Hippodrome.

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While BRB’s aim is to nurture and encourage dance talent across the spectrum it is the main company of dancers from which everything else flows – and like all highly-trained athletes they need the very best care and attention.

SUPER CENTRE At the heart of BRB’s fantastic complex at the Hippodrome is the Jerwood Centre, a world leading facility in dance medicine, research and science with state-of-the-art medical and rehabilitation equipment.

As a founding partner of the National Institute of Dance, Medicine and Science, BRB is one of only three NIDMS healthcare centres in the UK. In an environment which would make leading clinics green with envy, the centre is staffed by a team of physiotherapists, masseurs and a body-conditioning instructor and contains the latest diagnostic and fitness equipment, including a hydrotherapy pool where dancers can work safely on their injuries.

“Over time, sports methods of treating injuries have come to the fore, and we lead the way in this in the world of ballet,” says David. “Every dancer in our company is well covered and looked after. We have a very small turnover of dancers here – and quite often when one or two do leave they are soon very keen to want to come back.” I

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FOOD & DRINK

SAN CARLO 4 Temple St, Birmingham B2 5BN. Tel: 0121 633 0251 www.sancarlo.co.uk/birmingham y other half and I don’t make a big deal of our anniversary – 11 years in case you were wondering – but we usually remember it at least with a couple of hours reminiscing about our big day. However, this year we both forgot until about 4.30pm. Guilt-ridden we felt we needed to put it right, so we hastily slipped into something less comfortable and headed into town.

A cocktail was in order to kick off proceedings, so we headed to Fumo for a sharpener. I like Fumo. It’s the sort of place that sets the tone for a top evening.

For a start the lighting is flattering, so everybody looks gorgeous and there’s a buzz about the bar which makes you feel you’re in for a good night.

M

NICE TOUCH OR BONKERS? Italian pocket rocket Aldo Zilli occasionally pops up flamboyantly rustling up pasta before your very eyes. It didn’t happen on this occasion, but we’ve been treated in the past. Then we headed off to San Carlo to immerse ourselves in more Italian flavours. I found the restaurant welcoming and lively in the way that

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Italians are renowned for. It felt traditional in that sense and not too ‘cool’ which sometimes brings with it an air of arrogance. I found none of that here.

Baskets of yellow peppers adorned the stairs, empty wine bottles were lined up at picture rail height and there was a lone lemon sat on our table – a nice touch or bonkers? I wasn’t sure. Mirrored walls made the already large restaurant feel even more spacious and the crisp white cloths and stylish yellow seating added a touch of luxury.

The place was heaving and they were turning people away. Apparently the Spring Fair at the NEC does wonders for trade. It was buzzing and noisy – a great first impression. A glass of fizz appeared as if by magic which helped! The menu is one of those that goes on for miles, so making any sort of choice was tricky. Tomato garlic bread also unexpectedly appeared so we tucked in while we deliberated.

We finally plumped for our starters and when they arrived we regretted eating quite so much garlic bread.

The portions were large. The chicken liver parfait was very tasty and would have been even better if it wasn’t quite so cold. I chose Gamberoni Luciana – a handful

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RESTAURANT REVIEW

of delicious juicy prawns cooked in a tomato and cream sauce. Lovely. The house white was going down a treat too.

We both went meaty for the mains with the other half tucking into a steak with a red wine sauce. It was seriously good. I ordered one of my favourites – Saltimbocca which was perfectly salty, sage-y and tender. We over-ordered our accompaniments hugely. They were all delicious, but the leftovers were like another meal in themselves. Fried zucchini was crisp and light, spinach was fresh and the potatoes were tasty.

UTTERLY CHARMING We both fancied something refreshing (and small!) for dessert, so asked for our waiter’s opinion who, speaking of which, was utterly charming. He had that canny knack of making every diner feel special despite the place being packed to the rafters. He recommended a dessert of oranges with burnt sugar and split it in two for us. It was the perfect choice, refreshing with just enough sweetness. It sounded simple, but tasted far from it.

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We left feeling satisfied that the anniversary had been well and truly salvaged. This celebrating malarkey might just become a habit. San Carlo is the sort of restaurant that could become a habit too.

There’s a familiarity about it that means your grandma would be just as happy eating here as your teenage nephew. It’s a proper old school Italian that transcends generations and makes for a really good time. I

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CHEF’S CORNER

SIMON HELLIER The executive head chef for Amadeus at the ICC talks travel, lucky breaks and his mother-in-law’s irresistible Irish fry up Tell us about your cooking I worked on the QE2 in my early cheffing days and many of my dishes are inspired by that period.

Shore leave allowed me to explore and shop for fresh and exciting ingredients. Asia, in particular Singapore, blew me away from that perspective. I took that away with me and now great local suppliers producing the highest quality ingredients are key to the success of the ICC. We deliver dining for up to 1,800 covers, yet manage to make each dish feel like it has been created in a fine dining restaurant.

Describe your perfect meal The one that stands out was with my other half on the French coast. We ate a large pot of beautifully cooked mussels dripping in sauce, served with the best crispy fries and freshly baked crusty bread.

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How did you become a chef?

I worked in the fruit and veg markets when I was 16, then through a chance conversation between my Nan, who ran a pub in Harborne, and her local butcher I managed to get an apprenticeship at the Plough and Harrow Hotel. Inspiring head chef John Sweeney ran the kitchen like clockwork – it was like watching 20 chefs performing on a West End stage! I worked there for four years and the training put my career on the best possible path.

What do you eat when at home?

I tend to go straight to the vegetable drawer in the fridge and create a one-pan wonder by adding a bit of this and a bit of that. The very best meal at home is one that is cooked for me, that’s why I’m always at my mother-in-law’s house as she cooks the best Irish fry up.

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Who’s the best chef in the world and why? And who’s the best in Brum?

In the world it’s Spanish chef Ferran Adria – he is ground breaking. In Birmingham it’s Luke Tipping of Simpsons restaurant. Andy Waters of Waters on the Square is also amazing. If you could bottle his passion you’d make a fortune.

SIMON’S RECIPE FOR LEMON MERINGUE PIE Serves up to 8 people Pastry case ingredients:

I 125g butter I 75g icing sugar I 250g plain flour I 2 egg yolks

Is the customer always right?

You should never be afraid to try something new and sometimes customer feedback can make the dish even better. The skill of a chef is to understand the dish and find the perfect ground that makes it a 10 out of 10.

Method Mix diced butter, icing sugar and flour until texture of breadcrumbs.

Then add 2 egg yolks to form a dough and refrigerate for 30 mins.

Grease a 10-inch flan tin, roll and cut the pastry and carefully line the tin. Blind bake for 20-25 mins at 170C/338F/Gas Mark 4.

What’s the best thing about being a chef?

There are many. If you are competitive and challenge your own abilities, the personal sense of achievement and teamwork bring great rewards.

Lemon curd ingredients:

What’s the worst thing about being a chef?

Cooking steak well done!!

If you weren’t a chef, what would you be?

I’ve always enjoyed sport from karate to squash, so I would have trained as a personal fitness coach.

What do you recommend from this evening’s menu?

After all that talk of exercise, I’m now going to recommend the dessert, the mango cannelloni. I

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I 225g butter I 225g sugar I 3 eggs I 2 egg yolks I 5 lemons

Method Gently heat the diced butter, sugar, the zest and juice of the 5 lemons but do not boil. Whisk into the cooled mixture the eggs and egg yolks. Cook over a low heat stirring all the time until the curd thickens and coats the back of the spoon. Pack the curd into the pre-prepared flan case.

Meringue ingredients

I 3 egg whites I 150g sugar

Method Whisk on full speed the egg whites and add the sugar gradually. Once the mixture has formed stiff peaks, pipe on top of the tart. Place into a hot oven for 6-8 mins at 200C/392F/Gas Mark 6 until the meringue is slightly scorched.

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PURPLE PATCH Look after your waistline and your wallet with this great pasta dish t’s been a sparse couple of months on the veg front but the start of the purple sprouting broccoli season, which runs through this month and next, is something to cheer. Broccoli has been grown in the UK since the early 18th century, although the purple variety has only become popular in the last 20 years or so. This pasta recipe is low in calories, full of flavour and cheap to rustle up – good for your waistline and your wallet.

I

BROCCOLI AND PASTA SOUP Ingredients

I 500g of purple sprouting broccoli I 1 tbsp olive oil

I 2 garlic cloves chopped I 1 red onion, finely diced

I 2 sticks of celery, finely dice I 1 carrot, finely diced

I 400g peeled plum tomatoes I 1 tbsp tomato puree

I 2 tbsp red wine vinegar I 1 tsp sugar

I 1.3 litres of vegetable stock, hot I 75g macaroni

I Bunch of fresh basil leaves

I Grated parmesan and extra-virgin olive oil to serve

Heat the oil in a large pan over a low heat. Add the garlic, onion, celery and carrot. Stir in half a teaspoon of salt, cover and sweat down for 15 minutes stirring occasionally. Squish the tomatoes in a colander so that you have a pulp and no juices. Add to the pot with tomato puree, vinegar, sugar, stock and the broccoli. Bring to a simmer, cover and cook gently for 30 mins. Meanwhile cook the pasta to taste, drain and stir into the soup along with the basil. Season to taste.

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NIBBLES and

SHORTS

Birmingham has a lively and buzzing bar and restaurant scene. Here, we present our insider guide to what’s going on in your city’s eateries and drinking dens THE BOTANIST SET TO BLOSSOM Popular pub brand, The Botanist, will add to Birmingham’s food and drink mix when it opens next month at Cheltenham House, Temple Street. There’s seating for 112 diners with food from the deli and rotisserie complemented by a range of botanical cocktails, cask ales and ciders. Plus daily live music, too.

SEARCH IS ON FOR ORIENTAL STARS Three young chefs from the Midlands are among the finalists in a national Oriental cuisine competition. Gemma Field, 22, from Selly Oak, Michael Topping, 21, of Halesowen and Anneka Gill, 22, from Oldbury were selected in the final 16 of the contest run by Birmingham and UK-leading Oriental grocer Wing Yip.

BOBS NAME TOP EATERIES Big congrats to the foodie winners in the Best of Broad Street Awards. Best restaurant was Del Villaggio, while Café Opus won best casual dining category. Best fine dining experience went to Pushkar with Thai Edge top international restaurant. Plus, overall venue category winner was the newly-named Barclaycard Arena. See Social Scene pages 90 and 91

CAFÉ WINS DRAGON’S VOTE Centenary Lounge in Moor Street Station has been named the winner of the Theo Paphitis Small Business Sunday Award. The accolade, created by the ex-member of TV’s Dragons Den, acknowledged the art deco café as a “wonderful place to sit and watch the world go by”. Aasia Baig, the café’s founder, described the feeling of being recognised as “out of this world”.

RAJ WAITS ON THE SALLY ARMY The owner of upmarket city restaurant Itihaas on Fleet Street turned his hand to waiting on guests at a special dinner for residents of The Salvation Army’s William Booth Centre. Raj Rana put on the meal as part of tenth anniversary celebrations at the eatery.

FRENCH CONNECTION FOR ADAM Adam Bennett, the chef director at The Cross in Kenilworth, travelled to France to represent the UK at the prestigious Bocuse d’Or competition in Lyon. He was supported by University College Birmingham culinary arts management student Josh Allen and commis chef Idris Caldora. Cheered on by more than 100 British supporters, Adam finished a very creditable tenth.

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LUNCH SPOT

RESTAURANT VMF Witton Lane, Birmingham B6 6RP. Tel: 0121 326 1570 www.avhe.co.uk/vmf-restaurant-birmingham ’ve booked a table at a football club for Sunday lunch!

Eleven little words sure to dampen my mood. As the children licked their lips imagining pies and hot chocolate, I suppressed my disappointment. Fun Dad had struck again.

I

Football stadia aren’t renowned for their warmth and character, so as we approached Villa Park my expectations were low – wrongly as it turned out. Restaurant VMF looked like a class act.

The restaurant is in a corner of the ground with a great view of the pitch. Classic furniture, crisp white table cloths and an impressive bar set the tone as did the happy staff all proudly flying the Restaurant VMF flag.

AMAZING ABDUL The ethos here is pretty cool. The vegetables used are grown in an allotment the size of a football pitch behind Villa Park and tended by a group of local youngsters, while the restaurant employs apprentices from the area. They don’t all make the grade, but many do. Our waiter Abdul is a brilliant example of what’s happening here. He had no hope before he was taken on, but now has a rounded CV. But while such stories are heart-warming, that alone won’t keep punters coming back.

The menu is not too big, but varied. A basket of warm bread with sweet sticky roasted garlic went down a treat, as did a warming raspberry Martini. Allotment soup wasn’t the most appealing colour, but tasted fantastic. Fun Dad’s duck egg with bacon in a clear broth was seriously good and the children’s melon with a handful of berries was fresh and pretty. Onto the mains and FD was always going for the roast beef with the youngest having a

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half portion of the same. The meat was perfectly pink and tasted incredible with a proud Yorkie and delicious gravy. I opted for soft juicy pork belly with a nice bit of crackling and a jug of tasty jus. The eldest plumped for chicken nuggets and chips from the kids menu which was polished off pretty swiftly. The stand-out dishes though were the accompanying vegetables. Apparently the carrots were cooked with orange juice which must explain their sticky sweetness -– the kids devoured them like Haribos. The roasties were gorgeously crisp and the cabbage was great too.

My only gripe was that the only white wine available by the glass was Sauvignon Blanc. A bit more choice would’ve been good. Other than that I’m happy to say I’m a convert. As a foodie experience Restaurant VMF is up there with the best in Brum. I

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COCKTAIL OF THE MONTH

Tarragon Smash Get set for an explosion of taste and colour and put a zing into spring pring is just around the corner and there’s no better way to celebrate than with this colourific concoction created by Arron Smallman from The Botanist in Temple Street. Arron says it’s best served in a short goblet glass over crushed ice.

S

Ingredients:

I 1 Portion of tarragon I 15ml Monin Gomme I 25ml Apple juice I 15ml Fresh lime juice I 37.5ml Agwa De Bolivia I 7.5ml Green Chartreuse

Method: Grab one portion of fresh tarragon, drop into a Boston glass. Add Gomme and apple juice and muddle the ingredients, applying firm pressure with a twist of the wrist to release the flavour of the tarragon. Add in freshly squeezed lime juice, apple juice, Agwa De Bolivia and Green Chartreuse Liqueur. Fill the glass to the brim with cubed ice and seal using a cocktail tin. Shake the drink in long circular motions to chill and dilute the drink.

Break apart the cocktail glass and tin and fine strain the drink over crushed ice into a goblet glass. Use a sprig of fresh tarragon to garnish.

The Botanist, Cheltenham House, Temple Street, Birmingham, B2 5BG

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THAT’S THE

SPIRIT

Wine expert Rob Price on what makes a great brandy e’re going to explore the spiritual aspects of wine this month and what happens with grape juice when you distil it. In other words brandy.

And the two finest examples are Cognac and Armagnac.

Both are made in France and start life as a wine made from the Ugni Blanc grape – and if you’ve every tried it you’ll know why the French turn it into brandy! And excellent brandy too. Cognac and Armagnac are the finest expressions of this eau-de-vie.

Initially we have the Dutch to thank for Cognac’s expansion, finding this ‘Brandewijn’ (literally meaning burnt wine) to add to their drinking water on board their merchant fleet.

W

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ROB’S FOUR TOP BRANDIES Classic Cognac Martell XO Cognac, around £60 for 35cl bottle A bench mark for all good brandy.

Very smooth, complex and fragrant. Definitely one for special occasions and quite widely available.

Rich Armagnac Chateau De Monbel – Wine Society, £40 From the Bas-Armagnac region in south west France, unusual in that it comes from a single vintage, 1990. A very fine Armagnac, smooth and rich with bags of flavour.

Spanish choice Domecq 1820 Solera Reserva Brandy – Waitrose, £14.50cl This delightful bottle is an excellent example of inexpensive Spanish brandy made using the Solera method.

It’s how much?

Remy Martin – Louis XIII Grande Champagne Arguably the world’s finest Cognac with a price to match. I was lucky enough to try it once, and that was a long time ago, but what a finish! One for the millionaires at around £2,000 a bottle from TheDrinkShop.com

BIRMINGHAM WINE SCHOOL Birmingham Wine School is an independent wine education company that offers fun informal wine tasting events and Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET) courses, in Birmingham, Stratford-Upon-Avon and Milton Keynes. Contact Rob Price on 0121 270 7359, or visit www.birminghamwineschool.com

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The Irish and British became interested and Cognac’s future seemed assured until the late 19th century when disease destroyed the French vineyards.

In the 20 years it took to resolve the crisis, whisky, mainly Scotch, took over and Cognac has been fighting back ever since. The finest examples come from the two Champagne areas – not to be confused with the sparkling wine region near Paris. Cognac comes from a region just north of Bordeaux in south west France and the two best areas with their perfect chalky soil are called Grande Champagne and Petite Champagne.

Cognac is still made the traditional way, double distilled in a Charentais still. There are many ways a producer can influence the style of the finished article.

All the major players, Remy, Martell and Hennessy use different techniques. One of the main influences is oak. Normally new(ish) oak is used for up to a year and then it is transferred to older oak barrels for its extended maturation.

Cognac will be bottled at 40 per cent alcohol by volume and sold according to age. VS or 3-stars must be at least two years old. VSOP at least four years old and the best examples, XO or Napoleon, at least six years old.

The better producers age their Cognacs for even longer.

THE AGE GAP Armagnac was produced even earlier than Cognac but didn’t receive international recognition for many years.

Armagnac is further south than Cognac, and further inland; Provence country. This region is warmer which explains why Armagnac is richer, deeper and earthier than Cognac. The two better areas are Bas Armagnac, and Tenareze.

The Armagnac still – called the Alambic Armagnacais – produces a lower strength spirit but with more body and depth. Armagnac actually needs more time to develop than Cognac so it’s surprising that its ageing requirement is less. VS, VSOP, XO need one, four, and five years respectively.

Of course, the French also make other brandies but it’s never as good as Cognac and Armagnac. One tip: Be careful of any ageing statements on brandies other than Cognac and Armagnac, such as VS, VSOP, or XO, as they are meaningless and are simply trying to infer a quality akin to their more illustrious cousins but without their style and panache. I

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DRESS UP Metallic leather biker jacket £299 Biba, T-shirt £79 Label Lab, boyfriend jeans £55 Linea Weekend, Leopard Sheba belt £40 Biba, all from House of Fraser

JEANIUS DENIM

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STYLE TIP

Each brand sizes differently, so measure your self at the point around yo ur waist where you plan to wear your jeans

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STYLE BOHO BEAUTY Dress Indigo £45, M&S at Pavilions

ALL PATCHED UP Sam Faiars skinny £35, Very

FUN AND FLIRTY Peplum skirt £16, TU at Sainsburys

FAVOURITE FLARE 7 For All Mankind jeans, £175 Harvey Nichols

TOP OF THE CROPS Oakley suede jacket £499, Cathy tunic £89, Tula crop jean £79, Bethan sandal £139, Brampton satchel £149, Hobbs

enim may have moved on a lot from Levi Strauss’s original riveted work wear of the 1870s, but essentially it’s the same product just in different guises. Season after season denim rocks the runways of the globe either in reinvented forms or with a retrospective vibe harking back to decades gone by.

From the punk movement of the Seventies customising tight jeans in their notorious style to hip hop inspired low slung ‘bumsters’ to groomed yummy mummies rocking a skinny at the school gate, denim transcends generations and classes proving time and again to be the ultimate wardrobe staple.

This season the dress is back with a bang. Checkout Stella McCartney’s top stitch version along with cute dungarees, cropped jackets a la Burberry and wide cropped jeans as seen at Gucci. We are particularly enjoying Alexa Chung’s collaboration with AG Jeans which includes an embroidered jacket (see P43) and as you’d expect some seriously sassy festival clobber.

And of course, our old friend the skinny is going nowhere, but please don’t mistake a ‘jegging’ for a well-cut skinny. They may be comfortable, but they do nothing but make you look cheap. I

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SEVENITES VIBE Denim shirt dress £45, Evans at The Fort Shopping Park

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STYLE

STYLE TIP

Raw denim, un like pre-washed, takes months to break into your body sh ape, but will ultim ately be a better fit

TOP TUNIC Chambray tunic £150, Jaeger

TURN UP Skinny Mini Selvedge £49.95, White Stuff

JEANOLOGY DENIM THROUGH THE YEARS 1873 Levi Strauss launches riveted work wear

1935 Denim appears in Vogue for the first time

1960 The rise of the flare

1970s Punk rock movement puts its notorious spin on tight jeans

1996 Low slung jeans hit the catwalk

2000 Mossy dons the modern day skinny and sales rocket

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URBAN CHIC

1932

Distressed boyfriend jean, top and heels, Matalan

Jeans for women are first introduced

1955 The first zippered jean comes to market

1969 Jimi Hendrix rocks faded denim at Woodstock

1988

GLAMOUR PUSS

Denim appears on the cover of Vogue

Denim Bardot dress £39, Miss Selfridge at The Fort Shopping Park

1999 Denim enters luxury market thanks to Tom Ford for Gucci priced at over $3,000

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STYLE

SUMMER OF LOVE Dungarees £45, top £39.50 and hat £25, M&S

CUTE COLLABORATION Embroidered jacket, Alexa Chung AG Jeans at Harvey Nichols

SUPER SKINNY Grey skinny £16, F&F at Tesco

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STYLE

ROCK ‘N’ ROLL Shoes from Agnes and Norman

CUTE CULOTTES Culottes £45, Dickins and Jones at House of Fraser

SIMPLE STYLE Dress £24.99, New Look

THE GOOD LIFE Indigo Collection dungarees £45, M&S at Pavilions

GET COLLARED Shirt £99, Jaeger

DIY CHIC Polo Ralph Lauren paint effect £190, House of Fraser

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STYLE

CUTE KNIT Rowena short sleeved jumper in turquoise £130, People Tree SMART AND SASSY Waisted trench dress £250, Jaeger

TRAIL BLAZER Palm tree blazer £65, Yumi

UTALITARIAN CHIC Calvin Klein grey utility dress £130, House of Fraser

10

BLUE SKY THINKING Gola clouds trainer £65, Cath Kidston

THINGS WE LOVE

IT’S A WRAP Cotton wrap over skirt £45, Yumi

PERFECT COVER UP Dickens & Jones chambray Liberty print mac £149, House of Fraser BOLD PRINT Mira print cotton Capri £79, Mint Velvet TRANSITIONAL TRENCH Carrie mac £99, Monsoon HELLO SPRING Rabbit scarf £14, Oliver Bonas

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STYLE

Dark blue coated slim jean £32, Burton

CLASSIC

RULES nless you’re Russell Brand, a member of the cast of TOWIE or a teenager, stick with classic well cut denim. And once you’ve found the perfect pair try this top tip that works brilliantly. If the colour, cut and fabric are spot on buy two pairs of the same jeans in different sizes – one that you can barely fasten, but after a couple of hours the fabric relaxes slightly yet still fits snugly for a cool evening look and a second pair one size up for a more relaxed weekend vibe. I

STYLE TIP

A subtle turn up with loafers lo oks fresh for spring

U

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Blazer £75, shirt £25, jeans £32 and loafers £38, Burton

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STYLE

G-Star stone wash jeans £120, House of Fraser

North Coast denim jacket £39.50, M&S Stone utility jacket £199 Barbour, red cotton T-Shirt £20 Label Lab and grey skinny jeans £135 Neuw, House of Fraser

Hue jean £45, White Stuff

Original fit organic Oakdale jean £89, Ted Baker Pearce denim effect loafers £64.99, Office

Primitive tech jean £25, Next Light wash stretch skinny jean £35, Burton

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HEALTH

MAN WITH A TAN The tanning booth is the antipathy of everything your average

bloke stands for – but maybe it’s time for us guys to reconsider… read recently that the fashion industry has now officially decreed it ‘de rigeur’ to be ghostly pale. While people far cooler than me may feel white is the new brown, I find few things more unappealing than the sickly white hue that your average British figure has taken on at this time of year.

And right now I’m furiously cursing my heritage. In just a few days I’m off to celebrate my sister’s birthday in a fabulous house in the Cotswolds. A house with a pool. I’m going to have to take my clothes off and I’m panicking. I’m just about to phone and cancel when my everpatient wife suggests that perhaps I should book myself in for a spray tan.

I

VAJAZZLING A what? While unable to articulate why, the idea completely horrified me! Maybe the association with Essex and vajazzling is just too strong for my insecurities to handle but surely a spray tan is for women, vain men and beauty obsessives? Apologies Mr Beckham, but it just isn’t very manly. However one more sad look in the mirror reminded me that these are desperate times and an appointment was duly made.

It quickly became apparent that if you want to have a decent, natural looking tan then you need to prepare – nothing too taxing, but vital if you want to avoid tangerine knees. The night before the treatment I was advised to scrub, exfoliate and

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HEALTH

WHY MAN FEARS A SPRAY TAN I It’s make up

I It’s for chicks

I I’ll be tangoed

I I’ll have to wear paper pants

I I’ll have to take my clothes off in front of a stranger I That stranger will then rub me

indulge in any usual hair removal routine (fortunately my hairy chest was safe otherwise all bets were off). I was to arrive on the day in loose dark clothing, free of moisturiser, aftershave, deodorant or any other product that might mess with the tanning agent.

Despite having to work on probably the shabbiest canvas she’s seen in years, the specialist made me feel totally at ease and before long I was loving being pampered. A barrier cream was liberally administered to my elbows, knees and feet (the areas most prone to turning orange) and then, with the required shade of brown selected, I stepped into the magnificent and futuristic shower unit to begin the bronzeification process.

GLOWING Emerging just 20 minutes later and admiring myself in the mirror, I couldn’t help but smile at the lovely looking creature beaming back at me.

The results were fantastic. OK I now had to avoid contact with water or rubbing myself for at least six hours but this was totally worth it.

My new healthy glow would last for a week and I hadn’t even had to permanently damage my skin for the pleasure.

Even those desperate to tease had to concede (with more than a hint of envy) that my new tan looked natural and healthy. How can something so affordable and easy make such a difference?

The next morning I instinctively reached for a white shirt and started making plans for my next session – my pre-holiday routine will never be the same again. So I’m almost ready for that damned pool party. All I need is a cheap, safe 48-hour fix for a beer belly… I

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BEAUTY

MOTHER’S DAY BEAUTY EDIT W

Rose Gallagher picks five of the best buys for Mothering Sunday

ith Mother’s Day around the corner, I’ve chosen a selection of gifts that will slot easily into the routine of the busiest mum and still make her feel a million dollars. I

Clinique Aromatics in White,

£55 for 50ml from Selfridges For me, Clinique’s new

Aromatics in White is the most beautiful perfume addition of Zelens Z Pure Cleansing

recent months. A softer take

Liquid Balm, £55 from

on the spicy original, this

Space NK

blends warm and clean notes

The latest launch from

to create an unusual 1 and

skincare expert Dr Lens,

heady fragrance.

this cleansing balm melts every last scrap of makeup away in one go, making bedtime beauty a quick and simple affair.

Bobbi Brown Hydrating Eye Cream, £32 from Debenhams

By Terry Cellularose Moisturising

A comforting, fast-acting remedy to tired eyes, my

CC Cream, £57 from Space NK

mother and I are simply hooked on this eye cream.

When it comes to skincare

Used in the morning it is even light enough to go

infused make-up, no one does it

under make-up and over time it will help plump and

quite like By Terry. Just the thing

soften the appearance of fine lines.

for a multi-tasking mother, this CC Cream merges colourcorrecting pigments with a gentle rose-based skincare for plump, glowing skin in one quick hit.

Estee Lauder Little Black Primer, £20 from Boots After a busy day of chores, your mascara might have done more running around than you. Now, Estee Lauder has created the perfect remedy to running eyes. The Little Black Primer is a quick fix which can be used either to tint the lashes, prime them or add a waterproof coating to your current mascara.

Check out Rose’s beauty blog at www.mixedgems.co.uk

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Lift your

mood

Spring brings with it an overwhelming urge to spruce up our homes and with a new look comes renewed vigour and a fresh start – so don’t fight it! Whether you update a pile of scatter cushions or invest in a full-on decorating project, just embrace it.

We’ve taken two of this season’s hottest trends – contemporary lines and bold prints to get your creative juices flowing.

GOING GREEN: Featuring the Organic Discovery range from Crown Paint www.crownpaint.co.uk

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HOMES Allegri Sorrento wallcovering, Fardis www.fardis.com

Moooi Cloud sofa £4,227, Occa-Home www.occa-home.co.uk

Sofa and accessories, M&S at Pavilions www.pavilionsshopping.com

Minimum fuss, contemporary, clean…

Tiered pendant £25, Next www.next.co.uk

Coat stand £20, Tiger www.tigerstores.co.uk kMix Pop Art Collective toaster £59.99, Kenwood at Leekes www.leekes.co.uk Kartell lamp £165, Occa-Home www.occa-home.co.uk Burnt Desert, Dulux www.dulux.co.uk

Julianne loveseat £399, Miami table £29, Tesco Direct www.tesco.com

Modo door £2,000, Apeer www.apeer.co.uk

Malmo pendant £100, Next www.next.co.uk

Dressing table and accessories, M&S at Pavilions www.pavilionsshopping.com

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HOMES

t h g i r b s g n i h All t l u f i t u a e b d n a

Pad print side plate £3, Sainsburys www.sainsburyshome.co.uk

Fusion range, John Lewis www.johnlewis.com

Moooi Nest sofa £2,045, Occa-Home www.occa-home.co.uk

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HOMES

Grey Planes sides cushion £38, Sparrow + Wolf www.sparrowandwolf.co.uk

Tourbillon at £95 per 10m roll, Farrow and Ball www.farrow-ball.com

Floral Churchill bed £9,000, And so to bed… www.andsotobed.co.uk

Niki Jones concentric rug £250, Occa-Home www.occa-home.co.uk

Regent chair £639, Cookes www.cookesfurniture.co.uk

Ceramic jug, Liv’s at Mell Square www.livs.co.uk Butterfly Home by Matthew Williamson £32, Debenhams at The Fort Shopping Park

Roberto Cavalli Foulard silk cushion £136, Amara www.amara.com Sofa and accessories, M&S at Pavilions www.pavilionsshopping.com

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Geo knit throw £35, Next, Bullring www.bullring.co.uk

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HOMES

Chair, Very www.very.co.uk

Butterfly cushion £5, Sainsburys www.sainsburyshome.co.uk Linea mono mark living room, House of Fraser www.houseoffraser.co.uk

Moustache doormat £19.95, Dotcomgiftshop www.dotcomgiftshop.com

, d e t a c i t s i h p o S classic, cool…

Drawer knob £2.95, Dotcomgiftshop www.dotcomgiftshop.com

Marble sushi board and bowl £35, John Lewis www.johnlewis.com

Fornasetti Tema e Variazioni wall plate £94, Amara www.amara.com

Eichholtz Maxwell sofa £990, Occa-Home www.occa-home.co.uk Lambswool blanket £45, Next www.next.co.uk Zig ag photo frame £18, Oliver Bonas www.oliverbonas.com

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Crewel stitch cushion £65, House of Fraser www.houseoffraser.co.uk

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HOMES

Hot Properties From cool party pads to Grade II listed mansions and stylish brand new builds, here’s our pick of the most desirable homes for sale this month

GROWN UP GRANDEUR Tedstone Court, Worcestershire Guide price: £1.8m Agent: Knight Frank, tel: 01905 723438

It’s not exactly in Brum, but it’s easily commutable and a steal, so we couldn’t resist Grade II listed Tedstone Court in Worcestershire.

Grand, elegant and luxurious with oodles of character and even more land – 192 acres to be precise. The immediate grounds are immaculate and the views are breathtaking.

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HOMES

BRICKS&BITS NEW MANAGEMENT FOR CALTHORPE Property consultancy, GBR Phoenix Beard has been appointed to manage the property portfolio overseeing the commercial customer base which makes up the estate. Calthorpe Estates’ chief executive Mark Lee said: “It was imperative we found the right match for this brief."

GIANT BLUE BLOCK GETS GREEN LIGHT Plans for a large student apartment block on the corner of Islington Row Middleway and Bath Row have been given the green light by the council’s planning committee. It ruled the bright blue tile design of Bath Court Investments and Bouygues development reflects the area's historic links.

SMOOTH MOVES

BY BIKER AGENTS Property agents gathered at Embassy House for a breakfast event with a twist – a smoothie bike challenge! They also had a chance to view the high quality floor space available at the office building located on the corner of Church Street and Cornwall Street in the Colmore Business District. More than 20 agents raced against each other to clock up the highest amount of pedal rotations on a custom built smoothie-making bicycle. The winner was Will Sherlock from CBRE.

From the industry’s movers and shakers to the latest groundbreaking developments… email your property news and pictures to shelley@brumliving.co.uk

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STYLISH NEW BUILD Stratford Leys, Stratford-upon-Avon Guide price: Four-bed (pictured) from £519,995 Agent: Bovis Homes, tel: 01789 588005 Brand new contemporary homes in a stunning location on the outskirts of Stratford-upon-Avon, these are proper ‘turn-key’ properties that you could move into and just enjoy. Three, four and five-bedroomed homes are available at the Stratford Leys development. The four-bedroomed Goldicote house is pictured.

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GREAT LOCATION Westfield Rd, Edgbaston Guide price: £1.8m Agent: Fine and Country, tel: 0121 746 6400 Located just off one of Edgbaston’s hottest spots, this is a proper family home with eight bedrooms and masses of entertaining space. Unique features like the Victorian ceiling mural, well cared for Minton floor and stained glass windows, make it an interesting home that’s worth a look.

PERIOD CHARM The Moat House, Hampton-in-Arden Guide price: £1.5m Agent: Knight Frank, tel: 01789 297735 This Grade II listed not-so-little gem in the heart of Hampton-in-Arden is packed with original features. With a vaulted library, open fireplaces and exposed beams it feels warm and comfortable. And with five beds and plenty of room for entertaining, it scores well on the space front too.

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HOMES

PARTY PAD Concorde House, Birmingham Guide price: On request Agent: Maguire Jackson, tel: 0121 634 1520 This stonking great big party pad is part of the Concorde House development due to be completed in May 2015. Loft 9 (pictured) has oodles of highly designed space with top-notch finishes and a cool industrial vibe. The cinema room is particularly special along with the state-ofthe-art open plan kitchen.

Don’t miss Property of the Week on our Facebook page every Thursday

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AUCTIONS

SCANDINAVIAN CHIC A Expert Nick Davies salutes the Finnish genius behind the Savoy Vase

lvar Aalto is today acclaimed as the most important Finnish architect of the 20th century and one of Modernisms leading lights. His success as a designer grew from a combination of self-belief, fortuitous timing and pure instinct. Aalto’s core beliefs lay in a typically Scandinavian symbiosis of nature, man and materials.

Aalto was passionate about integrated design concerning himself not only with the building but all its interior elements. It is these elements today that have extended their reach beyond Finnish shores to captivate a worldwide audience. Internationally admired and recognised, his back catalogue is immense. However, one of his most simple creations remains one of his most popular and accessible with today’s audience – the Savoy Vase.

PARIS FAIR In 1936, Aalto with the aid of his wife Aino entered a design competion for the Karhula-Iittala glassworks. The brief was to design a new range of products suitable for showing at the Paris World’s Fair the following year.

Aalto delivered a sequence of sketchy and even casual drawings, some of them reminiscent of cubist still lifes.

The designs were given a Swedish code name of Eskimoerindens Skinnbuxa, which translates quite literally to Eskimo-Woman’s Leather Pants. The drawings presented a collection of associated forms from a shallow dish to a vase standing nearly a metre high!

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Winning acclaim and selection, the range was manufactured and first shown in summer 1937 in the Finland pavilion (built after the design with which Aalto won the national competition in 1936).

This striking vase received its (much needed) re-name after a new luxury restaurant called the Savoy opened in Helsinki in 1937. Alvar together with his wife Aino was commissioned to design custom furnishings and fixtures. The vases were placed on every table and their fluid organic forms allowed flowers to be arranged in unusual, more individual ways.

SIMPLE ELEGANCE The original Savoy vase was produced in clear, brown, azure blue, green and smoke coloured versions. In the 1950s and later, opal, cobalt blue and ruby red colours were also introduced, and since the 1960s both larger and smaller versions of the vase have been marketed. The Iittala factory still produces both the Savoy vase and other pieces from the series.

Aalto worked up to his death with his last great commission in 1969, however he will be most remembered for his early Finnish masterpieces including this simple yet elegant little vase. I Nick Davies is co-founder of Fieldings (www.fieldingsauctioneers.co.uk) who hold free valuation days at Mill Race Lane, Stourbridge DY8 1JN

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MOTORING

HOT OFF THE TRACK I Audi has brought gizmos from its Le Mans cars to the all-new TT, says Sue Cooke f you are driving a 10-year-old-plus car, then can I suggest that you are missing out on features that will help to save your life in an accident, make driving less stressful and even provide a bit of fun. They are gadgets, most of which are spawned from the world of racing.

And Audi will have invested around £16billion by 2018 to produce loads of new gizmos some of which can already be found in the third generation Audi TT which has only been on UK streets for a couple of months.

LCD ‘FIRST’ Audi calls the 2+2 sports car an automotive supercomputer which has an all-digital virtual cockpit enveloped in what I can only describe as a stunning new body that now has a toned down sports car coupé, verging on saloon look.

The first noticeable device in the interior, once the ignition is switched on is the 12.3 inch high resolution LCD display. This is not placed traditional centre dash, but is directly in front of the

driver. The speedometer and rev counter are where you would expect, but in ‘infotainment’ mode, these become smaller and the radio listing, navigation map, outside temperature, time and large digital mileage figures are shown. Initially I thought it wouldn’t work, too much information in one place, but it does. I found it all easy to operate and to view.

In another break from convention, manual airconditioning controls are integrated into the air vents. It means everything is neatly packaged together, giving a clean interior display. The quality Alcantara and leather combination upholstery covers very comfortable standard sports seats on the Sport model and there are many useful covered and uncovered storage spaces. The alternative specification is the S line which is the most comprehensive and performance-oriented model in the initial TT line up.

FACTS AT A GLANCE: Model: Audi TT ultra Price: From £29,125 Engine: 2.0-litre TDi 184PS Performance: 0-62mph in 7.1 seconds and on to a top speed of 150mph CO2 emissions: 114 g/km Combined fuel consumption: 64.2 mpg

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Another tool immediately obvious is the progressive steering system which is fitted as standard to all versions. In technological terms, its rack is set up in such a way that the ratio becomes more direct as the steering wheel is turned – which basically means the TT can be steered precisely with little movement of the steering wheel. A new driver can be taken unawares at how little movement is actually needed and in urban traffic and on winding country roads steering is super-efficient.

HYBRID TECH Trawling into Birmingham city centre in constant traffic jams from Sutton Coldfield every day, the TT came into its own, automatically creeping forward. At 4.18 metres long, the coupé is almost exactly the same length as its predecessor, though its wheelbase has grown by 37mm to 2,505mm. It is 1,832mm wide and has the same height as the previous model at 1,353mm. The load area capacity has increased by 13 litres to an ample 305 litres which can be upped to 712 litres by folding the rear seat backrests forwards. So still good for visiting a car boot sale.

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I road tested the 2.0-litre diesel 184PS with six-speed manual gearbox. This ‘ultra’ range keeps business drivers interested with CO2 output of only 114g/km and fewer trips to the fuel station, sipping diesel with 64.2mpg capacity. Yet, using Audi’s Le Mans 24-hour race-pioneering hybrid diesel technology, the new TT will still achieve 62mph in 7.1 seconds and tops out at 150mph. There is also a 2.0-litre petrol 230PS engine with front-wheel-drive or Quattro all-wheel-drive. And this month Audi is launching an even more powerful 310PS TTS version.

There just isn’t the room to list all the advanced electronic aids which minimise stress but perhaps the most useful is the park assist which guides the car into suitable spaces. All very clever stuff in what is a very cool car.

Follow Sue Cooke on Twitter visit @cookecars

SHOWROOM: Birmingham Audi, 780 Stratford Road, Shirley. B90 4BQ. Tel: 0121 7465500 www.birmingham.audi.co.uk

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YOUNG, GIFTED & BRUMMIE

LUCY SHAW Talented cyclist Lucy Shaw tells Shelley Carter about riding with her heroes, juggling homework with time on the bike and the legacy of London 2012 ucy Shaw is embarking on a new phase of her career as she starts training with the 2015 Matrix Procycling team alongside top senior riders including Olympian Laura Trott and world champion Elinor Barker.

At 17 years and in the final year of junior competition, Lucy is the baby of the team but she takes it all in her stride and is embracing the challenge and camaraderie of the group. “It’s really exciting and all the girls are lovely. They’re a nice bunch and they look after me,” she enthused.

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Lucy’s parents are keen cyclists and used to take her with them on groups rides when she was small, but it wasn’t until she joined Solihull Cycling Club that she really got the bug. “I began competing at a regional level when I was 14 and just started winning.” Lucy was lucky enough to experience the electric atmosphere and multiple British victories in the velodrome at London 2012 which spurred her on.

“I watched Laura Trott win omnium gold which was brilliant. Since London women’s cycling has

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“

I watched Laura Trott win gold which was brilliant.

It was so inspiring

”

been getting better and better. It was so inspiring.” Omnium is one of Lucy’s strongest events, so it had even more significance. Now training as a development rider with one of the best women’s cycling teams in the UK, Lucy is in a good position to achieve some great results this year.

Sponsorship from local graphics specialist Hollywood Monster has enabled Lucy’s place with Matrix and she has just completed her first training camp with the team in France. Eager to get stuck in to the national women’s road series and the tour series Lucy said: “I will get to race hard and hopefully get some good results.” Her strength is endurance but she also has a mean sprint finish and, as is often the case with cycling, she competes in multiple events on both road and track.

SCHOOL CHALLENGE With sponsorship and a top team sorted, there’s still a rather large hurdle to overcome – school!

Studying for her A-Levels at St. Peter’s in Solihull, Lucy puts in a normal school day from 8.30am to 3pm and trains for three hours in the evening, cycling around 150 miles every week. This doesn’t leave much time for homework.

“The school has been really supportive and if I’m struggling I get the help I need. It is hard,

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Photography by Huw Williams

but I know it’s important to get a good education, so it’s worth it.” Lucy also sees less of her friends that she’d like. “I don’t get to chill out with my friends that much but cycling is really social, so I’ve got a lot of friends through the sport too.”

Lucy’s goals are refreshingly ambitious. “The aim is to go professional.” Lucy has the Tokyo games in her sights and world championships on her mind not forgetting a haul of A-Levels to pick up on the way. I Follow Lucy’s progress with Matrix at http://matrixprocycling.cc

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GROWING PLACES

CHAMBER CHOIR TAKES TO THE AIRWAVES Solihull School’s Chamber Choir reached out to its largest audience to date when the youngsters were invited to perform on BBC Radio 4’s Daily Service singing a variety of hymns live. The youngsters aged 13 to 18 were given the theme of Belonging to Christ and performed the wellknown anthem O Thou the Central Orb by Charles Wood, among others, to more than 250,000 listeners. Oliver Walker, the school’s head of choral music, said: “It was an honour for the choir to be invited for a second time.”

IN FULL VOICE: The Solihull choir, right

SCHOOL REPORT

Birmingham Living is co mmitted to highlighting the best of our schools and colleges. Here’s ou r round-up of the latest stand-out news and ev ents

WINNERS: Jeremy Ho, Harrison Green, Clement Chan and Vidy Reddy LAB WORK: Experimenting at Moreton Hall

BOYS TRIUMPH WITH UNIQUE STEM A PERFECT SCORE PROGRAMME EXPANDS Through an advanced and unique programme, Moreton Hall school is leading the way in offering stretch and challenge experiences in STEM (science, technology, engineering, maths) subjects. In addition to the innovative term time agenda for Year 12 and 13 students, 2014 saw the launch of a successful Biomedical Science Summer School which is being extended this year to include academic streams in pure and applied mathematics, the physical sciences and chemistry.

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A team of four boys from King Edward’s School, Birmingham has won the National Final of the Senior Team Maths Challenge with a perfect score. More than 1,000 school teams took part in the national competition and 80 went through to the National Finals, which were held at the Royal Horticultural Halls in London. The team of Harrison Green and Clement Chan in Year 13 and Jeremy Ho and Vidy Reddy in Year 12 scored a perfect 176 points to jointly win the competition with two other teams, from Harrow School and Hampton School. Proud maths teacher Tim Cross said: “To win the competition by answering every question correctly is incredible.”

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GROWING PLACES

OUTREACH PROGRAMME HAILED A BIG SUCCESS The ground-breaking outreach programme at King Edward’s High School for Girls is a year old and proving to be a huge success. Classes for Gifted and Talented pupils from a variety of local primary schools in subjects such as Spanish, science, classical Greek, history and modern languages are designed to give bright pupils an intellectual boost and encourage them to set their sights high.

FUN LEARNING: Ariana and Teniesha, from Chad Vale Primary School

WELL DONE: St Francis Primary School pupils GREAT SPORTS: The U13A team at the final of the Bunbury Cup

SPORTING RECOGNITION

FOR BROMSGROVE Bromsgrove School has been named one of the top schools in the UK for sport, according to School Sport magazine. All independent schools have been ranked on their sporting successes for 2014, with the Worcester Road school coming fifth overall. Paul Mullan, 2nd Deputy Head said: “This accolade reflects the hard work and dedication to sport across the school. The results are based on 20 different sports and more than 120 different national competitions.”

KIWI CELEBRATIONS

SCHOOLS MAKE A HEALTHIER CHOICE The Health for Life programme funded by Mondelez International has seen 26 schools across Birmingham achieving awards for their sustainable healthy progress. With one in four children in the city becoming obese by the age of 10, the scheme which is delivered by the Health Education Service (HES) in partnership with Life Education Centres West Midlands, aims to reverse this trend. The 26 successful schools have made changes such as fruit and vegetable growing, cookery classes in primary schools, boxercise and bike riding.

Year 1 pupils at Kidderminster’s Holy Trinity School immersed themselves in New Zealand culture to celebrate the country’s 175th anniversary of Waitangi Day which commemorates the signing of the nation’s founding document. The children took part in exciting activities including ‘greenstone’ necklace making, dancing with poi balls, singing Maori Waitata songs and learning about native New Zealand animals. The fun day ended with a parent vs pupil kiwi quiz and a banquet of New Zealand food.

TOP DRAW: Pupil Rubi Oliver with her drawing of a kiwi

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UNSUNG HEROES

UNSUNG HEROES

Lifelong Baggies fan and CEO of YMCA Birmingham tells us how after becoming disillusioned in Dudley he discovered his true calling in Brum

ALAN FRASER lan Fraser is a chip off the old block. His father championed affordable housing on the board of an association in Birmingham and today Alan finds himself in a role not a million miles from that – although as he is quick to point out the YMCA is much more than cheap accommodation.

Alan’s career didn’t get off to the best start and after graduating from Leeds University he found himself jobless and volunteered at a housing association to get some experience. “My degree in history and philosophy was all very interesting and thought provoking, but it didn’t do much for my immediate job prospects, so I found myself on the dole for a while. Volunteering enabled me to get a ‘proper’ job.”

Back in the Midlands after ‘climbing the greasy pole’ at Dudley Council for a decade, Alan realised he’d lost sight of why he was doing it. “I applied for the CEO role at YMCA Redditch because the organisation mirrored my personal values so it felt like a good fit.” After four years in Redditch, Alan took over the helm at YMCA Birmingham and has made a big impact at the charity.

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If like me you thought the YMCA just ran hostels think again. Alan explained the charity aims “to enable people to reach their full potential helping build a better Birmingham for everyone”. In practice this means not only running hostels but providing affordable housing and flexible childcare. “I remember when my children were small and we needed childcare from 10am to 2pm, but we had to pay for a whole day. That’s nonsense and doesn’t encourage people to get back into the workplace.

Our nurseries provide affordable childcare for people who have erratic employment or work funny hours.” The charity offers training and is growing as an employer too with a hundred staff currently on the payroll in Birmingham.

Alan has introduced some new revenue streams with much success. “People are suspicious of just handing over money to charity. They like to see something in return, so we rent out some of our spaces for business meetings, hire out the prayer room to churches, etc.”

Far from his days in Dudley, Alan feels fulfilled and positive. He let slip that his teenage son, keen to perfect his German is about to embark on a year at the YMCA there as a volunteer. Another chip off the old block. I

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ing livBUSINESS

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AIDEM DIGITAL Digital entrepreneur Indi Deol explains how a false start in the world of fashion was the making of him and his business successes t looked a cast iron certainty that Indi Deol was destined to become a big name in the world of couture when he graduated from uni with an Honours degree in fashion design. Instead, his life took a completely different route which has seen him become a major player in a business that is about as far removed from the catwalk as you can get – that of digital media.

“When I left uni I set off to London, leaving all my family behind, because London is the place where all fashion happens. I worked for a couple of fashion houses, and it didn’t take long for me to realise that wasn’t the business I wanted to be in.”

As well as being homesick for his family in Brum, Indi knew straight away that he wanted to run his own business, allowing him to realise his own longterm vision. So, in 2008 he started a vibrant online digital lifestyle magazine, DESIblitz, aimed at the Asian community. And then two years later in 2010, he launched Aidem Digital, a social enterprise business aimed at helping others explore and develop the opportunities and challenges of new media.

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Besides winning a raft of top awards, Aidem – that’s Media spelled backwards – has just featured in the annual prestigious RBS Index 100 Report which picks out the UK’s fastest growing businesses. Aidem recorded 171 per cent growth last year. Impressive.

FASTEST GROWING “DESIblitz came about because I knew there was huge under representation for Asian content online,” said Indi. “There had been a few attempts to produce lifestyle-based online magazines for the Asian community but all were more or less produced by people as their hobby. They weren’t financed properly or had the quality needed to succeed.”

What Indi also noted was that no one was daring to cover topics that were seen as taboo in the Asian community. “We published and discussed subjects which had always been pushed under the carpet – things like sex before marriage, drugs and so on. We found a big audience ready and wanting to discuss these issues. It was like we opened the floodgates and

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the magazine has gone from strength to strength.”

Such was its success and profile that Indi says a growing number of people were coming to him to ask for his help in setting up their own websites and business ideas online. “That’s how I came to start Aidem,” he said. “We registered as a social enterprise as we had 15 or 20 volunteers working for us, and we still do have about that number with us today.”

Aidem Digital’s aim is ‘”to provide quality led digital media services with social impact and create jobs and opportunities for the disadvantaged”. The business can deliver the whole package, from the overall digital strategy to website design and implementation, video production, graphic design, mobile applications and more. The emphasis is strongly focused on making a successful business while also giving a helping hand to those who need it. Young and unemployed people continue to find it tough to gain employment due to a lack of skills, social status or experience. Aidem Digital offers individuals the chance to join the organisation as volunteers or on work experience to gain the vital life and work tools they need to grow and succeed.

Indi has ambitious plans moving forward to expand his businesses into India and Pakistan. “There is huge potential to grow and develop, especially in the area of

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mobile phone apps. And for DESIblitz there is a massive readership opportunity.”

The term ‘Desi’ refers to a connection with South Asian subcontinent roots. It is derived from the word ‘des’ or ‘desh’ which refers to country and in this case primarily India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.

‘Desi’ has emerged as a collective term which classifies culture and people from these countries.

AWARD-WINNING DESIblitz.com has already been recognised as winner of the Best Website accolade at the Asian Media Awards. “Business is all about the quality of what you do and produce and developing long-term, meaningful relationships,” said Indi, who is also a board member of Birmingham’s Institute of Asian Businesses. “But it is also about helping to make a social impact, too.”

To that end, Indi recently attended the Aston University Awards and collected a Visiting Fellowship award as an alumnus of the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses Programme. The award was given in recognition of the contribution made across the university to the understanding, awareness and experience of growth in business and entrepreneurship. I

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JQ CHIEF’S RALLYING CALL Collaboration and communication are the buzzwords for Stella Layton, the newly-elected chairman of the Jewellery Quarter Development Trust. The CEO at Birmingham Assay Office succeeds David Mahony, MD of PCPT Architects, who was instrumental in establishing the JQDT and Jewellery Quarter Business Improvement District. Reduced council financing for the city’s eight BIDs means it’s more important than ever that they work together, says Stella.

BUSINESS NEWS

CHARLOTTE’S GRAND DESIGNS A new furniture retailer has opened in Edgbaston offering quality designer looks and style at affordable prices. Chandlers Furniture Company is the brainchild of Charlotte Chandler who has a background in interiors and property development.

Having visited some of the world’s most stylish hotels, bars and members clubs, Charlotte is an expert in creating the 'wow factor' that makes an interior a work of art.

BUSINESS PLEDGE TO HELP SCHOOLS A new initiative to promote Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) to businesses in Birmingham has been launched. CSR City will focus on co-ordinating business support for under-performing schools. An outline of the proposed activities was delivered to patron companies of Birmingham Chambers of Commerce at a lunch hosted by lawyers Pinsent Masons. Among the speakers was Sir Mike Tomlinson who has been appointed education commissioner for Birmingham.

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ELECTRICAL FIRM CREATES JOBS Global household appliance developer and manufacturer Vorwerk is creating 250 new direct sales jobs across the West Midlands following a seven-figure investment in developing its UK market.

German-based Vorwerk produces household electrical items including vacuum cleaners and kitchen appliances.

Eric McClenaghan, pictured, the former CEO and owner of the UK division of direct selling cosmetics company Oriflame, is advising on the launch of the Vorwerk UK Kobold Division as it establishes its presence in Balsall Common and the surrounding areas.

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HIPPODROME BOSS ON THE MOVE The CEO of Birmingham Hippodrome, Stuart Griffiths, is leaving the theatre after 12 years at the helm. He is to become programming director for Ambassador Theatre Group with responsibility for 39 venues. Stuart led the Hippodrome to become the most popular single theatre in the UK with record-breaking paid admissions last year exceeding 625,000. He’s also co-produced Birmingham International Dance Festival since 2008.

HUGE BOOST FOR STARTUPS A pot of £2million has been released to fund more than 300 new startup businesses in the West Midlands over the next 12 months. The cash is available through Startup Direct, a partner of the Government’s Start Up Loans scheme which launched in Birmingham last year.

Based at Innovation Birmingham, it has seen strong interest from technology startups. One business that recently benefitted from a loan is Petalite, founded by Leigh Purnell, 27, pictured above, which produces the world’s fastest charging external battery for smartphones.

ANITA’S HAPPY TO GET SHIRTY A lucky customer at The Moorings at Myton walked away with a football shirt signed by Liverpool and England star Steven Gerrard. The shirt was raffled in aid of Myton Hospice and raised more than £300. A cheque was presented to Anita Burrows, the hospice’s community fundraiser, by Richard O’Grady, general manager of The Moorings at Myton.

FILM ADVISERS ALL-ACTION MOVE A touch of Hollywood-style glitz is lighting up an office complex as tax and finance consultants Clay & Associates, who specialise in the film, entertainment and sports industry, have moved from Studley to Ipsley Court. The move was put together by property agents John Truslove. Clay & Associates also have offices in London and at Pinewood Studios in Buckinghamshire.

MOVING IN: Nigel Clay, Ian Parker of John Truslove and Dan Clay

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TECH TITLE HOPE FOR FIONA Fiona Hudson-Kelly, chief executive of Midlands business Smart E-Assessor has been named a finalist in the UK’s leading initiative celebrating women in technology – the FDM Everywoman in Technology Awards. Fiona, who started her first business when she was only 16, is shortlisted in the Entrepreneur of the Year category. The winner will be revealed at an awards ceremony later this month. Smart E-Assessor is a cloudbased software for apprentices who are trained and assessed in their workplace by external training providers and colleges.

ENTREPRENEUR HUB HUNTS BRIGHT SPARKS A new business accelerator hub is to open in Birmingham at 2 St Philips Place as part of the national roll-out of Entrepreneurial Spark powered by NatWest. It is one of eight new business support spaces across the UK offering free workspace, hands-on mentoring,

a start up ‘bootcamp’ and a free programme of advice, support and funding clinics. Jim Duffy, CEO of Entrepreneurial Spark, said: “We are really excited about being in Birmingham which has the highest level of entrepreneurial activity outside London.”

CLASSIC GROWTH A Midlands kitchen company is celebrating the launch of a brand new showroom with a special event to help raise money for Acorns Children’s Hospice on 7 March. Classic Kitchens has been trading for over 20 years and is run by brothers Gareth and Max Davis The new store in Redditch will be the largest of four showrooms in the region with further expansion planned.

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NEW FACES JOIN ICC TEAM The ICC has strengthened its catering team with five new appointments.

Claire Smith becomes conference and banqueting manager, with Ceri Davies, Stephen Penn and Harprit Singh Kainth as conference and banqueting supervisors, and Robert May as food and beverage manager. Prior to joining Amadeus at the ICC, Claire worked at the Hilton Birmingham.

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WHAT BUSINESS NEEDS FROM BRUM More businesses are choosing to come here – and this year sees exciting developments that will further raise the city’s national and international profile

Please introduce yourself I’m Richard Brown, development director of Grand Central Birmingham, the city’s latest premium shopping and dining destination. Grand Central is the £150million project adjoining the recently revamped New Street Station, which is expected to become one of the busiest train stations outside of London.

What does your company do?

Grand Central will complement Birmingham’s existing retail landscape and other major leisure destinations and provide business growth and further regeneration in the city, in addition to creating more than 1,000 jobs. Ultimately, it will further strengthen Birmingham’s position as a leading destination for shoppers in the UK.

”

How do you feel your clients see the city?

We have seen vast numbers of retailers and dining outlets sign up to Grand Central with many opening stores for the first time. I think this reflects the changing attitudes towards Birmingham as a retail destination. Following the £50million redevelopment at The Mailbox and £20million of work at Selfridges, retailers are sending a clear message that they want to be a part of this landscape as it becomes the retail hotspot for 2015.

Does Birmingham offer any particular advantages as a destination for business?

Birmingham’s central location and connectivity makes it a location of choice for business. As a result of Is Brum a good place to do being situated above New Street business? station, Grand Central is anticipating Grand Central’s Richard Brown Birmingham is no longer just a ‘fly over’ city an estimated 50 million visitors a year. as more businesses are choosing to locate here. This year sees a The arrival of the HS2 high-speed train service in 2026 will lot of exciting infrastructure developments emerge in the city make it far easier for London shoppers and air travellers and this will continue to raise the national and international arriving at Heathrow to visit the city. profile of Birmingham as a hub for business and tourism.

Ongoing investment in transport links and the revamped New What should our priorities be as a city?

Street station will ensure that Birmingham is more accessible Make the most of the great opportunities that will arise which will drive investment in the region and attract tourism. from the infrastructure development projects due to be launched this year.

What are your biggest gripes with it?

As it stands, Birmingham isn’t seen by shoppers and the If you had £1bn to spend on improving Brum fashion industry as a key retail hub, yet the variety of retailers what would you do with it? available to the public is incredible. Once John Lewis opens in I would like to see a greater investment in the arts with a September, Birmingham will be the only city outside of growing cultural offer in the Southside of the city to further London which has all five major department stores – John regenerate this part of Birmingham. I would also invest Lewis, Selfridges, Debenhams, Harvey Nichols and House of funds to implement a transportation scheme to free up Fraser – all within a small walk of one another. It’s about time traffic in and around Birmingham. It would be great to see Birmingham got the recognition that it deserves for its retail an underground system in Birmingham connecting the offering and unique shopper experience. wider regions to the city too! I

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SAUSAGE O’CLOCK TIME TICKS THE RIGHT BOXES Leading accountants’ network event has a twist with bangers on the side! hantrey Vellacott held its first networking event of the year at the High Field in Edgbaston – and it went with a bang. The leading accountants hosted a ‘Sausage O’Clock’ which saw business professionals meeting up while enjoying a drink and a variety of sausages on the side. Suk Aulak, partner at Chantrey Vellacott’s Birmingham office in Calthorpe Road, said the event brought together likeminded professionals and businesses to build mutually beneficial relationships. I

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1 Ninder Johal, David Robinson. 2 Jackie Casey, Bill Good. 3 Nick Simkins, Sara Williams, Craig Povey. 4 Richard Cole, Ian Morgan.

5 Stuart Bannister, Surbjit Gogna. 6 Suk Aulak, Ian Jones, Andy King. 7 Sophie Horvat, Stephanie Bradbury.

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BOOST FOR BUSINESS ON BREAKFAST MENU Chamber event with Katie Bard looks at how region’s firms can get ahead

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ow Birmingham and the West Midlands can get ahead was debated by business leaders at a Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce breakfast event in partnership with recruitment and people development agency Katie Bard. Around 100 business professionals took part in the event, hosted by Deutsche Bank at its Brindleyplace offices, which provided a closer look at the results of the Chambers’ quarterly economic survey, which is supported by Katie Bard. I

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1 David Bailey, Jerry Blackett, John Mortimer, Paul Anderson. 2 Verity Stokes, Professor Roy Harrison. 3 Chris Horsley, Mandy Canny. 4 David Short, Carlo Corradini. 5 Ivan Moore, David Hardman. 6 Paul Jones, Professor Robert Elliott. 7 Claire Jones, Natasha Purewal. 8 Waheed Saleem, Fayaz Malik, Peter Plisner. 9 John Lamb, Malcolm Davidson, Ben Collins.

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SYMPHONY HALL UNVEILS STUNNING EVENTS SPACE ‘Floating floor’ transforms concert venue into top corporate and banqueting centre uests were treated to the first glimpse of Symphony Hall transformed as never before – from a renowned concert hall into a stunning new space for the international conference, corporate and events market. Symphony Hall: The Next Stage offers world-class acoustics and expert event delivery with custom-built tiered staging covering the Stalls seating. Designed by industry leaders Staging Services, it uses more than 300 stage decks to create a floating tiered 600sqm floor area with a banqueting capacity of 620. The launch was supported by Amadeus, Saville AV and Thorns Furniture. I

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1 Roulla Xenides, Stacey Barnfield, Anita Bhalla. 2 Ian Myatt, James Tait, Dennis Scard. 3 Julia Willoughby, Alan Pemberton and colleague, Ben Smith. 4 Suzanna Reid, Victoria Johnston, Kevan Holland. 5 Jonathan Carter, Paul Farrow, Nilay Shastry. 6 Madalina Marincas, Trevor and Julie Stephenson-Airey. 7 Paul Brown, Keith Stokes-Smith. 8 Henrik Court, Ellis Salsby. 9 Delicious canapes were provided by partner Amadeus.

Photography by Sylvain Deleu

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HISTORIC HILL CLIMB ON TRACK FOR NEW THRILLS Reborn speed trials will bring fun for all the family, launch VIPs told

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ocal business leaders and motorsport enthusiasts came together to celebrate the announcement of the return of a classic motorsport event to the region. The Chateau Impney Hill Climb will hit the start line this July after an absence of more than 40 years. Guests at the launch at Chateau Impney Hotel were told the event will cater for pre-1967 cars with 200 competitors put to the test on a challenging track. Rod Spollon, chairman of the Chateau Impney Hill Climb Club said: “We’re looking forward to reviving the speed trials for a modern and family audience.” I

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The Chateau Impney Hill Climb is on 11 and 12 July 2015. More details at www.chateauimpneyhillclimb.com

1 Martyn Silcox, June Matty, Jeremy Bouckley, Paul Matty. 2 Eddie Walder, Mark Constanduros. 3 Droitwich Spa Mayor Cllr Bob Brookes, Patrick Davis.

4 Jim Bourne, Danny Gwynne. 5 Charles Reynolds, Xavier Kingsland. 6 Jonathan Carter, James Elliott. 7 Droitwich Spa Mayor Cllr Bob Brookes, Rod Spollon and John Felix. 8 Droitwich Spa Mayoress Veronica Brookes, Eric and Christine Bowden. 9 Mark Dixon, Gillian Carr, Guy Spollon.

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SPOTLIGHT FALLS ON BACKSTAGE VISITORS Behind-the-scenes tour reveals secrets of how smash-hit production takes the stage eading Ladies at Birmingham Hippodrome stepped behind the curtains to explore the set of pantomime smash-hit Jack and the Beanstalk for the popular network’s first event of 2015. Guests were put firmly in the spotlight as they stood on the theatre’s magnificent stage during the backstage tour led by the Hippodrome’s technical manager Barry Hope. Among guests were Leading Ladies new associate sponsor Highfield Wellness and Beauty who donated a fabulous prize which helped contribute to the £500 raised on the night for Hippodrome Plus. I

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1 Emma Jakhu. 2 Charlotte Perry. 3 Laura Hannon, Xenia Karayiannis, Natalie Murison, Fiona Alexander, Laura Dudley, Laura Smith, Beth Rose. 4 Jean Templeton, Elaine Elkington. 5 Lesley Wilde, Sarah Riding. 6 Jennie Dale, Michelle Ward, Lucy Sissons. 7 Louise Hodson, Sharon Yapp. 8 Janet Chance.

Photography by Chris Barrow

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BALCONY BASH HAILS A STELLAR FIRST YEAR It’s a very happy birthday as restaurant throws party to say a big ‘thank you’

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he Balcony, level 4 of Selfridges, the Bullring, hosted a party to mark excellent results in its first year of trading. Guests from across the Birmingham business and blogger community as well as customers enjoyed cocktails, wine, canapés and live music at the event at the restaurant operated by Searcys. The restaurant which opened in winter 2013 has seen a sales uplift of 30 per cent over that period.

General manager Alice Weryk said: “Birmingham is a wonderful city and we’re so glad we’ve been able to contribute to what is a thriving culinary scene.” I

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1 Winnie Nip, Hayley Warren, Sophie Neal, Rachel Nicole, Bella Coco. 2 Emily Bate, Alex Mansell. 3 Fiona Faizey, Jeremy Merckel. 4 Stephen Chand.

5 Ruth Emmerson. 6 Victoria Clifford. 7 Dolly Chakraborty. 8 Jim Carless, Louise Egan. 9 Rhian Phillips, Andy Wilson, Joel Claustre.

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SPECTACULAR PANTO’S A BIG HIT.. OH, YES IT IS! Star-studded guest list celebrates success of Hippodrome super show elebrities from the world of showbiz joined a closing night party to celebrate the huge success of Birmingham Hippodrome’s pantomime Jack and The Beanstalk. Guests, including Gok Wan, Lesley Joseph, X Factor winner Joe McElderry and comedian Billy Pearce, were welcomed by managing director of Qdos Entertainment’s pantomimes division and executive producer of Jack and The Beanstalk Michael Harrison, and Nick Thomas, chairman of Qdos Entertainment. An audience of 1.5 million people saw the shows across the season. I

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1 Billy Pearce, Allan Stewart. 2 Stuart Griffith, Kate Warnaby. 3 Kathryn Rooney, Joe McElderry, Lesley Joseph. 4 Stuart Griffiths, Nick Thomas, Michael Harrison. 5 Rachel Griffin, Paul Kaynes, Jonathan Thompson. 6 Paul Parnaby, Kerry Pearce, Julian Russell. 7 Chris Gascoyne, Michael Harrison.

8 Kathryn Rooney, Duncan James.

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THE BOBS CELEBRATE BIRTHDAY IN STYLE 4

It’s pure gold as the Best of Broad Street Awards clock up 10 years

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he Best of Broad Street Awards (The BOBs) marked their 10th anniversary with a glittering night at the ICC. The awards celebrate Birmingham’s Golden Mile, recognising the best bars, pubs, restaurants nightclubs, hotels and entertainment venues in the area. Hosted by ITV’s Sameena Ali-Khan, guest presenters included ‘hometown boy’ Black Sabbath guitar

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1 Best Volunteers, City Pastors and WM Ambulance Service. 2 Anita Champaneri, Alev Dervish. 3 Marc and Claire Reeves.

4 Sam Lawernce, Tony and Maria Iommi, Mike Olley. 5 Jennifer Blakely, Paulina Svetoslavova, Hannah Russell.

6 Kully Kaur, Wayne Foreman, Bal Somal. 7 Michael Jean, Andrew Vassell. 8 Best Overall Venue, the Barclaycard Arena.

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12 legend Tony Iommi, who is from Aston, and comedian Jason Manford.

Winners included the Malthouse for Best Pub, Players for Best Bar, Pushkar Dining for Best Restaurant, Thai Edge for Best International Cuisine, Hyatt Regency for Best Hotel, Coast to Coast for Best Newcomer and Barclaycard Arena for Best Overall Venue. I

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9 Rachel and Lewis from Players were Best Heroine and Hero. 10 Lorraine, Emily and Tony Hayes. 11 Most Promising Venue, Manford's Comedy Club. 12 Outstanding Contribution to Broad Street, Pat Haines. 13 Mario Flanagan says hello to himself.

14 Jo Brain, Paul Fulford. 15 Best Venue General Manager, Paul Millington. 16 People’s Choice favourite restaurant, Del Villaggio.

17 Frank Richards (Best Door Supervisor) and Lloyds Bar (Best Door Crew).

Photography by Jas Sansi

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Chance to learn about new CSR City initiative – and see hotel’s changes he Institute of Asian Businesses held a dinner for patrons and premier plus partners at Malmaison.

More than 70 guests were present at the event which was attended by IAB president Saqib Bhatti, Chambers of Commerce president Greg Lowson, Damian Goom, general manager of Malmaison, and Tony Elvin, general manager of Hotel du Vin. Mr Lowson explained the new CSR City initiative to promote corporate social responsibility, while Mr Goom said he was “excited to be able to show the recent changes to the hotel, having had the Brasserie and 30 bedrooms refurbished”. I

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1 James McLaughlin, Stacey Barnfield, John Lamb, Steve Brittan, Greg Lowson. 2 Omer Simjee, Mandy Haque, Justine Howl, James Wong.

3 Manorama Jobanputra, Jonathan Carter, Anita Champaneri. 4 Waheed Saleem, Raaj Shamji. 5 Balbinder Bhogal, Angela Irvine 6 Aftab Chughtai, Anjum Khan, Mandy Canny, David Tomalin. 7 Nasir Awan, Colin Povey, Andrew Barnett. 8 Sajeela Naseer, Saqib Bhatti, Hannah Nolan, Natalie Wood.

9 Laura Davis, Salma Manzoor, Kuldip Lall, Raza Samar.

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EDGBASTON PARENTS THROW A SNOW BALL Schools join forces to stage inaugural dinner and dance for 200 guests at Edgbaston Cricket Club

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early 200 parents and guests attended the inaugural Snow Ball at Edgbaston Cricket Club organised by Edgbaston High School PA and Hallfield PTA. A three-course dinner was followed by dancing to the 80s Project and Jackstar Disco. A game of ‘Heads & Tails’ preceded the dinner to raise funds for Birmingham Children's Hospital.

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1 Mr & Mrs Chatha. 2 Mr & Mrs Chauhan. 3 Mr and Mrs Sangha, Mr and Mrs Ahuja, Mr and Mrs Minhas. 4 Mr and Mrs Bains.

5 Mr and Mrs Foster. 6 Mrs Minhal Praveen Mrs Jasmine Maheshwari Mrs Pratima Pilay Mrs Raj Suthi. 7 Mr & Mrs Chohan.

8 Mrs Jenny Clinton and Mr Niall Gallagher. 9 Mr and Mrs Sutcliffe.

Photography by Jackstar Photography

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WHAT: Cirque Berserk WHEN: 19 to 22 March WHERE: Birmingham Rep, tel 0121 245 2024 www.birmingham-rep.co.uk Combining contemporary ‘cirque’ skills with thrilling stunt action this is a danger-filled spectacle that will amaze audiences of all ages.

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WHAT: The Spring Pink Ball for Breast Cancer Charities with ‘Marks Brothers’ WHEN: 18 April WHERE: Nailcote Hall, tel: 02476 466174 www.nailcotehall.co.uk The annual black tie/pink tie charity event at the Hall which is always a great favourite. Entertainment, raffle, auction and dancing to the soul and funky sounds of the Marks Brothers.

WHAT: Captain Flinn & the Pirate Dinosaurs WHEN: 10 April WHERE: Solihull Arts Complex, tel 0121 704 6962 www.solihullartscomplex.co.uk When Flinn discovers a pirate hiding in the school supply closet, it’s all aboard me hearties for a real live pirate adventure. A sparky production, filled with songs, beautiful puppets and imagination.

WHAT: Cara Dillon WHEN: 27 March WHERE: Town Hall, box office 0121 345 0600 www.thsh.co.uk This enchanting singer from Northern Ireland has been described as a masterpiece of song and emotion. Well worth checking out.

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WHAT: Yundi plays Chopin WHEN: 15 April WHERE: Symphony Hall, box office 0121 345 0600 www.thsh.co.uk Making his debut in Birmingham, the young pianist enjoys rock star fame in his native China. Come and find out why.

WHAT: Disney On Ice presents Magical Ice Festival WHEN: 1 to 5 April WHERE: Genting Arena, tel 0844 338 8000 www.ticketfactory.com Mickey, Minnie, Elsa, Anna and Olaf. The most magical moments from across the Disney kingdom are coming to town… and they’ll be on ice!

WHAT: The George Variety Show WHEN: 7 March WHERE: Ramada Solihull, tel 0121 711 2121 www.ramadasolihullhotel.co.uk A wicked evening of dancing, entertainment and variety in this historic 16th century coaching inn that you’ll probably know best as The George.

WHAT: Chris and Pui Roadshow WHEN: 1 April WHERE: Palace Theatre Redditch, tel 01527 65203 www.redditchpalacetheatre.co.uk CBeebies’ favourite double act is bringing songs, rhymes, comedy sketches and lots of joining in for all the family. And teddy’s invited too!

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WHAT: Dinosaur Zoo WHEN: 13 to 15 March WHERE: Birmingham Hippodrome, tel 0844 338 5000 www.birminghamhippodrome.com Awesome prehistoric creatures as you’ve never seen them before! From cute baby dinos to teeth-gnashing giants, observe and interact with extraordinary life-like dinosaurs in this imaginative and hilarious live show.

WHAT: Wedding Fair WHEN: 12 April WHERE: The REP, tel 0121 245 2024 or email thespaces@birmingham-rep.co.uk Hope Valentine’s was good and congratulations on the engagement; now the fun begins! Get inspired at this magical wedding fair which starts with a Champagne cocktail, music and a goody bag overflowing with ideas and advice. There’s a variety of suppliers to help create the perfect day.

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WHAT: Easter Fun at The Gardens WHEN: 6 to 10 April WHERE: Botanical Gardens, tel 0121 454 1860 www.birminghambotanicalgardens.org.uk Great fun for all the family with trails, arts and crafts and a chance to indulge your creative side when you make an awesome bonnet for a special Easter Parade.

WHAT: Antiques for Everyone WHEN: 9 to 12 April WHERE: NEC Birmingham, tel 0844 581 0827 www.antiquesforeveryone.co.uk

WHAT: Family Saturday at Ikon WHEN: 7 March WHERE: Ikon Gallery, tel 0121 248 0708 www.ikon-gallery.org Open to creative spirits of all ages (yes you too grandma), spend the day getting stuck into a whole bunch of activities that engage, challenge and delight. No need to book and you can stay for as long as you like.

Now in its 20th year, the UK’s largest and most prestigious fair of the spring season returns to Brum.

With more than 100,000 items on sale from decorative furniture, ceramics and silver to armour, maps and dolls there is something for every budget.

WHAT: Derren Brown: Miracle WHEN: 30 March to 11 April WHERE: New Alexandra Theatre, tel 0844 8713011 www.atgtickets.com/birmingham The multi-award winning acknowledged master of psychological illusion is back on tour with a brand new one-man show.

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WHAT: Three Men in a Boat WHEN: 10 to 14 March WHERE: The Old Rep Theatre, tel 0121 605 5116 www.oldreptheatre.org.uk In an attempt to escape the stresses of city life, three friends and their faithful canine companion Montmorency, decide to take to the river in order to relax and rejuvenate. The holiday, however, quickly unravels and descends into chaos.

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WHAT’S ON WHAT: ENO Live: La Traviata (Live) WHEN: 11 March WHERE: mac Birmingham, tel 0121 446 3232 www.macbirmingham.co.uk A stunning production of Verdi’s masterpiece which reaches to the heart of the opera’s themes of passionate love and tragic death. Ideal for newcomers to opera with its contemporary staging.

WHAT: Pathways & Places: BCMG Family Concerts WHEN: 8 March WHERE: CBSO Centre, Birmingham www.bcmg.org.uk Bringing together contemporary classical music with projected photographs by one of the UK’s leading image makers this exciting collaboration has created a new musical experience for children and families. Children are encouraged to get involved by submitting drawings of their own favourite places beforehand; more details via website above.

WHAT: An Evening With Tony Hawks WHEN: 20 March WHERE: Glee Club Birmingham, tel 0871 472 0400 www.glee.co.uk/birmingham Tony combines storytelling, stand up, musical comedy and film clips to create two hours of fun. He may even reveal how he came to share a hotel room with a pig.

WHAT: Laura Wright WHEN: 24 March WHERE: Brammal Hall, tel 0121 345 0492 www.eventim.co.uk The 24-year-old mezzo soprano who shot to fame with classical choral group All Angels has sold more than a million albums and has become one of our best-selling classical artists this decade.

WHAT: McBusted WHEN: 28 and 29 March WHERE: Barclaycard Arena, tel 0844 338 8000 www.theticketfactory.com Everyone’s guilty pleasure! Fresh from last year’s incredible arena tour, the boys are back and wanting a little bit more.

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IN THE CITY

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Birmingham has a unique feeling of community. When things get tough the people help you in any way they can

TELL US ABOUT YOURSELF I’m Georgie Moseley, founder of Help Harry Help Others, a charity that helps adults, children and their families who are affected by cancer. We try to be there every step of the way, to make a difference in any way we can and ultimately to help find a cure. I’m Harry’s mum and we’re very proud to carry on the work he started before he died in October 2011.

HOW DO YOU GET INTO TOWN? Usually by car but recently I’ve gotten into cycling. After our Cycling4harry event last year I now try and get on my bike as much as possible!

HOW’S THE COMMUTE? I don't live too far from Harry HQ in Yardley so it’s usually pretty easy and takes around 15 minutes.

POWERWALKING? I love to escape the hustle and bustle of the city and head into the countryside. It’s been just over three years since we lost Harry and it’s still raw so time away from everything is great. Closer to home Sutton Park is a good place to go to clear my head.

WHERE'S YOUR FAVOURITE PART OF THE CITY? Well, it may not be glamorous but you know there is no place like home but I absolutely love Sheldon.

Grass roots and home are very important to me.

AFTERWORK PINT? It doesn’t happen very often but if I’m in Brum then it has to be Ginger’s Bar. Once a month or so we go to O’Neill’s in Solihull where the people have become good friends. I also like the Slug and Lettuce… that’s me, I don’t do posh!

IS BRUM A GOOD PLACE TO WORK IN? Birmingham is such a friendly place Charity pioneer Georgie Moseley with a really unique feeling of community. I’ve spent all my life here and when things get tough the people support you and help in any way they can.

HOW CAN THE CITY BE MADE BETTER? Birmingham is such a friendly and helpful place but COFFEE BREAK? I think there are a lot of businesses and organisations Most of my time is spent at Harry HQ, and we’ve always got that can learn to work together more. We as a charity the kettle on! If I’m in the centre of town I often meet people at are unique and all we care about is the journey that a Hotel La Tour. Great environment and staff – and afternoon cancer family goes through. We are proud to support tea! The William Tyler pub in Yardley is an after-work venue. other amazing charities that also offer a great service for these families. We are proud to be the first to do this LUNCHTIME? and we must be doing something right as new charities Lunch is a rare thing as I am usually whizzing from one are also using this structure. To date we’ve distributed meeting/event to another. If there’s a really special occasion more than £540,000 to worthy causes across the city. then Cielos in Brindleyplace is fantastic.

Harry would be thrilled. I

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