BROMLEY & CHISLEHURST SEPTEMBER 2014

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GIZZI ERSKINE

AT THE ROCK ‘N’ ROLL FOOD FESTIVAL

A. C. GRAYLING

HOW MUCH IS AN EDUCATION WORTH?

Antipodean TRAVEL SPECIAL

AUTUMN DAYS New season, new style

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contents

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Sept e mbe r 2014

74 5

11 15 16 18

EDITOR’S LETTER C U LT U R E WHAT'S ON Diary dates for August

COLUMNS

Culture continued

47 28 TRUE BLUE

Clean and bright are the bywords for this month's minimalistic fashion shoot

B E AU T Y 37 HEAVEN SCENT

Lawrence Roullier White on perfume's renegades

HORSING AROUND

38 BEAUTY CONFIDENTIAL

GRAY AREA

FOOD & DRINK 42 GIZZI ERSKINE

Catherine Hales chats to puppeteer Sam Wilmott about his role in War Horse A. C. Grayling on his endeavours in the world of education

ST YLE 26 SEASON STAPLES

Essential pieces to elevate any outfit

Our round-up of the best September beauty buys

The chef and columnist shares her views on cooking and clean eating

47 FOOD NEWS

The latest kitchen must-haves as well as a delectable salad recipe to spice up lunch

INTERIORS 54 HOME SPOTLIGHT

Georgie Lane-Godfrey meets Diana Greenhalg, co-founder of My Bespoke Room

K I D S & E D U C AT I O N 65 PLEASE AND THANKS Cover image Gizzi Erskine(L), r e a l ly w i l d c l o t h i n g ( r ) re a l l y w i l d c l o th i n g.c o.u k

Amanda Constance on the abiding importance of manners

3 GREENWICH_Sep_CONTENTS.indd 3

26 69 LIVE AND LEARN

Blackheath High School's new headteacher talks to Absolutely

T R AV E L 73 ANTIPODEAN SPECIAL

Absolutely’s guide to Singapore, Sydney and New Zealand’s South Island

PROPERTY 92 PROPERTY ROUND UP News and views on the area

SEPTEMBER 2014

28/08/2014 14:18

OUR AUTUMN & WINTER 2014 COLLECTION IS NOW AVAILABLE IN STORE & ONLINE OSKA 20 Montpelier Vale London Blackheath T 0208 852 9774 blackheath.oska.com OSKA 71 Heath Street London Hampstead T 0207 433 1482 hampstead.oska.com

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26/08/2014 15:42 8.8.14 09:24

EDITOR’S

letter

W

ith the gust of a brisk autumn wind, the year is made anew. It does feel like that, doesn’t it? A hangover from school days, when September was a shiny new beginning and you went – squeaking in your shiny new shoes – full of nerves and anticipation to start what you hoped would be your best school year yet.

Firstly, we have an interview with Woolwich-based actor and puppeteer Sam Wilmott. Puppetry was long associated with whimsical children’s entertainment but with the West End success of War Horse, it has gained in the public consciousness a new gravitas. Which is not to say that it has lost its sense of fun. Find out what it’s like to play the horse’s hind on pg. 16.

Our main feature also focuses on young people and education. I spent a morning talking to philosopher A. C. Grayling who lives next to the Old Kent Road, just south of Burgess Park ‘or as I like to call it, Deep South Hampstead,’ he explained laughingly. When he announced in 2011 that he was setting up a new college in London he was branded ‘the most hated man in academia’. Three years on, we look at the future of higher education and how the college, and Grayling are faring. I also spent some time with columnist and chef Gizzi Erskie, who for one weekend this month becomes an honorary South East Londoner when she hosts her Chef’s Club at the On Blackheath festival. Find out all about it on pg. 42.

Our travel offering is an Antipodean special, taking in Sydney and New Zealand with a brief stop over in Singapore, because we know that when winter really sets in, the thought of a little Southern Hemisphere sun will be hard to resist.

Finally, here’s to a new school year and also to this, sadly, my last issue. It has been a short, but wonderful few months, and I leave you in the capable hands of new editor Catherine Hales.

All the best readers, and thank you! u

Alexandra Jones Editor

Email: alex.jones@zest-media.com Twitter: @Absolutely_mags Facebook: AbsolutelyMagazines

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SEPTEMBER 2014

27/08/2014 15:18

RAFFLES

49 Montpelier Vale, Blackheath, SE3 0TJ Tel: 020 8852 0018

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EDITOR ALEXANDRA JONES EDITORIAL ASSISTANT CATHERINE HALES EDITORIAL CONTRIBUTORS ILANA FOX, LAWRENCE ROULLIER WHITE SENIOR ADVERTISING ACCOUNT MANAGER LYNSEY SAKER PROPERTY DIRECTOR ANDY ELMER PROPERTY EDITOR LUCIE PEARCE ART DIRECTOR RAY SEARLE SENIOR DESIGNER PAWEL KUBA PRODUCTION MANAGER STEWART HYDE MID WEIGHT DESIGNER TAHIR KAPUCU PROPERTY EDITORIAL DESIGNER ANDREW MAVIN DESIGNER EKREM YILMAZ JUNIOR DESIGNER REBECCA NOONAN COPY CONTROLLER CHRISTINE MANN FINANCE DIRECTOR ALEXANDRA HVID DIRECTORS GREG HUGHES, ALEXANDRA HUNTER MANAGING DIRECTOR SHERIF SHALTOUT PA TO DIRECTORS MARIANNE MCFADDEN For editorial enquiries please email: alex.jones@zest-media.com For advertising enquiries please call 020 7704 0588 or email: advertising@zest-media.com Subscriptions are available simply by emailing marianne@zest-media.com You can receive an online subscription for FREE or a postal subscriptions for 12 months, £30 respectively (to cover postage and packaging). Please email us with your preferred option and details.

Published by

ZEST MEDIA PUBLICATIONS LTD 213 Westbourne Studios, Acklam Road W10 5JJ T: 020 7704 0588 F: 020 7900 3020 WWW.ZEST-MEDIA.COM Zest Media Publications Ltd. cannot accept responsibility for unsolicited submissions, manuscripts and photographs. While every care is taken, prices and details are subject to change and Zest Media Publications Ltd. take no responsibility for omissions or errors.

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OPEN MORNINGS Saturday 11 October Thursday 16 October Wednesday 5 November Wednesday 12 November

Independent Schools Inspectorate rated our school “excellent in all areas” April 2014

Blackheath High School

Junior School: info@blj.gdst.net 020 8852 1537 Senior School: info@bla.gdst.net 020 8853 2929

www.blackheathhighschool.gdst.net An ‘excellent’ independent day school for girls aged 3-18 BLACKHEALTH SCHOOL_SUPPLIED.indd 2 FULL PAGE.indd 2 297 210 portrait july 2014v2.indd Absolutely magazine 1

27/08/2014 09:52 21/08/2014 11:33 25/06/2014 14:40:38

ABSOLUTELY / LOVES

5

ART ATTACK

Carry a work of art on your shoulder with this painterly tote bag from directional Italian brand, Marni. £1,060; marni.com

T h i n g s We

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GOLDEN YEARS

The latest Kirsten Goss collection draws on influences of tribal adornment, the natural versus the supernatural and magical forces. £225; kirstengoss.com

NORDIC NOISE

In true Scandi style, Happy Plugs have designed a range of sleek in-ear headphones that double as jewellery.

Opt for the gold coloured earphones: they're sound. £24; happyplugs.com

DEVINE INTERVENTION

The mystic arts of fortune telling and divination are the starting point for Tatty Devine’s stylish new collection – and we love the beautiful campaign pictures too. tattydevine.com

WATCH YOURSELF New from Hermès; the Arceau Cheval d'Orient watch is a work of wearable art, featuring a handpainted equestrian image of a horse draped in Persian saddle rugs. £45,000; hermes.com

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SEPTEMBER 2014

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August 2 0 14

Absolutely

Culture A RTS &

p. 12

HIND SIGHT

p. 16

A. C. GRAYLING

p. 18

©CONDÉ NAST / HORST ESTATE / VICTORIA AND ALBERT MUSEUM

> WHAT’S ON

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SEPTEMBER 2014

27/08/2014 14:57

TEA DANCE 20 Se p t e m b e r Gre e nw i c h D anc e

ravel back in time to the 1930s for an afternoon of tea, cake and dancing with live music from Stephen Pert and The Cosmopolitans who will be playing a mixture of ballroom, latin, and jive. u Borough Hall, Royal Hill, SE10; greenwichdance.org.uk

T

©CONDÉ NAST / HORST ESTATE / VICTORIA AND ALBERT MUSEUM

HORST

TALL SHIPS FESTIVAL 5 - 9 Se p t e m b e r R oyal Gre e nw i c h

regatta with a difference, the Tall Ships festival will take place at the final port of the prestigious Falmouth to Royal Greenwich Tall Ships Regatta and will offer live music, shopping stalls and opportunities to see the ships up close. u King William Walk, SE10; royalgreenwich.gov.uk

A

Photographer of Style F rom 6 September V&A M u seum

'Fashion is an expression of the times. Elegance is something else again.’ - Horst, 1984. One of the foremost photographers of the past century, whose 60 year career has seen his work grace the pages of Vogue and House and Garden and whose portfolio ranges from fashion and portraits to travel and surrealism, will be exhibited in a display of sketches, photographs and prints.

Cromwell Road, SW7, 020 7942 2000; vam.ac.uk

ABSOLUTELY MAGAZINES

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RUBY WAX

21 Se p t e m b e r C h u rc h i ll T h e atre ore widely known as a voluble and opinionated comedienne than a serious speaker, Ruby Wax will be talking about her book Sane New World. The book aims to help us understand why we sabotage our sanity with our own thinking. u High Street, Bromley, BR1, 0844 871 7620; atgtickets.com

M

12 27/08/2014 15:07

ARTS & CULTURE / WHAT'S ON RSC: TWO GENTLEMEN OF VERONA

9 S eptem b er G re e n w i c h P i c t u re h o u s e alentine and Proteus V are best friends until they fall in love with the same girl. Can they come through confusion and mistaken identity to find a path to reconciliation? Enjoy Shakespeare's exuberant romantic comedy on the big screen as part of the Royal Shakespeare Company's Live Season. u 180 Greenwich High Road, SE10; picturehouses.co.uk

ON TOUR

Kylie Minogue: Kiss Me Once 29 S e p t e m b e r – 1 O c to b e r O2 Are na

GLYNDEBOURNE

You’ve got to love a bit of Kylie. The pocket-sized Aussie songstress will be gracing the O2 Arena with her pop princess persona this September as part of her Kiss Me Once world tour. Those wishing to experience vintage Kylie need not be disappointed as the ‘Lucky’ star will be performing classic hits alongside material from her new album.

GLYNDEBOURNE FESTIVAL 2014. © RICHARD HUBERT SMITH

13 Septem b er South Ea st E ngl a nd rom a rare Mozart gem to the most performed opera of all time, F this autumn audiences across the country can see a wealth of talent, craftsmanship and stylish staging as Glyndebourne hits the road with three acclaimed productions: La Traviata, The Turn of the Screw and La Finta Giardiniera.

The 2014 Glyndebourne Tour offers affordable opera at a theatre near to you. u Glyndebourne, New Victoria Theatre, Woking and The Marlowe Canterbury; Tickets at Glyndebourne from £8.00. Book for all venues at Glyndebourne.com

must see

Peninsula Square, SE10; theo2.co.uk

EXHIBITION OF THE MONTH Ab s o l u t e l y ’s p i c k o f S e p t e m b e r ' s a r t s a n d c u l t u r e

SIMON HEIJDENS he brand new NOW Gallery in Greenwich has awarded its first commission to artist Simon Heijdens. Heijdens will continue his ongoing practice of tracing and revealing the essence and narrative of static spaces, and will present an immersive installation and site-specific commission from 19 September to 19 December 2014.

The installation shades NOW Gallery

T

13 Greenwich_Sep_What's_On.indd 13

with an intelligent skin applied to the 7 metre glass, it forms a kaleidoscope of light and shadow choreographed by the elements, translating the unplanned natural timeline of the outdoor to the indoor space. u Now Gallery, From 19 September, 6 Mitre Passage, SE10; nowgallery.co.uk

SEPTEMBER 2014

28/08/2014 09:27

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26/06/2014 10:11

ARTS & CULTURE / COLUMNS BOOKS

WELL READ Chloe Mavrommatis and the team at Dulwich Books recommend their selection of sensational reads – enjoy!

FILM PREVIEW

THE BONE CLOCKS

by David M it c he l l Sceptre, £20

ames Salter is, in my reckoning, the best male novelist alive. All That Is tells of the life of Philip J Bowman who, rather than sinking like an anvil to the bottom of the ocean on active service at the end of WWII, surfaces in a middle-class dawn in the New York publishing world of the 1950’s. He wanders the offices, reception rooms and bedrooms of friends and lovers for the next 40 years. Reading Salter is like trying to capture the reflections of a diamond: fascinating, fleeting and beautiful. u

THE PAYING GUESTS

by Sarah Wat e rs Virago, £20

novel of two distinct halves, though you'll want to read this without knowing what happens to separate the two. As ever, Sarah Waters’ period detail is immaculate and her portrait of women’s relationships is subtle, sympathetic and moving. The genteel restraint of the first half gives way to the breathless rush of the second, in a giddy pell-mell of emotion. A great novel from the master of her genre. u

A

THE INCARNATIONS

by Sus an B ark e r

Doubleday, £14 .99

et in Beijing in the turbulent year of cosmetic rebuilding leading up to the 2008 Olympics this powerful and moving novel is written with remarkable attention to historical detail particularly evoking the Ming Dynasty and the Cultural Revolution. It is a tale of Wang, a taxi driver in Beijing who is receiving mysterious letters detailing past lives of which he has no recollection. He is angered and confused by what appear to be communications from a declared ‘soulmate’. Can he reconcile the truths about his known past with the paranoia which is rapidly throwing him off course? u

S

Dulwich Books, 6 Croxted Road, SE21; dulwichbooks.co.uk

15 Dulwich_Sep_Books.indd 15

MAGIC IN THE MOONLIGHT Wo r d s c at h e r i n e h a l e s From 19 September

R

iding high after the triumph of Blue Jasmine, the prolific Woody Allen presents Magic in the Moonlight. A slight departure from the realism and human tragedy of his previous film, Magic in the Moonlight is set in the 1920s and tells the story of the cynical and misanthropic stage illusionist Stanley (played by Colin Firth). He is invited by fellow stage magician, Howard Burkan (Simon McBurney), to visit the Cote D’Azur in order to meet mystic and clairvoyant Sophie (Emma Stone). It would seem that she has so enchanted a wealthy American family that their son is thinking of proposing marriage. Despite being an experienced illusionist, Howard cannot uncover Sophie’s tricks and has begun to believe that she has real supernatural powers. The cynical Stanley (Firth) is quick to express his disbelief and disdain, but the more time he spends in the magical Sophie’s company, the more she strips away his doubt.

Viewers will have to watch for themselves to find out whether Allen has turned his hand to the supernatural, but one thing is certain: a visual treat is in store. Particularly with the period costumes by Sonia Grande, who seems to have had an absolute ball with the ‘20s theme. The visual feast doesn’t end there, as cinematographer Darius Khondji’s superlative lighting bathes the film in a heavenly glow. Fans of Allen may not find all they have come to expect from the acclaimed director but what they will find is a fun film with moments of real beauty. ◆

SEPTEMBER 2014

26/08/2014 18:04

INTERVIEW

Hind Sight Sam Wilmott, puppeteer for the National Theatre’s production of War Horse, shares his point of view with Absolutely I n t e r v i e w C at h e r i n e H a l e s

CATHERINE HALES: So you’re one of the puppeteers operating Joey in War Horse?

SAM WILMOTT: Yep, I'm Joey’s hind.

can quite often tell what’s going on. It’s exactly the same with the horse, people read that and then Nick (the head), whose emotional task is the ears, will do different combinations with the ears just to show how Joey is feeling.

CH: What does controlling Joey’s hind entail?

SW: I control the gait of the horse (the back legs), and the tail; the person doing that has to know what the heart puppeteer (in our case, Andrew London who controls the front legs), is going to do before he does it.

CH: How did you become a puppeteer?

SW: I fell into it really… I managed to get a job on The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, in 2012. They had a big puppet of Aslan, based on the same concept as the horse puppets. There was a woman on it called Jane Leaney, who had been one of the original head puppeteers in War Horse, and she was the head puppeteer for Aslan. Towards the end of our contracts, auditions were coming up for War Horse and she put my name forward as a recommendation, that’s pretty much how it happened!

CH: How do you manage that?

SW: We use the breath. Andrew is responsible for making the horse breathe and we can tell so much of the story just by the breath, that’s all you really need.

He can take the most minute breath and I’ll know what he’s about to do. But that’s only because we’ve worked together for a year-and-a-half so we’re very in tune.

CH: What do you do specifically?

SW: There are three of us who operate Joey: I’ve got the hind, Andrew has the heart and Nicholas Hart has the head.

We each have a technical task and an emotional task. My technical task is the legs and the gait. The emotional task for me is the tail. I have two poles, I imagine them as ski poles, attached to the bottom of my feet, and at the other end of them are bike brakes, essentially. My left one

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moves the tail left and right and my right one moves the tail up and down. Any combination of the two will make the tail do what I need it to and that will give off emotional indications not only to the other puppeteers but to the audience as well.

CH: How do you manage to create empathy for the puppet on stage?

SW: The breathing is really important.

Even with people, if you see them breathing without saying anything you

CH: Is it funny having to tell people that your job is to be the back end of a horse?

SW: Always...the thing is if you try and make it all serious, they’re going to take the mick, I mean, it is the back end of a horse! People always associate it with panto.

CH: That must be a great conversation starter though – you ask people what they do and they say, ‘Oh, you know, I’m an accountant. What do you?’

16 26/08/2014 19:47

ARTS & CULTURE / Q&A and you get to say that you’re the back end of a horse. It makes everyone else sound so boring!

SW: Funny you should say that, my missus is an accountant.

CH: Oh, God. Terrible example. Sorry.

Don’t tell her I said that!

SW: [Laughs] Ok. CH: Anyway, how heavy is the puppet?

SW: I think Joey’s about eight-and-a-half stone. That’s shared between two of us (me and Andrew) and Nick carries the weight of the head. It’s exhausting to support it for two and a half hours. All the guys look like Quasimodo because they’ve got one arm bigger than the other from holding it up.

CH: How much of your own personality do you get to put into the horse?

SW: There are four teams, my team just does Joey; there’s a Topthorn team who just do Topthorn and then there’re two teams who do both. We all rotate it so

IT WILL BE

a completely different HORSE DEPENDING

on the combination OF PEOPLE INSIDE IT

we have four shows a week and each team has a different personality for Joey and Topthorn. It’s really interesting to watch. And then when you have people on holiday, one person will change in that team and then the whole personality will change again. It will be a completely different horse depending on the combination of people inside it, which makes every show unique.

CH: Do you and the front end get on?

SW: Me, Andrew and Nick get on really well, we were together for our last

17 Dulwich_Sep_War_Horse.indd 17

contract and decided to stay together for our second. I think that might have been the first time that’s happened, where a team wanted to stay together as they were. We get on like a house on fire and all compliment each other very well.

CH: You live in South East London, don’t you? Do you like it?

SW: I live in Woolwich and I love it. I’ve been here for 14 years, I’ve pretty much grown-up here. I’ve seen it change and my mum and dad live up the road.

CH: Proper South East London boy?

SW: Proper South East London boy, although I wasn’t born here, I’m actually originally from Lincolnshire. But I’ve been down here since I was 10.

CH: That definitely counts.

SW: I like to think so. u War Horse is now on at The New London Theatre, WC2B; nationaltheatre.org.uk

SEPTEMBER 2014

26/08/2014 19:48

SPOTLIGHT

Gray Area A. C. Grayling’s New College of the Humanities opened in 2012 amid huge controversy. Here the South East Londoner explains why NCH represents the future of higher education Wo r d s A l e x a n d r a J o n e s P o r t r a i t s L e a n n e D i xo n

I

n her introduction to the Penguin edition of the Walter Trevis classic The Queen’s Gambit, Lionel Shriver points out that ‘one of the greatest achievements of a good novel is its ability to draw you into an alien world in which you did not realize you were interested.’ In the case of The Queen’s Gambit, this is chess. Boy, does Trevis make chess seem interesting.

Speaking to philosopher A. C Grayling, who has a particularly mesmeric way of imparting knowledge, is a little like this.

I suspected that this might be the case after reading a couple of his books and discovering a latent interest in philosophy (he was once quoted as saying that his greatest achievement was that he had ‘opened up the great philosophical treasure chest and made it available to a wider readership’). But then, books can have that effect even when the authors do not. This author did. If I were asked to quantify this ability I’d do it like this: one part his voice, which has a particularly listenable, Radio 4 cadence; one part the quality of his arguments, which are fluid and well formed; one part, an attentive way of being questioned. He often ‘unpacks’ my questions, that is to say, addresses a number of nuances; this I can tell is a form of flattery (some questions

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really don’t deserve that much attention), but it’s engaging nevertheless.

Physically, he has the presence of the master of a college; he is tall, imposing even, though sufficiently crinkle-eyed and smiley, so as not to be intimidating. He is dressed in a sharp blue suit and crisp white shirt, not a hint of the mad-professor.

Put simply: he gives good interview.

Anthony Clifford Grayling was born in (what is now) Zambia in 1949, the youngest of three children. His father was a banker and the family lived as part of an expatriate community, a life beloved by his father and loathed by his mother.

‘We were living in a kind of exile; we’d get an airmailed edition of The Times two or three days late, that’s how long it would take to find its way to those dark interior places. And my mother would say, ‘Ooh, look what we’re missing at the West End.’ So I used to think, ‘The minute I can get out of here, I’m off to London.’’

And off to London he went at the age of 18. After undertaking two undergraduate degrees (one at Sussex University and the other as an external student at University of London), he continued to climb the academic ladder, completing an MA at Sussex, then a doctorate at Magdalen College, Oxford. He stayed at Oxford, lecturing at St. Anne’s College, until 1991.

He then moved to Birkbeck where he

18 27/08/2014 16:07

ARTS & CULTURE / PROFILE

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ARTS & CULTURE / PROFILE

would eventually become a Professor of Philosophy, before resigning in 2011 to found the New College of the Humanities.

And it is this newest role, at this newest of institutions, that we are here to discuss.

Now on the cusp of its third intake of students, the New College of the Humanities (NCH) was co-founded by Grayling and Matthew Batstone, and opened in 2012. ‘One motivation was to offer a richer, more demanding, model in higher education,’ explains Grayling, cup of tea in hand, from his bright, book-lined office. And certainly NCH’s USP has proven to be its exceptionally rigorous courses. As well as their BA, which is awarded through the University of London (NCH has yet to gain university status), students are expected to study the college’s three ‘core’ subjects of Applied Ethics, Logic & Critical Thinking and Science Literacy, and ‘minor’ in a secondary (complementary) BA subject.

This is supplemented by more contact hours than at most universities (with at least one hour of one-on-one tutoring time per week) as well as markedly smaller class sizes. Of course Grayling is effusive about this style of tertiary learning (‘At many places [students] don’t get enough of the demanding stuff,

where they’re asked questions or pushed on a topic by their tutors’) but, it seems, so are the students. When I catch up, a week later, with third year Josh Dell, he explains it like this: ‘At NCH your voice is heard at every moment. In lectures there’re a maximum of 15 people so you

People THOUGHT THAT I had betrayed

[MY] PRINCIPLES, THAT I'd gone over to the DARK SIDE can have an ongoing discussion with the lecturer. You’re not just listening to someone, you have the opportunity to ask questions, to really comprehend stuff.’

By all accounts, this more demanding model of education is producing first-rate humanities scholars. But given that its fees are £17,814 per annum, NCH needs for this to be the case. I had gone into the interview feeling not exactly cynical but certainly not convinced. The problem is this: if we agree that NCH is sufficiently superior to warrant double the fees of other

21 Dulwich_Sep_AC_GRAYLING.indd 21

institutions, then what NCH is offering is a superior education only to those who can afford it. ‘Welcome to Doshbridge’, screamed a headline in The Sunday Times, while in 2011 a number of Grayling’s former colleagues from Birkbeck signed an open letter (published in the Guardian) decrying his efforts: ‘NCH is at the vanguard of the coalition’s assault on public education.’

‘It was a kind of paradox,’ Grayling says quietly, ‘because my politics...have always been on the left. A lot of people thought that I had betrayed those principles, that I’d gone over to the dark side.’ The criticism that he faced was fierce and, I imagine, difficult to handle. ‘Yes, I was quite hurt by some of the personal vilification. There were some beastly things said…’ (Addressing the furore, the Independent last year ran a piece entitled ‘A. C. Grayling: Whatever happened to the most hated man in academia?’)

‘What really surprised, and kind of upset me, was the ignorance that my colleagues had about their own institutions. They said – shocked – ‘you’re starting a private fee paying institution!’

But, I mean, Oxford University, UCL, they’re private institutions…no university in the country is publicly owned…they all charge fees, they all engage in commercial

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ARTS & CULTURE / PROFILE SOME OF THE very top UNIVERSITIES [WILL]

cut their chord from GOVERNMENT

activity. UCL owns 11 or 12 companies, the most successful of which manufactures socks. They sell millions of pairs every year, because footballers like them.’

Though Grayling concedes that the vilification wasn’t wholly unfounded (‘I actually agree with the motivation’), he is adamant that we’re living in a period where a ‘£9.99, supermarket price’, has been put on university education. ‘In the next five years you’re going to see…some of the very top universities in this country cut their chord from government…’ And indeed, last year Professor Andrew Hamilton, the vicechancellor of Oxford University, suggested that fees needed to be raised to better reflect the cost of educating an undergraduate. He had in mind £16,000 a year.

Grayling nods gravely, ‘Yes, well, it’s in the public domain that at Cambridge the £9,000 fee is half what it costs them to educate undergraduates. And they subsidise undergraduate teaching to the tune of £60million a year, that is the figure told to me by [Leszek] Borysiewicz, the vice-chancellor. It is unsustainable for them to [keep taking undergraduates]; the only way they can is if they charge the kind of fees that Eton charge.’

His proposed solution is to follow the Americans in adopting an endowment model. Currently around a third of students at NCH are given full or partial scholarships that cover the costs of tuition and living. ‘My ideal would be to have a means-blind system, based solely

on academic merit,’ says Grayling. ‘This was my motivation in setting up a new institution: let’s make it incredibly good so that people will support it, through donations to the Trust. Harvard has $30billion of endowment. When I’ve got $30billion you can all come forever for free and it’ll be brilliant. Harvard started in two small cottages on a swampy site in Cambridge, MA in 1636 and I’m in a mansion in Bedford Square in 2014. In 400 years what will we have achieved?’

His intentions are unarguably good, and it is clear that his ideal system would mean that anyone, from anywhere could come to the college. Still, though, affordability is a nagging question. Bear in mind that students are not yet eligible for government loans; putting myself in the scenario, even if I had been offered a reduced fee, could I have afforded to feed and house myself in London? No. Having said that, it is clear that students who currently attend don't feel shortchanged by NCH. They are taught in a beautiful building in central London, they are offered unrivalled support and stimulation and they are continually challenged to be better, to think more. For

23 Dulwich_Sep_AC_GRAYLING.indd 23

the right type of student, this would be an incredibly inspiring environment. And perhaps, if the current trend continues, questions of affordability will become defunct in a future where everywhere is just as expensive as everywhere else.

‘Already in our first few years we’ve had a fantastic response from big City law firms, from banks and big consultancies who are interested in our students,’ Grayling tells me when I ask what a degree from NCH means, fiscally. ‘We get very good internships. From the Oscar Wilde perspective – ‘knowing the cost of everything and the value of nothing’ – we’re very good.’

If I were being completely honest, he won me over. Money aside, NCH does look like a rigorous and challenging environment in which to study the humanities. Much as Shriver said of The Queen’s Gambit, Grayling and the college have that certain magical quality of drawing you into worlds you never knew you’d be interested in. Just being there for a morning, leaves me certain that I would have loved to study there – if I’d had the chance to go. u nchum.org

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> ALL CHANGE: THE KEY PIECES FOR AUTUMN p. 26 FASHION SHOOT: TRUE BLUE p. 28

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HEAVEN SCENT

Flying in the face of September’s back to school spirit, we look at the rebel perfumers who went their own way W o r d s L aw r e n c e R o u l l i e r W h i t e

T

raditionally perfumery has always been a difficult skill to learn, expertise and knowledge was handed down through families. Budding perfumers could seek entry-level work at one of the great fragrances houses and hope to learn the ropes on the job or train as apprentices with a master artisan perfumer but opportunities were few.

Things opened up a little when the Givaudan Perfumery School in France opened in 1946. The school claims to be responsible for training the noses behind one third of fragrances on sale today, including Chanel’s Jean Polge and Hermes’ Jean-Claude Ellena, mastermind behind my beloved Cologne Bigarade for Editions Frederic Malle. Another school, The Institut Supérieur International du Parfum, was founded in 1970 by famous

Sarah McCartney

Brent Leonesio

perfumer Jean-Jacques Guerlain, a school where successful applicants (only twenty are chosen each year) are required to have a chemistry degree in order to apply.

The Grasse Institute of Perfumery is even more restricted; taking twelve students per year on its nine month intensive programme. Even if one is accepted onto one of these oversubscribed courses the chance that one will end up creating the next Chanel No. 5 are slim. Most trained perfumers work very much below the radar scenting and flavouring a myriad of household and food products. It is not surprising then that those with talent and an eagerness to create, set about teaching themselves, unencumbered by convention and fuelled by the spirit of entrepreneurism.

I describe Sarah McCartney as an olfactory lyricist, her deft hand realises beautifully composed concoctions recalling moments in her life of significance; moments to which we are

37 Dulwich_Sep_Perfume.indd 37

given a lasting, unique and vivid insight.

Sarah’s compositions whisk you off to her world, real or imagined, in the same way the lyrics to Rodgers and Hart’s Manhattan might have you wandering the Lower East Side streets in the 1930s. It is no surprise then that Sarah’s background is that of a cosmetic copywriter, a profession from which it was a sideways step into making the things she had been writing about. Her storytelling continues: What I Did On My Holidays evokes just that, peppermint rock, briny air and candy floss.

Chris Bartlett of Pell Wall Perfumes was drawn to perfumery by the ingredients; collecting ingredients soon led to him creating his own blends. Gin & Lime is the result of Chris’s other passion: cocktails. It is a citrus-type cologne that is designed for everyday wear and to lift your mood. It is delicious, as is my favourite of his, Green Carnation, with top notes of cut grass.

Free from the commitments of funding international ad campaigns, the perfumes produced by independent self-taught perfumers relies on the quality of the actual juice to sell itself, not colour page spreads, elaborate packaging or over-thetop bottles. As Brent Leonesio, founder of LA cult fragrance brand Smell Bent, explains: ‘The goal of my perfume was always to put the money inside the bottle rather than outside.’ Leonesio was a retail fashion buyer who spent his redundancy cheque on some raw ingredients and some technical tomes, teaching himself his craft.

Smell Bent is now one of the most revered indie perfumeries in the world, and with names like Miss Panda Gets Lei’d and Walk of Shame it is certainly one of the most maverick. And that’s one thing you won’t learn at perfume school. u

Chris Bartlett

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SEPTEMBER 2014

26/08/2014 19:40

this month we’re thinking about…

SLEEPLESS NIGHTS

Beauty

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Health Hub London Wo r d s Dr. MIKE DILKES

W o r d s P E A R L B OY D

noring needs little real it is the noise S explanation, produced by a partially blocked airway, when flow of air becomes turbulent. This is often exacerbated by having a long soft palate, which then flaps in the turbulent airflow, causing even more sound to be produced. The treatments for snoring are, therefore, ones designed to unblock the airway.

This can mean having a small ventilator called a Nasal CPAP fitted over the nose at night, which forces air into the lungs, causing the airway to be stretched open. It can also mean having a tooth splint fitted to the upper and lower jaw at night, holding the lower jaw in a forward position, which in turn pulls the tongue forward, and opens the airway at the back of the tongue, the most common site for airway obstruction at night. Otherwise, surgery can be performed to reduce back the tonsils (laser tonsillotomy), shrink back the soft palate (laser palatoplasty), or open up the nose (septoplasty). Perhaps the easiest, and best way of treating this condition is to lose weight. Your BMI (body mass index) should be less than 30 - calculate it by taking your weight in kilogrammes, and divide it by your height in metres that has been squared (ie your height in metres x your height in metres). Losing weight both reduces the oxygen requirement of the body, meaning you breathe more lightly, and reduces the bulk of the neck, which means there is less pressure on the airway from this weight, meaning it obstructs less easily. u

Brown Eyed Girl Bobby Brown

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38 26/08/2014 17:56

HEALTH & BEAUTY / NOTES

3

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01

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> GIZZI THE GREAT: WE MEET THE CHEF AND FOOD CULMNIST p. 42 FOOD NEWS p. 47

IN A PICKLE If you’re a condiment connoisseur but have never felt brave enough to have a go at making your own, then food writer Thane Prince’s new book, Perfect Preserves, will be right up your street. Beautifully illustrated and easy-to-follow, the book is filled with 100 delicious recipes for chutneys, jams, pickles and preserves. Pictured is the rather sumptuous sounding blackberry ketchup. Go on; give it a go. ©Thane Prince, Perfect Preserves, Published by Hodder & Stoughton, £25

41 Dulwich_Sep_Food_Opener.indd 41

SEPTEMBER 2014

26/08/2014 19:12

PROFILE

GIZZI the GREAT

Chef and food columnist Gizzi Erskine tells Absolutely about cooking, clean eating and what she has in store for this year’s On Blackheath festival Interview Alexandra Jones

AJ How did On Blackheath come about?

And what is Gizzi’s Chef’s Club?

GE I came up with the idea for it with the people who run the festival. I think it’s pretty different, even compared to anything at food festivals. We’ve got some of the biggest chefs in the country doing demonstrations of some of their best-known dishes; then straight after their demos, the audience will have the opportunity to walk into the Chef’s Club tent where they can eat the food that they’ve just seen prepared. That’s Gizzi’s Chef’s Club. At most festivals you can watch the demos but you never get to try any of the meal. It’s going to be really rock ‘n’ roll, really fun, interactive and we’ve got some great names involved.

AJ What originally prompted your interest in food?

GE I was lucky to be brought up around great food so I feel like I’ve always been immersed in that kind of culture.

My mum was a foodie and has always encouraged us all to cook. She travelled a lot and we did too, so were always surrounded by it. There’s no one defining moment, some of my earliest memories have been of being in a vegetable garden with my mum or standing at the sink and helping to peel vegetables.

ABSOLUTELY MAGAZINES

Dulwich_Sep_Gizzi_Erskin.indd 42

I guess, a bit later than that my mum was working in Thailand and we’d talk on the phone and she’d talk me through her recipes and I’d try and recreate them while she was away with work. That definitely got me interested in different flavours.

AJ Did you have a favourite childhood dish?

GE Weirdly because we were brought up on foreign food, I craved things like shepherd’s pie. And I’ve always loved a roast. Then there were things from Thailand that I really remember; we were eating Pad Thai way before anyone else. And my mum had this chicken and coriander curry which was brilliant.

AJ We know you’ve got an amazing set of wings tattooed on your back, but do you have any awkward teenage tattoos?

GE No, I was really good, I think because I worked in the industry [before she went into food, Gizzi worked as a body piercer] I was surrounded by people with amazing work. I mean, I worked in the industry from when I was 16 and I managed to avoid getting anything awful; in fact I waited until I was 21 before getting anything at all.

AJ How did you get into food professionally?

GE I started out working in restaurants before I went to Leiths [School of Food and Wine] to train properly. After that, I won an intern placement to work for BBC Good Food magazine and I was there for a year.

That’s how I got into food styling and from there into writing columns for magazines.

I started to get recognised within the glossies, while still working behind the scenes with some big TV chefs.

Alongside this, I also always did popups. I had a catering company with my friend Abi and when I left Leiths that went for a couple of years. We’d do these really cool, ad hoc events in galleries and different spaces in East London. And we’d have people pay for them, which now are probably known as classic pop-ups but they weren’t at the time. These have become the main part of my job. So my career is split in three ways; I have an events company, then I’m also a food writer and obviously, I do the TV stuff.

AJ As a female chef was there ever the pressure to do that whole Nigella, finger-in-mouth-while-cooking-tocamera thing?

GE Yeah, I guess. But I’m quite strong minded. I suppose there’s that media perception that, just because you’re female, you fit into that category but I’m

42 26/08/2014 18:57

FOOD & DRINK / PROFILE

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SEPTEMBER 2014

26/08/2014 18:57

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FOOD & DRINK / PROFILE here, in London, wasn’t accessible to younger people, it was too expensive… instead people are going to places like Meat Liquor and Pitt Cue. So their idea is to offer French food in a diner style, and do it really brilliantly. I mean, they’re such great cooks; they’re making all their own stocks and really good reduced jus, always using the best ingredients, and just making really accessible French food.

They’re definitely ones to watch, for sure.

Also Meringue Girls [meringuegirls.co.uk], I discovered them. They’re completely killing it at the moment; they’ve even got a window in Selfridges. They started off as two pastry chefs in Hackney who both loved Ottolenghi; they both got bored of their jobs and learned how to infuse really concentrated flavours into meringue.

Their concept and exection are great, I think they’ll only get bigger.

AJ What do you eat on an average day?

GE Oh god, well because I’m working every day and developing recipes every day, it’s very hard to say. I generally eat pretty clean, I try to avoid eating huge amounts of carbohydrates. I mean, I eat carbs but I try to eat the right sort

I’M NOT A DOMESTIC COOK,

I’m a professional CHEF

not a domestic cook, I’m a professional chef. I’ve never done one of those cooking shows where I cook to camera because I tend to be brought onto shows as an expert in something. To be honest, I’ve been offered those shows, but it’s just never been the thing for me and I've never been that interested in doing them...saying that, Nigella’s an absolute hero of mine, I think she’s awesome, but we’re completely different.

So, I’ve never felt the need to fit in and be the next Nigella.

AJ You’ve been championing Korean food for a while now, any other food trends that you think are on the cusp of being big?

GE It’s funny, I’ve never really gone out and collected food trends. I just love world food and the amount of time we spent in Asia when I was growing up meant that I experience those flavours early on and first hand. Korean food

came as an extension of that, I got really into Thai food, then Malaysian and food from Borneo and ended up going up through the north of Asia, Japan and Korea, just looking for foods that I’d never encountered before. Then, when I was in New York I found that it was a massive food trend over there and in Los Angeles.

I guess the thing that I am good at is finding and helping set up new ventures.

It’s what I did with [TV shows] Cooks to Market and The Ones To Watch. I speak a lot to all the suppliers and have great relationships with the big ones: Waitrose, Fortnums, Harrods, so I know what they’re all looking for, which means I can help discover new talent.

So what’s coming out, what’s exciting, hmm…I think Le Bun [lebun.co.uk] who are the brand that I’ve been working with recently, are a great fusion of American and French. As kids they used to holiday in France but found that French food

45 Dulwich_Sep_Gizzi_Erskin.indd 45

of carbs and I try to eat them in the right quantities. The difficult thing is, on average you tend to eat three or four times more carbs than you’re meant to.

I try to eat the right, slow release ones, then also in the right portions, which is about 60g a meal. Otherwise, I eat loads of protein, loads of veg. At the same time, I love fat, I love flavour and I love fried food. It’s about moderation; it’s about being 80% good and 20% bad.

AJ Do you have your dishes for On Blackheath planned yet?

GE Hmm, I will probably do something to do with K-Town, which is my Korean popup. We’ll see, I’m not 100% sure, but I know it’ll be delicious. You’ll have to come and try it! u On Blackheath 13 & 14 September, SE3 0UA; for tickets to the festival and to Gizzi’s Chef’s Club go to onblackheath.com

SEPTEMBER 2014

26/08/2014 18:58

Manuel’s

‘Great food, friendly and relaxing Italian restaurant & bar’

Manuel’s creates authentic freshly cooked Italian food. Service is friendly and relaxed.

Menus A La carte menu Set menu Sunday roast menu

020 8670 1843 129 Gipsy Hill, London SE19 1QS

www.manuelsrestaurantandbar.com

manuelsrestaurantandbar

Manuels.indd 1

@manuels129ghill 27/05/2014 10:08

Fine South East Asian Cuisine Our emphasis is on providing delicious cuisine using the best quality ingrediants which are both pure & natural.

We have the best chefs from the Indian sub-continent who ensure that the food tastes as exquisite as it looks.

Sunday - Thursday: 18:00 - 23:30 Friday - Saturday: 18:00 - Midnight

Exclusive new dishes available to inhouse customers.

10% off collection, cash only

134a Thurlow Park Road West Dulwich, London SE21 8HN

020 8761 9738 | 020 8670 1770 | www.chandnirestaurant.co.uk chandi_.indd 1

_ADVERT PLACEMENTS.indd 5

18/08/2014 09:57

28/08/2014 09:42

FOOD & DRINK / NOTES RECIPE

MOROCCAN ROASTED SWEET POTATO AND CARROT SALAD

TABLE TALK

SERVES 4 INGREDIENTS For the Salad • 2 sweet potatoes, peeled and cubed into 1” pieces • 400g baby carrots • 1 heaped tsp harissa paste • 1 tsp ground cumin • 1 tbs The Groovy Food Company’s Omega Cool Oil • 4 large handfuls of baby spinach • 1 red onion sliced • Arils from 1 pomegranate • 100g feta cheese crumbled • Small bunch fresh coriander For the Dressing • 2 tbs The Groovy Food Company’s Omega Cool Oil • Juice 1 lemon • 1 tsp The Groovy Food Company’s Agave Rich & Dark METHOD 01 Place the cubed sweet potato and carrots in a bowl then drizzle on the omega oil and spoon in the harissa paste and cumin. Stir well to cover then bake in an oven set at 190c/fan 170c/Gas mark 5 for 45-50 minutes. 02 In a small bowl, whisk together the salad dressing then season with a pinch of salt and pepper.

Dress the spinach and onion with the dressing then portion onto plates, top with the sweet potato and carrots then scatter over the pomegranate seeds and feta cheese, finally scatter over some fresh coriander. ◆

● groovyfood.co.uk

Steak, salad and some fabulous kitchenware are all on the menu this month CHOP AND CHANGE

Riverside restaurant Butlers Wharf Chop House has a new chef at the helm.

Gemma Hyjek comes fresh from Harrods where she worked as a private chef and brings with her some incredible updates to the British classics that Butlers is famous for; we tried the octopus, orange and melon salad with orange mayonnaise and were blown away. Go for the steak, stay for the view. 36e Shad Thames, SE1; chophouse-restaurant.co.uk

Peckham-based food blogger (and Absolutely favourite) Helen Graves’ new book, My Drunken Kitchen, is dedicated to bringing Kitchen out the bon vivant in all of us. It is a fun, anecdotal recipe book filled with boozy food and foodie booze. Buy it before your next dinner party. £9.99, Dog ‘n’ Bone; amazon.co.uk

Italian Icon his year, esteemed kitchenware and interior brand, Alessi, are celebrating the 20th anniversary of their legendary Anna G bottle opener. To celebrate the occasion, architect Alessandro Mendini created a range of limited edition masks – in the style of traditional Umbrian dance masks – to slot onto Anna G’s face. £59, alessi.com

T

DID YOU KNOW…

An average ear of corn has an even number of rows, usually 16

47 Dulwich_Sep_Food_Notes.indd 47

MY D RUNKEN KITCHEN

SEPTEMBER 2014

26/08/2014 18:13

Pianolobby is based in SE London and we would love to help you realise your musical dreams and match you with your ideal upright piano.Come and try our beautiful range of Yamaha, Kawai,Steinberg, Kemble and Barber pianos.

For more information please contact Julian on 020 3645 3930 or email julian@pianolobby.co.uk

PianoLobby.indd 1

27/05/2014 14:28

Green Cuisine Cookshop cook • bake • dine

Vektra vacuum kettle - an innovation in kettle design that keeps water tea-making hot for four hours

BESPOKE KITCHENS & FURNITURE Designed and built in East Dulwich

Green Cuisine stocks a comprehensive range of cookware, kitchenware and tableware.

Ian Dunn Woodwork & Design 4 Goose Green Trading Estate, 47 East Dulwich Road, London SE22 9BN 0208 613 1781 | info@iandunn.com | www.iandunn.com

7 Lordship Lane SE22 8EW • 0208 693 7781 www.greencuisinecookshop.com

IAN_DUNN_DEC.indd 1 _ADVERT PLACEMENTS.indd 6

In store or on line at

29/11/2013 GREEN 10:54CUISINE_.indd 1

20/08/2014 09:36 28/08/2014 09:43

ABSOLUTELY / PROMOTION

MARKET FRESH

Bubker Belkhit, chef at The Crystal Palace Market tells Absolutely about the exciting happenings at our favourite local eaterie ABSOLUTELY Are the butcher and fishmonger a natural extension of The Crystal Palace Market?

BUBKER BELKHIT They certainly are; we’re passionate about fresh, UK produce and we wanted to be able to share with our customers the delicious ingredients that we've worked hard to source.

ABS Which suppliers have been particularly interesting to meet and work with?

BB It’s really hard to say, we’ve met so many suppliers who have inspired us with their enthusiasm and knowledge. If I was going to highlight one though, it would be the Surrey farm who supply our beef.

It was a great place to visit and see how well cared-for their livestock is. I also

really rate our free-range pork supplier who is as local as it gets: from Cherry Orchard in Croydon!

ABS Who makes the jams and chutneys?

BB All our chutneys and jams are from the UK and we really have scoured the country to get the best small, independent makers. We always look out for those who are as passionate about the quality of their produc as we are about the quality of the food on our menus.

Rose Farm in Somerset supply us with many different chutneys and jams (my particular favourite is the Carrot and Chilli Relish, it’s fantastic). We also buy from local, Bim’s Kitchen. Products range from cooking sauces to chutneys

49 Dulwich_Sep_Crystal_Palace_Market_ADV.indd 49

and relishes. The unusual African Baobab Chilli Jam really hits the spot.

ABS What do you think about local shops?

Do they have a future on the high street?

BB I hope so; I think they give local areas their own unique character and help build a community. I think Crystal Palace is fantastic with lots of diverse independent shops and the community are very much supportive of this, as a whole. I don’t think you’ll find anywhere quite like the Crystal Palace Triangle in South of London. u The Crystal Palace Market, 3-7 Church Road, SE19; 0203 475 7080, info@themarketsgroup.com facebook.com/thecrystalpalacemarket thecrystalpalacemarket.com

SEPTEMBER 2014

26/08/2014 18:06

Luxury European Furniture since 1962

London & M25 Showrooms 020 7760 7558

FULL PAGE.indd 2

wharfside.co.uk 26/08/2014 15:40

> COLOUR POP: GIVE YOUR LIVING ROOM A '60S UPDATE

p. 52

BESPOKE BEAUTY

p. 54

HOME SWEET HOME Habitat’s new collection is all about the warmth of copper and walnut, strong geometric shapes, a cool Scandi-inspired story and playful, colourful deconstructed patterns. habitat.co.uk

51 Dulwich_SEPT_Interiors_Opener.indd 51

SEPTEMBER 2014

26/08/2014 19:33

PRODUCTS / HOMES & INTERIORS ANGLEPOISE

Giant 1227 Tranquil - Duck Egg , £2,400; occa-home.co.uk

RUME

Flowerpot VPI Pendant in Orange, £179; rume.co.uk

THE RODNIK BAND

Match Box Framed Print, £99; made.com

BIBA

Stripe Monochrome Vase, from £45; houseoffraser.co.uk

THE BEATLES

© DMITRIY SCHUKA

Remixed Gig Poster, £15; notonthehighstreet.com

TATE

Bob and Roberta Smith Blocks, £30; shop.tate.org.uk

HEAL'S

Massimo Rosa Rug, £659; heals.co.uk

JONATHAN ADLER

Peace & Love Coasters, £34.99 (set of 4); uk.jonathanadler.com

JONATHAN ADLER Turquoise

Pop Decanter, £198; uk.jonathanadler.com

COLOUR POP

CONTENT BY CONRAN Glove Armchair, £2,115; contentbyconran.com

Living rooms POP with our‘60s-inspired interiors

RUME

Powis Sofa, POA; rume.co.uk

ANDY WARHOL

Desk Box, £22; shop.bl.uk

ABSOLUTELY MAGAZINES

Dulwich_Sep_Interior_Products.indd 52

52 26/08/2014 19:08

We’ve married the iconic styling of our 50s and 60s furniture, with our renowned comfort and craftsmanship.

Original inspiration. Timeless quality.

Be inspired at your local G Plan Vintage specialist.

gplanvintage.co.uk Image shows The Fifty Nine in Tonic Charcoal.

G PLAN.indd 1

Opening Times After Noah Ltd, 121 Upper Street, Islington, London N1 1QP

www.afternoah.com

020 7359 4281

Mon-Sat: 10am – 6pm Sun: 11am – 5pm Easter Sun and Christmas Day to New Year’s Day: Closed

14/08/2014 17:21

LOCAL

BESPOKE BEAUTY My Bespoke Room co-founder Diana Greenhalgh shows Absolutely around her Dulwich home Wo r d s G e o r g i e L a n e - G o d f r e y P h o t o g r a p h y L e a n n e D i xo n

W

ouldn’t doing up your home be so much easier if you could see how the finished product would look? And then if that finished product hadn’t cost you an arm and a leg? Enter Diana Greenhalgh and Laura Simpson, the two entrepreneurial mums behind innovative interior design company My Bespoke Room. Offering personalised digital mood boards, the site uses your interior shots to help you create your ideal room at your ideal price tag.

It’s easy enough to use: simply fill in an online questionnaire, upload the images and pay the flat fee of £75.

There’s no hidden charges and no pushy sales tactics; you simply buy what you like from your own bespoke mood board.

And if you’re only after a couple of items, a ‘Snap & Source’ service is also on offer. This nifty idea lets you send in a photo of an item you like so that My Bespoke Room can source it for you,or alternatively find other similar items at a range of prices, saving you both time and money.

‘What we’ve found is that there’s a lot of people out there who, like us, don’t have a load of money to spend but want

ABSOLUTELY MAGAZINES

Dulwich_Sep_My_Bespoke_Room.indd 54

Laura Simpson (L) and Diana Greenhalgh (R)

nice homes,’ explains Diana. ‘They look through interiors magazines and find beautiful pieces, but they cost thousands of pounds.’ ‘Property in London is so expensive now that you want to spend your money on getting the best place that you can, but that often means that you don’t have much left to beautifully furnish your home,’ continues Laura.

‘But we knew how to put things together affordably, and that seed of an idea grew into My Bespoke Room.’

It might look vaguely familiar – the site was inspired by Pintrest, which both Diana and Laura first used to plan their weddings before decorating their homes.

‘It used to frustrate us that we couldn’t see where the products came from, which gave us the idea for the website,’ says

54 26/08/2014 19:16

HOMES & INTERIORS / SPOTLIGHT 01

Laura. As a result, My Bespoke Room allows you to swap items in and out of your moodboard from a personalised gallery of recommended products, letting you see exactly how a piece would work in situ. It’s a clever idea yet brilliantly easy to use.

But this sophisticated site didn’t happen overnight. It took a year of careful planning and development to launch – a process that proved rewarding for the two young mums. Having previously worked together in the past for L’Oréal, friends Diana and Laura were both looking for some new stimulation after having children. ‘We’d built up really good careers and to walk away from that completely… I don’t think either of us could have done it,’ admits Laura, ‘but My

02

03 01 / 02 MASTER BEDROOM The original marble fireplace was restored to retain the room’s period character.For a similar chair, try the James Wing Chair, from £1275, at The Creative Home Company. 03 SITTING ROOM Rich jewel tones and luxurious fabrics add warmth to the sitting room.

Bluebell sofas, from £930, Sofa.com. Cushions, from £55, Designers Guild. Navy Tripod Floor Lamp in Natural Wood, £99, Made.com. Handmade Rustic Stroage Chest, £125, Etsy.

55 Dulwich_Sep_My_Bespoke_Room.indd 55

SEPTEMBER 2014

26/08/2014 19:17

web: www.blacklionbuild.com

enquiries@blacklionbuild.com

BlackLion_construction.indd 1

quoting ABSOLUTELY

26/06/2014 09:55

Modernise, Economise, Ecologise

Home security:

CCTV and security systems Motion sensor lights Remote door entry systems Curtain/blind control

Home improvements: Kitchen fitting Bathroom fitting Modern electrical wiring and testing

Home efficiency: Automated heating Automated lighting Remote controlled sockets and switches

Home entertainment: Integrated IT and entertainment systems Surround sound Home cinema

www.techneco.co.uk | info@techneco.co.uk

_ADVERT PLACEMENTS.indd 7

28/08/2014 09:43

HOMES & INTERIORS / SPOTLIGHT

05

04

Bespoke Room has let us turn our passion into a business.’

Building this business seems to have been made a lot easier thanks to their friendship; they bounce off each other exuberantly as they discuss their company. ‘We came to our first meeting with the same colour notebooks, filled with the same thoughts – we’re on the same wavelength,’ says Laura, smiling.

‘And we know each others' skill sets,’ adds Diana. ‘We compliment each other, like a marriage!’

These skills included a natural flair for interiors, which Diana has channelled into her home in Dulwich. Set against a backdrop of fresh white walls, her beautiful interiors speak for themselves, from the bold jewel tone sofas in the sitting room to the shabby chic furniture in the master bedroom. The overall effect is calm, elegant but also practical for family living.

The house itself is an airy Victorian terrace set in the leafy streets of North Dulwich. ‘It’s a great area, especially for families,’ explains Diana. ‘Not just because of the schools, but the neighbours – on our road there are 25 children under the age of four. It’s great because there’s always someone around 04 MASTER BEDROOM French-inspired furniture creates a feminine, boudoir feel in the bedroom. Provencal Carved White French Dressing Table, £710, and Provencal Heart Chair, £239, The French Bedroom Company. Zenza Filigrain Oval Pendant Ceiling Lights, £255 each, John Lewis. Provencal Lit White Rattan Bed, £1295, The French Bedroom Company.

Cole & Son Vivienne Westwood Insects Wallpaper, £70 per roll, John Lewis. 05 KITCHEN/DINER A corner sofa creates a comfy snug in the kitchen. Stella Medium Righthand Chaise, from £1750, Sofa.com Kartell Bourgie Table Lamp, £203, John Lewis. 06 KITCHEN DINER Diana used a striking piece of art as her focal point for the dining area. Flynn Scoop Back Chairs, £129 each, Made.com. For a similar table, try the Frost Six Seater Dining Table, £425, John Lewis.

06

57 Dulwich_Sep_My_Bespoke_Room.indd 57

SEPTEMBER 2014

26/08/2014 19:17

RAILINGS • WINDOW GRILLES SECURITY • AUTOMATION BALUSTRADES • STAIRCASES • GATES BALCONIES • GARAGE DOORS

Railway Arch 833 - 836 Consort Road, London SE15 2PR Office hours 8am till 4:30pm | 020 7277 6875 | info@bronzewoodconstruction.co.uk

www.bronzewoodlondon.com Individual design to suit your needs FREE friendly quote within 2 days We can visit you free of charge or work from photos you send us through email

bronzewood_half.indd 1

26/08/2014 16:22

Lordship Lane Carpets East Dulwich

131 Lordship Lane SE22 8HU 020 8693 8728

Blackheath Village

lordship flooring Co. Brigade St (next to Cote restaurant)

SE3 0TW 020 8852 8109 carpets wood amtico rubber concrete cork sisal marmoleum woven runners customised runners vinyl and woven vinyl bespoke rugs sanding and wood renovation

www.lordshiplanecarpets.co.uk LLC_Dul_MAY.indd 1

_ADVERT PLACEMENTS.indd 8

As featured in BEST FLOORING SHOPS IN LONDON 27/05/2014 10:14

28/08/2014 09:44

HOMES & INTERIORS / SPOTLIGHT 07

08

to pop to the playground in the park with or have a tea or a coffee. There’s a really lovely sense of community around here.’

And whilst a period property can pose problems, Diana was willing to take on the challenge. ‘I love this house because you feel like you’re living in history. My husband studied history at university so he’s really interested in it – when we found old newspapers in the fireplace he was so excited!’ Around the house original features abound, from the traditional cornicing on the ceilings to the period fireplace in the bedroom. As a result, Diana’s interior designs are classically contemporary.

‘When I design a room, I always make sure that there’s a focal point and then work around it,’ she explains. ‘For example in my dining area, I used a bold painting, picking out its purple colours to

09

mybespokeroom.com 07 MASTER BEDROOM Vintage mirrored bedside tables add a touch of glamour to the room. Cole & Son Vivienne Westwood Insects Wallpaper, £70 per roll, John Lewis.

Provencal Lit White Rattan Bed, £1295, The French Bedroom Company. Vintage bedside tables from The Old Cinema.

08 MASTER BATHROOM A chic chaise longue adds an elegant focal point to the bathroom. The Bergere Rattan Chaise Longue, £579, from The Blue Goose, would be a good alternative. City Cows have similar cowhide rugs, from £219. 09 GEORGE’S ROOM Bunk beds with integrated shelving offer a clever, space-saving solution. Sling Bookcase with plain white canvas, £65, and Large Eden Playtable, £225, both The Great Little Trading Company.

Kids Avenue Tam Tam White Bunk Bed, £498.75, Room To Grow. Walls painted in Sea Lavender Elements Emulsion, £35.50 for 2.5 litres, Fired Earth. KICO Yumbo Multi-coloured Wooden Aeroplane Pendant, £28.78, Amazon.

59 Dulwich_Sep_My_Bespoke_Room.indd 59

incorporate into the sofa area.’ Meanwhile the kitchen is a great example of how high street and high end can be combined to create affordable luxury. ‘The kitchen is actually from Ikea,’ reveals Diana, ‘but I ordered the granite to create my own bespoke work surfaces so it still looks very high end, even though the price tag was a lot more reasonable.’

These rules also apply to the furniture, where Diana has mixed and matched one-off pieces with high street purchases: ‘I love the Old Cinema in Chiswick for beautiful antiques and vintage items, and Mrs Robinson on Lordship Lane always has really cool, interesting finishing touches.’ Meanwhile, Laura recommends neutral walls as a backdrop whilst you find your interior inspiration. ‘If you start with a white box and you live in it for a bit, you see where the light falls, how dark a room gets, where you naturally want to sit or where a future wall could be,’ she explains. ‘It’s much better to live somewhere for a while before you make any decisions.’

But when the time does come to make those decisions, Laura and Diana are waiting, ready to help. ‘Surfing the internet, looking for perfect items for people’s homes – it just feels like our fun time,’ laughs Diana. ‘It’s easy to forget that it’s work.’ u

SEPTEMBER 2014

26/08/2014 19:18

“Students are very proud of their school and behaviour in and out of lessons is excellent.’’ - Ofsted 2012

Come and Visit One of the Most Popular Schools in the Country!

Kingsdale is a dynamic and progressive school that has invested £30m to develop an award winning educational learning environment.

Average class sizes are approximately 20 across all subjects and significantly smaller in our Sixth Form.

Kingsdale is extremely proud of its special reputation and heritage in Music and Mathematics. We offer scholarships for new entrants to the school who show musical, mathematical or sporting talent. Scholars receive free individual or small group tuition provided by expert professionals, to the value of £1,000 per annum.

Designated admission places are made available via random allocation within each ability band ensuring equality of access for these spaces irrespective of distance or locality. Details of our School Transportation Service are available on request.

Kingsdale Foundation School Year 6 Open Day/Evening dates for admission in September 2015: Wednesday 17th September 2014, .............. 9.30am-11am Wednesday 17th September 2014, .............. 5.30pm-8pm Saturday 20th September 2014, .....................11am-1pm Wednesday 24th September 2014, .............. 9.30am-11am Wednesday 1st October 2014, ........................ 9.30am-11am Saturday 4th October 2014, ................................11-1pm Wednesday 8th October 2014, ......................... 9.30am-11am Saturday 11th October 2014, .............................11am-1pm

Sixth Form Open Evening Dates: Wednesday 17th September 2014, ..............5.30pm-8pm Wednesday 15th October 2014, ......................5.30pm-7.30 pm Wednesday 12th November 2014, ...............5.30pm-7.30pm Wednesday 3rd December 2014, ....................5.30pm-7.30pm

Specialist 11-19 College in Mathematics & Performing Arts Alleyn Park, Dulwich, London SE21 8SQ | Tel: 020 8670 7575 | Fax: 020 8766 7051 E-mail: info@kingsdale.southwark.sch. uk | Web: www.kingsdalefoundationschool.org.uk FAC O M N I A

Headteacher: Mr S. H. Morrison

G LO R I A M AD DEI

FAC OMNIA AD DEI GLORIAM

FAC OMNIA AD DEI GLORIAM “Teachers are enthusiastic, have good subject knowledge and plan interesting lessons. There are very “Teachers are enthusiastic, have good relationships between staff good subjectOfsted knowledge and plan and students.”

interesting lessons. There are very Kingsdale is a dynamic, exceptionally good relationships between staff popular and progressive school that and students.”

Ofsted

KINGSDALE.indd 2

has invested £30m to develop an award winning educational learning Kingsdale is a dynamic, exceptionally environment. Average class sizes are popular and20 progressive school that approximately across all subjects

“Students are very proud of their school “Students are very and behaviour in and out of proud lessonsof is their school excellent.”and behaviour in Ofsted 20/08/2014 09:20 and out of lessons is

Absolutely

August 2 0 14

Education KIDS &

> KIDS' NOTES p. 62 AMANDA CONSTANCE TALKS MANNERS p. 65 LIVE & LEARN p. 69

FIELD OF DREAMS Inspired by COLOUR days out in London along the river CLUB

Thames, therich, Fieldlife summer willprints, Showcasing wintry fabricscollection and vibrant see yournew little ones through Oilily’s Garden of Edenwhatever collectionmischief is filled with they up todetails duringfor theaholidays. cute andget quirky little added fun. fieldlife.co.uk oililyworld.com

61 Dulwich_Sep_Kids_Opener.indd 61

SEPTEMBER 2014

27/08/2014 16:40

one to look forward to...

STREAM

South London Book Festival Wo r d s ALEXANDRA JONES

Kid

CONFIDENTIAL How to keep warm and stylish – and a look at products for the new school year Wo r d s P E A R L B OY D

ooks are never more magical than your formative years. As B in children we could spend days lost in the wilds of Middle Earth or trying to find our way back from Neverland.

And nowadays, books for children and young adults seem to be better and more popular than ever before.

With a superstar line-up of authors including Children’s Laureate Malorie Blackman, who will be opening the festival, STREAM 2014: South London Book Festival is guaranteed to ignite the passion of any of young reader.

As well as talks, readings and book signings from authors such as Lauren Child (Clarice Bean and the Charlie and Lola books), Holly Smale (Geek Girl) and Steve Cole (whose new Young Bond novel, Shoot to Kill will publish just two days before the festival), there will be competitions and workshops. This means that budding authors and illustrators will get the chance to perfect their craft with help from the best in the business. Adults aren’t forgotten: for those who have always dreamed of writing their own bestseller, there will be workshops on how to write for children.

From picture books for the youngest of readers to dystopian thrillers for young adults, from ‘agony aunt/uncle’ sessions where authors discuss tackling teen issues, to panels of authors writing about WW1, if books are your bag, then you’ll be spoilt for choice. The best part? Admission is completely free! ◆

Fairytale fashion Ilovegorgeous

Their AW14 Collection has stolen our hearts.

Celebrating the British Isles, it's all about bonfire night, highland flings, family travels and storybook tales of Snow Queens and pretty ballerinas. Lots of velvet, silk and cashmere. ilovegorgeous.co.uk

● S T R E A M 8th November At Streatham & Clapham High School, 42 Abbotswood Road, SW16; stream2014.co.uk

ABSOLUTELY MAGAZINES

NH_Sep_Kids_Notes.indd 62

62 27/08/2014 14:52

KIDS & EDUCATION / NOTES editor’s

PICK

SMALL TALK Smalls

New Zealanders know the secret to keeping cool while staying warm.

It's merino wool, which responds to changes in body temperature and is possibly the most practical fabric in the world. Now two Kiwi west Londoners have created a range for our tots. Smalls is a range of the softest, non-itchy luxe merino bodywear with gorgeous, subtle detailing that's great as outerwear too. It's available at Selfridges and online at lovemysmalls.com

3

homework essentials

01 02 OUTDOOR TYPES Penfield

Cult American outerwear brand Penfield is launching a new children's range exclusive to Couberture and the Garbstore this month. Think practical puffas, parkas and body warmers, all inspired by the brand's most iconic styles. The chill is definitely on its way, so be prepared. couvertureandthegarbstore.com

03

01. HARTÔ GASTON WRITING DESK £423; madeindesign.co.uk 02. COMPAGNIE RUBENS DESK £ 1,037; madeindesign.co.uk 03. GLTC STUDY DESK & BUREAU, £110; gltc.co.uk

NURSERY STORY Farrow & Ball

Farrow & Ball's wallpapers and Modern Emulsion are perfect for children's rooms – colourful, durable and hard-wearing, the paints are water-based and eco-friendly. All 132 Farrow & Ball colours come in the safe Modern Emulsion, which meets the Toy Safety Standard and is suited to beds and furniture too. farrow-ball.com

SOPHIE ALLPORT, Notebooks, £10; sophieallport.com

HAMILTON CONTE, Lampe Themis, POA; hamiltonconte.com

PLANT IT Belle & Boo

Given half a chance, children love gardening and they're always happy to plant things. But actually nurturing their seedlings is another thing altogether. Encourage them to remember their herbs with these darling wooden herb markers from Bell and Boo. £10; belleandboo.com

63 NH_Sep_Kids_Notes.indd 63

MAIDEN, Baby Bento Box, £12.50; maidenshop.com

SEPTEMBER 2014

27/08/2014 14:53

Independent co-ed pre-prep & nursery 3–7 years . Founded 1976 . Member ISA

Constructing, for life

Excellent and outstanding: 58 times!

Verdict from the latest Independent Schools’ Inspection report: The words excellent (highest rating for Whole School and Key Stage 1) and outstanding (highest rating for Early Years) feature an incredible 46 and 12 times, respectively.

See www.isi.net.

Main entry at 2+, 3+ and 4+.

We look forward to meeting you!

W www.hernehillschool.co.uk.

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O P E N M O R N I N G S A T U R D A Y 2 0 t h S E P T E M B E R | 9 . 0 0 A M

The Old Vicarage 127 Herne Hill London SE24 9LY

w w w . d u l w i c h p r e p l o n d o n . o r g

28/08/2014 09:45

KIDS & EDUCATION / SCHOOL TALK

Manners do matter When the editor of Tatler said that politeness and respect are as important as good grades, her comments struck a chord Wo r d s A M A N D A C O N S TA N C E

G

ood manners are as important as good grades when it comes to forging a successful career. So Kate Reardon, editor of society bible Tatler, told a group of teenage girls earlier this summer. In a speech to pupils at Westonbirt School in Gloucestershire, Reardon said that it was just as important to be polite and respectful as it was to achieve good grades. ‘It doesn’t matter how many A-levels you have, what kind of a degree you have, if you have good manners people will like you,’ she said.

‘And, if they like you, they will help you. I’m not talking about using the right spoon for soup or eating asparagus with your left hand. I’m talking about … making people you interact with feel valued.’

Whilst her comments prompted the inevitable storm in a media tea cup (they were judged ‘anti-feminist’ and there was sniping about Reardon’s own privileged upbringing (Bute House, Cheltenham Ladies College and Stowe)) there was also acknowledgement that she had raised an important issue.

Reardon’s speech comes amid growing concerns that generation text are not fit for purpose in the working world.

Whilst school leavers may have top notch computing skills, they simply lack some of the basic social skills such as good manners and the ability to hold a conversation.

A survey of business leaders earlier this year found that nearly half believed school leavers were unable to grasp workplace etiquette. In the report

by Barclays, personal presentation,

65 Dulwich_Sep_Education_v2.indd 65

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SCHOOL TALK / KIDS & EDUCATION

punctuality and decent manners were all highlighted as problems for some young people. 43% of business people said young people failed to understand when it was appropriate to use a mobile phone or when to take a break or for how long.

A worrying 55% said school leavers were unable to manage conversations properly when calling clients or suppliers.

Employers and parents will nod in recognition at Reardon’s comments.

Commenting on Reardon’s speech in the The Daily Telegraph, Rowan Pelling said: ‘When I ran a publishing business, I blackballed any job applicant too entitled or offhand to show consideration for others. I despaired of the workexperience graduate with a First and editorship of the student paper under his belt who was too grand to make tea, photocopy or ask for advice, despite his atrocious typos.’

Pelling adds that she knows a financier who conducts all his interviews over lunch to see if candidates have acceptable table manners and are capable of conversation beyond football and celebrity. ‘No one wants to spend two thirds of their waking day surrounded by uncouth braggarts.’

ABSOLUTELY MAGAZINES

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Anthony Seldon, the pioneering head of Wellington College, has already called for schools to hold lessons in manners, punctuality and tidiness. And An AllParty Parliamentary Group on Social Mobility said earlier this year that schools need to place greater emphasis on the ‘soft skills’ that children require in the work place such as resilience, empathy

GENERATION text are not FIT FOR PURPOSE in the WORKING WORLD and self-control. It recommended giving all pupils a school-leaving certificate – in addition to straight exam grades – to mark out their achievements in extracurricular activities and work experience placements.

In other words, there is a recognition that good old fashioned ‘character building’ needs to find its way back onto the curriculum, particularly in state schools where it has often given way

to a relentless academic curriculum.

In a report earlier this year, the Confederation of British Industry spoke of its concern that ‘schools were turning into exam factories that are churning out young people who are not sufficiently prepared for life outside the school gates.’

Applauding the changes to the A-level system, the CBI said the business world wants ‘young people who have been academically stretched, but who also display a set of behaviours and attitudes that are vital for success, including determination, optimism and emotional intelligence.’

Reardon has her own tips for success beyond school. She urged the Westonbirt girls, ‘Never hide behind a computer or mobile phone,’ and to understand the importance of eye contact. She also told the girls to use confident self-expression, to rigorously research any prospective company before being interviewed and to do as much work experience as possible. And above all, she said: ‘Never underestimate the value of good manners. I can count on one hand the number of people who wrote me a thank you letter after having an interview and I gave almost all of them a job.’ u

66 27/08/2014 17:44

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Part07824 of Goose805135 Green Education Trust Telephone / 020 Part of Goose Green Education Trust8693 3568 email info@eastdulwichacademy.org

26/08/2014 17:15

‘Outstanding’ in EVERY respect...

Open Sessions 2014

SIAMS Report 2014

Tuesday 16th September 6pm - 8pm Talk and questions with the Headteacher at 7.30pm

Wednesday 17th September 10am Talk and questions with the Headteacher at 10.45am

WINNER OF TWO SSAT AWARDS FOR PROGRESS & ATTAINMENT 2013

Thursday 18th September 10am

Talk and questions with the Headteacher at 10.45am

Friday 3rd October 10am

Talk and questions with the Headteacher at 10.45am

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28/08/2014 09:52

KIDS & EDUCATION / PROFILE a franchise school that they were setting up in Korea. I’d always been interested in working abroad but it’s quite difficult to know how to break into it, to know what’s a good school and what isn’t. I loved the school that I was in, though, so the combination of that with the chance of travel made me decide to take the plunge.

AJ What was it like?

CC-T Amazing. I was involved from the beginning when the school was nothing: no buildings, no students, no teachers.

It was on a small island off the bottom of South Korea called Jeju. It’s a volcanic island, very beautiful and very rural. The school was based on a remote part of the island where they’re developing a Global Education City.

Live & learn Absolutely meets Blackheath High School’s well-travelled new head, Carol Chandler-Thompson Wo r d s A l e x a n d r a J o n e s

ALEXANDRA JONES Where did you grow up?

CAROL CHANDLER-THOMPSON In Abingdon, and I went to a girl’s independent school there, which I loved.

I was there from the age of four until I went to university.

AJ Where did you go to university?

CC-T Exeter, where I read History for three years. I played a lot of lacrosse at university and enjoyed it so much that I worked for the student union for a year after graduating. Then I went on to do my PGCE, so five years at Exeter all together.

AJ What was your first day in the classroom like?

CC-T The first school that I taught in (on my teaching practice) was a boys’ school in Exter. I had a Year 7 class and I was teaching them the Crusades. With History you have to spend a lot of time teaching subjects that you perhaps aren’t so familiar with, so you really have to master it before you go into the classroom. Anyway, I remember totally overdoing my knowledge of the Crusades, I pitched it far too high for the level of 11-year-old boys [laughs]; you just have to adapt and learn very quickly.

AJ You’ve just spent three years heading up a school in South Korea, how did that come about?

CC-T I was working at North London Collegiate School and I found out about

69 Dulwich_Sep_Headteacher.indd 69

AJ Was it a culture shock?

CC-T It was a huge culture shock! I’d been in North London for 14 years. It’s multicultural, big city life. I’ve always travelled on holidays but living in another country is completely different. And Korea itself is an interesting culture to live in.

Also, English wasn’t really spoken on Jeju, so being in a Global Education City where English is the main language, you’re quite isolated from the local community. That was quite an adjustment.

There was very little infrastructure so you had to embrace Korean food and culture completely. In a lot of ways that was great but there were moments when you wished things could be easier. You couldn’t, for example, order things off the internet; which is difficult for silly things like buying shoes! Koreans all have small feet so you couldn’t find shoes when you wanted them. But the school was amazing.

AJ You’ve taught mainly in all girls’ schools, in your opinion, what are the benefits of single sex education?

CC-T Well, I think a good school is a good school, irrespective. Having said that a single sex school enables you to focus in on the styles that girls or boys respond best to and to think about some of the issues that each might face going out into the world. Even if you’ve got a single sex education, I think it’s really important that you encounter as many different people as possible; I don’t just mean gender but also nationalities, cultures. Schools, even mixed schools, tend to be a bubble and I think part of a good education is encountering as many different people in as many different circumstances as possible. That could mean having a debate with another school or helping at a local care home. u

SEPTEMBER 2014

27/08/2014 17:50

The Old Vicarage 127 Herne Hill London SE24 9LY W www.hernehillschool.co.uk.

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Independent co-ed pre-prep & nursery 3–7 years . Founded 1976 . Member ISA

Latest inspection report: 58 times excellent and outstanding!

Come and see why.

Open morning: Sat. 4th Oct. 2014 Sat. 8th March 2014 10am 10am-–12:30pm 12:30pm Main entry at 2+, 3+ and 4+.

Laughing, for life

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ABSOLUTELY / PROMOTION

ASK THE

TEACHER Two local educators talk nurturing dreams and the national curriculum

Dominik Magyar Director at HERNE HILL SCHOOL

What is a typical day at school for you?

No two days are the same, and I really enjoy this variety. I actually work from my home office about half of the time but am in touch daily with our Headteacher and other key staff. The best days are when I come in to watch one of our plays or for one of our festivals. Seeing the children sing and act as fabulously as they do is a real privilege.

What do you feel makes your school different from the others?

Its ethos of 'love-care-excellence', its focus (we are the largest independent nursery and pre-prep school in the country specialising in 2+ to 7 year olds) and the expertise we have developed in the critical transition from play based to more structured learning – all that in a uniquely friendly and happy atmosphere.

confidence, to show her initiative and to lead the school as role models and as confident members of the community.

Jacqui Henderson Assistant Head (Head of Sixth Form) at SYDENHAM HIGH SCHOOL GDST

What is a typical day at school for you?

Much of my day involves working with individual girls, each of whom has her own needs, her own strengths and their own aims. I see my job as bringing together parents, teachers and pupils to ensure that each student can fulfil her potential and her ambitions.

What do you feel makes your school different from the others?

The difference we make. We want our girls to aspire with realism. The leadership opportunities in the sixth form encourage each student to rise to the challenge with

What has been one of the best highlights of the last school term?

Our Celebrating Success event. This special evening applauded in particular the achievements of our most recent Year 13 leavers who have contributed so much to the school community during their time here and, in so doing, grew into the confident and caring individuals we saw at the ceremony.

What are your plans for the future?

I want to continue to develop the opportunities available to our sixth formers, both within the curriculum, in our enrichment programme and preparing them for the world beyond. I also want to ensure that Sydenham High Sixth Form is recognised as one of the leading and progressive sixth forms in South London.

Just meet one of our recent graduates: they are the living proof of the strength and relevance of a Sydenham High education. u

71 Dulwich_Sep_Ask_The_Teacher.indd 71

What has been one of the highlights of the last school term?

Our Year 2 pupils winning a nationwide Independent Schools Association drama competition and our year-end play The lost stories of Khanya, an African tale adapted and composed in house to celebrate our charitable link with Khanya Primary School in a township in Cape Town.

What’s in store for the future?

We have just started construction of a new school hall and nursery building.

It will be ready by September 2015 and will provide a state-of-the-art multifunction hall for sports, drama and assemblies. A large kitchen will also enable healthy, freshly prepared hot lunches for all pre-prep children and a lunch box order option for nursery and kindergarten. The larger nursery will also enable full days on a modular basis, for children joining in the term they turn three.

It’s all very exciting! u

SEPTEMBER 2014

27/08/2014 17:51

ISS.indd 1

31/07/2014 11:19

Travel Absolutely

August 2 0 14

> TALES OF THE ORIENT p. 74 CITY GUIDE: SYDNEY p. 76 SOUTH ISLAND ADVENTURES IN NEW ZEALAND p. 80

A LAND DOWN UNDER This month we take a trip to the other side of the world for our Antipodean travel special. First it’s a stopover in glamorous Singapore before heading on to stylish Sydney. Then it’s on to some hair-raising adventures in beautiful New Zealand. It’s enough to make you want to book your one-way ticket down under.

Pictured: Lake Wanaka, New Zealand

73 Travel Opener.indd 73

SEPTEMBER 2014

26/08/2014 19:34

SPOTLIGHT

EASTERN PROMISES Long haul stopover: Spotlight on Singapore

Wo r d s G e o r g i e L a n e - G o d f r e y

GET A TASTE

Famed for its fantastic food, spotless shopping malls and super strict law enforcement, Singapore is the home of well-behaved indulgence. Showcasing a fascinating blend of old and new, former colonial buildings sit alongside vertiginous modern skyscrapers whilst on the ground Chinese, Malay, Indian and Western cultures combine to make a richly diverse city-state.

WHAT TO SEE

Rather than tourist attractions, the thing to see here is the architecture.

Singapore’s government has spent millions on reclaiming land from the sea in order to provide space for the country’s cutting edge developments, such as the Gardens by the Bay (gardensbythebay.com.sg).

ABSOLUTELY MAGAZINES

Travel Singapore 3pp.indd 74

The result of a state-sponsored initiative to introduce more green space, the gardens make up 135 acres of weird and wonderful botanicals. Visit the ‘Supertree Grove’ of vertical forests, which harvest solar energy by day and provide a light show by night to accompany the ‘Garden Rhapsody’ – a performance of original music inspired by the rainforest.

WHERE TO EAT

A Mecca for gourmands across the globe, the Singapore dining scene is as diverse as it is delicious. Expect a melting pot of culinary cultures with seafood dishes such as fish head curry and chilli crab taking centre stage. For affordable delicacies, local favourite Andhra Curry on Little India’s Kerbau Road (+65 6293 3935) serves an excellent vegetarian biryani, or try Sabar Menanti in the Muslim district of Kampong Glam (+65 6396 6919) for self-service Sumatran food. Meanwhile, for fine dining options, China Town’s award-winning Restaurant Andre offers artisanal French cuisine (restaurantandre.com) while Waku Ghin’s take on modern Japanese food is served in a sensational seasonal ten-course menu (marinabaysands.com). Avoid the tourist trap of the Singapore Sling at Raffles and instead try their high tea, served amongst the gently swaying palm trees of the Tiffin Room (raffles.com/singapore).

WHERE TO SHOP

What Singapore lacks in tourist sites, it makes up for in retail therapy. The spotless shopping malls give a new meaning to ‘shop til you drop’, with many so big you could get lost for days inside. Orchard Road (orchardroad. org) is the original home of extravagant expenditure, with futuristic storefronts lining the streets, all packed with new colllections from luxury fashion brands. For more authentic wares, try the nearby Tanglin Shopping Centre (tanglinsc.com), which specialises in antique Asian art, homewares and jewellery. And for a more cultural experience, the Bugis Street Market (bugisstreet.com.sg), a former transgender sex bazaar, is now the largest undercover street market in Singapore.

74 26/08/2014 19:24

TRAVEL / WANDERLUST

WHERE TO STAY

While many head to Marina Bay Sands in search of jaw-dropping scenery, they’ve forgotten one crucial thing – this hotel’s architecture is one of the best elements of the Singaporean skyline. Introducing the Mandarin Oriental Singapore, whose location is arguably the best and most enviable in town. Book one of the Harbour Suites for glass-to-ceiling windows overlooking the marina. Make time to visit the hotel’s exceptional spa, where the Signature Spa Therapies begin with a private consultation to select the correct oils for your needs. Book one of these therapies in a spa suite designed for couples for complete serenity with added romance. Meanwhile, for those looking for tradition rather than

75 Travel Singapore 3pp.indd 75

location, the iconic Raffles offers suiteonly accommodation, complete with complimentary 24-hour butler service for a touch of classic colonial charm.

Take a walk down the hotel’s illustrious ‘Hall of Fame’, which showcases the many famous faces that have stayed there over the years. u TH E DA M AG E Rates at Mandarin Oriental, Singapore start from approximately £165 on a room only basis. For further information and bookings please call +65 6338 0066 or visit mandarinoriental.com/singapore Raffles Singapore has stays from £393 per night, based on two sharing a suite on a B&B basis, +65 6337 1886; raffles.com/singapore

SEPTEMBER 2014

26/08/2014 19:24

SPOTLIGHT

CITY GUIDE Sydney: the best places to sleep, be seen and sunbathe in the world’s most beautiful city (well, we think so anyway...)

Wo r d s A l e x a n d r a J o n e s

WHAT TO DO

W

hat many people don’t realise about Sydney before going there is that it is an astoundingly beautiful city. There’s a reason why being harnessed in for a trek to the top of the Sydney Harbour Bridge is a tourist staple: the views rival those of any city in the world. But if you want to see it from a slightly safer vantage point, then head to Milsons Point Ferry Wharf at the base of the bridge or to Observatory Hill, which will give you the views without the vertigo.

Aside from the architecture, Sydney has many beautiful parks and gardens.

My personal favourites are the Royal Botanic Gardens (rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au) where the sheer abundance of natural life that Australia has to offer is much in evidence and where you can get an Aboriginal Heritage Tour for around $35.

It is an incredibly interesting 1.5hour talk from an Aboriginal guide who will discuss the flora and fauna, as well as the impact that Western settlers had on the landscapes and indigenous population.

There are a number of fantastic galleries, but for a taste of the raw, bubbling artistic talent of young

ABSOLUTELY MAGAZINES

NH_Sep_Sydney_3pages.indd 76

Sydneyites, it’s worth checking what’s going on at Carriageworks (carriageworks.com.au). The multidisciplinary cultural centre is set in the old Eveleigh Rail Yards, heritage listed warehouse-style buildings formally used as railway workshops.

Of course you can’t go to Sydney without spending some time on Bondi beach. If you’re up for a bit of activity, the coastal walk between Coogee and Bondi, a 5km jaunt that takes just over an hour if it’s done in one go, takes in some less populated, but equally beautiful beaches and coves. Take a picnic and make a day of it. u

WHERE TO STAY

W

ith a Shangri-La hotel having just opened in the Shard, many of you will have now heard of the Hong Kong-based brand, though perhaps aren’t so familiar with their particular style of luxury. Their first hotel opened in Singapore in 1971 and since then they have been a paragon of deluxe travel across the Asia Pacific region, and that includes

76 26/08/2014 19:36

TRAVEL / CITY GUIDE

77 NH_Sep_Sydney_3pages.indd 77

SEPTEMBER 2014

26/08/2014 19:37

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TRAVEL / CITY GUIDE approach that included massage, essential oils and healing crystals, all with the aim of perfectly aligning your chakras). To some this might sound unappealingly new age, but in reality you get a fantastic massage that is focused on total wellbeing, not just on tender muscles. As with the rest of the hotel, CHI, The Spa sits at a crossroads between luxury and comfort. If you decide to only try one treatment (and once you’ve seen what’s on offer, you’ll probably find that incredibly difficult) go for one of the spa’s signature ones: the CHI Balance uses acupressure to improve circulation and promote relaxation. Heaven. u

Sydney. As with their shiny new London venue, the Sydney hotel is renowned for it’s views. It is perfectly positioned to offer an unrivalled snapshot of Sydney Harbour, with the Harbour Bridge and Opera House dominating the landscape and both close enough to see in detail.

It is the kind of view that will have you clambering out of bed each morning to throw open the blackout curtains so as not to miss even a moment of daylight. Having said this, it comes into its own at night, when the monuments and buildings of Sydney are all aglow. Most rooms feature a window seat, I’d recommend ordering room service and whiling away an evening just taking it all in.

The rooms are beautifully appointed, plush but pared-back, with a neutral, beige and brown, colour scheme and luxury finishes. All feature marble bathrooms with gold taps and wonderfully large beds, with feather

YOU ARE PERFECTLY placed so sink a few RUMS AT SYDNEY'S best

new cocktail bar

soft pillows. In this respect the ShangriLa places itself at the deluxe end of the corporate travel market, offering a stay that takes comfort seriously. Don’t expect to be blown away by the design, though an unrivalled night’s sleep will certainly make up for that. CHI, The Spa, is worth a visit during your stay. As well as the usual variety of treatments (facials, wraps etc.) it offers a number which aim to balance your energies (The Healing Chakra Treatment was a particular delight, offering a meditative

WHERE TO EAT

I

f you want to venture outside of the hotel then you are perfectly placed sink a few rums at Sydney’s best new cocktail bar, The Lobo Plantation (thelobo.com.au) which is just a ten minute walk away.

Also close by (about 10 minutes by taxi) is Surry Hills. I’m tempted to equate it to Shoreditch, in a rough-area-comegood kind of way, but it is less flashy than Shoreditch (read: better). Here you’ll find countless good cocktail and wine bars, as well as plenty of bright young things with whom to while away the warm nights. For a truly show-stopping meal, head to Marque (marquerestaurant.com.au), a Surry Hills fine dining institution, where for $165 you can experience Australian fusion food of the highest order (think Paroo kangaroo with beetroot and radicchio kimchi). For breakfast, bills (bills.com.au; from the team behind London staple Granger & Co) does traditional Australian with a focus on tip top ingredients. u

For more information on The Shangri-La Sydney, including rates and booking options, go to shangri-la.com/sydney

79 NH_Sep_Sydney_3pages.indd 79

SEPTEMBER 2014

26/08/2014 19:38

SPOTLIGHT

WATER TO WINE Taking in New Zealand’s natural wonders both on land and at sea in South Island Wo r d s G e o r g i e L a n e - G o d f r e y

I

t’s a moment of pure suspense, of intense anticipation. Holding onto the rails as the boat rocks, we wait, eyes peeled for the spray. And then we see it: a floating mass of grey appearing from the water. It rolls on the surface lazily and then dips out of sight, a tail erupting out of the sea in farewell as it dives back down under the waves.

I’m in Kaikoura, the whale-watching hotspot in New Zealand’s South Island.

The tour is a three-and-a-half-hour voyage with Whale Watch Kaikoura, the leading company in the area with a 98% rate for spotting whales. So confident are they in their success rate that they offer an 80% refund for all trips where none of Moby’s mates show. Not that that was the case on our trip – we saw a grand total of three sperm whales, all located with radar technology that looks as though it has come straight off the set of a Cold War thriller. Listening to the bleeping in the bowels of the boat, both crew and passengers hold their breath waiting for the signal. Suddenly the words ‘Go Go, Go!’ boom out from the tanoid, and then it’s a mad dash, elbowing your way to the best spot on deck amongst a cacophony of clicking as the cameras attempt to capture the surfacing whales.

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Back on dry land, it feels as though you’ve stumbled across a quaint British seaside town – pebble-dashed building and fish and chips galore. The place is renowned for its crayfish – in Maori ‘Kai’ means food and ‘Koura’ means Crayfish – and it’s best sampled at Hapuku Lodge, which lies just a short drive up the coast. Here there’s not only fine dining on offer, but luxuriously unique accommodation, set amongst the canopy of the resident Manuka grove.

These treetop suites have a distinct design

ROADS THROUGH THE VINES were made for freewheeling IN THE SUNSHINE feel to them, with tactile hand-crafted wooden interiors and huge glass windows boasting breath-taking panoramas across both the Pacific coastline and the Kaikoura mountains. It’s a truly stunning, spell-binding view.

When you do eventually descend from the treetops down to dinner, it’s worth the walk. In the kitchen is 2011 MasterChef Finalist Fiona Read, who’s

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TRAVEL / WANDERLUST

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SEPTEMBER 2014

26/08/2014 19:30

Private tuition for all subjects and ages • Independent school selection in the UK and USA Educational Assessments • Academic and motivational mentorship • Guardianship • Summer courses

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25/07/2014 09:51

ALD – too rare for YOU to care?

Adrenoleukodystrophy (ALD) is a rare genetic brain disorder that affects approximately 1 in 17,000 young boys worldwide. ALD leaves normal healthy young boys in a semi-vegetative state within a matter of months. At present, there isn’t a cure for ALD, with death likely in a few months.

ALD Life provides practical support, advice and information to families and funds medical research looking into finding a cure for the condition.

Are we too rare for YOU to care? Please donate your unwanted items at your nearest charity shop.

Or, alternatively call 020 7358 6871 to arrange for a free collection at your convenience.

ALD Life charity shops 209 High Street, Penge, London SE20 7PF 26 Sydenham Road, Sydenham, London SE26 5QW 81-83 Dartmouth Road, Forest Hill, London SE23 3HT 45 Peckham High Street, Peckham, London SE15 5EB 154-156 Trafalgar Road, Greenwich, London SE10 9TZ Registered office: 45 Peckham High Street, London SE15 5EB. Registered charity no. 1106008. A company limited by guarantee incorporated in England. Company registration no. 5142341

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21/08/2014 11:59 28/08/2014 09:55

TRAVEL / WANDERLUST mouth-watering menu features the finest local produce, including many vegetables grown by the lodge itself.

Alongside Kaikoura crayfish, expect Canterbury Duck Leg with wilted Cavolo Nero and cider cranberries, followed by white chocolate, almond and raspberry semifreddo served with fresh cherries.

All washed down with a selection of excellent New Zealand wines, of course.

LOOK OUT FOR THE one-off dining opportunities WHEN TOP CHEFS COME AND COOK Many of these bottles come from Marlborough, the wine region located about an hour’s drive north from Kaikoura. Head for Blenheim’s Chateau Marlborough, a five star maze of modern, black and white interiors, which is just two minutes walk from the town centre and perfectly located to explore the vineyards for which Marlborough is famous. The best way to do this is by bike, so that you can cruise around several in a day without the worry of driving over the limit (don’t underestimate the puny portions – all that tasting can add up). We took a tour with Explore Marlborough, which guides you around four or five estates in a day. The pace is leisurely so that fitness isn’t an issue, and the flat roads through the vines were made

for freewheeling in the sunshine. We started at the Forrest Estate, a small, family run business where the wines are award-winning and the atmosphere is that of a genteel country club.

Particularly tasty was The Doctors’ Riesling, with notes of Granny Smith, lime sherbet and mandarin.

Next was onto the Seresin Estate, where the focus here is very much on organic, biodynamic produce, which includes not only wine but extra virgin olive oils too. There’s a pseudo-rustic Hollywood glamour to the place, and it doesn’t come as a surprise to learn that it’s owned by the renowned NZ cinematographer Michael Seresin.

The celebrity touch does have its benefits – look out for the one-off dining opportunities when top chefs come and

cook. This year it was Anna Hansen of The Modern Pantry in Clerkenwell.

After a lazy lunch in the sunshine at Wairau River Estate, a familyfriendly winery where the restaurant is packed with kids, we pottered up to the Brancott Estate. Located on a hill (don’t worry there’s a shuttle that lugs you up so you don’t have to cycle), the floor-toceiling windows in this contemporary winery offer stunning views across row upon row of lush green vines spread across the Brancott Valley.

Sitting with a glass of sauvignon blanc, we raised a toast to the calories burned by our biking, safe in the knowledge that we’d earned this moment to laze in the warmth of the setting sun as it slowly disappeared behind the vines. u TH E DA M AG E Hapuku Lodge & Tree Houses offers a One Bedroom Tree House from NZ $950+ per night based on two people sharing including a threecourse dinner and cooked breakfast per person; hapukulodge.com Chateau Marlborough offers Classic Suites from NZ $140 per night based on two people sharing; marlboroughnz.co.nz Whale Watch Kaikoura offers 3.5 hour whale watching tours from NZ $145 per adult; whalewatch.co.nz Explore Marlborough offers a Biking Wine Tour from NZ $290 per person for a full day visiting Forrest Estate, Seresin Estate, Wairau River Winery, Bladen Winery and includes bikes, transport to and from accommodation, morning tea and a winery restaurant lunch; exploremarlborough.co.nz For more information on New Zealand, visit newzealand.com

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SEPTEMBER 2014

26/08/2014 19:39

The spoils of the hardy workplace warrior.

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11/08/2014 11:57

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Jennings-Bramly Furniture Ltd Beautiful furniture dovetailed to your needs Drawing rooms Dining rooms Bedrooms Kitchens Libraries Studies

0208 945 5794

|

0771 555 4694

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|

www.bramly.co.uk

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richard@bramly.co.uk

29/11/2013 11:28

TheDovetailJoint

yourspaceourskill Forest Hill • 020 8291 5578 • www.thedovetailjoint.co.uk

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23/09/2013 14:14

28/08/2014 09:56

Property Absolutely

> PROPERTY ROUND UP

p.92

September 2 014

SHOWCASE p. 98 IN THEIR OWN WORDS p.102 THE INSIDER

Lawn Terrace, SE3

p.111

ÂŁ2000 Per Month

A charming, beautifully refurbished double fronted cottage in the heart of Blackheath village. The exquisite property comprises open plan living to ground floor with dividing staircase and wood flooring.

020 8463 9955

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SEPTEMBER 2014

26/08/2014 17:42

Completely at home in South East London.

Our services Sales and Lettings Property Management Block Management Property Solicitors Chartered Surveyors Financial Services Visit kfh.co.uk

With a network of 17 branches in South East London and over 50 across the Capital, our local knowledge and London network will ensure we achieve the right result for you.

Our dedicated South East London branches include • Blackheath • Bromley • Chislehurst • Lee

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14/08/2014 09:36 09:52 24/07/2014

Newton Park Place, Chislehurst, BR7 OIEO £1,550,000 Chislehurst 020 8285 9900 Email sch@kfh.co.uk

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Situated on a private gated development is this stunning five bedroom detached house offering 4,450 sq ft of accommodation arranged over three floors. The property is located a short walk to Elmstead Woods station.

• • • • • • • • • •

Five bedrooms Three reception rooms Four bathrooms Study High ceilings Utility/laundry room Heated swimming pool 57ft rear garden Freehold EPC rating D

14/08/2014 10:32 09:53 24/07/2014

Manor Lane Terrace, Hither Green, SE13 £900,000 Stunning five bedroom detached house offering two reception rooms, kitchen/ dining room, utility room, cellar and rear garden. The property is located on a popular road within close proximity to Manor House Gardens and Hither Green train station.

Freehold. EPC rating F. Lee 020 8857 9494 Email sle@kfh.co.uk

Birchmere Row, Pond Road, Blackheath, SE3 OIEO £1,100,000 A well presented three bedroom, three storey townhouse offering excellent reception space, two bathrooms, rear garden, garage and ample parking. The property is located in the heart of Blackheath’s private Cator Estate on Pond Road, a few mintues walk from Blackheath train station. Freehold.

Blackheath 020 8852 9451 Email sbl@kfh.co.uk

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14/08/2014 17:12 09:53 24/07/2014

Trafalgar Grove, Greenwich, SE10 £3,250 pcm Blackheath 020 8297 0181 Email lbl@kfh.co.uk

Spacious and bright five double bedroom modern townhouse located close to the centre of Greenwich near Maze Hill train station.

• • • • • • • •

Five double bedrooms Three bathrooms Kitchen / dining room Utility room Allocated parking Private garden Unfurnished EPC rating B

£210 tenancy agreement fee per property. Other fees apply, visit kfh.co.uk/lettingsfees

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14/08/2014 10:32 09:53 24/07/2014

Property Round Up

Blackheath Park, SE3

£3,950,000

A fine Georgian built double fronted house.

Spotlight on: SE10 Average asking price £550,438

This sumptuous home offers over 7000 sq ft of luxurious accommodation arranged over four floors. A large garden extends to approximately 300ft to the rear with an expansive paved terrace and extensive landscaped lawns.

The large kitchen dining area overlooks an impressive underground swimming pool area with spa and sauna and is lit by a large octagonal skylight. On the upper floors are five bedrooms and three bathrooms plus a library area on the first floor landing with modern spiral staircase.

Average asking rents £1,770 pcm Average property value £592,947 Data provided by

John Payne, Blackheath 020 8318 1311; johnpayne.com

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92 26/08/2014 17:28

PROPERTY | ROUND UP

The INSIDE SCOOP of NEWS in your area

5

PATRICIA IRWIN-BROWN Sales Manager at Kinleigh Folkard & Hayward, Blackheath 020 8852 9451; kfh.co.uk

B

lackheath is rich in history and magnificent architecture, which when combined with the expanses of greenery and good transport links, make it a popular area for people to settle. Its location on the fringes of London mean that it offers the best of both worlds to buyers who can enjoy its village atmosphere along with quick commuter times into the City with both the DLR and rail links available. Many buyers are therefore migrating here from other parts of London, and in particular it remains popular among first time buyers and those who own more central apartments and are looking to upsize.

Blackheath is a key choice for those looking to start a family as it offers great value for money and excellent schools.

PRIME LOCATION.COM

SUGGESTS We have just launched two exciting new features to make your property search even more efficient. You can now add personalised notes to any of the properties for sale or to rent listed on PrimeLocation to help remind you of any questions or notes from viewings. And, if you have decided that certain properties just aren't right for you, you can now hide them from your future searches on PrimeLocation.

The link to 'Add a note' is on each property details page and the link to 'Hide property' is under each listing on the search results pages.

MINUTES with...

WALLACE JAFFRAY

Associate,

Cluttons, Blackheath 020 7647 7820; cluttons.com

Why this area?

Great Transport links to the City, fabulous open spaces, great diversity of housing, and the vibrant and thriving village.

What is your company ethos? How do you translate that into giving the best customer service possible?

Our ethos is "We make it easy". We have achieved this by focusing on a high quality service ensuring we always put the client first What properties are you most excited about having on your books?

We are pleased to handle good quality properties at any level.

Yester House, Yester Road, BR7

Sevenoaks High Street, TN13

An elegant detached house within one of Chislehurst's finest gated developments, Yester Park. Yester House occupies a premier spot in the Park which supremely boasts an expansive southerly facing rear garden extending to over 200ft with own private woodland.

Simply stunning period conversion arranged over two floors, centrally located in Sevenoaks High Street. This apartment has had more than just the standard refurbishment and now presents itself as an incredibly one off property that has to be seen to be fully appreciated.

Sinclair Hammelton OIEO ÂŁ1,500,000

Taylor & Tester ÂŁ750,000

020 8464 5566; sinclairhammelton.co.uk

01732 455543; taylorandtester.co.uk

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What do you predict for the property market in autumn 2014?

Prices will be more stable but we expect good levels of activity as supply levels increase to satisfy continued strong demand from buyers.

SEPTEMBER 2014

26/08/2014 17:28

Pond Road, Blackheath, SE3 Guide Price £3,595,000 Freehold Occupying a prominent plot on a highly regarded residential road within Blackheath’s private Cator Estate, is this beautifully presented seven bedroom, three bathroom Grade II listed Regency style family home, which has been refurbished to an exceptional standard.

Contact Blackheath Office on 020 8318 1311

› › › › › ›

Lee 119 Burnt Ash Road, Lee SE12 8RA 020 8852 8633 lee@johnpayne.com

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Seven bedrooms Three reception rooms Three bathrooms Stunning family home Regency style EPC rating: D

Westcombe Park 11 Stratheden Parade, Westcombe Park SE3 7SX 020 8858 6101 westcombe@johnpayne.com

20/08/2014 10:20

Annandale Road, Greenwich, SE10 Guide Price £1,100,000 Freehold A beautifully presented and significantly extended mid terrace Victorian family home located within this highly popular residential road, backing onto the East Greenwich Pleasaunce. The property is well located for Halstow Primary School.

Contact Greenwich Office on 020 8858 9911

Greenwich 227 Greenwich High Road, Greenwich SE10 8NB 020 8858 9911 greenwich@johnpayne.com

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Blackheath 1 Montpelier Vale, Blackheath SE3 0TA 020 8318 1311 blackheath@johnpayne.com

› › › › › ›

Five bedrooms One reception room Three bathrooms Beautiful family home Significantly extended EPC rating: E

johnpayne.com 20/08/2014 10:20

Please call your local office for a free sales or lettings valuation.

CHISLEHURST BR7

£2,950,000 F/H

Elm Bank occupies an enviable position on this exclusive private gated road that runs parallel with Chislehurst Golf Course. An original Arts and Crafts house, it was designed by the renowned architect Ernest Newton and built in 1897 by William Willet. The Grade II listing has ensured that much of the property’s original charm and character remains, yet the present owners have sympathetically refurbished the house to appeal to the needs of today. Energy Efficiency Rating E.

Please contact our Chislehurst office for more information: Tel: 020 8295 4900 Email: chislehurst@langfordrussell.co.uk

BROMLEY BR2

£995,000 F/H

wEsT wiCkham BR4

£829,995 F/h

An exquisite four bedroom modern detached house nestled next to Bromley Lawn Tennis Club. This imposing house is gated to the front and offers parking for several cars as well as a detached double garage. There is a completely secluded 90ft garden, with the River Ravensbourne running alongside. Located close to Bromley South Station offering fast services into central London. Energy Efficiency Rating D.

Four bedroom detached family home ideally located for highly regarded schools, offering deceptively ample living space for the growing family. Comprising spacious lounge overlooking a beautiful garden, large dining room, kitchen/breakfast room and downstairs cloakroom. Located 0.8 miles from Hayes Station and just over a mile from Bromley South with fast trains to the city. Energy Efficiency Rating F.

Please contact our Bromley office for more information: Tel: 020 8315 5544 Email: bromley@langfordrussell.co.uk

Please contact our west wickham office for more information: Tel: 020 8432 7373 Email: westwickham@langfordrussell.co.uk

The Acorn Group, incorporating:

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20/08/2014 15:49

Beckenham 020 8663 4433 Bromley 020 8315 5544

Chislehurst 020 8295 4900 Locksbottom 01689 882 988

ORPingTOn BR6

Orpington 01689 661 400 West Wickham 020 8432 7373

£2,500,000 F/h

Newly built contemporary six bedroom detached residence. Accommodation comprises grand entrance hall, main reception, kitchen/breakfast room, downstairs cloakroom, family/cinema room, utility area with wet room, gym, swimming pool, hot tub and sauna, master suite with en-suite, dressing area and balcony, garden for entertaining and integral double garage. Energy Efficiency Rating B.

Please contact our Locksbottom office for more information: Tel: 01689 882 988 Email: locksbottom@langfordrussell.co.uk

ORPingTOn BR5

£674,950 F/h

BECkEnham BR3

£1,250,000 F/h

Located in a secluded and quiet rural location is this impressive five bedroom detached home. Comprising spacious entrance hall, modern kitchen/diner, large lounge, study, downstairs WC and utility room, conservatory, four double bedrooms, en-suite and family bathroom. Other benefits include off street parking and a well maintained garden. Energy Efficiency Rating D.

Stunning four bedroom end of terrace regency style town house. Briefly comprising three reception rooms, stunning kitchen with bi-folding doors, study, family bathroom and four bedrooms, two of which are en-suites. The top floor is where you will find the beautiful master bedroom with en-suite leading out onto a roof terrace. Close to Beckenham Junction Station. Energy Efficiency Rating C.

Please contact our Orpington office for more information: Tel: 01689 661 400 Email: orpington@langfordrussell.co.uk

Please contact our Beckenham office for more information: Tel: 020 8663 4433 Email: beckenham@langfordrussell.co.uk

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20/08/2014 15:49

PROPERTY | SHOWCASE

Showcase VENDOR ADVICE

What are the potential hold ups in the exchange process?

T

here are many reasons an exchange of contracts can be delayed; survey issues, lack of mortgage offer, missing legal documents and holiday periods are just a few. However, one of the biggest elements, in my opinion, is the human factor. Poor communication between parties breeds uncertainty, which can lead to doubt and then mistrust. It is vital that all people involved with the transaction understand the time frames that each other are working to and that expectations are managed correctly. There will inevitably be hiccups along the way, but the quicker that everyone is informed the easier it is to deal with them.

A tastefully presented two bedroom apartment

R

esiding within the brand new sought after development Kidbrooke Village benefiting from on-site amenities and Kidbrooke British Rail station nearby.

A wonderfully light open plan reception features wood flooring, floor to ceiling windows and leads out onto a private balcony while a modern fitted kitchen is finished to a high specification.

Two double bedrooms benefit from ample storage space and have access to two smart bathrooms (one en-suite).

Kidbrooke Village is surrounded by a

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lush expanse of green parklands and exceeds expectations of modern living with a range of on-site amenities, 24hr concierge for residents and the option of Lewisham DLR station or Kidbrooke British Rail station for a quick commute into London City.

Kidbrooke Village, SE16 ÂŁ300 Per Week Benham & Reeves Residential Lettings, Greenwich 020 3440 7010; brlets.co.uk

ANDREW ROBERTS Director of Langford Russell, Chislehurst

020 8295 4900; langfordrussell.co.uk

98 26/08/2014 17:29

Show Home Open

Thursday - Monday 10am - 5pm A splendid terrace of five ‘Regency Style’ town houses conveniently located in the heart of Beckenham. Each home provides well planned living accommodation synonymous to traditional town house layouts combining the needs of modern living, offering kitchen/breakfast room, lounge/dining room, study, four bedrooms and three bathrooms. The top floor enjoys inspiring views creating a sense of light and space. The exterior of the development is landscaped and each property has a private decked/lawn area. Further benefits include off street parking and a 10 Year NHBC warranty.

Price £849,995 Postcode Ref: BR3 6PY

Selling Agents

For more information contact

Developed by

020 8663 4433 www.acornnewhomes.co.uk

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20/08/2014 10:09

Trinity Grove, SE10 Guide Price £620,000 Freehold Pretty two bedroom Victorian terraced house set in quiet street. EPC: E

West Grove, SE10 Guide Price £2,000,000 Freehold Neo-Georgian style four bedroom, three reception family house. EPC: D

Collins Street, SE3 Guide Price £725,000 Freehold Delightful two bedroom period house in heart of Blackheath Village. EPC: D

St John’s Park, SE3 £POA Freehold Six bedroom (three en-suite), three reception Victorian house. EPC: E

Wemyss Road, SE3 £775,000 Freehold Two bedroom split-level maisonette in centre of Blackheath Village. EPC: D

Pond Road, SE3 £825,000 Share of Freehold Spacious two bedroom, two bathroom conversion flat. EPC: D

Greenwich Sales 020 3092 5899

Blackheath Sales 020 3305 6488

Blackheath Sales 020 3305 6488

Blackheath Sales 020 3305 6488

Blackheath Sales 020 3305 6488

Blackheath Sales 020 3305 6488

www.humphreys-skitt.com

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20/08/2014 16:44

Greenwich High Road, SE10 £1,695 pcm Unfurnished Two bedroom top floor flat near Greenwich mainline and DLR. EPC: F

St Germans Place, SE3 £3,900 pcm Unfurnished Three bedroom maisonette in Georgian house, fronting the Heath. EPC: C

Oakcroft Road, SE13 £2,250 pcm Unfurnished Three bedroom split level flat on top floors of detached house. EPC: D

Dartmouth Hill, SE10 £2,700 pcm Unfurnished Four bedroom, two bathroom house to close to Greenwich and Heath. EPC: D

Lee Park, SE3 £1,460 pcm Unfurnished Two bedroom conversion flat close to Blackheath Village. EPC: D

Streetfield Mews, SE3 £1,800 pcm Unfurnished Two bedroom end of terrace house, situated on the Cator Estate. EPC: C

Greenwich Lettings 020 3302 0718

Blackheath Lettings 020 3302 5508

Blackheath Lettings 020 3302 5508

Blackheath Lettings 020 3302 5508

Blackheath Lettings 020 3302 5508

Blackheath Lettings 020 3302 5508

www.humphreys-skitt.com *Tenant Charges Tenants should note that as well as rent, an administration charge of £216 (Inc. VAT) per property and a referencing charge of £54 (Inc. VAT) per person will apply when renting a property. Please ask us for more information about other fees that may apply or visit www.hamptons.co.uk/tenantcharges

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20/08/2014 16:44

IN THEIR OWN WORDS

Mark Maynard Associate Director of Humphreys Skitt & Co in association with Hamptons International

B

Photography: REBECCA NOONAN

orn and brought up in South London, my heart is well and truly in the southern part of the capital’s hemisphere.

Growing up locally, I spent many happy hours in Greenwich Park and sailing model boats on the duck pond in Blackheath. As I took in the view from the top of Greenwich Park or tobogganed down its steep hill, I could not have imagined how, a few decades on, that same spot would now take in the iconic skyline of Canary Wharf, the heart of London’s financial centre. Yet, I am struck also by the changing face of the immediate locality and how it seamlessly marries together new and old. A World Heritage site and modern developments sitting happily side by side.

When I first joined Humphreys Skitt & Co in 1979, Greenwich was characterised by its Maritime history interwoven with a residential spirit where street after street was tenanted housing owned by a handful of landlords and charities. By 1988 when I bought the business, there were still only 8000 private residential addresses in the area and only three estate agencies in town. Fast forward 35 years and Greenwich retains its Maritime identity but, much like the views from my childhood outpost at the park, has undergone a change in residential scenery. Georgian townhouses and Victorian villas sit beside post war housing and modern blocks of flats, each standing shoulder to shoulder in harmony like the youth and age within the local community.

Our Blackheath office opened in 1991, amidst a recession, but we forged a place in the local market based on good advice, service and property knowledge based on decades of local

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experience. Many have come since but none have the history and connection with the place that we feel we do.

When we were approached by Hamptons International, the meeting of two minds were immediately apparent. Having been in operation since 1793 and 1830 respectively, Humphreys Skitt & Co and Hamptons International have proven commitment and strength to their loyal customers and clients across centuries, and we are looking forward to our united approach as we march forward and our dedicated existing team sit under the wider Hamptons International umbrella.

I love our local property diversity and the range of varied people that we meet. It requires a nuanced and individual approach to almost everything that we bring to the market. Our clients range from City professionals to families that have lived in Greenwich for generations. I never cease to wonder at the multi-national profile of the people who live here now, either buying to invest or to live so close to the City and Canary Wharf and thus enjoy the best of both worlds; a short commute and a village pace of life. Having been established in the market place for over thirty years, I have seen young couples who were first time buyers move from a starter flat in the Eighties on to family homes in the Nineties with their young children who have now grown up, flown the nest and laid down roots of their own in the locality. I take great pleasure in walking the streets and greeting past and present clients that have since become good friends.

Greenwich Office: 020 8858 1102 Blackheath Office: 020 8297 1697 hamptons.co.uk

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PROPERTY | IN THEIR OWN WORDS

103 ITOW.indd 3

SEPTEMBER 2014

26/08/2014 17:22

Pines Road, Bickley

Grasmere Road, Bromley

Situated in a most desirable road on the Bickley/Chislehurst borders is this impressive newly built home which offers just over 6,000 sq ft of accommodation. EPC B.

An enchanting Victorian property locally listed with intricate brickwork and original features, offering a unique opportunity to restore perfect for a modern family lifestyle. EPC F.

GuidE PriCE £2,450,000

GuidE PriCE £1,750,000

Sundridge Avenue, Elmstead Woods

Cudham Park Road, Cudham

renovated and extended to an extremely high standard is this five bedroom detached family home. Accessed via electronic gates, the property offers an abundance of space. EPC C.

A truly stunning five bedroom detached property situated in this quiet and rural location. An ideal family home and working environment with a self contained studio and swimming pool. EPC d.

GuidE PriCE £1,375,000

GuidE PriCE £1,150,000

Petts Wood Office | 01689 806770 | infopw@sinclairhammelton.co.uk

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26/08/2014 10:13

Yester Park, Chislehurst

Orchard Road, Bromley

An elegant detached house situated within one of Chislehurst’s finest Set behind secure electric gates, this grand five bedroomed, four gated developments, occupying a premier spot which supremely boasts bathroom detached property provides a wealth of accommodation an expansive southerly facing rear garden extending to over 200ft. EPC E. and landscaped garden. EPC E.

GUIDE PRICE £1,500,000

GUIDE PRICE £1,450,000

Berrys Green Road, Westerham

Garden Road, Bromley

Situated within the Kent countryside on the outskirts of Westerham and Biggin Hill this versatile four bedroom detached family residence set within 1.75 acres offering complete seclusion and tranquility. EPC E.

In a stunning location, overlooking Sundridge Park Golf Course, this double fronted four bedroom detached Cottage style house is nestled in a secluded, quiet spot yet only minutes from Sundridge Park Station. EPC E.

ASKING PRICE £999,999

GUIDE PRICE £950,000

Bromley Office | 020 8464 5566 | info@sinclairhammelton.co.uk

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26/08/2014 10:21

INNOVATIVE MORTGAGE ADVICE

elysianfinance.co.uk

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R NE EL W EA SE

Stunning 3 bedroom apartments from just £529,995

Sales & Marketing Suite & show apartments open daily (Mon - Sat 10am - 6pm, Sun 10am - 4pm) Call 0207

758 8457 to view or email londondi@hamptons-int.com

• Central Greenwich Village Location • 12 mins to Canary Wharf via the DLR* • London Bridge just 8 mins via National Rail Sole selling agents

www.primeplacegreenwich.com Prices correct at time of press. *Source:journeyplanner.tfl.gov.uk

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Beyond your expectations

09/06/2014 14:33

Greenwich Borders

ÂŁ400 pw Furnished

2 Bedrooms | Reception | 2 Bathrooms | Apartment Terrace | Amenities Nearby | EPC – B | Sole Agents Greenwich 020 3503 0529 greenwich@brlets.co.uk

Eleven offices open six days a week Monday - Saturday Beaufort Park | Canary Wharf | City | Ealing | Greenwich | Hampstead | Highgate | Hyde Park | Imperial Wharf | Kensington | Knightsbridge Additional charges apply: Tenancy Agreement, Credit Check & Inventory Report. For details visit www.brlets.co.uk/tenantinfo

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London’s Letting Agency

To arrange a viewing or for more information call

info@brlets.co.uk www.brlets.co.uk

020 7319 9783

Greenwich Borders

£300 pw Furnished

Greenwich

£350 pw Furnished

1 Bedroom | Reception | 1 Bathroom | Apartment Balcony | 24hr Concierge | EPC – B | Sole Agents Greenwich 020 3503 0529 greenwich@brlets.co.uk

1 Bedroom | Reception | 1 Bathroom | Apartment Close to Amenities and DLR | EPC – B | Sole Agents Greenwich 020 3503 0529 greenwich@brlets.co.uk

Canary Wharf

Canary Wharf

£425 pw Furnished

1 Bedroom | Reception | 1 Bathroom | Apartment Concierge | Lift | Gym | Close to Amenities | EPC – B Canary Wharf 020 3417 3748 cw@brlets.co.uk

£1,500 pw Furnished

2 Bedrooms | Reception | 2 Bathrooms | Apartment 24hr Concierge | Balcony | Amenities Nearby | EPC – C Canary Wharf 020 3417 3748 cw@brlets.co.uk

Dubai | Hong Kong | India | Malaysia | Singapore

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Smart knows where to be seen when selling.

Over 30 million visits per month

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PROPERTY | THE INSIDER

The Insider Nothing’s better than THE INSIDE SCOOP. LOCAL AGENTS give their recommendations...

INTERIORS

Raft on Bromley High Street has an amazing aray of recyled teak furniture and you're always greeted with a smile and a coffee when you pop in.

Russell Sinclair Director of

Sinclair Hammelton

FACT

Doctor Who was filmed in Chislehurst and David Bowie, Status Quo, Jimi Hendrix, The Rolling Stones and Pink Floyd have all performed in Chislehurst Caves.

Steven May Branch Manager at

JDM, Chislehurst

KIDS

Chislehurst Rocks is a free music and family fun day, that aims to showcase up and coming local talent and bring together the community.

Laura Knight-Smith Sales Manager at KFH, Chislehurst

020 8464 5566; sinclairhammelton.co.uk

020 8325 8000; jdmonline.com

020 8285 9900; kfh.co.uk

TIMEOUT

STREET

HANGOUT

Especially now that summer is here, I like to make the most of beautiful Greenwich Park and (try to!) take part in the weekly organised runs.

Christopher Venter Sales Manager at Foxtons, Greenwich

020 8879 2179; foxtons.co.uk

I love Crooms Hill between Greenwich and Blackheath. It has some beautiful period properties and was once home to the poet Cyril Day Lewis.

Mark Wellington Manager at Benham &

Reeves Residential Lettings, Greenwich

020 3440 7010; brlets.co.uk

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Zero Degrees is a good micro-brewery, restaurant and bar in Blackheath. Everest Inn on Montpelier Vale in Blackheath serves the finest Nepalese!

Graham Lawes Associate Director at

JLL, Blackheath and Greenwich

020 8852 8383; jll.co.uk SEPTEMBER 2014

26/08/2014 17:32

You want the best. So do we.

Best large lettings agency in the UK - Gold Best customer service - Silver Best website - Gold

Lettings Agency of the Year Awards 2014, in association with The Sunday Times and The Times

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DUCK HUNT ON THE HEATH Saturday 6th September 12-2pm

cluttons.com

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Free children’s Duck Hunt on Blackheath.

Pick up your entry form and duck hunt map from Cluttons in Blackheath Village and then head to the heath to find the hidden ducks.

Find all of the ducks for a chance to win an iPad mini.

All correct entries will receive a voucher for a free ice cream from Black Vanilla in Blackheath Village.

For more information visit cluttons.com/duckhunt Participation is at your own risk. All children must be accompanied by an adult.

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langfordrussell.co.uk

Bromley & Kent’s Leading Estate Agency.

Now with six branches across the Bromley Borough.

Call your local office for a free sales or lettings valuation.

Beckenham 020 8663 4433 Bromley 020 8315 5544

Chislehurst 020 8295 4900 Locksbottom 01689 882 988

Orpington 01689 661 400 West Wickham 020 8432 7373

The Acorn Group, incorporating:

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