Your latest Noticed Magazine from School Notices

SUMMER 2022

BRIAN COX

Brought to you by schoolnotices.co.uk

FROM KEYBOARDS TO THE COSMOS

Getting changed

KAT FARMER ON FEELING FABULOUS

Jacqueline Wilson

REVIVES THE MAGIC FARAWAY TREE

LONG LIVE OUR QUEEN

ROBERT HARDMAN'S INSIGHT ON A RECORD-BREAKING MONARCH

WIN! A luxury family holiday with

Let’s get Whoop, whoop – Summer has arrived and we’ve got lots to celebrate here at School Notices! Firstly, our Clay Pigeon Championship at Holland & Holland went off with a bang, shortly followed by our inaugural U13 Girls’ Cricket Championship at Marlborough College. Catch up on all the highlights within.

Ever wondered how we make sense of our universe? Professor Brian Cox sprinkles his galactic magic dust on life’s big questions.

From space to gardens, Marcus Barnett on his career change which led to three Golds at Chelsea. The inspirational Jacqueline Wilson tells us about her rise to fame and how she loved writing the sequel to Enid Blyton’s The Magic Faraway Tree. Cooking supremo, Melissa Hemsley on feel-good cooking and her mother’s Filipino influences.

Instagram sensation, Kat Farmer talks to us about her new book and why she went from posting about fashion to writing about it. Finally, we ask Royal biographer

Robert Hardman, author of Queen Of Our Times , about the historical importance of the Platinum Jubilee and the future of the monarchy.

School Notices continues to be the trusted network for schools, parents and alumni within the private school community. You can buy and sell in our fantastic SN Marketplace, get the latest on education and lifestyle, read our trusted school reviews, as well as access some great member rewards, video interviews and exclusive competitions all designed with you in mind.

We have everything you need for independent school life and beyond.

Have a sizzling summer!

The School Notices Team Visit: schoolnotices.co.uk Email: info@schoolnotices.co.uk

SUMMER 2022

BRIAN COX

Brought to you by schoolnotices.co.uk

FROM KEYBOARDS TO THE COSMOS

Getting changed

KAT FARMER ON FEELING FABULOUS

Jacqueline Wilson

REVIVES THE MAGIC FARAWAY TREE

LONG LIVE OUR QUEEN

ROBERT HARDMAN'S INSIGHT ON A RECORD-BREAKING MONARCH

WIN!

A luxury family holiday with

Publisher and Editor Katie Wiggin • Artistic Director Ruth Ellis Founder and Executive Chairman Gordon Dawson • CEO James Nickson Head of Brand Partnerships Milly Steel • Contributor Amanda Morison Head of Schools Tia May • School Partnerships Mouse Parkins Digital & Data Manager Natasha Minto • Digital Marketing Assistant Beth Cooke Content Editor Monique Ellis • Advertising Tania Buckley and Daniela Flower Cover image Millie Pilkington (milliepilkington.co.uk)

For advertising: advertising@schoolnotices.co.uk or call 07884 436210

Contents

61 24

22

4

28

22

ALL STOCK AND PRICES SHOWN CORRECT AT THE TIME OF PUBLICATION (JUNE 2022)

35

04 08 10 17

Shop till you drop

22 24 28 35

The SN team pick their Summer specials

Exclusive competition Win a family holiday to Sani Resort, Greece

Kat Farmer - blogger and influencer On how to wear it well

Turning over a new leaf

40 46 51

Marcus Barnett on becoming a landscape gardener and his three Golds at Chelsea

Summer beauty Lucia Ferrari’s top Summer make-up edit

Holland & Holland and School Notices Clay Pigeon Championship

On her version of The Magic Faraway Tree

The people’s professor Brian Cox takes us on a space adventure

School Notices U13 Girls Cricket Championship All the highlights and the winners

Sandcastles in the sky Clare Milford Haven on the tragic suicide of her son, her inspiring charity and her new children’s book

58 61

Have a look at the highlights

Jacqueline Wilson

Feel good cooking Melissa Hemsley shares her culinary top tips

Postcard from Turkey An SN view on the luxury Hillside Resort

Celebrating the Queen’s historic Platinum Jubilee Royal biographer, Robert Hardman on his book, the Jubilee and future of the Monarchy

65 66

Book club Our top Summer reads this term

Fun facts Dazzle them with your trivia knowledge!

SUMMER 2022 schoolnotices.co.uk 3

ER M M SU PPING SHmOust-haves

Star BUY

Women

From top left clockwise: Ella dress - blue paisley £250, lexylondon.com • Resin chunky stone necklace £48, anthropologie.com • LØCI vegan trainers £135, aspiga.com • Acqua Di Parma Mirto Eau de Toilette 100ml limited edition £124, fenwick.co.uk • Azami green cushion £10, dunelm.com • Isabel Marant, Aviator-style ombré acetate sunglasses £145, net-a-porter.com • Horphe hat £150, ba-sh.com • Merano deep v-neck swimsuit £80, boden.co.uk • Monogram patch cotton pouch £50, raefeather.com • Succession Picasso 2022 Picasso earthenware tableware £9.99 - £69.99, zarahome.com • Liberty strawberry thief orange silk headband £39, lecolonel.com • Klimchi, tall hobnail jug 1L £91, amara.com

4 schoolnotices.co.uk SUMMER 2022

Shopping

Girls

Star BUY

From top left clockwise: Drunk Elephant The Littles Night Out Kit £44, cultbeauty.co.uk • Boutique kaia embroidered flutter sleeve dress white £55, monsoon.co.uk • Moulin Roty bird kite £20, kidly.co.uk • Patterned flounced bikini £9.99, hm.com • Selina necklace aqua £30, milliepink.com • Smile hoops with cubic zirconia £48, lulub.co.uk • FLIK FLAK FPNP014 Stripy Dreams shell and woven quartz watch £32, fenwick.co.uk • Floral print high-top trainers £22.99, zara.com • Gingersnap 20” wheel bicycle £249, bobbinbikes.com • Maileg beach mice, little sister in cabin de plage £24.50, folkinteriors.co.uk • Olga Valentine girls blue cotton trousers £59, childrensalon.com

SUMMER 2022 schoolnotices.co.uk 5

Star BUY

Men

From top left clockwise: NikeCourt Dri-FIT Rafa men’s tennis T-shirt £32.95, nike.com • Lazy Days travel backgammon indigo £215, noblemacmillan.com • Sand cotton linen nehru waistcoat £195, sirplus.co.uk • Ramsbury Single Estate Vodka £29.50, ramsbury.com • Love Brand & Co linen abaco shirt £140, harrods.com • Gant men’s bucket hat £42, gant.co.uk • Orlebar Brown swimming trunks £165, orlebarbrown.com • Adult fastskin hyper elite mirror goggles £50, speedo.com • Swims penny loafer £110, swims.com • Ahlem Abbesses round-frame acetate sunglasses £345, mrporter.com • Leblon beach bat set £220, frescobolcarioca • Hampton Sun Mineral Anti-Aging SPF 30 Lotion £27, revolve.com • Aspiga men’s pyjama bottoms cobalt blue/white £50, aspiga.com

6 schoolnotices.co.uk SUMMER 2022

Shopping

Boys Star BUY

From top left clockwise: Decathlon Bodyatu Kids’ bodyboard 4-8 years with handles - camouflage £24.99, decathlon.co.uk • Boss Kidswear teen sun top (UPF40+) £66, childrensalon.com • Marc Jacobs teen hawaiin swim shorts £46, childrensalon.com • Boules £18.95, scandiborn.co.uk • Outdoor Ipx7 waterproof speaker £29.95, fruugo.co.uk • Wigiwama teepee set £150, kidly.co.uk • Nike Flex Runner 2 older kids’ road running shoes £34.95, nike.com • Fitbit Ace 3 watch £69.99, fitbit.com • Joules trilby rainbow band straw hat £14.95, joules.com • Dobble Waterproof £12.99, johnlewis.com • Molo blue sunglasses (UVA/UVB) £36, childrensalon.com

SUMMER 2022 schoolnotices.co.uk 7

WIN!

A family holiday at the luxury Sani Resort in Kassandra, Greece Enter now to have the chance to win a four-night stay at this world-class luxury resort with full board included* Sani Resort is a world-class luxury holiday destination, featuring five award-winning hotels. Located on the Kassandra peninsula in Greece, it’s nestled in a peaceful 1,000-acre eco-reserve with 7km of soft, sandy beaches, 110 hectares of protected Sani Wetlands to explore, and over 20km of lush forest trails. Sani Resort’s private setting and extensive space offers a Safe Sanctuary for families.

Discover more at sani-resort.com

HIGHLIGHTS

Compet Competition t on

ACCOMMODATION With spacious family rooms and bungalows with private gardens or private pools and breathtaking views over the Aegean and Mount Olympus Sani Resort.

THE PRIZE: ★

4-night stay at Sani Resort

★

Complimentary Full-board*

★

‘Dine Around’ Experience at 26 restaurants

★

Airport Transfers (flights not included)

DINING Explore new flavours at one of over 26 restaurants and bars across the resort offering from traditional Greek cuisines to Michelin star.

To be in with the chance to win this fantastic prize simply

ENTER HERE

WORLD-CLASS ACADEMIES

TERMS AND CONDITIONS Competition closes 11/07/2022. One complimentary 4-night stay at Sani Resort for up to 2 adults and 2 children (under 12 years). *Full-board to include breakfast, lunch and dinner (drinks excl). Valid for travel between 29/04/2023 – 30/06/2023 or 01/09/2023 – 14/10/2023, subject to availability at the time of reservation.

Bank holidays excluded.

For full terms and conditions visit schoolnotices.co.uk/competitions/

Train with the best at the Rafa Nadal Tennis Center, the Chelsea Football Academy or the Bear Grylls Survival Academy.

LITTLE GUEST 2021

2021

World's Leading Family & Beach Resort

World's Leading Luxury Green Resort

The very best for families: Sani Creche, Kids and Teens Clubs, kids pools, Sani Adventure Park and exclusive baby and kids menus designed by Annabel Karmel.

Dedicated followers of

FA S H I O N As a blogger and influencer Kat Farmer aims to help us all wear it well. She knows first-hand how it feels to lose your style groove and her new book Get Changed gives funny, forthright advice on how to feel confident and look fantastic one outfit at a time…

Kat Farmer, aka well known fashion influencer @doesmybumlook40 is a regular on BBC One’s styling show You Are What You Wear and ITV’s This Morning. She’s got bags of energy and a hugely relatable way of helping followers discover what suits them (catch her weekly Wine Time on IGTV with wine writer @knackeredmother to hear her cackle). Ice maiden fashionista who’ll look through you for carrying a Zara cross-body instead of a Celine tote she is not.

Despite wanting to work in fashion, after university Kat became a City head-hunter. And she doesn’t feel that careers advice in most schools has changed since then. “There’s too much emphasis on academic success - why

10 schoolnotices.co.uk SUMMER 2022

aren’t children being told what they need to do if they express an interest in being a video game designer or working behind the scenes on films, as my daughter wants to do?”

After starting a family she moved to the country, ‘why? I don’t even like trees’ and with three children aged three and below Kat’s sense of self took such a hit that she went to the GP to ask for anxiety pills. “No”, was the response, “You’re suffering from loss of identity”. With hindsight Kat realised this was hardly a surprise: her former career wasn’t easily viable with such a young brood and she hadn’t yet decided on her next move.

But hurrah for a friend who identified that Kat was, in fact, already a personal shopper

Profile

L-R: with Alison Hammond and Rochelle Humes on This Morning, recording the audiobook for Get Changed , highlighting the virtues of a good lippy, capturing a trip to Edinburgh to speak at The Booksellers Association Dinner, stylish on holiday in Katerina dress by Ridley, dressed to impress at Ascot in Stella Jean giraffe maxi dress

SUMMER 2022 schoolnotices.co.uk 11

what they could wear once they hit 40 and were no longer covered in baby sick and wouldn’t dream of wearing a twinset and pearls. Then along came Instagram, “What’s not to love?” and Kat’s following grew and grew. “I hit everything at the right time – let’s call it fashion kismet”.

Above: Insta post wearing a Munthe dress from Feather & Stitch (three years ago) Below: Style icons Kate Moss and Audrey Hepburn from Get Changed illustrated by Janelle Burger

because she spent so much time helping friends and family find the perfect outfits.

Not so common in the UK 10 plus years ago as now but said friend’s mother-in-law was Canadian where paying someone to go shopping was commonplace. “It started there.

I’d go shopping to a brief and find the perfect leather jacket or wedding outfit”. This grew to ‘style studios’, parties for up to eight women where she’d delve into wardrobes and help decide which clothes were keepers. And then the Does My Bum Look 40 in This? blog, which proved to be perfect marketing for her styling services “You couldn’t monetise blogs back then”. Kat believes that her foray into fashion came at a time of seismic shift when people were reinventing themselves.

Magazines suddenly realised that just because you weren’t in your 20s didn’t mean you wanted to wear Jacques Vert – and twentysomethings bought all their clothes at ASOS anyway. A generation of women were asking 12 schoolnotices.co.uk SUMMER 2022

Funnily enough, one thing that had never been on the horizon was a book. “I always said no because I thought fashion was too transient to capture”. The change of heart came during regular lockdown IGTV sessions when Kat realised that some people had literally no idea of where to start. “Like me with gardening – base level zero”. Get Changed goes back to basics and is written in a cookbook style, what Kat describes as a “Hayes Guide but without the carburettors”.

There isn’t one outfit that changed everything for Kat, but she has a Temperley dress that works for everything – with heels for black tie, trainers for lunch. “I love finding those gems that you can change the look of with accessories”. And she’s a bit obsessed with All Saints. “Insanely well cut with amazing embellishments in the fabric - I wasn’t about to wear an otherwise lovely top that has random non-functional buttons or a ‘fun’ lining. I’m not seven! I don’t need jaunty or jolly or cheering up because I’m old!”. And what about investment pieces? “I talk a lot about this in Get Changed – find what works for you. Don’t spend a fortune on a coat if you live in leather jackets. And if you find jeans or a jacket you love buy lots of them and in every colour. Though maybe not orange… I still regret not getting more of a Zara blazer a couple of years ago.” Happily, Kat says you

Profile

I wasn’t about to wear an otherwise lovely top that has random non-functional buttons or a ‘fun’ lining. I’m not seven!

I don’t need jaunty or jolly or cheering up because I’m old! don’t need to spend a fortune on jeans and whatever you are buying, shop around, because so much depends on your shape.

“Not your size – we might weigh the same as we did at 18 but everything is distributed differently. Gravity is a bitch!”

WORDS: AMANDA MORISON, PHOTOGRAPY: ROBERT WILSON, @DOESMYBUMLOOK40

She really admires the style of Kate Moss, Claudia Winkleman and Audrey Hepburn.

She applauds Helen Mirren and loves that the older she gets the edgier she looks. Get Changed includes identifying your style icon because seeing someone pictorially makes it much easier to work out what you like.

Kat delivers lots of practical advice in her book – “if you like what you wear into the changing room more than what you’ve tried on, don’t buy it. Try clothes on at home because then you’ll see if they work with what’s already in your wardrobe. If it’s in that carrier bag for more than a week take it back.”

Her biggest piece of advice is that if you love it, wear it. “Life is short and you deserve to be the best version of yourself”. She believes people underestimate the importance of looks – “I’m not going to call it fashion because people roll their eyes and think you’ve being vain/frivolous/fickle. But as a direct indicator of how you feel inside, first impressions count.”

And, she remarks drily, “it takes as much effort to put on a shit outfit as a great one!” @doesmybumlook40

Top down: Golden Goose cowboy boots bought during lockdown, with husband David, the Hanna Buck painting that inspired the book, a Kat quotation from Get Changed , styling models on ITV’s This Morning, with beloved pooch Ginny

The Sunday Times bestseller Get

Changed: Finding the New You Through Fashion by Kat Farmer is available now at amazon

SUMMER 2022 schoolnotices.co.uk 13

Five factors shaping demand Strong buyer demand fuelled by the experience of the pandemic and a lack of suitable property for sale has turbocharged the property market over the past two years.

Economic pressures and geopolitical uncertainty has meant that the housing market has become increasingly stratified. In the mainstream market property sales have fallen back from the record highs of the last couple of years and are now in line with pre-pandemic levels.

In the prime market however, where buyers tend to be more insulated from increased living costs, activity has remained well above normal throughout 2021 and so far this year.

Despite the economic headwinds, the appetite to make a move remains strong among buyers of prime property.

But what are buyers looking for now?

Our most recent survey of buyers and sellers of prime property in April provides an insight on how priorities are evolving and here we have set out the top five factors of significance.

1. There is a sustained commitment to move There is still a high level of commitment to moving, with 22 per cent of those surveyed stating an intention to do so within the next 12 months, up from 15 per cent in September last year, and 28 per cent within the next two years, nearly double the percentage of respondents reporting the same intent in September.

2. Lack of suitable property to buy remains a challenge As has been the case for the last couple of years, buyers are feeling the gap in supply and demand with 63 per cent reporting it to be an issue.

Despite more homes coming to the market now, the large pool of unmet demand means that competition for good quality, well-priced properties is still prevalent – particularly in the most popular locations, such as the Cotswolds, and pretty towns including the likes of Stockbridge, Marlborough and Warminster.

3. The squeeze on household finances has yet to impact budgets In terms of interest rate rises, 80 per cent of respondents said that recent increases had no impact on their budget. Just 4 per cent said their budget had significantly decreased, although 25 per cent of those in London said their budget

had decreased. For 74 per cent of respondents, the rising cost of living had no effect on their budget.

However, 47 per cent of those looking at property below £500,000 said their budget had decreased.

4. Hybrid working is here to stay While many of us have returned to offices this year, we are less likely to be tied to a five-day commute. The survey indicated a notable shift in working patterns, with only 16 per cent of respondents commuting three or more days a week, compared to 58 per cent before the pandemic. This means that regional towns and cities, such as Bath, which were previously off the radar for commuters, have become a genuinely viable option.

5. Sustainability is more important In terms of the property itself, buyers are paying more attention to energy performance. 64 per cent of those who responded to our survey see EPC ratings as an important factor in their decision-making. A third said they had become more important to them over the last year, indicating that increasingly, investing in the energy performance of our homes will be as much about future-proofing its value as reducing running costs.

If you’re looking to make the most of the market conditions this summer, we would be delighted to advise you.

Liz McLean Head of Residential Savills Newbury 01635 277 705 liz.mclean@savills.com

Charles Elsmore-Wickens Head of Office Savills Summertown 01865 339 702 cewickens@savills.com

Steven Moore Head of Office Savills Winchester 01962 834 010 smoore@savills.com

James McKillop Head of Residential Savills Salisbury 01722 426 822 james.mckillop@savills.com

Camilla Elwell London Country House Department 020 7016 3718 camilla.elwell@savills.com

Promotion

We’ll get you moving

FOR SALE Coombe Bisset, SP5 Freehold | Council Tax Band = G Guide £1.95 million

FOR SALE Chilbolton, SO20 Freehold | Council Tax Band = G Guide £3.15 million

FOR SALE Stockbridge, SO20 Freehold | Council Tax Band = G Guide £2.95 million

FOR SALE Marlborough, SN8 Freehold | Council Tax Band = G Guide £3.25 million

savills savills.co.uk

The Granary Ref: 1895

From boating-andeating-exploring-theBroads Cottages To soup-by-the-firetill-we’re-all-fullythawed Cottages Book with us or let with us at originalcottages.co.uk

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Turn over a new lea An insistent voice compelling him to make a career change worked out pretty well for landscape designer Marcus Barnett.

He’s won three Golds at Chelsea, set up an eponymous studio and is the designer of choice for the superstars…

SUMMER 2022 schoolnotices.co.uk 17

Erstwhile Scots Guard turned Management Consultant Marcus Barnett talks about the compulsion that led him to enrol on a Landscape Design course at the Inchbald School of Design. “I’m still not sure why it wasn’t compelling me towards hedge funds because everyone from my Accountant to friends alike thought I was quite mad”. He hadn’t been particularly immersed in gardens as a child, but his “father could sit backwards on a lawnmower without realising”. However, his mother was “very artistic” and particularly skilled in pencil drawing and forming shapes swiftly and accurately (a talent Marcus inherited). She was also an avid watcher of Gardener’s World in Geoff Hamilton’s era: “A time of avocado bathrooms and Laura Ashley”. Her passion grew as her children got older, and Marcus would be “roped in as a bit of muscle”. At the time he was struck by the way he’d retain details, particularly plant names, which he found rather strange as this wasn’t the experience of other teen and early 20-something men he knew. “There was a message being broadcast on a frequency I was receiving loud and clear but at that time chose to ignore”.

The voice got louder and coincided with the terrible sadness of losing a close friend who was terminally ill. Sitting by her hospital bed Marcus talked about his dilemma about whether becoming a Landscape Designer was the right thing. Her mother overheard, grabbed his arm and asked him what his problem was – surely the evidence of how short life could be was right in front of him? He left the Royal Marsden Hospital, wandered off around London deep in thought and heading back over Putney Bridge to his rented flat, the decision was made.

18 schoolnotices.co.uk SUMMER 2022

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A long path on a private Cotswold estate Below left: plant relief on poured concrete; Marcus welcomes Her Majesty onto his 2015 Daily Telegraph sponsored Gold Medal winning Chelsea Garden; the main lawn on private Wiltshire estate

During an intensive year of study Marcus and a fellow student applied to exhibit at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show in 2005. That garden won a Gold and Best in Category. A heady start which led to being sponsored by Savills for a show garden the following year, which also won Gold. This sounds the definition of overnight success and Marcus agrees that it was relatively uncommon. But he says having no Plan B was a good motivator and he was extremely serious about his new career, particularly knowing many were questioning his decision. His Accountant pointedly told

him that there were no garden designers on his books – a not too subtle code for how they’d all failed. “It really pissed me off and one of the people I most wanted to prove wrong was him”.

So that was it. An insistent voice, the tragedy of losing a friend and unhappiness in a career that paid the bills but made him professionally miserable. When self-doubt crept in he believes testing moments in the military taught him to “push on and prevail”.

This philosophy informs his thinking and he SUMMER 2022 schoolnotices.co.uk 19

Above: A penthouse in Holland Park. Right from top: A Cotswold Manor, winter on a Cotswold farm, a roof terrace in Fitzrovia, early summer planting falls over the loggia terrace in the walled garden of a Hampshire Hall and hides the network of paths and water features

also uses the analogy of learning to ride a bike. “Sometimes a child nails it and goes off with confidence, then for no apparent reason there’s an enormous wobble. The design process is very similar. You lurch from confident to questioning a design direction and it’s a question of fighting through”.

With three Chelsea Gold medals and a very starry client base (think famous footballers, stars of stage and screen and premium hotel names from Raffles to the Standard) what would Marcus describe as a career highlight?

He says it’s easily the creation of Marcus Barnett Studio in Hammersmith. Not only is it an “incredibly lovely space” (as an onlooker, what’s not to like about an office with a communal dining table that transforms into a ping-pong table?) and Marcus is lyrical about having the “most talented, competent, 20 schoolnotices.co.uk SUMMER 2022

experienced, capable” design team. Together they work globally and sit at design tables with “the world’s most talented architects, interior, lighting and furniture designers”.

The Marcus Barnett Studio style is known for creating atmosphere, what Marcus describes as “spaces that enchant rather than impress”.

He aims to slow the mind with a look born of the English country garden tradition that “doesn’t scream minimal or traditional”. And no, he can’t really dish out top tips because every project has different requirements.

“Plants are the most exciting element and the first and last thing we think about – what they will look like in shade and wind, and how they will create ebb and flow through dormancy”.

Favourite plants? “That’s like selecting eight tracks for Desert Island Discs! But how about, off the top of my head, Hackonechloa

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macra, Athamanta turbith, Astrantia major subsp. involucrata ‘Shaggy’ Paeonia lactiflora ‘Duchesse de Nemours’ and Salvia x jamensis ‘Nachtvlinder’.” Now there’s some names to get us all reaching for a copy of RHS Plant Finder!

As for advice for the next generation, Marcus says try to sleep well! And it’s always better to find out if something isn’t for you by trying it: “Ask for forgiveness and not permission”.

There’s a lot to look forward to, but Marcus acknowledges that he should look back from time to time and see what has been built as a team. “I’m much happier thinking about what we might be doing in 10 years’ time”. Without wanting to embarrass him, Old Reptonian Marcus is extremely telegenic – but says that every time he’s been invited to a media audition, he was subsequently asked to dumb down his accent. “Nope, going Dick Van Dyke in Mary Poppins is not for me. Can you imagine the grief I’d get from my old Army mates?”

So while we might have to wait for Marcus to become the next Geoff Hamilton, technology means we can see and enjoy his green projects online. Or in person by checking into London’s Standard Hotel or OWO Raffles currently taking shape in the old War Office at Whitehall.

To get inspiration for your own outdoor space visit @marcusbarnettstudio marcusbarnett.com

SUMMER 2022 schoolnotices.co.uk 21

Summer

SENSATIONS

The days are getting longer and diaries seem to be filling up again with real events, so to ‘wow’ when you’re alfresco, our resident beauty guru Lucia Ferrari offers a few shortcuts to Summer glamour.…

Oskia Nutri Bronze Adaptive Sheer Tinted Serum

Dolce and Gabbana Solar Glow Universal

I’ve had many compliments about my ‘glowing’

Radiance Drops

skin with this. It’s part skincare, part makeup and

I love using makeup to add a sun kissed glow.

my new go-to tinted moisturiser for day. I also

These drops can be mixed in with your SPF,

wear it in the evening instead of foundation. £62

moisturiser or foundation for a natural glow. £38

Malin + Goetz SPF 30 Sunscreen

Jo Loves Grapefruit A Fragrant Hair Mist

I always love trying out the new SPF’s. This one

I love this new trend for hair mists and this one is

deserves a big thumbs up as it’s extremely

a favourite. It smells like an elegant grown-up,

lightweight so really good used under makeup.

grapefruity citrus with a dash of gin and tonic! It’s

I love its silky texture and it’s totally unperfumed

utterly delicious and refreshing on hot days. £45

so doesn’t make eyes watery. £32 G uerlain KissKiss Bee Glow Honey Tint Balm Meder Hydra-Fill Mask

Literally melts into the lips for soothed, nourished,

Great for a weekend-away bag, these are a real

pretty and plumped lips. I love the Honey and the

instant beauty fix for tired, stressed and dry skin.

Rose Glow which both look good with a light

The mask brightens the skin and plumps out lines

tan. £32

making it look peachy and velvety. £15 Nails Inc Check Please Cherry Scented YSL Nu Blotting Lotion

4 Piece Nail Polish Set

This again falls into the ‘not quite makeup but

A great set which covers this summer’s trend

more than skincare’ category. It’s a clever little

for blue nails but also has a stunning corally

handbag essential which can be whipped out

red, white and pink. If you’ve got teenage

to mattify a shiny nose or forehead. £27

daughters, there’s something for everyone. £22

Chanel Les Beiges Oversize Healthy Glow

Bulgari Rose Goldea Blossom Delight

Sun-Kissed Powder

Eau de Toilette

Where to begin with the gloriousness of this?!

This is Bulgari’s new summer light spritz. If you like

It’s a really BIG bronzer compact available in

florals, you’ll find this utterly addictive. There’s a

three colours. I fear this may be a Chanel item

hint of lily of the valley and grapefruit which dries

that sells out, so get in there quick! £66

down to a soft, powdery white musk. £79

22 schoolnotices.co.uk SUMMER 2022

Beauty

With over 25 years’ experience as a beauty journalist working for titles including the Daily Mail, Harpers Bazaar and London’s ES magazine, Lucia is the go-to beauty guru.

Passionate about skincare, makeup and the latest tweakments, her many Insta followers love her honest, knowledgeable and of the moment beauty posts and videos. lucia-ferrari.com @luciaferraribeauty

SUMMER 2022 schoolnotices.co.uk 23

HOLLAND & HOLLAND AND SCHOOL NOTICES

Independent School Clay Pigeon Championship 17TH MARCH 2022

Seniors

WINNING TEAM

Bloxham

HOT SHOTS! As one of the most popular annual school events, the eagerly awaited Holland & Holland and School Notices Independent School Clay Pigeon Championships went off with a bang! 32 schools travelled across the country to compete amongst 59 other teams at Holland & Holland’s stunning grounds in North London. It was a fantastic day of competitive shooting and true sportsmanship as prep and senior schools battled it out to win the much coveted trophies.

24 schoolnotices.co.uk SUMMER 2022

Juniors WINNING TEAM

Cottesmore

Events

Juniors RUNNERS-UP

Ludgrove

Working closely with schools is so rewarding and coordinating this day with Holland & Holland at their amazing shooting grounds underlines why we do what we do.

Gordon Dawson, Founder and Executive Chairman, School Notices

They really look forward to this competition because it’s such a good day. It’s the one they all want to get in the team for.

Seniors

Pam Eagles, of Bloxham School

RUNNERS-UP

Bryanston

Godolphin

Strathallan

Sunningdale

Winchester

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Rugby

Winners trophy

We were thrilled to welcome a record number of teams to the Holland & Holland Shooting Grounds for this year’s Championship.

Events such as this are so important to encourage and support the next generation of shooters and it was a delight to witness such a wealth of emerging talent.

Pangbourne College

The Flush Shiplake College

Nigel Stuart, COO, Holland & Holland

Strathallan Girls

Eton

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Events

Clayesmore

Twyford

Cothill Brockhurst Bloxham Abberley Hall

Taking aim…

The competition is, I think, probably the premier shooting competition for schools in Britain, which is why we come.

Paul Vallot of Strathallan School

SUMMER 2022 schoolnotices.co.uk 27

Moments of

MAGIC Few teenage girls will not have had their lives touched by the brilliant Jacqueline Wilson. From Tracy Beaker to Hetty Feather and Love Frankie, these ubiquitous titles continue to dominate the literary world.

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As a lifelong fan of Enid Blyton and The Magic Faraway Tree, Jacqueline Wilson wrote about her admiration for the book in her biography. It therefore made perfect sense for Wilson to write the sequel. Here she tells us about her life, books, dreams and how much she enjoyed writing her version of The Magic Faraway Tree for the modern world.

Writing has always been part of Wilson’s life. From an early age she was endlessly penning stories and had even written a full length novel before leaving school. Back in the 50s and 60s career choices for women were mainly confined to “school teacher, nurse or secretary” or if needs must “you could possibly get married”. As a result of this, Wilson kept her desire to write ‘under her hat’ until she left school at 16 years. On seeing an ad in the London ES for teenage writers, Wilson grabbed her typewriter and sent off a comic story which consequently won over one of the editors and was published for £3 – “I was thrilled”. Following on from this, she started writing for the newly launched girl’s magazine Jackie which also precipitated a move to Dundee. Marriage

followed at 19 years, with her daughter Emma arriving two years later. Together with her husband, the family moved back South and after three attempts, Wilson’s first novel was published when she was just 22 years old and “I’ve carried on ever since”!

On average, Wilson was producing two to three novels every year, but it wasn’t until Tracy Beaker appeared that things really took off. The TV series cemented Wilson’s success and then started the “happy years, where I could write what I wanted, I didn’t have to bother with magazine stories anymore and it’s just been marvellous ever since”!

In part, down to Wilson’s stratospheric career and also having worked with Alexandra Antscherl who looked after the Enid Blyton written legacy, the opportunity to write a sequel materialised. Helped in no small way

by Wilson’s book Jacky Daydream in which several pages were dedicated to the virtues of The Magic Faraway Tree. “I just adored the books, I wanted to be Silky the Fairy, I loved all the adventures especially the Land of Birthdays which was my favourite.

Above: Jacqueline with her mother and father, Harry and Biddy in 1946, Jacqueline as a teenager, the first issue of Jackie magazine

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They meant so much to me.” Subsequently, Antscherl asked Wilson to “write a follow on story to Enid Blyton’s iconic works.” Thus the huge mantel of responsibility fell upon Wilson’s shoulders to bring The Magic Faraway Tree into the new age.

(I want) modern children to read my book as a lovely follow-on to the series and for those who haven’t read the originals to enjoy it in its own right.

“I was given free range, as I wouldn’t dream of re-working Enid Blyton’s titles, or upsetting old fans but I wanted to follow on with new children in modern times who would still discover the enchanted wood, go up the Faraway Tree and who would meet the same characters like Moonface, Silky the Fairy and Saucepan Man, along with a few new characters of my own. I also wanted to reinvent some of my own Magic Lands and also create a way of making time stand still so the children weren’t missed by their parents.” Wilson’s main objective is that she wants “modern children to read my book as a lovely follow-on to the series and for those who haven’t read the originals to enjoy it in its own right – in short it’s a win, win!”

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When asking about bringing the language and narrative into today’s world, Wilson is quick to remark that “I didn’t really have to change the approach at all - these are nicely brought up children, they are not little Tracy Beakers”! Having said that Mia (note the modern name), is quite a tomboy and as Wilson points out “nowadays you have to have a girl who is not a particularly girly girl” whilst little Birdy forms the counterbalance displaying the traditional love of dressing up as a fairy princess. “I get to have a bite of both cherries!” Milo, on the other hand is a competitive little boy who Wilson wanted to make “prove himself by being brave” in the face of danger. On the discussion of a followup series, Wilson’s reply is “we are talking about it and it sounds like a very exciting prospect…”

The key to the book’s success is the ability to keep the nostalgia and charm of the old book whilst adding some new modern twists that will resonate with the kids of today.

No story would be complete without Silky and Moonface and whilst they continue to mesmerise, they do so in a more relatable way with the secret lands of unicorns, bouncy castles and dragons intriguing the imagination. It’s as if Enid Blyton has put on her invisible cloak and re-appeared in the new millennium.

Away from the world of dragons and princesses, Wilson has sometimes been labelled as being too realistic about the issues of young troubled kids and accused of inciting anti-social behaviour.

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Some of the well known characters from Jacqueline’s books

As a result, the contrast of the approaches towards the different realities within her books could not be more apparent and are testimony to her range and skill as a writer.

Tracy Beaker is an example of her more ‘edgy’ characters. The inspiration came from the visuals of orphans in her local paper with direct and blunt descriptions attached, such as “she finds it hard to make friends”. Wilson was troubled by how these descriptions would have a negative effect on the child and create perceived stereotypes amongst their contemporaries. Tracy Beaker is the realisation of these concerns. “She is a feisty determined little girl, with no one to stick up for her, so she sticks up for herself.” When the

TV serialisation was made, parents would often complain about Tracy’s ill-mannered shouting “but the kids get it and that’s what matters”.

Following the huge success of the TV serialisation of Tracy Beaker, has Wilson ever been tempted to write for the stage or screen herself? It appears not: “I’ve been lucky enough to have people do it for me, particularly Emma Reeves and every adaptation of my work has been superb…

I know how to write inside children’s heads and that’s what I’ll stick to - it’s horses for courses.”

Wilson has always loved looking at the world through children’s eyes and this has informed her writing throughout her career. “Children have always triggered my interest. I have SUMMER 2022 schoolnotices.co.uk 31

Don’t give up – be it in your professional or personal life, carry on and something surprising might just happen very vivid memories of my childhood and I’m always more interested in the effect on children, rather than adults, in anything I’m watching or reading about”.

Now in her 70’s, Wilson is excited by the talent following on behind. She makes particular reference to Katherine Rundell author of Rooftoppers. “She’s going from strength to strength, she’s a brilliant writer and very imaginative and is a delight. Her books are also loved equally by both boys and girls.” On the question of how her writing

has developed over the years, Wilson hopes that “it has become more stylish” but at the same time points out that she has her own recognisable style and that “there’s always been a part of my head that allows me to subconsciously develop a story as I know where I’m going and what I’m going to write.”

Wilson’s advice for the next generation of budding authors is to “read lots, not to copy but to see how other people create their literary effects. It also increases your vocabulary and stimulates the imagination.

Try to keep a diary and write a few lines every day and when you can’t think what to say this is a great way of training to be a writer. Writing regularly will always help with writers block”. This leads onto Wilson’s motto for life “don’t give up – be it in your professional or personal life, carry on

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Jacqueline Wilson’s MOST FAMOUS BOOKS

PHOTOGRAPHY: COURTESY OF JACQUELINE WILSON AND PENGUIN, ILLUSTRATIONS MARK BEECH AND NICK SHARRATT

and something surprising might just happen”.

On social media, Wilson struggles with the possibility of it squashing creativity. “I have to fight against my automatic prejudice against something that wasn’t around when I was young.” She also stresses the importance of “reading to children to get them used to the rhythm of the language”. “Children have wonderful dexterity now on their tablets and phones but concentration and getting absorbed in something serious and emotional is sometimes being missed. We always emphasise the importance of teaching empathy and what better way to learn than reading a book.”

Back to Wilson’s final thoughts on the new adventures of The Magic Faraway Tree . “It was like going away on holiday – there was nothing too upsetting or worrying. It’s a reassuring sort of book especially after the last two years with the anxieties children have had – a bit of old fashioned comfort, fun and magic has to be a good thing.”

The Magic Faraway Tree – a New Adventure by Jacqueline Wilson. Illustrated by Mark Beech.

Published 26th May 2022. Hardback £12.99 SUMMER 2022 schoolnotices.co.uk 33

Peace of mind…

Have you noticed changes in your loved ones recently?

Signs such as...  Short term memory loss  Less stable while walking, including trips and falls  Less attention paid to personal care, clothes, and appearance  Loss of interest in food and cooking  Trouble sleeping and frequently waking in the night While these seem little things, they can be indicative of a larger problem, and an early indicator that some form of support or care may be needed, maybe not immediately, but in the future.

Please feel free to call us with any concerns and we can discuss early your options and the best way of planning. Its always better to be prepared and we are always happy to help.

eximiussupport.uk

01494 424222

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The people’s

PROFESSOR Traditionally science hasn’t been particularly ‘cool’ but thanks to Professor Brian Cox, things, or should I say particles, have changed! Here we talk life and space with the unique Professor of Particle Physics himself.

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STAR STATS Cox was born and brought up in Oldham.

His parents both worked in the local bank and family pursuits included, dance, gymnastics and bus and plane spotting. Despite getting a D in his A Level Maths, the gene pool pointed towards a career in the sciences, helped by his fascination with the book Cosmos by Carl Sagan. “I was interested in astronomy but hadn’t realised it was a science. I was given a pair of binoculars aged six and loved looking at the night sky. I was lucky that I then made the connection of astronomy with science.

Because of this, Physics was always my favourite subject at school.”

After leaving school, Cox studied Physics at the University of Manchester at the same time that his music career started to take off. “I was big into electronic music like OMD possibly because I was interested in the technology behind it.” As the keyboard player for the band Dare he released two albums before joining D:Ream who had several hits including ‘Things Can Only Get Better’ famously used for the New Labour election anthem. This love of music is a thread that runs consistently through most things in his life. When discussing his exciting new arena tour, Horizons: a 21st Century Space Odyssey, Cox emphasises the 36 schoolnotices.co.uk SUMMER 2022

Full name: Brian Edward Cox CBE FRS IQ: 183 – higher than both Charles Darwin (165) and Albert Einstein (160) Childhood pursuits: Dance, gymnastics, plane and bus spotting Top TV shows: Wonders of the Solar System and Human Universe Dream to realise: “I’d love to see the earth from space – everyone says it’s the most profound experience.”

Favourite book: Forces of Nature “it’s a bit autobiographical as well”

importance of the music to the overall impact of the show.

Following a break from music and the band aged 18, Cox took time to really think about which career path he wanted to follow. Then at 23 years old he went back to university – “I took a wandering route through music and

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I was lucky that I then made the connection of astronomy with science.

Because of this, Physics was always my favourite subject at school. back to Physics again.” On the back of this, his advice is “don’t worry if you don’t know what you want to do, things will fall into place”.

And fall into place they did, following work on various different scientific projects, the BBC became interested in the HERA experiment and interviewed Cox about it. “I fell into it completely but accidentally. The one thing I had was a conviction that it mattered.” This passion translated well on screen and even today Cox believes “that our society will be improved and function better if more people have an understanding of what science is”.

Cox’s latest venture is his world tour Horizons: a 21st Century Space Odyssey. It is a dazzling cinematic journey which explores the nature of space and time, how life began, and what it means to be human in this universe. The Tour,

L-R: The book that sparked his interest in astrology – Cosmos by Carl Sagan, playing keyboards in the 80s, as band member of DARE, Human Universe TV show, playing multiple keyboards at a concert in 1989, comedian and friend Robin Ince currently on tour with him in the USA, speaking on tour, a sketch of a diagram to explain Black Holes in preparation for a new book on the subject, The Infinite Monkey Cage podcast he co-hosts with Robin Ince, presenting Wonders of Life documentary series

currently playing in the States runs until the Autumn when it returns here.

The show opens with some powerful classical music (Sibelius 5th symphony, 3rd movement) and awe inspiring graphics. Cox believes that this music is “the most majestic exploration of the beauty of nature with a mystical element that celebrates the wonder of our universe”.

As with his career, there is a synergy between music and the sciences. “They are both responses to the world, and help to answer a key question that I raise during the show which is ‘what does it mean to live a finite fragile life in an infinite eternal universe?’ Music can sometimes answer these questions better than me and it’s part of the conversation not just wallpaper.”

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…a key question that I raise during the show is ‘what does it mean to live a finite fragile life in an infinite eternal universe?’

This quest for knowledge and understanding of the universe and our place within it can be narrowed down to the basics of having an ‘interest’ in what’s around you. Indeed, Cox’s advice for budding young scientists is to “be interested” and then as “you try and discover the answers to your questions you need perseverance as understanding is hard won. Don’t ever think you are not good at something because you don’t understand it. No-one is good at things magically, it needs hard work, determination and practice.”

Cox has done for science what Attenborough has done for nature. Both legends in their field and responsible for bringing the world and its complexities to our lives and our TV screens. Cox is the ideal role model for the next generation of budding scientists and has transformed many of the big scary life questions into relatable and debatable topics. In short “Things Can Only Get Better…” @profbriancox

On stage at Horizons arena tour (Photography: Mark Harrison)

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Professor Brian Cox - Horizons: a 21st Century Space Odyssey arena tour

Using state-of-the-art LED screen technology, Arenas will be filled with images of far-away galaxies, alien worlds, supermassive black holes and a time before the Big Bang.

PHOTOGRAPHY: @PROFBRIANCOX (INSTA), BRIANCOXLIVE.CO.UK

Horizons is a celebration of our civilisation, of our music, art, philosophy and science; an optimistic vision of our future if we continue to explore Nature with humility and to value ourselves and our fellow human beings.

Brian will once again be joined by cohost of The Infinite Monkey Cage and award-winning comedian Robin Ince, perhaps the only collection of sentient atoms in the observable Universe capable of overseeing a Q&A with an audience of 10,000 people whilst wearing an old cardigan.

US, Canada, UK, Ireland and Asia Pacific – April – December 2022 briancoxlive.co.uk

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Cooking with

FEELING Feel-good cooking is not just what we eat, it’s the mindset around it.

A relaxed, flexible approach that encourages you to tune into what you need, what suits your mood and what you happen to have in your fridge. We catch up with Melissa Hemsley to talk about her cooking philosophy, culinary trends, and to discuss her new cookbook.

Hemsley grew up in Surbiton in Kingston, London. As part of a busy family, her Filipina mum was always working, so when she did eventually come home she was “straight into the kitchen” where delicious food would appear but with little time and starving mouths to feed, “the kitchen was very much her domain, not ours”. This rich heritage of Filipino dishes (“I remember my mum as ginger, garlic and onion”) still influences Hemsley today and on leaving home she found it “extraordinary that fish sauce wasn’t a thing”.

I was annoyed that my mother hadn’t given me all the skills but at the same time grateful that I had eaten great flavourful food.”

This love of cooking and food led Hemsley to ditching the shoe business and starting work as a private chef with her sister, Jasmine.

Clients included Take That – “we were lucky we started with a bang”. She still stays in touch with the band today “they are such nice people with wonderful families.” In fact, Hemsley

Aged 18, Hemsley went to work for a small shoe company in Bermondsey and rather than struggle with the commute home she swapped accommodation with friends for cooking. “I wasn’t very good but I started with tom yum soup and went from there.

Right: Melissa aged four, with big sister Jasmine

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Our kitchens are great places to connect with ourselves and with others; what we cook and eat can help to build the emotional scaffolding that supports our busy lives and sustain us through the toughest times. often misses aspects of the job such as “being left alone, creating my own recipes, owning my day and the freedom”.

During lockdown Hemsley desperately missed cooking for people and the pleasure it brought. Whilst she enjoyed cooking for herself and her partner, she is apprehensive of her forthcoming book tour where she will be back in the limelight and needing all the energy she can muster to complete the tour.

She also points out that she used to “get very stressed - when people know you are a chef they expect so much more”. Today, however, her motto is “keep it simple” and if you “roll one meal onto another, so be it”!

With Hemsley’s strong heritage of cookbooks, including Eat Happy and Eat Green, the incentive behind Feel Good Cooking is a culmination of all her favourite recipes and culinary beliefs. Before she wrote the book she asked herself “What do I want to live with for the next two years? It’s got to be very special – simple and with nostalgic flavours” and then when Covid hit, it was also important to include “store cupboard and freezer cooking” and food that reflected “community, connection and comfort”.

Hemsley wants her food to be “hearty but not heavy”. The book embraces not just what you are cooking but the way you share and enjoy it which Hemsley believes is just as important.

Often an assumption is made that healthy food is expensive. Hemsley believes that if you group recipes together based on cost and plan meals ahead this can be very helpful. “Eating healthily shouldn’t be stressful but achievable” her suggestions include – “freezing fresh food when it’s in season, batch cooking and raiding the fridge to use up left overs”. Hemsley’s top ingredients for health are leafy greens, frozen berries (cheaper than fresh) and chickpeas (good for brain health) which can be used in so many different ways.

Her mantra has always been and will always be “eating healthy and eating greener”. Her other favourite ingredients include proper sea salt as “it makes everything delicious” Left: Melissa with her dog Nelly

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Right: Kedgeree-style Smoked Mackerel – Feel Good

– chocolate, “who doesn’t love it” – tahini, “you can use it in everything” and sardines, “affordable and so good for us”.

Hemsley’s advice for the next generation of aspiring chefs is not to be intimidated if you are not formally trained. Thanks to the likes of TikTok and Instagram, food and cooking is everywhere with everyone having a go. “Don’t feel limited to any one way of spreading your food message, show your passion and persevere. Write, cold call, explain your skill sets but keep it short and snappy and if people don’t respond keep on contacting them.” Another great way of getting into the culinary world is to “volunteer on charity cook books where you will meet talented chefs, photographers and stylists and may even bump into some of your kitchen heroes”.

Hemsley’s enthusiasm, knowledge and genuine love of food is infectious. Whilst her books have brought her fame and much deserved recognition, at heart she is still a Surbiton girl. When asked what her dreams are for the future, she doesn’t aspire to restaurant chains and celebrity TV shows, rather she wants to create a “community cooking space, where you pay what you can afford with any profit going to teach young and aspiring chefs”. This down to earth outlook on life and cooking can be seen by her mantra, “if it comes let it come, if it goes let it go…”

C A N ’ T D O W I T H O U T:

A grater “allows you to grate extra veg into everything” FAVO U R I T E R E C I P E F R O M T H E B O O K:

Three-ingredient chocolate pots “ they are so rich, delicious and vegan” I N S P I R AT I O N A L C H E F :

Skye Gyngell “a complete legend and one of the first to ban single-use plastics in her kitchen” EMERGING FOOD TRENDS:

“wasting less, eating more veg and falling back in love with beans and pulses” L A S T M E A L:

“My mum’s Filipino Chicken (or anyway chicken) corn on the cob with chili butter, lots of veg and my chocolate pots – but not cooked by me!”

These are so simple and delicious, plus they’re plant-based! If you want to make them in advance, they’ll keep for 3 days in the fridge. I love them made with just the three ingredients – hazelnut milk works particularly well – but if you want to go to town, try adding extra toppings – whatever you have in your cupboard! These are quite rich, so they happily feed six. You’ll need 6 ramekins or glasses/jars – tea cups would look lovely; just avoid delicate glasses that might crack under the hot mix.

Prep time: 20 minutes + 4 hours chilling Serves: 6

METHOD Roughly tear the dates, discarding the pits, and soak in just-boiled water for 10 minutes.

Even though Medjool dates are soft anyway, this helps soften them further, which is good for any blenders that might need a helping hand.

Heat up the nut milk in a saucepan, being careful not to boil, and remove from the heat once it’s heated through.

Meanwhile, finely slice about 2 tablespoons of the chocolate to create some chocolate ‘shavings’ and set aside for garnishing.

INGREDIENTS ● 180g Medjool dates (about 10 large dates) ● 250ml nut milk ● 160g dark (50%–70%) chocolate ● A little pinch of sea salt, plus extra to serve (optional)

Chop the rest of the chocolate and add to a blender or food processor, then pour over the hot nut milk. Drain the soaked dates and add them with the salt, then carefully blend until smooth.

OPTIONAL TOPPINGS ● Dollop of (plant-based) cream ● Chopped toasted hazelnuts or pecans ● Pitted cherries or fresh pomegranate seeds ● Raspberries or strawberries ● Crushed biscuits (such as ginger nut or digestive)

Divide the mixture between 6 ramekins or glasses (see introduction) and chill in the fridge for 4 hours until set. Cover them if you’re keeping them there any longer, so they don’t pick up ‘fridge’ smells. Scatter over the chocolate shavings, plus a tiny extra sprinkle of sea salt, if you like, or add any of the other toppings to serve.

Recipe extracted from Feel Good Quick and Easy Recipes for Comfort and Joy by Melissa Hemsley. Ebury Press, £22. melissahemsley.com • @melissa.hemsley 44 schoolnotices.co.uk SUMMER 2022

PHOTOGRAPHY: LIZZIE MAYSON, @HEMSLEYHEMSLEY

Three-ingredient chocolate pots

VARIATION For a Christmassy chocolate orange flavour, add 1/2 teaspoon orange extract to the blender and top the finished pots with a little grated orange zest. Add a festive flourish of a tiny pinch of nutmeg or cloves.

Recipe

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20TH MAY 2022

The inaugural School Notices U13 Girls Cricket Championship 2022 on Friday 20th May went off at full pace!

Kindly hosted within the stunning grounds of Marlborough College, 16 teams of 8 battled it out to bring home the magnificent trophy with medals for the runners up. Sponsorship was provided by Savills and JM Finn with match equipment donated by Grays TeamSports.

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Events

WINNERS WINNING TEAM

Crosfields

RUNNERS-UP

BEST BATTER

Katharine Collie Crosfields

BEST BOWLER

Georgia Toosey Daneshill Participating schools: Chafyn Grove Cheam Cottesmore Crosfields Daneshill Downe House Durlston Court Embley Farleigh Forres Sandle Manor Godolphin Lambrook Marlston House Pinewood Sandroyd

Daneshill

RISING STAR

Nishka Gavanka Crosfields

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“What a fabulous day watching future stars playing a great sport!

Girls’ cricket is on the map!”

Gordon Dawson – School Notices Founder and Executive Chairman

Tammy Beaumont MBE, leading England cricketer and Brand Ambassador for JM Finn along with Mark Alleyne MBE, Marlborough College Cricketing Professional ran cricketing masterclasses throughout the afternoon.

To see 16 teams playing in full, loving the game, to a really high standard at U13, I just think is amazing.

Tammy Beaumont

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“School sport is the best… Introducing competitive and fun formats like this is absolutely at the heart of developing the game.”

Hugo Bedford, JM Finn, CEO

“All the teams played exceptionally well. We really enjoyed witnessing such a high level of cricketing prowess from the girls.”

Steven Moore, Savills Winchester, Head of Residential

“Marlborough is proud to be a driving force in developing the women’s game in schools.”

Mark Alleyne MBE, Marlborough College, Cricket Professional

SUMMER 2022 schoolnotices.co.uk 49

“I’d heard rumours it was the best villa in Sri Lanka. I’d like to see a better one.”

“Ranawara is an incredible palatial house on the beach – to call it a villa does not do it justice!”

St Mary’s Ascot parent

Eton College parent

Check out SN Marketplace Image provided by kind permission of Ranawara

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Sandcastles in the sky

When your life is turned upside down in the most harrowing and cruel fashion you have a choice.

You can sink in the turbulence or try to swim to calmer waters, re-group and find a positive path forward. Clare Milford Haven explains how losing her beloved 21 year old son to suicide has resulted in the creation of the pioneering charity James’ Place.

Following her son’s tragic death “life was never the same again” but Clare made a conscious decision “to do something positive” and out of this was born James’ Place with the first centre located in Liverpool, opened

by HRH The Duke of Cambridge in June 2018.

Here was a sanctuary where young men could find their voice, an ear to listen and the chance to transform suicidal thoughts to life saving and coping strategies in order to move forward. As Clare is keen to stress “if caught at the right time and with the right intervention suicide is preventable”.

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In short, it is Clare’s lifelong ambition to grow the charity, raise awareness and prevent other men taking their lives.

Prior to the unexpected path her life took, Clare was a successful writer working for titles such as The Times, Evening Standard, Homes & Gardens and GQ. She was also Tatler’s Social Editor for eight years. Writing has always been Clare’s great love and it was during lockdown and with time on her hands that she decided to dig out the children’s book she had written several years ago.

The Magic Sandcastle takes a nostalgic look back at blissful summer holidays spent with her kids in Nantucket, where her mother had a holiday house. This enchanting book celebrates close family relationships, sun, sea and sand with a mix of resilience and determination. “My mum created this amazing forum for all the grandchildren to be together, the key messages being the importance of family, of grandparents and all the special relationships which were formed and nurtured over 25 years. It’s about teamwork and collaboration and it’s also about resilience and never giving up when something gets you down. You need to keep striving even when you think you’ve lost and with hard work and determination you can still win.”

The book also displays the importance of “playing outside and using nature to create things. I don’t think kids do enough of that nowadays”.

Finally, “it’s about fantasy and dreams and having a bit of magic in your life”.

The irony of the contrast of life before and after 52 schoolnotices.co.uk SUMMER 2022

DID YOU KNOW…

Suicide is the number one killer of men who die under the age of 45 in the UK. Men in the UK are three times more likely than women to take their own life.

Men aged 45-49, of middle age within the UK, have been identified as the highest risk of suicide.

Study conducted by the Samaritans

James’ death is not lost on any of us. But the key messages of resilience, determination, importance of family and nature hold as true today as they were then and have given Clare the bedrock and the tools to help her move forward.

Clare is remarkably open and honest about her devastating experience. “My eldest son James very sadly, tragically and unexpectedly took his own life in December 2006, 10 days after a minor operation. None of us saw this coming - it was out of the blue but very connected to the operation he had as he was very anxious about the outcome.” James was studying Spanish and Business at Newcastle University and even though he didn’t ‘feel

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him feel that his mental state did not warrant the attention. In addition, it also transpired that James had sought help online without success. Ironically, Clare had a doctor’s appointment booked for James that following Monday but he never got there to get the help and advice he so badly needed.

Above L-R: Clare with husband George and their children in the Bahamas, April 2006. (James is second from the right), James playing polo in Argentina, 2004

We need to get men to open up and to feel they can be listened too, valued and nurtured… Encouraging our boys to communicate from an early age, can only be a good thing. right’ decided to go back to Uni despite his mother’s protests.

Unbeknown to Clare, James took himself to a walk-in centre where he explained that he felt suicidal and was then referred directly to A&E to seek help. However, the extent of the queue and the physical ailments of the others made

Sadly, James’ story is all too common. Suicide is in fact the biggest killer of men. In short, if James was going to die aged 21, then the likelihood was that it would be from suicide.

Men are three times more likely to take their lives than women, with the two worst age groups being 19-25 and mid 40’s-50’s. These two critical stages of a man’s life contain considerable changes and stresses. “Men by nature feel an abundance of pride and they also feel shame acutely and because of this they don’t like opening up and sharing.”

Instead, they feel they have to ‘man-up’. Clare believes “we need to get men to open up and to feel they can be listened too, valued and nurtured. Things are slowly changing and men are beginning to be more open about their emotions. Encouraging our boys to communicate from an early age, can only be a good thing”.

With the benefit of hindsight, what lessons can be learnt from this tragedy? Clare is adamant that you should never wait. “Act quickly, don’t hesitate and deal directly with the problem and don’t skirt around the issue.

If you are really concerned then don’t be afraid to ask the question “are you feeling suicidal?” When asking if there were any other red flags, Clare outlines the following: notable changes in behaviour, anxiety and or depression, not wanting to socialise, losing weight, being withdrawn, mood swings, not sleeping well and just not being ‘themselves’.

SUMMER 2022 schoolnotices.co.uk 53

DID YOU KNOW…

Male suicides have consistently accounted for approximately three-quarters of all suicides in the UK since the mid-1990s.

From top: Clare’s son Harry and and his friends celebrate their Row For James epic sail across the Atlantic, Trustee HRH Duke of Cambridge opens James’ Place first centre in Liverpool, the calm and peaceful landscaped garden at Liverpool

54 schoolnotices.co.uk SUMMER 2021

Moving forward, Clare established a charitable fund and learnt in detail about mental health and the various charities which support it. But at the back of her mind, she was always thinking about her own experience with James and what could have been done to prevent his death. She believed that what was needed was “a very calm, peaceful and non-clinical space, where men felt secure”. Word got out about Clare’s vision and she was subsequently contacted by an academic at John Moores University who suggested that Liverpool could really benefit from a place like this.

The wheels were put in motion and with the strong feelings of enthusiasm and engagement behind the project, Clare decided that this was the right path to follow and James’ Place was born.

Profile

From here it snowballed. Clare’s other son Harry, together with friends rowed across the Atlantic, raising over £650,000 which got the centre off the ground to open in June 2018.

Since than another centre in London has been created and was opened on 3rd May

by HRH The Duke of Cambridge. Referrals come via A&E, GPs, student bodies and selfreferrals with the pledge to see people within 48 hours. Since Covid the centres have been flooded. “We are a small charity with big, big ambitions and with the desire to become a national charity. Funding is from individuals, trusts, businesses and foundations. We do now have some Government funding which is fantastic and endorses our service and what we do.” In the long term the dream would be to have a James’ Place in all the major cities.

With the charity up and running, Clare has been able to revisit her great love of writing.

As well as The Magic Sandcastle there are other children’s books in the pipeline. There is also a book about dealing with the turmoil and the emotions of losing James, something she has wanted to write for ages but which she is finding the hardest book of all to produce. “I want to help those bereaved to find a path through life that allows them to live with their sorrow rather than their sorrow dictating their life.”

James’ Place was founded by Clare Milford Haven and Nick Wentworth-Stanley, following the tragic loss of their son, James. The charity’s mission is to stop men dying by suicide believing that death by suicide is preventable. Suicide is still the single leading cause of death of men under 50. At James’ Place, they want to make sure that help is available for every man facing a suicidal crisis and to support them to find hope for the future. The charity works with health partners to deliver a service to men whose needs have not been met by traditional services through support centres in Liverpool and London.

jamesplace.org.uk

Join the Fairchild children who have entered a sandcastle competition while staying with their grandmother in Nantucket for the summer holidays. They spend all day constructing a beautiful fort but overnight the tide hampers their dreams. Will their combined efforts be enough to clinch the winning trophy?

The Magic Sandcastle is the debut picture book from mental health campaigner and former journalist Clare Milford Haven, featuring evocative illustrations by David William Press. Serenity Press HB £12.99 waterstones.com

SUMMER 2022 schoolnotices.co.uk 55

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Winner of the 2019 & 2021 PAM Award for Sustainable Investment Solution Invested capital is at risk.

abrdn.com Call charges will vary. There is no guarantee that any email you send will be received or will not have been tampered with. You should not send personal details by email. abrdn Capital Limited, registered in Scotland (SC317950) at 1 George Street, Edinburgh EH2 2LL. abrdn Capital Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. abrdn Capital Capital International Limited is registered in Jersey (38918) at 1st Floor, Sir Walter Raleigh House, 48-50 Esplanade, St Helier, Jersey JE2 3QB. abrdn Capital International Limited is regulated by the Jersey Financial Services Commission under the Financial Services (Jersey) Law 1998 (as amended) for the conduct of investment business and fund services business.

Events

Financial Awareness Course Understanding more about the World of Finance TOPIC 1 Introduction to Investment

TOPIC 2 Invest today, Change tomorrow

School Notices, in partnership with abrdn, are delighted once again to offer our member schools the chance to take part in this fully interactive and engaging sixth form programme. Three 45 minute webinars over three consecutive weeks will give a deep dive into the world of finance and investment with industry leaders. On completion of the course, each pupil will receive a certificate to add to their CV and LinkedIn profile with the opportunity to be put forward for an internship at abrdn.

TOPIC 3 Forms of Investment – Past, Present, Future

The Financial Awareness Course arrived at an ideal moment for our Year 13 students. Joining our Life After Marlborough programme, this three part course comprehensively covers an integral part of a young person’s future life and was delivered engagingly, relevantly and tangibly by the experts from abrdn. Thank you School Notices!

John Carroll, Head of U6, Marlborough College

Please contact antonia@schoolnotices.co.uk if you would like your school to be included in this initiative.

SUMMER 2022 schoolnotices.co.uk 57

Postcard from…

TURKEY James Nickson, CEO at School Notices, explores the magic of Turkey with a family holiday to Hillside Beach Club

us followed by homemade chocolate and dance shows performed in the impressive Amphitheatre.

James with wife and family Why did you choose Hillside?

With Covid and a new baby we needed to get away! Hillside came highly recommended and it ticked all the boxes with excellent food and service and lots to do. Sign us up!

What did the kids enjoy most?

Our girls (8 and 4) loved “everything” especially Kidside with its two swimming pools, water slides and organised play with arts and crafts. They also enjoyed the adult pool, watching the sunset and having dinner with 58 schoolnotices.co.uk SUMMER 2022

As parents what were the highlights for you?

Where to start – there was so much for everyone to do. We loved the brilliantly choreographed exercise classes with the stunning views, the water sports, and the outstanding Hamman Turkish massage we had on our first day. Pure heaven.

Please take us back!

And the low points?

It’s hard to fault but if you put

me on the spot, some areas only had step access which can be tricky with a pram.

Also, if you are bottle feeding a baby you will need to bring Fairy Liquid and a washing brush as the rooms do not have a kitchenette.

Is there a kid’s menu and what was the food like?

Yes and the food was excellent with a specific kid’s station including lots of plain vegetables and pasta. As a ‘foodie’ family we could not have been happier with superb cold mezes, a fish counter, a meat grill, vegetarian options and wonderful homemade ice cream. There were also two great restaurants on the beach with table service.

As parents, did you have the chance to switch off?

We definitely did - and we’re not normally the best at switching off! But

I loved making friends and playing in the pools and going to the shows.

(Ella 8 years)

The girls watching the sunset

Travel

/22

4 12/0

Kalemya Bay.

knowing the kids were safe and in great hands was hugely reassuring.

Dining out on the beach

And can you escape from the kids if you want?

There are two spas and both come highly recommended! In addition, there were two large adult only beaches. Silent Beach, with no phones or music allowed and Serenity Beach (a short walk away) with double bed loungers, BBQ and bar.

Would you describe your holiday as good value for money?

Absolutely. The resort really was 5 star in every way with most things included within the overnight rate.

Would you go back or recommend to other families?

Definitely. The most common question we got from staff was have you been here before?

That’s because they have a 95% return visit rate. That doesn’t surprise us at all as it’s a very special place indeed.

Nightly rates at Hillside Beach Club start from £114.

Rates based on two people sharing a standard room on a full board plus* basis. For more information visit hillsidebeachclub.com/en *All meals are included, as are drinks consumed during breakfast (7.30am-10am), lunch (12.45-3.00pm) and dinner (7-9.45pm) at the main restaurant. Drinks ordered outside these times and at Hillside’s other outlets and taken from the mini bar are charged for.

Interview

God save the

QUEEN Royal biographer, Robert Hardman talks to us about his new book A Queen of Our Times , the importance of the Platinum Jubilee and the future of the monarchy…

SUMMER 2022 schoolnotices.co.uk 61

Would you describe yourself as a Royalist?

Yes I would. However irrational a system of monarchy might seem to a 21st Century moderniser, it stands for stability and continuity in a turbulent world - which is what we all need. Not just in the UK. Take a look at the UN Human Development Index. Half of those in the top 20 are monarchies – although the vast majority of nations do not have a monarchy.

Do you have any direct input from the Royal Household and aides when writing?

There is no input. I sometime ask for help in accessing events or people and, over the years, I have interviewed nearly every member of the Royal Family (some of them several times). While writing Queen of Our Times, I asked the Queen for permission to look at certain papers in the Royal Archives and she kindly allowed me to read documents like her father’s war diaries. They have never been published and are a fascinating insight into the true challenges which the Royal Family faced during Britain’s darkest hour. Here was a man dive-bombed in his own home who cheated death on several occasions. He was badly shaken by it but couldn’t let it show and so he

got on with the job. That has clearly rubbed off on his heir.

In your eyes, how has the monarchy developed under the Queen’s reign?

It has changed far more than most people imagine. Internally, financially, socially – the lot. Just look at the laws of succession now – a thousand years of male primogeniture overturned (on a single afternoon in 2011).

Do you think the Commonwealth will change after her reign and if so how?

Some of the realms might change and go for a republican model (it has been on the cards for years) but not the Commonwealth itself. Most of its 54 member states are not realms and owe no allegiance to the Crown.

Do you believe with Charles as King, the monarchy will be more vociferous with regard to pressing issues of the day and politics?

No, he knows the score. He is the longestserving Heir to the Throne in history. He will be a careful, diligent Monarch.

Why was the Platinum Jubilee such an historic event?

It is unique. We have never marked 70 years of

L-R: Prince Albert (Elizabeth’s father) in 1919 at a Royal Air Force dinner, A young Queen Elizabeth II when she lived in Malta between 1947 and 1951, Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip (Duke of Edinburgh) wedding portrait 20th November 1947

62 schoolnotices.co.uk SUMMER 2022

Interview

I like the fact that she never panics – even in the worst crises.

She (almost) never gets bored.

one reign – and probably never will again.

How much control did the Queen have over the celebrations?

Nothing happens without her say so. Having said that, she keeps a light touch on the tiller.

She leaves the details to her officials. Her philosophy is that if people are having a nice time, then she is happy. It doesn’t mean she needs to sit through the whole Jubilee pop concert herself, though, which she didn’t.

In your opinion, what are the key events and characteristics of the Queen’s reign that set it apart from previous ones?

She is the first monarch whose function, from the start, has been to dismantle British territory all over the world and do it with a smile and a handshake. And she has faced demographic changes like no other monarch.

She is also the first who can strip a gearbox on a lorry.

And what personal characteristics does she have that have influenced her role?

Duty, good health, strong faith, a photographer’s eye for detail, a good memory and until recently Prince Philip.

How important is the Christian faith to the Queen?

Central to all she does. It explains why errant members of the family are not cast out.

Queen Elizabeth with Prince Philip and eldest children Prince Charles and Princess Anne in October 1957

SUMMER 2022 schoolnotices.co.uk 63

Interview

A public thank you to frontline workers during the peak of the pandemic in London Picadilly 2021

Do you feel that the monarchy’s popularity will decrease once the Queen has gone?

It always ebbs and flows but it has been surprisingly durable for a thousand years.

How do you see the monarchy developing in the future to reflect the changes in our so called ‘woke’ society?

It moves with the times because it always has done. It can’t be fully ‘woke’ but it can’t be ‘antiwoke’. Like most of the population, it sits in the middle. It needs to view social media storms with healthy scepticism.

I like the fact that she never panics – even in the worst crises. She (almost) never gets bored.

Do you know if the Queen has read the book?

No. I sent a copy to the Palace as a courtesy but you never expect comeback on these things. Nor should you (unless you’ve made some howling error).

Queen of our Times: The Life of Elizabeth II by Robert Hardman is available now in all good bookshops and online. waterstones.com

Robert Hardman is a renowned writer and broadcaster, specializing in monarchy and history. He has interviewed global figures from the Duke of Edinburgh to the Prince of Wales and the Duke of Cambridge; from the Emperor of Japan to the US president, and every Prime Minister

What most surprised you about the Queen when writing Queen of our Times?

So many insights into her life and character.

64 schoolnotices.co.uk SUMMER 2022

since John Major. Hardman is an award-winning journalist for the Daily Mail and lives with his family in London. @hardmanr

PHOTOGRAPY: JACOB KING PA WIRE PA IMAGES, WIKIPEDIA, SHUTTERSTOCK

How do you think the death of Philip has effected the Queen?

She will have felt terribly sad, of course, but she will have felt that at a time when so many families were enduring forcible separation due to the pandemic, she was very lucky to be there at the end – and to have had such a wonderful life together: the longest royal love story in history.

Books

Book CLUB

Best for ADULTS

Noticed reviews the top Summer reads…

The World’s Worst Pets

by David Walliams

Millions of us have loved The World’s Worst Children, The World’s Worst Teachers and The World’s Worst Parents – now we delight in this ludicrously laugh-out-loud collection of pets, brought to you by bestselling author David Walliams. These ten tales of the world’s craziest creatures will have you shaking with laughter. You’ll never look at pets in the same way again! Marvel at Houdini, the magician’s Best for JUNIORS

rabbit. Take a trip around the world with Zoom, the supersonic tortoise. Gasp at the chaos created by Griselda, a grizzly bear with

a big secret. And RUN FOR YOUR LIVES! It’s Furp, the monstrous goldfish!

Good pets, bad pets, supervillain pets, pets as big as a house and pets that could eat you in one gulp – these are the most hilarious and horrendous animals around. Suitable for ages 8-11. £7.49 (HB) whsmith.co.uk

Queen of Our Times – The Life of Elizabeth II

by Robert Hardman Robert Hardman’s new biography of Queen Elizabeth II, based on a wealth of exclusive new material, brings us the full story of one of our greatest and best-loved monarchs as she celebrates her Platinum Jubilee.

ALL PRICES SHOWN CORRECT AT THE TIME OF PUBLICATION (JUNE 2022)

Hotel Magnifique

With original insights from family, friends and staff, new

by Emily J. Taylor

interviews with world leaders

The legendary Hotel Magnifique is like no other:

plus unseen photographs and

a magical world of golden ceilings, enchanting

papers, including diaries and

soirées and fountains flowing with champagne.

letters from the Royal Archives,

It changes location every night, stopping in each

Hardman tells the full life story

place only once a decade. When the Magnifique comes to her hometown, seventeen-yearold Jani hatches a plan to secure jobs there

Best for SENIORS

for herself and her younger sister, longing to escape their dreary life.

Luck is on their side, and with a stroke of luminous ink on paper the sisters are swept into a life of adventure and opulence. But Jani soon begins to notice sinister spots in the hotel’s decadent façade. Who is the shadowy maître d’ who runs the hotel? And can the girls discover the true price paid by those who reside there - before it’s too late? Suitable for age 14+

of the most famous woman in the world. He brings his long experience and expertise to this fresh, richly entertaining and compelling portrait of a record-breaking monarch who remains as intriguing today as the morning she came to the Throne aged twenty-five. £16.99 (HB) waterstones.com

£9.99 (HB) amazon.co.uk SUMMER 2022 schoolnotices.co.uk 65

Fun facts

King Henry VI became King of England as a

9 MONTH OLD BABY

King James I kept an elephant in St. James’s Park and it was given a

GALLON OF WINE to drink every morning

8

King Henry III had a pet

POLAR BEAR

KINGS

He kept it in the Tower of London, and was taken down to the River Thames to swim and catch fish

The Queen invented a breed of dog She created the new mixed-breed

King Charles II wore an enormous pair of

of England have been named HENRY

Dorgi when one

of her Corgis mated with a Dachshund

HIGHHEELED SHOES to

his coronation

Queen Elizabeth II worked as a

MILITARY MECHANIC in 1945 during the second world war

Australia gave Queen Elizabeth II 500 cases of

TINNED PINEAPPLE

as a wedding gift in 1947

You’ll NEVER guess what?

We’ve rounded up our favourite royal facts for you to wow your friends with this Jubilee Summer

Queen Elizabeth I

had effigies of foreign dignitaries and other guests to her court made of

gingerbread

Queen Victoria’s first name was not actually Victoria.

She was originally named

Alexandrina

SILLY BILLY

originates as a nickname for King William IV. As a young king he was viewed as often erratic, over-excitable and tactless

Queen Elizabeth II owns an elephant, two giant turtles, a jaguar and a pair of sloths Presents from other countries, all of which live in London Zoo

66 schoolnotices.co.uk SUMMER 2022

King Henry VIII’s

very last set of armour had a waist measurement of

147 – 152 cms (58 – 60 inches) Royal family members can’t eat

SHELLFISH, POTATOES, OR PASTA in public

The Queen has

2 birthdays

Her real birthday is the 21st April and her “official” birthday, is usually on the second Monday of June

In 1926, the future King George VI competed in the men’s doubles tournament at

Wimbledon

Events

Events

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Coming Soon - Winter Term 2022

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