Hale&Bowdon Magazine Apr|May 2015

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publication APRIL/MAY 2015 • ISSUE 75

10 year

anniversary issUe 2005-2015

MARTIN COCKX from lawyer to lifestyle

THE BODY CLINIC Expert physiotherapists in the heart of Hale CAROLYN MELLOR 25 years of HOMES 4U WIN a BoConcept chair worth over £2K

PEOPLE | FASHION | SHOPPING | BEAUTY | FOOD | TRAVEL | HEALTH | INTERIORS

Established 2002

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Jens Hallman General Manager Radisson Blu Airport Hotel

Martin Cockx The Hale Plan Hale Karate Club

Image: Stephen McGowan

Image: Martin Hambleton

The Brasserie Alderley Edge Hotel

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WELCOME One of the great pleasures of working for a magazine is that we get invited to lots of lovely launches, and the past couple of months have been no exception.

February saw the reopening of The Whitworth, the first gallery in a park.

The £15million redevelopment has doubled public space and created state-of-the-art facilities. The blank brick wall at the back of the building has been opened up with two new wings projecting into the park. It’s like the gallery is opening its arms and welcoming the people of Manchester, which is exactly what they aimed to achieve.

Beechwood Cancer Care celebrated 25 years with the Butterfly Ladies Lunch and Fashion Show at The Mere Golf Resort and Spa with some well-known faces, including Leanne Brown and Tanya Bardsley from Real Housewives of Cheshire, who promised us an interview.

Imola Chair BoConcept

Editor’s letter

We were proud sponsors of The Eat Sleep and Drink Awards, nicknamed The Drinkies, and saw the cream of Manchester’s hospitality industry receive their awards at a glitzy event at The Mercure Piccadilly Hotel. We were also more than happy to award The Lime Tree and Neighbourhood their awards for Best Premium Dining and Best Premium Casual Dining respectively.

Our company was privileged to be invited by Sky News to question George Osborne and Ed Balls at the stunning Facebook HQ in central London. Salim, along with 29 other businesses, questioned the Chancellor and Shadow Chancellor – so now we’re all waiting for a pay rise!

Thanks to everyone who supported our Charity Balls in 2014. We raised more than £12,000 for the Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital’s Many Hands Appeal. This resulted in us being finalists for The Many Hands

Campaign, which encouraged north-west businesses to support the charity by signing up to a fundraising target of £1,000 each over the course of 12 months. The finale saw five short-listed companies pitching to a panel of judges with the aim of becoming champion of Many Hands 2015.

The evening, which included a Q&A session with Theo Paphitis, was hosted by former BBC presenter Andy Johnson, best known for presenting Inside Out, and the judges included Maurice Watkins CBE, Chairman of RMCH Charity, and ex-dragon Theo Paphitis.

This year’s Christmas Ball is on 28 November. Full details soon to be revealed! So with longer days, warmer temperatures and sun on its way, enjoy the Easter holidays.

Beverley e: beverley@salutions.co.uk

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Established 2002

EVERY ISSUE…

01 EDITOR’S LETTER News from the editor 05 / 07 / 08 / 10 / 12 / 14 NEWS What’s happening in your area?

15 CHARLOTTE’S DIARY Exam fever

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16 WOMEN’S FASHION Festival folk

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68 TABLE FOR TWO With Paul Wolfgang Webster At Piccolino, Didsbury

77 / 81 / 83 / 85 / 86 EDUCATION NEWS News and achievements from the schools 90

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27 WE LOVE… These are a few of our favourite things

79 SPOTLIGHT… Martin Dunn New Head, Moor Allerton School 90 REVIEWS Music, books and films

INTERIORS 48 Garden-time 50 Brighten up your garden

92 WHAT’S ON The city is full of drama, song and dance this spring

49 GARDENSTYLE Sitting pretty

94 GADGETS We’ve got you covered with our gadgets round-up

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51 LADY MUCK Grow your own Lady Muck style 22

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56 DINING GUIDE Eateries & bars in and around the area

74 THE BUSINESS With Vikas Shah

18 MEN’S FASHION Holiday heroes 20 TRAVEL A mini-break in the Languedoc-Roussillon

55 FOOD REVIEW Michael Caine’s Abode Manchester

96 MOTORS High Swede impact and Supercar beats Hypercar

& THE

Established 2002

REST…

WIN 22 A 5-night stay at the luxurious Columbia Beach Hotel 46 An Imola chair from BoConcept worth over £2K

24 SOUTH MANCHESTER CAMERA CLUB This historic club embraces the digital revolution

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62 SUE CRIMES CEO of Gusto Restaurants

72 WENDY MORAN Senior PR Lecturer at Manchester Metropolitan University

30 VERITY SILVA MD of Sri Tea

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58 THE EAT DRINK SLEEP AWARDS The best the north west has to offer

66 KIM KAEWKRAIHOT Owner of Chaophraya

28 EMMA O’REILLY Owner of The Body Clinic

87 An evening at Haydock Racecourse and a pair of tickets to see Madness or the Kaiser Chiefs

53 CAROLYN MELLOR Celebrating 25 years of homes4U and Supporting the Maggie’s charity

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CONTRIBUTORS GROUP EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Beverley Uddin-Khandakar

ART DIRECTION & DESIGN www.twistedgifted.com

HEAD OF DIGITAL Philip Valentino

GROUP MANAGING DIRECTOR Salim Uddin-Khandakar

CONTRIBUTORS Anne Britt, Catherine Reed, Fay Wertheimer, John Waddington, Oliver Chesher, Mark Kureishy, Dr Jill Nash, Julie Neville, Helen Lawson, Charlotte Batra and Catherine Saunders

PHOTOGRAPHY PR Shots, Bigstockphoto.com, Press Loft, Martin Hambleton and Stephen McGowan

GROUP RESOURCE DIRECTOR Joanne Price E: jo@salutions.co.uk Tel: 0161 445 2883 SALES Michelle Atack, Nigel Reed, Selma Horsefield

This Magazine is published six times a year by Salutions Limited.

The contents may not be reprinted or reproduced without prior written permission. The publishers are not liable for statements made and opinions expressed. While every care is taken, prices and details are subject to change and the publisher can take no responsibility for omissions and errors.

DISTRIBUTION Avanti

The Old Bank, 99 Palatine Road, Didsbury, Manchester M20 3JQ. Tel: 0161 445 2883 | E: info@salutions.co.uk visit us online www.salutions.co.uk 3

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Finalist Dedicated eye hospitals, personalised care

LOCAL NEWS Finalists Salim and Beverley Uddin-Khandakar with Theo Paphitis. Image: Martin Hambleton

Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital Charity (RMCH) recently held its Many Hands Campaign finale at the Midland Hotel, Manchester.

The Many Hands Campaign, which was first launched in 2008, encouraged north-west businesses to support the charity by signing up to a fundraising target of £1,000 each over the course of 12 months.

FINALISTS AT MANY HANDS EVENT WITH THEO PAPHITIS The campaign, spearheaded for the third time by renowned businessman and long-term charity supporter Theo Paphitis, has raised £52,000 from 52 participating companies since last year’s launch. We are happy to report that Salutions were short-listed as winners for Many Hands champion 2015.

The finale saw five short-listed companies pitching to a panel of judges.

Salutions held two balls in support of

Many Hands; the first was in the summer of 2014, which was hosted by Key 103’s Darren Proctor and attended by 130 people. The second was hosted

by Chelsea Norris and RMCH Charity patron, John Thompson. Both events raised more than £12,000.

Money raised by this year’s campaign will support the enhancement of the hospital’s Burns Unit, which last year celebrated its 60th anniversary.

CAFÉ A new cafe for Didsbury, which hopes to nourish both body and soul, is set to open in April. Home Community Cafe is the centrepiece of a redesigned space at the front of Emmanuel Church on Barlow Moor Road.

“I’ve always looked at that space and thought there was an opportunity to build something really good,” says Home's Creative Director Hannah Heasley. “Something that was exciting, creative, and enabled the church to express something of itself, and its vision and values to the community in a fresh way.”

Home is at the heart of St James and Emmanuel’s ethos that “everyone is welcome”. Vicar and cafe trustee

Reverend Ben Edson welcomed its arrival. “It’s a new way for all the community of Didsbury to find a place where they know they belong,” he said.

“We want to build a community at this cafe around the values of welcome and belonging, and enable people to engage with that in a way that feels comfortable to them,” says Hannah.

“But if you just want a coffee and catch-up – then that’s great too!”

The values and vision of Home will also be reflected in its food and drink.

“We’re going to work with suppliers who care about the planet and pay their workers well,” adds Hannah. “We’re supporting local businesses where possible; we’ll serve barista-made

Hannah Heasley coffee, teas, cakes and other sweet treats throughout the day, as well as a small but perfectly formed lunch menu between 12 noon and 2pm.”

Home opens on 29 April, initially from 10.30am to 6pm, Wednesday to Friday.

“We’re starting small while dreaming big,” says Hannah. “We want the people of Didsbury to really take ownership of Home, and we have free space to offer for non-profit groups that want to do something good for the community.

“Essentially, Home respond to a belief that we are at our best when we are in the community.”

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AWARD-WINNING HAIRDRESSING COMES TO MANCHESTER! The sumptuous salon surroundings and the carefully selected team bring the hottest trends and techniques to Hale, while the salon décor is for those who enjoy luxury interiors and five-star customer service.

Gorgeous colour and exceptional cuts are the standard for award-winning hairdressing group HOB Salons, and the quality of the renowned salon name will now be available to the people of Manchester as they opened their 25th salon in Hale!

Bringing the perfect consultations, Shabaz’s CV includes television work personalised colour and individually for programmes including Coleens Real tailored cuts that ensure HOB Salons Women, styling the hair of footballers’ deliver the incomparable hair that wives and celebrities such as Jade Jagger you deserve, current Leeds Franchisee and even Lady Gaga, as well as fragrance Shabaz Hussain will take the reins of campaigns and working backstage at the second HOB Salon in the North.

London and Milan Fashion Week.

The salon also offers a full range of beauty services with renowned therapist Natasha Filippidi and is on hand seven days a week to help you look and feel beautiful.

To celebrate the opening of HOB Salons in Hale, enjoy 50% off your first cut, colour and styling service until 30 April 2015. (With selected stylists, subject to availability.)

For further info Tel. 941 4777

NEW PRESIDENT ZEE HUSSAIN IS WELCOMED AT ASCC The Altrincham and Sale Chamber of Commerce celebrated the success of Sue Aldridge’s two-year reign as President and welcomed new President Zee Hussain at their new year annual lunch at the Belmore Hotel in Sale.

Sue Aldridge, retiring President, said: “When I was elected I promised to ‘review and improve the communications and image of the Chamber’. It was a big promise and one that could not be achieved by one woman alone. The Chamber team has been fantastic; we have all pulled together to work through difficult times financially and to shape a successful Chamber our members can be proud of. The Breakfast events schedule has been remodelled and upgraded to include informative and relevant business-focused content, formal lunches have been reduced in number, and we have reintroduced the famous ‘mixer’ events. The Business Academy was successfully launched with the support of members sharing their skills, and it will now be a regular feature in our calendar with a focus on supporting start-up businesses this year.

“I would like to thank everyone who has given their time, enthusiasm and commitment over the past two years to help and support the Chamber. While I still have items on my ‘wish list’ that I have not even started to bring to fruition, I know new President Zee Hussain will commit to the ongoing revitalisation and progress we have made to date. Best wishes for continued success.”

Zee Hussain, incoming President, said: “It is an honour and privilege to take on the role of President and lead this historic Chamber. I believe there is lots of potential to further enhance and grow the Chamber, not least given our location and the development taking place in the area. Sue and chairman Tony Collier have done exceptionally well to steer the Chamber through a

turbulent period, and I am confident that with the help of our members we can build on this success. I am delighted that the Chamber has retained the services of both Sue and Tony – we all look forward with optimism to a successful 2015 and beyond.”

For more information about how you can join the Chamber or come along to one of the events, visit www.altrinchamchamber.co.uk or follow us on twitter: @altichamber 7

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FOODIES FESTIVAL

TENTH ANNIVERSARY 17-19 JULY After a record-breaking 25,000 visitors attending Tatton Park’s Foodies Festival last summer for the tenth anniversary celebrations, organisers are extending the festival with new food and drink theatres and longer opening hours.

This year, a New Tasting Theatre will host masterclasses with local experts, inviting visitors to try the latest foods and learn new skills including oyster-shucking, bee-keeping, cheese-selecting, foraging, preparing raw and vegan foods, and herb cocktail-making.

Summer cooking inspiration comes from the Aga Rangemaster Chefs Theatre, with top chefs including MasterChef winner Tim Anderson and finalist Jackie Kearney.

A Wine and Champagne Theatre will host tutored tastings with experts Neil Phillips and Charles Metcalfe, who will

guide visitors through this season’s best British bubblies from the UK and around the world, and beer expert Melissa Cole will host masterclasses in the New Craft Beer Theatre, matching foods with locally produced craft beers.

Chocolate addicts should head to the Chocolate Theatre for an instant hit of cocoa in ‘How to Sniff Chocolate like a Rockstar’ masterclasses with Coeur de Xocolat, while the Cake & Bake Theatre offers masterclasses in 3D cakemodelling, pastry, chocolate-making and sugar-craft with the north west’s best bakers and pâtisseries. A complementing Chocolate, Cake and Bake Village will sell bakes, jams, gadgets and baking essentials.

Delicious smells wafting from The Street Food Avenue will tantalise visitors to feast on the huge selection of hot and cold dishes from around the world. Two hundred producers will be selling award-

TONY’S TOUGHEST CHALLENGE Good luck to MBL Director Tony Collier who’s participating in ‘The Comrades’, the biggest and one of the toughest marathon road races anywhere in the world. Originating in 1921 to commemorate the fallen heroes of WW1 (the Comrades), 31 May 2015 will see its 90th race.

The race is from Durban to Pietermaritzburg in South Africa – a distance of 54 to 56 miles with 6,500 feet of climbing, 4,000 feet of descending and temperatures in the thirties.

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Tony said: “Although I now consider myself a reasonably experienced marathon runner, having completed 12 marathons including all six of the World Marathon Majors, the 26.2-mile distance of a marathon is one hell of a long way. How on earth do you do more than double the marathon distance, climb 6,500 feet and cope with the heat? One thing’s for sure: I’m going to find out!”

You can make a donation by sending a cheque payable to CAFT to MBL House, 16 Edward Court, Altrincham WA14 5GL or via www.justgiving.com/tonycollier4caft

winning cheeses and wines, breads and bakes, jams and condiments, while cured meats will be available at the Artisan Producers Market. There will also be live music from the entertainment stage.

Little foodies can explore their taste buds and learn basic skills with Picnic in the Park-themed masterclasses in the Children’s Cookery Theatre, where Kiddy Cook will show them how to make finger sandwiches, jellies and chocolate bugs.

After a day of feasting and fun, foodies can relax with a spot on the grass and soak up the atmosphere with a refreshing cocktail, glass of bubbly, or a Pimm’s from the giant Pimm’s teapot or Galleon Mojito bars.

Tickets are on sale now at www.foodiesfestival.com or by calling 0844 995 1111

YOUR NEW STORE IN HALE BARNS OPENS WEDNESDAY 15 TH APRIL CHEESEMONGER DELICATESSEN BUTCHER FISHMONGER BAKERY WINE MERCHANT GROCER CAFÉ

Booths Hale Barns The Square, Hale Road Hale Barns, Altrincham WA15 8ZN Twitter @boothscountry Facebook /boothscountry Instagram @boothscountry

www.booths.co.uk

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THE VILLAGE

GOES VINTAGE FOR THE 2015 BRAMHALL FESTIVAL 12–14 JUNE The organisers of Bramhall Festival are on a recruitment drive.

Following last year’s hugely successful Brazilian Carnival, the Bramhall Together Trust have decided that the 2015 Festival will be a nostalgic one, with a Step Back In Time theme promising to bring a touch of vintage style to the village this summer.

Helen Burton and Stuart Gerrard. Image: Mark@foliophotography.co.uk

The Trust – a group of volunteers who put a great deal of time and effort into such events – are now looking for support to make this year’s Festival as successful as the last one.

Local authority cost-cutting has contributed to the demise of several festivals, but last year’s Bramhall Carnival went ahead thanks

to resolute fundraising and the generous support of sponsors. Once again, such support is being sought to make the event viable and as spectacular as possible.

However, as co-organiser Sue Day of Modiste explains, there are many other areas in which people can get involved: “We are putting a call out to anyone who thinks they might be able to add to the Festival. They might have a vintage car they would like to show off, or perhaps they could take a stall at the Vintage Market & Vinyl Fair, which is being held in the Village Square.

And we’re always looking for groups that would like to take part in the parade on Saturday – last year 1st Bramhall Scouts won the Festival Cup and £200 by ‘water skiing’ down Bramhall Lane South!”

The call is out for community groups, schools and businesses to get in touch and get involved. Be a helper, a supporter or an entertainer!

To find out more please contact wendy@ilovebramhall.com

COLLABORATION BETWEEN

BRAMHALL AND DIDSBURY BUSINESS Business networking group Moxie Mingle ventured into Didsbury with an event at Thyme Out on Nell Lane. It was the first collaboration between Moxie, run by Bramhall-based Wendy Green, and Thyme Out, owned by Didsbury couple Ben and Kate Hayes.

The team at Thyme Out treated the networkers to a selection of delicious canapés to showcase their outside catering, including goats’ cheese and beetroot mousse crostini, miniYorkshire puddings, silverside beef and delicious home-baked brownie

bites, all washed down with prosecco and freshly squeezed orange juice.

Kate from Thyme Out commented: “We’ve wanted to host a networking event for a while, so we were delighted to get this evening in the diary. We really enjoyed hosting and welcoming some lovely people. Hopefully, this will be the first of many similar events in the future.”

Find out more and book onto the next Moxie Mingle event www.moxie-mingle.com

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Smart move for investors For those with money to invest these days, knowing what product or service will deliver the best return can be tricky. However, Harewood Associates, Bolton-based property developers, have found a niche in the market that not only offers a safe and high rate of return for property investors, but also creates local jobs, high-quality housing and new communities.

Share certificates are issued at the start of the build, and once the last house is sold, investors are asked for their share certificates back and they receive their original stake and subsequent profit back as a lump sum.

Property – boom and bust days aside – has rarely let investors down in terms of investment. Growth may at times stagnate or be slow, but on the whole, financial returns have ranged from good to significant.

Founded by experienced property investment director Peter Kiely, Harewood Associates construct bespoke high-quality family homes in desirable north west locations and provide investment opportunities for those wanting high yield for their cash.

Peter explains: “We can offer investors between 20% and 30% return on their investment, and that would take some beating if you were looking at putting your money in an ordinary or even high-performing savings account.

The transactions are all subject to the legal process and managed via an independent firm of solicitors.

Peter’s extensive experience in relation to property investment is more than matched by his passion and hands-on approach to Harewood Associates’ residential development schemes.

Peter continues: “We are ultimately investing in the UK, creating beautiful and high-quality homes, as well as employment for local people during the construction phase.

I wouldn’t build in an area I wouldn’t want to live in myself and I am proud to have created new family-centred communities where people want to live and invest.”

All Harewood Associates’ residential developments are in the north west.

Shares can be bought for a minimum stake of £5,000 and developments generally complete within a year.

The high-quality homes are built to industry standards and regulations, and investors are given the opportunity to visit the sites during the construction phase.

Peter concludes: “It is important that our investors feel confident they will get the return they have been assured of receiving. Our 100 per cent satisfaction rate is a clear testament to our success in achieving that.”

“More than 400 people have invested with us and we have a 100 per cent client satisfaction rate, which is something I am extremely proud of.”

It is a simple concept too. Investors can own shares in a residential development owned by a singlepurpose vehicle (SPV) which is a private limited company established

by Harewood Associates for the specific purpose of buying and selling properties on the site.

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LOVE YOUR HEALTH Precious health was the venue for the Love Your Health event that took place recently, where Hayley Kiemel of Insight Hypnotherapy gave people an outlook of what hypnotherapy is all about.

Hayley was able to discuss how hypnotherapy can help according to the person’s needs, covering how to eradicate an unwanted habit or behaviour, how to gain relief from a specific emotional issue, or simply how to have more self-belief to make those all-important changes in life.

Hayley told us: “I use a solutionfocused model to help clients reach

their goals in a positive way.” Health, fitness and lifestyle companies got involved and the event grew and became a mini-health and fitness event with the emphasis on the Twitter #loveyourhealth.

Inhale Yoga discussed the benefits of yoga, Hale Fitness spoke about personal training, and Mam from The Chandra Healing Centre treated guests to a luxury 15-minute Thai yoga massage. There were delicious juices on offer from Juicelife and delightful

organic canapés from The Garden in Hale. Guests were truly pampered with special offers, give-aways and goody bags, and went on to enjoy Bellini cocktails and sushi at the fashionable bar/restaurant Victors In Hale.

The concept was put together by Lynette Cutler, who runs The Edge Events. Lynette told us: “Several meetings later it was agreed the Love Your Health event was a great way to increase awareness.”

EBOLA ORPHAN APPEAL 3 PEAKS CHALLENGE Join Street Child’s team and compete to scale Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike and Snowdon within 24 hours on 10 to 12 July to raise money to support children orphaned by Ebola in West Africa.

Juliet Appleby, local fundraiser for Street Child, said: “This is a tough but magnificent event and participants should be prepared to do it without much sleep! If you’re up for the challenge, join us and help raise enough funds to support 200 orphaned children.” More than 10,000 people have died of Ebola in the recent outbreak in West Africa which has left 30,000 children orphaned. This 24-hour challenge will help Street Child provide a sustainable future for some of the world’s most vulnerable children.

For further info please email Juliet@street-child.co.uk

The Great Kathmandu Tandoori Restaurant

Award winning Nepalese & Indian Cuisine Winners of the Hardens Observer Readers Choice for Indian Cuisine in the UK

140-144 Burton Road, West Didsbury M20 1JQ Open 7 days a week. Lunch 12 noon - 2.30pm & 6.00pm - Midnight

www.greatkathmandu.com | T: 0161 445 2145 or 0161 434 6413 *(ex Bank Hols not valid with any other offer) just mention Salutions when booking!

Function room available for hire.

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20%

OFF

Total food bill Mon-Weds*

What’s on at

THE NORTHERN Put a spring in your step at the Northern

ATP men’s international tennis returns to Manchester, with the Aegon Manchester Trophy to be played at the Northern Club, West Didsbury.

Sunday 31 May – Sunday 7 June 2015.

This men’s €42.5K ATP Challenger, which takes place in the second week of the French Open, will be the first opportunity of the season for the men to compete in a professional event on grass. Traditionally, this has been a popular week on the calendar, with a number of players world-ranked between 50 and 100 seeking to sharpen their skills on grass. The equivalent event in Nottingham last year saw former top 10 player and Australian Open finalist, Marcos Baghdatis capture the title, while the following week an emerging Nick Kyrgios won the title before going on to beat Rafa Nadal at Wimbledon. Spectators can look forward to seeing a great mix of emerging young players on the verge of breaking into the big time, plus established stars on the ATP Challenger circuit.

MAY 11 First Aid Course 17 Family Tennis Tournament APRIL 8 Christie Support Group 23 Bronze Sanctioned Squash Tournament 11 Race Night 30 Aegon Tennis 18 Private Function Tournament Qualifying (see main text) CALENDAR OF EvENTS:

Ticket information.

Entry is free for the general public Sunday and Monday, with tickets from Tuesday through to the men’s singles final on Sunday 7 June.

For tickets visit: https://int.theticketfactory.com/ ltacm/online/ or call 0844 581 6902.

Email tournament@thenorthern.co.uk

Twenty-one-year-old Northern member, Liam Broady, current British number four, a member of the club, who has reached a career high of 184 in February 2015. Successful junior career, reaching a career high No. 2 in 2012. Won two junior Grand Slam doubles titles (2010 Wimbledon and 2010 Australia Open) and reached two junior Grand Slam singles finals (2011 Wimbledon and 2012 US Open).

REGULAR SOCIAL EvENTS Tuesday Zumba Kids, Baby Ballet, Tennis Club Night, Speciality Food Night Wednesday Squash Club Night Thursday Talking Tots

Friday Stories and Sensory Babies Family Evening with Films Saturday Tennis and Squash Junior Squads Sunday Wisemove

Come along and see what the Northern has to offer you and your family. Open Day Saturday 25 April 1–4pm COME ALONG AND JOIN IN: Adult and junior, tennis and squash taster sessions: Introduction to Body Control Pilates. Physiquipe physiotherapy, physical rehab and conditioning facility. Children’s craft sessions, face painting, bouncy castle (weather permitting) and barbecue DISCOUNTS: Membership, tennis and squash camp promotional rates available FITNESS: At the Northern, we are fortunate to be able to offer an excellent gym and studio facility to complement our racket sports. Excellent instruction available from our Personal Training team, giving sport-specific programmes, or support for whatever your goal – a 10K race, marathon, triathlon, or even to improve your fitness and keep up with the kids!

We have a varied range of fitness classes and running club sessions.

FREE to members. Discounted regular-user rate or pay as you go.

Online bookings required to ensure your place up to a week ahead.

For full details go to www.thenorthern.co.uk/fitness We have extensive tennis and squash coaching programmes for all ages and abilities. These include holiday and summer camps.

For further details go to www.thenorthern.co.uk/sports Or email rackets@thenorthern.co.uk

MEMBERSHIP OFFERS: on production of this magazine, the Northern is offering 10% off Full or Fitness and Health rates.

Discounts for off-peak, families and students. Terms and conditions apply. Come along for a tour of our facilities, or contact us for a free trial at membership@thenorthern.co.uk and quote Salutions Magazine.

TO BOOK THE CLUBHOUSE membership@thenorthern.co.uk To see images of the Northern, go to the club website www.thenorthern.co.uk and look at our galleries.

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BOOTHS COUNTRY COMES TO HALE BARNS Booths, the north-west-based food retailer, will open its 31st store in Hale Barns on 15 April. Edwin Booth, Chairman of Booths, said: “We’re very excited to open our state-ofthe-art store in Hale Barns in a prime position in the heart of south Manchester.”

The brand-new 30,000-squarefoot Booths food store will be one of the retailer’s largest, and is part of the redevelopment of The Square, Hale Barns’ 1960s shopping centre.

Containing fresh food counters, including a butcher, fishmonger, delicatessen, hot food-seller and cheesemonger, it will play a key part in the reinvigoration of the Square.

The new store will create over 90 new jobs in the region, ranging from management roles to flexible parttime employment. New store manager Matthew Welsh started working for Booths 20 years ago. He has worked in nine Booths stores and became a manager in 2008. In the weeks before the opening, he’s spending time visiting the store’s local suppliers, including Burt’s Cheese, Cheshire Farm Chips and Tatton Brewery.

Booths is renowned for topquality food and drink and sourcing fresh, local produce in season. The vast majority of their fresh food is sourced within this region due to their commitment to working with

suppliers in the four counties Booths operate in: Lancashire, Cheshire, Cumbria and Yorkshire.

Chairman Edwin Booth said: “Booths is a supermarket retailer like no other –proudly Northern, familyrun and independent. Our regional roots and relative small size help to forge close relationships with our farmers and producers. We’re able to source exceptional food and drink from small-scale producers that would normally avoid supplying the supermarkets.

We’re deeply committed to giving producers a fair price and shoppers great food and we’re very excited to be opening in Hale Barns.”

GRILLSTOCK MANCHESTER Grillstock has announced the music bill for Manchester’s big weekend of meat, music and mayhem with Grandmaster Flash, The Heavy, Levi Roots and Cuban Bros all confirmed to play on 30 and 31 May. Festival-goers can expect a smouldering hot US-style low 'n' slow BBQ competition, chilli-pepper and hot-dog eating competitions, as well as bands and DJs playing on two music stages.

The competition puts the teams through their paces as they show off their culinary skills over the smoky coals and battle it out to be crowned King of the Grill.

Bringing meat, mayhem and music to the city, Grillstock Manchester will be headlined by legendary New York DJ Grandmaster Flash, as well as purveyors of sexy music, riotous comedy, and sensational dancing – the Cuban Bros.

Grillstock favourite the inimitable Levi Roots will also be on hand, delivering some lunchtime reggae and soul, while indie rock band The Heavy headline the Sunday in Albert Square.

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The competition allows festival-goers the chance to interact with the teams, taste the food and experience their passion for authentic barbecue.

Increasing the heat, US BBQ veteran Dr BBQ aka Ray Lampe will oversee the judging.

Food fans can also check out the Weber BBQ Academy, imported craft beer in a New York Dive Bar, bourbon dens and village of BBQ traders serving pit-smoked meaty

treats and Grillstock’s very own pale ale, which was created especially for BBQ. Tickets are on sale now www.grillstock.co.uk/tickets. Follow www.facebook.com/grillstockBBQ or @grillstock for further line-up announcements and meaty goodness.

Charlotte’s Diary

I

t’s exam fever in our house. The age gap between offspring has led to the delightful double whammy of GCSEs and A levels during the months of May and June, which has already resulted in my hair turning grey (nothing to do with my age of course) and an ever-increasing level of anxiety over what actual revision should be done over the coming weeks.

I always thought I would do my best to help my children revise – test them, ask questions, and make time to understand the topics under discussion.

I find myself comparing my 16/18year-old self to my two children and remembering all the blood, sweat and occasional good grades from my days of revision. I was very diligent, not that it did me much good, but when the stress levels were raised, my solution was to head straight to the stationary section of a reputable shop and stock up on different coloured pens, paper clips and a robust ruler. This meant I had all the tools for an organised approach to revision. I can’t tell you the joy I had in creating a colour-coded chart of when my revision would take place, the topic, the length of time - all accurately listed with perfect straight lines that would be the envy of – well, actually no-one – but I was chuffed to bits. Not much revision took place though.

I always thought I would do my best

to help my children revise – test them, ask questions, and make time to understand the topics under discussion.

But I soon discovered I was pretty much useless to them. For instance, they overtook my knowledge of maths before high school. I knew when I was beaten, so walked away, head held very low indeed.

There is so much more noise and distraction these days. I am incredulous at just how many flat screens a child can sit in front of while supposedly revising.

I express my ‘admiration’ for one child’s ability to do all this simultaneously and he looks at me with that confused face (Am I in trouble? Has she spotted that I am not revising? Is this praise?) and smiles wryly before skipping off to the fridge to forage for yet more food, perhaps even in the belief that he has got away with it.

All is not lost though. I spot one of them at the kitchen table apparently revising. Admittedly, there is a flat screen around, but there would also seem to be a file, some pens and writing happening. As I meander over to offer refreshment, I glance down to see copious notes having been made, but closer examination reveals elaborately drawn doodles too, which have nothing to do with the topic in hand. Ah well, I think to myself, perhaps this means a good mark in art.

By Charlotte Batra

15

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TRaVeL

Château A heavenly French château is the perfect setting for sipping local wine in the spring. Jill Nash enjoys a mini-break in the Languedoc-Roussillon.

Château Les Carrasses is a stunning 19thcentury Wine Domaine in the heart of Languedoc – a restoration project of Irish duo Karl O’Hanlon and his wife.

The château oozes charm and character with luxury hotel accommodation and the freedom of self-catering. The château is perfect for a girls’ getaway, or a short-haul family holiday, and children are made very welcome, with an on-site Kids HQ, and organised summer activities run by bilingual staff.

The range, size and options of accommodation on offer are superb.

Twenty-eight different self-catering holiday homes have been created, ranging in size from studio and onebedroom suites in the château, to houses sleeping eight with private pools. Some suites have terraces, while most of the apartments have gardens.

20

cHâTeau cHIc

chic Each property is designed differently, but décor throughout is a calming blend of contemporary tones and traditional French country flair. All have fully equipped kitchens, TV and DVD players, satellite TV, iPod and docking station, wi-fi, air-conditioning and top-quality bed linen and towels (including pool towels) as standard.

There is plenty to keep you occupied on-site. You can while away the hours by sipping a glass or two of locally produced rosé while soaking up the beautiful countryside scenery on the stunning terrace, spend a restful day next to the splendid infinity pool, or absorb yourself in a good read in the delightful conservatory. If you are feeling energetic, there are floodlit tennis courts, table tennis or French Boules to keep you entertained.

The reception area doubles up as a salon, boutique and bistro serving lunches and breakfasts. The bistro and bar serve Mediterranean tapas complemented by the best regional wines (including their own) and classic cocktails, which can be enjoyed throughout the day by the pool, in the salon, in the tasting rooms, or on any one of several terraces. During the summer, dinner can be served alfresco, and the château occasionally has wonderful live music to set the atmosphere.

The area boasts plenty of leisurely pursuits, including barge trips along the Canal du Midi and bike rides around the rolling vineyards and surrounding villages. The château can arrange picnic lunches and local wine-tasting trips (including their own production site).

A trip to the local Pezenas market is a must; there you can wander around the historical town and indulge in local cheeses, bread and local produce (or take some back to your apartment to enjoy later).

A short drive from Les Carrasses brings you to the golden stretch of sand on the Mediterranean coast near Sérignan.

The historic cities of Narbonne and Béziers are also close by. The nearest airport is Béziers, which you can fly directly to from Manchester airport, and the château is only 30 minutes by car, making this a wonderful choice for a mini-break. Rooms are priced from €169 per room per night for a suite.

Book via email resa@lescarrasses.com or visit www.lescarrasses.com

21

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at the luxurious five-star Columbia Beach Resort, Pissouri Bay, Cyprus

We’ve teamed up with the lovely people at Epicure Hotels, who pride themselves on having personally inspected every one of their featured beach-front hotels. They've sipped the cocktails, sampled the watersports, indulged in spa treatments, and dined on the very best in five-star gourmet, truly making them your local experts on luxury holidays!

They ensure you receive your personalised holiday quotation within 24 hours, with no deposit required. You pay the hotel on the day of arrival and with no call centre, agent or corporate costs, you are guaranteed to save money - it really is a breeze booking with Epicure Hotels.

To celebrate the launch of their website - www.epicurehotels.com your favourite magazine and Epicure Hotels are offering readers an exclusive prize of a five-night stay at the award-winning five-star luxury Columbia Beach Resort, Pissouri Bay, Limassol, Cyprus.

Columbia Beach Resort boasts an enviable position on a Blue Flagawarded bay, surrounded by the white cliffs of Cape Aspro, vineyards and orchards. This all-suite resort, with Hébe Spa at its centre, includes an 80-metre lagoon-style infinity pool, two tennis courts, two squash courts, a traditional Cypriot tavern, an Italian gourmet restaurant,

watersports on the bay, a cycling centre run by a Swiss cycling champion, a nautically themed cocktail bar, a swimming-pool bar, and a beach bar.

It really isn't surprising to hear that so many celebrities and members of the royal family choose this stunning hideaway for their luxury holidays.

Simply answer the following question to be in with a chance of winning this five-star prize:

Where is the Columbia Beach Resort located? a) Paphos. b) Nicosia. c) Pissouri Bay.

Email your answer to winner@salutions.co.uk with A, B or C in the subject field.

Or look online www.salutions.co.uk Closing day for entries: 17 May 2015 22

Like them on Facebook and Twitter too for regular unbeatable offers. facebook.com/epicurehotels | twitter.com/epicurehotels Terms and conditions: The prize is based on two people sharing a Junior Suite Garden View, on a bed and breakfast basis.

Holiday to be taken between publication date and February 2016 and is subject to availability.

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Didsbury in Bloom

At Victoria Highfield, we aspire to make every customer feel special whether that be from a simple repair to the procurement of a diamond ring. Now open on Didsbury high street, we’re adding our own touch of sparkle to the village.

N O W

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D I D S B U R Y

W I L M S L O W

R O A D

735 Wilmslow Road, Didsbury M20 6WF T. 0161 434 8111 www.victoriahighfield.com S T O R E A L S O I N H E AT O N M O O R

Click!

Historic South Manchester Camera Club embraces the digital revolution Pursuit of the perfect image has always been one of the aims of Didsbury’s South Manchester Camera Club, and though its name may seem redolent of Box Brownies and technically challenging equipment, the club has eagerly welcomed the explosion in digital imagery that now prevails. More media - film and digital cameras, including the ubiquitous smartphone - simply mean more opportunities to capture that perfect image.

Founded in Didsbury in 1952, by Fred Veal and a group of like-minded friends, their aim was to encourage ‘good fellowship through photography’, and it remains to this day the club’s motto. With some 80 members, it‘s one of the largest in the region and is highly regarded by other competing clubs. It’s a progressive club with an excellent website and a wellmaintained social media presence, courtesy of the club’s Publicity Secretary, Emma Finch.

Creativity is the spur for SMCC, and though technical expertise is clearly evident in some of the club’s more practised and experienced members’ works, it’s certainly not a prerequisite for membership. Members are very proud that the club contains a wide and diverse range of photography enthusiasts holding a wide range of abilities and experience. The same applies to the club’s demographic make-up; men and women of all ages 24

are all equally welcome. The only requirement is the desire to take photographs.

The club offers a varied programme of activities, including monthly competitions for both print and digital images. These competitions are voluntary and present a great opportunity for members to have their work critically appraised. The standards are high but creativity is always encouraged at the club and the members are all highly supportive of each other’s endeavours.

Renowned and prominent practitioners are regularly invited to come and address the club on all aspects of photography. These presentations are greatly informative and interesting and present tremendous opportunities for developing skills and techniques.

The club has a great social aspect to it too, with regular day trips to interesting photographic locations organised for the members. Exotic foreign excursions are also arranged (eg. Venice last year), so there’s plenty of scope for the keen photographic eye to take in!

The club will be exhibiting a selection of its diverse photographic art at the Didsbury Parsonage as part of the Didsbury Arts Festival. The exhibition will run from 20–28 June and members will be in attendance to talk about all aspects of the club’s activities.

If you’re interested in photography and would like to meet like-minded people, the South Manchester Camera Club would like to extend a warm welcome to you; all you need is a camera!

Go to smcc.org.uk for more information, or pop along to the club.

Members meet every Monday evening at 8pm at Barlow Moor Methodist Church, which is located on the corner of Wilmslow Road and Sandhurst Road, Didsbury, M20 5LR. To celebrate the digital explosion and its potential benefits to photographers, the club is running a competition that is open to all. To enter, simply email a jpeg image that is original and was taken by you. There are no restrictions on the image subject, and any kind of camera is eligible, especially smartphones. The winning entry will be judged on its creative merits. The winner will receive a fabulous prize of Dinner for Two, courtesy of the kind people at Didsbury’s Croma restaurant.

Only one entry per person is allowed and it must be submitted to competition@smcc.org by 30 April.

Get focused and good luck!

By Mark Kureishy

The ProPerTy exPerTs FAST | SPECIALIST | RELIABLE

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If you are, buying, selling or re-mortgaging your property it is important that you instruct solicitors that you can trust.

Our property team is led by an experienced partner and we pride ourselves on our excellent service delivery based on three core values: Communication – we will always be available and inform you as to where the transaction is up to Efficiency – we will act promptly and drive the transaction through to exchange and completion: and Transparency – we have a clear fixed fee structure for your particular transaction which we have set out.

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SASSOON

PRESENTS UMBRA SS15 The art of beauty From Salvador Dali to Man Ray and Horst P, this seasons beauty trends take their cues from surrealist art.

The New Natural

Dreamlike shades of beautiful colour are the essential choice.

The key to mastering the palette? “Colours are diffused together elegantly from dark to light and back again,” says Edward Darley, Sassoon UK Colour Director. This creates a subtle flow of colours to enhance shine and incredible fibre-optic iridescence.

Try It… Book the ultimate holistic three-tier colour service: Bespoke Colour, Seal Colour Treatment and Home Hair Colour. Save £20 when you book Colour Prestige.

The New Short Fresh, subtle and tousled waves – the secret to working SS15 beauty trends. There is something irresistibly seductive about perfectly textured hair.

“Loose movement and soft textures instantly make a short style look feminine and flattering,” says Bruce Masefield, Sassoon UK Creative Director.

Try It… Use a medium-sized barrel tong and alternate the size of each section for a more natural result. Ruffle the hair through with a texturising product.

Colour Lustre

Take your cues from a surrealist approach and refresh your hair colour this season.

At Virgin Active Didsbury, we’ve created a game-changing new club following a £1.1million investment. As well as existing luxuries such as red-hot classes, awesome innovations and heated pools, we are now starting to serve a range of fantastic, fresh facilities to offer you a whole new level of refinement. From innovative gym floors, upgraded lounge facilities and spruced-up studios, we are doing everything we can to make sure you put some more wow into your workout.

So why not work up a sweat in style with the newly refurbished studio and gym floor spaces, which feature the finest equipment to make sure you get the most out of your workout.

The bob has been the haircut of choice for brazen females of the past, such as Coco Chanel, and today the ‘lob’ – a longer, more dishevelled bob – seems to be the hottest hair trend every girl wants. Ask your stylist for a cut that encourages movement.

To keep the style modern, don’t forget the importance of cool-girl texture. A sea salt spray is the perfect ‘Sienna’ texture product.

Try it… This look can be worn straight, textured, or wavy. “Try textured waves that ooze sleptin insouciance for a night out, or keep it sleek, chic and modern by tucking one side behind your ear,” says Bruce Masefield, Sassoon UK Creative Director.

Sassoon Salon 1 Marsden Street, Manchester M2 1HW Phone: 0161 827 7140 26

Everyone’s welcome at Virgin Active – young or old, fit or unfit. We set out to create a health club that’s different from all the rest. We love helping our members to be active but we’re not uptight or overly serious about it - that’s just the way we do things around here.

Or why not try The Grid – The Grid will push you, pull and squat you. It’ll lunge, bend and twist you, and move you the way you were meant to. You will be able to choose from four new intense classes: Grid Active, Grid Lean, Grid Strong and Grid Fit. Every intense class is based around flexibility and motion. We’ll teach you to move the tough way and will get the best out of you. It’s all part of your Virgin Active membership.

So step inside and you’ll experience a health club that’s actively different from all the rest. You’ll be encouraged, inspired, and made to feel right at home.

Come and try out our brand-spanking-new facilities at our Family Fun Day in June.

For more information about what’s on offer, please call 0161 249 5600 or get in touch via email at membership.didsbury@virginactive.co.uk

Love

We

EDITOR’S

FAVOURITE

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MY OWN FAIRY Brings children’s Imagination to life.

These little wooden fairy doors are perfectly packaged alongside a bottle of fairy dust and a miniature key, designed with the idea to ‘capture the magic in a box’.

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The handcrafted, hand painted doors can be placed in a special place or secret corner of the house with the miniature key. When the key is gone and the fairy dust appears the next morning, the fairy has been to visit and has moved into their new home.

My Own Fairy is aimed at children aged 3-9 years, but is also loved by fairy fans of all ages. The doors come in a range of colours including red, blue, pink, yellow and purple, and the fairy shop also stocks accessories such as stepping-stones, wall stickers and bottles of fairy dust. The magical visitor can secretly come and go at night, and find the letters and presents left for them.

The My Own Fairy website also features a ‘Parents Zone’ for mums and dads to go to find tips and advice on how to welcome fairies into their home and answer their children’s questions about their fairy’s secret life.

MURAD

Intensive Age Diffusing Serum £65 // John Lewis

CLARINS New Garden Escape Spring Make-Up Collection Limited Edition Six colour Eye Palette // £32 Blush Prodige / / £26 Instant Lip Comfort Oil / / £18 Available from most department stores

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These are a few of our favourite things…

27

Expert physiotherapists

in the heart of Hale Emma O’Reilly, owner of The Body Clinic, is probably best known for her previous role as sports therapist for former cycling world champion Lance Armstrong.

T

en years ago Emma bought and took over the running of The Body Clinic in Hale. She was determined to build on its success and sought to grow and expand the business’s offer to the local community.

Emma’s skills and experience as a sports therapist working with the World’s No. 1 cycling team, means she has a vast knowledge and understanding of the treatment of sports injuries, and the benefits sports massage and physiotherapy can bring following major sports events. Indeed, The Body Clinic’s expertise attracts a range of professional sports patients, including among others, Olympic Gold medalwinning cyclist Victoria Pendleton.

However, The Body Clinic’s eight-person team of physiotherapists means it also provides a comprehensive range of treatments to suit a variety of problems for all ages.

Emma explains: “It is important to me and the team at The Body Clinic that we treat the source of the pain or discomfort by providing the treatment regimes that best suit the patient. We have a range of physiotherapists with different skills so we can offer a solution that is right for the patient. We have worked with children as young as six and elderly patients as old as 96. Their individual needs will differ enormously so we ensure we have the right person working with them right from the start.”

Initial consultations at The Body Clinic last an hour and give the physiotherapist the chance to make a thorough assessment so that a treatment programme is put in place that will deal with the injury successfully.

28

“The initial assessment is vital for us to get to know exactly what the patient needs,” says Emma. “We can then ensure that they are treated effectively and efficiently. Staff are friendly and approachable and do their best to put a person at ease.”

With a vast client base it is clear that The Body Clinic’s ethos works. Its comprehensive range of services includes physiotherapy, a back pain clinic, women’s health physio, sports massage and accupuncture, prenatal and postnatal massage, office injury prevention, and medical legal services. There is also the opportunity to arrange exercise classes in your office.

Emma continues: “One of the many reasons I like working here is that patients work with us. They listen carefully to our advice and tend to play their part in their recovery by doing the recommended exercises and taking our advice, so they can go back to living their normal lives.

“It is also vital that our team of experts get the diagnosis right from the very start and recommend a treatment plan that is both bespoke and realistic. Taking the whole person into account is an important part of our treatment.”

This time, however, she was in more control. Having set their differences aside, Lance Armstrong wrote the foreword for the book and it will soon be published in America.

“It was a tough time for me personally,” she remembers, “The media attention was fast, furious and persistent but I somehow managed to negotiate my way through it, and The Body Clinic was my haven. My treatment room and my patients allowed me to escape from the media glare and I could really focus on what I wanted to achieve, which was to create a physiotherapist service in the heart of Hale that employed highly skilled staff but also created an environment that was warm, friendly and relaxing.”

Emma concludes: “The book was my chance to set out the facts of what happened. I am really excited about its publication in America and it will be out in paperback in the UK this spring.”

By Charlotte Batra

Treatments available at The Body Clinic now include acupuncture and reflexology together with general physiotherapy techniques, including mobilisation, electrotherapy and, of course, massage. The Body Clinic team is a highly skilled, motivated and professional one, which combines its vast experience with a welcoming feel for patients so they feel relaxed the moment they walk in the door.

The publication of Emma’s book, ‘The Race to Truth; Blowing the whistle on Lance Armstrong and cycling’s doping culture’, was published last year and put her back in the media spotlight.

THE BODY CLINIC | 1 Victoria Road | Hale | Cheshire WA15 9AF www.bodyclinichale.co.uk

29

SRI TEA

refreshing and reviving new flavours from the home of Ceylon Tea

When Verity Silva took a tour of a Sri Lankan tea plantation, one rainy day back in 2011, little did she know how closely this unassuming, yet universally popular, beverage would intertwine with her life. The humble cuppa, second only to water as the most consumed drink in the world, is too often regarded as the old-fashioned matron to coffee’s bright new thing but Sri Tea are infusing new vitality into the grand dame’s long and fascinating history.

TIME TO PUT THE kETTLE ON! Originating in South East Asia, tea was, according to legend, first drunk by the Chinese in 2737BC. Its herbal medicinal properties saw its popularity spread rapidly throughout the rest of Asia.

Despite its inextricable and profound cultural links with Britain, tea only arrived here in the 17th century, after its European introduction by Portuguese traders. Catherine of Braganza’s marriage to Charles II in 1662 popularised tea as the national drink; arriving in Portsmouth after a rough sea crossing, she had asked for some tea, but as none was available she was offered a glass of English ale instead,

30

which promptly aggravated her sea sickness. From that moment on she made it her business to promote tea as the drink du jour!

The mid-18th century saw the British East India Company establish tea plantations in Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) as a replacement for the ailing coffee crops. The island’s climate and soil conditions are ideally suited for tea cultivation and soon Ceylon Tea became synonymous with high quality and an exceptionally delicious taste. This reputation for excellence endures and Sri Lanka remains at the forefront of the leading tea-producing countries of the world.

Sri Tea can be found at: www.sritea.co.uk | Telephone: +44 (0) 191 551 7020 | Email: info@sritea.co.uk Nova Trading (UK) Ltd. PO Box 1343, Sunderland SR5 9LT

Verity’s familial links with Sri Lanka saw her grow up with an appreciation for the island’s fine teas and its significant relationship to the country’s cultural and economic wellbeing. So, it was perhaps not surprising that her outing to the tea plantation would spark the catalyst and inspire her to import Sri Lanka’s highest quality teas to the UK. Within a year of her visit she had established Sri Tea as an online and phone order company, designed the modern and visually striking packaging;, and last, but certainly by no means least, developed a small but highly distinct range of speciality teas that were not only delicious but also had very definite health benefits for modern stressful lives.

She works closely with the estate, the very same plantation that originally inspired her, and together they produce her unique range of teas. All of her teas are vacuum-sealed and packaged at the plantation, thus ensuring that the taste and aroma remain fresh throughout the teas’ long journey from Sri Lanka’s fertile soil all the way to our teacups.

Sri Tea’s initial range of four original and distinctive loose leaf teas-Cinnamon, Floral Green, Sapphire Oolong and Yogi-has now been expanded to fourteen, with ten new exciting additions. Amongst these are Green Tea with Chamomile, Blue Pekoe, Lapsang Souchong and Lemongrass, and even a black tea blended with cognac, the Player’s Club Brand, which is faintly evocative of the smoky after-dinner lounges of the Raj. Of course, tea’s long recognised health benefits are also present in Sri Tea’s range. Among these are: • • •

Floral Green Tea, which increases fat oxidisation and metabolic processes Tulsi Herbal Tea, which can be an aid to minimise colds and reduce fevers Green Tea and Chamomile, which has anti-irritant and anti-microbial properties.

Naturally, all Sri Tea’s specialist health teas are organic and herbicide- and pesticide-free.

Sri Tea’s rapid success has inspired Verity to expand into cafes, restaurants, hotels and, of course, afternoon tea shops. With this in mind, five of her teas are now available in teabag form too. A small, but soon to be extended, range of attractive infusers to complement the loose teas is also available online.

A retail shop in the Durham area, close to their head office, is currently being planned and Manchester-born Verity has our city, naturally, in her sights, too!

Sri Tea’s subtle infusions of delicious new flavours are the perfect pick-me-up to revive and restore us through our busy lives. Sri Tea are deliciously reviving our minds and bodies and reminding us that tea, now more than ever, is the best antidote to our modern stress-filled lives.

We’ll drink to that!

• Yogi Tea (immune booster) • Tulsi Herbal Tea (rejuvinating) • Sapphire Oolong Tea (weight loss) • Player’s Club Blend (tea infused with cognac) • Lapsang Souchong & Tulsi (promotes inner wellbeing) • Lapsang Souchong & Lemongrass (detoxifies liver & digestory tract) • Green Tea and Lemongrass (weight loss, detox)

• Green Tea & Earl Grey (calming, weight loss) • Green Tea & Chamomile (aids sleep, anti-inflammatory) • Flowery Small Leaf (strong morning tea) • Flowery Medium (everyday all rounder) • Floral Green Tea (weight loss, detox) • Cinnamon Tea (lowers cholesterol) • Blue Pekoe (aids digestion)

By Mark Kureishy | Photographer: Stephen McGowan

31

to open a second studio

PRO SPIN

It seems that celebrities can’t get enough of spinning. The Beckhams, Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper can all be spotted working out in the indoor cycling studios of Los Angeles and New York, where the lights are low, the beat is strong, instructors are motivational, and where 500 calories can be burned off in just 45 minutes.

Download the Apps: ProSpin | Spin Factory

32

weekend mornings are all about the kids, when mum and dad can spin with their children to the latest chart music.

Now Pay As You Go Spinning has arrived in Manchester and Cheshire thanks to Pro Spin, spoiling us with not one but two new exciting studios. The first to open is in Ashley, close to both Hale and Alderley, and the separately branded Spin Factory will follow shortly in – appropriately enough – Spinningfields, where it will house Europe’s largest spinning operation.

Cheshire residents can have guilt-free PAYG access to the same experience as the LA and NYC fitness scene with the newly opened Pro Spin Club, where two dozen of the best Spin Bikes and a handful of pro-cycle Wattbikes mix with the Allstar Spinners to bring daytime, evening and weekend classes to thronging life.

Master Spinner Ross and his team ensure that nobody leaves without a sweaty smile, no matter what their level of fitness. Whether you’re a cyclist or a spinner, or you’re looking for something new like Family Spin -

The latest Wattbikes used by team GB are available, and GB medallist coach Ross Edgar puts road cyclists of all levels through simulated rides. There are also races to be won on the big screen in the training studio. The signature 60-minute Pro Spin class, defeats most outdoor climbers.

The booking process is equally slick, and riders who have downloaded the app for either location (Pro Spin and Spin Factory each have their own separate apps) can book classes up to 52 weeks in advance. Prices start from £5 per session with multi-ride packs also available. One tap, and that’s it, your bike is booked, meaning that gym goers now have more choice, and non-gym-goers can train without the burden or guilt of a contract.

Charity organisers are also making a beeline to use the studios for longdistance endurance events, news of which readers should look out for in this magazine. No doubt we will be people-spotting there soon, but we wanted to be the first to coin #spinface and #spinselfie

3, 2, 1 Go!

Contact Pro Spin on 0161 924 0293 or email info@prospin.co.uk

If you have a knee problem, consult one of the Uk’s leading knee Specialists Consultations now available at 52 Alderley Road

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• Arthroscopic (keyhole) surgery • Ligament reconstruction (anterior cruciate ligament, ACL) • Minimally Invasive Personalised Knee Replacement Surgery - which can allow you to leave hospital rapidly, often within 2-3 days and the surgery is designed specifically to your knee using the latest cutting edge technological innovations • State of the art Arthritis treatments available.

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The knee Doc... it’s all you need to know Consultations available at: • BMI Alexandra Hospital Cheadle • Bridgewater Hospital Manchester • Ramsay Oaklands Hospital Salford

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Professor Sanjiv Jari, Consultant Knee, Lower Limb & Orthopaedic Sports Medicine Surgeon

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Turn back the clock with Optegra eyelid surgery At Optegra we offer expert eyelid surgery to help correct a wide range of eyelid issues all within our dedicated eye hospital with one of our expert eyelid surgeons.

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Manchester experts launch attack on the ‘silent thief of sight’ Glaucoma is a common eye condition often called the ‘silent thief of sight’; it has no symptoms in its early stages but is a potentially blinding eye condition. An estimated 500,000 British adults suffer from the disease and yet a further 50 per cent of glaucoma cases are currently undetected. Local eye health specialist Optegra Manchester Eye Hospital has launched a bespoke new monitoring service to help detect and treat the disease.

It is available at Didsbury-based Optegra Manchester Eye Hospital, and at Optegra’s outreach clinics in Altrincham and Macclesfield. Caroline McHugh, Hospital Director at Optegra Manchester Eye Hospital, explains: "This is a completely new service for the region. Patients can simply attend the clinic with a referral from their GP or optometrist. We truly believe this is a way of reassuring local people and helping to treat this terrible condition before it has progressed."

Designed to support patients who are at risk, or concerned about glaucoma, the service offers regular in-depth assessments with a leading glaucoma specialist Optegra ophthalmic consultant.

The new service includes: • • • • • • •

A 12-month diagnosis and monitoring service to identify and capture conditions early Continued care with direct access to a leading glaucoma ophthalmic specialist Expert examination with state-of-the-art diagnostic equipment Two to three assessments during the year Imaging of the optic nerve with OCT Peace of mind, comfort and support for patients and their families Advice on any necessary treatment.

Mr Dan Nguyen, Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon at Optegra Manchester Eye Hospital, says: "Glaucoma is a disease that damages the optic nerves, which connect the eye to the brain. There are different types of glaucoma, and in the early stages most of them do not cause any symptoms, but if they are left untreated, they can cause vision loss and blindness.

If we can identify, help and support patients, we can then offer treatment to prevent it affecting their vision.”

To find out more. Call 0808 252 3878 or visit optegra.com

35

UPPER LIMB SURGICAL SPECIALISTS

Len Funk Consultant Shoulder Surgeon T. 01625 545 071

Mike Hayton Consultant Hand & Wrist Specialist T. 0845 838 7766

GET ON YOUR

BIkE!

CY Ng Consultant Hand & Peripheral Nerve Surgeon T. 0161 495 7766

Nick Phillips Consultant Shoulder & Elbow Surgeon T. 0161 495 7745 How many MAMILs do you spot in a day? According to British Cycling it should be quite a few!

Matt Ravenscroft Consultant Shoulder & Elbow Surgeon T. 0161 495 6803

Adam Watts Consultant Elbow, Hand & Upper Limb Surgeon T. 01625 545 073 36

For those not in the know, MAMIL is an acronym for ‘Middle-Aged Men in Lycra’ principally aimed at those men who decide that cycling is the sport to get their physique back in shape – and, if they’re going to do it, they should invest in not only an expensive bike but also in-vogue cycling gear. Possibly more to the point is the investment they should make in ensuring their equipment fits their personal needs.

An estimated 2.1million adults are regular cyclists and when occasional cyclists are added to this number, it

Phil Burt, Lead Physiotherapist at British Cycling

rises to 3.1million people riding a bicycle each month, and while cycling is one of the easiest and most effective ways to exercise, problems can occasionally occur.

A large number of cyclists who seek medical help for cycling-related problems complain of generalised aches and pains. Phil Burt, Lead Physiotherapist at British Cycling and Consultant Physiotherapist to Sky Pro Cycling Team, believes that most of these common problems can be addressed through selecting the correct equipment and expert bike-fitting.

Phil suggests two main courses of action - get your bike checked to make sure it’s not set up to throw more weight onto your hands and arms (eg. saddle too high, handlebars too low or an overly stretched cockpit), and seek exercise advice from a physiotherapist to resolve the current problem.

Phil recommends that, among other things, cyclists look at the angle of the saddle to the ground and the height of the saddle in relation to heel pressure on the pedal, when the knee is fully extended.

Safety is of paramount importance and some injuries can be avoided by the use of high-visibility clothing, effective lighting and, of course, helmets. Riding responsibly will also reduce the risk of accidents and avoid antagonising motor vehicle drivers.

Foot soreness can be resolved by wearing the right footwear, correct cleat set-up and ensuring the correct bike fitting. In addition to wearing stiffsoled cycling shoes, Phil recommends the simple process of marking shoes in line with the bony prominence at the base of the big toe, in order to position cleats in a neutral set-up position.

Broken collar bones and elbow, hand and wrist fractures all result from a tumble – as does ‘road rash’, which is bad grazing to the skin. OrthTeam consultants regularly treat fractured bones of elite and non-elite cyclists.

Many fractures do not need an operation but some need fixing surgically. The benefit of fixation is that it often enables a faster return to cycling; however, it doesn’t confer bionic status, as unfortunately further fractures can occur in the event of a fall!

Saddle soreness can be the most invasive and embarrassing of all cycling related conditions. In addition to considering good-quality cycling shorts, cleanliness and a gradual increase in the time spent in the saddle, Phil advises a well-fitting bike and saddle. Incorrect saddle height or handlebar reach can contribute towards rocking in the saddle or poor weight distribution.

More details on bike fitting and the use of other equipment can be found within the Insight Zone on British Cycling’s website (www.britishcycling.org.uk) or in Phil Burt’s book ‘Bike Fit’.

Sanjay Anand Consultant Knee Surgeon T. 0161 495 6803

LOWER LIMB SURGICAL SPECIALISTS

Hand and wrist problems tend to present as tingling, numbness, pain or weakness in the hand. These symptoms are most often caused by pressure on a nerve overextension.

Elbow problems may be due to inflammation or small tears around the tendons; these are commonly known as tennis or golfer's elbow and cause pain on the outside and inside of the elbow.

Tim Board Consultant Hip & Knee Surgeon T. 07713 451339

Jon Borrill Consultant Knee Surgeon T. 0161 495 7726

Tim Clough Consultant Foot & Ankle Surgeon T. 0161 495 7028

OrthTeam consultants are proud to have provided care for local cyclists and members of elite cycling teams over the past ten years.

OrthTeam are a group of 12 superspecialist consultants who are highly experienced in the care and surgical management of people with orthopaedic problems associated with the shoulder, hand and arm, hip, knee, foot and ankle. The consultants’ superspecialist status has been gained as a result of intensive training and clinical experience in specialist Centres of Excellence both in the Uk and abroad.

It is rewarded by invitations to speak at international conferences and requests to treat elite athletes from a spectrum

of different sports. OrthTeam consultants treat a wide range of upper and lower limb problems, including those associated with long-term wear (eg. arthritis) and short-term acute sports-related injury.

Tel: 0800 328 2975 Fax: 0161 667 4499 Emergency: 07732 247 247 Email: info@orthteam.com www.orthteam.com Twitter: @OrthT

Adam Hoad-Reddick Consultant Hip & Knee Surgeon T. 0161 904 0434

Philip Turner Consultant Knee Surgeon T. 0161 495 6869 37

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What women need to know about Ovarian Cancer Ovarian cancer is currently the fifth most common cancer among women in the UK – after breast,

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It’s all about the lifestyle There’s more than one side to Martin Cockx – from lawyer to lifestyle Martin Cockx launched Injury Lawyers4U in 2002. Just over three years ago he decided he had gone as far as he wanted to go with law and retired. Retirement wasn’t all that he expected and he decided there had to be more to life than just sitting on a beach.

Having enjoyed karate on and off for many years, Martin decided to rekindle his passion and launched Hale Karate Club. The club has since attracted children from age 5 to adults in their 60s. Karate’s unique blend of the physical and the mental means it is challenging in many different ways, thereby keeping the mind active and reducing stress while also providing a great workout.

Recently, Martin launched a Ladies Only Beginners’ Class in order to appeal to as many different groups of people as possible.

Eighteen months after setting up the club while training on the west coast of America, Martin discovered an eating programme that he believes has totally changed his life and complements the karate he enjoys. Martin explains: “Life is for living, so seize the day! Many of us go through life striving for more – a better salary, a new car, more holidays – but my experiences in life have taught me that our health is undoubtedly the most important factor, and I strongly believe we should do everything possible to maintain that.”

After his USA trip and the incredible ‘eating programme’ he enjoyed, Martin returned to the UK and tried to find something similar. Sadly, nothing matched what he had experienced.

Martin continues: “What I found in the USA literally changed my life. It was far more than just a diet with the temporary results they entail. My main way of eating (with the odd lapse because we are all human!) became gluten-free, dairy-free and sugar-free. That had a profound effect on how I looked and felt. I did lose weight but it was so much more than that. The feel-good factor returned to my life and I was desperate to keep it.

“I met with celebrity chef David Vanderhook, who has prepared specific meals for the likes of the Aga Khan, the Sultan of Brunei and the Rothschild family. We discussed my findings and together set about producing meals and capturing all I had experienced in the States. Here we are 12 months later and I think we have found it.

“The Hale Plan is based upon an understanding of how the human body has evolved to extract necessary nutrients from particular types of food, and how it has not yet evolved to effectively process other food types. By following the specially prepared nutritious meals, your body will adjust, meaning that not

only do you lose weight but you feel so much better too. The delicious meals are delivered to your door and come with details on storage and how to reheat.

“The Hale Plan is available for just one week, although to achieve the best results we recommend a four-week programme. The boost The Hale Plan provides really does highlight the benefits of sticking to this type of diet, and customers are finding that their future eating habits are greatly improved.

“It goes without saying that a fitness programme alongside The Hale Plan will further add to the positive results. The choice and level of exercise is up to you, but for me the link to karate has been significant. I honestly believe 60 will be my new 30. Join me and start to ‘Feel like you again’.”

Like to find out more?

The Hale Plan www.thehaleplan.co.uk Telephone 0800 817 4820 Hale karate Club www.halekarateclub.co.uk Telephone: 07753 244 638 Martin Cockx, founder of The Hale Plan And karate teacher, features on the Front cover of this month’s Hale&Bowdon Magazine

41

DO I NEED HIP SURGERY? with Mr Simon Ghalayini, Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon Manchester Orthopaedic Group

Simon Ghalayini Hip pain Mr Simon Ghalayini, Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon with Manchester Orthopaedic Group, discusses some causes of hip pain.

There are many causes of pain around the hip. The pain can come from a variety of sources, including hip joint, structures around the hip, or elsewhere.

The symptoms of many hip problems consist of pain around the hip joint. It can be felt towards the front of the hip in the groin or on the side or back of the hip. The pain can also be felt in the thigh and on occasion be felt as far as the knee.

If symptoms are present around the hip and are troublesome, they can often be effectively assessed by your GP, who can advise on treatment. There are times when a referral to an appropriate specialist such as a hip surgeon or other appropriate specialist may be needed.

Some orthopaedic causes of pain around the hip in adults are listed below.

Arthritis

Impingement

Arthritis of the hip is one of the most common problems seen by a hip surgeon. The commonest cause is osteoarthritis, which can develop primarily or secondary to other problems, including fracture, problems with the blood supply to the hip joint, and hip problems from infancy or childhood. Pain is often felt in the groin. It can also be felt in the thigh and knee. As well as pain there is often stiffness felt in the joint.

This problem arises when separate sections of the hip joint come into contact during hip movements. Pain in the groin is worsened when the hip is in certain positions. There can also be a clicking or catching sensation felt.

Further investigation in the form of X-rays, CT scans and MRI scans are often needed when symptoms are problematic. When non-surgical treatment fails surgery may be considered.

Diagnosis is commonly confirmed with X-rays that show the hips. On occasion it may be necessary to consider other investigations – such as CT scans and MRI scans – to look for more isolated areas of arthritis or other problems.

If troublesome, non-surgical treatment of symptoms should generally be trialled.

These consist primarily of measures to control the pain and activity modification.

Commonly used strategies include pain-killers, physiotherapy and the use of walking aids. Weight loss can also help. Early on, most will manage their symptoms effectively this way and this may be all that is needed.

If these measures are not effective, surgery may be appropriate. Surgery for hip arthritis traditionally consists of replacing the worn joint with an artificial one. The hip is referred to as a ball-and-socket joint and surgery involves replacing the two sides of the joint – the socket or acetabulum and the ball or femoral head. Hip replacement surgery is very common, and in 2013 more than 80,000 patients underwent hip-replacement surgery in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Soft tissue problems The soft tissue around the hip joint can also be a source of pain. Problems can include: Trochanteric Bursitis – a common diagnosis given to pain and tenderness felt at the side of the hip. It can be a difficult problem to settle but can be helped by physiotherapy and activity modifications. Injections can be considered and, rarely, surgery may be discussed.

Adductor strain – causing pain, ache and stiffness, which are felt within the inner aspect of the upper thigh. It can develop in those who participate in

Find out more about our spinal surgeons on our website www.manchesterorthopaedicgroup.co.uk 42

competitive sports such as football and tennis. The treatment is generally nonsurgical and recovery could be helped by physiotherapy.

Iliopsoas Tendonitis – a problem that can develop in those participating in activities such as football, running and rowing. Pain is felt at the front of the hip and may travel into the thigh.

Sometimes, a snap or a click can be felt in the groin. Ultrasound and MRI scans can aid the diagnosis. Treatment is predominantly non-surgical with physiotherapy, and injections may sometimes be considered.

Fractures Acute fractures occur after an injury and are more common in older age groups. The nature of the injury and the immediate symptoms that follow often cause the patient to attend A&E. These require an urgent assessment and surgery.

Stress fractures can also occur. These can happen after repeated loading of the bone and can occur at the hip and elsewhere. If suspected an orthopaedic surgeon should review as an urgency.

High-impact activities can be the cause, particularly if they are taken up with vigour after a sedentary lifestyle. They can be diagnosed with X-rays, but further imaging such as an MRI scan will often be needed. Surgery is often required after a full assessment.

Other causes Infection within the hip joint is a serious cause of hip pain. If it occurs, it generally results in severe pain felt at the hip, with difficulty moving the hip, weight-bearing and walking.

A fever and general unwellness can also be present. If suspected, this is an emergency that needs an urgent medical assessment.

Spinal problems can cause pain around the hip and it is important that the spine is assessed in those with hip pain to ensure that this is not the source of the pain.

The following Surgeons are members of Manchester Orthopaedic Group:

Spinal Surgeons Vik kapoor – MBBS MS(Orth) FRCS(Tr&Orth) Spinal Surgery

Mike O’Connor – MB ChB FRCS(Tr&Orth) Hip & Knee Replacements, Arthroscopy & Trauma

Brian David Todd – MB ChB FRCS(Orth) Spinal Surgery

Arun kumar – FRCS(Tr & Orth), Dip Sports & Exercise Medicine, FRCS, MSc (Trauma), MS Orth Lower limb surgery, Hip and Knee replacement, Sports Injury, Arthroscopic Surgery of Hip & Knee

Upper Limb Surgeons Jochen Fischer – MD FRCS (Tr&Orth) All aspects of shoulder, elbow, wrist & hand surgery including arthroscopy, arthroplasty and trauma Steve Royle – MB ChB MD FRCS(Orth) Hand, wrist & elbow surgery, including fractures, soft tissue & sports injuries Mohammad Waseem – BSc MB ChB FRCS(Tr&Orth) Comprehensive Upper Limb & Trauma.

Hand, Wrist, Elbow & Shoulder.

Mark Webber – BSc, MB ChB, FRCS Arthroscopic Procedures to Upper Limb

Steven kershaw – MB ChB(Manc) FRCS(Eng) FRCS(Tr&Orth) Primary hip & knee replacements, knee arthroscopy, foot & ankle surgery & trauma Simon Ghalayini – MB ChB FRCS(Tr&Orth) Lower limb surgery including Hip & Knee Replacement and Arthroscopy of the Knee Sanat Shah – MB BS MS(Orth) MCh, FRCS(Orth) Hip & Knee Replacement, Revision, Re-surfacing, Arthroscopy & Trauma

Lower Limb Surgeons David Bamford – MB,ChB,FRCS,FRCS(Orth) Total Hip Replacement, Revision Hip Surgery & Hip Arthroscopy, Total Knee Replacement & Knee Arthroscopy

Tahir Mahmud – BSc(Hons), MBBS, FRCS(Tr&Orth) Lower limb surgery including Hip & Knee Replacement, Knee Arthroscopy & Trauma

Richard Samarji – MCh FRCSEd FRCS(Orth) Foot, Ankle, Knee, Trauma, Sports injury & Hand Surgery

Amer Shoaib – BSc(Hons) LMSSA FRCS(Orth) Specialist Foot & Ankle Assessment & Treatment, Limb Deformities & Trauma

Pankaj Sharma – MBBS FRCS(Orth) Knee Replacement, ACL Reconstruction & Arthroscopy, Sports Injury & Trauma

www.manchesterorthopaedicgroup.co.uk

Simon Reuben – MB ChB FRCS(Tr&Orth) Hip & Knee Surgery, Trauma David Johnson – BSc(Hons) MB ChB FRCS(Tr&Orth) MPhil Knee Replacement, ACL Reconstruction & Arthroscopy, Sports Injury & Trauma

Manchester Orthopaedic Group Manor Lodge, Mill Lane, Cheadle, Cheshire SK8 2NT Tel: 0845 437 9663 Tel: 0161 495 7783 Fax: 0161 610 1755 Email: info@manchesterorthopaedicgroup.co.uk 43

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an Imola chair from BoConcept to the value of £2,065 Henrik Pedersen graduated as a fashion designer in 1990 but uses his education to explore the full range of design. One of Henrik's first pieces of furniture was the iconic Imola chair for BoConcept, and he is one of the leading Danish designers of lamps. 'I get inspired by seeing things up close. Maybe the handle on an old kitchen appliance or interesting colour combinations as food mix on the plate. Little details that can evolve into a complete product.' Like the Imola chair, that is inspired by a close-up of the lines on a tennis ball.

To win simply answer this question When did Henrik Pedersen graduate as a fashion designer?

A) 1990 B) 1890 C) 1650 Email your answer to winner@salutions.co.uk with IMOLA in the subject field or send a postcard to Imola Chair Competition, Salutions, The Old Bank, 99 Palatine Road, Didsbury, Manchester M20 3JQ. For further info on the Imola chair visit www.boconcept.com/en-gb/furniture/ living/armchairs/23053 T&C’s Please see full competition terms & conditions on the Salutions website www.salutions.co.uk The value of the prize is for a price group 1 fabric Imola, although other fabrics and leathers are available at an additional cost to the winner.

Delivery of the Imola chair will be to UK mainland only. The prize cannot be exchanged for another product or cash.

46

BOCONCEPT PRESENTS DANISH ACTOR MADS MIKKELSEN AS THE STAR IN NEW FILM A new thrilling film is out with Danish star actor Mads Mikkelsen. The Call features the award-winning actor in very stylish surroundings created by Danish furniture retailer BoConcept.

Mads Mikkelsen is at the peak of his career, and known worldwide for his roles as Le Chiffre in the James Bond movie Casino Royale, in the TV series Hannibal and in his latest films The Hunt and The Salvation.

“I am an actor, and I want to act. Of course in the end it is about selling furniture, but BoConcept hired me for my acting skills, not for me to just go and say BoConcept is great – although I am proud to be working with a Danish company that is succeeding on an international level with their design” says Mads.

“We wanted to make something watchable. Of course Mads and our designs will be a thrill to the eyes of many viewers around the world, and Mads will for sure help to increase the awareness of our brand. But the entertainment factor was important to us as we want people to see the whole film and be left with a good and memorable experience - something they would like to share,” says BoConcept CEO Torben Paulin.

The Call is the first film of two films. The second film The Guest will be launched later this year.

Watch The Call on www.boconcept.com/en-gb/ For more information visit: BoConcept Manchester // 109-117 Great Ancoats Street // Manchester // M4 5AG

47

Personalised outdoor Garden Sign A unique handmade and perfectly personalised gift for garden lovers. Can be personalised for gardens allotments, workshops, sheds etc. This design can have up to 3 Custom lines of text and a choice of colours. Made from treated, off-white painted timber suitable for exterior use. Approx. 30cm x 10cm. Comes with a rope hanging unless otherwise requested. £20 No Ordinary Gift Company www.noordinarygiftcompany.co.uk

GARDEN TIME

Perfect accessories for the spring gardener

Sophie Allport Rose Garden kneeler This lovely handmade, wipe-clean, Garden Kneeler is made from a Rose Oilcloth fabric. Filled with a firm supportive foam inner the Garden Kneeler is both water repellent & hard-wearing. Matching Garden Apron available.

Sophie Allport Limited www.sophieallport.com

Sophie Conran Galvanised Trug £19.95 www.occa-home.co.uk

Retractable Garden Hose Reel Also available in white, black and pink.

10 metres. £107 www.cuckooland.com

Rowlinson mini Greenhouse A practical,space saving solution for the smaller garden or apartment balcony, providing an innovative combination of potting bench, storage unit and mini greenhouse. With styrene glazing it is pressure treated against rot and has a natural timber finish. Heritage Gardens www.heritagegardens.co.uk 48

GardenStyle sponsored by Bickham House - Providing Quality Care in Later Life

Sitting pretty

“Should i buy a seat for my new garden or can i do without?” asked my rather stingy friend. (i suspect she’d rather buy a new bag than a bench.) yes, of course you should have a seat; in fact, i’d go further and say you should have several, as indeed do i.

Seats in the garden can perform many functions, from providing places to rest in both sunshine and shade, to acting as decorative punctuation marks at the end of a vista, drawing the eye to the farthest corner of the garden. What is important is that they are functional, beautiful and permanently placed.

Those seats with sloping as opposed to straight backs are most comfortable, and those with armrests feel cosier (they also provide a place to rest one’s Yorkshire tea and gingernuts!).

But why is it that I frequently walk through someone’s stylishly furnished Didsbury home and out into the garden, only to be faced with a set of four battered plastic chairs and a broken bench painted in ‘dog-poo’ brown?

We should furnish our gardens with the same care given to our homes as, let’s face it, we spend a huge part of our lives looking out onto our garden

rooms and the furniture within it.

So which materials are best? I would stick to wood and metal – leaving cold stone to stately homes, and plastic to, well – bury it in the cellar and never, never admit to having owned any!

Painting both wood and metal is advisable, to protect it so that seating can be left out all year round, as it should be. Having permanent seating means it will form part of the architectural bones of the garden, and is available to use on that first warm day of the year as well as on the last. And never paint anything white – we don’t live in Spain, we live in Manchester, where the softer light requires softer colours. I always go for a grey, green or blue; but if you’re setting a seat against a dark yew hedge, a soft cream can be very telling.

A trip to Farrow and Ball is a must for a perusal of gorgeous paint colours;

my current favourites are both greys ‘Railings’ and ‘Plummett’.

Finally, position your seating carefully. A bench just outside the back door is useful for those few snatched moments when you don’t want to stray too far from the phone/cooker/front doorbell. Another, positioned at the far end of the garden, tastefully painted and surrounded by lush planting, with perhaps a small tree arching overhead, will draw the eye all year round and encourage you out on warm days.

Most importantly, remember that garden furniture should be beautiful as well as functional – for when it ceases to be a seat, it becomes part of the view. Happy loafing!

Anne Britt is a garden designer working in Didsbury. You can contact her at annebritt@btinternet.com

www.bickhamhouse.co.uk | Green Walk, Bowdon, Altrincham WA14 2SN | Tel: 0161 928 2514

Living Wall Planter Woolly Pocket Garden House Design Create your very own vertical living wall in an instance with the Living Wall Planters, by Woolly Pocket. Like building blocks, you can easily decide how many Wally's you'll need for your design. Just attach the living wall planters to your chosen walls (fixings including), fill with soil and get planting.

Wally's felt tongue wicks water to the roots, so don't water the plant water the tongue. £29.99-£114.99 // Garden House Design www.gardenhousedesign.co.uk

Brighten up your garden with a colourful display of pots and planters

Waterspout Flower Pot Waterspout Set of 2 Hanging Flower Pots can be bought in 2 Sizes: Small and Large. They are created with Antiqued Iron. £20 // IN-SPACES www.in-spaces.com

Personalised Small Wooden Crate Perfect for outdoor herbs, the personalised small wooden apple crate is a replica of the traditional crate scaled down to make a wonderful gift for any one of your family or friends! It makes a stunning mini garden for your kitchen, windowsill or patio. £22.95.

Plantabox www.plantabox.co.uk

Victorian Jardiniere These cast stone jardinieres are used by the RHS to enhance the border of the canal area at Wisley. £799 // Haddonstone www.haddonstone.com Upper (£139) and Lower (£155) plinth sold separately, making total price £1093

Rustic Metal Garden Mirror with Four Planters Beautiful rustic feel design with three shutter style windows with four bucket planters underneath. Each bucket is ideal for a small bedding/potting plant.

Wall mountable - two hooks to the back. £46.95 // Melody Maison www.MelodyMaison.co.uk 50

Grow your own

Style It’s official. I am an idiot. i ordered some hand-crafted wooden planters last month to grow some veggies in at home. Six of the beauties – 2’ x 2’ in size.

Just perfect to border our large deck. imagine my horror then when i arrived home to find six enormous planters outside the Summerhouse, 5’ x 5’ each.

G

rabbing the mobile I called the supplier to sort out the cock-up, only to discover that the cock-up was all mine. Apparently I’d ticked the ‘inches’ and not the ‘centimetres’ box on the order form. Instead of my elegant 60cm x 60cm planters, I had actually ordered the giant 60” x 60” size. Fan-bloody-tastic.

Clutching the Bombay Sapphire, I tried to figure out what to do. Lord Muck wasn’t due back from his conference till Saturday so I had time to hide my expensive blunder. All I really needed was some muscle.

Cue Twitter ad: ‘Fit Man needed urgently. Must be good with wood.’

Cue fast and furious responses. Most with x-rated photos attached. I blame EL James and her damn book. I mean the ad was innocent enough, but somehow I’d now become the go-to-gal for all the Christian Grey wannabes. Anyway, having weeded out the weirdoes, I found ten local contenders and what better way to spend an evening than with your best mate, interviewing cute guys, one of whom was definitely the Diet Coke ad guy’s twin. And seeing as he would need strong core muscles to cope with

all that heavy lifting it seemed only right to ask to see his six-pack – and snap a photo. For health and safety records, obviously.

If you don’t fancy starting from scratch, give ‘plug’ plants a go; these are widely available from garden centres.

Thankfully, the planters have now been resized by my buff guy and filled with compost, all ready for my veggie plants to go in. And his Lordship is none the wiser. Or so I thought.

Regrettably, I’ve just discovered he’s actually one of my followers and has watched the whole sordid story unfold on Twitter. Oops

Last, but by no means least, if you don’t have a garden – no problem.

Look for mini-veggie seed varieties, often described as ‘dwarf’, ‘baby’ or ‘bush’, as these grow well in pots on a windowsill.

Anyhow, if you fancy growing some veggies at home, pots and planters are great. If you’re a newbie, start with easy-to-grow vegetables like cut-and-come-again salad leaves, courgettes, French beans, cherry tomatoes, rocket and basil. Use good seed compost such as John Innes No 1 and invest in a Compact Plant Trainer, which is a boon for beginners (£14.29 from www.gardening-naturally.com).

At this time of year I always bring my compost indoors to warm up for a couple of days before sowing seeds, as this really helps germination; when your seedlings start to emerge pot them into bigger pots and protect them from frosts if growing outside.

By Catherine Saunders. Follow Lady Muck on Twitter @LadyMuckStyle

Right, must dash – I need to grab a Diet Coke and ogle that six-pack photo one more time before deleting.

homes4u celebrates

its silver anniversary!

Appreciative of 25 years of loyal custom, award-winning letting agent homes4u is celebrating its silver anniversary with a series of charity, cultural and social events.

For many people renting or buying, this may be their first time, so we encourage them to pop in and talk to us.”

Having recently increased her executive Team, Carolyn finds time to diversify and affiliate with causes such as the Maggie’s Charity, which provides drop-in centres for anyone affected by cancer. Since 1996, the first Maggie’s Centre in Edinburgh has grown to 18 centres across the UK and abroad.

homes4u’s success is underpinned by its attention to detail and provision of that personal touch. Consequently, there is low staff turnover within all four citywide branches and repeat business is the norm; 30% of the 50strong homes4u team have achieved over five years’ service and 13% have remained with the firm over a decade.

From the spacious new Fallowfield offices a half mile from the company’s original 1990 base Withington, MD Carolyn Mellor says: “We’re more than a shopfront with houses and apartments to sell and rent. We’re a team a close-knit group of friends as well as colleagues. It feels more like a family.”

She continues: “Our front-line staff recognise that technology is key to speed and efficiency, but they’re equally aware that people like talking to people. After all, finding your next home is a major life decision for anyone.

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By Fay Wertheimer

On 22 April, Carolyn and other Manchester Board members, will attend the launch of the Maggie’s Centre due to open at The Christie in 2016.

A 20-foot timber truss will be erected on site and a time capsule buried there in the presence of hospital and charity dignitaries, principal sponsors, architect Sir Norman Foster and landscape architect Dan Pearson.

Architecture and landscape design are integral to providing the charity’s uplifting, caring environment and so the homes4u commitment to Maggie’s will be celebrated in July when it sponsors a Maggie’s Water Garden at the 2015 RHS Flower Show at Tatton.

Carolyn and her family, like one in three UK citizens, have been touched by cancer. In her marketing and fundraising capacity, Carolyn has been astounded by public generosity. She concludes: “In our anniversary year, it’s wonderful for our local business to have involvement in the local arm of a growing international charity. The Maggie’s Charity is close to me on a personal level and location-wise too.

I welcome the opportunity to give back something to this community, which has supported homes4u over the past 25 years.”

2015 is young and homes4u has a number of other events in store during their 25th anniversary year watch this space.

Whether you are looking you to buy, rent, sell or let, homes4u offers unrivalled, stress-free service.

Email: md@homes4u.co.uk or visit www.homes4u.co.uk

OUR PassiOn...

SPECIALIST KITCHEN DESIGN | INSTALLATION | PROJECT MANAGEMENT If youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re looking for inspiration, why not call in to discuss your ideas and plans with our Kitchen Specialists team.

Located in central Wilmslow, in-toto kitchens provide a tailored service to each client, mixing award winning German quality and craftsmanship to each kitchen designed specifically for you and your lifestyle.

With a wealth of experience, working from either Architects Plans or a Home Survey visit, we provide a free design service, through to project management and complete Kitchen installation.

t: 01625 530792 | e: wilmslow@intoto.co.uk | w: intoto.co.uk Wilmslow Green I Station Road I Wilmslow I Cheshire I SK9 1BT

COMING SOON A Night at the Movies David Arnold with Manchester Camerata Tuesday 14 April 7.30pm Includes music from the James Bond movies, Independence Day & Godzilla

Jonathan Scott Spring Lunchtime Organ Recitals Dancing Feet Tuesday 19 May 1.10pm Jonathan Scott performs music from the world of ballet & dance

Tuesday 31 March - Friday 24 April A series of concerts & events for the piano at The Bridgewater Hall

Wayne Marshall organ Matthew Hamilton conductor Manchester Chamber Choir Saturday 23 May 7.30pm A programme of French 20th century organ works

Associate Artist Noriko Ogawa leads this exploration into the piano music of Ravel & Rachmaninov, aided by Peter Donohoe. The series includes recitals by both performers, plus lectures and family events. It culminates in a Piano Concerto Finale on Friday 24 April, when Noriko and Peter are joined by Martin Roscoe and Kathryn Stott together with the BBC Philharmonic.

Part of the International Concert Series 14|15 Box Office: 0161 907 9000 www.bridgewater-hall.co.uk 54

Box Office: 0161 907 9000 www.bridgewater-hall.co.uk

Food RevieW

Amazing graze offers amazing food at

Michael Caines’ Abode, Manchester Manchester restaurants might be struggling to win a Michelin star but there is no shortage of Michelin star chefs coming to cook here. Michael Caines, a regular on Saturday Kitchen, winning chef of The Great British Menu and with two stars to his name, has been in Manchester longer than most.

His eponymous restaurant at Abode Hotel on Piccadilly is relaunching its Amazing Graze lunch menu, so we went along to enjoy a taster.

Abode is a beautiful Victorian boutique hotel with a stunning tiled entrance.

Walk down the stairs to the basement restaurant on a sunny afternoon and it takes the eyes a moment or two to adjust. The restaurant had a delightful buzz with a mixture of suits and ladies sampling the lunchtime menu, and at £15 for three small plates, who can blame them?

We began by ordering two small savoury plates, saving one small plate so we could choose a dessert.

A portion of roasted skrei cod came to me with a confit of lemon purée and more cauliflower (which was so well cooked I wanted seconds), all served on a bed of tabbouleh. The flaky, white, well-seasoned cod was divine and the lemon purée packed a punch.

Beautifully presented, these dishes are impressive.

It was roasted watermelon with feta and pickled cucumber for my lunch guest, and roasted cauliflower bacon bouillon for me. Naturally, I have to sample all the dishes and the chilled but chargrilled watermelon was incredibly refreshing with the saltiness of the feta giving the dish some substance.

My cauliflower was extremely al dente but the bouillon broth had a powerful flavour. It was a very small portion and I was glad to have another plate on the way and the delicious home-made bread to soak up the bouillon.

For dessert we shared the artic roll with rich and creamy vanilla ice cream surrounded by sponge. It looked so authentic it took me back to fighting over a portion with my brother and sister. A dark chocolate cremeux gave an intense hit and the griottine cherries were an absolute delight. This greatvalue and beautiful lunch was washed down with one of the creamiest, most beautiful bottles of Viognier I’ve had in years. Bravo. When can we go back?

Tickets for ‘An Evening with Michael Caines’ at the Abode Hotel on 14 May are now available.

By Helen Lawson

My lunch guest had wild mushroom tagliatelle, which wasn’t a very imaginative vegetarian option but wonderfully tasty.

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dInInG GuIde SOuTHeRn eLeVen Manchester

neIGHbOuRHOOd eATeRy And bAR Manchester

Head to Southern Eleven, Manchester’s original American barbecue restaurant, for home-comfort favourites straight from the Eleven Southern States. These include hickory-smoked pulled pork, beef brisket, fried chicken, baby back and belly ribs – all slow-cooked in their Oklahoman wood-burning ovens and served with a selection of home-made barbecue sauces and sides. If you’re feeling particularly hungry, Tuesday is the day for you – all-you-can-eat chicken and ribs are served from noon until 10pm for only £14.95 per person, including one free bottle of beer in the offer. Open from noon seven days a week.

www.southern11.co.uk 3 Hardman Street | Spinningfields Manchester | M3 3EB | Tel: 0161 843 0482 southerneleven @southerneleven 56

VIneyARd West Didsbury

A new licensed Turkish restaurant and winery in the heart of Burton Road, West Didsbury. It’s an inviting Turkish restaurant that aims for customers to feel relaxed and comfortable. The great décor and unique adornment of the restaurant contribute to a special atmosphere where anything feels possible, especially after a glass of chilled wine. The waiting staff are friendly and attentive and led by the ever-jolly manager. The experienced chef displays his worldly appreciation of flavour in the varied dishes on the menu. Vineyard select the most popular, best-quality Turkish dishes that they think superbly complement Turkish cuisine. Well, the only way to find out, is to go and visit them!

A New York eatery and bar inspired by Manhattan’s definitive neighbourhoods is honing its unique take on casual fine dining, luxury ingredients and industrial chic aesthetics on Spinningfield’s The Avenue North. The team at Neighbourhood Eatery and Bar have produced a Manhattan execution of international cuisine. Neighbourhood's flavours and ingredients are determined by the borough's diverse gastronomic experience and distinct European flourish. Brunch, lunch and dinner are served daily, and there is an impressive cocktail, champagne and wine selection.

The restaurant also offers a unique Mad Hatter’s Afternoon Tea with the choice of traditional sandwiches and cakes or Neighbourhood favourites, including mini-burgers, hot dogs and lobster tacos. The venue is dressed to a standard suitable for the Hatter himself, with giant teacups, grassy tables and playing cards. Open from noon seven days a week.

SPECIAL OFFER | Weekend Early Bird and Lunch Menu. Visit the website for menu and reservations.

www.neighbourhoodrestaurant.co.uk The Avenue North | Spinningfields Manchester | M3 3BT | Tel: 0161 832 6334

www.vineyardmed.co.uk Vineyard Restaurant and Winery 198 Burton Road | West Didsbury Manchester M20 1LH

neighbourhoodrestaurant @neighbourhood4

Tel: 0161 222 0984

To get your business featured contact the Sales Team on 0161 445 2883 or email info@salutions.co.uk

dInInG GuIde VeLO eSpReSSO Altrincham

FILTHy COW Manchester

A new Altrincham venture is attracting bike enthusiasts after combining an artisan coffee shop with a cycle boutique. Dedicated to celebrating the history, success and importance of cycling in Greater Manchester, Velo Espresso sells cycle-related products, from sports nutrition to clothing. Run

by Neil Lee and Marie Lee, the Stamford House Altrincham Velo Espresso is a 25-seat coffee shop featuring cycling memorabilia. It offers a range of premium, ethically sourced coffee along with home-made cakes and sandwiches, as well as a display of handbuilt bikes from some of Britain’s best frame and cycle builders, including the Classic British brand Pashley.

Neil said: “Velo Espresso and Cycle Manchester is a destination where cyclists and non-cyclists alike can relax over a coffee, enjoy a healthy lunch, find out about cycling events locally, or just chill and watch one of the classic races shown on TV.”

Any dedicated epicure will be aware that more often than not, London overwhelmingly ‘milks’ the limelight as far as the hottest restaurant openings and newest food concepts are concerned.

Well the herd at Filthy Cow are bored of that and don’t believe the North should continue to be overshadowed as a foodie destination. Following months of covert undercover investigations into the existing burger scene, Filthy Cow has made it their mission to indulge the burger connoisseur’s wildest meat fantasies. They have gone to great lengths to make sure their well-hung, prime beef burgers are the ultimate guilty pleasure and promise quality and indulgence served up with genuine passion and an overriding sense of fun. The menu is deliberately short and punchy but will satisfy the most carnal burger desires. The herd at Filthy Cow love their outdoor action and all their beef is locally sourced, outdoor reared and from the best farms in the country. Filthy Cow will set the benchmark for memorable dining in Manchester, with creamy milkshakes, local craft beers and weeklychanging wines from small independent local producers. These will accompany the main event and are served alongside rustic ‘skin on’ chips, authentic ‘slaw’ and onion rings. The interior design is farmyard-industrial crossed with Soho-neon and the staff have undergone extensive training to ensure they are the finest burger connoisseurs in the land, no-one will know better than them to advise of what goes well with your Filthy Beast burger.

cyclemancuk @cyclemancuk

velo_espressouk

The Lime Tree Restaurant is an awardwinning family-run business established in 1987 in Didsbury, Manchester by chefowner Patrick Hannity. In 2012 Patrick opened The Lime Tree Restaurant and Wine Bar in Bollington, Cheshire. Both restaurants produce a regularly changing menu focusing on top-quality local produce, much of which comes from their own farm at Macclesfield Forest.

Patrick purchased Hardingland Farm with the purpose of rearing his own rare breed pork, lamb and other seasonal produce for a specialist menu in both restaurants.

You can follow the link to their farm here www.hardinglandfarm.com/index.htm They also have their own in-house baker who bakes fresh bread and pasta. Their front-of-house style is unfussy, efficient and friendly. There is an extensive wine list and a regular Wine Club is hosted by Patrick and a guest sommelier or producer. An outside catering service to suit any event or venue is also offered.

In March this year The Lime Tree was awarded Best Restaurant South Manchester in The Fine Dining Category of the Eat Drink Sleep Awards.

E: Coffee Shop: veloespresso@icloud.com E: cyclemanchester@icloud.com Velo Espresso 11–13 Moss Lane | Altrincham WA14 1BL Tel: 0161 215 2578

THe LIMe TRee Didsbury & Bollington

www.filthycowburgers.co.uk 10 Tib Lane | Manchester | M32 4JB Tel: 0161 839 5498 E:

hello@filthyfood.co.uk @filthycowuk

www.thelimetreerestaurant.co.uk Didsbury: M20 2WS | Tel: 0161 445 1217 Bollington: SK10 5PH | Tel: 01625 578 182 The-Lime-Tree-Didsbury @thelimetreeres @thelimetreeres

To get your business featured contact the Sales Team on 0161 445 2883 or email info@salutions.co.uk

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THe eAT dRiNk SLeeP AWARdS 2015

What a night to be part of Manchester's hospitality industry The Eat Drink Sleep Awards 2015 saw the crème de la crème turn out in force for a glitzy celebration of the best the north west has to offer.

The event was held at the Mercure Hotel, where guests tucked into a three-course meal as they waited to see if their favourite restaurants and hotels had won prizes at the inaugural event.

Great John Street Hotel

Alderley Edge Hotel

Decided by the greatest and most soughtafter critics on the planet - you, the general public – an impressive 63,000 votes were cast across numerous categories pertaining to Manchester's vibrant offering of dining and drinking.

Russell Feingold

Someone who definitely knows what she likes, Magali Gorre, from ITVBe's Real Housewives of Cheshire, was on hand to present awards to winners such as Mottram Hall and The Lowry, and she added an extra touch of glamour to the proceedings.

Among the big winners of the evening were The Alderley Edge Hotel (South) and Great John Street (Central), which claimed Best Boutique Hotel.

Almost Famous (Central) received a nod for Best Casual Dining, while Tim Bacon and Jeremy Rogers were honoured with the title of Best Entrepreneurs for Living Ventures (Greater Manchester).

Dean & Magali Gorre with Tim Bacon

Love was also in the air for The Mere Resort & Spa (South), Nutters (North) and The Midland Hotel (Central), who picked up Best Wedding Venue.

Tim Bacon

Reflecting on a successful first year for the Eat Drink Sleep Awards 2015 (The Drinkies), founder Paul Kilroe, who is also the man behind The Grafters and Talk Of Manchester, said: "Everyone had an amazing night and it was a fantastic springboard for our Liverpool and Leeds ceremonies."

He added: "It was really special to see Tim Bacon honoured for all he does for the industry. Huge congratulations to all of the many worthy winners."

The Midland Hotel 58

The Limetree

THe eAT dRiNk SLeeP AWARdS 2015

The Botanist

Paul & Nicola Kilroe with Magali Gorre

Chaophraya The Lowry Hotel

Fazenda

Neighbourhood

Ziara Siddique, Salim Uddin-Khandakar, Dean & Magali Gorre

Mottram Hall 59

ZiyA ASiAN GRiLL

An evening at

ZiyA ASiAn grill i was lucky enough to sample the delights of the delicious Ziya Asian grill in the heart of the renowned ‘Curry Mile’ in Manchester.

I spent the journey from my home near Liverpool looking forward to the food, as it was a long time since I had enjoyed a really good curry and I could not wait to see what everyone had been talking about. I had heard whispers that none other than the famous boxer Amir Khan had eaten at Ziya recently.

Well, I thought – if it was good enough for him…!

As soon as we pulled up outside the restaurant I could tell we were in for a treat. Ziya stands out by a mile in comparison to its neighbours, with its elegant and contemporary design creating a brilliant impression before you even walk through the door.

We were warmly welcomed by Olivia, the assistant manager, and Adam on the bar, who settled us in with an excellent chilled Pinot Grigio. Before long, Ziya’s lovely co-owner Jane arrived and we had a good chat about the new menu and their planned expansion into takeaway and home delivery.

I was given a tour of the restaurant, which is split over three floors. The third floor is a large private dining room with a separate bar that can be hired for events. The restaurant is lavishly furnished, with a well-stocked marble bar, candlelit lanterns and an eye-catching chandelier. The bathrooms are modern and immaculately clean, which is definitely one of the marks of a quality restaurant.

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After amazing mixed starters of Tandoori Chicken and Peshwari Lamb Chop, we were treated to the Corn Cheese Tikki (delicious pan-fried patties made from sweetcorn, potato, cheese and herbs). I had never tried these before and they were so moreish and delicious. We were spoiled with wonderfully sweet and doughy Peshwari Naan, Garlic Naan and Plain Naan bread.

I was lucky enough to go behind the scenes once again, meeting the chefs, exploring the kitchens and seeing the amazing Tandoor oven in operation, which was a first for me. I was soon getting under Chef Ali’s feet and I managed to capture some great shots of him at work!

For the main course we had Pilau rice, Chicken Korma, Makhni Chicken, Lamb Dopiaza and a Channa Masala (a wonderful vegetarian curry with tangy cream sauce). Indeed, Ziya offers many delightful dishes to cater for vegetarian diners, such as Shani Paneer (a North Indian curry with cheese and cashew nuts) and Gobi Masala with Cauliflower and Jeera Aloo (a potato curry with cumin and onions).

We sat with Jane for dinner and drinks, and it was so lovely to chat about a million different subjects and especially about how useful social media is for business these days! All that interesting chat meant we had worked up an appetite for dinner – and what a meal it was.

After the wonderful main courses, which were delicately spiced and deliciously moreish, we were quick to protest at the idea of dessert until Jane told us about the delights of Mango Phirni, a cardamom-infused rice pudding topped with mango.

Ziya 65–67 Wilmslow Road Manchester M14 5TB 0161 257 2010 | www.ziyarestaurant.co.uk

There was also the tempting-sounding Jamon o Gull to consider (milk dumplings soaked in saffron syrup and served with ice cream). We decided to order these two desserts to share between us and we were absolutely delighted by the wonderful flavours of both. The Mango Phirni was a light and delicious dessert with exotic flavours perfect for a hot evening in Mumbai! The Jamon o Gull was sinfully delicious, with the rich syrupy dumplings providing a perfectly sweet note upon which to conclude the wonderful meal!

I would recommend Ziya to anybody who loves excellent Indian food, as they offer an amazing array of wonderful dishes in a chic and sophisticated setting. There is a great selection of cocktails on offer too, even non-alcoholic ones. We had a wonderful night meeting Jane and the team and we set off back towards Liverpool with the feeling of amazing contentment that follows a perfect meal. Thank you so much to Jane and all at Ziya. See you again soon!

By Camille Allcroft www.cococami.blogspot.co.uk Twitter: @cococamiblog 61

A

chance encounter in a Chester restaurant was to provide the launch pad for a remarkable woman’s brilliant career that saw her rise from waitressing to her current position as one of the most influential women in Britain’s competitive restaurant and bar market.

Born and raised in Chester, Sue Crimes, Chief Executive Officer of Gusto Restaurants, had had an ordinary life that gave no indication of the future life to come. Though she had done well at school, she was unsure of her next step until a fortuitous meeting with the future founders of one of the country’s leading restaurant groups was to dramatically change all that.

I met up with Sue in the elegant art deco surroundings of Gusto’s new restaurant in Elliot House on Lloyd Street. The beautifully transformed building provided the perfect location for Sue’s recollection of her own equally vivid transformation: “After completing my A levels I took a break from further education, and while weighing up my options I took a job as a waitress at Watergates restaurant in the city centre. It was my first experience of catering and, like many other people, I’d really just fallen into it as a stop-gap measure. After about two years of working there I was approached by Tim Bacon and Jeremy Roberts, now CEO and Group Commercial Director, respectively, of restaurant group Living Ventures. They asked me to work for them as a junior manager at their new venture, Via Vita, which was about to open next door.”

Susan had some experience of restaurant work at this stage, so was there something that stood out to mark her potential and invite a potential headhunt?

62

Her reply is refreshingly frank: “I don’t really know what they saw in me that made them ask me to work with them. Tim did say that I had a good eye for detail, but it can’t really just have been that alone. I did enjoy working in the restaurant and perhaps that showed. I honestly don’t know why they picked me.”

Clearly though, Sue was displaying signs that marked her out as above average, as just weeks after starting work at Via Vita, Tim and Jeremy suggested that Susan should really jump into the deep end.

“They fast-tracked me into management with on-the-floor training, and after a couple of weeks at Via Vita they asked me to relocate to Bristol as assistant general manager of their restaurant there. I looked around me and even though my life in Chester was good, I realised that I did want to see and experience more of life outside my comfort zone. I liked Tim and Jeremy and the ethos and culture of their fledgling restaurant business, and wanted to continue working for them.

It just made sense to me.”

Of course, she went to Bristol and was successful there; so much so, that when Via Vita was sold off, Sue was the only restaurant manager to be retained for their next venture, Life Cafe, in Liverpool. A pattern had been set and Sue was now most definitely a part of it.

“I loved my job and worked hard too, and after proving myself in Bristol, I alone out of all the managers went with Tim and Jeremy to Life Cafe. I was young, had energy and I learned on the job very quickly. I also found that, despite not liking maths at school, I had a good head for business numbers.”

Was she, on reflection, a workaholic at this stage in her life?

“Yes, I probably was. I wasn’t like that in any of my previous jobs but everything just seemed to click into place when I met Tim and Jeremy; I loved working with them at Life Cafe and when that eventually led to the Living Room and

the setting up of Living Ventures I became a part of the operations team, which meant leaving the restaurant floor. I’d grown up and developed my skills with this company and so it just seemed natural.”

Living Ventures was formed in 1999 and soon proceeded to revolutionise the north west drinking and dining scene.

Sue was there from the beginning, and after many varying roles – including concept management and Director of Training and Development, as well as many brand launches – she eventually found herself with the Gusto brand, which is where we find her today. So far, so smooth, but surely there must have been some turbulence along the way?

“Of course there was; I had some pretty steep learning curves to overcome and there were tears, tantrums and fights as the pressures built up. I never seriously considered walking away as I loved my job and the company too much, but there were moments, certainly, when I might have contemplated it.”

The arrival of her son, Oscar (with longterm partner Lee) five years ago has seen a change of pace for Sue but no lessening of responsibility. A partnership between Living Ventures and Palatine Equity has provided a launch pad for expansion of the group’s Gusto brand.

Sue’s in charge of this and I wondered how she balances the two competing demands of home and work?

“I’m in a very fortunate position; I have a very supportive family, not least my partner, Lee, and I also have a brilliant team working with me. I’d always wanted children but just never seemed to get around to it, but now that Oscar’s here he’s my priority. I do have great responsibility for meeting the expectations of our new investment partners but it’s a fabulous opportunity and I’m learning so much along the way.

I can manage the juggling and enjoy my family, which is of paramount importance to me, because it’s what I’ve always done.”

I believe she can, and one thing’s for certain: she won’t miss any of the details.

GO TO gustorestaurants.uk.com for more information on your nearest restaurant.

Gusto Manchester 4 Lloyd Street (off Deansgate) Manchester M2 5AB Tel: 0161 832 2866

LIVInG VenTuReS’ Sue CRIMeS

living life to the full with zeal and – gusto!

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Food & dRiNk

64

Your wedding is second nature

It’s about never needing to let your feet touch the ground. Ever.

2IZIV RIIHMRK XS JIIP XLI TVIWWYVIW SJ FIMRK XLI FVMHI XS FI -X´W EFSYX ¾ SEXMRK EGVSWW E WIE SJ GEPQ as consummate professionals handle each and every detail before your very eyes.

It’s about nature. We have it. 270 glorious acres of it.

Your wedding at Mottram Hall. It’s second nature to us.

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Terms and conditions apply. Open days and wedding fayre date subject to change at the discretion of the hotel.

CHAoPHRAyA Kim Kaewkraihot’s life might seem improbable and even too fantastic for comparison with the tale of Anna and the King of Siam, but Kim’s voyage of self-discovery is all the more compelling because it really is true. As her dream of bringing the fabulously rich taste of Thailand to the UK is ever-more realised, so her tale grows more vivid and inspirational.

Born in a small village, Kirimart, in the north of Thailand in 1968, her early life was marked by events that perhaps defined her future. “I was only four when my father died and then we lost my brother too, which was very upsetting, and of course a great loss to me and my family. I then left school when I was eight with very little formal education, though it hasn’t really held me back. I went on to work in garment factories to help provide for our family.

I always cooked the family meals with my mum while I was working in factories.”

Clearly, love of family, hard work and determination were key to Kim successfully overcoming such sad events at that very young age, and once she’d started, there seemed to be no holding her back. “I set up my own garment factory in 1988, all the while cooking the family meals with mum and cooking for up to 50 factory workers.”

Then in 1993 Kim moved to Bangkok, and like Anna, it was there that her dreams started to become very real. “It was around 1993 that I started my street stall from a hand-pushed cart in Bangkok. It was hard to start with, but I always loved cooking and loved pleasing my customers. I wasn’t always good, but I listened to my customers and always tried to improve. Soon I had queues for my food cart and even won an award for my Pad Thai sauce –

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the same sauce we still use in our restaurants now!”

Bangkok also provided her with her future partner in love and business, Martin Stead. “I was working on my street stall in Bangkok when I met Martin. It was around two o’clock in the morning and this charming Englishman and his friends came to buy some food from my food cart. They were in Thailand on holiday. Martin was hungry but his friends were tired and wanted to go back to the hotel; he managed to convince them to come and get some food – and then he met me. He’s lucky, right? Ha ha!”

So began the next leg of Kim’s journey: one that would lead her to the north of England and into success unimagined from the vantage point of a Bangkok street food stall. “As Martin and I got to know each other, he believed I had a real flair for creative cooking. He had a vision of bringing authentic Thai food and genuine Thai hospitality to the UK, and I realised this might be possible.

I had always enjoyed cooking, from helping mum in the kitchen when I was very young, to going out to market in the morning to try and buy fresh ingredients. “So in 2004, after setting up my home from home in Leeds, we opened our first Chaophraya restaurant in the city. Now, here we are ten years later with 11 restaurants and employing over 500 people – amazing! I never once imagined that I would come from a street cart to owning so many restaurants that cook for hundreds of regular customers.”

I asked Kim if she could explain the secret of her success. “My ingredients for success are passion and determination, but you need to have passion!

My family motto, ‘Ow Jai Sai’, which means ‘care from the heart’, is also important and we have other core Thai beliefs that help us deliver superb service, such as ‘Sanook’, which encourages you to smile, have fun and be natural!”

Kim and Martin’s company, Thai Leisure Group, has recently launched Thaikhun, which reflects Kim’s former life as a street food seller. “As it is such a big part of my roots, I am so proud of Thaikhun (pronounced ‘tycoon’) as it celebrates the work of the street hawkers back in Bangkok; they are the real foodie entrepreneurs. Thaikhun is like the younger, crazy and funkier sister to Chaophraya, ha! Many of our customers tell me it reminds them of their holidays in Thailand, which makes me very happy.

“Within the next five years we hope to grow the business, opening more Thaikhun and Chaophraya sites. London is also in our sights, both for Chaophraya and Thaikhun, but location is key to success in the big smoke!”

I asked this remarkable woman about the future and if it might include slowing down! “Luckily, I regularly travel back to Thailand to research new ingredients and dishes, and shop for the interiors of our restaurants, some of which are blessed by Thai monks.

We always visit my mum and sometimes even steal things from her house to put in our restaurants; her hat’s in Thaikhun Manchester and her fishing basket in Thaikhun Aberdeen!

Perhaps, when I’m older, I’ll take some time to relax and then alternate living between England and Thailand.” I’d say she will have certainly earned her rest by then!

The Queen and I from the streets of Bangkok, Kim Kaewkraikhot brings the majesty of Thailandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s delicious cuisine to the United Kingdom.

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table for two…

…with paul Wolfgang Webster at piccolino, Didsbury Fine art photographer Paul Wolfgang Webster has been chronicling the faces of prominent Northerners throughout his distinguished working life; Tony Wilson, Sir Alex Ferguson, Brian Cox and Betty Boothroyd are just a few of the 200 or so subjects he’s captured to create a portrait of the North Alessandro, our gracious host, started the ball rolling perfectly with a deliciously hearty ribollita for Paul and succulent gamberoni for me.

Paul’s roots are firmly Northern; he was born in Rochdale but his horizon broadened when he emigrated to Australia with his parents on a £10 Assisted Passage ticket. He loved living in Sydney as a child but his stay was brief; after seven years down under, homesickness brought the family sailing back to Rochdale.

Simultaneously, a double dose of pneumonia severely debilitated him and also had the unfortunate effect of wiping clean most of his Australian memories.

As we digested this significant event over ravioli di zucca and bistecca, Paul told me about how images have since come to dominate his memories. One striking recollection of a small white church atop a hill bedecked in green and black foliage in Tahiti perhaps exemplifies his strong visual gifts best.

After leaving school he did a series of jobs, including a spell in a cotton mill. It was there that he first met Fred Dibnah, whom he was to later photograph. Influenced by the dominant post-punk scene in Manchester, Paul was drawn to creative expression and so, in his 68

mid-20s, enrolled on a photography course at Bradford. While there he met and was influenced and encouraged by such photographic greats as Don McCullin. Paul’s strengths as a portrait photographer emerged and he slowly began to compile an impressive portfolio of renowned subjects.

For the past couple of years, Paul has been planning his book, Made in the North, which is a collection of his impressive portraits. As we savoured our panettone al cioccolato and panna cotta, Paul told me that his aim was to produce a book that was filled with inspirational Northerners. They’re not all well-known faces but they are all significant figures in their own respective fields. He has a singular talent for drawing the eye to less obvious points of the picture; his portrait of Ken Dodd is haunting because his aged hands become the focus of the gaze.

Paul has had his photographs exhibited in the National Portrait Gallery; his portraits of Brian Cox and Fred Dibnah could even be described as the definitive images of these two well-known faces. His works are also exhibited for sale in Sam’s and Mr Thomas’s Chop Houses and the

Albert Square Chop House, with all sales contributing a donation to the Genesis Breast Cancer Prevention charity. His gallery in Cheadle Hulme is home to his impressive portfolio of work, which also includes his equally detailed pieces on New York and Venice.

Paul Wolfgang Webster’s portfolio of great Northerners is a reminder of our region’s terrific creative drive and how we’ve harnessed it for our industry for the greater good. I would nominate Paul as an appropriate subject for his own book given the subjects he’s so brilliantly captured. Only a selfportrait could possibly do him justice though!

Our thanks to Alessandro and Piccolino in Didsbury for their very kind hospitality. individualrestaurants.com/piccolino Wolfgang Webster Gallery Gill Bent Road Cheadle Hulme Stockport SK8 6NB T: 0161 488 4889 M: 0781 218 1589 wolfgangwebstergallery.com

By Mark Kureishy

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THE AMAZING GRAZE MENU Three courses

Four courses

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£15.00 £20.00 £25.00 per person

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Accompanying wines are available to match the menu – supplements apply. Available Tuesday to Saturday lunch time.

To make your reservation please call 0161 885 5075 or visit www.abodemanchester.co.uk

Meet new friends, transform your social life, have fun & keep your brain active.

Call Jeff or Dave on 0161 445 3712 to register www.manchesterbridge.co.uk 70

Courses start regularly (supervised play & beginners) from Monday 13th April 1-30pm & Wednesday 15th April @ 7.30pm

BRIDGE FOR BEGINNERS!

Jens Hallman is General Manager at Radisson Blu Hotel Manchester Airport.

Swedish-born Jens has over 20 years’ experience within the hospitality industry, having held positions in conference and banqueting, food and beverage, sales and marketing, and general management; he has worked in Sweden, Norway, Austria, United States, England, Scotland and Wales.

Stockholm is very trendy with a strong presence of technology, food, cars and fashion. It is a very clean and beautiful city on the coast with a fantastic archipelago. However, my favourite Swedish city is Gothenburg, our second city, which is more laid back, warmer and offers far better football.

You’ve worked in various cities around the world. What’s your favourite and why?

I worked in Salzburg, Austria for a while and this is a truly amazing city. It is small and friendly with incredible culture, good food and drink, and you have the best of many worlds. You are close to the Alps, with world-class skiing within an hour’s travel, and you are equally close to Italy and the Balkans.

Everything of interest is so close.

Why did you embark on a career in Hospitality?

Because I like to eat good food and I like to meet new people. Being a General Manager is a perfect balance between administration, being host and getting to be involved in eating a lot of good food.

The Radisson Blu at Manchester Airport has recently had a £10million refurbishment programme. For readers who haven’t been, what can they expect to see?

A full transformation to a modern first-class hotel. All aspects of the hotel have been meticulously considered and planned before the remodelling.

Photography: Stephen McGowan

With our new Business Class offer, which includes a fantastic lounge, and our new bar we are bringing laidback luxury to the airport. This did not exist in the airport before our remodelling.

Rock stars and celebrities are notorious for wrecking hotel rooms. What’s the most bizarre thing you’ve witnessed?

I have hosted a range of dignitaries and rock stars in my various jobs over the years, including Bill Clinton and the Rolling Stones, and while demands are high the celebrities I’ve come across have been exemplary. I’m sorry I don’t have anything more exciting to share.

Guests can be demanding. Are there any unusual requests you can remember?

One guest wanted bin-liners taped over the windows, and another wanted a satellite dish installed to watch certain TV programmes. Most requests are doable as long as the budget is right.

What’s the best way of getting upgraded?

Throwing in the name of the manager?

Telling the receptionist how often you visit? Showing your appreciation with a tip?

Be a bit forward and ask for one, but make sure it is in a pleasant way. If you don’t ask, you don’t get. Sometimes it works.

How do you unwind?

I suppose this is where I should say I listen to opera and sip an expensive Pinot Noir, but that is not me. My big passion in life other than my family and kids is racing motorbikes. I try to do that as much as I can.

Finally, Sweden means Volvo, Saab and, of course, ABBA. What’s your favourite ABBA song?

I suppose being Swedish it is compulsory to love ABBA. ABBA did a great thing for Sweden and for Swedish music, which is now part of our modern culture. I like Waterloo, as that was the song that really kicked it all off for the group.

Jens Hallman

How does Manchester compare to Stockholm?

Manchester is more laid back. People are friendlier and not as pretentious.

There is a clear sense that people don’t take themselves as seriously as us Swedes. This is a side I have really come to enjoy living in the North, and of course football is much better in Manchester. You also have the modern Mancunian music scene that is world-class.

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PEOPLE

Wendy Moran, Senior Lecturer in Public Relations at Manchester Metropolitan University Business School, turned from journalism to teaching and from environmental education to public sector communications before co-writing a practitioners’ manual with Gordon Brown’s brother John, and entering academia in 2007. Her students reap the benefit because modest, multifaceted Wendy, Chair of the Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR) Public Services Group, offers them tried-and-tested advice - not lofty ideals.

Wendy Moran explains PR to Fay Wertheimer PR has been associated with spin. The CIPR was formed by local government practitioners to work towards ethical practice.

Could you define PR please?

Lecturing undergraduates is inspiring. We’re part of their launch. At 21, few people know what they want to do, so my own ‘twisty’ journey reassures them. After all, Steve Jobs, who never graduated, concluded, ’You often can’t see any sense at the time but looking back all the dots join up.’

How’s PR viewed?

For many its Ab Fab: champagne and parties. For me its public sector PR. My first inadvertent foray into it was in 2002, persuading every Bath and Somerset secondary school, including one utterly averse to the idea, to recycle. Ironically PR has a bad reputation, deriving from its origins of propaganda and manipulation of the masses.

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There are over 500 definitions – on different levels too. Ideally PR is about creating mutual understanding between an organisation and its publics - a conversation. PR should involve networking, engagement and consultation. PR is not teenagers handing out flyers for nightclubs.

And marketing?

From a PR perspective, marketing is more transactional and predominantly in retail.

But marketeers claim their area also includes relationships.

What skills do PR professionals need?

Good communication, good English and a love for people.

But the charisma and behaviour to get you to the top can’t be taught.

The first PR stunt?

Bernays launched the controverisal idea of women smoking through a number of New York debutantes lighting up in a statue of liberty pose.

Subsequent smoking campaigns have tried to address this powerful iconography.

Any PR disasters?

At 5pm, after a tricky day handling Kingston’s flooding crisis, I was called by BBC London Tonight about a parking attendant filmed booking vehicles emerging from the subsiding waters.

Luckily, a quick intervention and hasty apology cleared the air.

Any funnies?

At a CIPR conference, Alastair Campbell refused my polite offer of a cup of tea, deferred to his own ‘minions‘ and, having mistaken me for a waitress, took a double take when I sat beside him at the top table!

TIME FOR A SPRING-CLEAN

It’s the long-awaited Spring-time, apparently! So time to spring clean the home, and all those other things that we put off to this time..

New tax year

Mortgages

6 April marks the start of the new tax year, making this the ideal time to also spring-clean your finances! Perhaps take a look at your budget planning and update this in line with your savings, investments and retirement objectives. To more accurately calculate these plans, cash flow modelling is just one of the tools used by Kellands to further enable clients to understand their current and future monetary position, by generating a graphical, financial planning forecast.

One of the largest outgoings for most households is the mortgage repayment.

With interest rates at an all-time low you should review the rate you are paying, maybe consider a fixed-rate deal, or perhaps become mortgage-free sooner!

Over the past two budgets, dramatic changes have been announced for both ISAs and pensions. There is no doubt that the improved flexibility on pension withdrawal after the age of 55 will leave many with the need to reconsider their savings strategy.

When reviewing you plans and options this may again open up the common question – ‘is an ISA or a pension the best for building my future savings?’ In order to help answer this it is important to fully understand your personal situation and what the best options are for you.

Protection Many parents have already recognised the importance of protecting loved ones through the purchase of critical illness or life cover, but without reviewing this they may find themselves inadequately protected. As with any other policy it should be reviewed to ascertain both its effectiveness to achieve objectives and the competitiveness of its monthly costs. Often, considerable savings can be made in this area.

Wills It’s surprising how few people have actually made a will, and if they have they are often out of date. A will is simply a legal document that ensures your wishes are acted upon after you die, meaning that those you would like to benefit from the proceeds of your pensions, investments, savings and protection, actually do so. Your loved ones will then have the peace of mind knowing they will receive any legacies in a timely manner.

So, dust off your existing paperwork and give them a spring clean to help ensure they are still in-line with your objectives for 2015, and beyond.

Kellands Chartered Financial Planners offer private and corporate clients a full advisory service on tax planning, investments, pensions and mortgages.

Call the team on 0161 929 8838.

You may have noticed our Hale office on Victoria Road is currently undergoing a full make-over!

We are still hard at work with BUSINESS AS USUAL in our temporary office two doors away at 28 Victoria Road. All numbers and emails remain unchanged.

Kellands (Hale) Limited.

24 Victoria Road, Hale, Altrincham WA15 9AD

0161 929 8838 hale@kelland.co.uk www.kelland-hale.co.uk

The value of investments can go down as well as up. Past performance is no indicator of future returns.

This article is correct at the time of print, and does not constitute advice. Authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.

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TheBusiness The coaching legend Vince Lombardi once said, “Individual commitment to a group effort - that is what makes a team work, a company work, a society work, a civilisation work.” It’s one of my favourite quotes about team-work, and really summarises the crux of what recruitment is all about.

Recruiting the right team I’m not going to bore or patronise you with a piece telling you to make sure that your new hire is affordable, benchmarked against market rates, supported well, given clear job descriptions, incentivised and so on. That’s all pretty much common sense; instead, I’ll give you three insights into the less-discussed parts of recruiting that have helped me over the years.

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Before you bring people on

The recruitment process

It’s critical that you and your team have a real understanding of what your company is all about. I’m not talking about the tangible here (relating to your product or service), but rather the intangible element concerning your company culture. Unless you know the personality of your organisation – its culture, its ethics and its motivations – you cannot expect a new entrant to buy into the passion. Many SMEs argue this is ‘big company’ territory, but I’ve seen many organisations first hand, that have grown from start-up to multibilliondollar organisations, and believe me – they had this together from the get-go.

The mechanics of how you assess candidates will vary from company to company, ranging from an informal coffee, to extreme psychometric testing. However, one of the most common mistakes made by companies of all sizes during recruitment is managing expectations. We all like to think we’re the best company in the world, but candidates will seriously appreciate an honest and frank view of the organisation they’re looking at.

Nobody is naïve enough to think they’re about to enter a wondrous place of perfection, but balancing the ‘we’re great because’ attitude with some honest ‘but we also need to develop xyz’ can really separate you from others in the market and show the candidate that you’re human.

It’s also important to turn this around in the interview and really get to know who that person is. For example, most investors take great pain to explain how they largely invest in the person rather than the idea, and this is true of you investing in new individuals for your company. Get to know them! Are they a good fit for you and your company culture?

The first few weeks The first few weeks are critical, not just from a performance perspective but also in terms of you (as a company) listening to your gut about a candidate’s future with your organisation.

Ultimately, you’re doing a disservice to your company and the candidate if you’re not honest about keeping them or don’t base your decision on a healthy mix of the gut and performance.

Got a question? Email: vikas.shah@thoughtstrategy.com | www.thoughtstrategy.com

MoneyMattersIt’s Time For Action

Manchester-based Wealth Management expert Kath Wilkinson gives us the lowdown on investing in an ISA.

What is an ISA?

Why should I speak to a financial adviser about ISAs?

ISA stands for Individual Savings Account. ISAs were introduced by the Government to encourage us all to develop a regular savings habit.

Everyone over the age of 16 in the UK can currently save up to £15,240 a year in ISAs, tax-free. Junior ISAs allow parents or grandparents to invest £4,080 for children aged under 16.

Good financial advisers offer professional guidance when it comes to selecting an ISA. The complexity and range of financial products available means that even the most informed investors should seek expert advice.

In my experience there are no offthe-shelf solutions, as every client is individual. By meeting face to face I can assess your personal requirements and attitude to risk, as well as your financial concerns, responsibilities and ambitions.

I then use my financial expertise to help you address the big picture and make managing your wealth simple and easy.

Make use of your 2015/16 ISA allowance. Now is the time to act.

Why should I have an ISA? Investing in an ISA offers you a taxefficient income and capital growth over the long term. The money you invest in an ISA is shielded from income tax and capital gains tax. There are two types of ISA. A Cash ISA has a fixed interest rate, which is usually higher than a normal savings account.

A Stocks and Shares ISA is linked to the performance of selected funds, bonds and shares in companies on the international stock market.

So once I’m set up with an ISA, is that it?

Regular review of your investments and overall finances is the key to successful wealth management. Over time, changes in your personal circumstances, changing legislation and the effects of inflation will all have an impact on your financial situation. As your trusted wealth manager, my role is to ensure any plans we put in place remain on course and appropriate, no matter what changes. Through regular reviews, I can help you reach your financial goals and plan a secure future for you and your family.

The value of an ISA with St James’s Place will be directly linked to the performance of the funds selected and may fall as well as rise. You may get back less than you invested, as investment in a Stocks and Shares ISA will not provide the same security of capital associated with a Cash ISA. The favourable tax treatment of ISAs may not be maintained in the future and is subject to changes in legislation.

The Partner Practice represents only St James’s Place Wealth Management plc (which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority) for the purpose of advising solely on the Group’s wealth management products and services. More details are set out on the Group’s website at: www.sjp.co.uk/products. The title ‘Partner Practice’ is the marketing term used to describe St James’s Place representatives.

For all your money matters, please contact: Kathryn L Wilkinson Wealth Management Ltd Partner Practice of St James’s Place Wealth Management

Email: kath.wilkinson@sjpp.co.uk | Mobile: 07973 779595 | Website: www.kathwilkinson.co.uk

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EDUCATION NEWS Twelve-year-old Iman Sheen and 17-year-old Sarah Strickland from Didsbury

PUPILS TAUGHT TO HUG THEIR MONSTERS Pupils at Manchester High School for Girls achieve some of the best public examination results in the country.

However, they were recently taught how to cope with failure and disappointment. ‘Hug the Monster’ week focused on improving pupils’ emotional resilience and self-esteem, teaching them to embrace risks and not to give up when faced with disappointment.

Senior School and sixth form girls gave advice to younger pupils about how they should respond to disappointments, and various activities including workshops and assemblies took place in school to raise awareness of this important topic.

Mrs Helen Jeys, Deputy Headmistress at Manchester High School for Girls, said: “This is a serious issue; a lack of emotional resilience can have a huge impact on our ability to deal with disappointment and change. We have an important duty to ensure that the girls we teach are able to develop strategies that will help them cope with any setbacks they experience in life.”

Mrs Jeys added: “The monster theme is memorable and one that will remind them to accept setbacks as potential opportunities for development. Failure and disappointments should not stop our students from following their dreams and aspirations. In the future, Hug the Monster week will become an annual feature of Manchester High’s broad Wellbeing programme. It has been fantastic to see how enthusiastically our girls have engaged with the campaign.”

Eleven-year-old Iman Sheen from Didsbury said: “I have learnt a lot from Hug the Monster week. It has been really helpful and I have learnt to embrace any disappointments, hug the monster and move on. If I get a bad test result in the future, I will pick myself up and do better next time.”

Mr Alun Jones, president of the Girls’ Schools Association, said: “It’s great to see another GSA school taking positive steps to help girls embrace the learning opportunities that come from failure. To paraphrase Richard Branson, we must not be embarrassed by our failures, we must learn from them and start again.”

MGS CROSS-COUNTRY TEAMS SMASH THEIR WAY TO VICTORY Manchester Grammar School’s Year 10 and 11 Cross-Country smashed a 42-year-old record recently at the 69th Annual Manchester Schools Cross-Country Championships. The MGS team, which included 15-yearolds Matthew Webb, from Hale; Daniel Shaw, from Todmorden; Mac O’Malley, from Manchester; and George Rushton, from Macclesfield, filled the podium at the event, with its runners coming 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th in the challenging 2K race.

The event, which saw 167 runners from 11 schools compete at Wythenshawe Park, was held to select the Manchester Schools’ team for the Greater Manchester Schools Championships.

Out of the 33 athletes selected for the Manchester team, 14 were MGS pupils, a fantastic achievement for the School.

MGS’s Year 10/11 team won for the 11th time and its Year 8/9 team won for the 12th time in the past 13 years.

Speaking about the race, Matthew Webb said: “This year the course was very muddy, which made the running really difficult. The Wythenshawe Park course is quite difficult at the best of times, so I am really pleased to have run

so well on this particularly wet day!”

Adam Smith, a teacher at MGS, added: “To have a team that has made history is an incredible achievement for the School. We are delighted at the success of our runners, and that we have such a strong presence in the Manchester team this year. Huge congratulations to our teams on doing so brilliantly; it is a well-deserved success!”

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SPOTLIGHT ON

Martin Dunn Tell us about yourself I live in Bramhall, with my partner Helen and our two boys. I'm originally from near Liverpool, but I've been based in the south Manchester area on and off for the past 25 years so I know it very well. I actually used to live within shouting distance of Moor Allerton. I'm a keen sportsman with fairly wide interests, but tennis is my current favourite.

Have you always worked in education?

What approach will you be bringing to Moor Allerton?

No. I worked for British Gas as a Systems Analyst for six years, and at one point I was even a scuba diving instructor!

I have a deep commitment to bringing out children's abilities and encouraging them to reach their potential. I also feel passionately that a child's education, especially at the primary school level, should be a positive and enriching experience. There are so many incredible opportunities for wonder at this age, and children who are in the right environment can be given a love of learning and new experiences that will set them up with open enquiring minds for the rest of their lives.

So when did you get into teaching, and what inspired you?

During some time that I spent away from the UK, I ended up at one point doing supply teaching at a bilingual school in Honduras. I was absolutely taken in by the influence and impact that a good teacher could have on the children. When I returned home, I spent a year working as a classroom assistant at Beech Hall School in Macclesfield, then did my teacher training at MMU before setting off on my teaching career proper.

When did you move to your current school?

After four years working in London, I moved to Firwood Manor in Chadderton. From there I moved to Greenbank School in Cheadle Hulme in 2006 as their Director of Studies, and then Assistant Head.

Have you faced any major challenges in your teaching career?

When I worked in London, I was in a state school in a fairly deprived part of north west London. Just getting the children into school to work was a daily trial. Getting them to love and respect their learning was even harder. However, the change from that environment to the very different expectations presented by independent education was without doubt the biggest challenge I have faced.

What are you most looking forward to in your new role at Moor Allerton?

It is a joy to be joining such a vibrant and successful school. The confidence and enthusiasm of the children as I toured for the first time was very much a part of my decision to accept the job. I am extremely excited by the opportunities presented by the new building and by the chance it will give us to widen and further improve the children's education experience.

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STOCKPORT GRAMMAR SCHOOL FOUNDED IN 1487

An independent school for girls and boys from 3-18 years Bursaries available at 11+ and 16+

Junior School Open Morning Saturday 9th May 2015, 10am - 12pm Come and spend a day in the Senior School Year 5 Taster Days 15th May, 20th May or 12th June To book call 0161 419 2408

Inspiring your Child

School day tours also available Tel: 0161 456 9000 80

www.stockpor . ortgrammar.co.uk r.co.uk

EDUCATION NEWS

HARRY POTTER NIGHT FOR SGS PUPILS Stockport Grammar School Library hosted their own Harry Potter Night for pupils across the school – joining in Bloomsbury Publishing’s first-ever global event celebrating the hugely popular series.

After stepping through Platform 9¾, Harry Potter fans found themselves in a magically transformed, candlelit library.

The Sorting Hat placed the pupils into their houses and they chatted excitedly among themselves about who might be the biggest Harry Potter expert among them.

As they listened to an extract from Harry Potter and The Philosopher’s Stone the tone was set for an evening of wizardry.

The four house teams – Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw and Slytherin – searched for objects from the wizarding world in a treasure hunt and wandduelled their way through a game of Petrified Potters (aka musical statues!) before feasting on ‘butter beer’, ‘pumpkin’ juice, pasties, treacle tarts, ‘Bertie Bots Every Flavour Beans’ and chocolate frogs.

A wizard-drawing contest and trivia quiz tested everybody’s knowledge and saw the houses ardently competing for the most points, with Ravenclaw steaming ahead to become the victors of the evening. After the Junior School’s Year 5 and 6 classes also experienced the fun the following day, teacher Mrs Joan Mercer said: “A huge thank you to the library for the Harry Potter party – the children from my class absolutely loved it. They returned completely fired up by the whole event and haven’t stopped talking about it all afternoon!”

MORE STELLA SUCCESS Pupils at Stella Maris School have been celebrating after each Year 6 child was offered a place at one or more of their chosen grammar schools - maintaining Stella Maris’s 100% record of success for grammar school entry across Manchester, Trafford and Stockport.

Pupils at the Heaton Mersey School were offered places at Withington Girls’ School, Manchester High School for Girls, Stockport Grammar School, St Ambrose College, Cheadle Hulme School, and St Bede’s College, with some children even offered academic scholarships due to outstanding performance in the exams.

Headteacher and Year 6 class teacher Mrs Johnson was delighted with the results and commented: “Our children deserve this high level of success because they have worked hard, demonstrating commitment and determination at every stage in the process. More importantly, they have enjoyed the journey and never felt under any pressure to produce these outstanding results.”

HIGH FIVE Congratulations to five students from The Grange who have received offers from Oxford and Cambridge.

For all five it is a well-deserved reward after an arduous process involving extensive preparation, rigorous testing and demanding interviews. Three hold Cambridge offers: Thomas Roe to read Veterinary Medicine at Emmanuel College, and Laragh Harvey-Kelly and Smriti Ramakrishnan to read Medicine at Christ's and Murray Edwards respectively. Two hold Oxford offers: Charlie Davies to read Geography at Jesus College, and Natasha Daly to read Philosophy and Psychology at Worcester.

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Moor Allerton Preparatory School Fortiter Laborare, Fortiter Ludite

• • • • •

Independent, school for boys and girls from 3-11 years old Excellent provision for Early Years Foundation Stage Safe, Nurturing and Stimulating Environment Excellent entrance exam results Fantastic new facilities currently under Construction.

Please come along and see what our school has to offer your child. For further information or to book a visit: Call (0161) 445 4521, email: office@moorallertonschool.co.uk or visit www.moorallertonschool.co.uk | 131 Barlow Moor Road, Didsbury, Manchester M20 2PW

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EDUCATION NEWS

ST BEDE’S PUPIL RECEIVES ROYAL APPROVAL FOR HER PART IN SCHOOL PLAY St Bede’s pupil Scarlett Gillis was so excited to be chosen for the role of Kate Middleton in a school play that she decided to write to the Duchess to tell her all about it.

The five-year-old Prep pupil played the Duchess alongside her leading man Joshua Rogers (also five), who played Prince William, in ‘A Tale of Two Birthdays,’ performed before an audience of friends and family.

The youngster wrote to the Duchess telling her about how she enjoyed being in the play and how her mum had bought her a lovely new red dress especially for the part.

But when an envelope with the Royal crest on it arrived for her at her home in Didsbury she couldn’t believe it: “I was amazed. I didn’t really think she would have time to reply to all those letters,” said Scarlett.

“I was really happy and glad when I saw the letter and the photograph.

I thought she was beautiful.”

She even wore jewellery that had been bought from a gift shop during a visit to the Tower of London.

“We were all very impressed with Scarlett’s letter. It was beautifully written and we’re delighted she got such a lovely response.”

Claire Hunt, Head of Prep at St Bede’s College, said Scarlett loves singing and dancing and was the perfect choice for the part: “Scarlett played the part very well and enjoyed every minute of it.

OXBRIDGE OFFERS FOR TWELVE AND USA BECKONS FOR OTHERS Twelve Withington Girls’ School sixth form students are holding conditional offers for places to study at Oxford or Cambridge University later this year, and two girls have also been offered places at prestigious American universities.

As university offers continue to arrive for Withington’s Class of 2015, for the third year in succession twelve girls have celebrated the new year by receiving conditional offers from Oxford or Cambridge. This equates to nearly one in six of the current 77-strong Upper Sixth cohort.

Pembroke, Natural Sciences (Physics); Sabriyah Saeed – Magdalene, English Literature; Siyang Wei – Newnham, HSPS (Human, Social and Political Sciences); and Vidya Ramesh – Gonville and Caius, History.

Seven girls have received offers (dependent on A level results) from Cambridge: Ellie Stonehouse – Jesus, Medicine; Eugenie Yen – St John’s, Natural Sciences (Biology); Haleh Taghinejadi – St Catharine’s, Natural Sciences (Physics); Penny Jones –

Headmistress Mrs Marks commented: “Competition for places at Oxford and Cambridge has always been very closely fought and, since the introduction of tuition fees, it has become increasingly international.

We are delighted for our girls’

A further five students have achieved conditional offers from Oxford: Anisha Chopra – St Hilda’s, Medicine; Ellie Hughes – Trinity College, Medicine; Jessica Quirke – Exeter, Biochemistry; Miranda Gold – Hertford, French and Spanish; and Teneeka Mai – Corpus Christi, Physics.

successes in competition with some of the world’s most able students.”

With applications to American universities growing in popularity, two Withington students are now holding unconditional offers from the other side of the Atlantic. Sixth former Charlotte Pang has a scholarship offer to read for a degree in animation at The Savannah College of Art and Design in Georgia, one of the top universities for this discipline, and which has a close association with Disney and Pixar; and Nadia Al-Amin (Class of 2014) has had an unconditional offer from the University of Arizona, also with a scholarship.

Many members of Withington’s sixth form have also received conditional offers from other British, mainly Russell Group, universities.

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A top performing independent girls’ school in Cheshire • For girls aged 2–18 years • Located in a safe, secure environment • Nursery, Junior School, Senior School and Sixth Form • Scholarships and bursaries available • Working day tours available • Taster days for prospective pupils • Wrap around care Dates For Your Diary Early Years Taster Morning Tuesday 12 May 9.30am–11.30am

For more information: 01625 583028 | admissions@aesg.co.uk | @schoolforgirls www.aesg.co.uk | Wilmslow Road, Alderley Edge, Cheshire, SK9 7QE Registered charity number 1006726

AESG a the top chieved across rankings th the ISI e board in Ins Februa pection ry 2015

“Creativity is contagious, pass it on” Albert Einstein

Limited places are available in Years 5 and 6, please call for more information

To arrange a tour call 0161 224 1077 Wellington Road, Fallowfield, Manchester M14 6BL

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wgs.org

Means -tested bursaries now available from Year 5 upwards

EDUCATION NEWS

SGS GIRLS TO CUT THEIR HAIR FOR THE LITTLE PRINCESS TRUST Two Stockport Grammar Junior School girls are having their hair cut and donating it to the Little Princess Trust, a charity that provides real hair wigs for children who lose their hair through cancer treatment.

Year five pupils Talia Zelhof and Lily Amet heard about the charity from Junior School Headmaster Mr Tim Wheeler, the charity’s Chair of Trustees, who is also running for the cause in this year’s London Marathon. The girls will be having their hair cut on 18 April. Talia said: “It’s sad that children are losing their hair when they’re so ill, so we thought it’d be nice to help. We’ve got very long hair at the moment and so we’re going to have it cut to about chin-length. We’re excited about how it’ll look, and proud that we’re able to help children by doing something so simple!”

Talia and Lily are raising sponsorship as well as donating their hair, and you can donate to the Little Princess Trust at justgiving.com/Talia-Lily/ Mr Wheeler became involved with the charity when it was founded in memory of a child at his previous school in Hereford, who fought a brave battle against cancer.

Since its inception, the charity has now helped thousands of children by providing the wigs.

You can sponsor Mr Wheeler’s marathon at uk.virginmoneygiving.com/LPTman

NORTH CESTRIAN GAINS FREE SCHOOL STATUS North Cestrian Grammar School’s bid to become a non-selective, non-fee-paying academy through the Government’s Free School programme has been approved and the School will now enter the pre-opening phase.

The new status, subject to public consultation, will take effect from September 2016, enabling it to open its doors to non-fee paying students.

North Cestrian will still be able to set its own extended curriculum, term dates and length of school day. Its governing body will oversee and operate the school, but pupils will not have to sit an entrance exam.

Lee Bergin, headmaster at North Cestrian, said: “We’re excited to have the opportunity to provide the same high standard of independent grammar school education and pastoral care we’re known for, but without having to charge fees. We’re now able to help meet the demand from parents in the area for a greater choice of educational establishment.

“Thank you to everyone for their support throughout the bid process and helping us to achieve free school status. More than 750 showed their support, including Graham Brady, MP of Altrincham and Sale West. We’re pleased to have gained support from Altrincham Grammar School for Boys and we’re looking forward to working closely with such an outstanding school.”

Until September 2016, North Cestrian will remain a co-educational, selective, fee-paying grammar school, and places for September 2015 can still be applied for.

Full academic scholarships for 100 per cent fee remission are available. Pupils on school roll at the point of the changeover to a free school will remain members of the school and will cease to pay fees.

An Open Day will take place on Saturday 25 April 2015, 11am–1pm and the open week will be held week commencing Monday 27 April. www.ncgs.co.uk Follow North Cestrian Grammar School on Twitter @NorthCestrianGS or like the School on Facebook: Facebook.com/NorthCestrian.

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Affordable Independent Education

for Boys and Girls aged 3-11 years Average Class Size - 14 Pupils or Fewer Sibling Discounts Care Available 8am - 5.30pm Nursery Grant/Childcare Vouchers Accepted To request a prospectus or book a personal tour call 0161 432 0532 email office@stellamarisschool.co.uk or visit www.StellaMarisSchool.co.uk

STELLA MARIS SCHOOL 6W -RKQÂśV 5RDG +HDWRQ 0HUVH\ 6WRFNSRUW 6. %5 Registered Charitable Trust Number 505848

TOP INSPECTION RESULTS FOR ALDERLEY EDGE SCHOOL FOR GIRLS Alderley Edge School for Girls is celebrating as it received the full report from the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI), a Governmentapproved inspectorate responsible for the inspection of independent schools. Eight inspectors visited the school and the school is delighted with the outcome. The Junior, Senior and Sixth Form divisions have been rated on eight criteria for which judgements are awarded. â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Excellentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; is the highest rating that can be awarded and the school has achieved â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Excellentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; judgements across the board â&#x20AC;&#x201C; including achievement and learning, teaching, pastoral care and welfare to name a few.

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) is assessed against four main categories: â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Outstandingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; is the highest rating and this has been achieved by the EYFS team in all areas: wellbeing, the leadership and management of the Early Years provision and the overall quality and standard of the department. The inspectorsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; recommendation for the Junior School, Senior School and Sixth Form is in line with AESGâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s whole-school target for this year: â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;to develop further the good practice of intellectual risk-taking throughout the schoolâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;.

The recommendation for the Early Years Foundation Stage is to â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;extend the opportunities for the oldest children in the EYFS to take their planned learning outside, across all areas of the curriculumâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;.

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COMPETITION

Win

Win a pair of tickets to see Madness and the Kaiser Chiefs

‘AN EVENING AT THE RACES’ The Jockey Club Live presents ‘An Evening At The Races’ returns with a bang for 2015. Global superstar Kylie, indie rockers Kaiser Chiefs and the iconic Madness are the first acts to join their 2015 ‘Haydock Nights’ season. Having previously played on prestigious stages such as on top of Buckingham Palace for the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee concert and at 2012’s London Olympic Games Closing Ceremony, Madness’s live show is a perfect fit for the Haydock Park grandstands.

Brit-award-winning, multimillion-selling Kaiser Chiefs – led by BBC1’s ‘The Voice’ coach Ricky Wilson – will be bringing their formidable live show to the course on 7 August. The band first shot to recognition in 2005 for breakout hit ‘I Predict A Riot’, followed by hits including ‘Oh My God’, ‘Everyday I Love You Less and Less’ and 2007’s #1 ‘Ruby’. They released their latest LP, ‘Education, Education, Education & War’ last year, smashing into the #1 spot on the UK album chart on release. The record became their second #1 long play, following 2007’s ‘Yours Truly Angry Mob’ and became their fifth top 10 album.

MADNESS

HAYDOCK PARK RACECOURSE – 3 JULY 2015

KAISER CHIEFS

HAYDOCK PARK RACECOURSE – 7 AUGUST 2015 Madness said: “Come see, come see the world’s strongest band perform incredible feats live! Marvel as Madness lift an enormous set of polished pop songs high in the air, single-handed! The UK's biggest open-air tour ever! Rolling into a town near you soon.”

To enter just answer the following: What is the venue for the Kylie, Madness and Kaiser Chiefs concerts?

A. Haydock Park | B. Regent’s Park | C. Hyde Park Email your answer to winner@salutions.co.uk with Madness or Kaiser Chiefs in the subject field. Closing date is 31 May 2015. See website for full terms and conditions.

DANCING FOR CHARITY

Band La Esencia provided fabulous live music and DJ Martinez & DJ Royce of Latin Client entertained everyone to the early hours. There was lots of Salsa and Bachata dancing which created a truly Latin feel! The Didsbury Lounge provided Cuban Tapas and a free Mojito for everyone.

Over 100 people came and supported the event and £1500 was raised in aid of Francis House.

Check out www.facebook.com/havanafusionmanchester for future events. The next event is planned for the end of the summer.

Photos: Danielle Cooper

Havana Fusion (Rachel McQuitty and Tara Meeks) organised a Latin charity night at the Didsbury Lounge last month.

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NORTHERN ART Clark Art Ltd of Hale are the North’s leading art gallery and are national specialists in LS Lowry and northern investment art.

A wide range of work is always on display at our Hale gallery. We also give free valuations.

Theodore Major, Men and Sky, 30” x 37” Artists include: LS Lowry, Helen Bradley, Theodore Major, Alan Lowndes, Braaq, Harold Riley, Harry Rutherford, John Thompson, William Turner, Adolphe Valette, Trevor Grimshaw, Sheila Fell, Ben Kelly, Liam Spencer, Fred Yates, Reg Gardner, Geoffrey Key, Peter Brook, Phil George, Stephen Campbell and many others.

Next Exhibition – Liam Spencer one man show, opens on April 23rd. Contact the gallery for details.

155 Ashley Road, Hale, Cheshire WA14 2UW Tel: 0161 929 5150 email: art@clark-art.co.uk Opening times: Tuesday to Saturday 10am-5.30pm

www.clark-art.co.uk

Shows that are too good to miss:

Wed 3 June - Sat 25 July

Tue 4 - Sat 8 August

Mon 14 December - Sat 2 January

Tue 28 April - Sat 2 May

Tue 17 - Sat 21 November

Wed 13 - Sat 30 January

Book today 0843 208 6010 | thelowry.com

Reviews IIIII

By John Waddington

MUSIC Courtney Barnett Sometimes I Sit and Think, and Sometimes I Just Sit Aussie songwriter Courtney Barnett releases her debut album-proper, following a collection of her early EPs in 2013 and some heavy radio rotation. One of the best rock and roll records of recent times, this album is brimming with caustic wit and deft lyricism, married with infectious melodies and Velvets-esque playing – just the right side of sloppy.

Laura Marling – Short Movie

Britpop stalwarts Blur return with their first album in 12 years. In the time since 2003’s Think Tank, the band have played a handful of high-profile live shows, and released the single Under the Westway, but held out on the full album until now. The Magic Whip is slightly reminiscent of Bowie’s Berlin material, but is, of course, unmistakably Blur.

Moving away from the intimate folk sound of her earlier work with Short Movie, Marling goes for a much more expansive, electric, live-band feel. Sailing very close to PJ Harvey waters at times, this is nevertheless a solid effort with some stand-out tunes - namely the title track - and a warm, engaging production.

•

FILMS Rosewater – Director: Jon Stewart

The directorial debut by successful producer and writer Jon Stewart is based on a true story, in which the journalist Maziar Bahari was blindfolded and interrogated for four months in Evin prison in Iran because the authorities believed he was a spy. The only distinguishable feature about his captor was said to be the distinct smell of rosewater.

The Longest Ride – Director: George Tillman Jr A former rodeo rider falls in love with an artist in this passionate romantic drama in which past and present collide. Adapted from a novel by Nicholas Sparks, the author of the hugely popular book-turned-film The Notebook, this has all the same passion and romance.

Tomorrowland: A World Beyond – Director: Brad Bird A young girl is whisked to the incredible Tomorrowland in this mindblowing sci-fi adventure. When troubled teen Casey Newton finds a strange pin among her possessions, it transports her briefly to the fabulously futuristic Tomorrowland. To help solve the mystery, she tracks down ageing inventor Frank Walker (played by George Clooney).

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•

Blur – The Magic Whip

BOOKS

•

Anthony Doerr – All the Light We Cannot See This is a beautiful and ambitious novel about a blind French girl and a German boy whose paths collide in occupied France as both try to survive the devastation of World War II. Skilfully interweaving the lives of the protagonists, Doerr illuminates the ways people can be good to one another.

Jill Alexander Essbaum – Hausfrau Intimate, intense, and written precision, the debut novel by poet-turned-novelist Jill Alexander Essbaum is a story of marriage, fidelity, sex and morality. Anna Benz, an American in her late thirties, lives in Zürich with her Swiss husband Bruno and their three young children, but feels emotionally disconnected and seeks solace in new, exciting experiences.

Graeme Cameron – Normal In this dark, twisted and compelling thriller, Cameron weaves a darkly comic tale from a gruesome and potentially disturbing subject matter. Drawing comparisons with the hugely popular Dexter series, Normal paints a picture of a serial killer who tries to go straight, but the police are closing in, and there’s a woman locked in his basement.

Present:

Pre-Ashes Sportsmans Dinner

Friday 12th June 2015 In the Marquee, set at the prestigious Bowdon Club Three course dinner catered and served by Francs of Altrincham.

An evening with

Tables: Of ten ÂŁ450 or ÂŁ45 per ticket Dress Code: Black Tie For more information: Contact Steve at Events in the City on 07585002386 or e-mail: steve@eventsinthecity.co.uk From: 7pm until late The Bowdon Club, South Downs Road, Bowdon, Cheshire WA14 3DT Charity for the event.

England cricket legend Graham Gooch OBE

By Catherine Reed

IIIII

What’s

ON

The city is full of drama this spring – with productions such as King Lear, The Boy in Striped Pyjamas, The Ghost Train and To Kill A Mockingbird all playing out on the stages of Greater Manchester while HOME, the new home of Cornerhouse and The Library Theatre, opens its doors to stage its first production, The Fun Fair. There is plenty to sing and dance about too with Dirty Rotten Scoundrels returning and the international hit musical Wicked getting ready to end its UK tour at The Lowry.

FaMily Singalong A Frozen Tuesday 14 April Stockport Plaza Dress up as your favourite character and sing along to all the songs with the help of lyrics on screen, a host and a magic moments fun pack. Book early – the recent singalong screenings at The Lowry all sold out!

Swanhunter

Musicals

Saturday 25 April The Lowry An Opera North production for a family audience based on a gripping Finnish folk tale with puppetry, opera and live action.

Anything Goes

My First Ballet – Swan Lake 2/3 May Palace Theatre English National Ballet return with another enchanting addition to their My First Ballet series. Featuring a narrator to help young audiences follow the story, and a shortened version of Tchaikovsky’s beautiful score, these performances make ballet accessible and hugely enjoyable for children aged 3 years+.

Chicken Licken Sunday 10 May The Lowry A show for children aged 3 to 8 years featuring puppets, clowning, baking and original music.

The Basil Brush Show Sunday 10 May at Stockport Plaza Sunday 24 May at The Lowry A show for all the family, with fun, comedy, storytelling and songs, plus there’s the chance to meet Basil after the show.

The Octonauts 16/17 May Opera House Live for the first time in a brand-new stage show, the Octonauts take families on a journey through strange new worlds unravelling mysteries and finding surprises as they go.

7–18 April Opera House This brand-new production of the Cole Porter classic features a cast that includes Shaun Williamson and Kate Anthony, some really entertaining choreography including a ship load of tap dancing sailors and a whole host of wonderful show stoppers such as I Get A Kick Out Of You and It’s De-Lovely.

Jesus Christ Superstar 13–18 April Palace Theatre Glenn Carter stars as Jesus in this well-loved musical, which has been entertaining audiences for over forty years. He is joined by X Factor 2007 runner-up Rhydian as Pontius Pilot, and Tim Rogers in the role of Judas.

There are some terrific songs here, including I Don’t Know How to Love Him and Superstar.

Return to The Forbidden Planet 4–9 May Palace Theatre The Olivier award-winning musical is on its 25th-anniversary tour and returns to the Palace to entertain audiences with its stunning special effects and great song list. It also gives everyone an opportunity to raid their fancy dress box and dress up for the show.

Dirty Rotten Scoundrels 20–30 May Opera House This laugh-out-loud funny, fastmoving and incredibly slick musical returns to Manchester following its highly successful visit last year.

Wicked

Varmints Tuesday 21 April The Lowry A poignant tale of one small creature’s struggle to preserve a world in danger of being lost forever. For ages 7+.

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3 June – 25 July The Lowry Wicked winds up its spectacular tour of the UK with a visit to The Lowry. This brilliant reimagining of the stories and characters from the Wizard of Oz is packed with wonderful songs, technical wizardry and fabulous costumes. Get a ticket while you can – this is your last chance to see it outside London.

Drama

The Ghost Train

Beautiful Thing

14 May – 20 June Royal Exchange Theatre A group of passengers are left stranded at a remote railway station facing the prospect of a night in the waiting room amid spooky goings-on.

Expect a ghostly driver, sudden deaths and a travelling parrot in this very funny take on the classic 1920s ghost story. Director Paul Hunter is looking forward to the challenge of staging this play. He said: “Staging action that would normally happen off stage and using every inch of that extraordinary space will be thrilling.”

Expect the unexpected.

13–18 April The Lowry Nikolai Foster’s celebrated anniversary production of Jonathan Harvey’s modern classic starring Charlie Brooks, Sam Jackson and Thomas Law. The Boy in Striped Pyjamas

DaNCE

15–18 April The Lowry A heart-wrenching tale of an unlikely friendship between two innocent boys set during World War II.

Dance ‘Til Dawn

The Funfair

21–25 April The Lowry Transporting you back to the Golden Age of Hollywood, Vincent Simone and Flavia Cacace perform glorious dance routines in this sensational new show.

14 May – 13 June HOME HOME’s hotly anticipated first production features a live band, a big dipper and an evocative set design.

The Funfair is adapted by Simon Stephens, who also adapted the fabulous, award-winning Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time.

This exciting production is a reworking of the 20th-century classic Kasimir and Karoline, and is a dark, political and very funny play that sets two young lovers in the throes of a break-up against the hypnotic whirl and bright lights of a funfair.

Circa – Opus 8/9 May The Lowry Fourteen acrobats tumble, spin and fly around a string quartet in a performance filled with jaw-dropping physical feats.

The Woman in Black 28 April – 2 May The Lowry The gripping theatrical adaptation of Susan Hill’s spine-chilling novel returns to The Lowry. Don’t miss the chance to see the most terrifying live theatre experience ever!

The Car Man 26–30 May The Lowry Don’t miss these stunning performances of Matthew Bourne’s brilliant Car Man. Described as Bizet’s Carmen reimagined, it is glamorous yet gritty, sexy and funny and definitely thrilling. The Car Man is set to the most amazing Bizet score and was last revived in 2007 when the show won awards for choreography and musical event of the year.

King Lear 5–9 May The Lowry This Northern Broadsides production is directed by Jonathan Miller and under his direction we are shown a Lear stripped back to its heart and soul – intimate, moving and utterly believable. Be ready to see Lear afresh as you have never seen it before, as Miller brings his remarkable talent for human observation to the play.

To Kill A Mockingbird 19–23 May The Lowry Set in America’s Deep South, Harper Lee’s much-loved story sees racial injustice envelop a small-town community. The Pulitzer Prize novel is adapted for the stage by Christopher Sergel and has received five-star reviews as well as being winner of the What’s On Stage 2014 Best Play Revival Award.

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If you’re out and about at a festival this year, or just tucked up nice and warm at home, we’ve got you covered with our gadgets round-up.

Gadgets

t Sennheiser Momentum

s Nest Learning Thermostat

If you want to take your first steps in creating a smarter home, the Nest Learning Thermostat is a great starting point. This little gizmo is both a futuristic device and a familiar one. It’s fully connected, using a mobile app to change the temperature and alter settings wherever you are, but it still feels like a regular thermostat so isn’t too scary for technophobes.

Wireless Headphones There are headphones, and there are headphones. If you’re serious about your music, you could do worse than pick up a pair of these, but beware – at almost £400 they will create a serious dent in your wallet. However, you get what you pay for, as the build is sturdy and durable, the materials used are premium, and clever additions – such as the foldable frame – are genuine advances over the previous wired models. £379.99, amazon.co.uk

£179.95, apple.com

s Sony Walkman NWZ-A15

Remember the Sony Walkman?

The large plastic box that played those cassette tape thingies? Well here’s the latest addition to the family. We’re not talking cassettes here of course, but highresolution audio files. Sony are stepping up to rival the Astell & Kern AK120 II, which we reviewed last year. Well, this device is £850 cheaper than the AK120 II, making it a less luxurious but more sensible audiophile purchase. £150, sony.co.uk

t Casio G-Shock GBA-400

By John Waddington

s Pioneer DDJ-WeGO3

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If you’re having a house party and want to be able to seamlessly mix music on your iPad while adding the odd creative effect for your guests’ pleasure, look no further than the DDJ-WeGO3.

It’s a fun little toy and should provide hours of entertainment for the budding DJ, but you definitely won’t be seeing Armand Van Helden rocking out on one of these down the Ministry of Sound. £199.95, veho-muvi.com

Control the tunes on your smartphone using your watch! This baby does just that, by harnessing the power of Bluetooth. As we’ve come to expect from G-Shock, the watch is tough and the display is as crowded and difficult to read as ever. However, while so many of the smart watches currently out there try to achieve too much, the GBA-400 is simple and satisfying in its remit, making it a real winner. £150, amazon.co.uk

s Asus ZenWatch

Competing with the Casio G-Shock for the smart watch throne this issue is the Asus ZenWatch. It looks more like a watch than a gimmick, which is more than can be said for some smart watches. It looks good, is well made, and performs its tasks well enough, but with only enough battery juice to get through the day, you will have to be prepared to charge it every night. £169, asus.com

Local Services To advertise in the next issue please call 0161 445 2883

Private GP

& Night Doctor Dr Bruce Jobling

0161 980 2626

24 Hours | 7 Days “Peace of mind for you and your family, at all times”

We’ve gone digital! www.salutions.co.uk

Lost the Plot

FEATURED IN

Only available from...

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APOLOGY AND CORRECTION In our Dec/Jan 2015 edition we included an interview with Mr Sacha Lord-Marchionne that included comments relating to ITV Granada and to the conduct of its journalists at a press conference organised by Mr Lord-Marchionne. We now accept that there was no factual basis for these comments, and we would like to apologise to ITV Granada and the reporters concerned for any distress the comments caused them.

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MOTORING

HIGH SWEDE IMPACT The first-ever car crash I was in was a memorable affair, in that it was spectacular to the point of being cinematic, yet nobody was hurt. This is because I was in a 1993 Volvo 240, which was known to be one of the safest cars in history at the time. Dads like mine coveted big Volvos because they were second only to the Chieftain tank in terms of occupant protection.

In years gone by, conventional wisdom was that the safest cars were those that could simply obliterate anything they happened to crash into. This contributed in no small part to the arms race outside every school gate, which saw parents falling over one another to acquire the most aggressively enormous vehicles.

Thankfully, carmakers today have demonstrated that we don’t need to be so selfish in order to be safe.

And still in the lead is Volvo, which has just won the Safest Car category in Carbuyer’s Best Car Awards 2015 for its mid-sized V40 range. This car proves that even a relatively small vehicle can excel in all four subcategories: adult occupant protection, child protection, pedestrian protection, and safety assist.

The V40 includes a safety world first: the Pedestrian Airbag. The system uses sensors in the front bumper to trigger

SUPERCAR BEATS

HYPERCAR

What separates a hypercar from a run-of-the-mill supercar nowadays? Normally, it’s a matter of an extra few hundred grand, and a few hundred more horsepower. But now that a thousand horsepower has been done, and there are plenty of cars to choose from that cost more than a house in Hale, it’s all getting a bit silly.

This is especially so when you look at the new Porsche 911 GT3 RS, which wouldn’t even be in the same deck of Top Trumps. It doesn’t have 12, 10 or even 8 cylinders; it doesn’t cost a million, half a million or even a quarter of a million. Horsepower is less than 800, less than 700, less than 600; it wouldn’t even get noticed in Dubai or outside Harrods.

And that’s why I want it. This is a proper street-legal racing car that you can use every day. The most extreme version 96

By Oliver Chesher

pyrotechnics to release the bonnet hinges, allowing it to be raised by the inflated airbag that covers the lower part of the windscreen and the A-pillars, helping to reduce injuries.

With other standard features such as AEB (autonomous emergency braking) and options such as Pedestrian and Cyclist Detection with Full Autobrake and Blind Spot Information System, Volvo has set a new standard for protecting people both inside and outside the car.

of one of the most perfect performance cars of all time, it has trounced almost every production car ever built with its lap times around Germany’s famous Nürburgring, including all the big-name billionaires’ playthings. Modified to microscopic tolerances, it is a masterpiece of singleminded, lightweight, intelligent, precision motorsport engineering.

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